by A J Jarrett
Garrett ordered Lachlan to stay close to his side. When his mate opened his mouth to complain, Garrett cupped the side of his face and stared into the amber depths, silently pleading with Lachlan to do as he said. With a reluctant nod, Lachlan agreed.
The sound of laughter had everyone jerking to a stop. Garrett turned his head from side to side searching for the direction the sound came from. It echoed so loudly it was as if it were coming from all directions, but that was impossible.
Garrett gripped Lachlan’s hand tightly when his mate tried to move away from him.
Lachlan tried to pull his hand free, but Garrett was unrelenting.
“Let go of me.” Lachlan yanked his hand out of Garrett’s hold.
“We need to catch whoever that is.” Lachlan’s eyes tracked the movement and sound of the fleeting stranger.
“Lachlan, I’m ordering you to stay put.” Garrett stepped in front of Lachlan, blocking his path as he tried to walk around him.
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“Excuse me?” Lachlan narrowed his eyes at Garrett. “Did you just say you’re ordering me? Fuck you.” Lachlan shoved Garrett in the chest and walked right on past.
“Lachlan, I gave you an order. Cease moving or else,” Garrett said forcefully as he reached for Lachlan’s arm. When his fingers wrapped around his mate’s firm bicep, Garrett tugged him around.
“Or else what?” Lachlan sneered as he stared down his nose at Garrett. Garrett was impressed with that feat since he was taller than his mate.
“This.” Before Garrett knew what he was doing he pulled back his fist and punched Lachlan square in the side of the head, knocking him unconscious. A welt the size of his fist bloomed on the side of Lachlan’s head. Had Lachlan not been a paranormal, the blow would have killed him.
“Holy shit!” Aaron exclaimed as he ran forward, falling to his knees next to friend’s prone body. “What the fuck, Garrett?”
“It was for his own good.” Garrett tried to justify his actions. His fingers ached from the force with which he struck his mate. Lachlan would be fuming when he woke up, but Garrett would deal with that later. He couldn’t do his job as alpha if he was constantly worried about his mate. They had already lost one pack member this night, and Garrett didn’t want to lose any more or worse, his mate.
“Right, see how well that excuse works for you when he wakes up.” Wes stood beside him staring down at Lachlan.
“We don’t have time for this. I did what I had to do to keep my mate safe.” Garrett believed those words. He just prayed Lachlan would, too.
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Chapter Ten
The search for the trespassing stranger and possible murderer turned up empty. Whoever was in the woods had vanished as if into thin air. No scents, no tracks, nothing to prove there had ever been anyone there at all. The only evidence they had was one dead body and one hysterical female proclaiming that there had been several men in the woods that night.
Garrett looked over at his mate. Lachlan sat stiffly in his seat with an ice pack held to his head. He was immortal, and the knot had receded quite a bit, but Garrett assumed it still hurt like a bitch.
Since Lachlan had regained consciousness, he had ignored Garrett. When Garrett and the other wolves exited the dense woods and entered the clearing where the rest of the pack had remained, Lachlan greeted him with a steely stare. There was no love or understanding for what he had done in those eyes, just pure, unadulterated hatred.
The drive home carried on in silence. If Lachlan couldn’t understand why Garrett did what he did, it was no use to try and explain it to him now. Garrett just knew he had his work cut out for him to repair, once again, the damage he’d caused.
Garrett wanted to punch the dashboard he was so fucking mad.
Everything he had done since meeting Lachlan was out of love. Why couldn’t his mate see that? It wasn’t just that Garrett was a control freak, which he was. He just needed his mate to stay alive. The paranormal world was in utter chaos, and Lachlan’s job as a warrior put him front and center of the war going on around them.
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The Carrington estate came into view, and Garrett turned down the long driveway. He parked the car and before he even shut the engine off, Lachlan had jumped out, racing up the front steps.
Garrett blew out a heavy breath and got out of the truck. He looked to the sky and prayed for the patience to deal with his surly mate.
Lachlan stormed up the stairs, and Garrett followed close behind.
They had to hash this out before it festered into an even bigger problem. Garrett had lived without Lachlan before, and he wasn’t about to do it again.
“Lachlan, we need to talk.” Lachlan spun around and the bitterness in his mate’s eyes broke his heart. He’d caused that pain.
