Page 7 of Whisper Woods (Legends of the Whisper Woods #3)

Seff

A cramp in my thigh. A stream of sunlight over my face. A hand on my chest. A body, hard and naked pressed against my side. Hair, black and soft tickling my cheek. The dryness of my mouth, the throbbing in my head. And buzzing. Strange, vibrating buzzing. All the things I notice as I slowly wake. Somewhere comfortable but strange. Definitely not my bed.

Definitely not alone. Shit.

What is that buzzing? I blink back the sleep, letting my eyes adjust to the light. It’s hot and sweaty tightly pressed against each other like this, his head cradled on my shoulder, my arm around him. It’s uncomfortable as shit and my arm is killing me but I’d rather let the thing die than move him. He’s still fast asleep, soft snores tickling my chest where he’s lying in a puddle of his drool.

It makes him seem softer. Less horny-inducingly terrifying than he is when he’s awake.

Rafe. Gods. Fucking Gods. What was that last night? Where had he come from? I’m still too asleep to make sense of it. That he’s real. That he’s here .

In Twin Heads of all fucking places.

I swear, if he has been here under my nose the whole time, I am giving up my being status to live as a human or something. Because how the fuck haven’t I scented him before now?

Wolf interrupts, whining petulantly at the idea of being human. As if we could ever be apart .

My hand runs a soothing path over Rafe’s naked back, the simple touch waking up my body. Beneath his thigh thrown possessively over my pelvis, my cock thickens. With a soft groan my hips arch into him, not looking for anything more, just enjoying the sensation of the crinkly hair of his leg, and the pressure against my erection. Obviously at some point last night I’d slipped out of Rafe, but we’d never cleaned up. We’re a disgusting mess, and I love it.

We’ve never managed to make it to a bed when we’re together. Against a tree, sure. But the soft mossy dirt of the Whisper Woods has been where we’ve been together the most in the handful of times we’ve found each other. We’ve never had a morning together, not really. One, or both of us creeping off into the dawn. Always reluctantly and always with that sad ache in my chest that took a couple of days to shake. But that’s what this is.

Maybe it’s the bed that makes it feel different this time. That’s why there is a hard lump forming in my throat at the reminder of our inevitable goodbye. Waking up together in something like real life, not from a fever dream in the Woods.

“What in the name of the Gods is that sound?” Rafe inhales deeply and stretches, plastering himself harder against my side. Lazily, he grinds his erection against my hip, chuckling darkly at my answering twitch under his thigh.

But he’s right. That buzzing is back. What the fuck is it?

Am I scared to get out of bed to go find out in case this is all somehow going to disappear into a cloud of smoke? Absolutely.

But the sound is really annoying. So I scrub a hand over my face and wiggle out from under Rafe with a groan.

To Rafe’s snickering delight, that cramp in my thigh roars back to life with a vengeance when I put my feet on the floor and I end up hobbling around the room. The buzzing seems to be coming from my pants pocket.

My phone.

Well, shit. It seems obvious now.

Before I bend over to pick it up, I turn back to Rafe, reclined on one arm on the bed, watching me hungrily. Behind him is the headboard I broke last night, the wood snapped through the middle.

The weight of his attention is heavy, intoxicating, so I wink at him, before bending down slowly at the waist, making sure my ass pops, displaying my muscles in a way I know looks good . I keep eye contact the whole time too, so I don’t miss a second of the way his body tenses, like a predator readying to attack.

The way his hand clenches against the sheets makes my dick throb, a drop of pre-cum falling to the carpet at my feet. He doesn’t miss it, his eyes laser focused on my cock head, his tongue darting out to lick his lip like he could taste it, that reptilian pupil widening to almost black.

Gods’ tits, who knew picking up a phone could be foreplay?

Phone safely in hand I straighten, the eye contact in this room reaching nearly pornographic levels. I don’t know shit about pheromones, but if some scientist could bottle what’s in this room right now, they’d make squillions.

Buzzing completely forgotten, I tap my phone against the palm of my hand. I could run. Not far—this room is fucking tiny—but I could. There is enough furniture in the room to create some obstacles.

He could catch me.

Fuck me against any one of those surfaces.

Like he can sense my thoughts, that hand clenches again in the sheets and he moves, in slinky, too-graceful, movements.

