CHAPTER SIX

H enry was in the kitchen helping with the dinner prep when Dean came in and let him know that Terry was there to see him. "He's waiting in the front room." Henry was excited to see Terry in spite of himself. He hurriedly washed and dried his hands before heading to the front room.

Terry walked the room back and forth. Everyone was in the back getting ready for dinner, he assumed. He needed to see Henry. He'd sounded upset on the phone, and his explanation for not showing up at the Black Bean was pretty thin.

The moment Henry entered the room, he felt it right down to his soul. Terry turned and first just looked at him. Henry was perfect, and he was his. Henry approached with a smile and a welcoming expression. Maybe he'd been mistaken; he was reading too much into the text. Maybe he really had to get back here and nothing more. "I missed you today."

Henry stopped and dropped his head briefly before responding. "I'm sorry, I wanted to see you too, but time was short." Terry stepped forward and took Henry's hand in his.

"Have you eaten?"

"No."

"May I take you out?" Terry smiled and pulled on Henry's hand, bringing him closer until he could take him into his arms. "Come on, don't say no. Afterward, we could go back to my place and pick up where we left off last night." He hugged Henry and waited for an answer.

"Okay, sure. Sounds like a good time." Henry chuckled into Terry's chest. Terry dropped a quick kiss to the top of Henry's head and rubbed his back briefly, before moving away and taking his hand.

"You ready." Terry searched his face thoroughly.

"Yeah." Henry couldn't say no. He wanted to be with Terry, despite all his misgivings, and he looked forward to continuing last night's activities. He just hoped that they stayed clear of Terry's friends. He wasn't in the mood to deal with those bigoted bastards again. "Where are we going?"

"I thought we would go to the steakhouse downtown. Good food and a nice atmosphere."

Henry looked at him pointedly and asked. "We will be seen, and assumptions may be made. Are you ready for that?" Terry returned his gaze and thought for a moment before answering.

"We're two guys having dinner; let them think what they want." He squeezed Henry's hand, and they continued out to Terry's car. Henry wasn't sure how he felt about that answer. He neither confirmed nor denied their relationship or the impression they would make. When Terry started to pull him towards his car, Henry stopped.

"I'll bring my own car; it will look less like a date that way. We're just two guys who happen to run into each other, right? Nothing more." Might as well help him with the charade Henry relented. Terry paused for a moment and was obviously considering the suggestion. For a split second, Henry thought he was going to refuse and demand that Henry go with him. His heart soared, and then just as quickly, his hope fell flat.

"Yeah, okay, probably a good idea. I'll meet you inside the restaurant." Terry let go of his hand and took off in the direction of his car. Henry walked slowly to his vehicle and got inside. He sat there for a moment and then decided to just go with it and stop feeling. It was time he started to build an emotional wall between Terry and himself.

He was going to have dinner and hopefully a full night of sex, which would be an end to it. Tomorrow would be filled up with preparations for the ceremony on Friday, so there was no chance he would have time for Terry. Tomorrow night he would simply make himself scarce, and Friday, he would leave.

Terry felt like a heel; why couldn't he just relax and stop worrying about what people may think. If he hadn't been such a supporter of shifters only mating with other shifters and treating all humans as less than, he wouldn't be in the position he is now. Also, he was never out and proud, believing that gay men were weak, and he never wanted to appear weak.

He'd had bad experiences with humans, but why did he hate all humans because of it? Ronan had told him of Henry's life with his shifter stepfather, yet he never held it against him or any of the other shifters. He glanced in his rearview mirror and saw that Henry was not far behind. It gave him some comfort to know that Henry was there, still letting him try and not pushing too hard.

Terry went inside and secured a table. The place wasn't too busy, but still, he felt a stab of discomfort that he quickly tried to dispel. He didn't want Henry to walk in and see uncertainty on his face. Henry arrived shortly after, pretended to act as if suddenly seeing him, and asked the waitress to be seated with Terry. The act made Terry feel sick with guilt.

"Hello, Officer Moore. May I join you?" Henry continued the act. Terry locked eyes with him and answered in the affirmative. Terry was going to apologize, but decided it wasn't what he wanted to say. Another apology from him at this point was just a hollow statement. He'd apologized too many times for them to actually have any meaning.

"Don't give up on me yet, Henry. Please don't give up on me." Terry watched Henry silently stare, but the waitress returned for their drink order before he could say anything.

Henry was glad the waitress had intervened before he had to give Terry a response. He wasn't sure what he would have said. He'd already given up on Terry, but he wasn't prepared to tell him that over dinner. That information would become apparent after he left on Friday.

