He closed his eyes and his mind drifted to Blair. Delevan hated feeling so needy. He didn’t even know why he was that way. He’d felt lonely for a long time, but he’d avoided getting a boyfriend. He didn’t know why, but he’d thought everything would be fine if he found his mate, that it would be a miracle solution. It clearly wasn’t, and he didn’t know what to do about it. The last thing he wanted was to have to talk about feelings, but he thought Blair would probably want to.
Not that avoiding talking about them had helped over the past few weeks, so maybe there was something there.
Delevan started to drift off, but someone knocked on the door. “Yeah?” he asked without opening his eyes.
The door opened. Whoever it was didn’t talk. Footsteps came closer and the mattress dipped. A hand stroked Delevan’s hair, and he finally opened his eyes. His dad was looking down at him, his eyes unreadable. “Hey, Dad.”
“You scared the shit out of me,” his dad said in a gruff voice, his hand never leaving Delevan’s hair.
“Yeah. Sorry for that. Wasn’t my intention.”
“Smartass.”
“Not that smart. I followed Bradley out there.”
“Why did you?”
“He said he needed to talk to me. I thought it was about the bruises, that maybe he’d finally decided to ask for help.”
His dad stared at him and sighed. “You did the right thing. You couldn’t have known Bradley would do what he did. Who could have? He’s a shifter, yet he works with the hunters.”
Obviously his dad didn’t know the whole story. Delevan didn’t know what had happened after he’d passed out. “Did you take him?”
“No. He ran while we were scrambling to help you.”
“Damn.”
“I know. He could have given us information on the hunters.”
Delevan tried to sit up, but one glare from his dad was enough for him to stay down. “It’s more than that. He’s the leader of the hunters.”
* * * *
Blair didn’t think he’d ever seen so many people packed in the kitchen, not after dinnertime. Usually everyone disappeared as soon as they were done eating, except for those who were on clean up duty, but today there had to be at least fifteen people there, huddled at the kitchen table and around the counter. Most were drinking coffee from the smell of it, but Nysys had a milk mustache, and Keenan was making fun of him for it.
“I’m sure Morin loves my mustache,” Nysys said in an indignant voice. He pursed his lips and his eyes crossed as he tried to look at the mustache.
Morin was next to him and nodded seriously. “Oh, yes. I love it. It’s so... white.”
“Hey! White mustaches are perfectly normal and sexy.”
“Sure, when they’re real ones. You couldn’t grow one even if you wanted to. You’re almost hairless.”
Nysys leered. “And he’s talking about everywhere, if you get what I mean.”
Keenan grimaced. “Unfortunately, I do. And that’s TMI, man.”
Nysys snorted. “Please. I’ve probably seen you naked more often than Jonah has.”
Jonah wrapped an arm around Keenan’s shoulder and pulled him closer. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
“I am. Did you know he has a heart-shaped mole on his thigh?”
Jonah arched a brow. “Yes, just under his ass cheek. I can’t help but wonder how you know that, but I’m not sure I want to know the answer.”
That was more than Blair wanted to know about Keenan, so he tried to ignore the conversation and went to the fridge. There was no way he’d go unnoticed, and he knew it, but he was glad most people in the room were focusing on Nysys and on his description of Keenan’s nipples. God only knew why they were, because that was something else Blair had never wanted to know.
Blair had the time to get a plate from the fridge and stick it in the microwave before Jayden noticed him and asked in a too loud voice, “How’s Delevan? Is he okay? Is he awake? What’s he said about what happened? Can we go see him?”
Blair shook his head when dozens of questions were thrown at him by different people, most of them along the lines of what Jayden had just asked. The level of noise in the kitchen was astounding, and Blair wasn’t sure the others would even hear him if he tried to answer.
There was a loud whistle and everyone turned toward the kitchen door. Ani was there, his fingers still in his mouth. He slid them out and looked around until he found Blair. “Dom sent me to help you. He thought you might be mobbed for info.”
