27. Drew

Chapter twenty-seven

Drew

Adam murmurs something in his sleep, shuffling closer to me. I run my fingers up and down his spine, and he relaxes in my hold, the quiet sigh he lets out soothing something deep in my chest.

I've never had this. Never had a soft wake up with nowhere to go, never mind with someone else in bed with me.

The only thing that would be better would be—I press my face into Adam's hair, ignoring the cool space at my back. Sam won't have gone far.

I remember earlier this morning and flush, pulling Adam even closer to me. Every sexual encounter I've had before has come with the weight of expectation . I'm bigger. Stronger. Surely, I want—

Adam mumbles again and I kiss the top of his head. I think I know what Sam wants. No, I do. I know what I want him to do to me, too. I've never been ordered around the way he did last night or this morning, but I want that.

I'm not certain what Adam wants, aside from what he said last night. And I… I do think I want that, too. I snort and tangle my legs with Adam's. Who am I kidding? I want whatever they want from me. I want whatever they'll give me.

I take a deep breath, relaxing again at the mix of our scents in the room. Sam's is stronger, of course, but maybe, just maybe…

My eyes drift down to the smooth, pale line of Adam's throat. I didn't mark either of them last night. I didn't dare. But now, I can imagine it, and my mouth waters, and—

I kiss the top of his head again and carefully untangle myself from his grip. No. Nope. I'm not going there. I can't . I stand in the middle of the room and shiver for a second. I don't want to think about what exists outside this room while I'm inside of it. This should be a sanctuary for us. For all of us.

I can't scent or hear anyone else in the flat, so I don't bother to dress before I head to the bathroom. As I grab clean clothes from my bag, I spot my phone sitting in the centre of the coffee table. There's a note from Kieran beside it. I glance at it—he and Sam have gone to fetch Ophelia and Dante, to bring them here to work—and then pick up my phone.

I should put it on charge, really. I don't know if Sam has my number, but Kieran does, and if something happens… The charger is still plugged in at the wall in here, so I plug it in and wait for a second as it turns back on.

A flood of messages comes in—a couple from Kieran, saying everything went fine last night and reiterating where he and Sam are going. There's one from Quinn, too, just hoping I'm doing well.

And Hale.

So many from Hale.

I stand there, scrolling through them, swallowing down the scream that threatens to rise in my throat.

You're mine, little prince.

You can't hide from me forever.

You think I can't scent you on him?

A photo of Sam and Kieran accompanies the last message—one that must be from this morning. My heart sinks into my stomach. If he knows about Sam, then it won't be long before he knows about Adam, too.

I shouldn't have given in last night. I've just put them both in even more danger.

I set my phone down carefully because no matter how much I want to throw it at the wall, I know I need it. Then I take a breath and turn, then force myself, step by step, into the bathroom.

I don't look in the mirror as I turn the shower on, and I try not to think once I've stepped under the spray. I have to tell Kieran what's going on. It's the worst possible timing, but if he or Sam get hurt—

I debate climbing back into bed with Adam, but I think I'd just bother him, so I dress after I've showered and make myself some food, then eat it even though I have no appetite. The back of my neck prickles the entire time I'm sitting on the sofa, but I'm certain Hale's not out there.

Even if he is, he can't get in the wards.

Some of the tension only leaves me when I scent Kieran and Sam on the stairs. There are unfamiliar scents with them—Ophelia and Dante, I figure—and I switch off the TV, pushing into the corner of the sofa.

Oh, maybe I should make tea.

Before I can get to my feet, the door opens, and Sam steps inside. The smile that unfurls on his face when he sees me makes me breathless.

I can't let Hale hurt him. Not now. Not ever.

"Hey," he murmurs, stepping aside to kick his shoes off. Two other mages follow him in—a man and a woman—and though the man eyes me curiously, the woman grins widely.

"You must be Drew!" She tugs off her boots before she bounds across the room, coming to a sudden stop a few steps away. She sticks out her hand and I can't help my smile as I shake it. Yeah, raised by wolves, for sure. Her grip is tight. "I'm Ophelia."

"Hi."

"Dante," says the male mage, raising a hand in greeting. He takes one of the chairs and Ophelia sits on the arm of it before she slides in beside him, poking him until he budges over with a roll of his eyes.

"Tea?" Kieran asks, and I jump to my feet.

"I can—"

"We need to get your stuff out of the way," Sam says, eyes sparkling. "C'mon, we can put it in my room."

He unplugs my phone and snatches up the duvet from the back of the sofa, and I watch him, bemused, until Kieran snorts. My face heats. There's no way he doesn't know.

"Go on," he says mildly, flicking the kettle on. "You heard him."

I grab my bag and follow Sam into his room, ignoring my brother's snicker.

Hands tangle in my T-shirt once I'm inside and I'm pushed up so hard against the door it all but slams behind me. Sam's mouth is hot like a brand, his tongue sweeping through his mouth like he wants to own me. I whine and press against him, wanting it harder, wanting more …

"Fuck, I missed you today," Sam says against my mouth. "Missed you both."

