Chapter 11 #2
“That would be from the fire in the hearth. In just moments, we should be in sight of the cottage.”
“Do you need to announce your arrival?”
“Why would I? I live here as well. Besides, my fathers will probably hear us and come outside to see who it is.”
I had scented Father nearby once when I was out hunting, so I was certain he knew I was back. Granted, Da was the one who’d told me to set out and see about finding my mate. Father had wanted me to wait here. That was easier for him; he already had his mate.
Konrad gasped again, then stopped. I looked up and met the gaze of my alpha father. He looked…relieved.
“Son?”
“Hello, Father.”
I squeezed Konrad’s waist, pulling him just a bit closer to me.
I could feel his apprehension through our bond.
When we were close enough, I set the chest down, and with my arm wrapped tightly around my mate, we closed the distance between us and my father and stopped.
I smiled at him, so proud to introduce him to my mate.
“Father, I would like you to meet Konrad. My mate.” Not that he did not already know that he was my mate.
When we were close enough, I saw my father’s nostrils flare when he scented Konrad.
Not only did he immediately know he was my mate, but his dragon had most likely told him my mate was pregnant as well.
“Your mate.” Father stared at me a moment before he looked at Konrad, holding out his hands. “Mate?” Father asked, looking back at me.
“Yes. I…it is a long story. Perhaps we could share it inside?”
“Ferdinand, let them by and inside. I want to meet my new son!”
Father chuckled before he reached out, pulling Konrad from my grasp. “Welcome to the family, Konrad. You best go meet Egon before he has my head.” Father hugged Konrad quickly before letting him go.
Konrad hugged Father back, then, after glancing at me, hurried around him and rushed to my omega father’s waiting embrace.
I stood there, smiling at my mate and da.
When they disappeared inside, I returned my attention to Father.
He gave me a stern look before sighing and pulling me into his embrace as well.
“I cannot say I agree with your da’s methods nor you agreeing to it without talking to me first. That you brought home a mate, one who is already pregnant, cannot be denied though. Congratulations, my son.” Father patted me on the back, then took a step back.
“Thank you, Father. I hope you and Da love him. It is not a happy story, and one that I am not sure is yet finished, but I thank fate that I found him in time.”
“Well, come on, then. There is a thick stew in the pot, and your da made fresh bread this morning. I mentioned that I’d scented you in the area, and your da has been baking bread and sweets every day since.
Now that you show up with a pregnant mate, that explains why it took you so long to come home. ”
I nodded, then picked up the trunk and followed my father to the cottage. The welcoming scents of home were now accompanied by the sounds of Da and Konrad talking. Leave it to Da to calm any hesitation on my mate’s part.
I set the chest down just inside the door and followed the sound of my mate.
Da already had him sitting at the table, a mug of something steaming in front of him.
My guess was most likely tea. It was scarce, and Da loved it, savoring every mug of it he drank.
He was showing his acceptance of Konrad already by sharing his favorite drink with him.
Da was busy hurrying around the small cooking area, cutting thick slices of bread.
“Da?”
Da stilled, dropped the knife, then came rushing toward me. I’d barely gotten my arms open in time to catch him as he flung himself into my arms. He held on tighter than I remembered, and I had to wonder at the reasoning.
“I know it was my idea and you needed to go out and follow your dream, but I did not think I would miss you as much as I did.”
“I missed you too, Da. Both of you,” I added, looking over Da’s shoulder at my father. Da squeezed me once more before he stepped away. He was wiping his eyes as he did so, and when Father pulled him into his own arms, Da wrapped his around Father’s waist.
“After I scented you, I tried searching for you but couldn’t find you when I searched.”
“We have been here for some weeks, but we were…umm…” I cleared my throat.
“They were doing what mates do when they first meet, Ferdinand. Leave the boys alone,” Da said.
I heard Konrad giggling and looked over at my mate. “Something funny, mate?”
“You are most definitely not a boy. Your father knows that, right?”
I rolled my eyes. Of course he did.
“Yes, well…it has been some time since your da and I claimed one another. I guess I have forgotten what it was like,” Father said. I happened to still be looking at my mate, and when his eyes widened, I hid my smile.
“Forgotten? You have forgotten when I claimed you? I shall have to rectify that and remind you,” Father said as he moved across the room toward Da.
Da laughed when Father picked him up and tossed him over his shoulder.
Da was still laughing while Father was grumbling about sassy omegas as they went down the small hallway that led to their room.
I watched them go, and when I heard their bedroom door shut, I crossed the room and sat next to my own mate.
“So those are my fathers. They are still very much in love and cannot keep their hands off one another. Something that I’ve told you about more than once. Which is why I happened to find the cave.”
Konrad cleared his throat. “Umm…they’re not really going to…you know.”
“Mate? Most likely. Would you care for something to eat that you did not have to first clean?”
“I would. If you think it is okay.”
“More than,” I told Konrad. I got up from the table, going over to the workstation.
I placed the bread on a platter, adding the container of honey to it.
I took it to my mate, placing it in front of him.
“Eat as much as you wish. There is always plenty, and there are several other loaves over in the keeper.”
Konrad smiled at me, then reached for a slice of bread.
I went back to the cabinet and took out two bowls, then filled them with the stew Father had mentioned.
I saw meat, potatoes, carrots, and corn.
It was going to be incredibly filling, and already my mouth was watering, thinking about the tasty meal.