Page 21 of Back to You (Legendary Shifters #14)

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RONAN WATCHED IN AWE as people started taking out the boxes from the van Vincent had parked in front of the house. He hadn’t expected so many of them to show up when he’d mentioned that Vincent was moving in and that they’d have a lot of stuff to move.

In hindsight, he probably should’ve guessed it would cause half the pack to show up. He’d mentioned it to Bryson and Mercer after work, and Bryson was Cam’s brother. He knew everyone in the pack, and he had a lot of friends. It wouldn’t have taken him long to text them and find volunteers.

Not everyone was happy with Vincent’s move.

No one had dared tell that to Ronan’s face, but he’d heard whispers, and he saw how people looked at him.

Hell, some of the guards even refused to talk to him now.

They were angry, but he couldn’t care less.

If they wanted to talk things through, he was willing to do so, but he wasn’t going to go after them.

What they thought of Vincent didn’t matter.

Eventually, they’d see that Vincent was nothing like his father, and they’d relax.

Ronan wasn’t going to wait for the pack to be comfortable with Vincent’s presence. He and Vincent were together, and he wouldn’t waste any more time. They’d already lost too much of it.

“Peter’s at the gate,” Vincent said as he stepped behind Ronan and wrapped an arm around his waist. “He texted to ask me about one of the guards. Apparently, the guy is hot, all capitals.”

“Does that mean he’s getting over Lou?”

“I hope so. He’s still refusing to talk about it.”

“I thought he’d promised that he would.”

Vincent glared. “He did, which is why I’m pissed. He’s taking advantage of the fact that I’m moving to avoid me.”

Vincent was leaving his apartment, and after what had happened with Lou, Peter had decided to take over the lease.

That meant that both of them had been packing and moving their stuff, so the past month had been busy.

Ronan wasn’t surprised that Vincent and Peter hadn’t found the opportunity to talk, especially since it was clear that Peter didn’t want to.

He might’ve promised Vincent that they would, but Ronan understood why he wouldn’t want that.

Lou had hurt him. It didn’t matter what Peter had been thinking when he decided to date the guy.

It still had to be humiliating and hurtful, and he probably never wanted to think about that again.

Ronan wanted to suggest that Vincent leave him be, but at the same time, maybe it would be good for Peter to talk to someone.

It wasn’t going to be easy for them. They’d always lived close by, sometimes even together, but with Vincent in Rosewood, they wouldn’t be able to see each other as often as they had until now.

Vincent had extended Cam’s offer for Peter to become a pack member to him, but so far, Peter hadn’t said much about it.

It was probably too much for him to deal with right now, which was understandable.

“Who’s that?” Vincent asked as he tilted his chin toward one of the people unloading the van.

“That would be Braden.”

Vincent cocked his head and stared for a moment before nodding. “I know that name. He’s the guy who looked into me.”

“He is, and he had nothing but good things to say about you. Don’t hold it against him.”

“Why would I? He was doing his job.”

“Why the sudden interest in him, then?”

“I’m starting to recognize everyone else, but I wasn’t sure who he was. Also, he’s Peter’s type.”

Ronan grinned. “You’re pushing a bit too hard, aren’t you?”

“Maybe, but it’s not doing Peter any good to continue obsessing over Lou. Moving here would help him find his mate.”

“Whoever his mate is, they might not live here.”

“Maybe not, but what are the odds that he’ll meet them in the city? He hasn’t until now. Here, there are plenty of single shifters who might be the person he’s looking for.”

They also might not be, but at the very least, they would be better than Lou. Ronan only had to deal with the asshole once, and it had been one time too many. Luckily, it seemed like Lou had taken Ronan’s threat of hunting him down if he ever came anywhere near Peter again to heart.

The sound of a car approaching made both of them turn. Peter waved at them, and for once, he was smiling. That had to be a good sign, right?

Vincent grabbed Ronan’s hand and pulled him down the porch steps. “Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“Well, we should probably help these people unload our stuff, but also, I want you to introduce me to Braden.”

“I can do that later.”

“Or you can do it now while Peter’s coming toward me.”

Ronan pulled Vincent into his arms. “You’re playing matchmaker?”

“Someone has to.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Vincent sighed. “I just want Peter to be happy.”

“And you think he’d be happy moving here?”

“I know he won’t be happy on his own. He talks a good game, but I give him two weeks before he’s complaining about not being able to see me often enough.”

“That doesn’t mean he wants to move.”

“Oh, he will. I’ll make sure of it.”

“It sounds like a threat.”

“It’s not one yet.”

Ronan wasn’t sure how he’d survived four years without his mate, but he was glad he didn’t have to anymore. His life without Vincent had been painful. His life since they’d found each other again was anything but.

They reached Braden as Peter got out of his car and came toward them. Vincent grinned, and Ronan didn’t have a choice. How was he supposed to say no to his mate?

“Braden, this is Vincent,” he announced.

Braden grinned. He always had a smile on his face. The only time Ronan had seen him not smiling was when he was working.

Braden offered Vincent his hand. “It’s good to meet you. I know way too many things about you not to have met you yet.”

Vincent laughed. “I suppose you don’t usually do background checks on people you know.”

“I don’t, but I’m glad this one went well.”

“You’re not the only one.”

Braden laughed. Ronan had been keeping an eye on Peter, and he saw the way Peter’s eyes widened. He stumbled, but he didn’t stop moving toward them.

Interesting.

“Hey, Vince,” Peter said when he reached them. He hugged Vincent, then turned toward Ronan, who opened his arms. Peter fit into them easily, but Ronan frowned. He was too damn thin.

“Peter, this is Braden,” Vincent explained, gesturing at Braden. “He’s the guy who did the background check on me.”

Peter’s eyes narrowed, and he looked Braden up and down. “That doesn’t sound like someone I’d want to meet.”

“You know it wasn’t his fault,” Vincent gently scolded.

Braden’s smile was still present. “I’ll apologize if that displeased you, but it’s my job.”

“It might be your job, but I can’t be held responsible for disliking you. You could’ve ruined my best friend’s life.”

“I’m glad I didn’t. Vincent will be a good addition to the pack.”

Peter stepped forward. “Are you a pack member?”

“Not yet, although Cam offered me a spot here. My two best friends are pack members.”

Vincent elbowed Ronan in the ribs. When Ronan turned to him, he grinned and winked, and Ronan had to resist the urge to laugh. Maybe Vincent was a good matchmaker, after all.

Peter had stopped talking. He stared at Braden with wide eyes, his mouth open. Ronan was about to ask what was going on when Peter shook his head and smiled. It was obviously forced, and both Ronan and Vincent noticed.

“Well, it seems like a nice place to live,” Peter said.

“You live here?”

“Gosh, no. I’m only here to help my best friend move.”

Was that disappointment on Braden’s face? Ronan didn’t know, but he wanted to find out. He wasn’t going to do so today, though. They had work to do, and he suspected that Peter was starting to feel uncomfortable.

“Well, we should get to work,” Peter declared as he turned to Vincent.

Vincent frowned, but before he could say anything, Ronan gently elbowed him back.

When Vincent looked at him, he shook his head.

Whatever was going on here was none of their business.

If it was important, they’d find out soon enough, and if it wasn’t, well, there was no reason for them to get involved.

Ronan softly snorted. As if that would stop his mate.