Chapter Six
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“MOM SAID YOU MET SOMEONE,” Chris said as he flopped down onto Nico’s bed.
Nico glared at him from under the covers. “Hello to you, too. Yes, I’m fine. A bit overworked, but nothing I didn’t expect.”
Chris waved Nico’s words away. “I know you’re overworked. I did the job before you, remember? I’m sure you’re doing great, but that’s not why I’m here.”
“No, you’re here to find out about my imaginary boyfriend.”
Chris arched a brow. “Is he imaginary?”
Nico started to answer yes, but he paused.
This was Chris. Not only were they twins, but Chris had initially kept his relationship a secret.
He’d kept many secrets, and Nico had been annoyed at him for that.
He’d been relieved when Chris had come clean, and he’d done everything he could to support him.
He would have done so from the beginning if Chris had been honest.
He sighed and pulled the blankets up higher on his chest. He should be getting up, but it was the weekend, and for once, he wanted to stay in bed for a little while.
Even though his father wouldn’t understand, he probably wouldn’t say anything about it.
He’d always been one of those people who was out of bed as soon as they opened their eyes, but not Nico.
Besides, Chris was here. Their dad would expect Nico to be distracted.
“Okay, maybe he’s not imaginary,” Nico admitted. “In fact, he’s very much real and human.”
Chris grinned. “I knew something was going on. Tell me everything.”
“You don’t care that he’s human?”
“Why would I? I just care that someone caught your eye. What’s his name? Where does he live? He’s in the forest, right? Because how else would you have met him? Is he part of the human team?” Chris frowned. “Are any of them still single?”
“He’s not part of the team, so you don’t have to worry about any of them being single.”
“Wait, are you trying to tell me he’s one of the people who moved into fox territory? Jerome’s family?”
Nico glanced at the door, but Chris had slammed it shut when he’d come in. “Yes, and no one knows about it, so keep your mouth shut.”
Chris’s eyes were wide. “Yeah, of course. I can’t believe you’re going out with a fox.”
“Like you can talk. Jacob’s a badger.”
“But if you’re dating someone, shouldn’t you be happy? Because you don’t look happy. Is it because he’s human?”
“I am happy.”
“Sure, but there’s also something bothering you.”
“I told him I’m a carrier because of his brother,” Nico said with a sigh. He hugged his blankets tighter.
“He didn’t take it well?”
“He’s okay with it. A bit surprised, and he’s not quite sure what to make of it, but that’s not the problem.”
“What is the problem?”
“I didn’t tell him who I am.”
Chris waited for a second, but when Nico didn’t add anything, he frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t tell him about Dad or me being the future bobcat alpha. I couldn’t. I didn’t want him to be spooked or to leave. He was going through something, and I wanted to help him.”
Chris snickered. “I’m sure you did.”
“I’m not joking. I didn’t tell him right away, and now, it feels impossible to.”
“But you like him.”
“Yeah. We had a date a few evenings ago, and he kissed me for the first time, and it was everything I could’ve hoped for. I don’t want to lose him. I took a risk by telling him that I’m a carrier, and I don’t know if I want to tell him I’m a future alpha.”
Chris grabbed Nico’s ankle over the blankets and squeezed. “You don’t have a choice. You can’t keep that kind of secret from him, not if you want the two of you to have a relationship. You’re going to have to tell him.”
Nico groaned. “Do I really have to?”
“Yeah. And you’d better tell him before he finds out through someone else. I don’t know what you’ve been up to, but someone’s bound to see the two of you together eventually and to recognize you. I guess they could assume it’s me, but everyone knows I’m with Jacob.”
People would assume what they wanted, although Nico hoped they wouldn’t think that Chris was cheating on his partner. On the other hand, since Chris had Jacob, people would naturally assume that the man with Mackenzie was Nico, and they might say something.
Chris was right. Nico needed to be honest. He needed to tell Mackenzie who he was before things got too out of hand. The more he waited, the more Mackenzie would be hurt that he hadn’t been honest. Nico wasn’t sure he’d be able to get Mackenzie’s trust back if he waited much longer.
“Come on,” Chris said. “Tell me about him.”
It was a relief to be able to do that. Chris listened to everything Nico had to say, even when he waxed poetic about Mackenzie’s eyes.
He didn’t tease or ask questions. He just gave Nico the space he desperately needed, which meant that Nico was still talking when their mother called them downstairs for lunch.
He blinked, surprised he’d been allowed to stay in bed for so long.
He was sure that his mother had something to do with that.
Chris and Nico’s father wasn’t a bad person, but he was very focused when it came to the alpha role, and he expected his heir to be the same.
Before, that had meant Chris, but Nico had taken his place, and while he didn’t regret it and was even happy to learn more about the role, sometimes, he needed a little space from their father.
Things were especially hard right now with Silas, and throwing Mackenzie in the mix hadn’t helped.
Nico and Chris headed downstairs, still whispering to each other.
Their father was already sitting at the table, scrolling on his phone and frowning.
Nico considered asking if everything was all right, but he was afraid of the answer, so he kept his mouth shut and sat down, ready to eat. He was starving.
“I thought I’d see you earlier,” their father said, looking at Nico.
“I’m sorry. Chris and I were talking, and I didn’t notice the time. Did you need me for anything?”
“Not today, but you should be more responsible.”
Nico prayed his father wasn’t about to lecture him. “I am responsible. I take my job seriously, and I apologize for not being present today.” Even though it was the weekend, and everyone needed time off sometimes.
“It’s not only today, Nico. You’ve been sneaking out.”
Nico’s brain stopped working. “What?” he croaked.
