by Skyler Snow
As loving and accepting as his family was, there were always boundaries. Mating a human was a major one. They all had human friends and coworkers, but it was always understood that humans were off limits. They wouldn't understand what it was to be a wolf—to be a pack—and all that would do is bring danger to them. No one needed to be outed to the world.
"I need to take a shower," Jed said quickly as he turned on his heels and made a beeline for the stairs.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You can't just start a conversation like that and then turn around and leave. What the fuck are you hiding?" Nathan asked as he went after his younger brother.
"It's like I said. I think I marked someone, and I just... I want to be on my own."
"First of all, what do you mean ‘might have?’" Declan asked as he stood up joining them near the stairwell. "Either you did or you didn't. So which one is it?"
They really were not going to let it go, and Jed was out of answers. In the back of his mind, he knew that if just confronting his brothers was this bad, it was going to be ten times worse when he had to explain all of this to Parker. However, he knew that the human had absolutely no idea what the bond solidifying between them and tying them together for the rest of their lives meant for wolves. It was one thing to be mated as a human; it was an entirely different thing to be mated as part of a pack.
And how would Parker even take it? As much as he loved Parker... Yes, love was the right word because no matter how much he tried to deny it, he knew he was completely and totally in love with Parker. As much as he loved Parker, he knew that his friend was a wild cannon. The man looked out for himself and hardly anyone else, especially lately. Whether that was his true self or was all bravado didn't matter. Parker did not have the pack attitude, and it would only cause even more problems between Jed and his family. Jedediah did not want to leave them, but he also didn't want to be sent away because he had broken pack rules.
"I don't want to talk about it," Jed growled as he turned on his brothers and bared his fangs. "I have had a shitty day, and I want to be left alone. Got it?" He snapped.
Declan immediately took a step back, overwhelmed by the sheer force of the alpha power that radiated from his brother's body. Colton growled—something he had never done to Jed before—but he did not like his mate being pushed around, obviously. Nathan, on the other hand, stood fast and raised a brow at his petulant brother.
"Are you done? You're the one who started to tell us and then just stopped. If you want us to leave you alone, we will. But don't come back here with your tail between your legs if something bites you in the ass. All we want to do is help, and if you want space, just tell us that. Don't be a fucking dick."
Jed glanced between the two of them, unsure of what to do. Gods, when was the last time he felt so unsure about shit? He pushed his fingers through his hair, muttered a “sorry,” and removed himself from the situation.
A shower. I need to get all of this dirt off me. Jed turned on the water and climbed in when it was nice and hot. He stayed put until his skin was red and tingly. By the time he’d climbed out, he’d calmed down a little, but the doubt and questions still remained.
Jed’s wolf said this was his mate. They were supposed to be together. Even as he tugged on a pair of sweats and sat on his bed, his wolf longed to be back with the man he’d just mated and knotted. Jed, however, was far from ready. He laid back on his bed and rubbed his hands over his face as he groaned.
“What the hell am I going to do?”
Chapter 7
Parker
Parker, for the first time in forever, had woken up early. Maybe it was because he’d barely slept. The cup of coffee nestled in his hands did absolutely nothing for his sour mood or the fatigue that made him want to climb back into bed and forget everything that happened.
Pretty sure it’s a bad sign when someone regrets sleeping with you so much they leave without their clothes. Parker stared at the pile of Jed’s things he’d collected off the floor from the night before. It wasn’t just his clothes; it was his wallet, his keys, and his car was still parked in the driveway as well.
He had wanted to get away from Parker as soon as possible, it seemed. Parker’s eyebrows knit as he glared at a spot on the wall as if he could burn a hole through it. What the hell is so wrong with me that he had to take off like that?
Before he could stop himself, tears lined his eyes and he angrily rubbed them away. It had been a long time since Parker had cried, and he wasn’t about to start now. He stood up and dumped the coffee into the sink. His body begged for something stronger, but he refused to give into that old habit. The one that had cost him everything.
