“I can’t imagine.” Ro hoped that didn’t sound as envious as he was feeling.
He must not have succeeded. Either that or Axel could read him.
“You don’t have to, but I’m sure that thought has already occurred to you, huh?” His brother stood and stretched before focusing on him. “So, are we going to talk about the elephant—or in this case, I guess, the wolf—in the room?” Axel asked.
“I’m not sure I know what you’re talking about,” Ro replied. He got out of the rocking chair and walked over to the crib, then lowered his nephew into it. He couldn’t help but gently run his fingers through Mason’s unruly curls. He felt rather than saw Axel stand beside him.
“He’s beautiful, isn’t he?” Axel whispered. Without turning, he could feel his brother’s eyes boring into him.
“Yea, he’s gorgeous,” Ro sighed, the sound wistful.
“He would love to have more cousins,” Axel added, none too subtly.
Ro didn’t say a word.
“And I know you would love to have your own little one. And now you can.”
Rowan still didn’t reply.
Axel finally dropped all pretence and said, “Why don’t we talk about how you know about shifters and fated mates, and why, exactly, you won’t give yours a chance.”
Even though Axel’s voice was low, he knew his brother well enough to know he wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
Four
Mikhail
His mate was avoiding him. There was no other way to describe it. It was Rowan’s fourth day in Whitfell, and somehow he’d managed to make it so they were never alone in a room.
Mikhail wouldn’t have taken it personally if Rowan didn’t know what mates meant, but he did, and somehow, even with that knowledge, the man chose to stay away from him.
Mikhail watched from the French doors in Malachi and Alfie’s downstairs reception room as his mate made his way into the forest that bordered all their back gardens. He was happy to see that Rowan was dressed for the weather because it was actually quite chilly out today since it was the end of December after all.
He’d shifted and followed Rowan on the strolls he’d been taking through their forest. Just to make sure he was safe… Not as a stalker or anything. His mate had gone out in the evening the first night, and since it was already getting dark before six in the evenings, Mikhail had simply followed to make sure Rowan didn’t get lost.
Keep telling yourself that.
Okay, so both he and his wolf couldn't stay away. And unlike his brothers’ mates that had come around or given them a chance after finding out what it meant to be fated, his mateknewand didn't seem to want to give him that chance.
Mikhail felt like his heart was in a vice, and someone kept making it tighter. Every time he thought of Rowan rejecting him, his heart literally hurt.
The goddess would not be cruel enough to give him his mate and have Rowan not want him… would she?
Mikhail waited about five minutes after Rowan left before walking over to Malek and Axel’s home.
When he walked into the kitchen, Malek was at the table with his laptop open.
He didn’t need to announce himself. Malek knew the moment he walked into his home even though his brother wasn’t facing the door.
“Misha,” Malek said, his voice teasing. “You just missed your mate.”
“Don’t call me that,” Mikhail said, rolling his eyes. He was not a fan of the shortened form of his name.
He walked over and pulled out the seat opposite Malek and lowered himself into it.
“And I know Rowan isn’t here. Actually, I came to see Axel. Is he here?”
“Mymate”—his brother savoured the word—“is indeed in our house.”
