by Shea Balik
Actually, Iniko knew damn well what it was about Greyson that had him ready to throw out all he knew and experienced about matings. The man was drop dead gorgeous. A saint wouldn’t be able to refuse the man’s charms.
Thankfully, Iniko was no saint.
“Iniko,” Harper gasped out. “That wasn’t nice.”
There was no stopping the need to roll his eyes, so Iniko didn’t even try. He gestured toward Greyson. “Neither was springing him on me without any warning, yet that didn’t seem to stop you,” Iniko lashed out.
The moment he’d said the words, Iniko knew he’d hurt his only true friend, but he refused to apologize to him any more than he would to Greyson. He’d been stabbed in the back by the one person he’d thought he could trust.
Why was it no one seemed to understand Iniko had no interest in being mated?
“I’m sorry.” Greyson’s broken voice was barely above a whisper. “I’ll go.”
Every instinct within Iniko wanted to jump up and tell Greyson to stay. It nearly killed him, but Iniko forced himself to remain sitting as he watched Greyson open the door. It was for the best that the man understood Iniko would never be his mate.
If only someone would explain that to Iniko’s heart as it shattered into a million pieces. He actually had to put his hand to his chest to make sure it was still there, beating out a steady rhythm, even as he watched the man he’d spurned walk out the door with his shoulders slumped and his head hanging down.
“You’re an idiot,” Harper said before he got up and went after Greyson.
Shouldn’t his best friend stay with him? Just once it would be nice to have someone in his corner no matter what.
“He only left to help you, you know.”
Iniko nearly jumped when Krill spoke. He’d never understood how a man who was so massive could, at times, be so invisible. He had this calm presence that tended to make people forget he was even there.
“What are you talking about?” All Iniko knew was Harper left him to talk to Greyson. Clearly, even his best friend preferred Greyson over Iniko. Not that he was surprised. His whole life had been that way. No one ever chose Iniko.
Krill eyed Iniko for several long, uncomfortable minutes. It was getting to the point that Iniko nearly slammed a fist on the table and told the big man to spit it out, but a part of him, the part that wanted to protect himself, was hoping Krill would stay silent.
When had that ever worked for him? He should have just left when he had the chance.
“You darn well know Harper loves you and would do anything for you. What I don’t get is, you watched as Harper struggled to accept me after all the horrible things he’d been through. You were there, encouraging him to let me in.” Krill placed his hands on the table with his palms against the wood. “So, why are you so determined to push your own mate away?”
“Fear,” Iniko blurted out without thinking. As much as he hated to admit it, before meeting his mate, Iniko had wanted what Harper had with Krill. But the moment Greyson’s sweet lavender scent had engulfed Iniko’s senses, the fear of the past had crept inside him and refused to release the death grip it had on him.
Krill actually chuckled, which only pissed Iniko off. “Sorry,” he said as he held up a hand to stop Iniko from getting up and storming out. “It’s just that you are one of the most fearless men I’ve ever known. I swear, even Alpha Edrick is terrified when you’re around because nothing stops you from speaking your mind.”
Heat rushed into Iniko’s face. Krill might have said it as a compliment but he knew most in Miracle didn’t think his lack of tact was a good thing. “That’s different. I can’t control my mouth from blurting out whatever is on my mind.”
Krill nodded. “Yeah, I know. But it isn’t just your ability to say what you think. Since arriving in Miracle, you’ve stood up for what you believe in. Including standing up to me, Edrick, and Lucca to go back and rescue Harper.”
Tears actually formed within Krill’s eyes as he whispered, “Which is something I will forever be grateful to you for. If it hadn’t of been for you standing toe to toe with all three of us, I might have missed finding the very reason I breathe.”
With a blink, the tears disappeared before they could fall. “Which is why, I’m going to fight you every step of the way so you get over whatever it is that has you pushing your mate away. I don’t know what happened to make you believe mates could treat each other with cruelty, but you’ve been around the mates in Miracle and I dare you to give me one instance where one of them was anything less than loving and respectful.”
