Trouble Comes in Threes (23 page)

“I’ll tell him, Dolf.”

Dolf hung up, shoved his cell in his pocket, looked at his dad approaching… and found himself bent over, hands on his knees, breathing slow and steadily. Tremors shook him and his eyes burned again, but they were tears of relief this time.

“Easy there, son.” Monty gently patted Dolf’s back. “Just breathe.”

“I…. All I can think about is I wasn’t there to protect him, Dad. He was all alone. All alone out here. Defenseless.”

“Dolf, look at me.”

Dolf straightened up, eyes no longer watering.

Monty nodded as Dolf regained his composure. “Let me ask you something, and answer truthfully. Would you have shadowed Tal’s every move? Did you, when you first brought him here?”

“No.”

“Then don’t do this to yourself. You had no way of knowing someone would attack your mate.” Monty growled. “Which should have never happened. Mates are a gift. We don’t
do
things like this. Attacking a mate is an unspeakable crime. I promise you, whoever did this will be punished. I give you my word, Dolf.”

“Punished?” Dolf shook his head, fists clenched as he walked to the path that would one day be the drive to Kirk’s shop. At least, he hoped it would. Kirk might want a new site now. “Punished, you say. Well, fuck that, Dad. Whoever did this is going to die by my own hand. That I promise you.”

“Son—”

“I told Kirk we aren’t animals… that shifters aren’t animals.” Dolf turned to his dad, his bleak stare trapping Monty’s gaze. “How’s he going to believe me after this?”

Monty clasped Dolf’s shoulder. “The actions of one—”

Dolf huffed as he swiftly walked toward where his mate was waiting. “Funny, isn’t that what I said about humans not long ago? About how you can’t judge all by the actions of a few?”

“Well, it appears I’m going to be eating a little crow.” Monty flushed. “Point taken, Dolf.”

“Well, hope I can convince Kirk we’re not animals.” Dolf sped up. “Dad, could you call Tal for me? I’d do it, but I need to… I can’t do both. Tell him what happened, but let him know that Kirk is safe, that I’m here with our mate. Tell him to be careful coming home. One mate hurt today is quite enough.”

“I will.”

Dolf was close enough to hear his mate and Remi. He sniffed and immediately wrinkled his nose. Why couldn’t he pick up the attacker’s scent? In fact, there was a disturbing
lack
of scent. Oh, he smelled Kirk, his dad, and Remi. But he should also be able to pick up the attacker. And he couldn’t. It slowly dawned on him the other shifter must have used some sort of product to cloak his scent. Hunters used stuff like that all the time.

He burst through the trees to see Kirk sitting on the ground. Dolf skidded to a halt, his eyes darting over his mate. Remi had cut off the bottom part of Kirk’s jeans so he could treat the leg wound. The cut on his cheek was healing nicely and no longer bleeding.

Kirk looked up, a crooked little grin on his face. “I was… ah, just telling Remi all he needed was a nurse’s outfit, and he’d be a hit.”

“Or hit on.” Remi shook his head. “Never know around here.”

Dolf dropped down to the dirt next to Kirk. “Are you okay?”

“I… ah. Um. Wow. Maybe not okay,” Kirk said. “But I’m glad that you’re here. No offense, Remi.”

“None taken, man.”

Dolf reached out to touch Kirk’s face, relief washing through him. His mate was amazingly calm. If Kirk was trying to smile, then everything was okay. Kirk was going to be okay. His throat was so tight, he wasn’t sure he could push the words out. “W-white isn’t Remi’s color.”

Kirk sighed, the quiet puff of breath barely noticeable as he relaxed. “He was, ah, worried you’d come in here fangs blazing.”

“Thought about it. Came close to it, I’ll admit. You cracking jokes probably kept me from losing all control.” Dolf turned Kirk’s face so he could see the rapidly healing cut. “This won’t scar. By tomorrow, it’ll be just a pink line. Another day, and it’ll be gone. Where else are you hurt?”

“Bastard got me across the stomach. The, ah, leg’s the bitch that’s giving me fits.” Kirk flinched.

“It’s healing, just taking longer.” Remi waited for Dolf to look at him. “It was deep, Dolf. Down to the bone. But by the time I got here, the bleeding was slowing and the skin was knitting. Lucky for Kirk, he has the blood of two shifters in him. From what I’ve seen, he heals almost as fast as us. I’m impressed.”

“I never do anything by halves.” Kirk winked at Dolf.

“I brought a first aid kit and cleaned his wounds.” Remi patted Kirk on the shoulder and stood. “The leg wound is just seeping now.”

“Is the pain bad?” Dolf smoothed his hand through Kirk’s hair, trying not to snarl at Remi for touching his mate.