A predator ready to capture its prey.

Wolf whines. You’d think he’d hate that, being the prey. Running. But no, he just wants to get his rocks off. And no one does it like Rafe. No one has ever given us what we crave.

There is a hint of a smile on Rafe’s face, dark and dangerous.

A slight shuffle of my foot is met with a subtle straightening of his spine.

My knee bends, he raises from his elbow to his hand.

If I aim for the other side of the couch, I can probably evade him for at least a minute.

My cock jerks, distracting Rafe just enough for me to make a move.

But as I spin on my heels, ready to take a running leap for the other side of the ugly ass couch, my phone buzzes again and I stumble to a halt.

Behind me I can hear Rafe’s growl as he launches from the bed, smacking into my back when I haven’t moved from my spot.

It’s Caelan.

Like, a lot of Caelan. Calls, texts. Seldon too. Fuck .

“Who is Caelan?” There is a rough edge to his voice. I don’t know if it’s jealousy or our aborted playtime. I don’t take my eyes off the Caelan on the phone, still buzzing in my hand.

“My ex. My friend.” Rafe only grunts, the rough snort tickling my ear. Leaning into him and the steady calm he gives me, I shudder through a deep breath and hit the green answer button. “Hey, what’s going on?” There is a lot of noise in the background.

“Seff,” Caelan sounds out of breath. Is someone crying? “You need to get to the Black Stump Tavern now . It’s Theo. He’s missing.”

My gut bottoms as the floor disappears underneath me. Only Rafe’s presence at my back keeps me standing. “What do you mean he’s missing?”

“This guy rocked up. His ex, I don’t know. From what Seldon told us, he isn’t a good guy. They went to the house to talk about something, I don’t know, whatever, and now they aren’t there.”

I haven’t heard Caelan this frantic since he called me the night that his grandparents had died. There are more shouts, definitely tears. Rafe’s hand travels up and down my back, in firm, comforting strokes. I have no doubt he can hear every word. “You need to get here now.”

Caelan hangs up without waiting for my answer. He knows I’ll be there. He’s pack after all.

“I gotta go,” I mumble, scrambling to find my underwear and almost falling over three times as I try to jam my body into them. Rafe’s hand on my arm stops me.

“You aren’t going anywhere like this. I’ll drive you. I can help.” His eyes bore into me, and without a word he kneels to help me into my underwear, my shaking hands absolutely useless. “I assume you have a car? It isn’t safe for you to drive like this.” My jeans are next, he gently lifts one foot in and then the other.

“I can’t ask you to do that.”

Rafe freezes, my pants halfway up my thighs. “I do not believe I was asking, Seff. I just found you again. I am not going to let you run half-cocked into danger.”

Ha! If only he knew. He continues to dress me, right down to my baseball cap. Once I’m fully clothed, he grasps my biceps in his impossibly strong hands.

“Give me five minutes and we will be on our way.” He waits for me to nod before he moves, leaving me to gnaw my thumbnail to shreds while he gets dressed and ready with lightning speed. It still feels like an eternity until he’s standing in front of me with his large leather bag. “Okay Seff, let’s go help your friends find Theo.”

***

The anxious ball in my stomach means I almost throw up three times on the drive to the Black Stump Tavern. Wolf is just as frantic as I am. His whimpers swirl with my anxious spiralling thoughts, the memories of Marieth’s cottage goading our combined fears. Wolf, with his animalistic mind, has shrugged off the events there more easily than I have, but he hasn’t forgotten entirely.

Even though he was the one actually in the fray, I was still there. I still felt the fear, the pain, all of it, in the shared connection we have. Saw it through his eyes.

In the carnage of the fight, I hadn’t been able to retreat into the nothing place where our consciousnesses can drift to when in the back seat. Maybe that made it worse. Being able to witness everything, with no control.

Unable to bear the stress of my emotions, Wolf pushes against the mental wall keeping him back. I want nothing more than to let go, to let him take over and let myself retreat to the place where everything feels less severe. But I can’t do that while we’re in the car.

Rafe doesn’t say a word, just drives as hard as he safely can. The car park is in shambles when we pull up, the afternoon rush obviously thrown into chaos.

“I’m sorry, I have—” My door is open before Rafe has put the car in park, but when I turn to look at him, he just shakes his head.

