Submitting to Fate (A Collection of Strays Book 5)

by Toby Wise

  I can feel Rhett twitch and throb inside my ass. I lean my head back against the door once more, trying to catch my breath. When I open my eyes again, they’re drawn to the mark I’ve left on my new mate. Perfect black handprints on each of his shoulders, my thumbs near his collarbone on each side. They’re honestly more beautiful than any ink I’ve ever given.

  “Maybe we should have thought this through a little more,” Rhett says sheepishly. He’s careful as he shuffles over to a chair, sitting down. He’s so gentle with me, like I’m made of glass. But instead of being annoyed, the thought makes my heart clench.

  Rhett’s hands slide up and down my spine as I sit in his lap, his face tucked against my throat just under my chin, my nose in his hair. I close my eyes, just reveling in the feeling of being wanted again, of being cherished, of having someone like this. It’s been so long since-- nope, not going there. I feel my eyes begin to prickle with that one slip.

  It doesn’t take long before Rhett’s knot is going down. “Gods, that’s wild,” he murmurs as he pulls out. “Knotting for the first time is weird but holy shit, I’ve been missing out. That was amazing.”

  “Yeah,” I say absently. When I look at his face, his cheeks have grown pale, his eyes looking at his softening cock.

  “Shit. Looks like it broke the condom though.”

  “It’s fine,” I tell him, turning away to pick up my boxers. “I’m on the patch too.”

  Rhett lets out a long breath. “Awesome. Kids are scary.”

  “Right.” I quickly get my boxers and pants back on, wrinkling my nose at the feeling of the back of my boxers growing wet. Before I can get my shirt back on, Rhett is at my back. He touches the back of my shoulder and I freeze for a moment before whipping around. “So, I have to go,” I tell him, not wanting to talk about that, wanting to hide my scar before he sees it.

  Rhett’s brows wrinkle with confusion. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Just have some shit I need to get done today.”

  “Oh,” he says softly and my heart somehow breaks even more than it already is. It’s not Rhett’s fault that I have all this shit going on inside my head right now. It’s not his fault I’m still mourning someone who hasn’t been around in decades. It’s not his fault I’m a fucking walking disaster. So I smile up at him, getting on my tiptoes to kiss his lips gently.

  “I’ll come by the house tomorrow and see you. Okay?”

  He nods slowly. “Okay.” Then Rhett is smiling again and somehow the ache inside my chest soothes just slightly. Damn Lady Fate and her meddling. I was fine before this. I was.

  I turn away before I do something stupid like invite him up to my apartment. As quickly as I can, I run up the stairs at the back of the shop and get to my home before slamming the door shut.

  I immediately face plant into my couch, letting out a frustrated growl. I’m fucking mated. Again.

  Chapter Three

  Wyn

  I lay face first on my couch, sulking in self-pity until someone jumps on my back, kneading their paws into my lower back. I smile despite the chaos going on inside my head and my chest. Carefully flipping over onto my back, my cat follows, laying himself on my belly and looking up at me with his giant yellow eyes.

  I pet his head gently. “You’re the sweetest, aren’t you, Dog?” He nudges my hands with his head before laying down fully. He begins to purr as I continue the pets, smiling to myself. Yes, my cat’s name is Dog. It fits and I won’t apologize for it.

  I’m not sure how long I lay there before the feeling of my wet boxers becomes too gross to ignore. I stand up, gently putting Dog down on the couch, smiling as he shoves his face against the pillow and flops back down. I make my way to my bathroom, leaving my clothes in a pile in the corner. Avoiding the mirror for now, I quickly step into the shower, sighing as the warm water hits me.

  I let the water run over me, letting my tense muscles uncoil. I roll my shoulders, relax my brows, and unclench my jaw. After a moment of enjoying my shower I pick up my soap, washing myself. The evidence of my mating slides down the shower drain until I’m left completely void of it but for both my mating marks. I can feel them both, the one Rhett left throbbing with how new it is.

