Page 78 of Shattered

“Royce,” Mackenzie said, more insistent this time in the hopes of breaking through to his son.

It didn’t work. Royce kept right on going. “No, dad. I know I’ve been blaming you for a lot of shit, and the majority of it isn’t even your fault. You had no control over it. It wasn’t fair to either of us. I want you to know I’m sorry for how I treated you when you returned and up until now. You didn’t deserve any of the bullshit I threw your way over the years.”

Mackenzie chuckled. “Maybe a little.”

Royce laughed. “Don’t make me laugh, I’m trying to be serious here and have a heart to heart conversation with you.”

“Something no Raferty has a clue how to do in the first place,” Mackenzie said, hoping to break the cloud of emotion surrounding them.

It was true.

Rafertys, well, they didn’t always deal with emotions the best. Right or wrong, they were usually handled by yelling, screaming, fighting, and fucking.

“I should’ve never left,” Mackenzie admitted. “That’s on me.”

“Dad… The woman who gave to birth to me, she wasn’t a good person. She manipulated you, and the shit she did to Caden…” Royce shook his head. “I get it. I get why he has issues with me.”

“Doesn’t make it right, son.”

“No, it doesn’t. It just explains why he was the way he was. Caden didn’t deal with his shit, either, until Dani came along and forced him to. Just like what Charisma made me do, and what Aurora will make you do,” Royce said.

How the fuck did they go from how they didn’t relate to each other, to Aurora being his mate? Mackenzie knew he’d have to stop this part of the conversation and now. “Aurora isn’t my mate.” The wolf inside of him curled his lip in distaste of the lie.

Royce snorted. “You can lie to yourself all you want, but you can’t lie to your family. She’s your mate, and you’re dicking around on claiming her.”

“I am not ‘dicking around’ as you so eloquently put it, Royce.”

“Then what is it? I know you’ve had sex with her. I knew when I knocked on your bedroom door to wake you up. You reeked of sex and Aurora.”

He couldn’t help himself, he growled at the knowledge of his son knowing what Aurora’s arousal smelled like on him.

“And then there’s that. The growl. Your wolf wants her.”

“My wolf has already had her,” he said without an ounce of remorse. Truth be told, his wolf wanted her again. So did the man.

Royce slapped him on the shoulder. “What the fuck are you waiting for then?”

Mackenzie looked at his son in disbelief and began to wonder if all of them were blind,dumb,and stupid. “You really need to ask that question?”

Royce nodded.

“You’ve had front row seats to the shit-show my life has become and has been for years. I’ve got no right bringing anyone else into. It’s pretty obvious, I’ve got shitty luck when it comes to the female sex.”

“Bullshit. Stuff happened, and both times, neither of the women you chose were your mates. Having one, it’s a game-changer. Trust me on this.”

Mackenzie shrugged, not sure if he was comfortable havingthistype of conversation with his son. Although on the flip side, havingthistype of conversation with his son, could be a game changer with their relationship.

“I’m not blind, Royce. I’ve seen the change in my brothers and how they are with their mates.”

“Except Kal. He’s still an asshole.”

Mackenzie chuckled. “He’s different when he’s around Keeley or their kids. The icy cold exterior he always shows, melts around her. Same with Caden. He opened himself up and was willing to take a risk with Danielle.”

“That’s the issue, isn’t it, dad. You’re not willing to take the risk?” Royce hedged.

“I could lie and say, no, not true, but we both know it’d be a lie.”

“Why, though? You spent years with Holly. Miserable as hell. Why’d you do it, exactly? What did you hope to gain keeping up this charade for all these years?”

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