Jaded [The Moonlight Breed 9] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Gabrielle Evans (the read aloud family TXT) 📖

“I’m fighting.” Mihail stepped forward with confidence. His courage apparently spurred his friends into action, because Nikola and Jacobi joined him, ready and willing to fight for the people they loved.

“Anyone else want to stay?” Xander asked. “No one will hold it against you.”

“This is our home,” Spiro announced as he waved a hand to encompass their pack. “We all want to protect it.” It was more than that, though. No matter if Zuriel wanted him or not, no matter if he bolted like a startled jackrabbit, Spiro would give his life to make sure his chosen was safe.

Chapter Two

Jacobi winced as he swept the broken glass from the window into a pile on the front porch. “This blows.”

His usual perkiness was absent, indicating the level of pain he was in, but he hadn’t complained once, voicing his displeasure only about the manual work. Spiro was impressed. “Go sit down and rest. We can handle this.”

There wasn’t an enormous amount of work to do, but after facing down an entire horde of goblins, everyone was tired, and tempers were flaring. Still, they needed to clean up and get boards over the window before they could retire for the night.

“I’m fine,” Jacobi argued, clutching his side as he bent to sweep the glass into a dustpan.

“No, you’re not.” The skin along his back and left side was better, but there were still angry red welts where the goblins had ripped him open with their talons. His body would heal itself by morning, but right then, the shifter needed to be resting. “You are infuriatingly stubborn.”

He’d only really met Jacobi the night before when they’d partnered for the full moon run, but he’d learned that much already. Spiro had been completely taken aback when Jacobi had sauntered over to him in the living room, looked him up and down, and proclaimed they’d be running together for the evening.

Jacobi was likeable, and he was definitely pretty to look at, but he wasn’t Spiro’s chosen. As a psychologist, however, he understood the man’s personality and driving need for acceptance. Much like the other residents seeking refuge in Haven, he was lost and hurt, in need of a home and a bit of kindness.

For these reasons, Spiro had been unable to maintain his usual aloofness when it came to the broken shifter. To his surprise, however, Jacobi had not kept up his advances once they’d entered the woods to begin their hunt. It hadn’t made sense at first, not until the next morning when they’d all been standing around in the front lawn—just before the alarms had sounded.

“He’s scared. I mean, after all the things they did to us in that lab, how could anyone possibly want us, let alone love us? Don’t let him run, Doc. He needs you more than you know.”

To the others, the statement probably sounded vague and random, but Spiro had known exactly who Jacobi meant. Not only did he understand what the guy was saying, but it made sense. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple. No was no, and Spiro couldn’t and wouldn’t force himself where he wasn’t wanted.

“Would you please pull your head out of that very sexy ass and go get him?”

“I thought Zuriel was the one who could hear people’s thoughts?” Arching an eyebrow, he dropped his hammer to the wood planks under his feet and folded his arms over his chest. “Why is it so important to you?”

“No, I can’t read minds, but I don’t have to. It’s written all over your face.” Propping the broom against the side of the house, Jacobi rested his hands on his hips and shrugged. “Look, I’m not very good at this whole serious discussion thing. So, can we just cut the bullshit and say I’m right? You want him. He wants you. Go get him.”

“Just like that?” Somehow, Spiro didn’t think it would be that easy.

“You know, for a head doctor, you’re not very smart sometimes. Yes! Just like that!” Jacobi threw his hands into the air but dropped them quickly with a groan. “This is grossly unsexy,” he whined as he examined his injuries. “Go away. You’re aggravating my condition.” Then he turned his nose to the sky, sniffed once, and marched into the house without a backward glance.

Spiro stood on the porch for another few minutes, contemplating his choices. He could go after what he wanted, take a chance at being happy for once in a very, very long time. Or he could play it safe, accept that his mate didn’t want him, and go on as he had been.

The decision was taken out of his hands, however, when the front door opened again, and Jacobi shoved his friend out onto the porch with a wicked grin. “You guys have fun,” he called before slamming the door. Spiro was pretty sure he’d even heard it lock.

They stood there, just staring at each other for the longest time, and neither of them uttering a word. It shouldn’t be so uncomfortable to stand this close to his destined mate. Their interactions shouldn’t be so incredibly awkward.

Gods, but he was gorgeous, so perfect that it was almost painful to stand in his presence. With shaggy blond hair that floated around his face like a halo, and creamy skin that practically glowed in the moonlight, he looked every bit the angel Spiro knew him to be. There was a wariness in his gaze, though, and his clear blue eyes clouded with unease as he shifted nervously and fumbled his fingers together.

“Hello, Spiro.”

“Don’t let him run, Doc. He needs you more than you know.”

Jacobi’s words played through his mind on a never-ending loop. It was sound advice, and Spiro fancied himself a smart man. Playing it safe required very little from him, but it also garnered no rewards.

In that moment, he had two choices. He could say nothing, nod his head, and simply leave, protecting himself