by Odessa Lynne
His “ummph” got lost in his throat when his teeth knocked together.
He raised his head just in time to see the alpha grab a growling Wolf by the back of the neck and yank him back around. “Submit! Control yourself, Beintaegoer. He won’t hurt him. Don’t test my patience when it comes to my mate.”
Ian got hold of Salvadore’s arm before Salvadore realized he’d left himself open to attack. Ian twisted Salvadore’s arm up behind his back tight enough to make Salvadore hiss.
“You move and I’ll put you in a damn choke hold.”
Salvadore clenched his fist against the floor. Ian had sounded breathless but determined, and Salvadore had a feeling he would regret pushing the man any further right then.
“Ian,” the alpha said.
“Yeah?” Ian responded, straddling Salvadore.
“Meet one of my oldest children. Beintaegoer.”
Even Salvadore heard Ian’s startled inhale.
Honestly, Salvadore was a little bit startled himself.
“He sought sanctuary with Rick,” the alpha said. He threaded the fingers of his other hand into Wolf’s hair and Salvadore watched the flex of fingers that probably meant his claws had come out. Blood had welled along the side of Wolf’s neck where the alpha’s claws had pierced his skin at some point. “He’s earned forgiveness through submission. I’m very proud of him.” The alpha rubbed his hand slowly across Wolf’s scalp and Wolf’s eyes drifted closed, his head tilting into the touch as if he were taking comfort from it.
“That’s great,” Ian said, “but you really could have mentioned he was one of your kids before now.”
“It wasn’t relevant to the rescue.”
“Nope. I think it might have been.”
The alpha’s brilliant blue eyes flickered over Ian and he nodded. “The next time you meet one of my children, I’ll be sure to tell you beforehand.”
“Okay, now you’ve got me wondering how many of them I’ve met already and didn’t even know it.”
“We’ve been mated for several years. You’ve met several. You know Val and Quint, Rain, Will, and Josh. And you met Zyn at First Alpha’s celebration of his mate’s birthday.”
Ian had stilled over Salvadore and he sounded strangled when he said, “Zyn?”
“Yes. He showed you submission—and you accepted him very enthusiastically if I remember correctly.” The alpha’s wry tone didn’t escape Salvadore.
“Craig!” Ian hadn’t lost that strangled tone. “That’s—Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would you have felt differently about letting him show his submission the way he chose?”
“Hell yes I would have!”
“Then it’s better that I didn’t. He pleasured you and you accepted him. He would have been disappointed and you wouldn’t have enjoyed the celebration quite as much.”
Ian’s weight shifted on Salvadore’s back, digging Salvadore’s hip bone into the hard floor.
“Ow,” Salvadore muttered. “Can you get off me now?”
“You’re sitting on Beintaegoer’s mate,” Craig said with a glancing look at Salvadore. “After such a foolish show of devotion, I doubt he’ll try to escape.”
“Shit,” Ian said, his weight lifting off Salvadore as he stood up. “What a way to make an impression. No one gave me the first hint that this guy was one of yours.”
Salvadore lost the fight to hold his tongue. He flipped over onto his back and stared up at Ian, “So you’re like Wolf’s step-daddy or something—and you have sex with your step-kids? What a fucking creep. You better keep your hands off my mate.”
Ian made a funny sound, his face going red.
Salvadore smirked, knowing full well Ian would be able to see it. Then he caught the alpha staring at him, clear-eyed and intent, and Salvadore dropped the smirk in favor of a small prayer of thanks that the alpha looked to be in complete control of himself.
Better not to frack that well, as his grandma used to say.
Craig snorted quietly, as if he knew exactly what Salvadore was thinking and said to Ian, “I don’t expect my pack to know all my children. It’s unnecessary. Every one of us must be judged by our own actions, not those of our parents. When it was time for him to leave his mother’s pack, I negotiated a place for him in another, the same as I’ve done for most of my children.”
“Unnecessary,” Ian muttered. “Of course. Just when I think I’ve made real progress figuring you guys out I learn something new.”
Salvadore wished he could say the same. He still felt as lost as ever.
