CHAPTER 28: Worth the pain...

Randol
Jesus. My body definitely feels like I was cut in half. It even hurts to smile. That doesn't stop me from doing it, though. I have just heard the greatest words I have ever heard. "I picked you." I know it's crazy, but I already love her. She is our mate. I couldn't have picked a better one if I tried either. She is kind, smart, beautiful, and sees good in people even when they don't see it in themselves. I could go on and on, I'm sure, but not now. I can hear a very loudmouthed alpha wolf heading for my room as we speak.
"Randol! You're awake! Thank God." The door flies open, and this is all I hear before he is already at my bedside.
"Calm down, Dad. I'm fine."
"You are not fine. You were mauled by a bear."
"If you knew what I just got to hear, you would know why I say that." For some reason, a knowing smile comes to his face. "What?"
"Celeste chose you over the other two, didn't she?"
"How in God's name do you know that?"
"I'm your father, Randol. I know everything."
"Bullshit, Dad. Let me guess, Celeste talked to her dad, and her dad talked to you."
"Well, it may be some version of that."
"She is our mate, you know."
"I kind of figured."
"I didn't tell her, though. I wanted her to be happy, no matter what. I still haven't told her actually."
"All in good time, son. For now, you need to rest."
"I guess. I'm just stressed out. I don't know if I can go back to sleep right now."
"What could you possibly have to be stressed out about, son?"
"I am missing a lot of time, Dad. I have no idea what happened after I was attacked. I blacked out. I don't like it. It feels like I have amnesia or something."
"Well, I guess I do have a way to help you after all. I can fill in those memory gaps for you."
"You weren't even out there. How could you fill in anything?"
"Ajax was on - site, and reported back what happened to Ricco after Celeste demanded he and the others return to the house with you in tow. Ricco, of course, told me when he was trying to console me during your surgery."
"God, the council members gossip worse than high school girls."
"Well, I think he told Ricco more because it scared the shit out of him than anything else."
"Scared him? What the hell happened?" With that my dad started the story. He told me everything Ricco had told him, including Celeste being destined to be a wolf shifter's mate. I guess I was lucky before I even knew it. I can't believe she reacted that way though. I should be scared, so why do I find it ridiculously sexy that she went batshit crazy over me? Oh. Right. Because it is. She really cares about me, doesn't she.
"You better treasure that woman" — he starts to laugh midsentence — "she may kill you if you don't."
"Very funny, Dad. You know I will, though. I have been waiting for my mate to come along for years now. It was definitely worth the wait. She is amazing, Dad. She is way too good for me. The best thing about her, though, is that she makes me feel so good about just being me. I don't have to pretend with her. I don't have to try to be someone I'm not."
"That's a good thing. Your relationship will be a strong one. She will make you and our pack much stronger too. Just as a bonus, I get a daughter - in - law who thinks I'm devilishly handsome and sweet."
"Oh my god, Dad. Stop. Pain is bad enough, I don't need nausea to deal with too. Honestly, though, I don't know how she feels about becoming part of the pack. I don't even know if she would ever leave Chicago. Her dad is the only family she has left. I don't know if I could stand to ask her to consider leaving him."
"Randol, the only fair thing for you to do is give her all the information. She is a smart, levelheaded girl. She is more than capable of making her own decisions. What is not fair is for you to decide you know what she wants or how she feels without even talking to her."
"Well, I guess you have good advice from time to time, after all."
"I have my moments. Now, try to get some rest. I don't want to have to explain to the doc why I kept you awake all evening." He squeezes my shoulder before heading for the door. I'm pretty lucky, I guess. He's a good man and an even better dad. Hope I can live up to the standard. While I think this, my eyes grow heavy and I drift off.