A Totally Bound Publication
Our Omega
ISBN # 978-1-78430-051-7
©Copyright JJ Black 2014
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright May 2014
Edited by Jennifer Douglas
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination
and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or
places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form,
whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of
the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound
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The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs
and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator
of the artwork.
Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road,
Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This
story has a heat rating of Totally Burning and a Sexometer of 2.
Great Lakes Wolves
OUR OMEGA
JJ Black
Book two in the Great Lakes Wolves series
Sometimes two just isn’t enough.
Noah Steele is a broken man. Though born a strong, confident Alpha, the torture and
betrayal he experienced by order of his own father have left him a shell of the man he once
was. Still gripped by the fear left in the wake of his trauma, he no longer trusts his instincts
or his ability to lead. Shamed, he hides himself away, even from the mate he longs to claim as
his own.
Dax Marshall needs some downtime. Between protecting the Pack in his role as Beta and
leading teams to search for more of Alpha Steele’s facilities, his responsibilities are starting to
overwhelm him. If only he could find the one person destined to soothe both himself and his
wolf.
Between dominant wolves, power struggles are always an issue. Time and patience will be
needed to make their mating work. Unfortunately, time is in short supply. New information
has Dax, Noah and a team following a lead to a breeding facility—and much more. Among
the prisoners, they find an abused young man who calls to them both in a way that neither of
them understands.
While they scramble to adjust to fate’s curveball, more information comes to light showing
just how far Alpha Steele is willing to go in his quest to rule the Packs. Will their new
happiness withstand the madman’s plans or be destroyed by the malevolence of his
ambition?
Dedication
For Ry, Hay and Ash. You are my anchor, my wings and my heart. My world begins and
ends with you.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following
wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
A-Team: Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Harley: Harley-Davidson Motor Co., Inc
OUR OMEGA
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Chapter One
Darkness. Footsteps. The scent of blood in the air. Crack. Pain. Snap. Agony. Slice. Scream.
Noah jerked awake in a panic. Skin slick with sweat and panting for breath, he
struggled to calm his racing heart as he scrambled to remember where he was. Blinking
against the brightness of the room, it took him a moment to make out the rich earth tones of
the room around him. Relief rushed through him. It was his bedroom at the Grand Rapids
Pack House. Thank God.
For months, it had been the same thing. Night after night, he was dragged away from
much needed sleep and forced to relive the most traumatic experience of his life. It had got so
bad, he was no longer able to sleep in a bed. It left him feeling too vulnerable, too exposed.
Now he spent every night sleeping in a chair by the window. It was the one place he felt
secure enough to risk a loss of consciousness. At least this time he’d made it through the
night. A soft, golden light glowed through the trees and in through his window. He drew in
a deep breath and turned his attention outward in a desperate attempt to calm his frazzled
nerves.
A pair of mourning doves cooed to each other softly from the eaves of the house.
Looking outside, he took in the clear blue sky of a beautiful, cloudless day. There was a
gentle breeze moving through the trees caused their branches to bob lazily. With his eyes
closed and his face tilted up to the sun, Noah could almost pretend he felt the light kiss of air
teasing against his skin in a gentle caress. The phantom draught would tickle up the length of
his arm and…
The sound of a door slamming down the hall snapped him out of his musings. He
didn’t bother to choke back his sigh of frustration as he glared at the door. He wanted to
ignore it, hoping that whoever was outside would eventually assume he was out and go
away. Company made it hard to wallow in misery. Unfortunately, solitude was not
something easy to come by in his new, temporary digs.
With Eli being mated to the Alpha of the Grand Rapids Pack, and Noah now being
homeless, he was squatting with the local wolves until they were able to figure out his
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father’s master plan and stop him. While he was grateful for their hospitality, it was difficult
for him to be surrounded by so many people. Shifters were a very tight knit, affectionate
group of people. As a man who could no longer stand to be touched, Noah lived in a
constant state of caution. It was exhausting. When the knock sounded again, he knew the gig
was up.
“For God’s sake, quit knocking and come in already!”
“It’s about fucking time. I thought I was going to have to break down the door.” His
brother Eli loped into the room and dropped down on the bed like he owned the place. Since
he was mated to the Pack Alpha, he kind of did.
Noah scowled at the thought. “I’m busy, E. What do you want?”
Eli scoffed. “I can see that. Ending global warming and creating world peace, are we? I
came to see if you wanted to go for a run. You haven’t shifted in months, and I’m itching to
get out and stretch my legs. What do you say?”
Noah shook his head. “I’m good. Maybe another time.”
“Come on, Noah. It’s a beautiful day and it would be good for you to go outside and
get some fresh air.”
“Leave it alone, E,” he answered firmly. “My answer is no.”
Jumping to his feet, Eli stormed over to where Noah sat, glowering darkly. “This is
bullshit, Noah! We’ve let you stay locked up in this godforsaken room for the last few
months, only coming out for meals or after everyone else has gone to bed, hoping that you
would eventually snap out of this funk on your own. It’s clear to me now that’s not going to
happen. You’re my brother, and I miss the hell out of you. The time for coddling you is done.
If you won’t do it on your own, I will drag you out of this room kicking and screaming.”
“Is that so?” Noah snarled, his body taut and ready for a fight. “You think you’re strong
enough to force me to do anything I don’t want to do?”
Eli’s complete disregard for Noah’s Alpha status had his wolf bristling inside him.
Brother or no, his wolf didn’t like the challenge he saw in the younger man’s eyes.
“Try me.” With his arms hanging loose and ready at his sides and a defiant gleam in his
eyes, it was clear that Eli meant business.
“I think being mated to the Pack leader may have gone to your head,” Noah sneered.
“You don’t rule over me, Alpha mate.”
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“I’m not trying to rule over you, asshole. I’m trying to look out for you. Can’t you
understand that? You are my brother and I’m worried about you. Please, let me help you.”
Noah sighed and scrubbed a hand down his face. “E, I get what you’re trying to do
here. Really, I do. I appreciate the thought, but I just can’t.”
“Why, Noah? I want to understand.”
Noah looked away and found himself faced with the same four walls that had been
both his salvation and his prison for the last three months. Ever since the day the Grand
Rapids Pack had rescued him from his father’s deranged Beta, Carl Yager.
Just the thought of his time spent with Carl had Noah breaking out in a cold sweat and
shaking like a junkie looking for his next fix. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Give me a chance, Noah. I might understand more than you think.”
“He made me weak, E!” Noah snapped, his chest heaving. “That bastard nearly killed
me, and there was nothing I could do to stop him.”
Eli’s expression softened. “Noah, you had no idea that Alpha Steele was insane enough
to send Carl after his own son. He should never have been a threat to you. Carl had no
honour. He never would have bested you in a fair fight so he used your trust against you. He
was a coward.”
“None of that matters, Eli. I’m an Alpha. I’m meant to protect and lead the Pack.
Shifters respect strength and control. Carl was able to strip me of both. How can I face the
Pack, shamed as I am? I know I deserve it, but after everything else, I can’t stand to see their
looks of pity and disgust. I would rather spend the rest of my life in this room than face their
scorn.”
“That’s crap, Noah,” Eli spat. “What you say might be true of the Mason Pack, but the
Grand Rapids Pack is nothing like that. If you ever left this room and got to know people,
you’d see that you’ve already been accepted as a member of the Pack. Everyone has been
worried about you. Every day I have to fend off questions from Pack members about how
you’re doing and when you might feel up to having visitors. I think you may have a secret
admirer or two, based on the amount of food and gifts that have been left outside your front
door over the past few weeks. What you did for me and for this Pack is something we’ll
never be able to repay.”
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Noah scoffed. “I didn’t do anything except allow myself to be captured and tortured by
a psychopath. Big help.”
“Are you kidding? If it hadn’t been for you, we wouldn’t have had any clue what Alpha
Steele was up to. Who knows how long it would have taken us to figure out what was going
on?” Eli reached out and placed a hand on his arm. “Carl was coming for me, Noah. Without
your warning, Kellan might not have ever found me. He wouldn’t have even known where
to look. Whether you believe it or not, you saved me. You need to move past this and start
living again. You have people here that care about you…more than you probably realise. We
want you back.”
“You’re wasting your time, E. There’s not much left here to save.”
Eli flashed him a lopsided grin. “But there is something. You know me. I’ll take what I
can get.”
Noah shook his head, unable to smother the small smile that curled his lips. “You’re
practically scraping the bottom of the barrel this time around, little brother.”
Noah enjoyed the moment of camaraderie. If he closed his eyes, he could almost
pretend that they were still carefree boys, facing the world fearlessly. Making plans and
waiting for the day when they would help guide and protect their Pack. Instead of the joy
that the idea usually brought, Noah found himself fighting off a cold wash of panic. Sweat
beaded on his forehead and his throat felt tight and swollen as he struggled to breathe
through the suffocating wave of terror. Just the thought of leading a Pack had him damn near
frozen in fear.
Perceptive as always, Eli seemed to sense Noah’s turmoil. He took a step forward and
pulled him into a firm yet affectionate hug. Noah tensed at the unexpected contact. It had
been so long since anyone had touched him with any kindness. He’d been unable to accept
the comfort offered after he’d been freed from Carl’s clutches. Couldn’t take having anyone’s
hands on him. He still didn’t know if he could handle it, but something about knowing it was
his brother’s arms wrapped around him, his familiar scent teasing Noah’s senses, allowed
him to accept the touch for what it was—a lifeline. Tension slowly started to ease from his
body, leaving him shaken and weary, like he’d just gone twelve rounds with a prize fighter.
OUR OMEGA
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“Whatever he did to you, whatever he threatened, know that we will do everything in
our power to help you feel safe again. Me and Kellan, the Pack, we’re all here to help you in
any way we can.”
And just that quickly, the moment ended. Noah shoved Eli away and glared at his
brother with an anger that should have sent him running for the hills.
Hurt flickered in Eli’s eyes. “What the hell, Noah?”
Snarling, Noah fisted his hands at his sides and tried to drag in a calming breath. A
dozen breaths later and he was still feeling far from calm. “I’m not a child in need of
coddling. I don’t need you, Kellan or the Grand Rapids Pack to take care of me. I’m an
Alpha. I can protect myself. Go care for your mate. I’m sure he’ll have use of your talents.”
Eli’s eyes widened, his face awash with shock. He lifted his hands in front of him,
clearly trying to ease Noah’s anger, to no avail. Hands fisted and jaw clenched, Noah was
unappeased by the weaker wolf’s attempt to gentle him. It was clear both man and wolf
didn’t know their place in the Pack hierarchy. Familial bonds aside, if he didn’t learn soon,
Noah was going to be forced to show him.
“Noah, I know you don’t need help, but sometimes it’s just nice to allow someone else
to take over and handle things for you. Everyone needs a break where they can relax and let
down their guard—even Alpha wolves who are too stubborn for their own good.”
The impish smile Eli flashed his way succeeded in diminishing some of Noah’s ire, but
he was still left feeling short-tempered and irritable. Letting out a weary sigh, he ran his
fingers through his hair before giving it a rough tug.
“I had plans, you know?” Noah growled and began pacing the room. “I was going to
take over as Alpha when Dad was ready to step down. I was going to find my mate, have a
couple of kids and lead the Pack to the best of my ability. I know it wasn’t a real lofty dream,
but it was mine, and I was happy with it.”
Noah stopped and looked up at his brother’s confused face. He wished that he could
find a way to explain. “I don’t know where I go from here, E. After everything that’s
happened—after what Carl did to me—I’m not the same man I was. I can’t…feel like I did
before.”
Eli’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
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Noah blew out a breath as he struggled to find the right words. “I can’t remember
everything from the attack, but I do have memories from before it. Only now, they all feel
hollow, like they belong to someone else. I can remember things, like the excitement of a new
challenge and love for my family. Unfortunately, there’s also fear, helplessness, shame and
pain. Those are the memories that have stuck with me over the last few months—the reason I
stay locked up in this apartment.”
“But, Noah, everything is different now. Carl is dead and you have the whole Grand
Rapids Pack backing you up. You won.”
“Did I?” Noah laughed, the bitter sound lacking all humour. “You know, it’s not the
pain that breaks you, although it came damn close. It’s the helplessness. The complete and
total loss of self. Carl wanted to destroy me and he succeeded. That man was a soulless
monster, and I hope he’s spending eternity roasting on a spit in hell.”
“He didn’t destroy you.”
Eli reached out a comforting hand that Noah quickly evaded, unable to bear the
thought of being touched while his nightmares were so close to the surface.
“So, yeah, you’ve got some stuff to work through,” Eli admitted. “Maybe you should
talk to somebody—”
“Oh, hell fucking no! No way in hell am I going to talk to some stranger about my
feelings and rehash the worst experience of my life. I will never open that door again, E.
Those wounds are barely healed. I refuse to let some crackpot shrink open them up and poke
at them to see if they still bleed. Some things are better left in the past. If you can’t
understand that, then I don’t think we have anything else to talk about.”
His tone was clipped and colder than he’d intended, but he couldn’t find it in him to
care. While he knew Eli’s concern came from a place of love and caring, Noah didn’t like the
concern in Eli’s voice. It made him feel weak and that was something he’d promised himself
he’d never be again.
Hurt flickered in Eli’s eyes but was gone just as quickly as it had appeared. He looked
like he wanted to argue but after a moment’s pause, he seemed to change his mind. “All
right,” he murmured in resignation. “I’ll let it go for now, but if the nightmares don’t start to
go away on their own, we’re going to revisit the topic.” The pointed look he directed at Noah
made it clear that he meant business.
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12
Noah rolled his eyes and flipped him the bird, effectively dismissing his concern.
“Whatever you say, Mom.”
Chuckling, Eli shook his head. “You are such an ass.”
“That does seem to be the general consensus.” It was impossible to miss the wariness in
his brother’s eyes. Noah’s smile melted away and a sense of foreboding took its place. “Now,
why don’t you tell me the real reason you came to see me? I doubt it was because of my
winning personality.”
Eli hesitated, clearly startled by Noah’s bluntness. “Malachi and Ryker just got back
from their scouting trip up north. They think they’ve got a lead to follow and a possible
location of one of the breeding facilities.” Eli met his eyes, giving Noah a beseeching look.
“Kellan wants you to be at the meeting. You two were always so much alike when we were
younger. No one was closer to Alpha Steele than you. With the amount of time you spent
with the man throughout the years, Kellan figures you would have the best insight on what
Daddy Dearest is up to.”
“Excuse me?” Noah wasn’t sure he’d heard his brother right.
“Don’t get all offended,” Eli groaned. “You know what I mean.”
“No,” Noah answered coldly, “I don’t think I do, Eli. I thought the man loved us and he
turned around and sent someone to torture and kill me. I think it’s pretty obvious that I don’t
know the first thing about him so I’d appreciate it if you and Kellan would stop drawing
parallels between us, right fucking now! It makes me sick. After everything he’s done to me
and others? Fuck you, Eli!”
“We didn’t mean it the way you think,” Eli stammered. “It’s just—”
Noah cut him off with a pointed glare. “Don’t waste your breath. I imagine I can clear
some time in my schedule to make Kellan’s little pow-wow,” he retorted, his tone deep
under the weight of his anger. “When and where?”
Eli sighed. “Kellan has everyone meeting in the main dining room in an hour. For now,
it’s just going to be the Betas and the Gammas, Kellan doesn’t want to worry the rest of the
Pack until we have something more concrete.” Eli met his eyes hesitantly. “I really am sorry
for what I said, Noah. I know how it sounded and, for what it’s worth, it’s definitely not how
I meant it.”
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“I’ll keep that in mind,” Noah replied scornfully. “Now, if there’s nothing else, I think
it’s time for you to go.”
“Oh, you’re dismissing me, are you? Have you forgotten that I am the Alpha mate and
this is my House?” Eli arched an imperious brow.
Noah slammed his hands down on the windowsill, causing the glass to rattle violently
in the frame. “Your title doesn’t mean shit to me!” Noah roared. “I am Alpha. No matter who
you’re fucking, you will never rule over me. I lead, others follow. It’s as simple as that.”
“Well, look who grew his balls back,” Eli drawled, his eyes heavy lidded and a bored
expression stamped on his face. “I was starting to wonder.”
“Excuse me?” Noah rumbled, his anger rising to an incendiary level. Eli was treading
on dangerous ground.
“For the last few months you’ve been haunting this place like a goddamned ghost. I’ve
tried everything I could think of to get you to snap out of it. Who knew the only thing I
needed to do was piss you off to get you to start acting like the Alpha you are. Throw in a bit
of over-the-top-concern and you become your normal asshole self.”
Noah scowled. “I’m an Alpha. I care for others, not the other way around. I don’t need
you to be concerned about me, like I’m a child. I’m not that weak.”
“Having people care about you and want to help you is not a weakness. It means you
have people in your life who give a shit about you, asshole. Was I weak when Kellan and the
Pack helped me when I was recovering after escaping from Carl?”
“Of course not,” Noah grumbled. “Don’t be an idiot.”
“Well, then take your own advice, moron. Whatever happened to you wasn’t your
fault.” Noah made a noise of protest, but Eli was quick to raise a hand to silence him. “I
know you don’t want to talk about it and I respect that. I’m hoping someday that will
change, but in the meantime, I don’t want hear any more of this bullshit. You’re my brother
and I love you. That fact will never change so you’re gonna have to learn to deal with it.”
Noah saw the shine of wetness in Eli’s eyes and began to understand how hard this
must be for him. He hadn’t really taken the time to think about the fact that Eli had been
trapped with Carl Yager, too. While Carl may not have tortured him physically, like he had
Noah, the psychological torture was severe. Eli had told him that Carl had confessed to
stalking him for years before he had left their Pack and relocated to Grand Rapids. He
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14
couldn’t imagine the horror of finding out that someone had spent years watching your
every move, without your knowledge or consent. It was a complete violation.
Noah grabbed the front of Eli’s shirt and pulled him into a fierce embrace. He sensed a
cracking in the ice that had filled his chest since the day he had woken in the Pack House,
broken and defeated. Maybe he wasn’t as dead inside as he had originally thought. He held
his brother tightly, soaking in the warmth that came from contact with another body. He
hadn’t realised how much he’d missed it.
“I’m so sorry, E. I’ve been too busy wallowing in my own bullshit and I haven’t been a
very good Alpha or brother. Things have just been so crazy lately.” He allowed the contact to
continue for another minute then took a step back, holding his brother at arm’s length. “I’ll
try to do better. I promise.”
Eli’s brow furrowed and his mouth turned down in an irritated scowl. “You’re doing
fine, Noah. You just have to give yourself a break every once in a while. You’re not
responsible for everyone and everything. Sometimes even Alphas have to take the time to
just worry about themselves, okay?”
His brother was so disgruntled, Noah had to bite back a laugh. A hint of a smile curled
his lips. “Is that so?”
“Yeah, it is. Trust me. I have a lot of experience dealing with pig-headed, stubborn
Alpha wolves. I’ve become an expert.”
Noah laughed. “I’ll bet.”
Noah turned away from his brother and made his way back to the window in time to
see a group of children chase each other across the massive yard of the Pack House. As he
watched them play, a familiar longing for something he knew would never be his. “How do
you handle it, E?”
“Handle what?”
Noah turned his attention back to the children, now wrestling in a pile in the centre of
the yard. “Knowing that you’re never going to have that?”
Eli walked to the window, peeking out for a moment. “Are we talking about kids,
Noah? Is that what’s bothering you?”
Noah sighed. “It’s the one reality in my life I’ve never been able to come to terms with.
Every day I sit in this room, I see the kids playing and I wonder how I’m going to deal with
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never having that. How do I accept what is and let go of a dream that is never going to come
true?”
Confusion burned in Eli’s eyes. Head tilted to the side, he stared at Noah as if he were
some strange, new species that he was trying to figure out.
“Noah, are you telling me that you’re…gay?”
Noah arched an eyebrow as he faced his brother. “Does it matter?”
Eli jerked back like he’d been slapped. “Of course not! You know me better than that.”
“You’re right,” Noah murmured. “I do know you better than that. I’m sorry.”
“So?” Eli pushed. He’d always had the subtlety of a freight train.
“Yes, Eli. I’m gay. Are you happy now?”
“Holy shit!” His eyes widened comically as his eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.
“How the hell didn’t I know this?” Eli shot him a suspicious glare. “Did anyone know?”
Noah shook his head. “No one.”
“I don’t understand. Why did you keep it a secret, especially from me? Think about
how much easier things would have been for Jai if you had spoken up back then. A gay
Alpha could have changed everything. Why didn’t you say something?” Eli’s scowl was dark
and accusing.
“I’d think twice before you start throwing stones, Elijah Matthew Steele. Or did I
somehow overlook a set of tits on your mate?”
“My situation is completely different. I’d never been with a man before I met Kellan. If I
had met him back then, I wouldn’t have hesitated to tell the whole Pack that he was mine.”
“And if I had met my mate, I would have done the same thing,” Noah defended. “Yes, I
knew I preferred men back then and yes, I could have spoken up about it, but if you think it
would have changed a damn thing then you’re a fool. It wouldn’t have changed anything.”
“You don’t know that!”
“Oh yes I fucking do! As you and Kellan so kindly put it, I know Charles Steele better
than anyone. Our father would never condone a mating between two men. Fuck another
man, sure, but mating, hell no. Mating is reserved for male–female couplings, for the purpose
of breeding more Shifters. So, sure, I could have said something and been driven from the
Pack right alongside Jai, or worse. Would that have made me a better man?”
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Eli stared at him for a moment in silence, anger radiating off him in waves. The Alpha
wolf inside Noah bristled at the gall of the weaker wolf, not appreciating the directness of
Eli’s stare or the lack of fear it held. Despite the fact that he had no legitimate title in the
Grand Rapids Pack, when it came down to it, Eli should defer to Noah as the stronger wolf.
The fact that he didn’t left Noah feeling edgy and slightly unhinged. He knew he should let it
go. This was his brother, his family, and there were certain allowances to be made. It didn’t
mean that he was going to back down, but he would allow the younger wolf a bit of leeway.
After what seemed like an eternity, Eli’s expression softened and the stiffness of his posture
eased.
“You’re right, Noah. It wouldn’t have changed a thing. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. There was no right or wrong, just the lesser of two evils. It’s over.
Leave it in the past where it belongs.”
“I can do that.” Eli’s head tilted to the side, his expression curious. “Not to get off topic,
but what changed?”
“Excuse me?” Noah’s brow furrowed.
“Why are you willing to admit you’re gay now? Something has to have changed.” Eli
visibly swallowed then sucked in a breath, his expression hopeful. “Are you involved with
someone, Noah? Have you met someone you’re interested in?”
Looking away, Noah shrugged. “I’m not involved with anyone, but there is someone.
He’s different…special.”
“How the hell did you manage to meet someone while hiding out up here, playing
recluse all day?”
“He was there the day you saved me from Carl. I only saw him for a few seconds before
I passed out. When I woke up in the Pack House, I was sure I’d imagined the whole thing.
Two weeks later, I was up at night grabbing some food from the kitchen while everyone else
was in bed. I had just made it to the top of the stairs and was about to head down the hall
when I heard one of the teams arrive. I waited, hoping that maybe you were with them. His
scent hit me the minute they opened the front door. It was all I could do to make it back to
my room without turning around and claiming him in front of God and the world. I’ve only
seen him a handful of times since then and always from a distance.”
“Does he have feelings for you, too?”
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Noah laughed mirthlessly. “I’ve worked hard to make sure he doesn’t notice me at all.
He’s away a lot, does a lot of missions for the Pack, and when he’s around I make sure to
keep clear of him. It’s not hard to do. I spend most of my time here in this room anyway.”
“Why would you do that if you care for him?” Eli’s disbelief was clear.
A wistful smile twisted his lips. “It’s better this way. I don’t have anything to offer a
mate.”
Eli made a noise of protest and his eyes widened in shock. “He’s your mate?”
Noah shook his head. “It doesn’t matter.” Turning his attention back to the window, he
smiled when he saw that all the children had shifted and were now chasing each other
around the yard in their wolf forms. They pounced and ran, nipping playfully at each other’s
heels. “My one regret is that I will never be a father. It was always my greatest wish. Even
more than being Alpha. Despite everything—I think I would have been a good dad. I would
have liked the chance to try.” Sorrow crept into his words as he acknowledged his loss.
“There’s no reason you can’t still have children and be an amazing father. There’s
always adoption and there are female surrogates you could use. I know the chances of it
working aren’t great, but there’s still a chance. Maybe if you talk to your mate—”
“No,” Noah replied, suddenly exhausted. “There’s nothing to talk about. He seems
happy in his life. I don’t want to be responsible for saddling him with a damaged mate. For
Christ’s sake, Eli, I don’t know the first thing about being someone’s mate.”
Eli scowled. “It’s all instinct, Noah. Look at Kellan and me. I’d never even been with a
man before I met Kellan. It took some patience and compromise on both our parts but now,
things couldn’t be better. Even if you don’t tell him, he’s going to figure it out eventually. It
would be better if the news came from you.”
Noah scoffed. “As long as I stay alert, he’ll never know. If he hasn’t figured it out in the
last few months, he never will. Besides, I’m an Alpha who couldn’t even protect himself.
What business do I have trying to care for a mate? Trust me, it’s better he never finds out.”
“Better for who, Noah?”
Noah didn’t have an answer for him. He knew that anything said in his defence would
sound like a lie. A change in topic was the better bet. “Has there been any news from Reid or
Micah?”
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Eli’s expression instantly became serious. “No, and I’m worried. They were due to
check in yesterday morning. At first, I thought they were just late. Now, I’m not so sure. If
Dad caught on to what they were doing…”
“Don’t even think about it”—Noah scowled—“and don’t call that monster ‘dad’. He
lost that right long ago. If that son of a bitch did something to Reid or Micah, I’m going to kill
him.”
“Isn’t that kinda the goal, anyway?”
“Don’t joke, E. If he found out that Reid and Micah were spying for us, who knows
what the fuck he’ll do to them.”
Eli gave Noah a worried glance. “You really think he would hurt them? They’re his
sons.”
“So were we,” Noah answered quietly, turning away. “You should get back. Kellan will
be worried. Let me know if there’s any news?”
Eli nodded sadly and made his way to the door. He walked out of the room without a
word and closed the door quietly behind him, leaving Noah alone to hope that his brothers
weren’t in as much trouble as he feared they were.
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Chapter Two
The volume in Kellan’s office was out of control. Shifters were always a rowdy bunch,
but filling a room with the most dominant and aggressive members of the Pack was the
perfect recipe for either a killer migraine or a raging brawl. Between the shouting,
roughhousing and full-out fighting, Dax wasn’t sure if he should join in or get the hell out of
there. He liked a good time as much as the next guy, but even he knew the gathered crowd
was going to get out of control if they weren’t brought to heel soon. He was seriously
considering performing some crowd control when a shrill whistle filled the room, drawing
everyone’s attention to the front where Kellan and Eli, the Alpha and Alpha mate, stood
waiting expectantly.
“Everybody quiet and take a seat!” Kellan’s deep voice resonated through the room,
demanding attention from everyone present. “I’d like to get this handled quickly. The sooner
we wrap this up, the sooner everyone can get back to their night.” His words were met with
a rumble of approval and some good-natured grumbling as people shuffled around the
room, righting tables and chairs that had been knocked over in the scuffling and quickly
taking their seats.
Kellan cleared his throat and the room when silent, attention quickly focused on the
Alpha. “As you all know, over the last few months we’ve been sending out scouts trying to
get more intel on what Charles Steele and his cronies are up to. Regrettably, information has
been pretty scarce. Steele has been guarding his secrets well, only revealing important details
to those closest to him and his operation.
“Lucky for us, Steele is not as infallible as he’d like everyone to believe. It seems that he
recently made an enemy of one of his Betas when he tried to force the man’s daughter into
one of his ‘arranged marriages’. Apparently, while the Beta was okay with others being
forced into these arrangements against their will, it was not acceptable for his own little
princess. When Steele tried to force the issue, the man and his family absconded from the
Pack and went into hiding.
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“Malachi and Ryker were the closest team in the area and got wind of what happened.
They were able to track him down and managed to convince him to give us details about
Steele’s operation in exchange for helping his family get out of the country. He was able to
give us some insight into Alpha Steele’s current plans and also provided us with a general
location of one of Steele’s breeding facilities just outside Petoskey. I’m organizing a team to
head up tomorrow and scout the area. Their mission will be searching for weakness in the
facility and, if possible, to infiltrate the building and release any captives being held there.”
He looked out over the crowd with a measuring stare that always filled Dax with a
sense of pride. Kellan’s love and devotion for his Pack were unmistakable. His cousin had
shaped up to be an amazing Alpha. Dax listened as Kellan gave further details about the
mission, as well as a general description of the area where the team would be heading, before
finally bringing things to a close.
“Check in with your team leaders before you leave and they’ll let you know if you will
be heading out tomorrow. The team will take off at first light,” he announced, his tone
brooking no argument. “Depending on what they are able to glean, we may be sending up a
secondary team, so everyone should stay on alert. Now,” he barked, clapping his hands in
emphasis, “with that being said, this meeting is adjourned. For those leaving in the morning,
get some rest. We have no idea what you might be facing out there and I want everyone
operating at one hundred per cent. I expect each and every one of you to return in one piece.
Good luck.”
Without another word, he grabbed Eli’s hand and led him from the room, ignoring the
cheers and shouts that echoed behind them. With the meeting over, Dax got to his feet and
started the slow trek to the door. After spending the last twenty-four hours on patrol, all he
wanted was a flat surface to pass out on, the sooner the better.
Working his way through crowd, he was just about to step through the doorway when
a large, muscled body slammed into him from the side. The collision forced him back a few
steps and he tipped precariously on his heels. His arms pinwheeled in a last ditch effort to
regain his balance, but to no avail.
“Shit!”
Dax realised he was headed for a hard fall when the man’s big hand shot out, wrapping
around his wrist and stopping his backward momentum. Dax let out the breath he’d been
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holding. With words of gratitude on the tip of his tongue, Dax peered up into the eyes of his
guardian angel and was immediately struck mute.
Perfection. That was Dax’s first thought as he took in the six-and-a-half-foot, hard-
bodied god in front of him. The man was Dax’s ultimate fantasy, with a few extras thrown in
for good measure. His dark hair was cropped in tight, like a shadow across his skull. The
blue-grey eyes looking back at him were sombre, but Dax could tell from the small laugh
lines at their corners that they had once been filled with warmth and good humour. High
cheekbones, a square jaw and an aquiline nose completed the picture, all working together to
create the most stunning example of rugged masculinity Dax had ever seen.
His dick chose that moment to take notice, rising quickly to half-mast as if it wasn’t bad
enough that everyone in the room had to be able to pick up on the scent of his lust. He
wished his shirt was just a bit longer to hide some of the evidence of his burgeoning arousal
and save him the embarrassment of popping wood in the middle of a crowded room. The
sound of a throat clearing drew his attention away from his rampant cock and back to the
slightly irritated man before him.
“Sorry,” he mumbled distractedly.
Focusing on the man, Dax felt something prickle at the back of his mind. The man was
definitely familiar, but it was hard for Dax to place him. Drawing in a deep breath, he picked
up a familiar scent that took his dick from semi-hard to able-to-pound-nails in seconds. The
aroma of vanilla, citrus and mocha, with just the hint of wood smoke, nearly drove him to his
knees as he was overwhelmed with need.
“Noah.”
Just the thought of the man had Dax fighting back a tremor of excitement. Feelings of
lust and longing that he had been harbouring for months surfaced in a rush, reminding him
how much he had missed the big Alpha. Since the discovery of Alpha Steele’s plans to breed
an army designed to take over the Packs, Dax had been assigned a lot of recon missions, as
they were the best use of his talents. With his tall, muscular build, tattoos and badass
attitude, Dax’s appearance screamed ‘trouble’. He had a knack for getting information by any
means necessary and was very good at his job. That being the case, he’d barely seen the
object of his infatuation since that fateful night when Carl Yager had returned Noah’s
bloodstained, mutilated body to his brother, Eli Steele.
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Dax had been at his side, holding his hand as the medical team hurried to stabilise him
enough that he could be moved. He had only seen Noah for a few minutes, but even then,
with his features barely recognisable under layers of gore and ravaged flesh, beneath the
scent of blood, sweat and tears, there had been something about the man that had called to
him like no one else ever had. Looking at him now, it appeared that time and care had healed
the ruin he had been and restored him, at least physically, to the gorgeous, powerful Alpha
he was meant to be.
“It’s good to see you, Noah. You look well.”
Noah’s eyes flared wide in surprise as he gazed down at Dax. “Thank you,” he
answered gruffly, releasing his hold and taking a step back. “I appreciate your concern. If
you’ll excuse me?”
When Noah made a move to go around him, Dax couldn’t help but notice the shadows
that still lingered under his eyes and the pain that burned in the stormy orbs.
By all accounts, Noah Steele was fine. He’d overheard the Pack doctor telling Eli that
Noah was healthy, whole and on the mend. Dax had read over the reports and wasn’t
convinced. He just couldn’t reconcile the quiet, cautious man he saw today with the fun-
loving, vivacious man Eli was constantly regaling him with stories about. It was as if part of
him had been left behind in that van with Carl, and he was now operating as a shell of his
former self. The prospect of Noah continuing on that way for the rest of his life upset Dax
more than was wise for someone who was a virtual stranger to the man.
Despite his best efforts, Noah was never far from his mind. Dax knew his one-sided
attraction to the Alpha was a bad idea. Noah was still recovering from his near-death
experience at the hands of Carl Yager. The last thing he needed was to have to fend off
unwanted advances from some goofball Beta with a bad case of puppy love. The best thing
for Dax to do would be to stay as far away from Noah as possible. He didn’t know how
much more embarrassment he could take. Still, calling himself ten times a fool, Dax reached
out and halted the bigger man with a gentle hold on his arm.
“Wait.”
Noah knew who he’d crashed into without even having to make eye contact. The
moment he had picked up the Beta’s delicious scent, his blood had heated and quickly
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headed south. His cock filled so rapidly, it actually left him feeling a bit lightheaded. It was
just one of the reasons he’d been so desperate to leave the room.
While he had successfully managed to avoid coming into direct contact with Dax
during the months he had been staying at the Pack House, Noah had always known it was
just a temporary evasion. Already, the familiar longing that came with the knowledge that
his other half was near beat down on him, demanding that he take what was his. He wasn’t
sure how much longer he would be able to fight the instinct to claim his mate.
Sighing deeply, he met Dax’s dark green gaze with a directness only an Alpha was
capable of, desperately hoping the Beta wouldn’t be able to read the longing in his eyes. He
didn’t want to embarrass himself any more than he already had.
“Can I help you?” His voice came through cool and authoritative, a fact he was
extremely thankful for since he was on the verge of losing it. All he wanted to do was strip
the man naked, throw him to the floor and mount him. It didn’t matter that they were in a
room full of people. His wolf’s thoughts bombarded him, filled with approval and
excitement. It had no problem with people witnessing their mate’s claiming. Witnesses
meant there would be no further question as to who the man belonged to.
Dax cleared his throat, his feet nervously shuffling side to side. “I’m not sure if you
remember me. I’m Dax Marshall, Kellan’s cousin. I was there the night Carl—well—the night
we got you back. I’ve been meaning to come by and see you. I just wanted to check in and see
how things were going. I wanted to stop by sooner, but I’ve been out of town a lot lately.”
Dax’s gaze dropped to his feet as an enticing blush stained his cheeks.
Noah had to fight the strong desire to brush his fingers along that faint line of pink. He
knew if he allowed even that small touch, he’d lose his resolve and take his mate where he
stood. From the bits and pieces of information he’d managed to glean about the man over the
last few months, Noah was confident that Dax was good-hearted and kind. He deserved the
best mate the gods could give him, which was why Noah knew he couldn’t allow himself to
touch the stunning Beta. He wasn’t worthy.
Noah straightened his shoulders. He tried for his best impression of cold indifference
and prayed it was believable. “Thanks for the concern, but, as you can see, I am fine. Please
save your worry for someone who needs it.”
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Turning his back on Dax’s open-mouthed shock, Noah scanned the room for an
alternate exit but came up empty. He resigned himself to the fact that the only way out was
behind his mate. When he tried to push his way past, Dax grabbed his wrist, halting his
progress.
Noah quirked his eyebrow and gave him an imperious glare. “Excuse me?”
Dax looked down at his hand, realised it was still wrapped tightly around Noah’s wrist
then immediately let go, like the appendage was on fire. He drew in a sharp breath, remorse
forefront on his face.
“Jesus, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise I had…” His voice trailed off as he stared at Noah, like
he was seeing him for the first time and Noah was the most amazing thing in the entire
world.
“Do you smell—?” Dax muttered, his voice filled with a warring mix of wonder and
confusion.
“I don’t smell anything,” Noah replied, panicked. With the scent of his own arousal
perfuming the air, it was just a matter of time before Dax picked up on it. He needed to get
away—fast. “If you don’t mind, I need to get past you. I have things to do.”
A large hand shot out and grabbed the front of his shirt as he made to go around the big
Beta. “Will you just wait a minute? You know, you’re kind of being an ass right now.”
Dax flashed Noah a devastating smile that should have been illegal and did ridiculous
things to his libido. It took every ounce of control Noah had not to respond to it.
“From what my brothers tell me, being an ass is one of my major talents. Now that
you’ve confirmed the rumour, I really do need to get going.”
Noah tried to pull away, but Dax held firm. He wasn’t going anywhere unless he jerked
away hard enough to rip the shirt from his body. While it might get him his freedom, it
would be pretty suspicious and was sure to garner him way more attention than he wanted.
Dax took another step towards him, bringing their bodies flush. There was no way Dax
could miss the state of his arousal. The answering bulge that prodded his thigh just served to
make his own cock that much harder. He held his breath when Dax leaned in, burying his
face in the curve of Noah’s neck, drawing in a breath then releasing it on a sigh. At that
moment, Noah knew all his work to distance himself from Dax had been wasted. The mate
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was out of the bag. He expected questions, but they never came. Dax leaned more fully into
Noah, nosing his way behind his ear where he drew in deep lungfuls of Noah’s scent.
“You smell so good,” Dax practically purred.
They stood frozen there for what could have been hours. Noah knew he should pull
away, but with the man he’d longed for finally in his arms, he couldn’t fight the instinctive
need to keep him close. He allowed Dax to settle against him, his weight a comforting
presence after so much time spent in his self-imposed seclusion.
When Dax finally lifted his head, his eyes were wide, brimming with a combination of
need, confusion and such overwhelming happiness that it nearly stole Noah’s breath. To be
on the receiving end of a look like that was both humbling and terrifying. Dax scanned
Noah’s face, his focus alternating between Noah’s eyes and mouth, before lowering his head
back into the curve of Noah’s shoulder.
There was hot, moist breath on Noah’s neck then the press of soft lips skimming up the
side of his throat. A guttural moan tore free of Noah’s chest as Dax’s wet tongue traced up
the cord of his neck before nipping a path back down. What was left of his control snapped,
leaving him powerless to fight his building lust. Grabbing Dax’s hips in a punishing grip,
Noah ground his swollen cock against Dax’s equally hard shaft. They settled into a gruelling
pace, Noah could feel himself getting closer to release with every thrust of his hips.
Pulling away from Noah’s throat, Dax tilted his head and brought his mouth down on
Noah’s in a brutal meeting of teeth and tongues. There was no gentleness in the kiss, and that
was just fine with Noah. For months, he had imagined what it would be like to kiss this man.
Now he knew and it was more than he’d ever imagined. It was mind blowing. It was
amazing how something so simple could shake his world so completely. The kiss was
bruising and rough but also full of care and passion. Noah had never experienced anything
like it and was loving every second.
