Bitten Hard

by Fel Fern

  Any other weaker shifter wouldn’t last long out in the world alone but Joey’s determination to survive and his resilience made Lance proud of him.

  Running alongside Joey in the woods, Lance was finally able to do what he’d always dreamt of doing. He wanted to have more runs with Joey, to make up for all their lost time together. Enough dwelling on what happened before, Lance refused to let the past taint the present.

  As he slammed his lips against Joey’s, he sensed the other werewolf’s surprise, but Joey swiftly recovered. Joey planted one hand over his chest, the other clutching at his left bicep as he returned the kiss. Heat travelled down Lance’s throat and right to his thickening cock. He cupped Joey’s ass and used his other hand to continue stroking his little wolf.

  When he pulled his mouth away, Joey panted, eyes wide.

  “What did you mean just now when you said you didn’t want me to leave?” Joey asked.

  “You’re mine now, Joey. Freida and you will be under my protection.”

  “W-what about the Alpha and the rest of your pack? I heard they’re wary of outsiders.”

  Joey didn’t say it out loud, but Lance had feeling Joey harbored the same fears he did before. In the past, Lance hadn’t known Joey had some self-esteem issues. His little wolf truly believed he didn’t deserve Lance. Well, Lance planned on changing that, on reminding Joey of his place.

  “Let me take care of that, but I’m not worried. Didn’t you know? The Devil and the Ghost have taken interest in you and your sister. Know how rare that is? If Santino and Sabine are on my side, that means it won’t take a lot of work to convince Deacon. The other enforcers will be easy.”

  Joey bit his lower lip. “You always sound confident, even when you don’t know the result.”

  He cupped Joey’s cheek. Joey parted his lips slightly, looking like he wanted more.

  Lance took that opportunity to slip his tongue down Joey’s throat, pleased Joey sucked down on it. In his hand, Joey’s prick turned rock-hard. Then again, so did his. Fuck, but he couldn’t wait to be inside his mate. It had been so long, and he’d never thought he’d ever see Joey again.

  He pulled away, thumbed away the pre-cum gathered on the tip of Joey’s dick.

  “Enough talk. It’s time we finish what we started all those years ago.”

  “What’s that?” Joey asked, entire body trembling.

  “You becoming mine in every sense of the word. Out of the water,” Lance ordered.

  “You’re as bossy as I remembered,” Joey grumbled but didn’t protest when Lance nudged him back toward the river bank. Cool sand touched the soles of his feet, then soft grass. This grass spot next to an oak tree, Lance mused, would be perfect.

  “On your back, little wolf,” he commanded.

  Joey did as he asked. For a moment, Lance took that opportunity to admire the lean planes of Joey’s body, Joey’s smooth creamy skin, and that anxious, handsome face. He lowered himself, straddling his mate, groaning as they rubbed their bodies and dicks together. Lance pinned Joey’s hands above his head and took Joey’s lips, just because he could and he intended to enjoy himself as much as possible.

  He nipped and sucked at Joey’s lower lip, continued leaving a trail down the side of Joey’s jaw, the side of his neck. Lance put his lips against where shoulder flowed to neck, bit hard enough to leave a bruise but not draw blood, not yet. He intended to enjoy his little wolf much longer.

  “Tell me,” Lance murmured, tracing Joey’s flat nipple with his tongue, before leaving a small bite on it. Joey moaned. “How many other men have you been with?”

  “No one.”

  “Don’t lie to me. I won’t get mad.” Releasing Joey’s wrists, he went down on his mate. Lance used his tongue to trace Joey’s veined length, paying attention to Joey’s cockhead. He liked how Joey squirmed above him and pleas slipped from Joey’s lips.

  “Please,” Joey uttered.

  “Answer the question.”

  “It’s true. I swear. Freida and I spent so much time running, there was no time for romance.”

  Lance knew Joey told the truth and that made him smile. “Good, because after I fuck you senseless, there won’t be any other man but me.”

  “Possessive bastard,” Joey whispered, crying out when Lance opened his mouth and began taking his prick in.

