by Lisa Oliver
Before they left to return to Cloverleah, Kane and Shawn gave Damien some ideas on how to change the dynamics of the pack to include more family groups. While the focus for Damien would still be providing a haven for gay wolves, Shawn in particular agreed that opening the pack up to family groups as well, would help strengthen the pack, both in terms of numbers and future growth. All new members would have to be accepting of gay wolves and humans, but all wolves would be considered for inclusion in the pack.
As the pack already had a huge amount of untapped resources, namely cash, land and labor, Damien decided to not only replace the three houses that had burned down in the fire, but also build up to a further twenty houses on pack land, for any future families. Argon and his family were going to move into the last empty house in the compound, and Damien wanted more available. Shawn was going to put the word out among other packs that the San Antonio pack was looking for its own Shaman/healer, which Damien admitted would be really helpful, especially if more children would be living on pack grounds.
Troy had spent time talking to Scott and Damien about putting in a computer system, both for security and to help with communications. After listening for half an hour, Damien had growled that he had better things to do, and had thrown Scott a black Mastercard, giving instructions for Scott and Troy to buy what they needed, and just get on with it. After giggling at each other, Scott and Troy, accompanied by four enforcers, had headed into town and done exactly that.
It had been a really fun afternoon, and Troy had opted to stay on after Kane and Shawn had returned home to Cloverleah, to help set up the computer system, and teach Malacai and Scott the basics. Troy would go with Scott and Damien to New York on the Saturday and then head home to Cloverleah from there. He wasn’t going to go to Wildwood Lake with the pair, although he was keen to know how Scott would get on with their old Alpha. But his mate, the man he hadn’t met in the flesh yet, was due home from his assignment within the next week, and Troy wanted to be in Cloverleah, when the man got in touch with him. Troy hadn’t heard from Anton in what seemed like ages, but in reality was probably about two weeks.
The only issue that hadn’t been resolved was finding Jacob. Despite numerous leads and so many people and wolves looking for him, the man had simply disappeared. Diablo had said before he had left, that if Jacob still hadn’t been found, after Diablo and Griff’s wedding, then he and Griff would come back to San Antonio with some of their security firm staff and do a more concerted search.
It wasn’t that Diablo thought that Damien’s enforcers didn’t know what they were doing, which was Damien’s assumption when the man first made his offer. Rather, Diablo and Griff had experience and resources with the FBI that would make tracking down the man that much easier. In the meantime Damien put his enforcers to work doing what they did best - protecting the pack and his mate. Scott wasn’t allowed to go anywhere, or meet up with anyone, unless there was a minimum of two enforcers present, and while Scott had initially scoffed at the necessity, he finally relented when Damien explained how upset he would be if anything happened to his mate.
Since that night by the river, Scott’s confidence had blossomed. No longer worried about hiding his love from his mate, he kept his mind link with Damien open all the time, and the two men learned a lot about each other in their shared thoughts. While Damien still hadn’t resolved himself on the whole love issue, Scott found the man could be quite a romantic. He often surprised Scott with little gifts if he had been in town, or with thoughtful gestures.
Like arranging for a six bay garage to be built overnight, ready for Scott’s vehicles that arrived as Scott and Damien were having breakfast the following morning. Attached to the garage was another huge space that was plenty big enough to be used as a workshop. Damien had even had the space decked out with every automotive tool available. Scott was thrilled that his vehicles had finally arrived, although Damien had a fit when he found out that Scott’s preferred method of transport was his Harley motorcycle. When Scott would not back down from using it, Damien arranged to buy all of his enforcers their own bikes, and insisted that Scott never travel on his, without a full complement of biker enforcers around him, and Damien by his side. After an ass-shattering, knee-trembling fuck, Scott had agreed.
