Chapter Two #3
“Just give us time to help you navigate your way through all this. You can’t tell anyone. But there are plenty of people to talk to. You know most of these guys. They have businesses here. Are part of this community. You’ve been here long enough to know that. To see the difference they make.”
“Yeah.” Carter ran his hands roughly over his face.
He did know some of them. When the county sheriff had spouted off his bigoted bullshit, Carter had thought it was because of gay couples.
The sheriff had called them unnatural. Now Carter was rethinking every conversation he’d had with the members of the community.
The bakery, bookstore, restaurant, mechanic shop, tattoo parlor, and construction company.
The businesses that kept the town alive.
The family was vital to the success of the town. But at what cost? Were the humans safe?
“I’ll let you get some sleep. It’s been a long fucking day. I know you still have questions. Take your time. Pay attention to the community around you. See for yourself what these guys do for this town.”
“I can do that,” Carter said. He almost asked Aaron to stay longer. To come inside. No, Carter needed to think. Worry.
“Feel free to reach out with your questions.” Aaron dropped a card next to his empty bottle. “Day or not. I’ll answer. You can talk to any of us. We’re all happy to help.”
Carter glanced at the card. It had Aaron’s personal cell phone number. “Thanks.”
Aaron rose and stretched his arms over his head. His shirt rose, revealing a thin strip of pale skin.
Carter had to look away. Aaron really was attractive and easy to talk to. There might even be a small submissive side that Carter was picking up on. Now was the worst time to think about that. Didn’t stop Carter’s cock from twitching in his jeans.
“Have a good night.”
Carter hurried to his feet. Should he hug Aaron? Shake his hand? Fuck! Carter never questioned himself this much. “Thanks for coming by.”
“Sure. It was the least I could do for getting you involved in all this.”
“What do you mean?” Carter asked. This wasn’t Aaron’s fault.
“Without my episode, Bas and Hudson would have slowly introduced you into this world. It wouldn’t be this dramatic,” Aaron said. “I am sorry about that.”
“Are you okay?” Carter cleared his throat. It seemed like days since Aaron had been seizing in his arms. It had just been that morning? Yeah, Carter needed to get some sleep. “From what happened earlier.”
“Fine.” Aaron waved at him. “Just part of the wonderful world of being me.”
Carter wasn’t buying it. Stepping forward, he ran his thumb under Aaron’s right eye where the dark circles were the heaviest. “You look exhausted.” And here Aaron was worried about him.
“I don’t sleep much,” Aaron said quietly. “I’m used to it.”
Carter didn’t like that response at all. He couldn’t do anything as Aaron stepped away from him and off the porch.
“See you around,” Aaron said with a smile and a wave.
“Yeah, see you around.” Their parting didn’t sit right with him. Carter wanted to follow him. Ask more questions, this time about how Aaron felt. What Aaron’s plans for the night were. But Aaron did look tired. Later. He had enough to think about.
Around him, the silence was eerie. He had no idea what was out there, now did he? If someone or something was watching. He shivered before rushing inside and making sure the doors were locked behind him.
* * * * *
Aaron
Trees surrounded him. Tall trees that made the area seem much darker than it should be when the moon was nearly full.
Turning in circles, Aaron didn’t remember how he’d gotten there.
Why was he there? It had to be late at night.
Right? It felt late. Like that weird time around three a.m. when mysterious magic seemed possible.
When his dreams were at their strongest.
Glancing down, Aaron recognized the same baby blue silk pajama pants that he’d worn to bed.
No shirt, no shoes, just his pajama pants.
So…what the hell was he doing in the middle of a forest?
He should be freezing with being barely dressed, yet Aaron felt quite warm and cozy.
So, dream? Although he wasn’t usually…like in the dream.
Huh. Now what the fuck did he do?
Aaron felt eyes on him even though it appeared that he was utterly alone.
Was someone watching? Was it a threat? Or was this just another time that his dreams and visions showed him something that didn’t make sense.
Frustration rode him. What was the point of having some mysterious power when Aaron couldn’t even use it correctly?
Okay, Aaron needed to figure this out. Every dream and vision recently consisted of three things, even if the rest of the details were different, fuzzy, and unhelpful.
Puppies, flowers, and a rainbow. Like he was a preteen girl with her favorite things.
That wasn’t fair and Aaron knew it. Boys and people who identified as non-binary could enjoy those three things just as much.
