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  Enzo closed his eyes and tilted his head. “No, alpha. I apologize.”

  Alphy calmed, but only slightly. He still held his authoritative presence. “Apology accepted. You can offer him your room, but do not pressure him. You will give him a choice. I’m making you responsible for him. Teach him what he needs to know so he’ll be safe in our world, things like not challenging the alpha by giving him orders.”

  Alphy didn’t wait for a response. He marched past and down the stairs. The tension Rudo felt passed, and he sighed. Ryker grabbed his laptop, and Rudo led him down the stairs. It had been a long day. Time to put my mate to bed. A mischievous smile spread across his face. He knew just how to tuck his mate in.

  Chapter Six

  Enzo was filled with mixed emotions as he watched everyone, except Seamus and Maysa, leave. He had been so happy with himself when he was able to not only settle the dispute with the two families Alphy had sent him to, but also help them form a bond. It took a bit of work and a shitload of mediating, but he did it. Of course Enzo had been disappointed that his mate had already left work for the day by the time he was able to stop by, but he knew it was easy enough to return in the morning. He hadn’t expected to arrive home and scent his mate, or the fear and pain that he smelled coming from him. When he scented his mate’s scent all over Kace, and Marley, he couldn’t stop himself from attacking them. And then to accidentally challenge Alphy…

  Fucking mate-pull. It’s completely messing up my common sense. I can’t believe I did that to Alphy. Fuck!

  It was a good thing Alphy was a good friend, because if it was any other alpha, Enzo would have had to fight for his life after pulling a stunt like that.

  Seamus finished examining Heath. “Well, Heath, you sustained no serious injuries. I’m most concerned with your blood pressure and heart-rate. Are you sure you do not wish to have anything to calm you further? I would consider something for sleeping, at least. From the shock you’ve been put through, you may very likely suffer nightmares.”

  Heath paused a moment before answering. “I think you’re right about the nightmares. I think I’d better take something for that. But do I have to take it right now?”

  “No, I can bring you some pills that you can choose when to take. Do you have any questions for me?”

  Heath silently shook his head. Seamus smiled and nodded. “Very well then. I’ll go fetch those pills right now.” Seamus paused a moment. “I would also like to offer one of our hospital rooms to stay in, if you don’t want the barn or Enzo’s room.”

  As Seamus started gathering his things, Enzo thanked him and informed him they would be in the house. Enzo watched as the two left before retrieving a chair. Then he sat himself down right in front of Heath. He took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, and rubbed a hand over his mouth and chin thinking over where to start.

  Enzo tried to give a more casual and friendly appearance. He relaxed in the chair and smiled at his mate.

  “So you’re my secret admirer?” he asked.

  Heath nodded slowly but kept his eyes averted. Enzo didn’t like that, but he kept his growl in check.

  “How about questions? Do you have any you would like to ask me? Anything you want,” he offered.

  Heath nodded. “Loads, but right now I don’t think I will remember the answers.”

  “I understand. Learning about our existence is a big shocker, add to that, the fright the others gave you, but I promise you, Heath, you are safe now. How about we start with where you want to sleep? Do you want to sleep in the cell that’s set up in the barn, the hospital room, or would you like my room? And don’t worry about putting me out. I’ll be fine. I’ll be happy knowing you’re safe and comfortable.”

  Heath remained silent for a little bit before answering. “Where would you sleep if I took your room?”

  “That partly depends on you. As you can tell, I’m very protective of you, so I would want to sleep close by. I can shift and sleep on the floor, or on the floor just outside your door, or I can sleep on the couch. There’s also the office here. Be aware that if you choose the hospital room, I would probably sleep in the guest chair beside your bed. Seamus spared no expense making sure that the chairs turned into little beds.”

  Heath looked like he was having a difficult time deciding, so Enzo tried to help him out. “You have three options. How about you eliminate one option only, for now, and then we will go get something to eat. You can take the time to think over the last two options over a hot meal.”

