A Tiny Matchmaker for Two Star-Crossed Mates (3 page)

 Braendan almost burst into hysterical laughter at the realization that fate had screwed him over once again. Finally granting him a mate, then leaving him so poorly prepared for it? It was very cruel, indeed.

But no, he had no one to blame but himself for this debacle. He'd been the one to lose control, and his choices were his own. He needed to accept that and preferably start thinking about a solution. He couldn't say he was happy with the man who'd been leaning so close to his mate, but he shouldn't have allowed it to get to him to that extent. Thinking clearly, there had never been a real threat in the stranger's stance. If Braendan had taken the time to figure out the situation, they most likely wouldn't be in this predicament. Would his mate even be willing to look at him after what he'd witnessed? It was doubtful, at best.

The Alpha didn't appreciate being ignored, because he suddenly lunged toward Braendan. On instinct, Braendan side-stepped him and lifted his hands to point out he was harmless. "Perhaps we should start over, Alpha. I get the feeling this is a misunderstanding."

"I highly doubt that." The werewolf snarled. "Who are you really, and what do you want here?"

Mathias stepped in to curb the Alpha's suspicions. "Saul, I assure you this man is exactly who he says he is. He's my grandmother's cousin, greatly respected amongst my kin. There has to be some sort of explanation."

"It'd better be a very good one," Saul snapped at him, "or my father will quite likely eviscerate him."

Before Braendan could point out that would never happen—or come up with something in his defense—another man stepped into the room. He had a baby in his arms, probably one year old, or a little younger.

"Everyone, please stop," he said, his voice filled with authority despite the fact that he couldn't have been less threatening if he tried.

Saul paled and quickly made his way to the new arrival's side. "Gav, what is it? What are you doing here?"

So this was the Alpha's mate, Gavin. Braendan had heard a lot about him, and he had to admit he was not disappointed. He also didn't understand why Gavin had come here, in an obviously conflictual situation.

Before he could figure it out, the baby in Gavin's arms flailed his little hands, drawing Saul's attention to him. "Da!" he cooed. "Dada."

Saul sighed heavily. "Oh. Shan, pup... I'd really like it if you just stayed out of this one."

Despite himself, Braendan was quite interested in this new development. He approached the couple and nodded politely at the Alpha's mate. "Greetings. I apologize for the... incident. I take it this is your son? He's quite beautiful."

"Thank you." Gavin's smile was tight, but his eyes shone with pride as he spoke of his baby. "His name is Shannon, Shan for short, and he's a little tyrant. You're going to have to hold him."

Indeed, as if to confirm Gavin's words, Shannon reached out to Braendan, babbling incomprehensibly in the unique language of babies all across the planet. Braendan could do nothing but comply, not that it was any hardship.

The child was truly adorable. He had Alpha Simmons's gray eyes, but the softness of his features reminded Braendan more of Gavin. Tiny hands curled around the material of Braendan's shirt, and suddenly, an unfamiliar magic was tentatively reaching out for his own.

The power was strong, warm, open, pure and welcoming. Glimpsing it for a single moment reminded Braendan of easier times, when he'd spent hours after hours simply staring at the fluffy clouds and marveling at the forms they took.

It was only long-term experience and his deep knowledge of magic that made him pull away. He recoiled from the comforting energy and quickly returned the child to his birth father.

"You should have told me your son was an empath," he said, his anger burning bright through him. "How can you randomly hand your child to a stranger when you know the kind of power he holds?"

Gavin cradled his son close, and Braendan refused to feel guilty as Shannon's deep gray eyes pleadingly fixed on him. Mathias was already trying to do some damage control after his outburst. "Uncle Braendan, please mind your words. Shannon is a very special boy."

"Believe me, I noticed," Braendan replied bitterly. He knew he was being rude, but he'd seen more than one young Sidhe lose control of their magic, and it was never pleasant. Empaths in particular always had trouble, and Braendan hated the thought that this adorable boy could suffer purely because of his instinctive desire to help.

Predictably, Gavin was furious. "Don't you dare think you can come here and tell me how to raise my child. Shannon might be young, but he has his own mind. Do you truly think keeping him from following his heart would be better? I would protect him if I could, but that's not an option."

