Denied by Destiny: Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond

Chapter 0368

- Josie -

with Dad, before having us...seemed impossible before.

"You married someone before meeting your mate?" I can't stop the words that blurt out of my mouth. In some twisted romanticised way I always thought Mum and Dad had always existed as one. To think of Mum with someone else...married to someone else before being But everyone has a past, even I have a past after and before Knox.

"That is a question for another day." Mum's eyes hold mine and for the first time, I think in my life, I can see pain within them.

She wants to tell me things, but I know that they are things I'll be hard to hear. Things that she wants save for another time.

"My childhood wasn't what I thought it was, I grew up without a mother. My father, who was my everything, had lied to me my entire life...and betrayed Alora before she even took her first breath. I didn't grow up with Alora, we didn't find each other until we were young adults. That's when I met your Dad, and to say our story started off easy would be somewhat of a lie."

"The things worth having in life do not come to us easy, remember that my sweet." Dad's eyes also hold regret but such a deep love that it tugs on my heart.

"So you don't talk to him, this Than...he isn't in your lives at all?" Jaxon asks, as I can tell that he is digesting this just as Jace and I also are.

haven't heard from him since we found out we were

why tonight. What did he say to you?" Jaxon's

who

that Red, he waited until she was alone at the table to make a beeline for her, even in front of all the warriors.

Knox, wanting to jab him in the ribs for his blabber mouth. There was no need to worry my family unnecessarily, I was never in any real danger. "Josie?" Dad almost rounds on me, his

and he seemed to know that the boys had

been strong...such a force, and she still is...but I can't shake the feeling that this

in reflection had been nothing compared to what both my parent's might have had to face

her Mother, that's why I couldn't be angry that I didn't have a wolf...I

met for all their young lives. My head was spinning with the information already shared...and I wanted

certain it was kept a secret?" Knox asks next to me, his hand suddenly gripping at my waist as he pulls me closer to him. I can't help but lean into his touch, my body humming from his

Jude's and the Red Thorn pack. Packs that we

Thorn pack?" Knox looks at us all

"Uncle Orpheus' pack."

not related to

by blood to Than, not to me. But he made his loyalty clear when..." Dad