Chapter 21 #2
If Julianna was still alive, their lives would have been vastly different. But how could he wish his mother dead?
Bel shook his head, trying to break free of the thoughts zipping around his brain. These questions had no satisfactory answers, and there was no point in wondering. Life had turned out this way, and they moved forward.
“Don’t, Ethan. You have nothing to regret. You’re not a killer. You didn’t hurt this family. You’ve brought my brother more joy in a few short months than he’s felt in his entire life. You’ve brought us all joy.”
“But Aiden…”
That stopped Bel short. He straightened in his chair and grabbed Ethan’s arm. “Has he done or said anything to make you think he harbors some kind of ill will?”
“Oh, no!” Ethan said immediately.
“Then you have nothing to worry about. Aiden lost Julianna years ago, decades before you were even born. Aiden loves you as much as the rest of us. You’re one of his sons now.”
“Oh, screw you, Bel,” Ethan said in a huff as he wiped both eyes with the heels of his palms. “That was not the point of this conversation. The point is that you will regret this. I know you’re hurting and scared now, but resurrecting this formula will do more damage than good.
It puts you in danger. It puts your family in danger. ”
“I have to do something. Re-creating the goo formula will give us an edge.”
“Would your wolves want this?”
“Want what?” River asked as he walked into the office followed by Wyatt.
Bel cringed. He didn’t need to ask. He knew the answer to that question. It was the reason he’d been trying to dig up some remnants of the formula while everyone was asleep.
He looked at his wolves. They both appeared to be freshly showered and awake.
Their clothes fit perfectly, showing off broad shoulders and strong arms. He wanted to go to them and snuggle in their arms, but it had to be put on hold because their faces were also full of questions. They would not be put off.
“Bel is trying to recreate a secret formula he has been banned from making or using. The Ministry has declared his life forfeit if he creates it again.”
“Bel!” River exclaimed. “What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that the Ministry barely exists anymore, and that it’s worth the risk.”
“What does the formula do?” Wyatt asked softly.
“It reacts to a creature’s blood. It works against a vampire’s blood, but I think it could be modified to work against werewolves.”
“It’s a weapon,” Wyatt said dully.
“It’s a weapon that turns a person into a bubbling pile of goo in a matter of seconds,” Ethan clarified. “It’s rather cool in a terrifying kind of way.”
“Holy shit! I know you’re called a mad scientist by your family; I just never thought they were serious,” River said. He backpedaled a couple of steps from the desk, his hands shoved in his hair.
“I’m not a mad scientist,” Bel grumbled. “I didn’t set out to create the formula. I discovered it by accident. I was trying to cure vampirism…and found that.” He finished with a somewhat lame wave of his hand.
“But it’s not an accident if you try to recreate it now. You’ll actually be creating a weapon.” Wyatt’s low voice was more cutting than if he were shouting at him.
Bel planted both palms flat on the desk and pushed to his feet. “A weapon to protect you and River. To protect my family! River was almost killed today! I refuse to allow anyone to hurt either of you again!”
“And we’re not going to allow fear to turn you into a monster,” Wyatt countered. He shook his head, the sadness in his lover’s expression crushing Bel’s heart. “This isn’t you, Bel. Our Bel uses his beautiful brain to save people, not hurt them.”
Bel took a small step backward, flinching at Wyatt’s words. A monster? Did Wyatt really see him as a monster?
Wyatt closed the distance between them in a few quick steps and pulled Bel to his chest, wrapping his arms around him so tight Bel could barely breathe.
“Baby, don’t look at me like that,” he whispered, his lips on Bel’s temple.
“I love you. I will always love you. I just don’t want you to go down this dark path.
River is safe. I am safe. Your family is safe. We will find a way through this.”
“How?” The single word came out broken and rough.
River squeezed in between them, hugging both Wyatt and Bel. “I don’t know, but we will figure it out together. Without you selling your soul and forfeiting your life. Remember, there are no martyrs in family.”
“No martyrs in family,” Bel repeated. He didn’t agree with their reasoning, but he let go of the idea of trying to recreate his formula. For his family. He wouldn’t do anything to hurt the Variks or his wolves.
“Have faith in the Variks,” Ethan said, and Bel’s heart healed a little to hear the pride in the man’s voice. “We’ve got this.”
