Chapter Eleven
The smell of bacon and coffee penetrated Hayden’s sleep-fogged brain.
He blinked one eye open then the other, only to find Teagan sitting up, sniffing the air like he could taste the food through scent.
His hair was a wild mess like every morning, but Hayden still found him the most adorable man ever.
“I think Liam’s cooking,” Teagan said. “Or he ordered breakfast. But that definitely smells like he’s cooking.”
Hayden pushed himself up and inhaled the scent of bacon and freshly brewed coffee. “You think we should keep him?”
“Let’s decide after we taste his cooking.” Teagan brushed his fingers over the spot where Liam had bitten Hayden. “How is the mark gone? Those were sharp teeth and thick. You should have two puncture holes.” His fingers tapped at Hayden’s shoulder like he could make them appear. “Weird.”
It was weird, but Hayden was distracted by the delicious aromas drifting into their bedroom. He inhaled just as deeply as Teagan had, his stomach growling loudly.
“I feel different. Do you?” Teagan glanced down at him, looking like he’d been thoroughly wrecked last night, which he had.
Hayden still couldn’t believe what happened. An actual wolf shifter had fucked his brains out then bonded their souls. He would’ve thought it all had been a dream, but unless someone had broken into their house to cook them breakfast, Liam was real.
And their mate.
“I swear it feels like I’ve known the guy forever, but we just met him a few days ago.
” Teagan rubbed his eyes, groaning. “That sounds bad. Like we ran off and married two days after getting into his truck on a dark, deserted road.” He glanced down at Hayden.
“You do realize that if Liam wasn’t legit, we probably would’ve been hacked up into pieces by now or chained up in his basement. ”
Teagan always woke up chatty. Hayden had grown used to it years ago. Most would find the constant chatter irritating, especially as soon as they opened their eyes, but Hayden found solace in hearing Teagan’s rambling voice.
“I’m heading to the kitchen.” Hayden got up and stretched, bones popping. “You coming?”
“I’m freaking starving.” Teagan grabbed some clothes to put on, while Hayden just grabbed some underwear.
At the entrance to the kitchen, the two of them paused. Liam was at the stove, his back to them, flipping pancakes as he hummed. The guy was actually humming as he cooked.
Hayden’s gaze slid over Liam, from his broad shoulders down to his lean waist, appreciating every damn inch of his body. Too bad Liam had dressed. Hayden bet he would look even better at the stove in the buff.
Not practical when sizzling bacon was involved, but in Hayden’s head, popping grease wasn’t a thing.
“Good morning, fellas,” Liam said without turning. “Have a seat. Breakfast is almost ready.”
“This is so bizarre,” Teagan muttered, taking a seat at the table, his chair scraping when he pulled it out. “It doesn’t feel real, does it?”
“We’re just not used to Liam being here. Plus, you’re not fully awake.” Hayden sat, his stomach growling again.
He was trying to make this feel normal for Teagan, rationalize it, but it did feel surreal. It had only been them in the mornings, unless someone dropped by for breakfast, which had never happened until Liam and Aiden had showed up at the ass-crack of dawn.
But this was their first morning together as mates, so Hayden would shake off the bizarre feeling and enjoy himself. “Want some help?”
Liam plated the pancake and turned off the burning. “You can grab the orange juice and glasses.”
“I don’t remember having orange juice in the fridge,” Hayden said.
“Or bacon,” Teagan chimed in.
“Sloane dropped some things off from home earlier.” Liam grabbed the large plate stacked with pancakes then the bacon, while Teagan jumped up to grab plates and silverware.
“Tell him thanks.” Hayden filled the glasses on the table.
“Are they still out there, your friends?” Teagan asked, the plates clinking as he separated them.
“Packmates,” Liam corrected. “And, no, they headed out at first light. After breakfast, I want you guys to pack a bag. I want my mates safe at home until I figure out why they were inside your house.”
Hayden noticed Liam hadn’t said Edwin’s and Ramos’s names. He was trying not to upset Teagan.
Halfway through breakfast, Teagan groaned.
