The Start

by Elsa Aarden

  “We’re a laid-back pack. No need for strict rules,” Garth said with a smile. He went around the bed and slid under the covers. “Come closer.”

  Cecil looked away and got in bed. “Good night,” he said, covering himself up to his neck.

  Garth got closer and put his hand on Cecil’s hip, under the covers. “Have you slept in the same bed as Rowan?”

  “Yes, on the same night I got to his house,” Cecil said, moving Garth’s hand away. “He’s the only one I can trust.”

  “I only took Rowan out of my territory for coming here without permission. He knew the rules, so what about me?” Garth asked. He rested his body against Cecil’s and roamed his hand around Cecil’s side, toward his chest.

  Cecil scooted to the edge of the bed, but Garth pulled him back gently. He swallowed hard. What if this were Rowan? “Rowan made a promise, so I trust him. I don’t know about you,” he said, moving Garth’s hand away again. It was strange that Garth knew about his life, but looked past it. While Rowan was careful with him, Garth treated him as if he was strong enough to recover from it. Somehow, he would rather Rowan become like this instead of seeing him as so fragile.

  Garth chuckled. “I can make a promise, too. If you let me, I promise to keep you happy. Always.”

  Was something like that possible? In the brief time that he knew Rowan, they had gone through ups and downs. How could Garth offer him only happiness? Cecil closed his eyes. “I’m not sure you can keep that promise. It made me very unhappy that you hurt Rowan.”

  “He knew what was coming to him if he came here, Cecil,” Garth said. “I kept my promise to my territory. No one barges in and takes what’s mine.”

  Cecil’s heart skipped. Why did Garth’s dominance and possessiveness affect him? It gave him a sense of protection through Garth’s fearless affection. Could Rowan also show a side like this, a less careful one?

  “Why so silent?” Garth asked. “Are you finally starting to like me?”

  Rowan. Cecil brought the tips of his fingers to his lips. He wanted to kiss Rowan again. “I need to ask this. Why do I have to stay here for two days?”

  Garth cleared his throat. “Well, it can be complicated. Between werewolves, we know within seconds when we see a mate. Between a werewolf and a human, it takes about two or three days for our instincts to fully kick in. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen sooner, though.”

  “You’re keeping me here because you think I’m going to choose you over Rowan?” Cecil asked. He turned around, finding the closeness with Garth a tad uncomfortable. Garth was like a wall in front of him. “Isn’t it better if you look for another mate? I can’t choose anyone besides Rowan. I think it doesn’t matter how much time passes.”

  “I enjoy that you’re speaking more to me.” Garth caressed Cecil’s cheek. “Until the time comes, we can’t know for sure. All I want is to be on the same level as Rowan. When that happens, then I will accept your choice, no matter what it is. But for now, I need you to wait a while longer. Meanwhile, I can show you who I am.”

  Cecil tightened his lips. “Then, do you mind if I make a call to Rowan? I don’t want to hurt your feelings. I don’t want Rowan to get hurt again, either. If you want to and Rowan doesn’t mind, we can try what you suggest.” He looked away when Garth gave him a big smile. Garth wasn’t that bad a choice, but all he could think about was Rowan. He wanted to show Rowan that it didn’t matter how much time passed. He would always choose Rowan.

  Chapter Eleven

  “This can’t be happening,” Rowan said.

  Stella sighed. “If Cecil is choosing to do this, there’s nothing we can do,” she said. “It’s his choice, and we need to respect it.”

  “Two days is a lot, though,” Landen said. “I was starting to like the little guy.”

  Rowan raised a brow at Landen. “He’s coming back,” he said, gripping his cell phone. The issue was that Cecil didn’t know how to define his feelings. If he fell for Garth, there was no way Garth would allow him to see Cecil again. “As much as it bothers me to say this, we should take this time to take care of the investigation. We have to make it count. Cecil needs to know he will be returning to a safe home.”

  “Trent called,” Stella said, crossing her arms. “He’s trying to use Cecil against them. They came here and kidnapped him. So far, it’s working. Adams and Cobb will most likely get off the case.”

