“You had no choice.” Ash took a seat on the edge of the bed close to Dex, mindful of Sloane curled around Dex, as if he’d been trying to protect his partner before passing out. Ash reached out to Dex and laid a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, look at me.”

  Dex blinked a few times, as if snapping himself out of it, and raised his head, his eyes searching Ash’s. Most likely for reassurance Ash couldn’t provide.

  “You know he’d never forgive himself if he hurt you.”

  “I know. It’s why he insisted I keep the injector in my nightstand. After what happened last time, he was afraid of what he might do.”

  “Tell me what happened.”

  “We were having sex, and everything was fine. Suddenly he screamed. Like, a feral scream. It scared the hell out of me. Right away, I knew he was about to shift. So I made a dive for the nightstand, pulled out the injector, and…” Dex blinked away his tears. “You should have seen his face, Ash. He knew what was happening and couldn’t do anything about it. I’d never seen him look so scared. And there was nothing I could do to help him. I’ve never felt so helpless, sitting here, watching him suffer, hearing his screams as he tried to fight himself, the terror on his face.”

  Dex covered his face with his hands, and Ash pulled him into his embrace.

  “It’s okay. You did really good, Dex. You saved the both of you.”

  With a sniff, Dex pulled back. “Why is this happening? We thought the first time was a one-off. The stress, the meds, something. But now…”

  “I know.” The first time it happened, Ash had no idea what was going on. He’d arrived at Dex’s house and shifted downstairs in the living room to the sound of Sloane’s feral roar. He’d rushed upstairs, where his best friend attacked him. It had looked, smelled, and sounded like Sloane, but behind his amber eyes was only his best friend’s feral half. Sloane was gone. It had scared the shit out of Ash. And then Sloane pushed him down the stairs.

  “We need to figure something out,” Dex insisted. “What if this happens while we’re on duty or out in the field?”

  “They’ll suspend him and put him through enough evals to keep him off duty for months. We can’t let Sparks or any of the higher-ups find out about this.” Ash considered his next words very carefully. “I think maybe we should consider talking to Dr. Shultzon.”

  “Do you trust the guy?”

  Ash frowned. “I don’t trust anyone outside of my team.”

  It was the truth. He trusted those he worked with to an extent. Not because he believed they were shady or anything, but because he’d never been the trusting sort. Trust left you vulnerable. Ash had taught himself a long time ago to survive. His teammates, his friends, those lucky enough to be called family had earned his trust. He’d never admit it, but he counted Dex among his family. Sort of like the annoying brother-in-law. You’re happy he’s making your bro happy, but damn, sometimes you just wanted to punch him in his stupid smiley face. Who the hell smiled that much, anyway? A crazy person, that’s who.

  Dex worried his bottom lip, looking almost embarrassed. “Will you come with me?”

  “Sure.” Ash couldn’t help the surprise in his tone. Dex never asked him for anything. It went to show how worried the guy was. There was also little Dex wouldn’t do for Sloane. Ash was coming to see that. “I’ll put in a call. See if we can stop by sometime after Thanksgiving. I get the feeling Sparks is gonna call us back in any time now. Sloane’s only got a couple of weeks of recovery left. I’m pretty good to go. Your bro will be back to his bouncy self in no time, and there’s no longer an Order or Coalition to threaten us. Happy holidays to us.”

  Dex chuckled. “Guess we should enjoy it while it lasts, huh?”

  “Yeah.” Ash’s gaze went to Dex’s bandaged arm. “Didn’t realize things were that serious between you two.”

  Dex followed Ash’s gaze to his arm before moving on to Sloane. “Surprised the hell out of me too. I think that last mission was rough on everyone. Put things into perspective for all of us. One minute I was thinking he might never feel the same way I did, next thing I know he’s telling me he loves me and that we should move in together.” He brushed Sloane’s hair away from his face and stroked his cheek. “It’s scary, isn’t it?”

  “What’s that?”

  “How one person can become your whole world. One day you’re going about your business, and next thing you know, you’re handing someone all your trust, your love, your heart, everything you are. You’re just handing it over and hoping for the best.”

