by Maggie Walsh
“No, don’t,” Gabriel pleaded.
“Do you want me, Gabriel? I mean really. Not just because I’m dying and you feel obligated to save me.”
“Yes,” Gabriel whispered.
“Yes, you want me, or you just want a mate, or yes, you feel obligated?” Taylor asked calmly.
“Both.”
“Both? Both what? Start talking, Gabriel, or I will throw your ass out of here whether Jesse likes it or not and I will never see you again. Even if I have to run from this town and hide away till I die. Alone,” Taylor said firmly.
There was more silence and Taylor had finally had enough. He sighed heavily and pulled his hands away. He shook his head and rolled to his other side, away from Gabriel. “Go away, Gabriel.”
“My father used to beat me, all the time.” Gabriel blurted out in a whisper. Taylor slowly rolled back to face him.
“That’s why you’re so shy,” Taylor said as a statement, not a question. Gabriel’s eyes jumped to meet Taylor’s. “Yes, Gabriel, I realize you’re shy. I just didn’t know why it was so bad.” Taylor took Gabriel’s hand and ran his thumb over the back.
“My dad used to tell me, my whole life, that I was stupid and worthless. That I was weak and would never be a real man,” Gabriel said as he let out a shaky breath.
“Oh my God. How could a father do that to his own son? I thought Jesse’s parents were bad. I don’t know what’s worse, telling your kid that crap his whole life or completely ignoring them their whole life. Both are abuse,” Taylor said gently.
“Jesse’s parents ignored him?” Gabriel’s eyebrows went up in surprise.
“Yeah, pretty much from the time he was born. They’re hot-shot lawyers and Jesse just got in the way. His grandma basically raised him. Then she died when he was ten and he pretty much raised himself after that. But we’re not talking about Jesse. We’re talking about you. Go on.”
“I have an older brother, Michael, he’s my father’s favorite. His first born, his pride and joy. He’s ten years older than me. He’s my dad’s mini-version of himself. Michael does no wrong. Big, strong, brave, a warrior. I guess I should say was. Micah said he’s gone now. Anyway, then I was born and I was always on the small side. Then when I was five, Cass was born, and even he started getting bigger than me. Then when I was fifteen, I had a growing spurt and I hit six feet. That’s when he started training me as he called it. I had to learn how to fight. So he would take me out back and start to kick my ass. He said that’s how you learn. When you finally had enough you would fight back. You defend. But I never learned how to fight, so I couldn’t fight back and when I tried, I was so bad that he called me a pussy.
“My whole life he treated me like I wasn’t even his son. He always called me stupid and idiot and worthless, and I should have never been born. The Gods should have killed me in the womb, so I wasn’t an embarrassment to the family. To him. He would always slap me around and yell at me “Why can’t you be more like your brother Michael, he’s a real man. He’s a warrior for the pack, not some sniveling little pathetic loser. You’ll never measure up.” Then bam, punch me in the stomach or smack me in the head. So I learned early to stay out of his way, to hide from him, to hide from everyone, because the pack saw how he treated me, so they treated me the same way. I learned to be really quiet so he didn’t know I was there. It made me quiet and shy and not trust anyone with my feelings or my heart, because they always used it against me.
“I was always terrified of opening my mouth and having to suffer my father’s anger. Especially in front of others. So I just remained quiet.” Taylor caressed up and down his arm in comfort, not interrupting, now that he had Gabriel talking. Gabriel took a deep breath and continued. “So by the time he wanted to teach me how to fight, I didn’t want anything to do with him. So then he started with even more colorful names for me.
“He caught me staring at this guy, Tommy Huff’s ass one day and he beat me so bad I ended up in the infirmary for a week. That’s when Micah came to see me. Micah was forty years older than me so we didn’t spend a lot of time together, but when we did, Micah was always good to me. He always played with me, talked to me, just hung out sometimes. But I always tried to hide what my father did to me because Micah was next in line for Alpha. His dad, my uncle, was Alpha and I figured either the Alpha knew and didn’t care, or if he didn’t know and Micah found out and told him, that my dad would take it out on me.
