by Sean Michael
Barker shook his head. “No. I would have already.” He got a weak grin. “Just bad enough to make me miserable.”
“I’ll find food, money. I’ll take care of you.”
“I should be taking care of you.”
“You can tomorrow.” Silly mate.
“‘Kay.” Barker closed his eyes and leaned his head against the lip of the tub.
Cody let Barker soak while he found more meds, a drink of water, some clothes.
“I’m getting cold.” God, Barker could whine when he was hurt.
Cody turned the hot water on, let some of the cold water out.
“Good to me.”
“Love you.”
Cody dressed in his work jeans and a flannel shirt. “I’m going to find food, see if I can’t find a place that’ll give me a few hours’ work.”
Barker frowned. “You’re leaving?”
“Don’t we need some cash?” He lived hand to mouth, at best.
“You said you brought the safe as well as my stash from the underwear drawer, right? We’ve got money.”
“Yeah? I can find work for you.” Cody’s shoulders relaxed, though, the tension easing.
“Let’s wait until we start running low. Besides, I don’t want you to go.”
“Okay.” He went to switch the water out again, suddenly exhausted.
Barker shook his head. “No, I just want out. I want to lie down and go to sleep and not be moving for a bit.”
“Okay. Let me help you up.” He got Barker upright, got them both moving to the bed.
Barker leaned on him, head on his shoulder. “I’ll be back to normal tomorrow,” growled Barker.
Cody licked Barker’s jaw, his chin, his wolf trying to come again.
Barker pushed their lips together, the kiss lazy, more a press of skin. “My mate.”
“Yes. I’ll guard you.” He swore it. No one would attack his mate.
“Trust you.” One of Barker’s eyes opened. “Only you.”
“Good.” He kissed the closed eyelid.
Barker kissed his fingers. “Yes, Boss.” Cody waited until Barker was sound asleep before he changed, let himself relax, watch.
Stand guard.
Chapter Fifteen
Barker’s sleep was troubled by dreams, nightmares. The Clan chasing them, the Elders tearing Cody open to see how he worked. He ran and he fought, his leg dragging behind him, hindering him. He woke up, barking, the sound strange in his human throat.
Cody was on all four legs, snarling, bouncing from window to door, checking for threats. He looked around wild-eyed, going into a crouch and ignoring the pain.
Mate! What is it? His heart was pounding, pounding.
Are you okay? You were screaming! Did they come? Cody’s exhaustion poured from his mate, his lover clearly tired to the point of near insanity.
Dreaming. I was dreaming. He thought. He was pretty sure.
Cody blinked for him then the soft nose brushed his leg, tongue cleaning it. Again.
He let his hands drop to Cody’s head, fingers digging through the fur. “Mate.” God, his voice was rough, rusty.
Cody cleaned him then eased him back onto the bed, sniffing him, scenting him.
“I’m good.” Better, anyway. His fever was gone and the pain was…well, he needed some fucking painkillers, but he was gonna live.
Cody whimpered for him, nuzzled him.
“I don’t suppose this place does room service?” He needed food. Of course, the town was big enough there might be a pizza joint.
Cody chuffed softly, laughing at him.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Cody had to be as hungry as he was, maybe even more so.
Hungry.
“You’re going to have to change. Wolves don’t eat pizza.”
Cody chuffed again, headed to him, muzzle on the bed.
“Come on. Let me feel skin instead of fur.”
Cody’s face started to change, to stretch.
“Mmm. Come on. Skin on skin. So good.” His lover tried so hard for him.
Slowly, painfully, Cody changed for him, eyes staring at him over huge dark circles. He knew how tired Cody was, how much his mate wanted to just lie down and sleep, but instead, Cody had changed for him. For him. He leaned in and pressed their foreheads together.
“Mate.” Cody kissed him.
“Mmm…” He let his pleasure at being with his mate purr from him.
When their lips parted, he tugged Cody up onto the bed beside him. “Pepperoni, bacon, and hamburger?”
“Mmm hmm.” Cody pressed close. “You feel better.”
