by Jools Louise
“Remember what I said,” Craig whispered as Shona passed him.
She winked. “You betcha.”
“I need to get these wounded into the house,” Craig said impatiently.
Shona smiled at him and held up one finger. “Howard, we’ve been gone for months,” she told the prick on the top step. “At what point did you first suspect that maybe our absence wasn’t of our making?”
He swallowed hard. “Er, I didn’t,” he stammered, completely thrown by her question. Craig figured his backbone had just dropped through the floor.
“Really? And yet the last time we spent time together, you and me, and Sandy there, you said that you would search the earth if we were ever to go missing.” Her tone was less sociable this time.
“We were beaten, tortured, and sexually abused by our captors,” Sandy said brokenly as she limped toward them. She had a badly healed leg and would need further surgery to correct it. “At what point did you actually miss us? Or did your job take over as the love of your life?”
“I was told you didn’t want to see me,” Howard said, more firmly this time. “Your parents said that you left them a note. That you’d had a change of heart.”
“You’ve met our parents,” Shona said bitterly. “You know they would do anything to stop our union. They despised the fact that we were involved in a ménage. Surely that gave you cause to question them?”
“I don’t answer to you,” Howard bit back. “You were gone. I was told you didn’t want to be with me, and then I was sent out on tour. Don’t speak to me as though I’m some dullard.”
Shona lashed out, crashing her fist into his groin with stunning force, dropping him in a second as she followed through with a snap kick to his jaw. “You are a dullard, Howard, to think you would ever be man enough for Sandy and me.” She stepped over him and walked with her sister into the house, who booted him in the ribs as she passed, chin in the air as he lay clutching his dick.
Craig saw the grins from the men who were part of Howard’s troop and figured Howard was as much a twat to them, as well.
“Nice going, douchebag,” he commented mockingly. He and Finch stepped around the man and lifted their patient up the steps and followed the sisters.
* * * *
“Wow! Way to go, Howard,” Blaze crowed. “I have to go back to get Amos now. Do you need somebody to babysit you? You don’t look too good. Those girls, huh? So demanding. Fancy being so angry at you for not going to their aid.”
There was a rumble of muffled laughter from the troopers.
“Silence!” Howard bit out, getting to his feet and glaring at his squad.
Blaze watched as a trio of men came up, dragging the corpse of a huge stag between them. “Who gave you permission to hunt?” he asked Howard sharply, stalking toward the man.
“My men need to eat,” Howard replied curtly.
“The freezer is full of food. Who gave you permission to hunt?” Blaze said, baring fangs menacingly, his back to the troopers so they couldn’t see his semi-shift.
“I don’t need permission,” Howard replied arrogantly. “This is my brother’s land. He won’t mind.”
“He will mind, because that stag is a favorite of his,” Blaze shot back. “He doesn’t kill for sport, and he doesn’t hunt for food when there’s a perfectly good larder filled to bursting.”
“My mate wanted to hunt,” Howard said, not lowering his voice in deference to the interested listeners. “I decided to oblige him.”
“Connor Ruin? Amos’s sworn enemy?” Blaze was beside himself and controlling his rage with effort. He couldn’t afford to shift now. Not in front of all these humans. “Don’t you already have two lovers?” he asked, deliberately not using the word “mate.” No need to arouse suspicion. “Shona and Sandy? The sisters who have spent months in hell while you were out playing at being a soldier? You can’t be the real thing, since apparently you’re a fucking coward.”
Howard launched himself at Blaze, who dodged aside, grabbing the idiot’s arm and swinging him around, then launching a series of blows that had the man unconscious in seconds.
“You!” Blaze said, pointing at one of the troopers. “Take this waste of space out of here. If I see him again, without receiving a gold-engraved request to be on our land, I’ll finish him. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” the man replied respectfully. He and two others grabbed the major and bundled him into one of the trucks. “We’re not actually supposed to be here, you know. He’s in a lot of trouble about this. He said this was a special mission. I checked, and Colonel Jones said there’s no such mission, and nobody reported any wolves roaming around.”
