Page 30 of Captivated By Alphas 1, Fated (The Blood Moon Chronicle #4)

CARMICHAEL COUSINS

Adrian forced his beast back with monumental effort, his jaw clenched so tight it ached. Not yet, he told his panther. Too soon. Would scare him away.

Eli straightened, gas can in hand, and turned to find Adrian much closer. His eyes widened, pupils dilating as he took an instinctive step back. “Personal space much?”

“Sorry,” Adrian managed, his voice rough with the effort of restraint. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

Liar, his panther accused. Want to be close. Want to touch. Want to taste.

“You move very quietly,” Eli said, something like recognition flickering in those extraordinary eyes. “Like a panther.”

The word sent a thrill through Adrian. His mate knew exactly what he was, had made the connection despite Adrian’s careful control. His panther preened at the recognition, pleased that their mate was perceptive enough to sense their true nature.

Smart mate, it approved. Sees our beast. Perfect for us.

“Method acting,” he said, forcing a casual tone. “I’m playing a cat burglar in my next film.”

“Right,” Eli said, his expression making it clear he wasn’t buying it. “Well, let’s get you back to your car before your family sends out a search party. I promised Tricia—my mom—I’d be back to help with dinner preparations.”

They began walking along the path, the gas can between them. Adrian was acutely aware of Eli’s every movement—the way he kept tugging the shirt down, the droplets still occasionally falling from his damp hair, the faint scent of arousal that cut through his winter-pure fragrance.

Beautiful, his panther purred, drinking in every detail. Perfect. OURS.

“So you’re Tricia and Thomas’ son?” Adrian asked, piecing together the connections. “I didn’t realize they had a son.”

“Adopted,” Eli clarified, his chin lifting slightly as if expecting judgment. “About nine years ago, when I was twelve. I’ve been living on the estate for five years now.”

His panther filed away this information, building its understanding of their mate piece by piece. Five years on the estate—years Adrian had spent traveling between film festivals and shooting locations, years he could have known Eli if he’d spent more time at home.

Lost time, his beast lamented with uncharacteristic regret. Should have found mate sooner.

“I’ve been away too long,” Adrian admitted. “The family business keeps us scattered.”

“The family business being blockbuster movies and indie critical darlings?” Eli asked, a hint of teasing in his voice.

Adrian laughed, delighted by the unexpected spark. “Among other things. The entertainment empire is just the visible part.”

“The visible part as opposed to the secret panther shifter part?” Eli asked casually, then glanced sideways to gauge Adrian’s reaction.

The direct question caught Adrian completely off guard.

His panther froze, momentarily stunned that their mate would address their supernatural nature so openly, so casually.

Most humans who knew about shifters—even those who worked for supernatural families—maintained a careful distance from the topic, treating it with wary respect bordering on fear.

But Eli had tossed it out like he was commenting on the weather, with a comfortable familiarity that suggested complete acceptance.

Perfect mate, his panther purred, absolutely thrilled by this evidence of compatibility. Accepts us completely. No fear. No hesitation.

“You know about that?” Adrian couldn’t help but ask, studying Eli’s face for any sign of discomfort or uncertainty.

“I live with two beta shifters and have been around the Carmichaels for years,” Eli replied with a shrug that made the oversized shirt slip off one shoulder, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of collarbone that made Adrian’s mouth water.

“Paul shifts all the time when we’re hanging out.

Says it’s more comfortable. Plus, your eyes were literally glowing gold a minute ago when you were staring at my legs. ”

Adrian’s panther bristled at the mention of his younger cousin spending shifting time with their mate. The thought of Paul in his panther form, comfortable and casual around Eli, stirred a primitive jealousy he hadn’t anticipated.

Others too familiar with our mate, his beast growled. Need to establish primacy. Need to claim what’s OURS.

“And you’re comfortable with that? With what we are?” Adrian asked, genuinely curious about Eli’s acceptance.

“Should I not be?” Eli countered, readjusting the shirt. “It’s just part of who you all are. Like having brown hair or being ridiculously attractive. Just another genetic trait.”

The casual acceptance was both refreshing and deeply alluring. Adrian’s panther preened at their mate’s understanding nature, even as it bristled at the thought of others—even family—being so familiar with him.

Perfect mate, it purred. Understands our nature. Accepts our beast.