  “It’s now or never,” I whisper to my empty bathroom as I turn the water off. Internally, I debate with myself on the merits of choosing never but decide against it. I’ve never been a person who doesn’t grab life by the balls and make it mine and I’m not about to change now.

  Stepping out, I straighten my shoulders and raise up to my proper height of five foot six. I stare at my reflection face on. My eyes shine back at me, so dark blue they’re almost black, eerily similar to the ice my inner dragon prefers. I take a deep breath, closing my eyes again, just trying to get control of myself. I hate this. My skin feels like it’s crawling, my mind groggy with unease. My hand itches to run through the hair of a submissive at my feet.

  Control’s always been important to me. Too many times in my life has it been taken from me and now, I find myself at my happiest when I know exactly what’s going on and even happier when I’m the one in charge of it. There’s just something so satisfying about having someone close their eyes and trust you to take care of them. My hands find the vanity of my sink, holding on as I’m struck with the image of Gideon, how he looked with my ropes around his wrists, his eyes blindfolded and face slack with pleasure. Tears prickle at my eyes and I don’t stop them, not this time. I let myself feel because I’ll be damned if I ever start to forget him. My first alpha.

  Turning around, I look over my shoulder. My eyes are drawn to the mating bite on the back of my neck. My beautiful, perfect bear alpha. He was twice my size, yet the cuddliest man I’ve ever met, a teddy bear in human skin, a brown bear in his fur skin. I loved him with my entire soul. But he wasn’t my true mate and after a full and happy lifetime, he passed on to be with Lady Fate.

  A choked sob leaves my throat without my permission. He wasn’t only my other half, he was my perfect submissive. He’s been gone for decades and I still miss him every single day. He taught me so much about myself. Instead of spiraling, he’d keep me grounded, let me lead him, allowed me the honor to see him at his most vulnerable. Gideon was beautiful in his submission and I was powerful in my domination.

  But look at me now.

  I’m out of control.

  My eyes move lower, finding my ass. Two perfect prints of Rhett’s hands are red and raised on my asscheeks. My lips tip up despite the hurricane of emotions raging in my chest. What a fucking brat.

  I turn towards the door to pick up my robe. But just before, I pause and touch Gideon’s mating mark on my neck. I shudder at the feeling. Then my hand goes to my ass, gingerly touching Rhett’s mark. Just touching it makes my chest warm, longing to have him here at my side. I meant what I said, I plan to see Rhett tomorrow. I just need tonight to decompress my feelings.

  Stepping out of the bathroom, my inner dragon raises its head, letting us know there’s someone in our den. I look around the corner, smiling when I find Tony on my couch. He’s sat all the way on one end, staring down at Dog with a frown on his face. Dog on the other hand is sitting opposite, staring at Tony unblinking. Dog doesn’t like anyone but me and it makes me happier than it probably should.

  I lean against the wall, crossing my arms over my chest. “Ya know,” I say, startling Tony into looking up. “You shouldn’t barge into a poor little omega’s house like that. What if my alpha had been here?”

  Tony stares at me a moment before he’s smiling. “I was expecting a shit ton of denials but I’m glad you can admit he’s your alpha so easily.” Then he tilts his head. “Why isn’t he here? Shouldn’t you two be banging like bunnies?”

  “I’ll keep the bunny banging to Cameron, thank you very much,” I sass back, talking about Cameron, my other employee and one of his mates who just so happens to be a rabbit shifter.

  Tony rolls his eyes. “Deflection. Original.”

  “Sarcas
m. Original,” I say back. I flop down in my armchair, bringing my legs under myself and tossing a blanket over my lap. “Why are you really here?”

  Tony shrugs as he picks at a loose string on his jeans. After a moment he looks up. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. Wanna talk about it?”

  “Not particularly. It’s really unexpected. I feel.” I pause, running my fingers over my jaw, deciding to grow out my facial hair just to have a change. Yes, change is good. “I feel really fucking off centered.”

