Chapter Thirteen

Trike

'Oh dear, maybe this wasn't such a good idea' those words had run through my mind as I'd left Lovel to race back to Blu when he'd shut me out right after.

Sweating and more than a little terrified by the way Blu was looking all contrite and getting past my own anger to see the poleaxed wolf staring into space.

Please, Daddy, I didn't mean it, Blu continued.

Why is he looking like you clubbed him over the head?

You see… it was like this… I was only trying to help. You know with the whole rejected mate thing and having an idea as to why Doc didn't want to mate with Harou, I thought if I shared that… well… it might help.

When Blu looked at the statue staring off into space, he got a crestfallen look that made it hard to stay angry. Or be angry with him.

"You frightened me," I muttered sternly, doing my best to be firm with him. My dinosaur's laughter filled my mind. Stop that!

Blu placed his cup down, not looking in the least contrite when he got up and came to wrap his arms around my waist as best he could, being so small and nestled right in.. He looked up at my giving me a look that melted my heart into a puddle. He was irresistible. "You frightened me, cutie," I said more gently, wanting to make a point as I stroked his cheek. "You are more precious to me than any pack member. But if I have a job to do here, I need to know that you are safe so I can work and not hare through the pack lands like my ass is on fire because I'm worried about you. You can't block Daddy. I don't want to spank your bottom because you frightened me." I glanced at Harou, who hadn't appeared to have moved a muscle and was still staring into space. "Okay?"

His small brow wrinkled, and his tiny body shuddered against my side. "Ohhh… I shut you out, I didn't mean to." His voice broke and my heart sank at how upset he became.

He sniffed loudly. "I was concentrating so hard on remembering what Doc had said so I could help Harou that I must have done it by accident. I'm sorry Daddy."

His bottom lip wobbled, and I quickly developed a nervous tick at the side of my eye when tears brimmed in his eyes. "No tears…" I was fucking defenseless. How could I flay a man alive and crumble at the sight of my boy's tears?

One slipped down his cheek as he blinked them another. "I don't want to be spanked," he carried on, tears tripping down his face in earnest. "I'm not a naughty boy, I swear, Daddy."

To all that was holy, how had this happened?

Picking him up so he could see my face, I settled him on my hip and, using my thumb, I wiped the tears away. "You're not naughty," I reassured him, telling the truth.

"But you threatened to spank me," he hiccuped around a sob, making me feel like shit.

"I was frightened, so I'm sorry for saying that." I kissed him, softly. His lips tasted salty as his hands crept around my neck and he clung to me. I held his stare when we broke apart. "I love you. You are the most important thing in my life."

He made a snuffling noise and nodded slowly. "But you could have hurt someone today because you only wanted to get to me and see I was safe. Is that it Daddy?"

"We'll do whatever it that takes, cutie. There is nothing in the universe that would stop us."

Flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes left my heart beating harder, Blu clung a little tighter, pressing his cheek to mine. "I'll make sure I concentrate on keeping you right with me all the time, Daddy."

"Thank you." I murmured, feeling that I'd somehow scaled the highest mountain and managed to safely traverse down the other side with only skinned knees.

"I need to go," Harou muttered, bringing my attention back to the man I'd completely forgotten who'd remained.

He got up, and Blu looked at him, the bridge of his nose wrinkling. "Harou… maybe we should talk a little more about—"

"The time for talking is over." His dark eyes flashed with his animal, his hands balled at it his sides. "It's time for action." As he spoke, I got the feeling that he wasn't actually talking to us.

He squeezed passed us and nodded, then he disappeared out the open door, where Lovel was standing, flushed and panting.

Shit, I'd forgotten he was following me.

Harou said nothing to Lovel as he walked off.

Lovel glanced from him to us, sweat dripping down his face. His clothes looking like they'd had a wash, and he'd put them on wet. "What's going on?… And I take it everything is okay?"

"A little misunderstanding," I replied, carefully lowering Blu to the floor. "As for Harou, I'm not sure."

Lovel glanced in the direction Harou had gone, but there was no sight of him. "He's been in the doldrums since Doc left." When he returned his attention to us, he plucked at his wet T-shirt. "You know you could win fucking races with how damn fast you are."

A chuckle tickled the back of my throat at how serious he sounded. "Nah, I was just a little motivated to get back."

He looked between me and Blu. "Are we all good now?"

"Yes. I made a mistake. I won't do it again," Blu answered, looking contrite this time.

I stroked his cheek. "Good boy," I shifted my gaze to Lovel, "I suppose it's back to work."

"Not before I go get some clean clothes," he tugged once more at his T-shirt, "I'm a little sweaty."

I bit the inside of my cheek to hold in the laughter when he came across as unamused by that fact. "I can drive you home?"

"I've a spare bag of stuff in the pack house. You could go grab ‘me for me."

I frowned at him. Why would he need me to go get them when the pack house was right here? What was I missing?

Blu started to giggle.

Looking between both men, I continued to frown. "Whatsup?"

"It's on you why I'm a sweaty mess, so it's only right you are the one to go into the pack house to get my stuff. It's in a black holdall," he insisted.

I threw up my arms when Blu clutched at his belly and shook with laughter. "I can see I'm not going to be included in the joke. So where are your things? You can get changed in the bathroom here."

"In the back room off the main pack meeting room."

Whatever the reason for the hilarity, Blu and Lovel appeared to want to keep it to themselves. As Blu was laughing and no longer crying, I couldn't see it as an issue.

I stalked out of the motorhome and past Lovel, heading for the house in front of me. Inside, I hesitated getting my bearings before going through the lower room to where Lovel said his stuff was. Bag in hand, I retraced my steps. I'd got halfway across the expansive room before I heard the grunts and feet slapping on wood, followed by deep laughter.

I twisted towards the noise and choked on my spit at seeing a naked and aroused Olowin getting chased by Russ in his potato form, sporting a sprout into the room.

I froze.

Holy shit!

Tell Lovel I'm gonna kill him!

Blu's laughter was so loud in my mind it made my dinosaur take fright and hide. Seeing no way to pretend I wasn't there with nowhere to hide, I remained right where I was, hoping against hope they'd sprint past me and…

Olowin's arousal bobbed as he came to an abrupt halt. He looked at the bag I held and frowned. "What are you doing with Lovel's bag? Is there a problem?"

Russ rolled to a stop at Olowin's bare feet, he bent and picked him up, holding him in his hand, then glanced back at me like it was the most natural thing in the world. Were we really gonna have a conversation… like this?

"Well?" he prompted.

It appeared we were. "Long story, I'm sure you aren't interested in." I shuffled my feet, working on not blushing, which was something so alien to me I was sure that I was glowing brighter than the sun. "Lovel needs a change of clothes, he's at my motorhome." As I finished speaking, I edged towards the door, trying to make a quick escape.

"Right." Olowin nodded towards the open door. "Go on then and make sure you shut the door on your way out."

No fear I'd forget. I was out of the house, and back at the motorhome before I had a chance to blink twice.

Blu and Lovel were crying with laughter. The pair were holding each other up as they allowed their amusement out at the situation they'd sent me into.

I dropped Lovel's bag on the counter, my gaze narrowing on them as I waved a finger at them. "That was fucking mean!"

Lovel slapped me on my shoulder, shaking. "Now you've had the genuine welcome to the pack."

"I could have done without it…"

His laughter increased if it was at all possible as he spluttered. "Couldn't we all, but you're stuck with us now!"

My lips trembled with the laughter I tried and failed to hold on to, as I finally spluttered. "I can live with that."