Sage brightened at Morgan’s support. He faced his brothers and Remington. “And, uh, I should probably tell you another thing? Um…”
When Sage faltered, I gently squeezed his hand for moral support. He smiled at me.
“Me and Xander… we’re mates,” he announced.
Dax was flustered. “Y-you, you’re… You’remates? When did this happen?”
“Last night, obviously,” Red muttered with a barely restrained grin.
“Sage, you found your fated mate?” Hugo asked. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
There was that phrase again. The whole family seemed obsessed with it. But as soon as he said it, Hugo’s expression changed to one of wonder and joy, like hearing his younger brother found his fated mate made him the happiest sibling in the world. It was kind of cute, if I had to admit it.
Sage blushed. “I didn’t know, it just kinda… happened. It’s not like there’s a guide calledHow You Know You Found Your Fated Mate.”
Hugo hugged Sage. “Oh, I’m so happy for you. And you, too, Xander.”
Red’s jaw dropped. “What? That’s all it takes for you to trust a guy? Wow, I could’ve saved myself so much time if I just found a mate from the pack…”
To my mutual surprise, Dax also put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a firm, friendly nod. “I trust you’ll take care of my little brother.”
“Oh my gods, Dax, I’m standing right here,” Sage grumbled.
Sage was playing his comment off for laughs, as I knew he liked to do around his family, but I actually agreed with him. I pulled him closer to me.
“Sage is right,” I said. “I’m not simply taking care of him. He takes care of me, as well. We’re a partnership. And I… I didn’t realize how much I needed him.”
As the pack went silent, Morgan let out a small chuckle. “I knew I liked you, Xander.”
Sage’s big eyes turned watery. “Holy crap, Xander, that was so sweet… I’m gonna start crying again.”
Hugo and Dax exchanged some kind of brotherly glance, then smiled and nodded in approval.
“Welcome to the pack, Xander.”
* * *
Soon after my warm welcome,Sage pulled me along to relay the news to Len, who was with the kids by the stream. The three of them laughed and splashed each other with water, shifting back and forth the whole time.
“That went so much better than I expected,” Sage said brightly. “And that thing you said, when you stood up for me? That was so cool, Xander!”
A smile played at the corner of my lips. “I didn’t stand up for you. You stood up for yourself when you told Remington you could make your own decisions.”
“Huh. I guess you’re right.” He beamed at me. “But I still loved it when you put your arm around me, and you were like—” he deepened his voice in what I assumed was an attempt to sound like me, “Sage takes care of me, too, we’re meant for each other!”
I ruffled his hair as he laughed at his own joke. His upbeat nature was contagious, increasingly rubbing off on me.
“Len!” Sage called out as we reached the stream, waving.
Before Len could reply, all three kids shouted, “Uncle Sage!” and began running at us in a mini mob. Lupa slammed into his legs, followed by Ashe and Leveret. They clung to him like burrs.
“Hey, guys,” Sage said, patting each one of their heads. “Having fun in the water?”
“Yeah!” Lupa and Ashe cried.
I noticed Lupa’s twin brother, Leveret, was quieter. He stopped clinging to Sage’s leg and wandered over to me with a curious expression.
“Xander,” he said.
