Elliott

by Catherine Lievens

  Nick squeezed his bulk between Gentry and Arlen and wrapped one arm around each of them, pulling them close. Mal tsked and got up, then sat in an armchair instead.

  “Someone needs to tell me what happened,” Nick said, looking around the room.

  “Well, I was talking to Mihaja earlier, and—” Elliott started.

  “Who’s Mihaja?” Nick interrupted.

  Elliott pointed at Mihaja. “He’s one of the shifters Craig rescued last year.”

  Nick looked at Mihaja and his eyes lit with recognition. “I remember. Fossa shifter, right?”

  Mihaja nodded. “Yes. As Elliott was saying, we were talking and I asked him why the three of you weren’t mated.”

  “Because only Arlen’s my mate and we don’t want to keep Gentry out of our relationship. It wouldn’t be right.”

  Nick obviously had a knack for interrupting people while they talked, but Mihaja didn’t seem to mind. His hand tightened around Elliott’s for a few seconds and he nodded. “I understand that, but I didn’t understand why you weren’t all mated. All three of you.”

  Nick opened his mouth and Arlen slapped his free one on his mouth. “Shut up and let the guy talk,” he murmured, his gaze never leaving Mihaja.

  Mihaja nodded at him and went on, “I’m Malagasy, and in my country, polyamory relationships aren’t rare, at least not in the region my tribe lives in. They’re not the norm, but it’s common for each tribe to have at least a few, depending on how big the tribe is to begin with, of course. My aunt has two mates, and she’s mated to both of them. I think all three of them share the mating bond.”

  “You think?”

  “One of my aunt’s mates felt it when my aunt got hurt. We don’t have phones, so she couldn’t have known in any other way.”

  “How does it work?”

  “Like you’d normally mate, except that you bite two people.”

  Arlen blinked at Mihaja while Nick gaped. Gentry looked deep in his thoughts.

  “So that’s it? Nothing else to do?” Arlen asked.

  “Yes. We don’t have mating ceremonies. It’s a private thing.”

  “But... if it’s as simple as that, how can we not know about it?”

  “How many other throuples do you know, Arlen?” Gentry asked.

  “Umm, none. It’s just us.”

  “And I don’t think there’s ever been one in the pack, right?” Gentry asked, looking at Zach this time.

  “Not that I know of, but I’m pretty young. Certainly there couldn’t have been any under Erskine, but I don’t know about before.”

  “Shifters are very traditional, usually, so my bet is that whatever throuple there is out there has either been separated or is living isolated. They probably don’t even know a three-way mating is possible, just like we didn’t.”

  “But what about fated mates?” Arlen asked. “I mean, I love Gentry as much as I love Nick, but I feel the pull only toward Nick.”

  “I’m not sure about that, to be honest,” Mihaja said. “Like I told you, this is something private, so people don’t ask about it, and they don’t tell. I can tell you that my aunt has two mating bites, one on each side of her neck. You’ll have to try if you want more answers.”

  “What if something goes wrong? I don’t want to be mated only to Nick.” Arlen looked at Nick. “No offense, love, but you know what I mean.”

  “I do, and don’t call me love,” Nick groused. He was smiling, though, and Arlen leaned in to kiss him.

  “Right. Pet names are reserved for Gentry. I forgot.”

  “I’ve already been mated,” Gentry told Mihaja. “Do you think it might influence what we’re trying to do?”

  Mihaja sighed. “I don’t know, but I don’t think so. And that way, you’ll know exactly what to look for when you decide to mate.”

  “How about me and Nick both claim you before we claim each other?” Arlen proposed. “Or does it has to be done together, like a three-way bite?”

  “It doesn’t. My aunt was already mated with my uncle before my other aunt met them.”

  Arlen’s eyes were wide. “Then we can do that. We can go home, and Nick and I will claim you, Gen. You can claim us, and if it works...” He briefly looked at Nick. “If it works, then we’ll all be mated. All three of us.”