  “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst,” Ash said quietly. It’s what he and Sloane had always done. They’d embraced it. Now things were different for the both of them. Ash never would have seen this coming, at least not for himself. Sloane had always wanted someone to love him for who he was. Despite what he was. Ash remembered his best friend confessing as much. One night back when they were kids in the facility, they lay on the floor staring up at their ceiling, painted like a starry night, and Sloane had opened up for the first time since they’d met. Ash had assured Sloane he’d find someone great one day, and Sloane had replied Ash would as well. Ash had nodded, but inside, he’d told himself no one would ever love him. He didn’t deserve to be loved. After years of telling himself that, he started to believe it. Then he’d met Cael.

  “Thanks, Ash. For everything.”

  “No problem.” He got up and motioned to Sloane. “Will you be okay with him?”

  “Yeah. He’ll be out for a while. I’ll get some dinner ready for him for when he wakes up. Even if he didn’t complete the shift, he’ll probably be hungry from the attempt and the tranquilizer.”

  “Okay. If you need me, just call. I’ll check up on you guys tomorrow.” He headed for the door, doing his best to occupy his mind with something other than the shitty day this had been, when Dex called out to him.

  “Hey, Ash.”

  Ash turned, studying Dex and the wide smile on his face. He braced himself.

  “You hugged me.”

  Ash held back a smile. “Don’t let it go to your head. It was a momentary lapse in judgment.”

  Dex’s grin got wider. “You hugged me, and I was naked.”

  “Thanks for the disturbing reminder. Next time I see you two, you’d better have some pants on.”

  “No promises.” Dex beamed.

  Ash shook his head, grumbling to himself as he left. He went downstairs, unable to help his smile. Looked like Sloane had found that someone he’d been hoping for since he was a kid. Maybe he hadn’t exactly hoped for a Cheesy-Doodle-crunching nut, but Sloane seemed content with the guy’s peculiarities. Sloane was happy. It was all Ash needed to know. Now if he could only sort out his own love life, or whatever it was he had with Cael.

  Outside, he decided to take a walk in the brisk late-night air before calling a cab. In a few days it would be Thanksgiving, and Maddock expected him and Sloane to spend the night, which was fine with Ash.

  Cael was nervous.

  He was torn between trying to make everything absolutely perfect and pretending it was no big deal. And it wasn’t, really. Ash had come over for Thanksgiving last year. Except last year they hadn’t kissed or admitted to being in love with each other. Well, Cael had admitted it. Ash hadn’t said the words yet, but Cael knew. He didn’t need to hear the words. Or so he kept telling himself.

  “So… Ash Keeler.”

  Cael stopped whipping the sugar frosting. He should have known this was coming. Frankly, he was surprised it hadn’t come sooner, considering his brother’s impatience. “Dex.”

  “I know.” Dex held his hands up before wrinkling his nose. “But Ash Keeler?”

  Cael put the bowl on the black marble counter and planted his hands on his hips. Were they really going to do this today of all days? They had a hundred things to do and prep before dinner. One of their dad’s Therian-sized ovens was currently cooking a couple of forty-pound turkeys, casseroles, potatoes, and veggies, while in the second Therian-sized oven, Cael was baking cakes, cookies, fresh bread, and whatever Dex roped him into cooking next.

  “What’s wrong with Ash?” Cael demanded.

  Dex smirked. “How long do you have?”

  “Funny.” Cael swatted Dex’s hand away from the cookie tray he’d removed from the oven a minute ago. “No.”

  “Come on, bro. Just one. Pleeeease?”

  Dex batted his lashes, and Cael shoved him out of the way so he could open the cabinet door for the box containing the food coloring. All the frosting and icing had to be handmade. Cael detested the premade supermarket stuff, and Dex hated marzipan. Everything always tasted yummier when it was made from scratch. He also enjoyed the process of making it. It was very therapeutic for him.

  “I’m not Sloane. Batting those baby blues has no effect on me. You didn’t answer my question. What’s wrong with Ash?” He swatted at Dex’s hand again. “I said no. Don’t make me tell on you, because you know I will.”

  “Tattletale.” Dex leaned against the counter and shrugged. “I don’t know. I always pictured you settling down with someone less… Ash.”

