Page 46
We decided to start with the bigger challenge.
My father.
The next morning, we went to DevApp together to meet my father. I had a missed call from him yesterday, and I still hadn’t returned it.
We chose his office instead of a formal home visit because we wanted to face him directly, while he was alone.
Winter dressed sharply in a suit, while I wore a T-shirt with the print ‘Forever His,’ and an arrow pointing right. I made sure to position myself so that the arrow always pointed toward Winter.
We also both decided to stop using scent-masking deodorants, just to make our situation obvious to everyone.
I could see only faint tension on Winter’s face, but thanks to our bond, I knew he was pretty concerned on the inside. There was no possibility of fully hiding our feelings anymore, not with TM magic connecting us.
When my father’s voice invited us inside, we went in, not holding hands just yet.
The moment we entered, he raised an eyebrow at the sight of us together but didn’t get up. His face remained unmoved, impassive. He had his laptop in front of him and stayed seated, not making any gesture as we approached his desk.
"Father, I have some news that might surprise you," I said.
His eyes moved over my face and then to Winter’s. Not a muscle twitched.
"I doubt it could surprise me, but let’s give it a try," he said flatly.
Not the best opening, but okay.
"Winter and I are True Mates."
Silence.
So I had managed to surprise you after all, Fa… I thought with a sense of satisfaction.
The silence lasted suspiciously long. His gaze dropped toward his desk.
For a moment, he was completely still, his brain surely working in overdrive, realizing what this would mean for the whole family.
"Is it confirmed?" he asked in a calm tone.
I pulled out the printed veradiol test result from my pocket, rolled up, and handed it to him without a word. He studied the piece of paper for a moment. I exchanged a glance with Winter. Only then did I take his hand.
My father looked up from the results, noticing our gesture but not commenting on it.
"It says here: Blood, source: brought by the patient."
I sighed. "Blue took my blood half an hour before I went to Winter. You can ask him. I needed a sample before and after for the comparison of veradiol levels."
He leaned over the result again. Almost a full minute passed in silence… then he stood up, and slowly walked over to us, but not to me first.
Father suddenly stooped, nostrils flaring as his gaze darted between me and Winter. After a deep breath, he stepped closer to Winter and stared at him for a long moment, his nose still subtly twitching. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "Are you pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Is Sariel the father?"
"Yes."
There was a moment of silence.
Then my father did something I would never have expected from him. He opened his arms and hugged Winter, pulling him tightly to his chest.
I froze. My father wasn’t as averse to physical contact as Blue, but he didn’t rush into hugs either. Yet here he was, making an exception.
My mouth fell open as I stared at the scene. Winter was extremely stiff in the embrace.
But it wasn’t the end.
Father put him at arm's length and stated, "I read Sariel’s interview with Victor. I respect how heroic you were, how you took all the burden on yourself to provide him with food, as his foot was injured. And how you saved his life. You are a righteous man and let me just say…"
He suddenly let out a strange, huffing laugh and exclaimed, "Dear Fate! You’re a godsend, Winter! I can’t imagine a better co-owner for DevApp than you. That kid would’ve sunk the company!"
Now the surprise turned into shock and… irritation. My father never stopped being a businessman, even now!
"Fa! Seriously?! I wouldn’t sink the company!"
"Sariel is a very good and reliable employee, Jacob. I don’t think you need to worry about the company’s future," Winter unexpectedly said, his shoulders straightening, his chin lifting slightly, as if challenging my father’s opinion of me. I felt a wave of warmth because… he was standing by me.
"In any case, I’m not worried at all now, because I know YOU won’t let it sink," my father said firmly, ignoring my wincing grimace. Then he darted me a pointed glance.
"Well, I admit it, Sariel. You’ve surprised me. Point for you."
"Wait, there’s another one!" I smirked mischievously. "Your nose failed you a bit. The scent you caught is not only from Winter—it’s from me too. I’m also pregnant."
