Secret Chemistry (Shifters)

by Kat, Chris T.

  “I think the tub is filled enough.”

  Daniel set Tim on his feet and closed the taps before resuming their earlier position. This time Tim went without fussing.

  “Did you find your mate?” Daniel spoke slowly, stressing each word.

  A strangled sob slipped from Tim’s mouth as he answered, “Yes.”

  “Tim? Come on, buddy, breathe. That’s usually a reason to celebrate, not cry.”

  Tim didn’t answer. He was drained, physically as well as emotionally. He couldn’t tell Daniel more about it. He couldn’t handle another rebuff, especially not from Daniel.

  Daniel didn’t press further, just held Tim tightly while Tim cried silently. When Tim’s tears ceased, Daniel handed him a tissue to wipe his face. Gently, he put him on his feet, unwrapped the towel from Tim’s body, and guided him into the tub.

  Tim couldn’t remember the last time someone had helped him into the tub. Subdued, he allowed Daniel to sit next to the tub as Tim sank deep into the hot water.

  The water eased some of the pains and aches in his body. It didn’t take long for him to warm up, though an icy lump remained in his stomach.

  “Better?” Daniel asked.

  Not trusting his vocal cords to work properly, Tim nodded.

  Daniel pushed up his shirtsleeves, then guided Tim’s head backward over one of his forearms. With his free hand, he poured water over Tim’s hair.

  “Uh, Daniel? I think I can wash my hair myself.”

  “Probably.”

  “You… you could stop now, you know?”

  “No one is watching, so stop acting all flustered.”

  “I’m not acting,” Tim replied defensively.

  Daniel’s ministrations felt good, but at the same time it was odd to be the center of so much tender attention. Daniel was unfazed by Tim’s reply and lathered Tim’s hair with shampoo. When he was done, he retrieved the spray, adjusted the temperature, and rinsed Tim’s hair.

  “Am I allowed to wash myself? Please?”

  “Sure, even I won't go that far.” Daniel grinned. He walked toward the bathroom door, saying, “I’ll get you some clothes.”

  Tim hurriedly cleaned himself and had finished long before Daniel came back with a set of comfortable warm clothes. Daniel helped Tim stand up, guided him out of the tub, and then wrapped the same large fluffy towel from before around his body.

  Realization hit Tim when Daniel took a smaller towel to dry Tim’s hair. His voice was muffled from the towel when he blurted, “You’re a peacemaker! You’re going to be the new peacemaker of our pack at some point in the future.”

  Daniel stopped briefly, then went back to rubbing Tim’s hair as dry as possible. “You’re so quick-witted, buddy.”

  “Excuse me, I was a bit occupied with trying to rescue my mate and not getting killed last night,” Tim snapped.

  The towel and the hands around his head suddenly tightened to a very uncomfortable level. Tim felt his gut do a nosedive when Daniel asked, “What did you just say?”

  “Nothing,” Tim mumbled.

  Daniel freed Tim’s head from the towel, and Tim received a hard glare from his brother. “The story. Spill. All of it.”

  “There is nothing to spill.”

  The glower darkened, and Tim’s resolve withered under the intensity of it. Daniel didn’t say a word, he didn’t communicate telepathically, he just stared.

  Trying to lighten the mood, Tim quirked a small smile and said, “How about you continue fussing over me? I like that way better than you grilling me.”

  “Just because I’m going to be the peacemaker of the pack and also get a great deal of satisfaction by taking care of other people does not mean I’ll let my thirteen-year-old brother off the hook when it gets uncomfortable for him.”

  “Oh. Well, thanks for shedding light on that topic,” Tim muttered. Unnerved by Daniel’s steely stare, Tim said, “May I dress first before I explain? Can’t it wait so I don’t have to tell the story several times?”

  “It might be safer for you to tell me first. We could develop a version of your adventures that doesn’t bring down the wrath of Dad upon you.”

  Tim gulped. “Okay. That sounds reasonable.”

  “I thought you might see it my way,” Daniel replied.

  Tim toweled himself off and dressed. His stomach rumbled loudly.

  “When did you last eat?”

  “Yesterday. I’m really hungry, Daniel.”

