Free Lone Wolf Pack 06 - A Future for His Werewolf Warrior by Anya Byrne Page A

occurred to me that his patience might be counterproductive. I'm sorry for intervening in a private situation, but I do care about him, and you are after all, Karl's grandson. So maybe I feel just a little bit entitled to do it."
    Will smiled, and a mix of discomfort and yearning twisted in Ward's chest. There was something paternal and fond about the way Will was looking at him, and if not for the worm of jealousy still poisoning Ward's heart, he'd have been inclined to crumple into the man's embrace and sob on his shoulder. Instead, he said, "He loved you, you know. Grandfather. I'm not sure if Mathias told you, but Grandfather always regretted how things ended between the two of you."
    Will's eyes widened and his breath caught. "He did?"
    Ward nodded. "He told me so many things about you... I think, in my heart, I always wondered if he only cared about me because he couldn't care about you, and maybe it fueled this thing with Mathias." Shaking his head, Ward huffed. "But it's not fair to his memory to say that now. I just... I wanted you to know, because he would've wanted you to know."
    Will swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing in an obvious show of emotion. "What else did he tell you?"
    Ward couldn't resist that question, so he ended up recounting to Will stories of his grandfather and how he'd grown up. Sometimes, Will would laugh and reminisce along with those very same memories Ward only knew second-hand. It made Ward feel better, even if in a way, they were just avoiding the reason Will had come here to begin with.
    He couldn't avoid it forever, he realized. Will hadn't given him any advice or any suggestion, and for that Ward was thankful, because in the end, this was his choice, and his heart. He had to try again, to really listen and give Mathias the chance to tell him what he'd been trying to say that day.
    "Where is he now?" he asked Will. "Mathias, I mean."
    "He's back at my place, with my son. As you probably know, he's helping Jessie through the last stages of his pregnancy."
    "Yes, he told me. I admit it's still very weird for me to even consider."
    "It is." Will fixed him with piercing green eyes. "But I just want you to know one thing. No matter how strange it's been, no matter how much it hurt and how much fear or pain I experienced... It's all been worth it. I can't say I have no regrets, because I do. I spent decades separated from my mate, resenting him for abandoning Jessie and me. It was hard for me to let go, even when we met again. But in the end, it was worth it."
    Will didn't say it, but Ward heard the unspoken words anyway. It could be worth it for you too. Ward wanted nothing more than to believe that, to be able to let go of all his doubts and trust Mathias.
    Well, he knew what the first step was. Taking a deep breath, he asked, "Would it be too much of an imposition if I visited your pack today?"
    Will grinned. "Not at all. In fact, I was hoping you'd say that."
    ****
    The warm energy pulsed through Mathias, content and alive. His magic entwined with the two distinctive threads he was testing, soothing and caressing. He didn't push too much—it wasn't his place—and when he was satisfied about the information he'd received, he pulled back, retreating from Jessie's body.
    No sooner had he done so than an agitated question filled his ears. "Well? How are they?"
    Mathias opened his eyes and arched a brow at Andreas. "Everything is in order, Mr. Brandt. I've told you already. Your mate's condition is stabilized, and the children are healthy and happy. This was merely a routine checkup."
    He patted Jessie's belly and grinned. "But then, I gather Jessie already knew that."
    "I did." Jessie smiled happily. "I have no words to thank you. I never realized how bad I was doing until you came along."
    Mathias wanted to say there was no need for any thanks, but before he could do so, something in the energy around him shifted. It was distant still, but getting closer. A few moments later, Mathias easily