Chapter 57
“A wolf can lie with its mouth. Never with its instincts p>
~ Rebel Beast
___________
“Are you actually serious right now?” The sheer disbelief on Dimitri’s face was almost insulting.
“Maverick,” he said slowly, “your father Roman has practically turned your mother’s love story into a required family reading. The man documented every ridiculous detail of how Violet ended up with your four fathers. Then, as if writing the books wasn’t enough, he insists on rereading his favorite Chapters at nearly every family gathering p>
Dimitri pinched the bridge of his nose.
“I’ve heard that story so many times I could probably recite it word for word in my sleep, and you’re asking whether I remember how your parents discovered their mate bonds p>
Maverick rubbed the back of his neck, looking genuinely embarrassed.
“Right.” He cleared his throat. “It’s just p>
His hand made a vague gesture in the air as if he could somehow organize the thoughts refusing to cooperate inside his head.
“My memory just p>
“You’re wondering whether Aria Aspen is actually your mate,” Dimitri finished.
Maverick tilted his head ever so slightly.
“Pretty much p>
Dimitri let out a slow sigh before looking at him properly.
Maverick misunderstood the look.
“No,” he said quickly. “It’s not because she’s human. I don’t care about that p>
Maverick took a deep breath. “I just want to be certain I’m not trying so hard to recreate my parents’ love story that I’m convincing myself of something that isn’t real.” The confession finally left him.
Then, after another moment, he admitted something else. “Although I wasn’t exactly expecting my mate to be human p>
His gaze drifted toward the staircase leading upstairs.
“A human participating in one of the ugliest programs ever created.” His jaw tightened. The realization still sat poorly with him.
“Well,” Dimitri replied with a shrug, “your parents didn’t exactly have an easy romance either. Apparently the Moon Goddess looked at your family tree and decided suffering was a hereditary trait p>
Maverick deadpanned.
Dimitri continued, “I suppose that’s her sense of humor. Violet Purple’s eldest son, one of the most eligible bachelors in United Dorminia, and the potential Alpha King. And his mate turns out to be an ordinary human thrown into a government-sponsored death game p>
He nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah. That sounds exactly like something the moon goddess would do p>
Maverick scowled at him. “You’re not helping p>
“I know.” Dimitri grinned, obviously enjoying himself. “But I can help answer your question p>
His expression gradually became more serious.
“According to your father, Roman’s endless collection of love stories disguised as memoirs, mate bonds leave signs. They never look exactly the same, but there are certain things that almost always happen p>
He raised a finger.
“First, there’s the pull. The kind that keeps dragging your attention back to one person no matter how hard you try to focus on something else p>
Maverick silently ticked that one off.
Dimitri raised a second finger.
“Then there’s the awareness. You begin noticing them before everyone else. Their voice, scent, mood. Somehow, they always stand out in a crowded room p>
There goes another silent check.
A third finger joined the others.
“Touch becomes complicated.” Dimitri smirked knowingly. “You either can’t stop thinking about touching them or once you do, you suddenly realize you’ve been missing something your entire life p>
Maverick’s ears turned ever so slightly red.
Dimitri noticed. “Well.” He said, “I think we can safely tick that one off too p>
He lifted a fourth finger.
“And finally, there’s the tension. Not just the awkward kind, but the one that makes every conversation feel heavier than it should. You glance at her a little too long, and every moment apart feels strangely noticeable, even when you’ve only known each other for a day p>
Dimitri looked sideways at his nephew.
“So How many boxes have you ticked so far p>
Maverick swallowed. “All of them p>
“Well Dimitri clapped Maverick on the shoulder with a proud look. “Congratulations, nephew. You’ve found your mate p>
The words settled heavily between them. He found his mate? That was hard to believe.
“Your family is going to lose their minds.” Dimitri laughed at the thought.
Maverick’s eyes widened. “Oh, hell no p>
He pointed a warning finger at Dimitri. “Don’t you dare tell them. At least not yet. I’ll tell them myself when the time is right p>
“You know exactly what they’re capable of. The moment they hear I’ve found my mate, they’ll travel all the way to Bestial City just to meet her. I can’t let that happen. Not when I don’t even know if she feels the same way p>
Dimitri looked genuinely puzzled.
“Don’t be ridiculous. She’ll feel it too. My mother fell for my father at first sight p>
“Mating bonds don’t always happen the same way,” Maverick reminded him. “Besides, Aria’s human and won’t feel the bond as intense as I do. If I suddenly tell her she’s my mate, I’d be placing an enormous responsibility on someone who barely knows me p>
Maverick decided, “I have to do this the human way p>
Dimitri raised an eyebrow. “The human way p>
He replied. “I make her fall in love with me first p>
Only then did Maverick allow himself the faintest smile. “And after that, I’ll tell her the truth p>
Dimitri regarded him for several long seconds. “Good luck with that p>
Maverick drew in a deep breath. Why was he so nervous? He could do this. Really.
How difficult could courting a human possibly be? He was Maverick Nightshade after all.
Just then, his wolf ears twitched and his expression changed instantly.
“Shit p>
Dimitri straightened as he too heard it.
“They’re coming p>
The two wolves exchanged one panicked look before moving at the exact same time.
They hurried out of the hallway and into the common room just as the bedroom door upstairs swung open.
Maverick Nightshade and Dimitri King were already seated like they’d been waiting there the entire time. But one person had caught their undignified entrance.
Charlotte.
Even in her frozen state, her narrowed eyes bounced between the two men with suspicion.
Maverick met her stare but his eyes, however, carried a very different message.
Say one word and you’re staying frozen forever