“What?” I blurted out. “That’s stupid! You’re his kid no matter what shifter species you are!”
“Apparently, it mattered to him. But it was fine with me. My parents never got along well anyway, so I wanted nothing to do with either of them. By the time I was an older teenager, I was fed up with them both. I left and set out on my own, and I’ve been alone ever since.” Xander smiled. “Until I met you.”
Sympathetic tears stung my eyes. I whimpered and threw my arms around Xander, hugging him as tightly as possible.
“Are you crying?” Xander asked, sounding a bit surprised.
“Yes!” I cried. “How could I not be after that sad story?”
Xander rubbed the back of his neck. “I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just wanted you to know why I am the way I am.”
I sniffled and wiped my eyes. “You’re brave, Xander. And strong. If I went through all that, I dunno how I would’ve turned out…”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. He caressed my cheek. “I’m glad you didn’t. I love you the way you are.”
I whimpered, feeling overly emotional. Were those pregnancy hormones already starting to kick in?
“I love you the way you are, too,” I replied. “My grumpy, stubborn alpha.”
We hugged and I got the tears out of my system. I hated that Xander had to go through what he did, but I was glad and relieved he finally told me about it. I understood him deeper now.
“So that’s why you don’t believe in fated mates? Because of your parents?” I asked softly.
“Yes,” Xander said, but he sounded hesitant. Was he slowly changing his mind?
“Y’know, maybe I misunderstood the story, but it sounds like your alpha father justsaidthey were fated mates to influence your omega father’s mind. That doesn’t mean he actually thought theywerefated.”
Xander was quiet, deep in thought. He grunted in acknowledgment. “I never considered that a possibility. I suppose I always associated the term with negativity and didn’t think anything else of it.” He ran his thumb slowly over the back of my hand. “But then I see your brothers and their mates, and they warm my heart. They’re not anything like my parents were. I see real love in their eyes, I see them care for each other deeply, and I see that love reflected in their children. And then I think… maybe I was wrong about fated mates all along.”
My heart raced, swelling with affection. I perked up hopefully. “Does that mean you’re changing your mind about it?”
Xander leaned his head against mine and let out a low growl in his throat that sounded like a purr. “Perhaps, thanks to the pack. And to a certain someone.”
“Who? I’ll fight him.”
He snorted. “You, obviously.”
“Hehe. I was just kidding. I know you meant me.”
A shooting star suddenly flashed across the sky, making me gasp.
“Xander, look! Quick, make a wish!”
When he didn’t reply, I looked at him. His eyes had been closed, but he opened them now and smiled. “Already done.”
“What’d you wish for?”
Xander smirked. “Nosy little wolf. You already know I can’t tell you or it won’t come true.”
“Aww, fine.” I went back to leaning on him and holding his hand.
“You don’t want to make a wish?” Xander asked. “I’m surprised.”
“Hmm… Nope! I don’t need to.” I nuzzled his chest. “My wish already came true.”
“And what was it?”
I blinked up at him with fluttering eyelashes. “To fall in love with my fated mate.”
I thought Xander might roll his eyes, or call me a sap or something. Instead, Xander smiled and pressed a kiss to my lips. “Yes, you’re right,” he murmured, “I’d say your wish did come true, Sage.”