It took them a moment to get in sync, both of them struggling for control, but they soon
found a rhythm that allowed them to share the dominant role seamlessly. Give and take took
on a new meaning when describing their intimacy. Noah lost himself in the pleasure of their
coupling, too far gone for the outside world to even register. The need for oxygen finally
became too great. He jerked away, heaving and gasping for breath as he tried to drag air
back into his depleted lungs.
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Noah was at a loss for what to say. He couldn’t believe he had allowed himself to lose
control so completely. His plan to give Dax the freedom to find a more deserving life partner
was becoming less and less likely by the minute. It would have been difficult to let the man
go before. Now that he knew what his hard body felt like, pressed tight against his own,
Noah wasn’t sure it was even still possible to walk away.
Daring a glance in his mate’s direction, Noah took in his wide eyes and lust-blown
pupils. A smug sense of satisfaction filled him as he realised that he’d been the one to cause
such a reaction in the powerful Beta. A smile quirked the side of Noah’s mouth as he licked
his kiss-swollen lips, savouring the sweet flavour of his mate on his tongue. Dax, on the other
hand, looked shell-shocked.
Quirking a brow, Noah met his mate’s eyes. “Dax?”
Dax swallowed, eyes wide with confusion. His quietly murmured answer barely
reached Noah’s ears.
“Mate?”
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Chapter Three
Dax was shocked beyond words. In all the years he had pictured his perfect match, he
had never even considered the possibility that the man would be an Alpha. At almost six and
a half feet tall and two hundred and fifty pounds of solid muscle, Dax was nearly an Alpha
himself. With a healthy dose of strength and assertiveness, the only thing he lacked was the
drive to lead. Dax’s laid-back attitude and ability to accept orders kept him just within the
Beta range, a fact he had no problem with. Being Alpha came with more responsibility than
Dax cared to deal with. Let someone else handle the drama.
Noah and Dax were powerful men, nearly identical in size and build. The strength Dax
sensed emanating from Noah was similar to his own, albeit stronger and more refined.
Dominance came with the package. How the hell was this going to work?
Running a large hand through his hair, Dax let out an agitated breath. Both he and his
wolf tended to like sex on the rougher side. He didn’t want to run the risk of harming his
partner when things got a little wild in the sack. However, despite his proclivities, he’d never
bedded anyone stronger than a mid-level Beta. Dax loved the feeling of hard muscles
beneath him, but he’d always been careful never to start up with anyone who thought that
they were going to be the one running the show. What did he possibly have to offer an
Alpha?
A sense of chagrin washed over him as soon as the question entered his head. He knew
exactly what he had to offer an Alpha, and while the idea of offering up his ass to anyone left
him nearly shaking with ball-numbing fear, the thought of Noah Steele pounding into his
still-virgin hole had his traitorous cock immediately up and ready to say hello.
Clenching his hands tight at his sides, he fought the urge to palm his swollen shaft and
relieve some of the building tension. He needed something to ease him. Despite the growing
trepidation that filled him as he observed the massive bulge in Noah’s jeans, he couldn’t stop
his mouth from watering as the thought of tasting it became foremost in his mind.
“Noah.”
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“Look, Dax.” Noah’s deep voice interrupted his new fantasy. “Nothing says we have to
be mates. From what I hear, you’re a great guy. Trust me when I tell you that you don’t want
to be saddled with me.”
Dax growled, the sound rumbling through the room and shocking both of them with its
ferocity. Without a thought, he grabbed Noah’s shoulders and gave him a firm shake.
“Enough of this, Noah. You’re my mate, and there’s not a damn thing wrong with you.
Anyone who says otherwise can go screw themselves.”
The startled expression on Noah’s face would have made Dax laugh if he wasn’t still so
pissed off.
“Is that so?” Noah hedged, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Do you
think you could let me go now or do you want to keep shaking me to see if I puke all over
you?”
Dax released him with a grunt of disgust but didn’t step away. With their bodies so
close, the heat between the two of them was like standing next to an open furnace. Dax took
a breath, drawing in the spicy, musky scent of his mate. His cock tightened painfully, damn
near begging for release. A quick thrust of hips proved that Noah’s arousal was nowhere
near diminished.
Before he could make a move, Noah had him up against the nearest hard surface, hands
pinned over his head, and was pushing his tongue between his lips. Spreading his legs
wider, he allowed Noah to bring their bodies flush, connecting them from thigh to chest.
With their new closeness, Dax could feel every hot, hard inch of Noah’s excitement digging
into his hip as he ground against him. Noah shoved a thickly muscled thigh between Dax’s
legs, allowing him to ride it and rut. The contact sent sparks of awareness coursing through
his body, leaving him panting and needy for more. Dax wrapped a leg around Noah’s hip
and pulled him in tight, desperate to get closer.
Noah’s hands carded through his hair, gripping it tight and holding him in place as he
moved in to plunder the cavern of Dax’s mouth. The softness of Noah’s lips and the
forcefulness of his tongued strokes had Dax gasping into the kiss. Never in his life had he
been kissed with such an all-consuming intensity. The moan that escaped him was low and
needy, resonating through him and signalling the demise of the last vestiges of his restraint.
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Reaching for Noah’s shirt, Dax was fully prepared to rip it from his body when the
sound of muffled laughter and a throat clearing nearby had him freezing in his tracks.
“Guys, while the show has been really fucking hot, some of us do have places to be. If
you wouldn’t mind moving aside so the rest of us can head out, you can pick up right where
you left off after we’re gone.”
The words cut through the fog that was filling Dax’s brain. Lowering his leg and
struggling to regain his footing, Dax blinked as he looked over Noah’s shoulder and noticed
that the room was still nearly filled from the meeting. There were many amused and aroused
faces around them, causing his own face to flame. Apparently, in their haste to get at each
other, the surface Noah had decided to pin him against just happened to be the only door out
of the room.
“Fuck,” Dax groaned, lowering his face into his hands to hide his discomfort.
“Oh, I think Noah is planning on handling that task.” Dylan Cantwell, Head Beta and
one of Dax’s closest friends, grinned as he approached. “I didn’t know you guys were seeing
each other.”
“It’s kind of a new development,” Dax muttered, running a hand through his hair in
agitation. Embarrassment filled him while he cursed his own lack of control that was
responsible for putting him on display. For all his joking and playful banter, he preferred to
keep his intimate life out of the public eye. Having so many witnesses to what should have
been a private moment was making him increasingly uncomfortable.
Wrapping a possessive arm around Dax’s waist, Noah pulled him into the shelter of his
muscled body. “Mine,” he roared, casting a menacing glare around the room.
Dylan gave him a gentle smile and raised his hands in a signal of peace. “Don’t worry. I
think you’ve made your claim more than clear.” Regret flickered in the Beta’s eyes. “A mate
is a precious thing. No one would dare to dishonour your bond by moving in on Dax. Isn’t
that right?”
Murmurs of agreement sounded around the room.
Dylan focused his attention on Dax. “Our team is part of the group heading out
tomorrow. We’re meeting in the dining hall and taking off at first light. I’ll see you in the
morning?”
“You got it,” Dax answered with a nod.
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Noah’s stance had begun to relax, the tension slowly seeping from his body. He
loosened his hold on Dax’s waist, placed a warm hand on his back and gave him a gentle
push towards the door.
They were silent as they made their way through the house. Dax took a risk and
glanced over at his mate. Noah’s jaw was clenched tight, a steely look in his eyes. When they
reached Dax’s room, he unlocked the door then turned to face his Alpha mate.
“Are you coming in?”
Noah shook his head and took a step back. “That’s probably not a good idea. We have a
mission to get ready for and we both need to be at the top of our game. If I come in, I can
guarantee that neither of us will be getting any rest.”
“I didn’t know you were coming with us?”
“Anywhere you go, I go,” Noah snapped. “I tried to give you an out, but you refused to
take it. Now you’re stuck with me. You’re gonna to have to get used to me being on your ass
from now on.”
Dax swallowed, his throat suddenly dry as the Sahara. “I don’t know about ‘on’ my ass,
but I have a feeling I’m definitely going to have to get used to you being ‘in’ it.”
Shaking his head in disgust, Noah leered at him. “I can’t believe you went there. That
was pathetic, even for you.”
“Oh, come on! You had to know there was no way I was going to let that one pass. It
was too easy.” Dax flashed him a cocky smile and licked his lips salaciously. Noah’s
answering smile was a small, yet heated twist of the lips that left Dax’s heart pounding and
his libido revving into overdrive. “You need to come inside, Noah.”
“Why?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
“I want to hear you say it.” Noah’s voice was deeper than normal and rough like gravel.
The sound went right to Dax’s dick, leaving him hot and aching. “I want you to come
inside and claim what’s yours. Want to feel you sink your teeth into my neck as your cock
sinks into my body. I need your mark on me, so that everyone who sees it will know that I
belong to you and you alone. Then, I want to do the same to you so that there will never be
any doubt that you are off the market.”
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Noah’s pupils dilated until there was just a small ring of blue still visible. The heat
burning in his mate’s eyes was amazing and ignited a matching heat within himself. Dax’s
wolf needed to be claimed. That was not to say that it would submit easily. The beast wanted
nothing to do with tempered passion and control. It wanted their mate unrestrained and
primal. If Noah wanted dominance over him, he would have to prove his strength and force
him to submit.
Leaning in, Dax blew a stream of hot air over Noah’s ear before laving the lobe with a
wet stroke of his hot tongue. “I want you to pin me down on the bed, mount me and fuck me
until I can’t see straight. I want to feel the Alpha in you.”
A loud snarl was all the warning he got before Noah was on him, slamming his back
into the door and holding him there with hands on his upper arms. One look in his eyes and
Dax knew Noah’s wolf was in control. There was a feral glint in the blue orbs that spoke of
something not entirely human.
“Is this what you want?” Noah growled, tightening his grip on Dax’s arms as he
ground their groins together. “To be held down, manhandled and fucked so hard your ass is
raw and aching?”
“God, yes!” Dax practically shouted, thrusting his hips forward to rub his dick along
Noah’s muscled thigh. He was desperate, aching and ready to do just about anything to find
some release. If he didn’t get Noah inside him soon, he was pretty sure he was going to
explode.
Noah chuckled, the sound low and rich as he allowed Dax to rut against him in a half-
crazed attempt to find some relief. Dropping his hands to Dax’s butt, Noah lifted him up,
encouraging him to wrap his long legs around his hips. The move shocked Dax into stillness.
None of his past lovers had ever picked him up, nor would he have let them if they’d tried.
He had always liked being in control and had never imagined that his preference would
change. That, however, was before he had met Noah Steele. Maybe it was the Alpha blood
running in the man’s veins or the power that seemed to roll off him in waves, but there was
something about the dark-haired wolf that made Dax want to roll over and present himself
for the taking.
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As if sensing Dax’s train of thought, Noah ran a hand down the seam of his jeans,
tracing the crack of his ass with his middle finger. Unable to bite it back, Dax let out a
desperate moan that brought a wicked grin to Noah’s lips.
“You like that, don’t you? Can you imagine it? My cock sliding into you, riding you
hard, pumping you full of my seed.”
As he passed over Dax’s hole, Noah exerted more pressure, rubbing the rough denim
over his sensitive flesh. The sensation was a jolt to Dax’s system. He jerked in Noah’s arms
and if the big Alpha had been a weaker man, they both would have gone tumbling to the
ground.
“Fuck,” Dax groaned, thrusting his hips back onto Noah’s probing finger. “Please, come
inside. I need to feel you inside me. Please!”
Noah roared, crushing their mouths together in a searing kiss that screamed of
ownership. Not one to naturally submit, it just took a moment for Dax to respond to Noah’s
carnal attack. Giving as good as he got, Dax licked and nipped at the surprisingly soft, fleshy
surface. He teased the seam of Noah’s lips and continued to play, waiting for his chance for
entrance. When air became a necessity, Noah drew back and Dax saw his opportunity and
took it. As Noah’s kiss-swollen lips parted, Dax moved in, thrusting his tongue between
them.
Dax swept his tongue inside, desperate to get a taste of the powerful man. As soon as
the man’s flavour touched his tongue, Dax knew he was lost. Never in his life had he tasted
anything even close to as amazing as Noah Steele. A tart hint of citrus merged with
something dark and rich to create a flavour that was completely Noah and absolutely
addicting. Their tongues came together in a twisting battle for dominance. The pleasure of
the kiss drove every other thought from his mind until the room started to spin, forcing Dax
to withdraw. The move left him gasping and struggling to get air back into his lungs. A look
at Noah showed he was in a similar state.
“Get your ass inside,” Noah ordered, rubbing his cock against the unforgiving material
of Dax’s pants. “I’m gonna fuck you until you pass out.”
“Thank God,” Dax breathed, reaching behind himself to struggle with the doorknob.
Just as he was seconds away from kicking it, the latch finally released, allowing the door to
swing open. Storming into the room, Noah had the presence of mind to kick the door shut
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then turned and literally threw Dax onto his bed. He hit the mattress with a bone-rattling
thud before settling into the thick mattress.
“Strip.”
Noah’s eyes were intense as they bore into Dax. He stood ramrod straight with his
hands fisted tight and remained at the end of the bed, making no move to remove his own
clothing as Dax hurried to comply. Dax rose to his knees and grabbed the bottom of his shirt,
stripping it over his head quickly and baring his upper body for Noah’s perusal. Noah’s eyes
widened and he looked like he damn near swallowed his tongue at the sight that had been
uncovered.
Dax had always had a thing for ink. He loved the permanence of it. The idea of
immortalising important parts of his life on his skin. His tattoos were his story, both the good
and the bad, etched into his flesh as a reminder to himself of the lessons he had learned and
the things he’d experienced. The work had involved hundreds of hours, blood, sweat and
tears, but that was part of the process.
The ink started part way up his neck, following the line of his body, spread out over his
chest and the length of his left arm, then disappeared into the denim riding low on his waist.
Meticulous thought and detail had gone into each beautiful piece. From the wolf pack
chasing each other around his biceps to the Celtic symbols for strength, family and protection
running down his forearm, every piece was unique and held a special place in his heart.
“Jesus Christ, D. I wanna trace every inch of these with my tongue.” Noah groaned, the
sound deep and guttural. “No more games. Get your fucking clothes off, now.”
With a smile and a wink, Dax went to work, divesting himself of his remaining clothing
in mere seconds then kneeling blessedly naked in the centre of the bed. His long, thick shaft
stood out proudly from the thatch of blond curls at his groin. The wet, drooling tip aimed
directly at Noah, begging for attention. If the bulge behind the zipper of Noah’s pants was
any indication, Dax’s reward was going to be huge. Wrapping a hand around his dick, Dax
gave his shaft a few rough tugs, gracing Noah with a lazy smile. Lust was too tame a word
for the heat burning in Noah’s eyes as they locked on his chest. The powerful man was
predatory and wild, and Dax couldn’t get enough.
“Christ,” Noah groaned. “You’re pierced?”
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A glance down was all it took for Dax to realise Noah had finally noticed the small
stainless steel rings that were threaded through each of his nipples. Their weight was slight
enough that they weren’t constantly tugging on his sensitive flesh. Only when he was in bed
with a lover did he let himself enjoy the feeling of pleasure-pain that came from a good,
sharp jerk on the rings. The piercings themselves had been a guilty pleasure when he’d got
them done and had been the catalyst for another bit of jewellery he was pretty sure Noah
hadn’t noticed yet.
Dax pinched one of the rings between his finger and thumb and gave it a small pull.
The sting was small but enough to illicit an unconscious moan. “Do you like them?” he
asked, still pulling at the shiny metal ring.
“Fuck, yeah,” Noah growled, licking his lips hungrily.
“Then you’re gonna love this.” Dax leant back and spread his legs wide, giving Noah
an unobstructed view of his groin. Never pausing in his nipple play, he lowered his free
hand to take a firm grip on the girth of his cock. Lifting it up against his belly, he revealed a
gleaming set of metal balls that protruded from the underside of his dick, one from just
beneath the head and the other part way down his shaft. Dax saw Noah’s throat work as he
tried to swallow, his eyes never leaving his dick.
“What the hell is that?” Noah ground out between clenched teeth.
“It’s called a dolphin,” Dax murmured.
His eyelids drooped as Noah reached out a hand to tentatively touch one of the
gleaming metal orbs. The barely there touch had his dick tightening and caused a bead of
pearly fluid form at the tip. Noah’s long fingers traced the prominent vein that ran the length
of his shaft, causing Dax’s breath to catch and hold. Reaching the head, he circled the swollen
cap then swiped a finger across the weeping slit, gathering up a dollop of the viscous fluid.
Noah contemplated it for a moment before flicking out his tongue for a taste. His eyes flared
and a look of surprise lit his face. Without any further hesitation, Noah drew the finger into
his mouth, sucking and licking until it was clean of any remaining fluid. The Alpha’s eyes
fluttered closed and a hum of pleasure vibrated up from his chest. Dax couldn’t bite back his
moan when Noah’s full lips enclosed the digit, drawing in the flavour of his essence.
“How do I taste?”
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Dax had to fight the urge to take a step back when Noah’s eyes snapped open, revealing
the feral heat that burned within them. “Amazing,” he moaned. “Like musk and man. But
most importantly, you taste like mine.”
In a move faster than Dax would have believed, Noah had him flat on his back with his
big body positioned between Dax’s knees. His eyes were locked on Noah’s face with rapt
attention, the Alpha leant forward to nuzzle the crease between Dax’s thigh and groin.
Breathing deeply, Noah licked and nipped his way south until his nose rubbed against the
softly furred flesh of Dax’s sack.
“You smell so good,” he groaned, licking a wet path across the wrinkled skin. “I could
fucking eat you.”
“Whatever you want,” Dax gasped as Noah sucked one of his testicles into the hot
cavern of his mouth. Applying suction, the Alpha licked his way around the circumference in
a move that Dax was sure was designed to drive him out of his mind before allowing it to
pop free of his mouth and repeating the action to its twin. “Fuck!”
Noah gave the fleshy ball one last lick then pulled back with a smug grin. “How did
that feel?”
“So good. Don’t stop,” Dax pleaded, desperate for more.
Noah chuckled, his eyes once again riveted on the metal extending from Dax’s thick
rod. The intensity of his stare left Dax squirming, needy and ready to be taken.
“Please, Noah. I need you.”
“Soon,” Noah murmured. “There’s just one more thing I need to do.”
Without another word, Noah lowered his head and engulfed Dax’s shaft, swallowing
him down to the root. Unprepared for the carnal assault, Dax cried out as pleasure
overloaded his senses. It was like every nerve ending in his body was firing at once, leaving
him helpless to do anything but feel. Noah gave him no quarter, only hollowed his cheeks
and increased the suction on his shaft. Pulling back slightly, he tongued Dax’s length then
moved up to tease the sensitive skin of his glans. A slight nip to the underside of the head
caused the perfect amount of pleasure-pain to have Dax howling out his satisfaction.
Sliding his mouth over Dax’s shaft, Noah moved on to focus his attention on the
gleaming metal jewellery protruding from Dax’s length. Snagging the ball right below the
head between his teeth, Noah gave it a tug followed by a quick lick with the flat of his tongue
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to lave away the sting. The move left Dax a gasping, mumbling, incoherent mess. Dax’s
impaired state seemed to further encourage the voraciousness of Noah’s attentions. Warm
saliva ran over Dax’s shaft and around his balls, leaving a wet path down his crack.
He was so lost in the pleasure of Noah’s talented mouth that he almost jumped out of
his skin at the cool touch of fingers at his entrance.
“Relax,” Noah soothed. “I have to get you ready for me. I don’t want to hurt you when I
take you.”
Thoughtful as it was, Dax didn’t want to wait another minute to feel Noah inside him.
“Now,” he demanded. “I need you inside me.”
His words were cut short when a thick finger was shoved inside him, effectively
robbing him of the ability to speak. The pain was intense and immediate, like his ass was
being set on fire. Barely managing to choke back the cry of pain, Dax struggled to force his
body to relax and adjust to the intrusion. Little by little, his muscles began to loosen,
allowing Noah deeper penetration.
“You are so fucking tight,” Noah groaned, slowly working one finger in and out before
pushing in a second. “How long has it been since you bottomed?”
“Never,” Dax groaned while he struggled to get used to the sensation of being filled.
Noah’s whole body tensed and froze in place. “Are you kidding me? Why the hell
didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“Didn’t want you to have…second thoughts,” Dax panted. He bit his lip and struggled
to breathe through the pulsing wave of pain.
“Never keep shit like that from me, D,” Noah reprimanded, his gorgeous face marred
by an angry scowl. “I could have hurt you.” He punctuated his displeasure with a hard slap
to Dax’s right butt cheek, which was quickly followed by a more aggressive thrust of his
fingers.
Dax moaned in response to the new depth that left sweat beaded on his forehead. The
pain was brief, ebbing nearly as quickly as it had begun. It had now settled into a dull ache
that throbbed in time with his heartbeat. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced in his life.
The fullness was intense. It made him feel like he was on the verge of bursting while
simultaneously leaving him aching for more. With every thrust, he began to acclimate to the
feeling. It didn’t take long for the line between pleasure and pain to blur. Before he knew it,
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he was canting his hips and pushing down to meet Noah’s questing fingers. When Noah’s
next thrust reached even deeper inside him, his fingers brushed against something that made
Dax’s world explode into ecstasy and sent shock waves coursing through his body. His
testicles pulled up tight to his body and a tingle worked its way up his spine, signalling his
impending release.
“No more screwing around, Noah. I’m ready. I need you in me, now.”
“Not yet,” Noah murmured darkly, removing his fingers from Dax’s ass and rocking
back to his knees. “Not until I’m sure you’re ready. I want to see you touch yourself, first.
Show me how you like to get off when you’re alone in bed and no one else is around.”
A moan of frustration rumbled from his chest, but Dax was unable to deny an order
given by his mate. He wrapped a hand around his shaft and jerked on his tumescent flesh in
an all too familiar rhythm. The faster he pulled, the more relaxed he became as he lost
himself in the pleasure of his own touch. The reality of jerking off in front of Noah made the
act so much more erotic. A drop of sweat formed at his temple and rolled down the side of
his jaw. He could feel the faint hint of release in the distance and knew he was almost ready
to blow. He thrust his hips forward and fucked his fist, tightening his grip to increase the
pressure on his engorged shaft. With his eyes closed and his head back, he allowed himself to
get lost in the sensations tingling through him.
A sharp tug on one of his nipple rings jolted him back to reality. Noah stood over him, a
foreboding expression on his face.
“Your eyes stay on me,” Noah ordered.
“Yes, Alpha,” Dax answered, the words rolling off his tongue without a thought.
Noah’s eyes widened and a shudder worked its way through his body. His eyes heated,
turning them almost black with passion. He clenched his jaw, causing the cords of his neck to
stand out in stark relief.
Noah grabbed Dax’s free hand and brought it to Dax’s mouth.
“Open.”
Dax wasn’t sure what Noah was up to. He hesitated a moment then moved quickly to
comply with his mate’s order. Before he could even form a question, Noah had slid Dax’s
fingers forward, into the wet heat of his mouth. The bulk of them pressed against the surface
of Dax’s tongue was completely foreign. They could have belonged to someone else for all
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the familiarity they held. Though not unpleasant, Dax wasn’t sure how he felt about the new
experience.
“Good boy,” Noah crooned, stroking Dax’s jaw with a gentle touch. “Suck them. I want
them nice and wet.”
Dax closed his lips and started to suck and lave his fingers in time with his thrusting
hips. Soon they were soaking wet and coated with saliva. A tap on his cheek had his eyes
flicking up to Noah.
“Show me,” Noah ordered.
Dax slowly slid the fingers from his mouth and held them out for Noah’s inspection.
The dripping digits gleamed under the low lighting in the bedroom.
“Very good,” Noah praised. He grabbed Dax behind the knees and pushed his legs
back until they connected to his chest. The position put him on display and left him fully
exposed to his mate. “Now, stretch yourself for me. I want you to ride your fingers and
imagine it’s my cock, fucking you hard and deep.”
“Christ,” Dax groaned, his imagination painting a picture that almost had him coming
on the spot.
Not needing any more encouragement, he reached down between his spread thighs and
thrust all three of his dripping fingers into his already spit-slick hole. The burn was still
there, more intense because of the added girth, but Dax was done screwing around. He
wanted to be claimed and he was ready to do anything necessary to get to the main event. He
ignored the fiery wave of pain that washed over him, knowing that it would ease soon.
Instead, he focused all his thoughts on the massive cock Noah was going to be driving into
his ass. He couldn’t fucking wait.
Pleasure fogged his mind and left him unprepared when Noah yanked his fingers free
of his ass and flipped him onto his belly. Grabbing him by the hips, Noah jerked his ass up
and into position while pushing his head down to rest on the bed. In seconds, his big body
was naked and pressed tight against Dax’s slightly smaller form. The heavy length of Noah’s
shaft rode his crack, teasing him with the promise of things to come.
“God damn it, D! You just had to go and fucking tease me, didn’t you? Shaking your
ass and moaning like a bitch in heat? Well, you get your wish. No more waiting. Better hope
that you’re ready because your ass is mine and there’s no holding back now.”
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Now that was what he was talking about! Dax gave his head a vehement shake. “No
holding back, my mate. Take me. Claim me.”
Noah snarled and snapped his teeth. Glancing over his shoulder, Dax could see his
mate’s wolf fighting for control, desperate to claim what was theirs. Noah’s muscles tensed
and his hands curled into claws. He was clearly fighting a losing battle. Dax was grateful that
he was still rational enough to snatch the bottle of lube from the bedside table and quickly
slather up his cock with the slippery liquid. Dropping the bottle carelessly to the floor, Noah
gripped Dax’s hips and got himself into position. With a hand on both cheeks, he spread Dax
wide, lined up his dick and thrust home.
Dax cried out, the pain and fullness not even close to what he had experienced earlier.
As Noah continued to drive his hips forward, Dax could swear he was being torn in half. He
had allowed passion and need dictate his decisions. He’d convinced himself that he was
ready, but now, faced with the truth, he was far from it. True to his word, Noah never
stopped and he didn’t hold back. Ignoring Dax’s whining protests, he didn’t stop moving
until he bottomed out with his balls resting snuggly against Dax’s ass. A shudder worked its
way through his body as his muscles tightened around Noah’s invading flesh.
“Christ! Your ass is so perfect.” Noah’s voice was husky and raw. “How are you
doing?”
“Give me a minute,” Dax gasped, glancing back, struggling against the urge to throw
Noah off him and refuse to ever attempt it again. “Fuck! It’s too much. Maybe we should
stop.”
“There’s no stopping,” Noah gritted out, his eyes darkening to the near black of his
wolf. “You are mine and I will claim you. You can do this. Just give your body a minute to
relax. You set the pace.”
“Easy for you to say,” he grunted. “You’re not the one being impaled by a telephone
pole.”
A warm hand settled on his lower back, rubbing soothing circles into his tense flesh. It
took a few minutes, but the action had the desired effect as his muscles slowly began to
loosen. In spite of the pain, Dax knew Noah was right. There was nothing he wanted more
than to be claimed by his mate, and to claim his man in return. The fact that he had always
been the one running things from the top didn’t change anything. With an Alpha wolf as his
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mate, he was going to be spending a lot of time playing bottom. Despite his reservations, he
had to have faith that fate wouldn’t match him with someone he wasn’t sexually compatible
with. Taking a few deep breaths helped centre him and allowed him the focus he needed to
get himself back under control.
“Are you ready?” Noah’s calm words were belied by the tension in his hands as he
resumed his grip on Dax’s hips.
“Yeah.”
“Then show me.”
It was now or never. Leaning forward until only the head of Noah’s shaft was still
inside him, Dax took a breath then shoved back hard, impaling himself on Noah’s thick
length. His vision greyed around the edges and for one embarrassing moment, he thought he
might pass out. He was overwhelmed by the sensations coursing through his body, both the
good and the bad. They blended together seamlessly, beating down on him until he was
nothing more than a writhing mass of nerves, incapable of anything other than feeling. The
moan that fell from his lips was so broken, it was nearly unrecognizable.
Noah’s mouth was at his ear, nibbling and sucking at the lobe. “What do you want, D?”
“Fuck me.”
The words were barely more than a whisper of breath, but he knew Noah would hear
them. Grabbing a handful of Dax’s hair, Noah jerked his head to the side, licking and biting a
path up the column of his throat.
“Thought you’d never ask,” Noah growled, thrusting forward with a strength that no
human could ever hope to possess. The grip on his hips became bruising as Noah jerked him
back to meet his punishing thrusts. The action drove him deeper than ever into Dax’s
unexplored depths.
“Noah…” he groaned.
“God, you feel amazing. All hot and slick. Like a velvet glove, wrapped tight around
my dick. You were made for me. Do you feel it?”
“Yes,” Dax hissed, the word almost unintelligible, even to his own ears.
Lust drunk and passion blown, he was beyond speech. All he wanted was more—more
pleasure, more pain, more Noah. Reaching between his legs, he made a grab for his shaft but
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was intercepted by a swat from Noah. The pathetic whimper that escaped him was
something that he would deny for as long as he lived.
“No,” Noah barked. “Not touching. You’ll come from my cock in your ass. Nothing
else.”
Dax mewled in protest, but when Noah began to hammer into him with renewed force,
there was nothing left to do but hang on and enjoy the ride. A man on a mission, Noah
alternated between short, quick jabs and deep thrusts designed to drive him out of his mind.
Though he had never imagined spending the rest of his life with a man like Noah
Steele, now he couldn’t think of anything else. Noah was everything he hadn’t known he
needed. With every surge into his depths, Dax sensed the bond between them grow. A
connection designed to tie them together through this lifetime and all others. Fate had
destined them to be mates, but it was their actions at this moment that would take that
destiny and make it a reality. Dax understood that destiny could be a double-edged sword,
but as his mate moved within him, he had no regrets. Noah Steele was his future.
Noah’s rhythm became erratic, a signal of his mate’s impending release. There was an
answering tingle in his balls, then, without further warning, his release sprayed hot and
heavy beneath them. He came so hard it was like he’d been turned inside out. Moments later,
Noah’s cock swelled inside him, followed by a wash of hot fluid spraying his insides,
branding him as Noah’s for all time. A hand in his hair jerked his head back to meet Noah’s
mouth in a searing kiss.
Thrusting his tongue between Dax’s parted lips, Noah made sure not one inch of his
mouth went unexplored. He broke away from the kiss and licked a line across Dax’s
shoulder and throat before sinking his teeth into the muscled curve of his neck. Pain flared,
white hot, but was chased away just as quickly by a wave of pleasure so intense Dax lost all
feeling in his arms and legs. When Dax’s arms gave out, both men crashed down on the bed
in a messy, cum-covered pile.
Dax was surprised when Noah didn’t immediately disengage from his neck, instead
closing his lips around the flesh and drawing on the wound. He released Dax’s throat after a
few deep pulls, laved away the excess blood around the puncture and sealed it.
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Without warning, Noah slid out of Dax’s well-stretched hole, flipped him onto his back
and came down on top of him. He twined his fingers in Dax’s hair and coaxed Dax’s mouth
to the side of his throat.
Dax hesitated, unsure what he was supposed to do.
“Bite me,” Noah ordered, holding Dax’s head in an unbreakable grip.
Dax stared at the miles of golden skin and felt his mouth begin to water. The thought of
sinking his teeth into that soft flesh, of tasting the richness and strength of Noah’s blood, was
too tempting for him to ignore.
He leaned in and took a moment to enjoy the musky scent of Noah’s skin. He licked at
Noah’s throat. The salty, masculine flavour of his flesh was intoxicating. The tantalising
curve of his throat was too much for Dax to ignore and he plunged his canines into the
exposed flesh. When Noah’s blood hit his tongue, Dax knew he was hooked. The bold, heady
liquid poured into his mouth and sizzled against his tongue. It was the very essence of the
man and Dax couldn’t get enough.
“Harder,” Noah groaned, holding Dax’s head in place and encouraging him to deepen
the bite.
It was an order he was only too quick to obey. He took a handful of deep draws from
the wound before releasing Noah’s throat and sealing the cut.
Dax gasped for breath and stared at Noah in wonder. “What was that?” Dax barely
recognised the low, scratchy voice as his own.
Nuzzling Dax’s neck, Noah hummed in satisfaction. “That was me fucking you hard
and claiming you as mine. You said you wanted to wear my mark. Anything my mate wants,
my mate gets.”
Noah leant down and placed a gentle kiss on Dax’s throbbing bite. Based on the amount
of pain radiating from the site, the wound had to be deep.
“Shit,” Dax moaned, tentatively exploring the mark with the pad of his finger. “Do you
think it’s gonna scar?”
“Most definitely.” Noah smiled, a smug look of pleasure lighting his face. “Now
everyone will know you’re mine.” Placing one last kiss on his mark, Noah rolled over on his
side, careful not to squash Dax in the process.
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“There are easier ways to stake your claim that don’t involve maiming me,” Dax
muttered darkly.
Noah chuckled. “Calm down, diva. You are far from maimed.” Pulling back, he
examined the wound with a critical eyes. “Damn, babe. That is impressive. I don’t think I’ve
ever seen anything hotter than my mark highlighted by all that pale, creamy skin. Beautiful.”
“Screw you, Noah!” Dax groused, unable to hide his smile of satisfaction. “I’m no
fucking diva. I just don’t want to walk around looking like your goddamned chew toy,
okay?”
Noah laughed, a possessive glow shining in his eyes. “Oh, you want it, but you’re just
worried about what that means. Maybe you’re thinking that it makes you weak because you
like to be manhandled and ridden hard? I say that’s a load of crap. You fucking love the idea
of me marking you up and making you mine. Holding you down, bruises on your arms and
scratches down your back from me needing to be just that much closer to you. Baby, you
don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ve got a matching wound and I think it is the sexiest
thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s a badge of honour. I don’t care who sees it and neither
should you. No one’s stupid enough to think you’re weak. You’re stronger than just about
everyone else in this Pack and they all fucking know it. Trust me.”
Noah sat up and rubbed a hand over the short stubble of his hair. He met Dax’s eyes
and pinned him with a serious stare. “It won’t be easy between us, D. We’re both too
dominant for any of that hearts and flowers bullshit, but you can bet your ass that no one on
the face of this Earth will be as cherished as you are. I’m yours just as much as you’re mine.
We’re together in this thing, equals. Never doubt that.”
All of Dax’s snark and denials vanished under the weight of Noah words, striking him
mute from shock. The raw passion had been expected. There had been no doubt in his mind
that he and Noah’s physical chemistry would be off the charts and he had never been
happier to be proven right. The pleasant ache in his ass was all the reminder he needed of
their compatibility.
The emotions, on the other hand, were something that he’d never prepared himself for.
He’d been attracted to Noah from the first moment he saw him, despite the fact that the
Alpha had been bloody and dying on the floor. He had known in that instant that there was
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something special about the powerful Shifter. His survival in the face of something so
horrific had further proven the man’s true worth.
“You know, I never stopped thinking about you.”
Noah arched a brow. “Oh, yeah?”
Dax gave him a bemused smile. “You’ve been haunting me ever since the night we got
you back. I use to stop by the medical unit after missions and sit with you while you slept.”
Noah tilted his head and stared at him thoughtfully. “I don’t remember.”
“I doubt you would. You were pretty out of it.”
“Why didn’t you come by when I was awake or come see me when I was released to
my own apartment?”
“What can I say?” Dax shrugged. “I was a coward. You were still healing and you
didn’t know me. I figured there was no way in hell you’d want some stranger hanging
around, bothering you. In my defence, I didn’t know you were my mate. Your scent must
have been masked by all the blood when I first saw you at Jai’s apartment.” Dax gave him a
pointed look. “You knew we were mates. You could have come to me.”
Noah gave him a crooked grin, running a soothing hand down Dax’s back. “Yeah, but I
was still hung up on everything that had happened to me. I was prepared to let you go on
with your life and find someone else. I was sure there was no way I was capable to being the
mate you deserved.”
“And now?”
Noah rolled over, climbing on top of Dax and pinning him to the bed under his
considerable bulk. “Now, if someone even thinks about touching you, I will kill them. You
wear my mark, Dax Marshall. You are mine.”
Not giving Dax a chance to respond, Noah lowered his head and took Dax’s mouth in a
kiss so hot and consuming, Dax worried he might spontaneously combust.
“Noah,” he gasped when the need for air became too great. His voice quaked and his
vision blurred as moisture gathered in his eyes.
Groaning, Noah flopped down next to Dax, reached out and dragged him into the
warm shelter of his body. He pulled and tugged until Dax was firmly against his side, his
head resting on Noah’s chest just over his heart. “God, you’re a wreck. I’m a guy, D. I don’t
need pretty words from you or declarations of love. I already know how you feel because it’s
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how I feel, too. All I need is you and me, together, every day for the rest of our lives. The rest
is implied.”
Dax huffed out a laugh. “Wow, Noah. That was poetic.”
Noah shrugged. “What can I say? When you’ve got it, you’ve got it. Now, you need to
shut up and rest. Can’t have you getting hurt because you’re tired. I have plans for you when
we get back, and an injury will definitely disrupt them.”
“Looking forward to it,” Dax murmured, closing his eyes as he settled down to sleep.
Movement from Noah’s side of the bed had his eyes flying open in surprise. He found
Noah off the bed and searching around the floor, gathering up his scattered clothes.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Noah jerked up. “Shit! Don’t scare me like that, D. I was just going to get dressed and
head back to my room.”
Propping himself up on an elbow, Dax narrowed his eyes as he stared at Noah. “Why
would you leave? We’re mated. I assumed we’d stay together from now on.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why the fuck not?” Dax shoved himself up to a sitting position. “What aren’t you
telling me?”
“It’s nothing.”
“The hell it is. Tell me the truth.” Dax’s voice deepened and he narrowed his eyes.
“D, really, it’s—”
“So help me God, Noah. If you tell me it’s nothing one more time, I’m going to shave
you bald and dye your scalp purple while you sleep. If you have any doubts, go talk to
Warden.”
“Warden?”
“He ‘borrowed’ my Harley last year and brought it back with the paint job trashed.”
Dax gave him a smile that was all teeth. “Let’s just say, he won’t make that mistake again.”
A pained smile twisted Noah’s lips. “I don’t really sleep very well at night. It’s not a big
deal. I just didn’t want to keep you up. You need your rest.”
Dax’s expression softened as the meaning of his words sank in. He grabbed Noah’s
hand and jerked him back down on the bed. Dax rolled them over, then hovered over Noah,
gently tracing the contours of his face with his fingers. “Nightmares?”
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Noah’s jaw clenched and a flush slept across his cheeks. His nod was small but visible
and was all the confirmation Dax needed.
He dropped down on his mate’s chest and wrapped his arms and legs around him,
holding him as tight as he could. “I want you to stay the night. I promise, you are safe here
with me.”
“But if I wake up—” Noah protested.
“Then I suppose I’ll have to think of some way to help you get back to sleep, won’t I?”
Dax arched a brow, a grin curving his lips.
Noah chuckled, the deep sound resonating through Dax’s chest.
“Yeah,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to the skin of Dax’s throat, “I guess you will.
Goodnight, Dax.”
“Goodnight, Noah.”
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Chapter Four
The next morning had Noah, Dax and about fifteen other Pack members travelling,
caravan style, up 131 North. The mood was very different from the joviality of the previous
night. Ryker and Malachi had given them a very basic description of the building’s layout
and location, based on their intel. Unfortunately, the need to get back and report to their
Alpha had kept them from being able to follow up on the information and actually locate the
facility.
“All right, guys,” Dylan announced, turning around to face them. “I’d love to tell you
that we have a foolproof plan and that this mission is going to be a breeze, but I try not to
make a habit of lying to people. In truth, this whole mission is a clusterfuck. The intel we
have is sketchy at best and the man who provided it is the scum of the earth. He came to us,
not out of a need to do the right thing, but to save his own ass. We honestly don’t know
what, if anything, we may be walking into. I want you all to be on your guard.”
