Chapter 17 Magnolia Springs
Chapter Seventeen
Magnolia Springs
— Tomas —
“Right here is good.” Grayson leans forward between the seats, tapping Wade’s shoulder to signal him to park along the curb.
Sunday peers out into the dark, her eyes sweeping over the huge Victorian house set back from the road. Magnolia trees flank the long walkway, their branches twisting in shadow like skeletal fingers. The wrap-around porch is just visible, and the copper-tipped eaves catch the faint glow of a streetlight. It’s like something out of a storybook.
“I don’t understand.” She turns to Grayson, confusion knitting her brows together. “Why are we stoppin’ at Magnolia Springs?”
Grayson hops out, his shoes crunching on the gravel. He radiates satisfaction, turning back to her with his hand outstretched. “Because,” he pauses, letting the anticipation swell, “it’s yours.”
Sunday’s expression freezes, her lips parting as if she can’t quite process his words.
Heat surges in my chest—a flush that feels too much like shame or embarrassment. My jaw clenches, my insides twisting as if someone’s reached in and yanked them. I can’t believe he did this. My fingers dig into the edge of my seat, gripping the upholstery hard enough to hurt.
Ben and X both turn to face me, their eyes wide with sympathetic horror. X gives me a tight, knowing nod, while Ben’s brows pull together in something like pity.
Even Wade turns around, his eyes meeting mine. He shakes his head, his voice low and gruff. “I’m sorry, son. But we’ll figure this out. One way or another.”
The gravity of his words presses down until it feels like I can barely breathe. Grayson really went and did it—he stole my moment, took what was meant to be mine to give. Frustration courses through me, but beneath it, there’s a jagged edge of something I can’t quite name, but it feels like kissing cousins with betrayal.
Everyone else piles out of the van, excitement practically radiating off them. I follow, feeling strangely numb. How did this happen?
Grayson walks her to the door, his fingers brushing the small of her back. She leans into his touch. My wolf howls.
He pulls out a set of keys, the metal glinting under the porch light as he places them in her hand. I linger under a magnolia tree, trying not to feel like my entire life is unraveling. Xavier glides into the space beside me, silent but steady. Jaw clenched, I shake my head. No. I don’t want them to make me feel better.
“Eight bedrooms, nine baths, and a commercial-grade kitchen,” Grayson says. His tone is casual, but there’s pride there, too. “I’ve already had a crew out here getting wards set up and light-proofing the third floor.”
When the hell did he do all this? During the Moot? Who helped him? Wade was helping me—he would’ve told me about a second house, wouldn’t he?
“Oh my god, you bought me a mansion.” Her voice breaks, eyes shimmering in the dim light. “When I was a little girl, I walked past this bed and breakfast almost every day, pretending I lived here.”
Grayson swallows, obviously touched. This moment clearly means just as much to him as it does to her.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
“I bought us a grand but comfortable home that will work until you find something you like better, or we build to suit.”
She throws her arms around his neck, peppering his face with kisses. Her laughter bubbles out, light and full of disbelief. “You impossible vampire.”
“I am,” he says, pulling her close. “Now, would you like to see the inside of your new home? All the utilities are on. I bought it turn-key, so it’s fully furnished.”
“Yes, I want to see it! We’re just a couple blocks from Daddy and Sue’s. I can walk over to see the girls. Mishka can visit whenever he wants and escape them when he needs to.” She’s babbling now, her words spilling over with excitement. “The elementary school is right up on the corner. Oh my God, Gray, this is perfect! Come on.”
She pulls him behind her, stopping abruptly as a new thought occurs. “They have themed rooms!”
My steps drag as I trail behind them, each movement an effort. Ben lingers by my side, his eyes darting between Sunday, Grayson, and me—a silent question in his gaze.
“I had no idea,” he says quietly, his voice laced with regret.
“Yeah, me either.” I try to smile, but it’s more of a grimace. “So, what are we going to do?”
