by Leah Blake
“Free will is not something we strip from people here.”
“I’m an enemy.”
“You’re my mate. That gives you a pardon, but even so, we don’t strip free will.”
“How long have you known I’m your mate?”
“A month.”
The news shocked Mikhail. He stopped chewing and looked up at Nico again. “A month? I only met you last week.”
“We happened to cross paths about a month ago. You were following up on lamabra leads that we were on, as well. I knew instantly, but I also knew you were a hunter. I found out who you were and realized the complications the situation was going to present. I was already familiar with your portfolio.”
Mikhail’s thoughts were running a mile a minute. Nico worried the poor man would have steam puffing out of his ears in no time.
“Something we call mind transfers occur when two mates cross paths for the first time, and they become more frequent as time goes on. You can learn to control them after you bond, but until then, they can be a little maddening. I’m not sure if humans—”
“Yes. It’s happened to me, too. I don’t remember anything happening a month ago, but then again, if it did, I would’ve brushed it off.” Mikhail pushed his plate away. “I thought my mind was playing tricks on me at the pub until I heard you call me mate.” The man’s blush deepened and his gaze flicked between Nico’s eyes, his lips, and the knot of fingers Mikhail had created from his own hands. “The morning we, uh…”
“Kissed. I remember clearly.”
“I suppose you would.”
“You don’t?” Nico couldn’t help but grin when Mikhail shrugged. “You do or you don’t? I can remind you, if you’d like.”
“I, um…” Mikhail motioned to the bathroom door. “Can I clean up? I’ve been in a coma for three days after a brawl in the woods. I’m disgusting.” He rubbed his chin. “And I need to shave, bad.”
Nico nodded. He climbed to his feet again and held out his hand. Mikhail didn’t hesitate to take it this time. His fingers held a little tighter, making Nico’s spirits soar. Frankly, he had expected more of a fight from Mikhail. To his pleasure, his little hunter seemed to truly consider the possibilities that Nico and the majority of paranormals weren’t bloodthirsty beasts. They weren’t the monsters in the night.
Nico drew Mikhail close, toe-to-toe, but did not wrap an arm around him as he wanted. Instead, he gazed down into those copper eyes swelling with desire behind the storm of confusion. Mikhail was small compared to him. A head shorter, half a body thinner, although the lithe muscles his mate packed onto his smaller frame was impressive. Marco was right about the man. Nico could easily pick him up and position him as he so pleased.
Right now, he wanted to pick him up and fit his aching cock in the seam of his ass.
“Your eyes are flickering.” Mikhail tilted his head, leaning a little closer. “Night vision lenses.”
“The wolf.” Nico brushed his fingers along Mikhail’s brow. Speaking low, not trusting the feral husk in his voice, he murmured, “Clean up, Mikhail.”
Mikhail nodded, turning his face into Nico’s palm as he lowered his hand to his side again. The tender motion from his mate cinched his lungs and flooded his dick with a rush of blood.
“Go, Mikhail. Before I delay your shower.”
Mikhail lowered his head as he turned toward the bathroom, but Nico caught the grin he tried to hide.
Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Chapter Eight
Mikhail stood under the hot spray of water, trying his damnedest to melt away the insane itch that held him by the balls. An itch he knew exactly how he wanted to scratch, but refused to indulge. He would never let a wolf fuck him. An animal, a beast, inside his body?
Oh hell…yes.
A silent whimper fled his lips and he squeezed his eyes shut. Shit. He was so royally fucked.
Seriously, what gay man wouldn’t want Nico behind him, making him scream with pleasure? The guy was straight up sinful. He was a walking wet dream laced with arousal-infused air.
His dick jerked at the thought. Pre-cum seeped from his slit, the water washing it away, but failing to wash the primitive hunger from his mind. He was beginning to think that Cael cast a spell on him, but this arousal had nothing to do with anyone but Nico. It was blinding straight to his core and what the hunter in him needed to do.
Find a way to contact Jude and let him know I’m okay. Tell him about Beast.
He had a plan. He needed to put it into motion.
