by Anya Byrne
Instead of approaching it, however, he grinned and said, "I have no problem with that. I don't want you to pull away, ever."
Epilogue
"So... You're dating that nice man who paid our debts?"
Owen smiled at his mother and suppressed the urge to fidget. He'd noticed the way she said "dating"—how could he not?—but he'd been ready for the reaction. "We're doing pretty well. It took us some time to get used to one another, but we simply... click."
His mother took a sip of her tea, probably to earn herself some time to come up with an adequate reply. "That's nice, sweetie," she finally said. "I'm sure he makes you really happy."
"He does," Owen answered. Clearing his throat, he decided to change the topic. "Anyway, how have you been? Everything okay here?"
"Everything's fine," she quickly replied. "You don't need to worry about me, Owen. You've done more than enough by helping pay the bills."
"What about Edward?"
His mother immediately brightened at the mentioning of Owen's brother. "Oh, he's had great results at school. We managed to set money aside for college. He's picking his university this year, you know, and he's not... Well, he can't find someone like you did."
Owen swallowed around the knot in his throat, remembering exactly why he didn't usually talk about his brother at all. "No," he answered with a straight face, "not everyone can find their other halves. I suppose I'm just luckier than most."
It still hurt to see her so dismissive of him, but things had never changed, not since Owen had first come out to her. For a while, she'd barely spoken to him, and their contact had been minimal after Owen had moved for his studies. She'd only reached out to him years later, when she'd unexpectedly had a car accident and had been saddled with medical bills she couldn't pay on her own.
Abandoning her had been out of the question, even if it meant becoming a glorified stripper. To think that if he'd decided against it, he might never have met Luther. It was almost funny if he thought about it.
Still, some things had stayed exactly the same, and despite the financial help she'd received, she obviously thought he was whoring himself out to Luther. In a way, it was a good thing that the door to the apartment opened, and his brother burst into the room.
His angry gaze immediately set on Owen. "What's this faggot doing here? We have to sanitize the couch again."
"Edward!" his mother hissed at him. "Be polite."
Owen waved off her attempt to preserve the peace. "It's okay. I guess that's my cue to go." He got up and smiled weakly. "Take care, Mom."
"You too, Owen."
She didn't hug him, and he didn't expect it. He nodded in goodbye, both to her and to Edward. His brother just glowered, clenching his fists, while his mother waved. Owen made his escape and headed out of the apartment, knowing that, most likely, he wouldn't see them for a long time.
In truth, it was probably better that way. They didn't want him around, but Owen had intended to make one last attempt, to see if he could reconcile the differences between them. After bonding with Luther and feeling the pain of his mate's loss, he could all the more appreciate the fact that he still had a family.
But he was obviously not welcome here, and he couldn't say he was surprised. Their attitude gave him closure and as he stepped out of the apartment building, he knew he could now focus on the future without looking back.
Owen had another reason for coming to see his family. The Secrecy Accords that reigned over shape-shifters made it difficult for human mates to keep in contact with their relatives and friends. Right now, Owen had a lot to lose, more so than a few weeks ago when he and Luther had become mates.
He pressed his hand to his belly, feeling the barely-there bump. It was still amazing to realize that he was pregnant. Somehow, he still couldn't quite bring himself to believe it, and he'd done a fair amount of mental flailing since he wasn't quite sure he was ready to become a parent.
His panic always faded when he let himself feel the love for the new life growing inside him, but also for the other father of his child.
It was Luther's presence that always strengthened him, and it helped him even now. Luther was waiting for him in front of the apartment building, leaning against the hood of their car. "How did it go?"
Owen shrugged. "As well as could be expected, I suppose. They don't want to see me. You helping them is all well and good, but I'm still the no-good faggot son."
Luther's lips compressed in a thin line and he hugged Owen close. "I wish you'd let me come with you. I would have—"
"No, Luther, it's better this way. I needed to face this on my own."
Luther kissed his temple and broke their embrace. "I know. I still should have been there for you."
"You are." Owen smiled at his mate. "You always are, Luther. You and the baby are my family now."
The way Luther looked at him was almost heartbreaking. At times, the man seemed to have as much trouble believing this was real as Owen did, but for entirely different reasons. It just solidified Owen's decision to stay by his mate's side.
Luther pressed a sweet kiss to his mouth, and Owen melted in his arms, eagerly accepting the affection. He would have been willing to take things further, even if they were in public, had Luther not broken the lip-lock. "Well, then," Luther murmured, "this calls for a celebration."
