Chapter 16

Thomas

Good morning.

I heard Lily in my head before I even opened my eyes. After just one day I had figured out the difference of hearing her through my ears versus in my head. It was already crazy to me that I'd ever mixed up the two.

The whole telepathic thing was going to take some getting used to. I hated that she had heard my thoughts on the origin of her nickname. It wasn't going to stop me from using it, but it also killed me that it had upset her.

You're projecting and it just caught me off-guard.

This is too weird, I told her.

Well get used to it because it's not going away anytime—ever.

But there are ways to block it, right?

You want to block me out of your head?

I did fear it would become a major distraction, but I didn't dare say it.

But you thought it. True mates aren't supposed to have any secrets, Thomas. What are you hiding from me?

It's not about secrets, more like privacy. If I go to the bathroom and think, wow that's a big turd. Do you really need to be privy to that information?

She laughed.

"What's so funny?" Cammie asked.

"Nothing sweetie," Lily quickly said.

She shot me a warning look to behave. I didn't need her words inside my head to understand her loud and clear.

And really, I'm already privy to that information. Maybe not the size details, but the smell it leaves behind is clue enough.

Seriously? You're going to go there?

Fine, truce for now. We're flying home this afternoon, so let's get up and pack. Then we can spend as much of the day with family as possible.

"Good plan," I said aloud.

"What plan?" Willow asked.

"Why are you two acting so weird?" Audrey asked.

"I need to go potty," Lilah announced.

Ever since our success in the ladies' room, she's been using the potty consistently. Getting her out of diapers before the baby is born would be awesome. It was even worth almost being arrested.

"The plan is to get up and pack your things. Then we're going to go have as much fun as possible until it's time to leave," Lily explained while grabbing Lilah and rushing her to the bathroom.

Much to my surprise, everyone pitched in. We were packed up in record time.

My girls all headed downstairs for breakfast while I took our luggage out to Liam's truck. He and Maddie were going to take us to the airport later.

When I turned to walk back inside, Oscar was hanging out by the front porch. He looked around the area and then walked over to me.

"Is Aunt Lily around?"

"She's inside. Do you want me to get her?"

He kept staring nervously at the his feet but he shook his head.

"Is everything okay?" I asked.

"Yeah. I just don't want to draw attention to the fact that I'm talking to her."

"Oscar, she's your aunt. No one will think anything of you talking to her."

He sighed. "Maybe."

Oscar's out here looking for you, but something's not right. He's acting weird. If you can get away, why don't you come out front by yourself? Something tells me it's important.

I'm on my way.

Do you know what it could be about?

I have my suspicions. We talked a little yesterday.

Is he okay? Do I need to worry?

He'll be fine.

He watched me closely and then his eyes widened when Lily walked out of the house.

"Hey Oscar, what's going on?"

Looking back and forth between me and my mate I could see the puzzle pieces begin to click into place for him.

"Your bond sealed?"

"Looks like," Lily told him. "It just happened yesterday."

"So he knows?"

"Knows what?" I asked.

His eyes widened. "You didn't tell him?"

"Well you did ask me to keep your secret for a while longer."

Oscar threw his arms around Lily and hugged her tight.

"You really are the best, Aunt Lily."

"I'd never purposefully break your trust, kiddo."

"Someone want to clue me in?"

Oscar's a tiger. He's known for two years and is terrified to tell his parents because he thinks they'll be disappointed with him.

A tiger?

Yup. See, this is why it was a good thing to have Jack in his life.

I don't even want to think about that right now.

"You're doing the telepathy thing again, aren't you? Does he know now?"

"Yeah, kid, I know. I don't understand why you've taken so long to tell your parents though."

He sighed. "I hate disappointing them. I know everyone's been rooting for a wolf. Even Jack's been on team wolf."

"You have to tell them," I insisted.

"I know, that's why I wanted to talk to Aunt Lily. Will you help me tell them? You know, be there and stuff?"

"Yes, but just know that they are going to be far more disappointed to learn you hid this from them than over what you are," she told him.

He hung his head again and kicked the gravel.

"I know."

"When do you plan to tell them?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Now, I guess. I don't want this hanging over my head when I head off to the ARC in a few weeks."

"Good call there. This must be eating you alive," Lily said sympathetically.

"It is."

"Do you want me to get them and bring them out there?" I offered.

"Would you mind?"

"Not at all."

"And you'll stay with me through this?"

"Both of us. We're on your side, tiger," Lily said.

Oscar groaned. "I thought we agreed it was too soon for that."

"I'll be back," I said.

Two years? What the hell, Lil? This is going to destroy Maddie.

And Liam. But at least he's on a path to repairing things now and I'm proud that he's asked for our support.

I jogged inside and found Madelyn and Liam in the backyard with several others.

"Hey, Mad. Can I talk to you both out front for a few minutes?"

It crushed me how her face lit up. I could tell she thought this was a good thing. It made me feel guilty just thinking about how I was setting her up to be devastated.

They blindly followed me through the house and out front.

Maddie froze when she saw her son standing there getting a pep talk from her best friend.

"What's going on?" Liam asked.

I was sure everyone was feeling the tension in the air.

"Guys, Oscar has something he needs to tell you both and we really hope you'll keep an open mind about this."

"Oscar? Did something happen?" Maddie asked.

"Uh, yeah, you could say that."

