Page 48 of Coming Home

Taking a deep breath, I started heading for the room we’d watch the boys enter. Ben caught up next to me and wrapped a possessive arm around my shoulders. He kissed my temple before we walked in.

Both of his parents were sharing a bed and sitting up, listening to the boys talking animatedly. Marnie was the first to notice our arrival. She immediately took in the sight and her eyes started to tear up.

“What’s the matter?” Don asked.

He followed her line of sight to the two of us.

“Benjamin!” he beamed, genuinely happy to see his son.

“Hey, Dad. You’re looking good,” Ben observed.

He hurried to his bedside to hug his father. I held back and gave them a minute to catch up feeling a little like I was intruding on their family moment.

Don finally looked up and smiled, motioning me to join them.

“Little Shelby Collier,” he said affectionately. “It’s been a long time since we saw the two of you together.”

I leaned down and gave him a quick hug.

“Too long,” Ben agreed, putting his arm around my waist and pulling me close to his side once again..

“They’re true mates,” Troy said as if it were common knowledge.

“What?” Marnie asked.

Ben beamed and squeezed me tighter as I shrugged.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Marnie. I really don’t think I’m getting rid of him so easily this time,” I joked.

Ben

Chapter 16

I abandoned Shelby to walk around and hug Dad. He looked better than I expected.

“I hear the surgery went well,” I said.

“It did indeed. They had to put steel rods to rebuild my leg. The good news is I will walk again, at least in human form.”

“I’m so sorry, Dad,” I said. It broke my heart to know he would never shift again.

“It’s okay, son. I know it won’t be easy, but I’m going to okay. We all are. Ultimately your mother left the decision up to me and I decided that at least for now I would rather be whole in one form than crippled in both. And if I change my mind, Doc says he’ll consider a scheduled amputation, so that’s not entirely off the table, but for now, I think we’re going to be okay.”

“How about you, Marnie? How are you holding up through all of this?” Shelby asked Mom.

She reached for my mate’s hand and squeezed it. “I’m okay. The pain is tolerable and they’re letting us room together, which helps keep the wolves at bay. I’m afraid we’re going to be here a couple more weeks, though.”

“But Ben’s going back in ten days,” Troy said.

I didn’t want to make promises I couldn’t keep. I’d been granted two weeks of leave. I could request more, but there was no guarantee.

“It’s going to be okay, guys,” Shelby said. “You aren’t getting out of your schoolwork that easily.” Will groaned. “I’ll make arrangements for them to stay at the Alpha house for as long as you need.”

“Shelby, it’s okay. We’ll figure something out,” Marnie said.

“It’s not a problem, really. I’m sort of part of this family too now, right? If Ben can’t be here, well, I am.”

I smiled at her gratefully and nodded.

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