by Jools Louise
The last word was sharp as a ricochet, and the human prisoners all jumped to obey, handing over any money to the sheriff’s deputies who stood by.
“Well done, chaps. Now that’s done, you and your companions will make your way to the marshals standing over there. Then you’re their problem.” John snarled again, his face inches from the now-terrified individual’s. “Never, ever, return to Sage again. We’re taking a tally of how many of you there are, and we’re closing in on your other facilities. If we find out you and your friends are gambling on the lives of shifters, or are in any way connected to the death of another shifter, your quality of life will be reduced to the width of a shallow grave and the shovel you dig it with. Then we’ll bury you alive, fill your mouths with worms and soil, and let you eat dirt for an eternity.”
John’s icy words resonated around the group, chilling everyone there. This was the deadly ex-SF soldier, ruthless as fuck, and they all knew he wasn’t bluffing. Cullen studied his friend’s face and knew the incident with Honey, and the other children, the threats made to their families and Humdrum’s death, had hit John hard.
Ryder shifted and stood, looking tough and intimidating, even stark naked. “Let’s take forensic evidence right here. Fingerprints, DNA samples, hair follicle samples. Everything and anything. Strip them all, and we’ll have them change into their going-away gear,” he said, glancing at the marshals who had arrived during the fracas, waiting for the shifters to finish their part in the round-up. “Thanks for coming, guys. These morons probably have arrest warrants outstanding in other states.”
“You’re welcome, Ryder,” one of the marshals said, nodding. “Fellas, let’s finish this, now, and process them all. Then we can all rest a little easier.”
The majority of shifters aided the marshals by guarding the humans and surviving wolverines and their accomplices. A total of twenty-seven had been killed, those who had fought to the bitter end preferring to die than submit. Essentially, in this part of the country at least, that meant the wolverine clans were decimated. Their elders were no more, and the remaining clan members on their way to shifter hell upstate. Mystery’s father had his own grim fate awaiting him. Pace had not been bluffing.
“Are you okay, Mystery?” Cullen asked his friend, concerned that the younger man was going into shock.
Mystery nodded, closing his eyes, still in his wolverine form.
“Let’s head back into town, then,” Cullen said, receiving a nod from Pace who was listening to the exchange. “Come on, bud. You don’t need to stay here any longer.”
* * * *
Mystery was utterly subdued and obeyed without question, following Cullen back into Sage, followed by Louis and Doyle for added security. They made their way back to the bed and breakfast where Alfie and Fly waited with Chill and Bone, Mystery’s friends.
“Come on, sweetie,” Alfie said softly, lifting Mystery into his arms and taking him into the bathroom. “Let’s clean all this mucky stuff off you, hey?”
Mystery allowed his friend to care for him, not really feeling the warm water soaking his thick coat, or the tenderness as the leopard shifter rinsed away the blood and gore and mud. He thought he would feel better, taking on his father as he had. All the rage and grief had exploded, and he’d had death in mind when he’d attacked the bastard who was his sperm donor. He just felt empty, though. All the rage in the world wouldn’t bring back his lover, best friend, and mate. Humdrum was still dead. He felt tears threaten, gulping them back, but his misery wouldn’t be denied.
“Let it out, sweetie,” Alfie told him. “Don’t bottle it up, baby.” Mystery shifted and found himself enfolded in Alfie’s arms, then released all the anguish he’d been keeping inside since his days as Crash’s sex slave and whipping toy. Years of being someone’s victim, then a prisoner left to die, and finally he and his friends were freed. The sense of failure he felt that he couldn’t protect his own mate was a festering sore on his heart and soul.
Fly entered the bathroom and helped Alfie dry their friend, then dress him in a thick, fleecy onesie. “There you go, sweetie, all clean again,” he whispered, kissing Mystery’s dark hair. “I’m sorry it’s not going to be so easy to clean away those memories.”
Mystery sobbed, clutching at his friends, needing their strength right then more than anything. “When does it stop hurting?” he asked brokenly. “When does the pain go away?”
Cullen stepped into the room, Louis and Doyle behind him, looking sad.
