by Lynn Lorenz
“So, your pack is cool with gays?” Mark’s look said he doubted it.
“Well, I won’t lie and say there haven’t been issues, but for the most part, the pack’s cool. So far, there are two mated pairs. Scott and me, and Billy and Peter. And then there’s Bobby.” Ted let that hang out there.
“Bobby?” Mark shifted in his chair.
“Look, I’m not going to beat around the bush. The reason I’m here is that you are Bobby’s mate. His true mate.” Ted shook his head. “There’s no fighting it. Believe me, I tried. But the wolf wants what it wants.”
“Bobby destroyed my life, my career, my…” Mark sputtered out.
“Really? You’re still a professor, aren’t you?”
“Yes, but…”
“And you’re still alive.” Ted waved a hand at Mark.
“What’re you driving at?”
“Okay. Here’s the deal. You’re Bobby’s mate. If you and he don’t mate, if he doesn’t claim you as his, he’ll sicken and die. Weres need a mate. Bobby’s first mate, his wife, Carol, died three years ago and ever since then Bobby’s been just biding his time, waiting to waste away.”
Mark gasped. “What?”
“Until he met you at the casino. And he knew you were his mate. His second chance at life.”
“Me?”
Ted sat forward, clasping his hands between his legs. “So here he is, in love with a man whose lifework is to prove wolves exist in the swamp. In effect, to out his entire pack.”
“And he chose his pack.” Mark grimaced. “He didn’t love me that much.” He snorted.
“Would you have wanted him if he did? Think about it. If he’d given up over fifty men, women, and children, friends, family, ruined their lives, doomed them to a fate as lab rats, just so he could be with you?” Ted sat back and waited for it to sink in.
Mark’s gaze fell to his feet; he studied them intently. “No. That’s not Bobby. He could never do that.”
“Exactly. When he didn’t pick you, he chose giving up his life, a life with you, the man he loves, to save his pack from you and the world.” Ted crossed his arms over his chest.
When Mark’s gaze rose and met Ted’s, moisture made his blue eyes shimmer.
“I didn’t know. About Bobby dying. What he’d given up.” Mark rubbed his hand through his hair. “I had no idea. He didn’t tell me.”
“And if he’d told you? Would it have made a difference?”
“At the time?” Mark shook his head. “Probably not. I’d just been attacked by wolves, scared out of my mind, and then Bobby tells me this bullshit story about being a werewolf and the pack, takes my evidence, and then I find out that his brother was the wolf that attacked my father and caused his death.” Mark exhaled as if he’d run out of steam.
“Right. It’s a lot to swallow. I know it was for me. Now Bobby is resigned to his fate. A slow death.”
Mark’s face crumpled, and he beat his fist against his leg. “He should have told me.”
“That’s our Bobby. That’s why the pack chose him as alpha and the town as sheriff. ” Ted sighed. “Now you have a choice to make, Mark, and I’m not going to make it easy for you. My mate, Scott, loves that man like a father, and I love Scott. I’m going to do whatever, say whatever, it takes to save Bobby.”
Mark stared at him, his shoulders hunched as if waiting for a blow to fall.
“Bobby is going to die if you don’t let him claim you as his mate. You hold his life in his hands. You.”
“But my father…” Mark searched his room, and his gaze fell on a picture of a beaming man with his arm around an unhappy-looking teenager.
“There is no room for revenge here. Bobby suffered too. He’s suffering now. The only person who can save him is you. And I know you care for him, love him, because if you’re his true mate, you don’t have a choice in the matter. I know I didn’t.” Ted stood. “It’s up to you.” He dropped Bobby’s business card onto the coffee table.
Mark stared at it but held back as if he were afraid it would bite him.
The man looked up into Ted’s gaze. “But how can I… There’s been so much…all my work, a lifetime of work…”
“Don’t wait too long to decide. Bobby doesn’t have the time.” Ted headed to the door, hoping his last words would make up Mark’s mind. “I’ll let myself out.” With a last look at the man on the couch, doubled over on himself, his arms wrapped around his body, Ted shut the door.
