He couldn’t help smiling. It was so typical of Axel. His brother was such a worrier and carer, probably why the whole teaching thing worked for him. If Axel didn’t puke at the sight of blood, Alfie had a feeling his brother would have ended up a nurse or doctor like Rowan.
Alfie quickly downed the pills and got out of bed. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t wallow because of Rupert. Anyone that could put their hands on him wasn’t worth his tears.
I bet Malachi will never do that, his brain supplied.
Alfie would have been surprised by the thought if his dreams hadn’t been filled with the man. Just thinking about it had his already prominent morning wood twitching.
However, he couldn’t focus on that at the moment. His brain was still trying to compute all the information he’d been given. Even if he could believe the whole ‘men turning into wolves’ part, there was the whole other side of things where Malachi was his mate—and not mate like best mate, mate likesoulmate. Then, there was the whole, “Oh, by the way, if you mate with Malachi, his super-magic cum can make you preggers.”
Alfie had spent part of last night trying to decide if Axel was brainwashed, but, well, he’d heard a baby crying at some point during the night, and his brother had shown him what was left of his C-section scar.
Yeah, those words had actually come out of his mouth.
Malachi’s face flashed into his mind again, and he couldn’t help remembering the conversation they had on the way down about soulmates. With what he knew now, Alfie realised the man had been talking about him, and wasn’t that what everyone wanted?
As much as his brain tried to make sense of things, Alfie decidedfuck it all. He was going to forget everything he thought he knew. Even during the brief length of time he’d spent with Malachi, the man had made him feel safe.
From the moment Malachi had walked into his hotel room, Alfie’s whole body had taken notice. More than that, Alfie saw how happy Axel was. His brother practically vibrated with joy when he mentioned Malek’s name.
And I could have that.
He reallycouldhave that for himself.
He decided to ask Axel all the questions when he saw his brother. With that decided, he got out of bed and hurried to the bathroom, his bladder almost bursting.
The one thing he couldn’t shake, that his brain didn’t stop thinking, was what if everythingwastrue and Malachi was actually his.
He would have someone who always saw him and put him first. Even though he was the last child, Alfie had kind of gone unnoticed after his dad died. His mum was trying to make sure they were all okay while at the same time barely coping with the loss of her husband.
By the time she was better, Alfie had learned to fend for himself, but there was always a part of him that wanted to be taken care of, to come first.
That was why Rupert chasing after him had been so enticing, but then even he had hidden Alfie away. Alfie had been nothing but a convenience.
I bet you won’t be a convenience to Malachi,his brain—or maybe it was his heart—pointed out.
Fourteen
Malachi
Malachi had barely got any sleep. All he could think of was how close his mate was and how he couldn’t be next to him. He wasn’t sure which was worse, being this close and not being able to claim or comfort his mate, or not finding his mate at all.
Chi immediately asked the goddess to forgive him for having that thought. He was grateful to have found Alfie, and if all he needed was a little patience, then he would find it in himself.
Alfie hadn’t come down the rest of the day and even his run hadn’t curbed his restlessness. Malek had called Mikhail and Marcellus over to hang out and to distract him. When Malachi had seen the longing in his younger brothers’ eyes, he’d known that he had no reason to complain.Hismate was here.
Axel had at least allowed him to carry Alfie from their master bedroom to one of the guest rooms.Fuck, the feel of his mate in his arms.
“Earth to Malachi.” Malek’s voice interrupted his musing.
“What is it?” Malachi snapped at his brother.
Malek simply snorted, “Between watching the door and thinking about goddess knows what, you haven’t heard a word we’ve said.”
He ignored his brother, instead glancing over at Axel who was sitting beside Malek.
“Do you think he’s okay? Maybe you should go check on him,” Malachi said, and looked towards the door to the kitchen.
“Like you didn’t check on him all through the night.” Malek gave him a knowing look.
