Diagnosis Wolf

by Macy Blake

  Caleb cast a worried gaze at Andrew, so he nodded and gave him a brief smile. Caleb nodded back at him and turned to his father.

  “Pop, this is Mark.”

  Alfonse’s eyes darkened, and that aura of power filled the room again. Monty pushed Mark into one of the suite’s chairs. He squirmed under Alfonse’s intense stare until the guard pressed a hand on his shoulder to still him.

  Andrew took in the guy’s appearance, noted the overstuffed book bag, and felt the familiarity of it all rush through him. He and Danny weren’t the only ones in over their heads. “How much did they pay you?”

  He blurted the words out before he realized he’d broken the stony silence of the room.

  Mark’s eyes darted to Andrew. “Wh-what do you mean?”

  No one else spoke, so Andrew continued. “Don’t play dumb. How much did they pay you to stick that needle in him?”

  Mark looked down at his hands. “I… I don’t—”

  “Don’t lie to me. We have you on tape. Just answer the question.”

  “Two grand.” Mark glanced up at Andrew. His eyes told more of his story than he realized. Fortunately, it was a story Andrew already knew by heart. He knelt down in front of Mark’s chair.

  “Right. Let me guess. That’s a few classes over at the college?”

  He nodded.

  “And what did you think you were doing? What did they tell you?”

  A small growl of frustration sounded behind him. Andrew looked over at Caleb, who was staring him down with a steely glare. He turned to look at Alfonse, whose head had cocked to the side as he watched Andrew take over. He didn’t seem pleased.

  Andrew turned back to Mark. They didn’t understand this guy. Andrew did. “Tell me,” he repeated.

  “They told me he was the dealer that got my brother in trouble. That if I did what they told me, stuck him with that needle, they would be able to take him down, get him put in jail.”

  Andrew shook his head. “You got played, man. You know that, don’t you? Hell, you probably realized it back at the club but were too afraid to say anything.”

  Mark nodded.

  “So listen, the guys in this room with me? They’re pretty pissed off at you, as I’m sure you can tell. Me? I’m pretty angry with you too. What you did was stupid, but you know that already. The guys who conned you into almost killing this guy?” Andrew jerked his head toward Caleb, and Mark followed his gaze. “They aren’t going to stop. So you need to tell them who paid you, tell them whatever they need to know so this doesn’t happen again, all right?”

  “Okay.”

  Andrew stood up and lowered his head respectfully to the alpha. “Alfonse, may I go outside now?”

  Alfonse nodded his approval, and Andrew made his way back out to the patio. He’d done what he could to help Mark, but the young man was as in over his head as Andrew and Danny were. If Andrew understood one thing, it was protecting a brother who got himself into constant trouble. He and Mark were cut from the same cloth.

  He stretched out on the chaise and closed his eyes. The midmorning sun burned into his eyelids, creating sparkles of orange and red. The colors matched his mood. Whoever was behind this was smart, smart enough to manipulate family and desperate young college students. They kept their hands relatively clean.

  Now they had Danny, and Andrew didn’t know if he could trust his brother to not do something stupid to make the situation worse. Hell, he knew he couldn’t trust Danny like that. First chance he got, Danny would be offering to do whatever they asked to get his own ass off the fire, to hell with anyone else who got hurt in the process.

  Chapter Seven

  Andrew’s gamble paid off. He didn’t know what Alfonse, Caleb, and the guards had planned for Mark, but after Andrew’s little talk with him, he answered all of their questions. And now they had a name.

  Wesley Miller.

  Even Andrew knew about the Millers. The youngest son had been a senior when Andrew was a freshman in high school. They’d never hung around together, but Andrew definitely knew of him. Star athlete, nicest clothes and car, and worst attitude.

  It appeared to be a family trait. Andrew had no idea how Danny had gotten mixed up with them. The Miller name was on half the businesses in town, including the car dealership where Andrew had bought his little junker.

  Caleb leaned back against the balcony railing and looked down at Andrew. “I can’t believe you just took over like that.”

  “I can’t either. I’m surprised your dad didn’t have me dragged from the room. Is he pissed?”

  “Not really. We got what we needed.”

