Frowning, Kole slid his eyes to Braun, but didn’t look directly at him. “My father trusts you. That’s enough reason for me too as well, I guess.”
“Did he tell you anything about me?”
Kole simply shrugged.
“You shouldn’t worry too much about your father. I sent some friends to back him up. They’re ruthless killers.”
“That is supposed to inspire confidence?” Kole gaped, his distrustful eyes meeting Braun.
“They’re loyal to me,” Braun added. “And yes, it should. They are skilled, dangerous and won’t hesitate to rip out throats. That is exactly what Nykus needs.” He hadn’t intended to make Nykus’s pack sound weak, but even the strongest clique would be tested when outnumbered.
“I didn’t know you had a pack,” Kole murmured and slid his attention to the omelet. He seemed hesitant to touch it, or his appetite was overtaken by his worry.
“I don’t in the traditional sense. I have a network.” After a long moment of silence and several dubious looks, he said, “Please eat. I’m going to take you shopping. You only brought a single suitcase and there is no telling how long you’ll be here. I’m sure your palate differs from mine, as well.”
Braun watched as Kole cut off a piece of the omelet with his fork and slid it into his mouth. He had a good jaw on him, angular but not overly sharp. His gaze stayed on the marble countertop as he chewed, apparently lost in his own thoughts. He was a handsome male and Braun found himself wanting to discover every angle that might be hiding beneath his clothes. Absolutely not.
“You shouldn’t worry about Nykus. He’s tougher than he likes to let on.” Anything to derail his lustful thoughts.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Kole said, his tone clipped.
No, Braun didn’t think so. He was sure Kole was terrified. Honestly, Braun was a little worried for his friend. Had Nyk not sent his son to live with him, he would have gone to Montana to help him fight.
“I did some research on the alpha challenging Nyk.” That got Kole’s attention. “He goes by the name of Raze. For the past few decades he’s been overthrowing alphas and absorbing the members into his pack. Anyone that refuses to join ends up dead. He has at least twenty individuals. Before that, his history turns sketchy, but I’m digging up old contacts. It’s believed he is wildblood and came down from Canada.” Wildbloods, shifters that lived off the grid and tended to be feral, were rare these days but not unheard of.
Kole shot up and dumped his plate and glass in the sink with a clank. He started for the lobby, determination crossing his face.
“Where are you going?”
“Home. The pack needs me. I should have never left.” His eyes glimmered with resolve, his nostrils flaring. He was entirely serious.
“You’re staying here,” Braun commanded.
Kole laughed indignantly. “You’re not my pack leader, Brawny.”
Brawny? His wolf growled in his head. First, he laughs at me then he insults me?
“Stop. Now.” His voice boomed through the penthouse. Kole looked at him with shiny, wary eyes. He might not be Kole’s alpha, but the natural omega urge to submit stilled him. “Raze is smart. If he doesn’t know you are an omega, he will soon along with Nyk’s son in time. What do you think he will do with you when he overthrows your father?”
“That’s not going to happen,” Kole snarled, his fangs gnashing.
“With my network helping Nyk, I don’t think it will. But as a father—if I had a pup—I’d never take that chance.”
Kole shook his head defiantly. Braun could see the tears gathering and he wished he were better at consolation. He’d been a lone wolf so long, he’d forgotten how to show care or affection toward another. Braun got to his feet and came to stand in front of Kole. What he was about to say was going to hurt, but the omega needed to hear the truth. “Raze will set his focus on you. He will capture you, hurt you and use you to make your father submit. He will kill Nyk then force a mate on you. If you go back, this is what will happen.”
His chest heaving hard, Kole looked away. He obviously wanted to argue but seemed to accept there was no point. Biting his lip, Braun gripped the omega’s shoulder and squeezed in attempt to reassure him.
“You’re safe here. Let your father and my associates deal with the wildblood. Okay?” He kept his tone as soft as he could, wanting to instill comfort.
After a long moment, Kole nodded.
