Chapter 37
Hudson
Bad thing number one, Grams had been murdered by the psychotic father of my not-really-ex-boyfriend-who-is-now-my-actual-boyfriend. Bad thing number two, that turned out to be a ploy to get me to come back to Felcove, all so he could murder me, too.
But we’d all made it out of William’s scheme alive—or somewhat alive, in Tyler’s case.
And it was true that if none of it had happened, I’d probably still be in Bay City.
I’d still be splitting my free time between hookup apps and whatever magic-related rabbit hole I could fixate on just to dissociate and make myself believe I didn’t want to go back to Felcove.
I’d still be working my old part-time server gig at Applebee’s, barely making ends meet and only keeping my apartment because Grams insisted there was more than enough money in the family accounts for me to spread my wings.
I had never been spreading my wings. I’d been hiding.
I hated that Grams was gone. I hated that it had taken losing her for me to see I’d been lying to myself for so long. It made sense that Tyler, Emery, and I were staying in Felcove and making the Garland house into our home.
Because I never should’ve left in the first place.
Evening sunlight drifted through the balcony window as I lay on my stomach, sprawled out on the new king-sized mattress in our bedroom while I scribbled in the grimoire, adding my own notes.
Part of me had hoped the missing history of my family’s blood magic would’ve magically filled itself in after I’d assumed my role as Sovereign, but no.
Apparently, part of my duties included record-keeping.
Stupid magic.
I’d been half tempted to prick my finger and try to pull my memories out of my head, forcing them to fill the empty pages I’d added. Then Emery had to go and make a comment about the possibility of getting amnesia as a side effect and forgetting the past month entirely.
I wasn’t risking that. Those memories, however gruesome at times, were mine.
Tossing my ink quill aside, I closed the grimoire, deciding I’d written enough for the day.
The guys would be getting back from the shop any minute, and the three of us had been planning dinner and a movie for a few days.
Em had made reservations at the Felcove Chop House, and Tyler was practically giddy over some new zombie flick that was playing.
A normal, perfectly boring date with my boyfriends. I was so fucking excited.
I dropped my cheek into the comforter, reaching down to give Hissy some scritches where he lay curled up at my side.
He had been getting spoiled over the last week with constant treats, wet food, and all the cuddles he could tolerate.
Our little hero for letting Em and Ty know I hadn’t taken off on them.
Whipping out my brand new phone—which was paid up on a new family plan of three lines as we hadn’t been able to find mine after I’d been kidnapped and Tyler had destroyed his throwing it across the driveway—I checked the time, seeing we still had two hours until our reservation.
I rolled over on the bed with a stretch, flinching at the pressure in my ass I had all but forgotten was there.
A little present for the guys. Me.
The front door slammed shut, giving me a small start. Em’s car still needed a lot of repairs, and we hadn’t yet figured out what the wolves had done with my truck, so they’d both been hoofing it—with added speed, of course—to the shop every day, Tyler being Felcove Auto’s newest apprentice.
And it seemed the sun had little to no effect on Garland vampires.
“It’s not that big a deal, Ty,” Emery’s voice drifted up the stairs. “Vinny will get over it. If we’re staying here, then you deserve just as many hours as the rest of ‘em.”
Their footsteps creaked through the hall. “Yeah, but creating a whole new position? Changing the name?” Ty groaned. “I’m your boyfriend, Em. They all think I’m getting special treatment.”
“Let ‘em. It’s my shop, they can deal with it.” Emery chuckled before shouting, “Hud? Where you at?”
“Drowning in a sea of despair without my handsome monsters by my side!” I called back with a pained voice, rolling over and dramatically throwing an arm over my eyes.
Ty was on top of me so fast I jumped, a wicked smile on his face as he caged me beneath him. “Better?”
“No, you scared the shit out of me, you rotten vampire!” I cackled beneath him as he peppered my face with room-temperature kisses.
“I’ll save you!” The bed sank near my head as Emery joined in, lifting my shirt and blowing raspberries on my stomach, making me squirm and scream.
“Stop! I hate you both! Go away!” The words came out in a helpless, pained laugh. They finally relented, snickering as they sat upright to let me catch my breath. “What’s up with the shop?”
Ty rolled his eyes, leaning back as he straddled my waist. “Well, I can’t actually do any repairs until I get my certifications, so in the meantime—”
“I’m adding handyman services to the business,” Emery interjected. “Ty can pick up whatever minor odd jobs he feels comfortable doing. I can give the other guys more hours, and if it goes well, even hire some new employees.”
