Secret Chemistry (Shifters)

by Kat, Chris T.

  Robin just shrugged nonchalantly. “You’re probably right. I better bring him back to my room. Oh, and Debra? Do you really want to know what I did that needs absolution?”

  Tim’s heart did a sudden flip-flop, and he exchanged a worried glance with Paula. “Robin….”

  “Sure I do. You’re the other black sheep of the family,” Debra announced. Heeling out a chair for herself, she put her purse onto the table.

  “There was this really nice boy I met the other night. You wouldn’t believe how much of a turn-on it was when he bound me to his bed and did some wicked things to me,” Robin declared, a wistful note in his voice.

  Debra gasped and promptly missed the chair. Robin laughed at seeing her on the floor, a shocked expression on her face. Her silence only held seconds before she began screeching again. Robin was about to answer when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

  Slowly, he turned around, only to be face to face with Daniel. After gulping in air, Robin stuttered, “Ah, hi, Daniel. You… what exactly did you hear?”

  “All of it.”

  “Oh. You, um, you’re aware that none of it is true, right?” Robin whispered, looking slightly panicked.

  “Isn’t it?” Daniel retorted.

  Ralf interrupted them by coming into the kitchen, barking, “What the hell is going on here? Debra! Get up from the floor and stop screeching. Now!”

  The room fell into an uncomfortable silence—except for Debra, who continued to screech. She got up from the floor, her face red from lamenting loudly about Robin.

  Tim watched Robin gaze around the room while he clutched the stuffed bear even more tightly in his hands. Ralf stood in the kitchen, his massive hands resting on his hips, shooting irritated glances at Debra and Robin. When he beckoned Robin to him, Tim saw Robin’s eyes fill with tears.

  Never in a million years would Robin be able to act as the alpha wolf of their pack. Tim wished Ralf would accept that fact. Slowly Robin walked over to Ralf, his head bowed and his gaze fixed on the floor.

  “How much of Debra’s screeching is because you riled her up?” Ralf asked. Despite the brisk tone, Tim knew he was on Robin’s side. Ralf always seemed to be vaguely befuddled by Debra’s behavior and never believed anything she said unless he received confirmation it was true.

  Still, Robin swallowed heavily when Ralf tipped up his chin by laying a finger underneath it. “I… she was asking for it!”

  Tim and Daniel groaned simultaneously, and Ralf’s eyebrows went up a notch. Swiftly, Tim cut in, “Debra made fun of Robin because he still keeps Mr. Bear.”

  Debra sputtered and her cheeks colored deeply. “He’s an adult, he shouldn’t—”

  Tim didn’t bother to hide the satisfied smile on his face when Ralf’s patience snapped. Ralf tried not to yell because he didn’t yell at his children on principle, but he sure was close to it. Ralf was infamous for his protective streak, even more so after what had happened to his wife so many years ago. He was especially protective of Robin, whom he still saw as his baby.

  Gleefully, Tim watched Ralf telling Debra off while Robin hastily fled the scene to take Mr. Bear up to his room. Daniel merely shook his head in resignation before ambling back outside to help his wife, Gina, unstrap their children, Amber and Ashley, from their car seats.

  Paula rolled over to the stove, where she stirred in the pots, frowned, and then decided to put some more salt into one of them.

  Only Laura, together with her girlfriend Heather and their two-month-old son Chad, needed to show up to complete the family gathering.

  A normal Sunday lunch at the Evans household. Tim shook his head, wondering how he’d fit in here together with his mate. His male mate, who also happened to be a hybrid. His family would open their arms in welcome to his mate—except for Debra, but then again, she didn’t seem to know how to welcome anyone—if he wouldn’t be a hybrid.

  Tim sat down on a chair and watched his mother moving effectively in her wheelchair. Despite the fact she was crippled for life, she probably wouldn’t give Tim a hard time about his mate being a hybrid. Neither would anyone else—except Ralf.

  Fiddling with a napkin, Tim thought how much Ralf’s view on hybrids had changed over the years. When he was a kid, Ralf had been wary, unsure how to deal with them. After what happened to Paula, he’d taken a dislike to hybrids. Over the years, this dislike developed into hatred. According to Ralf, hybrids were evil beings, causing havoc and hurting others purely because they existed. Nothing could convince him of the opposite.