“Who needs him? I sure as hell don’t,” he mumbled as he yanked up a sponge and angrily washed the dishes and then the counter, the stove, the table—anything to leach away the aggravation and disappointment from the night before. “Stupid fucking emotions. Go away,” he muttered under his breath.
The doorbell rang, and Parker stopped scrubbing. He set the sponge down and noticed how pink his hands were, but he didn’t have time to think about it as it rang again. At the same time, the thought that it better be and it better not be Jed crossed his mind. He was so pissed off at him, so why did he still long for him? Parker opened the door and frowned.
“I’m surprised you had a way to get back here after you left all your shit,” he said as he crossed his arms over his chest.
“I know, I know.” Jed sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I promised you I would look after the animals, though, so I came to do that.”
Parker’s glare deepened. “Is that all? You just wanted to come back and look after the animals? Nothing else?”
“And to apologize if you’re going to let me get the damn words out,” he grumbled.
“Don’t snap at me,” Parker spat. “You were so eager to get the hell out of here last night you didn’t even bother to pop your head in. ‘Hey Parker. Can’t do this. Ashamed I fucked you. Bye!’ That would have been a nice notice.”
“It’s not like that at all.”
“What’s it like?” Parker drawled. “It seems pretty clear to me, but apparently you have a different recollection of the events.”
“Don’t start talking like that,” Jed said as he rolled his eyes and pushed into the house past Parker.
“Like what?” The beta demanded as he walked after him. “And I didn’t say you could come in.”
“Like a stuck up, snobby asshole.” Jed poured himself a cup of coffee and shrugged. “I don’t see you throwing me out. I’m exhausted. Let me fuel up before I have to work.”
Parker opened his mouth and pointed, but no words came out. Jed was right. He wasn’t throwing him out, and what made it worse was the fact that he had no desire to do so. No, he wanted him to stay. He needed Jed to stay with him. Even if he was still pissed off and had every intention of giving the man a piece of his mind, he didn’t want to be apart from him.
“Fine. Just get to work then,” Parker finally hissed between clenched teeth.
As he tried to walk away, Jed snagged his arm. The minute he was touched, he felt the same heat that swept through him the night before. The mark on the crook of his neck, which he still didn’t know how he’d gotten, pulsed and throbbed. Why is it doing that when he touches me?
He’d been so filled with anger all morning, he hadn’t noticed the small tickle in the back of his mind, but being around Jed had thrown him for a loop. Parker suddenly felt everything. The apprehension and embarrassment which poured from Jed hurt, but underneath it was layered with his need and even... adoration.
There’s no way this is real, right? I can’t be feeling what he’s feeling. I’m making this up in my head to feel better.
Jed pulled him closer and ran a hand gently over his cheek. His thumb brushed up and down his skin slowly as he looked at Parker intensely. Parker could drown in his eyes and be perfectly okay with it.
It has been so easy to be angry at him this m
orning, but now he was at a loss. When the hell did I get so soft? Parker wasn't used to showing emotions around people. When he worked in the city, it was eat or be eaten, and he had adapted to that lifestyle perfectly.
"I couldn't handle what happened last night, and that was on me," Jed said as he pushed his fingers through Parker's hair. "You were passed out, and I just needed to go home."
Parker was still irritated, but knowing there was more under the surface than just something being wrong with him soothed him a bit. Slowly, he nodded as he searched Jedidiah’s face for answers.
"Did you think that I wanted something more? I meant it when I said just one night. You don't have to feel pressured to be something that we're not. It's not like I want anything like that."
Parker wasn't sure exactly who he was lying to, Jedediah or himself. Either way, he tasted the lie on his tongue, and Jed looked as if he didn't believe a word that came out of his mouth.
"There is a lot I need to talk to you about," Jedidiah said as he gripped Parker a little harder. "Really important things. Maybe it will make last night a little more clear."
