His dad smiled. “Yeah, Son, I know. I’m happy for you. I know how bad you’ve always wanted a mate. And I admit, I’m a little disappointed I’m not going to be getting grandkids to spoil. But I like Keaton. It will be nice having another son. And besides, that puppy is pretty darned cute. I supposed he’ll make a decent grandpuppy.” He winked.
Chay blinked away tears. He hated to admit it, even to himself, but he’d been half-afraid his dad would turn his back on him.
Joe walked around the bed and pulled him into a hug. “You could have told me.”
He nodded and hugged his dad with his free arm. “I was scared to, I guess. Remi knows. He…we aren’t friends anymore.”
Joe leaned back and sighed. “Give it some time. You’ve known Remi a long time. You know how he is. Let it soak in. He’ll come around.”
Chay shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not giving Keaton up. Not for Remi’s friendship, not for mom’s peace of mind, not for any reason.”
“That’s how it should be, Son.”
“How’d you know?”
Joe smiled fondly. “Because I know you, Son. I knew when you called after Keaton was brought into you. I could tell by the tone of your voice.”
“You told John Carter.” It wasn’t a question but Joe answered anyway.
“Yes.”
Suddenly, Keaton gasped, his eyes fluttered open. “Omigod!” He tugged on Chay’s hand. “Where’s Pita?”
He rubbed the top of Bit’s hand. “He’s at home, Bit.”
“Oh, okay. I was worried.” He looked around, then blinked up at Chay. “Where are we, Chay?”
“Hospital, Bit.”
“Why?”
“You wrecked your car.”
“I did?”
“Yeah, you did.”
Joe cleared his throat. “Chay, is this normal?” He sounded scared.
Chay glanced up, seeing the concern in his dad’s eyes, and tried to reassure him. “Yes, Dad, he has a grade three concuss—”
“Hi, Joe.”
His dad’s eyes widened, then he peered down at Bit. “Hi, Keaton.”
Chay bent and kissed Bit’s forehead again. “Shhh… You’re scaring Dad.”
Keaton yawned. “I’m sorry.”
“Mr. Winston?” The sheriff walked in and looked at them.
“Yes?” Joe answered.
Chay cleared his throat. “Dad, I think he’s talking to me.” To the sheriff he held out his hand. “I’m Chay Winston.”
Dad frowned and mumbled under his breath, “He said
Mr.
Winston.” Chay couldn’t quite hold back his grin. Calling him Mr. instead of Dr. was always a sore spot with his dad. His dad was proud of him and liked to let everyone know his son was a doctor, not a mere mister.
“I’m Sheriff Benson. The nurse said you’re with Mr. Reynolds?”
“Dr. Reynolds,” Joe corrected.
Chay smiled and elbowed his dad in the ribs. “Yes, sir. I am. Keaton’s my…partner.”
The sheriff shot a startled glance toward Joe then back to Chay before quickly composing himself. “Would you step outside with me? I’d like to talk to you.”
“Sure.” He looked back at Bit and noticed he was asleep again. “Dad, you coming with us or are you going to stay with Bit?”
Joe extended his hand toward the sheriff. “I’m Chay’s father, Joe Winston.”
The sheriff nodded. “Mr. Winston, you’re welcome to come too.”
“That’s all right. I’ll let Chay talk to you. I’ll stay here in case my other boy needs something.”
Chay blinked and dipped his head at his father. “I’ll be right back. Don’t let him freak you out. If he wakes up again, reassure him. And come get me if the doctor comes in, okay?”
“Got it.” Joe pulled a chair closer to Bit’s bed and sat down.
* * *
Chay walked back into the little room in the ER in a daze. His chest actually hurt. He wanted to run to Bit and hold him and never let go.
“Son, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” Joe stood and crossed the room to him.
“Someone cut the brake line on his car. It wasn’t an accident.”
Joe gasped and sat heavily in the chair.
Chay strode right past his dad and over to Keaton’s side. He stared at the battered and bruised face and felt his heart sink. He’d just found his mate and now someone was trying to take him away.
Someone was trying to kill his Bit.
Chapter Twelve
Several hours after being released from the hospital and a number of catnaps later, Keaton lounged on the couch. Chay used the arm of the couch to prop himself up, and Keaton used Chay as a backrest. Chay had been all over him since they’d left the hospital. Not that he was complaining. “Come on, Bit, think.”
