Page 11 of Eternal Mate

Tyler had been a disappointment beyond words, and I couldn’t help but feel like I would have the same luck with my grandfather once we met. After Kiyomasa had confided in me about him, I’d been religiously ignoring the knowledge that he was nearby, making excuses as to why now wasn’t the time to start seeking out new relatives.

If my instincts were right, though, he’d decided to find me all on his own.

I didn’t really know how I felt about that.

“Apologies.” The old man brushed a hand down his suit, straightening. “I’m your grandfather, Gregory Depradine—Arianna was my daughter.”

A pause.

“You look so much like your mother,” he remarked when I didn’t respond right away, his voice filled with fondness. “It’s bittersweet to see her resemblance in you.”

I offered a brittle smile, still trying to process the fact that my grandfather was standing in front of me after all these years. He looked old—far older than I had anticipated, given that he was a blessed-blood wolf. That meant he was genuinely aging, reaching the end of his natural lifespan. How old was he?

Gregory was just waiting for me to say something, kind enough to let me process his sudden arrival without interrupting the rapid-fire thoughts running through my head.

“I... I didn’t expect to see you,” I admitted, my voice tinged with vulnerability. “I don’t know what to say.”

Or how to act. Should I invite him in? Ask if he wanted a drink? The thought of bringing him into my space made me anxious, though. I didn’t know him, not really, and while I was confident I could handle just about anything at this point, I didn’t want to risk it.

I felt like a child again, suddenly—excited and nervous about meeting someone who should have always been here to begin with. Why hadn’t he? Where had he been?

The kaleidoscope of emotion I was going through must have been clear, because he placed a hand on my shoulder, his touch gentle and comforting. “There’s no pressure, Aria. I just wanted to see you, to be a part of your life, even if it’s only for a moment. I was hoping you would join me for lunch.”

Did I want to have lunch with him? I readied myself to say… anything, really, shuffling in the doorway of my apartment and trying to collect my thoughts.

The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted my inner turmoil, and I turned to see Rebecca hurrying down the hallway toward me. Her belly was beginning to round out more, pushing against her shirt, but she wasn’t quite to the waddling stage. I’d never been so grateful when she sidled up beside me, not even glancing at Gregory.

“Hey, Aria! Are you ready for the meeting?” Rebecca asked with a knowing smile, her hazel eyes filled with warmth and mischief.

Meeting? What meeting? I blinked in confusion, but she just gave me a sugary smile.

“Oh my gosh, you’re not, are you?” She turned to Gregory with an apologetic look. “Sorry, I have to steal her for a few hours.”

“Maybe tomorrow?” I offered my grandfather when he seemed to wilt, and the old man smiled gently.

“I would like that. Please, I don’t mean to keep you from work.”

I wasn’t entirely positive he was keeping me from anything, but I nodded and thanked him anyway, letting my sister drag me inside to get ready for whatever meeting we were supposed to be having.

When the door shut and we shuffled into the living room, she beamed at me, rubbing her stomach.

“There’s no meeting—you just looked like a deer in headlights,” she smoothly admitted, giggling.

“I knew it!” I exclaimed. I couldn’t help but be relieved, though, flopping onto the couch with a huff.

I ran my hands over my face with a groan, wishing today would stop taking jabs at me. First Sariel's creepy painting, then Johnny and Marilyn, and now my long-lost grandfather? The world needed to slow down for a beat and let me process one thing at a time.

Rebecca joined me, curling up beside me. “Who was that, anyway?”

“My grandfather, Gregory Depradine. He wants to get to know me.”

She whistled, then shuffled a bit so that she was facing me comfortably. “And what do you want?”

I pondered her question, staring into the distance as I weighed my options.

Truth was, I didn’t know what I wanted. Meeting my grandfather had caught me off guard, and I hadn’t yet had time to process the implications. The wounds from my previous familial disappointments were still fresh, despite my best efforts, and I was wary of opening myself up to potential heartache again.

“I don’t know,” I replied at last, my voice laced with uncertainty. “Part of me is curious and wants to connect with my roots—understand more about my mother and her side of the family. But another part of me is afraid.”

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