  Lance bobbed his head up and down several times. He reached for Joey’s balls, applying slight pressure to them. Knowing Joey was on the verge of coming, he pulled his mouth away. Lance’s own shaft curved upward, and he’d go insane if he didn’t bury himself inside Joey’s sweet ass soon. Patience, he told his wolf. Joey was finally within their grasp, but he wanted both of them to enjoy this moment.

  “Why did you do that?” Joey demanded, looking flustered.

  “Beg me and maybe I’ll be nice to you, little wolf,” Lance said.

  * * * *

  “W-what?” Joey blurted, barely able to string a coherent thought, especially with Lance looking at his dick like candy.

  God, but he’d imagined Lance going down on him, rewarding him in his fantasies, but never actually thought to experience it in reality. Dominant shifters usually took and seldom gave, but Lance had been a generous lover, he remembered.

  Beg me, Lance had told him.

  Blushing, Joey murmured, “Please.”

  “What exactly are you begging me for, little wolf?”

  “Your dick in me.” Joey knew he probably looked like a human tomato by now, but he wanted nothing more than to feel Lance buried balls deep inside him, reminding him who he belonged to.

  “Good answer, but I changed my mind. I don’t want to take you here, out in the open. I want you in my den, my bed.”

  Joey’s heart raced at those words. A dominant shifter’s personal space was their private sanctuary, and by inviting him to his home, Lance was telling Joey he wasn’t just a stranger. Lance shifted back to wolf. In a daze, Joey did the same. He couldn’t recall much of the run, but he did remember sensing other Devil Hills wolves. They were never in his line of sight, but he knew they were there.

  Then he remembered the Devil Hills pack chose that clearing for a reason, because they refused to allow outsiders into the heart of their territory. Yet Lance was risking plenty, the wrath of his Alpha and pack, by bringing Joey here. He followed Lance past a few trees. The ground under his paws turned even, a rough dirt road, he realized, following the trail which led to a modest-looking single floor cabin.

  His wolf was a mess of emotions inside of him. Somehow, looking at Lance’s cabin resonated deep within him. Joey didn’t realize he hadn’t moved from his spot in front of the porch until Lance called out to him.

  “Aren’t you coming in, little wolf?” Lance asked, leaning by the doorway.

  Joey shifted forms and took a few seconds to stare at Lance, completely naked and gorgeous, his tanned muscles gleaming slightly with sweat. Lance had a warrior’s body, riddled with old scars and rake marks. Joey wanted nothing better than to run his hands down that tempting hard flesh. God. It was natural he’d have doubts. How could a man like Lance want a nobody like him?

  “What’s wrong?” Lance asked, eliminating the distance between them.

  “Still wondering what you’re doing with someone like me,” he said, because while they were in the water, Joey made a silent promise to himself to always be truthful with his mate.

  “Clearly, you don’t see what I do.” Lance gripped his arm, tugged him close for another scorching kiss which left his dick happy.

  “What’s that?” he whispered, allowing Lance to pull him inside.

  “My fucking amazing and brave mate.”

  “What? I’m not brave.”

  “You are. You’ve protected your sister all your life, but you can stop running and worrying. I’ll always watch your back, and I’ll rip out the throat of any fucker who comes near you or Freida,” Lance said with a growl.

  “I’ve ran before. I’m not proud of my actions but I k
now this time I’m here to stay,” Joey whispered. “You’re home, Lance.”

  They didn’t make it past the living room, because Lance claimed his mouth again, running his big and callused hands down Joey’s slender body. He moaned when Lance gave his ass a squeeze.

  “Mine,” Lance said, voice harsh, pupils a circle of gold.

  The hunger in the Beta’s eyes erased all of Joey’s doubts.

  “Yours,” he whispered, still not completely believing this was happening, but he wanted to feel Lance inside him now. “Fuck me.”

  “Hands and knees,” Lance ordered, helping him to position. “Wait here.”

  The Beta disappeared inside a door and returned with lube in hand. Joey lowered himself to the hardwood floor, chest pressed against the woods as he thrust his ass in offering to his mate. Lance chuckled, the sound deep and sexy.

