Elias

by Catherine Lievens

  Kameron was in his human form and facing the creature. It was still as weird and disgusting as when Blake had seen it when Zane was wounded, and it was growling and snapping its teeth at the alpha.

  A few other wolves were circling the two but not approaching them, not yet. Blake and Nick stopped and Nick tilted his chin at the other wolves. Blake took it as an order to circle with them and did just that.

  The creature looked around and Blake could’ve sworn he saw intelligence in its eyes, and desperation. It knew it was surrounded, and that it would be hard for it to get free unless it shimmered. It didn’t, though, and Blake wondered why.

  It lunged for Kameron, and Kameron moved to the side, avoiding it. He reached for its neck as it passed, but the creature seemed to sense it and steered away. The closest wolf nipped at it when it came close, but the creature didn’t pay it any attention, turning back to Kameron instead.

  “Can you talk?” Kameron asked.

  The creature howled like a wolf, and Blake had to resist the urge to howl with it. The sound was full of pain, and Blake’s wolf reacted to it, almost as if it were a fellow pack member.

  “What do you want,” Kameron insisted, and the creature lunged again.

  Kameron reached down, but the creature swung an arm toward him, claws extended. Kameron had to move away to avoid them and lost the opportunity to collar it.

  Blake saw Kameron shift his fingers into claws, and the next time the creature lunged for him, instead of trying to collar it, he swiped his claws along its stomach.

  The creature howled in pain and staggered backward. Kameron wiped his bloody claws on his jeans and got closer to the creature. It surged forward before Kameron managed to collar it, but Kameron grabbed its wrist and pushed it back down. The creature looked at the wolves around it, then back up at Kameron. It whined, and shimmered away.

  Kameron reached for it with the collar, but it was too late. It was gone.

  “Damn it!” Kameron swore. “Everyone, search the woods. Stay in pairs, and don’t get close to it if you find it. Howl instead.”

  Blake followed Nick. They looked around the woods for hours, even searching out of pack territory, but without finding as much as a drop of blood. They went back to the house and Blake was exhausted, but it passed quickly when he found a young gray wolf waiting for him on the porch.

  Nick rolled his eyes and shifted. “Why don’t you two take this opportunity to play around for a bit? The creature seems to be gone for now, so you should be safe. Stay close to the house, just in case.”

  Blake yipped and Elias thumped his tail on the wood of the porch. His tongue lolled out of his mouth and he yipped happily at Nick when the beta passed by him. Nick chuckled and patted his head, and Elias licked his hand. “Gross, Eli. Now go play with your mate while I cover his ass with Kameron. We all need some carefree moments while the creature is wounded.”

  Elias bounded down the stairs and launched himself at Blake. They wrestled on the snowy ground for a while, Elias trying to bite on Blake’s nape, but Blake was damned if he’d allow his mate to do that. The only place where he’d let Elias dominate him was in bed.

  He slammed Elias on his back and climbed on top of him, and Elias licked his nose. Blake loved the laughter in his mate’s eyes, and he licked back. Elias nipped at his muzzle and Blake playfully growled at him, not that it made Elias stop. Now that he’d found something that annoyed Blake, Elias started licking at every inch of him he could reach. Blake licked back, and they rolled again.

  “I can understand Eli, but you, Blake?”

  Blake was on his back and he looked up at the porch. Thomas was there, looking down at them with his arms crossed on his chest.

  Elias growled and Thomas growled back. Blake got up and shook his fur free of snow and dirt. He yipped at Elias and Elias bit at his muzzle again. Blake rolled his eyes and trotted up the porch. He shifted and ignored Thomas’ groan of displeasure at seeing him naked. “Really, you’ve seen me naked since we were kids. You should be used to it by now.”

  “That was before I caught you fornicating with my son.”

  Elias came up the steps and nipped at Thomas’ heels. “Hey! Stop that, kid.”

  Elias shifted and Thomas turned away. “Jeesh.”

  “He’s your son, Thomas. I’m pretty sure you’ve seen him naked too.”

