Leopard's Spots 2: Oscar (5 page)

He wished he had a breath mint.

Stop stalling.

Josiah straightened his shoulders and steadily walked to room the last room down on the left. He made sure not to make a sound, knowing how accurate his own hearing was and figuring Oscar’s might very well be just as acute. At the door, he listened for a moment, heard the soft sounds of Oscar’s voice and another man’s. Before he could give in to the temptation to eavesdrop, Josiah knocked on the door.

“I’ve got it, Dad!” Josiah heard, and he almost laughed with relief.

“Oscar, don’t you open that door!” a deeper voice boomed.

Josiah thought it prudent to move back a little bit in case Oscar’s dad opened the door.

What sounded like a scuffle ensued, with Oscar squealing, “But it’s him! Don’t—”

The door was jerked open and Josiah was confronted by the older man he’d seen earlier. And he didn’t look very happy.

“Are you stalking my son?”

Doesn’t sound happy, either. Shit!

Josiah wanted to look at Oscar but felt it’d be disrespectful, like turning away from his own father when he was supposed to be accounting for his behaviour. The fact that his father was also alpha of their pack made it really hard to hold his gaze at such times, but to avert his eyes, as if trying to hide, was something Josiah and his brothers knew better than to do.

“Yes, sir,” Josiah said, because he also knew better than to lie unless he absolutely had to. Being anything but honest with the man who was going to be his father-in-law would have been about the dumbest thing Josiah could have done.

Lying to Oscar, however, hadn’t been much smarter of him.

Oscar pushed until he could glare at Josiah from beside his father. “You said you wouldn’t stalk me!”

As much as Josiah wanted to talk to Oscar, he couldn’t slight Oscar’s father. That’d be like snubbing his own alpha—who happened to be his dad. It just wasn’t done, not without serious repercussions. Josiah held out his hand. “Josiah Elias Baker, sir, son of Jodiah Baker, alpha of the San Antonio wolf pack.”

Oscar’s father gave him an odd glance, like he wasn’t too sure what to make of Josiah, but he shook his hand. “So. You’re an actual werewolf.”

Oscar snickered and Josiah risked shooting him a cool look. “We prefer shifters, but yeah, since you’re Oscar’s dad, I’ll be whatever you want to call me.”

“My name is Henry Travis, and…” Henry’s eyes were wide and he reached for Oscar. “You tracked Oscar down, like his mom did me, didn’t you?”

“Mom tracked you down?” Oscar asked. “I thought you two met and it was love at first sight and all that.”

Henry’s cheeks darkened as he stepped back, pulling Oscar along with him. “Come in, come in and tell me what’s going on here. And no, Oscar, it wasn’t quite like that. Your mom is a shifter and I’m not. I was just a college kid with his nose always stuck in a book. I didn’t notice anything around me unless it beat me over the head. Your mom said she saw me and knew I was going to be hers. She wasn’t sure how to go about it at first, since she’d always been a good girl up until she jumped my bones.”

Oscar coughed and scrunched up his nose. “TMI, Dad.”

Henry shrugged. “But it’s true. She followed me for days. I was a bit slow catching on, kept feeling itchy between the shoulder blades, like someone was watching me. I saw your mom and thought, no way is that beautiful woman eyeing me. Then she looked right at me, and it was love at first sight, if you will. Pretty much like what happened with your mom’s folks.”

“Or like Lyndon and Levi,” Oscar said, frowning at Josiah.

Josiah nodded at them both. “Yeah, that’s what happens when you and your mate find each other. Not everyone finds theirs. Who knows what happens, maybe someone’s mate dies before they meet or something, I’ve never thought much about it. Wasn’t sure it’d happen for me, being gay and all.” He’d heard stories, but none of his gay friends had found their mates, so Josiah had thought the rumours of gay mates was just that—rumours. Apparently not, and he couldn’t wait to take Oscar to meet his family.

Although, that’d mean Josiah would have to leave the pack. A mated alpha, which was what he’d be, wasn’t allowed to stay in another pack’s territory. Understandable, considering their tendency to butt heads, but it would still suck to have to leave his family behind.

Oscar’s expression shifted, anger pinching his features. “Is there a problem with you being gay in your pack? Because that is just fu—” Oscar glanced at his dad and sighed. “It’s messed up. We don’t have a pack, just my family, but they’re pretty awesome and no one cares who loves whom or whatever, just as long as we’re happy and loved in return.”

