Page 57 of Shattered

She looked up at him this time, surprised by his candor in front of his family and found his eyes the icy shade of blue she’d come to associate with his wolf. “Mac, your wolf.”

He nodded. “I know. We’re both here—I’m here.”

She relaxed marginally. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure.”

“We’ll see won’t we?” Jefferson’s answer drew Aurora’s attention as he accepted the beer from Kalkin. “I should start at the beginning.” He glanced around the room. “My status had changed.”

Charisma tilted her head. “Status. Like on social media?”

Jefferson laughed. “No, as in I’m a mate.”

Charisma gasped before a cry of surprise fell from her. “Oh Daddy, that’s amazing. I hoped... Well, Penny Ann and I both did, that one day you’d find a mate of your own. Who is it? What’s her name? Why isn’t she here with you?”

Aurora glanced between Jochi and Jefferson then back to Charisma and Penelope. Her heart went out to both girls. She couldn’t imagine the shock both girls were about to experience. If she hadn’t been so fixed on Keeley, she would have seen the connection between the two men.

“Well, sweetheart, I know this is going to be hard to understand right now—”

“Mr. Sloan—er—Jochi is his mate,” Penelope said. “Holy shit.”

Jefferson blew out a breath. “Yes.Heis my mate. I don’t understand how this all works. A year ago, Jochi made me a promise and I haven’t looked back.”

“Are you happy?” Penelope hedged while Charisma continued to stare at him.

“Very much so.” Jefferson pulled Jochi into his side. “I might not be able to explain any of it, but I won’t trade it for anything. I think your mom would be happy to see me finally moving forward instead of slowly withering away.”

“So, your my grandpa too,” Mikey said, inching forward.

“Yes, xiao huzi,” Jochi replied.

“What does xiao huzi mean?” Mikey asked.

Jochi tapped his nose. “It means little tiger.”

“I like it!” Mikey whooped and jumped. “I’m a little tiger-wolf. Abby!” He ran for the sliding glass door. “Abby! Did you hear? I’m a tiger-wolf!”

Jochi chuckled and so did Aurora.

“Daddy?” The confusion in Charisma’s voice tugged at Aurora.

“It’s okay,” Jefferson said. “You have questions. I can see it in your eyes. I will answer all of them.”

Royce came up behind Charisma and wrapped his arm around her, kissing the crown of her head. “Congratulation’s Senator.” He nodded to Jochi. “I should have figured it out. But I thought the reason your scents were so strong was due to your working relationship.”

“Well,” Jochi said. “We do work together, and I only claimed him the night of the raid.”

“Full moon,” Bell murmured, placing her hand to her small protruding belly. “The strongest pull for canines for sure, but it can always twist the insides of a feline exposed to their mate.”

Jochi tapped the end of his nose. “I’d suffered many years in silence, taking every job Jefferson gave me just to be away from the intoxicating pull I felt whenever I was around Jefferson. After that night at the zoo, I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“You really were willing to walk away?” Jefferson muttered.

“I would have.” Jochi wouldn’t look at him. “It would have killed me, but I’d do anything for you.”

“You okay, oasis?” Royce asked.

She wiped away her tears as her chin trembled. “I’m a mess.”

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