Chapter Five

Perseus and Teddy needed to talk, but it was easier said than done. They’d been avoiding each other, even though it was the last thing Perseus wanted to do.

He still couldn’t believe what had happened between them. He thought about it every second of every day, getting more and more flustered as the days passed. He needed to know what it meant and what Teddy wanted, but the only way to find out would be to corner Teddy, and it was clear that the idea of talking to Perseus made him uncomfortable. Perseus didn’t want him to feel that way, so he’d stayed away, but could he continue doing so?

He peeked out of his bedroom and stepped out when he saw the hallway was empty. He didn’t know where Teddy was. These days, he left the house as often as he could, but as far as Perseus could see, there wasn’t a routine to it. It wasn’t like Teddy was going to work or anything like that, which made Perseus curious.

Did Teddy have a job? Perseus knew he worked with Moore and Rikar. They kept the village safe while planning raids on the labs and attacks on hunters. Teddy had to train daily for that, which was probably where he spent most of his time. Perseus wanted to ask, but he didn’t dare.

He didn’t dare do a lot of things lately.

He quickly made his way downstairs, relieved to see that the kitchen was empty. He poured himself a cup of coffee, even though it was almost cold. He considered warming it in the microwave, then decided it was fine.

“Finally. I was wondering if I’d manage to talk to you this week,” Orion said as he walked in.

Perseus had been avoiding his brother, too. Orion was the person who knew him best in the world, so he’d be able to tell something was up. Since Perseus and Teddy hadn’t talked, Perseus didn’t know if Teddy was comfortable with Orion knowing they were mates. He’d mentioned that Moore and Rikar were playing matchmakers, and it had sounded like others knew about it, too, but once again, Perseus could only know for sure if he asked.

He desperately wanted to talk to his brother. Teddy hadn’t told him not to tell anyone, and he had to know that Perseus would want to tell Orion, right? Besides, it wasn’t like Orion would use that information against Teddy. He’d probably be delighted, then tell Perseus he was an asshole and that the distance between him and Teddy was his fault.

It always was.

Orion stopped in front of Perseus and looked him up and down. Perseus tried to school his expression, but if there was one person who knew what he was thinking just by looking at him, it was his brother.

“You wanted to talk to me?” Perseus asked.

“Of course I wanted to talk to you. I feel like since we moved here, I don’t see you anymore.”

Perseus smiled. “That’s because you’re incredibly busy.” Perseus had always known that Orion would flourish if given the opportunity, and he’d been right.

Here at the village, Orion was free. He could finally allow himself to dream big, to have friends, and to choose his future. He was doing all of that perfectly without Perseus by his side, which made Perseus realize that Teddy was right. Orion was an adult, and he was more than capable of taking care of himself. He didn’t need Perseus following him around and making sure no one hurt him. Even if someone did hurt him, he’d take care of it himself.

It was a bit like watching a child grow up, but then Perseus had always been a bit like a father to Orion. Orion was several years younger, and with their father being the man he was, it had been either that or letting Orion grow up on his own. Perseus had only ever wanted to shield his brother from the bad of the world, especially of their world. He hadn’t succeeded, but maybe that was fine. Orion could be happy now, which was all that mattered.

Orion frowned. “Not too busy for my brother. What’s been going on with you? Because I noticed how you and Teddy are barely talking to each other. You went from bickering all the time to being silent when you’re in the same room. Did you do something to him?”

Perseus took a sip of his coffee. He should probably be offended that Orion assumed he’d been the one to ruin everything, but that was how things always went. It wasn’t a surprise, and frankly, Perseus wondered the same.

Things between him and Teddy were going somewhere, but he didn’t know where. They’d had sex on the table, which was why Perseus couldn’t look at it without blushing. They’d both come, and Perseus had still been trying to wrap his mind around it when Teddy had scrambled off. Perseus had wanted to stop him, but Teddy had shimmered out of the room, and Perseus hadn’t been able to find him for the rest of the day. He’d tried, but Teddy hadn’t been in the house, and Perseus was wary of leaving. It was one thing for his brother to be making friends and become part of the village, but Perseus didn’t know if he’d ever be able to do the same.

When Teddy had finally come home, Orion had been there, so Perseus hadn’t managed to talk to him. He’d tried every day since then, but Teddy was either gone or with Orion. It was obvious he was doing this to keep distance between them, but Perseus had enough.

