“Aye,” Declan answered, sounding way too calm when Demitri’s world was falling apart around him. “I’ll keep him safe.” He stood. “Frankie, Reb, gather Demitri’s things.”
After the brother’s started moving, Declan stated, “Kiernan, if ye say anything about us to anyone, I will hear about it, so best keep quiet.”
Kiernan scoffed and shook his head. “Who the hell would I tell?”
“Best to not look for an answer to that,” Declan growled.
“If ye do decide ye want more information, look me up. Ye can locate me through the forest ranger’s office, or go to Reb’s Tattoos. Reb owns the place,” Declan added, waving a hand toward the brother.
“Owns it,” Kiernan glanced toward the brothers again.
“Okay.”
“Come on, Demitri.” Declan helped Demitri dress. After Frankie put Demitri’s bag on the bed, since they didn’t have any clothes, he and his brother shifted back into wolves and trotted downstairs, ignoring Kiernan’s gasp.
Demitri glanced over his shoulder at his mate, but Kiernan wouldn’t meet his eyes. Because he was still weak, Declan carried Demitri’s pack and kept an arm around his waist as he helped him down the stairs and outside. “Give yer mate time,” he whispered once they’d cleared the door.
“This was a hard way for him to learn about us.”
“You think—You think he’ll come around?” Demitri looked toward his alpha, desperate for reassurance.
His alpha smiled. “Have faith, pup. We’ll find a way to get him to see reason.”
Demitri desperately hoped he was right. Once he settled in Declan’s SUV, he asked, “Where am I going?”
“Frankie’s. I know the two of ye have become good friends.”
He nodded absently, until he remembered what instigated all this. “My parents. Their friends, Michael and Brett. What happened to them? Did they get away?”
Declan shook his head as he eased the vehicle onto the darkened street. “Nay, well, yer mother did. So did one of their friends. The fellow with the broken arm and yer father were caught. Carson and Shane took them to Carson’s boat house for interrogation.” Pulling into Frankie’s driveway, he turned off the engine and focused on Demitri. “I’m sorry to tell ye this, Demitri, since ye’ve already had such a hard night, but yer parents are in league with the scientists.”
Demitri sighed, his hands fisting where they rested on his jean-clad thighs. “I can’t say that really surprises me,” he admitted miserably. “I could never figure out why they were so negative about shifters, especially since mom is one. Ya know?”
“My guess would be that because of yer father’s dominant personality, he ran roughshod over yer mother.” He shook his head, looking sad. “I’m glad ye didn’t follow in their footsteps, pup. Yer growin’ into a good man.” He smiled encouragingly. “Give yer mate time to realize that.”
Demitri nodded and reached for the door handle, but Declan’s hand on his arm stopped him. “Ye be careful until we catch yer ma, okay? I’ll have one of our trackers keep an eye on Kiernan, so don’t do anything foolish. If ye catch sight of any of yer parent’s good friends, let someone know and we’ll check them out. Understand?”
Again, he nodded. After he slipped from the vehicle, Demitri knew Declan watched as he headed slowly up the walk. Before he reached the door, it opened and Vince welcomed him inside.
An hour later, he could no longer hold back the tears.
Curled up in his friend’s spare bedroom, Demitri cried himself to sleep.
Chapter Nine
Kiernan lounged on his sofa, mentally exhausted, but unable to sleep. His brain wouldn’t stop churning. It’d been three days since learning that shifters were real, that his lover was one, and he still couldn’t get his mind wrapped around the idea. It was impossible. If it hadn’t happened right in his bedroom, before his very eyes, he’d never have believed it.
Glancing toward his cell phone, Kiernan’s fingers twitched. He knew Demitri’s number. He could call him, hear his voice, just to make sure he was okay after being pumped full of sedatives. Kiernan clenched his hand into a fist and looked away. He was lying to himself and hated it.
He really missed the man—shifter.
He heaved himself to his feet. He wasn’t going to get anything accomplished by sitting there. Maybe a good round of housecleaning would wear him out enough to get a decent night’s sleep.
Kiernan made the rounds of the construction site, checking everything done the day before, even though he’d done it last night after everyone left and knew what needed to be done. He just wasn’t ready to face anyone yet. He hoped after he finished his coffee, he’d feel more like himself again. As if that’ll ever happen. He’d dreamed of Demitri last night. His responsiveness, his touch, his big, soulful green eyes staring up at him with lust and affection, and Kiernan had woken with cum drying and scratchy in his chest hairs. He hadn’t had a wet dream since he was sixteen. Why now? Just to torture me some more?
Staring out the window, he drained the last of his coffee.
A man standing across the street caught his attention. It was too early for most people to be out running errands, and this guy wasn’t a jogger. He was dressed in dark blue jeans, a black jacket, and brown hiking boots. He had a cap pulled low, making it impossible to see his face. As Kiernan watched, the man took one more long look around the area, then turned and headed down the road.
Kiernan frowned. He sure hoped a thief wasn’t scoping out his job site. That was all he needed on top of his craptastic week. The idea of sliding into Demitri’s warm willing body, listening to his cries of passion, getting lost in the act of loving the man, pushed its way into his mind. It would take away all his problems for a time, except, Demitri came with his own set of problems.
Turning away from the window, Kiernan decided he’d have