“Go. Do what you need to do with your friends. I will see what I can do to help.” Tears burn my eyes and I try to sniff them back. One sharp nod, and I’m out the door, Wolf taking over within three strides. Shaking off the jeans stuck to his paws, he bolts for the Woods to the rear of the tavern, following the scent of our friends, bypassing the remaining beings organising things inside.

It’s better this way. If Theo is missing, Wolf has a higher chance of finding him than I ever will. The thought is the only thing keeping the last threads of my sanity together as I slide back as far as I can, giving Wolf the space to run with his senses and instincts without my interference.

Memories of Theo assault me while Wolf sorts through the scents of the Woods to find the correct track. We haven’t been friends for long, but the sunny little fae has become a part of this weird family we’ve formed at the Black Stump, and the idea of losing him now feels like a knife to the chest. How could we go on without him sassing Roan and livening up the bar? He’s come so fucking far since we saved him from the cottage. It can’t all be over now. It can’t .

I might be a mental wreck, but Wolf is focused at least. He locks on the scent and tears off again between the trees. The Woods pass by in a green blur, Wolf ignoring rhyme, reason, and physics until we reach the posse calling Theo’s name. Unable to face what we might find, I retreat into the nothing place as far as I can, the real world turning into nothing but disjointed impressions. Like a horrible dream.

A red fox, Seldon, runs rings around him, yipping for Wolf to follow him. On the way, Wolf and I bump into the others—Caelan and Tor, Mauvy, and Roan and finally Edith. Leading the search now, Seldon and Wolf follow the scent through the trees.

When they stop, confused at the end of the trail, I let myself drift closer forward. We’ve reached the pool of the Whisper Falls. But Theo isn’t here. Wolf’s eyes scan the surroundings quicker than I can follow until he’s spotted him. At the very top of the cliffs.

Theo calls out to us, but that only makes it worse. His kidnapper obviously hadn’t counted on our rescue. Through Wolf’s eyes it's even more confusing. I can’t tell what’s happening.

Unable to understand or take any action to help, Wolf whimpers and cowers closer to Edith, dodging the magic balled in her hands. From where he hides, he can still see the blinding flash of light that erupts from up above. Hear the terror all around us.

Then more screams. Different screams. From the top of the falls .

It cuts through the panic around us. And then silence.

Worse than the blood-curdling screams, horrified gasps follow the silence. And then, like a whirlwind, the frantic rescue plans restart, more desperate than before.

In the end, a mage raises Roan and himself in the air. They float all the way to the top of the falls, and Theo is rescued, secured safely in Roan’s arms. Just like all those months ago.

Once he’s safe, and Edith once again confirms his health, the search teams are directed back to the tavern. The walk back in strained silence as darkness descends over the Woods. The crowd swells the closer we get, news of Theo’s rescue travelling fast.

Wolf can smell Rafe amongst the crowd. It relieves something inside both Wolf and me to know he’s still there, that he waited. The need to go to him is nearly overpowering. But the need to see this through with Roan and my friends is stronger.

Roan stops as we pass his house, Theo still cradled in his arms.

“I’m not taking him in there. Not again.” He nods his head towards the Black Stump Tavern, lit up in the night.

And so we follow Roan to his little house behind the tavern, unable to leave him and Theo. Wolf steps back, allowing me to be with my friends like I need and him to process what’s just happened in his own wolf way.

We dutifully eat the sandwiches Mauvy brings, and pray to the Gods for Theo to wake up. But there is nothing to be done and eventually, exhaustion wins out. We need to leave Roan to rest with his love.

We walk as one up to the back entrance of the Black Stump. It’s the way we came in the night we came home from Marieth too. The memories flood back once again, threatening to send me into another tailspin.

Wolf rumbles a soft growl at me, causing Seldon’s little fox to jump in fright.

Stop . Wolf warns, not wanting either of us sent down that path.

Roan was right to not bring Theo in here. Especially not now. The mood in the bar is sombre, but it’s still busy. Beings who came for a quiet weekend drink caught up in the whirlwind and drama now head home to the Woods for the night.

I ignore it all. Because I can still smell him here. Rafe . The smokey scent ignites the last of the energy in my body and I follow the trail, pushing my way through the departing beings all the way up the twisted tree staircase to a door.