Iniko opened his mouth to do just that, but he couldn’t. Because, other than a misunderstanding while the mates got to know one another, Krill was right. There had only been love and devotion shown to their mates.
So instead, he stood up and said, “I’m going to my room.”
But before he could stomp off like a spoiled brat, Krill said, “Maybe it’s time for you to deal with your past. If you don’t, you’re going to ruin your future.”
Iniko didn’t wait around for any more platitudes. But the moment he closed the door to his room, he found it impossible to run from the one person he needed to flee the most. Himself.
CHAPTER 10
It had taken Greyson a week to convince Iniko to spend more than five minutes in his presence before running as far away as he could get. That it was a double date in the only diner in town, which also happened to have several tables filled with those Iniko most likely thought of as friends, wasn’t lost on him.
As hard as he tried not to take it personally that Iniko needed familiar faces around when with Greyson, he did. They were mates. Shouldn’t that count for something?
There was a part of him that wanted to kill whoever had scared his sweetness. As sharp as Iniko’s tongue might be with his words, Greyson couldn’t stop thinking of his mate as the sweetest man he’d ever known.
He’d seen it for himself when he’d watched as Iniko spent tireless days matching the townspeople with tasks that suited them. Greyson had noticed how much happier everyone appeared to be in past week as they were moved to jobs that they excelled at, while working on plans for their future, once homes and businesses were finished.
There was a definite excitement in the air that Greyson didn’t share. It didn’t seem fair that finding his mate, which should have been a joyous occasion, left Greyson feeling even more alone.
“So, are either of you going to say anything?” Krill asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Greyson had no idea what the man thought was so fucking funny. This was his life the man was making fun of and he didn’t appreciate anyone laughing. It didn’t help that Greyson knew the man was right. He wasn’t going to make any progress with Iniko if he didn’t at least try to speak with his mate.
The problem? He was terrified no matter what he said it would send Iniko running from him once more. Sure, the silence was more than a little awkward, but at least Iniko didn’t look ready to bolt from his chair. Well, sort of.
He was sitting. So long as Greyson ignored the way Iniko had one leg out to the side as if he were about to sprint across the restaurant, he could pretend his mate was at least comfortable in Greyson’s presence.
Who was he kidding? Between Iniko’s other foot tapping out a fast beat under the table and his fingers tearing apart the napkin in front of him piece by piece, he was anything but calm.
It was time for Greyson to man up. With a silent prayer to anyone listening that he would not screw this up, Greyson finally opened his mouth. “I wanted to thank you all for agreeing to have lunch with me.”
The plural may have been used, but Greyson only had eyes for Iniko. His blue and pink hair added a brightness to his mate’s demeanor that was nowhere on his face. Hell, even his body was slouched as if he’d been forced to sit there.
A glance toward Harper and then Krill confirmed that thought. The two were practically glaring at Iniko as if that alone would convince
Iniko to loosen up. But it was when Harper kicked Iniko’s ankle under the table that it hit him. His mate hadn’t wanted to be there.
Greyson was beginning to wonder if he’d ever catch a break with the stubborn man. It was as if Iniko had erected a titanium wall between them. If it were brick, Greyson could chip away at it, but how was he supposed to get through one of the strongest materials on earth?
Was it even possible? Should he bother?
That wasn’t even a serious question. Of course, he should. This was his mate. Greyson didn’t give a shit what Iniko put between them. It was his job to break through it.
Latching onto the work Iniko had recently been doing, Greyson said, “I’ve been impressed with how you’ve been handling the townspeople. They always end up happier after talking with you about their futures than when they arrived.”
The amber tones in Iniko’s eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. “It’s not that hard,” Iniko said as if downplaying how much happier people were becoming as they worked to build Miracle. “It’s just a matter of noticing what people’s interests are and finding a way for them make a living doing them.”
