Chapter 258: Third wheeler

Erick had just gone his separate ways with Hamish, who was returning back to work. It was then he decided that he wanted to walk around the city centre. Just as he was strolling around, he noticed a familiar person just ahead of him.

He frowned. 'What was he doing here?' he thought.

He quickly rushed forward and grabbed the other person's shoulders.

Bastian whirled around in surprise. His eyes widened when he saw Erick grabbing him. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Hey bro, fancy seeing you here," he greeted, smiling weirdly as if he got scared of being busted.

Erick frowned. "What are you doing here?" he asked.

Bastian looked around, as if he was avoiding Erick's eyes.

Erick narrowed his eyes suspiciously. No wonder he did not see him during the teleconferencing on the Cesaro pack's side.

Knowing that the other shifter would not stop until he got some answers from him, Bastian leaned forward and suggested softly, "Look, let's go somewhere private to talk."

Erick frowned but nodded. "Let's go to my office. We can have our talk there," he said.

Few minutes later, the two of them sat together inside the lounge room, where Erick had once met up with Ronan the other day. It was Bastian's first time coming to Erick's office building so he was a bit in awe of the place.

Erick sat down across from the other man, with his legs crossed, leaning against the armchair as he waited for Bastian to settle down.

Bastian let out a light chuckle. "Such a fancy place you're working at, bro," he said lightly as he too leaned against his seat, making himself comfortable.

Erick ignored his comment and said, "So, what brings you here?"

"When do the packs plan to infiltrate Harding's fortress?" Bastian asked back, his face now looking solemn.

"The day after tomorrow," Erick replied calmly.

Bastian cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "I see," he said softly, looking down at his hands.

"What's wrong?" Erick asked, looking at the other man suspiciously. By looking at Bastian, it seems like he wasn't really excited nor looking forward to the mission.

"I feel something is off," Bastian admitted.

"What do you mean?" Erick asked back.

Bastian frowned. "You know the news about some of our packmates being killed?" he asked, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he rested his chin on his palms.

Erick nodded.

"Did my father say that the dead bodies weren't found?"

Erick nodded again.

"What my father… I mean, my Alpha didn't tell you that it wasn't that the bodies disappeared or died without a body… It was more like they were turned into rogues," Bastian said grimly.

Erick's eyes widened in surprise. "How could that be…?" he said in disbelief. From his understanding, a rogue will only become one if they were packless.

Bastian rubbed his face in resignation. "The reason as to why my Alpha did not tell the other packs was because they were in denial. They could not accept the fact that our packmates had fallen to it. We weren't sure what had happened but we actually had some people on the backup and they themselves saw them being turned into rogues. It was fortunate that they managed to escape."

"Feck…" Erick cursed softly as he crossed his arms across his chest.

He then frowned. "But it doesn't explain why you're here," he pointed out.

"Oh," Bastian said. "Actually, I came here to meet you."

"At the city centre?" Erick said, not believing the other man's excuse. "You went here without your father's permission, didn't you?"

Bastian rolled his eyes. "I'm a grown man. I do not need an excuse from my father to go out," he scoffed.

"But from my understanding, I believe that the Cesaro Alpha had mentioned that he had issued an order to his pack that no one should go out of town until the mission starts," Erick said. "And that includes you."

Bastian shrugged. "Never mind that. Again, I'm a grown man. I know my limits," he defended himself.

Soon after, he started to freeze as his eyes started to turn hazy.

Erick cocked an eyebrow. Whenever that happens to a shifter, it usually means that someone was sending them a mindlink. He then began to play with his fingers nonchalantly as he waited for the other man.

Moments later, Bastian's eyes turned back to normal and he then let out a sigh.

"So what did the big boss say?" Erick asked. "Or should I say, how was the lecture?"

Bastian shrugged. "Well, other than reprimanding me to be more mature and be more responsible, he said that since I'm here already, I should just stay here and join the Kendalls when the mission starts."

Erick could only roll his eyes.

Bastian then grinned. "So, lend me a room, will you?"

That evening.

Amber was cooking dinner with Luka at her feet when she heard the front door open. She quickly turned off the stove and went out the kitchen with Luka following behind her.

Stopping at the doorway of the kitchen, she was about to welcome her mate back when she saw someone behind him. She frowned. The man looked familiar.

Just as she was about to greet them, the man looked up and her eyes widened.

Seeing the surprised look on his mate's face, Erick quickly explained that Bastian will be staying with them until the mission starts.

Amber nodded in understanding. She then started to fret whether she had enough food for the three of them. Although she had prepared a lot of food, she couldn't be sure whether it was enough since she knew shifters have a huge appetite. And seeing that there were two of them here, she couldn't help but worry.

She voiced her concerns to Erick while Bastian freshens up. Though, she felt like it was useless talking to him as he only shrugged. "Then let him starve," he replied.

Amber frowned with dissatisfaction. "We wouldn't be good hosts if we did that," she said.

Erick shrugged again. "Who cares? It's just Bastian," he replied. Deep down, he was actually a bit miffed. He had suggested to the man to stay at the packhouse. But unfortunately, Jeayan had told him that some parts of the packhouse, where guests usually stay, are under renovation. At that time, his father had heard about Bastian staying over in their town. So, before Erick could bring him to the nearest motel, Lachlan had told Erick to bring Bastian to his house, instead. His house, as in Erick's house.

Erick scowled when he heard it and argued back. "Why at my house?"

Lachlan cocked an eyebrow at him and replied back sarcastically, "You couldn't be suggesting that he stays at my house, would you?" emphasizing hard on the word, 'my'.

Hence why he had brought the shifter as a guest to his house unwillingly.

Amber rolled her eyes at her. She then burst into huge smiles when Bastian walked in the kitchen.

Being a shifter, of course, he heard the conversation between the mates. However, he just ignored it and became thick skinned as he greeted Amber with a smile and thanking her for her hospitality.

When it was time to eat, the three of them sat together at the dining table with Amber sitting next to Erick and Bastian sitting across from Erick.

Throughout the dinner, although the conversation was pleasant, Erick was becoming annoyed every second. This was because Amber kept talking to Bastian;

"Do you have enough?"

"Was it good?"

"Would you like some more?"

"Try this dish. I've just tried a new recipe that I've found on a website."

Erick silently pinched her under the table, trying to get her attention. Amber frowned at him, her expression asking, 'what's wrong with you?'

He only widened his eyes, signalling to her to stop giving the other man too much attention.

It was either she did not understand his silent message or she had just ignored him as she continued to serve Bastian.

Erick could only fumed silently as he watched.