Haunted. Terrified. Alone.
Those three words seem to be the only emotions that seventeen year old Gabriel Adams knows how to feel. At the age of thirteen, when other boys were chasing after pretty girls and playing in the dirt, Gabriel had been kidnapped and molested. Now, several years later, Gabriel still can't return to the normal life he'd lived before the Incident. He's terrified of the dark, and even the daytime gives him anxiety attacks. Gabriel hates being touched. A simple brush against him will set him off into spasms while panic quickly takes over his mind. It seems as if nothing will relieve Gabriel from the constricting, painful claws of the man who'd done him harm, and Gabriel is becoming desperate.
That's when Evan Ricci steps in. Evan, a stubborn yet surprisingly selfless teenager, moves to the small, quiet town of Clydesdale Heights. When Evan sees a small, awkward blond haired boy carrying pop boxes across the street while he's bringing moving boxes into the new house, he decides to help him. Things don't go exactly as planned, though, and their relationship begins with a rather rough start.
The two eventually learn to bond, and Evan helps Gabriel learn to deal with the psychological consequences of being molested, which eventually blooms into an understanding so deep they can't imagine themselves with anyone but the other. A hint of infatuation sparks up, but not quite yet will the love blossom out like most. Their love will take time. And lots of patience and persistence, too.
"I have a mate.
I marked my mate!
I don't know what came over me. The kiss was so intense, and i could feel it all the way down to my freaking toes. It was amazing, it was everything. I got caught up in the moment, and now I've sealed my fate.
To someone I wish I didn't. He's gonna be the fucking Alpha of our pack. What am i supposed to do with that?
I don't want that responsibility, and I don't need it. I'm not capable of caring about it. So what did I do? Seal. My. Fate."
Ethan comes from a happy home. He has the best dads, the best grandpas, and the best uncle. The best Aunts. He's close with all his family, and he loves them dearly. He's not quite sure about his sexuality, but he doesn't really care. He has two dads, and two grandpas for goddess sake. Who care's if hes gay?
Ethan's never really experienced a pull toward someone. Until he met Connor Chase. Connor is a few years younger, and has an earthy scent. It's addicting. It's all consuming. Something deep and dark awaken's in Ethan, and he knows this boy has to be his.
When Connors ceremony happens, and the truth comes out, Ethan can't stop himself from wanting the boy.
And Connor? Never stood a chance.
Connor Chase has a lot of issues. His mental health has never been the best, he struggles with his own demons in silence. No one noticed before, so why would they now?