Krill snorted. “Yeah, except no one but you has been able to do it in the past year we’ve been here.”
Harper nodded enthusiastically next to his mate. “Krill’s right. Edrick tried, at first, but other than his best friends he really didn’t know what anyone else was good at or liked to do. So, then he tried to make Lucca do it, but Lucca had no idea how to figure whether people really enjoyed what they were assigned or too afraid to tell him the truth because he’s the beta.”
“Then there was Chadwick.” Both Krill and Harper started cackling when Krill mentioned the man.
Iniko rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. Like that was ever going to work. If it doesn’t involve construction, the man has zero organizational skills.” The blue and pink hair moved as Iniko shook his head. “If I hadn’t seen how good he is at creating blueprints and following them, I would have believed the man couldn’t put together a birdhouse, much less an entire town.”
“Hey,” Chadwick called out from two tables away as he sat with his mate, Saber, eating. “I can hear you.”
Iniko’s cheeks burned a deep crimson as he glanced down at the top of the table. The look of shame on his face didn’t sit right with Greyson and he found himself reaching over to lift Iniko’s chin with his finger.
“You have no reason to be embarrassed for telling the truth. It’s refreshing to find someone who is willing to be honest.” Greyson saw the doubt in Iniko’s eyes, but he meant every word. Too often people would lie without even caring who they hurt.
“I mean it,” Greyson assured his mate. “I would much rather be with someone who was blunt with their words, than someone who lied. It’s an admirable quality.”
That doubt morphed slowly into a hint of pride with a healthy dose of relief mixed in. It was a combination Greyson would take, although he had to admit, it pissed him off that his mate felt there was a reason to feel ashamed for simply telling the truth.
“Dude,” Harper whispered as he elbowed Iniko in the side. “He has to be your mate if he thinks your runaway mouth is a good thing.”
Just like that, the small amount of happiness in Iniko’s honey depths disappeared. It took all of Greyson’s control not to growl at Harper to get the hell out. Only because he was sure starting a fight with his mate’s best friend wouldn’t help him woo Iniko was Greyson able to hold back. Barely.
Instead he tried to get the moment back. “Of course, I think it’s a good thing. How could anyone think otherwise?” He waved a hand around the room. “Everyone here should be thanking Iniko for his blunt honesty. In case you’ve missed it, Iniko has been instrumental in encouraging everyone in Miracle to discover their passion and lead them in a direction that will be helpful to the community as a whole.
“My first two days, I noticed people just went about doing their assigned tasks as if they were robots. Now, I hear several whistling a tune or cracking jokes. But more importantly, they are enthusiastically talking to others about their plans for the future.” Greyson had to admit to being a bit jealous of those men. He’d been so intent on keeping his little group alive all these years that he never really thought about what he might like to be doing instead.
“It’s true,” Chadwick said with a chuckle. “I haven’t wanted to admit it but the men have gone from grumbling about having to do things they hate, to not only doing the tasks assigned them, but at a much faster pace.” The man ducked his head a little sheepishly. “At this rate, we might actually have a working town in a few more months, with just about everyone having a place to live within a year.”
A few others piped in about the change in attitudes and how it directly went back to Iniko’s ability to discover people’s talents and how they might be used in current projects or their future.
Greyson heard their words but his entire focus was on Iniko and the pride that had his mate sitting up straighter. Although, it was the smile that tugged the corners of his mouth upward that had Greyson feeling as if he’d won a prize.
He’d done that. Him. It hadn’t been something Greyson had ever thought would happen but he had managed to get his mate to smile. A real smile, not one of those snide, snarky ones he’d seen his mate give others when they’d said something stupid.
No. This was real. For as long as Greyson lived, he would never forget this moment.
Now he just needed to figure out how to keep his mate happy.
CHAPTER 11
“Good morning, Jazz.” Iniko had to admit he wasn’t looking forward to this session. He’d been trying to find something Jazz was interested in or good at or…hell, anything at this point. The man was a negative Nancy, who never did anything but frown and say, “No.”
