A Mate Beyond Their Reach (8 page)

Dan’s gaze shot toward him as Drew approached. “Supposedly, resting. I’m not sure if he’ll get any sleep. He’s not stupid.”

“I know,” Drew replied with a sigh. “Seriously, Dan, why in the world did you have to make the werewolf comment?” He shook his head, hating himself for his reproachful tone. “Don’t answer that. It’s a stressful situation, and it’s about to get even more stressful.”

Dan extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray and frowned at Drew. “What? Why?”

“Apparently, since we’ve found out about the existence of their kind and we’ve been exposed to the ferals, we can’t go back to Tennington.”

Dan’s gaze went back at the ceiling, and Drew wondered what his friend saw there that fascinated him so much. “I figured this would happen. So, we’ll be in the werewolf version of the witness protection program, or what?”

“Well, we might’ve been, but...” He trailed off, words failing him.

Dan arched a brow at him. “I don’t suppose your hesitation has anything to do with the fact that you’re wearing someone else’s clothes,” Dan said. When Drew opened his mouth to explain, Dan shook his head. “Don’t try to protest. I saw how those guys looked at you. Drew, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“As sure as I can be at this point,” Drew answered. A flash of Val’s eyes passed through his memory, and the feel of Trent’s warmth engulfed him. “I’m sure,” he corrected.

“Well, that puts us in an interesting situation,” a voice from behind him said.

Drew turned, only to be set face-to-face with his teenage son. He made an unintelligent noise, his face heating with a combination of mortification and anger. “Dan, why the hell didn’t you tell me he was there?”

Dan shrugged. “I figured it would be easier for you to talk about it if you didn’t know.”

“Chill, Dad,” Paulie piped in. “Seriously, I don’t mind. Okay, maybe I don’t understand exactly how it works, but I’m sure you wouldn’t do anything that isn’t right.”

Drew didn’t know what to say at the absolute trust in Paulie’s voice. Paulie looked embarrassed and cleared his throat. “Anyway, that aside, what will happen to us if we can’t go home?”

The lost quality in Paulie’s tone broke Drew’s heart. Immediately, he went to hug his son. “Oh, kiddo, I’m so sorry,” Drew said. “I know you’ll miss your friends, but you’ll make new ones. As to where, we’ll be moving to Maine.”

“Maine?” Dan and Paulie said at the same time.

Drew nodded. “Trent’s family home is there, and he will be establishing a lab for me to study the virus I mentioned earlier.”

“Excellent, Dad.” Paulie grinned at him. “I always thought you were wasted as a small-town doc. One more question. Does this mean that we’ll be living with werewolves?”

“Spirit wolves,” Val’s voice corrected. Drew briefly looked away from his son and watched at his two mates entered the room. They’d put some clothes on, but they still looked as edible as they had a little while ago.

“Come sit, young Paul,” Val continued. “We’ll explain everything.”

He’d gone into his authoritative mode, and Drew swallowed, forcing his mind away from the brief flashback of Val fucking his mouth, those strong hands in his hair. God, he couldn’t do this here.

His son was a step away from him, for fuck’s sake.

He noticed the moment when Val and Trent took in his arousal, but thankfully, his two mates did nothing about it. Instead, they sat on the couch in front of Dan’s and beckoned Paulie closer.

Paulie gave Drew a cursory glance, and Drew nodded. He led Paulie to sit next to Dan and took position at the other side of the couch.

“I’m not sure how much you’ve been told, but you must be very confused and frightened at this point,” Val said. “I assure you no harm will come to you, or your loved ones.”

“First of all, we are spirit wolves. We have many abilities, but the one characterizing our race is the fact that we can shift into wolf form.

Because of our spiritual power, we can manage a balance between our animalistic side and our rational one. However, when a spirit wolf bites a human, the human becomes the closest thing to what you might call a werewolf—in our culture, a feral. This is the virus your father discovered.”

“In the wolf,” Paulie said.

Trent hesitated, but then nodded. “Yes, in the wolf. Has Dan told you about this?”

“Some,” Paulie confirmed. “But I still don’t understand most of it.

Whatever happened to it?”

Trent gave Drew a cursory glance, and Drew could almost hear his mate’s question. Should they show him? Could they risk it? This was the moment. From here, they could no longer turn back. Drew had never felt so torn in his life. He wanted to be with Trent and Val.

