by Maggie Walsh
“But what excuse would we use?” Sauli asked, nervous.
Taavi stared over his shoulder for a moment and Sauli could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Taavi then smiled again and met his gaze. “I heard Marlo talking to Alpha Dell about getting some kind of special curtains to help the vampire. They were probably talking about Oberon. With you being a quilter, maybe we can use that as an excuse. We can tell Marlo we heard he was looking for a specific type of curtain and you would be willing to help out and come up with something.”
Joy and excitement filled Sauli and he hugged Taavi again. “You’re a genius, Taavi. I think that’s a great idea. And if it’s something to help the man who may be our other, then even better. When should we go?”
Taavi looked at the clock. “It’s almost four now and I’m sure Marlo is still working. Why don’t we go see him at his office now, so it doesn’t look too obvious, then maybe suggest going over to the house to take measurements for the curtains?”
Sauli giggled, then kissed Taavi. “You are so damn smart. I like it. Let me get a few things together in my bag, so it looks good, and we’ll head out.”
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Taavi
“Oh my Gods, this is so perfect,” Marlo said, as he led them into his house. “With Oberon being a vampire, you know the sunlight is not his friend. Not that the sun is the issue right now with it being the dark season, but it has his internal clock all wonky and the poor man is having so much trouble sleeping. It’s getting so bad that Dell and Fane think it may be a good idea to send him back to Julius’s nest for the winter.”
Taavi’s heart stopped when he heard Oberon might be leaving. “You think he’ll move back down there?”
He felt Sauli stiffen beside him right before Sauli grabbed his hand and squeezed. Taavi could feel Sauli’s stress and the shiver that raced through him.
Marlo shook his head, as he replied, “No. I don’t think it would be permanent. He and my Fane are best friends and neither of them would do good without the other. I think even going back to New Orleans for the winter would be too much for them. Come on and I’ll show you to Oberon’s room. He’s not home right now so we won’t be bothering him.”
“Where is he?” Sauli asked, his excitement evident.
Marlo stopped at the door he was showing them to and turned to look at him and gave Sauli a strange look. “Um... he headed over to Ridge’s pack a few days ago to help them with something for a few new paranormals that are arriving there soon, but he should be back sometime today. Why? Was there something you needed to ask him?”
Taavi could sense the tension and embarrassment that was filling Sauli and jumped in. “It would probably be a good thing to find out what he wants from these curtains. You know, what would help him the most to deal with living here.”
“Y-yeah. If blackout curtains aren’t what he really needs right now, then I’m not sure what will. Maybe bright colors to try to fool the brain into thinking it was daytime?” Sauli asked, covering up his embarrassment.
Marlo nodded, then opened the door and stepped into the bedroom. Once they were inside and he and Sauli were looking around at Oberon’s domain, which didn’t have much besides a queen bed, a dresser and a nightstand, Marlo closed the door behind them and cleared his throat, getting their attention.
“Okay, guys, tell me what’s really going on,” Marlo insisted, as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Taavi and Sauli looked to one another, then back to Marlo. They both had that deer in the headlights look, like they had been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. “Um... we... what?” Taavi said, and at the same time Sauli replied, “What do you mean?”
Marlo rolled his eyes very dramatically and huffed, then he dropped his arms to his sides. “Don’t try to bullshit me, guys, I know something is up. Sauli here has been so wound tight since we got here that I’m surprised he’s not spinning around on his head like a top by now. And you Taavi, I can feel the discomfort rolling off you, like you’ve just been caught lying and are about to go to the principal's office. I’ve known you my whole life, Tav and I have to tell you, you really suck at lying.”
“I’m not lying. What are you talking about?” Taavi asked, all indignant as he crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Marlo.
Marlo just giggled and shook his head. “Yeah? Try again. Do you really want to help, or are you just curious to meet a vampire? Or... are you afraid to meet a vampire?” Marlo asked, as he narrowed his eyes and looked between them.
Sauli jumped as he quickly replied, “No! I mean... no. We’re not afraid to meet him. Yes, we want to help.”
