The Linchpin (Tundra Wolves Book 3)

by Maggie Walsh

  “Yes. As in my true mate,” Tug ground out between clenched teeth.

  Timber gasped, “No! It can’t be. You already have Raiden.”

  “But Alex is my true fated mate. He’s mine, not yours,” Tug grumbled. “Now tell me what you did to my mate!”

  “Nothing! I did nothing to Alex. Charles told the truth. Well, as he knows it,” Timber mumbled.

  “Which means?” Dell encouraged. “I swear to the gods that if you don’t confess right now, I will string you up by your feet in the center of town, then tell the pack that you have betrayed us in trying to steal a true mate, and you really don’t want to see what will happen to you then. Now talk!”

  “I mixed up a batch of the potion and took it to the party. I waited for Alex to show, then tried to talk to him and get him away from the crowd, so that I could give him a drink, but he wouldn’t leave with me, because Marlo was there as he said. I knew I had to do something and that’s when I spotted Charles. I knew he was interested in joining Tug and Raiden as their third, but neither of them ever gave him the time of day, so I quickly ran to the kitchen and poured one of the other potions in the punchbowl.”

  Jude snickered, “A punchbowl at an orgy? Damn, how come I never get invited to these things?”

  A soft growl came from Dell and Alex quickly looked at his Alpha. He could see a new kind of anger in his eyes, but had no idea what it was. Dell shook Timber and growled in his face, the threat unmistakable.

  “When I saw Alex leave, I knew I had to come up with a new plan, so I put the potion in the punch and when Charles came in, I handed him a cup. As he drank, I said the spell my friend told me, and suddenly Charles stood there in a trance. I could tell the spell was working, so I put all those thoughts and images in his head,” Timber confessed.

  Dell’s lip rose and his sharp canine shone, as he growled, “You used a mind control spell on him, then implanted what you wanted him to hear and see. That’s why I can’t scent a lie on him. He believes everything he said to be true.”

  “Yes,” Timber whispered, as his shoulders drooped.

  “Let me guess, with this spell you’ve been able to control Charles and you’re the one who made him fuck with Alex. You sent him to talk to Alex that day he was coming to our house. You told him to tell Alex what you knew would send him running in the other direction. Then tonight, you did the same thing, but how did you know Alex was coming to our home?” Raiden sneered.

  “That’s my doing I’m afraid. I stopped by the garage on my way over. I was hoping you would still be there, Raiden, but I missed you. While I was heading to your house, I remembered I hadn’t paid for the repairs on my snowmobile, so I wanted to pay it. I told Timber I was heading over to your place,” Alex replied.

  “So then you what, Timber? Called Charles and had him come running?” Tug asked.

  “No, Charles was already here at the garage, waiting in here for me. When Alex left I knew I needed to work quickly, so I came back here and gave Charles more suggestions on what I wanted him to do, then sent him out after Alex and I followed. When I saw him on the phone I knew we needed to act fast before he reached your place, so we grabbed him.”

  “You gave Charles new suggestions? So once the spell is cast you can continue to use it against your victim?” Dell demanded.

  Timber trembled. “Yes. He will do as I say until the spell is broken.”

  “Do you know what you have done?” Dell spat in Timber’s face. “By allowing witch magic here, you have opened us up for witches themselves to enter. These grounds have been protected against witches and other magic users for decades. It’s one of the ways we all remain off the radar of the humans and their satellites. Now I’ll have to call a full meeting with all the other paranormals in the region and warn them of this. You had better hope I can find an honest sect of witches to come and undo the damage you have caused and recast our protection spells.”

  “Fuck, Dell. Are you telling us that it’s because of witches that we’ve been kept so hidden all these years, and now we’re at risk of exposure because of this stalker bullshit?” Jude raged, his face turning red.

  Dell released a heavy sigh. “Yes. It’s something our ancestors did over two hundred years ago. It blocks humans from this region whenever one of them, or more, come around for whatever reason. If they are on a course for one of our lands, they suddenly have an urge to change course and the spell leads them around us, without them even knowing what happened. And in today's time with satellites and all the other technology, like Google Earth, it works against that in the same way.”

  “Well shit. Is there anything we can do, Alpha?” Raiden asked.