For the first time, I saw an actual expression of surprise on my father’s face. That was a rarity for him. So, maybe… even a double point for me?
Then unexpectedly, he glanced at Winter, his brows furrowed.
"Did you fuck my son?"
Winter seemed stunned by the directness. And I gaped my mouth. From all possible reactions, this one was the most bizarre!
"Well, I wouldn’t call it fucking. It was… making love," Winter responded calmly.
But I was far from being calm. "What the hell, Fa! You were just told you will have two grandkids and…"
"I’m very happy about the grandkids, don’t worry about it," he cut it short and turned around, heading toward his desk.
"And aren’t you even the least bit surprised that I can get pregnant, Fa?" I blurted out.
Father leaned against the edge of the desk, and directed his gaze at me, "Do you think I’m stupid, son?"
I fell silent, swallowing hard.
"When you were born, Doctor Wilson said we should genetically test both our children because I’m a gamma. We had those tests done discreetly, without telling the family, as we didn’t want you to grow up thinking you were different…"
"And yet, I still felt different…" I muttered.
"That was for other reasons. Doctor Wilson told us that sigma genetics were poorly understood—more of a theory—and their births were basically urban legends. His knowledge didn’t allow him to predict exactly how your development would go. But he did mention that there was a high chance you’d be a hermaphrodite like me."
"Why didn’t you tell me about this?"
Father folded his arms across his chest.
"When you had your first heat, you went straight to Blue. I knew my brother could help you, maybe better than I could. By the way, Doctor Wilson was Blue’s direct subordinate, so I kept my finger on the pulse. He passed away last year, unfortunately. But I have to admit, it was disappointing that you didn’t tell us, your parents, first about what you discovered."
I grimaced. "Don’t put it on me! I still think you should have told me first! You’re my sire!"
"Doctor Wilson said that you might never reveal the hermaphroditism, it wasn’t certain. Remember, I didn’t know I was a gamma for years. If you hadn’t been born, I would never have known. I didn’t want to disrupt your life without being sure whether being a hermaphrodite would truly affect it."
Raising my head straight, I stepped toward him.
"But it has. I’m pregnant. You’ll have two grandkids at once."
My father tilted his head slightly, then made one step toward me and put his hands on my shoulders.
"Son, even if you don’t think I’m the best father… I’ll try to be the best grandfather I can be. I promise you that. I’m really happy that my family is growing." He made an abrupt turn to Winter, eyeing him inquisitively.
"The surname… I’d like you to keep ours and give it to the kids. I hope that’s not a problem?"
Winter looked a bit stunned.
"Of course not," he replied, surprisingly calm. "Or we could always add a little hyphen in between…" He smiled slyly.
My father winced slightly but didn’t say anything. He darted me a glance and slowly nodded.
"So, after all, you were right. You’ve managed to surprise me, Sariel and… these are great surprises," he added, placing one hand on my shoulder but the other on Winter’s. "All that’s left for me is to congratulate you both. I’m happy for you!"
"Thank you, I appreciate it, Jacob," Winter said solemnly.
Then, suddenly, Father furrowed his brows. "But you’re not planning to take time off for the pregnancy, are you? We’re starting The Strong Start project next month. I need you in charge of that."
Winter blinked and replied, "But I quit my job…"
"Nonsense! I never accepted your resignation, you ran away so quickly. And you didn’t take my call, which is unacceptable."
"I apologize, I was in a… turbulent state."
Father’s face changed a bit, becoming a bit more understanding.
"I can imagine. I’m sorry I put you through that… conversation we had. I was… out of line. And I didn’t know what really happened on the island. After reading the interview, I realized how wrong I had been."
Gaping, my mouth, I stared at my father. Wow, was he saying sorry? That was so rare for him. Winter stared at him too, obviously unsure what to answer.
"So. No time off during pregnancy?" Father was quickly back to being himself again, and I just had to roll my eyes.
"As long as my health holds up, I’ll be working," Winter assured him in a polite tone.
