by Maggie Walsh
Marlo gave Sauli a tender smile. “I actually do know that, Sauli. Yes, Legion is fierce and a brave warrior, but I have also seen him with the two of you, and I have seen the way he looks at you. There have been a few occasions where that tough exterior he shows the world has dropped and I have seen the man behind the mask. Of course, those times were when one of you or both of you were around, but it was still there. And your love and devotion to him proves to everyone that he actually is a good man, who has a heart just like everyone else. I know for a fact that neither of you would be with Legion if he treated you badly or didn’t respect you. He loves you and you love him. When it comes to Oberon though... Legion may have to―”
“Oberon has to find his way to accept himself first, before he can accept others,” Fane stated, interrupting Marlo as he walked into the room.
Sauli sat up straight and looked at Fane hopefully. “How is he?”
At the same time Taavi asked, “Is he okay?”
Fane took the empty seat beside Marlo and took his mate’s hand then looked to them. “He’s fine. He just has a lot to work through. I’m sorry if he scared you. Part of the problem is he hasn’t slept right since we moved here, and he didn’t get a moment of sleep while he was at the Heart pack, and he’s exhausted. I’ve known Oberon for almost thirty years, and I know if he were himself, fully rested and naturally fed, things wouldn’t seem so big or too much for him to deal with.”
Now Taavi was really scared as he jumped in his seat, leaning forward and frantically said, “He hasn’t eaten? But a vampire needs to feed.”
Fane held up his hand to stop him, then gave him a smile. “He has fed, but it’s different here. The bagged blood that he has is enough to sustain him, but unfortunately I think he needs something more pure, fresher. Back in New Orleans the nest had humans who knew who and what they were, but kept their secret. Those humans hung out at the nest all the time so there was always a source available. They allowed the vampires to feed from them. In return, Julius and the nest always made sure the humans were taken care of. Anything they needed from rent, food, and protection from anyone who tried to give them any kind of grief. It was a nice arrangement they had, and because of that, Oberon was able to feed directly from the source at least once a week, which is always better for a vampire. Then, when you add in the fact that he’s not sleeping very much, well, that would drive any of us crazy and have our emotions all over the place, even the strongest of us.”
“What can we do to help him?” Sauli asked.
“Can we feed him? Does shifter blood work the same as human blood?” Taavi asked. If all he needed to do was to offer some of his blood to make Oberon feel better, then he would offer up his neck. Well, as long as the man didn’t drain him.
Fane gave them a sad smile. “From what Julius says, yes, shifter blood would work, but it’s still not as nutritious for a vampire as human blood. But the blood of a true mate, no matter the breed, is the most potent and the best source of food for a vampire. A true one’s blood actually gives them everything they need. It boosts their metabolism, makes them stronger, healthier, and fiercer.”
Sauli dropped back into his seat and huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Too bad Oberon didn’t have his true mate around. I bet he would be fine if he did.”
Taavi slowly turned his head to look at Sauli, stunned. His love knew they were thinking Oberon belonged to them, so had he forgotten? Fane and Marlo chuckled, catching Taavi’s attention and he looked back to them with a raised brow. “What?”
Marlo turned to Fane and gave him a look and Fane nodded, then they both looked back to him and Marlo said, “I think we need to give Dell a call and have him set up a meeting with you two and Legion.”
“And Oberon,” Fane added, and gave Marlo a wink.
Marlo laughed and stood as he pulled his cell phone from his pocket again. “I’ll call Dell. Do you think it would be a good idea if Taavi and Sauli went in to talk to Oberon?”
Fane sighed as he sat back in his chair. “Honestly, I think he’d kill me if he heard me say this, but I actually do think it would be a good idea. I think it’s time for Oberon to face his demons and accept himself for everything he is.”
Sauli gasped, “But, I don’t know if I can. I feel so... so... I can’t face him. I caused him to have a panic attack.”
