by Lisa Oliver
“Why did you leave your home pack, if things are so good there?” Caden asked quietly. Sean risked another quick look, they were traveling at a high speed and although he knew the road, Sean wasn’t taking any chances with his mate’s safety. Caden was pulling at a thread in his jeans, a tell-tale flush on his cheeks signifying that he was embarrassed at asking anything at all. Sean reached over and took Caden’s hand in his, taking a moment to think about his answer.
“I never had any trouble in the pack,” he said honestly. “It’s just…” Sean broke off trying to find the right words. “My dad is awesome and as you might have been able to tell from the way he was on the phone, he is really protective which tends to make him a bit bossy when he wants something done. Liam and I had the perfect childhood, it’s just when we got older…” he trailed off again. He didn’t want to give Caden the wrong impression. He loved his dad, well he assumed he did. Sean wasn’t sure if he was capable of loving anyone, but he would be gutted if he lost his dad.
“You can be a bit bossy yourself sometimes,” Caden ventured cautiously. “Did that cause problems?”
Sean thought about it some more – it was a fair question. Was that why he left the pack? “I needed to be my own man,” he said finally, stroking his thumb over Caden’s fingers. “Dad is usually right about all things; it’s what makes him such a good pack leader. He’s been around a long time, and all he ever wanted was for me to settle down and take over the pack.”
“That’s a good thing, right?” Sean could hear the curiosity in his mate’s voice. He tried to look at things from Caden’s perspective – being trained to take over as Alpha, not having to fight for his position or anything else – it probably was a good thing. But Sean hadn’t wanted the responsibility that came with the position.
“I thought Liam would make a better Alpha than I would, even though he’s the younger son.” Sean decided to go with honesty again. “The pack relies on my dad so much, and the thought of dealing with their concerns every day, having to look after them all…” He shot Caden a quick smile, pleased that he was looking at him now. “I might be a bit too self-centered to be a pack Alpha,” he confided with a wink.
Caden chuckled softly, like Sean hoped he would. The light sound helped appease his wolf who found Caden’s nervousness difficult to handle. In the wolf’s eyes, their little mate needed to be protected from everyone and everything, which was difficult when Sean knew a lot of Caden’s current angst came from his actions.
“I don’t think I could live in a pack again.” Caden’s soft voice held a world of hurt, and Sean gripped Caden’s hand a bit tighter. “It’s not been easy, living as a lone wolf,” Caden continued, “but it felt safer for me, you know?”
Actually Sean didn’t know. He’d been loved in his pack, he’d been loved by his father and brother, and he’d never been short of company since living in L.A. He never had a problem being in groups of people. But he managed a smile for his mate, and said, “Then it’s a good thing dad already knows I want Liam to run the pack when he’s ready. I’m more than happy to make a life for us in L.A.”
Sean saw the large gates to his father’s property coming up, and slowed. Even as he maneuvered the car into the tight driveway, he couldn’t miss his mate’s whimper and as soon as he pulled into the gates, he stopped the car and turned, releasing Caden’s seat belt and pulling the man into his lap. The fact that Caden moved willingly had Sean’s wolf puffing up with pride.
“I know you haven’t had much cause to trust me,” he said softly, running his hand down Caden’s back, feeling the skin tremble under the man’s shirt. “But I promise you with all that I am, that you will be safe on these grounds. My father, when he thought I might not be able to care for you, told Liam that you could have a place here in his pack if you wanted.”
“Where did he get that idea? There’s nothing wrong with the way you are with me.” Oh, bless him. Caden’s bright blue eyes flashed with anger, as Caden looked over Sean’s shoulder to Liam’s car that had stopped behind them.
“Liam simply mentioned that I had been taking my time claiming you that’s all,” Sean said quickly. “Dad knows what I’m like and offered you a home and his protection if you decided you didn’t want to be mated to me.”
“Are you sorry you claimed me?” Caden’s voice was small and the young man was hanging his head again. Sean felt a twinge in his heart at the sheer insecurity in his Omega’s voice – after a lifetime of dealing with men with big egos looking for nothing more than a good time, Caden’s attitude, while hard to handle, was like a breath of fresh air.