As much as he desired this man and wished that they could be a truly loving mated couple like Molly and Aaron, it was not to be. The conversation turned pleasant and banal, neither wanting to discuss the elephant in the room. Henry was content with things just as they were. There was no sense in making demands that were impossible to meet. Besides, he was leaving on Friday, and Terry's life could return to normal. Henry was sure that Terry's compulsion to be with him would diminish once he was out of sight. That thought did not give him comfort, but reality is a bitch, like they say.

"I know we haven't had as much time together as I would have liked, and I also know that I am to blame for that," Terry spoke softly between bites. "I want a life with you, Henry. You are my mate, and I want this to work." Henry nodded noncommittally and continued with his steak. He was certain Terry believed what he was saying, but Henry doubted his ability or desire to carry it through. Terry reached across the table and took Henry's hand, which shocked him, until he just as quickly let go when someone walked by their table.

"Terry!" The deep voice sounded from behind Henry. "Hey, you come for the game?" Henry recognized the man as one of Terry's friends; he thought his name was Gary.

"No, I was having dinner, and then Henry stopped by, and we were discussing the ceremony preparations." Terry looked so nervous and unsure, that Henry actually felt sorry for him.

"Come on back and sit with us. The game starts in ten. Come on, Henry doesn't care, do you, Henry? You can come too." The large man looked in Henry's direction. He didn't look angry or upset, just hopeful. "The rest of the guys will be here shortly. Kelvin is parking the car." When he spoke that name, Henry visibly flinched.

"Go, Terry, really, it's okay. I'm almost finished, and I have to get back to the Ranch anyway. Can't spend your whole evening listening to me go on about flowers, food, and nonsense. Go and enjoy the game, and I'll catch up with you some other time." Terry looked at him as if he were in tremendous pain, but Henry just smiled a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes and said again to go ahead, that he'd be fine.

Terry got up and slowly walked with his friends towards the back of the restaurant. Kelvin came in and gave Henry a hateful glare, before following the rest to the back. Henry had a feeling Kelvin would try to intimidate him again if he stayed at the restaurant, so he decided to leave the rest of his dinner and signaled to the waitress for the check. She walked over and informed him that Terry had already paid for both of their meals. Not one to waste good food, he asked for a takeout container. The steak and fries would taste good tonight while watching television and feeling sorry for himself.

Terry sat so as to be able to observe Henry. Terry felt like such a bastard, a spineless weasel. He couldn't give two shits about the stupid game on television or the stupid company he was now with. What the hell was wrong with him? He should be with his mate talking and touching and getting to know each other. He hadn't a clue what he should do.

He was startled when he saw Henry rise and head for the door with his takeout in hand without even looking in Terry's direction. He needed to follow; he needed to do something. Suddenly someone started asking him questions about the fucking game. He mumbled something and then glanced back at the door, but Henry was gone.

Henry had parked around the side of the restaurant in the alley. He was lost in thought when suddenly, out of nowhere, something slammed into his side and sent him careening against the side of the restaurant with a thud.

His brain was trying to make sense of it all when Kelvin came at him again. He pressed himself against Henry, holding him against the wall and keeping him immobile while he raised his fist and began to beat him. He was hitting him in the face, the chest, the stomach, and spewing hateful remarks.

After several seconds of being pummeled, he backed up and let Henry slump to the ground, nearly unconscious from the onslaught. Once on the ground, Kelvin kicked him hard in the head and in the stomach. He left Henry there unconscious, not caring whether he was alive or dead. It didn't take much force for a shifter to kill a human, and Kelvin was a formidable shifter.

Henry slowly started to regain consciousness. His head hurt like a bitch, and his eyes were sticky with something. He couldn't see, and he could barely move. He looked around and was confused at first, not remembering why he was on the ground or why he hurt so damn bad.

Then the memory of Kelvin and his attack came back, and he carefully looked around without moving his head in case he was still nearby. With great effort and considerable pain, he managed to reach his back pocket and pulled out his phone. It was past eight; he'd been out for a while. He needed to call for help, so he called the one person he trusted.

"Ronan." He could barely speak. It hurt so badly. Blood poured from his mouth as he tried to speak more clearly. It was impossible.

"Henry? What's wrong?" Ronan barked.

"Hurt, help, alley steakhouse." That was all he was able to get out before losing consciousness once again and slumping to the cold ground.

Ronan dropped his phone and ran for the front door. He was intercepted by Lance, who demanded to know what was happening. Ronan explained what had taken place, and they both headed out. "He left with Terry. Call Terry to check if he knows what's happening." Lance stated as he floored it.

"No answer. It just keeps going to voicemail." Ronan said with panic in his voice.

"We'll find him. It will be okay." Lance assured. "Try Terry again."