I followed Stalker over to the buffet table. I had to put Tommy down so I could grab us each a plate of food. I was thankful Henry had made some things I knew Tommy would eat. He wasn't a picky eater, but he definitely had his preferences.
I carried our plates over to the table and set them down then helped Tommy into one of the chairs. I wasn't thrilled that I couldn't see anything but cloth napkins, but it was all I had to work with. I shook one out then tucked the edges into the neckline of Tommy's shirt.
Once his food was ready to go, I sat down and encouraged him to eat. I think the food overwhelmed him until he took his first bite, and then he forgot to be scared in a roomful of men and started eating his food down, smiling up at me between bites.
I admit I kind of pushed my food around on my plate. I was a little too nervous to eat or really enjoy the food Henry had cooked for us. My entire life, and that of my son, was currently up in the air.
I had no doubt my father was still looking for us. The man wouldn't stop until he found us. He wouldn't take us escaping very well. He never took it well when someone went against him. He'd be on a rampage to get us back, to make us pay for disrespecting him. That was just the sort of man he was.
Father of the year he was not.
"You should try and eat, Jojo."
I sent Stalker a smile I wasn't really feeling. "I'm not all that hungry."
My stomach was in knots.
When Stalker reached over and laid his hand on top of mine, I just stared at our hands. We looked good together, my light skin against his darker tanned skin. The contrast was amazing.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked as I raised my eyes to Stalker's face.
Stalker smiled, not even pretending he didn't know what I was asking about. "I told you. You're my mate. Good or bad, that will never change."
I turned my hand over and threaded our fingers together. "I never thought I'd see you again."
"I never left."
I sucked in a sharp breath. "You never—"
I was mystified by the flush that darkened Stalker's cheeks. "I kind of lived up to my name and stalked you," he said. "I never approached you because you were married, but I watched you from the shadows. I had to be sure you were happy."
"With the exception of Tommy's birth, I don't think I've been happy since the moment I set eyes on you for the very first time."
In all honesty, my life had been hell.
Stalker's brow wrinkled as he frowned. "I thought…I mean, you were married and—"
"Myra and I were forced to mate by our parents. Neither of us were happy about it, but we made the best of the situation we were in."
"Did you love her?"
I shot Tommy a quick glance to make sure he wasn't paying too much attention to our conversation. Luckily, he seemed to be more interested in listening to Bob talk about his cat.
"I cared about Myra. We were friends. We were not mates. We were married because our fathers wanted an heir who would bring the two skulks together. They made a mate contract without our consent. I didn't even meet Myra until the day we got married."
Stalker's eyebrows lifted swiftly. "You know that's illegal, right? No one can force you to mate anyone you don't want to."
"In my skulk, you do what my father says or you pay the price rather painfully."
Stalker's jaw clenched. "He beat you?"
"Oh no." I snorted out a laugh as I shook my head. "No, my father would never beat me. He ordered Roger to do it."
Stalker's eyes narrowed. "Roger?"
"My father's second in command."
"He's scary," Tommy whispered.