Ben hesitates. “I don’t know. I feel like an asshole even thinking it, and no offense to Gray,” he continues, looking at the house, “but it’s not exactly a great setup for shifters. The three of us—and Mishka—we’re going to want to run, and we don’t want to hear every damn car in town while we’re doing it.”
I swallow hard, forcing myself to really look at the house: the gingerbread trim, the soft glow from the windows, the perfection of it. “I just… I can’t believe he did this without involving me at all. He used to tell me everything. Five weeks ago, buying this house would’ve been my job.”
Ben sighs. “You didn’t tell him about buying her a farm either.”
“Yeah.” My voice comes out rougher than I intend. “How did things get so fucked?”
He nudges my shoulder gently. “I think… maybe you aren’t as interested in being indispensable to him as you used to be. And maybe he doesn’t know what to do with this version of you.”
I let out a sharp breath, almost a laugh. “Yeah. So, if I’m not his errand boy, and I was never really his friend… I guess I’m no one to him now. All we have in common is Sunday.”
“Guys?” Sunday’s voice rings out, pulling me from my thoughts. “Come pick out your rooms. You aren’t gonna believe the size of this kitchen!”
I call back, forcing cheer into my voice. “Be right there!”
Wade steps out, his boots creaking on the wooden steps. He pulls Ben and me back, his eyes scanning the windows before speaking.
“Y’all need to tell her,” he says firmly.
“And make her choose?” I shake my head, looking away. “No. She has a very firm policy on not choosing. And she loves this place. It’s fine. We’ll use the farm as a backup. Maybe use it as a place to shift and run on the weekends or a safe house. Wait…” My voice trails off as reality sinks in. “The Judge is already out there, isn’t she?”
Wade nods, his face serious. “Yup. Drove her over yesterday and parked her in that fancy garage. Met the furniture movers too.”
“Fuck.” I turn to look out at the street—the warm glow of the streetlights pooling on the sidewalks. It all feels so idyllic, but there’s a storm brewing in our mate group, and I’m not sure how to minimize the fallout.
“Tomas.” Wade’s voice pulls me back, and I meet his eyes. “Sunday’s strength is in negotiating emotionally charged situations. She thrives on them. But she can’t deal with it unless she knows what’s going on. You’ve already decided on the outcome, and that’s not fair to her.”
I stare at the house, its ornate facade and copper-flashed trim she’s probably in love with. I nod slowly. “We’ll drive out to see the farm tomorrow. But just for tonight, let her enjoy this. Let her love it without any guilt. She doesn’t need my feelings messing things up.”
Ben’s voice is quiet but firm. “If you think she’s not going to pick up on those feelings the next time she’s anywhere near you, you’re fooling yourself.”
“Good point.” I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “Gray didn’t stock the kitchen, did he?”
Wade shrugs, so I press on, cobbling together a half-baked plan to escape my mate’s scrutiny. “The Walmart in Lexington’s open twenty-four hours. I’ll do a provisions run.”
He shakes his head but pulls the van keys from his pocket, pressing them into my hand. “Son, she’s going to be very unhappy you didn’t tell her immediately.”
“I know.” I manage a weary smile. “I just… I can’t tonight.”
Wade’s voice softens. “Would it help to know that Grayson’s every bit as lost as you are?”
I let out a hollow laugh. “Maybe. I don’t know.” I shake my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “Tonight, he gave her a house. Tomorrow, he gets to see his chyld. After everything he’s been through this past month, he deserves some peace—some time with Sunday and Vivien.”
Wade nods, then jerks his chin toward the van. “Better get motoring, then. And Tomas?”
I pause, glancing back at him.
“You’re allowed to want things too, you know. Don’t bury your desires so deep that you lose them.”
I swallow hard and nod, turning toward the black van. The keys are cold in my hand, the street quiet and still. As I settle into the driver’s seat, I’m still turning over Wade’s words. I grip the wheel, my gaze lingering on the house one last time before I pull away into the dark.
I’ll let him have tonight. I can do that—for both of them.
.