Eli bit his lip to stop the smile getting wider. It felt nice seeing Cameron get jealous over something he said. “We’d better get going.” He took Cameron’s hand, “It’s going to be a long drive.”

“It sure will be” Noah agreed, getting into the front seat.

Oliver took the divers place.

Eli sat on Cameron’s lap and flashed him a smile. Cameron raised a surprised eyebrow, but his lips curved up.

“Eli” Noah groaned.

“What?”

“I swear if I hear you two doing anything I’m going to make sure we end up in a ditch” Noah pulled his seat belt on.

“I’ll help.” Oliver seconded.

“Homophobes” Eli accused, moving into the middle seat. He wasn’t going to stay on his lap anyway. He was just enjoying himself. He wasn’t sure where his good mood came from. Possibly the end in sight helped. “Why are you being so stiff?”

“Why are you being so flirty?” Noah answered back, “Don’t you usually hold back a bit more than this?”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

Noah turned around to glare at him. Eli smiled. It was like being a kid again, and doing his upmost to get on Noah’s nerves. His delight only made Noah shake his head and mutter ‘whatever’.

Eli noticed Cameron frowning.

He rested his chin on his shoulder and leaned against him. “What is it?”

“A wolf thing” Cameron murmured softly.

“Tell me.”

Cameron stared at the back of Noah’s head. “Wanting to monopolise your mate is one of those instincts I told you about. Even if it’s with family, sharing is annoying.”

“It’s annoying when I talk to people who aren’t you? All the time?”

“No” Cameron sighed, “I got jealous of my other form the other day. Isn’t that crazy? Jealous of myself?”

“How?”

“You were having fun calling me fat and all that” Cameron grumbled.

“Oh god” Eli chuckled, “You’re too cute.”

Cameron immediately scowled.

“I know, I know” Eli pulled his seat belt on, “You don’t like being called cute. But you like being called fat? I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I’m not fat” Cameron’s voice rose up defensive.

Noah shot an incredulously look at them through the mirror. Eli was sure he thought they were only talking about nonsense.

“You’re not fat.” Eli conceded, and then added in a lower voice: “In this form.”

Cameron looked offended.

Eli chuckled at his pouting face. “I have a good feeling about this trip.”

*

“Weren’t you mad at Oliver?” Noah asked.

They’d stopped at a gas station. Oliver and Cameron were in the shop. Eli had taken the opportunity to stretch out over the back seat. “I was mad at all of them.”

“’was’ – you aren’t anymore?” Noah turned around to him. “You’re not that forgiving.”

Eli sat up on his elbows when he realised Noah wanted to talk for real. “I’m still keeping away from the rest of them, but Oliver wasn’t actually there when they all went and turned on me.” He explained, “I can at least pretend that if he had been there he would have helped me out.”

“Would he?”

“No. Their boss was leading the charge” Eli sat back down, repositioning himself to stare at the ceiling and not Noah. He could see his face still turned in his direction. “Something else?”

“I don’t know” Noah turned back to the front. “I’ve met everyone in that house, and I’m good friends with most of them. I can’t believe that would treat you badly.”

“You don’t believe me?”

“No – no I do.” Noah’s voice lost its lustre, “It’s just I’d rather you were lying about it, so I don’t have to revaluate what I thought of them all.”

“The storm is cutting across our path.” Cameron opened the door. “Driving through the night won’t be possible if it’s as bad as the news is saying.”

“I jinxed it”

“You did” Cameron confirmed. He was waiting with one knee leaning against the seat for Eli to make room for him.

Eli pat his belly, mouthing ‘come here’ to him.

Cameron’s eyes glinted. He crawled in and kissed him. Eli hummed, a little surprised by his immediate compliance. He pressed him down against the seat and Eli melted against his heat. Cameron pulled back as their breaths grew heavy. “I’m going to stop now, before I’m not able to.”

Eli rose up with him only after he noticed how uncomfortable his brother looked.

Cameron handed Eli a chocolate bar. Eli wanted to eat the whole thing, but offered some to Cameron anyway.

“He doesn’t like chocolate.” Oliver told him.

Eli raised an eyebrow at him. Cameron shrugged. Despite his inherent disgust, he wasn’t surprised. He couldn’t remember ever seeing him eating sweets. He looked at the granola bar in Cameron’s hand.

