Page 58 of Crimson Heart

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Byron followed the loud voices into the foyer and found Flora pointing to a stack of firewood just outside the living room door. Heath approached as she addressed him in an annoyed tone.

“What is this?” Flora griped. “You can’t just leave firewood here. Put it where it belongs!”

“I’m sorry, Flora,” Heath replied, “but Danielle asked me leave it out here.”

“Why would she do that? That makes no sense. Put it where it’s supposed to go.” Then her gaze landed on something else that seemed to annoy her equally.

Byron followed her gaze and noticed the two small suitcases near the stairs.

“And what are these suitcases doing here?”

Heath shrugged, clearly trying to keep his temper in check. “Must belong to Jude’s parents. They just arrived.” He pointed to the living room. “They’re all in there. Didn’t wanna disturb them.”

Then he turned and walked away from her.

“Are they staying here?” Flora called after him.

“You have to ask them,” Heath said without breaking his stride.

Byron saw him roll his eyes, and he couldn’t blame the fellow. “Don’t worry about it, Heath. We’ll figure it out.”

Heath gave him a grateful nod and disappeared.

“Where the hell are they gonna stay?” Flora continued, this time addressing him. “Already, space is tight with all of Jude’s men. First, his sister arrives, and now his parents. We don’t have any spare rooms.”

Byron shrugged. “Maybe they’re staying in a hotel in town.”

He hoped that was true, because if Charlotte’s parents were staying at the mansion, things would become even more complicated. Had Jude called his parents to tell them that Charlotte was hiding out here so they could pick her up and take her back?

The voices coming from behind the closed door to the living room grew louder by the second. That wasn’t a good omen. They were clearly arguing, and now he could hear Charlotte’s voice, although he couldn’t make out individual words, but it was evident that she and her parents were fighting. Fuck! He wished he would have had more time to get more information about the Leon pack so he would have something concrete to present to her parents that would convince them that a mating between Charlotte and Steve Leon would be a disaster. Fuck! He had to do something.

Suddenly, the door to the living room was flung open, and Charlotte stormed into the foyer. She looked distraught, her face flushed, her hair flying. As if she didn’t even see him, she ran past him and Flora.

“Charlotte,” he called out to her, but she didn’t look over her shoulder and kept running.

The door to the living room was now wide open, and he marched inside.

“What did you do to Charlotte?”

He glared at the assembled: Jude, Danielle, Mason, as well as an older couple he’d never met before, but knew had to be James and Maggie Beaumont.

James stared at him. “Let me guess, you’re Byron. You’re the one who’s put ideas in my daughter’s head and concocted this elaborate story about the Leon pack!”

“Elaborate story?” What the fuck was he talking about?

“Don’t look like you don’t know what’s going on! I know what you’re like. Everybody at the Werewolf Alliance knows about your family. You can’t be trusted! You’re just like your father!”

“You know nothing about me. I’m nothing like my father!” Byron ground out with a clenched jaw. The only reason he didn’t simply punch the guy for this insult was because he was Charlotte’s father.

“We’re taking Charlotte back with us right now. She’ll mate with Steve Leon tomorrow.” James glared at him and pointed his index finger at him. “So that you can’t lay another finger on my daughter.”

Before he could reply, Danielle interrupted, “James, Maggie, why don’t you stay at least the night?” She smiled at her mother-in-law. “Maggie, you must be exhausted from your trip. I would love for you both to see the estate and all the improvements Jude has made in the short time he’s been alpha here.”

Byron raised an eyebrow. He’d never seen this side of Danielle, even though he’d known her for six years. He noticed how Jude looked at her with approval. Then he caught Jude’s glance on him, giving him an imperceptible nod that seemed to say don’t worry, we’ll sort this out. It was downright odd: was Jude suddenly on his side?

“James,” Maggie finally addressed her husband. “I think it would be nice to stay for a night and meet everybody.”