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CHAPTER ELEVEN

IVAN/ NATHAN

IVAN

Walking up the path to Zane's house, I could feel Nathan's nervous energy radiating beside me.

His usual calm demeanor was replaced by the telltale signs of anxiety—fidgeting hands, quickened breaths, and a slight tension in his shoulders.

I couldn't blame him; meeting my family for the first time was no small feat, especially considering the circumstances that had brought us together.

But Nathan was stronger than he gave himself credit for, and I was determined to help him see that.

We reached the front steps, and Nathan stopped, his hand unconsciously adjusting the collar of his new shirt for the hundredth time.

He’d insisted on dragging me to the mall to pick it out after finding out we were attending my family’s barbecue.

It was a light blue button-up that brought out the warmth in his eyes, but right now, those eyes were wide with worry.

“What if they don’t like me?” he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

I turned to face him, placing my hands firmly on his shoulders. His eyes met mine, searching for reassurance.

“Relax, Nathan. Just be yourself. My family’s not going to eat you up,” I said, giving him a crooked smile, hoping to ease the tension.

Nathan’s lips twitched into a small smile, but his fingers still played with the collar of his shirt.

“You’re very likable,” I added, my tone light and teasing. “Besides, if they don’t like you, that’s their problem, not yours.”

He gave a small, nervous laugh. “Easy for you to say. They’re your family,” Nathan pointed out.

“Exactly. I know them better than anyone, and trust me, you’ve got nothing to worry about.” I leaned in closer, letting my forehead rest against his, our breaths mingling in the space between us.

“You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time, Nathan. If they don’t see that, they’re blind,” I added.

His eyes softened, and the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. I seized the moment, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.

It was a slow, lingering kiss meant to ground him, to remind him that no matter what happened inside that house, we were in this together.

When I pulled back, his cheeks were slightly flushed, and the nervous edge in his eyes had dulled.

“Better?” I asked, my hands still resting on his shoulders.

“A little bit,” he admitted, the corners of his mouth turning up in a shy smile.

Before I could respond, the front door swung open, and Otis, Zane’s mate, appeared with a wide grin on his face.

His dark eyes sparkled with warmth and amusement as he took in the scene before him.

“You know, they’ve been making bets on when you two would finally come inside,” he said with a laugh.

Nathan’s eyes widened again, and the nervousness started creeping back.

“They?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

I slid my arm possessively around his shoulders, tugging him closer to me.

The contact seemed to comfort him, and I felt his muscles relax under my arm.

“Zane, Draven, and Doyle,” Otis explained, stepping aside to usher us in. “Can I take your coats?”

“Yes, thank you,” Nathan replied, his voice a bit steadier now.

He shrugged off his jacket and handed it to Otis.

“You must be... Otis?” Nathan asked, still sounding unsure.

“That’s right,” Otis said, flashing him a warm smile. “I’m so glad we finally get to meet you, Nathan.”

“Um… is that right?” Nathan replied, his nervousness showing through in his hesitant tone.

Otis chuckled. “When Draven mentioned that Ivan had found his special someone, we all started speculating about who you were and what you were like. I’ve been looking forward to this,” Otis told him.

Just then, a boy and a girl, around thirteen and twelve years old, came barreling down the hallway, their hands full of cookies.

They zipped past us, heading toward the backyard, but not before Otis could shout after them, “No running in the house! And didn’t I tell you guys no cookies until you’ve had a proper meal?”

He gave Nathan a pained look, shaking his head. “Those are my kids, Porter and Ariel. They’ve got more energy than sense sometimes,” Otis said.

I grinned at Otis. “I’ll go wrangle them for you.” I turned to Nathan, who shot me a panicked look.

“You’ll do fine,” I mouthed to him before heading toward the backyard, leaving him in Otis’s capable hands.

NATHAN

Otis linked his arm with mine, guiding me further into the house.

“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the others,” he said with a reassuring smile.

As we stepped out onto the back porch, the smell of sizzling meat on the grill and the sound of laughter filled the air.

The yard was neat, with a well-tended garden lining the fence, and strings of lights hanging overhead, giving the gathering a warm, inviting glow.

The barbecue was in full swing, with tables set up under the canopy of an ancient oak tree, laden with food and drinks.

Otis led me toward the group gathered near the grill, where Zane, Draven, and Doyle were talking animatedly with their mates.

