Chapter Four #2
Brother. Because even though they weren’t blood related, he, Leo, and Aaron had lived their entire lives with just each other to count on.
Through confusing teenage years, wild and crazy early adulthood, until where they were finally at in their lives, it had been the three of them every step of the way.
Opening his arms, knowing that Aaron would be hovering close, Bastian pulled the other man into the embrace with him and Leo.
They stood there just sharing space as it finally hit Bas that he had a mate. He blew out a long breath. “I have a mate,” he whispered.
“And he’s such a cutie,” Aaron said.
“I haven’t met him, but I’ve heard of him,” Leo said. “He seems perfect for you.”
Perfect. The sweet sunshine of a hero that had no idea that the paranormal world existed. Bas drew back. “How am I going to tell him about me? About us?”
Aaron shook his head. “Better you than me, bud. That sounds terrifying.”
Leo grinned before nodding toward their friends behind Bas. “I think it might be best to take the advice of those that have been there.”
“Just don’t lose control and shift in the middle of a club,” Lawson suggested sarcastically.
Craig rumbled out a laugh. “I agree.”
“Or get yourself shot and have your mate come looking for you,” Sam added.
“I do not recommend getting shot ever,” Shawn said.
Bo sighed. “Maybe we aren’t the best to offer advice.”
“It’s fine!” Nate bounced over to him. “Hudson already loves your kitty form.”
Bas sniffed. “I’m not a…kitty.”
“Pretty kitty,” Logan said sweetly.
“We’ll help!” Noah offered.
Bas glanced at Leo, who had a bit of panic in his eyes.
“Uh,” Leo managed.
Bastian agreed. This had chaos written all over it.
“I hate to break this up, but someone just pulled up out front,” Trevor said. He had his head tilted to the side as if he was listening to something.
“It’s your mate!” Noah shouted.
Bas clamped a hand over Noah’s mouth. “Not a word from any of you.”
Noah’s shoulders fell.
The doorbell rang.
Bas had the sudden impulse to run and climb a tree.
Axel patted his back as he passed by. “I’ll answer the door.”
“I’ll help,” Bryce offered.
“You boys will stay out here in the back of the house, or go outside, and behave. No eavesdropping.”
Axel’s command was met with multiple groans.
“Outside would probably be best,” Drake decided as he began to herd the boys toward the back door.
“Get yourself prepared and come in the living room,” Axel told Bas. “I’ll keep him company until you are ready.”
Bas nodded. He turned, watching the alpha stride into the house. This was it. It would be the first time that Bas was face-to-face with his human when not shifted.
“It’ll be fine,” Aaron said. “He’s your mate.”
“Yeah.” Bas rubbed the back of his neck. Hudson did seem to really like his shifted form. That was a start. And at least he wasn’t allergic to cat hair or some kind of horrible thing like that.
“After he chews you out for not taking proper care of…yourself,” Noah offered.
Bastian scowled at the familiar. “Not helping.”
Noah grinned. “It could be worse.”
“How?” Bas demanded.
“Imagine him just taking you home and him still thinking you’re a cat,” Noah replied. “What if he bought you a harness or something! Actually, that sounds cool. Can we see if that’s a possibility?”
Bas rolled his eyes at the ridiculousness of the situation.
“Go see to your mate.” Leo pushed Bas toward the doorway.
“Fine.” Bas stomped forward.
“Fix your face!” Aaron called.
“My face?” Bas wiped his face. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Maybe try smiling?” Bryce offered hopefully from beside the back door.
Smiling? Bas could do that. He gave the alpha mate a sharp nod.
“And be nice!” Nate insisted. It appeared he was resisting being pushed out.
“I’m always nice,” Bas growled.
“Maybe don’t growl at him?” Lawson asked with a shrug.
These boys were nothing but menaces. Bastian ignored the rest of the instructions hollered at him until he entered the main house.
He could hear Axel speaking with someone and hurried down the hall to the formal living room.
The family had both a formal and a family living room since it appeared sleepovers were often a necessity, at least according to Nate.
The sleepovers were so important that they stopped moving the large mattresses and pads in and out.
“Are you sure I can’t get you something to drink?” Axel asked as Bastian turned into the room.
“Thank you so much but I don’t need anything. I don’t mean to impose,” Hudson replied.
With Axel in the door, Hudson hadn’t spotted Bas yet.
Hearing his mate’s voice so close, Bastian had to fight the urge to run to his side. Smile. He needed to smile. And not growl. Growling was bad. Hudson was human so Bastian also shouldn’t scent mark Hudson without permission.
So many rules!
“Ah, Bastian.” Axel turned to him. “This is Hudson Moore. He’d like to speak with you.”
Axel stepped to the side and Hudson rose from the couch as he stared at Bas with wide eyes.
