Shepherd sat at a table in the corner of Raff’s Pool Hall, holding the poppet and friendship talisman Tamil had made for him. It had been three months since Raff, Dante, and he had been living under one roof. It had been the best three months of his life, doubly so since Landry was now his neighbor. He loved seeing his brother almost every day. Still, Stryph was a hole missing in his chest. Shepherd knew he could go visit, but he was nervous. Since Stryph hadn’t sought him out, he worried their friendship was over. Shepherd had never been good at letting people go.

Raff and Dante had urged him to find Stryph. Instead, he’d gone to visit Tam and gotten these gifts. He stared down at the doll and the leather and twine keychain. Even though he’d been born human, he could still feel the power surging from the items. His eyes stung. It was ridiculous that he cared as much as he did. Shepherd had always been that way. Everyone hated the man who’d been his best friend for years, Frankie. Shepherd hadn’t once given up on him, even though Frankie was an ass more often than not. Of course, nowadays, they didn’t see each other much. Not since Frankie had miraculously decided to do right by his wife and stay home. Still, Shepherd valued the people in his life.

Warm lips touched the top of his head as hands landed on his shoulders. Shepherd knew without looking they belonged to Raff. He could tell the difference between his mates’ touch, even in the dark. “Go see him,” Raff said, sounding exactly like he’d said the same words a hundred times, because he had. “My truck is sitting outside. Go.”

“I’m still thinking it over,” Shepherd confessed.

“Ugh, I can’t take it,” Stryph said, appearing in the seat beside Shepherd and nearly causing his heart to fail. “I want my presents and you’re just taking forever to work through this self-doubt, sexy. Jesus.”

Shepherd was too happy to see Stryph to care what he said. “I knew you were there,” he lied, stirring the pot. “I wondered how long it would take you to break.”

Raff snorted and kissed Shepherd on the head again. “Behave, boys. I have pack business.”

Shepherd watched his man go with lust in his heart. Damn, his alpha looked hot in a form-fitting pair of jeans. “I’ll be good.”

“Liar,” Stryph breathed in a stage whisper. “Give me. Give me,” he said, wiggling his fingers at Shepherd and immediately forgetting to play with Raff.

“You’re like a giant child. Tell me why you haven’t been to see me, and you can have your gifts. I’m not giving them up until then.”

Stryph huffed. “Sometimes I have to work. The world doesn’t destroy itself, you know. Plus, you needed some alone time with your new mates. You don’t get to be newly mated forever. I figured you’d want to enjoy it without your fairy godmother hanging around.”

Mildly satisfied with Stryph’s excuse, Shepherd handed the gifts to Stryph. “Tam says the poppet is for protection, which I don’t figure you’ll need, but he weaved some of my love for you inside as well.” Stryph’s expression made his slight embarrassment worthwhile. He visibly swallowed as he stared at the tiny doll without blinking. Shepherd kept talking. “Also, I know you can find me anytime you want, but I have to work to get to you. Tam says, if you’re willing, all you have to do is kiss the keychain. That’ll complete the spell, and then all I have to do is touch the keychain to any mirror to make that mirror a doorway to you. He says Evan already uses one to visit him. Oh, and don’t worry. If I lose it, it won’t be of any use to anyone else. Tamil says it’s powered by the strength of our friendship. That’s why it’s called a friendship talisman. Obviously,” Shepherd added, because he couldn’t stop rambling. He pressed his lips together, hoping to stifle the nervous chatter.

Stryph met his stare. As he held Shepherd’s gaze, Stryph brought the keychain to his lips. He held the talisman against his mouth, as if making Shepherd a silent promise. “I’d be honored to have you as a bigger part of my life,” Stryph said, handing the keychain back to Shepherd. “Please use it.” His expression changed, turning wicked. “Just announce yourself when you stop by, because you know I have… peculiar tastes.”

It took every ounce of Shepherd’s will not to blush and fan his face. He knew. “Um, yeah. I remember.”

An evil-sounding chuckle fell from Stryph’s lips. He straightened and tucked the poppet in his shirt pocket, right over his heart. “Now, you have one mate sleeping and one hosting a pack meeting. That gives us a few hours. What trouble shall we start?” Before Shepherd could come up with an idea, Stryph’s face brightened. “I know. If you plan to start traveling via the mirror world, I should show you how. Let’s go visit with Tam and Evan. Those two are lowkey mischief makers by day, every day.”

Shepherd couldn’t picture it, but he loved the idea of visiting Tam. He also couldn’t wait to try out the mirror thing, or to spend the day with Stryph. Hell, the whole rest of his life was looking up. With Stryph at his side and Dante and Raff as his mates, Shepherd had never felt more blessed. All he needed now was to find someone slightly twisted and extra perverted for Stryph to spend eternity with, and Shepherd would be complete.

Keep an eye out for the next Hellish book.

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