Did that make him a horrible father?

Paulie must have sensed his dilemma. “Dad, it’s okay. I want to know. I can deal with it.” He nodded toward the two men. “Go on.

Ignore him. He’s far too overprotective. I’m not five, for crying out loud.”

Trent wordlessly got up. Just like back in Tennington, Drew watched the other man shift, the bones melting, turning, the entire process strikingly fluid and beautiful. It had been different with the ferals. In them, the change had been brutal, almost grotesque.

Drew took his son’s palm and held it tight. “Oh my God,” Paulie said. “You are the wolf. I mean, I suspected, but…Christ, this is amazing. Can you understand me?”

Drew had no doubt Trent could indeed grasp human speech even in this form. The wolf’s peculiar intelligence the night before proved it beyond any shadow of the doubt.

Trent hesitantly padded to their sides and set his huge head on Paulie’s knee. He looked almost like a large dog begging for a treat, and Paulie didn’t disappoint. He reached out and petted Trent, grinning as he did so. “This is so fascinating.” His voice held the awe Drew always felt whenever he reached a breakthrough, but also Paulie’s genuine affection for the animal kingdom.

Drew allowed himself the luxury to touch his mate’s wolf form as well. The fur felt as silky as he remembered it, and Drew had the urge to bury his face in it.

Trent retreated from their grasp and licked their hands. After that, he padded out of the lounge, leaving them with Val and Dan. “Where is he going?” Paulie asked.

“To put some clothes on,” Val answered. “He’ll be back in a minute. Now, to continue the explanation, your father helped Trent heal, but in the process, discovered our existence, and the ferals found him. Long story short, Tennington is no longer safe for you. As such, we are taking you to Maine, where you’ll be well cared for.”

“But why there?”

“Because your father is our mate,” Trent replied from the doorway. “Due to what we said earlier, it is very difficult for us to have a relationship without turning Drew feral.”

“But Dad can find a cure for it,” Paulie concluded. “Okay, I get it now. I mean, it will take a while to get used to the thought, but I think that, as long as he is safe, I’m fine with it.” After a brief pause, he asked, “What about my grandparents? Are they coming, too?”

“I’m afraid not,” Val answered. “They will be led to believe you died.”

Paulie blinked. “That’s…harsh.”

Drew’s heart squeezed at the sight of his son’s dazed expression.

Obviously, Paulie had not expected such a thing. “I know, son. I’m sorry. If there were any other way…”

“No, it’s okay, Dad,” Paulie rushed to assure him. “I’m just surprised, but it does make sense.” He grinned. “Besides, it’s not like I’m going to miss them.”

Drew smiled back at his son. Sometimes, he thought his own resentment for Paula’s parents transferred too much onto his son. But truth be told, Chad and Judith never loved Paulie. They just persisted on the same course of action because of their resentment toward Drew. Perhaps leaving them behind would be a good thing.

“I’d allow you a little more time to relax,” Val said, “but there are other arrangements to be made. I’ll have a helicopter ready for you, so you’ll get there in an hour or so.”

Paulie nodded, now looking a bit dazed. Drew ruffled his son’s hair. “Go on to your room for a bit. I’ll come get you when it’s time.”

Paulie hugged him and obeyed. “I love you, Dad.”

* * * *

Trent watched his mate’s son leave the room with a smile. The boy was still in shock, but he clearly worshipped his father and his affection for animals would help him adapt. In time, Trent felt convinced Paulie would come to love his home.

“He’s a good kid,” he told Drew.

Drew nodded. “He’s never given me trouble, even if my parenting skills aren’t exactly the best.”

Dan frowned at his friend. “Come on, man. Don’t say that. You’re a great father.”

Trent wondered how Drew had come to be a father in the first place, but he held his tongue. He didn’t want to stir old wounds, and Drew never mentioned a wife. Perhaps later on, he’d figure it out.

As if guessing his trail of thought, Drew said, “Sometimes, I wonder what Paula would say about my choices.” He looked at Val and Trent. “You probably have no idea what I’m talking about. I suppose I should tell you.”

His expression turned sad, and Trent immediately intervened.

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to,” Drew said. He breathed in deeply and his eyes took a distant expression. Dan left the room, giving them privacy.

