he could get it to the front steps, then jumped out and opened his door for him. Rising gingerly from the backseat, he settled his mate more comfortably in his arms and absently noticed his weight. The little guy couldn’t be more than maybe one hundred and twenty-five pounds soaking wet.
Michael’s protective instincts screamed at him and he was already planning out what he would make his mate for breakfast when he walked through the front door that Dennis held open for him. Once inside, he noticed that his father, Nick and Joseph had stopped talking to wait for him to join them in the living room, but he had to take care of his mate first.
He went straight to the couch, which Joseph was lounging on with his feet propped up on the coffee table, and growled down at the man. Joseph’s eyes widened and he quickly stood up and moved out of the way as Michael proceeded to lay his mate down gently, making sure to keep his small body covered by the blanket.
He knew he should probably put the pup in his bedroom, or at the very least get him some clothes or a clean blanket, but he had things to discuss and he was reluctant to let his mate out of his sight for more than a few seconds. The enormity of finally finding him after years of painful and disappointing searching was still hard to grasp.
Michael knelt down beside the couch and leaned over his mate, tilting his head to the side to get a better look at the bruises on his face. They were healing already, but one looked older than the other, maybe by a day or two, letting him know that the other man had been injured on two separate occasions.
Had someone on the ranch been abusing him? Michael knew Henry personally. He’d given the older man financial advice on more than a few business deals over the years. There had been nothing in his character that caused Michael to think he would stand for abuse in any form, but his integrity didn’t exactly extend to all of his employees.
A cough brought him out of his reverie, and he looked over to see his Betas staring at him with more than a little consternation. His father, however, was wearing a grin so wide that it was a miracle it didn’t split his face in half.
Michael felt heat flush his cheeks as he pivoted his body to sit on the couch next to his mate, pulling the man’s head into his lap.
“Is this the witness you were telling us about?” Nick asked. After Michael nodded, Nick followed with, “Do you know him?”
Michael hesitated at that question, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie. They’d smell it on him anyway.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Actually, we both know him. We first met him outside of that club you dragged me to four years ago.” Michael watched as Nick took a step towards his mate and peered closer at his face. He knew the moment his friend recognised who his mate was because his expression changed from one of confusion to one of utter disbelief in less than a second.
“The…the whore?” Nick sputtered. Michael was on his feet and over the coffee table before he knew what he was doing, eyes locked on his friend’s throat, but his father was even faster. Sam swiftly stepped in between the two men and took the brunt of Michael’s forward momentum. Nick wisely backed up several steps while Sam struggled to keep his son in check. Once Michael had stopped snarling and trying to fight his way to his Beta, Sam released him but stood his ground.
“Son, I understand what you’re feeling right now, but I think it’s time for you to come clean.”
Michael slowly let the rage bleed from his body and took in the compassion lining his father’s face. It was time to tell the truth, and surprisingly, the words flowed from his mouth with a lot more ease than he had anticipated over the years. He’d spent so much time lamenting the loss of his mate that finally admitting that his mate was male and that he’d deserted him held no fear for Michael.
“This is my mate. I’ve known he was mine
Michael’s protective instincts screamed at him and he was already planning out what he would make his mate for breakfast when he walked through the front door that Dennis held open for him. Once inside, he noticed that his father, Nick and Joseph had stopped talking to wait for him to join them in the living room, but he had to take care of his mate first.
He went straight to the couch, which Joseph was lounging on with his feet propped up on the coffee table, and growled down at the man. Joseph’s eyes widened and he quickly stood up and moved out of the way as Michael proceeded to lay his mate down gently, making sure to keep his small body covered by the blanket.
He knew he should probably put the pup in his bedroom, or at the very least get him some clothes or a clean blanket, but he had things to discuss and he was reluctant to let his mate out of his sight for more than a few seconds. The enormity of finally finding him after years of painful and disappointing searching was still hard to grasp.
Michael knelt down beside the couch and leaned over his mate, tilting his head to the side to get a better look at the bruises on his face. They were healing already, but one looked older than the other, maybe by a day or two, letting him know that the other man had been injured on two separate occasions.
Had someone on the ranch been abusing him? Michael knew Henry personally. He’d given the older man financial advice on more than a few business deals over the years. There had been nothing in his character that caused Michael to think he would stand for abuse in any form, but his integrity didn’t exactly extend to all of his employees.
A cough brought him out of his reverie, and he looked over to see his Betas staring at him with more than a little consternation. His father, however, was wearing a grin so wide that it was a miracle it didn’t split his face in half.
Michael felt heat flush his cheeks as he pivoted his body to sit on the couch next to his mate, pulling the man’s head into his lap.
“Is this the witness you were telling us about?” Nick asked. After Michael nodded, Nick followed with, “Do you know him?”
Michael hesitated at that question, but he couldn’t bring himself to lie. They’d smell it on him anyway.
Taking a deep breath, he said, “Actually, we both know him. We first met him outside of that club you dragged me to four years ago.” Michael watched as Nick took a step towards his mate and peered closer at his face. He knew the moment his friend recognised who his mate was because his expression changed from one of confusion to one of utter disbelief in less than a second.
“The…the whore?” Nick sputtered. Michael was on his feet and over the coffee table before he knew what he was doing, eyes locked on his friend’s throat, but his father was even faster. Sam swiftly stepped in between the two men and took the brunt of Michael’s forward momentum. Nick wisely backed up several steps while Sam struggled to keep his son in check. Once Michael had stopped snarling and trying to fight his way to his Beta, Sam released him but stood his ground.
“Son, I understand what you’re feeling right now, but I think it’s time for you to come clean.”
Michael slowly let the rage bleed from his body and took in the compassion lining his father’s face. It was time to tell the truth, and surprisingly, the words flowed from his mouth with a lot more ease than he had anticipated over the years. He’d spent so much time lamenting the loss of his mate that finally admitting that his mate was male and that he’d deserted him held no fear for Michael.
“This is my mate. I’ve known he was mine
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