When he next awoke, it was mid-afternoon just after three. He immediately checked his phone in case he’d missed a call or text from Grant, but there was nothing. He felt a small twinge of anxiety as he placed his phone back on the side table. Why hadn’t he at least sent a brief text? It had been hours since he’d left. Was he okay? These were the considerations flooding his thoughts and tightening his chest.
He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the bed and just sat there for a few minutes. He didn’t know what to do with himself except sit there and stare at his phone, willing it to ring. When it finally did, he nearly fell off the bed, trying to grab it.
“Hello.”
“I don’t want to bother you, but I was wondering if you and your beloved would like to join Killian and me for dinner,” Simon said with a soft chuckle. “We really want to meet him; well, I really want to meet him. Killian thinks you can do better than a cop.” He laughed outright this time. Victor knew his brother was teasing him, and he wished he could accept the invitation, but who knew when Grant would return.
“Grant was called into work earlier, and I haven’t heard from him.” Victor began his explanation. “I’m not sure when he’ll be back.” That sounded strange to Victor’s ears and caused a tremor of fear to slice through him. He didn’t know where his beloved was or when he would return.
“I’m sure he will call soon.” Simon piped in immediately upon hearing the trepidation in Victor’s tone. “Why don’t you come then. I’m making lasagna, and you know you love my lasagna.”
“Killian loves your lasagna too, and maybe he’d just as soon not have to share.” Victor teased.
“He’ll share, he’s actually interested in hearing about your beloved.” Simon continued.
“I doubt that, but yes, I’d love to have dinner with you two.”
“Good. See you at seven.”
…
Grant had been called in to finalize a case he’d been working on. He kept his mind on wrapping up the investigation and filing the paperwork in order to try and keep his thoughts from wandering to his mate. Victor Rossi, the most beautiful man in the world, was his mate but also happened to be the Coven whore. He thought about the guard who imparted the information and considered what he had to gain by it. He was simply warning Grant from a bad deal.
From his experience with the Hadden Coven, they didn’t go after one another. They protected and defended each other and certainly wouldn’t be spreading rumors for kicks. The guard wouldn’t bad mouth Victor, a Coven member, to a wolf shifter, an outsider unless he felt that Victor was sincerely a menace. He stated that Victor had worked his way through every man in the Coven. He was well known for giving it up easy but refused to be faithful to anyone.
Victor could not be satisfied by one man was his inference. How could he ever bond with such a man? How could he ever trust such a man? He finished his paperwork and sat back in his chair and stared at his phone. He’d nearly called him several times and constantly checked to see if Victor had texted, but nothing.
He needed to do something, but his pride held him back. Would he be played like a fool once again just as Julian had played him? Victor was his mate, but how would he ever satisfy or be enough for someone like Victor who had a different guy in his bed every night? Would he have to see these men, hear about how much better they were, how they made him come? Grant abruptly stood, cleared his desk and left for the evening. He needed to go home and stop thinking.
Without even realizing it, he drove by the Imperial Club, which was far and away from his usual route home. Everything in him wanted to stop and see his mate and ask him about what the guard had said, but once again, his pride prevented him from stopping. He couldn’t let Victor tear his heart out. It would be so much more acute and excruciating than Julian because Victor was his Fated mate. There was a connection, physical and spiritual, that existed between them even before bonding. He had to stay away for now until he had a better handle on his emotions and needs.
They would have to talk at some point, but for now, he couldn’t face Victor without saying things he may regret. Stay away, calm his anger and then try to figure things out. That was his plan, for now, a plan his wolf wholeheartedly rejected.
…
Dinner was delicious, but Victor struggled to keep his attention from wandering back to his beloved. He constantly checked his phone, which both Simon and Killian commented on. The fact that Grant still hadn’t contacted him, and it was now nearly eight-thirty had his anxiety peaking. Grant was a police detective, and there was no telling the danger that he could be in or the harm that may have come to him.
“I can contact Iker and have him check on Grant for you.” Killian offered. His kindness just added to Victor’s anxiety because he wasn’t the type to be kind to anyone other than Simon.
“Do you think something might have happened to him?” Victor needed assurances.
“Has anything happened to him?” Killian threw it back at him. “You have had contact; your bond is established and growing. If he were injured or in a bad way, you would feel it. Do you feel it?”
Victor considered the question for a few minutes, digging deep to feel what he could of his beloved. All he felt was a coldness, a detachment but also an answering need that reflected his own. It was confusing, but he knew for a fact at that moment that Grant was okay; he wasn’t hurt. So why hadn’t he called? He promised that he would call.
“He’s okay,” Victor stated and dropped his head to check his phone once more.
“There could be any number of reasons why he hasn’t called. He’s a detective, and he can’t just drop everything and make calls.” Simon tried for an explanation, but Victor was finding holes in the ‘he’s so busy’ excuse. A text takes barely a few seconds. As his mate, Victor felt he deserved at least a few seconds. But he didn’t argue; he let Simon talk and nodded appropriately.
CHAPTER FOUR
Around nine, he excused himself and headed back to his own apartment. He wanted to call Grant, but he also didn’t want to bother him. The truth being that he was afraid of what Grant my tell him. His confidence and happiness were draining away with each passing minute.
