by Jools Louise
Slug let out a low snarl of distress, as did the others at this declaration. “Who did it?”
“I don’t know who he was, since he didn’t shift. Maybe human, maybe wolverine, who knows,” John replied, looking over at the four wolverines. “Your mothers escaped during the carnage. They set up their little toy soldiers and then fled.”
“Puppet masters,” Rage said bitterly. “Pulling strings behind the scenes but too scared to fight properly.”
“Will Douglas be okay?” Ethan asked, easing back and looking up into John’s tear-streaked face.
“They’re trying to save his sight,” John replied, wiping his face. He gave a low snarl. “I should have stopped him from being taken in the first place,” he said angrily. “I’m fucking useless.”
“You didn’t know what they were planning to do,” Ethan said.
“No, but I saw the van, saw it stalking after Douglas, and I thought I’d watch to see what happened. I used your brother as bait.” John sounded disgusted at himself and let go of Ethan. “I don’t deserve your understanding.”
“I can punch you in the face if you like,” Lash drawled helpfully, clenching his hand into a fist. “You’d still feel like shit, but it’d make me feel better.”
John shot the shifter a glare, then shook his head ruefully. “Don’t worry. Once Cody realizes that I didn’t save his son, he’ll be punching me a lot harder.”
“Wrong, buddy,” Cody said as he came through a pair of double doors, from the surgical wing. “If you hadn’t been there to distract those monsters, he’d be dead, not injured.”
The big shifter came closer and grabbed John, hugging him tightly. “Don’t blame yourself. This happened because a bunch of evil cretins think they can play god.”
“I should have done more,” John said, stepping back. “I’m sorry.”
“Did they pay?” Cody asked.
“Yes, the ones at the camp were taken down,” John replied. “Some surrendered, some didn’t. Ryder’s lot are helping Joe to clean up.”
“Then you did enough,” Cody said. “I was there, too, John. I didn’t get to Douglas in time either. I was in the woods, trying to follow the two female wolverines who fled. When I realized they’d had help and were gone, I returned and saw what you saw…a guy with a water bottle. I didn’t realize any more than you did what he planned.”
“We’re in for a long wait,” Lash said, clapping a hand on John’s shoulder. “Why don’t we go and get some coffee to keep us awake?”
John nodded and Ethan watched him and Lash stride away. He looked at his father, who looked helplessly back. They hugged each other for long moments, not wanting to think about what might be happening in surgery right now.
Gathering around, Slug and Rage and Charm offered unspoken support before they went to sit down on some chairs that lined the hallway. Lash was right. It would be a long wait.
Chapter Ten
Ethan lay surrounded by his four mates, the covers thrown aside despite the chilly evening. He was more than warm enough with all the body heat emanating from his sexy husbands.
“He’ll pull through,” Rage said softly, stroking Ethan’s hair gently. “Douglas is a fighter. He’s lost his sight, but he’ll adapt.”
Ethan sighed heavily, his head resting on Rage’s chest, their limbs intimately entwined. “I just feel so bad that after our wedding, after such a happy occasion, he’s lost his mate and his sight in one go. How will he cope with the waffle house without being able to see? This shouldn’t have happened to him. I was their target. If this happened to me, you’d have stayed with me, wouldn’t you? But Douglas has nobody now.”
Charm gave a low snarl and cuddled closer on the other side, kissing Ethan tenderly. “Baby, none of us have the answers, but Rage is right. Your brother is resilient and has a spine of pure steel. He’ll adapt and come back stronger than ever.”
Ethan rumbled out a purr when he felt someone fisting his cock, pumping along his thigh length firmly, igniting a spark of passion for his mates. “I need you,” he whimpered, kissing Charm hungrily. “I need to claim you. Tonight.”
Charm immediately rolled onto all fours, and parted his cheeks to reveal his small rosebud. Ethan let out a chuckle of pure amusement at Charm’s eagerness to be fucked. Kneeling, the jaguar shifter moved in behind his sexy lover, curling his hands under the man’s arms and clutching at his pecs.
“Fuck me, baby. Hard and fast,” Charm begged, whining when Ethan rubbed his cock along Charm’s crease.
