Page 43 of Meet Your Maker: Part One

She throws her arms around his neck, peppering his face with kisses. Her laughter bubbles out, light and full of disbelief. “You impossible vampire.”

“I am,” he says, pulling her close. “Now, would you like to see the inside of your new home? All the utilities are on. I bought it turn-key, so it’s fully furnished.”

“Yes, I want to see it! We’re just a couple blocks from Daddy and Sue’s. I can walk over to see the girls. Mishka can visit whenever he wants and escape them when he needs to.” She’s babbling now, her words spilling over with excitement. “The elementary school is right up on the corner. Oh my God, Gray, this is perfect! Come on.”

She pulls him behind her, stopping abruptly as a new thought occurs. “They have themed rooms!”

My steps drag as I trail behind them, each movement an effort. Ben lingers by my side, his eyes darting between Sunday, Grayson, and me—a silent question in his gaze.

“I had no idea,” he says quietly, his voice laced with regret.

“Yeah, me either.” I try to smile, but it’s more of a grimace. “So, what are we going to do?”

Ben hesitates. “I don’t know. I feel like an asshole even thinking it, and no offense to Gray,” he continues, looking at the house, “but it’s not exactly a great setup for shifters. The three of us—and Mishka—we’re going to want to run, and we don’t want to hear every damn car in town while we’re doing it.”

I swallow hard, forcing myself to really look at the house: the gingerbread trim, the soft glow from the windows, the perfection of it. “I just… I can’t believe he did this without involving me at all. He used to tell me everything. Five weeks ago, buying this house would’ve been my job.”

Ben sighs. “You didn’t tell him about buying her a farm either.”

“Yeah.” My voice comes out rougher than I intend. “How did things get so fucked?”

He nudges my shoulder gently. “I think… maybe you aren’t as interested in being indispensable to him as you used to be. And maybe he doesn’t know what to do with this version of you.”

I let out a sharp breath, almost a laugh. “Yeah. So, if I’m not his errand boy, and I was never really his friend… I guess I’m no one to him now. All we have in common is Sunday.”

“Guys?” Sunday’s voice rings out, pulling me from my thoughts. “Come pick out your rooms. You aren’t gonna believe the size of this kitchen!”

I call back, forcing cheer into my voice. “Be right there!”

Wade steps out, his boots creaking on the wooden steps. He pulls Ben and me back, his eyes scanning the windows before speaking.

“Y’all need to tell her,” he says firmly.

“And make her choose?” I shake my head, looking away. “No. She has a very firm policy on not choosing. And she loves this place. It’s fine. We’ll use the farm as a backup. Maybe use it as a place to shift and run on the weekends or a safe house. Wait…” My voice trails off as reality sinks in. “The Judge is already out there, isn’t she?”

Wade nods, his face serious. “Yup. Drove her over yesterday and parked her in that fancy garage. Met the furniture movers too.”

“Fuck.” I turn to look out at the street—the warm glow of the streetlights pooling on the sidewalks. It all feels so idyllic, but there’s a storm brewing in our mate group, and I’m not sure how to minimize the fallout.

“Tomas.” Wade’s voice pulls me back, and I meet his eyes. “Sunday’s strength is in negotiating emotionally charged situations. She thrives on them. But she can’t deal with it unlessshe knows what’s going on. You’ve already decided on the outcome, and that’s not fair to her.”

I stare at the house, its ornate façade and copper-flashed trim she’s probably in love with. I nod slowly. “We’ll drive out to see the farm tomorrow. But just for tonight, let her enjoy this. Let her love it without any guilt. She doesn’t need my feelings messing things up.”

Ben’s voice is quiet but firm. “If you think she’s not going to pick up on those feelings the next time she’s anywhere near you, you’re fooling yourself.”

“Good point.” I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Gray didn’t stock the kitchen, did he?”

Wade shrugs, so I press on, cobbling together a half-baked plan to escape my mate’s scrutiny. “The Walmart in Lexington’s open twenty-four hours. I’ll do a provisions run.”

He shakes his head but pulls the van keys from his pocket, pressing them into my hand. “Son, she’s going to be very unhappy you didn’t tell her immediately.”

“I know.” I manage a weary smile. “I just… I can’t tonight.”

Wade’s voice softens. “Would it help to know that Grayson’s every bit as lost as you are?”

I let out a hollow laugh. “Maybe. I don’t know.” I shake my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “Tonight, he gave her a house. Tomorrow, he gets to see his chyld. After everything he’s been through this past month, he deserves some peace—some time with Sunday and Vivien.”

Wade nods, then jerks his chin toward the van. “Better get motoring, then. And Tomas?”

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