  Heath looked up at him and nodded. His heart flipped when he saw the, albeit small, smile he was rewarded with. Damn, if such a small smile can curl my toes, what would a large smile do to me? I am so fucked.

  “Is it all right if we mark off the barn?” he said softly.

  “Absolutely,” Enzo said with relief. “Now let’s go get something to eat. I know a shock to the system, like the one you had, can have a negative effect on one’s appetite, but Betty made tacos, with these special apple and cinnamon tacos for dessert. Trust me when I say you’ll want to have seconds, or fifths even, like me.”

  He gave Heath a mischievous smile and wiggled his eyebrows. He got the desired effect, and was rewarded with a small laugh from his mate. Though it was only a small laugh, it was a huge step in the right direction. That fact that he was the one who caused it, made Enzo feel like he could fly. Enzo held Heath’s hand as he led him down the stairs and up to the house.

  ****

  Heath looked around at the house they just entered. It was a very large house, and felt larger with the open floor plan that it had, but it was also crowded with people, many who were nearly as big as Enzo. He felt uneasy when everyone turned to stare.

  Over by the fireplace, he spotted the girl he had watched shift. He didn’t know which one it was since she was a twin, and he hadn’t seen her well enough to tell the difference, but he remembered how vicious they both were towards him, and he couldn’t stop the fear that started to come over him.

  Enzo gave his hand a light squeeze, getting his attention. “Shh, relax, sweetheart. They won’t hurt you. I promise that you are safe.”

  Heath didn’t know how much of that he truly believed, but with Enzo beside him, he did feel safe, for now, so he let Enzo lead him into the kitchen. He recognized Havana, standing by a counter laden with the fixings for tacos. She looked up as they approached and gave him a friendly smile.

  “Hi, Heath. I am so sorry for how things went down. I wouldn’t have sent you out there if I would have known what would happened. But now that you’re here, welcome to the family. And if you need anything, or just want to talk, you can count me as a friend.”

  Heath blinked. He didn’t know what to say to that. “Uh, thank you.”

  He stayed silent, mulling over everything he’d seen and heard since the attack, as he ate. Everything just added more questions, which he was not comfortable asking in a house full of people. Now that I think about that, I would probably get more privacy in the hospital room, away from the main house, than I would here. And, he thought, Enzo could stay with me without being left sleeping on the floor. If Heath had to admit at least to himself, he really didn’t want to be separated from Enzo, but he didn’t want to sleep with him either. And who would want to sleep on the floor? He made up his mind.

  Heath leaned over and whispered, “Uh, Enzo?”

  Enzo wiped his mouth on a napkin before he answered. “What is it, sweetheart?”

  Heath’s stomach fluttered at hearing the endearment. It took a ton of effort to keep his concentration enough to remember what he was going to ask. “I think I’d like to stay in the clinic, as long as you stay there with me. Is that okay?”

  Enzo looked like he was relieved. Why would he be relieved?

  “Yeah, baby, that will be fine. And perfect timing, there’s Sea now.”

  The doctor smiled as he approached, followed by the beautiful petite woman who had been with him earlier. Seamus handed to him a small packe
t with some pills in it.

  “Here you go, Heath. These should help you have a restful sleep. I’m pleased to see you eating. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  Enzo answered for him. “Actually, Sea, Heath would like to stay in the clinic, and I would like to stay with him, if that’s okay with you.”

  “You are most welcome to. We have two rooms you can choose from, and they are both prepared, so you can head over whenever you’re ready. I’ll show you around after Maysa and I are finished eating.”

  Seamus weaved around several people, pulling the little woman behind him. Heath saw Havana coming towards them. She set two small plates down in front of them. Each had two dessert tacos on them. Cinnamon and sugar coated the small fried tortilla shells, and inside was an apple-pie-like filling, topped with whipped cream. The sweet and spicy smells filled his nose, and his mouth watered.

  “Saved ya some dessert,” Havana said triumphantly. “And if you want more, just ask. I’ll make sure you can have as many as you like.” Havana moved away, but Heath was stuck staring at the divine dessert his mouth was already singing hallelujah to.

