Jamie peeked at him through thick black lashes, and a simmering heat in his expression let Luuk know just how pleased Jamie was with Luuk. Then the one person Luuk was almost itching to talk to entered the room, having headed right to the shower when he first walked in with his redhaired mate. Luuk wondered if there was an abundance of redheaded men in America. There certainly seemed to be in Marcus Criswell’s pack.
“Jamie, I’d like to speak with Criswell. You’re welcome to come, too, or stay and visit with Adam.”
“You’re tense. You’re not going to end up in some dumb alpha wolf squabble, are you? He wouldn’t start a fight, would he?” Jamie cast a doubtful glance towards the hulking blond with the startling angelic curls. A man as tough as Alpha Anax Criswell most assuredly was, with curls like that—it just boggled the mind.
“I don’t know him, Jamie, but I intend to. I need to ask what his intentions here are. If he came to conquer, we’re sorely outnumbered.”
“He didn’t…did he?” Jamie nibbled his bottom lip and glanced at Criswell as the man approached. “Maybe I should go with you—”
“You’re Adam, right? And Luuk,” said the red-haired man with the braid tapping at his ass. “I’m Nathan, Marcus’ mate. It’s a pleasure to meet you both and”—Nathan arched his eyebrows—“to know you’re alive, that’s pretty awesome. Marcus and I know what it’s like, having a psycho trying to take you out.”
“Nathan,” Marcus said, just that, and Nathan glared at him. Marcus held up one hand. “I was simply going to say, I’d like to speak with Luuk.” Marcus offered the hand he’d held up to Nathan. “Marcus Criswell.”
Luuk could feel the man’s power even though he was certain Marcus wasn’t deliberately putting it out there. Luuk had an ego, of course he did, but he’d never thought of himself as the biggest and the baddest Alpha Anax in existence—which was a damned good thing considering the man currently shaking his hand. Luther, however, would want to kill Marcus…right after he shit himself upon seeing the North American Alpha Anax.
“Normally, I’d go listen in on the conversation, but I’m thinking there might be chestthumping, and if there’s chest-thumping—”
“Of course there’s going to be chest-thumping, he’s the Grand Poobah!” Nathan was cut off by a handsome man with bright green eyes.
“What?” Luuk knew he had to be scrunching up every one of his facial features because that…confused the fuck out of him. “The Grand what?”
“Pooh?” Jamie asked doubtfully. “Like…uh—”
“Gabe,” Nathan said as he turned to the man, “Now you’ve terrified the very people we’ve come to help!”
Gabe and his quiet, stone-faced mate stopped beside Luuk and nudged him with an alarmingly inappropriate sense of familiarity even as, at the same time, Gabe bumped his hip to Marcus’.
Marcus scowled and Luuk just moved away because apparently this Gabe guy was unhinged.
“Stop looking at me like I’m nuts,” Gabe told him. Luuk tried, but Jesus Christ, Gabe was nuts. “I am not nuts, I’m just not intimidated by posturing and I’ve seen Marcus and you both naked—you had to shift, dude,” he said when Luuk opened up his mouth to protest. “Whatever, I’ve seen both of yours…both of your…? Ugh. Anyway. I’ve seen your dicks, and Mika’s is bigger, so stop the macho crap.”
“I didn’t think we were doing the macho crap,” Luuk said before he could reconsider. He wasn’t used to people being so forward.
“Don’t encourage him,” Marcus muttered, only to scowl and jerk as he pointed a finger at Gabe. “Stop elbowing me, or so help me, I’ll ask Mika to turn you over his knee.”
“And you told the other guy not to encourage him?” said Mika, finally speaking up. “Now he’s going to run around jabbing everyone in the ribs just so I’ll spank his ass.”
Gabe huffed but his eyes sparkled and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Right. Like you’re not counting down the minutes until you can drag me into a room and do just that before—”
“Hooo-kay,” Nathan interrupted. “That’s enough of this, er, fascinating look into y’all’s kink. Now, can we let the Alpha Anaxes have a conversation—alone, perhaps?”
