Chapter 31

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.:Author's Note:.

Jenna at the top.

***

Blake's POV:

"I'm sorry to cut the moment short, but may I speak with my mate, alone?" I asked Dr. Madison as Liam nuzzled my side. The squirrel chuckled as he nodded.

"Sure, I understand. I have to get back to work anyways." He said with a small grin. He ruffled Liam's hair as he passed by before leaving Angela's office. I moved Liam so that he was standing in front of me again. He blushed as he looked up at me while I felt myself relaxing under his soft gaze.

"I went to go see my mo- Jenna today." I said quickly, but my mate had caught every word. He gasped before leading me over to the couch. I sighed as he pushed me down to sit and straddled my lap.

"Why?" He asked softly, running his fingers through my hair. I shrugged. Maddy had called me on our way from the precinct and said that she needed my help. I didn't think anything of it so I left Liam with Angela and went to go meet up with her. It turns out that she didn't need my help at all when I pulled up in front of the rehab. Jenna had begged to see me.

"Maddy tricked me." I finally answered. Liam grinned cutely, but it was gone just as quick as it had appeared.

"H-how'd it go?"

Sighing as I shrugged again, I sank further into the sofa. Liam laid his head on my shoulder as he continued to play with my hair while I wrapped my arms around his waist. The new position allowed more of my mate's scent to invade my nose. It was heavenly.

"It was okay, I guess. At first, I was pissed that Maddy would even think that I wanted to be in the same room as Jenna, but after she practically guilt tripped me into staying, my feelings sort of changed to nonchalance."

"What happened?" Liam's breath caused a shiver to race down my spine. The content feeling intensified as I held him just a little tighter.

"We walked into the building and we were led to the visitor area for the patients. Jenna was already waiting there and I could tell that she had been crying." I paused, but Liam didn't say anything, silently allowing me to gather my thoughts. "I think it was because of me. It didn't cross my mind until now. But anyways, Maddy and I sat down in front of her, and it was just tense. I didn't really want to speak to her, and I guess she was at loss for words because her hand was over her mouth as she stared at me in surprise."

Flashback:

"See, Mom? I told you I'd get him here." Maddy said, causing me to grumble. I glared at her before turning back to the woman who had given birth to me. She looked slightly healthier than when she was at the hospital a couple weeks ago. Her pale skin wasn't so pale anymore, and I could see that she had dyed her hair back to its healthy shade. Or maybe she was wearing a wig...

"I-I didn't think you'd show up, Simba."

"Don't call me that!" I snapped lowly, not wanting to draw too much attention to us. There were other shifters visiting their family members, and I didn't want to cause a scene. "And I didn't come here by choice. Your daughter forced me to."

Jenna shrank in her seat as she nodded. "Still, I'm happy you're here. I have so much to say to you."

"Well, you better make it quick. My mate is waiting for me."

"Blake! You're not even trying to fix this." Maddy belittled me, but I just scoffed in annoyance.

"I didn't fucking ask to be here. I don't want to try to fix anything. You're the one stupidly trying to help a lost cause. I could be with my mate, trying to keep him out of harm's way, but instead, I'm here wasting precious time I could be spending protecting him!" I angrily stood up so that I could leave this wretched place, but Jenna stopped me.

"Your mate, he seems kind." She whispered while looking at me with watery eyes. "What's his name?"

I knew that I didn't owe her an answer, but whenever there was an opportunity to talk about Liam, I was going to take it. Slowly sitting back down, I glanced at Maddy before looking back at Jenna.

"Liam. His name is Liam, and he's the kindest person anyone could ever hope to meet." I said with a smile as I thought of my mate. I wondered what he was doing at the moment. Maybe he was busying himself with all the animals that the animal hospital had to offer. The thought made me chuckle.

"I hope I can get the chance to meet him one day, under better conditions." Jenna voiced, interrupting my train of thoughts.

"I wouldn't count on it." I replied with a small frown. "Liam doesn't need anymore negativity in his life."

"I'm trying to get better. It's why I'm here." She sniffled.

"That doesn't change the fact that you left us! You left us for eighteen years, and now that you're back, I'm suddenly supposed to give a fuck?"

"No! But I want you to know that I'm so sorry." Jenna was crying now, and it made me uncomfortable. Liam's tears I could handle, but Jenna's own only caused a mixture of anger, hate, and disbelief to settle in the pit of my stomach.

"Sorry doesn't change anything. I still don't believe you're back after so many years just because you missed us. Why did you really come back here? And I want the truth or else I'm leaving for good."

There was a tense moment of silence as Jenna continued to cry. She fiddled with her fingers as Maddy moved from beside me to sit next to her.

"Go ahead, Mom. You can tell him." She encouraged, and I tensed in my seat, waiting for the worst.

