Soft Fate (Wolven Moon Book 2)

by Dany Rae Miller

  I snort. “You’ll forgive him that, yet us lying about Val” —

  “We didn’t lie!” Nash shouts.

  “Yeah, we did!” I shout right back.

  I bow my head at Shavone. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “I forgive you, too. Both of you.”

  Nash breathes another sigh. “Just come home,” he whispers, begging.

  “I love you, Nash.” Tears make her eyes glassy. “And you, Ben, but” —

  “You love him more.” I saw it for myself, the way they are together.

  “It’s not more, per se. It's different.”

  Her eyes dart around. She’s looking for words to explain it. And, damn if I don’t want to understand, because I want that. Not that I'll ever get it, but I want that.

  “He’s my wolf. We’re attached by our souls.” She sighs. “Our mating was so intense. When we were together, I felt him in my cells.”

  “I don’t want to know about you and Cruz,” Nash says.

  “But it’s so amazing. When you mate, you’ll see what” —

  “Stop!” His broken heart cracks up his voice.

  “Oh, Nash.” She’s full on crying now. “I never meant to hurt you.”

  “C’mon, kitten.” I turn her toward the door.

  As I step into the hall, I hear his whisper. “I love you, too, baby.” He ends with a choke in his throat.

  I close the door completely.

  Shavone’s phone buzzes. She fishes it out of her robe pocket.

  “Hey Garrett,” she answers. “I’m sorry I didn’t call like I promised.”

  “You’re okay?” It’s not on speaker, but I can hear him just fine.

  “Yup.” She wipes the moisture from her cheeks.

  “Good,” he says. “Hey, I got that second address for you if you want it.”

  “Yeah!” She motions to me for something to write with. I shuffle through the little console in the hall, come up empty.

  “It’s in Durango,” he says.

  “Durango?” Her forehead creases. “Garrett, I have nothing to write with. Will you text me the address?”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks, Garrett.”

  They hang up.

  I look at her. “What was all that about?”

  “Someone put spyware on my old computer when Val went missing.”

  I raise my eyebrows.

  “Garrett traced it back to Jack’s computer, but her computer is sending it on to another.”

  Francisco.

  Fuck.

  Just before he and Val took off, I caught him on Jack’s computer. He said he was just sending an email. He was on it for just a minute. Could he have done something that fast?

  Hell yeah, he could. He programmed Hannah in a week.

  “And that computer is in Durango?”

  “Apparently.” Her head goes sideways in thought. “I don’t know anyone in Durango.”

  I blow out a breath. She remembers so I can be honest with her, right?

  “What are you not telling me?” She squints at me.

  No more lies.

  “You do know someone in Durango,” I say. “Your little sister.”

  “Skylar?”

  I nod.

  She gets all wild-eyed, and tries to push past me. “I have to go to Durango.”

  “No, no and no.” I hold her by her shoulders.

  “Why?” she demands.

  “You already weakened the shroud. Hell, it's completely off you. You'll lead the hunters right to her door. And, she’s been adopted by the Suaves, kitten. Cruz won’t let you go alone and if he gets anywhere near their territory” — I let her fill in the rest in her mind.

  They’ll kill him. Without a doubt.

  “I can’t just let her fend for herself, Ben! This computer thing and Kennedy and the hunters and the shroud” — she sits on the chair in the hall. “Oh my god. What have I done?.” She starts crying all over again.

  “Shhhhh.” I kneel in front of her.

  “What happened?” Cruz pushes me out of the way. “Mi dulce, what’s wrong?”

  “I’ll go,” I blurt out and stand up. “I’ll go to Durango and watch over your little sister.”

  Now Cruz understands.

  “You’d do that?” She looks at me with raised eyebrows.

  I shrug. What the hell. I don't have anything keeping me here.

  “Why not?”

  She stands suddenly and hugs me. And I hug her right back. Fuck the crazy alpha giving me the evil eye right now.

