by Kasey Belle
“You’re sure it was your uncle who sent them?” Declan asked.
“Yes. We heard a noise and checked outside. I saw them through the window. Brody, Straus, and Denny. Even if I hadn’t. I’d know their scents anywhere. I grabbed Leo and escaped out the window. I-I shot and killed Straus and Denny when they came after us. After that, I followed the plan and called you, Declan.” Nick studied the men in the room. Cade, who Nick had dubbed the prankster of the two, looked as though he was also fighting tears. Declan’s eyes held a mixture of sadness and anger. Kell looked fierce, ready to do battle. Their empathy warmed his heart.
“I get that Speer was pissed when you two ran so Summer wouldn’t be sold off to the highest bidder.” Declan’s lips curled in disgust. “But, why keep coming after her, especially once she and Daniel mated? It doesn’t make sense. Was it ego?”
To answer his question, Nick had to divulge a secret that would put Leo in even more danger if anyone ever found out. He had to believe Declan and his pack were truly deserving of their reputation. He had to trust the information would stay between them. He turned to Mal for reassurance. His mate smiled and nodded.
“Remember what I said, baby.”
If it wasn’t safe, Mal would tell him. “My uncle didn’t want Summer, per se. He wanted what she could give him.”
“An alliance and lucrative drug business?”
Nick shook his head then nodded. “Yes, but not just that. My father was a seer.” Everyone gasped at the news.
“Holy shit,” Cade muttered.
“Unfortunately, the Fates don’t allow the seer to be privy to his own future. If they did, my father would have known what my uncle planned for him and my mother. The gift didn’t pass to Summer or myself. As a gay man the chance I’d have children and pass on the gift was slim. Summer, however, was a different story.” Declan’s lips curled into a disgusted sneer. Yeah, that’s how Nick felt too. “Yes, Uncle Craden wanted to align his and Alpha Sutter’s pack for the drugs and money, but he also wanted my sister’s offspring. When she mated Daniel, his chance to align the packs was gone, but getting his hands on a seer wasn’t.”
A low growl rumbled in Kell’s chest. “He wants Leo.”
Declan leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “There is no way to know if Leo has the gift of sight until he’s much older.”
“I know. I’m sure he’d have one of his bitches raise him until that happened. If Leo has the gift, Uncle Craden would use him for his own evil purposes. Leo would be a slave. If it turned out Leo is not gifted, my uncle would either murder him or imprison him until he could breed Leo and hopefully produce a gifted offspring. Either way, Leo’s life would be hell. I will not let that happen.”
Growls filled the room. “It will never happen,” Cade snarled.
“Damn right,” Kell agreed. The other men nodded their agreement.
“What has happened to your family will not go unavenged,” Declan vowed. “I’ll get on the phone and call a few council elders I know we can trust to keep your existence here quiet. I’ll let them know what’s going on. We need to start proceedings.”
“Sanctions won’t do any good. Alpha Speer always manages to weasel his way around those,” Nick countered not bothering to hide the bitterness he felt.
“Not anymore,” Declan growled. “Are you willing to swear a statement to the council?”
“You swear you’ll protect Leo? I don’t care what happens to me.”
Mal growled. “I care. I care a whole fucking lot.”
Declan grinned at him. “You’re family, Nick. It goes without saying that we will protect Leo. But if it will make you feel better for us to swear it, we do. And FYI, everyone in this room cares what happens to you, not just your mate.”
Nick breathed a sigh of relief. He was beginning to believe they cared. “Thank you.”
Mal drove them over to the barn after they concluded the meeting. Jay and a tall blond man walked out of the open doors just as Mal pulled his truck to a stop next to the paddock. “Who is that with Jay?”
“Traynor. He’s Maddie’s son and Jay’s father.” Mal reached over and squeezed his hand. “Come on I’ll introduce you.”
Mal opened his door and Jay smiled when he saw them. The little boy ran over to greet his cousin. “Hey, Mal!”
Mal climbed out the truck and fist bumped his little cousin. “Hey, dude.” Nick removed Leo from his car seat then walked around to where Mal was speaking with Jay.
