Chapter 21: How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

I can barely breathe.

It's Monday afternoon, I have just come back home from picking my son up at school. We were both shocked when Stephano announced that he had a surprise in store for us. At first, I thought it was something material that he bought, but little did I know he had my parents brought to us from all the way over in Oklahoma, some nine hours away from Regency Falls.

Charlie immediately darted for my dad who welcomed him with a loving embrace. Given the fact that I got pregnant when I was still in high school, my parents were instrumental in raising my son, acting in many ways like more than grandparents to him.

To Charlie, my parents were crucial in his upbringing; two respected and beloved figures in his life. He absolutely loves my parents, though in all fairness he does love Richard's parents as well. But he obviously saw my parents much more than them.

I left my original pack in such a hurry that I did not think about when I would be seeing them again. Of course, I did miss them. They are my rock, my support system, the best parents a queer Omega could ask for. I am in tears right now at this unexpected reunion.

After a long round of hugs and kisses, we sat down on the couch inside the living room to talk. I am so curious about how Stephano pulled this off, to be honest. From what my mom so eagerly told us so far, it was quite the covert operation.

"As you probably know by now, I am a third generation Beta. From what you told me of your story, I knew your father was the former Beta of the Dark Moon pack, so all I had to do was to ask my dad if he had Mr. Aragon's number since they were both Betas at the same time." Stephano was telling us the story of how this whole operation came about.

"Once my dad confirmed to me that he had your dad's number, it was simply a question of messaging him on WhatsApp, sending him pictures of you and Charlie as proof that you were here and dispatching the warriors to pick up your parents at their residence." He continued in a matter of fact, though low key boasting the successful mission.

"Of course, I could not risk anyone finding out the origin of the car that was driving your parents, so I flew a couple of warriors to Oklahoma inconspicuously. Each of them rented one car. The first car was used to collect your parents at their home address. After they crossed the town border, they ditched this car and got into another one to escape any tracking. Meanwhile, your mom told friends that she and her mate were going to visit her parents in Stillwater." My mate was telling us about the covert operations that had my mother thinking she was Jane Bond.

"Oh my Goddess! You flew out two warriors and rented two cars? That must have been expensive..." I was beyond shocked at the lengths my mate went through to secure my parents' presence here.

"There is no cost where my mate's happiness is concerned. I acted in the best interest of you and your son, well, your family. I can only imagine how bad you were feeling for not having them by your side since you and Charlie were gone." Stephano countered in an incisive tone. Both my parents were in awe of him, emotional by this reunion and his words of affection towards me.

My jaw dropped to the floor after hearing this. This is a much bigger gesture than I could ever expect from him. This is above and beyond. I am genuinely in awe of my mate. Charlie was cuddled up to my mom on the couch, taking in her scent, feeling happy though he too was gobsmacked by all this, especially at his tender age.

"I cannot believe you found your mate, Car. When his father messaged me, at first I thought it to be a prank of some kind. Why in the world would my son be mated to a Texan so far apart from him? It wasn't until I saw the picture of Stephano and Charlie holding a toy that it registered with me. Though of course I have heard of Beta Cortez before, any Beta of consequence has a network of other Betas in his home State and beyond. That was smart thinking of Stephano to have his father message me. If it were a complete stranger, it would be that much harder for me to trust the information I was receiving." Dad noted, impressed by my mate.

All of us were looking at Stephano in complete awe...

"I have no words to thank you, except for..." I stammered, completely enthralled by him.

"I, Carlisle Ross Aragon accept you, Stephano Cortez as my mate." I declared, much to my mate's surprise. He smiled the widest I have ever seen so far.

"I, Stephano Pullman Cortez, accept you, Carlisle Ross Aragon as my mate." He declared, swooning at me. We were enchanted by each other and I was mesmerized to have such a perfect mate.

"Good for you, son. Lock it down! They don't make mates as good as him nowadays. The Moon Goddess really looked high and low for the best match possible for you. Honestly, seeing you too together now, it was definitely worth the wait." Mom chimed in, admiring Stephano.