Exhausted, and barely aware of my surroundings—or my nakedness—I knock weakly on the door. I don’t even know if he heard it.

But then he’s there, the door swinging wide to reveal him like the gift from the Gods he is. He’s dressed in clean pants, barefoot with his shirt untucked, hair wild, like he’s run his hands through it a thousand times, that strangely hot white streak stark in the dim lights of his room. I wait on the boundary of his doorway while he inspects me, face pinched in dark, slightly feral seriousness.

“ Rafe .” It’s a whimper. A plea.

And then he grabs me, hauling me into the room to crush me to his chest. Despite my being bigger than him in every conceivable way, he holds me like a fragile thing.

The door slams shut behind me, and I bury my face into his neck, my arms two solid bands around him. He doesn’t let me go, doesn’t poke or push. Just lets me sink into him until he feels the tension ease from my body.

“Come on, let’s get you in the shower.” Without removing my face from the crook of his neck, I shake my head, shimmying myself closer to him again. “Please Seff, let me take care of you.”

Well, fuck. Who can argue with that?

He holds my hand as he leads me around the bed to the bathroom. It’s tiny, and damp. He must’ve showered earlier. The shower is so small I barely fit in it, so we certainly won’t be sharing. That doesn’t stop Rafe from stripping off while the water heats. I wait, slumped against the door frame, utterly exhausted. My dick can’t even give anymore than a little twitch in the presence of Rafe’s naked body.

When he deems the water perfect he extends his hand, and for a moment, I think I can see a shimmer of spiked, blue, almost black scales up his arms before they disappear. But I shake it off, allowing him to lead me under the warm spray.

And fuck, it feels nice. Easing out the ache from my joints. Closing my eyes, I let the water rush over me. I push my hair back and tip my face under too.

“Here,” Rafe’s voice is gentle, just like the touch of the soapy washcloth in his hands as he drags it in smooth circles over my chest, wiping away the crud that stuck with me in the change.

It’s methodical, but not clinical, affectionate, caring, but not sexual, the way he washes me. He’s not satisfied until my front is covered in soft white bubbles. From my shoulders, over my stomach, all the way down to my toes, Rafe takes exquisite care. He even manages to draw a soft huffing laugh from me when my dick gives another valiant half hearted jump with his touch.

“Turn around.” His gentle command of me eases the racing thoughts that usually overwhelm me at the best of times. But knowing I don’t have to do anything but submit to him and this moment gives me the quiet freedom I crave. So I turn, letting the water wash away the bubbles while he repeats the same reverent care to my back.

It’s a stretch for him to wash my hair, but when I try to do it myself, he slaps my hands away with a possessive little growl, snatching the bottle from my hand. His fingers feel incredible as he massages in the shampoo and then the conditioner.

When he is finally satisfied, and my exhaustion is less rough around the edges, he takes a fresh towel to dry me off first, and then himself.

“Sit.” Another command, this time in the bedroom, where I park my ass on the edge of the bed where he is pointing. I don’t know what I expected, but him climbing on the bed behind me, to towel dry my hair and comb out the knots wasn’t it.

He is meticulous, brushing it until I am almost purring with pleasure. It floods my veins, pumping through my heart with every pounding beat.

“You’re staying with me tonight,” Rafe finally rests the brush on the bedside table, pulling me with him to slip beneath the covers of the bed. I turn off the lights and we fall into place together, like we’ve done it every night for a thousand lifetimes. The only difference is tonight, I rest my head on his shoulder, my hand over his heart. It thuds with a perfect steady rhythm.

“Keep treating me like this, and I’ll stay with you forever.” His arm squeezes around my shoulder, hugging me tight as he presses one last kiss to my crown. And we both huff a laugh like I’m joking, even though we both know I’m not.

***

I could get used to this , I think to myself, sliding my naked thigh over the equally naked thigh of the man I’m wrapped around. Like, really, really used to this. Addicted. In fact, I think I already am. My hands roam over Rafe’s naked body, mapping out every delectable inch of bare skin within reach.

Unable to keep still, I roll my hips, sucking in a loud hiss when my leaking morning wood rubs against his.

