The Alpha pulled his mate into his arms again and groaned in distress.
Binding each other as mates was supposed to be the penultimate milestone in his relationship with Lucien, the last one being spending their life together until death did them part. He wanted it to be perfect. It just had to be perfect.
Right now it barely fulfilled his expectations.
Of course Ronan was happy that Lucien finally became his mate, but he was still grieving for his mother. He was unable to fully rejoice. It felt so wrong to even feel the slightest tinge of joy.
And that made Ronan feel even worse.
He did not want Lucien to think that he was not happy.
He was. Lucien's willingness to be his mate meant the world to him.
He just did not know how to show it under these circumstances.
Against Beowulf's warning, he just had to mess it up again.
Ronan would love to smack his head against the wall a few times.