But even as I think it, the first tendrils of doubt begin to wrap around my intestines. They''ve never epted Iria. They''ve made that painfully clear.


    With a nod, I turn and make my way toward Iris''s room.


    When we return to Iris''s hospital room, she''s sitting upright in bed. The sight of her pale, drawn face makes my steps falter. I want to kick myself. I almost lost her tonight, and here I am, pacing around like a caged animal because my feelings are hurt.


    Caleb was right about me, wasn''t he?


    She perks up when she sees ine, and her amber eyes begin to shimmer immediately with tears. "Arthur, I''m sorry-


    I cross the room in three strides and sit on her bed, wrapping my anns around her and holding her gently. "No. I''m the one who should apologize," I say softly into her hair. "I''m sorry I walked out."


    She lets out a small sigh of relief, but when she pulls back, her faces grim. "Arthur, I think your parents might have known about the kiwi. Your father gave me the recipe for the cocktail, and he was oddly pushy about me drinking it. And then Caleb told me they left so quickly when I copsed...”


    "I''ll talk to them," I promise her, squeezing her hand gently. "I''ll find out the truth."


    She blinks. "You believe me?"


    "I believe you''re concerned, and that''s enough for me," I say. "I can''t imagine my parents doing something like that, but if you think it''s a possibility, then I won''t rule it out."


    Tears well up in her eyes again, and she blinks them back. "I''m so sorry, Arthur. I should have told you everything from the beginning. I wanted to, so many times, but..."


    "But Caleb asked you not to," I finish for her, casting a nce at the man still standing near the door. He has the grace to look slightly ashamed.


    Iris nods. "It wasn''t just that. I was scared. Finding out I''m a werewolf, a Willford... my whole identity has been turned upside down. I didn''t know how to tell you, really, and I kept making up excuses in my head. Anything to keep putting it off."


    That doesn''t surprise me as much as it probably should. I reach up, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. My fingers linger against her temple, and she leans slightly into my touch, her eyes never pulling away from mine. "It must feel like you''re walking in a dream," I say.


    She nods quickly and lets out a wry littleugh. "Yeah. I keep pinching myself so much that my arms hurt."


    I can''t help butugh at that. Even Caleb, still standing in the doorway, snorts slightly. "My mate is a werewolf," I muse. "After all this time... Do you feel any different?"


    Iris shakes her head. "Not really. I think that''s why I''m having such a hard time wrapping my head around it. I still feel like a human, and I guess for all intents and purposes, I still am. It''s not like I have a wolf or anything."


    I open my mouth to respond, but just then, a familiar little presencees barrelling into the room.


    "Mommy!" Miles leaps onto the bed, making Iris wince slightly-but she''s smiling as she wraps her arms around him and pulls


    him close.


    I look over to see Alice and Hunter standing in the doorway, both slightly out of breath. "We came as soon as we could," Alice. exins. "But there was an ident on Main Street and the police had it blocked off. And someone refused to use a GPS for the


    detour." She shoots Hunter a withering re.


    Hunter''s face reddens slightly. "I thought I knew the alternative way to the hospital, but I was wrong."


    Miles eyes the medical equipment with suspicion. "Are you still sick, Mommy?" he asks.


    "I had an allergic reaction," Is exins gently. "But I''m going to be okay now."


    Miles nods solemnly, then tills his head. "What were you and Daddy talking about? I heard you say you''re a werewolf,"


    Iris looks at me, and we share a brief moment of understanding.


    the most ptable terms we can manage for a five year old,


    we exin the situation. Hunter and Alice gasp from the doorway, whispering


    amongst themselves, but they don''t interrupt as we exin.


    When we''re finished, Miles seems to consider for a moment, then breaks into a wide grin. "Cool! Does that mean I have an extra grandma and grandpa now?" He wrinkles his nose, "I don''t really like the other ones."


    I have to hold back a snort.


    Iris, however, looks uncertain and nces at Caleb. He clears his throat.


    "Actually, I spoke with them earlier," he says warmly. "They want to meet you-all


    of you as soon as possible. They''ve been waiting for this moment for twenty-six years."