Page 89 of Bonds of Fate

Not right now, at least.

“Alright. Well? Open the gate. Do I have to do everything?” Gideon grumps, and Nix wants to laugh at the collective sigh of relief from his mates.

“Leo has Rowan in Epsom salts. Best leave them to it.”

It’s not long before Riordan is on the front step. When Jamie opens the door, there’s a shorter but no-less-handsome younger man with short dark-blond hair behind him. There are a few quiet grunts of surprise from the others.

“Riordan. Arlo, long time no see!”

Riordan has scent blockers on, but the newcomer, Arlo, does not. What he does have is a plethora of mismatched clothing covering him from neck to knees; in fact, even his socks don’t match. The scent is an array of citrus, grass, peach, cardamom, cedar, black licorice, melon, paper, and baking bread.

It’s fascinating.

Finn had explained about scent blocker patches, but that he couldn’t wear one yet. Nix isn’t sure which scent belongs to whom, but together, it tickles his wolf and makes Nix feel comfortable. The freshly baked bread scent is particularly calming, and Nix’s wolf relaxes, even with strangers in their den and bonds unformed.

His mates, however, don’t appear calm at all. Everyone but Luca (who has made his way into the kitchen) is standing in a semi-circle in the living room like unarmed sentries, still at attention and not taking their eyes off their new visitors.

You would never know they were friends, and Nix will not let that stand.

He lets his smile meet his eyes. “Riordan, nice to see you again. Arlo, nice to meet you. Won’t you come in?”

With a put-upon sigh, Riordan puts a hand on the small of his mate’s lower back and guides him into the sitting area. Arlo is beautiful and slightly…awkward. Nix thinks it might be all the clothes.

He hears Luca whisper to himself, “We should do that for Nix,” and maybe the pack’s scents are designed to comfort the anxious man.

Arlo has not stopped staring at him.

Nix is glad his wolf likes him, or at least the scent of him, or he might take umbrage again at the outrageous show of attention inhisden.

“What can we do for you both?” Nix asks, deciding that if none of the others can be polite, he will have to carry the load.

While Nix is relaxed, Gideon is still clutching his knife, and Finn has a restraining hand on Grayson’s arm. He’s not the only one feeling the pressure of half a bond. Best to move this along, as his sentries are not completely unarmed, after all.

Riordan sighs again, and Nix thinks that maybe he’s here under duress, too. Odd. “Arlo wanted to meet Nix.”

That is unexpected. What could Arlo possibly want with Nix?

Arlo stands abruptly and asks in a light, soft-spoken voice, “Can we talk outside, Nix? My mates forget that I am meeting you indoors in Nashville and not in the snowy mountains. I’m a bit warm.”

He doesn’t remove any of the garments responsible, though, and Gideon’s mouth ticks up at the corners.

Nix is surprised his mates don’t balk when he agrees, as he’d fully expected a chorus of denials and excuses to keep him close. He’s proud that they trust him to decide for himself, andwhat this beautiful, awkward stranger would have to say to him privately is a curiosity he can’t resist.

Jamie leaves and comes back with his own black pine-scented leather jacket, holding it open so he can slide his arms in, and a pair of slip-on shoes that are a little too big.

Nix kisses his cheek and whispers, “Be nice.”

“This way, Arlo. You’ve been here before?” Nix slides the pool doors open, and the mild fall air blows Arlo’s multitude of scents into a swirl around them.

“Yes, a while ago, though, so lead the way.”

Strange—Jamie said they were social and had the Kennedy pack to the compound regularly. That Arlo hadn’t visited with his mates is notable.

They step out onto the pool deck and skirt the hot tub to take the stairs up to a stone path leading away from the house. Nix doesn’t have to turn around to know there are the equivalent of eight noses pressed to the glass like children.

“They’re watching, right?” Arlo whispers conspiratorially but doesn’t check for himself.

“Hmm, we shouldn’t torture them. Come on, there’s a little patch of garden and a bench up here. Would you like to sit?”

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