“And being with me would be disappointing to him?”
“No.He’d just think that now isn’t the time for me to start a relationship because I need to be focused.”
“Would he be right?”
“I can have a relationship and focus on work,” Nico said with a scowl.“He married my mother when he was just one year older than I am now.If he could do it, I can, too.”
Mackenzie hoped he was right, but at the same time, he was more hesitant now.Nico couldn’t help who he was.He couldn’t help the fact that eventually, he’d become an alpha.Mackenzie wasn’t going to ask him not to, but what did that mean for him?What would that make him?
Dammit.He needed to talk to Dean again, didn’t he?Dean was dating an alpha.He was pregnant with an alpha heir.He knew better than Mackenzie what all of this meant, and if Mackenzie wasn’t wrong, he’d known that Nico was an alpha heir when Mackenzie had told him about his boyfriend.
Nico took a step forward.“I promise I don’t have any more secrets.I told you that I’m a carrier, and now that you know who my father is, everything is out.I hope that me being who I am won’t be a problem for you.”
What was Mackenzie supposed to say?He didn’t want who Nico was to be a problem.Itwasn’ta problem, or rather, it shouldn’t be.Mackenzie was just hesitant because he didn’t know what to do with the future alpha thing, but he was sure that talking to Dean would help.
So he smiled and opened his arms.“Who you are is never going to be a problem for me,” he promised.And if he had any doubts, it was his job to deal with them.This wasn’t on Nico’s shoulders.He was already carrying much more than a man his age should.It was a problem that Mackenzie would solve because he wasn’t giving up on Nico.
Even though their future scared the fuck out of him now that he knew who Nico was.
Chapter Eight
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WHEN DEAN OPENED HISfront door, Mackenzie pushed past him and walked in.He didn’t pause, didn’t explain why he was there.He hoped Jasper wasn’t in the house, but if he was, he was about to be subjected to Mackenzie’s love life.
“Hello to you, too,” Dean said, his eyebrows shooting high on his forehead.
“I know who Nico is,” Mackenzie blurted out.
Dean’s expression changed to something more serious.He closed the door, then gestured in the direction of the kitchen.Mackenzie led the way, feeling so anxious he could scream.He didn’t think that would endear him to Jasper, though.His brother-in-law seemed to like him well enough, but Mackenzie wasn’t going to risk it.
“Jasper’s out,” Dean said when Mackenzie flopped on one of the chairs at the table.“Coffee?”
Mackenzie snorted.“I think the last thing I need right now is coffee.”He was glad Jasper wasn’t here.He liked Jasper, and Jasper had been nothing but nice when they’d had dinner together, but things were slightly awkward.Mackenzie didn’t know how to behave around Jasper, and it seemed that Jasper felt the same way.It didn’t matter.Jasper was it for Dean, and that was good enough for Mackenzie.As long as his brother was happy and safe, Mackenzie didn’t have anything to say.He’d get to know Jasper in time.He wasn’t going anywhere, anyway.
Dean nodded and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge.He placed one of them in front of Mackenzie, then slid into the chair on the other side of the table and waited.
Mackenzie rubbed his face.“I know who Nico is,” he repeated.“The alpha’s son.A future alpha himself.”
“And how does that make you feel?”
“You’re not my therapist.”
“I’m not asking as a therapist.”
“You sound like one.”
Dean raised his hands.“I’m just trying to be a good brother.”
“You already knew.”
“I know all the alphas and their heirs.It’s part of the job.I’ve met Nico briefly a few times, and he seems like a nice person.”
“He is.”
“So why are you panicking?Is it because he lied to you?”
Mackenzie had thought about it.Hell, he’d done nothing but think about it since he’d walked into Jerome’s house and seen Nico standing there with an older guy.From the expression on Nico’s face, it had been obvious he was panicking, and when he’d shaken his head, Mackenzie had understood.Nico didn’t want the two alphas to know that they knew each other.
