Page 82 of Triumph of the Wolf
The words filled me with glee—would it be inappropriate to dance around, rejoicing?—but I didn’t know how Cameron felt, so I attempted to keep my face neutral.
“It’s for the best,” I said. “The artifact he wanted had a greater use.”
Even now, I didn’t know exactly what that use was, but I’d heard from Emilio that it could be seen glowing at night on that cliff overlooking the pack’s properties.
“And it has a giant shaggy werewolf protector.” Cameron shook his head. “Good reason to leave it alone.”
“I would think so. Where willyougo next?”
“Before Dad called, I’d decided to come back to the area. I was going to tell you earlier, but things got a little weird when he got here. I’ve been saving a bit, doing some jobs while on the road, and I enrolled for the spring semester at U-Dub.”
“Oh.” My heart soared. One of my sons was cominghome? “That’s good news.” I struggled for that neutral expression again. If I pounced on him with a hug or an overabundance of exuberance, it might scare him away as surely as a wolf nipping at his heels.
“Yeah. Aussie said he’ll try to get leave this summer, and maybe we can all hang out and do something.” He waved to me.
He wanted todothings with me?Bothof my sons did? That urge to pounce returned, but Cameron spoke again before I could think of a cool and collected way to do so.
“I, uh. I wanted to let you know that…” Cameron studied the sidewalk at his feet. “I didn’t realize Dad is such a… Well, he’s kind of a loser, isn’t he?”
“Yes,” I said without hesitation.
Cameron snorted. “When he was bitching about you, I asked him straight-up about the college money. I remember you kind of implied it was his fault, but you didn’t say hestoleit. I hadn’t realized. I mean, he didn’t say as much now, either, but I readbetween the lines from some other comments he made. And when he askedmeto pay for dinner a couple of times. LikeIwas the mature adult.”
“Oh, you were. Trust me.”
“Yeah?” Cameron’s eyebrows rose as he seemed surprised and maybe pleased by the pronouncement.
“Yes.” I nodded firmly. “I’m delighted that you’ll be starting school. And I’m proud of you.”
“It’s no big deal.” He shrugged and looked at the sidewalk again.
“It’s a very big deal. I’d like to hug you.”
“Oh, geez.” He looked around, spotting a couple of tenants climbing out of their car. “You’re not going to do ithere,are you?”
“Would it be less weird and awkward if I dragged you into the bushes for it?”
“I don’t know. Is that where you go to turn into a wolf?”
“Sometimes. The rhododendrons keep their leaves year-round, so they’re handy.”
Cameron rolled his eyes and hugged me. He stepped back before I could grip him for more than two seconds, but I grinned hugely anyway. After his near silence for the last two years, it was enough. More than I’d expected.
Bolin’s gleaming blue SUV rolled into the lot. After parking, he and Jasmine climbed out with mochas from their favorite coffee shop in hand, whipped cream drizzled with caramel filling the clear dome lids.
Jasmine waved vigorously and headed straight for us. Cameron took that moment to slink away, probably deeply and emotionally scarred by our public embrace. But he’d instigated it, so it couldn’t have beenthatbad. As the mature mother that I was, I resisted the urge to text him a chain ofhugemojis.
Besides, Jasmine’s arrival distracted me.
“Guest what, Aunt Luna?” she blurted.
“You and Bolin have fallen deeply in love and you’re eloping?”
“Of course not. My mom and dad would kill me if I eloped. They’ve already told me I’m getting married at their house when that day comes. They have a big yard and gazebo, so apparently that qualifies it as a wedding venue.”
“A gazebo?” Bolin asked, walking up in time to hear her words.
“Sure. Dad grows his wine-making grapes on it.” Jasmine eyed him. “Where do rich people get married?”