  “Fuck, Joey. Look at you. So perfect and all mine.” Lance ran his hand down his back, his ass. The Beta nudged his legs wider, and he was glad Lance couldn’t see his face. Like this, Lance had a perfect view of his exposed balls and tormented dick.

  Lance uncapped the lube moments later, drizzled a generous amount inside his hole, and slid one slick finger inside him. He moaned as Lance added a second, then a third, widening him for access.

  “Please,” he repeated. “I want you.”

  “Soon, baby. I’ll ride you so hard, you’ll only be able to think about me the next day.”

  Chapter Seven

  Relief filled Joey when Lance replaced fingers with his dick. Lance gripped his hips and pushed in. He sucked in a breath, forgetting how big the Beta was. Lance didn’t shove his prick all the way in, though. Joey steadied his breathing. It hurt less after Lance slid past the thick ring of muscles. Finally, Lance buried himself all the way to the hilt, until his balls rested against Joey’s ass.

  He expelled a sigh.

  “Now the fun begins,” Lance said. “Time to make you fly, little wolf.”

  “Looking forward to it,” he managed to answer, making the Beta laugh.

  Lance started with steady strokes, slowing gaining momentum, turning pain to pleasure. Needing something to hold onto, Joey clawed at the floor. He found himself meeting Lance for every thrust. They didn’t speak. Joey relished their bodies colliding, his inner wolf howling, wanting their mate to complete the dance they started five years ago.

  The Beta fucked him harder, deeper, seemingly capable of breaching his most intimate places. The room fell away from Joey’s line of sight as he panted. His balls tightened against his body. Then Lance must have shifted angle, because the next time the Beta entered him, he hit Joey’s sweet spot.

  Gasping, Joey arched his back as Lance repeatedly brushed against his prostate.

  “You close?” Lance asked.

  “Very.”

  “Me too. Come for me, little wolf. Let me hear you scream.” Lance pounded in and out of him faster. At the same time, the Beta reached between his legs and began stroking his prick. The duel sensation of Lance working his cock and fucking him proved too much. Lance pinched at his balls and the pressure building inside him erupted.

  Joey came, screaming out Lance’s name as he emptied strings of his jizz into Lance’s hand. The Beta pistoned in and out of him several times before filling his ass with warmth. Joey felt boneless, vaguely aware of Lance sitting on the floor and pulling him close, until Joey straddled his legs.

  Knowing what came next, Joey bared his neck. Lance kissed the spot. “I want you to be completely sure, Joey. I won’t ask again.”

  Joey gripped Lance’s triceps. “Back then, I’d been a fool who’d only dared to dream but lacked the guts to go after what I wanted. I want you, to see where this road will take us.”

  “A simple yes would have sufficed,” Lance teased, but his gaze turned serious as he unsheathed his fangs and struck the side of his neck.

  He gasped at the pain, but it was still clouded by the aftereffects of post-orgasm bliss. Then Joey sensed his wolf accepting Lance’s more dominant beast. Knowing he had to complete the dance, he left his own small bite mark on the curve of Lance’s right shoulder. The mating bond sprung up between them, linking their wolves and hearts together.

  Joey tightened his hold on Lance, seeing other connections to his mate. The pack bonds, he realized, were like shining gold threads linked to one another. He’d never seen anything so beautiful, so powerful. It made the Black Claws pack bonds he used to belong to pale in comparison. Would the Devil Hills wolves accept him as Lance’s mate?

  No, he’d think about that tomorrow. Tonight, all Joey wanted was to spend time with his mate.

  Lance pulled his fangs away. Joey shut his eyes, no longer seeing the psychic bonds, but he knew they would always be there. Leaning his head against Lance’s chest, he reached for Lance’s hand. Lance gave his fingers a squeeze and kissed him on the lips, gently and tenderly this time.

  “I love you,” he murmured after parting from the kiss, unsure if it was too soon to say those three words but he couldn’t help himself. “I was a scared kid five years ago and would never tell you that, but I’m stronger now.”

  Lance stroked his back. “I love you, too, little wolf. Always have, always will.”

