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“So, the assholes hunting shifters. I’ll explain what we’ve been going through,” Declan began, crossing back to the sideboard. As he poured himself something from a different decanter, he commented, “If ye were introduced to paranormals and Khan as yer mate this evening, I’m a little surprised to see ye here, though.” Then Declan waved toward the furniture. “Have a seat.”
With a sigh, Nathan settled into a thickly padded leather chair. He frowned at nothing as he took another drink. Then he refocused on Declan.
“Like I said, Khan is running scared,” Nathan said with a shake of his head. “I know he wants me, and I’ll not deny I want him, but he ran away when Congo and Kontra started talking about hunters.” Cocking his head, Nathan squinted at the far wall as he mused, “Something in his past messed him up, but Kontra and his guys don’t have a clue. Hell, until this evening, they hadn’t even realized he’d regained the ability to shift. Khan had hidden it from them.”
Declan hummed. “That does sound like a wolf not used to sharing.” With a smile, he added, “It also sounds like a wolf who’s trying to protect you, even if only subconsciously.”
“How do you mean?” Nathan focused on Declan, curious if the wolf would have any insights.
“Well, a shifter’s first instinct to his mate is to make certain he’s safe,” Declan explained, expanding on the basics Kontra and Sam had shared that evening. “After that, it’s healthy, happy, and well-cared for.” With a smirk and a suggestive eyebrow waggle that did not at all fit the big black male, Declan added, “Well-cared for inallways.”
“Have you been hanging around Prier too much, Declan?” Lark teased as he entered the room carrying a tray laden with finger sandwiches, as well as a couple of types of chips, dip, and salsa. The blond smirked at his lover. “Talking about sex already?”
Declan grimaced. Sounding contrite, he muttered, “He does rub off on people, doesn’t he?”
“Who’s Prier?” Nathan asked instinctively. As a cop, he was always looking for more information.
Lark set the tray on the coffee table before heading toward the sideboard. “Prier is a pack member mated to our head enforcer.” After opening the right-side cupboard to reveal plates, he said with a roll of his eyes, “He always has sex on the brain.” Lark grabbed several, and his expression turned speculative as he returned. “I think it’s because he’s making up for lost time.”
“Still?” Declan asked incredulously. “After being mated to Kajika for over a decade?”
With a shrug, Lark asked, “Do you have a better explanation?”
Declan scoffed. “He says shit just to get a rise out of people. No other reason.”
Lark laughed. “Yeah. I can see that.” He waved at the plate and food. “Help yourself.”
“Thanks.” Nathan set his tumbler on a side table and leaned forward, doing just that. He’d skipped supper, after all. “So, you were saying.” Nathan glanced Declan’s way before turning his attention to the food. “Khan may be trying to unconsciously protect me?”
While helping himself to his own food, Declan nodded. “Probably. And if he has such a troubled past as ye think, he probably doesn’t even realize he’s doing it.” With a plate of food balanced on one knee and Lark cuddled up to his other side, Declan appeared comfortable and relaxed. “If he thinks hunters are going to come after them, he wouldn’t want to draw attention to the fact that ye’re mates. Then ye’d be in their crosshairs, too.”
“I’m a deputy.” Nathan couldn’t help but feel a little offended. “Icanhandle myself.”
Lark scoffed, grabbing one of the sandwiches off of Declan’s plate. “That won’t mean shit to a shifter. No offense.” He shrugged. “It’s hardwired into their DNA.”
Declan nodded. “Khan could be the most submissive shifter ever born, and he would still try to protect his mate.” He shrugged. “That’s just the way it is. Especially since ye’re human.” Lifting his free hand, Declan added, “Again, no offense.”
“What you really need to do is pin him down and get him to bond with you,” Lark stated with a firm nod. “Remind him of the fact that after you’re bonded, you get some natural enhancements.”
Nathan nodded slowly as he chewed his bite of chicken salad sandwich. While he wasn’t normally a big fan, he had to admit, Lark’s were pretty good. He would happily eat a few of them.
“Kontra mentioned something about that, but we covered a lot of information.” Nathan racked his brain for what the big man had told him. “Uh, faster healing and metabolism. Higher resistance to disease. Slightly stronger and better senses.”
“Exactly.” Declan pointed the rim of his tumbler at him. “Just remember, there are cons, too. Yer aging will slow to match his, so ye’ll outlive family, if ye have any.” He furrowed his brows as he added, “Those humans close to ye would notice yer lack of aging, so ye’d eventually have to fake yer death and hide out until they’d no longer remember ye.”
“You can only go to certain doctors, too,” Lark cut in, raising his hand. “Like me. Someone who isn’t going to freak out about any possible blood anomalies.”
Even as Nathan continued to nod, his mind returned to Declan’s comment. He could very well outlive his older sister... by a lot... as well as his niece and nephew. They would eventually think he’d died.
“Damn,” Nathan muttered absently. “That sucks.”
“At least there are several of us around,” Lark stated, looking concerned. “And we have the ability to cover up a problem if you do end up at the wrong hospital.”
After swallowing his sip of bourbon, Nathan shook his head. “No, I mean the pretending to die to your friends and family.” He grimaced, admitting, “I’m close with my sister and her family.”
“I’m sorry.” Declan sighed. “I said there were cons.”
“But you’ll always have a faithful lover by your side,” Lark pointed out softly. “And you have your pack. You wouldn’t be going through that alone.”