  “I still don’t understand how we didn’t know this was possible and what importance being fated mates has if it actually is possible,” Nick said, looking like he was trying hard not to let his enthusiasm seep out. He was mostly succeeding, but Elliott had known him for years, so he could see the telltale signs. Nick’s fingers twitched and he was bouncing his knee.

  “We don’t know because it’s not something that’s accepted in the traditional shifter way of life,” Gentry explained. “Not only that, but it’s not common in this country, period. We never thought of looking for other throuples to ask them questions, but maybe if we had we’d have found out about it, or maybe not. There’s no way to know that. But I don’t think a lot of people in this country know about it.”

  “And what about the fated mate part?”

  “I don’t know how to answer that. Maybe we’ll know more after.” He didn’t say after what, but everyone in the room understood.

  Arlen shot up from the couch. “What are we waiting for, then?”

  It pushed Nick into action. He got up, too, and pulled Gentry after him. “I hope you didn’t have appointments this afternoon,” he said as he started to drag Gentry toward the door.

  Gentry looked at Elliott. “I did, actually. Elliott?”

  Elliott shrugged. “We can see each other tomorrow. Not like it’s going to change anything, and I have to go talk to my parents anyway.”

  Gentry stopped walking. “You do? Why? What happened? Are you going to tell them about Mihaja?”

  “Why should he tell them about Mihaja?” Nick asked.

  “Because they’re mates.”

  “Oh. Now I get why Elliott’s here.”

  “By the way, I’m moving out,” Mal said. He’d been silent until then, but he’d obviously decided that enough was enough.

  “What?” Arlen asked form the door. “Why? Where are you going to live?”

  “With Elliott and Mihaja.”

  Everyone turned to look at them and Elliott wanted to run and hide. He hated being in the spotlight.

  “Are you going to be a throuple?” Arlen asked.

  “No!” Mal cried out. “I don’t like Elliott that way, and no offense to Mihaja, but he’s not really my type. Too preppy. No, I was going to live with Elliott, but Mihaja came along, so we’ll try it like this. Everyone will have a room. I’m not sleeping with anyone, not until things are settled.”

  Elliott knew Mal was saying he couldn’t be with anyone until his crazy ex was out of the picture. It wouldn’t be an easy thing.

  Arlen strode toward Mal, hugged him, and pushed him away. “I love you, you know where to find me if you need anything, just try to wait at least a few hours before you come looking for me.” He looked at Gentry and Nick. “We need to go home. Now.”

  Gentry gave Elliott a last worried glance, but Elliott waved him away. The three of them left in a hurry, with Zach yelling after them. “Call me later and tell me if it worked!”

  Someone yelled back, but it was impossible to understand who it was or what they said. Zach chuckled and leaned back in the couch, then looked at Elliott. “So, what now? You still want to move in with Mal and Mihaja?”

  “Yes.”

  “You need to talk to your parents, then.”

  “Yeah.” Elliott sighed. “I hope they won’t take it badly.”

  “Can’t be as bad as Merle’s mother took it, and if they give you problems, we’re here. We’ll help you.”

  Elliott did know that, but he didn’t think he could stand it if his mother did what Merle’s had.

  * * * *

  “Are you sure I should be here?” Mihaja
asked again in front of Elliot’s house.

  Elliott huffed. “Yes. My parents will want to meet you after I tell them about you.”

  “I could meet them later, after you told them you’re moving out.” The last thing Mihaja wanted was to enrage Elliott’s parents, and the fact that Elliott was moving in with him after meeting him that same day would anger any parent. Adding what had happened to Elliott to that, Mihaja knew this wasn’t as good an idea as Elliott had tried to convince him it was.

  Elliott crossed his arms on his chest and eyed Mihaja. “Look, you don’t have to meet them if you don’t want to.”

  “I want to, Elliott. I just don’t want them to be angry at you.”

  Elliott relaxed a bit. “I know, and I know you think I’m fragile and that you have to treat me like spun glass.”

  “I don’t—”

  “I don’t need you to. Yeah, I’ve been through a lot, and it still affects me, but my parents aren’t a part of that. I’m not afraid of them.”

