Chapter Twelve
Every time Ladon tried to lay next to Jules on the bed Hacen growled and stalked across the room. Jules knew Ladon well enough to know he was just teasing Hacen. The problem was Hacen didn’t find it funny.
“Hacen is not the one, Ladon. Believe me.” Jules felt a bit giddy himself. He’d drank half of a fresh bottle of the pain water. It might smell like shit, but he’d take it. No pain and he felt fantastic if just a little tired.
Ladon lay on the bed again and chuckled when Hacen stalked across the room. Instead of his eyes turning red and him growling out a warning, he got smart and just climbed on the bed between them with his back to Ladon.
Ladon chuckled. "Never thought I'd be in bed with you, Hacen."
That scenario never crossed Jules' mind either. Jules couldn't help but laugh at the look on Hacen's face. The scowl deepened, and he drew Jules to him as if he were protecting his favorite toy.
Tommy sat at the table looking dejected and a little pissed. He unfolded his arms and closed his eyes, chanting something under his breath. The next thing Jules knew the bed shifted and Ladon yelled from outside of the cabin.
Footsteps pounded on the deck right before the door opened. Ladon's gaze fell on Tommy, who smirked. Jules stiffened, thinking Ladon would retaliate somehow but all he did was smile. "I should be pissed, but that was a smooth move. I bow down." Ladon held his hands out, palms up and bent at the waist.
Jules snorted out a laugh. Tommy met his gaze and smiled as if he were pleasantly surprised.
His laughter died. He wanted to look away but knew he couldn't be the first. That would be giving in and if he did that, Tommy and Hacen would lord over him for their entire mating. Hacen's promise to give him a choice didn't fool Jules one bit. He might let Jules go home but he'd make sure Jules knew he didn't like it every second of every day and he'd be right back where he started with them stalking him.
The only thing Tommy wanted was to make sure Jules stayed right under his thumb at all times. Well, Jules had a few things to say about that and he would right after his mother left for home. She would make him put a dollar in the curse jar if he started in on Tommy while she was present.
The silence stretched around them, and even Ladon seemed to stay quiet.
"Jules." Tommy said his name like a plea.
"Tell him what you promised." Jules might have been talking to Hacen, but he never took his eyes off Tommy.
"Later. For now, you need to rest. Not stare Tommy down." Hacen looked at Tommy. "Get over here."
Tommy rolled his eyes, but did as Hacen demanded, standing at the edge of the bed. Hacen moved away from Jules and stood. He walked across the room to Mother Estelle, who stirred something on the stove.
Tommy rung his hands together and wouldn't meet Jules' gaze. They stayed in limbo for so long Ladon snorted out a laugh and shook his head at the same time he took the seat that Tommy had vacated. "Man, he has both of you wrapped already, and he's only been here a couple of days."
Tommy raised his middle finger in Ladon's direction, and Hacen just shrugged as if he didn't care.
Ladon smirked. “Is that anyway to treat the future Alpha of your clan?”
That got Jules attention. “What! When did that happen?”
“Ramsey’s stepping down in a few months. He’s making me Alpha.”
“Oh.” Jules smiled. “You’ll be good at it.”
Ladon winked at him. “Thanks, little brother.”
Jules tried to sit up but couldn't get the leverage to move. He held out his hand to Tommy, asking for help. Tommy came over to him, putting his arms around Jules’ waist and lifting him. Once he was sitting up, Tommy still didn't let go but instead held on as if his life depended on it. "I didn't mean what I said. At least not the way it came out. It wasn't a threat to you. I promise, baby. I just...what Nicolono did to you. It haunts me, and I'd fucking die if that happened again. You disappearing from the cabin scared me. I thought he took you. I just want you always to be safe. But maybe I didn't say it the right way."
Jules hugged him. "You'll let me go back after I’m healed." He met Hacen's gaze over Tommy's shoulder.
"I hope you'll reconsider and be with us. But yeah, okay."
Ladon cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. Tommy pulled away from him just enough to turn on the bed. "Um...Ramsey sent me to talk to you. I’m here as your Alpha. You need to bond with your mates, Jules. I think it'll be helpful to you in the long run."
What! "You don't want me to come home?"
"Saint Lakes is your home. This cabin is still in our territory."
