“We don’t need to tell him not to hurt you. He kills only when he’s ordered to.”
His dad looked at Corbin, who was still apparently indifferent. “Fine.” He sighed. “Corbin can live here, and he can spend time with Eli. But at the first sign of problems, he’s out.”
Kameron nodded, but Eli kept his gaze on Corbin. He was the only one who saw the way his shoulders sagged just a bit and how his lips twitched in a tiny smile.
He got up from the couch and looked at Corbin. “Do you have your stuff?”
Corbin reached under the coffee table and held one backpack up.
“That’s all you have?”
“Yes.”
“We need to go shopping.”
“One more thing,” Kameron said. They all looked at him. “I’m enrolling him in high school. We have a few pack members as staff there, and they’ll keep an eye on him, but he needs to start behaving his age, and he was homeschooled in the labs. He probably could go straight to college if he wanted to.”
Eli’s dad started to protest, but Eli gestured at Corbin to follow him. Kameron reached for him as he passed and handed him a credit card without even stopping talking to his father, and Eli knew it was to buy Corbin what he needed, so he took the card and pocketed it.
It was only once they were in the hallway that he wondered what Blake would think about it. He’s going to shit a kitten.
* * * *
Blake walked in Thomas’ living room to find his best friend fighting with their alpha.
“You can’t think it’s a good idea! God, why did I even say yes to this? It’s crazy.”
Blake looked at Craig, who was sitting on the couch and reading a newspaper. He sat next to him and tilted his chin toward the two fighting men. “What’s up with them?”
“They’re fighting over Corbin.”
“Why?”
Craig folded his newspaper and put it on his knees before looking at Blake. “Because Kameron asked us to let Corbin live here and to let him spend time with Eli, and Craig agreed. Then Kameron told him he’d enrolled Corbin in high school.”
“Corbin is going to live here?”
“Yup. In fact, Eli is showing him around as we talk.” Blake made to get up, but Craig grabbed his arm and stopped him. “Before you go apeshit-crazy like Thomas did, give Eli a chance. He’s not stupid or unable to protect himself, and he can make his own decisions.”
Blake slumped back down. “I know. I just want to protect him.”
“Yeah, and you’ll end up pushing him away if you don’t let him be. You haven’t talked to him for the past six years. I don’t know how Eli was when he was a kid, but I can tell you what kind of man he is now. He’s strong, and he has a good head on his shoulders. Did you know he was the one to tell Thomas it was okay to be gay and to have a male mate?”
“I didn’t.”
“He did. He also told Thomas that he shouldn’t stay with Laura if he was unhappy, and that he was only making the two of them and Eli and Carissa unhappy.”
“That’s...”
“Yeah. Leave him be, Blake. He’s not a kid you have to protect, even though he’s still so young. He’s lived under Erskine’s thumb, just like you, and it made him mature so much faster, especially after he realized he was gay and what it could mean for him if the wrong people found out. Corbin might be trained to kill, and he might not have a clue as how to be social, but from what I know about him he’s not a bad kid. He’s just eighteen, like Eli, and he should have a chance at a normal life. Besides, if anything happens, Corbin is more than able to protect Eli.”
The room was quiet and Blake realized Thomas and Kameron were done fighting and were now listening to his and Craig’s conversation. Blake looked at them. Thomas was still scowling, but that had been his default expression since they were kids. Blake had noticed he’d mellowed a bit, and he didn’t know if it was due to the time that had passed since he’d left or to Craig’s presence. He was obviously angry now, though, but Blake wasn’t sure at what.
“So...” It was awkward, and Blake was grateful when Kameron pointed his thumb at the door.
“I need to go. Thanks for taking Corbin in, and call me if you or he need anything.”
Craig and Thomas stared at each other and used that silent communication some couples had. Thomas clearly lost their argument, because he huffed and quickly followed Kameron in the hallway.