  “Unfortunately, no. The damage is done. Once any other spell has been used within our lands, either in our pack or any of the others who were a part of the original spell, that spell is weakened. From what Timber has said, he has brought multiple spells within our pack lands. Because of that, I don’t know how strong the safety spells remain, if at all. Now I need to try to locate a coven of witches who can be trusted.”

  “So, what do you want done with these two?” Jude Asked.

  Dell remained silent as he eyed Timber and Charles for a few minutes, then he met Timber’s gaze and asked, “How long will that spell last on him if you don’t use a counter spell? And what about the one you used on yourself to hide your deceit?”

  Timber cleared his throat as he looked down. “Mine only works for a few days, then I need to drink the potion again.”

  “And what about the one you used on Charles?” Dell growled.

  Timber swallowed, before he answered in a soft whisper, “Eternity.”

  Dell sighed. “That’s what I was afraid of. Do you have the counter spell?”

  Timber looked up, his eyes wide. “No. I never asked for one.”

  “You will contact your witch and ask for the counter spell and everything you need to cast it. Then, I want either a spell to clear your memories of all of this, so that you can go on breathing, or I will end your life myself,” Dell promised.

  Timber gasped as his eyes filled with fear. “Yes, Alpha.”

  Dell tossed Timber Jude’s way and he caught him, pulling Timber’s hands behind his back. “Take him to the cellar and lock him up until I get there. Also, we’ll put Charles in one of my guest rooms until we get the counter spell. In the meantime.” Dell turned to look at Alex, then Tug and Raiden. Dell slid a keychain from his pocket and tossed them to Tug. “That’s the keys to my family cabin. Take your mates there and claim them before things get out of hand.”

  “Mates?” Charles, Jude, and Timber gasped in shock at the same time, each wide-eyed.

  “Go now. Tonight. Don’t let anything stop you from claiming one another. Take a few days if you need it. I’ll cover everything here,” Dell said, then walked to Charles and gripped his arm, walking him from the room with Jude and Timber following, leaving Alex standing there with just his mates.

  CHAPTER 16

  The mates arrived around midnight and after taking a quick tour around the cabin to familiarize themselves, they headed to the master bedroom. The bed was a huge extended California King and was more than big enough for the three of them. Raiden and Tug walked right in and placed their bags on a chair nearby, then Raiden turned toward Alex to find that their smaller mate was still standing in the doorway. His gaze locked on the big bed as he bit his bottom lip.

  Raiden looked to Tug for assistance, but Tug only gave him an amused smile as he shook his head slightly, then used his chin to motion for Raiden to go to Alex. He knew what Tug was doing and it made him smile. His man was giving him the lead with Alex. Finally, Raiden could answer the call of his Dominant side, but he wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do at that moment. He walked back to Alex and reached out, wrapping his hand around Alex’s that held his duffle bag. Alex’s gaze snapped up to his and Raiden could see the uncertainty in Alex’s gorgeous light brown eyes.

  “Why don’t we all get some sle
ep? We’ve had a long day, you especially. Tomorrow we can―”

  “Claim each other?” Alex asked hopefully.

  Raiden lifted a hand and cupped Alex’s cheek. “Are you ready for that?”

  Alex nodded. “Yes. I’m more than ready. I want you both to claim me right now, but from what Dell told us of how we needed that to start the bonding—which still kind of freaks me out, but excites me at the same time—I don’t think running off in the middle of the night would be a good idea,” Alex said, then moved closer to Raiden and pressed his body against the other man’s. “But I don’t know how much longer I can wait to be with you. With both of you. I was ready for us to take another step tonight when I came over to your house, but then Timber and Charles got in the way and... well... but I was hoping we could... you know.”

  Raiden smiled from how cute Alex was as he tried to explain to them that he was hoping they would have sex after dinner. Raiden was sure that’s where Alex’s thoughts were, and he knew without a doubt that he and Tug were hoping the same thing. Raiden flicked his gaze to Tug’s and saw the raw desire in his man's eyes. He knew that with one word Tug would be across the room and using his wicked Dominant skills on them both, but Tug was holding himself back, giving Raiden the lead, and Raiden wouldn’t disappoint either of his mates. He shifted his gaze back to meet Alex’s and saw the need in him as well.

