by Maggie Walsh
“But what about you, Dell? Are you ready to take over?” Caleb looked to his brother.
Dell smiled at him as he answered, “Yes, bro, I’m ready. You know I have had the best teacher, and your mate has been a great friend and advisor over the years, even though you had no idea. I won’t lie and say that a part of me isn’t nervous, but I know I’m ready. The pack saw the other day that I am ready to step up and take control, as well as to do what must be done to keep them safe. We’ll be fine, bro. You don’t need to worry.”
“I’m not worried about your ability to take over and be alpha, Dell. I know you can do it and will be a great alpha just like dad. I just want to make sure you’re really alright after what happened. Losing pack members so viciously is hard on any alpha, but to start off this way... I’m just worried about you, bro.”
“I know, Caleb, and I thank you for that. I am also so grateful for your continued support, as well as your mate’s. But, I have Jude here as my second, and you know how badass he is. Then Kitka is coming up from the Warren pack and stepping in as my second beta.”
“Good, Jude will kick ass and takes names after, but he’s good with the pack, very patient and he loves playing with the cubs,” Caleb said.
Dell chuckled. “Exactly. He’ll be a perfect beta for a pack alpha. So it’s all good, Caleb. Go live your life with your new mate and your new pack. It’s not like we won’t see each other anymore. Our packs are now joined together in more ways than one. Our alliance is strong and I know I can count on Ridge’s pack and on you.”
Caleb sighed then gave his brother and father a smile. “Okay. If this is what you all really want and you’re all happy, then I’m happy too. I’ll miss you and Mama, Dad, but I’m happy for you both.”
“Thank you, son. And don’t worry, we’ll keep in touch,” his father promised.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Now they were driving back to Ridge’s pack, his new home. Jag was asleep in the back seat, snoring. Caleb couldn’t blame the man. For the past three days, Jag had worked his ass off helping the pack during most of the day, then late afternoon he would go to check out the enforcers’ and warriors training and work with them, then he would spend the evenings trying to nail Bo down, but his friend was slippery and would always manage to get away.
A loud snort came from the back seat and Caleb couldn’t hold it in anymore, he burst out laughing as he looked back over his shoulder. Jag was leaning against the window, his arms crossed over his chest, his mouth was open and he had a little drool on his lip. Ridge hit a pothole, making the Sno-cat jump a little, and Jag cursed in his sleep as he scratched his nose, then settled back and began to snore again.
Ridge laughed, and Caleb looked to him and saw a mischievous look in his eyes. When he looked out the front window, he noticed his mate was aiming for the bumps and holes, and he started laughing again. “You’re evil.”
“He deserves it, trust me,” Ridge replied, with a laugh, then drove over another big bump.
After that, he and his mate fell into a comfortable conversation, telling each other stories of their lives and things they liked and didn’t like. Caleb was happy to find that he and Ridge had a lot in common when it came to music, TV, movies, and books, as well as a few other things. By the time they pulled up back at Ridge’s pack, Caleb was actually sad that their trip was over. He had enjoyed just talking with his mate.
But now, the reality of their world was back upon them and Ridge needed to go and deal with the second attack that had happened to their pack while he was gone. Caleb was thrilled when Ridge asked him to tag along, so he could familiarize himself with the packlands and their security system. He was very impressed when Ridge told him about the electrified fence that had saved his pack. They might not have the numbers of his birth pack, but Ridge’s pack was sure advanced on everything else.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Two months had passed since the attacks and Caleb and Ridge had fallen into a comfortable life together. Ridge had announced to the pack that Caleb was not only his mate, but his advisor and his second beta, which both shocked and thrilled him. He was also asked to give classes to the enforcers and warriors to bring up their fighting skills. First, he had started training Jag and Mason, so that they would be more advanced than the others and could lend him a hand.
