In the Sniper’s Crosshairs

by Charlie Richards

  Shifting his right leg under him, Hodge went after it.

  “Don’t move,” Castrose ordered, sending a bullet into the ground near Hodge’s stretched hand.

  Freezing—well, most of him—Hodge peered over his shoulder at him. He glanced from his face to his gun and back again. His lip curled into a sneer.

  Hodge’s expression cleared as quickly as it had formed. His focus darted left and right, and Castrose heard why, but he didn’t bother looking. The low growls of several wolves closed in on them.

  Even though the hairs on his nape stood on end, Castrose reminded himself that shifters were sentient in animal form. The wolves were the good guys. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep his stance relaxed.

  “Come on, man,” Hodge muttered, his fingers twitching. “Let me get my gun. Help me shoot these motherfucking wolves!”

  Castrose chuckled low in his throat, amusement filling him. Shaking his head, he smirked.

  “This ain’t funny, man!”

  “It is, actually,” Castrose replied, lowering his firearm and slipping the safety on.

  Hodge must have taken that as permission to go for his gun, but he was far too late. A medium-sized, dark-blond wolf stood over the weapon. With teeth bared and ears pinned, the animal snarled at him.

  Cursing softly in his native language, Hodge stared wide-eyed at Castrose. “How you doin’ this?” He whispered the words. Then his eyes narrowed. “You trainin’ wolves out here?” Hodge glanced around again, then leveled a huge grin on Castrose. “I can pay you for ‘em. We’re well funded. I’ll leave your brother alone, too. Trained wolves could help in so many ways that a bomb couldn’t.”

  “Stop talking,” an accented voice ordered coldly.

  Castrose peered to the right. Unable to help himself, he lifted one brow. Alpha Declan stalked toward Hodge, and he was naked as the day he was born, his dick swingin’ in the wind.

  Huh.

  “What the fuck?” Hodge squeaked.

  Clearing his throat, Castrose returned his focus to Hodge as he fought against the heat threatening to rise in his cheeks.

  I am not gonna blush, dammit.

  “You are a terrorist trespassing in my territory,” Alpha Declan stated, his gray eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms over his chest. “And ye were trying to kidnap people who are part of my pack and under my protection. Do ye know what the penalty for that is in the paranormal world?”

  “Para-what?” Hodge’s eyes were wide in his pale face. “Pack? Territory? What the fuck are you talking about? Penalty?”

  “As alpha of this pack and leader of my territory,” Alpha Declan continued, not bothering to give much of an answer to Hodge’s sputtered questions. “I can make yer penalty whatever I want it to be.” Then his eyes narrowed. “You and yer men will be taken deep into the mountains and executed, and if yer bodies are ever located, it will be reported as an animal attack.” Declan’s smile turned hard as he rolled his big shoulders in a shrug. “Tragic. So many hikers try to get too close to wildlife, or campers don’t properly store their food.”

  “You can’t do that,” Hodge cried, shaking his head. “I know you’re a park ranger. You’re required to turn me into authorities. I—”

  “A park ranger is great cover, isn’t it?” Declan cut in. Holding out his hand to Castrose, he asked, “May I have yer gun, please?”

  Castrose handed it over.

  As Declan strode closer, Hodge cringed away from him. That didn’t stop the alpha from leaning close and slamming the butt of the gun onto Hodge’s head. The man crumpled.

  Declan straightened and smiled at Castrose. “Thank ye for yer assistance, Castrose. We appreciate it.”

  Nodding, Castrose worked hard to keep his focus on the alpha’s face. “Happy to. It was fun.” It had been, too. Well, other than—”Is Eion okay?”

  Castrose started as he felt something press against his upper thigh. Looking down, he spotted a medium-sized, black-furred wolf. He almost backed away, but then he peered into the animal’s eyes—his gorgeous, intelligent green eyes.

  “Eion?”

  The wolf nuzzled his thigh, its tongue lolling.

  “That is Eion, aye,” Declan confirmed.

  Lowering his hand, Castrose caressed the fur on Eion’s big head. The canine tipped his head, pushing into his scratches. When the wolf nuzzled his nose into Castrose’s crotch, he took a step back with a laugh as he pushed Eion’s head away.

