Page 105

Willow

I made my way down the stairs on shaky legs. After that confrontation with Warrick, my emotions were wrecked, but there was no stalling. I needed to be the one to tell my family before they heard about Clayton from someone else.

Mom was at the counter mixing cake batter, and Else was lining a cake tin when I walked into the kitchen. Mags was back, and she was sitting with Iris at the table, talking. I could see the lights on in the tree house through the kitchen window—Bram was still at his place—and the low hum of the TV in the other room, a familiar gardening show, told me where Art was.

I leaned against the wall for support. “Do you guys have a minute?”

“Does it have something to do with the thundercloud I saw over the alpha’s head when he stormed out of here?” Else asked.

I curled my fingers into a tight fist, my blunt nails biting into my skin. “Yeah, it does.”

Else limped to the table and took a seat. “I’m thinking I better sit for this one.”

“What’s going on, sweetheart?” Mom asked.

I hated the look of concern on her face. I never wanted to be the cause of her distress, she’d been through enough in her life, and with Rose sick, the last thing I wanted was to add to her worries.

“It’s good news,” I said to her, and did my best to force a smile.

“Well, that’s a lie,” Iris said and sat back on her chair.

Mags snorted. “You really think you can pull the wool over our eyes? You look like you’ve eaten a bad burrito.”

I couldn’t deny I felt sick to my stomach. “Okay, so maybe it’s not wonderful news, but what I have to tell you will benefit the whole family, but especially Rose.”

Mom grabbed for the counter. “Have you found something, a cure?”

I grabbed her hand and pressed a kiss to her shaking fingers. “Not yet, but…” I looked at my sisters, Else, then back to Mom. “I’ve agreed to marry Clayton Whitlock.”

“What the hell for?” Else said. “You don’t even like that twerp.”

“He cheated on you!” Iris said. “He’s a pig. I can’t believe you’d chose that guy over Warrick. The huge hellhound alpha who thinks you walk on water and your turds smell like flowers? Warrick,” she said again with more emphasis, like I needed reminding who he was.

Mags shot to her feet and winced when her stitches pulled. “You’ve been seeing both of them?”

I lifted my hands. “I know you’re all confused and worried. Clayton is a good guy. We were young when we first went out. Things happen. And no, we haven’t been seeing each other. And this isn’t a love match—”

“No shit,” Else said.

“It’s a mutely beneficial agreement. He marries into a magically powerful family and gets access to our cemetery—”

“No.” Mom gasped. “You can’t be serious.”

“This can’t be happening,” Mags said and dropped to her seat.

“And he puts his considerable funds, connections, all his recourses into finding a cure for Rose,” I finished.

The room went silent.

Mom sat heavily on the chair beside Else, then looked up at me, and there was no missing the conflict in her eyes.

“You really think he can find a cure?” Mags said, voice broken.

“Yes.”

“No,” Rose said and walked through the door, her voice stronger than I’d heard it in a very long time.

“Sweetheart.” Mom rushed forward and tried to help her into a chair.