Page 3 of My Pucking Mates (Pucking Werewolves #4)

I wake, startled as I jolt and crack my forehead on Eris' top bunk. Groaning and rubbing my forehead, I try to unscramble my brain to figure out what woke me. That’s when I hear it. Mama is yelling, and it sounds like things are being broken.

Something shatters against a wall, and I leap out of bed, but I’m not the only one awake now.

Eris launches himself from his bunk and lands ahead of me as we move towards the door.

He turns towards me with a serious look I’ve never seen on his face, but I’m struck with a déjà vu kind of feeling…

like I vaguely remember he used to be more like that.

Shaking the foggy memories from my mind, I worry about what’s got Mama so upset. Did I do something to upset him again?

We’ve gotten better at avoiding Pop and his foul moods—mostly by just making ourselves scarce.

It’s easier to goof off and enjoy ourselves away from his disapproving glare.

I never even understood why he was so angry all the time.

I swear, there’s nothing that anyone could do to make that monster happy.

Even when we’re on our best behavior, he complains. When Mama cooks the best meals, he complains. If we all head into town for something, he complains. I can’t remember a time that I’ve ever seen him happy.

Eris snaps his fingers just in front of my nose, bringing me back to the moment, eyes taking a lethal edge.

He leans his head around the door frame, scoping out what’s going on before he waves his hand for me to follow him. He flattens his palm and moves it as though he’s pressing down on something, wordlessly instructing me to lower myself.

We slowly, and as quietly as we can, move down the hall towards where we heard a commotion.

Eris turns the corner first, and his entire frame locks still. Moving closer to see what’s going on, I squeeze myself between him and the doorframe, unprepared for the sight before me.

Mama is lying in the middle of the kitchen floor, curled up in the fetal position. I don’t see any blood or signs of physical harm, but there are shattered dishes and debris on the floor around her as she sobs, clutching her chest.

On reflex, I rush in and drop onto my knees beside her, scanning her body, making sure she’s not injured. “Mama, what’s wrong? What happened? Are you okay?” I plead, gently moving her hair from her face.

I don’t like her face when she cries. She has the sweetest face when she’s calm and peaceful. We don’t get to see it enough because of Pop, but those moments are precious.

Her gray eyes that look just like mine and Eris’ look back at me, full of angry red veins, swollen, and still glistening with tears. “I’m so sorry…my sweet boys,” is all she says before she closes her eyes, and her muscles all relax.

“Mama!” I shout, my head whipping back to where Eris still stands locked in place.

“Do something!” I yell, throwing a larger shard of what might have been a plate at him.

It works, and he stumbles towards where I’m crouched over Mama, and the deadly look on his face would be terrifying if he wasn’t my brother.

He checks her pulse and says it’s erratic but strong as he looks her over for visible injuries.

Finding none, he moves around the space looking for signs of what in the world happened here while I remain at Mama’s side, holding her hand in mine, rubbing circles on her skin like she did on mine when I was younger.

I’m nudged awake and confused before the middle-of-the-night’s events replay in my mind. The sun hasn’t fully risen yet, but I’m lying in the middle of a now clean kitchen floor with a still-sleeping Mama. Eris looks like he never went back to sleep; he must have cleaned the kitchen.

“Where’s Pop? Does he know what happened to Mama?” I ask, keeping my voice low, trying not to wake her.

His mouth sets in a thin line. “He left.”

I’m still tired, and it takes a few moments for the words to register. “Wait…What do you mean he left?”

His fists clench at his sides, and he looks like he’s having a mental argument with himself. “He left Dolos. He rejected her. He severed their mate bond. And he left. End of story.”

My eyes feel like they’re about to bug out of my head.

Is it my fault? I know Pop and I didn’t get along, but I would never want Mama to have to go through the pain of losing her mate.

That’s one of the worst things a werewolf can go through.

“W-why?” is all I can say, the words nearly getting stuck in my throat.

“Because he’s a piece of shit!” Eris barks, using a bad word because Mama’s still asleep and can’t hear to scold him.

“He never treated her right. He never treated you right. He never treated any of us right. Some mate. Some father. Some man.” He angrily spits the words, crosses his arms over his chest, and takes in the space.

I notice he’s not wearing his sleep clothes he had on when we woke the first time. “Why are you already dressed?”

A flicker of something flits across his face so fast I’m pretty sure I must have imagined it.

“The sun’s coming up. I got ready for the day.

It’s our job to take care of Mama now.” With his short, sharp words, he moves towards us, crouching low and cradling her in his arms. He rises steadily, carrying her down the hall to her bed.

After he lays her gently, he tucks her in and leaves a light kiss on her forehead.

His face is void of emotion as he walks back out of the room…

like it doesn’t even bother him that Pop is gone.