“Hey, Nick.” Jay waved then reached out and wiggled Leo’s foot. “Hey, Leo.” The baby smiled and babbled at Jay. “Are you taking Leo to see the kittens?”
Mal nodded. “And the horses.”
“Cool! Can I come with?”
“Sure.” Mal turned his attention to Traynor who had walked over. “Hey, Cuz.”
“Sup, Mal.” Traynor looked expectantly at Nick. “Heard you had some news.”
“Oh, sorry. Traynor this is my mate, Nick.” The way Mal beamed at him with pride made Nick’s heart go all gooey. “Nick this Traynor. Cousin. Ranch foremen.”
“And Jay’s most mature and talented dad,” Traynor teased. He pulled his work gloves off and held out his hand.
Nick shook Traynor’s hand. “Nice to meet you. I met your mother. She’s lovely. How many fathers does Jay have?”
“Three. Me and my brothers Steve and Sean. This must be Leo. I’ve heard a lot about this little guy from that lovely mother of mine.” He tapped Leo’s nose making the baby giggle.
“Dad? I’m gonna go get Emma Grace. I’m sure she wants to see the kittens, too.” Jay didn’t wait for a reply before running off toward the main house.
“That boy is obsessed.” Mal shared a laugh with his cousin. “Where’s the rest of the tiny trio?”
“Luke drove into town with Paul. Jay doesn’t know what to do with himself without Luke around. He mopes when they’re forced to split up. Says it’s no fun doing chores by himself.” Traynor shook his head. “The whole situation is extremely pitiful.”
“It’s no fun getting into mischief by yourself.” Mal cracked a grin. “You remember those days don’t you, cousin?”
“I remember bailing you, Steve, and Sean out of trouble,” he replied, dryly.
Mal stared at his cousin, his expression far too innocent to be genuine. Nick shook his head. He could definitely imagine his mate as a boy running around causing trouble then denying he did.
Traynor nodded towards the barn. “I’ll walk with you.” Mal took Nick’s hand and followed behind the foreman. “Have you ever been on a working ranch before, Nick?”
“No. This is a first for me.”
“Well you are in for a treat.” Traynor began pointing out the finer features of the barn to Nick. He expected dirt floors and awful smells. He couldn’t have been more wrong. The barn was clean with a wide concrete alleyway running front to back. Horse stalls ran along both sides and were made of oak and steel. Some of the stalls stood empty. The sliding doors on the occupied stalls were latched shut but had a little door in the grill which remained open so the horses could poke their heads out. Nick noted the floors of each stall were covered with fresh hay.
Nick turned toward what sounded like a tiny stampede coming up behind him. Jay and Emma Grace ran into the barn and skidded to a stop a few feet from them. Nick was worried that their exuberance would scare the horses, but they didn’t even stir. They hung their head over the stall doors looking unimpressed. Obviously, the large animals were used to the noise.
“Hi, Uncle Traynor,” Emma Grace chirped as she run over and hugged the man around the legs. Traynor patted her lovingly on the back.
“Hey, munchkin.”
She giggled then turned her attention to Nick. “Hi, Uncle Nick. Can I give Leo a kiss?”
Nick smiled and crouched down and Emma Grace placed a kiss on her new cousin’s cheek. Leo immediately reached for her curls. She jumped back and playfully shook her finger at Leo. “No. no. Wh
at is it with you boys and my curls?” Leo giggled and reached for her finger. “Come on, Uncle Nick.” She grabbed his hand and tugged. Nick heart went all gooey when she called him Uncle Nick. She was such a sweet cub. “I want Leo to meet my pony.”
Leo was doing the tired baby head bob and yawning by the time they were done meeting the horses and kittens.
“We better get this sleepy boy home for a nap.” Mal stated as he ran his large hand over Leo’s fuzzy head.
“Oh, do you have to Uncle Mal? Leo can sleep in the daycare. Nick said he’d swing me.”
Nick met Mal’s eyes and felt his lips twitched. Swing me. That was adorable. “I don’t see why Leo can’t nap here. I did promise her.”
Mal peered down at Emma Grace. “You’re lucky you’re cute.” Mal tapped the tip of her nose. She giggled and nodded. Yeah she knew she was adorable.
