Everett wasn't sure how long he'd slept, but he felt like he was born in a different decade. It took a minute, but he remembered what room and decade he was in. He laughed at his stupidity for a moment before getting up and going to shower.
He noticed the blazing inferno had eased after his dallance with Mal. it seemed mass amounts of physical exertion extinguished it in due time. He wasn't sure how long that would last, but he was grateful it didn't burn him from the inside out.
He took a shower in cold water, and it felt good. He stared at the wall for a long moment before he washed his hair and body. For the first time in a long while, he felt clean. Not that he was unclean, but his body always had this certain sheen of greasiness about it after his eyes changed. He had never been sure of what it was before, but now he was sure it had to deal with the power flowing through his veins. It left him feeling sticky without actually sweating.
Once he dried off and was clothed, he went in search of something to eat. He was surprised to see Astra and Domino sitting at the dining room table. He knew Astra was coming, but Domino was a shock. Usually he didn't like being around Everett. The latter always thought it was because he was seeing Mal. Now he began to wonder if it was because Domino couldn't figure out what he was.
Domino was a tall man, about six feet two. His dark hair was curly and shaggy, hanging all in his face. His dark eyes held a type of hatred for certain people, but when he was with Astra, it turned to fondness. He wasn't a large man, but he wasn't super thin either. He may have been an athlete before he was changed, although Everett wasn't sure when that was.
Astra waved at him when he came in. "We ordered pizza. Help yourself."
Everett did. He grabbed a paper plate and several slices. He sat on the other side of Astra, watching as they played cards. He devoured the first slice but took his time with the rest. Domino passed him a soda, which he cracked open happily. The fizziness helped clear the roughness in his throat.
"How long have I slept?" he asked. He apologized after he burped.
"You were asleep when we got here and that was a little after nine. So about nine hours," she said.
Domino let out a laugh. "It's good to see someone was able to tame Malcolm." He looked at Everett as he put his cards down. There was a glint in his eye. "How did you do it? Was it your personality or your tight ass?"
The human smiled sadistically. "Tell me. How did Astra tame you? Hmm? Was it your sweet disposition or the fact she can outclass you?"
Astra barked out a laugh herself. "He got you there."
Domino was known as the enforcer of Donovan's pack. Whenever brute strength was needed, he was called. Pair him with Astra, and the two were a brick wall. Everett didn't know very many people who could go up against them or would even try for that matter.
Mal's natural instinct was to call those who would protect what was his. Astra was Everett's friend; Domino not so much. They were cordial to each other, but they wouldn't hang out together voluntarily.
"Who are the ones outside?" he asked.
Astra laid her card down then raked in the candy in front of them. Domino huffed out a sigh that mirrored his scowl. "Damos, Lukas, Wrynn, and Kolby. They're the new ones from last month's full moon hunt. Donovan thought it would be good practice for them. They're not used to all the pack members yet."
"I'm not pack." Everett took another bite.
"As of two nights ago you are," Domino corrected. The younger man looked at him, chewing slowly after taking a brief pause. "When Mal claimed you, our pack bonds extended to include you. No matter what anyone thinks or feels about you, you're officially Mal's mate. We have an obligation to protect you."
"He didn't ask me," the young man groused.
"Most dominant wolves don't," Astra said. "But I can honestly say that Mal fought the urge because he didn't want to take the decision from you. Unfortunately, that all goes out the window when you're in trouble. His only way to keep you safe when that fae woman attacked you was to claim you. It's not official unless sworn by the moon, but that's up to you. He won't force that part on you."
"It may not matter." They stopped their game to look at him. He shook his head. "Don't worry about it."
Astra sighed and pulled his chair around to face her. Domino's face momentarily changed but he knew Everett wasn't a threat. Even if he wasn't with Mal, he wouldn't chase the she-wolf. She wasn't his type.
"Whatever you say to us will remain between us unless it hurts you. Then we're obligated to tell. So what is it?" she said. Everett hesitated, eyes darting to the window. "Don't worry about them. They won't say a word. I'll kill them first."
He told them evereything. He told them about his dream, about how he felt different now than he had, how his libido had increased in the last several months, and so much more. Mostly he told them how scared he was. Despite getting some information, he still felt lost. Now Mal was involved and his emotions were haywire.
He felt he was losing a battle he didn't even know he was fighting. Whatever he was, whatever he'd done in his past or past life, he was afraid it would bite him in the ass. He felt something was going to hurt Mal more than help him. If something happened to Mal, he'd never forgive himself. No, that wasn't right. He'd lose himself.
