Page 24 of Malek

Axel just looked at everything open-mouthed as Malek carried him in. It was, in a word… stunning.

He could see some of the original structure of the house was kept with stone and timber mullions, flagstone and original wood plank floors displayed a patina that only time itself could create, but there were also modern touches that he could see.

Axel had to admit though, he loved the stone relief interior, and they had passed a grand fireplace, and there was another in the room Malek took him into. It was a beautiful reception room with high ceilings probably dating back to some really old era, but the furniture was distinctively modern, and he could tell it was also expensive.

“Wow,” Axel breathed, trying to imagine growing up in a home like this. If he thought he was in a house where no one sat on the furniture, that was immediately dispelled when Malek plopped down on a large sofa with Axel on his lap. Malek took a moment to ask if Axel was okay and Axel assured his mate he was.

Malek turned around and Axel followed his lead, when he looked into the archway of the room they were in he gasped when he saw three equally tall beautiful men. They looked enough like Malek for Axel to recognise them as his mate’s brothers.

“Angel, these are my brothers. Malachi, Marcellus, and Mikhail. Brothers, this is my mate Axel Whitfell formerly Baines.”

Axel heard that pride in his mate’s voice again as he called Axel by his family name instead of Axel’s maiden name… Axel wasn’t sure if it was a maiden name for a guy, but whatever, it fit.

Axel couldn’t help staring at each of his brother’s mates, each of them gorgeous, each of them with the same blue eyes his mate had, their hair varying shades of brown. He smiled shyly and waved at them, but none of them waved back.

He was calling himself all kinds of stupid for waving like a freak. Until he realised that the three men were staring at him like he was the Easter bunny, or Santa Claus, or something equally fictional come to life.

He squirmed under their intense stares and for a moment he wondered if he had something on his face, or something else equally as embarrassing.

“Uh,” Axel squirmed in Malek’s lap, but his mate held him tight.

“You might want to stop moving, or I won’t be responsible for whatever happens next,” Malek nipped his earlobe, making him shiver.

That seemed to snap the brothers out of their staring, and they moved forward like they were going to greet Axel, arms outstretched, but before they could get close, his mate’s arms tightened around him, and Axel heard a growl.

The brothers froze before they could get near, and Axel elbowed Malek in the stomach from his position, making his mate yelp, but at least the growling stopped.

“Quit it,” Axel whispered to his mate, but apparently he wasn’t low enough, because it was one of Malek’s brothers, Marcellus, who spoke.

“He can’t help it,” Marcellus said, coming forward first, “His wolf is in protective mode since you guys are newly mated.”

“Yeah, and he’s going to be all territorial for a while, but we’re family,” Malachi, the brother that looked the most like Malek, said in a pointed tone, his eyes on Malek.

Malek seemed to snap out of it, and when Axel glanced at his mate he had a sheepish, yet unapologetic, look on his face.

“You’re my mate,” Malek said simply.

The look in Malek’s eyes was so territorial and the waves of emotions Axel was getting from Malek was a mixture of awe, almost like he couldn’t believe Axel was here.

Axel couldn’t help it, in front of his mate’s brothers he placed a quick kiss on Malek’s lips and looked him in the eye, hoping his mate could feel his joy, being with him.

“Lucky sod,” Axel heard someone mutter, although he wasn’t sure which of the brothers it was.

The other two laughed, the mood in the room settled.

“So, breakfast anyone, while we get to know the newest member of the family?” When Axel looked up from his mate, he saw it was Malachi that had spoken, and he had a welcoming smile on his face.

Axel grinned back at him, and a little of the fear he hadn’t even realised he had disappeared, the knot in his belly loosened. Everything would be okay. Malek’s brothers seemed to be nice when they weren’t staring at him like some alien from another planet.

He was pretty sure he wasn’t the first human they’d seen, but before he could decipher the initial odd behaviour, Malek stood, still with Axel in his arms and followed behind his brothers.

“I can walk you know,” Axel's eyes danced as he looked at his mate.

“I find I like having you in my arms.”

Did he mention surreal…? That was what his life had become, in the best possible way.

Now if he could get his family to live as long as he apparently would, then everything would be truly perfect.