Savor Every Moment

by Shea Balik

  Elton shoved a finger at Kylo’s face. “That was a secret.”

  “Not anymore,” Kylo told him, standing his ground.

  “Is that true, Elton?” Iniko asked.

  “That’s none of your gods damn business.” This time he got in Iniko’s face.

  “We get you’re upset with your mate, but taking it out on mine isn’t cool, Elton,” Greyson said to change the subject as he put an arm around his mate. “Plus, Kylo is right. You’re overreacting to what Wray said.”

  “Oh really?” His glare returned to Iniko. “How would you like it if Greyson started telling you what you could and could not do?”

  Iniko shrugged. “I would tell him where he could stick his caveman ideas, but I also wouldn’t accuse him of not loving me. Wray might not have gone about it in the right way, but he was trying to protect his mate, something all mates do in their own way.”

  “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give him a chance to make it right,” Kylo added more gently than he’d spoken to Elton since he’d started his tirade.

  “Is that something you can do, bubbly?” Wray asked from behind him causing Elton to spin around to face his mate only to end up getting his feet tangled up.

  The next thing Elton knew was he was falling forward so fast that he was sure his face was about to be bashed in. But two strong arms plucked him up mid-fall, setting him back on his feet within the circle of Wray’s safe embrace.

  As if his mate hadn’t just saved him from smashing his face into the dirt, Wray held him as those mahogany eyes filled with so much remorse gazed at him. “I know I promised not to fuck up like that again, but…” Wray let out a slow breath as if gathering his courage. “I’m not sure I’ll be rational anytime soon when it comes to keeping you safe. I love you too damn much to willingly risk your life.”

  The wildly flapping butterflies in his stomach at his mate’s admission only pissed Elton off more. How was he supposed to tell Wray off when he said things like that?

  “I can’t be put in some kind of gilded cage, Wray. I get that you worry, I do, too. I mean, did you think I enjoyed watching you fight to the death? I was fucking terrified your mother would manage to psych you out and finish what she’d started when you were younger. But I put my faith in you.” Elton glanced down, too afraid to see what was in his mate’s eyes for this next part. “But I need you to have faith in me, too.”

  A strong, calloused finger lifted his chin until he was forced to look at Wray. The pure love in those mahogany depths stole the very breath from his lungs. “Bubbly, I will always have faith in you, but I need you to give me some leeway when it comes to your safety. At least, at first,” he rushed to add. “Protecting you is part of my DNA, whether you need it or not. So, when I’m being overbearing about it, I just need you to talk to me, because I promise you it has nothing to do with not accepting you or not loving you.”

  Elton thought about what his mate said and finally smiled softly. “I promise to try, but you also have to promise when I do fly off the handle, it has more to do with being judged all my life than believing you don’t love me.”

  Wray leaned in and kissed him gently. “Good, bubbly, because I love you so much it makes my heart stop just imagining you not in my life.”

  That was something Elton could understand for he’d been sure his soul had died when he’d thought Wray still couldn’t accept who he was. “Does this mean I’m going with you to Vitus’s territory?”

  He could see the fight within Wray’s eyes, but, in the end, his mate nodded. “Just promise me you’ll stay by my side.”

  “Like glue,” Elton vowed. Since he was just as determined to keep Wray safe, it wouldn’t be a hardship. “Do you think there’s time for some good old-fashioned make-up sex?” Elton asked as he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  “If they want us with them, they’ll wait, because I’m not missing out on that,” Wray said even as he grabbed Elton’s hand. Then he stopped and frowned. “There’s no way we can make it back to the farm in time. Do you have a room?”

  “Oh, hell no,” Kylo said. “You are not reeking up our room with the scent of cum.” To prove his point, Kylo turned on his heel and headed into the house, albeit slowly, since he was still building his strength.

  “You know we could probably beat you up those stairs, fuck and already be on our way out when you finally make it to our room,” Elton called after his friend.

  Kylo raised his arm and flipped Elton the bird but never stopped walking.

