by Lynn Hagen
The first day Cecil visited the place, he noticed the crafts were of slim selection. Relating this to Maverick, his mate took it upon himself to contact the local craft store and bought a wide selection in bulk, anonymously donating the purchase to the recreation center. Cecil kept a list of depleted items to be replenished on an as needed bases.
Today he saw Johnny waiting in his usual spot, his blond hair in disarray as he rocked from foot to foot, searching every car that passed for Cecil. He was a stunning young man. Johnny’s eyes were a stormy blue-gray, growing darker when Johnny was unhappy. Cecil had never seen eyes that color before. Cecil didn’t like the malnourished look the guy had. His bones protruded at his wrist. Cecil wondered if the rest of his body was that emaciated, but Johnny always wore long sleeved turtle necks that hung loosely from his frame.
“Cecil!” Johnny spotted him coming from the parking lot. A wide grin spread across Cecil’s face as he approached his friend. The honey blond curls bounced as Johnny jumped up and down.
“I got something for you. You can’t donate this, okay? It’s just for you.” Cecil held up a black velvet pouch, dangling it in front of his friend’s eyes. Johnny grabbed for it, but Cecil made him wait until they were seated at their table. He pushed back all the construction paper as he emptied the bag to reveal his gift.
“It’s pretty pink glass letters.”
Cecil organized the letters until the young man’s name appeared.
“Hey! That’s my name. Johnny.” He pointed to each letter, pronouncing them.
“We can make the necklace, and you can wear it around your neck. I even brought you a special chain to put them on.” Cecil pulled the thin, twenty-four carat chain from the bag. He handed it over and watched as Johnny concentrated on his task. Once he was done, Cecil attached it with the tiny clasp. It lay perfectly at his neck. He took Johnny to the men’s room to show him.
“It’s pretty.” Johnny ran his fingers along the letters, spelling each one again. A wide grin appeared as he swung around to grab Cecil in a big hug. Cecil’s eyes misted as he patted his friend on the back.
“I’ll wear it forever,” Johnny said.
Maverick picked up another rubber band from his desk, loaded it onto his finger then shot it across the room. It smacked against the wall then fell into the waste paper basket.
He was so damn bored. Cecil was down at the recreation center, volunteering his time. That left Maverick counting how many paperclips he had in his drawer. Twenty-five.
Maverick reloaded his finger as Hawk walked into his office, his rubber assault smacking into the Commander’s chest.
Hawk quirked a brow.
“You come to me on the day my mate is at the rec center asking a favor?” Maverick did his best impression of the Godfather.
“Are you okay, Maverick?”
Maverick tossed his outstretched arms onto his desk as his head fell between them. “Nope.” His lips popped on the letter P. “I want my mate. I’m bored.”
“Why don’t you volunteer with him?”
Maverick lifted his head to stare at Hawk as if he were daft. “Uh, maybe because my size would give those human kids nightmares.”
Maverick sighed as he thought of the strip-tease Cecil had performed for him. His mate may not have been a professional, but Maverick wouldn’t trade that night for all the money in the world. His clumsy moves and teasing eyes had set Maverick’s blood on fire.
“Then I suggest you find a hobby.”
Maverick soured his face up, mimicking Hawk silently. He knew he was acting childish, but since he mated Cecil, life had been exciting, almost as if the little man had breathed life into stale lungs. Now, when his mate wasn’t around, Maverick was lost.
Tossing his pile of rubber missiles back into his desk drawer, Maverick stretched as he stood. Alpha Jackson of the Eastern pack had been dormant lately. Not even his peanut gallery he called a pack was stirring up trouble, so there was nothing to do.
Nothing at all.
As Maverick walked from his office, he was attacked by rubber missiles to his back. He smiled, knowing Hawk finally had a sense of humor. The man was more serious than an undertaker. As solemn as one, too.
Maybe he would take a ride on his motorcycle. The air was chilly but not so much that he couldn’t enjoy it with his thick leather on. Besides, shifters’ body heat ran a little higher than humans, so his skin could take it.
Grabbing his leather and helmet from his bedroom, Maverick headed outside.
