“Jobe?” Wesley said worriedly. When he didn’t respond, Wesley reached his hand out and curled it over his. “You look really pale all of a sudden. What just happened?”
“You didn’t want to be my mate,” Jobe whispered to himself. “I thought you weren’t ready to be with me because you were too young or you couldn’t come here because Purple Sky didn’t have another Alpha and you needed to help your uncle.” He looked up from the table and met Wesley’s gaze. “When Brian volunteered to go to Purple Sky and free you from your obligations, I was worried it’d be a little earlier than you wanted, but we’re thirty-three now, far from being pups, so I thought it’d be okay, but…” He searched Wesley’s eyes. “If you’d had it your way, you would have stayed in Purple Sky as their Alpha forever. You didn’t have any intention of being with me.” His heart shattered and every part of his body hurt. “You don’t want me.”
“That’s not true!” Wesley said vehemently.
“It’s not?” Jobe desperately hoped he had misunderstood Wesley’s story. Any explanation would be better than his mate being with him out of obligation rather than desire.
“No.” Wesley shook his head. “I already told you that I want you more than I ever knew I could want anything or anyone. Even that first night when your father brought me here and I was frustrated and tired, I wanted you. And now that I know you, I wouldn’t be anywhere else but here in Red River with you.” Wesley pushed his empty plate aside and leaned over the table toward Jobe. “I was talking about before I came here and met you.”
The previous evening, Jobe realized he had been assuming Wesley knew more about Red River’s Alpha structure than he had actually known. More specifically, he realized Wesley hadn’t known Jobe was an Alpha too. But now he considered the possibility that he had made assumptions about something else, something much more personal.
“Wes?”
“After last night, you can’t think I don’t want you, Jobe.” Wesley looked at him imploringly and laced their fingers together. “That really isn’t what I meant.”
“I know.” Jobe squeezed his hand. “I understand what you meant, but—” He licked his lips. “Do you remember the first time we met?”
“Yes.” Wesley tilted his head to the side, confused. “Why? Do you remember that night differently? Like I said, I was tired after that long drive and I didn’t know what to expect coming to Red—”
“We met ten years ago.”
“—River. I didn’t know anything about yo…” Wesley scrunched his eyebrows together. “What did you say?”
“Are you done eating or do you want seconds?” Jobe asked as he tipped his chin toward Wesley’s discarded plate.
“Uh.” Wesley flicked his gaze from Jobe to the plate and back again. “I’m done.”
“Then let’s go into the living room.” Jobe pushed his chair back and stood. “There’s something there I want to show you.” Leaving the dishes and food to deal with later, Jobe walked out of the dining room with Wesley following him. “I’m pretty sure I know where it is.” He opened the doors to the cabinet that held old movies, CDs, and photo albums. “It’s definitely one of these.” After a few minutes of flipping through albums, he found what he was looking for. “Sometimes a picture can explain something much better than words.” He walked over to the couch where Wesley sat and put the open album on his lap. “Look familiar?”
Wesley’s attention had been on Jobe, so when he first glanced down at the album, he didn’t pay it much attention. But something caught his eye, because the moment he looked away, he jerked his gaze back to it again. “I know him.” He flicked his gaze from the album to Jobe. “How did you—”
“That was my punk phase. You wouldn’t believe how much effort went into achieving the ‘I’m different without trying to be different’ look.”
His jaw dropping, Wesley looked at the album again. He picked it up and held it closer to his eyes. “You’re him.” He jerked his gaze back and forth between Jobe and the album. “I thought he was human, thought you were human. And you look so different now, I didn’t recognize you.” He traced his finger over one of Jobe’s old pictures and rasped, “I can’t believe I didn’t realize he was you.”
“I’m older and not quite as colorful now.” Jobe smiled. “And if I remember correctly, you’d had more than a little to drink that night.”
Bobbing his head, Wesley said, “I did but…” He continued staring at the pictures. “You’re him.” He raised his gaze to meet Jobe’s. “When did you figure it out?”
Being hurt or offended that the person he hadn’t stopped thinking about for a single day in over ten years hadn’t recognized him would have been a pointless waste of energy, so Jobe pushed aside his wounded pride and sat down next to Wesley.