  That was an issue that would possibly solve itself. But Garth was another problem. Rowan looked out the window. “If Garth sees that Cecil likes him, no matter how much, he might do something. Alpha Garth knows he’s stronger than me. His pack is larger.” He regarded his pack. “He’ll keep his pack nearby, so I will keep mine, too. Landen, you’re in heat, so you’re staying. If they have another wolf in heat, it’s going to be mayhem.”

  “Alpha, I’m not a teenager,” Landen said with a pout. “Don’t worry. Since I got to turn yesterday, I feel much better.”

  Rowan sighed. Werewolves in heat had intense mood swings. If Garth tried to keep Cecil in his house, Landen could cause a mess. Another werewolf in heat would pick up Landen’s feelings before it happened, and that would generate a fight. “You can only go on the condition that you’ll keep your mouth shut. Don’t even look at the other pack. They’ll know you’re in heat as soon as you enter their territory.”

  “Fine,” Landen muttered. “What about the investigation? Is there anything we can do?”

  “I have an idea for that,” Rowan said. “Stella, Landen, you’re both coming with me. Stella, you’re going to behave as if you were the one who told me the detectives took Cecil. Landen, your role is going to be crucial.”

  Landen stared at him. “Really?”

  Rowan nodded. “You’re in heat, so you’re going to be the vulnerable part. That will distract any wolves who might be working there. They know no Alpha would make the first choice of taking a pack member in heat. They’ll think we’re not there as a calculated move,” he explained. “Gun, you can come in a few minutes later. You can tell them you got word that Cecil was left at Alpha Garth’s house.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Gun said. “Besides kidnapping the witness, they lost him, too. That will make the person in charge take them off the case. But who will stand in their place?”

  “Trent and his work partner,” Rowan answered. “They already agreed to it. I’ll owe them one, but they’re going to close the case as soon as they can. It might take a while.”

  Stella smiled. “Garth won’t have an excuse to keep Cecil there,” she said. “Now we have to hurry. We don’t know when those detectives will be lurking around. If we keep our senses alert, we’ll surely pick up on their scent.”

  Rowan stood. “Let’s go set up a meeting in person. Trent has started the fire, and we’re going to pour on the gasoline. Adams and Cobb won’t get away with kidnapping Cecil from here.” He led Stella, Landen, and Gun out to his car. If the investigation failed to end, Garth would keep Cecil at his house longer. He would do anything to stop that from happening.

  * * * *

  Two days later

  Cecil dried his hair off with a towel. He left it in the basket and stepped out of the bathroom. There stood Garth in the hallway, leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. “I can’t run away. I don’t know my way anywhere.”

  “I’m not waiting because of that,” Garth said as he approached Cecil. “You haven’t expressed any feelings for me yet, and Rowan will be here later today. He called while you were in the bathroom.”

  “He did?” Cecil asked in surprise. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  Garth raised a brow. “Did you want me to barge in while you’re showering?”

  Cecil looked away. Fortunately for him, Garth had spent all day working yesterday. Garth was a great guy. He also made Cecil’s heart skip sometimes, but all that was on his mind was Rowan. “What did he say?” Cecil asked.

  “He set up a meeting with the person in charge of the p
olice department,” Garth said as he made his way to the living room. Cecil followed him. Garth glanced behind him and held Cecil’s hand. He knew Cecil wouldn’t let him do much more than that. “He must be there right now.”

  They walked into the living room and sat on the couch. Vivian was on the smaller couch, watching television. “What are you watching, Vivian?” Cecil asked quietly. He had to avoid talking with Garth about being mates.

  “It’s an adventure series,” Vivian answered. “They’re in the middle of the season, so you won’t understand most of what’s going on.”

  Cecil glanced at Garth, who still held his hand. “I see.” It was all he could say.

  He went still when Garth moved his hand onto his thigh. Garth slid his hand back and forth gently. This was something he always did whenever they went silent, caressing and touching.

  “I’m reluctant to ask, but…” Garth paused, drawing Cecil’s attention. “Is it too much to ask you to add another day to your stay here? I was out all day yesterday, so I didn’t get the chance to spend time with you.”