  “First of all, no one said anything about settling down. Probably because no one says that anymore. What is this, Regency England? And why’s this such a huge shock to everyone anyway?”

  “Sloane’s known Ash since they were kids. They grew up together, trained together, became the first members of Destructive Delta together. And according to Sloane, Ash has never expressed any attraction or romantic interest in another guy. He’s had a long string of girlfriends. Granted, none of them lasted very long, but they were always women. I’m not judging him. If one day he wakes up and he sees this amazing boy and he falls in love, good for him. My issue isn’t with his falling for another dude. My issue is why is it a problem for him?”

  “He’s got stuff to work out,” Cael muttered, moving the chocolate chip cookies with M&M’s onto a plate painted with a turkey and acorns. If his brother went for the cookies one more time, he was going to beat him with his spatula.

  “No kidding.”

  Removing his oven glove, Cael turned to his brother, pleading. “I need you and Dad to support me on this. I love him, Dex. It can work between us. I know it can. He just needs some time to figure all this out. We’re going to sit and talk about it. I don’t want to push him. If we have to take things at his pace, then so be it. At least I know he wants to be with me.”

  “Hey, you know Dad and I will be here for you no matter what. I just worry, that’s all.”

  “I can handle it.”

  Dex bit his bottom lip and averted his gaze.

  What was this now? Cael folded his arms over his chest. “You don’t think I can handle Ash?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  Cael narrowed his eyes at his brother. “No, you were thinking it.”

  “He’s got an attitude. I just don’t want you to regret getting involved with him.”

  “Attitude. I know for you that translates to anger issues.” There was something his brother wanted to say but was afraid to. “What is it?” Cael studied his brother and read between the lines. With Dex, you always had to read between the lines. Attitude. Anger issues. Regret getting involved. It dawned on Cael, and a lump formed in his throat. “This is about Fuller, isn’t it?” An old wound he thought had long ago healed ached. He hadn’t thought about Fuller in so long. Which was exactly how he preferred it.

  “You can’t deny the similarities,” Dex said gently.

  “Ash is nothing like Fuller! How can you even think that?” Cael was furious. How could Dex believe that of Ash, after everything they’d all been through together? Ash had proven himself time and time again. What was it going to take for his brother to understand? “Look me in the eye and tell me you think Ash is like Fuller.”

  Dex went pensive, and Cael waited.

  “You’re right. I’m being unreasonable and a jerk. I’m sorry. Ash might have issues, but he’s a good guy. I genuinely believe that. I know he’d never hurt you like that. If anything, he’s risked his life to protect you. I don’t mean to give him a hard time. I just hate how he’s keeping you hanging.” Dex put his hand to Cael’s cheek. “I’m sorry for being so insensitive.”

  Cael swallowed hard and nodded. The backs of his eyes stung. His brother was worried, and he had every right to be after what he’d been put through with Fuller. Years later, and Cael’s guilt still ate away at him. All his life, his big brother had looked out for him, and Cael had pushed Dex away to defend a Therian who’d taken advantage of him in the worst way, who’d made him feel worthless. God, Cael had been such a despicable jerk to Dex. They’d had so many arguments. One in particular stood out among the rest. His hurtful words to his brother echoed in his head. He’d never forget them. You’ll never understand me. You’re Human, and what’s more, you’re not even my real brother.

  “I’m so sorry, Dex.” Cael wrapped his arms around his brother and squeezed him tight. “I’m sorry for the horrible things I said to you. I never meant them. You have to believe me.”

  “Hey, now.” Dex held him close and placed a hand to the back of his head, comforting him like he’d always done. Cael had never regretted anything more in his life than he had in the two years he’d been with Fuller, not only for what he’d endured but for what he’d put his family through. “Of course I believe you. I never doubted you, Chirpy. I knew that wasn’t you talking.”

  “I can still see your face, how badly I hurt you. Yet you never gave up on me.”

  “Never have, never will. It’s all in the past. You don’t have to apologize anymore.” Dex pulled back and smiled at him. “Can I tell you a secret?”

  Cael nodded. “You know you can.”

