The Alpha shrugged. “I didn’t really have anyone to watch one with, but I’m open to you bringing me up to date, if you’re willing that is.” Grant watched as Richard’s smile left his face. For a brief moment he’d seen a glimpse of what they could have if only his mate would believe in their future together.
“Look, I know that sometimes I can be a bit…demanding. But I never learned how to act any other way. Since I was a young pup, I was groomed to become the Alpha of this pack. Then there was the Great War and I had to focus on not only protecting my own pack, but to also fight against those who would hurt others simply because they weren’t the same. My father was still Alpha at that time, but as his Beta we worked together with other like minded packs to bring about the peace we now enjoy.” Grant paused as he stroked a finger down Richard’s face. “There never seemed to be time to do more than fight and then once my father stepped down and left me in charge, time has been eaten up by caring for our pack.”
“I’m sorry; it must be hard to be responsible for so many people. David told me you’re pack has almost three hundred members right?” Richard asked quietly.
Grant nodded. “Yes, and it will be growing with the addition of those who wish to seek sanctuary here from the Willow Creek Pack. But I’m not telling you this for sympathy, Richard. It’s just—”
“You don’t know how to be anything else. I get it, Alpha Grant—”
“Call me Grant, Richard. When we are alone, even when we’re not, you don’t need to call me Alpha except during official functions. I don’t want that distance between us, I need you to understand how much you mean to me and not just as my Semme’.” Grant leaned forward and brushed his lips across Richard’s.
“Ricky…” His mate mumbled against his lips. Grant sat up and smiled. “Ricky it is, but if I forget, you have permission to remind me.”
Ricky sat back and sighed. “I know you feel a pull to me because of this whole fate thing, but tell me this.” His mate leaned forward and placed a hand on his forearm. “If we met in a bar, would you have even noticed me?”
Grant smiled as he ran his hand through Ricky’s hair. “Even without fate, I would have seen you. I might not have acted as quickly because to be honest, I haven’t dated often. Something my brothers remind me of often.” Grant shrugged as he smiled.
“But if you met me in a bar and learned about my past, you can’t tell me you’d want to continue a relationship. I mean, I don’t even know if I can.” Ricky blushed. “I mean I have panic attacks, I’m not even sure I can have sex without,” his mate swallowed before he continued. “…without zoning out. Not to mention I come with a brother who has his own problems—”
Grant silenced Ricky by placing his finger on his mate’s lips.
“I can state truthfully that what happened in your past means nothing to me, except I wish I could have prevented it from happening to you. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.” Grant sighed. “I’m really not good at talking about feelings like this, but I can tell you that from the moment I realized what you’d endured at the hands of first your father and then Alpha Clifton, I saw a man who I would be proud to call my mate.”
Ricky snorted and shook his head. “But how could you?”
“How many men would have taken the punishment you did to save your brother? Roger told me how you tried to protect him while you both were being held prisoner. Sparky told me how hard it was to endure the mind control magic and still come out of it without being ‘Cray Cray’.” Grant used quote fingers as he shook his head. “Even Artemus admitted he’d never seen anyone as strong as you when faced with what Alpha Clifton had done to you.”
Ricky shrugged. “It’s not like I had a choice.”
“Actually, you did. You could have walked away from the pack and left your little brother behind. But instead you ran with him, injured and scared of what would happen to you if you were caught. You could have let me kill Artemus, yet you chose to speak up even though from what you have experienced in your former pack, you believed there would be punishment. These are not the actions of a weak man, but of a warrior.” Grant took Ricky’s hand in his own. “I can teach a man to fight, but I can’t teach a man to be honorable or to have the will to do what is right regardless of the cost to himself. That is something you contain and that is why I am honored to have you as my mate.” Grant kissed his mate’s fingers.
“So what do we do now?” Ricky whispered.
