“Everything all right?” Axel raised an eyebrow, clearly seeing that no, everything was not all right.
“Fine,” I muttered, unlocking the car and getting in without another word. I let out a long sigh as he slid into the passenger seat beside me. “Sorry.” Turning to face him, I caught the twitch of his lips. He didn’t have shifter gut instincts, but the fae had magic of their own, and I had no doubt he could read me easily enough. Probably had a good idea why I was feeling and acting the way I did around Gabriel.
I wasn’t about to confirm his suspicions though.
“He gets under my skin.”
Axel smirked. “I can see that.” Then his expression sobered. “Do they still think I’m involved? Because I’m not. I wouldn’t lie to you, ever.”
“I know. And I believe you, of course I do.” I started the car but didn’t pull out of the space right away. “Your letter from the high court is a solid alibi.” I glanced at him, not wanting to say the next bit, but neither of us was stupid. “The fact remains that the drug used to poison Callum is from the Fae Realm. And only found there. Considering that you’re a fae living in close proximity to the Sherwood Pines Pack and that you knew Callum …” I shrugged. “They won’t be able to ignore that just because you’re a member of my pack.”
“I’d never hurt Callum.” He curled his lip. “And I’d never have anything to do with that shit, either.”
“I know.” I set my hand on his shoulder, giving him a reassuring squeeze. “And it won’t take long for them to realise that too. Just hang in there.”
He grunted in agreement, and I finally pulled out onto the road.
“You know,” he said after a minute or two. “If you ever want to talk about you and Mase…” I flinched at the nickname. Still didn’t like it. “I’m here,” he added. “And I’d never repeat anything that was said. You can trust me.”
He was giving me the opportunity to talk about it with someone outside of my pack. And while I doubted I’d take him up on it, I appreciated it. A lot.
“Thank you.” I glanced over at him, hoping he saw the sincerity in my eyes. “I want to say there’s nothing to talk about, but that would be bollocks and we both know it.” I ran a hand through my hair, wishing it was longer.
Like Gabriel’s.
He has something you can grab a hold of.
I fisted long strands of jet-black hair, wrapped it around my fingers and held on tight as he licked the head of my cock. Just the sight of his tongue lapping—
“Er, Rys?” Axel’s slightly panicked voice snapped me out of memories I had no business reliving. Especially not when driving.
Fucking hell.
I steered us back over to the correct side of the road. “Sorry.”
I felt his eyes on me but kept mine on the road.
My jeans were uncomfortably tight now, a fact I knew hadn’t escaped his notice. His low chuckle confirmed it.
“If you’re going to fantasise about the hot ex-hunter, at least do it when you’re not driving, and preferably when I’m not there either.”
“I wasn’t—”
“Yeah, you were.” Axel sighed and looked out of the window. “My offer still stands, you know. Any time you want to talk…”
I’d spent years burying that part of my past, pretending that it had never happened, yet suddenly in the cramped confines of my car, Axel’s offer sounded like the best thing ever. With Gabriel’s reappearance in my life, the weight of what had happened, of what he was to me, was crushing. I’d thought of little else these past few days, and that didn’t look like changing anytime soon, unless Gabriel left or I learnt to move past it for good.
But the unfortunate little fact that he was my soulmate made that hard, if not impossible.
I loved being a shifter, but this aspect of our lives made me want to rip my fangs out.
I gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary, debating whether or not to share it all with Axel. Normally I’d talk out my problems with Talis. He was my best friend, I knew he wouldn’t judge, but I was also his alpha, and the thought of showing weakness, even to him rubbed me the wrong way. If I was going to tell Axel, though, loyalty made me feel I needed to suck it up and trust Talis with it too.
Something else to add to my to-do list.
“I’m trusting you to keep this to yourself,” I said quietly, and Axel turned to face me, surprise evident.
“Of course. I won’t tell anyone.”