  He knew this was coming. “I don’t know,” Cecil said. A part of him wanted to say yes because of how Garth asked. Another part desired to go back to Rowan. “Rowan might have a better answer.”

  Garth held Cecil’s hand again. “I’m sure he’ll accept whatever you decide. This is about you, after all. We’ll go with whatever you choose.”

  The issue lay in hurting their feelings. No matter who he chose, the other would end up hurt. “Too much pressure,” he murmured.

  “I have an idea,” Vivian said as she watched the series. “Uncle G, you already know where Alpha Rowan lives. You can just go there and pay Cecil a visit every once in a while. Mates don’t have to live together in order to develop feelings for each other. All you need is time together.”

  Cecil regarded Garth. “Rowan might not like that, though.”

  Garth hummed. “Rowan and I often handle business together. His advertisement company has a partnership with my beverage facilities,” he said. “I can simply hire him for other pending work as usual. We’ll set up the meetings at his house instead of mine.”

  “You’re going to see me at his house, then?” Cecil asked, and Garth nodded. As long as he could return to Rowan, he didn’t mind. “If Rowan doesn’t want that, please talk to him about it. Don’t get into any fights, please.”

  “I’ll try. I can’t promise anything,” Garth said. He pulled Cecil onto his lap and sat him on his side. “I know you don’t like this that much, but it’s the last few hours we have together. Can you endure for a short while?”

  Cecil nodded. He’d been refusing Garth a lot. This much wouldn’t hurt. He rested against Garth as they watched television. All the while, Garth caressed him gently wherever he felt like touching.

  * * * *

  “Is this how you work here?” Rowan asked. Across the table from him was the administration of the police department. Adams and Cobb were next to the two people in charge, a man and a woman. Both detectives were clearly upset, but he didn’t care. “They took him from my house without warning.”

  The woman in a suit and long blond hair regarded Rowan. “We understand that Mr. Hayes has been scarred due to the way his stepfather treated him. Detectives Adams and Cobb apologize for using Mr. Hayes’s stepfather to bring him here. They accused you and your family without proof, which is also unacceptable.”

  “What do you want to do with them?” Stella asked. “Cecil was sent to someone else’s house with their permission. They didn’t consult with anyone whether or not they could do such a thing.” She leaned forward and rested her fist on the table. “I watched what happened. Cecil’s stepfather didn’t care about Cecil and what he did to him for years. If you ask me, I’m glad he’s out of Cecil’s life.”

  This time, it was the older man with graying black hair who spoke. “Again, we apologize. We understand if you want to seek compensation on behalf of Mr. Hayes. The two detectives in charge will be off the case as of now. We decided that as soon as we heard what happened. They will be handled according to their actions.”

  Rowan glanced at Gun, who winked at him without the others noticing. “I’m acquainted with Trent Trevors. He’s willing to take this case with his partner. He was the one who notified William that he dropped Cecil off at Garth Benton’s house.” It was odd to him to refer to Gun as William, but that wasn’t a nickname anyone in the police force would recognize.

  “I understand that you have business with Garth Benton, am I right?” the woman asked, and Rowan nodded. “He has a big impact on this city’s economy and the surrounding towns, especially with his donations to trustworthy charities. We’re sure that Mr. Hayes is in good hands.”

  That was true, but something that Rowan didn’t like to hear. Cecil should stay by his side, not Garth’s. “Yes, I agree. Moving on, I would like to know if I’m still being accused of committing murder. I understand being a suspect, but not accused without proof.”

  “You’re free to go, Mr. Sands,” the woman said, earning stares from Adams and Cobb. “Trent and Lucia will be on your case. Until then, feel free to take Mr. Hayes back to your house if you please. As compensation, if Mr. Hayes would like, we can provide for any counseling he might need. We know that he went through a lot.”

  Rowan stood, Stella, Gun, and Landen doing the same. “I have an expert in my family who can take care of that. Thank you for the offer. If you need any statements from myself or Cecil, please give me a call. I will answer gladly.”

  They left the office, and the first thing Rowan did was take his cell phone from his pocket. He dialed Garth’s number and waited for him to answer. “Everything is going well. Now I want Cecil back.”

