The Werewolf Meets His Match (Nocturne Falls Book 2) (27 page)

But the thing that amazed Ivy the most was the diversity of the group helping them celebrate their wedding. Besides the expected wolf shifters, there were feline and avian shifters. And probably some species she hadn’t recognized. In addition, they were joined by witches, vampires and fae.

Never in her life as a Kincaid would she have thought such a gathering possible. Not only had marriage to Hank given her new hope for the future, but she saw such possibility in the harmonious existence of this town.

When she’d returned home from college, pregnant and unable to finish her education, life had seemed so small and closed off. Now, it felt enormous and wide open.

Not only did these diverse groups live together in peace, but because of the way Nocturne Falls was set up, they rarely had to pretend they weren’t what they were. She watched the couples dancing and the clusters of people talking and laughing and shook her head in amazement. Did they know how lucky they were? Would she take all this for granted after a few years of living here? She hoped not.

Hands slipped around her waist, and Hank’s voice whispered in her ear, “You look lost in thought. What’s going on in that sexy head of yours?”

She turned, planted her hands on his face and kissed him. “I just can’t get over everything that’s happened and how wonderful you and this town are. I feel like anything is possible. And it’s all so good. And almost more than I can wrap my head around. It’s crazy how happy I am. I don’t ever want to lose this feeling.”

He smiled. “This place does that to you.” He looked over her shoulder and laughed. “Speaking of crazy, have you seen our son?”

Our son.
She almost melted from the joy of those two words. She turned to see what Hank was looking at and started laughing. Birdie and Charlie were dancing. Well, Birdie was sort of rocking back and forth, while Charlie was jumping up and down and gyrating like he’d eaten too much sugar, which was a very distinct possibility since Delaney had brought three additional trays of sweets besides the stunning wedding cake.

Ivy giggled and covered her mouth. “That kid. It’s after ten PM and he’s carrying on like he’s got all the energy in the world. I couldn’t love him more if I tried.”

“He’s exactly what Birdie needs. Someone else to fuss over. I’m pretty sure we’ve got a lifetime babysitter in her. You want to join them? I think I’ve got one more dance left in me.”

“No, I’m happy right where I am.” Besides, there would be more slow dances with Hank. A lifetime of them.

Hank’s arms encircled her waist again, and he tucked his chin into the curve of her neck. “Today is a good day.”

She nodded. “It is.”

He grunted softly. “It’s more than that. It’s…the best day.”

“I agree.”

He kissed her neck. She closed her eyes and sank into the moment, trying to imprint the sounds of the music and the laughter, the aromas of the food and flowers, and the warmth of Hank’s embrace and the gentle caress of his mouth on her skin. She wanted to remember this for the rest of her life, this flawless slice of time when everything in the universe was perfectly aligned.

“I love you, Ivy Merrow.”

She laughed at the happy sound of her new name. “I love you, too.” She opened her eyes, scanning the crowd with no real focus until her gaze tripped over a tall figure standing near the door. A figure she recognized. Her smile disappeared, and she uttered a soft curse.

“What’s wrong?” Hank stepped out from behind her to stand at her side. “That’s not a word I expected to hear out of you on our wedding day.”

She couldn’t take her gaze away from the man who’d just appeared at her wedding reception. After all these years, how had he ended up here? And why? Her heart thumped with anger and anxiety as her spine went rigid. Hell, she knew why. She forced herself to look at Hank.

He looked around, then back at her. “Ivy, what’s going on? Your eyes are gleaming, but based on your change in body language, it’s not out of love.”

Trying not to cause a scene, she responded in a calm, rational manner. Mostly. “You see the man standing by the door?”

Hank turned to look. “What about him?”

Ivy glanced that way again, but the man had moved. He was almost upon them. Bile rose in her throat as he approached, his haughty demeanor exactly as she remembered it, although the last time she’d seen him, he’d been walking away. The same direction she wished he was going in now.

He stopped in front of her, his gaze tapering into something that screamed judgment. “Ivy.”

His smarmy tone made her hands clench. “What the hell are you doing here?”

A toothy smile greeted her. “And to think I was just about to congratulate you.”

“I’m so sure.” Painful memories and the bone-deep instinct to protect her son cramped her ability to be civil.

Hank stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. “What’s your business here?”

“The kid’s my business.”

Hank’s lip pulled back in a snarl. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

The smile returned, this time with a threatening bent. “It means I’m about to do you a favor.”

“What favor is that?”

“I’m going to get the kid out of your hair.”

A vein throbbed on Hank’s temple. “The hell you are—”

Ivy stepped between them. “Outside. Now.”

Neither man budged.

Hank looked at her. “Please tell me this idiot isn’t who I think he is.”

Hank’s parents were watching. Aware something was wrong. Ivy ground her teeth together. This was
not
how this day was supposed to go. She swallowed, but nothing could remove the bitter taste coating her tongue. “I wish I could, but I’m pretty sure you’ve already figured out he’s Eric Prescott. Charlie’s biological father.”

The fresh air in Howler’s parking lot did nothing to clear Hank’s head. He stared across the lot at the man who’d not only dared to show up at their wedding and disrupt it, but actually thought he was going to leave with Charlie. Prescott was leaning against his rental car, taking a phone call.

Hank wanted to shove the phone down the man’s throat. Or possibly into a different body cavity.

Ivy came out. “Birdie’s keeping an eye on Charlie.”

