Chapter 19

 

Gage hung up and turned to the two men walking toward him. Noah had a guarded look on his face. Gage had no one to blame but himself after growling at him earlier.

The easy-going expression on Blair’s face faded as they got closer. He was always able to sense another shifter’s mood. “What did we miss?” he asked cautiously.

Jamming the phone into his pocket, Gage shook his head trying to decide where to start. “More than I’d like.” He gave Noah a nod in greeting, hoping the informal acknowledgment would be all that was required to put him at ease again, or as much as Noah could be. “Cooper had a talk with Kelsey.”

Blair paused in his step and looked at him. “What did he tell her?”

“Everything.”

Blair swore under his breath. “Even about her folks?”

Gage nodded.

Noah looked from one to the other. “What about them?”

Blair looked to Gage asking permission, he gave an abrupt nod.

“Tomas senior’s men killed her parents. We’re pretty sure they were going for her mother at the time.”

Noah spun, his back facing them and paced a few feet away. Stopping he put his hands on his hips and dropped his head down. “Fuck,” he uttered viciously. A breath later he stiffened and was composed again.

Gage had to wonder if they’d beat him into masking his emotions or if he’d learned how to do it to cope.

“Is she all right?” Noah’s voice shook as he asked.

Not sure how to answer, Gage decided the truth was best. “I’m not sure. It was a lot to take in.”

“There’s more?” Noah looked over his shoulder at him.

Nodding, Gage crossed his arms over his chest. “He told her about mating,” he blew out a breath, “and about me.”

“Well shit!” Blair shook his head, a look of disbelief on his face. “When I suggested telling her, I didn’t mean everything in one sentence.”

“I had Jake take her home…” he glanced at the treeline, silently hoping they’d come back so he could find out more, “he came back and took off.” He motioned to the clothes on the ground.

“Shit!” Blair threw up his hands and then waved them around. “Have you talked to her?”

Gage shook his head. “No. I didn’t want to crowd her. I messaged her and she doesn’t seem to be in a talkative mood.”

“Fuck,” Blair gripped the sides of his head and closed his eyes. “Seven fucking years we tippy-toe around things only to have it blow up…”

“I’d like to go check on her.” Noah interrupted.

Blair stopped and dropped his hands; he looked from Noah to Gage.

Gage ignored the startled look on Blair’s face. He had fences to mend with the man now looking at him. He also knew Kelsey would be less likely to rip a strip off Noah because he hadn’t been hiding secrets from her. He nodded slowly. “Let her know you’re there, if she wants to talk, she’ll come to you.”

Blair gave him a startled look.

Exhaling, Gage dropped his hands and jammed them in his pockets. “Noah won’t be on her blacklist,” he waved a hand between Blair and himself, “we will be. We kept a lot from her for too long.” Blair sighed, his expression fading into defeat. “And, if anyone will recognize Tomas’s associate’s scents, it’s going to be Noah.”

Blair’s expression lit up, he nodded. “That’s true.”

Gage turned to face Noah. “If you scent anything that shouldn’t be here, you let us know immediately.”

Noah’s shoulders straightened a look of determination on his face. “I will.” He gave Blair a quick look and then turned to head to the path.

Both men stood there and watched him leave. Gage waited until he disappeared into the trees before turning to Blair. “Devin’s put every shifter clan on alert.”

Looking startled, Blair nodded. “Does he need any help?”

Gage knew that in his heart, Blair was a warrior, a force to be reckoned with when his easy-going persona was peeled away. It had always surprised him that he hadn’t wanted to be alpha of a clan. “I offered him your protection, but he wants you to stay here. I can’t say I’m disappointed with that. Kelsey’s been through enough, having you here gives me a little less to worry about right now.”

Nodding, Blair blew out a breath. “You know I’d tear anyone to pieces if they ever did anything to hurt her?”

The tone put Gage’s cat on alert. Was he making a statement or was he warning him? Straightening to his full height, Gage looked Blair in the eye. Keeping his tone low, he gave him a serious look. “I know.”

With an abrupt nod, Blair looked toward the trees. “Go run. I can sense your frustration and it’s making my skin crawl.”

With a half grin, Gage turned to head to the trees.

“Gage?”

He paused and looked over his shoulder at him.

“You should know…” Blair paused and took a deep breath, “if Kelsey accepts you, I’m going away.”

Feeling like someone had just smacked him in the face; Gage turned around and looked at the man he’d known since he was two.

Blair gave him an uneasy grin, something that seemed so out of place on his face. “I won’t interfere; I know true mates are rare.” He shrugged. “I couldn’t help falling for her” he gave a strangled laugh, “Who wouldn’t? She stormed into the shop and bested us all on the rigs, never gave up…” he shook his head and looked down at the ground for a moment before straightening and giving him a serious look. “I know its shitty timing and all, but I thought you should know.”

So many thoughts hit Gage all at once, his knees felt weak. “I, ah…” He puffed out his cheeks and exhaled all at once. “I didn’t know.” What was he supposed to say to shit like this? He’d been side-by-side with this man all his life and he hadn’t noticed.

“You were a little preoccupied.” Blair had never looked abashed before that Gage could recall, but he did now. “The guys know, well I’m pretty sure Coop suspects, but Gary and Jake know.”

Heading spinning, Gage opened his mouth and then shut it again. His cat chose now to wake up completely. He was torn in half. He loved this man like a brother, but his mate, his mate…

“Look,” Blair walked toward him, emotion playing across his face. “I didn’t tell you to change things,” he waved a hand between them, “I just wanted you to know, to understand…”

“It’s a bit of game changer, Blair.” Gage whispered in disbelief.

Blair nodded. “I know.” He crossed his arms over his chest, looking uncomfortable. “I love you like a brother, I’d do anything for you, for our clan, but…”

Gage swallowed the lump in his throat. He knew what he was saying and his cat clawed at him that this man wanted his mate, but his heart pounded in his chest understanding what it must have taken for Blair to tell him. “I know.” Taking a deep breath, he looked straight into Blair’s pale eyes; he could see he was as conflicted as he was. “If…” he almost choked on the word, “if she doesn’t accept me, I won’t be able to…” he’d thought about it for seven years, but saying it was harder, “stay here or where ever she is.” He swallowed again. “It will make it easier knowing someone…” He took another deep breath, shaking his head.

“I got it, Gage.”

Nodding, Gage huffed out a breath. “I won’t hurt her, Blair. I’d leave if it ever came to that.”

Blair’s jaw clenched a few times before he spoke. “I hope so.” Waving a hand toward the trees, Blair blew out a breath. “Get out of here. I need some alone time.”

No shit, was all Gage could think. As he walked toward the trees, he knew he was feeling a small piece of what Kelsey must be. He’d had no idea, never suspected once. All the guys loved Kelsey and until a few moments ago, he’d thought it was in a brotherly way. Shaking his head, he pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it to the ground. He’d known Blair talked to Kelsey often while she was away at school, but then all of them had called her from time to time. All of them but you, his cat reminded him.

He was thankful the clans, for the most part were civilized, if he’d had to fight Blair for Kelsey…well, it actually scared him to think about it. Kicking off his boots, he cursed fate. Would it have been too much to ask for to find his mate and make it simple? He reached for his cat as he shucked off his jeans, he wanted to run as fast and hard as he could, clear all of this from his mind, a short reprieve before he came back and faced reality, because he knew one thing for sure, it was going to be a bitch.