Chapter 13
They ended up eating dinner with Declan and his family. Mal wasn’t happy about the turn of events, but he couldn’t deny Emma Grace when she asked them to stay and eat with her. It wasn’t that Mal didn’t love his family. He did. He loved every single one of them, but he wanted to be alone with his mate.
Nick shot him sly glances all through dinner and if Mal wasn’t mistaken those looks meant something. Something big. Mal was afraid to voice it though. He didn’t want to get his hopes up. His mate may only want to make out and cuddle. He would give Nick whatever he wanted and needed. Mal meant what he said. He could wait until the time was right to claim Nick. They had forever.
“Doesn’t mean I want to wait forever though. I want to claim him.” His wolf argued with a huff.
“You think I don’t. You will calm your shit. We will claim him when he’s ready.
“He’s ready. You saw it in his eyes. I can scent his need same as you.”
His wolf wasn’t wrong. Nick’s scent was driving him insane. He was damned glad the ride home from Declan’s was a short one. He pulled to a stop in front of the garage and got out of the truck. Mal took a deep breath pulling the fresh air into his lungs in a futile attempt to calm his raging hard-on. He met Nick at his door and waited as Nick removed Leo from his car seat. Nick smiled and his whole face lit up making Mal’s heart skip a beat. He wanted to make his mate smile that way all the time.
Mal opened the front door for them and stepped back to let Nick and Leo enter first. “Let’s get this little guy in the bath.”
Nick leaned up and planted a sweet peck on Mal’s lips. “Sounds like a plan. Maybe after we put Leo down for the night you and I can discuss our… future?” Nick sent him a suggestive grin then stepped over the threshold. “If you know what I mean.”
Mal stood dumbfounded as his mate retreated down the hallway towards the bathroom. “Did he just?”
“Yes!” His wolf growled. “What the fuck are waiting for. Move. We have a mate to claim.”
“Right.” Mal locked up the house and hurried to the master bathroom while Nick bathed Leo. He hopped in the shower, washing the scent of horses and barn from his body. His cock was hard as stone and his need rode him. He briefly considered taking matters into his own hand so he wouldn’t blow the second his mate touched his dick, but the solo act no longer held any appeal. Even if it did, Mal figured his relief would be short-lived. Nothing would curb his longing for Nick except burying himself deep inside his mate and even then…
Mal dried off quickly with a towel and brushed his teeth. He wrapped the towel around his waist and opened the door, stopping short when he came face to face with Nick who held his fist in midair.
Nick jerked in surprise and dropped his hand to his side. “Sorry,” he said as he peered up at Mal through his lashes.
“Why are you sorry?”
“I didn’t mean to startle you?” He shrugged.
“You didn’t. Were you about to knock?” Nick shrugged, again. Mal tucked a finger under his mate’s chin and tilted his face making Nick look him in the eyes. “You don’t have to knock on the bathroom door if I’m in here. You can just let yourself in.”
“I didn’t want to presume you didn’t want the privacy.” He flashed Mal a small grin.
His sweet Nico was a contradiction. He was bold one moment, then shy and unsure the next. Mal definitely preferred bold and sassy Nick. Shy Nick made him want to wrap his mate in cotton and lock him away so the world couldn’t hurt him. “If I want privacy, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, you have free rein on all intrusions concerning my personal space.” He sent a teasing wink Nick’s way causing a faint blush to color his mate’s cheeks.
Mal planted a slow kiss on Nick’s slightly parted lips. “Take your time, baby. I’ll meet you in bed.”
****
Nick blew his hair dry knowing if he didn’t it would be stuck up in all directions when he woke in the morning and nothing short of washing his hair again would fix it. He brushed his teeth and sprayed on his favorite cologne then wiped the counter down and put his toiletries away, a habit ingrained in him after years of needing to be ready to run on a moment’s notice.
Nick leaned on his hands and stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. The constant worry he normally saw in his eyes wasn’t there. In its place was a calm determination to claim his mate. He was about to change his status and he wasn’t nervous like he thought he’d be.
“Because we’re mates.” His wolf declared. “There is no use for nerves or uncertainty with the one the Fates deemed as ours.”
