Mack winked at him. “Now that sounds like a plan.”

  Kyle felt as though he were floating along on a cloud. He’d been terrified of the man yesterday when Mack had accidentally said they were mates. But now Kyle beamed at the idea of belonging to such a sweet and powerful wolf shifter.

  “So tell me, Kyle,” Mack said as he headed into the kitchen, “where did you grow up?”

  Kyle picked up a few toys from the floor and dropped them into Joshua’s playpen. The infant wobbled as he sat there, trying to control his motor skills. “Not far from here. Have you heard of Dalton Falls?”

  Mack shook his head.

  “It’s about a three-hour drive from here.”

  “Why’d you decide to move to Brac Village?” Mack asked.

  “To prove I can make it on my own.” Kyle joined him in the kitchen, and his mouth watered when he saw Mack was making hot chocolate from scratch. “My parents coddled me my entire life, and I wanted to prove I was an adult.”

  Mack nodded. “Parents can be overprotective.” He looked at Joshua in the playpen. The baby was slapping one of his toys around, and Kyle guessed he was trying to make it light up. “I kind of know how they feel.”

  His mother and father really were great parents, but Kyle constantly felt as if they refused to see him as an adult. His mom had even done his laundry and cleaned his room up until he’d moved out, even though he’d protested many times, telling her he could do things his own choirs. He didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward them. He just wanted them to treat him as their equal, not like he was still five and needed constant parental guidance.

  Kyle did miss them, though, and couldn’t wait to see them on Christmas. He looked toward Joshua and wondered how he was gonna do that with a mate and baby. His parents knew nothing of the preternatural world, so they wouldn’t understand about mating. Hell, Kyle barely understood it.

  “What about your parents?” He tore his gaze away from Joshua to stare at Mack’s handsome face.

  When Mack spoke, his voice was quiet, a touch sad. “I think they’re still alive. We had a falling out a long time ago, and I left home. I haven’t been back since.”

  “I’m sorry.” Kyle pressed his hand over Mack’s. He couldn’t seem to stop touching him. He felt a deep connection, like they’d known each other since forever. Kyle had never felt this way toward anyone, and he also couldn’t imagine never speaking to his parents again.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry about.” Mack pivoted and set the pot of milk on the stove. “It was a long time ago.”

  But it still bothered Mack. Kyle heard the pain in his voice. “So how did you come to be such a great cook?”

  Mack laughed and looked over his shoulder. “Lots and lots of practice. If you can’t cook after two centuries of fucking things up in the kitchen, you deserve to starve.”

  The skin under Kyle’s eye twitched. “Come again?”

  “I see Johnny didn’t tell you everything.” Mack turned and leaned against the counter, folding his arms over his chest. “Shifters age very slowly. It’s our metabolism. We heal when we shift, so our bodies are constantly regenerating.” He winked at Kyle. “And now that our souls are bonded, you’ll live as long as I do.”

  Kyle staggered backward, bumping into the counter. He pressed a hand against the edge, trying his best to steady himself. He couldn’t wrap his head around that much time. “Exactly how old are you?”

  Mack closed the distance and curled Kyle into his arms. He nuzzled his neck and nipped his chin. “If you’re real good, maybe later I’ll tell you.” When he pulled back, his green eyes were heavy-lidded. “But first, hot chocolate and the Christmas tree.”

  Kyle smirked. “I knew I was dating an older guy, but I had no idea you were ancient.”

  He yelped when Mack smacked his bottom. “I’ll show you ancient.”

  “If you can keep up with me, grandpa.” Kyle chuckled and backed away when Mack narrowed his eyes. “Until then, I’m gonna go play with Joshua while you finish our drinks. Don’t get arthritis while you’re stirring the milk.” He put on his best serious face. “You don’t have arthritis cream around here, do you? I just might have to rub it into you later.”

  “I got something to rub into you later.” Mack turned back around and worked at the stove as Kyle went into the living room and pulled Joshua from his playpen.

  He couldn’t seem to stop touching Mack, but he couldn’t seem to stop holding the infant. He was growing extremely attached to them both, and he shuddered at the thought of anything happening to either of them.

