Nuallan

by Catherine Lievens

  “Why would we attack any of you?” Kameron asked. “We never did. Why should we start now that you know about us? We’ve lived here all our lives. The only thing we want to do is continue living here in peace.”

  * * * *

  Nuallan stood at the back of the room, his side plastered against Alex’s. He shouldn’t have come. He wasn’t even sure why he had, except to get Alex to stop pushing him about his brother and his tribe.

  At least the people in the room with him were either human or pack members. No one would run to Titus. Still, Nuallan wasn’t sure why Alex had wanted him to come. Gillham wasn’t his home. Why would he care about how people reacted to the news that a large group of shifters lived there with them?

  “How many of you are there in town?” a woman with a kid sitting on her lap asked.

  “Quite a few,” Kameron answered. “Gilham is home to our pack.”

  “Pack? Like real wolves?” a teenager asked.

  “Yes. Shifters tend to live in groups, especially wolves.”

  “So there’s an alpha?”

  Kameron smiled at the girl. “There is.”

  “You’re the alpha.”

  “I am, yes. That’s why I’m the one speaking here today.”

  “What does that even mean?” Hank asked. Nuallan could tell he’d give Kameron problems just by looking at him, and he obviously wasn’t the only one. The sheriff inched closer, and even though he didn’t say anything, it was enough to make the guy shut up. Nuallan had no doubts it wouldn’t last long.

  “It means that I’m the one in charge of the pack. Think of me as the mayor, or the sheriff. I’m the one who makes the decisions and who makes sure every pack member behaves like they should.”

  Nuallan knew it was more complicated than that, but he guessed the people around him needed to take things slow. They didn’t need to know about the entire paranormal world. They’d probably freak out if they did, although Nuallan couldn’t imagine it would remain a secret for much longer, not now that people knew. Some of them were bound to start looking for more answers than Kameron was ready to give, and some would find them.

  He looked around, wondering who in the room wouldn’t be all right with shifters living in their town. Would they try to attack the pack? To run everyone out of Gillham?

  Nuallan’s gaze stopped on a man leaning against the wall, and he stopped breathing.

  “What’s wrong?” Alex asked as he leaned closer to Nuallan.

  Nuallan shook his head, but Alex wasn’t so easily dissuaded.

  “Tell me. You’re pale and your eyes are huge. What’s wrong? Is there someone here who wants to hurt you?” Alex straightened and looked around. “Is it that guy over there? The one with the leather jacket?”

  Nuallan couldn’t answer. He also couldn’t look away from his mate, who was indeed wearing a leather jacket. He hadn’t noticed Nuallan yet, but then he was probably human. Even if he did notice Nuallan, he probably wouldn’t react to him.

  That was good.

  There was no way Nuallan could be with his mate, not right now, not until he was free of Titus. If he tried to get closer to his mate now, he’d just be someone else Titus could hurt to get to Nuallan. Nuallan couldn’t allow his mate or anyone else to be hurt because of him.

  Alex pushed away from the wall they were leaning on and stalked toward Nuallan’s mate before Nuallan could do anything.

  He wanted to go after Alex and tell him to stop, but he was frozen in place now that Alex wasn’t next to him.

  When Alex reached Nuallan’s mate, he leaned forward to talk to him. At least he wasn’t making a scene. Nuallan’s mate looked startled, and when Alex started to get agitated, Nuallan shook his head. He had to stop this. He didn’t want his mate to see him.

  But it was too late. Alex pointed toward Nuallan, and Nuallan’s mate shook his head. He said something to Alex, and Alex narrowed his eyes.

  He wouldn’t hurt Nuallan’s mate without having the proof the man had done something, but Nuallan was still scared. He needed to do something, though.

  He pushed away from the wall and made his way toward Alex. He swallowed and tried to dry his hands on his thighs, but it was a lost cause. He was too nervous to be able to calm down.

  When Nuallan got there, he wrapped his hand around Alex’s arm and tried to pull him away. Alex turned. “Is this the guy who scared you?” he asked.

  Nuallan shook his head. “He didn’t scare me.”

  “You sure look like he did.”

