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“All is quiet, though I think your raven was following me.”
Bel snorted and the last of the tension in his shoulders eased. “Ozzie is just curious about you. Marcus and Rafe have become too boring for him.” Picking up the glass, he carried it to the sink and rinsed it out. He paused for a moment after turning off the water and held the edge of the sink.
“Bel?” Wyatt asked.
The vampire jumped and twisted around. “I’ve been thinking about our situation,” he started. He flashed them both an unsure smile and walked over to where his phone was sitting on the counter beside a tablet. “If we’re being completely honest, being trapped with yet another vampire is not an ideal situation. You both have hopes and dreams, even if nothing more than building a home together and having a normal life. You can’t do any of that because of stupid pack mentality and being stuck with me.” Bel stopped and took in a deep breath, his eyes locked on the dark phone while his fists rested on the edge of the counter.
River took a step forward, wanting to say that the three of them could make an amazing pack, but Wyatt’s heavy hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed, silencing his words.
“It’s not as bleak as you paint it,” Wyatt murmured.
“Maybe. I don’t mind offering you protection. I’m happy to do it,” Bel said quickly. He looked over at them both for only a second before looking down again. “But I don’t want to be the latest barrier that keeps you from happiness.”
“What are you suggesting, then? Do you want us to leave?” River asked. There was no keeping the edge from his voice. Old fears of being hunted started to resurface, but also an unexpected feeling of disappointment. He thought they’d had a good evening together. They’d laughed and shared little bits about themselves. It felt more like a growing friendship.
“No! God, no! I was thinking you could stay here on the understanding that it’s temporary. Just until we came up with a better solution. The ultimate goal would be for you both to live your own lives, free of the pack and vampires.”
Ten years ago, River would have rejoiced at Bel’s words. Nothing would have sounded better to his ears. It had been a dream for far too long.
But something had changed. Bel describing himself as a barrier when they had been laughing and happy minutes ago felt wrong. Bel not being in their pack felt wrong. Bel helping them to find happiness but not including himself in that picture was wrong.
Unfortunately, everything was so new, and despite Wyatt’s efforts to convince him otherwise, River knew something in him was broken. And it was now keeping him from figuring out how to make things right.
“We greatly appreciate your offer,” Wyatt said. His words were very slow and cautious. “But how would that arrangement work? What would we be doing for you?”
“Nothing. You’d be my guests.”
River shook his head. “That is not going to work.” He crossed the room so that he was standing beside Bel, his forearms resting on the counter. “You’re allowing us to stay in your home. Feeding us. Giving us a safe place to sleep. Protecting us. You must let us do something for you.”
“I couldn’t.”
River bumped his shoulder against Bel’s. “Please. We can clean. It’s been a while, but I think I remember how to use an iron. Wyatt can figure out how to use a vacuum cleaner.”
“Thanks for your vote of confidence,” Wyatt grumbled, but River’s heart leaped at the way Bel’s lips twitched as if he were trying to hide his smile.
“I have a cleaning service that comes once a week,” Bel said.
“Then let us handle it. That’s one less person coming into your home.”
“But—”
“And think about all the data you could collect. The science experiments you could run. You haven’t even measured how quickly Wyatt can shift from human to wolf.”
Bel chewed on his bottom lip. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah, as long as you don’t ever try to dissect us.”
Bel’s hand clamped down on his wrist and squeezed. “Never.”
River turned his arm and threaded his fingers through Bel’s before the vampire could pull his hand completely away. “Then Wyatt and I are at your disposal. Satisfy your curiosity.”
Bel’s eyes jumped over to Wyatt, and he swallowed hard. River nearly laughed in triumph. This he could work with. They needed time to figure things out. Bel fit with them like he was born to be in their pack. A neighbor. A friend. Maybe even something like family.
And with time, maybe River would finally learn to trust the vampire. To trust the swirling chaos of emotions in his chest.
“Okay, then. I guess we’re…roommates,” Bel said in a slightly strained voice.
Closing his eyes, River rested his head against Bel’s shoulder. “Good.”