Aaron? Not so much. Even when he had been thirteen.
He needed to think this through. Rainbow. Well, it was the middle of the night, so finding a rainbow wasn’t going to be easy. How about the flowers? In his dreams and visions, the tall flowers had been purple with a dark center.
That was when he saw them. Mixed in with moss, grass, and the thick trunks of trees, there were indeed bunches of flowers peeking out.
He walked around until he spotted the flowers from his vision.
More of the flowers could be seen farther down the path.
Might as well see where the flowers led.
And see if he could figure out exactly where he was.
Barefoot, Aaron was careful as he made his way through the trees that surrounded him.
This wasn’t a path, yet there was a feeling of familiarity as Aaron kept walking.
It was hard to get a sense of how deep into the forest he was from the way the canopy of leaves blocked the sky.
Was he heading toward the big house or away from it?
The moss under his feet didn’t feel like anything. Another reminder this was merely a dream. However, Aaron couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched.
Trying to be covert, Aaron glanced over one shoulder then the other.
Nothing.
No one.
At least, that was what someone wanted Aaron to believe. Who, though? Who would be this deep in the forest. Animal. Magical. Other? Had to be paranormal, right?
A yip and a whine had Aaron slowing his steps.
The puppies. Why was he dreaming about puppies? Weird.
Standing in place, Aaron waited to see if he would hear them again.
There! To the left. Aaron headed carefully in the direction from where he heard the sound. Every few steps, Aaron paused and listened. Reaching the area where Aaron thought the noises were coming from, he stopped in his tracks, seeing the naked back of a man.
“Carter?” Aaron asked quietly. What in the actual hell was going on?
Turning, Carter faced him with a frown. “How did I get out here?”
Aaron shrugged. “Dream?” That was his best guess anyway.
“My dream or yours?” Carter questioned. “Because while this does feel dreamlike, it also feels different.”
Aaron sighed as he strode forward. Wasn’t it enough that he suffered through the confusion?
Now his poor mate had to be dragged along with him.
Aaron wouldn’t blame Carter if he ran far away from Aaron.
Trying to make light of the situation, Aaron offered a smile and joke. “Welcome to my weird life.”
“You did this?” Carter’s tone held an edge of accusation.
“Probably,” Aaron offered with a shrug. How could he explain to Carter when Aaron didn’t know how his power worked? “It’s…a thing. Although I’ve never brought anyone else along for the ride before. Sorry.”
Carter grabbed his arm. “I can feel you.”
Yes. Carter’s fingers were firm where they held Aaron’s arm tight. Electricity raced up Aaron’s arm from the touch.
“How?” Carter demanded.
Hadn’t they been through this? Not that Aaron could blame Carter for having questions. It was strange. Aaron was strange. Although maybe Aaron might be able to figure out the mystery with Carter’s help. “I could use your help. I think.”
“You think?” Carter released Aaron’s arm.
“I keep dreaming about three things,” Aaron shared. “Puppies, rainbows, and flowers.”
Carter lifted an eyebrow while the edges of his lips curled into the start of a grin.
Aaron waved off that reaction. Like he hadn’t been teased enough by Bas, Leo, and the other guys. “I thought I heard whining and yips.”
“I did too,” Carter said. “I followed the noise to around here.” He waved at the area below him.
The landscape in front of them curved down to a shallow river. Damn. That didn’t seem easy to trek. His first instinct was to drop onto his butt and just slide down. That didn’t seem like a sexy move with Carter watching. Of course, falling on his face wouldn’t be sexy either.
Another yip.
“I have to check it out,” Aaron said. Whether he made a fool of himself or not, Aaron was going down that slope.
“Be careful. It doesn’t look…safe.”
He hadn’t gotten this close before. If this helped him put the pieces together, it was important for Aaron to follow through with wherever this dream took him. He gave Carter a quick nod. Easy peasy lemon squeezy. At least he hoped.
Carter caught Aaron’s elbow before he could start down.
Carter wore a pair of short cotton shorts that looked like they’d seen better days.
No shoes or shirt. His dark hair was lightly messy, making Aaron want to run his fingers through the thick locks.
Fuck! Why did Aaron’s mate have to be so damn hot?
And the protectiveness radiating from Carter made Aaron’s cock hard.
“No, I’ll go,” Carter said.
“What?” Aaron asked. This wouldn’t be any safer for Carter.
Carter smacked his leg. “I wish I had a weapon or something.”