Page 29 of Leif

I slid my hand to my neck and massaged the tight muscles there. “I think so.”

“How are your parents?” His hesitant voice told me exactly why he was asking.

I exhaled. “Fine. They keep asking me to come home. I haven’t told them yet.” I hadn’t told them I was in love with Mel. I knew they’d never accept her. Or me, if I brought her home.

“You need to tell them.”

It wasn’t that simple, and he knew it. “She’s not one of us.”

“That doesn’t matter. If you love her, you love her. Fuck tradition.” Draco’s frustration poured out in his tone, and in the distance, Luna agreed.

But I knew my parents would never accept her. My parents were so proud of our bloodline. I knew bringing home a human would make them disown me; they’d said as much when I was younger. Was it worth losing them?

“It’s not that easy.” I stepped forward and sat down on the front steps.

“But it is.” Draco’s firm tone didn’t leave room for argument.

“They’re going to fire her. I tried calling Roy.” Maybe it was a mistake to call him, but I needed to change the subject away from my parents and Mel.

“Roy?” Draco sounded like he couldn’t believe it. “As inDestroyer?”

“One and the same.”

He sounded stunned. “I thought you two weren’t on speaking terms.”

“We’re not. But it was worth it to possibly help her.

“Yep, you’re in love with her.” Draco said it with a final tone of voice as if he was sayingcaseclosed. I couldn’t help but think he was right as I stared up at the tops of the trees as they swayed gently in the breeze.

“I don’t know what to do now.”

“Have you talked to her?” Luna’s voice sounded closer as if she’d sat down next to Draco so she could be part of the conversation.

“Not about this. It’s too soon.” It had only been a week. It didn’t matter that my body wanted her as a mate. It didn’t matter that I’d fallen head over heels for her. It didn’t matter that her smile lit up my world, that her kiss set me ablaze, that her whisper filled my senses. It had only been a week.

“It doesn’t matter. Talk to her. If she’s not the one, she’ll walk. If she is, she’ll listen.” Luna’s matter of fact voice eased some of the doubt in me. She was right; the worst thing would be Mel walking away. The best thing would be her admitting she felt the same.

“Should I talk to her dad first? Get his permission?”

Luna laughed. “How old are you again?”

I shrugged. “Old, obviously.”

Luna’s tone took on a serious note. “Well, I think she should know first. Don’t let her dad be the first to know how you feel about her.”

That made sense. Mel was the strongest woman I knew, and I doubted she’d want to be the last to know something so important. “I want to wait until things calm down a bit.”

Draco laughed. “Trust me, brother, there will always be a reason not to tell her. And eventually she’ll walk away, and you’ll have never told her. Don’t wait for everything to be perfect. Be the man she needs, show her she can trust you, and promise her you’ll be there forever. Or as long as she’ll put up with your crazy ass.”

“Thanks,” I muttered. But despite his poking fun, his words made sense. He was right; waiting wouldn’t help a thing. Because life always has a way of throwing punches. I wanted to be by her side for the assault.

And I needed her to know that. “Thanks, you guys. Have a good night.”

“You, too. Good luck!” They fed off each other for the response, and I smiled. I wanted that kind of love; the kind where two people finished each other’s sentences.

I hung up and stood up with a sigh.

It would be worth it. Either she’d reject me or admit she has the same feelings. But either way, I’d know.

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