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“Why don’t you get back to your book, keep your mind off of your schemes?” he offered fondly.
“As you wish, dear boy,” she declared and eased down into her chair. “My door’s always open; come anytime,” she called after them as they made their way to the front again. Violet couldn’t help but feel the message was for her.
“That your grandma?” she asked, once they were back in the truck.
“Family friend,” he clarified. “Sorry. A lot of that generation cling to the old ways. Doubt anyone else will bother you about breeding. Most of this town isn’t eager to see me procreate.”
Something inside her squirmed with discomfort, and she was glad to leave the subject ofprocreationwell alone.
“Why did she keep implying you were the alpha?”
Though he was driving, Violet had the feeling he was avoiding looking at her.
“She was my grandmother’s best friend, sort of town shaman back in the day. She watched my parents grow up, so it’s hard for her to believe my dad did it. Thinks it’s all a big set-up and has been waiting for me to fix it since.” He did glance at her then. “Don’t get any ideas. She’s a lonely lady who prefers a fairy story over the harsh reality; that’s all.”
Violet itched to argue with him. Itwasn’timpossible that Mrs. Bard was right, but his jaw was set, and she knew he wouldn’t hear it. “And apparently she’s really concerned with my reproductive health,” she said instead.
“Old ways,” he offered again, apologetic.
“Do you want kids?” Just saying the words sent hot panic crawling through her.
“I want you.” His hand settled on her thigh, but her mind still raced.
“Should we be using condoms or birth control?” She would rather tear out her tongue than have this conversation, but the thought of a baby atop every other change that had happened recently was terrifying.
“Doesn’t work like that for descendants.” He squeezed her thigh and took his hand back to scratch his neck.
“How does a physical barrier between your”—she waved her hand—“and my”—she blinked at him—“not work.” She finished with air quotes.
“Condoms usually uh, fail,” he explained gruffly. “Your physiology isn’t human anymore, so birth control is out. I’ve been taking mugwort since we…were together. The effectiveness is about the same as condoms for your average descendant.”
Violet caught the undertone in his words. She could get behind male birth control.
“And what about for you, son of the ex-alpha descendant, because I’m getting the feeling it’s different.”
“Not sure,” he admitted. “Our reproduction rate in general is lower than humans. Most aren’t concerned about it, and if they are it’s because they’re trying to get pregnant.”
“Oh.” That was reassuring, she supposed.
“I don’t want you to feel pressured. I should have warned you about Marjorie.”
“I don’t. Awkward, yes. But I’m just…learning.” Violet took his hand and blew out a breath. That seemed to placate him.
“All right.”
She was beyond thrilled to let the topic die.
“HEY, ARE YOUand Mikel coming to the New Year’s Ball?”
She and Red had spent the better part of the last two days in the Town Hall, screwing together the pieces of the huge ornate buffet table the planning committee had commissioned for the ballroom. Violet hadn’t thought to ask him.
“Don’t know, maybe? I kinda have an aversion to formal events.” Silently, she thanked Magnus for that, and in the same breath was hit with a heavy dose of longing for Lila.
The van rolled on, headed back to the shop.
“It’ll be fun,” Red insisted. “At least this time you won’t pop into heat and almost fuck the town thot in front of god and everyone.”
Violet cringed at the memory. “How was I supposed to know I allegedly had a drop of wolfy blood that the moon juice would activate? I can’t believe I’m saying this with a straight face.”
