Page 17 of What the Hex
ROYAL: Dude, is this a joke?
REINA: Did you slip him a love potion?
He didn’t know how his siblings had found out about his mating, but their responses didn’t surprise him. If there was one thing he could count on from his family, it was that they would always be there to shit on any semblance of happiness he found.
The youngest of the four, he’d always been the black sheep of the family. The outsider. The underachiever. It didn’t matter to them, or his parents, that he enjoyed working at Blackhaven Manor, or that he was quite content with his life. Hell, even when he did try to please him, he could never live up to their expectations.
From an early age, he’d been made acutely aware that he lacked something. Or…everything. He’d never been smart enough. Ambitious enough. He was too awkward, too reserved. Everything from his diet and appearance to his circle of friends had been scrutinized and found unacceptable.
To be fair, his dad had never treated him that way. He never said hurtful things. Mostly because he never talked to him at all. He did talk at him sometimes, telling him to sit, move, or pass the salt. Kind of like a tolerated family pet.
In a lot of ways, it was better.
Knowing his siblings wouldn’t let it drop until they received an answer, he added them all to a group chat so he would only have to say it once.
KING: It’s true, and no, I didn’t dose him with a love potion.
The responses came almost immediately.
ROYAL: I feel so sorry for him.
RHIA: I can’t believe he actually announced it. I wouldn’t have told anyone.
REINA: When do we get to meet him?
ROYAL: Does mom know?
King had barely finished reading the last message when his phone began to vibrate incessantly with an incoming call. A quick glance at the name on the screen answered his brother’s question.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Oh, my goodness, I’m so happy. I can’t believe it!”
He couldn’t believe it, either. Had his mother called him by accident? The last time she had been pleased with him was when he’d won his fourth-grade spelling bee.
“Of course, I would have preferred it to be a woman, but that’s neither here nor there.”
“Uh, right.”
“Oh, we have someone famous in the family! You have to bring him to dinner this Friday.”
“Oh, I, uh…” Fuck. He didn’t know how to deny her, but he also didn’t want to subject Storm to his psychotic family. “I’ll have to check his schedule. He’s very busy right now with filming.”
“He has to eat. I’m sure he can spare a few hours.”
King squeezed his eyes closed and choked back a groan. “I’ll ask him.”
“Good.” Her tone implied the matter had been settled. “Oh, and dear, you really should be more careful with your diet. You’re looking a little pudgy, and you don’t want to embarrass your new…”
“Mate,” he said when she struggled for the right word.
She made a humming sound that might have been acceptance. Which was probably the best response he could have hoped for.
“Yes, well, my point is that you’ll be in front of a lot of cameras now, so you really should care more about your appearance.”
“I understand, Mother.”
It was a common complaint, and her constant criticism was always a nagging voice in the back of his head. Maybe because he wanted her to be proud of him, or maybe because a little part of him agreed with her, but he always tried to do what she wanted. Unfortunately, it never lasted, and the whole process would start over again.