Garrett needed to learn to trust his mate, but the fear of the unknown clawed at his insides like a beast. But by his mate’s rigid posture and clenched fist, Garrett knew he had a shitload of groveling in his future. He’d give and do anything to get them back to the way they were before the moon run.
“Talk?” Lachlan threw Garrett into the wall and watched as he crumpled to the floor. Garrett lay there stunned, and Lachlan took advantage of his stupor to grab his shirt front and toss him up against the wall, holding the material tight in his fist. “You fucking hit me in front of our pack.”
“I had to. If I hadn’t you would have ran after those men. I couldn’t chance you getting hurt or worse, killed.” Garrett gripped Lachlan’s wrist in his hands, trying to get Lachlan to release his hold.
It only made Lachlan’s fist clench tighter, and the shirt started to rip.
“That’s my fucking job,” Lachlan spat into Garrett’s face as he banged Garrett against the wall with every word he spoke. “I’m a goddamn warrior. It’s what I’ve been trained to do.”
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“Maybe, but I’m not trained to just let someone I love run blindly into danger.”
That gave Lachlan a moment’s pause, but it was fleeting. Garrett used the word love to justify his actions, and it wasn’t right. Garrett was domineering and wanted everything his way, a picture-perfect, cookie-cutter life. Well he could kiss that notion good-bye because Lachlan wasn’t some weakling needing someone else to tell him what to do. Lachlan was a fierce and strong warrior. He’d killed men for less than the grievances his mate put upon him tonight.
“Please, Lachlan, understand where I’m coming from.” Garrett’s voice softened, but Lachlan wasn’t fooled. If he let Garrett go he’d get the upper hand, and Lachlan couldn’t allow that. He had to make Garrett understand he didn’t need to be taken care of. If anything, Lachlan had a more cunning mind than his mate. Garrett was just too pigheaded to realize it.
Garrett started to struggle, but Lachlan wouldn’t let go. “Let go of me. I’m your alpha, and I was just doing what was within my right.”
Lachlan started to chuckle. He couldn’t believe the nerve of his mate. “If that statement were true then I’m your alpha as well, mate.
We’re equals in everything.” Lachlan stepped close until his nose brushed against Garrett’s. “Being mated can be a real bitch, huh?”
“I understand that you’re upset and hurt and probably a little embarrassed, but you’re being irrational right now.”
“I’m being irrational?” Lachlan pushed Garrett against the wall again, and a picture fell to the floor along with some Sheetrock.
Garrett raised his arms up then brought them down quick and hard on Lachlan’s forearms. Lachlan immediately let go, and Garrett tackled him to floor. They rolled around, bumping into furniture as they did. The sounds of splintering wood and cracking glass mingled with their grunting. The sound didn’t compare to Lachlan’s racing heartbeat as it beat out of control.
They continued to grapple on the floor with Lachlan landing on his back. He bucked his hi
ps and shoved at Garrett’s shoulders, and Garrett’s Choice
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he went sailing across the room. Lachlan pounced and held Garrett pinned to the floor. Sweat gathered in his hairline and ran down his face to drip from the tip of his nose to land on Garrett’s lips.
Garrett’s tongue darted out to lick up the salty liquid, and Lachlan roared at the sight. His cock had already been half-hard from the wrestling around they’d done, now it throbbed with need. Even as angry as Lachlan was, his body didn’t know the difference. All it knew was that it wanted to claim its mate.
Lachlan gripped Garrett’s wrist in his hands and pulled them over Garrett’s head. His mate was bleeding from a split in his lip and a gash above his eyebrow. A fine layer of sweat caused Garrett’s tan skin to glow in the low lighting of the room. The predator in Lachlan had never been so turned-on. He needed to be inside his mate. He needed to prove his dominance to Garrett so that his mate knew he wasn’t the only alpha in their relationship and that Lachlan didn’t need to be coddled like an infant.
As Lachlan held on to Garrett, his mate stared up at him with half-hooded eyes. A firm bulge bumped up against his, giving away his mate’s arousal. Lachlan fell forward and covered Garrett’s lips with his own. The kiss was hard and rough. Lachlan used his teeth to nip at Garrett’s lips until they bled some more. He used his tongue to swipe away the coppery crimson, savoring every drop as it slid down his throat. Garrett’s lips parted, and a soft growl met Lachlan’s ears.
