by J. K. Jones
“Here.” Ryu points to the southern part of the Silvercrest Howlers. “There are a lot of wheat and cornfields. This area is primarily ruled by farmers we can use to smuggle people out.”
Micah leans forward. “Mhmm, good idea.”
“We can use Deryn’s idea of a few good men. We smuggle the most vulnerable wolves out, women and children. We use the wheat and corn as camouflage so that Randolph won’t notice. Then we mount an attack here.” Ryu points to the northern part of the Silvercrest Howlers. “A full-scale attack, drawing all Randolph’s men to the front. The Bloodhound Prince will send his Lycans to fight. After they’re given my blood, they’ll be immune, thus eliminating the spread.”
“But what about Randolph? There are several areas he can escape. If he does all this will be for nothing.”
“That’s where the Midnight Stalkers come into play. We lure Francesca out and, with her, Zy. Randolph will be less likely to attack if he fears his son is in danger.”
“Brilliant.” Micah smiles. “Are you sure you don’t want to be one of my war generals?”
Ryu smirks. “Really? Aren’t you afraid I’ll outsmart your men?”
“I doubt that.”
“Because all Omegas have brains the size of peanuts?”
“Yours is probably like a walnut.”
“Shut up.” Ryu laughs heartily. “Bastard.”
“You love it, but seriously, we need to get started on the mass immunization first. Once every wolf is immune to the disease, then we can attack against the Bloodhound Prince and take back the Silvercrest Howlers. For those we smuggle out, I’ll have a station set up so that they can get the cure immediately.”
Chapter 33
Ryu beams, giddy at the prospect of winning the war. They have everything they need to defeat the Bloodhound Prince. It’s refreshing. Ryu stares at Micah, happiness settling in his core. His mind goes back to the things he said earlier, about Michael and the Filthy Claws clan. It’s not that he was wrong to say them, but he should’ve asked more questions before jumping to conclusions. Michael never treated him with anything less than respect, even after he found out they were fooling around. Ryu knows his father meant a lot to him, and he feels sorry for not being more sensitive to that fact.
“About earlier…” Ryu starts and then sighs deeply. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those awful things about your father. People can change, and I believe that he really meant to bring change to the Filthy Claws clan and the Silvercrest Howlers.”
“It’s okay if you don’t,” Micah says. “For a long time, my perception of him was skewed. To many, he was a good Alpha, altruistic without fault. I was never critical of him. Like most wolves, I went along with the narrative. I know now it was wrong. He wasn’t perfect, his intentions were not pure, but over time, I think he realized that change was inevitable.”
“He was a good man, Micah,” Ryu says, his voice strong. Even though he doesn’t agree with Michael’s initial way of handling things, if something good can come out of it, then it’s something he’ll hold on to. Ryu doesn’t want to dwell on the past. Michael did what he did, ruined a lot of lives, and nearly tore two clans apart in the process. But all things that are broken can be mended, Micah can rebuild what was lost, and together they can find some semblance of peace and prosperity for both clans.
Micah goes quiet, then takes Ryu’s hand. “I don’t want to be like him. I want things to be different. I want to implement real change for all wolves. Not just a selected few.”
“You will,” Ryu says. “I believe in you.”
Micah ducks his head shyly. “Same goes to you. Ever since your fight with the Bloodhound Prince, I know you’ve been off. You didn’t lose, and you didn’t fail. What happened was beyond our control.”
Ryu swallows thickly. For weeks, he’s been beating himself up over it. To admit Arima Kihei frightened him beyond belief is humiliating. Much more to someone invincible like Micah. “I feel like such a failure.”
“You’re not.”
“Thank you, I appreciate you. I love—” He stops himself. His whole body burns. What the hell? What’s wrong with him? “I mean, you are a good Alpha and well…” Shit.
Micah laughs, and Ryu buries his face in a pillow.
“Shut up.”
“Ryu.” Micah pries the pillow away. “I love you too.”
