Chapter 6 Abel
ABEL
The weight of Perry’s arm across my shoulders makes my heart flutter. Buckle’s eyes stare right into my soul, and I take his offered hand.
“Come on,” Buckle says. “I have clothes the two of you can put on. You’ll be swimming in them, but it’s better we’re not talking with our dicks out, otherwise I might get distracted.”
Perry giggles. “Same.”
Heat infuses my body. I don’t need to see hard dicks to be distracted. Simple touch does me in and I want to melt.
“I should go home.”
Buckle cocks a brow and opens his door. “Why?”
“I don’t want either of you to have to choose. I’m nobody.”
“Don’t say that ever again,” Buckle steps closer.
“You’re my mate and I’ve been waiting a very fucking long time to meet you.
Both of you.” He scratches his head. “I’m not entirely sure how two mates work, but I know Fate wouldn’t have matched us all together if she didn’t think we could handle it.
So, are you going to let whatever fear you have bundled up take over your life?
Or are you going to let us shower you with affection? ”
My mouth drops open again. “No one has ever been affectionate with me.” No one has ever loved me. Not since my designation of Beta came out loud and clear. I’m not suitable for leadership nor breeding, so I’m essentially useless. Except for one very annoying problem.
Perry makes a noise beside me. “That ends now.” He grabs my hand and drags me through the threshold of Buckle’s house.
It smells like Buckle, cinnamon and waffles and syrup. But the place is barren of personality.
Perry turns, taking in the open living space. I stand fiddling with my fingers, not wanting to be rude.
“I’ll be right back,” Buckle starts towards a hallway.
“Or we can come with you.” Perry says and takes my hand again to follow our Alpha.
“I—I can’t.” I tug myself free.
Perry cups my cheek. “What are you so afraid of?”
I nibble my bottom lip and look to the ceiling for answers. “I’m a hawk. I shouldn’t be here.”
“Oh.” Perry’s shoulders drop.
“I’m not from around here, so you’re going to have to spell it out,” Buckle says before entering a door. A bedroom door.
There’s a huge king-sized bed with a matching dresser and two nightstands. There’s even a nice armchair in the corner. Everything is still void of personality. Not a speck of color or anything that screams Buckle lives here.
“Have a seat,” Buckle says, waving to the bed.
Perry does as asked and pulls me down with him.
“The hawks,” Perry starts for me.
I shake my head. “This is my burden to share.”
Perry squeezes my hand and nods while Buckle tosses us each a t-shirt and shorts. I don’t want him to cover his lovely muscles. It seems Perry doesn’t either because he watches Buckle like, well, a hawk, as Buckle dresses.
Buckle smirks and gives a little show, dancing like a reverse strip tease. My mouth goes dry because the way he moves his body makes my dick take interest.
I sigh and slide on the shirt, then the shorts, taking my time so I don’t have to talk.
“Generations before I was born, my Kettle tried to take over Mink Hollow.”
Buckle blinks back at me. “Why?”
“My Kettle...” I look to Perry for help as I dig my hands into the blanket below me.
Perry squeezes my shoulder, but doesn’t take over the story.
My shoulders drop. “My Kettle very much thinks we should keep humans out of shifter towns, so shifters have the freedom to be themselves. But at Mink Hollow, they accept everyone. There was a war between the different shifter types and my Kettle was pushed out to keep the peace. There are a lot of rules at Hawk Ridge.” I rub my chest and keep to myself how harsh the Kettle has turned even on their own people.
I hate that it still has a pull on me. Even here I feel the magic of my Kettle.
“I’m sorry,” Buckle says. He swipes a hand through his thick hair. “But you’re not there anymore. You’re here with us.”
“For now,” I whisper.
“What does that mean?” Perry asks.
“It’s nothing,” I say.
Buckle tips my chin up to force me to look into his eyes. They’re so intense and I close mine to keep from losing myself.
“Abel.”
“It’s nothing. I’m a Beta.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” Perry asks.
I swallow again and again. “Water.” I croak, and Buckle runs from the room.
Perry seems to slide closer to me and I pop to my feet, needing space. “Sorry.” I pace back and forth in front of the dresser until Buckle races back with a bottle of water. He unscrews the cap and hands it to me. I can stall only for so long.
“Come back.” Perry pats the space I left.
I shake my head, placing the water bottle on the dresser. “Better if I stand.” I go back to my pacing. “No one in Mink Hollow knows this.”
“Go on,” Buckle urges.
“I’m the Kettle heir.”
They both suck in a breath.
“But my Kettle doesn’t want me. They kicked me from the Nest a decade ago and I found myself here.
In Mink Hollow. It’s so nice and I’m terrified my parents will send the enforcers after me.
Or worse, try to destroy the town before.
But I’m a Beta. Not worth the effort. I’m not useful to anyone, according to the Kettle.
I’m weak. They said they’ll find someone else.
I hope they do.” I squeeze my hands into fists as I shake.
“Fuck,” Perry whispers.
“You said it,” Buckle says.
“So, I should leave because I don’t want either of you sucked into Kettle politics.”
“But it’s not a done deal?” Buckle asks.
I breathe slow. “I know my family. Someday they’ll come for me. Maybe not to make me Kettle heir, but they’ll take me from the place I love and force me to do their bidding.”
“Then we won’t let them,” Buckle says.
“And how do you propose we keep them from taking me?” The words are snappier than I intend and I cringe. “Sorry,” I whisper.
Perry looks to Buckle.
Buckle pops to his feet. “The only thing I can think of that might work would be a bond mark or we could scent mark you every day from now until eternity.”
My bones turn to liquid and I’d slide to the floor if I hadn’t of grabbed the dresser. “A bond mark means sex.”
“Yeah,” Perry’s voice comes out dreamy as he looks up at our Alpha.
“No,” I say, and force myself to stand properly.
The two exchange yet another look.
Perry pushes to his feet to join us. “Are you—”
“A virgin,” I whisper.
“I was gonna ask if you were asexual.”
I shake my head.
They each take one of my hands.
“Have you ever been kissed?” Buckle asks, and his eyes drop to my lips.
Another shake of my head. “I can’t do this.” I pull my hands from their grasps.
“Are you rejecting us?” Perry’s voice breaks.
More head shaking. Everything’s too intense. I can’t form words. “Space. I need space.”
“I’ll see you Wednesday,” Buckle says, as if I could ever forget his routine. I live for those days. I could have that every day.
But Betas aren’t meant to be loved.