Guarding His Mate

by Jenny Tia

  “Shit. Okay.” He grabbed his shirt from the pile as we hurried out of my bedroom. I grabbed my keys, threw open the door, and headed for my truck. I turned and looked for Stefan. When he closed the front door and walked over to his car I was shocked.

  “Hey, want to ride together?” I asked him.

  He shook his head. “I’ll see you there.” He waved to me and gave me a huge smile, but I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. I understood how independent he was, and I assumed this was his way of showing it. I waved back then jumped into the truck and gunned my way downtown.

  I spotted Stef in the foyer talking to two on-duty nurses. I hurried toward him, and my heart skipped a beat when he smiled. For a moment, his eyes flashed omega purple, and I felt my wolf doing some sort of happy dance in my chest, just at the sight of him.

  As soon as I got near Stef, he looped an arm through mine. My heart skipped another beat, and I squeezed his arm against me as we hurried down the hospital corridors. When we turned a corner we found Casius pacing the hallway, chewing his fingernails outside a delivery room.

  “Cas!”

  Stef immediately pulled his arm from mine and headed toward the room.

  “Hey, Nic. Stef. He’s okay. He’s in there.” Casius’s face was drawn and creased. I’d never seen him look so stressed. Stef threw open the door to Julian’s room and slammed it behind him.

  Casius let out a heavy breath and started pacing the length of the corridor.

  “Everything’s okay, right?” I matched his pace and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

  “Yeah. It’s fine. Julian’s fine. Baby’s fine.”

  “But you’re not fine?”

  Cas inhaled sharply and stopped in his tracks. He turned to me and gave a heavy sigh as he relaxed his shoulders. “No, Nic. I’m so far from fine.”

  “What’s going on?” I searched his face for an answer.

  “I’m about to be a father. How the hell am I going to do that? I don’t know the first thing about being a dad.”

  “Oh, man. Are you kidding?” I couldn’t help but laugh, and Cas looked shocked. “No, I mean… You’re the most dad guy I know. You’ve totally got this. You don’t need to know how to do it because it’s just who you are. You’re the damn Alpha Select, you’re going to be everyone’s dad one day.”

  Casius laughed and shook his head. “Maybe.”

  “Maybe? Hey, I’m totally right about this and you know it. That kid is so lucky to have you. Trust me.”

  Casius caught the sadness in my words and nodded to me solemnly. He’d had the privilege of growing up with a strong, funny dad who was his mom’s fated mate. He knew I hadn’t been so lucky, and he’d been there for a lot of it to see how difficult that was on me.

  “Thanks, Nic… Would you mind sticking around? I might go crazy if I’m left out here on my own. They’re just getting Julian ready, but I don’t know how long it’ll take.”

  “Yeah, man. Of course. I wouldn’t be anywhere else. You’re my brother.”

  Casius threw a big arm around me and brought me into a warm hug. I squeezed him as tight as I could. He really was my kin, and there was no way I was going to miss the birth of my niece or nephew.

  The door to the delivery room flew open and Stef held it as he poked his head out. “Casius. It’s go time.”

  Cas gave me a warm thump on the back as he let go of our embrace, and then he quickly rushed into the room. Stef stepped into the hall and smiled at me.

  “You don’t want to be in there?” I nodded toward the door that closed behind him.

  “Oh, hell no.” Stefan scrunched up his nose as he came closer to me. “I see enough of that business when I’m on duty. It’s lost its magic.”

  I motioned to the seats along the wall, and Stefan nodded. We got comfortable or as comfortable as we could in plastic chairs, and then we waited.

  “How long does this stuff usually take?” I asked after a moment of companionable silence.

  “This stuff? You mean, the miracle of life?”

  “Yeah, the miracle of life. Does it take like, ten minutes? Ten hours? What have I signed up for here?”

  Stef scoffed and chuckled a little as he leaned back in the chair. He shrugged. “Who knows. Julian wants to do it all-natural, but you never know. He could change his mind.”