  Before Nuallan could insist or try to drag Alex away, his mate stepped around Alex to look at him. “Why did I scare you? I don’t even know you,” he said.

  Nuallan couldn’t look away. God, his mate was gorgeous. He was tall and his shoulders were wide, and Nuallan knew he’d feel safe with him even though he was human. He wanted to step into the man’s arms, but instead he shook his head and tried to pull Alex away. “Let’s go.”

  “Not before you tell me what’s happening.”

  Of course Alex would be stubborn when Nuallan least wanted him to. “I’ll tell you outside, okay? Don’t make a scene. Kameron will have a hard enough time as it is.”

  Alex stared at him for a few seconds before nodding. “Fine, let’s go outside, but I expect you to give me a good explanation for this, Nu. You’ve been keeping too much hidden from me.”

  Nuallan could tell Alex about his mate. Alex probably wouldn’t understand why Nuallan would stay away from the man, but he didn’t have to. Hopefully telling him about his mate would keep Alex off Nuallan’s back for a little while longer, though. Nuallan knew Alex would continue to push until Nuallan gave him answers. He knew he couldn’t keep everything hidden forever, but he needed to for now.

  He nodded. “Let’s go.”

  Alex walked past him, grabbing his hand and pulling him along. Nuallan went willingly, giving his mate one last glance. He wouldn’t go looking for the man, so this was probably the last time he’d see him. He wished things were different, but they weren’t.

  Nuallan stumbled, and Alex kept him upright. They were attracting a few glances, and Nuallan hated it. He finally looked away from his mate, and he and Alex exited the town hall.

  He wasn’t surprised when Alex dragged him outside. It wasn’t snowing, but it was cold, and Nuallan wanted to go back to his cell. There he was safe. Everyone was safer when he was in there.

  Alex stopped by his car and turned to look at Nuallan. “Now tell me what’s happening and who that guy is.”

  “I don’t know who he is,” Nuallan tried.

  “Bullshit.” Alex’s tone was harsh, and Nuallan stepped back. He knew Alex wouldn’t hurt him, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t scared sometimes.

  Alex noticed it and sighed. “Sorry. You know I’d never hurt you, right?”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “It’s just... you’re keeping secrets, and it’s driving me crazy. I want to help you, but you’re not letting me, and I don’t like it.”

  “I know. That guy, he’s—”

  “Hey, everything okay?” someone asked.

  Nuallan turned and found himself face to face with his mate. The man had followed them outside, and Nuallan couldn’t understand why.

  “What do you want?” Alex asked. He was still holding Nuallan’s arm, and he gently pushed Nuallan behind his back, as if to protect him.

  Nuallan’s mate arched a brow at the action. “You were the one who came up to me and asked me what I’d done to your friend.”

  “Why did you follow us outside?”

  Nuallan’s mate looked at how Alex stood in front of Nuallan. “I wanted to make sure everyone was okay. You seemed rather angry.”

  Nuallan gaped. His mate thought Alex would hurt him?

  Alex shook his head. “We’re fine. We were talking, so if you don’t mind...”

  Nuallan’s mate seemed to mind. “Are you sure everything is fine?”

&n
bsp; “Yeah. You can leave.”

  Nuallan’s mate looked at Nuallan again. “Are you all right?” he asked. It was obvious he was asking Nuallan this time, and Alex tensed.

  Nuallan pressed a palm against Alex’s back and looked at his mate. “I’m fine.”

  * * * *

  Ethan wasn’t sure he believed the pretty man. He’d noticed him in the town hall—how could he not have? The man was beautiful, but that wasn’t the only thing that had called out to Ethan. There was something in the man’s eyes, emotions Ethan recognized and wanted to soothe. The man was in pain. Not physical pain as far as Ethan was able to tell, but something deeper.

  But the pretty man had said he was fine, and even though the other guy seemed like a douche, Pretty Man didn’t seem afraid of him. It gave Ethan no reasons to stay, even though he wanted to. He was glad Pretty Man was fine, though.

  He slowly nodded. “All right. I’m sorry I stuck my nose in something that wasn’t my business.”

  “Damn right you did,” the big guy said.

