by Jo Penn
It was a lot to deal with, and he had a lot of bitterness stored up. His second marriage only added to it. After that, he stopped dating and making friends, he studied and began getting his life together. No, he didn’t deal with anything until it all bottled up and he exploded at the cop and was arrested.
Maybe he should be grateful because talking to Sebastian had really helped, but Edward didn’t see why he would be grateful for the past shit in his life that led him to have to speak to a therapist. Still, he wasn’t as angry and bitter anymore, he was dealing with it all, accepting the past and moving forward. Sebastian said Edward had been doing that for a while now, and just needed to find a constructive outlet for his pain and anger. He’d suggest Tai Chi or yoga. Edward suggested kick boxing or boxing.
Brushing his teeth and fixing his hair, Edward heard a knock on the door. Excitement bubbled up. Yeah, he had it bad for Tripp Croggen. Still, he’d be cautious. He’d done this dance a few times now and lost out big time. This time might just be the most important. Edward didn’t want to mess up.
* * * *
Tripp got the feeling his mate wasn’t enjoying the food.
“What is this?” Eddie was frowning into the soup bowl and pushing a vegetable with a spoon.
“Lotus root. It’s good for you, and tastes good.”
“Yeah, not so much. I’ll just eat the pork ribs and other vegetables.”
Tripp booked the Chinese restaurant as it had good reviews, and Google said on a first date, go somewhere popular and with a variety of meals to offer. Maybe he should have gone for something similar to what they had for lunch after all.
“If you don’t like it, we can go somewhere else,” Tripp said.
Eddie blinked at him. “I like Chinese.”
Relaxing, Tripp smiled. “Okay. Do you like bush walking?”
“Err…sure?”
Laughing, Tripp just shook his head. He was fairly confident Eddie would tell him, possibly loudly, if he didn’t like something, and probably refuse to do it. Right now he could scent his mate’s nerves which reassured Tripp. Being nervous was good. Lust and excitement would be better.
They settled into the conversation after that, Tripp telling cop stories and Eddie relating some accidental accounting mistakes and shady creative figures. His mate had a dry sense of humor that Tripp could appreciate, and he listened, encouraging Tripp to talk. He found Eddie interesting.
It was during dessert that Eddie told him about his uninvited houseguest that afternoon. The urge to roar and hunt the person down who’d been near his mate, and could have harmed Eddie, rode Tripp hard. Who the hell was the guy? Breaking into someone’s apartment was pretty serious and showed a lot of intent.
“What’s this man’s name, mate?” Tripp demanded, pulling out his phone and hitting the Milson City police department app. He’d run a search on the prick and send a team out to bring the man in for questioning.
Eddie’s mismatched eyes narrowed, and his full lips thinned ominously. Tripp did a quick recount of what landmine he may have stepped on, but couldn’t figure out what he’d said, or done wrong. Damn, didn’t Eddie understand Tripp needed to keep him safe, to eliminate any threat that came near his human? When Eddie stabbed angrily at his four layer carrot cake with buttercream icing, Tripp took a calming breath.
“What’s wrong?” he asked cautiously.
Eddie glared. “I handled it. I don’t need some big macho cop saving me, okay?”
Ugh, right, he’d stepped on his mate’s need to take care of himself, and maybe made him feel emasculated. Fuck! While Tripp scrambled for a response, Eddie stabbed at another bit of cake and pointed it at him. Before the situation could digress any further and completely stuff up his evening, Tripp leaned forward and tapped his mate’s other hand.
“Regardless of me being a creature, anyone who cares about you would be concerned when your apartment is broken into. I’m also a cop and your mate. I don’t want you hurt, Eddie, and I will spend the rest of my life making sure you’re happy, healthy and safe. Someone breaking into your apartment is serious, and I’m trained to deal with that.”
Eddie sighed and waved his pork chop around. “You have a point. But, just because I’m your mate doesn’t mean you waltz in and take over. I’m not weak. I’m human.”
Tripp was startled. “Why the hell would I think you’re weak?”
“It’s a known fact humans are not as physically strong as paranormals,” Eddie snapped.
