My hands were shaking harder than ever, so I set the knife down before I did something stupid. Abraham’s warm palm landed on my back and I drew strength from his presence.
I took a deep breath and leveled my mother with a look. “He is who I want, and he is who I’m marrying. Deal with it.”
Her eyes widened in her pinched face. “How dare you speak to me like that!”
“How dare you speak about him like that!”
She laughed once, hard and loud. “You don’t even know this man.”
“I know him well enough to know he’s what I want.”
My mother rolled her eyes. “You’ve only known him a few months! What could you possibly know about the man?”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “I know he’s the best man I’ve ever known. I know there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to make sure I was happy and safe. I know he loves me and always will. And I know all that is a hell of a lot more than I can say for either of you.”
“Elizabeth, don’t talk to your mother that way,” my father piped up from next to me.
We both ignored him.
“If you marry that man, you’ll be making the biggest mistake of your life. If you have his children, you’ll be stuck with him forever. You can’t be that far along. There’s still time to take care of this problem.”
My mother had just suggested I call off my wedding and abort my children all in one breath.
With that, I knew I’d had enough. There was nothing here for me and I was an idiot to think I could change their minds. My parents were who they were and nothing I said or did would make a difference to them.
I rose to my feet and Abraham stood up next to me. Calmly, I placed my napkin on my still-empty ornate plate and leveled both my parents with a look.
“The only mistake I’ve made was coming here. You’re both awful people who deserve each other and this cold, miserable house. I thought I would give you both one last chance to be in my life, to be in my children’s lives, but I see now that was a mistake. I wouldn’t want you within a hundred feet of my children. You’re both toxic and I’m done with letting you poison me.”
I grabbed Abraham’s hand and spun around, ready to leave my parents and this terrible place behind me. It held nothing but bad memories and regrets, and I didn’t need any of it.
“If you go through with this, you won’t be welcome here anymore. If you walk out that door, we’ll both be done with you,” my mother warned from behind me.
I looked over my shoulder and gave her a smile. “Sounds like a plan.”
With that, I calmly walked through the house I grew up in for the last time, really seeing it for what it was.
A gilded prison.
And I’d just broken out for good.
Tracy was waiting by the door, her face somber and her shoulders hunched. I stopped and pulled her into my arms. “The only thing I’ll miss about this place is you,” I whispered against her salt and pepper hair.
I heard her sniff and a tiny piece of my heart broke in my chest. When I pulled away, Abraham was there next to me, holding out a business card to Tracy.
“My cell number is on there. Please, feel free to reach out to us anytime. We’d love to keep in touch.”
My eyes watered as I looked up at the wonderful man I was about to marry. I knew choosing him would always be the right decision.
Tracy took the card he offered and slipped it into her pocket. She nodded at both of us and we turned to leave just as my mother screeched her name. Not wanting to linger any longer than necessary, I hurried toward the massive doors and tugged them open.
Stepping out of that house for the last time was freeing. It felt like I was shedding an old skin, relinquishing a part of me I’d held onto for all that time. A part of my past I thought I needed to take with me into my future. Now, I knew I didn’t. Everything I could possibly need was right beside me.
Abraham held my hand tight as he led me down the cobblestone drive to his black truck. We’d only been in my parents’ house for about a half an hour, but it seemed everything had changed in that time.
He helped me into his truck before finding his own seat and firing up the engine. He made a wide U-turn in the middle of the road and headed back toward the highway. We were all the way out in Raleigh, so we had a long trip ahead of us.
The first half of our drive was spent in mostly silence. I think we were both lost in thought over what happened. A million emotions were swirling inside me, but the one that kept swimming to the surface was embarrassment.
It wasn’t that I had trouble believing my mother would think those things about Abraham, it was more shock over the fact she’d actually said them out loud. She usually had better manners than that, but she might have been hitting that red wine earlier than I’d thought.
“El, I’m sorry.”
I turned wide eyes in his direction. “What do you have to be sorry about?”
He sighed and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “It was my fault you subjected yourself to those people. You told me how awful they were, and I guess I didn’t believe you. I should have just stayed out of it.”
I reached across the seat and grabbed one of his hands, sandwiching it between my own. “It’s me who needs to apologize. I’m so sorry for the things my mother said about you. None of them were true.”
He squeezed my hand. “So, you don’t think I’m some hillbilly blue-collar worker from the sticks?”
My stomach dropped to the soles of my feet until I saw he was smiling.
“I’m just kidding, baby. Don’t worry about it.”
I sighed and turned to look out my window. “No, I don’t think those things about you. I know what you do and how successful you are at it. But it wouldn’t matter to me if you weren’t successful. I love you for who you are, not what you do or how much money you make. None of that matters to me.”
He squeezed my hand again. “I know, baby. I love you too.”
