The Alpha's Mage

by Claire Cullen

  “You look cheerful,” Lorcan commented over breakfast.

  “Why wouldn’t I be? It’s a lovely day.”

  The mage raised an eyebrow.

  “Glowering is normally more your style.”

  “Not today.”

  Lorcan yawned and stretched, his shirt lifting to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of skin below his navel. “Where are we working today?”

  “Quiet little corner in the northeast. I was thinking we’d bring a picnic. A little work, a little sex, and an afternoon lazing in the sun.”

  “Work-life balance, huh? I like it.”

  They carried their breakfast dishes to the pack’s kitchen and collected their lunch just as the sun was reaching its highest point in the sky. Lorcan seemed to be getting used to the routine—waking late in the morning or early afternoon, working hard and playing hard all day and night, and then crashing into bed around dawn. Knox figured it actually suited both of them. It meant they were up both when the sun was at its highest, a key time for druids, and when the moon was out, the best time for wolves.

  The walk to the boundary took about twenty minutes. Knox had shifted to pad along by Lorcan’s side so he could better sense the weak point that needed fixing. When he found it, he paced up and down.

  Here. This is it.

  The smile on Lorcan’s face told him the druid had heard Knox’s voice clearly in his head. He had yet to hear Lorcan’s, but that was something that would come with a full bond.

  While Lorcan examined the boundary, Knox searched the immediate area a few more times. Athena and Lee were nearby, keeping guard, and there was nothing else of concern. Satisfied that Lorcan could work safely, he settled into the long grass and watched the mage work.

  Over time, Knox had picked up on the pattern to the druid’s magic. It was very much a blending of his abilities with the world around him. He took advantage of what nature and their environment offered and used that to form the new section of boundary. Knox had seen him use water—creating a deep gully from what had once been a small stream—and various thickets and dense clumps of trees to form barriers elsewhere. There were sections of the boundary, large stretches of meadow, where that wasn’t going to work, but Lorcan would think of something else. Knox liked to guess what else the druid had up his sleeve. Quicksand, maybe? Lightning strikes? He was nothing if not inventive, while still harmonious with the world they lived in.

  This time around, Lorcan had less to work with. There were a handful of trees, evenly spaced out among the long grass. That didn’t seem to deter the druid as he walked between two trees that marked the boundary’s weakness. Knox turned his head to the side, curious as Lorcan followed the same path over and over, tracing a figure eight between the trees. Nothing grew, the plants remained undisturbed, and yet Knox could sense magic rising around them, growing thick in the air. The fur on his back stood on end, his ears perking up as he pushed upright. He trained his eyes on Lorcan as the mage walked faster and faster, footsteps thudding against the ground as he wore a track between the trees. He halted right in the center, lifted his hands over his head, and clapped once. A sound like a thunderclap rang out, far louder than it should have been. A wave of magic emanated from that one point, rushing past. Lorcan collapsed to his knees, and Knox ran to him, shifting as he did. He crouched next to him, hesitant to touch the mage when he felt the residual magic radiating from him.

  “Lorcan?”

  When the mage lifted his head, his pupils were startlingly wide. Knox leaned back in alarm.

  “What’s wrong? Your eyes…”

  Lorcan blinked, regarding him steadily. “Nothing. I just… tried something new. It’s not quite done yet. The power’s a little heady.”

  “I can see that.” Knox looked between the trees. “What does it do?”

  “Try it and see. Before we…”

  Knox went to touch Lorcan’s cheek but hesitated. With the mage this powered up, as soon as Knox touched him, they’d probably forget about anything but each other. With effort, he dropped his hand and stood, walking out beyond the boundary and turning back. He couldn’t see any difference, but he could certainly feel it. Whatever magic Lorcan had worked would affect him only until they sealed it, made it part and parcel of the boundary. Knox paced forward, intending to walk through the trees and into the pack. He came level with the trees, keeping left as he passed Lorcan, only to find himself on Lorcan’s right, walking away from the pack instead of into it. He turned around and tried again, taking the boundary at a run, and keeping to the right this time. He wasn’t surprised to find himself hurtling past the tree on the left, headed away from the pack once more.

