Everett's anger was palpable. He followed Ezra's Porsche through the wet streets to the park, the wind whipping at his jacket and pants. He saw Mal turn around every so often, placating himself to look even though the younger man knew he wanted to ride with him.
He had truend down the offer to ride with Astra and Domino, opting to drive his motorcycle since it wasn't currently raining. He needed time to think, and it wasn't going to be sitting in the back of a Porsche or Lexus, Astra's car.
Halloween had been a sham with everything going on. He'd been afraid to go out because he hadn't known what was going on. Then after that he'd been sequestered away after the second and third murders. He still hadn't heard back from his former employee's family, and that had been nearly three days ago.
With his bars closed down, he only had his own computer work to satisfy him. But that too had been restricted due to being in the precinct trying to help find the fae woman. She'd been elusive. He guessed it'd been because of her magic. Metal and the fae didn't usually get along.
Before this evening, he'd felt useless. He didn't know what he was, his businesses were shut down for the time being, and he couldn't do what he excelled at even though he tried.
He felt lost. His businesses, his intelligence, and his own body were basically gone. He was grasping at straws. He needed to get a handle on things before he was bossed around more than he already was.
Frustration had him pulling over to the side of the road. He dropped his feet to the ground and put his head to the handlebars. Without even trying to contain it, Everett let out a yell; a pained, frustrated, annoyed yell. It ricocheted around his helmet, making his ears ring.
He pulled his helmet off and let the cool air bat at his inflamed cheeks. His heart thundered in his chest as he exhaled quickly. His limbs started to tremble uncontrollably so he shut off the bike and sat on the curb heavily.
He buried his head in his knees and tried to catch his breath. It was hard to do so, his heart beating in his throat. His gaze dimmed, even though he was only staring at the pavement. He tried to breathe as normally as possible, his head hanging low.
He had never had this kind of experience before. He was prone to bouts of depression since everything he'd been through, but he'd never felt as if his body was going to betray him. Sometimes he'd go to the gym to relieve the early signs, and if it was too pronounced, he just stayed at home and worked. This was the first time he'd had a blatant panic attack, and it scared him a bit.
A warm, solid presence pressed into his back as two strong arms wrapped around him. He knew that smell and instantly leaned into it. A hand wrapped around his neck and held him close.
"He's having an anxiety attack." He knew the voice but he couldn't place it. His head kept swimming, his eyes unfocused.
"Mal?" His voice was shaky and thick. "I don't think I can drive anymore."
"I'll drive." The voice was feminine. Astra. He trusted her to take care of his bike.
His helmet was taken gently from his hands and passed off. He braced himself to stand only to have his legs swept out from under him. He didn't have any fight in him to argue. He wrapped his cold arms around the warm neck and sank into it.
Mal didn't like how cold Everett felt. He'd gone from scorching hot at the house to damn near corpse cold. When he'd seen him sitting on the edge of the curb, he'd thought the worst. Ezra had pulled over immediately and Mal had ran to Everett to find he'd started having a panic attack while driving.
Ezra glanced in the mirror, concern etched on his once annoying face. Mal could never remember a time when he'd been so annoyed with the second. His comment about flip fucking had pissed him off, but it had scared him more. He had thought that Everett may like it, and if Ezra was willing, would he be so inclined?
But his expression now said he genuinely cared for the younger man. Even if he hadn't made the aforementioned comment, Ezra would have helped. He truly liked Everett, and somewhere deep inside, he wondered if they'd met first, would Everett have chosen Ezra?
Mal doubted he would be happy. Everett may think he was overbearing due to his animal nature, but he wouldn't be able to share with Tilly. Ezra would eventually have to choose, and his mate would be number one. Everett would be left out. He would have to find someone else.
"If he wants to…" he started.
"He won't share himself with me so don't bother asking," Ezra contradicted. He met Mal's gaze in the rear view mirror. "Everett's bonded to you and quite attached to you. He won't accept my advances even with your approval. He may someone else, but not mine."
"You won't know if you don't try."
"Malcolm, do you really want me to attempt to sway him?" He held his gaze for a long moment. "That's what I thought."
"I just want him to be happy." Mal brushed a stray lock from Everett's face. He had fallen asleep even for a moment.
"What makes you think he isn't?" Ezra pulled into the park's parking lot and stopped. He turned around in his seat. "You're overbearing by nature, but you know how to compromise. Everett isn't dumb. He knows enough about us to know when to argue and when to give in to our stupidity. But most importantly, he loves you. I would never catch his eye even if I tried."
He smiled tightly. "As much freedom as I have with Tilly, I am still mated to her. I would feel guilty for having an extended affair with the same person, especially someone she knows."
He cast Everett a gentle look then stepped out of the car. Mal watched him meet Donovan and Astra outside. Domino sidled up, and they started talking in hushed tones.