“Lube,” Ethan said, almost forgetting in his eagerness to claim his spikey-haired mate.
“Allow me,” Rage drawled and did the necessaries, smearing thick gel along Ethan’s throbbing cock, which had Ethan moaning in pleasure.
“Hard and fast?” Ethan murmured, placing the head of his cock against his mate’s little starry hole.
Charm nodded, pushing back against Ethan’s cock, trying to impale himself on Ethan’s rod. Ethan laughed softly, his jaguar snarling excitedly just below the surface. Fingering Charm’s chute gently, he prepared his mate for a short while, teasing the man who was whimpering now, wanting more. Giving in, Ethan pushed forward, sheathing the bulbous head of his dick just inside Charm’s giving chute, then with a quick and powerful snap of his hips, he sank in to the hilt.
Charm gave a roar of pleasure, bucking against Ethan, his ass clenching around Ethan’s cock as it tried to adjust to the swiftness of the assault. “Hold on now, baby,” Ethan said, and began to move, snapping his hips with short, shallow strokes, fucking his mate hard. Charm shredded the sheets with his claws, slamming back into Ethan’s thrusting cock, driving Ethan deeper still. Blanketing Charm’s muscular back, Ethan continued to pummel his sexy husband, spearing the man’s welcoming chute over and over, pounding into him with punishing strokes.
Ethan knew he wouldn’t last, and let out a low groan of pleasure as he felt his balls draw up, then his cock expanded before dumping a thick load deep inside his mate’s succulent ass. Rearing forward, he lashed out, sinking his fangs deep into Charm’s thick neck, claiming his lover finally. Instantly, that intense bond was cemented, already halfway there from when Charm had made love to Ethan. Now, the claiming was complete between the two, and Charm gave a gasping groan as he spewed thick cream all over the covers below, his climax spurting everywhere.
“I love you,” Ethan said, and he heard Charm’s guttural reply, kissing his lover tenderly as they remained locked in place for a moment longer.
Ethan wasn’t done yet, his cock still not sated. Turning his head to the side, he spied Rage, lying on his back and fingering his hole. Immediately, Ethan wrenched from Charm’s searing tunnel and went for his golden eyed lover next. The man’s Mohawk was dipped in iridescent blue ink today, soft from his shower earlier. Moving into position between his sexy mate’s legs, Ethan bared his fangs at his lover, who gave a low whimper, spreading his thighs a little wider. Ethan shoved Rage’s fingers away from the tempting hole and guided his cock inside, sliding in with unerring accuracy and sighing in pleasure as the silken depths surrounded his dick.
“Oh yeah,” Rage growled, his eyes closing to slits, the glittering golden irises twinkling brightly. “Claim me, baby,” he said, arching his back as Ethan bottomed out.
Pausing for a moment, Ethan savored the snug depths of Rage’s ass and then his jaguar gave a low, impatient snarl, wanting to bond with Rage. Ethan moved slowly, sinking in and out of Rage’s chute, feeling every ridge and quiver caress his thick length as it traveled in and out. He picked up the pace and was soon pounding into his mate, trying to fuck him through the mattress.
“Mine!” Ethan snarled, slamming hard and fast, his hips moving like pistons before he roared out his climax, pouring hot cum into his lover and then sinking his fangs deep into Rage’s neck to seal the deal. They both cried out as the bond was completed, spurting yet more cum into and onto each other.
“Ethan, I love you,” Rage whimpered, dragging Ethan i
nto a deep, hungry kiss.
Ethan kissed him back, stroking Rage’s chest and jaw.
“I love you, too, Rage,” he said, sighing with pleasure as he tasted his lover’s spicy flavor.
Ethan heard Slug clear his throat and looked over, then laughed aloud as he spied the bald-headed, pony-tailed wolverine lying on his back, looking hopeful as he pointed to his ass and waggled his brows.
“Ready to go for the hat trick?” Slug asked with a salacious grin that had Ethan laughing louder.
Leaving the depths of Rage’s ass, Ethan crawled over to Slug and lay on top, sliding his cock into place and feeling Slug’s legs wrap around his waist, locking him in. Ethan began kissing his lover tenderly, stroking the man’s bald head, caressing him gently. Slug was the toughest looking of the four wolverines, but had the softest heart. Ethan wanted to claim him differently, by making love to his mate with all of his body.
