“Matt, you’re scaring me. What is it? Who is your mate?”
“His name is Ward and I think... I think he’s one of your brother’s grandchildren. He recently moved nearby—quite possibly in your old family home.”
This was still mostly supposition on Mathias’s part—he didn’t have enough information to confirm it—but he was rarely wrong about such things. Will knew this too, because he went pale. “Are you...Is this... We have to tell Saul. He might know of me.”
“Wait.” Mathias caught Will’s arm before the man could slide away. “Let me finish. I’m not sure I ever explained how mating works for Sidhe, but we identify our other halves using the energy each individual naturally emits. Yours is very similar to Ward’s, which was what confused me into deeming you my mate. I made a mistake, and I hurt you and Dean because of it. It’s only now that I realize just how much I’ve wronged you by hating him, and I can’t even imagine how you can stand to be in my presence.”
“You’re a good man, Matt,” Will replied quietly. “You were by my side when I most needed support. I might still have some trouble getting over the Gathering episode, but I also know you could have easily left Dean to die. Besides, those years we shared don’t just go away.”
“No, they don’t,” Mathias agreed. “And I want you to know that even if Ward is in my life now, you and Jessie are still very important to me, and I’ll do my utmost to help him.”
Will must have realized he was serious, because he lunged at Mathias and hugged him tightly. It was the first time in decades that an embrace between them didn’t hold any tension, and the relief that flooded Mathias was immense.
When they broke apart, Will wiped his eyes surreptitiously. “Okay. Now we really need to have that talk with Dean. If Ward is my great-nephew, he’s at least indirectly connected to the pack, and I assume that you’ll want to tell Ward about your nature.”
Mathias hesitated. “About that...”