“ Gods, yes.” Rafe moans, his hips surging forward to meet mine. Fuck , it feels good. Too good. So I do it again, and again, pressing harder and harder against him until I’ve rolled him onto his back, so I can hump against him.

My head drops into the crook of his neck, drawing his scent into my lungs. Rafe’s legs wrap around my thighs, urging me on as we both scramble to our release. His head is thrown back against the pillows, leaving the muscles and tendons in his neck straining, and so, as my orgasm tingles in my balls, I bite into his neck, sucking hard against the salty skin.

“Fuck, Seff, you are perfect. So good. Just like that,” Rafe’s praise, rough with lust, has me doubling down on my efforts. Our cocks, slick with pre-cum, slide together in perfect sync. I bracket Rafe’s head with my arms, and clench my hands in the sheets under his pillow and drive faster, harder, until I can feel his cock swelling beneath me, and the hot rush of his release between us. His cry is loud and broken as he comes, riding out the wave.

I’m close, so fucking close. I drop my forehead to Rafe’s, needing to be as close to him as possible. His hands grip my ass, pulling me tighter into the slick mess while I fuck against him. The pressure builds, and I don’t hold back, letting it crash over me.

I come in thick spurts, my come mixing with his all over his stomach when I collapse onto him, completely boneless. My weight doesn’t seem to bother him, even when he unlocks his legs from my thighs, but I roll off him anyway .

I don’t go far, plastering myself to his side. He tucks his hands behind his head, a satisfied smile on his face. He looks so smug, I can’t resist pulling him in for a quick kiss.

“I need to go in a moment.” I murmur against his lips when we part. Rafe’s dark eyebrows pull into a frown, the scar on his face making him look extra hot and fearsome.

“Why?”

I chuckle at his annoyed grunt.

“I need to talk to my friends about yesterday.” An anxious knot tightens in my chest. It’s so out of place, not because I don’t get anxious, but because I don’t get anxious with Rafe. But I feel guilty. Conflicted. I need to go see my friends, but it’s probably not cool to bring Rafe with me for the Very Big Talk I know we’re all about to have. But then, leaving him here feels wrong too, leaving an achy pit in my stomach.

Rafe’s frown relaxes somewhat, but he still looks disgruntled at my leaving. His arm is heavy and possessive around my waist, making my heart skip every third beat or so. All these little things make me feel less like a doofus for the sappy kind of way I’m feeling about him. I still haven’t put my finger on why this time is different for us, I just know it is.

I stare at him, in the shadowy morning light of the room, fingers tracing the lines of his stomach until I reach the mess there, swirling it together.

“If you plan on leaving, I very much suggest you do it now.” Rafe’s soft growl as he arches his hips in the air, his spent cock already half full again has me chuckling.

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” I promise sincerely. Unable to resist, I lean down and bite at his nipple, eliciting a deeper growl from him.

“Seriously, now, or I’m not letting you out of this bed for the next year at least.”

I laugh loudly, slipping from the bed, letting Rafe’s hands drag along my body.

“Ugh, don’t tempt me. But I gotta go. You know that right?” The conversation echoes one we’ve had before, only it was him leaving me on the floor of the Woods.

His face softens, and fuck if the ghost of a smile on his lips doesn’t make me wanna crawl back on the bed and lay myself out for him to use for his every filthy desire. But I really do have to go, and so I reluctantly haul my ass into the shower.

When I finally make my way downstairs—my clothes from the club kindly refreshed by the tavern staff while we searched for Theo—I find Mauvy and Caelan arguing with Edith and Tor.

“That’s my brother! I have a right to go see him!” Tor is raging, his purple skin flushed with pink, the back of his shirt moving oddly as he gestures wildly. Shit, if his wings have popped he must be pissed .

“No one’s said he isn’t your brother, Tor. But let them come to you. They deserve some privacy.” Caelan tries to reason with his bonded mate, throwing me a frustrated nod in greeting. Mauvy is physically restraining Edith, a solid grip on her friend’s hand, despite the witch balling up power in a way that I know has to be burning.

“Morning all. What’s going on?” I wave to everyone, plastering a cheery, sleepy smile on my face, scratching at my stomach under my shirt to give a little flash of skin. Just like I knew it would, it distracts Edith enough to stop her hurting Mauvy—the little faun mouthing a thank you behind Edith’s back.