The closer they got to Petoskey, the more anxious Noah became. Rubbing the back of
his neck, he couldn’t shake the feeling that they needed to hurry. The way Dax was wringing
his hands and cracking his knuckles showed him to be in a similar state. Dylan and the other
guys in the vehicle seemed to be unaffected so he tried to ignore the feeling, but by the time
they reached the city limits, Noah’s skin was crawling like he was on the verge of releasing
his wolf. As an Alpha, he’d had complete control of his change since the age of eleven, so this
overwhelming urge to shift against his will was a completely foreign sensation.
“Dylan, I think the facility is nearby.” Noah’s voice wavered, coming out rough and
slightly unhinged.
Dylan gave a quick look over his shoulder then had his eyes back on the road. “Our
informant says that the facility should still be another twenty miles to the north.”
“I don’t give a shit what that asshole told you,” Noah thundered. “The facility is here,
close by.”
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Trying to calm himself, he closed his eyes and focused on his breathing. Suddenly, his
body was overcome by a cold wave of dread. Dax cried out, his features ashen, letting Noah
know that he was not experiencing it alone.
“Noah? What’s going on?” Dax sounded like he was going to lose his shit. With his size,
build and near Alpha tendencies, if he lost control in a moving vehicle, he could get them all
killed.
Gripping the back of his seat, Noah leant forward towards Dylan.
“You need to pull over,” Noah barked.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, you need to pull over, right fucking now!”
“What the hell, Noah?” Dylan snapped. “You don’t give the orders here. You may be an
Alpha, but you’re not my Alpha.”
“I don’t know what’s happening, but if you don’t get us stopped and out of sight, I can
guarantee you’re going to end up with a back seat full of pissed off, half-crazed wolf.”
Dylan must have sensed the seriousness in Noah’s voice. Luckily, they were coming up
on some kind of old service road. Jerking the steering wheel, Dylan drove the SUV down the
barely visible dirt track that led into the woods and out of sight. When they were far enough
back that they were out of sight from anyone driving by on the main highway, he came to a
stop and shut off the vehicle.
Noah didn’t wait around to give explanations. Between the way Dax’s skin was pulsing
and the noticeable elongating of his limbs, it was clear that he was losing the battle to fight
off his shift. Noah pushed open the door, grabbed Dax by the collar of his shirt and dragged
him from the car. He could feel the man’s entire body trembling as the need to shift tried to
overwhelm him. Knowing his mate was fighting a losing battle, he gripped Dax’s shoulders
and forced him to look him in the eyes.
“Dax, I want you to stop fighting it and just let it happen. Do you understand? Shift.”
Dax shook his head vehemently, his eyes filled with panic. “I can’t. Have to fight it.
Can’t let us be exposed.” He muttered the words and other incoherent nonsense, completely
focused on his internal fight.
“Dax,” Noah placated, “I think there’s a reason our wolves are trying to get out. I think
we need to trust their instincts and see where they lead us. Trust me. I will protect you.”
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Dax froze, his expression wary. After a moment, he sighed and the tension slowly
drained from his body. The shift came over him fast and was done almost as quickly as it
began. In the blink of an eye, a massive tawny wolf was standing before Noah, shaking its
body like a dog might do to shed water off its coat.
Holding out a hand, Noah allowed Dax’s wolf to scent him, becoming comfortable with
the every facet of his new Alpha mate. The large wolf lapped at Noah’s finger tips and gave a
sharp yip. It then lowered the front of its body to the ground, while raising its back,
presenting itself to Noah.
Noah huffed out a laugh at the wolf’s antics, giving Dax a quick head rub then shifting
himself. Seconds later, Noah’s own dark wolf stood next to Dax’s slightly smaller wolf,
allowing the beast to continue to sniff and lick him. When Dax’s wolf got a bit frisky, Noah
gave him a sharp nip on the nose in warning then turned to meet Dylan’s questioning gaze.
The Beta had also exited the vehicle and was standing off to the side with a look of confusion
and annoyance on his face.
“There is something here,” Noah sent to Dylan, as only an Alpha wolf could. “I’m not sure
what it is, but it’s close. I need you to trust me on this, Dylan.”
Dylan gave an exasperated sigh but nodded. “What do you want us to do?”
“Nothing yet. The man who gave us the information about the location of the facility had to have
been planted by my father. That means he’s not going to expect anyone looking around this location.
Dax and I will scout ahead. If there’s nothing to find, you have permission to give me shit about this
until the day I die.”
“But you’re sure there’s something out there?”
“Yes. I can’t explain how I know that or why, just Dax and I can sense it. All I know is that my
wolf is sure the facility is around here and that we need to get inside, soon.”
Dylan hesitated, but after a moment, nodded his agreement. “All right. I’ll round up the
rest of the team and fill them in on what’s going on. You guys go ahead. Let us know if you
find anything and we’ll meet you at your location.” Dylan squinted, assessing him. “I’m
starting to get a bad feeling about this. While I agree there has to be a reason that your wolf
would demand that we stop here, I’m worried you may be getting pulled into a trap. Alphas
tend to have a better feel for what’s going on around them, so be careful and contact us the
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minute you know something. We’ll storm that shithole tonight, if we need to. I don’t want
anyone else getting hurt if we’re able to stop it.”
Noah gave a sharp yip of agreement, then he and Dax turned and took off into the
surrounding forest. They raced side by side, as quickly as they could. The farther they ran,
the stronger the feeling of wrongness became. It ate away at him like acid churning in his
belly. He was certain that if they didn’t make it to wherever they were going soon, something
precious would be lost.
“Something’s very wrong, D. We have to hurry,” Noah pushed urgently.
“I know,” Dax answered. “I can feel it too.”
They ran full out for nearly ten minutes before Noah sensed something was near. He
sent a mental warning to Dax, who nodded his acceptance. Slowing their speed, they crept
quietly through the underbrush until they came to the edge of a large clearing. As the trees
thinned, they were able to make out a large structure built in among the trees. An eerie
silence filled the area.
At first glance, it appeared to be an old, run-down hunting lodge. Built right into the
side of a hill, the dilapidated building looked like a strong wind could bring it crashing to the
ground. However, closer inspection revealed motion sensors and trip wires placed
throughout the surrounding foliage. They were extremely lucky they hadn’t already set off
any of the alarms. It was times like these when Noah was grateful for the experience he’d
acquired working with security systems for Eli’s company, Steele Security. He knew he could
disarm most of the alarms and explosives, but he was going to have to be human to do it.
While being a Shifter came with many advantages, opposable thumbs wasn’t one of them. To
say his wolf was not happy with that idea was putting it mildly. The beast’s sole thought was
of protecting their mate, using claws and teeth. Unfortunately, in their current situation,
neither were going to help them.
Sending a brief mental shout out to Dylan about their current location, Noah quickly
shifted and systematically disarmed the security measures around the building under the
watchful, protective eyes of Dax’s wolf. By the time Dylan and the rest of team arrived, Noah
had disarmed all of the traps in the surrounding woods and had just finished hotwiring the
locking mechanism on the entry door.
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Within the span of a few moments, Dax had shifted back and was walking side by side
with Noah. Noah had to admit, the guys were fierce as they emerged from the forest, dressed
in head-to-toe black, while carrying more fire power than most armouries would have at the
ready. He observed Dylan’s approach as he walked towards them, just slightly ahead of the
rest of the team. With his shoulders back and his head held high, he was the perfect example
of a strong leader. The fact his men followed him without hesitation spoke volumes as to the
kind of man he was.
Noah remembered a time, not so far gone, when he had been exactly like Dylan. When
there was nothing more important to him that the well-being of his Pack. He would have
done anything for them—would have willingly sacrificed his life for any one of them, if need
be. It was the mindset of every wolf of power, a trait born and bred within them. The need to
be strong—to protect—to defend.
After his time with spent with Carl, Noah didn’t know if he had it in him to be that man
again. The only people he felt driven to protect were his mate and his family. He no longer
had the selfless desire to lead and care for a Pack. If they were able to stop his father, the
Mason Pack would be left without a leader. Just the thought of stepping in and filling that
void had Noah breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Run into any trouble?” Dylan sauntered up to them, a sense of confidence and
readiness practically oozing from his pores.
Shaking off his melancholy, Noah shrugged. “Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
“Do I want to know?”
“We’ve got more important things to worry about,” Noah answered, motioning to the
lodge at his back.
Dylan frowned. “How the hell are we going to get into that piece of shit without getting
caught?”
“Getting in isn’t going to be the problem,” Noah dismissed. “I was able to override the
locking mechanism on the door and deactivate the exterior cameras.”
Lips parted, Dylan stared at him in disbelief. “How the hell did you manage all that?
You guys have been gone for like five minutes?”
“Don’t get yourself all excited,” Noah muttered. “I do this kind of stuff all the time at
work. Knowing the ins and outs of security systems is Steele Security’s bread and butter.”
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“Fucking brilliant.” Dylan grinned, giving Noah a hard clap on the back. “Now that all
the hard work’s done, what are you worried about?”
Noah sighed. “My concern is for what’s on the other side of that door. Without being
able to see it, I have no way to prepare a defence. The main problem is definitely going to be
the guards. There’s no way of knowing how many are in there or how well they’re armed.
We’re gonna be flying blind and I don’t like it. Especially not when I’ve got my mate with
me. It’s a huge risk.”
Dylan pursed his lips and glared at Noah. “You are acting like an idiot. Do you think
Dax was sitting back at the Pack House baking cookies before you came along? Trust me, I
understand the need to keep your mate from harm, but right now, all you’re doing is hurting
him. Your fear is irrational and it’s showing everyone else that you’ve deemed Dax weak. If
this continues, it’ll start to undermine his position in the Pack. Dax is a soldier and more than
capable of taking care of himself.” The anger in his eyes lessened, allowing Noah to catch a
glimmer of regret. “You’re going to lose him if you keep treating him like he’s made of glass
and can’t defend himself. I know better than anyone that driving away your mate is
something you don’t recover from. It’s not an experience I’d wish on anyone.” Dylan
coughed and cleared his throat. “Now, we’re wasting time. We didn’t come all this way to
back out once we’ve reached the finish line.”
There was no point in arguing. Dylan had made his point well.
“Fuck,” Noah groaned, closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose. “This is
going to suck.”
Dylan shrugged. “You could always wait here and let the team handle it. We can watch
Dax’s back just fine.”
“Now you’re the one acting like an idiot,” Noah snarled, his vision going red as anger
rushed to the surface. “No way in hell are you taking my mate anywhere without me. I am
an Alpha. None of you can keep him safe the way I can. Where he goes, I go.” With his arms
crossed over his chest, Noah heaved in a breath as he struggled to temper his rage.
Laughing, Dylan raised his hands in surrender. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. I was
just checking,” Dylan said and nodded towards the door. “Shall we go?”
Noah nodded. “After you.”
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A sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air and an unnatural silence settled over the
area. Something dark and malevolent emanated from the structure. He didn’t want Dax
anywhere near the place, but something pulled at him. The need to enter the building was
just as strong as the need to take Dax away from the unknown danger. There was something
inside those cursed walls that needed to be found. Unfortunately, he had no doubt that if he
entered the lodge, there was no way, short of hog-tying Dax, that he would be going in
without his mate. The look of determination in his mate’s eyes had him choking back an
order for the other man to remain outside. One look at Dax, and Noah knew he would never
forgive him if he forced him to stay behind. Dylan’s warning stayed with him, reminding
him that his mate was a strong wolf in his own right. He knew the man would be able to take
care of himself.
Nodding his reluctant agreement, Noah joined the rest of the team, ready to start
plotting out the next leg of their mission. Noah and Dax had just finished giving Dylan an
update on the security measures they had encountered in the woods, when a soul-wrenching
scream shattered the silence. It seemed to be coming from everywhere and nowhere, all at
the same time. The cry pierced his chest, like a shot straight to the heart, causing something
wild and feral to break free within him.
Noah shifted without a thought and ran towards the entrance of the building. He could
feel Dax running alongside him, grounding and supporting him. A chorus of curses and
shouts sounded out behind them but were ignored. The time for action was now.
He ramped up speed and homed in on the door. With a final push, Noah slammed into
it with every bit of strength he could muster. The door had no hope of surviving a direct
attack from a two hundred pound Alpha wolf. It buckled under the strain. The guard on the
other side never even saw the attack coming as Noah swiped out with his claws. In a matter
of seconds, the man’s throat was ripped out and he was left as nothing more than a bleeding
carcass on the floor.
The rest of the team was able to infiltrate the building with little difficulty. The handful
of remaining guards patrolling the hall were taken out swiftly. Once inside, the team spread
out, splitting into pairs to investigate the rest of the structure. Noah and Dax stayed together
and cautiously made their way deeper into the building.
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While the structure might have had the appearance of a rustic hunting lodge on the
outside, the inside was all white walls, metal fixtures and the overwhelming stench of
disinfectant. Noah tried to scent the area but quickly found that the noxious scent of the
cleaner made it impossible. He might as well be ‘scent dead’. To a Shifter, the inability to
scent was akin to blindness, completely disrupting their ability to interpret the world around
them.
Dax was becoming more agitated by the second. Pacing back and forth, he whined and
scratched at the floor. Giving up on what was usually one of his most useful skills, Noah
shifted into his human form, closed his eyes and focused on that strange sense of urgency
that had led him to this place to begin with.
At first, Noah felt nothing. He fought the urge to roar in frustration and was about to
start a room to room search when the feeling flared back to life, drawing him to a corridor
that led down and off to the right. Not bothering to question it, he hurried down the hall,
unsure what he would find but convinced that speed was a must.
Reinforced steel doors lined the hallway and were completely at odds with the derelict
lodge exterior. The heavy duty doors looked like they would have been more at home in an
old warehouse. Making his way down the hall, Noah reached out with his senses, desperate
to latch onto some clue as to what had drawn him there. The first few sets of doors they
passed held no interest for him. He walked by, giving them no more than a cursory glance.
White walls, concrete floors and medical equipment lined counters. It left room to hope that
there were still people they could save somewhere within the facility.
Farther down the hall, he was drawn to a large metal door with a glass viewing
window, much like someone would expect to find in a hospital or prison. Easing up to the
window, he carefully peeked over the edge and into the room.
It had a bare concrete floor and walls, similar to a warehouse. The walls were lined with
large metal cages and all of them were full. The cages gave the inhabitants just enough space
to crouch and crawl. They couldn’t have been more than five and a half feet in height and
width. There was a fairly even ratio of men to woman. All of the prisoners were naked, their
cells empty except for a thin, bed roll and a bucket in the corner. From the paleness of their
skin and their sunken eyes, it was clear that they were not new ‘guests’ at the lodge.
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After doing a quick survey of the room and finding no sign of a guard, Noah silently let
himself inside with Dax, still in wolf form, hot on his heels. He walked over to the row of
cages, needing to take a closer look at the locks keeping them imprisoned. Noah hadn’t made
it more than a handful of steps when a woman in the closest cell stirred. He froze, not
wanting their presence to startle the captives to the point where they gave away their
location. Quiet was key. The woman gave a slight jerk and sniffed the air then settled back
against the cell wall. Noah let out a silent breath, relief washing over him at the near miss.
He remained still until he heard her breathing slow and even out, signalling her return
to sleep. Noah took a few steps towards her cell and her head rolled to the side, freezing him
in place with an extremely alert set of baby blues. There was a wariness that bordered on
hostility darkening her heart-shaped face. Dax stepped in front of him, letting out a low snarl
of warning, his narrow-eyed focus completely on the jailed female. Without a word, she
nodded in some kind of silent agreement and presented her neck to them both. It was a sign
of trust and an acknowledgement of dominance. Her actions seemed to appease Dax. He
took a step back and quieted while still keeping her pinned under a watchful eye.
Noah approached her cell door and took the lock in his hand, examining it for possible
weaknesses. His father had spared no expense. The man wasn’t taking any chances that his
prisoners might escape. The brand of lock Alpha Steele had chosen was known for being
nearly uncrackable. Short of a set of bolt cutters, there was no way Noah was going to be able
to pick the lock. A glance around the room told him there was no such instrument in their
current location. Their best chance to get the cells open quickly and quietly was to somehow
find the keys. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Cabinets skirted the room, and
upon opening them, Noah found they were laden with a multitude of bins filled with
miscellaneous medical paraphernalia. Taking in the sheer magnitude of it, he realised it
would be a miracle if they were able to find the key without being discovered.
A quiet cough drew his attention back to the female. Looking at him with wide,
beseeching eyes, she pointed to a tall storage cabinet, half hidden behind a rack of linens and
scrubs. He didn’t bother with any further questions. Crossing the room in just a handful of
long strides, Noah pulled open the cabinet with so much force, he almost ripped the door
completely off. Inside, he found a metal rack mounted to the cabinet wall. Pegs lined the
rack, each holding a simple set of keys. Noah prayed that they went to the cells. If not, they
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were in deep shit. After grabbing a handful of keys, he headed back to the rows of cages,
coming to a stop in front of the cage holding the female.
As he approached, he took in the young woman’s appearance. He realised, upon closer
inspection, that she was little more than a child. If he were a betting man, he wouldn’t put
her age any higher than sixteen years. The thought of her in this place—of what might have
been done to her here—made Noah want to beat the shit out of someone. His only solace was
that after today, no one would be able to hurt her, or the others, ever again. They were
busting out of this joint and they were leaving no man, or woman, behind.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he soothed as he worked his way through the different
keys, searching for the one he needed to set her free.
Reaching through the bars, she grabbed his hand in a tight grip. “Give me the keys and
I will get everyone out,” she demanded, her voice surprisingly clear and strong. “You have to
get to Landon. They’re going to kill him—or worse.” Her eyes took on a wet sheen and one
fat tear escaped down her cheek before she was able to blink them back. “You have to protect
Landon—please?”
Confused by her request, Noah was shocked even further when he saw the rest of the
inhabitants of the cages awake, alert and nodding in agreement.
“Who’s Landon?”
“We don’t have time to get into this, right now,” she replied, irritation ringing clear in
her voice. “For now, let’s leave it at the fact that he is someone very special who needs to be
protected. His safety is more important than ours. The assholes running this place think he’s
defective and they may just kill him by accident with their ignorance. You have to get to him
before they do something irreparable to him. Please—I’m begging you.”
Noah shook his head in disbelief before standing to hand her the keys. “All right, you
win. Do you have any idea where they might have taken him?”
“Yeah. Two doors down, on the left. It’s the ‘Breeding Room’.”
The distaste in her voice was palpable and the haunted look in her eyes made him want
to kill someone. He hoped he got the chance, and soon. Someone deserved to die for what
had been done to these people.
“How will I recognise him? What does he look like?”
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She huffed in impatience. “Six foot, blond hair and blue eyes. He won’t be hard to spot.
He’ll be the one bleeding.”
Noah gave her a brisk nod, turned on his heel and headed out of the door, Dax right at
his side. His hands shook and his heart thundered the closer they drew to the door. A near-
constant rumbling emanated from Dax’s wolf, the eerie sound causing the hair on Noah’s
arms to stand on end and a shiver to work its way through his body.
As they reached another industrial strength portal, another heartbreaking shriek filled
the air. Noah glanced at Dax and knew, between the two of them, that they were going to kill
the person or persons who were responsible for those sounds of pain. Pushing open the door,
Noah eased into the room and walked into a scene straight out of his nightmares.
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Chapter Five
Everything was white—from the floor, to the ceiling, to the large stacks of storage crates
that ringed the outside edge of the room. Even the men were dressed completely in white. A
large exam table set up, centre stage. It was covered with a sheet that Noah assumed had also
started out a pristine white. The pale linen was now spotted red with blood from deep
gashes in the man’s wrists and ankles. The wounds had to have been caused by the thick
restraints biting into his vulnerable flesh. The crimson spray against the sterile white created
a macabre effect that turned Noah’s stomach and left him fighting for control. The man was
still struggling against his bonds in a futile attempt at escape. He released a whimper filled
with such pain and suffering, Noah barely managed to bite back the growl that threatened to
escape him.
Landon.
Noah took a step towards the table, thankful that the other men hadn’t noticed their
presence. They had their backs to them, huddled together while looking over some charts on
the opposite side of the room. Noah and Dax had worked their way around the outside edge
of the room when one of the men walked over to their captive and raised a fisted hand. In a
move quicker than Noah’s eyes could register, the man swung, striking down hard and
eliciting a low moan from the prisoner strapped to the table.
“You worthless piece of shit!” he roared, slamming his hands down on the table, right
next to the prisoner’s face. His knuckles were bloody and his face was flushed an angry red.
“You’re lucky that we’re even willing to keep your defective hide alive at this point. If the
boss finds out that we went to all the trouble to get our hands on you and you’re completely
useless for his purposes, he’ll make an example out of both you and us.”
The murderous look in his eyes enraged Noah. He was ready to hurtle over the stack of
crates that was currently providing them with cover and killing the asshole on the spot when
another man stepped forward, placing a restraining hand on the guard’s shoulder. He was
older with greying hair at his temples and pronounced wrinkles around his mouth and eyes.
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Noah assumed he was some kind of doctor based on the lab coat he wore and the air of
superiority that seemed to ooze from his pores.
“Now, now, Alec. Let’s not lose sight of what we’re trying to do here. He’s of no use to
us dead. That’s not even mentioning what Alpha Steele will do to you if you cause him any
permanent damage.”
“This is bullshit, Gregory. What makes him so damn important?” the guard, Alec,
snapped. “We’ve been wasting our time with this one for months with nothing to show for it.
My men could have brought in a dozen new bodies in that amount of time. We should cut
our losses and be done with it.”
The doctor levelled Alec with an icy glare. “That is not for you to decide. You would do
well to remember that you are not in charge here. Your job is to keep an eye on the prisoners
and protect this facility. Life and death decisions are way above your pay grade.”
The guard’s face purpled and his body practically vibrated with fury as he glared at the
doctor. His lack of contradiction just proved who was truly in charge of the facility. When
Alec took a step towards the older man, Noah thought he might do them a flavour and take
the good doctor out. Sadly, it was not meant to be. Faltering after just a few steps, he seemed
to have second thoughts about the wisdom of his actions.
Alec gave the doctor a stilted nod of acknowledgement. “My apologies, Gregory,” he
muttered, a trace of venom leaking into his words. “It won’t happen again.”
Gregory snorted in derision. “See that it doesn’t.” Turning his attention back to his
charts, he dismissed the guard without a care. Shooting one last glare at the doctor’s back,
Alec walked over to where the other guards were congregating, whispering in low tones.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Noah and Dax stealthily worked their way
around the room. They needed to get a better position and remain undetected for as long as
possible. They were positioned behind the men, when they were finally able to see the
condition of the prisoner strapped to the table. At first, Noah was only able to make out bits
and pieces from between the bodies of the guards surrounding the table—the curve of a hip,
a hint of pectoral, the pad of a bare toe. All parts of an unknown whole. Noah was ready to
throw them out of the way by the time they finally sidled off to the side, still arguing about
what they were to do with their prisoner. Their opportune movement left their captive fully
visible for the first time.
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Noah felt like he had been punched in the stomach when his gaze locked with eyes of
the palest blue he had ever seen. He was about six feet tall with pale hair the colour of
summer wheat. Built like a swimmer, he had a flat stomach and wide, thick shoulders.
Judging by the way his ribs and hip bones protruded, Noah could tell his captors hadn’t been
feeding him properly.
Once we get him out of here, Dax and I will have to take proper care of him. Noah jerked in
surprise at his own thoughts. What the hell? Where had that come from? Narrowing his eyes,
he took in the young man’s bound form as he tried to make sense of his own reaction. He had
no idea what’d prompted it, but it seemed as natural as breathing. Noah glanced at Dax and
saw that his wolf’s head was cocked to the side while he stared at the wounded man intently.
“Dax?”
“I feel it, too.”
“What do you feel?”
“I feel like…he’s ours.”
Noah couldn’t have put it any better if he’d tried. An ache formed in his chest, right
over his heart. He lifted a hand and rubbed the spot, hoping to ease the dull throbbing.
Trying to wrap his mind around it seemed impossible. It was more likely that his brain
would explode as he strained to make sense of their new development.
Movement from the other side of the room pulled him out of his musing and dragged
his attention back to their young man. Noah’s blood turned to ice. His shock was quickly
replaced by a near blinding rage when he saw the guards return. The same guard, Alec,
glowered as he approached. The others hung back, their expressions filled with interest while
they waited for orders from their superior. Determination was stamped on the man’s face,
but what concerned Noah most was the unmistakable glimmer of derision shining in his
eyes.
“Landon, it’s become painfully clear that we may never be able to use you for the
purposes Alpha Steele originally intended. Whether it’s a decision on your part to be a pain
in my ass or a by-product of your defect, we may never know. I, for one, don’t give a fuck.
This is your last chance to cooperate before we cull you from the group. If you cooperate and
allow the good doctor to run his tests and get the samples he needs, I promise you’ll live to
see another day. Fight the process or flat out refuse, then you’re done.” Alec gritted his teeth,
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grabbing Landon’s bicep and squeezing it in a punishing hold. “I refuse to keep feeding and
sheltering you here, knowing we’re not getting any return on our investment. Do you
understand?”
A pained grimace crossed Landon’s face and his whole body trembled as he tried to
pull away from the man’s touch. “I’m not doing anything to disrupt the doctor’s tests. It’s
just the way I am,” he pleaded. “I can’t help you get what you’re asking for. I don’t have any
control over it.”
Alec scowled and anger coloured his cheeks a deep crimson. “What the hell are you
talking about, boy? Are you simple in the big head, as well as defective in the little one? I’m
not asking you for the secrets of the universe. All I’m asking is, the next time I send you some
hot piece of ass, you stop fighting your arousal and go with the flow. It’s as simple as that.”
Landon shook his head forlornly. “That’s where you’re wrong. It’s not simple, at all.
Not for me.”
“What the fuck are you blathering on about?”
“Nothing,” Landon muttered, quietly averting his eyes. “It’s not something you would
understand.”
“Excuse me?” Alec barked. “Is your little faggot ass calling me stupid?”
The guard’s hand shot out as quickly as a viper’s strike, cracking across Landon’s face
in a blur of motion. In seconds, Landon’s face was already displaying an angry red handprint
across his cheek.
The gleam of moisture in the smaller man’s eyes had Noah seething. Dax was in no
better shape as his wolf paced back and forth, lips pulled back in a snarl, fully displaying his
razor sharp fangs. Noah’s hand on his head, tightly gripping his fur was the only thing
holding him back from attacking, full out. While Noah would like nothing better than to tear
the bastard limb from limb, the last thing he wanted was for Landon to be harmed further.
He sent out a mental call for help to the rest of the team, hoping they were near enough to
assist.
“Fine! If that’s the way you want it, you leave me no choice. Boys,” he shouted over his
shoulder to the gathered guards, “it’s time to take out the trash.”
“Wait!”
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Noah’s heart shuttered as he had a moment to wonder if it were possible for a Shifter to
have a heart attack. The doctor’s halting words couldn’t have come at a better time. Every
minute the guards delayed improved their chances of backup arriving in time.
“What’s your damn problem, Doctor?” Alec snarled.
Belligerent as the guard was, Noah wouldn’t have been surprised if he took a swing at
the doctor next.
“Alpha Steele has plans for this one. Under no circumstances is he to be permanently
harmed or allowed to go free. Those are our orders.”
“I think I’ve made my feelings about those orders abundantly clear,” Alec barked. “You
let me handle this my way and I promise, you will get your test results and Alpha Steele will
be none the wiser. Admit it—with all the restrictions Alpha Steele has in place, you haven’t
been able to make any real progress, have you?”
“No,” Gregory answered coolly.
“See. This will be a no-lose situation for both of us. You’ll finally be able to run all the
tests you’ve been wanting to and when you’re done I will finally be able to get this piece of
shit out of here for good.”
Gregory cocked his head to the side, an air of thoughtfulness surrounding him. It was
like he was observing a bug under a microscope, trying to puzzle out what made it work.
“I’ve never understood your animosity for the young man. What is it about him that you find
so offensive?”
Alec’s eyes darkened. “He’s defiant. He has an effect on the prisoners—stirs them up
and encourages their resistance. I don’t like it. The sooner we get him out of here, the sooner
things will go back to normal. How long do you think it will take to run your tests?”
Gregory’s brow furrowed. “It is imperative that we find a way to force his body to
experience arousal, either naturally or chemically. Alpha Steele’s orders demand it.
Unfortunately, all my efforts so far have been unsuccessful. Assuming we can find a way to
overcome that hurdle? I think I can have them done in a day, maybe two, tops. I will need to
borrow some of your men, though. The main focus of my research requires samples of both
blood and semen while he is aroused. I’ve already exposed him to all of the prisoners in an
effort to get the needed response, but I have been unable to achieve the necessary response.
His defect seems to have trapped his body in a state similar to prepubescence. No signs of
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arousal, no ejaculation, completely asexual. I’m hopeful one of your men may be able to
stimulate him in some way.”
“Why? What is so special about this kid that Alpha Steele is willing to commit this
amount of time and resources into studying him? My men and I could be out there rounding
up more subjects for your programme but instead, we’re trapped here, babysitting. It’s a
waste.”
“You know nothing,” the doctor spat. “He is an Omega and the key to everything we
are trying to achieve. We need to see him awakened to his full potential and, at the moment,
the only way we know how to do that it to find his mate. If we can pinpoint the differences in
his genetics compared to other shifters, we may be able to duplicate them in other wolves.
The possibilities in the breeding programme alone would be priceless. Alpha Steele would be
unstoppable.”
Alec was silent, seeming to soak in the Gregory’s words. After a moment he nodded.
“Whatever you need, you’ll have. Since you’ve already got my team and me down here, you
might as well start your testing with us. The sooner you get started, the sooner we get this
whole mess wrapped up and out of our hair. What do you need us to do?”
The guards moved in and assembled around the doctor who began doling out orders.
Men hurried around the room, gathering equipment, vials and syringes filled with
mysterious liquids in varying colours. The young man who only moments before had been
their ultimate focus, was now nearly forgotten in the hustle and bustle of their preparations.
Noah looked on as Landon seemed to shrink in on himself. The complete desolation on
his face made his features drawn in and tight. His body shook with tremors and he turned
away, tears now freely falling down his cheeks. He appeared so broken and alone, Noah
could swear his heart shattered. At least Landon would be free soon and no one would ever
get a chance to harm him again.
Waiting for their opening was hard, especially when Alec took a step towards the exam
table with a calculating look in his eyes. “All right, Doc. What do you need us to do?”
“I see a few of your men are new and have yet to be exposed to the subject. They need
only approach him, one at a time. There are natural responses the body has to attraction and
arousal. I’ll be observing him to see if any of your men are able to encourage a reaction from
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him. It will make my job that much easier if we are able to identify someone who has a
stimulating effect on him. If not, we’ll have to move on to more…invasive testing.”
“Whatever you say, Doc. All right, boys, line it up. We’re gonna do this one at a time so
no screwing around. Let’s go.”
Noah was on his feet, ready to make his move if one of those assholes even breathed
funny in Noah’s vicinity. He no longer cared if it would put them at a disadvantage. There
was no way in hell he was going to let that fucked-up piece of shit touch Landon again.
Dax was of a similar mind. His hackles rose and his shoulders dropped as he readied
himself to spring forward and strike. The sight of Dax in full-on attack mode nearly stopped
Noah’s heart. The beauty and savagery of it was breathtaking. Knowing that his own wolf
would have a distinct advantage in this situation, Noah shifted into his furrier side and
waited. The moment Alec tried to touch their Landon, his life was over. They leaned into
each other for comfort and support, waiting for their opportunity to act.
One by one, the men approached. Some ran their hands over his limbs using teasing
touches while others took it further, exposing themselves to him while fondling themselves.
Man after man made an attempt. Despite their efforts, Landon remained unmoved, his long
shaft flaccid as it lay draped across his thigh. The resignation on his face was heartbreaking.
Gregory sighed and ran a hand over his face. “No reaction whatsoever. Not even a
twitch. I was afraid of this.”
“What now, Gregory? Do you want me to send for another group of guards?”
“Honestly, I don’t think it’s going to do any good. There has never been any evidence of
arousal in the subject. While it pains me to admit it, I doubt that will ever change. Without
knowing what is causing his abnormality, I have no to way to counteract it.”
A malicious glow lit Alec’s eyes as he glanced over at Landon’s prone form. “You hear
that? You’re even more defective than I thought, you pussy boy freak.” He turned inquiring
eyes to Gregory. “This changes things. Will you be able to get any new information from him
if we can’t get him ‘stimulated’?”
Gregory grimaced in distaste. “No. Beyond dissecting him, I’ve done all the testing I
can do without the change brought on by his arousal.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully. “We
could attempt a vivisection. An inside view of his system may reveal answers we haven’t yet
been able to ascertain.”
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“You’re joking.”
Gregory blinked. “Have you ever known me to joke?”
“Well, no…”
“That’s because I don’t. I would never joke when it comes to matters of science and
discovery.”
Alec swallowed and his skin paled. “You’re the one who said that Alpha Steele wanted
him alive.”
“He would be alive. That’s the beauty of it.”
“Yeah, I’m understanding that part. What I’m confused about is how you’re going to
keep him alive.”
“I am a doctor,” Gregory scoffed, his shoulders thrown back in righteous indignation.
“I’ll admit, it would be a sensitive procedure but with my full medical team on hand, I don’t
see any reason for concern.”
From the stiff way he held himself, Alec was obviously uncomfortable with the turn of
events. “How long would it take you to get your team assembled and ready to work?”
“Not long,” Gregory answered. “About an hour.”
Alec nodded. “All right. Call your team and start your preparations. What do you want
us to do with him?”
Gregory looked at Landon with cool detachment. He didn’t seem to see the living,
breathing, terrified man. It was clear that all he saw was a test subject with secrets still to be
revealed. “You can move him back to his cell. We’ll need to sterilize the room and set up our
equipment. I’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to bring him back.”
“All right, guys. You heard the doc. Let’s get him out of here.”
The men moved as one, converging in on Landon’s trapped form. Noah took that as his
signal, leaping over a stack of crates and ploughing, full speed, into the gathered men. He
could feel Dax behind him, mirroring his actions. The element of surprise was their greatest
ally, allowing them to cut their way through two of the five-man group without them even
realising they were under attack.
Biting, clawing and slashing their way across the room, Noah and Dax managed to herd
the stunned guards back and away from Landon’s prone form. As they neared the entrance,
a glint of metal caught Noah’s eye and he knew he’d found his chance to buy them some
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time. Shifting with a speed few could manage, he threw his body to the side, rolling across
the floor to the semi-automatic handgun that had to have been abandoned by one of the
guards in their haste to retreat. He chambered a round, released the safety and began firing
towards the guards, forcing them to take cover in the hallway outside the exam room.
Noah slammed the door shut behind them, then quickly moved to engage the lock. He
grabbed a few spare IV poles from the corner and used them to further bar the door. It wasn’t
much, but he was willing to use anything available to help bolster their defences. It was just a
matter of time before the guards were able to force their way back into the room. They
needed to have Landon free and a plan in action before that happened.
Reasonably happy with what they’d managed to accomplish so far, Noah led the way
back over to the table where Landon was still restrained. Pale blue eyes, wide with shock,
met Noah’s and in the space of a moment, he knew he was lost. This man—this beautiful
blue-eyed Adonis—belonged to them. Mate. His wolf rumbled in satisfaction, their final
piece, no longer missing.
If he wasn’t experiencing it, Noah wouldn’t have believed it was possible. There had
always been rumours—legends, really—that spoke of Triads and the power that came from
them. Never in his life had Noah ever heard of a real Triad taking place. It was baffling and
awe-inspiring and later, when they had the time, he’d allow himself to get carried away in
the amazingness but, for now, he had to focus on keeping both of his mates alive long
enough to enjoy them.
The sound of something slamming against the door had Noah sprinting across the
room. Looking through the viewing portal, he saw that there were still six men alive, and
wouldn’t you know it, Alec just happened to be one of them. The man’s sneering face homed
in on his own, looking him over venomously.
“Well, well, well,” the guard taunted. “What do we have here? Is this a rescue party or
just a few more recruits for the programme?” He stared at them with an air of haughty
indifference. “The only thing you’ve achieved with this little stunt is to delay the inevitable
and royally piss me off. Enjoy your freedom while you can because you’ve just volunteered
to be Doctor Gregory’s newest test subjects.”
As the guards resumed their barrage on the door, Noah pushed as many of the storage
crates as he could in front of the entrance before returning to Landon’s side. The wary look
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the young man directed at him, while expected, still hurt like a bitch. Turning away, he went
to Dax’s side, crouching down to look him in the eye.
“Dax, I need you to shift back and help me get Landon out of his restraints. Once he’s loose, I’ll
shift back and hold them off to buy you some time.”
“And what about you? There’s no way you’ll be able to hold them off by yourself.”
“Don’t worry about me, D. The most important thing is that you and Landon get out of here
safely. Everything else will work itself out.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit, Noah! You’re setting yourself up for a suicide mission. We’re
mates. Mates stick together. You don’t get to leave us.”
Rising to his feet, Noah turned away and began inspecting the restraints. The rough
leather straps circling his wrists and ankles wouldn’t be a problem. The thick steel chains
coiled around his hips and torso were held together with flimsy combination locks, similar to
what someone would use to secure a bike chain. It was the wide metal band circling
Landon’s neck that was going to be the problem. The thick steel encased the base of his
throat and was secured in place by an electronic locking mechanism, built right into the
device. With no key or combination, and no clue how the contraption worked, removal
would be tricky to accomplish without causing Landon pain.
Noah cast a glance over his shoulder. “I can distract them long enough to give you a chance
to get Landon away from here. Don’t you think he’s suffered enough? Even if I’m captured, I can
handle whatever they dish out. I just need to know the two of you are safe.”
“I won’t leave you here. I won’t abandon you.”
“You will follow my orders. I am an Alpha! It is my job to protect you.”
“No! We are mates. We protect each other.”
“Who—are you?” a strained voice whispered.
Both men jerked, their attention immediately directed to their injured mate. Noah
hurried to his side, praying that he didn’t frighten him further.
“You can hear me, little one?” Noah couldn’t hide his surprise. Unless he was focusing on
someone, they usually couldn’t hear him speak telepathically.
“Y-yes.”
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“My name is Noah and that other mangy beast is Dax. He is going to shift and help me
get you out of these restraints. Once you’re free, he’s going to help you get out of here. I want
you to trust him. He’ll take good care of you.”
Landon raised his hand to his neck, weakly, and grabbed a hold of the thick metal band
that circled it. “The collar—” he gasped. “You have to remove it. Please.”
Noah inspected the roughly hewn coil. “What does it do?”
“Shocks me. Keeps me from being able to shift. It has to come off. There’s a perimeter
setup throughout the facility. If I cross it, it will pump me full of enough energy to
incapacitate me.”
“Okay, so let’s get it off you,” Noah replied and reached for the edge of the band.
“Wait!” Landon cried.
“What’s the problem?”
“There is a current that runs through its core at all times. If you tamper with it, without
shutting down the current first, it could kill us both.”
“Damn,” Noah muttered. “What a bunch of sick fucks.” Looking down, he gave
Landon what he hoped was a reassuring smile. “Close your eyes. I need you to hold very
still. I don’t want to hurt you, but I have to try to figure out how to get this thing off you.”
“All right,” Landon whispered. He tilted his head back and did as Noah asked.
Noah began his inspection with slow, cautious movements. He felt along the device’s
surface until he located a small indentation in its façade. He held his breath and pressed
down gently. There was a small click and a panel slid open, revealing a small section of
exposed wires and circuits. If he could find the right wire, the rest would be easy.
“Can you shut it down?” Dax asked over his shoulder.
