Zach

by Catherine Lievens

  Kameron used the gentle hold he had on Zach’s shoulder to turn him toward the stairs and lightly push him. “You’ll sleep upstairs.”

  Zach didn’t resist. There were plenty of guestrooms on the second floor anyway, but when they reached the top of the stairs Kameron directed him toward his own bedroom, and Zach stopped. “Kam?”

  Zach turned slightly, just enough to look into Kameron’s eyes. The mix of feelings warring in those copper eyes made Zach wonder exactly what Kameron was thinking about. “Humor me, Zach. Please. I know we never actually talked about this and that we weren’t... well, you know, but my wolf won’t allow me to have you far away right now.”

  Zach tried to read Kameron, but he already knew what his answer was going to be. There was no way he was saying no to sleeping into Kameron’s bed. It would probably be the only time he would have that opportunity, and his wolf agreed with him. “Okay.”

  Zach let Kameron steer him toward his room. Once they were in, Kameron’s hand fell from Zach’s shoulder, and he instantly missed the weight and warmth it had provided.

  “You know where the bathroom is.” Kameron opened his dresser and handed a T-shirt and a pair of shorts to Zach. “You can change into these. They might be big, but it’s better than the hospital gown you still have on.”

  Zach looked down. Jared had given him scrubs to put on under the hospital gown, but anything would be better than that ensemble. He gratefully took the clothes Kameron was handing him and walked into the bathroom, closing the door once he was in.

  “There’s a spare toothbrush under the sink,” Kameron said through the door, and Zach smiled. The man really thought of everything.

  It didn’t take long for Zach to get ready for bed, and by the time he was done, he wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and sleep for the next twelve hours. He was grateful to Kameron for giving him a safe place to stay, and for postponing the talk they needed to have. He slowly opened the door to the bedroom, moving carefully to avoid feeling too much pain, but it didn’t help much, especially when he looked at the bed.

  Zach froze, his brain not quite comprehending what he was seeing. “Do I have to go to the guestroom?”

  Kameron was in the bed where Zach was supposed to sleep, his body hidden under the covers. He had closed the curtains and the room was only lightly illuminated, but it was enough for Zach to see that Kameron was bare-chested, which immediately led him to wonder if Kameron was actually wearing anything under the covers.

  “No. Come here, Zach.”

  Kameron raised the blankets, making it clear that he really wanted Zach to sleep with him. Zach hesitated, but in the end, he went. He slid under the sheets, groaning at the pain shooting along his ribs. He moved around a bit as he tried to find a position that would be both comfortable and far enough from Kameron so that Zach didn’t touch him, but Kameron was having none of it.

  He scowled at Zach and gently grabbed him, helping him to turn on his side before spooning behind him. Zach inhaled sharply when he felt Kameron’s body blanketing his from behind, the warmth and strength almost unbelievable. Months ago, he had thought he could have this, but he had lost hope when he had moved away. Could it be that Kameron wanted him?

  Zach wriggled a bit as he tried to get comfortable, but he froze when he heard Kameron hiss. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “No,” Kameron said, his voice low and gruff. “I just don’t want you to... well, uh, you know, this position is, uh...”

  Zach eyes widened. He had never heard Kameron so hesitant. What the heck was happening? He moved a bit more, trying to replicate what he had just done, to understand what the problem was, and when his ass shifted against Kameron, he finally got it.

  Zach blushed. He could feel Kameron’s hard length against his ass, and even the two layers of cloth between them couldn’t hide that Kameron seemed very happy to see Zach. Zach couldn’t help it. He chuckled and moved again, burrowing himself even deeper into Kameron’s arms. “Yeah, I can feel that. Don’t worry, I’m not going to run away or anything. It’s... not a problem.” Definitely not a problem.

  “You sure? I could get up. I’m not actually going to sleep, so I could leave you the bed.”

  Zach grabbed the arm that was slung around his waist. “No, stay. I... I like this.”

  Kameron didn’t answer. He just settled back against Zach, their warmth mingling, and Zach finally relaxed. Minutes later, he was asleep.