Luuk wasn’t sure he could hold a coherent conversation with his head still spinning from the encounter with Gabe. The man was something else, and Luuk thought he’d probably be a great deal of fun, if Luuk could even remember how to have fun that didn’t include making love to Jamie. He wasn’t sure that was possible.
“Jamie?” he asked, letting his mate know he was welcome to come with him and Marcus. Jamie looked at Adam then back at him and Luuk reached out to stroke his mate’s cheek. “It’s fine if you don’t want to let Adam out of your sight for a while. You can always join us if you change your mind.”
Jamie gave him a sweet smile that made Luuk want to kiss him—so he did, and he even flipped Gabe off when the man rated it an eight point five.
That kiss had been a solid ten.
“Gabe is really a great man,” Marcus said as they walked down the hall. Nathan had stayed back as well. “He loves to laugh, and that is part of what makes him such a treasure. He can tease anyone out of a bad mood—or into one, I swear. Mika’s perfect for him, all stoic silence and strength. They balance each other well.”
Luuk nodded. “And he calls you…”
Marcus groaned. “The Grand Poobah. I swear to God, I hate that name, but if I bitch, he’ll come up with something worse.”
“Ah.” Luuk stopped by the room they’d be using. “And you don’t order him to stop it because…?”
Marcus stopped as well and gave him a contemplative look. “Would you order him to stop it?”
“No. He’s a friend, isn’t he?”
“Not when he first slapped that moniker on me, he wasn’t. He was angry, and ready to defend his mate against the big, bad Alpha Anax.” Marcus snorted and gestured at the door. “Shall we?”
“Of course.” Luuk opened the door. “I was never the sort of leader who sought to lead by fear. I would like to have had some people comfortable enough with me to joke as Gabe does with you, but things are, perhaps, different here. A long line of Alpha Anaxes who were quick to kill anyone for even a perceived insult or disrespect. I loved my father, but he was also a very hard-hearted man at times.” Luuk sat in one of the thickly padded chairs in the study. He watched Marcus closely as the man sat across from him. “And you, you are the most powerful shifter I’ve ever met. Which means I have to ask, why are you doing this? Sending guards out to help, or so I’d heard, and coming here yourself.” Luuk stared into those dark brown eyes and couldn’t read a thing in their depths. “I don’t know you, nor you me.”
Marcus grunted and tipped his head back, staring at the ceiling as he steepled his fingers in front of his chest. “See, here’s the thing. Gabe and Mika are very dear to Nathan and me, and Adam and Todd, in turn are dear to them. And to be honest, Adam and Todd— neither of them should be shifters.” Marcus sighed and lowered his head until he was looking at Luuk again. “They came here, searching for Jameson and you, and your brother Maarten’s medicine man accidentally turned Adam into a shifter. It was painful, and should never have happened, and it almost cost Todd his life.”
Luuk wondered what the hell Maarten had done, but he merely nodded as Marcus went on.
“And, I assure you, I am not here with nefarious plans to take Luther’s place, or yours. I’m here because, I’ve learned, sometimes doing nothing and claiming that is the path to take because something is none of one’s business is the coward’s way of shirking responsibility. Adam and Todd were forced, really, to become what we are. That is a responsibility I bear. Me, and Luther. I’d blame Maarten but he’s not really at fault. His medicine man should have known better, but again, he had no ill intentions. And, let’s just say I’ve also come to believe compassion is a trait we need to explore. As shifters, we do tend to let the wolf decide more than we should.”
Luuk leant forwar
d a little. “Okay, that sounds all well and good. There is nothing in this for you, that’s hard to believe.”
Marcus canted his head to the side and blinked. “I never said there’s nothing in this for me. It will make Adam and Todd happy, and Gabe and Mika, and those two things, those four people, make me happy. And Nathan happy. That means a lot. I also would hope for better relations between you and I, as Alpha Anaxes. I’d like to see shifters as a whole led by AAs who use brains over brawn when possible, and who aren’t just the biggest sociopath in the pack.”
“I have seen that happen,” Luuk murmured. “Besides Luther, I mean. The AA of South America…”
Marcus nodded. “I’ve heard he is brutal. He’s not the only one, though.”
Luuk leant back again and contemplated Marcus Criswell again. “You truly just want to help me, and my people?”
