21. Finn #2
Whether Reid liked it or not, Evan was the one with the closest ties to the Clarkson Clan. He’d cultivated a relationship that wasn’t friendly, but at least cordial. If we wanted to resolve this without violence, Evan was our best option.
That was assuming he’d even be able to step foot onto the Clarkson lands without slaughtering the lot of them. He’d barely been able to tolerate them before, but now? Knowing what they’d done to Reid? That they’d intentionally concealed it from him ?
Going back there and expecting him to be civil might be pushing things a step too far.
That discussion was for another day though. Logan had driven Reid home, offering to take the first guard shift. Calan was ready to take over in twelve hours’ time. I’d take the shift after that, with the others checking in on Chester.
As much as I hated to admit it, Chester wasn’t the one in danger here.
Reid was. Now I knew several hundred miles lay between Chester and his ex, there was no need for me to watch over him twenty-four seven.
And although Clyde had threatened Chester, it was Reid he wanted.
It made sense for us to guard Reid around the clock, which meant someone would be watching Chester while they were both at work.
I hated it. My wolf fucking hated it, but this was part of what it meant to be a leader. Sometimes you had to make the hard decisions others didn’t want to. Even if it was a decision you didn’t want either.
Having a guard on Reid was something none of us were willing to negotiate on. He’d tried to insist he’d be fine, but it had taken Logan under a minute to have him seeing it his way. That was the dangerous thing about him. He was charming. Persuasive. The picture of innocence.
Until his claws came out to play. He didn’t seem so innocent then.
Sometimes I still had nightmares about what Logan had done to the shifter who’d hurt Danny’s mate, Riley, all those months ago. I’d never seen a wolf skinned before.
I hoped I never would again. One could never be certain of anything where Logan was concerned though.
With a plan in place, there was nothing needed from me right now.
I knew what I wanted to do, but it was too late to hit Chester up for a date.
Hell, it was too late even for a booty call.
Chester kept early hours most of the week, and he’d been up late last night.
I didn’t want to keep him awake later than necessary.
That didn’t mean I couldn’t pay him a visit as Buddy though. If he happened to be awake and happened to invite me into his bed again, then all the better. I’d sleep much better at his side, knowing he was safe and happy.
If he was asleep, I’d find a comfortable spot on his porch. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d slept there, and I doubted it’d be the last.
As Chester’s house appeared through the trees, I spotted the light on in the kitchen.
If I could smile in my wolf form I would have.
The knowledge that he was awake spurred me on, and I was outside his back door in seconds.
Remembering how I’d startled him the night before, I let out a yip before scratching at the door.
I could hear Chester’s laughter before he even unlocked the door. “Here’s my Buddy!”
I rushed inside, remembering to wag my tail. It wasn’t hard. My wolf was practically vibrating with the need to be close to Chester, to bask in his presence, to feel his hands on us.
“I’m glad you’re here, Buddy. Come on, let’s get you some water.”
Chester said something similar every time I came around. I’d started to hate it. Not that he was happy to see me, but that he was so lonely that a stranger’s pet was all he had for company.
Hopefully he’d let my other form in more. After tomorrow, he wouldn’t have Buddy as an option anymore. Well, he would, but he’d know it was me.
I was going to tell him everything and pray he didn’t hate me for it .
I wasn’t worried about him accepting my true nature. Sure, he’d be shocked, but having Reid in his life would help. Another human who knew supes existed had to be a bonus in situations such as this one.
Hiding it from him simply wasn’t an option anymore. Not after today. I needed Chester to be able to recognise any risks if they presented themselves. To know to contact me if any other strangers came into the shop.
Most of all though, I needed him to know me . My wolf, my clan, they were as much of a part of me as anything else. More so, in a lot of ways. Without knowing the truth about all of that, Chester couldn’t know the real me.
I knew he wanted that too. The secrets between us were the biggest hurdle in him being able to trust me.
