Little Howl of Moon (Creature Cafe #15)

Barista

All partnerships had their ups and downs.

Currently, I was at the bottom of the deepest trench in the world, emotionally speaking. My beautiful mate was furious with me, and she had every right to be.

I was ready to be in our bedroom where I could get on my knees and beg Trixie for forgiveness.

I was thinking of all the ways I’d make it up to her.

Really, I needed to make things right to both her and Lucy, since I’d dragged him into this mess too.

We didn’t like keeping secrets from each other. I’d fucked up.

But instead of being in the bedroom, I was seated next to Lucy, and we faced our furious mate together.

Surrounded by all of our children, including Bell—who’d happened to roll back in town just in time for chaos to unfold.

He’d always been the most restless of our children, and from the moment he’d turned eighteen, he spent most of his time traveling wherever he could.

The only reason I didn’t worry about him more was that I knew Lucy or I could be there in a blink if he needed help.

Steel, the bulky werewolf who looked almost exactly like my friend Al, was also here at our house.

Like Al, he rarely took his human disguise form.

Hell, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen that side of him.

He was always a wolfy monster. I considered him my nephew, since his parents—Al, Luna, and Quinn—were my closest friends.

Some of this wouldn’t have happened if he’d have asked me to help him find a mate. Instead, he went to Layla, and all hell broke loose.

Once our meeting finished, I’d talk to him and help him—even though I’d planned to connect him with his mate in another year or so.

If I survived this meeting.

“This is quite the homecoming,” Bell said with a smug smile. His hair had grown out some, long enough that he was wearing it in a bun.

Trixie pointed at him. “We will celebrate you being back properly once we discuss this. First of all, Layla and Luca. What is happening with both of you? I want answers.”

“Oooh,” Tana chimed. “You’re in trouble.”

“Tana,” Trixie scolded. “Don’t even start with me right now.”

Oh, my mate. Our children didn’t hear the meaning behind her words, but she was so painfully worried about them that I could feel it echoing down our bond. Lucy started to get up to go to her, but the look she gave him was cold enough to freeze him in his tracks.

We’re in trouble, he said through our bond.

We certainly were. In more ways than one.

Layla stood up and put her hands behind her back, facing all of us. “I’m starting to become a Grim Reaper. I think. But I keep having random stuff happen and it’s bad. You already know I’ve been showing signs. What happened with Steel was was not—”

“I don’t know what happened,” Luca interjected. “I actually have no idea what you mean by what’s going with me.”

Lucy, Trixie, and I all gave him a flat look.

“I know what happened. Layla went all evil reaper on our cousin,” Tana chimed.

Jace, our third son, shot his younger sister a dirty look. “Shush.”

“What? I know that’s what happened. I saw it.”

“What do you mean, you saw it?” Bell asked. “You weren’t even there.”

“And how would you know? You haven’t been home,” Tana shot back.

And that started the first round of bickering between all five of our lovely supernatural offspring.

I jumped up from the couch and rushed to Trixie’s side amidst the chaos. “Baby gi—”

Her glower cut my words in half and I closed my eyes for a moment, massaging my temples. I had to somehow get control of the chaos, but I wasn’t sure how. We need to be a united front right now, Trixie. I am sorry I didn’t tell you about Layla.

I’m pissed because you didn’t tell me about Luca either, she answered through our bond. Lucy did. You lied to me. I asked you the other day about him because I knew something was wrong, and you never mentioned Hell. And now something else has awakened.

I swallowed hard, tuning out the arguing that Lucy had somehow launched himself into the middle of. I was pretty sure all five of our children were actively bullying him now, but he’d survive for another few moments.

I am sorry. I shouldn’t have kept things from you, but I don’t know what to make of any of this.

You’re hiding something else.

My chest ached because she was right.

“All right,” I exhaled. “I need to take care of Steel. It’s time for him to find a mate, although it is a little earlier than I expected. I can feel their bonds awakening. And then I can take care of our family. We will talk. Is that okay?”

