“I don’t think it’ll be needed, but thanks for the offer.”
Trevor hung up and closed his eyes. He hadn’t called or even texted Micah since the night he’d left the mansion in a hurry two weeks ago. That was what Micah had wanted and asked for, and Trevor didn’t want to push himself on someone who didn’t want him.
“Who’s here to see you?” Nysys asked, his expression cold instead of the usually happiness.
“Micah.”
“What does he want?”
“I don’t know, but please, stay out of it.”
Nysys looked at Trevor, then shimmered away, catnip bag still in his hand. Trevor swore and ran down downstairs, but he knew he’d be too late. He couldn’t see Nysys anywhere, and when he opened the front door, he realized Nysys had shimmered into Micah’s car. He was in the passenger seat, his eyes narrowed, his lips barely moving as he spoke. Trevor had no doubts he was threatening Micah, and from the look on Micah’s face, it was working.
Micah shook his head at something Nysys said and parked the car. Trevor hurried toward them, walking around the car to pull open the passenger door. He’d haul Nysys out if necessary.
“I told you not to stick your nose into this,” he hissed at Nysys when Nysys climbed out.
“I won’t.”
“You’ve already done just that!”
Nysys gave Trevor a toothy grin. “Fine. I won’t any more. I’ve said all I needed to say.”
He shimmered away before Trevor could add anything. Trevor sighed and closed his eyes, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Why had he thought becoming Nysys’ friend was a good idea?
“He’s fierce,” Micah said from behind Trevor, and Trevor tensed.
“Yes. He doesn’t like seeing his friends hurt.” Trevor might have wanted to respect Micah’s wishes, but he wasn’t going to make things easy for him. He was there to talk to him, and Trevor was going to let him do all the talking.
“It’s not what I wanted. I never wanted to hurt you—you have to believe me.”
Trevor sighed. “I do. I know you were scared, for some reason, and I do understand why you left me. I wished you’d stayed and talked to me, though.”
“I hope it’s not too late to do just that.”
Trevor shook his head. “No. Come on, let’s go to my room.” He paused. “Unless you’re afraid of me? We can go into the living room instead. That way you’ll know someone will be there to help you if you need it.”
A hand on the small of his back made Trevor jerk. “I’m not afraid of you,” Micah said, rubbing small circles on Trevor’s back. “I know you’d never hurt me. Not you.”
“But someone did.”
“Yeah.”
“And that’s why you didn’t trust me.”
“That, and the fact that we’ve known each other for so little time. I didn’t know if I could trust you.”
“And now you do?”
“Partly. You did exactly what I asked you to do. I know not many men would have let me leave without calling at least once.”
Trevor shook his head. “I’m not that desperate.”
“You are.”
Trevor swirled around, harsh words ready on his lips, but Micah held his hands up in surrender and Trevor’s anger deflated as fast as it had appeared. “I mean, I know I’m your mate, and now I know what being mates means. I know why you want that.”
Trevor sighed. “Let’s go.”
* * * *
Trevor opened the door to his room and stepped aside to let Micah in. Micah obeyed the silent request, and as soon as he was in, Trevor followed and closed the door. Micah looked around, opting to sit in the armchair rather than on the bed, where he really wanted to sit. He thought it would be unwelcome, though. Trevor didn’t look exactly happy to see him, and he could understand it.
It had been two weeks since Micah had stormed out of this house, leaving Trevor behind. He’d asked Trevor not to call him or contact him in any way, and Trevor had obeyed. Trevor sat in front of Micah, on the bed, keeping some distance between them. Micah looked at him and wondered how he could have thought Trevor would hurt him. He’d had the opportunity to do so, so many times, yet he hadn’t. He hadn’t even talked to Micah until the past week.
“What do you want?” Trevor asked. He was trying to look and sound like he didn’t care, but he wasn’t too good at it.
“To talk to you.”
“The last time I saw you, you said you never wanted to see me again.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.”
“Right.”
“I really am. Casey came to talk to me last week. He explained what I’d done, and he asked me for an explanation.”
“And you gave it to him?”
“Yeah.”
“So you talked to him, but not to me.”
“I have a good reason for that.”
“Of course you do.”
“I met Erik four years ago. He was a shifter, and he told me I was his mate. He used the excuse to treat me like shit. He used the money I earned to buy alcohol and drugs, to gamble. He hit me. He bit me every day, because he said if he didn’t, I’d die. He told me I’d die without him, Trev. I stayed with him for a year before I decided that I would rather die than continue like that. But I didn’t die.”
“Obviously.”
Micah hated how cool and distant Trevor sounded, but he’d earned it. That, and so much more. He hadn’t come there expecting Trevor would welcome him with open arms. He was there to try to make things right, even if it took time. “I was scared of shifters after that and I swore I’d never get close to another. I thought what he did to me was what being mates was about. He never explained how things really worked.”
“Of course he didn’t.”
“Trev, please. I know I was wrong when I left that way, but all I could think about was Erik and what he did to me.”
“I never told you you were my mate.”
