“Maddie, that's bullshit, you know that. I'm already committed to you. Both of you.”
She walked over and wrapped her arms around me and planted a kiss on my bare chest. “I know that, but he doesn't. We just uprooted him from the only family and the only home he's ever known. It's not going to be easy on him. He has this image in his mind based on what he does know, and you kind of just shattered it.”
I sighed and stared at the ceiling. If this was parenting, I really sucked at it.
“I need to go talk to him,” she told me and I just nodded silently, wondering how I was going to fix this, while hoping Maddie was just able to clear it up and explain to him that as a mated pair we were already a family. Once we completed the bond, that was it. There was no divorce in the shifter community. We mated for life, stronger than any marriage the humans could even fathom.
I wasn’t entirely sure what had just happened. One minute life seemed pretty damn perfect. The next, I’m being blindsided by a now-upset kid. Marriage? It wasn’t something I had ever even thought of. Shifters didn’t marry. I didn’t even see the point. I got what Maddie said, but Oscar was just going to have to learn our ways, and I knew he would in time.
I tried to shake it off, and went to the bathroom to take a much needed shower. Patrick was coming over this afternoon so we could update Kyle and Cole Anderson on the Verndari. I could already tell it was going to be another long day.
To my surprise, the morning went by faster than I expected. When I’d gotten downstairs to breakfast, Mom and Lily had informed me Maddie had taken my car and gone out with Oscar. I knew they’d been through a lot and needed some time together, and clearly they needed to talk about this morning.
“You’re okay with that?” Lily had asked me hesitantly.
I was a wolf, and wolves tended to be territorial. I didn’t like people messing with my stuff, and if it had been anyone but Maddie, I would have freaked out over someone taking my vehicle. Somehow, it really didn’t bother me. She was mate, so what was mine was hers. It surprised me too, but that’s how I felt. Simple as that.
By lunchtime they still hadn't returned, but Kyle and Patrick showed up with Cole in tow, so we took the sandwiches Mom had fixed and headed for Kyle's office.
“How are you holding up?” Kyle asked. I wasn't sure what he meant and must have looked confused because he continued. “Kels told me about MC. That can't be easy on you.”
“Not sure what you mean,” I said honestly.
“Elise and Lily filled her in on the details. He knows everything,” Patrick said.
My mind was all over the place. “What are you talking about?”
“Everything that happened to her? A kid? Your lifelong crush back from the dead? Dude, it's a lot to take in. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
“I've got my mate. We have a great kid. I couldn't be better.”
“Then why do you look a million miles away?” Kyle challenged.
“Oh, it's nothing,” I sighed, still fixated on what Oscar had said that morning. “Really, I'm fine. The kid said something this morning that I can't stop thinking about, is all.”
“Well, come on,” Cole said. “We can tell by your face that we aren't going to get anywhere today until you spill it, so just get it over with already. No offense, but I really don't want to spend any more of my day off than absolutely necessary with you mutts.”
I let out of deep breath. “Fine, it's nothing really. He was just asking if I was going to marry his mom and then got upset when I said no, that shifters didn't marry. I didn't mean to upset him and Maddie explained how he only really knows the human world and will take some time to adjust and learn our ways. He still made me feel like crap for it. So what do you think? Should I ask Maddie to marry me?”
Kyle looked at me like I had two heads. “He'll come around. Seriously, that's what you're worried about?”
“Yeah, I don't really see the point,” Patrick said. “You'll be mated soon, I assume, and then it doesn't really matter either way.”
“You're all a bunch of idiots. Don't listen to them, Liam. If it means that much to the kid, just do it. What's it going to hurt? Keep the kid happy, keep his mom happy. Geez, you two are mated, that much you should know by now,” Cole added for Kyle and Patrick's benefit.
“Okay, I see his point,” Kyle conceded.
“I wouldn't even know where to start,” I admitted.
