Page 470 of His Hungry Wolf

“They shared its magic among their community not allowing any one person to gain too much. But that’s not how it is supposed to be. What I have learned from a lifetime of research is that the land is magic because of what lives within it. You can think of it as a creature made of magic and it’s looking for a home.

“It is drawn into a person who feels ownership over the land with one requirement. They must be in love. The magic craves to be a part of love. I have always wanted that for you. You would be the first person in the many generations of our family to know what being in love feels like.

“When I started to learn how all of this works, I told your father. Remember how I said telling someone might ruin the magic? Or, maybe like every one of our descendants, he was incapable of love. In either case, he chose to marry your mother, someone as hungry for power as he was.

“I suspect they put you on those horrible pills to keep the magic for themselves. They saw what I saw in you. You are so wonderful and full of love. How could the magic not be drawn to you once you took possession of the land?

“You, Louis, are the only one capable of giving our family’s magic a home. All you have to do is believe this land belongs to you and find love. I hope I didn’t push you too hard in that direction,” she said with a chuckle. “I just wanted it so bad for you.

“But Lou, no matter what happens, know that you are the best of us. There is only one person I trust with the future of this family and it is you. I love you. And wherever it is I end up, I will miss you.”

The old woman then leaned toward the camera. The image turned to static.

I looked over at Lou. He was drowning in tears. When he looked up at me, he didn’t have to say what he was thinking. I could see the love and adoration all over his face. I pulled him to me wrapping my arms around him.

“I miss her.”

“She misses you, too.”

“Why didn’t she tell me any of this?”

“It sounds like she told your father and look how that turned out.”

“What do I do?”

Turning to wrap his arms around me, I pulled him into my arms. I knew I just needed to be there for him right now and I was. But eventually, when his wave of sorrow passed, he pulled away.

“The thing she said in the beginning about me inheriting everything, that’s legally binding, isn’t it?” he asked.

“I would guess it is. And did you see the date on the screen? It was recorded a few months before she died. Do you think something your parents did inspired her to make this?”

“Probably. But, what do we do with it? Do we show it to them?”

“I think the first thing we do is make a duplicate. Do you know how to do that?”

“No, but I’m sure we can find somewhere in town that can.”

“We’ll go there tomorrow. Also, if you’re sure that this path and everything that comes with it, is what you truly want…,” I said pausing so he could say otherwise.

There was a lot that came with being supernatural. Not all of it was good. But, didn’t he already know that? Hadn’t he been there from the beginning? Hadn’t he seen as the rest of us went through our struggles? Wasn’t he better prepared to make this decision than anyone?

When he didn’t reply, I straightened my back, stiffened my resolve to help him get what he wanted, and continued.

“Then we’ll need to know what we’re dealing with. Was your grandmother alive when her will was changed? If she was, we’re dealing with a whole different situation. If she was alive, she was coerced. I have to think something like that is hard to prove. But if she had already passed…”

“…My parents committed fraud. They could go to jail.”

I looked at Lou wondering how he felt about that. I couldn’t tell. He had looked away lost in thought.

Lou remained quiet as we collected everything and replanted the uprooted bush.

“You’re gonna have to guide us back,” I told him.

“Of course,” he said taking the flashlight while I carried everything in the box.

Lou’s stunned state didn’t change during our 40-minute walk back. Re-entering the estate’s lawn, he seemed less concerned about getting caught.

Something in him had changed. He seemed less scared. I liked the way confidence looked on him. And when we made it back to his room with the door locked behind us, he watched me set the box aside and then stared at me with lust.