Heartsblood

by Shannon West

  Marco shuddered again and reached back with one of his hands to hold Nicky’s hip. He turned the side of his face toward him again and Nicky rewarded him with kisses. “I love you, Marco. And you’re just as much mine as I am yours. Forever. You understand?”

  Marco bit his lip and shifted his eyes toward the floor again, but he nodded, arching up again and groaning as Nicky raked his cock over Marco’s prostate.

  Marco moved his hips along with Nicky’s and Nicky stroked faster as he felt his orgasm clawing at him, tightening his balls. Marco’s whole body tensed as Nicky drove deeper and faster still. Nicky knew he was close, so he rubbed his cock hard again over Marco’s prostate and felt him shudder as his orgasm claimed him. Nicky followed, coming so hard he couldn’t even make a sound. He strained against Marco, burying himself inside him, and he might even have lost consciousness for a split second or two as the stars exploded behind his eyes and rained down around them.

  Afterward, he collapsed on top of Marco, loving the feel of that hard body against his. He didn’t yet have the knot that Jax, the only other mate who knew anything at all about the Bloodlust, had told him would eventually come, but he found himself longing for it suddenly, wanting to fill Marco up, tie up with him and hold him there for hours, fucking him over and over again.

  Finally catching his breath, he rolled off Marco and lay beside him on the floor, his heart still pounding in his chest. Marco turned over too and lay on his back staring up at the ceiling. He turned his head to look over at Nicky, his eyes dark with some emotion. Nicky reached for him, but Marco sat up quickly, flinching away. He glanced back over his shoulder at Nicky, his face angry and confused, glaring down at him.

  “What the fuck was that supposed to be?” he said bitterly. Nicky’s mouth fell open in shock but before he could answer, Marco surged to his feet, grabbed his clothes off the floor and stomped into the bathroom, his muscular back stiff with fury.

  * * * *

  Centuries ago, the Romans built a fort on a rocky hill near the base of the Pyrenees in what is now France. By the twelfth century, the Château de Foix occupied the same space and overlooked the small village below. The castle housed various noblemen over the centuries, and at one time the first of the great Hunters, a nobleman named Gaston Phoebus. Considered to be the greatest huntsmen of his day—he actually died of a stroke while washing his hands in a stream after a bear hunt—he wrote a book about hunting different animals, as well as describing animal behavior. But bears weren’t the only animal Gaston hunted. And they were far from the worst.

  The village of Foix was attacked time and again by the vicious mountain timber wolves, great slavering beasts who came down from the mountains and killed the peasants indiscriminately and who were said not really to be wolves at all. Late at night, when the townspeople huddled around their hearth fires, trying to hold back the darkness, they whispered that the wolves were actually Werewolves—terrible, fierce creatures who could be men and women by day and then change into wolves when the moon was full so they could feast on human flesh.

  The great Hunter Gaston fought a valiant fight against these wolves, but when the attacks became too frequent and the losses too great, he was forced to employ a necromancer to help him in his fight against the creatures. The necromancer, called Yvain Benauges, went out with the Hunters and observed the wolves carefully. He noted the leadership of an alpha pair, a strong, beautiful male and female, who were both bloodthirsty and deadly. He directed Gaston’s Hunters to direct all their efforts to tracking and killing the alpha male, whose body turned into a pale, handsome man, his features strong and stark in death. Yvain drained the werewolf’s heart of all its blood. With the blood and his unholy secrets, the necromancer made a magical elixir he called the Bloodlust.

  He told the Hunters the compound would make the wolves more vulnerable to attack, but he lied to them. He had other uses for the blood. He drank the elixir himself and turned into one of the werewolves. Since he had taken on the characteristics of the alpha male whose heartsblood he drank, he found and mated the alpha female, knowing that the compound would make the alpha female fall in love with him. The necromancer and his mate then led their pack and ravaged the countryside for the next hundred years, despite the rage of Gaston and his descendants at the necromancer’s treachery and betrayal.

  The new alpha pair was even more terrible than the one that came before. A reign of terror prevailed over the next century that decimated the population of Foix and the surrounding towns and increased the popularity of the Hunters, as they were the only ones who tried to stand against them.