“I’m too tired to go to work tonight. All I want to do is crawl back into bed and sleep for the rest of the day.
” He bit off a piece of his crispy bacon.
“So not fair, and oh my god, this tastes amazing. It’s like a good-morning kiss right inside my mouth. ”
“Don’t make me break that bacon in half for kissing you,” Liam growled.
Teagan leaned toward Liam and took another bite then moaned. “Best bacon ever.”
Liam quickly took a bite, growling as he chewed. “I warned you.”
Hayden shook his head. He was going to have his hands full with these two.
“But it tasted amazing, right?” Teagan cracked up then snatched a strip of bacon from Liam’s plate.
“Oh my god,” Hayden moaned after taking his first bite of his pancakes. “You used actual blueberries. They elevate the taste, and now I’m addicted to fresh blueberries in my pancakes.”
“The orange juice is freshly squeezed.” Liam winked. “Does that mean you two are keeping me?”
Hayden choked, banging his fist against his chest before he swallowed. Teagan’s jaw had gone slack as he stared at Liam like an alien.
“How did you hear that all the way in the kitchen?” Hayden asked.
“Because he’s a wolf.” Teagan said it like an accusation. “I bet you can sniff out where my bag of phone cases is, can’t you? I swear I looked in every box, but I couldn’t find it.” He furrowed his brows. “I know I packed them.”
“While my sense of smell is heightened, I suggest you keep looking,” Liam took a sip of his orange juice. “I don’t know what they smell like, so I wouldn’t be able to track them down by scent.”
“We’re going to circle back to you listening in on our conversation.” Hayden thought about the conversation he’d had with Teagan at the cookout, when they were deciding whether to let Liam drive them home or stay at his house for the night. “What’s the range on your hearing?”
Sweeping his tongue over his teeth, Liam sat back. “Yes, I heard you two talking at the cookout. It’s not something I can turn off, Hayden. I try to ignore conversations around me, but I can’t shut them off.”
“What conversation?” Teagan asked, eyes darting between them.
Hayden’s stomach clenched. “Everyone was there, your pack. They heard us.”
“Can somebody tell me what conversation you two are talking about?” Teagan asked in frustration.
With a sigh, Hayden shook his head, realizing the truth. “It’s not like you could’ve warned us. We would’ve freaked out if you’d told us you were wolves with next-level hearing. I still don’t like that everyone heard us, though.”
“Guess I don’t need to know.” Teagan chewed on a forkful of pancakes, glaring at them.
“Thanks for not chewing me a new ass.” Liam smiled. “I wanted to tell you, but like you said, you two would’ve had a meltdown.”
“Gonna have one now,” Teagan muttered under his breath. “Did you hear that, wolf man?”
“Loud and clear.” Liam chuckled. “You’re sexy when you’re pissed.”
“Gets me hard,” Hayden added with a smirk.
“What if I you didn’t have to work tonight? Would that unruffle your feathers, brat?” Liam asked.
No way he was serious. Hayden was just as exhausted and would love to cuddle with Teagan as they slept for the rest of today. “Don’t tease him. We’re both too exhausted to find humor in it.”
“I’m serious.” Liam folded hands, elbows resting on the table. “We’re in our honeymoon period. Since Ash is preternatural, he’ll give you two weeks off.” Liam eyed them both. “With pay.”
“Like a paid vacation?” Teagan looked hopeful.
“Ash isn’t human?” Hayden squeaked.
“He’s a bear shifter, and, yes, like a paid vacation, though we’re not vacationing. It’s a time to deepen our bond.” His smile was downright sinful. “By fucking our brains out.”
Heat erupted across Hayden’s face and neck. “There’s such things as bear shifters?” He was going to ignore the heated look in Liam’s eyes. His ass was still sore from the pounding he took. Hayden needed at least a day to recover.
“There’s such things as bear shifters.” Liam nodded. “Also bunny shifters and fae. You saw them at the cookout. Alex and Newt.”
Teagan grinned widely. “I think I’m gonna really like your world.”
So was Hayden. He’d meet them both but hadn’t known they weren’t human. A fairy and bunny? He couldn’t pack quick enough.