Pleading the Fifth

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  “Well, Scott isn’t human,” Jacob regarded Lawrence Markel. “You got Tristan to come out here for an interview; Pierce set that up as well?”

  Lawrence nodded. “He wanted him to move out here -- see who he was with.”

  “Because Tristan hid himself quite well in California,” Roy said with a snarl. “We couldn’t even get close to him.”

  “Scott survived,” Jacob took great pleasure in the look of shock on the rogue’s face.

  “That’s impossible! He would have turned rogue or died!”

  “Well, obviously it is possible,” Jacob leaned into the rogue’s face. “And how would he have died exactly?” Jacob watched the rogue closely; he was biting his lip, trying to keep his mouth shut. “From the fever? Speak up before I cut your tongue out.”

  Roy contemplated his options, hell, he was fucked and he knew it. “Yes, from the fever. It would have eventually shut down all his internal organs.”

  Devin made a buzzer sound and smiled. “Wrong. Scott is just fine.”

  “I think Roy needs to meet Wayne,” Seth grinned.

  Andrei leaned into Roy’s face. “I would much rather take this man apart piece by piece,” Andrei snarled, gripping Roy’s chin and pulling it up. “I will enjoy cutting you apart, sending pieces of you back to Pierce one by one.”

  “That’s a lot of postage, Andrei.” Jacob tried to keep his face stoic. On the inside he was enjoying the look of pure terror on Roy’s face.

  “I have an account with FedEx,” Andrei smiled maliciously.

  “Take Lawrence to Wayne,” Seth nodded to Devin and Andrei. “Jacob, Hayden and I will take Roy here—” Seth eyed the shaking Roy. “Away.”

  ~~ Over the next few days, the packs left for Denali, Scott in tow. As much as he protested, Tristan was adamant that he recuperate in Denali. Chance Christianson was being watched by Nikolai Markov. With Pierce Barnes in the picture, Chance’s safety was questionable. Logan had explained to Wayne back in Ireland during the rescue of Conner that Pierce and Chance had dated briefly, therefore Chance needed to be protected. The original rogue slayers: Jacob, Seth, Tristan, Logan and Locke now had targets on their backs. None of the mated were safe. Kurt and Austin, as well as Tucker and Wesley were keeping an eye on Kory Maguire - Jacob’s mate. Jacob wasn’t taking any chances with his mate’s safety. Pierce Barnes had a way of knowing who was mated to whom, that thought alone had Scott nervous.

  The smell of waffles invaded his room and Scott threw his legs over the side of the bed. He was in Conner’s old room—now the guest room. Tristan was gone, but that wasn’t a surprise. Tristan was sleeping in shifts, paranoid that Pierce would make another move on his mate. Scott had to smile, it was sweet. Stretching his back as he stood, Scott looked out the window. The wolves of Denali were sitting around the fire pit with Wayne. The alpha male sat on his haunches, head tilted as Wayne spoke to him. Scott stepped into warm slippers and made his way into the kitchen.

  Justice, Jesse and Jaxon sat at the kitchen table with Conner drinking coffee. Both Justice and Jaxon had been bitten by Wayne the day he’d been released from the hospital. All in all, they dealt with the pain quite well. Jesse sat in the chair across from Conner listening intently to Conner telling stories about the created ones. Scott wondered if Justice and Jaxon could see Conner’s golden aura. He cleared his throat with a smile.

  “Good morning,” Scott smiled at the group. “Where is everyone?”

  “Patrolling the park,” Conner stood up. “Are you hungry? I made a lot of food.”

  “I am. Thank you.” Scott walked to the coffee maker, aware of eyes following him. “Will you guys stop it? I’m fine.”

  “Yes, yes you are,” Jesse eyed Scott’s ass with a grin.

  “Quit eyeballing Tristan’s mate,” Justice smacked Jesse’s arm.

  “Ow!” Jesse rubbed his arm. “Such violence. So uncalled for.”

  “The answer to your question is yes, by the way,” Justice said with a grin. “We do see Conner’s aura. We didn’t at the hospital before Wayne put the voodoo on us, but we see it now.”

  “He is beautiful, isn’t he?”

  Conner almost dropped the coffee pot as Aidan appeared in front of him. “Jesus, Aidan! Don’t do that!” Conner balked.

  Aidan frowned. “You’re no fun,”

  Justice raised a brow at the man who had appeared out of thin air. “And this is…?”

