Page 10 of His Place in the World
He was Angus’s mate.
He’d seen Doyle with Marcus.He knew what being mates meant, and he’d even wondered if maybe a shifter out there would find him and tell him those words one day.
But not now.Not when he was only twenty and had just moved in with the Rosewood pack.
Dozens of reasons why this was a bad idea crossed Del’s mind.Dozens of reasons why this was the best thing in the world immediately followed.Del didn’t know where to start, but maybe he should say something, because Angus looked spooked enough to start running if Del didn’t.
Del opened his mouth, and while he had no idea what he was about to say, he didn’t have to think about it because Angela burst out of the office.
“What’s going on?”she asked.
Her voice sounded like she was ordering Angus to explain, and she probably was.This was confusing for Del, but it had to be even more confusing for the people watching them.After all, Angus had dragged him out of the office even though they didn’t know each other.
Angus was still staring at Del.Del had no idea how to feel about his revelation, but he could tell he needed to tell Angus something.So, he did.“I honestly don’t know how to feel about this, but I’m open to the possibility.”This way, Angus would understand he’d need time to wrap his mind around the revelation but wasn’t rejecting him right off.
Or at least, Del hoped so.
Angus’s shoulders relaxed.“As long as you’re not rejecting me, I can deal with anything,” he murmured.
“Angus?”Cam asked.Unlike Angela, he sounded worried rather than angry.“Can you tell us what’s going on?”
Angus straightened his shoulders and turned to face the alpha.“I apologize for my behavior, but I was overwhelmed when I bumped into Del and realized he’s my mate.”
Cam’s frown turned into a wide smile, while Angela looked horrified.
“That’s not possible,” she said.
“Why not?”Angus asked.“I didn’t make a mistake.I was close enough to him to smell him, and I’m sure he’s my mate.”
Angela’s expression smoothed out.She seemed to have a lot of experience dealing with things she wasn’t happy with and acting as if she didn’t have feelings.
She stared at Del as if trying to read him.“Well, Angus is a member of the Wakefield pack.You’re welcome to move in with us so the two of you can be together,” she said.
Del’s first instinct was to tell herfuck no, but he kept the words in.He didn’t want to offend her, even though he didn’t like her much.
“Or Angus could move in with the Rosewood pack,” Cam said smoothly.“After all, Del just moved in with us, and this is where his entire family is.I’m sure you wouldn’t ask him to move again so soon and to leave his family behind.Besides, he’s going to college nearby.Rosewood is his home.”
“Wakefield could become his home.If he’s just moved here, he doesn’t have a lot holding him back.”
“As I explained, his entire family lives here.”
Del was glad Cam had his back, because there was no way he was moving to Wakefield.He’d have said no even if he’d liked Angela, and that wasn’t true, although he wasn’t sure why.He just knew that his place was in Rosewood, and he wasn’t going anywhere.What that meant for him and Angus, he didn’t know, but he wouldn’t change his mind.
* * * *
Del hadn’t rejected Angus.That was the only thing Angus could focus on until Angela asked Del to move in with the Wakefield pack.He’d half expected Del to say yes, and he could have kissed Cam when he’d intervened.Apparently, Cam wanted Del to stay in Rosewood, which meant he expected Angus to move there.
Angus was more than happy to do that.
But Angelawasn’thappy.She was glaring at him as if he’d done this on purpose, and while he hadn’t, he had to admit that he might have if he’d had the opportunity.As it was, he didn’t have to come up with an excuse to move out of the Wakefield pack and in with the Rosewood pack.Del would be his excuse, or at least, he hoped so.
Angus had no idea what to think of any of this, and he could tell Del felt the same way.They were both confused, and with Del being human, things would be harder for him.Angus had always known that someday he might meet his mate.He’d been prepared for that to happen since he was a teenager.On the other hand, Del had probably imagined a future with a partner and children, all of them as human as he was.
And now, he’d been saddled with Angus.
Angus didn’t even know if Del was attracted to guys, for fuck’s sake.Yet even if Del wasn’t, that wouldn’t be enough for Angus to change his mind.Even if Del didn’t want to be with him, Angus would use him as an excuse to move.They didn’t have to be together if it wasn’t something Del could deal with, although the thought broke Angus’s heart.
But whatever happened between them, Angus’s future was with the Rosewood pack.He was convinced of that.