He dressed for bed at eleven, and he couldn’t wait any longer. He picked up his phone and dialed Grant’s number and waited. He’d been apart from his beloved for an excruciating amount of time, and he needed to know why Grant had not returned and had not called. With his hand shaking, he listened as it rang over and over, and then finally, Grant answered.
The sound of his voice both soothed and upset him. “Are you okay?” Was the only thing he could think of to say because Grant said nothing other than hello.
“Yes,” Grant said and fell silent once again.
“I was worried when I didn’t hear from you,” Victor explained, feeling all kinds of awkward.
“I was busy.” He stated blunt and to the point.
“Okay, I’ll let you go then, and we can talk later,” Victor said and was about to close the call.
“Yeah, later, much later.” Grant sniped. Confusion gripped Victor and with it a level of panic. This was not the man who pledged his life to him yesterday; this man was mean and dismissive.
“What’s wrong? Have I offended you in some way?” He implored.
Grant gave a hateful laugh and without thinking through the ramifications, began spewing his anger. “Considering all the talking we did last night it surprises me that you failed to tell me about your extra-curricular activities, about who you really are.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I kept nothing of importance from you.” Victor felt his panic beginning to rise. “You know where I come from, my family, and my life as it is now. There are no secrets.” Victor asserted.
“What are you after, money? It’s usually money with guys like you. The last guy who hung me out to dry took me for a new wardrobe and plenty of expensive entertainment before I found out what a lying cheat he was.” Victor could c
learly hear the anger and venom in every word Grant spat at him but still did not know why.
“Lucky for me, someone set me straight about you before I made the mistake of claiming you.” His voice was beginning to rise.
“Who? I don’t understand what you’re saying.” Victor shot back with equal intensity.
“You’ve fucked every guy in the Coven and don’t try and deny it. You’re nothing but a whore.” Grant yelled into the phone. His words hit Victor like a physical blow. At first, he went numb and couldn’t believe his ears, then the pain began in his head and blasted through his body, shattering everything he thought he knew. How could this be happening? Was this Grant the Fated love of his life, partner for eternity? No, this man was a stranger, a vile and hateful stranger.
Victor pulled the phone from his ear and stared at it as it lay in the palm of his hand for a moment as if it were something contemptible, loathsome even. Then he threw it across the room with such force that it exploded upon impact with the wall. He continued to stand still and silent for several more minutes while trying to come to terms with this assault by his beloved. Gradually the pain subsided, and he was left with just a vast emptiness.
He thought of Simon and Killian and how he’d tried to turn his brother against Killian because of his past deeds, and yet Simon would not forsake him. He stood strong and defended Killian, knowing him to be kind and dutiful where Simon was concerned, and that was all that really mattered. Such devotion as theirs did not exist for him.
With several shaky breaths and tears in the stillness that would not stop falling, he turned off the lights and went to bed. This was his reality, a beloved who would renounce and abandon with the slightest provocation. Romance, he scoffed. He would never know romance or true love for his beloved was lost.
…
Grant immediately tried to soften his words as soon as they had left his lips. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean . . .” He began and didn’t know how to walk back what he’d said, so just kept repeating that he was sorry. It wasn’t long before he realized that Victor was gone. He hadn’t said a word following Grant’s wicked outburst, just silence.
The dead air sunk into Grant’s soul, and the panic was visceral as his wolf tore at him for release. His claws extended and his teeth dropped as the shift was about to overtake him. The damage he’d just inflicted upon his mate hit him sharply. He had to drop to the floor to forcefully contained his beast as the wolf fought for control.
He rolled to his side and then eased up onto his knees. His wolf was furious, and Grant couldn’t blame him. The accusations he’d hurled at Victor were beneath him, and he should have controlled himself, controlled his anger. He grabbed his phone and quickly shot another apology to Victor and followed that with a call but no answer to either. Victor was shutting him out.
It was during his third attempt to call that there was a hard knock at his door, followed by Iker yelling. “Open up, Grant.”
Grant got to his feet and headed to the door for Iker would not be dissuaded by a mere, fuck off. He would keep knocking until Grant answered. He didn’t want to talk to the man, he didn’t want to talk to anyone, but he had no choice.
“What do you want?” He barked as he threw the door open. Iker stood there and eyed him closely before brushing him aside and walking in.
“Stanley said you’re upset; he can feel your distress.” That shocked him for a moment. He hadn’t thought about Stanley being able to pick up on his heightened emotions.
“He sensed what I was feeling?” Grant voiced his surprise.
“Yeah, you’re the only other paranormal in the neighborhood. He can feel your emotions when they get really out of control, like now.” Iker went to Grant’s fridge, grabbed a beer, opened it, and took a seat in his living room. “Now, tell me what the fuck is going on with you.” He took a long sip of his beer and then waited. Grant walked over and sat down opposite him on the sofa and knew he wasn’t going to get away without an explanation.
“I destroyed my mating. I blew it away with just a few words.” He decided to open with the facts. He glanced up at Iker, who was leisurely drinking his beer and waiting for him to continue, so he did.
