Page 38 of Little Howl of Moon

“There is fate, and then there is free will. And in a perfect world, they align. But sometimes, the world is not perfect. Sometimes we make choices. Sometimes we make the wrong choice. And sometimes fate is wrong too. What happened . . . I do not know the consequences. Your Papa and I were scared that Death had returned to harm our family. It’s why we’ve been keeping secrets. But, if he came here for Tana . . . I do not know what to think. But I know we will figure it out as a family.”

“No,” Layla said. She pushed away from me and got to her feet, her shoulders squaring.

I stood and instinctively reached for Oli. His arm slid around my waist. I pressed my face against the top of his head. Even though we weren’t mated, I could feel a wave of emotional exhaustion from him.

Both of us needed each other right now. And I certainly hadn’t forgotten about him speaking to his wife.

“This isn’t something we figure out as a family,” Layla said. “This was my choice. My fate. And it was just stolen from me.”

Lucifer winced. “He was trying to protect?—”

“Stop,” Layla whispered harshly. “Just stop. Go. Go find him. Maybe go check on Tana. Mom will be here soon, and I’ll speak to her. I just need space.”

He nodded silently. “I love you,” he whispered. “I am so sorry this happened.”

Layla’s shoulders sagged. “Me too.”

Lucifer nodded and then stepped back, opening a new portal. He was gone in a blink, leaving the three of us alone.

Tears streamed down Oli’s cheeks, his face etched with concern. “Layla,” Oli said softly. “Your mom is on her way with your aunts. She told me she’d be here soon with Luna, Quinn, and Naomi.”

Oh shit.If she’d called Naomi and my moms, then my uncle was in the deepest trouble.

“What else can we do?”

Her eyes were lifeless as she turned to look at the spot where Death had stood. “Nothing,” she whispered, her voice emotionless. “You can do nothing. But thank you. Are you . . . Well, I’m guessing you’re Oliver?”

“I am,” he whispered, wiping away his tears. He offered her a watery smile.

“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances. I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” he said. “Truly.”

I rubbed his back, swallowing hard. The cafe was eerily silent aside from the wind howling outside and the rumble of thunder. She slid her palm over her chest, her cheeks flushed as she looked toward the open door.

“It was so strange,” she whispered. “It was as if I’d known him my entire life. Did he hurt you?”

Oli shook his head. “No. He was rather gentle. Strange, yes. But . . . he let me speak to Alia.” His voice cracked. “I am grateful to him for that. I will be able to move on in the way I’d hoped to.”

Layla kept looking out the door as if she were waiting on something. “The two of you should go home,” she finally said. “He’s not coming back. Not yet. And you have your own unfinished business.”

“We’ll stay until someone else is here with you,” Oli said. “I’m sorry. I’m too much of a dad to leave you alone right now.”

She glanced back with a half smile. “You have kids?”

“Two daughters in college,” he said. “They’re amazing.”

Talking to her seemed to be helping. I was glad he was here too, because I had no idea what to even say. The cafe was a wreck, there was still blood and broken glass everywhere, and I was so sad for my cousin.

I heard a car door slam and stiffened, sensing my parents were near. “Uh, well. You’re about to meet my moms.”

Oli’s brows shot up. “What?”

“Sorry, this may end up being even more overwhelming.”

Mama, or Aunt Luny as Layla called her, was the first to the door. Her bright yellow eyes landed on Layla, darted to me, and then to Oli. Before she could say anything else, my mom squeezed past her and hurried to Layla, pulling her into a big hug. Layla let out a quiet sob.

Mom’s eyes met mine and she made a face as she held onto Layla. “Trixie and Naomi are on the way. I don’t know what happened, but we were nearby. Got here as fast as we could.”