Carter shook his head. “Is it meth? Did you give it to my brother?”
Bas was facing off with Carter. “Where do you think we are? Drugs? Meth? You’re not in Boston anymore.”
“Drugs have been making their way to small towns all across America,” Carter stated firmly. “No place is safe.”
“This one is,” Hudson said. “We’re not on drugs! You know I would never do that.”
Bas nodded. “We’re not on drugs. I’m a shifter. Aaron is an oracle. You’re not in the middle of a drug war. You are in the middle of a paranormal community!”
“Paranormal community?” Carter laughed. “I’ve heard of drug addicts having hallucinations, but this is a little much. What? You going to turn into a wolf and howl at the full moon?”
Aaron pressed his lips together tightly so he wasn’t smiling. His mate was kind of funny. Shit! Not mate. Carter. The man’s name was Carter.
“Not a wolf,” Bas replied. “But you’ve seen me in my cat form.”
That got Carter’s attention. He actually dropped both hands and stared at Bas. “Cat?”
“He’s telling the truth,” Hudson said. He was still standing behind his brother but his soft gaze was on his mate. “Bastian is Bas. I just found out. We’re mates.”
Carter shook his head hard.
Bas turned to Aaron and pointed at him. “You are being an idiot. I’ll address that in a moment. If you try to run, I will track you down and beat your ass.”
“Don’t threaten him!” Carter growled.
Aaron did smile as Carter came to his defense. He had been planning on running. Away. Far away. Bas knew him well. That didn’t explain why his very human mate would stand up for him. It wasn’t like Carter even knew what being a mate meant.
“Protective over him?” Bas asked Carter. It sounded more like a taunt to Aaron. Of course he knew was Bas was doing. “Interesting.”
“He was literally just seizing in my arms,” Carter responded.
Bas hummed. “Normally we wouldn’t handle things like this. There’s a whole speech and all that shit. Except Aaron needs you and we just don’t have time. So pay attention.”
“Bas!” Aaron hissed.
Bas looked back at him. “I’m doing this for you.”
“Don’t!” Aaron tried again. This was too soon. Carter would run. Should run. As far from them as he could get.
Bas turned back to Carter, then yanked his shirt over his head.
“What are you doing?” Carter questioned.
“I’m getting naked,” Bas replied as he toed off his boots and socks.
“I can see that,” Carter responded. “Why are you getting naked?”
“To prove to you that we are not on drugs and that the paranormal really exist.” Bas undid his jeans quickly and wasted no time shoving them and his underwear down to his ankles.
“Fuck!” Carter said, looking away.
Uh, Aaron was going to have to agree with his mate. Damn it! Carter. Bas had nothing to be ashamed of. He did have an amazing body. Yet he didn’t need to show it to Aaron’s mate. Shit! No!
“No,” Bas drawled. “You need to watch this.”
“You really do,” Hudson told his brother. “It’s the fastest way for you to believe us.”
“Believe you? Believe that your new boyfriend can turn into a cat?” Carter questioned with a laugh.
