Page 33 of Same One
“To be a replacement parent for me!” Bay paced out of the room and back as she sat there in shock. “He talked about you to me before I even met you. He talked about you like a nanny for me. Like a babysitter. He wanted to live his life, and having a kid was cramping his style, and he chose you as a target, and you thought you were happy. You were used, Tru.”
“And you think Tabian is using me?”
He shrugged.
“Sit down.”
Bay snarled up a lip. “I’m going to bed.”
“Sit. Down!” she barked, jamming a finger at the edge of the bed.
Another growl escaped him, but she was used to that. Bay’s wolf was dominant and he didn’t like being told what to do.
Slowly, Bay stepped into the room and leaned against the wall right beside the door, leaving room for an easy escape. “What?”
“Tabian doesn’t have a kid. He’s listening to my insecurities and putting them to rest. I told him about your dad hiding me, and he mentioned me on his video tonight.”
“It’s an angle. We’re born to manipulate.”
Tru released a sigh. “Boy, I love you. Do you understand that?”
“I’m not yours to love.”
“Yes, you are. I am what you have, and you are what I have. Every decision I’ve made in my life has led me here, to getting to finish out your raising. I understand you not wanting me to date—”
“A werewolf. I don’t want you dating a werewolf. I don’t want you dragging us down with your bad decisions.”
Tru let off a very human growl. “You know, I always saw the advice on television shows. Teens are the hardest. They’re stubborn and will insult you and not listen and think they know every goddamn thing, but it never really clicks until you are raising one and trying to remain calm and kind when they are being little jerks!”
Bay flinched and dropped his gaze to the carpet.
“I’m going to say it again,” she murmured in a softer voice. “I love you. You are so special to me. I think the hurt I went through with your dad was worth it because I get to be your stepmom. If you don’t want me to talk to Tabian or see him anymore…well…” Fuck, her chest hurt saying this part out loud. “I’ll respect it. I know you’ve been hurt to. I hope you don’t stay shut down to other people forever though. I don’t want us to be alone forever. I want us to build a support system.”
“I want you to stop talking to him. I want you to stop seeing him. I want you to get me to eighteen, and independent, and keep us as steady as you can, and then you can do whatever you want. I’ll accept anyone you want after I move out of here. Or at least I’ll try. But you are one year out from my dad destroyingyou, and this feels like too much, too fast, and too familiar.” He pushed off the bed and made his way to the door. “Cut him off, Trudy. Please.”
He closed the door gently behind him, and Tru drew her knees to her chest under the covers.
There was no book on how to raise a dominant teenager werewolf who was afraid of something or someone taking his anchor to this world away from him. There was noRaising Werewolves for Dummiesbook. She knew. She’d looked.
She was struggling with her role as a parent figure here, and honestly? She was hurt.
Tru stood and made her way to the door, her pajama bottom pants dragging the ground at her heel. She pulled the door open and made her way to the living room where Bay was heating food in the microwave.
“You know, your dad used to control everything I did too. Used to tell me what to do and feel threatened if I was too happy. You’re getting pretty familiar lately, Bay.”
“Oh yeah? Is this the part where you tell me I’m just like my dad? You really think that’s what I’m doing? Trying to control you?” he asked.
“Is it? Nah!” She held a finger up to stop his automatic retort. “Don’t answer me. Think about it. Really think about it tonight. Figure out your feelings on why you don’t like me smiling over a nice grown man who reminds me nothing of your father.”
“You make bad decisions when it comes to men—”
“And they’re my decisions to make. You’re barely sixteen, Bay! I know you think you know everything. When I was your age, I thought I knew everything too. I thought I was freaking invincible, but then I grew up and life happened. You feel like I didn’t learn my lesson from your dad, Bay, but you don’t understand my hurt over all of that because I didn’t talk about it.You were a kid who deserved to remain a kid and not deal with all of this adult bullshit. But since you feel like you have a right to have a say in my romantic life, you can also know how it was for me. I was destroyed. You lost your dad and had to accept the awful truths about him as a man, but for me? I was tricked, and used, and teased, and cheated on, and hidden, and made a fool of while my focus was on being at home with you and making sure you were okay. On the bad nights where he was blowing up my phone controlling every thought I had in my head, while he was out with who knows how many women, I was trying to make it look as steady as possible for you, while I was falling apart! While he chased away my lifelong friend group, and made them not only not recognize me, but hate me. While he made me hate myself! You don’t think I’m smart enough to improve my decisions, but I was the one who felt all of that, and I am the one who would do anything to never feel that way again. Tabian doesn’t feel like your father. Do you know, I talked to him in that coffee shop and immediately asked him to meet you? And Tabian was up for it!”
“Meet me? Why?”
“Because we need a support system! You can’t be Rogue all your life, Bay. You were raised in Packs. That structure makes sense to you and your animal. It’s my responsibility to find some kind of safety net for you. I know that for you, I’m just the stupid gullible human that your dad picked to take you in. I know it. I can tell by the way you never tell me you love me back. I can tell by the way you hate listening to me, and you’re combative with every little thing. I can see that ‘you’re not my mom’ attitude every day. But for me? I’m honored to be your stepmom. I’m honored to have legal guardianship over you. I’m honored to be a part of your story because it’s going to be a great story, Bay!” The tears were flowing now. “I know it will be one hell of a story. I will make sure it is.”
“Tabian is a Rogue too,” he grumbled, but it was half-hearted arguments now, and she could tell he was listening at least a little. He was having a harder time glaring at her face with tears on her cheeks.
