our reality, though. We live in a house full of paranormals.
Cam releases me and stalks toward the door. Every step he takes has my desire for him ratcheting up another level. I didn’t realize it wasn’t already as high as it could go. It seems there are many layers to my desire for Cam.
He opens the door and growls out, “Leave.”
“No,” Cas states.
I cross the room and come up alongside Camden. He immediately puts his arm around my waist and hugs me to his side.
Cas quirks an eyebrow at the move. “Is that how it is now?” The question is directed at me, but Cam is the one answering it.
“It is. Got a problem with it?”
Cas cocks his head to the side. “Are you sure you’re not an alpha?”
“I’m sure I’m going to clock you in the jaw if you don’t get away from my mate.” I go weak at the word mate. My knees nearly give out.
Cam called me his mate. His. Mate. Fate’s sake, that’s amazing to hear and definitely going to take some getting used to.
Camden has met his match in Caspian, though. They are both stubborn and both need to assert themselves. Cas steps up to Cam’s bare chest and pokes him dead center. “I’m so not playing with you, wolf. I warned you once and I’ll warn you again. You hurt him and you’ll pay.”
Caspian has been protective over me since everything went down with my mom and I lost her. He held me so many times as I cried about the unfairness of everything. How I had to lose both parents. No brothers or sisters. I was left with no blood relatives. But Cas never wavered. He never faltered in his unyielding friendship. And whatever he needs, I’ll always be there for him, too.
Something comes over me at the words Cas says. Logically, I know they’re from a place of concern and love, but I react to them. The threat toward my mate. It’s new. I’ve never cared before when Cas said anything about Cam. That if he hurt me, he’d do the same to him. Everything has changed.
I step forward and place myself between Cas and Cam. I’m not a big male. Not as muscular or broad-shouldered as the two of them. “Cas,” I say and wait until he focuses on me. “You know how much I love you.” Cam’s hands find my hips and bite into them. He steps as close as possible, heating my back, claiming me again.
“Love you, too, Whit,” Cas replies.
“I get how what you said toward Cam comes from a place of protection for me, however, I can’t stand here and let you threaten my mate. I’m a grown male. I can handle anything he sends my way.” I say it with more confidence than I feel. I’ll probably crumble to the ground if Cam hurts me. There’s no need to voice that, though. I’m sure Cas hears it in my mind.
Cas’s eyes soften. “I worry.”
“I know you do. You’re my best friend, Cas, but you two have to find a way to get along. I don’t want you pushed away in the process. I need you to accept my relationship with him.”
Cas turns his head to look down the hall and bites his bottom lip. It’s something I’ve noticed he does when he’s frustrated. When he turns back to us, he says, “Yeah. I get it. I’m sorry. I just… I don’t know how to handle this thing between both of you.”
“That makes two of us.” I smile.
Making sure he’s not forgotten, as if he could be, Cam snakes his hand over my stomach and splays his fingers. I feel the soft brush of his nose along the back of my neck. Chills break out over my body. I sink into him.
A vibration in my pocket brings me back to the present and has me straightening to pull my phone out. Cam does the same. We read the text.
Aries: 2:00
That’s all it says. He told me he only gives a time. Nothing else. It’s always assumed that it’s at night. If someone in the pack sees the message, they won’t know what it means besides a time that any of us can easily play off. Also, I have the group text listed as AR. Again, I can say it’s for Aries Raines instead of Avynwood Rescue.
Both Cam and I put our phones away. Cas looks between the two of us but neither of us offer anything.