by Maggie Walsh
“Hey, Thomas,” Micah whispered as he opened his eyes. Thomas turned to him and gave him a soft smile.
“Hey, I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner, I was out patrolling. I didn’t hear your call. I’m sorry, Micah. I must have been too far out to hear you,” Thomas explained.
“It’s okay.” Micah kissed Jesse’s head then slowly pulled away and rolled off the bed. Taylor opened his eyes and looked at Jesse, then Micah. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you, Taylor,” Micah said. “I’m gonna go take a shower and get out of these close. I don’t want Jesse to see them when he wakes up. Then I’m gonna give Frank a call. Can you stay with him? Call for me if he wakes up. I’ll go as fast as I can.”
“Of course, Micah. Go. Get cleaned up and burn those clothes. I’m not going anywhere,” Taylor answered.
“Thanks, Taylor. He’s so lucky to have you as his friend. His brother.” Micah smiled affectionately at Taylor.
“See, all these years I thought I was the lucky one to have him,” Taylor said shyly.
“You’re both lucky to have each other. You’re a good friend, Taylor. Thank you for always being there for my baby,” Micah said then leaned down and kissed the top of Taylor’s head.
“Go now, before you make me cry like a girl.” Taylor sniffled. Micah smiled at him and turned to Gabriel. “Will you stay with them?”
“Of course. I’ll protect them with my life. Go. We’ll be okay,” Gabriel answered.
“I can call Frank for you Micah, so you can get back quicker. I’ll also call Lexi and Bass and see if they’ve come up with anything. I can give Dante a call, see if he can have his coven keep their ears open,” Thomas offered.
“Yes, that would be great, Thomas, thanks, but just call Frank. Raith already spoke with Dante and he’s keeping in contact with Lexi and Bass.
“Okay, I’ll go call Frank now.”
He turned and Raith was leaning against the door jamb watching everything. Thomas walked past him and walked down the hallway.
“Go ahead, Micah. We got this.” Raith patted Micah’s shoulder.
“Thanks, brother,” Micah said and left for his shower.
* * * *
Micah was standing in the shower, palms flat against the tiles, head bent down, letting the hot water run down his head and along his back as the steam surrounded him.
“Please gods, I’ve never been much of a praying man, but I really need you now. Please don’t let him die, don’t let me lose him. I just found him and I need Jesse more than I need air.”
The pressure in his chest was getting heavier. Micah rubbed his chest to try to ease the pain. “Please help him get through this. Not just his body, but his mind, his heart, his soul. Let me be the man he needs to help him through this. The man he needs for the rest of our lives. He’s only been in this life for twenty-five years, he’s been through so much already for one who is so young. Please help him, and I promise I will always be there to protect those who need protecting. Those who need help.”
* * * *
Raith walked into the kitchen and Micah, Cass, Crew, and Lexi were sitting at the table eating. “Hey, guys,” Raith said as he sat down with them. “I just got off the phone with Dante. A couple of his guys reported some chick asking around about our pack. Specifically about you, Micah.”
Micah finally raised his head. He was pale with dark circles under his eyes, and they looked sad, lost. “Who is she?” he asked in a quiet voice.
“Don’t know. No one has ever seen her before. But they remember her asking around about two days before Jesse was attacked. She’s asking how she can find you. Says she’s your mate,” Raith said coldly.
Micah’s eyes went feral and his lips raised in a snarl as he growled. “Find her. Bring her to me. I don’t care what you have to do to get her. Nobody pretends to be my mate, disrespecting my real mate, and gets away with it.”
Gabriel came running into the kitchen. “Micah, come quick, it’s Jesse.”
Micah was on his feet running out of the room. Raith and the rest of the guys right behind him. As he approached the room, Bass and Xander were standing guard smiling at him. Micah ran past them into the room and stopped short. Jesse was awake and sitting up in the bed. He was laughing at something Taylor had said. Taylor was sitting next to him laughing, too. Micah slowly stepped forward as Jesse’s eyes met his. “Jesse,” he whispered. Jesse smiled at him. A big broad beautiful smile that took Micah’s breath away and made his knees weak. Jesse opened his arms to Micah.
