Luther nodded. "Sure. You've been friends since you were two."
"She's not just my best friend, she's my girlfriend." She said the words so fast that even Deke had trouble understanding her … and he knew what she was trying to say, sort of.
"Your-What?" Luther asked, obviously struggling.
Deke sighed. "Luther," he murmured. Turning to the refrigerator, he helped himself to two beers and a can of soda. "Here," he said, holding out one of the beers and the soda. "Why don't you guys take some drinks to the study?" he urged. "I'll take over the kitchen, make a salad, and see what ingredients you have for a casserole or something, and you and Stephani can go talk."
When a clearly confused Luther reached out and took the drinks, Deke held onto them and used their hold to pull him forward just enough to press a quick peck to his lips. "Take your time. I'll put the steaks back in the fridge."
Nodding, obviously still confused, Luther nodded. "Okay."
Deke offered Stephani an encouraging smile, feeling a bit bad for both of them. He might not know them well, but he understood how hard keeping secrets was. No wonder Stephani had been upset. She could really have used Luther's support while trying to figure out feelings she must have been developing for her best friend.
Watching them leave the room, Deke mentally wished them the best.
Hoping to have some nice sides ready to go with the steaks when the pair finally finished, Deke focused on raiding the cupboard and getting to work. He found all the fixings needed for a cheesy pea, corn, and potato casserole, so quickly peeled the potatoes and tossed them in a pot to boil, adding a pinch of salt for flavoring.
Next he returned to the abandoned cucumber and finished slicing that. Setting that aside, he prepped the rest of the ingredients for the casserole, relieved to find the sour cream was just under the expiration date.
Deke had just slid the casserole into the oven when he heard a door thud. Not thinking anything of it, he started shredding a head of lettuce, pulling off the parts that had started to wilt. He chuckled, thinking of how anti-vegetables these shifters seemed to be. They bought vegetables, then didn't use them.
When arms slid around his waist, Deke immediately assumed it was Luther. Then, a scent he didn't recognize filled his nostrils. Earthy and masculine, not unpleasant, but it sure as hell didn't belong to his lover.
"Hey, cutie. It smells fantastic in here," purred a deep voice Deke didn't recognize. The man's chin rested on his shoulder as he continued, "If this is how you cook for a friend, I'd love to take you home and get real friendly."
Panic tightened Deke's lungs as memories of Michael's friends pawing at him flashed through his mind. His vision grayed as his pulse spiked. A shudder worked through his body as sweat broke out on his temples.
Twisting wildly, Deke screamed. "Get away!"
Chapter Eight
Luther didn't know how he'd missed it. He must have been so wrapped up in the realization that his mate was a man that he'd completely missed when his daughter had started developing feelings for her friend. If only he'd come clean about finding his mate when it happened, Stephani wouldn't have had to go through the confusing process on her own.
No father of the year award for me.
Now understanding why Stephani had been so upset upon discovering his attraction to Deke, Luther hoped to do everything he could to ease his daughter's fears. He'd already reassured her once that feeling those kinds of attractions to the same sex was perfectly acceptable. He loved her no matter what.
Stephani had even asked how Luther had known Deke was his mate. That one had thrown him. It wasn't often a shifter found and recognized their mate before even reaching the age of consent. It just confirmed how strong a wolf Stephani would grow to be.
Of course, there was the little problem that Peggy was human. Luther had never begrudged Stephani her human friends, just cautioning her on the importance of keeping her secret. Sharon was also human, while Maranda was a fellow wolf shifter.
"Does Peggy know?" Luther asked, curious how many people knew before him.
Stephani shook her head. "We haven't, um, done anything but, like, hold hands and um-" She twisted her hands in her lap, her face turning a light shade of pink. "Kiss."
She muttered the admission so quietly, Luther wasn't certain he'd have heard it if he didn't have such great hearing. Trying to be understanding, he reached over and settled his hand over her own, stilling her restless movements.
Luther smiled encouragingly at Stephani. "You're young. There's no rush."
"I know," she agreed. "I just-"
"Get away!" Deke's screamed, panic-laden words echoed even through the closed study door.
Luther leaped to his feet, already heading toward the door, Stephani two steps behind him. "We'll revisit this," he assured even as he yanked the door open and charged from the room. Instincts rode him hard, telling him to find his mate.
Sprinting through the dining room, Luther came to a sliding stop upon seeing Leo kneeling on the floor next to the refrigerator. He had his hands spread out to each side, both were empty as he murmured, "Hey, easy buddy, you're okay," to someone out of sight behind the island.
Upon seeing them, Leo glanced their way just a second before focusing on the person out of sight, who Luther felt certain must be Deke-a terrified Deke, judging by his scent. "I'm sorry, Lu, I didn't mean to freak out your friend," Leo murmured, still keeping his tone soothing. "What the hell has he been through?"
Luther had no idea, but he planned to find out. "Stay there," he ordered as he rounded the other side of the island slowly.
Upon seeing Deke, Luther's heart nearly broke. His mate sat on his ass, his knees pulled to his chest, and he held a paring knife in front of him. From the looks of it, he'd used it to slice the cucumbers, then had started in on the head of lettuce, which was now strewn all over the countertop and sink. His green eyes were wide, the pupils dilated, in his pale face.
From the glazed expression on Deke's face, Luther didn't think he quite realized where he was. Upon seeing Luther, Deke swung the knife back and forth, obviously uncertain who to wave it at, himself or Leo. "Stay back!" he screeched.
"Deke, look at me," Luther ordered softly.
Deke obeyed. The hand holding the knife trembled.
"Sweetheart, it's Luther," he rumbled softly. "No one here will hurt you. You're safe."
"S-safe?" Deke mumbled, then glanced over at Leo, who still knelt on the floor, and Stephani, who now stood at the counter, a concerned frown on her face.
"Deke, look at me," Luther ordered again. After a second, Deke obeyed. "Come here, Deke," he said, holding up his hand, palm up. "Come to me. Let me help you."
Within one second and the next, Deke launched himself at Luther. He grunted, in part by the impact of his human's small, solid body landing against his own. Also, Deke hadn't dropped the knife and the blade sliced across his forearm.
Ignoring the pain, Luther wrapped his arms around Deke and tucked him close. He allowed the momentum to push him backward, his ass landing on the hardwood floor. Once he had his mate cradled on his lap and in his arms, Luther wrapped his own hand around the handle of the small knife and eased it from Deke's grip. He tossed it carelessly aside, not caring where it fell in favor of holding his mate tight and offering him comfort.
"What the hell happened to him?" Leo asked. "Who is he?"
Too busy rocking his mate, Luther didn't bother to answer. He ran his hands over Deke's body, searching for injury, but he found nothing.
"That's Deke Sommers," Stephani answered for him, her voice soft, troubled. "Deke is Dad's mate."
"Your mate?" Leo gaped. "When the hell did you find your mate? How come no one bothered to fucking call me?"
Deke cringed in Luther's arms at Leo's raised voice. He tried to fold in on himself even tighter while pressing closer to Luther's torso. In response, Luther cupped his mate's jaw and pressed his face to his chest under his chin. He massaged the skin just below Deke's ear gently, doing his best to reassure him.
"Easy, Deke," Luther crooned as he glared at his cousin. "That's just Leopold. He's my cousin and would never hurt you."
When Deke finally stopped shuddering in Luther's grip, he focused on Leo and asked, "What happened? When did you get here?"