  I had no idea what “do it all-natural” meant or what that meant for how long we might be here, but I didn’t want Stef knowing how completely out of my element I was. The hospital really was his territory. I liked how confident and comfortable he seemed to be, and I hoped I could pick up some of that energy. So I changed the topic.

  “How did you and Julian meet, anyway?” I asked, fiddling with a discarded cardboard coffee cup tray someone had left behind, acting like I didn’t care all that much if he answered me or not.

  “Jules and me, we go way back.”

  I turned and caught the happy grin on his face as he gazed up at the ceiling. I loved the way his cheeks dimpled when his lips turned up so much like that. They looked downright kissable.

  “How far back? Kindergarten?”

  “Almost! Elementary school, actually. Older kids were bullying him. Don’t ever let him know I told you that. He’s still embarrassed about it. But he was such a small kid, it was nothing to do with him, it was just his size.”

  I nodded, as if I had any idea what it was like to be small or bullied. “So, you saved him? Or were you the bully?”

  Stefan choked on his laugh and had to cough to clear his throat. “No! I was not the bully. God, you’re so mean.”

  “I am not! I’m just asking.”

  “Mm-hm, accusing me of being a bully… Please. So cruel. Such slander.”

  “Hm, I don’t know. You’d be a hot bully.”

  A smirk tugged at his lips. “I am a hot bully.”

  I threw my head back as I laughed. “Damn right you are. Bullying me every day…”

  “Maybe. But I never bullied Julian. I stood up for him. Poor kid. I beat up the bullies and Julian stuck to me like glue ever since. I never tried to pry him off, though. He’s the most interesting person I’ve ever met.” He had a warm smile on his face, and he relaxed his arms by his sides.

  “Wait, back up. You beat up the bullies? You used physical violence?”

  “Uh, excuse you? The soldier?”

  “Inner Guard! We’re a defensive unit!”

  “Oh well, sure. You’re certainly defensive.”

  I chuckled and shook my head, doing my best to stop from laughing more. His wit was on point as always, but I didn’t want him to know I found his razor-sharp tongue cute, though I did wonder how long it would be before he used it again, and not just verbally. I easily recalled how good it felt wrapped around my dick.

  As if sensing my thoughts, he scowled and leaned back in his chair, placing his ankle on his opposite knee and crossing his arms over his chest. He looked good in my sweatpants. They hugged his thighs and ankles and were loose around his calves. I could even make out the vague shape of his cock cradled in his underwear.

  He sniffed loudly, and I looked up to find him staring right at me. He flushed a little from being caught, and I shamelessly raised my eyebrows and went right back to looking him over. He scoffed and rolled his eyes then leaned his head back and let me look. But just for a moment.

  “How did you and Casius meet, anyway?”

  If he thought talking to me would take my mind off his body, he was wrong, but I liked the fact he was asking about my life. I grinned, feeling a little victorious he was showing some interest. “We grew up together, pretty much. His dad is an architect like Cas—”

  “Casius is an architect?” Stefan glared at me like I was making up the story as I went along.

  I laughed. “Yes. He’ll be the first to tell you he’s not as good as his dad, but he does okay.”

  “When does he get time? It seems like he’s always at the Supreme Mansion.”

  “Yeah, things ha
ve been pretty busy around here since…”

  Stefan must have known I couldn’t say any more, and he didn’t push it. He cleared his throat and sat up. “So, his dad’s an architect, and you hired his dad and that’s how you met?”

  “Not quite. His dad worked on a project in my neighborhood, designing some community buildings and streetscapes and stuff. And Paul, that’s Casius’s dad—”

  “Oh yeah, I met him at the baby shower.”

  “Right. Well, he’s really into like, being in the space he’s designing and meeting the people who are going to use the buildings. So, he was hanging around a lot and bringing Casius with him. I guess Cas was dead bored in the afternoons, having to wait around for his dad who was always talking to my neighbors and my parents, so one day we just started playing together, and he stuck around. Also like glue. Turns out he didn’t live too far away from my place, and of course we went to the same school though we hadn’t hung out until then.”