"Excellent. It will hold up. True Mates have their advantages," he summarized with a definite tone.
We all stood in silence for a while, then my father rubbed his chin and said to Winter, with a slightly awkward tone,
"I can scent your Allure now."
Winter slowly nodded.
"Well, yes, my bond with Sariel awakened it in me."
Father took another inhale and muttered something I couldn’t decipher, "Now I understand certain things… it all fits."
"Wait. What do you mean?" I needed to know.
He pursed his lips and patted them with one finger.
"He’s my High Mate, Sariel."
"Fuck!" I growled, clenching my jaw, instinctively pulling Winter a bit back to put some space between him and my sire.
But Father only snorted contemptuously. "Don’t be a child, Sariel." His voice was icy. "I never did anything, and I never would. It often happens in families with True Mates. It’s almost certain the relatives will have high mateship to each other. But nothing trumps the power of a TM relationship, so keep yourself together."
Winter responded with seriousness.
"I can confirm it. From what I know about my family, my brother Rain’s partner is also a High Mate for two of my other brothers. And Soren is a High Mate for three of them. So I’m not surprised at all, and I’m grateful for the professional conduct you’ve always shown around me, Jacob. I admire and appreciate it a lot."
My father responded with a firm nod, then he glanced at his phone.
"Now, get back to work, Winter, it’s already past eight. I need you in this company—my son-in-law or not, there’s work waiting."
Winter made a little bow with his head. He was far more respectful toward my father than I was, but I suppose it made sense. When he joined the company at nineteen, my father was his first boss and mentor. Their relationship had always been rooted in mutual esteem. For me, though… well, it had been a lot more complicated. Emotions, rebellion, and all that.
Now, I had to accept that my father wasn’t likely to change his approach toward me. He’d always been, above all, a businessman.
But I was glad he valued and accepted Winter. Our future felt a lot more relaxed now.
***
For the weekend, we planned to visit Winter's parents and tell them the news in person.
He’d wanted to call them at first, but I was the one who changed his mind after watching him closely.
When the workday ended, and we headed back to his place, we barely made it two minutes into the apartment before we were making love. It was just in us, the need to be close, powerful, overwhelming.
The whole time, I could sense a rising impatience in him, excitement he tried to futilely keep contained. I’d already seen it start to surface back at the lab during our bloodwork. At that point, the news hadn’t fully hit him yet. He seemed to be taking it all in stride.
Then came the conversation with my father. On one level, it seemed to put him at ease. But on a deeper level, the inner exhilaration grew even stronger!
After that, Winter finally sat down to read the interview with me in East Times. I discreetly went out to the terrace to give him some space, as I could sense him, almost like his nervous system was attached to mine, slightly trembling, deeply touched as he read how I told our story to the world. He saw himself through my eyes, and he knew, without a doubt, what he meant to me.
Later, we, of course, made love again, gently and tenderly, and there were moments where I could even see a hint of wetness in his eyes.
But all this didn’t stop the inner, impatient energy that was gradually building in Winter.
With every passing hour, I felt the change spreading through him like ripples on water, widening with time.
During our dinner, Winter would pause mid-motion and smile to himself.
Then he’d burst into a sudden chuckle, as if the irony of it all had just struck him.
A moment later, he’d freeze again, staring into space with a faraway look in his eyes, as if he were visualizing the future and running through scenarios in his mind.
Seeing him like that was what made me suggest we skip the phone call, pack a few essentials, and visit his family right away.
His reaction was pretty enthusiastic, and it landed us back in bed for half an hour.
After a quick shower, we were ready.
As we headed down to the parking lot, Winter was beaming. I could tell he was trying to compose himself, aiming for the classic, impassive Winter, but his happiness showed through in tiny gestures and fleeting microexpressions.
This version of him, buzzing with secret excitement, felt younger, more energetic. I had the strange sense that we were suddenly the same age, as if our Bond had quietly reshaped him from the inside out. Maybe it wasn’t just a feeling. The magic of True Mates could rejuvenate partners, so who knows, maybe it had done exactly that.
