Chapter Three #3
Vincent reached over and patted Peter’s hand. “We all agree with that. I know it probably feels like you can’t go back to your life because of this mess, and it’s not wrong, but maybe you can take this as an opportunity.”
“What kind of opportunity?”
“Well, this is a new chapter for you, right? You left Lou, and you became a pack member. You live in Rosewood now. You can find a new job, and you already have a new home.”
“I can’t exactly go out there and find a job.”
“Not right now, but you’re going to. I know you’re scared, and I am, too, but I truly believe that you’re safe here. Maybe you could look at this like a vacation.”
Peter snorted. “I generally don’t spend my vacations being afraid for my life.”
“You know what I mean. We can’t change the fact that Lou is an asshole and that he’s going to try to get to you.
It doesn’t mean we can’t find anything positive in this situation.
This is a new start for you, Peter. Take it as an opportunity.
You might not be on vacation, but when else would you have so much time to rest and do what you want?
” Vincent grinned. “And when else will you move in with a hot guy?”
Peter had to look away. He hadn’t told Vincent that Braden was his mate, and he wasn’t sure he should. At the same time, he desperately wanted to tell everyone about it. He hadn’t even told Braden, though. Would it be right to tell other people before him?
“He didn’t do anything to scare you, did he?” Vincent asked.
Peter frowned. “Who?”
“Braden. He’s a little intense, but I don’t think you need to worry about him, unless he did something that makes you uncomfortable. Did that happen?”
“No. Braden’s fine. He made sure I was comfortable here, and when I had that nightmare, he checked in on me.”
“What’s wrong, then? I mean, it’s fine if you don’t want to jump into anything right after ditching Lou, and you don’t really know Braden, but he seems like a nice guy.”
“He’s human.”
Vincent blinked, clearly confused. “So?”
“So is Lou. Lou’s human, and he hates shifters. He’s always hated them, and he used to tell me that it was a good thing I wasn’t one, but at least if I was, I was attractive.”
Vincent screwed his eyes shut and sucked in a breath. “I really want to find him and kick his ass,” he muttered as he opened his eyes again. “That man is an asshole, and I should have stepped in when I realized it.”
“I’m an adult. There was no reason for you to step in.”
“I knew something was going on, and I should have intervened.”
“I don’t know if I would have left him.”
“Then I should have knocked you upside the head and forced you to. But, Peter, this isn’t about Lou being human.
I mean, there are plenty of humans who are bad people, but it doesn’t mean we all are.
I’m human, too, and I love you. The only reason I care that you’re a shifter is that I’m jealous that I’ll never be able to shift into anything.
I mean, my best friend is a kelpie, and my mate is a wyvern, and then there’s me, unable to turn into anything except maybe a lobster during the summer. ”
Peter snickered. That much was true. “I know that not all humans are like Lou,” he said softly. “But he’s my mate, Vincent.”
Vincent stared at Peter. He didn’t ask questions, didn’t say anything. He just stared, and Peter sat there, his words still hanging between them.
Panic made his chest feel tight. He’d found his mate in the worst situation possible.
He didn’t think Braden would ever hurt him, not when he thought about it logically, but that didn’t mean Braden would want him.
Maybe he saw Peter as nothing more than a job.
Even if he didn’t, why would he want this kind of complication in his life?
Why would he want to deal with Lou? There was no way that Braden would ever want to be with Peter, and that was something Peter needed to understand and accept.
He didn’t like it, though. His kelpie really didn’t like it because it pushed at Peter’s mind, almost as if it wanted Peter to shift. He wasn’t sure what the kelpie would do if he did, so he clamped down on his control, but the panic was still very much there.
He’d met his mate, but there was no way Braden could ever want him, was there?
“Hey,” Vincent said, reaching for Peter and cupping his cheek. “Breathe. I can see you panicking, and there’s no reason for you to. Braden’s your mate?”
“Yeah,” Peter croaked.