Teddy couldn’t tell him they were mates, have sex with him, then vanish from his life. It wasn’t right, and while Perseus could understand freaking out and being terrified—that was how he felt, and he didn’t know how to stop—they needed to talk before things became even more awkward.

“I didn’t do anything to Teddy,” Perseus said. He couldn’t stop thinking that he had done something to him. He’d kissed him and had made him come.

“Things have been weird between the two of you, though. Want to talk about it?”

Perseus sighed. “Things have always been weird between us. He punched me within seconds of meeting me, remember?”

“I was unconscious at the time, but from what I heard, he was right to,” Orion teased.

Perseus slapped his arm. “It’s not funny.”

“You’re right, it’s not. You’re not still holding a grudge because of that, are you?”

“I’m not. I actually want to talk to Teddy. He’s the one avoiding me.”

Orion frowned and leaned against the counter. “Why?”

“Not because of anything I did to him, so don’t worry.”

Orion shrugged. “It’s the first thing that came to mind.”

“And you probably weren’t wrong to think it, but something happened, and neither Teddy nor I know how to deal with it. That’s all there is to it.”

“I want to help you. I don’t like the tension in the house.”

Orion was always eager to help. Perseus wanted to talk to him, and he knew that eventually, his brother would find out what was happening. He might as well tell him now, right?

He put down his mug. “Teddy told me that I’m his mate,” he confessed. “I didn’t believe it initially, and I was honest about that. He tried to convince me, and something happened between us, and he’s been avoiding me since then.”

Orion blinked. “Something happened between you?”

Perseus had to look away. “I don’t think you want details.”

Orion grinned. “I really don’t. I just wanted to be sure it was what I thought.” He pulled Perseus into his arms. “I can’t believe you’re Teddy’s mate. I’m so happy for you.”

Perseus allowed his brother’s hug to comfort him. “I don’t know how to feel about any of this,” he muttered. “Teddy and I need to talk, but he’s been running every time he sees me. I know I’m not a great person to have as a mate, but it hurts.”

Orion squeezed Perseus one last time before letting go. “Don’t say that. You’re a great person, even though you don’t believe it. You have to allow Teddy to see that. I know he’s been avoiding you, but you should tell him about your life with our father and what you went through. That’s the only way he can understand you better, and hopefully, he’ll stop avoiding you. He’s probably scared of what being mated to a hunter means.”

Perseus could understand that. He was petrified at the thought of being mated to Teddy. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to be but because the only person who’d ever mattered to him was his brother, and he had no idea how to be in a relationship. He had no idea how to make Teddy happy.

Even though, as his mate, it was his job.

* * * *

Teddy had no idea what he was doing. He was supposed to know, since he’d known that Perseus was his mate all along, but he really didn’t. Every time he thought about talking to Perseus, he freaked out.

He shouldn’t feel that way, right? The thought of talking to his mate shouldn’t send him into a panic.

Yet that was how he felt.

It had nothing to do with Perseus and everything to do with Teddy himself. Perseus had tried to talk to him, but it was easier for Teddy to avoid him. Teddy was petrified at the thought that Perseus would tell him that he didn’t want to be with him. They’d had sex, and it was clear that Perseus had enjoyed it, but that didn’t mean he wanted more. It didn’t mean he wanted to share his life with Teddy.

So Teddy was avoiding him. If Perseus didn’t have the opportunity to tell him he didn’t want him, he couldn’t hurt Teddy.

Teddy groaned. He couldn’t continue doing this for much longer. It wasn’t fair to Perseus, and eventually, he’d do something that would force Teddy to listen to him.

He leaned against the bench he was sitting in front of and watched as his friends sparred on the mats. Training was mandatory, and Teddy was grateful to have something to do every day. It meant he wasn’t stuck in the house with Perseus.

He was a little worried about that. Perseus hadn’t left the house since he and Orion had moved in. He walked through it and had spent time on the porch and even in the small yard around the house, but that was it. He wasn’t like Orion, who was already becoming a full tribe member. He was keeping to himself instead of making friends and building a future.

Teddy couldn’t help but wonder if it was partially his fault. Was Perseus staying inside because he thought Teddy had rejected him and was afraid everyone else would do the same? It felt like keeping to himself was part of his personality, but Teddy couldn’t be sure unless he talked to him.

