Chapter 4

Manu had his forearm across Preston's throat, and the fucker just grinned at him. Applying pressure, Manu growled, but all that did was make the fuckers smile widen. Shoving away, Manu ran a hand over his face.

"And here I was thinking it was going to be my lucky day." Preston liked his lips. "Maybe I should help that Alvin out."

Manu shoved Preston back into the wall. "You leave him alone, because if Eli catches you sniffing around?—"

"He'd do what? It's clear he doesn't want his mate, which is strange to me, considering you're all about mates and shit. Why walk away from yours?"

"It's none of your fucking business what Eli does."

Preston pushed Manu back. "I've known that fucker for years. Never known him to walk away from something unless he had no choice. Why would he do that now? Does this Alvin come with strings attached? Like the kids I saw he had earlier? Bit young to be a parent, but he could be older than he looks. No, wait. Eli said they were his siblings, and his parents had done a runner, leaving him to raise them alone. Eli's walking away from that?"

"You don't know what the fuck you're talking about!"

"I don't? Then explain it to me."

Manu grunted. "No."

"Okay, then." Preston shrugged. "I'll ask the man himself."

Manu shoved Preston again, then suddenly ended up with his back against the wall. "Get off me."

"Says the shifter who likes to push me around. I'm not sure what your problem is, and I admit I like to see you get all worked up, but we have to get along now. We'll be working together." Preston stepped back, and Manu closed the distance between them.

"Get a fucking room," Jim told them as he walked past.

Manu glared at Jim as he walked away, then at Preston, who chuckled. "A room sounds good, don't ya think?"

"No. Why the fuck would I want you?"

"I don't know. I've seen myself in the mirror. I know what I look like."

"You have an ego the size of this place." Manu crossed his arms over his chest, hating the fact that Preston was gorgeous, and he did want to fuck the man who irritated the shit out of him. Worse, Preston probably knew it as well. "You wanna fuck?" Manu watched Preston, who only smiled in response to Manu's question.

"Could pass some time."

"I… What?" Could pass some time? What the actual fuck?

"You know I don't know too many people here, so if you're available, I'm easy."

"Fuck you."

"Oh no, I'll be fucking you. I don't bend over for any man."

"Like I do?" Manu clenched his hands into fists at the easy way Preston had about him. How many men had the human slept with?

Preston looked him up and down, then quirked a lip up to the side. "Yep. Bet you love it too."

Manu shoved Preston into the building, and Preston rolled his eyes. "This all you got? Might need to go looking elsewhere?—"

Manu slammed his lips over Preston's, then pushed away, wiping them with the back of his hands. Preston licked his own, then grinned, which made Manu kiss him again to stop him from talking. That was Manu's excuse, and he was sticking to it.

"You drive me fucking insane!" Manu pushed away and paced the sidewalk, ignoring the happy, smiling Preston.

"I make you hard. Let's fuck."

"Let's not," Manu spat. "You're seriously pissing me off. Why you?"

Preston's smile slid from his face and stared hard. "Why me?" he whispered.

Manu stopped pacing and slowly turned his head to watch Preston. "Nothing."

"Nothing," Preston murmured. "I've heard those words before. Want me to tell you where?"

"No. Not interested."

Preston moved away from the wall and watched Manu pace. Manu ignored him and hoped Preston wasn't figuring out why he'd said that, but he had a feeling Preston was putting two and two together and getting the correct answer. "Are we mates?"

Manu didn't like lying, but right then, he wasn't ready for Preston to know the truth, not when he himself wasn't ready for it. "No."

"Liar," Preston muttered. Spinning on his heel, Preston flipped Manu off. "You don't want me, then fine. I know plenty of men who will."

Manu growled and ran after Preston, grabbing his arm and pulling him around. "Stop."

"You're just like Eli. You get handed something every shifter wants, and you throw it away. Well fine, but if I'm trash to you, I'll be gold to someone else." Preston stared at Manu's hand on his arm. "Get the fuck off me."

"I'm not ready," Manu blurted out. "I don't like you."

"I got that loud and clear." Preston yanked his arm free and walked away, but Manu couldn't let him go, which annoyed him because the human was annoying.

"Preston. Wait."

Preston turned but walked backward, taking him farther away. "Why should I? If we're not mates, it doesn't matter what I do, does it? It doesn't matter who I do." With that infuriating grin, Preston spun back around and walked away, and Manu let him.

Things were fucked up, and Manu still hated the fact this man was his mate. The infuriating, irritating bastard and he was Manu's. Growling, Manu stormed off, ignoring the looks thrown his way. He didn't want to talk to anyone at all. He had shit to sort out, and that shit was Preston.

Now he knew how Eli felt about Alvin, though that had been a surprise and a shock to Alvin as well. Appeared Eli knew they were mates and had stayed away so Alvin wouldn't find out. That had to hurt Alvin, and Manu slowed. He'd probably hurt Preston, too, not that the man would admit it, but his anger had been an admittance.

Sighing, Manu changed direction and headed to the one person who would help him handle his shit.

