by Maggie Walsh
It broke Rory’s heart that Roman gave up his dream of playing college ball and hopefully going on to the NFL. But Roman insisted he didn’t want any of that unless Rory was with him. They both had jobs and lived together, but he never felt safe. He was always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
But right here, right now, he felt totally safe. He felt protected. He never wanted to let this go. He cried for what seemed like forever and these two wonderful men just let him get the release he needed. They comforted him. They didn’t demand anything for themselves. They just gave to him freely.
He pulled back when the tears dried up and his body stopped shaking. They shifted to let him sit up but they never moved away from him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“Why?” Aaron asked.
At the same time Raith said, “You have nothing to be sorry about.”
He smiled at them both. “I’m a mess. You don’t even know me and I just blubbered all over you.”
Raith leaned in and kissed his head. “Blubber away.” He pulled back with a smile.
“When do I get out of here?” he asked sadly.
“The doctor said she would be by this morning to check on you and if everything looked okay she’ll release you then,” Aaron answered.
“Oh,” Rory answered in a low voice.
“Is there someone we can call for you? Your family?” Aaron asked and Raith sent him a look. Aaron shook his head and gave his attention back to their other mate.
He hung his head again and shook his head. “No, my family is all gone. I’m an only child and my parents died a few years ago. There’s no one but Tom.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Rory. Is there somewhere we can take you?” Aaron asked.
“I live with Tom at his house. It’s all I have now. Everyone else is gone,” he answered.
“You could come home with us,” Raith offered cautiously. Aaron sent him another look and Raith just shrugged at him.
“I couldn’t do that. You don’t even know m.” Rory protested, but Raith could smell the excitement in him at the thought of going home with them.
“We know enough. When you’re ready to tell us more, when you trust us, then you’ll share it with us. And don’t feel that you owe us anything, because you don’t. You will never have to do anything you don’t want to do. We just want to help you, keep you safe. Get you away from your Dom. Am I right when I say I don’t think you want to be there?” Raith asked.
Rory shook his head. “But I owe him. I have to stay with him and do what he says until I pay him back,”
“What do you owe him, baby?” Raith asked.
“I don’t know the exact amount, but it was over a hundred thousand dollars. That was four years ago,” Rory admitted with shame.
“A hundred thousand dollars? If you don’t mind me asking, why did you need so much money?” Aaron asked in shock.
“Tom helped to pay for Roman to go to college. Roman only got a partial scholarship and Tom was helping him pay off the rest. When Roman quit because of me, Tom was out a lot of money. When we got our own place, there were some months that we were a little short on our bills, so Tom lent us money. Then when Roman died, I couldn’t afford the funeral, so Tom paid for it. I couldn’t afford the apartment on my own and I was going to move back with my parents, but then they died, too. A month after I lost Roman. So Tom said I could move in with him. He paid for both my parents’ funerals, too. He said I could live there and pay off my debts. But that I also had to be his sub now that Roman was gone. He said that Roman always told him that if anything were to happen to him that Tom should take over as my Dom because I would need someone to fulfill my needs and he only trusted Tom. So I became his sub and took over all the chores around the house to pay him back,” Rory spoke in a defeated voice.
“Who was Roman?” Raith asked.
Rory smiled. “He was my boyfriend. We became friends in junior high when Roman and Tom moved to town. Their parents died and Tom was old enough to take care of Roman, so they moved to our town. Then when we were sixteen Roman kissed me and asked me to be his boyfriend. He loved me and I loved him. We went away to college together, but when I had to leave, Roman stayed. Then one day a few weeks later he showed up at my door. He dropped out of college to be with me. We got jobs and an apartment. We were twenty at the time. We lived together for two years until Roman died in a car accident. That was four years ago,” Rory explained.
“So Tom is Roman’s brother? And you’ve been living with him and paying off this debt for four years?” Aaron asked. Rory nodded. Aaron looked at Raith in concern. Raith’s eyes showed his disbelief in this story.
* * * *
It wasn’t that Raith didn’t believe his beautiful doe-eyed mate, it was that he couldn’t believe what his mate had gone through. He couldn’t believe that this sick fuck Tom had done this to him. The only debt Rory may have had was his parents’ funerals, but maybe not even that. If they had life insurance, surely that would have paid for their burials. And now he was holding Rory pretty much against his will, making him his slave in all things, under the fabrication of a debt that wasn’t even Rory’s to pay. This man was a police officer, yet he was keeping someone as a slave and forcing him to pay off a debt. Something was very wrong here. Raith could feel it. They needed to get their mate away from this piece of shit. He looked at Aaron. We need to tell him.
But what if he freaks out and bolts? Then what? Aaron asked back.
It’s a chance we may have to take, sweetheart. We need to get him out of there. We need to protect him, Raith pleaded.
I know, but what if he doesn’t believe us? What if we scare him away? You heard him. He doesn’t have anywhere else to go but back to that asshole. I couldn’t live with myself if he went back there.