“Well, that depends on the human and creature. Djinn are not as physically strong, neither are some witches and wizards. It depends on the size and muscle mass. Then there are humans. All are different. Some are really damn strong. Others, not so much. I also know some shifters who are strong in their gift, but not physically. None of that takes away my need to protect my mate, though.”
“And what if I protect you?”
Tripp grinned happily. “Yeah? You want to protect me? Cool.”
“Huh? Cool?”
“Well, of course. It means you care about me and don’t want me hurt. That’s how I feel about you.”
Eddie frowned and went back to eating. It was as simple as that to Tripp. He wanted to protect his mate when a situation arose, and he sure didn’t mind if Eddie felt the same way.
Tripp had finished his dessert and drunk his tea that for some reason had his mate grumbling over. He may never understand Eddie fully, but he sure liked him. When Eddie reached out and took Tripp’s hand, he felt a jolt of lust straight to his cock and a pleasurable feeling in his chest.
“This afternoon when I…came onto you…” Eddie flushed and looked annoyed.
Tripp smiled and turned his mate’s hand over in his, then used his thumb to caress the soft palm. “It has been a big day for both of us, Eddie. Meeting properly, discovering we’re mates, and you being in danger during a bank robbery. It’s a wonder we ever got out of bed after all that.”
“You think?” Eddie asked, eyes hopeful but wary.
“Being with you was special, Eddie. It means everything to me.”
“Oh, okay…yeah, I feel the same.” Eddie pushed his empty desert plate aside and scratched his chin. “The guy who broke into my apartment said he was from Humans Against Paranormals. I didn’t bother listening to what he had to say, it wouldn’t have been anything I wanted to hear. Extreme hate isn’t my thing, nor is violence. I may have yelled and told him to get out, but that’s his fault for breaking in.”
Tripp decided his mate had a lot of courage to stand up to someone from the HAP. That lot was a bunch of assholes who brought in members by bullying and playing on weaknesses. HAP was a movement that was growing over the last few years, and even the Renegades were concerned as their members were targeted more than others. Tripp would be opening a case against the group and finding out who had broken into Eddie’s apartment. He had an instinct HAP fixed on Eddie because of who Tripp was. High up paranormals were often exploited and targeted by Renegades and the hunters who hid among HAP and other groups against paranormals. Tripp would not let them get a real foothold in Milson Valley. This was his home, and the people and creatures who lived here, he protected.
“Good. If anyone approaches you again, let me know, and we can work out what to do.” Tripp may want to station pack soldiers around his mate and keep the man safe, but he couldn’t see Eddie agreeing to that. Still, as the Second for the Starters pack, Eddie would need to accept a certain level of protection. He ran his thumb along his man’s palm. “You find that offensive?”
Eddie sighed loud enough for the next table to hear, but he didn’t pull his hand away from Tripp. “No, I guess not. I’m not used to someone wanting to protect me, Tripp. I’ve taken care of myself for a long time.”
“You’re not alone anymore, cutie,” Tripp said quietly, stroking his thumb gently back and forth. “It’s up to you whether you let me in or not. That doesn’t mean I won’t point out all my good qualities, invite you to dinner, maybe give you fl
owers and candy, or try and claim you. And it doesn’t mean I won’t do everything I can to protect you. Even if that means you yell at me for it.”
“I don’t always yell.”
“I’m sure you don’t. This guy broke into your house, you had a right to be angry.” Tripp lifted Eddie’s hand and kissed the palm, scenting his mate’s delicious, individual fresh as a meadow smell. His cock hardened and his heartrate sped up. “The people involved in HAP appear to be reasonable on the surface, but they’re associated with hunters who didn’t care about involving innocents in their fight against paranormals. I don’t want you hurt. I want and need to protect you. I also have to find this person who broke into your house and stop him from doing it again to you and anyone else. How was dinner?”
“Yeah, it was good. I even liked the lotus stem in the end. I understand what you’re saying, and will think about the whole protection issue and your need to take care of me. I get it that creatures are much more intense than humans a lot of the time when it comes to their partners. As for the man who broke in, well, I was too annoyed he was sitting on my couch and trying to manipulate me into joining his stupid gang to get his name.”