“That is up to you, Ricky. Even with the threat of death, I will not force you to choose me. But I will ask—” Grant stood and got down on one knee as he held Ricky’s hand. “Please choose to live, not just to keep your promise to your little brother, but so we can discover what fate has wisely seen in our future. Let me learn to love you and to show you the strong warrior that I see.” Grant held his breath as he watched Ricky swallow. For a moment he thought he’d lost when the human sighed and looked at the door. He wasn’t sure how much time they had left, but he would give his Semme’ as much time as he could to make his decision.
“I’ll give you some time to think about it.” Grant began to stand but was stopped when Ricky clasped his hand tighter.
“I choose you, Grant,” Ricky said softly, his eyes glowed with something other than despair for the first time since Grant had met him.
“Do you agree to be my Semme’, my mate, my partner for as long as this life will allow?” Grant had to ask. He had to be sure Ricky didn’t feel like he was being forced to mate with him.
“Yes Grant, I want—no I need, have needed you for longer than I can remember. I knew when I left that I was already falling for you. I just hope you don’t regret it.” Ricky shook his head but still smiled as a soft blush began to creep up his neck. “So ah, how do we do this?”
“Do you trust me?” Grant asked as he stood.
“Yes, I’ve always trusted you even before I understood why. You make me feel safe,” Ricky admitted as the blush now reached his cheeks.
Grant smiled. “Good, then the first thing you need to know is if anything I do makes you feel afraid or uncomfortable, you just need to tell me and I’ll stop.”
“Okay,” Ricky sounded unsure.
The Alpha was glad he’d talked a little more with Sparky about how to handle his mate. He’d try to play the role until Ricky understood that he didn’t have to be submissive with him; at least not in the way he’d been taught by the bastards of Willow Creek. While Grant knew he was a definite top and could be controlling, he’d be more than willing to give up some control if it made his mate happy. But for now, he’d have to try to make sure he didn’t hit any of Ricky’s triggers.
He opened a drawer on the nightstand and removed a bottle of lube. He saw Ricky begin to pick at the blanket again. “Look at me, Ricky,” Grant ordered softly. He smiled as his mate did as he was told. “Good, now we’ll set the rules. First, if you want me to stop, then you will use the word ‘red’ and if you want me to slow down you will use the word ‘yellow’.” He could see the confusion in Ricky’s eyes. “I realize that you have not had any choices when you were with the Willow Creek pack, but now you will have control.”
“I have control?” Ricky asked, his eyebrow raised.
“You will always have control with me, Ricky,” Grant assured the nervous man. “I also want you to make as much noise as you want because I love hearing how much I’m pleasuring you. Finally, you have permission to come; in fact I plan to have you come many times before we are through. Do you understand Ricky?”
It was clear the human was still nervous but he looked up and nodded. “Yes, I understand. Can I ask one thing?”
“Anything,” Grant answered.
“Can you take me face to face?” Ricky twisted his hands in his lap. “I mean, you can take me from behind if you want, but—well, they all took me that way and I’m not sure…”
Grant cupped Ricky’s face. “They were fools, my mate. Of course I want to see your pleasure as I take you. Are
you ready?”
Ricky pulled the blanket aside and blushed as the tent in his pajama bottoms answered the question for him. “Hmmm, it seems that someone wants to come out to play. Why don’t we get you a bit more comfortable?”
Ricky couldn’t believe he was about to be mated to the Alpha. Even as he felt his pajama bottoms being removed, it felt more like one of the dreams he’d had than reality. He glanced up and watched as Grant slowly removed his shirt. Ricky couldn’t wait to trace the toned abs with his tongue. The Alpha kicked off his boots and quickly removed his jeans. The shifter went commando, yum!
He couldn’t resist looking at the large uncut cock that stood out proudly from the dark curls. For a moment his ass clenched at the thought that it would soon be filling him. He’d been taken by men with cocks as large as Grant’s. He just hoped this time it wouldn’t be as painful. He continued to look at the shifter and all Ricky could see was miles and miles of golden skin that begged for his touch. He could feel his own cock swelling as he continued to drink in the sight of the naked man before him.
“Like what you see?” Grant asked as he knelt on the bed.
