by Nora Phoenix
“Melloni said the gene might have unintended and unpredictable side effects no one knows about yet. What if they reasoned he might have discovered some of these?”
“True, but would they go to such extreme lengths to get that information? Why burn down his whole lab? If it was the information they were after, wouldn’t they have just stolen his computer or files? It doesn’t make sense for them to pretend to have killed him.”
Lidon had to give him that. It didn’t fit the profile of what they’d discovered about Lukos so far. Sure, they had used deception and multiple illegal practices to achieve their goal, but they had never used violence. Even though Bray hadn’t been able to pinpoint who had hired the men who had attacked the ranch, he’d found zero evidence to suggest Lukos had been involved.
“What are you thinking?” he asked Palani. “Can you name anyone else who would be interested in Melloni’s research?”
It took a while before Palani spoke again, but all that time Lidon saw him thinking it over, his forehead wrinkling with that cute frown at the top of his nose he always got when he was lost in thought.
“What if the goal was never to get the research but rather to destroy it? Our assumption was that they burned down the lab to make it look like Melloni died in the fire or maybe to conceal any evidence of a break-in. But what if the goal was to destroy all research, including whatever the man might’ve had on his personal laptop or his son’s? After all, they did break into their apartment as well, taking his computer.”
Lidon caught on to his line of reasoning. “You think the Anti Wolf Coalition is behind it.”
Palani nodded. “Out of all the parties involved in this whole mess, they’re the only ones we know of that have a radicalized branch. They’re still at the top of our suspect list for the attack on the ranch, so it would make sense for them to use similar violent tactics to prevent further research on wolf shifters.”
“But that suggests they knew the Melloni gene had anything to do with shifting,” Lidon countered. “The only ones who knew that were Melloni, Sando, and us. How the hell would they have found out that Melloni had linked the gene to the wolf shifters?”
Palani leaned forward in his chair, meeting Lidon’s eyes with an intense gaze. “You forgot one thing. We figured out the link between the Melloni gene and Lukos. What if the AWC discovered this way before we did? We know someone is behind the insurance fraud against Excellon, and it would make perfect sense that the AWC is the driving force there as well. We’ve seen how long their reach is with Ryland and everything that has happened to us. It would make perfect sense that they discovered the truth about the Melloni gene and Lukos’s involvement a long time ago and have consistently been blocking every possible step toward Lukos achieving their goal.”
It sank in, the sheer scope of the conspiracy they were unraveling, step-by-step. “And they couldn’t come right out and accuse Lukos of developing the Melloni gene, because then people would know a return to shifting might be an option,” Lidon said. “If the AWC had gone public with that discovery, they might have encountered unintended support for a return to a wolf shifters society like they’re seeing in the polls right now. Because there’s no denying that the Conservative Wolf Party has amassed a hell of a lot of support. The elections are in four weeks, and I would be surprised if they didn’t win by a landslide.”
Palani bobbed his head in approval at Lidon’s words. “Exactly. The way I see it, there are only two parties in this conflict: pro wolf shifters and anti wolf shifters. Every group we have encountered so far, every person we know has played a role in this, can be categorized in one of those two camps. Those are the two opposing forces we’re dealing with. And somehow, we managed to piss off both of them.”
Lidon chuckled, amused by Palani’s wry observation. “You have to admit that’s quite the accomplishment, to antagonize two enemies in a conflict. It takes special skill.”
Palani laughed as well but then sobered. “It’s hard to determine who the enemy is here,” he said. “Make no mistake. What Lukos has done in creating the gene is despicable, and so are the methods they used. But it’s kind of hard for me to disagree with their goal, you know? Especially after learning about your legacy, your history. Wouldn’t you love to see a return to a shifter society? Wouldn’t you love to be able to shift again?”
Lidon’s alpha pushed forward, signaling his approval of Palani’s remarks. He felt it in his blood, the remnants of a power his family had possessed once upon a time. It hummed through him, calling out to him.