Slug moaned as Ethan thrust with long, slow strokes, rubbing his body along Slug’s, marking him with his scent.
“I love you, baby,” Ethan whispered, sucking on Slug’s tongue as he plowed the man’s sexy ass. “I’m so glad we found each other,” he said, feeling tears prick at his eyes. “They won’t win,” he added firmly. “They’ve thrown everything they can at us, and we’ve survived. Now we’re all mated, fully mated. Whatever happens next, whatever they try to do, at least we’ve achieved what they tried to prevent.” Ethan felt Slug’s arms wrap around him, felt the snug, warm depths of the man’s silken chute, and came with a sigh of delight, his cum pumping into Slug’s clenching tunnel, anointing him with warm cream. Ethan released Slug’s lips and claimed the man’s neck, his fangs biting deeply, cementing their bond. He felt the final piece fit into place, felt the power between the five mates zing through his veins, and felt such a deep love for his mates that he almost cried at the beauty of it.
“Looks like this hole needs filling,” Lash growled from behind, and Ethan gasped aloud as he felt a thick cock being inserted inside him. “Hmmm, there we go,” Lash said, chuckling breathlessly. “I was beginning to feel left out.”
“I love you,” Ethan said, turning his head to kiss his sexy lover, shivering when Lash began to move, fucking Ethan with slow, smooth strokes.
“I love you, too, honey,” Lash replied.
Charm and Rage joined in the fray, moving in from the sides and kissing and stroking their lovers. Sighing, moaning, and crying out their pleasure, they played together, losing themselves in each other’s arms as the night fled into the light of a new dawn.
* * * *
Douglas awoke, confused that he was surrounded by utter darkness. Not even a glimmer of light reached his retinas, and he lay trying to get his bearings. His memory began to return in snatches and starts. A van. A blow to the head. A camp in the woods. Then pain, across his face, searing into his skin, like a thousand wasps stinging him. His eyes had felt on fire, burning, the pain so excruciating that he’d wanted to claw at them to get rid of the agony. He felt a dull throbbing now in his eyes and lifted a hand to his head. He made contact with thick bandages and frowned. The memories began to coalesce, and he remembered the man in the camp, carrying a harmless looking water bottle. Douglas had laughed at him, calling him a moron. The moron had reacted, throwing the stuff at Douglas, dousing the helpless shifter with acid. Douglas felt a sickness in his stomach and somehow knew that he’d never see again. He’d felt the burn of it against his eyelids, felt the agony as it had eaten away at his eyes.
“Easy there, tiger,” came a familiar voice, soft and gentle. Douglas recognized his father, Cody, and gave a low whimper, suddenly feeling scared.
“Dad?” he said, and to his ears, he heard the sound of a frightened child in his voice.
“Baby, I’m here,” Cody said gruffly, his voice hoarse, as though he’d done a lot of yelling or something. The mattress dipped a little, and Douglas felt a large, warm body ease into place beside him. Strong arms lifted him gently, surrounding him with their safe, secure strength.
“I’m blind,” Douglas said, his voice flat.
“Yes,” his father replied honestly. “What do you remember?”
“Everything,” Douglas said grimly. “They wanted Ethan, wanted to kill him because he mated with their beloved, perfect wolverines. I played along because I didn’t want them to go back for him, as well. Those hybrid shifters are vicious. They would have killed both of us given half a chance.”
“You told them you were me?” Douglas heard his brother ask from across the room and moving closer.
Douglas nodded. “They’re all nutcases,” he said, curling his lip. “Bloody bastards injected with some crap to stop me shifting after they knocked me out the first time. They beat me up a bit, but nothing else, then chained me up in the center of the camp. Bloody bastards.”
“We took care of the bastards,” Cody said, stroking Douglas’s back gently. “The guy who did this to you is dead, plus most of the camp who were left behind. I think they were the hardcore element, although a lot surrendered.”
