Chapter 5 Danny
I SNUCK A glance over at Saxon as we bumped along the highway to the bus stop to meet Zander. He was staring serenely out the windshield. But Fae almost always looked serene, even as they were lifting a wolf shifter up off the ground by the neck. I should know; I’d seen it happen.
Yesterday, I’d told Saxon about my past, something I never did. Haven had tried to get me to talk about it for years, but I’d always resisted.
He was going to be a social worker, of course he had to be able to talk about his past. But I wasn’t a mental health professional, and I had no interest in reliving some of the worst moments of my life. But I just had, for Saxon.
And somehow, the day had ended with me becoming a sugar baby. Not just any sugar baby, but Saxon’s sugar baby. The thought sent a shiver down my spine. I hadn’t managed to wrap my head around that one yet.
Because I’d never felt much sexual attraction and I’d never wanted to date, I’d assumed I was asexual. Haven had assured me over and over that being asexual was normal, and a lot more common than previously believed. Seeing as how I avoided Alphas like the plague, I had no problem with that label.
Until now.
WasI asexual?
I was about to meet my cousin. I’d have to save any existential freakouts for later.
Saxon slowed the SUV as we approached the bus stop.
A guy stood behind the bench. He looked much smaller than I remembered. “That’s him,” I said.
Saxon let the SUV come to a stop. “I’ll go talk to him first.”
“Don’t scare him.”
“I won’t,” Saxon said.
I was certain that he meant it, but an Alpha Fae was intimidating no matter what he was doing. His very presence would terrify my cousin. But maybe that was a good thing.
Saxon looked good. I found myself watching his backside as he walked away from the vehicle. What the hell is wrong with you? I was here for Zander, nothing else.
When Zander saw Saxon, he hunched his shoulders, clearly trying to escape Saxon’s notice. When he realized Saxon was coming toward him, he froze.
I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Saxon spoke, and then Zander slowly nodded, looking toward the SUV. I raised my hand in a wave. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I had to reassure him. I hopped out of the vehicle and stepped toward him. “You’re here,” I whispered as he got close.
“You could have warned me you were sending the heavy.” Zander flung his arms around me. “I almost pissed my pants!”
I wasn’t ready for that vigorous of an embrace, but Saxon was looking at me, eyebrows lifted. I didn’t want him to interfere, so I closed my eyes and hugged Zander back. He was an omega. It was clear. He smelled like tart oranges. Nothing about him was Alpha. I sagged with relief.
Once he pulled away, I grabbed Saxon’s hand. “Thank you,” I said. “I really do appreciate it.”
He smiled back at me. “Anytime.”
I crawled into the backseat and sat close to Zander while he filled me in on his journey north. “I’m taking him to my place,” I told Saxon as he got the SUV back on the highway.
Now I just had to tell my brothers that I’d invited someone else to live with us.
***
I have something to tell you guys, I texted.
Uh oh, Ace replied. Another baby on board?
No. No immaculate conceptions here.I’d tell them about Saxon later. I just want to warn you. Zander is here.
Baylor was next to reply. Your cousin? What the FUCK?!?!?! You brought an Alpha up here?
I took a moment to breathe before I replied. He’s not an Alpha. He lied – he’s actually an omega. I’ve got him at our apartment. I’ll fill you in on the rest later.
They kept texting, but I stuffed my phone in my pocket as Saxon dropped us off at my place. I’d been upset with Hollis and Haven for keeping secrets. And I’d done the same thing. On a smaller scale, sure, but the same thing.
I got Zander into our apartment. Now that Hollis and Haven were gone, I had a room to myself, so he could share with me. Within seconds, he was fast asleep.
When I left the bedroom, I heard the front door open. Great. Cason was waiting for me in the den. And a second later, Haven and Hollis were walking through the door, followed by Ace and Baylor.
Oh hell. They’d all come home for this.
“What the hell?” Cason yelled. “Start talking.”
So I did. I told them about the texts, and how I didn’t believe Zander at first.
“And you thought it was smart to haul off and meet him? What if your father had been with him? Huh?” Cason slammed his hand against the wall. “What then?”
I flinched backward, and Haven moved forward, putting his arm on Cason’s shoulder. “Hey. Cason. It’s us. No raging out allowed.”
He hung his head. “I’m sorry.” He looked up at me. “I didn’t mean to do that.”
Hollis rolled his eyes. “Enough dramatics. If you hit this cheap plaster, you’ll bust a hole in the wall and none of you have enough money or time to repair it.”
Despite Hollis’s reprimands, the volume in the room started rising again. Ace and Baylor were yelling. Haven was sighing loudly with his arms crossed. Hollis gave up on lecturing us and began digging in the fridge, and he was making a lot of noise doing it.
“You went alone. Danny, you know better,” Cason said.
“I didn’t go alone.”
The room went silent. Every conversation stopped. Hollis quit rifling through the fridge and slammed the door shut.
“So who went with you?” Baylor asked.
“Um.” There was no point in lying. They’d find out eventually. “Saxon did.”
“Saxon. Who’s that?” Baylor demanded.
Haven shoved at Baylor’s arm. “Saxon is the one who saved my Alpha’s ass, and mine too.”
“Ah. Right. I remember now,” Baylor said. “The Fae who lurked around at the hospital.”
I glared at him while Hollis went back to rummaging for food, finally finding a bag of cheese sticks that must have looked good to him. He ripped them open and handed two to Haven, then tossed the rest of us one each. He bit into the cheese stick. “I’m certainly not going to throw any stones,” Hollis said.
“What do you mean?” I asked. “Because I didn’t tell you guys?”
“Hmm. Yes,” Haven said as he unwrapped his own cheese stick. “I seem to remember you admonishing me about lying. But I don’t think that’s what Hollis meant.” He scrunched his nose up. “I think, what he meant was that,” Haven stopped to make a dramatic flourish with his hand, “he understood why you’d want to meet up with a big strong Alpha again.”
My face went hot in a split second. Since when did Haven become a mind-reader? Goodness. But wait. Hollis was the one that started this. How did he know? He had always looked out for all of us, but he wasn’t as observant as Haven.
I wasn’t good at lying, not really, so I said nothing. I couldn”t bring myself to meet any of their eyes. I’d scolded both of them for deceiving us about their Alphas, and I’d done the same thing, just to a lesser extent.
And what had I been thinking, allowing my cousin to come here without talking to my brothers first? They had all lived through the same trauma that I had. We’d all escaped our hometown, but not without scars. Having Zander here would bring all of that back.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t think.”
Cason’s face softened. “Hey.” He wrapped his arm around me. “They’re just teasing.”
I forced myself to look up. “I’m not talking about Saxon.” I lowered my voice to a whisper. Even if my plan had been poorly executed, I didn’t want Zander to hear us and get upset. “I shouldn’t have brought Zander here without talking to you all.”
Cason tightened his grip on my shoulders. “No. You shouldn’t have. But it’s done. And we’d have likely done the same thing. I’m glad you took Saxon with you.”
“Yeah,” Ace said. “Me too. But you’re sure Zander’s safe?”
“As sure as I can be. But I can take him to a hotel and stay there with him. I really didn’t think this through. I don’t want you three to be uncomfortable in your own home.”
They all said no.
I still needed to tell them about Saxon, and how he was now my sugar daddy. That was going to have to wait. I’d tackle one thing at a time.