by Lisa Oliver
Yes, yes. Fagin’s wolf was eager now, his strong animal spirit more than willing to accept the responsibility of protecting a weaker wolf. But Cooper wasn’t weak, and Fagin recognized that as his plucky mate started bouncing up and down sending shock waves through Fagin’s balls every time their skin slapped together. It took a while for Cooper to get his rhythm, but with his head thrown back, Fagin glimpsed the look of sheer abandon on his mate’s face and his heart soared.
That one expression justified Fagin’s determination to hold out for a true mate. Seeing Cooper in the throes of passion solidified his vow to take on any alpha that might tell him what they were doing was wrong; including his damn father. There was nothing wrong in the way Cooper’s back arched so prettily, or in the greedy way their bodies came together. Nothing had ever felt so right.
And because it was so damn good, Fagin wasn’t going to last. The buildup, the wait, the way Cooper left him the night before. The excruciatingly boring business appointments earlier that day when all Fagin could do was scent his mate and hang onto his control by the tips of his claws. It was all too much and if theirs was the fastest claiming in history, then so be it. Cooper would be his for a very long time.
Claiming. Bite. “Get rid of your shirt.” Holding Cooper around his torso, Fagin’s wolf howled in victory as Cooper fumbled with his buttons and bared the sexy soft juncture between neck and shoulder.
“Please.” That one word was all it took. Fagin’s control shattered. His hands dropping to Cooper’s hips again, Fagin thrust his cock deep one last time, his fangs slicing through Cooper’s skin. As his mouth filled with blood, Fagin could feel their wolf spirits joining. The smaller white wolf approaching his alpha with no fear, no reservations. With a simple sniff and a lick, Fagin’s animal curled himself around his new companion, completely at peace.
Cooper cried out and Fagin marveled that he’d climaxed untouched, but then he couldn’t move, couldn’t think, couldn’t do much of anything but gently release his teeth and lick over the wide scar Cooper would carry for life. His balls throbbed so much they ached as he rolled them onto their sides, unwilling to be parted from his mate for so much as a second.
“Do you think we could get undressed next time?” Cooper asked, the sleep evident in his tone as he curled back against Fagin’s chest, his butt still holding Fagin’s cock securely in his tight heat.
“Whatever you want, babe, whatever you want.”
Chapter Eleven
Cooper stirred, aware even before he’d opened his eyes, he had another presence in his head. It took. I’m really mated, and if the wolfy dreams of running through a forest wasn’t enough to convince him, the possessive way Fagin had him tucked up and shielded from the rest of the room would have been evidence enough. Reaching up, Cooper traced the ridge of scarring that now decorated his shoulder. He didn’t remember anyone in his past pack who wore one of those except his mother. It was a badge of pride as a bite never scarred unless it was between fated mates. Cooper secretly hoped one day Fagin might allow him to bite him in return.
Some time during their nap, Fagin had removed their clothes, although Cooper wasn’t sure anything of his suit was salvageable. But being held by a naked male exceeded anything Cooper dreamed about. Like all wolf shifters, Fagin had no body hair, but Cooper could feel corded leg muscles resting behind his thighs and calves and the arm around his waist was well-defined and covered in ink Cooper longed to trace.
I wonder, Cooper tried to turn, but the arm around him tightened and the cock nestled against his ass twitched.
“If you’re planning on tracing all my ink, you’d better block out a couple of hours,” Fagin said, his voice raspy with sleep. “Food might be a better idea first, don’t you think?”
“You kicking me out of your bed already?” Cooper nestled his head back against Fagin’s shoulder. “I don’t think I ever want to get up.”
“And I’d like nothing more than to stay here with you,” Fagin agreed, and Cooper felt the man’s tongue tease his ear. “But that’s part of being an alpha, babe. Duty calls. I need to talk to Buster about security for this house and check out the renovations at the bar. I’m sure my sexy accountant wouldn’t want me paying out money for work that wasn’t getting done.”
“I understand,” Cooper said even as the pit of his stomach dropped. Here in the warmth and security of Fagin’s bedroom he could imagine he had the strength and appeal to hold onto his mate forever…but out there….
