Page 19 of Hunting for Love

“Got it. So I’ll save the worry I would use on Ronny and use it on you all instead.”

Cooper snorts and I squeeze my arms around Zander’s waist. “We’ve all been doing this for awhile,” Cooper says with a wide smile. “We know a thing or two. The worst thing that’s happened so far is our fearless leader literally dying. But it’s fine,” he adds quickly when Zander makes a worried noise. “He’s undead now. And he found his true mate. So I call that a net gain honestly.”

“For someone so fucking smart you sure are bad at reassuring people,” Martin murmurs and here these two go again.

“I never claimed to be perfect, Martin,” Cooper says, sipping his beer and looking away. “Some of us are good at reading but bad at words.”

Martin just snorts in response. To ease the tension around the fire, Carlos changes the topic. “I’m not sure how you lived before,” he says to Zander, “but I hope the idea of being out on the road is appealing to you.”

Zander swallows thickly. He reaches down, taking my hand from his hip and lacing our fingers together. “The idea of traveling is nice. I like the idea of not being in one spot too long, if I’m being honest.”

“Is there a reason for that?”

Zander nods. Part of me wonders if I should shut these questions down. Zander might not be ready to talk about all of this. We shouldn’t push him. I open my mouth to do just that but then Zander is going on.

“I ran away. That’s why we were in our shifter forms. I saw an opening to having a better life. ForJJto have a better life. So I took it.”

Cooper leans forward in his chair, the mood around the fire flipping once more. Everyone here softens. “What were you running from?”

“My ex,” Zander whispers, “his name is John. He’s JJ’s father.”

“We don’t have to talk about this, Zander,” I tell him, kissing his shoulder. He turns towards me, breathing in my messy hair.

“It’s okay. I don’t want this to be some big, dark secret that could possibly come back and bite me. I want to tell you. You’re my true mate, Ronny.”

“Awww,” a couple of the guys all say, their voices synchronized. I roll my eyes, ignoring the heat in my cheeks at their chorus of congrats.

“I just didn’t want you to feel pressured,” I whisper against Zander’s shoulder. He kisses the top of my head before looking at the other guys.

“John is a cat shifter just like me. When I had come of age, my parents basically gifted me to John. He was the leader of our litter. They thought they were making me the litter omega but John never actually mated with me. And I wasn’t his only omega.”

If I was a shifter, I know there would be a growl rising up inside my chest. But I’m only human so instead, I just tighten my arms around Zander.

“It wasn’t a great place for us,” Zander says softly and a lot of things stay unsaid. “I didn’t want my son raised there.”

There’s a moment of silence as we all digest this. “Did he ever?”

Zander shakes his head. “He never hurt JJ. Hell, JJ’s real name is fucking John Junior. But John wasn’t a good alpha. He wasn’t honorable. He wasn’t kind. He ruled with an iron fist. He would have stifled JJ and stolen his joy eventually. I had to run.”

“It’s okay,” I whisper, running my fingers through Zander’s hair. “You did the right thing, Zander. And Lady Fate brought you to us. I think she knew what she was doing when she did that.”

“I agree,” Martin says and his voice is hard. “What better place to be than surrounded by hunters? You willneverhave to worry about that asshole again.”

“I’m worried I’m trusting you all a little too soon,” Zander confesses softly.

Carlos speaks up. “It’s okay to keep your walls up at first. You deserve that after everything you’ve been through. But with time, we’re happy to prove ourselves and gain your trust. Now that you’re in this fucked up family, you’re one of us and we protect our own.”

It seems Carlos speaks the same language as Zander because I feel him relax against me. Zander nods, giving a grateful smile. “Thank you.”

“Like he said, you’re one of us now,” Cooper says with a smile. “It seems our little family is quickly expanding. I think we might have to invest in another RV.”

Carlos pokes Cooper’s side. “Just think, it could be you next finding yourself a partner.”

I don’t miss the way Cooper’s eyes jump over to Martin before falling to the fire. Cooper plays it off, letting out an amused snort. “We’ve been in this business long enough to know just about anything is possible.”

Gods, I’ll be glad when these two figure out their shit and either fuck already or fight once and for all. I run my nose over Zander’s arm, listening to everyone chat. “I promise you’re safe with us,” I whisper so that only Zander can hear.

He turns his head, giving me a knowing look. “I think I understand, Ronny.”

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