Enola rolled over reluctantly, saying a silent prayer that the reason she was so hot was because the sun was overpowering the sheer window coverings. She kicked the sheet off her nearly naked body, took a breath and calmed, realizing that it was just fucking hot in Louisiana. Between being attacked by monsters and weird familial legacies, Enola decided that it was time for her to go home. Besides, she’d returned to New Orleans because she’d thought her grandmother was on her deathbed. There was no way that the vibrant woman she’d encountered the night before was dying.

Enola had been duped!

Phoenix or not, Auriette’s enemies had nothing to do with her. So, Enola made the decision to return to her life. She decided to tell her family that she was leaving at breakfast. There was nothing in New Orleans for her; nothing but monsters and magic that she hadn’t asked for. Enola just wanted to go back to her very simple life.

She hopped out of bed and began to toss everything she’d unpacked into her suitcase. After showering, she dressed and put her suitcases by her bedroom door. Without an ounce of guilt, Enola was getting the hell out of New Orleans, Louisiana.

‘You can’t run from who you are.’

‘Get out of my head, Gran!’

‘I’ll see you at breakfast.’

 

* * * *

 

Gideon parked behind the small BMW and hopped out of his Cadillac SUV. He clutched the small purse a little tighter than he should have as he walked up to Madame Roux’s house. The task ahead was not for the weak. The woman possessed a power that no one had seen since the existence of his brother’s lover. Now, Gideon was there to tell the old woman that her granddaughter was to be his mate.

Marie Roux was not going to be happy. Since he and his twin had not saved their most powerful ancestor from the fire, the Moreau line was forbidden to enter into a courtship with shifters. Unfortunately for them, the woman was his mate, and they would not stand in the way of a wolf and his mate.

Gideon rang the bell and waited. Seconds later, a young man opened the door.

“Good morning, Monsieur Toussaint. Madame Roux is just sitting down for breakfast. May I schedule an appointment for you?”

“No, I’ll see her now,” Gideon said, pushing past the young human. He wouldn’t waste time playing games. “You and I both know that she already knew I was coming.”

Gideon walked through the large house. Since he’d been to the plantation countless times, he knew his way around. He continued walking until he found himself on the lanai. It was a mild morning, so he figured that was where Marie would be.

“Bonjour, Gideon. Please join us,” she offered, waving at an empty seat at the table.

Gideon walked around the table, but froze when he made eye contact with Marie’s granddaughter. She was staring at him with big, hazel eyes. Unlike the night before, her wild, curly, auburn hair had been straightened. The woman was so beautiful up close that Gideon could hardly breathe. As he stared unabashedly, the fact that her eyes never left him didn’t go unnoticed.

“Oh my God, Gideon,” Marie breathed. “It’s forbidden.”

“That’s too bad,” Gideon responded, without looking away.

“Aw… hell,” Ruby added.

Gideon walked over to the woman that he would be spending his life with and kneeled next to her. He discreetly inhaled her sweet, heavenly scent. Their eyes locked. She didn’t dare look away. In that moment, no one, other than his future mate, existed.

Gideon licked his lips before he could stop himself. He was tempted to suck her plump lips into his mouth…both sets. He narrowed his eyes as he studied her features. Gideon smiled and in return, she blessed him with a sweet smile that made him long to hold her.

“I believe this is yours,” Gideon said, placing her handbag in her lap.

She looked down at her purse. The excitement in her eyes was pleasing to Gideon. Something deep within him gained a strange sense of satisfaction from making her happy.

“Thank you so much, umm…”

“Gideon. Gideon Toussaint.”

“Thank you, Gideon,” she said as she fiddled through her purse.

“I figured you might need it.”

“Yes, I–wait.” Her arched brows furrowed. “How did you know where to bring this?”

“Roux. Your I.D. says, ‘Roux’. I know your grandmother,” Gideon lied.

He’d recognized Marie’s other granddaughter, Marguerite. She was under his pack’s protection whenever she partied in the Quarter. In fact, the entire family was under his protection.

“Oh. Well, thanks again,” she said with a smile.

Gideon stood and walked around the table to take the empty seat. He sat, still fixated on his woman.

“Gideon, this is my granddaughter, Nola. Olivia’s baby.”

The stunning woman was definitely no baby. If so, she was about to grow up really fast.

“It’s nice to meet you, Nola,” Gideon greeted.

Although the women in the Moreau line shared a lot of the same features, it was obvious that she was Olivia’s daughter. They could’ve been twins.

“Ummm…hello? I’m Margo.”

Gideon chuckled at the interruption and reluctantly turned towards Margo. “Good morning, Margo. It’s nice to meet you,” Gideon greeted, even though he already knew the party animal.

“Didn’t we see you last night?” Enola asked.

Gideon smiled. He knew damn well she remembered him from the night before. He could tell that she’d been struck by the same bolt of lightning that had struck him.

“Yeahhh, we sure did,” Margo agreed.

Margo obviously had no clue that he and his pack watched her from a distance. They learned that even though Margo seemed wild, she was essentially a good girl. She drank, danced, and partied, but when she was done, she always went home. She handled overly aggressive men well. And anyone she couldn’t handle, someone from his pack would.

“Gideon, hmm?” she grinned. “That’s a nice name. Nola, ain’t that a nice name?”

Nola narrowed her eyes at her cousin. “Yes, Margo. It's a very nice name. Gran, are we gonna eat any time soon? I’m leaving after breakfast.”

“Where are you going, dear?” Ruby asked.

“Home. I’m going back to Chicago.”

“What?” Margo squealed. “You just got here!”

The thought of Nola leaving made Gideon’s heart race. But he was in no panic because no number of miles would stop him from claiming her as his mate. After being attacked by those filthy bloodsuckers, Gideon wasn’t at all surprised that she wanted to leave. Nola clearly had no clue how powerful she was. She’d annihilated a very old, very strong vampire with just a touch.

“You don’t understand, chér. You can’t just leave,” Ruby told her.

“Oh, but I can. I’m outta here. Gran is fine. Ain’t nothing wrong with her.”

“Nola, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” Ruby snapped.

“That’s enough!” Marie intervened. “Now is not the time! We have a guest!”

That was Gideon’s cue. Even though he never got to enjoy breakfast, he stood, ready to leave.

“A discussion between family is clearly needed. So, I’m going to excuse myself.” He turned to Nola and grinned. “If you decide to stay a little longer, I would love to have you for dinner. Show you my New Orleans.”

Enola looked up at Gideon, smiled gently and said, “It was really nice meeting you, Gideon. Thank you again for returning my purse.”

Gideon nodded before leaving the lanai. He smiled as he exited the house. If Mademoiselle Roux thought that this was their end, she was terribly mistaken.