Parker nodded and slowly fanned his face. Heat swept up the back of his neck, and his face felt as though it was burning up. All of a sudden, it was as if his entire body started to flush. He glanced up at Jed, and the look on his face was one of pure lust.
“Why the hell do you smell like that?” Jed growled low and deep as his eyes flashed.
Slowly, Parker moved back a little. “Like what? What do I smell like?”
“Amazing,” Jed groaned. “Like pure fucking heaven.”
Parker licked his lips, and even that small act sent his body into overdrive. He’d never experienced anything like what was happening, and he didn’t know whether he should be confused or afraid. His body reacted so strongly to Jedidiah, and as he tried to construct articulate words, a moan echoed from his throat.
“I don’t understand what’s happening to me,” he mumbled as he pulled away from Jed and grabbed his hands. “No, I don’t want to do this again. Just... go feed the animals. I’ll come out in a little while and do my part.”
“Parker, there’s no point in fighting this,” Jed said slowly. “You can’t just shut this out and pretend it doesn’t exist.”
Watch me.
It was what Parker did best, pretending things didn’t exist. He pulled away from Jedidiah—even though it nearly killed him to do so—and shook his head. The one night stand was a horrible idea, but falling into it all over again just to wind up hurt once more wasn’t going to do him any favors.
“Feed the animals.”
Parker turned on his heels to walk away and felt a hand around his upper arm. He tried to tug himself away from the vice like grip, but Jed wouldn’t release him. Parker narrowed his eyes and glared at Jed.
“I told you to feed the—”
“Who do you think you’re talking to like that?” Jed cut him off with a growl.
Parker’s mouth snapped shut as he watched the look that came over Jed. There wasn’t a hint of joking in those eyes, and he looked serious as hell. A tremor ran up Parker’s spine. He should have been pissed, but the look in Jed’s eyes made him want to both fight and submit at the very same time.
“Answer me,” Jed snapped, and Parker shook his head.
“You said that you were going to feed them,” Parker muttered. “That’s all I was saying.”
“No, it isn’t.” Jed pulled him closer until Parker was pressed against his body. “Don’t think you can order me around like some spoiled brat. I get it. There’s shit I don’t know about you that happened in New York, but you can either tell me or you can knock this shit off.”
Parker narrowed his eyes back and ignored his hammering heart. “You can’t push me around. This is my land and my home. If you don’t like it, then there’s the fucking door.”
Jed stared at him so long, Parker started to fidget. Why isn’t he saying anything? There was something about his stance that unnerved the beta, and before he could do the smart thing and get away, Jed headed to the stairs with him in tow and marched him to his bedroom.
“What are you doing?” Parker demanded.
Jed didn’t say a word. He walked over to the bed and yanked Parker over his lap. The beta tried to get up, but one well placed hand on his back and he couldn’t move. He squirmed underneath the pressure of the palm that subdued him, but he couldn’t get away.
“Jed, what are you— Ow!”
His eyes went wide as that heavy hand came down on his ass. The thin material of his boxers didn’t do much to shield him, and the surprise soon dissolved into stinging. Before he could recover, Jed’s hand came down again and again. The sharp sound of the slaps echoed in the large room, and Parker cried out as he held onto Jed.
“Are you done?” Jed asked, his hand resting on Parker’s sore cheeks. He felt his boxers slide down, and Jed rubbed his skin gently. “Or do I need to keep going?”
Parker quickly shook his head. “I’m done,” he said softly, all of the attitude drained out of him. “I’m sorry.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.”
Jed pulled him up, but repositioned Parker onto his knees so that the beta rested between his thighs and looked up at him. Leaning down, Jed ran a finger underneath Parker’s chin and tilted his head up. His lips brushed against Parker’s, and he shuddered in response.