It took him three long strides to get to the bed. He dropped down on his knees onto the floor next to the bed and wrapped his arms around Jesse’s waist, holding him tight. Micah’s face was pressed into Jesse’s stomach.
Jesse wrapped one arm around Micah’s shoulders as the other grabbed the back of Micah’s head. They held onto each other tight.
Taylor rolled off the bed, blinking his eyes rapidly to hold the water works in. He looked at all the wolves around the room and saw a lot of misty eyes. “Okay, people, although there’s plenty to see here, we still gotta trolley. Come on, boys, let’s go to the kitchen and I’ll make you my special hot chocolate.” The guys all chuckled as they followed Taylor out of the room and close the door behind them.
Jesse leaned down and flinched from the pain the movement caused, but he kissed the top of Micah’s head. Micah turned his head and kissed Jesse’s stomach, then looked up at him. They both had unshed tears in their eyes.
“This is a dream right? I must be dreaming, because you’re awake,” Micah whispered.
“You’re not dreaming, handsome,” Jesse smiled. “Hi, love.”
Micah slowly got up and sat on the bed. Jesse moved over to make room for him. Micah wrapped an arm around Jesse’s waist. “Are you still in pain? Can I touch you? Can I move you?”
“I feel good, Micah. A little sore here and there, but good,” Jesse answered.
Micah lifted Jesse up and turned them so Micah was sitting with his back to the headboard and Jesse was straddling his lap, so they were face to face. Micah’s hands rubbed up and down Jesse’s back, and Jesse’s hands rested on Micah’s chest as he looked at Micah. His eyes were shining as he smiled at his mate. “So, what does a guy have to do around here to get a kiss from the big handsome Alpha of his dreams?”
Micah cupped Jesse’s face with both his hands and pulled Jesse to him. “He just has to be you, Jesse, only you.”
“Good answer.” Jesse chuckled as their lips met in a soft, tender kiss. Micah’s eyes closed and he sighed in relief, licking his tongue across Jesse’s lips. Jesse opened for him and Micah swept his tongue inside. Gently, tenderly, their tongues slid against each other, making love with their tongues and lips. Jesse’s arms went around Micah’s neck and he held on tight. Reluctantly they pulled apart for much-needed air. Micah pressed his forehead to Jesse’s, still holding onto his face. “I thought I lost you, baby,” Micah admitted painfully.
“You saved me, Micah. Thank you, my love.” Jesse touched Micah’s face.
“I wasn’t there. I didn’t protect you, Jesse. I told you I would. I told you that you were safe. That I would always protect you and I didn’t. I’m so sorry, baby, I’m so sorry,” Micah choked out.
“Micah?…Micah look at me…Please, my love.”
Micah pulled back so he could look his man in the eyes. He was ready to see pain and disappointment, anger, but they weren’t there. All he saw was happiness and love. His hands went to Jesse’s hips and he held on tight.
“It wasn’t your fault, Micah. None of this was your fault. You couldn’t have known this would happen. No one would. I don’t blame you in any way. I’m just glad I’m still here, and that I’m still with you. You saved me. They told me you gave me your blood to heal me. Thank you. Thank you for being here for me, for saving me.” Jesse placed a quick soft kiss on Micah’s lips and pulled back. He cupped Micah’s cheek and his thumb swept a soft caress across Micah’s lips and cheek.
“Yo
u are so amazing, baby. After everything you’ve been through and you’re comforting me. And you’re still here with me. I wouldn’t blame you if you ran as far and as fast as you could from here.”
“I’ve told you. I’m tired of running. I finally feel like I belong somewhere. Like I’ve found my place in this world. Like I’m finally home. That’s because of you, Micah. I’m right where I belong. I’m not going anywhere. I love you, my mate.”
“I love you, too, Jesse, with everything that I am, I love you.” Micah leaned in and their lips met in another tender kiss. They pulled back and Jesse cuddled into Micah’s chest. They were holding onto each other tight.
“So, you do know that Taylor is Gabriel’s mate right?” Jesse asked.
“Yeah. Now if only Gabriel would tell him.” Micah sighed.
“He already knows.” Jesse laughed.
“He does?” Micah asked in surprise.
