Page 11 of Back to You (Legendary Shifters #14)

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RONAN WHISTLED ON HIS way to Cam’s house. His phone kept vibrating in his hand, but he’d had to stop checking it every time it happened because he’d almost walked into a tree several times.

This was what Vincent was doing to him.

It felt like when they’d first met and had started dating.

After the heavy conversation they’d had in Rosewood, they’d promised they’d keep in touch, and they had.

They’d both been hesitant at first, and their conversations on the phone and texts had been stilted, but Ronan had always known how to make Vincent feel comfortable.

Of the two of them, Ronan was the quiet one, but Vincent had never been quiet.

Ronan hadn’t expected him to be as comfortable with him as he’d been during the relationship, but it hadn’t taken long for Vincent to start rambling about his favorite TV show over texts and phone conversations.

He’d even started sending Ronan videos of other people talking about the show.

Ronan hadn’t watched TV in a long time. He wasn’t that interested, but he was interested in Vincent and everything he did.

If he had to listen to his mate rant about the show killing one of his favorite characters, he would.

He’d always loved how passionate his mate was, and he was glad to see that it hadn’t changed over the years and losses.

His phone vibrated again, and this time, he couldn’t resist the urge to lift it to check the screen. Vincent’s name was there, and seeing it made Ronan smile.

It also made him stumble on a root. He swore and caught himself with his free hand, scraping his palm against the bark of the closest tree. He glared at the thing, but it wasn’t the tree’s fault. It was Ronan’s.

No one would blame him for being distracted.

Hell, he’d seen some of the people who lived here and were in committed relationships with their mates do even stupider things.

Just the other day, Matt had been climbing a tree in an attempt to talk to his mate after they’d had a fight.

The poor man hadn’t gotten very far. He was lucky that his mate had wings in his shifted form because otherwise, he would’ve had a hard landing.

Ronan didn’t open the app that he and Vincent used to talk.

He was supposed to meet Cam, and if he started checking his messages, he’d get distracted.

Cam wouldn’t mind, but after everything the man had done for Ronan, it didn’t feel right to make him wait, especially because they were supposed to talk about Vincent.

It was hard to resist, especially when Ronan knew that Vincent had thought he’d left him.

Would Vincent be afraid that Ronan had ghosted him again if he didn’t answer?

He should know better, especially now, but they’d both been hurt.

Vincent felt strongly that Ronan had it worse because he’d thought that Vincent was dead, but Ronan wasn’t sure about that.

Yes, he’d thought Vincent was dead, but that meant he’d known that Vincent hadn’t wanted to leave him.

On the other hand, Vincent had believed that Ronan didn’t love him anymore.

He’d thought he’d done something wrong that had pushed Ronan to leave without even telling him there was a problem.

As far as Ronan was concerned, that was worse.

Vincent had believed that Ronan was out there, living his life and not caring about him.

They’d both thought they would never see the other again, but that hadn’t been the worst part.

That part was over. They’d found each other again, and while Ronan was still hurt and confused, he was also hopeful.

It was obvious from their communication that Vincent was a different man, but so was Ronan.

Losing each other and the years they’d spent apart meant they needed to get to know each other again, and that was what they were doing.

Fulton wasn’t a threat to either of them anymore. He wasn’t a threat to anyone.

He was dead. Before dying, he’d lost everything that had ever been important to him, from his money to his son.

Vincent and Ronan, on the other hand, had everything they could ever have dreamed of.

Fulton had been defeated. With him gone, it was even more important to Ronan that he and Vincent give each other a real chance at happiness.

He bounced up the porch steps and knocked on Cam and Toby’s back door. He could hear them in the kitchen, and it didn’t take long for Toby to swing the door open. He arched a brow at Ronan, then waved him in.

“The last time you were here, it took you half an hour to knock.”

Cam snorted. “The last time he was here, he didn’t knock. I opened it for him and gave him coffee.”

Toby nodded. “Right. But look at him now. He’s smiling.”

Ronan tried to school his expression, but it was useless. “I have my mate back.”

He wasn’t surprised when Toby smiled back. “I’m so incredibly happy for you. How are things going with Vincent?”

