“But that’s the problem,” Theo said. “Don’t you see? Right now, it’s only my memories I have to deal with, but it’s only gonna get worse when my cub is born. Every time my cub does something, I’ll want to share it with my parents…or take pictures to send to them…or have my son grow up spending time with his grandparents. None of that can happen right now. And thosememories are gonna hurt worse because I’ll always feel like I’m hurting my son by taking those things away from him. And it’s all because I don’t know why my parents sent me away.” Theo turned back to the flower he still held. “I know it doesn’t make any sense, but…”
Sitting down next to his cousin on the old log, Ollie grasped Theo’s hand tightly and said softly, “You’re wrong, Theo. It makes perfect sense. When my parents died, I spent months…even years, trying to answer the question of why it had happened to them. I know what it feels like not to know.”
Squeezing his eyes shut, Theo fought the tears falling at the memory of their death. He was barely in his teens, yet he remembered wondering how Ollie could live without his parents. For weeks, he had nightmares about it happening to his parents, and every time he woke up screaming, they would join him in his bed and hold him until sleep reclaimed him. It took a long time before he felt safe again. Opening his eyes, he brushed the wetness away before looking at Ollie. “How did you survive?” he whispered.
Using his thumb, Ollie wiped a stray tear from his cousin’s face before saying, “Your parents, but mostly your dad…whenever I needed to hear my father’s voice I’d call, and as soon as your father answered in a voice that sounded so much like my dad’s, my world would right itself. Both of your parents were there whenever I needed anything, from help with settling my parents’ estate, to deciding whether to join Frontline Doctors. But there was one thing they did that helped me tremendously.”
“What was that?” Theo asked.
Looking down at his cousin’s hand in his, he squeezed it softly, saying, “They promised me they would always be there for me because we were family forever.”
A shuddering sob broke loose from Theo’s chest, then another and another, until his tears were streaming down his face. Throwing his arms around Ollie, he hugged him tight, swearing to himself never to let go. His cousin had lost so much more than he had, because even though Theo and his parents weren’t close anymore, there was still time to repair their relationship. “My parents were right,” Theo whispered in Ollie’s ear. “We are family, and don’t you forget it. Always and forever, I’ll be there for you.”
“The same goes for me,” Ollie murmured. “You can always count on me, no matter what you need…and so can my nephew to be.”
Leaning back slightly, Theo gazed at his cousin’s face, smiling at the love he found there. “You’re gonna spoil him, aren’t you?”
Nodding happily, Ollie said, “Yup…so don’t even think about trying to stop me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Theo said, giggling. “Though my mates might have a thing or two to say about it.”
“Pish, posh,” Ollie replied. “Uncles have certain rights that supersede the rights of parents.”
“Oh yeah? And what rights are those?”
Before Ollie could answer, a rough voice called out, “Theodore?”
Not recognizing the voice, Theo stiffened, shivering at the threat he heard in it. Slowly releasing his cousin, he paused for a moment before looking around the meadow. When he saw theman standing at the edge of the tall grass, he gathered his courage and asked, “Who are you and what do you want?”
Chapter 15
“Where’s Norman?” the man asked.
“Who are you?” asked Ollie, springing up and moving in front of Theo. He hadn’t been at the Blackwood Pack long enough to know all its members, but from his cousin’s reaction, the man was a stranger. “You need to leave—you’re trespassing on private land!” he ordered loudly before lowering his voice so only Theo would hear it. “Go get the Alpha.”
Leaning to the right so he could see around Ollie, Theo eyed the man who had taken several steps closer. Alarmed, he rose and whispered frantically, “I can’t leave you here alone.”
“He’s not after me,” Ollie muttered.
“But he’s bigger than you,” Theo whispered fearfully.
“I’ll be fine…go get my mate,” Ollie replied, keeping his voice low, making it impossible for the man to hear him.
Theo hesitated for a moment, then, hearing his cousin’s low growl, he turned to leave, but before he took a step, the man spoke again.
“Theodore, your parents sent me. They want you to come home.”
Swiveling around, Theo looked at the man in disbelief and with a bit of hope. “They do?” he asked.
Nodding slowly, the man took another step closer. “Yes, they do…they’re waiting at home for you and Norman.”
“Why Norman?” Ollie asked suspiciously.
“They know he’s my Fated Mate,” Theo whispered to his cousin.
“I don’t know,” the man replied. “They hired me to bring you and Norman to them.”
“Who hired you?” Ollie asked.