Chapter Seven

Take a hit of oxygen. Hold. Release. Because Delta was on the verge of losing his mind. To be fair, as soon as he'd heard Kalen's age, he would have bet his life the guy had been sent to kill him.

"Okay, we can go to your house,"

Delta said. "You're right. We need privacy."

And honestly, he wanted to see the pregnant man with his own eyes. That had to be a head trip. He was just relieved Kalen wasn't a bad guy, because he was right. Delta had felt an instant connection to him when they'd met, and it would have sucked if the guy he'd been crushing on, had just made out with, murdered him.

That wasn't an ideal way to end a date.

A knowing smile touched Kalen's lips. "You just want to see Damon, don't you?"

"Where's my sunglasses?"

Delta glanced around and spotted them on the ground where he'd been playing with the soccer ball. Walking over, he bent and grabbed them, only to notice a gray sedan parked further away in the lot. It had been hidden behind the soccer van. Someone was sitting behind the wheel. Delta didn't outright look, but he felt eyes on him.

It seemed his relief had been short-lived.

After retrieving the glasses, he returned to Kalen, keeping his back to the suspicious car. He opened his mouth to speak, but Kalen beat him to it.

"Spotted it as soon as you walked away, muffin."

Kalen smiled at him, making it seem as if they were having a good time, oblivious to the situation.

"I'll give you the condensed version since we have to ride back to Midnight Falls with a possible tail on us. I don't want trouble at your door since you weirdly have a very pregnant son."

Delta frowned as he remembered something from the conversation. "And daughter?"

"Daughter-in-law."

Kalen chuckled, and Delta wasn't sure if that was genuine or part of the deception they were employing.

"Is she married to the pregnant guy or the brother? If she's married to the brother, who got Damon pregnant, his wife?"

Delta was starting to get a headache trying to figure it out.

"We'll discuss it when we get to my house. Right now I'd really like that shortened version, muffin."

Kalen pulled Delta into his strong arms, and it struck him that every time the guy held him that his anxiety levels dropped significantly.

"Things went sideways. Now I think I have a target on my back."

Kalen bent, like he was going to kiss Delta, but whispered, "I think I'm going to need a little more than that."

The guy pressed his lips against Delta's cheek, causing him to shiver. "But since we have someone watching us, I'll wait for the full story until we get to my house."

"What if he follows us?"

He needed to stop craving Kalen's kisses and focus, but all he could think about was how warm and safe he felt tucked in the man's brawny arms and how badly he wanted those lips.

With a playful nip on his chin, Kalen chuckled. "Trust me. I feel the same way, muffin. You tasted incredible. Now get your sexy ass on my bike so we can outsmart our tail."

"I didn't notice him when we arrived."

He waited until Kalen straddled the motorcycle and settled onto the seat before climbing on behind him. Right in front of him was sheer power. Delta felt it flow effortlessly from Kalen, from the deep, rich timbre of his voice to the way he moved and even in the hellfire way he kissed.

Raking his gaze over the cut of Kalen's muscles, Delta appreciated how they strained against the leather vest, how his bulging biceps stretched against the material as if the leather was struggling to contain a beast.

After spending time with the guy, he now wanted to unravel the mystery that was Kalen Frost.

"I hadn't noticed him either,"

Kalen said. "He must've hung back so he wouldn't make his presence noticeable. I don't know if we pulled in at the same time or if he got here while you were playing with the kids and I was being tortured by Jeremy."

The loud rumble of the engine silenced anything else they might have said to each other.

Or so Delta thought.

"Hold on tight, darling. We're about to fly."

Kalen mounted his phone and opened a navigation app before they backed out of their parking spot.

"Wait, what?"

As they slowly approached the exit of the ice cream parlor, Delta gripped the guy's waist, unsure if he was trembling from fear or excitement.

Kalen looked both ways before he took off, causing Delta to shriek and cling harder to him.

"We're gonna crash!"

he shouted, wondering if he would actually see his life flashing before his eyes at any second.

"I've never laid down a bike in my life,"

Kalen shouted back.

Delta was too terrified to look behind him to see if the gray sedan was following them. He was too busy trying not to die, but when he glanced at one of the side mirrors, he saw their pursuer gaining speed.

And so had Kalen. He made a last-minute turn down a side road then another immediate turn before opening up and riding at speeds that shaved two decades off of Delta's life. Still, the sedan kept pace, though it was now lagging far behind them.

Kalen took a sharp and sudden turn, causing both them and the motorcycle to lean dangerously close to the ground. Delta braced himself for impact, positive they were about to crash. The laws of gravity seemed to be defied as they leaned at an impossible angle.

This was it. Their lives were about to end. Done. Finished. Finito . Lights permanently out.

