“For real?”
“I have to. I’ll stay out of it if she comes to me for help, too, brother.”
“Pack members are getting a kick out of this shit?” I asked.
“A lot of the females in the pack are rooting for her, saying you treated her bad and you’re a player who doesn’t deserve her, especially when she hasn’t had the chance to sow any wild oats of her own. Some think you should work for it and grovel for a while. Others are on your side, but bro… that group is smaller.”
I’m not thrilled Grey won’t make this shit stop, but I guess I get it.
***
“Get there fast in case she makes headway with her petition,” my father suggests.
“Not much I can do until tomorrow night when they make a decision about whether or not they’re gonna extend the spell so I can’t claim her, Pops.”
“If she presents that petition to them, there’s a good chance they’ll give her more time so she can be heard, son. I suggest you come up with a plan.”
He’s right. I can’t have the coven giving her more time. I’ll lose my fuckin’ mind.
“What would you do?”
“You heard your mother and I didn’t have an easy time in the early days,” he says.
“You say that like it’s easy now,” I volley.
He smiles. “Things are great with us.”
“Coulda fooled me with the way you two bicker.”
“Banter,” he corrects. “Playful teasing is all. You’ve teased Bailey for years, son. I’ve heard it myself and never hear you teasing anyone else the way you do with her.”
I frown. Yeah, I’ve always been playful with Bailey. She’s now acting like it was all cruel.
“It was always that way with me and your mother. Pissed off her best friend that I was dating. That banter translates well when we’re alone, let me tell you. Sometimes I rile that woman up so tight, when she unfurls…” He gives me a big grin loaded with innuendo as he elbows my gut.
“Fuck, Pops, that’s my ma you’re talkin’ about.”
He laughs and slaps my back. “And your little lady has been crazy about you for years. I know you’ve got a lot of folks with faith in you, son, but gotta tell you, hearing she’s yours after watchin’ that little thing look at you like you can do anything you set your mind to has been a treat. Fix it, Jason. Only you can do that. Fix whatever you broke and then enjoy havin’ a life with someone who is gonna be the ideal person for you. She’s a great girl who adores you and like you, she’d do anything for this pack. I think Fate did a great job.”
“I don’t know how to fix it,” I admit, gut clenching, because shedidadore me. And now she doesn’t. “Apologies aren’t helping.”
“Her hurt is deep, son. You gotta dig deep, too. Actions speak louder than words.”
“I’ve gotta go chase her down. Not knowing where she went feels like an itch I can’t reach.”
“Say bye to your mother. Gwen just left to go meet friends in town, so I’m callin’ Tay to tell her to bring the grandkids over for dinner to cheer her up. This stuff with Sherry had her down and that’s one of the reasons Gwen came to stay for a couple weeks while on break from her classes. News about you and Bailey perked her up. She’ll need more perking after seeing where Bailey’s at today.”
“All right.” I thrust my hands through my hair. “Keep me posted on Sher?”
My dad’s gaze darkens. “Will do. Me and your mother have got her. You worry about your mate right now. I’ll have the news we all want once we catch your scent on the breeze. But son… my advice?” He waits until I give him a nod to let him know I want that advice.
“Fight the rutting urge when you get the green light from the coven. Better if you ignore any green lights that don’t come from your mate. Suspect she’s inexperienced. Don’t know if that’s a hundred percent or…”
“Pretty sure it is,” I say.
“I got that gift from my mate, son. But I was too hasty and it took some work to fix that. It’s a gift you don’t wanna squander. If you can, I recommend you take it as slow as you can even if it’s difficult. Try and make it about her instead of yourself at the start. Do that the first time and it’ll be all about the both of you from then on out.”
He doesn’t wait for me to reply. He slaps my back again and reaches into his pocket, pulling his phone out to call Taylor.