Page 50 of Bullied Mate

“Grandma works hard to get well,” Leo sighed. “I think she works too hard sometimes.”

I nodded. “I’m helping her where I can.”

“You should go help her now. I’m okay now.”

“Dear Leo, I can’t leave your side.”

He pointed to his father. “Dad is here. I’ll be okay.”

“I must insist on remaining here.”

“You really are like my dad.”

Shiny heat flickered in my face. This boy was like his grandmother too. The way the triad shared traits was both entertaining and concerning to a certain degree.

I laughed off my embarrassment, being careful with my volume and tone. “Avi and I share many things, yes.”

“Avi?”

“It’s a nickname I use for your father.” I clammed up the moment the words left me. How could I be so forward with his child? “I suppose we both have nicknames.”

Yes, that was a reasonable explanation. Everyone knew we were familiar from childhood. All other rumors were null and void as far as I was concerned. Surely Leo had heard some things from the other shifter children. I knew that gossip and such had a way of translating to the youth in many forms.

Oh goodness, whathadhe heard? “Do you know about Ambersky?”

“I know my grandma and my dad used to be in that pack.”

“Do you know your mother?”

Confusion rippled across his face, and I promptly scrambled to make up for the mention of someone who wasn’t even in his life.

Leo lowered his gaze while gripping my fingers. “I don’t remember her.”

“I’m sorry, Leo. I was just—I meant to—”

Nothing could have sufficed for an explanation. Physical hurt manifested in the boy, alerting me of how much he missed out on, having only one parent in his life.

“I remember going to places with my dad,” he told me softly. “I remember my teachers.”

“And your uncles?”

His face brightened slightly. “They’re so goofy.”

“You’re so lucky to have a big family like Silverdawn.”

“Dad says the same thing. He says I didn’t miss anything about Ambersky.”

I rubbed the back of his hand. “No, you certainly haven’t. You have a great support system here.”

“I wish I had a mommy.”

Blinding sadness raked through me. This sweet, innocent child didn’t know a mother’s touch. My commitment to his care doubled as I took his hands and kissed them. But how could I offer my services as such to him without taking his father as a mate? Careless decisions like that caused more harm in the end.

Perhaps it was best for me to silently vow it. Leo had suffered quite enough hurt tonight. Any more would regress his health, and I didn’t want him to falter when he was doing so well at recovering. The last time Etta had checked in, she’d said his fracture had turned into a sprain.

She explained that young pups were better at mending because their bodies were young. Oftentimes, healing speeds were triple that of a shifter adult. The fact that it was proving to be true was fantastic, something that made me truly thankful. Had we not reached him in time, his condition would have been worse.

I glanced over my shoulder at Xavier. His head was back on the chair with his hands folded neatly over his stomach. Dull snores came with every breath. His chest expanded, reduced, and expanded again in rhythmic waves. Tranquility simmered over him. He must have been sleeping quite well if he appeared so peaceful.

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