by K. C. Wells
My mates.
Rael glanced at him and smiled. Yours. Then he returned to his task of slicing eggplants, and Dellan had to smile at how… normal it felt. Two men had walked into his life and turned it upside down. Two men he was destined to be with.
It should have been awkward, but it wasn’t. It felt right.
He should have fought the notion that someone was directing his life, but he hadn’t. Because it felt…
Right.
“You seem to have taken that part of this whole business in your stride.”
It took Dellan a moment to realize Doc was talking to him. He blinked. “Sorry. I must’ve zoned out for a second. You mean, discovering I had two mates?” He chuckled. “After everything I’ve been through, suddenly finding out that some higher power or other had decreed I should have two soul mates is somehow easier to swallow.”
“Interesting choice of words.” Doc’s eyes twinkled. “Soul mates.”
Dellan couldn’t think of another word that was more apt. “I’ve known them for less than a day.” He gestured to his body. “In this form, at any rate. But it feels like I’ve known them for much longer.” It seemed like every few minutes, one or both of them would connect with him: a light touch of their hand on his, a gentle caress of his cheek, or the soft stroking of his hair. It served as a constant reminder of two things—he was indeed human again, and there were two men who clearly cared for him. Dellan wondered if all mates felt this… connection, this overpowering need to be close to one another.
He peered at Doc. “Was it like that when you met your mate?”
Doc stilled. “Ah. Then you don’t know that part.” When Dellan gazed at him, perplexed, Doc sighed. “The fact that someone has… decreed, as you put it, that you should have two mates isn’t what intrigues us. It’s the fact that you have mates at all, when finding one is as rare as hen’s teeth.”
Dellan laughed. “I’ve never understood that saying.”
“It’s simple, really. Hens don’t possess teeth. So something as rare as that would be rare to the point of nonexistence.” Doc gave him an intense look. “Does that adequately convey why the three of you finding one another is so special?”
Holy fuck, it truly did.
Dellan reached for his mug of coffee and wrapped his hands around it. “It’s peaceful here. I like that.” This time of quiet seemed exactly what he needed.
The doc chuckled. “It’s only peaceful now because the boys have gone to the store. Once they return, it’ll be back to business as usual.” He met Dellan’s gaze. “I knew your parents, by the way.”
Dellan stilled. “Really?”
Doc nodded. “Before they got married. We were all in our early twenties.”
Dellan was aware of the ache in his chest. “What was my dad like?” When Doc regarded him quizzically, Dellan shrugged. “I can barely remember him, beyond flashes of playing with a ball in our yard, him helping me to fly my kite. I was seven when he disappeared.”
Doc stared at his hands clasped in his lap. “Your father was remarkable, even at that age. A highly intelligent young man with a great capacity for empathy and tolerance. He adored your mother and apparently had done so since they were both fifteen.” He smiled. “But Lord, he was fast when he shifted. A streak of fur, racing across the prairie. Mind you, your mother had no trouble keeping up with him.”
Dellan laughed. “The prairie? Where were you?”
“The three of us vacationed in Kansas one summer. Well, I tagged along at your parents’ insistence, trying hard not to feel like the proverbial third wheel. The spot they chose was perfect for them. I think I was there mainly as a lookout, to keep an eye out for anyone who happened on them.”
“You didn’t shift with them?”
Doc coughed. “That would have been inadvisable. Two tigers in the tall grasses could avoid detection. Me? As Crank is fond of saying, ‘Hell, no.’”
Dellan had to ask. “If it’s not a rude question… what are you?”
Doc regarded him without blinking. “An elephant.”
He had to admit that, based on what he knew of the doc so far, an elephant was perfect. “I’ve always thought of elephants as wise gentle giants.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” Doc tilted his head to one side. “Your mother had no idea what happened to him?”
“None whatsoever. She said he went away on a business trip and never came back. The last time she heard from him was in a phone call from whichever hotel he was staying at. But she didn’t give up hope. She hired private detectives once the police had explored all possible avenues and come up empty. Nothing. It was like he’d vanished from the face of the earth.”