It was when his cars arrived, that Scott found out that Damien had paid off Phillip’s family, the full cost of his most expensive baby. Scott had gone to see Phillip, after his cars had been stored in their new garage space, and had been stunned to find out that not only did Phillip not want one of Scott’s vehicles, but that he had been more than adequately compensated for the car price already, from Damien’s personal bank account. When Scott had worried that he would never be able to pay Damien for his generosity, Damien had countered by saying that Scott could restore a car for him. Scott was currently looking for a relatively rare 1966 Chevrolet Nova SS L79 that he could restore and present to his lover.
But today was Friday, Alpha Challenge day, and although Damien had repeatedly told Scott there was absolutely nothing to worry about, Scott had been feeling niggly since he woke up that morning. With an intimacy that was becoming normal for them, Scott could feel the huge presence of his mate tucked up against his back. The strong arms that he loved were wrapped firmly around him, one around his chest, and the other under his neck. As Scott wiggled a bit, the unmistakable feel of Damien’s erection against his ass was a delicious torment. He wiggled his ass some more and then pushed back, gasping as he felt Damien’s lips nuzzle his neck.
“You keep that up and I’ll lose my challenges by default,” Damien’s sleepy rasp tingled in his ear.
Looking back over his shoulder he could see Damien watching him, those silver eyes filled with lust.
“No fuck’s worth loosing your pack over, Alpha,” Scott reminded Damien gently, even as he lifted his head to claim his morning kiss.
“When it’s your ass involved, it might be,” Damien said as he lifted his lips from his mates. “You know, I have been an Alpha for a fucking long time, and the thought of claiming your ass is far more appealing, than the posturing of wolves.”
“You’re a good Alpha.” Scott smiled as he wormed his way out of Damien’s arms and off the bed. “And you can always fuck me later. Now let’s go downstairs for breakfast today, so this” he indicated his own erection, standing out proudly from his body, “doesn’t get taken any further.”
“You’re a damn cock tease, you know that?” Damien grumbled as he climbed out of bed.
Scott turned back from the bathroom door, caught yet again by the magnificence that was Damien’s body. How the man had got so big, and stayed so fine was beyond him, but man, he was so pleased he got to reap the benefits of that body, and in particular that massive cock, that was even now seeking him out like a fucking missile.
He headed into the bathroom before he did something that would be far too time consuming, given their schedule for the day.
“A cock-tease never puts out,” Scott yelled over the sound of his morning piss. Shaking himself off, he flushed and then washed his hands and face. Walking back into the bedroom he watched as Damien zipped up his snug jeans. Reassured that the best bits of Damien were covered, for now at least, he sauntered over and rested his hands on Damien’s chest. Scott loved how the pectoral muscles danced under his fingers, and the way Damien’s tight little nipples pebbled up and hardened under his touch.
“I’m a sure thing,” he said, looking up at Damien’s face and putting all the suggestion implied into his tone. “You just have to go do your dominance thing first.”
“Fuck Scott, you’re killing me here,” Damien said roughly as he leaned down and nipped at Scott’s mating mark - the scar pitted with scabs after their frantic coupling the night before. Scott relaxed his neck and tilted his head to give Damien better access even as his knees threatened to flake out on him. It was always like this when he was close to Damien. How he had ever thought he could hide his love from this man seemed so stupi
d now in hindsight.
Stepping back, Damien said sharply, “come on, get dressed. I’ll meet you in the kitchen. Challenges. Then back here to see how well you do put out. And mate,” Damien leaned forward enough to whisper into Scott’s ear, “When I’ve been fighting, I get really horny - three goes, no stopping type of horny. Think you can handle that?”
Scott’s ass clenched at the thought, as he hurriedly tried to find his jeans and a muscle shirt. The thought of Damien fighting both terrified him and yes, aroused him all in one go. Damien in Alpha mode was simply unstoppable, and the thought of all of that passion, and excess male testosterone being poured into him, sent shivers down Scott’s spine. God, he hoped there weren’t too many challengers on the list today.
/~/~/~/~/
It turned out there were four of them, Scott found out, as he walked beside Damien out to the pack circle. All from out-of-state packs. It seemed that Damien knew one of them quite well, as he stopped in front of a tall, well built man and shook his hand.