But if we take him back to the pack house how will we explain all the men changing into wolves and a fae king and a dragon lord? We have to explain it to him. Plus your heat has started. You need your mate.
No, you can take care of my heat until he trusts us enough. I can’t ask him to do that.
Okay, sweetheart. But I think we still need to tell him. Raith said.
“Are you two using a mating link? Because you look like you’re having one hell of a discussion,” Rory asked. They both snapped their heads in his direction, their eyes full of fear and confusion. “You said mates. I know your shifters. I just don’t know which kind though.”
“How…?” Aaron asked.
“My mother was a witch. I grew up hearing stories about all the paranormal species. The one that really intrigues me is the vampires. But then again, shifters are pretty cool, too. You guys can change into another creature. So which type are you?”
“You are full of surprises. I am a wolf, and Aaron is an ocelot.” Raith chuckled.
Rory’s eyes grew wide. “So cool, a wolf and an ocelot. Wait, if you’re a cat shifter that means you get two mates right?”
Now Aaron was in shock. “That is a secret highly guarded. How did you know that?”
“My mom told me,” he said simply as he shrugged his shoulders.
“So if you know all of this, do you understand then why we are here?” Raith questioned.
Rory looked at him in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“What my mate means is that, yes, I have two mates. Raith is one…and you…are the other,” Aaron explained cautiously.
Rory’s eyes went wide and he swung his head back and forth between the two of them. His mouth dropped open, but nothing came out. He closed his mouth then opened it again, but again nothing happened. Raith reached out and cupped his cheek. He looked into his eyes. “Yes, baby. You are our other mate. We want to bring you home with us. We want to get you away from that horrible situation, and protect you. We won’t demand anything of you. You are our equal. Maybe someday you will trust us and let us claim you. But we will never force you to do anything you don’t want to do,” Raith said gently.
&nbs
p; Tears started to form in Rory’s eyes again. “It’s over? It’s really over? I don’t have to go back there?”
Raith’s heart shattered. He wanted his mate to want to be with them, not because they would get him out of his horrible life, but because he wanted them. He ran his thumb across Rory’s cheek. “No, Rory. You don’t ever have to go back there. I promise,” Raith said. He slowly drew his hand back and stood up. He turned away from his mates and took a deep steadying breath. He rubbed his hands down his face and put a fake smile on his face. He turned back to his mates. “I’m gonna go call Micah and let him know we’re bringing our mate home. I’ll have him get Jesse to get a room ready for you.” He stepped around the bed and headed for the door. “I’ll see if your doctor is ready to see you too while I’m at it.” He threw out over his shoulder as he opened the door and exited.
Aaron’s gaze followed Raith’s every move until he left the room. He was worried about his big mate. He could feel his sorrow. Aaron’s heart hurt because of the pain he sensed in his mate. He didn’t understand why Raith was so sad. They just found their other mate. And he knew about them and he wasn’t going to run. Raith should be feeling happy, not destroyed. What did he miss?
“Is he okay?” Rory asked with concern.
Aaron turned his attention back to Rory. He gave him a big smile. “He’ll be alright. I think he just got a little overwhelmed that we found you.”
* * * *
Raith exited the elevator, his head hung low, shoulders slumped, and his thumbs were in the waistband of his leather pants. He quickly walked to the exit, wanting to get as far away from the hospital as possible. Neither of his mates wanted him. Sure he and Aaron were in a good place now, but in the beginning Aaron didn’t want him. He was disappointed to have Raith as his mate. He had to convince Aaron that they could work it out and be together. Now his second mate only wanted him because he could rescue him from a horrible life. What was wrong with him that his mates didn’t want him? Why did he have to convince them to want him? He shouldn’t have to convince his mates to want to be with him.
Chapter 8
Raith opened the door and walked in. He stepped aside to allow Rory and Aaron to enter. Aaron kept a hold of Rory’s hand as they stepped into the pack house. Rory’s eyes went wide at the size of the place. His mouth was slightly opened and his gaze ran around the large foyer. Standing in an archway off to his right were two of the most beautiful men he had ever seen. They weren’t anywhere near as good-looking as his mates, but they were beautiful. The one on the left had beautiful long blond hair that went down to his ass. It had purple streaks in it. His eyes were the most brilliant icy blue. He wore tight hip-hugger blue jeans and a tight purple T-shirt that showed off slight muscles underneath. The soft smile he gave made his angelic face even more stunning. The man on the right wasn’t as stunning as the one with the angelic face, but he was gorgeous. His hair was short and spiked on top and his head was shaved on one side, and his blond hair was colored blue at the tips. His dark blue eyes were just as piercing as the other one, but deeper. He also wore tight hip-hugging jeans, but his were black and he wore a midnight blue mesh top.
“Rory, this is Jeese.” Raith introduced the angelic one. Jesse stepped forward and held out his hand. Rory took his outstretched hand and they shook. “Jesse is our Alpha mate,” Raith explained.
Rory’s eyebrows rose. “I didn’t know wolf packs allowed male Alpha mates. My mom told me that the only shifter species that allow homosexuality was the cat shifters.”
