by M. D. Grimm
Nordik bent over, panting roughly, and bit Poe’s shoulder hard enough to draw blood. Poe cried out. It continued like that, sensations building and building until Poe came with a scream―a scream that formed Nordik’s name.
Poe roared when he reached his own release. It thundered off the cave walls, and Poe was sure the rest of the forest heard it. Nordik collapsed on top of him. Poe gasped in air, Nordik’s sheer size and weight pushing him into the mattress, keeping him from taking too big of breaths. He felt dizzy and hungry. It was still morning, and he hadn’t eaten anything yet.
And there was something else he needed to do…. Poe suddenly felt lips press against his ears.
“We’re not done yet.” It was said in a snarl that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up.
“Nordik,” he managed to gasp.
“Mine.”
And Nordik proceeded to show him again what that word really meant.
Poe opened his eyes. It took his vision a moment to adjust and settle and stop spinning. He didn’t know what time of the day it was. Nordik had actually fed him, personally, in between their… could it be called lovemaking? Poe didn’t think so. It had been too violent and domineering. Wonderfully satisfying, though.
Poe swallowed, his throat dry. His heart had finally returned to its normal rhythm, though his body felt lethargic and heavy. How did Nordik do it? With no small effort, he turned his head. Nordik lay right beside him, eyes closed, one long, muscled arm thrown over Poe’s chest, holding him in place. He could only stare. He was glad the shifter slept; it meant he wasn’t some strange god-like being of pleasure. Was it just a master shifter thing that allowed him to just keep going? Poe took a breath, and it shook a little on the exhale.
He still needed to leave. He couldn’t allow Nordik to be harmed. Master shifter or not, Nordik could still be killed. Poe was going to protect him even if that meant Nordik would hate him. His eyes burned again but he blinked the tears away. He couldn’t fix the problem inside the Agency if he was no longer a part of it. He couldn’t help anyone if he was isolated out here in the wild. While he could too-well imagine himself living out here with Nordik, it wasn’t practical. He had a duty.
Duty was a cold, cold bedmate.
It was the hardest thing he ever did to slip off the mattress and out from under Nordik’s arm. He sat up and took careful, silent breaths. With focused determination, he managed to stand and stagger his way into the living room. He didn’t bother trying to scramble around to find his clothes that Nordik had so ferociously yanked from his body. His bag lay where he dropped it. He grabbed spare clothes and pulled them on before taking more Advil for his hand, which was weeping with pain. He glanced at the beaded entry. He knew he was leaving the best thing to ever happen to him and reentering a lion’s den, a world of backstabbers and liars. But who else would save the Agency but him? Who would back Odin and Genii up but him? There were just too many damn things left undone.
And he still needed to find Josh.
Taking another breath and letting it out, hitching on a sob, Poe slung his pack over his shoulder. He meandered through the dark tunnels. His eyes quickly adjusted to the dark that seemed more complete than in Nordik’s cave, but there were many tunnels he could choose from. He tried to follow the main one, hoping that would lead him out safely. He also tried to recall the way Nordik had gone out when they’d toured the park. But he still got turned around.
Sighing with frustration, Poe paused and leaned back against the damp wall. He grabbed his canteen and took a long swallow.
Then he could only stand there, trembling. The canteen fell to the ground as the trembling increased. Poe shut his eyes. Emotions roared up inside him, and he collapsed to the cold rocky floor. Poe covered his mouth, bit back his sobs, but they leaked out anyway. He broke.
Poe covered his face, and his shoulders shook with the force of his despair. He hadn’t cried in years. Years. His training could do nothing to stop the pain, the agony that flooded through him, drowning him. All of it, everything came crashing down on his head, and he couldn’t contain, he couldn’t handle it. He gasped for breath, his noises echoing off the walls. He couldn’t move, not forward, not backward. For the first time in his life, he didn’t know what to do. He attempted to console himself with the knowledge that he would not be used to harm Nordik. If Arcas ever learned Nordik’s feelings for him Poe would become bait. And Arcas already had it in for Poe. It would be a two-for-one sale.
