“It’s okay. I’ve got this.” Bryce stepped from behind Levi where Hudson hadn’t even noticed him. Or some of the other guys.
“Thanks.” Bastian glanced at Hudson then away.
“We need to go! There have been mountain lions spotted in the area,” Levi said.
Bastian and Levi rushed down the steps to where Dean was waiting in the yard.
“I’ll portal you,” Dean said.
Portals? Hudson took a step forward, stopping when Bryce grabbed his arm.
“They need to go. I’m sorry that you’re finding out this way, but it could be worse, trust me. We’ll explain everything,” Bryce told him.
“I don’t understand,” Hudson confessed.
Bryce wrapped his arm around his waist as Lawson hugged his other side. Sam, Ansley, and Stryker all moved closer.
“Watch,” Stryker said. “This is awesome.”
Hudson was growing more nervous and upset as none of his questions were being answered. He wanted to know what the heck was going on.
Bastian faced him in the yard, his eyes nearly glowing. That had to be a trick of the porch light. Except Hudson was beginning to think that his entire world was about to change.
“Everything is going to be okay,” Bryce assured him.
“Just remember that Bas would never hurt you. No one here would,” Lawson added.
Why would he be hurt? Hudson nearly vibrated.
Wait!
Bastian was pushing his jeans down.
“Hey!” Hudson started forward again. That was his boyfriend getting naked in front of everyone.
“Just wait.” Stryker jumped in front of him. “It’s kind of necessary for him to get naked. It takes some getting used to.”
Hudson scowled. Luckily, he was tall enough to see over Stryker.
“It’s happening,” Stryker told him as he turned, pressing his back against Hudson’s chest.
He was surrounded. Like they were trying to corral him.
Bastian shook his head then…something happened. Hudson didn’t believe his own eyes. Right in front of him, Bastian began to shrink and he was Bas…like Bas the cat. Hudson would know his furry friend anywhere.
Some kind of sound escaped but even Hudson couldn’t explain what it was.
“Wait for it.” Stryker was practically bouncing. “This is my favorite part.”
Dean waved his hands in the air as he began to chant.
The air around Dean, Levi, and Bastian shimmered.
“They’ll be back,” Bryce whispered.
Levi strode into the shimmering air and disappeared, Bastian followed, then finally Dean, and with a snap, everything looked normal again.
Hudson’s knees went weak. “I think I need to sit.”