“We should probably ask Mal if he’s interested.” Ty met Em’s eyes, raising his brows. “I think we’re stuck with him.”
“Yeah…” Em sighed, his face dropping. “He really needs us right now.”
Gage had made apology after apology for what he’d done, and while I understood in a way, that trust was gone.
For Emery, his betrayal was unforgivable, a wolf bond completely broken.
And it seemed that even Malik was having trouble letting it go, wishing that Gage had just told us the truth instead of giving in.
So, Gage went back home, vowing to keep my blood magic a secret with a spell that bound him to his word. And Malik chose to stay behind to try and find his own way, separating from his big brother for the first time in his life.
“We’ll take care of him, Em,” I said with a smile before circling back, trying to take Em’s mind off the Lawsons. “So… you have to change the shop’s name?”
Emery shrugged. “I figure I’d just call it Felcove Auto and Handyman.”
“Booooring,” I droned, rolling my eyes. “Spice it up. This town needs some life, Em.” My face lit up as the dirtiest name I could think of hit me. “Evans Lube and Handy.”
“No!” Tyler jabbed a finger in my face, then whipped it at Emery. “I am not working—”
“Too late,” Emery said with a massive grin, cutting him off. “I’m the boss, remember?”
“Motherfucker,” Ty groaned, glaring at me. “Might as well make the official uniform nothing but tight jeans.”
“Done.”
“Son of a bitch!” Ty growled, trying to hide the smile on his face as he got off the bed, moving to the balcony window and pulling his phone out of his pocket. He shook his head, gripping the back of his neck with a pained grunt. “Dammond finally filed the missing persons report.”
I rolled off the bed, coming up behind him to put a hand on his back, rubbing small circles.
The Sheriff, having known Ty’s father personally, had been told by William’s assistant that he was out of town and that Tyler and William hadn’t been speaking.
So, when we attempted to file the report a few days after the sanitarium, just to keep up appearances, it hadn’t really gone anywhere. “You okay?”
“I think so?” He pursed his lips, staring vacantly across the backyard and scanning the coastline. “I just… don't really know if I should give what he said about Mom any thought. I can't be angry at her for doing exactly what I did to survive. And I would never blame her for escaping that man.”
“We could look for her if you want, baby,” I offered, resting my head on his shoulder. “Do you know any of the family he mentioned? I could reach out. Hunters don't typically come for witches.”
“They do for blood witches, Hud,” Emery said darkly. “Best not to make that connection.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Ty shook his head with a sad smile.
“I only ever knew my Aunt Jess, Mom’s sister.
She had a kid around the same time Mom had me.
Billy… Brady… something like that. We hung out once when I was seven.
Dad threw a fit, and I never saw them after that.
” He reached for the back of his neck again with a groan.
My hand slid up his back. “Headache?”
“Yeah, think I’m just… ” Ty muttered, turning to me. His eyes flitted down to my neck. “...hungry.”
I chuckled, tilting my head for him. “I told you you’re allowed. You’re the one who keeps insisting on blood bags and thermoses.”
“I don’t wanna hurt you, baby boy,” Ty sighed, shaking his head. He took my waist, dropping his forehead to mine. “You smell incredible, better than anything I’ve had to drink so far. I’m worried I won’t be able to control myself.”
“The second you bite me, there will be blood for me to use, Ty,” I whispered. “And from what I learned in Lenore’s diaries downstairs, Garland blood will sustain you better than anything else.”
“Why do you want me to bite you so bad?” Tyler’s eyes narrowed. “This is a horny thing for you, isn’t it? Just like wanting Em to fuck you while shifted.”
“Yep,” I said instantly, turning to Emery. “Which, I’m still waiting for my turn, by the way.”
Emery chuckled from the bed. “We’ve got a bit of time to kill.
” He wagged his brows, then jutted his chin at Ty.
“Feed our vamp.” Pushing off from the bed, he came up behind me, gripping my hips in both hands and rumbling in my ear.
“He’ll get you all riled up for me, nice and relaxed so I can give my boy what he needs. ”
“Fuck, Em…” Tyler breathed, pressing into me, his cock twitching against mine as he leaned into my neck. “Help me, Hudson.” His fingers tangled in my hair, tugging my head gently to one side. “Keep me in control. Please.”
“I’ve got you, Ty.” My breath came out in a shudder as his fangs grazed my skin, asking. “Sink your teeth into me. Please.”