Chapter Eight
Maverick smiled as Cecil opened wide for another bite. Fuck, if his mate wasn’t sexy with those amethyst eyes of his. Plucking another grape from the bowl, Maverick slid it across his mate’s bottom lip.
“Open wide, baby.”
Cecil complied, flicking his tongue across the thin skin of the fruit. Maverick moaned. Unable to resist, he pulled the fruit away and replaced it with his tongue.
Maverick pushed the bowl aside as he rolled to hover over his mate. They were lying in their bed, enjoying a lazy Sunday morning.
His cock twitched when his mate sucked his tongue in, giggling as he gave him sloppy kisses. Cecil wasn’t the same man he met a month ago. His mate no longer flinched when one of the warriors yelled or Maverick became upset. This was a good sign.
Maverick pulled one of the pillows from above Cecil’s head, tucking it under his mate’s ass.
Cecil laughed. That was a sound Maverick would never tire of hearing. “What are you doing?”
Maverick licked his lips as he stared at the sight splayed out before him. A slim, firm body with nestles of mahogany curls surrounding an erect and glorious cock. He smiled evilly at his small mate, lowering himself until he was eye level, saying hello to the gorgeous pulsing shaft.
He fisted the cock, bringing it to his lips as he opened wide. The member was warm, the pre-come salty. Maverick hummed as he took his mate’s cock until his nose was touching those wiry curls.
Cecil writhed below him, gasping and grunting, pulling at Maverick’s hair. Maverick hollowed his cheeks, pulling Cecil’s shaft from his mouth in one long, tightly suctioned move.
“Oh.” Cecil breathed, pushing his cock back toward Maverick’s mouth, pulling at his long, black strands. Maverick twirled his tongue around the crown then pushed the cock back down his throat.
“Stop torturing me!” Cecil cried to the ceiling as he bucked and squirmed. Maverick chuckled around his mate’s cock. He slid his hands under his mate’s ass, using his mate’s own body to push and pull Cecil’s shaft in and out of his mouth.
“Maverick.” Cecil cried out as he stiffened, he butt cheeks clenching in Maverick’s hands while hot come shot down Maverick’s throat.
Maverick came into the bedroom after a long meeting with the Sentries, spotting his mate lying on the cool tiled floor, his eyes closed and his skin pale.
He yelled for Kota to call the wolf’s physician. Picking his mate up, Maverick took him to the bed, covering his mate then running to the bathroom for a cold cloth. Cecil’s weak pulse worried Maverick more than anything. He laid the cloth across Cecil’s forehead, stroking his face with his fingertips.
Twenty minutes later the portly doctor entered the room. He examined Cecil, taking blood samples and examining his entire body. He clucked his tongue a few times, shaking his head and mumbling to himself. He finally tucked the covers back around the frail looking Cecil, going to the bathroom to wash his hands.
The doctor emerged, his eyebrows furrowed “I have been a doctor for six hundred years, and believe me when I tell you your mate has been poisoned. It’s a mild one, meant only to make him sick. It will run its course in a day and flush itself out. His vomiting took care of most of that. I recommend plenty of fluids and electrolytes for the vomiting. No solid food till his stomach recovers.”
Maverick’s head snapped back as if someone had slapped him. Poisoned? Who would poison his mate? How? How had someone gotten in here to do it? Maverick’s h
ead fell back as he howled and barked out his pain and anger. Hawk and Kota ran into the room, their eyes darting around at Maverick’s outburst.
“How? Do you know how he was poisoned?” Maverick’s hand was flat against the wall, holding his weight as he felt his knees buckle. This wasn’t happening. Fuck! How had someone gotten into his home? He went to the side of the bed, staring down at the sleeping man. Cecil was lying on his side, his hands tucked under his cheek. He looked so peaceful, but pasty.
“If I had to guess, I would say powder. It must have been sprinkled on something he ate. It would have taken awhile for it to have its desired effect.” The doctor gathered his things, placing a hand on Maverick’s arm. “He’ll be fine, plenty of rest and get those liquids in him so he doesn’t dehydrate.”