  Kyle glanced toward the boarded-up window. If Mack hadn’t been a shifter, he was sure the man would’ve died today. That frightened him more than Mack’s bizarre world. He hugged Joshua close, pressing a kiss to the baby’s temple.

  And once again Joshua slapped him with a slobbery hand. Kyle smiled and tapped the baby on his nose. “You just love doing that to me, don’t you?”

  Joshua gave him a toothless grin and squeaked seconds before he shifted into a wolf puppy. Kyle nearly lost his hold but managed to keep him on his lap.

  “You might want to let him down,” Mack said from behind Kyle. “He wants to explore the house and scent everything.”

  After what had happened early, Kyle didn’t want to let Joshua out of his sight. What if the shooter returned and Joshua was in another part of the house? What if Kyle couldn’t get to him in time? He did what Mack said, but Kyle followed the wolf puppy, ensuring he didn’t get into trouble.

  Another thought struck him, and Kyle turned cold. What if he introduced his mate and Joshua to his parents and Joshua shifted? How would he explain that? And an even better question was how Kyle would explain to them that he wouldn’t age, not like they would.

  “Hot chocolate is ready,” Mack called from the kitchen. Kyle bent and picked Joshua up, carrying him to the living room. Mack had already pulled some boxes from the closet, and the mugs were on the coffee table.

  “Hand him over.” Mack reached for his son. He tapped Joshua’s nose and, in a firm voice, told his son to shift. Kyle’s eyes widened when the infant listened.

  He left the room and fetched some clothes and a diaper from the nursery before returning and giving them to Mack. Once the baby was dressed, their project got underway, with Joshua constantly grabbing the decorations and trying to put them into his mouth. Kyle spent more time taking things from the baby than putting the tree up. But they spent the rest of the day laughing and having a good time.

  By the time they were done, the house looked simply amazing. The tree was lit, and the place felt festive. Mack gave an approving nod. “I’m glad you reminded me, or I might’ve forgotten all about Christmas.”

  Kyle wasn’t sure how anyone could forget Christmas. It was his favorite time of year. Mack must’ve seen the puzzled look on his face.

  “Before Joshua, I never celebrated the holiday.” He shrugged. “I never had anyone to celebrate it with.”

  “What about Joshua’s mom?” Kyle curled onto the couch, his feet tucked under him as he enjoyed his second cup of cocoa.

  “Her family never celebrated, so it was no big deal to her. I never forced the issue, either.” Mack dropped next to Kyle. Joshua had fallen asleep and was currently in his crib, though Kyle was anxious about him being in another room. “By the time Christmas rolled around last year, we were still somewhat strangers. She never really put in the effort to get to know me, so neither did I.”

  His marriage sounded sad and lonely. Kyle knew little about Mack, but he wanted to change that. He wanted to know everything there was about his mate.

  “Like I said before, she was just a one-night stand, and she ended up pregnant. I did the right thing by her, but we couldn’t have been more different.”

  Kyle scooted closer and rested his head on Mack’s shoulder while still keeping his hands wrapped around his mug. “My favorite color is purple, and I hate vegetables. I don’t care how you cook them, I’m not eating them. I like music, movies, and feel giddy when I walk into a candy store. I have a major sweet tooth, but I don’t have a single cavity. My mom loves baking pies, and I love eating them. My dad loves sports. I sit and watch them with him, but truthfully, I haven’t a clue what’s going on.”

  “I’m not a sports fan,” Mack confessed. “And as you already know, I love cooking, but I love being a doctor even more. I like that I help people, and I’m damn good at what I do. I’m jealous, protective, but love pampering those I care about.”

  Kyle set his mug aside before he climbed onto Mack’s lap. “I can tell you’re a caregiver.”

  Mack slid his arms around Kyle and rested his hands on his butt. “And you are, too. I love how you are with Joshua. You make him happy.”

  “I never thought I’d have a child of my own, even though I love children, so when Cody told me about an opening at the center in the daycare room, I jumped at the chance. Of course, I had a background check done, and I was fingerprinted. But in this town, I highly doubt Maverick would’ve let me near the center if he thought I was in any way shady. I see that guy at the center more than I see my own boss.”

