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

Garnet POV

Garnet Sinsworth Cresta caught her breath after the explosive scene in the Great Hall and her efforts with the other witches and wizards to cast magic wards that would stop Daxius Houdini if he attempted to escape his room.

Ten minutes ago, Ravyn had told him, bravely, "Daxius, this isn't a decision I can make lightly–especially since I have responsibilities to this pack and the witch circle."

Daxius had growled. "And they've been so helpful."

Garnet had sensed her mate agreed with Daxius, and so did the others. Edna Chalice had huffed, "You just leave that mess to me."

Lilia had added pointedly, "What you ask is difficult. It affects the rest of the family, too. We have to discuss it. Until then, you'll be our guest and you're not to approach Mother alone or leave this house–"

Dane had given Daxius a look to frighten the dead. "OR your bedroom."

Sighing, Daxius had no choice but to agree.

Garnet struggled to stay awake now. Her mate Jiro put his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. "Are you alright?"

"Fine."

He held her, preventing her from leaving even if she wanted to. "No, you're not, because what drains you drains me, and it's already been an exhausting morning." 

"It wasn't YOUR mate and her mother that were in danger," Dane grumbled, loud enough for Daxius to hear through the tightly closed bedroom door. 

Lurking around the witches in case they needed muscle, Kyon shrugged. "All of us were in the line of fire, Dane." Conveniently, he too raised his voice.

Garnet felt torn–should she at least give Lilia's father the benefit of the doubt? He HAD come back–although her twin brother was right. Lilia's father had taken far too long to return to the wife and daughter he supposedly loved. And what about this mystery woman that he'd run off with? Did she even exist? Garnet's spy mind analyzed the information she had. Including Jude Faolan nearly attacking Daxius in the Great Hall in front of the pack's Alpha. A classic case of the mate pull causing mayhem.

Ravyn looked exhausted too from the turmoil, and the day wasn't over yet. Jude supported her when she stumbled. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she mumbled. 

Not looking in their direction, Lilia and Dane walked ahead of everyone else. "It's time for that talk," Lilia said. "As a family."

As they all headed downstairs, Garnet stayed close to Jiro, and muttered, for his ears alone, "We don't need Daxius to make this family meeting … memorable."

He muttered in her ear, "Unless Jude hasn't gotten all his aggression out."

"There's always the training area for that," she replied dryly, kissing him.

"If we're going to have this conversation as a family, we all need coffee, especially Ravyn, and I need more of your kisses."

"No more coffee for Dane or Jude," Garnet replied.

* * * * *

Ravyn POV

Fortified with coffee and with Jude and Anneliese on either side of her, Ravyn could observe the family clearly while they sat at the table in the Great Hall. 

Dane clasped his hands together and sat at the head of the table, with Lilia's hand on his shoulder. Kyon and Azandra sat on either side of them, as calm as possible. Patch bared his teeth defiantly, sitting across from Anneliese, with Edna and Graydon next to her. Ravyn saw the four Chalices' angry expressions. Dirge and Thessi looked at Ravyn and Lilia worriedly. From their cool, shrewd expressions, Jiro, Garnet, Cyran, and Naomi were already gathering all the logical arguments they could. Narbeth, Tulaska, Roslynn, Ransome, and Titania sat back and quietly observed.

"You can't seriously be considering his proposal, Ravyn," Dane began. 

She forced an innocent smile. "I only want to talk about it."

"Nothing to talk about," Lilia snarled. "The man abandoned us, invaded BOTH our homes, and tried to kidnap you, then has the nerve to ask for a favor!"

Her eyebrows shot up. "That sounds like the frightened little Lilia talking."

"MOTHER! I'm a grown woman. A Luna." Lilia clenched her fists. "I won't allow this family, pack, and most of all, you, to be hurt by him again. NO!"

Jiro folded his arms. "I agree with Lilia. Daxius has hardly been trustworthy."

No surprise from Jiro. She looked at Patch, who shrugged. "He had some funny lines and he didn't become a blubbering mess facing all of us, but that's all I can say in his favor."

Dirge weighed in next. "I'm wondering if he's another Drannor Glynthyra."

Thessi laid a hand on his shoulder. "I don't know about that. Drannor's wife said that he never admitted when he was wrong, and Daxius–"

"Still hasn't really apologized," Kyon growled. "We had him backed into a corner. Sure, he mouthed some words about the harm he caused, but I'm not convinced he's sorry." He turned to Ransome and Titania, who'd had their own clashes with the family. "Am I wrong?"

Titania's lip curled. "Absolutely not! I smelled desperation on that man."

