Page 11 of Midnight Hunt
Getting me to claim and mate Vi before Anthony Rivers promised her to another pack heir.
All these years, I’d thought Charlotte had approved of the betrothal, but she’d revealed some secrets to us over the past few months. Namely, her distaste for the archaic tradition of uniting two packs through an arranged marriage contract. Which was ironic, considering the deal her son had made last year with Nora, his fated mate.
But Vi didn’t see me as something more. And thelastthing I wanted was to push her into a relationship she didn’t want.
The reality of our situation was like a bucket of ice water, effectively dousing the heat in my groin. She was with Reid now. A pack heir, ironically. Charlotte might be stuck in the past and hoping for a mate match between me and her daughter, but I couldn’t afford to entertain that fantasy.
Vi was in a healthy relationship for once, and I wouldn’t stand in the way of that. Not this time.
She deserved a good guy, and I couldn’t deny that Reid was just that. He was kind, upstanding, and respectful, a male I could actually approve of.
There was no good reason to sabotage their relationship.
None, whatsoever.
My skin suddenly felt too tight. Needing something to do, I pushed off the doorframe and headed for the mess on the counter. A minute later, I was elbow-deep in warm water and soap suds, scrubbing bowls and pans so vigorously that they all but groaned in protest. Vi continued to chat with her mother as she too helped clean up, putting away the cooking supplies and wrapping up the baked goods while Charlotte finished her glass of milk. In no time, the kitchen was back to its pristine condition.
Charlotte looked around approvingly before nodding and saying, “Thanks for the help, you two. I’m off to bed now.” Before leaving, she gave us both a kiss on the cheek goodnight, then paused and added, “And if you’re going to have sex, be discreet. Anthony is still adjusting to the idea of you two being together.”
With that, she gave me a final pat on the cheek and left the kitchen.
Vi and I gaped after her, our jaws slightly unhinged. Well, that was a new one.
“Did she just . . . ?” Vi whispered.
“Yup,” I whispered back. “Your mom just got super cool.”
She whacked my stomach, making me grunt. “Knock it off, Griff. I think she’s getting worse.”
Hearing the worry in her voice, I gently nudged her shoulder with mine. “Healing takes time, Vi. The mind can break in a second but take years to repair. With lots of patience and compassion, she’ll get better. You’ll see.”
She released a tired sigh but didn’t comment.
“Your mom’s right, though. You should get some sleep too. You’ve had an exhausting day.”
“But Kolton and Jagger aren’t back yet. I need to know what they learned about my attackers.”
“Kol texted me. Alpha DeRosa doesn’t know who they are.”
Her shoulders fell. “Great. Just great.” Reaching up, she yanked the tie out of her hair. As the dark strands tumbled onto her shoulders, I had a sudden desire to feel them gripped tightly between my fingers. Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Vi added with another sigh, “Well, I’m off to bed, then. Night.”
“Night,” I murmured, watching as she left the kitchen.
She was still acting like everything was normal between us. Like she hadn’t called me in a panic earlier and admitted that she needed me.
Needed.
I opened my mouth to call her back, to demand she explain herself. Topush. Instead, I firmly shut my mouth and allowed her to go unchallenged, bottling up the unspoken words between us once more.
Only when I heard her reach the stairs did I move to follow, forbidden thoughts of touching her still dancing through my mind.
4
VIOLET
“Rivers’ residence. Vi speaking,” I said in my most chipper voice despite the early hour.
“Oh, Vi, you’re back! We missed you at the initiation last week,” an all too familiar voice responded in an even more chipper tone.