  “Aidan Moore,” Conner introduced Aidan to the brothers. “He’s like me.”

  “So I see,” Jaxon eyed the blond in front of him with an appreciative eye. The golden aura shone around his head like a halo.

  Aidan grinned. “Sorry boys, I’m mated as well.”

  Justice sighed in frustration. “Is everyone mated?”

  Jude walked into the kitchen just then, smiling at the brothers. “Nope, sucks being one of the un-mated, huh?”

  Jaxon reclined in his chair with a scowl. “I was hoping to pick up something from you.” Jaxon’s eyes roamed over Jude.

  “Me too,” Jude licked his lips looking at Jaxon. His eyes roamed over Justice as well. “I’d have taken either of you. Maybe even both.” Jude waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  Conner rolled his eyes. “Oh, Lord.”

  “Am I not even here?” Jesse threw his hands up in the air.

  “Oh come on Jess,” Jude came around the table and sat in Jesse’s lap. “I don’t even have to mention you, you are a given.”

  Jesse smiled, wiggling under Jude. “Aww, thanks, Jude.”

  Scott grabbed a plate and sat down at the table. “I think I’ve lost my appetite.”

  Wayne came into the kitchen and grabbed a cup. He leaned over to kiss Conner softly. “How’s my man?” Wayne turned his attention to Aidan and grinned. “Aidan. Have you forgiven me yet?”

  Aidan scowled. “Maybe,”

  Wayne cupped Conner’s face in his hands. “Neela is pregnant.”

  Conner’s eyes widened. “She is? That’s wonderful! More pups! I love the pups.”

  Wayne turned his attentions to the Salvatore brothers. “I trust you are feeling all right? I am sorry about the pain, but it’s unavoidable.”

  Justice shrugged. “It’s worth it to be immune.”

  Wayne nodded. “Scott’s lupine side waged a battle and won. In the end, his human side fell victim to the fever, but his lupine side rallied and annihilated the saliva. I have spoken with Lawrence Markel, the man was desperate—”

  “He did apologize profusely,” Scott said. “I felt sorry for him, you know?”

  “He is very grateful to you; I would not have helped him had you not intervened, Scott.”

  “So, he’s cured?” Scott sat up in his chair.

  Wayne nodded. “Yes, the blood I gave him wiped out the Parkinson’s. He is sworn to secrecy. He will also be representing any of us at any time we choose. James is speaking to him now about joining us.” Wayne tilted his head in thought. “He didn’t quite believe me when I told him what we were.”

  Conner chuckled. “Bet he does now. Did ya show him, hun?”

  Wayne grinned.

  “Ah hell,” Scott laughed. “Did he pee?”

  Wayne nodded. “Yes.”

  “Well, you are intimidating,” Justice allowed.

  “Me?” Wayne chortled.

  Conner wrapped his arms around Wayne with a smile. “Yes, you.”

  Scott grabbed his coffee and stood up. “That’s it, I’ll come back to eat when I’ve gotten my appetite back, you guys are too sickly sweet. I’m getting a cavity.”

  ~~ Jackson walked along the lake taking in deep breaths of clean, Denali air. He’d been to Denali a few times in the past for the pack meetings, but had never really had the time to appreciate it. The sun warmed his face as he walked along the shoreline. His beta was finally in love. Jackson smiled to himself. Tristan had had a hard life, always paraded around for his accomplishments by his birth parents; Tristan’s childhood had consisted of him attending chess ma
tches all over the country. Although his IQ was through the roof, his social skills had been lacking. Then his parents had been killed.

  Scott Delange was the perfect mate for him. Both of them lacked the necessary skills to open up, allow someone in; they complimented each other in strengths and weaknesses. Jackson chuckled as he remembered the fight between Tristan and his mate at the hospital. Scott argued he was fine to return to work and Tristan growled in his mate’s face about bed rest. They had compromised, one week in Denali, then back to work.

  Jackson stiffened and stopped walking, a familiar scent wafted up his nostrils and he raised his head, looking around the lake. Jonas Brooks walked along the shore on the opposite side of the lake. Jackson held his breath as Jonas stopped, looking in his direction. Their eyes met across the calm water and held. Jackson’s pulse roared in his ears as Jonas’ lips lifted in a smile. They hadn’t spoken since the hospital. Things had gotten a bit…complicated.

  “Well now, this is interesting,” Jackson started at his beta’s voice. “Must you sneak up on me?” Jackson barked.

