Tish POV
My heart is pounding in my ears as I wait for the twins to answer me. They refuse to look at me, and their eyes are full of shame. It is all of the answer I need. A hard lump is in my throat, and I am finding it difficult to swallow it down.
"How long have you known?" I ask hoarsely.
Kaden and Kai glance at each other. "Since you arrived," Kaden admits.
I scoff loudly and throw my hands into the air. "Wonderful. When were you planning on telling me?"
Kai shrugs his shoulders, and Kaden sighs loudly. "We thought it best to wait."
"I was planning on leaving," I shout at them. "What were you going to do? Let your mate leave? Aren't I supposed to be the most important thing in your life?"
"You are," Kaden tries to reason with me.
"We weren't planning on letting you leave," Kai butts in.
"So, I am a prisoner?" I snap.
Kai rolls his eyes. "Of course not. Don't be difficult. We wouldn't let you work for Cedric if you were."
I cross my arms over my chest, realizing I am still naked. "So, I am free to leave," I ask as I push by them.
Pulling on a pair of lacy black panties and a matching bra, I begin to dig through the boxes the boys packed. I am looking for the clothes that I arrived in, but I can't find them.
"We would prefer you don't leave," Kaden says awkwardly. "We have a whole life planned for you."
I spin around and glower in the direction of the twins. My fists are balled up at my sides. "And it never occurred to you that I might want to be in on these plans? What if I don't want to be someone's mate? What if I don't want to move into the pack house? Where is my say in all of this?"
"You have a say," Kaden assures me. "But the Moon Goddess gave you to us for a reason."
"Gave me to you," I say quietly. Anger is building up in my chest. I am reminded of all the times I was given to families as a child. I never got a say. I was never asked how I felt about the families. I was just expected to endure.
"Yeah," Kai says happily. "You are the greatest gift we have ever been given."
Kaden elbows Kai in the stomach, and Kai doubles over in pain. Kaden has a smirk on his face, but I do not find it funny.
"You speak about me like I am property to be traded and gifted away," I inform them sternly. "I am a person."
"You misunderstand," Kaden tries to fix the situation. "We are a gift to you as well. We even contacted Alpha Kieran and Luna Mae to ask for your hand."
Fear rushes through my body, and I start to feel nauseous. I grab the first set of clothes I can find and hurriedly get dressed. Kaden is blocking the doorway of my bedroom, and I barrel into him, forcing him to move.
He stumbles backward because he wasn't expecting me to run into him and I race past him. I grab my keys from the kitchen counter and head for the door. I am running on pure panic and adrenaline as I race to my car. The twins are calling my name, but I refuse to turn around.
Faster than I can think, Kaden is standing in front of me. "Tish, what is going on?"
"How could you be so stupid?" I cry. "How could you be so disrespectful?"
He cocks his head to the hide and clearly doesn't understand. I run my hands through my hair and glance over my shoulder. Suddenly, I feel like I am being watched.
"We never meant to upset you," Kai whispers.
"Upset," I chuckle crazily. "I am not upset. I am fucking livid. You told them where I was. Do you have any idea the horrors I was put through at the North Pack? When I escaped, I had been locked in the trunk of Kieran's car for two days. TWO DAYS. But sure, call them and let them know where they can find me so they can do it all over again."
"Tish," Kaden gasps. "We didn't know. You should have told us."
"Fuck you," I scream. "Don't you dare try to blame me for this? I was punished for trying to break them up. So, I left. I left to save myself, and I left so they could be happy. It is no longer safe for me here."
"You don't understand," Kai yells after me as I get into the car. "They forgive you. Or at least Luna Mae does. They aren't hunting you."
The engine of my car drowns out the rest of his words, and I hit the gas. Kaden and Kai dive out of the way as I pull out of the driveway. I don't look in my rearview. I don't want to look at what I am leaving behind.
I drive toward Cedric's bar. It is the only place I know. Plus, I will have to return the car. I don't want to steal from him. He is the only werewolf who has been honest with me from the start.
I pull into the parking lot, and Cedric is in the doorway waiting for me. Tears stream down my cheeks as I run into his arms.
"How did you know I was coming," I sob into his chest.
"Kaden called," he admits. "He thought you might come here. He wants me to keep you from running."
"What other choice do I have?" I choke out. "They will come for me."
"Who is coming for you?" Cedric asks.
"Everyone," I whisper.
Cedric tucks me under his arm and leads me into the bar. Much to my surprise, it is full. The bar is set up with a cafeteria-style buffet. Homeless people and rogues are lined up to get plates of food.
"I run a soup kitchen during the day," Cedric tells me.
"You are too good for this world," I say, leaning onto his shoulder.
"Come on," he tugs on my arm. "Tell me about these people that are coming for you."