“I guess. I just know the fucking ache in my leg has turned into a huge hole in my gut.”
“There are some protein bars to tide you over ‘til the pizza shows.” Assuming they ordered it.
“Oh, yum.” He gave Cody a grin and nodded at the little table holding the lamp and phone. “There should be a local phone book in there.”
Cody rolled over, letting him see the long, lean back. He reached out, unable to resist, fingers sliding along Cody’s spine. Cody’s muscles jerked and trembled, responding to him.
He kept touching as Cody opened the drawer and grabbed out the phone book. “You call—I sound like something died in my throat.”
“Hey, I killed the squirrel before you ate it.”
That had him laughing, and it felt good to do it, to release some of the tension the dreams had left in him.
Cody called, ordered them two large pizzas and a two-liter of Coke, both of them periodically cracking up.
Barker lay back on the bed with a sigh, feeling more tired than he liked to admit. “How long did you pay for?” They needed another day of sleep, both of them.
“Three days. I thought you needed sleep.”
“Good. I don’t think we should stay that long, but we can sleep until tonight.” He was past the change; he could drive.
“We’ll see. I can’t drive yet, man, I’m seeing things.”
“I’ll be well enough by this evening to take it on.” Hurt or not, they had to keep going. He knew what the Clan would do if they ever caught up with Cody. He wasn’t going to let that happen.
“Maybe.” Stubborn mate.
Barker snorted. “Go get some clothes on. You don’t want to answer the door naked, trust me. We’re trying to fly below the radar, not make some poor pizza boy call the local cops.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Cody looked exhausted, droopy, but the man dressed quickly.
“Sorry.” Barker hated having to lean on Cody as hard as he was—he was supposed to be taking care of his mate, looking out for Cody, not getting injured and making Cody do all the taking care of.
“Shh. You’ll eat and rest.”
“And so will you—you look like you went ten rounds with Sugar Fists McLean.”
Cody nodded, dismissing him. He stuck his tongue out at his mate. Cody chuffed softly, rolled his eyes. Grinning, Barker opened his arms, wanting his mate close.
“I have to wait for the pizza.” Still, Cody pushed into his arms, careful of his leg.
“You don’t have to wait for it by the door.” He nuzzled his mate, rubbed their cheeks together.
“You smell good.” Cody moaned for him, eyelids heavy for a second before they popped open.
“Yeah? Not like sickness?”
“No. No infection.”
“Good.” He nibbled at Cody’s lips, at his cheeks.
“Mmm.” He felt his mate leaning close then jerking, like he was trying to stay awake.
Which was good, Barker needed Cody to stay awake until he’d eaten. Waking up hungry was a lousy way to start the day. He kept touching lightly, nipping sharply now and then, keeping his mate from falling asleep.
“Not sleeping. Watching.” Cody panted softly, eyes glowing.
“So strong.” Barker let his pride and admiration show.
“Love you. Will protect you.”
“My job.” He growled a little.
; “Not right now.”
No, but soon. His mate was exhausted. He stroked his fingers through Cody’s hair, thumb rubbing along the side of one eye. They both jumped when the knock at the door sounded.
“Pizza.”
Cody got some money, went to the door.
Barker tensed, stood before Cody got the door open. “Check before taking off the chain,” he growled.
“I know.” Cody growled back, eyes flashing.
He didn’t care if the reminder had pissed Cody off, it was too important. “Just fucking check.”
The knock came again. Cody nodded, checked the door, shoulders taut. Barker stayed tense, ready to leap to Cody’s defense until his mate relaxed marginally. It was the pizza boy. The smell made him growl and rumble, made him toss his head. So good.
Cody traded cash for pizza boxes and drinks, and got the door locked again, and the chain in place.
“Come on, come on. I’m hungry enough to eat the damn box.”
Cody tossed the pizzas to him, double checked the locks on the doors, and sucked down a quarter of the Coke straight from the bottle.
“Don’t drink so much of that it keeps you awake. Unless you want to go ahead and get us moving after we’ve eaten.” He tore open the first box and grabbed two slices.
