“I know, but you and Nuallan were so close.”
“We still are. He’s my best friend.”
“So you don’t mind him being with another man.”
Alex groaned. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell all of you I don’t love Nuallan that way. He’s like a brother to me, Mom. Nothing more. I’m happy he found Ethan and that they mated. I don’t wish I was in Ethan’s place, I’m not moping over this, and I’m not going to. It’s not the reason why I haven’t been seeing anyone else, and when I do, I’ll make sure to tell you, all right? I don’t want you to worry about me, Mom. I’m fine. I’m happy.”
Her shoulders sagged and she smiled softly. “All right. I’ll stop asking about Nuallan, but I can’t stop worrying about you. I’m your mom.”
“And I love you for it, but really, there’s nothing to worry about.”
She snorted. “Somehow, I don’t think it’s going to last long. You always manage to get yourself in trouble.”
* * * *
Gillham was finally in sight, and Calvin sighed in relief. He’d known how far pack territory was from Gillham itself, and it normally wouldn’t have been a problem, but he’d really been pushing himself lately, and the massage Sei had given him earlier hadn’t done miracles. He could have asked someone to give him a ride since he didn’t have his license yet, but he hadn’t wanted to bother anyone.
So there he was, walking on the side of the road and shivering a bit, because damn, it was cold. At least the walk had been good at keeping him warm enough that he could still feel his toes.
Gillham was... cute. Quaint. It was a small town, and most of the businesses could be found on Main Street. He’d never imagined living in a place like this, a place so small, where everyone seemed to know everyone. He felt out of place, even though no one was looking at him. It was good, though. He couldn’t deny he was out of place, but it made him feel better, because his place had been on the streets for the past few years. This was as different as it could be.
He walked slowly, looking at the stores he passed, at the people walking on the sidewalk beside him. A mother and her daughter, an older couple, a group of noisy teenagers. None of them paid attention to him, and he loved it.
It was something he’d learned on the streets—always pay attention to your surroundings, and be invisible at the same time.
Even though Gilham was small, it held everything one could need. Calvin passed a coffee shop full of people holding steaming paper mugs, a grocery store, a flower shop he knew was owned by a new pack member, several stores selling clothes and shoes, and even a bookstore.
He stopped in front of the bookstore, looking through the glass. He liked books, but he hadn’t had a lot of opportunities to read in the past few years, not since he’d had to leave his last foster family. He couldn’t afford to buy books, though, and that thought reminded him that he needed to talk to Kameron about finding a job. He couldn’t do much, hadn’t even graduated from high school yet, but he hoped he could find a way to earn his keep. If Kameron didn’t have anything for him, maybe he could ask around town, maybe even in the bookstore. That would be so close to being his dream job.
“Look who it is. The dog.”
Calvin almost froze. He managed to ignore the voice, though, or at least to act as if he hadn’t heard it. He continued walking, looking straight in front of him.
His heart was beating too fast and he quickened his pace. He didn’t even have a cell phone with him. No matter how much Dallas had insisted, Calvin had refused to take one from him. He couldn’t afford it, and Dallas and the pack were already doing so much for him. They’d given him a warm bed and put a roof over his head, made sure he had clean clothes and as much food as he wanted. He couldn’t let them pay for anything else.
He kind of regretted being so pigheaded right now, though. A cell phone would have been useful.
“Hey, I’m talking to you,” the man said, and there was no doubt who he was talking to.
Calvin would have recognized that voice anywhere. He didn’t know the man who was talking, but he remembered him well. He remembered his fists better than anything, and he wished he didn’t.
Dallas and Hamilton had saved him the last time, but they weren’t there today, and no matter how much he’d trained, there was no way Calvin could fight against the man and win. He didn’t even know if the man was alone or if his friend was with him, but with his luck, he was ready to bet they were both there, following him along Main Street.
A strong hand wrapped around Calvin’s arm and jerked him sideways. He opened his mouth to yell, but another hand pressed against it. It stank of cigarettes, and it made Calvin gag.