Trixie nodded, her brows pulling together in concern. She glanced over at Steel, her shoulders relaxing. “Yes. Take care of him.”

I exhaled as her hand slipped into mine, and she gave me a gentle squeeze.

“I love you,” I murmured. “I will make it up to you.”

“You sure fucking will.”

Gods help me. “Enough,” I barked, silencing the room.

Tana’s cheeks were scarlet and it was clear Jace had pissed her off. Luca and Bell were scowling at each other. Those two had always been oil and water. Layla was sulking.

Lucy stood up and joined Trixie and I, which was good. We needed him.

“I am going to take care of Steel,” I said, glancing over at him.

Steel shoved his clawed hands deeper in his pockets, looking away from me.

“And then we will have a discussion about what is happening, and what your Dad and I fear may have awakened this last week. What might be after Layla and Luca. I think this perhaps calls for a round of our special occasion dessert drinks.”

That perked everyone up. The special occasion drink was a hot chocolate with a decaf coffee, although we’d certainly never disclosed that, plus whipped cream. It was always a hit and always delicious, and seemed to be a soothing balm for everyone.

“Your mom and I will make them,” Lucy announced. “While Steel is cared for.”

“I can help,” Tana said excitedly. “I learned how to pull espresso shots just last week. I’m already better at it than everyone else.”

Luca snorted, but didn’t argue with her. “We’ll have to see then, huh?”

“I’m sure you’re better at it than Luca,” Bell chuckled.

“Bell, I’m going to—”

“Hey,” Lucy growled, his wings spreading behind him. “We do not threaten violence in this house. To the kitchen. All of you.”

He wrangled our children and they moved as a unit, leaving the living room. Steel lingered awkwardly as he put clawed hands behind his back.

Trixie shook her head with a snort and looked up at me. “You want to know what I just realized?”

“What?” I asked.

“We should have guessed Layla would be like you. She’s been playing matchmaker since she was a child.”

“That’s because she is your daughter,” I chuckled.

“And yours.”

“A double shot, if you will.”

Trixie smiled, and put her hands on her hips. “We knew this would be hard sometimes. We’ll figure this all out, whatever danger is coming. All five of them are different and will draw attention, but we’ve got this.”

“We do,” I said, although I wasn’t entirely sure if that was truthful. Tana, of all our kids, worried me the most. Even more than Layla or Luca sometimes . . .

Trixie leaned up and kissed me, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever been so grateful to feel her lips on mine. With a faint smile, she headed for the kitchen. I drew in a breath, focusing on her scent and resisting the urge to haul her back into my arms.

But, I had a monster to match.

“Steel,” I said, turning around to face him.

“I am sorry, once again, Uncle B,” he said. “I just . . . I didn’t want everyone to know. Layla has successfully matched some monsters, and I thought it would be easier to ask her. But then I was unkind to her. I feel awful. I am not myself right now.”

“I will not tell anyone,” I said. “As for my children, I’ll tell them to mind their business. Your parents will be happy and proud of you, though.”

He winced and surprised me by nodding his head toward the front door. “Can we go outside?”

“Of course.” As we closed the front door behind us, laughter followed from the kitchen. I smiled as I leaned against the porch post and regarded Steel thoughtfully.

I had someone in mind for him. But . . . I just wasn’t sure if either of them would truly be ready for each other. I’d planned on waiting another year or two before pushing them together.

Steel raked his claws over the top of his head through his fur, then crossed his bulky arms. “I feel like I’m losing my mind. I don't know what’s happening.”

“Have you not discussed ruts with your father?” I asked, alarmed. I knew Al. Of course he’d talked to him about this—

“Yes, but I don’t think I really understood what he meant. And besides, he is dominant in all aspects . . . I . . .”

He was struggling to get his words out, but I already knew what he meant. Steel was an Alpha werewolf, but when it came to what he really needed . . .