Footsteps echoed on the floor outside the office and came to a sharp stop very close by. “Should I even ask what the hell is going on in here?” Marcus grumbled.
Ethan laughed. “Just a little family bonding.”
“Uh-huh.”
Bel was smiling when he stepped out of Wyatt and River’s embrace. He was still terrified for the safety of his family, but he had to believe they’d find another way. When he turned to Ethan, it was to see the young man snatch up the paper he’d been making notes on and rip it into tiny shreds.
With a chuckle, he grabbed Ethan and pulled him into a quick hug. “Thank you for saving me.”
“Anything for family,” Ethan murmured.
Marcus sighed loudly. “Someone will need to explain this to me later, but for now, Winter is here, and he’s brought food, if anyone is interested.”
Bel followed Ethan, Marcus, and River out of the office and down the hall to the library.
Wyatt slid his arm around Bel’s shoulders, pulling him in close as they trailed behind the rest of them.
He was grateful they’d stopped him. The temptation was still there in the back of his mind, but it was the wrong choice.
There were other options, smarter options.
Before they even reached the library, hints of barbecue drifted through the air, and Wyatt’s stomach growled. His poor wolves.
They were the last to arrive: Philippe and Rafe were cozied up on one of the love seats.
Winter had cleared the coffee table and was unloading a few large bags with containers of pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and endless sides.
Aiden was standing close by with a glass of blood in one hand, watching Winter work.
Winter looked up as the latecomers entered the room and smirked. “I wasn’t sure who would be eating or how much to get.”
Ethan still ate food regularly, and it appeared that Marcus was getting into the habit, partially as a way to spend time with his mate.
Bel didn’t eat much, but he didn’t mind picking at food if it meant he got to be close to Wyatt and River.
Clearly, Rafe wasn’t much into food, considering the look of disgust curling one lip.
Philippe just appeared bemused and curious.
“Oh, my God! Winter, you are fast becoming my second favorite vampire!” River declared. He closed the distance between himself and Winter, wrapping the man in a tight hug. Winter’s head popped up, and he sent Bel a slightly panicked and confused look over the wolf’s shoulder.
Bel laughed, leaning against Wyatt. “Wolves are very affectionate. You’ll get used to it.”
“Yes, we heard this afternoon exactly how affectionate you all were,” Rafe drawled.
“Really?” Philippe said, arching a golden brow at his lover. “I’m surprised you could hear them over your own beg—”
Rafe slapped a hand over Philippe’s mouth, but the laughter in his eyes was still crystal clear. “I didn’t say that I heard a great deal.”
“I gave you my blood, and Winter is your second favorite?” Aiden teased.
River grinned at Bel’s father. “Yeah, and that was awesome, but…we’re talking about barbecued ribs and collard greens. Sorry. No competition.”
Aiden laughed, shaking his head, but he still grabbed a plate with River and started adding small amounts of food.
He hadn’t seen Aiden eat food since Bel had been a child and Aiden was going through the motions of trying to appear human.
When he caught Bel watching him, he shrugged.
“If I’m going to come in third because of food, I should at least find out what I’m losing to. ”
Plates were filled, and Bel found himself seated on the floor between River and Wyatt, who were determined to feed him little bites off their plates.
Aiden stood for a moment, plate in hand, as he looked over the gathering. His eyes finally settled on River and Bel, a hint of a smile on his lips. “You both look considerably better than when you arrived earlier today.”
“We are,” Bel said, smiling broadly up at him. “Much better. Thank you for saving our lives.”
Aiden bowed his head. “It was my honor.” He turned and dropped into a seat that was not his usual throne-looking chair. “How about you fill us in on what caused such injuries?”
Bel launched into a detailed description of their struggles with Albert’s pack, the discovery of the murdered man, and the information Wyatt’s sister had brought to them about how Albert came to be alpha of the pack in the first place.
For some, it was a repeat of old information, but Bel didn’t know who was aware of what any longer.
“Your sister and brother-in-law are fine and safe,” Winter chimed in. “It’s why I couldn’t come here earlier. I had just gotten them both settled in my safe house at sunrise. I wanted to stay with them for a few days to make sure they were safe, and the house wasn’t being watched.”