Chapter 32 " The pack ? " 120 ) I'd like to know how many there are . They seem to live in a different world . So many things have changed and yet everything seems to have stayed the exact same . Things that had once seemed strange to me make sense . I'd become accustom to them but now that I know I'm not insane , i see the threats all around me I remember things I couldn't explain . I'd brush them away making nothing of them , but here's the evidence . " Yeah , " she smiles like it's the greatest thing thing in the world and I suppose it is to her . " How many of you are there ? " " A lot , " she laughs . " Thousands . My parents take care of a lot people , " " You're going to have to teach me all this , " I sigh . " I promise , " she agrees without hesitation . I add a little pink lip gloss to her plumpy lips . " You're all set , " Tessa jumps off the table and turns around to see what I did . " But you didn't use all this stuff , " she looks back at me . " Because you don't need it , " I laugh . " Women all over the world would kill to have skin like yours " , " " Stop , Phoebe . You're making me blush ," she laughs and turns to face me . The pink warmth in her cheeks just adds to what I did . She really is beautiful . " Don't hide them tonight , " she says looking down at my neck . " For all our sakes . " They need to see it . It shows he has every intention to keep you at his side . It won't be enough to fully push them back until he marks you , but it'll make them hesitate and that's all the opening we're going to need if we get through this with minimal damage . You're not doing this for him . It's for your protection and my niece and nephew . Thank you for that by the way . I think I have a couple of more years now before my parents start demanding more , " " My pleasure ? " I shrug . " I bet it was , little human , " she pokes my side . " Oh , my god . You're bright red , " " You are definitely his sister , " I roll my eyes . " Never question it , " she beams . " Phoebe ? " there's a tap on the door . She rips it open and steps out smacking Knightly on the chest . " You owe me big time , superstar , " she skips out of the room . " Did she shame our family in front of you ? " he asks playfully . His eyes zero in on the marks on my neck . " No more than you already have , " I smirk . " Walked right into that one , " he grins . " You are relentless , " I take him in . Knightly is very handsome . So much about him has changed , but there's so much of the boy I met that night still there . His hair is cut shorter . Almost like he's attempting to try and be a little more adult - ish . He's usually wearing straight jeans and sneakers . But tonight , he's swapped them for trousers that are tailored to his powerful legs . The black shiny fabric is perfectly paired with a dark charcoal gray button - down . His sleeves are in place but the sleeves are a little short on him . It's a common predicament with men his size . " Here , " I say removing the button to fold them up . 1/2 16.4 32 % +20 ) Chapter 32 " You don't like my shirt , " " You look amazing in the shirt , but you're going to have to fix these if you're going to make a habit out of wearing them . If you let me , I'd like to take your measurements properly , " " Okay , " he clears his throat . " What ? " " Nothing . I've never been insecure about what I wear until this very moment , " " You don't have anything to be insecure about , " I say using my nails to crease the fold and work on the other one . " This actually feels more comfortable , " " Because the seem isn't poking at you anymore . You're not a button - down wearing guy , " " This is my brother's , " he's embarrassed . That's cute . " Give me a second to finish up ? " " I'll be outside , " he nods . I glare down at the black dress trying to calm myself . I'm about to go down there where there are a bunch of werewolves waiting for me to be presented to them as Knightly Blake's mate . How did things turn out this way ? My life is never going to be the same . Three weeks ago , my biggest concern was keeping my son from biting the other toddlers and now he's the son of an alpha / rockstar / son of a fucking psycho . Running doesn't seem like an option . Where the fuck would we go ? I don't have anyone and there is no way I'm going to be able to fight like them . The best I can do is get myself a shotgun and pray I never have to use it in front of my kids . I don't want to live like that . Remember what that old fuck said , Phoebe . Take in your surroundings . Every movement counts . Feel the elements and let them guide you . You're not some little damsel . You survived sixteen years in a house with a homicidal cat lady who tried to kill you on more than one occasion . What's a night with a bunch of werewolves ? With my lame attempt at a pep talk, I slip my black maxi dress on and reach for my white gold accessories . I remove the clip of my hair and shake out the waves . I am going to need to let my hair grow if Nightly is going to be doing this to me . It might mean something different to them but where I come from it means something shameful . " Not tonight . Tonight you're the alpha's mate , " I whisper in the mirror . " Our lives kind of depend on that , " I slip my necklace into place and put my hoops on . It's both casual and elegant . I look good . I'm so nervous and it has nothing to do with the people . I promised myself that I wasn't going to make it about us , but here I am wondering if he's going to like it . I can't afford to realize that this is a mistake . It would be the end of me . 2/2