“It eases,” Cullen told him gruffly. “Losing someone you love is devastating, but you learn to deal with the grief. Today was the start of that. You took care of those who hurt your mate. You took care of the one who made you a victim. And that bastard Daniel, who left you to die in that mine, he’s never seeing his freedom ever again. Concentrate on what you have achieved. We’re all here when you need us, baby. Whenever you need to talk or cry. We won’t let you deal with this alone.”
“And if you need to punch something, I can take it,” Louis said with a hint of teasing, causing Mystery to choke out a laugh, sniffing hard as Fly wiped his tears away.
“You might regret offering to do that,” Mystery said, laughing again.
“Nah! I can take a punch,” Louis drawled, waggling his eyebrows. “Getting shot, now that hurts like a bitch! Fuckers think I have a bullseye on my chest.”
They all laughed, despite the serious situation. “Yeah, and the next person who shoots one my bears gets their asses kicked,” Cullen retorted fiercely. “I’m getting tired of visiting you in hospital.”
More laughter. “Thanks, everyone,” Mystery said, feeling calmer. “I guess everything just got to me.”
Fly stared at him, eyes wide. “Honey, don’t apologize for what others have done to you. They’re assholes. I’m glad you managed to cry finally. You’ve been through far too much.”
“I made hot chocolate,” Alfie said, guiding Mystery back through to the kitchen, where they all sat down at the huge table as Alfie served the drinks.
“Things should settle down now,” Cullen said. “Flashpoint have to regroup now, find a new leader.”
“Yeah, and maybe this message will have more impact,” Doyle added, grimacing. “Smashing the wolverine clans should have a bit of weight to it.”
“The other clans will react, though,” Mystery said slowly, frowning. “Eventually. We just have to find a way to get ahead of the game, and try to find out what they might be planning.”
“Drew’s already getting stuck into that,” Cullen advised them. “He and I have developed a tracking system, based on recent intel, so we can trace people who are linked to Flashpoint and Fortress.”
“Yeah, they’re getting to our kids,” Fly growled angrily. “Using them to get to us.”
“Is Honey okay?” Cullen asked. “I didn’t have time to check on her before we took out the fight club.”
“Jay said that she’s doing okay,” Alfie said. “In fact, now that her cousins are staying at their new cottage, she’s turned a corner, and is taking care of them. They’re still grieving after losing their mom.”
“I still can’t believe Jayne’s dead,” Fly said solemnly. “I wanted her to survive, I really did.”
“John will make sure they’re okay. He and Cameron are fantastic parents,” Cullen said. He grinned. “He’s a bigger kid than they are, most of the time.”
“You’re not wrong,” Alfie giggled.
“Not tonight, he wasn’t,” Mystery said soberly. “When the chips are down, he’s all business. I don’t think anyone at the fight ring believed he was bluffing. He’d tear anyone of those fuckers apart if they turn up here again or hurt anymore shifters.”
“Yeah, I reckon several pissed themselves,” Louis agreed, nodding. “Let’s hope Flashpoint takes the hint. You mess with us, you die. We’re not playing around, now.”
“Hear, hear,” they chorused, clinking cups.
“Are you going to be okay, now?” Cullen asked My
stery. “Me and my bears need to catch up on some sleep.”
Alfie shot him a droll look. “Is that what they’re calling sex these days?”
Cullen flipped him off.
“I’ll be fine,” Mystery said, sighing heavily. “Really. I guess I do feel better, after all that sobbing.” He wrinkled his nose. “I’m exhausted, actually. If you don’t mind, Alfie, could I stay here for a bit? I could sleep for a month.”
“Stay as long as you like, sweetie,” Alfie said kindly, kissing Mystery on the cheek. “Let me see which rooms are free, then I’ll get you set up. There’s a spare room next to the Spirit Ink crew, but I’m not sure you want to be that close,” he said ruefully. “Those boys caterwauling all night will leave you needing therapy.”
Mystery giggled at that. “I don’t mind,” he said. “I’ll just ask them to keep the moaning to a minimum.”
“Deal.” Alfie grinned. “Let me go check the linen, then you can sleep the day away.”
