Page 34 of His Place in the World
Rosewood felt more like his home than Wakefield ever had, and he wasn’t giving it up.
* * * *
“Are you sure this won’t be a problem for you?”Matt asked over Tyler’s head.
Del saw Tyler stiffen.He no doubt expected to be rejected, and for Matt to choose Del.It would make sense since Del was Matt’s son while he and Tyler had just met.
Del might not understand why Tyler had latched onto his father the way he had, but he couldn’t deny what was in front of his eyes.Besides, he thought that Tyler and Matt could be good for each other, not just Matt for Tyler.
Doyle had left home, and while Del still lived with his father and his sister, he was twenty and spending more and more time outside the house.He didn’t need his father to take care of him the way he had when he was a child, and he’d seen how lost Matt was over that.He still had Cora, who was only six years old, but a huge part of Matt’s life had changed after they’d moved, and he wouldn’t get it back.He’d always been someone who enjoyed taking care of others, and maybe, taking care of Tyler would help him.
It would certainly help Tyler, who needed someone to take care of him and show him that not everyone was a bad person.Not every human wanted to enslave shifters and use them.
“Why should it be a problem?”Del asked.
“It’s always been the four of us.Doyle is gone, but he’s not far, and I wasn’t sure living with an unknown person would be okay with you.”
“It is.Besides, I don’t know how long I’ll continue living with you and Cora.The home is yours more than it’s mine, and I don’t think that’s going to change.”
Matt nodded.“I don’t like thinking about you leaving, but I understand it might be time.Have you and Angus talked?”
“Not yet.”But they would, and soon.Angus couldn’t stay forever without talking to Cam and his alpha.If Angus wanted to stay permanently, then he’d have to move.If he decided he was better off in Wakefield, he’d need to go back.
Del knew which option he hoped his mate would choose, but he couldn’t be a hundred percent sure until they talked.
“That man is crazy about you,” Matt said.
He was still holding Tyler, who’d finally relaxed.He wasn’t crying anymore, but he seemed a bit dazed.It was a good thing that Matt had him.
“I don’t know anything about crazy, but I sure hope he likes me.”
“You’re his mate.There’s no way he doesn’t like you.”
Del snorted.“Way to make me feel like being his mate is the only reason he likes me.”
Del’s father laughed.“I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you.I realize this isn’t what you thought would happen when we moved here, but it doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.Between your brother dating a pack member and Angus moving here, I feel our family has truly become part of the Rosewood pack.”
He wasn’t wrong.Del still felt awkward a lot of the time, but Doyle was home here, as was Cora.It didn’t matter that it was taking Del a bit longer to wrap his mind around all the changes in his life and feel like Rosewood was home for him, too.He wasn’t going anywhere.
He watched as his father gently steered Tyler toward the door.They were softly talking, and while Del was dying to know what they were telling each other, he kept his distance.Tyler had reacted badly when Ryland had tried taking him away from Matt, and there was no way to know if he’d react the same way if Del stepped in.It would take time for Tyler to stop reacting so strongly and to accept he was safe, but Del couldn’t wait to see it happen.He felt like it would be good for everyone.
“Del?”
Del turned to see that Angus was standing behind him.He smiled, then frowned when he saw Angus looked worried.“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, or at least, I don’t think so.I just need to ask you something.”
“You can ask me anything.”Del hoped his mate knew that.
Angus nodded.“I was just talking to Cam about Tyler becoming a pack member, and he asked me if I was planning on doing the same.”
Del swallowed.He’d just been thinking they needed to talk about this, but he hadn’t expected it to happen now.“Are you?”
Angus’s smile was hesitant.“I told him I’d be delighted to become a Rosewood pack member but that I needed to talk to you first.I want to move here, if you’re okay with it.If you decide we shouldn’t be together, it might be too awkward for both of us to be pack members, especially when I don’t need to become one.If you reject me, I’ll be safe with the Wakefield pack.”
Del frowned.“Why are you talking as if you expect me to reject you?”
“Because I have no idea what to think.I wish we had more time to focus on our relationship and our future, but between the mission and my work, I don’t know if we’ll have it.That’s why I wanted to talk to you today.I’d like to know what’s happening between us so I don’t have to worry about that, too.”
