Page 33 of Match My Fall
Aftersome small talk, she tipped her head. “Isthere somethingIcan help you with,Valen?”
Iexhaled.Mightas well not push off the reasonIwas there any longer. “Yes, do you knowCassandraCapwellfromSalem?”
Aurora’seyes lit up. “Yes.Shestopped by when she visited last weekend.”
Iknew that sinceCassandrahad told me.Ipicked up an amethyst and examined it to have something to do with my hands.
“Wespent some time together.”Ugh, why wasIpussyfooting around?Afterputting the crystal down back on a display covered with a rich purple velvet covering,Iraised my gaze to meetAurora’s. “Didshe mention me at all?”
“Shesaid you were going out to dinner.”
Wasthat it?Cominghere might have been a waste of time.Afterall, what exactly wasIdoing here?Comingto ask if she knew ifCassandraliked me, like we were in middle school?Foolish.Itwas better to get straight to the point. “Iwant to see her again.”
Aurorablinked twice. “Oh.”Sheexamined me more closely. “Shereturned toSalem.”
AfterIadjusted my weight from one leg to another,Irubbed my temple. “Iknow.I’mthinking of going there.”
“ToSalem?”Aurorarepeated, a note of incredulity in her tone.
“Yes.”Ipressed my lips together before asking, “Doyou think that’s a bad idea?”
Hergaze drifted off as if considering my question before she glanced at me once more. “Itdepends.”Ina lower voice, she asked, “Isthis a wolf thing?”
Asa witch mated to a wolf—our pack’s betaGrayson—she knew exactly what that meant.Thatwas one of the half-baked reasons whyIwas here—trying to gauge whether she had any insight that might help me.Onebig worry was howCassandrawould react to me showing up inSalem.Ifshe thought of our weekend as a vacation fling, which was the most likely scenario, she might thinkIwas a crazy stalker and tell me to leave her alone.Mywolf winced asIpictured it.
WhenIreplied with a solemn nod,Aurorasaid, “Oh,” and then placed her hand over her heart. “Idon’t know,Valen.”Shegave me a sympathetic smile and shrugged. “Wortha shot.Ifthere’s anythingIcan do to help…”
“Actually, yes.Canyou tell me where theSalemSupernaturalNetworkis.Cassandratold me she worked there.”
“Yes.”Shegave me the location and then arched her brows. “Don’tmake me regret this.”
“Ofcourse not.Ifshe doesn’t want to see me,I’llleave.”
Thesound of chimes rang as a trio of teenage girls entered the store.
“Pleasedon’t say anything toCassandra.Ihaven’t decided for sure ifI’mgoing to go.”
Shenodded. “Gotit.”
“Thanks.”Ismiled and left her store.
Butby the timeIwalked back across the street,I’dmade my decision.Ientered the lodge whereRafeandGraysonran business operations for the resort.Iclimbed the stairs and enteredGrayson’soffice.Hisdark brows were pinched as he studied something on his computer monitor but then glanced up at me. “Valen.”Heleaned back in his desk chair.
Afterinitial greetings,Isat down in the chair across from his desk. “I’mgoing to need some time off.”
“Howlong?” he asked.
“I’mnot sure yet,”Ireplied and rubbed my beard. “Ineed to take care of something.”
“AnythingIcan help with?”
Apart of me wondered ifIshould confide inGrayson.Afterall, he was mated to a witch fromSalem.Withit all being so new,Iwasn’t sure what to make of all this.
SinceIdidn’t get far with all my internal conflict,Iblurted it out to see if he could in fact help me with my predicament. “Imet my mate.”
Grayson’seyes gleamed.Hestood from behind his desk and walked over to pat me on the shoulder. “Congratulations.That’swonderful.”Aftera beat, he asked, “Whois she?”
Isnorted and then released a mirthless chuckle. “Awitch.Shevisited fromSalem,Mass, last weekend.”