With all the chaos that had happened when they first bonded, it had Ridge meeting with leaders of other packs as well as Dell and trying to ease some of the worries of their neighbors. A lot of them were now looking to both Ridge and Dell, because of the show of muscle they had used taking out Stuart’s pack, then sanctioning the Kinny brown bear pack for their part in the attacks.
The alpha of the sleuth, Jael Kinny swore he had nothing to do with Stuart, or his plan, and the bears that were involved were members he had kicked out over the years for one atrocity or another. Caleb wasn’t so sure if the man could be believed, but Ridge and Dell said they would keep a close eye on him.
Maximus, the wolverine shifter who had spied for Stuart, had suddenly just up and disappeared, and his pack leader had taken over his bar, promising his alliance to both Ridge and Dell. The bar the wolverines now ran was on York parklands, and was what made the wolverines most of their money, so the last thing they wanted to do was to have Dell as an enemy.
With everything going on and Caleb getting used to his new life and falling into a routine, he and Ridge had barely any alone time together. Yes, they had had sex a few times since, but it wasn’t anything like Caleb expected their sex life would be like going by those first two days, and they were yet to visit Ridge’s private playroom, or even the main one. Caleb understood Ridge had a lot on his plate right now, but there was a part of him that wondered if something had happened and his mate just didn’t think he was submissive enough for his dominance. Was it maybe because Ridge had finally seen him fight live and in person, as well as go after that prisoner, and maybe his mate wasn’t sure if Caleb was actually a perfect fit for him now?
He had heard Ridge say he loved him that day before they went in to talk to the prisoner, and at the time he just thought it wasn’t what Ridge had really meant, even though he had gotten his hopes up. Caleb figured it was just said in the heat of the moment. Now seeing as their mating had seemed to slow down, and their sex life basically come to a screeching halt, Caleb was now nervous that his mate was thinking he had made a big mistake in claiming him.
Caleb’s heart hurt with that thought taking hold. He knew he was in love with Ridge, would follow him to the ends of the earth, and please him in any way that his mate wanted, but did that mean he would have to change who he was to make it happen? Would he have to step back as Ridge’s beta and stop being a warrior? Then maybe his mate would see him as a perfect submissive mate again.
He didn’t think he could do that. He had spent his whole life learning how to fight and be an enforcer then a warrior, to now have to stop and change who he was, Caleb didn’t think it was possible. It was a part of who he was.
His heart clenched and Caleb rubbed the area, trying to make the pain go away, so he could do his job. Some of the enforcers were coming into the gym this morning to learn sword fighting and he really needed to have his thoughts focused, or someone could get hurt. Caleb thought of the attack on his birth pack and what needed to be done to punish those responsible, to send out a message to the other packs of all different kinds, not to fuck with the York pack. He let the anger roll through him, and by the time Jag, Mason, and the others showed up, Caleb was ready.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
“What the hell is going on with your mate, man?” Jag grumbled, as he walked into Ridge’s office and dropped down on the sofa.
Ridge looked up from the papers he was reading and raised a brow at his best friend. “Problem?”
“Yes... No,” Jag mumbled, as he sat forward and rested his elbows on his knees. Ridge noticed Jag was dripping with sweat and wondered what he had been up to.
“Well,
that’s decisive,” he teased, then looked back to his papers.
“We had sword training today and he damn near took off Joao’s head. Of course Joao was being a bitch at the time and fooling around, so your mate taught him a lesson that I’m sure Joao will never forget, but still, I thought the guy was going to shit himself.”
“What did Joao do?”
“Caleb was explaining about the difference between a Fade, an Empty Fade, and a False Fade and Joao started cracking jokes about fade haircuts and swinging the sword around like he was going to chop the top of someone's hair off and give them a fade. Well, Caleb got pissed and pulled Joao from the line, then spent the next hour handing his ass to him. After that, he worked the rest of us to near exhaustion. I’m not complaining, because shit, man, I love this training, but something has crawled up your mate’s ass and died. I love Caleb, but I was starting to get a little worried for some of the men.”