“I need something sharp,” Noah answered, his attention never straying from his task as
he systematically tracked each wire back to its source. Red, yellow, black, green, blue. Bingo!
A moment later, Dax pressed a cool shard of metal into his hand. “Will this work?”
Noah fingered the sharp, ragged edge. “It’s perfect. Now, I want you to go to the other
side of the room.”
“What? Why?”
“When I cut the wire, there’s a very real possibility that I could set off the collar and kill
Landon and myself. I’d like to make sure that I don’t take you out as well.”
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“If you think I’m going anywhere without you, you’re an idiot. Quit stalling and get
cutting,” Dax growled. “Those assholes are going to be in here any minute.”
Noah wanted to argue but knew they didn’t have the time. He shook his head and
plastered a grim smile on his face. “If you insist.” He separated the blue wire from the bunch,
tightened his grip on his makeshift knife and slid it under the plastic casing. “Here goes
nothing.”
He closed his eyes and flicked his wrist, the blade sliced through the wire with ease. He
held his breath and waited. Long seconds ticked by and nothing happened. Noah cracked
open his eyes. The breath he’d been holding rushed out when he saw the cold, powerless
piece of scrap metal around Landon’s neck.
“Holy shit,” he breathed.
“So, we’re not going to explode?” Dax asked.
Noah let out a shaky laugh. “No, D. We’re not going to explode. The current is off, but I
still need to get this thing off him.”
Grabbing the metal band in both hands, Noah took a calming breath and pulled with all
his strength. The metal groaned as it was stretched beyond its capacity. A shrill screech filled
the air, mere seconds before the circlet snapped in two.
“Thank God,” Landon groaned, his hands rubbing at the red, chaffed skin of his throat.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Noah answered, turning towards the door. “Now, let’s get out
of here.”
“No—” he gasped. “The door—you have to stay.” Landon strained against his bonds,
struggling to haul himself into a seated position. The pulling and tugging at his restraints
only succeeded in driving them farther into his skin, renewing the flow of blood leaving his
body.
“Landon, enough!” Noah barked. “You’re hurting yourself.”
“You don’t understand,” the smaller man cried. “You have to stay here—right here.
Others are coming. They will help keep us safe.”
“How do you know about the others? I don’t understand.”
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“Don’t need to,” he wheezed, struggling for breath. “Just need to trust.” Lying back,
Landon closed his eyes, the air rattling around in his chest as he seemed to sink into
unconsciousness.
Noah looked to Dax and found him staring at Landon with narrow-eyed worry.
Sensing his attention, Dax glanced up, his face a mask of concern.
“What are you thinking, Noah?”
“I don’t know, damn it. I’d still feel better knowing that you and Landon were as far from this
place as possible.”
“What about what Landon said?”
“He could be delusional—”
“Or, he could be right. That girl said that he was special—one of a kind. Until we get a chance to
speak with her, we have no idea what that means.”
“Sure. It’s also possible that between the starvation and abuse he’s suffered, he’s lost his
connection with reality and has no idea what he’s talking about,” Noah argued.
Dax shook his furry head. “I don’t think so. Overlooking his exhaustion, he seemed extremely
lucid. I don’t know, Noah. I think I believe him.”
From the sounds of things outside, the guards were almost through the door and would
be on them in seconds. All hell was about to break loose. Focusing his senses, Noah reached
out for Dylan and nearly shouted his relief as he felt the familiar brush of the other man’s
mind.
“We were starting to get worried. Are you close?”
“Right outside. Waiting on you,” Dylan answered.
“Took you long enough. You guys run into trouble?”
“Give me a break. We were one floor down, on the other side of the compound,” Dylan groused.
“This place is a lot fucking bigger than it looks.”
“All that matters is that you guys are here, now. Are you thinking about coming in and giving
us a hand or are you just going to hang out in the hall? We’ve got a civilian in here and could use a bit
of cover.”
“Give us two minutes and we’ll bring the party,” Dylan answered.
“We’ll be ready.”
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Noah gave Dax a reassuring smile. “Landon was right. Dylan and the team are right
outside. Get working on those restraints. We have to be ready to move because they’re gonna
be coming in hot. I don’t want to die the day I find out we have another mate.”
Dax watched him with unmistakable affection shining in his wolf eyes. “Rather we die
together, than live even one more day apart.”
Noah cocked his head, fighting back the wave of emotion that threatened to unman
him. “I never would have guessed you were such a sap under all those muscles and tattoos.”
“You better believe it,” Dax retorted, determination clear in his tone. “My momma raised
me to be a lover and a fighter.”
“I have no doubt. Now,” he ordered, allowing more of his Alpha to trickle into his
voice, “I need you to shift. We’re running out of time.”
“Are you kidding me?” The pitch of Dax’s mental voice would have been funny if their
situation weren’t so dire.
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Noah barked. “The guards are going to be breaking down
that door any minute and Dylan and the team are going to be right behind them. It’s going to
be World War III in here in about one minute. Do you really want Landon to be caught up in
the middle of that?”
Dax eyed him warily, the expression completely at odds with his wolfen face. After a
moment of silence, he nodded and hunched into himself as he initiated the change. Keeping
an eye on the door, Noah dared a glance over his shoulder, unable to fight the need to
witness his mate’s transformation.
Dax’s shift was amazing. Like the tide washing up on the shore, clearing away what
was and leaving in its wake something unexpected and new. The image of Dax’s wolf
blurred, becoming distorted and hazy, until it vanished completely, only to be replaced, in
the blink of an eye, with Dax’s prone, nude form. Rising to his feet, Dax stretched out to his
full height, damn near matching Noah’s own six-and-a-half-foot frame.
“Noah?”
“Free Landon. Be ready to move. They’re coming in, now.”
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Chapter Six
No sooner had he uttered the words than all hell broke loose. The steel door was
blasted open, knocked clear of its hinges. Much to Noah’s surprise, when the guards poured
back into the room, they weren’t alone. Dylan and the rest of their team were right behind
them, attacking anything and anyone in their path. Noah didn’t give them another second of
his attention, trusting their Pack mates to take out the trash while he and Dax cared for their
wayward mate.
Noah and Dax moved to Landon’s side and began working on his bonds. The task
wasn’t an easy one, as blood from his still seeping wounds made the restraints slick. Noah
was preparing to remove the last remaining chain when he got a look at his mate’s face.
Noah couldn’t help the anger that flared up inside him. Landon’s face, while still
gorgeous, had already begun to swell and was rapidly darkening from the guard’s earlier
strike. Dark purple and blue bruises mottled his arms, blooming out from a multitude of
needle marks marring his normal peaches and cream. More bruising worked its way across
his cheek, around his jaw and down his neck, and out over his shoulder and upper chest. The
discoloration continued on over his torso and thighs, only broken up by a series of healing
gouges and cuts that decorated his chest and stomach.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he grunted, anger rising up within him and making it hard to
breathe. “What the fuck happened to you?”
“The guards aren’t particularly fond of my escape attempts.” Landon coughed out a
laugh, the action causing a wet rattle in his chest that put Noah on immediate alert. “The last
time I tried, they’d made the mistake of having a new guard watch me who didn’t fully
understand how punishment was supposed to be carried out. He got a bit carried away in
demonstrating his displeasure. Ironically enough, he walked away looking a lot worse than
me by the time Alec was done educating him on approved disciplinary measures.”
Without a thought, Noah traced a finger over the swollen line of bruising around
Landon’s jaw. “Never again,” he ground out.
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Gripping the final restraint tightly, he squeezed it with every ounce of strength he had,
effectively shattering it into nothing more than useless scraps of metal. When Landon’s eyes
didn’t even flutter at the noise, Noah began to worry. Unfortunately, there was nothing they
could do for him until they were able to get a closer look at the damage, and they wouldn’t
be able to do that until they were far from this place, and safely back behind the Grand
Rapids Pack’s borders. For now, they would do what they could to keep him safe and
comfortable, while hoping for the best.
With the last of the restraints removed, Dax swiftly scooped Landon up and they
turned, ready to locate an exit that would get them out of there with the least amount of
resistance. That idea proved to be unnecessary. A quick scan of the room showed that all the
guards were down and unmoving. Their team shifted back to human and spread out, quickly
and efficiently searching through file cabinets and drawers, searching for any useful
information about the facility and what had been going on here.
Dylan approached, arms crossed over his chest and a questioning expression on his face
as he looked over the unconscious, battered man in Dax’s arms. Possessiveness reared up in
Noah and without a thought, a low, warning growl worked its way out of his throat to echo
around the room. An answering call sounded to his right, proof that Dax’s feelings mirrored
his own.
Dylan’s eyes widened and his eyebrows rose. He took a swift step back, raising his
hands, palms out, in front of him. “Hey, guys. You want to tell me what’s going on?”
Noah took a breath, willing his wolf to calm down. Rationally, he knew Dylan had no
designs on either of his mates, but his wolf wasn’t getting the picture. All the beast saw was
that Noah had come too close to losing them both. Until he had both of his mates thoroughly
marked and claimed, everyone who tried to get near them would be suspect. He wasn’t
willing to take any chances.
“Noah?” The narrowed eyes and hard line of his jaw made it clear that Dylan’s patience
was at an end.
“I’m sorry,” Noah murmured. “Recent developments have left both Dax and I a bit—on
edge. It’s complicated.”
“Okay,” Dylan drew out. “Then let’s start with something small and easy. Who’s the
kid?” Dylan directed his gaze at Landon’s limp form, still curled up in Dax’s arms.
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“This is Landon,” he replied irritably. When Dylan just gave him a droll look, Noah
sighed. “Landon was a prisoner here. Dax and I were in the process of trying to free him
when you and the A-Team showed up to save the day. He is also my mate.”
Silence stretched between them. Dylan just stared. Emotions flashed on his face, too
many to identify. Confusion was definitely the front runner. Dylan’s eyes shifted back and
forth between the three men, then he cleared his throat.
“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but I thought that Dax was your mate?”
“He is,” Noah answered simply.
Dylan’s brow furrowed. If he focused any harder, Noah was worried Dylan’s head
might explode. A muffled laugh from Dax followed by a sharply delivered pinch to his side
encouraged Noah to take pity on Dylan. “Dax, Landon and I are all mates.”
“A Triad?” Dylan’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline and his eyes widened.
“So it would seem.”
“Amazing,” Dylan murmured. “It would have to be you.”
Noah shrugged. “Gotta be different.”
“Preaching to the choir. You guys can tell me all about it once we get out of here. I’ll feel
a lot better once we’ve got some distance between us and this corner of hell.”
“Agreed. If we could get out of this pit without me losing one of my mates in the
process, I would consider it a miracle. With Landon’s injures, he needs to be seen by a doctor
as quickly as possible.”
“We’re just about done. We had already cleared most of the other rooms when we got
your call for help. Luckily, we were already on our way to meet up with you, so we were
able to get here pretty quickly. I’ll have the team pack up anything that looks like it might be
useful and we can take it with us and dig through it back at the Pack House.”
Turning, Dylan called out the order to the assembled team. Without any hesitation, they
quickly got to work filling boxes with miscellaneous books, documents and folders. As
things began disappearing into boxes, Noah hoped there would be something within them
that would help them throw a wrench into his father’s plans. The pain and suffering he was
causing their people needed to come to an end. Anger and sadness swelled inside as he was
reminded of Landon’s current condition. Their mate was a perfect example of the treatment
their people would have in store for them under Charles Steele’s leadership.
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Landon let out a distressed whine, as if sensing the direction of his thoughts, and
pressed his face more deeply into Dax’s neck. The thick muscles of Dax’s arms tensed as he
tightened his hold and drew Landon in closer, allowing him to take comfort in the heat and
proximity to his body. The huff of hot air and the satisfied hum against Dax’s throat had
Noah smiling. Looking to Dax, he smiled gently.
“He’s gonna be okay, right?”
“Yes. I think he’ll be fine. I’ll just feel better after the doctor has a chance to check him
over.”
Dax dipped his head in acknowledgement, but his focus stayed on the man in his arms.
Noah shook his head, not bothering to hide his bemused smile as he watched Dax brush a
finger across Landon’s cheek, tracing the high arch of his cheekbone. The gentleness of the
act, so at odds with his massive size, sent a wave of warmth billowing out through his chest
and caused a lump to form in his throat.
Noah turned away, his attention on Dylan. “You seem to have things well in hand here.
Since we are no longer needed, Dax and I are going to take Landon out to the trucks and see
about finding him some clothes and blankets.”
“Of course.” Dylan nodded. “Since you guys are heading that way anyway, why don’t
you take the rest of the survivors with you. They had already got themselves free by the time
we made it down here. Most of them were so weak they could barely stand, so we had them
wait out in the hallway where they would be safe. I’m sure they would all appreciate a fresh
set of clothes or a blanket. There are also coolers filled with food and water in the back of one
of the trucks. Who knows how long it’s been since they were given something to eat. They’re
probably starving.”
Not wanting to get drawn into further conversation, Noah grunted his agreement and
headed towards the door, nodding for Dax, who followed right on his heels. When they
stepped into the hall, Noah could finally breathe again, no longer bogged down by the
oppressive weight of all the suffering that had taken place there. The shuffle of bare feet on
the cold stone floor reminded Noah that they weren’t alone. Men and women lined the
hallway. Pale and exhausted, they looked like refugees from a Third-World country.
He approached slowly, not wanting to startle the gathered masses. Stopping a few feet
away, he waited silently, allowing them to become accustomed to his size and presence. They
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eyed him warily, the fear in their eyes a living thing. They lifted their heads and scented the
air. For what? Noah didn’t have a clue but assumed they must have found something
reassuring about his scent as a few brave souls scooted just a bit closer, no longer fighting the
instinctive urge to be near the power of an Alpha.
A nudge to his arm had Noah looking over his shoulder at his mate. One side of Dax’s
mouth was lifted, just a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. Surprisingly, his eyes
weren’t on Noah but on a spot just over his shoulder. Following his mate’s gaze, he spotted a
disruption in the gathered crowd. The wall of men and women around them thinned as they
were forcibly moved out of the way, revealing a little blonde spitfire with anger burning in
her eyes. It was the same prisoner who had sent them after Landon and, inadvertently, made
it possible for Noah and Dax to find and rescue their third.
The scowl marring the tiny blonde’s face made it clear that she was not nearly as happy
to see them as they were to see her. With her brow furrowed and hands planted firmly on her
hips, she was like a little storm cloud rolling in.
“What the fuck were you thinking?”
Noah jerked in surprise. “Excuse me?”
“No, I will not excuse you!” she snapped. “After everything they did—everything they
were going to do— I deserved the chance to face them, to make them pay for what they did
to us. You took that from me.”
As her chest heaved and she gasped for breath, Noah could see how close to breaking
she truly was. Her tiny frame trembled so violently he was afraid she was going to hurt
herself. He went to her without a thought. Wrapping her up in his strong arms, he held her
to his chest, allowing her to soak in all the comfort and safety he had to offer.
She fought at first, struggled against his touch and the restraining hold he had on her
body, and he allowed it. Noah let her fight him with every ounce of strength she had left. The
fight was over nearly before it began, further proof that she had to have been running on
fumes. When the last of her strength left her, she sagged into him, lowered her head to
Noah’s muscled chest and, finally, allowed the tears to fall. Running gentle fingers through
her hair, he tried his best to offer her comfort. When she looked up at him, her eyes were wet
and red-rimmed yet burned with an inner fire. It was clear that while she may be down, she
was definitely not out for the count. The sight was heartbreaking and uplifting in equal parts.
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This woman was no one’s victim. She was a tiger, had fought to protect those she could and
finally, now that everyone was safe, she had earned the right to seek her own comfort.
Her cry was short, barely more than a few minutes, before she was wiping her eyes
with the back of her hand, squirming to break Noah’s hold on her. Shaking his head in
bemusement, he did as she wanted, gently lowering her to her feet then taking a slow step
back and allowing her space. She cleared her throat, lips twisted in a sardonic smile.
“Sorry about that,” she murmured, embarrassment clear in her tone. “Just feeling a little
hormonal or something. It won’t happen again.”
Focusing on Noah, she openly studied him, taking in every inch of flesh from the top of
his head to the tip of his bare toes. Between her unblinking eyes and pursed lips, the
directness of her gaze was disconcerting. The examination left him feeling exposed,
vulnerable in a way that didn’t sit right with the Alpha wolf that lived within him. That cool,
piercing stare felt like it cut right into him, flayed him open, baring the secrets of his soul for
the whole world to see. The experience was blessedly brief. Her features softened and she
exposed her neck in a sign of submission and an acknowledgement of his dominance over
her.
Noah stifled a laugh. He had no doubt in his mind that this woman had never been
submissive a day in her life. Despite her small stature and downturned face, she was almost
as much as an Alpha as he was. Seeming to sense his mirth, she straightened up, dropping
the charade and scowling darkly.
Dax’s deep laugh echoed down the hall. “Oh, come now, princess. No need to pout. A
little snuggle never killed nobody.”
“The name’s Ruby, asshole,” she grumbled. “Unless you want to find out what your
own balls taste like when I cram them down your throat, you’d better learn to use it.”
Surprise coloured Dax’s face. “Well, well, well,” he simpered. “Pretty girl’s got teeth. I
like it.”
Ruby rolled her eyes in disgust. “Don’t make me kill you.”
Dax merely laughed harder in the face of her ire. Noah could only shake his head at
their antics but didn’t miss the glimpse of amusement in her eyes, despite her words to the
contrary. He had a feeling that with Dax by his side, life would never be boring. His thoughts
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turned to their unconscious mate in Dax’s arms and he hoped Landon would enjoy their
mate’s playfulness as well.
Dax moved to adjust his grip on their mate, when Landon jerked, crying out in distress.
All signs of joking gone, Noah was immediately at Dax’s side. Ruby was right there next to
him, her concern nearly more intense than Noah’s. She placed a hand on Landon’s face and
gently smoothed back the dark blond hair from his forehead. Landon stilled instantly.
“You found him,” she breathed reverently. “Thank God.”
Suspicion grew inside Noah at her tone. He pinned Ruby with a stony glare. “Why are
you so worried about Landon? What aren’t you telling us?”
A chagrined smile flickered across her face as Ruby continued to watch Landon’s
peaceful face. When she looked up at Noah, her eyes had gone cold and her lips were set in a
grim line, clearing away any previous emotion. “While I appreciate everything you have
done for us, Landon is none of your concern. If you will allow me to use a phone, I will call
my father to arrange transport for my people. When he arrives, we can talk about repayment
of the debt we owe you and yours.”
Noah’s vision went red. Landon was theirs. He belonged to Noah and Dax, and no one
would be taking him from them—ever. “That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. You may
take your people and go, if you wish, but Landon will be staying with us.”
“The fuck he is,” Ruby screeched. She took a step towards him, her small hands balled
into tight fists. “Landon is a member of my Pack and will be returning home with us as soon
as I am able to contact my Alpha.”
“While he may have been a member of your Pack,” Noah sneered, “the moment we
scented him as our mate, he became a member of the Grand Rapids Pack. His place is with
us.”
“Your mate?” Ruby scoffed. “You’ve got to be joking.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that Landon is special. No way in hell am I going to let some mangy Alpha
wolf, who already has a mate, try to claim him to be their plaything. He deserves better.”
With her hands fisted on her hips and a scathing expression, Ruby was every inch the
protective momma bear, out to protect her cub. It would have been funny if the cub in
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question weren’t his mate and the danger she was protecting him from wasn’t himself. As it
was, Ruby’s involvement was a hindrance he just didn’t need.
Noah was just about to rip into her when Dax placed himself between the two of them.
“We don’t have time for this. Landon needs to be treated by a doctor as soon as possible. You
guys can whip them out and see whose is bigger once we’re safely back at the Pack House.”
“But she—” Noah began.
“He—” Ruby whined.
“Will the two of you cut the shit and try to act like grown-ups for a few minutes?” A
scowl darkened Dax’s handsome face. “For two people who claim to care for him, you’re
sure the hell not acting like it.”
If looks could kill, both Noah and Ruby would have keeled over on the spot. Dax was
right, they were acting like assholes. Noah’s chest tightened as he was struck with an
overwhelming sense of guilt.
“I’m sorry.” His voice cracked under the weight of emotion. “I wasn’t thinking. Forgive
me?”
Dax sighed, relief giving way to exhaustion as he scrubbed his hands down his face. “I
just want to get out of here. I’ll feel better once we know that Landon is back on Pack lands
and out of harm’s way. Out here, in this hellhole, we’re too exposed. It’s making me jumpy.”
“Agreed.” Noah turned to Ruby. “Can we call a truce?”
Ruby stared at him, considering. “For now. I agree with your mate. We need to get
Landon out of the open and into somewhere with Pack protection. Everything else can wait.
His safety is too important. Let’s get out of here.”
Turning on her heel, Ruby nodded to her Pack mates and headed back towards the
entrance. Noah, Dax and the rest of the team where right behind them. No one wanted to
stay in this place any longer than necessary. They walked in silence, the only sound the
echoing thumps of feet hitting the concrete floors.
The whole walk, curiosity ate away at Noah until he couldn’t take it anymore.
Lengthening his strides, he didn’t slow until he was side by side with Ruby. “I don’t suppose
you’re planning to tell us what the hell you’re talking about?”
Ruby glanced over at him and frowned. “Huh?”
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Noah grunted in irritation. “All that talk about Landon being special. What did you
mean?”
Ruby’s head jerked back, her shock as easy to see as her nose. “I thought you guys were
screwing with me. You mean you really don’t know?”
“Would I be wasting my time asking if I did?”
She took a minute, seeming to weigh the truth of his words. When she finally met his
gaze, apprehension had crept into her baby blues. “Landon is an Omega.”
Silence reigned as Noah waited for further explanation. It never came. Ruby and the
other survivors stared at him expectantly, making it clear he was missing something. A
glance at Dax confirmed that at least he wasn’t alone in his confusion.
“Okay,” he replied slowly. “So, Landon’s an Omega. What’s an Omega and why the
hell does it matter that he is one?”
Ruby squinted at Noah’s inquiring gaze. “Are you kidding me? How can you call
yourself an Alpha and not know what an Omega is? It’s not possible. What kind of
backwoods, redneck, know-nothing Alpha trained you, huh?”
“His name is Alpha Charles Steele. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?”
A collective gasp echoed behind them and he felt the weight of many eyes locked on his
back. Noah wasn’t concerned. Over the last few months, he had grown used to the curious
looks and whispers that followed him everywhere he went. Until his father was brought to
justice, he knew it would be a constant in his life.
“Son of the devil,” Ruby murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper. “How can
you be that monster’s son and not know what an Omega is?”
“Let’s just say that dear old Dad likes to keep his Pack undereducated and under his
thumb. He never shared any more than he had to with the rest of the Pack, including his
sons.”
“Sons—as in plural? I can’t believe that cold bastard managed to get worked up enough
to breed once, let alone multiple times.”
Noah laughed humourlessly. “Believe it or not, there are four of us. I’m the oldest. Then
there’s my brother, Eli. He’s mated to the Alpha of the Grand Rapids Pack. Then there are
our two younger brothers, Micah and Reid.”
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“So, four brothers—did all of you abscond and join a rival Pack? That must have been
quite a blow to your father’s ego.”
“No. Micah and Reid haven’t joined the Grand Rapids Pack. Last I heard, they were still
in Mason, keeping an eye on my father and making sure the Pack is being taken care of.”
“Last you heard? What the hell? How do you not know what’s going on with your own
brothers?”
Noah grimaced. Ruby’s statement matched his sentiments to a tee. He hated the fact
that his brothers had put themselves in danger so they could keep an eye on their father. As
the oldest, it should be Noah’s responsibility to be their protector, not the other way around.
Unfortunately, at the moment, there was nothing any of them could do to change the
situation.
“They had been checking in with us twice a week, updating us on the situation and
letting us know that they were safe,” he replied. “For the first month or so, everything was
fine. They never missed a check-in. Over the last month, however, things began to change.
They were worried that our father might suspect that they were reporting on Pack activities.
Micah said that he thought he was being followed. Then three weeks ago, all communication
stopped. We haven’t heard from anyone inside Mason—it’s like a complete dead zone.”
“Damn.” Sympathy softened the harsh lines of her face and warmed her gaze, for the
first time since she had been freed from her cell. A sad smile curved the edge of her lips. “I
hope they’re okay.”
“So do I.”
The rest of the journey was made in silence as Noah and Ruby led the way through the
facility. None of the rescued Shifters seem to have a problem following the resident Alpha.
Noah never looked back, knowing instinctively that they would follow him, trusting him to
take them to safety. It was what an Alpha was intended for, to guide and protect, lead and
defend.
The familiar weight of responsibility had him pushing back against a rising tide of
panic. All his insecurities, all the fears that plagued him while awake and tormented him in
his sleep, swelled up and settled over him, threatening to drag him back down into a black
well of despair. He felt heavy, bogged down and boxed in by it. His breath became short and
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raspy, coming in hard gasps as he tried to get oxygen into his lungs. Black spots appeared at
the periphery of his vision and he knew he was on the verge of losing it.
Just as he felt the sharp talons of panic dig in and start to take hold, a solid reassuring
weight fell on his shoulder. Not restraining but supporting, it gave him the stability he
needed to get his shit back under control. Noah pulled in a deep breath, allowing Dax’s scent
to tickle his nose and send a soothing wash of comfort sweeping through him.
“Thank you,” Noah rasped, his voice raw and thready.
Dax gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze then pulled away with a smile. “Don’t worry
about it. I’m sure you can find a way to thank me properly once we get home.”
Noah coughed in surprise. He couldn’t help his answering grin when he caught sight of
the hungry leer twisting Dax’s lips. Shaking his head, he let out a rough chuckle. “I’m sure
we can work something out. Now, come on,” he murmured, his voice once again steady and
strong. “Let’s take our mate home.”
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Chapter Seven
The trip home seemed to pass in a flash instead of the hours it had taken to get there.
The entire time, Dax and Noah had been on edge, fretting and fidgeting over every move or
sound Landon made. When they finally exited the truck, everyone gave a sigh of relief.
“Who knew the two of you were such a pair of mother hens?” Dylan mocked.
Dax snapped, his usual carefree attitude vanishing under the nagging worry for their
mate. “Tell me you’d be any different if it were your mate in the same situation? Tell me you
wouldn’t be about ready to jump out of your skin, ready to do anything, kill anyone, if it
meant protecting the one who was destined to be yours?”
“Of course I would,” Dylan responded defensively. “A mate is a gift. Unfortunately, as
I lack a mate, I doubt I’ll ever experience the joy of it.”
“Bullshit!” Dax retorted. “Whether you have claimed each other or not, everyone knows
there is something between you and Jai. The two of you are just too pig-headed to do
anything about it. How you just sit back and do nothing as he screws anything that moves is
beyond me. If that were my mate, I would have chained him to my bed and fucked him until
he couldn’t move. Reamed his ass until there was no doubt in his mind who he truly
belonged to.”
Dylan shrugged negligently, but there was a gleam of pain in his eyes. “I have no one to
blame but myself. Jai put himself out there once. He admitted his feelings, told me that we
were mates, and I screwed it up. I let my own fears get in the way and now I’ve lost him,
possibly forever. I don’t know if he’ll ever give me another chance. Some hurts run too deep
to ever be forgotten.”
“Maybe not forgotten, but possibly forgiven?”
Dylan snorted. “Have you met Jai? He’s not exactly the forgiving type.”
“When it comes to the people we love, we are all willing to take risks and step outside
our comfort zones. Don’t give up on him. Jai is a good man. He just needs time. You owe him
that much.”
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“I know.” Dylan sighed, agitatedly running a hand through his hair. “I owe him that,
and so much more. I just don’t know how much more I can give him. Every time I see one of
those men pawing him, I want to rip their hands off and then take him up against the nearest
flat surface. You know how well that would go over with my mate.”
Dax laughed. “Yeah. Jai is as prickly as a porcupine, on a good day, but I get the feeling
that most of that is just cover. I don’t think that things have always been easy for Jai. I mean,
he was forced out of his Pack by his own family for being gay, for God’s sake. I doubt that
was the first, or last, blow he’s suffered. You just need to find a way to get him to open up to
you, to let you inside that wall of snark and sarcasm he uses to keep everyone else at a
distance. Once you manage that, everything else should be gravy.”
“Yeah.” Dylan scowled. “Easier said than done. I’m not sure you could breach those
shields, even if you had a blowtorch and a crowbar.”
“Nobody said it would be easy,” Dax murmured softly, his eyes now focused on Noah,
who was standing off to the side, still holding Landon in his arms. “Nothing worth having
ever is.”
Giving Dylan a reassuring smile, he nodded to Noah and they headed off towards the
infirmary, praying that they were about to be on the receiving end of some god news.
* * * *
Three hours later found them all back in Noah’s suite. Doc had given Landon a
thorough examination and deemed him dehydrated and roughed up, but he was not on the
brink of death. With orders for him to get plenty of rest and shift once he felt up to it to kick-
start his healing, Dax and Noah were allowed to take Landon back to recuperate in the
comfort of Noah’s quarters.
“I love your place,” Dax praised as Noah led him into his suite of rooms.
Taking in the space, Noah had to admit he loved it too. With two bedrooms, a sitting
room, a master bath and a good sized kitchen-dining area, the space was like its own
separate apartment. The green and brown tones that carried throughout the space managed
to be both masculine and soothing. The soft fabrics and open floor plan just added to the
inviting atmosphere.
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“What about your place?”
“My place is a hovel compared to this. It’s my own fault really. I’m away on missions so
often, I never really saw any need to do much with it.” Dax laughed. “I like to call it spartan
chic.”
Noah led the way farther into the apartment, making his way down the hall and
directly into the master suite. After pulling back the covers, Noah gently lay Landon down
and propped him up amongst the mountain of pillows. Their mate’s slight frame was nearly
swallowed up by the massive king-sized bed that dominated the space.
Standing back, his arms crossed over his chest, Noah took in the long lashes fanning
Landon’s cheeks and his slightly parted lips. “He looks peaceful,” he said softly, not wanting
to wake their dozing mate.
“He does. God, he’s exhausted.” Dax came to stand beside him, their bodies so close
that their hips brushed together, the touch a comforting presence after the stress of the day.
“After everything he’s been through, can you blame him?”
“No. Not a bit.” Firm lips pressed softly against the side of Noah’s throat. “Come on,”
Dax whispered against his ear. “We should go and let him rest.”
Noah gave one last, longing look at Landon before following Dax out of the room.
Entering the living room, he was mildly surprised to see Kellan and Eli making themselves
comfortable on the couch while Ruby glowered at them from Noah’s wingback chair. Even
Jai was there, leaning stoically against the far wall.
“Noah,” Eli called, a smile tugging at his lips. “I heard an interesting story that you
were collecting all the eligible gay men in the area. Any truth to the rumour?”
“Not all of them, just the best. I have refined tastes.”
Rising from his seat, Eli crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Noah, pulling
him into a big bear hug. Noah froze, not sure how to respond to the unexpected affection.
“You have to hug me back or else it gets weird,” Eli quipped, his voice muffled by the
material of Noah’s shirt.
A chuckle rumbled free of Noah’s chest. He lifted his arms and returned Eli’s embrace
and then some. There was initial discomfort, but it was quickly replaced with a familiar ease
that was long overdue. He pulled back and gave his brother a hearty pat on the back. “It’s
good to see you, E.”
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“It’s good to see you back in one piece. I have to say, when I heard you had gone
running off on a mission I was more than a bit surprised. Then to hear you’d come home
with yet another mate? Well, shock would be putting it mildly. Been busy, have we?”
“You have no idea.”
“Where is he?” Ruby barked, jumping in between them, as if someone had lit her pants
on fire. “Where’s Landon? I want to see him, now.”
Dax laughed, leant forward and ruffled her hair. “Bossy.”
Noah frowned, not amused in the least. “I don’t think you’re in any position to be
giving orders, princess. There are some questions that need answering before you get
anywhere near Landon. You might as well sit there and calm yourself because we may be
here a while.”
“You’ve got to be joking.” When neither of them backed down, she threw her hands in
the air. “Fine,” she grumbled belligerently, dropping onto the couch in a huff. “What do you
want to know?”
“Everything,” Noah demanded.
Ruby’s eyes widened and her shoulders sagged. “I don’t even know where to begin.”
“The beginning is always a good place to start,” Kellan suggested, authority ringing in
his words. While the words themselves gave room for choice, his tone made it clear there
was none.
Noah had a lot of respect for his brother’s mate. He led his people from a place of caring
and concern, not at all like the fear their father instilled in his own Pack. It was a sign of a
good man and an even better leader. As an Alpha himself, Noah had to wonder if he still had
it in him to lead a Pack with the same kind of compassion. He honestly didn’t know if he
cared enough to lead. At the moment, his main concern was for his mates, his brothers and
the men and women of the Grand Rapids Pack who had taken him in and treated him like
family. The rest of the world could go fuck itself.
“All right,” Ruby breathed, blowing a piece of hair out of her eyes, “the beginning.
Might as well air out all the dirty laundry at once.” She turned, giving Dax a small, fleeting
smile. “Landon came to our pack when he was two years old. He and his father arrived at
my family’s home in the middle of the night, covered in blood and ash. His father, Marx, had
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been gravely wounded and didn’t survive the night. Before he passed, he told my father that
their Pack had been attacked with no warning.
“Located just outside Big Rapids, the North Falls Pack had been small and isolated, no
more than thirty members. Homes were ransacked, buildings burned to the ground and
people had been dragged from their beds and executed out in the streets. Marx had been
jerked awake by the noise. Apparently there had been some type of safe room built into the
closet in Landon’s room, so his father gathered him up and locked him inside, then went
back for Landon’s mother. When he got back to their room he found his wife on the bed with
a bullet hole in her chest and three men standing around her.
“Marx attacked them, killing two before the third managed to get off a shot that struck
him in the stomach. He went after the man and managed to subdue him. He forced the man
to tell him why the Pack had been attacked and found out they had been sent by the Alpha of
the Mason Pack. They’d been given the description of a child and told to locate him and
bring him back to the Mason Pack unharmed. They had also been ordered to destroy any
evidence that the child or the Pack had ever existed. One guess who that child was?”
“Landon.” Noah’s stomach lurched like it had been dropped off the side of a cliff.
Ruby nodded. “Yes.”
“I’m sorry, but I still don’t understand. We all know that Alpha Steele is crazy,” Noah
rumbled, refusing to acknowledge the familial tie between them. “What I don’t get is why he
would risk his Pack just to get his hands on one child. Even if the boy was the son of the
Alpha, what would it gain him?”
Ruby shook her head. “It had nothing to do with his father. Landon is an Omega.”
Kellan frowned. “An Omega—really? I always assumed they were a myth. An old
wives’ tale. I don’t know of anyone who’s ever seen one before.”
“Not to sound like an idiot, but what the hell is an Omega?” Dax asked.
“Sorry, D.” Kellan gave his cousin a fond smile. “Ruby, I think you’d be the best one to
answer that as you’re the only one with any real experience with an Omega. From the stories
I heard as a child, they were always made out to be weaker members of the Pack that needed
to be protected. Forgive me, but that doesn’t seem all that special to me.”
“No,” she laughed, “that doesn’t seem so special at all. Omegas are a bit more
impressive than that. Alphas and Omegas are opposite sides of the same coin. While an
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Alpha is the Pack’s strength, an Omega is its heart. Having a pair completes a Pack in a way
that an Alpha alone never could. Omegas bolster peace and happiness. They have
heightened senses that are able to pick up on Pack connections and intuition that borders on
precognition.”
Ruby nodded to Eli. “Even now you’re getting a small taste of it. Do you not feel at
ease? Calm in a way that is not quite natural? What you’re experiencing is only a diluted
imitation of his normal power. He’s hurt and weak. Most of his energy is being diverted in
an effort to heal his wounds. Imagine him healthy and whole.”
“What an amazing gift.” Eli smiled, shaking his head. “How is it possible that none of
us knew about this?”
Ruby shrugged. “Omegas have started to fade out over the years. According to my
father, Alphas and Omegas used to be nearly even in numbers. No one knows what
happened, but over the last hundred years, the Omega population started to thin
considerably. Now, most people will go their whole lives without even the rumour of an
Omega. They’re a dying breed.”
“Not that what you’ve told us isn’t amazing,” Kellan interrupted, “but I still don’t
understand why Alpha Steele would have gone to all the effort to get his hands on Landon.”
“I agree,” Noah replied, worry niggling at the back of his mind. “While a normal Pack
would treasure the abilities of an Omega, Alpha Steele leads his Pack with an iron fist. He
doesn’t give two shits if his Pack is happy or healthy. All he cares about is power and getting
more of it.” He shook his head. “I don’t see the benefit in this for him and my father doesn’t
do anything without some kind of gain on his part.” Narrowing his eyes, Noah gave Ruby a
suspicious glare. “Is there something you’re not telling us?”
Between her downcast eyes and her wringing hands, Ruby might as well have ‘guilt’
tattooed across her forehead. Hopefully she never planned for a career in politics.
“I think it’s time we got the full story of what happened in that hellhole. Ruby?”
Kellan’s countenance was dark and his eyes were narrowed. Despite his anger, it was more
than clear that his anger was not directed at Ruby but to what had been done to them.
Ruby’s indecision was palpable. From her white-knuckled fists and the rigid way she
held herself, her strain was clear. Ruby’s features were tight with pain and her beautiful blue
eyes were red-rimmed and bloodshot from her tears. The woman was not a pretty crier.
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“You can do this, Ruby,” Dax encouraged. “Tell us what happened.”
She made a noise of protest that had Noah pinning her with a stern look that froze the
words on her lips. Yeah, it was an asshole move, but they didn’t have time to beat around the
bush. They needed answers and they needed them now. He’d have time to feel bad about it
later. Ruby hesitated for a moment, then her shoulders sagged in defeat. Dax, ever the
peacekeeper, gave her a reassuring smile that brought a sparkle to his eyes and seemed to
have a calming effect on Ruby.
Dragging in a shaky breath, Ruby began to speak. What came out of her mouth painted
a picture of a tale so horrendous, Noah could feel the bile building in his throat. At first they
had all been housed together, presumably to keep them more pliant to the demands of the
guards and medical staff. When that delusion was quickly proven false, they secluded
Landon away in a cell down at the far end of the prison wing. They’d thought it would be
easier to control him without the influence of the rest of his Pack. He had remained
completely alone after that. Whenever they brought in a new group of prisoners, they would
march the new wolves by his cell but, beyond that, the only contact he had with another
living soul was with the guards, and those interactions he would have gladly lived without.
The longer she spoke, the more Ruby seemed to get control of herself. She remained
detached, telling her tale as if it had happened to someone else. Fertility treatments, invasive
examinations, rape, drugs injections, physical and mental testing. The doctors had treated
them no better than animals. With every act she described, Ruby’s expression became more
and more withdrawn. Noah could actually feel her shutting down.
“They were trying to find his mate,” Ruby announced.
“Excuse me?” Dax stammered.
“It’s the reason for all the extra testing and special handling. Every time someone new
came to facility, be it a prisoner or staff, they would march them down to Landon’s cell to see
if he showed any response to them.”
“Why the hell would they do that?”
“Because if Landon is mated, he can give Alpha Steele exactly what he’s been looking
for.”
“And what would that be?”
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“An army strong enough to take on the existing Packs and possibly take over the
country.” Ruby stared at him long and hard, practically begging Noah to believe her. “Mated
Omegas are extremely fertile with the added bonus that their children are born either Alpha
or Omega. Any children born from Landon’s seed would be the strongest of the strong. Now,
imagine those same children being raised under the watchful eye of Charles Steele.”
Fuck. Noah could see it playing like a horror movie in his head. The idea of his father or
someone like Carl Yager getting anywhere his mate or children left him feeling more than a
little homicidal. He wouldn’t want a rabid dog left in the man’s care let alone a child.
