Alan shook his head.“I’d rather get this over with, to be honest.I’m sick of repeating the same story.”
“You can just tell them that you’re not up to it, then.”
Alan turned to Matthew.“Are you trying to get me to change my mind about talking to them?”
“Not exactly.I just think you shouldn’t do something you’re not comfortable with.”
“I’m sorry to say that that boat’s already sailed.I’ve done plenty of things I’m uncomfortable with recently.”
“Then you shouldn’t do them again.”
Alan shook his head.“I’ll be fine.Besides, you’ll be with me, won’t you?”
Matthew offered Alan his hand.Alan didn’t even hesitate to take it, which made Matthew smile.They’d met in less than ideal circumstances, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t make do and find a good relationship.They needed a little time, and Matthew would make sure they got it.
“I’m not leaving you,” he promised.“No matter what happens or what they ask.And if you want to leave, you just tell me, and I’ll get you out of there.”
“They’re council enforcers.I’m pretty sure they can force me to stick around.”
“They might be council enforcers, but I don’t think they’ve ever dealt with us mutants.I’m not the only one with a power, remember?”
Alan swallowed heavily.“I remember,” he murmured.“I don’t want any of you to get in trouble for me, though.”
“We’ll happily do it if it means protecting you.Remember what Rikar told you about the tribe protecting you because of me?The same goes for the mutants.Hell, for them, it’s personal because we’re family.If one of those enforcers even looks at you strangely, we’ll step in.”
“Let’s allow the enforcers to look at whatever they want to look at,” Alan said as he started pulling Matthew in the direction of Rikar’s house.“They’re here to help, even though you don’t seem to like that.Why don’t we give them a chance?”
“You should tell Moore that.”
“I will if he asks for my opinion.Honestly, he kind of scares me.”
Matthew laughed.“You have nothing to be worried about.He wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“Something tells me that’s not true.”
“Well, he’d hurt a fly if that fly had hurt someone he cares about.He’s a fierce fighter, but all he’s ever wanted was to keep us safe.”
“Then hopefully, he won’t bite the head off these enforcers since they haven’t done anything yet.”
Matthew wasn’t too sure about that, but he wanted to know what was happening, so he allowed his mate to drag him away.He noticed that Alan got more tense as they got closer to the house, but he wasn’t about to try to change his mate’s mind.Alan knew what he was doing, and he wasn’t wrong.The enforcers would probably want to talk to him.
Matthew and Alan reached Rikar’s house before the enforcers.Rikar wasn’t surprised to see them since Alan lived there at the moment, but Matthew pointed in the general direction of the enforcers.“Someone’s here to see you.”
Rikar blinked.“Who?”
“A bunch of enforcers.You should probably call Moore.”
Rikar nodded and took his phone out.By the time he was done talking to Moore, someone was knocking on his front door.Since he hadn’t said anything about them leaving, Matthew dragged Alan to his office.He knew that was where Rikar would want to have this meeting, and he wanted to be there.Not only did it involve him, but it also involved his mate, and he needed to know everything.
He and Alan tucked themselves into a corner so as not to attract too much attention.Alan was almost vibrating because he was so tense, so Matthew put a hand on his thigh and squeezed.Alan blinked, then smiled.He didn’t have time to say anything, unfortunately.The door opened, and Rikar stepped in, followed by a stream of people.
Matthew hadn’t counted earlier, but there were eight council enforcers.One of them was obviously a Nix, which was no doubt how they’d gotten to the village.He had no idea about the others, though.Initially, each team had been made up of a different kind of shifter, but things had changed over the years.There was no way for him to tell.
“Please sit wherever you find space,” Rikar said as he gestured around the room.“We’re waiting for more people, so it’s going to be a tight fit.”
The enforcers glanced in Matthew and Alan’s direction, but none of them said anything about their presence there.Instead, they found seats where they could.
Waiting was awkward.Alan started bouncing his knee and glared at Matthew when he squeezed his knee to make him stop.Matthew wasn’t about to start fighting with his mate over this, so he let it go.He didn’t mind much anyway.