“Paula was my best friend during my studies,” Drew said. “We met by accident, during a shopping trip, but we clicked at once. We were inseparable, and she was the only one I ever told about me being gay. She married young, straight out of college. She wanted a child very badly, but soon after their wedding, her husband fell ill with cancer. It took a while, but with treatment, he managed to defeat the disease. Only, he could no longer give her the child he wanted. So, one day, he came to me and asked me to be their child’s father.”

“I felt honored at the trust they placed in me. At the time, I didn’t think I’d ever have kids since my work and sexual orientation weren’t exactly conducive to settling down and getting married. So, I agreed.

Paulie was conceived through artificial insemination. Only, when the time came, something happened we could not predict. There were complications at birth, and as much as I tried to save them both, she died.”

“Paula’s husband refused to take charge of the boy, since he blamed Paulie and me for her death. Her parents, Chad and Judith, stepped up, but I wanted to raise him instead. After a long, messy lawsuit, the justice system granted me custody, with the condition that Paulie needed to spend time with his grandparents regularly. But they were not satisfied and took the case to court again, arguing that my current job as a pathologist didn’t allow me to spend enough time with Paulie. They had a point, so I gave up the job and moved to Tennington.”

Silence fell over the room as Drew finished his tale. He’d clearly loved both Paula and his job a lot. Now, the boy’s enthusiasm about his father getting a lab made sense. He probably felt guilty because Drew had been forced to give up his previous job to raise him.

“At any rate, having Paulie was the best thing that ever happened to me. I just wanted you to understand that, to know why, on occasion, I might not be able to give you the full extent of my affection.”

Val knelt at Drew’s feet. “If it’s Paulie, we can share.”

Trent nodded. “I want us to be a family, and perhaps, one day, Paulie will manage to accept us.”

With a silent sigh, Val got up. “I have to go arrange for the helicopter. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to go.”

“What about you?” Trent asked. He knew Val would stay behind, but he wanted Val with him, just like he did Drew. “When will you come?”

“As soon as I can.”

Val took a few steps away from Drew and whispered in Trent’s ear, “My father might give me grief, so for a while, they will be in your care. I trust you to keep them safe.”

As Val took off, Trent sat next to Drew on the couch and cuddled him close. “It will be fine. You’ll see.”

“I don’t understand any of this,” Drew murmured. “It’s just so unexplainable.”

Trent pulled Drew in his lap and pressed his lips to his mate’s in a brief kiss. Drew’s proximity made him hot inside, and his shaft throbbed, but he forced himself to keep his libido in check. “I know it’s odd for you. But mates are mates. We’ll get to know each other more in time, but you can already feel it now, the way our souls match. Don’t be scared to admit it.”

Drew straddled Trent better, and his ass landed straight against Trent’s hard dick. Trent groaned, the feel of his mate’s crease a tempting, forbidden temptation. He wanted to share this moment with Val, one more time with the three of them together until they were parted.

Val would come back any moment now. Trent could feel it. He’d created a link between the two of them when he’d bitten Val, something he ached to do with Drew, but couldn’t. He’d have to wait until they were safe. How odd that spirit wolves would be immune to any human diseases, but their own virus would keep them from fulfilling a mate bond.

“Let’s go to Val’s room and wait for him there,” Drew whispered.

“We still have that shower pending.”

In one flash of motion, Trent got up and draped Drew over his shoulder. As he left the lounge, he stole a peek left and right, just to make sure Paulie was nowhere around. It would hardly be dignified if the boy saw his father in his prior-to-be-ravished position.

Satisfied that he couldn’t scent or see Paulie nearby, Trent headed back toward Val’s bedchambers. Once there, he closed the door behind him and dropped Drew on the bed.

He took his time in removing his clothing, slowly stripping for his mate. Drew watched him, his blue eyes growing darker and darker with each passing second. Trent enjoyed every second of it, and he enjoyed it even more when the door opened and Val stepped inside.

The other man arched a brow at them. “I gave the order to have the chopper ready,” he said. “I was thinking we could do something fun in the meantime, but it seems you started without me.”

“On the contrary,” Trent shot back, “we were waiting for you.”

He shared a look with his wolf mate, and together they stalked to the bed where Drew waited. Drew visibly shuddered, but didn’t move a muscle.