by Fel Fern
“Just a little bit?” He asked.
What was happening? Liam didn’t tease, didn’t flirt. With Eli, he was seeing a whole new side of himself he never thought existed. This was all thanks to Eli’s doing. Liam put up shields around himself as as self-defence mechanism but Eli managed to blast through all his walls.
“Maybe more than that,” Eli admitted. “Where are you taking me today? I noticed this route is different from the other two you’ve taken me to. This field is pretty.”
It was. Ringed by a circle of towering trees, sat a little slice of paradise. This was the clearing where Liam and his brothers buried their parents.
He released Eli from his embrace and held out his hand. Eli gripped his fingers and squeezed them. Liam let Eli to the pile of stones at the edge of the field.
“These are…” Eli trailed off.
“Graves. My parents are here,” he said.
Liam’s heart always felt heavy as he gazed at the burial ground. It had been years since they passed away and yet Liam wasn’t over their deaths. Not completely.
During his bad days, he still blamed them for leaving the three of them all alone on this mountain. Liam and his brothers had to fend for themselves. Since he was the oldest, he had to act more like Lucas and Logan’s father more than their older brother.
“Lucas always shuts down when you mention your parents,” Eli said.
“There’s a reason for that.” Liam took a deep breath. “Don’t you find it odd that we’ve had no other guest but you over the past three days?”
“I did.” Eli chewed on his bottom lip then spoke up. “When I drove up here, I asked two humans for directions. They warned me not to come here. Why did the townsfolk act like dicks?”
That got a laugh out of him.
“Our family doesn’t have a stellar reputation in town.” Liam explained.
“How come?”
“My mom was human. My dad was deeply in love with her. They built the lodge together, ran it for a time. We had a good childhood until my mom was run over by a drunk driver. The driver was coming home from a bachelor party with his friends.”
Liam paused. He still got furious when he thought of the thoughtless asshole who thought it was a good idea to drive when he was hammered.
He started to shake. His grizzly wanted to tear out of him. Even now, rage festered inside of him. Anger lived in him, in both of his brothers like a terminal disease that had no cure.
Eli turned sheet white and clutched at his arm. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Liam.”
“My father wasn’t right after that. He started to drink, to slip. He couldn’t control his shifts anymore. My brothers and I took turns watching him. One night, he slipped our watch. He hunted down the human who ran my mom over. My father wasn’t satisfied with just one death. He killed all of them, all the humans in that car.”
Claws slid out of his hands but he wiled the change back.
“He went Rogue?” Eli whispered.
A shifter turning Rogue was no better than a monster. His father abandoned his humanity. The bastard chose to let his beast ruin his life and the lives of his sons.
That tragedy happened five years ago but the entire town never looked at them the same way. They were treated like outcasts, which was fine by them. Liam and his brothers only went to town if they ever needed supplies.
“Once my brothers and I learned our dad left the lodge, we immediately went to town but it was too late. Dad turned Rogue. He wanted more blood. He wanted to kill everyone in that car, not just the driver. It took all three of us to put him down. I dealt the finishing blow.”
“Did you get the scars on your arm from that fight?”
Liam nodded. The old injury still hurt at times, even though Liam knew it was only phantom pain. Eli hugged him, a strange sight to behold but Liam welcomed the comfort Eli offered.
“That’s awful, Liam,” Eli whispered. “But I don’t understand. You three stopped your dad. Why aren’t the townsfolk grateful?”
“Because they only see the sons of a murdering monster,” he finished. “Some asshole reporter wrote about our father on the local paper. Tourists and locals stopped coming to the lodge.”
“Pricks,” Eli said under his breath. Eli grasped his hands. “Thank you for telling me this.”
“You’re not frightened?” Liam asked. “You have every right to be. None of us know if our dad passed his madness to us. The same blood runs in our veins. Some day, all three of us could turn violent. We could devolve into Rogues.”
“Madness?” Eli asked, frowning. “Liam, your father was grieving. I’d feel the same if my mate was torn apart from me. Won’t you?”