  “I just don’t want you to fight with them, not because of me. They’re an important part of your life.”

  “Yeah, they are, just like you’re going to become one. You’ll be even more important than them. And like I said, they’re going to want to know you, since you’re my mate.”

  “If you’re sure...”

  “Of course I am. Now come on. I’m sure Mom heard us talking out here. She’s probably already floored by the fact that I left the house, and I bet she’s waiting for an explanation and to check that I’m fine.”

  Elliott climbed the porch steps and pushed open the front door. Mihaja followed, not that he seemed to have any choice. He didn’t mind meeting Elliott’s parents, but he wished he could have waited at least a few days. He hadn’t even had the time to unpack his things, and yes, meeting his mate’s parents made him a bit uncomfortable. What if they didn’t like him? What if they didn’t want Elliott to be with him? Mihaja didn’t want Elliott to have to choose between his mate and his parents, but if they didn’t like Mihaja, that was exactly what would happen.

  But Elliott was already opening the door and calling out, “Mom?” so Mihaja followed him, cleaning his shoes before stepping inside. A light shone toward the back of the house and Elliott went that way. Footsteps came closer and a woman came out of the illuminated room. She was cleaning her hands on a kitchen towel and her eyes were wide as she hurried toward them. “Elliott? Where were you?”

  “Out.”

  She flicked the towel at Elliott. “I know that. I realized it when I called you to help me get dinner ready and you didn’t come.”

  “Sorry, Mom. I had something to do, then I met Mihaja, then there was the thing with Arlen, Gentry, and Nick, and I lost track of the time.”

  Elliott’s mother looked at Mihaja, then back at her son. “We can talk about it in the kitchen, because it sounds like you have a lot to tell me. Trust you to get busy the first time in months you get out of the house.”

  “It’s not the first time. I went to Mal’s house the other day.”

  She seemed relieved—at what exactly Mihaja wasn’t sure—and she smiled. “Yes, well. My potatoes need peeling, so off you go.”

  Elliott smiled broadly and sauntered toward the room his mother had come from. He looked so much more relaxed in his home, and Mihaja wondered if taking him out of it really was a good idea. Elliott probably knew what he was doing, though, and Mihaja had to trust his mate. Elliott would hate it if he didn’t, that much was already obvious.

  “Come on in, Mihaja. Elliott didn’t say anything, but I’m Edith.”

  She offered him a hand and he shook it. “Mihaja.”

  “I’m very curious as to how Elliott managed to bring you home, since he’s been afraid of most men for the past year or so.”

  “I think I’m going to let him answer that, ma’am.”

  She looked at him and nodded. “You must be very special to my son if he trusts you this way.”

  “I wouldn’t know. We met only today.”

  “And we both know that doesn’t mean anything. I knew I could trust my mate as soon as I met him, even though it happened in a time when we couldn’t trust most people around us.”

  Mihaja pressed his lips together. Elliott’s mother clearly knew more than he’d thought. “We should wait until he’s with us.”

  “All right.” She leaned forward. “But if you hurt my baby, I’ll hurt you.”

  “I have no intention of hurting him.”

  “Intentions aren’t always enough.”

  “Mom? Stop grilling him and come check whatever you have on the stove!” Elliott yelled from the kitchen.

  His mother nodded and hurried that way. Mihaja followed at a more sedate pace, and when he reached the kitchen, he made sure not to sit directly next to Elliott, who was at the kitchen table peeling potatoes. He looked up when Mihaja sat and smiled. “So? Did she threaten to rip your balls off if you hurt me?”

  “Elliott!” his mother protested from the stove.

  “Not exactly, but that was the message, yes,” Mihaja admitted. He leaned closer. “I think she knows.”

  “Of course she does, she’s my mom. There’s only one man I wouldn’t be afraid of, and she knows it.”

  “More than one.”

  “More than one what?”

  “Men you’re not afraid of. You’re not afraid of Mal, and you seemed to do well with Zach and the others.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  “Mal usually calls or texts,” Elliott’s mother remarked. “Why did you go out this time? Not that I have anything against it, of course. I’m happy you finally managed to break down the wall of fear you’ve lived behind this past year.”