Palani was right. Lidon would love nothing more than to gain back that power, but the question was if it was worth the price. Risking his mates, risking the lives of the members of his pack, was he willing to pay that price to achieve something that still sounded like science fiction to him? He wasn’t sure.
7
Lars sat quietly at Grayson’s feet, frowning. He’d revealed too much, hadn’t he? It had been the stupid “sir” he’d kept tacking on that had alerted Grayson something was going on. The first few times, he could’ve chalked it up to Lars respecting an alpha—though in hindsight, maybe even that had been a stretch, considering Lars hadn’t even shown Lidon much respect—but when he kept doing it, it had to have been a red flag.
So fucking stupid.
He wasn’t even sure why he’d done it…or why he’d been so happy with Grayson’s order. His voice had been so low and deep and perfectly authoritative, with enough kindness to make him want to obey. He’d wanted to do as he was told, and maybe that was the most surprising thing about this whole mess. Was he submissive after all, then?
When he’d experimented in that club, he’d never felt like this. As much as he loved Sven and knew they were meant to be together, he couldn’t deny something was missing from their relationship. They both knew it. No matter how much they loved each other, neither of them was wholly satisfied. The whole point of him experimenting in the club had been to figure out what that was. He’d thought maybe they needed some kink.
What he’d tried hadn’t even come close to satisfying him. It hadn’t been the same without Sven, who as an unclaimed omega wasn’t safe in a club like that. And Lars had searched for something that he never found, hadn’t even been able to define. At least he knew he wasn’t into a whole lot of the kinks people explored there.
Being fucked by an alpha had been nice. He had to admit that. He’d wanted to experience bottoming, getting fucked—other than with a toy—and since Sven wasn’t interested in topping at all, he’d given Lars permission to try the club. Sven had figured that might be what was missing, that he couldn’t sexually satisfy Lars because he wouldn’t top. Lars had gotten lucky with two decent alphas who’d both taken their time prepping him. Still, it hadn’t been the revelation he’d been hoping for, and definitely not what had been missing.
He’d encountered super stern Doms and discovered extreme alpha dominance rubbed him the wrong way. He’d played with relatively mild ones, but even then, obeying had been more out of a sense of obligation than out of a true desire to submit. One Dom—who had been extremely nice about it, Lars had to admit—had suggested he probably wasn’t submissive. At least, not enough to want to submit completely. And fuck knew pain did nothing for him.
The only thing that had come close was when he’d engaged in an hour or two of puppy play with a Master who loved that. It had been somewhat satisfying but nowhere near as good as Grayson’s simple command. So why had Grayson made him want to obey? Lars couldn’t figure out why he had this innate desire to obey this alpha, especially since he didn’t even like him.
Sven stirred. “It’s coming down,” the omega said, his voice dreamy.
“How are you feeling?” Grayson asked.
“Tired. But that was so good.”
He sounded like he was still floating in the stratosphere, and Lars swallowed.
“Are you okay now for a little bit?” Grayson checked. “I need to take care of Lars so he can join us.�
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“Mmmm,” Sven said, his voice growing husky. “I want to watch. I love looking at him. He’s so gorgeous. You too,” he added quickly, maybe fearing Grayson would take offense. “I really like watching you.”
“He sounds drunk,” Lars said, puzzled by Sven’s behavior.
“Do we need to go over the rules again?” Grayson asked Lars, looking at him with a pointed stare, and he shrunk a little despite the alpha’s friendly tone.
“No, sir.”
“What did I ask you to do?”
“Sit quietly and wait for you.”
Grayson’s eyes narrowed.
“Sir,” Lars added quickly.
Hot damn, why did one look from Grayson make him do what the other Doms had needed to threaten him for with pain? A lot of pain, he remembered, and not fondly.
“And what are you doing right now?”
“Talking, sir. I’m sorry, sir.”
“Okay, then,” Grayson said, turning back to Sven. “Of course you can watch us, pup. I’d like that, actually.”
