Indy’s definitely mad.

He stormed in barely 5 minutes after I let it slip he had found his Mate.

He clearly didn’t listen to Jing telling them all to stay away.

So now he and I are sitting side by side on a couch in Jing’s office.

Not talking.

We never talk anymore.

My eyes are burning again.

I don’t want to fight it anymore.

So, I just let it happen.

Tears fill up my eyes and start to make their way down my checks.

“Alright, I don’t know what has been going on with you two but enough is enough. It’s obvious something has been happening between you, the entire family has noticed. It is also obvious that neither of you are talking about it. So, that’s what we are going to do. You two are going to fix your relationship. I’m only here to mediate and step in if necessary, so just speak to each other. Now one of you is going to have to start.”

Then there is silence.

A very tense silence.

I can feel how upset Indy is.

And I don’t know what to say.

For all the languages and words I know.

For all the book I read.

Expressing myself is still beyond me.

It’s gotten easier.

Having to talk to people who aren’t family has helped.

Slightly.

Maybe.

Not really.

I’m a disaster.

“Are you not even going to say anything? You sprint away from me like hellhounds are chasing you in a storm no less.” Indy pauses, his hands clasped in front of him, rubbing them together, “I don’t know what I did that made you run from me.”

He…. He doesn’t know?

Have I been wrong this whole time?

Almost 3 months?

I’ve felt like Indy has been pulling away from me.

Was that wrong?

Am I that stupid?

Am I that fucked up?

“I….I’m scared Indy.” I sigh, gathering all my courage to finally put my feelings into words, I owe it to Indy. If I’ve been wrong all this time, he needs to know why. “I feel like you’ve been pulling away from me. We used to do everything together and for a while you have been leaving me behind. We’ve barely talked in months. I know I am a burden and I’m… difficult. I’m sure I’ve driven you away. Barnaby and Brutus tell me all the time how I’m practically useless and you’ve been getting more and more distant so when you told me you had met your Mate I felt like I’d lost you for good.”

Indy looks at me.

He looks startled.

Like I surprised him.

“Oh Iago….”

Suddenly, he’s hugging me.

Pulling me in so tight it almost hurts.

“I’m so sorry.”

He mumbles this over and over into my hair.

We just hug for a long time.

Fuck.

How did we get so lost from each other.

We don’t move until Jing clears his throat.

“Indy, can you tell Iago what’s been going on. I promise you, anything said here is between the three of us. No one else will ever hear anything you say, not even Magnus.”

Indy stares at Jing.

Jing stares back.

He’s good at what he does.

He believes in keeping things private.

I trust him.

Indy must too because he nods.

“I met my Mate a few months ago. Obviously, I didn’t know he was my Mate at the time but he asked for my number and we started texting. He’s a few years older so he knew right away but… some things have happened to him in the past that were really bad so he wanted to take things slow. Around October he started inviting me to hang out with him and other wolves from the pack. I didn’t even notice that I’ve been pulling away from you, cutting you out of my life or how my behavior was affecting you.”

That…. Was a lot of information.

Did he say the Pack?

Like the wolf pack?

“The pack?”

Indy nods.

“He’s one of the Omega’s from Alpha Cecilia’s pack.”

Jing looks up, his eyes wide in recognition.

It’s only for a second.

But I see it.

Indy sees it too.

I’m confused.

Indy seems to understand.

Because he nods at Jing.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

I can tell there is something they aren’t telling me.

“It’s not our story Iago. All I’ll say is the last Alpha before Cecilia was a truly evil man and he did many bad things, especially to the Omega’s of his own pack. They have had a lot to overcome.”

OH.

That’s bad.

But they are right.

It’s not my business.

So, I just nod.

Understanding.

Something bad happened but I don’t need to know what it was.

So, I ask about something else.

“You’ve made friends then?”

Indy smiles.

“Yeah. They’ve been so great. I know they’d be great to you too. I just didn’t think Iago, that I was leaving you behind. I thought you were doing the same thing, making new friends. You have Nuka now and what about his friends?”

I’m glad they are good to him.

Wait….

What?

Nuka?

I don’t have Nuka.

“Nuka? What do mean I have Nuka? What does Nuka have to do with this?”

Indy looks shocked again.

Jing chuckles.

He actually chuckles.

“Iago insists they are just friends.”

Indy’s jaw actually drops as he looks between me and Jing before asking Jing.

“Seriously?”

Jing just nods.

“You know what,” Indy holds his hands up like he is surrendering, “That’s Nuka’s mess to sort out. What’s important is that you know nothing, and no one will ever replace you Iago. I know I haven’t been handling all this very well. I can do better about telling you what’s going on. But my Mate could never replace you. I really hope you two can meet sometime. I need you to approve of him too.”

It’s like a weight has left my chest.

I feel lighter now.

So, I hug Indy again.

He’s growing.

Becoming his own person.

But I realize something.

He’s not leaving me behind.

I’m holding myself back.

Being separate doesn’t mean we are disconnected.

And it’s time for me to stop being afraid to be myself.

“Maybe it’s time for me to get a phone.”

Now Indy laughs.

Loudly.

“Funny you should say that.” Indy reaches into his pocket and pulls out a phone. The case is one that flips over the front of the screen. It looks like an old vintage book. “This is yours. I’ve got it all programmed and personalized for you. Everyone has your number and all your favorite people are saved to it, plus your music and everything you might need. Happy Birthday.”

“Oh….”

I’m speechless.

Indy did all this for me.

Obviously not today either.

He never forgot about me.

I’m crying again.

But it’s different now.

Now I’m happy.

“Thank you, Indy.” I whisper.

“Don’t mention it. It’s actually more for me really, now I can text you and I don’t have get messages to you from other people. But do me a favor and text your “friend” Nuka before he loses his mind thinking you’re dead in a ditch somewhere.”

I don’t get why he puts air quotes around the word friend.

Wait.

Nuka is worried?

Why?

“Nuka?”

Indy snorts.

Again.

I’m starting to think there is something wrong with him.

He and Jing share another look I don’t quite understand.

“Yeah, I called him when you first went missing today. I thought you had gone to him cause well…. Never mind.”

“Oh, I should call him.”

Indy shows me how to unlock the phone and call Nuka.

I get up as it rings.

I hope Nuka isn’t upset.

I don’t like it when he’s upset.

Behind me I can hear Indy whisper.

“Just friends? Seriously?”

“He’ll figure it out soon enough.”

What does that mean.

I don’t have time to think about it though because the phone stops ringing, and I hear Nuka’s deep gravely voice.

“Hello? Indy? Did you find him?”