“It’s not a problem.” Josiah stared, ready to explain the whole thing about not knowing there were gay mates, but he shut up when Henry grabbed Oscar and gave him a hug that made Josiah’s ribs ache. His eyes ached, too, burning while he fought against tears from watching the strong bond of love between father and son.

“That’s always been what matters to us, Oz,” Henry said, holding Oscar. “I know sometimes you feel different from the rest of us. But this—”Henry lifted Oscar’s right hand and touched the tips of his fingers—“these don’t make you any less one of us. You know we love you, and after what you did for Lyndon, for all of us, we know what an incredible, strong young man you’ve grown up to be.”

Josiah was trying to keep up with everything Henry was saying, but some of it didn’t make sense. He noticed for the first time that Oscar’s index and middle fingers were shorter than they should be. He pushed up the left sleeve of his T-shirt and peered at the wounds there. He’d thought Oscar had just purposely not gouged him with all his claws, but now he realised he wasn’t as damaged on the left arm as he was on the right.

“It’s not just these,” Oscar said, wiggling his fingers. “I don’t look like any of you. Even Jenny is bigger and more muscular. She looks more like a man than I do—and don’t tell her that, she will kick my ass.”

Henry snorted and seemed to finally remember Josiah was there. “Jenny’s my only daughter. Sorry, I know this must be awkward for you, but if what you say is true—and I rather think it is, having fell for Oscar’s mom like a ton of bricks—then you’ll be needing to know all about us anyway. You won’t be going anywhere without Oscar, not for long at least.”

“Don’t I get any say in this whole mate business?” Oscar snapped. He glared at his dad first before focusing his attention on Josiah. “Is this beyond my control? My hormones are deciding who I am gonna be with and screw what my brain says? Or my cat decides, which is fucked up—sorry, Dad—considering it’s the human who gets…er…” Oscar turned beet red and made a choked sound.

Josiah’s breath shot from his lungs like he’d been kicked in the diaphragm. It hadn’t occurred to him that his mate wouldn’t want to accept the bond, not really. He’d been prepared for some resistance from Oscar, at least until he explained how things were if he needed to, but what he was seeing, smelling, and feeling coming from Oscar? None of those things were tinged with any happiness at all over having found his mate.

Josiah was fucked, in more ways than one. He wondered if Oscar were to be made aware of the slowly increasing emotional bond between them—the one that would allow them to feel each other’s thoughts, each other’s needs and desires—would Oscar even try to be happy about having Josiah in his life?

And was Oscar going to hate him for a bond that neither of them would be able to resist?

It was the weirdest sensation. Oscar could almost feel another presence in his head. It was fucking scary as hell. Oscar stumbled back, swatting away his father’s hands and scowling at Josiah. “Why am I feeling stuff that’s not me? What’re you doing to me?”

Josiah had this sick expression on his face, kind of a mix of hurt and misery and hope, and Oscar couldn’t deal with it. Yes, Josiah appealed to him on every level, except for the whole not-Oscar’s-decision part. Yet as freaked out as he was, as angry as he was at having a man chosen for him by fate or destiny or whatever bitch or asshole decided such things, Oscar still wanted him. Still wanted to touch him, to fuck him, and—scariest yet—to build a life with him.

And why was he certain Josiah was in his head?

“Stop it!” Oscar shouted, holding his head in his hands.

There were secrets in there, nightmares and things he’d done, like killing a man, that he didn’t want to share. Things he feared would make Josiah walk if not run away from him. But wasn’t that what he wanted, too? Wasn’t he pissed off about this whole mate shit?

“What’s wrong?” Henry ran over to him, but Josiah hung back, his face clearly conveying his misery.

Oscar wished he could help him, but he was afraid of shattering into a million pieces right now.

“Josiah! What’s he talking about?” Henry asked.

Josiah shook his head but answered. “It’s the mate bond. It’s not just physical, at least not for us. There’s usually some level of what you might call telepathy. Sometimes it’s nothing more than a feeling that your mate needs or wants something, a nudge or whatever. Or the mental bond can be strong.” Josiah turned his focus back on Oscar. “I’m sorry, I can’t control it. Apparently, it is possible for one of the mates to feel it’s invasive instead of something that binds them closer together.”

