But he had.They were here, surrounding him and loving him.It was everything Ben deserved.
Taylor was glad he had it.
* * * *
BEN WAS HAPPY THAThis family was here, but they could be overwhelming sometimes.He supposed he should get used to having so many people around, though.There were more people in the pride than there were in his family, and he was planning on living here for the rest of his life.
He hadn’t yet told his parents about that, but he would.He didn’t have a choice because he knew they’d try to drag him home as soon as he was done explaining everything.
“I’m fine, Mom,” he said.“I was on the run for a bit, and it wasn’t easy, but I eventually landed in Green Hill.It took me a little while to realize that I was safe here and that Jimmy wouldn’t find me.Besides, I knew that the pride would protect me.”
Ben’s mother glanced at Taylor, who was still holding Ben close with one arm.With Ben’s arm extended so that his mom could hold his hand, he was slightly uncomfortable, but it didn’t matter.“Because you’re Taylor’s mate,” she said.
It was what Ben had thought for a while, but he knew things weren’t like that.“Because it’s the right thing to do.Their alpha is a good man.I’m sure that me being Taylor’s mate helps, but he would’ve protected me regardless.”
“That’s good.What’s going to happen now, though?Taylor’s part of the pride.He doesn’t live close to us.How are you going to make it work?”
Ben didn’t want to hurt his mother, but it was necessary.“By moving here permanently.”
His mother stayed silent, but of course, Justine couldn’t.She’d always been explosive, even when they were children.“You can’t move,” she argued.“We just got you back.I don’t want to lose you again.”
“You’re not losing me.I’m just moving.”
“It’s not fair.”
“Justine,” Ben’s father said softly.
Justine frowned but let it go.Ben understood how she felt.He wished he could be close to his family the way he had been before Jimmy had happened, but he had a choice to make.As much as he loved his parents, his sisters, and their families, there was no competition.Taylor was Ben’s mate.Of course he’d win.
“I don’t know what happened to my things or my apartment,” he said, turning back to his mother.“But I hope you haven’t thrown everything away.”
His mother scowled.“Do you really think we would do that?”
“No, but I didn’t think Jimmy could chain me in his basement, either.”
“You barely knew the man.We had to let go of your apartment, but we packed all of your things and brought them home.Whatever you need, it’s there.We also went to the police to file a missing person’s report, but they were less than useful.”
“Not all of them,” Eliza pointed out.
“Not all of them,” their mother agreed.“But most of them.They behaved as if they knew you better than I do.They told me that you were an adult and that you probably needed space from the family.”
“Never,” Ben promised.That wasn’t exactly true, and he’d probably get annoyed at his sisters at least twice in the next ten minutes, but they were his family, and he loved them.He wouldn’t vanish without telling them where he was going.He definitely wouldn’t do that to his mother.
“One of the detectives tried to help, but we had no idea where to start,” Ben’s mother explained.“He looked into it, but he didn’t find anything.”
“He couldn’t even find out where your boyfriend lived,” Ben’s father added.
It was time to tell them the second part of this mess.“That’s because he was a shifter hunter,” Ben said.“And no, I didn’t know that when I dated him.I promise he never physically hurt me.I don’t know why he was with me if he held those beliefs, and I don’t care.I don’t think I’ll ever see him again.”
“He’s dead?”Bridget asked.
Ben glanced at Taylor, who shrugged.“We think he is,” Taylor said.“He’s been gone for a few months.He lived off the grid, but we went to his place, and it’s clear no one’s been there in a while.We don’t think he’s going to come back for Ben, but if he does, we’ll be ready.”
“You better be,” Justine told him.“You’re his mate.It’s your job to protect him.”
“And I will.”
Thankfully, once Ben was done explaining what had happened with Jimmy and everything else, the tension in the room lifted.As disappointed as his family was that he wouldn’t be going home with them, they were happy that he was alive and that he’d met his mate.They’d wanted to know he was safe, and he was, and that was all that mattered.