“I am proud as hell that you allowed me to claim you,” Sean said, choosing his words carefully, and meaning every one of them. “I just hope you don’t think you’ve made a mistake when you see the good looking men this pack has to offer.”
Still hanging his head, Caden shook it, and then he raised his chin, his blue eyes locking with Sean’s. “I didn’t want to tell you that you’re the best looking man I’ve ever seen, your head is big enough as it is. But it’s true,” Caden said with a small smile.
“Wait. What? Are you teasing me?” Sean narrowed his eyes, and widened his mouth into a grin. Caden’s face was a bright red, but he nodded anyway and Sean closed the distance between them, brushing his lips over Caden’s.
“You’re the pretty one in this relationship,” he said, delighted when the red on Caden’s cheeks deepened. “I will be fighting men off with a stick.”
“Just stay with me? I don’t want…I…err…I just want…”
“I am not leaving your side for a second,” Sean cut in firmly. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw that Liam and Felix were taking advantage of their stop in their own way. Sean wanted to get Caden to his room, and remind his precious mate that they were a permanent couple, and that he would only have eyes for his mate from now on. To do that, they had to meet his father first. He dropped another quick kiss on Caden’s mouth, and then gently nudged the man back to his seat.
“No need to buckle up, precious,” he said as he put the car into gear. “The house is just around the corner.”
/~/~/~/~/
I won’t faint. I won’t faint. I won’t faint. Caden was terrified and he was sure that Sean could smell his fear. He was wearing his lovely coat, but even that wasn’t giving him the confidence he usually got from wearing it. His wolf had let him know more than half an hour before that they were in another pack’s territory, and his wolf was all for heading in the opposite direction. Caden’s human half was feeling much the same way.
It was bad enough that he was going to have to stay on pack grounds – that was a solid enough basis for his fear all on its own. But Caden was also worried sick that Sean’s dad, the Alpha for fucks sake, would find him lacking in some way – unworthy of his son, and that thought had Caden quaking in his well-worn boots. Sure, Sean was an Alpha in his own right, but everything Caden had ever heard about Sean’s dad suggested that Sean really respected the man’s opinion.
Please let him like me. Please let him like me.
Sean swung the car effortlessly up what seemed to be a long driveway that effectively hid the house from the road. Well before he was ready, Caden saw a huge, two-level log cabin, nestled among the pines. Two men were standing guard at the bottom of the wooden porch steps, and as the car pulled to a stop, the door to the cabin opened and a HUGE man stepped out. The guy was ginormous, and Caden’s wolf whimpered in his mind, absolutely terrified.
Even from a distance, Caden could see the family resemblance. Sean’s father had long, white-blond hair, and was probably two inches taller than his mate. He had a strongly tanned face, indicating a lot of time spent outdoors, and his rolled up shirt sleeves revealed arms bigger than Caden’s legs. Everything about the man screamed Alpha, and if Caden could have got his legs to work, he would have run like the hounds of hell were after him.
Sean hopped out of the car, giving his father a wave, before coming around and opening the door on Caden
’s side.
“Come on, precious; time to meet my father.”
“Do I have to? He’s bigger than you and that’s saying something,” Caden whispered as he took Sean’s hand. He didn’t want to embarrass his mate, but oh fuck; he wished he was back in his loft. His situation wasn’t made any better when the behemoth laughed, his chuckles resounding around the yard. Damn wolf shifter hearing.
“You don’t have anything to be afraid of, little one,” Sean’s dad said, coming forward. “Welcome, precious Omega, to the Williams’ pack.”
Caden managed to find his feet, and stood up, holding onto Sean’s hand tightly. Close up he could see that Sean’s father was a lot older than his sons. There were fine wrinkles around bright almost silver eyes, and more around the man’s generous mouth. He dropped his eyes quickly and tilted his head, baring his neck.
“Dad.” Sean’s voice was so confident. “I’m proud to introduce my fated mate, Caden Wolfe, renowned artist and lone Omega from Los Angeles.”