  He shook off the disorientation and returned to Lorcan’s side.

  “Well, it works, whatever it is.”

  “I used the trees to create a loop. It’s as if they have a sort of gravity. When you’re close, you get caught in it, and they slingshot you back out of the pack again. The faster you’re moving, the quicker you’re thrown.”

  “That’s pretty cool.”

  This time he didn’t hesitate to touch Lorcan, putting a hand under his elbow to help him to his feet. The magic tingled across his skin, heightening every sensation. He let go of Lorcan’s elbow to cup his cheek, feeling the warmth seeping into his palm. Lorcan pressed into his touch with a murmur, and then reached out and snagged hold of a belt loop on Knox’s jeans.

  “Can we dance?”

  “Wolves don’t dance.”

  Lorcan peeked up at him from under his eyelashes. “Please?”

  “You lead.”

  “Big strong alpha scared of dancing?”

  “I don’t know the steps.”

  “You do for this.”

  Knox was slow to follow, catching on when Lorcan’s hips thrust against his. With a hoarse laugh, he slid his hands around the mage’s waist, and then lower to cup his ass. He lifted him easily, and Lorcan wrapped his legs around Knox’s waist.

  “Then let’s dance.”

  The mage slung his arms around Knox’s neck, and they lost themselves in a kiss. The magic enveloped them, caressed their skin, teased at them. Lorcan’s hands trailed down Knox’s bare back to his waist, following the waistband of his jeans until he could undo them. Knox focused on his hold on Lorcan, keeping the mage pressed against him. Skin brushed skin, and Knox almost hissed at the sensation.

  “Too much?” Lorcan murmured, kissing his neck as he thrust his hips again.

  Knox groaned as their cocks pressed together, sliding one hand into Lorcan’s hair and holding the mage to him with the other.

  “Not. Enough.”

  He dropped to his knees, bringing Lorcan with him. The mage hummed happily, reaching a hand between them to encircle their cocks. His palm was cool as it stroked them, bringing another groan to Knox’s lips. He drew Lorcan’s mouth to his, coaxing the mage to open his lips.

  The magic had them both on edge, ready to come apart. Lorcan’s soft hand stroked them as Knox pressed his tongue to the mage’s. Lorcan came apart first, shuddering hard with his release. It was hot to watch, to feel the sexual energy rolling off Lorcan in waves. His own release hit him moments later, another burst of magic flowing from them in one long wave. It slowed and stopped, leaving them both panting for breath as the magic hung in the air around them.

  Knox drew Lorcan in for another kiss. The magic fell like rain around them, sinking into the ground and fusing with the boundary. He knew without looking that new magic had melded into the old. The loop would no longer work on him or the rest of the pack. But no outsider could make their way through, not without an invitation.

  “You did good,” he told Lorcan.

  The mage laid his head on Knox’s chest, worn out from all the exertion. “Picnic time?”

  “Uh-huh. You relax, let me do all the hard work.”

  “I’ve done the hard work,” Lorcan said with a laugh. Knox grinned and kissed him again.

  It took no time at all to get them settled,
stretched out on a sunny patch of grass. They ate a leisurely lunch, and then napped while curled in each other’s arms, letting the sun lull them to sleep.

  Knox woke first, watching Lorcan rest as he mentally planned the next area to work on. Orion was right about one thing—it would take months, maybe even years, to fully integrate Lorcan’s magic with the boundary. Right then, he was content with shoring up the weak spots. Each patch made the pack a little stronger, a little safer. Each night, he slept a little deeper, secure in the knowledge that the danger would be kept at bay.

  “Don’t think so hard.”

  He found Lorcan watching him, green eyes bright in the sun.

  “Can’t help it. Lots to do.”

  “Right. Where to next?” Lorcan stretched idly, his tone teasing. They both knew they were done for the day. Even if they wanted to, they needed time to recharge before their next work of art.