Marlo gave them a knowing smirk. “I’m sure you do, because I happen to know you are both wonderful people, but it’s either you’re curious about a vampire, because you’ve never met one before, or…” Marlo stopped and just stared at them, as if trying to figure something out. After a few minutes he smiled. “You’re interested in him, aren’t you?”
There was something about the way Marlo said it that clued Taavi in that Marlo was being just as devious as they thought they were being. Marlo was no fool and pretty much knew everything going on in the York pack.
“Now who’s lying?” Taavi accused.
Marlo gave him an innocent look but they both knew it was bullshit. Suddenly they both burst out laughing as Sauli just looked between them like they had lost their minds.
“What? What did I miss?” Sauli asked.
Taavi got himself under control, then turned and hugged Sauli to his chest and kissed his head. “Marlo’s onto us. He already knew what was up when we first stepped into his office. I told you, I think he’s psychic.”
Marlo chuckled. “Not psychic. As I said, my mate is Oberon’s best friend. Then there is the fact that I live with the man. Although Fane would never disrespect Oberon or his privacy, Fane has confided in me that Oberon is struggling with something right now, and he did mention something about Legion. Now the two of you show up all innocent, like I would believe that when it comes to you. So, what is it, guys?”
Taavi sighed and looked at Sauli, who just shrugged, then he looked back to Marlo. “Our Master wants Oberon. I mean, he really wants Oberon. Legion thinks Oberon is supposed to be with us. He has this theory that something big is about to happen in our world and that’s why all these mates are suddenly popping up. Then with Tug, Raiden, and Alex’s true mating out of the blue even though they have all known each other, well, Raiden and Alex didn’t know each other, but you know what I mean. Anyway, Legion thinks that we may be like them and have another person out there that is our true mate and will bring us all together.”
“And he thinks that’s Oberon,” Marlo stated in a whisper.
“Yeah, but neither of us have even met the man, so we were hoping that if we could offer Sauli’s help with those curtains you were talking to Dell about, that maybe we could meet him and see if we have the same feelings that Legion has,” Taavi replied.
“And Legion is sure he feels this... what... connection?” Marlo asked.
“Yes. I’ve never seen him so positive about something before. He’s like obsessed with it,” Sauli offered.
“And what about you two? How do you feel about some new guy coming into what you already have?” Marlo asked.
Taavi and Sauli both smiled brightly. “We both want him too. We think Legion is right and we believe in him. If Oberon is supposed to be with us, whether he’s that last person to bring us together, or another one that is a part of us and there is still another out there, then we want him with us. If Legion’s right, and we think he is, then Oberon belongs with us,” Taavi insisted.
“Who are you?” A deep voice came from the doorway and they all turned to see who it was.
Taavi wanted to swallow his tongue and climb the sexy man all at the same time. Fuck the man was big. Not as big as Legion’s six foot two, and certainly not anywhere near their Alpha’s size, but this guy was pretty close to Legion�
�s size. He was about six feet tall and maybe two hundred pounds of all hard muscles, with beautiful long white hair that reached his ass and the most stunning icy blue eyes and perfect pale skin. Taavi really did just want to lick the guy all over. The little whimper he heard coming from Sauli confirmed to him that Sauli was on board with that plan.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Oberon
He had no idea who the two little cuties were who were standing in his room with Marlo, but right now Oberon was not in the mood for company. The past few days had been hectic and grueling work, and Oberon just wanted to get home and sleep for a few days. Not that he didn’t like helping Ridge out. Hell, he had volunteered to go, seeing as it would keep him well hidden from Legion, but the ride home had him all twisted up inside, and so scared from the man’s threat of coming for him that Oberon thought he would puke. He also fought the overwhelming need to jump out of the CAT that Brooks had been driving and just take off. The fact that he would have frozen to death out in the wilderness was the only thing that had stopped him from bailing.
Well, honestly, it wasn’t the only reason. Yes, he didn’t want to freeze to death, but there was also a part of him that wanted to go back, that wanted Legion to find him, even though he was still fighting his inner demons.