  “And you were best friends ever since?”

  “Yeah. He went to college after we left school, and I joined the Inner Guard, but we stayed close, and then he became Alpha Select, and I ended up being his second in command. So now, not only are we still best friends, we work together.”

  I smiled at him. I felt special, with him asking me all these questions. There was such interest in his eyes, more than I’d ever seen before, and I was giddy with the idea that we were getting closer.

  “Hm. Must be nice to have that kind of consistency…” His mouth curved down and his eyes turned sad. Then he twisted away and looked at the delivery room door.

  I was about to ask what brought on his mood swing when the sound of feet pattering down the corridor made us both turn toward it.

  “Nicolas, are we too late?” Nancy Burrows, Casius’s mom, asked.

  “Stefan, why aren’t you in there with Julian? Is something wrong?” Casius’s dad demanded as they drew closer.

  Stefan laughed. “I’m off the clock. Cas is in there, taking care of things.”

  “Everyone’s fine. You haven’t missed a thing,” I said.

  “Oh, thank god.” The two of them were shaking with excitement. Nancy flicked her hands, trying to let off some nervous energy. “Imagine if we missed it. I’d just—”

  The door flew open and Casius emerged with the biggest smile I’d ever seen on his face. It lit up the whole corridor and we all stopped to stare at him expectantly.

  “Destiny Burrows has officially arrived!”

  “Whoo!” I jumped to my feet and cheered. Stefan was up on his feet after me, rushing to the door while Casius hugged his crying parents. I was right on Stef’s heels when Cas grabbed me and pulled me into a tight hug.

  It caught me by surprise, and so did the tenderness in his voice when he mumbled beside my ear. “Thank you, brother.”

  “For what?” I laughed it off, squeezing him tight.

  “For everything. I couldn’t have come this far without you. And I’ve never been happier.” His voice seized up as he let out a quiet sob. I held him for as long as he needed before he pulled away and gave me a slap on the shoulder. “C’mon. Come meet my daughter.”

  I let out a happy howl and followed him into the room where Julian was recovering in bed, with Stef right by his side. Nancy held Destiny like she was cradling the most precious jewel in the world, and the little girl looked up at her grandma with so much recognition it seemed like they knew each other in a past life.

  We sat around the room on chairs that Casius pulled in from the corridor, and we took turns holding the new arrival. When it was my turn, I braced myself for feelings of jealousy toward Casius and his perfect mated life and ideal family, but as soon as I held her, all I felt was deep love. She was perfect. She had Casius’s broad nose, and Julian’s love-heart lips, and their dark hair. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if Stef and I had a baby… Would it have his bright blue eyes? My dark hair?

  As if reading my mind, I caught Stef scowling at me. He hissed at me under the conversation going on around us. “Don’t get any ideas. I’m not a baby factory.”

  I chuckled and focused on how perfect Destiny was. Her eyes were so bright and sharp, it was like she was already learning from everything going on around her. I passed her to Stefan and watched as he took her with expert ease and moved her into a perfect cradle in his arms before he looked down and really took in her beautiful face.

  “Oh,” he whispered.

  I grinned as his eyes lit up and his lips parted. A smile spread across his face and he started chirping away at her. The two of them stayed like that for the rest of our visit, and when Julian announced he needed some rest, Stefan pretended not to hear him and kept on holding little Destiny. I had to admit, he looked perfect like that, with a baby in his tender care… Casius slowly eased her out of his arms, and Stefan tried to look calm about it, but I caught the slightest frown on his forehead.

  I said my goodbyes and made my way out of the room, but I waited in the hallway for Stef. He lingered even longer than Casius’s parents, but he eventually joined me outside and gave me a sad smile.

  We walked in step down the corridor, and I could practically smell the sadness coming off him. My wolf whined, deeply worried about our mate.

  I lowered my voice and asked quietly, “Want to come back to my place?”

