CHAPTER FOUR

Sean couldn"t believe what he was looking at, but it made everything clear. Lowell"s wounds had started to heal before they"d left the clearing, and his instincts while fighting were spot on. He fended off the wolves longer than should have been possible, but clearly, he could see what was coming and reacted accordingly. Nothing was blatantly obvious, but it was there, and Sean had written it off to being near his mate and simple adrenaline.

"You're part of a legacy of magic."

"The old man said I was charmed but only lightly so." He smiled but it looked grim.

"You knew shifters lived here?"

"No." He said quite definitively. "I knew there was something strange in town; I could feel it. I suspected there were mystical beings by the energy I sensed coming off some people, but I knew nothing for certain until tonight when I watched you shift."

"There's a situation happening in Salida of which the human population is blissfully unaware, and it has the potential to blow this town apart." Sean took a sip of his whiskey before he continued. "It would seem that you, Patrick, and John found yourselves in the middle of the nastiest parts of the upheaval."

"Is it a fight for dominance? I felt a power rush when the wolves attacked us not the true organic kind that can stop you in your tracks but rather it was a forced sense of supremacy the kind that bullies employ." Lowell interjected and again Sean was impressed with his shrewd awareness. "I would add that the rush of power dissipated when you and your friend Eamon arrived."

Just then, the front door opened, and Eamon called out to Sean. "In the guest room." He called back and did not let go of Lowell"s hand; rather, he moved closer to him when Eamon entered the room.

Eamon took in the scene and nodded to both Sean and Lowell before taking a seat in the chair off to Lowell's left against the wall. Eamon understood the relationship between him and Lowell and was careful not to get too close.

"How are Patrick and John?" Lowell asked eagerly for an update.

"John is doing fine. He"s awake and moving around. Patrick had some deep wounds to his upper left arm, but the doctors have him stitched and bandaged, and currently, he"s asleep." Eamon told him, and Lowell was visibly relieved.

"Thank you," Lowell said, and Eamon smiled with a nod.

Sean then went ahead and gave Eamon a rundown of what he and Lowell had discussed so far. He, too, was surprised by Lowell"s link to magic. Sean didn"t blame him when he leaned forward and looked deep into Lowell"s eyes.

"That"s so cool," Eamon commented as he sat back.

"I was just explaining the trouble that has come to pass and that more than the paranormal will be effected by it." Sean could feel Lowell's struggle to process and keep up and he wished he could take this slower. Unfortunately, most of the information was already out of the bag so it was necessary to complete this explanation and persuade him to keep their secret.

"What is happening?" That"s a logical question from Lowell.

"The Salida pack alpha recently died and left no heir. There is a challenge for leadership coming up, and many are positioning themselves for a chance to become one of the three chosen by the elders to compete." Sean explained and then handed it off to Eamon for further detail.

"The wise ones are taking their time coming to a decision, so my people are becoming restless, and some are looking to cause trouble or chaos in order to push their candidate to the forefront. It"s messy and violent, and I"m sorry that you and your friends got caught up in it." That was clear and concise.

The discussion went on a little further, with Eamon answering all of his questions and explaining the leadership challenge and the factions involved. Sean continued to hold Lowell"s hand and reassured him throughout. Then, the time came to make their point. Sean took over, and Eamon provided backup as he approached the subject of secrecy.

"It is vitally important to us and to the human population that you keep this secret that you now hold. If even a theory of the existence of paranormal beings got out into the mainstream, it would be devastating . . . for everyone." Sean made his pitch. "We are asking you to tell no one what you saw. Don"t allude to it, don"t write about it, don"t joke about it, and please tell no one."

"It could blow up this town and this world if the truth got out," Eamon added in a dire tone. Lowell stared at the two of them for several seconds and then shook his head vigorously.

"I would never share this information with anyone. It would be disastrous and I don't need magics to see that." He continued to shake his head. "You have my word I will say nothing."

"Thank you sweetheart." Sean leaned over and took Lowell into his arms and pulled him close. He didn't balk or resist, which was a wonderful feeling. Eamon took that moment to leave and closed the door behind him. They held each other quietly just drinking in the significance of this minute. Sean knew that bonds and connections were forming, and he was certain that Lowell felt it too.

"Why don"t you stretch out and try to get some sleep? You"ve had a night and then some. Give yourself time to relax and get used to your new reality." Sean finished with a smile as he stood and began tucking Lowell into bed. Lowel grabbed Sean"s hand and looked up at him with concern, as if he were apprehensive.