"What's wrong?"

I sensed my sister was quickly spiraling into a panic attack.

Liam stepped forward to wrap an arm of support around her.

"It's nothing bad," Lily protested.

We shared a knowing look. There was nothing bad about him being a tiger shifter. But there was plenty wrong about not mentioning it for two freaking years.

"Go on," Lily encouraged him.

Oscar took a deep breath. "My animal spirit came in."

"What?" his father questioned. "Oscar, that's great news."

Maddie remained quiet watching her son closely and bracing for the impact of the words she already knew were coming.

"I'm not a wolf, dad," he said softly.

Shock registered on Liam's face before he could school it.

Maddie's head kept bobbing up and down. I think a part of her already knew it, but I could imagine that hearing it was a whole lot different.

"Did you hear me? I'm a tiger shifter."

"Yeah, we heard," Liam confirmed. "Just give me a moment to process it."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"Hey now. You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. This is genetics or God's hand at work, or however you choose to digest it. It's nothing you did and there's no need for you to be apologizing. Tigers are cool too."

Not as cool as wolves, but probably cooler than say a goose.

A goose? You're insane.

It was the first thing that came to mind.

"Say something, please," he all but begged.

"A tiger?" Liam asked.

"Yeah."

"Okay. My son's a tiger."

"I mean we always knew it was a possibility. I've suspected as much for a while," Maddie said.

She hugged him and Oscar started to relax some.

"When did you shift?" Liam asked. "This weekend?"

Oscar went quiet.

"It's okay. Just get it all out in the open."

"What does that mean, Lil? And you knew about this?" Liam asked, sounding hurt.

"I cornered him for an interrogation yesterday," she admitted. "But he's known for a while guys."

"What's a while?" Liam demanded.

"I shifted for the first time when I was sixteen," Oscar said so softly that I almost couldn't make out his words.

"Sixteen? Did you say sixteen?"

"Oscar, that was two years ago," Maddie said.

"I know."

"You've been keeping this from us all this time?" she asked.

"You've got to be shitting me. Are you serious right now? Why would you lie to us about something like this?" his father asked.

Oscar sighed. "I knew you both wanted me to be a wolf so badly. I just hate that I let you down."

"You're not letting anyone down, Oscar. You can't control what you are any more than we can. Tiger, wolf, it doesn't matter, and it doesn't change who you are."

"I know you're trying to help, Thomas, but please stay out of this," my sister said.

I took a step back, shocked by what she'd just said.

"Hey, we really are just trying to help," Lily argued. "He was terrified to tell you guys, and I'll admit you aren't handling this as well as I thought you would."

"This isn't about you, Lily. And you can't possibly understand how this feels."

"He's a freaking tiger. So what? Don't either of you dare tell me you love him any less because of it."

I went to my mate and wrapped my arm around her.

Calm down, Slugger.

I can't believe they are doing this to him. Do they even realize how hard this was for him to talk about with them?

Maybe he was justified in keeping this to himself.

"It has nothing to do with him being a tiger. We've always known that was a possibility. And we know you're just trying to help and support him. We love you both for it, but the fact that he's been lying to us for two years is hard to digest," Liam explained.

"He didn't lie, he just didn't tell you."

"Oscar, we've asked you so many times if you've shifted yet and you lied to our faces every single time. How are we supposed to trust you after this? You're about to go off to college and now we have to worry about what else you're going to lie to us about?" Maddie said.

"I didn't mean to lie. I just didn't know how to tell you either."

"You know you can talk to us about anything," Liam said.

"No, I can't. You have no idea what this feels like. I told Aunt Lily that you'd react this way. I knew you'd freak out. I'm a tiger living in a wolf Pack. It's so screwed up. And you guys will never fully understand that."

"Does Jack know?" Liam asked.

"No. But I am leaving for college soon and I needed to get this off my chest first."

"Well, I hope you feel better about it all," Liam said coldly.

"Liam!" Lily scolded.

"Come on Maddie. We should get the kids and take this home to discuss further."

Oscar gave us a sad look.

"I told you."

I couldn't believe the way my sister and her mate were reacting. I understood they were upset and that it had come as a shock, but this was ridiculous.

"Liam. . ." Lily tried.

"Stay out of it Lil. This doesn't concern you."

Doesn't concern me? Is he insane. He's my nephew.

And he's their son, Slugger. They've just been blindsided. Give them some time.

I'm gonna blindside them both when I knock some sense into them.

I hugged Oscar.

"Just remember, they're angry that you waited so long to tell them, not because of what you are. Give them some time. But if you need anything at all, you call and let us know. Okay? We will always have room for you in Collier Pack."

"Thanks, Uncle Thomas. I'll be okay. I take off to the ARC next week for orientation. And I'll be gone most of the year. Hopefully they'll come around eventually."

He sighed.

Lily started to cry and hugged him.

"They're idiots. I love them, but not in this moment. I'm sorry I pushed you into this. I had no idea they would react so poorly."

"I'm not. I knew they'd be hurt and disappointed. I needed the push to get it out in the open. Thank you."

"We love you, kiddo," I said.

Lily nodded.

Oscar reached out and included me in their hug as well.

"Love you both."

I retrieved our luggage from the back of Liam's truck and left it in the driveway while I went to talk to Kyle and make other arrangements for a ride to the airport.