Page 64 of Primal Urges

“You… you saved my life,” Lucas said, wrapping his arms around Caden’s neck and burying his face into his chiseled chest.

“It was your shouting that woke me up. Guess you saved mine as well,” Caden said, holding him tight in a hug.

“What the hell happened?” Lucas asked as he pulled away, watching his home and the last of his possessions vanish in a ball of fire.

“No idea,” Caden whispered.

The sound of a fire engine began to screech off in the distance.

“Fire’s on its way. You boys okay?” Old Man Benson asked as he came running from inside his home. “What the hell happened?”

Both men just shook their heads.

They had no fucking idea.

19

CADEN

Caden sat with his arm wrapped around Lucas’s shoulders. Someone had given him a blanket to wrap himself in at some point over the past two hours. They sat together on a fallen log, watching the firemen search through the wreckage, doing what firemen do.

The sun was beginning to rise, and most people were learning about the fire in the same way that small towns always discovered things—through word of mouth.

It didn’t take long before word reached Marcus and the crew. Caden hadn’t been able to call the guys since his cell phone had been in the bedroom next to Lucas’s when the fire began. He wasn’t concerned. Everything from his phone had been backed up in the cloud, so it was just a matter of getting a new phone and downloading all of his info from there.

Technology. Got to love it.

Beside him, Lucas remained silent, staring into the charred remains of what had once been his home.

Ithadto have been an electrical malfunction. They didn’t use any candles or the stove to cook dinner last night, and neither of them smoked.

Thank god Lucas had gotten up to use the bathroom. Otherwise, they both might have been killed.

Fires were a nasty piece of work.

“It’s all gone,” Lucas whispered, barely audible.

“It’s all just material things that can easily be replaced,” Caden said, trying to provide the boy with some sort of comfort.

Lucas turned and glared at him. “That’s easy for you to say. You have money and credit cards and a place to sleep at night. I was just starting to get my feet back on solid ground.”

Caden tightened his grip on Lucas. Lucas was right. He understood his pain. He would do everything that he could to help get the boy back on his feet.

“How are you guys doing?” Marcus asked, stepping up beside them and holding out coffees for both. Caden took his while Lucas merely shook his head.

“Thanks. We’re both okay. Breathed in a bit of smoke, but not enough to warrant going to the hospital.”

“Still, I’ll have Dr. Higgs stop by and check on you both,” Marcus stated.

Dr. Higgs was a retired physician who often treated the guys from the crew. He was discreet, didn’t ask questions, and always turned a blind eye.

“Where do you want me to take you guys?” Marcus asked, looking at Caden.

“My place. Lucas is going to stay with me for the time being.”

Lucas’s eyes came back into focus as if he had finally been pulled from whatever trance he had been in. “What? No. I… I…”

“Don’t argue. You’re staying with me, and that’s that.” Caden put his foot down.

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