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“Mine too,” Kyle said, stepping around my parents to take hold of Monique’s hand.
She shivered at his touch, clenching her fingers into Kyle’s grip, but didn’t leave my side.
“She’s a fated mate to...bothof you?” Mom’s voice held shock... and wonder.
Dad turned to stare at Michael. “You’re not a wolf, and you don’t smell like a normal human, either.”
Michael just grinned noncommittally, so I spoke up for him. “This is Michael. He’s a warlock, and technically... well, he’s Monique’s husband.”
“She’smarried?” Mom shrieked.
Monique shivered as if scared, and Michael shook his head when my dad’s soft growl filled the room.
I sighed. “That’s part of the longer version. Monique had to marry him, to distract the high warlock of their realm, who held us captive in a dungeon.”
My dad took my mom’s hand and led her to the sofa. Then he turned and stared at me. “Right then. I want the long version.”
I groaned and went to sit on the chair opposite my parents, then gave them the whole story.
When I was finally done, my mom’s eyes filled with tears and my dad’s jaw ticked angrily.
They didn’t speak.
“Are you both okay?” I asked.
They nodded, and Mom wiped away a tear that fell down her cheek. “It’s just a lot to process. Our whole pack... our women... they’ve all suffered so much not being able to bear a daughter. Our men...” Mom stopped and swallowed hard.
I knew how she felt. My heart broke for them all.
“But the good thing is, we found Monique.” Kyle finally chimed in, stepping forward. “If we had a fated mate out there in the world—a non-shifter mate—then the rest of the male pack members could, too.”
Mom exchanged a worried glance with my father. “We can’t tell everyone that yet. It’s not safe. Look what happened to the women our men married who weren’t in the pack.”
That was a worry, one I was ignoring for the moment because the alternative hurt too much. “But none of those women were fated mates. Monique is ours. She’s just not a wolf shifter, but apparently, that isn’t required by Fate.”
My dad got to his feet and held out his hand to my mom. “I think we need to talk this out at home.”
I stood up also, my heart thumping sickeningly hard in my chest. They didn’t seem happy for Kyle and me. “Dad...”
He held up his hand. “It’s not your fault, son. Quite the opposite. We should have... The Alpha...” He sighed. “It’s a lot to process. Despite what you might think, Iamvery happy for you. And Kyle. It’s great that you both found your fated mate.” He chuckled a little. “And her husband.”
He looked around the room and smiled at each of us, but I could sense the guilt and the sadness for our pack that pulsed through my parents.
“Maybe we could come over and visit you in the morning?” Monique said quietly. “I’d love to meet the rest of the pack, and maybe talk things over with you in more detail then?”
My mom walked forward and hugged Monique once more. “I never thought I’d have a daughter-in-law. One who is actually Xander’s fated mate. It’s so wonderful that our son found you.”
Monique hugged her back and then we walked my parents out.
I watched them leave, my heart heavy.
“What’s wrong with them?” Michael asked as I shut the door and bolted the lock. “They seemed more upset than I expected.”
It was too hard to explain the history of the pack and all the dynamics involved. “I’ll tell you tomorrow. I can’t deal with any more shit tonight.”
Monique rushed over to me and grabbed my hand. “Then, can we go to bed?”
I laughed and swept her into my arms. “Absolutely. Let’s go.” I marched toward my bedroom and stopped, glancing over my shoulder at Michael. “Hey, warlock. Can you do that room expansion spell Monique did at her place? And maybe make the bed bigger too?”
