The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,106

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Mom: You won’t need to worry about him scenting his mate and going on a run while he’s with you. You’ll be the only thing he smells and sees. When you’re done with him, he’ll likely find his mate and do his best to forget about you.

I frowned at her after reading that and replied.

Me: Do his best? I thought his kind was immune to the side effect of our kind feeding on them.

“I would much rather have this conversation out loud,” Mom said.

“So would I,” Fenris agreed from the kitchen, which earned Mom a look from me.

“Jason, darling, will you take Fenris outside to play for a bit? Eliana and I need some mother-daughter time.”

“I’d rather not,” Fenris said. “I can hear the way her pulse is racing and smell her growing panic. Whatever you two are discussing has her two seconds from running. It took a lot of planning and some trickery to get her here, and I still want to visit my dad after this. I’d rather just calm things down before they get any worse.”

Mom waved her hand at me. “By all means. Eliana is worried about your immunity to the mindless infatuation that often results after we feed.”

Instead of letting my panic rule my thoughts and feed my fears, I paid attention to everyone else’s emotions. Fenris, despite his calm words, was feeling almost as much panic as I was. Worry filled both Mom and Dad.

I slouched back into my seat.

“I don’t want to talk about this. I’ll be fine. Nothing’s changed,” I said, meeting Fenris’s gaze.

“Prove it. Come here and hug me.”

My gaze shifted to my dad, who stood in uncertainty beside Fenris.

“Jason, she’s looking at you because your beliefs about public displays of affection have stifled her true nature.”

Dad took a long, slow breath before speaking.

“Hugs provide comfort and show concern. They can be completely appropriate in public. Some cultures even approve of a kiss on the cheek for public displays of affection for friends and loved ones. Empathy, sympathy, and affection are healthy emotions that need not be hidden away.”

Mom beamed at him like he’d just made a breakthrough, but I knew better. He had a way of saying just the right words to make her believe he was seeing things her way, all the while conveying a deeper, hidden meaning. His true message was clear: those emotions are fine for public, but don’t cross the line.

That same trapped feeling enveloped me but on a new level. Before I’d only felt pulled between Mom and Dad’s beliefs. But now Fenris was watching me, the light missing from his eyes as if I’d somehow already disappointed him by not running into his arms.

I stood, ignoring the fact that I was still in a towel, and went to give Fenris a quick hug. I should have known better. Fenris didn’t make things easy. As soon as he had me in his arms, he tipped me back, eliciting a startled “eep” from me.

My weak hold around his neck became a desperate cling for support.

“Unconditional honesty,” he said, his hand anchoring my back. “What are you thinking?”

“That my dad is just as good at misleading others as you are.”

“Explain,” Fenris and Mom said simultaneously as he righted me.

“It’s how you both word things, Fenris. It’s never a yes or no. A person has to hear what you aren’t saying to know what you are saying.”

Mom’s eyes flickered to black when she looked at Dad.

“And what were you saying just now, Jason?”

“A hug can be more than a simple hug. Simple hugs are appropriate for public; the other kinds are not.”

I could feel Mom’s anger.

“Children, I think it’s time for you to visit with Fenris’s father. Jason and I need to have a long discussion, and I won’t upset Eliana on such an important day.”

“Important day?” I echoed, confused.

“Baby, you finally trusted us enough to introduce one of your friends. I see how important today is even if you don’t. Your father does, too. That’s part of why he and I need to have a frank discussion. But I really want you to bring Fenris back. Maybe we could have dinner tonight?”

“Maybe,” I hedged.

“Nicolette, love, their clothes aren’t finished washing. Our conversation can wait until after we visit with Eliana and Fenris.”

They locked eyes, and I was surprised at the amount of determination I saw in Dad’s gaze before Mom reluctantly nodded.

“Good,” Fenris said, rubbing his hands. “Your dad and I are going to see who can