Keaton covered his face with his hands and groaned. He rested the back of his head on Chay’s chest. He was dizzy. “I
am
thinking. And I have no idea. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to kill me. I’m not important enough to kill.”
The arms around his waist tightened and Chay’s chin settled on his shoulder. “Come on, babe. How can you not know if you have enemies? How about students? Have you failed anyone recently?”
He shook his head and wished he hadn’t when the room started spinning. “No.”
“Okay, let’s go about this another way. Do you think you getting shot is related? If that’s the case, it’s got to be someone who knows you’re a wolf.”
“I don’t think so, Chay. I mean, how could they be related? I haven’t lived here long enough. You were the first person I met who realized I was a wolf. Well, you and the game warden, but I didn’t actually meet him until after I met you.”
Chay got quiet and still for several minutes, but didn’t relax his hold. His lips teased Keaton’s ear and then he moved away. “Okay the other night, the night of the full moon, there was someone following us…”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, and you got shot and now someone cut your brakes. Do you really think those are all coincidences?”
“Actually, yes. I think the gunshot was poachers. I think it was probably another wolf following us, maybe even your dad, keeping an eye on us. And the car…well the brake line… That sucks, but it still could be an accident, couldn’t it?” Man, he was getting sleepy again. He yawned and snuggled back into Chay, making himself more comfortable.
“The sheriff didn’t seem to think so. And how do you explain the guy I chased off last night?”
“Okay, let’s say it was cut. I don’t have any ideas who did it. The only one here who can’t stand me is Remi, and I don’t think he dislikes me enough to kill me. He may be an asshole, but he’s not stupid. He wouldn’t want to go to jail for the likes of me.”
“I agree Remi didn’t do it. But I don’t agree that these incidents are unrelated. Poachers don’t generally leave their kill. And it wasn’t my father who followed us the night of the full moon, I asked him at the hospital. So think.” Chay smoothed the hair off Keaton’s forehead.
He jumped when Chay brushed his cut. “Oww. I am thinking.”
Chay kissed his ear. “Sorry. And you aren’t thinking hard enough. This is serious shit, Keaton.” He sighed. “Okay, if I’m correct and these things are related then it’s someone who knows you are a wolf. You already said you didn’t meet anyone here who knows that, until after the gunshot. That means it’s someone from Georgia. The man I chased off was a wolf. Do you have any former pack members who want you dead? What about your brother?”
Keaton thought about it for a minute. His brother was a dick and there was no doubt he didn’t like Keaton. He shook his head, then yawned. “No, no pack members. And my brother has no motive. I’m nothing to him. I was disowned. He now has everything he wanted without having to chance getting caught killing me. My brother shares my DNA after all. Like Remi, he’s an asshole, but he isn’t stupid. A bit of an idiot maybe, but not stupid.”
Chay growled and ran his hands through his hair. He was getting aggravated, but Keaton was having a hard time staying awake, much less trying to figure out why someone would cut his brakes. He grabbed Chay’s arms and wrapped them back around him. The action was as much for Chay as for himself.
“We need to clean the garage out, so we can both fit our vehicles in there.”
“What vehicle? Mine is toast, remember?”
“Yeah, I remember.” Chay tilted Keaton’s face up and back, kissing him. Chay rested his forehead against Keaton’s. “We need to figure this out. It’s not like we can tell the sheriff, ‘oh yeah there are these other weird coincidences too, only Bit was a wolf when those happened.’” Chay leaned back.
A chuckle escaped. “Yeah, that would go over well. He’d likely arrest you if you told him that.” Keaton yawned again. “Look on the bright side. Being a wolf, I’m not as easy to kill as a normal human.”
“Yeah, that’s not very reassuring. I’d just assume you not be hurt.”
“Me too. I’m sleepy.”
After that he must have dozed, because the next thing he knew Chay’s hands rubbed up and down his chest and arms. He could hear the TV in the background.
Chay must have sensed he was awake because he began placing nibbling kisses on Keaton’s neck.
“That’s nice. How long did I sleep?” He tilted his head to the side, giving Chay easier access.
“Only about twenty minutes.” His mouth latched on to Keaton’s neck, sucking.
“Mmm…” Keaton’s cock started filling.
Chay let go of his neck. “How do you feel?”
He grabbed Chay’s hand and placed it on his growing prick.
Chay chuckled and squeezed. “That’s not exactly what I was asking, but I guess this means you’re feeling better.”