Eddie’s reasoning was actually pretty fair and reasonable. He hadn’t wanted anything to do with HAP, and had wanted the man out of his apartment. Tripp would have felt the same, except he’d have gotten the intruders name and arrested him for breaking and entering. Smiling, Tripp nodded and changed the subject. He wasn’t going to badger his mate because he sure as hell didn’t like someone brow beating him, and Eddie had been quite good about it all so far. Instead, he bought up holiday destinations, curious to see the type of places Eddie liked to go and what he enjoyed doing. They had a few things in common. Eddie didn’t mind camping, kayaking and canoeing, he enjoyed fishing and running the rapids. He liked sightseeing, particularly places of historical significance, whether that was a village, town, and city, or places like the Grand Canyon, state forests and others. They talked about Trekk’s inventions, and Eddie was fascinated and suggested recycling steel, pipe, and similar materials, as they may be of use in Trekk’s designs.
Time was irrelevant as they talked. Tripp loved his mate’s dry sense of humor, and that never once did Eddie put someone else down for entertainment and fun. He berated his supervisor a few times for being a perv and having no backbone with the bigger boss, but it wasn’t done harshly, just general employee complaints. Tripp got enough of those in his job to know the difference. He mentioned Uri’s job offer and got a snort of laughter. At first, he thought Eddie was outright dismissing it, but then his mate said he may have to take the alpha up on the position if his current employer ran true to form and let him go as he was a qualified accountant now.
If Eddie’s employer did let him go due to attaining a degree and having to give a pay rise, Tripp would be speaking to a buddy in the work tribunal, as he knew that was against the law. He would also encourage Eddie to get a lawyer, though knew the company would cover up what they were doing, and probably make up something against Eddie to justify the dismissal.
They left the restaurant and walked hand in hand to a coffee shop for hot chocolate with marshmallows, and spent an hour there cuddled close on an overstuffed sofa. People and creatures he knew came in, one being Ace Sanchez, a prince in the Sanchez pride who was with his cousin, another prince, Linc Sanchez. As both were cubs, Tripp did a quick look around and spotted pride bodyguards lingering close. They got even closer when Ace threatened to gut the barista for putting marshmallows in his hot chocolate. Fortunately, Linc calmed his best friend and cousin down before the menace actually did do bodily harm. They left the café, Linc waving at Tripp as they went. A group of paranormals that included Tyler Durand, a vampire prince, his mate Constantin Hutton, friends Archie Taunton, Blazh Aston and a few others, joined Ace and Linc, Archie moving as close to Linc as he could without actually picking the little mountain lion up and hugging him. Tripp watched the group of cubs move off, noting some of the pack’s pups and other paranormals, even some humans, joined them further down the street. He itched to call those responsible for the young’uns and have the cubs sent home immediately. The number of times this group, and another one, got into mischief and had soldiers, police, and the fire brigade out, made him want to invent a new law prohibiting the two groups from leaving a restricted, controlled and well supervised spot.
Tripp talked to Eddie about all the paranormal groups in the area. The Sanchez pride was a large feline shifter group with a mix of nearly every type of cat. He explained that his triplet Tredd was mated to one of the Lord’s, Alessandro who went by Trent and he was stationed at present in Zurich where there were numerous cousins and another pride. There was also a Sanchez pride in L.A., but it was relatively small, less than twenty members. As Eddie was showing an interest, he talked about what the different groups did, some of their functions and the Alliance.
“You’ve mentioned this Alliance before, and I’ve heard it from people at work. What is it?” Eddie asked.
“Most look upon it as forming a stronghold of protection for paranormals and humans in Milson Valley. Because we have a lot of creatures living here these days and more coming—”
“Wait. Who?” Eddie’s eyes widened. “But how many more can fit?”
Tripp laughed. “Milson Valley is a big place, and the city is ever expanding. We had the Durand vampire coven arrive a few months ago, and the fae soon after that. The vampires set up a coven in the Village while the fae has a massive estate much further out in the Valley. The gargoyles will be arriving in about a month. They purchased the old Henson orchard with the crumbling down castle that looks right out of a gothic B rated film.”
