Chapter eleven

Ronny

"Do you mind if I talk to you for a moment?"

Zander looks up at me and nods. I watch him as he kisses JJ's head before straightening and walking out of the bedroom. He pulls the curtain closed. It won't block out the sound of our talking but it'll keep the room dark to keep JJ from waking up.

I push out a chair for Zander and he plops himself down into it. I step towards my computer and then step back over to him. I run my fingers through my hair as I turn away again. I pace back and forth as my nerves get the best of me. Fuck. I shouldn't be freaking out like this. It's a kind gesture. I didn't do anything wrong. But what if Zander takes this as me trying to pin him down, trying to push him into something he's not ready for. Shit.

"What's going on?"

I freeze, slowly turning to face Zander. "Okay, so I might have gone a little overboard but I wanted to run something by you."

"Okay?" Zander says slowly, wrapping his arms around me and watching me with bright, amused green eyes.

I squat down so we're face to face. "I made some papers."

"Papers?"

I nod. "I've given you and JJ new identities." I stand back up, stepping over to my computer and pulling out the large envelope I was storing there. I hand it over to Zander and start explaining. "JJ needed a birth certificate so you'll find that in there. Also a social security card. Don't worry, I've done the same thing for Lily, it's all perfectly done and the government are none the wiser. I'm very good at my job."

I continue my pacing as Zander slowly opens the envelope, pulling the papers out. He's completely silent as he does it and it makes me even more nervous.

"You'll also find papers for yourself. You've got an ID in there, a driver's license, birth certificate, and social security card. I made up shit about birthdays and addresses and where you were born but if you want anything changed, all you have to do is tell me and I'll get them remade." I rub at my face. "And feel free to tell me this is going too far. I just wanted to make sure you're both taken care of. This is your ticket out, just in case. I never want you to feel like you're stuck. You and JJ can run again if you want but I wanna make sure you're safe and have the things you need."

Zander grabs my hand, forcing me to stop pacing. I turn towards him, waiting for his response. He swallows thickly. "Do you want us to leave?"

"No." I shake my head, squatting down again. "I want you both to stay here. But I don't want you to feel trapped. Right now I have all the power. But with these," I say, closing his hand on the envelope, "you can take back some power, you can have some leverage. You could leave if you wanted."

Zander lets go of my wrist and touches my cheek. I lean into the touch. "I want to stay," he whispers. "I want you, Ronny. This is the greatest gift you could have given us."

"I want to take care of you as best as I can. I want you to feel as powerful as I see you." Zander leans forward and I meet him halfway, kissing his lips gently.

"Thank you," Zander whispers against my lips. "I have to tell you something."

"Anything, Zander. Are there other papers you need? I can also get you a credit card in your new name."

Zander smiles wide and the brightness in his eyes steals my breath. Gods, he's so beautiful. I can't believe Lady Fate saw it fit to bring these two into my life.

"It's not that," he says, his voice colored with amusement. "You'll have to make some more papers though."

"Whatever you need."

"We'll need another birth certificate and social security card."

I nod. "Did you want a different name? A different birthday?"

"No. It's not for me, Ronny. It's for," his words trail off as he touches his stomach, his eyes looking down before meeting mine again.

I have a moment of confusion before it hits me full force in the chest. Oh. Oh! Carlos was right. Zander's pregnant. Oh my gods, Zander is pregnant.

No words could describe the feelings I'm experiencing so instead, I reach forward and pull Zander into a slow, lingering kiss. I pour as much emotion into the kiss as I can, telling him how happy I am, how excited I am. I want him to know that I'm falling in love with him with every passing moment that we share. I will care for him and JJ and our baby. I'll be the best mate I can possibly be.

"Zander," I whisper, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. "I can't believe this is happening."

"Are you happy?" And it's the uncertainty in his voice that pulls at my heart. I need this man to know my feelings.

"I'm so fucking happy," I tell him, pulling back so I can rest my forehead against his. "I'm so happy that I've met you, I'm so happy that JJ is here with us, and I'm so fucking happy that we're gonna have a baby together. I never imagined anything like this when I thought about my future. It's so much more than I could have dreamed for myself."

I kiss his face over and over until he's giggling and pushing me away.

"And it's all thanks to you, Zander. I'm so proud of you for running. You could have stayed day in and day out but you took a chance. You made it to me."

Zander's pretty green eyes fill with tears and he lunges forward, tucking his face against my chest. I wrap my arms around him, holding him tight.

"I didn't even do it for me," he confesses softly and somehow my heart softens even further. This selfish man who would do anything for his child.

I kiss the top of his head. I'm overwhelmed with emotions right now. I'm so proud of Zander for everything he's done, I'm falling more and more in love with him, I'm realizing the lengths I would go to protect JJ, and now I'm coming to terms with having a baby. Holy fucking shit. I cannot believe this is my life.

"I'm so glad you're here," I say gently, "I want you to be happy here, Zander. And someday when you're ready, I want you to bite me."

"But you're human," Zander says, pulling away from my chest and looking up at me.

"I know," I tell him with a smile. "But I remembered you said mating bites are about intentions. So I was reading some books that Cooper gave me and there's nothing in there that says I have to have sharp teeth. It might hurt a little more than if I was a shifter but I should be able to bite you. Would you want that?"