“One more kiss,” Sven begged, and Grayson bent over and placed his lips on Sven’s. Chaste at first, Sven quickly deepened it, opening for Grayson, who claimed his mouth with fervor. The sucking sounds made Lars clench his fists. He was so horny. Sven needed to hurry the fuck up. It was Lars’s turn now.
Huh.
He checked with himself. Why was he impatient? Was it because he was jealous that Sven preferred Grayson? It didn’t feel that way. He did feel left out, but more because he’d been hard for so damn long, watching them fuck, watching Grayson fuck.
God, the way he’d slammed into Sven, the obscene sounds it had made. The slick slurping sounds of Sven’s hole, the wet slap of Grayson’s balls against Sven’s flesh, the grunts and moans and Sven’s endless begging for more. It had been a sex symphony that had aroused Lars as much as the visuals.
And now that Grayson finally was ready to fuck him, Lars was impatient. Sven had been fucked by the man twice already, including that knot that lasted over half an hour. But Lars would wait and bite his tongue because something told him that Grayson meant business, and he was not screwing up his chance to fuck Sven during his heat and to be taken by the gorgeous alpha, who was now making Sven whimper all over again.
“Are you horny again already?” Grayson said to Sven, but it wasn’t an accusation. It sounded affectionate, like he was amused and flattered at the same time.
“Your cock is so big,” Sven whispered. “So fucking perfect. I need more. Please, alpha.”
He really sounded drunk, Lars thought, like he was high on sex. He’d never seen Sven like this before, so wanton and demanding and desperate. It had to be the gene, that effect Enar had mentioned. Lars had thought his brother had been exaggerating, but it looked like he’d been spot on about this.
“Come here, Lars,” Grayson said without raising his voice.
Lars crawled closer from the end of the bed, carefully checking to see if Grayson would react to his presence, but his alpha seemed okay with it.
“Why don’t you go make out with Lars while I prep him,” Grayson told Sven.
Before Lars could say anything, Sven jumped on top of him, latching his mouth onto Lars’s. He drank him in, the intoxicating scent of sex that permeated his body, the entire room. Quiet, timid Sven kissed him as if he were starving and Lars was a fresh meal.
Sven humped against him, and Lars moaned as he circled his hips and ground back. He froze when slick fingers tapped his hole. Grayson never even spoke, but that simple gesture made his demand more than clear, and Lars opened his legs and pushed back his ass to let him in.
Grayson slid one finger in, then waited until Lars had adjusted. The frantic way Sven was kissing him helped distract him from the burn in his ass. It had been a while since he’d been fucked, even with a toy.
Grayson’s other hand stroked his ass, and the alpha let out an appreciative hum. “Damn, you’re tight, boy. You’re gonna feel this tomorrow.”
Lars decided he couldn’t care less and opened his ass wider, earning him a chuckle from Grayson. “You’re not gonna rush me, boy, so don’t even try. We’re gonna do this at my pace.”
Lars fought to remain patient as Grayson methodically stretched him. Sven’s desperation grew, apparent in the way he clung to Lars, almost crawling into him. Lars feared his lover wouldn’t be able to wait for Grayson at the rate he was going.
“Sir,” he said when Sven gave him a second to breathe. “I think he needs you.”
“You’re willing to wait for him?” Grayson asked. “Again?”
“He needs you.”
Grayson leaned over Lars, grabbing his chin with a soft grip and planting a tender kiss on his lips that sent a jolt of electricity through his body. “So do you, even if you don’t know it yet.”
What the hell was that supposed to mean? Did that mean Grayson would fuck Lars first anyway?
Grayson gently grabbed Sven’s neck and kissed him. “Go suck Lars off. If you’re good, I have a reward for you later, okay?”
Lars watched in amazement as Sven’s face lit up. He’d always thought Sven wasn’t submissive at all, just naturally obedient. The few times Lars had experimented with being dominant with him had been disastrous, and that was putting it mildly. Oh, Sven had tried to get into it, but it had been clear it hadn’t brought him any joy. Yet again, Grayson seemed to know something Lars didn’t. That one sentence had set Sven on fire.