“Wait a minute,” Dax chimed in. “That’s impossible. Landon can’t have children. The
doctor and the guards at the facility were talking about it. They kept saying that he was
defective. Why would they say that if he’s supposed to be so important?”
“Because they’re idiots who don’t know the first thing about Omegas,” she sneered, her
lips drawn back in derision. “Until they meet their mates, an Omega is unable to experience
arousal and unable to breed. An Omega will only ever respond for their mate. Once he’s
claimed, his body will fully awaken and will be capable of reproduction.”
“Gawd,” Eli groaned. “You sound like my high school health teacher. Please, spare us
the whole birds and bees scenario talk. I don’t think I can handle a play-by-play of my
brother claiming his mates. I may be scarred for life.”
Kellan appeared troubled. His eyes had darkened and a deep groove had formed
between his eyebrows. “I don’t know how I feel about this whole situation. Landon’s an
Omega. I get it. While I agree that it’s amazing, I also have other things to consider. There are
families here, children. I can’t risk their lives for one wolf, no matter who or what he is.”
“Excuse me?” Noah was in Kellan’s face in seconds. “No way in hell are you going to
withdraw protection from him.”
“I am Alpha,” Kellan bellowed. “The decisions I make are for the good of the Pack as a
whole. Whether you like those decisions is not my concern.”
“You’re not my Alpha and if you even think about casting him out, you’ll find yourself
dealing with more than a wounded Omega.”
“Do you think to challenge me?” Kellan snarled, his stance rigid.
“If I have to. I don’t want your Pack, but I will take it from you if you leave me no other
choice.”
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Kellan scoffed. “As if you could.”
“He won’t be challenging you alone.” Dax stepped forward, standing shoulder to
shoulder with Noah. “I will fight with him.”
Kellan’s head jerked back and his mouth dropped open. Glaring at his brother’s mate,
Noah crossed his arms over his muscled chest. Kellan looked dumbstruck as he stared at
Dax.
“You would really stand against me, D? Against your own family? Why?”
“He’s family, too.”
Kellan made a sound of protest but was quickly halted when Eli lay a hand on his arm
and shook his head. “You’re right, Noah. He’s your mate. That makes him family, and more
than worthy of Pack protection. Don’t you think, Kel?”
Kellan glowered. “Noah, I swear to God. If this is just some bullshit show of power
designed to fuck with me, I’m gonna kick your ass all the way back to Mason.”
Noah laughed. “Thanks but no thanks, Kellan. I think two mates are going to keep me
busy enough.”
“Congratulations, big brother,” Eli smiled. “I’m so happy for you.”
“I don’t know.” Jai sauntered forward with his normal loose-limbed gait. “Whenever I
propose a threesome, everyone says I’m a perv. When you do it, it’s something special.” He
tapped his chin thoughtfully then pointed an accusing finger at Noah. “I think we’ve got a
double standard at work here.”
The playful gleam in his eyes and the quirk of his lips left Noah laughing.
“Ah, Jai. You are good for the heart, old friend.”
“Not just the heart,” he leered cockily. “I’m willing to demonstrate, if the three of you
ever want to spice things up.”
“I think we’ll have to take your word for it.” Noah grinned. “Besides, I don’t think your
mate would appreciate us taking you for a spin.”
The smile disappeared from Jai’s face in an instant, gone so completely it was like it had
never been there at all. The sparkle disappeared from his eyes, leaving behind a cold, glacial
blue that was void of all emotion. His jaw clenched and his eyes locked on some point over
Noah’s shoulder. The effect made it feel like Jai wasn’t looking at him as much as he was
looking right through him. “You’re mistaken, Noah. I have no mate.”
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“Jai,” Noah soothed, “Dylan told me he made a mistake and how sorry he is. Don’t you
think he deserves a chance to make it right? Don’t you both deserve another chance?”
“Ruby, why don’t I take you down to see Landon?” Dax suggested. “The doctor gave
him some medication to help with his discomfort so he’s probably going to be out for a
while, but I’m sure he’d rest easier if he could hear your voice and know that you’re all
right.” Glaring at them warningly, Dax wrapped a protective arm around Ruby’s shoulders
and led her from the room.
Guilt gnawed at Noah’s insides as he watched them disappear down the hallway. The
last thing Ruby needed was to be trapped in a room where people were arguing and
emotions were running high. Noah hadn’t even thought about it. He never should have put
her in that position. For that matter, he shouldn’t have put Jai in that position either. He
owed his friend an apology.
“Jai—”
“Noah, I appreciate what you’re trying to do here. Really, I do, but you need to back off.
My relationship with Dylan, or lack thereof, is nobody’s business but my own.”
“But, Jai,” he appealed, “if you would just—”
“No! You don’t get to tell me what I should do or how I should feel. That I should just
forgive and forget and give him another shot. You don’t even know what you’re asking. The
things he said, the way he acted…” Jai shook his head. “I don’t know if that’s something I’ll
ever get over.”
“So what now?” Kellan butted in, catching wind of the conversation. “You’re just going
to give it away to any hot piece of ass who asks?”
Jai jerked back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t feed me that line of bull,” Kellan scoffed. “We’ve all seen you out at the club.
You offer yourself up to anything with a dick and a pulse.” He crossed his arms over his
impressive chest and scowled down at Jai. “So he was a bit careless with his words and your
feelings were hurt. Who fucking cares? That doesn’t give you the right to screw around with
other guys, right in front of him. Dylan is my friend, and one of the best Betas I’ve ever had
the honour to work with. He deserves better.”
Jai’s eyes widened and grew wet. “I thought we were friends, too.”
“Yeah,” Kellan muttered, his tone filled with disgust, “so did I.”
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Shocked by Kellan’s over-the-top behaviour, Noah waited for one of Jai’s snarky
comebacks, but it never came. The silence from the younger man was so out of character.
One look in his eyes had Noah sucking in a breath. There was a pain welling there so deep
and strong Noah wondered how Jai could stand under the weight of it.
Apathy replaced past fondness when Jai met Kellan’s gaze. “The next time you throw
accusations at me, I suggest you get your facts straight, Alpha. You know nothing about me.”
Jai dismissed his Pack leader and turned to Noah and Dax. “I’ll stop by in the next few
days to check on Landon if you don’t mind. I figure a friendly, non-mate face, may help
make him more comfortable.”
“Of course,” Noah replied. “We would appreciate it.”
“No problem, sugar,” Jai answered with a tiny mockery of his once luminous smile.
With a wink and a quick hug for both Noah and Dax, Jai swept out of the room without a
backward glance.
Eli stared after him, his mouth downturned and his shoulders sagging so low they
might as well being holding the weight of the world. “We should get going, as well,” he
mumbled distractedly, his eyes never leaving the door.
“Eli—” The rough edge to Kellan’s voice was hard to ignore.
“Not now, Kellan,” Eli stated, his words cutting the air with the sharpness of a blade.
“I’m sure whatever you have to say can wait until we get back to our place.”
Lowering his head, Kellan nodded. “Of course.”
He looked more like a naughty puppy than the powerful leader of a Shifter Pack. It
served him right for being such an asshole to Jai. Maybe next time he’d think twice before
opening his big mouth and sticking his foot in it. Noah would have smirked if he hadn’t been
worried about invoking his brother’s wrath.
“We can take Ruby back to her room if you’d like. It’s on our way.” Eli smiled, but it
didn’t reach his eyes.
Oh, yeah, Kellan was definitely in the dog house tonight.
“That would be great.”
“Not a problem. Don’t hesitate to let us know if there’s anything we can do for Landon.
He’s family,” Eli stressed, “and we look out for our own.”
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Noah felt his throat tighten and emotion swelled up within him. It was a nice reminder
that even though the rest of their world had changed, the love between brothers remained
constant. “Thanks, E. It means a lot.”
“No worries, big brother.” Eli’s eyes had taken on a suspicious sheen as he held Noah’s
gaze. “You know I’ve always got your back. I love you.”
“Love you, too, Eli.”
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Chapter Eight
Consciousness returned to Landon like a bitch slap to the face. One minute he was
surrounded by the soothing dark of oblivion. The next, he was jerked awake by the sound of
shrieking children and a myriad of bare feet slapping on hardwood.
“What the hell?”
Loud and abrasive, the sounds were nothing like what he’d become used to in his own
version of Hell. The shock to his system drove away all remaining traces of sleep, leaving his
faculties struggling to catch up.
As the fog finally lifted, memories of what had happened at the facility returned. It
came to him in bits and pieces, snap shots that gave him the highlights but never showed
him the full picture. Alec had struck him, no doubt in a frustrated response to another failed
testing attempt by the doctor. Landon remembered catching a hint of a new scent in the air
before a pair of strange wolves burst into the room and attacked Gregory and his men. Other
wolves had appeared, joining the fight, then everything had gone black. He must have
passed out because he had no memory of the outcome or what had happened after. The only
thing he was sure of was that he wasn’t in his cell, nor was he still at the facility.
Landon’s struggle to open his eyes was met with a bright light and a gentle cocooning
warmth. It had been so long since he’d truly felt anything other than the bone-numbing cold
that seemed to encompass this place, he couldn’t help but enjoy the sensation. The cell he’d
called home had been a black hole, leeching away every bit of heat until all that was left was
a tomb, cold and empty of life. Sad as it was to admit, that description had fit him as well. He
had begun to feel more dead than alive, looking ahead with longing for the day his suffering
would finally end.
Squinting against the cornea-searing light, he waited with watery eyes for his vision to
focus but was once again met with a blinding wall of white. Maybe he was dead… Would it
matter if he was? For all he knew, the rest of his Pack had been killed. He hadn’t seen or
heard any trace of them in weeks. No one else cared if he lived or died. Maybe it would be
better to stop fighting and let nature take its course. He’d already lost everything. Even his
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wolf had been silenced weeks ago. It was something he would have thought impossible
before his capture.
A tear rolled down his cheek and he quickly brushed it away as the room finally began
to come into focus. Sunlight was streaming into the room through a bank of floor-to-ceiling
windows on his right, filling the space with a bright golden glow. The rays danced along his
skin and drove the chill from his body and he could just make out the tops of the trees from
his spot on the bed.
The sound of movement to his right caused his heart to nearly stop as his eyes locked
on the form of one of the biggest men he’d ever seen, stretched out and sleeping in a recliner
placed just to the side of the bed. There was something about him that seemed familiar but
Landon’s memory was a blank. With his sleep-tousled honey locks, golden skin and
surprisingly full lips, Landon had to admit he was gorgeous. Long lashes fanned out from his
closed lids, which emphasised his high cheekbones and strong jawline. The thick, silver rings
that hung from his ears definitely served to increase his appeal, as did the hint of ink that
Landon saw peeking out of the collar of his shirt.
Dressed in just a pair of threadbare jeans and a plain cotton T-shirt, there was still no
mistaking him for the predator that he was. Thick muscles corded his body and strained
against the material of his clothes. The man practically oozed testosterone. Even his bare feet,
which were propped up carelessly on the footrest of his chair, looked strong and masculine.
There was no doubt in Landon’s mind that this powerful man could do some serious damage
if he were so inclined.
Landon pulled up the blankets with small, cautious movements. No way in hell did he
want to catch the attention of the slumbering giant. He settled back into the softness of the
bed and tried to decide what his next move should be. The last thing he wanted to do was
wake the man, at least not until he had an idea whether he was going to be a friend or
another enemy.
He needed to get up and move. Knowledge was power and he had spent way too much
time being powerless lately. After months living under someone else’s thumb, Landon had
learned to use any advantage he had wisely. With any luck, he would be able to glean some
kind of information about his location before anyone realised that he had regained
consciousness.
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His stomach cramped, signalling nature’s call to action. A slave to his needs, Landon
threw back the covers and struggled to get himself up into a seated position. He tried to
focus on the task at hand but was nearly overwhelmed by the pain radiating through his
body. It was a living thing, burning and stinging over his skin, like being covered by a tiny
army of fire ants, followed by a thick layer of hot lava. There wasn’t an inch of skin that
escaped the fire.
Squeezing his eyes shut tight, Landon blew out a breath and renewed his efforts, trying
to push aside the pain and concentrate on his surroundings. His torn flesh pulled with every
move, sending sharp jolts of pain through his body. A glance down at his bare chest
displayed a multitude of small cuts and bruises in varying stages of healing. Many of them
were swollen and oozing and tinged an angry red. Bandages covered a good portion of his
chest and throat, the pale cloth stained a startling crimson as many of the wounds were still
fresh and weeping.
When his bladder gave another uncomfortable twinge, he knew it was time to get this
show on the road. No longer able to delay the inevitable, Landon managed to manoeuvre
himself off the bed and onto his feet. As soon as he was vertical, the room began to tilt and
sway like a ship on rough seas. The combined sensation of an empty belly and a full bladder
had Landon losing his footing and sent him slamming into the wall with a bone rattling force
that had his stomach threatening to rebel.
His lungs burned. He gulped down air in an attempt to regain his calm and settle his
stomach. Pushing through the pain, Landon took a staggered step forward. His body held
strong for all of five seconds before his muscles seized and sent him crashing to the floor.
There was nothing he could do to bite back the agony-filled scream that rent the air.
Momentarily dazed by the impact, Landon lay on his back, gasping for air while wave after
wave of mind-numbing pain crashed over him.
“What the hell?” a deep voice sounded from the other side of the bed. Something
scraped roughly against the floor, followed by a presence at his side a moment later. “Jesus,
baby. What did you do to yourself?”
Baby? Landon tried to place the voice, but his thoughts were so fogged by the pain still
ricocheting through his body that he couldn’t focus. He was helpless, trapped in a room with
a stranger who could just as easily hurt him as help him. There was a hand in his hair and he
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flinched away at the unexpected contact. The hand tightened, giving his hair a gentle tug and
forcing him to look up into the greenest eyes he’d ever seen. The eyes, in combination with
the light amber colour of his hair, was stunning. It gave the impression that he could have
walked right out of the pages of a book about Scottish warriors.
Landon licked his lips, envisioning the man in a kilt and nothing else. The slight flutter
of his stomach and the twinge in his groin took him by surprise. He began to wriggle anew,
desperately hoping the man didn’t notice his embarrassing state.
“Enough of that,” the man admonished with a grin. “I’m the last person in the world
who would hurt you. Now, quit squirming around and let me help you so you don’t hurt
yourself any worse.”
Landon didn’t even have time to protest before he was carefully lifted into the air and
cradled against a massive chest. He gave a half-hearted push at the wall of muscle, but all he
got was a chuckle in response.
“You’re gonna have to do a lot better than that to move me, babe. That was nothing
more than a love tap.”
“Put me down,” Landon groused. “I’m not a child and I don’t like to be laughed at.” He
was tired and in pain. He refused to be a joke for some stranger’s amusement. Even if the
man was gorgeous.
The man’s smile softened as he gazed down at him. “I’m not laughing at you,
sweetheart. I’m just so fucking glad you’re awake. You passed out and we couldn’t get you
to wake back up. We tried everything. Even the doc made a go at it when he came to treat
and bandage your wounds, but you didn’t even twitch. You had us worried.”
“Us?”
“Well, yeah. Me, Noah, our Pack, your Pack mates. Everybody. Nobody knew why you
were out or when you would wake up. Doc just told us we would have to wait it out and that
you would wake up when you were ready.” The man grimaced. “I’ve never been very good
at waiting.”
“My Pack mates are here? They’re alive?”
“Yeah. Some of them are a bit worse for wear, but they’re all on the mend, now. None
of their wounds were anywhere near as bad as yours. They’ll all be fine in a couple of days.
As soon as you’ve rested and healed up a bit, we can take you down to see them.”
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“More rest?” Landon groaned. “It feels like I’ve been sleeping for a year. How long was
I out?”
His smile dulled and his expression became serious. “Three days. You have to promise
never to do that to us again. It was pure hell.”
Landon was shocked by the vehemence in the man’s tone. “I’m sorry. Maybe I have
brain damage or something but, do I know you?”
“Oh, shit!” A sheepish look crossed the man’s face and his cheeks flushed an attractive
shade of pink. “You’re gonna have to forgive me because I’m an idiot. We’ve spent the last
few days keeping an eye on you and getting to know your Pack mates. They’ve told us so
much about you, it feels like I already know you. I’m Dax Marshall, Beta for the Grand
Rapids Pack.”
“Well, Dax Marshall, this is going to be a little awkward since we just officially met and
all, but since you’re still carrying me, would you mind taking me over to the bathroom? It’s
where I was heading when I crash landed and it’s kind of become an emergency trip at this
point.”
“Oh, damn, babe. Of course.” He carried Landon across the room without even being
short of breath.
When he opened the door, Landon took a moment to be thankful that at least he’d been
heading for the right door, even if his attempt to get there had been wholly unsuccessful.
Normally he would have taken a look at the fixtures and décor but, at the moment, he was a
man on a mission.
Standing in front of the sink, Dax slowly lowered Landon’s feet and allowed his body to
slide down his much larger frame. Landon sucked in a breath as the friction of the material
dragging against the sensitive skin of his shaft caused his dick to lengthen and swell. He was
so shocked by the reaction, someone could have knocked him over with a feather.
When Landon was a teenager, he had been diagnosed as having a sexual aversion
disorder. While he’d been able to appreciate the qualities that made a person attractive to
others, he was unable to feel any arousal. He had met with the Pack doctor, multiple
specialists and research centres and none of them could come up with a cause or a solution
for his problem. It would either correct itself or not.
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They all tried to be optimistic, encouraging him to see the bright side of things, but they
weren’t the ones facing what could be hundreds of years as a eunuch. For a hormone-laden
teenager, the news had been devastating. He’d wanted a chance to feel what all the fuss was
about. While all his friends were out taking their new-found sexuality for a ride, Landon
remained unchanged. At twenty, he’d like to say that he had matured into a man who could
accept his lot in life and find a way to deal with it. Unfortunately, he’d made a practise of
never lying to himself. For the most part, his situation sucked.
“Landon.”
“Huh, what?” Dax’s deep voice brought his attention back to the present.
Dax chuckled. “I asked if you thought you could stand on your own or if you’d like
some help?”
Landon couldn’t have been more embarrassed. An image of Dax happily holding his
junk while he took a piss popped into his head and had him blushing fifty shades of red.
“No,” he coughed. “I think I’ve got it under control. Thanks, though.”
“No worries. I’ll just wait outside the door. Give me a shout if you need a hand getting
back to bed, okay?”
Ducking his head to hide the scarlet of his checks, Landon managed a nod and turned
away. He waited for the door to close then shuffle-stepped over the use the facilities. While
he did manage the feat alone, he was exhausted by the time it came to wash his hands. His
eyelids were heavy and it was all he could do to keep his head up and not let it fall back
down to his chest. With the last vestiges of his stubborn pride, he bit the bullet and called out
for a helping hand.
He expected to see the honeyed head of Dax, so Landon was startled when a strange
man entered the room without a bit of hesitation. His build was comparable to Dax’s, but
that’s where their similarities ended. His dark hair had been shorn so short that it was barely
more than a shadow across his scalp. Where Dax’s eyes were a vibrant green, this man’s were
the colour of a stormy day at sea. Blue and grey blended together to create a turbulent shade
that was both beautiful and heartbreaking. There was so much pain in those eyes. Landon
couldn’t look away.
“You called for help?” His voice rumbled over Landon, causing goosebumps to break
out over his skin.
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“Who are you and where’s Dax?”
A small smile quirked his lips. “Afraid I’ve done something to him? Don’t you worry
about Dax. That man is more than capable of taking care of himself and anyone else that
comes along.”
Landon’s disbelief must have been showing because the man laughed. It was a rich,
happy sound and Landon couldn’t help but laugh as well.
“Dax is waiting in the other room. I just got back from a meeting with the Alpha so he
let me come and get you. My name is Noah Steele.”
“Steele? As in Charles Steele?” Landon hated the tremor of fear he heard in his voice
but after the last few months, he figured he deserved to show a little fear.
Noah’s wide smile and relaxed stance vanished. His six and a half foot frame went as
rigid as a board and his blank expression would have made an ice cube look warm. Regret
shadowed his handsome features and left Landon wishing he’d never opened his mouth.
“Yes. Unfortunately, Charles Steele is my father. I can’t even try to tell you how sorry I
am for what was done to you because of him. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I
have to apologise anyway. What was done to you will be a regret I’ll carry with me the rest
of my life.”
Landon was confused. “Why are you apologising? Were you at the facility or did you
have any part in what was done to us there?”
“Of course not,” Noah snapped.
“Then why the hell are you apologising? This wasn’t your fault so it’s not your wrong
to right. Now, quit being an idiot and help me back to bed. Seriously, I’m like ten seconds
from dropping and I’ve had enough up close and personal time with the floor today.”
Noah was momentarily stunned before a slow smirk crept to his face. “Yes, sir.”
Moving forward, he gently hoisted Landon up into his arms and made his way back out
into the bedroom. Dax was back in his chair at the side of the bed leafing through a
magazine. Noah crossed the room and gently set Landon down on the bed. Careful as he
was, Landon still had to bite his cheek to keep from crying out when the torn flesh of his
wounds pulled tight. Dax looked up at that moment, the smile on his face disappearing as he
caught the edge of his grimace.
“Hey, babe. Everything all right?”
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“Umm, yea—”
“Everything is fine, D.”
Landon’s eyes jerked to Noah who was looking at him, his face a blank mask. He
cursed himself for the slip. Somehow he’d allowed himself to get used to Dax’s playful
nickname and had responded to it, in front of Noah no less. God, he was such an idiot. With
Dax and Noah in the room together, it was more than clear that they were in a relationship.
The chemistry between them was off the charts. The fact that he had been attracted to them
both, which was a miracle in itself, just made him that much more pathetic.
“Sorry,” he muttered, dropping his eyes to where his hands were balled up in his lap. “I
don’t know what I was thinking.”
“Landon, you don’t—”
“Dax. This isn’t the time.”
“But he thinks—”
“Dax, we’ll discuss it later.”
Landon watched the argument in confusion. It was obvious that they were discussing
him but beyond that, Landon didn’t have a clue. Now that he knew the two of them were
together, that should be the end of his infatuation, but there was something about them that
called to him in a way he didn’t understand. It made him want to get closer and wrap
himself in the safety and security he was sure these men could provide. Not to mention that
this was the first, and possibly only, time he’d ever reacted to anyone. No, he had to see
where this went, even if it ended with his own broken heart.
A throat clearing caught his attention and he noticed that Noah and Dax had stopped
arguing and were now watching him with matching expressions of bemusement.
His cheeks heated as a flush blazed across his face and neck. “Sorry…again.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Noah dismissed. “We should be the ones apologising, anyway.
It was rude of us to carry on an argument right in front of you. Most couples have more tact.
Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. We’re still operating on a learning curve.”
“So you guys are a couple?” Landon wanted the words back as soon as they crossed his
lips.
Dax smiled. “Mates, actually. We found out just before the mission.”
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“Wow.” Landon tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. It was like he’d been
sucker punched. “Congratulations. Finding your mate is a rare thing. You guys should be out
celebrating, not wasting your time sitting around here playing nursemaid to me.”
“Dax and I don’t consider the time we’ve spent caring for you a waste,” Noah stated
firmly. “We’re right where we need to be and will be here for you as long as you need us.”
Landon was surprised and confused by the reverence in the man’s tone. If he didn’t
know better, he would say that he heard genuine concern in his voice. No, he had to be
projecting his own feelings onto the other men. After so much time in captivity, his wires
must have got crossed. Kindness and concern had become foreign concepts. Whatever the
reason, he needed to get his mind off all the nasty, naked things he wanted to do with Noah
and Dax before he lost what was left of his sanity.
“My Pack,” he muttered, needing something to distract him. “You said they were here.
Did you speak with any of them? Are they all right?”
“Calm down and take a breath.” Dax chuckled. “They’re all fine. A young woman
named Ruby has been our main contact with your Pack. She seems to be the leader of your
brood and has been by to sit with you every day. She’s the one who told us your name and
where to find you at the facility. She and the rest of her wolves have all been given sanctuary
by the Grand Rapids Pack. They have food, clothing and rooms of their own for as long as
they decide to stay with us. A few were in need of medical attention but the rest were fine
after they were finally allowed to shift. Ruby’s been by a couple of times a day to see how
you are. She’s been very concerned about you.” He raised an eyebrow and gave Landon a
questioning look.
“You’re kidding, right? She’s like my sister. That’s just wrong!”
A hint of relief flickered in Dax’s eyes and his smile widened. “What, busty and blonde
not your type?”
“Not even close.”
“Oh, really? And what would your type be?”
Landon’s happy mood vanished. “I don’t have a one.”
“Oh, shit,” Dax groaned, his eyes wide with regret. “I’m so sorry, Landon. I didn’t even
think before I opened my big, fat mouth. That was a stupid thing to say. Forgive me?”
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Landon nearly stopped breathing. Surely, no one would have told them. No one in his
Pack would be that cruel. It was a secret they’d sworn they’d take to the grave.
“W-what are you talking about?” He barely managed to get the words out and his body
started to tremble.
Dax’s gaze was unwavering. “Landon.”
Just the way his name sounded when it crossed the man’s lips told Landon he was not
going to like where this was headed.
“There’s no need to hide,” Dax continued. “There’s no judgement here.”
Landon jolted. “Y-you guys know?”
Dax’s eyes softened as he stared down at Landon’s face. “Yeah, Ruby told us about
your unique situation. Don’t be angry with her. We had a lot of questions when we arrived,
not the least of which were what had been done to you and why Alpha Steele was so
desperate to get his hands on you. We needed as much as information as possible to keep
you safe.”
Mouth gaping wide with shock, Landon couldn’t even speak. Ruby had told them—
everything? Oh, God. The betrayal cut him to the bone. He wanted to curl up in a ball and
hide. It was bad enough that his Pack knew about his deficiencies. He’d thought he could
never feel any lower than he had while in the facility, but he had been wrong. This was so
much worse.
A low, keening cry burst from his mouth. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his hands
began to shake. Wrapping his arms around his middle, he held tight, knowing that the
minute he let go, he would break apart into a million pieces.
“Landon?” An edge of unease crept into Dax’s tone.
“I’m fine,” Landon answered through gritted teeth. “I’m just tired.” There was no way
he could handle seeing Dax or Noah look at him with pity in their eyes. He wasn’t that
strong.
“That’s bullshit, Landon.” Noah barked. “You’re not fine. I’ll let you get away with the
lie this time, but I don’t want to see it happen again. Never lie to us, Landon,” Noah ordered.
“Nothing you can tell us will make us think less of you. All we ask is that there is always
honesty between us. How else can we help you if we don’t know what’s wrong?”
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“Why do you care?” Landon demanded, shame causing his words to have a bitter,
angry edge. “I’m just some useless freak you found tied up in a psycho’s basement. Why the
hell would you want to help me?”
Dax pulled himself up to his full height, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he stared
down at Landon. “I never want to hear those words come out of your mouth again. You are
not worthless and you’re not a freak. You’re amazing and special and, most importantly,
ours!”
“Dax!”
“No, Noah! I’m not going to keep my mouth shut and tiptoe around it while he’s sitting
there, tearing himself down. It our job to protect him, even from himself, and we can’t do
that if we don’t even acknowledge the bond between us.”
“He’s not ready,” Noah argued.
“Whether he’s ready or not doesn’t matter. He needs us. That’s the bottom line.”
“Hey,” Landon shouted, snapping his fingers in front of Dax’s face. “I’m right here and
I’d appreciate it if you’d stop talking about me like I’m not in the room. I’m a grown man and
I don’t need either of you making decisions for me, understand?” Crossing his arms over his
chest, he narrowed his eyes and gave them what he hoped was a menacing glare to drive his
point home. “Now, what the hell are you guys talking about?”
Noah and Dax looked at each other for a long moment, a silent communication flowing
between them with such ease it made Landon’s heart give a little pang. It was foolish to hope
that someday he might share that kind of closeness with someone. The only two people he’d
ever had a desire to be that close with were already taken.
Noah scowled at Dax’s smug air. “We’ve got some things to tell you, but we’d thought
it best to wait until you’d had some time to rest and recuperate. We’ve been through a lot
already. We didn’t want you to be overwhelmed.”
“Who are you to tell me what I can handle and what I can’t? I feel like I’m losing my
mind here. Please? I need to know what’s going on.”
Running a hand across his dark, cropped hair, Noah sighed. “You’re right. You deserve
the truth. All I ask is that you let me finish before you start hammering me with questions.
Think you can do that?”
“I think I can manage,” Landon ground out, his face tight with irritation.
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Chapter Nine
Half an hour later, Landon was at a loss for words. A million thoughts raced through
his head, all vying for attention. Parents, murder, Pack, kidnapped, Omega, mates. Holy shit!
Those last two were a real doozy.
“So, you’re saying that all this time, there’s never been anything wrong with me?”
“That’s exactly what we’re saying,” Dax replied. “Everything about you is completely
normal for an Omega wolf.”
“And you and Noah are my mates?”
Noah held his head high. “Yes.”
“And you’re both okay with that?”
Noah lowered his head and pinned Landon with a look that was so filled with heat and
possession, he had to lock his knees to keep from falling to the floor like a swooning princess.
“Yes,” Noah rumbled, the sound low and gravel-rough. “You are ours.”
Landon’s body sagged as a warm wash of relief filled his body. He couldn’t believe it.
After all the taunts and jibes and abuse, he was finally getting everything he’d ever wanted.
Excitement and worry churned together in his gut, leaving him slightly nauseated. While he
wanted to be happy and enjoy the moment, nothing this good ever happened to him. He
couldn’t help but wonder when the other shoe was going to drop.
Dax seemed to pick up on his unease the quickest. Moving to the bed, he sat down next
to Landon and took his hand. The difference between them was huge, as Dax’s massive
hands completely enveloped his own. “I don’t want you to stress about the mating. You’ve
survived something most people couldn’t even imagine. We want all your focus on healing
and getting well. Everything else can wait. Just know that Noah and I will be right here with
you, every step of the way.”
Landon released a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “Okay.” While he was
definitely attracted to both men, it was nice to know he wasn’t going to be expected to
immediately jump into bed and spread his legs for them. He still needed some time to
process everything that had happened.
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“There’s something else we need to discuss.” With his clenched jaw and steely eyed
stare, Noah took serious to a whole new level.
“Jesus Christ. What now?” Landon demanded.
“The doctor came by and treated your wounds. He did what he could, but he’s
concerned that there may be more wrong than what we can see. He was sure that once you
were able to shift it would speed up the healing and make the wounds less severe. However,
even when you completely lost consciousness, your wolf never came out. None of us have
ever seen anything like it…not in a Shifter wounded so severely, in any case. We’re not sure
what has been done to you, but Doc is looking into it and will let us know when he knows
more.”
Landon’s stomach dropped as he realised just how close they were to figuring out his
shameful secret. It was his own fault. If he hadn’t tried to escape so many times, Alec
wouldn’t have felt the need to make an example of him. It had been the longest night of his
life as Alec proceeded to set off his collar, over and over, for nearly twelve hours straight.
The move, designed to show the others what happened to those with thoughts of escape, had
left Landon forever changed. If the Grand Rapids Pack knew how truly defective he was, he
doubted they’d be so kind and welcoming. A Shifter who couldn’t shift was like a fish who
couldn’t swim. He’d be lucky if they allowed him to leave. Many Packs still maintained the
practise of culling the weak.
“Your doctor doesn’t need to go to any trouble. I’m sure everything will be fine as soon
as I’ve had a bit more time to rest and regain my strength.” He winced at the panicked edge
in his voice.
Noah and Dax’s brows furrowed, almost in unison. It was kind of funny up until the
point where he was pinned in place by their disapproving gazes.
“Everything is not fine, Landon.” Dax frowned. “Any Shifter who was injured as badly
as you are should have been able to Shift by now to heal the damage. After you passed out, it
should have happened automatically. The fact that you couldn’t proves that something isn’t
right.”
Landon shook his head. “I’m sure it will work itself out. I’m sure there are more
important things you should be worrying about right now than one injured runt of a Shifter.
Really, I’ll be fine.”
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Noah glared at him suspiciously. “There’s something you’re not telling us.”
“There are a lot of things I’m not telling you. You’re practically strangers to me. Sorry,
but you’re not privy to my every thought and life experience. Some things are personal.”
“Not from us,” Noah rumbled, rising to his feet. His body seemed to grow larger as his
eyes darkened in anger. “There won’t be any secrets between the three of us, ever!”
“I don’t owe you anything other than a thank you for saving my life,” Landon shouted,
hoping his anger would disguise the guilt and fear that were growing inside him.
Hands fisted at his sides and chest heaving, Noah loomed over him, a frown twisting
his lips. “Is that what you think? You are our mate. You owe us that and more, pup. Much,
much more. The sooner you figure that out, the better off we’ll all be.”
A whine escaped Landon’s throat as fear dug its claws into him and wouldn’t let go.
Acting on instinct, he hunched down and tried to make himself as small as possible in an
effort to protect his more sensitive bits from the pain he feared was coming. With his arms
around his knees, he tucked his head into his chest and waited for the blows to fall.
His body stayed tense as he anticipated a strike, but it never came. Landon almost
jumped out of skin when a warm hand came down on his shoulder, gently easing him out of
his huddled state. Strong fingers caressed the line of his jaw then moved on to smooth away
the worry lines he could feel forming between his eyebrows. A pair of soft lips made contact
with his own and his first instinct was to jerk away. Instead of escape, he found himself
unable to move, held firmly but gently between those strong hands.
Panic grabbed a hold of him but was quickly quashed by a series of soft, fluttering
kisses that rained down along the seam of his lips. Surprised, Landon had no idea how, or if,
he should respond. He was sure it would turn out that all of this was a dream and he would
wake up back in his cell.
Eyes closed and head back, he allowed the contact while making no move to
reciprocate, just revelling in the novelty of the pleasure. After a few long minutes, Landon’s
lungs began to burn from the lack of oxygen and his lips were forced opened as he gasped
for air. A thick tongue pushed its way into Landon’s mouth and his eyes flew open in shock.
Dax. His cock filled with a speed that left him feeling dizzy and disoriented. All Landon
could focus on was Dax as he thrust his tongue forward, exploring every inch of his mouth.
Licking and tasting, Dax’s invading muscle encouraged Landon to join in the fun.
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At first, Landon was hesitant. With his wolf acting as his own built-in chaperone, he’d
never got the chance to learn and explore his sexual side. He couldn’t have been more
surprised when he experienced, not just a brush of fur, but an alertness inside that was not
his own. Was it possible that his wolf wasn’t as far gone as he’d feared? It was nothing close
to the awareness of his beast prior to his time in captivity, but it was something. A sign that
maybe his old friend wasn’t lost to him forever. These men encouraged his wolf to return,
even in small increments. It wasn’t something he was willing to just sit back and ignore.
Taking a calming breath, he let go of his reservations and allowed himself to give in to his
own need.
His first efforts were short and stilted, his mouth moving awkwardly in a way that
practically screamed of inexperience. When he struggled to find a rhythm, Dax was there.
Teasing licks and coaxing nips encouraged Landon to explore every inch of his mouth freely.
With each stroke of Dax’s tongue, Landon felt himself relaxing into the touch and enjoying
the feelings they awakened in him. He reached out with tentative hands and traced the
muscled expanse of Dax’s back with his fingers. The warm skin and musky scent of the man
was intoxicating and left Landon craving more.
Shifting his position, Landon ignored the twinge of his wounds and leaned in until the
length of his torso was pressed tight to the sturdy frame of the muscular blond. Pulling away
from his mouth, Landon explored the curve of Dax’s shoulder with his lips and tongue. He
knew he should stop. Noah was right there watching and, despite their claim that he was
their mate, Landon had no idea how the big Alpha would take to him marking his mate. In
the Shifter world, marking another’s mate could be a death sentence. Despite his best efforts,
he couldn’t stop from flicking out his tongue to taste the heated skin of Dax’s throat.
Heaven. Musk and man combined with something that was uniquely Dax. All it took
was one taste for Landon to know that it would never be enough. It was like coming home.
He licked a path up the side of Dax’s neck and around the shell of his ear before sucking the
lobe into his mouth and laving it with the flat of his tongue.
“Jesus Christ,” Dax groaned as he reached out and practically dragged Landon into his
lap. “That is so fucking hot, baby. I could just eat you up.”
Landon couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped him when Dax took his mouth in a
punishing kiss. He was so lost in the pleasure, he almost missed a low rumbling sound from
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the opposite side of the bed. The moment he heard it, Landon froze. Pulling back, he dared a
glance over Dax’s shoulder and met the steely-eyed gaze of one pissed off Alpha wolf. If
looks could kill, someone would need to start shopping for a headstone. Landon scrambled
backward, out of Dax’s embrace, until he fell right off the side of the bed.
The agony that washed over him was immediate and extreme, pushing away any other
thoughts and concerns in lieu of the blinding pain that racked his body. The cry that escaped
him was less human and more wounded animal. Cuts and tears reopened, staining his
bandages anew.
“God damn it, Noah! What the hell were you thinking? You scared the shit out of him.”
“I couldn’t help it, D. The two of you together… It was just so…”
“Save it! Just help me get him back on the bed without damaging him anymore. Then I
need you go grab some more bandages from the bathroom. Doc left some extra supplies in
case he pulled a stitch. Hopefully there’s enough to take care of all the new damage.”
Hands were on Landon then, gentle yet strong, manoeuvring his limbs and lifting him
from the floor. A moment later he was back on the bed, the pillowy surface helping to dull
some of the pain of his fall. Gritting his teeth, he opened his eyes and was met with a stormy
gaze that burned a hole straight through him. Landon averted his eyes and focused on a
point over Noah’s shoulder. He tilted his head and exposed his throat in the ultimate sign of
submission to another wolf. The move made left him open and completely vulnerable to
attack, but he had no choice. Judging by appearances, the Alpha was seconds away from
tearing Landon’s throat out, and after what he’d done, Landon really couldn’t blame him.
“My apologies, Alpha. I have no excuse for my actions. I promise, it won’t happen
again.”
The growl sounded again, this time louder and echoed by Dax. Confused as hell and
not having any clue what was going on, he froze. While both men were clearly angry, neither
of them seemed like they were going to attack the other. He had no idea what was
happening, but knew he was missing something huge.
“Alpha?”
“Oh, it’s going to happen again,” Noah snapped, his lips pulled back to expose his
sharp incisors. “That was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s gonna
happen again, and often, and next time I am going to get a piece of the action.”
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Landon shook his head, not sure what to make of the situation he found himself in. “I
don’t understand. You were so angry and now—now, I don’t know what’s going on.”
Noah took a step forward, his large frame flexing and bulging with every movement.
Reaching out, he cupped Landon’s face in his hand like it was something fragile and
precious. “I owe you an apology. I lost myself in my wolf for a moment and scared you,
unintentionally.” The chagrined smile he offered Landon softened the hard edges of his face,
making him appear a bit bashful and sweet. “He wants you just as much as I do and has a
harder time accepting the need to be patient. I’ll try to have better control in the future,
though I can’t make any promises. This is new for us, too. We’re all going to have to take this
one day at a time and be patient with each other. Please, know that I would never hurt you.
Dax and I will do everything in our power to protect you and keep you safe. Believe that.”
“So, you’re not angry with me?” Landon looked up through his lashes, not quite
meeting Noah’s eyes for fear of what he might find there.
“No, Landon. Being angry is the furthest thing from my mind. Surprised, thankful and
excruciatingly turned on? Hell, yeah. How could I be upset when I’ve found I have been
blessed with two gorgeous mates? Trust me, I am the happiest man on the planet right now.”
“Excuse me?” Dax interrupted. “I think you may have to share that title, pal. I’m feeling
pretty good about all of this, myself.”
Noah grinned. “It seems I’m going to be getting used to sharing.”
“I think you’re going to enjoy it,” Dax leered.
“I certainly hope so.”