  Just let me hold her one last time. I close my eyes and stroke her filthy, sticky hair.

  She pulls back, holding both my hands.

  “Be happy, Shavone. That’s all I want for you.” I let go to wipe her stained cheeks.

  “You, too, Ben. You’re going to make some girl really happy some day.”

  I doubt that.

  “Come.” Cruz puts a hand on the small of her back. “Let’s go home.”

  I don’t turn around to watch her leave, just listen.

  Their footsteps on every stair.

  The opening of the front door.

  Footsteps out.

  The door softly close.

  I squeeze one more rolled up T-shirt in my duffle and look around the room. I hated this mansion from the get-go. I slide my wallet in my back pocket and sling the duffle onto my back.

  Down the hall, I walk into Nash’s room.

  Foster’s there along with The Kitten Club attorney.

  “You sure you want to do this?” Foster asks me.

  I nod. “Absolutely positive.” I sign the paper with a swish.

  “Alright.” He signs the paper.

  Then, Nash signs, and the attorney signs last, as our witness.

  “Congratulations,” I smile at Nash. “You’re the new half owner of the hottest club in town.”

  Nash frowns. “The money will be in your account in the morning.”

  “Thanks, cousin.”

  “Hurry up and get well. I need you there more than I need your money.” Foster pats him on the shoulder.

  “I’ll have to resign from DPD.” He sets the pen aside.

  “You didn’t like it anyway,” I say.

  Foster smiles. “Welcome back to the lifestyle, Nash.”

  Nash frowns deeper.

  Foster laughs. He gives me a bro hug and leaves with the lawyer.

  “Thanks for doing this, for going to Durango,” Nash says.

  “Thanks for financing it.”

  He nods.

  “Are you going to be okay?” I look at the walls of his bedroom out the window of this giant place. “Here alone, I mean?”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” He answers too fast. “Go. Kennedy might be there already.”

  I nod. After a shoulder pat goodbye, I walk quickly to the door, down the steps and into the garage.

  Twenty seconds later, I'm rolling out of the garage.

  “Hannah. Play Shavone’s songs.”

  Drums beat out a rhythm to the gate of Cherry Hills. I swing out on to University as some chick belts out that they were always meant to say goodbye.

  chapter 28

  The skin on my hand has already sealed, albeit roughly. The silver singed the edges that now knit together in a thick ridge. No doubt, this wound will leave a scar. With Shavone’s magick, the tiny bones inside have increased their regeneration. I attempt to flex my palm, immediately stopping at the pain.

  My witch slowly puts away her healing herbs and candles while Uncle Emmanuel and I talk at the breakfast bar.

  She’s so tired.

  When I think of what could have happened. I cringe again and again at the thought of Shavone being shot, and bow in never-ending gratitude to LaFontaine for saving her life. I also acknowledge with shame the role I played in putting her in that situation.

  I drink a healthy portion of the tequila in my glass.

  “A Norse thought he saw Kennedy as the Suaves prepared Agustin’
s remains for transport,” Uncle says. “But if she was there, she escaped.”

  Shavone places a glass of herbs in the fridge and turns to us. “Maybe she used the landscaping van.”

  “Landscaping van?” I’m confused.

  From her tote, Shavone produces an iPad. She taps on it a few times. On the screen is a photo of a van waiting to enter our gates. I swipe forward to a shot of it leaving our property.

  In the driver’s seat is Kennedy, rudely disguised.

  “I’ve never seen her dressed so oddly.” Overalls and a hat? “Who is that with her?”

  “You don’t know him?” Shavone asks.

  I shake my head.

  Uncle Emmanuel leans in for a look. “He looks like an Erickson to me.”

  “Erickson?” Shavone takes the tablet and studies the man. “He’s related to Baldwin?”

  “Possibly,” Uncle says. “He has the nose and coloring.”

  With a deep exhausted sigh, Shavone puts the device back in the tote. “Well, until I can get outside to undo any magickal booby traps, be careful.”