But somehow, Kalen managed to pull them back up, and they rode up a grassy slope next to an old, overhead railroad bridge crossing that looked like it hadn't been used in years. Weeds sprouted up everywhere, their tendrils twisting through the weathered steel beams and wrapping their way around the concrete supports. The metal and cement were stained and streaked from years of exposure to the elements.

Kalen didn't stop until they reached a bunch of overgrown bushes and clusters of trees, using them as cover before killing the engine.

The sudden silence rang through Delta's ears, along with his heavy breathing. He realized he was gripping Kalen's vest so tightly his knuckles had turned white, but he was unable to release his death grip.

"Wait for it,"

Kalen said quietly, as if they were playing a game of hide-and-seek rather than trying to outrun possible death.

"You're completely insane! You were going ninety!"

Delta exclaimed in a harsh whisper.

"Sorry for the slow speed, but I have my mate with me, so I'm being cautious,"

Kalen replied calmly.

Ninety was slow to him? What did he consider fast, the cosmic speed limit?

As if reading his thoughts, Kalen added, "If I was alone, I would've pushed one-twenty or more."

The guy had a straight-up death wish. Delta opened his mouth to respond but shut it when he saw the gray sedan race by on the road below.

Any lingering doubts he might have had before vanished. They were definitely being followed.

"This makes no sense,"

he said to Kalen who had yet to start up the motorcycle again.

"What doesn't make sense, muffin?"

Kalen glanced in the direction the car had gone.

"Whichello is a demon. Why would he use a car? And even if he sent someone else after me, why would they need a car if they're not human?"

"I hate to break it to you, but demons use humans all the time. And if that guy isn't human, then the best way to blend in is to avoid standing out."

Kalen started the bike before skillfully maneuvering down the incline. He turned in the opposite direction, speeding off until they were sure they had lost their pursuers.

Despite being terrified during their hair-raising ride, Delta couldn't deny how Kalen had expertly handled the motorcycle, as if it were an extension of himself. The same way Delta could handle a soccer ball.

It was all muscle memory and years of riding experience, executed with flawless precision.

Even after they slowed down, Delta kept his arms around Kalen's waist, resting his chin on the guy's shoulder. He turned his nose into the curve of Kalen's neck and delighted in a good whiff.

God, Delta loved that powerful masculine scent. It was a dark and smoky fragrance that seemed to be unique to Kalen, to the wolf that was barely leashed inside of the guy, arousing Delta with each breath.

Even more amazing was the fact all of this had happened in a single day. From meeting Kalen to taking his three-hour break then working again, their ride, playing soccer, making out, tripping out, and then their high-speed chase.

And from the screen on Kalen's phone, he saw it was only a little after six in the evening.

This had been the most action-packed day Delta had ever had. He'd never experienced so many emotions in a twelve-hour period before.

Which left him freaking tired. By the time they reached the town limits of Midnight Falls, Delta was exhausted. He'd begun to doze off when Kalen turned off the road and headed up a long driveway.

Delta glanced up and watched as a large, dark blue home with off-white trim and a red front door came into view. There was a smattering of vehicles parked to one side of the house and a carport, which Kalen pulled under. It already contained three impressive-looking motorcycles.

Kalen dismounted, causing Delta to whimper. The guy's broad back had been warm, and he liked using it as a muscular pillow. A very good-smelling pillow.

With stiffness and fatigue, he climbed off the motorcycle, handing Kalen back his glasses, stretching his entire body. "You have a really nice home."

"Thanks."

Kalen smiled with a touch of pride. "My boys and I, along with some friends, built it from the foundation up."

Of course he had. He'd probably pulled the trees up from their roots then cut them to various sizes, using nothing more than his sheer strength.

"Man of many skills,"

Delta teased. Now that he was at Kalen's house, he suddenly became nervous. He was about to meet the guy's sons. Even though Delta still wasn't exactly sure what a mate was, he somehow knew it was important.

Which meant he had to impress three grown men. Piece of cake. Absolutely no pressure on his shoulders. If it was anything like a guy being overprotective of his mom, Delta was screwed, because in his eyes, no one had been good enough for Angelina Riveria.

Would Kalen's sons have that same mindset?

With a soft growl, Kalen pulled him close. "Skills I'd love to use on you, muffin."

"Is one of those skills stamina?"

Delta no longer cared about flirting shamelessly with Kalen. His concern over the guy's age had been blown to pieces, shattered when Kalen had revealed he was 345 years old. It was a number Delta couldn't even wrap his head around and didn't even want to try. His focus was now on making a good impression so three wolf shifters didn't give his skinny ass the boot, and also the feel of Kalen's hard body pressed against his.

Delta would much rather stay outside and make out like teenagers. That seemed like a much better option. He could visit the family another time when he wasn't still wearing his work shirt and smelled like grease. There was also no doubt his hair was wrecked since he'd pretty much been on a motorcycle all day.