In any case, something in him had finally let go. Something that had quietly weighed him down, that subtle low-key depression I’d sensed in him before, had lifted.
On the drive over, Winter talked a lot. About our future, how we’d divide responsibilities, how we’d balance parenting and careers, how we’d raise our kids. He even went on a rant about his decision to buy such a big, luxurious apartment, despite being a beta and having no plans for a family at the time. Still, he’d chosen a place roomy enough to fit one.
I listened, smiling, kind of amazed. For the first time since I’d met him, his words were spontaneous, almost chaotic. Like the joy inside him didn’t care about the details. He just let the ideas flow. He let himself be happy.
And it was contagious .
When we arrived, Winter shot out of the car like a firecracker. I nearly burst out laughing and followed after him as he raced through the backyard and into the living room through the patio doors. I hurried to catch up, eager to see what would happen next.
His dad was in the kitchen with some older beta. When he saw Winter, he turned quickly, just in time for Winter to grab him and lift him clean off the floor, spinning him around.
"Winter, baby, what is it now, more spinning? Put me down! I told you, you’ll throw your back out!" his dad said with a giggle.
But Winter gave a completely unexpected reply.
"It’s fine, Dad. I can regenerate in a day!"
A thick silence fell.
His dad stared at his face for a long moment, then slowly turned his eyes toward mine.
I gave him a wide, helpless grin. He smiled back, and it was the most beautiful smile. Not that I was objective, Winter had definitely inherited those lips from him.
"Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?"
"Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying, Dad. Something amazing happened, something unbelievable, impossible… and yet, here we are!"
"Well, I guess I owe Storm five hundred bucks," came another voice from deeper inside the house.
A tall alpha stepped into view, and I recognized him as Winter’s father.
He walked up toward us… actually toward me, then suddenly opened his arms and pulled me into a bear hug.
"Welcome to the family, Sariel! I have to admit, I had my doubts when Storm saw your photo and said, ‘That’s Winter’s True Mate,’ but… he wasn’t wrong."
Winter blinked and huffed.
"Wait, Storm told you this? Then why didn’t anyone say anything? I could’ve saved myself so much second-guessing. And I thought Snow was the family expert on magical bonds or whatever."
His father laughed lightly.
"You know how it is with Storm. No one in this family wants to admit he’s right… until we all do eventually. That’s just how it works."
"Probably just to keep his ego from getting too big," Winter muttered dryly.
"There’s another reason," his dad said suddenly. "Snow believes that some things need to unfold on their own, that you shouldn’t rush them. So we all agreed not to make a big deal about Storm’s revelation. We hoped it would come out naturally, and it did. Because truthfully, it always does. Once the magic of True Mates takes hold, it never strays. There’s no need to force it."
Winter considered his words, his eyes focusing on my face. He smiled lightly, then slowly nodded.
"You might be right. Some things need time and space to bloom. Sometimes the… other magic has to happen before the TM magic can take hold. It shouldn’t be pushed or rushed. It’s like… pregnancy and childbirth, isn’t it?"
His eyes lit up. "Which reminds me: more news is on the way. You’re going to be grandparents again!"
But if he expected a surprise, he was disappointed.
His dad smiled gently.
"Oh, sweetheart, we already knew. When you were staying here before, you forgot your suppressant spray once or twice. And after eight births, trust me, I know that scent anywhere." He winked.
"But that’s not the end of the surprises," Winter said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "I’m not the only one who’s pregnant."
Then he looked straight at me.
I felt the blush rise, but I spread my arms and said, "Guilty as charged."
That was when his dad’s eyes widened in shock, the reaction Winter had clearly been waiting for. Then he gave a funny hop and let out a surprised squeak.
"No way! Are you serious?"
With my chin up, I stood tall.
"I’m not an alpha," I said, feeling a new energy surge through those words. For the first time, I was speaking my truth to the world (my father didn’t really count, since he’d clearly known from the start). The weight of the moment made my heart race, but I steadied myself and continued calmly:
"I’m a sigma."