* * *
They were climbing into one of the wolves’ ships when Salvadore looked over at Wolf and said, “Unfinished business, huh? What would’ve been so hard about telling me the guy was your father?”
The ship was a small one, probably not even fully alien in design, although Salvadore couldn’t say for sure. He’d seen some of the wolves’ technology in his father’s lab and workshop over the years and didn’t miss how some of the stuff in the ship just didn’t have that same alien nature to it, not that he could have pointed out exactly why. He hoped no one would recognize his father’s name, but he’d been fairly well-known before the first heat. And if the wolves had ever realized his father had been stealing from the labs… well, his name might be a little more well-known than Salvadore hoped.
Wolf didn’t look as if he understood why Salvadore was bothered by his lack of sharing such important information. “He’s Alpha first, father second.”
“Yeah.” He dragged out the word.
Wolf frowned at him, and Salvadore was surprised that he actually had very little trouble reading that expression. “I needed forgiveness for my part in the conflict between my people,” Wolf said.
“So you let him—what, beat up on you and then threaten your life? What kind of messed up shit is that?”
“You don’t understand. I had to prove I would submit to his judgment, no matter what it was.”
“Fucked up is what it was.” Salvadore ran a hand through his hair and stared at the ship’s seats. “I have no idea where to sit.”
“Here,” Wolf said, taking Salvadore’s arm and tugging him down into a seat along the inside wall of the ship’s hull.
He hadn’t seen more than a glimpse of Egan since they’d reached the den, nor any of the other wolves, and he hadn’t seen Reed since the alpha had arrived. Wolf said it was for his own safety and the safety of Alpha Craig’s mate.
Before they’d departed, there had been a quiet conversation between Craig and Wolf that hadn’t included Salvadore or Ian. That half hour stuck in a room alone with Ian had been uncomfortable and awkward, until Salvadore had finally asked Ian if he’d really had sex with one of Craig’s kids. Ian had glared, crossed his arms, and said, “They’re more complicated than you can imagine right now.” Then he’d asked Salvadore if he was used to looking like a twelve year old. It had been Salvadore’s turn to glare. Ian had given him a tight smile in return.
Luckily, Wolf and Craig had returned soon after.
The alpha and his mate shared what appeared to be the main compartment of the ship with them. Salvadore had a thought for the tracker embedded in his scalp but wasn’t bold enough to say anything about it. Wolf knew. Salvadore would rather be complicit in the deception with Wolf than count on the understanding and patience of the wolf he’d just met.
“You’re going to be questioned when we get to the den complex,” Ian said from his seat across the aisle. “The others told Craig how you just happened to stumble up on them in the woods while they were on their way to meet up with Matthew and what happened afterward. If you’ve been working with the renegades, we’ll find out.”
Salvadore swallowed and wondered if not speaking up now was as good as lying—something Wolf had told him not to do.
But he didn’t have to speak up, because Wolf did it for him. “He was. He isn’t now.”
Ian’s look changed in an instant. Gone was the curious disinterest. A har
d, unfriendly look settled in its place. “That changes things.”
Salvadore’s stomach knotted. “It’s more complicated than that.”
Wolf’s clawed hand landed on the back of Salvadore’s neck. After witnessing the way Wolf and the alpha had interacted and remembering some of the things Egan had said to him before he’d faced that first alpha, he had a suspicion the gesture meant more to the wolves than he would’ve thought. A dominating hold, yes, but maybe less about control and more about support and comfort.
He definitely felt better with the warmth of Wolf’s hand on him right then, regardless of the reason.
Craig watched Salvadore with icy blue eyes as Ian said, “Trey won’t like this—”
“We’ll worry about that once we’ve reached the den.” Craig’s hand moved to Ian’s neck.
“What if he’s being trac—”
“Ian.”
Ian grimaced and then rolled his shoulders. He reached up and covered Craig’s hand. “Sorry.”
Craig’s eyes never left Salvadore. “Your concern’s understandable. I’m also concerned.”