“What did you tell her?” The last thing Hank wanted was for his aunt to get involved in this. He wanted it over and done with quietly.

“Same thing I told your parents. Enough to make sure she didn’t let Charlie out of her sight.”

“Good.”

She sighed, looking as deflated as she sounded. “I can’t believe Eric showed up here. On today of all days.”

“I can.”

Ivy blinked, squinting. “What do you mean? How?”

“Your father, that’s how.”

“You think he had something to do with this?”

Hank grunted. He thought Clemens had a hand in most of the trouble in Ivy’s life. “This guy shows up five hours after you text your father a picture that proves his grandson can shift after all? That’s damned convenient. Where’s this guy from?”

“Mobile, Alabama. His mother is a Hayden.”

Hank looked at her. “As in William Hayden? Alpha of the Alabama pack.”

“That’s his uncle.” She looked away, anger sparking in her eyes. “When we started dating, I used to think my dad might finally be proud of me for landing such a great catch. Little did I know what an ass he’d turn out to be.”

Prescott joined them. “What was that?”

Ivy glared at him. “I was just telling Hank what an ass you were.
Are
.”

Prescott smirked. “And I see you still haven’t matured.”

She stiffened. “I’m not the one who walked away from my child.”

Hank straightened. Ivy and Eric rehashing the past wasn’t going to get them anywhere. “What do want, Prescott?”

Prescott took a second before he answered. “I told you. I want my son.”

Hank shook his head. “Doesn’t work like that.”

“Sure it does.” Prescott smirked with the kind of self-confidence that made Hank want to punch him just for the sheer enjoyment of it. “I’m his biological father.”

“As of the ceremony that took place five hours ago, I’m now his father. By pack law, that’s as good as blood.”

Irritation thinned out Prescott’s smirk. “I’m the nephew of the Alabama alpha. I don’t really think you want to get into this with me.”

Hank laughed. “Apparently, Clemens didn’t tell you who Ivy was marrying. My
father
is Griffin Merrow, alpha of the Georgia pack. And I’m his firstborn. He also happens to be inside, if you want to confirm that in person.” Hank had never played the rank card before, but this was a special situation.

That took a little of the shine off of Prescott. He shrugged. “So we’re equal in rank.”

“Not even close, but I’ll let it slide since you’re about to leave. In fact, I’m willing to forget all about this as long as you disappear in the next sixty seconds.”

“Not without my kid.”

Hank could feel Ivy bristle. He reached out to hold her hand. “His name is Charlie. Which you’d know if you’d been even the slightest bit a part of his life.”

Eric waved a hand. “Great. Charlie. Bring him out here, and I’m gone.”

“You’re gone
now
,” Hank said. “Or I will remove you bodily. Besides being the alpha’s next in line, I’m also the sheriff of this town.” Not to mention a decorated Army Ranger. Hank wouldn’t even break a sweat removing this guy.

“You lay a hand on me, and I’ll get my uncle involved.”

Hank was about to respond when Ivy squeezed his hand, and he realized he was getting nowhere with Prescott, just wasting words.

The door behind them opened, letting out a burst of noise. Titus and Griffin came out. Griffin stayed by the door, but Titus walked up to stand beside Hank. “Everything all right?”

“It’s about to be,” Hank answered.

“That’s right,” Prescott said. He tipped his head at Titus. “Why don’t you run back inside and bring Charlie out here?”

Titus gave him the hairy eyeball. “And why would I do that?”

Ivy made a disgusted nose. “Eric, you’re not going to win this one. Just go home. Leave us alone.”

Titus leaned toward Hank. “Who is this guy?”

Prescott answered. “I’m Charlie’s father.”

“Biologically only,” Ivy corrected.

Titus crossed his arms and stood shoulder to shoulder with Hank. “Yeah, you’re not getting my nephew. He’s a Merrow now.”

Griffin nodded, silent but watching.

Prescott took a step closer. “You Merrows sure have a big feeling about yourselves, don’t you?”

Hank opened his mouth, but Titus beat him to the reply. “Well, we are Merrows. That alone makes us hard to beat.”

Confrontation crackled in Prescott’s gaze. “
Beating
you sounds like a great idea.”

Hank scowled. He was well and truly done with this interruption. “Go away, Prescott. Leave us alone.”

“You want me to leave? Fight me.”

“You’ve got to be kidding.”

Prescott stared at Hank. “I challenge you to decision by combat. Winner takes Charlie. Loser gives up all rights to him.”

Ivy’s grip tightened on Hank’s hand like a vise, but she said nothing. Hank spoke to his brother while keeping his eyes on the shifter he wanted to put his fist through. “Titus, stay out here and watch our guest, will you? I need to talk to my wife inside for a moment.”

“Sure thing,” Titus answered.

“You do that, Merrow,” Prescott spat. “See what wifey has to say.”

Hank escorted Ivy back toward Howler’s, speaking to his father as they went inside. “Watch him, Dad.”

“I will.” Griffin’s eyes never left Prescott.

They went into Bridget’s office where they could talk. Their guests knew something was going on, but he didn’t want to share more than necessary. He closed the door. “This needs to happen.”

She twisted her hands together. “We could force it to a tribunal. You are technically Charlie’s dad.”

“But Prescott still has a blood claim to him. I don’t know what the precedence is, but I don’t want to take that chance. Besides, it would take too long. I don’t want this guy interfering in Charlie’s life. The kid’s been through enough. I want this dealt with now.”