“Oh, sweetie.” Compassion squeezed Peter’s heart. He fought the urge to wrap himself around Quain and never let go. Quain’s injuries wouldn’t allow a goodsqueeze.
Peter gently gripped Quain’s right hand, then lifted it to peer at the bracelet on his wrist. Energy thrummed through the metal. “Hmm. There is a lot of magic going through this. I don’t know if my tools will make any difference. We’ll have to have Anthony look at this, along with yourinjuries.”
Quain sighed. “Are you sure you can’t take it off? I thought with all these tools, you could dosomething.”
Peter tried to calm Quain’s obvious frustration. “I probably could snap the metal, but I don’t know if there would be any magical backlash. I think it would be better to take you to my Alpha Mate and have Anthony take a look.” Peter was reluctant to prod at unknown magic. Quain could be hurt if they tried to force the metalapart.
“Anthony?” A pungent fog of uneasiness wafted offQuain.
Peter examined Quain’s expression but couldn’t see anything wrong. “Yes. Anthony is Silver’s mate. He’s magical. He would know how to deal with this better than me and be able to avoid injuring youfurther.”
Quain nodded but still appeared reluctant. “Okay.”
“What’s wrong? Did I do something?” Peter released Quain’s hand and steppedback.
“No, it’s not you. Magical people put the bracelet on me. I’m worried Anthony might be one of them.” Quain bit hislip.
Peter pulled his attention away from Quain’s lips and shook his head, trying to clear out his lust-clouded thinking. It had obviously been too long since he had last been laid if a single lip bite had him struggling for control. He blushed as his pheromones filled thegarage.
“Not Anthony. He’s helped me in the past. Besides, as a mate to a pack member, Anthony can’t hurt you without harming his own mating. Anthony is a good guy; don’t worry. He’s the one who changed me from being a mutant.” Anthony and the entire Moon Pack had helped Peter enough for a lifetime. Only because of them, did he even have a life. If Anthony had left him a mutant, Peter would have taken his ownlife.
“If you say I can trust him, Iwill.”
“Thank you.” Peter frowned. “How did you find me anyway? I couldn’t find you.” He tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice. It didn’t seem fair that their connection went oneway.
Quain grinned. “I had a series of visions that helped me locateyou.”
“Handy.” It would be convenient if something happened and he needed to befound.
Quain tugged at the bracelet around his wrist. A ring of raw skin lay beneath it. Peter sucked in a breath as his wolf gave an angry growl at the injury. “Maybe you can learnhow.”
“Maybe,” Peter agreed. The urge to pounce, kiss, and rip the clothes off Quain twisted him up inside, but with Quain’s injuries, he would have to wait. “Let’s get you toAnthony.”
“Are you okay?” Quain’s concern calmed Peter’swolf.
“Yes. Just give me a minute.” He winced at the roughness of his voice. They needed to get going before he lostcontrol.
“You feel the pull too, don’tyou?”
Peter nodded. “I didn’t think I’d ever have a mate. I’m too damaged.” All his shattered dreams mended in Quain’s presence.He had a mate. The phrase circled in his head over and over, a happy, victorious chant. Giddiness swept through him as his future glowed withpromise.
“You’re not damaged. You’re just perfect for me.” Quain patted Peter’sarm.
“You’re biased,” Peter replied, but couldn’t stop a grin from spreading across his face. No one had ever called him perfect before, and from Quain’s expression, he really meantit.
“Of course I am. You’re mine.” The pride in Quain’s voice boosted Peter’sego.
“I am,” he reassured Quain. Although they had just met, the connection between them twined around Peter’s soul. “I’m glad you escaped. I wasn’t sure how much I could search the wizards’ manor without getting intotrouble.”
“You don’t think your pack would’ve rescued me?” Quainfrowned.
“They would have if we had known for certain you were there, but I wasn’t sure if we were in the right location and your dream self couldn’t help much. I didn’t want to make unnecessary enemies with wizards who could’ve been allies. Besides, I didn’t even feel you for sure until you walked into theroom.”
Quain appeared to be thinking over his words. “The wards on my cage probably blocked our bond. I couldn’t feel you either until I came upstairs and saw you.” He rubbed his forehead as ifremembering.
“You felt me?” Peterasked.
“I think my seer ability makes me more aware of the world aroundme.”