“It aches like a rotten tooth.” Kirk rested his head against Dolf’s chest and whispered, “And stop that. I can hear you.”

“Sorry,” Dolf said quietly. “My cat is feeling a little possessive at the moment.”

“You sent him here to help, so stop snarling at him for helping.” Kirk lightly pinched Dolf. “So… once the skin is done doing its thing, I want to take a shower. A hot shower. Maybe that’ll make it stop aching.”

Dolf held Kirk closer. “Anything you want, sexy.”

Kirk snorted. “Careful there. You could really leave yourself open to my evil ways.”

Dolf feathered a kiss across Kirk’s hair. “
Any
thing you want, just get better for me. And quickly.”

“I’ve met my quota on accidents.” Kirk slumped into Dolf’s arms. “I know you have questions, but please, get me home first. I want these bloody clothes off.”

Dolf kissed Kirk’s temple, nuzzling the skin where the previous injury had just healed before pulling away. “I’m going to pick you up, and before you start griping about being carried—”

“No griping.” Kirk hugged Dolf hard, then released him. “I’m not sure I can walk on this leg anyhow. Since it’s healing, it probably wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“I’ve called Tal for you also,” Monty interjected. “He promised to be careful getting here. Take Kirk home while Remi and I look around. I’ll call and set up a time to talk.”

Dolf lifted Kirk. “Yes, just let me get him settled. Thank you both.”

Kirk suddenly raised his head from Dolf’s shoulder. “Yeah, both of you, thanks. Remi, you’ll never know how glad I was to see you, even if you did scare the shit out of me. But understand something. I fully intend to take part in any discussions. That fucker attacked
me
.”

Dolf gently shifted Kirk in his arms and walked to the house. “I have a feeling, even if I tried to exclude you, you wouldn’t allow me.”

“Got that right. We’re walking, huh?”

“It’s not far, and trying to get you in a vehicle might be more trouble than it’s worth. You’re not heavy, anyway, and we’re stronger than we look.” Dolf stepped carefully. “How do you feel, sexy?”

“Not sexy, that’s for sure. Tired. Achy all over, but the leg is the worst. It’s not bad, just annoying.” Kirk closed his eyes. “And you bet I’m whining. I’m entitled.”

“Yes, you are.” Dolf walked around the back of the house. “I’m going to set you down for a second and unlock the door.”

Kirk rested against the frame of the door. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“No, probably not. Okay, let’s get you inside.”

Dolf took Kirk straight to the bathroom. There, Kirk helped Dolf strip off his bloody clothes. Dolf turned on the shower. They’d just gotten out and dried off when Dolf heard Tal pounding up the stairs.

“Good God, is he taking them three at a time?” Kirk pulled on a T-shirt. The only other thing he wore was boxers. “He’s going to trip and break his damn neck.”

“Kirk?” Tal shouted.

“In the bedroom, cutie,” Kirk called out, slowly easing down on the side of the bed.

“Kirk!” Tal ran through the opening and dropped to his knees in front of Kirk. “Oh…
shit
. That’s… that’s really a deep wound on your leg.”

“Hey, hey, hey.” Kirk slipped his hand under Tal’s chin and lifted his face, their gazes meeting. “Look at me, really look at me.” Kirk rubbed his thumb across Tal’s jawline. “There’s those pretty eyes. I’m okay, Tal. A little beat up, but okay. The leg’s the worst, and it’s healing fine. I’m okay,” Kirk stressed. “Why don’t you come up here by me?”

Tal flowed to his feet gracefully.

Kirk shook his head. “You have
got
to teach me how to do that.”

“Huh?” Tal glanced at Kirk, then at Dolf. “Do what?”

“I… hell, I’m not good with words, but you just….” Kirk waved his hand at Tal. “Graceful… but sensual at the same time. Swear to God, Tal, now I’m sporting wood, and it’s all your fault.”

Tal’s mouth fell open.

Kirk nodded. “There you go, now you’re getting the idea.”

“Oh my…!” Tal blushed to the tips of his ears, and the laugh that escaped sounded rusty but true. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

Dolf chuckled. “I can, with that smart-assed mouth of his. I’m going to get Kirk some orange juice. I’ll be right back.”

“Cool, I’m thirsty.” Kirk patted the place next to him. “Come on, sit down. You have some color in your face now. The whole ‘white as a sheet’ thing? Not a good look for you.”

“Have you looked in the mirror lately? You’re just as pale.”

“Ohhh, attitude. I like.” Kirk winked. “I might be rubbing off on you.”