  “Knock that off,” Castrose ordered with a gruff chuckle.

  “Maybe ye’d best be off back to Eion’s,” Alpha Declan encouraged, amusement filling his tone. “You need to complete yer bond.”

  Castrose nodded. His blood heated and flowed south as he thought about what that entailed. His body was more than on board with that.

  Controlling himself, Castrose refocused on Alpha Declan. “What’s going to happen to Hodge and his men?”

  “Just what I said,” Declan told him without a hint of remorse. “They’ll end up a missing person statistic.” Then a hardness entered his tone. “After I question them and make certain no one else will be coming after you. You’re one of us now.” Then Declan grinned widely and stated, “Welcome to the pack.”

  A warm sensation oozed through his chest—gratefulness mixed with a sense of belonging.

  Huh. Family.

  “Thank you.” Castrose turned away, grinning at Eion’s wolf form. “Come on, pretty wolf. We have somewhere to be.”

  Castrose couldn’t stop grinning, anticipation thrumming through him, as he returned to the cabins, snagged his rifle, and watched Eion return to his human form.

  Then Eion drove them home.

  Chapter Twelve

  Eion levered over Castrose, licking and mapping the knobs of his human’s spine with his tongue. His wolf’s need to mount and claim his mate rode him hard, and he barely managed to keep it in check. He refused to hurt Castrose as he eased a third finger into his chute.

  Lying on that roof, hearing Hodge issue the ultimatum—Eion or Clayton—made Eion come to a harsh realization. At that moment, he had been a liability to Castrose. Eion had only one recourse—remove himself from the equation.

  Leaving his mate on that roof alone had been the hardest damn thing Eion had ever done. As he’d slid off the roof, landed on the ground, and leaped through an open cabin window, he had prayed to the Fates that his mate would be okay.

  Thank the gods they said yes.

  Castrose growled, rocking beneath his touch. “Hurry the fuck up, Eion,” he demanded. Peering over his shoulders at Eion, he met his gaze with a hungry one of his own. “I’m not made of glass. Pull your fingers out, shove your dick in me, and make me yours.”

  His wolf howled in his mind, demanding submission.

  Seeing as his wolf and his mate were on the same page—fuck and finish their bond—Eion obeyed. He eased his fingers partway out, then pushed them in again to test Castrose’s body’s resistance. Hearing another growl rumble from his mate, Eion slipped his fingers free.

  Eion grabbed his throbbing erection and jacked himself, using the remaining lube on his fingers to slick himself up. Gripping Castrose’s hip with his free hand, he kissed the head of his erection against his human’s stretched hole. He rubbed up and down his lover’s spine as he slowly thrust forward.

  As soon as Eion’s crown slipped past the first ring, he heard Castrose’s hiss and froze. He levered over his mate, resting his weight on his left hand. At the same time, Eion rubbed up and down Castrose’s spine, hoping to soothe his mate.

  “Push,” Castrose ordered even as he rocked backward.

  “Easy. Keep breathing for me,” Eion ordered on a groan as he wrapped his right arm around Castrose’s torso. Having heard the way Castrose spoke through gritted teeth, he nibbled on his mate’s shoulder as he added, “I don’t wanna hurt you.”

  Castrose lowered to his elbows, arching his back. His torso rose and fel
l in heaving breaths. He even swallowed so hard Eion could hear it.

  Needing to ease his mate’s discomfort, Eion skimmed his palm up and began plucking at Castrose’s nipples. He scraped his nails over his pectorals as he worried the flesh between his teeth. His mouth watered with his urge to bite, but he resisted.

  Soon.

  Once Eion felt the tension in Castrose’s body ease, he began to push forward again. Keeping up his ministrations to soothe his mate’s virgin ass muscles, he hummed in encouragement. He licked a line of Castrose’s neck and focused on the sensitive skin behind his ear.

  Finally, Eion’s own body trembling, he was buried balls deep in his mate. He gulped harshly, struggling for control. Never had he felt anything so exquisite as his mate’s tight hold on his twitching prick.

  “Gods, Cass, ye feel so good,” Eion said on a moan, his accent thickening with his need. “Barely resisted mountin’ ye on the drive home.”