  Tristan backed away, hands up in defense. “Whoa.”

  Jackson sighed. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to snap at you.”

  Tristan watched as Jonas lifted a hand in greeting, and continued to walk around the lake.

  “What’s going on?” Tristan turned to face his alpha.

  Jackson’s eyes followed Jonas across the lake. “It’s not important.”

  “The hell it’s not,” Tristan stood in front of his alpha. “Is there something going on between you and Jude’s dad?”

  Jackson face heated.

  “Oh God, there is!” Tristan said in astonishment. “I thought…”

  Jackson rubbed his face with his hands. “I know…I don’t know what happened and I’m not ready to talk about it, all right? Both Jonas and I need time to figure things out.”

  Tristan nodded. “All right, I’ll leave it alone. Just know that if you need me, I’ll be there, okay?”

  Jackson smiled at his beta. “Well, now, seems Delange has been good for you.”

  Tristan growled in frustration. “Ugh, I’m going for a run.”

  ~~

  Tristan took one last sniff of clean, Denali air and shifted back to his human counterpart. Slipping his shirt on, his nose picked up another scent. One he knew quite well, one that drove him crazy. The scent of the man he loved. Yes, love. Tristan sighed loudly; he was in love with Scott Delange. That stubborn, annoying, asshole had captured his heart in a way no other had. Almost losing Scott had pushed his feelings to the forefront, he couldn’t argue anymore.

  He’d made a trip to see Scott’s parents behind his back. According to Lawrence Markel, the Delanges hadn’t filed anything against their son; the whole thing had been a ruse to get close to Scott. They didn’t seem to care that their only son had almost died and Tristan had been seconds from ripping Richard Delange’s head off. In the end, he had warned them from ever having contact with their son again.

  Tristan pulled on his jeans and slipped his hiking boots back on. He looked through the trees and saw Scott walking around Wonder Lake. The man was so beautiful. Tristan had never seen anything so beautiful. He crept around the forest and kept his eye on his mate. Scott stopped and titled his head to the side and Tristan froze.

  “I thought SEALs were stealthy?” Scott said with a laugh.

  “Dammit, we are unless we’re up against werewolves.” Tristan came out into the clearing.

  Scott eyed his mate. “You look good like that.”

  “Clothed?” Tristan made his way closer to Scott, stopping right in front of him.

  “Naked, clothed,” Scott shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, you are just drop dead sexy.”

  “Bet that hurt to admit.”

  “Not as much as this is going to,” Scott took a deep breath and looked into Tristan’s eyes. “I love you, Tristan.” Scott put his hand up when Tristan’s mouth opened. “Just…let me get this out, okay? When I was in the hospital, I heard you. You cried Tristan; I bet you’ve never cried in your life. Every emotion you had was right there for me to feel, you opened up completely.” Scott took Tristan’s hands in his. “You allowed yourself to bond with me, and in that moment I felt your love for me.”

  Tristan squeezed Scott’s hands. “Can I speak now?”

  Scott nodded. Tristan could see the uneasiness in Scott’s features, he was afraid he’d said too much and the feeling wasn’t returned. Tristan had quite the surprise in store for his mate.

  “Marry me,” Tristan said.

  Scott’s mouth dropped open and his knees buckled. “W-h-h-hat?”

  “I love you, Scott. When I saw you in the hospital, the only thing I wanted right then was to go with you. If you died, I didn’t want to live. The mated always talk about how they would do anything, kill anyone for the one they love. I never really understood that until I met you. Damn, you are one hell of a stubborn man, but you challenge me, argue with me - and you have no idea how much that turns me on. The fates knew what they were doing when they mated us, Scott. I see that now. So marry me, because you and I both know we belong together.”

  Scott leaned forward, palming Tristan’s face. The eyes looked back at him with such hope, such love. He’d never had anyone look at him the way Tristan was, and in that moment he knew what Tristan was talking about. He’d do anything for this man; kill anyone who tried to hurt him.

  “Yes.”

  ~~ Scott checked the pot that was currently boiling on the stove. Whatever Tristan was making, it smelled good. They had been back for a little over a week and things had gone almost back to normal. Tristan went to work at Miles & Markel and he’d gone back to working at the hospital. Lawrence Markel had taken a back seat to Tristan at the firm, of his own accord.