  Andrew stood up so he could be a little closer to Caleb. “I recognized him. Not him, exactly. I’d never met him before. But that look. That struggle and hunger. That was me not long ago. Working and going to school and trying to get something better for myself while dealing with a brother who was constantly in trouble.”

  “I doubt you were ever that desperate.”

  Andrew shook his head. “That’s just it, Caleb. I was. Hell, I still am. If someone had offered to pay off all the credit cards Danny ran up, and all I had to do was one little thing? I’d have considered it.”

  Caleb grabbed Andrew’s arms and pulled him close. “But you wouldn’t have hurt someone else to do it. See the difference?”

  “I’d like to think that, but right now, it’s hard to imagine. You know, the first second they threatened me and Danny, before the fists started flying? I almost just said ‘Sure. Whatever you want.’ And meant it. Do you know what that feels like?”

  “But you didn’t.”

  Andrew pulled away and turned to look inside. Mark sat huddled on the couch. They didn’t know what to do with him. No one felt comfortable just letting him go, but it wasn’t like they could keep him here forever.

  “I know what it’s like to be him, though. So keep that in mind as you guys decide what to do.”

  “We’re not going to hurt him. You know that, don’t you?”

  “I’d hoped not, but right now I’m not too sure what to think. All I know is someone tried to kill you, and if I was your dad? I’d be wanting to keep it from happening again.”

  Alfonse gestured for Caleb to come inside. He pressed himself against Andrew’s back and nuzzled Andrew’s neck. “Trust me. Please.”

  He released his hold and went inside. Trust. Such a simple word. Easier said than done. How could he trust anything when everything in his life was turned upside down? Caleb looked over his shoulder at Andrew.

  Whatever Alfonse was saying, Caleb didn’t seem happy to hear it. He shook his head and turned back to his father. They argued for another minute before Alfonse waved Andrew inside as well.

  “I’m taking Jed, Monty, and Mark and going back to the house. I want you and Caleb to stay here until you hear from me.”

  “What?” Andrew turned to look at Caleb. One glance at his red face and tight lips and Andrew turned back to Alfonse. “Is it a challenge if I ask why?”

  Caleb stepped closer to Andrew, but Andrew held out his hand to stop him. “No, Caleb. Your father and I have an understanding. If I do something wrong, he explains it to me so I don’t do it again.”

  Caleb opened his mouth to reply but snapped it closed again. He turned to look at his father, who smiled at Andrew.

  “Not a challenge, Andrew. Depending on your tone, that is.”

  “Okay. Then will you tell me why we shouldn’t stick together? If something happened, I wouldn’t be much help to Caleb.”

  Alfonse stepped forward and placed his hand on Andrew’s shoulder. He lowered his voice and shot a quick glance to Mark. Monty and Jed stepped between them and blocked the young man’s view.

  “I want Caleb to have another day to heal. He seems fine since he shifted and the needle came out. Caleb can explain more, but I want to get back to my home. I’ve called in a neighboring pack that I trust for reinforcements. I’ve also notified Caleb’s uncle and cousin that they are needed.”
/>   “Will that be enough?”

  “It will be. And Caleb will take care of you.”

  With that, Alfonse and the guards left with Mark. Andrew stood blinking after him for a minute.

  “What the heck did all that mean?”

  “Dad knows how I feel about you. I won’t let anyone hurt you, and neither will the wolf inside me. We both proved that yesterday.”

  “What… well… you don’t… I mean.”

  “Yes, I care about you. Don’t get weird on me. You knew this already. Pop’s also worried about that needle. You know what it means?”

  Andrew took a minute to process. “They know you’re wolves. That’s why it was a silver needle. But how do they know?”

  “That’s what we have to figure out.”

  “You know, it works in your favor that it didn’t kill you.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Oh, well, obviously the fact that you aren’t dead is a plus.” Andrew laughed. “Sorry, I just meant that if they thought the silver would kill you because you’re a wolf, and it didn’t, then they must be having doubts. If it got out that someone stabbed you with a needle and it made you sick, but now you’re fine….”

  Caleb’s brows shot up. “Good point. We’ll tell Pop about it tomorrow. Nothing will happen before then. He’ll be very cautious in how he handles this.”

