Page 4

Jake walked towards the beast, and Aidan tried to stop him. "Stay back." He said, but Jake smiled and reached out his hand. The wolf nuzzled his hand, and Jake ran his fingers over the animal's head and then dropped a kiss on his nose. "What the fuck am I looking at!" Aidan shouted.

“This is Hayes, the love of my life and my Fated mate," Jake told him about their meeting on the beach and how Hayes had saved him. Aidan listened this time as the true reality of his situation set in. Jake described his own disbelief but also described how the growing bond between them helped him to see and understand. "The supernatural is real, Aidan. They've been here as long as we have, maybe longer. They live among us, working, thriving, and surviving."

Aidan watched as the wolf turned back into a naked Hayes, who continued to give him the stink eye and possessively put his arm around Jake, pulling him towards him as if he thought Aidan would try to take him away.

"It's okay," Jake reassured Hayes. "I want to speak with Aidan alone, and then I thought he and I could go for a walk. I'll show him around the pack lands." Aidan was sure by the look on his face that Hayes was going to balk at Jake's plans, but he nodded, and after a firm squeeze and a hard kiss, he left the room.

“So, now, do you trust what you saw yesterday?" Jake stated, always the smartass.

"Give me a minute, and then I'll answer that." Aidan was at a loss to explain what he just witnessed. Yesterday, he thought it was a delusion. Today, he knew it was not, and that fact was not in the least bit comforting.

"It's all true, Aidan; everything I've told you is true," Jake spoke slowly and purposefully, and Aidan began to believe.

"He's your mate, so does that mean you’re going to be living here now?” He thought he’d tackle the practical before getting too deep in the weeds.

Jake’s smile was worth whatever he had to accept. It was becoming clear to him that Hayes did not mean him harm, and based on the way he responded to Jake, the connection appeared balanced and respectful. The whole wolf pack shifter thing would take him some time, but he couldn’t deny it was true to some extent since he saw it with his own eyes.

“We were staying here at the Pack House because you're here, and I wanted to be close to you, but actually, Hayes has his own place here in Bay Harbor. He said it's a small ranch-style home with two bedrooms, and he hopes that I like it. I'm sure I will as long as he's there with me.” That smile returned, and it was there, clear as day, all the love and admiration he felt for that man, Hayes Castain.

"You love him, Jake?"

"I love him, Aidan.”

“Okay.” Aidan would try to get along with him, and he would try to be accepting of Jake's new life. Jake ran to him and hugged him, and Aidan held him and hoped that everything was as good as Jake thought it was.

"Let's go for a walk, and I'll show you around. It’s not at all what we thought; it's just a community that happens to be shifters.”

"Just happens to be shifters," Aidan repeated with just a touch of sarcasm as he slipped his shoes on. Jake had returned all of his belongings except for his phone.

"Don't start. You know I'm telling the truth. Come on, and let's go. I'll introduce you to a few people I know so you can see how normal everyone is.” Aidan smiled and nodded, and Jake grabbed him by the arm.

CHAPTER THREE

Isaiah and Travis made their way across the expanse of lawn on the east side of the main house and were headed to the dining hall when suddenly Isaiah stopped and started sniffing the air.

“What’s wrong?” Travis stopped beside him and began looking around.

“Don’t you smell that?” Isaiah took in a deep breath and then slowly released it.

“What does it smell like?”

“Pungent, masculine, expensive leather.” Isaiah rattled off the scents that were bombarding him. He took another deep breath and felt his body shake. Travis stared at him for a second and then looked around once again.

“There’s no one here but you and I.” He stated and then heard something off to his left. There, coming around the corner of the main house from the front yard, was Jake Kolly and his brother Aidan.

“I have no idea what plant or animal is giving off that scent, but I’d love to bottle it.” He took several deep breaths, consuming the wonderful smell. Travis looked at the two comingtoward them from the front yard and then glanced over at Isaiah, and the truth hit him.

“Oh my God.” He said deep and slow.

“What?” Isaiah shifted his attention immediately.

“That’s Jake Kolly and his brother Aidan.” Travis indicated the two men walking toward them.

“Yeah.” Isaiah waited for more explanation, and then it came at him full-bodied and forceful. The scent was now thick and heavy, rolling over him in waves. His body reacted subtly with sharp attention, a concentrated stare, and a sudden need to jump the man now standing before him. Isaiah felt his wolf surge to the forefront, and he struggled to keep him leashed.

He could feel Travis’ speculative gaze upon him. "It's you, Isaiah. He belongs to you.” He said with a grin. “Let me introduce you.”

"Hey, Jake." Travis instantly engaged. “Let me introduce you to my friend Isaiah.”