Then all rational thoughts left his head as Sven’s hot mouth swallowed him whole while Grayson pushed in with three fingers. He bore down, helped by the intense pleasure building in his balls. God, Sven was so fucking good at sucking dick.
Grayson stretched him until Lars thought he would burst from horniness.
“Let go of him, pup,” Grayson commanded, and Sven obeyed without a second’s hesitation.
Lars tensed as that fat cock pushed against his hole, demanding entry. He pushed his ass back and kneeled deeper, which was possible now that Sven had let go of his dick. Grayson pushed in, then fed him his cock, inch by inch, patiently waiting for Lars to adjust. He focused on his breathing, but even then, it stung.
“Doesn’t it feel wonderful, that big cock?” Sven gushed, and Lars couldn’t help but smile at his bubbly enthusiasm.
“I think his hole is a little less flexible than yours, pup,” Grayson said, the smile audible in his voice too.
“Doesn’t it feel good?” Sven asked, and now worry tainted his face.
“It will in a minute,” Lars said, his breath forced out in a puff as Grayson pushed in another inch. “I hope,” he added, mumbling.
“Not big on pain, huh?” Grayson remarked, reminding Lars once again the man was damn perceptive.
“Not really,” he admitted.
Finally Grayson bottomed out, and he stayed buried inside him, giving Lars the time to relax his muscles and breathe through the last bit of discomfort. All that was left was a feeling of being perfectly full, of being invaded in the best way possible.
Grayson pushed him onto his stomach, lowering his weight on top of Lars. His mouth came close to Lars’s ear, causing shivers down his spine. “How’s that feel?”
Lars swallowed. “Good. Really good.”
“You like my dick in your ass?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I like it too. Your ass squeezes my cock like it wants it to stay there forever. Someday, I wanna see how long I can stay, but Sven needs me, so I’m gonna take what I need from you now.”
The casual announcement had tingles dance down Lars’s spine. Grayson wasn’t asking him—he was telling him what was going to happen. And damn if it wasn’t hot as fuck.
“Yes, sir.”
“And, Lars?”
Grayson pulled out with a slow, precise movement that made Lars’s balls clench tight. This was gonna be so good.
“Mmm?” he said.
“You can’t come.”
You can’t come.
/> Grayson hoped he had pegged Lars correctly because otherwise this could prove to be a huge mistake. It was risky anyway, considering the situation they were in. He didn’t want to play with Lars’s feelings or even appear to be using any kind of pressure on him. Grayson was all too aware he held all the power, including access to Sven, and he had to wield that power with great care.
Of course, withholding the right to orgasm could be seen as pressure, so Grayson waited with bated breath to see how Lars would respond.
“W-why can’t I come?” Lars asked, his voice muffled as his head was pressed against the mattress with Grayson on top of him.
It was more curiosity than protest, and Grayson took that as a good sign. “Is because I said so not a good enough reason?”
“But…but I’m already so close after watching this whole time and now with you inside me,” Lars argued with a hint of a whine in his voice. “I’m not sure I can hold back.”
Grayson pulled back, then surged in, his heart hammering furiously with pleasure as the tight heat pressed down on his cock. “Then I suggest you try harder.”
He repeated his previous move, the lithe body underneath him tightening in response. Lars wasn’t lying. He was on the edge. No wonder, as the beta had been watching them for a long time. Still, Grayson had an ulterior motive to push him a little further.
“What happens if I don’t succeed?”
Grayson pulled out. “Turn onto your back,” he told Lars. “I want to see your face.”
Next to him, Sven whimpered, his warm body restlessly seeking out Grayson. He had to make this fast, even though he would love nothing more than to take his time with Lars. The beta deserved that care, but sadly, Grayson didn’t have the time. It wasn’t fair, but Sven’s heat took precedence. The kid could maybe wait for a few minutes more, but after that, he needed them.