“Well, that makes all the difference now, doesn’t it?” The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable.
“The point is,” Malek spoke up, his voice serious. “Your mate...” Malek looked over at Malachi, and Mikhail’s brothers seemed to communicate silently.
“My mate what?” Mikhail’s voice was sharp. “Don’t think I don’t see the two of you communicating.”
“Your mate needs time and patience is all I’m saying. But, if you want to give up because things aren’t easy, then maybe you don’t deserve him.” Malek’s voice was filled with the challenge.
“Fuck off,” Mikhail spat at his brother.
“You will have to do better than that,” Malek snorted, clearly unperturbed by his brother’s outburst.
Mikhail breathed in deeply and lowered himself back to his seat, then looked over at his brothers sitting beside each other. He could see how content they both were, and he wanted that. Maybe it was time he asked for help.
“We kissed.” He blurted.
“What?” Malek’s eyes widened.
“Say again.” Chi’s mouth dropped open.
“Well, we didn’t hear that,” Malek nudged Chi.
“Why would you?” Mikhail’s brow crinkled at his brother’s words.
“Never mind about that. When did that happen?” Malek asked.
“Yesterday, on our walk.” Mikhail couldn’t help the small smile as he thought about their walk, and Rowan opening up to him. Their kiss.
“Earth to Mik. Earth to Mik.” His brothers’ voices pierced his thoughts.
“What?” Mikhail's voice was weary, even to his own ears. He really thought he and Rowan had made a start. He’d hoped Rowan had felt the same connection that he did.
“You know we are not mind readers, so… you have to use your words.” When he met Malek’s gaze, there was a teasing glint in them.
“So you kissed your mate, and then what happened?” Chi supplied helpfully.
“And nothing. We kissed and then he ran like the hounds of hell were after him.”
“Looks like you have a bit of a Cinderfella on your hands.” Chi nudged Malek before continuing. “Your mate's done a runner. I wonder if he left his sneakers behind.”
Malachi snorted and laughed at his own joke, even as Mik and Malek shook their heads at his silliness, although it had managed to get a smile from him.
Mikhail sighed and leaned back against the couch. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I think maybe you do,” Malek said.
Mikhail held his brother’s gaze for a few moments before looking away. Malek was kind of right. He did know what he wanted to do… what his heart and his wolf were pushing him to do.
Maybe, instead of giving Rowan space, he needed to prove to his mate that he wasn’t going to leave, that he was there for keeps.
Mikhail wasn’t sure what had happened in Rowan’s past that made the man so skittish, but Mik needed to show his mate that he was someone Ro could count on. And if that meant moving to Manchester till he did, then so be it.
“Do you need me to call Finn in Cheshire to ask for a hotel suggestion for you?” Malek asked.
“You’re going, aren’t you?” It wasn’t really a question, and Mik could hear the approval in Chi’s voice, but still, he answered anyway.
“I am. Rowan needs to know I’m there for him, and I always will be, and I don’t care how long it takes.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” Malek got up from the seat. “I knew you’d get it. Well, I hoped you would instead of whining about it.”
