Page 12

12

CAMERON

Neither of us spoke much on the drive as we both seemed to be lost in our thoughts. The mountains spread along the horizon while fields and trees blurred past us on either side.

I looked over to Jamie and saw his fingers fidgeting with his hoodie cords, stretching and twisting the fabric like he was as nervous as I was. “You doing okay over there?”

He blinked as if he were waking up from a trance, and gave me the sideways smile that always made my heart beat faster.

“Yeah, I’m good.” His grin stretched wider but didn’t reach his eyes.

He was quiet for a moment before he turned in the seat to face me. “Is there any chance they won’t let me leave with you?”

I reached over and grabbed his hand, then pulled it to my lips and kissed it. “I think they can try, but there’s no way in hell I’m going anywhere without you.”

He watched our fingers tangled together like they were some kind of promise. “You’re right. It doesn’t matter what they say.” His hand went to his belly where I often saw it resting. “Besides, no one can deny you’re my mate with your cub in my belly.”

Fuck, I loved hearing him talk like that. My cock went hard and my lust ramped up. Maybe we’d have to make a quick motel stop just before getting to his family home. I needed just a little bit more alone time with my mate. “No one will.”

The road curved, and the car lurched to the side. “I know this is all a surprise because it happened so fast, but fate doesn’t mess around. When it happens, it happens.”

Jamie leaned over the console and placed his head on the side of my arm. “I’m glad it did.”

My heart beat so loud I was sure he could hear it over the rattle and hum of the engine. “Me too.”

“Cam.”

I smiled and glanced over at him. “What?”

“Do you think they’ll be excited?”

He’d asked me so many times I knew exactly what he meant. “Yes. After they’re a little bit shocked.”

“And a big bit angry,” he said, teasing again. “But they have nine months to get over it.”

“Nine months?”

“Maybe it’ll take less than that.” I didn’t want to set him up for disappointment but I truly did believe his family would be happy for us.

His eyes got soft and serious. “Maybe.”

We hit a straight stretch of highway, and I let the engine open up, anxious to just get there.

When I finally pulled up in front of the house I’d visited just a week earlier, the place looked different. Modest but homey. Jamie’s dad stood on the front porch with his arms crossed over his chest, staring down at me like he wanted to take my head off.

My palms were sweaty on the wheel, and I barely had the car in park before Jamie bolted from the cab. I watched his dad’s face relax and then crumble as he pulled his son into his arms and held him.

“Come on, Cameron.” Jamie waved me over and then turned his attention back to his dad. “Meet the family.”

Alright, Cameron. Get it together.

His dad glared at me as I approached. “You mate all the omegas you’re hired to find?”

Jamie’s face fell and he took a step back, closer to me. “Dad! Don’t talk to him like that. Neither of us knew this would happen but we’re grateful that it did. I hope you can support us but if you can’t we’ll leave now.”

I wrapped my arm around Jamie and held him at my side. “I’m sorry if this is upsetting to you but I love your son and we’re happy. That’s all that should matter to you.”

He stared at me for a long moment before he exhaled and nodded once. “Yeah, okay. Come inside then.”

“Thank you.” I kept Jamie close to me. He probably thought I was just supporting him but the truth was that I was drawing strength from him. “I appreciate your hospitality.”

“You don’t expect me to pay you for this, do you?” Mr. White had the faintest hint of a smile, and I knew he was testing me.

“Not at all, sir.” I gave Jamie a squeeze. “I’ve got everything I need right here.”

His dad chuckled and clapped a heavy hand on Jamie’s shoulder. “So I was right, huh?” He pointed to Jamie’s belly. “I’m gonna be a grandpa?”

Jamie nodded as his eyes swelled up.

“Good.” Mr. White pulled his son in for another hug and then did the same to me. “Thank you, Cameron. For bringing my boy home and fulfilling his responsibility for mating.”

Jamie broke the moment with a frustrated sigh. “Dad, we didn’t mate to make the pack happy. We did it for us.”

His dad looked at him with a level of respect that I thought might be new. “Well, then, I’m proud of you. Both of you.”

A moment later, two blurs raced through the back door and landed on my mate. “Jamie!” one of them yelled as he practically climbed up Jamie’s torso. He was small but stocky. Definitely alpha. The other was right behind him. Probably a few years older and a little calmer. I could already feel the mischief pouring out from those two.

“Told you he’d come back,” said the bigger one before he crashed into Jamie like they hadn’t seen him in years.

“Took long enough.” The little one pushed in between his brothers, giving them no room to breathe. “We got bored.”

“You’re always bored.” Jamie ruffled the smaller one’s hair then looked at me with something like triumph in his eyes. “Cameron, these monsters are my brothers. Jesse is the one hanging off my neck and Jack is the mature one. He’s thirteen now and doesn’t get excited about stuff anymore.”

“I get excited about stuff.” Jack looked over at me and shrugged. “Just not people.”

I grinned. Just wait, kid. It’ll happen so fast you’ll have no idea what hit you.

They studied me, curious about why I was still there after delivering their brother like I was hired to do.

“Hi, guys. It’s nice to meet you both.”

They edged back with their eyes flicking back and forth between me and Jamie. “Are you his friend?” Jesse seemed to be the talker.

“He’s my mate.” Jamie sounded proud to say it and I sure as hell was proud to hear it.

Jesse narrowed his eyes at Jamie. “And your friend?”

“Yes.” I took Jamie’s hand and held it to my chest. “My best friend.”

Jesse cocked his head and then smiled. “Cool.”

Jamie laughed, big and bright. “Know what else is cool? Cameron and I are having a baby so you’re gonna be uncles.”

“Yes!” They tackled us both like it was a game for them. “Are you gonna be our other brother?”

It was the first time anyone had accepted me so easily. “Yeah, I think I am.”

Jamie was asleep next to me, curled up with his head on my chest. He’d never looked more peaceful, and I couldn’t imagine ever wanting to be anywhere else. Not in the city. Not in the mountains. Just here, close to the family he loved so much.

I kissed the top of his head, breathing him in because I couldn’t get enough of him.

He stirred and opened his eyes with a smile. “I’m dreaming of sexy times.”

I chuckled. “The walls are pretty thin here. Not sure how we’re gonna make that happen.”

Jamie rolled over and stood up from his childhood bed. I caught him around the waist and pulled him back to me. “We need to find a place of our own.”

I held on to him, carrying his weight against me. “I’ve already found a few options. We can go look at them now, if you’re up for it.”

That woke him up. “Really? Where? Not too close, right? But not too far. I need my babysitters close by.”

I brushed the hair from his eyes, running my thumb along the line of his cheek. “Ten minute drive, max. Not too close but not too far.”

“I’ve gotta pee and then we can go.” He got up again and headed to the bathroom. “Cameron?”

I looked up from the text message I was writing to the realtor. “Yeah.”

His eyes met mine and I felt exactly what he was about to say. “I love you.”

I could hardly breathe whenever I heard him say that. “I love you, too.”

We looked at three houses before finding the perfect little house in the perfect little town. It had more room than we needed, but not more than we wanted. The second we walked inside, Jamie’s eyes were huge and I knew he was in love with it.

I was too. The best part was that the woods backed up to the yard so we’d have plenty of space for our pups to run. It was going to be our home.

“Think it’ll work?” I squeezed Jamie to my side as we looked in the room that was already decorated as a nursery.

He nodded and kissed my shoulder. “It’s perfect.”

And it was. The house. The man. Our life. Absolutely perfect.