First thing? Get rid of the erection for the wolf, a problem solved by a hand lathered up with soap, a few minutes of hard jerks, and an explosive release.
His knees buckled. The shaking arm braced against the wall helped lower him to the shower floor where he knelt, catching his breath, trying to will away the fierce tremors consuming his body. The steamy water intensified the scent of his release, leaving him to simmer in the post-orgasmic euphoria with provocative images of Nico curled around him, kissing him, loving on him.
Maybe I can give this a chance. A small chance. Like, a night’s chance.
“I don’t know what to do anymore.”
The logical hunter in him recited his plan but the man, who had a grip on his conscience, said otherwise.
Do nothing and learn from your silence. Stop trying to convince yourself you are right when you might very well be wrong.
As his strength returned, he climbed to his feet, washed himself again, and finished his shower. Nico had laid out brand new toiletries on the vanity for him to use and a set of clean clothes earlier. Curious, Mik draped his towel around his neck and lifted the shirt from the pile. A tag dangled from the sleeve.
“Huh.” He held it against his damp skin, pleasantly surprised to find it appeared to be his size. He checked the size on the tag of the jeans and smiled. “Huh.”
Someone went out of their way to get him brand new clothes. He hoped it was Nico, but the wolf didn’t look like a clothes shopping type of beast. Then again, the guy did have a tender streak.
Nico had a lot of things that Mik craved in a man. He was big, powerful, had a wicked smile, killer eyes, a freaking handsome as sin face. Oh, and that hair. Mik shivered. He wanted to sink his hands into that hair and get lost in the sensuality that pulsed from the wolf. The promise of prowess imprinted in his head those short moments before Mik escaped to the bathroom. Had he not escaped when he did, he might have bent over the table for Nico.
He shook his head, shattering that image.
Mik used the high-end electric shaver to rid himself of the scruff that had grown while he was in his magically induced coma. The quality of the device didn’t surprise him. He assumed wolves had a lot of hair to shave, and probably more often than not. He wasn’t fond of body hair. If Nico was covered in a wolfish coat, it might help keep his wits about him.
New clothes on and fitting impressively perfect for a blind purchase, hair gelled into neat spikes, and feeling refreshed, he returned to the main room of the suite.
And came up short.
No luck in the hair department. And dayum, that guy’s got a body.
Mik cringed as his dick returned to its relentless hard-on, mocking his attempt to put it at ease. He watched in awe as Nico pulled a fresh black T-shirt over his head, over a body sculpted like it belonged in a workout magazine. His skin was beautiful and tanned. The gold medallion sat between his pecs. Faint white, ragged lines marred his left pec, resembling the scratches from mean claws.
“What happened?” Mik asked before he could stop. Nico didn’t pause as he pulled the shirt down his body and tucked it into his jeans. Those golden eyes flashed toward him, a delicious grin curling his lips. Mik wouldn’t mind another kiss from that mouth. “To your chest. You had scars.”
“Nothing a few more days won’t heal. Lamabra took a swipe.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah. Hurt like a mother.” Nico pointed a finger along Mik’s bo
dy. “Everything fit okay?”
“Yeah. I should probably thank whoever went out of their way.”
Nico chuckled, the sound as sinful as the man approaching him. “You’re welcome.”
Mik’s mouth lifted. “You did get the clothes.”
“If you don’t like them, I’ll tell you who really bought them.”
“Liar.”
“Hm, I think this flirty side of you is far nicer than the head-butting side.” Nico took his chin in a gentle grip between a thumb and forefinger, tipping Mik’s head up. “It feels more natural to you than trying to be hard and badass all the time.”
“I am hard and badass.”
Nico’s grin grew into a heart-stopping smile. “Little one, I know you’re hard. We have yet to determine if you’re badass, though.”
“Damn. It.” Mik needed to break their gaze before he fell into the wolf’s arms. All he had to do was lift his chin out of Nico’s hand and turn away. Instead, he let Nico draw him closer, bringing their faces within inches.
“Tell me, Mikhail. How much do you like kissing a wolf?”
