Alessio's Fall

by Fel Fern

  Remembering where they were, Kelias consciously began to put some distance between Alessio and himself, terrified to give himself away further. Having none of that, Alessio held him close, hand like iron around his wrist.

  Female laughter, light and musical, made Kelias blink. A human woman who resembled Alessio stood in place of the slender beast before. “Well, brother, Alessio has made his case clearly, don’t you think?”

  The large black wolf traded forms in matter of seconds. He was bigger, scarred, but otherwise no one could mistake that Alessio and Sergio were brothers. “You forget, Alessio. Members of the Order are our enemies. There have to be repercussions.”

  Ignoring Alessio’s warning squeeze on his arm, Kelias spoke. “I’m dead to the Order. They raised me, but I’ve never felt at home with them. I know that doesn’t sound convincing, but the one thing I’m certain of is Alessio. None of this mess is his fault. If there’s someone to blame, it’s me. I accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”

  Alessio glowered at Kelias at those words, but Kelias couldn’t afford to break eye contact with Sergio. Never show weakness in front of a predator had been one of his first lessons, and Kelias needed Sergio to read the truth in his eyes.

  “Even death?” Sergio asked.

  “Yes,” Kelias said without hesitation. “This life is yours to take, in payment for hurting Alessio and his sister.”

  “And what use will I have for one dead hunter?” Sergio asked, eyes flat and cold.

  “Remember, Sergio,” the woman said gently. “Kill Alessio’s mate, and he’ll follow. Can you afford to lose one brother?”

  “I don’t see Alessio’s mating mark on this half-demon,” Sergio said with a sneer, and then he paused, as if he realized he’d been caught in a trap.

  “Well then, I just need to fix that, right?” Alessio asked. “If I mate Kelias, then he would be part of the pack. He would no longer be a threat.”

  Sergio growled, looking displeased. “Thwarted by my own siblings. Michella, I expected more of you, but you forget, you can’t erase years of conditioning. Kelias knows us as his enemies. What makes you certain he won’t betray us?”

  “You forget, brother, I was with you when you claimed Ron. You nearly started a war between another pack and ours for him,” Alessio said quietly.

  “You’ll hold that over me?” Sergio demanded.

  “Alpha, what you say is true,” Kelias said slowly, stealing the attention of the Esteban siblings and the other wolves, who didn’t dare make a sound, who probably awaited the verdict of their Alpha.

  “Each child of the Order learns to hate, but some lessons don’t stick. We make our own choices in the end. I…” Kelias cleared his throat, thinking of Seb. “I killed a man who was like a brother to me so we wouldn’t go back to Darkfall. If I were a true hunter of the Order, I wouldn’t have missed Alessio’s heart on purpose. It took me awhile to understand why.”

  Sergio didn’t look convinced, although Kelias could see he weighed Kelias’s words carefully.

  “I have another solution,” Alessio said. “Don’t kill Kelias, but we’ll leave. Find some other place, and sever all ties to the pack.”

  “Ales, no,” Michella whispered.

  “It’s for the best, baby sister,” Alessio told her gently.

  “Enough,” Sergio snarled.

  The seconds felt like eternity. No one spoke, or moved, while Sergio weighed his options. Exile sounded like a grand option to Kelias. To be free and not tethered to obligation, with Alessio by his side—sounded like a luxury to him. Kelias wasn’t heartless though. He knew what the pack meant to Alessio. Darkfall had been his home, the place he grew up with his siblings and grown with his pack.

  Not only for Alessio, but Kelias could see himself making Darkfall his home, to eventually win the trust of the others, and gain a new family instead. A family that stuck close to each other, that never suspected or asked too much, that wouldn’t expect Kelias to kill the man he loved to regain his honor. Kelias owed Alessio that much.

  Finally, Sergio’s gaze rested on Kelias. “Do you love my brother?”

  Without hesitation, Kelias answered, “Yes, very fucking much.”

  “By all means, Alessio.” Sergio’s lips curved to a sharp smile. “Claim your mate.”

  Alessio pulled Kelias close, frown on his lips. “Here? Now?”

  “I accept your solution, but I will continue to see Kelias as a threat if he doesn’t wear your mark.”

  Kelias looked at Alessio, then whispered in a low voice, although it didn’t matter, because the wolves could hear his words. “What’s wrong? Don’t you want to make me your mate?”

  “Yes, brother. Don’t you?” Sergio asked.

