Page 21 of Breaking the Surface
“Maybe he finally understood that he’s not going to be able to get to Peter,” Braden suggested.
Peter shook his head.“He saw me.Even worse, he saw me with you.He’s going to have something to say about that.”
Braden still wasn’t sure what had possessed him to hug Peter that way, but he was glad he had and that it had helped Peter.He couldn’t care less what Lou thought.Still, it unfortunately meant that they’d have to deal with Lou again.
“I’ve increased security,” Camden said.“That doesn’t mean he won’t be able to get in, though.You two need to be careful.”
“Do we know how he managed to find my precise location?”Peter asked.“How did he find the house?”
“I don’t know, but I’m going to guess it’s through your cell phone,” Braden said.It wouldn’t be the first time something like this had happened.He should’ve thought of telling Peter, but he hadn’t wanted to take that away from him, too.
Peter looked horrified.He took out his phone and turned it off, then dumped it onto the kitchen table.It was a little late for that, but it was better than nothing.“Do you think I should move?”Peter asked.
Camden and Braden looked at each other.Braden decided to take the lead since he was the expert in this kind of situation.“You could,” he told Peter.“But he’s going to continue coming after you.I’ve seen people with his personality in my work.Lou won’t take no for an answer, and he’ll try to get to you until he gets a yes.”
“That’s never going to happen.I’m not going back to him.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, but I think that at this point, it would probably be better to wait and see what happens next.”
“You’ll stay with me and protect me, right?”Peter asked.
“Of course.I’m not going anywhere.”
“Then I’ll stay.”
There wasn’t much else to do.Camden left after reassuring Peter that the pack was on his side, and Peter disappeared into his bedroom.Braden wasn’t surprised when he spent most of the day there.Vincent came at one point, and they both holed up upstairs.Braden brought them food but otherwise left them alone.He stayed in contact with Remi and Camden, so he knew that while Lou had been taken to the police station in town, Camden had been right.They hadn’t kept him for long, and he was out there again.Hopefully, he wouldn’t try to get to Peter a second time today, but Braden wouldn’t be surprised if he did, so he spent most of his day checking the cameras and walking around the house.Being hypervigilant like that meant that by the time it was time to go to bed, he was exhausted.He still made his rounds, securing all the doors and windows, then checking in on Peter to make sure he was okay.Peter was already sleeping when Braden peeked in, so Braden left him alone and went to his bedroom.
Even though he was exhausted, it took him a little while to fall asleep.When he did, he kept waking up to every strange noise, so it wasn’t a surprise that he jerked upright in bed when he felt the blankets move.He tensed, ready to defend himself, only relaxing when he heard Peter’s voice.“I’m sorry,” Peter whispered.“I didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“It’s fine.Do you need anything?”
Braden couldn’t see much since it was dark, but he could feel Peter’s hesitation.He desperately wanted to give Peter anything he wanted, and he hoped that Peter would tell him what that was.
“I had a nightmare,” Peter eventually murmured.“Can I sleep with you?”
“Of course.”Braden didn’t hesitate.There was no reason for him to.He raised the blankets, allowing Peter to slip under them.He gave the man plenty of space, but it didn’t seem like that was what Peter wanted because he rolled in Braden’s direction.Braden could feel him watching, and he waited, curious.
“Why are you letting me sleep here?”Peter asked.
Braden blinked at the darkened ceiling.“Because you asked me to.You clearly need comfort and a feeling of security.I can give you that.”
“You really weren’t lying when you said that you would always make sure that I’m safe, were you?”
“I would never lie about something like that.Youaresafe with me, Peter.If there’s anything I can do to protect you, I’ll do it.”
Braden was surprised but touched that Peter seemed to trust him enough to want to spend the night in his bed.He liked that Peter trusted him.He wanted more of that.
Lou was still a problem.He would keep coming after Peter, but Braden would be there to stop him every time.He was willing to make it his full-time job until Lou was finally stopped.
A tentative touch made Braden blink.He shuddered at the feeling of Peter’s fingers on his arm, but Peter didn’t take them away.Instead, he grabbed Braden’s wrist, wrapping his long fingers around it.It felt like a brand on Braden’s skin.Braden kind of wished that it were.“There’s a reason you feel that way,” Peter said.
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.You think it’s because you want to help people, and maybe in part it is, but there’s a reason you feel so strongly about me in particular.”Peter sucked in a breath.“You’re my mate, Braden.”
Braden’s brain stopped working for a second.When it restarted, he couldn’t stop hearing the words Peter had just said.
He was Peter’s mate.Of course he was.“Everything does make sense now,” he said.