“What about the two wolverine bitches in charge?” Douglas asked, hearing the slight hitch in Cody’s breathing. He thought he knew the answer already. “They got away, didn’t they?” he asked.
“I’m sorry,” Cody said, sounding irritated. “Those bitches had this planned to the tiniest detail. They had a backup escape in place, in case it all went to pot. I tracked them into the woods, but they had another vehicle waiting.”
Douglas scented another presence entering the room and he turned his head in that direction. “John,” he said and heard a low gasp, then the clearing of a throat.
“Hey there, squirt,” John replied, in his usual droll style.
Douglas heard the sorrow and pain in the man’s voice, despite the attempt at humor, and tilted his head. “Why do I get the feeling that you think this is all your fault?” he asked the Brit. “You were the one who tracked me down to the camp. You were the one who fought off a whole bunch of those evil monsters. You were the one who killed the monster who did this to me.” Douglas heard another gasp, filled with distress, and reached for his big friend. “If you want me to slap you just to make you feel better, I can.”
John snorted at that, and then Douglas felt the man’s warm hand stroke his cheek gently. “I should have stopped them from getting you,” John said sadly, his tone deadly serious. “I’m so sorry, love. I’d gouge my own eyes out if it would get you back your sight.”
Douglas felt his heart clench at hearing the sincerity in John’s voice and knew the man would do exactly as he’d said if it meant Douglas would be healed.
“No slapping needed, boss,” Douglas replied, smiling slightly. “Although you might want to buy some non-breakable plates and stuff for the café since I think we’re gonna need them once I’m back at work.”
John gave another snort and grasped Douglas’s hand in his. “Douglas, we’ll get you whatever you need.”
Douglas squeezed John’s hand, feeling a tiny bit of panic as the realization began to set in that he was actually blind. He’d never see again. Despite his joke about returning to work, there was no way he’d be able to go back to the café. How was he supposed to wait tables or cook or…anything? He was fucking blind.
He rested his head against his father’s chest, sighing wearily. “I’m tired,” he said and found he wasn’t lying as sleep overcame him.
* * * *
Ethan sat beside his brother, studying the white bandages that marred Douglas’s handsome face. Douglas’s brown hair framed his face, a little long, and a little messy, a style that suited him completely. Ethan felt sick that his brother would never see his own face again.
He’d seen the moment when it sank in. The moment when Douglas understood that his life was irrevocably changed—forever. Murphy had said there would probably be some kind of PTSD to go along with the frustration and residual fear that Douglas would feel. It was only three days since the town had been attacked, and
Ethan felt as though he’d dreamed the whole thing…until he’d seen Douglas lying so defenselessly in his hospital bed, the bandages stark against his tanned skin. Ethan had been blind for months, while in the tunnels and then after being rescued. He knew how hard it had been to adjust and also knew that his brother would adapt well. Douglas was fierce and resilient.
“I can smell you,” Douglas suddenly said drowsily, a smile in his voice. “You just had coffee and a pecan pastry.”
Ethan smiled back and reached over to clasp his brother’s hand, squeezing gently. “I brought you one,” he replied, laughing softly when Douglas let out a pleased sound. “Lex said no coffee for now, so I brought you a strawberry smoothie instead.”
Douglas grinned and licked his lips. “Bring it, bro,” he retorted and tried to sit up, wincing at a shooting pain in his head.
“Here,” Ethan said, helping to fluff the pillows. “Don’t want you dribbling your smoothie,” he added and laughed when Douglas stuck out his tongue.
“How did you manage?” Douglas asked seriously a few moments later, slurping his drink through a straw. “You were blind, too, for a long time.”
“I hated it,” Ethan replied bluntly, hearing the bitterness in his voice. “I hated that I couldn’t see you or dad, or my mates…or anything. I hated that I’d been dumped by the one person who was supposed to love me the most, treated like crap, and then ended up with what I thought would be a permanent condition.” He shrugged, curling his lip. “This won’t be a walk in the park,” he added, deciding to be honest. “But you’ll get through it. You have everyone here in town to help you.”
He heard movement by the door and glanced over to see Alfie, Jay, and Mason standing there. Alfie had tears in his eyes and he wandered in, his sparkly sandals slapping on the tiled floor.