Chapter 16 #2
"I promise." I said softly, meaning it with everything I had. "Now go introduce yourself to my roommate." I released his face and stepped back, gesturing toward the rock where Gumbo still lounged in the afternoon sun.
Remy took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and walked toward the alligator like a man approaching the gallows.
"Hey there, buddy." He said, his voice pitched higher than normal, his steps slow and careful on the weathered dock.
"Remember me? Remy? The handsome one with the great hair?
" He stopped about fifteen feet from the rock, his whole body vibrating with nervous energy.
"I come in peace. Bearing gifts of future fish.
Many, many fish." He held up his hands, showing his empty palms. "See?
No threats here. Just a friendly guy who wants to get along with his girlfriend's.
.. roommate." He winced at the word, clearly uncomfortable with the terminology.
Gumbo's head lifted. His eyes opened fully, ancient amber fixed on the fidgeting Alpha with an intensity that made my own instincts prickle.
"That's good." I said encouragingly, watching the interaction with careful attention. "You're doing fine. Just stay calm. Don't make any sudden—"
Remy sneezed. It happened without warning—a sudden, explosive sound that shattered the careful quiet of the afternoon. Remy's whole body jerked with the force of it, his arms flailing, his feet stumbling backward on the dock.
Gumbo's jaw opened.
Not all the way—not the full, terrifying gape of an alligator preparing to attack—but enough to show a glimpse of teeth, a flash of pale pink gums. His tail lashed once against the rock, a sharp crack of sound that echoed across the water.
"Oh shit." Remy yelped, stumbling backward, his arms windmilling wildly as his foot caught on a loose board. "Oh shit oh shit oh—"
He went over the edge of the dock with a spectacular splash.
For one horrible moment, the world seemed to freeze. Remy in the water. Gumbo on his rock, head lifted, eyes fixed on the thrashing Alpha. Harper surging forward, his massive body moving faster than should have been possible. Silas a blur of motion at the edge of my vision.
Then Gumbo hissed.
It was a sound like nothing else—a deep, guttural rush of air from somewhere primal and prehistoric, a warning that resonated in the bones rather than the ears. His massive body slid off the rock with terrifying speed, hitting the water with barely a ripple.
"REMY!" I was running before I consciously decided to move, my heart in my throat, my bare feet pounding against the dock.
But Harper was faster. The big Alpha didn't hesitate—he dove off the dock in a controlled arc, his massive body cutting through the water toward where Remy was flailing in panic, his curls plastered to his face, his amber eyes wild with terror.
"Get him out!" I called out to the other two, searching the water for Gumbo's telltale bulk, finding it—oh god—gliding toward the splashing figure with that horrible, patient speed.
Harper's arm wrapped around Remy's chest, hauling him toward the dock with powerful strokes. Silas was there, lying flat on the boards, his scarred hands reaching down to grab Remy's arms and pull.
Gumbo surfaced five feet from where Remy had been flailing, his amber eyes fixed on the chaos with something that looked almost like... satisfaction?
"Out." Silas grunted, hauling Remy onto the dock with a strength that belied his lean frame, depositing the soaking Alpha like a landed fish. "You're out." He reported, straightening and offering Harper a hand up.
Remy lay on his back, chest heaving, water streaming from his clothes and hair, his amber eyes staring at the sky with the shell-shocked expression of a man who had just seen his life flash before his eyes.
"I'm alive." He gasped, one hand pressed to his chest like he was checking for a heartbeat.
"I'm alive. Holy shit. I'm alive." He turned his head to look at Gumbo, who had returned to his rock and was currently sunning himself like nothing had happened.
"That thing tried to kill me." He said, his voice wavering between outrage and hysteria.
"He didn't try to kill you." I said, my own heart still pounding, adrenaline making my voice sharper than I intended. "If he'd tried to kill you, you'd be dead." I pointed out, dropping to my knees beside him, my hands running over his arms and chest, checking for injuries that weren't there.
"He hissed at me." Remy protested weakly, his amber eyes meeting mine with wounded indignation. "He swam toward me. With intent." He shuddered, water droplets flying from his soaked curls.