  “I’d have thought he’d go in with, well, claws blazing or whatever the shifter equivalent is.”

  “You still think we’re some horror movie creatures.” Caleb huffed out a breath and turned away. His shoulders slumped as he went into the kitchen area and opened one of the complimentary bottles of water on the counter.

  “I don’t. Caleb, I promise.” Andrew crossed the room and wrapped his arms around Caleb’s stomach. “Yesterday, when I found that needle in you? I wanted to hurt someone. I wanted to find Mark and punch him right in the face. Getting mad when someone hurts someone you care about isn’t a wolf thing. It’s a human thing.”

  Caleb spun around in Andrew’s arms. “I don’t want you thinking of me as a monster. And after yesterday, well, you should.”

  Andrew leaned in and pressed his forehead to Caleb’s. “No, yesterday you proved I could trust you. You kept your promise. And kissed me stupid. Which I kind of liked.”

  “Only kind of?” His voice lowered to a husky rumble.

  “Well,” Andrew whispered against Caleb’s lips, “that was a long time ago. I could use a reminder.”

  Caleb accepted the invitation. He jerked Andrew close and angled his mouth over Andrew’s. All thought fell out of Andrew’s head. He could only focus on the sensation of Caleb’s body against his, his taste, smell.

  His breath coming in gasps, Andrew broke away. Caleb kissed down his jaw to his neck. He pushed Andrew’s head aside and licked over the tender veins. Andrew’s knees wobbled, and he grabbed hold of Caleb’s back to keep himself upright. Caleb pressed Andrew against the cabinets. Before he could process the new position, Caleb had lifted him up and set him on the counter. He tugged Andrew closer and lined their cocks up with each other through their pants. Andrew dropped his head back even as Caleb began tugging at his shirt.

  The material bunched under his arms. Caleb untangled Andrew’s hands from his sides and ripped the shirt over his head. His own followed, and then Caleb pulled them back together again. Caleb’s muscled chest pressed against his, the light covering of dark hair on Caleb’s chest tickling at Andrew’s sensitive nipples.

  Andrew squirmed against him, arched his back to push his chest closer to repeat the sensation. Caleb snickered and traced a path down Andrew’s chest with his lips until he tugged one pink nub between his teeth.

  The pain spiked Andrew’s pleasure. He grabbed Caleb’s head to hold it in place. Caleb’s hands crept up Andrew’s back and held him steady even as he encouraged him to arch back further. He fed on Andrew’s chest, leaving a wet trail from one side to the other.

  This time, he licked at Andrew’s nipple before blowing his hot breath against it. Andrew moaned and scrambled to find some place to grab on to Caleb. Caleb chuckled against him, sending a rumbling shiver through Andrew’s skin.

  “Caleb, please.”

  “Do you remember now?”

  Andrew blinked dizzily at him. “Remember what?”

  Caleb laughed. “That’s good enough.”

  He grabbed Andrew’s hips and slid him forward on the counter. Andrew wrapped his legs around Caleb’s back as he was lifted into Caleb’s arms. “Go to bed with me?”

  He waited for an answer from Andrew. Just stood there holding him until Andrew’s brain caught up and he nodded. “Yes.”

  Caleb smiled and kissed him. The world moved, but then again, he was being carried across the suite to the large bedroom where he’d slept the night before. Caleb lowered him to the bed and followed, covering Andrew’s body with his own.

  “I’ve never wanted anyone so much.”

  Andrew blinked up at him and smiled. Caleb didn’t seem to be in a hurry now. “You know, the first day we met, and you were lying there sick and hurt, I wanted you. I thought I was such a pervert.”

  Caleb groaned. “I don’t think so. God, you walked in and I thought that was it. I’d die from having you right there and being unable to do anything about it.” He traced his hand down Andrew’s arm.

  “You can do something about it now, you know. I, um, have some stuff in my bag.”

  Caleb dropped his head to Andrew’s chest. “Oh, thank God. I didn’t think of it before, and then, well, I just wasn’t thinking.”

  He climbed off the bed and grabbed Andrew’s duffel bag from the top of the dresser. He carried it over and placed it on the bed. Andrew dug around for lube and condoms, and when he looked up again, Caleb was standing beside the bed, naked.