  Daniel’s glower slipped off his face. He took Tim’s elbow and led him out of the bathroom. “Then we better get you something to eat.”

  Tim knew better than to complain about being guided into the kitchen and onto a chair with the firm command to stay there. Daniel puttered around in the kitchen as efficiently as always. In a blink a plate filled with sandwiches appeared in front of Tim. His mouth watered at the sight, and after making sure Daniel was okay with it, he helped himself.

  When the nasty hunger had ceased, Tim drained his glass of water in one long gulp. He locked eyes with Daniel, still uncertain about what he should tell him.

  “I want to know everything, not a short-cut version.”

  Tim blurted out the first thought that crossed his mind. “You’ll find it disgusting. You’ll hate me!”

  Clearly taken aback, Daniel looked at Tim searchingly. “No, I won’t. Being hateful or vindictive is not in the repertoire of a peacemaker. Though I sometimes wish I’d be able to experience those feelings. I suspect some things would be easier.”

  Tim frowned. “Why? What do you mean? And why won’t you tell me what’s going on? All you’re ever doing is excluding me!”

  “I will tell you, Tim. I will, but it would be better if you have a really good reason why you took off like you did. Dad is livid.”

  “He’ll be even more so when he knows what happened.”

  “Then tell me first.”

  Tim stared at Daniel, who looked back, exuding calmness and a strength Tim admired. His gaze wandered to his plate, still filled with two more sandwiches. Tim wasn’t hungry anymore and shoved the plate aside.

  Since he couldn’t look Daniel in the eye during his admission, Tim crossed his arms on the table and laid his head on top of them. He feared Daniel’s reaction, but at the same time he desperately wanted to tell him what had happened. If anyone would understand, it was Daniel.

  After drawing in a shaky breath, Tim summarized the events from the time he’d left the house yesterday. He didn’t leave out anything.

  Daniel never interrupted Tim. Occasionally, Tim heard him take in a sharp breath, but that was all. By the end of his admission, Tim was crying so hard his whole body shook.

  A hand came up between his shoulder blades and rubbed soothing circles there. Daniel and Tim’s legs touched since Daniel had moved his chair closer to Tim. He murmured words, probably comforting phrases, but Tim had no idea what Daniel said exactly. He was way too busy trying to stop the tears.

  “God, Timmy, calm down a bit. You’ll make yourself sick.”

  “I’m trying! I am! It’s just… how am I supposed to find him? I-I always thought it was a myth that you’d hurt if you let go of your mate, b-but this… this is killing me already,” Tim squeezed out.

  “Nonsense. You will find him. If you found him once, you’ll find him again. Someone has to know something about his whereabouts. It’s not an everyday event when a little boy gets attacked by a wolf. There has to be a way to find out where they took your mate. Also, it can’t kill you because you haven’t really mated yet.”

  “It sure feels like it.”

  Daniel chuckled. “I’m sure it does. So, about what you’re going to tell Mom and Dad. I think it’s safe to tell them everything except that your mate is a hybrid. Do not tell Dad about that. He’s not, let’s say, thinking all that kindly about hybrids at the moment. Do not tell him; under no circumstances, do you understand?”

  Tim lifted his head to look at Daniel in confusion. Hesitantly he asked, “It’
s not important he’s male?”

  “I think it’s safe to say that at least Mom and I figured you’d be gay. Dad won’t make a fuss because of it. Uncle Jesse is gay too, and Dad never had a problem with him.”

  Tim blinked in astonishment. Slightly embarrassed, he wiped his face. “I never thought about it that way. I always assumed you’d be disgusted and… I wasn’t sure I’m, uh, you know. I thought it would change sometime.”

  “Right.” Daniel rolled his eyes. “You’re who you are, and your family will love you, no matter what.”

  “Just not when I mate with a hybrid, huh?”

  Daniel’s face fell.

  “Daniel? Will you tell me now what’s going on? I swear, I told you everything that happened.”

  “I believe you and yes, I will.”

  Tim looked at his brother expectantly. When Daniel showed no sign of beginning, Tim nudged him. “Anytime soon would be fine.”

