Page 76 of Starting a New Life

I tensed. I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t help it.

“Doesn’t have to be right now,” she said, patting my arm. “You told me he’s wary of shifters, and I’ve been alive long enough to know why. This continent is not a kind place for mages.”

She knew?

I blinked at her, her hazel eyes filled with anger, mouth set in a hard line.

“I can ask,” I said carefully. Maybe my parents would be okay for him to meet? I rubbed my chest, feeling the bond between us, the ever-present tugging sensation that kept guiding me to my mate.

“Oh, you do that, honey,” my mom said, placing a hand on my cheek. “Your father and I can’t wait to meet him, but we will.” She nodded once, emphasizing her statement, then smiled again, her face lighting up and transforming. “I’ve been waiting for you to find your match for the past ten years; a couple of days or weeks won’t make a difference. But just in case, your father and I are just a holler away.”

“You’re not going home?”

They had a small house not far away from mine.

“Gray, honey, did you get our house ready for us to live in again?”

Oh. Whoops.

“I didn’t know you were coming!”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m not attacking you. I’m aware that we came back on a whim, but that’s exactly why we’re gonna stay here until we have a chance to get a look at the house and set things up. Okay?”

“Sure.” I nodded, my mind still whirling. “Wait… where’s Dad?”

Mom snorted. “The teens got to him. He’s in the gaming room trying to beat one of them in Mario Kart.”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Dad? Dad is playing Mario Kart?”

My mom shrugged. “Apparently?” She leaned in, turning her head to see if anyone was close before whispering conspiratorially. “Personally, I think he’s hiding from other pack members to evade being asked about pack politics.”

That tracked.

“I’ll find him when I’m done with dinner.” And after I’d told my mate about my parents being here. No pressure at all.

“He means he’s having dinner with his mate in his room,” Rhett chimed in helpfully.

“Oh, go, honey. Don’t let me keep you. We can talk later. Go, take care of your mate.”

I hugged my mom again before leaving her to it. It didn’t take long for her to mingle. By the time I came back out of the kitchen, a tray with dinner for Nix and myself in hand, she was busy talking to Diana, her hands moving rapidly, a bright laugh tinkling from her lips.

I smiled and watched her hug old friends before I headed up the stairs. I met Rhett and Levi on their way down, deep in conversation, with Levi talking excitedly, his eyes sparkling, cheeks tinted red as he relayed something he and Nix had done.

So, Nix really was teaching him how to use his magic. That was good. Maybe their spending time together would help him feel more comfortable here. Maybe seeing that Levi was still moving freely, still liked by basically everyone, would make him understand that we didn’t want to hurt him.

When I was a couple of steps away from the door to Nix’s room, it swung open, and he appeared in the doorway, a smile on his face.

My heart skipped a beat, a weight lifting off my shoulders. He looked happy. Relaxed.

Good, my wolf agreed, tail wagging.

Yes, it was good. Nix deserved to be happy.

“We have company,” he whispered as I walked past him into the room. I frowned for a second, then snorted as I found my two wayward pups lounging in the corner of the room, a board game set up on the desk with Connie sitting on the windowsill and Nick on the chair.

“Hello, Alpha,” they both greeted, tilting their heads a little to bare their throats.