19. Liam

"Areyou sure you don"t want to come inside?" I asked Shane after dismounting from his motorcycle.

"I"ll be right here, waiting for you," Shane said, his voice soft but reassuring.

I looked at the McGowan family home for a few moments, feeling a mix of nerves and annoyance.

The imposing structure now seemed much smaller, just an ordinary house.

Still, I couldn"t deny the apprehension that gnawed at my gut at the thought of facing my grandfather.

Three days had passed since Shane had saved my grandfather and me from Pierce"s clutches.

The family had exiled me after I embarrassed myself and failed to protect my grandfather at a public event.

And now, after surviving an assassination attempt, they were generously welcoming me back into the fold as if nothing had happened.

It annoyed me to no end.

I scoffed at the hypocrisy of it all. Family was supposed to have your back, no matter what.

That was what spending time with Shane"s family and pack members had taught me.

Seemingly able to sense my inner turmoil, Shane walked up to me and tugged me close to him for an embrace.

His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into his warmth and steadying me against the storm of emotions raging inside me. I immediately calmed down.

"Want me to go with you?" Shane asked, his eyes searching mine for any sign of hesitation or doubt.

His offer was tempting. If I strolled in there with Shane by my side, heads would turn, whispers would follow us.

By now, everyone knew I was mated to a shifter. I even called my mother first after Shane dealt with Pierce.

I wasn"t ashamed of our relationship in the slightest. In fact, I wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but unnecessary drama wasn"t something I craved.

"I should do this on my own," I said.

Shane released me and nodded. He kissed me gently.

"For luck," he whispered against my mouth.

Grinning, I kissed him back, savoring the taste of his lips one last time before I faced the storm awaiting me inside the house.

With a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and entered the familiar threshold of the McGowan family home.

My mother was waiting for me inside, her expression a mix of concern and relief as she caught sight of me.

She wasted no time, pulling me into a tight embrace, a rare display of affection from her.

"Liam, it"s so good to see you," she murmured, her fingers smoothing down my disheveled hair.

"It"s good to see you too," I replied, genuinely touched by her warmth.

She held me at arm"s length, her gaze searching mine for any sign of hesitation or doubt.

I had already confided in her about my plans, and now she needed reassurance.

"You"re sure about this?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.

"More sure than I"ve ever been," I assured her.

She nodded, a flicker of pride evident in her features.

"Someday, I"d like to have dinner with you and your shifter mate," she said, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Just the three of us. My treat."

"His name is Shane, and we"d like that," I said.

I thought she would be opposed to the idea of Shane and me, but perhaps nearly losing me made her change her mind.

She nodded in understanding. "Your grandfather"s waiting in his office," she said.

Squaring my shoulders, I knocked on the door before entering my grandfather"s office.

As usual, he was seated behind his large mahogany desk, his gaze fixed on me as I walked in.

"Liam, good you"re here. Sit," he said, gesturing to one of the chairs opposite him.

I obeyed, though I already knew what he was about to say.

"That barrier spell you cast three days ago was impressive. Your magic is stronger than ever. I have decided to make you my official heir," he announced.

A loud gasp echoed from behind his office, and I thought I glimpsed Luca outside, but he made no move to intervene.

Steeling myself, I met my grandfather"s gaze head-on.

"Of course, that shifter is a complication," he continued, his tone tinged with disapproval.

"You should know yourself, grandfather. Mating bonds can"t be broken," I said. "And I only managed to conjure that barrier out of desperation because I didn"t want to lose my mate."

Grandfather frowned at me. "What are you trying to say?"

"That I respectfully decline," I replied, my voice unwavering.

"You would refuse... becoming the official McGowan heir?" His disbelief was palpable, as if he never imagined anyone would dare to make such a decision.

I nodded. "I"ll always be around whenever the family needs me, but I choose to be with Shane," I asserted.

He studied me for a few long moments, his expression unreadable. "I hope you won"t regret this, Liam," he said.

"I won"t," I answered.

"Then we have nothing more to discuss," he said, his tone dismissive.

I rose to my feet, feeling a rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins. As I exited his office, my heart pounded wildly in my chest.

Luca stood just outside the door, staring at me with wide eyes.

"You"re crazy," he whispered incredulously.

"One day, you"ll understand," I replied calmly, and without another word, I made my way back to my fox, knowing in my heart that I had made the right choice.

The ride home was a silent one, the rumble of the motorcycle"s engine serving as the only backdrop to my racing thoughts.

When we finally arrived and dismounted, Shane tugged at my hand, his touch grounding me in the present moment.

"Come on, everyone"s waiting in the backyard," he said with a gentle smile.

I had been so anxious about my meeting with my grandfather that I had completely forgotten about the family barbecue.

As I allowed Shane to lead me towards the house, I couldn"t help but marvel at how far we"d come.

From being mere strangers—bodyguard and client—to friends, and finally, mates.

As we stepped onto the porch, I paused, noticing the additional bookshelves that Shane had installed to accommodate my ever-growing collection.

"When did you..." I began, but my words trailed off as I gazed at the new shelves in silent approval.

"I figured you needed more shelves," he replied simply.

"How is it you always know exactly what I need?" I couldn"t help but ask, feeling a rush of warmth at his thoughtful gesture.

Shane pulled me close, our bodies pressing together in a comforting embrace.

"I always know," he murmured, leaning in to kiss me softly.

For a moment, I was tempted to sink into one of the chairs and lose myself in the pages of the new book I had been eager to dive into—a gay romance novel by one of my favorite authors.

But then Ollie"s voice called out from inside the house, reminding us of the gathering waiting for us in the backyard.

With a reluctant sigh, I tore my gaze away from Shane"s and turned towards the noise.

"Ready to join the rest of the family?" Shane asked.

"I love you so damn much," I whispered, my heart overflowing with emotion.

"I love you too," he replied without hesitation.

"And of course, I"m ready. I can eat a dozen ribs," I declared, attempting to lighten the mood.

Shane chuckled, a twinkle of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Not as much as me," he countered playfully.

"Is that a challenge, fox?" I teased. "Loser has to do the dishes for the whole month."

"You"re on, mage," Shane replied.