“Wh—” Micah captures his lips in a heated kiss. Ryu groans long and deep, throwing his arms around Micah’s neck. Damn, it feels so good. It’s everything he’s been waiting for. White sage fills the room, and passion rips through him.
Micah’s hands are firm and gentle, fondling his cheek and neck, then sliding down to his waist. Ryu can’t get enough; he feels like a man dying of thirst. Micah tastes so amazing. His mouth is soft and pliant against his. Ryu leans into it, opening slightly and sighing when Micah thrusts his tongue inside, licking and caressing his lower lip. He’s hot all over. It must be his preheat.
“Wait.” Ryu breaks the kiss. “You…we really shouldn’t. You said it means something different, and I don’t want to hurt anybody. I’m not ready for anything serious yet.”
“Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll stop,” Micah says seriously, his pupils dilating.
Ruy’s been hard for weeks. Micah’s constant teasing, their lack of alone time, and finally their blow-out is what nearly tips him over the edge. Ryu can’t deny he wants Micah. In more ways than one. When is he finally going to be honest with himself?
Ryu loves him.
As scary as that is and as much as he wants to rebel against it, he can’t anymore.
“I want you.”
“You have me.” Micah plunges back in, kissing him fervently and using the tip of his tongue to dance deeper into his mouth. Ryu is dizzy. His head spins as he straddles Micah. God, yes.
Micah grips his waist as his kisses grow more heated. Ryu moans again, moving his hips as Micah’s cock swells in his pants. A pair of hands move along the hem of his shirt, touching Ryu’s thin body. They stroke his skin. The rough padding on his thumb makes Ryu shudder.
Micah takes his time, drags off his plain white T-shirt, and moves his lips down his neck. Ryu is tossed between torrents of pleasure. He cries out when Micah takes his nipple into his mouth. Slick runs down his thighs. He’s so hot and hard he might actually die.
“Micah,” Ryu whines helplessly.
“Let me,”
He nips the bud, taking it between his teeth and abusing it until his nipple is a lovely cherry red. Micah continues with his onslaught, then dips his hands into the back of Ryu's pants, expertly finding his hole. It’s sodden, dripping wet, and clenching. Ryu flings his head back, eyes falling shut as Micah enters him with one long finger, then another.
Fuck. The stretch is perfect and beautiful. Ryu can’t help but thrust back. Micah scissors his fingers, adding a third and fourth, fucking them in nice and steady.
Ryu can’t wait to ride his knot. It’s been weeks since he’s been stuffed like a turkey at Thanksgiving dinner. His cock is painfully hard, straining against his boxers as he sits on Micah’s fingers. Desire jolts through him. Micah finds his sweet spot and hammers at it furiously. Sparks fly across his vision.
Yes, fuck, yes. Micah thrusts his fingers in brutally, stretching his hole wider and wider, making it leak and pulse with pleasure.
“Fuck, ah.” Ryu is close, his impending orgasm just on the edge. Micah covers his lips in a bruising kiss that makes him see stars. Sweat covers his body. Micah grunts and quakes underneath him. His juices soak the sheets as they move together. It’s too much.
Ryu’s heart swells in ways that seem unimaginable. For days he’s been fighting against it. Now that he’s with Micah, the dam breaks, and everything comes pouring out.
“Micah, I—”
Someone knocks roughly on the door. “Byakuren?”
They freeze. Micah pants like mad, his fingers still deep in Ryu’s ass. What now? Ryu wants to scream. “It�
��s General Sato. We are all waiting in the briefing room for you, as instructed, since nine a.m.”
Ryu turns to look at the clock. It’s nine forty-five.
Shit.
Chapter 34
The universe is against him. That’s it. Why else would everything get ruined when he’s so damn close to cuming? He sobs in frustration. The universe doesn’t want him to get laid. Micah looks at him breathlessly. Then icy determination covers his features.
“Give me twenty minutes.”
Twenty minutes? Ryu squeaks as Micah throws him onto the bed.