Braun took his hand back, surprised by the sudden emptiness. “Now, we need to go over a few ground rules if you’re going to be staying here.”
“Fine.”
“Number one. Can you try to keep it down during the night? I’m not nocturnal. Two, any dirty dishes are to go into the dishwasher. You don’t have to turn it on, but don’t leave them in the sink.” Braun stroked his beard, searching his thoughts.
“Is that all?” Kole huffed, looking bored.
“No. This is my territory, so I’d appreciate it if you’d show me respect.”
The male made a face of confusion. “When did I disrespect you?”
“First, you laughed at me—”
Kole covered his smile, his cheeks plumping. Braun growled deep in his throat.
“Sorry. You’re not what I expected,” he said.
“What do you mean?”
He shrugged and took a step back.
Braun eyed him warily. “And no pet names.”
“Pet names?” Kole frowned, dragging his eyes up and down Braun’s form. “Oh. Well, all you need is the red flannel and you’re good.”
“Pardon?”
“You got the whole lumberjack thing going on is all. Put your mug on some paper towels and women will switch over. You’ll make a killing.”
“My name is a joining of two old tongue words, nothing more.” Braun eyed Kole suspiciously. He should be upset, but the idea that this omega considered him attractive? His animal liked that, more than it should.
“What? I didn’t say it was a bad thing. Can we go now? All you have is weird organic weeds in the fridge.”
“They’re oats and grains,” Braun hedged. “I eat fresh.”
“We grow most of our own food and I’ve never heard of couscous. Besides, a guy can’t live without a little sugary cereal every now and then.”
“Sure, he can. If he wants to look like me.” Braun couldn’t believe he’d said that. He wasn’t particularly vain, but he did take pride in his physique. Eating right and working out as often as he could had left him ripped. At the age of seventy-six, he was in his prime. His body-builder physique benefited work too. When he went looking for stolen treasures, humans were less likely to fuck with someone the size of a truck.
Kole sucked his lip between his teeth as if he wanted to say something but thought better of it. His eyes darkened for a moment before they slipped to the ground. He shifted his weight on his feet and a breeze of something delicious hit Braun. He wouldn’t even consider the possibilities.
Why the hell are we bickering like an old mated couple, anyway?
“Come on,” Braun commanded, angry with himself.
Chapter 3
Kole was aware he was dreaming. He was caught between sleep and consciousness and fighting to stay in the darkness. His dream was sweet, leaving him with a boner and a sensation deep in his gut. Light had begun to penetrate his eyelids, letting him know it was morning. Slowly, the dream faded, and he groaned, wanting to keep the mysterious male pleasuring him alive. He couldn’t see his face, that part was blurry, but he had one hell of a body on him. Muscular. Sun-kissed. Strong. He was sure once he woke up, all memory of the dream would fade.
His gut tightened uncomfortably, and he shot up. Fuck, he needed to take a massive piss. It was the gallon of orange juice he’d consumed during the night.
Throwing the sheets off, he raced for the bathroom and relieved himself with a sound of pleasure. He watched as his stream shot right into the expensive black toilet. Braun was a bit of a tight-ass, c
oncerned with his expensive stuff and strict habits. Living in Chicago, among humans had gone to his head. He has a tight ass.
“Shut up,” Kole growled at himself. “He isn’t that hot.”
He finished and washed his hands, feeling better than he had since learning about his father’s ordeal. He’d enjoyed arguing with Braun yesterday and teasing him about his lumberjack appeal. He grinned at himself in the mirror only to notice a dark shape standing behind him, next to the hot tub.
Kole jumped and turned to gape at Braun who stood motionless, looking entirely unamused. His hair was loose around his shoulders, giving the impression of a waterfall of oil that cascaded down to his waist.
“Should I explain how a shared bathroom works?” Braun asked blankly.