“We wouldn’t mob him,” Nysys cried out. “Maybe torture him just a bit. So? How is Delevan? I can go get my feathers if you don’t answer.”
Blair frowned. “Feathers?”
“Well, me and Morin usually use it for another kind of torture, if you get what I mean, but I could tickle you until you spilled the beans.”
Blair raised his hands. “There’s no need to threaten me that way. I’ll talk, I swear.”
“Good boy.”
“Delevan is fine. He woke up a few minutes ago.”
Nysys stared at Blair for a few moments, then, when he realized Blair was done talking, he snorted. “That’s all you have to say to me?”
“Umm, yes?” The microwave beeped and Blair focused on it. Maybe Nysys would leave him alone. He should have known better.
“Aww, come on. He was stabbed, like, his stomach was torn open by a knife.”
Blair’s stomach churned. “I know. I was there. I saw it.”
Nysys looked repentant for all of two seconds. “Right. Sorry. I know you’re his mate, but we love him too. We want to know how he is.”
Blair chose to ignore the too part of Nysys’ sentence, and what it implied. “He’s fine, really. A bit weak, but fine. You can all see him tomorrow.”
“But...”
Ani intervened. “Nys, you know how our healing works. Noem knows his job. He healed Delevan, so now Del just needs rest. He’ll be fine tomorrow and you can start bugging him again then. Give him this evening and night to think over what happened and be with Dom and Blair, yeah? He needs some peace.”
Nysys pouted and crossed his arms on his chest. “Fine, but tomorrow morning I’m coming to see him.”
“After ten.”
“But—”
Ani arched a brow, and Blair watched incredulously as Nysys snapped his mouth shut instead of protesting some more. “Fine. After ten.” He looked at Blair. “Can I bring him something?”
“Uh, I don’t think he needs anything, but thanks. I’ll tell him you volunteered.”
Blair took the plate, grabbed silverware, and hurried out of the room. As soon as he stepped out, noise exploded behind him. He shook his head and climbed the stairs, Ani close behind him. “Thanks for saving me.”
Ani shrugged. “You have better things to do than to answer a thousand questions.”
“You’ll have to teach me and everyone else how you managed to shut Nysys up.”
Ani laughed. “Nope. That’s my secret weapon.”
“Aww, come on.”
Ani shook his head. “It’s only because I’m in charge here.”
Blair frowned. “Apart from the fact that Nysys is a council member, so technically he’s as much in charge as you are, I thought he didn’t care about insignificant stuff like who’s in charge.”
“He doesn’t, not really, but he knows there’s a line he can’t overstep. I love him, and I love his personality, even though it can be a lot to deal with. He knows we leave him alone to do his shenanigans only up to the point where they don’t hurt anyone, though. Delevan needs rest.” Ani eyed Blair sideways. “So that means no hanky-panky tonight.”
Blair stumbled on his own foot and nearly dropped the plate. “What?”
“No hot monkey sex.”
“You’re more similar to Nysys than you let everyone see,” Blair pointed out, narrowing his eyes.
Ani gave him an innocent smile and s
hrugged. “Maybe.”
“And me and Delevan won’t be having hot monkey sex. We haven’t since we’ve met, so I don’t see why tonight should be the night we do.”
Ani stopped in the middle of the hallway.” You haven’t had sex yet?”
“No.”
“But... haven’t you been sleeping with him?”
“Sleeping being the keyword here. We’ve barely kissed.”
Ani shook his head and started walking again. “I’ll never understand why some people need to create problems where there aren’t any to begin with.”
“So you’re telling me you mated and had sex with Dominic as soon as you met him.”
Ani was serious when he answered. “No, but then I’d been raped repeatedly by my tribe’s second, and I was scared of Dominic. He was patient with me, but it took me some time and a lot of courage to take the first step toward him.”
Blair swallowed. “Shit, sorry. I didn’t know.”