Mik opened his mouth to answer, but his breath caught in his throat. Nico tilted his head, his warm breath caressing his lips. The tip of his sharp nose brushed along Mik’s cheek, weakening him at the knees. His lips were so close. Mik’s skin tingled.
“Is it as repulsive as you originally thought?”
Nico’s voice, soft and husky, plucked him from the hold of his hunter’s mind. Mik closed his eyes and rested his hands against the wolf’s hard, muscled shoulders. His palms warmed against the heat of Nico’s body through the shirt. Feverish.
“Or is it something you’d like again?”
“Again,” Mik whispered.
His response was answered with a slow, maddening sweep of Nico’s tongue through Mik’s parted lips. Damn if he didn’t moan into the wolf’s kiss, following Nico’s lead with each possessive sweep and probe. He drowned, sinking against Nico’s solid body, slipping his arms around the wolf’s neck. The achy need that overcame him, the one that demanded he hold nothing back and give everything to Nico, flared vibrant and unwavering. Heat scorched his veins. The echo of his thundering heartbeat resonated in his head.
Nico snaked an arm around his waist and drew him tight against him. Mik gasped, receiving a hard prod in his lower belly from Nico’s dick. A warm trickle of pleasure poured down from his neck to his groin, stealing away any possibility of regaining footing, recapturing composure.
Lost, gone to the whims of primitive desire. His brain thought of nothing more than intensifying the kisses, crawling up Nico’s fine body, begging to make the unbearable ache stop. He needed. Plain and simple.
Mik needed, and his need was for the wolf.
When his fingers speared up into Nico’s silky hair, he nearly whimpered. Cool, thick strands tickled his skin and lit a flame to a set of nerves he didn’t believe existed. Nico’s hand splayed over his ass and squeezed, pulling him to the tips of his toes.
The intensity of his hunger for this beast shocked him, mind and body. Nico growled against his mouth, his kisses turning more demanding, more desperate, and Mik fell into the intensifying pattern without a fight. God, he wanted this. He wanted more than this. He wanted…wanted…
Nico nipped his lower lip. A pair of sharp teeth scraped the skin as he suckled his kiss-tender lip before releasing it.
Mik leaned back, winded from their kisses, and caught a flash of fangs before they disappeared. Nico molded a hand alongside Mik’s face, his heavy-lidded golden eyes shadowed with lust. He was sexy as hell and Mik wanted more of his offerings, fangs included.
If the guys ever find out about this, I’m never going to live it down.
“Next time, don’t make me ask,” Nico said, his voice hushed, thick with desire.
Mik grinned. “Next time, don’t wait for an answer.”
“Ah, the witty Mikhail has returned.” Nico’s melt-worthy smile showed Mik a faint hint of his wolf’s fangs before the points faded into the set of perfect, white human teeth. “If you can’t get used to the fact that I am part wolf, there will be no more kisses.”
“I said nothing.”
“You’re staring at my teeth.” Nico stepped around him, his arm sliding along Mik’s lower belly. His hand followed, dipping low, rubbing across Mik’s erection. He dropped his head forward and closed his eyes, a jolt rushing through him. “I enjoy nipping. Add in fangs, and you might like the foreplay, as well. In fact, I can promise you, once you go fang, you won’t settle for anything else.”
“You’re so certain.”
“I’m a good judge of character.”
“And what judgment have you passed on me?”
Mik glanced over his shoulder and found Nico at the fridge, pulling out two bottles of beer.
“You’re not as badass as you think.”
* * * *
Mik stayed close to Nico as the wolf led him down a few intertwining corridors to a breathtaking entrance foyer. Men milled around between sitting rooms off the side of the foyer and an exceptionally large dining room. Beyond the dining room, French doors led to an enormous covered patio, tiki torches lining the space and string lights decorating the canopy. The patio was packed with men, many dancing to music, drinking, and having a grand time.
“Party?” Mik asked.
“A good portion of the residents aren’t part of the guards. They work jobs around the property and party when they return. The Creek is self-sustaining. We raise our own livestock, crops, and cattle. We trade with Shadow Falls for income and other supplies we need.”
