Chapter 5
Five
Bel rubbed his eyes. His vision was growing bleary, making it hard to read his own handwriting in the notebook.
It was silly to write so many of his notes by hand.
He’d only have to transfer everything to the computer, but over the years, he’d found that his thoughts came out so much clearer when he wrote them out longhand first.
And there were so many things he had to think about when it came to Wyatt and River.
Werewolves!
Honest to God, real werewolves.
Not only did they exist, but they were asleep in his house.
They’d done a whole lot more in his house, judging by the cries coming from the bathroom. Of course, he hadn’t tried to invade their privacy. He’d knocked on the door, but there had been no answer, so he ducked inside to place the clean T-shirts and sweat pants on the bed.
But as he turned to leave, River’s voice had lifted up above the sounds of falling water, cresting in a delicious shout of pure pleasure.
Cheeks blazing, Bel had hurried out of the room and down to his lab. He certainly didn’t begrudge them a stolen moment of happiness. They’d suffered enough at the hands of this Brett and the MacPherson clan. They’d suffered enough from their own kind.
His fist tightened around the pen and shook. He drew in a deep breath and forced his fingers to relax. He didn’t believe in judging other races and peoples when it came to their culture and beliefs, but what they’d done to Wyatt and River was…was…well, it was simply insane.
From what he’d seen during their short time together, they were intelligent, kind, funny, and loyal men. They’d fought with and followed Brett because they’d struck a bargain with him.
Now Brett was dead, and they had a chance at freedom again, but freedom also meant their lives were in danger.
Bel sighed and dropped his hand from his face. Could he in good conscience agree to be their new “master”? Especially when turning them away meant putting them back in danger.
He wasn’t anyone’s master. What the devil was he supposed to do with them?
He had important research to complete. His family needed him.
What were they going to do with themselves while they were stuck with him?
He didn’t want Wyatt and River trapped when they undoubtedly had their own hopes and dreams.
A low chiming rose from his phone, growing in volume until he finally picked it up and turned it off.
His daily reminder. Sunrise was one hour away.
The shades over the windows would be sliding into place within the next thirty minutes.
The metal shades and special locks would be engaging ten minutes after that unless he hit the system override.
If the wolves were going to leave, he needed to get them out of the house now. It was a pain in the ass to override the system and then reset everything.
Shoving the phone into his pocket, Bel walked over to the wall of windows just behind one of his worktables. The snow had stopped falling a few hours ago, but everything had a nice, heavy coat. A bitter cold had settled over the area, dipping down into single digits.
While he felt horrible, he wasn’t sure he could sleep with them in the house. Would he feel safe?
He didn’t realize he was walking until he was halfway up the stairs to the second floor.
As silently as possible, he crossed to the guest room he’d always left for Rafe.
His twin didn’t stay over during the day too often.
In fact, it had been a couple of years now since he’d last passed the daylight hours at Bel’s, but he always kept a room ready for him.
At the door, he could hear soft snoring from one or maybe both of the men.
Quietly, he opened the door and stepped inside the dark room.
His eyes instantly adjusted to the lack of light, and he could make out two bodies curled up together under the blankets.
It looked as if River was lying on his side with Wyatt wrapped around him.
The clothes he’d brought into the room were still neatly folded and had been moved to the dresser.
The blankets were tousled about them so that he could make out a hint of bare skin, but for the most part, there was only a sense of warmth and closeness. They looked safe. Content.
Bel had never given much thought to mates and love.
His work had always occupied his brain. But now that he watched Marcus so happy with Ethan, even Rafe falling for his Philippe, Bel found himself wondering what it would be like to have a pair of strong arms waiting to wrap around him at the end of each night.
To have someone to talk to about his failures and triumphs. Someone who needed him.
But finding that someone? Well, he hadn’t a clue as to how he should go about such a thing.
And as he told Wyatt and River, now was definitely not a good time.
Frowning, Bel watched Wyatt and River sleeping, knowing there was no way he could ask them to leave at sunrise, even if he didn’t feel safe falling asleep with them in his house. He could always catch up on his sleep later, or maybe even lock himself in his lab. They needed their rest.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and started to turn away when Wyatt shifted to lean up on his elbow. Dark-brown eyes reflected some little snatch of light. Damn it! He’d woken Wyatt.
