FIVE

Grayson left Ava's small house on Bug Boot Lane, which got its name from the niece of Eleanor Westwood, and called Kyle right away.

"We're in a jam," he told Kyle when he replied.

"Don't tell me there's another one of those jerks out there who can't be hurt by silver. No, wait. Let me guess. A raid by the bone fairies? Because last time—"

When he thought about the bone fairies, he got a shiver. Rude people. “No. There is a Redwood descendant."

Kyle had a cough. “What? Excuse me? It's not, Taylor, damn you. Someone should have talked to him about birds, bees, and puppies, I told you."

Even though his brother couldn't see it, Grayson's lip curled into a smirk. "That isn't Taylor."

“You?” It was quiet for a long time. "Who's she? Does she put the Secret in danger?"

"Ava Harlowe is the woman from Santorini I told you about. She is in Blue Willow now." He inhaled deeply. "With my son, the boy."

"Are you sure?" Kyle asked. "You know, when this much money is on the line—"

"He was born with the birthmark, and I've seen him change."

“Shit. I assume you've already told Aphelion about the invitation. Westwood knows how to do that."

"I tried to tell her about it. She doesn't care."

Kyle laughed and said, "Of course she isn't." "Are you dating her?"

"I know what to do." The words tasted bad to him. He did know what his duty was, and it wasn't with Ava, the mother of his child, who was beautiful, golden, and perfect. Even though it was his job to take care of them, he couldn't make love to her. Not when the packs are fighting. They needed more alliances, and marriage or "mating" was the best way to make that happen. Taylor had already made a mistake when he chose to marry a waitress instead of the DeVaughn heiress. Uncle Warner was falling on that sword at the time.

"I didn't ask you what your job was. Is she your girlfriend?

“Yes.” The right answer wasn't that. Well, it was the honest answer, but he shouldn't have said it because he couldn't.

"Then that is more important than anything else."

"She has nothing to offer Redwood," he said. Grayson wanted to get rid of the words as soon as he said them. "I'll do my duty."

Don't be a fool. There is an heir to Redwood. It's your job to keep him and his mother safe. So, you have to bite her, make love to her, and marry her. That's the order."

“Kyle—”

"Really, little brother, are you going to argue with me?"

Even over the phone, he could feel Kyle's Alpha power pressing down on him. "Yeah, I am. I know that you are a good man and a noble wolf. You couldn't stop me from being with my true love. I know it's best for the pack, though."

"It's best for the pack if the heir is safe. The best thing for the pack is to show other nations that we are strong enough to respect the bonds between true mates. We don't have to hurt our wolves in order to work together and stay strong. This is the best thing that could have come about. People from all over the sub packs have applied to be your bride. Victoria, none of them are good except for the one from the Ardennes. I think she should be with Armand, though. Since he got there, she has been fighting with him."

Grayson gave a sigh. "I really like her, but she doesn't like me. Don't tell me to mark her even if she doesn't want to be. I saw the way you treated Randi." Even to keep her safe, his brother wouldn't mark his mate against her will. Luckily, she had already made up her mind.

"If she wants to stay alive, it might not come down to what she wants. You know that it takes an act of the Great Council to let new people live in our world and know about it. "What do you think would happen with that vote?"

His anger made his blood boil and tore off the surface of his humanity. His wolf stood up, and the Change came over him. His warrior form erupted from his body like a volcano, destroying everything in its path. When he grabbed his phone with his big claws, it broke, ending the call quickly. He knew how the vote would go down to the letter. Ava would die.

But first they'd have to get past him.

Grayson took control of himself and forced his body to change back into a human. He was even more angry that he had ripped the leather seats in his SUV. He didn't know how other werewolves got by when they couldn't afford to buy new stuff to replace what they broke when they changed.

He had also torn up his favorite suit.

Goddess damn it.

Just as he was about to put the car in drive, he looked up and saw a tuft of rainbow hair blowing in the wind.

Gin. She was holding a pink box with a big organza bow in cream.

His favorite people were sugar fairies.

She waved and pointed at his window, telling him to roll it down.

"Are you making sure that I haven't eaten your friend?" He joked.

The fairy was funny. "No, you wouldn't do anything she wouldn't like." She gave him a wink. "I managed to make more champagne truffles."

He began to look for his wallet.

"No, they are for free. "Congratulations on becoming a father!" She put the box through the window by pushing it.

Gin, thanks."

"Do you know how to say thank you to me? "Take me back to the store."

"Get in."

She went around to the other side of the car and got in. "You know I don't really need a ride. I have some tips for you about Ava."

"I knew that already." He told his wolf to be calm, but it didn't seem to mind that the sugar fairy was there, which made him feel much better. When someone got between a wolf and his mate before they were marked, even if they were just trying to help and not start a fight, things could get very ugly.

"First, I'm so glad you're not an Alpha."

He didn't know whether or not to take that as a compliment. His wolf wanted to growl at her, snap at her throat, and show her that a beta could be strong, that a beta could be the definition of an alpha male without being alpha. But he took a deep breath and let out his rising anger.

"An Alpha couldn't let her make her own decisions. I'm pretty familiar with Ava. Her past is sad and ugly. Her ex-husband set it up like that. I think if you're kind to her, she'll come to you. She smiles and talks about her time in Santorini with a special curve in her eyes. We sugar fairies can find all kinds of sugar, especially sweet things like love, hope, and tenderness.