“It’s fine. It was a long time ago. Well, it was last year, but the year I’ve spent here with the pride has been the happiest of my life. I haven’t forgotten what happened to me, and I still have to deal with some... issues, but I’m mostly fine.”
“I shouldn’t have asked.”
“Doesn’t matter. I was just trying to say that neither you nor Delevan have had to deal with something like that. I don’t know your problems, and I’m not saying you don’t have any or that they’re not important, but you shouldn’t let them get in the way of your happiness. Delevan, well, he’s been down lately. He hasn’t talked to me or to Dom about it, but we know something is up. We thought finding you would help.”
Blair stopped before entering Delevan’s room. “It’s my fault, I think. I, well, I had a thing with Ben. It was before meeting Del, and it was only sex, but I guess I feel guilty about it, and I’ve let it influence mine and Del’s relationship.”
“Does he know?”
“Yeah.”
“Does he have a problem with it?”
“He says he doesn’t, but how can I be sure?”
“He’s an adult. If he says that, then you should believe him.”
“I know. Seeing him hurt, well, it made me realize how stupid we’re being.”
“Good. Now go in there and take care of your mate.”
Chapter Four
“The leader of the hunters? Are you sure?”
Delevan nodded at his dd. “That’s what he said. I don’t see why he should have lied to me.”
Delevan’s dad tapped his fingers on his thigh. “Mmm. How can he, though? He’s a shifter. Of course, we know that, but the hunters probably don’t. If they think he’s human and that he decided to infiltrate the pride, they probably think he’s a hero. Did he say anything else?”
Delevan thought about Bradley’s words. “That his second in command is someone named Jericho, and that this guy was the one to bruise Bradley.”
“Did he say why?”
“No.”
“I guess it could have been only to make us think he was vulnerable. That way he was sure we wouldn’t cast him out of the pride, no matter what happened. Why did he reveal himself today, though? He could have stayed here longer.” Delevan’s dad looked down at him. “Why did he want to talk to you specifically?”
“Well, it’s not like we had a lengthy conversation, but he wanted to take me away. He knows I’m one of the few vulnerable spots you have.”
“Ani is my mate, though, and I’ve known you only for a year.”
“But you and Ani are mated, and he could have shimmered away with no problem, not to mention the mind-talking thing. I don’t have any of that. I’m not mated to Blair, so, like Bradley pointed out, not even he would have noticed something was wrong until it was too late.”
Delevan’s dad shifted position until they faced each other. Delevan was still on his back, so he tried to sit up again, but his dad shook his head and cupped his cheek. He stared at Delevan until Delevan wanted to squirm and look away. “Why did he stab you?”
Delevan startled at the question. “What do you mean?”
“He wanted to take you, so why did he stab you? He wouldn’t have made it far carrying you. It makes no sense.”
Delevan swallowed. “You already know the answer, right?”
“Probably, but I want to hear it from you.”
“I told him I wouldn’t go with him. Like you said, he couldn’t carry me, so he had to choose between leaving me there or killing me.”
The fingers on Delevan’s face twitched, as if his dad was stopping himself from tightening them. “If something like this happens again, and believe me, I’d rather lock you in the mansion and throw away the key than to let it happen, but if it does, I want you to promise me you’ll obey.”
“What? But—”
“Del. Promise me.”
Delevan shook his head, or at least he tried to. “I can’t.”
This time the fingers did tighten. “Why not.”
“Because he wanted me to get to you. You’re the alpha of the pride and leader of the council. Who knows what would happen if you had to give them up, and I’m pretty sure that’s what Bradley wanted, or some version of it. I can’t allow that, not just to save myself.”
Delevan’s dad leaned forward and pressed their foreheads together. “I don’t care, Del. If you had died, I don’t think I’d have been able to continue being a good alpha, let alone lead the council. You are the most important thing for me, you and Ani. Without the two of you, I wouldn’t think twice about leaving the pride and everything else behind to hunt down whoever hurt you.”
