Unable to sit still, Mitch stood and paced across the porch. “Well, this time fate’s being second-guessed.”
“It doesn’t work that way,” Frederick insisted as he stood. “You’re mates. The craving is undeniable.”
The words were spoken as if that was all there was to it, as if it were that simple. And, to be fair, until the previous day, Mitch would have thought the same thing. He had always believed in gut instinct, in nature. He was deeply bonded to his twin because they’d shared a womb. He was driven to protect the pack because he was an Alpha. Even the fact that he’d been gifted with an Omega for a mate confirmed the wisdom of nature because unlike his brother, who adored having an Alpha mate, Mitch had no interest in being challenged in either his wolf or human form. But the man who had shouted at him, attacked him, and berated him was nothing like the sweet, loving, sensitive Omegas he had known, and he had no problem denying Mitch at every turn.
“Mitch,” Frederick said in frustration. “Mitch! Are you listening to me?”
“I had to tie him up!” Mitch yelled.
“What?”
“My mate. He tried to run from me. First, last night when I found him in the forest. Then when he woke up this morning. And again after I cooked for him and fed him by hand. The only way I could get him to stay with me is to bind him to the bed.” Mitch turned away from Frederick and gripped the railing as he looked out into the trees. “Do you still think my mate wants me, Freddy?”
He heard Frederick’s footsteps before his brother wrapped his arms around him and rested his face against Mitch’s back. Neither of them spoke as Frederick hugged him tightly, like he had when their parents had passed away.
“He’s mine. I can’t let him go.” Mitch looked up, blinking away the emotion threatening to overwhelm him. “But I’m supposed to protect him, make sure he’s cared for, happy. How do I do that if he wants to be protected from me? If his happiness means letting him walk away?”
Hot tears streaked down Mitch’s back, and he realized that for the first time in their lives, his brother was crying.
“I don’t know what to do,” Mitch admitted.
“We’ll figure it out,” Frederick promised.
“How?”
“I don’t know.” Frederick sighed and stepped away. “But we will.” He rubbed his palms over his eyes. “Let’s think about this logically.”
“Think?” Mitch looked at him incredulously.
“Yes, think.” Frederick chuckled. “I know you prefer to do, but let’s try considering what’s going on before we start acting, okay?”
Mitch grunted.
“Glad you agree.” Frederick began pacing the same path Mitch had a few minutes earlier. “Let’s go over what we know.” He raised one finger. “First, he was in our territory.” He raised another finger. “Second, he’s your mate.” He held up a third finger. “Third, he’s an Omega.” He added another finger. “Fourth, he claims not to want you, which is impossible because mates hunger for one another.”
His body ached with the need to touch and be touched by his mate, and his chest ached from the harsh words and looks he received in return. Having his brother remind him of how his mate was supposed to feel, but didn’t, wasn’t helping.
“This is immensely useful so far,” Mitch said as he stomped to the rocking chair.
“The sarcasm isn’t helping.” Frederick looked at him reproachfully.
“Fine.” Mitch held one arm out, palm up. “Please go on.”
“That’s the only information I have. What else do you know?”
“How am I supposed to know anything else?”
“You’ve been with him since last night. Surely you got some information.”
“He hates me. He has a decent right hook. His aim is good when he kicks. Does that count as information?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of where is he from? Why is he here? What’s his name?”
“I don’t know,” Mitch said.
“You didn’t even get his name?”
“I was too busy trying to stop him from beating me up without hurting him and then cleaning him up so his wounds would heal and then feeding him and then tying him up. I didn’t have time for twenty questions, and even if I’d tried, he would’ve told me to fuck off.” Mitch paused. “Wait, he actually did say that. More than once. You can add it to your list.”
“He sounds like a real spitfire,” Frederick said, smiling.
“Uh-huh, it’s adorable, Freddy. I told him I washed him, and he looked disgusted. He’s the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. Bright red hair, green eyes, pale skin with freckles all over, thin but with muscles. I got hard the moment I saw him, and he wants nothing to do with me.”
“Sorry,” Frederick said sincerely. “I’m sure you can get him to open up.”
Mitch snorted.
“Or at least share his name.”