Craig hit Blake’s leg with his newspaper and used it to point at the hallway. “Go. He should be either in the guest room or in his room.”
Blake hurried to walk away. The last thing he wanted was to have to face an angry Thomas, especially after the week he’d had. He hadn’t seen Elias since that day last week, and he knew Thomas wouldn’t have any problems pointing it out.
Not that Blake had done it on purpose. Kameron had used all the enforcers he already had to comb the woods, but of course, they’d found nothing. Well, that wasn’t exactly true—they’d found what had to have been the creature’s lair for a while, and it had been both scary and disgusting.
The lair wasn’t much more than a deep hole in the ground under a big tree, but it had been full of bones, some with some rotting meat still on them. A few of the recruits who’d been working with them had thrown up, and helping them home hadn’t been fun.
The worst part had been the human remnants they’d found, though, and they still had no idea who it had been. They were sure it wasn’t Ronald Teague, but there was no way to identify the body in the state it was, and Blake hadn’t been able to eat for a day after seeing it.
Today was Blake’s first day off, and he was glad he’d get to spend some time with Elias. Or maybe not, seeing as Corbin was there too.
He paused at the guest room but no one answered when he knocked, so he went on to Elias’ room. The door was slightly ajar, and Blake stopped when he heard voices. He knew he shouldn’t eavesdrop, but he was curious to know what the two men inside were talking about. He couldn’t imagine Corbin talking about anything but murder and possibly torture.
“So you don’t know about your family?” Elias asked.
“I don’t have one,” Corbin answered.
“They never told you about it? In the lab, I mean?”
“The only thing I was told was that my mother was dead.”
“And you didn’t ask for more?”
There was a silent moment and Corbin’s voice was harder when he answered, “Asking questions wasn’t a good idea when I grew up. It usually led to things that hurt, so I quickly learned not to do it.”
Blake peeked in and saw that Elias and Corbin were sitting on Elias’ bed, both cross-legged and facing each other. Corbin looked a bit awkward as Elias patted his knee. “I’m sorry.”
“Why?”
“Because no one should go through what you have.”
“I don’t understand why you care.”
Corbin’s voice was so matter-of-fact that it hurt even Blake. He cleared his throat and made some noise, then knocked on the door and entered. “Hey.”
Elias’ face brightened. “Hi.” He patted the bed next to him. “Come on, sit with us.”
“Oh, I think I should go. I just wanted to say hello.”
“Don’t make me beg, and come here. I haven’t seen you this week. I missed you.”
The fact that Elias was able to admit to that so easily floored him, and he obeyed his mate. He parked his ass next to Elias, feeling out of place. The fact that Corbin was staring at him didn’t help, and he smiled awkwardly. “Craig told me you’ll be living here, Corbin.”
“Yes.”
“That’s... what do you think about it? Are you happy?”
Corbin tilted his head to the side. “Does living here mean you’ll spy on me like you just did?”
Blake gaped. The man really had no sense of what was socially acceptable. At least Elias was laughing instead of being angry. “I wasn’t spying.”
“You were
standing outside the door and listening to our conversation. What do you call it?”
Elias was laughing so hard now that he leaned against Blake’s side. Blake wrapped an arm around his mate’s shoulders and held him up as he answered. “I wasn’t spying. I was just curious to see if you behaved differently with Elias than you do with Kameron and the other enforcers I’ve see you with.”
Corbin frowned. “Why would I?”
“Because you don’t have the same relationship with the enforcers as you do with Elias.”
“I don’t understand.”
Elias finally stopped laughing and straightened. He dried the tears from his eyes and answered, something for which Blake was grateful.
“I’m your friend, while the enforcers are mostly coworkers, I guess.”
“You’re... my friend?”
