He couldn't blame Elliot, though. The changes they had been through in just the last two weeks were enough to drag anyone down. The rescue mission had gone better than Tommy expected, but it was still a rescue mission.
Summer and Tereza were back with Andre and trying to get used to having their freedom. Tommy wasn't sure what Daniel and Zacarius had done to Sophia, but the woman hadn't even taken time to pack her stuff before leaving. Tommy doubted they would ever hear from her again.
Devlin, Donovan, and Chase seemed to be thrilled to have their mother back and a new sister to spoil. Elliot was a little more hesitant. He wasn't used to having a large family. Between the Morgan and the Nash families, he was getting a full dose.
There was also the added worry about Carl and his mate, Dr. Banning. The doctor wasn't a born wolf like the rest of them. No one knew what to expect from the man. Daniel and the alphas of several wolf packs were talking with the good doctor, trying to learn what he knew and how he knew it.
They also wanted to know if there were other wolves being held in captivity. The thought of anyone else being held against their will and experimented on seemed to be of great concern to Elliot. He had talked about it nearly every night before they went to bed. Tommy just hoped that Elliot would have his answers soon. Only time would tell, and maybe the good doctor.
"What are you doing?"
Tommy glanced over to see his brother, Joe, walking up to him. He quickly held his finger up to his lips then gestured toward the kitchen, grinning. Joe cocked his head to one side, listening. A slow smile came over his lips, and the man leaned back against the wall opposite Tommy.
"God, I never thought of that," Nate said. "Maybe we should call Jim and Donovan. I'm sure they would know."
"Oh, I'm not sure I want to involve anyone else in this," Elliot said quickly. "Our business has been paraded in front of everyone enough. I'm sure Tommy would be horribly embarrassed if we called his brother to find out the mating habits of two wolves during the full moon. God, can you imagine? Jim would probably laugh himself silly."
"Don't be so sure, Elliot. Jim and Donovan didn't know squat about sex when they got mated. Hell, Donovan wasn't even gay and Jim was still in the closet. They both had a lot of questions when they started out."
"Donovan wasn't gay?" Elliot whispered.
Tommy slapped his hand over his mouth to keep from laughing. He glanced over at Joe to find him having much the same reaction. Tommy couldn't wait to see his brother and Donovan. After the flack they had given him, it would be fun to give some back.
"Well, he says he wasn't gay, but I don't know if you can suddenly turn gay, mate or not. There had to be some predisposition for it, right? I mean, you don't just wake up one day and decide that you like men, right?"
"Hell, how would I know? I've been gay all of my life. I never even seen a woman naked and I wouldn't want to. I definitely prefer men. I always have and I always will. Thankfully, I don't have to go through what Jim and Donovan did. My mate is gay and so am I."
Tommy couldn't stand it anymore. He pushed away from the wall and walked into the kitchen, Joe right on his heels. Elliot and Nate were turned away from them, both men gesturing wildly with their hands while they talked and washed the dishes.
Tommy snuck up behind Elliot and grabbed him around the waist, swinging him wildly in a circle. Elliot screamed. Nate screamed. Tommy and Joe laughed. "Are you sure you're gay, pretty baby? Maybe we should test that theory before you decide."
Elliot frowned. "What, you want me to have sex with a woman?"
"Hell no!" This conversation wasn't going quite the way Tommy wanted it to go. He was supposed to sweep Elliot off his feet and, hopefully, into a bed. "I don't even want you to think of anyone else in sexual terms. Just me."
"Just you?" Elliot's eyes started to twinkle.
"Yep." Tommy grinned. "Just me, pretty baby."
THE END