Page 39 of His Bullied Fated Mate

I slowly nodded, my hand reaching for him. I gripped onto it tightly, and his fingers curled around mine. He smiled. “I have you.”

The drive home was quiet. Riley told me to breathe softly. Once home, we headed inside. I was still shaking as he pulled me into the living room.

“Okay, now that we are home. Can you think of which of your folks you got this from?”

I shook my head. “I’m an orphan, Riley. You know this. I don’t know anything about my parents. No one does. The agency said I was a pup, but they lied. So, god knows what else they lied about.”

“But your parents probably know something.”

I shook my head. I remembered asking growing up. I wanted to know where I got my eyes and which of my folks was smart. I had questions, and they didn’t have any answers. “They don’t. No one knows about my past, and as I got older, I stopped asking questions.”

He frowned. “Why?”

“Because I could see it hurt them. They didn’t look at me like an adopted child but their own.”

He nodded and sat down next to me. “Alright, how are you feeling?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just…it’s a lot. I don’t know much about magic.”

“We can look into it.”

“We?”

He nodded. “Yes, we, Janella. You've been nothing but helpful to me with everything. I want to return the favor. Do you want to go to bed?”

The thought of being alone with my own thoughts seemed like a bad idea. “No. I don’t really want to go to bed just yet.”

“Then some TV?”

He grabbed the remote, and I nodded. I needed noise and not to think. At least not tonight.

I pulled a blanket close and leaned into the cushion. I looked at the TV and felt my mind was a mess. I chewed on my cheek, unsure of what to think. I had so many questions that I didn't know if they would ever be answered.

“Riley, are you sure this is a good idea?”

“What do you mean?”

“If I am... I’ve heard they can hurt people they don't mean to hurt.”

Riley shook his head. “You wouldn't hurt a soul. I know that.” He gave me a gentle smile. “This doesn't change who you are. It just makes you better.”

Chapter 11 - Riley

I glanced across the kitchen and found Janella still standing in front of the front door. Her face was pressed against the glass, staring into the street. I almost would have laughed if she hadn’t looked like she was going to vomit.

“Janella, you won’t miss your brother. He knows where the front door is. If you don't stop pressing your face in the glass, your face will get stuck that way.”

She leaned back and threw a glare at me. “I know he knows where to go. I'm just excited to speak to him. And that maybe he will know something.”

I smirked, pulling a few sodas out of the fridge. I wiped down the stove and placed the pots of leftovers into the sink. I turned the faucet on and froze when I heard the front door open. I glanced over my shoulder as Janella pulled the door open. I could see Troy coming up the sidewalk.

Janella smiled, throwing her arms around Troy. Troy pulled her into a tight hug. “Hey sis.”

“Glad you could make it. I'm sorry if this got in the way of anything you had planned.”

Troy came into the house, and Janella shut the door. He glanced at me, and I gave him a nod.

“I would drop anything for you, Janella, and you know that. But I am wondering why the sudden invitation over? You sounded frantic on the phone.”