Yet, even though Iniko would have to deal with Jazz’s pessimism and general reluctance to try anything new, Iniko couldn’t keep the grin off his face. It had been that way all week. Well, since his lunch with Greyson.
Although, if he were being as brutally honest with himself as he tended to be with others, his mood improved each time Greyson sought him out to spend time with him. It was weird, but Iniko actually would feel his heart soar every damn time he laid eyes on the gorgeous man. If only he could find a way past his fear of turning into his mother. She was so miserable as she was forced to serve her mate.
“I don’t know why you’re making me see you again,” Jazz groused. “I’m not good at anything, everyone says so.”
Iniko shook off the depressing thoughts of his parents and turned his focus once more to Jazz. “Everyone? Who’s been saying you aren’t good at anything?”
His statement didn’t make any sense. At least, not from what Jazz’s coworkers said about him.
Jazz lowered his head as if there were something on the ground that was fascinating. He shoved his hands in his pockets and practically curled in on himself as if trying to make himself as small and unobtrusive as possible.
Iniko’s radar went on high alert. He knew that posture. Hell, he’d lived with it daily until his father kicked him out of the house. “Jazz, who said that?” he tried to coax from the man.
If it were possible Jazz seemed to get smaller. “Doesn’t matter,” he mumbled. “I know it’s true. I’m a total screw up.”
Knowing that wasn’t true, Iniko went to the sullen man and put a hand on his shoulder. “I happen to know that’s not true.”
He hadn’t even finished his sentence when Jazz gave a snort of derision. “Yeah, right. Then why did Zayden put me on painting walls.”
Not sure what that even meant, Iniko could only blink at Jazz. Fortunately, words weren’t exactly necessary for Jazz to continue.
His already lowered head, sank further. If he kept going, Jazz would end up on the floor. “Let’s face it, any idiot can paint walls. Zayden figures it’s the one place I can’t really screw up.”
“Huh,” Iniko said as he glanced at his notes
from Jazz’s supervisor. Zayden had clearly thought a lot of Jazz and felt he was very conscientious. “Don’t you like to paint?”
There was that noncommittal shrug Jazz tended to give instead of words. It was like this most of the time they met. If anything, Jazz had probably said more today than he had in the other two meetings they’d had combined.
“Okay, tell you what.” Iniko glanced at his watch and sighed. Even though he had planned for extra time with Jazz, there was no way Zayden, who was in charge of the homes being built on the east side of town, to get there before Iniko’s next meeting. “I’m going to call Zayden and set up a meeting for the three of us at lunch. I’ll bring sandwiches from Mousetrap so you don’t miss a meal, but I think you need to hear what the man has to say about why he puts you on painting.”
Jazz’s head snapped up to stare right at Iniko. Fear poured from the man. An irrational, something terrible will happen, kind of fear that Iniko knew hadn’t been caused by Zayden. The man was a big old teddy bear when dealing with others.
“No. Please. I promise, I’ll smile more. Or…Or…I don’t know, joke around. Just please don’t call another meeting for me.” Jazz reached out and placed his hand on Iniko’s arm.
That’s when he saw it. It was still cold out even though spring was finally starting to thaw some of the snow. So, with Jazz wearing clothes that covered him from the neck down wasn’t unreasonable. But by stretching his arm toward Iniko, his sleeve rode up to reveal his wrist covered in a molted coloring of blacks, blues, and yellows.
On instinct, Iniko reached over and yanked down Jazz’s turtleneck to see the same color around his throat. “Oh God,” Iniko breathed out as a mix of horror and rage coursed through his veins.
This was Miracle. The one place they all should have been safe from abuse. Sure, there were still crazies in the world trying to kill them, but they should be able to trust each other. How could something like this be happening? For the most part, they all lived too closely together for someone not to have heard someone beating the crap out of Jazz.