  I take the heavy bag from her. “I’ll bring it up in a moment. Let me finish my drink.” I’m only postponing my comeuppance.

  For once, she doesn’t argue, simply takes the book of shadows and moves groggily toward the stairs.

  “Find that van,” I say to Uncle.

  He nods.

  “And tell the Norse that I'll be at their meeting tomorrow.”

  Uncle raises his eyebrows. “You're going?”

  “Yes.” For Shavone and for her sisters, I will go.

  “Contact Reed. Get an estimate for rebuilding the Alliance house. Let the council know that I will make it right.”

  “I have no doubt that you will.” Uncle nods, again.

  With three large gulps, I finish the tequila.

  “Cherish your mating, Enrique.”

  The comment catches me off guard.

  “You approve suddenly?”

  “Does it matter whether I approve?”

  I shake my head and stand.

  Rising as well, he smiles briefly before shaking his head with a sad sigh. “I wasn’t as courageous as you. Duty and wondering what people would think kept me from my mate.”

  He was once in love?

  Stunned, I watch Uncle shuffle out the back door.

  Music, the volume turned low, flows from our bedroom into the hall. It's a modern soul singer I don't recognize. His words, though, are fitting. I, too, need to know if I can be loved again after what I’m about to confess.

  My heart in my stomach, I open the door. Shavone is at the dresser leafing through the book of shadows. Her eyes blink to mine in the reflection.

  I close the bedroom door. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m worried about my sisters.” She closes the book.

  I turn my witch to face me, cup her fatigued face. Exhaustion and soot do not diminish her innate beauty.

  “I know for a fact that Sophia is safe.”

  “But Skylar’s not?” Shavone’s eyes search mine.

  I sigh and keep my vow of honesty. “My mother’s maiden pack is old fashioned.”

  She frowns. “That explains the blood threat against Gabs.”

  “Blood threat?”

  “A warning against marrying Baldwin. I think Agustin sent it to her.”

  “That wouldn’t surprise me at this point. However, the Suaves keep their commitments and they’re committed to protecting your little sister.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Certain. Francisco is trustworthy and as loyal as an outsider can be to my pack. He’ll let us know if there’s a problem.”

  “But he was used by Kennedy. She might try to use him again.”

  “He's a bit wiser now.”

  With a tilt of her head, she considers that. “I’m just glad Ben will be there. I trust him.”

  “Me, too.” He’s not as hot-headed of a French.

  Shavone gives me a small, brave smile that turns into a yawn.

  “Come.” I lead her to the bathroom and turn on the shower very hot as she likes it.

  Taking off the T-shirt Ben loaned me, I watch her dirty robe fall to the floor. She'll need a new one. I should have one made from fine silk.

  Black soot swirls in the water as she steps under the stream and tilts her head back.

  “Oh, it feels so good.”

  Body wash in hand, I join her in the shower. I squirt the soap onto her cloth and lather it. With gentle motions, I clean her arms and legs. She lifts her hair and turns her back to me.

  Now or never.

  “I have something else to tell you.” I make tiny circles on her shoulders, back and buttocks. Normally erotic, tonight my beast is preoccupied with doubt.

  What will she think of me?

  She turns to face me.

  “I — um.” I don’t know how to say it, to admit I worked with another witch against my witch. “Kennedy” — I stumble over my tongue.

  Shavone watches my face, waiting patiently.

  She knows.

  “When I saw you together with Monbeau” — I decide to start at the beginning of my adolescent anxiety.

  “You saw us?”

  I nod.

  “Together?” She raises her eyebrows.

  I nod.

  “Oh.”

  “I was young and jealous. You refused to mate with him, thank god. That eased the jealousy somewhat.”

  Shavone’s eyes rove my face.

  “It was after his death that my fear became unmanageable.” I’m explaining it to her as much as to myself.

  “What were you afraid of?”

  That I’d kill every male that came within twenty yards of you.

