When we pulled up to a beautiful two-story home, I noticed a black matching Range Rover to mine sitting in the driveway. It looked brand new. The home was modern, white with black trim and luscious landscaping. The driveaway was cobblestone. This wasn’t your entry level neighborhood, it was deluxe.
Did he buy us a house?
Already? Away from town? Was that his car?
My mind spun as he stepped out of the car and opened my door, taking my hand in his. We stepped out onto the curb and he gave Sage and Walsh a nod as we passed. They remained in their car.
“Did I mention I hate surprises?” I told him as we stepped up to the walking path and through a cute garden trellis before standing at a black front door.
“You did.” He grinned and knocked twice.
Okay, if he’s knocking, it means he doesn’t have a key… so this probably isn’t our future hou—
All of the breath whooshed from my lungs when the door peeled back to reveal my mother.
“Demi!” Her voice held worry and relief as we crashed into each other at the same time. My mother wasn’t big on emotion usually. This time was different. I felt her body rack with a sob as we held on to each other tightly.
“We were so worried,” her muffled voice came into my shoulder.
I nodded. “I’m okay.”
Sawyer stood there patiently as we held each other, until we finally pulled back, wiping at our eyes. There was something softer about my mom since she’d revealed her big Paladin secret to me. Maybe the reason she was cold and full of rough edges was because she was harboring that secret this entire time.
“Hey, kiddo!” My dad’s voice came from deeper down the hall and I stepped into the house to greet him. He picked me up and spun me around while I laughed wildly. This was the best surprise ever.
It hit me then that I hadn’t introduced Sawyer to my parents yet!
When he set me down, I turned to Sawyer, who still stood in the doorway. I’d just ran into some random person’s house to hug my parents and poor Sawyer was waiting for an invite.
“Sorry, you guys, this is Sawyer,” I told my parents.
My dad stepped forward and shook his hand. “Of course. Good to see you again. Come on in, son.”
Son? Come on in? My dad said that like it was…
My mouth popped open as tears lined my eyes. “Wait… Is this your…?”
Sawyer placed an arm around my shoulders. “Your parents are now Werewolf City citizens again. This is their house, and you can see them anytime you like.”
I fucking ugly cried then. Like full on Kim Kardashian contorted face ugly cry. He got his dad to agree to letting my mom come back? He bought them a house? It was too much.
My mom and dad slipped out of the room to give us privacy and Sawyer pulled me into his chest, probably so he didn’t have to see my ugly, crying face.
“You did this?” I sobbed into his shoulder. “Why are you so perfect? Stop it. You’re making me look bad.” I sniffled.
He pulled me back and wiped the tears off my cheeks. “I told you, Wolf Girl, I intend to spend the rest of my life making things up to you.”
Swoon.
“So your dad just… let my parents come back?” I pressed him.
Sawyer shrugged. “He’s deferring to me since I’m in training to take over next year. He’s a stubborn man and won’t admit wrongdoing, but I know he feels bad about what he did to your mother, banishing her like that. I overheard him talking to my mom about it recently.”
He’d freaking better feel bad. I mean, seeing the woman you loved sleeping with your sworn enemy wasn’t ideal, but to banish her from the pack for life to live in the human world? Too harsh.
“And this house? I mean… how will they pay for—?”
“I bought it for them with part of my inheritance.” He smiled softly like it was no big deal. “I mean, it’s the least I can do for my future in laws.”
