Rebuilding the Wolf

by Erin R Flynn

  “Sex isn’t the time for power struggles. If he wants to screw me like that, I’ll try it because it sounds fun and my soon-to-be lover wants it. It’s different if I don’t like it, but I don’t give a flying fuck if I’m higher up on the food chain. I won’t limit myself from trying all types of fun because it’s not expected of someone powerful. Fuck, it’s stupid to miss out when you’ve got all the power.”

  “And that is why we love you, Mistress,” Orson said as he yanked me away from Axel and dipped me in a movie style kiss. I fed from him as he did, smirking as he shivered.

  “You don’t think I know you’re trying to make me smile and laugh after what happened earlier?”

  “No, you’re too smart to be fooled.”

  “I still appreciate you trying.”

  “How much?” he asked as he stood us back up. He let out a deep, deep moan as I pressed my lips to his ear and told him just how much. “When? When can we do that?”

  I shrugged, giving him a wink. “As soon as we get home? The meeting is in the morning, and technically it’s still Valentine’s weekend.”

  “Oi, hurry the fuck up and finish!” he bellowed at the others before racing over there to help.

  “What did you just offer him?” Eugene asked, glancing past me at Orson before meeting my eyes again.

  “Be good and maybe I’ll let you watch,” I teased, swallowing my shock when Axel growled deeply. I turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t like watching me with other men.” I moved closer to him and tucked my fingers around his belt so I was touching his skin. “Lie to me and say it doesn’t flat do it for you to watch someone fuck me and I’ll never touch him.”

  “You have been teasing me for months,” he grumbled, his voice low and dangerous. “Yes, I love watching you naked in any and every way.” He lowered his face to mine so our lips were a breath apart. “But even I have limits. I won’t do well with another tiger in your bed or any of my colleagues having you first.”

  “Fine,” I agreed but wasn’t done even when he seemed relieved. “And for the record, you got in your own way, so don’t put that on me.”

  His eyes filled with heat. “We both knew we were playing the game.”

  I smirked at him, loving that he was acting like he was revealing some secret. “Yeah, we both knew, my tiger. Neither one of us would have been so interested and this long if it was just a quick fuck. We’ve been hunting each other since we met, not me just on the prowl for you. But apparently I really have held out longer, and I didn’t flee when I was about to cave.”

  “Glad we settled that then,” he murmured before kissing me softly. “You promise no other tigers?”

  “I’ve never even met one,” I chuckled as I nodded. “I can deal with that. I have a no other humans rule too.”

  He huffed. “Havers won’t like me with you. He thinks I’m too Alpha and he should be the only one in your bed.”

  “I now have a bunch of ancient vampires and Virgil has been staying with me, so he’s good, don’t worry.” I grabbed his chin when he went to move away. “But I do not tolerate people pushing each other’s buttons to start shit, so don’t poke him. If there’s a problem, I will handle it.”

  He gave me another kiss. “I like to play games with you and I will in your bed, not with your other men. Unless they want that sort of fun with you.”

  “Good, and I have no idea on that last one.” I glanced over when I saw a vehicle arriving, and headed away, clearly saying I was open to whatever and it was time to get back to work. I greeted Theon and Freddie Powell—who I was still a bit awkward around after what had happened with Leo, Ashley, and Jessica.

  “Any problems, Alpha?” Theon checked as he took in the scene.

  “Nothing we couldn’t handle. Same deal as Milwaukee, and I’ll get a replacement up here as soon as I can. Harris will handle the FBI side, and I’m leaving the ancients besides Orson with you to make nice with the local groups.”

  “The council teams?” Freddie asked, not hiding how nervous it made him to be working with them. Yeah, it made sense as they used to be nothing but the boogeymen who wiped out bad wolves, but things were changing.

  “Support only so it doesn’t get around this was their doing. Axel and the wolf team are coming back with me to help our pack until we get more people in for here and Milwaukee. Axel’s team already left to take a transport to the council and will take anyone else Harris and Shaw say go.”