Marcus didn’t answer right away, instead seeming to think about his answer. “I wouldn’t say just. I want a working relationship with you, in a manner of speaking. I mean, I never met you or your father or any of the other AAs around the world. That’s not a good thing for us or our people. We need to talk, to see if we can help each other. And we need to quit persecuting our own for being different. Even Gabe, were he straight, would have been killed by the former AA in North America, just for being so forward.”
“Yes, my father would have torn his throat out the first time Gabe nudged him like he did me.” Or the first time he called the AA by some silly name. “I will not be that type of leader, but if you are sincere, and truly will lend some of your strength to help me, I would gladly accept it.” Luuk’s heart beat faster even though he tried to remain calm. Hope was swelling in him, making his pulse race. Marcus Criswell would be too formidable an enemy for Luther.
Marcus stood and held out his hand. “I promise I mean no harm to you or those who will follow you. I can’t promise that Luther will survive this retaking of your position.”
Luuk stood as well and shook Marcus’ hand. “I understand, and he can’t live, Marcus. Even if he does make it through the coming battle, he will be killed for all the lives he’s taken and the pain he’s caused. Hundreds of good people were slaughtered under his orders. That must be avenged.”
Marcus nodded as he released Luuk’s hand. “Yes, it must. While we hope to lead more with compassion than strength, that, too, has its place.”
It did, and Luuk knew he’d take no pleasure in killing Luther, but he’d do what he had to.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jameson was half-afraid he’d blink and Adam would be gone. He kept finding himself touching Adam, little brushes against his arm or shoulder. It didn’t escape his notice that Adam was doing the same thing even though he was leaning back against Todd.
“Why don’t we find someplace less crowded so y’all can visit?” Todd’s voice was soft and deep, had that Texas twang to it that Jameson hadn’t heard in too long. He found himself picking it up, when he’d thought he’d lost most of his accent.
“There are a lot of rooms here,” Jameson said as he touched Adam’s wrist. When Adam took his hand, it surprised him, but only for a second. They were being much more touchyfeely than that had been years ago, but considering what had happened to them both, it was understandable. “Just down this way is our room. We can go there if you want.”
Todd patted his shoulder. “Y’all go on and I’ll be there in a bit. I’m gonna find us something to drink. Beer’d be great…” He dropped a kiss to Adam’s cheek then tapped his butt. “See y’all in a few.”
“He seems like a good guy,” Jameson murmured as they watched Todd walk away. “Nice butt, too.”
Adam snorted then laughed. “Oh yeah, nice everything, trust me.” He watched a moment longer then turned to Jameson. “Come on, show me where we can have some privacy.”
Jameson led Adam out of the living room and down the hall to the room he shared with Luuk. “It’s right here.” He opened the door then let go of Adam’s hand and stepped back, allowing his friend entrance first.
“Thanks.” Adam entered the room and Jameson followed, shutting the door behind them. Adam looked around the place and whistled. “This is nicer than our room. Todd and I are gonna have to push the twin beds together.”
“Yeah, well, with Luuk being who he is and all…” Jameson didn’t figure he needed to explain.
“Yeah, and I’d bet Marcus and Nathan are going to have a big ol’ bed, too.” Adam chuckled. “Well, they’d have to, since Marcus is a big guy.”
“He is at that.” Jameson gestured to the small table. “We can sit, or—”
“Or this,” Adam said as he spun around and caught Jameson in a hug that threatened to crack a rib or two. “Damn, I’m just so glad we found you. I was worried—”
“Me too,” Jameson squeaked out. He thumped Adam’s back with one hand and held on tight with the other. “Been afraid for a long time.” The admission caught him off guard. Jameson hadn’t meant to say anything more than the agreement he’d first uttered.
Adam held him tighter and Jameson thought he was going to have to cry uncle, but Adam gentled his hold after a few seconds. He ran his hands in small circles on Jameson’s back and pressed his forehead to Jameson’s, staring at him with dark eyes Jameson knew so well.