Preston slowedas he approached Alvin, hearing the quiet whimpers as the younger man cried softly. He knew how it felt to be rejected, but he was human, so it probably didn't affect him as much as it would Alvin, who was a shifter.

He hadn't been told Alvin was a shifter, but the way he'd responded when he'd scented Eli was enough for Preston to figure it out, plus he had that thing about him that Preston put down to shifters.

Sitting next to him on the bench, Preston waited until Alvin became aware he was there. The teats and sniffing stop, and Alvin's back stiffened. "My mate doesn't want me either, not that he's admitted we're mates."

"You're human," Alvin mumbled.

"Name's Preston and yeah, it won't hit me as hard as it's hit you. Want to talk? I can grab us some coffee and call all men a bunch of shits."

Alvin snorted, then coughed. "Alvin. We'll be like them."

"Them?" Preston grinned. "You mean women? Yeah, but sometimes I wonder if they don't have the right idea. Coffee and a bitch puts the world right."

Alvin twisted around and wiped his face. "I have to work and then pick up the kids."

"I heard you looked after your siblings. Big responsibility."

"Family."

"Yeah. I have my dad. He's in Salutem. Once he's settled, I'll go and see him."

"Why not now? Won't he want you to help him?" Alvin's frown was cute, and Preston resisted the urge to stroke it.

"He has dementia. Some days he remembers me, and some days he thinks I'm his younger brother."

"That must be hard. I've heard people describe it as two deaths. The mind goes first, then the body."

"It is. When he's there, he's there, you know, and when he isn't…" Preston wiped a hand over his face. "I hate the days where he's confused and doesn't know what's going on. Those days are tough, especially when he's scared because he doesn't know where he is or anyone around him."

"I can't imagine how hard that must be for you."

Preston nodded, then asked, "How long have you known Eli?"

"I've seen him from a distance, heard him occasionally in the shop, but never scented him or been close to him to scent him. He knew and avoided me. It's because of the kids, but I'm not giving them up. They're my family, and if he doesn't want us, then screw him." Alvin hiccupped and covered his mouth with his hand.

"His loss. When do you need to be at work?"

"About ten minutes ago."

"Come on." Preston stood and held his hand out. "I'll walk you there, and we can have a ‘who has the worst mate' competition."

Alvin gave him a small smile and put his hand in Preston's. Preston pulled him up, then let his hand go. He could feel eyes on him, and they didn't feel friendly. Maybe a stubborn former SEAL was watching his mate.

"How old are the kids?"

"The gruesome twosome are four, and my sister is eight."

"And you are?"

"I'll be twenty-four soon. I'd just turned twenty when my parents left a note and fucked off."

"That's a huge amount of responsibility to take on, but family right."

"Like you and your dad. You want the best for him."

"Family." Preston smiled. He liked the kid who wasn't an actual kid. He'd had to grow up quick. "Who is there for you?"

"I'm actually lucky there. Sax and his mate, Jim, and their family help. Emilio, who owns the shop I work in, has been great. He lets me work the hours I can and understands if I'm late. It helps he has five kids and five dogs."

"Five dogs?"

Alvin chuckled. "All named after Star Wars characters."

"No way. Star Trek The Next Gen for me. Picard. Or Sisko from Deep Space Nine."

"I know! There is something about him and as Prof. in The X-Men. I'd wheel him anywhere. And Sisko. I wouldn't kick him out of bed for farting."

Preston laughed. "Fave Star Wars movie?"

Alvin scoffed. "The only correct answer to that is The Empire Strikes Back. None of the other are close to being as good as that one and don't even get me started on the new ones."

"Awful." Preston had yet to meet someone who thought the latest trilogy was a match on the original.

"This is the place. The local supermarket that carries everything."

"Thanks. I needed to know now that I live here." Preston walked inside and held the door open for Alvin.

"Alvin! Where have you been?"

"You gonna tell him?" Preston watched the man approach Alvin and when he saw Alvin's face, he stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Alvin shrugged, but even Preston could feel the sadness emanating from Alvin. "I met my mate." The words were spoken so low that Preston struggled to hear them.

"But that's a good thing, Alvin. You've wanted to meet yours for a long time."

"It's Elliot, and he doesn't want me." Alvin blinked rapidly, and Preston paused, unsure what to do. Emilio stepped up and hauled Alvin in for a hug. "He said no."

"Stupid idiot. When I see him, I'm going to tear him a new one!"

"Don't. Please. I don't want anyone to know yet. I need to figure out what I'm going to do."

"Okay. Take five minutes to sort yourself out unless you want to go home." Emilio wiped the tears from under Alvin's eyes.

"I need to work. It will help."

"Get a drink and take five minutes."

"Preston, thank you."

"Take care, Alvin." Preston left the shop, knowing Emilio would take care of Alvin. Nice kid with a lot on his shoulders, but it sounded like he had a great support system in place. Maybe it was a nice day to sort his apartment out. Maybe not. He had to go to security, which was in the opposite direction from where he was going.

Chuckling, Preston spun around and headed toward the security building, whistling. Manu. He had to work on annoying the ever-loving shit out of Manu. Fun times ahead!