Page 63 of His Fate

"Right. I'm sure." Her tone drips with sarcasm and my chest squeezes at the hurt I feel coming from her. "Let's get this over with before I start asking about the shifter version of divorce."

"Posey..."

She waves me off as she throws open her door, jumps out, and slams it.

This day started off with morning sex and shower sex, then included something called ”road head” before I pulled off and had my first experience with “backseat sex” and now I'm terrified my mate will seriously find a way to sever our life-bond because I am keeping so many things from her that she feels it tenfold. And that's only if my brain does not explode from keeping all of those things from her first.

Perhaps I will not be able to wait for her to move in before I come clean. Honestly, I'm concerned I'll start spouting off everything the second we enter her house because the fear the words “shifter version of divorce” created has me ready to weep like a babe and grovel at Posey's feet.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about all aspects of mating and I absolutely wish my father was here to consult with regarding them.

I exit my truck and jog after Posey, then gently grab her arm and turn her toward me before she enters the house. "I am sorry, my love, for keeping my thoughts from you. Please, please do not hold it against me. There are just so many things that have happened, so many things I am curious about and without anyone to consult I just... I don't want to confuse or scare you without having the facts first."

Her eyes soften but I still feel her hurt. "I love you, Kai, so much and I am in this for the long haul but I'm all in. Until you are, until you trust that I can handle everything our life together will present or change, until you stop shutting me out over things I can feel weighing on you so heavily, just expect me to feel the hurt and sadness I know you are picking up on." Posey leans up on her tiptoes and kisses me, a kiss that reflects her hurt and sadness then turns and pushes open the front door.

Fuck.

"We're home!" Posey calls out as she kicks off her sneakers. Then my mate immediately stubs her toe on a stack off boxes by the hall table she usually stubs her toe on. "Fuck!"

My eyes shift from Posey to the many boxes stacked throughout the foyer and hall, more spilling out from the entrance of the kitchen and living room on either side. It seems our family has been very busy while we've been away.

"Dad?!" My mate scans the sea of cardboard with a confused expression. "What the hell is going on?"

"We're in here, Josey Posey!" A deep, albeit hoarse and unfamiliar voice calls from somewhere in the house.

Posey freezes. Her eyes go wide before they instantly pool with tears and I feel multiple emotions pass through her at lightning speed.

Recognition.

Confusion.

Hope.

Disbelief.

Fear.

Joy.

Gods but the fear and hope my mate feels right now is crushing.

She reaches out and grips my arm, grips it so tight she may draw blood then begins pulling me toward the living room.

We weave through the many boxes and enter to find Janet sitting on an overturned milk crate wearing a tank top and track pants, bright pink sneakers and her hair pulled up into a high ponytail on her head, a stark contrast to her usual blouse and pencil skirt topped off with severe bun at the nape of her neck.

She smiles at us warmly in greeting before her almost black eyes shift to what my mate is staring at.

Henrich is kneeling on the floor over Hank, who is laid out on his back, his left leg resting flat while my brother stretches his right, the limb pointed directly at the ceiling. Hank is barefoot and shirtless, arms extended toward either wall and when he sees us he smiles so big I can see every bit of my Josephine reflected there.

"There's the happy couple," he says gruffly, lifting both of his arms in greeting. "Posey, peanut, you are glowing."

Her nails dig into my flesh, her mouth hanging open, tears running down her face and that's when it clicks.

Hank is talking.

He's using both of his arms.

There is no evidence of a colostomy bag or catheter anywhere.

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