“Morning Seff. Look, now that we’re all here, why don’t we have a quick coffee and then head on over?” Mauvy eyeballs Tor and Edith as she stands, her hooved feet loud on the wooden floors.

“Coffee sounds perfect, Mauvs.” I slide into the seat she just vacated, bumping my shoulder into Edith. “We can’t crowd him.”

If looks could kill, I would be a bloody mess on the floor, with the way her violet eyes snap to me.

“Weren’t you the one that was pouting last night? All ‘we can’t leave him alone again?’ Hmmm?”

Wow. Edith is mean when she’s angry. “Yeah, but he isn’t alone is he? He’s with his mate. And the sun’s not even up yet. Let him sleep.”

Edith softens slightly, whether it’s my flirty smile, or the reminder that Theo needs rest, I don’t know. I’m just glad she’s not directing her pissiness at me anymore.

“Mates?”

Fuck me dead. Now Tor’s mad. I give Caelan a pointed look, but he just shakes his head like a man defeated. He’s probably born the brunt of it all since these two chuckleheads woke up. If they even slept.

“If those two aren’t mates I’m the Queen of Carconnois. Let it go Tor. Your baby brother is all grown up.” I’m saved by Mauvy returning with a tray of steaming coffee.

“Seff’s right. Now, everyone be quiet and drink this.” She places the mugs down in front of us with heavy thunks. And we all take our first sip. And it’s good. Really good.

“Damn, Mauvs, you make this every morning? Mate me already!” I laugh, slurping down a large mouthful. Mauvy just chuckles under her breath, flicking a long brown braid over her shoulder before crossing her arms over her chest. Her cheerful round face is oddly calm as she watches us drink through her gold-rimmed glasses.

“Oh, not every morning, Seff. It’s an old family recipe. I only save it for special occasions.”

***

Mauvy drugged us. There is no other way to explain it. And I’ll take it to my grave, but she one hundred and ten percent spiked that coffee with something. There was no other way we could have gotten Tor and Edith to wait as long as they did to go down to Roan's little house. I’m kind of pissed that I got spiked too, but I understand.

And at least it took the edge off the raging anxiety tearing me apart. I feel itchy on my insides as we all crowd around the table, overflowing with food. I gave Mauvy a questioning look when she carefully put a plate of bacon in front of me, but she just winked. Call me an optimist, but I took that as the all clear that she isn’t dosing our breakfast. And if she is, it’s for our own good. Or something.

The conversation flows around me while Theo explains everything for the first time. Detailing his history with his ex-boyfriend and recent kidnapper, Darius. It turns out, not only was the guy abusive as shit, he was also running a giant money scam among Theo and Tor’s rich friends and families back in Loqueaur City.

I don’t one hundred percent understand how the whole scheme thing worked, but I do understand the guy deserves to be dead for everything he put Theo through. I don’t like thinking like that, but sometimes it’s the truth.

“Not on your life, witch. We just narrowly missed one apocalypse, we’re not risking another.”

I tune in again just in time to catch Tarook’s dire warning in response to Edith’s request for a book they retrieved from Darius’s belongings. I stare at him for a moment, that uncomfortable, disconnected anxiety making my fingers tingle. “You’re messing around right?”

Tarook winks— winks!— with a smile. “Am I? Fortunately, he did not seem to possess the skill or wit to realise what power he really had with that book.”

Fucking mages and their mystery. I try to keep my fidgeting to a minimum considering we’re all packed in around the table, but I can’t stop my foot from bouncing. So I lift my cap and run my fingers through my hair just for something to do with my hands.

The conversation moves on again when Seldon asks about the powers Theo displayed on the cliff. Which was kind of phenomenal considering he lost his fae magic and gifts at the hands of Marieth a few months ago.

“Actually, I do. I told you the garden was good for you, Theo.” Another mage, Alain, answers this time, and then explains how by connecting with the earth, and thereby the Woods, Theo managed to connect to the magic of the Whisper Woods.

I’m just a simple guy who lifts heavy things for a living. Honestly, the conversation kinda flies by me, but I get the gist.

The short story is that Whisper Woods blessed Theo with gifts. Apparently, he can talk to creatures now . What the fuck?

