“I would have clawed his eyes out or something,” Axel said, his anger still evident in his voice.
“Whatever. I’m over it. I’m done with guys.” Alfie declared… “Besides, he was a crap shag anyway, and looking back, we only spent time out of the country, or certain weeknights together. Didn’t even see him that much. Guess I know why now.”
“Well, good riddance I say. He sounds like a right twat.” Axel’s face was all pinched like he’d smelled something foul. A thought must have occurred to him because he snorted, then started laughing. “Please let me be there when Malachi gets that news.”
“Malachi? What has he got to do with anything? What news?” Alfie frowned, confused from his brother’s random non sequitur.
“You have no idea.” Axel chuckled. “Fam, I have so much to tell you.”
Alfie grinned. “Please tell all, I need a distraction. But can I have some painkillers first?”
Twelve
Malachi
Malachi watched as Axel led Alfie away. If it wasn’t for the strong grip Malek had on his wrist, his wolf would have come forward. It was still a battle keeping him in check after seeing those bruises on his mate’s body.
Malek, on his part, knew what it was doing to Malachi. So did Axel, if the looks his brother’s mate was shooting him were any indication.
“Get a grip, Chi,” Malek advised. “You don’t want to scare your mate by shifting when you’re mad.”
“Someone hurt him.” Malachi gritted the words out. “You saw it, didn’t you? Someone put their filthy hands on him.”
“I know, but he needs his brother more than he needs you going all caveman. It doesn’t take a genius to see someone hurt him, probably while angry. You don’t want him scared of you, do you?”
Malek’s words had Malachi deflating like a balloon that had an unfortunate meeting with a nail.
“You’re right,” Malachi sighed. No, he didn’t want to scare his mate, and Malek was right. He didn’t want his mate to even think of him and the asshole that hurt him in the same breath.
“So what do I do now?” Chi asked his older brother, unsure of how to proceed.
Malek pulled him into a tight hug. “First, congratulations, brother, on finding your mate. I couldn’t be happier for you. You have received the greatest treasure of your life.”
Malachi sank into the hug. “The goddess has smiled on me.”
“And Axel’s brother too. You have no idea how much that means to him.”
Chi’s brow crinkled as he tried to figure out what Malek meant.
“Ohh.” Chi realised why. “He gets my life span,” he added.
“Yeah,” Malek let out a breath. “It was the one thing I knew wasn’t in my power to fix for him.”
Malachi chuckled. “Well, nice to know me finding a mate is beneficial to you.”
Malek grinned and hugged him again, patting him on the back, then when he pulled back, said, “Well, technically, I found your mate for you, so you owe me big time.”
“You’re an idiot.” Malachi hip-checked his older brother even though he had to agree Malek and Axel had led him to his mate.
“An idiot that you’re going to owe big time when I call in a favour. Come on, let’s go inside. I can tell you’re dying to be closer to your mate,” Malek said.
“I thought I was hiding it well.” Malachi sighed.
Malek was right, both he and his wolf were restless from being far away from their mate.
“Come on, I believe my son is about to wake up. His breathing just changed if my ears do not deceive.”
Malachi smiled; of course Malek was attuned to his son’s breathing patterns. “I’m not changing any nappies.”
