Chapter 37
THIRTY SEVEN
Honey
It’s so good to walk around Mosswood Market without anyone even looking twice at me.
I stroll down the aisles focused only on my shopping cart and what I want to cook Gryff for dinner.
He had an important meeting today. He had to drive into the city for it and everything.
He said it was related to the committee hearing, but he didn’t know much more than that.
I’d be worried about him except the hearing went so well. He gave evidence and even stayed to hear the other witnesses and talk with the families of his comrades who didn’t make it.
Ever since then, there have been no unplanned shifts. No nightmares. He says it’s because he goes to sleep with me tucked against him every night, and I like it so much I’m hardly going to argue.
Mabel gives me a bright smile as she rings up my shopping at the register. She has on little half mittens today as well as her shawl, even though the weather is getting warmer now. “Well hi there, Honey. You’re looking well. Are you keeping Gryff in line?”
I chuckle because it’s way more like Gryff keeping me in line these days and me getting increasingly demanding every day we’re together and I discover just how much he will indulge me pushing his boundaries.
To Mabel I just smile and nod. “Yeah. How are you? How are the plans for this year’s Moonberry Festival?
I hear it’s shaping up to be a big one.”
“Sure is. You know Ray was telling me every room is booked everywhere within ten miles of Mosswood that whole week.”
“Sounds great.” Gryff will probably want to get out of town and go camping that week, and I understand, but I’ll be sad to miss the festival. I figure I’ll persuade him to stick around for the first night and the berry picking contest before we head out for a few nights to ourselves.
I pack my shopping into the backpack I bought for this exact purpose and walk the few blocks home, humming to myself.
I pass Colton’s place and spot him and Wes sitting out on the front porch, so I give them a big wave and holler hello.
As I turn the corner onto our street, I lift my fingers to run them over the slight scar on my neck from Gryff’s mark.
Turns out there’s one more major benefit to being mated to an alpha werewolf.
All my new shifter friends confirmed now that I’m mated, my scent has changed.
Not enough for me to notice, but apparently when I go into heat now, everyone except Gryff finds it mildly off-putting. I’m so totally good with that.
As I open the door and step into the main room of the small cabin, Gryff looks up from where he’s sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands.
I can tell right away even without the little tug on our bond that he’s not feeling himself because otherwise he would be on his feet in a heartbeat, striding across the room to catch me up in his arms and put his scent on me after any period of time apart.
My step falters, but the emotion I’m getting from him isn’t exactly bad. “Are you… OK?”
The smile he gives me is weary, but it’s a smile.
I’ll take it. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
Dropping my backpack on the floor, I go straight to him and climb into his lap.
He leans his head on my chest and lets me pet his hair for a moment while neither of us speaks.
It’s enough to feel him through the bond.
Solid and so sure of me that his love never fails to feel grounding. I just hope I can do the same for him.
Eventually he lets out a sigh. “Misconduct. They found that there had been misconduct after all. The case will go to the Supreme Court, and they’re talking about compensation.”
“Oh my god. Gryff, that’s great news. Isn’t it?” I still sense his hesitation.
He pulls back slightly to look up at me, and I can see the conflict in his expression. Without thinking, I run the pads of my thumbs across the tense points over his brow and in his jaw. He lets out a low groan. “It is good, but the military will fight it. I might have to give evidence again.”
I nod. “But you’ve faced it once. You can do it again.”
“I can. Thanks to you.”
There’s a pause. His hands roam over my back and hips. “They’re saying I’ll be eligible for compensation too.”
“Good.”
He sighs. “I don’t feel that I deserve it. I’m already on a pension.”
“I mean, we can turn it down if you want…”
He barks a laugh. “I’m not stupid. I was thinking, though.
Your parents still haven’t sold, and I know they’re keen to move.
Well, Sonia is. I doubt Bill is keen, but I know he wants Sonia to be happy.
But I was thinking, what if I—what if we buy the place?
It would give us room to expand. Room for…
well, room for whatever you want for our future. ”
I search his face, hoping but not ready to ask out loud. Unfortunately for me, if I get traces of his emotion through the mate bond, he gets the whole damn movie played out in slow motion.