Judging by the looks on their faces, his parents had no idea what I meant.
So Winter stepped in, offering a quick explanation of what the subgender meant and what came with it. They listened intently, then both looked at me again, and in their eyes, I saw excitement, kindness, and… acceptance.
Winter’s dad stepped forward, arms out again. I pulled him close, feeling emotion tighten my throat.
Could it really be this simple?
All my life, I had feared this moment. I’d braced myself for rejection, for being called a freak. But instead, I was welcomed. Just like that. And something inside me, something hollow, finally felt full.
"So we have a dual pregnancy," Winter added. "Kind of like twins. We’re both carrying each other’s child. I’m the sire of Sariel’s baby, and he’s the sire of mine."
"Well, I can see you two didn’t spend your time on that island just watching for drones," Winter’s father muttered, pulling a slightly facetious expression.
A blush crept up Winter’s cheeks.
"Well, we had to keep ourselves warm during those long hours somehow, waiting for a rescue team."
His dad smirked and waved his hand.
"Good thing you had something nice going on there. You suffered enough beyond that. I’m so incredibly happy that you two found each other! That we have another fated pair in our family. Now everything will work out just fine, that’s how True Mate magic operates," he said with a kind of seriousness, his eyes wide and bright.
Winter suddenly glanced toward the door. Standing there was Snow, and half-hidden in his shadow, the small, timid figure of some guy. I was pretty sure it was the famous Summer Larsen.
Through my bond with Winter, I knew why he hadn’t moved toward them yet. He wanted to respect who Summer was: anxious, shy, easily overwhelmed.
"You heard the big news, right?" Winter called out, beaming. "We’re True Mates, and you’re going to be an uncle. Twice over!"
It wasn’t enough. I felt like I had to do something. After all, I was standing before the two people who had made the difference between me existing … and not.
With a solemn expression, I stepped forward toward Snow. His pale violet eyes met mine, and I’d never seen anything like them. They were strange, almost alien. I felt a little intimidated, but I extended my hand, and he took it.
"Thank you for saving my life, Snow," I said respectfully. "And you too, I owe you my life," I added, smiling at Summer, and I made a small bow of my head.
Then I hesitated, unsure if I should offer him my hand too, but something in Snow’s energy, a slight tension when I moved even a little toward Summer, hinted that it wouldn’t be a good idea.
So I didn’t reach out. Summer’s big eyes watched me cautiously, but he said nothing, just melted a little deeper into Snow’s shadow.
Snow said nothing either. From what Winter had told me back on the island, that was just how he was: quiet, reserved. He only gave a small nod and offered a subtle, almost imperceptible smile.
"You know," I added, "by saving Winter and me… you actually saved four lives."
Suddenly, I noticed everybody was staring at me, so I cleared my throat.
"That day, the ocean took everyone else. All the other passengers. So I’m doubly grateful for the chance I’ve been given. And I’ll always be in your debt."
Winter’s dad stepped up beside us then, took my hand in one of his and Winter’s in the other.
"And now," he said warmly, "I invite you all to dinner. Jordan and I"—he gestured toward the older beta standing discreetly in the kitchen, trying to be invisible amid all the family revelations—"we cooked earlier, and let’s just say we went a little overboard. There’s more than enough to go around. I hope you’re hungry?"
"Absolutely," I said with a grin. "Now we’re eating for…" I paused, "…four?"
Winter gave me a small smile.
We headed toward the table, and soon dinner was underway. Before long, Winter’s younger brother Bay joined us too, having just returned from a small outdoor concert.
We sat, we ate, we talked. The conversation wandered across all sorts of topics, mostly circling around True Mates and the strange, beautiful things that came with the Bond . At one point, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen: Blue.
A smirk tugged at my lips as I excused myself and stepped outside to take the call.
"Well, well, well. Now I’m the last one to find out the big news?" Blue’s grumpy voice buzzed in my ear.
