by Fern Fel
“Keep your hands above your head,” Dino commanded. The sound of his firm voice made him shiver.
“Okay,” Martin agreed. “What are you—”
He shut up when Dino started leaving kisses on the side of his neck, moving downward. Dino sucked the hollow of his collarbone, took his right nipple into his mouth until the bud hardened. Martin felt the slight edge of Dino’s teeth and groaned when Dino bit down, leaving his mark there. Their gazes remained locked. The attention made the experience all the more intense. Dino went lower, kissing his flat belly and finally reaching his prick.
“Wait,” Martin began.
Dino didn’t wait. If Dino’s hand on his cock felt amazing enough, his mouth was even more mind blowing. Seemingly taking his time, Dino licked away the pre-cum on his cockhead, tonguing the slit. Martin had a hard time keeping his hands still above him. Dino licked and sucked his way down his length, teasing him.
“Dino, please.” The words easily slipped out.
In response, Dino took Martin’s prick between his lips and began applying suction. A powerful sensation rocked through Martin’s body. If this went on any longer, he’d shoot.
“I can’t hold it back any longer,” Martin confessed.
Dino pulled his mouth away, lifted himself up so they stared at each other face to face. “You want to come, little wolf?”
“Please,” Martin whispered.
Dino closed his fist around his shaft again. “Then do it, all over my hand. Now.”
Dino’s permission seemed like the only thing Martin’s body was waiting for. Head reeling, Martin let out a shuddering cry as the pressure building inside him broke open.
Chapter Six
“So what were you doing around the area?” Martin asked.
Dino and his little wolf were still lying on the ground, with Martin curled up next to him. Martin turned so he lay on his stomach, and put a hand on his head. Dino traced Martin’s spine with his hand, liking when Martin let out a moan and pressed a little closer to him, wrapping his hands tightly around Dino’s body. His little wolf seemed to like touching him and couldn’t stop.
He didn’t answer immediately and debated whether it was wise telling Martin the truth. Martin wasn’t a member of the Darkfall pack or for that matter, his mate. Wait, where did that thought come from?
“Sergio gave us a new task,” Dino began and told Martin about the recent influx of campers by the Darkfall Lake.
Martin looked thoughtful for a second. “Let me come with you.”
Dino hesitated. The old him would have never considered that option, bringing in an outsider to meddle in pack affairs. Then again, what use was being a stickler about rules?
He lost the only person that mattered to him either way. Dino closed his eyes. The past had no place, not in this cave, this secret hiding place of Martin’s. His old lover didn’t even cross his mind the entire time. Michella would have approved of his blooming relationship with Martin, Dino knew. Heck, if she were a ghost, she’d really push him into pursuing it.
Martin must have sensed his apprehension because he continued, “It’s just reconnaissance, right? It would be fun to run with you.”
At those last words, color rose to Martin’s cheeks and neck. Dino grinned. Cute little wolf. “Let’s go for a run then.”
The next thing Dino knew, Martin started to shift, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Laughing, Dino reached for his wolf. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d been this relaxed or had so much fun. Once in animal form, Martin beat him to the exit and began worming his way out. Dino would’ve have smirked if he still possessed a human mouth. Martin didn’t it know it yet, but Dino gave him a start.
He could easily tackle Martin but how would that be fun?
Still, squeezing himself out of exit proved as miserable as the first time. He was seriously too big for the hole. Once out, he saw Martin, impatiently waiting for him, tail thumping up and down. Seeing him, Martin broke into a run, as if silently daring Dino to catch him. Sprinting, Dino caught up to his little wolf in no time. He leaped, sheathing his claws and sent Martin and he rolling in the dirt.
God, he couldn’t remember the last time he played like this, like some wolf pup without a care in the world. They rolled and tangled, like two lovers in mating heat. Dino didn’t realize they ended up rolling near the edge of a drop until he saw there were no longer any trees covering them in shadow. He halted.
