“Emotional intimacy.” Leyden ticked off on his fingers. “Intellectual connection. Shared values. Respect. Trust. Partnership. Connor gives me all of that.”
“But not sex.”
“Not yet,” Leyden corrected. “Maybe not ever. But I don’t care.”
“You should care.” Frustration crept into Sebastian’s tone. “You’re settling for less than you deserve.”
“I’m choosing my mate.” Leyden’s voice hardened. “Connor is amazing. He’s kind, thoughtful, and makes me laugh. He understands pack dynamics better than anyone I’ve ever met. He challenges me intellectually, calls me out when I’m wrong, supports me when I need it. I can talk to him about anything. And yes, he’s also working through his relationship with physical intimacy, which takes time and patience. Time I can give him.”
“You shouldn’t have to be patient about sex with your own mate.”
“Why not?” Leyden spread his hands. “You waited for Mom, didn’t you? Courted her properly before claiming?”
“That was different. She wanted me.”
“Connor wants me too. Just not sexually. Not yet, maybe never. But every other kind of attraction? Every other kind of connection? That’s all there.” Leyden moved closer, willing his father to understand. “Before Connor, I had sex with dozens of wolves. Multiple partners a day, sometimes. And you know what? I was lonely. Desperately lonely. Because sex without emotional connection is just friction and biology.”
Sebastian’s expression remained unmoved.
“Connor sees me,” Leyden continued, urgency creeping into his voice. “Not Alpha Leyden, the strong leader who never shows weakness. He sees me - the man who gets anxious over pack finances, who worries about making the right decisions, who wanted his parents’ approval so badly he challenged for his own pack instead of taking over yours. Connor knows all of that and loves me anyway.”
“Love without physical expression is friendship.”
“No.” Leyden shook his head firmly. “It’s still love. It’s romance, true partnership, and devotion. Connor kisses me. He holds my hand. He sits with me and reads while I work because he knows I like the company. He touches me more every day, building comfort at his own pace. That’s more intimate than any casual fuck I’ve ever had.”
“You can’t sustain a mating on hand-holding.”
“Watch me.” Leyden’s voice dropped, deadly serious. “I would rather spend the rest of my life holding Connor’s hand than fucking anyone else. Because Connor is my mate. My fated mate. The other half of my soul. I will not dishonor him by treating our bond like it’s insufficient just because it doesn’t conform to your narrow definition of what mating should look like.”
Silence stretched between them. Sebastian’s jaw worked, eyes hard.
“You’re making a mistake,” Sebastian said finally. “But you’re too stubborn to see it.”
“I’m making the right choice for me and my mate.” Leyden held his ground. “If you can’t respect that, then maybe you should leave.”
Sebastian’s expression darkened. Without another word, he turned and strode from the study, his footsteps heavy in the hallway.
Leyden sagged against the desk, heart pounding. Through the bond, he felt Connor’s concern, his mate was aware that something had gone wrong.
A moment later, the front door opened and closed. An engine started outside.
Softer footsteps approached. His mother appeared in the doorway, sadness in her eyes.
“Your father left,” Catherine said quietly.
“I know.”
She crossed the room and pulled Leyden into a hug. “I’m proud of you.”
Leyden blinked, surprised. “You are?”
“Very proud.” She squeezed tighter. “Connor is wonderful. And the way you defended him, the way you love him - that’s what mating should be.” She pulled back, cupping Leyden’s face. “Your father sees strength as dominance and control. But real strength? That’s choosing love over tradition. That’s patience, respect, and above all, putting your mate’s needs before your own ego.”
Warmth spread through Leyden’s chest, the ache from his father’s rejection easing slightly.
“Connor makes you happy,” Catherine continued. “I could see it from the moment we walked in the door. That’s what matters. Not what anyone else thinks a mating should look like.”
“Thank you,” Leyden whispered.
