Force of Temptation (The Mercury Pack 2)

“I can’t say that surprises me.”

“Not that I’m not pleased to see you, but what brought you home? Did you hear us fighting?”

“No.” He took both her hands, tangling their fingers. “I’m really sorry to tell you this, because it’s not going to improve your mood a tiny bit.”

Crap. “What?”

“Lily and Shawn are here.”

Oh, freaking wonderful. Just the people Harley did not want to see. Ever. And if it made her cruel that she wasn’t pleased to see her own mother, well . . . then she was cruel.

“Do you want to speak with them?”

Not even a little. “Sure.” Her cat snarled her displeasure, but Harley believed it was best just to get the whole thing over with.

“I can make them leave.”

“They’d just come back.” She kissed him. “But thanks. I’m going to wash, change, and drag a brush through my hair. By then, these injuries will have healed. Then we’ll let Lily whine about how I didn’t tell her I was mated.”

A short while later, they were walking down the dirt road to where a large number of the pack was gathered up ahead. Even from there, Harley could hear her mother whining, “You can’t stop us from seeing her!” The woman did love to make a scene. She was truly gifted at it.

“Let us pass!” demanded Shawn, curt.

“No. You have permission to step onto our territory but not to pass any farther.” Eli’s voice was deceptively cool. “Harley will come when she’s ready.”

Derren briefly glanced over his shoulder. “She’s almost here. I suggest you calm yourselves unless you want her to refuse to speak with you.”

But, of course, they didn’t follow his advice.

The crowd parted as she and Jesse arrived; everyone gave Harley either a supportive smile or a respectful nod. Unlike the others, Eli didn’t move. He stood between Harley and their visitors like a sentry. Still, she was able to see Lily and Shawn just fine. They both looked gaunt, pale, and disheveled. Her mother was dressed in a tight vest and short skirt, both of which badly needed ironing and were two sizes too small. Shawn, as per usual, was dressed like a biker, though he was a very sad imitation of one.

Red faced, Shawn ordered, “Tell him to move!”

She smiled. “Nobody can make Eli do anything he doesn’t want to do. I guess you’ll have to ask him nicely.” And, yes, she was tormenting them a little. Hey, if they were going to embarrass her, then there was no reason for her to be hospitable.

Eli said, “He’s not getting near you until he’s calm.” Odd that a person who had once despised her was now one of her staunchest supporters.

Shawn took a deep breath. “Can you please move aside so we can see Harley?” His false politeness made her smile widen.

Eli kept his gaze on Shawn as he asked, “Harley, you want to talk to them?”

“Sure,” she replied, so Eli stepped aside.

“Sure?” echoed Lily. “Well, I feel loved.”

Harley folded her arms, staying close to Jesse. “I take it you heard about our mating.”

Lily’s mouth went tight. “Yes, and imagine how hurt I was to find out secondhand that you’re mated. Your father called me earlier, and let me tell you he is not happy. He wants to see you.” Lily flicked her hair back as she flashed Jesse a smile. “I remember you. I wanted to come here and personally thank you for making her see where her place in the world lies.”

No, she’d come to embarrass her because Lily got some perverse joy out of it . . . as if it made her feel better about herself.

“Jesse, I’m sure you remember Lily and Shawn,” said Harley.

“Her mother and uncle,” Lily stressed, casting Harley a look of reprimand.

Given what Jesse knew of Lily, she was no mother to Harley. Maybe things would have been different if she hadn’t drowned in her own misery rather than care for Harley. Then again, maybe they wouldn’t have been. His wolf regarded the shifters with a snarl of distaste. “They look different when they’re sober,” Jesse told Harley. “Not a lot different, but still.”

Lily’s face hardened. Her eyes cut to Harley. “I wouldn’t have guessed you would ever have anything to do with a Sequoia wolf after what happened with his sister.”

“You guessed wrong,” said Jesse.

Shawn put a staying hand on Lily’s arm. “We’re happy for you, Harley. We just can’t believe you didn’t tell us that you’re mated. It was hard to hear from someone else.”

Petulant as ever, Lily sniped, “I’ll bet Tess knows. You tell her everything. You visit her all the time. But not me.”

Aware that her mother was just looking to start an argument, Harley said, “I’m not playing this game with you. You’ve had your moment of drama; you can leave now.”

“Wait,” said Shawn, “we’re on our way to visit your father. You should come. He wants to see you. Now, I know you prefer speaking with Clive alone and I know you don’t like the idea of being summoned to see him, but this is no small matter. If you won’t do it for him, do it for me.”

Jesse looked him up and down. “Why would she do it for you?”

Shawn lifted his chin. “I was more of a father to her than Clive.”

Um, no he wasn’t. But Harley knew that Shawn genuinely believed that, for the simple reason that he liked to think he had taken Clive’s place in Lily’s and Harley’s affections.