Zac nodded emphatically. “Ro, we never...” Zac stopped speaking and seemed to take a deep breath. “I mean,Inever meant to hurt you. Jay and I… I never expected to find my mate. Ever. And maybe…” Zac shook his head, “actually there is no maybe about it, I handled it all wrong. I was a total douche.”
“Well said babe,” Jay spoke up, then added, “and I didn’t know he had someone,”
“I know it sounds like an excuse, but I lost my head from the moment I scented Jay.”
“From the moment we scented each other.” They looked at each other and shared a small smile, and Rowan felt a twinge of envy, and it wasn’t because of Zac, but more because he wanted someone to have that non-speaking communication with. He’d seen it with his brothers, and now with Zac and Jay.
You could have that too.
“We… I should have waited to talk to you before, but when you find your mate, it’s like…everything.”
They shared that look again, and this time, their smiles were wider.
“I hoped I could explain things to you, Ro, I swear. I never wanted you to find out the way you did. I swear.” Zac’s voice was pleading. “I never meant to hurt you.”
“I wanted to meet you and explain,” Jay said. “It’s been hanging over us the past two years. I know it’s hard to explain what mates are to…” Jay seemed to search for a word. “Non-shifters.” His voice was practically a whisper on the word shifter. “For a shifter, finding your mate is the greatest gift. When you’re away from them, at first it’s like a physical pain.”
Jay seemed to be struggling for more words, and Zac must have noticed because he spoke up, helping his mate. “I wanted you to see us and know that if I never found my mate, you’re the only other person in the world that could have made me happy.”
Ro shifted in his seat. He was uncomfortable and unsure of what he wanted to say back to the two lovers. He heard what they were saying, and honestly, it didn’t hurt seeing them, but it also didn’t make things any less awkward.
They didn’t realise it, but they had answered some questions he’d had. Not about Zac, but about him… and Mikhail.
“I know this is definitely uncomfortable,” Zac said.
“Well, there was an understatement.” Rowan actually had to smile.
“But, I wanted you to meet Jay. I wanted you to see how happy I am, and hopefully, you will understand and forgive me for how things played out.”
“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Jay said.
Ro shot a look to Zac, his brow arched.
All Zac did was shrug.
“All good,” Jay was quick to add.
“Well I hope so.” Ro chuckled.
“I promise,” Jay said. “He really only had good things to say about you, and so did the whole family.”
Ro’s lips curved in a smile. “I do miss them.” He had really got along well with Zac’s family.
“They miss you, too, especially Felix.” Zac mentioning his brother had Ro feeling guilty. In the aftermath of him and Zac, he had also cut Felix off.
Ro had met Felix while doing his course to become a midwife at the University of Salford. He sat beside Rowan during one of their lectures when Felix came in almost halfway through. Ro recognised him from his other classes as one of the students who was also already a nurse doing the eighteen-month course to become a midwife. That day in class, Rowan had offered Felix his notes, and from there, they’d become fast friends, studying together and hanging out outside of Uni too.
During reading week before exams, Felix invited him home to study, and since studying at an estate in Cheshire beat mooching to the library at Uni or the one opposite Salford Precinct any day, he’d obviously said yes.
However, Felix hadn’t told Rowan what his family was, and he had a feeling he wasn’t supposed to see what he had—namely Zac shifting—and he wouldn’t have if he hadn’t gone wandering on the large estate.
“How is he?” Rowan asked.
“Great, but I’m sure he would love to hear from you,” Zac replied.
“I’ll give him a call,” Rowan replied, feeling a little chastised. Felix had nothing to do with what happened between him and Zac, but Rowan had taken it out on him too.
Zac nodded before giving him a look Rowan recognised. “Tell me what’s going on with you, Ro. It may have been a while, but I know when you have something on your mind. Anyone you’re currently interested in?” The last part was said hopefully, as though maybe it would make Zac feel better if the answer was yes.