Well, he didn’t need someone submissive in the bedroom.

“I have someone already picked out for you,” I said. “Well, rather, fate has done the work. But I was not going to match you for some time.”

His eyes widened. “Why not? Why would you withhold my mate—”

“Because your potential mate lost his wife. It’s been five or six years at this point, but that can feel like a mere blink of time while one is grieving. And to be honest, I did not see the strings until about a year ago—”

“A year?!” Steel growled. “A whole fucking year you’ve known who my mate—”

“He is not your mate yet,” I snarled. “He is not a prize. Mates are not a piece of candy you get after a bad day, Steel. This is a life partnership we’re talking about. I did not bring you together because you were not ready either.”

His ears flattened against his head and he looked away. His posture lost some of its edge, but only slightly.

This was the thing about werewolves—they were all so possessive.

Especially during a rut. Al was by far the most chill werewolf I’d ever met, and that was saying something given how possessive he could still be at times.

But both Luna and Quinn had him wrapped around their fingers, though, so it created balance.

Steel needed balance in his life. But was he ready?

And the human I knew could be his—was he ready too? Was it right for me to bring them together now?

I pinched the bridge of my nose. My gut was almost never wrong, and I was unsure about this. I was worried about this. Plus, what if Death went after all those I’d matched like Lucy did all those years ago?

“Please,” he whispered. “Please match me. I’m desperate.”

His words made my chest ache. With a soft sigh, I decided that yes, I would match them.

“You know the drill.” I offered him a grim smile. “Next Friday. Nine in the morning, sharp. Don’t be late.”

His tail started wagging. “I won’t be late.”

My smile broadened. “It’ll be good. Okay?”

“Okay. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“Of course. Now . . . I’m going to handle some things.”

Steel gave a quick nod and started to head down the steps, but then stopped. “Is everything going to be okay with Layla? She . . . she’s changing. And so is Luca. They are not like how they used to be.”

“I hope they will be okay.” My throat constricted. “It is all I can hope for. We are doing our best. But, be glad your soul wasn’t accidentally reaped. That would have been a massive fucking headache for all of us, and I do think your parents would have killed me.”

He chuckled. “Mama would have for sure.”

He called Luna mama, and he was correct. Luna would shred me to fucking pieces. Loved her so much, but I absolutely was not interested in dealing with that.

The thing was, I’d felt the disturbance the moment Layla’s powers burst the way they did. It’d created a ripple.

Just like the ripple a few months ago.

“All will be well,” I lied. “9:00 a.m., next Friday. Sound good?”

“Yep. I’ll see you sometime soon, I’m sure.”

I nodded and watched him go, wondering if I’d made the right decision.

I’d been wondering about that a lot recently.

The front door opened and Tana was right there, her eyes glowing perceptively in the dark. “I was sent to retrieve you.”

“I’m coming,” I chuckled.

“I want to meet his daughters,” Tana said.

I blinked. “What . . . what are you talking about?”

“Oliver,” she said. “The human. Your friend. I want to meet his daughters. One of them has something I need.”

I blew out a breath and shook my head, trying to hide my bewilderment. Tana shouldn’t have known anything about any of this, and yet she just knew. “Tana, no. Now, let’s go inside.”

She groaned, shut the door on me—rudely, I might add—and stormed away, loud enough that I could hear her stomping. Then, there was the unmistakable scent of burning in the air.

Great.

At times I was entirely convinced an ancient creature had reincarnated into our youngest. She was far too all-knowing for a twelve year old.

Then again, all the parenting guides I’d read said that was typical.

Maybe I needed to pull those books back out.

With a snap of my fingers, I materialized in the kitchen. Trixie handed me a mug as if she’d expected me to appear right there.

“All right, everyone,” I sighed.

All eyes turned to me. I felt the weight of their trust and love. They were my family and I would do anything for them.

I cleared my throat. “Let’s talk about Death.”