But was he? Something tickled at the edges of Salvadore’s mind. Craig was lying, or—something. Not a lie exactly, a half-truth, because he was concerned, but his concern had very little to do with Salvadore. Wolf was a watcher. Why hadn’t he—
Wolf squeezed Salvadore’s neck and Salvadore twitched, his thoughts shifting abruptly back to Wolf. They had a bargain. Wolf would take care of this. And if he couldn’t, well, Salvadore had known the risks when he’d made that bargain with Gage. He would deal with the outcome when he had to.
Chapter 22
The sun had come up by the time they reached what had to be the massive den complex Salvadore had heard rumors about. He saw more trees and fewer houses than he’d expected as he disembarked from the ship. He didn’t have time to do more than eye the scenery as Wolf followed a brown-eyed wolf who had been waiting for them to disembark, guiding Salvadore along with a firm grip on the back of his neck.
Comforting it wasn’t, not now that he was in the midst of the wolves’ den. Sweat made his underarms sticky and his skin damp and it wasn’t because of the temperature; his nerves had wound tight between the landing and the clang and hiss of the opening of the door. This was the heart of the wolves’ territory, their home.
He hadn’t forgotten what Wolf had said; the repression drugs interfered with breeding. Meaning the drugs were probably reserved for contact with humans outside of their complex, and if that was the case, he had good reason to be afraid.
Salvadore had glanced over his shoulder just before stepping outside of the ship and seen the alpha manhandling Ian as if he might strip off Ian’s pants right there and fuck him against the wall. It had been enough to remind Salvadore that he had no idea what to expect from any of these people—not even Wolf, and that thought more than anything had stolen his ability to keep his heart calm and his hands steady.
He didn’t like his sudden return to uncertainty where Wolf was concerned. He looked around wide-eyed and thought about what forever actually meant and his heart beat a little faster with every bit of ground they covered.
The wolf led them along a neatly trimmed path that cut through the woods. It was obvious just looking at the flattened ground that the path was heavily traveled. In the distance, Salvadore could see oddly shaped buildings and the glint of solar windows and solar paneled roofs. Heavy metal bars that had been twisted and curved into curious patterns protected some of the windows, and Salvadore wondered what the wolves were trying to keep out—or in.
They stopped in front of a small building that nestled between several large trees, shaped almost as if it had been built to fit the space instead of having the trees cut out to make room for it.
The wolf knocked and someone opened the door from the inside. The wolf stood aside, leaving several feet of distance between them. Wolf pushed Salvadore forward with a light touch. Salvadore stared at the wolf warily as he passed instead of paying attention to where he was putting his feet and he stumbled crossing the threshold.
“Shit—”
Wolf’s hand on his neck pulled him up short, and he rebalanced quickly, glancing around as he rubbed his sweaty palms across the front of his shirt.
The building was just a single room with several rows of tables and chairs. Windows stretched along the wall opposite the door they’d just entered and he could see more forest through the glass. A breeze stirred the leaves and the glare of the cool morning sun spilled through the windows.
Salvadore looked over his shoulder again at the trees along the path he’d just been walking. Bright spots of red and yellow drew his eyes as leaves fluttered in the air, swirling with the shifting of the wind.
He looked back to the windows even as Wolf’s hand tightened on his neck again, the pressure a sign that he needed to keep moving. Still, something about those windows wouldn’t let him look away.
Then it hit him. The windows weren’t really windows at all. The wall mirrored the view he’d just seen, and he had the sudden realization that the building wasn’t nearly as small as it looked from outside, not from the angle he’d seen.
The sweat on his skin prickled under his clothes as the unheated air in the room seeped through the fabric. He had a feeling the wolves didn’t even notice it in their short-sleeved t-shirts and black trousers. Several wolves stood at the far side of the room, and Wolf hesitated only a moment before leading Salvadore to a table that had been set apart from the others.
“Here,” Wolf said and he pushed Salvadore down into a seat that someone had placed in front of the table, leaving the long edge of the table at Salvadore’s back.
Wolf turned, standing beside Salvadore and one of his hands landed heavy on Salvadore’s shoulder.
