Marked Northern Shifters 1

on the bed, staring into space, his expression grim. While no longer in shock as he’d been last night, obviously Alec had a ways to go before he felt at ease. Liam decided it was time for Alec to get out of this room, see the kids, see some different furniture, at least.
“Ready to venture downstairs?” Liam asked. “You have two fans who are dying to see you again.”
“Fans?” Alec darted him a glance, there and away. He looked back again, wary, as if Liam might be toying with him.
“Yes. Ira is a little jealous because Claire has seen you and he hasn’t. Truth is, he’s a lot jealous of Claire, period. He hasn’t had to share his adults with any other child.”
A ghost of a smile crossed Alec’s face. Liam tried to find that expression encouraging but Alec’s withdrawal worried him. He thought they’d had a breakthrough of sorts last night.
“Alec?”
“Hmmm?” He picked at the duvet cover.
But Liam didn’t know what to say. Don’t you trust me? didn’t seem like a useful question. Instead, he sat down close to Alec. He raised a hand to brush Alec’s cheek so Alec would look at him.
Pure defiance stared out of his eyes and Liam didn’t hide his confusion.
“I’m sorry I tried to break your neck last night.” Alec strove for wry humor, but a hint of a tremor in his voice cut through Liam, who couldn’t figure out what Alec really meant the apology for.
Liam kept his answer simple. “I like holding you. It means a lot to me.”
Alec went back to picking at the wayward thread. “You didn’t have much choice.”
Under other circumstances, Liam might have found this bashfulness endearing, but Alec was too shaky right now. “I missed you.” Liam kept his words low. “And I’ve been so worried about you since Saturday.”
Alec’s head jerked up. “You knew where I was?”
“I guessed Gabriel had taken you,” Liam explained. “If I’d known where , I would have come after you right away.”
“Why?” Alec’s brittle demand made little sense to Liam.
“Why? Because you shouldn’t be…” subjected seemed to be the wrong word choice, “…with Gabriel.”
“I should be with you? Are you going to pet me now?”
“Pet?”
“What? The quad didn’t keep pets when you were with them?”
“No.” Now how the hell did Alec know to use the term “quad”? Wishing that Alec never had to know about those sordid two years, Liam felt a flush spread up his neck.
“Why act like you don’t know what I’m talking about? That you don’t know Gabriel called me their pet?” Unconsciously, or so Liam thought, Alec brushed fingers across his scar. Liam reached over and covered Alec’s hand, because despite all his talk, Alec seemed to calm to Liam’s touch. “You knew, Liam. You knew about my scar and pretended to believe my dog-bite story.”
“Yes.” Liam exhaled slowly.
“You humored me. You played along.”
“I wanted to tell you I was a werewolf, but I thought it might freak you out.”
“Freak me out, yeah.” Alec laughed, a harsh, high sound. “And that would be so much worse than what did happen.”
Liam felt miserable. “I’m sorry.”
“Why’d you insist on looking at my scar the other day? I don’t think it was intentional foreplay.”
“To make sure Ira was right when he said he remembered you being marked.” Liam met Alec’s dark, still gaze. “Ira was with the quad at the same time they caught you, you see. He was extremely unhappy with them. Terrified, in fact.” Gabriel, even when he didn’t want to, managed to terrify young recruits. “I wanted to tell you then and there, when I saw your mark. But I thought we had enough time that I could afford to gain your trust before I…revealed myself to you.”
Alec looked away. This conversation wasn’t going how Liam wanted. No surprise there.
Abruptly Alec stood. “I want another shower.”
“You’re clean.”
Alec just shook his head.
    He wore Liam’s clothes, ate Liam’s food and even slept in Liam’s bed. As if he belonged to Liam. It made Alec uneasy. But the idea of leaving, of being on his own where Gabriel or Luke could grab him, at home or on the streets, was so much worse. Unbearable.
    Don’t think about that. Just think of what to do now. Take it one hour at a time. That philosophy of life had worked in the shed. For the most part. Don’t think about the shed.
He walked to the bottom of the stairs and waited, not sure where to go. During Alec’s half-hour shower, Liam had disappeared