Page 20 of A Chance at Love for the Twin Alphas

“The forecast said it would be cold but sunny.” He frowns. “Below -20°. It can’t snow or rain at that temperature.”

“Maybe the forecast was wrong,” she points out. “It happens all the time.”

“The whole week, though?” He glares like he can scare away the weather with his sour mood. When his eyes catch me, he smiles though. “Oh, one of my sons.” He looks at me with what he probably thinks is a good poker face.

“You know already,” I say, slightly annoyed.

He sighs but then laughs. “Come, give your old man a hug.”

I smile, approaching him and allowing him to pull him into one of his bear hugs. He clasps my shoulders and smacks my back before letting go. “Some of the warriors saw you with a young woman.” He grins. “But I wanted you to be the one to tell me.”

I take a deep breath, deciding to cherish this moment despite one of these blabbermouths already spilling the tea. “I found my mate.”

Mom beams at me and throws her arms around me. “I’m so happy, my dear,” she says, tears in her eyes. “Who is it?”

“Elodie Desjardins,” I say proudly. “One of the twins that was on the mission with Tony and I.”

“Oh, she is working for the Council, right?” Dad sounds impressed.

“Yes, which is why she couldn’t accompany me.” I sigh, already missing her. I wish she could have come with me to meet my family and pack. “She had work to attend to.”

Mom tilts her head, a gentle smile curling on her lips. “It will be good for you.”

“Having a mate?”

“That too, but I meant being mated to such an important member of the Council.” She smiles. “I love you, Henry, but you’re not the most patient man out there. She will teach you patience.”

“She is right.” Dad laughs loudly. “She will have work to attend to and probably work more than you sometimes, sometimes even travel. The Moon Goddess possibly wanted to punish you a little for being such an adorable, sweet teen growing up.”

“Thanks, Dad. Good to know that you always loved me, even in bad times,” I say, glaring at him. “I’m second-guessing even introducing her to you.”

“Oh, you wouldn’t dare.” His gaze turns into a glare, too. “I will command you to introduce her to us,” he threatens.

I know it’s an empty threat, and he would never do it. Even at our worst times, he never commanded me and Tony to abide by his rules. Still, it pisses me off that he would even say it.

“Alright,” Mom chimes in. “That’s enough, don’t you think?”

She is such a quiet and gentle person. I sometimes wonder how she manages to keep control over us, but she does.

None of us wants to hurt Mom’s feelings. Ever.

It’s one of the reasons Tony and I don’t want to tell her that we know she isn’t our mother by blood. To us, she is our real mother, though, the woman who raises us as her own.

Dad grumbles a bit but soon has Mom in his arms again, his hand resting on her belly.

“I won’t command you to introduce your mate to us,” Dad tells me. “But you will do it, nevertheless.” Mom elbows him. “I mean, it will mean a lot to me if you do,” he adds.

Mom’s eyes rest on me now, and I swallow my pride. “Of course, I will introduce her to you. I’ve actually invited her for the weekend.” I pause. “And you’re right, seeing how much of a questionable person I am, it’s good that—”

“I didn’t say that,” Dad interrupts me sharply.

This time, Mom doesn’t stop him.

“Is this what you think I think about you?” he asks.

I shrug. “Isn’t it the truth?”

“No, never did I think low or bad of you. I know you did some questionable stuff, and there were times I was angry and disappointed, but never did I think of you as a bad person. Never did I regret you being my son. I’m very proud that you and Anthony came around and accepted your responsibility. You’re working hard and proving yourself. I always knew you had it in you. You had a lot of good sides to you, even as a teen.”

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