Page 33 of Breaking the Surface
That apparently had been the right thing to do because Lou yelped and finally let go.He stumbled back, and that was probably because it wasn’t as easy for him to hold a horse’s arm as it had been to hold Peter’s in his human form.
“What the fuck?”Lou breathed out.
Peter turned to face him.As a kelpie, he was taller than Lou, and for some reason, noticing this made him smile.He didn’t have fangs to scare Lou with, but Lou still took a step back.His eyes were wide, and he’d gone pale.
He looked good, but then, he always had.It was one of the first things Peter had noticed about him.Lou was a good-looking man, and he knew how to use that to his advantage.It wasn’t going to help him here, though.Nothing would help him here.
“Since when are you a shifter?”he asked Peter.“What did these people do to you?”
Vincent snorted.“He’s always been a shifter, you asshole.”
“He never shifted before.”
“Because you’re a dickhead who hates shifters.Why would he shift in front of you?”
“I’m his boyfriend.”
Vincent smiled, looking delighted.“You’re not.He dumped you the day he left after you hurt him, and he’s been living his best life with his mate.He doesn’t even think about you, Lou.To Peter, you’re just part of his past, and not even a good part.”
It probably wasn’t a good idea to antagonize Lou the way Vincent was, but Peter wanted Lou to feel hurt, and while he doubted that would happen, at the very least, Lou would be angry.He’d lost his control over Peter.That was the reason he’d been with Peter, not love or affection.
Lou took a step toward Vincent, his hands closed into fists.Peter recognized his expression, and he knew what was coming.He wouldn’t allow his ex-boyfriend to hurt his best friend, though.
He moved forward.Part of him yearned to turn around and dive into the water, but this was more important.He could swim later, maybe even with Vincent.First, though, he’d kick Lou’s ass.
“Peter!”someone called out.
The voice was enough to give all of them pause.Peter recognized it.How could he not when he’d woken up to it this morning?
Part of him panicked, but he reminded himself that Braden knew how to defend himself.He would kick Lou’s ass if Lou so much as looked at him wrong.Hell, he’d probably try to kick Lou’s ass anyway.He was pissed at what Lou had done to Peter, so he wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted a bit of revenge.
“We’re by the lake,” Vincent called back.He didn’t look away from Lou.He might despise him, but he knew that Lou was dangerous.
Of course, that was the moment Lou decided to act.He lunged forward, aiming for Peter.Peter had no idea what he was going for.He couldn’t think he could actually move Peter in this form, could he?
Peter felt Lou’s fingers brush against his mane, but before anything else could happen, Lou was jerked back.Both him and Peter looked at Vincent, who’d grabbed Lou’s arm but quickly let it go.Lou took a step toward him, looking angry, and Vincent cocked his fist.
Peter watched with wide eyes as his best friend punched his ex-boyfriend right on the nose.Lou yelped and reached for his face, and Vincent took a step forward as if he was going to hit him again.He was swearing and shaking his fist, so Peter knew he’d hurt himself.He didn’t want Vincent to have to do it again, and while seeing Vincent punch Lou had been satisfying, he knew that Lou wouldn’t take this lying down.
He placed himself between the two.He could hear someone crashing through the trees, and he grinned, both at the sound and at the sight of blood seeping through Lou’s fingers.
For once, it was Lou’s turn to bleed.
* * * *
WHEN BRADEN BURST THROUGHthe trees, the first thing he saw was blood.His heart raced, and he prayed that Vincent and Peter were okay.Thankfully, it looked like all the blood came from Lou, who was holding his face and yelling.
Braden made a beeline for him, knowing that Camden and more pack members were following him.When Lou turned toward them, he dropped his hands and went deathly pale.Braden had no idea what their group looked like, but he had a good imagination, and he loved that they were intimidating Lou.
He wasn’t afraid of the asshole.He never had been, and if he’d had a choice, he would’ve gone out there and told Lou exactly what he thought of him.He’d understood that would only make everything worse, which was why he hadn’t done it, but now, Lou was here, right in front of him.Maybe he could give him a piece of his mind.
It was obvious that someone already had.Since Vincent was shaking his fist, Braden had a good idea of who it had been.It wasn’t a surprise.Peter might hate Lou, but he was in his kelpie form, and he knew how badly he could hurt someone like this.He wouldn’t do it, no matter how he felt about his ex.
Peter was gorgeous.Braden hadn’t asked him much about his kelpie form because it had been a sore subject.He could imagine that Lou hating shifters had something to do with it, and he’d known that Peter would talk to him when he was comfortable enough to do so, so he hadn’t pushed.He wasn’t disappointed, though.
Peter’s kelpie form was sleek and massive.He moved with a grace that shouldn’t go with his size, but then, he was a horse shifter.He was completely black.Even his mane was black, echoing the color of the water of the lake they were standing in front of.He was clearly agitated, and when Lou moved, Peter placed himself between his ex and his best friend.He was clearly ready to do anything in his power to protect Vincent.
“Go to Peter,” Camden ordered.“We’ll take care of Lou.”