“True. I hope we don’t fuck this up.”
“We? I know what I’m doing. It’s called animal instinct.” His beast preened and shot him a wolfish grin.
“Shut up.” Nick rolled his eyes. He stared at his reflection for another moment then nodded. “Let’s go claim our mate.”
His wolf howled his agreement. Nick took a deep breath and opened the door. He stepped into the bedroom and froze. Mal was laying on his back in the middle of the bed. One hand behind his head the other slowly jacking his cock. Nick’s mouth watered. He couldn’t wait to taste every glorious inch of Malcolm Creed. “You’re naked,” he blurted. Thank you, Captain Obvious.
“Not completely. I’m wearing the smile you gave me.” He wagged his eyebrows.
Nick snorted and rolled his eyes. He swore Mal used those cheesy lines just to get a reaction. His eyes gravitated once again to the hand currently wrapped around Mal’s erection.
“I hope I wasn’t being presumptuous. Nico.” Mal’s tone said he wasn’t really all that concerned about his state of undress or arousal.
Nick pulled his focus from the mesmerizing rhythm of Mal fisting his dick and forced himself to maintain eye contact with his mate. “I should lie and say that’s exactly what you were being and storm off in feigned indignation just to teach you a lesson.” He cocked an eyebrow and wagged a finger at Mal. “I don’t want to start out this relationship with you thinking you can just crook you finger and get your way because you’re gorgeous.”
“You think I’m gorgeous?” Mal sent him a sly grin.
“That would be all you heard,” Nick muttered.
Mal eyed him up and down then licked his lips. Damn, that was hot. “But, you won’t do that to me, will you mate? You won’t leave me here in this big bed alone and hard for you… will you?” He punctuated his statement with flex of his hips.
Nick wiped his mouth sure he was drooling. “No, I won’t. I want you too much and denying you would punish me as well. I’m not a masochist.” Grinning, he pushed his boxers down his hips and kicked them off once they reached his feet.
“So you want me to claim you then?” Mal growled. Heat flared in his eyes as he studied Nick’s naked body. “Come here, Nico.” He crooked his finger and damned if Nick didn’t let him have his way.
A shiver ran up Nick’s spine. Mal had a sexy voice, but when it went all growly and laced with arousal? It made him want to follow any order his mate gave him. Nick walked across the room to the bed adding an extra sway to hips as he did. Mal watch
ed Nick with half-lidded eyes and the air around them was heavy with the scent of their combined arousal. He climbed onto the bed and laid next to Mal.
Nick and Mal faced each other in bed. There was no need for words. Their eyes spoke for them. Nick’s gaze roamed over the hard, muscular frame of his mate. He was even more beautiful than Nick could have imagined. Mal’s body was nothing short of perfection. His strong muscular body honed by hard labor and not hours spent in a gym. A light dusting of dark hair covered Mal’s chest and tapered into a lickable happy trail bisecting his eight-pack abs. Last, but definitely not least, his mate’s long, thick cock and smooth balls, and perfectly groomed pubic hair. Nick could feel Mal’s eyes on him as he studied his heavy erection. It curved up towards Mal’s stomach, the head angry and leaking. Nick instinctively licked his lips. Mal growled and Nick looked up into his eyes, but Mal’s focus was on his mouth.
Like Mal, Nick’s dick throbbed with need, but he ignored it. He wanted to learn everything about his mate’s body first. He’d waited his entire life for this moment. He cupped Mal’s face and brushed his thumbs over the cheek, the skin was only slightly rough with the day’s growth of hair. Nick leaned in and used his lips to explore Mal’s jaw. Then because they were impossible to resist, he worked his way back to Mal’s lips. Nick slid his hands down Mal’s neck. His mate’s pulse pounded beneath the tips of his fingers. He continued his exploration across Mal’s wide shoulders, then down across his chest. The soft hair teased his palms. “I love that you have hair. It’s just enough and so sexy.”
Nick slid closer to his mate and so he could reach around and trace the curve of Mal’s spine. Mal let out a strangled groan when Nick’s hands cupped the mounds of his tight ass and brought their lower bodies together.