“Don’t think I didn’t notice. I won’t ask what you’re up to because you’re an adult, but you’re the future alpha. You know better.”
Chris bumped his knee against Nico’s, but Nico didn’t react. No, he was still trying to make sense of what his father had said.
He knew that Nico was sneaking out. It was good that he wouldn’t ask why, but Nico was panicking.
He was going to have to tell his parents about Mackenzie eventually, but was he ready to?
Would Mackenzie want him to? What would Nico’s father think about Nico dating a human?
These were all questions that Nico was terrified of getting an answer to.
He looked down at his plate, swallowing hard. “I’ll do better,” he murmured.
“You’re already doing great,” Nico’s mother said as she glared at his father. “Your father and I are proud of you, and you’re still young. You deserve a bit of respite.”
“He should be focused,” Nico’s father argued.
“And he is, but no one can be focused twenty-four seven. You certainly weren’t when we were young.”
Nico’s father huffed, and Nico relaxed. He didn’t have to tell his parents about Mackenzie yet. He should talk to Mackenzie before he did, which meant telling him who he was. That meant that there was a risk that Mackenzie wouldn’t want to be with him anymore, and he hated that.
But he didn’t have a choice. He couldn’t keep these two parts of his life separated any longer.
He didn’t think he could afford to.
* * * *
“OKAY, SPILL,” DEAN said as he settled back against Mackenzie’s couch.
One of his hands went straight to his stomach, something Mackenzie doubted he realized he did. It was cute, so Mackenzie didn’t say anything about it. He knew Dean. He’d stop doing it just because Mackenzie had mentioned it.
“What do you want me to say? How’s the baby?” Mackenzie asked, taking a sip of coffee and hoping Dean would get distracted.
He should’ve known better.
“The baby’s okay, and you are, too.”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Was there any doubt that I wasn’t?”
“You are too fine. You’re always smiling and checking your phone. You met someone, didn’t you?”
Mackenzie pressed his lips together. He and Nico hadn’t really talked about their relationship, something they probably should do, but he was excited to tell Dean about it.
He didn’t think that Nico would mind. They were serious about each other, which meant that they’d eventually meet each other’s families.
The thought made Mackenzie anxious, but he knew it would be fine when it happened.
Maybe he could prepare some people for it, though, and there was no one better than Dean to talk to about these things.
“I did meet someone,” he admitted.
Dean grinned. “Tell me about it. Also, how did you manage that? You only moved in a few weeks ago.”
“Didn’t you meet Jasper soon after you moved into the forest?”
Dean waved Mackenzie’s words away. “I was here for work.”
“We actually met before I decided to move,” Mackenzie explained. “It was the day you found out you were pregnant. I was shaken and didn’t get into my car right away. This guy asked me if I was okay, and we ended up talking. We exchanged numbers, started talking, and here we are.”
“Tell me everything.”
Mackenzie had missed this—spending time with his brother, sitting on the couch, and not having to rush anywhere.
Moving had been the right decision, even though he’d been a bit hesitant.
He didn’t think he’d regret it. He had a home here and his family.
In a few months, he’d get to meet his niece or nephew, and he’d be there to watch them grow up.
He settled deeper into his couch. “Well, his name’s Nico, and he’s a bobcat shifter.
He’s a carrier, like you. Talking to him really helped me understand more about what you’re going through.
You can thank him for me not pushing harder for you to move.
I might have insisted if he hadn’t pointed out that it wasn’t my decision to make and that you knew what you needed better than I do. ”
For some reason, Dean was frowning. Mackenzie did the same, wondering what was going through his brother’s mind. “I’m not going to try to convince you again,” he reassured Dean.
“I know you wouldn’t,” Dean said. “But you said that his name is Nico and that he’s a bobcat shifter?”
“Yeah. I know he’s not a fox, but I don’t think Jerome will care, right?
He doesn’t care that you’re with Jasper.
” Maybe that was because Jasper was an alpha.
Would Jerome have something to say about Mackenzie’s relationship with a normal bobcat shifter?
How would that work, anyway? Would Mackenzie have to move eventually? Or would Nico move here?
He looked around the house. He liked it, and he liked that it was his, but he wasn’t overly attached to it yet. He’d just moved in. He hadn’t even unpacked most of his stuff yet.
Not that he and Nico were talking about moving in together yet. It was way too soon, and Mackenzie liked their relationship the way it was now. It was bound to change, but it didn’t have to be quickly.
“I think you should talk to Nico,” Dean eventually said.
Mackenzie frowned. “Well, of course I’m going to talk to him. We’re together.”
“He makes you happy?”
“Yeah. I didn’t even realize how much I wanted this until we got together.”
“Then everything will be okay. It’s not like you’re the first human-shifter relationship in the forest, right?”
“And we aren’t exactly human,” Mackenzie said, pointedly looking at Dean's stomach.
Dean rolled his eyes. “Well, you can’t get pregnant, so I guess you’re more human than me. The fact that you’re related to Jerome might help, but it might also make things more complicated. This is really something you need to talk to Nico about.”
“I will. Now, can we talk about how the baby is? I want to know more about my niece or nephew.”
Dean rolled his eyes. “I told you, they’re perfectly fine. You don’t have to worry about them.”
“I always will.”
“You and Jasper should start a club. I swear, you worry more than Mom and Dad.”
Mackenzie didn’t think Dean cared. Now that they were on the same page about Dean not leaving the forest, things were more relaxed between them. Mackenzie wasn’t about to do anything that would compromise that.
Dean was staying, as was Mackenzie. They’d have each other’s backs, just like they always did, and they wouldn’t be alone this time around. Dean had Jasper, and Mackenzie had Nico.