  Jacob, Seth and Hayden along with Justice and Jaxon had gone to Arizona to comb through the caves with ‘Roy.’ The rogue had almost shit himself in Wayne’s presence, as it was; he’d pissed all over himself. Now he was helping track down Pierce. That didn’t mean they trusted him, but he was trying. It was either help them or lose his head. Seemed a pretty easy decision in Scott’s opinion.

  Tristan had basically moved in when they had come back from Denali, which was just fine with Scott; he loved having his mate nearby. Except for Tristan’s cleaning habits. He could live without that.

  Jude was shacking up in Jacob and Seth’s house while they were gone. He’d tried to make himself scarce when Tristan was around, but in the end, he preferred living in the house over the apartment.

  The sounds of a love ballad filtered into the kitchen and Scott smiled. He put the lid back on the pot and made his way into the living room. Tristan stood, hand outstretched with a grin.

  “What’s all this?” Scott took his fiancé’s hand.

  “You still owe me a lesson.” Tristan pulled Scott into his arms, encircling his waist.

  Scott relaxed into Tristan’s arms and swayed to the music. “You’ve been practicing?”

  Tristan stiffened. “How can you tell?”

  “You haven’t stepped on my feet,” Scott leaned back, eyeing his mate.

  Tristan’s face heated and he swallowed hard. “I kind of asked Conner for help.”

  Scott grinned. “Aw, that’s so damn sweet!”

  “Don’t get all girlie on me,” Tristan growled. “I wanted to learn so we could dance at our wedding.”

  “Damn,” Scott sighed. “The things you say, Miles. Makes me want to fuck your brains out.”

  Tristan cupped Scott’s face in his hands. “I want that.”

  Scott blinked in surprise. “You do?”

  “I think you said something about me begging?”

  “Turn off the stove,” Scott growled.

  ~~ Tristan made sure the front door was locked; after what had happened he wasn’t taking any chances. He made his way to the bedroom and found Scott was already naked on the bed waiting for him. Tristan nervously removed his clot
hing, his hands shaking.

  “What’s wrong?” Scott sat up on the bed. “We don’t have to do this.”

  Tristan stopped unbuttoning his shirt and looked at his mate on the bed.

  “I haven’t bottomed in years. And that was only one time. When I was drunk.”

  Scott got off the bed and walked to his mate slowly. “We don’t have to, Tristan. You can make love to me, it’s all right.”

  Tristan shook his head. “No, I want this. We are equals, Scott.”

  Scott took Tristan’s hands away from his shirt and finished unbuttoning it. Sliding his hands up his mate’s chest, he removed the fabric from his shoulders, letting the shirt fall to the floor. Scott’s eyes roamed over Tristan’s expansive torso.

  “Damn, you are built like a brick shithouse,” Scott whispered.

  “God, the things you say,” Tristan sighed comically. “That’s so romantic.”

  Scott smiled, licking Tristan’s pectoral muscle. “I never claimed to be romantic.” Scott’s hands brushed over the smooth skin of Tristan’s abdominal muscles as he found the zipper to his slacks. Scott moved closer, whispering across Tristan’s lips.

  “I love you.”

  Tristan shivered, as his pants slid down his legs. His hands tunneled through Scott’s hair, as his mate fell to his knees in front of him. “I love you, too, Scott.”

  Tristan’s head fell back as Scott licked a path up his thigh. Soft, warm hands kneaded his ass and then a moist heat surrounded his prick. A low groan tore from his throat as Scott’s tongue laved his slit. Tristan’s legs shook at the intensity of Scott’s hot mouth on his prick, a finger played at his entrance.

  “I think I need to lie down,” Tristan groaned.

  Scott led him to the bed and urged him onto his stomach. Tristan wasn’t used to being the one being led, he was always the one doing the leading. He spread his legs out and Scott slid in between them. A warm hand on his inner thigh urged him to hike his ass up higher and Tristan complied.

  Fingers massaged his globes, spreading his cheeks apart and a warm breath tickled his hole. Tristan closed his eyes as Scott’s tongue licked him from his balls up. A teasing tongue fluttered around his entrance, flicking him. Tristan’s hands clenched the comforter, a soft whimper escaped him as Scott delved in deeper, spreading his cheeks apart to get at him. Tristan writhed on the bed as Scott tongue fucked his ass. His own prick was angry and wanted release. Tristan looked over his shoulder to see Scott’s eyes filled with lust. Hot damn the man was gorgeous.