“You think I’m ridiculously attractive?” Adrian asked, latching on to that particular detail. His panther perked up, eager to hear confirmation of their mate’s interest.

Eli rolled his eyes. “Like you don’t have a mirror. Or social media accounts with millions of followers who tell you that daily.”

“But they’re not you,” Adrian pointed out, his panther purring at the admission. “Their opinions matter considerably less.”

Want his approval, his beast insisted. Need mate to want us. To choose us.

“Oh my God,” Eli muttered, his flush deepening. “Are you always this—”

His words cut off as his foot caught on an exposed root. He stumbled forward, the gas can flying from his hand as he pitched toward the ground. Adrian moved with supernatural speed, his panther surging forward with protective instinct that overrode all other concerns.

Protect mate! it roared, lending him preternatural quickness.

The momentum carried them both off the path, down a small embankment, and directly into the shallow edge of the lake. They landed with a splash, Adrian twisting to take the brunt of the impact, Eli ending up sprawled across his chest in the knee-deep water.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, faces inches apart.

Water lapped around them, soaking Adrian’s expensive slacks and plastering the borrowed shirt to Eli’s body like a second skin.

Adrian was acutely aware of every point of contact—Eli’s legs tangled with his, those delicate hands braced against his chest, their faces close enough to share breath.

His panther went completely still, entranced by their mate’s proximity. Every sense sharpened to painful clarity—the exact pattern of Eli’s quickened breathing, the sweet-sharp spike in his scent that signaled arousal, the subtle dilation of his pupils as they fixed on Adrian’s lips.

Perfect, his beast breathed. So close. Want to taste. Want to claim.

“This feels suspiciously like a scene from one of your romantic films,” Eli said, his attempt at sarcasm undermined by his breathlessness. “Did you engineer this whole thing? Car breakdown, naked swimming, conveniently placed root?”

“If I had this kind of directing power, I’d have won an Oscar by now,” Adrian replied, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. His hands had somehow found their way to Eli’s waist, holding him steady—or perhaps just holding him. “Though I couldn’t have scripted a more perfect lead.”

His panther purred at the contact, at finally being able to touch their mate, to feel that lithe body against theirs. The beast wanted more—wanted to flip their positions, to pin Eli beneath them in the shallow water, to claim those parted lips and mark that elegant throat.

Take him now, it urged. He wants us. Can smell it on him. Can see it in his eyes.

Eli’s extraordinary eyes darkened, pupils expanding as he registered their position. “We should… get up.”

“Should we?” Adrian murmured, one hand sliding up Eli’s back to cradle the nape of his neck. His panther was screaming at him to close that final distance, to claim those parted lips, to mark this beautiful creature as theirs. “The composition is perfect as is.”

His fingers tangled in damp platinum strands, the texture even more exquisite than he'd imagined. His panther growled softly with satisfaction, reveling in this intimate privilege. The beast urged him to tighten his grip, to use it to pull Eli down into a claiming kiss.

Now, it insisted. Claim him NOW.

Eli’s breath hitched, his gaze dropping to Adrian’s mouth. “This is… We shouldn’t…”

“Why not?” Adrian asked, thumb tracing the delicate line of Eli’s jaw. His panther tracked the movement with fierce satisfaction, reveling in finally touching that perfect skin. “Give me one good reason.”

“Because,” Eli began, then faltered as Adrian’s fingers threaded through his damp hair. “Because we just met. Because you’re… you’re Adrian Carmichael. You’ve dated models and actors and people who don’t trip over roots and fall into lakes.”

The self-doubt in Eli’s voice made Adrian’s panther growl with protective indignation. The idea that their mate could think himself unworthy was unacceptable. The beast wanted to erase that doubt, to show Eli exactly how perfect he was, how desperately they wanted him.

Perfect mate, it insisted. Only mate we want. Only mate we need.

“None of whom were half as interesting as the housekeeper’s son who swims naked and knows about panthers,” Adrian countered, his panther growling in agreement. “And what I am is very, very interested.”

Eli’s pulse jumped visibly at the base of his throat, a flush spreading across his cheeks. “You’re just… caught up in the moment. The setting, the situation. It’s like something from one of your movies.”

“My movies aren’t nearly this perfect,” Adrian said truthfully. His panther was going crazy, demanding he stop talking and start claiming. “You have no idea how beautiful you are right now.”

Claim him, his beast urged. He’s right here. So close. OURS.