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.