“Hey,” Cooper’s chin was held in strong fingers, tilting his head so Fagin could meet his eyes. “It’s you and me now, nothing can break us apart. I know you’ve got doubts, but those doubts hurt me, babe. I might look like I was born on the wrong side of the tracks, but I can be trusted. You need to listen to your wolf more.”
Cooper felt a sadness not his own and realized it was coming through their bond. “I’m sorry,” he said quickly raising a hand to stroke Fagin’s soft facial hair. “You’re right. Me and my wolf – I’ve lived as a human since I escaped my pack. It’s not been easy, but I’ve always hoped my wolf understood it was for our own protection. No other pack was going to take us in and I didn’t risk going near any of them for fear of what they’d do to me. I was so much safer among humans. I’ll do better. I promise.”
“Learn to trust in here,” Fagin’s hand almost covered his chest. “Keep our bond open, and you’ll see, I can be trusted.”
“Kiss me first, please?” Cooper needed the connection if he was going to do as Fagin asked. If he could, he’d make it a daily rule.
“Morning kisses, afternoon kisses, evening kisses, sexy kisses. You’ll get them all, I promise little one, every single day.”
Cooper felt a lot more relaxed when he tumbled out of bed, although beard rash was going to be a problem with his fair skin.
/~/~/~/~/
Fagin felt his phone vibrate against his hip for the third time and shot a quick glance over to where Buster was showing Cooper the plans for the remodeled bar. He already knew who was calling; he just didn’t know why. Surely, the news of his new pack hadn’t hit the website already? He was only a few days into his month’s long ‘trip’. Knowing the caller wasn’t going to give up, he slipped into his office and closed the door before pulling out his phone.
“I’m surprised to hear from you, father. You did give me a month to be free of pack business.”
“To tell the truth, I was surprised to hear you were still in town. But seeing as you are, something’s come up and I want you to handle it.”
“What sort of something?” Fagin’s wolf went on high alert. His father was a hand’s on alpha and never delegated anything important.
“The pack run is tomorrow night and I’ve just been informed we’ll have visitors; from the pack two hours drive north of here. It seems the alpha there has a marriageable daughter and is thinking of bonding her with another shifter to create a pack alliance. Now, you know I don’t usually hold with that sort of thing, but he heard I had an unmated alpha-heir and given the proximity of our two packs, wanted to visit us first. As you haven’t left yet, I didn’t see a problem with you and Buster joining us for the evening run.”
Fagin bit his tongue. He’d always known he had to tell his father about Cooper and his new pack status, but he thought he had more time and he didn’t want to do say anything over the phone. His father deserved to hear of his new life face-to-face. Unfortunately, his father hadn’t given him a choice. While Jerome didn’t hold with bond mating as a way of securing pack alliances, he would be keen to see his son bond with someone and it would be considered an insult to the other pack if Fagin refused the woman. Lying to his father wasn’t an option either.
“That won’t be possible, father, sorry.” Fagin stood up straighter even though his father couldn’t see him. “A funny thing happened on my way out of town. I bumped into my fated mate earlier today. The claiming has already taken place.”
“But that’s wonderful news. I knew you
wouldn’t waste much time once you met the one you’re fated for. Lord knows, you’ve had plenty of practice while you were waiting for her,” his father laughed. “The claiming couldn’t have come at a better time. You can bring her along to the run and introduce her to the pack. I can stand down as alpha all at the same time and you can take my place. I’m sure it’ll only be a matter of a month and she’ll be carrying your pups.”
Fagin inhaled sharply and slowly let it out. “My mate is a male omega wolf, father. It’s unlikely he’ll ever carry my pups and I’m fine with that.”
The long silence was deafening. When his father did speak Fagin could feel his alpha power emanating from the phone. Not that it had any effect excerpt cause his own wolf to bristle under the under the unseen challenge. “You have the gall to tell me, after all this time and all I’ve done for you, you’ve just thrown away a lifetime of training, your place in this family, and your chance to take over a successful pack just so you can stick your dick in some skinny male’s ass?”
