Leif stepped aside, making room for Aspen to pass.
While flashing as much heat as possible, Aspen touched Leif way more than necessary to slip past him.
Tease.
Aspen’s gaze dropped to Leif’s mouth.Never. With promise still lingering between them, Aspen headed Waylon’s way. “Thank you for showing up. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. While I haven’t been a part of my dad’s pack for decades, as soon as he learned I had something to take, he turned up like the bad penny he is. He’s always been a bastard.”
Waylon didn’t look upset in the least. His amber eyes held a kindness Aspen had never seen in an alpha. “You have nothing to be sorry about. The people here are falling in love with you. This is what real packs do. We have each other’s backs.”
Several people still milled around, nodding their heads.
Aspen shifted from foot to foot. Now that the focus was totally on him, his nerves set in. He glanced around. “Thank you all for showing up. I didn’t mean to bring this mess here.”
A lot of ‘don’t worry about it’ and ‘no big deals’ got tossed around. There was more unrest about Lucifer, and if Frost was okay, than Aspen’s dad. Aspen felt like he had whiplash from all the things happening since he had come to town.
Aspen listened to the worried mumbling for a moment. He focused on Waylon again. “What do you need me to do?”
“No matter how you felt about the guy, I’m sure this business with your father is a lot to deal with right now. Focus on yourselftoday. This town will still be here after you’ve had time to process.”
Audor sidled up to Waylon’s side. “All possible human witnesses have been checked. They already have no memory of this. I assume that’s Lucifer’s doing. No one else here is powerful enough to make so many people see nothing.”
“Well, there’s that,” Waylon said, sounding exhausted.
Audor kissed Waylon. It was sweet. Aspen automatically turned his head to let them have their moment. “I have to go look for Frost. It’s my duty.”
Leif joined them, obviously overhearing everything with his supernatural hearing. “I should go too.”
Aspen pressed his lips together for a moment to stop himself from smiling too hard. He had felt Leif in his head. Leif knew Aspen was genuinely fine. His willingness to return to his duties for Celeste gave Aspen more hope and peace than he wanted to admit. He needed Leif to be healed. “You should. Audor might need the help.”
Aspen was thankful when Audor didn’t argue at his urging. It was possible he, too, wanted Leif’s bitterness to slip into nothing but faded memory.
Leif stole a kiss from Aspen.Raincheck on that teasing.
Aspen's smile was back. He was so fucking happy. Even the drama of the day couldn’t shake him.I’ll be waiting.
Leif kissed him again and then fell into step with Audor, heading for a nearby truck. It seemed they would travel the old-fashioned way until the sun set. Aspen got it. Leif couldn’t let the whole town know how powerful he was. Druids were too rare and highly sought. Frost had been assigned protection. No such thing was extended to Leif. He was a warrior. Aspen supposed no one saw him as a man who lived in fear.
Waylon squeezed his shoulder, pulling Aspen’s attention back his way. “Are you sure you’re okay? You know it’s more likely than not your father is gone. Lucifer doesn’t take hostages. I hate to sound so blunt, but I don’t want to leave here if you need someone to lean on.”
Aspen was moved. This was what a real pack looked like. It was beautiful. He had to clear his throat to respond. “The word ‘father’ has never meant anything to me. As the alpha, my dad just chose whomever he wanted to mate with, and my brother and I are the product of that. From the day we were born, we were given nothing. The moment he could rip us from a loving mother, he did. From there, we either survived, or we didn’t. I likely have many siblings who didn’t.”
Waylon shook his head. “Unfortunately, it’s a story I’ve heard before. We have a few townspeople who ended up here the same way. You know your father wasn’t an alpha, right?”
Aspen nodded. “Yeah, but it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not when you live in a secluded area, kept away from anyone who could challenge his self-given title. He was the meanest, and people were scared to go against him.” Aspen shrugged. “They’re a gang, and he was the leader. My only hope is my brother is still out there, untainted by Bernard. If so, maybe he’ll find me one day. I’m not up for the heartache of knowing he’s gone—through death or brainwashing.”
“I get it.”
Aspen took a step back. “I should let you get back to work. All this shit has wiped me out. I think I need to sleep off some of this stress.”
Waylon chuckled and took a step back in the direction of his parked patrol car. “Bears and their naps.” The crowd had dispersed. There was no reason to linger. “Call me if you need anything. I’ll keep watch to make sure those guys leave town.”
Aspen smiled, and they said their goodbyes. By the time Aspen made it inside and closed the door against the world, he was ready to collapse. He was just so damn mentally exhausted. Aspen turned the lock and headed for the couch. He would grab a quick nap before Leif got home. Waylon was right. Bears loved to sleep. A muffled, angry-sounding shout had Aspen spinning. His gaze swept the room as he readied himself to shift and fight. The sound came again, and Aspen followed it to the kitchen. His dad was tied to a chair that definitely wasn’t Aspen’s. Judging by the way his dad obviously couldn’t break the ropes, and the way he kept barely shifting before turning human again, Aspen supposed the binds were magical in some way. He had a notepinned to his chest.He’s yours to kill. My son would never forgive me if I did away with him. However, Iwillbe back if he isn’t punished.The signature was nothing more than some odd demonic symbol.
A loud, tired sigh came from Aspen’s chest. It was always something.
Frost had no clue why he felt so much like a child waiting to be scolded for something he definitely did, as he watched Lucifer pace. Lucifer’s every motion and facial expression screamed he fought for what to say. Love swelled in Frost’s chest. His throat swelled. All his life, he had only had his great-aunt. Now he stared at his actual father, and so much made sense.
Lucifer stopped pacing. There was something in Lucifer’s eyes. Frost moved closer to tears. An ache rolled from Lucifer. In a single glance, Frost knew he was loved and wanted. “I didn’t know.” Lucifer’s voice sounded strained.
