Page 53 of Hooves & HeartStrings

After dinner, we move to the living room again, this time with coffee and dessert. Lucius’ mom brings out a photo album, and we spend the next hour looking through old pictures, some of which make Lucius groan and others that make him laugh. The whole experience is heartwarming and gives me a deeper insight into the wonderful family he comes from.

As the evening winds down, Lucius’ mom pulls me aside. “Marley, I’m really glad you’re here. Lucius is lucky to have you, and so are we. Don’t ever doubt that.”

Tears prick at my eyes, and I nod, too choked up to speak. She hugs me tightly before letting me go.

Today has been more than I could have hoped for, and I’m overwhelmed by the kindness and acceptance Lucius’ family has shown me.

Lucius wraps an arm around my shoulders as we head up to his old room. It’s small but comfortable, with a large bed covered in a quilt and a window overlooking the garden. I set my bag down, and we both start to change into our pajamas.

“See? Not so bad, right?” Lucius teases gently, pulling off his T-shirt.

I smile, feeling a bit sheepish. “Yeah, you were right. It’s been wonderful.”

He steps closer, cupping my face in his hands. “I’m glad. It means a lot to me that you’re here.”

I lean into his touch, closing my eyes for a moment. “It means a lot to me, too.”

We finish getting ready for bed, and I slide under the covers, feeling a mixture of contentment and nervous excitement. Lucius joins me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close.

“Thank you for bringing me here, Luci,” I say, snuggling into his chest. “I needed this more than I realized.”

He kisses the top of my head. “I’m glad you came. They love you, Marley. And so do I.”

My heart swells with emotion, and I tilt my head up to kiss him gently.

As we lay there, wrapped in each other’s arms, I feel the weight that had been pressing on my chest all day lift. This visit has been a turning point, and I’m grateful for every moment of it. Lucius’ parents have welcomed me into their family with open arms, and now, more than ever, I feel like I truly belong.

twenty three

So far the weekend has gone well. I knew it would. My parents are good people and my mom is just a big ball of happiness. I knew she would love Marley the moment she met her, and I was right.

It was a relief to see that Marley’s nerves settled quickly and she relaxed into the flow of conversation.

But knowing my mom and how she doesn’t have a filter, I feel bad for leaving my mate alone with her yesterday. Poor Marley. But if anyone could handle it, it’s my girl.

They’re inside now talking about shopping and maybe going to get mani/pedis, while I’m outside with dad. This seems to be our thing this weekend as well.

“So, how are things going?” my dad asks as we sit in the back by the pool drinking our beers.

“Good. Now. It took a while to get there.” I sigh, turning to look at him. This is nice. Normally, it’s me and mom having conversations like this. “I wasn’t honest with her from the start about her being my mate and it was really bad timing when she found out, thanks to me and my big mouth.”

“It’s not easy, you know,” he tells me. “Monsters, we expect this. We grow up learning that there’s a high chance that a soul is out there, destined to be with us, and while it’s not overly common, sometimes more than one soul. But if that person ends up being a human, it can be a whole different situation. Monsters may have been around since the beginning of time, but we only recently joined human society within the past one hundred years. Humans are not very knowledgeable regarding mates. So, the topic can often be overwhelming.”

“I think our downfall from the start was just not being honest. I let my past cloud my mind and judgment. Add in some bullshit with her friends, and it was just a rough situation.”

“But you're good now?”

“After weeks of me stalking her and wearing her down to prove to her that I may be an idiot, but we’re perfect for each other,” I tell him, my lip twitching.

“Ah, you take after me. Good boy.” He chuckles and his approval warms my chest. “About other…aspects of your relationship?” he asks, clearing his throat, things growing a little awkward. While I’m used to my mother's bluntness toward sex, I’ve only had one conversation with my dad about sex before now.

“We’ve been making it work.” I look away. “It’s going to take some getting used to before we can do things without thinking carefully.”

“Once you solidify the mate bond, her body will open up for you. You were made for each other.”

“Okay.” I nod, god this is so awkward.But thankfully, my girl steps outside and saves me.

“Hey.” She smiles softly, looking toward me and my dad. “Everything okay?”

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