“When Micah came to see me that day, I told him everything. I didn’t care anymore, I just wanted to die. Micah was pissed at the old man. He told me that from now on he was going to teach me how to fight and how to defend myself, and if my dad had a problem with that, he could go see Micah. My dad hated Micah, but he also knew that Micah was going to be his Alpha some day and Micah was one of the strongest, baddest motherfuckers around. Micah could kill him without a problem. So he was going to teach me how to fight the right way and I would learn how to defend myself against my father and Michael. Micah always hated Michael.” Gabriel let out a small laugh. Taylor just continued to listen and comfort him.
“So Micah spent the next five to six years teaching me all different ways to fight, I got taller and bigger, more muscular. Cass started to join us, so he could learn how to fight, too. The three of us along with Raith became inseparable. My dad could see how big I was getting, how strong I was getting and he started pushing for us to spend more time together so he could train me to be a man, because in his eyes, Micah wasn’t a man. Yeah, he was big and was going to be our next Alpha but he wouldn’t own up to his responsibilities and mate the Alpha female and take over the pack. But he didn’t want Micah to take over the pack. He wanted Michael to get the pack. So he didn’t want Cass and I to hang out with Micah.
“Then one day Micah told us he was leaving. He spoke with his dad, told him that he was gay. My uncle didn’t care, shocked the hell out of me, but he didn’t care, but he knew the rest of the pack would, especially my father. So they agreed that Micah would just quietly leave. My uncle would just tell the pack that Micah went out to explore the world and learn the ways of it all.
“So when Raith, Cass, and I all told Micah we were going with him, he just smiled at us and nodded his head. Dad tried to stop us until Cass and I told him we were gay. He came after me but Micah stepped in and stopped him. So one night when everyone was asleep, we all left. Micah started this pack and made it for wolves that were either exiled from their birth packs because they were gay or running from their packs because they were gay. That was about two hundred and seventy years ago and the man still controls me.”
Taylor released Gabriel’s hand and slowly sat up. Then he surprised Gabriel by climbing up on his lap, straddling him.
“What are you doing?” Gabriel asked cautiously. Taylor wrapped his arms around Gabriel’s neck and ran a hand through his hair. “Put your arms around me, Gabriel,” Taylor commanded. Gabriel did as Taylor asked and put his arms around him. “Now doesn’t that feel good?” Taylor asked with a smirk.
“Yes, it feels incredible,” Gabriel said breathlessly.
Taylor leaned forward and hugged Gabriel tight. “You look like you could use a hug. But know this, I understand now, but that doesn’t mean that I will just fall into your arms and say all is well. There’s been too much pain, and it’s going to take me awhile to trust you. And if you’re serious about wanting me, about wanting me as your mate, then you are going to have to show me.”
Gabriel pulled back and looked Taylor in the eye. “I will, I promise I will, sweet baby.”
* * * *
Bass walked into a large study with three well-dressed men by his side. They were being led by a small woman, about five foot two inches, with long flowing gray hair. She looked to be about seventy, but in their world looks could be deceiving. She gestured for them to have a seat, then nodded and walked out the door.
“Well, that was a little odd,” said one of the big men with Bass.
“Not really
, she doesn’t have a tongue,” Bass said absently as he looked around at the books on the shelves in the office.
“What?” the big man said in surprise.
“Very good. Hazel is usually better at hiding that. How did you know?” a big man said as he walked into the office from the outside door and walked further into the room and stopped by the desk.
Bass turned around to look at the newcomer and almost swallowed his tongue. The man before him was gorgeous. He stood about six foot four, maybe two hundred and thirty pounds of nicely contoured muscle. His hair was pure white and went down to below his ass, but it was the eyes that really grabbed Bass, they were just like his, violet. But this man’s violet was deeper. The man just stood there looking Bass over as well, studying him. One of the men who accompanied Bass cleared his throat, breaking the spell.