Fagin growled. “I don’t see my mating changes anything at all unless you let it, father. Cooper is my fated mate. My wolf is never wrong. I knew he was mine from the moment I scented him and he’s now wearing my bite scar. Being mated to a male doesn’t change who I am or what I can do for the pack.”
“Of course, it does, you fool. Who else knows about this?”
“Only Buster. He was there when I met Cooper. But, look, father….”
Jerome cut him off. “You and Buster will come back to the pack immediately. This visiting alpha will be here first thing in the morning. You will be attentive to the female presented. You will keep your mouth shut about the man you’ve stuck your dick into and with luck, by the end of the pack run, you will have put this female in pup. We can work out how to break your mating afterwards.”
Claws formed around Fagin’s phone. “No.”
“This is not your father talking, it’s your alpha. You will follow orders.”
“No, alpha.” Fagin snarled. “Did you forget, Cooper is a male omega AND my fated mate? It is physically impossible for me to impregnate anyone, especially a visiting female wolf. Even if I hadn’t claimed him, the moment I scented Cooper my dick stopped working for anyone else. Claimed or not, your plan for pups aren’t going to work.”
“Hmm.” Jerome was silent again and when he spoke his voice was calmer. Unfortunately, that made Fagin’s hackles go up even further. “I can understand why you claimed him, son. The scent of a mate is a powerful thing and tends to overload your body with hormones that are hard to ignore. Okay, let’s forget about this visiting female for now. I can make your apologies and the visitors can still run with us as a gesture of goodwill.”
Oh great, I’m his son again. Why doesn’t that fill me with any reassurance?
“And you know, your having a house in town just might work in our favor,” Jerome went on. “You can stash your omega there and no one in the pack need know about it. I know you weren’t stupid enough to let him bite you and you haven’t been around that much lately for people to notice a difference in your scent.”
“Father….”
“No, no, hang on. I’m thinking here. You still require an heir, so you can take my place. We’re going to need someone loyal to the pack who’s prepared to be inseminated. Thankfully you’ve been with enough of the females in this pack to make any story we put out credible. One sniff of your omega should give you the juice you need to jack off in a jar. Missy might still be keen, and I’m sure you can pay her to keep her mouth….”
“NO!” Fagin roared. The office door burst open and Buster stormed in quickly followed by Cooper who ran straight into his arms. Fagin inhaled Cooper’s sweet scent and found his ability talk more calmly. “I totally understand and accept the consequences of my mating and that I can no longer be your alpha-heir.” He tugged Cooper closer, his wolf reminding him of the threat his father posed to the sweet young man.
“Pick one of my brothers to take my place; they have children.”
“I’m not going to do that.” Jerome’s alpha voice was back. “I’ve spent a lifetime training you to take over this pack. I’m not going to let one soggy bottomed omega mutt with an alluring scent wreck my plans.”
Fagin’s teeth clenched so hard, his fangs pierced his lip. “I thought about this father. In fact, I’ve thought about all the things you’ve already suggested. How I could take over the pack, change your archaic rules and run the pack with Cooper by my side.”
“You’d destroy everything me and your forebears have created? The pack would never stand for it.”
“You don’t know that, father, because you’ve never tried to change anything. But you don’t have to worry. I’ve formed my own pack, father; one I will run with my mate by my side. I will not stash him away like a dirty secret,” Fagin could feel his anger building again. “I will not jack off in a jar to keep you happy. I am not a fucking sperm donor, I’m supposed to be your son. You’re supposed to be happy for me. I’m the only one of me and my brothers who’s held out for and found their fated mate. Instead of congratulating me, you insult me and my mate. If I didn’t carry your genetics, I’d be over there in a flash and I’d rip your fucking throat out. Don’t contact me again. Goodbye.”