  Michella drew a sharp breath. “Sergio, what you’re asking Ales to do is medieval.”

  “Kelias,” Alessio muttered, turning Kelias by his shoulders so they looked at each other face-to-face. “A mating mark without some physical intimacy is going to hurt like hell. I don’t want you to think back on this and all you remember is pain.”

  Kelias looked at him, unblinking, gripping his biceps. “Baby, didn’t you hear what I said? I want you. I never wanted anything or anyone else in my life so badly.”

  Alessio thumbed his bottom lip, breathing hard when Kelias sucked on his finger, tasting Alessio on him. His heart raced at Alessio’s next words. “Kelias, I don’t think you understand. I’m about to strip you bare, and fuck you, here and now.”

  Here and now. Kelias’s heart started to gallop wildly. He saw patience in Alessio’s eyes, understanding, but also something else. Hunger, dark and raw. The thought of taking Kelias here, with his pack brothers and sisters there to witness their lovemaking, excited him. Shame made his cheeks flush, but excitement also coursed through Kelias’s veins. Did Sergio expect him to back away? Kelias looked around him them, seeing the wolves of Darkfall, all awaiting his decision, but they forgot Kelias already made his choice long ago. Smiling shyly at Alessio, Kelias leaned in close to kiss him this time. The kiss caught Alessio by surprise, slow and tender, before turning rough and full of need.

  “Is that a ‘yes’?” Alessio asked, grinning.

  Kelias nodded. “It’s a ‘yes.’ Claim me, baby. Make me yours forever, or until death do us part anyway.”

  “I don’t plan on dying anytime soon, Kelias.” Alessio’s lips quirked to a mischievous smile. “You and I are in for one wild and unforgettable ride.”

  Chapter Ten

  Never had Alessio had been proud of Kelias until that moment. Kelias didn’t let discomfort dissuade him. Looking into his mate’s eyes, Alessio knew with a certainty he’d made the right choice, that it was worth it, risking it all to claim Kelias.

  “Time to get those annoying clothes off you,” Alessio said, his smile widening at Kelias’s shiver.

  God, how often did he imagine having Kelias all to himself again? Well, never mind their watchers, although Alessio never minded a little public exhibition. Noticing Kelias’s gaze flicker to the others, Alessio tipped his chin and claimed his lips again. Not soft and tender this time around, only pure and raw hunger.

  Releasing his lips, Alessio grinned with Kelias began touching him, fingers clutching as his side. “Others don’t matter, baby. Every wolf here is fucking jealous of my gorgeous and sexy mate, but you’re wearing too many clothes in my opinion.”

  “Ales, we will leave you and your mate to your privacy,” Sergio said, apparently convinced of their resolve. “Kelias, we acknowledge you as Alessio’s rightful mate.”

  Alessio heard the sounds of his brother shifting back to wolf form. With a growl, Sergio and the rest of the pack disappeared. Michella, Alessio saw, lingered. Light dancing in his ears, she smiled at him, then at Kelias. “Welcome to the Darkfall pack, Kelias. Brother, Doc will stay behind to tend to your wounds and Kelias’s new mark. I’ll send out a cleanup crew later.”

  She meant Rayne, Alessio realized, and any evidence left behind. Kelias didn�
�t seem to care either way.

  “Thanks,” Alessio managed. With a nod, she pulled out a disposable phone she carried in a bag around her neck and handed it to Alessio. She shifted and followed after Sergio and the others.

  With their watchers gone, their attention returned to each other. Alessio tore open Kelias’s body armor, stripping him of every reminder of his former life. He tossed aside every gun and knife on his mate—and Alessio had to admit, Kelias had an impressive collection.

  Each item he stripped off seemed to make Kelias relax. Seeing the expanse of Kelias’s lean and slender chest, Alessio grinned. He lowered his head, taking one nipple into his mouth. Kelias groaned, threading fingers into his hair, tugging insistently. The bud hardened, and Alessio pressed the edge of his teeth, hearing Kelias cry out.

  Releasing Kelias’s nipple, Alessio decided he liked his teeth marks there. He took Kelias’s right, marking him the say way.

  “God, Alessio,” Kelias murmured. Unzipping him, Alessio tugged his jeans off. His boxers followed, until both of them were naked, and had nothing to hide from each other.

  “We’re far from done, baby. I want to taste your cock now.” Alessio pelted kisses down Kelias’s right pectoral.

