Elijah let out a slow breath, lowering his eyes and folding his hands in his lap. It was like watching a balloon deflate.
“Thanks.” The word was very quiet.
They sat in uneasy silence for another thirty minutes. Carter offered Elijah some water and pain medication, but he declined. It was a relief when they heard Luke’s car pulling up in the driveway.
Luke and Owen entered the house, making their way directly to the kitchen. They didn’t bother ringing the bell or announcing themselves. Elijah went deathly quiet when they entered, and Carter wasn’t even sure he was breathing.
“Fuck, your dad did this?” Luke blurted out, immediately looking like he regretted the tactless outburst.
Elijah said nothing, and Carter shot Luke a frosty glare. Owen ignored them both and walked right up to Elijah. Even though Elijah had to be at least a foot taller than the witch, Owen seemed to dwarf him.
“Do you mind if I touch you?” Owen asked, sounding professional and like he dealt with beaten up werewolves all the time. Elijah shook his head, and Owen put his hand on his shoulder, pushing his hand beneath Elijah’s oversized t-shirt and closing his eyes.
Carter could smell the burst of magic that followed. It burned the back of his nose unpleasantly and made him take a step back, but both Luke and Elijah seemed to find it intoxicating. Elijah relaxed, breathing in through his nose and leaning into Owen’s touch, while Luke sprang a very visible and inappropriate erection.
“Is that okay?” Owen asked, and it occurred to Carter that Elijah might be relaxing because Owen was healing him more than the smell of magic.
“Yeah,” Elijah said, sighing.
“Good. Luke, can you come over here and set his shoulder? I could do it myself but it’s easier to heal if it’s in the right place.”
“Sure,” Luke said, hesitating before stepping forward and putting his hands on Elijah. Carter didn’t know if it was because he was worried about hurting him or because he and Elijah had a sexual history. Maybe it was both.
“I’m numbing all his pain, so just do it,” Owen said when Luke hesitated. Luke licked his lips and pushed Elijah’s shoulder back into its socket, looking relieved when he didn’t even flinch.
Owen kept his hand in place for another minute, and suddenly the smell of magic decreased and he stepped away.
“That should do it,” he said, smiling at Elijah. “How do you feel?”
Elijah rolled his shoulders and stretched his abs, a look of amazement on his face.
“Like normal,” he said, feeling his face. There was no sign of his broken cheekbone, the skin smooth and unblemished. He looked at Owen. “Thank you.”
“I’m happy I could help,” Owen said, stepping back. He turned to Carter with a scowl. “Now tell me what the fuck is going on. You guys are supposed to be fucking civilized.”
Carter was about to answer but Elijah interrupted him.
“Carter is bringing in a guy from Texas to take over as alpha. I was trying to keep under the radar with my dad, but when I stopped fighting him all the time he figured out that something was up. He wanted me to tell him what and I wouldn’t.”
Owen tilted his head and gave Carter a confused stare. “A guy from Texas? What happened to the spell you were doing?”
“I changed my mind. I like humans, and I don’t want to change that just to become alpha. It wouldn’t be fair to me or to anyone else.”
Elijah gasped, looking at Carter with shock. “You like humans?”
Carter glared at him, and Elijah snapped his mouth shut and looked down submissively. Carter shifted his challenging stare to Luke, though he knew that the other wolf already knew.
Luke held up his hands in defense. “I have nothing against it, and I’m sorry if I ever said anything to the contrary.”
Elijah’s eyes snapped to Luke like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Were you going to tell me about this?” Owen asked, crossing his arms.
“I was going to talk to you about getting him through your wards, so yes,” Carter said. He still resented the fact that Owen thought he had any say whatsoever in pack matters, though he was grateful for his help today.
“Good,” Owen said, mollified.
“So what happens now?” Luke asked. He was looking at Elijah.
