Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
Bel pressed the fingers of his right hand lightly into the strings and adjusted his grip on the bow.
Months had passed since he’d last held a cello in this way.
He’d lost his interest in music when Julianna died, and the first sparks had been rekindled when River had shown interest in learning an instrument.
Julianna was still gone, and River was no longer in his life.
He’d wandered around Marcus’s house, little more than a ghost, showing no interest in his old experiments.
He’d met with a contractor to bulldoze away his house, but he’d not approved the plans for his new house.
Part of him had hoped that he’d be changing the designs with River and Wyatt. That wasn’t going to happen now.
So, he found himself applying the bow to the strings, drawing out a long, forlorn note. The cello was comfortable. Familiar. It was as much a part of him as his science experiments. He’d forgotten that. Lumped all his music playing with the painful memories of his mother.
He’d been wrong. The music was soothing in a way he couldn’t explain. He didn’t feel any happier, and it didn’t give him any drive, but some of the weight lifted off his chest.
The music kept coming, tripping from his fingers until he fell into a familiar song.
He didn’t know how long he played until he noticed that the cello wasn’t the only sound he heard.
Lifting his head, Bel saw Rafe standing a few feet away, his violin tucked under his chin as he played along to the melody.
As the song ended, Bel lifted his bow and heaved a heavy sigh. “I’m rusty, but that wasn’t too bad.”
Rafe lowered his violin and groaned loudly. “That was a godawful depressing song.”
Bel gave his twin a little smirk. “That would be because I’m depressed, Rafe. I miss them.”
“I know, Bel. I wish I could take this pain away.”
“I just don’t understand. Logically, it all makes sense for them to remain with the werewolf pack.
It’s the smart decision. Right now, we live every night knowing that Damon or some of his followers could attack us.
Wyatt and River are safer with the pack and away from the Variks.
But…why do I hurt so much? Why do I still want them here with me? Is it just selfishness?”
Rafe placed his violin back in the open case on Marcus’s piano and walked over to his twin.
He plucked the cello bow out of his hand and set it down before taking both of Bel’s hands in his.
“My sweet Bel,” he whispered. “Love is felt with the heart, not the head. It doesn’t give a damn about logic.
And you are the most unselfish person I know.
You want your wolves to be happy, but your heart misses them. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Moving his cello aside, Bel tugged his brother closer for a hug, closing his eyes as he rested his cheek on Rafe’s shoulder.
All of his brothers had been hovering over the past couple of weeks, but Rafe was sticking the closest by far.
He appreciated their concern. Even Ethan had offered up his blood for study, willing to suffering through another needle prick if it perked up Bel’s spirits.
Bel straightened, fingers tightening around the neck of the cello. “Thank you. I just want them happy.”
“But how could you ever think we’d be happy without you?”
Bel’s head snapped to the open doorway at the wonderful sound of Wyatt’s deep voice.
River and Wyatt were standing there like the most beautiful dream.
They were dressed in jeans and T-shirts, but their faces looked tired and even a little thinner, as if the past two weeks had drained them.
For a moment, Bel was afraid to move, afraid to breathe.
He didn’t want to risk waking and finding himself alone in his bed.
Shoving the cello at his brother, Bel pushed to his feet but didn’t move beyond that. “Wh-what are you doing here? Is there a problem with the pack?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” River said with a shake of his head. The younger man looked tired, dark circles under his eyes, but there was a smile on his lips.
“But I don’t understand…”
“We came home to you, Bel. Just like we promised,” Wyatt replied.
“But the wolves…they’re your kind. They could be the family you wanted. The life…”
Wyatt was already shaking his head. “There is no other life that we could possibly want than the life we build with you. You’re our family. Our home.”
Bel’s brain kept chucking up new reasons as to why Wyatt’s words weren’t making logical sense, but his feet were already moving. His heart didn’t care about logic or what was smart. It just wanted his wolves.
Strong arms closed around him and Bel snuggled into both men. The scent of pine and earth drifted around him along with hints of Wyatt and River. He couldn’t imagine missing a scent as much as he missed theirs.
“We always planned to come back to you. Why didn’t you believe me when I said it was only temporary?” Wyatt asked.
Bel lifted his head to answer, but his lips were immediately captured by River. He tasted like heaven. The younger man’s tongue plunged into his mouth, claiming him and owning him completely. And Bel loved it. He belonged to River.