He’d done it, but was it enough?
Would his words break through the walls around Mark’s heart?
Could Mark put everything behind him and save Bobby?
Chapter Twenty-Four
Bobby’s energy level had dropped, and for the last few days—ever since Ted had visited—he’d just hung around the house, doing little. Today he’d gone out to the garage, found some boxes, and started to pack away parts of his life. It’d make it easier on Scott, after.
He placed one of the smaller boxes on the kitchen table. After Carol had died, he’d waited six months before he’d packed away her belongings, giving most of her personal things to her parents and donating her clothing to the woman’s shelter where she’d done volunteer work. It was what she’d wanted.
Now he was doing the same thing, but for himself. There was only Scott now to give the dearest of his possessions to. He planned on writing down a list for Scott, naming what he wanted to give to which charity. He had a will for the house and his accounts, and he’d left half the proceeds to the Rougaroux Social Club and the other half to the church.
Bobby opened the fridge and took out a beer. He twisted off the top and took a big swig, letting the cold, crisp flavor fill his mouth and wash down his throat.
“Damn, that’s good.” He chuckled. He’d had to face death to realize how much he enjoyed living. Ironic.
He leaned against the counter and thought of Mark. He didn’t regret what he’d done, taking Mark’s evidence. Bobby hadn’t had a choice. Not at all. He’d been put in a position that just sucked no matter which way you looked at it.
Choose Mark and life.
Choose the pack and die.
At least…at least he’d had those times with Mark. He’d loved again, explored the part of him he’d kept buried for over twenty years. And it had been wonderful.
Tears burned his eyes, and he held the cold bottle up to his forehead as he struggled for control of his emotions.
He could do this. Nothing to it.
Bobby picked up a marker and wrote Scott on the side of the box, and then crossed the living room over to the mantel. He took down his sheriff’s badge and his service pistol, feeling the familiar heft of the automatic. He rubbed the badge against his jeans to give it a shine, and then he walked back to the box and placed them inside.
The doorbell rang, and Bobby looked up, frowning. If it was Scott, Bobby didn’t want him to see the box, to know what he was doing. It’d freak the kid out.
He moved the box to the side of the fridge, out of sight, then headed to the door just as the next ring echoed through the house.
Bobby opened the door, and his jaw dropped. “Mark?”
Mark stood on the porch, his hands shoved into the front pockets of his jeans. “Can I come in?”
Bobby couldn’t find his voice, so he just nodded and stepped aside. His heart thudded and his stomach clenched painfully. His brain kept screaming, Mark is here! and Why? almost at the same time.
And he hated the answer. To say good-bye.
Mark came in, walked to the center of the living room, and turned slowly as he took in the room. Then he inhaled, held his breath, and let it out in a slow exhale.
“We need to talk.”
Bobby motioned to the couch, but Mark shook his head. “No, you sit. I need to pace right now.” He gave Bobby a half-hearted smile.
Bobby sat on the couch, the coffee table between the man he wanted as his mate and himself. A small distance, but at this time, as large as a canyon.
“I’m listening,” was all Bobby could manage. His voice sounded rough and heavy with emotion, damn it. Mark didn’t need to know what it meant for Bobby to see him again. Even if it was the last time.
“I’m sorry for the way things turned out between us.” Mark cleared his throat as he paced. “I wish we’d just talked. Got to know who we really were. But I don’t think either of us expected what happened between us. I know I didn’t.” He ran his hand across the back of his neck as he paused in his trek across the living room.
“I know. I’m to blame, just as much as you.”
“Yeah, both of us were pretty stupid.”
Bobby nodded. “No denying that.”
“And you need to know that I drove home each time kicking myself for not learning your name. And every day since then.”
“Me too.”
“And if you’d told me you were a werewolf back then, I’d have probably gotten the hell out of there, thought you were insane, you know?” Mark ran his hand through his hair.
“And you’d be right. I know how it sounds.”
“And to say that the universe really fucked us over, putting a werewolf together with a professor who has wolf issues…” He shrugged. “We were either doomed or…”
Bobby opened his mouth to agree. Nothing Mark was saying wasn’t the truth.
