*Omario POV*
Mother, Abi and I are standing outside when Terrence pulls up. I instinctively hold my mate’s hand. She and I are gonna have to really trust and have each other’s back. We spoke the whole night about it, it’s now time to put it into practice.
Terrence gets out of the car and I immediately sense something strange and powerful about him. I can feel his majestic wolf demanding submission from mine. This can’t be good.
Abi narrows her eyes before turning to me. “Something is different about him.”
I nod my head. “I feel him too.”
“It’s happening, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know, Babe, but we will find out soon enough.”
“Your Highnesses,” Terrence bows with a huge grin on his face before hugging Abi longer than he usually does.
“Watch it,” I warn and feel Titan growl inside.
Terrence laughs, letting go of Abi and embracing me very tight.
“What’s wrong with you?”
Terrence is acting very strange even for him. He is already squeezing my mother by the time I recollect myself and realise that he did not arrive with Olivia.
“Terrence?”
“Yes, Your Highness.” His innocent tone tells me that he has done something I won’t like.
“Where’s……” I don’t complete my sentence and over fifty horses gallop right through our gates and straight to our stables.
“Aren’t those the horses we gifted the Palmland Alpha?” I ask, shocked. To save them from being killed, I convinced dad to give them away after they attacked dad and his friends the day they hunted Terrence.
Terrence shrugs his shoulders. “I got them back.”
“How exactly?”
Horses are expensive. It’s not like the Palmland Alpha would give them back just like that.
“I exchanged Olivia for them,”he responds carelessly. I can’t believe this!
“You what?”
“He was very grateful. You are welcome.” Terrence does not seem the least concerned about what he has done and it’s getting on my nerves. It’s not like I wanted Olivia here for fun but there was a reason I had her guarded in the first place.
“Terrence, are you mad?”
“Nope.”
“Cut the crap and tell us what’s happening!” Abi yells, tired of the run around his cocky responses are giving us.
“Oh dear! The hormones have you spinning!” he exclaims dramatically, intentionally pushing Abi’s buttons.
“Terrence,” I warn him. I might be able to suppress my anger but Abi has been under a lot of stress. Add the hormones and Nina, she’s is cute ball of emotional mess.
“She was getting on my nerves and up to destroy you, so I acted,” Terrence explains sincerely and I believe him. Olivia can drive anyone crazy with her whining and Terrence has no patience or tolerance bond in him.
“You acted by exchanging her for the horses?” I ask.
“Yes. Thank God, they kept my horses healthy.”
I sigh, trying to control my irritation because it won’t really do much to help.
“You do realise that you just gave that Alpha a tool to blackmail us?”
The cocky bastard shrugs his shoulders. He is really pushing my buttons too.
“You are irritated, aren’t you?” he asks with a smug.
“Cut the crap and tell us why you did that?My mothers firm voice catches me by surprise and Terrence literally melts at her gaze.
“Yes Ma’am. Fine. There will be no blackmail because the baby is not his.”
My heart starts racing. That will be a dream come true and a solution to all my problems. “How do you know that?”
He passes me a white envelope and I can’t believe my eyes.
“I held her down and took the dna. You are so welcome and you owe me one,” he explains and I can’t help but laugh. This man is cocky and crazy but fucken awesome!
“Doing the dna test while one is still pregnant is risky. What’s gotten into you?” Abi snaps at Terrence, who turns to me, amused.
“Deal with your pregy Inferno, will you?”
I burst out in laughter while Abi sulk. All that is ringing in my head is that the pup is not mine!
Titan and Nina are both thrilled and ignoring our not so impressed mate.
Terrence makes funny faces at Abi.
“Don’t be sad, Cuz. Don’t you want to know whose pup is it?”
“No, you idiot!” Abi’s reaction change from anger to surprise before running into Terrence’s arms. “You know?”
Terrence holds her tighter again.
“Yes. I know who I am. I take it you have known all along?”
Abi swallows her saliva. “Just a few months but we wanted you to figure it out on your own.”
Prophet Rufus finally discovered Terrence’s origins and it turned out that his mother was Abi’s father’s sister who ran away from home a long time ago. She was apparently mated to a Lycan and decided to run away from home to be with him but never told her family because they would not have approved.
“And you still love me?” Terrence’s question breaks my heart. I find it sad that a bit of difference between our species has led to so much hatred and complete isolation of the Lycans from us.
“You are my best friend and the only family I have left. I love you no matter who and what you are,” Abi’s response get the tough cocky guy emotional.
“Okay? Can someone tell me what’s going on here?” Mother asks.
Terrence sighs, letting go of Abi and approaching her.
“I am a Lycan, Nala.”I can hear the fear in his voice and I know why.
Mother shrugs her shoulders. “I know that.”
Now Terrence is shocked. “You do?”
Mother rolls here eyes at him. “Seriously? Have you heard yourself speak and have you seen your wolf?”
Terrence laughs, relieved. “Then, you know what that means?”
Mother shakes her head. “You don’t have to go anywhere. You have been fine here.”
Terrence shakes his head. “Dire is of age now. He is even bigger and stronger than before. Every wolf can sense him. The question is will you come with me?”
“Stop right there, who comes with you and where?” I know what he means. It’s what I have been dreading all along.
“Nala is my mate.”
I realise that this must be harder for him than any of us and try to lighten up.
“Have you been messing with my mother, Terrence?”
He actually laughs at me but I can hear the relief in his voice.
“I know that you already know that part too. I can’t believe that I am you dad now.”
Trust Terrence to actually tease me about this.
“You are not my dad!”
“Chill Dude, you will upset your little sister.” Now I want to punch him on the face.
Abi is the complete opposite. She turns to look at my mother.
“You are carrying his pup?”
Mother nods her head and I have no idea how to react to this. Abi is absolutely thrilled and hugging my blushing mother.
“So, my mother is mated to my friend who is a Lycan?”
“That’s about right,” Terrence responds carelessly.
“You know I can’t let you take my mother away, right?”
“You know you don’t have a choice, right?”
“Stop being a cocky bastard. Your mother died giving birth with no doctors around. I can’t lose my mother.”
Lycan are said to be the ultimate kings and their majestic wolfs and power prove that. They are viewed as a threat because their aura will overcome any wolf Alpha or Luna. Many get killed before they acquire their full powers. Their mates are particularly vulnerable when pregnant. Wolfs can sense the Lycan pups while still in the womb and have throughout centuries tried to wipe out the species.
“I know. I can’t lose her either. I just need to find out more about myself and how to control all this power. We will return before she is due to deliver, I promise.”
“Give me your word…”
“I will protect her with everything I got. You have my word,”
“We will miss you both terribly. You will always have a home here,” Abi is in tears by the time Terence and mother drive off.
I watch the car disappear, glad to have someone who always had my back. He took a risk and got the dna test from Olivia’s pup because he knew that he will not be around to help us if Olivia tried any stunts.
I shift and Titan sprints behind the car.
He opens the window. “And?”
“I love you, man.”
“Say it,” he teases.
“You are not my father, Terrence.”
He laughs. “Love you too, Son. Take care of Abi and don’t worry about your Mother. I will die first before I let anything happen to her.”