Page 53 of Brandt's Rule

“It can be frightening to realize one among you is stronger than the rest,” Delilah said. “But that’s where the love comes in. The ability to do damage, doesn’t mean that damage will be done. Give this girl a chance.”

“Cannot believe my Tempest and Brandt are mates,” Maverik said.

“Does she know it yet?” Bane asked.

“He seems to think it’s an unspoken understanding,” Delilah said.

“Sounds like he’s accepting it. Won’t be unspoken much longer,” Kaid said.

Chapter 12

“Did you pick a nice big one?” Janie called from the kitchen as she heard the front door open.

“A nice big one what?” Brandt answered as he walked into the kitchen.

“Oh! Brandt! Hi, baby. I thought you were your daddy. He went out with Kaid and Mav to find Christmas trees,” Janie explained.

Brandt hugged his mother tight and kissed her cheek. “You busy?” he asked.

“I’m just getting a pork roast into the crock pot. I’m making pulled pork for dinner. You coming to eat?”

“Maybe. Is it something you can leave?” he asked.

“Well, yeah. It’s a crock pot. I just got it in there, so I’m free for a while, why? What’s going on?” Janie asked, suddenly keying in to the fact that Brandt wasn’t quite himself.

“I’m headed into town. Thought you might want to go with me and stop at the coffee shop for a visit.”

“Really? I’d love that!” she said, turning to her sink to wash her hands from handling the pork roast.

“Good. While we’re there, I’ll introduce you to my mate if she’s there.”

“That’d be fantas… what?!” Janie asked, her eyes wide as she spun to face her son. “Your mate? You found your mate?”

“It’s a long story. We haven’t exactly talked about it yet, but I’m fairly certain she’s the one. And she knows something is up, too.”

“If she feels it, too, she’s not human?” Janie asked.

Brandt huffed a laugh. “No, definitely not.”

“Is she a Bear, or a Wolf?”

Brandt shook his head slowly.

“Well, what is her animal?”

“She’s got some Dragon blood…”

“Oh, that’s exciting!”

“And some other things, but I think I’ll just let you both get acquainted and if everything works out, y’all can figure out the details later. At the moment all that matters is that I really believe she’s mine, and I want to take you to meet her.”

Janie smiled at her son with tears in her eyes as she dried her hands on a dishtowel. “As long as she loves you, I don’t care what she is.”

Brandt nodded. “Remember that mindset.”

~~~

Tempest laughed as she listened to Bailey’s running commentary of every customer and the details of their lives as they finished their order and left the coffee shop.

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