  “I know a thing or two about your life not going quite as you planned,” Tony says with a wide smile, showing off his fangs. He’d been turned into a vampire two years ago. I’d found him at his lowest, jonesing for some blood, ready to kill some poor sap off the street. I’d brought him home, given him some of my blood, helped him learn to control the bloodlust and gave him a place to stay. We’ve been friends ever since. Though I almost look at him as more of a son than a buddy with our age difference. Most people are younger than me at my ripe old age of 412 years old. I wonder how old Rhett is.

  “Not quite the same thing but I appreciate the sentiment.”

  Tony tentatively reaches over, trying to pet Dog only to get bit for his trouble. I smile wide. Everything feels hard and rough and nearly impossible but I gotta trust Lady Fate. In this case, she’s the one dominating me and my life and for once, I gotta submit to her control. I hope she knows my safeword.

  Chapter Four

  Rhett

  My stomach flips as I pace back and forth in the backyard. My dragon is right at the surface, wanting us to shift and fly but Wyn will be here at any moment and what sort of alpha goes for a leisure fly instead of standing here and waiting. Gods. I still can’t believe I’m fucking mated. I have a true mate. I have an omega! My mind is spinning to the point of feeling dizzy.

  I shake my hands out in front of me, hoping the physical action will somehow translate into shaking the feeling away under my skin. Buzzing. Always buzzing. It’s like I can’t shut my brain off even for a second. It crawls under my skin, filling my pores until the only thing I can even think about is the buzzing.

  I turn around only to freeze when I find Elwood, my twin brother, leaning against the back door. “This is just sad,” he says softly with a little smile. “I wanted so badly to say payback is a bitch but you’re freaking without my help.”

  “I’m not freaking out,” I tell him, my voice higher than usual, totally betraying me.

  He rolls his eyes where they hide behind his glasses. “Right. So you’re not out here trying to figure out how to be a good alpha? You’re just pacing for the exercise?”

  “You’re an asshole.”

  “I’m aware,” Elwood says before stepping away from the door and coming towards me. He puts his hands on my shoulders, stopping me and forcing me to look at him. My brother, my twin. I know his face better than I know my own, though they’re both practically the same. He’s had my back since the day we were born. His very presence here calms my raising heart, making my nerves calm the fuck down. “A wise man once told me something,” he says calmly. “He said that I helped him believe in Fate again.”

  I shake my head at Elwood, looking away for a moment. It’s hard to not believe when family member after family member have found their perfect match. Even Cameron who I assumed for a long time was only human rather than a spark. We’ve all gone through hell and back and have come out better on the other side.

  Elwood’s hands tighten on my shoulders. “Believe in Her, Rhett. She’s given you the best gift you can imagine.” He lets go of me, instead wrapping his arm around my shoulder and leading me towards the back door. “Just try not to fuck it up with that big mouth of yours.”

  I reach over, messing up Elwood’s hair, laughing as he pushes my face away with a laugh. We stumble into the house, breathless with laughter. I hear voices coming from the kitchen and I follow them through.

  When I reach the kitchen, I freeze, staring with wide eyes as my mate laughs along with my adopted dad, Dakota, and Dakota’s mate, Charlie, who we all call Pops. I lean against the doorframe, stopping just to watch.

  “So then,” Wyn says, putting his cup of coffee down so he can talk with his hands. “This punk comes into my shop and pretends to be all macho, like he’s some tough guy.”

  “You mean like Charlie?” Dad jokes, patting his alpha’s chest when Pops snorts.

  “Oh no. Charlie came in with his eyes wide open. This kid was like, I want a Prince Albert piercing. Yes, I know what it is. No, I’m not scared.”

  “Then what?” Pops asks, his eyes bright as he watches my mate tell this story. My chest feels near bursting as I sit and watch. Somehow, without even trying, Wyn’s snuck right into my family. Sure, they’ve all met before through Cameron, but somehow, this feels different.

  “Well,” Wyn finishes his story. “He passed out on my chair.”

  Pops and Dad laugh. “At which point?” I ask, finally stepping into the room.

  Wyn looks over at me. For a split second, his expression is that of apprehension before it fades into a warm smile. “As soon as I pulled the needle out of my supplies.”

