What was up with that?
“Hey. I’m Tristan,” he said at last.
His voice was a low, sexy rumble and it sent a rush of adrenaline coursing through Joey’s veins.
When their hands touched, Tristan moaned and closed his eyes. It was the oddest damn greeting, but Joey found himself utterly captivated.
“You’ll have to excuse my brother, he hasn’t been feeling well lately,” Sheriff Ambrose divulged.
Joey barely heard him.
He had a feeling Kelan might have said something too. He couldn’t be sure. Tristan was taking up all the space in his mind. When Tristan smiled, Joey felt as though he had been left in the dark for months and someone had finally switched on the light. The sensible part of his brain told him to be careful, that this might be some kind of vampire mojo that Tristan was working on him, but he didn’t care.
He’d take it.
Tristan could do whatever the hell he wanted to do to him.
“Do you want to go out on a date with me tonight?” Tristan blurted out.
When Sheriff Ambrose groaned, Joey glared at him. What the hell was the guy’s problem? Was Tristan’s brother homophobic? Joey could hardly believe his luck. Tristan wanted to go out with him? Like, on an actual date?
He was all over that.
“I’d love to,” he replied without hesitation.
Joey tried to remember the reason he’d wanted to get close to Tristan in the first place. The story—that was it. He wanted to get the scoop on the town’s residents, wanted to find out more about their secret. But as he stared into Tristan’s stunning brown eyes, he could think of another far more pressing reason why he’d like to get close to him.
The grin that Tristan aimed at him was utterly mesmerizing and Joey’s breath caught. He couldn’t help but look at Tristan’s teeth. They were a sparkling white and perfectly straight now, but when he remembered the fangs he’d seen the night before, he shivered involuntarily.
What about the guy from last night?
Joey opened his mouth to ask about him then snapped it shut at the last moment. Crap, he wasn’t supposed to know about him.
“Uh, didn’t you say something about a barbecue tonight, Kelan?” Sheriff Ambrose asked. “You know, to celebrate the Crazy Horse being rebuilt?”
Kelan scrunched his brow then quickly schooled his features, but he wasn’t quick enough. Joey had seen the confusion on his face. He knew nothing about a damn barbecue.
What was the sheriff talking about?
“Yeah, that’s right. I expect you all to be there. You too, Tristan, and bring your new…friend.”
Kelan’s offer didn’t sound like a request, it sounded like an order. Tristan turned to the incredibly large man and scowled, but he replied in the affirmative. “Yes, alph— Um, sir. Thank you.”
It was obvious that Tristan didn’t want to go to the barbecue so why had he agreed? It didn’t make any difference to Joey. As a matter of fact, a barbecue at the Crazy Horse would be the perfect opportunity for him to talk to everyone that lived and worked on the ranch, to see what he could find out.
Although the arson attacks weren’t even a blip on his radar anymore. He had a far better story in the pipeline—real-life vampires. Somewhere in his mind he wondered if it was such a great idea to go to the ranch alone. Wasn’t he just throwing himself into the lion’s den, so to speak?
Would he be safe there?
No, he couldn’t let himself think like that. If he wanted the story, this was his best and very likely his only chance to get it.
“Great.” Kelan’s reply sounded cheerful enough, but Joey could tell that the expression on his face was forced. “See you all tonight then.”
“Sure, and thanks for the invite.”
Joey could hardly wait, but whether that was because he wanted his story or because he wanted to see Tristan again, he couldn’t be certain.
Chapter Seven
“You know that staring out of the window isn’t going to make him get here any sooner, right?”
Tristan ignored his brother and continued watching Kelan’s front yard. Where the hell was his mate? Had he changed his mind about their date? Tristan’s stomach plummeted at the thought.
“Maybe I should drive over to the guesthouse and make sure everything is okay.”
“No, you shouldn’t. He’ll be here, Tristan,” Jared reasoned. “Even humans feel the pull of the mating bond. It might not be as strong for them as it is for wolves, but they still feel it.”