  “The lake, maybe? Might be nice to cool off.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. There are a few places near the scrapyard that we could do with securing. And a handful of spots along the northern border that are weakening. They’re not as urgent—the land is so inhospitable that I can’t see anyone even getting as far as the boundary.”

  Lorcan looked uncertain all of a sudden, sitting up and reaching for Knox’s hand. “Yeah, about that…”

  Awareness filled Knox’s mind, his eyes widening.

  “Something’s wrong.”

  He jumped to his feet, and Lorcan startled. “What? What is it?”

  “The hunters are back early. They just crossed the boundary. Come on.”

  Grabbing Lorcan’s hand, he tugged him along as he took off running through the trees.

  He’d felt the hunters return and known immediately there was a problem. He couldn’t say what, exactly, except that they’d returned one short. Never a good sign.

  Lorcan lagged behind, and Knox slowed to let the mage keep pace. He spotted Gage’s wolf racing through the trees ahead of them, their alpha responding to the call just as surely as he was.

  When he and Lorcan reached Declan and the others, they found them in chaos. They stood just inside the boundary, Declan yelling at Gage while his betas paced around them in agitation.

  “What happened?” Knox called, interrupting their shouting match.

  Both alphas turned to him, irritation flashing across Declan’s face.

  “We were hunting small game due west of here, in ones and twos, spread out over a half-mile. Hettie was staking out a rabbit warren. When we returned, she was gone. Not even a scent trail left to follow. This was left in her place.”

  He held out his open hand. Sitting on it was a circle of silver metal carved with symbols.

  “What is it?”

  Declan looked past him to Lorcan. “We were hoping your mage could tell us.”

  Knox glanced over his shoulder and gave Lorcan an encouraging nod. The mage stepped forward hesitantly, holding out his hand. Declan set the object in his palm. They watched and waited, Lorcan’s wide eyes intent on the disc.

  A long minute passed before Lorcan dragged his eyes from the object and looked up. “Nothing. I’m sorry.”

  Declan blew out a breath of frustration and grabbed the disc from Lorcan, turning to Gage. “Orion?”

  “He’s our best bet.”

  The two of them shifted and took off toward the center of the pack at a run. Knox went to follow but hesitated, glancing back at Lorcan. The mage looked pale, still struggling to catch his breath.

  “Go,” Lorcan urged. “I’ll be right behind you.”

  Knox focused hard, forcing his body through the shift, and was quickly tailing the other alphas. They were already talking to Orion and Asher when he arrived, their voices carrying.

  Knox shifted back, moving to join them.

  “It’s a sorcerer’s talisman,” Orion said. “Whatever message it contains, I can’t hear it. But Lorcan should be able to—”

  “He can’t. He already tried,” Declan said, his hands clenched into fists.

  Knox suddenly realized that Lorcan hadn’t followed him. He turned away from the others and stretched his senses out to find him.

  “That doesn’t make any sense,” Orion was saying. “It’s definitely sorcerer magic. As soon as Lorcan touched it, its message would have been clear—”

  It had been clear. Clear enough to send Lorcan running.

  “He’s gone.”

  As soon as the words left his lips, he knew it was true. In all the chaos, Lorcan had slipped across the boundary and left the protection of the pack behind.

  21

  The message from the talisman was simple. His uncle’s work, naturally—elegant but to the point. The Warrens had taken Hettie, Declan’s missing beta. She’d be released unharmed once Lorcan was returned to them. Knox would never let him go, but the pack wouldn’t survive more loss. It wouldn’t be just one, either. They’d keep taking wolves—or worse—until they got what they wanted. Lorcan had to go back.

  Declan’s hunters weren’t paying much attention, and Knox had taken off in such a hurry that he hadn’t left any of his betas to watch over Lorcan. It wasn’t hard for him to slip across the boundary, though he was careful to cross at a section that he’d reinforced himself. He focused hard to dampen his energy with magic. It would make it harder for Knox to sense him crossing. Once outside the pack, he broke into a run, using the sun to guide him. Even his weak sorcerer magic had been enough to use the talisman to send his uncle a reply. It meant that when he finally emerged from the trees onto a road, there was a car idling there, waiting for him.

