Page 8 of His Bullied Fated Mate

“But it is. You have cut us all out of your lives, and you didn’t even care.”

I felt my jaw drop at her words. I stumbled over my words trying to tell her she was wrong. She wasn’t. I’m sure that is what it felt like for them. And parts of me wish things were different.

But how could I ever fit in that pack when I was a human? No one was going to accept me. And I had dragged my family down enough by being there.

“Mom, I have to go.” I ended the call feeling tears build up. I gripped the steering wheel tightly and sniffled. I could see the screen lit up again as she tried to call back, but I let it go to voicemail.

I arrived home and parked in the underground parking. I took the elevator up and headed to my apartment. I unlocked the door and flicked the light on. My kitchen was to the left of me. It was a long L-shaped kitchen with an island. There was pendantlighting and a wall of windows next to the fridge. There was a step down into the living room that I had colored a light pink. The furniture was purple and blue. I had a large purple fuzzy rug and several large plants in the space.

I had a large deck, and I smiled at it. There was wicker furniture out there with strung-up lights. It was my own little paradise.

I set everything down and made myself dinner. I kept glancing at my phone, feeling my stomach dip every time. I hated fighting with my mother. I knew she was hurting and just missed me. And maybe it was childish to feel this anger after so many years. But it wasn’t that simple.

I made myself a cup of tea and went to sit outside. I watched the rain fall as I curled up in my egg chair and stared at the city.

I looked down at my phone and clicked play on my mother’s voicemail.

She sighed. “I didn’t mean that, honey. I know you're hurting and that things aren’t easy for you because you're human. I know that there are things none of us will be able to relate to. And god…I know I don’t know the full extent of what happened while you were here. Maybe that’s what upsets me most. You didn’t trust your father and me to help more.”

The space fell quiet for a moment, and I bit my cheek.

“But we love you no less than we love your brother. You both have made us so proud. And I just wish that one of these days you’d be able to move past your anger and come home because this is home, Janella. I know you made a life there and you're happy. But this is where you grew up. This is where your family is. I’m just waiting for you to realize that.”

The voicemail ended, and I looked up at the stars. I let go of the breath I’d been holding in and watched the puff of air go.

I opened my chat and sent her a quick “I love you” message before heading back inside and going to bed. I hoped tomorrow would be a better day.

I arrived at work in the morning. I had my coffee, and I’d gotten the best parking spot there was. My day was starting off great.

“Janella.” The receptionist stopped me. “There’s a man in the conference room waiting for you.”

My eyebrows went up, and I turned. I wasn’t expecting anyone. “Did you get a name?”

She shook her head. “No, but he’s pretty handsome. I might have been a little busy looking him over to ask for a name.”

I headed for the conference room and pushed the door open. I took in a tall man with a muscular back. He was wearing a leather jacket with jeans. I didn’t think a client would come in looking so dressed down. Much less someone who would come in at such an early time.

“Can I help you?” I let the door shut behind me as I stepped further in. The man turned, and my body stiffened. Because standing across from me wasn’t a client, but Riley.

He’d changed from the last time I saw him. He had shorter hair that was slightly curled. His shoulders seemed broader, and he was taller. But I could already tell he was still the same arrogant asshole he was in high school. He stood the same way and gave me a cocky smile.

I ground my teeth together as rage built up in my belly.”Riley. What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you.”

I ground my teeth together. “And what the hell makes you think I want to talk to you?”

“Because I came here to talk about the pack.”

I snorted. “You mean the pack that I left four years ago? I don’t think there is anything you can say that will get my attention or have me care.”

I watched his jaw grind together, but I didn’t let his irritation get the better of me. The past me would have stumbled for her words, but the person I was today was not so inclined. I hadn’t just spent four years putting my life together. I’d spent that time finding myself and learning that I wasn’t going to just let people walk all over me anymore.

“You might have left, but I think you still care.”

I shrugged. “I truly don’t.”

He took a few steps, moving around the table, getting closer to me. “Really? You don’t care about the pack? The pack your parents live in? The pack your brother lives in?”