  It had been a long time since he had been able to feed his Dominant side, so Raiden was a bit lost on what to do, but when he saw the sudden change in Alex’s body language and the despair entering Alex’s eyes, Raiden took a deep breath and straightened his spine. He took Alex’s bag from his hand and tossed it to the side, then raised his other hand to capture Alex’s face between both of his hands, making Alex look only at him.

  “What do you want, pet? Tell me,” he demanded in his firmest voice and was thrilled when he felt a shiver race through Alex.

  “I... I want... I…” Alex stumbled.

  The effect Raiden was having on Alex’s body filled him with hope, desire, and need. But, before Raiden went any further, he needed to make Alex ask for what he wanted. He needed Alex to show that he trusted Raiden with his body, mind, soul, and desires, as well as his heart.

  Raiden stepped forward, which pushed Alex back into the wall, then Raiden pressed his larger frame against Alex, using his mass to trap his mate.

  “Tell me what you want, mate,” he demanded and allowed a small growl into his voice.

  Alex was now breathing heavily, his chest rose and fell with each breath, and his lips parted. “I want to... I want to feel your hands on me. I want to feel you inside me. And Tug. I need to know what it’s like to be with you both. I ache,” Alex confessed.

  “Good boy,” Raiden complimented again with a slight growl, then leaned in and captured Alex’s lips in a heated kiss. Alex melted against him, opening for him as Raiden slipped his tongue into Alex’s warmth and asserted his dominance. Raiden gripped Alex’s head more firmly and tilted it, then deepened the kiss. After a few moments, with great reluctance, Raiden pulled back, and stepped away from Alex.

  Alex slouched against the wall, panting heavily, his eyelids hooded, eyes glazed. Raiden loved the look and only wanted more—so much more. The beta in him roared to life, needing to control its mate. His wolf scratched and clawed, needing to get out and take what was theirs.

  “Strip,” Raiden ordered as he stood watching, cataloguing every inch of his soon-to-be lover and mate, his submissive. Raiden took in every bit of flesh as it was revealed to him, noting the way Alex moved, the way he breathed, and the way he kept stealing small glances at Raiden. Yes, Alex wanted this, he had no doubt.

  Alex toed the shoes from his feet as he grabbed the hem of his shirt and raised the garment over his head, then folded it nicely and placed it on the nearby dresser. Alex then turned back to Raiden as he slid his hands down his tight chest and abs then popped the button on his jeans and slowly lowered the zipper.

  Raiden licked his lips as he kept his gaze focused on Alex’s hands, anticipating seeing the gorgeous man in all his naked glory for the first time. Alex slid his fingers under the waistband and pushed his pants down, and Raiden drew in a breath when Alex’s impressive cock sprang free, standing at attention. Alex was nicely endowed for a man of his stature. He was about five feet eleven and around two hundred pounds of all-toned muscle. He wasn’t as big as either Raiden’s six-two, two hundred and twenty-five pound frame, or Tug’s six-feet six, two hundred and seventy pounds, but Alex was all male perfection.

  Raiden knew that Alex had spent most of his life until about two years ago, training to be an enforcer and he had the body that showed it, even after stepping away from all that hard training.

  Alex’s pants dropped to the floor, pooling at his feet, and Alex bent, grabbing the garment and stepping out of them, then he folded and laid them on top of his shirt on the dresser. Once done, Alex turned to face Raiden fully again, but kept himself in a submissive stance. Feet firm and shoulder width apart, hands clasped behind his back, chin down and eyes lowered.

  Raiden stepped closer and placed a finger at the top of Alex’s chest and ran the digit lightly down Alex’s torso. Raiden smiled when he felt his man quiver and heard the intake of breath. Slowly he inched the tip lower, avoiding where he knew Alex wanted him to touch, but he would hold off a bit longer, which would only increase Alex’s need, as well as his own.

  He slid the digit to Alex’s inner thigh around to the back and brought it up an inch causing Alex to gasp. Raiden withdrew his hand quickly and stepped away, smiling when Alex whimpered, but his good pet didn’t move.