I couldn't agree with you more, mom. Where have you been all my life, mate? *swoons*

My parents were looking forward to knowing how we have been since the departure from the Dark Moon pack and even more curious about how [the discovery of] my mating to Stephano came about. We talked for two hours and suddenly we realized it was time for dinner at the pack house.

Naturally, Stephano had already secured a room for my parents to stay here, so we all proceeded to the dining hall, minus my mate. It is safe to say that I am incredibly grateful to him for having pulled this off with all the cloak and dagger. I can appreciate the steps he took to ensure that my parents' absence from their pack wouldn't be felt as anything other than a normal trip for a retired couple.

I am an only child, so without me there is nothing really tethering my parents to the Dark Moon pack, though I obviously cannot have them moving into Regency Falls now. But one day, who knows what the future holds?

All I feel now is appreciation for being able to see them again, but especially for my son who is on cloud nine. I had yet to see Charlie this happy next to my parents, but it was just the familiarity he needed to feel at home here. I don't know how long mom and dad can stay, but however short the trip is, it will be worth it.

"Can I sleep in your house tonight? I feel like I need to thank you properly for what you did today." I mindlinked my mate, just before we all adjourned to the dining hall.

Stephano was surprised to hear my voice invading his mind, but as a sworn member of this pack, I can now do that whenever I want to. It was part of the appeal for me to join in, besides the obvious fear of Richard's command over me.

He looked at me startled by my voice, but played it cool in front of my family.

"I don't want you to feel forced into doing anything. I didn't do this so you would complete the bond with me, I just genuinely wanted to do right by you and I just so happen to possess the resources necessary to pull it off." He retorted, ever so humble. Honestly, I love him for this.

"I know, mate. And no one said anything about completing the bond tonight. That's not what this is about. But if you don't want to sleep with–"

"Let's not get carried away, mate! Of course I want to be with you! It's all I ever think about! By all means, spend the night at my house. If it were up to me, you'd never leave!" He cut me off, incisively. We exchanged glances and agreed to meet up afterwards.

I took my parents to the dining hall since they had already dropped their luggage in their guest bedroom upon arrival. We said goodbye to my mate and my parents made sure to thank him once again for bringing them here.

'It was priceless to see my son and grandson again. I am forever in your debt.' Dad told my mate, who replied that it was absolutely his pleasure. Stephano is such a good guy. I don't think I could have been mated to a better guy even if I could hand pick him myself. I really do mean it.

After we finished a delicious dinner, my parents and I talked alone for a while when Charlie went alone to the playroom. It was then when I could ask them how the climate was in 'their' pack with my sudden departure. As a Council member, my dad is privy to several conversations about the pack's succession and he is connected to a lot of warriors from his time as Beta.

He is so well respected in our pack that it allowed him to warn me when Richard made the decision to kidnap my son and try to raise him as his own. I took the time to ask my dad if this didn't blow back on him, but he said Richard couldn't have known who leaked the information though the pool of suspects isn't that large.

Anyway, dad reported to me that Richard was feral after my departure. He literally had warriors break into my house and ransack the place to find clues of my whereabouts. I already anticipated him doing this, to be honest. I am not worried about my house, though I'd hope to return there one day. Not that I can afford its rent right now.

Dad told me that Richard is moving heaven and Earth to find me, going as far as talking to my son's old classmates. That is how he discovered Charlie's email address. I cannot even begin to describe how incredibly mad I am at his stunt of threatening my son to reveal our location. Threatening my life... my parents were appalled to discover this, but I wouldn't put anything past him. He is capable of doing a lot worse, as my own history with him suggests.

'Richard said he will stop at nothing to discover where you and Charlie are. Be careful, son. He has eyes and ears everywhere.' Dad warned me with a troubled expression on his face.

Tell me about it, dad... *sigh*

Tired from the long journey from Oklahoma to Texas, my parents crashed not long after 9 pm. I pulled my son out of the playroom for him to shower and go to bed. Today was an exhaustive day, but my night was still young.

After I took care of everything in the pack house, I drove my car to Stephano's house and he was happy to welcome me into his home. I was holding back earlier on account of my parents and son, but once I was there I lunged for his lips and we kissed for a while in the middle of his living room.