He wanted to. He wanted to know where they stood and what Perseus thought of them being mates. He wanted to stop running and help Perseus settle into his new life. Perseus was struggling, and with the new space between him and his brother, Teddy couldn’t help but wonder if maybe he would start to think it wasn’t worth it. There was nothing that said he and Orion had to stay at the village. They’d both been offered a place here, but Perseus could change his mind and decide to take a step back. He loved Orion, so he probably wouldn’t go far, but it would still be too far for Teddy’s taste. Teddy wanted his mate with him.

But Perseus didn’t know that.

Someone flopped onto the floor next to Teddy, startling him. He turned to find a sweaty Hayes there, only to be distracted by Leon, who sat on his other side. Teddy pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them. He already knew what was coming, and he wasn’t looking forward to it.

The three of them stayed silent for a moment and watched the others fighting on the mats. Olga was kicking Jessup’s ass, as usual. Her mate was sitting in a corner, beaming at her every time she slammed Jessup into the mats. It was especially funny because Eliza was Jessup’s mother-in-law. Teddy supposed that made Olga Jessup’s mother-in-law, too, which was even funnier.

“You’re going to have to talk about it eventually,” Leon pointed out.

Teddy groaned and buried his face against his knees. “Do I have to?”

“Well, I suppose you don’t, but we already know what the problem is.”

Teddy blinked up at Leon. “You do?”

“In part,” Hayes said. “We know it has to involve Perseus.”

“That’s easy to guess,” Leon added. “We don’t know what’s happening with Perseus, but yeah. There’s a good chance he’s involved in your moping.”

“I told him,” Teddy murmured.

Hayes knocked his shoulder against Teddy’s. “He didn’t take it well?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t exactly talk about it. Initially, he kept saying that I had to be wrong. I got angry because I thought he meant that he didn’t want to be with a Nix, and I started ranting at him.”

Hayes winced. “That’s not the best way to start a relationship.”

“I don’t think it started anything. He kissed me to shut me up, and we ended up having sex on the kitchen table.” Teddy paused. “Don’t tell Orion, please.”

Leon and Hayes both snickered. “We won’t tell him that he should be cleaning the table before eating,” Leon promised. “What happened after that?”

Teddy sighed. “I ran. I didn’t even give him time to open his mouth after we were done. I took one look at him and shimmered away. I’ve been avoiding him since then.”

“Why?” Hayes asked.

“Because I don’t know if things can work between us. I understand why he was a hunter, but he hurt people. Our personalities don’t seem to mesh. We bicker a lot, and Perseus turns everything into a competition.”

“The two of you are mates,” Leon reminded Teddy. “That means you can work things out. I’m sure of it.”

Hayes nodded. “You share a mate bond. That’s all that matters.”

Someone cleared their throat close by, and Teddy looked around, half panicking at the thought that Perseus or Orion were there and had heard the conversation. It was ridiculous because neither of them would have a reason to be here in the gym, but it was still Teddy’s first thought.

It wasn’t one of the brothers, though. It was Davey, who was sitting further down the bench. His hair was stuck on his sweaty forehead, and his skin was flushed.

His cheeks flushed even redder when he realized he had the attention of Teddy, Hayes, and Leon, and he looked away, but Teddy wanted to hear what he had to say.

“What? You disagree with Hayes and Leon?”

Davey hesitated, then shrugged. “I think they’re seeing this from the point of view of being happily bonded.”

“But you don’t.” Teddy knew Davey hadn’t met his mate yet.

Davey looked away for a moment. “I don’t,” he confirmed. “I understand what they’re saying. If Perseus is your mate, you’re supposed to be perfect for each other and all that. It probably means he’s not a bad person, but he still did things a bad person would do. I think that the question is whether or not you can live with that. Perseus is clearly on the right path now, but you can’t change his past. You can’t change the man it made him. He’s grumpy and seems to hate people, and that’s what he presents to the world. I’m sure he’s a very different person inside, but can you live with both sides of him?”

That was a good question. Teddy had wondered the same thing after he’d realized that Perseus was his mate. Could he be with a hunter? Could he be with someone who’d hunted supernatural creatures, captured them, and sold them to labs?

But Perseus wasn’t just another hunter. He and Orion might have done all of that, but they’d also freed as many people as they could. They’d helped these people escape and had sometimes paid the price. Teddy was sure of that, even though neither of the brothers had told him anything about it. Knowing what he did about hunters, he could imagine they’d paid dearly for losing some of their prisoners.

Perseus’s main focus had always been his brother, and he’d done everything in his power to keep Orion safe. When that meant that he had to hurt someone, he had. If it meant protecting Orion, he would no doubt do so again.