If anything, anything happened to Mal…
Astra listened and watched Everett closely. Since hanging around her packmate, she had gotten to know him pretty well. He was a good man who worked hard. She still didn't understand why he pickpocketed up until recently, but she'd helped him when he needed extra muscle.
She'd witnessed firsthand how Mal and Everett treated each other. Before they'd just spent the night with each other and went their separate ways. There were no obligations between them. They were simply sleeping together. Now it was so, so different. Both men had changed over the last several months, and they had grown as men and as a couple.
Mal had fallen hard. His life had grown to fully encompass Everett. He loved him unconditionally even if he didn't outright say it. He took care of the younger man in ways she hadn't seen anyone else do even for their mates. Domino sure as hell didn't.
She leaned forward and ran a hand over Everett's damp hair. He didn't look up at her. Not because he was scared of her or because she was more dominant than him. She was but that wasn't the reason. He was fighting his own feelings, and she figured if he looked up he was going to cry.
"You love him, don't you?" she asked.
She was right. She heard the snotty sniffles before he wiped his nose. Everett didn't cry easily so seeing this meant he was suffering in silence. He had been for a while now, but he was so good at hiding it no one noticed.
"I can't hurt him," he muttered. "I'm afraid I will."
"What are you going to do? He will do whatever he can to help you."
"I know." Everett rubbed his nose then looked up. "As much as I don't want to talk to the fae, I have to know what they know. Even if it's something I don't like, I have to know."
Domino crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. "What if they know something that will possibly kill you? You know the fae aren't the most forthcoming and honest."
"Either way, I need to know."
Astra sighed and patted his knees. "Mal will want to go with you. He must not, absolutely not. They will use your relationship with him against you. They will try to get you to do anything to keep you. And he will pay the price."
"He won't let me go alone."
"You're right. I won't." They all looked at the kitchen doorway. Mal stood there with his arms crossed. He looked between the three of them silently. "Are you trying to go without me?"
Everett shook his head. "No, but I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't want anyone to use you against me. I don't want you hurt."
Mal lookeda t him for a long time. Everett hung his head in shame. For what his partnerwasn't sure. Whether it was discussing his plans with Astra or admitting to not wanting him hurt, he wasn't sure what was shameful. But seeing that look set Mal's teeth on edge.
He crossed to him and spun the chair around. Everett looked up at him, bloodshot eyes wide with shock. He stared at him, daring him to look away. Tears pooled in Everett's eyes and his face contorted. He leaned forward and pressed his face into Mal's shoulder.
Mal was slightly unnerved. This was the second time he had seen Everett cry. The first time he had completely understood; he hadn't wanted to open a can of worms by going back to New Port. Now, he didn't know what he was feeling, but it was strong enough to bring him to tears.
His hand came up and pressed the man as close as he could. He felt the hot tears dampen his shirt. Everett was shaken up more than he had let on before.
Slowly, he pushed his head back and looked at him. He wiped his face with his thumbs, sighing deeply as he realized how deep those emotions went. Everett held everything in until he couldn't. It was probably why he never knew what was going on with him.
"Ev," he whispered, "I can't just sit home while you go out and possibly hurt yourself trying to figure this out. I can't do it, and I won't. No respectable werewolf or mate would allow it. If I don't go, neither do you."
"Mal…" Everett's voice was strained. So strained in fact Astra's face contorted in sympathy. "Please don't make it harder."
The werewolf shook his head. "Everett, Bastian's mistress may be head of the fae, but she's still a fae. She can con you into doing a 'favor' for her which could kill you. If that happened, I would not think twice before starting a war."
"About that…" Everyone looked at the door again. Donovan and Ezra stood behind them. Domino jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over. "Easy, boy."
Ezra strode forward and went to the sink. He used a clean paper towel and ran cool water over it. He came over to Everett and turned his face to him, casting Mal a chiding look before wiping the young man's face. Then he pressed the cool towel to his face to ease the puffiness.
"You can't be a hot mess when Bastian and Annaliese come talk to you," he whispered.
Mal frowned. "Say what?"
"Bastian called me right after you'd left. He asked several questions. I tried my best not to answer directly, but he surmised the answers. Instead of meeting at Turoch's, they will meet on neutral ground," Donovan said.
"Where?" Astra asked.'
"The park at midnight. I feel Annaliese had the same feelings as Malcolm. If someone of her court did or said anything untoward to Everett, she knew Malcolm would go to war, and we would support him," Ezra said. He slapped Everett's cheeks twice. "You'll have to look better than this, kid. You're good looking but no one will care if you look like you just had your heart ripped out."