“And then she died at too early an age.”
Dellan closed his eyes. The memory of her death was too raw, considering the lapse of time. Then he reasoned that she’d died in December, and Anson had initiated his plan the following month. Dellan hadn’t had sufficient time to grieve before he was locked into his tiger form.
“Hey.” Horvan’s voice was soft.
Dellan opened his eyes to find both his mates close by. Rael took hold of Dellan’s hand, and Horvan sat on the arm of the couch, his hand on Dellan’s shoulder.
“I don’t need to say a word, do I?” Dellan opened up his mind to them, letting them in. He leaned into Horvan, aware of his strength, his scent.
“We’ve got you,” Horvan said quietly, pulling Dellan to him while Rael joined him on the couch, the pair of them the sturdiest, most reliable brackets Dellan had ever encountered. Little by little, he got his emotions under control, but still they held on to him until he was breathing normally again.
“I share your grief,” Doc said softly. “They were dear friends, and I’m sorry we lost touch.”
Dellan held out a hand to him. “I’m glad I got to meet you. Thank you for coming all this way on nothing more than a phone call.”
Doc smiled as they shook. “When Horvan said you were his mate, I knew I had to meet you. But please remember. If you ever need my help, just ask.” He paused. “I mean that, Dellan. I think your father would want that.”
“Thank you.” Tears pricked Dellan’s eyes. He felt like he’d been adopted.
Rael lifted his chin, his head inclined toward the window. “The guys are back.”
Dellan cleared his throat. “Then I’m going to paste on a smile. I don’t want them thinking I’m a basket case.” He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.
Horvan gave him a hard stare. “You’re hardly that. And no one expects you to be firing on all eight, not after the year you’ve had.”
Dellan gave a sad grin. “I know that’s something to do with cars, but no idea what. I have a mechanic for that.”
The door burst open, and the three men spilled into the room, weighed down by boxes of groceries. Roadkill’s gaze went straight to Dellan.
“I’ve had an idea,” he blurted out.
Crank laughed. “Can it wait until we’ve unpacked the groceries?” He sniffed the air. “Something smells good. When’s dinner?” Hashtag shook his head and followed Crank into the kitchen area.
“You unpack—I’m talking to Dellan.” Roadkill placed his box on the countertop, then came over to the couch where they were gathered. He perched on the coffee table, his fingers laced, elbows on his knees. “I’ve been thinking about the drug they gave you.”
It had been on Dellan’s mind too. “Did you come to any conclusions?”
Roadkill nodded. “Whatever it was, someone had to have developed it, right?”
“Obviously.” Horvan frowned. “And?”
“And?” Roadkill rolled his eyes. “What was the name of that company we raided a few days ago?”
“You’ve forgotten already?” Hashtag called out. “Global Bio-Tech.”
“It was a rhetorical question,” Roadkill fired back. “And what kind of company is Global Bio-Tech?”
Rael became very still. “Pharmaceutical.”
Roadkill folded his arms and smiled smugly. “Exactly. So how does someone who didn’t even know shifters existed—we assume—suddenly start developing a drug that not only forces a shift but keeps them locked into it? Because I don’t think Anson woke up one morning, after a particularly vivid dream, suddenly aware that the world contained shifters and Dellan was one of them.” He cocked his head to one side. “Unless… your mom told him?”
Dellan shook his head. “No chance of that. In fact, she warned me never to tell him.” He shivered. “When Anson found out he wasn’t being handed the keys to the kingdom, he was incensed. I got that. After all, his dad had chosen me over him. When he’d calmed down, he acted all sorry and swore it wasn’t going to be a problem. But….”
Horvan gazed at him thoughtfully. “But?”
Dellan sighed heavily. “You can’t hide that kind of loathing for long. He smiled to my face, but there was something else there, you know? Something… hidden. I thought it was because I’d gotten the job he wanted, but surely that doesn’t explain why he did what he did. I mean, did he hate me so much that forcing me to shift and be locked in a cage was what it took to satisfy him?”