Blaze eyed the speaker, seeing the alert look in the man’s eyes. “What did Major Hartland here tell you about your mission?”
“That it was secret, that’s all we knew,” the guy replied.
“Did any of you get to eat, yet?” Blaze asked, believing the corporal’s story.
“Yes, sir, Captain Hartland cooked breakfast for us all.”
“Then you had no need to hunt?”
“No way, sir. Major Hartland said he would teach his brother about who was the bigger alpha or something. I didn’t understand what he meant.”
“So this was Howard’s version of a gutless pissing contest while his brother was saving lives?”
“I think so, sir.”
“Thank you, Corporal. Carry on.”
“Yes, sir.” The troops got into their vehicles, leaving the dead stag on the ground, and departed.
“Amos, my love, you’re going to need to do something about that schmuck,” Blaze said to himself. Sighing, he checked that everyone was okay, and then left in the helicopter to collect the rest of the gang from their little rock in the Atlantic Ocean.
* * * *
Craig tended to the wounded and made sure all their guests were situated. He’d heard the scuffle outside and wondered where Connor was hiding. The man had yet to make an appearance.
He wandered downstairs, searching for a hot cup of coffee, and heard crying from a closet next to the lower bathroom. Deep, gut-wrenching sobs that brought tears to his eyes at the awful sounds of sorrow and pain.
“Hey. Is everything okay in there?” he asked hesitantly, knocking lightly on the door.
“Go away!”
“Is that Connor?”
“Go away!”
Craig ignored the angry command and opened the door, peering into the dark recess. Connor was crouched inside, his eyes tear-filled, his cheeks streaked with them. He looked to be in a lot of pain.
“What happened?” Craig questioned gently. “Who hurt you?”
“What do you care, Mr. Perfect? You have your mates. You have everything. Me? I got nothing.”
Craig heard the bitterness, mixed with despair, and trod carefully. He knew that Connor was messed up mentally. Years of living with, and being abused by his own family must have left its mark. Nobody to love, nobody to care for, and any sign of weakness was treated with violence. He knew personally how tough that could be. And it had taken an act of murder to change how he viewed the world and give him the motivation to alter his behavior. He explained to Connor a little of what his own childhood had been like. Connor studied him silently, but appeared to be listening, rather than ignoring his words.
“You could have friends, you know, if you stop behaving like a dick to everyone. And you still have family. Maybe you and Carter can find some common ground. It’ll take work, but maybe if you talk to one another, you can stop hating,” Craig said softly. “I can’t imagine living the life you have, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can change. I did.”
“Howard left, didn’t he?” Connor said, looking around fearfully. “He made up some fucking story about us being mates, but we aren’t. I felt nothing for him and told him so. He got angry and attacked me. Called me a liar. I don’t lie.”
Craig frowned, reading between the lines. “What did he do?” Then he met Connor’s p
ale blue gaze and figured out exactly what Howard had done. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “That’s horrible.”
“He’s no alpha,” Connor gritted, wincing as he moved slightly, resting on his side. Craig saw the stain on Connor’s trousers, blood and other substances staining the fabric over his buttocks. “Howard’s a wannabe. He doesn’t have the balls to be an alpha, not like Amos. He considers himself a leader, but he doesn’t lead. He just orders people around, as though they’re his servants. At least Amos takes care of his people. He loves people. Howard thinks of them as his subjects.”
“Like your father?” Craig queried, seeing Connor’s sharp nod.
“Exactly. Dad took the crown when my grandparents were killed. He didn’t deserve it. Maureen was actually the true alpha, but she was a bitch. To her, the pack were her minions, and woe betide any who annoyed her. Which was most of them. She was jealous and hateful to most of the females. Particularly the pretty ones. I can’t actually believe how vile she was to us. We were her children, weren’t we? How could she hurt us like she did? As though we were nothing to her.”
Craig reached out and took Connor’s hand, focusing until he felt that healing warmth flow from him, and saw Connor’s pain ease. “Do you really hate Carter so much?” he asked.