“A ring. Down on one knee. Say 'I do' and done. Humans do it all the time, many multiple times. How hard can it really be?” Cole asked.
“”But then what? I don't know the first thing about human marriages, or weddings. Where do you go to make it legal? Do we have anyone here that can even do that?” I asked.
Cole shrugged. “You can get a license online, it's easy.”
“Mr. Anderson, sounds like you just volunteered,” Kyle teased.
“Fine, if that's what it takes to get out of here quicker, I will get certified to officially marry you. Crisis over. Now, please tell me that wasn't what you dragged me over here for on a Monday afternoon. You know it's the only day I close the shop.”
Patrick glanced my way and the mood in the room instantly changed.
“What's happened, and why do I have a bad feeling about this?” Kyle asked.
I started to talk, but Patrick cut me off. “Kyle, you remember my friends. My ‘out of town friends,’” he said cryptically.
“Yeah, what about them?”
“How much have you filled Cole in on them?”
“Shit, that's been total need-to-know. I haven't told anyone about your, uh, friends.” Kyle said.
“Well, you might want to fill Cole in quickly, before I start then,” I told him.
Kyle's curious eyes scanned me. “You know about Patrick's, uh, friends?”
I nodded.
“Okay, so I'm the only one here who doesn't know about his friends, so please, just clue me in already,” Cole said, getting frustrated.
Half an hour later he was shaking his head. “I get why you kept this to yourselves, but as Beta, don't you think I should have been included in that 'need to know?’”
“At the time, no. Honestly, I'm not real sure where Liam fits into any of this or why we're even telling you now, so maybe it's time you brought me up to speed too. What do Patrick's human friends have to do with you, Liam?” Kyle asked.
“Too much of a coincidence for it to be different groups, and he's confirmed they wear the same symbol. The people Maddie was living with are part of a secret society called the Verndari, an ancient faction fully aware of the shifter presence and monitoring all activity. Monitor and assist if trouble arose, that was supposed to be it, but it's dividing and changing.”
I went on and told them everything I knew and even what I suspected. We pieced together they likely had Kelsey's aunt, Raina, and that did not sit well with my Alpha brother at all.
“What do we do about them?” Kyle asked.
“Nothing,” Cole said. He took a piece of paper and pencil from Kyle's desk and drew the symbol I immediately recognized. “Is this the symbol you saw?” I nodded. “I do appreciate you guys laying your cards on the table. I hope in the future we can maintain more open communication. Maybe not with you, Liam, but Kyle and Patrick, I do expect to be kept in the loop of things like that. If you can't trust me, then perhaps I'm not the Beta you need.”
“I trust you entirely, Cole. This was just a matter of keeping as tight a lid as possible. I admit, I was wrong not to include you.”
“Damn straight. If you had you'd know, I've got my own connection to the Verndari. Didn't know their name, but there's a couple regular human tourists that like to come up for fresh tats. And wouldn't you know, they bear that same mark on them. I've even done a few new recruits of theirs.”
I looked closely at the emblem. “It's a little off,” I said. “This line shouldn't be here.”
“Not on the original. I know because I've added it to a few recentl
y. Guy by the name of Jackson brings up people from time to time. I know he knows about our kind. He hasn't come right out and told me, but he's hinted loud and clear. Been trying to determine if I'm a shifter or a potential recruit. I'd say what you're seeing with that line is a coup within this group.”
Patrick piped in. “That makes sense, Liam. You told me the guy said there were some who were moving things in a different direction. Researching on our kind and stuff.”
“To better humanity,” I whispered. It was bad. It was very bad. “These people have been in our territory, they're watching us. They are taking our kind and doing who knows what with them. We have to stop it.”
“We need someone on the inside, eyes and ears that will work with us and keep us informed,” Kyle said smartly.
“Martin's supposed to get back to me on his findings on Raina. I can ask, but he won't be happy that I know about any of this. They are very secretive,” Patrick said.