“Then I go back to my previous question,” Roadkill said emphatically. “If he didn’t know you were a shifter, then how did he cook up this whole drug scheme?”
Horvan expelled a long breath. “You think there’s someone else involved?”
“I think it’s a distinct possibility.”
Dellan had been thinking the same thing. Anson was only twenty-two for God’s sake. What twenty-two-year-old could devise a plan like that?
“And speaking of Anson….” Roadkill’s eyes glittered. “When are we going to pay the son of a bitch a little visit?”
Horvan cleared his throat. “I get that you want to exact your own particular form of revenge for what he did to Dellan, but that’s not your decision—it’s Dellan’s.”
Dellan gave him a thankful glance. “I don’t intend letting him get away with it, but he can wait.” Right then, other things were more important.
“Why?” Crank scowled. “He needs pounding.”
Hashtag scowled. “That sounds way too kinky.” Then his eyes twinkled. “What am I saying? You are kinky.” He got a glare for that.
“Okay, Anson needs… pounding, but only when I feel ready to confront him. Yes, I will take my company back, but not right this minute. When I feel one hundred percent again. Then. And hopefully, you’ll still be in a pounding mood.” Dellan shook his head. “Hashtag is right. That sounds way too kinky.” When Rael’s hand tightened around his, Dellan knew his mates were with him.
His physical state raised a question. Dellan turned to the doc. “That bag of tricks you brought with you—do you have what you need to take some of my blood?”
Doc blinked. “Why, yes, but—”
“I know you said I seem healthy,” Dellan explained, “but I need to be sure. We have no idea what they did to me during the time they had me in that cage. There could be traces left in my body of whatever they were drugging me with. Plus… I need to know everything is as it should be. That I haven’t… picked up anything, if you get my drift.”
It seemed as though everyone in the room caught the significance of his remarks. Hashtag and Roadkill exploded into a fit of coughing, and Crank merely grinned. The doc’s face was flushed.
You’re forgetting something. Horvan smiled. You’re a shifter. You’re immune to… such things.
And who knows what other diabolical shit they came up with in that lab? I want to be safe, okay? I want us to be safe. Dellan wasn’t going to be moved on that point.
Then we’ll make sure, Rael affirmed.
“Ugh, Doc?” Crank was frowning. “Is it safe to send Dellan’s blood off to some lab? I mean, could they tell from testing it that he isn’t quite… normal?”
Hashtag snorted. “I wonder what your blood test would reveal about you.”
“Actually, Crank has made a valid point.” Doc gave him a nod of approval, and Crank preened. “I wouldn’t send it to just any lab.” He reached into his black bag and pulled out a laptop.
“Don’t tell me—you have a secret network of shifters spread out all over the country,” Roadkill said with a twinkle in his eye.
Doc glanced at Dellan. “Your analysis of Roadkill was correct—he is very astute.”
Roadkill stilled, his lips parted. “You mean I’m right? Well, fuck me.”
Doc laughed. “There are shifters in every walk of life, but when it comes to medical personnel, it pays to know who you can rely on when you need help. So yes, there is a network of shifters who are medical staff, lab technicians, et cetera. We have to hope there’s one within traveling distance.”
“Hey, wherever you need to go, I’ll get you there,” Roadkill announced.
“I had no doubt,” Doc replied confidently. He peered at the screen and then broke into a wide smile. “Shifter network strikes again. We have a lab technician at the Steele Memorial Medical Center in Salmon. Drake McIntyre.” Doc pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped the keys. “I’ll see if he’ll be at work during the next few days.”
Hashtag laughed. “This is amazing. And you know what? It’s really got me thinking. Remember that LGBT meme they put around ages ago, saying be careful who you hate, ’cause it might be someone you love? Well, how many shifters are there in my life I don’t know about?”
Horvan waggled his eyebrows. “We are ev-ery-where,” he whispered dramatically.
“I believe you.” Hashtag shook his head. “We need some kind of a badge or a code sign or something. You know? Like, something to show any shifter you might come across that you’re an ally.”