  “That was before he became sexually active.”

  “Dad! Can we not ever again talk about sex, please?”

  “Yeah, okay. I’ll just pretend you’re still pure as snow and that the only thing you do with Blake is hold hands.”

  Elias laughed. “Perfect.”

  He hooked his arm around Blake’s waist as they walked inside. Everyone was gone, either still outside or in Kameron’s office. Elias and Blake stopped at the open door and looked inside. Kameron was talking with Nick and a few others.

  “I wounded it, so it’s probably hidden somewhere. I don’t think it’ll attack again soon.”

  Nick sighed. “We can’t be sure of that.”

  “No, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We don’t know where it is, or even if it’s still alive.”

  “You got it good. If it’s not dead yet, it won’t be long.”

  Kameron looked grim when he answered. “I won’t believe that until I see the body.”

  Chapter Seven

  Eli threw his cap and gown on his bed and unbuttoned his shirt. He was opening the last button when someone cleared their throat behind him and he sighed. “Yes, Dad?”

  “So...”

  Eli turned to face his father and cocked his head. He wasn’t going to make this easy. If his dad had something to tell him, then he’d better open his mouth and say it. “Yes?”

  “You’re going tonight? Now? I thought that maybe we could have a last father and son evening.”

  “Isn’t that what we did last night? And the night before?”

  His dad shuffled. “Well, yes, but we could have a last one.”

  “You know this is not going to make me change my mind, right? You’re only postponing the inevitable.”

  “I know, I know.”

  “You also know I’m not going to fall for it again?”

  His dad sighed and leaned against the doorframe. He looked around the room, and Eli knew what he was seeing—boxes, all of them closed, and bags full of clothes ready to be taken away. Eli had spent the last week packing his stuff, and he and Blake had started to take it to Blake’s house—their house—a few days before.

  The house was ready for them to move in, and Blake had already done so a month earlier. Eli had been there more than at his dad’s house lately, although he’d dedicated the few days before graduation to him and had barely seen Blake until today. Blake had been at the ceremony with Eli’s family to see him get his diploma, and the fact that Eli had kissed him right after the ceremony had gathered attention.

  Most of Eli’s classmates had been floored. Eli had never dated, and he knew most people didn’t even know who he was, but those who did had never asked him if he was gay, and he’d never volunteered that bit of information. On top of that, Blake was clearly an older adult, although no one knew just how much older. He just looked like a hot guy in his late twenties, maybe early thirties, and a few of Eli’s teachers had tried to get Blake’s attention before he’d made it blatant that he was with Eli.

  Some people had been scandalized, some had winked at Eli in obvious appreciation, and Eli had cared for nothing of that. In his mind, he’d already been moving his stuff and settling in his new home.

  His dad came in and sat on the bed. “I never thought I’d see you go so soon.”

  Eli sighed and sat next to him. “What about college?”

  “It’s different.”

  “I’d still be gone if I’d chosen another college.”

  Eli’s eyes bugged out when his father reached out and pulled him against his side. His dad wasn’t overly em
otional and they didn’t usually hug or say I love you. Eli wasn’t sure how to deal with an uncharacteristically emotional dad.

  He patted his dad’s back as he hugged back, and found himself relaxing in the hold. “I’ll be fine. I’m just five minutes away by foot, and you can visit whenever you want.” Eli paused. “Just knock before you come in.”

  His dad cackled in Eli’s ear. “Believe me, I will. I got scarred for life after that time months ago.”

  Eli moved back and smiled at his father. “I’m going to miss living here.”

  “I’m going to miss having you here, too. But you’re right, it’s time for you to spread your wings.”

  “I’m not a bird shifter, Dad.”

  His dad rolled his eyes and punched Eli’s arm. “Very funny. Do you need help with your stuff?”

  “Not today. I’m just going to go there with a few bags of clothes, and we’ll come by tomorrow for the rest.”

  “Ah. Today’s the day, huh?”

  “Daaad! I can’t talk to you about this stuff!”