Liam imagined Eli being ripped from him and saw red. No, he was like his father in so many ways. Liam would fight and kill for the one he loved, for his mate.
“I would do the same,” Liam admitted.
Fat droplets of rain splattered on their faces. They started for the lodge again. Liam didn’t mind the rain so much or having to walk through the puddles. He felt incredibly light, like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
The entire town turned on them even after they took their father down. In the eyes of the townsfolk, the Griffin brothers were irredeemable, monsters like their old man.
It was nice to find someone who would take his side. Eli didn’t see Liam as a villain. In Eli’s eyes, Liam was his white knight, although Liam didn’t deserve the label. He wanted to do all sorts of filthy things to Eli that weren’t considered honorable.
“Can you shift?” Liam asked Eli.
“I could.”
“It won’t harm the baby?”
Eli shook his head. “Not at this stage.”
“Then let’s change forms. We’ll cut the walking time in half. I don’t want you to catch a cold.”
8
Eli
Sweet bear. Liam was impossible at times. The werebear could be growly and demanding but Eli liked both sides of him. The rough and the tender parts.
Eli peeled off his clothes, all too aware of Liam’s heated stare. For the past few days, they’d stolen away in the corners of the lodge. They’d kissed and touched but did nothing more. Eli was beginning to wonder if Liam was slowly losing interest in him.
It struck him at that moment that he was mistaken. Liam was only waiting, but waiting for what? Eli was more than ready to jump Liam’s bones. Once he slid out of his pants and underwear, he stood in front of Liam, completely naked.
What sounded like a growl of appreciation rumbled from Liam’s chest. The downpour turned the rest of the trees and shrubbery muddy but he could still make out Liam’s stark profile and Liam’s glowing amber eyes.
Damn. Eli never viewed himself as desirable or sexy before. Liam looked at Eli like he was the hottest man in the entire universe.
“We better get going, mister.” He reminded Liam.
Liam took off his clothes. Eli’s mouth watered at the sight of Liam’s muscular chest, his six-pack abs, his powerful legs, and the impressive package between Liam’s legs.
Hunger, untamed, and wild, coursed through Eli’s entire body. He’d go insane if Liam didn’t touch him soon.
“Let’s go,” Liam said, voice harsh.
Eli shifted. The process was excruciatingly slow and painful. Fur covered him from head to foot. Paws replaced human limbs. A tail emerged.
Alphas could finish changing forms in minutes but it took so much longer for him. Liam’s grizzly was enormous. Liam was probably twice the size of a normal bear. Underneath Liam’s dark brown fur, he was padded with muscle.
Once Eli was all four paws, they resumed their run. The forest ground was slippery while Eli walked on two feet but in this form, he felt more sure of himself. More powerful.
Liam ran next to him, a comforting and protective presence. It felt surreal, to be running in his animal form with Liam, the werebear Eli was falling head over heels for.
Out here, he lived each day like h
is last. He loved every moment he spent with Liam. He hadn’t lied about the lodge either. It had grown on him, just like Liam’s brothers.
Lucas teased him constantly and they were getting along great. He even tried talking to Logan on more than one occasion. Sooner or later, Logan was going to give in and admit Eli wasn’t as bad as he initially thought after all.
They arrived at the lodge, completely soaked. Lucas, who was replacing a light bulb by the fireplace, spotted them. Lucas wagged a finger at them.
“Don’t get the floors all wet,” Lucas said.
Eli turned back to human form, so did Liam. Laughter spilled out of him and it started rubbing off Liam. He didn’t know why he felt so stupidly happy.
“What’s so funny?” Lucas demanded.
Lucas climbed down the ladder and walked up to them. The other werebear glared at Liam, then at him.
“I don’t know,” Liam admitted. “I just went along.”
“Sorry,” he blurted. “It's just, I’ve never done like that before. Sprinting through the woods in animal form is amazing.”
“You’ve never done that before?” Liam asked with a raise of his eyebrows.
He shook his head. “The closest I've been to nature is going to the park. The only time Steve lets me out is when I have to run errands for the house.” Eli explained.
