Prey of Fate (bxb)

Chapter 25 - Meeting The Family - Part 3

"Oh wow, first he won't tell us about his mate, and now we find out they're even planning a wedding without us," Cora jumped at the chance to join in.

"There's no wedding," I snarled in response, but it didn't sound too scary as I still couldn't control the blush on my face.

"It didn't sound like it," Cora countered.

"Oh come on, there's no way he's planning a wedding without his mama," Mum declared, continuing on the subject.

"There is no wedding," I repeated again, this time with more desperation in my voice.

"You act like you wouldn't marry him in a heartbeat if he asked you," Cora remarked with a smirk.

I knew she was right, so I countered differently. "We haven't even been together for a month. He wouldn't ask me to marry him."

"Honestly," Cobe chimed in. "I wouldn't be surprised if he did. Right, Tobias?"

Although I'd stopped eavesdropping on the conversation in the kitchen, Cobe obviously hadn't, so he timed his question just as Toby returned to the living room. And it didn't take him long to realise what Cobe was asking.

"Leave him alone." I pierced Cobe with my gaze and reached for Tobias, beckoning him back to the same spot beside me. He didn't protest and quickly fell back into my arms, hiding his blushing face in my shoulder again.

"Sounds like your family knows about Colby after all," Dad picked up on the previous conversation. He was the only one who hadn't been involved in all the teasing and still maintained the seriousness of the situation.

Tobias lifted his head to look at him. "My family knows. My clan knows, too. The difference is that my clan doesn't know what he is," he admitted honestly.

"Would they hurt him if they knew?" Dad asked immediately.

"Of course not." Tobias' voice was clear, as was his, so he would know he meant it. "There's another reason I didn't tell them..." His voice wavered at the end, though, and I knew immediately why.

"They don't need to know," I quickly assured him.

"They should." Tobias countered, looking at me. "But..." But it was hard for him to talk about it.

"I can tell them instead of you if you want," Cobe offered. All the humour was gone from his voice, replaced by empathy, reassuring Tobias that he had his support.

Tobias looked at him in surprise, but then nodded, though not quite sure. "Just not in front of me, please."

Cobe nodded immediately and gave him an encouraging smile.

"Sounds like Cobe has had a chance to get to know you," Cora remarked.

"Not really," Cobe assured her right away. "We've only met a couple of times. But I gave him my number. Someone needs to tell him all the embarrassing things about Colby."

"I agree." A broad smile immediately appeared on Cora's face.

"No embarrassing stories about me," I interjected, even though it sounded like Cora wanted to keep in touch with Toby as well.

"He's right, kids," Mum stood up for me. I couldn't enjoy it for long, though. "Embarrassing Colby can wait. I'd rather know more about his mate." She looked at Tobias.

"What do you want to know?" he asked carefully.

"You've told us a lot about the hunters and your clan, but nothing about yourself," Mum observed. And she steered the conversation exactly where she wanted it to go. "Sounds like you're an uncle."