“I know…but at the time, it didn’t appeal to me,” Heath replied. “After taking care of eight younger siblings, being a parent just wasn’t something I was keen on.”
“And now?”
“Honestly, I haven’t given it much thought, especially since I hadn’t found my mate. What about you…do you want kids?” asked Heath.
“I don’t know…it wasn’t something I thought much about either when I was younger…but now…maybe in five years or so.”
“After you get your pack stable,” Heath murmured.
“Right,” Tristan said. “There’s so much work to do first that would take me…and you…away from our pup…and that wouldn’t be fair to him or her. So if you agree, can we shelve any discussions concerning kids for at least five years?”
“Works for me,” Heath replied, grinning. “See, adulting isn’t that hard…we’ve agreed on two issues already.”
“So we have,” smirked Tristan. “What about your siblings? Any of them mated? Or are you the first?”
“My brother found his Fated Mate a couple of years ago.”
“Is he the one who’ll take over your father’s position?”
“No, he got his own pack once he claimed his mate.”
“How did he do that?”
“His Fated Mate was the only child of the Alpha of the Green Valley Pack, so when they mated, her father stepped down and handed the pack over to my brother. It was pure chance because my father had sent my brother to warn the Alpha of potential challenges and that’s when my brother met his daughter. It was a case of perfect timing—her father was getting on in age and knew that his time as Alpha was coming to an end.”
“I can’t wait to meet your family,” Tristan said, wistfully. “There was only me and my mother.”
“Well, I doubt you’ll have to wait long,” Heath grinned, as he pictured how that encounter would play out.
Chapter 15
“Why is that?” asked Tristan.
“My siblings are always prying into my business so don’t be surprised if they suddenly arrive without any warning.”
“Are you serious?” Tristan asked, staring at his mate. “Oh, fuck…you are!”
“Unfortunately, yes. As soon as I tell my dad, he’ll be calling everyone to brag about me finding my Fated Mate,” Heath replied.
“Should I invite your parents, or will they request permission? Or maybe I shouldn’t do anything since your father is above me in rank…shit, I don’t know what the fuck the protocol is. I didn’t live in a pack so I’m totally clueless…maybe I should ask Reeve…he’d probably know what I should do.”
“Hey! Slow down. First of all, my father doesn’t outrank you if he comes to see us. You are the Alpha of the Silver Point Pack, and no visitor, no matter what their title is, will outrank you here…not my father, or any other member of the High Council. And if they don’t show you the respect your position deserves, the law gives you the right to kick them off your pack land and ban them from ever setting foot on it again.”
“I would never do that to your parents!”
“You won’t have to because my father will show you the respect your position deserves. And you don’t have to worry about him and my mother showing up unannounced…he’ll send you a formal request to visit your pack.”
“That’s a relief,” Tristan said, smiling. “At least I’ll have some time to figure out where they can stay, since there isn’t an extra bedroom here.”
“Babe, it’s not something we have to figure out right away. Has Reeve shown you Josiah’s Alpha house yet?”
“Other than pointing it out to me when we drove past…no. Why?”
“Because that would solve the problem of where they can stay. Every Alpha house has accommodations for visiting dignitaries.”
“I can’t stay there.”
“Why not?”
