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Pretty Baby(15)

By:Stormy Glenn


Elliot was kind, gentle. He wouldn't hurt anyone. Tommy had just been so  stunned by what happened that he didn't know what to do. Once his  senses came back to him, Tommy knew the safest place for Elliot was  locked in the pantry away from everyone.

Until they could figure out what happened, Tommy didn't know if he could  keep Joe from attacking Elliot. But that didn't mean Tommy wouldn't  defend his mate to the death if Joe went after Elliot. And he didn't  want to fight his brother.

Tommy knew Joe had a right to be angry with Elliot because he didn't  know the man like Tommy did. Joe didn't know Elliot wouldn't hurt a fly.  Until Nate regained consciousness, Tommy wouldn't be able to prove that  his mate was innocent of any wrongdoing.

Tommy was so intent on watching for any little move from Nate that he  almost jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand come down on his  shoulder. He turned to find his father standing beside him.

"Hey, Dad," he said softly.

"We need to talk, Thomas."

Tommy so didn't like the way that sounded. "Elliot didn't do

this."

"You can't know that." "I do know that. Elliot doesn't have it in him to  hurt someone." Tommy waved his hand out and gestured to Nate. "He  wouldn't do this."

"Thomas, I know you want to believe that, but what do you really know about the man? You just met Elliot a few hours ago."

"I just know, okay?"

"No, it's not okay, Thomas." Daniel pointed to Nate. "Look at him,  Thomas. Look at your brother's mate. Something happened that caused that  and Elliot is responsible."

"And what about my mate, Dad? He's locked in a pantry like a common  criminal. You didn't even give him a chance. None of you did," Tommy  snapped as he turned to take in the rest of the people on the room. "You  just assumed he was guilty."

"Did you see what happened to Nate?" Joe shouted as he jumped to his  feet. "That man did this and you expect me to feel sorry for him? What  if Nate doesn't wake up? What then? Will you still expect me to feel  sorry for him?"

"How many times do I have to tell you," Tommy snapped. "Elliot didn't do this!"

"He's right." The softly spoken words were louder than all of the  yelling and shouting between Tommy and Joe. Tommy swung around to see  Nate's eyes on him. "Elliot didn't hurt me."                       
       
           



       

"Nate, baby," Joe crooned as he raced over to kneel next to the couch,  his hands running over Nate's body. "Are you sure you're okay? What  happened? I was so scared when you passed out. I didn't know if you were  going to wake up."

"I'm fine, sheriff," Nate said as he cupped the side of Joe's face. "I just had a little overload."

"Overload? What in the hell are you talking about? You told us not to  touch Elliot and then you passed out. You were having seizures, Nate."

"I never told you not to touch Elliot." Nate frowned and glanced around then he sat up and looked some more. "Where is Elliot?"

"Your mate had him locked up in the pantry." Tommy said with a distinct  curtness. He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Joe. He was  getting really tired of people picking on his mate.

"Joseph!" Nate sat up and swung his legs over the side of the couch. "I  can't believe you locked Elliot up. How could you do that?"

"Nate, you passed out. You were having seizures. What did you expect me to do?"

"I expected you to treat him civilly until you knew exactly what was  happening." Nate shook his head. "What is wrong with you, Joe? You've  never jumped to conclusions before without having hard evidence. This  isn't like you."

"Nate-"

"Stop, please." Tommy stepped forward and held up his hand to stop the  argument he could see coming between Joe and Nate. "All that matters is  that Nate is okay. Joe can rest easy now and I can get go get my mate.  Agreed?"

Joe's face flushed but he nodded. "Yes, go get Elliot and bring him back  in here. Maybe between him and Nate we can figure out what in the hell  happened."

Tommy couldn't run to the kitchen fast enough. He unlocked the pantry  door and flung the door open, ready to take his mate into his arms. The  hairs on Tommy's arms stood up when he heard a low growl came from the  darkness. Tommy froze.