  Finally, the Hunters were able to trap and then kill the alpha female, and they found to their joy that her death also destroyed Yvain, the necromancer, who was unable to live long without her. The remaining wolves in the pack fled, arriving eventually in America, along with the many descendants of the alpha pair. With them, they carried the Bloodlust in their own blood. The d’Alisandes were among these descendants.

  Cade d’Alisande put a finger on the page of the old book he’d been reading aloud and looked up at Marco. “That’s all the book says about it. This necromancer took something he called the heartsblood of the alpha and added his magical compound, but it doesn’t say what the compound was or give any clues as to how to make it.”

  “Damn it,” Marco said, standing up to pace around Cade’s office, wincing a little. Two hours had passed since his sexual encounter with Nicky, and Marco was still sore. It had been a long time since he’d bottomed for anyone, especially someone as strong and determined as Nicky had been. He actually wasn’t sure how he felt about the whole thing. It wasn’t the forced seduction—he’d been about to do the same thing himself, really, and he could have stopped Nicky if he’d wanted to. Nicky gave him his chance to simply get up and walk away.

  He and Nicky both liked it a little rough—they always had, though he usually played the role of aggressor. But something about what happened between them that morning was different. There had been moments when Nicky had seemed almost like a stranger.

  “I was hoping it would give us some clue as to what was in that hypodermic needle that Tate used on Nicky in the attack,” Marco said. “Aren’t there any more books that mention it?”

  “My father’s still looking, but this is all he’s found so far.” Cade frowned at Marco. “What about Nicky? Is he any better?”

  Marco shook his head. “No, not really.” Marco ran a hand over his face. “I don’t know. He’s not shifting anymore, but now I think he’s afraid to and he’s holding his wolf inside as he becomes stronger. Forcing him down. I’m worried about him, Cade. This thing is affecting his personality. He’s quieter now and moodier. More irritable. He’s lost interest in things he used to love, like his art, and he stays to himself a lot. It’s changing him physically too.”

  “Well, you knew that would happen. Since I first met Jax, he’s grown six inches and gained ten more pounds of muscle.”

  “But Jax was your natural bloodlust, if anything about this process can be called natural. It wasn’t forced on him by some crazy chemicals Jeremy Tate made up in his laboratory.”

  “Still, the effect has been much the same so far, right?”

  “I guess so, though Nicky’s changed in other ways too. He’s much more aggressive.”

  “Jax too, but again, that’s to be expected. He’s a wolf now, not a human. Not to mention an alpha. I know it has to be harder on you, since the dynamics of your relationship were well established with Nicky before this happened to him. I had only just met Jax, and we were still trying to figure things out.”

  Marco fell down in a chair by the fireplace. “I don’t think I know how to handle him very well anymore. At times he seems almost like a stranger.”

  “But he’s not. It’s Nicky—just a different Nicky, that’s all. And one you’d better learn to come to terms with if you feel for him the way I know you do.”

  Marco stared into the fire for a long time, try
ing to find the right words to make Cade understand. “It’s not just that he’s acting aggressive and dominant. I know I’m still stronger than he is, but even if he were to one day become more powerful and challenge me for the leadership of the pack, then I’d like to think I’d give in gracefully. After all, it’s the way of our kind—the strongest wolf in the pack always leads. I know that. Nicky is brave and good-hearted too, and I trust him with my life.”

  “But?”

  Marco smiled. “Nicky’s judgment isn’t always the best. Or at least it wasn’t before, and I haven’t seen any signs of improvement. I’m not sure if he’ll be a good leader. And this wolf inside him…he’s afraid of it, and I can see why. The times I saw it, the thing was out of control. Wild and full of hatred.”

  “Then it’s up to you to help him bring his wolf under control. Who else but his alpha could do it?”

  “I’ll try. If he’ll let me. He’s always had so much pride and anger inside him. From the very beginning. I don’t know if he can set that aside long enough to listen.”