Braendan suppressed the urge to wince. Obviously he should have been more tactful in his observations. "An empath shouldn't be using his or her power until they have strong shields," he tried again in an attempt to make his concerns clear. "He is a remarkable child, and I don't mean to criticize you, but your Shannon shouldn't have to see the heart of someone as old as me."

Silence fell over the room, heavy with the weight of Braendan's confession. The members of the Lone Wolf Pack had some experience with old Sidhe because of their closeness to Mathias, so they could draw their own conclusions.

Shannon, on the other hand, didn't seem inclined to let things go. He huffed and wiggled in his birth father's arms, scrunching up his little nose as if he was displeased. Braendan considered approaching the boy to point out he had not meant any harm in his rejection, but before he could do so, a wave of power burst from the child.

It wasn't directed at Braendan. Indeed, he only felt it because he was so close and so well attuned to magic in general. Shannon most likely wasn't very sure how to use his considerable abilities, but he seemed clever and he had apparently learned quite enough on his own.

He didn't try to reach out to Braendan again, obviously respecting Braendan's choice. However, he didn't have to.

A different and now familiar energy reentered Braendan's field of awareness. Braendan froze, his breath catching as he wondered how in the world the child had read him so well.

And then, his dilemma faded to the back of his mind as his mate stepped into view. He was still pale, but he was here—and Braendan had another chance.
Thank you, Shannon.

****

Myles didn't know what made him go back to the room. It had been more than clear to him that he was not wanted there, and that he'd managed to mess up something that should have been effortless even for someone like him.

He didn't think he could brave the fury and loathing in his mate's eyes again, but nonetheless, he came back. Yes, it had hurt to realize that his other half saw him as worthless and pathetic as everyone else did, but that didn't mean he could give up so easily.

It was a wave of unidentifiable warmth that made him settle on that resolve. It reminded him of Mathias's magic, but at the same time, was very different from the Sidhe's power. And maybe it should have scared Myles, but instead, he embraced it, and he saw the truth. A mate was something worth fighting for. He couldn't run forever. This time around, he needed to face his fears.

And so, Myles retraced his steps. All eyes turned to him when he stepped into the room. "Myles," the Alpha greeted him slowly. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Myles replied, studiously looking only at the werewolf. Had he thought the big man was scary? That was nothing compared to forcing himself to face his mate's disgust for a second time.

"You don't look fine." Mathias scowled, making his way to Myles's side. "Maybe you should go back to your room. We can finish our conversation later."

Myles hesitated. It would be easy to take this opportunity and retreat. His mate hadn't said anything yet, so Myles had no idea what the man thought or wanted. But wasn't that why he was here—to find out? The warm power briefly buzzed at the back of his mind, reminding him that he could do this and that it would be worth it.

"Actually," he heard himself say, "I was hoping you'd introduce me to your new guest."

It was rude, since he wasn't really a part of the Lone Wolf Pack, and this was obviously Lone Wolf Pack business. Mathias looked surprised, confused, and a little wary, but he didn't tell him to leave again.

It was just as well, because Myles's mate finally stepped forward. "Hello, little one. My name is Braendan O'Gradaigh. I apologize for the earlier incident. I'm afraid I lost my temper. I didn't mean to scare you."

There was no trace of the earlier distaste in his deep forest-green eyes. Instead, Myles thought he detected a hint of wary hope, and it made something similar—shy and small—spark in his chest.

He extended his hand and smiled softly. "It's okay. These things happen. I'm Myles."

When their hands touched, that spark flared into something brighter, like magic. Even if Myles had experienced such power before, it still seemed unique. For the first time in forever, he felt safe, like was finally where he was supposed to be.

Braendan's warm but tentative expression cracked into something raw, painful, but so full of emotion that it hurt.