Ransome, an unconventional thinker, agreed with his mate. "He knew he had a good chance of getting seriously injured, even killed–and I couldn't tell you who among this family would have been responsible." He looked at Ravyn with affection. "I'd caution you, Ravyn, against having anything more to do with him. You too, Lilia."

Azandra hesitated. "I hate to disagree with most everyone here–but there's more going on than any of you realize."

Kyon's eyebrows shot up. "Well, tell us."

"She would if she could," Tulaska said mysteriously. 

Anneliese's eyes flashed. "Tulaska, now is NOT the time to be cryptic."

Ravyn thought privately that Tulaska was at her most cryptic in complicated and emotion-charged situations. Maybe it had something to do with not wanting to give everyone easy answers, especially when there were none. 

"It's not about that," Roslynn said bluntly. "Something is blocking us from seeing all the answers. Whether it's the Dark Goddess–"

Ravyn shuddered. "She was in my dream. Who else could it be?"

Cyran crossed his arms. "I don't sense that Daxius is in league with the darkness, but that's not always reliable." Naomi nodded.

Garnet shook her head. "I don't either, but as you say, we've been fooled before."

"He could be a pawn," Jude pointed out. "Not realizing he's being influenced." He looked at Ravyn, a question in his eyes.

She bit her lip. "I'd need to scan him more thoroughly–"

"We'll do that," Anneliese, her parents, Cyran, and Garnet chorused.

Dane leveled his most forbidding stare at Ravyn. "You can't be involved."

"And neither can I," Lilia added, clenching her fists. 

"I back Dane and Lilia," Jiro asserted.

Jude crossed his arms over his chest and gave Ravyn a fierce stare. "So do I."

She sighed, recognizing the wall of stubbornness he'd just erected. "I have a suggestion."

Dane gestured to her with an open palm. "Go ahead."

"I need to find the truth, Dane. I don't think I'll ever truly be free of the past unless I do. So here's my proposal. After Edna, Graydon, and everyone including Tulaska, Roslynn, and Azandra scan him and are satisfied, I go with him to this island. Dane and Lilia can come with us, or you can send Patch and Anneliese, Cyran and Naomi, whoever you choose. But know this: I'm going, no matter what."

She took a deep breath, bracing for the wave of protectiveness.

Dane squinted at her. "This seems important to you. Why?"

Jude growled, "Do you still have feelings for him?"

She turned away, bristling. "That's hardly–"

"ANSWER ME."

She turned back and fixed him with a piercing stare. "I did love him once! I want to know that the man I had a child with is still a good man."

* * * * *

Jude POV

Her answer struck him to the heart. It was pure Ravyn at her finest.

It was also completely infuriating.

Maybe she did still love the bastard.

But even if she did, Jude was her mate. He finally surrendered to his wolf. Ravyn was his mate and he wanted to claim her with all the passion in his heart. He wanted to claim her, body and soul, no matter what Lilia or anyone else thought.

But she hadn't mentioned him coming with her. No matter. He was her mate, and he would be by her side the entire time she was on this mad adventure.

Ravyn continued. "Maybe it's foolish. Maybe it plays right into his hands. I hope not."

"Vulnerability is strength," Tulaska offered, softening. 

Dane sighed. "Ravyn, I don't know if–"

Cyran cleared his throat. "You didn't know about me, either."

Jiro nodded. "And even though Cyran had a very good point that Daxius took far too long to come back and face Ravyn and Lilia, perhaps he was imprisoned, as he says."

"Maybe in a prison without walls," Naomi offered. "Like a horse that's been so badly treated that it obeys its master out of fear."

Dane paused, considering. Lilia gripped his arm, looking anxious. Dane looked at her, a question in his eyes. 

Lilia's lips trembled. "I want answers too. But Mother, you ARE going to have an escort, and Father is going to have every magical and Wise Woman test there is before you can even think about going on this journey."

Dane lifted his hands in surrender. "Agreed."

Ravyn beamed, knowing she'd won. "Thank you all."

Kyon said dryly, "Don't thank us yet."

As the meeting broke up, Jude pulled Ravyn away from the rest of the family clamoring to talk to her. They could all have their turn when he was done. He directed her out of the Great Hall and guided her, unresisting, toward an empty room. 

"What are we doing?" she asked softly.

He put a finger to his lips, and although she gave him a sulky look, she went with him willingly. Once they were safely inside the room, he said, "We need privacy for this."

Folding her arms, she asked, "Again, what are we doing?"

"Think of it as an additional condition."

He gathered her, unresisting, in his arms, inhaling her fresh, crisp scent. "Mmmm. Pine needles. One of my favorites. That's what you smell like."

Breathless, she stared at him. "Jude, are you saying what I think you are?"

"I've chosen my Luna. It's you. I want to come with you to this island. And before we do, I want to bond with you. You are my mate."