  Elton laughed. Was it mean to tease Kylo? Not if his friend decided to drop the nice guy routine and tell it like it was. Lord was he going to have fun now that Kylo had turned to the dark side.

  But that was later. Now, he needed time with his mate. “You know,” he said to Wray. “It’s not like we need a bed. Any flat surface will do.”

  “Yep, we’re out of here,” Iniko said, taking Greyson’s hand and practically running from them. Teddy and Ward had left shortly after Wray had arrived, leaving just the two of them.

  “Wow,” Elton looked around. “Looks like we know how to clear a room, or, well, the outdoors.” That gave him an idea. “Speaking of outside, have I ever told you I’ve always wanted to be fucked in the woods?”

  Wray grinned and held out his hand to Elton. “Never let it be said I don’t give my mate whatever he wants.”

  CHAPTER 13

  “I didn’t invite you here,” Vitus sneered at Saber as if the Alpha had any say in where the Council Leader went.

  The warm day turned downright chilly as Saber stared the important alpha down. Not many had the fortitude to stand up to Saber for long. That Vitus had at all, showed just how stupid the man was.

  Saber had to be nearly eight inches taller with about a hundred pounds more of pure muscle than the wolf shifter. From where Wray stood, Saber could flick the idiot with his finger and Vitus would go tumbling onto his ass. That would be a sight Wray would pay to see.

  “Now, see,” Saber said as he pushed passed Vitus and took the man’s seat behind his desk, even going so far as to put his feet up on the surface. “I heard you were hosting several shifter groups and I just knew you’d appreciate someone from the Council here to ensure no one thought you were attempting a coup.”

  Still not understanding the true danger he was in, Vitus went red with rage. Stalking to where Saber sat, Vitus foolishly swatted his feet, clearly intending to push them off his desk. When Saber’s feet stayed right where they were, not even the toes moving an inch and Vitus ended up shaking the sting from his hands, chuckles erupted all around. It wasn’t their fault the idiot alpha thought he was any match to Saber.

  “What a moron,” Elton said without even attempting to lower his voice as he insulted Vitus. “You didn’t even have the balls to take me and my friends on face to face, choosing to burn us as we slept. What made you think you had any chance with someone like Council Leader Saber?” Elton was obviously enjoying making fun of the man responsible for trying to kill him.

  The chuckles in the room turned to belly laughs. Several of the men guarding Saber had to hold their abdomens as they bent over from laughing so hard.

  The red turned so bright on Vitus’s face, Wray was sure steam would start to rise. “You,” Vitus said as he stalked to where Elton stood next to Wray. “I ordered your death. Guards,” Vitus called but no one showed up.

  The rage only built until it appeared as if Vitus might actually explode. “Fine, I’ll kill you myself.” A gun appeared in the man’s hand.

  Instinct to save his mate had Wray lunging for the man’s hand, but Elton had already palmed his knife and struck Vitus. Elton had grabbed Wray and pulled him back several steps to avoid the spray of blood as the alpha’s hand dropped to the floor with a plop, his fingers still on the trigger as if ready to shoot.

  Vitus let out a high-pitched scream that no man should have been able to make. Then again, Wray had never had his hand cut off, so he wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t ha
ve reached those glass shattering levels.

  “I guess we have his reason for being too chicken to try and kill you in a fair fight,” Saber joked. “Rip, Valor, can you take out the trash. It’s obvious Vitus couldn’t represent a flea circus much less a pack of shifters.”

  Then Saber turned to Greyson. “I thought you said he was a sadistic bastard?”

  Greyson shrugged. “He is, but usually he has his guards to do the dirty work for him. It never occurred to me it was because he was too weak to do it himself.”

  “I’m not weak,” Vitus yelled as he was being dragged from the room, his blood leaving a trail along the oriental carpet in his office. “Just you wait. When the others get here, I’ll kill all of you.”

  “Wait,” Saber said, not even raising his voice as this was what he’d been waiting for since they arrived. Valor and Rip dragged a smug looking Vitus back into the office, his hand still bleeding profusely enough that he couldn’t stand on his own. “What others?”