  He knelt with one knee on the mattress and grabbed the waist of Andrew’s track pants. He slid them slowly down until he had to stand back up to pull them the rest of the way off.

  Caleb’s eyes darkened, an expression of lust and longing on his face. Andrew couldn’t remember anyone ever looking at him so intently before, like they were trying to stare into his soul. The longing got to Andrew more than anything. The deep level of want that had Caleb panting for breath as he stared down at Andrew.

  Andrew’s breath quickened as well. He wanted, needed, to keep that connection between them. He reached up and grabbed Caleb’s neck. Pulled him down and bit at his lips until Caleb opened his mouth. Andrew devoured him, poured every ounce of his lust into the kiss. He wanted to turn Caleb into a slavering beast, unable to think of anything, or anyone, but Andrew.

  He buried his hands in the dark curls on Caleb’s neck and held his head still for Andrew’s exploration. Caleb moaned as Andrew licked down his jaw and over his neck. He bit down, not hard enough to break the skin, but it was enough to drive Caleb wild.

  He reared up and jerked Andrew’s hands out of his hair. He pinned Andrew to the bed by his wrists and stared down at him, gasping for breath. Caleb’s eyes changed again, this time a hint of gold emerging as he growled low in his chest.

  Andrew bucked up beneath Caleb, the loss of control exactly what he needed. Caleb reached over and grabbed the condom, ripped it open with his teeth, and rolled it on. Andrew fumbled for the lube and coated his fingers before pulling his legs up and coating his hole.

  Caleb froze, watching Andrew’s fingers work. He brushed Andrew’s hand aside and dipped his own fingers in the slick.

  Andrew bit his lip and arched into the touch. “Please, Caleb.”

  One finger slipped inside. Caleb watched Andrew’s reaction. Andrew wanted him to know how much he needed him. “More. Now.”

  Caleb growled and jerked his hand free. He leaned over Andrew and hooked Andrew’s legs over his shoulders. Their eyes met, locked, as Caleb guided his cock to Andrew’s hole and pushed the tip inside.

  Andrew hissed and forced himself to relax at the stretching burn. He squeezed Caleb’s arms w
ith his hands, and Caleb stopped and waited for Andrew to open to him. The ache eased after a moment, and Andrew’s muscles unclenched. Caleb slid the rest of the way inside with a long groan.

  “Damn,” Caleb muttered before leaning down to kiss Andrew again. Their tongues tangled as Caleb began a slow, shallow thrusting. Andrew moved his hips as well, meeting each push.

  He held onto Caleb’s strong arms, the muscles flexing with each movement. Caleb growled low in his chest again and lowered himself onto Andrew’s body. He let Andrew’s legs slide from his shoulders, and Andrew wrapped them tightly around Caleb’s waist.

  Caleb grasped Andrew’s shoulders as he continued to fuck into him. With the closeness of their bodies, everything intensified. Andrew could feel every bit of skin that Caleb touched, felt his cock thrusting inside. His heart pounded in his chest, and he gasped for frantic breaths as he went higher and higher.

  Caleb read his reactions, gave him a wicked grin, and began a more staccato pace. He snapped his hips, paused, and snapped again, harder.

  “Caleb!” It was the only word in Andrew’s mind. He couldn’t express what he needed, couldn’t even think. Caleb rolled them to the side, managed to flip Andrew on top of him without slipping from his body.

  Andrew raised and lowered himself, even as Caleb continued to snap his hips up and meet him thrust for thrust. Andrew reached for Caleb’s chest, held on to the flexing muscles beneath him. He locked his gaze onto Caleb’s even as he felt his balls draw up. “I’m coming. Oh God, I’m coming.”

  Caleb reached for Andrew’s cock, gripped it tightly, and gave it a couple of quick pulls. It was all the additional sensation Andrew needed, and he came across Caleb’s stomach. He kept moving, wanted Caleb to be there with him. Caleb reared up and guided Andrew’s hips to his, slammed him down forcefully, once, twice, before he bit down on Andrew’s shoulder and moaned his release.

  Both their bodies twitched for long moments, the aftershocks shuddering through them with each movement. Andrew laid his head on Caleb’s shoulder. “Fuck me.”

  Caleb laughed. “I just did.”