Cam didn’t look the least bit convinced. “Then what’s stopping you? And don’t tell me you don’t feel it, because we both know that’s bollocks.”
Glancing down at his hands, Alec sighed. “He’s young, like you say. A bond is a lifelong commitment; I can’t ask that of him when he hasn’t experienced life yet.”
“I said he was young and foolish where danger was concerned, not love.”
“There’s a difference?”
Cam huffed. “Fine, maybe not. But perhaps I’m doing Mark a disservice. Perhaps he knew what he was doing and just wanted to face everything head-on instead of running away.”
“Maybe. But even if that were true, let’s not forget he’s from another pack, whose alpha hates us. That could be a problem.”
Cam laughed again. “Yes, there’s that.” He reached out and squeezed Alec’s knee. “But these are just obstacles. If Mark is your mate and the two of you want to be bonded, then nothing else matters. I’ll do whatever I can to help, and remember, the council take mate bonds very seriously.”
Alec groaned at the thought of involving the council in anything else. “Let’s just get this investigation out of the way first.”
A knock on the door saved him from further discussion, and he sank into the sofa cushions while Cam went to let the others in.
Mike, Gareth, and Daryl filed in together, and all three of them stopped in front of the sofa and stared down at him, varying expressions on their faces.
“What?”
Daryl huffed. “For the amount of use you’re getting out of it, you should pay more for that bloody flat. And can’t you use a shower?” He wrinkled his nose in mock disgust, making Gareth laugh.
“You do smell,” Gareth added and then took a seat next to him.
Cam walked in after them and clapped his hands. “Now we’re all here, there’s a few things I need to get you up to speed on.” He shot Alec a wink, and Alec knew what was coming next. There were no secrets between betas in Cam’s pack. “Firstly, Alec and Mark Appleton have the makings of a potential bond, so cut him some slack.”
Daryl and Mike grinned at him, and Gareth nudged his knee. Alec ignored them.
Cam carried on once they’d settled down. “I don’t expect that will go down well with Newell, so be prepared for anything.”
Gareth spoke up. “Will he still be a problem after the council are done?”
Cam sat in one of the other chairs with a weary sigh. “I hope not, but I don’t know for certain. Not until they finish their investigation and tell us their decision.”
Alec had been waiting to ask all morning. “And when will that be? Did they finish with Felix last night?”
“Yes, they’re done with him. They won’t tell me what he said, but Felix assures me he told them exactly what he told us.”
“Let’s hope they believe him.” Alec’s phone buzzed in his pocket and he reached for it without thinking, then stopped. “Sorry, I just need to check if it’s Mark.” He found he didn’t care how that made him sound.
Cam motioned for him to continue. “Go ahead.”
The text was from Mark, and Alec hurried to open it.
Wes just came to the shop. Not in the best of moods.
“Fuck.”
He hastily replied withBe careful, remember what I said.
“Trouble?” Cam asked, and Alec glanced up to find all four of them watching him.
“Maybe, I’m not sure. Mark’s working in one of their coffee shops, and Wes just got there.”
Gareth sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Coincidence?”
“I don’t think so. He knows about me and Mark, said he was going to tell Newell. And I know Mark was expecting to talk to the council today.” Fuck, he really should have told Cam all of this earlier, but his talk of bonds had sidetracked him. It was no excuse, though. And Cam was going to be pissed. “They fought about it yesterday. Mark was healed when I saw him, but—” He had to stop when a wave of anger hit him unbidden. Fucking hell. He clamped his eyes shut and struggled to control himself. If this was what bonding meant, he didn’t want any part of it.