Oscar couldn’t stand the sadness and pain he was feeling from Josiah, but before he could stop him, Josiah was opening the door.

“There were three cougar shifters watching y’all’s place from outside. They left when they figured out I was there doing the same. Sorry. I’m sorry, Oscar, Henry. I’ll—” Josiah stepped through the door and didn’t even glance back. “I’ll check with my father, see if he knows a way to stop this, since it isn’t what Oscar wants.”

Then he was gone, and the shutting of the door was like a knife piercing Oscar’s heart. He groaned as pain splintered his chest. Jesus Christ, what had he just done?

“What did I do? I think I just fucked up big-time.”

Henry took his arm and guided him to the edge of the bed. “Maybe,” he admitted. “Or you might be able to fix it. I think Josiah will understand once he gets away. There could be a chance that some space between the two of you will lessen the mental bond thing. Keep you both from feeling inundated with each other’s emotions and thoughts. I’d always wondered.”

Oscar latched on to his dad’s musing. Anything but thinking about his own mess. “Always wondered what?”

Henry huffed and sat beside him on the bed. “I always wondered how come your mom and I are so attuned to one another. You hear about couples finishing each other’s sentences and stuff after years of being together, but we could do that in a matter of days once we got together. It’s like he said. We can pick up on each other’s moods and thoughts like this.” Henry snapped his fingers. “Sometimes it’s a good thing, sometimes it can suck, let me tell you. At least with another man you won’t have to deal with some of the hormonal mood swings women have.”

“Dad!” Oscar shrieked, horrified at the depth of intimacy the conversation was sinking to. “I don’t want to know that stuff! Oh my god!”

“Sorry,” Henry said, having the decency to appear abashed. “Your mother would kick my butt for saying such a thing. Besides which, men have their own issues, like our ego to name just one. My point is, though, I wouldn’t trade it for the world, Oz.”

Oscar knew how strong his parent’s love was, and yeah, he wanted that too, but still. What was he fighting for? He didn’t know until he said it. “It just feels like I’m being bullied by fate or whatever, being forced to do something I don’t have a choice in.” It was a familiar feeling, not that he’d tell Henry so. He hadn’t told his parents about the bullying he’d endured at school, mainly because he hadn’t wanted them to be frustrated when nothing changed. Oscar wasn’t the only bullied kid, and he’d seen how fruitless it was to have parents involved.

Henry cupped Oscar’s chin and forced him to meet his gaze. “But what if you’re being given a gift, Oz? You’re being saved heartaches and mental anguish, years of being lonely, of searching and hoping to find the right person? Why don’t you try to see it like this instead?”

Oscar closed his eyes and flopped back on the bed. “Because I’m an asshole!”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Henry teased, but he didn’t lecture Oscar on his language. It wasn’t the first time he’d let it pass since Josiah had showed up.
Must mean I really am being a douche.

Oscar opened his eyes and tried to organise his thoughts. They were all his own now, no presence of Josiah, no lingering disappointment or waves of desire, nothing that wasn’t his own emotions. And he felt empty, which was stupid, considering he’d had all his own thoughts and shit up until about fifteen minutes ago, and even then he’d only shared for a few minutes. So why the hell did he suddenly feel so bereft?

“You’re young still, and I don’t think you’ve had a boyfriend.” His dad looked at him and Oscar just wanted to die on the spot.

“No,” he croaked out and promptly jumped up off the bed. “I gotta—do something,” he said as he waved towards the bathroom.

Great, now he’s gonna think I’m announcing my shits or something!

“Argh!” Oscar ran into the bathroom and slammed the door. Could he possibly be any more of a dork?

“Son, I’m not trying to tell you how to live your life.” Which meant Henry was doing just that, Oscar wanted to snipe. “But you might consider hurrying up in there and showering after, then finding Josiah before his scent grows cold. Oh!”

Yeah, oh
.

No doubt his dad just had the same thought he’d had. “He probably drove here.” Man, he’d really screwed up. Maybe he could find Josiah at the club tonight, or—and here was a thought—he could Google the guy, right?
Josiah Elias Baker. And his dad’s name is Jodiah
.
Someone sure likes those ia’s together.

He heard the hotel room door shutting and hurried out of the bathroom. His dad was gone, and Oscar thought he knew why, if not where. His cell phone was lighting up, too. Oscar picked up his phone and read the message from his dad.
Gonna see if I can catch him before he gets away.