Cody flipped him off, nostrils flaring. He was too busy shoving pizza into his mouth, taking a bite from one slice and the other, to reply in any manner at all. Cody grabbed the other box, eating quickly, quietly.
Barker wolfed the first three slices down like he hadn’t eaten in days, and then finally slowed down enough to take a few long gulps of the Coke and wipe his mouth with the back of his hand. “Good pizza.”
Cody grunted, eyes glowing gold at him.
“Finish the pizza before you shift. Pizza and wolf stomachs are not the best match—trust me on this one.”
Cody’s answer was a nod.
Barker had eaten nearly the entire pizza before he was full, his stomach feeling like it was bulging. He drank some more Coke and then collapsed onto the bed with a sigh.
“You think there’s anywhere we’ll be safe?” They were headed north, but exactly where, Barker didn’t know. Mostly, he didn’t know who to trust.
The Clan and whoever answered to them were a distinct and definite threat. He didn’t know if he could trust Cody’s sister and whoever else was in the mountains either. He’d bet they wouldn’t want much to do with him—he was normal, worse, he was Clan. He was pretty sure they wouldn’t hurt Cody. The Northern Packs…he didn’t know how suspicious they’d be of Clan, even Cast Out Clan.
“They can’t keep coming.”
Barker nodded slowly. He wasn’t so sure about that. “I don’t think they know about the bond.” He wasn’t sure if Cody being able to change whenever he wanted would set a high enough price on his head that they’d never be able to stop running, but the bond thing—he was pretty sure if the Clan found out about that, he and Cody would never be free.
What Cody could do was something special. What they could do together was…sensational.
“Good. The less they know, the better. Wolves are territorial. They shouldn’t follow us.”
“Unless they decide we’re part of their territory.” Barker shook his head, though. “No, I think you’re right. I think if we stay away, far away, we’ll be okay.” He still wasn’t sure where they were going to go, though. He’d never lived anywhere else, his grandfather’s land was the farthest he’d ever been from home.
“Okay. You should rest.” Cody’s distress was leaking through the bond, making him tremble.
It immediately put him on the alert. “Sure. After you tell me what’s wrong.”
“Wrong? Nothing.” Liar.
“You can feed that shit to someone else. I’m your mate, Cody. Not to mention I can feel your worry in my head. What. Is. Wrong?”
“Nothing!” Cody snarled softly, teeth bared.
He pushed the pizza boxes out of the way and latched onto Cody, dragging his mate to him. “Don’t feed me that bullshit.”
Cody snapped at him, teeth clicking.
“What is wrong with you?” he growled.
“Nothing.” Cody was trembling, eyes rolling. His mate.
Mate! He cried out through their bond, pretty sure Cody wouldn’t be able to hide from him when they communicated like this.
Tired-tired-tired-tired. Sleep-sleep-sleep. Seeing things. His mate was hallucinating. Damn it. Why hadn’t Cody just told him? Stubborn asshole.
Growling, he pushed Cody so his mate was lying down. “Get some sleep.”
“Protecting you.” Cody fought him, crying out.
Barker stretched ignoring the pain in his leg, and lay mostly on top of his mate. “You’re done for today. It’s my turn. Go to sleep before you do something crazy.”
“Protecting. Keeping watch. My mate.” Cody wasn’t even seeing him.
Sleep. It’s safe now. I’ll watch. He growled softly. Change and sleep.
“I’m watching…” Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.
“I’m watching. You sleep.” Stubborn mate.
“No.”
“Don’t you make me knock you out.” Barker growled and glared down at Cody.
Cody growled back, almost wolfy again.
“Go on, change. Sleep. I need you with it when we start moving again.”
Cody’s head rolled, poor eyes staring at him. He kissed his mate, tongue pushing in, demanding Cody’s surrender. The kiss was toothy, sloppy, and Cody fought him, but only for a moment. He found Cody’s cock with one hand, jacking it, determined to do what it took to send his mate to sleep.
Mate? Cody sounded surprised.
