by Toby Aden
Annalise eyed him then nodded, clearly pleased by the conviction she saw in Will’s eyes. They were both quiet for a while on the ride until Will broke the silence once more.
“Is there a bookstore around town?”
“Yeah. It’s a pretty big town you know. It does help that we’re also self-sufficient, and we’ve got more trade open than we did before,” Annalise said, smiling at Will before turning back to the road in front of her.
“Sounds good. I want to drop by the bookstore and check out what they have in stock.” Will smiled in Annalise’s direction. “First thing you should know about me is that I’m a bookaholic. Hopelessly addicted to it, too.” He finished on a laugh.
“No problem. I know just how you feel, except, in my case, I’m a chocoholic. Can’t resist it,” Annalise said as she pulled into a parking lot in front of a shop and got out.
Will followed suit, exiting the car and slamming the door closed behind him before walking along with Annalise into the shop. “Who isn’t? I mean who could ever resist such a dark, scrumptious delicacy?”
Annalise burst into laughter. “My point exactly.”
The shop was not really busy. There were only a few people browsing through the stock, but the sheer size of the place was enough to have him wheezing. It wasn’t long before he began having a small panic over the fact that he was out for the first time he could remember and away from his brothers, his shield against the world. He did not notice that, in his panic, he had been squeezing Annalise’s hand quite tightly until he saw her move in front of him and give his own hand a squeeze back.
“It’s fine, Will. Kelly told me you haven’t been anywhere without your brothers around before. He didn’t really tell me all the details, but I got a feeling something happened to you in the past?”
Will nodded, though he could not find the words to say anything else just then.
“That’s okay. The entire pack would kill for you, Will. You’re safe here. No one would dare harm a hair on your head. Unless of course they wish the wrath of Gregory on them.”
It was as though the name of his mate did something to him because, immediately, the only thing Will could focus on was Gregory and the feeling of safety he’d felt in his mate’s arms. “Gregory. Yeah,” he whispered absently, licking his dry lips. Then his eyes snapped back into Annalise’s. “You won’t tell him I had a panic attack, will you?”
Annalise was quiet for a while, searching his face for something, but what for, he did not know. Finally, she shook her head slowly. “No, I won’t, but you should. It’s not something to be ashamed of, Will.”
“I’m not ready,” he said stubbornly.
“Fine. But you really should tell him. I know you just met and you think you need to protect yourself, but, Will, mating is such a blessing that it would be a shame to hide a part of who you are from the most important person in your life,” she said.
“I know, and I don’t intend it hide it forever. Just…” Will shrugged, unable to put words to his thoughts.
Annalise patted his hand and stepped away from him, letting him go and pleased when he relaxed his strong grip and withdrew entirely. “When you’re ready. Until then, let’s pick something to dazzle him with.”
Will smiled and nodded, letting the tension bleed out of his body. “Yeah, let’s. I’ve got some money of my own, though it’s not much, so I can’t really buy a lot. Just a few basic things. A few new things to commemorate a fresh start,” Will said as he nervously glanced at the packed inventory of the men’s clothing shop.
“Don’t worry about money, Will. Just take whatever you want. I’m sure Gregory wouldn’t mind you putting the rest on his tab.”
Will shook his head. “No. I want to do this by myself. I don’t want to start off depending on Greg. I’d get used to it, and I don’t want that.”
Annalise eyed Will, her eyes shrewd as she heard the undertone in her brother’s mate’s voice. She was not sure all what Will had been through, but it was clear that he was scared to fully trust in his happiness. It was clear he wasn’t going to get his hopes up only to have them dashed. She didn’t know how to let him know that there was no reason for him to be so cautious or worried, but she knew that his complete trust in his safety would only happen over time when they proved that they were willing to accept him and his brothers and they were firmly integrated into the pack.
“As you wish, Will. Now let’s shop.”
Without any other word, the two of them became engrossed in picking out several outfits for Will. He tried on a few of them, the both of them critical of each item until they found the few ones that either made his eyes pop, looked hot on him, or the color looked damned good on him. They spent a couple hours, choosing what went well with Will’s figure and pale skin and with him taking his time to look for something that would make him look especially irresistible to his mate for their date.
When they finally left the shop, it was with bags and bags of clothing, which Annalise swore up and down she hadn’t convinced the sales assistant to lower the price on. He knew somehow that it wasn’t true though. Most likely, she had put the remaining change on her tab, but he would not say anything about it, letting her have her fun. When they did leave the shop, though, it was as though everything around him had changed and he needed to take a closer look at the town around him. Will shot a tentative glance around their surroundings, taking in the city that would become his new home.
The city was beautiful with homes parceled off with green shrubs, meticulously planned and almost identical in structure. The businesses around were slightly different with the feeling of city life imbued in but with the heart of a small town. Of all the places he’d lived in with his brothers, this place was both different and already, it felt like home, something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
First, they deposited their purchases in the trunk of the car then decided to continue the rest of their errands on foot. Annalise led him down the street with Will eager for their next stop, the only bookstore in town and the place he’d been looking forward to the most.