“So do I,” Landon whispered.
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Chapter Ten
Two days later, Landon was curled up on Noah’s couch, his bare feet tucked under
him, pretending not to stare as Dax and Noah washed dishes in the kitchen. He’d never been
more grateful to get out of bed in his life. The trip from the bedroom to the living room had
been exhausting, but he’d managed it completely on his own. The doctor had been by to
examine him twice more since his arrival. The older man always left after delivering the
same advice—shift.
Landon groaned. It wasn’t like he wasn’t trying. Ever since that first brush of fur, he’d
done everything he could think of to coax the wolf out of hiding but wasn’t having much
luck. While he was experiencing more of the teasing touches, the stubborn beast was keeping
itself hidden. He hadn’t mentioned it to the doctor, but the separation from his wolf was
taking its toll on him. His appetite had gone from small to almost non-existent and he had
begun to suffer from random, painful body tremors. Landon prayed that with a little more
time and patience, his wolf would find its way back to him. Hopefully sooner rather than
later. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep his condition a secret from his mates.
When a knock sounded at the door, both men stopped what they were doing, their
bodies going as taut as bow strings. Dax went to answer the door while Noah immediately
took up a protective stance at Landon’s side. The tawny-haired man made his way across the
room, shoulders back and determination evident in every step.
As Dax opened the door, Landon caught a glimpse of an extremely handsome blond
standing on the threshold. He saw the flash of blue eyes and miles of golden skin and was
immediately struck by an attack of inferiority. Between Noah’s and Dax’s thickly muscled
bodies and this stranger’s sleek, golden good looks, Landon officially felt like the ugly
stepchild. Was there no one in the Grand Rapids Pack who wasn’t gorgeous?
Landon was surprised by the deep, booming laugh and bone-crushing embrace Dax
exchanged with the beautiful stranger. Even more surprising was the intense surge of
jealousy that burned through him as he witnessed another man put his hands on one of the
men he had come to think of as his.
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The men ended their embrace and joined them in the living room, laughing and joking
like old friends. Casting a glance to his right, Landon was surprised to see the visage of
fondness transforming Noah’s face. Coming to stand before them, Dax wrapped an arm
around the man’s shoulder in a gesture of familiarity and caring that Landon didn’t really
appreciate. Even his dormant wolf must have agreed because he could swear the beast’s
hackles were raised and he was poised for attack. His mouth turned down and a small growl
rumbled free of his chest. Dax’s smile faltered when he met Landon’s cool gaze, obviously
picking up on the tenor of his thoughts. Gifting him with a gentle smile, he palmed Landon’s
cheek.
“I’ve got someone I’d like introduce you to. Landon Parker, I’d like you to meet Jai
Miller. Jai is a Pack Gamma and a good friend. He is also best friends with Eli Steele, Noah’s
younger brother and our Alpha’s mate. Not to mention the biggest troublemaker in the
Pack.”
Jai gasped in mock outrage. “You say troublemaking, I say fun-loving. I’m still
convinced that none of you know how to have a good time. Someone has to spice things up
for the rest of you. If it weren’t for me, you’d all be bored to tears.”
“Versus the tears of frustration we suffer from now?” Noah gave him a pointed stare
that Jai completely disregarded.
He turned to Landon, smiled wide and held out a welcoming hand. “Nice to meet you.
Don’t let these stodgy old guys give you the wrong idea about me. I keep this place lively.
When I first got here, the Grand Rapids Pack was two steps away from a retirement home.”
Brushing off a shoulder, he gave Dax and Noah a cocky leer. “They’d be lost without me.”
Landon smiled. He’d never met anyone like Jai and thought it was pretty safe to
assume he never would again. Confidence and happiness seemed to emanate from his very
pores. Just being near him kindled a spark of hope inside Landon. If he could find the
strength to move beyond what had happened to him, maybe he could find some measure of
the same happiness Jai had achieved. Maybe then he could really start living instead of just
existing.
Taking the offered hand, Landon gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s good to meet you, Jai.
Were you part of the team that rescued me?”
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Jai’s eyes turned serious and lost some of their warmth. “I’m sorry to say, no. I seem to
have a personality that clashes with some of the members of Dax’s team. Oil and water, I
guess. No matter. I’m just glad they were able to get you out and destroy the building so no
one else will have to suffer in that place the way you did. Every facility we are able to locate
and destroy brings us one step closer to stopping Alpha Steele and his Pack of monsters. That
brings me to the reason for my visit.” His eyes softened and his body lost some of its
previous tension. “Our Alpha would like to speak with you and your mates, if you’re feeling
up to it. He’s hoping that you might have overheard something that could provide insight or
details into Alpha Steele’s plans.”
“Of course. I’m not sure how much help I can be, but I’ll be happy to help in any way
that I can. I just need a few minutes to get ready and I can meet him in his office, if this is a
good time.” In reality, a visit with the Alpha was the last thing he wanted to do. No one
wanted to walk into a room with a powerful predator when they weren’t at their physical
best. As it was, Landon was pretty sure a gang of kittens would be able to take him down.
Unfortunately, turning down a summons from an Alpha was never a good idea. At least not
if you wanted to keep breathing.
“That would be perfect.” Jai smiled. “I’ll go ahead and let him know to expect you.
There’s no rush so please, take your time.”
With a nod to Noah and Dax, Jai make his way to the door and quietly let himself out of
the apartment. Landon remained seated until the door clicked shut behind him. He lowered
his feet to the floor, levered himself off the couch and waited for the room to stop spinning
then slowly shuffled his way to the bedroom. He could sense Noah and Dax behind him,
shadowing his steps, but they never said a word. Rifling through the closet, he grabbed a
sweatshirt, followed by a thick pair of socks, before moving to sit on the bed to dress.
“We don’t have to go.”
Dax’s eyes were solemn and a frown tugged at his normally joyful mouth. Landon
didn’t like the change.
“I was summoned by your Alpha.”
“You’re still healing,” Noah answered.
Landon gave him a gentle smile and shook his head. “Only a fool with a death wish
would refuse an Alpha’s request for an audience. I’ve had enough close calls with death
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lately. I’m not interested in another. Especially when I have a choice in the matter. You two
may be strong enough to stand up to an Alpha, but I’m definitely not. I won’t give him any
reason to hurt me or want me dead.”
Noah stiffened and his face flushed with outrage. Dax merely cocked his head to the
side and looked at Landon, his expression unreadable. The contrast between the two would
have been comical if he hadn’t been worried that Noah was going to have an aneurism.
“An Alpha is the leader of the Pack,” Noah gritted out, his eyes dark with anger. “It’s
their job to guide and protect their Pack mates, not harm them.”
A memory of Charles Steele and his bunch of mercenaries descending on his Pack
flashed in Landon’s mind, causing an involuntary shudder to work its way through him. He
pinned Noah with a withering stare. “Not in my experience,” he responded coolly. “If the
last few months have taught me anything, it’s that the strong strive to oppress the weak. If
they haven’t done it yet, then they are just waiting for their opening to strike.”
“You do realise that I’m an Alpha, don’t you?” Red faced and scowling, Noah blocked
his path, as immovable as a brick wall. “Is that what you think of me, as well?”
Landon groaned in frustration. “I’m trying here, Noah. No, I don’t think of you as
someone who is trying to hurt or oppress others, but you are also not a typical Alpha. You’re
not running a Pack nor do you seem to want to. You aren’t driven by a hunger for more
power. My experiences with Pack leaders hasn’t been good. In my mind, they’re suspect
until they proved otherwise. I’m sorry if that upsets you, but that’s just the way it is for me.
Now,” he snapped, “if you’re done with the hurt feelings and drama, I have a meeting to
attend.”
He rose from the bed and hobbled out of the room in a wave of righteous indignation.
No way in hell was he going to sit by and let Noah ‘teach’ him about the strong, caring Alpha
wolves from his story books. Landon could tell his own stories, but they were far from
bedtime material. They were the stuff of nightmares and he had only one wolf to blame—
Alpha Charles Steele. Locked in a cell, chained down and bleeding, he had promised himself
that one day he would find a way to make Alpha Steele answer for all the damage he’d
caused and the lives he’d ruined. That promise had kept him alive and he intended to see it
through.
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The trek to Alpha Kellan Reeves’ office would have taken an eternity if Landon had got
his way. In his current condition, a turtle could have made the trip faster. It didn’t help that
his office was two floors down and at the opposite end of the massive house. The modest
home where he had grown up in Three Rivers could have easily fit inside this one at least
five times over. If the house was a means for measurement, the Grand Rapids Pack had to
number in the hundreds versus the twenty or so Shifters that had called the Three Rivers
Pack home. At least they had, before Charles Steele had paid them a visit. He had no idea
what had happened to the rest of the Pack in the months since the attack. Ten of them had
been taken to the facility but, no matter how many times they’d asked the guards and
doctors, they were given no information about what had happened to the rest.
The reminder had a wave sorrow building up inside him. Blinking rapidly, he tried to
will them away, but it was a mission destined for failure. Strong arms bracketed him from
behind, pulling him into a solidly muscled chest, as another body pressed into him from the
front. The combined scents of Noah and Dax surrounded him, calming him almost instantly.
Breathing deeply, he soaked in their comfort even though he knew he was just allowing his
infatuation with Noah and Dax to grow stronger. If he was being truthful, it was already too
late. He was half in love with them already. So much for protecting his heart. He just prayed
that when this whole, sorry mess was done, they would all be able to move past the
nightmare and start fresh.
“Thank you.” The words were whispered against Noah’s throat and punctuated with a
kiss.
Warm lips worked a path up to the hollow behind his ear as the familiar sweet scent of
Dax’s breath wafted over him. “If you’re not ready, we’ll go right back to the suite and send
word to Kellan that we need to reschedule. After everything you’ve been through, we know
it’s hard for you to believe that you’re safe here. Please trust me when I tell you that, whether
you have information or not, no one will hurt you. For now, you are a guest of the Grand
Rapids Pack and, as such, have the protection of the Pack. We’ve already spoken to Kellan
and he’s decided to offer you and your Pack mates a home with the Grand Rapids Pack.
Eventually, we hope you’ll consider accepting the offer, but that is a decision only you can
make. Until then, just know that we will protect you with our lives. No one is ever going to
hurt you again. You have our word.”
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Landon leant back and glanced up to meet Dax’s green-eyed gaze. Looking deep, he
saw only honesty reflected back at him. The need to believe had never been stronger. He
wanted to throw caution to the wind and trust these men to take him into their hearts and
care for him and protect him forever. It was a ridiculous dream, but when Dax leant down
and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, he couldn’t fight the kernel of hope that twinged in his
chest. When Noah duplicated the action, Landon decided it was time to stop second guessing
their motives and accept their affection. They were mates and it was time for him to start
acting like it.
Noah pulled back slowly and gifted him with a gentle smile. “We’ll deal with this later.
For now, we need to know if you want to go through with this meeting or if you’d like to go
back to the room and rest?”
Hot and aching with need, Landon couldn’t even think as lust coursed through his
body. His cock was like a steel rod in his pants, full and heavy and in desperate need of
attention. How could they expect him to form words when they had amped up his libido to
dangerous levels? The least they could do was offer to help him take the edge off. As it was,
he was going to have to officially meet the Pack Alpha with a raging hard-on the size of
Rhode Island. Words alone could not adequately describe his ire.
“I’m fine,” he stammered, trying to catch his breath. He could have lived without the
shakiness in his voice. “I just want to get this over with.”
Noah and Dax exchanged a look he couldn’t decipher. Landon felt a pang of jealousy at
the closeness the men shared. It made him feel like an outsider when all he wanted was to
belong to them. To be a part of them. They were supposed to be mates. They shouldn’t be
cutting him out of things, especially when he was standing right there in front of them. A
throat clearing caught Landon’s attention and he once again found himself the target of their
combined regard.
“All right. If you’re sure you want to do this we’ll go, but Dax and I are going to be with
you every second. If at any point it gets to be too much or you want to stop, you will tell us
and then we’re done. Do you understand? If you can’t agree to our terms, we’ll head back to
the apartment right now and Kellan will just have to wait until we say you’re ready to see
him.”
“I understand.”
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Noah nodded. “Good. Now, enough of this proud martyr bullshit. Dax is going to carry
you to Kellan’s office and you’re gonna let him. At the rate you’re going, you’ll either hurt
yourself or we’re all gonna be eighty by the time we get there. From now on, you will ask for
help when you need it or you will find yourself being put over my knee. I’ll ask you again,
do you understand?”
Landon blanched, too shocked by Noah’s words to even attempt a response. He must
have been sucked into an alternate universe where all his fantasies came true. It was either
that or he was developing some kind of issue with his hearing. Maybe he should schedule an
appointment to get it checked out.
A hard slap to his ass jolted him out of his thoughts. Eyes wide, he glanced up and was
immediately trapped by Noah’s stern glare.
“I asked you a question, Landon. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” he gasped.
“Yes, what?” Noah prodded.
“Yes, Sir,” Landon answered automatically, further shocking himself.
What the hell was that about? Whatever it was had Noah and Dax smiling like
Christmas had come early.
“Good boy,” Noah crooned, running his thumb over Landon’s bottom lip.
With a sharp nod to Dax, Noah turned and continued off down the hall, leaving
Landon to stare, open-mouthed, at his retreating back. Landon didn’t even have time to call
out after him before he was hoisted up into Dax’s arms.
“Is this really necessary?” He gave Dax the most fearsome glare he could manage.
Dax laughed. “Yeah, I think it is. You feel good in my arms, Land. Real good.”
Adjusting his grip, he pulled Landon more securely into his body. Pressed tight against
Dax, he couldn’t ignore the swollen rod digging into his hip. He tried to ignore it, even
though that was the last thing he wanted to do. For the first time in his life, he wanted to
know what it would taste like to take that hot flesh into his mouth and swallow it all the way
down his throat. He wanted to feel that satin-covered steel drive deep into his virgin ass.
Arousal had been non-existent for him until he had met these men. Now, he was being
bombarded by feelings he didn’t understand and couldn’t control. All he knew was that he
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wanted more. It was an all-consuming fire that burned through him, leaving him hot and
needy and desperate to be taken.
Dax looked down, his eyes narrowing as he took in Landon’s appearance. “This is not
the right time for this, Landon. You need to control yourself.”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he gasped as another wave of arousal jolted
through him.
“There’s not a damn thing wrong with you,” Dax growled. “You’re in need and that’s
totally natural but, at the moment, there’s nothing we can do about it. You have to rein it in
and get control of it. You’re pumping out pheromones like nothing I’ve ever experienced. If
you can’t tamp it down, we’re going to end up mounting you on the floor of the Alpha’s
office. Unless you want us to be today’s entertainment, you need to control it.”
Panic rose up in Landon. “I don’t know if I can.”
Repositioning his arm, Dax encouraged Landon to wrap his legs around his waist and
pushed him up against the nearest wall. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through
Landon’s body and left him gasping for breath. The hard ridge of Dax’s shaft ran the length
of his own creating delicious friction across his sensitive flesh.
“You can and you will,” Dax ordered, dropping down and taking his mouth in a brutal
kiss.
It was teeth and tongue and raw, wet heat. By the time he was done, there wasn’t an
inch of Landon’s mouth he hadn’t explored. Their tongues twined in a sensual battle for
dominance that Landon was destined to lose. That didn’t stop him from fighting. There was
something primal inside him that needed this powerful man to prove himself. He wanted
Dax to show him that he was strong enough, worthy of claiming an Omega. With a hand
fisting his hair and the other wrapped around his hip in a punishing grip, the man did that
and more. The way he pinned Landon to the wall, fingers digging into his skin possessively,
left no question that Dax was the one in control. He was leaving marks, signs of ownership,
that would make it clear that Landon had been thoroughly claimed and was off limits.
Breaking apart, they were both gasping for breath.
Landon eyed Dax warily. “For the record, this isn’t the best way for me to get control of
myself.”
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Dax had the decency to look guilty. “I’m sorry. Looks like you’re not the only one who
needs to work on their control.” Resting his chin on the top of Landon’s head, he took a deep
breath. “We have to get going. Kellan is waiting and Noah has probably already made it to
the office and is going to be wondering what happened to us.”
“Noah?” Landon’s mind was still struggling to get back on track after Dax’s kiss had
short circuited him from the neck up. “Holy shit! Noah! He’s gonna kill me. Put me down
and get your hands off me, right fucking now.” Landon squirmed and flailed in Dax’s arms.
Ever the immovable mountain, Dax merely chuckled and held him tighter, further
restricting his movements. “Noah’s not going to kill you. He already told you that you’re
ours. Now, could you please calm down? You’re gonna end up reopening your wounds.”
“Are you fucking kidding? Did you miss the part of our earlier conversation where he
threatened to spank me? I don’t want to give him any excuses. My tongue down your throat
seems like a pretty good reason. I doubt he’s going to be real happy if he finds out we were
messing around without him again.”
“If you want to be accurate, I had my tongue down your throat. Besides, you never
know, you might like a little spanking.” Dax chuckled. When Landon resumed struggling for
release, he gave his ass a playful swat, followed by a firm pinch to his right cheek. “Now, be
still and let me hold you.”
“Fine,” Landon grumbled, “but if Noah finds out, I’m telling him it was your fault. If
anyone’s getting spanked, it’s gonna be you.”
“I’m not worried,” Dax answered. “He already knows that I got a taste of you first. I’m
sure he’s a bit put out, but I doubt he’ll do any permanent damage. Sitting down might be a
bit uncomfortable for a few days but trust me,” he said, giving Landon a leering once-over,
“it was worth it.”
Landon shrugged at Noah’s nonchalance. “To each his own, I guess. I think I’ll pass on
the spanking.”
“You say that now. Just wait. I bet you’ll be begging for it.”
Dax’s eyes softened as he reached out and cupped Landon’s cheek in his hand. The look
was so tender, Landon had all he could do to hold off a blush.
“All joking aside, I know you’re struggling and confused and I’m sorry for that. I’m
sure there was a better way the two of us could have handled this whole situation but,
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unfortunately, we tend to have the whole ‘bull in a china shop’ mentality. Just know that no
one here would ever do anything to purposely hurt you. Kellan might be a pain in the ass
about us making him wait, but he’ll get over it and no violence will ensue. Eli has definitely
had a mellowing effect on my cousin.”
Landon sucked in a breath, shocked that Dax was so cavalier in the way he spoke about
his Alpha. Even if what Dax claimed was true and Alpha Reeves wasn’t an abusive leader, he
couldn’t imagine the man would be pleased to know that one of his Pack was publicly
disparaging him. It wouldn’t be unreasonable for the Alpha to punish him as an example to
the rest of the Pack. The thought of Dax being harmed had panic bubbling up inside him.
Landon knew his reaction was crazy. He’d only known Dax and Noah for a few days, but it
didn’t matter. There was something about the powerful men that made him want to roll over
and submit to them. He’d never experienced anything like it.
Dax leant forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, effectively calming
Landon’s rampant thoughts. With his mouth hanging half open and his eyes glazed and
heavy lidded, he knew he must look like a besotted idiot, but he couldn’t make himself care.
Pulling back, Dax graced him with a satisfied smile. “You are too fucking tempting.
We’ve gotta get out of here before I bend you over the nearest piece of furniture and fuck you
senseless.”
Voiceless with shock, Landon managed to nod dumbly, and allowed Dax to haul him
back up into his arms and trudge off down the hall, following the path Noah had taken
moments earlier. With every step, he focused on calming his racing heart and slowing his
breathing. He didn’t want to walk into the Alpha’s office looking like he was on his way to
the gallows, no matter how true he thought the description was.
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Chapter Eleven
Leaning against the wall outside Kellan’s office, Noah was about ten seconds from
going to look for his mates when they finally rounded the corner, dishevelled and reeking of
lust. The shit-eating grin on Dax’s face was all the confirmation Noah needed. Bastard. Not
that he could blame him. If their positions had been reversed, he would have done exactly
the same thing. He raised an eyebrow as Dax approached, Landon still held securely in his
arms.
“Have fun?”
Dax’s answering grin stretched ear to ear. “You wouldn’t believe how much.”
He nuzzled the curve of Landon’s neck then licked a path all the way up to his ear.
Landon stiffened and an enticing flush spread over his cheeks as Dax laved his ear with the
flat of his tongue before delivering a sharp nip to the fleshy lobe. A light sheen of sweat
beaded on Landon’s forehead, increasing the natural musk of his skin. The masculine scent
called to Noah, all heat and need with just a subtle hint of submission. It pushed all of Noah’s
buttons and had him on the verge of panting like his canine counterpart.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you to share?” Noah griped, pushing himself away
from the wall he’d been leaning against.
Dax grinned and nodded in invitation. “By all means, help yourself.”
Noah was across the room in three steps. Looming over Landon, he saw the smaller
man cringe slightly and attempt to burrow deeper into Dax’s embrace. Noah reached out a
hand and carded his fingers through Landon’s silky hair. He grabbed a handful of the golden
strands and delivered a rough tug. Their mate’s eyes widened and his nostrils flared in
response to Noah’s small display of dominance. When his eyes shot up and locked with
Noah’s, it was hard to miss the blown pupils nearly drowning out the natural cerulean blue.
Noah kept his expression neutral and refused to back down, needing to see how their young
mate would respond. Landon’s reaction would set the tone for their relationship and
determine how they moved forward.
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Without any further provocation, Landon lowered his eyes and exposed his neck, his
breath rushing out in needy pants. Noah gave out a mental shout of victory. While he and
Dax had known that Landon was their mate, his natural instinct to submit to them was just
the reassurance Noah had needed.
Placing a hand on the long expanse of Landon’s throat, Noah smiled down at him and
delivered a gentle kiss on the curve of his neck. Landon’s sharply inhaled breath was music
to his ears. He swooped down and claimed Landon’s lips in scorching kiss. He kept it brief,
knowing it would be unwise to get X-rated in the hallway right outside the Pack Alpha’s
office. That knowledge didn’t make it any less tempting, however. Noah took in Landon’s
glazed eyes and swollen lips and couldn’t contain his smile. Their young mate appeared
thoroughly debauched and he’d never been more gorgeous. It made Noah want to pin him to
the wall and fuck him until he couldn’t walk. Arousal pooled in his belly, awakening his cock
until it was hard and aching, pressed uncomfortably against the closure of his pants.
A glance at Dax showed a heat he knew had to be reflected in his own eyes. Without a
thought, he put a hand on the back of Dax’s head and pulled him in for his own lip lock,
complete with clanking teeth and duelling tongues. With the combined taste of his mates on
his tongue, he couldn’t imagine there being anyone in the world luckier than him. Ending the
kiss was hard but necessary. Licking his lips, Noah pulled back and took in Dax’s dazed
expression. It so nearly mirrored Landon’s that he couldn’t hold back his rumble of laughter.
“What?” Dax shook his head, his eyes still slightly unfocused, and scowled.
“Not a damn thing,” Noah said. “It’s just been a while since I’ve been this happy.”
Dax’s expression softened and a smile brightened his face. “I know what you mean. It’s
been a good couple of days.”
Giving Landon and Dax each one last fleeting kiss, he pulled away from them and
turned towards the door. He hammered out a quick knock on the weathered oak but didn’t
bother to wait for an answer before pushing his way into the room with Dax and Landon in
tow. Kellan was seated behind his desk with Eli perched on the corner, while Jai sat in a chair
off to the right. Kellan’s eyes locked on Landon’s battered form, still held securely in Dax’s
arms. A frown tugged at his lips even as his eyes softened.
“Thanks for coming so quickly.”
Noah glared. “Was there really any choice?”
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Kellan sighed and scrubbed a hand over his hair. “I know you’re not happy about this,
Noah. I promise, I wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important. Another Pack was attacked
last night. We can’t afford to wait.”
Noah stilled. “How bad?”
Kellan’s mouth was set in a grim line. “I sent Malachi, Dylan and Ryker up with a team.
They haven’t finished a full eval, but based on their initial findings, the Pack lands are a total
loss. They ransacked homes, stole anything of value then set the place on fire.”
“What about the Pack?” Dax stepped forward, his eyes filled with concern. “Were there
any survivors?”
“The team has been searching, but so far they haven’t turned up any survivors. They do
have some reason for hope, however. There are quite a few people unaccounted for. They’re
going to keep looking until they clear the entire town. Until then, we just have to hold onto
the hope that there is still someone there for them to save.”
“They’ve been taken.” There was no question in Noah’s tone. Just cold, hard fury. He
didn’t need confirmation to know what had happened and who was responsible.
“Nothing is definitive, yet. However, I have the team collecting evidence and, so far,
that is the way it looks. There are signs of a struggle at many locations and the only bodies
that have been recovered are those of some of the more elderly Pack members. For all we
know, everyone else could have been abducted by aliens. They’re just fucking gone.”
Kellan slammed his fist down on his desk, causing the wood to groan under the strain.
“We’ve spent the last few months reacting to the shit that Alpha Steele pulls. We need to get
ahead of him and put a stop to this.”
A vision of Landon, beaten and strapped down to that surgical table, flashed in Noah’s
mind. He didn’t want to think of what could have happened to him if they hadn’t found him
when they did. To imagine anyone else suffering a similar fate was heartbreaking.
Jaw clenched, Noah looked over to where Dax was standing, still holding Landon
protectively in his arms. There was an answering anger reflected in his usually jovial face.
When their eyes met, there was no need for words.
“You’re right,” Noah answered with a disgruntled frown. “This needs to end. You may
ask your questions but, please, be gentle.”
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Noah crossed the room and stood by his mates, anxiety eating away at his gut like a
parasite. He placed a hand on Landon’s cheek and hoped his touch would provide the
reassurance and comfort Landon needed to soothe away the tension Noah saw building up
in the younger man. Smiling softly, he leant down and pressed a gentle kiss on Landon’s
forehead.
“Dax and I will be with you the whole time. If it’s too much, if you want to stop, just say
the word and we’re out of here.”
“What about the Alpha?” Landon whispered, his eyes wide with fear.
“Fuck the Alpha,” Noah grumbled. He bracketed Landon’s face with his hands and
looked him in the eyes. “You are more important. For Dax and me, our main concern is your
health and happiness. If that happens to coincide with what Kellan wants, then lucky him. If
not, too fucking bad. I don’t answer to Kellan Reeves.” Crossing his arms over his chest, he
glared over at the man in question, further emphasising his point.
“Are you crazy?” Landon whispered frantically. “Everyone answers to the Alpha. Do
you have a death wish or something? He could punish you.”
Total silence had descended on the room. Someone coughed. The silence was broken
moments later when Dax, true to form, erupted into a deep, musical round of laughter. The
sound was pure joy, leaving no one in the room unaffected.
“Oh, my God,” Dax gasped, trying to drag air into his struggling lungs. “Please let me
be there to see that show. We could sell tickets.”
“That would be so freaking hot,” Jai purred. “I can already see the headline. Alpha vs
Alpha, Punishment or Porn? You Be the Judge. It would be epic. There wouldn’t be a dry seat in
the house.”
“You do realise that’s my brother and my mate you’re talking about?” Eli gave Jai a
half-hearted scowl filled with disgust, which the troublemaker studiously ignored.
“Come on, E. Look at them. Can you really blame me? They are total eye candy and I
have a notorious sweet tooth.” His eyes sparkled as he licked his lips lewdly, leaving behind
a wet sheen.
Another round of laughter rang through the room.
Smiling to himself, Noah glanced over at Landon and choked on a laugh. The smaller
man, who had seemed so weak and frail just moments before, now appeared to be on the
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verge of attack. The sound that fell from his lips was low and menacing, shocking them all
into silence. In Noah’s opinion, the change was as sexy as it was startling. It was clear, by the
bulge obscenely pushing against his pants, that Dax was in complete agreement.
Jai and Eli took a large step back in an obvious attempt to distance themselves from the
somewhat deranged-looking wolf, while Kellan merely stared as the scene played out,
boredom etching lines into his face. When Landon’s lips pulled back, revealing sharp,
elongated incisors, Noah knew it was time to put a stop to his aggressive behaviour.
“Enough,” Noah ordered, giving Landon a firm tap on the nose. “You need to calm
down and control yourself.”
Landon’s hand shot out, wrapping around Noah’s wrist and dragging it up towards his
face. Opening his mouth, he proceeded to lick a path over Noah’s wrist and across his palm
before nipping the pad of his thumb.
“Mine,” he growled, his eyes practically crackling with blue fire as he glared out at the
room.
Noah’s breath caught in his chest. Dax was dumbstruck. In that moment, even
snapping, snarling and half-rabid, Landon was still one of the most beautiful things Noah
had ever seen in his life.
Bending down, Noah took his mate’s lips in a kiss designed to quiet, as well as claim.
He kept the contact as chaste as possible, not wanting to make a spectacle of themselves in a
room of curious onlookers. It was difficult. The moment his mouth made contact with the
softly swollen flesh of Landon’s lips, all he wanted to do was sandwich the young man
between his body and Dax’s. Noah longed to keep him there, held between them, as he
revelled in the feeling of every hard inch of Landon pressed firmly against his body. Slowly,
the tension eased from Landon, leaving him weak-limbed and pliant. The kiss had the
desired effect, successfully distracting Landon and locking his attention on Noah instead of
challenging the rest of the wolves in the room.
By the time the kiss ended, Landon’s eyes were wild and his pupils were dilated,
immediately cluing Noah in to the fact that he was still not completely in control of his
faculties. It was the wolf that stared out at him through those amazing cerulean eyes. Oddly
enough, it was the first time Noah had seen any sign of it. Fierce and possessive, the power in
that gaze sent a shiver down his spine and flooded his body with need and heat. Thoughts of
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pinning the smaller man down and claiming him for all to see filled his mind and nearly
overwhelmed him. Even Dax didn’t elicit this kind of reaction. There was something about
Landon’s other half that was so completely foreign to him, he had no idea what it would
mean for their mating.
“Noah…” His name on Landon’s lips was equal parts question and demand.
“Your wolf,” Noah murmured, tracing a finger along the ridge of his cheekbone.
“Amazing.”
Landon jerked back as if he’d been slapped, shock stamped clearly on his face. “What
did you say?”
“I said your wolf is amazing.”
Landon was shell-shocked. “I thought he was gone, forever,” he answered, barely more
than a whisper. “You really saw him?”
Noah smiled. “I saw him. I’ve never experienced anything like that.” Turning his focus
on Dax, he saw a lightly glazed look in his eyes. “Did you feel it?”
“Oh, yeah,” he groaned. Shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another, he finally
surrendered Landon to the nearest sofa before blatantly reaching down to adjust his
burgeoning arousal. “What the hell was that?”
“Landon,” Noah answered thoughtfully. He glanced at the others but saw no obvious
signs they had been affected. “Did you guys feel anything?”
His brother shrugged. “Clearly not the same thing you and Dax experienced, but I do
feel different. I noticed it as soon as you guys walked into the room. I didn’t think anything
of it, until you mentioned it. It’s kinda hard to describe. I just feel really good. Kellan?”
“The same.” The Alpha’s brow furrowed and his lips thinned.
Jai, on the other hand, was like the cat that ate the canary. He was sprawled out in an
oversized arm chair, all loose-limbed and eyes heavy lidded.
“Holy shit,” he moaned. “Landon, sweetheart, you are like the afterglow times a
thousand. I swear to God, I could just roll around in you. I don’t know what you’re doing,
but whatever it is, don’t stop. I haven’t felt this good since the first time I realised what my
dick was really good for.”
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Eli laughed. “Thanks for that, douche. Inappropriate as usual.” He chuckled again as Jai
bowed and tipped an imaginary hat in his direction. “Not that I’m complaining, but does
anyone know why exactly we are all feeling this way?”
“You, gentlemen, are enjoying the effects of being in the presence of an Omega,” a
feminine voice announced from the doorway. “Isn’t it a blast?”
Every head turned to find a tiny blonde standing just inside the entry.
“Sorry for crashing the party, but in my defence, I did knock first.” Lifting her head, she
took a breath then released it slowly on a sigh. “Landon.”
“Ruby?” Pushing Dax’s massive form to the side, Landon caught sight of her and froze.
“Ruby.”
Like a shot out of a gun, Ruby was across the room and throwing herself at Landon.
Noah didn’t even have time to call out a warning as she slammed into Landon with all the
restraint of a wrecking ball. The force sent them careening hard against the back of the sofa,
then toppling over sideways where they fell together in a tangled heap of arms and legs.
Moving in unison and fearing the worst, Noah and Dax were at Landon’s side in
seconds. A groan sounded, followed by a low, pained chuckle.
“What the hell have they been feeding you, Ruby? You weigh a freaking ton. I think
you may have ruptured my spleen.”
“Hey! Low blow, Land. You know better than to go after a girl about her weight. I don’t
care if you’re hurt. If you’re well enough to talk out of your ass, you’re well enough for me to
kick it.”
“God! You’re such a lady.”
“And don’t you forget it,” she snarked, not even bothering to hide her smile.
Landon laughed, then groaned as he made a grab for his damaged ribs. Wheezing in a
breath, he struggled and failed to pull himself up into a seated position.
“I hate to be a bother, but could someone give me a hand getting this heifer off me so I
can breathe again?”
Ruby let out a grunt of disgust as she leveraged herself clear of Landon and plopped
down on the sofa next to his prone form. When Landon followed up with an exaggerated
gasp for air, she nailed him with a solid punch to the arm. The move was a complete contrast
to the wide, wet eyes she focused on him. “Are you okay, Land?”
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“Yeah, Ruby,” he replied softly. “I’m gonna be just fine. Nothing a few days of taking it
easy won’t fix.”
She nodded fast, her eyes blinking double time, trying to stem the flow of tears
streaming down her face. She drew in a raspy breath as her whole body trembled. “Landon?”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Landon grumbled, reaching over and dragging her into his lap.
He wrapped his long arms around her and held her to his chest, cradling her against his
heart until her breath evened out and her body no longer shook.
She pressed her face against the curve of Landon’s throat then leant back and placed a
kiss underneath his chin. “I’m so glad you’re all right, Land. I was really, really worried.”
He squinted down at her. “Me, too, baby girl. How’s the rest of the Pack holding up?”
A small smile brightened her face and her eyes regained a bit of their sparkle.
“Everyone is good. The Grand Rapids Pack has been very kind to us and we are extremely
grateful. It’s the new beginning that we all needed.”
“A new beginning? That’ sounds about right.” Landon locked eyes with Noah.
Noah couldn’t help the flush of warmth that burned across his cheeks or the matching
heat that washed over his groin and filled his shaft. Wincing in reflex as his zipper dug into
his engorged flesh, Noah caught sight of Landon’s devilish smirk.
“You’re going to get yourself in trouble with that look, Land,” Noah warned.
Landon raised an eyebrow in challenge. “Dax told me that being in trouble’s not always
a bad thing. I’ve been thinking maybe I need to test the theory.”
“Not that it isn’t fun watching you two eye fuck, but I’ve got a lot to do and not much
time to do it,” Kellan grumbled. “The sooner we get this done, the sooner you guys can get
on with your kinky fun.”
“My apologies, Alpha,” Landon responded, contritely. “It won’t happen again.” Taking
the tangled mess he and Ruby had got themselves into, he frowned. “Umm, Noah? Do you
think you could give me a hand, please?”
“Sure, Land. Here, let me help you up.”
Noah reached down and wrapped a gentle hand around Landon’s wrist while Dax was
quick to move in and provide support for his back. Working together, it took no time at all to
get Landon vertical and resting comfortably next to Ruby on the couch. When they were
done, Landon appeared exhausted but happy.
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“All right,” Noah said, turning to Kellan. “You called this meeting. Ruby already filled
you in on what happened in the facility so what more do you need from us?”
Kellan scowled. “I need to know if there’s anything either of them can remember that
might be of some use to us. Anything they didn’t tell us before that might help us get a lead
on where else Alpha Steele has facilities set up and what other plans he might be working on.
We need something—anything—that can get us a step ahead of this guy. He needs to be
stopped.”
Ruby paled under the combined regard of the room and Landon didn’t look much
better.
“I honestly don’t know what else I can tell you,” Landon offered. “I was kept in
seclusion for most of our time at the facility. I don’t even think I could give you an adequate
description of the building’s layout. They didn’t let me out of that cell for anything other
than bathing and ‘treatments’ with Dr Gregory. I don’t really have any useful information to
provide.”
“You might know more than you think,” Eli spoke up. “Did the guards or the medical
staff mention anything about the other facilities or where they might be located? If we could
get a heading, we might be able to find them, even without an exact description.”
Landon scrunched up his nose, his brow furrowed in concentration. “I think I
remember hearing something about getting a new batch of guards shipped in from Detroit,”
he said. “I don’t know if that’s helpful, but that’s all I can remember. Sorry.”
“No,” Eli exclaimed. “It’s a place to start. Thank you. Ruby, was there anything else you
can remember, beyond what you’ve already told us?”
The tiny blonde shook her head. “No, I’ve already told you everything.”
Eli nodded with a smile. “No worries. We appreciate everything you were able to tell
us, earlier. The information you’ve provided is the best intel we’ve got in weeks.”
“I just wish I could do more to help.” She frowned.
“You’ve done plenty,” Eli replied.
Casting a nervous glance at Landon, Ruby bit her lip, abusing the sensitive flesh
between sharp teeth. When she turned to face him fully, her eyes were wet and her
expression hollow and pained. “So, I guess Noah and Dax told you everything I told them?”
“Yeah, they did,” Landon confirmed with a dip of his head.
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Ruby had the decency to look contrite. “I’m so sorry, Land. I didn’t agree with the
decision to keep things from you, but I did follow the order when it was handed down. The
deception was wrong. All I can say in our defence was that it came from a desire to protect
you.”
“I’m not mad, Ruby. I just don’t understand the reason for the deception. Why keep me
in the dark all this time?”
“I know you don’t understand, honey.” Blowing out a weary sigh, Ruby grabbed
Landon’s hand and held it tightly between both of hers. “Promise you won’t hate me.”
“What?”
“Promise!” she ordered desperately.
“Fine, you lunatic! I promise.”
She smiled. “You love me.”
“Times like this I wonder why,” Landon answered, arms crossed over his lean chest, his
expression stern.
Ruby took a breath. “After everything your father told mine, my dad was worried that
others would come looking for you. Even if Charles Steele didn’t get his hands on you, there
are a hundred other Alphas out there who would love to get their hands on an Omega,
willing or not.”
“Jesus,” Landon breathed. “This whole Omega thing sounds more like a curse than a
blessing. How the hell can I ever have a real life if I’m always worried that there’s someone
lurking around the corner, just waiting for their chance to take me away? That’s no way to
live.”
“Well, you’re going to have to get over it, Land. From what I’ve heard from some of the
Pack, we’ve got bigger problems than your plans for the future.” She turned to Noah, her
expression serious. “Did any of the men holding us escape?”
“Yes,” he answered angrily. “Dylan told me that there were three unaccounted for—
Alec Pine, Xavier Timms and Dr Gregory Adams.”
Landon tensed in Noah’s arms as his whole body shook uncontrollably. His teeth were
chattering so hard, Noah was afraid they would shatter. Not knowing what else to do, he
wrapped his arms around their young mate, pulling him in tighter against him and
sheltering him with the strength of his body. Dax was there too, rubbing Landon’s back
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while crooning nonsensically in an effort to sooth his frazzled nerves as he struggled for
breath. Looking to Ruby, Noah took in her trembling bottom lip. Her pale blue eyes welled
with tears and a devastation so deep, Noah couldn’t even begin to understand.
“If Alec and Gregory are still out there, you can bet your ass that Alpha Steele knows
we escaped and who helped us. It’s just a matter of time before he sends a team after Landon.
We’re not safe here.”
Ruby turned to Landon, her face lined with concern. “Have you been able to shift?”
When he shook his head, Ruby’s expression filled with remorse. “You have to tell them. They
need to know.”