Talking about his old life, dampened the mood. He cleared his throat, realizing both Liam and Lucas were staring intently at him.
“You were a prisoner,” Liam said.
“It felt that way, although no one put bars on my window. No one chained me up.”
Lucas looked at his brother. “Tell you what, bro. If Eli’s asshole ex or any members of his stupid family turn up, I also want to give them a taste of my claws and fangs.”
Eli was slightly taken aback. Two grizzly Alphas coming to his defense? Eli was one lucky Omega wolf.
“Why would you do that?” Eli asked.
“Because family’s supposed to stick together and you’ve become part of ours,” Lucas said.
Lucas looked embarrassed when Eli let out a sniffle. No one ever fought for him before. Even his own family never took his side when Steve complained to them. Liam placed his big hands on his shoulders and guided him up the stairs.
“Let’s warm you up before you catch a cold,” Liam told him.
“Stay right there,” Liam ordered as soon as they entered Eli’s room.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Eli murmured.
Eli became intently aware they were both still wet and naked. Shifters were usually comfortable around nudity but it wasn’t the same for Eli.
His parents kept him locked up in his room most of the time. His own brothers pretended he didn’t exist. Eli never had the chance to socialize or create meaningful bonds with other shifters. At times, he envied how close Liam was to his brothers. Lucas told me I was part of the family, Eli thought with glee.
Liam returned with a thick towel. Eli stood still and let Liam dry off his hair and pat his body down. He moved his gaze from Liam’s handsome face to the erection Liam was sporting for him.
Eli didn’t know what made him reach out to touch Liam’s cheek. The werebear let the towel drop on the floor. Liam placed his hand over Eli’s. His breath hitched. Liam got the hint.
The werebear closed his hand over the back of Eli’s neck and tugged him close for a searing kiss. Eli didn’t want Liam to stop. Their chests and groins kissed. Liam’s big and solid body felt good against his slender one. A perfect fit.
Eli parted his mouth, only for Liam to deepen the kiss. The werebear ran his callused hands down the length of Eli’s body, his touches proprietary.
“Own me.” Eli didn’t realize he uttered those words out loud until Liam released his mouth.
Seeing Liam’s gold eyes, his breath caught.
“Mine.” Liam practically growled out that word.
Eli’s heart fluttered. Three days had been long enough to make up his mind. Steve’s mate mark was hardly noticeable. The moment he left Steve’s house, the bonds between them had snapped like thin strings.
What would it feel like, to be mated to Liam? Would their bond pulse bright and strong?
Eli was getting way ahead of himself but he couldn’t help it. Liam placed a hand on his chest and guided him towards the bed. One push and Eli landed on the edge. He scooted upwards. Eli flashed Liam the sexiest smile he could muster.
He crooked a finger towards his werebear, only to hear a rumble tear from Liam’s chest. Liam had been holding back, giving him space.
Well, Eli had decided. He was tired of waiting. His heart hammered as Liam climbed into bed and crawled on top of him. Liam dragged his wrists above his head and pinned them in place.
Liam kissed Eli senseless, eliminating any logical thought left in his head. The werebear left more burning kisses and tiny bites down his neck, his collarbones.
Liam let go of his wrists and left more of his marks down the line of his belly. Liam moved lower until his mouth was finally angled at Eli’s dick. Liam parted his thighs, holding them in place.
He blew at Eli’s dick, making him squirm. Liam tongued the red tip of his cock and licked away the pre-cum gathered them.
“Liam,” he whispered.
Eli didn’t need to say more. His bear understood what he wanted, needed.
Liam explored his cock from root to crown and applied the right amount of pressure to his balls. Eli moaned as Liam finally opened his mouth and took Eli’s shaft down his throat.
He clutched at the sheets as Liam bobbed his head up and down. Eli shut his eyes. The sensation of Liam’s mouth and tongue on the most intimate parts of his body felt too amazing for words.
Eli had always been on the giving end of blowjobs. Alphas only took, so it shocked him Liam decided to focus on his pleasure. Liam pulled his mouth away and curved his lips upwards to a mischievous smile.