My nerves were still buzzing, but Otis’s calm demeanor helped keep me grounded.

First, he introduced me to Draven, who had a serious demeanor and a piercing gaze that seemed to look right through me.

Despite his intensity, he nodded in approval when Otis mentioned my name.

His mate, Tobias, smiled warmly and shook my hand, commenting on how glad they were that Ivan had found someone.

Doyle was next, his easygoing nature immediately apparent as he clapped me on the back, welcoming me to the family.

His mate, Michael, handed me a drink, his smile kind and understanding, clearly trying to ease any lingering tension I might have been feeling.

Finally, Otis brought me over to the grill, where a tall, dark-haired alpha was manning the coals.

He wore a T-shirt that read “World’s Best Dad,” which made me smile despite my nerves.

Zane’s presence was commanding, but not overbearing.

He had an air of authority that was unmistakable, yet it was clear he’d toned it down for the occasion, making the atmosphere more relaxed.

As soon as Zane’s gaze fell on me, a smile broke out on his face.

“You must be Nathan,” he said, extending a hand.

I took it, my grip firm despite the slight tremble in my fingers.

“Yes, sir,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

Should I call him "sir" since he was the lead alpha of Ivan’s pack? Was that too much?

I’d never been in a pack before, since my dad and I were loners, and honestly, no wolf pack would have taken us in either way.

"None of that 'sir' business here," Zane said with a chuckle, clapping me on the shoulder.

I relaxed slightly, realizing that Zane wasn’t as intimidating as I’d feared.

The other alphas joined the conversation, and soon, I was drawn into the easy banter.

My initial nerves melted away as I noticed how welcoming everyone was.

Still, I was relieved when Doyle returned to me after successfully herding Otis’s kids back toward the snack table.

I caught the tail end of a story Doyle was telling about a mishap at work.

Zane noticed Ivan and nodded toward his brother. "You picked a good one, Ivan. He’s a keeper."

I flushed at the compliment. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had said something like that to me.

Ivan slid an arm around my waist, pulling me close.

I leaned into him, resting my head against his shoulder, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.

I was finally starting to relax, letting the sounds and sights of Ivan’s family BBQ wash over me, when the distant roar of a motorcycle engine pierced the calm.

My body tensed involuntarily.

That sound brought back memories I wished I could forget—Reece chasing me through the woods on his bike, the thrum of the engine vibrating in my bones as I ran for my life.

Ivan noticed immediately, his sharp gaze cutting to me.

His hand gently squeezed mine, grounding me, and I could see the question in his eyes.

Then he tilted his head slightly, his expression turning serious as he listened. He’d heard it too.

"Who else did you invite?" Ivan asked, his voice holding a hint of annoyance as he turned to Zane.

Zane glanced up, unperturbed. "Samuel."

Ivan’s scowl deepened, and I couldn’t help but ask, “Who’s that?”

“Samuel,” Ivan began, his tone dry, “is a nomadic dragon alpha Zane takes pity on and sometimes invites to family events. I usually think of him as the cousin no one wants at parties.”

“Be nice,” Zane chided without looking up from the grill. “Samuel just got his heart broken.”

“Again,” Ivan muttered under his breath, his irritation palpable.

Before I could ask more, a dark-haired, muscular alpha strode into the yard, his leather jacket fitting the biker image to a T.

For a moment, my heart stopped, thinking it was Reece.

But I quickly realized it was just my nerves playing tricks on me. There was no way Reece could know where I was, let alone be allowed into Sky Stead.

Ivan had told me about the barrier Zane erected around the town, a magical warning system that alerted him if any hostile paranormal creatures entered the territory. I was safe here.

Samuel walked in like he owned the place, his confident stride bringing him over to Ariel.

“Wow, this party’s in full swing. Hey, kiddo,” Samuel said, ruffling her hair with a playful grin. “Want me to teach you a new trick?”

Ariel’s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. But Zane was quick to intervene.

“Samuel, the last time you came over, you spent 15 minutes with my daughter, and she ended up setting fire to our neighbor’s beloved rose bushes,” Zane said, his tone dry but firm.

“Later, then,” Samuel said with a wink, earning a giggle from Ariel.

He turned his attention to our group, his eyes landing on me with interest. I looked away, uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

“Who’s this cutie?” Samuel asked, clearly directing the question to Ivan.

