Alec scrambled to his feet and screamed as Charlie dug his claws into Liam’s chest.
Liam’s eyes went wide, his whole body paling as blood seeped from the wound. Charlie just kept digging and digging. If Alec didn’t pull him off, somehow find the strength to push at Charlie, Charlie was going to dig Liam’s heart right out of his chest.
Liam met Alec’s gaze and whispered, “I love you.” Alec growled, rage filling him. His fist clenched, claws digging into his skin. His wolf howled.
He wanted to shift, wanted to use that strength, only he couldn’t, not out in the open like this.
So, he got to his feet and moved.
Charlie didn’t see him coming, and that was good. Alec leapt, clawed at Charlie’s back, one slice, then another, and even as Charlie moved to try and fight him off, Alec was there. He wrapped his arm around Charlie’s neck and squeezed. Charlie let go of Liam, and Alec’s mate fell to the ground, his hands over his chest as he tried to stanch the bleeding.
Alec didn’t think it would be enough.
After all of this, after everything that had happened, he was going to lose his mate.
He couldn’t breathe.
His wolf wanted revenge, wanted blood, and Alec was going to give it to him. He squeezed Charlie’s neck, even as his brother, his blood, someone who was supposed to be everything to him, dug at his arm, reopening the wound that Alec had finally healed. He could scent his own blood. It didn’t matter. He squeezed, and with one twist, the snap of bone echoed in his ears. And then, Charlie was gone. The rogue was dead, his brother was no more. It didn’t matter. He tossed Charlie’s lifeless form to the ground. At any other moment in time, Alec would have probably wept, would have grieved for his sibling. Instead, he let Charlie fall and ran to Liam.
Blood spilled out of Liam’s chest, even as his own inner strength as a wolf started to heal the wounds. Alec just didn’t think it would be enough. Tears slid down his cheeks now. Not for his brother. For his mate.
He pulled Liam into his arms, covered his mate’s bloody hand with his to try and stop the bleeding, and simply held him, even as they both shook.
They’d killed the rogue, they had found each other, but in the end, everything might’ve happened too late.
Liam woke up to the sound of pounding in his head as if someone were building a house on either side of his and wouldn’t let up.
His chest ached as if someone had stabbed him, and then he remembered, well…that actually kind of happened.
He tried to move and groaned, sharp pain slicing up his body, and burrowing down deep into his chest.
He could feel his heart beating, hear it with the pulse racing in his ears because he had moved. However, he still reached out, even through the pain, to make sure that his chest was still intact. He was covered in bandages, yet underneath them, he felt his heartbeat. Thank God.
“You’re whole,” Dante said from the side of the bed. Liam turned his head to look over at the dragon. Dante had his leg crossed over his knee, and a large leather-covered book in his hand. He pulled off his reading glasses and set them on the table near him, along with the book. Liam frowned.
“I didn’t know a dragon would need reading glasses.”
Dante grinned.
“I don’t. However, Jace said I looked hot wearing them, so now I can’t help it. It’s habit.”
“Well, if it’s for your mates, I can see it. Yet I don’t see your mates in this room.”
“Like I said. Habit. You’re going to be fine.”
Liam raised a brow. “Good. Though, hell, I can’t believe I fell as hard as I did.”
Dante shook his head. “I’m surprised neither of you was more seriously injured. Your Alpha was here. He’ll be back later. They came to pick up the body.”
“I slept through Hunter being here?”
Dante nodded. “Yes, you’ve been out for about twelve hours or so. Needed some time to heal. Charlie, your rogue, was quite possibly the strongest rogue Hunter has ever come across. At least, according to your Alpha.”
“How the hell did that happen?”
“Hunter has a theory, mostly having to do with magic none of us want to cross.”
“Charlie was working with someone else, then?”
“Maybe. We always knew there was an underground connection of rogues out there. And it seems it’s not just shifters. Perhaps there are other paranormals, as well.”
“Well, hell.”
“Indeed. You will be fine. As will your mate.”
Liam patted his chest. “I didn’t ask, because I can feel Alec in my soul.”
“I figured. He is, however, with your kit. Her name is Mili, by the way.”
Liam raised his brows. “She’s speaking?”
“Somewhat. She said her name before saying your names all at once, wanting you guys. She’ll likely cry endlessly unless she has the two of you. There’s some bond there.”
Liam coughed, then winced at the pain in his chest.
“I don’t know how that happened. It’s not like we’ve been in her vicinity for that long. You, Nadie, and Jace have been with her longer.”
“You can’t decide who will be the other part of your soul. You should know that by now.”
“I do.” Liam snarled softly. “Did you find anything out about her family?” Liam asked, trying to sit up.
Dante let out a put-upon sigh, even though Liam knew it was fake, and then went to help Liam.
Even through the pain, Liam just breathed and found himself sitting up, the dragon fluffing his pillows behind him. He would have to tell Alec and Hunter about that later.
“Jace found the rest of her demise. They were wiped out by another one. Charlie must’ve come across it and found the only living member. She was hiding under a pile of blankets.”
“Mili,” Liam cursed. “Another demise did it? Foxes did that to each other?”