“We were meant for each other.” Mark looked into Bobby’s eyes, something looking a hell of a lot like hope shining in them.
“What?” Bobby choked as his mind wrapped around the words. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying, you were right. You chose right. To protect your pack.” Mark nodded. “It was the only thing you could do. I know that now. I know you making that choice didn’t mean you didn’t…care for me.”
“Love you.” Bobby swallowed.
“That you didn’t love me.” Mark smiled. “It just meant you made the only viable choice. Damned if you do—”
“Damned if you don’t,” Bobby finished.
They smiled at each other.
“Thank you.” Bobby stood to come around the coffee table, but Mark held out his hands.
“Wait. I need to finish.”
“Okay.” Bobby curbed his urge, his desire, to embrace perhaps for the last time this wonderful man. Let Mark get it all out.
“I’ll be the first to admit I came with a lot of baggage. Especially about that wolf and my dad. I’ve carried a lot of guilt over that night. If I hadn’t been such a pissy little shit and argued with him…” He shook his head. “That somehow it was my fault he died.”
“No.”
“I realize now he probably saved my life when the wolf attacked. He fought it off to save me. I tried not to admit that to myself, but with what you told me about your brother… Well, I can’t lie to myself anymore.”
“I’m sorry.” Bobby didn’t know what to say to make Mark feel better.
“Don’t be. I’m not. Like they say, the truth will set you free. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, you know? And I realize that I have to let it go.”
Bobby nodded. He knew it’d come to this. Mark was telling him good-bye, but Bobby had guessed that from the first moment he’d walked in.
Mark inhaled. “And when I let it go, something inside me opened up. A space inside my heart. For you.” He reached for Bobby. “I want to be with you, Bobby. I can’t not love you. I don’t know how to not love you.”
Bobby’s brain didn’t register Mark’s declaration at first.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I want to be with you. Even if you’re a werewolf. I believe we’re meant to be together and neither of us can be happy or healthy without the other.”
“Healthy?” Bobby caught himself just as he nearly leaped over the table to get to Mark.
“I know about the mate and dying thing. Ted told me,” Mark admitted.
“Oh.” Bobby frowned. “So you’re here because if I die, you’ll feel guilty?” That wasn’t how he wanted to be with Mark. Out of pity.
“No. If you died, I’d be devastated. I love you. Being without you isn’t good for me either. I’m not doing well, you know?” Mark shrugged. “I think it must go both ways. So for both our sakes, and for both our loves, can’t we be together?”
“Oh, fuck.” Bobby leaped over the table. Where he’d gotten the energy from… Well, it had to be sheer lust for the man.
He pulled Mark into his arms. “Are you sure?”
Mark smiled at him. “Yeah.”
Bobby crushed Mark against him as he took Mark’s mouth in a searing, hungry, gotta-have-you kiss. Mark groaned and melted into Bobby’s embrace.
Damn, he’d missed the hell out of that little sound, the way Mark gave in. Bobby ran his hands down Mark’s back and cupped his ass, pulling him into a slow grind, crotch against crotch.
Oh hell, yeah. He was hard for Mark. And Mark’s dick had answered the call.
Mark broke out of the kiss and leaned back to look into Bobby’s eyes.
“Is this the part where you claim me as your mate?” Mark asked, a wicked look in his blue eyes.
“Not yet.” Bobby growled, fisted his hand in Mark’s shirt and dragged him toward the bedroom. “That’s going to take a lot more than just a kiss.”
“Oh, thank God,” Mark muttered, as he trailed behind Bobby. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
∙•∙
Bobby pulled Mark into his bedroom. Dragged him, more like, but Mark loved it. A week ago, he’d written off what he’d felt with Bobby ever happening again. Now he had the man all to himself, and he’d basically laid it all out there for Bobby to take or leave.
Thank God, Bobby had taken.
There was still one more thing Mark needed. Without it, he just might walk away. He pulled away from Bobby and leaned back against the closed door.
“I have one more thing to ask you.” Mark licked his lips.