  Freddie’s eyes flashed shock. “You already sent some?”

  I nodded. “This wasn’t like with our pack where I had time to sort through them all. No home court advantage here and less people. I sent all that were illegally armed when we arrived. We can sort it all out later, but the council knows how I’m playing this. I’ll watch all the interrogations before anything happens, I promise.”

  “Of course, I didn’t mean to question you, Alpha.”

  “I know,” I assured him, patting his arm. “Thanks for dropping everything and helping with this.”

  He slowly nodded. “I know Jessica and Ashley are safe at home and protecting wolves who need it is why I wanted to become a Beta, even if it’s not our pack. Or our immediate pack.” He gave me a worried look that he might be overstepping but still asked. “How are the interviews going for people?”

  “Good,” I sighed, hating the amount of crazy and in so many directions. “Alena and her Betas cleared twenty-six refugees to come here. And I mean cleared them. I also had my people run them, and they’re clean, just looking for somewhere safe. They were supposed to fly out last week but…”

  “Iran,” he sighed.

  “Yeah, Iran,” I grumbled. I scrubbed my hands over my face as I took in the scene before me. “I’m never getting to New York to handle that huge pile of shit.”

  “Next week?” he chuckled, knowing full well it was Sunday so a new week.

  I snorted. Yeah right. Talk about piling more on. It would take more than a week to sort all this out.

  It had taken longer than that for Milwaukee, and that still wasn’t all that stable. Hestia was a great Alpha and liked being under my umbrella, but she wasn’t sure it was the right fit for something permanent. Hey, I couldn’t even blame her. She was immortal, and that was a long, long time to commit to a pack. But since she was under my umbrella, we had some flexibility.

  For now, we were talking a year trial and to reassess, and that was what I was going to offer Linus, which I doubted he would like. Too fucking bad. It was all on me, and if he wanted the promotion, he needed to realize that.

  But it also gave me an idea.

  I walked over to Eugene and pulled him off to the side, letting Axel join us so he was good on the idea. “Let me feel your full power.”

  “Why?” he muttered, studying me carefully.

  “The way I’m trying to handle this whole thing with not as much time as I’d like is tricky, and I could use some help making everyone behave,” I admitted. He gave a slow nod and let me feel all of it. I swallowed a moan. He was pretty damn powerful. Not anywhere as much as I was, but he was more than Hagan and Reagan, even the Greek wolves.

  And most importantly, more than Linus.

  I licked my lips and stared at him as I shook off the rush of his energy. “The wolf I want to put here as Alpha for a trial under my umbrella won’t like being under my umbrella and wants full power. That’s not an option, and instead he will probably want to keep on his current course of getting in my bed, trying for the title of Alpha Mate and in his mind—”

  “Being the real Alpha behind everything you’ve built then,” he drawled, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, I know the score. Why put up with that at all?”

  “Because it’s all he knows. I think he has potential to be a good Alpha or I wouldn’t bother at all, but he’s used to watching Alena and Zeno and being the fourth son that doesn’t matter and all that other crap, but there is something to him. He didn’t think I saw or people noticed, b
ut from the moment he’s arrived, he’s been helping our youngest and newest with control.”

  “So he actually takes pack and family seriously, he’s just a bit out of step,” he surmised, blowing out a harsh breath when I nodded. “Okay, so how do you…” A small grin formed on his lips, and my stomach flipped and flopped as it took his hotness level up a few notches.

  Or a lot. Yeah, the grin made him super extra sexy.

  “You want him to pretend to be a mating contender,” Axel surmised. “Eugene is very powerful, and the council would love an alliance like that with one of their most loyal people.”

  “I didn’t think of that part,” I admitted. “I guess I didn’t think of them that way, but okay, sure, that helps. He sees the Greek wolves as the best of the best, and my wolves are strong, don’t get me wrong, and I’ve made them much stronger—”

  “But they are a known in this picture and have shown how they would do anything for you, including allowing this wolf to stand next to you,” Axel muttered, bobbing his head. “You’re throwing a wrench in what he sees as a sound path without risking he becomes an enemy.”