“Apparently, Mili’s demise was encroaching on the other group’s land. It’s not unheard of, and there are Pack wars and dragon wars that prove that. It’s not just them.”
“Goddess.”
“Exactly. We’ve been reaching out to who we can. However, no other fox wants her, not when her demise was the one that encroached. She has shame associated with her name, according to them anyway.”
“That’s bullshit. She’s a baby.”
“I agree.”
Liam knew what he needed to say, even though he hadn’t even talked to Alec about it. “She’s ours now. We’ll take her.”
“I had hoped that would be the case.” Dante grinned, though it looked more like a dragon’s snarl than anything. Dante was one scary bastard.
“That is if that’s what Mili wants. And Alec.”
“I have a feeling that’s exactly what’s going to happen. However, I’m going to speak for all of us when I say that Nadie, Jace, and I will be honorary aunt and uncles. Do you hear me?” A little tendril of smoke wafted from Dante’s nostril, and Liam nodded. “I would have said yes, even without the threat of burning alive. Thanks for that image.”
Dante shook his head. “I don’t burn anyone alive. Not after what we saw.”
“Jace’s brother?” I asked, trying to remember the battle. It had almost been the end of the world as everyone knew it. Humans could have died in mass extinction if they hadn’t fought against Dante’s mother and the rest of those standing against the Conclave. Jace’s brother, Torrent, had died. Burned to a crisp in front of them. An echoing scream from Jace and his family still filled Liam’s mind sometimes.
“I’m sorry for bringing it up again.”
Dante shook his head. “I don’t know why it came to my mind just now either. We’re healing. Jace doesn’t talk about him every day like he used to. I’ll always regret that we lost Torrent in our fight.”
“We’ve lost a lot over the past few years.”
“I’ve been alive for millennia. I know loss. I don’t want to have it again.” Dante sat up then, stretching hi
s back as he did so. “I’m glad you have your mate. The mating bond shines brightly between the two of you. And soon, you’ll have your child. Mili is special, that one.”
And with that cryptic statement, Dante stomped out of the room, smoke trailing behind him. Liam didn’t think Dante could help it sometimes. He liked being mysterious, and the smoke helped.
Liam was just about to swing his legs over the side of the bed when a sharp voice permeated the air. “Don’t you dare think about getting out of that bed.”
He looked up as Alec strode in, a little girl with light brown skin, dark brown hair, and honey brown eyes in his arms.
Liam’s heart clenched at the sight. He couldn’t help it. He loved that man so much that it hurt. And now Mili… Their daughter. If it all worked out. He still couldn’t quite believe it.
“I was just getting up to come and see you.”
“Well, now I’m here. So, don’t get up and hurt yourself.”
Liam settled back against the pillows, holding back a wince so he wouldn’t worry Mili. Her wide eyes were fixed on him, her little nose twitching like a baby fox’s.
Hell, she was so damn cute.
“Hi there,” Liam said. Feeling awkward. “I’m Liam.”
“Hi,” she whispered, her voice high-pitched.
“She doesn’t say much. I think she’s a little too young to have full-on conversations with us.”
Alec kissed the top of her head, and she nuzzled into him, her eyes closing.
“Hell,” he whispered, hoping Mili hadn’t heard. If he had ovaries, they would have burst.
He finally understood that joking statement.
“Dante told me what you said.”
Liam’s brows rose. “And?”
“It seems neither of our places is going to work. We’re going to need a bigger place for the three of us.”
Liam’s heart practically burst as Alec came to sit next to him on the bed. Liam scooted over just a bit, and then Alec was there, leaning against him, with Mili sleeping in his arms.
“I’m sorry about your brother,” Liam whispered.
“I’m sorry I almost wasn’t fast enough.”
“You don’t get to blame yourself for that. You heard what Dante said. Something’s happening.”
“I know. I just wish we would have been able to figure it out faster.”
“Me, too.”
“There’s no going back,” Liam whispered.
“I never thought there would be. I love you.”
Liam let out a little growl, his wolf reaching towards its mate and the girl who could one day be their child in truth. “I love you, too.”
They had so much more to work out, but they had time to figure it out. After all, they’d had centuries to work out who they were as a couple, as friends, and as men.
Alec was his, had always been, and Liam had almost lost him because he had been too afraid, and had ignored things for far too long.
There is no going back, he reminded himself. And as he looked at Alec and Mili, he knew he never wanted to.
Chapter 6
Alec fisted the sheets, sweat beading on his brow as he groaned, pushing back into Liam. Liam gripped Alec’s hips so hard that Alec knew there would be bruises in the end, and he didn’t care.
Another thrust, another shout, and they kept going, moving as one, Liam filling him up so completely that he knew he wasn’t going to last long.
And then Liam was reaching under him, gripping his cock, pumping hard.
He came on a shout, Liam following right after, and then he was boneless, unable to even keep himself up on all fours.
They lay there, sweat-slick and laughing because they weren’t really on the bed anymore. Somehow, they had rolled off to the side of it, sheets on the floor, pillows on the side table, barely missing knocking over the lamp.
“Well, then. That’s one way to start the morning,” Liam said, kissing Alec’s shoulder over their mating bite.