"He was investigating." I said, though I wasn't entirely sure that was true.
Gumbo had definitely been moving with more purpose than simple curiosity.
"You startled him. The sneeze, the falling—" I shook my head, unable to suppress a slightly hysterical laugh.
"You did exactly what I told you not to do.
" I said, pressing my palm flat against his chest, feeling his heart racing beneath the wet fabric.
"I didn't mean to sneeze." Remy said plaintively, his lower lip pushing out in a pout that should have been ridiculous on a grown man but somehow made me want to kiss him. "It just happened. Allergies. Pollen. The bayou is trying to kill me almost as much as your murder lizard." He complained.
"He's not a murder lizard." I said, sitting back on my heels, the adrenaline slowly fading into tired amusement.
"He's a discerning reptile with high standards.
" I glanced over at Gumbo, who had resumed his sunbathing with the serene disinterest of a creature who had ruled these waters for fifteen years and would rule them for fifteen more.
"His standards involve not eating me." Remy pointed out, struggling into a sitting position, water pooling beneath him on the dock.
"I'd like him to have those standards. Firm, non-negotiable, not-eating-Remy standards.
" He looked around, his gaze landing on Harper, who was standing nearby, equally soaked but significantly calmer.
"You saved my life." Remy said, something shifting in his expression.
Harper shrugged, the motion sending droplets flying from his massive shoulders, his dark hair plastered to his forehead. "Pack protects pack." He said simply, like it was nothing, like he hadn't just dove into gator-infested waters without a moment's hesitation, his dark eyes steady on Remy's face.
"Still." Remy reached out and grabbed Harper's hand, his own fingers trembling slightly from residual adrenaline, squeezing once before letting go. "Thank you. I mean it." His voice was rough with sincerity, stripped of its usual charm, his amber eyes holding Harper's with naked gratitude.
Harper nodded, something passing between them—a moment of understanding, of connection—that hadn't existed before. "Anytime, Thibodaux." He rumbled, his deep voice carrying a warmth that surprised them both, his dark eyes holding Remy's for a moment longer than necessary.
"Silas too." Remy turned to the pale-eyed Alpha, who was standing slightly apart, his wet clothes clinging to his lean frame. "You pulled me out. Thank you." He said, his amber eyes warm with genuine gratitude.
Silas inclined his head, his expression unreadable beneath his dripping hair, water running down his sharp cheekbones.
"You would've done the same." He said, though his voice carried the slightest hint of uncertainty, like he wasn't entirely sure that was true, his pale eyes studying Remy with something like curiosity.
"I would've." Remy said firmly, struggling to his feet, his wet clothes squelching. "I definitely would've. Probably with more screaming and less efficiency, but I would've." He offered a crooked grin, his usual humor creeping back despite the near-death experience.
"Alright." I stood, brushing off my knees, looking between the three soaking wet Alphas and the thoroughly unrepentant alligator. "I think that's enough bonding for one day." I declared, fighting back a smile at the absurdity of it all.
"Silas didn't have his turn." Remy pointed out, gesturing toward the pale-eyed Alpha with a wet hand. "Shouldn't he have to face the murder lizard too? In the interest of fairness?" He asked hopefully, clearly wanting company in his misery.
"Silas already passed." I said, watching Gumbo's tail flick lazily on the rock, his amber eyes cracked open just enough to track the movement on the dock.
"During the bayou tour. Predator recognizes predator, remember?
" I glanced at Silas, finding his pale eyes already fixed on Gumbo with something like kinship.
"That's not fair." Remy complained, wringing water from his shirt with more force than necessary, his amber eyes darting between Silas and Gumbo with obvious indignation.
"He didn't even have to do anything. He just existed menacingly and got a pass.
" He pouted, his lower lip pushing out in a way that should have been ridiculous but somehow wasn't.
"Life isn't fair." Silas said, his voice carrying that bone-dry humor, his pale eyes crinkling slightly at the corners. "Some of us are just naturally more intimidating than others." He added, and I could have sworn Gumbo's tail flicked in agreement.
