by Belle Harper
I was nervous, but I didn’t know why. I had thought Lexi would want to go to Port Willow, maybe eat down there, but instead, she asked to go to Port Angeles. Everyone said it was fine, that we were Pack Kiba, and if there was a problem with any packs down there, to call and they would come. There were truces with other packs. They told us to have fun and relax, but that was hard to do when you were alone in a car with the love of your life.
“What kind of food do you like?” she asked, her bare feet on the dashboard, and I smiled to myself. Galen had given me the keys to his car, but I didn’t think he would like to know that she was putting her feet on the dashboard his car. It was a nice car, and one I could get used to driving, if he let me. He had two of them, he couldn’t drive them both.
“Um…I never really thought too much on it. I like spicy foods.” I could see her in the corner of my eye nodding to herself. She had her phone out and was typing on it. I wondered if she was talking to the others, since I wasn’t the best at conversing. I was probably boring her.
“Okay, I found a place, then we can maybe wander around. See the sights? I never got a chance the last time I was here…since a dog sniffed me out before I got far.” I nodded and smiled.
“Sounds like a great day to me. Just show me the way.”
I felt better knowing she was looking up a place to eat, not chatting to the guys. That she was finding something I liked. She was doing something special for me.
I shouldn’t have felt jealous, but I knew this was a feeling I would have to deal with over time. I was already starting to feel the shift in the relationship we had. It was just a little harder not to want more alone time with Lexi.
I didn’t feel jealous of her giving her kisses to the others. In fact, I’d loved when Ranger was involved yesterday. I didn’t know much of what I was doing. My only knowledge came from watching porn, which wasn’t helpful when it came to the real thing. I had asked him for some tips and what to do. I’d felt so stupid when the words had come out of my mouth, but he told me. Then when she agreed to go with us somewhere private, I was so nervous. My hands had been shaking, but with Ranger there we were able to get her off. And that was the best feeling that I couldn’t wait to do again.
We ended up at this little place called Lotus bistro, which served Thai food. I’d never eaten much of this in the past, but I did say I liked spicy food and I could smell the spices as soon as we entered. We chose to eat outside, since it was a nice day, though a little mild, but at least it wasn’t raining.
“So I’ve been thinking, and I didn’t know how you would feel about it…” Lexi placed her elbow on the table, and her hand cupped her face as she leaned closer to me. “But I want to get you a gift. Just something small.”
I shook my head. “You don’t have to do that.” She reached across the table and took my hands, and I took a deep breath. She wanted to get me a gift, but… “You are my gift,” I told her, and it was true. She was my gift, and might very well be my guardian angel. I liked that theory, and it made sense in some ways, but there was so many other possible reasons why Lexi smelled so good, could heal vampires…could warm them up and hear their thoughts. I hoped that Pack Bardoul would find answers soon, so we knew how to protect her better.
“Let’s get green curry. I have always wanted to try it,” Lexi said, and I settled back a little in my chair as we ordered. Lexi filled in all the quiet moments, talking about books she’d read, how she felt about graduation and college. All the normal things you would talk about on a date, even though I had never been on one. This was my first, and I loved every moment of it.
My wolf was content, and there was happy feeling in my chest. After lunch, I took her hand in mine and we went for a stroll along the Olympic Discovery trail. There were other couples out, families, and the day was just so perfect.
“Let’s take a photo, now I have a camera phone,” Lexi said, and I chuckled as she dragged me towards a bench and pulled me down beside her. I watched as she struggled to find the selfie camera.
“Here, I’ll show you.” I took it from her and noticed her hands were a little cold as I flipped the camera and pulled her to my side.
“Smile,” she said through her teeth as she gave one huge, beautiful grin. I took a few photos before I turned and kissed her cheek and took another. She turned and kissed me, and I took another before dropping my hand and kissing her more deeply.
“You taste like green curry,” she said through a laugh, and I didn’t know it was possible to smile this much. Then she pulled me back for another kiss.