“Where are your little friends today, huh? No one’s here to save you this time, freak,” the man holding Calvin said. He pushed Calvin toward the wall and Calvin stumbled.
He fell against the brick wall and put his hands forward, skinning his palms. He knew the small pain was nothing next to what was waiting for him.
He turned around, his heart in his throat. Sure enough, the man who’d pushed him wasn’t alone. Calvin wasn’t sure the other one was the one from the last time, though. That guy had seemed almost hesitant, as if he was more a follower than anything. He’d seemed reluctant about beating Calvin.
The new guy was the opposite. He wasn’t saying anything, wasn’t moving, but Calvin could tell he was dangerous just by looking at him. It didn’t bode well for him.
Still, he stood straighter and looked at the guy who’d attacked him last time in the eyes. “What do you want from me?”
The guy seemed surprised that Calvin wasn’t cowering in fear, but that didn’t stop him from cracking his knuckles. Calvin wasn’t impressed, but he kept it to himself.
“We’re going to finish what we started last time.”
“That guy isn’t the same as last time, though,” Calvin said. He looked around, trying to understand if there was a way for him to get out of this. Gillham might be a small town, but it sure had more than enough dark alleys.
“Who cares who I’m with? The important thing is who you’re with, or rather, who you’re not with.”
Calvin swallowed. He wasn’t going to let the guy beat him without reacting, not this time. He might not be a good fighter, but he knew more than he had the last time, and he’d go down fighting.
He tightened his hands into fists, and when the guy from last time stepped forward, he struck.
He was a shifter, and that meant that no matter how small he was, he was stronger than one would expect. Not strong enough to beat a man taller and bigger than him, but strong enough to hear a satisfying crunch when his fist impacted with the guy’s nose.
The man howled and brought his hands to his face, and Calvin ran.
He took only a few steps before a hand wrapped into his sweater’s hoodie and pulled him back. The air whooshed out of his lungs when his back hit a hard chest. He was turned around fast enough that his head spun, and a fist landed on his face.
Pain exploded, red hot and bad enough to make Calvin cry out. He reached up, pushing against the man’s chest, trying to put some distance between them. It worked, although it wasn’t thanks to anything he did.
The man pushed Calvin, hard, and Calvin’s back hit the wall. A fist landed in his stomach and he folded in half, trying to protect himself from the punches he knew were coming. There was no way this guy would stop with one. He’d been interrupted last time, but Calvin wasn’t stupid. He couldn’t be so lucky twice.
He kicked out, smiling through the pain when his foot made contact and the guy yelped. It earned him another punch, though, so maybe he should stop fighting after all.
His lips split with the next hit, and Calvin felt blood trickle down his chin. He moaned in pain and closed his eyes, wishing he could be anywhere but there. Why had he left pack territory alone? Why had he been so stupid?
His knees buckled and he let himself slide to the a
lley ground. He knew it was the last thing he should be doing, but his body was a mass of pain and blood, and he wasn’t sure there was anything else he could do.
He swallowed and tasted blood. He tried to curl in on himself, to protect his body, but the next kick landed to his stomach.
Calvin closed his eyes and folded himself in half, but the blows didn’t stop, didn’t even slow down. He welcomed the darkness when the next kick hit his head.
* * * *
“Look at that T-shirt!” Neriah exclaimed.
Alex knew Neriah expected him to answer, or at least react, so he grunted, hoping it would be enough. He didn’t think he was up to saying more, and really, the orange T-shirt Neriah was pointing at was ugly as hell. It would make anyone look like a pumpkin, and it wouldn’t go well with Neriah’s long blond hair.
Nuallan was just as silent as Alex was, walking close enough to him their hands brushed together every so often. Alex understood why people thought the two of them were together, but he knew Nuallan didn’t feel anything for him. He didn’t like being out in public, though, and he fought the unease by staying as close to Alex as he could. He just needed to feel safe, and Ethan wasn’t there to be with him.