  Which was true. The mayor of Brac Village spent a lot of time volunteering at the center—playing basketball with the teenagers, painting with the younger kids in the art room, and once in a while, he came into the daycare to hold the infants. The guy was amazingly tall and looked more like a biker than a mayor, but he was surprisingly gentle.

  Every time Kyle was around Maverick, he felt at ease. The guy just had that way about him.

  It was the same with Mack. Kyle wanted to curl into his arms and never leave that space. His mate might be a doctor, but his arms and part of his chest were tatted up, and he had this badass look about him. And that turned Kyle on.

  “Well, I have to say,” Mack said as he brushed his thumb over Kyle’s chin, “you’re an excellent caregiver.”

  Kyle had started to lean in for a kiss when his phone rang. He furrowed his brows as he dug it out of his pocket. He groaned when he saw it was his mom calling. She had the worst timing ever.

  Mack ran his hands up and down Kyle’s back as he answered. “Hi, Mom.”

  “I just wanted to let you know your father and I will be coming to your apartment tomorrow. We wanted to bring Christmas to you and check out your new place.”

  Kyle’s heart froze as his jaw dropped. “But the weather.”

  “Oh poo. We can get there just fine. I’ve even made my famous pot roast to bring with me. We’ll be there around noon.”

  Before Kyle could protest any further, she hung up. He lowered his hand but stared blankly at Mack.

  “I guess it’s time to meet my new in-laws.” Mack patted Kyle’s hip. “I hope they’re a lot better than the last ones.”

  “How am I going to explain you and Joshua?” Kyle clambered off Mack’s lap. “And you have someone out to get you. I can’t have my parents in the middle of that! I don’t even want Joshua in the middle. What am I going to do?”

  Kyle’s stomach pitched when he thought of the sniper killing his parents. He also felt sick at the idea of them seeing Joshua shift. He was so screwed he wanted to cry.

  “Calm down.” Mack grabbed Kyle’s arm and turned him around. “We’ll deal with this, okay?”

  “How?” Kyle felt faint. Maybe he could call her back and tell her he’d come down with some contagious disease. Then again, that wouldn’t stop her. His mother would march right to his apartment with chicken soup and ginger ale, swearing the combination could cure anything, while his father ran a hot bath, telling Kyle to suck up the steam.

  Tomorrow would be a complete disaster.

  Chapter Six

  “I’m just gonna go to my place tomorrow and meet them there.” Kyle paced the living room. “I’ll make some kind of excuse and get back here before nightfall.”

  No way was Mack allowing Kyle to go home by himself. First of all, his mate’s car was still stuck at the grocery store. That meant he’d have to go by foot, and Mack wasn’t having that. Second…no, this was the first thing. There was still a shooter out there.

  “What’re you so afraid of?” Mack folded his arms over his chest. “Are you embarrassed of me?”

  He didn’t think that was the case. Not to toot his own horn, but what mother wouldn’t love the fact that their child was dating a doctor?

  “What? No!” Kyle waved his arms back and forth. “How could I be embarrassed of you?” he asked. “You’re the best catch any guy could ask for.”

  That statement unruffled Mack’s feathers. “Then what it is?”

  Kyle wrung his hands as his gaze darted around. “What if Joshua shifts? Not that I care. I’ve grown very fond of him and love playing with him as a baby or wolf puppy. But my folks might freak out.”

  Mack saw the dilemma, but he still wasn’t letting his mate out of his sight. Besides, if Kyle was that close to his parents, Mack would just explain everything and hope they understood. He wanted to get to know Kyle’s mom and dad, especially if they were an integral part of his mate’s life.

  “I’m going with you,” Mack said. He held up a hand when Kyle looked as though he would argue. “I’m not letting you go there alone.”

  Kyle paled. “I think it’s too soon for you to meet them. We’re just getting to know each other. This can wait until next year some time.”

  Mack gave a quiet laugh. “Stop worrying so much. Everything will work out.” He enveloped Kyle in his arms and pressed a kiss to his temple. He loved the way his mate smelled and inhaled deep drafts as he held him close.

