Page 3 of Love in Unexpected Places

The emphasis onthesemade it clear what he thought of the mages.If Matty was in their shoes, he’d be offended, but when he looked at them, all four of them were staring at Francis as if he were an interesting insect they were about to squash—although Ryan kept glancing at James’s car as if he was wondering if he could hide inside.

Matty’s attention drifted to Sullivan.He wondered what the mage thought of all of this.He had to have been stunned when Lester had called him.Being here was a risk for him and his friends, yet he hadn’t hesitated.He wanted the coven to stop what they were doing as much as Chance and the rest of the pack, and Matty hoped they could trust him.

“They’re not becoming pack members,” Chance said in a tone that told everyone who knew him that he was losing his patience.“They’re only here for a meeting.It’s not the first time I’ve allowed leaders and alphas to enter this territory to meet with me.What do you want, Francis?”

“For everyone who isn’t a bear shifter to leave.You’re putting us in danger.Can’t you see it?”

Matty hated Francis with a burning passion.Francis probably didn’t realize the implication of what he’d said, but even if Chance forced everyone who wasn’t a bear shifter to leave, some of them would be allowed to stay.Matty hadn’t been born in this pack.He’d lived on the streets with his family for a long time, but that didn’t make him any less of a bear shifter.Francis wouldn’t want him to stay, though.He didn’t hate shifters who weren’t like him or mages.He hated anyone who hadn’t been born in the pack.

“I’m trying to save us,” Chance snapped.

If Francis wasn’t careful, he was going to get his ass beaten.Matty would pay to see that happen.Francis didn’t seem to realize it, though.At this point, Matty wondered if maybe Francis would just push until Chance exploded and kicked his ass or forced him to leave the pack.

“This is going to end in the death of the pack,” Francis said.“I won’t allow that.I’m taking my family and leaving.”He stopped talking, clearly waiting for Chance to answer.

Matty bit his lower lip.If he had to guess, Francis expected Chance to beg him to stay.He thought Chance would choose him over the mages and Theo.

He really should have known better.

“You’re free to leave the pack whenever you want,” Chance said with a shrug.“I’ll be sorry to lose your family since you’ve been pack members for generations, but I can’t force you to stay.Have a good life, Francis.Keep your family safe now that you’re responsible for them.”

He turned around, dismissing Francis.Francis gaped at him, frozen in place, and Matty had to resist the urge to stick his tongue out at him.It would be juvenile, and even though Matty was only twenty-two, he felt like more of an adult than Francis.He hadn’t been the one who’d thrown a tantrum in front of so many people.

“Let’s go inside,” Chance said, gesturing at Sullivan and the others to follow him.

They moved as one, Sullivan taking the lead even though Matty knew that Braden was a coven leader.He would’ve been intimidated just because of that, but the fact that Braden could snap him in half without even breaking a sweat made him stay away as they walked past him.Michelle seemed nice, while Ryan still looked like he wanted to run.

Then, there was Sullivan.Matty didn’t look away as he walked past him.If possible, the man was even more handsome than he’d been the last time he’d visited pack territory.Matty kind of wished he could talk to him, but Sullivan wasn’t here to make friends, or rather, not the kind of friend Matty wanted to be.Sullivan was here to talk to Chance and come up with a plan to kick the coven leaders to the curb.There was nothing Matty could do to help with that.

Sullivan looked up, and his gaze caught with Matty’s.Matty sucked in a breath, feeling his eyes widening but unable to look away.It wasn’t his fault that Sullivan was so handsome.Not only was he tall, but his floppy dark hair fell in front of his face, giving him a mysterious aura.His brown eyes seemed to sparkle, and his lips stretched into a smile that was just for Matty.

Or at least, Matty hoped so.

Sullivan was older, and he looked like he could protect Matty.Matty could protect himself, but he didn’t particularly want to.After everything he’d gone through already, he wanted someone who would take care of him and pamper him.He wouldn’t go as far as wanting a Sugar Daddy, but he couldn’t deny he was attracted to bigger and older men.

Which was what Sullivan was.

Seth knocked his shoulder against Matty’s.“Breathe,” he muttered.

Matty did just that, and by then, Sullivan was inside the house.His friends followed, then Red and Charles and Theo.Matty made to go after them, but Seth caught his arm.“Are you sure this is a good idea?”

Matty frowned at him.“Why shouldn’t it be?”

“I don’t know, maybe because it’s obvious you’re going to do something with Sullivan.”

“I don’t even know him.”

“Yet.I know that face, Matty.You should leave him be.He’s a mage, and I don’t know if I can trust him.”

“We also don’t know if wecan’ttrust him.I’ll be fine.It’s not like I’m going to throw myself at him.”

“Are you sure about that?”

Matty wasn’t because it was tempting, but he ignored Seth and slipped in.If there was anyone who could answer his questions about Sullivan, it was Theo, and he happened to be inside the house.

* * * *

Sullivan had knownthat Chance had to deal with people who were unhappy with what was happening, but he hadn’t expected to see that kind of scene.He was surprised that Chance had allowed it to happen in front of people who could be considered his enemies.In a way, it looked like Chance had chosen Sullivan and the other mages over his pack member, which didn’t make sense, but Sullivan knew how complicated relationships within the coven or pack could be.Clearly, the man who’d been yelling outside had already given Chance trouble.Sullivan was curious, but it wasn’t his place to ask.

---