Family Secrets

Eliseo 2

Eliseo

"Finally," Juan grunts, gently lowering the last moving box onto Elder Hezekiah's floor.

"Finally," I agree. The truck keys are already in my hand, "Let's go."

Juan gives me a knowing look, "You're worried about her, aren't you?"

I nod, gripping the keys tight enough to leave indentations. "I hate that I couldn't stay with her last night, that I..." my voice trails off. I hate that I'm only eighteen, that she and the rest of the pack won't even see me as a grown male for another year. I hate that I can't take her into my arms, comfort her. I hate that I can't protect her with my presence, my name. I hate that I have to keep watching unworthy males as they try to trick her into lowering her standards; thankfully she's too smart for that, but I'm always afraid—

"This crush isn't going away, is it?" Juan says after a long, quiet moment. For the first time, his eyes aren't teasing. I don't know what he saw on my face yesterday, but ever since, I think he's taken me a lot more seriously.

"No, it's not. I love her, have for years."

Juan nods, a considering look on his face. Eventually he starts walking towards the door. Once there, he turns to look back, "Well, are we going or not? After yesterday I'm sure a whole passel of assholes are standing in line to be her white knight."

A growl rattles from my throat at the thought; it's not long before we're speeding down the road.

***

"Eliseo, Juan," Astrid says with surprise, her brows so high her bangs conceal them.

"Hey, Widow Astrid," Juan smiles. "We wanted to come check on you guys."

"Oh, right," she opens the door, stepping back so we can enter. "David is—"

Juan walks the direction she looks, turning back to look at us, "I wanted to check on David. Ellie wanted to check on you."

I could kill him. Absolutely murder him. I'm sure my face must say that, because he gives me a cocky grin then turns and bounds towards David's room, leaving me with a very surprised woman.

After a few seconds, Astrid turns to me, "It's very kind of you to want to check on me, Eliseo, but I'm fine. You can go see Dav—"

I don't know what goes stupid in my head or where I get the cojones. I never make a conscious decision, never debate it or consider the consequences. I just... kiss her.

I barely register the immediate fire that races through my veins before her inhaled breath startles me enough to pull back. I do so, preemptively flinching, expecting her to slap me.

She doesn't.

Instead, she stares at me with wide eyes and parted lips.

I shouldn't, I really shouldn't, but I swoop down again. This time, though, the moment my mouth touches her, she pushes me away, horror filling her face. "Eliseo, what the hell—"

I swallow, take a deep breath, and confess, "Astrid, I love you."

"You're my son's age. You're a kid, Eliseo!"

"I'm young, Astrid, but I'm old enough to court."

"No," she shakes her head, slowly stepping away from me. "No. I don't know what wires got crossed or what I did to make you think that I—Eliseo, this isn't—we can't—I can't. No. Just no."

The 'no' should deter me, but there's something in her eyes, something in the way she moves away from me—and then I scent her.

A growl rumbles from my throat at the smell of her musk. My kiss had shocked her, but it hadn't disgusted her. "Why are you saying no? I can smell—"