"Where will you be?"

"I"ll take the sofa in the living room. I won"t be far away." He told him sensing that a fear was rising. "You"re safe here, Lowell."

"Stay, please stay." Lowell pulled at his arm and then reached for his other arm, grabbing hold and trying to pull him closer. "Don"t leave me." Sean could not ignore those words. His mate was begging for him, and he would not deny him. Lowell moved over and pulled back the comforter. "I won"t bother you; I just want you close. I need you near me, please."

"There is no way in which you could ever bother me, Lowell. You are a lovely young man, and I will stay with you if that is what you wish."

"I need you Sean your touch soothes me, and your smell makes me feel relaxed and safe." Lowell had closed his eyes but opened them when Sean switched off the lights and got into bed beside him. "Thanks Sean, thank you so much."

"My pleasure, love." Sean gathered him close and tucked Lowell's head against his shoulder. There was nowhere on earth he'd rather be.

Lowell snuggled into Sean"s side and wrapped his arm around him. He was resting his head on Sean"s shoulder and could feel the steady beat of his heart and the rhythm of his breath. He"d never felt this safe and secure in the whole of his life, and he did not understand it at all.

Even though he did not understand what he was feeling it did not stop him from taking complete advantage of this man. Sean was pure perfection, and he'd give his left arm to have a chance with a man like him. He was a wolf shifter that had to be taken into consideration but in Lowell's mind it just made him sexier and more mysterious.

Sean was the man from his vivid dreams, there was no doubt, and his dreams were usually messages. The wolf was meant to be. He could feel it in his bones, and Lowell would not deny what he felt, but did Sean feel the same.

His touch was gentle, and his treatment was kind, but Lowell lamented that the only heat being generated was from him. His dream lover was just that, only a dream. It was time to clear his head and his feelings and focus on getting through this new reality of wolves and conflicts.

It was time to buck up and begin to handle himself in a more masculine manner. He should never have begged him to stay. It was so unlike him and left him feeling a bit cringy. His overthinking got the best of him, and he started to pull away, realizing that Sean probably wanted some personal space but would be too kind to say so under the circumstances.

He no more than lifted his head and began pulling back, and Sean tightened his hold on him, preventing him from moving away. "I like you right where you are." He mumbled under his breath and placed a kiss on his forehead before settling back against the pillows. Now, Lowell didn"t know what to think, so he settled in and closed his eyes. He"d think about it later.

Eamon prepared breakfast the following morning. Sean had arranged for some clothes to be dropped off for Lowell, which he greatly appreciated. He offered to pay, but Sean was adamant that he accept the gift, and after a little back and forth, Lowell accepted with a heartfelt thank you.

He didn"t like being in anyone"s debt, but this was small, considering he owed Sean for saving his life the night before. He was feeling like himself again, except the memory of the wolf attack remained on the edges of his mind, along with the fear that more was to come for this community.

Sean was a perfect gentleman the previous night and had not pushed beyond a few kisses, chaste kisses. Lowell wasn"t sure how he felt about it. The dream had set him up for expectations that were not a part of reality, unfortunately. Sean was attentive and caring, but he didn"t get the sense that he was interested in the way Lowell was interested.

They sat down, and Eamon served steak and eggs, a favorite of Lowell"s but something he rarely indulged. Sean took good care of him, pouring his coffee and helping him get comfortably seated before taking his own seat next to him.

Eamon sat across from them. Eamon was a nice guy, serious and intense but a nice guy. He didn"t interest Lowell the way Sean did although he was handsome and strong he did not give off the sexy vibe that radiated from Sean.

Sean and Eamon were discussing the shifters from last night and theorizing their intent and what they hoped to gain by it. "They were probably drunk or high or both and using the turbulent time as an excuse to hurt people." Eamon threw it out there, and it sounded plausible.

"But that doesn't account for the level of hatred that I felt coming off them as they went after their human targets. They were angry and they wanted those men dead." Sean gave his opinion.

"The one you call Cory wasn"t angry; he was gleefully cutting us to ribbons." Lowell joined during a pause. "He felt satisfied like he was completing an assignment, and he was going to get a gold star." Sean and Eamon stopped and considered his words for a moment while Lowell finished his coffee.

"He was working for someone," Eamon said, and Sean nodded his head in agreement. "But why the humans? It would result in a bloodbath if it got around town that there were rabid wolves in the mountains killing people."

"Maybe a bloodbath is what they were aiming for."