“I’ve been taught from birth that being gay is a sin. And weakness is the ultimate crime. Carter was always so much stronger than me,” Connor said slowly. “He never bowed down, never stopped being himself. It shamed me. I just took the beatings. He took more abuse than any of us. He’s more of a leader than any of us. People like and respect him. He’s kind and generous, and far too intelligent for our family.”
Craig chuckled at the snark. “I heard that your brother Charlie killed your parents. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I feel nothing for them. Only relief that they’re gone,” Connor replied, shaking his head. “Charlie’s…changed. He was the ambitious one. I was the violent one. Carter the punching bag.”
“Sounds like fun at Christmas parties,” Craig quipped, earning himself a wry grin.
“You’re not how I expected,” Connor said quietly. “I thought you’d attack me as soon as you saw I was here.”
“Amos said that bullies learn their behavior,” Craig admitted. “He’s right. But what they learn can be unlearned. I didn’t want to like you. Not sure how I feel about you at the moment, after what Carter’s told me. But right now, I see is a man who’s been brought up with violence his whole life, and when that’s all you know, that’s the behavior you show to the world.” He grimaced. “I’m not the one you need to speak to, though. You have to make amends to those you’ve hurt, if you’re truly sorry for what you’ve done.”
“Is everything okay, here?” Shona asked, peering into the closet over Craig’s shoulder. She gasped suddenly, meeting Connor’s gaze. His pupils widened, and he stared back, licking his lips. His nostrils quivered, and he sniffed the air as though a delicious fragrance had just invaded the space.
“Don’t look at me,” Connor said brokenly, holding his head in shame. “I’m not who you think I am.”
“I heard what happened,” she told him gently. “I’m so sorry he did that to you. Howard isn’t the man he pretended to be. He abused you, and he used me and my sister. My instincts are humming right now.”
“Come, Connor,” Shona invited, holding out her hand. “We’ve all been through stuff we’d prefer to forget. Don’t feel shame for what others have done to you. You’re stronger than you think.”
Craig backed out of the closet, Connor following, his focus totally on Shona’s beautiful face. She’d showered, and her hair hung in a damp, dark curtain, her blue eyes sparkling like jewels.
“Is he…”
“I think so,” she whispered and tentatively stroked Connor’s face. He flinched a little and then the scent of arousal filled the area.
Connor showed his fangs and tangled his fingers through the silken tumble of Shona’s hair, moving closer as he sniffed her delicately, his eyes showing a wondrous light of discovery.
“Oh my,” Craig breathed, feeling the connection between them like a living thing, intense and tender, and strong as steel. The mating bond was almost visible.
“Shona? Who’s that? Oh!” Sandy came downstairs, and her eyes filled with wonder, then nervous excitement. “My wolf’s going crazy,” she whispered as she stepped up to Connor, gingerly touching his shoulder. “Is this…oh my, I think this is…”
“Er, guys, upstairs, please,” Craig suggested. The mating call was a powerful thing, and he didn’t need a sex show at this time in the morning. He watched them hurry upstairs, without responding, and a second later, a door slammed shut, bedsprings creaking.
Finch moved to his side, and Craig saw that his mate had heard the whole exchange. “Howard is a bastard,” Craig told his lover.
“Yeah. Class-A fucking moron,” Finch agreed.
“I need coffee,” Craig said.
“I need a bigger house,” Finch said sourly as the sounds of sex began to drift down the stairs.
Craig grinned as they headed for the kitchen. Finch was complaining about someone having sex? After they christened the helicopter while Amos was organizing transport for everyone on the island?
* * * *
Connor sank into the softness of his true mates, Shona and Sandy, savoring the delicious tangle of slender limbs, the silken smoothness of their lips trembling over his body, and the heat of their skin as they snuggled against him. He’d miraculously found heaven among the debris of his broken life. He’d actually found true mates, his hearts, women who felt the strength of that bond as he did. He cursed himself for being a fool and allowing the bitterness of his parents’ toxic marriage destroy his own image of happiness.