Rael laughed, but the doc shook his head. “You three were told because you had to know. The fewer humans who know of our existence, the better.”
“But it shouldn’t be like that,” Roadkill stressed. “Humans and shifters should be able to live together, right?”
“In an ideal world, perhaps.” Doc’s face tightened. “But we don’t live in such a world. I think what happened to Dellan proves that.”
“You said you were gonna contact someone who could tell us more about shifters. Are you still gonna do that?” Crank demanded. “Because I really wanna know more.” There were nods from Hashtag and Roadkill.
“Hell, so do I.” Dellan was tired of knowing so little about his origins.
“To be honest, after what I’ve learned about Dellan’s experiences, I was going to contact him anyway. This drug they’ve developed….” Doc shivered. “There are unpleasant implications.”
Dellan’s stomach clenched, and his heartbeat sped up. “Call them, Doc. We have to spread the word.” And just like that, the peace he’d been enjoying was shattered.
You know whatever happens, I’ll protect you, don’t you?
Dellan met Horvan’s gaze. I know. But I’m not thinking about me.
He was more concerned for the world of shifters out there who had no idea something so evil existed.
Rael gave a start. “Holy shit. I completely forgot.” He fished his phone out of his pocket.
“What’s wrong?” Horvan’s expression was suddenly watchful.
Rael stared at him. “My parents are going to kill me. I promised to let them know when Dellan was safe.”
Dellan laughed. “Well, you have had a few busy days. I’m sure they’ll forgive you.”
Rael’s eyes twinkled. “In case this hasn’t occurred to you yet? These are your future parents-in-law.”
Oh my God. I’m as good as married.
Horvan chuckled. Yeah. That was kinda my reaction too. Brave new world, huh?
Should I be worried here?
Horvan shrugged. No idea. I’ve yet to meet them. How scary can they be?
Rael glared at them. I can hear you, you know.
Dellan’s stomach clenched. “Maybe we should wait a while before you introduce me.”
Rael’s brows knit
ted. “Why?”
“Because the world we live in just got really complicated, and probably dangerous.” He shivered. “The last thing I want to do is put them in danger.”
“There’s nothing to connect them to any of this,” Rael protested.
“Yet,” Horvan reminded him. “And let’s pray it doesn’t come to that.” He gave Rael a nod. “Call them, but don’t tell them anything vital, okay?”
“Gotcha.” Rael’s shiver matched Dellan’s. “Fuck. Now you’ve got me scared too.”
“Good.” When Rael gave Horvan a perplexed glance, Horvan stared back at him. “Fear gives you an edge. It keeps you alert. Better scared than complacent.”
Dellan’s chest tightened. Brave new world indeed.
Chapter Twenty
DELLAN CLIMBED the ladder to their bed, his legs feeling heavy and his body aching. “I feel like I’ve aged twenty years,” he complained. The cabin was quiet except for the faint sound of laughter coming from the lower level. Dellan hoped Doc wasn’t in any hurry to get to sleep; it sounded like the boys weren’t ready for bed yet.
Horvan was waiting for him at the top, holding out his hand. “And that might be a result of the overly long shift. Your brain has gotten back in gear, but it sounds like your body is taking its time. Let’s face it, none of us have ever dealt with anything like this before.”
“And it’s like you said,” Rael added, sitting on the edge of the bed. “You’re not going to dash off right this second and go see Anson. Let him stew a while. You have better things to do with your time.” His eyes gleamed in the soft light of the lamp beside the bed. Behind Dellan, Horvan carefully drew the curtain that cut them off from the rest of the cabin.
“Oh, I do, do I?” Dellan said with a smile. His heartbeat raced as Rael got to his feet and approached him slowly. Dellan shuddered out a long breath as Rael leaned in to kiss his neck, then move down to his collarbone. Next he grew aware of Horvan’s solid body behind him, Horvan’s hands on his waist. “Feels like a trap,” he joked. “I’ve got nowhere to go.” His pulse quickened. Guys, it’s been a while, okay?