I turned to find her staring, her jaw open, as Seton broke the tension and walked straight over to us. I’d been on Trion for two days, not much more than Miranda, but I was not afraid. I was glad to be back.
“You must be Natalie.” His voice was deep and gentle, as if he was afraid both of us would bolt.
Miranda looked from him to me. I nodded to her that we were okay and turned to address Seton. “Yes, I am Natalie. This is Miranda.”
He bowed low and went down on one knee before me. Miranda’s hand came to rest on my shoulder and Noah stilled in my arms, looking down on the man with curiosity. “I am Seton, my lady. I pledge my honor to you and will protect you and your son with my life.”
My jaw went slack as I wondered how to respond. This felt like a formal ritual, and I had no idea what I was supposed to say.
“It’s customary, daughter, to accept his offer and give him permission to rise.” The voice was female, confident, and coming from just behind me. I turned to find an older female dressed in cream and gold, an older version of Roark standing just behind her looking almost as fierce and imposing as his son.
Licking my lips, I turned back to Seton, who remained on one knee before me, head bowed. “Thank you, Seton. I accept and, umm, you may rise now.”
Seton rose to stand before me, towering over Miranda and I both, just like Roark did. But I didn’t focus on him now. He was a known. He was Roark’s friend, the one man my mate said I could trust on this planet. Having him at my back made me feel confident enough to face the older couple—my in-laws—who may or may not want an alien daughter-in-law.
“My son?” she said to Seton as she peeked into the pod at Roark.
As if she didn’t need to say more, Seton explained the injuries and the duration of his stay in the pod.
“We have been briefed on what happened, although we will get more details from you. Later.”
I could only nod, pleased to know she was concerned for her son’s welfare and interested in learning the reasons for his wounds.
I turned, Noah in my arms, and found Roark’s father smiling broadly. He stood just behind his wife, clearly at ease with the situation. While he glanced at the pod that held his healing son, he looked to me kindly. Roark’s mother, however, had her arms crossed and scrutinized me from head to toe as if sizing me up, or deciding whether or not I passed inspection.
Yes, she was my mother-in-law. Cue the horror film music.
She stepped forward, her gaze never leaving mine. I held my chin up and refused to look away. I was not going to be cowed by some fifty-year-old alien woman, even if she was my mother-in-law. No. Especially because she was my mother-in-law. Show weakness now and she’d run roughshod over me for the rest of my life. I’d heard all the horror stories and seen all the movies. I knew the score.
“You must be Roark’s mother.”
“I am Tracen. Roark is my son.” Her gaze drifted lower, settled on Noah briefly, then returned to my face. “You must be Natalie, Roark’s matched mate.”
“Yes.” I had no idea where this was going. Roark had told me his mother suggested the brides program because he needed a mate, to breed her. From what I remember, he’d said he’d agreed and found the perfect match. Me. But that didn’t mean Roark’s parents approved of an Earth woman for their son. I didn’t know if they would want their grandson, a child who was half-alien. My own mother hadn’t wanted anything to do with Noah, so I didn’t expect what happened next.
Roark’s mother stepped forward and wrapped me in her arms. She sobbed, squeezing Noah and I both so tightly my son started to fuss.
“Welcome, my daughter. The gods have blessed us this day with a new daughter and a grandson. You brought Roark back to us, Natalie of Earth. I can never repay you for this miracle. Welcome. Welcome to our family.” Her voice cracked on the last, her cheek pressed to mine where I felt the wet trail of her tears.
I stood there, stiff, my arms wrapped around Noah as she hugged us both and cried. It was awkward and I glanced at the sleeping Roark in the pod, wishing he were awake to help me.
Roark’s huge father stepped forward and wrapped his arms around his mate, me, and Noah, and I immediately felt safe and protected. “Welcome, daughter.” His deep rumble was so similar to Roark’s that even little Noah stilled.
“I— Thank you.” I had no idea what to say, or how to react. This was not what I expected. First, Seton kneeling like I was some kind of princess, and now this.
Had they let me go, I would have been fine. But they did not release me, not for long minutes, as if they needed to drink us in, their new daughter and precious grandchild. Their love was palpable. I assumed it was love. I’d never felt such drowning emotion from my own parents. Not once. Not as a child coming home for summer break, high school graduation, college graduation, when I gave birth. Never.
This was what I’d been missing.
I cracked, and tears tracked my own cheeks as they continued to hold me in the shelter of their arms. “Roark is a lucky man, to have parents like you.”
Tracen chuckled and finally pulled back. “Not to hear him grumble.” Her smile was genuine and full of teasing. Shell-shocked, I stood still as her gaze lowered to Noah and her smile went from warm to raw, barefaced love. “He looks just like his father.” Her gaze darted to me, then back to Noah. “But he has your eyes.”
Holding Noah in my arms brought me great comfort, knowing he was safe. “Yes. His name is Noah.”
Noah squirmed and Roark’s parents stepped back, both of them
looking at him like the doting grandparents I’d dreamed he could have.