“My mother did that.” Simon looked away but didn’t get off Mitch’s lap. “She trusted her Alpha, and she thought he cared about her. He wasn’t happy when she got pregnant, but she was one of his favorites so he forgave her.” He flicked his gaze back to Mitch. “He told me that when he came to visit once. Those were his exact words. He forgave her. Never mind that he was the one responsible, and I was the result.” Simon shook his head and blinked rapidly. “I made sure to stay out of his way after that. It wasn’t hard. When he needed my mom to”—Simon’s jaw ticked—“meet his needs, he came to this cabin, and I shifted and went for a run.”
“You lived in this cabin?” Mitch asked, shocked at the coincidence and yet not at all surprised. He had been drawn to the place from the moment he’d seen it. Now he realized that he’d likely been attracted by the subtle essence of his mate.
“I was born here. It was far enough away from the center of the pack territory that nobody saw my mom and me unless they came out here or we went there. As long as she stayed available for the Alpha, things were okay. But when puberty hit, and he realized what I was, he said I had to go. He didn’t want anyone finding out he’d sired a male Omega, and a gay one at that.” Simon shook his head. “The feeling’s mutual.”
“Your father—”
“He was never a father to me,” Simon snapped.
Nodding in agreement, Mitch corrected his terminology. “Kristof is dead. He abused his power and surrounded himself with wolves who were just as bad. They’re all gone now, so they can’t hurt you anymore and nobody can keep you out of this pack. If you choose to stay in our cabin, that’s fine. If you choose to meet people one at a time, that’s fine. If you choose to come to a pack gathering and get the whole thing over with at once, that’s fine too. Whatever path you choose, you’re part of the Blue Mountain pack.”
“I miss being in a pack.” The confession was spoken so quietly, Mitch barely heard it. “My mom and I were on the periphery, but that was only after I was born. Before then, she worked in a flower shop so even after I came and she mostly stayed in the cabin, her friends placed orders and she made beautiful arrangements for them. She used to let me help and I loved seeing how happy they were when they picked up our creations.”
Of course he enjoyed that. Simon could try to fight it, but it was in his nature to please the pack, to bring them happiness, and when he’d had that opportunity, he’d found comfort in his role.
“You can have that again, pup. You’re part of this pack.”
“When you called me that the first time, I thought I should tell you to stop.”
“But you didn’t.”
Simon lowered his gaze. “I like it.”
Mitch put his fingers and thumb on Simon’s chin and gently raised it so their eyes met. “You know what? I don’t think we have a flower shop. Not in Blue Mountain and not in the human town. If you enjoyed that work, you can do it again.”
“Thanksgiving’s in a week. I’m supposed to leave not long after that and you’re planning a career for me here?”
“You’re not leaving at the end of the month.”
“I’m not?”
Simon’s limbs loosened, as if tension drained from his body, and Mitch knew his mate finally trusted him enough to let him lead. Relieved at playing the role that came naturally to him, Mitch’s own stress melted away.
“Nope. No more wandering and searching. You’re home now.”
Slowly, Simon nodded. “I’m not sure how it happened, but I don’t think I can leave you.”
“Well, that’s good.” Mitch spread his palm over Simon’s narrow chest, covering most of it with his touch and heat. “Because I wouldn’t let you.”
Where once Simon would have run or fought or argued in response to that declaration, he instead graced Mitch with a devoted expression full of relief, which in turn fed Mitch’s soul, soothing him to his core.
“Do you want to finish watching the movie?” Mitch asked, deciding his mate needed a break from painful memories and hard conversations.
“I didn’t pay attention to the first half.”
Mitch arched his eyebrows.
“Don’t blame me,” Simon said, chuckling softly. “It’s your fault.”
“My fault?”
“Yes! How can you expect me to concentrate on the TV when you’re sitting here all big and muscular and hot?”
“I see.” Mitch smiled so widely his cheeks hurt. “You want to tell me what you were thinking about instead of the movie?”
Simon’s pale, freckled face turned red.
“C’mere.” Mitch curved his hand around the back of Simon’s head and held him in place as he dipped down and brushed their lips together. He kept it gentle and light, kissing Simon a couple of times before licking at the seam of his lips and then sliding his tongue between them and tasting his mate. Simon moaned and then his breath came out in fast puffs. Not wanting their first kiss to result in his mate hyperventilating, Mitch tugged Simon’s lower lip between both of his, and then pulled back.