  “Aren’t you glad you ate?” Enzo chuckled before opening his mouth, biting the dessert taco in half. Enzo’s pleasured hum got the attention of Heath’s dick, and it started to fill. Heath suddenly looked away and grabbed his own dessert. He didn’t want to think about his attraction to a possible werewolf, because it would bring up all the confusing thoughts about the fact that there were really werewolves. He shoved the treat into his mouth and froze for a brief moment as pleasure coated his tongue. He closed his eyes and hummed around the dessert taco, temporarily forgetting where he was.

  The two sat together silently, slowly enjoying the dessert until, all too soon, it was gone.

  “Want more?” Enzo asked.

  “My tongue screams yes, my stomach says no. I’m stuffed.” He gave Enzo a rueful look.

  Enzo laughed. “How about I get us some more, and we’ll taken them to eat later?”

  Heath smiled up at him as he watched Enzo stand. “That sounds perfect.”

  “Come on, sweetheart, let’s go get them. Then we’ll stop by my room to get a change of clothes, before heading out to the clinic.”

  Heath followed close to Enzo, nearly pressing flat against his muscular back as they made their way through the crowded house. After they retrieved their treats, Enzo led Heath to a large master bedroom just down the hall. As soon as they walked into the room, another man came up from behind.

  “Knock, knock.”

  The two turned and looked. Heath recognized him as one of the men from the office, the first one who introduced himself, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember his name.

  The man held out a pair of sweats and a tee. “Thought you would like to wear pants that actually had a chance staying on your waist and a shirt that didn’t make you look like you’re wearing a muumuu.”

  Heath gave a small laugh and reached out, taking the offered clothing. “Thanks.”

  “No probs.”

  “Thank you, Rye,” Enzo said. “So you guys heading out in the morning?”

  “Yeah. Bronya and Nix already headed out. She wants to prep everything before we get there, and Nix still needs rest, so she thought heading down there tonight, and letting him sleep later in the morning, would be easier than sleeping now, and waking early for a long drive.”

  “I trust her judgment on that. Nix is lucky to have survived. Alphy may have sent him down as added help, but watch out for him trying to do more than he should. More likely he’ll feel a need to prove himself. Sea said there’s a chance he’ll be able to fly again, but if he reinjures his shoulder while it’s still healing, it may permanently damage it.”

  “Will do,” Rye answered.

  “Good luck down there,” Enzo said.

  “You too,” Ryker answered, and waved as he turned, walking into the room directly across the hall.

  “Who’s Nix?” Heath asked, as he watched Enzo open a dresser drawer.

  Enzo didn’t look up as he answered. “A pack mate. He’s a falcon shifter who got hurt recently by a psychotic hunter who was out to kill Maysa, Seamus’s mate.”

  “Falcon shifter? Is that like a werewolf?”

  Enzo finished grabbing what he wanted, so he ushered Heath out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He answered as they made their way out of the house.

  “We are called shifters. There are many kinds of shifters. One of the first things you need to remember is that Hollywood’s version of paranormals is purely fiction. For instance, you can’t be turned into a shifter. You have to be born one.”

  They walked through the chill of the night air, hand in hand, as Enzo continued.

  “We are fighting a corporation that has been abducting shifters and experimenting on them. Maysa escaped, but they sent a hunter after her. He caught up with her here and set traps. He was out to kill her, not take her back alive like he was hired for. Several of us got injured in some of the traps, including Maysa, when she saved a little girl. Nix was in his falcon form when he flew into a trap. It nearly severed him in half.”

  Heath felt ill. Hunters? Abductions? Experimenting? Paranormals? Words, questions, and pictures of this evening’s events circled around in Heath’s head. Do I want to continue to pursue him?

  Heath’s mind was so cluttered that he tripped over a root as they walked between a few trees.

  “Whoa there, sweetheart,” Enzo said as he lunged for him, and pulled him back before he hit the ground. Enzo held him firmly against his rock hard body.

