14. Callum #2
“And the shifters still being held captive? We just sit on that information and do nothing?” Jet looks torn.
Much like Lynx did a few moments ago.
It’s a shit situation.
Lynx’s expression softens. “I know this is hard, especially for you.”
Jet grunts in response.
“We use what information we have and we start looking for possible locations.”
“Great. I’ll go out first thing—”
“From here,” Lynx cuts in. “We look at maps and any other information we can get our hands on, but we do it from here.” He strides over to Jet and grips his shoulder.
“To start with. I don’t want us spread out all over the fucking place right now.
Not with ex-hunters so close. And we still have no idea where Birch is. ”
He growls as he says his name, Birch’s unknown whereabouts a huge fucking thorn in his side. It grates on me, and it wasn’t my fucking mate he bit and turned.
“When we can narrow it down to one or two possible places, then we can talk about doing some recon.” Lynx meets the eyes of everyone out here. When he gets to me, I give him a nod.
Well done.
“Anyone got anything to say before we vote?” I give it a couple of minutes for anyone to speak up.
Silence.
I hope this means we’re all on board because I really don’t see much of an alternative, and I’m not in the mood to stay out here all night arguing. I have places to be.
Well, one place.
“Okay then. Everyone in favour of Lynx’s plan, raise your hand.” I raise mine, followed by Mal, then Flint, and finally Jet.
Even if he does it with a hefty dose of reluctance, he still raises a hand, and that’s all that counts.
“Done.” I clap Lynx on the back. “I suggest we check in this time every day to see where we’re at.”
“Agreed.” Lynx runs a hand along his jaw. It’s his thinking face. “We need to find Birch.”
“You want another meetup with the FBs?” Mal grimaces, like he’s smelt something foul.
“Maybe,” Lynx hedges. “As much as I hate those dicks, it might be worth having another chat with them.”
I snort at his words. The last chat we had with them ended up with a few broken bones and two stabbings.
“Maybe it’s time to meet up with Tanner Grey in person too.
I want to talk to him without worrying about being overheard.
” I chance a glance at Jet, but he’s studying the ground like it’s the most fascinating thing ever.
“Jet?” Lynx nudges his boot with a foot. “That okay with you?”
He raises an eyebrow. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Maybe because you hate all hunters and I’m purposefully going to invite one into our home.”
He shrugs. “It’s fine.” Jet’s emotions are locked down tighter than Lynx’s right now. I can’t get a read on if he’s bothered by the thought of Grey coming here or really doesn’t give a fuck. Gonna have to take him at his word.
“We done?” Jet asks. “Me and Mal are gonna shift later and see how close we can get to Morgan’s house without being seen.”
“Be careful,” Lynx warns, pulling them both close. Jet grumbles in protest, but I see the way he leans into Lynx.
I hide my smile as they separate, then linger at the clearing while the others leave, only Lynx hanging back.
“You good?” He waits until Flint’s inside and Mal and Jet have left on their bikes before adding, “And how did it go last night?”
I showered as soon as I got home this morning, nice and long. It might have been enough to fool everyone else, but Lynx has alpha senses.
He raises an eyebrow. “Manage to keep your distance?”
I sigh, not in the mood to play this game. “You know I didn’t.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close.
I let him.
Welcome the support he’s offering.
He moves until we’re both leaning against the tree trunk behind us. “I say this as your friend and nothing else.”
I brace myself for something I won’t like. The irony of the situation not lost on me. “Go on.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t wait for Morgan to tell him.”
It takes a second for the magnitude of that sentence to sink in. “You think I should tell him?” I turn to face him, shrugging out of his hold. “Morgan’ll be fucking furious. You prepared for that backlash?”
Lynx grimaces, so clearly fucking not.
“Can you even go against your soulmate’s wishes?”
He gives me a flat look. “We can still make our own decisions. I’ll just get the full brunt of his fury. There’ll be no hiding it, even if he wanted to.”
Which, knowing Morgan, he won’t. No, he’ll let Lynx—and me too—know exactly how not happy he is if we do what Lynx is suggesting. “Why?” I tilt my head, not understanding. “Why would you risk upsetting the person you love most in this world?”
Lynx blows out a breath and stares up at the branches fanning out above us. “It’s complicated.”
I remember Ash’s contempt for that word and have to smother a laugh.
“How?” I ask instead.
“You’re right in that I love Morgan above all others; he’s my soulmate in every sense of the word. But you’re my best friend, my beta, my VP in our fucked-up version of a motorcycle club. Loving Morgan doesn’t negate my responsibility—my need—to do what I know is right by you.”
“And you think me telling Ash what we are is the right thing to do? He’s Morgan’s best friend, his brother in every way but blood. I’m—” I hold my arms out and shrug. “I’m nothing to him.” The words taste wrong in my mouth, but I can’t deny there’s an element of truth to them.
Lynx disagrees. “Don’t fucking do that.”
“Do what? Tell the truth?” He opens his mouth, but I cut him off.
“I didn’t say he’s nothing to me,” I say quietly, rubbing a hand over my chest. The spot where he’s already made space for himself.
“But anything he thinks he might feel for me . . .” I focus on the ground, taking a moment because this admission comes with a hefty dose of guilt and shame. “It’s based on a lie.”
“You haven’t li—”
“I haven’t exactly been honest!” I yell, and birds scatter above us.
I glance back towards the house, wondering who heard me but not finding the will to give a shit.
“He thinks I’m human, Lynx. And why wouldn’t he?
” I shake my head, on a roll now. “He might suspect we’re into some illegal shit—and he’d be right—but I don’t think it’s ever occurred to him that I’m not fully human. ”
Unsurprisingly, Lynx has nothing to say.
He knows I’m right.
“Fuck.” He scrubs a hand over his face, resignation laced with pity filling the air between us.
I point a finger at him. “And don’t you fucking do that.”
“Cal—”
“I knew what I was doing, and I did it anyway. I don’t want your pity.”
We stand in silence. It’s not awkward, but it’s heavy with the realisation that there’s likely no good outcome for me and Ash.
Even if he can accept what we are and not be terrified or disgusted, even if he can understand why I didn’t tell him, that it wasn’t only my secret to tell .
. . I still kept a big fucking part of myself from him, let him invite me into his bed when he didn’t have all the facts.
If I feel like I’m in the wrong here, then I probably fucking am.
“I want to tell him,” I admit. “Every time I’m with him, every time he curls into my side, trusting me to hold him together, to keep him safe. I want to tell him so fucking badly.”
“Then do it.” He grabs my shoulders and waits until I look at him. “I’ll explain it to Morgan. He’ll understand. He knows what it’s like for us when we find our other half.”
“It’s not like you and him—”
“No, it’s not. But it’s almost as strong a feeling in here.” He taps his chest. “Tell me I’m wrong?”
My breath hitches at the realisation that I can’t. “It’s getting that way,” I say softly.
He grips the back of my neck. “Tell him.”
I want to.
But I know what position this’ll put Lynx in with Morgan, and I don’t want to be responsible for any conflict between them. They’ve been through enough.
“I’ll think about it.”
It’s the best I can offer.