18. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
B ennett’s mom dominated the conversation, talking about the latest gossip—something about the Mayor of Saint Lakes having sex with the town’s accountant.
Bennett could care less about any of it.
He’d never tell his mother that, though, or she’d make him clean the damn basement or move furniture as punishment if he did.
He hated cleaning. It was bad enough he was doing the dishes.
Mom wasn’t talking to him anyway. She was sitting at the table with Lucas and Forrest, telling her story. He rolled his eyes. Ladon gave him a small smile and handed him a plate he had just washed. There was something in his eyes that told Bennett his little brother was having problems.
“What’s wrong, Ladon?”
Ladon shrugged. “Nothin’.”
Bennett narrowed his eyes. He didn’t tolerate that game people played where they have an issue with him, but never said anything. Then when he asked them, they said exactly what Ladon had .
“Tell me. Now.” The slight force in Bennett’s voice had his mother quietening. Her eyes narrowed as she took in both of them with a slow intuition that could only come from a mom.
Crap, here it comes .
“Okay, what’s going on with you two?”
Bennett held up his hand. “I’m handling it.”
“Benny,” Lucas said in warning.
Ladon raised his eyebrows. “Benny? I thought no one was allowed to call you that.”
“Just tell me,” Bennett said through clenched teeth.
“Nothing. God, get off my back,” Ladon yelled.
Bennett growled and set the towel down. “Are you challenging me, boy?”
Ladon lowered his eyes, tilting his head to the side, exposing his neck.
Lucas stood and walked over to them. He crooked his finger for Bennett to bend down.
Bennett huffed out a breath in annoyance, but he did what Lucas wanted.
I think I know what the problem is and if I’m right.
You, barking orders, is making it worse.
Lucas said through their link and then kissed his cheek.
“Fine,” Bennett said when his mate pulled away.
Lucas held out his hand to Ladon. “I think I can help. If you let me.”
“You, coming here and being his mate, are what started the problem in the first place.” Ladon looked at Lucas as if he were gum underneath his shoe.
Bennett roared and his eyes changed. He took a step closer to Ladon, intending to get him away from Lucas by any means necessary.
Lucas put a hand on his chest. He’s just upset because you’re not spending enough time with him.
Lucas said to him in his mind. Out loud he said, “Knock it off, both of you.” Lucas held out his hands for each of them.
Bennett didn’t even hesitate, putting his hand in Lucas’ with an annoyed huff.
Ladon took Lucas’ hand and Bennett felt Lucas take himself out of the equation, giving Bennett a clear view of what Ladon was thinking.
Turned out Lucas was absolutely right. Ladon was feeling neglected by Bennett.
And apparently there was someone in the clan bullying Ladon, which seemed impossible given Ladon’s size, but there it was.
Bennett growled when he finally figured out who it was giving Ladon a hard time.
Delvin, that fucker. This wouldn’t have been so bad, but Delvin was a full-grown man.
He was also stronger than Ladon and would be until he came into his dragon.
The biggest problem was the man was using all of Ladon’s abandonment issues against him.
Bennett’s recent neglect certainly didn’t help things.
Bennett projected something to his little brother through the connection Lucas had created, asking if Ladon wanted to go fishing. Ladon smiled and nodded.
Lucas released them and cut the connection off.
“That’s so cool, Lucas. Thanks for making me do that and for keeping Bennett from kicking my as…butt,” Ladon corrected himself after meeting his mother’s gaze. She shook her finger but otherwise didn’t say anything.
He went in for a hug, but then stopped himself. “Is hugging you okay? It won’t give you overload or whatever?”
Lucas smiled and hugged Ladon quickly. “Naw, I can shut it off and turn it on whenever I want. At least now I can. Took a few days to figure it out.”
Lucas pulled away and took a step closer to Bennett.
“Sorry I got bitchy with you,” Ladon whispered.
“It’s fine, Ladon. ”
“A few days, Lucas?” Mom motioned for Lucas to come to her.
He held out his hand when he drew closer. She took it and read him quickly. Her eyes grew big the longer she held Lucas’ hand.
“You’re right. You did figure things out that quickly, didn’t you?
Mating with Bennett has certainly helped.
” Mom let go of his hand and turned to Bennett.
The smile she had for Lucas fell. “I need to see you and Ramsey in the study please. Ladon, go get Gabriel and tell him to stay with Lucas until Bennett comes back. Also, let Ramsey know we need him.”