The werebear kissed him on the lips, letting Eli taste his need. The moment Liam closed his fingers over Eli’s aching prick, Eli shattered. With a wordless cry, he came. His mind shattered as he grew lost in the kiss.Eli painted Liam’s abs and stomach with his jizz.
“Perfect,” Liam said afterward. “I can’t wait to see you come undone for me again.”
“You haven’t fucked me yet.” The crassness of Eli’s words surprised him.
He’d never been bold when it came to sex. Then again, before Liam, he’d only been with one man. Steve didn’t count as a lover. Steve was only an overgrown bully who used his power and size to intimidate others into doing what he wanted.
Eli flung Steve away from his thoughts and focused on the present. Liam slid away from the bed and watched him like a predator. Liam looked at him like he was the desirable Omega in the world. A prize beyond measure.
“I want you on your hands and knees,” Liam said.
Imagining Liam rutting him from behind like a beast sent a shudder of anticipation down Eli’s spine. He moved to the edge of the bed and got into position. Eli lowered his chest to the sheets and thrust his ass upwards in offering to his bear.
He was blushing furiously but hearing Liam’s growl of approval was worth it. Liam positioned himself behind Eli but the werebear didn’t fuck him right away.
Liam ran his hands down every knob of Eli’s spine, his touch firm, possessive. Eli moaned when Liam cupped his left ass cheek and squeezed it. Liam did the same with his right buttock.
Liam reached the cleft of his ass and Eli parted his legs wider. Splayed open like this, Liam could see all of Eli—his balls, cock, and pink asshole.
Omegas were self-lubricating so Liam could probably tell Eli was already slick and wet for him. There was no need for additional preparation.
“All mine,” Liam said, his voice barely human.
“Yours.” Eli agreed.
9
Liam
Liam wanted to shove his dick right inside Eli and finally claim the Omega as his. One fuck wouldn’t do it
.
He’d wear them both down. Once Eli was all bundled up in his arms and his ass filled with Liam’s seed, Liam would close his teeth over Eli’s neck. He’d place his personal brand, his mate mark on Eli. Only a fool with a death wish would dare touch his mate.
Eli might see Liam as his noble protector but when it came to his mate, his family, and his territory, Liam was a brute. A savage.
He reeled in self-control. This was Eli and his first time together. Liam wanted to make it good for the both of them. He planted his hands over Eli’s ass and lowered his face to Eli’s hole. Before he’d fuck Eli senseless, he wanted to see his Omega squirm.
Liam pushed his tongue inside Eli’s puckered hole. Eli moaned, clawing at the sheets above him as Liam tongue-fucked him. Eli was already so slick and primed for him, ready to receive his cock. Liam pulled his face away and slid two fingers inside Eli’s wet asshole.
“Liam,” Eli murmured. “Stop teasing me. Take me already.”
He gave Eli’s ass a swat, making the Omega jump.
“Be patient. I’m not exactly small.”
“Oh, I know.” Eli sounded breathy with anticipation.
Liam added another digit inside Eli’s hole. He made twisting motions. Certain Eli would be able to take his girth, he pulled his fingers out.
He guided his cock into Eli’s entrance. By now, Liam’s dick was thick, long, and hard. It felt like a steel pipe between his legs. Gripping Eli’s ass, he penetrated his Omega.
Eli gasped. Fuck, but Eli’s ass felt so tight and good around his dick.
“Breathe in and out,” he ordered.
Eli did as he asked. Once Liam pushed past the thick ring of muscles, the passage went smoother. He buried himself to the hilt. Liam rested his balls against the curve of Eli’s ass. If this wasn’t heaven, Liam didn’t know what else was.
His grizzly felt like a living force of nature inside him. Mate him, make him ours, the bear whispered. Soon, Liam promised.
He thought he could wait. Liam had plans to woo Eli. He’d slowly convince the Omega to fall for him but he was never a patient bear. Tonight would only end one way, with Eli wearing his mate mark.