He had hoped that once he got back to his room he could just collapse into bed and finally sleep like the dead for a while. He hadn’t slept one minute while at the Heart pack for the last three days and Oberon was certain there was nothing that was going to get in his way of finally getting some much needed shut-eye. Now he wasn’t so sure as he looked at the three men standing in his room.
“Oberon, you’re home!” Marlo squealed, excited, then ran to him. Oberon opened his arms quick before Marlo tackled him to the floor and his friend hugged him tight. Oberon wrapped his arms around Marlo and laughed as he returned the hug. If it wasn’t something Marlo seemed to do a lot, and Oberon liked when he did, he would have been a bit suspicious about his friend’s exuberance.
As they broke their embrace Oberon looked to Marlo, then the other two cuties. “So, what’s up?”
“Oberon, this is Taavi and Sauli,” Marlo introduced, as he took Oberon’s hand and dragged him closer to the pair.
“Hi,” they both said shyly at the same time.
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you,” he replied.
“Sauli is an amazing quilter and when he heard I was looking for someone who could make some blackout curtains for you, he came to see me. I was just showing them your windows so he could take some measurements, but then we were saying how the blackout windows may not be needed right now with the dark season being here, and that maybe we should make something sunnier and brighter. We were thinking that it could possibly trick your brain into thinking it was daylight out,” Marlo explained.
Oberon looked to the one he was sure was Sauli, and smiled. “Thank you for offering to help, I really appreciate that, but I’m not sure what will work at this point.”
“Well, I was um... thinking that…” Sauli blew out a frustrated breath, then tried again. “I have an idea, but it might not work.”
“What is it, Sauli?” Marlo asked.
“Well, Taavi is the best photographer in the world, as you know, Marlo, and I was thinking what if he took a few pictures from these windows of the outside and then blew them up and we covered the windows with them, which would give the illusion of daytime. Taavi can take them even now with the darkness and make them look like it’s noon in the summer. Then maybe I can make those blackout curtains we talked about and hang them, pulling them aside like you would any other curtain and it would give you the illusion of it being daylight outside,” Sauli explained, and turned to fully face him as he continued. “When it’s early morning when you are used to going to bed, you could close the curtains giving you the feel as if everything was normal, then when you wake up at dusk you could open them again and see the daylight.”
“Oh, we could even put in lighting up in the top or in a box outside the window which we can adjust to different strengths, so it would appear as if it was dusk and dawn,” Taavi added.
Sauli got all excited and started to talk frantically about tricking his brain and training it to accept the mirage. Oberon was impressed by what the two were coming up with and found himself smiling at their exuberance, even though he knew what they were saying would never work. It was more than just the physical aspects of sunup and sundown when it came to a vampire. The timing of dusk and dawn was something that was built into them as if they were direct descendants of a sun god or a lunar god. It came from within, not just seeing the sunrise or sunset. It was something they felt, but the way they were going on, Oberon didn’t have the heart to squash their excitement. The two little hotties seemed to genuinely want to help him.
He loved watching them get so animated as they went to a window and started looking it over, the two of them talking at the same time, but still hearing what the other was saying. Then everything came to a screeching halt and his chest tightened painfully when Sauli said, “We could always ask Master if he could build the housing unit for outside the window. I’m sure Legion would love to do it.”
CHAPTER 5
Taavi
Crap. They had broken him. Taavi thought as they watched Oberon sway a bit on his feet, then stumble to the bed and drop down onto it. The man had gone very pale, even more so than the norm for a vampire, and his eyes bulged out of his head as he seemed to start hyperventilating.
He and Sauli had been so lost in their ideas and so excited to help their other man that neither of them had been paying attention when Sauli talked about Legion. They had wanted Oberon to get to know them outside of Legion first, hoping it would help ease the man into meeting all three of them together, but they had messed up. Now the man would probably run from them as well. Taavi wished he knew why Oberon was so against a relationship with Legion, but now they would never be able to get close enough to ever find out.