  Not for the first time, Tim congratulated himself that he’d never let this detail about his mate slip. Only Daniel knew, and he kept their secret. The rest of the family knew his mate was male and ten years his junior. Daniel had given him the advice to keep any more details to himself. It had been hard—specifically at those days when he could barely look straight because the loss of his mate seemed to crush him—but he’d been successful so far.

  Tim snapped out of his reverie when Laura and Heather arrived. Laura left him no chance but to dive out of his miserable thoughts, because she handed him Chad. Her son was one of the tiniest babies Tim had ever held in his arms and therefore needed his undivided attention. Tim smiled down at Chad while everyone else settled around the table.

  Ten

  TIM savored the meal Paula had cooked. The other family members did so as well. Paula was a superb cook and loved composing menus for her large family. Sunday lunches at the Evans’s house were a tradition, and usually filled with a lot of laughter, for the last year also with the crying of babies from time to time, and lots of talking.

  Tim enjoyed those lunches, especially with a subdued Debra. He often wondered why his sister was so distinctly different from all his other siblings. She always bitched, screeched, or generally caused his blood pressure to spike up. Ralf had grown increasingly irritated with her, which sometimes made for uncomfortable situations.

  Robin sat next to Tim, as he always did. Tim couldn’t deny that his baby brother was by far his favorite person at the table. He had grown into a sweet and easygoing guy who sometimes acted bratty just for the fun of it. Tim loved all of his family, but Robin would forever hold a special place in his heart.

  When overwhelming guilt, sadness, and anger had brought Tim to his knees eighteen years ago, Robin had reacted instinctively. Sensing Tim’s distress, he’d showered Tim with affection, demanding play and cuddling sessions. He’d somehow also acted as a mediator between Tim and Ralf. Neither Tim nor Ralf had known how to act around each other for a while, but Robin had insisted on playing with both of them at the same time, coaxing them into talks. Tim would be forever grateful for this.

  Though Ralf and Paula had never accused him of being responsible for Paula’s injury, it took them a long time to trust Tim to obey their orders again. They hadn’t allowed him to stay alone with his siblings for more than two years after that dreadful night because they feared Tim wouldn’t stay at their side. Their distrust had hurt, deeply so.

  Tim never let one of his siblings out of his sight after Ralf and Paula finally allowed him to take care of them again. He was the best watchdog anyone could wish for, much to Robin’s annoyance.

  A sharp nudge in Tim’s ribs forced a small yelp from him. “Hey!”

  “Hey, yourself. Why are you spacing out?” Robin whispered in between two bites.

  Tim couldn’t suppress the eye roll. “I was just thinking.”

  “About what?”

  Tim shrugged and helped himself to some more potatoes. “Nothing important.”

  Robin gazed at him, a thoughtful expression on his young face. Not for the first time, Tim thought he saw way too much. The soft expression on Robin’s face didn’t help Tim feel any better. Hoarsely, he muttered, “Don’t.”

  “It’s this time of the year, huh?”

  “What exactly don’t you understand when someone tells you don’t?”

  Robin grinned at him. “You didn’t specify, and I know it’s
this time of the year. You always get moody around the end of summer, especially if the weather is similar to how it was in 1993.”

  “You don’t remember how the weather was. You were a baby. Well, you still are, but you were much, much smaller then.”

  Robin reacted how he usually did—without thinking. If you wanted to rile him up, you only had to call him a baby and boom!—he went off like a bomb. Tim chuckled when Robin flicked some peas at him.

  “Robin Evans!”

  Robin’s cutlery clanked onto his plate as he flinched. With brightly colored red cheeks, he peered at Paula. She didn’t snap often, but when she did you’d better stop what you were doing immediately, even more so if she addressed you by your full name.

  “Sorry,” Robin mumbled.

  “I’ve had enough of this behavior today. Do I make myself clear?” she asked.

  Her voice was so quiet only Robin, Tim, and Laura, who was sitting on his other side, heard her. Robin squirmed on his chair, seemingly wanting to crawl under the table. Tonelessly, he replied, “Yes.”

