“That’s right.”And Linc and Dom are going to be so pissed I told you before talking to them.
“Was there anything else in the woods that night?Did your alleged mate see anything?”
I growled at her.“He’s not ourallegedmate, Vi.He’s our mate.”
More silence.“Did your mate see anything else in the woods that night?Was he with other people?”
“No.He fell and hit his head.He was alone when Linc found him.”
“Hmm.”
I didn’t like the speculation and doubt behind that sound.It took all my control not to snap at her.I didn’t like what she was implying.
After a few more seconds, she said, “You know what, I think I’d like to meet the man who is your mate.The human.I’ll drop by for dinner later.Talk to you then, Ellie.”
With that, she hung up on me before I could tell her that wasn’t going to work for us.Damn her need to barge into a situation, with force.I’d have to tell the others, but that could wait.That way, at least the three of them could have a few more hours of peace.
I finished my shift with a superhero figure lodged in a nasal canal, but little else that was particularly remarkable.I stopped by the grocery store before heading home to get the oolong for Marcus and some more food for dinner with Vi, but that was really all the delay I could reasonably justify.
Also, I wanted to see Marcus, wanted his scent in my nose, wanted to touch him.Would he let me hug him?I would give anything for that, but I didn’t want to risk pushing him away from us with too much physical contact too soon.Humans could be so very touchy about…well, touch.
I drove up to the house, the gravel crunching under the tires.I parked my electric car right there, close to the house, got out, and grabbed the grocery bag from the trunk.All the while, eagerness was building in my belly.
Everything looked safe—something I hadn’t really thought about all that much just a day ago, but now, I found myself smelling the air and checking the tree line for threats.
I’d heard bonded alphas talk about this, how their protective instincts just went into overdrive, particularly when anything triggered them.A hurt, sick mate would do that, a mate in that state having to deal with an unsavory ex even more so.
I walked up the steps to the front door and pushed it open.Linc, being Linc, made sure everything was locked up tight at night or when we went away, but when we were home, we left the door unlocked.
The hallway smelled of Dom’s signature waffles and the sweet, warm scent of our mate.I walked into the living room to find Marcus napping on the couch and Dom cleaning the kitchen.Dom gave me a gloomy look when I walked in, the grocery bag crinkling noisily when something inside shifted.Marcus blinked his eyes open.
“Sorry I woke you up.”
I put the groceries on the living room table so I could kneel in front of the couch and run a hand over Marcus’s side.He’d had a bath, and he was no longer wearing Dom’s clothes but his own.
Seeing he’d been a little more active was good, but his eyes were red.Allergies maybe, but wouldn’t I have seen that before?Something else was more likely.Had he…cried?
“It’s fine.”
My hopes for a smile from our mate lay crushed.Marcus didn’t sound fine.He looked about as gloomy as Dom did, which made me wonder whether the two of them had had some sort of argument.I didn’t think Linc would let that happen, but then again, Linc wasn’t here.I listened as Dom came up behind me.
“Linc’s in his office.Something happened, and we kind of didn’t want to tell you while you were at work.”
That explained that.Linc’s office was soundproof.
Marcus groaned.“There’s no need to tell any more people about it, actually.”
Dom eyed our mate, then looked at me.“Ugh, fuck it.That Steve fucker sent an email with some revenge porn to a bunch of people.”
Marcus gave Dom a sour look.“And thank you so much for telling more people, Dominic.”
I only barely managed not to show teeth.“Your ex did what?”
Dom grabbed the shopping bag and dug through it for the tea.“I told you to call me Dom, Marcus.Hmm.I think Ell got you that oolong.What’d you buy olives for, Ell?”
I cleared my throat.“Well, I sort of may have gotten Vi to invite herself over for dinner.”
Dom gaped.“What’s she want?Also, no.”
