He’d just strolled into her clinic; the small building attached to the main meeting house, which acted as the ‘den’ in their territory. She returned to her task, plucking a few pieces of rolled gauze from a cardboard box on a table beside her and placing them neatly into one large metal cabinet out of four in the room.
“I saw you less than two days ago,” Murphy corrected, moving to her side and placing a kiss on her cheek. Her scent comforted him, and absentmindedly, he grabbed several items from the box, helping her restock the shelves.
“Yes, you did. You also bolted when you thought I was distracted.” She frowned, turning her nose up at him. “But I’m your mother; I seeeverythingthat happens with my boys, especially when it’s right under my nose.”
Murphy grinned. “I have some news for you then.”
Tabitha gasped, dropping the gauze in her hands and pivoting to face him. “Oh! You’ve claimed Nessa!”
He blinked at her in shock. How did his mom know? He had Nessa’s scent on him, yes, but it wouldn’t be the same as the mating scent now embedded in her skin. He was also wearing another thick sweater; the mark covered from view. “Was it that obvious?”
“I told you—I see everything,” Tabitha reminded him. Then she flung her arms around his waist, squeezing him hard for someone so much smaller.
“Congratulations, my darling boy. Nessa is wonderful, and I know she’s exactly what you needed,” she murmured tearfully.
“I think she’s what I needed, too,” he agreed quietly, returning the embrace.
As he went to pull away, she clung to him. “If you need to talk about Marcus, or anything else, you know I’m here for you, don’t you? I’ll always be here, Murphy.” Her voice was soft but serious, and he knew he could rely on her, always.
“Of course, Mom,” he choked out, pressure building behind his eyes at her declaration.
She patted his back and then pulled away from him, waving a hand toward her face to dry her watery eyes.
“Don’t cry,” Murphy muttered, snatching a paper towel from the dispenser over the nearby sink and handing it to her. First, Colter had appeared gutted, and now his mother was in tears over this mess.
“I can’t help it.” Tabitha dabbed her eyes with the tissue. “I thought you were going to die miserable and alone. Do you have any idea how heartbreaking that is for a mother to endure?”
Oh.
What the fuck? She wasn’t crying over Marcus; she was crying because she thought her eldest son would die a goddamn hermit.
Relief coursed through him once his indignation faded.
“I can only imagine your struggle,” he deadpanned, struggling to hold back a laugh.
Tabitha narrowed her eyes at him. “Have you shared your news with anyone else?”
“Not yet. After the terror you instilled in Tank when he mated Hunny, I took that as a warning to not make the same mistake with my own mating.”
Tabitha cackled in delight. “You’re so considerate, Murphy. That’s why you’re my favorite son.”
His brows rose to his hairline at the blatant lie. “Jasper has been your favorite since the moment you birthed him.” Hell, he’d probably secured his status in the womb.
Tabitha rolled her eyes. “Well, he’s not my favorite today.”
“Now that’s a terrific mating gift,” Murphy joked. “Any chance I can have you record that so I can play it back to him later?”
“Don’t you dare,” Tabitha chided, wagging a finger at him. “And don’t think I’ve forgiven you for allowing him to go on this vampire excursion either.”
Murphy sensed the sudden danger he was in, and if he stayed much longer, those tears would turn into weapons, which she’d use to get her way. He loved his mother, but he knew how cunning she could be when necessary.
He glanced down at his watch in mock fascination. “Damn, it’s getting late, Mom. I really need to get back to my mate.”
Tabitha opened her mouth, clearly about to object. Then she huffed out an exaggerated sighed. “Alright. But I want to see you and Nessa next week at my cabin for dinner. Just the three of us.” She paused. “Possibly Jasper, too, if he isn’t trying my patience.”
He couldn’t wait.
Chapter 38