“That’s Nathan, Ivan’s—” Otis began but didn’t get a chance to finish.

Ivan cut him off with a low, possessive growl, stepping closer to me, his arm tightening around my waist.

The air between them charged with tension as Ivan’s eyes blazed with a warning.

“Mine,” Ivan said, his voice a deep rumble that sent a shiver down my spine. He clenched his jaw as he added, “Back off.”

Samuel raised his hands in mock surrender, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Whoa there, I don’t want any trouble. But if he’s yours, then why isn’t he wearing your mate mark?” Samuel asked.

Ivan’s expression softened just a bit as he glanced down at me, but his voice was smug when he answered, “Soon.”

The blush that crept up my neck was impossible to hide.

The idea of being marked by Ivan, of being his in every way, made my heart race.

Samuel, however, seemed to find amusement in the whole situation, making small talk with me whenever he could.

Each time, Ivan was quick to shut it down, his possessiveness growing more evident with every word Samuel spoke.

At first, I thought Samuel was just teasing, not really interested in me but more in pushing Ivan’s buttons.

But Ivan’s protectiveness, his constant presence by my side, made it clear he wasn’t taking any chances.

Not that I minded one bit. Being wrapped up in Ivan’s strong arms, feeling the steady beat of his heart against mine, made me feel safe, cherished.

I had never experienced anything like it before.

The evening wore on, and I found myself laughing along with the others as Samuel and Ariel ended up setting fire to a nearby apple tree.

Zane’s murderous expression as he approached Samuel, who was trying to put out the flames, was priceless.

“If we end up having a kid who inherited my genes, I’m not letting him or her near Samuel,” Ivan muttered under his breath.

His words made my heart skip a beat, and I couldn’t help but picture it—Ivan and me with a child of our own, maybe living in a cozy house in the suburbs, perhaps even next to Otis and Zane.

I imagined us chasing a little fire-breathing rugrat around the yard, putting out fires both literal and figurative.

It was a crazy thought, one I had never allowed myself to entertain before.

My life had always been about survival, about getting through each day with my father and trying to make ends meet.

There had never been time for dating, let alone dreaming of a future like this.

But now, with Ivan in my life, everything seemed possible.

The idea of us building a life together, having a family, was no longer just a distant fantasy.

It felt real, attainable, like something we could truly have.

I realized I was letting my imagination run wild and flushed, embarrassed by the thoughts racing through my mind. Ivan noticed and swore softly under his breath.

“I shouldn’t have mentioned that,” Ivan said, his tone apologetic. “Kids, I mean. It’s too soon.”

“Not at all,” I said, reaching for his hand, wanting to reassure him. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

The look in Ivan’s eyes softened, and he pulled me closer, brushing his lips against mine in a tender kiss.

“You really mean that?” he asked, his voice a low murmur that only I could hear.

I nodded, feeling a swell of emotion in my chest.

“Yeah, I do. I’ve always wanted kids, but I never thought it would be possible. Not until now,” I told him.

Ivan’s grip tightened on my hand, his thumb stroking over my knuckles as he gazed at me.

“I take it you’re feeling better and more relaxed now?” Ivan asked.

“Yeah. A lot better. Your family’s great, Ivan. I was so worried about nothing,” I admitted.

Ivan brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes, his fingers lingering on my cheek.

“Told you there was nothing to worry about. They love you, just like I do,” Ivan pointed out.

Then he leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to my lips.

As the evening drew to a close and the last of the food was packed away, Zane approached us, a knowing smile on his face.

“We’re doing this again next month. You two better be there,” Zane said, giving us both a pointed look.

“We wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I replied, squeezing Nathan’s hand.

Zane nodded, satisfied. “Good. Because next time, you’re helping with the grill, Nathan,” Zane said.

I laughed. “I’ll do my best, Zane. But no promises,” I told him.

“That’s all I ask,” Zane said.

As we made our way back to the front of the house, I turned to Ivan.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Ivan said, his expression turning serious, so intense that my pulse spiked. “And I meant what I told Samuel earlier. I intend to make you truly mine, Nathan.”

“When?” I whispered, maybe a little too eagerly, but Ivan didn’t seem to mind.

“Tonight,” Ivan replied with a wicked grin.