  Vitus opened his mouth in triumph but before he could say a word, he passed out cold.

  “Fuck,” Saber breathed out. “We better get him bandaged up if we hope to get any information out of him.”

  Kelin went to where Vitus lay in a heap on the floor and applied a pressure bandage as he got his med kit out. Kelin wasn’t a doctor but he’d become a decent field medic. Ignoring what Kelin was doing, Wray turned to Elton in amazement.

  “How in the hell?” His words trailed off as Wray realized he was once again underestimating his mate. “When you said you were good with a knife, I had no idea you meant that good,” he freely admitted.

  Elton smiled smugly, then tilted his head up as if waiting for more praise. He was so damn adorable that Wray couldn’t help but give him exactly what he wanted as he took him in his arms.

  “You moved so fast I completely missed it. Sometime soon, I would love it if you would show me, even teach me, what you know,” Wray gushed.

  Elton moved his head side to side as if he were a peacock preening. “Yeah, well, it was nothing. It didn’t hurt that I knew Vitus would try something underhanded.”

  Leaning in, Wray took those lush lips with his, thanking Greyson for training Elton, the gods for keeping his mate safe, and Elton for being prepared. Wray might have underestimated his mate’s skills, and he wished he could say it wouldn’t happen again, but he was still having trouble reconciling his bubbly mate with someone who had the ability to cut someone’s hand off in the blink of an eye.

  “We have company coming from the south,” Edrick told Saber as he listened to their resident sniper, Hudson, who was communicating through an earpiece. “It’s Alpha Piran Yap of the Sierra Nest. Hudson is estimating fifty fighters armed to the teeth based on the loaded down trucks they’re driving.”

  That sucked.

  “What kind of weapons?” Saber asked.

  Edrick shook his head. “Hudson can’t see more than the rifles the passengers are carrying but he’d guess there are more than a few RPGs based on how well they’re guarding the cargo.”

  Edrick then held up a finger as he listened to what was being said in his earpiece. “Lucca just spotted a convey coming from the north. It’s Alpha Roone Blanc leading the wolf pack Gagnon from Canada.”

  The Alpha’s blue eyes closed for a moment before once more looking at Saber. “They aren’t even trying to hide the weapons they’re carrying. Everything from assault rifles to fifty-calibers mounted on six of their pickups, as well as twenty containers loaded into other trucks that are clearly holding portable missiles.”

  “Fuck,” Saber swore. “Everyone get into position. I don’t want anyone in the Alpha’s house in case they decide to blow it up.” The Council Leader’s gaze went to Elton. “It looks like you were right by bringing the fight here. At least this way we don’t have to battle everyone at once.”

  Elton leaned into Wray’s side for a long moment. His usual bubbly personality now somber as his body shook in fear. “Please promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to survive,” Elton whispered.

  Wray’s heart melted. Turning to face the man who had become his heart and soul, Wray kissed Elton softly. “I promise,” Wray whispered when he pulled back. “So long as you do the same. I don’t think I could survive losing you, bubbly.”

  The nickname had Elton smiling. “No way am I leaving you. Not when I finally found someone who accepts me as I am. After all, I have a lot of things I haven’t done yet and now that I know you’re going to stand by me and cheer me on, I would be a fool to miss out on my captive audience.”

  “Let’s head out,” Saber growled.

  CHAPTER 14

  Every cell in Elton’s body was screaming for him to get the hell out of there. He wasn’t used to waiting for danger to arrive. Usually it happened out of the blue when someone attacked him for daring to be different.

  This getting into position and just letting the enemy come to them was unnerving. If he had a choice between dying in a war, or suddenly being killed, Elton would choose the latter, thank you very much.

  Anticipation should only be something used for sex. Otherwise, it just led to anxiety, sweating, and mind-numbing fear. “Is battle always this nerve-wracking?” he whispered, although he wasn’t sure why when the enemy wasn’t anywhere close enough to hear them, especially since they were still in their vehicles as they made their way through the outskirts of town.