“Caden. Welcome to the family, boy,” and before Caden could even blink his feet left the ground and he was engulfed in huge arms. He squeaked. He was sure he squeaked, but the bigger wolf didn’t seem to care. Caden could feel the wolf in the man – strong, powerful and…curious. Caden could smell the curiosity coming from the wolf. It was enough to have him pull his head up and look at Sean’s father who had a grin a mile wide.
“You are so precious,” Sean’s father beamed. “I am so glad my son found you and had enough sense to claim you.”
“Err, dad, you might want to let him go,” Liam’s voice came from the side, and although there was humor in it, there was a warning there as well. Caden became aware of someone growling, and to his shock he realized it was Sean. “They’ve only been mated a few days.”
“Oh, right.” Just as suddenly Caden found his feet on the ground, and then was swept right off them again, as he found himself in Sean’s arms. Sean’s scent was off. The man was angry, his muscles trembling as though he was about to shift. Unsure what to do, Caden stroked Sean’s face, trying to gain his attention. Sean had been glaring at his father.
“That’s not very nice,” he whispered in Sean’s ear when the man refused to look at him.
“No one touches you,” Sean grumbled quietly.
“You’re quite right, son,” Sean’s dad said with a laugh. “Now let’s meet your mate, Liam, give your brother here a chance to pull his claws in.”
Sean’s body trembled against Caden’s, his grip tight as Sean rubbed his cheeks against Caden’s skin. Caden could hear that the larger Alpha had moved away and was apparently talking to Liam and Felix. He carefully rested his arms around Sean’s neck and let the man sniff and mark him. His back was starting to hurt, what with his feet a good foot off the ground, but instinctively Caden knew that Sean needed his scent to calm down. Strangely enough, Sean’s possessiveness helped with Caden’s anxiety, and he stayed pliant in Sean’s arms until the man got himself under control.
Chapter Fourteen
What was all that about? I growled at my freaking father. Sean had never been angry at his dad before. Sure, the man had tried his patience on more than one occasion before he’d left home, and a few times afterwards, but Sean had never felt the urge to challenge his father. It was as if, the moment he saw Caden being swept into another man’s arms, every possessive cell in his body went haywire and Sean just wanted to snatch Caden away from his father and beat the Alpha to the ground.
“It’s okay,” Caden whispered in his ear. “It’s kind of hot, actually. Who knew you’d go all possessive over my scrawny ass.”
“You have a perfect ass,” Sean responded without thinking. He looked at Caden, trying to assess his mate’s mood. The terror had definitely lessened, and Caden even had a small smile on his face.
“Are you okay?” He added searching Caden’s eyes.
“I’m fine,” Caden assured him. “But can you either take me somewhere, where it would appropriate for me to wrap my legs around your waist, or put me back on the ground. I’m getting a crick in my back.”
Sean looked around quickly, catching a smirk from Patrick, his father’s beta and a longtime friend. George was the other guard, and he looked just as amused as Patrick did. As much as Sean’s wolf was all for fucking their man and strengthening their scent in and on Caden’s skin, there were other people around, and Sean hadn’t forgotten the purpose of their visit. He bent over until Caden’s feet touched the grass, kissing him lightly before letting him go.
“Let’s head inside,” he suggested. “Get the talking out of the way, and then I’ll show you where we’ll be staying.”
He caught Caden’s hand and led his mate to the porch stairs. Patrick’s grin had gotten wider, and the wolf’s eyes ran appreciatively over Caden’s form. The urge to slap the man’s face until he couldn’t see straight was strong, but Sean managed to hold his hand out, shaking Patrick’s and George’s hands firmly.
“Are you going to introduce us to your mate, Sean?” Patrick asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Fated mate,” Sean said firmly, resisting the urge to growl again. “Caden, this mongrel is Patrick Connor, my father’s second, and the other reprobate is George Killam, head enforcer. Guys, Caden Wolfe, my mate, and no he won’t be shaking your hand or I’m likely to bite it off.”
Caden threw him a puzzled look, but Patrick laughed. “Ha, ha. Who’d have thought ‘fuck and dump’ Sean would find his true mate? So pleased for you, my friend. Totally pleased.”