  Pretty Man slapped his friend’s back. “Don’t be rude.”

  Ethan saw the surprise in Big Guy’s eyes before the man turned around to face Pretty Man. “I don’t get you, Nu. You usually hide from the world, but right now I’m trying to help you do just that, and you’re asking me not to be rude?”

  Ethan wasn’t sure what kind of name Nu was, but at least he had a name now. Pretty Man suited Nu just fine, but Ethan couldn’t continue calling him that, even if he’d been doing so only in his head.

  “Everything all right?” someone asked.

  Ethan turned to smile at Mal and his boyfriend. “Yeah, don’t worry. I’m leaving.”

  Mal arched a brow. “Why? Did we interrupt something?” His gaze slid from Big Guy to Nu and then widened slightly. “Hey, Nuallan. I’m surprised to see you here.”

  So Nu was the short version of Nuallan. It wasn’t a name Ethan had ever heard, but he liked both, and he could definitely imagine himself saying them in bed, his body pressed against Nuallan’s.

  He shook his head. He really shouldn’t be thinking that kind of thing about a guy he’d just met and who obviously had problems. He didn’t even know if Nuallan was gay or bisexual, although he thought he might be. The way Nuallan looked at him made it pretty obvious, but Ethan wasn’t one to jump to conclusions hastily.

  Nuallan shrugged. “Alex forced me.”

  Forced him? Ethan didn’t like that at all. “Are you sure you’re fine?” he asked again.

  Alex—Big Guy had to be Alex—looked at Ethan like he’d offended him. “I didn’t force him with—with force, asshole. I just think Nuallan needs to go out more, and this seemed like the perfect occasion.”

  Mal snorted. “Perfect occasion? The day Kameron comes out as a shifter to the entire town, dragging you along with him?”

  Alex shrugged. “Why not? It’s not like Nuallan wants to go out to have fun.”

  Ethan really wanted to know the story there, but it wasn’t his place to ask. He nodded at Mal instead. “Right, so these are obviously your friends. I’m sorry I intervened when it wasn’t needed. See you at the coffee shop.” Ethan turned and started walking away, half-hoping someone would stop him, that Nuallan would.

  He could still hear the guys talking, even though he couldn’t hear what they were saying. He wondered if they were talking about what Kameron Rhett had said during the meeting. Ethan had left before the man was done talking, but he didn’t think there was anything else he needed to hear. Now he knew for sure that shifters existed. He also knew they weren’t dangerous, at least not to people who didn’t attack them.

  He couldn’t help but wonder which ones of his friends were shifters. He was pretty sure Mal was, since he lived in the same area as Kameron did, and Mal’s boyfriend, Will, was probably a shifter too. Some of Mal’s friends were bound to be shifters. Maybe not all of them, but some. There was that guy who always came in with the same two guys, to the point that Ethan wondered if he was dating both of them. There was a blond guy who was always bouncing around, and his boyfriend.

  Who was a shifter and who wasn’t? It was going to drive Ethan crazy, and he wished he could ask someone. Maybe Mal wouldn’t mind answering a few questions the next time Ethan saw him.

  “Wait.”

  Ethan froze, because that was Nuallan’s voice. He hadn’t expected Nuallan to follow him, not with the way Alex had been standing in front of him. He’d hoped it would happen, but he hadn’t expected it.

  When Ethan turned around, Nuallan was standing close to him, his cheeks flushed and his eyes focused on the ground. Alex, Mal, and Will were standing not too far away, furiously whispering. Well, Will was silent and looked amused, but Mal and Alex looked like they were fighting and trying very hard not to let it show.

  “Yes?”

  Nuallan looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there, and Ethan didn’t understand it. Why had he run after Ethan if he hadn’t wanted to? “I just...”

  When Nuallan didn’t continue, Ethan stepped toward him. He expected Nuallan to move back, but to Ethan’s surprise, he didn’t. He swallowed hard enough that Ethan noticed it and looked up at Ethan.