Eddie flicked a smile. “I like gothic B rated films.”
“Yeah?” That intrigued Tripp. “Aren’t you the one who said he didn’t like paranormals?”
Eddie flushed and poked Tripp’s arm. “I don’t dislike paranormals. I’m merely indifferent.”
“Huh, indifferent hey.”
“Maybe not indifferent to one.”
“Good to know, mate.” Tripp snuck a kiss, pleased that Eddie extended it, their lips clinging.
As soon as their lips touched, any part of their bodies touched, Tripp found himself consumed and on fire, a spark igniting and ready to blow. He wanted more. He wanted all of his mate, and he couldn’t believe that in one day he was already falling in love with the man. But then, Eddie was just so damn special. Crusty on the outside with a dry humor Tripp really liked, smart and soft inside. The man found what was broken and discarded and turned it into something beautiful and useful, gave it new life and purpose. Eddie had done that for his own life also. Picked himself up, moved forward and made a new life and purpose, made it colorful and hopeful.
Yeah, Tripp was in love with his mate. He was chuffed about that. Eddie finally broke their kiss and placed a hand against Tripp’s chest, nudging him back just a little.
“Umm, maybe we should stop.”
Tripp would rather tear their clothes off and lick his mate all over, then fuck him on the table, floor, across the sofa they were on, right after he roared and chased out all the staff and customers. But he conceded, Eddie may not be into that, so he would wait. Though his cock was aching and he’d probably end up with blue balls.
“Or we can go back to my place and—” Tripp quirked a smile, winking.
Eddie breathed hard, pupils dilating. Unfortunately, he snapped out of his lust haze and shook his head.
“Tell me about the Alliance. I guess I need to understand all about paranormal ways since we’re, umm, mates.”
“We are mates.” Tripp gently touched his shoulder to Eddie’s, giving a little nudge. “But it isn’t all about paranormal ways. The Alliance is made up of the different groups in the area that includes human. Not HAP, but members of the human council and others who want to be involved and have a say. The entire purpose of the Alliance is to make sure everyone in Milson Valley works t
ogether, protects each other, and can live and thrive. Uri was the one who actually came up with the Alliance. Hundreds of years ago the Starters moved to Milson Valley when it was nothing but forest. They set up along the river, and other wolf shifters joined them, making a pack. Uri’s father was the alpha then, great visionary I’m told. Uri’s even better. Only a day or so after the Starter’s moved to the Valley, a group had broken away from the Sanchez pride in L.A. and set up five miles out of Milson City limits, as it is today. They took a huge chunk of the forest, but are more on Martha’s Vineyard side.
“Now the story goes the two could have fought and battled it out for who got the largest chunk of land, or sent the other packing. Instead, they accepted each other, took up as much space and land as each other, and butted against boundaries. They also worked together to fight off any Renegades and others who tried to take this area from them. But they didn’t form an alliance, they simply stuck to their sides and came together to negotiate and fight invaders and common enemies. When Uri was only twenty-two, his parents were killed in a sneak attack, and though the pack fought, they were losing ground. The pride came and helped fight the Renegades back, and after Uri had recovered he went to the crown prince of the Sanchez pride and offered an alliance. The pack teaches specialized gift use, while the pride trains soldiers. These soldiers work for the Alliance that was formed to protect the entire valley and everyone in it. Humans moved here a few hundred years ago because it was safe with the two paranormal groups not fighting one another and protecting the Valley. They formed their council and joined the Alliance, as did the Armstrong witch and wizard coven when they arrived a hundred odd years ago.”
Eddie was frowning and nodding. “I had read a bit about that years ago in school, and how the forming of the alliance was used by many groups in different areas these days, but I hadn’t realized so many from that time are still in charge and humans are so involved…do you think I could be?” Eddie’s eyes widened. “I mean, I saw David Proctor and that HAP guy and thought, wow, they’re scary extremists. Did something really tragic happen to make them that way? So how do we stop it, or reverse the effects?”
