Abel ignored the woman checking him out and looked back to his brother as he jerked on his jeans. He barely had them over his ass when he felt Delilah’s hands on him, one at his lower back, one at the side of his waist. Then she had the side of her front pressed to the side of his back, pressed deep, as close as she could get.

It should have made him feel better. In any other circumstance, his mate’s silent support would have made him feel better.

Staring at his blood brother, he didn’t feel better.

The others prowled the room, keeping a distance, remaining wolves.

He felt Delilah move, staying close, which was the only way he’d let her move, and he knew she’d nabbed his thermal Henley when she pressed it into his hand.

He kept eye contact with his brother, losing it only when he pulled the shirt over his head.

Even when he tugged it down his stomach, he still said nothing.

“You wanna start?” the vison of him asked. “Or you want me to do it?”

“You,” he grunted, and Delilah pressed even closer.

“This is Teona,” he stated, curling the woman in the curve of his arm closer. “My mate. My witch.”

He saw in his peripheral vision that she waved a hand in a half circle in front of her. “Hey.”

Abel didn’t take his eyes off his brother. “You?”

He watched the man tense.

“I’m Cain.”

Abel stared.

“Seriously?” Delilah whispered.

“Abel, is everything all right?” Lucien asked from behind them. He knew the vampire had been standing in the door since the wolves came in, but Delilah jumped against him when she heard Lucien speak.

“Meet my brother, Luce,” Abel invited. “This is fuckin’ Cain.”

He felt Lucien approach and stop at his side, though he did it partially to Abel’s back.

Not aggressive.

This was Abel’s play.

“It would appear your parents have an unusual sense of humor,” Lucien remarked.

Abel didn’t reply.

“You wanna call off your wolves?” Teona requested.

He felt Callum’s canine eyes on him.

“Go,” Abel said and finished, “But come back.”

The wolves whirled and exited the room.

He watched his brother’s gaze move to Abel’s mate.

“Delilah,” he said softly.

“Eyes to me,” Abel barked, and his brother cut his gaze back to him.

“I have a mate, Abel. I know you two are new, but you’ve got to know that I’m no threat,” he stated.

“So you know,” Abel returned, and Cain shook his head with apparent confusion.

“I know?” he asked.

“You know that wolves are protective of their mates. Fiercely protective,” Abel explained.

Teona shifted uncomfortably, doing this pressing closer to her man.

Cain held his brother’s eyes.

“I know,” he said softly.

“How?” Abel asked.

That was when his brother, who he’d known for less than five minutes, gutted him.