“Hmmm, delicious,” Shona purred, kissing his cock and then swallowing it down, mouthing him tenderly until he was ready to blow. Closing his eyes, he forgot about Howard, and his parents, and everything else but what these gorgeous women were doing.
“And nutritious,” he said, chuckling hoarsely as he climaxed, shooting his load into Shona’s sweet mouth.
Sandy kissed him, stroking his chest, then clambered aboard, rubbing her clit against him, marking him with her scent. She leaned down, offering her tits, and he moaned as he grabbed for her, sucking at her nipples, greedy for the taste of her. She gasped as he found her pussy, sinking two fingers up inside her moist chute.
“Eat me, baby,” Sandy said, lifting up over his face, then sinking down so her pussy was within easy reach of his searching tongue. He gripped her hips, swiping through the tasty dew that moistened her soft folds, then lowered her until he could gorge on the sweet nectar. He moaned hungrily, biting and sucking avidly. His moans deepened when he felt silken heat surround his cock again. Not a mouth this time, but the sultry depths of Shona’s pussy. He gasped, hearing the soft cries of pleasure from the sisters as he pleasured them, Sandy’s climax soaking his face. He sank his finger up into her, fucking her steadily, his hips surging in time to Shona’s undulating body. Sandy came again and fell to the side. He flipped Shona, positioned himself between her sleek thighs, and took control, fucking her with powerful strokes, seeing the heat in her beautiful eyes.
“Yes, darling, claim me,” she begged in desperation, tilting her head to the side.
He snarled, his climax building, and as he spurted deep inside her, sank his fangs into her slender neck, feeling the mating barb engage for the first time in his life. He cried out as he felt the force of the bond flowing between them both, spearing his heart and soul as he kept coming, feeling her pussy milking him dry as she writhed beneath him.
Sandy, stroked his back, pressing tender kisses along his spine, nipping at his cheeks teasingly.
“Don’t forget me,” she said huskily, dragging his face around as he slid from Shona finally, his cock even now surging again with excitement. He’d never had so much stamina.
Sandy went on hands and knees, prese
nting herself for claiming, and his cock went into overdrive, arching urgently in response.
“Fuuuuck!” he blurted, and moved in behind her, closing his eyes as he sank deep, taking Sandy with hard, fast strokes, biting her neck as he blanketed her back, his fingers playing with her clit until she came, screaming in delight.
Their flesh slapped together, his ball sac swinging like a pendulum as he claimed his second mate, feeling something inside him heal, an open wound that he hadn’t realized existed. His wolf howled in relief, and for the first time, he felt his wolf was in sync with him, not fighting him at every turn.
He came for the second time, filling Sandy with thick cream, the barb biting deep as he sank his fangs into her neck, claiming her as his for eternity.
“Fuuuck!” he bellowed, his body slick with sweat as he collapsed to the side, dragging Sandy with him as his racing pulse eased and he could breathe again.
Shona moved in behind him, cuddling close, and peppering languid kisses over his shoulder. “Wow,” she said drowsily. “That was unexpected and totally amazing. Good job, mate.”
He smiled, then chuckled, watching Sandy fall asleep, still joined to him. Snuggling down between them, he nodded. “Totally.”
Shona giggled, and then they drifted off into sated slumber. For the first time in his life, Connor felt at peace.
Chapter Fourteen
Amos brought the rest of the prisoners home from the Hebrides, feeling exhausted. He wanted his mates around him and no interruptions for a month.
There were more questions than answers from the rescue mission. Fifteen taken, and only ten survivors. The young men who accompanied him had related the events of the past months, spanning more than two years for some. The five who had died had been classed as omegas by the ruling packs. Only, in shifter terms, there was no such thing. Omegas in the wolf world bore the brunt of the pack’s aggression and could move up the ranks if opportunities arose. It stopped them all fighting among themselves. In the world of wolf shifters, however, it was the heart or center who kept a leash on that aggressive streak.