Tasting 427

427–Just When I Woke Up

Nora:

After I killed Daphne, I was exhausted, so I returned home to rest. The others stayed behind to

clean up the mess.

Yuki had been informed that I took care of the problem, though I wasn’t sure how much Yuki would

believe it.

“Wow! You chose tonight for all this chaos?” Clara stood at the entrance, arms crossed and looking

thoroughly annoyed.

“Step out of my way, rabbit lady. I’m tired,” I muttered, knowing exactly what she was upset about.

She was angry because Silas had shown up at the scene after hearing about the battle between me

and Daphne. But hadn’t Clara already spent enough time with him? Silas and she had been out

together for hours, doing who knows what.

“Hey, I heard what you did. I’m proud of you,” Lord Atwood appeared just as Clara moved aside.

I noticed she was much more careful than the other witches. She wasn’t

doing anything wrong directly but still had a way of causing me pain indirectly.

“Yeah, but your sons helped me a lot,” I said, offering him a tired but warm smile.

“You know, hearing about you and my sons working together made me so happy today,” Lord

Atwood beamed. “And don’t ask why I grabbed my

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427 Just When I Woke Up

pillow and hid in the basement when I heard the commotion. I can’t fight anymore.”

He joked, and I laughed briefly before my expression turned serious.

“You sent me away because you cared,” I said, watching the shock register on his face.

I was starting to realize that whatever had happened carried a much deeper secret.

“I’ll go rest now, but I want to speak with you and the brothers in the morning,” I said, my heart

heavy as I wished him goodnight and headed upstairs.

I was sure he watched me until I disappeared. He was probably stunned that I had said it–honestly,

even I was surprised at how I was slowly opening up to them in my mind.

“Not really. You know Daphne told you the truth,” Akira’s voice rang in my head, and she wasn’t

wrong.

I had acted out of pride, refusing to let them explain their side. All I could remember were the

horrible months, and that bitterness fueled my desire to punish them by shutting them out.

I collapsed onto my bed, feeling more at ease than I had in a long time.

“You’re waking up again,” Akira whispered, and I could hear a hint of happiness in her tone.

“I might tell them about our babies in the morning. There’s a good chance Lord Atwood might be

upset, since he’s never mentioned wanting me to become a mate to his sons. He made it clear he

only sees me as their stepsister. But I’m sure it will at least help me free my babies from that mess

of a pack where Brody was taking advantage of me. I can’t live like

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that anymore.” I confided in Akira, finally making the decision that would put Brody in his place once

and for all.

“That would be a good idea. Because Nora, even if one of the brothers agrees or feels like he wants

the babies-” Akira trailed off, not wanting to voice her concerns out loud, but I had already thought

about them too.

“You know what, I’m really excited to have our babies with us. Roman deserves to know his

brothers,” Akira expressed her hope, and I nodded in agreement. I decided to go to sleep quickly so

I could wake up early and finally talk to everyone about what had been happening.

I planned to tell them what I went through and how I gave birth to their children, but I had to make

sure I did it without Clara present. She needed to be elsewhere when I spoke with the brothers. I

drifted off, only to be woken up earlier than I intended by Akira’s grumbling.

She was eager–more eager than I was–to have this conversation with the brothers. I could feel the

excitement and anxiety rising within me too. If they reacted badly, I knew I would never give them

another chance.

I rushed through a shower and dressed in blue jeans and a white shirt before leaving my bedroom.

When I stepped outside, I found the brothers in the garden, looking fresh, almost as if they were

waiting for someone.

“Good morning,” I greeted them, watching as their faces lit up with excitement.

“Nora!” Cain called out, pulling a chair for me to sit with him.

“Come here,” Lord Atwood cut in, giving Cain a disapproving look before offering me a seat next to

him.

I walked over and sat beside him, recalling his previous words while paying close attention to his

actions now. He wasn’t going to like what I was about to say.

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427–Just When I Woke Up

“So, you told Dad you wanted to talk about something,” Ryker said, adjusting himself in his chair, his

eyes focused intently on me.

Pouchers

“I do,” I took a deep breath, “it’s about Brody-” The moment I mentioned his name, I lifted my head

and was met with a sight I dreaded.

“What about him? Did he do something to you?” Silas growled, clenching his jaw as he asked. But I

couldn’t get another word out.

“What about me?” Brody’s voice cut through the air, and I continued to watch him standing behind

the brothers, arms folded over his chest.

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