He kisses me again and I only notice Adam's joined us when Sam jolts forwards and swears.

"Hmm, nice and warm," Adam groans. He looks more awake than he did this morning, still naked, his arms wrapped around Sam's waist.

"You still need sleep," I say.

Adam pouts. "But I miss out on all the fun when I'm sleeping."

Oh, no. Did he—

"Did you want us to wait for you?" Sam asks. He runs his fingers over Adam's clasped hands.

Adam kisses the side of his neck, and his voice is more serious when he says, "No. 'Course not. What about you two?"

I frown. "What about us?"

"You want it to be all three of us, all the time, or are you happy for me and Sam to fuck when you're not around?" Adam waggles his eyebrows. "Or me and you, since our mage is in such high demand."

Sam slaps his thigh. Gently, I'm sure, but Adam nips his shoulder playfully anyway.

"Any which way is fine with me." Sam grins. "I like the idea of you two not being able to keep your hands off each other. As long as you regale me with all the details…"

My face goes hot. Yes, that—I nod. "I want that."

"Whatever we want, whenever we want?" Adam asks.

"Just us three," Sam all but growls. "To be clear."

Adam kisses the side of his neck again. "Of course, baby. Like I'd even look at anyone else."

I swallow. I should tell them about Hale. I should find a way to help them with these problems they're having. I should—

"Drew?" Adam asks. "Is that okay with you?"

What? I flounder. "What? The three of us?"

"Yeah," Sam says. His thumb rubs over my lower lip. "I mean, if you don't want that, we can find a way to make things work. It's just—"

"I only want the two of you," I say quickly, because he looks unsure, and I really don't like seeing him that way. It's true, too. Adam grins up at me. "Just the three of us, yeah."

Sam kisses me, then twists around so he can kiss Adam. Adam grabs his behind, and I laugh when Sam swears but stop laughing when Adam turns from him to me and bites my lower lip hard.

Biting is such a wolf thing, but I guess it's a vampire thing, too.

"You done in there?" Kieran calls, and I tear my mouth from Adam's, breathing hard. He huffs a laugh against my throat and licks along my collarbone.

"Just about," Sam shouts back.

"Hurry up! You've got work to do. Me and Drew are going on a walk."

I go still and Adam rests his head against my shoulder. Sam's fingers tease the waistband of my jogging bottoms, but he doesn't dip them below.

"A walk?" I ask. Can he hear the tremor in my voice?

"Yes. So hurry up!"

Kieran's footsteps move away, and I hear the murmur of voices as he talks to Ophelia and Dante.

"You okay, little wolf?" Adam asks.

"Yeah." I don't know how to broach the subject of Hale with the two of them, but I can at least talk to Kieran about him, right? Kieran knows our pack. He knows wolves. He'll know what to do. "Yeah, it'll be nice to go outside."

Sam smiles and kisses me on the cheek, then brushes his lips against Adam's. "Go back to bed. We'll be here when the sun goes down."

Adam kisses us both before he climbs back under the covers, though I feel his eyes on us as Sam sets us both to rights.

Not that it isn't obvious what we've been doing in here. Still.

I grab a pair of socks and follow Sam back out into the living room. No one mentions our absence, though Ophelia's eyes flick between us, her smile widening. Dante doesn't even look up; he has a book in his lap and he's flicking through it.

Kieran snatches up his keys as I pull my socks and shoes on. "Ready to go?"

I shrug on a jacket. "Yeah."

"Back in a bit," he says, and I follow him out of the flat and down onto the street.

I shiver when we pass through Sam's wards, and Kieran does the same at my side. For a while, we walk in silence, and I'm glad for it. The afternoon air is cool, a bite to it that suggests a frost might come soon. My wolf paces in my head, desperate to run and explore, but I take a moment to breathe in, to filter through the scents that reach me.

"What happened last night?" I ask. We're walking a large circle, I think, as Kieran leads me around another corner.

Kieran sighs. "Vasile's in trouble. I told Sam about it today. He needs to find a new chieftain, and he's been getting Elle ready for it… But this whole thing's put a target on Lucien's back, too, and Vasile doesn't want to separate them."

"Will Lucien be okay?"

"Yeah," Kieran says, too quickly. "Yeah, I-I think so. I've only left him there for the day. I'm going back to pick him up tonight."

"Alone?" Panic claws at my chest. Hale might get to him. Kieran wouldn't see him coming—

"Lucien's arranged a car already. I'll be fine."

He reaches out and squeezes my arm. I have to tell him. If I tell him, then he can take precautions.

Kieran opens his mouth first. "Drew, I—There's something I need to tell you."

"No, I have to tell you something first."

Kieran's expression softens. His eyes drop to my chest, just for a second, then flick up to my eyes again. "Drew, if it's about Sam and Adam… It's okay, you know? I mean, maybe you all should take it slowly, but I'm hardly one to talk."