“Welcome to the Winthrope Pride, I am Storm Winthrope, leader of this pride. And you all must be my new best friends. Alpha Angel said he was sending some of his men, but he didn’t tell me you would be so…” Bass raised an eyebrow at him. “Big,” the pride leader finished with a smirk. His eyes were burning into Bass’s soul, he was looking at him so intently with lust in his eyes.
Bass had done a great job of staying calm and cool under this man’s gaze, keeping his feature’s guarded and neutral, but the lust coming from this leader’s eyes along with the growing aroma of his arousal, started to wear Bass down. He just wanted to grab the cat and bend him over the desk he was leaning on and drive his cock deep inside him and pound him until he put the man in a coma. Bass’s cock was standing at full attention and was so hard he was sure he could hammer nails with it. The Adonis’s eyes went wide as his nostrils flared, he took in a deep breath and then blessed Bass with a gorgeous smile. “I am Sebastian Angel, enforcer to Alpha Micah Angel. These gentlemen” Bass motioned to his companions, “are friends of the Angel Pack, and have come here to help you with your problem. As promised by my Alpha, in exchange for your doctor’s help.”
“Another Angel?” Storm questioned, his brow raised and an angry look was in his eyes. “Tell me, Sebastian Angel, are you related to the Alpha or are you his mate?”
“Neither, it is our custom that the inner pack takes on the same surname as their Alpha. However, as long as I have been with Micah, I may as well be his…”
Bass explained but Storm cut him off. “Lover?” he said with a raised brow.
“Brother,” Bass finished. They stared at each other for a moment before Bass continued, “This is Nicco, Sky, and Alex. They are here in good faith of Prince Dante Calebrese.” Each man nodded his head in turn at Bass’s introductions.
Storm looked the men over. “Welcome, guys. Any help you could give us would be really great.”
“We were told you were having trouble with rogue vampires. How many are we talking about?” Nicco asked.
Storm walked behind his desk, then sat down and sighed. “About six months ago we spotted our first rogue vamp. Since then the numbers just kept growing. As of last week, there have to be a few hundred roaming these hills.”
“Hundreds?” Nicco yelled in disbelief. “That’s impossible. It is extremely rare for a vampire to go rogue.”
“Are you calling me a liar, vamp?” Storm growled as he stood to face Nicco.
“No, definitely not. It’s just those numbers are unheard of in one place. Across the country maybe, but in one town? I don’t understand,” Nicco answered, his eyes full of confusion.
“I don’t know what to tell ya. All I do know is that these fuckers are growing in number and in balls. They started out running or hiding from us. Now they come right up to my lands trying to attack anyone they see. Over the past two months, they have killed thirty-six of my pride members, and have killed nearly that many humans from the area.” Storm moved back around the desk and sat on the front of it. “We’ve been scrambling to try to protect the humans, but we can’t be everywhere.”
“Shit,” Sky said in shock. “Nicco, we need to inform the Prince of this.”
“I know. He’s not going to be very happy either. I’m just glad I won’t be in the same room as him when I tell him.” Nicco shivered.
Storm looked at Nicco in question, with his brows raised. “Is the Prince that bad? I heard he was vicious.”
“Prince Calebrese can be your best friend or your worst nightmare come to life, depending on the circumstances. I definitely wouldn’t want to be the one on his bad side, let me tell you,” Sky answered.
“If I can interrupt here for a minute?” Bass asked. Storm turned his attention to Bass and immediately his eyes filled with lust again. “I don’t want to seem like an ass here, because this situation is very important, but it is getting close to sun up. You guys need shelter and I need to catch a plane back home.”
Storm jumped up. “What? You’re leaving?” He directed his question to Bass.
“These guys are the experts on the rogues, I just came as liaison to introduce you all and thank you for letting your doctor come to help us, and to escort Dr. Collins back to the Angel pack. I need to return with the doctor as soon as possible. Gabriel’s mate is dying and we need your doctor’s expertise.”
“Surely your pack has a doctor that can help the she-wolf?” Storm asked.
“Yes, we do have a pack doctor, but Gabriel’s mate is human, and he’s dying of cancer,” Bass said. “And I was under the impression from my Alpha that this was all taken care of already. My friends would stay and help you with your rogue problem and I would leave with the doctor. Have you changed your mind, or are you going against the agreement you made with my Alpha?” Bass questioned angrily.
