4. Rhys

As much as I didn’t want to leave Jaxson and Emilia behind, I had to because it would have been weird and bordering on stalkerish to stay. There were really no more excuses to hang around that wouldn’t make me look like a clingy, bordering on creepy, weirdo. And that really wasn’t what I needed my mate to think of me. But still it felt wrong leaving.

And my bear was in agreement. In fact, he had made it clear he was not happy with my decision. What did the big lug know about not being slapped with a restraining order for being a stalker?

I’d stayed at the top of the road of his house for over twenty minutes battling my bear. The moment he’d screamed mate, he hadn’t wanted to leave.

The only good thing about having to leave was going home. I didn’t know how long I’d been waiting to tell my family I’d finally found my mate. And I had a daughter.

A pang of loss hit me on the heels of it was a crap ton of guilt.

How could I be so happy to have found my mate and a new daughter when the reason for it was losing my cousin and his mate? And my mate losing his sister and best friend…

I sighed, leaning my head against the wheel of my car. It felt wrong to be so happy when the reason for it was so sad.

In my mind, I understood that these events were not necessary for my mate to find me. Jaxson and I could have met at any point in time, such as when Jayson brought him home as his new brother-in-law. Or perhaps at Emilia’s first birthday celebration.

Guilt weighed heavy on my mind. Why did it feel like somehow I was responsible for my cousin passing away and my mate losing his sister? I’d prayed and prayed that whatever needed to happen for my mate to find me should. And now here he was.

The door to my car opened, and I only had to draw in a breath to know who was there.

“Hey Kian,” I greeted him, not looking up.

“You know, if you needed best friend time, all you had to do was text. You didn’t have to park outside my house like a stalker,” Kian said, teasing me.

Without lifting my head, I could sense the worry in his tone, and I was certain it would be written all over his face as well.

“I think I’m a horrible person,” I whispered.

Kian snorted. “Come on, give me something better than that. I’ve known you forever. You’re an incredible friend, brother, and uncle.”

“You have to say that. You’re my family.”

“Oh please,” Kian scoffed and I could tell he was rolling his eyes. “We all know family doesn’t mean love. Hell, family doesn’t even mean like.” His tone was firm and filled with conviction. “How about you tell me what’s wrong and I’ll tell you why I think you’re overreacting or being dramatic?”

I snapped my head up and shot a glare at my best friend. “Overreacting?” I

asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.

“Well, it got you to quit the pity party,” he stated with a smirk. I let out a long sigh and gave him an annoyed look.

“Come on, let’s go inside. I made pie and I have ice cream. The kids are in bed and your brother’s five seconds away from coming outside.”

I looked towards their house, and sure enough, Gabe was at the door watching us. I knew if I tried to leave now, I’d have the whole family at my door in five-minutes flat. They were nosy that way.

Not that I didn’t need the advice now. I wasn’t sure what to do. For some reason, I figured finding my mate would be uncomplicated.

Silly me.

And any hopes of him knowing what I was… what Mia was… had gone out of the window after speaking to him. It was clear Jayson had never filled him in.

Everything I’d ever wanted was so close, so why did it feel so far away all of a sudden? My mate, a daughter, they were finally within reach, but it felt like they were slipping further away.

There you go again, being selfish. Making it about you.

“That’s it, pity party over.” I heard Papa’s voice and looked up in surprise. When did he arrive?

“Papa?”

“I waited for you to either leave the car or head home.” Papa crouched down until we were almost at eye level and gently placed his hand on my cheek. “What’s the matter, baby boy?”

I let out a deep sigh and leaned into him, seeking comfort. After a moment, I pulled back and whispered, “I met my mate.”

A broad grin appeared on his face as he wrapped me in a warm embrace. “Oh, Rhys, this is wonderful news.”

I couldn’t help smiling at Papa’s happiness, and I could definitely relate to the relief in his voice. There was a part of me that thought it would never happen.

He released his hold on me, but kept his hand on my arm. “So what’s wrong?” he asked, concern etched on his face. “You should be overjoyed, we should be celebrating, but you look like someone stole,” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, “well your mate.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “Let’s just go inside before I have to explain this multiple times.”

He snorted but stood and held out his hand for me to help me out of the car.

My family cared, and they were nosy as hell. And to be honest, I did need their advice. I wasn’t sure what to do next.

I wasn”tthe least bit surprised when I entered Kian and Gabe”s house to find everyone gathered in the main living room: Dad, Austin, Nash, Graham, Cooper, Hunter, Sage, and my niece Serenity Hope, who was peacefully snoozing in Hunter”s arms. I scanned the room for the other kids.

“They”re sleeping in the nursery,” Cooper informed me. “They might have to stay here because I don”t want to deal with getting them back to sleep if they wake up again to get them home.” Nash nodded in agreement, and Kian happily offered to take care of them.

They chatted around me. I knew they were giving me a moment to collect my thoughts. Then Dad finally looked at me expectantly. “Are you ready to tell us what’s going on now, son? Austin mentioned you were going over to Jayson”s? Did something happen? Do we need to?—”

I held up my hand to stop him before he could finish the sentence. I’d thought about how I was going to say it, but decided the simplest way worked best.

“I found my mate.” I figured ripping the band aid off was the way to go.

I mentally counted to three, but the entire room erupted with questions before I even reached my number.

“When?”

“Who?”

“When?”

I lost track of who was asking, but it didn”t really matter. Papa”s voice cut through the chatter and everyone fell silent. “Can we let him speak?”

I smiled gratefully at Papa, then turned to Hunter, who had Sage snuggled up against him. “I can”t stay angry at you,” I said, making eye contact with him. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, as if he didn”t understand what I meant. “If you had gone over to see who moved in at Jayson”s, I wouldn’t have met him.”

“You mean the guy that moved into Jayson’s?” Austin asked, leaning forward, curiosity written all over his face.

“Jaxson,” Hunter replied, his brow furrowed in thought. “I can’t recall his last name.”

“Well, it seems your mate has also come to you, little brother,” Graham chimed.

I glanced his way and saw the smile spread across Graham”s face, his teasing tone showing that he was genuinely happy for me.

“Okay, how about you tell us what happened from the beginning,” Dad spoke up.

As I recounted the events of the last few hours, my dads and brothers listened intently, their expressions ranging from sad to surprised.

“Jayson…” Graham sighed, his words filled with sadness.

Hunter sighed, and I noticed him pull Sage even closer. “At least we get to meet his daughter.”

Gabe was the first to ask what I’d already figured out. “Does he know?”

“Know what?” Papa asked.

I shook my head.

“Shit!” That comment came from Austin. I watched as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, as he realized the gravity of the situation as well. Emilia was Jayson’s daughter, and if she inherited her father”s shifter genes, there was a 50/50 chance she would shift.

“We have to tell Jaxson,” Gabe declared, his voice firm. “He needs to know about Emilia, about the possibility of her shifting.”

I nodded in agreement, my mind racing with the implications of my mate”s potential reaction. Not that it hadn’t been since I realized who he was, who Emilia was…

As Jaxson”s mate, it was my responsibility to handle the situation delicately, to find the right time and approach to broach the subject of bears and shifters.

But as I thought about the conversation ahead, I couldn”t help but feel a surge of fear and uncertainty. How would he react to such a revelation? And what would it mean for us?

With a deep breath, I pushed aside my doubts; I had to find the right moment to tell Jaxson the truth about Emilia being a shifter and us being mates. I had to confront the reality of our connection head-on, no matter the consequences.

Right?