Chapter Twelve

His mind in a daze at the turn of events at dinner, Atlas stepped into the kitchen. His mom was seated at the small table, gazing straight ahead. Jennifer was nowhere in sight.

"Mom?" Although she'd never accepted the fact that her son was gay, it hurt his heart to yell at her and, worse, to see the pain in her eyes as she left the table. She was his mom, after all. "Is it okay if I come into the kitchen?"

She wiped at her eyes with a paper towel and then patted the chair next to her. "I think tonight was a huge eye-opener for me."

"How so?" Atlas sank into the chair, even though all he wanted to do was hug her.

She sighed. "Your father is right. I allowed other's opinions to sway me. God, I'm such a fool."

He gently took his mom's hands in his own, marveling at the softness of her skin and the glint of her wedding ring. Even though she was only in her late forties, he could already see the faint lines etching themselves in her face, signs of a life fully lived. But to him, she still radiated with the same youth and vibrancy she'd had when she raised him. The thought of her growing old frightened him, because, one day, he would lose her. "You're not a fool, Mom."

She gave him a tearful smile. "I've loved you from the moment I found out I was pregnant with you, Atlas. I gave you that name because you mean the entire world to me. Sadly, somewhere along the way, I lost focus of how important you are to me by allowing a bunch of women I wouldn't even invite into my home to tarnish my opinion of you."

Atlas turned her hands over, studying them with a nostalgic gaze. The faint scent of vanilla still lingered on her palms as he felt the weight of memories in each and every crease and curve. These were the same hands that had lovingly hugged him and baked endless batches of cookies. They were also the hands that had cupped his face as his mom lovingly smiled down at him. But they hadn't done any of those things for a long time now.

"It's not too late to repair our relationship. It'll never been too late for you to love me again."

Tears spilled from her eyes as she gasped. "I never once stopped loving you, Atlas! Never once. Is that how you feel?"

He had to let her hands go to wipe away his own tears. "Honestly, that's what I've felt like for so many years now. I can't help who I was born as, Mom. It's who I am, but you make me feel so dirty for being attracted to men."

"I've turned as hateful as my mother." Her lips trembled. "I swore I would never be like her, but as hard as you fight it, your parents leave their mark on you."

Which made him think of Kellen's childhood. Atlas hadn't even realized how far he'd fallen in love with his mate until his dad had shouted it to a roomful of people.

Kellen owned Atlas's heart, owned every breath that he took. His mate's happiness meant everything to Atlas, and his pain was Atlas's to bear as well.

"You really do love him, don't you?" Her fingers brushed his cheek. "I can see it in your eyes, son. It's the same look your father has when he gazes at me." Her hand fell away, and Atlas was desperate to feel it on his face again. "I know I have a lot to make up for, my behavior being the worst, but I hope you can find it in your heart to one day forgive a foolish woman."

Atlas had longed to hear those words. He just wanted his mom to love him like she used to. No scorn in her eyes, no judgment, just to accept him for who he was. "I think we can work through this."

Her chin quivered. "Is it okay if I give you a hug?"

Atlas tears fell like a dam had broken. "You never have to ask permission for a hug."

She pulled him into her arms, rocking him gently and rubbing her hand over his back as Atlas melted into her comforting embrace. "I'm so sorry for losing my way with you," she said against his hair. "It shouldn't have taken your father to yell the truth in my face for me to snap out of it and stop being such a judgmental bitch."

Atlas laughed as he pulled back. "You said it, not me."

She wiped away his tears with her hand then let it rest against his cheek. "You're so handsome, Atlas. I'm sorry that I haven't told you sooner how proud I am of the man you've become."

He leaned into her touch. "We should make Sunday dinners a regular thing. It was therapeutic."

His mom said in a hushed tone, "Having my husband put me in my place was kind of a turn-on."

"Overshare!" Atlas leaned back, wishing to god she hadn't told him that. "I don't think I'll ever be old enough to hear how my dad…" He shivered. "Gross."

"Grow up." She slapped his arm. "You're not a virgin, either."

"Mom!" Atlas jumped from his chair and stuck his fingers in his ears. "Please stop before I need therapy."

She stood and enveloped him in her arms. "I want us to get back to where we once were, Atlas. I will never allow my mother or gossiping ninnies to pollute my head again."

"I really hope not because I miss your hugs." He curled his arms around her. "I also want you to really like Kellen. His childhood was beyond messed up, and his only family is Colt." He looked her in the eyes. "I want to share our family with them."

"I'm not fully there as far as seeing you kiss a guy, but I promise to work on that."

Another work in progress, but he would take it.

"If you don't, I'll just unleash Dad on you again so you'll remember this moment." Atlas caught a glimpse of movement and pivoted to see his sister standing in the doorway, her arms folded across her chest and a large smile spread across her face.

"I'll remind you of this moment, too." Jennifer crossed the room and threw her arms around both of them. "Please tell me we're a family again."

"As long as she stops telling me how our dad turns her on," Atlas replied.

"Gross," Jennifer said, though she was still hugging them.

"I'm a woman with needs." A devilish look filled her gray eyes. "I didn't stop desiring your father when I gave birth to two children. If anything, he couldn't keep his hands off me after Atlas was born."

Jennifer grabbed Atlas's arm and pulled him away. "We need to escape before she tries to give us details. I don't need those images in my head on my wedding night, and you sure as hell don't need them later with Kellen."

Atlas laughed as she dragged him toward the living room. He pulled his hand away when he spotted Kellen and Colt sitting on the couch. His mate stood, a warm smile in his eyes, clearly having overheard their conversation in the kitchen.

"Patch things up with your mom?" his dad asked from his recliner.

"Working on it." As if pulled by an invisible force, Atlas closed the distance and gazed into the emerald pools of his mate's eyes, lost in their depth and beauty.

"Love is in the air," Jennifer sang as she walked away.

Kellen gave a low growl as he engulfed Atlas in his strong arms. "Don't ever make me hide how I feel about you again."

"Never." Atlas took a deep breath, inhaling Kellen's familiar scent, grounding himself after such an emotionally charged evening.

A throat cleared behind them, causing him to turn in Kellen's warm embrace. His mate pulled Atlas back against his chest as he met his mother's gaze.

"I just wanted to apologize to Kellen and Colt for my rude behavior this evening. Both of you are welcome any time in our home."

His dad stood and walked across the room, wrapping his arms around his wife and saying something quietly in her ear.

"You made an amazing dinner," Colt said to her. "Are there any leftovers I can take home? There should be since no one really ate."

Kellen smacked his brother's arm.

"What?" Colt snarled. "There's no use letting that food go to waste when I'll gladly demolish it."

Atlas was going to have a talk with Kellen and Colt about their animalistic growling and snarling around the women. Were they trying to give away the fact that they were shifters?

"I'm sure you and I can put together some hearty leftovers, Colt." She patted his arm. "Let's see what's left of my wonderful dinner. I'm famished."

"Don't you dare eat all the food." His dad hurried behind them. "I haven't had seconds!"

Baby steps. It might take a while before his mom was comfortable with seeing her son show affection toward another guy, but if she was willing to try, then so was he.

"What did my dad say to my mom?" Atlas asked Kellen.

"One, that's their business, nosy britches." He nuzzled Atlas's neck. "Two, even if I was inclined to tell you, you'd be scarred for life."

Atlas stuck his fingers in his ears. "Forget I asked."