Chapter 12
“Good morning,” Keith said the moment he sensed his mate waking. “I made you a protein shake.”
Forehead creased, Brian rubbed his eyes. “What?” He squinted up at him. “Why aren’t you asleep?” He blinked a few times, raised himself onto his elbows, and turned toward the window. “It’s still dark out. What time is it?”
“It’s early o’clock. Also, those curtains are total pervs. They stare at us when we’re going at it. Have you considered switching them out?”
Brian flopped back down, covered his eyes with his forearm, and sighed. “Did you just say an inanimate object is watching us?”
“Uh-huh. The pattern looks like eyeballs. I normally don’t care about design choices, but if they’re going to have the privilege of seeing us do the naked dance, they should at least cheer or something. They just hang there, quiet. It’s rude.”
He raised his arm and reached out to Keith. “We can change the curtains. Come back to bed.”
“That’s one option.” Keith nodded. “Counteroffer. You down this shake that’s sure to fill you with energy, and we start our day.”
“Keith,” Brian whined.
“Aww, that’s adorable.” Keith set the drink on the nightstand and straddled his mate. “Are you actually tired?” He brushed his hand over Brian’s hair. “Do you need more sleep?” He kissed his forehead. “Or maybe you want cuddles.” He brushed his lips over Brian’s cheek and then his neck.
“Mmm,” Brian moaned softly. “Feels good.” He wrapped his arms around Keith and then frowned. “You’re dressed.” He tugged on his T-shirt. “Why are you wearing clothes?”
“Because you’re naked, and if I was naked too, we wouldn’t leave this bed.”
“That’s my point.” He shoved his hand under the back of Keith’s shirt. “Take it off.”
“We need to go to Green Field.” Unable to resist the pull of his mate, Keith kissed him gently. “If we don’t leave now, something super-duper urgent will come up that demands your immediate attention and we’ll lose the day. Again.”
“I’m not avoiding it on purpose.”
“I know you’re not. But also, you’re totally avoiding it on purpose like you have been for weeks. Care to tell me why?”
“Things happen. Leading a pack keeps me busy.”
“Uh-huh. It’s been two weeks since Rupert Jackson’s last plan failed and his cringey spy ran off.
She knows we know what she was up to, which means he knows we know what she was up to.
He’s weak, but he’s also paranoid and not as inanimate as those curtains, which means his somewhat functional brain will realize we’ll eventually suspect him. ”
“Was that English?”
Deciding to get to the point, Keith said, “We can’t keep delaying this trip or he’ll make his next hairbrained move.” He grinned at Brian. “Hairbrained. Get it? Because they took your hair as part of their plan. Hair brained.”
“We don’t know that they have a plan or that they’re doing anything with my hair,” Brian said, but he didn’t sound like even he believed himself.
“She didn’t take enough for a sex doll so what other reason could she have for absconding with a few pieces of your hair?”
“Sex doll?”
“If I was gathering parts of you, it’d definitely be for something sexual,” Keith explained.
Brian blinked at him. “My life used to make sense. It was orderly, predictable, calm.”
“Sounds dull.”
“It was.” He surged up, wrapped his arms around Keith, and held on tightly. “We have no idea what they have planned, and I don’t want you to walk into that, but you refuse to stay here.” He pressed his face to Keith’s neck and whispered, “I’m worried.”
Keith caressed his nape with one hand and his lower back with the other. “I’ll keep you safe while we’re at Green Field, mate. I promise. You don’t need to worry about this trip.”
“It’s not my safety I’m worried about.” Brian leaned back and cupped his cheeks.
“I can’t lose you. You are challenging, chaotic, stimulating, exciting, energizing…
” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Nothing I thought I wanted and everything I can’t live without.
If we go to Green Field, we’ll be delivering ourselves to the doorstep of a man who keeps trying to kill you.
I don’t know how many people Rupert Jackson has backing him up, which means I don’t know what we’ll be walking into.
I’ll drink that shake and leave now if you agree to stay here where you’re safe. ”
“Rupert’s a jerk so only a limited number of people can stand him, but even if he manages to gather such a big group of supporters that you can’t handle them, it’ll be a good thing I’m there to back you up.”
“I don’t want you backing me up. I want you safe.” He pulled Keith into his arms. “You refuse to stop walking headfirst into danger, and if I’m busy with Rupert and his people, I may not be able to protect you. Why don’t you understand that?”
“What does walking headfirst mean? The first thing to enter a space we walk into is a foot, not a head.”
“Keith!”
