"Addie was a twin. Identical in fact," Corbin explained. "I know you have not known her for more than a few hours so she probably has not had time to mention it. Her twin died after their 17th birthday. Her name was Braelynn. They were very close."
"I can imagine, Sir." Hunter said a bit stunned. "Addie hasn't mentioned her as of yet to me so I will not broach the subject until she feels comfortable enough to open up."
Corbin watched Hunter carefully in all his answers. He seemed to be perfectly honest in them and he felt he was satisfied in the boy's sincerity.
"I like you, Son." Corbin's voice was stern though his words were not. "I give you my blessing and hope you can make her as happy as her mother made me in the few short years we had together as man and wife. But if I so much as hear a whisper of anything untoward from you against her, I will make sure you suffer tenfold for the hurt you caused her."
"I would never hurt your daughter, Sir." Hunter said with a solemn expression. "I would rather cut out my tongue than say a harsh word towards her or tear my arm from my shoulder before I would dare lay a hand on her in anything but a loving manner."
"That's good to hear, Hunter." Corbin's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Though I could have done without the visual you just gave me."
Hunter smiled at him and felt that they had come to an understanding of sorts.
After a few more rounds of questions on Corbin's part, they both left the study after an hour's time in order to invade the kitchen, both their stomachs protesting loudly at the empty voids in them.
They found Adeline talking to another young gentleman. She was chatting with him animatedly in between bites of a sausage egg and biscuit sandwich.
Corbin smirked a little as a growl emitted from Hunter's throat. He knew the boy wouldn't take kindly to another unmated male so close to his mate. If the man only knew what Corbin did, he probably would have blushed crimson.
The conversation stopped as soon as the possessive growl slipped past Hunter's lips. Adeline looked up in surprise, her face mirrored by the young man sitting next to her.
"Hunter, this is Clark-my best friend," she said, walking quickly up to her mate. He was standing rigid, staring at the other man with a scowl on his face. "He's also gay, so unless you want him to get the wrong idea, I would quit staring at him like that."
Hunter's eyebrows shot up and Corbin stifled a laugh at the situation. At least he knew his daughter would be protected by this possessive Alpha-to-be.
"Please to meetcha," Clark said, standing up from his chair. "Addie told me all about you being her mate and as she doesn't have the proper equipment to catch my eye, you can rest assured I won't be taking her from you at any point in the near future. You however, are delish and can warm my bed any time."
Adeline laughed as Clark wiggled his eyebrows and Hunter's red skin darkened even further at the come on.
Hunter was a bit flustered at this turn of events. He apologized and Addie sat him down in the seat next to her before going to grab the food she had prepared for her father and mate.
They were making small talk and had almost finished their food when Corbin locked into place. A hazy expression flooded his face and Addie looked up immediately in alarm. The look on her father's face went from one of curiosity to anger.
"Hunter! Clark!" Corbin barked the orders. "Get Addie upstairs. Patrol has captured a rogue and I don't want him anywhere near my daughter."
After all, his wife had died at the hands of a rogue. He would be damned if his remaining daughter would lose her life to one as well.
Addie was twinned. Exactly the same, in fact," Corbin explained. She probably hasn't had time to tell you because you haven't known her for more than a few hours. After their 17th birthday, her twin passed away. Braelynn was her name. They were close friends.
"Sir, I can imagine," "Hunter said, a little surprised. Since Addie has not yet mentioned her to me, I won't bring it up until she is sufficiently at ease to do so.
In all of his responses, Corbin carefully observed Hunter. He was content with the boy's sincerity because he appeared completely honest in them.
"Son, I like you." Despite his words, Corbin's voice was firm. I give you my approval and trust you can make her as cheerful as her mom made me in the couple of brief years we had together as man and spouse. However, I will ensure that you suffer tenfold for the harm you caused her if I even hear a whisper of anything negative from you toward her.
Sir, I would never harm your daughter. With a solemn expression, Hunter said, Before I would dare lay a hand on her in a manner other than loving, I would rather cut out my tongue than say something mean to her or tear my arm from my shoulder.
It's good to hear that, Hunter. In awe, Corbin raised his eyebrows. Despite the fact that I could have done without the image you just provided,
Tracker grinned at him and felt that they had come to a comprehension of sorts.
After a few more rounds of questions from Corbin, they both left the study after an hour to enter the kitchen, their stomachs loudly protesting at their empty spaces.
Adeline was chatting with another young man, which they discovered. In between bites of a sausage, egg, and biscuit sandwich, she was having an animated conversation with him.
As Hunter let out a growl, Corbin gave a slight smirk. He was aware that the boy wouldn't like another unmarried male being so close to his mate. The man probably would have blushed red if he had known what Corbin did.
When Hunter let out the possessive growl, the conversation came to a halt. The young man seated next to Adeline had a face that mirrored hers as she raised her head in surprise.
She quickly approached her companion and said, "Hunter, this is Clark-my best friend." With a scowl on his face, he was standing rigidly and staring at the other man. I would stop staring at him that way unless you want him to think the wrong thing because he is also gay.
Corbin suppressed a laugh as Hunter raised his eyebrows. At least he was aware that the possessive Alpha-to-be would safeguard his daughter.
Clark got up from his chair and said, "Please meet me." You can rest assured that I will never take Addie from you at any point in the not-too-distant future because she lacks the necessary equipment to attract my attention. Addie told me everything about you being her mate. However, you are delicious and can always warm my bed.
Adeline snickered as Clark squirmed his eyebrows and Tracker's red skin obscured significantly further at the come on.
This turn of events caused Hunter a little bit of anxiety. Before heading out to get the food she had prepared for her father and mate, Addie accepted his apology and sat him down in the seat next to her.
When Corbin locked in, they were talking casually and had almost finished their food. Addie immediately turned to look up in alarm at his hazy expression. Her father's expression changed from one of curiosity to anger.
"Hunter! Clark!" Corbin yelped the orders. " Take Addie up there. A rogue has been captured by patrol, and I don't want him near my daughter.
After all, a liar had caused the death of his wife. If his remaining daughter was also killed by one, he would be damned.