Heath
The three of them had been sucked into a potentially dangerous intrigue. However, they couldn’t allow themselves to be overwhelmed by it. Their personal connection was just as important, and deserved equal attention.
Knowing Clarke found him desirable put a silly smile on his face. Sex was only one component of a relationship. But mutual attraction was important.
Russell had taken the situation seriously, and was motivated to help. He was one of those people who had never met a stranger, and had a knack for putting others at ease. That affability, combined with Russell’s observation skills, would serve them well.
Having lived in town for years, with a large social network, Russell might have an easier time finding leads to Charlie, Dr. Prentis, and the missing students, than the rest of them.
The students might not be connected to Charlie and Dr. Prentis. Several of them had gone to school here, probably having friends in town. There could be information to be gleaned from those friends.
It was possible that Lauren Prentis didn’t know a soul in Clementine, or either of the colleges. But she was probably wherever Charlie was. And Clarke’s vision showed Mars being the location of a clue.
Heath was looking forward to putting their heads together with Russell on this. He didn’t expect miracles, and instant answers. That would be naive.
But he was feeling positive about their chances of discovering more information. Heath approved of Russell taking time to strategize. He wouldn’t waste time chasing ghosts, or be distracted from the objectives.
Seeing the message that Clarke was willing to include Nadine, Roger, and Brady was a huge relief to Heath. He had already dodged four more calls from his parents and sister. This deception was weighing heavily on him even after just a few days.
It had to be ten times harder for Clarke, pretending to be someone she wasn’t.
Heath was glad that he could provide a safe place for her to be herself without fear of being exposed.
The acute relief on Clarke’s face every time she removed the charm bracelet proved how vital that was to her state of mind.
On Tuesday after classes, the three of them had a video conference call. They decided to invite Nadine and her husbands over to Heath’s house on Saturday. The meeting with Russell would be held on Sunday.
Heath called Nadine immediately after disconnecting with Clarke and 007. “Suddenly, you aren’t avoiding me? That’s an abrupt turnaround,” she said. “What the hell is going on, Heath?”
“I can’t tell you that.”
“Grrr. Little brothers are more trouble than they’re worth,” Nadine complained. “I’m tempted to strangle you with my bare hands.”
“But then there would be no hope of getting information out of me,” Heath teased. “I called to invite the three of you to lunch on Saturday.”
“Why not come over here like you usually do?” Nadine asked suspiciously.
“I’ve been given permission to discuss this with you. We’ll talk about it on Saturday. My house is a better place for this conversation. You’ll understand after everything has been explained,” he said.
“But you’re making me wait the better part of a week. That’s cruel, Heath,” Nadine said with exasperation. “What on earth could be such a big secret?”
“Most of it is good, and you’ll be happy,” Heath said. “The secrets aren’t mine, so I would be betraying a confidence by blabbing. The person in question agreed that you can be trusted. We’ll have more time to talk about everything in detail on the weekend.”
“So, this involves someone else,” Nadine commented in a considering tone. “Now I’m even more curious, and have no idea what to think. My mind is running in circles.”
“Just come over on Saturday.”
“I’m leaning toward throttling you again,” Nadine said with enough fervency to be unsettling.
“I love you, sis,” Heath declared cheerfully.
“Whatever,” Nadine said with an annoyed huff. “I might remember that I love you on the weekend, but I’m not feeling it right now.”
When the call ended, Heath relaxed. That had been easier than he’d expected. Nadine was stubborn, and could be difficult to dissuade.
Twenty minutes later, his phone chimed with a text from their parents. Nadine must have called in reinforcements. His mom and dads said they just wanted to know if he was ok.
Heath replied that he was perfectly fine, and things were going well at the college. To his relief, they left it at that, saying that as long as he was well, they could be patient.
The week went by smoothly. From students to faculty, everyone seemed more relaxed without Mitch to deal with. While Ray didn’t perform his duties at the same level as Clarke and Jace, he was doing a good job with the casters.
Heath and Clarke spoke every night, mostly about the plan to move the feral cats. They would do that on Saturday after the talk with Nadine. Being animal lovers was one more thing they had in common.
The football team had a home game Friday night. Nadine saved them all seats, as had become her habit. Lane seemed to be developing a good relationship with the elemental students.
Russell joined them, sitting next to Lane. He greeted everyone casually, giving no indication that Clarke was anyone other than who and what she appeared to be. Jace and Heath relaxed by degrees when everyone continued to act normally.
Heath was impressed with Russel’s aplomb, and knack for subterfuge. If he didn’t know better, he would think that Russell was unaware of Clarke’s real identity.
As usual, Clarke and Nadine were deep in conversation before the game started, and during halftime. Heath couldn’t wait to see the look on his sister’s face when she realized that Clarke was a woman, and his mate. It would be priceless.
The Ravens won, putting all of them in excellent moods. Heath made a quick getaway before Nadine had a chance to interrogate him again.
At his request, Clarke and Jace got to Heath’s house at ten on Saturday morning. After hugging Clarke, Heath said, “I have to pick up a few things in town, but I shouldn’t be long. Make yourselves at home.”
“We could have waited until you ran your errands,” Clarke said.
“It’s just a couple of things I thought of at the last minute,” Heath said untruthfully, as he took his car keys down from a hook in the mudroom. “We’re mates. I trust you unattended in my house.”
It had occurred to Heath when he woke up that morning that Jace had to be struggling under the pretense of only being coworkers with Clarke. They had been meeting in the basement to speak freely, and nurture the bond. That was why Jace had reacted strangely to Heath mentioning the spelled alert.