Teddy rubbed his forehead. He had to stop avoiding his mate. This relationship was going to be hard work for both of them, and ignoring each other was wasting precious time they could spend getting to know each other.

Teddy already knew what he wanted. He’d come to terms with the fact that his mate had been a hunter. He didn’t like it, but he couldn’t change it, and knowing why Perseus had done so helped. That wasn’t the problem Teddy had with their relationship. No, the problem he had was more complicated.

He’d accepted what Perseus had done and the man he’d been, but Perseus wasn’t an easy man to live with. Teddy should know, since they’d been sharing a house for the past couple of weeks. If they wanted their relationship to work, Perseus would have to shift his behavior, and Teddy didn’t know if he could.

He wouldn’t find out until they talked, which meant it was time to do just that.

* * * *

Perseus had known this was a bad idea, but for some reason, he’d convinced himself that he needed to find Teddy now. He had no idea where to start looking, but the first step had been easy.

Get out of the house.

So here he was, walking down what appeared to be the main street of the tiny village he lived in. He had no idea how many people lived here, but if there were more than five hundred, he’d be surprised.

It looked like all five hundred inhabitants of the village were on Main Street today, staring at him.

He huffed in annoyance, both at their behavior and at the way he felt. Who cared if people were staring? What they thought didn’t matter. The only people who did were Orion and Teddy, and Perseus didn’t care what these other people thought of him. They were probably thinking that he should get back to his house and never stick his nose out again, but he wasn’t going to do that. He lived to make people uncomfortable, and he was going to do it in style, dammit.

He raised his chin and continued walking down the sidewalk slowly. He was surprised by how neat the village was. He’d seen a bit of it when he and Orion had been released from their cells, and he’d expected dirt roads and a few houses, but he’d been wrong. Main Street was lined with small shops, a diner, and a coffee shop. The sidewalks were clean, and there were vases of flowers everywhere. The sun shone, and people walked around, laughing and talking. There was even a park a bit further down the road, where Perseus could hear children playing.

This looked like a corner of paradise, and he couldn’t believe he and his brother had found it. Orion would be happy here. Perseus had already seen a few empty stores that would be perfect bakeries once Orion decided he was ready for it.

Thinking about that made Perseus wonder what he was supposed to do with his future. He didn’t have any skills beyond hunting. He couldn’t bake or cook to save his life, and the one time he’d attempted to fix something in the house he’d shared with his brother and his father, he’d finished breaking it. He wasn’t good with children or with people in general. Unless someone could find him a job in which he didn’t have to talk to anyone and that he didn’t need to be qualified for, he didn’t think he’d be able to do much.

The idea of looking for Teddy had been stupid. How could Perseus find him? The village was small, but not that small, and without knowing what Teddy was doing today, Perseus could walk around for hours with no result. Between that and the heavy weight of the stares on his back, he was ready to go home.

He turned to do just that, but he didn’t notice someone was walking behind him. He collided with a little girl, but thankfully, he managed to grab her before she fell on the sidewalk. He smiled at her and started to ask if she was all right, but the woman who’d been walking next to her—probably her mother—snatched her away. She glared at Perseus as if she expected him to hurt her daughter, and Perseus was done.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled as he pushed past them.

He didn’t run back to the house, but it was a close thing, and he breathed easier only once he was inside with the door closed behind him.

For a moment, he leaned against it. He wasn’t surprised his first outing had been a disaster or that the little girl’s mother had expected him to hurt her. It was what he did. He hurt people, and everyone here knew it.

How could he have thought he could have a place here? People would never accept him. He didn’t care much as long as they accepted Orion, and they had. Orion always came home happy and relaxed. He’d found his place here, which was all Perseus had ever wanted. As long as Orion was happy, Perseus wouldn’t mind staying here, even if he never left the house. He would have to find a job he could work from here, but he was sure he could come up with something. He doubted Moore and Rikar would force him out of the house, considering how people reacted to him.

The sound of a key sliding into the lock made Perseus jump. He quickly stepped away just in time for the door to open and Teddy to step in.

Perseus stared at him. It had been a while since he’d last stood in the same room as Teddy. Usually, when he did, Teddy shimmered out as if the place was on fire, but he hadn’t noticed Perseus yet because he was looking at his phone, so Perseus took advantage of that. He took his mate in, remembering how solid he’d felt on top of him, how soft his hair was, and the sounds he made when he came.

