“Understood,” Dylon replied, pushing back his chair and standing. “Excuse me, I have to report to my Alpha that Willow will be returning with us.” After instructing Cody and Zane to remain behind, Dylon headed outside, seeking the privacy it would provide.
~/~/~/~/~
Surveying his and Fionn’s suite in the chateau, Hunter was stunned at its expensive furnishings, trying to reconcile the difference between it and the grim Scottish castle his mate had grown up in. Jackson had shown him pictures Logan had taken after Fionn’s rescue—a miserable, rundown place, devoid of even basic amenities. His mate had told him he and his mother lived in poverty, but now overwhelmed by the opulence surrounding him, he finally understood Fionn’s hatred for his father. Selling just one of the many rare Chinese vases scattered around would have bought the medicine and care that might have saved Fionn’s mother.
Wrapping his arm around Hunter, Fionn said, “Pretty fucking amazing isn’t it?”
“What a fucking asshole! He deserved to die.”
“Definitely,” Fionn murmured. “I hope he rots in hell. It won’t bring back my mother but at least I can take comfort that he’ll pay for what he did to us.”
“Fucking A,” Hunter said, looking around. “What are you going to do with all this stuff?”
“Not a clue…any suggestions?” asked Fionn.
“Auction it off? Or include it with the sale of the chateau?”
“What would you do if you were me?”
“Well,” suggested Hunter, “I would first have everything appraised…that would help figure out which path to take.”
“Okay, can you call an appraiser?” asked Fionn.
“Sure…I’ll ask Mase to find out who I should call. Holy shit, Pet! There’s a fortune just in the contents of this fucking place.”
“Pffft,” Fionn snorted, waving his hand, “all I see is my father’s hatred for me and my mother. Better to sell the crap and use the money for something good. I’ve been thinking about what to do with my father’s hoard…I haven’t totally figured it out yet, but I want to help other kids in bad situations.”
Leaning down, Hunter kissed Fionn’s head, “That’s a great idea. When we get home, you should talk to Maximus about the Dire Wolf Treasure…its purpose is to help all wolf shifters and you might be able to use how they do it as a road map.”
“That sounds perfect,” Fionn said.
“I love you, pet,” Hunter whispered against his mate’s hair. “I’m so fucking lucky to have you.”
Burrowing into Hunter’s embrace, Fionn pressed his face against the hard muscles of his mate’s chest. Overcome with emotion, he inhaled, letting his mate’s scent calm him down. Just being in the house where he killed his father brought back many unhappy memories.
Tightening his arms around Fionn, Hunter remained still, sensing his mate’s need for comfort. Murmuring words of love and support in Fionn’s ear, he began to slowly rub his mate’s back, hoping to ease his pain at having to face his father’s selfishness again.
After several minutes, Fionn glanced up at his mate’s face and, seeing the love there, he was comforted. “Thanks, mate,” he said. “I don’t like it here…this isn’t me…can we stay somewhere else?”
“Sure…if I’m not mistaken, there are some cottages located on the property.
Would it be okay if we stayed in one of those…or do you want to stay somewhere else, like away from the chateau? I think we passed a small village not too far from here,” Hunter recalled.
“A cottage would be fine. I want to be close if Carson needs me. The less time we have to spend here, the happier I’ll be,” Fionn said, heading over to their suitcases.
“On it,” Hunter replied, reaching for his phone. But before he could send a message, it rang. “It’s my uncle, returning my call.”
“Go ahead, mate,” Fionn said, “I’m going upstairs to lie down. Join me when you’re finished?”
“You bet…make sure you’re naked,” Hunter said winking at his mate, before answering. “Thanks for returning my call, Uncle.”
~/~/~/~/~
Entering the sitting room, Oracle spied her husband at his desk, typing furiously on his laptop. Resting her hand on his shoulder, she bent down, kissing him behind his ear, on the spot that always sent a shiver through him.
Stopping, he swiveled, tugging his wife down onto his lap. “What do you need, lover?”
“Who said I need anything?”