Everett stirred, nuzzling his head into Mal's neck. Slowly, he sat up and looked around, eyes blinking sleepily. He finally looked at Mal, eyes red. He sighed and nestled his face in Mal's neck again. His hand came up to the other side and held him close. Mal pressed his nose into his hair and inhaled deeply.
Seeing him sitting on the side of the road balled up had scared the werewolf shitless. This man was his heart, his life. If something happened to him, he would have to be put down. He wouldn't stop until he avenged Everett. He had never been, but if this was love, Mal would embrace it.
"We don't have to do this," he whispered. He nearly crushed the younger man to him, holding him tightly. "We can go home and deal with the wolves hunting you. No fae, no other people. Just us."
Everett chuckled, his warmth seeping into Mal. "We would have to face it sometime. I'd rather do it now and be prepared."
Mal rubbed his back, not satisfied with his answer. He wanted to go home, to lock the world away and spend the days in bed with Everett. He should have done it when he'd been asked, but the werewolf wanted to get the case solved. If he'd have known, he would have done it. He would have done it just to prepare his nerves for the onslaught.
"Ev," he whispered. He gently took his face and looked at him. The human's face was flushed, his nose a gentle shade of red. "When this is over and we've caught the person doing this, I'll make an exception. If you want to, I will let you fuck me."
Everett's laugh was breathy as his smile reached his red eyes. "We'll see. But can I ask for one thing right now?"
"Anything." Mal caressed his ears, brushing his hair back.
"Just kiss me. Please."
Diving forward, Mal sealed their mouths. He heard Everett whimper and in the back of his head he wondered if he'd hurt him. Everett's mouth was gentle though. There was no urgency. He was content with this, with knowing Mal was right here if he needed him.
The gentle knock on the window told them it was time to go. Mal inhaled deeply as he drew one last kiss from the other man. Not wanting to break away just yet, he kissed his nose then pressed his forehead against his. He lifted his head and kissed his forehead, a clear message that said he would protect him no matter what.
Mal opened the door and stepped out. He looked at his friends, conveying his deep emotions with that one look. They understood, each showing their support by touching hands in some way. Even Ezra did so, a tight smile tugging at his lips. Knowing the ADA was bisexual made Mal uncomfortable, but as long as he wasn't after Everett, he could manage it.
Everett closed the door gently behind him. He looked at the five people with him. He felt a strong sense of family with them, a feeling he had never known before. He had wracked his brain for a long time wondering why they would do this for him. All he'd come up with was he was family. Family protected each other.
Donovan reached out and ruffled his hair. His big hand was warm and familiar, and he wasn't doing it to incite a riot. It was his way of showing his support.
"We should go," he said. "Annaliese hates tardiness." He turned and started for the park's interior.
Mal looked at Everett. The young man took a minute before he looked back. He sighed then followed Donovan. His shoulders were slumped as if he was already defeated. Astra jogged forward and linked her arm through his. The rest of them followed at a more sedate pace.
Several thin clouds covered the waning full moon. The effects weren't as demanding,but the werewolves present could feel its pull. Their skins itched as they fought with their beasts to keep human form. Donovan's presence eased the desperate urge, and the situation at hand was more dire than the change.
Astra's body was warm, her body temperature not really quelled by the cool night air. Compared to hers, Everett was an inferno. She could feel the heat in his veins even through his riding jacket. Since his eyes had started changing color, his body heat had steadily risen. He wasn't as hot in the early hours of the evening as he was tonight. If he thought it, Astra was certain he could start a fire.
Behind them, Domino nudged Mal. he pointed to their significant others, but mostly at Everett. Mal knew what he was talking about. A slight vapor of steam rose from the young man, almost as if a fire was burning under his clothes. His nerves were shot, but he was trying to keep going. Not for those with him, but for himself.
Astra whispered to him, so low Mal only caught one word. The look of relief on Everett's face was enough to keep him behind them. He forgot how close Astra was to Everett. They had a good working relationship, and she always looked out for him. She was the first werewolf Mal had introduced him to whe he'd told him what he was. Everett hadn't been surprised since he'd already known Astra. She'd helped him several times with party security before Mal had met him.
If it hadn't been for the she-wolf, Mal wouldn't have introduced him to anyone else. Elantra and Camille were too stuck up to deal with a simple human, and Tandy and Carly were still new. Astra had been a werewolf the longest among the females and she was the most down to earth. She was also the one with the most control over her change. Donovan trusted her with as much as he trusted Ezra, and she could be considered his third. Unofficially she was; officially, Donovan didn't have a third.
Donovan stopped by the merry-go-round. A young man sat atop, his green eyes glowing in the moonlight. He sat with his legs crossed despite the post being slightly too small.
"Good evening, Donovan." His Irish lilt was unexpected but pleasant. It matched his looks for some odd reason.