With that, the doctor left Maverick with his ailing mate. Maverick crawled on the bed, twisting to lie on his side, running his fingers through the patch of hair over his mate’s face. He traced the outline of his nose and lips, his chin and neck.
“Did you say poison?” Hawk asked in an astonished voice.
“Yes, poisoned. I want the kitchen checked. The whole damn house. I want everyone questioned. Find him, Hawk.” Maverick hissed.
Hawk inclined his head, turned on his heel and walked out.
“Anything you need?” Kota was leaning against the wall, his ankles crossed, hands in his pockets. Maverick had never known his beta to lose his cool. Ever.
“No, Kota. Thanks.” Maverick turned back to his mate when the door was closed. His chest tightened with the thought that someone wanted to hurt Cecil.
He laid his hand on Cecil’s hip, rubbing his thumb back and forth, more of a comfort for him than for his mate. Cecil whimpered and drew his knees up. Maverick was going to kill the one responsible.
He was running in the woods. He had to escape. The wolf was gaining, its teeth bared. He heard snapping behind him as he jumped over a fallen tree. His heart racing, his head hurting from the pounding of adrenaline. The wolf was closer now. He could feel it. He knew if the wolf caught him, he wouldn’t survive. He quickened his pace, all out running. The wolf howled as he leapt in the air, saliva dripping, and claws reaching him…
Cecil sat up screaming. His hands danced behind him as he tried to feel for claw marks on his back. Arms grabbed his, pulling him down. Cecil’s head jerked around as he slapped the hands away.
Maverick.
Cecil pushed his palms into his temples. His head felt like it was beating to an off rhythm tune. His eyes squinted from the light of the lamp sitting next to the bed. His mouth felt like fur was growing on his tongue. Did he have the flu?
“Easy, baby. Lay back down. Rest.”
“Gotta pee.” Cecil tried to move, but his head swam while the room tilted.
Cecil felt Maverick pull him up into his arms, walking him across the room. When they reached the bathroom, his mate set him on his feet, holding onto him.
Cecil stood on weak legs, his hands shaking as he tried to hold himself. When his stream went everywhere but its intended target, Cecil burst into tears. “Make it go away. I don’t want the flu anymore.”
Cecil lurched forward, vomiting all over the back of the toilet and the side of the sink. He would have collapsed to the floor if Maverick hadn’t caught him.
His mate wet a clean towel, wiping Cecil’s mouth. Maverick pulled Cecil back in his arms. He closed the bathroom door to contain the foul odor. His mate grabbed the blanket from the bed and sat in the cushioned chair in the corner of the room. He wrapped Cecil to his neck and cocooned him in his arms.
“Hello?”
“Hi. This is Thomas down at the recreation center. Is Cecil available?”
“Not at the moment. Can I help you?” Hawk wondered why the recreation center would be calling Cecil. He was a volunteer. Missing Friday wasn’t like missing work.
“Um, well, I needed to talk to him about Johnny.” The guy hesitated. Hawk didn’t like the guy’s tone. With everything going on, secretiveness wasn’t going to cut it. And who the fuck was Johnny? “Explain.”
“Well, if you could let him know that when he didn’t show, Johnny became very upset. He had an anxiety attack and had to be taken to the hospital. I just wanted to see if it was possible for him to go and calm Johnny down. He and Johnny have become close, and I thought that if anyone could calm him, it would be Cecil.”
Hawk didn’t like this. Was Cecil cheating on Maverick? No, Tank had been there. Tank wouldn’t tolerate a wandering mate, would he? No.
“I’ll pass the message on.” The guy thanked him and reluctantly hung up.
Hawk knocked softly on Maverick’s bedroom door. When he heard Maverick’s gruff voice telling him to come in, Hawk stuck his head around the door.
“How is he?” Hawk felt for the little mate.
“Resting. Did you need something?” Maverick asked.
“I just got the strangest phone call for Cecil. One of the guys down at the recreation center called in regards to someone named Johnny. Said when Cecil didn’t show, this Johnny had an anxiety attack, had to go to the hospital.”
“Oh, god. I have to go.” Hawk watched as Cecil tried to sit up then turned green. “I have to help Johnny.”
