Page 56 of His Arranged Plus-Size Mate

I nodded, ending the call. I looked down at Hazel. She squeezed me. I pulled her closer, kissing the top of her head. I looked back toward the mess.

I watched as a few coffins were loaded. I watched as more people broke down crying. I felt her arms tighten around me.

We went to the burials. Hazel held my hand the entire time, not knowing how much I needed it.

We headed over to my folks’ place. Hazel was nervous, her hands tapping on her thigh as we rode the elevator up.

“You didn’t have to come,” I explain as the doors dinged open. “I know you’re tired.”

“And make you go alone?” she asked, her fingers curling tighter against mine. “I wouldn’t do that. Not today.”

I smiled, grateful for her. I’d been grateful before, but this was another level. She was being so supportive when I didn’t deserve it. I squeezed her hand back.

We headed down the hallway and arrived at the door. I knocked, and the door swung open. My mother smiled, pulling me into a tight hug. “Oh my god! Oh, I was so scared.”

I leaned into my mother’s hug and tugged her back. I felt her shake as she leaned back, grabbing my face, her eyes scanning me over. “Are you okay? Were you injured? How many died? Oh god, I was so scared when they said that we lost people tonight.”

“I’m fine, Mom. I’m not hurt.”

She looked over toward Hazel. “Were you hurt? Where are you out there?”

Hazel smiled and shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I was in the barrier.”

My mother nodded, pulling us inside.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but I wasn’t expecting my father to be standing just a few feet away. His eyes quickly went to Hazel, and I watched the way that his jaw clicked together. His nostrils flared, and his hands curled into tight fists.

I didn’t understand why. I knew he didn’t exactly approve of her, but this was more than that. He seemed pissed.

“What is she doing here?” he asked, his voice low.

We all froze, and my mother frowned. “Honey…let’s just take a beat.”

“Answer me,” my father snapped. Hazel’s hand tightened on mine, and she looked at me, confused. But I was just as lost.

“Why wouldn’t I bring my wife?”

“Because she’s the reason everyone got hurt!”

“That’s not true,” I snapped back.

“She should have known that was going to happen, and instead she didn’t tell you. She led all of you into that mess and let you all get hurt!”

I waved a hand. “She doesn’t have visions, Dad. She has dreams. It’s not the same.”

He waved a hand. “She saw the space, and she allowed you all to go there. She led you all into the chaos.” His eyes snapped toward Hazel. “You’re a disgrace to your kind.”

I felt her hand slip free from mine. Anger quickly built up. He had no idea.

“Dad, that’s not true. That’s not how it works.”

“She is the reason all of those men are dead.” He turned his eyes toward me. “She killed them.”

“I made the call. If anyone is to blame, it’s me,” I yelled. “I was the one who said we should go out and look.”

He scoffed, and my mother looked at me with wide eyes. “What?”

“I made the call to go. We could have waited, but I said we should go because I didn’t want to wait. If anyone should be a disgrace, it’s me.”