“Tell us what?” Dax was on his feet and in Ruby’s face in seconds. “What’s going on?”
Landon’s fair complexion paled even further and his eyes dropped to where his hands
rested in his lap. He seemed to shrink right in front of Noah, hunching in on himself as he
dragged in a shuttering breath.
“I can’t shift.”
The words were barely more than a whisper, but they hit Noah with the force of a
sledge hammer to the gut. The hopelessness and despair in those simple words nearly broke
his heart.
“Excuse me?” Surely he had heard Landon wrong?
“I can’t shift,” Landon repeated, his voice gaining strength and a touch of bitterness.
“Something happened to me at the facility. Alec punished me when I tried to escape. The
shock collar… It did something to me… I can barely even feel my wolf anymore. I’d hoped
things would get better once we were freed, but I still can’t coax him out. I think my wolf
may be gone for good.”
When Landon raised his head there were tears running freely down his cheeks. Unable
to keep from touching him, Noah placed a hand on the back of Landon’s head and pulled
him into his chest. Dax moved in from behind and they offered him the comfort he so
desperately needed.
“They’ve done so much—taken so much from us.” Ruby whimpered.
She didn’t continue. Noah noticed her hunched form and her arms wrapped
protectively around her stomach. Tears tracked down her face in rivulets while her shoulders
shook with silent sobs. Dropping his gaze, he saw a matching wetness glimmered in
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Landon’s eyes. Pain, humiliation and sorrow were all there in those blue eyes, raw and
bleeding for the world to see. Watching Ruby hold herself, knowledge flared in his mind and
had him swallowing back the nearly overwhelming urge to vomit.
“Ruby,” Noah coaxed softly, “are you…?”
Tears fell faster and a sob finally broke free as she nodded out her confirmation. “Eight
weeks, I think.”
“Jesus Christ,” he breathed, his heart breaking for her.
He made a move to get up, which she countered with a panicked step back.
“Don’t. Just stay where you are.”
Her raspy voice was raw and filled with tears. What truly kept Noah glued to his seat
was the fear that enveloped her. Nodding his agreement, he settled back against the sofa and
pulled Landon snugly against his chest.
Awkward silence fell on the room in the wake of Ruby’s revelation. In true Alpha form,
Kellan was still focused on the task at hand and was quick to move the conversation forward.
Noah had a hard time concentrating on the plans and orders he was doling out. Keeping an
eye on Landon and Ruby, it was all he could do to stay strong for his mate and not break
down in front of God and the world. It was clear that, no matter how together they might
seem, none of Landon and Ruby’s Pack had walked away from their confinement
undamaged. Noah hoped that the old saying about time healing all wounds was right,
because these men and women had suffered enough.
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Chapter Twelve
What a fucking mess! That was the thought running front and centre in Landon’s mind as
he, Dax and Noah made their way through the Pack House and back towards Noah’s
apartment. He had denied Noah’s offer to be carried back to the suite and had made the trip
completely unassisted. Noah and Dax were flanking him like some kind of honour guard,
growling at anyone who dared to come too close. It was ridiculous and embarrassing and,
though he’d never admit it, slightly endearing.
He’d been glad that Kellan hadn’t expected him to rehash all the gruesome details from
his time in captivity. The idea of having to dredge up those memories and relive them had
filled him with ball-numbing fear. He hadn’t been able to add much to the conversation but,
when the time came to lay his few secrets out on the table, he’d been surprised at how easily
they’d flowed free.
It still hurt like hell to talk about it but now that it was out there, he felt lighter. Like a
weight he hadn’t known he was carrying had been lifted from his chest and he could finally
breathe. The change had been miraculous and he knew the reason for it was the two men at
his side. Their strong, steady support had given him the reassurance he needed to purge
those memories from his soul where they had been locked away and festering. He was
finally free. He hoped the same would be true for Ruby, who still had a long way to go down
the road of healing.
By the time they reached Noah’s apartment, Landon was pretty sure he was going to
pass out. His sole consolation was that he had managed the whole trip under his own steam.
He shuffled his way across the living room then dropped down onto the sofa as the last
vestiges of his strength left him. Sprawling out, he closed his eyes and tried to catch his
breath.
He heard the front door close and the heavy thud of booted feet on hardwood, then
silence. It was odd. Even after living with the men for just a few days, Landon had grown
accustomed to their deep, booming voices and loud, clomping steps. He had determined that
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their massive bodies and boisterous personalities didn’t lend to quiet, unobtrusive actions. It
just wasn’t in their nature.
Cracking open an eye, Landon was startled to see both men standing on the other side
of the room, arms crossed over their chests and glaring at him. Landon groaned and threw an
arm over his eyes. “What now?”
“You lied to us.” Noah glowered.
“About what?” It was like Landon had walked into a conversation halfway through
and was now scrambling to catch up.
“You told us you were too weak to shift. You never mentioned that you believed that
you no longer had the ability.”
“Are you kidding me?” Landon struggled to stand, refusing to have this conversation
while they loomed over him. “With everything else going on and everything we just heard,
you really want to focus on this? It doesn’t even matter.”
“Wrong!” Dax snapped. “Your health and well-being will always be our number one
priority. We can’t help you if you don’t tell us what’s wrong.”
“What the hell do you think you can do? How do you think you can fix me when I
don’t even know what’s broken?” Landon’s chest heaved and his eyes prickled as moisture
pooled within their depths. Blinking furiously, he fought against the traitorous tears that
were threatening to unman him. He refused to break down and start crying like a baby in
front of these powerful, gorgeous men.
Dax crossed the room to stand before him. He cupped Landon’s face between his hands
and forced him to meet his eyes. “The point of telling us isn’t so we can fix you. You tell us
these things so we can be there to comfort and support you. We’re your mates. It’s our job to
help you shoulder the burden. We just want to help.”
“I don’t need your help,” Landon scoffed, shaking off Dax’s hands. “Do you have any
idea what I’ve been going through for the last few days?” He winced as his voice reached a
shrill, high pitch he had never managed before and hoped he never would again.
“No, we don’t,” Noah answered, closing the distance between them in a handful of
determined steps. “Why don’t you explain it to us?”
“I thought I was losing my fucking mind!” Landon thundered. “My whole life, I’ve
never experienced attraction or arousal. You think you get it, but you have no idea what
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that’s like. I’ve lived the last twenty years knowing there was something wrong with me,
something missing, but having no idea how to fix it. It was okay, though. I’d learned to
accept my limitations and not dwell on them. Then, ten seconds in a room with the two of
you and I am like a prepubescent boy with his first boner, literally.”
“Ten whole seconds? Damn, Noah. I think we’re losing our touch. Maybe old age is
starting to catch up with us, huh?”
“God, you are such an idiot,” Landon grumbled, simultaneously charmed and
disgusted by Dax’s obliviousness. “You’re missing the point, asshole. Here I am, finally
experiencing desire for the first time, only to find that the objects of that lust are already
mated to each other. I may have lived a sheltered life, but even I was taught about the
sanctity of a mating bond. Then to top of the whole clusterfuck, you tell me that I’m your
mate, too.”
Understanding bloomed on Dax’s face and the fierce gleam in Noah’s eyes lost some of
its edge.
“Baby,” Dax crooned, opening his arms and reaching out for him.
Landon shook his head and stepped away. He needed the distance to keep a clear head.
Something about these men messed with his mind and never failed to turn him into a
simpering, needy ball of nerves. He couldn’t fall apart right now. He needed to be strong.
“For the last few days, all my energy has been focused on trying to figure out what’s
going on and where I stand in this whole crazy situation. I feel like I‘m a mile behind in the
race and there’s no way for me to get even footing.”
“Jesus,” Dax breathed. “Baby, we are so goddamned sorry. We had no idea you felt that
way.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you lied to us about the shifting.”
Noah’s expression was stern and unyielding. His pointed gaze bored into Landon with
a directness that made him fidgety and uncomfortable. There was a strength behind it the
brooked no argument. His time under Gregory’s thumb had trained him to be wary of any
display of strength and aggression in other wolves. Noah was clearly a strong wolf. The
raven-haired man’s aura practically pulsed with power. That power should have sent
Landon running for his life. Instead, Landon had the intense urge to rub up against him like
a bitch in heat.
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“Landon.”
His name on Noah’s tongue made his knees weak in a way that was completely new to
him. His body heated and his cock took notice, filling to capacity with a speed that left him
slightly lightheaded. The fabric of his pants pinched the engorged flesh, eliciting a whimper
from him that was equal parts pleasure and pain.
“I’m still waiting for an explanation, boy.”
Landon blinked as his whole body shuddered in response. He tried to focus on Noah’s
words but with the arousal coursing through him, the Alpha wolf might as well be speaking
Swahili for all that Landon could understand him. The sole thought on his mind was the
overwhelming desire to unzip his pants and relieve the unrelenting pressure on his tortured
flesh.
Dax chuckled. “Look what you’ve done, Noah. You had to go all Alpha and now
you’ve completely addled his brain. You can’t expect him to answer you now.”
“I can and I do,” Noah replied seriously. “He needs to understand that he is our mate.
It’s our job to love and care for him, as it is his job to do the same for us. Lies have no place
between mates and only serve to keep us from being able to do our duty.” Pinning him with
a steely glare, Noah crossed his arms over his broad chest. “Now I am asking you again, why
didn’t you tell us the truth about the shifting?”
Landon swallowed, his throat uncomfortably dry. “I was ashamed,” he muttered. “I
didn’t want you to see how weak I am. What Gregory did to me was bad enough. I didn’t
want to admit that he had destroyed me, too.”
Noah crossed the room and stood in front of him, dwarfing Landon with his massive
size. Without warning, he wrapped his thick arms around Landon and pulled him against
his chest. Landon tensed, instinctively assuming the big man would act without a thought to
his injuries. He should have known better.
Noah’s arms were solid and strong, surrounding him like thick protective bands.
Landon couldn’t help but sink into the man’s embrace, relaxing against him in an act of trust
unlike anything he’d ever experienced, even with his own Pack.
“Sweet boy, you are anything but weak. Few people could survive what you’ve been
through and be able to walk away sane. You are one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”
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“But my wolf is gone,” Landon whispered against the soft material of Noah’s shirt. “I
can’t shift.”
“I’m not convinced of that.”
“Excuse me?” Landon’s ears must be playing tricks on him.
“With the right motivation, I believe you will shift again.”
“Oh, really,” Landon drawled, not even attempting to hide his disbelief. “And what
kind of motivation would that be?”
Noah’s full lips twisted up into a devilish grin. “An order from your Alpha mate, of
course. Now… Shift!”
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Chapter Thirteen
Dax had no idea what Noah had planned until the barked order had already crossed his
lips. While he wanted Landon to shift and heal just as much as Noah did, he wasn’t sure
forcing him into a shift was the best option. There was no guarantee it would work. Even if it
did, there was no predicting how his body would handle the change after having it withheld
from him for so long. It was sure to be an uncomfortable experience to say the least. The last
thing he wanted to do was cause their mate any more pain. The poor man had suffered
enough. Unfortunately, as he saw Landon wrap his arms around his middle and fall to his
knees, it didn’t look like he was going to get a lot of say in the matter.
Landon’s full lips parted and a deep groan vibrated from his chest. His eyes were wide
with panic as a tremor worked its way through his body. His hands shook and sweat beaded
across his forehead and at his temples.
“Noah?” he gasped. “What’s happening?”
“This is going to help you. An Alpha has the ability to force a shift. I need you to trust
me.”
“Noah?”
“Shift, Landon. Now!”
A low, keening wail sounded, and Landon doubled over in pain. The sight of their mate
suffering was more than Dax could bear. Rounding on Noah, he grabbed his arm and spun
him around until was forced to look Dax in the eyes.
“What the hell, Noah?”
“This has to be done. He needs to shift.”
Dax shook his head. “There has to be a better way. Look at him. He can’t take much
more of this.”
Determination gleamed in Noah’s eyes as he held his head high. “The sooner he shifts,
the sooner he’ll heal.” Looking down at Landon, his eyes softened with concern. “He’s
strong, D. He can do this. He needs to do this.” Leaning over their fallen mate, Noah placed a
finger under his chin and forced him to raise his head. “Shift!”
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A scream rent the air and Landon thrashed on the floor. Long and drawn out, it grew
deeper, then morphed into the mournful cry of a wolf. Dax looked on helplessly as Landon’s
skin rippled and tightened. Hair sprouted over his arms and up the length of his neck. Then
came the sickening sound of bones cracking and breaking as they prepared to reshape
themselves into something other than human. His back arched and his body seemed to
expand, splitting his shirt right down the back. Landon’s face elongated into a muzzle and
his eyes took on a silvery, metallic sheen. Another howl sounded, the pain echoed in it
breaking Dax’s heart as he listened to the dulcet tone.
Dropping to his knees, Dax crawled across the floor to their downed mate. He kept his
body low and his posture non-threatening so as not to startle the frightened man. By the time
Dax made it to Landon’s side, he was all wolf. The beast’s eyes were closed and its chest rose
and fell in panting breaths.
Dax couldn’t help but stare at their young mate in awe. Never in his life had he seen a
more beautiful wolf. The tawny colour of Landon’s hair had transferred over perfectly into
the colour of his wolf’s fur. Even the natural, golden highlights that streaked his hair were
there, contrasting beautifully against the darker hue of the rest of his fur. Dax had to fight
back a laugh when an image of Landon prowling around a salon in wolf form with a coat full
of colour foils popped into his head. He doubted their mate would appreciate the humour in
it, especially after everything he’d just been through.
Reaching over, he ran his fingers through the soft ruff behind Landon’s ear, allowing
the soft strands to tease along the length of his fingers. Landon froze for a moment then
pushed his head against Dax’s hand, encouraging him to continue his ministrations.
Dax couldn’t stop his grin. “Damn, baby. I didn’t think it was possible for you to get
any prettier, but you just had to go and prove me wrong, didn’t you?”
Jerking away from Dax’s touch, Landon lifted a lip and snarled. The move revealed a
sharp, gleaming incisor.
There was no stopping Dax’s laugh. “Don’t be mad, baby.” He chuckled. “You know I
meant that in a very butch, manly way.”
Landon let out a huffing breath and Dax could swear he rolled his wolfy eyes. Who
knew it was even possible?
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Taking advantage of Dax’s distraction, Landon moved in and licked a wet, slobbery
path up the side of his face.
“Are you kidding me?” Dax whined, scrubbing at his face with his sleeve. “That’s just
plain nasty, Land. Bad dog.”
“If the two of you are done screwing around, it’s time for Landon to shift back.”
Noah’s tone was serious, but when Dax peeked over his shoulder, he couldn’t miss the
amusement in Noah’s eyes.
“But, Dad…” Dax teased with a smile.
Landon rolled over onto his back, paws in the air and tongue hanging out of the side of
his mouth. He was like a great big puppy.
“Very funny.” Noah frowned, pinning Landon with a stern glare. “Shift, Landon. I
want to check your wounds and make sure you’re healing. Now.”
With a final whine, Landon rolled over onto his belly and began the change. The
difference from his first shift was like night and day. Where the original had been a long,
painfully drawn out process, the second time around was seamless, fluid, taking mere
seconds to go from fur to flesh. A shudder worked its way through him, signalling the last
vestiges of his transformation. Crouching on the floor with his body covered with a thin layer
of sweat as he panted for breath, Landon looked exhausted, yet he practically glowed with
happiness. As far as Dax was concerned, Landon had never been more gorgeous.
“Thank you.” Landon’s voice was low and raspy from his earlier screams. There was a
suspicious shimmer in his eyes as he gazed up at them in wonder.
Noah’s brow furrowed as the stormy blue of his eyes became a darker, more turbulent
shade. “What for?” he asked.
“Are you kidding? You gave me back my wolf. I don’t even have a way to repay you—”
“Don’t you fucking say it,” Noah snapped. “You are ours. There is nothing we wouldn’t
do for you. Wrap your brain around it. You are ours.”
Landon didn’t look convinced, but he did stop his protests, focusing instead on getting
back to his feet. Dax saw an opening and moved in to offered their young mate a hand. There
was a brief moment of hesitation before Landon reached up and allowed him to help him to
his feet. Using more strength than necessary, Dax pulled Landon up and into his waiting
arms.
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Though his eyes flared wide with surprise, Landon made no move to escape his hold.
When he burrowed in closer, Dax didn’t know what to do. He was afraid to so much as
breathe. It was the most arousing and painful experience of his life. All he wanted to do was
strip Landon down and explore every lean inch of the man’s body with his hands and
tongue. It took every ounce of his strength not to drag the young man to the floor and mount
him, right then and there. Every instinct he had was screaming out for him to stake his claim
on the beautiful man in his arms.
It was a near thing but after a few seconds of deep breathing and bringing up the image
of his eighty-year-old great aunt wearing her annual string bikini, he thought he had a pretty
good handle on his rampant libido. Unfortunately, all that hard work and restraint went
flying right out of the window when Landon’s hands worked their way under the soft
material of Dax’s shirt.
Slow and hesitant, Landon traced a path along the delineated planes of Dax’s stomach
and up to the firm muscle of his pecs. The sensation was gentle, like the soft kiss of a
butterfly wing skimming against his body, and left his skin tingling. Dax didn’t have much
experience with gentle. He’d always been a large, powerful wolf who tended to
underestimate his own strength. As such, he’d developed a taste for sex with a rougher edge
and gravitated towards bed partners who shared his preference.
He’d never considered the possibility that he’d ever need to use a more gentle hand, but
he was thinking about it now. Landon was a virgin and would, of course, need to be handled
carefully. There was no way in hell he would be responsible for harming their mate. He
didn’t care how patient he had to be or how long he had to wait. He would be the gentle,
attentive lover Landon deserved.
A sharp tug on his right nipple ring started a burning ache within him that had him
gasping for breath. Startled, he found himself mesmerised by a pair of mischievous blue
eyes. All traces of the broken man they had found in the facility were gone, driven away by
the primal lust Dax could see burning in those cerulean orbs. He couldn’t bite back the groan
that fell from his lips when his nipple received another punishing tug. Reaching up, he
grabbed Landon’s wrists through the thin material, holding them in a restraining grip.
“You need to stop.”
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Landon peered up at him from under the dark fringe of his lashes. “What if I don’t
want to stop?”
“This isn’t a game, Landon. If you don’t stop, you’re going to get a lot more than you
bargained for and a whole hell of a lot more than you’re ready for.”
Landon’s eyes darkened and sparked with irritation. “You have no idea what I’m ready
for.”
“Baby, you need time to heal and work through what’s happened to you. Noah and I
pawing all over you will only make things worse. You need time.”
“All I’ve had is time,” Landon shouted. “Twenty years’ worth of time.”
“And that makes you think that you’re ready?” Dax taunted. “We may be mates but
don’t let that fool you into thinking that our joining will be easy. You were destined to be the
mate of not one, but two dominant male wolves who want nothing more than to fuck you
into submission. Explain to me again how you think you’re prepared for that.”
He ground his teeth in frustration when Landon merely raised his chin in defiance. Dax
had had enough. Landon needed to understand what a bad idea this was. Determined to end
this before they reached a point of no return, he cast a questioning glance at Noah. Their
Alpha nodded in agreement.
Needing no further encouragement, Dax grabbed the closure of his pants and tore open
the fastenings. He jerked the material down to his knees and exposed himself fully to their
young mate. His arousal was long, thick and flushed an angry red as it reached up towards
his navel.
“Fuck,” Landon whispered.
Dax would have laughed if he wasn’t trying to make a point. He took a step forward
and pressed his swollen shaft against Landon’s own matching hardness. “Are you still so
sure that you’re prepared for this? Ready to roll over and present that ass to be mounted?
Don’t forget, sweetheart, it’s not just me you’ll be pleasuring. Noah and I are a package deal.
Two cocks for the price of one. So,” he drawled, “still feeling eager to get started?”
Landon’s eyes dilated and Dax could hear his pulse pick up speed. The sound of it was
music to Dax’s ears. He loved the fact that Landon wasn’t able to hide his attraction for them,
even while he tingled with his fear of what was to come. Dax would have enjoyed his conflict
a lot more if he wasn’t suffering from the most intense case of arousal he’d ever experienced.
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His cock was definitely not getting onboard with the plan of encouraging Landon to give
himself a bit more time to adjust before hitting the sheets. It pulsed against Landon’s thigh,
leaving a sticky, wet trail of pre-cum in its wake. Gritting his teeth, he tried to get his mind
on the least lust-inducing things he could think of but it was too late. His need had grown
too hot, too fast, and had already passed the point of no return.
Strong hands circling his hips, followed by a hot, wet heat encompassing the
mushroomed head of his cock jerked him back to reality. Gasping, he looked down to find
Landon on his knees with his lips stretched wide around his shaft. He was shocked to the
point of speechlessness when Landon gave him a wink, increased his suction and practically
devoured Dax’s dick.
For a man who had been a total virgin not twenty seconds earlier, Landon was a natural
cock sucker. He worked Dax’s dick like a seasoned pro. Tightening his lips, he applied just
the right amount of suction to the head before licking and teasing his way down his thick
rod. He hesitated in his trek when he encountered the silver balls that protruded from Dax’s
shaft but never faltered in his attentions. He flicked and fluttered his tongue around each of
the metal orbs, making sure to give them equal attention, then continued his trip south. Once
at the base, he moved in and pushed his nose in the soft curls covering Dax’s sac. He inhaled
deeply, releasing little puffs of air that tickled against the wrinkled skin of Dax’s testicles.
“Oh, God,” Dax groaned, sliding a hand through Landon’s blond locks. “Baby, you
have to stop.”
Landon grunted and shot him a glare as he continued his attentions. He flattened his
tongue and laved a path over Dax’s sac, sucking one of the hefty orbs into his mouth. After
the first swipe of his tongue, Dax thought his knees were going to buckle. Every pass of
Landon’s tongue over his skin was like an electric current sizzling across his nerve endings.
When he snagged a bit of the thin skin between his teeth and tugged, Dax thought he was
going to come right then and there.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” he gasped. Dax grabbed a handful of Landon’s hair and forced
him off his cock. He wrapped a hand around the base of his shaft and squeezed as hard as he
could, desperate to stave off the climax that was threatening to tear him apart. “What the
fuck was that, Landon?”
“If you have to ask, I must not have been doing it right,” Landon countered darkly.
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Dax gave a rough chuckle. “Any more right, baby, and you’d have the proof dripping
down your chin.”
A small, hesitant smile formed on Landon’s swollen lips. “No more talk of waiting,
then. I want this. You. Noah. Us. All of it. I’m whole for the first time and I’m ready for my
life to really begin. That life has everything to do with the two of you.”
“Are you sure you’re ready? There’s no need to rush into this. “
Landon sighed. “I’ve lost a lot. My parents, my Pack, my freedom. Over the years, I’ve
learned that you either need to be open to the good that comes into your life or drown under
everything bad that comes your way. Yeah, I lost my family, but now, with you and Noah, I
have been given a new one. I need you to see that I’m not broken. I need you to claim me and
give me a home again. Please.”
Dax couldn’t do anything but stare. Landon had lost so much, yet he was still so open
and willing to put himself out there. It was humbling and made Dax fall for him more. Even
Noah seemed different, lighter since Landon had come into their lives. The pain that had
been front and centre for the last few months had diminished under the powerful optimism
that seemed to radiate from Landon. The change was miraculous. So full of confidence and
strength, he was like a different man.
Landon was the key to that change. He softened all their rough edges and filled in the
cracks Dax hadn’t realised were there. He hadn’t known they were missing anything until
the moment he’d seen Landon lying on that table and it was like coming home. It was just
that simple. Landon belonged to them and it was damn sure time to take what was theirs.
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Chapter Fourteen
Noah couldn’t breathe. In less than five minutes, Landon had broken down all the walls
that he had spent the last three months building, leaving him raw and exposed. He wanted to
push him away. He wanted to hate Landon for being so strong in the face of what had been
done to him while Noah had cowered away and hid from his own suffering. He was
supposed to be an Alpha and look out for those who were weaker. Instead, he was faced
with a man who was barely more than a boy who displayed a strength he could hardly even
fathom.
He could feel the anger building up inside him, ready to lash out, but one look into
those beautiful blue eyes and he was lost. There was no pity or recriminations in Landon’s
eyes. Just love and need. It stoked his own kindling need until it became an inferno of lust
within him. His only thought was claiming the man in the most primal way possible. He
needed to make sure that no one would doubt that this man belonged to them and that
anyone who dared to think otherwise would do so at their peril.
“Mate,” he growled.
“Yes,” Landon whimpered, his voice raspy and full of need.
On his knees, with his head lowered and throat exposed, Landon was the picture of
submission and Noah couldn’t have been more turned on by it. While Dax had a submissive
streak, there was still a dominant wolf inside him that had its own need for power and
control. Landon’s complete and utter surrender had Noah fighting back the urge to howl.
“Bedroom. Now!”
Landon scrambled to his feet and was running towards the bedroom in seconds. He
and Dax followed at a more sedate pace but were no less eager, especially when they entered
the room to find Landon kneeling on the floor, waiting for them.
“I want you up and lying in the centre of the bed,” Noah ordered. Normally he liked to
tease his partners a bit before getting to the main event, but today he was too close to the
edge. With his wolf pacing just below the surface, he didn’t trust himself not to shove
Landon to the floor and mount him like the animal within him demanded.
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Without a bit of hesitation, Landon rose to his feet and quickly climbed up onto the bed,
lying in the centre, hands clenched at his sides while he watched them eagerly for his next
order. From the excitement in Landon’s eyes, Noah knew he and Dax were going to have a
lot of fun with the submissive nature of their young mate.
Prowling forward, Noah began to strip. Shirt, shoes, socks. All leaving a trail of clothing
in his wake. He loosened the leash on his wolf as he approached, allowing just a bit of the
animal to peek out from his eyes. Landon’s gasp let him known that the move had not been
missed. When he reached Landon, he was stripped of everything but a pair of threadbare
jeans. The button and zipper had already been undone and the flaps of the material were
spread open enticingly.
Noah placed a finger under Landon’s chin, lifted his head and forced him to look him in
the eye. “This is it, pup. Last chance to back out. Are you sure this is what you want?”
Landon visibly swallowed and nodded. “Please.”
Taking him at his word, Noah closed the distance between them, loving the sensation of
Landon’s soft skin against the hard roughness of his own. Noah ran a hand down his spine
and relished the shiver that worked through Landon’s body as he arched into the touch. He
reached the top swell of Landon’s ass and couldn’t help but give it a firm squeeze. Round
and perky, the mounds made a perfect bubble that had Noah hungry for a taste. It was an ass
that deserved to be worshipped and Noah had every intention of doing so, just as soon as the
burning need had abated to a less incendiary level.
Moving his hand down and over the curve of Landon’s bottom, Noah parted his cheeks
while tracing a finger down the cleft of his ass. He kept his movements slow and measured,
gently massaging the wrinkled flesh of Landon’s entrance. When Noah’s fingers came in
contact with that pale pink star, his hole clenched tight, denying entrance to his hidden
depths.
“Easy, now,” Noah gentled. “You need to relax those muscles for me, pup. You’re
gonna be in for a rough ride if you don’t. That ass is ours tonight and there’s no going back.”
Landon let out a breath and his eyes became unfocused. His beautiful mouth twisted
into a frown. The look on his face was adorable. Noah could barely contain his laughter as he
saw Landon try so hard to get his body under control. Based on his lack of experience, Noah
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could see that it was a lost cause. A combination of nerves and arousal was pushing him and
it was clear that he was going to need some help if they were going to move things along.
A glance at Dax confirmed the big Beta had already stripped bare and was currently
fondling his thick shaft with his eyes fixed on their lust-drunk mate.
“Dax, a little help, please.”
A devilish grin spread over Dax’s face. He gave his shaft one last pump, released his
grip and dropped to his knees at Landon’s feet. Dax didn’t give him a chance to protest.
Opening his mouth wide, he took Landon’s shaft all the way down his throat. There was no
gagging or choking, and definitely no stopping until his nose touched the coarse blond curls
at Landon’s groin.
Noah was impressed. He had never met anyone who could take a cock like Dax. The
man had to have absolutely no gag reflex and the pure joy on his face practically made it a
religious experience. Dax’s throat undulated as he swallowed around the hot flesh. Gorgeous.
Sweeping his tongue around the spongy head, he laved and sucked that dick until Landon
was on the verge of a total breakdown. With a rough grip on his shoulders, Landon pumped
his hips, sliding his wet cock in and out.
“More, D. Please. I need more.”
The broken sob was like music to Noah’s ears.
Dax released Landon’s shaft with a pop. “What is it, Land? You want something, you’re
gonna ask me for it. What do you need?”
“Harder,” he gasped, his cheeks flushed with a combination of arousal and
embarrassment. “I want you to suck my dick harder and I want to fuck your mouth while
you do it.”
Dax’s answering smile was wicked. “Now that’s what I’m talking about, baby.
Anything you want, anything you need, all you have to do is ask and it’s yours.”
With a wink, Dax attacked Landon’s cock with a renewed vigour, hollowing his cheeks
and swallowing it down with gusto. Landon snapped his hips in a slow, steady rhythm. He
kept his gaze locked on his wet, shiny cock as it shuttled in and out.
Noah was tempted to just let them go at it, completely caught up in the scene that was
playing out in front of him. Thankfully, he remembered that the only thing better than
watching was participating. Getting into position behind Landon, Noah mirrored Dax’s
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actions and dropped to his knees. The move left him at eye level with that gorgeous ass and
blessed him with one of the best views of his life. Framing those rounded cheeks between his
large hands, Noah wasted no time spreading him wide to reveal his most intimate place.
For a moment Noah was mesmerised, unable to look away from the sight of Landon’s
untried hole. When he blew a steady stream of air over his opening, Landon’s body jolted
like he’d been struck by lightning. Still trembling, Landon glanced over his shoulder and
threw a glare in his direction.
“Careful, there,” Noah chuckled. “Don’t forget where your dick is. Teeth biting your
cock never feels good. Trust me.”
“Well then, maybe a little warning next time, huh?”
“I’ll think about.” Noah winked then leant forward, pushing his face between Landon’s
cheeks. Flicking out his tongue, he licked a long line up the length of his crack.
“Holy shit!” Landon gasped.
Noah smiled and dived back into his task. Fluttering his tongue around the wrinkled
entrance, he laved and teased until the muscle began to relax its grip. Reaching up with one
hand, he fondled Landon’s sac, rolling his balls gently between his fingers. Noah loved the
sweet little mewling whimpers that fell from Landon’s lips.
“Oh, God,” Landon moaned brokenly, pushing his ass back into Noah’s touch. “I need
more, but I don’t know—”
“Let me take care of it this time,” Noah encouraged. “I know exactly what you need.”
Sucking a finger into his mouth, he swirled his tongue around the digit, coating it with
a thick layer of saliva. When he was happy with their slickness, he returned his attention to
Landon’s hole, licking and probing his opening until it was wet and slippery with his spit.
Noah circled Landon’s hole with a finger before slowly allowing it to sink inside to the
knuckle.
“Noah!”
“That’s right, baby. You shout my name. Let everyone know who you belong to.”
“Hey, now! Don’t forget about me.” Dax’s disgruntled exclamation had Noah laughing.
“Maybe if you’d quit lazing around and start working a bit harder over there, he’d be
shouting your name, too.”
“Oh, really?” Dax rumbled playfully. “That sounds like a challenge to me.”
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He went at Landon’s cock with a voracious hunger that nearly caused their mate’s legs
to buckle and had him crying out.
“Dax!”
“That’s more like it,” he exclaimed. “Damn, I love the way my name sounds when
you’re shouting it out in pleasure. Beautiful.”
Noah took advantage of Landon’s distraction and eased in another finger alongside the
first. A low groan fell from Landon’s lips as he rolled his hips, encouraging his actions.
Scissoring his fingers apart, he slowly worked to loosen their mate’s virgin passage.
“Enough!” he cried out. “I’m ready. Fuck me!”
“Are you sure?” Noah asked, concerned. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Yes,” Landon hissed, shoving his ass back hard onto Noah’s thrusting fingers. “I need
you. Both of you. Claim me!”
With his own need reaching boiling point, Noah decided to take him at his word.
Hoisting Landon up into his arms, he practically threw him on the bed before retrieving a
bottle of lube from the nightstand and lubing himself up.
“Hands and knees, Land. Make sure to leave some room up at the top of the bed for
Dax. You’re gonna be taking care of him while I take care of you, understand?”
Landon nodded emphatically and wiggled his butt like he couldn’t wait to get started.
Noah couldn’t hide his smile. “Good boy.”
Climbing up on the bed behind him, Noah squeezed more lube onto his fingers and
applied it liberally to Landon’s pale pink star. He was definitely using more than necessary,
but he didn’t want to cause their mate a moment of pain during his claiming. He looked
down at Landon’s shiny hole and was pretty sure his biggest concern was going to be
making sure Landon didn’t slide right off the bed.
Dax was on his knees and in position at the head of the bed. His shaft was fully erect
and perfectly poised at Landon’s mouth. Landon, minx that he was, was lapping at the
dripping head like it was his favourite treat. The look of ecstasy on Dax’s face had Noah
ready to come out of his skin. Running a soothing hand down Landon’s back, he wrapped
his other around his cock and positioned it at Landon’s entrance.
“Ready to be ours?”
“More than ready,” Landon moaned.
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Noah rubbed the head of his cock over Landon’s hole. The guardian muscle fluttered
and rippled, damn near begging to be filled. Who was he to refuse? Grabbing Landon’s hips,
he slowly pulled him back, forcing him to accept the length of his shaft. The muscles of his
ass tightened, squeezing his dick like a fist.
“How you doing, Land?”
“So good,” he gasped as he pushed back against Noah, driving even more of his shaft
into Landon’s willing body. “Feels so good. More! Harder!”
Taking him at his word, Noah thrust hard, shoving through the lingering resistance
until he was buried to his balls in Landon’s rear. “You feel so damn perfect, baby,” he
groaned, moving forward in short, shallow strokes. “Your ass just sucks me in and holds me
so tight, like it never wants me to stop. What do you think, Land? Are you good for more or
do you want me to stop?”
“No! Don’t stop, Noah. Please. Never stop. I need more,” he panted.
Noah lifted his right hand and brought it down on Landon’s ass with a resounding
crack, dragging a raw moan from his throat. “Oh, I’ll give you more. I’m going to fuck you so
long and so hard you’ll be feeling me for weeks.”
“Yes,” Landon hissed as he writhed under Noah’s hands.
“Open that pretty mouth so Dax can fuck it. Having two mates means you’re gonna be
taking it from both ends and you’re gonna love every second of it. Would you like that,
baby? Do you want to feel both of your mates inside you, filling you up at the same time?”
“God, yes. Please!” Landon cried desperately.
Dax held Landon’s head in his hands and surged forward, driving the length of his
shaft into Landon’s waiting mouth. He began a pattern of steady, shallow thrusts, fucking
that beautiful mouth while still being careful not to make the younger man choke on his
girth. Once they had started a good rhythm, Noah got back into the act. Regaining his grip
on Landon’s hips, he began a series of hard, punishing drives, increasing the speed and force
with every push. Ramming into Landon from behind, he forced his cock deeper and deeper
into his hot passage.
Landon moaned around Dax’s hard shaft. The thick member filled his mouth nearly
past capacity. Dax’s thrusts had become more wild and erratic, a sure sign his climax was
near.
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“Can you take more?” Noah groaned, dangerously close to begging.
Nodding vehemently, Landon allowed Dax’s dick to slide free of his mouth. “Please,”
Landon gasped, “I need more. Feels so good.”
“Hell, yes!” Ramping up his own jabs, Noah drove into their mate, enjoying the tight
heat that was trying to strangle his cock.
Landon released a keening cry as he drew Dax’s length back into his mouth while
simultaneously canting his hips in an effort to take Noah’s shaft just that much deeper. The
image was so erotic Noah felt a jolt of electricity sizzle up his spine and course through his
veins, signalling his impending release.
Leaning forward, he reached around Landon’s waist and took his dick in hand,
pumping it in time with his thrusts. “Are you ready to come, Landon?”
Unable to speak, he nodded his head eagerly.
“Not yet. You don’t come until I say, do you understand?”
“Yes, Alpha,” Landon gasped.
“Good boy. D, how you doing?”
“I’m there, Noah. Need to come so bad. Want to mark him so no one will doubt he
belongs to us.”
“Damn right!” Noah snarled and began hammering into Landon. “By the time we’re
done, Omega, everyone’s gonna know who you belong to. Gonna brand you, inside and
out.” One, two, three hard shoves and he was there. “Now!”
That one word was all it took to trigger a chain reaction of epic proportions. Dax’s back
bowed and his hips surged forward, causing him to shove his cock even farther into
Landon’s mouth and throat. Ribbons of pearly fluid shot from its mushroomed head and into
Landon’s waiting mouth. Landon’s muscles rippled and clamped down on Noah’s cock and
he spilled his own release across the sheets. With both of his mates climaxing, Noah was no
longer able to hold back his own pleasure. Cum shot from his cock, spraying the inside walls
of Landon’s channel and branding him as theirs.
When Landon allowed Dax’s spent cock to slip from between his lips, Noah wrapped
an arm around his chest and hauled Landon up against his body, loving how the change in
position tightened his ass’s grip around his shaft.
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“Mate,” Noah growled before plunging his teeth into the right side of Landon’s neck
while Dax moved in and mirrored his action on the left.
Landon’s body went as taut as a bow string at their dual strike then crumpled, sagging
into their joint embrace. Instead of releasing his hold on Landon, Noah deepened the bite,
needing the mark to be a permanent sign of his claim. He continued to clamp down until he
tasted the metallic tang of blood on his tongue. Disengaging his bite, he gently lapped at the
wound.
“Your turn, Landon. Mark me.” Noah tilted his head and gave Landon full access to the
length of his neck. When Landon appeared unsure, he gave him an encouraging smile. “You
do want people to know that I belong to you, don’t you? Or weren’t you planning to stake
your claim?”
Landon’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Mine!” he snarled, striking fast and deep into
the vulnerable flesh of Noah’s throat.
The moment his blood touched Landon’s tongue, Noah could feel their bond click into
place, like completing a circuit. He had the blood of both of his mates inside him now, and it
had never felt more right. There was just one more step to perfection. Forcing Landon to
release his bite, Noah pushed him back from his neck. Landon’s face was a mix of confusion
and rebellion.
“You’re not done yet. Dax is still unclaimed. Finish it.”
That was all the encouragement Landon needed. His eyes took on a possessive gleam as
he wrapped a hand around Dax’s nape, pulling him into his embrace and sinking his teeth in
deep. The look of pure bliss on Dax’s face was something Noah could relate to. The feeling of
those sharp teeth sinking into his skin was an orgasmic mix of pleasure and pain that Noah
planned to have Landon repeat often. Landon released his hold and lapped at Dax’s wound
like a kitten with a saucer of milk. The sight of that pale pink tongue on Dax’s skin had
Noah’s shaft thickening once more.
“Well, now that you’ve claimed us, what are you going to do with us?”
Landon’s eyes were burning with need as he licked his lips hungrily. “I’ve got a lot of
ideas. Who’s ready for round two?”
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Chapter Fifteen
They had managed to make it a good three days without Noah and Dax being called
away to deal with Pack business. In that time, their bond had grown by leaps and bounds.
They used the time getting to know each other better. Unfortunately, it was only a temporary
reprieve. Being newly mated did not get you out of your duties when you were a member of
one of the scouting teams.
Landon sat on the sofa and observed them while they bustled around, preparing to
head out to some top secret meeting that he had not been invited to. They had been
apologetic, promising to return as quickly as possible and encouraging him to make himself
at home and explore the apartment. He considered the suggestion for all of two seconds then
dismissed it completely. While it might feel like home someday, for now, without one of his
men present, it felt like an invasion of their privacy. No, it seemed like he was destined for an
afternoon alone on the couch, cruising through the offering of daytime television. Yay.