“Uh-huh.” Turning his head, Keaton searched for his mate’s mouth. He was nice and cozy and more alert than he’d been in several hours. Keaton didn’t want to think about brakes and people following him. He wanted his mate.
Chay’s hand moved off Keaton’s prick and slid under his waistband, holding him with nothing between them, as he slanted his mouth over Keaton’s. Chay’s tongue stroked his, slow and easy, matching the rhythm of his hand.
Keaton sighed into his mouth and lifted his hips, urging Chay’s actions. He relaxed and let his mate explore his body and his mouth. Why was it that Chay’s hand on his cock felt better than his own hand?
“Oh…” A loud clank came from the front door and Pita started barking, his toenails clicking rapidly against the wood floor.
Chay’s mouth left his and his head jerked toward the commotion.
Keaton blinked, trying to make heads or tails of the situation. Maybe he was still a little groggy, because he hadn’t heard the front door open. Then again, maybe it was just Chay who had him off kilter. He followed Chay’s gaze to find Lena Winston standing in the open front door, her keys on the floor and her mouth hanging open.
Uh-oh.
“Mom, shut the door before the puppy gets out.” Chay extracted his hand from Keaton’s pants. Not that it mattered. Keaton’s prick had quickly deflated anyway.
Lena picked up her keys and turned. For a brief second, Keaton thought she was going to leave. But she shut the door and turned back to them. “How could you? Your father tells me when I get home from shopping that Keaton got hurt. I come over here to see if either of you need anything and this is the thanks I get?”
Chay exhaled behind him and Keaton realized Pita was still running around barking. He dropped his hand beside the couch and snapped his fingers.
Pita came rushing to him, shutting up as Keaton picked him up and settled him in his lap.
Keaton smelled Chay’s agitation. It had an underlying scent of fear. His heart went out to his mate. Chay had told him earlier that Joe had come to the hospital to check on him. While he was there he’d told Chay he knew about them and was happy for them. Keaton vaguely remembered seeing Joe.
He had known Lena would be the problem. Deep down, he suspected that Chay did too. He patted Chay’s leg in support.
“Chayton Montgomery Winston. You answer me right now. Explain yourself.”
Chay grabbed his hand and squeezed. He slid out from behind Keaton and looked down at him. “You all right?”
He nodded. He wondered what bothered Lena more—his sex or his skin tone.
Chay turned back to his mother. “Mom. We are not going to stand here and have a screaming match. If you want to sit down and talk that’s fine, but I’m not going to have you yelling.”
Lena flinched.
Keaton felt bad for her. She didn’t know what to do. She was definitely mad, but she was hurt too. After a long, tense moment, Lena crossed her arms over her chest. “Does your father know about this?”
“Yes, Mom. He knows that Keaton is my mate.”
Oh shit.
Keaton suppressed the urge to groan. Now Joe was going to get bitched at too. He liked Joe. He hated being the cause of not only Chay’s grief, but Joe’s too. Heck, he may not care too much for Lena, but he didn’t like hurting her either. She obviously loved her son. She was just…intolerant.
“What?” Lena jabbed a finger in Keaton’s direction. “
He
is
not
your mate. That’s an abomination. You are doing this to hurt me.”
Chay sighed. It sounded sad, depleted. “Mom, why would I want to hurt you?”
“You’ve always liked your father better.” Tears streaked down her cheeks and her voice cracked.
“Ah, Mom, that’s not true. How could you say that?” Chay walked to her, holding his arms out.
She stepped away. “Don’t touch me! You don’t touch me until you can act right. This is wrong, Chay, wrong. You need to kick him out—”
Chay shook his head, still talking calmly. His voice was almost a whisper. “No, Mom. It’s not happening. You are going to have to get used to him. He isn’t going anywhere. He’s my mate and I love him.”
Lena glared at Keaton. “I hope you’re happy.” She looked back at Chay and spoke as quietly as Chay. “I can’t do this. I can’t watch you throw your life away like this.” Without another word, she turned around and walked out.
Chay stood there for the longest time, staring at the closed door.
It nearly broke Keaton’s heart. He set Pita on the floor and slowly got to his feet. He was still a little dizzy, but his mate needed him. He hugged Chay from behind, resting his cheek against Chay’s back.
Chay turned in his arms and hugged him too. “What are you doing, Bit? You shouldn’t be up moving around.” He blinked away tears and hustled Keaton toward the couch.