Aaron and Leo’s relationship had always been more of a friends with benefits arrangement than a true love connection. They’d been each other’s first kiss, first hand job, first blow jobs, and first time having anal sex. Eventually Aaron’s feelings had changed.
Leo had figured it out even before Aaron had put his feelings into thoughts. While Aaron had been struggling with what he wanted, Leo had been paying attention to him.
Friends. That was the speech that Leo had given Aaron. They would always be best friends, but they couldn’t be lovers any longer. His heart had been broken. Aaron’s feelings for Leo had seemed so real. Until Leo had called everything to a halt. It had been a hard few months after that. Aaron didn’t know if they’d ever be able to recover the closeness they’d once had. He should have known better. Leo was too damn stubborn to allow Aaron to push him away.
It had taken Aaron longer than he liked to admit before he realized that Leo had been right. Aaron loved Leo and he always would. He just didn’t love Leo as any more than a friend.
And now Aaron was sitting next to his mate. His fate. Aaron’s perfect match if he believed what everyone said about mates.
How horrible would it have been if Aaron had found his mate when he was with someone else.
“Take your time,” Carter said, placing a hand on Aaron’s knee.
Shit! He was sitting next to his mate and thinking about another man. That didn’t feel right to Aaron. “Sorry.” He didn’t even know what he was apologizing for.
“It’s fine.” Carter squeezed Aaron’s knee.
Damn it! How was Aaron supposed to resist this man?
“Just start at the beginning,” Carter said.
The beginning of what. Him and Leo? That didn’t sound like a good idea at all.
“I know the dreams upset you,” Carter said.
Aaron groaned. The dream. He had to get his shit together. “It was the hyena pack.”
“The one that you think might have set the fires. And killed the mom dog and other puppies,” Carter said.
Aaron really shouldn’t have told Carter about all that. Not if he wanted to keep Carter safe. Carter was human. He might not be one of the claimed mates, but Carter was important to Aaron. Information was key and if Carter was going to be able to protect himself, Aaron had to stop holding back.
Carter winced. “I know the focus should be on the fires but it disgusts me that they killed innocent dogs.”
“Yeah, me too. I know they’re dangerous. I was talking to the leader. I won’t say alpha. I don’t think he is one. He didn’t feel…right. There’s something wrong with all of them.”
“You said before they felt evil,” Carter said.
“It’s like the humanity has left them.” That was the only way that Aaron knew how to explain the emptiness he’d sensed inside the shifter. Beyond the threats was just the feeling of wrongness.
“They’re killers,” Carter said. “That’s not unusual. Working cases in Boston, I’ve seen it.”
Of course, Carter could understand. “They want our town,” Aaron whispered. “He said they like it here.”
“They can’t have it.” Carter turned toward them.
Aaron swallowed hard. The fierce look in Carter’s eyes made Aaron want to smile. He liked how protective Carter was over the place that Aaron now called home.
“Was there more?” Carter asked.
“Not…really. He threatened us. Mostly the mates. It…I feel like that was what I was supposed to find out in the dream. I need to be able to protect everyone,” Aaron confessed.
“Then we’ll find them before they can hurt everyone,” Carter declared.
“Yeah.” Except Carter couldn’t help him with this. A human against a pack of hyenas? That was too dangerous. “I need to call Leo.”
“Leo?”
“He’ll know what to do,” Aaron said. Leo would be able to figure this out. His friend would help Aaron keep Carter safe. Aaron was worthless with powers that didn’t work.
