AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"I have a few cousins in Europe, but we've had little contact. My parents passed many years ago as well, and I was an only child." Dallas hadn't thought of his family in a very long time. "I have good friends here, and in the Toledo coven, and now I have you." He dropped another kiss on Andy's lips, and he eagerly reciprocated, which was nice.
"I don't have many friends. Cougars don't just distrust outsiders. They distrust each other as well. I have one friend, Elroy, but he's trying to rise in the hierarchy and become one of Billy's boys, so I'm careful what I say to him and how I treat him." It was becoming obvious that Andy's life was very restrictive and limited in so many ways.
He wanted to just convince him to come home with him, and he could probably be successful if he put a little pressure into it. The pull of a mate was powerful and not easy to refuse, but he couldn't put such pressure on his beloved. He would let him go, and they would meet up tomorrow and begin their lives together; he couldn't wait that long.
CHAPTER FIVE
Andy was heartsick at having to tell Dallas that he could not go home with him. The words themselves left a distaste in his mouth and made him wish he was strong enough to throw caution to the wind and do what his heart desired. He looked up at Dallas once again and saw a gorgeous man, and he saw concern. Dallas was worried, and that was something foreign to Andy, for no one had ever worried about him.
His pack did not suffer such petty emotions, according to Billy. Looking into Dallas' eyes, he found it touching and validating in a way that warmed his heart. People should worry more often was the random thought that flashed across his mind.
"It will be fine." He found himself assuring his mate. "Let me handle this as best I can, and I promise I will meet you here tomorrow." He could see the doubt in Dallas' expression, and he did not blame him. "I don't want Billy and his followers to do anything stupid. They are no match for the vampires that became glaringly obvious at the bar tonight."
"You brother is responsible for himself, and his stupidity is his own problem. You don't owe him an explanation. Your life is your own, Andy." Dallas was making good sense, but still, Andy felt the nagging fear that Billy would react and do something that would set the Coven against him.
"He's my brother." That meant something to Andy, even if it meant nothing to Billy.
"Okay, I don't like it, but I understand. Tomorrow, 2:00 pm right here, don't be late."
“I won’t be late.”
They talked for a while longer on lighter subjects such as basic likes and dislikes, and Dallas asked about Andy's degree, and Andy described his gardens, but all the while, the reality of Andy going home was hanging heavily in the air. Andy made a valid point in reference to Silas and others at the Coven who have a less-than-positive view of the cougar species.
Dallas had to admit that he also spoke unkindly on many occasions regarding the cougar pack in the forest and cougars in general. He wasn't proud of it and now realized just how injurious such attitudes could be. After meeting Andy, he had a new viewpoint and accepted that not all cougars were the same. They should be taken on their own merit, but unfortunately, it took him falling in love with one in order to see that.
They said their goodbyes, and Dallas hesitantly let him go. He could sense that Andy was not keen on leaving but felt it was his responsibility to let his brother down easily, so to speak. Dallas was of the mind that their lives were their own and no one else needed to be consulted, but Andy genuinely feared for his brother, and Dallas could not deny him what he needed to do.
He watched as Andy disappeared into the darkness of the woods, and then he began to follow. It was cougar lands, but it wasn't the first time he trespassed, and probably not the last. His beloved was at risk, and he was not about to just turn around and go home, protocol be damned.
Dallas was a highly skilled surveillance expert, and he doubted the cougars possessed any sort of security equipment or technology apart from their eyes, ears, and noses. He followed his beloved back to the encampment and took note of the fact there was only one cougar on guard. He stood on the road leading into the encampment, so if someone tried to get in by taking the main road, he was there to stop them. It was total lunacy as far as Dallas was concerned.
Dallas walked the perimeter of the encampment, and he saw no other guards. The last time he was there, guards were posted every hundred yards, but not tonight. It didn't make sense. It was easy for him to make his way to Andy's small cabin completely undetected.
Andy's cabin was a ramshackle structure hardly big enough for one man. As a brother to the pack leader, Andy should have been given something better than this poorly constructed shack. The sooner he got Andy out and away from there, the better. The lights came on inside, just a dim illumination, but he could see his beloved moving about, and it comforted him to keep watch.
No one bothered him; no one discovered his presence, which was alarming in itself. Andy deserved so much better, and he would give it to him. Dallas remained until near dawn before stealing away and heading home. It felt good and right watching over his beloved, and he looked forward to a lifetime of keeping him safe.
On his way back to the Palace, he stopped at Archer and Kevin's cabin. The lights were on, and he could sense movement from inside, so he assumed they were up and about even at this early hour. He needed to talk to someone, and Archer was someone who understood him and someone Dallas felt comfortable confiding in.
"To what do we owe this early morning visit?" Archer asked with a grin as he opened the door and bade him to enter. Kevin was at the stove fixing breakfast, and Archer leaned against the counter with a large cat in his arms.
“I see Johnny remains as demanding as ever.” He said and scratched the cat’s head.
"Johnny earns everything he gets," Archer answered while cuddling the creature. "He's a great watchman and a great mouser."
"Sit breakfast will be ready in a minute. Pour him some coffee, Archer." Kevin gave directions from his position at the stove.
"Thanks, it smells good." He took the offered coffee and then sat down across from Archer. He set Johnny on the floor, and the cat instantly leapt onto Dallas' lap for attention, which he gave readily.
"I found my beloved." Dallas simply blurted, and both Archer and Kevin stopped what they were doing and looked at him, not surprised but waiting. "Andy Burns." He added, and he saw them both nod with a smile. "You knew?" He said to Archer.
"I suspected something when you went out of your way to make sure the young cougar was safe and then continued to keep him by your side. It was rather obvious, really." Archer chuckled.
“Well, I understand now why I was so intrigued with him after seeing him save that woman. It had nothing to do with the woman and everything to do with the shifter.” Dallas laughed and sipped his coffee.
"Where have you been all night?" Archer asked, pointing out that he had been wearing the same clothes from the bar the previous night.
"With Andy for part of it." He answered and then explained Andy's desire to talk to his brother before coming to the Coven with Dallas. "I followed him home and kept watch on him the rest of the night. If Billy gives him any kind of grief over this, I might have to kill him, brother or not."
