Ripples of Threat

by Rebecca James

  Christopher lay on his stomach, splayed open, speared and filleted by the alpha. He sighed in relief when X rolled off.

  “You okay?” X murmured into Christopher’s hair as he ran a hand soothingly up and down the beta’s trembling back.

  “I’m great,” Christopher lied.

  X kissed Christopher’s shoulder and fell onto his back, shaking the bed. The beta waited until the alpha’s breathing evened out in sleep before slipping into the bathroom to examine the damage.

  Looking over his shoulder into the mirror, hands pulling apart his ass cheeks, Christopher expected to see a torn mess, but his asshole was only vaguely pink and had already shrunk down to a tight furl. He couldn’t believe it. Did all beta’s fake their pleasure during sex with an alpha? It had to be their huge dicks that made the experience so awful. Christopher clung to the sink, wondering how he would ever bring himself to do it again.

  Chapter 25: Canaan

  Canaan sensed the moment Duncan re-entered the compound. Almost two weeks had passed since the alpha had left with Grey and the others to search for Gabriel, and the beta had worried about Duncan even though he hadn’t wanted to. Relief at seeing the alpha again was so strong, Canaan’s knees went weak.

  When the howl had gone up, alerting the pack of Grey’s return, Canaan had just released his students to go home. He’d rushed to the northern perimeter where the two cliffs came closest together in time to see the pack alpha carrying his omega to their house.

  Duncan appeared weary but confident and in control, as always, and seeing him raised gooseflesh all over Canaan’s body. Duncan was the epitome of an alpha, and Canaan wanted him.

  The problem was, Duncan was different from the others, and Canaan wasn’t sure how to act around the alpha. One minute, Duncan seemed put-off by the things Canaan said and did, and the next Duncan’s cock hardened, and he looked like he wanted to devour Canaan whole.

  How would Canaan get Duncan into his bed, and when he did, what could he do to be sure to satisfy the alpha? Because Canaan was sure Duncan liked more than vanilla sex. Duncan was a challenge, and Canaan hoped he was up for it.

  Gathering his courage, Canaan stepped out into Duncan’s path. “Glad to see you’re all right.”

  Duncan’s expression resembled a storm cloud. Canaan’s cock reacted as it always did in the big alpha’s presence, particularly since, having just shifted, Duncan was stark naked.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Canaan ran his tongue across his upper lip, encouraged by the way Duncan’s eyes followed the movement. “I didn’t mean you couldn’t handle yourself, but anything could go wrong out there. The Turned…”

  “I can hold my own against that pack of feral werewolf-wanna bees.” Duncan took a step forward as though to continue walking, but the beta steeled himself and didn’t move.

  “Is there something you want, beta?” Duncan asked, pale eyes piercing Canaan through.

  What should Canaan say? How could he get this man’s attention the way he wanted to? He tried to hold Duncan’s steely gaze but finally had to lower his lashes. Duncan obviously thought Canaan would back down completely, and the beta was determined not to.

  Canaan watched Duncan widen his stance on the dirt path. “Out of my way, beta, unless you plan to get on your knees and suck me. For that, I might be willing to hang around.”

  Canaan’s gaze flew back to Duncan’s face—no flicker of a smile or teasing glint in the alpha’s eyes signaled he was joking. The beta’s attention dropped to Duncan’s cock, twitching where it hung low from his sculpted body.

  Public sex wasn’t unusual on the compound, but as an unmated wolf still new to the pack, Canaan wasn’t eager to put himself out there like that. Reluctantly, he stepped away and let Duncan pass, annoyed by the smirk on the alpha’s face as though Duncan had been sure the beta would back down.

  Canaan didn’t just want to be fucked by Duncan. He wanted the alpha to want him. Duncan was so fucking sure of himself, Canaan wanted to see the alpha brought down a peg. He’d casually asked around and knew the alpha liked things rough. Exactly what that meant, Canaan wasn’t sure, and neither had been the pack members who’d relayed the information. But they’d said he regularly left the compound, and they hadn’t known him to have any relationship within the pack since his short-lived mating years ago. Canaan had learned Duncan had mated then because he’d gotten the beta pregnant.

