Page 173 of Unravel Me

I blink in surprise. I was hoping Jared would be open to staying here, but what he just said sounds absolutely perfect!

I feel as though happiness is about to burst through my chest, and I answer him through telepathy.

"Dreaming about having a family of my own while I was in the mafia was hard. For years, I tried not to think about it too much. I didn't let myself get my hopes up, even though the thought was always somewhere in the back of my mind. And with my speech problems, I wasn't sure I'd even be able to be the kind of father I wanted to be. But then I found you… Our Bond has helped me heal, and now, for the first time, I actually think maybe that dream could come true for us."

We keep our eyes locked the entire time, our bodies still connected by the knot.

Jared sends me, "I believe it will. And this… guardian part. Will our son follow Renato’s and your… path?"

It’s the first time I look away, if only for a second.

"Does it… overwhelm you?"

Jared huffs, "When we were in the forest… you know, when we made love, I felt it for the first time. That connection to the forest. I realized that my nature is tied to it forever, and it’s part of my heritage too. So no, it doesn’t overwhelm me. Honestly, it makes me… happy! Besides, it’s not like my son is going to be pushed into a brutal political career! You saw how cool Renato looks as a guardian!" Jared sends me a wink. "And his role is a good one. He protects the forests. It’s… an honor and a privilege."

I stroke his cheek softly. "I’m glad you see it that way. Fate was smart to choose us as True Mates. Because of our lineage, we can understand each other and complement each other." I smile.

Then after hesitation, I add, "I was born in the city and raised there. My own bond with the forest is only beginning to strengthen; I have a lot to learn, but I promise you, whatever I learn, I’ll teach him the best I can, so he could one day protect the forest like our ancestors did."

He smiles. I lean down and place a kiss on his soft lips, and Jared whispers, "Like you, I’m a city kid. My hidden side only awakened recently. I hope I can discover even more about who I am here and go through this journey with you."

I smile at him and wink. "We’re both new to this, but we can explore it together and learn. And… Tommy will have it even easier. We can pass what we learn on to him, too."

Jared’s eyes flick toward the door.

"Tommy… I had no idea he was like me. But maybe I should have suspected it. He’s always loved flowers and plants. He can play with them for hours."

"We’ll be a very special family, Jared, and I can’t wait to explore… us."

There’s a moment of silence, and I feel the knot slowly subside. Jared moves his hips a little, and smirks subtly as I slide off him, but I don’t stand up right away. I touch his face and stare for a little while longer.

I want to make sure of one thing, so I ask him inside his mind, "So you want to stay here at Renato’s estate, live here, and raise our children here?"

He nods firmly. "Yes. This is where we belong, Mauro. I felt it from the moment I set my foot in Rainbow Springs. The home, it has the right vibe for me."

Jared raises a hand and touches his ears, which, as I’ve noticed, are no longer hidden beneath his hair.

"The forest kinship flows through us all!" And he grins.

I gently kiss him on the lips, then whisper into his mind, "I really can’t wait for another day… with you and Tommy."

Then we lie there for even a minute longer, just looking into each other’s eyes and… grinning, exchanging soft pecks, and it’s just perfect.

Six years of hell are over.

The seventh, magical year is beginning, and in it, I have found the other half of my soul.

Soon, we stand up and get dressed, unable to wipe the smirks off our faces.

Holding hands, we go downstairs, and Jared stops at the entrance to the kitchen.

Emilio and Tony are putting the little animal figurines they just made from bread dough with Tommy into the oven.

Uncle Renato is back too, and he’s holding Tommy on his lap, showing him little deer, wolves, rabbits, and moose running across the tables, glowing with golden light.

They aren’t made of wood this time, but of Renato’s magic, and Tommy giggles and claps his hands in pure delight at the show. From time to time, he tries to catch some of them, but his fingers pass right through them.

Jared glances at me and grins widely.