Chapter 267

I have to admit, it’s really weird pulling up to the house where I grew up, considering that the last time I was here I left in a helicopter clutching my half-dead mate’s hand. I glance in the rearview window at my two boys, suddenly realizing that this house is probably full of strange memories for them as well.

Was it wrong to bring them along?

But one glance at Ian lets me know that he, at least, is thrilled.

“Can we go in the basement?! Can we play in the jail where you were locked up, mama?!”

“Is that really what you want to do?” I ask, screwing up my face with distaste as I put the car in park out front.

Alvin bites his lip, looking at me, clearly not as eager to re-enact his trauma as Ian is. I laugh, shaking my head and starting to get out of the car. The boys join me in the driveway.

“Listen, you guys can both do what you want, but you should ask your grandmother first. See what she thinks.”

They both nod, starting to run up the stairs to the house. As they reach the top, the door opens and my mother’s beaming face appears. “Evelyn! Ian, Alvin! Lovely!” she calls, laughing as the boys run to hug her.

I smile, surprised. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her…

Well, as I climb the stairs after my boys, I realize that my mother has always been the perfect Luna, which means answering the door with a gracious smile. Even a warm greeting like this would have made my father frowning at her, giving her the message – however implicit – that she was embarrassing him.

As I reach the top of the stairs and lean to give her a kiss on the cheek, I’m suddenly furious for her, that she’s lived a life so hemmed in she couldn’t even be excited to see her grandchildren. At least, not until now, when he’s locked away in a jail.

“Are you all right, darling?” she asks, peering at me closely.

“Yes, mama,” I say, giving her a warm smile. “I’m sorry – lost in my thoughts.”

“A Luna always is,” she murmurs, glancing pointedly at my left hand. I laugh, spreading my fingers out and shrugging.

“You always had a sharp eye for diamonds,” I say, a little rueful.

“With one that large,” she says, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, “one does not need a sharp eye. Congratulations, darling.” She gives me an extra squeeze and then releases me. “I think you two are good for each other. He has certainly proved that he’s willing to fight for you.” Her eyes sparkle a little at her understatement and I can help but laugh.

She leads the three of us into the parlor, where tea is waiting, the boys happily chattering to her about their lives and their school, Alvin telling her all about the fabulous Miss Georgia whom he plans to marry at first opportunity.

I smile when I see Emma there, waiting for me. As I come in, Emma rushes across the room, laughing, happy to see me. I wrap her in a warm hug, holding her close.

“So, your baby is getting married,” she says, pulling back a little and grinning at the boys. “Putting Victor to shame, is he?”

“Not quite,” I say, smirking and holding up my hand so she can see. Emma gasps and then wraps me again in a hug, rocking me back and forth in her glee.

“Oh my god, Evie,” she laughs. “Delia is going to flip out – she’s been calling this for weeks – the gossip blogs are going to go nuts –“

I laugh harder with her, shaking my head. Honestly, I used to love those blogs so much, but now that I’m on them…

“I’ll let her break the news on her social media if she wants,” I say, shrugging. “That way she can be at the center of it all.”

“She would die,” Emma says, her eyes going wide as we move to the couch. “Please let her – it would make her so happy.”

“Done,” I say, shrugging. “I’ll have Victor’s media people get in touch with her about it. Someone’s got to break it to the press – why not my bestie?”

“Break what to the press?” Alvin asks, curious, coming over to us.

“Your engagement,” I say, pulling him close to me. “To Miss Georgia.”

“Mommm,” he says, flushing red. “I haven’t even asked her yet. I’m waiting for dad to get the ring.”

Emma laughs, charmed, and I give my sweet boy a kiss on the cheek and a swat on the rear. “You two go find something to do around the house,” I say, smiling at them. “Let me talk to Emma and Grandmama alone, okay?”

“There’s cookies in the kitchen,” my mother says, leaning forward to smile at them. Excited, the two scamper off.

“Will they be back to listen at the door in a moment?” Emma asks, curious, knowing their reputation.

“Probably,” I say, looking after them. “With a cookie in each hand.”

“Then we should move quickly,” my mother says, looking at me seriously. I c**k my head to the side, suddenly realizing that…

She knows precisely why I’m here. I asked them to meet with me today, and I didn’t tell them why, but as I look between both of them I realize that I’ve been the only one not thinking about this for weeks.

“I’m sorry,” I say, looking down to where my hands are pressed against my knees. “I haven’t done right by you two, have I?”

“It’s all right, darling,” my mother says, leaning closer to me. “We understand. You’ve been…you’ve been ill, and busy, and distracted. And we Lunas are not used to being on the same schedule as our Alphas.”

“But I…” I shake my head, disappointed in myself. “I should have thought of you more. I’m sorry.”

“You’re forgiven,” Emma says, putting a hand on mine. “If there’s anything to forgive at all, Evelyn, it’s done.”

I nod, understanding. And then I take a deep breath before telling them everything they need to know –

everything they should have known for months now. That my father and Joyce are safe and healthy – if not happy – in Victor’s containment facility. That he has asked them each for the terms on which they would consent to be released in an attempt to negotiate that release, but that both of them have flatly refused.

“So,” I continue. “He has passed the decision to me.”

My mother and my sister’s faces are twin mirrors of surprise at this news. Never – not once – have they ever heard of an Alpha passing a decision regarding the spoils of war to his Luna. It is… utterly unthinkable to them.

“But I told him that I couldn’t decide,” I add, shrugging and shaking my head. “That…it’s not actually up to me. They’re not really a part of my life anymore. It…it might be hard to hear, especially with dad, but…”

I sigh, taking a minute to collect my thoughts. “Honestly, mom, if I never saw Dad again I don’t think that it would be anything that I regretted. I think that he’s proven himself to be dangerous to my sons and my mate and, were it up to me, I’d keep him locked away forever to protect my family. Can you forgive me for that?”

“I can, darling,” she says, leaning forward and holding my gaze, letting me see that she believes and understands me. “But, if you’re really leaving it up to me?”

I nod, encouraging her.

“Then, my love,” she says, shaking her head. “If Victor can make it possible, then I think I’d like my husband back.”

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter >

so we can fix it as soon as possible.