by Lisa Oliver
On stage the music reached its climax. The ladies, all in Terry’s
creations held their pose for a long moment, and then a tall thin
man walked on clapping and everyone relaxed.
“That’s just perfect ladies. Do it exactly like that on the night and
we’ll be golden. You did wonderfully. Don’t forget to store your
outfits carefully out the back and I will see you all back here at
6pm sharp on Thursday.”
The ladies started to move towards the back of the stage,
chattering excitedly when all of a sudden a strange, loud voice
rang out, silencing everyone.
“Hold up a minute, nobody move. The show’s not over yet.”
As if choreographed, the Divas in their brightly colored silk and
satin moved aside, leaving Zander staring at his biggest
nightmare. Terry was caught in the arms of Norman Biggs, a
knife held to his throat, his arms apparently bound behind his
back. His Omega looked calm, but he wasn’t getting free in a
hurry.
Flicking out his phone, his eyes never leaving the stage, Zander
used his shadowed position to dial 911. Quietly giving his name,
rank and badge number, he requested immediate assistance for
an armed hostage situation, impatiently rattling off the address
and brief details when asked.
“Are you armed, Detective?” the professional voice on the other
end of the phone asked.
“Negative,” Zander snapped back. He’d left his gun in his wagon.
He didn’t like to carry it when he got up close and personal with
his mate. Unfortunately now Terry was far too up close and
personal with another man, and definitely not in a good way.
Terry’s face was flushed red, probably because of the fat arm
around his neck. There was a bruise forming on the side of his
eye that sent Zander’s anger through the roof. Forcing himself
to hold it together, he heard instructions that he was to keep his
identity secret, and to let the armed defenders take care of the
situation. Shoving his phone back in his pocket, Zander edged
closer to the stage.
Help’s coming darling. Hang in there.
I’m fine. Don’t do anything to get yourself hurt. Please, I couldn’t
bear it if something happened to you as well.
Terry’s face might be calm, but the voice ringing inside Zander’s
head was frantic. Despite his situation, as soon as Terry had seen
him, he had kept his eyes focused on Zander as though he was
the only living thing keeping his little wolf sane. Zander would
have given anything to have been able to shift and deal with
Norman under pack laws.
Unfortunately the room was full of unaware humans. The knife
was pressed hard against Terry’s throat, a thin line of blood
oozing from the side of it and Zander didn’t dare risk anything
in either form, although his wolf was a growling mess in his head.
Zander forced himself to be calm and to go against every instinct
in his shifter’s body. He had to deal with this situation in the
human way.
“What do you want Norman? This show has nothing to do with
you,” Morgana yelled out when it seemed like Norman wasn’t
going to say anything further. Probably too puffed up about the
impact his entrance had caused. Zander was thankful though. If
the ladies could distract Norman, or just keep him occupied,
maybe he could spot a chance to save his mate.
“I want you all to drop your fucking lawsuit against me. You had
no right telling all those lies about me,” Norman yelled. As he
dragged Terry closer to the middle of the stage, Zander was
shocked at Norman’s appearance. The man’s rumpled clothing,
bloodshot eyes and messed up hair – fuck, this was not good.
Norman was a man on the edge and there was nothing more
dangerous than someone with nothing to lose and a weapon in
his hand.
“We can drop the lawsuit, Norman, that’s fine. Whatever you
say. Just let Terry go and we’ll talk about it,” Davina said, edging
a bit closer.
“Get back! I don’t trust any of you. I’ll slit his throat before any
of you can get to me.”
Davina moved back, a nasty look on her face. She wasn’t the
only one. If looks could kill Norman would be dead in a hail of
stilettos.
“You all lied about me,” Norman continued, his voice
reverberating around the room. “Ruined my reputation, wrecked
my fucking life. My wife left me. Took my money and the kids.
I’ve got nothing left. And it’s all this little cocksucker’s fault.”
If you were married, you fucker, you shouldn’t have been
shoving your dick down young men’s throats in the first place,
Zander thought angrily. Norman’s hand holding the knife
trembled and Zander was terrified the deranged idiot was going
to slit Terry’s throat. Accidental or not, Terry would still be dead.
Ignoring the instructions from the dispatch office, Zander
stepped forward, pulling his badge out of his pocket, holding it
up.
“Norman Biggs, I’m Detective Samuels. The armed defenders
are on their way. There’s no way out. Put the knife down and get
down on the floor.”
“Not until I get what I came for,” Norman sneered, apparently
unimpressed with Zander’s tone or position.