“No, but Nysys did. I ran from you because I was afraid you’d try to hurt me, and when Nysys told me I was your mate, it made things even worse.”
Trevor sighed, and when Micah looked at him, he didn’t look as angry anymore. “I understand,” he said, but it wasn’t enough for Micah.
“I was scared, but deep down I knew you wouldn’t hurt me. Casey confirmed that when he came talk to me. He explained to me how mating really works, and that Erik had only seen an opportunity to bend me to his will. Casey told me about the bond and how it makes it nearly impossible for one mate to hurt the other.”
“I wouldn’t hurt you even if we weren’t mates.”
“I know that, Trev. I panicked. I just...” How could Micah explain what he’d felt then? How the memories had come back to him in a rush after three years during which he’d tried his best to make them disappear, how he’d almost been able to feel Erik’s presence in the room with them? “I don’t know what else to do or say. I’m really sorry, and I hope you’ll be able to forgive me one day. I know you don’t have to mate with me to survive, but I hope you’ll think about it.”
Micah got up and started walking toward the door. A hand wrapped around his wrist and stopped him, but he didn’t turn around. He looked down at his feet, scared of what he’d see if he looked at Trevor, scared of the rejection he was sure was there.
He knew he’d have a normal life without Trevor. He knew he could go on like he’d done for the past three years, maybe find a nice human guy sooner or later. He could have a good life, but over the past week, he’d realized something would always be missing from it if he didn’t have Trevor.
It was hard to believe because they’d only been on one date, but over the past week, Micah had missed Trevor. Something had been missing from his life, and he’d found himself reaching for his phone more times than he wanted to admit.
“Stay?” Trevor asked, his voice soft.
Micah swallowed. “Why?”
“Because the last
week has been hell for me. All I wanted was to stay in bed and mope.”
Micah smiled and turned around. “And you haven’t?”
“Not for lack of trying. Nysys and Keenan can be persuasive when they want to.” Trevor smiled and gently pulled Micah until he sat next to him on the bed.
Micah hesitated, but one of them had to open up and make himself vulnerable, or they’d be stuck. He opened his arms and held his breath when Trevor stared. Then Trevor scrambled to sit on Micah’s lap, wrapping his arms around Micah’s waist and hugging him so hard Micah though he might break a rib. He buried his nose into Trevor’s hair and breathed in his scent. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know,” Trevor replied, his voice muffled against Micah’s neck. “I’m sorry, too.”
“For what?”
“For what that asshole did to you.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything.”
“Still.”
They stayed silent until Micah realized where Trevor’s face was. It was pressed against his neck, yet he wasn’t panicking, wasn’t pushing Trevor away. How was it possible when not even his father could touch his neck without scaring him? “The bond...” he started, not sure how to continue.
Trevor looked up. “Yes?”
“Is it making me trust you?”
Trevor scrunched his nose. “Up to a point, yes. It wouldn’t make you trust me if I did something bad to you, because it’s not that strong. It doesn’t take away your free will. It just lets you know I’m the other half of you and that as such, I’ll never hurt you intentionally. That if I do and you tell me so, I’ll stop whatever I’m doing. That you’re the most important person in my life, both for me and for my cheetah.”
Micah blinked. “You’re a cheetah?”
“Didn’t Casey tell you?”
“No. I haven’t seen him since the day after our date, and then he just came to explain. We didn’t talk about what kind of shifters you were. Is he a cheetah too?”
“Yes, he and Elena both.”
“What other kind of shifters live in the house?” Micah might as well start getting used to the people he’d see around the house. Now that he knew the truth, it was easier to accept. He knew no one would try to do what Erik had done to him.
“We have a bunch of them, mostly big cats, but also others.”
“Like?”
“Mmm, bears, wolves, a harpy, a Komodo dragon, a wendigo—”
“Okay, I wasn’t expecting that.”
Trevor smiled. “The harpy and the wendigo?”
“Yeah. I thought they were both, you know—evil.”
Trevor shrugged. “It’s like for everything. There are good ones and bad ones. Troy and Chogan are two of the sweetest men I’ve ever met. You should see Troy with his son.”
“I guess I will.”
Trevor smiled. “You will?”
“Since I’m going to be close to you. Or at least I hope so. I hope having you in my lap means I’m forgiven.”
Trevor put his cheek on Micah’s shoulder and took a deep breath. “You are. You hurt me, but I’m only going to hurt more if I keep you at a distance. It’s the last thing I want. I want to be happy. I’ve been waiting for three years. I’m done waiting.”
Micah hugged Trevor tighter and kissed him. “Good.”
Chapter Five
“So what now?” Micah asked.
They’d spent a few hours in Trevor’s room, kissing and talking. Things were still careful between them, but Trevor knew it would get better. Now that Micah had told him what had happened, why he’d fled, Trevor understood, and he couldn’t blame Micah. Micah’s ex was clearly an asshole, and while Micah hadn’t said where Erik was now, Trevor hoped it was far away from Whitedell. He might be shy and meek, but he didn’t think his cheetah would be happy to meet the guy.
“What do you mean?” he asked Micah instead of answering. He was pretty sure he knew what Micah was asking, but he wanted to be sure.
