back from the brink.

[Anselm de le Poer]

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-- Perhaps that was it--around his cousin, Anselm could feel comfortable in his own skin. With most anybody else, he was always watching and waiting for something, on edge. With Gabriel he could relax or get down to business, depending on what the situation called for. The golden eyed male's words made Anselm's eyes widen in realisation. Whether he knew it or not, the hybrid had just imparted some great wisdom that the wolf just hadn't pieced together: he had no mate. He didn't really love any of the women he'd slept with, it had been strictly for entertainment. Perhaps if he could see the faces of those he loved in his kids, he wouldn't be as resistant to them. Perhaps if he'd had someone else there for support and guidance, they could figure it out together... rather than him shooting blindly in the dark alone. Here, he simply nodded in deep comprehension, though the gratitude was apparent in his gaze. In the blur of moments leading up to him stumbling to his den, his subconscious had picked up on Ryan's rank: her scent greeted him first alongside Gabriel's. Now, though, he was allowed to contemplate this directly. Whatever regret that lingered inside of him washed away and he felt another genuine smile creep across his face. What father wouldn't be proud of his daughter doing so well for herself? At the end of the day, it didn't seem like any of his kids had. Perhaps they were all just natural survivors. Well, that was a nice deluding thought to think, at least. Before he could open his mouth to respond, Gabe dropped a bomb. Anselm's expression went blank and he felt the blood run out of his face. Fortunately, this time Anselm was not intoxicated with psychedelic drugs as the news was delivered. Though his posture hadn't changed much, he quickly regained his composure, eyeing Gabe with playful suspicion. "You're busting my balls, man..." he said, shaking his head with a laugh. "I finally come to grips with the father thing and now there's a whole 'nother level!" It was too ironic and cruel of fate not for him to laugh. Then, suddenly: "Who is the father? Is he here?" In Inferni, that was... who could it be? He honestly hadn't the slightest clue.

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