Ian ran through the questions and answered in order. “On Saturday at the dude ranch experience I canceled Mom’s plans for. His name is Rick,an alpha,” he made sure to state emphatically, so there would be no shock. Mom had been angling for more grandchildren and expected him to find a nice omega no matter what he said. It didn’t matter how many times he’d tried to explain that it wasn’t who he saw himself with, she’d never really listened. Why else would she keep going on about cute twinks?
Ian didn’t see an issue when his sister and both brothers had all given his parents grandchildren, they would need to be enough. “He’s a beautiful bear shifter. No, I’ve not told the boys or Mom and Dad, I’ve just met and claimed him, I wanted to have a little time to get to know him before I introduce him to everyone.” Overwhelm him…
He felt a buzz against his hip and reached into his trouser pocket for his mobile while his sister was back to asking questions. He heard none of them, too busy reading the message from Rick, grinning.
Rick:Earnest and Toby have invited us to dinner this evening, you up to meet my friends? I could come and pick you up, and maybe you could pack a bag and stay over at mine?
His face ached from how wide his smile was.He wants to introduce me to his friends.Pack a bag.His belly quivered as he put his sister on speaker to free up his hands. Her voice was more white noise at this point. His fingers clicked clumsily at the screen. He’d never enjoyed texting, but he considered this could be fun to tease his mate.
Ian:I would love that. All of it. Should I packmy toys too?
Ian read the last bit and considered deleting it, then pressed send because he had a wide and varied selection of things he’d used over the years when he often struggled to find an alpha to pin him down and do…
“Are you still there… Ian… Ian.” Maisie’s voice increased in volume bringing his gaze back to the phone on his desk as he placed his mobile down so it wouldn’t distract him.
“Yes, sorry, I was distracted by an email. I’m sorry, sis, I can’t help tonight, I’ve got plans with my mate.”
“W-what?” she stuttered, “I always rely on you. Mom and Dad have a committee meeting for one of the many charities they help with.”
He nodded in agreement, even though she couldn’t see him, he’d always dropped his plans to fit in with his family, just not this time. And probably not so much in the future either, now that he had someone special to spend his time with, though he didn’t say that. “I know, but Maisie, you’ll have to find someone else, sorry,” he tagged on, feeling upset at having to deny her, except he was also a little miffed that she didn’t understand he was newly mated. She didn’t have a fated mate, but a chosen mate, so maybe she didn’t get it?
“Right… well, I suppose I can’t change your mind?”
It sounded more like a huffy question. “No, Rick is my first priority, you have to understand that, just like your family is yours.” He was begging, his shoulders slumped.
“You are my family, Ian.” She added enough guilt to the statement that he felt the weight of it. She had learned from the best.
She was right; they were family, and it was hard to change old habits, he dithered, then his gaze went to his mobile as it flashed with a new message from Rick.
Rick:Toys… I’ll look forward to playing later. I’ll be there at 6 o’clock.
The message came with a winky face bringing back his smile. He recalled the sexy kiss he’d shared when Rick had dropped him off. He hadn’t had nearly enough of his mate to satisfy him—if he would ever get enough.
He sat, rolling his shoulders like preparing to fight, and answered, “I’m sorry, sis, but you’ll need to ask Rupert’s family to see if they can help, as I said I have plans,” he stated more firmly than usual for him.
The call ended a few seconds later with a stiffness in his sister’s tone he wasn’t used to. Then, he seldom denied her—as in he never denied her.
He flopped back in his seat, feeling dejected. He sat for so long that his phone started ringing again, and the itch at the back of his neck said it was Mom. His sister, he was sure, would have rung her.
He reached for it with shaky fingers as he braced. “Good morning—”
“What’s this about a mate? Why didn’t you ring us Ian? Or, better yet, come around and tell us your news.” His family were all up in everyone’s business. Why hadn’t he remembered that? They were a close bunch, and they loved him, except they didn’t always see him clearly.
“I take it Maisie called.”
“Don’t take that tone with me, Ian, your sister rang because she thought I would be interested in knowing my youngest son has found his true mate.”
“Sorry, Mom.” He took a deep, calming breath to get his nerves under control then continued, “But as I explained to Maisie, it was all so new it only happened three days ago, and I’m still a little shocked to find myself with a gorgeous alpha bear in the first place.” That was the truth.
“Did you say alpha?”
He rolled his eyes, there was absolutely nothing wrong with her hearing. “Yes, Mom. Rick is a beautiful alpha bear,” he preened because, seriously, his mate was hot. Not a staid business owner like Ian, he was a hunky, alpha god. He was so damn lucky.
“What… what about children? You were so keen on having babies like your brothers and sister.”
No, you were Mom.He didn’t say it aloud, what was the point? Ian loved children, but he’d never seen himself as a father figure. Being an uncle was more than enough for him. He could have all the fun and then give it back. A perfect situation for him. Would Rick want children?
“I have nieces and nephews,” he muttered, feeling uncomfortable at knowing so little about what Rick wanted in life. That was going to be top of the list, before sex—okay, he wasn’t sure it was top, maybe in the middle.
