I gasped. “That’s terrible.”
“It is. Which makes it all quite complicated when your second chance mate is a human. It’s only just recently happened, and it is probably why your parents haven’t sealed their bond in that fae clan in Russia. They are hiding because they don’t know if their pairing will work. If the Royal Council in the Elysian realm found out, not only would your parents be killed but the entire clan as well. Even knowing and letting it go is an offense. Hell, I’m surprised the clan are letting the two of them be around the clan at all.”
My breath hitched, and I gripped Teddy’s fur tightly.Maybe they weren’t even alive anymore.
“Grizzly!”I hear Bear come through the link. “You are upsetting our mate. Shut the fuck up!”
Teddy snorted and shook his head. “Our mate needs to know these things. She is stronger than you give her credit for. You can not conceal her from pain.”
My hands loosened on Teddy’s fur, and I nodded. “He’s right, Bear. Or should I say, Atticus?”I smiled.
Let’s change the subject.
“I let you in on this conversion because you need to hear this story as well. Don’t make me change my mind,”Teddy said to Bear.
Bear snarled. “She doesn’t need to call me Atticus. That’s my past life, and that is where I want to leave it. Besides, I was damn there. Are you wanting more commentary?”
I covered my mouth, trying not to snicker at their bickering.
“There is more to the story than you remember, Atticus,”Teddy said softly.“I purposefully blocked it from your memory.”
I opened my mouth in shock. Bear said nothing. He was silent for a long while as Teddy continued to walk slowly on the path back to the cabin.
“This is our story,”Teddy said. “Our real story, and how I would never take Anaki’s life, even if I was ever in a full fit of rage.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Bear
Whattheactualfuck?
I wasn’t the deep, thoughtful type. I wasn’t the type of shifter who would ponder life and wonder why I was dealt the cards I was dealt. I was grateful I didn’t have a long, drawn-out, dramatic rejection. I moved on, thanks to Anaki. He helped me pick up my sorry ass and took me to the Iron Fang.
My life was going to be shorter, but at least I was going to do some good with it before I left this earth.
I yearned for my soul to be completed before I met Nadia. Once my stubborn ass accepted that there were second chances, I took that bull by the horns. I had hope again.
But why in the hell would my fucking animal block out my memories? Why would he need to, and how the hell was that even possible?
“Grizzly,” I growled.
My mate was confused, her heart palpitating in her chest as she rose into a sitting position on our back. Her thoughts tumbled through her, thinking she should jump off and let us fight on our own, but she was going to stay, not leaving our sight.
Even my animal was ready to wrestle her down and keep her with us as we fought with ourselves.
“Stay,”we both growled at her as she tried to dismount us.
“This is so weird. It’s like having two boyfriends.”
“Mates,” we both replied. “We are your mates.”
She blew out a breath.
“I did it for your sanity, Atticus. For both of our sanities. Why do you think you did so well when I slumbered? You need me as much as I need you.”
“As much as you are an ass?”I snapped.“I did fine without you because you weren’t yapping in my ear all the time.”
My grizzly snarled back at me, and our mate pulled on our ears. We both howled in pain.
