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“Sure.” Tears well up in my eyes at hearing how distant he sounds.
“Okay, so I told you that I wasn’t planning on having a mating ceremony, and a big reason for that is I cut contact with our family over a year ago—on my 18th birthday to be exact. But as the brother-by-mating to the Alpha, I’d have to invite him and his family. It would be a logistical nightmare, and Crys and I agreed we’d not do that.”
“Wait, why?” I blink in shock, truly surprised by that. David and my mum had such a close relationship. She always wanted boys, and when she finally got her baby, she doted on him. I doubt that changed even with me gone.
“Because they’re shitty people.” He laughs, but it’s full of disgust.
“So, why are you having a mating ceremony?”
“Because when the Alpha turns up at your house in the middle of the night and demands you have one for the good of the pack, you quickly get in line and start sending invites.”
I gasp, looking at Atticus, who frowns. My mate isn’t impressed, and he’s dropped the pretence of giving me privacy.
“He forced you?” I ask, feeling like this is somehow my fault.
“My mate comes from a poor family, and… it’s a fucking lot,” David says. He sounds annoyed, and I hope he’s not pissed at me. “Crystal’s struggling with the weight of this.”
And that’s why he’s annoyed.
“Hi, David, my name is Atticus,” Atty says, and I move to sit on the sofa with him, but, of course, that’s not close enough for my mate. He puts his laptop onto the floor and tugs me into his lap before moving the phone closer.
“Hi, mate,” David says. “You’re the Alpha, right?”
“Yes.”
“I know I have no right to ask anything of you—”
“You are my brother by mating, you can ask me anything.” I hear what he doesn’t say though—you can ask, but I don’t need to grant it.
“I’d like to request that when you come down here, you let my mate’s family move to your pride with you,” he says, and I glance up at Atticus.
He presses mute on the phone and raises an eyebrow at me.
“What?” I whisper.
“Is that something you’d be okay with?”
“Helping a family who want it?” I ask before rolling my eyes. “Of course, I am.”
He nods and unpauses the phone. “May I ask why this is something you’re asking?”
“They’re constantly being used as pawns in the drama between my family and the Alpha’s family. They’re good people, and they deserve a better life.”
Atticus nods. “Then I will be happy to chat with them if we decide to come.”
“If?” David asks, sounding surprised. “I thought it was a done deal.”
“Kennedy would like to think so,” Atticus says. “But it depends on if we’re free this weekend.”
I smile at my mate, loving the way he’s keeping my secrets.
“Um, fair enough,” David says, sounding surprised.
“I’d like to go,” I say.
“Are you sure?” Atticus asks, and I nod. Even if things will be awkward and uncomfortable, we can help Crystal’s family.
“I’m sure.”