  “Why do I always feel like I have to impress them?” Kyle asked. “Or more to the point, why do I always feel like I have to prove myself?”

  “How so?” Mack led Kyle into the kitchen to make some tea while Joshua slept in his nursery. When they were done talking, he was gonna do a perimeter sweep just to put his wolf at ease. Mack wasn’t sure who was out to get him, but he doubted the person had just given up and gone home.

  He stood there and listened to Kyle tell him how his parents had always treated him like a child, never as their equal. Mack chuckled. “I don’t think any parent looks at their kids as fully grown. In their eyes, you’ll always be their little boy.”

  “And that’s fine.” Kyle grabbed the cream from the fridge and set it on the counter. “But at least treat me like an adult. I don’t need my mom calling me at work just to check on me or my dad making sure all my fluids are topped off every time I visit them.”

  “Take it from someone who hasn’t seen his parents in two centuries, cherish what they do for you and how they feel about you. Not everyone is lucky to have a mom and dad involved in their life.”

  A frown puckered between Kyle’s eyes. “Now you make me feel bad about wanting my independence.”

  “If it’ll make them feel any better,” Mack said as he tossed a tea bag into each cup, “let them know I’m looking out for you now. That should put them at ease.”

  “And how is that supposed to make them treat me like an adult? I just went from one caregiving situation to another. That’s not proving I can make it on my own.”

  Mack ran his hand down Kyle’s arm, loving how his mate’s eyes softened. “But you’re not on your own anymore, handsome.”

  “No, it’s gonna be worse.” Kyle groaned and leaned his elbows on the counter, grinding the heels of his hands into his eyes. “Now that Joshua is in the picture, my mom will become unbearable. She’ll call me constantly asking how the baby is, if I’m feeding him and changing his diaper, if there’s a draft in his room, and—”

  “That bad?” Mack asked.

  “You have no idea,” Kyle mumbled. “There’s a difference between concern and downright intrusiveness.” He stood and dropped his hands. “Don’t get me wrong. I love them. I really do. But if my folks had their way, I’d live at home for the rest of my life.”

  Mack wasn’t sure what to say to that. Clearly Kyle’s parents had an issue with letting their son grown up and spread his wings. They obviously didn’t trust him to fly in the right direction. “Do you know why they’re this way?”

  Kyle sighed. “I had a younger sister, but she died of SIDS, and my folks have been overprotective since. I get it. I do. But in their effort to keep me safe, they’re suffocating me.”

  Ah, now Mack was seeing the whole picture, but he wasn’t sure how to help his mate. The loss his parents experienced hadn’t eased with time. If anything their fear had taken over their life, and, in turn, had taken over Kyle’s by the way they constantly wanted to protect him.

  He pressed his palm against Kyle’s soft cheek. “We’ll make this work, sweetheart. I can be a charming guy.”

  Kyle snorted. “I don’t think you can charm the overprotectiveness out of my parents. It’s ingrained in them.”

  Mack winked. “We’ll see.”

  He just hoped he was right, because if he wasn’t, Kyle’s parents would try to take over their lives and Mack would be damned if he allowed that to happen. He already had one set of nightmarish in-laws to deal with. He didn’t need a second set.

  * * * *

  Orlando’s attempt to get any more information out of Mrs. O’Reilly had been a bust. She hadn’t seen the guy’s face, and the plates on the sedan parked outside her house had come back as stolen. He was no closer to finding out who the shooter was than when he’d started.

  But Orlando wasn’t gonna give up. He didn’t care how long he had to stake out Dr. Fargo’s house. He would catch the shooter and bury the bastard under the jail by the time he was done with him.

  * * * *

  Kyle was a nervous wreck when he cracked his eyes open the following morning. Before he’d fallen asleep last night, he kept imagining the worst-case scenarios. His stomach was tied in knots when he turned over to find Mack’s head resting on the pillow as he watched Kyle.

  “How long have you been up?” Kyle stretched and then scooted closer, running his hand over Mack’s tattoos. He ghosted his fingertips over the intricate pattern as he gazed into his mate’s pretty eyes.