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

Garnet POV

Bram Faolan smelled disgusted, guilty, worried, and outraged–a mix of scents powerful enough to knock out anyone close to him. Mali Faolan Silber added to that overwhelming scent. Garnet recognized it, and knew it very well.

She and Cyran, as well as the Crestas, had probably smelled just like that once. 

It was the scent of a child's heartbreak over losing a parent.

Redheaded Ransome Hemming held his arm. "Easy," he said in a fatherly way. 

Bram raked his hand through his hair and his eyes turned wolf colors. "Easy? Would YOUR daughter be calm if it was you?"

Azandra snorted. "I'd probably get exposed!"

Ransome patted him on the arm. "You should still try to avoid acting feral, Bram."

Kyon stood tall and strong, a mountain of a man and wolf. "Bram, Mali, your father wouldn't want you making rash threats about a pack war."

Bram stuck out his lip. "Grainne said–"

"My family in Graywolf City should keep their long noses out of such matters," Ransome snapped. "Just as well I brought you here before they could sink their claws into you again."

Kyon stepped down from the dais and made his way to Bram. "Bram, Mali, we'll tell you what we've learned, because you deserve to hear."

He shared everything that Dane and Lilia had communicated before they left for the Heartless Isles and the unfortunate-sounding Abandonnado Island, as well as the deathly silence for almost a day, and the plan to send Jiro and the others. Bram stood, muscles tensed, his face serious and reminding Garnet so much of Jude.

Pacing, Bram stared ahead of him with eyes the color of the blue crystal covering the back wall. The guilt smell filled the air. "This is my fault," he howled.

Mali raced over and grabbed him, pulling him into a hug. "You're an idiot, but not that big of an idiot. This isn't on you."

All the Cresta brothers' faces softened, and Azandra gave Bram a big sister look. 

"But I was a brat," Bram wailed.

Cyran's voice reached him from nearby. "I think I have you beat on that score."

"I want to make it right," Bram muttered, too overwrought to laugh the way Cyran intended. He was every bit his parents' child.

Garnet heard Kyon quietly dismissing the council, and her ears picked up his hint to Tulaska to stay behind. Not that the wise woman wouldn't anyway. Kyon's Alpha streak had taken a while to emerge, but it had bloomed today.

Kyon and Tulaska both headed for Bram, and Garnet and Jiro also made their way to him. Getting himself together, he wriggled away from Mali. "Enough, I'm fine now."

"No, you're not, but you will be," Tulaska butted in.

Garnet had to smile at Bram's baffled look. The wind was tamer than Wise Women.

"You mean I'll be fine as soon as I go get my father?" Bram asked, his teeth slightly sharp. "D*mn that Ravyn for leading him around by the tail!"

"BRAM," Mali snapped, elbowing him in the ribs. Eamon bared his teeth.

Howls and growls made Bram duck his head. 

"Show some respect," Patch shouted. "That's our Pack Mother."

"I'm sorry. But if only she'd been content with just staying home and doing Luna things," Bram muttered, blushing hotter than a sunset.

"She wasn't even content with just running a shop," Kyon observed. "And no one can tell your father what to do, as I'm sure you've noticed."

"He's right," Mali said in a soft but strong voice. "What he did, he did for love of his mate and to help our alliance with Evenhide and the Crimsontail Shadows."

Bram quoted, "'An Alpha has to take the perilous path to protect the pack, or he might as well give up his wolf.' That's an actual quote from my father." He said this with a mix of exasperation and pride.

* * * * *

Kyon POV

Ah yes, an Alpha's lessons on leadership. He wished he had written down his father's sayings. Kyon felt his chest tighten with longing, and smelled Azandra's cooling, comforting scent around him. 

"That sounds like something your father would say," he responded.

Mali chimed in, "Also this head-scratcher: 'Don't trust a wolf with a mouthful of butter.'"

Kyon held in his laughter so hard he thought he'd get a stomachache. "What is that supposed to mean? Didn't he like butter?"

Dirge was earnest. "Well, there's a human saying. 'Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.' It means someone who's deceitful. Your father coined a new phrase."

Mali and Bram stood arm in arm, smiling with pride. "I hope Mother Ravyn understands what she's taken on," Mali commented.

Patch snorted. "I'm more worried about your pack. They have no idea what's in store once their Alpha and Luna are home–and they will come back, so tell everyone in Graywolf City to get ready to put on the best feast your pack has ever seen."

Kyon's mouth turned up in a huge smile at his optimistic, live-out-loud little brother. "Absolutely. They're all coming home. Our elite rescuers will make sure of it."

Bram hesitated. "And so will I. I'm coming with you, Alpha Jiro and Luna Garnet."

Ransome gripped his shoulder. "Do you know what you're saying?"

Bram bared his sharp teeth. "I'm my father's son. Of course I do."

Mali hugged him. "And I want him to go."

"Just take care of our pack while I'm gone," Bram said with affection. "You and Eamon. Stand tall and strong with your tail in the air, and don't let the other packs bully you."

Mali's eyes widened, and she looked nervous, but Eamon smiled with quiet anticipation. "Us?" Mali questioned.

"We would never try to tell you how to run your pack, but it needs leadership, and as your father's heir, Bram can put you in charge along with Harland," Kyon said, wondering where in Fenrir's name that sensible advice came from.

Mali and Eamon smiled. "Look after my brother, Alpha Jiro and Luna Garnet. We need to go home before the Hemmings try to tear the place apart," Mali said.

Jiro and Garnet calmly said, "We promise." One word from either his brother or Garnet meant more than a whole flowery speech. 

Ransome escorted their guests out while Kyon turned his attention to Jiro and the others. "If there's anyone who can wrangle this group and make them behave, it's you, Jiro. Are you going to Wildefell first?"

"If Melisande is on the move, Wildefell may be safe to teleport to," Jiro said logically. 

Anneliese's eyes sparkled with determination. "And her cronies probably cast disappearing spells. We'll alert my mother to meet you."

Kyon shivered. "Poor Ravyn and Jude. Newly mated and now this."

Patch spoke without thinking. "If one of them is hurt, Melisande could use that to her advantage because of the bond. Same with Dane and Lilia."

"PLEASE," Anneliese said, pinching him.

"He's right," Garnet said, with her eyes so shiny and golden that they looked like coins. "But you're forgetting Daxius–I don't think he's the evil figure we've all created in our minds."

Kyon shivered. "I hope you're right, because the fate of our newly mated pair, our Alpha and Luna, and our packs may depend on it. Now go and pack, all of you."

Azandra's arms around him steadied him, and he took a deep breath. "I want one of you to mind-link with me every hour you're gone. Or Azandra or Dirge if you can't find me. That's not a request, it's a condition."

Jiro rubbed his eyes. "I almost believe Dane's standing here."

Speaking despite a lump in his throat, Kyon said, "I have to be Dane right now, but it's just temporary. Bring him back alive or you'll regret it. Lilia, too. Bring Ravyn and Jude back or you'll regret it more."