“Not for nothing, bro, but it sounds to me like Joao’s stupid jokes could have gotten somebody hurt, or worse, killed. You can’t fuck around with swords like that. I’m sorry, but I don’t blame Caleb for teaching him a lesson in being more careful and respectful of sword fighting. As for the rest, Joao’s antics probably pissed him off because it’s too dangerous for someone not to take it seriously,” Ridge argued.
Jag held up his hands. “Hey, I agree completely, but I kind of got the feeling he was in a bad mood before we even got there. With each passing week that he’s here, Caleb seems to be getting more tightly strung, if you know what I mean?”
Ridge didn’t like what he was hearing, but not because he was angry with his mate. No, he was angry with himself. Since Caleb had arrived it seemed like one catastrophe after another, and one meeting after another, with some leader of one pack or another, and Ridge was feeling the stress. He missed his mate and wanted nothing more than to spend time with him and play with his pet, but unfortunately, they hadn’t had much time together at all.
It looked like the stress was getting to Caleb too, and Ridge should have been paying closer attention. His mate’s whole world had changed in the blink of an eye and the man never complained once. He didn’t question their mating, or leaving to come here to Ridge’s pack, Caleb just accepted his place by his side. Shit, he had been a terrible mate.
“I’ll take care of it, Jag, thanks.”
“I know it’s none of my business, Alpha, and you have every right to tell me to go fuck myself, but as your friend, I feel like I need to say this. What the fuck are you doing, bro? Caleb is a good man. He really is the perfect mate for you and since you picked him up and brought him here to a new pack and a new life, the guy hasn’t complained once. He’s just stepped into his role here and has done so much already to make our warriors and enforcers better. He’s also done everything to help your life be a little easier. He’s taken calls from other leaders while you’ve been busy, as well as joined you on some of those outings. He works hard with me learning the ins and outs of our pack, and has done, I don’t even know how many training sessions. And on top of all of that, he works out in the gym every morning for two hours, then goes on a run around the compound every afternoon for an hour or more. If I didn’t know any better, I would say he’s trying to work off his sexual frustrations.”
Ridge sat and stared at his best friend for a minute as he took in everything Jag said. He knew Caleb was working hard, but he truly didn’t realize everything his mate had been doing. “I know, man. I was just thinking about how wonderful he’s been and how I need to tell him how much I appreciate not only what he’s been doing, but how much I value and respect him. I’ve fucked up and haven’t taken care of my mate properly in any way. I need to fix that, pronto.”
“Yeah, you do. I really like Caleb and think he’s good for all of us, but most importantly, he’s good for you,” Jag said, as he stood. “Now, fuck the paperwork and go find your man and, well, fuck him.” Jag laughed, then turned and walked out.
Ridge sat back in his chair and sighed heavily. Jag was right, he needed to make time for his mate every day. Time for just the two of them to connect and let their relationship grow. He closed his eyes and thought of what he wanted to do to his mate to make it up to him. To show Caleb how much he meant to him.
He thought of their playroom, then the main dungeon. Maybe a scene would help his mate burn off some of that frustration he was feeling? Maybe he should take him on the dinner table, showing everyone who Caleb belonged to, which would most likely give Caleb some peace knowing Ridge was claiming him for all to see, and proving to Caleb’s wolf that he accepted him still.
Fuck, now his cock was hard as hell wanting to do it all. Maybe that’s exactly what they both needed. To do it all.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Ridge quickly ran back to their rooms to take a shower before dinner and saw that Caleb had already been there. He looked around the bathroom and found it perfectly clean. If it wasn’t for the lingering scent of Caleb’s bodywash in the air, Ridge would have never known his mate had actually taken a shower.
Caleb’s dirty clothes were in the hamper, his damp towel hung straight on the rod, there was no mess left behind in the sink, and it looked like he had even squeegeed the shower. Ridge had thought that was an odd thing when Caleb had first put the squeegee in their shower, but Caleb had insisted it helped make the weekly scrubbing of the shower easier. Now he saw that his mate actually did clean the shower after he was done. That was fine during those times when he showered alone, but Caleb would have to let that go when they showered together.
