Tommy grinned and squatted down, holding out his hands to his mate. "Come here, pretty baby."
Elliot hopped up and walked across the floor to sit in front of Tommy. Nate sat up and shot glares of anger at Elliot. Tommy chuckled and sat down, drawing Elliot into the crook of his legs. He pet Elliot's fur and planted little kisses along the top of his head.
"Is this true, Nate?" Joe asked as he helped Nate to his feet. "Did you try and leave the kitchen after I asked you to stay here?"
"Oh please, like you ever ask anything."
"You did!"
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay." Nate waved his hand, gesturing to Elliot. "And he had to go all wolfy on me."
"You mean he kept you here in the kitchen where you were safe," Tommy said more as a statement instead of a question, "where your mate told you to stay."
Tommy started laughing when Nate rolled his eyes. He stroked his hands through Elliot's fur. "You did good, pretty baby." Elliot huffed softly as if to say he knew he did well. Tommy grinned and continued to rub his hands through Elliot's fur.
"I agree."
Tommy looked up at his brother in stunned amazement. He never thought to hear those words out of his brother's mouth toward his mate. Joe hadn't tried in the least to hide his dislike of Elliot. It was surprising to hear the man give Elliot praise.
Tommy was even more shocked when Joe walked over and squatted down on the floor in front of Elliot, holding out his hand, palm side up. "Thank you, Elliot," Joe said. "Nate is my world, and despite what he likes to believe, there are times he needs to be protected. Thank you for keeping him safe for me."
Tommy froze, his heart in his throat as he waited to see what Elliot would do. Elliot had no reason to accept Joe's words, not after all of the hostility he'd received from Joe. Tommy wouldn't have blamed his mate in the least if Elliot growled or even snapped at Joe.
Still, he fell a little more in love with Elliot when he proved he was the better man by hunkering down on the floor and laying his head on his paws. He didn't exactly accept Joe's words, but he didn't lunge at the man either. That was something.
It was a start.
* * * * Tommy hurried down the street toward work. He needed to check in at the bar before he lost his job and then maybe ask his boss for some time off. Luckily, the man was pack. Tommy just hoped the boss understood that Tommy needed time with his mate. Being separated right after mating was hard on every mate. Considering their strange situation, it seemed even harder on him and Elliot.
Even leaving Elliot behind at Joe's house was hard for Tommy, but he didn't think it would be a good idea for his mate to be roaming the streets of Wolf Creek until he had a little more control of himself. Or was human again.
Tommy was beginning to wonder if his mate would ever resume his human shape. Elliot seemed perfectly happy remaining in his wolf form. Tommy didn't know if that came from his belief that no one would accept him or because his human side was really gone like Nate said.
And he didn't know what he would do if Elliot decided to remain in wolf form. Tommy knew there had to be a way to bring Elliot's human side back. He felt it deep down in his soul. He and Elliot were meant to be together. Tommy just didn't know how to do it. Still, he refused to give up. He'd find a way to communicate with Elliot and bring him back if it was the last thing he did.
Feeling more determined, Tommy quickened his steps. He wanted to talk to his boss then get back to Elliot as fast as he could. He was almost jogging by the time he reached the bar and walked inside. The place was pretty empty, just a few customers here and there. Tommy knew it wouldn't start getting crowded until later in the evening.
He spotted his boss, Bishop Kane, standing behind the bar cleaning glasses. He stood talking with another man that Tommy vaguely remembered as being one of Nate's friends. Bishop looked up and arched an eyebrow as Tommy walked up.
"Hey, Bishop, do you have a minute?"
"I do."
Tommy glanced at the man sitting at the bar when Bishop made
no move to step away. "In private?" he asked as he looked back at his boss. "It's important."
"You're not quitting on me, are you?"
"No, no, not at all, I love working here. I just need a little time off, a few days, maybe a week."
"A few days, huh?"
Tommy couldn't keep his grin off his face. "I met someone and we … uh … need a little time together."
"You found your mate?"
Tommy's eyebrows shot up when the man on the barstool spoke. He looked over at him cautiously. "Uh, you could say that."
"Well, did you or didn't you?" Bishop snapped. "Make up your mind, Tommy."
"Bishop!"
Bishop rolled his eyes as he balled up the towel in his hand and tossed it down on the bar top. "Oh please, Levi is a friend of Nate's. He knows all about us. There's no reason you can't speak in front of him."
"You're Levi?"
When Tommy heard about the man that had helped Keeley and Reece when they were attacked by the vampire princess, Adrianna, somehow he expected the man to look more like Nate and Keeley, both of whom were smaller men. He hadn't expected Levi to be almost as large as him.
The man grinned and held out a hand. "I see my reputation precedes me."
"Keeley may have mentioned you," Tommy said as he shook the man's hand. "It's nice to finally put a face with the name." "Same here," Levi said. "Nate has told me a lot about you, too." "So, did you or didn't you find your mate?"
Tommy glanced back at Bishop and nodded. "Yeah, I found him, but we're having some issues and I need some time to work them all out."
"Issues?" Bishop frowned. "He accepts you, doesn't he?"
"Yes, he accepts me, well, at least his wolf does."
"His wolf?"
"I thought Elliot was human, but it turns out I was wrong. He can shift like we can."
"Lucky bastard." Bishop grinned and reached over the bar top to slap Tommy on the arm. "I couldn't be happier for you."
"I'm pretty happy about it, too, except Elliot has shifted into his wolf form and refuses to shift back. Nate thinks that the wolf and human sides have separated and that Elliot is gone."
"Gone?"
Tommy nodded. "I still think Elliot is in there somewhere and I refuse to give up on him. Something is keeping him from shifting back. I just have to figure out what it is and fix it."
"Have you thought about dream walking with him?"
"Dream what?" Confusion filled Tommy as he turned to look at Levi.
"Dream walking."
"What the hell is that?"
"If what you say is true, and you believe your Elliot is still inside the wolf, you can dream walk and try to contact him that way." Levi waved his hand in a rolling gesture. "You know, walk through his dreams?"
"You can do that?"
"Well." Levi shrugged. "Not me personally, but there are a few of us that can. My specialty lies in other areas."
"Like teleportation or something, right?"
Levi chuckled. "Something like that."
"So, who can help me dream walk with Elliot?"
"Your best bet would be Roane. There are a couple of others that can dream walk, but Roane's the best."
"Roane?" Tommy frowned. "I don't believe I've met him yet."
"Yeah, Roane is kind of a loner. He doesn't like people very much. But if it's important enough, I can probably track him down for you."
"Please." Tommy swallowed past the lump that formed in his throat at the thought that someone might be able to help him reach Elliot. "I would very much appreciate it. I know there has to be some way to reach Elliot and bring him back."
"I'll talk to Roane, see if he's willing to help."
"Do you think he might refuse?"
"You can never tell with Roane." Levi shrugged. "Like I said, he doesn't like people much. It comes from his time with the Teacher. It was pretty hard on him and he prefers to stay away from people as much as possible."
"I don't want to do anything that might upset the guy."
Levi chuckled. "And that right there might get you the help you need."
Tommy was confused but decided not to question Levi too much. He just needed someone that could help him get through to Elliot and give him back his mate. He wasn't too particular how it happened.
"Okay, well, I'd really appreciate any help you or Roane could give me. We're staying at Nate's house at the moment so you can reach us there if you find your friend."