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I smile, surprised, but delighted. “Oh, really? That’ll be nice, I…” My voice dies off at the intensity in Adam’s gaze. “It… won’t be nice?”
He takes a deep breath. “Alex is… the only family I have left, outside of you and Jake, but… we don’t see each other often for a reason. I always invite him, but he usually ignores it. He just shot me a text, though, saying he’ll come by to meet my mate and son.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing,” I say, trying for optimism. “If he wants to meet us, and especially since he’s choosing Christmas to do it, it might mean he wants a closer bond with you.”
“Trust me, it’s not a good thing,” Adam rumbles, eyebrows bunching into a frown. “I don’t want you or Jake alone with him, not even for a second. Do you understand?”
I blink. “Uh… that’s kind of a scary thing to say, Adam. Why? If he’s dangerous, I don’t want him around Jake. Or my parents.”
Adam shakes his head and reaches out to cup my cheek. “I’d never let him into my home if it put you in direct danger—you know that. It’s just… He’s…” He heaves a sigh, and I can feel his unease like a wave through our bond. “He’s always been… complex. He’s my brother. But… please, just promise me you’ll stick by my side tonight.”
I study my mate for a long moment, and not for the first time in our relationship, I get the distinct sense that he’s not telling me everything I need to know. But his brother’s not the only complex man in that family. I’ve known Adam had secrets and darkness from day one. I also know that as the days pass and our bond deepens, he will eventually tell me every dark secret and hidden pain, just like he did last night when he finally revealed why I hadn’t seen or heard of his parents.
With a small sigh, I pat his chest and nod. “All right. I promise.”
Adam draws me in to place a kiss on my forehead. His lips linger against my skin for a long second before he pulls back. “Thank you, mate.”
I don’t havemuch time to wonder about Adam’s cryptic warning about his brother. Our guests start arriving, and I’m soon swept up in a whirlwind of baby-cooing friends and relatives—as well as several strangers from Adam’s side of the guest list. Not that I can blame them; Jake is, without a doubt, the most adorable baby in history—no, I’m not biased—and it would be impossible to resist his charms even without the cute elf costume.
“I still can’t believe you banged McCain,” Dana says as we both watch my mom hogging the baby from his adoring fans. My friend takes a sip from her champagne flute and flashes me a wry grin. “Mostly because I imagine you would have been too terrified to unclench your vagina around him. I don’t know how you didn’t anxiety-barf when he asked you out.”
I snort. “I’m not saying I didn’t have some nerves the first time we met, but he’s got a really sweet side in private.” Also, he purred until my terror-clenching vagina buttered up like a biscuit, but I don’t exactly tell people the truth about how Adam and I got together.
Dana gives me a dubious look. “Well, if you say so. Though I’m not complaining—I’m fully aware you doing the boss is the reason customer service got that pay increase, and easier targets.”
“Just taking one for the team. Who wouldn’t pick a mate just so her former colleagues can get a cushier ride? You’re welcome.” I give her a playful grin. In reality, I had very little to do with the wage boost or the more approachable performance targets. Turns out when Adam was busy stalking me last December, he listened in on several of my recorded calls and realized how shitty a job customer service is. I don’t know how he didn’t know that beforehand, but it was enough to make him want to boost morale in the department, even after he’d fired me.
“Your parents seem happy with your new beau. Or at least, your new beau’s seed,” Dana says, nodding at my mom, who’s cooing at Jake. My dad stands over her shoulder, a gentle expression on his face that makes me feel soft inside as he allows his index finger to be used as a baby chew toy.
“Yup, they’re thrilled. Kinda giving the impression they didn’t expect me to ever settle down and have a family of my own.” Not that I can blame them—at the height of my self-pity, I was wondering the same.
Dana wanders off to speak to her husband—possibly about starting Project Baby themselves, Jake just has that effect on ovaries—and I watch my parents dote on their grandchild. About 99.9% of me is thankful beyond words that I get to have this beautiful moment. 0.1% is hurt that it took me having a child for my parents to cancel their holiday-in-warm-weather plans and spend Christmas with me. Apparently I wasn’t enough of a draw when it was just me, celebrating the holidays on my own.
“You’re sad.” The familiar rumble of my mate’s voice sounds from behind me, hushed enough that no one else can hear.
I lean into his strong body, seeking the comfort of his touch on instinct. “No. Not really. Just… coming to terms with some things.” I look up at him, and my stomach warms at the concern on his handsome face. I’ll never be alone again; not for Christmas, nor any other day of the year. For the rest of my life, Adam will be there, loving and supporting me every step of the way. As I will for him.
I reach out and twine my fingers with his. “I love you. I’ll always love you. You know that, right?”
My alpha’s face softens, and the gentlest smile I’ve ever seen touches his lips. “My Eve. I will never stop thanking Fate for you,” he whispers, tenderness dancing in his dark eyes as he raises my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles.
We stare into each other’s eyes for a long, sweet moment, the unspoken vows of affection passing through our bond and deep into my heart.
It lasts until the front door opens, and Adam turns his attention from me to the newcomer. His large body tenses almost imperceptibly.
I follow his gaze to the door. A large, dark-haired alpha stands there, and a wave of surprised recognition sweeps through me. He isn’t the spitting image of Adam, but his high cheekbones, strong nose, and the cut of his jaw is almost identical.
“Your brother, I take it?” I murmur to my mate.
“Mmhm,” he grunts, giving my fingers a squeeze before releasing them. “I'd best go say hello.”
His posture is relaxed as he approaches the other alpha, but I feel the tension he’s hiding simmering in our bond. He really wasn’t exaggerating when he hinted at their relationship being anything but uncomplicated.
But, complex or not, this is my brother-in-law, and he’s made the effort to come see me and Jake.
I scoop up my son from my reluctant mother, then make my way over to the newcomer, a friendly smile plastered on my face.
“Hi, you must be Alex. It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Eve, Adam’s mate, and this is… Jake.” It’s all I can do to not choke on my baby’s name, because just then, Alex turns to look at me, and something cold and awful grips my spine.