The conversation gets derailed, though, when everyone’s attention moves to the stairs behind me. I feel the prickle of awareness in the base of my neck, just as Theo’s eyes light up with excitement, and Seldon’s eyes snap to me, wide as saucers, his mouth hanging open in a ridiculous smile.

Well shit.

I turn on my bench, elbowing Seldon as I do. My breath catches when I see Rafe standing there, projecting an unwavering sense of confidence under the scrutiny of the jokers I sometimes call my friends.

He must have stolen all of my chill because I can’t control the blush that creeps up my neck, burning my cheeks.

“Who is that?” Edith coos, waving her fingers in his direction. Rafe is utterly unflappable, inclining his head in her direction but keeping his gaze entirely focused on me. It’s almost too much attention. My stomach rolls and dips like I’m on a ship in a storm. Only my connection to Rafe keeps me from keeling over.

“I know you!” Theo’s excitement gets the better of him, and he launches himself from his seat. “You’re the guy from the club!” He bounces excitedly on his toes and grabs Roan’s shoulder, giving the exasperated man a shake.

Gods, kill me now. Seldon smacks the table and yells too. “Yes! Oh my Gods. What is he doing here?” He looks directly at me. They are all looking at me.

“Wasn’t he here for the search yesterday, too?” Mauvy adds absently, pulling the elastic off one of her braids to quickly re-plait it. I groan with an exaggerated sob, tipping my head to blink at the ceiling, when Theo, Edith, and Seldon gasp audibly.

“Was he really ?” Theo looks far too satisfied as we all watch Rafe walk across the tavern to us. And why wouldn’t we? There is something about the way that he moves, something so graceful, yet lethal. It’s hot as fuck.

Okay, so not everyone is drooling into their morning coffee like I am. Tor looks irritated at the interruption, and so does Caelan. But that could just be the bonded mate connection or whatever, feeling each other's emotions. Roan kind of looks like he’s one minor irritation away from fully berserker-beasting out. Tarook and the other mages look, well, intrigued? But they are an odd lot. I’ve never been able to figure them out .

Fuck. He’s directly in front of me now. I gulp a too-big breath and look up to meet his eyes. The position reminds me of too many fantasies and heat flushes through me, making me embarrassingly hard in such close proximity to my friends. His nostrils flare and his scarred eyebrow quirks and then he smirks like he knows too. But then his eyes leave me and I feel like I’m adrift in the ocean. Cold and alone. I shudder and turn back to the table, Seldon giving me a funny little look as I do.

“Hello,” Rafe’s honey voice anchors me again. “Yes, that was me at Slash. When Seff got the news yesterday, I drove him here. Naturally, I stayed to assist as I could. I’m glad to see you are safe and well.” His hand rests on my shoulder and roughly half a dozen pairs of eyes spot the move. It’s so…proprietary. My back straightens ever so slightly, so I can lean back into his thighs.

“Yeah, well, it wasn't exactly my first time being kidnapped and almost murdered. You could say I’m an old hand at it by now.” Apparently, Theo is at the ‘joking about it’ stage of his recovery. The rest of us? Not so much. My stomach clenches with anxiety, but poor Tor and Roan, the pair of them pale, looking visibly ill at the reminder.

“Ah, yes, well, everyone has to have their hobbies. Though I can see your loved ones here would probably prefer you give this one a rest.” Rafe’s hand rubs my shoulder gently, easing the horrible churning feeling in my stomach while he teases Theo into a smile.

“Yeah,” Theo turns to Roan, his sharp cheekbones softening with the sappy look on his face. “Should probably retire for a bit. Anyway, what was your name again? Seff forgot to introduce us.”

I remember when Theo was a shy and scared little thing, not anymore. Roan has his hands full with that one. Thankfully, he loves it. Still, I flip him off and pull a face and he responds in kind.

“I am Rafe Miyares.” Theo takes a quick moment to introduce everyone, like I probably should have. Guilt creeps in at my mistake, gnawing at me, but just as the feeling gets too big, Rafe squeezes my shoulder. Not really hard enough to hurt, but enough to distract me. And then he’s back to rubbing my shoulder with his thumb and the feeling chills out .

The whole thing is kind of unsettling. It’s just so… easy.

