Hunted, Baited Love...Book 4 of the Silver Moon Shifter Series

3. Gary

Welcome to my life, my name is Gary and this is the tale of my life.

I was born twenty-eight years ago and had a great life, a wonderful family, amazing friends, and a man who has had my heart the moment I saw him.

I have amazing parents, they gave me all the best life had to offer from a good school, to support when I wanted to do something to when I told them I was gay. They loved me through all my ups and downs, were there by my side cheering me on for whatever reason. My mom, Mariana and my father Carlos were the perfect examples of love, seeing how in love they were only made me want to have a love like them.

My actual name is Gerald Benjamin Cortez but everyone calls me Gary. I was named after my great grandfather who was German and was killed in the war so my grandmother wanted my mom to name me after him since it's been a long time that a boy was born into the family.

The summer I met Altan was the start of my life at fifteen. He was just so beautiful and sweet, a kind loving person and at first, we were friends. Good friends, we played sports together, hung out after school with our other friends, slept at each other's houses and he may have been a popular jock but he didn't let that get to his head.

I remember it was one weekend Altan came to visit and walked in with Julian. It was like time had stopped the moment Altan walked in. His piercing blue eyes and his tall lean frame, his dirty blonde hair were all my eyes could see, nothing else existed at that moment. I didn't know what love was until my eyes met his for the first time.

I had friends and played sports, but he was one of my idols even if we were similar in age. I remember being so nervous I couldn't speak, even after Julian introduced us I forgot how to speak I swear.

It wasn't until after a few days I realized he wasn't a hothead kid who asked his famous dad for the moon itself. That's just where my young brain went at the time.

My parents absolutely loved him, he became part of our family and often called my mom and dad mom and dad because we were that close.

When I was seventeen I met my mate, by then Altan and I were attached to the hip and he was the first person I told. I was beyond excited I met my mate...until he rejected me. It was the worst pain I felt ever.

Only now I realized he was going to die from Juvenile Huntington's disease and that's why he rejected me. Honestly, it still haunts me he's no longer here that I physically could see or be near him but with Altan, the pain has lessened. Maybe this is what Joseph wanted, it is what he wanted.

He wrote me a letter explaining things, telling me there was no coming back from having it for so long so he wanted me to build a bond with my best friend.

Now people may think I didn't fight for him to pull through and even had Altan try to cure him but even then his mental state wouldn't have been the same, I had accepted he wouldn't be the same but I knew he didn't die yet, I would feel the loss so he's out there somewhere. I just have to find him.

"Are you thinking again?" Altan asked with tired looking eyes.

"I am, but you know I can't help it." I said, sighing.

"And that's what I find so attractive about you. You have a good heart babe." He said.

"Yours is much bigger, you always try to find the light in people before you condemn them. I love that about you." I smiled.

"You're gonna make me more emotional than I already am." He chuckled and sniffled.

"I can't help it, it's the truth." I said shrugging.

"You sure know how to sweet talk someone." He smiled and I snuggled closer to him, feeling his warmth, as I tried to calm him down.

"Want to watch a movie later in the theater room at the packhouse?" He asked. He's probably feeling better since it's been about two and a half weeks since Brent was sent to New Moon.