  Alternating between kisses and bites, Alessio made a path down Kelias’s ribs, firm abs, tugging at the faint dusting of hair leading downward to Kelias’s long and thick dick. Licking his lips with relish at the prospect of enjoying his prize, Alessio noticed color appear on Kelias’s cheeks. Alessio squeezed gently at his balls with one hand. He blew softly at Kelias’s glistening tip, making him groan.

  “Tell me, baby. Do you want me to suck your cock?” Alessio asked.

  “I didn’t know you liked talking dirty during sex,” Kelias retorted, familiar defiance returning. The half-demon hesitated as Alessio’s grin widened. In response, Alessio licked away the pre-cum on Kelias’s tip, tonguing his slit.

  “God,” Kelias uttered.

  Far from done, Alessio dragged his tongue across Kelias’s silky length, marveling at the hard and warm steel underneath. Patient, eager-to-be-heard pleas fell from Kelias’s lips, Alessio continued. Pushing Kelias’s legs wider, Alessio’s mouth reached Kelias’s puckered hole. He placed a kiss there, before tracing lazy circles over the rim.

  “Alessio,” Kelias blurted. Not yet, Alessio thought, slipping his tongue into Kelias’s hole, tongue lashing, fucking him until Kelias buckled and finally begged. “Alessio, please!”

  Alessio paused. “You haven’t answered me, pet.”

  “Answered?” Kelias faltered, looking like he was straining to remember. Cheeks reddening, he said, “Alessio, please. Suck my dick.”

  “Very good, baby.” Wrapping his lips around Kelias’s needy dick, Alessio applied suction with every inch he covered. He bobbed his head up and down, speeding up, while Kelias panted above him. Alessio’s own cock thickened between his legs, wanting to sink itself into Kelias’s tight ass, but he had to be patient.

  “Alessio, I can’t,” Kelias murmured. Alessio drew his mouth away from Kelias’s prick, ignoring Kelias’s frustrated growl. “Bastard,” Kelias rasped.

  “Your bastard,” Alessio corrected. Knowing Kelias was on the verge of coming, that he held it back for Alessio, made everything so downright erotic. “Do you want something, pet?”

  Understanding the game, Kelias swallowed, and then nodded. Meeting Alessio’s gaze steadily, Kelias said, “Please, Alessio. Put your cock in me. Remind me who I belong to.”

  God, Kelias couldn’t make that any more perfect.

  Alessio gritted his teeth, realizing he didn’t have any lube on hand.

  “What’s wrong?” Kelias asked. Understanding flashed through his eyes. “There’s a tube of lube in the back pocket of my bottoms.”

  Alessio raised his brows. “Didn’t you come here to kill me? Why would you have that in your arsenal?”

  “For emergencies and for sentimental reasons, I guess,” Kelias muttered.

  “Don’t sound so embarrassed, baby. Perhaps you were confident we could turn things around. Didn’t everything end well?” Ignoring his grumble, Alessio lifted his legs over his shoulders. “Or did you change your mind?”

  Kelias gave him a fierce smile. “Never. I want this, Alessio. I want you. I love you.”

  Those words sent a bolt of fondness and warmness through Alessio’s chest. Now that the Order was out of the way, the path to the future seemed clear. He could imagine Kelias being a permanent fixture in his life. A mate, who would stand by his side, fight alongside him, and experience both joy and sorrow with him.

  “The look in your eyes,” Kelias murmured.

  “I fucking love you, too, baby,” Alessio said without hesitation. Kelias opened his mouth, and then closed it. Sliding a hand up Kelias’s chest, Alessio could feel and hear Kelias’s heart hammering against his chest. He drew his hand away, lubed his fingers, and then applied a generous amount down Kelias crack. Kelias bit his lip when Alessio regarded his dick, close to bursting, pointing like a tempting arrow toward him—Kelias’s need mimicked by his own.

  Sliding a finger in, Alessio felt Kelias’s breath hitch. He curled his finger, reaching Kelias’s sweet spot, tearing a sweet gasp from Kelias. Putting a second digit in, Alessio scissored Kelias for access.

  “Please, Alessio. I need you in me now,” Kelias pleaded. Drawing his fingers out, Alessio blanketed his body over Kelias, liking the feel of his sweat-soaked skin rubbing against Kelias.

  “Your wounds,” Kelias whispered.