Ladon nodded once and headed out of the room.
“Wait,” Lucas said to Ladon. His little brother stopped halfway out of the kitchen and Lucas turned to him. “I’m going to this little meeting too.”
Bennett shook his head, reaching for Lucas, pulling him closer. “I’ll be right back, baby.”
“You’re talking about me so I should go.”
“It’s just going to be about how we can keep you safe.”
“I can keep myself safe. And you too, if it comes to that. I did just fine with the vampire last night.”
“Baby, you passed out afterward.”
“That’s just because I gave too much energy. I freaked out when he cut you,” Lucas said.
Mom stood and came over to Bennett. “You were injured?”
Lucas waved her away. “I fixed it right after. He hardly lost any blood,” Lucas said absently.
“You’re making a bigger deal out of the meeting than is necessary,” Bennett said, trying to placate Lucas as best as he could.
When Lucas narrowed his eyes, Bennett knew he was in trouble.
He pulled out of Bennett’s hold, huffing with annoyance. “Fine, Bennett. Have your little meeting about me. Whatever. ”
Lucas stormed out of the kitchen. Bennett tried to call him back, but Lucas held up a hand. Ladon followed him out.
Bennett sighed. “Thanks a lot, Mother.” Bennett was probably going to pay for excluding Lucas from the meeting, and not in the fun way.
“He doesn’t understand clan dynamics,” Mom said.
“He’s going to stay mad forever, probably. Couldn’t you have been just a little bit subtle about the meeting?”
“He’s in love with you, Bennett. It’ll be fine.”
Bennett smiled at the thought. He was in love with his sassy little mate too. Maybe telling him that would help get him over his anger and they could have make up sex. “He’s right about one thing. He’s really strong and can protect me if he needs to.”
“That’s not in question,” his mother said. They both knew it wasn’t. Lucas had helped him fight the vampire. They both knew he would do it again if necessary.
His mother and Bennett walked into the study. Ramsey was already there.
Bennett sat on the couch, listening to his mother talk. She was talking mostly to Ramsey, as Bennett already knew all the things she was saying about Lucas.
“Lucas has way more control over his abilities. He’s very powerful, even though he doesn’t seem to know all that he can do just yet. Completing the mating has awakened his magic.”
“So what’s the problem, Mother,” Ramsey said, a bit impatiently.
“I’m afraid he won’t protect himself when it’s needed.” And there it was. The thing that Bennett feared the most. “And I’m not just talking about him helping the clan members to the point of exhaustion. What I’m saying is he won’t take out someone who is openly threatening his life. ”
Bennett sat up in his chair, frowning at his mother. “Why?”
“I can’t say for sure. But I think it’s a fight or flight response. He’ll run because that’s what has worked so far.”
Bennett stood. Panic rose in his chest at the thought of Lucas leaving.
“We need enforcers for the clan. I got a feeling Delvin will give us trouble when he learns about Lucas,” Ramsey said. Yeah, Bennett had that same feeling. Delvin was a very smart shifter. He would figure out really quickly that Lucas was special and try to capitalize on that fact somehow.
“If that fucker touches him, he’ll die, Ramsey.”
“Sit down, Bennett,” Mom said.
Bennett growled, immediately regretting it. “Sorry, Mom. I’m on edge. Just the thought of Lucas leaving makes me crazy.”
“By the gods, Bennett. No one said he was going anywhere,” Mom said.
“Sit down, Bennett,” Ramsey said calmly. Despite the quiet, even tone, Bennett knew it was an order from his Alpha. Needless to say, he sat down. “Talk to him. He might listen to you.”
Bennett nodded. “In the meantime, if he’s away from me then he’s with the family. At least two of you at all times.”
“Yes, I think that’s wise. We’ll also start round the clock patrols.
One around the perimeter of Saint Lakes and one through the town.
” Ramsey drew his eyebrows together and he did that thing he always did when he was stressed.
He grabbed an ink pen from the cup on the office’s desk and began clicking it incessantly.
“Should have started one as soon as he arrived. Hindsight and all that.”
“Also, Delvin is harassing Ladon. I saw it when Lucas linked us. We need to do something about him once and for all.” Bennett wouldn’t let Ramsey dismiss Delvin’s behavior any longer. Delvin received too many chances already.
Ramsey sighed. “Call him out at the meeting.”