Zander's smile takes my breath away. "More than anything."

"Then I will. I'll bite you and be your mate for real."

Zander kisses me softly, his excitement and happiness practically palpable in the room around us.

"You keep giving me gifts that I can't dream of repaying," he murmurs against my lips.

I swallow thickly. "You've given me enough just by being here." My heart speeds up and my hands begin to shake. "You're not the only one who's had to run. I understand."

"I remember you telling me you ran away from the little town you grew up in," Zander says softly, both of us sitting down, our hands connected between us. With his hands in mine, I feel strong enough to tell him about my past.

"As you know, there's something that happened to all of us, something that turned our paths towards the supernatural. There's a reason we're all hunters." Zander nods, squeezing my hands and encouraging me.

"My father was not a good man. He was angry a lot. He gambled a lot. He got our family into a lot of debt and my mother often just turned away, pretending not to notice all the damage he was doing."

"That sounds awful," he murmurs as he listens. Zander pulls my hands up to his mouth, kissing the back of them.

"It wasn't great. But my mother and I made it through the tough times. But one day, he came home and he was different. I still don't know exactly what happened, but I have my theories. I think he sold his soul, Zander."

Zander gasps. "You can do that?"

I shrug, pain lancing through my chest as I remember that night. "He was a monster."

"Did he hurt you?" I shake my head, but my eyes are sad. "Oh no," he whispers and I'm struck with how well Zander already knows me.

"My mother," I confirm. "That was the very first time I killed a monster."

I wait a moment, my eyes staring down at the floor. I'm not sure I can handle the look of distress or disgust on Zander's face. This is news that only the other guys of my crew know. I have blood on my hands and I would understand if that was too much for Zander to handle.

"You did what you had to do."

I tug Zander forward, kissing his forehead. Relief goes through me so strong I feel like I could cry. "I did. I still wonder if there was something I could have done. I had no idea the supernatural was even a thing back then. But now I would have found the person holding his soul. I would have tried everything."

"You can only do as much as you know, Ronny. You saved yourself. Without that, you wouldn't have been able to save us."

Emotion hits me full force in the chest. I needed to save myself in order to someday save my mate, to save our son. I never regretted that night, but it still felt uneasy and wondering if I'd done the right thing. I still don't know but now I have people around me that wouldn't be the same if I wasn't around.

I fought to find them without even knowing it.

"Thank you for listening. I hope this doesn't change how you feel about me."

"How could it," Zander says, running his nose softly against my own. "You're amazing, Ronny. And we're lucky to have you."

"I'm the lucky one to have you as my mate."

"Papa?"

We both look over, freezing when we find JJ standing there watching us with wide eyes. Zander holds out his hand and JJ walks over, crawling into Zander's lap.

"You're mates?"

Zander looks at me, wincing slightly but I just nod, letting him take the lead on this. It doesn't really feel like my place to say too much, not unless Zander wants me to. I might be Zander's true mate, but I don't want to overstep with JJ.

"Ronny is my true mate," Zander explains softly. "Lady Fate saw Ronny fit to be my perfect mate, baby."

"But what about Daddy? Are we ever going to see him again?"

Zander swallows thickly. "No. We won't ever see your daddy again."

"Daddy was mean. Wasn't he." It's not a question and my chest clenches, wishing JJ didn't understand that. He's too little to have the people in his life be unkind to him. The more I learn about this John, the more I want to absolutely destroy his life.

"Are you okay?"

JJ nods slowly. "I think I'll be okay. Maybe chocolate chip pancakes will help," he says seriously, making Zander and I snort with amusement. "If Ronny is your true mate does that mean he's gonna be my new dad?"

I rub the back of my neck, looking at Zander unsure. He tilts his head, letting me respond. "Well, buddy, I don't think I could ever replace your dad. But I'll be here for you however you want, okay?"

JJ takes my hand. He partially shifts one of his nails into a claw and my eyes widen. Zander pulls JJ's hand away. "What are you doing?"

JJ looks at Zander like he's grown another head. "Blood oath? Duh?"

Zander sputters. "Where did you hear that word?"

"I don't remember. Maybe Daddy? Maybe Lily," he says with a nod.

"Lily? The baby?"

"Yes. She drinks blood. She knows about blood oaths, Papa. Trust me. I want Ronny's blood so he's stuck with us forever."

I take JJ's hand in my own. "We don't need a blood oath for that, buddy. Nobody knows what the future holds but we trust that Lady Fate knows what's best, right?" When he nods I go on. "And I have a feeling that means you'll be here with me and the rest of the crew until you're old enough to start making your own decisions. How does that sound?"

His face breaks out into a giant smile and he jumps from Zander's lap into mine. I hold him tight. I don't want to admit it out loud but I already see JJ as my own. I'll do everything in my power to protect him and make sure he's safe and happy. "I love you, Ronny."

"I love you too, JJ."

"Alright, mister," Zander says, picking up JJ and heading back towards bed. "You're up way past your bedtime." JJ whines, complaining that he's not even a little bit tired which falls flat when he ends up finishing his sentence with a giant yawn.

My heart is so full as I watch my mate put JJ back into bed.