  “I was just asking about your mating. I don’t want any details. Just... it’s a bit like knowing you’re getting married. A father wants to know that stuff.”

  “Yeah, today’s the day, and that’s all I’m going to say.”

  “Fine with me.” He got up from the bed and patted Eli’s shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow. We’ll expect you for lunch. And be careful on your way there.”

  Eli nodded. The creature hadn’t been seen in months, so most people thought it had died. His dad and Blake weren’t so certain of that, though, and they always cautioned Eli when he had to leave the house. He didn’t mind—it just showed how much they cared for him.

  He quickly showered and dressed again, this time in shorts and a T-shirt. He grabbed his overnight bag and waved at his dad and Craig as he passed the living room. Craig yelled, “Take care!” as he did so, and Eli laughed.

  “Always!”

  He was careful as he walked through the woods, like always, but like always, he didn’t see or hear anything weird. Maybe the creature really was dead. He certainly hoped so.

  Eli bounded up the steps to his and Blake’s house and swung the door open. “Honey? I’m home!”

  He heard a laugh from the end of the hallway and his heart thudded, Blake was already in the bedroom. Great. Eli sauntered there and froze just as he was about to enter the room.

  They hadn’t changed anything in it, except for repainting the walls and adding more furniture. The bed and nightstands were still the ones Eli had gone to buy with Nysys, but now there was a matching dresser and a low sofa in front of the fireplace.

  And there was a very naked man on the bed.

  “What are you doing?”

  Blake gestured at his body. “I thought it was obvious.”

  “Well, yeah, but why are you already naked?” Eli threw his bag on the sofa and walked closer to the bed, his gaze raking over Blake’s body from head to toe, then back up. “Not that I don’t like it.”

  “I remember someone surprising me the same way a few months ago. I wanted to give the love back. You know me. I’m a generous guy.”

  Eli grinned and stripped. He flung his clothes around the room, grateful for the fact that it was almost summer and they didn’t need many clothes. He was naked in seconds and jumping on the bed in even less time.

  Blake’s arms went around him right away, but when Eli tried to roll them so that he could be on his back, Blake stopped him.

  “What? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” Blake smirked. “But I think you should check me.”

  Eli frowned. “Check you?”

  Blake gently pushed him away and Eli rose on his knees. Blake held his gaze as he spread his legs open, and Eli just couldn’t not look at him. He nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw what Blake was referring to. “Is that the one...”

  “Nope. New one.”

  “Okay,” Eli croaked. “Does that mean you want me to—to do it?”

  Blake laughed and sat up. He kissed Eli, slowly and thoroughly. “You can say it, you know. Yes, I want you to fuck me this time.”

  Eli was speechless. They’d never really talked about who did what in bed—or on the couch, in the kitchen, wherever—but Eli had somehow always ended up being the receiver. Not that he minded, because he didn’t, but thinking about fucking Blake made him nervous as fuck. “But... I’ve never done it.”

  “So?”

  “What if I’m bad at it? Or if I hurt you?”

  Blake smiled softly and cupped Eli’s cheek. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”

  “Oh, I want to, believe me. I’m just nervous.”

  Blake nodded. “How about I’ll tell you if I feel pain? Would that work for you?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And I’m already stretched.”

  Eli blushed. “I noticed.”

  Blake examined Eli’s face. “You’re still not sure about it.”

  Eli shook his head. “I’m sorry. I just... we’re going to mate, right? I mean, now, or maybe you wanted to wait some more, I don’t know.”

  “You graduated. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to wait anymore.”

  “I don’t.”

  “Then we mate now.”

  “Shouldn’t you be the one to fuck me? What if I mess this up?”

  Blake pushed Eli backward and Eli let himself fall. Blake sat on his stomach, and Eli shivered at the feeling of Blake’s balls and the plug on his skin. “Would it be easier like this?” Blake asked.

  “I... yeah. Yeah.” Eli’s dick was rock hard just from the thought of being inside Blake, let alone finally mating with him.