"Good evening, Bastian," Donovan greeted. "Are you alone?"
"Aye. My mistress sent me ahead to make sure no prying eyes and ears were lurking about. She also asked me to wait for you and deliver our gratitude for agreeing to meet here. For obvious reasons, she was concerned when she found out the nature of the situation."
Donovan nodded. "I completely understand. If it were reversed, I would have asked the same."
The fae looked past the Alpha and locked on to Everett. His green eyes roved the youngest man, watching carefully. Everett didn't divert his gaze, watching with as much intensity as the fae. A good natured smile bloomed on the seated man's face.
"He reminds me of Calvin. Don't you agree, Dono?" he said.
The wolves rumbled unpleasantly at the familiarity of the nickname. No one they knew had ever called Donovan anything outside his name or title. Hearing it in an official capacity made it even more disconcerting. How old was Donovan exactly?
Donovan however took it in stride. "How is Calvin?"
"Cranky as usual. He hasn't left his island home in years. The Mistress goes to see him fairly often to make sure he doesn't conjure undue storms. The last one caused flooding."
Bastian hopped off the merry-go-round and strode forward. Astra's arm tightened around Everett's as the fae stopped in front of them. He smiled, but this time it didn't reach his eyes.
"Lass, I mean him no harm. I merely wish to look him over," he said.
Astra's gaze flicked to Donovan. With the Alpha's nod, she dropped her arm but hovered behind him. She frowned when Bastian smiled again. Either he was playing with them, or he was genuinely surprised to see how controlled Donovan was of his pack.
To the unrest of all of them, Everett stepped forward. Only Donovan's sharp look had them standing down. The Alpha knew what he was doing. He wouldn't have agreed to meet outside if he didn't.
"May I?" Bastian asked. He motioned to the jacket.
Everett unzipped it himself and pulled his arm free. He leaned forward, and Bastian pulled the collar away from his neck. The young man could feel the warmth of his breath on his skin, almost as if he were going to take a nip out of his skin.
Mal nearly broke his order at the familiarity of Bastian's touch. He didn't care that Everett had granted him permission. He shouldn't be touching him like that.
"I was hoping you were wrong, Dono," Bastian said. He patted Everett's shoulder and turned away. "But his mark was enough to answer."
Donovan's face said enough, but he spoke anyway. "So he is the firebird?"
"Undoubtedly. What you explained on the phone sounds as if all the magic and power the creature holds are starting to manifest. It would make anyone volatile. As long as he's not burning down buildings, he should be fine. However, he could use some training to control the changes."
Everett zipped up his jacket though he really didn't need it. "That I needed to know. What kind of training?"
"I'm unsure, but that's why my mistress is coming. She knows more than I do. I only knew the last firebird for a short time. My mistress has known the last several personally. She should be here shortly."
Everett's face was full of conflicting emotions. Mal stepped forward and drew him to him. Everett looked at him for a long time before he pressed his forehead to Mal's cheek. He sighed in both agitation and reprieve. Their thoughts had been confirmed, now they just needed to figure out how to proceed.
If his powers were coming in, he would need the training to keep him from being a danger to others. Mal couldn't fathom being away from him for more than several hours. If he had to go for days, he wasn't sure how he'd make it.
Mal pressed tender kisses to his ear, listening to the incessant rambling coming from Everett. Everett held him, hands tight in his jacket. He finally moved his ehad to the crook of his neck and stood there silently. Mal could feel his heart beating a quick tempo in his partner's chest.
"You're okay," he muttered. Everett's hands tightened further. "We're right here. Trust us."
"I'm cold," Everett muttered. Mal unwrapped his arms, making him pout. He unzipped his jacket then pulled his arms back around him. Everett settled into him with a satisfied sigh. "Much better."
"It's good to see lovers be supportive. You'll both need it."
Mal's arms tightened as he looked towards Bastian. A woman with long silver hair strode towards them with two others in two. Those two carried a large basket apiece, their contents steaming in the cool night.
Donovan inclined his head. "Lady Annaliese, it's good to see you again."
Her smile was vibrant. "I quite agress, even though it could be under better circumstances." She motioned for her people to unload their baskets. "If we had met in my home, I would have treated you. Even though this isn't much, I brought warm refreshments. We should discuss this while staying warm."
They waited until two blankets had been laid on the ground before sitting down. The aids passed out coffee, hot chocolate, and warm pastries to the hungry werewolves and Everett. A light conversation picked up to ease the tension. Mal wasn't sure what good it would do, but Everett was leaning heavily against him. He didn't want to rile his uneasiness again.
When they were situated, Annaliese took a sip of her drink then looked at those close to her. A gentle smile settled on her face.
"Why don't I tell you a story while you eat?" she suggested. Five sets of eyes turned to her in question.