The group of six didn't linger, and they moved to leave after they finished their tea.
Kalina, Talia, and Tatiana repeated many times that Mindy should stay in touch, and wished the newly-mated couple all well, and Maddox moved slowly to stay last.
Their visit was too short for Maddox to observe Gideon carefully, but he could see that Mindy was happy, so he kept his thoughts to himself.
"Give me a heads up before you visit home, so I'm there.", Maddox said while wrapping Mindy in a goodbye hug. "I'm sure that mother and father would like to meet your mate."
Mindy smiled. At first, she was not sure where Maddox was going with mentioning their home, but then she understood that it applied to both her and Gideon.
That reminded her, "Do mom and dad know?"
Maddox shook his head. "I didn't tell them." He glanced at Tatiana. "I didn't tell them that I found my mate either. After last night, they definitely know, and will be upset when I call."
"Don't call.", Mindy said. "Go in person with Tanya. They won't dare scold you in front of her."
"You think so?", Maddox asked and shook his head.
"When you tell them about me...", Mindy paused. "Tell them that Gideon is a good man."
Maddox responded with a stiff smile. Can he say that and sound sincere? He just met the guy! "I'm sure mom and dad will be in shock to find out that both of us found mates only days apart."
"I heard the theory that putting mates together is Talia's power.", Mindy said.
Maddox stifled a chuckle. He wanted to say how Kalina is full of nonsense and Maya is encouraging those crazy ideas, but he realized that it was time to go. "Don't forget that you have a family, Min."
Mindy was speechless. Why did Maddox look so emotional? But his concern was genuine, and she comforted him, "Max, you know where I am. Feel free to come anytime. In addition to that, you can text and call. I have my cell phone and it has a signal."
Maddox looked around. "Do you have a place to charge it?"
Mindy was not sure how to respond to it. It should be a no, but then Gideon spoke, "We have a generator and there is a power bank she can use. I don't live in Middle Ages."
Maddox nodded in approval and after another hug with Mindy and a handshake with Gideon, he walked out to join the other five.
Maddox was happy for his sister, but his heart was heavy. Tatiana's arm around his waist and her leaning on him made it a bit better.
Mindy and Gideon stood in front of the cabin, and they didn't move until their six guests were out of sight.
"My brother means well.", Mindy said to Gideon, hoping to explain Maddox's overprotective behavior.
She wanted Gideon to get along with her family because they were an Alpha family who was close and if Gideon and Maddox start on a bad note, it can lead to Mindy needing to pick between the two. The mate bond was urging her to stick to Gideon, but her memory and experiences were drawing her toward her family and Mindy hoped that she won't need to abandon one for the other.
"In the Blue River pack, we have a shelter for the ones who need it. There are children, elderly, but most of the people who come seeking our protection are women who suffered years of abuse because they thought that no one will help them. Both me and Max are involved in helping those people get back on their feet and start a new life. No matter how much we see, it's always heartbreaking when another woman finds her way into our shelter while believing that she is not worthy of people being nice to her."
Gideon cocked an eyebrow at her as it dawned on him. "Is he worried that I will abuse you?"
Mindy's brows came together. Yes, Maddox was worried, but even Mindy didn't know what the future holds. Things went well so far, and she was happy, but… "I guess we all need to see how this will unfold."
Gideon's expression turned solemn.
"Mindy.", he called. "That is not how the mate bond works. Fated mates can't hurt each other, it goes against our nature. I waited for you to walk through that door from before you were born. I have no intention of mistreating you, but I am used to living on my own. If something is bothering you, I need you to tell me. I don't guarantee I will agree to your requests, but I promise to listen and do my best to accommodate your needs."
While on the topic of accommodating her needs, Mindy thought of asking, "Will you be OK with me continuing to work on the shelter and charities involved with it?"
"I want to hear more about the work you did."
Mindy looked at him apprehensively. Why did he talk about it in the past tense?
Gideon's brows furrowed as he continued, "Going there to work will require a lot of travel, but I'm sure we can make it work."
Mindy's lips stretched into a smile, and she relaxed at the thought that he was supportive.
"I don't need to be there in person.", Mindy said. "We can visit occasionally, just to see how things are going, but even that can be done with a video call. My work was mostly focusing on securing donations so that shelter can run, and also for various charities that are focusing on specific areas, such as sponsoring education, healthcare, or attending mental therapy for the ones who need it."
"Sounds like a lot of work. How much time do you spend on visiting the donors?"
"Alpha Damon is our biggest donor and by being here I'm already doing most of the work.", Mindy responded brightly. She had other people who could do that work, but her identity of Mindy River came with connections to the Alpha family, and that was the biggest incentive for people to give donations. "I can do almost everything with phone calls, emails, and we can attend a few parties a year."
"Parties.", he said sourly. "With me?"
"Will you let me go on my own?"
Gideon exhaled helplessly. He hated parties, but he hated the idea of Mindy being surrounded by some random men more. Didn't she know how beautiful she was?
"As long as you don't expect me to dance, it will be fine."
Mindy giggled and nodded, her eyes flashing in approval.
Now that she thought about it, her work with charities didn't require her to be in other places a lot. There was also the point of Mindy finishing her education, but she can do most of it online, so being mated to Gideon didn't seem to hinder anything she did so far.
Why did she think that finding a mate will be a problem? She didn't need to give up on anything, yet she got a handsome mate who was a beast in bed. Beast, in a good way.
Mindy leaned into Gideon's embrace, happy that the future looked brighter the more she thought about it.