“Are you sure about that?” Tristan worried his lip then ran his fingers through his hair. “What if he doesn’t?”
Jared sighed and placed a comforting hand on Tristan’s shoulder.
“Why don’t you talk to Jake and Kelan about it? Jake’s human, he’ll be able to tell you how it is. Pete and Tony said they’re going to stop by later too. You’re not the first wolf to have a human mate.”
Kelan was the last person Tristan wanted to talk to. He was still pissed at Alpha Morgan for making him bring Joey to his house for dinner. Tristan wanted time alone with his mate so that he could get to know him, but when Kelan had issued the direct order back at the guesthouse, Tristan hadn’t been able to say no. Maybe he could talk to Pete about it, to find out how Tony had taken the news of being mated to a wolf.
They seemed happy together.
“You’re aware you can’t tell him about us yet, right?”
“Yes. Jesus, Kelan’s already given me the lecture. But he has to know soon, Jared. How can I keep it from him? What if my eyes or my teeth shift? I don’t know if I can control it when I’m around him.”
“Tristan, listen to me.” Jared grabbed hold of his brother’s arm and made him meet his gaze. “There’s a lot at stake here, do you realize that? This isn’t just about how Joey is going to feel about the mating bond.
“He’s a reporter. He came to Wolf Creek looking for a story.”
“Right, but he wouldn’t expose us.”
“How can you be so sure he wouldn’t?” Jared countered. “You don’t know anything about him.”
Tristan glared at his brother. “He’s my mate!”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake, Tristan, think for a minute. He knows nothing about wolves, nothing about our lives. Yes, the bond is there, but it won’t be as strong for him, not at first.
“You need to give him time to get to know you, time for the bond to deepen. You can’t tell him anything yet. Do you understand?”
“All right, I know. Jeez.”
Tristan didn’t like the position he was being forced into.
He’d only just met his mate—they hadn’t even had a proper conversation. It wasn’t fair that he had to lie to him right off the bat although he could understand why everyone was so twitchy about it. Yes, Joey was a reporter, but if Tristan was able to be upfront with him, he was sure Joey would understand the need for secrecy and discretion. Mates always looked out for each other’s best interests. Jared should know that better than anyone.
Nate would do anything to keep him safe and he’d do the same for Nate.
“Is he here yet?”
When Cary swept into the room, Tristan could sense the excitement wafting out of the panther’s pores. It made Tristan’s anticipation return.
He sighed. “No, not yet.”
“I’ll leave you guys alone.” Jared turned and headed for the door. “Don’t forget what we talked about, Tristan, okay?”
Tristan rolled his eyes and blew out a frustrated breath. “I won’t.” When Jared had left the room, he turned to Cary and groaned. “My brother is driving me crazy.”
Cary shrugged. “I guess he means well. So, tell me again what your mate looks like. Is he handsome? I bet he’s handsome, isn’t he?”
Tristan had just begun to nod when a low growl sounded at the door. He spun around in time to see Aaron striding towards his mate.
“I heard that! You’d better not think he’s handsome.”
Cary g
rinned mischievously and flung his arms around Aaron’s waist.
“Don’t worry. No one is as handsome as you.”
Aaron let out another growl and drew Cary to him, planting a passionate kiss on his lips that reeked of possession. When they didn’t let up after five seconds, Tristan shook his head and resumed watching the yard. Surprisingly, Aaron and Cary’s kiss didn’t bother Tristan as it once would have. He didn’t get that same pang of jealousy that he usually experienced when they were together—quite the opposite, in fact.
Their behavior made him smile so wide his cheeks ached.
He couldn’t wait until he and Joey were that close. The idea of being able to kiss his mate like that made flames of lust lick their way up his spine. The sensation became exacerbated when Tristan’s shiny silver Taurus pulled into the yard before he parked near the steps to the porch.
