Page 79 of Lost
“I suppose it isn’t,” Nova says with a small smile. Hollis and she are fiercely holding hands, refusing to let go of the other. “I wanted to do something that celebrated life, especially when I didn’t want to.”
There’s so much sorrow in her voice, I want to wrap my arms around her. The only problem is that our relationship isn’t at a point where I can forcibly move Hollis from her sister’s side.
She’ll probably punch me if I tried. Since Lars and I were the ones who taught her how to fist fight, I know how much that would hurt.
It might be worth it.
Nova unconsciously rubs her wrists, and suspicions fill my mind not for the first time about suicidal ideation. The way she sounded just now seemed too sad to be just a passing thought.
“The packs that she works with adore her,” I murmur instead of stupidly voicing inside thoughts. “She’s going back to work tomorrow.”
“I think that’s too soon, but babies won’t wait,” Hollis mutters. Apparently she has no problems with voicing inside thoughts.
“Too soon why?” Aine asks.
Nova flushes harder than I’ve ever seen, and Hollis bites her lip. Yeah, as normal as heats are, talking about them with your newly found grandparents may be stretching it.
“Also, does it have anything to do with the bite mark I’m seeing?”
Aine smirks as she sees how uncomfortable her granddaughter is, while Kevin gently elbows her.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” she says with a shrug. “Heats happen. Did anything odd happen though?”
“I had a seizure,” Nova mumbles. “It was a really messed up heat, let’s just say.”
“It’s not too late to put Caleb and Lars down like dogs in the backyard,” Kevin reminds gently.
Fuck me.
TYDE
I’m freaking the fuck out as I’m allowed entry into a very affluent foyer. Everything is done in marble, shades of whites, grays, and purples, yet I couldn’t care less. I have a fancy house, I’d happily sleep in Nova’s van if it meant I was with her.
“They’re just in here, sir,” the maid says, her hair covered with a white cap as she walks me into the living room.
“Nova,” I say roughly, my eyes on her adorable space buns, waiting as she turns to face me.
Standing, she rushes toward me and jumps into my arms. My hand grabs her ass to lift her higher, while the other arm wraps around her back.
“It seems like you’ve found something you lost,” I murmur into her hair as I hold her tightly to me.
“And you are?” A gentleman on the fat couch sitting next to a much smaller woman both stand, his eyebrow arched.
“Hers,” I state, unable to do much about my first impression of myself. I’m assuming these are her grandparents and I’m royally fucked.
Nova is still holding tightly to me, so I move my hand so it’s no longer on her ass cheek and more hiding from view. Striding over to her grandparents, I hold out my hand in an effort to salvage this.
“Dr. Tyde Stewart, sir,” I say.
“I suppose both introductions suffice,” the woman chuckles. “I’m Nova and Hollis’ grandmother, Aine, and this is Kevin Edwards.”
Her grandfather shakes my hand, appearing amused.
“I got excited,” Nova squeaks.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, darling. Is this your bonded alpha?” Aine asks.
Nova lifts her face to smile at me. There’s tear stains on her cheeks, and I take back the hand I’m shaking with to rub them away.