  “That you’d mate with another.” Even here tonight, even with all that has happened, even knowing she’d eventually agree to be mine, the idea of another wolf biting her brings my beast out of his cage.

  She stares into my eyes, blinking, waiting for me to continue.

  “I asked Kennedy to” — I choke on my own vocal cords.

  “To?” Shavone prods.

  She already knows.

  Perhaps she does. Perhaps her ritual revealed it. Nevertheless, I must say it aloud. She deserves to hear it from me.

  “To put a spell on” — My voice barely works. “On your sex drive.”

  Pink lips tuck in to her mouth.

  The only sound is the water raining down on our naked bodies.

  Her silence drags on as I nervously continue washing her.

  “Say something, please,” I whisper.

  Tears gather in the corner of her eyes.

  “Why do wolves always want to bite?” She mumbles. “Men just put a notch in the bedpost.”

  I wipe the first drop to escape. “Male wolves aren’t like human men and all wolves don’t always want to bite.”

  They just want to bite you.

  “Monbeau and the LaFontaines, they wanted to mate with you, didn’t they?”

  She nods.

  “Hence my fear.” I catch another fallen tear. “Why didn’t you? That the cousins love you is plain to see.”

  Tonight, the LaFontaines proved their loyalty to her. The detective put her life before his own. Ben uprooted his life for her.

  “And I love them. I do,” she says. “But it doesn’t come close to what I feel for you.”

  She loves me more.

  She reaches for her shampoo. I take it from her.

  “Did you ever want to bite another woman?” She asks as I lather her hair.

  “No, never. It was just sex.” Quick, impersonal, and ultimately unfulfilling.

  “So, you weren't celibate while your hex was on me.” Anger tinges her statement.

  Slowly, I shake my head no. “I didn’t want anyone else, Shavone. There was only ever you. Ever.”

  She purses her lips. “You had no faith in me, no faith that I’d make the right choices.”

  “How could I have?
I was forbidden to have any contact with you, to get to know you and you me.”

  Was that Kennedy’s plan all along?

  “What if you’d chosen to mate before I had a chance to woo you? My beast wouldn't let me survive that and neither would anyone you would have chosen.”

  In silence, Shavone rinses the lather from her hair.

  “Kennedy suggested the hex, didn’t she?”

  “Uncle Agustin did, likely on her behest.” I fill my hands with conditioner. “It was the alternative.”

  “The alternative to coming to me?”

  “Ironically, it was the alternative to risking your safety. I thought my presence would weaken the shroud protecting you.” I massage the balm into her hair and scalp.

  “Oh my god,” she sighs, mad. “That was all bullshit. What Jack was worried about was her sister! Not you.”

  “I know that now. We all realize that Kennedy was the threat, not me.”

  She leans to rinse out the conditioner.

  “Can you forgive me?” I whisper, unable to keep my voice from breaking.

  I wait for a response.

  And wait.

  Maybe she can’t forgive it.

  My panic increases with each passing second.

  Finally, she stands straight and opens her mouth to speak. “No one has ever wronged me like this, Enrique. It hurts so much that it was you, of all people — you have no idea.”

  Her grief at my betrayal is a physical energy. It surrounds me, seeps into me from the fat tears I wipe from her cheeks. My eyes moisten. I hold my breath, waiting for her to rightfully reject me.

  “Anyone else would be out of my life in a second,” she whispers. “You're my mate, Enrique. I love you. What other choice do I have, but to forgive you?”

  The wolf in me nearly passes out with relief. I kiss her soft mouth, attempting to convey my deepest apology with the gentlest of touch.

  “There can’t be a next time.” She shakes her head, the suffering I caused so evident in the crease of her brow. “It would kill me.” She grunts an ironic laugh. “Maybe even literally.”

  I hold her sweet face with both hands, stroke my thumbs over her cheeks. “Never, again, never. I’ll never let you down, again.”

  We finish our shower and dry off. I lead my witch to my bed, carefully tuck the blankets around her.

  “You don’t want to make love?” She asks.