But it still hurt. God, it hurt. Breaking both their hearts to save the one he loved was the single most unpleasant experience Poe had ever endured. How could he love someone so much after so short an acquaintance? How was that even possible?
A sound met his ears, and light flared at the corner of his eye. Poe snapped his head in that direction and winced. Not just because the light seared his eyes but because of who held the light. Nordik stood several feet away, a lantern in his hand, wearing his jeans once again. His white hair bordered his blank face, nearly glowing in the dark when the light danced over it. His eyes were hidden in the shadows. They weren’t glowing.
Poe looked away, ashamed and confused.
Silence stretched out between them. Poe swallowed hard. Nordik deserved an explanation. The truth. The facts.
“I have to protect you,” Poe whispered.
“What?” Nordik’s voice was low as well, barely reaching him from the short distance between them.
Poe forced himself to look up. Then he used the wall to push to his feet.
“I have to protect you,” he said louder. “I have to reveal Anu for who he really is. I have to save the Agency from Arcas. I have to protect the shifters being held at the Agency. I have to round up the scattered Knights. I have to find Josh.”
“Alone?”
Poe’s heart trembled at the gentle sorrow in Nordik’s voice. Poe would rather Nordik yell and roar at him.
“That is my job. You have to understand that. If I stay with you, I… I would never forgive myself for leaving so many unprotected. For leaving the Agency in a state of danger. For abandoning Odin, Genii. Josh. For letting Arcas roam free. The Agency needs me, Nordik.”
Nordik walked closer and Poe braced himself. Nordik set the lantern on the ground, changing the shape and angle of the shadows. His eyes were still in the dark, still no glow in them. Nordik set his hands on his shoulders, gently, loosely.
“I need you, Poe.”
Poe felt tears fall from his eyes and slip down his cheeks.
“But why must you choose? Why must it be one or the other?”
Poe had to clear his throat before speaking. “It’s one of the rules. An agent is not allowed to have an intimate relationship with a shifter. Ever. No exceptions. I would be let go. I would be severed from them completely. They’re… they’re my tribe.”
Nordik closed his eyes, his face tightening. Poe knew Nordik understood that, at least.
“Protect me,” Nordik murmured.
“What?”
Now Nordik’s eyes flashed and glowed. He tightened his grip on Poe’s shoulders. “You will not protect me, Poe. You will not stand in front of me.”
Poe blinked at the arrogance, the alpha male blatantly in those words. He clenched his fists, and his left hand flashed in pain.
“I will. You can’t stop me.”
Nordik’s jaw tightened. “Why? Why would you?”
“Why do you think?” he snapped.
“I don’t know.” Nordik shook his head. “I don’t know your mind. Your heart. You keep everything inside. I cannot touch you.”
Poe’s eyes burned hotter. He gripped Nordik’s wrists and knew he must tell the truth. He knew he owed Nordik nothing less. Didn’t he just promise himself that he would be completely truthful with the master shifter?
“I….” His voice was a croak. He cleared his throat again. “You do touch me. Deeper than anyone in my life.”
Nordik’s brows shot up.
Poe let out a wea
k chuckle. “Yeah, believe it or not. I….” He squeezed his eyes shut. He had to mouth the words before putting sound behind them. He didn’t have much practice saying them. Only with his parents, and that was a different type of love. This love, this was passionate, insane, violent, needy. Overwhelming.
“I love you.”
A tremble went through Nordik’s hands before Poe found himself smashed against his chest again. Nordik’s steely arms were around him once again. He wrapped his arms around Nordik’s waist. He kept his eyes closed, wallowing in the intense feeling of safety and rightness that Nordik offered. He rubbed his cheek against the shifter’s warm skin and took a deep breath of his unique scent.
“Poe.” Nordik’s voice was strangled, quiet.
“I can’t let them hurt you, Nordik.” Poe squeezed tighter. “I don’t care if you’re a master shifter. I don’t care if you have special healing abilities. You can still die. I’d rather never see you again, knowing you’re alive, then contemplate living in a world without you.”