"Why don't I take you inside and show you?"

Kalen's grin knocked the breath right out of Delta, causing his face to burst into flames.

So much for avoiding the family. He frowned when he spotted a curtain moving in one of the side windows.

"I think we have eyes on us,"

he whispered.

"More like seven pairs."

Kalen sighed as he glanced at the windows. "Don't let them overwhelm you, muffin. If they're being intrusive, tell them to back the fuck up."

What exactly was Kalen trying to prepare him for? Had he really said seven pairs of eyes? "The math doesn't add up,"

Delta pointed out. "If you have three sons, shouldn't it be six pairs of eyes? Unless a baby popped out while you were gone."

If it was Damon, where exactly had it popped out of? Why was Delta so curious to know yet too afraid to find out?

"My phone would have entered critical meltdown if one of the two had gone into labor."

Kalen slid his much larger hand over Delta's. "Let's get this over with. Then you can tell me what's going on with the demon and who Leo is."

He stumbled when Kalen mentioned his uncle's name.

"How do you know about him?"

Delta yanked to get his hand free, suddenly becoming uneasy.

Kalen tapped his own ear. "Shifter hearing, muffin. When I checked on you in the bakery, I overheard your conversation in the bathroom. I wasn't trying to listen, so don't get pissed at me."

Delta should have been upset, but Kalen had just saved them and had also given him the best afternoon he'd ever had. Plus, if he became upset, he might not get a tour of Kalen's bedroom.

For sightseeing purposes only, of course.

"How much did you hear?"

Delta averted his gaze, admiring the bed of colorful flowers under the railing of the porch.

Kalen tucked his fingers under Delta's chin, running the pad of his thumb over his cheek. "Enough to know you were dragged into something against your will, and you never wanted any part of whatever you were forced to do. Also, Leo wants you to go back wherever things took place."

Kalen had pretty much heard the entire conversation. He was just missing the main context. If Delta were being truthful with himself, it was a relief to talk to someone about the messes he kept getting himself into.

Maybe Kalen could offer some advice of how he could get out of them, aside from being killed.

Or help Delta put together a last will and testament.

"It's going to take a while to explain, so why don't we get the introductions out of the way first. Then we can talk."

Delta's stomach had taken that moment to rumble. Aside from the banana nut muffin early this morning, he hadn't eaten all day.

"Looks like I need to make dinner."

Kalen held his hand as they walked around to the front of the house.

"Not if you're going to prep the food on the same counter Damon used for sex."

Delta wasn't sure why, but he felt as if he knew Kalen's son already. Maybe because Damon had spoken directly to him over the phone and his name kept getting brought up.

"Allegedly had sex on,"

a deep voice said. "Prove it happened."

Glancing up at the porch, Delta felt his breath catch. The stranger was stunning and heavily resembled Kalen. The guy was pure rugged masculinity as he stared at Delta with the same beautiful blue eyes as his father. Based on Delta's view, the man also had just as many tattoos.

He wore a slicked-back, dark undercut hairstyle, neatly trimmed beard, and reminded Delta of a rebel. The porch was much higher than the ground, the railing partially obscuring the view, so he couldn't get a good look at the guy's stomach.

Will you stop with your borderline obsession with his belly?

"Delta, this is my son Damon."

"Hi,"

Delta replied. But he'd somehow already known who the guy was, mostly by the comment Delta had just made but partly by instinct.

Damon gripped the railing, and leaned over it slightly. "Don't tell my mate I said this, because he's the super jealous type and no one is better looking than him, but damn, my dad must've done something right, 'cause you are downright gorgeous, cutie."

Delta's face heated at Damon's outrageous, and appreciated, compliment. "Thanks."

There went that word again. Mate. Delta seriously needed to find out what it meant and prayed like hell it didn't mean he would end up pregnant too. If it did, he was skipping the tour of Kalen's bedroom.

Forever.

Kalen smiled as he gently pulled Delta along then they climbed the porch steps. Delta stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze falling on Damon's swollen belly.

Holy mother… How… He frowned as words failed him.

"Bizarre, I know,"

Damon said. "Imagine being the one who's carrying the pup."

Delta couldn't. Not in a million years could he imagine himself pregnant. The closest he'd ever been to an expectant mother…er, person, was in high school when Amy Shane had gotten knocked up by the head jock. "It is bizarre, but somehow, also…beautiful."

No lie, because there was a life nestled in there, and that was simply amazing. Weird, but amazing.

"I think I need a pint of ice cream."

Damon growled and then walked inside.

"Did I say something wrong?"

He glanced up at Kalen and was taken aback at the glint in the man's blue eyes. He stared softly down at Delta, a strange expression crossing his face.

