“Uh, yeah, Mace, that’s perfect.”
I looked around my own room that was now scattered with piles. There was a pile for donations, one to take, another to sell, and still one more for me to keep, but not take.
“Wow. You made a mess,” Macie announced as she walked into my room Sunday morning.
“I know. I’m clearly not as fast as you.”
She climbed up into bed with me and we snuggled down into the pillows.
“Want to watch a movie?”
“Before you clean up this mess you made?”
I groaned. “Fine, but I’m calling Tori to help.”
“Tell her to bring Resa too. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”
“Yes ma’am.”
I called Tori and she begrudgingly agreed to come over. I got the feeling she wasn’t exactly excited about it and I didn’t understand why.
Another twenty minutes passed before Tori and Resa arrived.
“So this is really happening, huh?” Resa asked.
“Yup, we’re moving to a wolf pack,” Macie proudly told her.
“You’re serious about this?” Tori asked me. “It’s not safe, Olivia. How could you even think of just packing up and blindly following him like that?”
“Tori, don’t make this any harder. This is Baine, the only man I’ve ever loved, and my true mate.”
“If he really loved you then he wouldn’t ask you to uproot your life and move. Everything you have, everything you know is right here.”
My heart sunk. I didn’t have her support on this. “He didn’t ask.”
“So what? You just volunteered to go?”
“Yeah, I did. You know what my dad did to him. I can’t ask him to stay here. It wouldn’t be healthy for any of us.”
“It’s a wolf pack, Olivia. That’s not safe.”
“Baine says it is, and I trust him.”
“Why? He left you.”
“There was more to it than that, and you know it.”
“Was there? Yeah, they told him to leave, but he didn’t have to listen.”
“They would have killed him, Tori, and you know it. Besides that, he was hurt too, and we were just kids. Don’t blame him for what happened. I don’t.”
“I do blame him. I’m angry. He swoops in here out of the blue and suddenly you’re leaving. I’ve tried to keep this to myself, but I can’t. You’re making the wrong decision.”
“That’s not how this happened, and you know it.” I couldn’t understand why she was doing this now. She had been there in the aftermath of him leaving. There was so much more at stake now. “He’s my true mate, Tori. When you someday find yours, then maybe you’ll understand.”
“I understand plenty. You’ve never been able to think straight with Baine Landry around. At least stop and think about what you’re doing to Macie by uprooting her like this.”
“I want to go, Tori. He’s my father. Don’t I get the chance to really get to know him and make up my own mind about it?”
“Mace, I love you, but you’re seven. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
None of my family had ever dismissed Macie’s opinion like that. Her eyes widened and tears formed as she turned and ran to her room yelling, “maybe you don’t know what you’re talking about,” and then slammed the door behind her.
Tori looked upset. “I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you and I’m going to miss you so much. You’re giving up everything for him.”
“California isn’t that far away, Tori. It’s not like I’m dropping off the face of the Earth. Plus, we’ll talk and video message all the time. That doesn’t have to change.”
“I’m not sure I know what to do without you.”
My frustration subsided. I hadn’t really considered how much this decision would impact my loved ones.
“I know. I’m probably being selfish or self-absorbed or something. I can’t help it. I’m going to miss you both so much.”
I hugged her as a tear slid down my cheek. “I’m scared, Tori, and I need you to help me be strong.”
“How can you be so certain this is the right choice?”
“Because he’s the right choice. I have no doubts about that. I wish I could explain it to you better.”
Tori sighed and wiped a tear from her own cheek. “Okay. Well, let’s get you guys packed then, I guess.”
“Hold up, you never cave that easily,” Resa pointed out.
“I can see her stubborn wall is up and I can admit defeat. I’m going to miss you so much though.”
“Same,” Resa said. “It’ll be weird not having you around here.”
“I told Baine this is only a trial. Don’t get too excited about that. We really want this to work out, but I have to make sure it’s what’s best for Macie. She’s still my number one priority.”
“I have no doubt that will always be the case. I’m sorry I’m giving you a hard time about this. I know you wouldn’t go if you didn’t think it would be safe for Macie, not even for Baine Landry.” Tori had always teased me about my crush on Baine growing up, but I had never confided in just how much more it was than that. To her it must look like a schoolgirl fantasy come true. If the roles were reversed, I would be worried for her too.
I rolled my eyes and the three of us broke out into a fit of giggles.
“Well, I think it’s pretty romantic. Your lifelong crush turns out to be your one true mate. You can’t make stuff like that up. It’s crazy and perfect,” Resa said. “I hope I find my true mate someday, but unless Baine is bringing back some bear super hottie on his next mission here, it’s pretty doubtful.”
“Why do you say that?”
She shrugged. “It’s not like we get a ton of eligible unmated males just passing through here. Obviously, my true mate isn’t part of our Clan. I have no plans to leave this place to find him. Basically, I’m pathetic and lonely. Add that to the fact I live with our cousin.” She groaned. “It wasn’t so bad when you were living there too, Tori, but you ditched me and now I’m stuck with Felix. Even if Mr. Perfect strolled into my life, I’d be taking him home to Felix. It’s a sad reality.”
“Felix isn’t that bad to live with,” Tori argued.
“I know. Felix is pretty perfect. He cooks, he cleans, and if I do want to host a ladies’ night, he’s fine with making himself scarce.”
“Drove me nuts,” Tori admitted with a laugh. “He’s kind of a saint.”
“It could be worse,” I told them.
“Oh, I know. I try not to complain about it, but I’m still frustrated with you for moving out and ditching me like that.”
Tori sighed. “I’m sorry Resa-bear. I just needed my own space.”
“Don’t you Resa-bear me.” She frowned.
“You made the right decision for you, right Tori?”
She groaned. “I see where you’re going with this, Liv.”
I shrugged and smiled.
“We’ve come full circle. I get it. It’s hard to leave us behind but you need to spread your wings and give this a try.” Tori nodded as she spoke.