  Tim rested a hand on Robin’s tense back. “Mom, that was my fault. I riled—”

  Paula interrupted him by saying firmly, “I heard your conversation. You said nothing that would justify Robin’s behavior, and I’m tired of him not acting his age.”

  Tim felt Robin tensing up even more until his shoulders were up to his ears. A dead giveaway of Robin being close to tears. The next words flew out of Tim’s mouth. “Maybe it would help if you all stopped putting so much pressure on him.”

  Paula narrowed her eyes and her steely gaze made it impossible to avert his eyes. Sweat broke out on Tim’s forehead. He was aware of Ralf looking their way inquiringly.

  Suddenly, his mother’s eyes changed to a softer expression. With a sigh, she said, “You’re right. It’s just… I overheard you two. I wish you’d stop feeling guilty for what happened. We told you again and again—nothing would have changed if you had been here.”

  Tim stayed silent. If he engaged in this conversation, he’d feel like crap for the next week. He knew from experience he wouldn’t feel good for the next few days, anyway. Dealing with his mother’s repeated reassurances would only heighten his feeling of inadequacy.

  Paula sighed again before she forced a small, strained smile on her face. “It’s okay, I won’t talk about it. At least not today. Oh, and Tim, don’t always take the blame for Robin. He’s very well aware he hasn’t got much leeway at the moment.”

  Tim darted his gaze from Robin’s suddenly sullen body posture to Paula’s stern face. “Uh, Mom, I know he’s the baby of the family, but he’s nineteen. He’s an adult, on paper, at least.”

  Robin shot him a grateful glance after he snatched one of Paula’s hands, squeezed it, and pleaded, “Mom, please. You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone.”

  “I wish I hadn’t,” she replied darkly.

  Tim frowned. Something was seriously amiss, and he hated seeing Robin in trouble. On the other hand, if Paula was that pissed off, then Robin was in deep shit. Before he could prod for more information, Ralf called out to him from the other end of the table.

  Tim smiled at the sight of Ralf cradling Chad lovingly in his arms so Laura and Heather could eat in peace.

  “Yeah?” he asked.

  “Can you be here early tomorrow? We’ll have someone to look at the mares.”

  “Sure. I hope it’s not someone who thinks Shires are cute petting horses again,” Tim replied.

  “Maybe they get confused because of the Shetties,” Laura threw in.

  “Because a Shire horse looks so much like a Shetland pony,” Heather retorted with an eye roll. “Even I can tell the difference.”

  Laura laughed at her lover. “You don’t even run away from them anymore.”

  “Hey, I’m a city girl. Horses as big as houses didn’t play a part in my growing up.”

  “You could always try to sit on one of the Shetties. Miracle would love to carry you.” Laura directed big pleading eyes at Heather, who expelled a long breath.

  The rest of the family pretended not to listen to this particular conversation, as they all knew the result in advance. Heather and Laura squabbled for a little while until Laura relented. Her eyes lit up when she announced, “I’m going to my checkup next week. I’m so looking forward to getting permission to ride again.”

  Heather hissed, and her eyes blazed while everyone else turned silent. Tentatively, Paula asked, “Laura, don’t you think it’s a bit early to get back in the saddle so shortly after giving birth?”

  “No,” Laura replied curtly. The little crease between her eyes told Tim she’d had exactly this argument with Heather. Obviously the outcome wasn’t to Laura’s liking.

  “We’ll see what the doctor says,” Heather said, casting a concerned look at her lover. When Laura merely scowled at her plate, Heather added, “Won’t we, honey?”

  “Yes, dear.”

  Tim vividly remembered a few fights between his sister and Heather during Laura’s pregnancy. Stubbornly, Laura had insisted on riding while she was pregnant, no matter what anyone said to her about the risk. Only a fall when she was already starting with the last trimester finally convinced her to stop riding. Still, she loved to ride and craved being on horseback again.

  Tim sympathized with her. He couldn’t imagine not sitting on a horse for months. Ralf and Paula had infected all of them with their love for horses. Well, all except for Debra. She’d never liked horses, not even the ponies. The animals reciprocated and acted nervous, almost skittish around her.