“Lay down, baby. Who’s Johnny, and why did he have an attack from your absence?” His Alpha questioned the small mate.
“He’s mildly retarded. We became friends, and he relies on routine. I broke that by not showing. I have to help him.” Cecil explained.
“I can go and explain to him that you’re sick. Would that help?” Hawk had an image of a little kid crying and calling for Cecil. He felt like a heel for being cold on the phone with Thomas.
“Please. Can you give him my phone number so I can talk to him? Take Tank, he knows what Johnny looks like. Gonna—”
Hawk watched as Maverick hauled Cecil up, running to the bathroom, making it just in time for Cecil to toss his cookies.
“What do you mean he brought the guy here? Hawk was supposed to give Johnny Cecil’s phone number, not kidnap him.” Maverick demanded. What had Hawk been thinking? Obviously he wasn’t. That man’s family was going to go crazy once they realized Johnny was missing.
Maverick blew out a breath, running his hand over the top of his head. “Hawk must have had a good reason. Please let me in on it.” Maverick stood there, crossing his arms over his chest, and waiting for the warriors reply.
“Because, sir, Johnny is his mate,” Tank replied.
“Shit,” Maverick bit out, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Well, I guess I have no choice but to defend him. When he has his mate situated, tell him to come see me.” Tank bowed his head and closed the door behind him.
Maverick sat in his leather chair behind his desk. He pulled at his soul patch, deep in thought. He knew Hawk would defend Johnny to his death. Maverick wouldn’t step between the two and felt for the guy who tried. This was going to get messy.
Maverick dropped down into the chair behind his desk. He pinched the bridge of his nose as his eyes closed. What the hell was going on around here? His home had gone from stuffy and boring to chaotic. Not that he would trade it—his mate being the sole reason for his joy—but poisoning and now kidnapping?
The culprit who poisoned his mate still hadn’t been found. Maverick looked at every warrior with suspicious eyes. If you couldn’t trust your own pack, who could you trust?
Maverick head tilted back, staring at the ceiling once again. He found himself doing that a lot lately. Man, the light fixtures needed dusting. He sighed as he ran his hands through his disheveled hair.
A knocked sounded on his door.
“I’m heading into town. Anything you need?” Cody asked as he looked at Maverick with sympathetic eyes.
Maverick waved him off. “No,” he said, “bring me the responsible person. That’s what you can get me.”
“I wish I could. I’d like to skin him alive.”
Cody swatted Jasper on the ass, “Come
on, Jazz,” he said, dropping his voice to a husky whisper. “Hit the bull’s-eye, and I’ll suck you off.”
Jasper laughed, aiming, and let the dart take flight.
Bull’s-eye.
Jasper pumped his thin, defined arm into the air. Cody waggled his brows, walking Jasper backwards to one of the bedrooms. His adventure was short lived as a fist rattled the front door.
“Dammit.” Cody let Jasper’s hands go. This better be a life and death emergency.
He pulled the door open to see an angry man with his hands on his hips glaring daggers. Cody cocked his head, glaring back and wondering who the hell this asshole was.
“I was told by the hospital that my brother Johnny was here. Bring him to me.” The guy was stabbing his finger at the air in front of Cody’s face. Oh, hell no.
Cody slammed the door in his face. The guy began banging again. “I’ll get the police to give me my brother, and then I’ll charge you with kidnapping.” He yelled through the closed door.
Cody rolled his eyes, grabbing the doorknob and yanking it open again. He stabbed a finger down at a spot right inside the door. “Wait right here.” Cody slammed the door closed when the man did as he was told.
Cody paused long enough to give Jasper a quick kiss. “I’ll be right back.” He went in search of his Alpha, finding him in his bedroom holding a straw as Cecil sipped at the broth. His anger fled as he watched Cecil grimace at the taste. Cecil was his buddy. He wanted to find out as badly as everyone else who poisoned him. The culprit was dead.
Chapter Nine
Maverick looked up as Cody cleared his throat. “Sorry, Alpha, but there’s a man at the door claiming to be Johnny’s brother and demanding we relinquish him and, for the record, he’s an asshole.”