  That just makes Dad and Pops laugh harder. “Wait,” Pops says between giggles. “All you did was show him the needle?”

  “Mhmm,” Wyn hums. I pick up my own coffee mug from the cabinet, filling it with coffee.

  “Wow,” Mandy, my adopted sister, says and I only just notice her sitting at the breakfast bar. “That guy sounds like one of those idiot frat boys at my college.”

  I shake my head at her. “We can’t all have big dick energy like you, Mandy.”

  She winks at me before adding, “not just the energy that’s big, Rhett.”

  “Alright, alright,” I murmur, hiding my smile behind my mug. “Your dick is bigger than mine. I don’t care. It’s how you use it that matters.”

  “Children,” Dad says, cutting us off, his face pink. “Can we not talk about our cocks in the kitchen?”

  And because we all have the worst timing, that’s when Jessica, Dad and Pops’ kiddo comes into the room. “What’s a cock?”

  Pops’ face begins to turn a bright red color as he tries to hold his laughter in. Jessica crosses her arms over her chest and waits for an answer, her stubborn alpha side showing bright.

  Mandy walks past, running her fingers through Jessica’s hair. “Don’t worry, kid. You’ll find out when you’re older and hit puberty.”

  Jessica looks up at Dad. “What’s puberty?”

  Dad pinches the bridge of his nose and I gently nudge Wyn out of the room so Pops and Dad can deal with that. We make it out of the kitchen, only then falling into a fit of giggles. Gods, I watch as my mate laughs and he’s beautiful. I wanna do all I can to keep that smile on his face. A tiny voice tells me to slow down, to remember what happened with Trish but the bigger part of me wants to give Wyn everything right here, right now.

  “What?” he asks, finding me staring at him. “Do I have something on my face?”

  I shake my head, smiling wide. “Nah. Just looking.”

  “Find something you like?”

  I shrug. “Maybe a thing or two.”

  Wyn surprises me by punching me in the chest. Hard. He laughs at the look of hurt on my face. “You’re an asshole, you know that right?”

  “I do,” I tell him. “But I’m your asshole now.”

  There’s a long pause before Wyn says, “I realize you’re trying to be romantic but you need some work on your lines. That was horrible.”

  “My charms will make you weak soon enough. Just you wait and see.”

  Wyn shakes his head, stepping away from me. He goes and looks out the window by our backdoor. I step up beside him. The weather is gorgeous today, perfect for flying.

  “We could--” I pause a moment, looking down at Wyn. He looks right back, his eyes following my every movement. I’m not sure anyone’s ever looked at me with the intensity that Wyn is looking at me right now. H
e watches and waits. “We could go for a fly. If you wanted.”

  Wyn’s eyes widen as he looks out the window, checking the surroundings. “What if someone sees us?”

  “The walls around the backyard are warded. No one can see in. We’re safe here.”

  Wyn’s hand touches his cheek, almost like he’s trying to pet facial hair that isn’t there. He looks back up at me, nodding. “Yeah, okay. Lead the way.”

  My stomach bursts with butterflies as I lead him outside, anticipation making me giddy. Our dragons are about to meet for the first time.

  Chapter Five

  Wyn

  I step outside, lifting my face towards the sky and letting a deep breath in. The air smells warm and crisp, the sun shining down and warming my skin. My inner dragon rumbles, getting antsy with how much he wants to get out and stretch his wings. It’s been way too long.

  I toe off my shoes and socks, taking a moment to wiggle my toes in the grass before my hands find my jean zipper. I look up at Rhett, watching as he shimmies out of his jeans. As he pulls his shirt over his head, I realize this is the first time I’m really seeing him naked. Sure, we fucked already but this is different. This is slow, the tease drawing out, just the way I normally like it.

  “See something you like?” he teases but I can see the way there’s tension in his eyes, waiting for my answer.

  “I do,” I say simply. “If only it wasn’t attached to such a mouthy brat.”

  Rhett’s face breaks out into a wide smile, like I’ve just given him the best compliment. “I think you like my bratty mouth.” Then he adds, “at least I hope so because it seems to have a mind of its own sometimes.”