  * * * *

  Tiny paws scratching on wood woke Lance from a long and peaceful sleep. Then the sound faded. Good. Lance wasn’t exactly a morning person. He cracked his eyes open, growling softly under his breath. Lance couldn’t remember the last time he had such a good sleep, and looking at the body tangled next to him, he understood why. Joey looked peaceful and perfect next to him.

  Lance stroked the bandage on the side of Joey’s neck where his mate mark was. A shot of possessiveness filled him, followed by smug satisfaction. Oh yeah, his wolf wanted to howl inside him in triumph. His touch must have woken Joey, because Joey opened his eyes, looking bleary at first.

  Joey sucked in a breath. “You’re real. Last night wasn’t just a wonderful dream.”

  “It’s fucking real, little wolf. I’ll prove it to you. Turn over.”

  Joey did as he asked. Lance slipped his hand over Joey’s chest, draping his body over Joey’s back. Joey groaned when he positioned his rock-hard prick between his ass cheeks.

  “So hard already?” Joey asked, but his little wolf sounded excited.

  “For you? Always.” Lance lifted Joey’s leg and without warning, pushed into Joey’s ass, still slick from last night.

  Joey groaned as Lance slid in and out of him, rubbing himself against Lance, much to Lance’s delight. Last night, after Lance gave Joey his mate mark, they had sex two more times before going to sleep. That was one of the perks of both being shifters, they both recovered fast.

  Even if Lance already had his mate thrice last night, he couldn’t have enough of him. Joey was his drug of choice, and what was even better? Joey wasn’t going anywhere now that they were mated. No more running for either of them. He kissed the nape of Joey’s neck and began fucking his mate slowly, leisurely, making sure they both enjoyed the ride. Lance hit Joey’s sweet spot and Joey made that sweet little gasp.

  Lance aimed for that spot and whispered in his mate’s ear, “Touch yourself.”

  Joey reached for his prick, obeying. Joey moaned as he picked up the pace. Neither of them lasted long. His mate came first, panting. Lance finished off in a few strokes, filling Joey’s ass with his seed.

  “I think I want every morning to be like this,” he said after they both recovered.

  Joey nestled closer to him. “Really?”

  “Don’t tell me you didn’t enjoy that.”

  “I did, immensely. It gets better every time. I’m still soaking everything in. Part of me still thinks this is too good to be true.”

  Lance kissed his mate mark. “Silly little wolf. Don’t worry. I’ll remind you every single time that this is your new reality.”

  Remembering the paws on his door, Lance sighed. He had duties to attend to, and he had to explain to Deaco
n how he’d mated Joey. While Deacon seemed encouraging the day before, he wasn’t exactly sure how the Alpha would react if he told Deacon he mated an outsider.

  Lance trusted Joey, understood his mate made those decisions in the past for the sake of Freida and his survival, but Deacon and his other packmates might not see it the same way. The Devil Hills wolves picked which outsider to give refuge to, after all.

  “What are you thinking about?” Joey asked, turning around to stroke his chest. Lance didn’t mind. He loved Joey’s touch, would only allow his mate those skin privileges.

  “About what we need to face.”

  Joey’s face fell, but Lance cupped his chin, forcing Joey to look at him. “Listen to me, Joey. You’re the only thing I’ve ever truly wanted. You complete me. I’ll take care of this.”

  “What if your packmates don’t accept me?”

  “Don’t automatically come to that conclusion. They’ll soon see what I do, a strong, capable wolf who’ll do anything to protect those he cares about.” He gave Joey a kiss on the mouth. “Come on, let’s take a shower. Then breakfast is in order. We can talk about this further.”

  “Shower?” Joey asked brightly, insecurities already forgotten.

  Lance smiled. “What are you thinking of now, little wolf?”

  Chapter Eight

  “Max and I agree on one thing, we both don’t like this,” Joe Stanton, one of their pack enforcers, said during the emergency meeting Lance called.

  While Lance and Joey got reacquainted, Deacon and the other enforcers had made sure all the challengers left their lands. A couple of fights broke out between the contenders, but they expected that. Dominant shifters didn’t like losing, and if they couldn’t fight any of the Devil Hills pack on the threat of death, they fought each other.