Small Town Love

Interlude: Some Revelations

Family and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches.

Wanda Hope Carter

Oliver was furious.

It didn't happen often. He was easy to get along with most of the time. He never held a grudge for long.

But right at that moment he was considering ton ever speak with Luke again. Or at least not speak to him for the next decade or more. Somehow he doubted though that that was going to be possible, so he let out his frustration on a poor fir that hadn't done anything to him.

*You always had a flair for the dramatic,* his mate snorted from a safe distance, and while normally Grace would be able to get his mind off whatever was bothering him, right now she was also pissing him off. Badly.

*Is this funny to you? Kyle beat Daphne half to death, Grace! Her bone stuck out of her fucking leg! Do you know how much strength you need to break a femur? A LOT!" He mentally rounded on his mate and then went back to decimating the fear, wood flying everywhere.

As much as Ollie would prefer to actually do that to Kyle, a tree was the next best thing.

*No, this isn't funny. He hurt a member of our pack. He hurt your little sister and Luke's mate,* Grace gave back serious. He stopped his attack to the tree and turned to see her. Grace head was cocked to the side, amber eyes watching him attentively.

*And while that is making you furious...you are hurt because Luke didn't tell you.* Grace had always been far too perceptive for her own good. He couldn't hide anything from her. Well, most of the time he didn't even want to. He liked to tell himself that they didn't have secrets between them.

*He's my best friend,* Ollie gave back, unable not to sound exasperated. Grace just snorted.

*And he made a decision on what he thought was best for his mate. Just like it's his prerogative. She's his. She's the most important thing for him right now and he wants to protect her. That was the one thing he cared about,* Grace told him calmly. *I may not agree with how he did it but you know that Luke didn't set out to hurt you and keep you out. He wanted to keep Daphne safe.*

*I shouldn't have introduced them,* Ollie murmured pouting and he could hear Grace amusement in her answer.

*Sure,* she huffed. *It's not like they wouldn't have met either way...or that you aren't actually happy somewhere in the back of your brain that it's Luke and not Jason or somebody else.*

Ollie couldn't help but shudder at the thought of Daphne having started something with Jason. Oh god. No thanks. The guy was a man whore.

*She's too good for him,* he pouted and Grace came to his side and pressed her head against his. Her smell, similar to that of her brother wafted over him. It was fresh and clean, just that Grace's scent had the undercurrent of the ocean there so much stronger than Luke.

*She's his. Just as he's hers,* Grace answered softly. *But I agree, my idiot of a brother got really lucky with her.*

*Did you know?* He asked, needing to know. For a moment she was quiet and he pulled back, staring at her. Had she known before and not told him? That stung. *Grace?*

*I had my...guesses,* she finally admitted. *I didn't know for sure. Only after I saw him biting her...that made it clear that she was everything he had always wanted.*