Page 62 of The Crimson Wolf
“They were. I wasn’t happy about them coming together at first. He was a werewolf, for Pete’s sake—the enemy.”
Anxiety shoots through my veins at her words. I hadn’t thought that she might only remember my parents beforeshe accepted my father. Could I have done more damage to her than good?
Her words slice through my panic. “Your mother invited me to their courthouse wedding two hours before it started.” She shakes her head. “I could have strangled her, but I decided to go. She was my only daughter, and I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I missed her special day. When I saw your parents up there at the front of the courtroom—the love in their eyes—I knew I had been wrong. They were mates. How could I hold onto my hatred when I witnessed something so opposite to what I grew up believing?”
“Did you believe they were mates when she told you?”
Granny nods. “Yes, it was obvious to everyone. Your father became more powerful. That’s what threw the Hunters through a loop. They started speculating that she had some werewolf DNA, but I knew she didn’t. Their love was so powerful that it created their own rules. That’s when I realized all the lies I had been taught. We weren’t so different than werewolves. And then you came along and showed me how even more powerful your parents love could be.” She pulls out an old picture of me swaddled in my mother’s arms.
“My eyes!” I gasp, holding the picture closer, staring at my bright, glowing eyes.
Granny nods. “You showed your powers early on. Your parents tried everything to keep it a secret, but it got out. The Hunters wanted you for themselves, but when your parents refused… well, you know what happened from there.” Tears fill her eyes.
I reach out to grab Granny’s hand, my eyes welling with tears. Cameron stands behind me, placing a steady hand on my shoulder. I’ve never seen Granny so emotional before. Maybe bringing her memories back wasn’t the best idea. Maybe I should have let her live the rest of her days in her ignorant bliss. But then I watch as she picks up another picture of me and my mother, her face lighting up.
“Here’s when you first started walking.” She hands it to me.
I can’t help but smile as well, seeing my young mother look at me with such love. Maybe these memories are painful, but with the pain comes so much joy because love existed here. How sweet is it to experience such love that hurts so much when it’s gone?
I flip the card over, surprised to find my mother’s handwriting on the back.
Red taking her first steps–the strongest crimson wolf to live. Soon she’ll be running all through Dayton, causing all sorts of havoc.
I laugh and hold it up to show my mate. He smiles and squeezesmy shoulder.
I wish she could see me now. She’d be so happy watching me taking down Hunters, starting a paper to bring light to the corruption that has haunted this town for years, and being fucked into oblivion every night by my mate. Okay, maybe she wouldn’tloveto see that last one, but she’d be happy to know I’m happy.
Something in my heart swells, and I know that wherever they are, they’re smiling down on me.
40
Just the Beginning
Isip my hot cocoa, allowing the steam to seep into my pores before turning to the last page of my book. I’ve been so transfixed in the story—some fluffy enemies-to-lovers romance novel—that I haven’t even noticed how much time has passed. The orange sun melts through the window next to the fireplace. The logs crack, the light dim and almost burned out. A chill has seeped into the cabin, and I pull my sweater closer. “Cameron?” I call, swiveling my head,but I don’t see him.
I close my book and stand on my socked feet, shuffling across the hardwood floor. A loud bang sounds from outside, and I open the front door to see if it could possibly be my long-lost mate.
Sure enough, Cameron stands at the chopping block, swinging an axe overhead before smashing it down on an impressively large log. He’s shirtless—of course, because there’s never been a moment in our year together that he doesn’t miss a moment to show off. I can’t say I mind as I watch the intricate muscles in his abdomen flex with each swing. His biceps strain as he pulls the axe over his head again, grunting as sweat trickles down the side of his temple. I bet he smells heavenly, like musk and sex. I put my hand over my heart as I watch him, resisting the urge to run out in the snow and tackle him where he stands.
Okay, maybe I’m not the best at resisting urges. I only watch for a few more seconds before I take off, running to him as if a monster is chasing me.
He catches sight of me mid-swing, smirking through a heavy breath as he lets the axe fall to his side. He doesn’t have time to brace himself before I barrel into him, wrapping my legs around his waist and bringing him to the snowy earth.
I pepper kisses down the side of his cheek as he tries (barely) to push me off him. “What are you doing?” heasks through a laugh. My lips meet his, but I only kiss his teeth since he smiles so big.
“I’m in a mood,” I say between kisses. His body is warm under me, slick with his sweat.
“I see that.” His hands rest on my ass. “I was trying to chop you some wood so you could continue to enjoy your book once the sun sets.”
I pick myself up, hovering over him as I look down at him. “Please. You were out here looking all sexy and manly. You were practicallybeggingme to jump you.”
He shakes his head with a smirk. “Mrs. Badson, are you implying that I can’t do normal activities without being turned into a sexual object.”
I bite my lip, looking at the sky as if sorting through my thoughts. “Yes, but only for me, and only when I’m in heat.” I press my body against him, capturing his lips, but he doesn’t let me and breaks out into a laugh. “You’re in heat? What does that mean?”
I kiss down his neck. “Well, I assume I’m ovulating based on what the sight of you does to my body, but since I’m a werewolf now, I guess I’m in heat.”
Cameron wraps his arm around me and flips me over. The quickness of his movement takes the air from my lungs. “You know how I love it when you refer to yourself as a dog.” He rolls his eyes, even if his smile betrays him.
