Mated in the Shadow of My Sister novel Chapter 149

Chapter 0149

(Lily POV)

I meant it when I said that today would be a long day. I am meeting with the Wolf Packers’ doctor from 12 to 3 this afternoon, and then I am working at the girls’ home from 5 to 11 tonight. In between, I need to go grocery shopping, eat, and get a little bit of laundry done. Given my schedule, I felt a little guilty for telling James I could talk to him today; I was unsure if I would actually have time. Thankfully, I was happy (and nervous)

when I got his text message around 10 am asking if now was a good time to talk. Rose wanted me to call James right then and there, but first I needed to have another mini panic attack. It took Rose about five minutes to calm me down, but once she did, I was totally fine. So, fine, in fact, that I quickly dialed James’ phone number before I could change my mind again. "Hello?"

"Hi, James."

"Hi, Lily."

I could practically feel James smiling through the phone. It made me smile too. "How are you?"

James asked. "I am doing really good. Plus or minus a few panic attacks. Are you okay?

I was worried when I read your messages last night."

"You were?

Why?"

"I don’t know. They just seemed… intense."

"Yeah, that’s probably fair. It has been a really long 24 hours."

"What happened?"

"Eh, just the typical. Found out that I have been surrounded by a bunch of psychotic werewolves most of my life. Found out some more about the hell you went through here. Oh, and apparently I knocked up Sheila."

I winced at the sound of Shejla’s name. "Sheila, really?

Hmmmm."

"Yeah. But don’t worry; apparently I knocked up Joey’s 63-year-old cousin too."

"Wow. That does sound like a lot. At this point you might as well go for your own basketball team."

James laughed. "That is exactly what I said this morning."

"Great minds. There was a brief moment of silence. "What did you mean when you said you had panic attacks?"

James asked. "Oh, I get them every now and then. No big deal. Rose usually gets me through them."

"What triggers them?"

"Various things. Usually it is me worrying and over-thinking things."

I joked. "Never say that again, Lily,"

James said, suddenly sounding angry. "Say what?

I was just trying to make a joke."

Now I felt confused. Was he not joking about knocking up a 63-year-old just a few minutes ago?

Why is he being sensitive about this now?

"I mean it, Lily. Never say that again."

"Okay… okay…. I promise to never again accuse you of sleeping with my brother. Happy?"

"No, Lily."

I heard James take a deep breath. "I meant the part about your sister. I never want to hear you say, ever again, that you are ‘getting used to’ living in Stephanie’s shadow. That may have been your past, but I will be d&&ned if that is your present or your future. Stephanie was not even a quarter of the she- wolf that you are. I am sorry that I did not see that until it was too late."

Wow. I did not expect that. I wiped a single tear from my eye. "What… what did you want to tell me, James?"

James sighed. "Promise me that you will hear me out completely before you react okay?"

I did not say anything. I still felt scared. "Lily, please. I need to tell you this, but I also need you to promise me that you will not get angry or panic until I am completely done explaining. Okay?"