  * * * *

  To his own surprise, Kameron slept. He hadn’t intended to—he had gotten in bed with Zach to reassure him and to be close to him, but he had planned to get up once the other man was asleep.

  But once Zach had closed his eyes, after that embarrassing moment, Kameron had lost himself in looking at him. The soft curve of Zach’s neck, where a mating bite would look so good, the silky spot under his ear that just called for Kameron’s lips, the too-long sandy blond hair, still tangled from the shower Zach had taken at the hospital and now fanned over Kameron’s pillows. Everything called to Kameron, everything mesmerized him, and he hadn’t been able to pry his eyes away from the vision that was Zach in his bed. That was how he had fallen asleep, with his mind and his heart so full of Zach, it was threatening to burst, and that was how he had woken up only seconds earlier.

  Kameron could guess from the light coming from between the curtains that several hours had passed. It was probably early evening now, and he had slept away the whole afternoon. Not that he cared.

  This was too important, and if someone needed something, they all knew they could go talk with Nick. That was why Betas existed, damn it, and Kameron had been without one for way too long. It had been impossible for him to take even a few hours off his Alpha job, not even to just relax, and he didn’t feel guilty for finally doing it. Well, okay, he did feel a tiny bit guilty, but having Zach in his arms felt too good to dwell on it.

  They had shifted positions during the nap, and now Kameron was on his back, an arm around Zach, while Zach was using his chest as a pillow and hugging him tightly, as if he was scared Kameron would slip away while he slept. He loved that position, because he could see Zach’s face like that, albeit not completely. Still, he saw more of it than when they had fallen asleep, and Kameron had every intention to use that fact.

  He let his gaze roam over Zach’s face and looked at his wounds. He couldn’t help but tense as anger rose in him, but he didn’t want to wake up Zach, so he pushed it away. He would use it once he faced Bud.

  Zach’s lower lip was cut and bruised, but the swelling had gone down quite a bit since his shifter’s healing had kicked in. One of his eyes was black and blue, his fair lashes contrasting with the bruise as they fanned over it.

  Kameron knew Zach had been lucky. If he had arrived later, maybe even only a few minutes later... Bud had been so intent on beating Zach up that he hadn’t even noticed Kameron and the others entering the house. Kameron knew the man wouldn’t have stopped this time, and he would have found Zach dead.

  Kameron took a deep breath, trying to settle the anger, sorrow and fear that were mixing inside him. He hadn’t meant to dwell on those feelings, but the sight of Zach’s face had made them resurface, and he was having a hard time getting them under control. It had been easy when he’d had other people around, but now that he was alone, he didn’t have a reason to keep them down.

  “Kam?”

  Zach startled Kameron out of the well of misery his feelings had created, and he looked down at him. Zach’s face was tilted toward Kameron, his fern-green eyes worried as he looked.

  “Hey. Did I wake you? I’m sorry. Maybe I should go, leave you—” Kameron made to get up.

  Zach tightened the hold he had on his waist. “Don’t go. I don’t know if you woke me, but now I’m awake. You can stay.”

  “You should rest more.”

  “I can rest even if I’m not sleeping, and this way I’ll be able to sleep tonight.”

  They s
ettled into a slightly uncomfortable silence. They both knew they needed to talk. Zach had to explain what had been going on, what had happened to make him go to Stan without even trying to talk to Kameron, but Kameron didn’t want to push him.

  He had been angry at Zach only hours ago, angry that Zach hadn’t trusted him, that he hadn’t talked to him. But now that his man was in his arms, Kameron was scared to say anything that would make him bolt, so he waited.

  “I guess it’s time to talk, huh?” Zach said, his gaze leaving Kameron’s face to look at the hand that leaned on Kameron’s chest.

  “I don’t want to push you, but I need to know.”

  “I’ll tell you, but I have a favor to ask first.”

  Kameron raised a brow at his man—and yes, Zach was his man now. “I’m listening.”

  “I... my parents had a big role in this. Not in what happened during the last few months,” Zach hurried to say when Kameron narrowed his eyes, “well, maybe they did, but they did this only to save their lives.”

