finally lifting his head and looking at her. “She told me a bit of how your former pack worked. Had I known—”
“Had you know, you never would have let me go back there that morning,” Mom finished sadly.
“Of course not,” he replied heatedly, a bite in his voice. He frowned deeply, his brows pulling together.
“Had I known? I wouldn’t have gone,” Mom told him gently. “I never expected what happened next. I never thought that would set us on this path that we’re on now.”
“And none of that is your fault,” Mallory added firmly.
Mom gave her a fast, grateful smile and nodded. “I told Mallory what happened last night. After seeing you,” she said to Nikolai with a grimace, “I felt like I was drowning. We spent the night talking, and I realized it was time you both knew what happened.”
My heart twisted, aching for her. I leaned back against Remy more, letting him support me physically and emotionally.
“I never wanted that,” Nikolai told her sadly, shaking his head. “My coming here was never to cause you pain, Adalynne.”
“No, you came here to be a good father,” Mom responded kindly. “I can’t be upset that you’re here to help Skye. I’m glad you’re here. For her.”
“I’m here for both of you,” he said quietly.
Natasha exhaled hard beside him, her lips pulling into the start of a grin. Her blue eyes glittered with approval.
Mom cleared her throat, looking a little distressed. “Nik, I don’t want to come between you and your mate.”
“Wife,” Natasha jumped in quickly. “I’m his wife. Not his mate.”
Nikolai’s eyes closed, and I had the sense he was holding in a laugh.
“We’re not … It isn’t …” Natasha flustered was kind of hysterical. She looked comically out of her element.
Mom tilted her head to the side in confusion.
“It’s a long story, one I will happily tell you about one day,” Natasha finished lamely. “But Nik and I aren’t like that. We’ve never been like that.”
“Oh.” Mom’s eyes widened a bit. “But you have a son.”
“I had a mate,” Natasha explained. “A bonded mate. He died when I was pregnant. Nik adopted Dimitri when he was an infant.”
Nikolai scowled slightly. “He’s still my son.”
Mom’s eyes darted between them, her brows knitting together.
“Of course he is,” Natasha replied, laying a hand on his arm. “But I’m not. Yours, that is. I would never … I’m making a mess of this, aren’t I?”
A dimple appeared in Nikolai’s cheek. “You certainly aren’t helping things, love. But keep talking. Maybe you’ll bare all the sordid details of our marriage.”
Natasha’s eyes narrowed for a heartbeat. “Sordid my ass. I want a divorce.”
I choked on a laugh as Remy stilled under me in surprise.
Mom looked horrified. “I didn’t mean—”
“Please,” Natasha added emphatically, turning to Mom. “Take him off my hands. I don’t want him.”
I snorted as Nikolai looked affronted.
“Perhaps we can schedule our divorce talk at a later date?”
“I’m being honest.” Natasha waved a hand at Mom. “I can’t compete with that. She’s gorgeous. For fuck’s sake, Nik, I’m ready to kick your ass for not going back for her before now.”
Natasha meant it lightly, the way she meant most things, but that last barb landed like the blade of a guillotine, sucking all the air out of the room.
“Fuck,” she muttered, clearly realizing she had gone too far. She turned to Mom, her expression pleading. “I didn’t mean it like that.”
Mom tried to shrug it off, but Nikolai was glowering at his soon-to-be-ex-wife.
“I should go,” Natasha said, getting up. She held up a hand when Mom tried to speak. “Adalynne, I don’t know everything that happened between the two of you all those years ago, but I’m on Mallory’s side. You are not to blame.” She looked down at Nikolai pointedly. “Neither of you are. And I appreciate you inviting me here as Nik’s wife, but I’m not his mate. Our marriage is in name only. He’s my dearest friend, but that’s all.”
Natasha touched his shoulder as she left the room.
“Maybe this should be between the three of you,” Mallory said quietly, her gaze flicking to her son.
Mom breathed in deeply and gave a slow nod. “Give us a moment?”
Mallory quickly got up, but I resisted letting Remy up for a second, not sure I was ready to let him go. I finally stood slowly.
He pressed a kiss to the side of my head, his hand squeezing around mine briefly before following Mallory out of the room. The door closing behind them was more