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A purr vibrated in Beckett’s chest as he circled his fingers around his mate’s slim wrists. “Not until you tell me what’s going on.” He brought one of Santee’s hands to his mouth and kissed his mate’s knuckles. “You’re scared, and I’m not leaving until I know why.”
Hell if Beckett would leave his mate in an unsafe home. Was that why Santee was so afraid?
“Marvell is just…overprotective of me,” Santee said.
“But we’re mates. He’s a shifter, so he knows what it means to find one’s mate,” Beckett gently argued.
He saw Duncan climb down from the tree. His brother would be able to hear their conversation and was more than likely moving farther away to give them privacy.
Or so Beckett had thought.
Duncan approached, and when Santee saw him, he didn’t seem scared. In fact, he stared at Duncan with curiosity. “Which brother is that, or did your housekeeper follow you?”
Beckett grinned. “It’s Duncan.”
Duncan shifted, and to Beckett’s delight, Santee quickly looked away. His brother grabbed the backpack and walked away, his ass on full display.
“I promise I’ll come by tomorrow morning,” Santee said when he looked at Beckett. “Please…just go.”
“Are you safe, conejito?” That was Beckett’s only concern right now. He would talk to Santee tomorrow to find out why he’d taken off, but for now, he just wanted to make sure he wasn’t letting his little bunny walk back into an unsafe environment.
“Yes.” Santee lifted himself onto his tiptoes and kissed Beckett on his cheek. “Please go. I swear I’ll be by in the morning.”
Beckett didn’t want to leave. His cheetah snarled in protest, but what was he going to do, force Santee to stay at his side? That was something Beckett would never do. He wholeheartedly believed in respect, kindness, and understanding when it came to relationships.
“Fine, but I’m giving you my phone number,” Beckett said. “Promise you’ll call if you feel unsafe.”
“I told you I’m fine,” Santee argued, at the same time pulling his phone from his front pocket. He handed it over to Beckett, who dialed his own phone but not before silencing the ringer.
Santee took his phone back. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
With a nod, Beckett watched his mate hurry through the backyard like he was some thief in the night.
“Ready?” Duncan asked from behind him.
“What’s your take on this?” Beckett asked, his gaze still focused on Santee’s retreating form. Then his mate climbed the porch and disappeared inside.
Normally, it was Beckett who was filled with wisdom. But he was too close to this and wanted to know if Duncan felt the same unease that he felt.
“My honest opinion?” Duncan said. “I don’t like leaving your mate here. There’s something about his brother that doesn’t sit right with me.”
Beckett agreed.
* * * *
Early the following morning, Santee called his friend and coworker, Orion Keplin. He made sure he was far enough away from his bedroom door that Marvell wouldn’t overhear the conversation.
“Hey, Santee,” Orion said when he answered. “Are you calling to hang out today?”
It was rare that Santee was allowed to hang out with anyone, but he guessed that Orion wasn’t a threat as far as Marvell was concerned. Orion had been over to Santee’s house a few times, and thank goodness, Marvell hadn’t shown his true colors around the human.
“Sorry, no,” Santee said. “I need a favor.”
“Sure,” Orion said. “Name it.”
That was what Santee liked about the guy. Orion had no problem lying for him, which the human had done in the past for Santee. Only because Santee was sick of sitting around the house and wanted to get out.
It was different this time. Santee didn’t want to go to the ice cream hut or visit the candy store. He wanted to see his mate. “I need you to call the house and tell Marvell that someone called off and you need me to come in.”
