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Lucien sat at the table eating, his hackles would have been fully raised if he had any.

“This is getting more and more demanding,” he complained, as he got up from the table and started cleaning up the mess their breakfast had made.

Before he was finished cleaning, he heard the front door open and close, and hurried to the front of the house to get a look at Hellen.

She was wearing a pair of cutoff shorts, not too, too short, but short enough that she’d have to tug them down after every time she stood up from the sitting position.

She had on a tank top that was knitted like a sweater, a cream color with muted red, orange, and yellow horizontal stripes around it near the bottom hem.

It wasn’t skin tight, but it did hug her figure, leaving very little to the imagination while at the same time making her appearance seem effortless.

Her feet were wearing some kind of heeled sandal that made no secret of the shapely tanned legs the girl had.

“Fuck me,” he grumbled, shaking his head as he went back to the kitchen to quickly finish cleaning.

“So damn tired of already having to consider any-damn-body-else.” He loaded the last of the dishes into the dishwasher and paused as he had another thought.

“More irritating it gets, the less I’ll want to be here, the quicker I’ll get her out of my system.

” Grinning with a newfound purpose, he went to the living room where he’d left the shirt and shoes Tempest had given him.

He put them back on, and walked out the back door, his planned path already memorized from the first time he’d made the trek from there to Hellen's house the previous night.

~~~

Standing at the base of the staircase, looking up at the raised house, Lucien spent quite a bit of time second guessing his decision to be here.

Deciding there was no way around it, he took his time making it up the steps and set foot on the wraparound porch, pausing to look out over the water.

Yeah, this was the kind of home he’d choose if he chose to have one.

Near the water, up off the ground so none of his own relatives would feel the need to invite themselves in, and a wraparound porch to lounge on when you didn’t feel like getting in the water.

He went to the front door and hesitated before knocking, wondering again if it might not be easier to just go. Then he thought of Hellen, and all traces of resistance melted away. “Fuck me,” he grumbled again, rapping his knuckles sharply on the door for the second time.

It only took a moment or two and the door was pulled open.

Brandt stood there, his front door open wide, his arms crossed over his chest, his head canted just slightly as he critically took in the male’s appearance.

“You Brandt?” Lucien asked.

“I am.”

“I’m Lucien.”

“And I’m supposed to care about that why?” Brandt asked.

“Because I’m here to ask,” he forced the word ‘ask’ out with a great effort, “if I can crash here for a while.”

“Who the hell are you?” Brandt asked.

“Friend of Hell’s.”

“Hellen's?” Brandt asked.

“Yep.”

“You don’t seem too happy about being here. Why do you want sanctuary?”

Lucien sighed audibly. “I’m not asking for sanctuary. I’m asking to hang out for a while. Because she said I either have to ask permission to be on your property or I have to go. And I’m not going. At least not yet, so, here I am,” he said, scratching a hand through the back of his hair.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea. You don’t seem to want to be here.”

“No. No, that’s not it. I don’t want to have to ask.

It’s not in my nature to ask. But damn, you ever meet a female and it makes you do all kinds of shit you never imagined you’d do?

I mean, never do! For any damn body. And the next thing you know you’re standing in front of her damn Alpha begging to be allowed to be near her, and it really kind of pisses you the hell off. ”

Brandt barked out a laugh. “Oh, hell yeah. I got me one of those, too. I was so pissed off when I figured out she was my mate and I had to give in.”

“Didn’t have to. You could have walked.”

“Yeah, remember that and let me know how it goes for you.”

Lucien grinned, knowing Brandt was right. “Yeah, you get it then. But I’m not there yet.”

“If you’re standing here in front of me, despite the fact you’d rather not be, you’re closer than you think.”

Lucien scratched the side of his jaw and focused on Brandt. “Maybe. But I’m still thinking I can get her out of my system. We’ll see.”

“Yes, we will.”

“So, I’m good?” Lucien asked.

“Yeah, you’re good. But fair warning, if you hurt her, and she doesn’t handle you herself, we’re all coming after you.”

“Fair enough. Hope you can swim.”

“Swim… Oh, you gotta be kidding! You’re the damn gator!”

Lucien grinned at him. “I’ll be good. Won’t bite anybody that doesn’t make me.”

“You’re the one Tempest gave clothes to.”

“Yep. That’d be me. Thanks for use of your raincoat. Helped to not present myself with the boys swinging in the breeze, you know what I mean?”

“Good Lord, I’m gonna need a new raincoat,” Brandt said.

Lucien grinned again. “Alright, well appreciate the permission to stay. But, this is done, so I’m on my way to find somebody named Kaid and his half of the clan.”

Brandt’s eyes widened. “You’re going to Kaid’s?”

“I guess. That’s where Hell said she was going to visit her sister and her Alpha mate. Hey, let me ask you, is every damn body around here an Alpha?”

“Are you?” Brandt asked, already knowing the answer to that question.

“Yep. Would be if I tolerated others well. But my kind prefers to just kill the others.” Lucien shrugged. “I’m lying. Some go in for all that brotherhood, strength in numbers crap. I don’t. Most of the strongest don’t. But I can behave when there’s a need.”

“Like a particular she-Wolf shifter,” Brandt asked.

“That’d be the need. But I’m also aware I’m on your property, among your people. I’m not looking for trouble.”

“Good. Neither are we. Hang on, I’ll drive you over to Kaid’s. I gotta see this.”

“Ought to be interesting,” Lucien said, turning his back to the door to wait while Brandt did whatever he needed to be able to leave.