Martin stopped, too. Dino got off Martin and took a look around. He knew this place. Hangman’s cliff, the locals called it. Dino padded forward, Martin by his side. The other wolf seemed to sense the change in him and went from being excited to cautious. Dino approved. They stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake now. What Dino saw stole his breath.
Scattered along the river bend were campers. There must be a hundred of them. Men and women chatting around a fire, laughing. Hackles raised, Dino was tempted to go down the river. Maybe find a perfect hiding space to watch and see if these were really clueless humans or the enemy. He couldn’t risk getting closer though, not without endangering Martin.
He paused when Martin nipped his fur and looked eagerly below them.
Could Martin follow orders?
Well, since they were here already, Dino might as well do what he promised to Raul. He’d simply make sure Martin and he weren’t caught. Taking point, Dino ran down the cliff. Using the landscape to his advantage, they kept themselves hidden. He knew every nook and cranny of the forest, every best vantage point, and hiding place. On the ground level, Dino kept to the woods, scenting for nearby humans.
They were everywhere. Dino grunted. Camp smells reached him. Two young lovers made love from somewhere nearby, so he avoided them. Martin trailed behind him, silent as a shadow.
Something still didn’t feel right about all this. Where did these humans come from? How did they get here so soon, without them knowing? They crouched in a couple of bushes near the bank now, observing. Minutes passed. Dino sensed Martin begging to look, restless beside him.
The humans chatted about normal, everyday things. Abandoning those with families, Dino went further up river. There were more tents here. The smell of grilled fish occasionally hit his nose. Martin’s stomach growled behind him. Dino whipped his head. Martin shot him an apologetic look.
He was about to call it a night. Dino would rather go back to Martin’s cave for round two. Better yet, they could head back to town, have dinner and end up in Martin’s apartment. That sounded like a proper date and Martin certainly deserved that. They could talk about what happened and Dino intended to tell Martin it wasn’t a mistake or some fling.
Dino’s wolf could confirm the truth. Martin was his mate. As impossible as it sounded, the beast could sense it deep in its gut. Logan had lost his mate, too, and found Raul. Couldn’t Dino do the same? With Martin, it was possible to move on and take advantage of this second chance fate granted him. Dino certainly didn’t deserve such a gift, but after a taste of Martin, he couldn’t bring himself to say no either.
Dino began to backtrack but halted when the wind brought about the smell of guns and blood. Some humans who’d killed their kind often left a kind of taint about them that never went away. Silently baring his teeth, Dino returned his attention to the bank. Half a dozen men he didn’t notice before had set up camp between a large family with noisy kids and a young couple. He inched close, snarled softly when Martin nudged his head against his side, eyes worried.
The men ranged from the twenties to forties, some lean and tall, others buff and built like brick walls. They wore casual clothes, but the clothes seemed to hang off them wrong, like costumes. Under the sleeve of one guy, Dino caught sight of the telltale ink that told him some of these men were from the Order of the Knife. The human hunters were easy to single out from the mercenaries employed by Alpine Industries.
These were the assholes responsible for Michella’s death. The killers from the Order were a breed apart, simply because
their actions were hard to predict. The murderer who killed Michella blew himself up for Christ’s sake. Dino should report back to the others, but red rage tinted his vision.
Six to one—he was outnumbered, but he didn’t care. Thoughts of vengeance propelled him forward. He threw caution to the wind. Twigs and dried leaves crackled under his paws. One of the hunters looked toward their direction. With only moonlight and the stars illuminating the woods, the bastard would have a hard time making out Dino or Martin, though.
He might be pissed, but he wasn’t suicidal. Dino could lure them out one by one and rip out their throats. Martin nudged him again, but Dino ignored the other shifter. He was so close he could taste their blood in his mouth. The hunter kept staring at where they hid but didn’t reach for a weapon or warn the others.
Did the unsuspecting bastard know Dino’s gaze was on him, marking him as the first to die?
From the corner of his eye, Dino caught a blur of black. The next thing he knew, a third shifter pounced on him. Raul. Dino bared his teeth. Where the hell did his best friend come from?
