She stood, dragging me into a hug. “I see you, Esme. I promise I see you. And this pack you’ve chosen, they’re a good one. I looked at the files. They came in handy even though my intentions weren’t good. It was hard to watch you and them because I recognize what it’s like. Both you and Eva, you have what I had, and I miss it.”

“Yeah.”

She held me for a long time, and I couldn’t actually remember the last time we’d done this—been this close for this long. My mom’s scent was delicate. Like lilies. It was where the floral elements of my and Eva’s scents came from.

“I hope you can forgive me,” Mom said. “I want to know your pack, and I want you to be so much happier than you’ve been.”

“I am happy,” I whispered. “Today notwithstanding. And yes, I forgive you. It doesn’t mean it won’t hurt for a while.”

“I know.”

When she pulled away, I looked at her, wrinkled and mussed. It was the first time I saw my real mother in a long time.

“When Eva told me you were gone, I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

“I lost my mind a little. But that wasn’t all on you. I’ve got it back now.”

She laughed softly. “Good.”

“Also, don’t kill me, please.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want a bonding ceremony.”

Mom waved a hand. “That, at the very least, I knew. Getting you to do a big event would have been like pulling teeth. I’ll only ask one thing.”

I waited.

“After it’s done, have some pictures done with all of you. You’ll want them later. I promise.”

Nodding, I held out a hand, and she took it. “We can do that.”

She looked at the door. “I don’t want to take you from your pack for too long. Eva told me what happened. I’m sorry you’ve had to go through all of this. And I’m sorry for all of it, but even in my desperation, if I’d known what happened with Aaron, I never would have brought his pack in.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

Patting my hand, she started for the door. “Lunch once you can walk again?”

“Yes. But please, for the love of god can we go somewhere other than Aurelia’s?”

She made a face. “I’ll think about it.”

Outside I heard soft words, my mother’s voice and others. They were too quiet to be heard, but I hoped she was apologizing to them, too. She would love them once she got to know them.

Rylan poked his head inside. “You okay?”

“That depends on how long I have to stay in the hospital.” I wasn’t a fan of hospitals, and I wasn’t dying, apparently. So I wanted to go home.