Chapter 33
Wyatt
It had been almost a week since I’d been accidentally stabbed by my sister.
A week since Gregory had been banished from the town.
A week since the love of my life had proposed to me .
. . and that was already old news with the other big happening in Maple Hollow.
The town had been nothing but lively with Ramona hunting down the vampire that had been using Naphula as a mind-controlled puppet to attack me .
. . but that was a story for another time.
It went to show how intertwined our chaotic lives were here in Maple Hollow. For now, at least, it would seem all was calm.
We’d see how long that lasted.
On a crisp and sunny Tuesday, I finished my orders early and was packing up the last box of clothing from my apartment.
It was time to make yet another big change: Eloise was officially taking over both the bakery and my apartment while I moved into my grandfather’s stately house at the edge of the haunted wood.
Daniel had been living in the alpha’s house for decades alone and was finally ready to give into my mother’s nagging. She’d been insisting for years that the house was much too big for just him and that it was time for him to live with the family.
Both of them were curmudgeonly about it, but I knew my grandfather would secretly love being constantly fed by my mother and having the whole family in and out of her house daily doting on him.
It would be a good retirement for his twilight years .
. . and an opportunity for me to show I was ready to take the reins.
The six-bedroom house held the possibility of years of happiness, security, children, and a life I’d never even dared to hope I could attain.
With all the frenzy going on in town and now the frantic wedding plans, I hadn’t actually asked Willow to move in with me yet—a bridge I had to cross very soon as the moon waxed each night, bringing us closer to our impending wedding.
But I had some tricks up my sleeve . . .
I picked up the last box and headed downstairs, where I stacked it along a wall with the others. The doorbell chimed behind me, and I was surprised to find Aisling striding in with her metaphorical tail tucked between her legs.
“H-hey, you’re looking no worse for wear,” she said sheepishly. “Congratulations on the engagement. The whole town is abuzz.”
“Thank you.” I turned fully toward her and arched my brow. “To what do I owe this impromptu visit?”
“I came to apologize,” she started. “I had no idea that my grandfather was threatening Willow. I knew he wanted us to be together, but I never thought it would lead to this. I should’ve done more; I should’ve made it clearer to him that I didn’t want to be with you.
I’m sorry, Wyatt.” The words came streaming out so quickly that I worried she might pass out.
“I didn’t want to disrespect him, and honestly, if you had wanted to get married, I think years ago, I would have gone along with it just to make everyone happy and be the dutiful granddaughter, even if it wasn’t what I wanted.
When your mate showed up, I was so relieved.
I thought everyone would back down, and when they didn’t, I didn’t know what to do, so I just kind of kept my head down and went along with it. I should’ve spoken up. I’m sorry.”
I took a step toward her. “Breathe,” I instructed with a half-hearted chuckle.
“I don’t blame you for any of this. You say you didn’t know what he was up to, and I believe you.
None of us thought him capable of it. And we’re all grieving his absence too, my grandfather especially. It’s okay to miss him.”
“It’s not like he’s dead,” she said with a sigh.
“But I know I’ll probably never see him again unless I take a big trip out West.” Tears gathered at her lashes and spilled down her cheeks.
“It’s all just—I feel very grateful that you’re leading us.
I don’t know if anyone else would be as understanding. ”
I took a step back, giving her space to feel and process. “We’ll get through it as a pack. Like we always do.”
She nodded and tried to muster a smile. “I’m grateful to Willow for not holding it against me. I think she will make a great queen.” She sniffed. “Maybe someday I’ll find a love like yours.”
“You will,” I said with a nod. “I have no doubt.”
“I wanted to apologize to her, too. Is she here?” she asked, looking back toward the kitchen.
“No, she’s at the café.” I rolled my shoulders. “I’m headed over to see her now.” I grinned. “I’m about to propose.”
“Propose?” Aisling echoed. “But you’re getting married in a week? I thought the proposal already happened?”
“Different kind of proposal,” I said with a waggle of my eyebrows. I hoisted up one of the boxes and took a step past her.
She let out a bemused laugh and waved me away.
When I got to the café, I walked in through the back door and plopped the box onto the countertop. Every head twisted toward me as I panned each face for hers. My heart faltered when I realized she wasn’t here.
“Willow?” I called as my cheeks burned. “Has anyone seen Willow?”
“Wyatt?” Her voice came from the staircase. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”
The moment our eyes met, it felt like my chest cracked open. She brought me this beautiful, unending ease, and suddenly I was unafraid of the crowd of onlookers.
Harlow rounded the corner, eyes alighting on the box. Before I could say anything, she hollered, “Everyone, shut your pieholes and get ready to clap!”
Willow wandered over, a questioning quirk to her brow as I got down on one knee. “What are you doing?” she whispered, straightening the engagement ring on her finger. “Didn’t we already do this?”
I reached into the box and extracted a roll of wallpaper, holding it aloft like a knight holding out a sword to his queen.
“Willow Miller,” I started. “I have loved you since the moment I met you, but my soul has longed for yours for so much longer.” The rest of the room melted away as I looked up into Willow’s face.
“I’ve wanted to ask you this question every day since I first walked into this café and saw you wearing those blue coveralls splattered with paint. Will you . . . move in with me?”
I was knocked to the floor, kisses peppering my face. “Yes, yes, yes! A thousand times yes.” Willow squeezed my neck, and we rolled until she was sitting on top of me, holding the roll of wallpaper aloft triumphantly.
I was only faintly aware of the cheering crowd as she leaned down to kiss me. I wrapped my arms around her back and sat up, shifting her into my lap so I could ask her one last question. “How do you feel about a maximalist design?”
“With all the crafty gifts people love to give around here, I think that’s a great idea.” She laughed, a tear trailing down the apple of her cheek “I love you, Wyatt.”
“I love you, my mate. My life.”