Gosh, how could a guy who had looked so cold every time Blake had met him suddenly make him want to hug him? Corbin looked completely lost over something everyone should know and have. It made the way he’d lived until now so much more obvious, and Blake felt sorry he hadn’t tried to talk to him earlier. But everyone had talked about him as if he was a ruthless killer who’d rather kill you than talk to you, and Blake had let that influence him. Now he could see Corbin was much more than that. He might be a killer, because that was what he’d been raised to be, but at heart he was just a lost child, and Blake could see why Elias wanted to help him.
“Of course I am,” Elias answered without hesitation.
“But... why?”
Elias smiled. “Because you need a friend, and I like you. Not that we’ve spent all that much time together, but the little of you I do know makes me want to help you and to be there for you. I can back off if you’d rather be alone, though.”
Elias started to get up, but Corbin grabbed his wrist. Blake’s wolf wasn’t all that happy, but Blake used his will to make it back off. Elias was a caring person, and Blake knew he had nothing to fear from Corbin, no matter how much time alone he and Elias spent. Still, he made sure to look at Corbin in the eyes as he pulled Elias closer to his side again.
Elias rolled his eyes and Corbin gave him a little nod, and it was enough for Blake to feel secure.
Corbin let go of Elias’ wrist as Elias sat back down. He looked like he was searching for the right words, and Elias and Blake let him without pushing.
“I don’t want you to back off. I like you, too.”
Elias beamed. “So we’re friends?” He held his hand out to Corbin.
Corbin looked at it, then reached for it and clasped it in his. “Friends.”
* * * *
Eli’s dad was still scowling at dinner, but Eli ignored him. He chatted with Blake instead and tried to make Corbin participate in the conversation. “Where did you live all these years?”
Blake speared a potato as he answered. “Here and there. I never stayed in place for long, because I knew I’d come back here eventually.”
“How would you have done that if Alpha Erskine was still here?”
Blake frowned. “I’d have talked to you and your father and we’d have had to move away.” He ate the piece of meat from his fork. “But it doesn’t matter now anyway.”
“Right. Why did you join the enforcers?”
Blake looked a bit surprised at the change of topic, but he answered. “I was lonely, and it’s dangerous to be a lone shifter who moves around so much. I tried to stay out of territories I knew shifters lived in, but I didn’t always manage it. I got beaten a few times and ran out of town often. I also missed being part of something, so when I heard about the council and how they were looking for people, I thought it was a perfect idea.”
Eli grinned and pointed his fork at his mate. “And you didn’t think it would take you back right here.”
“No. I didn’t know about Kameron being the alpha until I passed the selection and met the council.”
“And we got you back.”
“Yeah.”
His dad grimaced. “It’s still so fucking weird to think you two will end up together.”
“Dad, newsflash—we’re already together.”
“Yeah? You’ve talked about it?”
“Yup. We even decided when we’ll mate.” That was about the only thing they’d decided, but his dad didn’t need to know that.
“I’m not sure I want to ask,” his dad said as he shook his head.
“Well, I do,” Craig intervened. “When will it be?”
“I wanted to wait a few years,” Blake began, “but Elias didn’t like that solution.”
“I bet.”
“He wanted to mate right away. Last week, in fact.”
Eli’s dad choked on the water he was drinking and spluttered. Craig patted his back until he could breathe again, and he launched himself in a tirade right away. “What are you two thinking? You can’t mate right now, Eli isn’t even out of high school!”
“That’s why I said no, Thomas,” Blake answered. “I didn’t particularly want you to kill me in my sleep.”
His dad calmed down, but his eyes still blazed. Eli would have been afraid if he hadn’t been used to it, but his dad had always been easy to trigger. He was all smoke and no fire, though.
“So when?” his dad growled.
Eli decided to get Blake out of the spotlight, especially because he’d been the one to insist for an earlier date. “After graduation. I’m thinking this summer.”
“Eli...”
Eli waved his fork. “I know, I know. I’m too young, I should think about it, maybe enjoy life before I settle down.” He laughed at his dad’s expression. “Dad, I know you. I know how you think.”
“You can’t tell me my objections aren’t logical.”