When Joey surveyed the area with an astute eye, Tristan was struck with conflicting emotions. Every fiber of his being wanted to run out there and tell Joey everything so that he could finally claim him as his mate. But Joey was a reporter and looking for a story. Tristan’s loyalty to his pack and the need to be careful about their secret had to be his number one priority.
He might understand the need for discretion, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
Chapter Eight
Joey switched off the engine and looked up at Kelan’s ranch. His stomach was in knots. He wasn’t sure what was making him more nervous—the prospect of getting a story that could make his career or seeing Tristan again.
Probably a little of both.
However, it wasn’t just the butterflies in his stomach that were making him twitchy—Joey had spent the past couple of hours wondering if he was doing the right thing. He wanted a story, yes, but at what cost? What if exposing Tristan and the rest of the residents of Wolf Creek would hurt them? What if the repercussions of his actions were too great?
Could he live with that?
If Joey wanted to make it as a reporter then he was going to have to forgo his conscience enough to get the story, but maybe there was a better way to get what he wanted. Just because the residents of Wolf Creek were some sort of vampires, that didn’t mean they were bad people. At least Joey hoped they weren’t. He’d already discovered that vampires were different in real life than they were in the movies. Maybe their ability to withstand sunlight wasn’t the only difference. His biggest hope was that they weren’t the cold-blooded killers they were always portrayed to be.
Looking across the yard to the ranch house, Joey chewed on his bottom lip. He didn’t know what he’d do if he found out that Tristan was a killer. He shouldn’t have accepted a date with him in the first place. The offer had come at the most opportune time, but Joey didn’t like to use people. The inner debate was still raging ferociously inside him when the front door to the ranch swung open and Tristan stepped outside, grinning from ear to ear.
Joey’s stomach lurched—from excitement or trepidation, he couldn’t be sure.
Either way, it was too late to back out now.
By the time he’d crossed the yard, his reservations had all but disappeared, his nerves having been replaced by anticipation. Just seeing Tristan again removed the doubt from his mind and made things clearer somehow. Tristan looked as if he was bubbling over with excitement, and it was infectious.
“Hey.” Joey grinned and stretched out his hand, but Tristan ignored it and pulled him into a hug instead.
It lasted a long time.
“Uh…” Well, this was different.
“I’m so glad you came,” Tristan mumbled into Joey’s hair.
The close contact was unbelievable.
From out of nowhere, Joey was about to spill his guts about his reservations, but that would involve telling Tristan the reason behind them, about what he’d witnessed the night before. He snapped his mouth shut. Jesus, what was it about Tristan that made him want to open up?
“I’m glad too,” he admitted.
When Tristan stepped back, his face was flushed. He averted his gaze and blinked a few times before rubbing his eyes as if they were sore.
“Are you tired?” Joey asked. “We can do this some other time if you…”
“No!” Tristan exclaimed. “No, it’s fine. Just give me a minute.”
After a few more blinks and a lot more rubbing, Tristan turned to face him. “Uh, just a long day at work,” he added.
“Oh, where do you work?”
“Bob’s Garage. It’s not far from the guesthouse. He’s training me as a mechanic.”
Joey nodded. “Do you like it?”
“Yeah, yeah, I do. What about you? You’re a reporter?”
Joey nodded. “Just a junior reporter for now, but with any luck, I’ll get promoted soon. I love what I do. Wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Tristan smiled at that, but it seemed somehow forced and he averted his gaze. He grabbed Joey’s hand and led him up the steps to the ranch’s porch.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to everyone. I’ve already told them all about you.”
“You did?” Joey stared at Tristan in confusion.
They’d only just met.
What could Tristan possibly have had to say about him?
“Well, obviously I don’t know anything about you yet. I just told everyone what you looked like, that you’re handsome.”
Joey barked out a laugh. “I’d say that flattery would get you everywhere, but you can kill the compliments. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Tristan frowned, his face suddenly serious. “But it’s true.”