“Matthew, my old friend. Come back to try your luck again?” Damien said.
Smiling, the guy was quite handsome, although his looks did nothing for Scott. But he seemed pleasant enough, and Scott didn’t understand why he was challenging Damien for the Alpha position, if the two were good friends.
“I heard you took a mate, Damien. Figured it would probably make you a bit soft, so decided now was a good time to try my luck,” Matthew said, even as he sized up Scott. “He’s not what I expected, Damien. Somehow I thought he would be a little less…” he waved his hands as if to indicate someone a lot smaller. Someone twink sized. Scott bristled under the criticism.
“My true mate,” Damien said firmly. “And perfect for me in every way.” Matthew raised his eyebrows at that.
“Matthew, meet Scott, Alpha Mate of the San Antonio pack. Scott, this is Matthew, lone wolf and good friend. He has been trying to get my pack for decades.” Scott took the hand that was offered him and managed a smile.
“Alpha Mate, hmmm, how interesting,” came a low voice to the side. “Does he come as part of the pack package for the winner? He looks ripe for fucking.”
Scott turned, as Damien growled. For a moment Scott had to think. He knew this wolf, but from where. Then it hit him and he grinned.
“Didn’t turn out so well for you last time you tried, did it Slick? Seem to remember the tables got turned on you, isn’t that right?”
You’ve been with this, this fuck up? Damien’s growl rumbled in Scott’s head.
Yeah, he came down for Griff’s mating ritual challenge. Tried to take Diablo off of Griff. We hooked up afterwards to blow off some steam, but I was the one doing the fucking, not him.
Damien growled even louder, and his big hand came crushing down on Scott’s neck. Damien pulled him into a savage kiss - hard lips and teeth, while the hand on his neck tightened possessively. Scott did what any self-respecting mate would do in the circumstances, and surrendered to Damien’s assault. When Damien had finally raised his head, Scott was left panting for breath, and shaking with lust.
“MINE!” Damien roared. Every wolf on the compound dipped their heads at the power in Damien’s voice. This was the Damien that other wolves feared. His eyes flashing, his teeth bared and his muscles straining with the effort not to change. His whole being screamed raw power and while Scott couldn’t understand why Damien was so upset, given that both of them had a sexual past, he could still be impressed by the display.
As were the challenging wolves it would seem. Matthew recovered first and said with a shaky laugh, “Okay, so the rumors about you getting soft are obviously untrue, my friend. If anything you’re stronger than before.”
“I have something precious worth fighting for,” Damien said smugly, his humor restored in the face of so much submission. “I will always give my life for the pack, but for my mate, I would give up everything.”
“Yeah, well, I… er… don’t think I want to challenge after all,” the one Scott had called Slick said. “I yield. I’ve no desire to take on a crazy wolf.”
No substance that man, Scott pushed across to Damien through their mind link, as Damien accepted the man’s submission and sent him on his way. His strength is as flabby as his ass.
I don’t want to think of you with him. Got it.
Get over it, lover. I had to.
Scott flashed an image into Damien’s head of the twenty subs the man used to own, all sitting in Damien’s office. The subs that had been servicing Damien sexually for goodness knows how long. To his surprise, Damien laughed out loud.
“Point taken, mate,” Damien said, as the wolves around them looked at the pair of them curiously. He shrugged and then pulled Scott over to the side of the circle. Scott looked up at him and knew that the anxiety he was feeling, even though he was sure his mate would win all three of the challenges, was shining through his eyes.
“I’m going to close our mind link,” Scott said softly, surprised at the look of hurt that flashed over Damien’s face. “I don’t want you to become distracted by me, okay. I’ll stay right here until you are finished, and I won’t say a word, no matter what happens. I’ll do my bit as Alpha Mate and not let you down. But I don’t want you to worry about anything else, except what is going on in that ring. Okay?”
“Probably a good idea,” Damien rumbled quietly. “I’ve never fought a challenge with my mate in my thoughts before.”