~~~

Brandt closed the door, leaving Lucien on the porch, and went to the bedroom. “Tempest? Baby, I’m going over to Kaid’s for a bit. Want to come?”

“No, thank you. I’m going to lie my pregnant ass right here and be lazy,” Tempest said.

“You just don’t want to get too close because somebody other than Lucien might notice you’re pregnant despite the glamour you keep throwing around yourself.”

“I should have asked how he knew when he congratulated me this morning. And yes, I’m keeping my distance. But I’m also lazy.”

Brandt laughed. “Want me to bring you some food back.”

“Oh, yes! Yes, please. What are they having?”

“I don’t know. I’m taking Lucien over there. He’s hell-bent on seeing Hellen and that’s where she told him she was going. I gotta see this,” he said as he watched Tempest force herself up off the bed and start shoving her legs into a pair of sweats. “What are you doing?”

“I’m coming. I gotta see this, too.” She stopped tugging the sweat pants up her legs and turned to look at him. “He asked for permission to be here?”

“Yeah, he did. I granted it.”

“I’m surprised. Glad you did, but surprised.”

“Why are you surprised?”

“He’s another Alpha,” she said as if it wasn’t clear enough on its own.

“Yeah. But he’s Hellen’s. That’s what you said, right?”

“I did. But what I really meant is that he could be Hellen’s. Ultimately, it’s up to her.”

Brandt shrugged. “He’s also very, very strong, which might come in handy in the future, and he’s so honest it borders on offensive. I like him. And I look forward to watching him fit in around here, if Hellen doesn’t send him packing. This is going to be funny.”

“Not likely she sends him anywhere… you get a good look at that male?” Tempest asked.

“Yes. He’s just a male.”

“No, he is not just a male. That’s a sex God walking.”

“He’s an alligator.”

“I don’t give a damn what he is, that male is pure sex. Well, sex and attitude.”

“Maybe I’m rethinking giving him permission to be around here.”

“Oh, don’t be jealous, my mate. Just being honest.”

“Mmhmm. You need help putting those things on?”

“No, but if you could grab me one of your teeshirts I’d appreciate it.”

“Coming up.”

~~~

Lucien turned at the sound of the door opening and smiled at Tempest as she walked out of it. “You coming to see this circus blow up in my face, too?”

Tempest laughed. “I have no choice. I gotta watch.”

“So, help a male out… what’s the worst part going to be?” Lucien asked.

Brandt locked the door and pulled it closed, then he and Tempest shared a knowing look. “Maverik,” they said at the same time.

“What’s a Maverik?”

“Hellen’s father.”

“Ahhh. I understand.”

“And then it’ll be Havoc,” Brandt said.

“Who’s that?” Lucien asked.

“Twin brother. But you might luck out and he won’t be there,” Brandt said.

“Just got married,” Lucien said.

“Exactly.”

“Oh, but you better win over Delilah, too. If not, you’ll not have a minute’s peace,” Tempest said.

“Who’s Delilah?”

“She’s Kaid’s mate. She’s a co-alpha.”

“She a Bear, too?” Lucien asked.

“No, she’s a Dragon. Kind of like my Tempest with all the power she exudes,” Brandt said.

“Is that what you are? Dragon?” Lucien asked, slowly bringing up the rear as he followed them down their stairs, his hand gripping the railing.

Tempest smiled secretively. “Is that what you’re picking up?”

“I’m not sure. I get a feeling of Dragon, but then I get a feeling for something else I really don’t think I even want to know about.”

“Smart male,” Brandt said as he held open the passenger side door for Tempest to get in the truck. He walked around to the driver’s side and got in while Lucien got in the back seat of the extended cab.