  “They don’t hurt. Plus, once I give my mate mark they will heal abnormally fast, even for a shifter.” Alessio kissed him again, positioning his cock at Kelias’s entrance at the same time. Tightening his grip on Kelias’s hips, Alessio pushed his cockhead in. Kelias expelled a sharp breath as Alessio drove into him, hilt-deep, balls brushing against Kelias’s ass.

  “Relax for me, Kelias. Fuck, you’re so tight,” Alessio murmured, feeling Kelias’s inner muscles clamp around his shaft like a fist over his heart.

  “Please,” Kelias begged again. This time, Alessio didn’t deny him. He began to move his hips, thrusting in and out of Kelias in a slow rhythm. Once Kelias gotten used to his size, Alessio went faster, deeper, his strokes relent.

  He reached for Kelias shaft between their bodies, stroking him from root to tip. Changing the angle of his thrusts, Alessio hit Kelias’s prostate, judging by his scream. Kelias dug his fingers into his shoulders, nails biting into skin, and Alessio aimed for the spot over and over again, driving both of them to the edge.

  “Baby,” Kelias rasped, breath warm against Alessio’s neck.

  “Come for me, Kelias. Now,” Alessio ordered, hearing his shuddering cry of relief.

  Kelias exploded, coating Alessio’s chest and ribs with cum. The sound of Kelias’s scream of pleasure urged Alessio on. He wouldn’t last long now. Balls tight against his body, Alessio drove into Kelias, relentless. Pulling Kelias to him, Alessio snarled in approval when Kelias willingly offer his neck to him, a sign of his sweet surrender. Cradling his head close, Alessio unsheathed his canines, sinking them deep. Kelias held onto him, tighter, arms locked around his neck. Alessio’s head reeled. The pressure building inside him burst, and he spilled his load into Kelias’s ass.

  Alessio’s wolf howled in triumph as their life force and souls became one. Withdrawing his canines, Alessio watched Kelias’s eyes grow wide as he no doubt felt the invisible bonds of Alessio’s wolf connected to the rest of the pack. Alessio collapsed against Kelias, feeling the half-demon’s arms wrapping around his waist.

  True to Michella’s word, Steven “Doc” Donalds, the stern pack medic, came to them after a phone call. Doc was apparently waiting by the side of the road until Alessio phoned him. Doc arrived with a medical kit in hand.

  “Well, Beta. Get off your mate so I can check on him,” Doc said with annoyance. Used to his ways, Alessio rolled off Kelias. He helped Kelias sit up, looking at him anxiously. “How do
you feel, baby?”

  “A little dizzy, but I’m okay.”

  “We’ll get you patched up, and then I’ll take you home. Then we’ll have a long sleep.”

  “Home,” Kelias breathed, musing over the word. “In bed with you,” he repeated, like he couldn’t believe this was all real. He blinked when Alessio kissed him again, dragging him back to reality.

  Doc cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. When Alessio stepped back, he began opening his kit. Kelias interrupted him. “Alessio took a bullet. He needs to be looked at first.”

  Alessio flicked his mate an amused glance. “Giving commands now, huh, little demon?”

  Kelias lifted his chin. “What good are you to me dead, Beta?”

  Alessio barked out a laugh. Doc turned to him instead, muttering under his breath when he cleaned out the mess. Kelias hovered nervously as Doc extracted the bullet with sterilized forceps, disinfected the wound, and patched Alessio up. Snorting, Alessio turned to Kelias. “Don’t fuss. I’ve gotten worse injuries. No doubt you did, too.”

  Kelias glowered at him. “Don’t fuss? Of course I’m worried, you idiot.”

  “Idiot, huh? We need to work on your manners, little demon. That’s no way to treat your injured mate.” Kelias colored at that, probably having some clue about what sort of punishment Alessio planned on dishing out.

  “Christ. Newly mated wolves are always like this,” Doc mumbled, looking at Kelias’s neck. “Stay still!”

  Looking like a guilty child caught doing something wrong, Kelias settled down for Doc to check the bite. “Clean enough. This will heal in a day or two,” Doc decided, after pasting over the gauze on Kelias’s neck. He turned to Alessio. “You need to come to my clinic tomorrow, Beta, so I can check on your wounds.”

  Alessio snorted, but Kelias nodded, looking serious. “He’ll be there.”

  Doc actually gave Kelias a smile—a shock, because in the years Alessio had known him, he’d never seen Doc smile. The guy always seemed to be gloomy, too serious about every little thing—a good trait, Michella always liked to remind him, for a pack doctor.