Taavi quickly hugged Sauli, trying to calm him down. “You did not cause Oberon to have a panic attack, love. It was not your fault.”
“Yes, I did, Taavi. You saw him. He was fine until I mentioned Legion, then it was like he couldn’t breathe,” Sauli argued as he buried his face into Taavi’s throat.
“That’s true, but you’re still not to blame for his panic attack, Sauli. There are things Oberon has been through that we don’t know about and he needs to work through them. That’s what caused his panic attack. It’ll be okay, we’ll do this together.”
“Are you sure we should? Can’t you... no, I shouldn’t ask you to do that alone,” Sauli stated.
“It’s okay, love. If you really want me to, I will. You stay here with Marlo and Fane and I’ll... well, I don’t know what I’ll do, but... okay, here I go,” Taavi said as he released Sauli, then pushed back from the table and stood.
As he was about to step out of the kitchen when Sauli ran to his side and grabbed his hand. “We do this together, like we always have,” Sauli said, then leaned in and kissed his cheek. Taavi smiled at his love, then they both headed for Oberon’s room.
~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Oberon
They were Legion’s men? The two cutest, sexiest, hottest things he had ever laid eyes on were Legion’s men. Fuck, of course they were Legion’s men. Why wouldn’t they be Legion’s men? The man was fucking hot as hell, and just looking at him brought out all of Oberon’s submissiveness. Having Legion’s attention made Oberon want to drop to his knees and beg the man to take him, to dominate him, to own him.
Oberon sighed, then stood and walked to the window. The darkness outside would suggest it was after nine, but it was only five in the afternoon. His inner clock was getting all confused, but it still knew that he should be asleep right now, which wasn’t helping his situation. Gods, he was tired. Like bone tired. Deep into his soul exhausted and ready to hibernate for the remainder of the winter.
Maybe he could do that. It wasn’t really healthy for a vampire, but it wouldn’t kill him. If he stopped feeding he would slow down to the point he wouldn’t be able to move, then he could lie down and go to sleep. It would be nice and peaceful and he wouldn’t have to think about Legion, or worry about facing his fears. Or his desires. Oberon was sure that Fane and Marlo would watch over him, and then Julius would wake him up in the spring with a fresh blood transfusion. Maybe that was the answer to all his problems right now.
Oberon shook his head from the thought. No, Fane was right, he needed to stop running and face... well, everything, including Legion. Yes, he wanted the man to dominate him and give him everything he desired, but he needed to work on himself. He had to face Legion and tell the man to back off and give him some space, so he could focus on himself and why he wanted what he did.
Talking to Blu and Bo over at Ridge’s had helped him some, and Oberon felt a bit more prepared to look inside himself, but it was still hard. Bo had explained how he had a hard time when he first met Jag. Although Bo was a delta and loved sex as all delta’s did, and had no problem submitting, to a point, with a lover, he was usually in charge. He had always chosen his sexual partners that were more submissive than him, because he was an enforcer and he was supposed to be fierce, and he wasn’t ready to admit he had submissive desires, but meeting Jag had thrown him for a loop and made him crave to submit to the beta. Bo said that by accepting every part of who he was and embracing it, it had set him free, and not just in the bedroom. His new friend said mating Jag and being true to himself was the best thing he had ever done in his life and he wouldn’t change it back for anything.
; Oddly, Oberon had found that he could open up to Bo about anything. The only person he had ever been able to do that with before was Fane and even now it was still hard for him to admit sometimes what he really wanted. For some reason Bo made him feel okay with everything he desired. Maybe it had something to do with Bo creating all those delicious sex toys and equipment. Bo had clients from all walks of life, with all different needs and desires, and he didn’t judge anyone for their sexual cravings.
When Oberon looked around at Bo’s workshop, and the man had explained a lot of the stuff even Oberon had never seen before, he found himself getting hard and fantasizing about Legion using everything on him. Oberon didn’t have a preference for any of the things Bo made, he wanted it all.
