Marked Northern Shifters 1

That was their deal. Though Ira didn’t like to talk of it. Liam was the next best thing Ira had to a counselor, seeing as no counselor was going to be helpful when it came to Ira’s disturbing werewolf stories.
“I’m sorry, Liam.”
“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me why you didn’t tell me.” Liam took care to keep the scold out of his voice. He couldn’t stand for Ira to cringe.
“I thought if Alec came to live with us he might tell you and then we could protect him from the mark.”
“That was your plan?” Liam raised eyebrows while Ira gazed up at him, worrying his lip. “Why do you think Alec would live with us?”
“Because we both like him,” Ira said simply.
Leaning down again, Liam sighed into Ira’s hair. Despite himself, he asked, “You’re sure Alec is marked, Ira?” Liam didn’t want it to be so. “The quad hasn’t been here for a year, since I found you.”
“I remember him bleeding when he was asleep. His shirt was red,” Ira said hollowly and Liam held him close. “Just days before you got me.”
It took Ira a while to fall asleep after that revelation and Liam stayed with him, singing some of Ira’s favorite songs which ranged from “Country Roads” to “Who Let the Dogs Out”.
Voice hoarse and heart heavy, Liam descended the stairs. He hadn’t wanted Ira to see someone marked as prey. He knew exactly how devastating that could be. And he hadn’t wanted Alec to know anything about the quad.
It was a wonder that Alec was alive. Trey killing two of the quad members last year must have derailed their usual hunt-the-new-mark plans.
Liam picked up the phone and dialed. David answered, none too pleased. He thought Liam leaned on Veronica too hard. Liam eased back when he could—he knew Veronica would willingly shoulder all his burdens if he wanted her to—but these past couple of weeks had been eventful.
Veronica, as ever, sounded happy to hear from him. “Hey, Liam.” Just knowing he could share his worries, that he wasn’t as utterly alone as he had been for so many years, lifted Liam’s spirits.
“Ira remembered something.”
“Okay.” Tension entered Veronica’s voice as she readied herself for bad news.
It hurt to say the name but Liam forced it out. “Alec. He remembered Alec with the quad.”
    “ What? ”
“Ira says Alec is marked.”
She didn’t respond right away. “Liam, Alec would be dead. They hunt their marks
down or worse. Why is he still free?”
    Liam could feel blood pounding in his head, fear for Alec, dread for Ira and a life he had almost become part of, with their mother’s blessing.
“Everything Ira has ever told me, and I know it hasn’t been a lot, has been accurate, Veronica.”
“I’m not saying Ira is lying. But he could be confused. He was terribly stressed and anxious when we rescued him.”
“I know. Still.”
“Okay, okay.” He heard her pull in a breath. “You’re going to have to find out if it’s true.”
“Oh, that’s just fucking great. Alec doesn’t want me to touch him and I have to ask him to take off his shirt. He’ll say ‘fuck you’ and he won’t mean it in a good way.”
“You have to, Liam.” Another pause. “You don’t think you could seduce him? Since you want to anyway?”
Liam snorted. “Alec is going to hate me by the time I’m done checking Ira’s story out.”
He felt such dismay. Ah well. Alec was too decent a sort to be involved with Liam, who’d actually run with the quad. Not only that—at the time, he’d been much older than Ira.
“If Alec is alive and marked, he’s lucky or clever or both. They don’t like to give up the game.”
“We must have interrupted it last year when we rescued Ira and shot two of them. I’ll try to question Ira more closely tomorrow.”
“How is Ira?”
“A little shaky. He’s sleeping now.”
“Poor kid. But he’ll be okay. He’s strong.”
“Yes. You’re right,” Liam agreed, because his purpose in life was exactly that—to make sure his brother would be okay.
About Alec, Liam wasn’t so sure.
Chapter Four
    Outside of Alec’s apartment building, Liam sat on the curb. It was the least threatening place he could imagine waiting. He didn’t want to hassle Alec at work and he didn’t want to lurk by Alec’s door on the third floor. No doubt Alec would find the curb close enough to home.
    Liam sighed. The library closed at five p.m. on Tuesdays. Ira and Casey had seen Alec at work today, so Liam just planned to wait here. Of course