“No, you taste like green curry…but I like it.” I told her as I reached for her again, tasting her, breathing in the fresh sea air and hearing nothing but the deep breathing of my mate as I made out with her.
Suddenly, I could smell a shifter nearby, so I pulled away from Lexi and searched the area. I couldn’t see them, but I could smell them. They could just be passing by, but I didn’t like it. The smell… I took a deep breath as Lexi held onto me, sensing the change in me. It was a familiar scent, and that had my wolf rising from deep inside me. I let out a low growl that only they could hear.
“Is it a bear shifter?” Lexi whispered as she glanced around. I could smell the fear coming from her, causing an overwhelming need to protect her and working up my wolf. I was shaking, just trying to keep control.
“We need to leave. Now.” I could hear a deep chuckle from far away, but he knew I was here. Knew about Lexi. He would’ve been able to smell her from there.
My uncle had just found me. Just like he said he would.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lexi
The drive back felt like it took longer than it should have, even though Raff didn’t slow down at all. In fact, he was speeding the whole way back. He’d called the others once we were in the car and on our way back to tell them that trouble was in Port Angeles.
So I guessed that meant Raff’s birthday dinner with all four of them was now not happening. At least, not away from the Lovell’s house. I’d texted Grayson earlier that morning, asking if he could make a cake, and he was more than happy to as he felt guilty missing Raff’s birthday also. I was glad I had arranged that at least, I guessed we’d just be blowing out the candles here instead of the restaurant.
When we got to the gate of the Lovell mansion—’cause that’s what it was, not a house—it was Nash and Elijah who were at the gate. I shrunk down a little, because one, Nash, and two, Elijah was Callum’s older brother. I still had this horrible feeling that he wasn’t happy with me, even though it was me who was bit while doing nothing to provoke it. Just, I didn’t know him well, so I wasn’t sure what he thought of me. The last thing I wanted was another asshole on my hands.
Raff rolled down the window, and Nash put his big hand on the windowsill as he leaned in, then he looked me and Raff over.
“Galen said to meet at his place.” Raff just nodded, then we drove through and parked outside Galen’s place. I was glad we were here, since I wasn’t in the mood to see Alaric or anyone else.
There were so many men here, older ones that I had never really seen before. I assumed they were the fathers of most these guys. I guessed they were going in for a meeting or something and that was why we were going to Galen’s place.
“Lex, holy shit, babe.” As soon as I stepped through the door, Ranger had picked me up and spun me around, then he dropped me and looked me over like I was injured. I swatted his arm.
“I’m fine. I didn’t know what was going on until we were in the car.” Yeah, Raff didn’t tell me one of his uncles had spotted us until we were on our way back. I remembered that day in the office, when his uncle had said that Raff belonged to them and that he would kill Shelly, then Raff had said he would come back to them. He’d told them he would return… He probably meant when he turned eighteen, which he was now.
Shit, Shelly. His uncle could have hurt her to find where he was. That had to be the reason he found him—wait, she was a vampi
re. She wouldn’t have done that. They were evenly matched, at least. Plus, she had that shifter cop, Keene, who she was super cozy with… I wondered if she had Stoker, his cop partner too? Huh, I guessed in some ways she was very protected.
At least she’d been right—this was where I belonged. Where we belonged.
Raff was pacing, Maverick was standing awkwardly in the kitchen, and Galen was in the basement. If this wasn’t such a stressful situation, I would make a joke or go somewhere less tense. And this was…tense.
“Okay, everyone, sit down. My house is safe to talk in, and we all need to talk.”
Galen was up and beside me before I could even blink. My heart skipped a beat, and not in a good way. That was scary as hell when he moved that fast. His hands hovered over me, looking for injures just like Ranger had.
“I’m fine. But there is some bad shit happening out there, and we need to get this,” I gestured to everyone in the room, “worked out before anything else can go forward.”