  Stef just shook his head. He kept his gaze focused on the floor as we turned the corner into the foyer.

  “Are you okay? Want to talk about anything?” I softly touched his arm, but he pulled away and brushed me off.

  “I’m fine,” he said as we passed through the entrance and out into the warm sunshine. “And even if I wasn’t fine, I could handle it on my own.”

  “You just seem a little melancholy, so I’m worried about you. You’re my mate, after all.”

  “Can you drop all of this mating bullshit for five fucking seconds? We had sex and that’s it. It’s just physical. Get over it.”

  Ouch. Fuck. That stung.

  I stopped in my tracks and held my chest. Stef stopped too, and then turned to look at me. I frowned, and my wolf seemed to withdraw, hurt by his words.

  Stef opened his mouth and looked like he was going to apologize, but nothing came out. Instead, he turned his back to me and headed toward his car, calling back without looking at me, “I’ll see you later.”

  Later? Seriously?

  What the fuck?

  14

  Stefan

  I knew I was being a dick for no reason, but my emotions really caught me off guard when I saw Julian and Casius with Destiny, and I was not ready to process that in the company of someone who—mistakenly—thought we were meant to be together.

  I was happy for Julian, of course. Genuinely happy. But I couldn’t help but feel like he was moving forward, into a new life with his little family unit, while I was stuck in a place away from my home in Goldleaf, without a plan or a dream.

  I knew Julian would always be my friend. He’d promised as much many times over, and even if he hadn’t actually promised, I knew he wouldn’t let me out of his life. But he had changed since he met Casius. For the better, that much was clear, but still, things were different between us. His priorities had changed, and he’d, necessarily, delegated me down a place on his priority list now Destiny was part of the picture. I was used to being left behind when others moved on, but it still hurt. I was actually feeling kind of jealous of Destiny, which was absurd.

  My wolf whined and growled, angry with me for snapping at Nic. I needed to be alone.

  I got to my car and reclined the driver’s seat back so I could catch my breath for a moment. However, the stale air of the parking garage didn’t do much to clear my head. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. I felt frantic, frazzled energy pinging around my body like a video game character, and I desperately needed to break free somehow. I wanted to go for a run or get a cup of coffee, but I didn’t want to go back to Casius and Julian’s house. It was th
eir place, their family nest, and I was an interloper. I had to face the reality that I really needed to find a place of my own. I guess I could have found a hotel, but they were expensive, and I wasn’t sure how long the damn travel ban was going to last. The way things were looking, it could be weeks, even months.

  I pulled my phone out of my pocket and started looking up places for rent on the outskirts of Everglow, hoping for a little slice of peace where I could get away from it all. Having to be around people all the time was starting to really irritate me. With just a few phone calls, I lined up appointments to see three different places later that morning.

  With the prospect of my independence now restored, I was able to relax and enjoy the drive out to the leafy neighborhood where the potential rentals were. The first place was promising, a spacious apartment with a balcony near a large park.

  The real estate agent looked me over. “Are you just looking for yourself or will you be living with someone else?”

  He was cute in a preppy sort of way. His salmon-colored khakis and white button-down shirt were freshly pressed and his brown loafers shined with oil. He had a wide smile and short, dark hair with streaks of gray by his ears. But not my type.

  “Just looking for me.”

  He looked excited by my answer, his eyes flashing beta orange. “Oh yeah? There’s a shared laundry room in the basement…” The same smile remained unchanged on his face. I started to wonder if it had been glued in place.

  “That’s convenient.” I slid the door to the balcony back and forth to check it was in good shape.

  “Where are you moving from?”

  I took in the view from the balcony. I saw a bird alight from a tall tree and glide over the canopy of the forested hills. I didn’t take my eyes off the trees. “Oh, I’m just staying with friends right now. I have a few more places to see today, so I’ll let you know what I decide by the end of the day.”

  “Right, yeah, of course. And if you think of any more questions, please call me.” He winked as he handed me his business card.

  I frowned at his slightly sleazy come on, a little creeped out.