Chapter 23
Boris
I'm fucking this up. I know I am, but I can't stop now. I can't change my mind about telling him halfway through, but instead of convincing him, I'm scaring him. I can scent it.
"Simon." It's an exaggerated plea, but I don't know what else to do. How do I reach him?
When he doesn't reply, I blow out a breath. New tactic. I need a new tactic. "What is it you don't believe about what I've told you?"
"I believe you."
He can't lie for shit, and I chuckle. "So nothing? No part of it? You don't believe in shifters, you don't believe in magic, and you don't believe in soulmates."
He doesn't reply.
I grab his hand. It's lax. I suspect it's a defense mechanism. Subconsciously, he knows he doesn't stand a chance against me, or he'd have tried to push me away a long time ago. I press his palm against the wall with my hand over his, then I shift mine.
He whimpers as the tips of my claws tap against the light green wallpaper.
"The wolves in Rutchester aren't normal wolves. Or not wolves as you think of them."
He doesn't speak, doesn't even breathe. I give it some time, but when he doesn't pull in a breath, I start to worry.
"Simon." I give him a little shake, and he sucks in air. Good.
"Are you with me?"
He nods, but I'm not sure I can trust him. "Questions?"
He shakes his head. He has to have questions. I know I've shocked him, but his brain must be bombarding him with questions.
"Simon?"
"Yeah."
"My family--"
"Oh, God!" He sinks into a crouch with one hand on the wall and one on the floor, his head hanging between his knees.
Oookay.
"You okay?"
He shakes his head, and I go get him a glass of water. He turns around to look at me, only to slide down to sit on the floor with his back against the wall.
I approach him with a full glass, but I walk slowly. He continues to stare at me as I hold the glass out to him. It takes a couple of seconds before he reaches for it.
He sips, and I wait.
"Is it a joke?"
"No."
"You're a..." He shakes his head. "I should go to a hospital. Fuck. Who'll take care of Ira?"
"You don't need a hospital, and should you need one at some point in your life, I'll take care of Ira."
He stares at me, but not in a wow-I'm-so-lucky-to-have-you way. It's more horrified. I grin. "I promise not to eat him."
He whimpers, and I huff. "It was a joke! We don't eat people."
Nothing. Glassy eyes staring out into nothingness. Damn.
I grab my phone and call Zahrah.
"Are you in prison?" She sounds distracted.
"Not yet, but I've broken my mate."
She makes an undignified sound. "I don't want to hear about your sex life, Boris. Not unless you're stuck somewhere and are being taken by five burly blue-collar men."
I snort. "I'm being serious."
"As am I, darling."
"No, you're not."
"Okay, I'm not. What happened with Simon?" She's more focused now, and I look at Simon. I put her on speaker and place the phone on the table before crouching in front of him.
"Well...I told him about soulmates, and he didn't believe me, so I partially shifted."
Silence. Then she groans. "Partially how?"
"Eyes and claws."
"Great. How did he take it?"
"He didn't. He's on the floor mumbling about a hospital."
"He's there now? You're there now?"
I glare in the direction of the phone. "Yeah."
"Okay."
When she says nothing else, I sigh. "I need help, Zahrah."
"Yeah, I don't know how to help you. It's...I mean, you could fuck him and bite him, then the bond should snap into place for him too, right?"
Simon makes a strangled sound.
"You're on speaker."
"For fuck's sake, Boris!"
"Sorry."
Simon stares at me, a bit more alert, but the distrust is clear to see.
"Simon, can you hear me?" Zahrah's voice is a lot gentler now.
"I'm here." He doesn't look away from me.
"You know Boris is an idiot, right?"
He nods.
"It has nothing to do with him being a shifter. The rest of us are pretty awesome. You've met several. Half, if not more, of the people who were in Beantopia when we were there are shifters. You remember Conan?"
"Yeah."
"He's a good guy, right?"
Simon shrugs.
"Not a single one of us means you any harm. We're all super happy Boris has found his mate. Do you know how rare mates are?"
Simon shakes his head, but Zahrah is waiting for an answer. He clears his throat. "No."
"Very rare. Finding your mate is a miracle. Boris' mom was blessed. She found hers. Boris is blessed because he found you."
I gently curl my hand around his ankle. He has no idea how precious he is. "Simon." My voice is nothing but a whisper.
Zahrah continues. "You know the wolf who ran toward you and Ira back in June."
Simon stiffens, and I slide my hand up his calf, where I gently massage him.
"Do you remember?" Zahrah's tone is still soft, but it holds a little more demand now.
"Yes."
"Yeah, that was Boris. He wasn't about to attack you. He was there to sweep you off your feet."
A strangled sound leaves Simon, and he stares wide-eyed at me. I raise an eyebrow and shrug.
"Remember the idiot part? A normal person would've shifted back to human form, put on clothes, and gone to meet you, but Boris lacks a few brain cells."
"Zahrah!" I glare at the phone again.
"Sorry, hon. It's only fair he knows."
I huff. "I think we're gonna hang up now. Thank you for your help." I emphasize the help, so she'll know for sure I don't think she helped at all. Though she most likely helped a little. She got Simon to utter a few words.
"Okay, I'm here if you need me. And Simon, most importantly, you're in no danger, and Ira is in no danger.
No one in the pack would ever hurt a mate or a child.
We've got your back, whether you decide to go through with the mating with Boris or not.
You'll always be safe and cared for, do you understand? "
He stares at me, and I nod. I'm not pleased she told him he doesn't have to go through with the mating, but it's true. He's not forced to do anything, and no matter what, the pack will look out for them.
They're safe.
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