“You’re Bastian?” Hudson’s voice was barely above a whisper.
“Hello.” Bastian charged forward, nearly tripping over his own feet.
Luckily, the alpha was there to set a steadying hand on his elbow. Fuck! Bastian was a moron!
He rolled his shoulders and gave Axel a quick nod of gratitude.
“I’ll let the two of you talk,” Axel said. He glanced back at Hudson. “If you need anything, please let one of us know. It was a pleasure to meet you, Hudson.”
Hudson beamed. “Same. Thank you for welcoming me into your home.”
Bas had to bite off the growl that was coming up from his chest. No growling! Even if Hudson should never smile at anyone like that but him.
“You are always welcome.” The alpha gave a nod.
“Thank you so for being so kind, Axel. And for accepting my apology.” Hudson appeared so earnest.
“Think nothing of it. I’m glad we’ve met,” Axel replied. He winked at Bas before exiting the room.
Bas cleared his throat. “Apology?” What would his sweet mate ever have to be sorry about?
Hudson’s cheek turned pink. “I made a very stupid and hurtful comment this afternoon about a rumor I’d heard about your family.”
“The cult thing?” Bastian still didn’t understand the big deal. It wasn’t true. Although Noah had been extremely upset and so had the other boys, but they also had good hearts and forgave quickly.
“You heard about that?” Hudson squirmed while wringing his hands. “I’m so sorry!”
Bas closed the distance between them and captured Hudson’s hands in his. “Hey! It’s okay. Sometimes we say things that aren’t true. I doubt that you meant anything harmful by it.”
“I really didn’t,” Hudson insisted.
Bas was pleased when the human didn’t pull away.
“I was just so shocked that Noah…and you lived here. I didn’t know that. I just overheard people talking about the men that lived out here. Everyone is so curious about you all.”
“I haven’t been here long,” Bastian shared. “A couple of weeks as I visited with an old co-worker and friend so you might know more about what people say than I do.”
“Oh!” Hudson nodded. “That makes sense. I hadn’t seen Bas around here before a few days ago.”
That must have been the reminder that Hudson needed as he pulled his hands from Bastian’s grasp and lifted his head.
“Bas is a margay, correct?”
The human was such a smartie. Smile! Bastian should smile at his mate. “Would you like to sit?” Manners. Bastian had manners and he would show them.
“Oh!” Hudson smiled. “Yes, thank you.”
“Great.” Bas motioned to the couch. He waited for Hudson to sit then settled close beside him.
“Thank you,” Hudson said.
“Of course,” Bas responded. “Would you like a drink? Have you had dinner?” They were supposed to be having dinner as a family but there were enough snacks in the house so that he could make sure his mate wasn’t in need.
“I’m fine,” Hudson insisted.
“Okay.” Damn, he wanted to take care of his mate, but Hudson wasn’t making it easy on him. “Let me know if you need something.”
Hudson nodded. “I just wanted to talk about Bas.”
“Yes, Bas is a margay.” Technically that wasn’t a lie. He was a margay in shifted form.
“Margays are endangered and not native to our area,” Hudson pointed out.
“That’s correct,” Bastian agreed. “You seem to know a lot about margays. Do you have experience with wild cats?”
“No,” Hudson said. “I googled it.”
“Wow, that was really smart. And such a nice thing. I understand that you’ve been worried about Bas.
” Bastian needed to find something to say that would reassure Hudson that he wasn’t this terrible person that didn’t care about his cat.
It would be a hell of a lot easier if Bastian could just confess the truth.
“Thank you.” Hudson’s cheeks pinked again. “I’m a firefighter. I just felt like I should make sure that Bas is being properly cared for.”
“I can assure you that Bas is well cared for,” Bastian replied.
“And you have permission to have him here?” Hudson pushed.
“I do.” Bastian could get paperwork put together if necessary. They’d done it before for other packs when it had been necessary. Sometimes humans paid just a little too much attention to them.
“Good.” Hudson seemed relieved. “And he’s seen a vet? Gotten shots or whatever he needs?”
Well fuck, Hudson really wasn’t going to let this go. “Yes, everything is in order. Do you have any pets?” Maybe a change of topic would work?
“No,” Hudson said with a frown. “That doesn’t mean that I don’t know that animals have needs.”
“That’s not what I meant at all!” Bas assured his mate. He gently placed his hand on Hudson’s knee. “I was just thinking that you would make a wonderful cat dad.” That seemed like a title that Hudson would like. And Bas could see many nights of them cuddling close as Hudson petted him.
“How nice of you!” Hudson moved closer. “I never considered having a pet before since my brother and I worked too much when we lived in the city, but now that we’ve moved here, I’m thinking of changing that.”