The Alpha's Mother-In-Law's Forbidden Love (The Cresta Chronicles)

Dane POV

FOUR DAYS LATER

Lilia paced while fussing over whether to ship the pile of gifts they'd received from Jude and Ravyn or to somehow stuff them into their bags. Dane watched her, a blonde whirlwind tearing around the bedroom. Kodi, Bentley, and Tau treated this as one big game, and grabbed as many packages as their little hands could grasp. 

"Help Mommy," Tau said to his brothers. "Help Mommy with gifts." 

Mommy didn't even notice their help, so Dane had to step in, crouching on the floor. "Here's a lesson in how to sort the gifts."

He picked up a particularly bulky and lumpy one, a small rug made by one of the Silverpaw weavers, and laid it on the growing pile of gifts to be shipped. He could feel the stiff brown paper someone had wrapped the rug in. "There. Anything too big to carry gets put in this pile. Understand?"

His triplets all nodded, with angelic looks in their blue eyes.

Dane held up a small gift, a jar of honey from one of the Silverpaw beekeepers. "What do you think? What pile does this go in?"

Putting their dark little heads together, they whispered urgently, as if the fate of the pack rested on their decision. Then, they all rushed him, grabbing the jar of honey.

"Careful," Dane yelped, shocked by his children's fierceness and the way that between the three of them they managed to lift that heavy jar full of sticky golden stuff from his hands.

With determination, they juggled the jar between them, somehow keeping a firm grip on it, while they carried it straight to the rug lying a few feet away.

Dane's sharp teeth ground together. "No ..."

The whirlwind of Lilia somehow saw the potential disaster, even though Dane had checked to see that not even a hair could get through the jar's seal. Still, his mind generated all kinds of sticky scenarios where the jar broke. 

At least this potential mess got his mind off worrying about Hades' spirit rattling around in his father-in-law Jude's body. And to think he once considered Lilia's father Daxius to be his biggest problem!

These thoughts whizzed through Dane's mind with the speed of his wolf, and then he re-focused, diving to intercept his triplets at the same time Lilia did.

Between them, they managed to corral their three menaces and pluck the jar from them. But Dane heard barely suppressed laughter coming from Lilia. He placed the jar of honey in a trunk, then turned and smiled at the three boys.

"Well, we avoided a crisis."

Kodi's eyes widened in confusion. "What's a cry-sis, Daddy?"

Dane swooped up his son and kissed him on the cheek. "A crisis is another way of saying there's a big problem. Honey spilling all over the rug that Nana and Ju gave us would definitely be a big problem."

Bentley asked, "Are we in trou-ble?"

Lilia kissed his forehead. "No harm done, sweet pup. Just be more careful."

Dane grinned at his sons. "But you three are quite a team, aren't you?"

"Yes, Daddy," they said with proud little smiles.

Lilia looked at all three of them. "I imagine Daddy and your uncles were so much like you three when they were little."

Dane huffed and pretended to be affronted. "We were perfect angel pups."

Lilia giggled. "I'm sure!"

But he felt and scented a hint of sadness. She'd be leaving Ravyn to go back home to resume her duties as Evenhide Pack Luna. And on top of the inevitable mixed feelings that such a change brought, Lilia also carried the secret of Hades now being merged with Jude. Of course, Lilia didn't bear that burden alone. All the Crestas and the wise women and Edna and Graydon shared that knowledge.

Dane himself didn't want to leave, but he couldn't run the Evenhide Pack from Graywolf City. Nor could Jiro lead the Crimsontail Pack from Faolan Castle. No, everyone had to go home and resume their regular lives.

He smiled at his pups. "Why don't you pack the toys that Nana and Ju got you? Go on."

The pups all scampered to the pile of toys on the rug, while Dane put an arm around Lilia and steered her away a little ways. He kept his voice low. "Ravyn is going to be fine."

Lilia's shoulders heaved as she took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Are you sure?"

Dane kissed the creamy skin on her forehead. "We're all aware of what's going on with Jude--but Hades is in the safest place he could be, with one of the sanest Alphas anywhere. Ravyn will be fine."

Daxius knocked on the door and walked in. "Can I help pack?"

* * * * *

Lilia POV

Dane always knew what to say to make her feel better--and her triplets brought a smile to her face. Especially since she still found herself packing to leave and dragging out the process. They should have left yesterday. They planned to leave yesterday, because they'd been away from Evenhide for a long time. But Lilia couldn't make herself leave.

Daxius, who wore a loose silver robe, smiled comfortingly at Lilia. "I thought you might need some help carrying everything down--magically or otherwise."

He looked healthier, with a glow. Silverpaw lands offered plenty of opportunities for Daxius and Marieke to spend time together as a couple. It seemed impossible to believe that just a few short weeks before, Daxius suffered from a curse that made his life miserable.

"Dax!"

The triplets all squealed, seeing their other grandfather. He darted over and helped them stack their new playthings, then load them in a small trunk. Memories flooded back of Daxius helping her clean up her playthings, and even her first crystals and little witch charms. She never imagined, in those innocent childhood days, that both her parents would be married to other people. 

Dane's warm, big arm looped around her, and he kissed her forehead again. "He's an amazing grandfather," he whispered in her ear. "We're both lucky." He kissed her softly.

It felt like heaven. Lilia closed her eyes, taking pleasure in the kiss and the triplets' laughter with their grandfather.

Daxius called out, "Right! That's all done. And what a wonderful job you did. Now, let's take these down to the wagons." 

Lilia pulled away from Dane and picked up one of the suitcases, the one that carried everything she needed for her spellwork. She handed it to her father. "Please, take this down with the toys."

He smiled at her, his eyes knowing. "You shouldn't lift anything too heavy--you and your mother. Jude will take care of her--and we'll look after you."

She patted his arm. "Thank you. But you're coming back to Evenhide with us, aren't you?"

He nodded. "Of course." He lowered his voice. "You don't have to put on a brave face with me. This is bound to be a big change, having your mother in Silverpaw territory permanently. A good change, but a dramatic one."

"That's not the only change," she murmured.

Daxius' turquoise eyes peered into hers. "Your mother can handle that change. I was skeptical, too. And you know my history with Hades/Melisande ..."

She felt a twinge of empathy. "But you also know what it's like to be cursed."

He put a fatherly arm around her. "And I also happen to have been married to one of the most determined, strong-willed, resilient witches in the world. If anyone can handle this, it's Ravyn. And your other father."

It was what she needed to hear, when she needed to hear it. Her eyes welling up with tears, she hugged him, surrounded by his warmth.

Lilia.

She heard the cold, silky voice from the Nightmare Realm.

"Get out of my head," she snarled, blocking her thoughts.

Daxius sensed everything and surrounded her with a protective field.

The Dark Goddess whispered, "You may have taken Hades from me, but I promise you and your family will never know a moment's peace."

Her voice faded away as the field strengthened.

Lilia said out loud, "And I promise you, Dark Goddess, that we won't rest until we defeat you. And now, I have packing to finish."