  “I just wanted to know if I could see you again, or get your number,” Nuallan said in a rush. “If you’d like that, of course. If you don’t, then it’s fine with me. Actually, you probably shouldn’t give me your number. I wouldn’t be any good for you. Besides, I don’t even know if you like guys, or me. I’m probably not your type or something.”

  The babbling was amusing, but Ethan didn’t want Nuallan to think he didn’t want him. He did, more than a lot of things. “I can give you my number if you want it.”

  Nuallan snapped his mouth shut and stared. “Really?”

  Ethan smiled. “Yes. I’d like you to call me if you feel like it. Maybe we can set up a date?”

  Nuallan nodded, but his voice said something else. “We shouldn’t.”

  “Why not? Is Alex your boyfriend?”

  Nuallan huffed. “Why does everyone want to know that?”

  Ethan looked at Alex. He wouldn’t blame Nuallan if he preferred the other guy. Alex was tall and had broad shoulders. He was young, younger than Ethan, and he was more muscled and in better shape.

  Ethan wasn’t bad looking, but he knew he was plain. Brown hair that was already starting to go white at the temples, brown eyes. Average height. He used to have muscles, though not as many as Alex obviously had, but he’d let himself go. It had been easy to do and blame it on not having enough time.

  “He obviously cares for you,” Ethan said, still looking at Alex.

  “Well yeah, he does. He’s my friend.”

  “Not your boyfriend?”

  “No.”

  “So he’s not the reason why you seem torn over going on a date with me?”

  Nuallan sighed. “No, he’s not the reason why. You should probably know about me before we do, and I really shouldn’t be seen around.”

  Ethan frowned. “Shouldn’t be seen? Are you on the run?”

  “You could say that.”

  “From the law?”

  Nuallan shook his head. His hair moved around his face, and Ethan wanted to push it back. “Not from the law, but I think I’d rather be on the run from them.”

  “You don’t have to go out with me if you don’t want to.”

  Nuallan’s eyes were wide and damp looking when he looked up at Ethan. “But I want to. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more than to be with you. It would put you in danger, though. You and my brother. I can’t allow that, no matter how much I want you.”

  That was a little intense for someone Ethan had met just a few minutes before, but he couldn’t deny he wanted Nuallan just as much as Nuallan seemed to want him. He didn’t understand why or how it was possible, but he didn’t care much. This level of need, of want, wasn’t something one encountered every day, or at least, it wasn’
t something he’d ever felt. The last thing he wanted was to step away.

  He didn’t know why he wanted Nuallan, but he wanted him, and if Nuallan wanted him back, Ethan would do whatever it took to be with him.

  Chapter Two

  This was a bad idea and Nuallan knew it. Then why couldn’t he seem to be able to resist? Why couldn’t he stay away from Ethan?

  He knew mates could keep their distance. He’d seen it done, and even though he knew it would hurt, he could do it. Ethan couldn’t feel the pull as strongly as Nuallan did, since he was human. He’d probably be able to go on without too many problems, find another man and be happy.

  But Nuallan wanted him. This was the one time he should be selfless, but he was being selfish instead. He couldn’t afford to be. Neriah needed Nuallan to be dead, or at least locked up. Nuallan should never have left his cell. He should never have listened to Alex.

  He shook his head, and Ethan reached for him. “Nuallan?”

  Nuallan took a step backward, then another. He turned around and ran back to where Alex was standing with Mal and Will. Alex looked grim while Mal and Will looked surprised. Nuallan didn’t even have to tell Alex that he needed to go home. Alex nodded at him and gently took his arm, steering him toward the car.

  Nuallan climbed into it and buckled himself in before daring to give Ethan one last glance. It would probably be the last time he saw his mate. Nuallan wasn’t going to leave his cell again. Alex would have to drag him out.

  Alex drove away, and Nuallan stared at Ethan until he couldn’t anymore. Ethan looked stunned, and he was looking back at Nuallan. He didn’t try to stop Nuallan, and Nuallan was both glad and dismayed.

  He wanted his mate to fight for him even though he knew there was no way he could put Ethan in danger. He wanted his mate to want to be with him so much he wouldn’t care about the danger. He wanted his mate to come after him, to force him to accept their relationship even though it would be better for both of them to be apart.