Warm arms enveloped Myles in a tight embrace, and Myles squeezed back just as tightly, understanding that they both needed it. He buried his nose in Braendan's long blond hair and inhaled, finding comfort in his mate's spicy, untamed scent. Braendan smelled like pine leaves, resin, wildflowers, and something else that was purely him. He reminded Myles of the forests that had sheltered him when his pack had decided he wasn't good enough. Unlike the wild, though, his mate would never lash out to hurt him. His mate wanted him, and had been searching for him all this time. Somehow, Myles could feel it, deep inside that part of him that had always hoped he would one day find someone to love.

"Oh," Myles heard someone—Will?—say. "Oh."

"Well this is unexpected," Mathias mumbled. "I suppose that's our cue to grant them some privacy."

Myles expected Saul to put up some protest, but the Alpha didn't. The reason became obvious when he caught the big werewolf leaving the room, cradling a child in his arms.

When they broke the embrace, they were alone. Braendan looked surprised, and chuckled lightly. "Do you ever get the feeling you've badly misread and underestimated someone?"

A while back, Myles would have replied 'no', since he'd been through a lot and never once had people surprised him. However, that had changed with the Lone Wolf Pack, and while he still wasn't one hundred percent sure he trusted them, they had nonetheless saved his life.

As such, Myles nodded, but before he could reply through actual words, Braendan spoke again. "It doesn't matter. For now... We're together. Tell me... Will you agree to be my mate?"

Myles's eyes filled with tears and he buried his face in Braendan's strong chest. "I already am, Braendan. I already am."

They curled together on the couch, holding onto each other tightly, both still in awe with this development. "I never expected this when I came here, you know," Braendan finally said. "I never expected to have a mate at all."

"That makes two of us." Myles dared to thread his fingers through Braendan's, wondering how he could already feel so comfortable with a man who was a virtual stranger. Could he really have this? How was it even possible? Could his mate not see how damaged he was?

He must have said at least part of that out loud, because Braendan turned toward him and fierce eyes met Myles's own. "Don't you ever say that about yourself. You aren't damaged. You're perfect just the way you are—and you're mine. I wouldn't want you any other way."

Myles arched a brow, unable to suppress his bitterness and his grief. "Don't lie to me. I know what I am—small, useless, prey. I could barely even fend for myself in the wild. I'm not good enough to—"

Warm, but sure lips landed on his own, silencing his rant. The kiss was brief, almost chaste, but it still made Myles's body thrum with heat and his heart do a funny leap.

Sadly, Braendan didn't try to take things any further. When he pulled away, he cupped Myles's cheek tenderly and brushed his thumb over Myles's lower lip. "Who is to say that we have to be what other people want? You are absolutely beautiful, and even if I waited centuries for you—it was more than worth it. Now... I only hope you'll take this cranky old Sidhe who attacked his host because he couldn't read his mate's energy properly."

Myles gazed deeply into Braendan's eyes and the affection he read in those deep green orbs chased away the shadows of his self-loathing. They still barely knew each other, and they could still make many mistakes that might separate them, but if Braendan was willing to try, so was Myles.

"There's nothing I'd rather do," he murmured at he hugged his mate once more.

Braendan held him in turn, and as he took in the scent and warmth of the Sidhe, Myles finally knew where he belonged—in his mate's arms, today, tomorrow, and forever.

Chapter Three

A few weeks later

After their not-quite-disastrous-but-definitely-eventful first meeting, Braendan decided to take his time wooing his new-found mate. He wasn't particularly patient, which should have perhaps been paradoxical for a Sidhe his age. But if anyone pointed that out, Braendan would proceed to emphasize that exact age and how long he'd waited for this moment and quite possibly punch the unwise person in the face.

Still, Myles was too precious to him to rush things, and he'd obviously suffered quite a lot in his life. Braendan made a mental note to track down the people who'd hurt Myles once things calmed down a little and, instead, decided to get to know his mate in a proper Sidhe courtship, as per the old ways of his people.

The Lone Wolf Pack was strikingly helpful. At first, Saul Simmons did eye him with a bit a suspicion, but that faded—literally overnight. It was a touch harder with Saul's father, Dean—who turned out to be the mate of the human Braendan had almost brained using his magic. Dean had not delayed to hunt Braendan down and while he had not attacked Braendan, he'd made it clear that further incidents would not end well.