2. Claude

TWO

CLAUDE

" S omething has to change, and soon."

Claude slowly shook his head as he put a hand on his cousin's shoulder. "You need to sit down," he said quietly, a stark contrast to Aria's boiling rage. Claude didn't know much about pregnancy, but he was pretty sure Aria being this worked up couldn't be good for the baby.

A baby that was due very, very soon.

Aria reluctantly took a seat, but her demeanor did not waver for a moment. "If Jana hadn't been stalking her ex in Blue Creek, none of this would have happened. But it did. And now I have to figure out how to move forward."

She was, of course, speaking about the events leading up to Jana's parents seeking revenge. Their daughter was stalking Quinn, her ex who was half-wolf. Since he was mated to a wolf shifter, he fell under the protection of the Wolfe clan there, and they protected him the only way they could.

Still, Eliza and Robert blamed Quinn for their daughter's death and sought to meet violence with violence. Claude couldn't entirely blame them, though. They were grieving parents, no matter how in the wrong their child was.

But Barbara and Tristan, the leaders of the Blue Creek pack, handled the situation themselves.

Without consulting Aria.

And that was where Claude's very pregnant cousin's current stress came from.

"This was vampire business," she said, slamming her palm on the mahogany table. "It involved vampires. They should have consulted me as the leader of the North American vampires."

"I'm sure they had a reason," Claude said unenthusiastically. He knew the reason. They both did. Relations between the shifter wolves and vampires were strained, at best.

"There was no reason to delay informing me about this. This entire situation is proof that I'm right. We need to repair our relationship with the wolf community," Aria said, trying hard to rein in her anger. She took a few steadying breaths as Claude fetched her a glass of synthetic blood.

She took it with gratitude. "We've spent too many generations warring with each other, and for what? Our struggles are similar enough. We should be allies, not causing more pain and death."

Claude sighed. "You'll have to convince quite a few wolves of that."

"Emma's a wolf, and we get along perfectly well," Aria interjected.

"You and Emma are a fringe case," Claude reminded her. "You can get every vampire in North America to rally behind this cause, I know you could, but it hinges on the shifters changing their attitudes just as much."

Aria nodded slowly, invisible gears whirring around her temple. Claude knew that look on his cousin very well. Once she started putting her mind to something, you were never going to dissuade her.

"We need to be actively reaching out to the wolf community. Make strides with this tentative alliance," Aria said, staring ahead with conviction. "The human trafficking ring did our reputation no favors, even though we got rid of it."

Claude nodded. They could champion their work in ending the ring all they wanted. The fact was it was made by vampires too. That was enough to break their reputation in the eyes of many.

Perhaps irreparably.

"Our kind have kept their distance from each other for centuries. Maybe… maybe that's for the best," Claude said carefully. He knew his cousin wouldn't like what he had to say, but he needed to say it anyway. That was his job as her advisor, after all.

"No. Things have changed," Aria said darkly. "My own mate is half vampire and half wolf. And that heritage was kept hidden from him for so long because of this ridiculous contention."

Aria gripped her swollen belly, her expression of strained conviction melting into compassion. "What does that mean for our baby? How will that heritage affect her? She deserves to live truthfully, doesn't she?"

Claude also felt a warm sensation in his chest. His cousin's love for her growing baby was always touching, and now she was using it to make her point even firmer.

"And my friend, Maree. She mated with a wolf. Two healthy, beautiful vampire children… and one wolf she had to give up after her mate's death. Can you imagine? Giving up your daughter because you don't know how to raise her?"

Aria was becoming overly emotional, invested in the spiral of despair she was painting. Claude tried to reason her back to reality, but she continued.

"If we had a shared community, that never would've needed to happen! And what about Trevan? I know he'll be a wonderful dad, no matter what our child is. But what if she's a wolf? I can't stand to think of her as being hated by her own community. Her own family!"

"Aria, you know the coven will support your child no matter what," Claude said.

"You say that now. But unless we do something, anything, to repair relations, there's no guarantee. And you know that."

Claude folded his arms and, realizing there was no dissuading his cousin in this, nodded.

"What do you need me to do?"

"I'm so glad you finally asked. I've already taken the liberty of speaking with Emma. She's brokered Tristan and Barbara Wolfe. They've agreed to lend their resources and support to rebuilding my club."

"Embraced?" Claude asked. "Why would they agree to do that?"

"Because, believe it or not, they're good people. And Emma wants this alliance to work just as much as I do. As for you." Aria stood, a little unsteady on her swollen ankles, and pointed at Claude. "I want you to take point on this project."

Claude took a step backward, brow raised and mouth agape. "You want me… to manage a construction project?"

"A refurbishment. And then management of the finished venue," Aria said with a warning.

"I don't… Aria, am I not doing my job as your advisor?" he asked.

Aria rolled her eyes. "Of course, you are."

"Then why waste my skills on a nightclub?"

"Because this is more than a nightclub," she said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Claude, listen to me. This project is about building trust. Relationships. You working with the wolf shifters is a way to start building rapport with them. They've already agreed to it. There's a master plan for you to follow. All you need to do is play nice and try to use some of that fantastic brain on your shoulders."

Claude opened his mouth with one last attempt to change her mind but stopped when she flinched and bent over.

"Augh, fuck, she's kicking," Aria said through clenched teeth. Claude helped her sit again. "I swear, I have a future Rockette growing in here. Which brings me to my next point. This baby is coming and soon."

Claude nodded. He needed no reminder of that fact.

"Which means I'm going to be busy taking care of a helpless newborn. And while I'm doing that, I'll need you to step up as more of a leader for our coven."

Claude swallowed hard. He knew this was coming. Aria valued family over all else, so she wouldn't trust anyone else with the task of interim leader.

"This rebuilding project will put your face in the spotlight and let people start to see you like the leader I need you to be. God knows you're such an introvert, barely anyone even knows you at all. But that will change after this."

Claude clenched his fists. He wanted to argue, challenge her logic, and point out the flaws in her argument. That was his job, after all. As much as he was in awe of his cousin and her marvelous leadership skills, his purpose was to be the one who made her think twice about important decisions.

Like making him take charge.

But there were times when even the best argument would fall flat, and Claude knew this was one of those times.

"If that is what you wish," he said.

"It is."

On cue, the front door opened, and Aria's mate stepped in. Trevan Stone, the love of her life and a wolf.

"Hey, baby," he said, closing the door and walking to her. He leaned down to give her a long, lingering kiss.

Claude turned away, not just because the display of affection was awkward. He still felt a slight twist in his gut at the thought of a vampire and wolf having romantic relations like that.

Even worse, one of them was his close, dear family.

"Hey, Claude," Trevan said as if the shifter just noticed he was there.

"Nice to see you again," Claude lied. He cleared his throat. "I should head over to Embraced and get a look at what I'll be dealing with."

"I'll send you the schematics and work plans," Aria called out as Claude marched to the front door.

He sighed as the door shut behind him. Everything around him was changing so quickly, and he wasn't sure he liked a single bit of it.