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“It was. I knew she wasn’t my mate, but I stayed with her anyway. If I hadn’t, when that wolf came through town he would have found her and she wouldn’t have felt obligated to stay with me. He was an asshole, but if his mate hadn’t been mated he might not have gone crazy like he did and try to take out what was keeping them apart.
“I didn’t want to be alone. I was selfish, and it cost me everything. I told her parents to keep an eye on you while I avenged her. When I got back, I was met by a police officer and given a restraining order. They had money and lawyers, and I didn’t have anything. I couldn’t fight them, and you hated me so much. I hated myself.”
Mia couldn’t believe that Lucian’s grandparents had so successfully turned him against his father, but then Lucian had been young and traumatized.
“When you first came to Wilde Creek, I don’t think you talked to anyone for a month,” she said. “Did your grandparents get you help?”
“Yeah, I saw a psychiatrist for a while, but I didn’t remember anything that happened. In my memory, she and I were sitting down at the kitchen table for a bedtime snack, and then…I woke up in the hospital and they told me that you’d killed her. Everyone hated you and blamed you, and when you didn’t come for me I figured they were telling the truth.”
“They wouldn’t let me see you,” Jasper said. “I hoped when you were old enough that you’d seek me out, but you didn’t. Not until you showed up yesterday asking for my help.”
Mia arched a brow at Lucian. “He helped you after you hadn’t seen him in over twenty years?”
Lucian nodded.
Silence settled over them, and Mia kept her lips zipped. It wasn’t her place to tell Lucian to do or say anything, even though she thought his dad had gotten the raw end of the deal. Lisa hadn’t been his mate, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t valued her.
Lucian’s voice was low and strained. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
Jasper stood and held out his hand to Lucian, who stared at it intensely for what felt like an eternity. Then he stood slowly and took his dad’s hand, using it to pull him close for a hug. Lucian’s shoulders shook and Mia could smell the saltwater of his tears, which made her eyes sting. Jasper looked at her over Lucian’s shoulders and smiled. Then he pushed Lucian to arm’s length and said, “I don’t blame you for staying away from me. You were young, and they used that against you. But you’re here now, and I hope you’ll let me be part of your life again.”
Lucian scrubbed at his cheeks and sniffed. “I have to check with my mate.”
Mia laughed. “Now you’re just being silly.”
Lucian smiled at her, and she could tell he was genuinely happy. And she was, too. Of course they had a lot of catching up to do, but at least the bridge had been mended, and that was what mattered.
* * *
Lucian felt like a boulder-sized weight was off his shoulders now. He’d blamed his father for his mother’s death. That he hadn’t turned into a bitter male because of it was a miracle. He wanted to apologize a hundred times, but he knew it wouldn’t change the aches of the past. All they could do was move on.
He sat back down next to Mia, tugging her into his side and inhaling her sweet scent. His berserker rubbed against his skin, wanting to get closer to her. Like naked-close.
He glanced at his father, who was sitting in the recliner once more. “What did you mean when you said that Mia was the reason I didn’t need to learn to control the berserker?”
“She’s your other half.”
“Yes, she’s my mate.”
He shook his head. “No. Well, yes. But what I mean is that berserkers don’t have mates,per se. What we have is called acyon. It means that she’s your true other half – the calm to your storm, the balm for your berserker. Now that you’ve claimed her, your berserker will never harm her or anyone else unjustly. You won’t lose yourself to the beast and go on a killing spree. Unless of course Mia’s in danger. Then all bets are off.”
Lucian stroked his fingers over her hand, rubbing her soft skin. Inwardly, he explored the idea. He didn’t feel a desire to kill, which was a good thing. The berserker seemed to smile, as if to say it was all going to be fine now.
“Mia’s mycyon,” he said. “And that’s the same as a mate, right?”
“It would be the berserker version of a truemate. I think the problem is that you’re thinking of your nature as something that has to be harnessed and controlled. In a way, yes – you do need to learn how to channel the berserker in instances where you personally feel threatened, or Mia does. You can’t just go around taking people’s heads because they piss you off. She’s your balance. She’s the reason you won’t go off the deep end.”
“Do you have acyon?” Mia asked.
“I’ve pretty much been a hermit since Lisa died. If my other half is around, I haven’t met her yet. But who knows what the future may bring.”
Lucian lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the top. “I feared my nature because of the lies my grandparents told. There’s a part of me that’s still flashing warning lights, even though I can feel the berserker and he’s content.”
His father leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “You’ve known Mia since you were young, and before your nature had an opportunity to mature and explore the relationship between you two, you had magical tattoos applied and caged him.”
“I always did feel my nature a little more when I was in Wilde Creek.”
Mia looked at him. “Did you know we were mates, or were you so closed to the idea because he was locked up?”
