Julian’s POV


    When we made it to Gail’s Alice shoved her way outside before Gail could even fully open the door. Immediately, she wrapped both arms around my legs, pulling me into the tightest hug she could manage.


    Smiling, I leaned down and then scooped her up into my arms so she could hug me properly with her arms around my neck.


    She must have been worried about me, but she didn’t say so. Instead she asked, “Did you pummel Uncle


    Roman?<b>” </b>


    “Alice,” Amber scolded. “We don’t usenguage like that, and we don’t talk about fighting.” Yet, even as Amber talked, as she looked at Alice clinging to me, her voice and face softened. She wasn’t really all that angry, that much was clear. Like me, she was probably warmed by Alice’s clear worry and care for me.


    Alice nced back at her mother. <b>“</b>I just want to make sure Daddy is okay, Mommy. I wanted him to win.”


    “I’m okay, angel,” I tell her and kissed her on the cheek.


    “You won the fight?” Alice asked.


    “Yeah,” I told her.


    “Good<i>,</i><i>” </i>she said and went back to hugging me tightly.


    Alice sighed as she shook her head. Then she turned her attention to Gail, who was watching us with a


    smile from her doorway.


    “Thank you for watching her, Gail,” Amber said.


    “It was my pleasure<i>,” </i>Gail said. “I’m always avable to babysit Alice. Such a delightful child.”


    “I like you too, Auntie Gail,” Alice said. She turned her head, resting her cheek against my shoulder so she


    could talk to Gail.


    Gail gave a kindly, grandmother–like smile.


    We thanked her again and then went on our way.


    Back at the hotel, after Alice skipped ahead to y, Amber stopped me in the living room.


    “Now that the fight is done, I think you should think about taking that medicine I gave you. It will help with your possessiveness and aggression.”


    “Yeah, maybe…”


    I had promised her that after the fight, I would take the medicine she had gotten me for my condition. But


    the truth was, I was still on the fence about taking it.


    A promise was a promise, though, so I felt like I had to.


    <b>“</b>I’ll go take some now,” I told her and walked toward my bedroom.


    There, I was startled when my wolf spoke words into my mind. Typically, hemunicated to me wordlessly, so it was strange to hear his voice again.


    “There is nothing wrong with how you’ve been acting,” he said, his voice gruff and thick with warning.” The possessiveness is a natural reaction to needing our mate. The medicine might change things that should not be changed.”


    “I have to risk it,” I said to my wolf. “I promised Amber, and I can’t push her to be my mate again before she’s ready. We have to be patient, and that means taking the medicine.”


    He wasn’t convinced, I could feel his doubt without his needing to say so. But I didn’t have a choice.


    I couldn’t push my romantic feelings onto Amber before she was ready. The urge within me was to have my mate back. I needed to quiet that urge, and only the medicine could help take the edge off.


    My wolf might not agree, and honestly, I didn’t want to do it either.


    But for Amber and for the future I wanted for us together, I had to do this.


    So, I got the pill bottle out of the bottom of my dresser drawer and I took two without water, swallowing


    them down roughly.


    “I hope we won’t regret this,” my wolf said.


    “Me, too<i>,</i>” I replied.


    Rafael’s POV


    Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, given the nature of myst phone call with my cousin, that I would open the door after the bell rang, only to find Mary herself standing on my stoop. She had two bags with her, one sitting on the ground on either side of her, already giving away her intentions.


    I didn’t say hello. Instead, I just lifted a single brow.


    “What’s this?” I asked.


    <b>“</b>I’ve decided to visit.<i>” </i>


    “You could have asked first.”


    “You might have said no,” she said. “I couldn’t chance that.”


    “Mary…”


    “Come on, Rafael. It’s clear you like this potential new rtion. You’re already attached. Who knows <b>if </b>you would even listen to bad news? You might twist everything to keep her around.”


    “I wouldn’t do that,” I said firmly.


    “There’s no telling,” Mary continued. “So really, I’m here in your best interest and in the best interest of


    our family.”


    The best interest, I assumed, was the family wealth. Who wanted to share wealth and power? Mary was going to look poor Amber under the sharpest of microscopes.


    It was also well known in the family that Mary was a gossip and a snoop. She was just as likely to be here to ‘protect the family interests‘ as she was to dig into Amber and her secrets for her own curiosity.


    “This really isn’t necessary,” I said, but I already knew I lost this argument. I couldn’t send Mary away without it getting back to the entire family that I had done so. Then it wouldn’t just be Mary at my door, but all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins.


    One member of my family was bad enough. The whole lot of them? Gods, I’d have to move.


    “Don’t be difficult, cousin,” Mary said. “Just give in and let me have my way. It’s really for the best.”


    I sighed, but stepped back from the door, allowing her entry. She practically skippeding in, leaving


    her suitcases on the stoop.


    “I’m sure the help can get my bags,” she said when I looked at them.


    They could, but it seemed particrly rude to them to leave the bags outside. Grabbing them, I brought them into the foyer before I turned to find where Mary had wandered off to.


    She was in the den, pouring herself a drink.


    “So,” she said, “What’s this girl like?”


    “Her name is Amber,” I said. “And she’s kind and smart. She’s a renowned Healer.”


    Amber dropped the decanter she had been holding straight back down on the dry bar. Itnded with a smack that made me wince, though I was relieved to see the ss didn’t crack.


    “Wait. Our new potential rtion is Healer Amber?<b>” </b>


    “Yes,” I said, not totally surprised that Mary had heard of her. Amber’s reputation was very good. “Does that make it better?”


    “No,<i>” </i>she said. “Doesn’t she have her own influence? Why is she trying to scoop up even more?” She shook her head. “People like that can never get enough, Rafael. If I wasn’t sure before, now I’m certain this whole thing is a scam.”


    “Amber isn’t like that.” Already I felt a headacheing on. Gods, this was going to be a long visit.


    “They’re all like that,<i>” </i>she said and sipped her drink.


    “Perhaps you should meet her before you jump to conclusions.” As soon as I said the words, I immediately


    wanted them back.


    Amber needed a warning before she met Mary, but with the way Mary’s eyes brightened, I knew she wasn’t going to give me – or Amber – that kind of time.


    “Well? What are we waiting for?”