Page 32 of Haze

It’s evident now she’s mad, but is it me taking my time to call her or something Magnus has done this time?

The growl rumbles with each of her words. “I know you’re mad at Magnus. Griffin, I swear I raised you boys better. You’re supposed to work out your differences.”

“You know what he did then?” I stifle the growl I want to let out. She won’t tolerate it.

“I know you’ve been cast out and chose to go to the States rather than come home. Which I’m guessing means you’re expecting me to split the holidays between you and Magnus, and you know how I get about flying.” Pure rage laces Ma’s voice.

She doesn’t deny knowing what Magnus did. She knows and doesn’t think it matters.

It does matter.

“If you can get Magnus to grant me safe passage, I’ll come for Christmas.” I offer an olive branch.

“Bah. Magnus will do what I say, or he’ll be reminded I brought him into this earth and won’t hesitate to send him out of it,” Ma threatens.

The clanging stops, and she pants a bit from how fast she was working. I can practically see her wiping the sweat off her brow with the corner of her apron.

“I’ll come home for a week over Christmas then,” I assure her.

“See that you do,” she scolds preemptively. Then she sighs. “What’s the story? How are ya?”

“I’m grand. The Ardelean line is offering me the opportunity to earn my stay,” I tell her.

“So, you’ve found her then?” Ma observes.

“Found who?” I feign innocence.

My wolf stretches, thinking about Lena. We’re both excited about her.

“Your mate.” Ma isn’t asking. Until she is. “Who is she?”

“Complicated. She doesn’t want me. Is already threatening to break the bond, and I haven’t gotten to sink my teeth into her.” I run my hand across the back of my neck.

“Mmm,” Ma answers. “Submissive and hates you then?”

“Nothing submissive about her,” I correct.

The truth of that last bit stings. Part of me always hoped I’d find a submissive wolf, someone like Ma, someone I could anchor and who would let me be their everything. God has bigger plans, I guess.

Ma sighs. “Well, she’ll come ’round. I know your brother and that mess, but you’ve never had a problem with women outside the fact you’ve always been looking for what God made for you.”

“Can I ask for advice?” I ask, running my hand down my face.

I know if I let her keep talking, it’ll be a recap of the seven women she’s tried to put in my life that I’ve run off. I can only take so much of her disappointment in a single phone call.

“Depends, will you use it even if you dislike the answer?” she scolds, still not forgiving me.

“Probably?” I answer.

The sound of work in the kitchen begins again, and I can tell Ma is waiting for me to ask.

“What did the ol’ man do to bring you around?” I ask carefully. “You said you hated him?”

“Oh, your Da.” Ma’s voice drifts a bit before she pulls it back. She gets an irritated tone, the one she always has when talking about him. “He was consistent, showed up where I was. Probably had someone from the pack following me, and I didn’t know it. But anytime I needed him, even with how busy he was, your Da was there. When I was mad at him, he’d give me no space and wait me out. He made sure all my needs were met.”

I nod, thinking back to how he would wrap his arms around her while she was cooking and follow her around, not letting go. He’d reach and grab things for her so she wouldn’t move from the spot before him.

Ma speaks with a less harsh tone. “Don’t go in guns blazing with her. I know you already have. Which is probably why she’s pulling away already. I’d say give her some space to come back to you, but I know you won’t. At the very least, listen when she talks.”

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