The fact that I don't plan on completing the bond tonight does not take away the importance of me having this private time with him. I want to be together with my mate, I really do. If my life wasn't in danger, I would complete the bond with him happily.

There is no doubt in my mind that he is the one for me. The best man I could ever hope to find.

Later at night, we were in bed together wearing only underwear. I was enraptured in his arms, kissing him with hunger. Stephano slides to my neck and when he starts playing with his tongue around the area he would mark me, I almost lost all control.

"Wow. The pull is strong tonight. If my son wasn't in danger of being kidnapped I would spend all night long having my way with you." I told him, barely able to contain my excitement over this. By pull, I meant the pull of the mate bond.

"And I would love every minute of it. I don't deny I have thought about it. You are all I think about ever since we were mated to each other. I want you. Badly, I might add." He claimed me, boldly.

"I can tell, mate. I do mean that literally." I declared, feeling his desire for me deep within my soul. I would easily complete the bond tonight, but like I said before it's too soon. I honestly wish it wasn't, of course.

Stephano slides his wet tongue on my neck, near the collarbone, then he nibbles the area pretending to mark me. It drives me insane with hunger for him. My eyes glowed in lust for my mate while my inner wolf was howling at the close contact of our skins.

He took care of me properly, going as far as I allowed him to go. I wanted to have a proper make out session, nothing more. I wanted us to enjoy each other freely, but I was painfully aware that one slip up and I was a goner.

I kept my underwear on and I insisted he kept his as well. I am afraid if we get naked in this environment, I won't be able to stop myself. It's not like I never saw a dick before, but it wasn't my mate's.

After he is done torturing me with his tongue on my neck, he playfully goes for my ear and that's when I really saw heaven. I have a thing for ears, they are my favorite erogenous zone. It didn't take much for me to go on the brink of release.

"Wow. You are really feeling this, aren't you?" He stopped, then turned to my face in complete surprise. I was flustered by this intense action and my body's response to it.

"You have no idea! I am on the verge of... you know." I replied, blushing. My mate smiled with a naughty grin that had me swooning hard for him.

"Can I continue?" He asked my permission and I assented with my head.

When I allowed my body to feel all that he was doing to me, when I was about to erupt, my mate pulled out his massive pole and took care of himself as he was playing with my ear with his tongue. I was impressed by this move, so I did the same. What a night to remember... *swoons*

Oh my Goddess! I think maybe, probably, I already am in love with him...

The next morning, I had to wake up early to return to the pack house and take Charlie to school. Considering I had already showered yesterday after my night of love with my mate, it was just a matter of washing my face and getting dressed.

Stephano provided a toothbrush for me and he made sure to wake up and see me off, walking with me to the front door of his house.

"Thanks for coming last night. I had a blast. Please feel free to come whenever you want. I am also available to sleep with you at the pack house. I could sneak in after Charlie went to bed, it's not a problem for me." He said, moments before I got into my car.

"It was absolutely my pleasure, mate. I will definitely take you up on it, but I don't feel like I need to hide you from my son. I mean, I'll find the best way to broach the subject as I teach him more about mates. But for now, see you soon." I winked at him, playfully.

I returned to the pack house to get my son ready for school. I was very sleepy, it's true. But I could sleep in after breakfast. I just need to check in with my parents to see what they want to do today. There is so much I want to talk to them about, I feel like today is going to be a good day.

This has been the best day AND night of my life so far. My family is reunited and it does feel so good.

But you know what really feels good?

My mate's tongue on me. That was phenomenal!

I still cannot believe Stephano mounted a whole operation just to bring my parents to visit Charlie and me here. This is beyond fantastic and out of the box thinking. I am so in awe of him.

This is exactly why I am a proud werewolf. A proud MATED werewolf, I mean.

Oh Stephano... how sweet it is to be loved by you. *swoon*

A|N: I danced around several titles for this particular chapter.

There are a few songs that I want to include here whenever possible.

But this feels right. And I did want it in this book as well.

Next is "Lips on You".

Love,

Léo.