Page 32 of Bear the Burden

“Why don’t you get some fresh air?” It wasn’t a suggestion.

Killian slid past their dad and stood close to Wesley, the promise of death in his eyes.

“Really?” Hyett stared incredulously at his family. “I lost my composure for a goddamn second, and you think that means I’ll hurt my mate?”

“It was longer than a second,” Ryker snarled.

Wesley’s gaze continued to flick between Hyett and Ryker as he trembled.

He walked toward Wesley, but Ryker stepped in his way.

“Move,” Hyett growled.

“Fuck. You,” Ryker gritted out. “Until you calm all the way down to zero attitude, I’m not letting you past me.”

Hyett couldn’t believe his family actually thought he would hurt his mate. He would take himself out before he raised a hand to Wesley. “Not that it’s any of your business, but it was a heated discussion between me and my mate.”

Hyett took a deep breath, forcefully expelling his anger.

“You made it our business when you raised a threatening voice at him,” Quinton replied. “Maybe we can help.”

Hyett didn’t need moderators, but he saw his family wasn’t going to back down.

“Wesley wants to go home to gather some things because he thinks Cyrus will watch over him tomorrow at work. He’s my mate, not Cyrus’. I was just trying to find a way to explain to him why this situation is more dangerous than he realizes.”

Hyett took another deep, cleansing breath. “Now, if you would, I need you to get out of my way so I can hold my trembling mate.”

Ryker stepped aside. Hyett didn’t ask. He just curled Wesley into his arms and held him close. “I’m sorry I lost my cool. But just so you’re aware, no matter how upset I become, I would never hurt you, sweetheart.”

Hyett’s family knew he would never harm anyone smaller than him. But as a preternatural, he understood the significance of a mate. The most treasured individual in a nonhuman’s life. With everything Wesley was already going through, he didn’t need any added stress, which was why his family stood in the kitchen now. To cool the room down to zero attitude, as Ryker had put it. With Hyett’s towering height, well-built frame, and bared canines, he had to look intimidating and terrifying. Maybe Hyett would take his dad up on his offer to get his ass kicked after all. It was no less than he deserved for scaring the shit out of his mate.

“If you ever show your scary teeth at me again, your family will be the least of your worries,” Wesley said slowly and calmly.

Hyett’s brows shot up, and then he grinned like an idiot. “Yes, sir.”

He lifted his hand up behind his mate and flipped off Ryker. He might be upset with his father for thinking he would hurt his mate, but he wasn’t suicidal enough to give his dad the middle finger too.

“Just outright tell him.” Killian shrugged. “He hasn’t broken yet, so I’m sure he can handle knowing—”

“Don’t you dare,” Hyett warned with a snarl.

“That demons exist,” Killian finished with a smirk.

Wesley stiffened in his arms. Hyett let him go and went after his brother, but his dad blocked his way. “He needed to know the threat against him, son.”

“Killian could have had more tact!”

“And you need to stop treating him like spun glass,” Killian shot back.

“It’s not your fucking decision how I handle my mate!” Jesus. Hyett was right back to being livid. If he’d known his morning was going to be this insane, he would’ve stayed in bed.

Quinton cuffed the back of Killian’s head.

“What was that for?” he asked. “You just agreed with me.”

“True, but Hyett is right,” his dad said matter-of-factly. “You could have used tact and it’s his place to tell Wesley one of the men after him is a demon.”

Hyett rolled his eyes.

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