Chapter Four #2
Before Arrow could answer, two more figures appeared. Cyrus and Python, both looking significantly less pleased to see him than last time, and that was saying something.
“Arrow.” Cyrus’s voice held disappointment rather than anger, which somehow felt worse. “What the hell are you doing here? It’s barely dawn.”
“Let him go, Storm.” Python moved closer, flames flickering in his eyes. “He can’t talk, with you crushing his larynx.”
Storm released him with obvious reluctance. Arrow collapsed against the door, gasping.
“I just wanted to see him,” Arrow managed. “I needed…”
“It’s always about your needs. What you need,” Python interrupted, “is to get your head examined. You thought breaking onto our property and stalking Flint’s house was a good idea?”
“I wasn’t stalking…”
“You were in wolf form, tracking his scent to his front door.” The bear shifter shook his head. “That’s pretty much the definition of stalking.”
A small figure suddenly appeared, hovering near Storm’s shoulder. Arrow blinked, and then blinked again. A pixie, complete with glowing wings. What the fuck?
“Is that him?” The pixie’s voice shook with fury. “Is that the asshole who made Flint cry?”
“Pax…” Storm started.
“No!” Pax flew directly at Arrow, stopping inches from his face. His eyes glowed the same incandescent color as his wings. “You made my friend cry over his strawberries because you’re too stupid to recognize quality when you see it!”
“I know I messed up…”
“Messed up?” Pax’s magic crackled in the air, smelling like burned sugar. “You told him he should be in your house cooking in assless pants! You were waving your crotch at him while he was on a job. You didn’t even ask his name!”
Arrow flinched at each accusation. That wasn’t how he preferred to remember his meeting with Flint, but the details sounded like him. Hearing them laid out like that, in front of Flint’s friends, made his stomach turn.
“I came to apologize…”
“To an empty house?” Cyrus gestured at Flint’s door. “Because Flint’s not here, Arrow. He’s working.”
Oh, fuck, no. “When will he be back?” Arrow heard the desperation in his own voice and hated it.
“That’s not your business.” Python’s tone brooked no argument. “What is your business is getting the hell off our property before we decide you’re a threat that needs elimination.”
“We could keep him.” Pax’s voice turned thoughtful in a way that made Arrow’s skin crawl. “Ooh, I know. You could lock him in the old sawmill and make him wait there until Flint gets back.”
“I’m not sure…” The bear didn’t seem to like the idea, and that was fine, because Arrow wasn’t keen either.
“No, wait. I like the idea.” Storm grinned, showing off perfect teeth. “Let the wolf suffer a bit. See how he likes being treated like he doesn’t matter.”
“We can’t just imprison him,” Cyrus said, but he didn’t sound entirely convinced.
“Why not?” Levi crossed his arms. “He trespassed. Stalked our friend. Caused Flint emotional distress. Pretty sure those are all crimes. They are in my book.”
“Plus,” Pax added cheerfully, “we wouldn’t have to feed him. Wolves can go days without eating, right?”
“We’re not starving him.” Devon’s voice held a note of finality.
“Fine. Bread and water. He’s not getting a single one of my donuts.
” Pax circled Arrow, looking him up and down, his feet still nowhere near the ground.
“And maybe I could try out some new curses. Non-permanent ones. I’ve been reading about this thing that makes you feel like fire ants are crawling under your skin… ”
“Please.” Arrow’s wolf whined with submission. “Just tell Flint I’m here and that I want to apologize.”
Python moved closer, flames dancing in his irises. “No!”
“What do you mean?” They’re deliberately keeping him from me. Arrow tried to get angry about it, but…
“We’re not telling Flint you’re here. There’s no way any of us would distract him from his job with the information that his idiot mate is sniffing around his house like a desperate creep.
” Python’s voice dropped to something dangerous.
“Flint is tracking a vampire - a piece of trash who traffics kids, shifter kids who get sold to the highest bidder. Flint needs every ounce of focus to make his shot count. You will not mess that up.”
Shame burned through Arrow’s chest, and worry, too. He hadn’t even asked what the job was, although in honesty, he hadn’t considered Flint would’ve been doing anything while they were apart except crying and wishing Arrow would come along and save him from his loneliness.
“When he’s done,” Python continued, “when his plane lands back in Bozeman, then I’ll let him know you’re here. That you couldn’t control yourself enough to wait three days.”
“Three days?” Arrow’s wolf howled at the thought.
“Seventy-two hours,” Cyrus confirmed. “Give or take.”
“I can’t…” The mating pull twisted Arrow’s insides. “The bond…”
“Is your problem to manage.” Cyrus’s expression held zero sympathy. “Not Flint’s. You created this mess. You live with the consequences.”
“So what?” Arrow looked between them. “You’re actually going to lock me in that sawmill?”
“Unless you want to leave voluntarily.” Storm cracked his knuckles. “But if you do, and we catch you back here before Flint returns? We won’t be so friendly next time.”
Arrow’s wolf wanted to fight. Wanted to rage and claw and force them to understand how much being apart from Flint was hurting him.
But looking at the circle of Flint’s friends - the people who’d comforted him, supported him, and protected him from the mate who’d failed him - Arrow realized he didn’t have a leg to stand on.
He already knew his wolf wouldn’t let him leave the place where Flint’s scent was the strongest.
“The sawmill,” he said quietly. “I’ll wait.”
“Smart choice.” Pax’s grin turned wicked. “Come on, puppy. Let’s get you settled. And don’t worry - I promise the fire ant curse only lasts a few hours, although I do have a few others…”
“Pax, maybe leave off the curses until after the bakery opens,” Storm suggested.
“He’s the idiot who woke us up before Gwen’s even got her ovens hot. What am I meant to do while I wait?”