“Yes, and he’s having a laugh at Gabriel’s expense. Why do you think he’s teasing him so much?” Jesse chuckled.
Micah laughed. “Good for Taylor. Gabriel deserves it.”
“I think they’ll be good together,” Jesse said.
“Me, too, if Gabriel can get his head out of his ass.” Micah held Jesse tight and closed his eyes.
Chapter 7
“I can walk you know. The doctor said I’m all healed. I’m good to go,” Jesse said to Micah as he carried Jesse into his office. Micah sat behind his desk and placed Jesse in his lap.
“Humor me, baby. I almost lost you. I’m having a hard time letting you out of my sight right now.” Micah nuzzled his neck, inhaling his mate’s intoxicating scent. “Hmmmm, I love the way you smell.”
Jesse giggled and pulled back. “You’re not going to get any work done with me here on your lap, love. How about a compromise?”
“Like what?” Micah asked as he ran a hand down Jesse’s back and nibbled on his neck.
Jesse moaned. “Mmmmm, that feels good…How about I go sit on that comfy-looking couch over there, with that wonderful new Kindle you bought me, and I can start looking for some books and apps and music and stuff to put on it. Then you can get some work done and I’ll be right here where you can see me.”
With a pout Micah pulled back. “But I like you right here.”
Jesse laughed at his pout. “I know, love, but you have a pack to run.”
“Oh…okay. Fine.” Micah conceded. Jesse laughed and kissed his cheek.
Raith and Thomas walked into the office. “Excuse us, Micah,” Raith said.
“It’s okay, guys. Come on in. What’s up?” Micah asked, nibbling on Jesse’s neck.
Thomas cleared his throat. “Well… it’s…um…business, Alpha.”
“Yes, I figured as much. Whatever you have to say, you can say it in front of my mate.”
“Technically…” Thomas trailed off. “Well, you haven’t actually claimed him yet, so I don’t think…” He trailed off as Micah looked at him with anger. Raith rolled his eyes at Thomas’s stupidity.
Micah’s jaw clenched. “This is my pack. Jesse is his name, use it or use Alpha mate, but do not address him as ‘him.’ And he is my mate. Which means this is his pack. So, whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my mate. Your Alpha mate. Speak.” Micah was not happy.
Thomas looked down at the floor. Raith spoke up. “The woman who’s been looking for you?”
“The one who claims to be Micah’s mate?” Jesse asked, cutting Raith off.
“Yes, that’s the one.” Raith smiled at Jesse. “It’s Hillary Brighton, Micah.”
Micah’s eyes went wide in surprise. “Hillary? What the hell does she want? I haven’t seen her in what? Almost three hundred years?” Micah asked.
Jesse choked. “What? Exactly how old are you guys?”
“I’m three hundred and thirty-eight, baby,” Micah answered shyly.
“Damn, who knew I was into hot older men?” Jesse chuckled. “You know, if you were a woman you would be a cougar. A wolf cougar. How would the dynamics of that work? What would those children look like? That’s an interesting question huh?” Jesse smirked at Micah.
Micah laughed and kissed Jesse’s cheek. Raith chuckled and shook his head. “It’s good to see you up and around, Jesse.”
“Thanks, Raith. It feels good, too. So can I ask if we know what this imposter wants with Micah?” Jesse gave Raith a shy smile.
“We don’t have a clue. But Xander and Cass found her and they’re bringing her in.”
“Good, show her in as soon as they get here,” Micah ordered.
“She’s coming here? To the pack house? Is that a good idea? I mean, you don’t know what she’s up to. What if this is exactly what she wants? To get in here for some reason. It’s a little strange that you haven’t seen her in about three hundred years and then she shows up out of the blue, right as you finally find your mate. Right before I’m attacked. Isn’t that a little suspicious?” Jesse questioned.
“That’s a lot of very good questions, Alpha mate?” Raith said with a nod at Jesse. Jesse gave him a slight smile to acknowledge the title Raith gave him.
“It’s highly unlikely, you mean,” Thomas stated.
“Why is that, Thomas?” Micah asked.
“As you said, it’s been forever since we’ve seen her, or heard from her. What could she possibly want here? She may be bringing news from your home pack, Micah, and this is all just a coincidence,” Thomas questioned.
