Page 27 of Lycan Prey (Little Secrets Duet #1)
Damian is about to leave when I speak. “Definitely, Mother met Sancha’s daughter the other week. She is looking for a husband. Mother will have to fill you in, she sounds delightful,” I tell him and Damian presses his lips in a line.
“Oh you’re finally looking to settle down, son, finally!
” my mother exclaims beaming. “Oh, so exciting, I can help plan two weddings, and more grandbabies.” She gives a little wriggle of excitement and my father rolls his eyes at her but has a silly smirk on his face.
If looks could kill I would be dust by the glare Damian gives me before stomping off.
“Oh, I’m so excited, so much good news, isn’t that right, dear?” my mother says addressing my father. He yawns and nods but isn’t as excited as her. He hates functions.
“Max deserves a mother, after all. He is still so young. So where is she?” my mother asks.
I’m caught off guard, my fabricated story about Brielle suddenly becoming a tangible reality. “She’s… ah… she’s with Max,” I manage to say, my mind racing to find a way out of this unforeseen situation. I am completely winging it.
My father, ever observant, narrows his eyes. “You seem surprised to see us. Is everything alright?”
I muster a smile, “Of course. I just wasn’t expecting you so soon.”
“Me neither, but you know your mother,” my father adds, cutting a look to my mother. “But first, I want to hear about this nanny of yours!” he snaps at me, and I glare at him.
“Excuse me?”
“Oh come on, dear. People talk. We’ve been hearing some concerning rumors about your new nanny. What happened to Blair, did the blood bond finally do the old bat in?” my mother asks sternly, fixing me with a piercing gaze. She never liked Blair. Blair often stood up for my wife against her.
My stomach drops. “Blair is fine, very much alive still. But what kind of rumors?”
“Rumors of her being…a werewolf,” she says carefully, as if choosing her words wisely.
My parents don’t like that I allow werewolves in the neighboring towns as it is, let alone the rogues.
What happened to Amelia, doesn’t mean all rogues should be punished; it’s why we created the council registry, though.
Any rogues wanting to stay need to register.
They also are required to hand their DNA over.
We still have an active case going for the attack, and lots of rogues attacked that day, we have an entire library of DNA samples to compare against.
I swallow hard. “Well, there aren’t many Lycan Royals left, Mother,” I remind her and she seems to ponder this.
“This is true, but what’s this got to do with the nanny?” she asks and I know I just put my foot in it further.
“Well, that is how I met my fiancé”
My mother’s brows furrow slightly.
“Brielle?” she asks, glancing at my father who sits up straighter.
“Your fiancé is a werewolf?” my father questions.
I sigh. This is not going to go well.
“And a nanny?” my mother interjects.
“Oh darn, we’ll be the laughing stock of the kingdom—”
My mother elbows my father in the ribs hard enough to make him grunt.
“We are just thrilled to know you won’t spend the rest of eternity alone. Isn’t that right!” she states, glaring at my father’s slip of the tongue.
Shit.
“You’ll just have to be extra careful around full moons until after the mating ceremony, and until you’ve changed her.
Please tell me you’ll mark this one on the wedding day?
No waiting around like with Amelia, such a loss.
I may not have seen eye to eye with her but she was still my daughter in law,” she adds.
Great, now mother is referring to Brielle being unpredictable on full moons, like that makes her unsuitable to be around Max or maybe it’s because she is werewolf and I am Lycan. Lycans prefer to stay around other Lycans. I’ve told my staff to be quiet about it but people talk.
“Mother, Brielle is more than capable of caring for Max,” I say firmly. “She is good with him and he adores her.”
“Oh, well not to worry then, you can just change her after the wedding and nothing to worry about,” she says happily and I bite back a groan knowing I will have to come clean.
I struggle to maintain my composure, the sound of footsteps echoes in the hallway. Bree walks in with Max, oblivious to what she has walked in on. Max’s innocent shout breaks the silence.
“Grandma, Grandpa!” he squeals while my heart feels like it is about to sputter out of my chest. Bree smiles politely and my mother’s eyes instantly lock onto her excitedly. Max draws her attention back when he rushes over to her, hugging around her legs.
My parents’ faces light up with genuine joy as they embrace Max, their eyes bright with love and excitement.
They quickly turn to Bree, their expressions shifting to one of confusion, fascination, and perhaps a hint of unease.
Bree stands tall and elegant, in her flowing summer dress, her posture perfectly poised as she takes in the scene before her.
She radiates a sense of grace and beauty, but there is also confusion etched into her features and nervousness.
“Is this the young lady?” my mother asks, turning to Brielle with a warm smile.
I can see Brielle ’s confusion, her eyes flicking between my parents and me. I step forward, taking her hand in mine, a gesture that surprises both her and me.