“And that’s okay. You don’t have to tell him or anyone else. You don’t have to be with him if you don’t want to. Nothing has to happen.”
Peter sucked in a breath. Did he want to tell Braden? Part of him did. Part of him wanted to be loved the way only a mate could love him. Another part of him was terrified, though.
What if Braden decided that he wasn’t worth it?
* * * *
brADEN WAS BACK IN his office, reviewing the security protocols for the actress’s apartment, when his phone buzzed on the desk.
He glanced at the screen and saw Remi’s name.
His stomach tightened immediately. Remi texted him often, both for work and as friends, but the situation made Braden uneasy.
He could feel something was going to happen, but he just didn’t know when.
He picked up the phone and read the message. Lou was spotted driving past the eastern border of pack territory. Didn’t stop, but he was there. Patrol got his plates. Be careful.
Braden’s jaw clenched. They’d expected this, but still.
Lou knew that Peter was in pack territory.
The man was either desperate or stupid, and Braden wasn’t sure which was worse.
Either way, it meant that Peter was in danger.
Braden had hoped that having Peter in pack territory surrounded by shifters would be enough to scare Lou off, that he’d realize he was outmatched and give up. Clearly, that wasn’t the case.
He pushed away from his desk and stood, his mind already running through the security measures he’d put in place.
The cameras were working, the doors were locked, and every guard knew to be on the lookout.
Still, Braden needed to check on Peter and make sure the man was okay and that he knew what was happening.
Peter deserved to know, even if the news would scare him.
Braden climbed the stairs quickly. When he reached the top, he paused, listening. He could hear voices coming from Peter’s room—Peter’s and Vincent’s. That was good. Peter needed his best friend.
He approached the door and was about to knock when he noticed something strange. The voices inside weren’t just two friends talking. They sounded urgent, not arguing, but definitely stressed. Braden frowned and knocked anyway, pushing the door open slightly when no one answered.
“Peter?” he called out.
Vincent looked up from where he sat on the bed next to Peter, and Braden’s eyes immediately went to the glass of water on the nightstand.
The water in it was moving, not just like it would if someone had bumped the table, but swirling into a small vortex.
Braden’s eyes widened slightly before he caught himself.
He’d been told about kelpie shifters, but he’d never seen it in action.
Peter was sitting on the bed, his knees pulled up to his chest, his face pale and his breathing uneven. His eyes were unfocused, and Braden could see panic written all over his features. Vincent had one hand on Peter’s shoulder, speaking to him in low, soothing tones.
“What happened?” Braden asked, stepping into the room.
Vincent glanced at him, then back at Peter. “He’s okay. Just a panic attack. He’ll be fine in a minute.”
Braden’s chest tightened. He hated seeing Peter like this and that he couldn’t do anything to fix it. He wanted to cross the room and pull Peter into his arms, to tell him that everything would be okay, but he knew that wasn’t his place. Not yet, anyway. Maybe not ever.
“Is there anything I can do?” he asked.
Vincent shook his head. “Just give him some space. He’ll come back around.”
Braden nodded, but he didn’t leave. He stayed in the doorway, watching as Vincent continued to talk to Peter, his voice calm and steady.
Slowly, Peter’s breathing began to even out, and the water in the glass stopped moving.
It took a few more minutes, but eventually, Peter blinked and seemed to come back to himself.
His cheeks flushed when he realized Braden was there.
“I’m okay,” Peter said, his voice rough. “I’m fine.”
Braden didn’t believe him, but he nodded anyway. “Good. I just wanted to check in on you.”
“Why?” Peter asked, frowning. “Did something happen?”
Braden hesitated. He didn’t want to make things worse, but Peter deserved to know. “Remi texted me. Lou was spotted driving past the eastern border of pack territory. He didn’t stop, but he was there.”
Peter’s face went even paler, and for a moment, Braden thought he might panic again. But Vincent squeezed his shoulder, and Peter took a deep breath, nodding slowly.
