Mae POV
The light on my phone illuminates my face. Ever since Kieran came home and told me Tish was missing, I keep checking the location app on my phone. I keep hoping to see her face pop up on the map, but it never does.
I am angry with her and a little bit scared of her. I don't know what she is capable of, and I would feel better if I could speak with her one last time. Being part of her life isn't something I want anymore, but knowing where she is would make me feel much better.
I lay in bed at night and close my eyes tightly, trying to use the power the Moon Goddess has gifted me to pinpoint her location, but I can't seem to find her.
Kieran doesn't know how much time I spend trying to find Tish. I am afraid he would think I am trying to bring her back into our lives.
A knock on my door startles me and I quickly close the app on my phone. Placing my phone on the vanity, I turn toward the door.
"Come in," I call out.
The door to my bedroom busts open, and five grown men fight their way into my room. My mouth drops open in shock as Kieran's fathers and Raven's mates force their way into the room.
"Can I help you?" I try to suppress the chuckle at their absurdity.
The men finally line up in the middle of my bedroom and smile brightly at me.
"Have you made a decision?" Bryce asks.
I swallow hard. To be honest, I haven't thought about their proposal. Each one of them wants the opportunity to walk me down the aisle at my Lune Ceremony. They each look at me with widened eyes and shuffle from foot to foot. I have never seen Ace or Chris act this way before, and it is becoming more comical by the moment.
"I don't think I can choose," I answer them honestly.
"It should be me," Oliver blurts out. "She saved my life."
Leo punches his mate in the shoulder and growls. "I saved your life."
Ace huffs loudly. "It should be one of us," he says, gesturing to himself and his brothers. "It needs to be a father figure."
I stare at the men with a giant grin on my face, but I don't know who to pick. Each one of them has become special to me in their own way.
"I think I need a little more time," I whisper, not wanting to disappoint them.
Their faces fall, and I know I have hurt their feelings.
"The Luna Ceremony is tomorrow," Chris reminds me. "You don't have much more time."
I bite down on my bottom lip and try to make a decision. Blood floods into my mouth, and I panic. Ace is at my side in seconds, wiping the blood from my chin.
"You have to be careful," he warns me. "When you get overly emotional, you may partially shift."
I take the handkerchief from him and dab my lip. "I thought I could only shift under the full moon?"
"We are still trying to figure that out," Ace says as he kneels down beside me. "Now, who will walk you down the aisle?"
I roll my eyes at him but don't bother to stifle my giggle.
"It should be me," my mother's voice comes from behind the men.
Everyone turns to look at my mother. She was expertly hiding behind the men. She pushes past them and walks in my direction.
All of the men watch her carefully. She makes all of them feel uncomfortable, and if I am honest, she also makes me a little uncomfortable.
She stands beside me and rests her hand on my shoulder. Her eyes flicker to the phone on my vanity, but she doesn't say anything about it. I get an odd feeling that she knows what I have been up to regarding Tish.
Looking at her now, you would never guess she was the same woman from the cells. She is clean, presentable, and lucid more often than not. On more than one occasion, she has tried to mend the broken relationship between us. Even now that I know the truth about my father, it is still hard to forgive her for leaving me behind.
I look up into her eyes and they are sparkling with tears. She wants this, and with my father gone, she is the next logical choice.
I sigh and look back at the men, eagerly awaiting my response. Bryce is practically jumping up and down with anticipation. It is going to kill me to break his heart.
"I think my mother should do it," I almost choke on my words.
My mother is beaming with pride, but there is a scowl on Ace's face. He does not approve.
"You can't be serious," he snaps at me. "We don't know if she will be lucid tomorrow. It is a dangerous choice."
My mother growls in his direction, and Ace takes a threatening step forward. "I may not be able to shift, but I can still kick your ass," she snarls at him.
Ace throws his head back and laughs sarcastically. "I would like to see you try, Narah."
Raven's mates and Kieran's other two fathers are watching with amusement, but I don't think it is funny. I jump from my chair and put myself between them. Holding my arms out to my sides, I stop them from coming any closer to each other.
Ace respectfully takes a step back, but my mother is not giving up so easily. She is ready to fight for this.
"I am sorry to disappoint you all," I say to the men. "But Narah is my mother, and I want her to walk me down the aisle."
Leo and Oliver are the first to make a move. They carefully approach me, not taking their eyes off my mother. She sneers at them as they walk by but doesn't stop them from getting closer to me. They each place a kiss on my cheek before leaving my room.
Bryce and Chris are the next ones to disappear from my room. Bryce looks like he has been told his favorite goldfish died, but he doesn't argue with my decision. Chris eyes me skeptically before following Bryce.
Ace and my mother are still glaring at one another, and I am not sure how to break up the impending fight.
"That's enough," Kieran's voice booms through the room. "Both of you, out now."
Ace turns to his son and storms out of the bedroom, mumbling obscenities under his breath. But my mother hangs behind for just a moment. She takes my hands in hers and squeezes them tightly.
"Thank you," she whispers before she scurries from my room.
Kieran watches her leave and slams the door behind him. "What was that about?"
"Who will walk me down the aisle," I grumble.
"You chose your mother," Kieran confirms.
I nod my head, and Kieran takes me into his arms. He places little kisses all over my face while he unbuttons the front of my pants. Sliding his hand into my panties, he parts my folds with his fingers. His finger plays at my entrance, and I moan breathlessly.
"Let me take your mind off tomorrow," he whispers next to my ear.