Chapter 56 Chapter 56

Chapter 56 Chapter 56
Throughout the journey home, Jeremy clung to Drey.

This was the first time he was outside in the open world with his original scent, and it scared him to see people staring at him, wondering if that sweet scent was coming from him.

And anytime Drey felt someone looking at his mate wrongly, he would growl at them.

"Maybe I should just put on my skin patch. Everyone's still staring," Jeremy said because even when they were sitting on a plane, he still felt uncomfortable at how much people were staring.

"Don't," Drey held his hand and gave him a gentle squeeze before shifting the best he could with Jaden on his lap to remove his jacket and drape it over him.
It didn't only help mask his scent, but it also calmed his nerves.

And so, he continued with the journey until they arrived at Delrago.

Jeremy's hands shook uncontrollably the closer they got to the pack house where his parents stayed, and Drey did his best to calm him down.

They arrived at night, which was usually the time most people who still liked to visit the pack house gathered, and so there were many people in the compound when Jeremy stepped out of the car.

Everyone froze in shock.

His eyes immediately shot up to the Luna, who had been watching them as they drove in from the balcony on the second floor. She stared back at him, shocked, before turning around and running towards him.

She stopped inches away from him, staring at him in disbelief as Ramsey joined his wife.

"Jeremy?" She asked making Jeremy's lips quivered.

"Mom... Dad."

And that was all it took for both parents to tackle him in a hug as they cried.

Julianna pulled away and held his face in her small hands.
"Jeremy, you've been alive all this time. Why didn't you ever come home, honey?"

Jeremy shook his head, tears running uncontrollably from his eyes.

"I couldn't," he said simply.
His father pulled him into a hug, allowing him to cry on his shoulder while his mother rubbed his back.

"It's okay, Jeremy. You're home now."

Ramsey looked at Drey who had been standing with a baby in hand and he didn't have to ask to know that the bite mark on Jeremy's neck was Drey's.

"I see you're his mate."

Drey nodded proudly. If anyone couldn't tell from the pheromones emanating from the obvious mate mark on Jeremy's neck, Drey's possessive behaviour would give them away.

"I see," Ramsey said.

"And the baby..." Jeremy stated nervously, gesturing toward Jaden, who was gawking at the older couple with his large eyes. "He's ours. I gave birth to him."

Julianna gasped as she walked over and took the baby into her arms, sniffing his hair, neck, and hand. Then a tear rolled down her eyes.

"He smells just like you."

"About why I didn't come back..."

"That's enough for now" Ramsey cut him off quickly, looking sorry. "You three should go shower and get some rest, we've got time now." He turned to Julianna "please have them prepare and deliver their foods to their room"

"I'll take care of the little one too," Julianna said with a smile as she took the child up to her room after giving the shocked maids instructions.

"Things went better than I anticipated," Jeremy said to Drey, who was drying his hair while looking around the room that still looked exactly the way he left it.

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"It is. I just wasn't expecting it."

Jeremy sighed as he walked toward his bed and flopped down on it with a content smile.

"It feels good to be back home."

Drey smiled, feeling Jeremy's happiness through their shared link, and he absolutely loved the feeling.
He walked up to the older man and flopped down on top of him, supporting his weight on his hands so he wouldn't crush him.

Jeremy panicked.

"What are you doing? We're in my parents' house."

But he didn't stop the alpha from capturing his lips in a slow, delicious kiss.

"I can't help it when you're being so cute."

Jeremy smiled, and Drey was about to dive in for another kiss when he placed a finger on the alpha's lips, stopping him.

"I should go get Jaden so Mom can rest too."
Drey agreed and allowed the other to slip away.
"I'll be back," he said and walked out.

"We probably shouldn't, Ramsey. It would break him."

Jeremy heard Julianna's muffled cry from outside the door, his hand pausing on the doorknob, his heart pounding.

"I don't think I can afford to lose him again. Let the past be buried along with every other secret. What good does it do now?"

"Don't get too emotional, Julianna," Ramsey sighed. "He deserves to know the truth, especially now. I'm to blame for everything, so don't feel too bad, okay?"

"I don't want him to leave..."

Jeremy clenched his fist and willed himself to knock.
He heard the two rustling around before the alpha calmly called out.

"Come in."

"Mom, Dad," he beamed at them before his eyes fell on Jaden, who was already sleeping soundly.

"Oh, I thought I'd come get Jaden so you could get some sleep. He usually doesn't fall asleep quickly with people he doesn't know."

The woman smiled sadly.