When he got to the store, Annalise paused at the doorway, glancing down at her watch before glancing back up at him. “Do you mind if I leave you alone for a while? I’ve got to meet someone just a few doors down.”
Will shook his head. “No problem. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.”
Annalise shot him a grateful look. “I won’t be long. I’ll just be a while and be back.”
He waved her off. “No worries.” And he smiled, already distracted by the treasure that awaited him in the store.
Seeming to realize that she had lost his attention already, Annalise chuckled, backing away. “I’ll just leave you to it then.” Then with that, she turned around and walked away from him and the shop.
Not one bit deterred, Will pushed open the door to the shop and stepped inside. Immediately, the smell of books and the feeling of peace, which always came over him when he was in his element, washed over him, and he felt himself relax completely and let go. Just being in the shop already had done wonders for him, and he didn’t care one bit that he was all alone, without his mate, his brothers, or even Annalise to keep him company.
He’d been lucky that they had first gone clothes shopping before coming to the bookstore because he knew, without a doubt, that, had they visited here first, he would have spent all his savings here leaving nothing to purchase much of anything else. As though drawn by invisible strings, Will moved through the rows and rows of bookshelves, glancing over the cards on the shelves until he came to the fiction section.
A contented sigh escaped his lips, and he ran his fingers over the books before taking his time to browse through them.
* * * *
“So tell me everything,” Will said excitedly. “How did you meet my brother? When did you know you were mates?”
Annalise laughed, slipping her hand into Will’s and holding on to his arm as they walked. “We met late last night
. He told me he’d sniffed something wonderful, apples and strawberry, and he followed the scent to me. I’d just gotten in late at night and wanted something to eat before bed. I never imagined I’d come home to meet my mate!” Annalise said then sighed dreamily. “I’ve never felt anything so powerful before.”
“Yeah. Trust me, I know. I felt the exact same way when I met Greg,” Will agreed. “It was really hard to leave him today. I just wanted to spend a long, long time alone being just us. But I don’t want it to be just about sex, you know. I want to get to know him better on a personal level, feel so much more than just the mating bond.”
“He’s the other half of your soul, Will. I don’t know how much more you can feel than that,” Annalise said with a frown.
“It sounds crazy, I know. I know he’s the other half of my soul. The one who completes me, the one fate made just for me. But without all that, would he still want me? Would I have been just another in a long line of many, or would I be special to him as I am?” Will asked, biting his bottom lip worriedly. It was completely unreasonable to feel this way, but he couldn’t help it.
“You have doubts?”
Will shrugged noncommittally, saying nothing.
“You should ask Gregory. Let him know just how you feel, and you’ll get your answer,” Annalise said, but when Will didn’t respond, she added, “It’s better than worrying and letting the doubts build up when a simple clarification would have been best.”
“But what if I don’t get the answer I hope for? Or what if he dismisses it as something that could never happen because we’re mates?”
“Then you dig until you hear the answers you want. I know my brother. He’s not big on the romance, and he can be obtuse at times, but he’s got a good heart. No matter what I tell you, you’d still have these doubts, so it’s best to hear it directly from the source. Don’t wait, Will. Let him know your worries and how you feel and I’m sure you’ll both thank me later for the advice,” Annalise said. She grinned at Will and leaned in to peck him on the cheek before detangling her arm from his and marching toward where they had parked.
Chapter Six
Will sat across from Gregory in the cozy candlelit restaurant. When they’d enter the place and the hostess had led them to a secluded table away from the view of the other patrons, Will had stood blinking in surprise at the effort Gregory had gone for him. He hadn’t really expected something this beautiful.
A table for two was set against the backdrop of shrubs and beautifully planted flowers. Candles were artfully arranged on opposite ends of the walking path leading to the table. The candles were also artfully arranged around the table so that it was right in the circle of the candlelight.
It was like a scene right out of one of his romance novels. He had been so touched that he’d had to blink back tears as no one had ever done something this nice and romantic for him before. This date surpassed all his imagination, and he hoped there were more surprises ahead. But even without any more, just this much was enough for him, and being with Greg, his mate, made it all the more meaningful, especially when the man was his soul mate.
* * * *
Gregory had been watching his mate’s reaction the entire time the hostess led them to their table, and the awe and surprise he’d seen there had brought a smile to his face. After spending several hours thinking up something that would prove romantic enough to move Will, he was glad he’d followed his sister’s advice and done this.
Taking Will’s hand in his, he turned it and brought it up to place a kiss on it, smiling down at the man fate had decided would belong to him for both their very long lives. He might not be versed in the act of wooing his mate, but just to keep seeing this expression on Will’s face, he was prepared to learn and do so much more to bring joy and happiness to the man’s life.
The rage he’d felt earlier in the day after listening to all his mate’s brothers had to say fell away in the presence of the happiness gleaming back at him. His mate’s brothers had confronted him and threatened to do him bodily harm, regardless of the fact that he was more powerful than them, and that alone had piqued his curiosity. The way they had acted was no mere brotherly concern but actual fear for their youngest brother.
