Huntsman - Morgan Brice Page 0,7

his keyring with the Civic.

He found the bedroom, said another silent “thank you” to Jeffries for the bedding and toiletries, then stripped out of his clothes, slid beneath the blankets, and tried to ignore the fact that he was sleeping in a strange house, in a new town, in a borrowed bed. This morning, he’d been in his own cozy apartment, in a place he knew and loved, with a job and friends and a plan for his future.

And now, his world had turned inside-out. It was all too much, and Liam refused to feel ashamed as he cried himself to sleep.

2

Russ

“You’re here early, for a Saturday. I can’t remember the last time I saw you here at eight.”

Russ snorted. “Unlike my sleepyhead baby brother.” He slid out from under Liam’s Civic, flat on his back on a garage creeper. He looked up at a face that nearly mirrored his own, except for darker hair and fewer eye crinkles. Drew Lowe was Russ’s pain-in-the-ass sibling, best friend, partner in hijinks, and co-owner of Lowe’s Automotive Care.

He was also the only member of his birth pack who stuck with Russ when his parents threw him out for being gay.

“Where’d you get the beater?” Drew nodded toward the old Honda.

Russ had already bristled defensively before he caught himself. Wait, what? Why am I ready to fight over an insult to Liam’s car? “Our new librarian had car trouble last night on his way into town. I towed him and promised we’d get it fixed.”

“You sure it’s worth it?” Drew asked skeptically.

Once again, Russ fought down an uncharacteristic surge of protectiveness over the car, which was just downright weird. “It’s not a bad little car, and these things last forever. Looks like he’s done a lot to take care of it. Fortunately, he didn’t try to keep going when it acted up. The damage isn’t too bad.”

He shimmied under the car again, and pushed any questions about his odd reactions out of his thoughts to focus on the job at hand.

“So…new librarian.”

“Yep.”

“Younger than Walter?”

Russ chuckled. “Oh, yeah.”

“Wait…is he cute?”

“Drew—”

“That’s an objective question.”

“It totally isn’t.”

“Guess I’ll have to go check him out for myself. This town could use some fresh meat.”

Russ was out from under the car and had a grease-stained fist clenching his brother’s T-shirt before his brain registered what was going on. “Don’t talk about him like that.”

Drew looked at Russ like he’d lost his marbles and raised both hands in appeasement. Belatedly, Russ realized he was still holding Drew’s shirt, which now had black, finger-shaped streaks. He let go and took a step back. “Sorry.”

“Shit. He’s your mate!” Drew exclaimed, wide-eyed with amazement.

Russ met Drew’s gaze and felt panic thrum through him. “No. No way.”

“Dude, the last time you almost took a swing at me was in fifth grade when I broke your game controller. You just defended his car. I made a pervy comment, and your wolf almost went for my throat. Oh, my God.”

Russ stumbled more than walked to a plastic chair inside his office, and dropped heavily into it. Fortunately, it was still early, so they didn’t have any witnesses to their little spat. Drew tossed him a shop rag to wipe off his hands, and Russ cleaned up distractedly, then folded the cloth. He wanted to argue, but the truth of Drew’s observation stirred his wolf, who just seemed smug.

“No. It can’t be!”

Drew crossed his arms and smirked. “Go ahead. I want to see you argue yourself out of this.”

Russ shook his head. “Fated mates aren’t real.”

“They aren’t common. But you know the story about Grandma and Grandpa Lowe.”

Russ closed his eyes in denial. Of course he knew the story. How many times had they heard it? She’d been a waitress at a diner. He’d been a mechanic, just passing through town. When their fingers brushed as she passed him a plate of cherry pie, they had both known they were fated mates. They ran off to Vegas that night and had their first pups not long after and were still going strong half a century later.

He clenched his fists, still fighting against Drew’s observation. I said I wasn’t going to let myself in for heartbreak again. Not after how much it hurt to lose Anthony.

“Russ, it’s been two years. Don’t you think Anthony would want you to be happy?”

This time, Drew stayed out of reach, backing up another step at Russ’s low growl. “You’re out of line.”

“Am I?” Drew shot back. “I know you were happy