“These people have already said they’ll drop the lawsuit against
you,” Zander said, keeping his voice firm. “You’ve got what you
wanted. Now drop the knife and get on the floor before you get
into any further trouble.”
The stage was a good five foot higher than the floor and although
Zander knew he could leap it in human form if he had to, it would
take too long. If there had been the slightest leeway, Zander
would have taken it. But with blood already dripping down
Terry’s neck it wasn’t an option. He noticed a flicker of
movement behind Norman, but didn’t take his eyes off the man
with the knife.
“I’ve lost everything. My wife won’t let me near her anymore.
I’m as horny as hell and I want the fucking blow job I was denied
fucking weeks ago. I want you all to watch this man gag on my
cock, wishing you were in his place. I want you all to see what
you’ve been missing and I want you to fucking weep over it, you
bunch of lying assholes.”
Well it was official. The man was clearly off his rocker and Terry
obviously thought so too. In a flurry of movement Terry tried to
kick out, but Norman was heavier and used his weight and the
knife pressed further against Terry’s skin to subdue him.
Grabbing Terry’s head Norman fisted his fingers into Terry’s hair,
forcing Terry to his knees. While Zander’s wolf roared in his
head, the violation tearing at his soul, Zander assessed the
situation as calmly as he could.
Then he laughed and Norman looked at him in astonishment.
Zander shrugged casually and said, “You didn’t think it through
you idiot. One hand in his hair, one on the knife. The young
man’s hands are tied behi
nd his back. How you going to get your
dick out? Don’t you know the first thing about blowjobs? Your
dick has to be out of your pants first. You’re at a fucking
stalemate and you know it. Put the knife down and get on the
floor and let’s end this nonsense.”
“I…er…I’ll…” Norman mumbled, looking down at his hands, at
Terry’s mouth that was firmly closed and the anger that shone
from Terry’s dark eyes.
“Exactly,” Zander said, taking the time to hop up onto the stage
with a predatory grace. He didn’t step towards Norman and Terry
although everything screamed at him to do so. Blood was now
pouring steadily down Terry’s neck – it wasn’t much, but one
wrong move from that knife and it would be life threatening. The
blade teetering on Terry’s jugular jangled every one of Zander’s
nerves, and probably wasn’t doing a lot for his mate.
“Now you could let me do it for you,” Zander said in a friendly
tone, as though they were talking about anything other than
touching Norman’s dick. “But I don’t think you want me getting
too close to you, do you?”
He flexed his muscles. Norman visibly gulped and stepped
backward, forcing Terry to move with him or risk the knife
digging deeper into his skin.
“Maybe you need someone smaller to get close to you. Like
maybe that lady over there.” Zander pointed to Destiny, who
without doubt had to be the least threatening looking person in
the room except for Terry.
What the fuck do you think you’re doing?
Trust me precious, got this sorted.
Norman dithered, tilting his head to look down at Terry and then
across to Destiny who was slowly moving forward, her hands
outstretched to show she meant no harm. At the same time
Zander casually moved another step closer, causing Norman to
back up another couple of feet. Feeling cornered as Destiny took
another couple of steps, Norman took one more step backwards
and that was all Zander needed. He gave a short sharp nod of
his head.
Coming up behind Norman, faster than should be possible, Sully
grabbed hold of the hand with the knife, forcing it away from
Terry’s throat, the gun in his other hand kissing Norman’s
temple.
“You’re under arrest asshole,” Sully said. As soon as Norman felt
the gun he let go of Terry’s hair and Terry rolled on the floor,
moving as far away from Norman as he could with his hands still
bound. Before anyone else could move, Zander was there,
picking Terry up, breaking the plastic ties that had cut into his
wrists with his bare hands and holding his mate as close to his
chest as he could. Over the top of Terry’s head, Zander met
Sully’s eyes as his former partner led Norman away.
“Thank you,” he mouthed and Sully gave a brief nod in return.
It wasn’t much, given their years of friendship, but it was a step
in the right direction.
Chapter Twenty Three
Terry curled into Zander’s arms with a moan of relief. They were
finally home. After Sully had taken Norman away, and Zander
had gotten him free, it had taken ages before the police could
get to him because the drag queens all fussed around, asking
him if he was okay, cursing Norman for being more of a dick
than they had thought possible. Then the police wanted
statements, although Zander was furious that they wouldn’t
allow him to be with Terry while he repeated his story over and
over again.
