living
room. He made his way to Reed’s side and gripped Reed’s hand. “I’m
not going to apologize for earlier, even if I probably should. In my
opinion, a woman with your experience should know better than to
trust every rumor. I just wanted to say one thing. I love Reed, and
nothing anyone says or does will change that. Aria can claim she’s my
mate all she wants, but that won’t make it true. Shiloh has already
understood that, and he’s the person who most had reason to resent
me. Why can’t you?”
For a few moments, Norma remained silent. “I suppose that, in
your own way, you are correct, Mr. Wright. But I am still not
convinced. There are simply too many coincidences, too many shades
of gray surrounding you.”
“My life’s an open book.” Anson laughed. “I’m just a man who
sought love in all the wrong places until he finally found it. To a
certain extent, I regret my previous liaisons, but because of them, I
82
Scarlet Hyacinth
have a wonderful son now. So it all worked out, I think. I just need
people to understand that no one’s perfect. We all make mistakes.”
Reed was quite thankful that Anson didn’t mention Shiloh’s less-
than-stellar past. The older swan had shared most everything with
Reed in an attempt to prevent Reed from making the same mistakes,
so Reed knew all about what Shiloh had been through before meeting
Liam. From Reed’s point of view, it had been brave of his dad,
especially since people had many times judged Shiloh because of it.
But Reed realized now that he’d never once heard Anson utter a
single bad word about Shiloh beyond nearly casual comments about
Shiloh’s rejection of him.
Whether Norma realized that or not, she seemed a little more
reassured than when she’d first come in. Or rather, she was less
certain that Reed had become the victim of a sexual predator who
would break his heart.
“Very well,” she said. “I suppose you deserve the benefit of the
doubt since my son has given you that chance.”
“You should stay for a few days,” Anson offered, much to Reed’s
surprise. “I’m sure you and Shiloh would love to catch up, and we’re
having a party to celebrate my son’s arrival in the pack.”
Reed almost couldn’t believe his ears. He was left dumbstruck, so
he couldn’t come up with anything that could stop the upcoming
disaster. “Maybe,” his grandmother said. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt
if I saw for myself how things are here. I’ll talk to Daniel and I’ll see
if I can work something out.”
Reed had no doubt that Daniel would allow her to stay, as
relatives of pack member mates were always welcome. Since he could
no longer do anything to prevent his grandmother from doing exactly
what she’d said, he forced a smile and said, “That’s a great idea.”
His grandmother’s expression softened. “I know you probably see
me as an ogre, Reed, but I really do want what’s best for you. You
believe that, don’t you?”
The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf
83
At that, Reed couldn’t exactly keep his distance anymore. He
broke away from his mate and went to hug his grandmother. The
embrace was very brief—the Holdens weren’t big on that sort of
thing—but it did convey the genuine affection she held for him.
“You take care, all right?” She kissed his forehead. “I want to
believe he is your mate, but I’ve learned to be skeptical about many
things in life.”
“Everything I said is true,” he replied. “I guarantee it.”
She just smiled enigmatically and didn’t contradict him. “Well, I
guess it’s good-bye for now,” she said. “Reed, Mr. Wright, if all goes
well, I will probably see you at this famous party. Now I’m off to visit
my son.”
Reed and Anson led her to the door where they watched her get
into a car and drive off. As soon as she was gone, they stepped back
into the house and Reed turned to his mate. “Oh, my God, Sonny, that
was
room. He made his way to Reed’s side and gripped Reed’s hand. “I’m
not going to apologize for earlier, even if I probably should. In my
opinion, a woman with your experience should know better than to
trust every rumor. I just wanted to say one thing. I love Reed, and
nothing anyone says or does will change that. Aria can claim she’s my
mate all she wants, but that won’t make it true. Shiloh has already
understood that, and he’s the person who most had reason to resent
me. Why can’t you?”
For a few moments, Norma remained silent. “I suppose that, in
your own way, you are correct, Mr. Wright. But I am still not
convinced. There are simply too many coincidences, too many shades
of gray surrounding you.”
“My life’s an open book.” Anson laughed. “I’m just a man who
sought love in all the wrong places until he finally found it. To a
certain extent, I regret my previous liaisons, but because of them, I
82
Scarlet Hyacinth
have a wonderful son now. So it all worked out, I think. I just need
people to understand that no one’s perfect. We all make mistakes.”
Reed was quite thankful that Anson didn’t mention Shiloh’s less-
than-stellar past. The older swan had shared most everything with
Reed in an attempt to prevent Reed from making the same mistakes,
so Reed knew all about what Shiloh had been through before meeting
Liam. From Reed’s point of view, it had been brave of his dad,
especially since people had many times judged Shiloh because of it.
But Reed realized now that he’d never once heard Anson utter a
single bad word about Shiloh beyond nearly casual comments about
Shiloh’s rejection of him.
Whether Norma realized that or not, she seemed a little more
reassured than when she’d first come in. Or rather, she was less
certain that Reed had become the victim of a sexual predator who
would break his heart.
“Very well,” she said. “I suppose you deserve the benefit of the
doubt since my son has given you that chance.”
“You should stay for a few days,” Anson offered, much to Reed’s
surprise. “I’m sure you and Shiloh would love to catch up, and we’re
having a party to celebrate my son’s arrival in the pack.”
Reed almost couldn’t believe his ears. He was left dumbstruck, so
he couldn’t come up with anything that could stop the upcoming
disaster. “Maybe,” his grandmother said. “I suppose it wouldn’t hurt
if I saw for myself how things are here. I’ll talk to Daniel and I’ll see
if I can work something out.”
Reed had no doubt that Daniel would allow her to stay, as
relatives of pack member mates were always welcome. Since he could
no longer do anything to prevent his grandmother from doing exactly
what she’d said, he forced a smile and said, “That’s a great idea.”
His grandmother’s expression softened. “I know you probably see
me as an ogre, Reed, but I really do want what’s best for you. You
believe that, don’t you?”
The Swan Who Flew After a Wolf
83
At that, Reed couldn’t exactly keep his distance anymore. He
broke away from his mate and went to hug his grandmother. The
embrace was very brief—the Holdens weren’t big on that sort of
thing—but it did convey the genuine affection she held for him.
“You take care, all right?” She kissed his forehead. “I want to
believe he is your mate, but I’ve learned to be skeptical about many
things in life.”
“Everything I said is true,” he replied. “I guarantee it.”
She just smiled enigmatically and didn’t contradict him. “Well, I
guess it’s good-bye for now,” she said. “Reed, Mr. Wright, if all goes
well, I will probably see you at this famous party. Now I’m off to visit
my son.”
Reed and Anson led her to the door where they watched her get
into a car and drive off. As soon as she was gone, they stepped back
into the house and Reed turned to his mate. “Oh, my God, Sonny, that
was
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