“What the—” Micah tears off his pants, then forces his legs open, exposing his weeping entrance. He thrusts his fingers back in, hitting his sweet spot again and again. Ryu moans loudly. He’s too high strung, so wound up because fuck, it feels so damn good.
Ryu whines, drooling from the corner of his mouth. Micah swoops down, takes his cock into his mouth, and sucks vigorously.
Shit. He won’t last long; he can’t. Ryu fists Micah’s black curls, crying as pleasure ripples through him. He fucks into Micah’s warm mouth, chasing his release like mad. Ryu is flying up and up and up until he twitches. An electric shock tears through him, and his body seizes up. Cum gushes out of him, soaking the sheets and Micah’s mouth. Ryu shouts. His temple feels numb as his cock erupts with sweet white nectar.
His heart thunders in his chest, and tears stream down his cheeks.
Micah withdraws his fingers, rubbing his face against Ryu’s thigh, taking in his freesia scent. “You came so quickly.” He laughs softly, his breath puffing against Ryu’s aching hole.
“You…” Ryu flushes and tries to sit up, but his limbs are too heavy. “You stroked too hard, and I, uh.” He quivers as Micah shoves his fingers back in. The transparent liquid drips down his fingers and wrist and then falls onto the sheets.
Micah looks possessed as he gazes down at the liquid. Then he takes his hardening cock out. The small hole spits out slick, coating his cock, turning it wet and shiny, glistening in the morning light. Micah chuckles, using it as a lubricant to spread over his aching mushroom tip.
“For the road.” He tucks his cock back into his pants. By the obvious bulge and the smell, everyone in his vicinity will know exactly what they were doing.
“Micah—”
“I’ve got to go.” He grabs his paperwork and walks to the kitchenette to wash his hands. “Clean up and join us soon.”
“You aren’t seriously going to—” Micah silences him with a kiss.
“Join us when you’re ready.”
Ryu watches in horror as he leaves the room, with his juices and scent still heavy on his clothing. Fuck.
Ryu throws his head back onto the pillow.
This man will be the death of him.
Chapter 35
Each touch sets his nerve endings ablaze. Ryu can’t recall having a more satisfying sexual experience in his whole life. Not even with Haru did things feel so absolutely tangible, fulfilling, and gratifying. Ryu dresses slowly. His limps feel heavy like he’s run a marathon in a few short hours. His lips are bruised, his hole pink and tightening. Shit. Was it always this good? He doesn’t remember. Amid all the hate, anguish, and betrayal, Ryu can’t even recall what their sex was like previously.
Did he always come this hard? Did one look at his Alpha make him want to throw all inhibitions to the wind? Ryu sighs, running a hand through his hair. How did they get here? How do they stay here? Their talk earlier made him realize how well they fit, how easy it is to bounce ideas off Micah. They understand each other.
Micah never scoffs at his ideas or gives a hint he thinks something’s inferior like other Alphas do. Instead, he actively listens, providing his input occasionally. Not even Haru considered Ryu his equal, no matter how much Ryu tried to show him that he could do more than ride his cock.
Ryu grabs his katana and walks calmly to the war room, where the other Alphas have gathered. He catches Fermin’s gaze as he takes his place beside Micah. General Sato, Marissa, General Hasegawa are also present.
“Now that we know the location of General Miah and his men, I want you to take a small platoon down to the rebel base to retrieve them. Once they’re verified and ready to fight again, we will have enough men to launch an attack on the Silvercrest Howlers.” Micah points to their position on the map.
“Byakuren,” General Sato says. “How will administer the cure in time? We have fifteen thousand strong wolves, but manufacturing syringes on such a large scale will take months, if not years. We don’t have the time.”
“That’s why we’ll only be immunizing a select few for the time being,” Micah replies. “We’ll use a few good men, smuggle the most vulnerable out under cover of the wheat fields, and then we attack.”
“I see,” General Sato says. “So the wolves that take point and fight will be immune. They provide a decent enough distraction, and we can get our families out.”
“Exactly. Ryu will take the lead. After everyone has the cure, I want us all to work swiftly.”