Once the interviewing officer had taken down his statement,
Zander was waiting impatiently pulling him into his arms, not
caring who was watching them. He wouldn’t let go while the
paramedics checked out Terry’s throat, the cuts on his wrists
and the bruise on his face. He barely let go enough to drive them
both home. Zander held Terry tightly as they both took a much
needed shower, and Terry had to protest loudly before being
allowed to pee in private. As soon as he stepped out of the
bathroom Zander pulled him into his arms again. Now they were
both curled up in bed and Terry felt warm, safe and loved.
“You were really controlled out there today,” Terry offered
quietly when Zander didn’t seem inclined to talk. “That would
have been so hard for you. I could see your wolf in your eyes. I
could feel him through our bond. Norman was a dead man
walking in any other situation.”
Zander grunted, but then must have remembered he was doing
his best to share things with Terry that he might not with anyone
else. “A room full of humans and watching a knife being forced
against your throat. Yeah, I’ve had better days.”
“I thought you handled things really well. I take it you knew Sully
was there.”
“Yeah, I saw him when I moved closer to the stage. In the past,
me and Sully had this thing. One of us being the distraction, the
other one creeping up behind our suspect. An easy thing to do if
the criminal thinks that either one of us is on our own, like
today.”
“So is that why you laughed and got Norman to focus on you
and Destiny?”
“Well, the guy was a fucking idiot,” Zander said. “He didn’t have
nearly enough hands to force a blowjob. Destiny looked the least
threatening of your friends and I thought Norman would go for
it.”
“She’s a martial arts instructor. Got a black belt and everything.”
Zander raised an eyebrow and then grinned. “Looks are
deceiving then precious because in that gown I didn’t think she
could do much at all, but I was grateful for the added
distraction.”
“Don’t underestimate my friends,” Terry warned. He stroked his
hands over Zander’s chest, loving the play of muscles under his
fingers. Zander heaved a huge sigh and leaned back on the
headboard.
“I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw the
blood on your throat. It took every ounce of strength not to shift
and rip Norman’s throat out.”
“I’m sorry you had to see that. I don’t think he would have killed
me, he was just looking to force me into servicing him. The feel
of his grubby cock against my ass when he was holding me…god,
it makes me shiver to think about it. But I should have smelled
him. Should have known someone was in the room with me. It’s
just there were so many other scents, and I didn’t think for a
moment I was in any danger until it was too late,” Terry said,
his voice almost a whisper as he let his fingers weave a spell
over Zander’s skin. Zander was equally tactile and Terry found
himself relaxing under the soothing touch. It was quiet in their
room, private, and with Zander curled around him, Terry knew
he would be okay.
“Made me think about taking you back to my home pack. This
thing today. Not being able to shift because of humans, not being
able to tear Norman’s throat out for touching you and hurting
you,” Zander
said out of the blue. “My Father said if I wanted
the Alpha position then he would submit and leave me the pack
any time I wanted it.”
Terry pulled out of Zander’s arms enough to look at his mate’s
face. His big Alpha looked as serious as a church on Sunday.
“Is that what you really want to do? Do they even gays in New
Haven? Won’t I be hated by the pack for being a male omega?
Would the pack follow you if they knew you had a male mate?
Could you do your job there? Could I? Where would we live? Oh
my God, how could you spring something like this on me?”
Terry knew his brain was going a million miles a minute, but New
Haven? A wolf pack? Every warning his mother ever gave him
about staying away from a pack situation flooded into his head.
His mom would be worried, his dad would be furious, he’d miss
all his friends…
Zander laughed, his low chuckle sending a warm sensation
through Terry’s fingers.
“I didn’t say we were going to do it, I said I’d been thinking about
it. You’d be accepted, my pack has gay couples already. But with
the job thing, probably not so much. New Haven has a huge gay
community as part of the university there, and there are even
some drag queens I think. But if we went then we would be
spending too much time running the pack affairs and businesses
to have any time for your creativity or my police work. I just…I
could keep you safer if I knew I could let my wolf out anytime
you were threatened.”
“You’d have to spend all your time in wolf form, protecting my
Omega ass from idiots trying to make me their sex toy or
punching bag,” Terry grumbled, not at all appeased. He didn’t
want to leave his job, the friends he had made or even Zander’s
house now he’d added a bit of color and some personal touches.
“It wouldn’t be like that,” Zander growled. Next thing Terry knew
his head was tilted, his lips were being dominated by Zander’s
insistent mouth and yep, he would be the first to admit it –
Zander’s mouth melted him every time. Conversation over. But
even as his mate got down the business of bringing them both
the pleasure they had come to crave, in the back of Terry’s mind
he knew this was a topic they would be coming back to in the
future. There was no way he was going to let his Alpha move
