Page 273 of Claim Me
"You can't possibly know that. You've never had anyone else."
"Fair point. But I'd bet a million dollars I don't have… that you're the best in the world." A grin spreads across his face. "At least for me!"
I hesitate for a moment before speaking.
"But you do have a million dollars. A lot more than a million, Gabriel. We're True Mates. That means everything I have belongs to you too."
Gabriel grows serious. He looks away for a moment before speaking quietly.
"I appreciate that. I really do. But you know me. Money was never the most important thing in my life."
His hand slides from my face to my glands. Then, over my hardened nipples, it travels lower across my stomach.
"Family will always come first for me. You and our son." A small smile touches his lips.
"My dad raised Marlow and me that way. He passed down those old Slavic values. Family and… um… gloomy expressions."
I burst out laughing. "Okay, I didn’t expect that twist to come."
Gabriel immediately puts on an exaggeratedly grim expression.
"I think that particular part of your Slavic heritage wasn't passed down very effectively. I'd say that's more my specialty."
"I disagree," Gabriel says, turning serious again.
Then he pulls himself up slightly, leans forward, and presses a quick kiss to my lips.
"Masks aren’t people. And I can see the light behind yours."
GABRIEL
The final stretch of Blue’s pregnancy is going well, although he keeps saying it’s probably only because we’re fated mates. His small frame with that huge belly looks almost ridiculous at this point, and of course there’s no way to hide any of it anymore, not from the company employees or from his family.
This part of our experience turns out to be very interesting.
I’m officially introduced at a family gathering as Blue’s partner and husband, and I can’t say the welcome I receive is nearly as warm as the one Blue got from my family. You could say a lot of his brothers, and even some of his nephews, the ones I hadn’t met before, look more than a little surprised. Quite a few eyebrows shoot up when they realize Blue found his TM in an ordinary bodyguard, especially one with a criminal past tied directly to Malden.
Well, I’m not surprised, because it’s a lot easier to welcome a billionaire into the family than someone who used to be the enemy, so I don’t resent the fact that the reception is only moderately warm.
Fortunately, no one reacts with open hostility, nobody is tearing their clothes in despair over it, because of course everyone knows there’s no fighting the magic of True Mates.
The only consolation is that among the Lowens there are also my cousins, who have their True Mates here, and I mostlytalk to them during the family dinner. The rest are chatting among themselves, and honestly, that suits me fine.
Blue’s parents are already very elderly people, his father is pushing ninety, and his dad isn’t far behind him. They are polite and proper with me, but somewhat stiff. Still, I have enough empathy to know that in the same situation I’d probably be very cautiously optimistic myself.
After dinner, Blue slips away for a moment to talk to his father. I watch the conversation from a distance, and at one point I see his father pull Blue into a tight hug and kiss his forehead.
When Blue comes back afterward, I get the impression there’s an extra layer of peace in him now, some additional healing settling beneath his skin.
I pull him slightly aside as everyone is already getting up from the tables, and I try to fish for details discreetly. "Did the conversation go well?"
Blue grins. "Yes. My father had tears in his eyes. He told me not to take our family’s somewhat restrained reception personally, but that he’s very happy my childhood dream will finally be able to come true. He said he’s old now and doesn’t expect to live much longer, but knowing that before he draws his last breath, the thing that hurt him for so many years has finally been repaired, that’s his greatest joy."
Does Blue’s voice tremble slightly when he says that? It’s hard to tell, but I can see a subtle shift in his expression, and I sense via our Bond that emotions are moving just beneath the surface. A good relationship with parents isn’t something everyone gets to have, but when it exists, it can become a huge source of strength and happiness.
When we’re saying goodbye, Blue’s father approaches me too. He’s incredibly tall, around six ten, and built like a bull who, despite being ninety years old with snow-white hair, still seemscompletely healthy and sharp-minded. It’s honestly strange that someone so tall and broad is the father of someone as petite as Blue, but AO genetics clearly have their own mysteries.
The patriarch Lowen almost seems like a half-purple alpha himself, and maybe he is, who knows, considering Blue is half rose omega.