Yes. Mate. Making you come. Making Cody sleep.
Have to watch…
Barker felt Cody’s need like an ache.
No. Your mate will watch. He tugged harder, thumb rubbing across the head of Cody’s cock.
Mate. Mate. Cody’s need hit him.
He groaned as his own cock firmed, responding to Cody’s desire. Cody hummed, growled, head tossing. Barker went back to kissing, to jacking, pushing at Cody to come. He could hear Cody, hear the desperate, shattered little thoughts.
He bit at Cody’s bottom lip, tugging on it. Gimme.
Mate. Love. Need. Yes!
Heat sprayed over his hands. He growled happily into the kiss and then slid down Cody’s body, licking the cum from his mate’s belly. Cody moaned, boneless, quiet.
Barker kissed Cody’s face. Sleep, mate.
Love. Safe.
“Yes. Safe. Sleep.”
Those eyes held his for a second, and then he was holding a wolf. A deeply asleep, limp wolf.
Sighing in relief, Barker laid his own head down on the pillow and held on as he drifted off, one ear still tuned to the noises around them.
* * * * *
Chasing him. They were chasing him.
“Brother.” He looked over at the woman, his sister.
“What? Can’t you leave me alone?”
“I’m trying to help you, you ingrate!”
“Ingrate? Where the hell have you been?”
She snapped at him. “Banished. Just like you!”
Mate? Wake up, you’re dreaming.
His sister gasped. “Who is that?”
“My mate. You can hear him?”
“I’m in your head, in your dream, Brother, of course I can hear him!” Her eyes narrowed. “How come you can?”
“What?” He scrambled away, back. Fuck. Wake up. Wake up.
“Cody. Come on. Wake up.” Barker shook him.
His eyes popped open. “She knows.”
“Cody? Who knows what?” Barker stared down at him, growling, bristling.
“My sister. She heard you in my dream.”
“In your dream.” Barker blinked and then relaxed down beside him. “You were dreaming. Having a nightmare, really.”
He nodded, heart racing. “She knows about us. Our bond.”
; “But it was just a nightmare.”
“I…” He shook his head. No. No, it was her.
“You think it was real?”
“I…I don’t know. It was weird.” He was so tired of nothing being normal.
Barker growled. “I hate not knowing what the hell is going on. Is there anyone we can trust? Anyone we can talk to?”
“I don’t know. You’re the only one I trust. You’re the one with friends, Barker. Family.”
“Family who advised me to stay away while you were being run off, who advised me to forget you. And yes, friends—who came to warn me the Clan was going to grab you and tear you to pieces trying to figure out how you work. I wish my grandfather was still alive.”
“I do, too.” He wished things weren’t…broken. Maybe he was cursed.
Barker pulled him close. “We’ll get through it.”
“You think so? I didn’t mean to bring this on you.”
“You’ve had it hard way longer than I have. This isn’t your fault.”
“How can it not be?”
Barker shrugged, frowned. “Because…because I came after you.”
“What?” That didn’t make sense.
“I followed you, made you come up to the cabin with me. So it’s not your fault, ‘cause I did it.”
“You don’t regret it?”
“Are you kidding? I got to see you change. I have a mate who’s with me now. A gorgeous wolf who can be a wolf any time! Shit, babe, you’re something special.” Barker gave him a hard kiss. “Besides, my life was fucking boring.”
Warmth filled him up, pushing the sick, sad loss aside.
Pushing him onto the bed, Barker kept kissing him. My mate. Mine. Love you. Won’t give you up. Won’t.
Your leg? The kisses made him dizzy, made him hard.
Better enough to ignore.
Need. He needed.
I know. Me, too. Barker kept kissing, one hand sliding on his skin.
His cock filled, his body tight, and he felt so wanton.
“I can feel your desire through the bond.” Barker met his eyes, and it felt like his mate was looking into him.
“Do you like it?”
“Mmm hmm.” Barker kissed him again, tongue twisting with his. He felt Barker’s love through the bond as well, hungry and all for him.