"She doesn't love me. We don't know each other very well." His wolf growled in his head, upset that he would say that to his mate when he knew he should not.

"No, maybe not yet. But she will if you give her the space and freedom she needs to feel safe."

"There is war between the wolf nations." If everyone didn't already know it, they would soon. It didn't hurt to tell the sugar fairy.

"I can see how that could be an issue. The truffles are good. They'll be a help. "Sweet things calm the animal." Gin winked.

They stopped outside the shop.

"It's safe here, right?" she did.

"As safe as it gets. Westwood has made the lines clearer."

"Also against the bone fairies?" She looked up at him with big, bright blue eyes. "They have been in my dreams."

She was held captive by the bone fairies, who did terrible things to her. And the Redwoods thought the people of Blue Willow were as much of a pack as if they had all been Turned. "I think they won't try to cross our borders again after Westwood tore the head off their general with her bare hands the last time they tried."

The fairy's hand suddenly held another box. "Well, speaking of that, will you take these cupcakes to her? They are mocha cakes frosted with Nutella."

She will like them.

"The happy ending is waiting for you. Don't mess up." She locked the passenger door and then opened it.

Don't mess up. Yeah. He carried a lot of guilt on his shoulders. He might have messed up things for the pack just by admitting he had a true mate. He didn't like that Kyle had to make so many decisions as Alpha. Certainly not.

When he got back to Aphelion, the first thing he did was look for Mrs. Westwood.

She was still in her "young" body. He didn't like it. When he saw her, he narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing, going from bar to bar?"

Grayson agreed with her choice of clothes, which was a dress that was too tight and six-inch heels. Of course, there was also the problem of her face. Not a kind old lady wrinkle in sight. Or a gray hair. It made soft black waves as it fell down her back. She looked exactly like a witch.

Not. Okay.

She smiled. "Grayson, you're old enough to know how things work."

"No, I'm not at all." He gave a head shake. "Can I have Westwood back, please? You're Eleanor. I don't like it."

She laughed again, and he didn't like how happy she was. "It's your own fault, you furry little monster." But she put on a grandmotherly face, with a gray bun and kind wrinkles where they should have been.

"That's a lot better, thanks."

Mrs. Westwood turned her head to the side and touched his cheek. Oh, this is important. What's going on?" Her lips got smaller. "Did someone…" Her eyes got bigger. "I'm going to hit them." She was very serious about her job as their caretaker.

Grayson could say without a doubt that he would never want to get in trouble with that witch.

"No, that's not it. Not yet, at least. I need you to gather your supplies for the spell that will stop a young wolf from changing until he is ready."

"Is Randi—" Her eyes got bigger.

"No, Kyle's partner isn't with Young. The heir to the Redwood has already been born. He is my child." Every time he said "my son," his chest filled with pride.

"When will he be at Aphelion?"

"As soon as I can get his mom to agree."

"I'll get through to her." Westwood's chin went up.

“No, no.” He gave a head shake. "She has to make the decision."

"I can leave it up to her."

“No. Not like that. She is in Blue Willow, so she is safer there than she would be anywhere else. I'll bring her, but let me do it my way."

"Greyson, oh. I'm so excited to meet him!"

"Come with me the next day. You can cut his hair if she lets you." Two birds, one stone, Grayson thought.

“Done.” She gave his cheek a pat. "But are you sure you don't want to bargain with the spell? I'll do it, but she has to..."

“No.” His wolf stood up again to protect her.

The next time Westwood patted him on the cheek, it was a bit harder—it was a warning. "Don't look at me with wolf eyes, young man. Or I'll tie you to a tree outside like I did when you were little."

“Yes, ma’am.”

"You're a good boy for standing up for your mate. Just don't forget who you are talking to."

As if he were able to forget.

"By the way, Warner has come back with the girl from DeVaughn. He has her at the cabin on the north side of the property. This morning, her bags were brought to her. If you could take them out to her?”

"Or you could…" He moved his hand like he was making a magic spell.

“I could. But then you wouldn’t be able to tell the DeVaughn Alpha when he calls that you’ve seen his daughter and she is whole and healthy. This talk about stealing the bride is so 1800s."

“Honestly, why would he call? We could lie. It’s not as if he can come and demand proof. He has already decided to help Remus.

“I believe he has other motivations. Now go on. I need to get things done." She looked at his hands and saw that he was still holding the box of cupcakes. "Are you forgetting something?"

"No, I didn't forget. You didn't let me get a word in edgewise."

She reached out her hand, and he put the cupcakes in it.

"That little sugar fairy is so cute. She is so sweet. I think she, too, needs a partner. I'll find one for her."

"Do you really think you can repay her kindness by getting in her way?"

She made a funny face. "Yes, of course. You're sometimes very stupid for being a sneaky wolf." She shook her head and shoved a cupcake in her mouth as she walked down the long hall.

Grayson thought it was amazing that he had any confidence at all after growing up with these kinds of people.

"I heard..." He heard the witch's voice from what seemed to be nowhere.

He said, "I know," and then ducked just as a gust of air hit the back of his head. "If you knock me out, witch, I can't go check on the heiress."

The voice boomed, "Mrs. Westwood to you, boy."

"So when are you going to stop interfering with other people and find a good warlock to settle down with?"

This time, the whoosh didn't miss.