  Canaan was aware he got off on power, and that, other than a pack alpha, Duncan was the best representation of power the beta had ever encountered.

  Canaan had spent years pining after River, only to be rejected, and while Stone’s brutality had briefly captured the beta’s interest, he’d soon seen through the man to what little lay beneath. Grey had made it abundantly clear their brief romp wasn’t going to be repeated, and X had been suffering from anger and grief over a dead mate, proving a distraction for Canaan. But he was captivated by Duncan’s broodiness that promised to be hiding something dark. How had Canaan not noticed the man before?

  If Canaan could make Duncan take him, the beta could get what he desired—a strong, dangerous alpha who only wanted him. Duncan showed no desire for a mate or children, which was a point in Canaan’s favor, as the beta had birthed his only child long ago. So, the question was, how could Canaan reel the alpha in?

  After a quick meal at home, Canaan walked toward Duncan’s as the sun was setting beneath the horizon. Although he liked Gabriel well enough, there was nothing Canaan could do for the omega, so he hadn’t tried to elbow his way through the pack to find out what was going on. If something bad had happened—such as the omega or the pup had died—Canaan would immediately hear about it when the howls went up. He doubted Duncan would be standing outside the omega house waiting for news, either. With that in mind, Canaan headed for the dock and stripped. A swim would take his mind off things, and if Duncan happened to see him, that was even better.

  But after a dozen laps from dock to dock, Canaan had seen hide nor hair of the surly alpha. Donning his pants but not his shirt, Canaan made his way to the barn.

  When the beta poked his head inside the door, Rick looked up from the forge, face reddened by the heat.

  “Hi. Looking for someone?”

  Canaan didn’t see anyone else around, so he lied and said he was looking for Bruce.

  “He’s at the pack alpha’s house with everyone else.”

  “Why aren’t you there?” Canaan asked.

  Rick shrugged. “No point. I can’t do anything and don’t see a reason to stand with a crowd. Duncan and I finished the loft, and he went home. I figured I can get some work done.”

  Canaan nodded and mumbled a goodbye. So, Duncan was at home, just as Canaan had suspected. Taking a deep breath, the beta climbed the hill to the house, unsure of why he was being so sketchy. He only knew Duncan probably wouldn’t like rumors floating around, although if Canaan had taken the alpha up on his dare and blown him on the path, there would have been plenty going around.

  Evidently, Duncan was a gardener, for although it was deep winter, Canaan could see a patch of earth where the alpha grew vegetables. He wondered what the hell he was going to say. When Canaan raised his hand to knock, the door abruptly opened.

  The alpha’s pale eyes ran over the beta’s body with interest.

  “Why don’t you have your shirt on?” Duncan asked.

  Canaan had expected the alpha to ask why he was there, not why his shirt was off. He stood speechless for a moment before replying.

  “Er, I was taking a swim. I thought I’d come see you.”

  Duncan leaned against the door frame and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why?”

  Canaan was immediately distracted by bulging biceps.

  “You decide you want to suck me off after all?” Duncan asked, no flicker of emotion crossing the alpha’s face.

  Nervous, Canaan licked his lips. When Duncan again followed the action, just as he’d done earlier in the day, the beta
became emboldened.

  “Would you like that?”

  The alpha huffed a laugh. “Who doesn’t enjoy getting their cock sucked?”

  “I figured it was the public part that interested you the most.”

  Duncan shrugged. “I’ll admit I like to be watched, but I’m guessing you don’t.”

  “I haven’t been in this pack very long and like to protect my privacy,” Canaan said, trying not to squirm under the alpha’s steadfast scrutiny. He started to put his shirt on, but Duncan surprised the beta again by reaching out and taking it.

  “No, I think I like you better shirtless.” The moon sat fat and almost full in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the alpha as he stood surveying Canaan. “Now get rid of the pants.”

  Canaan’s heartbeat doubled. “Why?”

  “You’re the one who came here. Either get rid of the pants or leave.”

  Canaan removed them.

  “Cock’s plumping up,” Duncan said, eyebrow raised, and pushed himself off the door to slowly circle the beta, taking in everything.