  Elliott sighed. “I haven’t broken it down, Mom. It’s more like I opened an entrance in it, but it’s still there, and it’s still scary.”

  “It’s still one step forward. It’s a good thing.”

  Elliott put down the potato he was working on and linked his fingers together. “So, since you seem so happy that I’m finally getting somewhere, I have something to tell you.”

  “I already know Mihaja is your mate, Elliott. It’s obvious.”

  “Yeah, he is, but that’s not what I want to tell you.”

  Elliott’s mother put her wooden spoon down and turned to look at him. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

  “I don’t know, Mom, but I feel I need to do this to get better.”

  “Come on. Tell me.”

  Elliott looked at Mihaja and Mihaja extended his hand on the table. Elliott smiled and grabbed it, twining their fingers together. “When I got out of the house earlier today, it was to meet Mal and Zach. Me and Mal wanted to move in together in one of the houses Kameron had built.”

  Elliott’s mother slowly nodded. “Wanted to?”

  “Yeah. We wanted to, then Mihaja came along, and we decided to move in together. All three of us. And before you ask, no, we’re not a throuple. Just friends, at least me and Mal are.”

  “I know that, Elliott, but are you sure you’re ready for this? Does he know?” She looked at Mihaja as she talked, her question clear even to him.

  “He does, at least partially. I’ll tell him the rest as soon as possible, I swear. And yeah, I’m sure about this. I love you, Dad, and Eve, and you were my rock after what happened, but I need to let go, or I’ll never be able to walk on my own again. It’s too easy to use the three of you as a crutch.”

  “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “But I probably will, Mom, and you know that. There’s no way around it. But I’ll have Mal, Mihaja, and Gentry. And you, of course.”

  Elliott’s mom looked at him, then at Mihaja, and finally at their joined hands. She sighed. “Fine. I’m happy for you if that’s what you need, and I’m happy you found your mate. Do you need help to move out?”

  Chapter Three

  Elliott put down the box he was ho
lding and looked around his new room. It was nice, but he couldn’t help but wonder if he really should be there. His place was by Mihaja’s side, and Mihaja was sleeping in another room. Elliott wasn’t being a good mate by staying away, and he knew it. He wasn’t sure he could do anything about it, though.

  Mihaja was being patient, and it made Elliott feel guilty. After they’d told Nick, Gentry, and Arlen about the mating thing a few days before, and Mihaja had met Elliott’s mom, he’d left and they hadn’t seen each other again yet.

  Elliott knew Mihaja was working, and Mihaja had made sure Elliott had a key to the house, but that was all. They hadn’t even exchanged phone numbers, and Elliott wondered if Mihaja had maybe changed his mind. Not that he wanted his mate to leave what he was doing to tend to him, but he wouldn’t mind at least seeing him.

  “What’re you doing? Moping?”

  Elliott turned to face Mal. “No.”

  Mal walked in and slumped on the bed. He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized him. “Yeah, you are. What’s up? Is it because lover boy isn’t here?”

  “Don’t call him lover boy.”

  “Fine. Is it because Mihaja isn’t here?”

  “Maybe.”

  “And why isn’t he here?”

  “You know he had to work.”

  Mal huffed. “He still should have come. Kameron wouldn’t mind giving him a few hours free.”

  “No, he wouldn’t, but you know as well as I do what’s happening out there. Kam needs Mihaja, and I’m not about to take him away from his job.”

  “Stop moping, then.”

  Elliott sighed and sat next to Mal on the bed. Mal was one of the very few people Elliott allowed to touch him or even to come close enough to do so, and sometimes he still wondered how Mal had managed to wriggle his way in his life like he had. Maybe Elliott had recognized a kindred soul, although Mal had never been in a lab and he hadn’t been raped, or at least that was what he insisted on saying. Elliott wasn’t a hundred percent convinced of that, but he didn’t push. He never did, just like Mal didn’t with him.