Maya drove home feeling strangely deflated. Things hadn’t gone as she’d planned—not that she was even sure what she’d expected. She’d only wanted to give Chance the news about her being half shifter. She hadn’t given any thought to what would happen beyond that. Would they just carry on as they were—with him living at the compound, while she stayed at the diner with her mom, working every hour in the day? The idea filled her with dread. It wasn’t what she wanted, but what choice did she have? She wasn’t going to abandon her mother, but, when the diner reopened, she and Chance would never get to spend any time together. She’d be exhausted from work and would only want to sleep when she finished. The idea of hardly getting to see him twisted her up inside. Where was her future? Their future? Did they even have one?

She got back to the diner to see the lights on inside. She frowned. Someone was inside.

Maya pulled the truck up outside and climbed out.

Using the keys to the diner, which were attached to the key chain for the truck, she let herself in. At first, she couldn’t see anyone, but then she spotted her mom sitting in one of the booths. A piece of paper sat on the table in front of her.

“Mom?”

Barbara lifted her head to look at her. “I finally started on the laundry, and I found this in the front of your apron. Is there something you want to tell me?”

Maya suddenly realized what the piece of paper was in front of her and she felt like ice-water had been dumped in her stomach. “Oh.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? Tell us? This letter is dated before your father died.”

Maya pressed her lips together, tears filling her eyes. This was all too much. She wanted to climb into bed and hide away from everything, but she couldn’t. “I was trying to protect you.”

Her mother gave a small smile. “I guess I’m not the only one who’s done that then.” She was referring to the news of who Maya’s real father had been.

Maya sank into the seat opposite. “I guess not. I just knew how much you had on your plate, and I didn’t want this asshole hassling you.”

“Oh, Maya, you’re the one who has always got so much on her plate, and you keep taking on more. You’re so young, and you’ve already shouldered more than someone your age should ever have to. That’s been my fault, and I’m so sorry.”

She took her hand. “It wasn’t your fault, Mom. Dad was ill. That wasn’t anyone’s fault.”

“No, but he’s not here anymore, and things need to change.”

Maya blinked. “What are you saying?”

“I’m going to accept the offer to buy the diner.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You can’t sell this place, Mom. The diner has been your life.”

“Sweetheart, this is probably the best thing that can have happened. I’ll make sure it’s included in the contract that everyone who currently works here will still be employed by the new business, if they want to be. That way people like Steph will still have a job.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “But what about the house? Where are you going to live? This is your home.”

She nodded. “It was, for a very long time, and it’s been a happy home. But your father is gone now, and I can’t keep expecting you to give up your life to run the restaurant.”

“You can help, too, now,” she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “Now you’re no longer caring for Dad, you can work back in the restaurant again.” She felt guilty even saying it, as though she was happy or relieved her father was dead—which wasn’t the case at all. She’d have worked her fingers to the bone for the rest of her life if it had meant being able to keep him around.

“Maya,” she said, taking her hands. “I’m tired, my darling. I don’t want to keep working here, with all the stress and worry, and the long hours. I want to find myself a modern little apartment in town, somewhere I can walk to the shops, and the library, and the restaurants so other people can cook for me, and just take it easy. You’ve been so good to us over the last few years, while your dad was so ill, but you need to have your life, too. Go with Chance, have your adventure somewhere new. Live and love. You deserve it more than anyone.”

“But I’ll miss you.”

“I won’t be far away. Only an hour’s drive. I’ll miss you, too, but you can visit. That’s the way it should be.”

Maya slipped from her seat to slide into the booth beside her and threw herself into her mother’s arms. “I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, darling. That will never change, no matter where we’re living.”

A knock came at the door, and Chance, fully clothed this time, stepped through.

“I’m sorry,” he said, looking between them, “I’m interrupting.”

Maya swiped tears from her face. “No, you can never interrupt me. Mom’s going to take the offer for the diner. I don’t have to work here anymore.”

“So you could come to the compound, if you wanted?” he asked, cautiously.

She nodded. “Yes, if they’ll have me. I’m not sure how the others will feel about me living there.”

“Holton wants to call a pack meeting. He wants you to be there.”

“He does?”

“Yes, but only if you want to be.”

Maya nodded. “I do.”

She turned back to her mother. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?”

“Go, Maya,” Barbara said with a smile. “Go and start your life.”