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“You haven’t.Not like this.”I slid the pasta dish into the new, stainless-steel oven and pushed the beer over to my dad.“Drink Dad.Rest.Shower.Sleep.Whatever you want.The nightmare is finally over.”
He sat on the new barstool, then put his head in his hands.“God… a shower.Yes… that’s definitely first on my list.After this beer.”
There were so many things I wanted to say to him, so many questions I wanted answered.But it all came down to one thing.“I’ve missed you, Dad.”
He stared at me, then nodded.“I’ve missed you too.You and Leo.Your mom and I… we missed so much.”
I gulped down my beer, afraid I’d cry at any moment.“Well, you’re just in time to meet my mate.”
Dad took a sip of the beer, then grimaced at the flavor.“That’s different than I remember.”Then he looked up at me and blinked.“What did you say?”
I grinned at him, and pulled out a stool for myself.I dragged it around the island to sit so I was still close to the oven and the fridge.“Tania.The witch who broke the spell for us.She’s my fated mate.”
My dad’s grin split his face.“Son.I’m so happy for you.”
I put my hand up to stop him from moving as he looked ready to jump up and hug me.Maybe even offer further congratulations, when I really wasn’t sure it was warranted.
“What’s wrong?”he asked, his grin fading.
“She’s a witch for one thing, Dad.Not what I’d expected, at all.”
He shrugged.“She’s beautiful, and powerful.And obviously with a good heart, if she helped our family without requiring payment.There’s no rule that says your mate has to be a wolf shifter, too.”
“True.”There was no rule, but it was generally frowned upon to marry outside the pack.
“There’s something else,” I said, getting to the heart of the issue.It was this part that had me most concerned.
“Tell me.”His lips thinned as he readied himself for the bad news.
I lifted my beer and took a swig of the cold hops, enjoying the way it washed down my throat.I steeled myself to say the words I dreaded.“She’s… ah, Leo’s mate too.Or so he says.”
I waited for the sky to fall.For my dad’s shock and anger to rear its ugly head.But instead, his eyes lit up with a happiness I’d never seen before, then he burst out laughing.
“Dad!”
He slapped his hand on the table, chuckling away.“Well, she’s one lucky girl, isn’t she?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose.“Dad, it’s not funny.How am I meant to share my woman… with mybrother?”
Dad took another swig of beer, grimacing a little less this time.“Son.A fated mate is the biggest blessing of anyone’s life.Don’t let your insecurities get in the way of your happiness.Trust me, I know.I used to worry about so many things.Money.Providing for my family.So many petty little things, that in the end meant nothing.I missed seeing you and Leo grow up and become men, and I’d do anything to get that time back.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Dad.”
He smiled sadly, “I know that… in a way.But my point is, there’s only one thing worth living for… hell, only one thing worth dying for, and that’s your woman.If she’s big enough, powerful enough… hell,strongenough to take on both my sons, then she deserves you.”
I took another drink and sighed.“She hasn’t chosen us yet.”
That was when my father grew serious, the intensity in his eyes leveling me.“Then it’s up to you, Son, isn’t it?Don’t you dare let her get away.”
* * *
Tania
I brushedMom’s arm away from my shoulders and collapsed onto my couch.She was hovering like a bloody fly.“I’m fine, Mom.Seriously.You can stop.”
“Oh hush.You look like death warmed up.”
Mom used her magic to make me a cappuccino and a platter of danishes appeared on the coffee table in front of me.