There was so much conviction in his voice that Joey believed Tristan had meant what he’d said.
As soon as they’d stepped through the door, the first introductions were made.
“Hey, dude, good to meet you.” The tall and somewhat imposing blond man offered his hand and Joey shook it, returning the friendly grin.
“Hey.”
“Joey, this is my friend, Aaron,” Tristan introduced. “And this is his mat…uh, boyfriend, Cary.”
A smaller man with dark brown hair was hiding behind Aaron, a shy smile on his lips. He stepped out and warily offered his hand.
Joey reached out to take it then sneezed.
“Excuse me,” he said, only to sneeze a second time. Then a third.
Joey groaned. “Sorry about this. Must be my allergies. Do you own a cat?”
Cary’s eyes widened and he took a step back from Joey, hiding again. Aaron looked down at his clothes in confusion. He picked what looked like a large cat hair off his T-shirt before turning to stare at his boyfriend, eyebrows raised.
It was Tristan who spoke.
“Yeah, there is one around here…somewhere.”
“I hate the damn things myself,” Joey grumbled after another sneeze.
Aaron growled and the low threatening noise made Joey jump back in surprise as fear licked its way up his spine. The sound had been animalistic. It reminded Joey of the sound Tristan had made in the parking lot the night before.
“Hey!” Tristan shouted, glaring at his friend. “Cut it out!”
When Aaron glared right back, Joey felt the need to clarify.
“I haven’t got anything against them specifically. It’s just, you know, because of the allergies…”
“Come on, Aaron,” Cary said, tugging at his boyfriend’s arm. “Let’s go see if the food is ready.”
Aaron scowled at Joey but let himself be led out of the room.
“See you later, Joey,” Cary said.
“Um, yeah, see you.”
When Aaron and Cary had both left the room, Joey turned to Tristan and shrugged an apology.
“Sorry, I guess that could have gone better. I didn’t mean to insult your friends. They, uh, obviously like cats.”
Tristan averted his gaze then shook his head.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. You can’t help who, I mean what you’re allergic to. Come on, I’ll intro
duce you to the others.”
“Okay,” Joey said hesitantly.
Tristan turned to walk from the room then hesitated, asking over his shoulder, “Are you allergic to dogs too?”
Joey shook his head. “No. Why? Do you own a dog?”
“No, just wondered. Come on, the food’s probably ready.”
Joey followed Tristan out of the room, pausing to look around the newly decorated space to see if he could spy the damn cat. He couldn’t see it hiding anywhere, but he’d already stopped sneezing. Maybe it was just the smell of fresh paint fumes that had started him off. From what he understood, the ranch had only recently been rebuilt after the fire that had pretty much burnt it to the ground. Although there had been hair on Aaron’s top so there had to be a cat around there somewhere.
As soon as they stepped out into the backyard, apprehension furled in Joey’s gut. Around ten or eleven men were stood together in groups of twos and threes—chatting and joking with one another.
Silence descended as everyone looked their way.
Joey shivered but kept his head held high and his back straight as he strode forward with purpose. He wasn’t afraid exactly, but he moved a little closer to Tristan’s side as they crossed the yard. It might have been stupid to put his trust in Tristan because he was one of them too, but Joey’s instinct told him that Tristan wouldn’t hurt him and his gut feelings were usually spot on.
Joey was introduced to each man in turn. There were a lot of names to remember. He’d already met Kelan, of course, Jared, Nate, and Pete. Pete’s presence at the barbecue surprised him because he hadn’t been able to find a connection between Pete and the rest of the men whose houses had been hit by the arsonist, but it seemed that they were all friends.
Interesting.
What else did they all have in common?
Joey met Kelan’s two younger brothers, Luke and Cody, and their partners, Mark and Stefan. Everyone was incredibly friendly, overly so, in fact. It made Joey nervous like he was being sized up.
Tristan's Despair (2019 Reissue) Page 4