Heath was glad they’d found a way to carve out some time for themselves. But the basement was far from optimum, and only a short-term solution. Neither Jace nor Clarke had to carry on the charade at his house. But they still didn’t have privacy with him right there.
The best way Heath could repay Jace for his thoughtfulness and including Heath without complaint, was to give him time alone with Clarke.
So, the errand was manufactured, with that goal in mind.
Whistling a cheerful tune, he waved, and climbed into the car, not giving either of them a chance to protest.
Heath picked up a coffee cake and assorted pastries from a bakery. Then he got a few basics at a grocer, being careful not to be gone longer than an hour.
Nadine, Roger, and Brady were supposed to come over at eleven thirty.
Heath wanted Jace and Clarke to have at least a half hour to themselves, but didn’t trust Nadine not to arrive early.
Since she didn’t know about Clarke yet, his sister discovering Clarke and Jace at the house without him there could be problematic.
When Heath parked, Jace came out to help him with the bags. 007 looked calmer and happier than Heath had seen him since the start of term. He was happy to have contributed to that.
Jace slapped him on the shoulder before reaching for one of the bags.
“Thanks, man,” he said. “Not everybody, hell, very few people, would concede territory even briefly when they are trying to establish a connection. I know you did that for me, and I won’t forget it.
You’re the best bond brother I could have asked for. ”
“That was for both your sakes, but I was thinking the same about you the other day,” Heath mentioned. “You could have taken advantage of your history with Clarke, and didn’t. It goes both ways.”
“That it does, TFS,” Jace agreed.
Heath smirked at that. Jace was giving tit for tat by abbreviating triple fudge sundae, and calling him TFS in the same tone Heath used when he said 007. He didn’t mind, and found it amusing.
“I just hope things are as smooth with the third guy when Clarke finds him,” Heath commented.
“That would be best for her, but I’m not very concerned about him causing trouble if he isn’t all in immediately,” Jace said. “You and I are a solid team. We’ll make sure he falls in line.”
Clarke opened the door for them then, ending the discussion. She looked a little nervous.
“Hey, if you’re worried about how Nadine will take the news, try not to be,” Heath said as he walked toward her with bakery boxes in hand. “She already likes you, and will be thrilled that we’re mates.”
Clarke took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. “I like her, too, and it will be great to have more support. Talking to Nadine at the game last night had me feeling guilty for hiding this from her. Going totally off script from the original plan has me jittery, though.”
“That’s normal, Primrose,” Jace said in a bolstering tone. “But plans should be fluid, and meant to change when new developments arise. Don’t borrow trouble. If it finds us, we’ll beat it up.”
“Right,” Clarke said. She looked calmer for approximately two seconds before her eyes went wide, and she hastily shut the door. “Shit! They’re early. I’m not prepared.”
Heath was very glad now that he’d anticipated Nadine being unable to restrain herself a moment longer, and gotten home when he did. After Clarke fled further into the house with Jace on her heels, he reopened the side door off the mudroom.
He stepped outside, closed the door behind him, and waited for his sister and her husbands to exit the vehicle. “Funny, I’m positive I asked you to come over at eleven-thirty, not eleven-ten,” Heath said pointedly.
Nadine huffed at that. Roger and Brady had the grace to look embarrassed.
“Be grateful I wasn’t here at sunrise, hammering on your door, and demanding answers,” Nadine said. “This is ridiculous, Heath.”
“I would have turned you away, but that would have been better than this. And it’s not ridiculous,” Heath countered.
Roger and Brady were looking at the big utility vehicle parked next to his car in the drive with a Mars College sticker on the windshield curiously.
“So a coworker stopped by,” Nadine said impatiently. “Tell him you have an engagement, so you can tell me what you’ve been hiding.”
They hadn’t discussed exactly how to go about this, but Heath decided that it might be best to give Nadine something before she entered the house. She hadn’t said as much, but Heath knew that most of her nagging came from a place of love and protectiveness.
Nadine worried that he might have gotten himself into a difficult situation. She was ready to charge to his rescue with Roger and Brady by her side.
“My mate is here, and is nervous at the prospect of this conversation,” Heath admitted. “You showing up early put her in a tizzy. She has enough stress to deal with, and doesn’t need more.”
Family or not, Heath wouldn’t tolerate Nadine upsetting Clarke unnecessarily. Hopefully, she wouldn’t mind him admitting that he was now bonded without her present. That seemed a better option than letting Nadine storm the house in his defense.
“What?” Nadine asked with wide eyes. “Did you say mate? This is the best news!”
His sister squealed in excitement, and rushed to tackle Heath, or maybe hug him. It seemed to be both at the same time. Roger and Brady watched her with fond smiles.
“If your mate is here, whose truck is that?” Roger asked.
“Her first mate is Jace, the monitor for the shifter dorm,” Heath answered. “The truck is his.”
“Oh, Jace is a good guy,” Brady commented. “Is it just the two of you, then?”
“She has at least one more mate whom she hasn’t met yet,” Heath replied. “Jace and I are getting along well, so I’m not worried on that end.”
“Wolverine shifters are extremely loyal and devoted,” Nadine said. “I agree that Jace will be a good bond brother. I’m so happy for you, Heath. Can we go inside now? The suspense is killing me.”
“Ok, but I should warn you that this will be a shock,” Heath said. “Try to be patient, and listen before reacting.”
“Fine, now open the damn door, and let me meet her already,” Nadine insisted.