And if their family hadn’t needed protecting, what would have happened to him? Would he have taken his own life?
Marcus had never been willing to discuss again what he’d mumbled under his breath that night, and it was with great relief that he’d found Ethan. Bel never wanted his amazing, wonderful brother to be lost to such self-loathing.
“That’s…that’s just obscene!” Bel exploded as he turned away from the fire to face the men seated on the couch. “It’s a waste!”
“They said we’re an abomination against nature,” River mumbled.
“Nonsense! I can give dozens of examples of homosexuality in nature! Science! Not archaic sentimentality and nonsense.” Hell, he was ready to beat someone with a science textbook if they were unwilling to listen to logic and reason. His brothers weren’t an abomination. He wasn’t an abomination. And these wolves weren’t either.
“I take it doesn’t bother you, then?”
Bel’s indignation and righteous anger left him in a heartbeat under the stunning warmth of Wyatt’s smile. He blinked and found River smiling at him as well, looking relaxed for the first time since stepping inside of Bel’s home.
“Oh. Um…no, of course not,” Bel stammered a bit. He took a breath to mention his brothers’ same-sex mates, but there really was no point. His mini rant had shown them plenty already.
“So, you’ve lost the protection of your pack, and other packs will attack you because you’re rogue wolves,” he recapped. His brow furrowed in thought, and he dragged his gaze back to Wyatt. “Is there another pack of werewolves in this area?”
“Yes. Not a large one, but enough to overpower both myself and River.”
“I don’t understand where the MacPhersons and this Brett vampire comes in.”
“River and I managed to remain hidden for the first two years. When we encountered Brett, we were exhausted from running and hiding. He said he would claim us and offer protection if we would obey him. Become his attack dogs.”
River snorted and looked down at his hands. “This is the longest I’ve spent as a human in…in months.”
Bel struggled to push through River’s feelings of both relief and joy to actually focus on his horrific words. “He didn’t let you stay in your human form?”
River shook his head. “No, not for long, and definitely not while other vampires were around. He didn’t want anyone feeding off us without his permission, and he couldn’t control us when we were in human form.”
“We never liked being with Brett or the MacPhersons, but we didn’t spend most days and nights afraid for our lives.”
“Yes, we’re sorry about that night in the woods,” Wyatt said.
“And for attacking your brother,” River added. “Brett didn’t give us any choice.”
Bel scrubbed a hand over his face as he tried to absorb their words. This was a nightmare. “Forgiven, though Rafe might not be so understanding,” Bel grumbled. He wandered over to his chair and sat, his mind spinning over the information he’d been given.
“You understand our dilemma?” Wyatt’s warm voice wrapped around his brain.
“Yes, but why me?”
“You killed Brett. Defeated him in battle. You naturally inherit all his property,” Wyatt said, but there was a sense of disgust rolling from him that didn’t quite make it into his tone.
“You’re not property!” Bel jumped to his feet again. His voice was high and a little desperate. “You’re people. I refuse t-to own people. You have a right to your own lives, hopes, and dreams. I-I can’t!”
“Then you sentence us to death,” Wyatt said bleakly.
“You must help me here. I don’t understand what you expect from me. I don’t know what it means to be someone’s master. Truly, look at me! I’m a scientist. I spend my nights in a laboratory, conducting experiments and research. I’m no one’s master.”
“You claim us as yours. You promise to protect us if someone threatens us, the same as you would protect your home or your pet raven,” Wyatt explained, and Bel couldn’t keep from narrowing his eyes at the wolf. Wyatt and River were not the same as Ozzie or any of the animals that crossed his path. Ozzie and those other animals had autonomy. They could leave anytime they wanted. Live whatever life they wanted.
“But we’d serve you too. We’d protect you. Fight for you,” River quickly added as if he realized Wyatt’s comments weren’t helping their cause. “W-we could be test subjects for your experiments.” Bel didn’t miss the feelings of revulsion from River or the fear putting lines in his face when he offered himself and Wyatt up for study.
Yes, Bel was undoubtedly curious about them, but he’d never make them do anything they weren’t comfortable with. Not when he could practically taste River’s abject fear and horror.
“Please, Mr. Varik—” Wyatt started, but Bel shook his head.
“Beltran, or Bel, please.”
“Please, Beltran, we can be of great use to you, I swear. We won’t be trouble. We’ll stay out of your way. If you don’t want to see us, you won’t. We’ll stay hidden. You’ll forget about us. See us only when you need us for a task.” Wyatt shifted to the very edge of the couch and looked as if he were about to get on his knees. Desperation buffeted Bel in swamping waves.
“Can’t you go back to hiding? Can you just not shift into a wolf?” He was grasping at straws and he knew it.
River glared. “Can you stop biting, vampire?”
Bel’s shoulders slumped and he paced in the opposite direction this time. It had been an unfair question, but he was panicking. How could he protect them? His family, his clan, was becoming embroiled in a growing war. It was a dangerous time to be associated with the Variks.
He should have called Marcus. Or Aiden. He should have called one of them the moment he decided to face River and Wyatt in the woods. Either of them would have been able to listen to their story and make a sensible, responsible decision.
“You’ve chosen the wrong Varik for this,” Bel mumbled.
He turned toward Wyatt and River, who were still seated on the sofa. They looked warmer, comfortable there. Tired. So very, very tired. And with the fatigue came feelings of hopelessness and fear from the shifters that tore through Bel. From River, he was sure there was also despair. Something in Bel wanted to gather them both up and tuck them into his bed, wrap them in his warmest blankets so they could sleep as long as they needed.
That was just wonderful. They were looking for a powerful, strong protector, and Bel was turning into a mother hen. He had to be the least scary vampire there ever was.
“I’m-I’m a scientist. I do research and study things. I’m trying to cure vampirism. I’m not some protector. And right now, the Variks are in the middle of this political mess that I don’t fully understand. Just talking to one of us puts you in danger with other vampires.”
“And we’re in danger for simply existing,” Wyatt countered in a low but gentle voice.
Bel thrust both of his hands in his hair, fighting to hold in the invitation for them to stay. It was insane. Rafe would be losing his mind if he was there.