Chapter 8
“Go on,” he railed. “Explain it to me. It's fine you guys moved me because I said I'd move, even though you guys couldn't give me time to pack it up myself or wrap my head around the fact I was moving.
Or let me see the apartment first. Or get to tell my roommates myself that I was leaving.
Oh no, I call Desmond to ask him and less than hour after I find out that I've moved already, he's calling me because he's being moved without having even agreed yet.”
“Dad said the Council decided. He'd let them know I'd found my True Mate and what everything that has gone on, and they placed Desmond under our protection by order of the Council.
He's a lone shifter and the best friend and co-worker of our pack's next alpha's True Mate, so vulnerable. His vulnerability makes you vulnerable, which makes me vulnerable, which makes the pack-”
“Vulnerable,” Jared finished, sarcastically. “I get it, okay? But someone could have least told me first so I could break it to him and my roomies first. Talk about being high handed.”
Steve grimaced. “The Council are like that.”
“Is it a shifter one only, or what?”
“No, it's over all us paranormals. There's uh, more than shifters...”
“Yeah, I know, Desmond mentioned that,” Jared interrupted. “So, they like what, are the paranormal government or something?”
“Something like that. They uh, keep order and make sure we all follow the charters and stuff. They also help keep us safe from human meddling so Dad had to inform them of things,” Steve looked apologetic as he explained.
Jared's shoulder's slumped. “Okay, I get that. I'm... I'm not the first human mate, right?”
Steve shook his head. “No, but you’re the first human True Mate of an Alpha in over a hundred years, and the first male one of those for over three hundred.”
“But there are several regular human mates?” Jared couldn't believe he was actually asking such a thing. Just days before he'd have called for men with butterfly nets if he'd overheard such a conversation.
“Yes. And um, they paid your share of the bills for the rest of the year, so your roommates didn't get shafted.”
Jared deflated hearing that. “Is there a manual or a welcome pack or something I can read? One that explains all this shit?”
Steve brightened. “I think I can get one put together, but it'd have to remain here, in the building.”
“You do that. This shit is confusing enough as it is, I don't need to be finding out bits and pieces of it piecemeal.”
“You're right,” Steve agreed. “I'll speak to my Mom right away.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, walking into the next room as he made the call. “Hello, Mom?”
Jared stood in astonishment, surprised at the speed his boyfriend did something once his mind was made up. Just like his father.
“Damned alphas,” he muttered.
Steve turned around, standing in the open doorway, and quirked an eyebrow at him.
Shit, he heard that all the way over there.
Jared smiled sweetly back at Steve, who shook his head in mild exasperation.
“I love you,” he whispered, wondering just how acute a werewolf's hearing was.
Judging by how quickly Steve spun back around to stare at him, mouthing “I love you, too” back at him, it was very acute. Heh. That's all right then.
Steve disconnected the call and strode back over. “She thought that was a great idea. Said she'd have one put together right away, have it to you in a few days. Reckons it'll help you and other human mates and unsocialized paranormal mates learn the ropes.
“Unsocialized?”
“Yeah, ones not raised with other paras. There's been cases, including ones where a kid ended up in foster care. This one kid, a few years back, was even adopted as a toddler by some humans. He had no idea he was half Fae until puberty hit and stuff began to happen.”
“Stuff? Like what?” Jared wondered.
“He began to come into his powers. Fae are earth elementals. His was water. Kinda hard to explain when you're stood in a school hallway and arguing with someone and suddenly sea water drenches the guy you're arguing with, just outta nowhere.”
Jared goggled. “Oh, man!” He began to giggle. “But I bet it was awesome!”
Steve grinned. “Oh yeah, probably was once he understood what was happening.”
“What happened to him?”
“Luckily one of the teachers was a cat shifter and quickly figured out what was happening. She called the Council right away and they intervened.”
“What did his family say?”
Steve shrugged. “They must've been okay about it, as they went with him to the Sidhe Court so he could learn what it meant to be Fae.”
Jared gasped. “He went to Faerie?”
“Well, yeah,” Steve said. “Safer that way.
They were pretty put out that they'd not known about him. All Fae children are supposed to be educated in the realm. Saves humans from accidentally being exposed to uncontrolled magic as full Fae can sometimes wield their powers before puberty. Halflings only later, and usually much more limited in scope.”
