“I didn’t leave you, Nym. I mean, I did, I had to work, but I came back. You were already gone. This child… it’s mine?” I knew it was, in my heart of hearts, but I needed to hear the words.
“Of course it is.”
I ran a hand through my hair. This was all so fucked up. Insane even. But I was thankful for the chance.
“I won’t make trouble for you. And if me being here is too much, I can leave. But I do need money. I don’t need it from you, but… I just don’t want my child to grow up without anything, struggling like I did, and I think my dad can help. I hated asking.” Herubbed his hands over his arms, hugging himself. “Preston and I had a plan. We still do. If Cael’ll just listen…”
“The bakery that you told me about?”
Nym nodded. “You remember.”
“Of course. Frost and Flame. Cael will listen to you. If he was going to throw you out, he would have done so already. He can tell already that you are his son. And between you and me, I think he’s intrigued by your friend.”
“Preston?” He wrinkled his nose. “Gross.”
“Nym, I’m so sorry about the morning after the ball. Soren, the guard on duty that day, he gave me a vial that held perfume meant to mimic a mate’s scent. It’s meant to trick people into thinking they’ve met their mate.”
Nym wrinkled his nose. “Such a thing exists? Who would do that?”
“Scammers.” I hated that I hadn’t trusted my gut about Nym. I let myself be lied to instead of trusting my mate.
“And you thought I did that?” Nym hugged his arms around his body.
The disappointment in his voice had my stomach dropping to my knees, and I nearly fell to the floor with the realization that I had royally fucked up.
“Soren… I… I thought you did, yes,” I said. “I never would have left you, Nym. I got called away for work, and I didn’t expect to be there so long. When I came back, you were gone. I’m sorry. Please, can you give me another chance?”
Nym bit his lip, his hands still resting over the swell of his belly. My own hands itched to reach out to him.
“I don’t know.”
“Let me have dinner with you tonight, either here in your room or one of the dining rooms.” I would take anything at this point. Even if I had to beg.
“One of the dining rooms? There are multiple?” Nym’s eyes went wide again, and he looked around the room like he was just realizing how real this all was.
“There’s the formal one, the informal one, and then several that are more private settings.”
“Of course there are. Yes, we can have dinner. If this was truly a misunderstanding, then I don’t have any desire to keep you from your child, Dain. I would never do that.”
“You’re my m—”
Nim held up a hand. “Let’s not toss around the M-word again. It gutted me when I woke up alone and realized you weren’t coming back. I don’t know if I can take it.”
“Of course,” I said. “I’ll be back. Is six o’clock okay?”
He nodded. “That will be fine.”
“I’ll let you get settled then. Cael will likely send someone by to make sure you have everything you need.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my business card. I rarely used them, but in this moment, I was glad I had it. “You can reach me anytime for anything, Nym.”
“Thanks.”
I stepped away from him and went toward the door. My wolf howled within me, confused as to why we couldn’t just stay with our mate and talk longer, or better yet, touch him. Cuddle. Anything.
Time and patience. That was what my mate needed, and that was what I would give him.
Chapter 10
Nym
