Torn Between Tides

Chapter Thirty Four

Roman's brain was running at a thousand miles an hour as he made his way to his apartment.

It wasn't everyday that the guy you were seeing told you that he was a werewolf and that you both are meant to be together. That you're... soulmates.

Roman couldn't describe how it felt. It was strange. It felt like a violation of his free will. He was never a huge believer of destiny or anything of that sort, so the idea that he was fated to be with Colt... Roman just couldn't swallow it. But at the same time, it did feel right. He tried to deny it, but he couldn't.

Everything made sense when he was with Colt. Colt felt like the home he never had. Roman didn't say it out loud, but he did love Colt back. Mates or not, after a point the only thing that mattered was how the werewolf made him feel.

Safe. Secure. Loved.

Feelings so foreign for Roman.

However, at the moment, the swimmer had bigger things on his mind. Colt wasn't the only person that had kept a secret from him. He could at least understand Colt's reasoning behind it... but there was no excuse for his brother.

Ezra was on the couch, browsing through the channels on the television as Roman entered the living room. The older man glanced at him briefly, before focusing on the screen once again.

"I thought you wouldn't be back until tomorrow," Ezra muttered.

"Plans changed," Roman's voice was curt.

"Uh huh," Ezra hummed, before chuckling. "What? Did Lou kick you out or something?"

"I wasn't at Lou's," Roman stated. Ezra furrowed his brows in confusion as he looked at his younger brother. "I was... with the guy I've been seeing."

"Are you for real?" Ezra sighed. "We spoke about this, Roman. It's not a good idea for you to be in a serious relationship right now. You know that we have to move once you graduate. Where do you see this going? It's only going to end in heartbreak for both of you."

"Right," Roman muttered. "His name is Colt, by the way."

"Why would I care about what his name is—"

"Colton Rhodes."

Recognition flashed through Ezra's eyes. It was brief and he didn't let it show on his face, but Roman noticed it. It answered the questions he had, but he wanted to hear it from Ezra. He wanted to give his brother one last chance to say the truth.

"Are you familiar with who he is?" Roman urged.

"Huh?" Ezra blinked, before shaking his head. "No."

"I see." Roman could tell that Ezra was lying. It was written all over his face. Roman closed his palm into fists, his nails digging into his skin. It took every ounce of self control he had to not start screaming and throwing accusations.

"Tell me something, Ezra," Roman paused. "Why did you choose this town for us?"

"Roman..."

"No more lies, please," Roman begged. "Just tell me the truth. Did you... did you know that this is werewolf territory?"

~~~

"They're inside," Hira said.

"Did they give you any trouble?" Colt asked.

Colt had given Hira, one of the warriors in his pack, the duty to bring the vampires to the diner. He didn't want them to be unsupervised for even a single moment when they were in his land. The thought of bloodsuckers in his territory was already enough to put him at unease, and the last thing he wanted was for them to think they had any power here.