  Cade nodded thoughtfully. “Can you?” He came over to stand beside Marco and put a hand on his shoulder. “In the old days, it was always the male alpha in the pair who led the pack, even though he may not have been the strongest. Remember how it was with our grandparents?”

  “God, yes. I think Grandmother hated Grandfather at the end.”

  “Maybe not hate, but she sure resented him. She was stronger, yet she always had to defer to him. It ruined their marriage.”

  “Nicky hated me for a while when we had that trouble between us. Or he thought he did anyway. Tate had a lot to do with that too, and he tried his best to come between us. I’d kill that son-of-a-bitch if I ever got my hands on him again.”

  Cade nodded. “I’d help you. He’s a danger to all of us. He proved that when he attacked our pets on the mountain that day. In the old days, the Hunters mostly focused their attacks on the wolves and not on our mates and children.”

  “All the better to demoralize us with. Tate’s an evil son-of-a-bitch, and he’s always had his sights set squarely on Nicky.”

  “And now he’s made Nicky into a wolf. Two males to form an alpha pair, just like me and Jax.” Cade squeezed Marco’s shoulder. “Tate may just have created his own personal monster this time. It remains to be seen how strong Nicky will become, and he despises Tate for what he’s done.” Cade shook his head. “In the meantime, don’t let pride get in your way, Marco. Or you might just lose Nicky for good this time.”

  “So what do you suggest I do?”

  “Teach him. He’s not your pet anymore. Make him shift into his wolf and learn to be a member of your pack. If his wolf is damaged, then all the more reason to try to help him. If he can be healed, it will only happen while he’s in his animal form, and you know that. As his alpha and his mate, it’s your responsibility. Jax was frightened of his wolf at first, too, for very different reasons. I had to force him to shift.”

  “How did you do it with Jax?”

  “I took him out in the woods and challenged him. Maybe it’s time you do the same with Nicky. If his wolf wants to come out, Nicky will only be moody and restless until it happens.”

  Marco nodded and stood up. “Thanks Cade. Keep me posted on what your father finds out in those old papers. I think it’s time Nicky and I had a heart to heart.”

  * * * *

  “Holy shit,” Gabe said into the cell phone, his voice low so he wasn’t overheard by his mate Zack in the office next door to their bedroom. “What did you say to him afterward?”

  Nicky adjusted his phone to sit between his shoulder and his chin as he twisted the cap off a cold bottle of water from the refrigerator. “What the hell could I say? He didn’t give me a chance to say much of anything. Marco stormed out of the room so fast I never knew what hit me. I was looking out the window later and saw him running toward the perimeter. He runs like that when he’s upset about something. I guess the something is me this time. He’s probably heading up to Cade’s lodge to talk to him about me. He does that a lot now too. But hell, if he couldn’t figure out for himself what the fuck I was doing, I obviously wasn’t doing it right.”

  Gabe’s voice was breathless. “Oh, he knew all right. He just didn’t like submitting to you. You didn’t like…force him, did you?”

  “No. I wouldn’t do that to him. We both knew he could get away if he tried—he just decided not to try very hard.”

  “I would have paid to see it, Nicky.” Gabe laughed gaily and Nicky’s stomach did a strange flip. He got a sudden longing to see Gabe and stare into those blue eyes of his again. And where the hell did that thought come from? Gabe was his friend. Nothing more. Nicky shook his head and leaned against the wall. What was wrong with him today?

  “Really, Nicky. Macho Marco a bottom? Oh my God, to have been a fly on the wall.”

  “You’re such a freak, Gabe. I didn’t do it to humiliate him or make him mad. I was only trying to show him that things are different now. More equal. He has to respect that, or I don’t know what’s going to happen between us.”

  “Well, give it some time. Give Marco some time. This has to be quite an adjustment to him.”

  “I know, but what about me? I never know what I’m going to see when I look in the mirror anymore. I mean, it’s me, but not me, you know? I’m bigger, of course, but even my face is changing. I look older…”

  “Oh my God!”

  “Shut up—not that much older. I mean, I’m still pretty, of course.”

  “Of course,” Gabe said, laughing. “But tell me about this getting bigger aspect of it all. Like you’re bigger everywhere?”