Mik knew about Shadow Falls, although not much focus had ever been on the quaint town. He’d scouted the area once or twice, but with the high volume of human tourists, it was nearly impossible to take out shifters.
Besides, the Sheriff was a mean-ass guy whose bad side Jude didn’t want to flirt with.
Mik sipped his beer as he soaked in the immense surroundings. As far as he knew, no hunter had ever laid eyes on Shadow Creek Manor. If they got this close, it was usually as a prisoner in Raul’s super secure jail cells. Hunters were lucky if they could find the property lines. After an ambush a few months ago, Jude informed the team that the property was protected by exceptionally strong magic, making it hard to locate.
He had always pictured Shadow Creek in a very wild, primitive way. Ramshackle huts and piles of animal carcasses and bones. Men who possessed more of the beast than humanity.
This was certainly not how he envisioned Shadow Creek. The place, the creatures were…civilized. The manor held a fun, exciting, safe resort feel.
“I’m impressed,” Mik said against the lip of his bottle. He took another sip, circling around to drink in the intricate dark wood accents and polished wooden floor. A set of double doors beneath a flowing staircase to the second floor caught his attention for a moment before he turned back to Nico. “Very nice.”
“This is home.” Nico spread his arm toward the double glass doors at the end of the foyer. “Come. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. Take advantage of the clear night.”
Mik smiled, following Nico onto an expansive front porch and tapering stairs. A large bonfire was blazing in a stone pit, several men barking and laughing over beers and talk. Men walked the property. Animals shifted to humans and humans shifted to animals. Mik stood, taking the entire production in, quietly amazed by how natural everyone moved about.
This is their life. This is what they know. Work and bonfires and beer, apparently.
Not hunting humans.
“What are you thinking?” Nico asked, interrupting his thoughts.
“I’m not sure yet.”
His skin heated beneath Nico’s gaze. He waited a few moments before meeting the wolf’s eyes. A humored expression softened his rugged features.
“How big is Shadow Creek?” Mik asked. He stepped into Nico as a few men brushed by. One cast him a dark glower, but continued with his friends. “Hm. He doesn
’t like me.”
Nico slung his arm over Mik’s shoulders. “He knows you.”
“And who is he?”
“Who? Or what?”
“Both.”
“Mace. He’s a panther.”
Well, that made sense. The guy moved like a damn cat on the prowl.
Mik took a deep drag of his beer, settling against Nico’s body. The action came too natural and felt too right.
“You have enemies here, little one. I’m not going to hide the truth from you. Just stay close to me and you’ll be safe.”
“And this is where the true nature of shifters comes out,” Mik grumbled under his breath.
“If I were brought to your safe haven under similar circumstances, I’m sure I’d get looks, too. However, I doubt your team would be as understanding of our situation. My friends may not like you, but they will not harm you.”
“Because of the mate thing.”
“Because we are mates.” Nico’s hand slid down to his bicep and gave a gentle squeeze. Mik caught himself nuzzling his cheek against Nico’s chest and immediately stopped. He was losing it. “It’s not a thing. It’s a predetermined gift from the spirits, gods, whoever you worship. The status is laid before you’re born.”
“Okay. How old are you?”
“Forty-six.”
Damn, the guy didn’t look a day older than thirty. “Is that dog years or human years?”
Mik bit the insides of his cheeks when Nico nailed him with a glower and a ghostly sneer. He poked Nico’s ribs, hoping to lighten his thoughtless comment, but the wolf didn’t budge. Nor was he ticklish, apparently.
“Are you thirty-two in kills or in human years?”
Mik sighed and lowered his cheek to Nico’s chest again. The wolf shoved a very expensive leather shoe in his mouth.
“Sorry. Inconsiderate.” Mik turned his attention back to the bonfire. Mace and his pals were chatting it up with a few other guys. The panther’s gaze swept back to him every few moments, followed by a new set of eyes. The guy was recruiting haters. “Wolves live pretty long, right?”
