Stuck in the Middle (MxMxM)?

Chapter 46 - Explain Yourselves!

Ryder glanced at Adan cautiously. "What about you guys? Would you even want to be bonded to me after all of this?"

Adan noticed. "I thought you wanted to move back home after college?"

"I...Did. But now I don't think I do anymore. Everything my parents told me turned out to be a lie. I don't think I have a future back in Polporro."

Now Adan was willing to turn fully toward him. "Are you saying you'd like to stay here?"

"I think so. If things with my parents don't end up getting complicated."

"They already are. But we'll let them explain that once they arrive."

He peeked again up toward Adan. "Are you mad?"

The man thought about it, then looped an arm around Ryder's shoulders and pulled him close to his side. "Yes. But that doesn't mean I want you to leave."   

Comforted by that, he leaned his head against Adan and took in his scent. It was good to be in their arms again.

They stayed like that for a while. Without a phone, Ryder had no way of knowing what his parents were up to, so he had to trust that his boyfriends knew what they were talking about.

Soon enough, a truck pulled up.

Ryder stood, worried that his hunter parents might overreact now that they were in a secluded area. They had already made it clear they were willing to kill a werewolf without hesitation.

Sharlene and Paul approached, with his father folding his arms distrustfully at the two Alphas. His boyfriends likewise stood on either side of Ryder.

"Alright, let's get this over with. What the hell's going on?" Paul started.

Both Adan and Kendric looked at him, and Ryder took that as the sign that he was meant to do the talking. "Mom, Dad. I think you two need to explain first."

His dad looked like he wanted to argue, but didn't. "Alright, I suppose we could. The two men you're with are werewolf Alphas. We ran into them while trying to track you the other night. They said they were 'friends' of yours. But it looks like it's more than that."

"And that's it? You just agreed to work with them without question?"

"Oh, we had questions, but we know better than to kill pack members. Let alone full-blown Alphas like them. Not without consequences."

"I thought hunters killed anything supernatural?"

"No honey." Sharlene chimed in. "We told you before, we only hunt monsters that turn out to be dangerous. When werewolves have a properly established pack, they usually aren't dangerous, but rogues are a different matter."

"And what about me?" He asked, bracing himself for rejection. "You heard Axel. I'm a werewolf too now."

"That's okay sweetie. We know you're not going to go on a rampage like those rogues did. The fact that you went so far to help Delilah proves you haven't changed one bit."   

"So you're not going to try to..."

"Son, do you really think we'd be willing to kill you?" Paul asked, offended. "We did everything to protect you from all of this. And the one time we let you leave home, you get turned into a-" He glanced at Adan and Kendric, "Werewolf. So obviously we were right to try and keep you home."

"Then what now?" He asked. "What do we do now? There's no farm, and there's no opportunities for me in Polporro. You can't expect me to want to go home still."

"What if more rogues come after you?"

"We'll protect him." Adan declared with an edge in his voice.

Once again, Paul looked like he wanted to argue but smartly chose otherwise. "Fine. But on one condition." He pulled out a box with a new phone. "Don't let him lose touch with us."

Adan didn't want to accept the offer, but Kendric graciously took the box and handed it to Ryder. Ryder flipped it over, then eyed Paul skeptically. "Is this one bugged too?"

His parents didn't answer.

Kendric leaned over and whispered into his ear. "We can buy another one and transfer the number. Let's not rile them up anymore and be happy they're willing to let you stay without a fuss."

He nodded and thanked his parents.

There was yet another awkward pause before his mother clicked her tongue. "We're going to be staying in town for a week to make sure everything is safe. I heard the rogue leader never got caught, so we'll keep a look out for him. You better meet us when we call." She demanded. "I want to make sure you're not being told you have to stay against your will."

"Mom, I'm not. I promise."

"Alright. Then...I guess that's that."

Paul still didn't look very happy, but left with the woman anyway after calling back, "You better start answering your phone!"

"Yes dad." He waved them off, then glanced back at the two men behind him. "Can we get something to eat now?"

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A/N: Sorry for the bit of angst with Adan, but you can't blame the guy. The last time he got ghosted by a boyfriend they spent a year hating each other. Ryder kinda opened some old wounds.