Ronin waggled his eyebrows. “Well, you see, I have reason to believe that’s an incorrect statement.”
Ro had his hands held behind his back and motioned for Oliver’s parents and his brother to join them, and they quickly stepped from behind the wall.
“Hello, son!” Oliver’s mom spoke up, and Ro watched his mate’s eyes widen and his jaw drop. Oliver was a blur as he practically flung himself into his mom’s arms.
“Mom?” He pulled back, his voice choked, tears streaming down his face. “Mommy?” Ollie went in for another hug, and his father joined in, hugging him between them.
“Mom, Dad. What are you doing here?” Ollie’s voice was surprised, but Ro could hear the happiness there. He turned to Ronin with a huge smile on his face as he asked, “You did this? For me?”
Ronin nodded. “I knew how much you wanted to see them, and trust me, they were eager to get here.”
“Ollie,” The little boy who had been patiently waiting whispered. “Ollie.”
Oliver squatted down so he was eye level with his little brother and opened his arms. Lucas didn’t hesitate and jumped at him, wrapping his arms tightly around Ollie’s neck.
“I missed you so much, Lucas,” he said in a tear-choked voice.
“Why did you go?” Lucas pulled back to look him in the eyes, tears still streaming down his face. “I missed you too.”
“I was afraid,” Oliver answered honestly. “But I’m not anymore, thanks to my new friends. I’ll never disappear like that again.”
“You promise?”
“I promise, Lucas,” he replied, the vow in his voice clear to all of them
“You’d better not.” Lucas had stepped back and had his hands on his hips, causing everyone in the little family gathering to laugh, and it seemed to be what was needed to help lessen the heaviness of the moment.
Oliver turned to his parents, and Ronin saw tears in his eyes. “I thought I was a freak, and that if you guys knew the truth, you would never want to have me around.”
His mom shook her head. “Really? Did you think that? We always knew you were special, and Ronin told us just how amazing you really are. We love you Ollie, and we missed you.” Oliver wrapped his arms around his parents and his younger brother, hugging them like his life depended on it.
Ronin watched the embrace, and he was glad to have made the reunion possible. His mate finally had his family back, and he could feel how much of a weight had lifted from Ollie through their bond.
Chapter Fifteen
Ronin
Ronin stood outside and waved to the last of their guests. When he turned around, he spotted Ollie standing at the door. Their eyes met and held, and Ollie responded with a huge smile on his face. As Ronin walked up the stairs to his mate, Ollie walked backwards into the house, never breaking eye contact.
“I hope you were pleasantly surprised,” Ronin said.
Oliver smiled and stepped into Ro’s body. “I can’t thank you enough. You made today that much better.”
Ronin nodded. “They could have stayed here. I would have made up another room for them. I hope they know I meant that.”
Oliver smirked. “I think they wanted to give us some space. Besides, they’re going to stay at a bed and breakfast, and I’ll get to see them again before they leave.”
Ronin tightened his arms around Ollie. “So... are they going to be leaving without you?”
Oliver’s arms went around Ro’s waist. “I can honestly say that I can’t imagine leaving you here… I can’t imagine leaving you.” Ollie held his gaze as he spoke. “I may be new to the whole mate thing, but I know that we are destined for one another. You’re my mate—for life—and how can that work if I’m in another town?”
Ronin laughed, but also couldn’t stop the sigh of relief that escaped. “It can’t. I’m glad you agree. I was terrified you would want to go home.” He pressed his lips briefly against Oliver’s. “Not that I wouldn’t have followed.”
When they parted, Oliver sighed, then added, “I love you, Ronin.”
Ronin felt like he’d just won the lottery hearing those words come from his mate.
“I should have said it first, but I kind of love that you did. I love you, too, Oliver.” Ronin wrapped his arms around Oliver and embraced him. “You have no idea how much.” Their lips locked once more, and he ran his hands down Oliver’s back until his palms landed on Oliver’s ass. They stood in the foyer, their bodies pressed firmly against one another, and Ronin tried to remember ever being happier than he was at that moment.