The moment Poe spoke the words he felt the truth ringing through them. He’d just spoken the truth that lay in his heart, the truth that shone out above all the others.
“Mate,” Nordik murmured, kissing the top of his head. Poe didn’t know how he could bear that sweet, tender, loving tone Nordik used. “My amazing, infuriating Poe, don’t you think I feel the same?”
Poe’s eyes popped open.
“Don’t you think”—Nordik’s voice gained strength, volume—“that I want to protect you? That I want to keep you in my sight, away from Arcas. Away from Anu. Away from those murdering scum? You were sent to find me. By Anu. That means Arcas wants you dead as well.”
Nordik squeezed him, bunching Poe’s jacket in his fists. Poe had tried so hard to never say that part of the equation out loud, especially when he realized Nordik’s attachment. He should have known better. Nordik wasn’t stupid.
“Do you think I will allow that? I’ve already lost one mate to that accursed family. I will not lose another. Not you. Never you.”
Timothy. Poe remembered Nordik’s guilt, his grief over his unfortunate lover, the one whose death had driven him into Sanctuary. The one Arcas’s mother had tortured, used as bait.
He let out a shaky breath.
“I’m not Timothy,” Poe said as gently as he could. “I know these monsters. I know whom I can trust and who I can’t. Not many can sneak up on me.”
Although, he had been snuck up on. Twice. Once, getting his head bashed, the second having a gun pointed at him. How was that possible?
“I don’t care, Poe. I don’t care. You can be the most talented and skilled agent to ever be born, and I would still want to protect you.”
Bastard. Using his own words against him.
Poe pulled back slightly. Nordik never let him go, though he did loosen his grip. Nordik’s eyes were glowing, his face set, and the love was blatant in his eyes. Naked, unshielded. It was a fierce love, the kind that only strengthened with time.
“So where does that leave us?” he asked softly.
Nordik cupped Poe’s face and bent his head. Poe closed his eyes. The kiss was gentle, soothing. Their tongues touched, played, twined, and slid over the other. He could wallow in Nordik’s taste, scent, touch, for eternity.
Nordik pulled back first. Poe blinked his eyes open. Nordik smiled slightly, uncertainty in the look.
“I don’t know, mate.”
Poe knew what that word meant. Just as he knew what “mine” had meant. Not just a way to claim him, but a way to tell him what the master shifter felt. His heart clenched.
“But I don’t want you to leave me. Ever. I need you like I need to breathe.” He bent his head again and pressed their foreheads together. They were silent for a short moment. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
Poe blinked in confusion. “Huh? When?”
A full grin bloomed on that broad face, and Poe was momentarily staggered.
“When I claimed you.”
Poe’s eyes widened, and his face heated. “No! You didn’t… I mean. You didn’t hurt me. I actually, um, kinda liked it.”
Nordik’s grin heated, and his eyes sparked with evident lust.
Poe slapped his hand on the shifter’s chest. “Cool your jets, Nordik. That wasn’t an invitation. Not now anyway.” He raised an eyebrow. “Besides, you had better know that I might take a few cues from your moves and use them myself.” He stared right into Nordik’s eyes. “I’m no submissive.”
Nordik’s eyes sparked. He didn’t appear at all displeased with that. “I never thought you were, Poe. I would be more than happy to allow you complete domination of my body.”
Poe’s gut tightened and his cock hardened. He swallowed and kept his voice bland. “How considerate of you.” Then he sighed and shook his head. “What are we doing, Nordik? I mean, really, what the fuck are we doing?”
Nordik kissed him lightly. “Right now, I suggest we spend our time getting scum out of Sanctuary.”
Poe smiled. “Yeah. I can get behind that.”
Chapter Eleven
Nordik was now the bear. His heart was full, his soul celebrated. Finally, at long last, he had his mate. There were still problems to work out, of course, but now he knew Poe’s heart. Knew it and took pride in it. Poe’s courage and loyalty touched Nordik’s heart. They deepened his love and determination to keep his mate by his side. Poe was his equal; any doubt he’d held vanished.