The young man got up slowly and disappeared down the hall. Mal glared at Ezra but didn't dare oppose him. He was the Second, and if Donovan didn't chastise him, Mal wouldn't be able to either.
"Don't look at me like I haven't played this game before," Ezra said. "I've had a male lover, Malcolm. It's worse with a male than it is a female. Females are accepted, and males are not. It's the society we live in."
Domino's mouth fell open. "You're gay?"
"No," Ezra corrected. "Bisexual would be a more accurate term. Tilly understands and sometimes she picks them out for me."
Silence filled the kitchen. No one knew Ezra's personal life other than Donovan. They knew about his mate Tilly and their now grown kids, but the rest he kept to himself. Knowing now why, they understood a little more as to why he was so secretive. Unlike Mal, he hadn't grown up in a society where it was socially acceptable to live however you wanted.
Mal glanced at the clock. "Are you staying?" He left the question open.
"I will if it's allowed," Astra confirmed. Domino nodded his agreement.
Donovan nodded. "I sent the other four home."
Ezra sat down. "I have an interest in Everett. Not like that." He glared at Mal when the other man basically growled at him. "And to be clear, if I wanted to have him, I would have already taken him from you." He smiled lewdly. "And I would gladly flip fuck with him."
Mal launched himself at him. He couldn't help it. The last comment was out of line even for Ezra. He was normally soft spoken with a wicked temper when riled. And he didn't pull any punches.
They were tussling on the kitchen floor when Everett returned. Donovan tried to block him, but he ducked under his arm just as Ezra tossed Mal into the wall by his head. They weren't completely human, and with everything going on, their tempers were high. But did they have to fight? What would it solve?
"Mal, stop," he said. His voice didn't get through to them as Ezra slammed Mal through the table, splintering the wood instantly. Mal was right back up, bashing the toaster against the second's head.
"Leave them alone," Donovan ordered. Everett looked at him. "This has been a long time coming and Malcolm's holding back because you're here."
"I don't care. If they want to do it, have them do it outside of my house." The words slipped out naturally, and they sounded as if they bleonged to him.
The Alpha gripped his shoulder painfully. "Everett, they will hurt you. Leave them alone."
Everett grabbed the other man's hand and turned to him. Donovan winced as his hand began to burn and smoke, burnt flesh filling the room. He looked into the red eyes of the younger man, watching as they sparked and blazed.
He jerked his hand away in time to keep from receiving worse burns. He knew the younger man was different, but he didn't realize how quickly his powers were evolving. Was he really the acclaimed firebird? The one from legend? Was it really true?
"Malcolm Thomas Danvers, that's enough!"
Power so different from pack magic swept through the room. Ezra huffed and his snarl faded as he turned around to look behind him. He sat down heavily as his eyes flitted to Donovan then back to the other man. Whatever magic that coursed through Everett's veins was able to disrupt the Alpha's ties to his wolves for a brief moment.
Mal sat up, looking at Everett. He saw the eyes of his lover and felt the power skirt along his skin. His claim over him made him highly intune to the change in the other man. Those eyes meant he was teetering on the precipice, but the bunched hands said he was trying not to fall.
On wobbly legs, he stood. Everett watched him, eyes focused on the man despite their burning. Mal reached out his hand. Without hesitation, Everett took it and pulled him to him. The werewolf all but collapsed into his arms.
"If you wisht me to be considered part of this pack despite whatever I may be, you will show respect for this house," he said. He looked at Ezra. "I don't care who started it, but you broke the table I bought. You owe me three hundred dollars or a new one. It's due next week."
Astra couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out. "Ezra, he's a shrewd businessman. He'll expect his payment or his table."
"Did Donovan reimburse you for your other half's stupidity?" Everett turned the question to her. She nodded with a devious smile. "Good. Now, whatever was said is done. If you're going to go with me, get something to eat. I won't have angry werewolves at my back who are also hungry."
He didn't give them time to argue. He literally dragged Mal down the hall. No one said a word until they heard the door slam. Astra let loose a laugh she had been holding in the entire time. She spun in two circles, looking at the two who were in charge.
"If you ever deny the fact that that boy just silenced four of the most dominant males in our pack, I will ruin all of you," she threatened.
They heard her cackling laugh as she walked out the back door for fresh air. The others looked to the hallway. Was Mal getting yelled at as well? Or was something else going on in that room?