"He must have liked my scent, just like you did when you were little. He clung to me like a koala until he fell asleep, just like you did the first time I held you."

She got too emotional, and then the waterworks started again.

Ramsey pulled his wife into his arms as he fought back his own tears.

"Jeremy, you should go to bed. You must be tired from your journey. You should get to bed early, we have a lot to talk about tomorrow."

Jeremy went back to his room alone to find Drey talking on the phone. His mother had insisted he let Jaden stay with her for the night.

"I really am in Delrago, Dad. Why are you pestering me?" Drey rolled his eyes but smiled and waved Jeremy over when their eyes met.

"The hottest news in Delrago?... Probably the return of the alpha's second child."

Percy's loud exclamation came from the other end, making Drey wince as he pushed the phone slightly away from his ear just as Jeremy snuggled closer to him.

"You're just finding out now?" Drey asked. "Of course I knew, because he's my mate."

Everything seemed to fall silent at that.

Jeremy looked up at him worriedly, but Drey shook his head and gave him a wink before he shifted back to his comfortable position.

"Seems like you don't have much to say now, Dad. Talk to you later."

With that, Drey turned his phone off and let out a loud sigh.

"News runs fast. Even my old man, who isn't in the pack, knows you're back and that you're now an omega. The maids didn't say anything, so I thought they didn't notice."

Jeremy didn't say anything to that, making Drey worry.

"Are you okay?"

Jeremy shook his head.

"I'm scared... I'm scared of what my parents are going to say tomorrow."

"Jeremy..." Drey pulled him up so they were facing each other. "What happened?"

"I overheard them talking. They think whatever they're going to tell me tomorrow will hurt me. What if they're right? What if my assumptions are wrong and my family doesn't have Rendro ancestry like yours does? What would I do if..."

"Shh." Drey pulled him into a hug before he could break down further. "Whatever it is, I promise I'll be there for you. So don't be scared."

Slowly, Jeremy calmed down, his face buried between Drey's neck as he sniffed at his scent.

"Your dad sounded like he lost his breath after that last piece of information. Aren't you going to check on him?"

Jeremy's voice was soft and sleepy.

"Hmm, my dad is the most dramatic person I've ever met. Don't worry, he's fine."

"You sound sleepy," Jeremy said, making Drey laugh.

"You sound even sleepier. Where's Jaden?"

"Mom decided she wanted him with her tonight."

"Hmm."

Drey hummed as he pulled his omega close, and before long, they fell asleep.



THE NEXT DAY

"What about Chris? How come he's not here?"
Ramsey looked up from his breakfast, confused, while an oblivious Julianna sighed in disappointment.

"Your brother has been avoiding home ever since we did the burial of the body we thought was yours. He must be too heartbroken. The idea of staying in the same house haunts him."

Jeremy frowned, worried, as he glanced at Drey, who patted him comfortingly.

"Grandma, I want to see the duckies."

Jaden said, already getting comfortable with Julianna, who was happy to show him as promised.

They had barely stepped out for long when the screech of a car coming to a stop could be heard.
Percy stepped out of the Maybach, and his eyes immediately fell on the baby standing beside Luna.
He instantly remembered his own son many years ago.

Big eyes, black hair, a small face, thin upper lips, and a slightly fuller lower lip.

This was Drey's son.

His grandson.

He slowly walked over to the baby, who hid shyly behind Julianna.

Percy squatted down.

"What's your name, kid?"

Jaden blinked.

"My name is Jaden."

Percy chuckled.

"Well hello Jaden. I'm your Grandpa."

Percy introduced himself, making the little boy frown.

"Grandpa?"

Percy nodded.

"But that big old man is also Grandpa."

Percy let out a hearty laugh.

"Well, little Jaden, I'll prove to you that I'm the best grandpa out there. Do you like ice cream?"

Jaden nodded happily, and Percy leaned closer.

"Would you like some?"

Jaden nodded again.

"But I have to tell my dada first."

"Oh, don't worry. He won't mind if you come with Grandpa for a minute."

"Dad, stop being creepy. You just got here and you already want to spoil him."

Without turning to Drey, Percy spoke up.

"How else am I supposed to be the best grandparent?"

"Since when was it a competition?" Julianna asked, amused.

"Since now," Percy answered, making her laugh.

"Oh, it's on then" she leaned down to face the little boy "Jaden, ice cream or chocolate?"

Jeremy shook his head at the scene and was about to go join them when he felt a light tap on his shoulder.
It was his father.

"Jeremy, let's talk."