Neriah had had a hard time convincing his brother to leave Ethan’s flower shop. Alex had almost intervened, but he’d decided against it. No matter how much he loved Nuallan, Neriah was his brother, and they needed some time together. Why Neriah had decided it needed to be shopping, Alex didn’t know, just like he didn’t know why Neriah had come to his house to wake him up and drag him along. He hadn’t had nearly enough sleep.
Neriah looked back at Alex and Nuallan and pouted. “You two are no fun.”
“I was sleeping,” Alex pointed out. He didn’t feel guilty at all about being grumbly. Maybe it would teach Neriah to leave him the fuck alone when he was sleeping. He didn’t hold much hope for that, though. For some reason, Neriah had decided that since Alex was Nuallan’s best friend, he was part of their family. Alex didn’t mind, but it did mean that Neriah treated him like a brother, with all the trouble that entailed.
“It’s afternoon. Only babies and old people sleep in the afternoon.”
“And people who work their asses off. I got off shift just before lunch, Neriah. I was working last night.”
Neriah sighed. “Fine. Sorry. I won’t wake you next time. I’ll come alone.”
Alex hated the twinge of guilt he felt at Neriah’s sad expression. He knew Neriah hadn’t done it to be nasty or anything. He probably hadn’t even realized Alex had been working. Alex was one of the few people he felt comfortable with in the pack for now, so it wasn’t surprising he’d been the one Neriah had gone to. “No, it’s fine. But next time you want to go shopping, either arrange things a few days earlier so I can make sure I don’t work, or ask one of my brothers.”
Neriah blinked at him. “There’s no way I’m asking Christian to come shopping with me. He looks like he might tear my head off just for suggesting something like that.”
Alex snorted. “He’s not that bad.”
“Maybe not, but he sure looks like it. Besides, you’re his brother. I’m sure he’s nicer to you than he is to anyone else.”
“Fine, then ask Iggy. You’re not scared of him, right?”
“He’s Kameron’s bodyguard! Of course I’m afraid of him.”
That particular decision still puzzled Alex, but he was happy for Iggy. Being trusted that way by an alpha meant a lot in the eyes of shifters, and Iggy was well respected by most of the pack for that. It had definitely helped him carve himself a place in Gillham. That, and finding Zane. “You shouldn’t be afraid of him. Iggy wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“Yeah, right. That’s why he’s Kameron’s bodyguard.”
“He’s Kameron’s bodyguard because he was trained to fight and he’s good at his job. That doesn’t mean he’ll do anything to you. Honestly, what do you expect him to do if you ask him?”
“At the best, send me to hell.”
“Iggy wouldn’t do that. Christian might, but not Iggy. He likes being around people and having friends. He’s always been that way, and he didn’t have the opportunity to have friends in our nest. Now he does, and he won’t say no to you. Besides, you’re family.”
Neriah blinked. “Family?”
“You’re Nuallan’s brother.”
“Well, yeah, but Nuallan isn’t really part of your family. I mean, he’s not your mate, and I’m certainly not either, so there’s no way we can be part of your family.”
Alex shook his head. “Family isn’t only blood, Neriah. Nuallan’s my best friend. He’s part of my family, like a brother, and that means you’re a brother too.”
“We don’t even know each other. Maybe you’ll hate me once you do.”
“Nah. I like you already, even though you woke me up after a long shift at work. And I’ll get to know you.”
Neriah smiled shyly, as if he wasn’t sure he could believe Alex’s words. Alex understood the feeling. He’d had a hard time believing Kameron when he’d told him and his family they were safe, that they could stay with the pack and be themselves.
“I’ll remind you of this conversation the next time I fuck up,” Neriah said.
Alex opened his mouth to protest, to tell Neriah that no matter how much he fucked up, he’d always have Alex and his family, but the sound of flesh hitting flesh got his attention. He frowned and looked around. No one was fighting on Main Street, but that didn’t mean they weren’t in one of the small alleys that opened onto it.
“Did you hear that?” Nuallan asked, inching closer to Alex.