Ricky nodded, unable to speak as he watched Grant open the bottle of lube and begin to put some on his fingers. His hole clenched in anticipation. He’d never felt this way before, not even with his former boyfriend Robert. It was as if his body recognized what it wanted even though his mind still swirled with doubts. Could it be as simple as letting go?
“You’re thinking too much which means I must not be doing something right.” Grant’s whisky smooth voice made him focus on what the shifter was doing. Grant had moved onto the bed and was kneeling between Ricky’s legs. Before he could respond, he felt a warm, wet tongue lick at his slit. “Mmmm, you taste so good.” Grant paused and looked up at Ricky. “Remember, if you want me to stop—”
“I say red.” Ricky panted.
Grant smiled softly as he leaned forward and gently kissed the top of Ricky’s cock. Before he could respond, the Alpha swallowed him down to the root and began sucking. Ricky reached down to the dark head bobbing between his legs. The dark hair beneath his fingers felt soft as silk. He couldn’t help the groan that escaped from his lips as the shifter’s finger gently traced his puckered hole before pushing past the guardian muscle. He’d always had to prepare himself while at Willow Creek. The young human marveled at the strange, yet wonderful sensation of having the Alpha’s finger inside him.
“Oh—oh!” Ricky’s body arched up as Grant found the special spot within. He glanced down and saw the smile on the Alpha’s lips as he continued to suck Ricky’s cock. The dueling sensations were too much. “I’m going to—please—can I—Oh God! Yellow! Yellow!” The human could barely get the words past his lips, but Grant understood as he briefly pulled his lips from around Ricky’s cock. A sexy smile graced the shifter’s face as he responded to the unasked request.
“Do you want me to stop, my mate?” The Alpha asked as the finger that pistoned in and out of Ricky’s chute slowed.
Ricky didn’t know what to do, he didn’t want it to stop but he also couldn’t help the small fear that niggled at the back of his mind. Coming was bad in his experience and never something he’d desired, until now. But this was his mate not Beta Biff. As Ricky squirmed on the bed he heard his mate chuckle.
“Come for me, my Semme’—my mate,” Grant ordered before he once again placed his lips around Ricky’s throbbing member.
Dark eyes captured Ricky’s and held him captive as a second finger was added to the first and both were now hitting Ricky’s prostate with each pass. There was no time for him to think but only to react as his body finally couldn’t take any more.
“Gah! Grant!” Ricky shouted as his cock began to spurt into the Alpha’s mouth. He could feel his muscles clench around the fingers in his ass as his orgasm stole the breath from his lungs. Grant continued to suck until there was nothing left. As Ricky’s spit soaked cock fell from the Alpha’s lips, he could see the need in his partner’s eyes.
Before he could catch his breath, Grant chuckled. “That was just the beginning my mate, are you ready for more?”
Ricky sighed as he rested back on the bed, his heart hammered in his chest but his body felt more relaxed than it had in a long time. His toes still tingled from the force of his orgasm. He glanced up at the man who was slowly breaking through his defenses. Without thinking he provided the only answer he could give. “Yes, Master.”
Grant sucked in a quick breath but quickly covered his concern at his mate’s response. He leaned forward and kissed the man beneath him, sharing his taste while he devoured the human. His body burned and his wolf howled as he deepened the kiss until he was finally forced to stop to allow them to breathe. If he wasn’t careful, he’d be rougher than he wanted to be with his mate when the time came. He sat back and noticed the kiss swollen lips in front of him as they quirked up into a soft smile.
The Alpha noticed that his mate seemed to be exhausted as his eyes slowly blinked up at him. He wanted to take more time to show Ricky how sex should be between two people who cared about each other, but from the way the man beneath him was fading it didn’t appear that he’d have the time.
Grant sighed. “I know you’re tired, my mate, but you need to stay with me for just a little longer.”
“Mm—kay,” Ricky said softly but his eyes still remained at half-mast.
“I’m going to take you now, Ricky. I’ll try to take it slow, but my wolf is riding me—just—just make sure you tell me if it becomes too much. I don’t want to hurt you,” Grant spoke softly as he inserted a third finger to prepare his mate for his cock. His mate groaned softly but didn’t seem to be in any pain.
