Page 63 of Charmed By Apollo

“Sounds like Cade,” she said wryly.

“He refused to budge on anything or to anyone.” Grannie chuckled. “Well, except for your mother, of course.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Well, he was her mate, of course. It was difficult at first. He was the immovable object, but she was an unstoppable force. In the end, it was worth it because their wolves chose each other, and they claimed each other as mates. Hmm…do you remember what I told you when I encouraged you to leave when Cade was trying to arrange your marriage to that asshat, Asher?”

Geri nearly choked. “Grannie? Language!” She tsked. “Is that what they teach you down here?”

“What?” The old woman shrugged. “I’m dead. I can say anything I want. Anyway, remember what I said?

“That I should find myself? That when I know who I am, then I’ll be able to find happiness and experience?”

“Have you done that?”

“I…I’m trying.” A pit grew in her stomach, thinking of what she’d almost done to that beggar woman. “Oh, Grannie, I’m so ashamed.” She covered her face with her hands.

“Oh dear, what’s wrong now? Geri?” She pried her hands away. “Tell me.”

“Grannie, when I was trying to get you back, I almost…I almost did something terrible.”

“Tell me,” she soothed. “You said ‘almost,’ so you didn’t do it.”

“I…” With a deep breath, she told her grandmother everything that happened from the moment she died, how she called Apollo, and how they set off on this quest. “I almost…I would have killed…it was so tempting.”

“Oh dear…” Grannie drew her in for a hug. “There, there.” She let Geri cry in her arms, and when her sobs slowed then, she pulled away, then brushed back her tears with her wrinkled fingers. “You didn’t do it. That was what mattered. At the last minute, you decided to do the right thing. And I’m proud of you for doing that.”

“I…” She swallowed the lump stuck in her throat. “It was because of you. I knew you wouldn’t have wanted me to do that.”

“I wouldn’t. And it sounds like this Apollo fellow knew it too.”

“I…oh.” It had all spilled out of her so fast she didn’t even think to leave his name out or his part in all this. “Uh, yeah, I guess. He’s…he’s a good guy.”

“A good—” Grannie gasped.

“What?” She peered up at her grandmother, who had the most unusual expression on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Er, nothing. Tell me more about this Apollo. Is he…special to you?”

“What?” Her cheeks suddenly went warm, thinking of him.

“Does he make you laugh?”

Only all the time. “Er, why does that matter?”

“Do you like him? Does he like you?”

He loves me. “Grannie, why are you suddenly so interested in my love life?”

“Aha!” she cackled. “So, it is love!”

Geri sucked in a breath, and that tugging deep in her belly came back once again. “I…”

“Oh, Geri.” Grannie’s smile was as bright as the sun. “Geri…this Apollo, I think your wolf side wants to mate him.”

“E-excuse me?”

“Your eyes,” she said, excited. “They glow when you talk about him.”

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