"No, it's—It's not that." Though maybe we should talk about that, too. "It's something else. Why I lef—"

The words stick in my throat on my next inhale.

Hale.

He's here.

I spin around in a circle, and I can't see him, but now that I'm searching for scents, I can pick out two of his betas, too. They can't be far. There are so many quiet houses, so many alleyways and hidden little nooks…

"Drew? Drew, what is it?" Kieran's close, and though he has one hand on me, he hasn't turned his back to the street. His eyes search the shadows, much like mine, but I know he doesn't know who's there.

"We need to go." The longer we wait here, the more vulnerable we are. "We need to go, now."

"The mages?" Kieran doesn't wait for an answer. He starts back towards the block of flats, moving so he's standing between me and the street. I think Hale and the others are over there and I should position myself between Kieran and them, but I know he won't let me.

We round the corner. I'm certain they're closer, my wolf howling and baying to be free, but I can't risk it. There are humans on the street. At least it means Hale shouldn't shift either. Everyone knows better than to break that rule, especially in a city like this.

"Into the wards," Kieran mutters. He all but drags me through them and then whirls around, trying to spot anyone out of the ordinary.

My breath catches in my throat. That's Kurt rounding the corner, I'm sure. He's moving away from us, but I recognise his gait.

"Was it the mages, Drew?" Kieran asks, and I nod without thinking. "Okay. C'mon, inside. I need to get Sam on this."

Kieran races up the stairs, too fast for me to tell him to stop. I have to tell him what I actually sensed, because Sam—

Oh, Sam can't go out there. He just can't.

By the time I make it to the doorway of the flat, Kieran's already telling Sam what I sensed. Sam, Ophelia, and Dante are all kneeling over a map on the floor, but Sam rises as Kieran speaks, a frown twisting his pretty face.

"You… what? Drew? Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah. Fine."

"Did you see them?" Kieran shakes his head and when I swallow, Sam tries again. "Drew, did you see Elliot?"

"No."

"Okay." He looks at Ophelia, then at Dante. Ophelia stands, making the decision for him. "Yeah, okay. Let's go check it out."

"You can't!" The words burst out of me before I can stop them and I throw a hand over my mouth, horrified. This is what Sam does. It's what he and Kieran do, for all their other jobs and responsibilities.

Ophelia moves past me to grab her boots, but Sam steps into my space, putting his hands on my shoulders. Pain pulses in my chest. If Hale sees an opportunity, he'll take it. What can Sam's magic do against a wolf's claws?

"Listen to me," he says, his voice low and urgent. "Ophelia and I will be fine. We're going to stay inside the wards until we know it's safe. I need you to tell me where you first sensed them."

"Around the corner."

"Okay. You're going to stay here with Kieran and Dante, okay? Can you do that for me, Drew?"

My wolf growls, long and low. Aside from the training Dad made me do, I've never fought another wolf. For Sam, I think I'd tear Hale's throat out.

Sam leans in close, pressing our foreheads together. "I need you to keep Adam safe," he whispers. "Please."

Yeah, okay. I can do that. And when Sam comes in and says he sensed wolves, not mages, I can deal with what comes next.

Even if—

No, I can do it.

Sam kisses me on the cheek and puts on his shoes before he and Ophelia leave the flat. Kieran stays by the window, watching them, and Dante only has half his attention on the map now, though he doesn't seem inclined to watch as closely. I go over to Sam's bedroom and peek inside. Adam is still asleep, the covers pulled up to his chin.

My worry eases, but only a little. Sam's still out there. Anything could still happen.

I daren't look. If I spot Hale watching me, I don't know what I'll do. Instead, I pace, staying near Sam's bedroom door. If Hale gets inside, he won't get to him.

"They're coming back," Kieran says, but I don't breathe easily again until Ophelia and Sam walk back through the door. The look she gives me is wary, and Sam's shoulders are stiff.

"There's no one there," he says. "I mean, they're gone, anyway."

"You're sure?" Kieran asks.

Sam looks at me. Oh, God. He's lying for me, isn't he?

"Yeah," Ophelia replies. She knows, too. She has to. "No sign of them."

She breezes past Kieran to join Dante on the floor. Kieran lets out a heavy breath. "Okay, so we have to be careful. No one goes anywhere alone. Understood?"

Sam nods, but Kieran whirls around to look at Ophelia and Dante. "I mean you two as well."

Dante frowns up at Kieran, but Ophelia's smile is surprisingly bright—and real. I sense excitement coming off her, though I can't work out why. "Yeah, of course. We'll be careful," she says easily before she nudges Dante in the side. "See? You'll never get rid of me."

He shoves her back gently, rolling his eyes, and she laughs in reply.

Sam's still looking at me, and though his eyes are dark, it's not the same as earlier. He knows I lied. He just doesn't know why.

Not yet, anyway.