He gives me a sheepish smile. “Yeah, I’m talking about starting a family. If you still want that.”
I’m afraid the noise that comes from me is not very dignified at all. It’s something between a squeak and a shriek.
Gryff laughs. “I thought you’d be excited.”
“Gryff, this is amazing! I don’t even know where to begin.”
“There’s more.”
I leave off kissing every inch of his face and tilt my head to one side. “There is?”
“The compensation would be enough to buy out your parents’ place and leave me with enough to buy some land outside town.
Build a few eco cabins. I’ve been thinking maybe I could set up a retreat.
Somewhere veterans could go just to be alone with nature for a while.
Plus, we could rent it out as a holiday rental during Moonberry Festival. ”
“Oh my god! That’s a great idea. It’s perfect.”
“Yeah?”
“Absolutely. You are perfect. You’re so clever for thinking of that.”
He laughs ruefully. “Well if you say so. But I’m glad you like the idea.”
“I love it. And I love you, Gryff Evans.” I lean in, and he captures my face between his large, warm palms.
“I love you, Honey Ashford, but I would love it even more if I could stop calling you that and start calling you Honey Evans.”
My mouth falls open, and I stare at him in wonder. Why can’t I make any words come out?
“Uh, Honey? You good? Why are you staring at me like that? Please don’t say no.”
“You haven’t asked me yet,” I splutter.
Gryff just shakes his head. Then he sets me on my feet, gets down on one knee, and suddenly it’s very, very real.
“Oh god. I didn’t even wear any makeup.”
He scoffs. “You don’t need makeup. You’re always beautiful.
Honey, will you marry me? I mean, you’re already stuck with me, so you’d better say yes, or else I spent all this money on a ring for nothing.
” He pulls the biggest shiniest diamond ring out of his pocket and looks up at me with this hopeful boyish look I don’t think I’ve ever seen on his face before.
“Yes! Of course I’ll marry you! I would love to marry you.”
I burst out laughing when he throws his head back and lets out the longest, loudest howl I’ve ever heard.
I’m still laughing when the door bursts open and Mom comes charging in, closely followed by Dad. They both talk at once:
“What’s happened? Oh my goodness, what is it?”
“Sonia, for the love of god, you can’t just—” Dad lets out a sigh of relief. “Oh thank god, they’re clothed. It’s OK.”
“Dad!”
He and Gryff share an amused laugh at Mom’s and my expense.
Mom places a hand over her heart. “Gryff Evans, you really know how to scare the living daylights out of a woman. What on earth was that for?” Then she catches sight of the ring as I slip it onto my finger, and her eyes tear up. “Oh, Honey! Oh, Gryff. Oh, I’m so happy for you!”
Gryff stands and holds out his arms. “Come here. Bring it in. You’re officially pack now, so I’ll hug you, but don’t overuse the privilege."
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Even my dad steps awkwardly into Gryff’s hug for a moment before stepping back.
Gryff is looking almost as awkward as Dad.
Then I remember. “Oh, and we have news.” I look over to Gryff to check that I’m allowed to spill the beans, and he gives me a little nod. “We’d like to buy your house.”
Dad’s eyes widen. “Can you afford it?”
Gryff nods. “Thanks to this hearing, I think I can.”
I’m absolutely floored when Dad’s lip trembles for a moment. “Then can I keep my collection?”
Gryff nods. “Of course. We won’t touch anything in the garage.”
My eyes widen, and I want to squeeze Gryff so hard he bursts. I’ll settle for giving him the best blowjob he’s ever received later.
He glances over at me with a raised brow as he catches a hint of my heated thoughts through the bond, but I just smile. “That’s right. Because I have the best, most wonderful mate ever.”
Gryff tucks me against his side and kisses the top of my head. “Well if anyone deserves the best, most wonderful mate ever, it’s you, Honey.”
Of course my parents both agree, but I know the truth. I am the luckiest girl in the world, and I’m never going to forget it.