“It’s not just the paranormal in the area. All those mates. The sweet, innocent, and human mates.”
“You won’t get close to them,” Aaron promised.
“No?” the shifter asked. “It’s so easy to get close. To appear like just another customer or town person. To watch those fun little romps around the forest.”
They were watching the family. Aaron’s family. “I don’t know if that’s more brave or stupid.” He hummed. “No, it’s stupid.”
“We might not even kill them all,” the shifter said. “We could have some fun with them first. They must be very good at pleasing their mates.”
Disgust filled him.
“First we just have to deal with your nosy ass,” the shifter told him.
Aaron pressed his lips together. They couldn’t hurt him. This was just a dream.
The man shifted before launching himself at Aaron.
Aaron yelled as he stumbled back.
“Hey, easy there. Aaron. Come on, man. Open your eyes.”
He’d been throwing his hands up to protect himself, but when Aaron opened his eyes, it was his mate leaning over him. No, not his mate. Carter. It was Carter.
“There you are,” Carter said quietly. “Are you okay?”
Pushing the blanket off his chest, Aaron took a deep breath. “Fuck! It was just a dream.”
Carter sat on the couch next to Aaron’s hip. “Must have been one hell of a dream.”
“Yeah.” Aaron rubbed his hands roughly over his face. “Shit! I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
The smile that Carter gave him was soft and sweet. “You passed out and I didn’t have the heart to wake you up.”
And Carter must have covered him up with a soft blanket. That was sweet. Too sweet.
“Do you want to talk about the dream?” Carter asked quietly.
Aaron considered what he should do. He hated to involve Carter any more than he already had. Except Carter was a cop. And he just might have some insight into what to do about the threat to the town. He nodded.
“Let me get you some water,” Carter told him.
“Thanks.” Aaron waited until Carter was in the kitchen before pushing the blanket the rest of the way off and swinging his legs off the couch. He’d been laid out on the couch and all the lights were turned off. The only reason he could see was because of the kitchen light that reached the living room.
He glanced over at the kennel where the three puppies were still fast asleep. At least he hadn’t woken them. Or Hudson and Bas. That would just be embarrassing. The dreams that plagued Aaron nightly were bad enough. He didn’t need to be disrupting anyone else’s sleep. That was the main reason that Aaron had chosen to stay in one of the cabins on property instead of the main house.
“Here you go.” Carter handed Aaron a bottle of water.
“Appreciate it.” Aaron twisted the cap off the water and took a long drink.
Carter sat next to Aaron on the couch. Close. Close enough that their legs were pressed together. Aaron had to take another drink to cool the heat that flashed through him.
“I’m sorry that I woke you,” Aaron said.
“I don’t mind,” Carter said.
Aaron snorted. Maybe not this time. But the sleepless nights would add up. It was impossible to have a relationship with someone when Aaron couldn’t sleep in the same bed all night long with his partner. Eventually his partners wanted more from him and when Aaron gave in and stayed over at night, his dreams always messed things up between them.
The only person who hadn’t complained was Leo.
