Page 84 of Shattered

“She’s happy, but not her normal self,” Nico stated. “Sure, she cares for me and Asher and now Emmeline. Sure, we went on vacation. Sure, she spends time talking to Jasmine and Brie, and they’re helping, but this shit has really gotten to her. I miss my bubbly mate. I miss her laugh. If we don’t figure out what’s wrong with her soon, I fear what might happen.”

Kalkin clamped a massive hand on Nico’s shoulder. “We won’t let that happen.”

“To be honest, I fucking hate the full moon right now,” Nico whispered. “It’s destroying my mate, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

“Well, this holiday went from festive to fucked-up in less than two seconds,” Mackenzie grunted.

“Speaking of which, did you claim your mate?” Kalkin asked in a droll tone.

Royce’s gaze snapped to his father. “Well, did you?” After their conversation, he and Royce had been closer than Mackenzie ever expected to be. Didn’t mean he’d say shit about them.

“Wait you have a mate?” Nico’s brows shot up.

“Yeah, the mother of the sweet little girl who spends the night at Mac’s place. Aurora, our dispatcher. She’s Mackenzie’s mate. He’s also been tramping around Aurora’s apartment, too. From what I read in Logan’s reports.”

“Shut up,” Mackenzie whispered. “It’s not what you think.”

“Oh?” Kalkin cocked a brow. “Really?”

“Uh, why aren’t all of the fryers going?” Danielle called out from the sliding glass door. “We’re ready to get going in here.”

Kalkin waved at her. “Saved by the bell.” He headed back to the house with Royce in tow.

“Nico!” Danielle called out. “I need you for a second, too.”

Nico frowned. “On my way.”

“Looks like they left all the hard work to the old farts, huh?” Jefferson teased.

Mackenzie nodded. “Seems so.”

“So, about Aurora...” Jefferson hedged.

Mackenzie sighed. “There are things she hasn’t told anyone, and I promised not to tell them for her.”

“But you’re her mate.” Jefferson lit the burner for each of the fryers. “Why aren’t you happy?”

“Who says I’m not?”

Jefferson snorted. “You look like you want to bolt from this place and never come back.”

Mackenzie scratched his scruffy cheek. “Full moon.”

“Ah.” Jefferson nodded. “Knot her. Made me feel better.”

Mackenzie choked. “Son of a bitch, you do fit in here.”

Jefferson laughed. “Seriously, though, I’m happy for you, Mac. We’re family. Father-in-laws. It’s time you take your life by the horns and find your peace.”

“Yeah,” Mackenzie said. “Maybe.”

Once the turkeys were in their designated cookers, Mackenzie walked over to one of the coolers to grab a beer. Soon, Aurora would have to tell everyone the truth. He knew it would eat away at her, no way it couldn’t. As he checked one of the fryers, a shout of excitement broke out from inside the house. He glanced up as Hayden launched herself into Nico’s arms. Warmth filled him. Whatever happened, the spark of life he’d glimpsed at the courthouse filled Hayden’s cobalt eyes again.

“You’re gonna want to hear this!” Royce called out to him. “Get in here.”

Mackenzie closed the distance between them. The turkeys still had about ten minutes before they’d be ready, still he didn’t like the idea of leaving them unattended. “What’s going on?”

“I think we were just handed the golden ticket to locking Holly up and throwing away the key,” his son muttered.

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