  “He may be far from perfect, with many, many faults, but I know deep down, Ash will treat you right.”

  Cael couldn’t help his big grin. “You really believe that?”

  “I do.”

  “Thanks, Dex.”

  Cael hugged his brother once more when their dad called out from somewhere upstairs.

  “I don’t hear cooking down there.”

  Dex huffed. “Because we were having a moment, Dad.”

  “Well, finish your moment, get back to cooking, and stay away from the cookies. That means you, Dex.”

  With a chuckle, Cael pulled back when it hit him. An odd yet familiar scent. He sniffed the air, catching a whiff of it among the smell of freshly baked cookies and the turkeys roasting in the ovens. He kept running into that scent but could never quite place it. Following his nose, he realized it was coming from his brother. That was weird. “Dex?”

  “Yeah?” Dex removed a bowl from the cabinet and the ingredients for their dad’s super awesome green bean casserole.

  “There’s something… off about you.”

  Dex pointed to his head. “Too much hair gel? It’s a new brand. Thought I’d try something that wasn’t citrus. Therian agents can smell me coming from a mile away at work. I needed to shake things up.”

  “No. It’s your scent. Your scent. Not your various manscaping products.” He leaned into Dex and sniffed.

  “First of all, I do not manscape. I’m not even hairy. I also happen to use an average amount of men’s products. Second of all, don’t sniff me. That’s just weird.”

  “Sorry, it’s just bugging me. You smell like you but not you. You smell like Sloane too.”

  “Maybe because we’re always around each other?” Dex rubbed his chest sensually and thrust his hips. “And I do mean all up in each other. Ooh yeah.”

  “Ew, perv. No. That’s not what I meant. Stop humping the air!”

  Dex laughed. “What? You don’t like my sweet moves?”

  “Keep your sweet moves away from me and my baked goods.” Cael shoved him again, ignoring his brother’s laughter. “Dork.” What was his brother hiding from him? And why? “This is different. Like you’ve been permanently—” Cael gasped. “Oh my God, Dex! Did Sloane mark you?”

  “Um… I was going to say something, but I’m still trying to figure out how to tell Dad.” Dex hesitated before pulling up his shirt sleeve, revealing a white bandage around his forearm.

  “You bonded?” Cael couldn’t believe it. His brother had been marked as a Therian mate.

  “You what?”

  Cael and Dex both gave a start. They spun to face their dad, and Dex hid his arm behind his back.

  “Dad, hey. Sloane and I had a bonding moment. You know, heart-to-heart.”

  Their dad’s laser-beam stare bore into them. “Boy, you must think I was born yesterday.”

  Dex shook his head. “No, not at all. I think you were born way back when. What were the dinosaurs like?”

  “You’re looking for a grounding.”

  Cael held back a laugh at Dex’s scandalized expression.

  “You can’t ground me!”

  “Try me.”

  Dex opened his mouth to reply but seemed to think better of it. They both knew their dad would totally find a way to ground him. With a deep frown, Tony reached behind Dex and took hold of his arm, causing Dex to suck in a sharp breath. Therian marks took forever to heal on a Human.

  “Ouch. Damn it, Dad.”

  Tony’s nostrils flared, and Cael took a slight step back. He knew that look. His dad was trying to keep his cool, and there wasn’t a whole lot that made him lose it. Unsurprisingly, Dex was the exception. His brother could send most anyone off the deep end. It was a talent.

  “Do you know how serious this is? Did you ask Sloane to do this?”

  “No.” Dex pulled his arm away. “It was both our decisions, and before you ask, it’s not something either of us has taken lightly.”

  Cael was glad to hear his brother and Sloane hadn’t rushed into it, but Cael shared their dad’s concerns. This sort of thing wasn’t taught in school. It wasn’t even talked about out in the open. It was a parent’s responsibility to have “the talk” with their kids about markings. Preferably a talk not accompanied by a five-hour sex education class with visuals and gay porn. No one needs a play-by-play on how the prostate works from their dad. At least he and Dex could laugh about it now. Back when they’d been fourteen, not so much. Mortifying didn’t begin to cover it. There was more to being a Therian than having the ability to shift into a feral creature.