“Byakuren,” General Hasegawa says casually. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
Micah regards him for a moment. “All right, let’s be clear on one thing. Ryu is my Second. He must be treated as such. I want you all to follow his words as if they are my own. Ryu will draw out the Bloodhound Prince. That’s the only way we’ll be able to win.”
“And what if Randolph’s been turned?” General Hasegawa asks. “We don’t know if the Bloodhound Prince has turned him into another vessel.”
“That’s why we’ll need to be extra cautious.” Micah turns to Marissa. “Are the rebels ready for battle?”
“Almost,” Marissa says. “We need more provisions as well as weapons or proper training for warfare.”
“Would you be willing to learn?”
Marissa stares back at him in surprise. “I—who would be training us?”
“I will train them.”
Everyone in the room goes quiet. Ryu feels his face heat up, but he knows that this is the right thing to do. The Filthy Claws would be distrustful of the Silvercrest Howlers, rightfully so, and they would be less likely to follow their lead.
“I’ll train them.” Ryu looks at Marissa. “After the wolves are immunized, we should also look into getting more of the people in the inner cities as well. The disease is spreading rapidly there. If we have an infestation before we go to war, it could pose a serious problem.”
“I agree,” General Hasegawa says. “We can have several platoons around the Filthy Claws clan to get the people immunized. That would stop the spread in the inner cities.”
“Good,” Micah says. “General Sato?”
“I think it’s a feasible plan. How about we modify it? Since the other clans will be arriving soon, I think it’ll be best to allow some of the clan leaders to take point. Each pack will want their own Alpha to lead the charge.”
“That would be best,” Shamus says. “The Midnight Stalkers would be happy to smuggle the remaining Silvercrest Howlers out. That way I can assure my father of my sister’s safety.”
Micah nods. “Then once the other clans arrive, we can assign roles to them as well.”
“What about drawing Randolph out?” Deryn asks. “I like the idea of getting the most vulnerable out and distracting the Bloodhound Prince, but Randolph still controls the majority of the Silvercrest Howlers’ wolves. The council is likely to be imprisoned or forced to fight against their own will.”
Ryu frowns. His plan to distract the Bloodhound Prince is good, but it never occurred to him that Randolph might not extend all his resources to the front and, in turn, might keep some of his men back. The only way around this would be to have distinct distractions.
“Penetrate the center,” Ryu mumbles.
“What?” Deryn asks.
“Penetrate the center.”
“Of all the ridiculous notions.”
“We diverge the enemy line by creating a large gap through whic
h we penetrate the center, thus creating a path straight to Randolph,” Ryu snaps. “Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid. I learned from the same damn sensei who taught you. We are in this together. If you don’t like it, leave.”
“Wow.” Trmon whistles. “I like him already.”
“Whatever,” Deryn grumbles.
“Good work. Draw his resources in both ways, or in this case three ways,” Micah adds, excitement all over his features. “First, we create a main distraction. Then we make it known we’re smuggling people out of the Silvercrest Howlers, and afterward we attack from behind. Randolph will have no choice but to spread his men.”
Ryu beams at him. “Not knowing that most of the wolves are immunized and they can’t be infected by the Lycans.”
“Brilliant.” Micah laughs, cupping his neck. “Just brilliant.”
“Ryu.” General Sato shakes his hand. “You make a damn good Second.”
“Remind me not to get on his bad side,” General Hasegawa mumbles.
Micah and Ryu stare at each other, and Ryu’s heart swells with devotion. For years, nobody listened to him; nobody cared whether his ideas were good. Now finally, he’s being heard. Not just as some wayward Omega but as their equal, as someone they respect and admire. Ryu grabs Micah’s hands and looks deeply into his Alpha’s eyes as the world fades around him.
“Are they going to fuck each other right here and now?” Deryn mutters.
“Shut up,” Trmon hisses.
Micah breaks eye contact and looks around the room. The wolves are hopeful, their expression lighter than ever before. Finally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.