“Things are already weird,” Hayden pointed out from behind the couch. “He has claws, Teag. Actual claws that came out of his fingers like some kind of—”
“Wolverine wannabe?” Teagan finished, studying Liam’s now-normal hands with curious eyes instead of terror. “That’s actually kind of cool. Can you do the whole wolf thing, too, or just the stabby bits?”
Role reversal didn’t begin to cover this. Liam had expected Hayden’s easy acceptance and Teagan’s panic.
Instead, his outgoing mate looked ready to bolt, while Teagan acted like supernatural revelations were just an everyday occurrence.
Hayden made a strangled sound. “Cool? He just showed you he’s some kind of supernatural creature, and you think it’s cool?”
Pursing his lips. Teagan looked as though he was processing the revelation.
“Think about it,” he finally said, turning to look at Hayden. “This explains everything. Why we’re both so drawn to him, why he showed up exactly when we needed help, why he makes us feel...” He gestured vaguely. “You know.” He turned his gaze to Liam. “Did I nail it?”
“On the head.” Liam felt something warm unfurl in his ribcage at Teagan’s acceptance. One mate down, one still having an existential crisis. Now he just had to convince Hayden that being a shifter didn’t make him dangerous.
At least not to them.
“I’m a wolf shifter.” Might as well rip off the bandage completely. “And before you ask, no, I don’t turn into a mindless killing machine during full moons. That’s Hollywood bullshit.”
Slowly, Hayden moved from behind the couch then sat down, nearly missing the cushions. He picked up Teagan’s hand, clinging to it.
At least he’s willing to listen instead of continuing his throw-pillow assault.
“And the word mate does mean something.” Wanting to make himself appear smaller, Liam took a seat on the floor. Hayden was already terrified. The guy didn’t need a massive wolf shifter standing over him.
“What does it mean?” Hayden whispered, his grip on Teagan’s hand tightening.
Liam leaned back on one elbow, stretching out a leg, leaving the other one bent. Even relaxed, he listened for any hint of danger inside and outside the house.
“It means fate thought we needed each other,” he explained. “Like Teagan said, that’s why you two feel so drawn to me. It’s our bond. As soon as you two climbed into my truck last night, I knew. It’s called the pull.”
“Like a spark?” Teagan asked, working his fingers from Hayden’s grip.
“No.” Liam shook his head, the sides of his mouth tugging upward. He never thought to experience it in his lifetime, and was profoundly relieved he had, that he’d finally found his mates after two hundred and sixty years of searching “It’s a detonation. It grabs you by the soul and drags you toward your mate, or mates, with no brakes and zero chill.”
Hayden rubbed his sternum. “I thought…” He shrugged. “A small part of me was questioning my love for Teagan, because I was moving way too fast when it came to you. I was acting all gung-ho about it, but I was also frightened by my fierce attraction to you. I knew it wasn’t normal, but I didn’t pump the brakes to really question it. Not like I should’ve.”
“Oh, baby,” Liam said softly, sitting up. “Your love for Teagan isn’t going to diminish. You two are mates. You just didn’t know it until you found your missing piece and I lit the fuse.” He gestured between them. “Why do you think, after twenty years, you two are still fiercely devoted to each other?”
“Because I’m hot,” Teagan teased with a smile.
“True, but I’m amazeballs in bed,” Hayden huffed, but his pink flush told Liam his brag was a deflection of his uncertainty. “I’ve had you hooked on this dick since the first time we had sex.”
“You gonna get me hooked too?” Liam winked at Hayden. The guy had the prettiest blush he’d ever seen, and Liam wanted to know how far it spread across his mate’s naked body.
Hayden’s brows shot up before he glanced at his feet. Making the guy uncomfortable hadn’t been Liam’s intention.
“But first, I need one of you to tell me what happened to Teagan,” He quickly changed topics to spare Hayden’s embarrassment. “My gut is screaming that this break-in ties into it.”
Especially since they were new in town. They hadn’t been in Crimson Hollow long enough to make enemies with anyone. Then again, it could’ve been a simple breaking and entering, but so far, Liam’s instincts hadn’t steered him wrong.
Teagan gasped, eyes wide, his trembling hand flying to cover his mouth. “Edwin and Ramos.”
Hayden’s mouth dropped open slightly. “When were they due to be released from prison?”
“This month. With the move, starting new jobs, and then meeting Liam…” Teagan shook his head. “How could I let something so important slip my mind and lose track of the active threat?”
“Prison?” Liam’s hackles once again rose. This was worse than he’d thought. Incarceration usually meant a violent crime. His stomach knotted, forcing himself not to imagine the worst. “Who are Edwin and Ramos, and why were they locked up?”