When he’d finally extracted the information from them, of Will’s near rape incidence, he’d felt rage unlike any he’d ever known before. He wanted to go after his mate’s assailant and kill the man, but the brothers would give him no name, and tracking down their original pack would be a bit of an issue since they’d joined so many packs before finally going it all alone. Still, he wasn’t going to give up. He’d asked one of his beta friends, whom he trusted to keep it quiet, to silently dig into the issue, but waiting had been torture for him.
It had been right up until he’d seen how happy his mate was right beside him before he finally let go so as not to sour the mood between them. Will’s happiness meant more to him than seeking vengeance, but seek it, he would. Just not right now.
“Bring us a bottle of wine please…red.”
The hostess nodded. “Very good, sir. Your waiter will be with you shortly, along with the wine.” With that, the hostess left them alone.
“Do you like it?” Gregory asked.
Nodding, Will smiled at his mate, letting his happiness show. “I love it. But I love that you’re here more.” He glanced around at the beautiful setting then turned to regard his mate once more. “How did you get them to do all this? And on such short notice, too.”
Gregory chuckled. “Well, I am Alpha successor. That has to be useful for something. So, tell me about Will.”
“Hmm?” Will asked, staring at his mate in confusion.
“You said you wanted a date to get to know each other better.”
“Oh. Right.”
“What? Did I get it wrong?” Gregory asked with a frown.
Shaking his head, Will smiled at Gregory. “No. You’re doing just fine. I just didn’t expect all this or that you’d listen to me and consider what I wanted.”
“Will, you’re my mate, my partner, and that goes both ways. So of course I’m going to take your considerations into account.”
Will smiled at that, and it wasn’t long before their waiter came to the table carrying the wine and glasses.
“Good evening, Alpha, Alpha mate. I will be your waiter for tonight, and my name is Jake. May I open the wine?”
Will nodded, still staring at Gregory, who motioned for the waiter to go ahead. They watched silently as the waiter used the corkscrew to open the bottle before pouring a small amount of it into their respective glasses.
Gregory picked up his glass, swirling the drink in it before bringing it to his nose to inhale. Will, staring at Gregory, copied his mate’s movement before finally sipping the drink.
“Is it to your taste, sirs?” the waiter asked.
Nodding, Greg silently approved of the taste, and the waiter produced their menus just then. “Why don’t you give us a few minutes to decide then come back for our orders?”
“Yes, sir,” the waiter said, leaving the bottle on the table and taking his leave of them.
Gregory picked up his menu, and Will did the same, going through the contents and the choices for their meal. For a while, neither of them talked at the table, as their attention was on choosing what to eat for their dinner.
“Seen what you want yet?” Gregory asked as he closed his menu and placed it on the table.
“Not yet. Let me go through everything. Then I’d be able to make a better choice,” Will said, flashing Gregory a brief smile before returning his attention to the menu in his hand.
* * * *
Gregory fingered the glass of wine on the table, swirled the liquid in the glass, then brought it to his nose to sniff. He swirled it some more before bringing it to his lips for a sip and replacing the glass back onto the table. He leaned back into his seat, quietly taking in his mate’s features. The man was downright gorgeous with his androgynous looks and his plump red li
ps and those sexy chocolate-colored eyes hidden from view by long lowered reddish-brown lashes.
Gregory stifled a groan, his thoughts turning dirty as he imagined those plump lips wrapped around his dick. He so wanted to bury his straining cock into that wet, moist heat. He wanted to do so many dirty things to that mouth and thoroughly corrupt his innocent mate. Gregory felt heat wash all over him, and he moved his hand lower to shift his pants, making room for his growing member.
That Will was oblivious to the dirty thoughts running around his mind didn’t faze him one bit. He just wanted to reach across the table and pull his mate into his arms and fuck the man’s brains out. To pound into Will’s hole until the other man begged him to stop and to drag every ounce of pleasure he could out of that lithe, slim body of his mate’s.
With an unsteady hand, Gregory reached for his glass of wine and downed the entire contents in an effort to rein himself in, barely tasting the flavor of the drink. He was just about to stand up and pull Will into a hidden spot to have his way with the man when the waiter came back to their table, a smile firmly on his face, causing Gregory to groan in frustration.
It seemed, after all, he would be waiting till their meal was over and their date was done to have his wicked way with his mate.
“Would you like to order now, Alpha, Alpha mate?” Jake, their waiter for the night, asked.
Glancing up from the menu, which had taken the majority of his attention, Will gave the waiter a dashing smile before nodding and handing the menu over. “I’ll have the chicken salad with house dressing and the seafood ravioli, please.” And with that, Will turned his attention to Gregory and lifted the glass to sip his wine.
“And I’ll have steak. Extremely rare, please,” Gregory said.
Jake nodded, accepting their menus. “I’ll have your order out shortly, sirs.”
They both watched their waiter leave before returning their attention back to each other, smiling at the serene environment and the fairly charged atmosphere between them.