  “What? Were you expecting to be entertained while we wait?” Chadwick asked from his nearby position.

  It had been an argument that Elton was sure would end up in blows as Saber insisted his mate stay out of sight. In the end Saber used straight up dirty tactics claiming he needed to know there was someone who would have his back watching over him.

  If anyone had bothered to pay attention, Chadwick might have agreed to Saber’s plan, but he’d had his fingers crossed behind his back when he did. From their position, Chadwick would be able to be at his mate’s side faster than the enemy could draw their guns. Well, if he ran really fast.

  “Watch it, mister,” Elton warned Chadwick. “Or I’ll tell Saber about those crossed fingers of yours.”

  Grey eyes widened dramatically. “We’re good,” Chadwick said quickly. “But to answer your question, yes, it is always this bad. Whether you’re fighting one or thousands, the waiting is the worst part.”

  “Really?” Rip’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Because the fighting where people die is what? A cake walk? Fun and games? Child’s play?”

  “Okay,” Chadwick snapped. “You’ve made your point. The point is, when I’m fighting, my thoughts aren’t worrying about every little thing. They are focused on staying alive and defeating whoever is trying to kill me.”

  “If you all are done maybe we can get back to paying attention to the two groups that are approaching, or would you like me to tell them wait while you argue over the finer points of battle,” Saber’s voice came through their earpieces they’d put in now that they knew a battle was coming their way.

  When they didn’t say anything, Saber added, “And what is this about crossed fingers, kitten?”

  Chadwick glared at Elton. “Nothing, but Alpha Piran’s convoy slowed and dropped off a dozen troops just a half a klick south of here.”

  Through the entire back and forth, Chadwick had been watching through binoculars the nest’s approach. While they waited, Chadwick had climbed to a first-floor balcony of the building right across the street from the alpha’s house. It wasn’t ideal, but it did allow Chadwick to see what was happening.

  “Fuck,” Hudson said through the earpiece. “Chadwick’s right. They peeled from the first two vehicles, so I missed it.”

  “Uhm, guys?” Lucca’s voice came through their earpieces. “The pack stopped completely less than a half klick from your position and they’re unloading three mobile launchers.”

  “If I had to guess, Vitus managed to get word to them that we were here.” Saber gave a motion with his hand that
totally eluded Elton. He’d raised his arms over his head and then spread them out to his sides

  “Is that supposed to mean something?” he whispered to Wray, making sure his mike was muted so he didn’t appear to be an idiot to everyone else.

  As soon as Chadwick had climbed down, Wray grabbed Elton’s hand and they headed south toward the nest of rattlesnake shifters headed their way. “Yeah, it means spread out.”

  “He didn’t say it, but take cover and stay safe was implied,” Chadwick joked as they dodged between buildings with Saber, Rip, and Baxter joining them. Edrick led a bigger group to take out the much larger wolf pack.

  “Just remember, no one confronts either pack until Edrick and I have talked to them. For all we know they are here to take out Vitus and not us,” Saber ordered even if his own voice didn’t sound like he believed that.

  Elton sure as hell didn’t, not that anyone cared what he thought. He was still willing to shoot first and ask questions later. Huh? Before this moment, Elton wouldn’t have considered himself cynical, but he definitely sounded negative and suspicious.

  Saber held up a hand and closed his fist and they froze as a truck rolled to a stop not more than a hundred yards from where they were hiding in between two buildings about two blocks to the left of the Alpha’s house.

  A tall, slim man with very tanned skin, in light brown camo stepped from the passenger side. Four other men, who’d been sitting in the bed of the truck lifted a tarp, tossing it over the side to the ground, before opening a wooden crate.

  Elton’s heart sank as they pulled a missile launcher out. No way were they surviving this if they managed to get a shot off in their direction.

  Saber’s hand shot out and grabbed his mate’s shirt, yanking him forward in a hard demanding kiss. When he let Chadwick go, Saber growled out, “Cover me.”

  Then he strode out of their hiding spot and headed right for Alpha Piran.