Blessedly, there was a knock on the door and a moment later Jai’s voice could be heard
from the entryway.
“Where’s the fire?” he asked, entering the apartment with his normal, cocky air.
“Kellan’s called a meeting for the scouting teams. Apparently one of Dylan and Ryker’s
informants came through with some new intel on a possible location of another facility, this
time on the outskirts of Detroit. According to Ryker, if what the man told him turns out to be
true, the Detroit facility is at least three times bigger than the one Landon and his Pack were
found at.” Noah shook his head. “Can you imagine how many Shifters they could have
locked up in a place that size?”
“Fuck.”
“That’s putting it mildly.” Noah sighed and went to grab a jacket out of the hallway
closet. “Are you here to see Landon?”
“Yeah. I thought he could use some company and a familiar face. We could watch
movies or maybe go for a run if he felt up to it. I know he’s been missing his wolf and I
figured he might like the chance to get reacquainted.”
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“Really?” Landon was on his feet in seconds. The idea of getting to run as a wolf again
had him so excited he thought he might jump right out of his skin. Throwing himself at his
friend, he wrapped his arms around him and pulled him into a tight bear hug. “Oh, my God,
Jai! You are the best!”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Jai laughed and returned the hug. “I knew a run
would be what called to you. We just need to clear it with the warden first.”
Pulling apart, they turned to Noah, expectantly.
Noah chuckled at their antics. “You know, I never noticed it but with the two of you
standing side by side, you look a lot alike. If I didn’t know you, I’d say you could be brothers.
Hey, D, come check this out!”
Dax came around the corner a moment later with a toothbrush hanging out of his
mouth and a towel in his hand that he was using to roughly dry his unruly hair. “Wassup?”
“Look at them and tell me the first thing that crosses your mind.” He motioned to Jai
and Landon.
“Holy shit.” The toothbrush sagged and nearly fell out of his mouth as he leant forward
and squinted at them. “I mean Jai’s hair is a little bit lighter and your eyes are a little bit
bluer, but other than that, you guys could be fucking twins. How did we not see that?”
“No clue. Crazy right?” Noah chuckled.
Dax scratched his head. “Huh. They say everyone’s got a twin somewhere. Turns out
yours lives just down the hall.”
Landon gave Jai a sceptical look and was given one right back. “Do you have any idea
what they’re talking about?”
“Not a clue,” Jai answered, turning an expectant look at Noah and Dax. “So what’s the
word, guys? Can I take mini me out for a run in the woods or are you gonna make us stay
cooped up in the apartment all day?”
“I don’t know,” Noah hedged, concern wrinkling his brow. “With Alec and Gregory
still out there and my father knowing that Landon is here, I wouldn’t put it past him to send
someone after him. D?”
Pinning Dax with his most pathetic puppy dog eyes, Landon held his breath as he
waited for his decision.
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“I don’t see a problem with them going for a run, as long as they stay close to the Pack
House. I can set up a few extra guards to keep an eye on things while they’re out there. The
chances of someone not only finding this place but also getting inside the grounds without
being detected are astronomical. They should be fine.”
Noah still didn’t look convinced but eventually nodded. “You’re right. I’m just being
paranoid. As long as you guys are good with the extra guards and stay close to the House,
I’m okay with you going for a run.”
Landon had to fight back the urge to jump up and down like an excited five-year-old.
“Thank you guys, so much. I promise, we’ll do whatever you say and follow any rules you
lay down. I’d even be willing to run circles in the front yard if it means I can shift into my
wolf again.”
Dax laughed and pulled him into a hug. “We won’t make you do anything quite that
restrictive. You two just stick to the agreed upon stipulations and have a good time, okay? If
anything feels wrong or out of place, don’t hesitate to contact us. Preferably through the mate
link, if you can manage it, otherwise cell phone or one of the guard’s radios will suffice.”
“How long until you think you’ll be back?” Noah asked. “Our meeting should take
about an hour. Do you want us to wait for you here in the room or would you prefer to meet
up downstairs for dinner?”
“We should be back by the time your meeting ends,” Jai confirmed. “Until it’s safe to go
farther into the woods, any running we do today will basically be laps around the House. It
shouldn’t take long to get bored doing that.”
“All right then.” Noah bent down and placed a hard kiss on Landon’s lips, then turned
and headed towards the front door. “Be careful and have fun,” he called as he opened the
door and exited the apartment.
“Did that asshole leave without me?” Dax asked as he careened around the corner.
His jacket was hanging off one shoulder and his boots were on but unlaced. He was an
adorable mess.
Landon bit his lip to hide his smile. “He did tell you that if you couldn’t be ready on
time, he wasn’t going to wait for you anymore. You know how he feels about being late.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. How the hell did I end up mated to such an anal retentive prick,
huh?”
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“That anal retentive prick has the cock of a stallion and the skill and stamina to use it,”
Landon reminded him.
“Oh,” Dax murmured with a thoughtful smile. “Now I remember. Have fun on your
run. Be careful of the pricker bush around the back of the House. Once those things get stuck
in your fur, they’re a bitch to get out.” Moving in hard and fast, he kissed Landon’s forehead
then turned and ran out the door. Jai was sporting a bemused grin. “Are they always like
that?”
Landon shrugged. “Only on the days they make it out of bed. Now, let’s go for that
run!”
* * * *
The air outside had become crisp and chilly, making Landon ridiculously glad he’d
remembered to grab a jacket from the closet as they’d left. He and Jai walked side by side,
talking about everything from the trouble they’d got into as pups to who was hooking up
with who in the Pack.
“So, how are things going with your boys? Have you got through all the initial
pleasantries—what’s your favourite food, what’s your favourite colour, how big is your
cock?”
Landon coughed, practically choking on his tongue. “I’d say we’ve covered all the
basics. Some things you just have to learn by experience.”
Jai laughed. “Well, look at you, you little sexual deviant. I’m happy for you. I think
you’re well overdue for some happiness. So tell me, how’s the sex? Double the trouble or
twice the fun?”
“A gentleman never tells.”
“Someone accused you of being the ‘g’ word?” Jai asked, aghast. “Point them out and
I’ll kick their ass.”
Landon took one look at the mock indignation on Jai’s face and lost it. “You’re a good
guy, Jai. Thanks for hanging out with me. I needed a bit of normalcy. “
“Man, if you want normal, you picked the wrong guy. Shit, you’re not even in the right
area code.”
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“Well, then maybe normal is overrated. After all, my life has officially become a circus.”
“Oh, can I be the ring master? I’ve always thought I’d look amazing in a top hat and
tails.”
“More like the lead clown. You are a total nutcase.”
“Admit it, your life would be boring without me.”
Landon smiled. “Truer words were never spoken. I can’t tell you how good it feels to
have someone to talk to that I can trust. With Noah and Dax on one of the scouting teams,
they already told me that they’re going to be out on missions, a lot. I thought maybe I could
start training and join up to help, but I was given an emphatic ‘no’ and sent along on my
way.”
Jai stopped suddenly, his eyes locked on Landon’s face. “Why wouldn’t they let you
join one of the teams?” he asked, his tone sharp.
“Apparently, Noah, Dax, Kellan and Ruby all sat down and had a more in-depth talk
about the strengths and benefits of obtaining an Omega. After what I was told was a
unanimous vote, it was decided that I should not be allowed to leave the grounds without
being accompanied by a team of guards, for any reason. It seems that everyone is worried
about what will happen if Alpha Steele manages to get his hands on me. I tried to tell them
that for me to be any good to Steele, he’d also have to abduct Noah and Dax, but no one was
interested in listening to me.” Landon kept his eyes on the ground and kicked a loose clump
of soil. “They think I would be a distraction on missions because everyone would be too
focused on protecting me to get the job done.”
“Are you kidding me?” Jai asked, incredulously. “Who the hell do they think they are,
telling you that you can’t sign up to help protect our people? It makes me sick. They claim
they’re just trying to protect you, that you should be grateful about it because they wouldn’t
do it if they didn’t care about you. Bullshit! They treat anyone who’s not an Alpha or Beta
like they are weak children that need to be coddled and kept safe.” Jai clenched his hands
and looked Landon straight in the eye. “You are not weak, Landon. You are stronger that
anyone I’ve ever met. Don’t let them make you feel like less than you are. Do you understand
me?”
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Landon gave him a sidelong glance. “Yeah, understand. Damn,” he muttered, “I’m so
sick of everyone being focused on my drama. I know this might get me punched in the face,
but I have to throw it out there. What’s the deal with you and Dylan?”
“What do you mean?” Jai’s tone was cool and cautious, nothing like the warm tone he
usually directed at Landon.
“Look, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable or start a fight. If you’d rather not talk
about it, I totally understand. I just thought you might like someone to talk to. Someone who
doesn’t already know about all of your baggage and might be able to listen with an unbiased
ear.”
Indecision flared in Jai’s eyes. Landon could practically see the wheels turning in his
head as he mulled over his options. The staring match seemed to last forever until Jai’s
shoulders finally slumped in defeat and he let out a weary sigh.
“As I’m sure you’ve probably heard, Dylan Cantwell is my mate.”
“Why do I hear a ‘but’?”
Jai gave him a pained smile. “Perceptive, aren’t you? When I first moved here, I’d been
looking for a new beginning—a place to belong where I could be free to be myself. After
being cast aside by my parents and my Pack, I felt like I had nothing—that I was nothing. I’d
been here almost a month before I finally talked myself into setting up a meeting with the
Alpha. Imagine my surprise when I show up at Sephora to meet with Kellan and, in the
process, found my mate. New Pack, new mate. It should have been the happiest time of my
life. It only took a few days for the shit to hit the fan. He wanted me to move in with him
right away but I said ‘no’. I told him I needed more time to get to know him and the Pack
before I would be comfortable giving up my own space. I had just moved to the area and
knew next to nothing about the Pack. I just wanted to get my bearings and not do anything
impulsive. I thought he’d understand, but he was furious.”
“Holy shit,” Landon breathed.
“It might not have been so bad, but we were at Kellan’s club, Sephora, and he just
totally lost it. Started going on and on about me not being safe on my own and how he
couldn’t protect me if I wasn’t with him. I told him that he didn’t need to worry. I tried to
explain about my job with Eli’s security company and the training that we’d all received, but
he wouldn’t listen. He laughed in my face, said that no matter what kind of training I’d
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received I was still only a Gamma wolf and the only place I should be was safe at home
where I wouldn’t get myself hurt. He basically announced to the Pack that I was too weak to
take care of myself. That was when I made the decision to walk away. My parents and my
old Pack all treated me like I was weak because I was gay and I didn’t hide it. No way was I
going to come here and walk into the same kind of situation. Fuck that! I don’t need Dylan
Cantwell.”
“Jesus,” Landon breathed. “Did the guy have a death wish or something?”
Jai managed a half-hearted smile and shrugged. “Who knows? He came to see me a
month or two later, full of excuses. Said that he’d just wanted to protect me and didn’t want
me to get hurt. Not once did he apologise for the way he treated me or for making me look
like a lesser wolf in front of the Pack.”
“Then what happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Landon’s eyes were wide with disbelief.
“I told him that I couldn’t be with someone who didn’t believe in me and my strength.
He left and that was the end of it.”
“Jai?”
When Jai lifted his head, there was no hiding the tears in his eyes. “Yeah?”
God, he looked so broken. Devastated.
“There was hasn’t been anyone else, has there?”
Jai shook his head slowly. “No. People see me dancing and flirting and having a good
time. They never even asked, they just assumed the worst. I’m not a bad man. I’ll admit, I can
be a pain in the ass but I’m not the person they think I am.”
“I know.”
Jai let out a pained laugh. “How do you know?”
Landon shrugged. “Not sure. Maybe it’s the whole Omega thing. I see you, Jaimeson
Miller. You’re a good man and if Dylan doesn’t see it, he’s an idiot. He’s gonna be ready to
kick his own ass when he realizes what he walked away from.”
“Maybe you’re right. In any case, I’m done letting Dylan ruin my day. I thought the
plan was to go for a run, not stand here braiding our hair and talking about our feelings. You
ready?”
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Landon laughed. “Hell yeah!”
Running around the side of the House, they stripped down and shifted fast. There was
a chill in the air and Landon didn’t want it to get to his more sensitive bits. Since Noah had
forced his wolf out of hiding, Landon had been practising his shift. It took mere seconds for
two blond men to vanish and two golden wolves to take their place. Wriggling his body,
Landon enjoyed the residual tingle that worked its way down his spine, an after effect that
always came with a shift. He shook out his fur, yipped out an excited call and bounded
across the backyard, Jai hot on his heels.
They ran for hours. Jumping and wrestling like pups. Landon couldn’t remember the
last time he’d had so much fun when it didn’t involve him being sandwiched naked between
Noah and Dax. They saw glimpses of the guards as they played but stayed out of the way,
giving Landon and Jai the freedom to run without having to concern themselves with an
audience.
When exhaustion finally settled in, they dropped to the ground next to their pile of
clothes. Shifting back, Landon enjoyed the sensation of the soft grass at his back and the fall
sun heating his sweat-slick skin.
“I feel like I could lie here forever. God, it’s so peaceful.”
“You lie there too long and you’re bound to lose something vital. I don’t know about
you, but I’m fond of all my bits and pieces staying right where they are, thank you very
much.”
“Fine. Just take the fun out of everything, why don’t you?”
“What are you talking about? I am the fun. Literally. I’m just trying to do you a public
service. Think about how much less fun you’ll have if you lose your favourite appendage to
frostbite?”
“Are you kidding me?” Landon chuckled. “I don’t know where you come up with this
stuff. Do you have any kind of inner filter between your brain and your mouth?”
Jai gave him a mischievous grin. “I just believe in honest communication. Are you open
to me acting as a surrogate for you in the bedroom? We wouldn’t want those men of yours to
get bored.”
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“Enough,” Landon growled playfully. “I’m getting dressed, you lunatic.” Jumping up,
he began jerking on his clothes with blinding speed. “You keep your dirty, lecherous hands
to yourself and away from my men. I don’t share. I already licked them, there’re mine.”
Jai wrinkled his nose. “That’s disgusting.”
Shrugging, Landon just smiled. “All’s fair in love and dibs.”
Jai laughed. “Touché.”
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Chapter Sixteen
Landon had just finished lacing up his sneaker when the sound of a branch snapping
caught his attention. Looking up, he expected to see some of the guards from earlier. Instead,
a group of four men he had never seen before fanned out in front of them. Dressed in camo,
they were all armed with rifles and every one of them was currently trained on Landon and
Jai. Landon had no idea what was going on or what to do.
Glancing over his shoulder, he tried to locate one of the guards, but he didn’t see a soul.
They had either all gone on a coffee break or the militant wannabes had already dealt with
them. Landon’s blood ran cold. God, he hoped the guards were all right. The thought of
anyone else dying because of him was something he didn’t want to even think about. Too
many people had given their lives for him. It needed to stop.
Why were they here? Had Gregory found him? He could imagine the monster hiding
away, just out of sight, waiting to drag him back to his own personal hell. Just the thought of
it caused his body to shake and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
“You gentlemen seem to be lost. Is there something we can help you with?” True to
form, Jai took charge of the situation with his normal flair.
One of the men lowered his rifle and stepped forward, looking them both over with an
assessing eye. “Which one of you is Landon Parker?” he barked.
Landon’s heart stopped. He’d always known that this day would come, but he’d hoped
he’d have more time. A quick look around confirmed that running wasn’t going to be an
option. With no sign of the guards, and four men against the two of them, any attempts to
overpower them would fail. The best he could hope for was that when they took him, they
would leave Jai behind.
Jai shocked him a moment later when he stepped forward, bold as brass and not a trace
of fear. “I’m Landon Parker. How can I help you?”
What the hell? Landon had no idea what Jai was up to, but he knew he wasn’t going to
like it. He must have made a noise because Jai shook his head and glared him into silence.
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“Well, boys. Looks like this is gonna be an easier job than we thought.” The smile the
man directed at them was anything but friendly. “It seems you wandered a bit far from
home, Mr Parker. Alec and Dr Gregory have been very worried about you. We’ve been
tasked with helping you get back safely.”
“I don’t know, guys. I’m kinda liking the new digs. The change in scenery has been
good for my health. I think I’d rather stay.”
“Well then, it’s a good thing that your wants didn’t come up in conversation when we
were sent here to retrieve you. Now, if you would come with us without making a big noisy
fuss, we can be on our way.”
“Why the hell do you think I would willingly go with you anywhere?” Sassy Jai was
making his appearance and wasn’t pulling any punches.
Camo Man sneered. “Because I’m going to guess you don’t want us to hurt the rest of
your precious fag-lovin’ Pack. You start screaming, we start shooting. Easy enough for you to
understand?”
Jai’s fists clenched, making it clear just what he wanted to do to the asshole with the
gun. They didn’t have much in the way of options. All Landon knew was that he couldn’t let
them take Jai. Gregory would know Jai wasn’t who he said he was the moment he saw him.
When the guards realised that he’d lied about his identity, he doubted his friend would live
through his punishment. There had to be something he could do.
The men moved in with restraints dangling from their hands and Landon knew he was
out of time. Using every bit of his strength and concentration, he focused on the mate bond,
sending out a cry for help. He didn’t know what to expect, but it definitely wasn’t the
deafening howl that rent the air and echoed around them. It grew louder and louder until it
was like being in the centre of a snapping, snarling Pack of wolves. His first thought was that
maybe one of the guys had finally spotted them and the rescue team was on their way, but a
quick look around showed that they were still alone, save for their would-be captors.
“Damn it!” the leader barked. “Someone must have seen us. We’ve got to get out of
here before the whole fucking Pack descends on our asses. A face-off with Kellan fucking
Reeves is not part of the plan. Grab him and let’s go.”
“What do you want us to do with the other one?”
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Camo Man gave Landon a lecherous look. “Bring him with us. I don’t want to leave
behind any witnesses who are able to give out our descriptions. Besides, the guys are always
onboard for a little fresh meat.”
The guards laughed and Landon’s stomach rolled at the idea of any of those men
putting their hands on him. He could hear raised voices from inside the House and knew the
rest of the Pack were on their way. Unfortunately for him and Jai, they weren’t going to get
there in time. Landon noticed a determined gleam in Jai’s eyes then all hell broke loose.
As the men approached, ready to take him into custody, Jai let out a deafening roar.
Throwing his weight into the man closest to Landon, he tackled him to the ground and
quickly rolled back to his feet.
“Run!”
Jai turned fast and made a break across the yard towards the woods, clearly trying to
lead the remaining men away from him.
Landon knew the smart thing to do would be to run for help, but there was no way in
hell he was going to abandon his friend to those monsters. It didn’t matter that the chance of
freeing Jai was almost non-existent. His wolf was riding the edge of his control and logic was
no longer part of the equation. He tore off his shirt and jerked down his jeans, ready to
unleash his wolf. He was going to make them pay for hurting his friend.
“Don’t you fucking dare!” Jai’s scream echoed across the lawn. “Run, god damn it! Find
Noah and Dax. Go!”
Landon’s decision was made for him a moment later when one of the men tackled Jai to
the ground, ending his run for freedom. Grabbing a handful of his hair, the man dragged Jai
to his feet and delivered a solid punch to his stomach that had him bent over and gasping for
breath. Another man appeared behind them, holding a long syringe that he quickly plunged
into Jai’s vulnerable throat. His eyes widened and his body went as taut as a guitar string as
whatever vile concoction had been in the syringe spread through his veins.
“Run.”
Landon could just make out the word as it crossed Jai’s lips before his body went slack
and his eyes rolled back. Crashing to the ground, his body began to convulse and the drug’s
effects took hold. Watching helplessly while his friend seized, Landon did the only thing he
could do. He ran.
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The move seemed to catch their assailants by surprise because it was nearly ten seconds
before Landon heard muffled curses followed by the sounds of pursuit. People were forever
underestimating him. They saw his size, saw his build and made the mistake of assuming
that because he was smaller than most male Shifters that meant he was weaker. While
Landon might not be bench pressing a semi anytime soon, he could run with speed that few
could come close to meeting.
Landon sped across the lawn. His pursuers never stood a chance. The bullet that
whizzed by his head moments later told him that they had realised the same thing. Ducking
his head and pulling his arms in close to his body, he tried to make himself as small a target
as possible while still maintaining enough speed to keep them off his ass. Another bullet
ricocheted off a nearby tree, splintering the wood and sending a spray of shards pelting
down on him. At least a handful hit their mark, embedding themselves in the soft flesh of his
arms and legs.
The pain was immediate and severe, but there was no help for it. Stopping wasn’t an
option. Instead he pushed forward, running towards the sound of trampling feet in front of
him. The Pack was on their way. Thank God. If he could just make it to Noah and Dax,
everything would be okay. His mates would help him save Jai.
Landon careened around the corner of the house and was nearly bowled over when the
Pack surged into the backyard, with his mates leading the charge. Closing the distance,
Landon threw himself at Noah, wrapping his arms around his neck in a stranglehold. Two
sets of thick arms banded around him, surrounding him with the protective strength of his
mates.
“Jesus fucking Christ, baby! You scared the shit out of us. What the hell is going on?”
The angry words did nothing to hide the fear in Noah’s voice.
“Men—in the backyard,” he gasped. “Gregory sent them. They’ve got Jai. Have to save
Jai.”
A rage-filled roar split the air as Dylan raced past, his face a mask of fury. Ryker and
the rest of their team fanned out behind him. Dressed in full gear, they looked like they were
prepared to commit murder, and probably were.
“We’ve got to go.” Squirming free of his mates’ hold, Landon took off running in the
direction he’d last seen Jai, his mates left with no choice but to follow.
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By the time they reached the spot, the backyard of the property was filled with people.
There were Pack members in the woods, both in human and wolf form, searching the
underbrush. Two men were on the ground under heavy guard. Landon immediately
recognised them as two of their assailants. Hands tied behind their backs and bleeding freely
from a multitude of wounds, they wouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Landon
searched the crowd, frantically. His stomach dropped when he saw no sign of Jai and no sign
of Dylan.
On the verge of totally losing his mind, he finally spotted Ryker off to the side, speaking
rapidly into his cell phone. His sandy-blond hair had been pulled back into a ponytail, but a
few rebellious pieces had broken free and were teasing the hard edge of his jaw. His eyes
were narrowed, his anger causing their normal pale grey colouring to darken to near black.
He held himself stiffly, his wide shoulders back, his muscles bunched tight and at the ready.
Ryker’s whole stance exuded power and control. This was no lone wolf standing before
them. He was a leader, an Alpha, waiting for his opportunity to strike.
As they approached, the troubled frown on the man’s face did nothing to quell the
dread building inside him. Ending the call as they drew closer, Ryker let out a string of
curses. Landon’s breath caught in his throat and panic started to take hold. Dax wrapped an
arm around his waist and offered support and they reached their target.
Noah stepped forward in true Alpha fashion. “Jai?”
Ryker shook his head. “Gone.”
“Any idea which direction they’re headed?”
“No. I’ve got men out in the woods searching, but Jai’s scent stops dead at the tree line.
It’s like he just vanished into thin air. Whoever had Jai was already gone before we got here.
They left those two assholes behind to provide cover. They seemed pretty surprised that
there was no escape plan set up for them. As of right now, those two morons are our best
chance of figuring out where they’re taking Jai. Unfortunately, at the moment, they’re
refusing to talk. I’m hopeful that they’ll change their mind after spending some time in an
interrogation cell. I plan to handle their interrogations myself.” Ryker’s jaw clenched and his
eyes hardened with cold fury.
It was difficult to reconcile the hard, angry man in front of them with the kind, slightly
withdrawn man Jai had told him about. Landon found his anger surprisingly reassuring.
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“How’s Dylan?” Landon was worried about the Beta.
“He’s a mess. He’s out in the woods now, leading the search. If anyone could find Jai’s
scent, it would be him. Dylan lives and breathes for Jai.” Ryker shook his head dolefully. “If
we don’t get Jai back, I think we’re gonna lose both of them.”
“We’re going to get him back.” Just the thought of the alternative made Landon’s heart
hurt.
Ryker gave him a determined smile. “You’re damned right we are! I’ll keep you guys
informed on our progress.”
They said their goodbyes and Landon allowed his mates to lead him away to a more
secluded section of the yard. Dax took him by the shoulders and pulled him to his chest,
holding him tight next to his heart. Noah moved in behind, draping his big body over
Landon’s back until he was completely surrounded by gorgeous male Shifters.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been as scared as I was when we heard your Call. I thought
my heart stopped.” Dax spoke the words against Landon’s skin as he feathered kisses along
his forehead. “I love you so damn much. If something happened to either of you, there
would be nothing left of me. I’d be a fucking ghost.”
Landon was confused. Pulling back from his mates’ embrace, he squinted at Dax. “Call?
What’s that?”
“Basically, you sent out an SOS to every Shifter in nearly a five mile radius, asking for
help.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We didn’t either, until Ruby explained it. Comes with being an Omega, I guess.
Omegas are considered sacred and it’s the Pack’s duty to protect their Omega. The ability to
Call makes it so an Omega can reach out to their entire Pack in a time of need. It’s kind of
cool, if you think about it.”
“Kind of weird, if you ask me,” Landon muttered.
Noah turned him around to face him, cupping his face in his hands. “Weird or not, it’s
what let us know that you and Jai were in trouble. If it hadn’t, both of you would be lost to
us.”
“It should have been me.”
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“Excuse me?” Dax’s question was filled with disbelief with a fair amount of
belligerence.
“They were here for me.” He kept his head down and his eyes on his shoes. “Alec and
Gregory hired them to find me and bring me back. Jai lied and told them he was me. You
have no idea what Gregory will to do him when he finds out that he’s not me.” He scrubbed
roughly at his face when tears began to stream down his cheeks. “I shouldn’t have let him do
it. If I had gone with them, they might have roughed me up, but I would have survived.
What kind of person lets his friend make a sacrifice like that?”
“You had no other choice.” Noah glared down him. “Jai knew the risks. He also knows
what you are and how important you are to Dax and me. We need to have you with us. We
wouldn’t survive without you, Landon. Without you, we have no home. We love you.”
“You do?”
Dax chuckled. “Baby, it’s a good thing you’re cute because sometimes you’re not real
bright. Of course we love you.”
Landon frowned. “How would I know that? Neither of you said anything.”
“Sweetheart,” Noah replied patiently, “all you have to do is open your eyes. Look at my
face and tell me what you see.”
Landon wasn’t sure what he was supposed to see until he locked eyes with Noah and
lost his breath. No words were exchanged. They weren’t needed. Those blue eyes told him
more than words ever could. As he took in the warmth and love that burned out from those
eyes, he felt like an idiot. How could he have overlooked something so vital? A glance at Dax
showed the same emotions reflected in his eyes.
“You love me.” It wasn’t a question. It was as simple and as complicated as that.
“Of course. You belong to us.” Dax grinned. “Love’s part of the package.”
Trapped by the power of Dax’s happiness, Landon offered him a small smile. He was
momentarily halted by the rightness of this moment. Both of these gorgeous men were
destined to be his. Despite everything they had been through, they had managed to find each
other and were now here, together. The odds against them had been great, but fate had
obviously been working in their favour.
“I can’t tell you how lucky I am to have the both of you in my life,” Noah said.
“Whether you believe it or not, you both saved me. A mate is a gift. Two are a miracle.”
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“We believe you, Noah. You show us every day.” There wasn’t a drop of hesitation in
Dax’s voice.
“Thank you.” Noah’s tone was suspiciously gruff.
Moisture gathered in Landon’s eyes. “Promise me that we’ll get Jai back. Promise me
we will find him alive and that everything will be okay.”
Noah gave him a gentle smile. “You know I can’t promise that, baby. What I can
promise is that we will do everything within our power to get him back safe and whole.
Hopefully the trackers will come back with some information to give us an idea on where to
start looking. There’s not a lot to do until they get back. Jai is a strong wolf. If anyone could
survive something like this, he could.”
“I just want him to have a chance to experience what we have together. Jai deserves
happiness more than anyone I’ve ever met. Everything he wants is just sitting there, waiting
for him. All he needs to do is forgive and take it.”
“I promise, sweetheart,” Dax said softly. “We will give it everything we have to make
sure he gets that chance.”
Landon gave him a bleak smile. “I hope that will be enough.”
“We do what we can and for the rest, we have to have faith,” Noah assured him. “Trust
me, it works. It’s what brought the two of you into my life and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
“Oh, babe. You always say that you’re not the hearts and flowers kind of guy and then
you go saying shit like that and now you’ve got me in danger of losing my man card by
getting all misty-eyed.” Lowering his gaze, Dax discretely wiped at the moisture that was
gleaming in his eyes.
Landon was less reserved as he practically threw himself into Noah’s arms. Holding
onto Noah’s neck, he pulled him into a soul-searing kiss that practically curled his toes and
left them both panting for breath.
“Thank you,” Landon said reverently. “I can’t say it enough and I’ll never be able to
repay you for what you’ve done for me. The two of you saved my life.”
“There’s no repayment between mates.” Noah’s tone was firm. “You are our Omega.
Our heart.”
“Well, I wouldn’t mind a bit of repayment,” Dax interjected, “as long as it was done in
sexual favours.”
OUR OMEGA
172
Noah laughed. “There you go listening to the little head again.”
“Hey,” Dax groused, “don’t judge. If we were all listening to my little head, we would
be up in our bedroom with Noah and me balls deep in Landon right now. But I get it. You
two would rather sit around and talk about our feelings and shit. Good times.”
Landon glanced between them and couldn’t fight his smile. After all the suffering and
heartache of his past, he finally had a home and family of his own. He was complete for the
first time in his life and though they still had a long fight ahead of them, he had faith that
they would win in the end. In his heart he knew, Jai and all the others who had been taken
would eventually be found and Charles Steele’s reign of fear and madness would soon be
coming to an end.
Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:
Revelations: Ask the Oracle
JJ Black
Excerpt
Chapter One
Grayson Muir sat calmly at his desk, waiting for the interrogation to begin. With a
police detective present, it was never long before the questions and accusations started to fly.
There was always the initial disbelief. Thankfully, most got over it fairly quick, then the
grilling began.
“How long are you going to waste my time?” Hands fisted and jaw clenched, the man
sitting across the desk from him was definitely pissed off.
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know what bullshit story you sold to my captain but it was enough for him to
order me down here. Personally, I don’t have time for this shit. I’ve got a missing five-year-
old girl to find and the clock is ticking. Every second I’m stuck here with you is another
second the bastard who took her has to hurt her. I promised her parents I would get her back
and I intend to keep that promise. Now,” he growled, pushing back from Gray’s desk, “if
you don’t mind, I’ve got real work to do.”
“I know where she is.”
The detective froze. “What?”
“The little girl—Maddie Thompson, right? I know where she is. I can help you.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” the detective scoffed. “You’re trying to tell me that you
know where Maddie Thompson is?”
“Yes, Detective. That is exactly what I’m telling you.” When the older man continued to
glare sceptically at him, Gray flashed him an understanding smile.
“What the fuck? Are you sure?” the detective barked, his round face flushed, his tone
edging in on belligerent.
Gray bit back a laugh. It was often one of the first questions asked, and always the
biggest waste of time. He was an Oracle, so of course he was sure. He understood why some
were hesitant to believe. He was about as far from the stereotypical image of an Oracle as
you could get. Public consensus still thought of Oracles as seventy-year-old, hunchbacked
old ladies who spent their days darning socks and drinking tea. For most, the idea that a
twenty-five-year-old, six-foot tall, one-hundred-eighty-pound man could be a powerful
Oracle was laughable. Add to that his dark hair, emerald-green eyes and movie star good
looks, and it was hard to get anyone to take him seriously on their first meeting. Thankfully,
that opinion didn’t last long once they’d had a chance to watch him work. If the detective
had been one of his regulars, he would have known better, but since he was new, Gray
decided it was only fair to cut him some slack.
“Yes, Detective Branson,” Gray answered patiently. “I’m sure. You’ll find the girl in a
small white house just off Monroe Street. She’s safe at the moment. The men who took her
won’t be back for a few hours, so I recommend retrieving her soon.”
The detective continued to stare at him, brow furrowed, his lips pulled down into a
frown.
Gray sighed. There were always a few hard sells. “If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll write
down the address and a description of the kidnappers to aid your investigation.”
Detective Branson still looked hesitant, but finally gave a nod of approval. His glare
never wavered as Gray wrote down the information and handed it over. The detective
scanned the sheet before looking back to him, his eyes wide.
“How could you possibly know this?” Branson’s expression still held its hard edge, but
a hint of bewilderment had begun to creep in.
“I’m an Oracle, Detective. I usually know a lot more than I would like to.” Gray felt a
bit of pity for the man as he watched the detective’s eyes narrow in confusion. While there
were many people who looked to Oracles with a near god-like idolization, for some, the idea
of an all-knowing Oracle was too much to comprehend. Detective Branson was definitely one
of the latter.
Taking pity on the man, Gray stood. “You should get going, Detective. It will be better
for the girl if she is recovered while the men are gone. There is a small window of time. I
recommend you take advantage of it.” He came around the side of his desk and gestured to
the door.
Hesitantly, the detective rose from his seat and followed Gray’s lead. He was about to
step through the doorway when he switched gears and came to an abrupt stop. When he
turned back to face Gray, there was a question clearly written on his face.
Gray smiled reassuringly. “She’ll be fine, Detective. At the moment, she’s scared but
undamaged. If you go to her now, you’ll have her back before any serious harm befalls her.”
It took a moment, but the detective’s expression finally cleared with the understanding
Gray’s words conveyed. Determination replaced his previous confusion.
“Thank you for your help, Mr Muir. I won’t pretend to understand how you know the
things you do, but at this point I have to take a chance and believe you. I just hope you’re
right. It’s time Maddie was back home with her family. I’ll send word on how everything
turns out.”
With his shoulders back and his head held high, Detective Branson looked like a man
ready to march into battle. The stern expression on the older man’s face didn’t fool Gray for a
minute, but he’d let the man keep his illusions. Long ago, Gray had made it a point of
practice to use his gift to evaluate all of the men and women he worked with. Some might
call it an invasion of privacy. Gray thought of it as plain old common sense. While his gift
could be a powerful tool for good, its lure for evil was just as strong. He had to be sure that
he could trust those he worked with, both on the police force and in the private sector. Based
on that evaluation, he knew the detective was one of the good guys. Despite his surly
personality, Gray had never met a man who cared more deeply for the people of their city
than Detective Dave Branson. Smiling softly, he offered the detective a hand, which the stern
man readily accepted.
“I’d appreciate that, Detective. If there’s anything else I can do to help with the
investigation, don’t hesitate to call. My assistant has already been informed that until this
case is officially closed, it is my top priority and that you are to be immediately connected to
my direct line.”
Gray was a firm believer in seeing things through till the end. With his police
consulting jobs, that philosophy was even more important. Cases involving children always
touched close to his heart. There was no way he could walk away until he was sure he had
done everything in his power to ensure the best possible ending.
Shock flashed across the detective’s face, but was gone just as fast. He responded with a
brisk nod and a grunt before he was out the door. Gray smiled. Making his way to out to the
lobby, Gray found his assistant, Sarah, organizing paperwork for what he assumed was his
next meeting. As an Oracle, his services were in constant demand. He had a waiting list six
months long just to get a consultation, not to mention the freelance work he did for the
police.
Oracles were very rare. There were only six known in the entire United States, each
with a varying level of talent. Gray was right at the top of their ranks. He was able to see the
past, present and all possible futures. It had been speculated that he was one of the most
powerful Oracles in the world, but he couldn’t care less. His only concern was helping as
many people as he could with his ‘gift’.
It had taken him a long time to see his abilities as a blessing, and not the curse that had
tortured him for more than half of his life. Abandoned as an infant, he’d spent his childhood
in orphanages and group homes where his visions had tormented him to the point where
he’d almost taken his own life. He’d been an open channel, allowing everything to come
through but without the benefit of a shutoff switch. It had been a chance meeting with
Stephen Jurgens, a well-known psychic, when he was eighteen that helped him understand
that he was an Oracle and not mentally deranged, as he had previously believed. The older
man had become both a friend and mentor, saving his life in more ways than one. Stephen
had taught him how to both strengthen and control his power. The lessons he’d learned from
his friend had been invaluable. With his newly gained control, he was finally able to choose
what visions and information to see, and ignore the rest. The ability to know everything truly
made Gray appreciate the novelty of a real surprise, good or bad.
Now, almost eight years later, Gray had truly come to grips with what he was. He had
his own consulting firm, Revelations, and business was booming. The company was small by
design, made up of himself, Sarah, his accountant, Drew, and his security team. They were
like a family, which was something he didn’t have much experience with, but found he
loved.
Sensing his approach, Sarah looked up, flashing him her usual megawatt smile. “How’s
it goin’, handsome? Any news on the little girl?”
“Yes, ma’am. She’s going to be fine. Detective Branson just left and should be on his
way to get her now. With any luck, she’ll be back home with her family tonight.”
“Oh, thank God!” Sarah breathed. “Will they catch the guys that took her?”
“Yes,” Gray growled, dangerously. “Even if I have to See them for the next month
straight. They won’t walk away from this, I promise you.” Gray didn’t tell Sarah that he had
Seen what they would have done to the little girl, even after they had got the ransom they
were demanding from her family. Sarah didn’t need that kind of knowledge. It was never a
good idea to let her get too curious about some of the things he had Seen. The what-ifs would
drive a person mad. Better he be the only one to suffer the burden of knowing what could
have happened.
When Sarah gave him a knowing look, he did his best not to appear guilty. Gray hated
that she could see through him so well. At times, it was like she had a VIP access to his soul.
She always knew when he was keeping things from her. “So, what do you have lined up for
me for the rest of the afternoon?”
Sarah threw him one last suspicious glare, making it clear that he wasn’t pulling
anything over on her, before turning her attention back to the paperwork on her desk.
“Luckily, we’ve got a pretty light afternoon. Just case review and billing verification.
You know…all that boring stuff that helps keep us in business.” Gray’s immediate scowl had
Sarah laughing. Gray hated both activities and she knew it. He usually put them off as long
as possible…or found a way to con Sarah into doing it for him.
He was about to try to beg off, when Sarah’s phone rang. Giving her a pout, he batted
his eyelashes playfully at her.
“Don’t even think about it,” she scowled at him sternly. “You’re not getting out of it
this time, Mr Muir. I’m not buying the cute face. Go clear off some space on your desk so we
have room, while I get this call. I’ll be there in five minutes and you better be ready to work,
mister.” Pointing her finger towards the hallway for emphasis, she answered the call with
her free hand, still giving him a piercing look.
Reluctantly admitting defeat, Gray made his way back to his office. He had just started
to sort through the mess that covered his desk, when his door burst open. Expecting to see
Sarah, he looked up, ready to tease her about her over-the-top entry. When his eyes lifted, the
sight before him left him speechless.
Instead of finding his five-foot-nothing, blonde-haired, blue-eyed assistant, he was
treated to the sight of an olive-skinned, raven-haired god. The man in his doorway had to be
close to seven feet of dark, dangerous and delicious. His broad, powerful body was covered
in layers of thick, corded muscle that Gray had a strong desire to explore with his tongue.
Long, onyx hair fell well past the middle of his back and his almond-shaped, mocha eyes
were mesmerising in their intensity. The colour was amazing, like melted chocolate, but it
was the hint of hellfire flickering in their depths that truly caught Gray’s attention.
Demon. Fuck! Of all the luck.
About the Author
Born and raised in Western Michigan, JJ Black’s love affair with books started young
and has only grown with age. Always a fan of supernatural fiction and romance, JJ
stumbled across the M/M genre and has never looked back.
Email:
JJ loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author
biography at
Also by JJ Black
Great Lakes Wolves: Accepting the Alpha
