“Who is she?” Maverik asked, sticking to his focus on the woman.
“Her name is Giada,” Ronan said, his entire face lighting up, his eyes sparkling as he began to ramble about her. “I met her yesterday. She’s amazing. As strong as she is beautiful. A backbone that reminds me of the females in our clan. And I don’t know yet, but I kind of think she’s got a sharp tongue. Like you. And her little boys — they’re so much fun, and so smart.”
“The Giada working at the shelter?” Maverik asked doubtfully.
“Yes! I’m floored. I don’t just get a mate, I get a whole family. I love those babies already. I spent some time with them yesterday. I never in my life felt as right as I did when I was playing with them, and then when she walked in, it just completed the picture. Everything fell into place.”
“You met them at the shelter.”
“Yeah. Daniel was showing me around but he got called away for a few minutes. Matteo and Leo were in the playroom trying to figure out how to play their video game, so I showed them how to play. And I helped them fix the toy train that wouldn’t run, too.”
“And what did she say when she found you in the playroom with her kids?”
“Nothing really. I mean, she was suspicious. But any good mother would be — she didn’t know me.”
“Exactly — and still doesn’t know you. Suspicious. She wasn’t at all affected like most humans are when they see a shifter. Men hate us and women want to…” Maverik stopped speaking when Valerie walked into the kitchen. He rethought his words, then finished his sentence. “Spend some alone time with us. It occur to you she didn’t fall all over you like most human females do?”
Ronan opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped. He considered his father’s question, then shook his head. “No, but she didn’t seem afraid of me, either.”
“She didn’t react because she’s lived a rough life. She sees a male being nice and all she is, is suspicious. What do they want from me. How is this one going to try to take advantage of me?” Maverik leaned forward to make a point. “What is this grown ass man doing playing with my kids?”
“It’s not like that. They’re great kids. But the reason I felt so at ease with them was because they’re part of her.”
“I get it. I do. But she’s not just a typical female. That woman has had to fight to survive, and now she’s fighting even harder because she’s got littles to look after, too. She’s just getting herself on her feet. She’s got safety, finally. She’s got food. She’s got shelter. She’s not interested in any kind of relationship with any kind of man.”
“I’m not a man. I’m a male!” Ronan insisted.
“She’s not interested in any kind of relationship with anything or with anybody. They’ve all taken too much from her already.”
“How do you know that? You don’t even know her,” Ronan said accusingly.
“Not well, no. But Daniel’s mentioned a few things. We’ve all been in and out of there in one capacity or another, me included. She’s not some starry eyed girl that will fall into your arms.”
“Good. Because I don’t want someone who just gets a whiff of my pheromones and follows me blindly to wherever I lead. I want someone who can think for themselves. Someone who’s lived life enough to be able to choose me — intentionally. And whether you like it or not, she’s mine. They’re mine. All of them.”
“Have you heard a single word I’ve said, son? How do you know she’ll even consider having you?”
Ronan shrugged. “She might not. But if I don’t try, I’ll never know. I’m transferring my credits to Tulane and I’ll finish out my degrees there. A year and a half to finish my master’s, then I’ll go into the doctorate program. I’ll be near home much more often. She’ll get to know me. I’ll get to know her. And if I’m any kind of male of worth, she’ll choose me. If not, it won’t be because I didn’t make every bit of effort that I can. It’d be nice if I knew I had my parents’ support. But if not, I can do it without, too.” Ronan calmly walked away from his father, took his keys off the pegboard by the door, and walked out, quietly closing the door behind himself.
Maverik turned his head toward Valerie and their eyes met as they listened to his truck start up, then drive away.
“The hell is he thinking?” Maverik asked.
“That he’s found what we have with each other,” Valerie answered.
“He’s just hoping that’s what he’s found.”
“I disagree. He’s never been one to discuss a mate, or when he gets mated. He’s never shown any interest at all. All he’s ever seen is his studies and his future.”
Maverik sighed and shook his head. “Fucking sucks. He’s gotten so far and now he’s redirecting because of a woman — that probably don’t even want nothing to do with him!”
“Do you really think she won’t want him?” Valerie asked.
“I don’t know,” Maverik said, running his hand through his freshly trimmed mohawk.
“Why are you so against it?”
“I’m not! It’s just, I don’t know.”
