Chapter Four
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THE HOUSE WASN’T home yet, but Peter was starting to feel more comfortable.
It helped that Braden behaved as if both of them belonged here, even though Peter knew that wasn’t the case.
He might be a kelpie shifter, but he’d never had a pack.
He’d yearned for one, especially after Vincent had told him about the Rosewood pack and how welcoming they were, but he’d never let himself hope he could have that.
Hoping made everything hurt more when it didn’t happen.
Except that maybe it was happening.
Peter hadn’t left the house yet. He was afraid of Lou, especially after someone had seen him drive by, but he was also still emptying boxes and settling in.
It was easy for him to ignore what happened outside of the house and focus on making it feel like it was his home.
It was going to be for a while, so he might as well.
He couldn’t stay inside forever, though.
He didn’t want to stay inside forever. That would let Lou win, and that was the last thing Peter wanted.
Still, thinking about leaving the house and meeting people made him feel uncomfortable and awkward.
He felt like they would take one look at him and know he shouldn’t be there.
It was ridiculous. Everyone had been more than welcoming, and that wasn’t going to change. He knew that, logically, but emotionally? After being told that he wasn’t worth it for so long, that no one but Lou would want him, he was having a hard time believing that wasn’t the case.
He looked down at his plate. It was full of food Braden had cooked for breakfast, something that still surprised Peter.
He hadn’t expected Braden to cook, for some reason.
Instead, the man had been taking care of most of their meals, always including Peter.
He didn’t seem to care that Peter wasn’t cooking.
In fact, he didn’t seem to care about anything that Peter was or wasn’t doing.
He was supportive of whatever Peter wanted.
That was odd, too. It was hard for Peter not to hope that Braden would be better than Lou because he was afraid of getting hurt, but he couldn’t deny what was in front of him. Braden was taking care of him in a way that no one but Vincent had ever taken care of Peter.
His thoughts flickered briefly to his sister.
He didn’t even know for sure where she was now.
She might still live in the same house as she had before, but she also might have moved.
The two of them weren’t close, they hadn’t been since they were kids, and part of him regretted that.
Another part of him was grateful that she wasn’t in his life right now to see the disaster it had become.
He missed her, though, or rather, he missed the way they’d been when they were younger.
Maybe he could reach out to her once this mess was over.
He wasn’t sure he’d be able to find her, but it might be worth trying.
“I can cook something different,” Braden said suddenly.
Peter blinked up at him. It took him a moment to understand why Braden was saying that, and when he did, he blushed. “No,” he quickly said. “This is fine. Perfect.”
“You don’t look like you like it. I’m not offended. I realize I’m not a great cook, and I won’t mind making something else, or maybe you could make something. Whatever you’re more comfortable with.”
The problem was that Peter wasn’t sure what he was comfortable with, and that had nothing to do with food.
Part of him wanted to tell Braden they were mates, but another part was terrified.
He also wondered if it was fair to keep this from the man.
Shouldn’t he know? He was human, so he wouldn’t be able to find out on his own, but Peter knew.
What would Braden think if Peter told him?
Would he be angry because Peter hadn’t told him sooner?
Would he be disappointed to be stuck with someone like Peter?
Peter couldn’t imagine that Braden would be happy. Why would he be? Peter came with a messy life and an even messier ex-boyfriend. No one in their right mind would want to deal with that, not even a sweet man who’d made it his profession to protect people.
“Or I could go out and buy you something,” Braden offered, and Peter realized that once again, he’d lost track of the conversation.
“You don’t need to go out to buy me anything. Breakfast is perfect.”
“You don’t look like that’s what you actually think. I’m telling you, I won’t be offended if you don’t like it. I realize I’m not a great cook. There are only a few meals I can make well, so it would make sense for you to get bored of those.”
Peter smiled. It felt good to have someone who wasn’t Vincent worry over him like this. Lou never had. In fact, he’d made Peter cook all of their meals, and he’d always complained about the food. Peter remembered how it felt, and he hated the thought of Braden feeling the same way.