I was ready to remove it. I just had to hope he didn’t push me away as a result.
Chester put a bowl of water on the floor as he had last night. I ignored it again. Drinking from it was a step too far for me. I had some dignity.
Fine, I didn’t. If Chester pushed, I’d lap from the fucker like I was dying of thirst, just to make him happy.
Fortunately, he didn’t. He also didn’t seem ready for bed as he had last night. Instead he slumped into a chair. A note of alarm crept through me as I noted the glass of half-drunk whisky on the table.
Chester lifted it and shook his head. “Sorry, Buddy. This one’s for humans only.”
I frowned internally. Even Chester’s voice was sad. What was going on?
Nudging his hand with my head, I waited until he moved it and immediately put my head on his lap.
“Oh, Buddy.” He sighed, stroking my head. “I’m not great company tonight. ”
Frustration pricked at me. I hated that I couldn’t ask him why. That I had to wait until he was ready to open up and just hope that he would.
I didn’t know how long we sat there. Long enough for Chester to pour himself another drink and drain it once more.
But eventually, he spoke.
“I really like Finn,” he said in a hushed whisper. “But I liked Matt too, at first. With him, I didn’t even realise he was keeping stuff from me. Finn though? It’s clear he is. Why isn’t that enough for me to walk away from him?”
My stomach churned. This right here was why we needed to talk. I couldn’t put the conversation off any longer.
“I’m just so frightened,” he continued, his hand stroking my fur like he was comforting himself.
“I’ve been hurt so badly in the past. The thought of doing it all over again…
” He eyed the bottle like he was considering pouring another glass before shaking his head.
“I thought I’d be happy being single forever.
But I think I forgot that being single means being alone.
At least, in my case it does. And that’s not what I want. ”
I nuzzled my head against his stomach. I’m here, I tried to tell him. You’re not alone.
Chester chuckled. “Yeah, I’ve got you. But only until your owner realises you’ve been sneaking over here. They might not let you over again.”
Frustration kicked in again at being stuck in this form. I wanted to reassure Chester that that would never happen. That I’d never hurt him. That I understood why he was frightened and was willing to wait as long as necessary if it meant a shot with him .
Most of all, I wanted him to know that if anyone owned me, it was him. My wolf had gladly handed over his lead.
And I was just as willing to hand over my heart.
“Ignore me,” Chester said with a sniff. “I’m talking crap again.”
A small growl slipped free before I could stop it. Those words weren’t Chester’s.
I fucking hated his ex. The sooner I found out who he was, the better.
“Let’s head up to bed,” Chester said, patting my head. “Come on.”
He made it all the way to the doorway before snapping his fingers. “Shit, better take some paracetamol. Two whiskeys aren’t going to affect someone my size, but I know better than to tempt fate with a hangover.”
I sat patiently while he fetched the tablets from the cupboard and filled a glass with water. He chucked them in his mouth and swallowed.
At first, I didn’t realise anything was wrong.
Everything was silent. Chester didn’t make a sound. But he dropped the glass on the counter.
His whole body tensed. He hammered his chest. Once. Twice.
All my fur stood on end.
There was no sound.
Chester wasn’t breathing.
He whirled to face me and my heart stopped. His face was purple, eyes watering, fist pounding against his chest again and again.
Panic filled me. What could I do? How could I help him?
I rose onto my hind paws, putting my front ones on his shoulders. I managed to turn him away from me. I banged my head between his shoulder blades as hard as I dared .
Nothing.
Fuck fuck fuck.
There was only one thing I could think to do.
My bones cracked as I shifted. Almost instantly, my human arms appeared.
I wasted no time wrapping them around Chester’s middle. Clasping my hands together. I slammed my fists into his gut.
Once. Twice. Three times.
Something flew out of Chester’s mouth, spinning across the floor. Then, the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard.
His lungs desperately sucking in air.
“I’ve got you,” I murmured into his ear as his legs gave way. “I’ve got you, m’eudail.”