My heart skipped a beat.
Savannah turned towards Callum. “Well, come on, you big lummox.”
I wondered how this might play out. Callum was the reason Grandmere had fled in the first place. She’d been terrified of what he might do when he learned what I was. Now, though, things were different. Callum had told me in no uncertain terms the pack protected its own. I wasn’t sure if he understood entirely what that meant, but he knew there was something different about me.
And he’d sent members of his own pack to protect Grandmere when she’d needed it.
I watched as he stared at her, his face imploring her for some sort of sign.
At long last she smiled, her eyes brimming over with tears, and she crooked her fingers towards him. I struggled not to cry as Grandmere hugged her two children for the first time in twenty-four years, knowing I was what had kept this moment at bay for such a long time.
When they finally broke apart, Savannah’s attention was all for me.
“So this is Mercy’s other daughter.”
“Don’t hold it against me,” I replied. The joke missed its target by a mile, not making Savannah so much as crack a smile.
“You’ve married a wolf king,” she said.
I wanted to tell her not to hold that against me either, but this time thought better of it. “I am.” Though who knew for how long? I glanced towards Desmond and gave him an apologetic smile. He had to know this would come up amongst the wolves. As soon as it felt appropriate I would talk to Callum and try to establish whatever the werewolf version of an annulment or divorce was.
There was more pressing business at hand, however.
“I’ve brought you something,” I said to Callum, feeling overwhelmingly uncomfortable about Savannah’s intense stare. What was I expecting though, a hug? She and I were complete strangers. The only history we shared was in the box I was holding.
No wonder she wasn’t feeling terribly cuddly towards me.
“Bring it forward,” Callum commanded.
I adjusted my grip on the box and became vaguely embarrassed when I realized it was a carton for biodegradable toilet paper. Was there really any better option for transporting the head of my dead mother though? Might a box for eggs or shampoo have been less offensive?
After setting the box down in front of Callum, I took a step back. Was I supposed to open it and present him the head? Fat chance.
I crossed my arms, and we both stared at each other then simultaneously looked at the box.
Was it just that he didn’t want to bend down to open it?
Werewolves, I thought with an inward sigh.
My grandmere stepped away, turning her back to the scene, and Savannah was in no hurry to offer us any assistance.
Rather than give my own directions to Callum’s pack, I suggested, “Perhaps Magnolia would be gracious enough to open it.”
I felt bad subjecting the poor girl to the contents of the parcel, but we were otherwise at an impasse, and she was the most subservient wolf present. When I glanced over at her, she appeared uneasy about the suggestion, but if Callum asked, she wouldn’t hesitate.
“She wouldn’t have to look inside,” I added.
The queasy greenish pallor that had colored her complexion faded, and she relaxed visibly.
“Very well,” Callum agreed. “Magnolia, would you be so kind as to open the box for us?” He and Savannah moved out of the way to give the girl some extra space.
Mags approached us carefully, evidently hoping someone might change their mind at the last minute and let her back down. In spite of the fact she didn’t have to look into the box, everyone who?
??d gathered around understood what I’d brought with me. There was something deeply unpleasant about knowing we’d have to acknowledge it eventually.
The young woman, her hands trembling, stooped down and pulled apart the top flaps of the box which I’d folded over the top of each other. The plastic bag crinkled, and she gasped.
Guess she peeked.