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"Oh," Richard blushed as he took a seat on the sofa "I’ as I look, Ja "But you I don’tYou remind me of your beautiful mother" His brown eyes filled with tears for a second or two before he blinked them rapidly away

Tucker sat down beside hio by James Ever since I was a kid, my friends have called me Tucker And I don’t remember randparents had of her She was beautiful"

Richard turned to him with a brilliant smile, and a little silence fell between the, handsoer was his father was odd, but for the first tiet used to the idea if he stayed here Tucker was re there had co or not?

"If you two are ready, we should go down and have so," Gavin said, and Richard looked over at hi How about it, Tucker? Would you like to go down and get so up Both men stood up on either side of him and reached for his arm at the same time A pink blush settled on Richard’s cheeks and he dropped his hand, taking a step backhile lowering his gaze It was such a subservient gesture that it took Tucker by surprise

"I’m sorry, Alpha I should have realized…"

"No, Richard, it’s fine You take him downstairs I need to make a quick phone call anyway, and I’ll be down in a ly at Tucker "Is that okay, Tucker?"

"Yeah, sure," Tucker said with a shrug, "if the two of you are through playing tug-of-ith ain with a s weird, but deciding it was souide hih the door and down the hall, but once outside the roolanced over at his father "Exactly as all that about?"

"Hot you and the alpha are mates for a moment in all the exciteht to escort you A male relative usually escorts unmated natural petsif possible, once they’re past puberty At least the children of the alphas and betas, that is The human pets are, of course,deal with them But the natural pets of the alphas or betas are a different story It’s not such an absolute rule anyuess I’m just a little old-fashioned"

"But I’m a man--ould I need an escort?"

Richard looked at hihed "Yeah, well, I think that ship sailed a long tio" Richard blushed and frowned, and Tucker decided to stop teasing hiht it? Dorothy, you’re not in Kansas anymore

"So Gavin’s the alpha? Is that what you call hi the subject "Yes , ood alpha for our pack He’s highly respected, and it’s an honor you’ve been chosen as his mate"

"Well, about that Ithasn’t been exactly decided yet I reed to the ‘honor’ yet"

"But he’s your blood at hiuess you don’t understand fully yet, but you can’t ignore the bloodmatch I mean, you could, but it would make you really unhappy Besides, the alpha will make you a wonderful mate"

"We’ll see," Tucker saiddown the wide staircase now, and getting more than a few interested looks About twenty oraround the common area as they ca breakfast, and others standing or sitting in sroups on the other side of the stairway

They were by and large a handso, but a few of the pets, as Gavin called them, had all different shades of hair and eyes You could see that they were roup ofat one of the tables, laughing and talking boisterously All of them looked up when Tucker and Richard ca room They nodded respectfully at Richard, but a couple of the over his body as they passed by the a much quieter conversation and nodded first at Richard and then at him as they took a seat near their table Tucker decided the second group ood, Tucker," his father said "I hope you’re hungry"

"Oh, yes, uh…I’m not sure what to call you"

Richard looked up in surprise "I’d love it if you called me Dad I mean, if you feel comfortable with it"