“Please—I need—please…” Ricky whispered as his hips bucked up from the bed. The human’s cock was already hard and leaking again.
“Shh—I know what you need, my mate. I’m going to claim you now,” Grant whispered as he pushed Ricky’s legs up towards the human’s chest. He slowly pressed his cock against his mate’s entrance and could feel the slight resistance but it soon gave way. He couldn’t believe how good it felt around his throbbing member. Ricky’s muscles stroked him like a velvet glove.
Grant looked up to make sure his mate wasn’t suffering. “God, Grant—stop playing around and fuck me already!” Ricky called out as he tried to push himself further onto Grant’s cock.
The Alpha smiled as he saw a glimpse of how demanding his lover could be before he pushed fully into his mate. He waited again for just a brief moment to let his mate get used to him before he began to thrust slowly in and out of his mate’s chute. He could feel the sweat cooling on his body as he continued to increase the speed of his thrusts. He was too close to the edge to last long.
Ricky’s body was bent in half as Grant continued to pound into him. His mate’s cock was weeping while his lover met each of his thrusts with the soft sounds of pleasure and need. The Alpha’s balls had pulled up tight as his wolf roared with its own demands. It was time for him to claim his mate.
“Come for me my mate!” Grant growled as he slammed deep within his mate’s channel.
He smiled as Ricky’s body shuddered and a loud howl filled the room as come spurted between their bodies. Before the last spurt had left his mate’s cock, Grant let his canines elongate. He leaned forward and nipped Ricky’s shoulder softly. He glanced into his Semme’s eyes; this was the last chance for him to stop the bonding process. Once he bit and tasted his mate’s blood, the bond would be complete.
“Do it,” Ricky said softly.
If it weren’t for Grant’s enhanced hearing, he probably wouldn’t have heard it. He could feel his cock throb as he pushed deep within his mate’s body, holding himself there until his cock exploded. As he began to fill his mate with his sperm, he bit down and tasted his Semme’s sweet nectar. The blood flowed over his teeth and into him while he continued to empty his balls into his lover. As he pulled his teeth from his mate’s shoulder, he
quickly licked the wound to stop the bleeding.
Grant let his head fall onto Ricky’s shoulder while he kept the rest of his weight off of his ailing lover. He breathed in the scent that was his mate’s. He could feel the bond snap into place. For the first time in his life, Grant knew peace. Nothing else mattered to him except for the slight human who lay quietly beneath him. The Alpha lifted his head to look at his mate and quickly rolled to the side. Ricky wasn’t moving, in fact, he appeared to be not breathing.
“NO!” Grant howled.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE DOOR TO THE BEDROOM BURST OPEN AS DOC HOUSTON, Artemus and Sparky rushed into the room. Grant jumped from the bed and glared at them, his claws extended as he faced them in his partially shifted form. He let his head fall back and let out another mournful howl as tears leaked from his eyes. His mate was dead, the bastard Clifton had killed him and nothing short of the former Alpha’s death would appease the wolf inside him. He could feel himself losing control as the doctor rushed towards the bed, followed closely by Artemus.
“Get away from him!” Grant growled, his voice barely human.
A hand on his arm caused him to look down at the tear filled eyes of Sandy. He glanced up and saw Dakota run into the room.
“I’m sorry, I tried to stop him—” The sheriff stopped as he saw the still form on the bed. For the first time the shifter appeared to be at a loss as to what to do. Sparky made a grab for Sandy, but the young pup ducked and ran towards the bed. They all watched as he threw himself on top of his brother and began to sob as if his world had ended. Before Grant could move towards the distraught Omega, Artemus walked towards the bed and placed his hand over Ricky’s still form. The Magi closed his eyes and softly mumbled words in an unknown tongue. For a moment there was complete silence except for the quiet sobbing of the young wolf. Then chaos erupted.
“Sparky, get Sandy away from the bed.” The Magi glanced up at Grant. “You need to transform back to your human form now if you want to save your mate!”
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