Cam gestured at Ronan to sit at the kitchen table, and Ronan did so easily. He wasn’t surprised when Toby grabbed a mug from one of the cupboards. They always offered refreshments when Ronan visited, even if it was only for a few minutes so that Cam could check in on him.

Cam sat in front of Ronan. He was relaxed, and he didn’t seem to expect their conversation to go sideways. He’d given Ronan several days to find his way around Vincent, and Ronan was ready to tell him about it.

“I take it things are going well with Vincent?” Cam asked.

“Better than I could have expected. We haven’t seen each other again yet after the conversation we had at the park, but I think we’re both relieved about that. We need some time apart to wrap our minds around what happened and what will happen in the future.”

“I can’t even imagine what it would be like for me to believe that Cam was dead for years,” Toby murmured as he placed a full cup of coffee in front of Ronan. “I don’t know how you survived that.”

“People are resilient.”

“But resilient enough to lose their mates and continue living the way you and Vincent did? I don’t know if I would be that strong.”

Ronan hoped Toby would never have to find out.

He wanted Toby and Cam to have a long and happy life together, and since he was part of pack security, he might have a hand in making sure they got that.

These people had welcomed him into their pack when they didn’t have to.

They were giving him the opportunity to fix things with Vincent.

They were supporting him through all of it, and Ronan knew he only had to ask to get their help.

“Tell us about Vincent,” Cam said.

Ronan smiled. He could talk about Vincent for hours, but that wasn’t what Cam was asking. “I don’t think he had anything to do with what his father did. I was hesitant in the beginning, but I’m sure of it now.”

Cam slowly nodded. “I love that you trust your mate that strongly, but I hope you understand that I can’t do the same. It’s clear that you and Vincent are headed into a relationship, and I want you to have that, but I need to protect my pack.”

Ronan’s mood soured. He swallowed and told himself not to snap at him. He did understand that Cam needed to be cautious. He wasn’t only thinking about himself. He was responsible for the entire pack and his mate. “What do you want me to do?”

“Nothing. I want you to continue spending time with your mate and being happy.”

“You don’t want me to spy on him?”

“I wouldn’t ask that of you. We know people who know people. I believe you met Braden, actually.”

Ronan remembered the man. “I have.” Meeting Braden felt like it happened a lifetime ago. It was before Ronan found out that Vincent was alive.

“He’s not a pack member, so he’ll stay impartial. I’d like to ask him to look into Vincent. That way, we can be one hundred percent sure that he had nothing to do with what Fulton did and that he’s not planning anything to hurt the pack or you.”

Ronan felt guilty about saying yes, but he didn’t have a choice. Besides, that felt fair. Cam had to think about his pack, and Ronan knew that Vincent wouldn’t mind. If he had nothing to hide, he’d be fine with Braden or anyone else looking into his life.

Ronan prayed he would be.

* * * *

VINCENT DIDN’T EVEN have the time to leave his bedroom when he heard a knock on the front door. He turned from where he was staring inside his closet, and the door opened. Only two people had a key other than Vincent, and his mother was on a cruise right now, so it couldn’t be her.

“Ready to talk about what happened with Ronan?” Peter asked as he walked into the bedroom. “I didn’t bring alcohol this time, but I can run downstairs to the store if you need me to.”

Vincent was pretty sure that his smile told Peter everything he needed to know. Peter frowned and cocked his head, staring at Vincent for a moment before nodding. “Alcohol not needed. Must be nice.”

Vincent didn’t like those words, but he didn’t have the time to worry about them right now. “It went well,” he confirmed. So well that they were meeting again. He turned back to his closet. “I don’t know what to wear.”

“What’s the occasion?”

Vincent sighed. “It’s complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it, then. I need to know what you're dressing for to help.”

“I’m seeing Ronan today.”

“Seeing as in you’re just going to see him? Or seeing as in you’re going to see more of him than I would ever want to?”

The words startled a laugh out of Vincent. “I don’t think either of us is ready for that.”

“Why not? You’ve been together for years.”

“We were together for years. We also haven’t been together for years, and he thought I was dead.”

“I don’t see what that has to do with anything. Clearly, you’re very much alive. I don’t understand why he wouldn’t want to jump back into bed with you.”

“Maybe I don’t want to jump back into bed with him.”

Peter snorted. “Please.”