  “Hell, I don’t know. I don’t sit around and contemplate my dick, like you do.” He got a sudden image of Gabe’s nicely shaped dick. They’d been swimming together several times and always in the nude. Neither of them was shy. Gabe, in particular, was proud of his body and rightfully so. He was a good-looking guy with a great build, but Nicky had never had the slightest desire for him. He was a good friend, and that was all.

  “I’d be glad to come up there and inspect your dick for you.”

  Nicky shifted uneasily, the dick under discussion beginning to plump up. Gabe was so full of shit—always had been. Nicky knew he was devoted to his mate, Zack.

  “Yeah, I’ll bet. And have Zack come down on my ass? No thanks. One enraged alpha to deal with at a time, thank you very much.”

  “So what are you going to do?”

  “Nothing. Marco will get over it, or at least I hope he will. He’ll probably give me the cold shoulder for a day or two.”

  “Or else he’ll come home tonight and show you who’s boss. Lucky you.”

  Nicky laughed softly and shifted the phone back up to his ear. “I would like to see you. If Zack will let me. The wolves around here act like I’m about to snatch their mates up and run under the bed with them.”

  “I’d like to say Zack will be different, but who knows? He’s not exactly the soul of restraint when it comes to me, though not, thank God, as bad as Marco is. Or was, anyway.”

  Nicky stood up restlessly and paced back over to the window. “I’d better go. I’m beginning to get stir crazy in this room.”

  “What do you do with yourself these days? Are you working on a painting?”

  “No,” Nicky said shortly. That was an area he didn’t want to discuss. “I don’t have much to do. I guess I was expected to sit around like a good little wifey before with my feet propped up or something, reading magazines. I don’t know how I could have stood it for so long.”

  A short silence greeted these words and then Gabe gave a small, nervous laugh. “Who are you and what have you done with Nicky?”

  Nicky snorted and shook his head. “I was that bad, huh?”

  Another silence and then, “Not to me.” The feeling of unease came back over Nicky at these softly spoken words and a sudden fierce longing to see Gabe again swept over him. Seriously, what the fuck was wr
ong with him?

  “Well, I have to find something to do with myself or go crazy. I guess I’ll find Ian and see if he can assign me to a work detail.”

  “Okay, now you’re just trying to scare me.”

  “Goodbye, Gabe. I’ll call you later.”

  “See to it that you do, and Nicky…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I know you’re going through a lot of changes with your body and stuff—all things I can’t wait to see, by the way. But don’t lose Nicky along the way, okay? I love that guy. I’d hate to see him disappear.”

  “Okay, whatever,” Nicky said, his voice a little gruff to hide his embarrassment. Had Gabe said this kind of thing all along, and had he just never noticed it before? It was sweet, in a way, but it made him uncomfortable in ways he didn’t want to think about. And he suddenly realized he hated someone talking about him in the third person. It sounded silly and pretentious—don’t lose Nicky along the way. Jesus.

  “Look, I’ll talk to you later,” he said, already feeling guilty at having disloyal thoughts about his good friend but needing to get off the phone before…well, he wasn’t sure why, but he needed to hang up. Now.

  “Okay,” Gabe said softly as Nicky hit the end button on his phone.

  Chapter Two

  Nicky sighed and slipped his phone back in his pocket. He hoped he hadn’t been rude to Gabe. He scrubbed his face with his hands. So far today he was batting a thousand when it came to pissing people off or hurting their feelings. And that strange, restless longing to see Gabe again. What was that about? What the fuck was wrong with him today? He felt like he had to move and work off some of this tension or go crazy.

  He took off to find Ian and see about getting assigned to a work detail. Even cutting wood would be better than sitting around this room all day. On his way down the stairs, he passed Rory, Marco’s cousin and lead gamma of the pack, coming up. He hadn’t seen much of him since that day on the mountain when both of them had been hurt. Rory had been a member of their party, one of the guard detail assigned to them and had been badly injured in the attack, wounded in the leg and shoulder with silver bullets. He’d lost a lot of blood and a bad infection had set in from the silver, a substance poisonous to wolves.