“Exactly,” Scott said, pleased that Damien understood. “Now go out there and get this over and done with quickly. We have unfinished business to attend to before tonight’s pack meeting.”
Quirking his eyebrow at Scott, Damien stepped back and slipped out of his jeans, striding into the pack circle with no embarrassment, whatsoever. On the side of the circle, Scott saw one of the contenders, a thick set bull of a man, get out of his clothes and step into the circle as well. Remembering what Damien had instructed him at breakfast, Scott stepped forward, although he didn’t go into the circle.
“Contenders, this is an Alpha Challenge for the San Antonio pack. Fight will be till first blood, or submission. The fighters must remain within the pack circle and anyone who leaves it, or is forced out of it, will be immediately disqualified and deemed loser by default. Is that clear?” Scott called out in a loud voice.
Damien had the audacity to blow Scott a kiss, which made Scott blush even more than he had been. He wasn’t one for public speaking, even on pack grounds. Remembering his job, Scott checked that the three contenders knew the rules, and then yelled out, “Shift and begin.”
Chapter Thirty
Damien loved to fight, especially in his wolf form. His wolf was as cunning and as strong as he was, and while Damien was dithering about whether or not he loved his mate, his wolf had no problems with his feelings. His wolf loved Scott, just like he should, and so when presented with an opportunity to show off, his wolf did exactly that.
The first two challenges could have been over a lot quicker, except that playful Damien teased things out longer than he should have done. The grey wolf with silver eyes was far bigger than either of his opponents. He nipped, and ran, and jumped and growled when necessary, but without much malice.
His two contenders were vicious fighters, or they tried to be. But it was really difficult for them to get a grip on Damien because he moved so quickly. Into his second fight, the smaller brown wolf had tried to nip Damien’s leg, hoping to draw blood. Damien pulled out of the way just in time, then lunged back, catching the smaller wolf off guard. One swipe with his paw later and the brown wolf was dripping blood from a flesh wound on his side.
Scott’s head went up at the first sniff of blood, and he called it. Damien moved to the side of the circle and Scott briefly ran his hand over Damien’s fur while they waited for the third contender, Matthew.
“Do you have to play with them, Damien?” Scott whispered into his ear. “You remind me of Diablo playing with his food. I’m waiting for you to fuck me, in case
you’ve forgotten.”
Damien could tell that Scott wasn’t worried about him as much any more, which was a good thing. But the smell of Scott’s arousal was distracting and not in a good way. Sniffing at Scott’s crotch, he barked when Scott pushed him away, the grin on his face evident.
“Go on Alpha, do your stuff,” Scott laughed as he waved his hands in a shooing motion.
Tail up and a prance in his step, Damien went back into the center of the ring where Matthew was waiting. Matthew was a big man, almost as big as Damien and his wolf was much the same. As Matthew shimmered into his black wolf form, Damien knew he was going to get a good work out. Matthew had challenged him before, more than once, and although Damien had always come out on top, Matthew never made it easy for him.
Sure enough, Matthew lunged at him, teeth bared and growling fiercely. Forgetting about Scott for the moment, Damien focused solely on the wolf in front of him. Jumping, he met Matthew mid flight, his own lips snarled back to reveal his wicked teeth. The two wolves snapped at each other, as they passed in the air, and landed with a thump on the ground below. Before Damien could catch his breath, Matthew was on him, barreling him from the side and knocking Damien off his feet. Damien rolled and came back snapping and the two men, snapped and snarled their way around the ring, always conscious of the white stones that marked the edge.
The fight seemed to go on for hours, but in effect it was probably only about ten minutes, when Damien heard a gun shot ring out across the compound. He and Matthew both froze in wolf form, as Damien sought out the source of the sound. What he saw sent a chill right through him.
Fucking Jacob, with an arm around Scott’s neck and a gun pointed firmly at Scott’s head. How the hell had that fucking pedophile got past Damien’s enforcers? Without thinking about it, Damien made to run out of the circle. He had to get that man’s hands off of his mate.