Page 42 of The Alpha Wolf's Bullied Bride

“Grandfather Tomas?!” I exclaim when I enter the cottage behind the main house to find the older man fixing himself a stiff drink at my father’s bar. Most of the liquor bottles have still been packed in boxes ever since Mother and Father moved out of the main house.

I cheerfully chuckle as I stretch my arms out to hug Grandfather. The scent of musk and oak fills the air, and the scent of his cologne reminds me of the many adventures we had together while I was growing up.

Adventures that we shared with Finch.

My thought doesn’t go unnoticed when Grandfather steps back, his eyes softening with sadness as he stares into mine. We share a moment of silence for the fallen, his hand resting on my shoulder with a gentle, reassuring squeeze.

My heart squeezes too, but only from the emotions that I’ve refused to face. My vision blurs with moisture, and Grandfather sighs, picking up the glass of whiskey and offering it to me.

“Talk, boy,” he says coolly, crossing his arms against his chest when I’ve taken the glass.

I stare at the rippling amber liquid and frown. “Why didn’t you attend the ceremony?”

"Your induction or your union?”

“Both.” I look up glumly, passing the glass back to him. “I’ve already had enough to drink tonight.”

“Suit yourself,” Grandfather shrugs before chugging down the liquor. “I was in the Bahamas, if you must know. Now tell me, what’s going on with you? Why the long face, boy?”

“It’s just been…a lot.” I go on to tell Grandfather about everything that’s happened, including the alliance with the other Alphas and the threat that looms over the packs of Oklahoma. He listens intently, nodding slowly in acknowledgment of everything I tell him.

When I’m done, he takes a deep breath and grins. “Why do you think Finch backed out when he did?”

“Grandfather!” I exclaim in horror.

“Oh, save me the lecture, boy,” he grumbles, muttering some unintelligible words under his breath as he waddles to the settee beside the bookshelf. “When will you people ever learn to have a sense of humor around here? You know, I blame your father. But that would only mean that I’m to blame for how he turned out. I really wish his mother was still alive—your grandmother. She had a good sense of humor, that one.”

“I hardly remember her,” I lament with a smile as I’m hauled into the short lane that holds memories of my grandmother. “But I do remember how great her meat stew was,” I chuckle.

“The fallen only leave us with fond memories, don’t they…?" Grandfather sighs as he stares out the window, a wistful smile on his face. “But that’s no reason for us to stop living our lives the way we see fit.”

“I—” I begin, but Grandfather turns to me, his narrowed eyes veiled by the untrimmed brows that act like wolf whiskers on his human face.

“That goes for you too, Flynn,” he says sternly. “You should stop beating yourself up about his death. And start living a life that makes you happy.”

“My happiness is of no importance if I can’t protect the pack.”

“The way you couldn’t protect Finch?”

I wince when Grandfather hits the nail on the head, pursing my lips as I avert my eyes and stare at the rug. When silence stretches, I know I have to answer my grandfather.

“I couldn’t protect him,” I whisper, shaking my head as it hangs bashfully. “I wasn’t even there.”

“Are you questioning fate, boy? Do you not trust in the will of the Moon Goddess?”

I look up to find Grandfather shaking his head disappointedly. A pang in my chest has my breath catching in my throat.

It’s almost like he knows my deepest secret.

I shake my head slowly, my heart thumping quickly in my chest. “I wouldn’t be a believer if I questioned fate.”

“Then why don’t you accept it?” he puts forth. “Stop chasing Finch’s fate, and follow your own path, Flynn.”

Grandfather’s advice leaves me with rich food for thought. When Finch died, I’d become a selfish brute, chasing an image that wasn’t even mine to begin with, wearing his mask in his absence. I thought I was doing everyone a favor.

Most notably, I’d been denying how I truly felt all along.

Grandfather is right. His surprise visit must be the work of fate, popping up at a time of need when I wasn’t sure how to face Lila.

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