Page 50 of The Return
“Matt? Do you have something to say?”
Matt gave a soft smile. “Last night I slept in a room and didn’t freak out. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t see the stars above, because Kinsey held me to him. There was no claustrophobia, only comfort,” he blurted. “If you’re going to punish anyone, it should be—”
“For the love of….” Jonas barked, clearly annoyed. “No one is being punished. Did Kinsey do anything you didn’t want?”
Matt’s eyes widened. “No!”
“Okay. Kinsey, did you feel coerced?”
“What? Why would you…? Oh.”
“Exactly. The two of you are allowed happiness, and Harken’s Corners is your home. Why do you think Corey claimed you as our wolves?”
Kinsey took Matt’s hand, and they stepped closer to me, then knelt on bended knee. “Thank you, Alpha Mate for—”
I threw my hands in the air, flapping them wildly. “Ew, no. No, no, no. Get the hell up.”
They rose as one, Matt looking befuddled. “I don’t understand,” he said. “Are you forbidding us to join?”
“He doesn’t know about that,” Jonas replied quickly, then turned to me. “In a pack, blessings are provided by the Alpha Mate. If someone wants to get married, they’d ask—” His eyes went wide as his gaze snapped back to Kinsey and Matt. “Wait. You want to get married?”
“If the Alpha Mate allows it,” Kinsey said. “I don’t want to be without Matt in my life, but if you—”
“Wait!” Matt cried out. “Please, Corey. Don’t say no. I… I love him. I’ve been in love with him for years.”
Kinsey smiled brightly. “And I love Matt. What do we need to do to earn your favor, Corey?”
I could understand that. It was how I’d felt about Jonas. The problem? I was clueless as to what they were talking about. “Someone could tell me what the hell is going on once in a while,” I groused, then said to Jonas, “What do I have to do here?”
“Whatever you think is best. If you want to give your blessings, then do. If you think something else needs to happen, then tell them.”
I took a slow breath as I shot Jonas what I hope he took as a nasty look. “You know, we need to sit down and talk this out. I need crib notes or something.” Then I turned and took Matt’s hands between mine. “Nothing in the world means more to me than seeing people I care for being happy. If Kinsey is the person who can do that for you, then yes, by all means, you have my blessing.”
“Oh, Corey!” Matt blubbered, as he threw his arms around my neck. “He makes me so happy,” he whispered in my ear.
“Then that’s all I need to hear,” I replied, squeezing Matt. “And, uh, could you take your junk off me? We’re rubbing together, and it’s… weird.”
He stepped back, his cheeks red. “Sorry.”
“I guess you don’t need two places to live, huh?” Jonas teased.
A very solemn Kinsey shook his head. “I never want to be apart from Matt again.” He coughed softly. “Will this cause issues with us continuing in our roles?”
“Why would it?”
Jonas reached for me. “Because if he mates with Matt, then Matt will become the first thing Kinsey looks for if there is a problem. He can’t be your bodyguard if his attention isn’t on you.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard.”
That got a sigh out of Jonas. “The Council has already given their blessing. To make a change like this will require a lot of groveling. You’re going to have a bodyguard, no matter what I say. It’ll either be Kinsey or someone else.”
“Then I’ll quit,” Matt said. “Your bodyguard is more important than the driver.”
Kinsey snarled and slammed Matt against the wall. In supplication, Matt tilted his neck.
“What did I tell you? What have Ialwaystold you? Youdon’tlisten to other people, got it? I will never lie to you about your worth. You are precious and will be loved because of the amazing man you are. Nothing anyone else says matters.”
“Uh, excuse me?” I muttered. “I think what I say matters, because I think Matt is remarkable.”