Bo had seen his interest and had talked to him as if Oberon was a client. To start, their conversation was very clinical, as if Bo were trying to make a sale, but as Bo witnessed Oberon’s cock growing harder, their conversation became personal and private. When Bo had shown him a footboard he had made for a client that was a stockade where the client could trap his submissive’s head and hands in the three holes and lock the sub in place on the bed, then do whatever they wanted to the submissive as they knelt there helpless, Oberon’s needs had gone sky high, and Bo had seen it. He had also seen Oberon’s shame.
That’s when the man had locked the door and shown him to a chair and the two of them sat there for hours talking and making confessions. As scary as it had been, Oberon was glad he had that time with Bo. When he left, he had felt a lot better about the things he wanted. The shame was still there, but it wasn’t as deep.
Bo had allowed him to go around and touch everything and learn how it all worked, as he talked to him softly about some of the things others did using his products. It was an eye-opening experience for him, knowing that there were others in the world that liked... no, loved, the same things he did. It made him feel less alone in the world. Then Bo had even confessed some of the things he loved his mate doing to him that just blew Oberon’s mind. Knowing that someone he knew and was talking to, had some of the same dark desires he had, and wasn’t ashamed of it or afraid to admit it, was... freeing. Bo gave him his number and told Oberon he could call him any time he needed, for whatever reason and he would always be there for him.
Sure he had Fane who had always been there for him and knew all of Oberon’s demons, but Fane wasn’t into most of the things Oberon was, but Bo was into some of them, and from their discussions, Oberon knew Bo understood him. Fane tried and was a great friend, but having someone who actually knew and understood what was inside his head and heart, someone who could relate and had experienced those things himself, was different and a godsend. Oberon knew Bo meant it when he said he could call, and Oberon was grateful to have found a friend like Bo.
A light knock came to the door, but before Oberon could call out, the door slowly opened and the two cuties stood there looking lost and upset. Both of them looked as if they didn’t know what to do or say, but they wanted to help.
“May we come in?” Taavi asked cautiously.
Oberon nodded as he turned to face them. The cuties walked in and closed the door behind them, then stood there across the room just staring at him.
“So... um... I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to... um…” Sauli said nervously, and Oberon smiled. The guy was so adorable, but the slight blush in his cheeks made him even cuter. If Oberon had met either of these men before now, he probably would have approached them about getting together. His cock liked that idea and twitched, making its interest known. He hated seeing the sad look in Sauli’s eyes, and had an overwhelming desire to make it go away, and to never see it again.
Oberon took a few steps in their direction, as he replied, “You didn’t do anything wrong, little one. It’s not your fault that I’m messed up.”
Sauli quickly shook his head as he stepped away from Taavi and came to Oberon’s side, then touched his arm. “You’re not messed up. You just need... I don’t know what you need. Hell, I don’t know you well enough to know what you need, but I know you look like you just need some time to get used to your new life here, and maybe time to yourself,” Sauli said in a rush, then shrugged.
Oberon sighed heavily from the uncertainty in the little man's eyes and the confusion he saw there. He could tell that he was the cause of putting that look on Sauli’s face and he didn’t like it. For some reason it really bothered him, and Oberon wanted to kick his own ass for causing the guy any kind of turmoil. He felt a strong need to pull Sauli into his arms and make him feel better, but Oberon knew he couldn’t do that. The man was a stranger to him and he would most likely freak him out. Then, there was the fact that Sauli belonged to another man. To Legion of all people. Yet, his need to make Sauli happy was growing inside him, confusing him about something else now.
As much as he wanted to reach out and touch Sauli, Oberon stepped away and moved to the bed, then dropped down and sit on the edge, as he said, “You’re right. I do need to have some time to figure things out. I wish I could get some damn sleep first though. I know I would think much clearer if I was rested, but that’s just not happening. I’m sorry if I frightened either of you. It was very nice of you both to come here to try to help me and I just freaked out on you and you both probably think I’m a weirdo now.”