Cameron’s eyes narrowed on him, sensing the judgment that was being passed on him. “I’m being healthy.”

“I didn’t say anything.” Eli took a bite out of his bar, relishing the chocolate melting on his tongue. It tasted better after seeing the Cameron’s oaty alternative.

Cameron looked like he wanted to say something, but just shook his head and shoved the entire bar in his mouth. Eli grinned at the display, and laughed when he turned his head to the window as he struggled to chew.

Eli tensed. He looked past Cameron, spotting a familiar large form between the buildings across the road.

Cameron sensed his change in his mood and looked to him with a questioning gaze. The bar was poking into his cheek, and the seriousness of his gaze was offset by the ridiculous visual. He said something that came out as ‘er’. When he didn’t understand, Cameron swallowed. The bar disappeared down his throat in a visible lump. “Oliver.” He said sternly, “Let’s go.”

Noah turned around, but Oliver started the car, and pulled away without question.

Eli looked out the window as innocently as he could, seeing the range of emotions that passed through Noah’s expression. He clearly wanted to ask. But given that nobody spoke about Cameron’s sudden sharp voice, he probably didn’t know what to do when they didn’t share his uneasiness.

The rogue was gone from view in an instant.

Cameron pressed close to him. “Which one was it?”

It had been too far for Eli to get a good look at it. He’d still been able to recognise it though. He analysed the feeling he’d gotten from it. It was lacking the cold, fear that the one from the basement caused. “The one with golden eyes.”

Cameron nodded and straightened up. He kept his hand with Eli’s, but his were eyes on the road. It was reassuring. But not completely. They were being followed, and if they were confronted – it was Cameron and Oliver who had to face them.

Eli had felt exposed and vulnerable since he’d moved here, but back then that had only been him in danger. He stared at Cameron’s concentrated outline, felt the tension in his body, identified the determination in his gaze, and felt heavy. It was a mixture of dread and fear that filled him as he thought about the possible outcomes of a confrontation. For the first time since he’d gotten it, he wished he had the gun.

*

“This is a terrible idea” Eli hissed as Noah and Oliver approached the front desk.

“We don’t have a choice.” Cameron leaned into the boot to get out his bag. Eli pushed it back in. Cameron sighed, straightening up and facing Eli. “The roads are closed with the storm, and they’re going to stay closed until morning.”

“That’s just the motor ways.” Eli argued, “We can drive around until morning”

“You want to explain why we’re wasting gas going around in circles to Noah?”

“Fine” Eli’s mind didn’t stop providing him with half-baked idea, “Oliver and Noah can stay here, and we tell him we’re going for a drive. He’ll just think we’ve shacked up somewhere when we don’t come back.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“If it’s just the two of us and one of the rogues does catch up then I need Oliver.” Cameron reached for the bag, this time ignoring Eli’s attempts to stop him. “Trust me, this is the best we can do right now.”

“You’re in room 36” Oliver tossed the keys to Cameron and got his own bag from the trunk. “Noah and I are next door in 35.”

“Perfect” Cameron slung Eli’s bag over his shoulder too alongside his own.

Eli’s objections were halted by Noah’s presence. “Don’t tell Jenny you two stayed in a room together.”

“She already walked in when we were in bed together.” Cameron pointed out, “It’s hardly worse than that.”

“A motel is different to the house.” Noah stepped away from the car as Oliver closed the trunk.

“I was naked.”

“Cameron.” Eli shot him a look to shut up.

Cameron replied with a cheeky smile. Noah didn’t look at all impressed by him. Eli was caught between wanting to tell him that nothing happened, and not wanting to talk about. He opted for the second option. “Let’s go check this place out.” He took the keys from Cameron and went ahead of them to the lines of doors. The fact that the outside opened up directly into the small room made Eli more uncomfortable then he had been. He stared at the curtains and their pale blue shade.

“They’re not see through” Cameron walked into his back, so Eli was forced inside.

“They clearly are.”

“We can cover them with something if it bothers you” Cameron checked out the room, the double bed in the middle, and then the bathroom. “The shower’s nice.”

Eli stopped himself from snapping about the shower. He locked the door, and stood by the window. It was buildings that were around them. There were no people, only numerous cars parked outside. He couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

Cameron came over. “It’s going to be fine. We’ll be on the road again before you know it.”