  “Zach...”

  “I know, it’s not a good enough motive, but not everyone has the courage to put their lives in danger for others, not even their children.”

  Kameron knew Zach was right, but he still wanted for whoever had had a hand in this whole thing—however small their roles had been—to pay. “Fine. I promise I won’t hurt them, but I can’t promise I won’t lock them in the jail or exile them from the pack.”

  Zach smiled a tiny smile. “That’s the only thing I wanted.” He took a deep breath and lowered his face against Kameron’s chest, his arm tightening once more, as if he was afraid Kameron would run away once he heard what he had to say.

  “I know we only really met when Derick asked me to talk to you all those months ago,” Zach began, his eyes fixed on the curtains. “but I already knew about you, of course. I’ve always been aware of you, of your presence, but in the beginning I didn’t know it was something that shouldn’t have happened.”

  Kameron frowned. He wasn’t sure what Zach was trying to say, but now that he thought about it, even when Zach had been younger, if they ended up in the same room, or close to each other, he had always been aware of the smaller wolf. He just hadn’t given it importance, because Zach had been so young—still was, in fact.

  “I think I was fourteen when I asked my mother why I felt drawn to you. I still remember the expression on her face when she understood what I was asking her, what it meant.” Kameron tensed. Zach couldn’t be saying what he thought he was saying, right?

  “I knew I was way too young for you, I was still a kid, but when she sat me down and explained to me what it meant, I was happy. I thought it was the most wonderful thing that could happen to me, you know? But she didn’t think so, not with Erskine as the Alpha. I guess she was right. He would have done something like hurt you or me, and my parents were scared. A few days after that, my father came to me and gave me a bottle of pills. He told me I had to stay away from you and take the pills, and that it would make sure you didn’t... recognize me. That it would make my scent change. I didn’t even know where he had gotten them, but I do now, and I know exactly what price they had to pay for them.”

  Kameron couldn’t stand this. He sat up and grabbed Zach, pulling him up until they were face to face and he could look at him in the eyes. “I... Zach, are you saying that, that... are you telling me you’re my mate?” Hope swelled in Kameron’s chest, erasing every other feeling that wasn’t love for the man in front of him. Right then it didn’t matter that they had been apart for nearly ten years, that Zach had kept this secret from him. Kameron just wanted to know the truth.

  Zach looked at him, his eyes gleaming with tears. “Yes. I’m your mate.”

  Chapter Three

  Zach hadn’t known what to expect once he dropped his bomb, but it certainly wasn’t the startled look on Kameron’s face. The Alpha looked like a deer in headlights, and it would have been funny if the situation hadn’t been so serious for both of them.

  Zach chewed on his lower lip. Should he try to jolt Kameron out of whatever funk he was in, or should he just wait for him to snap out of it? “Kam?”

  “You’re my mate.”

  Zach opened his mouth to answer, but Kameron cut his answer short. He grabbed Zach’s shoulder and pulled him close, capturing his lips and kissing him. Zach’s eyes widened and he froze in shock. That he hadn’t expected, but he wasn’t a fool. This might be the only kiss they would share if Kameron decided he didn’t want Zach, and he was going to make the most out of it.

  Zach slid his arms around Kameron’s neck and held him close, opening his mouth for his mate when he felt a moist tongue prodding against his lips, trying his best to ignore the twinges and little pains that sparked in his body. Kameron didn’t waste time. He slid his tongue into Zach’s mouth, stroking Zach’s tongue before tangling them together.

  He explored Zach’s mouth thoroughly, and Zach answered with enthusiasm as he tried to learn his mate’s mouth, his taste and how he felt under him, in him. He needed to remember every single detail, no matter how small, and who cared about the pinching coming from his split lip?

  The kiss went on and on, but Zach could feel that Kameron was ending it. He tried to protest, to kiss him again, but he knew they had to talk, so he let Kameron do what he had to. Once their lips separated, Zach leaned his forehead on Kameron’s shoulder, taking in the man’s scent as he tried to calm his breathing down.