  Blake smirked and rose. Eli followed every movement with his gaze and gulped. Blake reached behind himself and bit his lower lip, and Eli knew exactly what he was doing. He slid a hand around his mate’s waist and followed the curve of his ass cheek. His hand bumped into Blake’s and he stroked down it until he got to his fingers—the fingers that were currently moving the plug in and out of his ass.

  Eli bit harder on his lip and grabbed the plug when Blake slid it out again. He pulled it away and let it fall somewhere between his legs. He felt with his fingers and traced them around the rim of Blake’s hole. It was almost too much, and he was relieved when Blake reached even lower and grabbed his cock.

  Eli groaned and let his hand fall on Blake’s thigh as Blake moved his hand up and down his dick, slicking it. He had no idea when Blake had gotten the lube and he didn’t care. He was about to explode, and wouldn’t that put a stop to their mating sex?

  Blake grabbed the root of Eli’s dick and held it upright. Eli tightened his hold on Blake’s thighs. He was pretty sure he was hurting Blake, but his mate didn’t protest, so he didn’t stop.

  Blake locked his gaze with Eli’s and held it as he slowly lowered himself on his cock. Eli couldn’t look away, not even when the head of his dick popped inside Blake and he almost came right away.

  Blake slid down until Eli felt his mate’s ass resting on his thighs. He opened his mouth, to say what he didn’t know, but he wasn’t able to do more than moan brokenly and slide his hands higher. He gripped Blake’s waist and Blake took it as permission to start moving.

  “Fucking fuck, Blake.”

  Blake stopped moving and laughed. “Fucking fuck?”

  Eli slapped his ass and Blake eyes widened as he moaned. Eli’s brows rose on his forehead. “You like spanking?”

  “Can we stop talking for a while?”

  “Fine, but I’ll remember this bit of info, and I’ll use it when—” Eli squeaked when Blake tightened around him like a vise.

  “Shut up.”

  Eli nodded enthusiastically and Blake started moving again. It took almost no time at all for Eli to be desperate to come. The only reason he didn’t was that he’d started thinking about anything he could that wasn’t related to sex—baseba
ll, what he was going to do this summer, college, you name it.

  But after a while even that stopped working, and he knew he’d come soon. He grabbed at Blake’s shoulders and Blake understood what he wanted. He leaned down and tilted his head so that Eli had easy access to his neck and ground his ass on Eli’s thighs. “Do it,” he croaked, and Eli didn’t wait for Blake to ask again.

  He struck, his fangs sinking into Blake’s flesh easily. He felt Blake bite him and instinctively mirrored his position. Blake bit harder, and Eli’s vision went white. He screwed his eyes shut and groaned around Blake’s flesh, his hands tightening around his mate’s waist as he came.

  Something hot splashed on Eli’s stomach and he realized Blake had come too, just as the connection sprang between them. Feelings that weren’t his own assaulted Eli. It was weird, especially because they were so similar to his own, yet minutely different.

  It took a minute or two for the connection to settle and for Blake’s feelings to become an undercurrent in Eli’s mind. Only then did he withdraw his fangs and lick Blake’s wound clean. He looked at the mark on his mate’s neck and felt incredibly smug.

  Blake chuckled against his neck and Eli shivered at the tongue that slid on his own mating mark.

  A phone rang and Eli groaned. “Really? How much do you bet that it’s my dad?”

  “I think it’s mine, actually.”

  Blake rose and Eli whimpered at the loss of warmth. He didn’t move and watched Blake lean over the side of the bed and take his cell phone from his jeans. He answered, and Eli closed his eyes.

  “We’re coming,” Blake said, his voice so serious that Eli knew something had happened.

  He sat up and looked at Blake. Blake put his phone down and looked back. “Jago was taken.”

  “Taken?”

  “Zach saw it happen. The creature took him.”

  The End

  About the Author

  Catherine lives in Italy, country of good food and hot men. She used to write fantasy as a child, but it was reading her first gay erotic romance novel that made her realize that that was what she really wanted to write.