Oh right. After he told Raul he wanted to go for a run and check on the campers, Raul must have been worried and decided to check on him. Typical Raul. Raul must have thought Dino still wasn’t stable enough to handle situations like this. Martin peered at him over Raul’s shoulder. While it had been tempting to shove Raul off and draw blood, Dino reeled his temper back.
Wanting to attack the hunters without backup told Dino the truth. He wasn’t ready. Dino still let emotions get in the way of his job. Raul must have sensed he calmed down because he got off Dino.
Dino heard the thump next, the sound of a body hitting the ground. Panicked, he craned his head. Martin lay on the ground, tongue lolling out of his muzzle, his yellow eyes scared. Raul tugged him down, forcing Dino to a crouch. He didn’t even hear the gunfire. It took Dino a second to realize the hunters were using silencers. Still staying low, Dino crept to Martin.
God if anything happened to Martin, he would never forgive himself. On first glance, it didn’t look like the hunters hit anything vital. A snarl emerged from Dino when he saw what the hunter hit. Blood pooled from Martin’s left hind leg.
The shooter wasn’t going for the kill, but incapacitation. Footsteps sounded behind them. Dino began pushing Martin, urging him to get up. Martin stumbled, whimpering at the effort. Something small and fast hit Dino’s side. He hissed, feeling the bite of the bullet.
Martin growled at him, message clear. If his little wolf thought Dino would be leaving him behind, then he was sorely mistaken. Raul must have come to the same conclusion because he shoved Dino roughly, swiping his paw at him.
Go. Go. We’ll come back for him, Raul’s eyes seemed to say.
Another silent bullet embedded itself in the tree close to them. Another moment of hesitation could get all of them killed.
“We know you’re there, Darkfall beasts. Come out and play with us,” said a voice from the bank.
How the fuck did the hunter know they were here? Laughter followed. Dino heard guns being drawn, but no cries of alarm came from the nearby campers. They were either packing gear or…
What the hell? Dino didn’t have the time to pursue that line of thought. They all had to get out of there. He tried supporting some of Martin’s weight, but Martin pushed him away with a roar. Stubborn little wolf. Raul growled at him, Dino shook his head. With a growl, Raul met his gaze before running off to call for reinforcement.
Martin stared at him like he was insane. Dino didn’t care. He wouldn’t leave someone he cared about to a fate worse than death. Using his body as a shield, Dino bared his fangs at the hunters who emerged from the bushes. All three men aimed high-powered assault rifles at them.
“Look what we found, team. Prisoners to torture,” the same speaker who called out to them before stepped forward.
Huge, iron-grayed hair, and toting an eye patch over one eye, the hunter smiled eagerly at them. Dino took in the details—the bloodshot eyes and the way the guy’s hand trembled slightly when holding the gun. They were all signs the hunter was using the formula Alpine Industries had been developing, the one that lent a human the strength and abilities of a paranormal. That explained why the guy could see in the dark.
“Nothing to say, big guy?” the leader asked, sounding amused.
Dino only wanted to rip his face off. He snarled. One of the hunter’s lackeys fired, hitting him right in the gut. Dino didn’t feel any pain. No blood came out of the wound, only a sharp prick. They fired a sedative, he realized a second later. His vision swayed, but he refused to fall.
“What the fuck? The stubborn animal won’t go down,” remarked the hunter who fired the dart.
“Shoot him again,” the leader commanded.
The hunter took aim and fired another dart. Fur full of darts, Dino eventually fell unconscious.
Chapter Seven
“This will sting,” one of their kidnappers said.
Martin winced when the guy poured disinfectant over his leg. The hard part was over. The guy, who seemed medically trained, extracted the silver bullet from his left leg before it did any serious damage. Deeming him harmless, the other hunters didn’t stuff him in a cage the way they did to Dino. He could see Dino a couple of meters from him, pacing restlessly back and forth in wolf form.