There were some puzzled looks from Ranger and Raff, but Galen knew what I meant. He looked to Maverick, who was now pacing in the kitchen with his hands in his shorts’ pockets, looking so wounded. He needed this, even if it was going to be hard to talk about.
“If we’re all going to be together, I don’t want this weird awkward stuff. We all need to work out our differences. It’s important. I’m not asking for you to spill all your secrets. That’s not what I am saying. I just need us to be together as one, and that we all trust each other fully.
“Now that Galen is part of this, more so than before, we need to talk. We need to work out what happened between Galen…and Maverick. And then all five of us can grab a bunch of food, veg out, and watch some terrible movies. We’ll even let Ranger pick them.”
I got a whoop from Ranger, but the others just sat and stared at me, each other, then me again.
“I guess I’ll go first? Since I’m the oldest.” Galen stood up. Ranger snorted at that, and I rolled my eyes. God, for one minute, could he just behave himself? I pinned him with a glare, and he stopped.
“I want to say that I care for you all. I never thought I would meet someone as special as Lexi. I never thought anything like this could be in the cards. This is new for me, and it may take a little time to get completely used to it. Not only did I get the girl, I got her three shifter mates. Vampires don’t have packmates like you do, but I’m glad that the ones I have now are you three.” Ranger snorted again, and I grumbled at him under my breath to stop it.
“I’m sorry, it was just a little funny. I’ve been torturing poor Galen here for years, and the fact that we ended up mates to the same gorgeous girl is just a little funny. That was all. But I’m glad he’s here. The way you woke up this morning, I could feel it when you knew he was there.
“I guess what I’m saying is, Galen…you complete us.” Ranger put his hand on his heart. I thought he was shit stirring and joking around at this important time, but he stood up and walked towards Galen, then he wrapped his big arms around him and…hugged him.
“Now that’s over, we know Raff totally likes you being here with us too, Galen. But I know the real discussion is not something Raff and I can help with. It’s something for the three of you, and I’m happy as long as you all are.
“Mav, I love you. I know you well enough to know that what happened and what was said on Saturday is affecting you. You all need to talk about it, and now is the best time.”
Raff stood up beside Ranger, and the two of them smiled and nodded as they walked out the door, Raff calling out that Ranger wasn’t picking the movie.
The silence in the room was deafening. I was just surprised that Ranger said something so… mature. But when no one said anything, it was a like stand-off. I’d thought Maverick was a little more…well, like me. The type to say it like it was. He had no issues telling me to leave Kiba, but he couldn’t stand in front of the guy he had a crush on and tell him?
I cleared my throat.
“Let’s all take a seat here on the sofa.” I took a seat in the middle, in hopes that they might talk more if I was there…like a shield. Because if they couldn’t fix this, then this relationship was doomed before we even began.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Galen
I’d been waiting for this, and I was glad we were doing it now. I had a feeling that Rafferty’s uncle wasn’t just a once off, that something bigger was going on. When Lexi and Raff were on their way back, I’d had a visitor, but I hadn’t told them. I didn’t want to worry them at all, but I knew this was somehow linked.
My friend Benedict, he was dying. I hadn’t spoken to him for a few weeks, but in that time, he’d met a woman and got attacked by the Russet pack.
Raffety’s old pack.
She’d come here to tell me that Ben had tried to call me and that she had tried to call as well. I’d been so distracted that I had missed them and had intended to call him back, but it slipped my mind.
He was dying and had wanted to see me, but at this point, he was past talking. Plus with the threat here, I couldn’t leave. As much as I wanted to visit Ben, there was no way I would leave Lexi unprotected. So I gave her a vial of Lexi’s blood. It had cured me…more than it should, so a small vial should’ve been enough. I was still waiting still for the call, though it would be nighttime before I found out if it had worked. I truly hoped it did.