  Canaan’s skin prickled. “It tends to do that when a good-looking alpha shows an interest.”

  “You think I’m good looking?” Duncan asked conversationally.

  “Very.”

  “Hm.” Duncan stopped in front of the beta again.

  “Aren’t you going to invite me inside?” Canaan asked.

  “Why should I?”

  “Because it’s the polite thing to do? And because standing naked on your doorstep is a little awkward.”

  Duncan’s lips twitched, and he took a step backward into the house. Canaan followed. He was perfectly willing to suck the alpha’s cock. In fact, he really wanted to, and he supposed that’s where they were headed. He started to sink to his knees. Duncan grabbed him by the hair so hard the beta yelped.

  “You do what I tell you to do when I tell you to do it.”

  Canaan would think this was Stone talking, except there was something different about Duncan. He and Stone weren’t in the same league. Stone ordered people around because he was small inside and wanted to seem big. Duncan did it because it was second-nature to him. He was a leader, and he knew it. But even if the alpha hadn’t been born into a pack where the leader was determined through inheritance, Canaan realized Duncan’s reclusive nature would have kept him from becoming pack alpha.

  The dominance rolling off the man intoxicated Canaan. He wanted to be on his hands and knees for the alpha, something he’d never particularly felt for anyone else. Sure, he’d wanted alphas to fuck him and offered his ass to them plenty of times, but he’d never had the urge to submit and beg. Until now.

  Duncan gripped Canaan’s hair and looked down to where his cock stuck out like a flag. “You like this.” He shook the beta by the hair.

  Canaan cried out in pain. What Duncan was doing should make Canaan angry, but all it made him was hard. Rock—I’m dripping all over the damn floor—hard.

  “Admit you like it, beta.”

  “I like it,” Canaan whispered.

  Duncan shook Canaan by the hair. “Louder.”

  “I like it!”

  The alpha let go of Canaan’s hair. “Tell me why you’re here. The truth.”

  “I’ve heard you have certain…proclivities that you can’t satisfy within the pack.” Canaan could see the outline of the alpha’s hard cock beneath the denim, and the beta’s mouth watered. When he raised his eyes to Duncan’s he saw the alpha’s expression was something between angry and intrigued.

  “So, what if I do?”

  Canaan shrugged. “It intrigues me and makes me wonder about myself. You were right earlier—I did want to suck your cock. I came here to do that.”

  “Do you still want to?”

  Canaan’s brow rose. “You mean now that you’ve yanked my hair? Yes.”

  “Okay. On your knees. That’s it. Come closer and undo my jeans.”

  This time Canaan couldn’t keep his hands from shaking as he raised them to unzip Duncan’s jeans and pull the alpha’s big cock into the open air, staring at the vein throbbing on its underside.

  “Put your hands behind your back,” Duncan ordered. “I want you to use your mouth and your mouth only to pleasure me. I don’t want you to be careful either. Be as fucking rough as you want; I like it.”

  Canaan wondered what that meant exactly but wasn’t about to ask. Stone used to smack Canaan’s face if he accidentally scraped his teeth over Stone’s cock.

  “You may begin,” Duncan said, much like Canaan would do when directing his students to begin a test.

  Canaan leaned forward, a little unsteady in his eagerness, and licked a hard stripe up the underside of Duncan’s cock. The alpha grunted, and Canaan wasn’t sure if that was a good sign or not. Deciding to throw caution to the wind, the beta took the alpha’s foreskin between his teeth and tugged. Not too hard, but it couldn’t have been comfortable. Canaan certainly wouldn’t have enjoyed it, but to his surprise, the alpha threw back his head and moaned. Canaan did it again. And again. He lifted the big cock, dipped his head, and took a fat gonad into his mouth, sucking hard. Duncan pulled in air between his teeth and yanked Canaan by the hair until the beta dropped the wet nut. The alpha fed Canaan his rigid phallus.

  Salty pre-cum hit Canaan’s taste buds just before Duncan slammed his cock to the back of Canaan’s throat and downward. Tears sprang from the beta’s eyes, but Canaan held steady, hands gripped behind his back, lewd noises filling the room as Duncan fucked in and out of the beta’s open mouth.