  “Mom was attacked yesterday while trying to prevent some members of the pack from going on a deadly hunt for hybrid pups. She was barely alive when she got here. We thought she’d die, she’d been injured so badly. It’s a miracle she pulled through. Her spine seemed to have been broken at several places, but the breaks seem to have healed. However, she still can’t move her legs.”

  Part Two

  Nine

  End of summer 2011

  TIM entered his parents’ house. A weight lifted off his shoulders as soon as he closed the front door behind him. Despite everything that had happened all those years ago, this was still his home, and even at thirty-one, this was the place where he could let down his guard. Leaning his back against the closed door, he shut his eyes.

  Mingled with this pleasant feeling was a deep lingering sadness that always tightened his chest to the point where breathing became difficult. It didn’t last for more than a minute now. In the beginning, the suffocating sensation had been a downright scary experience and Tim almost panicked. Now, he merely waited it out.

  “Tim?”

  “You know exactly it’s me,” Tim replied.

  Pushing himself off the front door, he walked through the living room and into the large kitchen. He smiled at Robin, his favorite sibling and also his youngest by nineteen years, who was busy setting the table for the whole Evans clan. Coming up behind his little brother, he pulled him into an embrace and nuzzled their cheeks together.

  “Just wanted to make sure you don’t bolt,” Robin said easily. He quickly pressed a kiss on Tim’s cheek before shoving his elbow hard into Tim’s ribs.

  Tim grunted and let go of him. “All right, backing off already.”

  “You know I don’t mind you getting all touchy-feely, but if I don’t get that table set in time there will be hell to pay.”

  “You mean Debra is going to shriek and lament for the next two hours.”

  “That’s what I said, isn’t it?” Robin smiled knowingly, his dimples growing impossibly deep.

  Tim turned toward the stove, bent down, and lifted a lid from a pot. Immediately the delicious scent of roast wafted through the air, causing Tim’s stomach to grumble loudly.

  “Do you think it’s safe to taste some of the sauce?” Tim asked while rummaging in the drawer for a spoon.

  “Maybe,” Robin answered. He glanced at the closed door at the other side of the kitchen, indicating that their mother was behind it. What had been a storage room and a garage had been remodeled into their parents’ bedroom eighteen years ago.

  Tim filled his spoon with sauce, blew on it, and then tasted. A satisfied groan resounded in his chest. He glanced back over his shoulder at Robin’s wide-eyed stare. After filling the spoon anew, he held it out for Robin.

  “Mom’s going to kill us,” Robin mumbled, even as his feet carried him toward Tim. Robin’s eyes fluttered shut and a moan escaped him, causing Tim to grin.

  They jumped apart guiltily at their mother’s voice. “How is it possible I always find you two boys tasting the sauce no matter how often I tell you not to do so?”

  “It’s his fault!” Robin said while pointing an accusing finger at Tim.

  He received a death glare from Tim. “I can’t remember having forced you into tasting it.”

  “It’s your alpha personality. You don’t actually need to give commands aloud for other people to do what you want,” Robin said earnestly.

  For a brief moment, Tim stared at Robin with the spoon poised in the air, disbelieving. Tim knew that the burden of having to take over the pack as alpha wolf was something Robin dreaded. Robin wasn’t a natural alpha—far from it.

  It had always stunned Tim that Ralf, their father, insisted on Robin stepping into his shoes. It should have been Tim, but Tim had been deemed unsuitable for the leadership of their pack by the elders. Daniel would have been a much better choice too, but Daniel had outright refused to become more than beta of their pack. Tim often wondered how Daniel had managed to convince Ralf. Eventually, he had decided his big brother could talk anyone into anything.

  The corner of Robin’s mouth twitched before he broke out into laughter. “Ha! Got you! It’s so easy to push your feel-guilty button! You should really do something about it, brother dearest.”

  “You!” Tim growled.

  Throwing the spoon into the sink, he stalked toward Robin, moving smoothly as if he was a predator advancing on his prey. For show, Tim made sure to display the sheer force and strength in his body. It worked like a charm—Robin backed away a few steps, a nervous giggle escaping his lips.

  “Mom! Mom! Help me!”

