“Would you believe me if I told you I’ve never even seen a rodeo, much less been entered to compete in one?” I asked Emmet who was tugging on a pair of thick work gloves.
“Figured that, Boss. That’s why you’re doing the bareback riding contest, and I am riding the bull,” he said with a wink.
Honestly, I didn’t even know why I bothered. If Grandmother Leeds took my fortune away, I supposed I’d just have to start from the bottom.
But this was about more than money. This was about proving to myself I could finish something.
I spotted Penelope in the stands sitting beside Avery and little Rosalie, and my heart started thudding harder. My inner Devil growled softly.
One of the side effects of being mated was I felt much more in sync with my darker side. My inner beast no longer wanted to tear me apart and take over. All thoughts were of her now. Of us.
And wasn’t that amazing?
The smell of hay and fur, of sweat and blood, was all around me, but it did nothing to tempt me, monster that I was. Oh no. I just wanted to compete in this thing. To make Penelope as proud of me as I was of her.
I hadn’t done much with my life. Squandered my fortune, played the field, and been a basically useless human being, er, Jersey Devil.
Hell, I supposed Grandmother was right.
“Of course I am right, dear boy. I am always right.”
I froze in place.
It couldn’t be. Not here.
“Wow, look at you, cousin! You look like a real cowboy!”
But I knew those voices. My inner Devil perked up.
I turned around slowly until I was facing my cousin and grandmother. I’d always had a healthy fear of the matron of our family, but not of my cousin.
And that asshole owed me.
Faster than was humanly possible, I popped that idiot in the nose with a right hook.
“Ouch! What the fuck, Max?” Avail grunted, holding his now bleeding nose.
“Language, Avail,” Grandmother said, handing him a handkerchief and smiling at me with something akin to pride shining in her eyes.
“This is Emmet, I take it?” Grandmother asked, and the Wolf dipped his head.
I hadn’t realized he was still standing there, waiting to see if I needed backup.
Good Wolf. Great Beta.
“Hi, Grandma,” I said, kissing her politely on the cheek. “Yeah, Emmet here is the foreman, and my Beta. I have a Crew now.”
“Yes, I see. A real found family, then. But don’t forget, Max, you have us, too,” she said, and right then something else clicked for me.
I’d always kind of resented the way Avail and Grandmother had seemed so close. Like I was on the outside with the other lesser important grandsons and cousins.
But looking at her now, I felt something I’d been missing my whole life. Acceptance.
Love.
Respect.
Maybe all three. And I was grateful she helped me find them. She helped me to appreciate my fortune and my life.
I might have been a little shit before this move, but I was different now. Forever changed. And Grandmother had been the one to start the ball rolling.
“I know, and I appreciate it. All of it, Grandma. Penelope is my true promised one, and she’s made everything better. All of this has been worthwhile,” I told her reverently.
“Yes, I understand you’ve found your mate. I expect a full introduction when you are finished here,” Grandmother said.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied.
“Sucks when she’s right, doesn’t it?” Avail grinned.
“No. Not at all, actually,” I replied, thinking about my sweet Sugarplum.
“Well, Stephanie and the kids are in the stands. We’re rooting for you, Max.”
“Thanks, Avail. Sorry about the,” I murmured and gestured to his now crooked nose.
“It’ll heal. Anyway, cowboy looks good on you,” Avail said, and he wasn’t even being rude.
“Ready to get out there, Boss?” Emmet asked as the announcer said my name.
“Yeah. Let’s do it.”