When River broke off the kiss, Bel drunkenly turned his head up toward Wyatt. There was a low chuckle before Wyatt brushed his lips against Bel’s. “You’ve not gotten out of answering my questions, vampire,” Wyatt warned, but he still kissed Bel deeply.
Where he’d tasted River’s joy, from Wyatt he tasted worry and relief in equal measure.
There was joy in that kiss, but so much longing as well.
Bel had been missed. The touch of them finally had him releasing his hold on his powers, and the familiar rush of their emotions plowed through him.
Pain, joy, and love. All so overwhelming he could barely catch his breath.
“Love you both so much,” Bel said as Wyatt lifted his lips.
“Love you—”
A scream tore the air, causing them to jump. It had sounded like Ethan’s voice. They hurried out of the music room and to the railing that looked down on the foyer in time to see Ethan run into the open space, followed by a cawing and flapping Ozzie.
“Bel! That bird is crazy!” Ethan shouted.
“Bloody black chicken,” Rafe grumbled as they watched Ozzie circle the two-story open air, gaining altitude until he could finally land on Bel’s shoulder. The bird looked at Bel for only a second then turned his attention to River and started cawing angrily and flapping his wings.
“Holy shit! Why’s he pissed at me?” River demanded. He backpedaled a few feet before grabbing Rafe and holding him in front of his body as protection.
“I’m not your shield!” Rafe cried.
“Really, Ozzie! It’s not their fault. It was a misunderstanding. No, I—” Bel was cut off by more angry cries from the bird who was now attempting to turn his attention to Wyatt.
“What’s wrong with him?” Wyatt asked.
“He knows I’ve been upset, and that it was in relation to you and River,” Bel said with a sigh.
Very carefully, he closed his hands around the bird’s body and placed him on the railing that extended from the staircase.
The bird grew quiet, but his inky black feathers were still ruffled.
“I’m sorry I worried you, Ozzie. I was in a state.
It happens with humans. We’re not very logical. ”
Ozzie cawed one last time and then worked to resettle his feathers.
“Yes, I know I’m usually very logical for a human, but we all slip up once in a while.” Bel reached out and smoothed a finger over Ozzie’s sleek head a couple of times in a loving caress. He and Ozzie had been through quite a lot together, but never love like this.
When the bird was settled, Bel looked over the railing to find Ethan standing in the hall, staring up at them like they’d all lost their minds.
“Ethan, could you open the front door for Ozzie? He’s okay now.”
The fledgling vampire muttered something under his breath as he walked to the door. Just as he was opening it, Ozzie launched himself off the banister and dove down to the first floor. As he went out the door, he just narrowly missed hitting Winter as he was coming inside.
“Fucking madhouse,” Winter snarled, dodging the bird as he stepped inside.
“Yes, and Bel’s wolves are back!” Ethan said by way of greeting.
“Thank fuck for that!” Winter sighed.
“I take it we were missed.” Wyatt’s arm snaked around Bel’s waist, pulling him in tight.
River abandoned his vampire shield and pressed to Bel’s other side.
Bel soaked in their body heat, the scents, and the steady rhythm of their hearts pounding against his body.
This was his new normal. This was his definition of happiness.
“Greatly,” Rafe said before Bel could form the word.
“Why? Why did you think we weren’t coming back?” Wyatt sounded hurt, and it lanced through Bel.
“Because it didn’t make sense. Everything you gave up, everything you lost, you could have by staying with the pack.
They’re your kind. They will understand you better than I ever can.
You could build a life with them.” Bel paused and frowned at Wyatt.
“And you’d be safe. You know the war that’s coming in the vampire world.
Damon and what’s left of the Ministry won’t be happy until the Variks are dead.
That will include you and River if you stay anywhere near me. ”
“Bel, we were miserable without you,” River said. He turned his face, rubbing his cheek against Bel’s shoulder. “That was the longest two weeks of our lives.”
“But—”
“You’re everything we could want. In the past dozen years, we’ve grown accustomed to living outside of a pack. Our list of things we want and need to be happy has changed as much as we have. Right now, that list has only one thing on it.”
Bel blinked back tears as he looked up at Wyatt, while his arms wrapped around River. “Really?”