Ridge groaned from that thought and his cock got instantly hard. He had yet to shower with his mate and wasn’t that just a crime? To look at all those delicious muscles with water cascading down them would be so erotic and Ridge had been a fucking idiot to not have taken his mate in there yet.
He needed to get moving and make it to dinner on time if he was going to enact his plan. He had already warned Blu that from now until morning he and Caleb were not to be disturbed unless it was an absolute emergency. Blu had squealed in delight for him, told him it was about damn time, then promised no one would get through him. Ridge knew that the gamma would keep his word.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
He stepped into the kitchen to find Jag and Blu already seated as TJ brought over plates of food. He took his seat, but Caleb wasn’t there.
“Where are Mason and Caleb?” he asked, as he pulled out his seat.
“Mason is on guard duty and we haven’t seen Caleb yet,” Jag replied nervously.
“I saw him head toward the courtyard about a half hour ago,” Blu interjected.
Ridge sighed. “I’ll go get hi―” He stopped when Caleb walked into the room. The fake smile painted on his mate’s face just killed him.
“Sorry, I got lost in my book. You could have started without me,” Caleb said, as he made his way to his seat to Ridge’s right.
“No problem, Caleb, I just put everything on the table,” TJ replied.
As Caleb pulled his seat out to sit, Ridge caught the scent of Joao on him, and his wolf growled menacingly. He didn’t think Caleb would actually cheat on him, but he and his wolf did not like the scent of another man on their mate. Which made what he was about to do even easier and in his eyes, more crucial.
In a flash, Ridge grabbed Caleb around the waist with one hand as he clutched the nape of his neck with the other, spinning his mate toward him as he pulled their bodies close. He heard Caleb’s surprised gasp as his eyes widened, and he stared at Ridge in shock, but he also saw heat there.
Ridge pushed his nose against Caleb’s throat and drew in a deep breath, then growled, “Why do you stink of another man?”
A shiver raced through Caleb as he answered breathlessly, “I was in the courtyard when Joao came in to apologize for being an idiot during sword training. He was very upset and we talked. After I scolded him again for his antics, and reaffirmed how safety was important and how we would start over again at t
he next session, he was relieved and hugged me. He thanked me for not throwing him out of training, then left. I sat to read my book again. That’s why I didn’t realize how late it had gotten. I’m sorry, my alpha.”
Ridge pulled his head back and looked into Caleb’s eyes. “I trust you, mate, but me and my wolf are disgusted to scent another on you, and we need to take care of that. Don’t move,” he ordered, and Caleb froze.
Ridge released his mate’s neck, then ran his hands all over Caleb’s body. Once he reached the hem of his shirt, Ridge tore the garment from Caleb’s body and began licking and nipping his exposed skin. When he reached Caleb’s collarbone, Ridge pulled back slightly, and said in a harsh voice for all to hear. “If any man ever touches you and not in training, I will have their heads. You belong to me.” Ridge bit down onto his mating mark and broke through the skin, making Caleb cry out. He knew what would happen. He could scent his mate’s release and knew the others would as well. His wolf howled in triumph. As much as he wanted to bend Caleb over the table and fuck him right there for the others to see, something inside him said no. He didn’t want others seeing his man’s body like that, or his face in the throes of passion. That was meant just for him. But, he would show his dominance over his mate and send a clear picture to them that Caleb was his.
Caleb trembled against him, moaning, and replied, “Yes, my alpha, my mate. I belong only to you, forever.”
Ridge loved that answer. He drew his teeth back and licked over the bite, sealing it, then continued that line up to Caleb’s ear and nipped the lobe. “You are my mate, my partner, my equal, my submissive, my love, my very reason for living, and I have neglected you. For that I am sorry.”