When Dino woke, he refused cooperation, stirred up a fight and was shot by the hunters with more sleeping darts. Only when the leader threatened Martin’s life did Dino stop fighting.
It hurt Martin to see Dino like this. Dino’s yellow gaze focused on him. Martin wished he could speak freely, but that would earn him more bruises, threats. The hunters had already bruised and bloodied Dino up, but that didn’t stop them from keeping him in the cage while they did it. Cowards.
It worried him immensely that while his wounds were treated, the hunters were too cautious to let Dino out of the cage. Martin was certain Dino had been shot with silver bullets, too. That couldn’t be good. While the bullets hadn’t hit Dino in any vital spots, the poison from the silver would eventually find its way to Dino’s bloodstream and slowly kill him.
Don’t think about the worst. Think positive thoughts. Come up with a plan to get the two of you out of here.
Still, it was curious the shifters seemed far more valuable as captives than dead corpses, so Martin was certain the hunters wouldn’t kill Dino or him. Recalling how the same people took his old pack members and experimented on some of them, Martin had a hard time controlling his wolf. Showing aggression wouldn’t help Dino or him. Besides, he had a feeling Dino and he would be useful bargaining chips to the hunters.
Following his gaze, the young blond man asked, “Is he your mate?”
Martin bit his lip, unsure how to answer his question.
“It’s fine if you don’t tell me,” the guy said, beginning to bandage his wound.
“He is, or was about to be,” Martin muttered.
He studied the guy a little closer now. The three men who captured them didn’t seem like the usual hired mercenaries Alpine Industries employed. They must be from the Order of the Knife. The young man who tended to his wound, however, didn’t look like he belonged to either side. He kept telling Martin to not cause further trouble and even lent Martin spare clothes since they were roughly the same size.
“You seem like a decent guy, or do you secretly harbor some kind of secret hatred for us shifters?” Martin asked.
The guy shook his head. “I didn’t want to be dragged into this mess, and I have nothing against the paranormal. I work at the local animal clinic in Havenwood, two towns away from Darkfall. Gray thought having a vet around would be useful, so they took me along.”
“So you’re a prisoner, too. Who’s Gray and what’s your name?” They kept their voices low.
Their captors had gone further in the woods to discuss their plans out of earshot, but two guys remained on watch, pointing their rifles at Martin and Dino.
“
Declan. Gray’s the guy with the eye patch, the commander of the operation. We shouldn’t be talking,” Declan said quickly.
“It’s okay. We’re going to fine I mean. The Darkfall pack won’t let something like this go easily.”
Declan didn’t look convinced. “I might not be up to date with shifter politics, but I do know that pack’s known for having a black reputation. They’re killers aren’t they?”
“They’re loyal to each other I mean,” Martin said quickly. “What’s with the campers?”
“They were hired, from what I heard. To make it appear like they were harmless campers,” Declan replied.
“You two, what are you talking about?” demanded one of their guards.
“I’m just telling this guy how to take care of his wound. Isn’t that my job?” Declan answered immediately. Just when Martin thought he couldn’t convince Declan to help them, he might be wrong.
“You better do your job, vet,” said the guard. “The higher-ups are insistent on wanting to study a Darkfall wolf shifter and his mate.”
Those words sent a chill down Martin’s spine. So that’s why they wanted to keep Dino and him alive, for further study. Darkfall wolves weren’t different from other species from what Martin knew. The pack simply had effective leadership. If his former pack leader had been more like Sergio, maybe things would have turned out different. Then again, if that tragedy hadn’t happened, Martin wouldn’t be in Darkfall and able to meet Dino.
It was a selfish thought, but a relevant one.
“Are you confident the Darkfall wolves would come back for their own?” Declan whispered.
“Absolutely certain,” Martin said without hesitation. “I have a plan. Listen, can you call the guard back, and tell him you need to tend to Dino?”
Declan looked at Dino, still pacing in the cage, clearly terrified. Martin couldn’t blame the human. Despite being shot at with silver and being beaten, Dino looked like he had plenty of rage and energy to spare.