Page 176 of Labor of Love

“Let’s get you home then. We can meet tomorrow.”

“I’d like that.” Taking Anatoly’s hand in his, Kael walked the rest of the way home, and once they left the shelter of the trees, he turned to get his first real look at the vampire who was his mate. Taller than him, Anatoly had to be six feet three or four. He was broad across the shoulders, his waist slim, and his skin had an olive tint to it. His dark blue eyes held Kael’s, and his short, light brown hair moved in the light breeze.

“I am a lucky vampire,” Anatoly whispered. “You are beautiful.”

“You’re so much taller than me.” Anatoly smiled and bent to kiss him, then pulled Kael into his arms. “I like it,” Kael murmured. It made him feel protected when he stood in Anatoly’s arms, and right then, he needed to feel that way. Tomorrow, he would have to talk to his family and explain what had happened. He knew how they would react when he revealed he’d found his mate, and he was a vampire. They wouldn’t be happy. Not at all, but then again, maybe a vampire would be better than Nigel, and Kael felt awful thinking that way.

He snuggled closer into Anatoly, then yawned. “Let’s get you home.”

“Not for long, though, right? I’ll be leaving with you soon.”

“Yes, and we’ll deal with the situation with your pack tomorrow.”

Kael closed his eyes and breathed deeply, feeling how tired his body felt. He’d gone through a lot in a few hours, and now, he had a mate. An actual real-life mate. Anatoly kissed him again, then nudged Kael forward. Kael smiled and walkedthe rest of the way home, pointing places out to Anatoly. The park he played in as a child. The home his best friend lived in with his family. The small stream that ran behind some of the houses. Anatoly asked questions that showed he was listening and interested in what Kael was showing him.

By the time they reached his home, Kael knew he didn’t want to leave, but he also knew he had no choice. Not right then, but that would change soon. Anatoly stood on the sidewalk, then palmed Kael’s face. “You have my number.”

Kael nodded. On the walk back, they’d exchange phone numbers so Kael could reach him anytime he needed to. “I’ll message you later.”

“If you need me, all you have to do is call, and I’ll be here.”

“Because you can teleport. I can’t wait to go to places with you.”

“We can do that when you’ve finished high school.”

“I only have a few more months, then it’s exams, then freedom.” Kael grinned. He liked the idea of being able to finish his education and, with Anatoly, he now had that chance. He hadn’t been certain with Nigel, but considering the things the alpha had said, there would have been little chance of him going back to school once they’d mated.

“Go inside. Message me later.” Anatoly kissed him. “I am so happy to have found you.”

Smiling, Kael murmured, “Me too.”

5

Anatoly appeared outside the home he’d grown up in and walked up the path, wrapping his long coat around him. The snow was deep, and he winced when his feet became soaked. Wearing shoes and socks here wasn’t a smart idea, but at that moment, he wasn’t too concerned. He had something to tell his parents. When he reached the front door, he knocked, walked in, and shut the door behind him, keeping the cold outside. Kicking off his shoes and hanging up his coat, Anatoly inhaled the scent of burning wood and home cooked food. The scents of home.

“Mom! Dad!”

Irina, his mother, poked her head around the door from the kitchen and grinned when she saw him. “Anatoly! This is such a lovely surprise.” She looked down at his feet, then arched an eyebrow.

“I found my mate.”

Irina gasped, then walked over to him and hugged him. “Oh, Anatoly. I’m so happy for you. Tell me all about him or her.”

“Him. He’s a shifter.” Yes, he decided to get the bad news out of the way first.

“Oh. Is his family okay with you? I know shifters aren’t welcoming of vampires.”

“I haven’t met them yet. I only met him tonight. It’s a long story, so if Dad is around…”

“Cesare is upstairs changing. He was in the town square, helping to clear some of the snow for our elderly.”

“And here I am now.” Anatoly hugged Cesare, the man he got his coloring from. Irina had been traveling the Mediterranean when she’d met Cesare, and they’d been together ever since. It was seeing his parents together that had shown Anatoly how treasured mates were. “Who is he?”

Anatoly went over to the kitchen table and sat. “His name is Kael, and he’s eighteen. It’s his birthday today or yesterday.” Time zones were a thing.

“So young,” Irina murmured as she handed him a glass of sbiten, a traditional wintertime honey-based drink that had been around since the twelfth century. Anatoly took the glass and sipped it, sighing at the familiar taste of home.

“It’s worse. His alpha has decided to mate him off to another pack’s alpha because Kael is an omega and will bring the pack money.”

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