Mystery watched as Alfie left the kitchen, and for a second felt that maybe he could deal with Humdrum’s death without crumbling completely. He eyed the others around the table, his eyes lighting up when Chill and Bone showed up, and they exchanged hugs and kisses. Yes, maybe he’d be okay after all. And his dear father could rot in hell.
* * * *
John arrived back at his home, exhausted by the events of the past few days. He saw Cameron fast asleep on the couch, with Honey and Murray sleeping soundly at the other end, the television on low, showing a news broadcast about the fight ring’s demise.
“Daddy?” Honey said, waking in an instant as he turned the TV off.
“Hey, munchkin,” he murmured, lifting her off the couch and cuddling her close. “How’s things?”
She giggled and kissed his whiskery cheek, nuzzling into his neck like a kitten. “Not too bad, how about you?”
“Average,” he replied, grinning slightly when she laughed again.
“Josh and Jemma are still sleeping,” she whispered, yawning. “I asked if I could stay here to help. Blue went home.”
“Thanks,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “How’s Primrose doing?”
“She’s fine.” Honey paused, looking sad. “I’m sorry about what happened,” she said after a pause. “I was stupid and mean.”
“Yes,” he agreed readily. “Why were so mean to everyone?”
“I’ve been feeling…off,” she admitted, frowning. “And it wasn’t something I could talk to Daddy Aiden or Daddy Murphy about.”
“Why not?” he asked, carrying her through to the kitchen where he put on a pan of milk to heat. Keeping one eye on the pan, he focused the rest of his attention of her, thinking he might know what the problem was. She was so feminine, and girls were…different, in all kinds of ways. “Couldn’t you talk to your sisters?”
“They’re all doing college stuff or high school stuff,” she complained, pouting. “They just tell me to leave them alone.”
“So, do you need a woman to talk to?” he asked casually, seeing her flush a little.
Before she could respond, there was a brief knock on the door, and Murphy walked in, looking at the pair shrewdly before sitting opposite his daughter.
“Keep an eye on that, will you?” John told Murphy, jerking his chin. “I need to get showered and changed.”
“Sure thing,” Murphy replied agreeably.
John left the two to talk, knowing Murphy would be able to decipher whatever troubled the little girl. He yawned, heading upstairs to shower, feeling about a hundred years old. His heart ached at losing his sister, and he checked on his niece and nephew before getting cleaned up. He could sleep for a week.
Epilogue
Cullen groaned softly, sweat slicking his body, licked off by Louis and Doyle, who were treating him to a tongue bath after two hours of sexy time. Panting, he gripped the sodden sheets, his ass filled with about a gallon of cum, and feeling as though they were just getting started. He needed his lovers’ attention, and rejoiced in having two such gorgeous mates after years of famine.
“Our baby is getting all horny again,” Doyle growled in amusement, sucking Cullen’s thickening cock.
Crying out, Cullen fucked his mate’s mouth mindlessly, needing relief again.
“On your knees,” Louis ordered. “I’ll fuck, you suck,” he told Doyle, who groaned as they moved into position, with Cullen straddling Doyle’s face as Louis knelt behind Cullen, cock in hand, ready for action again.
“Hard,” Cullen moaned as Louis slid home, gasping at the sensation of all that thick meat stretching him wide. He raked his nails into Doyle’s chest, pinching the tiny nipples when Louis began to move. Louis took him at his word and gave no quarter, fucking him hard and fast, which drove him into Doyle’s avid mouth until all three were moaning in unison.
“That’s it, gorgeous,” Louis snarled, nipping at Cullen’s neck, then sinking his fangs deep, holding Cullen in place as he went primal, blanketing the smaller shifter’s back with slick heat as he plowed Cullen over and over.
“Louis!” Cullen yelped, shoving back against each instroke, knowing he’d be sore for days after this. And loving it.
“Love you,” Louis mumbled against his neck, then came hard, releasing another thick load, which triggered Cullen’s orgasm. Before he’d finished coming, Doyle dragged him off Louis’s cock and plonked him onto his thick prong, surging up into Cullen with hard, fast strokes before climaxing, as well. Cullen collapsed forward, enabling Doyle to claim him again, feeling faint when his mate’s big fangs bit deep, strengthening their bond once again.