"I'm intimidating." Remy protested weakly, drawing himself up to his full height, but even he didn't sound convinced, his golden curls hanging limp and bedraggled around his face, water dripping from his nose.
"You're charming." I said, taking pity on him, stepping close and rising on my toes to press a kiss to his wet cheek. "That's different. And Gumbo doesn't respond to charm." I patted his chest, feeling his heart finally slowing to something approaching normal.
"Maybe I should try being more menacing." Remy mused, his amber eyes thoughtful. "Grow a beard. Stop smiling. Lurk in shadows like Boudreaux." He glanced at Silas, who regarded him with flat disinterest.
"Please don't." I said, laughing despite myself. "I like you charming. Besides, Gumbo will come around eventually. You just need to be patient." I assured him, though privately I wasn't entirely sure that was true.
"And bring fish." Harper added, his deep voice carrying a hint of humor, his massive arms crossing over his soaked chest. "Good fish. You promised." He reminded Remy, his dark eyes warm despite his drenched state, water still dripping from his beard.
"Right. Fish." Remy nodded, something like determination settling into his expression. "I can do fish. I'm excellent at fish. I will become the fish master. Gumbo will bow before my superior fish-providing abilities." He declared, his usual confidence slowly returning.
"He doesn't bow." I said, glancing at my prehistoric companion, who had closed his eyes completely, dismissing us all as uninteresting. "He tolerates. If you're lucky." I explained.
"Tolerance." Remy repeated, nodding seriously.
"I can work with tolerance. Tolerance is the first step toward grudging acceptance.
Grudging acceptance is the first step toward mutual respect.
Mutual respect is the first step toward—" he paused, frowning, "—what comes after mutual respect? " He asked, looking genuinely puzzled.
"Friendship?" I suggested, my lips twitching with amusement, watching his face scrunch in concentration.
"Friendship." Remy pointed at me, his face lighting up.
"Yes. Friendship with the murder lizard.
That's my goal. Within the year." He declared, holding up a finger.
"Mark my words. By this time next year, Gumbo and I will be best friends.
We'll have inside jokes. He'll let me scratch his head.
We'll take cute pictures together." His amber eyes were bright with determination.
"I'll believe it when I see it." Harper rumbled from where he stood, water still dripping from his dark hair, but there was warmth in his voice, fondness for Remy's ridiculous optimism softening the skepticism.
"Same." Silas agreed, his arms crossed over his chest, his pale eyes glinting with amusement beneath his wet hair. "Though I'd pay good money to see you try to take a selfie with that thing." He added, jerking his chin toward Gumbo, the ghost of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth.
"When, not if." Remy insisted, jabbing a finger at both of them, his competitive spirit flaring despite the soggy state of his clothes.
"When. You'll see. You'll all see." He turned to me, his expression softening, water droplets catching the afternoon light as they fell from his curls.
"Right, chere? Tell them I can do it." He pleaded, his amber eyes hopeful.
I looked at Gumbo—ancient, patient, utterly indifferent to human drama—and then back at Remy, whose wet clothes were dripping on my dock and whose eyes held the desperate hope of a man who really, really wanted to not be eaten by an alligator.
"I think," I said slowly, reaching up to brush a wet curl from his forehead, "that stranger things have happened." I smiled, feeling something warm settle in my chest. "Now everyone get inside before you catch cold. I'll make coffee." I ordered, turning toward the cabin.
"Cold?" Remy sputtered, falling into step beside me, his wet shoes squelching. "It's ninety degrees and a hundred percent humidity. I don't think cold is the problem, chere." He pointed out.
"Then come inside before you drip on everything I own." I amended, throwing him a look over my shoulder.
"Better." He grinned, his dimples appearing despite his bedraggled state, his amber eyes bright with that irrepressible charm that nothing—not even near-death experiences—could fully dim.
Harper and Silas followed, two massive predators trailing behind me like particularly dangerous ducklings. Behind us, Gumbo watched with those ancient, knowing eyes, his tail flicking once against the rock before going still.
I had a feeling he approved.
Of some of them, at least.