Fagin’s finger stabbed so hard at the screen it cracked, but the state of the phone was the least of Fagin’s concern. All his life, he’d believed his father ruled his pack and all it’s members in a fair and above-board manner. Archaic but fair. Knowing his own father would stoop so low as to force him to hide or distort the truth about his mating – why? Was it really because of pack rules that should’ve gone out with the arc, or was Jerome too ashamed to admit he had a gay son? Did his mother and brothers feel the same way? Fagin felt physically sick and he clung to Cooper who was fast becoming one of only two people in his life worth having, while Buster awkwardly patted his shoulder. For the first time in his life Fagin knew what betrayal felt like and he could barely swallow past the bitter aftertaste it left in the back of his throat.
Chapter Twelve
Cooper could understand Fagin was upset. No amount of thinking or planning for parental rejection made it any easier to handle when it happened. Wolf shifter families were, for the most part, incredibly close and being in a pack reinforced those bonds. But there were instances, and Cooper was well aware of that from his own experience, when that one thing that set a family member apart from everyone else was enough to get that individual kicked out. The grief and rejection that followed was intensified because animal spirits didn’t see, appreciate, or understand the limitations of human social norms like having a same-sex mate. Despite his presence in Fagin’s life, the alpha was hurting, and it was affecting his behavior.
But for all he understood why Fagin was acting out, Cooper didn’t think dumping him in a booth at a biker bar that bore a remarkable resemblance to Fagin’s, while his mate and his best friend stood at the bar getting steadily drunker was a way to solve any of their problems. Fagin and Cooper had spent the past twenty four hours holed up together watching television and having sex. No matter what Cooper said, Fagin wouldn’t talk to him and when he finally said they were going out, Cooper had been relieved. Now, not so much. What was worse, Fagin and Buster were clearly well known by the other human patrons, while Cooper had been left to sit on his own. Initially, Fagin growled and flexed his muscles anytime anyone came near him, but as the empty bottles stacked up, his attention span got less.
Dressed in tight pants, boots and a leather jacket Fagin bought for him just that afternoon Cooper felt like a butterfly in a cattle yard. On the plus side, he wasn’t a beer drinker, so the bottle Fagin bought for him when they arrived was still half full. On the negative side, it was boring as hell watching idiots fall all over each other, getting louder and louder as more and more booze got consumed. The cigarette smoke in the air thickened as the night went on, and Cooper was hard-pressed not to sneeze.
Wriggling around, the
vinyl covering the booth seat was cracked, Cooper pulled out his phone. It was only 10.30. In theory, Fagin and Buster could carry on like this for hours. Cooper just hoped one of them was sober enough to carry the other, because they both seem too sloshed to walk and they were both too heavy for him to lift. At least that’s the excuse Cooper was giving for why Fagin was leaning on a blowsy brunette while he was busy regaling his audience with a story that involving bikes, his bar, and some red-neck called Billy Bob.
Cooper looked down at his screen. Beth had sent him a message.
How you getting on with Mr. hot stuff?
Cooper typed back. Watching the man drink himself silly ha ha.
In the bedroom? Damn man, loosen that zipper and give him something else to play with.
No lol. Biker bar. Seems to be his scene. Zipper staying firmly closed.
Eye opening? Beth sent a wink emoji.
Specimens here definitely support the theory of evolution. I’ve seen more Neanderthals in the last hour than I’ve seen in my life.
OMG. Crack Up. Couple of us from the office at the Blue Jelly. Join us?
Cooper thought about it. It was so tempting, but it wasn’t as though he could go to the Blue Jelly dressed as he was, and despite Fagin’s behavior, they were mates. That meant Cooper wouldn’t leave him, especially not with a brunette claiming his attention. Not sure Neanderthals can drive. He sent back. Next time. Have fun. Stay safe.
Wearing my killer heels and enough booze under my belt to use them. Call you tomorrow.
Closing out his message program with a sigh, Cooper put his phone in his jacket, his eyes automatically looking for Fagin. There was far more butt crack showing at the bar than he was used to seeing and not one of the flabby asses belonged to Fagin. Frowning, Cooper checked the rest of the tables. No sign of Fagin or Buster. Picking up his beer bottle, Cooper closed his eyes and focused on his mating bond. It was there; once wolves mated the bond could never be broken. But it was if he was getting rain fade – the images distorted and hazy.