“Don’t ever disappear on me like that again.” Jameson opened his mouth to protest but Adam talked right over him. “I know you didn’t have a choice. I understand that Luuk didn’t tell you about shifters right off the bat, and this isn’t about me, it’s not. But I still get this stupid fucking hurt feeling because you didn’t think you could tell me about shifters. It’s dumb, I know it’s dumb. Todd was hurt that Gabe kept it from him for so long, too.”
Jameson would carry that guilt with him for a while. “I didn’t know until right before I left with Luuk. I could have told you, yeah, but I couldn’t grasp it. I didn’t know what to do, but talking to you would have helped. Instead I was distracted and we walked right into an ambush.”
Adam raised his head and scowled. “You couldn’t have helped that.”
Jameson hitched one shoulder. “What’s done is done, and I am sorry I didn’t tell you. I really didn’t know whether to even believe it myself, and worried I’d fallen hopelessly in love with a man who was delusional. Then we landed and there were men turning into wolves and blood and…well…” He didn’t want to go into detail about that. “It was bad, and after we got away, Luuk had to change me.”
Adam flinched and darted a glance down, as if looking at Jameson’s groin. “I had to change Todd like that.”
Jameson’s eyes bugged and he leant back. “What? Why? Aren’t there other ways?”
“I’ve been told, but Todd insisted it be me who changed him.” Adam’s wicked little grin made Jameson chuckle before the man continued. “We cheated, though. Used topical anaesthetic and made small cuts with a very sharp scalpel. At least we know it doesn’t have to be pain and biting—oh.” He blushed. “Er, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine,” Jameson said with a wave of his hand. Adam cocked a brow at him. “Okay, it wasn’t fine at first. I didn’t want to do it, and sure as hell didn’t want it done to me, but once I understood the alternative would be Luuk’s death—because no way could I survive the mountains and wilderness in human form—then it wasn’t so hard to do.” It’d hurt like a damned bitch, though.
Adam nodded and stepped away but kept his hand on Jameson’s elbow. He led them to the chairs and they sat. “We came looking for you a while back,” Adam began, then he filled Jameson in on what had happened and how Adam and Todd had become shifters.
“You ingested a pill made from a dead guy?” Jameson asked when Adam paused. “And that turned you into a shifter?”
Adam sighed and pushed the sleeves of his shirt up. “Yeah, but it was a really old, powerful shifter in that capsule, and I thought I was going to die because I have never experienced such agony in my life. And then, lashing out and hurtin
g Todd… Jesus. I wanted to die then. Some part of me knew it’d kill Todd for sure if I did.”
“Y’all are mates. Hurting each other goes against everything in you.”
“It does,” Adam agreed. “Todd is an amazing man, Jameson. He’s been through so much, experienced so much hatred and abuse at the hands of people who should have loved him, and yet he’s the kindest man I’ve ever met.”
Jameson flashed back to the moment when Todd had shifted, to the scars on his body that were impossible not to notice. He’d wondered but would never have asked. “He’s okay with you talking about whatever gave him those scars?”
“He’d rather I explain it than have to go through it again even just verbally,” Adam told him. “That’s part of why he’s giving us time, because he figured you’d want to know about him, and there are things that he just doesn’t ever want to talk about again.”
Jameson shook his head. “Then don’t tell me. I don’t want him uncomfortable around me. All I need to know is what you’ve told me, that he’s good, kind…and has a great ass, along with other parts.” Jameson winked, and Adam laughed but he could tell by Adam’s expression that he was going to keep talking. Jameson was fine with that, too, if it was what Adam needed to do.
“His parents were monsters, Jameson. You saw the scars, well, those were from his childhood. Then his father almost killed him right when we were beginning our relationship.” Adam paled and tears filled his eyes. “It’s the worst thing, ever, to find the man you love lying bleeding and helpless on the ground. Then to know it was his own father who did it—”
“I can’t imagine,” Jameson murmured. His own parents had been distant, as if they’d adopted him only so they could show him off in their social circle. When they’d died months apart from each other, Jameson had been sad but not devastated. At that point, they were strangers to him, embarrassed by his lack of a brilliant career. Him being gay they could have dealt with, but him not having the drive to succeed at all costs was unforgivable.
Bailey Bradford - Southwestern Shifters 07 - Revolution Page 12