  “I like the look in your eyes when you take me down your throat,” Duncan said, staring down at Canaan’s tear-streaked face. “I like seeing the bulge there and hearing your whimpers and seeing the drool falling from your lips. I like how you’re crying.”

  Canaan dug his fingernails into his palms as Duncan grabbed him by both ears and fucked his mouth hard. He was glad he hadn’t eaten in hours—vomiting on the alpha’s feet wouldn’t be the best way to insure another encounter. And Canaan wanted one.

  Duncan abruptly stepped away, and Canaan almost fell face-first onto the floor.

  Duncan pointed to the far wall. “Go stand there.”

  Canaan staggered to his feet and stumbled over to the white wall. He pressed his back to it.

  “Arms up and out. Feet spread.”

  Canaan did so, his body forming an X.

  Duncan surveyed him. “Still hard as a rock. Maybe you are kinky enough for me.”

  The words lightened Canaan’s heart. He watched the alpha drag a chair over and sit directly in front of him.

  “No matter what, don’t move from this position.”

  Canaan keened when Duncan took the beta’s cock down his throat in one smooth slurp. He sucked on it, licked it, and bit the tip. When Canaan’s arms started to slide down the wall, the alpha smacked the beta’s balls.

  Canaan screamed, but brought his hands back into position, chest heaving. Why did this feel so good? The man was brutal.

  Duncan looked up at the beta. “Don’t come,” he said, before drawing the beta back into his mouth and sucking hard and long. Canaan wailed. He’d never made so much noise during sex, and this was only a blowjob.

  Only a blowjob. Hell, it was a lot more than that. The best, most painful damn blowjob Canaan had ever experienced, and he wouldn’t have believed it possible. How many ways can a person give head? But Duncan managed to make the experience singular. The alpha poked his tongue into Canaan’s slit, and Canaan cursed, but he never lost his hardness, and that seemed to please Duncan, who periodically let go of the beta’s cock to see how rigid it remained.

  It was torture. Wonderful torture. Torture that seemed to go on and on and on.

  Finally, Duncan sat back at his chair. Canaan’s cock stood away from his body, slick with saliva. The beta was sure it had never been so hard. He could see every vein in it. At this point, Canaan wasn’t sure which he’d fail at first—staying in the uncomfortable position or k
eeping himself from coming, but he knew one was inevitable. With Duncan’s mouth off him, he had his answer. His shaking arms started to droop.

  “You want me to fuck you?”

  Canaan jerked his arms back up. “Ye-es,” he pleaded. “Please.”

  Duncan stood, cock hard and poking out from the opening in his jeans. “You’ve done well. Maybe I will, if you convince me. Next time.”

  Breathing like he’d been on a moon run, Canaan focused on the alpha. “You’re—you’re not going to do it now?”

  Duncan shook his head. “You can put your arms down and relax.”

  Although disappointed, Canaan was oddly proud of having pleased the alpha. His cock was so hard, it hurt, but the look of appraisal Duncan gave him was almost better than having ejaculated. Besides, Duncan hadn’t climaxed either, and if the alpha could be okay with it, so could Canaan.

  Duncan escorted the beta to the door, where Canaan put his clothes back on. As he walked home, Canaan looked up at the night sky and wondered exactly what had happened back there. He’d exchanged blowjobs with the alpha, but the experience had been unlike any other. Why had the way Duncan treated the beta turned Canaan on so much? At least Canaan had seen to it Duncan knew he had a willing partner within the pack if the alpha so chose, and that was enough for now.

  Chapter 26: Roanan

  Roanan couldn’t take his eyes off the omega. Emory, Gabriel had called him. He was young and all alone, and every fiber of Roanan’s alpha being wanted to take care of him. He wondered if Jeff, Scott, and Duncan felt the same, but other than a few interested sniffs that hardened their cocks, the three alphas hadn’t reacted much. Scott was young, and Jeff had a beta mate who hadn’t had a child yet, so he probably wasn’t looking for another mate so soon. Duncan held nothing but contempt for omegas.