Jared (River Pack Wolves 3)(38)

She grasped onto his forearm, which was lying on the table. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. Not then, and not now. Full stop.”

She was talking about Avery. And the war. It was no secret, at least among his family, what had happened with all of it. “It’s not that, Mama. I met someone, and she’s…” Gorgeous. Sexy. Bringing him to life in a way that caused a smile to break out on his face at the slightest provocation. “She’s something special.”

If the word joy had been stamped on his mother’s forehead, it wouldn’t have been any more obvious how she felt. That look settled something deep inside him—something that Grace stirred up and revived. And now she was bringing healing to not just him, but to the people he loved.

Tears pricked his eyes—which flat astounded him. They vanished in his surprise.

The smile lines around his mother’s eyes crinkled. “When do I get to meet this girl?”

Jared smiled again. He loved this most about his mother—complete and total acceptance of people. No judgment. Just joy.

“Soon, I hope. She’s in a bit of trouble right now, and I aim to get her out of it.” He glanced back at the open door to the dining room where several of the kitchen duty shifters were still lingering, pretending they weren’t listening in. “Where are my brothers? I’m going to need their help.”

She squeezed his arm where her hand rested, then let him go. “They’re out back, fixing up some of the cabins. Making a home for their new mates. Maybe we need to make room for one more?”

His smile tempered, but his heart leapt—which made him realize just how much he wanted that. When Grace had said it, he thought his heart might burst with need. But he didn’t want to get his mother’s hopes up. Or his.

He shook his head. “I don’t know, Mama. Can’t rush her too much. She’s in a fragile state right now. She needs me to go slow.”

His mother nodded, just once, then stood up. “I know you, son. You’ll do what’s best for her. No doubt in my mind about that.” Then she gave him a slightly skeptical look—like she had reason to doubt he would do the best thing for him. That didn’t concern him.

He rose up as well and hastily put together a sandwich. His mother nodded approvingly. Then he stuffed the sandwich in his face and chewed as he strode out to the back part of the estate. He was actually famished, so it went down quick.

They had horses and a few livestock in the stables, and the rich smell assaulted his nose, mixing with the pine scent that swept in from the forest behind the estate. This had always been home to him, even after he had moved out to the city like his brothers. And when he’d taken Avery for a mate, they’d used one of the bridal suites out back—a small, cozy cabin, just the two of them. It felt strange to even contemplate bringing Grace here, but this was his home. And she needed one—or at least, she would, once her father disowned her. That was the most likely outcome, and he wanted to have a place for her to come and feel welcome. He should bury the ghost of Avery now, once and for all, before Grace arrived. He didn’t want her feeling even a hint of that lingering.

The animals were quiet, and there wasn’t much activity out back, now that night had fallen. Light shone from two side-by-side cabins at the end of the row, and Jared figured that must be where his brothers, Jaxson and Jace, were making their new homes. As Jared approached the cabins, Jaxson strolled out of one, carrying three stacked boards on his shoulder.

“Hey, you’re back,” his brother said. “How’s it going on the political front?”

Jared tipped his head to the second cabin—the front door was closed, but light poured from the windows. “Is Jace in there?”

“Yeah, we’re trying to get stuff set up for a week from Saturday.”

The two of them headed for the door. “What’s happening then?” Jared asked.

“The weddings?” Jaxson smirked. “You didn’t think our mother was going to let any grass grow under her feet with that, did you?”

No, he supposed not. Jared returned his smile.

Just like their mother, Jaxson startled at seeing Jared’s grin. “What’s going on?” he asked, stopping dead in his tracks.

Jared kept walking toward the cabin door. “I need to talk to you and Jace both.”

Even before Jared open the door, he could hear the voices inside.

“Well, we can’t fill the entire wall with shelving.” That was his brother, Jace.

“Why not? It’s the perfect corner for reading.” Piper’s voice had a little edge to it.