“You might be right, Thomas. There’s only one way to find out. Let her come,” Micah said.
“But,” Jesse interrupted, “It’s too coincidental. She’s up to something. I mean, think about it, after all these years, nothing, what’s changed?”
“You,” Raith answered. “You, here. Micah has found his true mate. That’s what’s changed.”
“But why would she care?” Thomas asked.
“Hillary and I were promised to each other at birth. That if we reached maturity and neither of us found our true mate’s, that we would claim each other so I could take over my father’s pack and we could be a true Alpha couple, to lead the pack,” Micah answered.
“So you had an arranged marriage, so to speak?” Jesse asked. Micah nodded.
“That’s so dark ages.”Jesse shuddered.
“Well, it was over three hundred years ago, baby.” Micah chuckled and gave Jesse a squeeze.
“But how did she know you found your mate, Micah? We haven’t let that information out. The inner pack, Frank, Dante, plus the doc. But he didn’t know till after Jesse was hurt. So how did she find out?” Raith questioned.
“That’s a good question Raith. And how does she know if I’ve claimed Jesse or not?”
“Maybe she’s trying to stop it before you can claim me love. Is it possible she was behind my attack?”
“Where are they now?” Micah asked.
“They should be here soon,” Raith answered.
“I hate this. I don’t want you out of my sight right now, but I don’t want her to know you’re here. I don’t want her to see you, baby.”
“Won’t she be able to smell him?” Thomas asked coldly.
“She’s never been here before. There’s a lot of male scents here. It could be any one of us for all she knows,” Raith answered.
“Good point, but just to be safe, I’m taking Jesse up to our room to rest. I’ll take a quick shower and change. I want you to stay there, baby. Raith, put two guards on the door and one inside with Jesse. Lead her in here. Stay with her till I get back, I don’t want her left alone for one second,” Micah ordered.
“Yes, Alpha,” Raith and Thomas both answered.
* * * *
Micah stopped in the doorway to his office. Raith was leaning against his desk, arms crossed over his chest, ankles crossed, as he watched the woman in the room. She was standing over by the bookshelf looking at a book in her hands. Hillary was about six-two, with short, spiked black hair. She was wearing a skintight black leather c
at suit, with red six-inch heels. She was slim and curvy, and perfectly toned. Her legs went on forever and her skin was flawless. She was beautiful for a woman, but she did absolutely nothing for Micah. Actually, she repulsed him. He could still remember how much of a bitch she was. Thought she was above everyone else because she was going to be Alpha Female. Not only was she cold to people, but she was downright mean to anyone she thought was beneath her. Which was pretty much everyone in her eyes. She was always fake so she could get what she wanted.
“Are you done checking out my ass, Micah? Because if not I could always bend over for you,” Hillary stated and turned around to face him.
“Please don’t, Hillary. I really liked my lunch today,” Micah said with a smirk as he strolled in and walked behind his desk. Raith snorted, then coughed to try to cover it. Hillary slammed the book shut and dropped it on the floor. Her face was red from rage.
“Find something amusing, Raith?” she sneered.
“Yes. You actually.” Raith smirked at her.
“Still riding on Micah’s coattails I see,” she said with a fake smile. It was nothing but cold though.
“No, I haven’t rode Micah’s tail in quite a while. Jealous?” Raith smiled.
Hillary looked at him as if she had shit on the bottom of her shoes. Raith grabbed his arms and started rubbing them as he shook his body. “Damn, did the temperature just drop in here or was that your cold soul running from your body?”
Micah chuckled. Hillary turned a dark shade of red as her anger increased. “How dare you talk to me like that, you low-life mangy mutt!”
“I see you haven’t changed at all, Hillary, still the cold whore female dog, oh what’s the word I’m looking for?…” Raith said as he scratched his chin, making a face like he was thinking.
“Bitch?” Micah said in amusement. Raith looked at Micah smiling. “That’s it. Thanks, Micah.”
“How dare you let him talk to me like that, Micah,” Hillary whined.
“How dare you come into my house insulting a member of my family, showing disrespect to my beta and me,” Micah said calmly but coldly.