“A pleasure to meet you all.” My body snaps to attention again when he speaks. “I am sorry for interrupting. I just needed to give Seff his phone. There were many notifications. It seemed important.” My phone appears in front of me and my cheeks are blazing with heat when I snatch it up and put it face down on the tabletop.

“Thanks.” I’m sorry, is that my voice all soft and simpering? It must be because when I look up at Rafe he has a funny little smile on his face and Seldon is digging his bony elbow into me again.

“Not a problem. I’ll see you when you’re done.” Again I feel that unpleasant little ache the second his eyes are off me. He looks to Mauvy and Roan. “If I can speak to you about a room, I’d appreciate it.”

They are quick to agree and then, right there in front of my friends, Rafe cups my cheek and bends down to give me the most torturously sweet kiss. His lips linger over mine for half a moment before he straightens, leaving me rendered dumb to face my friends.

“ What was that?!” Edith screeches the moment Rafe disappears up the staircase. Honestly, I am lucky she waited that long. Tor—my absolute favourite being on the planet—interjects.

“Gossip later Edith. Theo, you were explaining how you can speak to animals .”

Edith pouts at the command, swinging her finger between me, Seldon and herself mouthing “later” and miming drinks. She only stops when I nod, rolling my eyes with a smile.

Thankfully, Theo’s explanation about how his newfound powers have expanded rapidly over the past weeks returns to be the sole interest of the table. The conversation even results in a brotherly breakthrough and a group hug.

Once we disband, everyone getting ready to go about their business for the day, my phone buzzes on the table. Picking it up from the table I see the messages from Dad on the screen. Shit . I completely forgot that was why Rafe came down in the first place.

Swiping to answer, I plug the other ear with my finger and walk away from the group to hear properly.

“Hey! Dad, what’s up?” I can hear the noise of the site in the background. I work with Dad at his construction company, Everfyr Construction Co.

“Where are you?” I stop pacing, my face scrunching up in confusion.

“Uh, the Black Stump? I sent you a message yesterday. Theo was kidnapped. Brodie said he’d fill you in.”

Dad lets out a frustrated grunt.

“He did. He was found wasn’t he? All safe and sound?” My stomach knots and I pace the length of the flagstones of the empty hearth.

“Yeah, Dad. We found him. His ex was trying t—”

Dad cuts me off with a huff. “Look Seff, I know all this stuff with your friends is important to you. But you’ve got responsibilities. To the job, to your family. To the pack .” I stop pacing, stretching backwards to try to stop the wave of vomit rising in me. I can feel Seldon hovering behind me, and so I turn to face him, forcing my face into a reassuring smile. He smiles back, but it’s hesitant. I turn again to face the empty fireplace, suddenly exhausted.

“Yeah, Dad. I understand. I’m sorry. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” After a tense goodbye Dad hangs up and I exhale, long and slow. Guilt at fucking up the crew’s morning eats at me, and I’m so distracted that I don’t even notice Seldon right behind me until his hand is on my shoulder.

“You okay, big guy?” I jump when he asks, causing him to snicker. I lift my cap to run my hand through my hair and then settle it back down, pulling the bill lower over my brow.

“Yeah, I uh, just gotta run. Dad was expecting me and I’m late.” My leg is already bouncing and my eyes cut from Seldon’s confused, puckered brow to the staircase. “Tell Rafe I said bye okay?” Frustrated tears burn at my eyes, so I press at them with the heels of my hands, providing the added benefit of not having to look at Seldon and his concerned face.

“Why don’t you tell him goodbye?”

I laugh, not a funny haha laugh. Just a self depreciating huff.

“Because if I go up there, I’m gonna end up even more late for work and the pack will have my guts for dinner. I gotta book it. ”

This time it’s a little easier to manoeuvre my face into the easy-going smile they’re used to. But fuck it’s exhausting. Seldon’s eyebrow quirks and his lip hitches in a charming, lopsided smile.

“An entirely valid excuse. I’ll pass along your message.”

“Thanks, appreciate it.” I give him a quick hug and make my way towards the front entry. It’s only when I am patting my pockets for my phone, grateful that I already picked up my keys and wallet for reasons only known to the Gods, that I remember.

Turning back to Seldon, I yell across the tavern hall. “Oi! Give him my number too, yeah?” When Seldon laughs and nods his agreement, I make my way out of the Black Stump and jog to my car.