“Jacob and Annie. They sent the man to warn me. They love Maddie and Oscar as their own flesh and blood. They'll help us.”
It was decided that I would try to reach out and get answers from the Winthrops. We took some time to write out a list of questions we wanted answers for. Now all I had to do was convince Maddie this was the right thing to do, even knowing she never wanted to speak to them again.
Maddie
Chapter 20
Oscar was upset and frustrated when we left the Alpha house (I found it funny they still called it that despite the Alpha no longer living there). His questions regarding marriage had really seemed to freak Liam out, and the more I thought about it, the more it did me, too.
“Oscar, how about some ice cream?” I asked, driving down Main Street, knowing my son would never turn down ice cream.
“Yes! Mint chocolate chip!” he said, perking up for the first time since he'd stomped out of the bedroom.
I parked in front of the Cold Shack and we went in and placed our order. Two cones to go. By the time we got them, I could feel the eyes watching us and I needed to be able to talk and answer his questions without so many ears around, listening in.
“Come on, let's go for a drive while we eat,” I said, putting on a brave smile.
I didn't know my way around Westin territory, so I headed to the only place I truly knew, the property Liam wanted to build us a house on. I stopped the car in the empty field. There was a creek running along the back of the property and we got out and went to explore it.
“It's really pretty here, Mommy,” Oscar observed.
“Do you like it?” I asked, and he nodded. “Would you like to live here?”
He looked around very seriously, taking in all the sights. He looked up into the trees and frowned. “Where would we sleep?”
I laughed. “Well the house isn't built yet, silly.”
“This is the place Liam was talking about?”
“Yes it is. What do you think?”
“I really love it, but don't tell him that, okay?”
“Don't tell him? Why?”
“҆Cause it's not right, Mommy. You deserve better.”
“Better than Liam Westin?” I snorted, unable to imagine such a man existed.
“He doesn't even want to marry you. He doesn't want us.”
I hugged my son tightly. “Buddy, there're a lot of things I should have told you before now. How about we walk around and talk?”
We walked and we talked for hours. He had so many questions and the reality hit me that my son wasn't a little boy anymore. He was brave and smart and intuitive. We talked about things that had never before been mentioned. He wanted to know about his father. He said spending time with Liam made him wonder where his father was and why he wasn't around. I couldn't answer that for him, but I was honest enough that he stopped asking, and I didn't think he would again.
He wanted to know about growing up around the wolves and my family, and I told him everything I could think of. We laughed, we lay in the grass and pointed out crazy shapes in the clouds, and we splashed around in the creek when we it got too hot.
I wasn't even sure how long we were out there, but I did know the moment Liam showed up. I could smell that he was in his fur and I knew he was watching us. I chose to ignore it and continue my time alone with Oscar.
“Do you think Liam is mad at me?”
“No, baby, I don't.”
“Do you think he'll still show me his wolf?”
I smiled and kissed his forehead before pointing out the beautiful white wolf just inside the tree line watching us. “Why don't you ask him yourself?”
Liam, clearly listening in, walked slowly towards us.
“Liam?” Oscar whispered, in total awe as the large wolf nodded his furry head. He was so beautiful. “Can I pet you?” he asked.
I could see the revolt in the wolf's eyes, but he snorted and lowered himself to the ground, signaling it was okay. Oscar approached slowly, much like he would have a wild animal, but once he touched him, it was like he'd just found a stray dog and made a new best friend.
“You're so soft,” he said. “Mommy, come feel how soft Liam is.”
I sat down on the ground in front of him and he laid his big head in my lap. I cautiously stroked his fur and Oscar was right, it was the softest thing I'd ever felt. Petting shifters wasn't exactly the norm. Being treated like a dog was the utmost in disrespect, but he seemed content and didn't mind Oscar petting and hugging on him, either.
Oscar jumped up and started to run away. “Come here, boy,” he said, clapping his hands together.