“Well, do you have to bite me?”
“Do you want me to?”
Micah huffed. “Why are you answering my questions with more questions? It’s not fair.”
Trevor shuffled around on the bed until he found a comfy position that allowed him to look at Micah as they talked. “It’s really about what you want to do, Micah. I’ve known about you for years. I’ve been in love with you for years. If you want to mate right now, I’m not going to say no.”
Micah blinked. “Okay, wait. I have so many questions.”
“I’m here to answer them.”
“You’re in love with me?”
Trevor blushed and looked down. “Yeah. I’ve been watching you for years, remember. I couldn’t not fall in love with you, especially after I saw the way you treated your dad.”
“What does my dad have to do with it?”
“I saw how gentle and affectionate you were with him when he got hurt.”
“And that’s what made you fall in love with me?”
Trevor rolled his eyes. At least the embarrassment had dissipated. “Not only that. You’re stubborn, and smart, and gentle and generous.”
“Whoa. No one but my mother ever gave me so many compliments.”
“Then you’ve clearly been going out with the wrong guys.”
Micah’s lips quirked. “I know that.”
“Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to remind you of Erik.”
“It’s okay. I think I’m going to have to face what happened with him if I want to give you a fair chance. I can’t let what he did to me scare me anymore, because it would influence what happens next with you.”
“And what do you want to happen?”
Micah scowled. “I was the first one to ask that question.”
“And I answered. If it were just for me, I’d mate with you right now.”
Micah smiled. “I think I’m going to require more than one date before I can decide to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Trevor was disappointed, but he’d been prepared for Micah’s answer even before Micah had fled the week before. Micah was human, and even though he’d known about shifters, he hadn’t had many interactions with them, if any, apart from Erik. He also didn’t feel as drawn to Trevor as Trevor felt to him, and he hadn’t grown up with the idea of finding his other half. Trevor had no problems giving Micah time, as long as Micah didn’t try to run again.
“Would two dates be better?”
“I don’t know, Trev. I mean, I know you’ve known me for a while, but I only just met you, and—” Micah snapped his mouth shut and narrowed his eyes at Trevor. “You were joking.”
“Of course I was. I knew you were going to want to date before even thinking about mating. I told you, I know you.”
“I’m starting to see that. So, second date?”
“Can we count this as a second date? I mean, we’ve been together for hours. It has to count.”
“And I’ve already met your family.”
“Part of it. You haven’t met Elena and Steve, and the rest of the pride.”
“How many people live here?”
“About fifty. Oh, and you’ll have to meet Dominic. He’s the alpha.”
“Like for wolves?”
“Yeah, except he’s a lion shifter.”
“How does it work?”
“You just have to talk to him. He needs to know who you are and why you’ll be around so much.”
“Is he going to make me do weird stuff, like swear loyalty to him or something?”
“No. We don’t have to swear anything to anyone here. He’ll just ask you if you want to be a pride member or not.”
“Do I have to say yes?”
“No, but honestly, most people are going to consider you a member, whether you say yes or no. You’re my mate. That makes you family.”
“But we’re not mated.”
Trevor shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
“It’s kind of weird.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I just hope everyone is not as crazy as Nysys.”
Trevor laughed, feeling better than he’d had in a long time. “No, don’t worry. Just try to stay away from him, especially when he’s with Keenan. Those two together usually mean trouble.”
Micah sat up, dislodging Trevor from his chest. “So I need to meet your alpha.”
“Yes.”
“Then you’ll have to meet my father.”
Trevor had known that was coming, but it didn’t make it easier. “Do I really have to?” he whined.
Micah slapped his chest. “Yeah, you do. He’s going to be seeing a lot of you, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you have to meet him. He needs to see that you’re different from Erik.”
“He met Erik?”
Micah snorted. “As if Erik would ever have said yes to meeting my parents. No, Dad didn’t meet him, but he saw the aftermath of what Erik did, and he needs to know you’re different.”
Trevor sat. “Wait, does that mean he knows about shifters?”
Micah looked sheepish. “Yeah. Erik told me I couldn’t tell anyone, and I know he was right in saying that, but when I left him, well, I needed my parents’ support, and they could understand only if they knew everything.”
“What does he think about us?”
“Ah, well, let’s just say he’s not too happy. I mean, he saw what Erik did, and when I told him you were the guy who left cupcakes for months and a shifter to boot, he wasn’t happy.”
Trevor grimaced. “I know I came off as a creepy stalker.”
“A bit, but me and Dad enjoyed the cupcakes.”
“He doesn’t like me, though.”
Micah hugged Trevor. “He doesn’t know you. He’ll love you once he does.”
Trevor snorted. “Right.”
Micah kissed the tip of his nose. “He will. So, what did we decide?”
“To date and to go through the meet-the-parents thing. Not that you can meet mine.”
“Sorry.”
Trevor shrugged. “Not your fault. The shifter world is... brutal. It’s better now, thanks to Dominic, but in the past, losing family members early wasn’t something anyone was surprised at.”
Trevor Page 8
