He’d wondered if there was a mate out looking for him. Since he wasn’t a shifter who could scent their special person, Aaron wasn’t even sure he would know if he ran into the person who’d been chosen as his perfect match. Now he knew that he would recognize his mate.
Carter.
Hudson looked from Aaron back to his brother as he shifted from side to side.
Bas placed a comforting hand on Hudson’s lower back and his hard gaze pinned Aaron.
Shit! Bas was going to make Aaron explain. Which was fair but still sucked. He didn’t even know Carter! Except his heart, his entire body, recognized something about Carter and screamedmine!
“I…I can explain,” Aaron told Carter.
Carter turned his head and scowled. “I don’t think you’re in any condition—”
Aaron rolled his eyes. Carter being so protective and bossy shouldn’t be so fucking sexy. It was though. Instead of getting to bask in that feeling, Aaron knew it was time to confess. Hopefully Carter didn’t run away in terror. Not that Aaron would blame him. Carter’s entire world was about to change. “I’ve been having visions my entire life. I bounce back fast.”
“Visions,” Carter said.
“I am an oracle.” Aaron’s voice was calm and controlled. It even surprised him. He’d said those words very little in his life.
“What the fuck is an oracle?” Carter asked. The little furrow between his eyes was adorable. Aaron wanted to smooth out that spot. Probably shouldn’t touch the guy when he most likely thought Aaron was nuts. If not now he would by the time Aaron got through explaining that shifters, vampires, demons, and magic was real. And Carter had landed smack dab in the middle of them.
Aaron laughed. “That is a question I have been asking my entire life.”
Carter threw his hands up in frustration. “That’s not an answer!”
“You know those books that you like to read?” Hudson said, suddenly stepping in front of the couch. “The ones with dragons and swords and all that?”
“What does my love for fantasy books have to do with any of this? I mean it, Hudson. I am losing my patience,” Carter told him.
“All of it’s true,” Hudson said.
“All of what?” Carter rose from the couch to pace across the room.
Watching him, Aaron really did have to admire the way that Carter filled out that uniform. And this tall, hot, muscular man was supposed to belong to Aaron? What a joke! Every minute of Aaron’s life had been filled with chaos and mayhem. Of course, the fates would give him one last fuck-you. There was no way that Carter would ever be with a man like Aaron.
“Guys!” Aaron held up his hands. Carter didn’t owe Aaron anything no matter what the fates had planned. He didn’t have to be involved. It was unfair really. Maybe they should just let Carter go on living in bliss and without all the paranormal stuff being thrown at him. “You don’t have to do this.” They didn’t have to do this.
“Do what?” Bas asked, glaring at him.
Aaron gestured toward Carter. “This is unnecessary. I appreciate that you guys are trying to help but…just…stop.” Nothing in Aaron’s life went the way it should. Having a mate was a dream that Aaron didn’t deserve. Not with how…broken he was. Only a true asshole would pull another person to the chaos that Aaron lived.
Bas raised an eyebrow. “Stop what? Stop explaining what is going on to your mate? Why would we do that? Huh? Unless you don’t plan on telling him at all.”
Aaron sighed and dropped his hands into his lap. Bas could always see right through Aaron. Nearly reading his mind at time. Bas might just be a shifter but there was more to him than many knew. “Asshole.”
Bas snorted. He’d obviously heard Aaron’s murmured word.
“Mates?” Carter shouted. “Are you guys on drugs?” Rushing over to his brother, Carter grabbed Hudson’s upper arms. “I’m getting you out of here.”
“Carter—” Hudson tried to pull away.
“Get your hands off my mate,” Bas ordered with a growl.
This was turning into an utter clusterfuck. Why? Why was it that everything Aaron touched turned to shit? This should be the happiest day of his life. He’d found his mate. Except Aaron knew that this man wasn’t for him. Would never be for him.
Carter pushed Hudson back before standing in front of him. One hand on his gum as the other reached for the radio on his shoulder. He was fully prepared to take Bas and anyone else to protect his brother. Fuck! That was sexy.
“Carter, don’t!” Hudson grabbed his brother’s shoulder.