"Yeah, sucks, doesn’t it?" I chuckled.
"Don’t be a smartass. But congratulations. Can’t say I’m surprised. Their family has unusually high compatibility with ours."
There was a pause, full of hidden meanings.
"And congrats on the double pregnancy. You two are in for a lot of work with barely any paid leave. Jacob already said he’s signing over the guesthouse at the top of the DevApp tower for you. Says it can be your second apartment. Winter can chestfeed there and… work, just ride the elevator a few floors down."
"Wait, seriously? He’s already planning our parenting logistics?"
"Of course. It’s in the blood. Every Lowen thinks five steps ahead."
"Jeez. No wonder Winter’s my fated. He’s all about that mindset, too."
As I was wrapping up with Blue, a strange sensation crawled up my spine. I felt someone staring at me.
I ended the call, turned, and flinched.
"Oh. Bay, right?"
Winter’s brother stood right behind me, oddly close. He hadn’t made a sound. His dark green eyes were locked on mine, unblinking, glassy, cold. When he smiled, it didn’t reach his eyes at all. His hair was an intense shade of dark red and shaved on the sides.
"Yeah…" he muttered, pulling out something that looked like an e-cig. But the smell that hit me was off—medicinal, heavy. Something closer to a tranquilizer. A strong downer, usually prescribed for high anxiety, from what I could tell. Blue had those sometimes too.
He took a drag and muttered, "Congrats. Welcome to this… fucking perfect family."
My mouth opened slightly. What was with this guy?
"Th-thanks," I said, edging to walk past him, trying to shake off the unsettling energy radiating off him. "They seem really okay."
"Sure. Just peaches and butterflies."
That was a bit too bizarre, so I tried to remove myself from his vicinity.
But then, his hand caught my arm. His grip was like iron. My eyes dropped, and I saw his sleeve was pushed up slightly. His forearm was covered in scars. So many of them…
I stared, unable to stop myself, and that’s when his lips pulled into a slow, feral smile.
"Send my regards to your uncle Blue," he said. "His breakthrough allergy research has helped my friend a lot. Really something, having a genius like that in the family."
I swallowed hard. "Yeah. He’s brilliant. But he’s got enemies too… a lot of people hate him. They want to see him fail."
Bay’s lips twitched. He shrugged casually.
"Send them my way. I’ll deal with them."
He said it seemingly joking, and yet there was something threatening buried in his tone. It was an impossible mix of casual and menacing.
"Well, it’d be a whole army, but thanks. I’m sure he’d appreciate the offer."
He let go of my arm. This guy had serious strength. I assessed him. He was wearing a black long-sleeve, but underneath it, his muscles were bulging.
Bay cocked his head. "In any case, he’s got Gabriel now, so he’s safe for sure. Anyway, I’m glad our families are linked. If you ever run into trouble, let me know."
"Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind."
Something made me hesitate and ask this one question. "Do you practice martial arts?"
Bay’s face changed slightly. Some shadow moved across it. "Digging into my secrets, Lowen?"
"Naaah, wouldn’t dare," I grinned innocently. "Just a thought. You seem so… compact and solid. Winter mentioned, when we were on the island, that none of his brothers were into martial arts."
Bay took another drag and… didn’t answer. His unmoving eyes fixed on my face.
"Ooookay. I better get back to Winter." I sent him another sheepish smile and quickly rushed away, leaving him standing on the patio.
Dinner had already wrapped up.
I dropped onto the couch next to Winter, who was sipping tea. His eyes searched my face, and he could tell something was off.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah. Your brother Bay is… a character. And here I thought Snow was supposed to be the creepy one."
Winter shrugged. "Don’t worry about him. He’s just… lonely. Hopefully, Storm finds him a True Mate someday."
I didn’t reply. It wasn’t really my business. But one thing was clear: I’d be avoiding situations where I could end up alone with Bay.
***
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46 (Reading here)
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49