Marlo quickly ran to Oberon’s side and started running a hand up and down his back as he whispered calming words like, “It’ll be okay.” “Breathe, O.” After a few minutes and it didn’t appear to be working, Marlo pulled his cell phone from his pocket and called his mate telling Fane to get home right away.
Sauli had moved to his side as they both stood there frozen, just watching and worrying whether Oberon would be okay. The man was so big and strong and just absolutely beautiful. He looked like a fierce warrior which only made Taavi more concerned. This had to be something more than just Oberon being afraid to admit he was submissive. No, Taavi could see the haunting look in the man's eyes, and knew there was something more going on here.
Sauli trembled beside him and Taavi looked down to find that Sauli had tears in his eyes as he stared at Marlo and Oberon. Taavi pulled his lover closer against his side and wrapped his arm around him. He couldn’t do anything for Oberon right now, but he could at least comfort one of his men. And Taavi was sure that Oberon was a part of them. From the minute the large vampire had walked into the room, Taavi had felt a connection to him, a pull to be near him, and he finally understood what Legion had been talking about. It was there, this need to be by Oberon’s side, and it was strong. That was the only excuse he could come up with as to why he and Sauli had been trying so hard to find a solution to help this stranger... this stranger who was meant to be a part of them, and Taavi knew Sauli felt it too just from how excited and animated Sauli had been and now from his lover’s tears. Oberon’s pain was affecting Sauli.
A minute later their new beta, Dell’s third and Marlo’s true mate, Fane, came rushing into the room. He immediately made his way to Oberon and knelt down in front of him. The minute Oberon saw Fane he leaned in and rested his head on Fane’s shoulder as Fane wrapped his arms around Oberon and whispered softly to him. Marlo moved away, but kept his gaze on the duo as he came to stand by Taavi.
“Should we leave?” Sauli asked in a whisper.
&
nbsp; Marlo looked to him with a sad smile and nodded as he said, “Yeah, come on out to the kitchen and I’ll get everyone some hot chocolate while Fane talks to Oberon.”
Taavi didn’t want to leave, he wanted to run to Oberon and beg him to forgive them for causing him this stress, but he knew he needed to let Fane handle it. He could see that the moment Fane had come into the room, Oberon had relaxed some. Once Fane held him, Oberon released a loud sigh and relaxed against his friend. Fane was what Oberon needed right now and they needed to respect that. So, reluctantly, Taavi pulled his arm from around Sauli, but took his hand and led him from the room.
Once they were seated around Marlo and Fane’s kitchen table, each with a steaming mug of hot chocolate, Marlo gave them each a solemn smile. “It’s not my story to tell, but I will say this, Oberon has been through a lot. He’s been through something... horrifying... and because of that he sometimes needs Fane to help him get past the panic attacks. It was nothing that either of you did that set him off, it just…”
“It was my fault,” Sauli cried softly. “I said Legion’s name and he…” Sauli lowered his head, not wanting them to see his tears, but Taavi knew his man was crying.
Taavi reached out and held Sauli again as he looked to Marlo. “We didn’t mean to cause him pain. We were just trying to help and... we wanted to meet him, maybe get to know him.”
Marlo’s eyes softened as he reached across the table and placed his hand over Taavi’s free one. “Oh, sweetie, I know that. You and Sauli are good men, and neither of you would ever purposely cause anyone harm. This isn’t about you, or even Legion, this is about Oberon and things he needs to work through.”
“I can understand that, but I think Legion may have come on a bit strong with Oberon last week,” Taavi replied. “You know how he is. He’s all Dominant almost all the time.”
“Except when he’s home with us. Then he lets his big heart known,” Sauli defended as he sniffled and looked up. “Legion is a good man. Yes he’s dominating and intense, but that’s only part of who he is. He’s also loving and caring. He’s so good to us, Marlo. I know the pack doesn’t get to see that side of him, and Taavi and I are probably the only ones who do know the real him, but I do know that Legion would be the first to be upset over this, or knowing that he has caused Oberon any kind of harm or pain.”