What was with all the shimmering eyes? Delta wasn't sure if it was from something he'd said, but he enjoyed Kalen looking at him that way, like he was the most precious thing. But he wasn't foolish enough to believe he had become Kalen's special anything when they'd just met that morning.

"Daddy Frost!"

A slim, tiny woman with olive skin and long, blue hair flew out of the door. Literally. The chick had wings!

"Ack!"

Delta jumped behind Kalen, his heart hammering. What on earth had he'd just gotten himself into? Shifters, demons with nasty attitudes, and men over three hundred were things Delta could cope with. Pregnant men and fairies?

His day just kept getting stranger and more peculiar, and now a fairy had just tried to grab him. Maybe agreeing to come home with Kalen hadn't been the brightest idea.

It's not like I've been making the best decisions lately, anyway. When will I ever get it right?

"Young lady,"

Kalen said calmly. "Please respect my mate's boundaries until he gets to know you better."

Delta peeked out from behind Kalen, eyeing her. Young Lady's belly was just as big as Damon's, and she appeared to be glowing with beauty from motherhood.

What the hell? Delta's mouth dropped open slightly when Young Lady began to pace…in the air ? He blinked several times, hoping maybe he could reboot his brain.

He'd never seen anyone pace in the air before, her protruding belly only making the scene even odder. "You could have warned me you had a fairy living here,"

he said to Kalen, but he couldn't rip his gaze away from her.

"Fae,"

she huffed.

Delta sucked on the side of his lip. "What's the difference?"

"I asked the very same thing,"

another deep voice said as Delta heard footsteps approaching. The person who emerged was yet another rugged masculine-looking guy.

Yet another bearded man.

Yet another tall, muscular version of Kalen.

And yet another gorgeous person who lived there.

Kalen Frost had produced manly studs.

"Delta, this is my eldest son, Jax."

Jax's hairstyle on top was long, the sides short, just like Delta's, only this guy wore the top hair in a messy bun. His blue gaze was just as intense, but Delta detected kindness as well.

Delta wasn't trying to be rude. He just couldn't stop watching Young Lady pace.

"You don't have to hide behind my dad,"

Jax said. "My mate isn't going to tackle you. Isn't that right, Elvine?"

She shot Delta a glare, her eyes blazing with frustration, and now Delta had an urge to throw up a peace sign or wave a white flag, if he had one on him. She honestly looked as if he'd just popped her happy balloon.

"All I wanted was a simple hug. It's not like I have the cooties. Hugs are wonderful, warm, and freeze you out."

Huh? Did she mean "chill" you out?

She stopped pacing and focused her piercing green eyes on Delta. "And you seem like you could use about ten of them right now."

He wasn't sure how to take that comment. After the day he'd had, he was definitely stressed out. But would a hug really help when one of his stressors was the person offering it?

You haven't felt a warm, amicable embrace since your mom, and Young Lady looks like she could use one too. Although Delta now knew her name—vaguely recalled it when Kalen had called Damon—he liked the name Young Lady more.

Stepping around Kalen, Delta tucked his hands behind his back and nodded. "You're right. I really could use about ten of them."

He snapped his head around when he heard a low growl. "She offered them,"

Delta argued at Jax.

It was hard to tell who was more shocked at his outburst, him or the people around him. Kalen had even positioned himself partially in front of Delta with his sharp claws on full display.

"Son, I understand Elvine is your mate and carrying your pup…"

Kalen's voice was lethal, his blue eyes burning like twin fires. "But if you growl at my mate again, we will have a very serious problem."

And here Delta was worried about making a good first impression. He would be lucky if he didn't start a family feud.

Elvine landed gracefully next to him and tucked in her wings. Her radiant smile lit up her face as she threw her slim arms around his neck. Eyeing Jax, Delta returned the embrace, mindful of her pregnant belly. Her warmth and the scent of flowers enveloped him, reminding him of when his mother used to embrace him like this, making him feel safe and loved.

A burning lump formed in his throat at the thought of his mom. He wished she was still alive. He needed her right now. His life was spinning out of control, and he felt like he was drowning without a life jacket in sight.

Elvine's gentle touch on his back almost reduced him to tears, but he managed to keep himself together. He didn't want to break down in front of strangers.

"I think you can let me go now."

Delta chuckled, patting her back gently.

She pulled back slightly, searching his eyes with concern. "You have so much pain inside you, Daddy Frost."

Delta felt exposed and uncomfortable under her gaze, especially with so many others watching. "Why do you keep calling me Daddy Frost?"

Her gaze shifted to Kalen. "You haven't talked with him yet?"

"It's kind of hard when he was ambushed as soon as he arrived,"

Kalen replied.

"Except for the pups, our family is finally complete!"

Elvine exclaimed, clapping her hands together and fluttering her wings excitedly.

Turning to face Kalen, Delta asked, "What haven't you told me?"