Phobia (Interracial Paranormal Romance) (Wisteria) by Bisi Leyton Page A

nonsense.”
    “ So, you’re not going to tell him.” She followed her mother.
    “ There’s nothing to say.” Her mother lit the candles in the room.
    “ Nothing to say?” Wisteria exclaimed. “You have to tell him or he’ll hear it from me.”
    “ Hear what?” Entering the kitchen, David shouted as he slammed the kitchen door shut. “What are you on about?”
    Suddenly, a high-pitched scream rang through the house; the infuriated cries of fifteen-month-old Beck Coles seemed to rattle the walls.
    “ Damn it Wisteria, you woke him up. Why do you have to upset everything? Why can’t you trust that I have your best interests at heart?” Her mother headed to the door.
    “ My best interests? You tried to sent me away,” she called after her.
    “ You did what?” Confused, David gasped. “Mum, what is she talking about?”
    “ I’m going to get Beck.” Her mother opened the door.
    “ We went to Pottingham, Mum, Sabine and I. Mum contacted—” Wisteria started to explain.
    “ Wisteria wants to inform you that you’re adopted,” her mother announced coldly and disappeared to get Beck.
    She couldn’t believe her mother. “Mum, I’m not saying you should tell him like this. I wanted to make sure she told you. I’m sorry David.” She turned to her brother.
    Bewildered at first, David ’s eyes trailed from his mother to Wisteria. Then his expression became sadder. “I know I’m adopted.”
    “ What?” Wisteria gasped
    “ I was three when she adopted me. I remember my old family and I talk about it a lot with her,” he went on.
    “ How come you kept it from me?”
    He looked troubled as he thought of his next words. “Mum and I thought you wouldn’t be able to handle it. We were going to tell you eventually, but—”
    “ But what? I’m too unstable or weak?” Wisteria stormed out of the kitchen door.
    “ Wisteria, stop.” Her mother appeared at the end of the hall.
    “ You tell him about his life, but can’t do the same for me.” Wisteria pointed at her brother.
    “ You’re not like your brother. You’ve got to be protected.”
    “ I can take care of myself. You said it yourself—I’m strong.”
    “ You’re stronger than you were, but you still need me to look after you. Every time you’ve gone up against those people, you’ve barely survived. Someone had to save you.”
    “ Save me? I wouldn’t have been in those situations if you hadn’t allowed Doc to use me or if you’d told the truth.”
    “ Or if you did what I said and kept away from that boy.”
    That boy was Bach.
    “Bach would’ve always found me, because we’re bonded. The least you could have done was to prepare me for the hell I’ve gone through, but you tried to keep me weak.”
    “ Baby, you’re only mad at me because your boyfriend is gone. You want to tell him your moon will reflect in his eyes or some other rubbish, because all you care about is making him happy. That’s not strength.” Her mother laughed again.
    Wisteria ’s blood to boiled.
    “ It’s true Wisteria. You’re not emotionally or physically capable of standing against the Family or any of the thugs who roam the streets outside the island’s wall. You need someone, either me, Bach or Coles, to get you out.”
    “ I’ve held my own more times than most people on the outside.”
    “ That is a lie.”
    “ Twice I rescued David from Woolmer. I saved Amanda from biters in Norton. I—”
    “ You brought the Family to Smythe and put us all at risk. If you don’t get yourself together, I’ll make sure your locked away, before you can cause yourself any more harm.”
    “ Since you blame me for everything that’s happened, I promise I’ll fix it.”
    “ Enough Lara.” Coles flung the kitchen door open. “Both of you need to cool off.”
    “Fine.” Opening the front door, Wisteria marched out of the house. She wanted to run, but that felt childish. As she left, she heard her mother calling for her, but she’d heard enough.