Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, he gets fidgety, uncomfortable with genuine compliments. “More of an instinct than an actually thought out plan, I have to admit. But it makes sense if we run with the theory of our innate magic just doesn’t want to hurt the other. Saving, on the other hand, is still on the table, it seems.”
“Shields are a go, but no balls to the face.”
His grin matches mine at the double meaning. “No balls to the face, got it.”
Hawk reappears, and by the way Ian frowns, as well as the rumbling against my face, it’s clear neither guy is too happy about the development. “Ten o’ clock! Rheyas, we tried to warn you you’d get cold, but fine; Rel can be your coat. You don’t mind, do you, beautiful?”
“What were you thinking?” Rheyas growls.
“I wanted to see if you’d get so caught up in fighting with each other that you let your mate get murdered in the woods.” He shrugs. “But it’s a huge relief to know that when push comes to shove, you can work together.”
Ian’s voice is suddenly so cold it promises murder. “Did you shove her out of that tree just to test us?” You could hear a pin drop in the wake of his question.
“That was all me,” I defend, raising a hand. “He just wanted to make it harder to find me, and I told him I was comfortable in trees. I forgot to account for how slick they get in winter.”
With a huff of annoyance, Rheyas finally releases me just to turn around and crouch. “We’ve been out here long enough; you don’t need to get sick again.”
Surprised, I hop up, wrapping my arms around his neck. As he starts to rise to his full height, he grips behind one of my knees for support. Hefting me up a bit into a better position, his other hand slides behind my free leg and we’re off, trekking through the snowy terrain without even waiting for acknowledgement from the other two.
“I didn’t break my leg, you know,” I tease, though I’m not particularly objecting. “You don’t have to carry me.”
He’s quiet for a minute, though the crunching of snow beneath his feet and the hushed argument of Hawk and Ian behind us keeps it from being awkward. “I know.”
Twenty-One
Ian
The walk home, I pretty much just tune out Hawk for the sake of my sanity. We pass by the tree I left my thermos beside when I finished off my coffee, a decent weight, and I get one of those random thoughts wondering what would happen if I pelted the wolf in the face with it. I’m notgoingto; well, probably not, but it’s fun to daydream to pass the time.
I hate the man. Well and truly hate him, but I can at least be honest with myself that it’s just because he’s doing everything that I should have done from the beginning. Not a moment of hesitation, practically showed up with a set of wedding rings in his pocket. He looks at Rel like she’s the center of his universe, and doesn’t give any fucks that he doesn’t know her.
Falling in love is the best part, and he’s so confident that it’ll happen, he doesn’t mind an arranged marriage. It’s supposed to be; date, engaged, married, buy a house, have kids, work until you die. But he’s just doing everything out of order like an anarchist. And I’m sort of… jealous, I guess.
Watching the way Rel lights up around him, more carefree and even less jaded than she was when I found her at the gas station. It feels like a lifetime ago, even if it’s only been a few weeks. I barely even recognize myself anymore, and I don’t particularly like the person that I’ve become since my mate came into my life. I think I’m just having trouble recognizing that it isn’therthat caused me to change, but that I’m trying to changeforher and it’s simply… not working.
“So, I hate to be a buzz kill,” Rel hesitantly brings up, clinging to Rheyas’ back like a koala. “But if Rhey and Hawk are staying, one of you two bums is going to have to get a job. Grocery bill is going to skyrocket trying to keep up with your metabolisms.”
Hawk doesn’t even miss a beat. “Don’t worry, gorgeous, I’ll go rob a gas station in a fringe town. If I don’t get any money, I’ll make sure to at least grab name brand snacks on my way out the door.”
Rolling my eyes, I play with the numbers in my head, trying to see if there’s anything I can rearrange to make this work. At least one person here needs to pretend to be an adult and worry about things like mortgage payments.
“If Rel pitches in about half of her check and you two try and hunt as much as possible, we’ll figure it out. We’ll just go heavy on the rice and pasta to stretch things with whatever meat you bring back, and in the spring, can try planting a small garden to supplement. Let’s just hope any of you have a green thumb, because that isn’t my forte.”
“Spring?” Hawk asks and I bite the inside of my cheek.
“Unless you want to plant in winter. Maybe that’s why I’ve never managed to grow anything; I’m doing it wrong. Feel free to take point.”
He pivots so that he’s walking backwards so he can face me. “I’d assumed you two would get your shit together long before the snow melts. Seriously, Ian, what’s the hold up? I thought you and the big guy came to some sort of understanding out there.”
Rheyas still bugs me, but now that I’m starting to realize that the man is dealing with his own version of performance anxiety and feeling like he’s not enough, it’s making him not seem so bad. The problem isn’t Rheyas, Esmerelda, or even Hawk.
It’s me.
“Who are you to swoop in here and decide I need to sell my house? To move into your hippie commune at the drop of a hat? Hell, of any of us, I’d expect Rheyas to deem himself the leader.”
The alpha in question responds instantly. “My mate wants to keep the wolf, so he stays. What did people call the ones they used to carry around before the change?”
Confused as I try and follow his train of thought, I suggest, “Emotional support animals?”