Ben, my long-time friend, had found love, only for it to be ripped away too soon. It just showed how quickly your life could be over. I had just found my love, and I didn’t want anything stopping us from all being happy. Maverick…he was one of a kind, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t attracted to him. I just…well, I had never been with a shifter before, and I should’ve spoken to him sooner.
“Okay, let’s just start off by saying this is a safe place to express our feelings,” Lexi said, facing him. She took his hands and brought them to her lips, then she kissed his knuckles.
When his eyes locked with mine, I could see the swirl of emotion in them. I knew he liked guys as much as girls, but he had kept that secret from so many. It was out in the open on Saturday night when he thought he was losing me.
“I love you,” he whispered, and I could see tears in eyes as he hugged Lexi tight. My heart felt full and overflowing with emotions. This was perfect, this was real, and I knew I would remember this moment for all of time.
“I love you,” she whispered back, and I could hear the emotion in her voice.
They kissed, and I watched. It was raw, real…and it made me realize how badly I needed that—what they had now. I watched them as the clock ticked on, until Maverick’s eyes found mine. Then it was on. The intensity of his eyes, the way he bit Lexi’s lower lip, then licked it and kissed it better, and the whole time, he watched me… It all turned me on, my cock hard at the sight of them together. I couldn’t look away, and when I felt a hand on my knee, skating up my thigh, I sucked in a breath.
“This isn’t talking,” I mentioned to them, and I could hear Lexi chuckle. Her head lolled back, and she smiled up at me, which made me chuckle.
“Sometimes, actions speak louder than words, Mr. Donovani.” I bit my lower lip and growled at her.
“You are a fucking tease…and I love it.” I watched her eyes, and the amber in them was glowing as she licked her lips. Maverick didn’t let her go as I bent down and took her mouth, my tongue plunging deep, showing her how much I loved her teasing. Her hand curled around my neck as she pulled me closer, taking more from me, and her moans of pleasure went straight to my cock. I shifted, the fabric of my jeans constricting.
“I don’t tease, Galen. I know what I want, and I want you…and Maverick. And Ranger and Rafferty. You’re all mine, and we need this to work. If it doesn’t, then that’s it.”
She was smart and wise beyond her years. No seventeen-year-old spoke like this, yet none had been through what she had and now had four mates vying for her attention.
“I want th
is to work. It will. Maverick and I will work this out. Whatever this is. I promise,” I told her, then looked over to him, his eyes swirling. He’d never been so out of control. Did he not want me? Did he regret what he said?
I reached over and pulled his tee, he held fast, his eyes flaring and his breathing heavier.
“Nothing has to happen,” I explained to Mav. “We’re with Lexi, and I’m so blessed to share her with you. If something more was to happen, know that I won’t pull away from you. Don’t pull away from Lexi. You can come speak to me. Nothing has changed that, Maverick.” I could tell he was struggling with emotions he probably didn’t yet understand.
This was new to me and to him. Fuck, to all of us. There were some shifters that had brothers as packmates, but there weren’t many, and I already felt that Raff and Ranger were happy to do things with Lexi together. Since the pool incident…I’d noticed that Maverick and I had paired off the same way, but I didn’t want him to be afraid of me.
“I…I don’t know what I want. How far I want to go…” he said, and I nodded as I let go of his tee. He ran his hand down it a few times to straighten it out. His mouth tilted up in a crooked smile as he let out a deep breath. “Fuck, I don’t know if I’m gonna regret this.” I was puzzled by that, but then he pulled Lexi up and kissed her, hard.
His hand reached out and took my sweater in his fist. I looked down and noticed his knuckles were almost white as he trembled. He pulled and I went, my back flush to Lexi’s, then I swept her silky hair to the side and kissed her neck, under her ear… I felt a hand snake up the back of my head, ruffling my hair and holding tight. At first, I thought it was Lexi, but it was too big… My eyes opened wide as Maverick kissed and licked Lexi where I just had. Her hands snaking up my side, I watched as she held him tightly.