  “Yeah, especially since he saw me ignore just about every fucking Valentine’s Day gift I got.”

  Eugene frowned. “You ignored them?”

  I shrugged. “Only from the people I didn’t know. It sort of creeps me out that random guys sent me huge arrangements of flowers trying to woo me from across the globe or expensive shoes not in my size. Or vampires sending me blood red roses with notes of tasting me.” I chuckled when they both rolled their eyes. I moved in closer to Eugene. “So what do you say? You want to pretend to court me to be one of mine?”

  He licked his lips as he leaned down closer. “I don’t think I would have to do much pretending, Alpha.” He chuckled when I didn’t hide my shock very well. That was a pretty big thing to say when even I knew what it took to become a council team lead. He had to be aces at his job, way older than I was, and pretty fucking powerful.

  Damn, I wanted to steal him for the FBI and even my pack.

  “Can you handle this?” I asked Axel, glancing away from Eugene’s intense gaze.

  “Yes, because I want you safe and with less enemies, and if this will make things work in your life better, keep your focus where it should, and handle this situation the council couldn’t, I will swallow down my not liking him touching you.”

  “Good tiger,” I praised, giving him a real smile.

  “Does that mean I get to restrain you for hours after you’ve been on your knees for me?”

  I burst out laughing, loving how he always pushed and chased as much as he made me chase. “No.”

  He grumbled something about wondering what it would take for it to happen as I walked off. I swallowed the need to laugh again when I heard Eugene’s answer.

  “A fucking miracle.”

  I wasn’t sure it would require that, but okay, whatever.

  A few hours later, everything was under control enough to head back to the airstrip and pick up dinner on the way. Most of the others waited to eat on the plane, but I was hurrying to shovel it all into my mouth. No matter how short the flight, there was no chance of me staying awake for it.

  “Jesus, you really do have plane narcolepsy,” Axel chuckled when I woke back up after we landed.

  “Mm-huh,” I muttered, stretching. “And just an overall tiredness.” I grabbed my stuff after Orson parked and opened the door. My eyes itched and I blinked back tears when I saw who was standing there waiting for us. I didn’t even hesitate, racing over to him.

  “It’s over now, babe,” Brian whispered as he hugged me tightly. “He’s dead. He can’t ever hurt you again.”

  “I lost it,” I rasped. “I totally lost it.”

  “Sera, you have so few triggers, it’s a fucking miracle after what you suffered. I have more, and I didn’t go through a fraction of what you did. Jesus, babe, cut yourself some slack.”

  I bobbed my head against his shoulder. “Okay. Yeah, okay.”

  “I love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  He flinched as we started to separate, and I realized he hadn’t known Axel was coming back… And he probably saw the bite. “So the tiger?”

  “I thought you were okay with that?” I muttered, trying to gauge his reaction, but his eyes were focused on Axel. I gasped, and he met my eyes, wincing. “I’m okay with that.”

  A slow smile spread on his lips. “Of course you are because you are fucking perfect.”

  “If you’re blind,” I grumbled, unable to not smile back when he gave me that look. “I’m really okay with it, I promise.”

  “With what?” Axel asked from behind me, guessing it was about him.

  Brian turned me around and hugged me to him. “Tigers are known for—and I hate to be that guy who talks in stereotypes but—”

  “We’re known for being not just aggressive and selfish but closer to abusive to anyone we bed, even our mates,” Axel muttered, glancing off in the distance as he crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m aware. Probably better than you, yes. I’ve not remotely acted like that with her, and I won’t.”

  “I’m not saying you are, but she is not a normal Alpha who would lay the smack down for anything—she doesn’t play the power games. I’ve done enough reading up on the different shifters and paranormals to know some of their other sides take that as weakness and could pounce when she’s vulnerable.”

  He looked at Brian then, narrowing his eyes. “So what? You want to watch me fuck her and make sure I’m not hurting her?”