Bel pressed a finger to his lips, gesturing for silence before he shook his head. He wasn’t sure if Wyatt understood, but he hurried from the room all the same, trying not to make more noise. Hopefully, he would return to sleep.
But Bel wasn’t that lucky.
He’d just reached the stairs when Wyatt stepped into the hall, buttoning his jeans.
He hadn’t pulled on a shirt, and his feet were still bare.
Dark hair was beautifully sleep-tousled about his head.
Something whispered in Bel’s brain that he would be snuggly warm and smelling of sleep, soap, and River.
Stupid, relentless heat burned his cheeks. He was sure he’d never blushed so much in his entire long existence, but something about Wyatt and River brought it out constantly.
“Bel?” Wyatt said softly.
“No. Everything is okay. Go back to sleep,” Bel replied in a voice barely over a whisper.
He couldn’t risk waking River as well. Without looking at Wyatt, he hurried down the stairs and darted toward the kitchen.
But once he stood in the spotless room, he couldn’t figure out why he’d chosen it as a hiding place.
His lab would have been much smarter. Or maybe the library.
Yes, he could lose himself in a book for a few hours while the sun rose and the wolves slept. That would be a useful way to occupy his time.
Bel turned to leave the kitchen again, but Wyatt was standing in the open doorway, watching him.
“What’s wrong?” Wyatt asked. Unlike River, there wasn’t the same wariness in his expression. Maybe just concern.
“Nothing. Everything is fine. I wanted to check on you and River. Make sure you were comfortable,” Bel quickly said and inwardly winced. Did that sound creepy? It probably sounded creepy and stalker-y. He hadn’t meant it like that.
Wyatt frowned and Bel dropped his eyes, turning toward the center island. He traced his fingers along the marble, waiting for Wyatt to bark at him to stay away from him and River.
“Bel,” Wyatt started again, his voice incredibly gentle despite its deepness. “Are you hungry? Do you need to feed?”
Bel’s head snapped up, and his mouth fell open in a kind of soundless horror. When he could pull his thoughts away from a disturbing mix of revulsion and longing, he said, “God, no! I wouldn’t—couldn’t…you’re my guest. I would never.”
Wyatt said nothing for several seconds, only stared at him with dark eyes that seemed to see too much. Bel quickly looked down at the counter. It was the safest place when Wyatt blocked his only exit.
The werewolf stepped closer, and it was a struggle to not retreat a step for each of his.
“You could, though.” Wyatt’s voice had become a rough whisper. Thick with sleep and something Bel couldn’t put a name to. “If we became your wolves, you could feed from us any time you wished. You wouldn’t hurt us.”
“No. Absolutely not. Especially if you were…mine.” His words had started strong but faded at the end.
“Why?”
Bel sighed and shook his head. “I take too much now that is not freely offered. I try to help those I don’t give a choice.
Usually with a bit of money in exchange for their blood.
My brother Marcus prefers to hunt criminals to assuage his conscience.
Rafe pays in sex and pleasure. Of course, with Philippe in his life, I’m sure he’s found another viable exchange.
And Winter…” He sighed again. “I don’t even know what Winter does anymore.
I don’t want to take from you because you feel it is owed to me. ”
Wyatt closed the distance between them until Bel could feel the heat falling off him in thick waves.
The werewolf stood several inches taller than him, placing his throat right at the level of Bel’s lips.
He hadn’t felt a single pang of hunger before, but it was as if Wyatt had placed that insidious longing in his head.
“What if I begged you?” Wyatt whispered. “Would you prefer that?” His mouth was so close to Bel’s ear, he could feel the brush disturbing some strands of hair.
Bel closed his eyes and shuddered. He’d been right about Wyatt’s smell.
Hints of sleep, soap, and River wafted from him, but it was all laced with the deep, haunting scent of Wyatt.
Bel wanted to press his face against his throat and just wrap himself in all that.
The longing pulsing through him was so sharp, his body was trembling. His fangs ached.