  Heath felt his dick filling as he felt everything was rock hard. If that thing is as big as it feels, my ass is in big trouble, he said to himself, referring to the rigid length digging into the side of his lower stomach. Heath’s shaft filled more, and his star clenched at the thought of Enzo pounding in and out of him with that giant thing. Heath thought it looked like Enzo was sniffing the air.

  Enzo’s voice was low and husky. “Oh, sweetheart, what I wouldn’t do to give in to what your scent is calling me to do.” He gave a pained groan and rested his forehead against Heath’s. “But Alphy’s right. You’ve been through enough today, and I want to do this thing, between you and me, right.”

  Enzo stayed in place a few moments more before taking a step back and resuming walking. Heath watched the ground as Enzo’s hand warmed his own, guiding him to their destination. He was secretly glad that Enzo stopped. His body wanted to be stripped, and shoved up against a tree, and pounded into the bark with that Olympic sized cock, but at the same time, he really was scared and unsure of how he was feeling.

  They entered a manufactured home that he could tell was very recently put in. Enzo gave him a quick tour.

  The front room was the waiting area, accented in warm earth tones. Also one small part in front of the entryway was partitioned off as a basic doctor’s exam room.

  Enzo pointed to a door on their left of the front room. “To the left is the master suite. It is Seamus and Maysa’s private living quarters. Straight ahead, as you can see, is the kitchen. It’s used more as a lab and nurses’ station, but they keep food here for when they work long hours, or if they get a patient that needs something to eat right away. Other than that, they go over to the house for meals.” Enzo walked over and placed their desserts in the fridge. Heath didn’t see anything gross, like urine samples, or anything, so he didn’t say anything.

  “Just off to the left of the kitchen,” Enzo continued to explain, pointing, “is a small laundry room, and an exit.” Enzo turned them around, and led him over to where the dining room would have been, if this was a house. It was sectioned into three hospital exam rooms. Unlike the one in the front room, which only had minor equipment, the hospital exam rooms had everything a hospital would have. Oxygen tanks, heart monitors, even gurneys. They were each divided by hanging hospital curtains hung from tracks on the ceiling. At the end of the hall were three bedrooms and a bathroom
. Two rooms were set up as hospital rooms, and the third was turned into an x-ray and surgical room.

  “Sea said you can choose either room. Which one did you want?”

  “That one,” he said, pointing to the one farthest in the corner. Heath wanted to be as out-of-the-way as he could.

  Enzo led him into the comfortable sized room and closed the door. In the middle of the room was the largest hospital bed Heath had ever seen. “Wow, I’ve never seen one that big before.”

  Enzo chuckled. “A lot of us are pretty big, and sometimes we might come in, in shifted form. Picture a Kodiak bear, and you’ll understand. Plus, the ones of us who are mated can’t stand being separated from our mates. This allows them to hold their mate while they are still recovering. Our alpha had to use it recently. He was skewered by a tree when the plane he was in crashed.”

  Heath gasped. “Wait, that’s not the rumored plane crash that supposedly happened just a few weeks ago, was it? The one with the missing pilot and passengers?”

  “Yep. I’ll make you privy to the conspiracy. Havana was abducted, and the guys who had her were transporting her by plane.”

  “Havana? They took Havana?” Heath was shocked, picturing the sweet girl he had met twice now, in such trouble. Heath sat down on the large bed.

  “Yes. Alphy, his mate Gale, and Nix, were in the plane Bronya was flying back up from Toronto. She forced them down, but it caused her plane to crash, too.”

  “Wait, so the rumors that there were two planes are true?”

  “Yep.”

  “They said the guys in the first plane, vanished.”

  “They abducted Havana, and had also killed several shifters, so we took them into custody.” Heath heard the anger in Enzo’s voice, but he knew it wasn’t directed at him.

  “So they’re still alive?”

  He saw Enzo wince. “One was killed when he shot Havana’s mate, Dultyn, but the others are alive, and in a safe place.”

  “You mean that big guy with all the tattoos?” Heath asked, remembering the giant of a man that he saw was so loving and gentle with Havana.