Page 112 of Wanted

“What about your relationship with Billy? I did not raise you to be a two-timer.”

“There is no Billy,” Chance answers her before I can say anything.

Neither one of us misses the possessive note in his voice. I’ve told Chance all about my ex-boyfriend, who I haven’t spoken to or even thought of in months. We dated about a year and a half.

Most of the time, he didn’t even seem interested in me at all. To be honest, if it hadn’t been for my mother prompting me, I wouldn’t have dated Billy either. But his parents are well connected in state politics, and my mother believed our relationship would be a political-societal match made in heaven.

“I—” I start to reply in the silence, but I’m interrupted.

“Darling, who was at the door?”

I look toward the top of the stairs to see my father standing at the top. As usual, he peers down, over the rim of his glasses from his position.

“Emery?”

I plaster a smile on my face. “Yes, Father. Hello.” The words sound slightly robotic to my own ears. However, this is always how I speak with my father.

“You’ve returned,” he says, taking one step down and then pausing before looking over at my mother.

“Yes, I told Mother we would be here before dinner.”

“We?” He draws out the question. His eyes slowly drift over to Chance, who still hasn’t released his hold around my waist. That part of me that always attempted to keep my instincts under control, to behave like a good girl and always be presentable, tells me I should step away from Chance.

But then there’s the much larger part of me that finds safety in his embrace. I suddenly realize that while I might be in the house where I grew up, it’s in Chance’s arms that truly feels like home.

“Yes,” my mother says, brushing past me up the stairs toward my father. “Emery decided to bring company.” She links her arm in his.

My father gives Chance a long look as he slowly makes his way down the stairs with my mother at his side.

“Mm,” he says.

“Mr. Clarke,” Chance greets with an outstretched hand.

My father hesitates before taking it.

“Well—” My father’s cut off by the ringing of the dinner bell. My parents are very traditional and still have the staff ring a bell when dinner is ready.

“We should all go sit down,” my mother says. I don’t miss the way she gives Chance another up and down look before tugging my father by the arm and leaving us to trail them toward the dining area.

I give Chance an apologetic smile. I never expected my parents to roll out the red carpet for my return, but somehow their response to seeing me for the first time in months hurts. As I follow my parents, I think of Ms. Elsie and the others at the pack and how they always had a warm welcoming smile.

That’s not fair. I remind myself. Everyone has different reactions and personalities and it’s not for me to judge. I know my parents’ behavior. After being away, and residing among the Nightwolf pack, I just need to re-acclimate to it.

“How was your drive from Colorado?” my father asks in a stilted voice.

Chance turns to me and raises an eyebrow.

Though difficult, I manage not to squirm in my seat. “We didn’t come from Colorado.”

This garners my mother’s attention. “Is that so?” She gives Chance a look. Again, my wolf stands, not liking the way she’s eyeing him. “Therefore, you lied to us,” she concludes.

“What?”

“You told us the reason you were leaving Billy and New York this summer was to do an internship in Colorado. You caused us a great deal of embarrassment with the King family, might I add,” she almost glares across the table at me.

Her cutting gaze doesn’t waver even as the house staff enter and place plates of salad in front of us.

“That was never my intention,” I say before clearing my throat and taking a sip of my water. I place the crystal glass back on the table before adding, “Yet, as I told you prior to my leaving, it was Billy that broke up with me.”