  “Hey, over the line,” I warned, knowing he was upset, but that was a bit much.

  “It was, I apologize,” he muttered even as his hands fisted with his arms still crossed. “It’s a sensitive topic.”

  “I’m sure it is, and I’m sorry to push the button, but I love her and won’t ever risk her,” Brian said gently. “And no, I don’t need to watch you have sex, as we both know I couldn’t help if there was a problem. There is more than sex you want with Sera.” He let out a heavy breath. “Look, you seem like a good guy, but you’ve been locked down around her and don’t admit you want her. I’ve seen that manifest in bad ways with non-tigers.”

  I cut in before Axel snapped. “He just had a thought maybe we could head back to the club and take a soak, nothing more. There’s been a lot going on, and it’s smart they’re so protective of me when I tend to jump. Do you not want to take a naked soak with me?”

  Axel huffed. “Of course I do. I don’t care who’s there. I can’t even blame him, but you of all people know how hard it is to fight the stereotypes.”

  “Yeah, but it’s a bit harder when it’s other tigers who are the ones who say this is how things are,” I defended gently. “The reports Brian’s talking about are what other tigers say. He’s human, and he doesn’t get what we feel. Hell, I don’t as a wolf. He’s not accusing you of anything, just making sure we’re all clear on the lines. Plus, he’s a total voyeur.”

  Brian burst out laughing behind me, hugging me tightly as he kissed my hair. The mood was lightened… Until he noticed Eugene watching us much more intently than his team was.

  I turned in Brian’s arms and made him focus on me. “Okay, three things. One, I’m still hungry and want to be fed. Two, you should know it was Axel who helped me pull back, and he did it well, like almost your level well, and he barely knows me. Three, I sort of stole a wolf, but there’s a reason.”

  “Uh-huh, this should be good,” he drawled, looking amused. “Virgil’s going to fucking love this when he’s only visiting. I can’t wait to see his face that the tiger’s here and now another wolf. You are never boring, babe.”

  However, I saw the look Eugene and Axel exchanged, realizing there was something I needed to make clear from the start. I tossed Orson the keys to my SUV that we had left at the airstrip and told the rest of Eugene’s team to go with Orson. I got several funny looks, but no one questioned it.

  Onc
e we were in Brian’s vehicle heading home, I leaned over and rubbed my hand over his thigh. “You in the mood?”

  “Yes,” he chuckled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but yes.”

  “I told you I was hungry,” I clarified.

  The car swerved a bit and then he righted us, shooting me a shocked look. “Jesus, Sera, who says no to that?” His gaze softened when he glanced at me again. “Babe, I want to, believe me, I want to.”

  “Then focus on driving while I play.”

  “Hey, we’re going slow,” he murmured, reaching over and cupping my cheek. “I don’t fully get what’s going on here, but I don’t care where they rank me. Us doing this right is more important to me. You said you were enjoying the going slow. I am too. I’m excited for our date.”

  Axel cleared his throat before I could answer. “We’re hundreds of years old, and it’s a bit unheard of for an Alpha of her power to have a human lover, much less give them much note. She’s clearly saying where you are in importance if she’ll be submissive with you when she’s Alpha.”

  “She basically just said not to fuck with you or risk her wrath and be very careful how we treat you, as any disrespect to you would make her very unhappy,” Eugene added.

  “That’s a lot to say with one blow job,” Brian chuckled, sounding easy, but I knew when he was nervous. “Does she say it with the offer only?”

  “Yes,” they both answered, but Eugene went on. “But you’re fucking nuts to turn her down.”

  Brian glanced at him in the review mirror. “Yes, because I know how good she is at it and you don’t. She’s more important than just pleasure.”

  “Damn, now I want to tell you to pull over and screw me on the hood of your car,” I admitted without even meaning to. I moved my hand over my face when I realized I said it, my face flaming hot.

  He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips. “I think I was spoiled enough with last night and even being included on the Skype call with your fun with Virgil.”