Chapter Four #2
Mackenzie slowly smiled. “I wonder if he suggested it to Dean.”
“Even if he did, I don’t think Dean would have said yes.”
“You and Jasper have a lot in common. You love Dean and want to protect him. Focus on that instead of on how different you are, and everything will be fine.”
“I really hope you’re right. I can’t mess this up.”
Mackenzie was being a little dramatic, but Nico understood. He couldn’t mess this up, either. He didn’t want to lose Mackenzie.
But he was hiding something pretty big from Mackenzie, and he couldn’t help but wonder what Mackenzie would think when he found out. Would he be angry? Would he put distance between them? Would he even understand what it meant for Nico to be a future alpha?
Nico didn’t know, and right now, he was too scared to find out, so he was more than happy not to say anything. Maybe he’d tell Mackenzie the next time they met, when things calmed down with Dean and Jasper.
Because as much as he wanted to keep the secret forever, he wouldn’t be able to.
* * * *
MACKENZIE FELT SO NERVOUS thst he might be about to puke in Jasper’s bushes. Not only was he meeting his brother-in-law, but he was also meeting another alpha.
Jerome and Thomas hadn’t been intimidating.
Mackenzie had also already met Jasper, who’d been there when their family had first arrived in the forest. It wasn’t the same thing, though.
Back then, Dean had insisted that Jasper was only his best friend.
He hadn’t been pregnant, and Mackenzie and Jasper barely had time to talk.
And Mackenzie had gone and insisted that Dean leave Jasper and run away from the forest.
Mackenzie eyed the house. He could do this. He and Jasper wanted to keep Dean safe, so surely Jasper would understand where Mackenzie had come from. Besides, he wouldn’t have agreed to having Mackenzie over for dinner if he didn’t want him there, right?
Mackenzie didn’t know, but he was about to find out.
Well, he was about to find out if he managed to find the guts to knock on the door. He’d been staring at the bushes for what felt like an eternity, wondering how offended Jasper would be if he actually threw up in them. He needed to knock and go in, but instead, he was wasting time.
The best way to calm down was to think about something that wasn’t this impending dinner, and of course, Mackenzie’s thoughts went straight to Nico.
The man was a carrier. That meant he could have babies. Just like Dean, he could get pregnant.
He’d make beautiful babies if he decided to ever have kids. He was a very handsome man, just a few inches shorter than Mackenzie, with blond hair and warm eyes. He was young, though, so Mackenzie doubted he’d ever thought about having kids.
Or maybe he had. Mackenzie had no idea how carriers were raised, but he’d heard enough to know that until recently, their position in the forest hadn’t been great. He was glad things were changing, both for Nico and Dean.
The door swung open, and Dean appeared. He arched a brow, but he didn’t say anything. He was still angry with Mackenzie.
“I’m sorry,” Mackenzie said.
“What are you sorry for?”
“I shouldn’t have told you to leave, but I was trying to protect you. I’m not a shifter. I don’t know this place well. As far as I was concerned, leaving was the only way to keep you safe.”
Dean stared for a moment before nodding. “I get it.”
“You do?”
“When I mentioned it to Jasper, he said it wasn’t a bad idea. I threatened to kick his ass.”
Mackenzie winced. “What did he think about that?”
“He apologized and agreed that I knew better than anyone what I should do.”
“I completely agree.”
Dean snorted and stepped to the side. “Of course you do. Come in. Food is almost ready.”
Mackenzie obeyed. He was relieved that his brother seemed to have forgiven him, but Jasper? There was no way to know. “Is he angry at me?”
“Why would he be angry? If it’s because of telling me leaving the forest thing, I just told you that he tried to get me to do just that. No, he’s not angry because you suggested it. He might actually be your biggest fan right now.”
“I’m pretty sure he’s your biggest fan.”
Dean’s cheeks flushed. “Maybe. You don’t need to be afraid of him. He’s not going to do anything to you. He understands that you were trying to protect me, and he tried to do the same. There’s no need to worry, so stop freaking out and come eat.”
The house looked nice, but that wasn’t what Mackenzie was most interested in. “How are you feeling? How’s the baby?”
“We’re both perfectly fine. The skunk healer has been keeping an eye on me, so you don’t need to worry.”
“I’m always going to worry.”
“And you’re not the only one,” Jasper said as Dean and Mackenzie entered the kitchen.
His attention went straight to Dean. That was fine with Mackenzie. He didn’t care if it was rude. He cared that his brother was loved and cared for, and it was clear that Jasper did that.
Dean made a beeline for him, and Jasper welcomed him with open arms, pulling him into a quick hug. He didn’t let go, but instead, he murmured something close to Dean’s ear. Dean’s skin flushed a deeper red, but he nodded and pressed a hand against his stomach.
Mackenzie looked away from what was clearly a private moment.
He shouldn’t have worried. From the way Jasper looked at Dean, it was clear that he would burn the world down if it meant keeping Dean safe.
Mackenzie had always felt it was his role, even though Dean was more than capable of defending himself.
He was still Mackenzie’s brother, and it had been ingrained in Mackenzie since they were kids.
It was time for him to give up his role as Dean’s protector, and as far as he could see, Jasper would be the best person to pick it up.