"But..." Jules couldn't believe they were kicking him out. "Ramsey said I can't come home?"
"No. We'd never say that. Hacen and Thomas can come live with us if that's what you all decide. What we're telling you is to stay with them. That doesn't have to exclude us. In fact, we hope it doesn't."
"But..." Jules looked at Hacen and then at Tommy. Oh gods, they wouldn’t let him ever see his family.
Ladon walked across the room and sat on the opposite side of the bed from where Tommy sat. "You have to admit that you went from this scared, weepy human to a little firecracker in the span of just a few months. We think it would be good for your mental health to stay with your mates. Dr. Tucker agrees. Mostly."
Wait. What did mostly mean?
Instead of asking, he nodded and looked at Mother Estelle, who eyed Ladon as if she wanted to turn him over his knee. She didn't say anything, though, but he had a feeling Ladon and Ramsey would get an ear full as soon as she got them alone.
With her in his corner, he didn't feel so alone.
"Dr. Tucker said you'd have some triggers but that he'd work through them with you."
"Triggers. Right. No big deal." He’d been having panic attacks since he woke up in a strange place. Okay, so maybe he got over them quicker than he expected. Hacen and Tommy helped. And just the thought of that made him sound even crazier because they were the ones who usually triggered him.
"I'm not trying to make light of them, Jules. I know how bad you get sometimes." Ladon pointed to his chest. "I'm the one who stays up with you when you can’t sleep and holds you when you cry. You know I’m not giving the order lightly."
He wanted to lie and say his panic attacks were worse than ever. The early days when he first arrived at the Somersets had been far worse than anything he experienced since.
Jules narrowed his eyes. "You and Ramsey don't know what you just did. You just kicked me out of the family." His gaze moved to Hacen. "Isn't that right, Hacen?"
Hacen's scowl deepened, but he didn't answer. He just held Jules' gaze.
“We're right back where we started because your promise means nothing now. Unless you're going to become part of the family too."
"You know I won't. But I won't keep you from them either."
"And you think that'll be enough. Separating yourself." Jules pointed a finger at Hacen. "You need to see Dr. Tucker more than I do."
"No." Hacen’s eyebrows went up as if his pointed look changed Jules’ opinion.
Jules pointed at Tommy next. "You could stand some anger management sessions."
Tommy gave him an incredulous laugh. “You think I’m the one in this relationship who needs anger management.”
Tommy and Hacen both glared at him. So maybe pointing out their flaws wasn't a great idea given the fact they stood together, a united front against his suggestion.
Whatever. He’d hold his ground.
Ladon’s phone rang, breaking them out of the impending argument. Jules could tell it was Ladon’s because the sound was of a high-pitched, nasally voice that said his brother called. Ladon dug around in his pocket and pressed a button.
Jules stomach knotted as a feeling of doom washed over him. The knotting pulled tighter when Ladon’s posture changed as if he sensed a predator in the forest.
Ladon stood suddenly and motioned for either Tommy or Hacen, Jules couldn’t tell which one. Tommy was the one who closed the distance between them. Ladon moved the phone from his mouth. “A group of warlocks just entered our territory. Ramsey wants to know if you’d come assess the situation.”
Jules’ entire argument fled his mind as his stomach plummeted to the bed mattress.
Tommy looked at Hacen, who nodded once, before saying, “Let’s go.”
Tommy headed for the front door without another word.
“Tommy.” When Jules called his name, he turned. Jules waved him over, and thankfully he came, sitting on the side of the bed. Jules leaned forward and kissed him. “Please be careful. I…I think something bad is gonna happen.”
Tommy cupped his cheek and went in for a second kiss. “I’ll be home soon.”
Jules shook his head. “I don’t think you understand. Promise you’ll be extra careful.”
Tommy gave him a concerned look. “I promise.”
“You should give Hacen a proper goodbye.” When Tommy left Saint Lakes, he wouldn’t be back for a while. Jules wasn’t sure how he knew that, but the truth of it rang through his body like a death march.
Tommy gave him one last kiss and stood, crossing the room to Hacen. Hacen’s arms came around his waist, and they kissed. It wasn’t the peck Jules had shared with Tommy but involved tongue and a passion that was unmistakable.
Jules cock would have hardened if not for his mother and brother still in the room and the feeling of doom in the pit of his stomach.