"Elliot?" he whispered.

The growl sounded again.

Tommy reached over and flicked on the light switch, blinking for a  moment when the room was suddenly lit up. When his vision cleared, the  air in Tommy's lungs rushed out as his body stiffened in shock.

Crouched on the floor in the far corner of the room was a pale white  wolf where Elliot should have been. The wolf's ears were flattened back  against its head, his teeth bared as a low, threatening rumble filled  the room.

"Elliot?" His hoarse whisper echoed around the room. Tommy started to  take another step into the pantry but stopped when the wolf let out  another low growl. "Elliot, is that you?"

The wolf suddenly jumped forward and snapped its teeth at Tommy,  snarling and growling. Tommy jumped back and slammed the door closed. He  could feel the wolf clawing and pushing at the door as he leaned back  against it and reached back with his hand to throw the lock.

Tommy took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He had no idea what  the hell was going on but he knew it had something to do with what  happened to Nate. He pushed away from the pantry door and walked back  into the living room. Nate was sitting on the couch next to Joe, Daniel  and James sitting a few feet away.

"I think we have a problem."

"A problem?" Daniel asked. "What sort of problem?"

Tommy swallowed hard. "Either I've lost my mind or my very human mate just shifted into a wolf."

Tommy expected the astonished stares he received from Joe, James, and  his father. He didn't expect Nate to roll his eyes, jump up, and stalk  past him. Tommy spun around to run after Nate just as Joe shot past him.  They both reached the kitchen just as Nate opened the pantry door.

"Nate, no!" Joe shouted but it was too late.

The white wolf crashed through the doorway, slamming into Nate. A loud  yelp filled the air as Nate fell to the floor, the white wolf standing  over the top of him. Nate looked stunned. His mouth was open, his hands  clenched into fists at his chest as he stared up at the wolf standing  over the top of him.

"Nate, don't move a muscle," Joe murmured barely above a whisper.

"Not planning on it."

"Tommy, can't you do anything?"

Tommy stepped closer to the wolf, keeping his movements slow and easy.  He held his hands out in a submissive gesture, hoping his mate was  somewhere inside of the angry wolf before him.

"Elliot, honey, you need to let Nate go."

Tommy didn't like the glint he could see in the wolf's dark blue eyes.  He didn't think it would bode well for him. He was even more positive  when another low rumble filled the room as the wolf growled again.                       
       
           



       

"Tommy," Joe hissed, "do something!"

Tommy turned to glare at his brother. "I'm trying."

"Well, try faster. He's got my mate."

"Don't you think I know that?" Tommy snapped. "Don't forget that Elliot is my mate."

"Well, your mate is pinning my mate to the floor."

"Do you think the two of you could stop arguing long enough to get this wolf off of me before he fucking eats me?"

Tommy blinked and turned to stare back at Nate. Nate was glaring. The  wolf was glaring. Tommy's feigned calm snapped. "Elliot, get the hell  off of Nate before you scare the shit out of him anymore than you  already have."

Tommy almost fell over in shock when the wolf did exactly what he said  and walked over to sit on the floor next to him. His legs felt shaky and  he wasn't sure he would be able to stay standing. Tommy edged his way  over to one of the kitchen chairs and sat down. The wolf followed.

Nate moved slowly, sitting up then scooting across the floor until he  reached Joe's arms. Joe wasted no time. He swept Nate up into his arms  and carried him out of the room. Tommy looked down at the wolf sitting  on the floor next to him and took a deep breath. He cautiously reached  down and stroked his fingers over the wolf's soft fur.

"What in the hell are we going to do now, pretty baby?" * * * *

"Thomas."

"Hey, Dad," Tommy replied without lifting his head. He was pretty sure  he knew what his father was going to say before he said it. He'd been  sitting here for the last ten minutes trying to figure out what to do  with Elliot now that the man had turned into a wolf. He didn't want to  hear his father's opinion. He was pretty sure he wouldn't like it.