The enthusiasm with which Luther said the words was contagious, so Owen slid into the car without comment. He was not surprised when Luther directed the vehicle onto the freeway. Their visit to Owen's native town had run its course. It was time to go home.
Still, he was curious as to what exactly Luther had in mind. "Where are we going?" he asked his mate.
"Well, I arranged for some private time in that restaurant I own." He shot Owen a sheepish look. "Last time it didn't go so well. In other words, I messed up. But I want us to do it over. I want to do right by you."
It hadn't been solely Luther's fault, but saying so wouldn't convince Owen's mate. Owen decided to choose his battles, and arched a brow at Luther. "We can't exactly talk about favorite colors this time around."
The bond had given them insight into one other, and they'd spent the past weeks figuring out the details, getting to know each other the traditional way. Of course, Luther would not be deterred. "That's even better, don't you agree?"
The glove compartment suddenly opened and a rose fell into Owen's lap, accompanied by a familiar looking envelope. Owen stared in disbelief, and Luther shot him a wink. "The fact that you're my mate doesn't mean I have to stop courting you."
With that, Luther focused on the road once more. Owen was left scenting the petals of the beautiful flower as he opened the envelope. As he read the lines on the paper, he pressed his hand to his belly and knew that yes, every change in his life was more than worth it.
THE END
http://anyabyrneromance.wordpress.com/
About the Author
Anya Byrne is first and foremost a longtime fan of erotic romance. Starting to write her own stories was a natural progression of her devotion for the genre. Years after she put pen to paper in that very first book, she is just as enthusiastic and, let’s face it, somewhat obsessive about erotic romance and all that it entails. She is steadfast in the belief that there’s nothing quite as hot as an amazing hero—except more amazing heroes engaged in heroic hot lovin’, and has branched out into the field of self-publishing to convince even more readers of this fact. Hopefully, she will succeed.
For the latest news and upcoming releases please visit Anya at:
http://anyabyrneromance.wordpress.com/
Other Books by Anya Byrne
Hachti Warriors
Book 1. Sold to the Man in the Purple Fur
Lone Wolf Pack
Book 1. Pregnant with His Werewolf Baby
Book 2. Knocked Up by His Werewolf Dom
Book 3. Expecting His Alpha's Child
Book 4. A Family With His Werewolf Mate
Book 4.1. Bonde
d to His Werewolf Lover: A Hot Spark Short Story
Book 4.2. Reunited With His Werewolf Beloved: A Hot Spark Short Story
Book 5. A Baby Daddy for a Werewolf Silencer
Book 5.1. Rescued by His Lone Wolf Mate: A Hot Spark Short Story
Mate Wooing
Book 101. The Werewolf's Roomie
Book 102. The Beta's Kitty Cat: A Hot Spark Short Story
Alpha Gathering
Book 1. Alphas, Secrets and Surprises
Lone Wolf Pack Ripples
Book 1. Anger Management for Alphas: A Lone Wolf Pack Ripples Short Story
Coming Soon
Lone Wolf Pack 6. A Future for His Werewolf Warrior
For decades, Mathias Girard has been convinced Will Orwell is his mate. It is painful for him to know that Will belongs to someone else and is forever out of his reach. But when Will's son Jessie desperately needs Mathias's help, Mathias doesn't hesitate and rushes to his aid. He does not expect his visit to the Lone Wolf Pack to lead him to his destined mate. Ward Bennet.
It takes but a moment—the moment Mathias's eyes meet Ward's—for him to realize he had it all wrong. His heart finally finds its true north, no longer torn apart by self-deception and grief. But things aren't about to go smoothly for Mathias. They never do.
Ward comes to Willow Cove in an attempt to hide from his past. Seeking refuge in the small town that his mother once called home, he finds a love he was not looking for, and he is thrust into a world he is completely unprepared for.
Between the bright flare of passion, the desperate desire to understand, and the uncertainties that plague them, the two men have their work cut out for them. Can Ward open his heart to his unlikely partner despite all of his doubts? Can Mathias finally build a future for himself and his new family?
http://anyabyrneromance.wordpress.com/
Copyright 2015 Anya Byrne
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, by any means, digital or otherwise, without the copyright holder’s express, written permission (except in the case of brief quotes marked as such and embodied in reviews). Unauthorized duplication and/or distribution, with or without monetary gain, are violations of US and international Copyright Laws and are subject to criminal prosecution.
