As they were finishing their coffee, a man approached the table. He was one of the big men so common there, and he had the look of the Cherokee Indians so common in the Smoky Mountains. He nodded to both Gavin and Richard and looked directly across the table at Kevin. His gaze swept over him before he spoke to Gavin. “This the one you were telling me about?”
Tucker stiffened next to him, but Gavin nodded. “Yes, but we can talk about it later, Russell. Not now. ”
“Sure,” he said, giving Kevin one last appreciative glance before moving away. Tucker’s mouth fell open.
“Russell? You can’t be serious. ”
“I said we’d discuss it later, Tucker. ”
“Well, I’d like to discuss it right now. Not Russell. I forbid it. ”
“Oh you do, huh? Well, that’s not really your decision to make, Tucker. And what’s wrong with Russell anyway? He’s a nice guy, a good gamma. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him. ”
Tucker’s voice had dropped down to a deeper timbre, mimicking Russell. “‘Is this the one you were talking about?’ Oh yeah, such finesse and charm. Nope, no fucking way. ”
“We don’t exactly have an unlimited choice, Tucker, and please lower your voice. Russell’s mate was killed in a Hunter raid a few years ago. ”
“Wait a minute…” Kevin said in a choked voice. “This is about me? Are you thinking that me and that guy…”
Richard scooted his chair back from the table and stood up abruptly, taking hold of Kevin’s arm. “Kevin and I are going for a walk,” he said, tugging Kevin from the chair. We’ll be back in a while, and I’ll come find you, Gavin. ”
Kevin stumbled to his feet and allowed Richard to lead him from the room and out onto the grounds. It was a sunny morning, with only a slight chill in the air, so Kevin was glad of the long sleeves on his shirt. He was feeling distinctly chilled, and he didn’t think it came only from the air temperature.
“Tell me he’s not planning on having that guy fuck me. ”
Richard looked at him with shock. “God, the way you talk. ”
“Well, is he?”
“Gavin is looking for a suitable mate for you, yes. But no one will force you. We’ll find someone you can agree to. ”
“This whole thing is crazy. ” Kevin stopped walking down the path they were on that led into the woods, shoving his hands down into his pockets. “I’ve got to get out of here, before I’m as nutty as the rest of you. ”
Richard turned to stare down at him. “Damn it, don’t you listen? We’ve been over this. We can’t let you leave. ”
“Yeah? Well, what if I took off right now? Just took off running and got away from you?”
“Not going to happen. ”
“Really?” Kevin suddenly shoved Richard hard, surprising him and making him stumble back off the narrow pathway into the bushes. Kevin leaped off the other side, plowing through some thick bushes to get to a more open area in the woods. He took off as fast as he could, losing the flip flops after about three or four steps, but forging on despite the beating his bare feet were taking, dodging around trees and rocks, hearing Richard crashing through the brush behind him. Suddenly, strong arms lifted him off his feet and held on tight, crushing his body back into a solid, large form. He struggled wildly, kicking back against Richard’s legs, pulling fiercely against the arms around his waist. He fought to escape, but his struggles were useless. He couldn’t break Richard’s grip around his waist, no matter how hard he tried. Breathing hard, he cursed and went limp, letting his head fall back against Richard’s chest. Only then did Richard let him go to sink down to the ground and sat down beside him while he caught his breath.
After a few minutes, Kevin glanced up at him, a little out of breath. “Not my best escape attempt ever,” he managed.
Richard glared at him, but his lips twisted up a little. “Had a lot of escape attempts, have you?”
“Not really,” he said, with a shrug and a short bark of laughter. “That one played out better in my head than in actual execution, though. ”
“Damn it, Kevin, you have to accept this. You can be happy here if you just let yourself. We’ll find someone you’ll like. He can train you to be a good mate. ”
“Train me? Like a dog? Fuck you, Richard. ”
“You can cuss me all you want. It’s not going to change a thing. You’ll still be mated to a member of our pack. ”
Kevin snorted. “I don’t want to mate with anybody! You’re talking about sex, right? Forget that. ”
“You didn’t seem to mind it so much last night,” Richard said quietly.
“Damn you. Get this through your head. I’m not fucking mating with anybody. I don’t want that!”