Kieran POV
My mother runs up to me before I can let Mae out of the car. She holds me at arm's length and checks me over from head to toe before she gathers me in her arms and squeezes me tightly.
"I was so worried about you," she sniffs. "You aren't to leave this pack house ever again."
"Mom," I groan. "I am an adult. You can't keep treating me like a child."
The sound of the car doors shutting behind me pulls my mother's attention away from me. She peers around me, and her eyes land on Mae and Tish.
"Do you have more than one mate?" She whispers into my ear.
I roll my eyes at her. "No, Mom. Not all of us were blessed with more than one mate like you and Raven."
"Do you want more than one mate?" Mae's voice sounds incredulous.
I cringe a little at her words and turn to her before taking her in my arms. "Of course not," I say as I kiss the top of her head. "You are all the mate that I need."
Mae seems to relax in my arms, and she wraps hers around my waist and rests her head on my chest.
"You must be my son's mate," Mother says, holding her hand out to Mae.
Mae pulls away from me and grasps my mother's hand. "I am Mae," she says quietly.
Suddenly, my mother pulls Mae into her arms and tears begin to run down her cheeks. "I am so glad he found you. I am Erica."
Mae awkwardly pats my mother on the back. "It is nice to meet you, too."
"I am Tish," Tish interrupts the moment, and I cannot help but roll my eyes at her. She is constantly butting in where she doesn't belong.
My mother eyes Tish with a skeptical look before she turns to me. "Your father mentioned that you would be bringing someone else with you."
"This is Mae's best friend," I begin to explain. "They are a package deal."
My mother looks between Mae and Tish and raises an eyebrow. "Come inside, and we can talk about this package deal."
Mae intertwines her fingers in mine as I lead her into the pack house. Tish follows behind us with a scowl on her face. I cannot wipe the smug look off my face. My mother isn't going to like Tish, and that makes me happy.
My mother leads us into my office in the pack house and shuts the door behind us. "Sit," she gestures to the three of us as she positions herself behind my desk.
Normally, I would protest, but I am eager to see what she has to say.
Mae grabs Tish's hand, pulls her onto the couch at the back of the office, and holds Tish's hand in her lap. My mother's eyes graze over their hands, but she doesn't choose to comment on it.
"Tish," my mother growls her name. "How did you become a familiar?"
Tish straightens her shoulders and looks my mother in the eyes. "I don't see why that information is important."
"I believe that it is very important," Mother says. "Rogues are known to keep familiars as… pets and a group of rogues just happens to be after my son. So, I will ask you again. How did you become a familiar?"
Mae twitches uncomfortably in her seat, and Tish averts her eyes to her lap. Jealousy courses through my veins as I watch Mae try to calm Tish down by rubbing circles with her thumb on Tish's hand.
Tish clears her throat awkwardly. "My old boss was a rogue," Tish says in no more than a whisper. "One night, a guy tried to follow me out of the bar. His intentions were less than respectable. He had me pinned against my car, trying to take my pants off. I was screaming for help when my boss, Rick, came rushing out of the bar with a baseball bat."
Tish takes a deep breath and wipes her eyes. She blinks quickly, and I know she is trying not to cry. Part of me feels sorry for her. Tish's chest begins to rise and fall quickly. It is clear she won't be able to finish her story.
Mae pulls Tish's head into her chest and gently strokes her hair. "It's okay," Mae whispers to her. "I know you aren't someone's pet."
I turn my attention back to my mother, and she is watching the girls intently. "Is it safe to assume you saw a werewolf fight?" My mother asks.
Tish nods her head up against Mae's chest and whispers, "Yes."
"That must have been terrifying for you," my mother says gently, but the look in her eyes is still harsh.
Tish pulls away from Mae and wipes her cheeks. "It was."
My mother folds her hands on the desk in front of her and looks at my mate. "What is the nature of your relationship with Tish?"
"Mom," I move to step in. "Mae's relationship with Tish is for me to deal with."
"It's okay," Mae tells me before turning her attention back to my mother. "Tish is my person."
"I don't understand what that means," my mother's eyes are growing colder by the moment. The mood in the room is shifting and I know it is because my mother is losing her temper.
I don't know if Mae can feel my mother's power, but she swallows hard, and her eyes fill with tears. "For a long time, Tish hand no one," Mae begins. "When I met her, I became her family. I love her."
"Interesting," my mother replies. "What does that mean for my son?"
Mae looks up at me before gazing back at my mother. "I feel strongly for your son. If I didn't, I wouldn't be here."
"Very well," my mother says, and two Omegas enter the office. "They will show you to your rooms. I need a moment to speak with my son."
Mae and Tish get up from the couch and follow the Omegas out of the office. When the office door is shut again, my mother turns to me and sighs.
"I don't like this situation," she admits to me. "Mae seems kind, but I don't like her friend."
"I don't like her either," I say. "But if I want my mate, I have to deal with Tish."
"I don't know how I feel about having a familiar in the house," Mother says. "How do we know she can be trusted?"
"I trust Mae," I tell my mother. "If she trusts Tish, I will have to as well."