Page 389 of Pucking Feral: Part Two

"Yeah, probably." He cracks his neck and stands, brushing off his knees. "How you doin' after the Belmont dinner? For real."

I consider lying.

But he'd know.

Maureen couldn't even look at me, I sign.

Whiskey's jaw tightens. "Yeah she did."

At my eyes. Not below.

"It's her first time seeing your face in a while, bro. She needs time. But she hugged you first thing. She made you soup, which was damn good, by the way, I got the rest out of the pot."

I stare at my scarred hands.

He's not wrong.

She cried.

"Yeah, because she loves you and she's sad you got hurt. That's what moms do."

I know he means well. It's human nature to try to say something comforting even if it isn't true. But that isn't what moms do.

Not mine.

I'm fine, I sign, sighing.

"Aight." He hauls himself up, clapping me on the shoulder. "Come on, man. No spiraling. Let's go inside before my balls freeze off and my mates file a missing persons report."

We go in together through the back door, him in front of me.

Plague is at the stove making tea. This time, there are two mugs. Guess he's stopped pretending he doesn't know Valek steals his expensive tea.

"Any luck?" he asks us.

"Nope!" Whiskey says with mock cheer.

Plague looks over his costume judgmentally, but his eyes linger for longer than they need to. "Can't imagine why."

Ivy comes around the corner, her whole face brightening when she sees me. "Hey! Did you catch Shadow?"

I shake my head. Trying to make friends first.

"Maybe you can help next time," Whiskey says, pulling his balaclava off. His hair's a mess under it. He scratches at it to tame it and makes it worse. "Work your omega magic and all that."

"I don't think that works on cats," she laughs.

It's not her usual laugh.

This one is slightly tight. She's been like this yesterday and today. Acting happy when I'm looking, but worried when she thinks I'm not.

She's been reading more. Staying in. Cooking. Building and rebuilding nests. Watching movies in the loft with the blackout curtains drawn.

With me.

Always with me.

Because I'm here, and I don't leave.