“Shoot.” Bobby stopped unbuttoning his shirt and looked up into Mark’s eyes.
“I want to see the wolf. Change for me.” Mark held his breath.
Bobby’s face broke into a slow, wide grin. “You want the wolf, huh?”
Mark nodded.
Bobby closed his eyes, the air around him shimmered, and a low vibration hummed in the air.
The wolf stood in the room with Mark, and Bobby was gone. That was no parlor trick, nor had he used mirrors.
Mark’s last worry, his last question, had been answered.
“It’s really you.” Mark kneeled to put himself at eye level with the amazing gray wolf. Amber eyes blinked at him, eyes filled with more intelligence than he’d ever seen in any wolf.
The wolf sat, ears twitching to Mark’s voice.
“You like that, huh? My voice.”
The wolf dropped his head a touch, like a nod.
“So, you can understand me when you’re a wolf? You hear me and comprehend what I’m saying?”
The wolf gave a sharp yip.
Mark eased his hand out and stroked the wolf’s head, as he would a dog.
“Do you like that? Can I touch you like this?”
Another yip.
“Wow.” Mark sat back on his heels, shaking his head. “I gotta say, this is the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced.”
The air shimmered, vibrated, and then Bobby stood in front of Mark. He held out his hand to help Mark to his feet.
“What? And I thought our fucking was the most incredible thing!” Bobby chuckled. “I can understand you, and I can understand other wolves. I don’t lose my humanity when I shift. Unlike my brother.” He frowned.
“I think I’m going to like being the mate to a werewolf. I can study you guys, the pack, and get a deeper depth of understanding for other wolves.” Mark grinned.
“But you can’t tell anyone, Mark.” Bobby sighed. “Seriously.”
“I know. If I did, you’d have to kill me,” Mark joked, but at the stricken look on Bobby’s face, he moved
forward and wrapped his arms around his man. “Sorry. That wasn’t… Sorry.”
Bobby kissed him, gentle and slow, and Mark melted into him. Something about this man undid him completely. He wanted to crawl inside Bobby, safe and warm, surround himself with Bobby’s love.
“Claim me, Bobby,” Mark whispered, then bit Bobby’s ear. Bobby moaned and tilted his head back so Mark had access to his throat.
Mark nipped along Bobby’s jaw, pulling soft moans from the man as he worked on getting rid of the shirt Bobby had started taking off. When his hands met bare, warm skin, Mark shuddered.
Bobby grabbed Mark’s ass, pulled him up, and turned around. He walked toward the bed and deposited Mark on it. Mark gasped as Bobby crawled over him, a hungry look in his fierce blue gaze.
“Take this off.” Bobby yanked up Mark’s pullover to find skin. “Yes!” Pushing the fabric out of the way, Bobby groaned and leaned down to lick a line from the top of Mark’s jeans to his throat. Mark pulled the shirt off and then tossed it somewhere.
Bobby lowered his body to Mark’s, pressing his erection into Mark’s. Damn, that felt so good. Tiny shocks of arousal shot through Mark’s body, centering from his cock and balls.
“Take off…” Mark gasped as Bobby’s fingers brushed the head of his dick as he tried to unzip his jeans. Mark raised his ass off the bed so Bobby could strip the denim from his legs and along with it, his briefs.
Naked, Mark stroked his cock as he stared into Bobby’s lust-filled gaze. No one had ever looked at him the way Bobby looked at him. He’d never get tired of it. How had he ever thought he could live without this man? How had he thought they could be apart?
The thought of Bobby dying—just the thought of it—made Mark’s breath catch in his throat and his chest hurt. He’d forgive the man anything. Some things, some people, were more important than a crazy crusade. His single-minded hunt to prove the wolves existed had taken over his life, kept him from moving on, past his guilt and his parents’ deaths.
He’d freed himself when he accepted Bobby and what he was, and the weight he’d carried on his shoulders most of his life floated away.
“Claim me.” Mark touched Bobby’s face, cupping it in his palm. “You’re my wolf. My mate. I’m so lucky to have found you.”