His life had been given back to him. A true life. His other mates would always hold a special place in his heart, and he was grateful for every moment he’d spent with them. But it was Poe—it had always been Poe—who’d been meant for him.
They stood outside Nordik’s cave, and Poe held his axe in his good hand while his gun was holstered at his waist. Nordik sniffed the air, trying to move past the intoxicating scent of his mate. It was extremely difficult since the scent reminded him claiming Poe. His body trembled. His mate’s body responded to his touch just as it should. Poe’s need matched his own, and Nordik had, at first, puzzled over his mate’s constant resistance. He understood it better now, even if he still didn’t like it. They would work it all out. They must. But right now, they had a mission to accomplish.
Nordik nudged Poe’s arm with his snout. Poe got on his back, and if bears could smile…. He took immense pleasure from Poe on his back, his legs tightening around his sides, the strong, yet careful grip Poe had on his fur. He managed to enjoy the sensations while still keeping his mind focused.
They didn’t go far when five humans came into view. They were dressed in dark clothing, heavy boots, and smelled like knights. Nordik was momentarily stunned. How had he not sensed them? Smelled them? What sorcery was this? He knew everything about his forest, and nothing ever managed to sneak up on him.
“Nordik!” Poe leapt off.
The knights split up. Two headed to the left, three to the right.
“Go!” Poe shouted and headed after the two. Nordik snarled, hating to split up, but none could be allowed to escape. He roared and charged the three. He thundered through the brush, around the trees. The three knights split up, and Nordik ran after the one right in front of him. He kept his senses peeled for the other two. It occurred to him that this might be a trap. It probably was a trap. But it was time to be on the offensive instead of the defensive. Worry for Poe rose up, and he stamped it down. His mate could handle himself. Poe was no weakling. He shoved thoughts of his mate out of his mind and focused on his pursuit.
He caught up to the man quickly. Nordik tackled him, bringing his entire weight down. The sounds of bones breaking, snapping, filled him with satisfaction. The man groaned pitifully before Nordik brought his massive jaw round the man’s neck and bit down. Blood gushed into his mouth, and the man stopped moving. Bloodlust roared through him, and he lifted his head, rising up on his hind legs. He bellowed. Birds, critters, a few deer nearby fled in panic and fear.
Nordik landed on his front paws a
nd swung his head around, looking for the other two attackers. He snarled when he couldn’t smell them. It was sorcery. He knew he was being watched. He didn’t feel it with his normal senses but his instinct; his gut, his bear told him he was.
He licked his lips over his bloody teeth and shuddered with the need for more.
“Well done, Master Shifter.”
Nordik swung his head around and saw no one. The voice was close, perhaps only a few feet away. Nordik tensed, his ears perked. His muscles quivered with rage, and he bared his teeth.
“An hour from now, meet by the meadow four miles from here, the one on the cliff. If you don’t, we’ll take what you love most.”
It felt like a barrel of ice water got dumped on him. The instinct that told him he was being watched slowly faded. It could just be another trap, but could he risk that? Could he risk what he loved most?
Poe.
They had Poe.
Poe chased after the two knights, his blood pumping as hard as his desire for answers. They split up, and he stopped, panting lightly. He held his axe tightly in his hand, knowing it was a trap. He only hoped Nordik knew it and would watch himself.
Poe listened, disconcerted when he sensed he was alone. That couldn’t be right. They wouldn’t simply leave him. What were they doing? What was their plan?
Twigs snapping had him swinging around, his axe outstretched. A rangy, muscled woman wearing dark clothing charged him. Her skin was copper, her brown hair pulled back in a ruthless bun, and her dark eyes held a determined light, the bright need for battle. Though her expression was calm, almost blank. She held a wicked knife in each hand. He brought his axe handle up horizontally, blocking her downward thrust. She was taller than him and resembled a vulture, moving deliberately, clearly well-trained.
