Mitch chuckled. “You’ll notice that he brought two bowls. One for himself as well.”
“Bowls?” Oh! He missed what Wylder had said but there were two bowls in his hands. Theo was starving. Famished. It had been forever since he’d eaten. Or drunk anything.
Wylder was grinning so wide. “A double scoop of mint chocolate chip with extra chocolate sauce, whip cream, and two cherries for our little shifter.”
Immediately Theo’s excitement dimmed at Wylder’s words.
“What’s wrong?” Dario rubbed his back. “I thought that was your favorite. I had Fergie stock up so we could spoil you rotten.”
Theo shook his head. He loved the fact that his mates wanted to spoil him. Except, they didn’t really know him. How could they when Theo didn’t know himself any better? “It is my favorite. I appreciate it. But…I’m not a shifter. Not anymore. Or not…ever…”
“Hey!” Wylder climbed onto the mattress beside him and passed one bowl to Dario before sitting crossed-legged, facing Theo. “You’re magical too. That’s cool. But you’ll always be our little shifter. Nothing will change that.”
Maybe it should. Theo wasn’t just magical. He had unseelie blood running through his veins. He needed to tell his mateseverything he learned. Except he was missing a very important piece. “Where’s Alek?”
“I’m right here,” Alek replied, entering the bedroom. “I was finishing a phone call. I also grabbed you some water. You need to hydrate.”
Theo nodded. “I have a lot to tell you.”
“Which you will totally do as you eat the ice cream that you earned.” Alek winked at him.
It did look good. And his tummy rumbled. Plus, Theo really deserved that dang ice cream. “Okay.”
“Good, because I hate melted ice cream.” Wylder took a big bite of his own.
Theo turned to grab his own bowl but Dario was already holding up the spoon to Theo’s mouth. Opening his mouth, Theo accepted the bite.
It was cold and minty and fresh and just the best thing that Theo had ever tasted. He swallowed and opened his mouth for another bite. Dario was right there with a big scoop.
As Dario fed him and Wylder enjoyed his own bowl, Mitch sat behind Wylder with one arm around his waist but the other was on Theo’s knee. Alek walked around the bed to sit on the other side. He passed out the bottles of water before he laid a hand on Theo as well.
His mates.
Connection.
Bond.
Fated.
Theo sniffed again. How was this his life? A destiny that included four amazing men. Theo didn’t feel worthy of his mates. Less so now that he knew a little more of where and who he came from. Even as he enjoyed his treat Theo wondered what his mates would think about Bramley and what Theo had learned.
“Enjoy your ice cream,” Alek told him. “We have plenty of time to talk.”
“Do we? What if—” No one was more aware of how things could go wrong. Theo had been worried about all the wrong things. He’d thought his life had been hard before but that was nothing compared to what Theo feared about his future.
“It’s all going to be okay,” Dario said as he offered another bite. “Just eat for right now. You’re safe.”
Safe. No, he wasn’t. Instead of arguing, though, he opened his mouth for another bite.
Wylder offered a spoonful to Mitch, who accepted then made a face.
Theo snorted, nearly choking on his own treat. “Not good?” Theo teased.
“That is the worst thing that I’ve ever tasted,” Mitch complained.
“I can’t believe you even tried it. There is a reason Dario and I said no,” Alek said, amusement lacing his words.
“I didn’t think it would be that bad,” Mitch argued.