Comfort? Ownership?
Salvadore wasn’t sure he cared at that moment what it signified. He was just glad he hadn’t been left alone. Then again, Wolf had promised him protection. Obviously Wolf understood how unprotected Salvadore would feel if he had to face an interrogation without him.
Salvadore sat there quietly, too unsettled to even fidget as they waited. Time crawled and Salvadore could hear his own swallows over the faint whisper of the wolves at the far side of the room.
Alpha Craig finally stepped into the building and Salvadore didn’t miss how the rest of the wolves reacted. Backs straightened, heads came up, and even Wolf’s fingers flexed on Salvadore’s shoulder for the briefest moment. Energy seemed to crackle through the air and Salvadore did his damnedest not to let any of that get to him. All he needed was to panic and he’d be right back in the middle of his worst nightmare.
“Gage Rawlins is dead,” Craig said, his voice carrying as he crossed the room toward Salvadore. “We suspect you’ve been working for him. Is this true?”
“What? Gage is dead?” His shock made his voice weak.
Craig waved one of the wolves forward with him and they stopped in front of Salvadore, not as close as Salvadore would have expected. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Wait, I mean, are you sure? He’s really dead?”
“We collected his body along with the others near the cabin where Pae—” He’d started to say something Salvadore didn’t understand but stopped, then shook his head. “Where our people were attacked by Gage Rawlins and his men. You were there. We have no doubt Gage Rawlins is dead.”
Just like that. The threat Gage had represented to Salvadore and his family was gone. Salvadore’s surge of relief was short-lived as he realized a dead Gage Rawlins didn’t really help him all that much. Still, dead Gage was better than alive as far as Salvadore was concerned. The son of a bitch had deserved whatever fate he’d found.
Craig was staring at him pointedly and Salvadore rubbed the bottom of his nose. Him being at that cabin didn’t look good, especially not with him about to confess to having a tracker embedded under his scalp.
The green-eyed wolf took something out of his
pocket, and then squatted in front of Salvadore, resting his arms on his knees. Salvadore watched nervously as the wolf took whatever it was in his hand, held it in front of Salvadore and stared at it.
“Were you working for Gage Rawlins?” Craig asked.
Don’t lie. “Yeah. But—” He broke off with a wince as Wolf squeezed his shoulder.
Craig’s gaze flickered between Salvadore and Wolf. “I understand he’s your mate and you want to guide and comfort him right now. If you interfere again, I’ll remove you.”
Salvadore risked a glance up at Wolf in time to see Wolf’s nostrils flaring wide. He could feel the tension in Wolf’s grip. Salvadore swallowed and faced forward again, fisting his hands against his jean-covered thighs.
“Submit,” Craig said, the word biting through Salvadore.
Salvadore’s shoulders tensed.
“Forgive me,” Wolf said, and his hold on Salvadore’s shoulder eased. “I won’t interfere again. He needs me here so that his fear doesn’t overwhelm him.”
The words shot through Salvadore, and he hated that Wolf was right. He caught the green-eyed wolf watching him, those eyes cold enough to send a shiver down his spine.
“No one begrudges your mate the comfort of your presence, especially not now, but you know he’s holding back important information. You told me so yourself.”
Salvadore looked up at that, twisting in his seat, his gaze glancing off Craig’s face and settling on Wolf. “That’s not true! Why would you tell him that?”
Wolf watched Salvadore. “It is the truth, you just haven’t seen it yet.”
“But it’s not! I don’t know anything, I swear to God. I just—I didn’t even—” He shifted forward on the hard chair, turning to the alpha and the other wolf. “I’ve only ever killed one person in my life, ever. That shit Gage did—I didn’t do any of it and he couldn’t make me, not the way he wanted. I was already trying to get out, I just needed—” Time. He’d needed time. Salvadore took a breath, deliberately slowing himself down. He leaned forward on his forearms and clasped his hands between his knees. He stared at the lines of the warmly colored wood beneath his boots. “I—I gave Gage something my dad had, something he stole. That was the only thing I’ve done wrong.”