  Tim bridged the distance, and even though Robin dodged around the table, Tim captured him easily. Flinging Robin over his left shoulder, Tim secured Robin’s kicking legs with one hand. He laid his free hand on the tautly stretched bottom resting over his shoulder.

  “Mom? What do you think? Should I or not?” Tim lifted his hand off Robin’s butt, which resulted into more kicking and struggling, as well as more giggles.

  “Mom! Tell him to let me down! I’m gonna be sick from hanging upside down for so long!”

  “For so long?” Tim echoed incredulously. “You’ve been up there for less than a minute.”

  “That’s exactly one minute too long!” Robin shouted while trying to push himself up. A light tap to the back of his legs made him squeak and collapse back into his former dangling position over Tim’s shoulder.

  Their mother, Paula, laughed heartily at the antics of her sons, not in the least bit worried about their mock argument. “Well, angel, I think a bit of nausea serves you right for being cheeky to your brother.”

  Tim walked toward their mother, then turned around so he presented his back to her but Robin could easily look into her eyes. In a mock whisper, he told Robin, “You better make use of those baby blues now. She’s the only one who’ll get you off my shoulder before the rest of the clan appears.”

  “Asshole!” Robin snapped.

  “Robin!” Paula admonished.

  Tim sensed her bending forward in her wheelchair, probably to brush away some of Robin's curls. Robin blew out a heavy sigh before grumbling, “I’m sorry for winding Tim up.”

  “No, you’re not.” Tim laughed. “You’re just saying what you think you should be saying.”

  “Come on, Tim! It wasn’t that bad. Let me down, please! Neither of us will hear the end of it if Debra sees this,” Robin whined.

  Tim grimaced and let Robin slide from his shoulder. “You definitely know the magic word.”

  Robin smoothed his curls and shirt, his cheeks still glowing bright red. “Please?”

  Their mother laughed. “No, angel. You said Debra.”

  “Oh.” Robin glanced at their mother sheepishly.

  Bouncing slightly on his heels, he looked at his mother’s empty hands. His face fell in disappointment.

  Tim watched Robin’s face, puzzled about what was going on. He furrowed his brow as his concern grew. Gently, he reached out to ruffle Robin’s hair. “Hey, kiddo, what�
�s the sad look about?”

  “I wanted Mom to do something for me. I guess it was beyond repair,” Robin mumbled, clearly embarrassed.

  Squinting, Tim glanced from Robin to Paula. Slightly exasperated, he said, “Uh, could anyone enlighten me about what’s going on?”

  A devilish grin appeared on their mother’s face. Her dark-blue eyes lit up as she said, “I never said Mr. Bear was beyond repair.”

  She reached behind her back and pulled out an old, battered plush toy. She presented it to Robin with a flourish. “He’s definitely the best-loved stuffed animal I’ve ever seen.”

  With a delighted smile, Robin plucked the toy off Paula’s hands. Briefly, he closed his eyes and rubbed his nose in the neck of the animal, inhaling deeply. Tim and Paula gazed at Robin, as always a bit bemused by Robin’s absolute devotion to this particular toy.

  The bemused expressions brought a new wave of red into Robin’s cheeks after he opened his eyes. Clutching the bear tightly in his hands, he crouched low in front of Paula to kiss her soundly on a cheek. After clearing his throat, he said, “Thanks, Mom.”

  Before Robin could pull back, Paula slung an arm around his neck and held on. Blindly, she groped for Tim and pulled him down as well. Tim wasted no time and enveloped them in his arms.

  The feeling of peace was short-lived.

  All of them jumped upon hearing the screechy voice of Debra asking, “Oh my God! What did they do now that they need your absolution for?”

  “Hello, Debra,” Paula managed to say in a steady voice.

  Tim and Robin got up, Tim battling against the searing urge to attack Debra. Breathing heavily through his nose, he fought against the wolf inside him, although fur already prickled on his back.

  “My God! You still have this… this thing? Aren’t you a bit too old for a stuffed animal?” Debra sneered.

  A loud, threatening growl rumbled in Tim’s chest. Only his mother’s solid clutch on his hand prevented him from leaping at his sister. His whole back as well as most of his abdomen and chest was already covered in fur.