“Goddess help Dolf, then.” Tal gingerly sat, then leaned over and kissed Kirk on the chin. They sat there, just holding each other. Neither spoke for minutes until finally Tal broke the silence. “I was so scared. Monty even made me promise not to speed on the way here.”

“Good. As I said earlier, one hurt mate is enough for the day.” Dolf returned and handed Kirk the juice. He sat on the other side of Kirk. The peace between them soaked into all three of them.

Finally, Kirk pointed at Dolf. “We need to talk while it’s still fresh in my mind. We need to tell everyone to come on over. How about you guys help me downstairs? I… I don’t want to do this here—not in our bedroom, and not on our bed.”

“Downstairs it is, then.” Dolf helped Kirk up.

A little maneuvering, and Dolf had Kirk on the couch. Dolf took Kirk’s glass back to the kitchen, and Tal turned on the gas fireplace. Dolf called his dad to tell him they were ready to talk about the attack. Monty and Remi arrived. Dolf offered them something to drink. Kirk was lying on the couch, Tal sitting at the end with Kirk’s feet in his lap.

After everyone was comfortable, Kirk started talking. “It took me a minute to catch on, but whoever it was, he was stalking me. Not sure how he—and I’m calling him a ‘he’ just to make it simple—knew I’d be there, since it was a spur-of-the-moment type thing. There was this feeling of menace in the air, you know? He hid in an evergreen, then suddenly flew at me, attacking my face first. All I saw was this blur. I’d say his coat was black or brown.”

“Which is the color of most shifters around here,” Remi said. “Most of us have either black or brown hair, so we have black or brown fur.”

“So, that doesn’t help.” Tal leaned his head back and sighed.

“Not too many blonds around here, I’m afraid.” Kirk wiggled on the couch until he was comfortable. “When I first felt threatened, I got my pocketknife out. I also tried to protect my throat. He tore me up, but I got a good shot in too.”

“Wait,” Dolf suddenly sat up. “You hurt him?”

“I stabbed him with the knife. I think… I don’t think he was expecting me to fight back. He broke the attack off and ran. Now, how much damage I did? Probably not much.”

Dolf jumped up. “I’ll be right back.”

“Um….” Kirk glanced at Tal. “What’s going on?”

Tal shrugged. “If I had to guess, he’s probably upstairs holding your clothes to his nose.”

“Let me just say, gross. And why?”

“He’s trying to see if any of the attacker’s blood got on your clothes. He might be able to get his scent….”

Dolf came stomping back downstairs. “Dammit. Nothing. All I smell is you.”

“That’s… huh. The word ‘bloodhound’ comes to mind.”

“To say that to a cat? That’s so wrong, you know that, right? Just wrong.” Dolf sat down next to Kirk.

“Guess there was no way to get a scent at the scene?” Dolf asked Remi.

“No, not since he used something to block his scent.” Remi clenched his fist. “Not really sure how it works since I’m not a chemist, but it has to do with molecular conversion.”

“What’s troubling is how Kirk said he was attacked. He went straight for the throat. That’s a kill shot.” Monty glared at the floor as he spoke. “That worries me.” He looked up. “We kill by snapping the neck or tearing out the throat. It comes naturally. But… only rank is taught different methods of killing. He went for the throat, the belly, a main artery.”

Dolf’s roar echoed across the room. “You think it’s one of our betas?”

“Dolf, stay calm,” Tal chided.

Remi blew out a breath. “Possibly. Or it could be a delta, a sentinel, or any one of the hunters. We’re assuming this shifter is part of our clowder. What if he isn’t?”

“Well, hell,” Kirk said.

Tal sat on the couch, stunned. “We’re never going to figure out who it was, are we? Even if it
was
one of us. Sure, the attacker has a wound, but by morning, it’ll be gone. What are we going to do? Go around and make everyone hike up his or her shirt?”

Kirk snorted. “That’ll go over well.”

“I just don’t understand this. Why is Kirk being attacked? He’s a mate. One sniff, and any shifter—hell, any paranormal—knows he’s a mate.” Remi threw his hands up. “I just don’t get it.”

“Have you forgotten how you betas reacted when Dolf and Tal first brought this to us?” Monty asked. Kirk’s shocked gazed landed on Remi. “Not Remi. He supported you, Kirk, even before the two of you met.”

“Thanks, man. I appreciate that.” Kirk’s tired voice echoed through the room. “And, I hate to say it, but of course you don’t get it, Remi. You’re a shifter. Do you have any idea how you guys act toward humans? Even mates like me? I was told to my face I’m not a
real
shifter. I’m not. I’m a human with shifter blood. I can’t shift, and I wasn’t born a shifter. But the condescension was there and hard to take. It was like I was less since I wasn’t a shifter.”