Storm was now looking at him, not with lust, but with anger. “No, I have never gone back on a deal in my life.” Storm walked around his desk and picked up the phone. Nicco looked at Bass in question. Bass shook his head slightly and Nicco nodded, then gave his attention back to the pride leader. “Seth, can you please come in here and escort our guests to their rooms? And have you heard from pain in the ass yet? He was supposed to be here by now…Yes…okay.” Storm hung up the phone and a moment later a man walked in and stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted the vamps. “Gentlemen, this is my second, Seth Moon, he will show you to your rooms. Seth…Seth?” Storm looked at him curiously.
“Mine!” Seth came out of his trance and ran over to Sky and grabbed onto him, sinking his teeth into the vampire’s neck. Sky caught him and then his eyes rolled to the back of his head as the most amazing pleasure ran through his body.
“Mine,” Sky whispered.
“Oh shit,” Alex said in shock. “Does this mean they’re mates?”
Storm started to laugh, big and loud, and all eyes went to him. The sound of Storm’s big hearty laugh went straight to Bass’s cock. Seth licked his bite closed and cuddled against Sky’s broad chest. “I guess you found your mate, buddy. Congratulations,” Storm said and his eyes shifted to Bass. Bass just looked back at him with an expression that was unreadable. His face was stone still and devoid of all emotion. “Seth, why don’t you show our guests to their rooms and go get to know your mate.”
Seth took Sky’s hand and started to lead him out of the room. Nicco and the others just stood there looking after them. “I guess if we’re gonna find our rooms before we turn into bacon we should follow them,” Nicco said, then walked over to Bass and shook his hand, giving him a pat on the back with the other. “Safe journey home, brother. Let us know when you arrive safely.” Bass shook Nicco’s hand in return. “You take care of each other and come home soon. We’ll go to the club for drinks when you get back.”
“I love the club. I can’t wait to get back now, there’s a pretty little bartender there I can’t wait to sink into,” Alex said, shaking Bass’s hand.
“Dale’s probably too much for you to handle, Al. He’s high maintenance.” Bass laughed. “But I’ll put in a good word for you next time I see him.”
The vampires all left, leaving Bass alone with S
torm. As soon as the door closed Storm was right on top of Bass, grabbing him into his tight embrace and smashing his lips against Bass’s. Bass’s hand went to Storm’s hips and held them tight as their lips pressed forcefully against each other, both men fighting for dominance. “Open for me, mate, let me in.” Storm growled against Bass’s lips. Storm ran his tongue across the seam of Bass’s lips trying to gain entry. Bass opened up for him and Storm thrust his tongue into Bass’s mouth. Their tongues were doing an angry dance in Bass’s mouth as each man tried to take control of the kiss. One of Storm’s hands went into Bass’s long hair, grabbing the back of his head and pressing their lips even harder together. Storm pulled Bass’s body closer so their hard cocks pressed against each other. Bass’s hands moved around to Storm’s ass grabbing both cheeks roughly as they started to rub against each other like cats in heat. Neither man could get enough, their movements were frantic and feral. Their cocks continued to grind into each other as their hands started to explore the other’s body. Finally when air became necessary they pulled their lips apart, but neither man let go of the other, their hands still explored as they looked at each other.
“Have to have you now, mate. Can’t wait a moment longer. Your scent is intoxicating, I need to claim you now.” Storm growled out frantically. The word claim was enough to bring Bass back from his lust. His hands stopped their exploration and his body stiffened. Storm noticed and looked at him questioningly.
Bass took a step back, catching his breath he looked in the eyes of the most beautiful creature in the world. “It’s not that I’m rejecting you, Storm, but I am familiar with some feline customs. Once you claim me you will go into heat for like a week, right?”
Storm smirked at him. “Three days actually, and for three days a month at the full moon.”
“Wow. Okay, but I really do need to return to my pack with your doctor. If you claim me now, I’ll have to wait three days before I can return…”