He parted his lips to speak, but nothing came out. All he could do was stare at the perfection in front of him. Braun was totally ripped, every bulging muscle standing out against the black of the tub and the white of the tiles. His tanned skin shimmered from the moisture, several tattoos and scars intersecting his body. Kole’s heart pounded hard, sending the blood shooting through him. The only thing covering Braun was the tiny white towel he was holding against his stomach. It hid very little. The patch of dark hair around his crotch grabbed Kole’s attention. He wanted to see more. He wanted to see everything.
Braun’s eyes slowly slid down and Kole followed to find that his traitorous cock was pointing directly at the alpha. He cursed harshly and escaped to his bedroom, his vision swirling. He couldn’t seem to catch his breath as he held the bathroom door closed with his body, his nails digging into the wood. What do you think will happen? He’ll break the door down and claim you?
Holy shit. Do I want that?
Closing his eyes, Kole willed himself to relax. He listened to the bathroom door squeak as Braun left. Several minutes later, his bare feet padded across the polished wood floor into the kitchen. Dishes clanged, the stove flame flared to life and cooking food sizzled in a frying pan. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but he was still hard as a rock, his dick standing at attention and throbbing with demand. Worse, his asshole clenched as if it needed something specific.
“Fuck,” he whispered as he watched a bead of pre-cum collect at the tip. Living with the pack, he got a good look at the males that followed his father. They were all handsome. Strong. Sexy. He’d always thought he’d take one of them to mate eventually. But he’d never had this reaction to another shifter before.
Figuring his erection wasn’t going to go away on its own, he gripped his cock. It pulsed in his hand as he stroked himself from base to tip. The orgasm rose quickly, faster than he ever imagined and he did his best to quell his groans as he spilled his load all over Braun’s lush carpet.
The minutes ticked by, the whoosh of blood in his ears ebbing and his breath evening. He collapsed in bed, feeling a modicum better, but his thoughts were consumed by Braun. He’d known the male was buff but seeing him in all his naked glory made it more real. The shifter’s image was burned into the back of Kole’s eyelids, every ridge and dip, every tanned inch, every dark dusting of hair… With that kind of steely weight on him, he could defend an omega, a pack… Pups.
Stop it, he chided himself. Daydreaming about a male he couldn’t have was dangerous. It wasn’t just that they led different lives, but Braun was his father’s friend. A relationship would stress their friendship. He wouldn’t do that to Dad. But if he trusted Braun enough to look after his only son? Perhaps he’d accept Braun claiming me.
A knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts, his heart jumping. It was Braun, his deep rumble of a voice soaking into Kole. “Breakfast is ready.”
“Okay,” he shouted out of reaction. Yeah, like he was leaving the safety of this room after throwing wood in front of the guy. Because of him.
Kole relaxed on the fluffy comforter and shot a text over to each member of the pack, needing to know that they were okay. He left his father for last, hoping they might strike up a conversation. He wanted to inquire about his friendship with Braun—how had they met? Why didn’t he speak of him very often? Would you care if he claimed me?
Scrubbing his face, he willed the strange thoughts away. He’d always known he’d mate and have pups one day but had never fantasized about it. As the hours passed, and the house grew quiet, Kole stared at his phone. No one had texted him back. Not a one. Not his father. His gut tightened and he wanted to seek out Braun, urge him to do something more. He had to be keeping atop the situation. But doing so would bring back all the things he didn’t want to think about.
He longed for omega-father. He missed his scent, the warmth of his arms, the calmness of his voice. Even now, after all these years, Kole could hear him telling stories about magical things both real and myth. He’d likely exaggerated some, but it had been fascinating to Kole. Shifters rarely got sick, but omega-father had been poisoned by bane when Kole was eight. It had eventually caught up to him. Sitting on the foreign bed, Kole hugged his pillow. Omega-father would know what to do, would tell him he should follow his heart. If it led to Braun, then that was his path because true love and family was a rare thing, even in their world.
A little smile ticked at his lips. He’d had a good life. His pack was family, who loved his alpha-father. He had love all around him. And I just might lose them tonight.
A thought crept into his mind. If I lose them, I’ll have nothing. But taking Braun to mate would ensure his safety.
