Chapter Three #3
There were very few memories of Aaron’s life before he went to live in the Council’s children’s home.
The home itself hadn’t been a place where a child should have been raised.
It wasn’t a home at all. A training center, school.
And sometimes hell. The only reason that Aaron had made it out of that place was because of Leo and Bas.
He didn’t know what was wrong with him. Aaron lifted his eyes to the instructor standing in front of him. The slap that Aaron received wasn’t really a surprise. The instructors didn’t seem to like him much.
Behind him, Leo growled low and mean.
Uh-oh! Aaron didn’t want his friend to get in trouble. Again.
“Worthless,” the instructor spat at Aaron. “What are you even doing here?”
Aaron shrugged one of his small shoulders. He had no clue. Not really. He was surrounded by kids that could turn into big scary animals. Aaron couldn’t do that. He’d tried!
“Don’t talk to him that way!” Leo demanded angrily as he pressed his chest to Aaron’s back.
It was hard to hold back the tears. Aaron didn’t like crying in front of others. The kids would make fun of him, the instructors would taunt him. Only Leo was ever kind.
“Shut the fuck up!” The instructor glowered at Leo. “Go find something else to do.”
“No,” Leo replied firmly.
The instructor drew his hand back again.
“Hey, asshole! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size!”
Aaron snapped his head around to see a kid about his and Aaron’s age striding toward them.
Aaron had never seen this guy before. He was big though.
Bigger than both him and Leo. And he looked like he might just be able to give the instructor some of his own medicine.
That was something that Aaron wouldn’t mind watching.
The instructor sneered at the new kid. “You just got out of isolation. Do you really want to go back so soon?”
The new kid smirked. “If I get to knock you on your ass again? Sure.” He glanced over at Aaron and winked.
Holy cow! Who was this kid? And how did Aaron grow up to be just like him? He was totally the coolest person that Aaron had ever seen. Behind him, Leo’s fingers dug into Aaron’s shoulder, grounding him.
“Mind your own fucking business,” the instructor muttered, but he turned away to stomp from the gym.
He walked away! Without hitting Aaron again. Or punishing Leo or this other kid.
“Who are you?” Leo asked as he grasped Aaron’s shoulder tighter.
Aaron was thankful for Leo’s support since his knees were still wobbly. The instructor had been on Aaron’s ass all week. It was exhausting not only having to watch out for the other kids but now the instructors as well.
“Bas,” the kid replied. “Leo and Aaron, right?”
Aaron nodded his head. This kid knew who they were?
“Yeah?” Leo said. “So?”
Bas grinned. “I just got my room assignment. Looks like we’re roomies.”
Cool! Maybe this time Aaron wouldn’t have to worry about someone attacking him in the middle of the night. Leo tried to protect Aaron, but Leo couldn’t be everywhere Aaron was or stay awake all night to watch their backs.
Bas popped his knuckles one at a time as he darted his eyes from Aaron to Leo. “I heard there might have been some trouble in the room. Just tell me who gives you shit. I’ll take care of them.”
Leo snorted. “Why would you do that?”
“I have disciplinary issues,” Bas said proudly.
That was the moment that Aaron’s life had changed.
Instead of just having Leo on his side, Bas had quickly become their best friend.
Bas hadn’t been afraid of anyone, student or instructor.
Slowly, and with Leo and Bas’s help, Aaron had realized while he was different than the other kids, that didn’t mean there was something wrong with him.
Aaron had often been grouped with mages or undefined paranormal.
They didn’t receive the same training as the shifters.
Instead of hand-to-hand combat and obstacle courses, Aaron had been expected to use his brain.
It helped balance out the team that Leo, Aaron, and Bas would later be a part of.
He learned computers as his two best friends had been taught to use their fists.
Making the change from council member to a private investigator had been an easy transition for him. Aaron liked sitting at a desk and diving deep into mystery. It meant he wasn’t much of a fighter, but then Aaron never had been.
Aaron would much rather fight the forces of evil, whether it was human or paranormal, by using his smarts. It was an amazing feeling when the big and loud bully was taken down by something that Aaron found to use against him.
He might not be a talented and genius hacker like Stryker but Aaron was like a dog with a bone when he was determined. Aaron chuckled when the pup under his chin gave another body-shuddering sigh.
“I thought you’d fallen asleep on me.”
Forcing his eyes open, Aaron had to jerk back at the closeness of Carter’s face to his. He shook his head. “No, sorry, just thinking.”
“Dinner is ready. Let me get the hellion off you,” Carter said as he lifted the little pup from Aaron’s chest.
Aaron almost stopped him. He’d enjoyed the wet breath of the little one against his skin. A reminder that for once his power hadn’t let him down. He smelt the amazing aroma drifting in from the kitchen and quickly changed his mind. Aaron was starving.
“I can hear your stomach from here,” Carter teased. He lowered the pup into the crate, receiving a soft whine before the boy fell back asleep.
“I didn’t realize how hungry I was,” Aaron admitted. Placing his hand on the floor, he tried to get up.
“Stay,” Carter ordered. He patted Aaron’s shoulder as he passed. “I’ll bring your plate to you.”
“We can eat at the table,” Aaron offered even as he sank back down onto the plush carpet.
“Nah. It’s not a big deal. Plus, we better stay where we can see the terrible trio,” he joked.
“We’re really going to have to come up with names for them,” Aaron pointed out.
“Yeah, I know.” Carter disappeared into the kitchen before quickly returning with two plates.
“I’m sure Hudson would like to help,” Aaron said. Hudson was as excited about the pups as he’d ever seen anyone.
“Maybe we won’t ask Bastian,” Carter replied. He slid down the front of the couch to sit beside Aaron. And he was sitting close enough that their legs touched. “He named himself Bas as a cat.”
Aaron laughed. “I’m not one-hundred-percent sure how that happened.”
“Eat.” Carter bumped his elbow against Aaron’s arm.
Yes, sir! Aaron bit back the words. While he would be teasing, Aaron also sort of wanted Carter to boss him around. Shifting his leg away and placing his plate over his lap, Aaron mentally scolded himself to stop thinking about Carter as anything other than a friend. A friend. That was all.
Taking a big bite of the toasted sandwich, Aaron nearly choked with how fucking good it was! The cheese was perfectly melted, the green and red peppers added the right amount of crunch, and the steak tasted fucking amazing. A moan escaped before Aaron could hold it back.
“That good?” Carter questioned with a smile and leaning close.
Aaron nodded his head while chewing. He couldn’t wait to take another bite!
“You have something—” Carter used his thumb to swipe something off the corner of Aaron’s mouth.
Aaron froze in place.
“Cheesy,” Carter said before sucking his thumb into his mouth.
Aaron was grateful the plate was over his lap as his cock came to full fucking attention. That was way hotter than it should have been.
“Eat more.” Carter dropped his gaze to Aaron’s mouth.
Eat? Fuck the food! Aaron wanted to feast on Carter’s lips. He was jealous of Carter’s own thumb. He found himself edging closer until the front door swung open and banged into the wall behind it.
Aaron and Carter both jumped. The pups awoke and started to bark.
“We’re here!” Hudson announced loudly. Like that wasn’t obvious.
Drawing back, Aaron didn’t know whether to thank Hudson for his amazing timing or curse him. Kissing Carter? That might be the biggest mistake of his life. Not kissing him could be even worse.