Teddy kicked off his shoes and turned. He froze when he saw Perseus standing there, and Perseus quickly raised his hands. “I’m going. I don’t want to bother you.” He’d wanted to find Teddy and talk to him, but he wouldn’t force it. If Teddy wanted to talk to him, he knew where to find him.

“Wait,” Teddy said.

It was Perseus’s turn to freeze. “Yes?”

“I’d like to talk with you, if that’s all right with you. I think it’s time we stop running from each other.”

Perseus swallowed. He hadn’t expected Teddy to come to that conclusion, and he didn’t know what to think about it, but he was ready to give Teddy what he wanted. It was annoying because it didn’t feel fair, but Perseus’s heart didn’t care about fairness. He might not be a Nix or a shifter, but he felt the bond he and Teddy shared, and his heart wanted it to be complete. Perseus hadn’t allowed himself to think about that, and he didn’t today, either. There would be time for that.

“We can talk,” he confirmed as he moved toward the living room.

He sat on the edge of the couch, unsure what to expect. Was Teddy about to tell him that he didn’t think things could work between them? It wouldn’t be a surprise, but Perseus prayed for a different outcome.

Teddy sat next to Perseus, much closer than Perseus had expected. Perseus held his breath, wondering if he should move. Before he could, Teddy started talking.

“I’m sorry about the way I’ve been behaving. It wasn’t fair of me to dump all of this on you and leave you to deal with it on your own.”

Perseus shook his head. “I get it. You’re not happy to have been stuck with me as your mate, and it’s understandable. I just want you to know that I don’t care that you’re a Nix, and I don’t care that we’re mates.” That wasn’t what Perseus meant, dammit. “Wait. What I mean is that I’m not ashamed, scared, or disgusted. I was in shock, and I still have a hard time believing I’m your mate because I don’t feel I deserve it, but it has nothing to do with you and what you are. I swear.”

Teddy’s expression was serious. “Good. I realize that I panicked before I could find out how you felt about the bond. I shouldn’t have rambled at you the way I did, and I definitely shouldn’t have run after we had sex.”

Perseus’s body flushed as he remembered what had happened that day. He desperately wanted a repeat, but he wanted things between him and Teddy to heal even more. Hopefully, once their conversation was over, he could have both.

* * * *

Teddy was relieved that Perseus was willing to give them a chance. He didn’t know what would come out of it, but it was a start, and a good one at that.

“Why do you feel you don’t deserve to be my mate?” That was what had touched him the most in what Perseus had just said.

Perseus looked like he was about to bolt. He was sitting on the edge of the couch, ready to run. Teddy was surprised he wasn’t but also relieved. They’d agreed to talk, and he wanted to clear things up. Once they had, they could find a way forward, but not until then. It was why it was time for them to be honest with each other.

“I believe it’s obvious,” Perseus answered. “I’m a hunter. Even though I never wanted to, I hurt people. It doesn’t matter that I was forced to, that I would have been hurt or killed if I hadn’t, or that Orion might have been. I should’ve been stronger. I should’ve stood up to my father and allowed him to hurt me instead of hurting others. I should have been strong enough to grab Orion and get both of us out of there.”

Teddy’s heart broke. He remembered how torn he’d been over this after he’d realized that his mate was a hunter, but now, he couldn’t imagine not being with Perseus. Perseus had done the best with what he had. He’d taken it onto himself to protect his younger brother, and Teddy suspected he’d partially raised him. Orion was a delightful man, and Perseus was to thank for that. He might not see it, but Teddy did.

Things would have been very different if Perseus had left the hunters. He and Orion might not be here. Teddy wanted to think that they’d have found their way to each other eventually, but something could have happened.

Even though Perseus and Orion had been forced to do things they despised, being with the hunters had protected them, in a way. Besides, through that, many people had been saved. Teddy had no doubt that Perseus’s father and the other hunters had punished the brothers when their prisoners had escaped, but Perseus and Orion had continued helping them, anyway. They’d saved people who would be dead otherwise.

Teddy took Perseus’s hand. It seemed to startle Perseus, but he didn’t pull away, and his body relaxed. It wasn’t much, but it was something, and Teddy hoped it would get better.

“You’re right. You’re a hunter. I’m sure there’s something you could have done differently. Think about what would have happened to the people you saved if you hadn’t been there, though. Do you think another hunter would have saved them?”

Perseus shook his head. “They would have died.”

“Exactly. I’m not going to say that I’m happy about your past, but I don’t believe you’re a bad person, and I don’t want you to believe that, either. You were born into a shitty situation, and you did what you could to save yourself and Orion. You even saved others. You might not have told me, but I can imagine how your father would have reacted to you losing prisoners.”

