Page 31 of Forsaken Fate

“It’s not a problem, Theo. Even people like me are bound by certain codes of ethics, you know?”

I laughed. “Now that’s funny to think.”

“Fuck you.”

“You kiss my sweet little venison stew-making Aunt Margie with that mouth?”

“Good talking to ya, Theo. Call us when you get back in town. Wouldn’t want to miss a second of the Gathering.”

“Are you going?”

“Every shifter in the state is going, Theo. That’s kind of the whole point. In addition to the markings, we have to settle who’s going to get the shifter and witch backing as our new governor. Should be interesting. So far, most of the power players are keeping their opinions close to the vest. But I haven’t heard any real challengers to Grayson. If someone doesn’t step up…he might be who we’re stuck with.”

“I’ll call you when I get back in town,” I said, wanting to get off the phone. If I stayed on too long, Doyle might start to figure out something was wrong with me. Brynna was wrong with me.

As quickly as I could, I said goodbye.

I was an asshole. I should have called Doyle back right then and called off the tail and everything else I’d asked him to do for me. What kind of dirt did I think I would find on Brynna? Chances are, I was her biggest secret at the moment. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her. The way she smelled, how much I enjoyed watching her fuck me, the feel of her lips around me. I wanted more of her. I wanted her secrets. I’d only just started with her last night. She wanted more too, I felt it.

Yep. The smart play was to stay here. Text Grayson and tell him sorry, I can’t take more time away. Find someone else to bless his perverse union with Brynna. I didn’t owe him anything and he knew I’d never thought of him as a brother. I picked up my phone again and pulled up Grayson’s contact. I ran my finger over the number. End it now. End it clean. My dad was dead. Diana was dead. It was over if I let it be.

The question was, could I?

CHAPTER 14

Brynna

I’d boxed up everything I thought I used to be six months ago when I made the decision to come to Albany. It seemed like an eternity since I’d stood in an airport terminal enveloped in one of Uncle Charlie’s great, wolfish hugs. I had told the biggest of my lies then and there. And they were the worst because I told them to someone I loved. Between the two of us we had scrimped and clawed and saved enough for me to pay six months’ rent on a small apartment in New York and half my first year’s tuition to Cornell Law School. The rest came from an academic scholarship. I had one layover in Albany and then the life Charlie had dreamt for me would start. It was a perfect plan and Uncle Charlie needed it. He had made a vow to the pack to take care of me. To get me out of California after the war so I could start over. Free. Able to make my own choice as to who I mated with. I owed Uncle Charlie so much. Guilt poured through me. Now, every breath I took was a betrayal to him.

Except for landing in Albany, every bit of my life since then had been a carefully orchestrated lie.

Now, I stood in front of another set of boxes – smaller ones. I’d chipped away even more of my life to serve the same lie. This time, it was to Grayson I made my false promises.

He wound his arms around my waist and pulled me against him. Possessive. Smothering. “You’re mine and I’m free and there isn’t a damn thing my mother or anyone else can do about it. I’m sorry ... that’s probably disrespectful but sometimes it’s almost a relief, you know?”

I gave him the smile he was looking for. “I’d like to think she would have warmed up to me if we’d had longer to get to know each other. She was really just trying to protect you. I understand that. Having someone to look out for you is a good thing, isn’t it?”

Grayson took my hand and led me into the house. He turned when we stepped into the foyer. I’d been in this house twice before but this time the energy was different, of course. It’s what made Grayson different, too. It was his now. He said he wanted it to be ours. As I thought it, Mary the housekeeper came into the hall with her glowering eyes.

Fuck her.

“Would you like to go over the rules?” she said.

I couldn’t help it, I laughed out loud. “I wasn’t aware there were any.”

She put a hand on her hip. “I mean, I’d like to know what you expect of me. I’m sure the rest of the staff would too, though I’m the only one who lives here full time. We’ve grown accustomed to doing things a certain way here. It worked very well for Governor Dorran. It’s, of course, up to you,” she put emphasis on the word and looked straight at Grayson, “how you’d like things to continue.”

I knew that Mary would have to be one of my first orders of business. She would watch every move I made, ready to pounce and report any misstep back to Grayson or the coven. Like fucking Grayson’s step-brother in the study would probably be frowned upon.

The instant Theo came into my mind, I wished he hadn’t. I felt a flare of heat at the memory of him. I’d showered and changed but I swore I could still smell his scent. Could still see his wolf in my mind’s eye. I had to focus. Theo was a distraction. It was dangerous to turn to him for any kind of comfort. I shouldn’t make assumptions about his lack of loyalty to Grayson. And he was coming back. For reasons I couldn’t fully process, I had actually asked him to.

“Right now,” Grayson said, jarring me away from my thoughts, “the only rule is to stay out of sight. I appreciate what you and everyone else did for my mother and that you’re staying on to keep the transition smooth. It’s a big house, my future mate isn’t going to run it by herself if she doesn’t want to. And I hope you don’t take offense, but I’d rather you do your job and fade into the woodwork while you do. Pretend you’re furniture.”

Even I winced at the characterization. The woman had given me nothing but grief and had been Diana’s cheerleader against my role in Grayson’s life, but she was a person.

“Thank you,” I said. “We’d just like some time alone to get acclimated. That’s all. You of all people understand how sudden Mrs. Dorran’s passing was.”

Mary nodded and turned on her heel, leaving us alone again.

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