“Yeah. Where do you think it came from?”
Nuallan shook his head, but Neriah pointed to their left. “A bit further up the street, I think.”
Alex couldn’t see anything unusual, but he still pushed Neriah and Nuallan behind his back before walking ahead. The street in front of him wasn’t empty, but everyone seemed busy, too busy to notice anything strange going on.
The sounds of fighting, someone hitting someone else, became stronger as Alex got closer to an alley that opened to their left. A weak voice cried out, and Alex hurried. He gestured at Nuallan and Neriah to stay on Main Street and stepped into the alley.
Someone—either a small man or a teenager—was curled up on the ground, his arms over his head. An older man was circling around him, kicking him every few steps, as if he was waiting for the teenager to uncurl to get a good hit. There was a third man, but he wasn’t doing anything as far as Alex could see. He wasn’t sure whether that man was with the hitter or the wounded guy, but he couldn’t risk it, so he considered him hostile.
“Fucking freak,” the man who was still kicking the teenager hissed.
Alex saw the exact moment when the boy on the ground lost consciousness. His body went slack, slowly uncurling, and Alex reacted before the man hitting the teen could hurt him even more now that his body was more vulnerable.
“Stop it,” Alex growled.
The attacker froze. He blinked up at Alex, as if he couldn’t understand why Alex had told him to stop hitting the boy on the ground.
Alex took a step forward, keeping an eye on the silent man standing to the side. He didn’t know what was up with him, but he could tell he was dangerous, maybe more than the guy doing the kicking.
“What the fuck do you want?” Kicking Guy asked, turning to face Alex. His hands were balled into fists, and the knuckles were bloody. He’d obviously done a lot more than kicking the boy on the ground.
“Step away from the boy,” Alex answered, trying to keep his voice steady. It was hard. For some reason, he wanted to kick the guy’s teeth in for what he’d done to the defenseless teen on the ground.
“Why would I do that?” Kicking Guy looked from Alex to his still silent friend. “There are two of us and only one of you.”
Alex gritted his teeth. They were right. He was alone, and Kicking Guy wasn’t.
But he was a shifter, and there was a good chance they were humans. Maybe scaring them a bit would help.
Neriah suddenly appeared behind the silent guy. Alex had to fight not to swear, especially when Neriah inched closer. Then Nuallan shimmered in behind Kicking Guy, looking about to pee himself but determined, and Alex knew this was going to become a clusterfuck in about two seconds.
Neriah yelled what Alex thought was supposed to be a battle cry and jumped onto the silent guy’s back. Nuallan didn’t go that far, but he did push Kicking Guy forward. It was enough to make him stumble, and Alex surged forward, punching the man in the jaw.
He wasn’t sure what happened after that. He turned to check whether Neriah was fine, but Neriah was sitting on the ground, quickly backtracking from the fight. The silent guy stepped toward him, and Neriah squeaked and disappeared.
Nuallan was plastered against the wall, looking like he was about to do the same, while the guy Alex had punched was picking himself up from the ground and rubbing his jaw. His lips were split and slightly bleeding.
Alex didn’t wait for him to attack—he lunged forward and punched the guy again, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“Oh my God, it’s Calvin!” Neriah exclaimed. He was kneeling next to the unconscious kid, his face distorted in fear and anger. “They beat Calvin up!”
Alex didn’t know Calvin personally, but he’d heard about him through the pack’s grapevine. He knew Dallas had found him in an alley very much like this one, and that he’d been beaten up that time, too. The guy obviously needed a bodyguard if he was beaten up every time he stepped out of pack territory.
The sound of someone running made Alex turn around. The silent guy was at the entrance of the alley. He didn’t even turn around before leaving, abandoning his friend. Alex looked at the guy, who was still sitting on the ground. He arched a brow. The man looked around, realized he was outnumbered, and disappeared so fast Alex would have thought he was a Nix if he hadn’t seen him running.
Gillham Pack 19 - Calvin Page 2