As one, they fell in a sated, exhausted pile of bodies, cum, and sweat, breathing hard.
“I love you,” Cullen said, kissing them in turn, content as he could possibly be, wanting to stay in their arms all day.
“Love you,” Doyle growled, kissing him back, still joined, Louis cuddling to the rear.
“You know I never did watch that movie,” Cullen said suddenly, after long moments of kissing and caressing one another.
Doyle let out a startled laugh. “Neither did we,” he admitted. “I spent most of Lego Batman making eyes at you.”
“Me, too,” Louis chuckled drowsily. “That and being told off by the munchkins and Jayne for talking about you all the way through.”
“I’m so sad about Jayne,” Cullen said somberly. “She didn’t deserve what happened.”
“No,” Doyle agreed. “Bad karma, that.”
“I’m glad Shadow was taken out. He orchestrated that. Didn’t care who was hurt, so long as he got what he wanted. Money.”
“And there’s no money left,” Louis said. “At least that’s what I heard.”
Cullen flushed. “That’s the way it’s going to stay,” he replied.
“You know something,” Doyle said, eyeing him suspiciously.
Cullen grinned. “I always do,” he shot back, kissing the tip of Doyle’s nose. “If I told everything, I wouldn’t be the kick-ass super-sleuth that I am.”
“Hmmm,” Louis muttered, kissing his shoulder. “Just make sure you don’t reveal anything to anyone in town. This place has eyes and ears everywhere.”
“I don’t know anything about the money,” Cullen protested. “Honestly,” he cried, laughing when both bear shifters looked at him in disbelief. “I helped to transfer it so our enemies couldn’t touch it. Where it is now, I have no idea.”
“Which means they’re still looking,” Louis said knowingly. “Better guard our asses, boys. Things might get bouncy again, real quick.”
“Only bouncing I’m interested in is when your cocks are involved,” Cullen drawled, knowing it was a surefire distraction from their awkward questions. He might not know where the money was, but he absolutely knew who had put it in an untraceable account. And nobody on the planet was going to get that information from him.
“Bouncing is it?” Doyle said with a sexy wink. “Well, hop on board, my dear, let’s go for a ride.”
“My turn to be on the bottom,” Louis complained, lifting Cullen easily and placing him, facing forward, onto his thickening dick. Doyle chuckled hoarsely, lurching up, and went on hands and knees.
“Sink that fat fucker in here, sweetcheeks,” he said to Cullen. “I’m all lubed up and ready to go.”
Cullen giggled at that, squealing as Louis knelt on his haunches, with Cullen straddling his thighs, then guided Cullen’s already-hard cock to Doyle’s glistening entrance.
“That’s it, baby, plow me a new asshole,” Doyle cried, grunting as he was skewered in one hard thrust from Louis, who began fucking both his mates in unison.
Cullen held on for dear life, chuckling helplessly. His bears were fun and fearless, and never said no to a good fucking. He was in heaven.
“Choo-choo!” Louis laughed, slowing his pace and turning Cullen’s face for a long, languid kiss. “Train’s in the station, baby.” He grinned, stroking Cullen’s face tenderly. “Now, what was that about bouncing?” He shunted back and forth, using Cullen as a battering ram, trapped between his two large hairy bears.
Still giggling, Cullen leaned forward, cuddling Doyle’s back as Louis kept up the tempo.
“Choo-choo!” he cried, loving his mates’ enthusiasm.
Sage had won their battles against Russians, wolverines, and deadly secret agents, plus they’d managed to take care of a nasty predator, Martin D’Arcy, who deserved to rot in damnation for eternity.
Cullen was under no illusions that Flashpoint and their allies would stay away. But for now, Sage might just have a little time to balance the odds. Flyers, fuzzbutts, and fisticuffs reigned supreme. And the spirit of Sage remained strong. They lived to fight another day, and another, and another. Eventually, however long it took, Flashpoint would be defeated. Then Sage could be the sanctuary and beacon of hope that it was meant to be.