Page 49 of Wolves' Midlife Reunion
“No.” Dex got up from the stairs and came to stand in front of Chris. “Not a truce, because that means the fighting is just going to start up again. How about an end to this instead? I say we truly bury the hatchet and leave all this in the past where it belongs.”
Chris stuck out his hand. “Agreed.”
Dex shook it, and as he did, he felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. “Too bad we couldn’t have talked all this out in the first place.”
“I don’t know that I would’ve been willing to,” Chris admitted. “It was the kids getting involved that really made me wake up and see what was going on. You and I were just kids, and we let one day run our lives. I don’t want that to happen to anyone else.”
Dex’s gut hollowed out. Chris was absolutely right, of course. They couldn’t base their whole future on one incident. But was he trying to base Sage’s future on something that happened to him long before she was even born? “Me, neither.”
“I’ll get out of here, but again, I really am sorry. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.”
“Okay.” Dex glanced at the kitchen door. “I’ve got to go make some apologies of my own, though.”
“I’ll see you around, Dex.” Chris paused as he turned toward the door. “It looks like you need a good construction company. I know a guy.” He brushed his fist against Dex’s upper arm and walked out the door.
The battle was over, but the rest of the war had yet to be settled. Dex steeled himself for something much harder than a physical fight or even a magical one. He pushed through the kitchen door.
All the witches looked up at him in an instant. They’d said they were going to make some snacks for the kids, but it looked like they’d emptied the entire contents of the fridge onto the kitchen table. The children ate ravenously even as they gave him curious looks, undoubtedly exhausted from the fight.
“Is everything all right?” Maeve asked carefully.
“Yes. Chris and the others are gone. I’ll pay for all the damages. I’m truly sorry that this happened the way it did.”
Maeve gave him a generous nod. “Would you like anything to eat?”
“No, thank you.” His wolf said otherwise after having an evening like that. Dex walked to the table and looked at Corbin, Arden, and Sage. “I’m sorry that you kids had to see that, and I’m doubly sorry that you felt the need to join in. That fight was my responsibility, and I never meant to bring it here. You were very brave, but I don’t like the idea that you could’ve been seriously injured.”
The boys didn’t seem too phased by it, but Erin nodded her approval. “It’s given us the opportunity to have some very long and thorough talks with them.”
“And Sage.” He would probably have some long and thorough talks with her, too, but this one wouldn’t wait. He’d already wasted enough time. “There are times when we should use our magic, and there are times when we shouldn’t. It’s not always easy to tell the difference. I want to make sure you continue to get proper training so that you’ll never have to question yourself.”
“With Tina?” Sage asked hopefully.
His eyes drifted to Tina, who was sitting next to Sage with a protective arm around the back of her chair. She gave him a solemn nod.
“Yes.” He never thought it would feel so good to tell her that. “With Tina. And with me, too.”
“Yay!” She had piles of various food on her plate, and she waved a chip in the air in celebration. “Can we stay for a little while longer, Daddy? Maeve said she had some chocolate cake for us.”
“Indeed, I do,” Maeve replied benevolently. “Such ferocious warriors deserve no less.”
“Mom,” Chelsea chastised.
“What?” Maeve was already heading to the fridge to fetch the cake.
Dex met Tina’s gaze again. “Could I talk to you? Alone?”
“Sure.” She got up from the table and walked with him through the kitchen door. She made a face as she took in the chaos of the living room, with its broken furniture and ruined walls. “Maybe not in here, though.”
Instead, they stepped out the front door and down the walkway, a short distance from the house.
Dex looked up at it. With its rows of windows, many of which had a welcoming glow, the covenstead wasn’t unlike his own packhouse. It was a place for respite, for growth, for comfort. He felt guilty all over again.
“Tina, I owe you an apology. Actually, I owe you a whole string of them,” he began. “I’ll probably think of a few more things to apologize for after I get home, too.”
She let out a soft laugh. “That’s just how the last couple of weeks have been, right?”
“Definitely.” There really was so much he wanted to fix between them. This part was the hardest and the one that dominated his mind the most. “I truly am sorry for the way I treated you in your store. I’m appalled that I spoke to you that way, and that I completely dismissed what you had to say.”