Both Sauli and Taavi rushed to the bed and each sat on either side of him. “We don’t think that at all,” Taavi insisted. “We’re just worried about you, and we’re worried we caused you pain. We’re really sorry.”
Oberon turned to look at the sexy man and saw the tears in his eyes, and it broke his heart. Gods, he was an asshole. Here were two of the sweetest creatures he had ever met and he was hurting both of them with his bullshit. Oberon reached up and dragged his thumb across Taavi’s cheek, wiping away the single tear that escaped. “Don’t cry, beautiful. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Oberon. We don’t know what you’ve been through, or what you’re still dealing with, but Sauli and I would love to help you if we can. You seem like a nice man and Marlo speaks very highly of you. We’re just afraid we caused you to... well... you know.”
Oberon chuckled. “Have a meltdown in front of two gorgeous men that I had only just met? Yeah, not my finest hour, but it wasn’t you. Neither of you did anything wrong.”
He turned his head when Sauli grabbed his hand, and insisted, “But, I mentioned Legion, and for your own reasons that caused you pain or fear or whatever, I don’t know, but it did cause you to have a panic attack. I know Legion can be very intense sometimes, and he’s a total Dominant, but he’s also a good man. He would never hurt you.”
Oberon pulled his hand from Sauli’s grasp and clasped his hands together as he shoved then between his knees and looked down. He didn’t want to talk about Legion, but deep down he wanted to know more about the man. “I don’t really want to talk about him,” Oberon whispered, afraid that if he said anything differently or nothing at all that these two men, Legion’s men, would start to defend the man and tell him things. Things that might make him change his mind, and Oberon wasn’t sure he was ready for that yet.
Yes, he wanted Legion and the thought of having these two gorgeous men as part of the package—if going by some of the other relationships that he saw around the pack—was a plus, and something Oberon had dreamed about as well. He was fascinated by Lysander and his men and how their dynamic worked, and how they all loved each other so much. Oberon had fantasized many times since coming to the York Pack about how it would feel to have more than one lover at a time, and how it would feel to love and be loved in return by more than one man, but he never thought that was in the cards for him. Yet, sitting here with these two beautiful, loving, sweet men and thinking about Legion being a part of it had Oberon craving to know what it would really be like.
He could scent that they were both wolves, of course, and that they were both submissive, but Oberon had no idea which type of wolves they were. Just fro
m looking at them he didn’t think either of them had a Dominant bone in their bodies though, which meant Legion would dominate all of them? How would that work?
As Oberon looked between them, his cock began to grow with interest of fucking each of them, or having one suck his cock while he slid inside the other, but if Legion was the Dominant, would he ever be allowed to do that? As much as he was dying to submit to the man and give Legion all control over him and his body, Oberon also liked to fuck his partners, but would he have to give that up if he gave himself to Legion?
“Submission isn’t a bad thing, Oberon,” Sauli whispered softly, and Oberon could hear a touch of sadness in his voice. Oberon looked to the smaller man and his heart clenched in his chest when he saw the shamed look on Sauli’s face. Gods he was a bastard. How could he keep making these two sad? He had to man up and stop hurting them.
“You’re not doing anything wrong, Oberon,” Taavi said, making Oberon’s turn toward Taavi. Did these men read minds?
Taavi gave him a friendly smile and pulled one of his hands free, then held it. “It’s written all over your face. You’re not very good at hiding what you’re thinking. Which could be a lot of fun sometimes,” Taavi said as he wiggled his eyebrows and giggled. The sound pierced Oberon’s heart with happiness and he just wanted to hear it again.
The cutie’s smile softened and they stared into one another's eyes, as Taavi said, “You’re not doing anything wrong, Oberon, or causing us any kind of harm, so stop beating yourself up. I’m going to be totally honest with you, because I think you deserve it. Legion has told us about you…”