  “Zach? You need to tell me everything.”

  Zach took a deep breath and moved away, or at least he tried to, but Kameron didn’t let him get far. Kameron hugged him tightly before using the hold he had on Zach’s waist to turn him around and help him settle between his legs, back against chest. Kameron then slipped his arms back around Zach’s waist, and Zach was secretly relieved that he wouldn’t have to face Kameron while he talked. It was going to be hard enough as it was to tell him everything.

  “Okay, so I told you that my father told me to take those pills. I don’t know what was in them, I still don’t actually, but I do know they worked.”

  “When did you last take them?” Kameron asked.

  “Yesterday. I had to take them every day, so I guess my system will flush the chemicals out in the next few days.”

  Kameron buried his nose in Zach’s neck and inhaled deeply, causing a shiver of pleasure to course through Zach as he felt Kameron’s nose skim his skin just where he had always imagined Kameron would bite him. “Then you’ll smell like you should? Like my mate?”

  “I think so.”

  Kameron leaned back a bit, and while Zach lamented the loss, he knew he wouldn’t have been able to continue his explanation if Kameron hadn’t moved away. “You said you now know what price your parents had to pay.”

  “I do. They... they needed me to take the pills to avoid Erskine coming after me, but the thing is, they got the pills from Stan.”

  Kameron stiffened. “I suppose the fact that your sister mated with him is not a coincidence.”

  “It’s not, but I didn’t know it. I guess I never understood why Ellie mated with him as soon as she turned eighteen, but once she did, I wasn’t allowed to see her anymore, at least until she got pregnant. I guess Stan needed someone to take care of the house since she couldn’t anymore, so he came to me. He told me he would hurt her and you if I didn’t move in with them. I... I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared they would do something to you. It’s not only Stan, you know.”

  “I know I’ll have to find a way to get rid of the entire circle if I want this pack to finally get better. Zach... why didn’t you tell me you were my mate when I defeated Erskine? Why did you continue to take the pills?”

  “I wanted to tell you, really, but you had so many things to do, and I knew the circle would use me to get to you if you knew. I thought I would wait for a bit and then tell you everything, but Stan found me before I could.”

  “I could have helped y
ou, Zach, if only you’d have told me.”

  “I know. I realize now it was stupid, and that I risked Ellie’s life, and the baby’s, but I... I didn’t know what to do. At first, I thought I was doing the right thing, and then it was too late to tell anyone. Even when I managed to get away and come here, I couldn’t tell anyone. They would have...”

  Kameron’s arms tightened and Zach reveled in the contact. He didn’t know what was going to happen now, what Kameron would want to do, but Zach hoped he wouldn’t lose him completely. “So... what now?” he asked hesitantly, fearing the answer but needing to hear it.

  “What do you want to do?”

  “I... I don’t know. I guess I never thought I would have a choice, not after I moved into that house. I never let myself hope I might get out of it.”

  “You don’t have to decide right now, Zach. You can stay here as long as you want, and Ellie can stay too, once she gets out of the hospital.”

  Zach turned in Kameron’s arms. “Really?”

  Kameron nodded, his hands sliding on Zach’s sides until they reached his waist. “Of course. You know this house is always open for pack members.”

  Zach felt the spark of hope that had flared in his stomach die. He had thought that maybe Kameron was trying to tell him that he wanted him, but obviously, he would do this for all pack members. “What about, you know. The mate thing.”

  Kameron hesitated. “I want you, but... how can I be sure you won’t run away again if something happens? You’ve known I was your mate for years, yet you never told me, and when you needed help, you ran instead of coming to me. I think I need a little time before I can decide.”

  “Before you can decide if you want to mate with me or if you’ll just forget I exist?” Zach snapped. He knew Kameron didn’t deserve this, hell, he knew he did deserve to be pushed away, but it still hurt like nothing else had, more even than the punches and kicks Bud had used on him.

  Zach moved away, wincing when pain shot through him, but not caring about it much. He needed to put some space between Kameron and him. He couldn’t just stay there and watch as the man he loved tell him he didn’t want him.