My insides warmed the smallest amount at his words. But the guilt was still sticking to me like a film I couldn’t wash off.
“I really am sorry about what she said. She’s usually more discreet with her opinions than that.”
“You mean she thinks those things, but doesn’t say them out loud?”
I chuckled. “Exactly.”
He shook his head, a smile still on his face. “Really, don’t worry about it. What she says doesn’t matter. All I care about is how you think of me.”
“I think you’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known. I think I’m lucky to have ever met you, let alone get the opportunity to fall in love with you. I think the fact that I’ve earned the love of a man like you is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.”
He slowly turned his head toward me, his eyes wide and his lips parted. He watched me for a long moment before he turned his eyes back to the road and shook his head. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you, El, but I’m gonna spend the rest of my life earning it.”
We lapsed into a comfortable silence after that, his hand still clutched between mine. It seemed we’d said all that needed saying for the moment.
Although I was happy things were good between Abraham and me, my insides still churned with everything that happened with my parents. I felt restless and wished more than anything to shift into my wolf and go for a run. Because that wasn’t an option, I had to settle for something else.
When we pulled up to the lodge and Abraham helped me out of the truck, I looked up at him and spoke for the first time in a while. “You head in. I want to go sit by the lake for a little while.”
He pursed his lips and eyed me warily. “I’ll send Wyatt to watch from the patio, okay?”
I wanted to sigh, but I held it in. At least I’d have some semblance of privacy. “Okay,” I said softly.
He pulled me close and pressed his lips against mine before letting me
go.
I made my way across the field behind the lodge and down the wooden dock. When I got to the edge, I kicked my shoes off and dipped my feet into the warm water. Even though it was dark, I had no trouble seeing the lake and the surrounding forest as well as I could during the day.
I willed it to quiet, but my mind continued to whirl. It pinged between anger at my parents, and longing for a mother and father who cared. What hurt most was how easily they’d dismissed my children. They weren’t here yet, but I loved them fiercely and would protect them with my life. The fact that my mother had so callously suggested I abort them, simply so I wouldn’t be tied to Abraham, stung in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Despite my best efforts, tears formed in my eyes and soon slid down my cheeks.
My children wouldn’t grow up with grandparents. The ones that would have loved them were dead and the ones that were still alive didn’t care about them. What kind of situation was I bringing them into? Would our love be enough?
The dock creaked behind me and I barely held back a sigh.
“I’m fine, Abraham. I’ll be in soon.”
Light footsteps continued down the dock and, this time, the sigh broke loose.
“Honestly, I’m okay,” I said as I turned to face him.
But instead of my fiancé, I found the original werewolf, Will.
I hurried to wipe the moisture from my face, but I had a feeling I wasn’t hiding anything from him.
“Granddaughter, what’s wrong?”
I sniffed and shook my head. “Nothing, Will. Just had a long day.”
He nodded, and although I was pretty sure he was old enough to take a hint, he continued down the dock and took a seat next to me. “I could smell your tears from across the field,” he said softly.
I sniffed again, hoping to stem their flow, but they still leaked out of my eyes.
“Will you tell me what’s wrong?” he asked.
I’d spent much less time with Will than I should have. Especially since I found out that I was his descendant. I really should have made more of an effort to get to know him. However, with the attack at The Asheville Initiative and the pregnancy, I just hadn’t found time.
Here he was, though, caring enough to ask me what was wrong when it wasn’t his responsibility to do anything about it. And despite my desire to keep it all locked inside me, something about the gentleness in his eyes made me want to confide in him.
I took a deep breath and looked back out toward the lake. “I met with my parents today and told them about my upcoming wedding and the babies, and they took it about as well as I thought they would.”
“They weren’t happy?”
I chuckled once, but it lacked humor. “No. They were pretty pissed, actually.”
He hummed softly next to me but didn’t say anything else.
“Maybe it was stupid, but I guess I thought maybe they’d want to be a part of this. That maybe they’d stop for a minute and see how happy I am. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m truly happy and content with my life. I thought there was a chance they’d be happy for me, but I was wrong.”
“And that’s what’s making you so upset? The fact that they don’t approve of your choices?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “I guess.” Then I thought about it and shook my head. “Actually, no. That’s not really what’s upsetting me. I knew they wouldn’t be happy. I knew they’d denounce all my choices just as easily as they always had. I think the hardest pill to swallow is that was the only family I had left. And that my children will have to grow up without grandparents now.” The tears welled up in my eyes again and a few raced down my face. “I feel like I failed my babies already. Like my first role as a mother was to provide my children with a happy family that will love and support them, and I have nothing to show for that. No contribution from my side at all.”
Will was silent for a while before he leaned over and nudged me with his shoulder. “I’m your family.”
I froze in place. I think my heart even stopped beating for a second. I turned slowly toward Will to see him wearing a soft smile.
“What are you saying?” I asked.