Before I could correct him, Liam jumped up and licked the side of my face, before shifting. It was the first time I'd seen my mate fully naked and I couldn't stop staring, until the sound of disgust came from my seven-year-old. I blushed, knowing that the thoughts I was having seeing him standing there were definitely not appropriate for kid company.
“Eww, you're naked!”
Liam just laughed and ran after him, picking him up and risking traumatizing my kid for life.
“You treated me like I dog. Not cool, kid,” he said, tickling him all over.
“You need to put some clothes on, Mommy's staring at you,” Oscar whispered.
Liam looked back and grinned. I could tell in his eyes he knew I liked what I saw and it pleased him greatly. “Mommy will get over it, I promise.”
“But why are you naked?”
Liam laughed easily. “Well, let's see. Have you ever seen the Hulk?”
“Of course.”
“And what happens to the Hulk's clothes when he turns all big and green?”
“They tear!” Oscar said excitedly, sharing the answer.
“That's right! So what do you think would happen if I'd left my clothes on before I shifted to my wolf?”
“Oh,” he said seriously. “I hadn't thought about that. Wait, does that mean everyone at the pack run tonight will be naked?” He looked enormously disgusted.
“Afraid so, kid. Don't worry, you get used to it. Nudity really isn't something we think about much around here, though we do try to be civil and remember to wear clothes in public.”
“Can you shift back so I can watch how it's done?”
“Sure, but then I have to get home. And I suggest the two of you do, too. I don't know about you, but I'm really hungry,” Liam told him.
Oscar shrugged. “We had ice cream.”
“What? Without me?” He feigned shock, but Oscar just happily nodded.
“Mint chocolate chip!”
“No way, that's my favorite.” Liam pouted. “Hey, about this morning. You know I didn't mean to hurt you, right?”
“I know,” Oscar said. “Mommy and I talked about it.”
“She's a really good mommy, huh?”
Oscar looked at me and smiled. “The best!”
“Can I tell you a little secret?” Oscar nodded. “I don't really think of things like marriage, but I do get why something like that seems really important to you, but we don't
need that to be a family. As far as I'm concerned, we already are. You get me? I love your mom, and I love you. You guys are my family now. Just the three of us. Is that okay with you?” He put his fist out and waited for Oscar to pound it.
Oscar looked at me then shook his head and rolled his eyes at Liam. “I got you,” he said, giving him a fist bump, “but you really have to stop making Mommy cry.”
Liam turned around quickly as I tried to wipe the happy tears from my cheek. He smiled and it made my heart melt. “I think it's okay this time,” he whispered to Oscar.
Picking up my son, he walked to me and pulled me to my feet so the three of us embraced in the middle of the field that would someday be our home. He hugged Oscar a little closer, and leaned down and kissed me to the giggles of my son.
Oscar no longer seemed to even notice Liam was still naked as the day he was born, but my body was buzzing and fully aware of my mate. Before things got really awkward, I broke away. Liam gave me a devious half smile and I swore he could hear my thoughts just then. It made me blush all over. He passed Oscar off to me and told us he'd meet us back at the house.
Next thing I knew, there stood before us a beautiful white wolf.
“That was so cool!” Oscar yelled as Liam's wolf winked and took off back to the woods. “Come on, Mommy, let's see if we can beat him home.”
We jumped into the car and drove back to Mary and Jason's house. Much to my disappointment, Liam was walking around the corner of the house, pulling on his shirt as we pulled up.
“Wow, you're fast. I'm going to go wash up for dinner. I could eat a whole cow. I'm starving!” Oscar announced.
“I heard that, and you better be,” Mary called from inside the house.
“We're eating at the pack house tonight before the run. It's always a huge feast. Mom's really excited you're here, and can't wait to show you off,” Liam informed me.
“I'm happy to be here too,” I told him honestly. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down to kiss me. He didn't hesitate. After last night, I was feeling stronger, bolder, braver, especially where he was concerned.
Forever Mine (Westin Pack Book 3) Page 18