  “Really?” Castrose mumbled.

  “Yessss.” Eion hissed his admission.

  Eion had fought his need to strip Castrose only by reminding himself over and over that his mate had never bottomed before. As much as his nature drove him to confirm that his human was truly unharmed, he knew he needed to make Castrose’s first time enjoyable. That meant the comfort of a bed and a shit-load of lube.

  “Damn, this feels weird,” Castrose muttered.

  Castrose flexed and released his chute muscles.

  The move yanked a deep moan from Eion’s throat, and unable to help himself, he jerked his hips, sliding his cock partway out, then back in. The stimulation along his length caused his gut to clench, and his balls tingled.

  Jolting, Castrose groaned. “Fuck! Do that again.”

  Eion couldn’t have stopped himself even if he’d wanted to. His instinct to fuck and rut, to take his mate, overwhelmed him. He withdrew his erection until his crown tugged at Castrose’s tight ring, then reversed.

  Groaning, Eion gave in to his need. He picked up his pace. With each thrust, he adjusted his angle. On the third one, Eion found it.

  “Yes!” Castrose cried, his body shuddering in Eion’s grip. “There!”

  Eion began pegging Castrose’s prostate. Feeling his mate jerking and twitching in his arms created a riot of smug satisfaction coursing through him. He growled low in his throat as a zing went down his spine, and his balls tightened.

  Needing Castrose to come with him, Eion slid his hand down and gripped his erection, pleased to find it straining and leaking. He jacked it in time with his thrusts, teasing his frenulum on each upstroke and twisting his tight grip on each downward one.

  Castrose shouted his pleasure as his channel clamped down on Eion’s cock. “Eion!”

  Hearing Castrose cry out his name sent Eion tumbling over the edge. He buried his erection as deeply into his mate as possible. His cock pulsed, shooting his seed into Castrose.

  As soon as Eion felt Castrose begin to relax, he sank his teeth into his claiming mark. He swallowed his mate’s sweet, life-giving fluid, then sucked for more. Heady pleasure coursed through him upon feeling his human shake and shudder. Eion still held Castrose’s cock, and he grinned around the flesh in his mouth.

  Hell yeah.

  Castrose drooped beneath him, resting his head on the comforter. His body went damn near lax under him.

  Eion eased his hold on Castrose’s dick as he withdrew his teeth. Licking over his claiming bite, he sealed the wound once more. Pushing up from where he sprawled over Castrose’s body, Eion gently rubbed over his side, then down his flank.

  Ever-so-carefully, Eion eased his softening prick free of Castrose’s body. He peered down and saw Castrose turn his head. His mate sported heavy-lidded eyes and a loopy smile, and he made no indication that he planned to move from his frog-like position.

  Eion chuckled softly as he gripped Castrose’s hips and gently eased him sideways. After situating his mate on his back, Eion grabbed his calves and helped him stretch out his legs. Then he slipped from the bed and leaned down, pecking a kiss to Castrose’s lips.

  “Be right back,” Eion told him.

  Castrose hummed in response.

  Grinning, pride flooding him, Eion hustled out of the bedroom. He entered the bathroom and quickly washed himself up. Then he rinsed out the cloth, grabbed a dry one, and returned to the bedroom.

  Castrose hadn’t moved, drawing a soft chortle from Eion.

  “What?” Castrose slurred the word as he eyed him.

  “I love that my fucking wiped you out,” Eion admitted as he crossed to the bed. He began wiping down Castrose, pleased that the man allowed him the privilege without complaint. “You’re sexy as fuck like this.”

  Grinning and humming, Castrose pointed out, “Well, I was in a firefight today, so between you giving me a double orgasm and coming down off the adrenaline high, I’m definitely wiped.” He lifted his arms and wiggled his fingers. “Come here. Nap with me.”

  “With pleasure.”

  As if I’d turn down a chance to cuddle with my mate.

  Eion tossed the soiled cloths into his laundry hamper. Then he helped Castrose get under the comforter and sheet. Joining him, Eion settled against his human, sighing happily when Castrose wrapped his arms around him and pulled him so he half-sprawled over his chest.

  After letting out a contented sigh, Eion whispered, “I do have one question.”

  “Shoot.”