“Patrick,” Sean warned. Honestly, had he truly been that bad? His mate was going to think he’d been nothing but a hound dog. Then Patrick made the mistake of going further. “Of course, your mate’s the prettiest man I’ve ever seen you with, but that’s not saying much. Hey little guy, when Sean gets bored with your ass, and you can bet that he will, you come and see me, okay. I’ll make sure you won’t have the time to pine over him.”
Sean had just enough time to register Caden’s gasp, and the scent of hurt hitting his nose, before he moved. How dare his oldest friend suggest that he’d get bored with his mate. Yes, he and Patrick had grown up together – hell, Sean had even fucked him once, and thank goodness that hadn’t damaged their friendship. But upsetting Caden…that was going too far. Sean snarled as his fist hit Patrick’s jaw and he followed the man down to the ground, his fists going hard and fast.
/~/~/~/~/
Caden was reeling; he didn’t know what to think. Just when he’d thought he’d gotten a handle on his nerves, he had to meet yet more people – wolves - who seemed inclined to want to eat him for lunch, or worse, drool all over him. Patrick’s words had hurt more than he’d thought possible, and yet now, Sean was beating the crap out of the arrogant ass, and there was nothing Caden could do to stop it. Gods, he knew coming to the pack was a bad idea.
“Sean will win, don’t worry about him.” George’s voice came over his shoulder, and Caden realized he’d just been standing there, twisting his hands like some too-stupid-to-live heroine.
“I don’t understand why Sean’s fighting at all,” Caden admitted quietly, his eyes riveted to the two men rolling around on the ground. Sean was definitely winning, but Caden hated seeing his mate in any form of danger.
“Patrick insulted your honor and your mating, and it would seem Sean’s wolf took it as a challenge. Could have been worse, he could have shifted, then Patrick would have really gotten his ass handed to him.”
Caden didn’t know what to say, but then he didn’t have to say anything at all, because a beer can was thrust under his nose and his wolf whimpered in the presence of the Alpha. He gingerly took the can from Sean’s father, and peeked at the big man from under his hair.
“Looks like my boy needed a work out,” Sean’s father said with a huge grin as he watched the fight. “Patrick insult you or something?”
“Something like that, sir,” Caden muttered. He didn’t want to dwell on what Patrick had said. Seems no one
thought that Sean was capable of being faithful, and that idea had Caden crying inside. But he’d spent a lot of years hiding his feelings, and he could do it again.
His shoulder was jostled and he almost fell over, although a big hand kept him upright. “None of this sir crap,” Sean’s father said gruffly. “You can call me Ian, or Dad, your choice, but you’re family now and we don’t worry about status among family members.”
Caden gulped and nodded. He didn’t think he could get any words past his throat. Sean had Patrick in a headlock, and it looked like the other wolf was about to pass out. There was blood dripping from a cut above Sean’s eye and Patrick’s face looked twice its original size. The nose was definitely flatter and more spread out than it used to be.
“Fucking apologize, asshole,” Sean grunted as he yanked hard on Patrick’s neck. It was clear from the redness on Patrick’s face that the man was having trouble breathing. Patrick’s mouth opened, but nothing came out and that seemed to make Sean even angrier. He twisted his stance and Caden was sure that Patrick’s head was going to come right off.
“That’s enough, son,” Ian said forcefully. “He’s tapping out, now let him go.”
For a moment it looked like Sean wasn’t going to listen, but then with a long snarl complete with curled lip, Sean grabbed Patrick by the hair and slammed his face into the ground. Patrick didn’t move. Sean got up, tried to dust off his pants, but his hands were just as grubby. As he came closer, Caden could see that the cut above Sean’s eye was already healing, and without thinking, he ran into Sean’s arms, burying his face into Sean’s heaving chest.
“Feeling better, son?” Ian asked. Caden felt Sean nod, but all he could concentrate on was the tight arms around his back and the smell of Sean’s sweat on his shirt. Even the sound of an approaching car wasn’t enough to make Caden let go.
“Looks like the guys from the council are here, you’d better go and get washed up,” Ian said. “Lunch is already prepared.”