They had been back in Alec’s home for two days, and Liam was fully healed. News of their mating had already spread throughout the Pack. The den was excited, awaiting their mating ceremony later that night. First, they needed to finish another ceremony.
Later today, they would officially be given their titles, having fought in the circle the day before.
Only it wasn’t what anyone had thought.
And that just made Alec grin.
“We should go, Mili’s going to wake up any second.”
At the sound of Alec’s voice, Mili let out a sharp cry, and Liam chuckled.
“I swear, it’s like you’re attuned to her.”
“You’re the same way, Papa.”
“I don’t know if I want to be called Papa,” Liam said as they cleaned each other up.
“I think Dad and Daddy work. Or maybe Father?”
“We’ll work it out.” Alec smacked a kiss on Liam’s lips, loving the way his mate blushed.
He liked surprising Liam with small displays of affection, little tastes.
They had a long way to go to figure out how they were going to work as a couple, but in the end, they would find their path. After all, they had spent far too long hiding from it. Except that meant that they had years of learning each other’s secrets, needs, and desires.
Now, they would put them to the test.
Alec quickly pulled on some pants and went to pick up Mili from her crib. It was a borrowed one from Becca’s stash, and right now, the kit was in Alec’s office rather than her own room. But the den was already building a house for them, and he had a feeling it would be done within a week, given how quickly they were working. It was a little ridiculous how fast they were getting everything done. With a little touch of magic, anything was possible.
“Well, hello there, Mili girl,” Alec said, picking her up. He nuzzled the top of her head, and she snuggled right back.
Mili. His daughter.
He hated that she had come into their lives in such a way. And that she had been abandoned by her own kind. Sometimes, fate happened for a reason, though, even if he didn’t like the thought of that. So, he would take what he could, and give her everything that he was able. She would be cherished, loved, and his.
Thanks to Dante, and the rest of the lightning-struck, there were plans in place to never let this happen again. The lost would be found. At least, that’s what he hoped. There were so many realms, so many children without homes, hidden away and scared.
And Alec had already offered his services to help in any way he could. They were just far-fetched plans at the moment, but he trusted the dragon to get it done.
He fed Mili, changed her, and got everything ready for the day. They didn’t have a routine down—not in the slightest. That would come later. With two men who had never lived together before and a baby, as well, things were a little complicated.
Today, however, was mating day, and their mating ceremony would occur as soon as the moon rose.
He couldn’t wait.
First, though, came the big news.
“Ready to go?” Liam asked a little bit later, and Alec nodded. “I and the pumpkin are ready,” Alec said, jiggling Mili a bit so she laughed.
“Pumpkin?” Liam asked, brow raised.
“What? At least we’re not calling her Kit all the time, right?” he asked, kissing Mili on the nose.
“I kind of liked Kit,” Liam said, kissing Mili on the cheek and then Alec on the lips.
“Let’s get there.”
They headed to the circle where the rest of the den was already waiting.
Today was a big day for more than one thing, and he was more than ready. It was past time, and the den felt it.
It wasn’t only the den and the Pack there. All of the lightning-struck had shown for the occasion, and they would stay well past the mating ceremony, according to Hunter. They had been instrumental in keeping the Pack healthy and safe, as well as saving the world more than once. Dante and his mates were there, as were a
couple of angels, a demon or two, a lion, a pixie, a wizard, and a few others.
Everyone had brought their children, as well. Today was a fantastic day. Everyone was excited, laughing, and there wasn’t going to be any bloodshed.
Because Alec and Liam had already stepped foot into the circle.
They didn't need to fight, the magic of the stones had already done the work for them.
And it was nothing like they had planned or imagined.
“Quiet down,” Hunter said, their Alpha’s voice booming.
The crowd quieted at once.
“For the past few years, we have all known that we would have a Beta and a Tracker when the time came. We all knew that I would be Alpha, and I fought in this circle, bled for you both here and in hell itself to make sure that happened.” There were murmurs, memories whispered, yet no one spoke too loudly. They all knew the story.
“We all thought we would have our Beta and Tracker in the positions we’d always placed them in.” Hunter raised a brow at them, and Alec and Liam just shared a look. No need to get in trouble again, they had wasted enough time on too many things.
“We were wrong.” Murmurs, mostly because nobody knew what was about to happen next.
“We thought that Alec would be our Tracker, the one who would find those rogues, the one with the best skills for the scent. We thought he would be the one to stand apart, to keep our Pack safe from outside forces that came against us. But we were wrong.”
More murmurs.
“And we thought Liam would be our Beta, the one right under me, my second in command. The one to handle the Pack’s needs, to find the threads within our Pack and balance those ideals. But again, we were wrong.”
Now there was full-out talking, speculating.
Alec held back a smile.
“So, we don’t have our Beta and Tracker?” a woman asked, and Hunter shook his head as everyone shushed her. They wanted answers, and they were about to get them.
“We were wrong because our own biases got in the way. The goddess has spoken, and so have we. Meet our new Tracker, Liam.”
There was silence and then shouts of happiness and surprise.
Dante’s Circle Reborn: A Dante’s Circle Collection Page 6