Iggy didn’t really want to come down from his spot on Zane’s head, so he stayed there while Zane shifted and dressed, but he couldn’t stay there forever.
Zane poked at his nose. “Are you ever going to come down?”
Iggy buried his face against Zane’s soft hair and wondered if he could ignore him. He was comfortable, damn it.
Zane poked at him again. “Hey, I’d let you stay there as long as you want if it were up to me, but I’m sure Kameron will want to talk to you, not to mention your family, yeah?”
Iggy sighed. He wanted to see his family, of course he did, but he also wanted to sleep for a week straight and forget about the pile of problems that were about to be dumped on his head. He might not be Kameron’s bodyguard anymore, or for now anyway, but he was a shifter, and humans knowing about them couldn’t be a good thing for any of them.
The next time Zane poked at him, Iggy turned and climbed onto his hand. Zane made a little surprised sound, but he didn’t try to shake Iggy off, and Iggy was careful not to hurt him. Zane slowly lowered his hand until he could look at it. He smiled. “You’re a cute little thing.”
Iggy cocked his head and Zane’s smile widened. “So cute.” He stroked the top of Iggy’s head with his finger, and Iggy closed his eyes, because damn, it felt good.
Iggy’s family had never been the touchy feely kind, and it felt good to let Zane do that for him, especially when Zane kissed him. “Come on,” he said. “Shift. You can shift back to your bat as soon as we’re done, and I’ll carry you home.”
He gently put Iggy on the floor and Iggy grudgingly obeyed. Once he was human again, Zane handed him his clothes. He didn’t try to help Iggy get dressed, and Iggy was glad for it. His ankle might hurt, but that didn’t mean he was completely helpless and that he couldn’t take care of himself.
Once he was done, Zane looked at him up and down. “Okay, so I guess I can either help you hop around or I can carry you. Carrying you would be faster, but I’ll let you choose.”
Iggy thought about the distance between the bedroom and the office, and about all the people he probably was about to see. He also thought about how good being snuggled against Zane would feel. Maybe not being able to walk easily would have some perks after all.
He held his arms out and wiggled his fingers. “Carry me.”
“Yes, your Majesty.”
Zane put one arm behind Iggy’s knees and one around his back and hauled him up. Iggy clung to Zane’s neck, and he couldn’t resist pushing his face against the skin there. The fear of losing Zane had never left him as they fought, and when he’d seen his brother about to hurt his mate, well, he’d never been so scared. He’d thrown himself between Christian and Zane, even though he knew he might get hurt. He hadn’t, not by Christian anyway, and now they were all fine and about to be reunited.
The office door was open and Zane stepped inside without knocking. Iggy had the time to look around and watch his family before they realize he was there. His parents were sitting next to each other in two chairs while Alex was in a third one. Christian was leaning against the wall, his arms crossed on his chest, with Clea hovering close to him. They weren’t touching, and Christian looked stoic, but Iggy could tell his brother was feeling a lot more than he was letting on. He couldn’t wait to talk to him.
Kameron looked up and noticed them. He smiled, and that was enough for everyone in the room to turn. Iggy’s mother was on her feet and hurrying toward him before he could say anything, and she hugged him close, not seeming to care that she was hugging Zane too.
“We thought you were dead,” she said in a trembling voice. “He said the pack had killed you and that we had to avenge you.”
Iggy hoped his old alpha was either dead or locked up, because he was tempted to go see the man and get revenge for what he’d done to his family. “He was lying, Mom. I’m fine. I left the nest, and the pack welcomed me.”
She finally leaned away. She patted his cheek, her eyes full of unshed tears. “I know. We had a nice talk with Alpha Rhett today. He told us everything you did for him and for the pack.”
Iggy didn’t even want to think about his mom gushing over him while Kameron talked. He kissed her cheek just in time, because Alex pushed her away to hug him too. He was careful not to touch Zane, and it made Iggy want to laugh.
“You’re a fucker,” Alex said, loud enough that their mom heard it. She slapped the back of his head and Iggy laughed.
“God, I missed you guys so much.”
“You could have talked to us,” his father groused. He was still in his seat, but Iggy could see he was relieved from his expression. He also knew his dad would never show it, but it was fine with him. He knew.
Kameron let Iggy chat with his family for a while, but after half an hour, he cleared his throat. “I’d love to give you all the time you need, but I need my office and Iggy.”
Everyone trooped out. Everyone but Christian, who stayed right where he was, his gaze telling everyone that he’d stay even if they asked him to leave. No one did, and Clea stayed too.
Then Malik, Quinn, Kir, and Nick came in, and the mood went south. The happiness was gone—for now. Iggy wouldn’t let anything take it away completely, though, and he clung to Zane, who was now sitting, Iggy still in his lap.
“What happened?” Iggy asked when the door was closed.
Kameron sighed, and he suddenly looked older and tired. “We weren’t able to take care of all the videos that made it online.”
Iggy swallowed. “What does it mean?”
“That some people saw them.”
“And?”
“It’s not on the news yet, but I’m sure it will be soon enough.”
“And the humans will find out about shifters,” Kir said, his voice grim.
“What does it mean? What will happen?” Iggy asked, even though he knew no one had an answer.
Kameron shook his head. “I don’t know yet. The government will probably have something to say about it.”
“They only know about Tom for sure, though.”
“Yes, but I’m visible on that video, and I’m not the only one. They’ll come to us as soon as they find out.”
Iggy had heard about the labs and what had happened to some of the shifters. He knew not all humans were like that, but he didn’t delude himself that some wouldn’t try. He looked around the room, knowing all the men in it would do whatever it took to make sure the pack and its allies made it out as well as they could. They couldn’t do miracles, though, and it was scary as fuck.
Iggy snuggled closer to Zane’s chest and prayed he’d get to keep doing it for many years to come.
About the Author
Catherine lives in Italy, country of good food and hot men. She used to write fantasy as a child, but it was reading her first gay erotic romance novel that made her realize that that was what she really wanted to write.
After graduating from college in English language and translation, she divides her day between writing, reading, taking care of her son and reading some more.
You can find her on Facebook and Twitter or on her website: authorcatherinelievens.wordpress.com
Email: [email protected]
Iggy [Gillham Pack: 15] Page 12
