“But you got divorced.She left youandEden.How the hell is that saving your soul?”
Afram cackled and rubbed his whiskery chin.“You’re not one to mince words.That’s why I like you.I’ll take blunt honesty over bullshit any day.I loved Eden’s mother, and for a time, she loved me.But it’s what you call a whirlwind romance.I’d never been in love before, and losing that love taught me more about myself than anything.Love changes you.The only advice I can give you is to be honest.I was so wrapped up in myself that I never asked what she wanted.Maybe I didn’t care.It was a different time.”
“Like kids.”
Afram nodded.“I foolishly talked her into having one.She was young and hadn’t found herself, and somehow I thought kids would fix everything, especially since I was getting involved with helping humans.I thought it might give her a purpose and fill the quiet house when I was gone away to work.”
“She should’ve never left.”
“I think she thought it would be easier—that I’d take a new wife and someone else would raise Eden.There wasn’t shared custody in those days, and we didn’t have cars to drive us here and there in less than an hour.She mated a wealthy white man, so maybe all she wanted was a life free of responsibility and hardship.And believe you me, a white woman living with a black man in them days was hard.”
“You mean banned.”
“Only with humans.It was easy to hide until I got more involved with them.But that’s not what broke us.When it was all said and done, we didn’t know how to communicate.That’s what split us apart.Love is never enough.It’s the foundation, but you’ll spend the rest of your lives building on that foundation, and that means working together.You have to be partners.Never take someone’s love for granted.Be honest and respect each other’s wishes and dreams.Figure each other outbeforeyou get mated.Life is hard enough.Yes, it is.”
Lucian pondered over the man’s thoughtful words.For a guy whose life was upended by a failed marriage, he seemed optimistic about love.Yet what Lucian most appreciated about Afram was how his emotional scent always matched his words and expression.
It made Lucian want to reciprocate.“I’m not a cuddly kind of guy.What if I’m not enough?”
“Well, that’s up to you.”The old Shifter leaned back.“You might change your minds down the road about what you want out of life and each other—that’s part of growing.But don’t ever put my baby in a situation where she has to choose between your happiness or hers.Do you love her?”
“When I think about life without her, it’s a punch to the gut—and I’ve always been a loner.I wake up thinking about her.When she’s not around, I miss her smell and her laugh.I look forward to our long talks.She’s smart, and I love the way she commands a room.”
“You don’t think she’s the most beautiful woman in the whole world?”
“Obviously.Every time she looks at me, I get nervous.”
“I remember that feeling.”
“I’ve always been the black sheep, so that’s why I know she can do better.”
Afram chuckled quietly.“There’s a difference between a black sheep and a dark horse, and you’re no sheep.”
Lucian rubbed his sore shoulder.“Do you think we’re compatible?”
Her father raised his eyebrows.“From what I know, Chitahs have catlike traits, so that’s something.”His laugh ended on a wheeze.“Boy, I’m older than dirt.I don’t care about differences.It’s similarities that matter more.Figure out what she likes so you can share in those interests.But also appreciate what makes her special and unique.I know she’ll do the same.”
Lucian stared at the checkers box.“How about a game?”
“Now you’re talking.”
Lucian removed the pieces from the box and set it up.“What do you want to know about me?”
“How old are you?”
“Eighty-fourish.I don’t celebrate birthdays, but it’s somewhere in the eighties.”
“Hmm.Why are you living with a wolf pack?Don’t you have family?”
“Yep.”Lucian divided the checker pieces.“We get along fine and keep in touch.I just wanted to live my own life.It’s not the Chitah way, but that city wasn’t for me anymore.”
“I hear ya.Sometimes destiny calls us away from home.”With frail fingers, Afram placed his red checkers on the board.
“My nephew’s the beta.”
“You don’t say?”
Lucian made the first move.“Eden said you left Africa to escape slavery.”