There was nothing more dangerous for an omega than being alone and unprotected.
Chapter 4
Braun sighed as the ceiling rotated, around and around... He gave his chair a push, causing everything to spin wildly until he got dizzy.
He was bored out of his fucking mind. After Kole had skipped breakfast, Braun had decided to make himself scarce and give the omega room. So, he’d gone down to the dark, quiet offices to do ‘work’. With everyone home for the weekend, he was left alone. There was no one to grab his attention, no client to speak to, not even a stack of papers to shuffle. And as he’d recently learned, his thoughts were dangerous.
Truth was, he needed his own space. Kole’s reaction to seeing him naked had stirred something deep inside, something primal and wild and too great to ignore. It had left him in a semi-aroused state all day, clouding his mind and turning it to mush. The hours had passed by and he’d gotten nothing done. The only thing he’d accomplished was driving himself crazy thinking about the omega in his home.
He’d known Kole would upset the natural order of his life, but he’d had no idea the young shifter would turn his world on its head.
He checked his phone for the third time in the last five minutes and reread the text one of his contacts assisting Nyk, had sent. They were making the first move and attacking Raze. It was a good plan. The wildblood wouldn’t expect such a move, especially when he believed Nyk’s pack was without backup.
His chair came to a stop and he scrubbed his face. The sun was sinking behind the buildings, signaling that it was getting late. He hoovered his thumb over Kole’s name in his contact list, conflicted. He had to admit to himself that it was thrilling having an omega interested in him. Fuck, but he hadn’t experienced the thrill of courting for a very long time.
Courting? He sneered. No way. Absolutely not.
Kole might find him attractive but that didn’t mean he wanted to take Braun to mate. He isn’t that hot. The admission had been muttered under the assumption of privacy. The words had been honest. Not to mention the way Kole had looked at him, his eyes feasting on Braun’s body, his cock responding to what he saw. There was no denying that they shared a mutual attraction toward each other. The question was, what they were going to do about it?
Nothing was the correct answer, however he knew it was going to be hard. With a little luck, his associates would deal with the wildblood problem then he could send Kole home. Then get back to his life as if nothing had ever happened.
Linda called from t
he main lobby, letting him know the credit card he’d sent for in Kole’s name had arrived. He thanked her and hung up, wanting to be alone with his thoughts.
His chest squeezed and he rubbed the spot over his heart. That ache cropped up every now and then, but he was pretty good at ignoring it. It would be nice to have a mate. Growling, he shot up, not wanting to think about his lonely existence. Without thinking, he sent a text over to Kole that he would be cooking tonight, and a movie might be in order. The minutes ticked by with no response. Figuring Kole was purposely ignoring him, Braun left the office and headed upstairs.
He took his time, admiring the architecture of the building. It had been an impulse buy many years ago. The cost of restoring it to its natural turn of the century charm had been exorbitant, but well worth it. All the marble and brass and expensive trimmings made it the perfect place to run his business. He got a kickback from the government due to the building being a landmark, but the bulk of his wealth came from ancient world relics, gold, and precious stones cleverly hidden in the basement. His human business of tracking down stolen goods was a ruse. The focus had always been to reclaim magical relics and safely store them. He was tempted to take a stroll through the vault, but some of the magical items contained within would likely affect his already volatile mood.
The moment he entered the penthouse, he became aware of Kole. His scent was everywhere like an exotic perfume. It got into his system, spread through his body with every pump of his heart and generally drove him mad. But there was something else too. The energy was bad. His stomach flip-flopped as he sought out the omega. Just need to make sure he is okay. A soft breeze and the sound of traffic pulled him toward the patio. Kole was outside, leaning over the balcony, his expression crestfallen.
The male noticed him and glanced at him with watery eyes. “No one will answer their texts. I think they’re all dead.”
“Stop it,” Braun commanded. He softened his tone. “They’re busy dealing with the issue. I’m sure they’re fine. Here, read this.”
To Protect and Love (Omegaverse shifter Romance) (Shifter Fever Book 1) Page 2
