Page 13 of Blackmailed

“His name isn’t Sloan,” Mikey said, confused. “It’s Jochi. He’s a snow leopard. I told you I wasn’t lying. See he’s here!”

“Huh?” Penelope scrunched up her nose.

“So much to explain.” Jefferson sighed.

Kalkin chuckled as he grabbed a couple of beers out of a large cooler sitting on the table in the kitchen. “I don’t think you can get it out in one go.”

“We’ll see, won’t we?” Jefferson accepted the beer Kalkin held out for him after he sat Fern down next to her brother Julius. “I should start at the beginning.” All of the adults already there quieted. There were a few of them missing, but he figured whoever was present could catch the others up later, once everyone had a moment to digest what he was about to say. “My status had changed.”

Charisma narrowed her eyes. “Status. Like on social media?”

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

Charisma’s eyes went wide before a cry of surprise fell from her followed by tears of joy—he hoped. “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?”

Jefferson swallowed hard while Kalkin gave him a look of pity. “Well, sweetheart, I know this is going to be hard to understand right now—”

Hard to understand? He snorted to himself. A year into the mating and there were things he didn’t even understand about it. Plus, it seemed the longer he and Jochi were together, the more his body craved certain things. Things Jefferson didn’t feel comfortable sharing with everyone or his mate.

“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.” He 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, you’re my grandpa too,” Mikey said, looking up at Jochi.

“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.”

Jochi chuckled.

“Daddy?” The sheer confusion and unsureness on Charisma’s face tore at his heart.

“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 while 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 him. After the night at the zoo, I couldn’t wait any longer.”

"You really were willing to walk away?" Jefferson muttered, stunned by his mate's confession. Sure, Jochi had said it when he offered up the deal, but the realization of it smacked Jefferson hard in the chest.

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

“You okay, oasis?” Royce’s question drew Jefferson’s attention back to Charisma.

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

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