He speared a potato with his fork and stuffed it into his mouth, smiling at Braden before chewing. Braden looked fond and amused, and the sight of his expression made something squirm in Peter’s stomach. He wanted nothing more than to lean closer and press his lips against Braden’s.
He didn’t.
Instead, he chewed, thinking again. He and Braden were going to be stuck together in this house for a while, maybe forever if Peter ever told Braden they were mates and Braden wanted him.
Braden had been giving Peter space, and Peter liked him for that, but he felt that maybe, it was time for him to get over it.
The silence was a little too much for him right now.
He wasn’t quite lonely, not with Braden hanging around the house and Vincent visiting every day, but he wanted to get to know his mate.
He didn’t know if they had a future, but even if they didn’t, he wasn’t willing to waste the time they had together.
“So, you said that you started this job because you wanted to protect people,” he said, hoping Braden would want to answer his questions.
Braden blinked but nodded. “I did. I still do, of course.”
“It sounds like the agency is going well. I mean, I certainly can’t afford it.
” Peter had no idea how much people paid to be protected by Braden and Remi, but he didn’t think they were cheap, far from it.
He’d heard Braden mention a few names while he was on the phone, and if movie stars could afford to pay Braden and Remi to protect them, it meant that Peter wouldn’t be able to in a million years.
Braden reached over the table to quickly squeeze Peter’s hand. The gesture didn’t last long enough, and it left Peter staring down at his hand as if it belonged to a stranger. Braden either didn’t notice or didn’t care because he was talking again.
“I told you, we don’t do this to pay the bills, or at least, not entirely.
We earn enough money from prestigious clients to be able to afford to take other clients pro bono.
I didn’t start this agency to protect movie stars or singers.
They need protection, too, especially in some cases, but I’d always wanted to help people who truly needed it. ”
“People like me?” Peter asked in a trembling voice.
“Exactly. Lou is an asshole. You shouldn’t have to fear for your life or be too afraid to leave the house because one man decided to be a dick. I know that having me around doesn’t mean that you’re not scared, but I hope that it makes you feel a little better.”
“It does,” Peter murmured. “I feel safe when you’re around.”
Braden’s smile was warm. “Good. That’s how I want you to feel. I know that telling you how to feel isn’t going to help, just like telling you that you’re safe isn’t going to convince you that you are, but if my presence here helps you to sleep a little better at night, I’m happy about it.”
“It does,” Peter confirmed, feeling vulnerable.
He was glad when his phone vibrated on the table. It was a needed distraction, even though he was sure that Braden knew what was happening. He wouldn’t blame Peter for feeling vulnerable, though. It wasn’t the kind of person he was.
Peter picked up the phone and looked at the screen. He sucked in a breath and dropped his fork, suddenly not hungry anymore.
“Peter?” Braden asked.
Peter didn’t answer. The only thing he could do was stare at the words on the screen.
I know where you are.
* * * *
brADEN COULD TELL THAT something had happened, even though he couldn’t be sure what was going on exactly. Since Peter still had his phone in his hand, though, he suspected that Lou was involved.
Who else could it be? Who else would cause Peter to freeze like that when they’d been joking around and talking?
Braden really fucking hated Lou.
He reached out slowly, and when Peter didn’t react, gently touched his wrist. He was relieved when Peter didn’t jerk away. Instead, he blinked at him, almost as if he was waking up.
“Can I see?” Braden asked gently.
Peter dropped the phone as if it had burned him. Braden picked it up, glancing at the screen, not one bit surprised to see Lou’s name on it. “I’m surprised you didn’t block his number,” he told Peter.
“I wanted to, but I thought that at least I could see what he was up to.”
“Terrorizing you, clearly.”
Peter swallowed and looked away. “He’s always been good at that.”
“I’m going to call Remi to tell him what’s going on, all right?
” As much as Braden wanted to stay with Peter and continue reassuring him, this was important, too.
They’d been waiting for Lou to do something.
First, he’d driven by pack territory, and now, this.
Whatever he was trying to do, it included scaring Peter, and he’d succeeded.