Delevan clasped his dad’s shoulder with a trembling hand. When he’d decided to come to Whitedell to find his father a year before, he hadn’t expected to develop the strong relationship they had in such a short time. They didn’t cuddle, or even hug each other much—Delevan felt too old for it—but he knew his dad loved him. They were close, and hearing the man he’d come to think of as invincible talk like that troubled Delevan more than anything else could.
“I’ll try not to get captured or hurt, then,” he said, trying to make his voice playful, but only succeeding in a croak.
His dad leaned away, but he didn’t release him. “You can’t try. You have to do it. The pride members are my family, and I’d do anything for them, but you, you’re different. Special. I’d be hurt if something happened to any pride member, but I’d be destroyed if something happened to you.” He waited, and Delevan knew he wanted an answer.
He nodded. “Yeah, okay. I know that, and trust me, I don’t plan to get stabbed again. I just didn’t think...”
“That you are as important as my mate is to me?”
Delevan shrugged and looked away, letting his hand fall on his lap. “Yeah. I mean, you didn’t even know about me a year ago. I popped out of nowhere into your life, and you never berated me for it.”
“Why should I have? It’s true, I didn’t know about you, but you’re my son. I wish I’d have known you existed so much earlier, Del. I wish I could have been there when you grew up, that I could have told you about shifters, and that I’d have been there for you when you shifted for the first time. I don’t know why your mother did what she did, but I’m glad I have you. Never think otherwise. I’ll repeat this every time you need to hear it.”
“Yeah, okay.” Delevan needed to hear it, but it didn’t mean talking about stuff like that didn’t make him uncomfortable as heck. “I just, well, you have Ani, and it’s weird.”
His dad laughed. “I won’t deny it, but it’s not like we can do anything about it. Ani’s my mate, even if he’s younger than you. I’m glad the two of you are friends.”
Delevan smiled. “Yeah, me too. It freaks me out to think of him as my step-dad, but he’s a good friend.”
“You know you can talk to him if you don’t feel comfortable talking to me, right? He won’t tell me anything if you ask him not to.”
/>
“It’s okay, Dad. I know I can talk to you.”
“Good, because I wasn’t sure. You haven’t talked to me about what’s going on with Blair, so I was wondering.” He gave Delevan a pointed look and Delevan wondered how to answer.
Luckily for him, the bedroom door opened and Ani and Blair came in. Blair was holding a plate and silverware, while Ani had a bottle of water and napkins. He made a beeline for the bed and put the bottle and the napkins down, then leaned forward to look at Delevan. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine. Weak, but fine.” Ani continued to stare, so Delevan felt the need to insist. “Really, I’m fine.”
Ani nodded and moved away, looking satisfied. Blair stepped forward and handed Delevan the warm plate. Delevan reached for the silverware and started eating, not even caring of what was on the plate. He was hungry as hell, and it made him wonder how much blood he’d lost.
He stopped only when his plate was empty and realized everyone in the room was looking at him. He blushed and patted his mouth with a napkin. Blair smiled at him and handed him the water.
Ani waited for him to stop drinking to ask, “So, what happens now?”
Delevan’s dad linked his fingers together. “Well, it’s obvious Bradley thought he was about to be found out. We need to check everything he worked on and find out what information he gathered, about both the pride and the council. Isaiah was doing the biggest part of everything, but Bradley probably managed to find something.”
“You need to get more enforcers here and talk to the council.” Ani got up and took his phone out. “I’m going to call Keenan and ask him to come to your office, then we can contact the council members and decide what to do.”
Delevan was tired again. He wished he could help, but his dad got up, kissed his forehead, and smiled. “We’ll see you tomorrow morning, all right? I expect you in my office at some point during the morning.”
“But you have to work.”
“I don’t care. I want to see you’re fine. You come before anything else, remember?”
Delevan Page 6