“Okay,” Peter said. “Okay. That’s not good, but I’m safe here, right? And we knew he’d come, so it’s not unexpected.”
“You’re safe,” Braden said firmly. “I promise you, Peter. He’s not getting anywhere near you.”
Peter nodded again, but Braden could see the fear in his eyes. He hated it. He hated that Lou had done this to him and made him so afraid that even the mention of the man’s name could send him into a panic.
“I’m going to go start dinner,” Braden said after a moment. “You should eat something. Both of you.”
Vincent smiled. “That sounds great. Thank you, Braden.”
Braden nodded and turned to leave, but Vincent followed him out into the hallway, closing the door behind him. Braden looked at him, confused, and Vincent met his gaze with an expression that was hard to read.
“I know you’ll keep him safe,” Vincent said quietly.
Braden frowned. “Of course I will. That’s my job.”
Vincent’s smile was small and knowing. “I know.”
There was something in the way he said it that made Braden pause, like Vincent knew something Braden didn’t. But before he could ask, Vincent clapped him on the shoulder and headed back into Peter’s room. Braden stood there for a moment, confused, before shaking his head and heading downstairs.
He needed to focus. He had to make sure Peter was taken care of, and right now, that meant making dinner.
Braden wasn’t much of a cook, but he knew the basics.
He found some chicken in the fridge, along with vegetables and pasta, and decided to make something simple.
As he worked, his mind kept drifting back to Peter.
He’d looked so small and scared on the bed.
The way the water in the glass had moved in response to his emotions was fascinating, but it also made Braden’s chest ache.
Peter was hurting, and Braden wanted to fix it. He wanted to make everything better.
He couldn’t. Not really. All he could do was be there, keep Peter safe, and hope that eventually, things would get better.
By the time the food was ready, Vincent had come downstairs. He grabbed his jacket from the back of the couch and gave Braden a small wave.
“I’m heading out,” Vincent said. “Take care of him, okay?”
“I will,” Braden promised.
Vincent paused at the door, looking back at Braden. “Oh, I’m sure,” he said, and then he was gone.
Braden stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door, before shaking his head and turning back to the stove. He plated two servings of the chicken and pasta, then grabbed both plates and headed upstairs. He wasn’t sure if Peter would want company, but he figured it was worth offering.
He knocked on Peter’s door and waited. After a moment, Peter’s voice called out, “Come in.”
Braden pushed the door open with his elbow and stepped inside. Peter was still on the bed, but he looked a little better now. He wasn’t as pale or all curled up anymore. He looked up when Braden entered, his eyes widening slightly when he saw the plates.
“I made dinner,” Braden said. “I thought you might be hungry.”
Peter stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “Thank you. That’s really nice of you.”
Braden smiled and held out one of the plates. Peter took it, and Braden turned to leave, but Peter’s voice stopped him.
“Wait,” Peter said. “Do you want to stay? And eat with me?”
Braden turned back, surprised. He hadn’t expected that. “Are you sure?”
Peter nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah. I’m sure. I don’t really want to be alone right now.”
Braden’s heart skipped a beat. He nodded and sat down in the chair near the window, balancing his plate on his lap. He’d give Peter space, just in case. “Okay. I’d like that.”
They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, and Braden found himself relaxing.
This felt right, sitting here with Peter, sharing a meal.
It felt like something he could get used to, something he wanted to get used to.
He didn’t know what that meant, didn’t know where this was going, but for now, he was content to just be here.
“Thank you,” Peter said suddenly, breaking the silence. “For everything. For being here, for keeping me safe, for making dinner. I know this isn’t easy, even though you volunteered to do this, and I know that I’m a lot to deal with right now.”
Braden shook his head. “You’re not. And I meant what I said earlier. I’m here because I want to be.”
Peter looked at him, his expression soft. “I’m glad you are.”
Braden smiled. “Me too.”