  Chapter Twelve

  “The glue stick is back,” Garth said in annoyance when the doorbell rang.

  Cecil stood from Garth’s lap and paced to the front door. When he got there, he looked over at Garth for permission to open the door. Garth nodded, and Cecil swung the door open. There stood Rowan. Stella, Landen, and Gun were behind him. Cecil gripped the bottom hem of his borrowed shirt, gazing at Rowan. Seeing him again made his heart beat harder and forget whoever stood around them. His legs shook with the desire to jump into Rowan’s arms.

  Rowan didn’t look happy.

  “Alpha Garth, you want to come to my house and see Cecil?” Rowan asked with contempt.

  Garth approached them. “What else do you expect—?”

  “For you to stop coming after my mate,” Rowan said firmly. “Is it so difficult to look for another mate? Cecil was mine way before he was yours.”

  Cecil’s heart fluttered at the last words. He composed himself and regarded Garth. “Can I go?”

  Rowan reached over and held Cecil’s hand. “You don’t need to ask him. Alpha Garth, we’ll talk later about your unnecessary request.”

  Finally, Rowan led Cecil to the car. Cecil flinched when Landen patted his shoulders from behind. “Please don’t be so sudden.”

  “You have to get used to it, little guy,” Landen said. He opened the car door. “I’ll go in the front. You can ride with Cecil, Alpha.”

  Cecil got in and moved away so Rowan could sit next to him. His heart pounded being next to Rowan. For some reason, Rowan still seemed upset. “Are you okay?” he asked Rowan, who shrugged one shoulder as he looked outside. “You aren’t.”

  Rowan sighed. “We’ll talk when we get home.”

  This wasn’t going as he’d expected. Why wasn’t Rowan happy to see him? Cecil gazed at Rowan’s hand, resting on Rowan’s lap. Even if Rowan had mentioned before that he could do whatever he wanted, it didn’t feel the same after being apart for two days. He wanted to hold his hand.

  On the way to Rowan’s house, it was only Landen, Stella, and Gun chattering about the case. It seemed they had decided against taking the rest of the pack. A fight between packs could result in Cecil getting hurt. If that had been the case, he was grateful to them. He’d seen
what Garth had done to Rowan.

  They arrived home, and Cecil was left alone with Rowan as soon as they got in. Did they know something he didn’t? Cecil followed Rowan to his room.

  “Can we talk now?” Cecil asked. He didn’t want to see Rowan upset. “Do you still feel pain from what Garth did?”

  Rowan motioned toward the bed, and Cecil sat on it. “Cecil, why did you accept to stay at Garth’s house for two days?”

  Cecil averted his gaze. “I didn’t want to hurt his feelings. I also didn’t want him to hurt you again.”

  “In that order?” Rowan asked, and Cecil tilted his head in confusion. “I’m asking if you’re putting his feelings first instead of what he did.”

  “I told him many times I didn’t want him to hurt you again.”

  Rowan raised a brow, causing Cecil to lean back. “That’s not what I’m asking. Are you more worried about Garth’s feelings or me?”

  Cecil turned his head down. “You,” he said under his breath. “Garth had to ask me to stop talking about you because I didn’t speak about anything else. We didn’t have much to say after that.”

  Rowan rested his hand on Cecil’s cheek, drawing his attention. “You still accepted to stay there. How little do you want to stay here that you’d accept staying at his house? Do you feel unsafe here?”

  “It’s not that,” Cecil said. It had been the wrong decision, after all. Why did they put such important decisions on his shoulders? Dealing with people had proved harder than he’d ever expected. All he wanted was to keep everyone happy. “Are you angry with me?”

  “Of course not. I can’t be,” Rowan said. “Still…” He pushed Cecil down gently and pounced onto him.

  Cecil stared at him. “What? What’s going on?” He wasn’t afraid, but this behavior from Rowan was unexpected.

  Rowan dipped his head and pressed a light kiss against Cecil’s neck, causing him to jolt. “You accepted it, Cecil. I want to punish you for it. You chose him over me, your mate.”