"That night, the night I left, it was to protect the pride." She whispered, looking at the table in shame. "Yes, I was, still am, addicted to drugs, but I could still understand that I couldn't allow the people I loved to get hurt. One day, I was so drugged up, I had stupidly shifted into my lioness and exposed our kind. Brady, my drug dealer, threatened to expose and hurt all of us. I begged him not to, and in the end, we came to a compromise. If I left with him and took nearly half a million worth of money with me, he would leave you all alone. You know I couldn't pass that up, so I did. I was the mate of the pride leader, it was the right thing to do." Jenna paused to catch her breath. I was going to speak, but she interrupted to keep her story going.

"We left the state and I became his money making whore. H-he sold me out to keep the money coming in and that was how it went for the next eighteen years. You guys were safe and I... I was paying for what I did.

A few months ago, Brady stole from the wrong group of people and there was a hit sent out for him until he paid up. The idiot had blown all the money on stupid stuff, and I should've known because the money I was making, couldn't buy all of his shit. He had suddenly decided to come and sell you guys out, in hopes of making back the money. I couldn't let that happen. One thing led to another and I ended up turning him into the men before fleeing. I don't know what they did with him, but I'm here now, hoping that they killed him and you guys remain safe."

End of Flashback

***

Liam sat up straight in my lap, staring at me in shock.

"Do... do you believe her?" He questioned softly.

"Honestly, love, I don't know what to believe."

"H-hear me out, Blakey. What if s-she's telling the truth?"

"What makes you think that?"

Liam's cheeks puffed out in thought before he sighed a bit.

"When she showed up at the hospital, she looked more relieved to see that you all were okay than any other emotion. She was asking for help, maybe not to stop her drug addiction, but help to make sure this Brady man wouldn't target you guys anymore. He dragged her down to rock bottom with him, and yet she's still fighting to protect you all."

I took into consideration what Liam had said (without stuttering I might add). Although I didn't give the situation much thought after Jenna was done explaining (I had simply asked for time to think about it and left), I was glad to get an unbiased opinion on the matter.

"So you're saying I should believe her?"

"N-no." Liam blushed. "I'm saying that you should look into it some m-more before officially deciding to take her back in or cut her loose. E-everything is up to you, Blakey. I'm just here to be your support s-system. I got y-you, baby." He responded cutely as his face lit up in flames.

He deserved a kiss for that.

***

The remainder of the week continued with Jenna's confession on my mind. However, when it came to Liam's birthday, I diminished the thought for a short while so that I could focus on the love of my life.

Being as quiet as possible, I pushed open Liam's bedroom door and set Maxie down. The Dalmatian pup hurried to jump on the bed and lick Liam's face happily. Angela had her phone out to record the moment that my mate woke up. It didn't take long; soon enough, Liam was grumbling and swatting at Maxie's face.

"Maxie, stop it." He whined while turning to face the other way. Seconds later, he sat up suddenly, looking at the dog with wide eyes. "MAXIE?! What are you doing here?"

Jerald, Angela, and I all laughed, catching the lamb's attention. "Happy birthday!" We cheered, making Liam's face fill with color. He hugged the pup to his chest while his eyes, almost immediately, filled with tears.

"Love, why are you crying?" I questioned as I entered his room fully. Moving to sit on his bed, I scooped him up and placed him in my lap, making sure that both he and Maxie were comfortable.

"I-I'm just really happy. It has always been just m-me, Ma, and Papa, but n-now you and Maxie are here too." He replied as he tucked his head into the crook of my neck. I heard Angela swoon at us before rushing over to engulf the both of us in her arms.

"I'm so happy that you're happy, my little lamb." She voiced before kissing her son's head of blonde hair. Next, it was Jerald that came over to hug Liam. He stood from my lap and placed Maxie down to hug his father tightly.

"Happy birthday, Lima Bean."

"T-thank you, Papa."

"I can't believe you're finally eighteen. It seems like only yesterday you were seventeen." I voiced teasingly, making the sheep shifters laugh. Liam and Jerald separated so that my mate could pick up Maxie once again.

"It was only y-yesterday!" He teased back before nuzzling the Dalmatian pup, causing him to growl contently.

"And as an eighteenth birthday present to you from your parents..." Jerald let the sentence hang.

"Maxie will be a permanent resident in the Nelson family household." Angela finished, making Liam squeal in delight as his eyes filled with tears again. Standing up, I wrapped an arm around him to kiss the top of his head.

"You'll have to come downstairs to sign the papers, though." I said, making him nod. Jerald and Angela shuffled out of the room followed by me, Liam, and Maxie. The Dalmatian pup had yet to stop barking and growling in excitement as if knowing that he was getting adopted today. However, my mate didn't seem to mind.

I guided Liam down the steps and stood behind him seeing that he was distracted with Maxie. When we stopped moving, it still took a few more seconds for him to notice the few people staring at him in the living room. When he did, he took a step back in shock, bumping into me.

"SURPRISE!" Everyone shouted, making Liam freeze. There was Aliyah, Lorenzo, Dimi, Maddy, Pops, Rachel, Quinn, Hazel, Dr. Madison, and Bailey; everyone Liam considered to be a friend.

"Oh m-my gosh! I'm still in my jammies!" He shouted before racing back upstairs, making everyone laugh.

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