Now that he got a good look at the man, he seemed…familiar somehow.
And he was a shifter.
But before the man or Mateo could say anything, Carl rushed into the living room behind Mateo. “Who’s at the door?” he hissed. “I just got the girls…”
Mateo glanced back, doing a double-take at the wide-eyed shock on Carl’s face.
Mateo looked from his mate to the stranger and back again.
Carl rushed forward, practically shoving Mateo out of the way, and engulfed the man in a hug that more resembled a tackle.
“Dad!”
The man clapped him on the back. “Hey, son. Did you miss me?” Despite the obviously awkward attempt at humor, Mateo heard the man crying.
And Carl now softly sobbed.
That’s when Duncan hurried up. “Sorry, I had to take that. Let’s move this reunion inside.”
Still stunned, Mateo stood there as Carl and his father walked into the living room.
Duncan smiled at Mateo. “It’s a long story. If the kids weren’t here, I’d have brought a bottle with us to celebrate.”
Mateo’s head spun. “What… How? Where?”
Duncan closed the door behind him. “I’m not at liberty to reveal more yet.” He touched Mateo’s arm and silently spoke to him with his Prime. “He’s been checked out. He’s taken a knee, shown his throat, and he’ll work as an Enforcer.”
Thank the Goddess for small fucking miracles.
Before, when they lived in the shadow of Abundio Segura, they kept their search for Jake as clandestine as possible, not wanting word of it to get back to the wily old man.
Sure, Dewi and Peyton had promised they’d try to help them locate Jake if he was still alive.
Mateo honestly figured the man was dead.
Holy. Shit.
Carl and his father stood in the middle of the living room, Carl openly weeping as Jake told him he loved him over and over again.
Mateo found himself blinking back tears, too. While he wanted to share this joyous occasion with his mate, he also didn’t want to interrupt.
Finally, they separated, Carl laughing and sniffling, and turned to Mateo, holding his arm out to him.
Mateo suspected Duncan wouldn’t let a raging homophobe anywhere near them, so he hoped all was well.
“Dad, this is my mate, Mateo.” Carl looked into his eyes with every bit of love Mateo felt for him. “The love of my life.”
Jake smiled and opened his arms. “Are you a hugger, son?”
“Fuck yeah, I am!” Mateo felt swallowed by the man, and for a moment, he closed his eyes and pretended this was his dad.
For so many years, it’d been just the two of them against the world while protecting Brianna, and to have a family again, not just found family, but…
Yeah.
“I can’t wait to meet your sister,” Jake said. “And…” The older wolf sniffled again. “I know I’m not your dad, but if you ever want to call me ‘Dad,’ I would love that.”
They stepped apart, Mateo wiping at his eyes. “Yeah, I’d like that, too.”
