Alex’s smile widened, making it impossible to hide. “Or crawl out slowly. Just a thought.”
Wade sat up, his back soaking wet from the puddle he’d landed in. Alex crawled back inside long enough to grab his blanket. The guy had to be freezing with wet clothing on.
“Here.” He held out the comforter. “You might not be able to get sick, but you can turn into a Popsicle.”
“Same with you.” Wade jutted his chin toward Alex. “You don’t have a jacket on.”
After wrapping the blanket around him, Wade held out his arms. “Free heat. No strings attached.”
Alex hesitated for a heartbeat, telling himself the strings were already attached. The pull made it impossible to turn Wade down, even if it would be the smart thing to do.
Chest to back, they stood there staring at the mountains, the high peaks dusted in snow. Alex slowly leaned against Wade, soaking up his offered heat.
“That’s an amazing sight to look at,” Alex murmured. “I can see why you live here. Beautiful and peaceful.”
Wade rested his chin on the top of Alex’s head. He hated how right this felt, how intimate the moment was.
“Even better when you have someone to share it with,” Wade said, his voice barely audible, like he was talking to himself instead of Alex.
There was no mistaking the loneliness in his tone, a feeling Alex knew all too well. That was the main reason he’d dealt with Drew. Alex had thought it was better than being by himself.
Now he wished he’d stayed single.
“You ever make the worst mistake of your life?” Alex asked. He was breaking open, his body betraying the walls he was trying to keep up. That wasn’t what he was about to ask Wade, but it was what slipped out.
“More than once.” Wade tightened his arms around Alex, making him safe for the first time in months. “You don’t get to my age without screwing the pooch a few dozen times.”
Alex’s shiver wasn’t from the cold. He just wasn’t sure if it was from his situation or being in Wade’s strong arms.
“But I’m still standing here, no worse for wear. Unless you count my soggy clothes and horrible entrance.” He softly chuckled, his hands gliding up and down Alex’s arms, soothing him in ways that shouldn’t be possible considering his circumstance.
“What horrible entrance?” Alex teased. “If I recall, you slid out the window with finesse.”
Wade rubbed his jaw gently against Alex’s hair. “Nice. You keep my secrets, and I’ll keep yours.”
Alex had walked right into that one. He knew what Wade was doing, but his secrets were too dangerous to share. Valcore wouldn’t hesitate to wipe out everyone in this house like minor inconveniences just to get to Alex.
“No secrets.” The lie tasted as bitter as it felt. There was a deep hunger to trust, but he couldn’t. “We should get inside. I felt a few sprinkles.”
“Wouldn’t want to get soaked by the invisible rain.” Wade pulled his arms free, stealing the warmth enveloping Alex, that little echo of loss as the heat vanished.
Alex turned, glancing back at his mate. “Some things can’t be fixed with a warm blanket and quiet promises.”
Past his mate’s shoulder, Alex saw glowing eyes in the dark forest. He blinked, hoping he was seeing things, but they were still there, floating like disembodied orbs.
Valcore.
The demon had found him.
Alex couldn’t stay, not even one night. If the demon was out there, watching him, the men in this house weren’t safe.
After crawling back through the window, Alex hurried toward the bedroom door, unsure where he would go. But he couldn’t allow Valcore to destroy this nice pack.
He made it down the stairs and to the front door before Wade caught up to him.
“Whoa!” He used his palm to slam the door closed like a wall of fur and muscles when Alex opened it. “Why are you running?”
“Please,” Alex sobbed, wishing he’d had at least one night of peace. “Let go!”