“I understand your concerns. I respect you and I don’t want to go against your wishes, but I have to do this.” He kissed Brian’s neck. “I’m going to Green Field today. I have no problem handling Rupert Jackson alone or we can go together. Either way, this is happening. Today.”
“What if we—”
“Brian, you’ve successfully come up with five hours’ worth of delays but enough is enough.” Keith curled his hand around his mate’s and walked toward the door. “We’re leaving.”
“You weren’t complaining about the delays earlier.”
“That part was fun,” he agreed, grinning. “Whatever random pack business you’re pretending has to get done right this second isn’t. Let’s go.”
“How about we go back to bed first?” Brian brought them to a stop and kissed Keith’s nape. “I can make you feel good.”
He sighed. “I know you can.” He rolled his head back and stretched his neck. “And I’m counting on you to do that later, but I have to go now.” He turned around and met Brian’s gaze. “No more delays.”
Just as his mate looked ready to give in, his phone rang. “One second.” He walked several steps away, took the phone out of his pocket, and answered it. “Jennifer? Is everything okay? Do you need me?”
“Oh, come on!” Keith said.
“What?” Brian frowned and dragged his free hand through his hair. “Are you sure?”
“Do you think I don’t realize you moved away so I wouldn’t be able to hear her and you could come up with another excuse to—”
“Don’t antagonize him,” Brian said into the phone. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
That tone sounded sincere. Sincere and anxious. Keith tipped his head to the side and looked at his mate’s face.
“I’m thinking,” Brian said. “I don’t want you or anyone else near him but if he comes here—”
“What’s going on?” Keith asked, moving toward his mate.
Brian’s chest was heaving.
“Brian?” He clutched Brian’s waist with one hand and his shoulder with the other. “Breathe.”
“He’s here,” Brian choked out.
“Who?”
“Rupert Jackson Junior. He’s on packlands and he’s asking to see me.”
“Oh.” Keith crinkled his nose, considering this unexpected development. “Well, that’s weird but good.”
“Good? Good?” Brian shrieked. “How is it good that one of the men committed to killing you is here?”
He winced. “Your pack member is still on the phone,” he whispered. “Hang up if you’re going to lose it. You don’t want her to hear that.”
“Jennifer, I’ll call you back.” He pressed the screen and set the phone on an end table. “Why is he here?” He sucked in air. “Fuck.”
“Why are you freaking out?” Keith asked.
“Did you hear me when I said that an Alpha who wants you dead is close enough to accomplish his greatest desire?”
“I’m pretty sure Junior’s greatest desire is hearing his daddy call him a good boy.”
Brian recoiled. “Eww.”
“I’m saying.” Keith nodded in agreement. “Anywho, let’s get this reunion over with. Tell Jennifer to lead him here.”
“And then what, Keith? What’s the plan for when the Alpha who wants you dead gets you in his sights?”
“It’s a good thing nobody else can you hear you right now because you’re going to be embarrassed about this little tantrum later.”
“Tantrum? Tantrum?” Brian threw his hands up. “Are you kidding me? Your life is in danger.”
Keith rolled his eyes. “Okay. I’m going to need you to dial this way down. I’m fine. Everything’s fine. He’s one idiot. What harm can he cause?”
“He could kill you! Why aren’t you getting this?” He stomped across the room.
“Well, he can try, but to be honest, I don’t see him even doing that much,” Keith said calmly.
“Then why is here?” Brian shouted as he flipped around and stomped his way back.
“Well, if history is anything to go by, that coward came here to manipulate someone else into killing me.”
“Who?” Brian turned and retraced his steps. He was pacing again. “You’re my mate. Nobody here would do that.”
“That’s a mystery for the ages. Not even Sherlock Holmes could solve it with the information we already have and the existing context clues. Totally impossible.” Keith shrugged. “Oh well, guess we have no choice but to invite Junior in for tea and cookies so we can ask him directly.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Brian shouted, his voice high-pitched. He tugged on his hair and walked back the way he had come.
“That seems to be the consensus, yes. Also, you need to get a handle on yourself before Junior gets here because sounding like you’re in the midst of puberty probably isn’t the vibe you’re going for in this situation.”
“We are not inviting him here! That’s out of the question. I need to keep him away from you.”
Keith shook his head and sighed.
“Fuck. I need to handle this.”
While Brian continued unraveling, Keith stepped over to the table, picked up the phone, and called the last incoming number.
“What are you doing?” Brian asked.
“Helping you,” Keith replied.
Jennifer answered the phone and said, “Yes, Alpha.”
“It’s Keith. Bring Rupert Junior here.” He ended the call.
“What? No!” Brian rushed his way. “Why did you do that?” He reached for the phone. “And how did you get into my phone?”