  “What do they want the Shires for? Do you know?” Tim asked Ralf after everyone had calmed down a bit.

  “As far as I understood, Mr. Walter Cox wants to buy a Shire for his son. Apparently the boy sat on one a few weeks ago and desperately wants one for himself.”

  “Oh boy!” Tim put his face into his hands. “Another spoiled kid who doesn’t know shit about horses.”

  “Be nice,” Ralf admonished him mildly. “I was under the impression that Cox at least knew what he was talking about. From what he told me, his son is a well-trained rider.”

  “In what? Do you remember the last time we had a father here wanting to buy a horse for his kid? The girl didn’t even know how to put the bridle on!”

  “I checked online. The boy’s name is Jayden Cox, and he has won some prizes in various dressage contests. He trains horses for a living. The father explained to me they are thinking about expanding and adding Shire horses to their stable.”

  Tim froze. He’d never told anyone the name of his mate, but every time someone named Jay or a name that could be shortened to it, hope flared up within Tim. Calmly, Tim asked, “How old is he? You know how much I hate to put teenagers onto a Shire, no matter how placid the horses or how well-trained the riders are.”

  “He’s twenty-one.”

  Tim groaned in distress, earning himself suspicious glances from various family members. Twenty-one. That was the age his Jay would be by now. Tim didn’t dare hope, but excitement still rushed through his veins. To cover his intense interest in their visitors, he exclaimed, “Dad! I thought you were talking about a teenager!”

  Ralf looked at him in bewilderment. “Yeah, sure. That’s what I said.”

  “Ralf,” Paula said, shaking her head while Robin sputtered indignantly.

  Absentmindedly, Tim watched Debra leaning back in her chair, the tension seeping out of her as she stared at Robin’s annoyed face. She got satisfaction out of Ralf’s remark. Slowly, a grin spread out on her face while the whole family started to argue about age and adulthood.

  All except for Tim, who busied himself with resting a hand on Robin’s shoulder, hoping to soothe him. Debra frowned when she discovered Tim’s gesture, then sneered.

  Can’t keep your hands off him, huh? Debra asked telepathically.

  Tim winced. She’d caught him off guard—again. He turned pale when the implication of her words hit home. With effort he kept h
is hand on Robin’s shoulder even though the innocent touch suddenly felt dirty.

  Bitch! Tim spat back.

  I’m not the one who is into kids.

  She raised her eyebrows challengingly. Tim hated everyone knowing he’d lost his mate. A mate who had been three years old when he’d found him. Debra never left an opportunity to remind him of how sick she thought he was for having a mate ten years younger than him.

  For a while Tim had argued with her, tried to get her to see the mating ritual wasn’t everything. Mating wasn’t only about the sexual relationship—it was a bonding of souls. She had only laughed at him, and Tim had given up. Maybe her incomprehension of the whole mating process was why she hadn’t found her mate yet, Tim mused.

  At least she didn’t provoke any of her siblings for being gay anymore. Paula had cured her of that attitude. Paula had also cushioned the shock for her husband when not only Tim and Laura turned out to be attracted to the same gender, but Robin too.

  Tim wished he knew how to cure Debra of baiting him. It was getting really old for him to always fall into her trap. Why the heck couldn’t she just leave it alone?

  Growing fur prickled on Tim’s back and neck, like it always did when he was about to lose his temper. He breathed in and out deeply, doing his best to block out Debra singsonging, Child abuser, child abuser.

  Tim didn’t know how long he could keep himself in check anymore, but then Robin slapped a hand on this thigh before cheerfully turning to Debra and asking, “Hey, Debra, what happened to you and Robert? I met him yesterday and he said he moved out because he feared he’d lose his sanity otherwise.”

  Tim hid his grin behind a hand while Debra screeched, complaining how rude Robin was. Robin merely blinked innocently at their sister while Ralf barked at her to calm down.

  Paula rolled past Tim, swiftly pulling his collar up a bit further as she did so. Embarrassed, Tim realized she knew about Robin’s distraction and also how close he’d come to attacking his own sister.

  Tim was on edge, struggling to keep the hope of finding his Jay at bay.