Marked Northern Shifters 1

it’s okay.”
Liam gasped, as if he couldn’t breathe, and Alec got frightened. “ Liam .”
Something shifted in Liam’s eyes and he recognized Alec. “Oh my God. Oh my God.” He struggled against Alec who held him down, scared he was going to hurt what had so recently healed.
“Please, Liam, stay quiet.” He stroked the sweat-drenched golden hair off Liam’s forehead. From being too cold, Liam had definitely heated up. A good thing, he supposed, as long as it wasn’t a fever.
“Alec,” Liam gritted out between his teeth, as if making a huge effort.
“I’m here, babe.”
“What the fuck were you doing?”
Alec blinked, not quite sure what Liam was referring to, though he seemed furious in his exhausted way. “Uh, when, exactly?”
“When you were baiting Gabriel. Into killing you.”
Liam’s heart was racing and Alec could feel it. “Shhh, we made it.”
“You idiot. He was going to kill you.”
“He didn’t, did he?”
“Why?”
“Because you got to him first.” Perhaps Liam didn’t remember the night clearly.
“ No . Why would you bait him like that?” Liam asked, clearly distressed by Alec’s actions.
The why of it was pretty obvious, Alec thought, but he answered, trying to calm Liam. “I didn’t want him to kill you.”
“ I heal. You don’t.” Liam could barely get the words out and he was gasping again.
“Hush, babe.” Alec stroked Liam’s forehead. “He planned to kill you. He told me. I was to watch,” Alec said quietly. “I couldn’t do that.” Here, he touched Liam’s cheek. “Besides, Ira needs you. And, after he killed you, he would have just killed me anyway. He told me that, too.” Alec took a deep breath. “So it was better if I went first and you had a fighting chance.”
Liam’s face crumpled.
“Hey. Shhh. It’s over.” Alec stroked and nuzzled Liam who gasped and wept noisily.
“Can’t. Lose. You.”
“I’m here. I’m here.” Alec held Liam till he quieted. Then he forced him to drink. When Liam was done, he slumped against Alec, drained of all energy.
“Don’t you ever do that again,” he murmured against Alec’s chest.
Alec feathered fingers through Liam’s hair. “I can’t. Gabriel’s dead.”
Liam just grunted, falling asleep then and there. So Alec lay him down, and rested beside him.
Later that day, Ira came in to see his brother sleeping. There was color in Liam’s face now.
“He just looks like he’s napping,” Ira declared, his too-bright eyes belying his anxiety.
“He’s woken twice to drink,” Alec told him, “and Veronica says tomorrow, he should feel much more normal.” Ira frowned at Alec, who realized the boy was staring at the stitches on his face. “These will heal, too.” He touched his jaw and cheek a little selfconsciously.
“You heal slowly,” Ira observed.
“Slower than you,” Alec agreed. “Now, scoot. Veronica has supper waiting for you.” “Why do you get to eat with Liam?”
“Well…” Alec didn’t want to explain how Liam startled awake in fear and Alec needed to be there to calm him.
“Because you’re his mate?” Ira suggested.
“Uh…”
“You can get married, you know, if that would make you feel better,” Ira said earnestly, as if that legitimacy might put Alec more at ease.
Alec couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, bud. You know, I’m not leaving Liam’s side, because he’s someone I care about, okay? He’s important to me.”
“Okay.” Ira concentrated, as if he was thinking hard about what Alec had just said. “You’re not leaving, right?”
“I’m not leaving.”
Ira smiled. “Good. Liam will like that.” He added shyly, “So will I.”
Alec winked, Ira’s smile widened and they parted ways.
Turning back, Alec went to stare down at Liam, who looked peaceful for the moment. Are you my mate? he wanted to ask, though he didn’t entirely know what it meant. All Alec did know is he felt more strongly for Liam than he’d felt for anyone else. More protective, too.
But he’d give this relationship a couple of months at least before he nailed it down with a name.
Liam stirred and Alec knelt beside the bed. One golden eye popped open. “I heard that,” he said sleepily. “Mates don’t like to leave each other’s side.”
“Good to know.” Alec traced the naked collarbone that appeared above the duvet. “Truth is, I think I’m in love with you.”
Liam’s second eye opened and they stared at each other.
“I’ve never told anyone that before.” It was