Grant gave him the highlights of his weekend explaining how his euphoria at finding his mate quickly turned into bitter disappointment because he let the cloud of his last relationship affect him. He finished by telling Iker in painful detail the content of their final conversation, which had occurred a few minutes ago and had been the catalyst for Iker’s visit.
Grant fell silent and waited for judgment, advice, commiseration, anything other than silence. Iker stared at his beer for several seconds before commenting. “That was really fucked up, Grant. I thought you were broad-minded and generally well mannered, but apparently not.”
“The guard had no reason to lie, and he directed me to three others who could corroborate his statements. It felt like Julian all over again, and I snapped.” Grant tried for justification.
“So, what you’re telling me is that a healthy twenty-two-year-old male who works as a waiter at the Imperial Club has hooked up with guys in his past. Sounds tragic.” The sarcasm was thick.
“Hooked up with a lot of guys.” Grant defended.
“How many?”
“I don’t know.” Frustration was making an appearance.
“You were expecting your mate to be a virgin?” Iker just kept needling him.
“No, just not a whore.”
“Are you a virgin, Grant? How many men have you been with? If you described all your sexual encounters to your mate, what would he label you?” Iker pressed as he leaned forward in his chair nailing Grant with a hard stare.
“He’d call me a disgusting freak and a whore,” Grant admitted and dropped his head to stare at the floor.
“No, he wouldn’t because he has more manners than you.” Iker’s sarcasm was back. He finished his beer and went back to the fridge for a second and brought one for Grant. Grant took it and drained half of it before taking a breath. He found it difficult to make eye contact with Iker now that his emotions were settled, and the gravity of the situation was upon him. Shame and stupidity were a lethal mix.
“I attacked my mate because Julian embarrassed me. I wasn’t even that keen on Julian if truth be told it was just the humiliation that stung. Seeing him there being fucked by the manager, Jordan Turnbull, had twisted me up. I wanted revenge, and I took it out on Victor.” He spoke to the floor still not ready to look at Iker as he came clean with his feelings and behavior.
He took his anger and sense of betrayal out on Victor, his mate, who he was supposed to honor, protect, treasure, and love above all others. “I let that fucking Julian trash me twice only this time my loss is devastating.”
“Yeah, Julian was no prize for sure. I figured you were with him for the sex. It certainly wasn’t for his personality because he had none.” Iker interjected.
“It was easy, and that should have been my first clue that he was incapable of being faithful.” Grant looked up at Iker with a smile. “How do I fix this with Victor? I said some awful things, and now he isn’t talking to me.”
“You’ve tried to call him and text him?”
“Repeatedly, he won’t respond.”
“Give me Victor’s number.” Grant gave him the number, and he tried to call him on his phone. “Maybe he’ll answer if he thinks it’s me instead of you.” Grant held his breath, hoping that Victor would speak to Iker, but after a few seconds, Iker closed the call. “His phone is turned off.”
“This is so bad.” Grant declared and finished the rest of his beer. “I made him so many damned promises yesterday and broke every one of them today.”
“Leave it for tonight and go see him tomorrow. You’re his beloved; he won’t be able to stay away for long. He’ll forgive you.” Iker assured.
“I’m not so certain of that.”
…
“It’s after two, and he still isn’t answering his phone,�
�� Simon told Killian as they sat together at the bar of the Imperial having coffee. “I tried his door, but he won’t answer, and it’s locked, and he never locks his door.”
“You’re worried?” Killian breathed the words against Simon’s ear as he placed a few kisses to the side of his face.
“I’m worried.” Simon looked over at Killian with that pleading expression that Killian would do anything to appease.
“I’ll go with you, and we’ll get the door open,” Killian stated, and they headed back hall that leads to the apartments. Simon’s wishes were always Killian’s commands.
The place was getting quieter by the day with people moving to the new location downtown. There were but a handful of people still residing at the Imperial. Guards and security measures were still in place and would remain, but most of the apartments were now empty. The section of the first floor where Victor’s apartment was located had already been completely cleared except for Victor.
When they arrived, Simon tried knocking, but there were no sounds from inside the apartment. Killian tried the handle, but it was locked as Simon had said. “Call him.” He stated, and Simon called but received no answer.
“His phone is off,” Simon said with panic rising in his tone and expression. Killian took the handle and with a flick of his wrist, broke it, and pushed the door open for Simon to enter. Simon hurried through the apartment and seeing no one, went directly to Victor’s bedroom. Killian remained in the outer room.
He saw him in bed, not moving. “Victor, wake up.” He said and began shaking him. With the urgency apparent in his beloved’s tone, Killian rushed into the room.
“Is he okay?” He asked.
“I don’t know, he’s so groggy, what’s wrong?” Simon sat down on the edge of the bed and kept shaking him. Killian retrieved several bottles from the floor and with a subtle smirk, showed them to Simon.
“I think these are what is wrong with him, my love.” He said. Simon glanced over and shook his head. “I’ll get some black coffee; you keep working on him.” With that Killian left the room.
12- Open Your Eyes: Pittsburgh Vampires Vol. 12 Page 4