Jesse chuckled and released his hand. “That’s mostly true. Usually gay shifters have to hide who they are or they are killed or thrown out of their packs. But things in the paranormal world are changing. This pack is made up of gay wolves who were shunned or threatened death by their birth packs,” Jesse explained.
“And what type of shifter are you?” Rory asked him.
Jesse smiled at him again. “I’m not a shifter. I’m human.”
“Oh. I didn’t know paranormals could have human mates,” Rory asked in confusion.
“Fate decides who are mates are. The species doesn’t matter,” Raith said in a tight voice. “And this here is Taylor. He is the mate to one of our enforcers, Gabriel.”
“Hi, Rory. You really are a cutie, aren’t you?” Taylor said as he held out his hand to Rory.
They shook hands. “Are you human, too?”
“I was. It’s a long story, but the short version is, I was sick and on my death bed. Micah called in the most brilliant doctor in the world.” Taylor turned his smile to Aaron. “Aaron saved me, but there was a mishap and I was converted into a wolf shifter. Now I’m some kind of hybrid wolf,” Taylor explained and shrugged his shoulders.
“Wow. So you both live here, too?”
“Yes,” Jesse said. “This is the pack house. The Alpha, his Beta.” Jesse motioned to Raith. “And all his enforcers live here. As well as their mates. It’s your home, too, now.” Jesse smiled.
Raith interrupted their conversation. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but I need to speak with Micah. Is it okay if you show Rory to his room without me?” Raith said to Aaron. Aaron stared at him for a moment. Then nodded his head in agreement.
Raith turned and left the four standing there. Jesse looked at Aaron with a questioning look. Aaron gave him a sad smile and shrugged his shoulders.
“Let’s get you up to your room so you can rest. Remember doctor’s orders,” Aaron said to Rory.
“I know. I am kind of tired. It’s getting late anyway,” Rory answered and tightened his grip on Aaron’s hand. His gaze was on the hallway that Raith disappeared down.
“Come on. We’ll show you to your room. We put you in the room across from Raith and Aaron’s room. We thought you might feel better knowing they were close by,” Jesse explained as he started for the stairs.
“Thank you,” Rory said as he and Aaron followed Jesse.
“Are you hungry? I’ll bring up a snack for you?” Taylor offered.
Rory looked back over his shoulder and gave Taylor a sad smile. “No thank you. I just want to get some sleep.” His eyes flicked to where Raith went and then he turned back to the stairs.
* * * *
Raith stopped in the open doorway of Micah’s office. Micah was sitting behind his desk looking down at some paperwork. Raith raised a hand and tapped his knuckles on the door frame. “May I come in?”
Micah looked up and smiled. “Of course. Come in. How’s your mate? Is he here?”
Raith walked over and sat in the chair in front of Micah’s desk. “Yeah, he’s here. Aaron is showing him to his room,” Raith answered in a dead voice.
Micah narrowed his eyes at his best friend. “What is it, Raith?”
“Nothing. He’s good. It took a little longer than anticipated to release him from the hospital, but because he had Aaron to look after him, they let him go.” Again Raith’s voice was hollow.
“Good,” Micah said and sat back in his chair. He studied Raith for a moment. “So how are you doing?”
“Good. I’m great. I found both my mates, and they’re both here, safe and sound. So we can get on with our lives.” Raith’s voice hitched for a moment before he caught himself and all emotion left again. “I just wanted to check in with you, see if you needed anything before I headed up to bed.”
“No, I’m good for now. How’s Aaron? Hasn’t his heat started, seeing as you met your other mate?”
“Yeah. Like I said I just wanted to check in with you before I headed up,” Raith answered, emotionless.
“What’s going on, Raith? You’re not yourself. And I can’t feel anything coming from you,” Micah asked in concern, his brows drawn down.
“I’m just really tired, man. I haven’t gotten a hell of a lot of sleep in the past forty-eight hours. And now I need to go take care of Aaron’s heat. I’m not gonna get a whole lot of sleep in the next three days either. We’ll check on Rory in between, but…” He let the sentence die off.
“Thanks, brother.” Raith nodded and started to stand.
“You can tell me anything, brother, you know that?” Micah’s words stopped him and he relaxed back into the seat. His eyes met Micah’s. Micah’s eyes opened slightly at the hollowness he saw in Raith’s eyes.
“I know. Like I said, I’m just tired.”
Micah held his gaze for a moment and then nodded. “Okay, brother. We’ll send food. Go take care of your mate.”
Raith stood. “Thanks.” He nodded and turned.
Micah watched as his best friend walked out of his office. There was something wrong with him and Micah couldn’t figure out what. He stared at the empty doorway for a few minutes and then looked back down at his paperwork.
* * * *
Raith walked into his suite and found Aaron already there sitting on the sofa waiting for him. He stood and walked to Raith, wrapping his arms around his neck. “Rory’s already asleep. I had him take a pain pill and he was out in minutes. The poor thing is exhausted,” Aaron said and leaned forward pressing his lips to Raith’s.