Eli snorted. “Dad, remember how you threw logic out the window and claimed Craig without even asking for his opinion?”
His dad sputtered. “But we’re both adults.”
“And me and Blake are, too. I know you still think I’m your little boy, but give me some credit. I gave it to you.”
Eli could see he was winning, but even if he hadn’t been, it wouldn’t have changed his mind about mating in the summer.
His dad smiled ruefully. “I don’t get a say in this, right?”
“Right.”
“Okay. But you’re staying here until you graduate.”
“Where would I go?”
His dad’s gaze shifted to Blake and Eli followed his lead. Blake looked like he wasn’t sure what to do, but he shrugged and told Eli, “I went to check on my house. It needs a bit of work to make it habitable again, and I asked your father to check the plumbing for me.”
“When will you be able to move in?”
“No idea. I need to clean it, and I haven’t had the time this week. I also need someone to check the wires and stuff, and to buy some stuff. It’ll take a while, with my job, but we have the time.”
An idea was already forming in Eli’s mind, and he could see from Craig’s face that he knew exactly what it was. Craig winked and Eli grinned at him before looking back at Blake. “Give me the keys. I’ll go clean up when I have time.” Blake opened his mouth, and Eli knew it was to protest. His mate was still treating him like spun glass, and it was something Eli hated. But no matter how many times he pointed it out, he knew Blake would go on until he had the proof Eli wouldn’t break.
“Corbin will come and help. Right?” Eli looked at Corbin, who shrugged. Eli took it as a yes and beamed at Blake. “See? And I’m sure I can convince some of my friends to come, too. I’m sure Jago will say yes, and Jarrett, of course. We’ll have the house clean in a few days, you’ll see.”
“I don’t want to impose,” Blake said, and Eli rolled his eyes.
“You’re planning to live there, right?”
Blake nodded.
“So it’ll be my house, too. I have a say in this, so hand me the keys.” He held his hand out and made a gimme gesture wit
h his fingers.
Blake squirmed on his chair and took his keys from his jeans pocket. He let them fall on Eli’s palm and Eli put them away in his own pocket. He looked at Corbin. “When do you want to go?”
Corbin shrugged again.
“Right. Did Kameron say when you’re starting school?”
“Monday.”
“Did he say anything else?”
“Just that he made sure I’ll be with you in every class.”
“Great. Tomorrow is Saturday. We can go buy you what you need at the mall and you can meet my friends. Maybe we can spend the afternoon with them.”
Blake cleared his throat. “I’d like to take you out tomorrow evening. If it’s okay with you.”
Eli widened his eyes. “On a date?”
Blake looked like he wanted to disappear, but he still answered. “Yes, on a date. Nothing fancy, unless you want to. But I was thinking about a movie and pizza, if it’s all right with you.”
“Perfect.” Eli leaned sideways and kissed Blake’s cheek. His dad made retching sounds and Eli rolled his eyes at him. “Get used to it, Dad.”
They all helped cleaning up after dinner and Corbin disappeared into his room after Eli made sure he had everything he needed for now. Eli could understand why he needed some time alone—he was in a new house, living with people he hardly knew, and all his life was changing, fast. God knew Eli would have been a mess in Corbin’s place. But he hoped he could show Corbin life could be fun, and he knew just who he needed to do that.
He left Blake, Craig, and his dad in the living room and went to his room call Jago. He was just hanging up when someone knocked on his door. “Come in.”
Blake entered and closed the door behind himself. “Do you have to do your homework? I can come back later.”
“I can work on it tomorrow morning. I’m almost done anyway. Come on.”
Blake sat on the bed next to Eli and Eli didn’t lose time. He swung his leg up and straddled Blake, and this time Blake didn’t protest. He did huff a bit, but Eli could tell he wasn’t annoyed.
“You know your father will be knocking at the door in about five minutes.”
“Yeah. I wonder how he knows, though. Do you think he has a micro spy in here or something?”
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