Page 87 of Cowboy Devil's Embrace

“Of course I am right, dear boy. I am always right.”

I froze in place.

It couldn’t be. Not here.

“Wow, look at you, cousin! You look like a real cowboy!”

But I knew those voices. My inner Devil perked up.

I turned around slowly until I was facing my cousin and grandmother. I’d always had a healthy fear of the matron of our family, but not of my cousin.

And that asshole owed me.

Faster than was humanly possible, I popped that idiot in the nose with a right hook.

“Ouch! What the fuck, Max?” Avail grunted, holding his now bleeding nose.

“Language, Avail,” Grandmother said, handing him a handkerchief and smiling at me with something akin to pride shining in her eyes.

“This is Emmet, I take it?” Grandmother asked, and the Wolf dipped his head.

I hadn’t realized he was still standing there, waiting to see if I needed backup.

Good Wolf. Great Beta.

“Hi, Grandma,” I said, kissing her politely on the cheek. “Yeah, Emmet here is the foreman, and my Beta. I have a Crew now.”

“Yes, I see. A real found family, then. But don’t forget, Max, you have us, too,” she said, and right then something else clicked for me.

I’d always kind of resented the way Avail and Grandmother had seemed so close. Like I was on the outside with the other lesser important grandsons and cousins.

But looking at her now, I felt something I’d been missing my whole life.Acceptance.

Love.

Respect.

Maybe all three. And I was grateful she helped me find them. She helped me to appreciate my fortune and my life.

I might have been a little shit before this move, but I was different now. Forever changed. And Grandmother had been the one to start the ball rolling.

“I know, and I appreciate it. All of it, Grandma. Penelope is my true promised one, and she’s made everything better. All of this has been worthwhile,” I told her reverently.

“Yes, I understand you’ve found your mate. I expect a full introduction when you are finished here,” Grandmother said.

“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.

“Sucks when she’s right, doesn’t it?” Avail grinned.

“No. Not at all, actually,” I replied, thinking about my sweet Sugarplum.

“Well, Stephanie and the kids are in the stands. We’re rooting for you, Max.”

“Thanks, Avail. Sorry about the,” I murmured and gestured to his now crooked nose.

“It’ll heal. Anyway, cowboy looks good on you,” Avail said, and he wasn’t even being rude.

“Ready to get out there, Boss?” Emmet asked as the announcer said my name.

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