  Tipping his head back a little, Eion met Castrose’s gaze. “Why did you suddenly accept everything?” Upon seeing Castrose’s furrowed brows and the light of confusion in his pale blue eyes, Eion elaborated. “You saw me shift but didn’t believe, then you did. You told me you didn’t believe in the mate shit, then you did. What happened?”

  Castrose remained quiet for a moment, holding his gaze. Then he sighed before kicking the corners of his lips into a smile. “Easy. I don’t dwell on things I can’t control, but I’m damn good at accepting them.” Threading his fingers through Eion’s hair, he scraped over his skull lightly. “It took me a little time because I thought it was part of the concussion, but I worked it out.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  Leaning over, Castrose took Eion’s mouth in a light, sipping kiss. “Me, too.” Then he relaxed and closed his eyes.

  Eion did the same, drifting off to the rhythmic breathing of his mate.

  Epilogue

  The trill of Eion’s phone drew him out of his comfortable slumber. The twilight rays filtering through the window told him they’d been out almost all afternoon. The phone stopped ringing, and he allowed his eyelids to slide back closed.

  Then the phone started up again.

  Groaning softly, Eion rolled over and grabbed the offending device from his nightstand. Seeing it was his brother calling, Eion answered.

  “Hey, Cliff. What’s up?”

  “Come down to Colin City Hospital,” Cliff stated without preamble.

  Eion jerked to a sitting position. “What?” Wait. “Is Lisa in pre-mature labor?” He pushed aside the covers and slid from the bed.

  The move roused Castrose, who stared at him for an instant before also rising.

  “No. It’s Brennan,” Cliff told him. “He wrecked your bike.”

  Feeling his heart skip a beat in his chest, Eion whispered, “How bad is it?” For a shifter to end up in the hospital, it had to have been a nasty accident.

  “I’m not certain, yet,” Cliff admitted. “I got a call from Doctor Carmichael, so at least we know he’s secure.”

  “Right.” Eion pulled open a dresser drawer and grabbed a pair of jeans. “I’ll be there as soon as possible.”

  The line disconnected without a good-bye, and when Eion placed his phone on the nightstand, he realized his hand was shaking.

  “Damn it,” Eion muttered, clenching his hand, trying to gain control of himself. “I knew I shouldn’t have accepted that bet.”

  I knew
better.

  “What happened?” Castrose asked, already half-dressed.

  Eion started moving again as he told Castrose what he knew.

  “And Brennan being in a human hospital? Is that going to cause a problem?” Castrose commented as he plucked Eion’s keys from his hand. “I’ll drive. You’re in no condition.”

  Nodding, Eion accepted that... especially since he didn’t even comment when Castrose helped him into the passenger seat. Once his mate climbed behind the wheel and headed them toward Colin City, Eion told him, “Doctor Ailean Carmichael is a black jaguar shifter, so he’ll adjust whatever records are needed to keep our secret.”

  Castrose grunted acknowledgment, then pointed at the GPS. “Enter the hospital information.”

  Eion did so, then Castrose reached over and gripped Eion’s hand where it rested on his thigh. “Don’t borrow trouble.”

  Taking that advice to heart, Eion took a few deep breaths. The earthy fragrance of his mate filled his senses. The scent caused his pulse to slow, and his body relaxed.

  “There you go,” Castrose rumbled, squeezing his hand and rubbing his forefingers on the inside of his wrist. “I can feel that your pulse just slowed.”

  “It’s because of you,” Eion admitted. “A mate’s scent and touch soothes.”

  Castrose nodded. “Good.”

  When Castrose pulled into the hospital parking lot nearly forty-five minutes later, most of Eion’s calm went right out the window. He spotted his parents striding toward the emergency entrance where Cliff waited.

  “Want me to drop you off here?” Castrose asked, slowing the vehicle.

  “Yeah, thanks,” Eion replied, barely waiting for the pick-up to sufficiently slow. Jogging to catch up with his family, he asked, “Have you heard anything?”

  Nodding, Cliff wrapped an arm around their mother’s free shoulder, since their father was holding her on the other side. Teline was cuddled against Duncan and offered Cliff a hopeful smile. His eldest brother’s distressed scent didn’t put Eion at ease.