He shrugged. “I’m saying you still have me, and I’ll be happy to welcome your children into the world with you.”
The tears were back and stronger than ever. “You want to be my babies’ grandfather?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
His smile widened. “I already am, aren’t I?”
A small chuckle fell from my lips as I shook my head. “I guess you are, huh?”
He nodded. “I am.” He said it with so much decisiveness, there was no room for argument.
Not that I wanted to.
“There haven’t been many instances in my life when I’ve been able to stick around and be a part of my descendants’ lives, and I’d like to change that with you. I’d like to be as much a part of your and your children’s lives as you’ll allow. You’re my family and I’m yours if you’ll let me.”
The tears were falling so fast now, I could barely see Will’s face anymore, but I knew if I could, it would be just as gentle as it always was. And he’d be just as real and offering just as much to me in this dark hour.
I didn’t need to think about it. Didn’t need to debate or run through my options. I knew my family and I would be lucky to have him. I also knew I’d wasted enough of my time with him, and that from here on out, I’d work harder to get to know him better.
Without thinking, I launched myself into his arms, squeezing him tight. He laughed and returned my embrace, his hold just as strong.
“I’d love that,” I whispered.
Chapter 53
“Morning, baby.”
I snuggled closer to Abraham’s large, warm body and smiled against his skin. If I woke up every day to hear morning, baby in his gravelly, sleepy voice, I’d be able to die a happy woman.
“Morning,” I murmured, my voice considerably less sexy than his, but he didn’t seem to mind.
His hands curled around my bare shoulders, pulling me even closer to him. In that instant, I knew I’d made the right choice in putting my foot down and insisting we spend the night together.
Apparently, Evey had been researching human wedding traditions and found out that the bride and groom weren’t supposed to spend the night before their wedding together. She’d spent at least thirty minutes lecturing me on bad luck and dark omens before she’d finally given up.
My defense was simple and hard to refute. Abraham and I were infinitely better together than we ever were apart, so why change that now?
She’d finally relented, but she’d grumbled the whole way down the hall. We only smiled at her antics and let her complain. She’d get over it soon enough. Besides, that was only a human custom, and I wasn’t a human anymore.
Despite my status change to werewolf, Evey was doing her best to provide us a ceremony that blended the two cultures together. She wouldn’t give me many details, but I knew she’d been working hard and steadily over the past couple of weeks to give us the best possible day. I had no doubt that the party planner extraordinaire would put together something better than I could ever have imagined.
“Are you ready for today?” Abraham asked softly, his voice breaking me out of my thoughts.
I looked up at him and smiled. “So ready.”
A few months ago, the idea of having a mating ceremony with Abraham might have sent me running, but those days were behind me. Far, far behind me. I knew I was making the best decision of my life and nothing could stop me now.
Except of course, the threat that constantly dangled over our heads.
I squeezed Abraham tighter and voiced my concerns. “You don’t think the Charlotte pack will try anything today, do you?”
He sighed and pulled me closer until I was draped across his chest. His thick fingers threaded through my hair and gently rubbed my scalp. “I don’t know, baby. I hope not. I
’ve done everything I can to prevent them from ruining this day for us. All the enforcers we have are running patrols, and we even got a few new ones from some of the coastal packs. No one will get within ten miles of us without someone knowing.”
I swallowed his words and hoped they’d be enough to calm the nagging feeling in my gut. Something told me that Conrad was just waiting to take a piece of our happiness. And something even louder was telling me that Peyton would be the driving force behind it.
I had no doubt that she knew we were having a ceremony, and I was sure she even knew it was today. If there was a chance she could ruin it, I knew she would. That was why the feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t go away. I had a feeling it would stick around until the threat from the Charlotte pack was eliminated. Whenever that would be.
“Are you all packed?” Abraham asked.
I knew it was a thinly veiled attempt to change the subject, but I let him. It was our wedding day, and I didn’t want to spoil it with what-ifs. We’d done enough worrying, and like Abraham said, we were as covered as we could be. I needed to do my best to relax and enjoy the day.
I looked up at him and quirked a brow. “Yes,” I said, dragging out the word. “I’d still like to know where we’re going, though.”
He shook his head, his smile widening. “I told you it wasn’t far, right?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, but that leaves pretty much all of the Blue Ridge Mountains.” His smile widened, and I huffed out an exasperated breath. “That’s really all I’m getting?”
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “You’ll find out tonight after the ceremony. Have some patience, baby.”
I made a face and snuggled back into his chest. Patience was not one of my virtues and he was well aware of that fact.
He’d been hinting at the honeymoon he’d planned for weeks. He insisted it was his wedding gift to me and wanted to have full control over what we did and where we went. Since it seemed like such a big deal to him, I’d gone along with it. Now, though, I was anxiously anticipating finding out exactly where we were going.
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