Page 79 of Bear With Me

Bjorn’s hand crept into Dennis’s and he gave it a squeeze, meeting Dennis’s eyes to give him a small, proud smile. “Dennis is right, Mom. You’re being an idiot.” He choked just a little on the last word, as if he couldn’t believe he was saying it to his own mother, but he got it out.

“Well, I -” She clutched her pearls, because yes, she was actually wearing pearls. Because…reasons? “I…I do not agree with my mate.”

“Yes, that much was clear,” Escalus drawled. “Unfortunately for you, your mate is the one who’s moving in the right direction. Though to be fair, I hadn’t considered the possibility that only one of you would come around, or at least come around faster. Gonna have to think about this.”

“If I may, Alpha?” Ronald ventured, and was granted a regal nod to go ahead. “I would like for Rowena to continue volunteering with me at the community center. I…” He glanced at his wife. “I think she has it in her to change -”

“Ronald!” Rowena gasped, apparently offended at the mere thought.

“- and,” he went on doggedly, “I think she will change. She just needs to experience humans more. And…” He sighed. “I love her, and I do not want to see her harmed by this new reality we’re having to adjust to. If you could give us the chance, Alpha, it would be…very appreciated.”

Escalus considered that, and Dennis did the same. Ronald looked earnest and worried; his wife looked…sour. She was staring at her husband with something between disgust and horror, but she wasn’t shouting, so he supposed progress was being made.

After a few seconds, Escalus raised an inquiring brow at her. “Well, Rowena?”

She spluttered. “Well, what?”

“Do you want the chance?” Escalus prompted with a long-suffering sigh.

“Well, I…” She looked from the alpha to Bjorn, then to Ronald. “I do not believe my mind can be changed, because I don’t think it needs to be changed. However, I also don’t want to leave the den or lose my son.”

Oh, now she valued Bjorn? Dennis resisted the urge to snort derisively.

“So,” she went on tightly, “I will continue with the…volunteering. I will do the tasks I am assigned. And I will not express my opinions of the people I am working with, at least to them. That’s the best I can offer you.”

“Hm.” Escalus looked at Bjorn, who was studying his mother critically. “What do you think, Bjorn? Will she do more harm than good there?”

Bjorn immediately shook his head. “If she can keep her opinions to herself, then the worst she can do is a half-assed job. And that’s still half a job done that wouldn’t otherwise get done at the community center.”

“Dennis?” Escalus prompted, looking at him.

Dennis wasn’t so sure Bjorn was right, but hell, they were leaving soon. It wouldn’t hurt him if she turned out to be an unrepentant bigot for the rest of her life. Well, it would hurt Bjorn, which would in turn hurt Dennis, but he could help with his mate’s sadness if it came down to it. “Give her the chance,” he allowed grudgingly. “It can’t hurt to give it a little more time.”

Ronald let out a breath and clasped his hands together in front of him. “I appreciate that, both of you. We -” He looked at his wife imploringly. “We will do our best.”

Escalus moved his gaze to Rowena, who was standing quietly and looked like she was trying not to release her emotions. “You get another chance, Rowena. But I expect you to do good work there and to make a genuine attempt to understand the humans. I can’t force you to change your mind about them, but I can damn sure make sure you keep your mouth shut about what you think, at least on den lands. You will not be expressing your disdain for humans to any more of my den members, do you understand me?”

Rowena nodded slightly, though she looked slightly nauseated. “Yes, Alpha. I understand.”

“If you can’t stick to that, you will be losing your mate his position and you both your den income,” he reiterated.

“Yes, Alpha.”

“And I suggest you congratulate your son on his mating,” Escalus added, apparently as an afterthought, while he was at it.

Rowena nodded again and turned to Bjorn. Her lips were tight, but she managed to get out the words. “Congratulations, my son. I hope you will be…very happy. With your human. Mate. Your human mate.”

Bjorn bared his teeth at her in something that was either a smile or a threat; Dennis honestly wasn’t sure which he intended it to be. “Thanks, Mom.”

“I think Rowena and I have some things to talk about,” Ronald said, taking his wife’s hand. “Would you excuse us, Alpha, Bjorn, Dennis?”

Escalus waved a hand, dismissing them. Dennis was rather impressed with how he gave the impression they were doing him a favor by leaving, without saying a word.

Bjorn looked torn between thinking good riddance and being upset that his parents didn’t want to stay and talk more. Dennis wrapped a supportive arm around his waist. Even if Bjorn’s mother never came around, Dennis intended to do his best to make his mate happy.

Casting an apologetic look at them, Ronald led his wife away down the path. Escalus turned to Bjorn and Dennis and looked them over speculatively. “So, how much longer do I have you two for now that you’ve mated? I assume you’ll be wanting to go be happy and shit.”

“And shit,” Dennis agreed readily.