I shouldn’t like this so much. Jed was a bossy, dominating, control freak. If it was anyone else, Parker would have told them to fuck off, but there was something about Jed that kept him there on his knees between Jed’s thighs. He almost felt safe—even if his ass still stung. It hadn’t helped the heat, either, that had continued to spread throughout his body.
Parker licked his lips. “Jed,” he groaned as he reached up and gripped his thighs. “I’m so hot. I can’t fight it anymore. Please, please fuck me. Please.”
Jed stroked his fingers through Parker’s soft hair. “I thought you wanted me to feed the animals,” he questioned in that deep, husky tone that made Parker want to rub up against him.
“It can wait just a little while, right? Just for a bit,” he groaned and tried not to sound desperate, but the heat only kept growing, and he felt like he’d go crazy. Parker pushed a hand between his thighs and rubbed his already leaking cock when his eyes widened.
“Is that... What the fuck?”
Parker pushed his fingers further back and encountered slick between his cheeks. Beta’s didn’t slick, that was an omega thing. Right? He stared up at Jed, but it was clear the alpha was having a hard time concentrating. Jed’s nostrils flared as he took in Parker’s scent and reached down to yank him up before he pushed Parker onto the bed.
There was no time to figure out what was going on. Not when the alpha was clearly locked in a world of lust and desire that he’d begged for. To be honest, he didn’t even give a fuck about it at that moment because he wanted to feel Jed. No, he needed it, he craved it on some primal level that demanded he have his alpha’s cock.
Jed climbed on top of him as soon as he was completely stripped, but he didn’t thrust inside of him like Parker had been expecting. Instead, he laid on his belly and ran a tongue over Parker’s cock, which forced a shiver through his body. Jed’s tongue continued to drag downward until he lapped at his slick and pushed the wet muscle inside of him.
“Jed,” Parker moaned. “That feels amazing,” he drawled as he ran his fingers over his own nipples and tweaked them roughly. His cock was already dripping, and he squirmed as Jed licked him up and down and then twisted his tongue in circles before he pushed it inside of him again and again.
Parker’s back arched up from the bed and sweat formed on his forehead as the pleasure took over completely. Every time he slept with Jed, it felt like he was in some kind of haze that he never wanted to be free from. He loved when Jed held him, when he kissed and bit and fucked him until he couldn’t think straight let alone move.
“You taste
so delicious it’s surreal,” Jed moaned as he came up and kissed Parker deeply. “I can’t think. I just need to fill you with cum until it’s leaking down your legs.”
“Do it,” Parker groaned.
He had no objections to that and Jed didn’t hold back just as he hadn’t the first time. As soon as his cock slammed inside of him he cried out as he gripped the sheets underneath him. His mouth fell open and Jed grinned down at him like he knew exactly how overwhelmingly good all of it was for him.
Jed grabbed his legs and pushed them back, opening him up more as he thrust into his body with wild abandon. Parker bounced up and down on the bed with each powerful forward motion and his body trembled at every electric sensation that took over his body. Automatically, he tried to move his legs, but Jed refused to let him go.
The alpha gripped both of his ankles and put them over one shoulder before he leaned in more. His free hand wrapped around Parker’s throat. He melted as that strong palm held him down, kept him in place, and the pressure made his head dizzy.
It was more than Parker could take. “I’m gonna cum,” he slurred as his eyes closed and he submitted to the pleasure that took over him completely. “I’m gonna cum for you, Jed. Just for you.”
His words must have hit a nerve because Jed thrust harder until Parker couldn’t hold back anymore as he felt himself being spread more. Spurts of his cum shot out and landed on his belly without him even having to touch himself. Once again, he felt full and warm and he passed out with a smile on his face.
Chapter 8
Jed
Parker stayed tucked underneath Jed’s arm, the sound of his snores making the alpha grin as he gazed at the angelic man beside him. Apparently, all Parker needed was a firm hand and he was right back to being on track. Jed hadn’t even questioned it, just put Parker over his knee and watched as he melted and then turned ravenous.