Perseus grimaced. “I don’t think he suspected that we were doing so on purpose, but I think he believed that Orion was stupid or something like that and that the prisoners escaped because of him. He thought I was shielding him, and he was right. He just didn’t understand the true reason behind it.”

Teddy kissed Perseus’s temple. It felt odd, but at the same time, right. This was what they were meant to be, and the bond pulled him closer every day. “What happened when you lost prisoners?”

Perseus went tense again. “It wasn’t pretty. That’s how Orion got hurt. We were supposed to transport a family to one of the labs. I guess the scientists wanted to study how familial bonds influence shifters or something stupid like that. There were two little girls, Teddy. They couldn’t have been more than four or five, and they were terrified. Their father had tried defending them and their mother, and he’d been hurt. The kids reminded me of me and Orion when we were that age. Orion was only three when our mother died, and our father took a turn for the worse. I remember being afraid, and I didn’t want those two little girls to feel the same.”

Perseus might have been a hunter, but he’d been through hell. Teddy had been right when he’d suspected that his mate had scars. They might not be visible—although Teddy was sure that Perseus had plenty of those, too—but they were there, crisscrossing his heart. He’d taken a lot on his shoulders so that Orion could continue being the lighthearted and sweet man he was. Perseus had used his body and his heart to protect his brother, and he was hiding the scars left behind. He didn’t want Orion or anyone else to see them, and the best way to make sure they didn’t was to hide behind a grumpy and snappish exterior.

Of course it was easier for Perseus to stay away from people. When he did, he didn’t have to be himself. He didn’t have to show people his heart and explain why it was still bleeding. He’d rather push people away like he had with Teddy than allow them in and risk being hurt again.

“I can’t promise you I won’t ever hurt you, but I can promise I’ll never do it on purpose,” Teddy murmured as he squeezed Perseus’s hand. “I’m never going to be like your father.”

“Good,” Perseus said. “I don’t want you to be like him.”

“And I know it’s going to take some time for us to trust each other, but I don’t care about your past, not in the way you think. I’m not ashamed or disgusted that you were a hunter. I’m in awe that you managed to save so many people when you were in danger, too. I’m amazed that you didn’t run, leaving them in your father’s hands. You saved those little girls and a lot of other people. You deserve a place in the village.”

Perseus’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know about that. I left the house earlier to find you, and everyone was staring. There was even a woman who pulled her daughter away as if she expected me to hurt her in the middle of Main Street. I don’t know if I can ever belong here, Teddy.”

Teddy’s chest felt tight. “Does that mean you want to leave?” If Perseus did, Teddy would follow. He didn’t want to leave this place because he felt at home here and the people he loved were part of the tribe, but if that was what Perseus needed, Teddy would give it to him.

“I’m not leaving Orion, so no. I guess I just need to become a hermit. It’s not going to be hard. I like this house, and I don’t mind spending a lot of time here.”

Teddy felt better but, at the same time, worse. “You’re one of us, and you deserve to be able to leave the house just like everyone else. What happened this morning isn’t fair.”

Perseus shrugged. “Life isn’t fair. I don’t mind. I’m sure everyone in the village knows I was a hunter, and between that and my winning personality, I’m not surprised they expect me to snap. It’s fine.”

“It’s really not.” But Teddy would have time to change things. Perseus was staying, and it looked like they might be able to make things work. Teddy would show Perseus that he deserved to be loved and welcomed.

He leaned forward to kiss Perseus’s cheek, but Perseus turned his head, and their lips met. Teddy could feel Perseus’s smile, so he suspected his mate had done so on purpose. He didn’t mind. In fact, he was quite happy with how things were going.

He wanted to tumble Perseus against the couch and have a repeat of what had happened in the kitchen, but they weren’t done talking. He kept the kiss light, then moved back and smiled at Perseus. “I want to give this a try. I know it won’t be easy, but I believe that as long as we talk and trust each other, we can make it work. I don’t care that you were a hunter, and you don’t care that I’m not human. Now that we know that, we can move forward.”

“Even though I’m a pariah?”

If Teddy had anything to say about it, he wouldn’t be for long. “I don’t care if you never leave the house. As long as we stop avoiding each other, we’ll find a way to make it work.”

Teddy would talk to every member of the tribe one by one if he had to. He wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt his mate ever again.

Not even himself.