Jared stared hard at him, trying to discern if he was being played. He decided he wasn't. He clapped his hands together softly. “I do believe in faeries,” he whispered.
Steve looked at him oddly. “Um, okay then.” His wolf gave an inner head tilt, puzzled as well.
Jared flushed. “Hello? Peter Pan? Tinkerbell?”
“You say that to a Fae, you'll find more happening to you than water getting dumped on your head.”
“Good to know.”
“Need any help unpacking?”
“No, they did that too. I'll just rearrange stuff to where I want it after Desmond gets his stuff in there.”
“They'll probably be in and out of yours until late. How about a DVD?”
Jared sighed. “Yeah, okay.”
Steve smiled. Not the most ideal of circumstances, but a cuddle on the sofa while watching some vintage TV while eating popcorn and drinking beer sounds great. His wolf whined. I hear ya, buddy. We're one step closer. Patience.
“I'll pop us some corn in the microwave and grab us some beers,” he said, getting up off the sofa to go do so.
“Sounds good.” Jared followed him into the kitchen, reaching into a cupboard to pull out some bowls. “Got any other snacks?”
“Pretzels, I think. In that cabinet there,” Steve pointed to the one he meant.
“Cool. Hey, next time, we should make some party mix.”
“Sure, why not?” If party mix makes him happy, then party mix he shall have.
The microwave dinged and Steve waited a moment before removing the bag. He opened it, allowing the steam to escape, then poured the contents of the bag into one of the large bowls that Jared had set out. The other was already full of pretzels.
“Now for the beer,” Steve said.
“I'll grab the bowls,” Jared said, placing them on a tray he found propped up behind some canisters.
They sat down. “Oh, coasters!” Jared cried out, dismayed at the thought of putting rings on the coffee table.
So cute! Steve thought as he watched his mate fuss over their eating arrangements.
He sat the beers on the coasters Jared placed down, then went over to his shelf full of DVDs.
He's stressed, so something light and romantic.
And cheesy. He likes cheesy as much as I do.
Steve made his choice, pulling a box set out and sliding out a sleeve.
He removed the first disc and placed it in the DVD player, placing the sleeve back in the box, which he sat on the shelf next to the player.
He sat down next to Jared as the theme for The Love Boat began to play.
“Oh my God! Yes!” Jared giggled. He grabbed a handful of popcorn and settled back onto the sofa.
Steve stretched his arm out behind him, taking a swig from his beer.
Life is good, Steve thought. I should take him on a cruise for our honeymoon.
Visit the Caribbean on a Princess Cruise, so it'll kinda be like the show.That'd be romantic, right?
Three beers later found Jared leaning against Steve, who nuzzled him behind his ear.
Jared shivered, letting out a murmur of pleasure.
Steve tugged Jared closer, turning them both so that Jared now reclined against him as they stretched out on the couch.
After his fourth beer, Jared reluctantly stood up, making a desperate dash to the bathroom.
“Sorry, gotta pee!” he gasped out. He returned, looking disconsolate when he found Steve standing up, making his way into the kitchen.
“Thought I'd clear the empties away,” he explained. “Then let me pay a visit in there as well, and after that we can settle back down and watch another episode if you want.”
Jared opened his mouth to agree, feeling surprised when he yawned instead. “Excuse me!” he said, chastened.
Steve laughed. “Been a long day. How abouts you shower and I'll loan you something to wear. You can crash here.”
Jared looked undecided for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”
Jared came out of the shower feeling tired but refreshed.
He went into the kitchen, getting a glass of water.
As he drank it, he watched Steve go in for his own shower.
Jared held the cool glass against his neck, thinking of Steve's powerful body naked under the spray, of his hands spreading the body wash across his skin, skimming those muscles.
He swallowed, and feeling warm, hurriedly finished off the cold water in his glass.
He placed it in the sink, and went to sit on the couch.
He sat there quietly, going over the events of the day in his mind.
He was interrupted minutes later when Steve came out of the shower.
“I'll take the couch,” Jared said.
Steve frowned. “Take the bed, please. I'd feel much better about it.”
“No, really, the couch is fine.”
Steve's jaw clenched. “Just please take the bed.”
Jared sighed. “This is ridiculous, isn't it? Two grown assed men arguing who is going to sleep where. How about we both share the bed? I mean, no sex or anything, just, we can both just sleep, right?”