CHAPTER 34: Fatherly advice...

Randol
As soon as Celeste left my doorway, my heart hurt. Kai whined in longing to go after her. I can't believe that my mate is this amazing woman. What's even more unbelievable is that she said she loved me back. At first, I thought I was hearing things. I didn't want to ask her to repeat it because I thought she would tell me I was hearing things. That she hadn't really said what I thought I heard. She did though. She said the three words that will change my life forever. She told me she loves me. I know it seems like I'm making too much out of this, but for a shifter this is a big deal. We only get one mate in our whole lives. We can date anyone, sleep with anyone, but only our destined mate can ever go through the claiming. That is the only person we can ever produce a child with. That is the only person that can make an alpha stronger. That's how it is for wolf shifters anyway. So yeah, if it seems like I'm making a big deal about this, it's because it is a big deal. This woman, from now until forever, will be my life.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I need to talk to my dad. I grab my phone and send him a text asking him to come to my room. I walk around the room waiting for him to show up. After a few minutes, I finally hear a knock on my door. I rush over to it, and fling it open.
"What is going on, Randol? Are you okay?" I throw my arms around him and squeeze him tight. I haven't hugged my dad like this in years. "Okay, now you're just freaking me out. What the hell is happening, Randol?"
I push away from him, holding his shoulders in my hands. "She loves me, Dad. She loves me."
"Well, congratulations, son. Is that really a reason to call me up here in a manner that makes me think you may be dying?"
"I'm sorry, I really am, but I am just so happy."
"Love is definitely a happy event."
"There's more, so much more. Here, sit down." I usher Dad to a chair and sit in front of him on the bed. "I decided that I had to lay everything on the table, so I did. I told her about her being my mate, I told her I was willing to move to Chicago, I even explained the claiming to become part of the pack."
"That's a lot of information to throw at somebody all at once, son. How did she take it?"
"She wants to move to New York, Dad. She said she has been thinking about it for a couple days now. She is absolutely positive about it. She also wants to go through with the claiming and adopt the pack when I become alpha. She said she needs to protects them, because they will be her family."
"I know for sure they will be the best protected pack on the planet then, after everything I've seen here. I'm happy for you, son. Some people go their whole lives and never get to be with someone half as loving and supportive as Celeste has been in this short amount of time. You need to make sure you give her the same in return."
"I will do everything in my power to do just that."
"I know you will, son. I'm proud of the man you have become."
"Thanks, Dad. I had a good role model."
"Damn right, you did. That's not it, though, is it?"
"No, actually. One thing is bothering me."
"Well, let's talk it out. What's the problem?"
"Dad, for as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be a father. I have thought about how I would raise them, what knowledge I wanted to pass down to them, what it would be like watching them learn to control their wolves, everything." Sigh. I pause, scared to finish this thought. "Dad, what if I'm not the role model I want to be or the one Celeste needs me to be? We both have such amazing fathers, I'm terrified that I won't be able to live up to that."
"Randol, everyone has their own parenting style. Do you think Ricco or I had any idea what we were doing when you two came along? No. Not in the slightest. We just had to wing it. We were lucky. We had amazing mates to help us. You have the same thing. You two will learn together, one step at a time. It will be hell at times, I'm not going to lie, but it's all worth it. You have given me so many gray hairs over the years, but when I see who you are now as a man, I think of each of those hairs as a trophy of a lesson I taught you or a time that I helped you. Just enjoy the process of raising your kids. Before you know it, they are all grown, asking you for advice about their own kids." I can see my dad's eyes becoming misty. I get up and pull him into another hug.
"Thanks, Dad. I hope I know exactly what my kid needs to hear someday, just like you do."
"Even though you're grown, I'll still be here for you. Anytime. For any reason. That's my job as the dad, after all." I laugh at his small attempt to lighten the mood.
"Of course, it is."
"So what happens now?"
"Unfortunately, I think I need to talk to Mr. Torelli. Just remember, if he kills me, I want to be buried in the family plot."
"Oh, come on, you'll be fine. Probably."
"Dad!"
"Hahah, I'm just kidding. Ricco knows she's your mate. I'm sure he is preparing himself for what that means."
"How does he know?"
"Well, he always knew that Celeste was destined to be a wolf shifter's mate. He put that together with the fact that Celeste lost her shit when she saw you get hurt, add that to knowing that she had made her decision about who she wanted to be with, and ta - da. He's a pretty intelligent guy. Having all the pieces, it really wasn't hard for him to put them together."
"Expecting it and then it actually happening are two different things, though. What if he doesn't want a shifter for a son - in - law? What if he doesn't think I'm good enough in general?"
"That, I know for certain, isn't the case. When he was telling me about figuring out that you two were mates, he said he would be happy having you in the family. He thinks you're a good man, and that you'll be good for Celeste."
"Wow. Really?"
"Really. So stop with the dramatics. I do agree you need to talk to him, but you will be fine when you do."
"It's just so strange, I guess. I have wanted to meet my mate my whole life, but now that I have I feel so unprepared. It's nerve - racking and exhilarating all at the same time. Was it the same for you?"
"Not really. I had known your mom, and known she was my mate, since we were children, so I didn't really get that surprise feeling. Don't get me wrong, I still get a rush just saying her name, but that shock factor just wasn't there for us."
"I never knew that. You're right, though. I have to man up and talk to Mr. Torelli. I know all he wants is for Celeste to be happy. If she can be happy with me, he will accept me. I hope."
"That's the spirit. Now stop whining and come have some lunch with me."
"Sounds good. I'm just going to message Celeste and let her know I'm going downstairs if she needs me."
"Whipped already, I see."
Laughing at his teasing I reply, "How could I not be?"
"Point taken. Let's go."