  He got in the back, nodding to Henry, his uncle’s right-hand man.

  “Let Hettie go.”

  “Hettie? Oh, you mean the wolf. All in good time, Lorcan. Your uncle wants to see you first. He needs to ensure that you’ve been returned unharmed.”

  The driver got them on the road, the sudden motion pushing Lorcan back into his seat. It took him a minute to figure out what Henry had meant. His uncle wanted to make sure that Lorcan was still useful to him—that he hadn’t been bonded. Only then would he let his leverage go. Lorcan would talk to him; he would make him understand that he belonged with Knox. What they had was a true bond. Not a training bond, not whatever profitable arrangement his sorcerer ‘family’ had seen fit to make for him.

  “How did you capture Hettie?”

  From what Knox had said, a lot of sorcerers wouldn’t tangle with wolves directly. Yet, there was no sign that Maken Pack or any other wolf had been involved.

  Through the rearview mirror, he saw Henry roll his eyes. “Magic. Wolves are arrogant enough to think that they have all the power.”

  “I’m not sure you proved them wrong by capturing Hettie.”

  As far as Lorcan knew, she was one of the youngest, and therefore weakest, of the hunters. They hadn’t tried to capture Declan or one of the older betas. It had been a calculated move on their part. But that was his experience of sorcerers—risk as little as possible for the most gain.

  “Here we are, going to all this trouble to rescue you. Are you sure you want to piss me off?” Henry asked.

  “You didn’t ‘rescue’ me. I walked out of there of my own free will once I realized you’d taken Hettie.”

  The expression on Henry’s face changed, becoming guarded.

  “It’s taken us weeks to find you. Your uncle’s been so worried.”

  Lorcan scoffed and turned his gaze to the window, staring out. He knew what his uncle had been upset about—the break in his training contract, the potential of losing his value if they didn’t get him back. If he was going to get everything he wanted, then he’d have to find a way to spin this that would convince his uncle there was something in this for the Warrens. But first, he had to make sure Hettie was returned safely.

  They drove into town, the familiar sight sending a wave of nervous anticipation through Lorcan. The car pu
lled up at the gates, which opened to let them in after a brief pause. Lorcan’s stomach did somersaults as they drove down into the underground lot beneath the house. He wasn’t looking forward to facing his uncle again, though somehow he’d known he would always end up back here.

  “Your uncle is waiting in his office,” Henry prompted when Lorcan was slow to get out of the car.

  Lorcan rolled his eyes and climbed out, traipsing after Henry as he led the way upstairs.

  “Where’s Hettie?”

  “Safe.”

  “That’s not an answer. I want to see her.”

  Henry turned to him, incredulous. “You think we’d bring a feral wolf here? We’re not that foolish, Lorcan. The wolf is safe and being kept offsite. When the time is right, she’ll be freed.”

  He paused in front of Alastair Warren’s office door, knocking and waiting for a response before opening it. “Go on in.”

  Lorcan steeled himself and walked inside. The room was empty except for Alastair at his desk. He rose to his feet when Lorcan came in.

  “My dear nephew. You’ve been returned to us safely. Thank the heavens.”

  It wasn’t the heavens they needed to thank.

  Alastair crossed the room toward him, putting his arms around Lorcan in the lightest of embraces.

  “You’ve been through such a terrible ordeal. There’s a healer waiting upstairs, a bath’s been drawn, and a fresh set of clothes laid out. We’ll have you feeling yourself in no time.”

  His hand not-so-subtly found its way to the nape of Lorcan’s neck, and his eyes narrowed in fury when he felt the bite mark there. His other hand gripped Lorcan’s upper arm tightly as he spun him around.

  “Those brutes…”

  Whatever else he was going to say was forgotten when he caught sight of the bond mark on Lorcan’s neck.