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“And build a bunny hut for you, because no way in hell is Milly letting you in the house smelling like that.”
“One more word…” Beckett warned.
“Don’t get mad at him,” Santee said. “I don’t blame Milly for making me stay outside.”
“I knew I liked him,” Duncan said as Beckett guided Santee.
To his shock, they only walked for a few minutes before Beckett told him to sit on the grass. “Stay right here. I’m going to run into the house and get as many canned tomatoes as I can find.”
“Are we at your house?” Santee was relieved when he could finally make out shadows. That meant his sight was returning.
“In our backyard,” Beckett said. “I’d kiss your forehead, but…”
Duncan chuckled, but the sound wasn’t close. The guy was smart enough to keep his distance.
“How in the hell did you get sprayed?” Duncan asked when Santee saw Beckett’s shadowy figure walk away.
“I asked the skunk too many questions,” Santee replied. “I’m sorry. That was rude.”
“No, I like your humor,” Duncan replied. “Don’t bite your tongue around me. And just so you know, my back is turned. Not because Beckett will beat my ass if I look at you right now, but because you’re modest.”
“Thank you.” Santee fell to his back, his arms spread wide. “What were you two doing in the forest?”
“To tell the truth, Beckett was worried about you. He wouldn’t say why, though. I made him take me in case he needed me,” Duncan said. “We were on our way to your house when that foul odor slapped us sideways. If you hadn’t crawled out from under those bushes, we wouldn’t have known you were there.” Duncan was quiet for a moment. “Why were you there?”
“That would be none of your business,” Beckett said from somewhere to Santee’s right. “Sorry, but I couldn’t find anything tomato-y in the house. Milly said she’ll go to the store first thing in the morning.”
“So I get to sleep under the stars tonight.” Santee didn’t like being outside. That made him feel vulnerable. If Marvell somehow found his way to Beckett’s place, he would be able to easily spot Santee.
“I’m going inside,” Duncan said. “Sorry, but I can’t take the smell any longer.”
“No worries,” Santee said. “Think of me out here in the elements while you’re in your soft bed.”
“You heard him, Beckett. Your mate just asked me to think about him while I’m in bed.”
If Santee could have widened his eyes, he would have as he saw Beckett’s shadowy figure go after Duncan’s. Now that he knew they really wouldn’t hurt each other, Santee did his best to ignore them.
Though a hundred years of abuse by his brother made it hard for Santee to ignore any kind of fight, even the playful kind.
Beckett returned and sat next to Santee.
“Be careful,” Santee said. “You don’t want to end up smelling like me if you get too close.”
“I’ll take my chances,” Beckett replied. “We’re alone now. So tell me why you were under those bushes. I can see Marvell’s handiwork on your neck. He left bruises.”
Although Santee had been in his shifter form, he hadn’t been able to rest so he could heal. He lay a hand over his neck, as if he could feel the bruises. Thankfully the pain of being choked to death had faded. Too bad his bruises hadn’t.
“Marvell found out I wasn’t at work.”
“You told him this morning that you had to work,” Beckett stated. “I wish I’d known that. I would have made sure your boss corroborated your story.”
Santee lifted his head, glad that his vision was more in focus, though his eyes still stung. “You know my supervisor?”
“I know a lot of people in Midnight Falls,” Beckett said. “I grew up in this town. I moved away a few years back, but everyone I knew is still here.”
Santee wished he was on friendly terms with the people in town. “My parents moved here about two years ago. When they left for their vacation, they gifted the house to me and my brother.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit strange?” Beckett asked. “If they were only traveling, wouldn’t they want a home to come back to?”