  Raiden turned and headed to the bed. His gaze met Tug’s and he saw that his Master was now seated in the chair in the corner, his own cock out as he slowly stroked himself from root to tip, his gaze burning with desire.

  Raiden broke their gaze, understanding that Tug wasn’t going to say or do anything unless asked, and he loved his man more for it. Tug was giving him what he needed. When Raiden reached the bed he quickly divested himself of his clothes, tossing them aside, then sat on the foot of the bed and leaned back on his hands as he stared at his prize. “Come to me,” he commanded and Alex immediately moved to stand before him.

  “On your knees, pet, and suck my cock. Show me how much you want me to fuck you with it.”

  Without another word, Alex dropped to his knees and moved closer as Raiden spread his thighs. “Wow,” Alex gasped, his focus on Raiden’s shaft.

  “Does my cock please you, pet?” Gods he hoped Alex said yes, because if not, Raiden wouldn’t know what he would do.

  “It’s so big. I... want to feel it inside me,” Alex replied breathlessly.

  Raiden smiled in triumph, his heart feeling light and full. “You will, pet, I promise, but right now I want to feel those sexy lips wrapped around my cock as I take your throat.”

  Alex visibly shook as he reached out, but Raiden gripped his wrist, staying his hand. Alex looked up at him, his eyes questioning. “I want to feel only those luscious lips on me. Put your hands behind your back,” Raiden ordered.

  As Alex complied, a belt landed on the bed beside him and Raiden smirked, he knew what Tug wanted but this was his game right now. Raiden took the belt and wrapped a length around his hand but left a tail as he kept his focus on Alex. With his hands now behind him, Alex leaned forward and took the tip of Raiden’s leaking dick in between his lips, then gave it a few sucks, before he ran his tongue around the tip and under the helmet, teasing the band of nerves there.

  Raiden drew in a quick breath from the exquisite feel of having his cock enveloped by Alex. Gods the man's lips were so soft, but strong at the same time. The moist warmth that surrounded him had Raiden almost seeing stars. He needed to feel more of Alex’s mouth on him. Raiden had to know what it was like to bury his cock in Alex’s throat as the gorgeous man sucked him to completion. With his free hand he gripped Alex’s hair tight, as he growled, “I said suck it.”
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br />   Alex quickly lowered his head, taking all of Raiden into his mouth until Raiden felt Alex’s nose buried in the wiry curls at the base of his shaft. Holy shit, Alex took all of him without hesitation. Only one man had ever been able to take his extra-large cock completely, and that was Tug.

  Raiden tightened his hold on Alex’s head as he began to bob up and down on Raiden’s cock, sucking hard and writhing that tongue against the underside, causing a deep moan to escape Raiden’s lips. His hips started to move on their own, loving the feel of Alex around him and the sight of one of his men at his feet, submitting to him.

  He lifted his belted hand, lined it up, and let it drop, the leather snapped against Alex’s fleshy globe. Alex moaned around his cock, the vibration zipping through him, making Raiden close his eyes against the euphoria. As Alex increased his rhythm and suction, Raiden looked at his lover again and held Alex’s head still, then began to fuck up into his mouth. At the same time he snapped the belt against Alex’s flesh and his lover jumped slightly in surprise, but then Alex closed his eyes and his face softened as a sexy groan came from his throat.

  “Oh, yeah, you like that, don’t you, pet?” Raiden said, then instantly brought his hand down, landing another slap against Alex's now pink cheek.

  Alex nodded as best he could and Raiden started to thrust harder up into his throat, fucking his mouth as he increased the rhythm of his hits and alternated between cheeks. Alex went wild below him, his body wiggled and twisted slightly, but his head remained still, allowing Raiden to use him as he would. The knowledge that he had finally found someone who would submit to him, filled Raiden with a happiness he had never known before.

  Raiden’s balls drew up tight against his body and his spine tingled, letting him know he was about to blow. Raiden needed to see how Alex handled him shooting down his throat. He quickened his pace as he held Alex’s head between both hands and after a few strokes his cock pulsed and thickened, then Raiden’s orgasm hit, blinding him in pleasure as he shot his cum down Alex’s throat. He moaned deep from the sensation of Alex’s throat muscles tightening and convulsing around him, sucking down every drop he gave.