Lachlan pulled back, and Garrett stared up at him with such wonder that Lachlan felt guilty for fighting in this manner with the man he so desperately loved and wanted to be with.
Garrett’s usual smiling blue eyes were nearly black with desire.
Lachlan could see the yearning raging like a forest fire in his mate’s eyes, and Lachlan snapped. He sat back on his haunches and flipped Garrett over. Garrett hit the floor with a thud and a sharp inhale of breath. Lachlan quickly covered Garrett’s back with his front and shuddered as the heat radiating off his mate sank through his clothes and into Lachlan’s skin.
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Lachlan licked at the back of Garrett’s neck, humming as he tasted the sweat covering the tender skin. As he feasted on Garrett’s flesh, Lachlan took in his mate’s smell, dried leaves and fire. It was rustic and wild like just like the man beneath him.
Between the smells and sounds his mate made, Lachlan lost his grip on his control. Blood pumped directly to his cock, making the member flex and jerk in his pants. Garrett wiggled his hips just a fraction, but it was enough to have Lachlan grinding his hardened shaft into the crease of Garrett’s jean-covered ass.
Lachlan was still angry, but his lion wanted to claim its mate until all the rage drained from his body. Without getting Garrett’s consent, Lachlan let his claws descend and sheared the clothes from Garrett’s body. Garrett wasn’t fighting him, but his body began to tremble.
Lachlan ran his claws lightly down his mate’s back, watching as the muscles jumped from the gentle touch. Lachlan reached down with his hands and grabbed Garrett’s ass, hard enough to puncture the thick tissue with his nails. Garrett gave a small yelp, and Lachlan couldn’t help but smile. He liked seeing his mark on his mate. Garrett was always the one sitting in the driver’s seat, but now, it was Lachlan’s turn.
Lachlan leaned back down to cover his mate’s naked body, letting the rough textures of his clothes scrape across Garrett exposed skin.
He blew hot breaths against Garrett’s ear and licked along the shell. A small tremor raked through Garrett’s body.
“Don’t move a muscle,” Lachlan said in a raspy whisper, his throat thick with arousal. His mind and body were on overload with his out-of-sync feelings. He started off wanting to hurt his mate, to make him feel little and weak the way Garrett had done to him that night. But now, all he could think about was sinking into Garrett’s tight, hot channel and fucking him until they both screamed out their pleasure.
Lachlan popped up and rushed over to his nightstand. He pulled out the lube he’d left in the drawer. As he walked back over to where Garrett’s Choice
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Garrett lay facedown, he toed off his shoes and shucked off his shirt.
He unfastened the snap on his jeans but kept them on.
Peering down at his mate, Lachlan took in Garrett’s broad shoulders that tapered down to a trim waist. Garrett’s backside was perfect as if carved from marble to form the roundest ass Lachlan had ever seen. And Garrett’s legs were so thick and corded with muscle the man could probably snap someone’s neck with those lethal weapons.
Dark, coarse hair covered Garrett’s legs and ran up to shade the crease of his mate’s ass. Lachlan wanted to dive between those firm mounds and tease the tiny pucker the thick hair tried to conceal.
Reaching down, Lachlan pulled up on Garrett’s hips, bringing the man up onto his knees. Lachlan smiled as he kneaded Garrett’s flesh, letting his fingers fan out. He started to work apart Garrett’s ass cheeks.
When Garrett started to push into his touch, Lachlan bent down and ran his tongue from the cleft of Garrett’s crease down to the dusty-colored star of his entrance. Lachlan teased the small opening with his tongue. He’d circle then dart his tongue inside, stretching ever so lightly.
“Fuck,” Garrett grated out between clenched teeth as he rubbed his face into the carpet.
Lachlan smiled. He kept up his assault on his mate’s ass until the hole fluttered open, almost winking at him. Sitting back, Lachlan pulled his pants halfway down his hips and coated his cock with the lube, using the excess gel to probe his mate’s entrance with his fingers. Garrett gasped as his muscles clinched tight against invasion.
“I’m going to fuck you until you beg me to stop,” Lachlan said as he pulled his fingers free.
He’d only finger fucked his mate for a few minutes. Lachlan wanted to take Garrett while he was still nice and tight and could feel the pinch of pain. The pain would only last a second before it blended with pleasure. Lachlan wanted Garrett to be shocked by his bold 92
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actions. He wanted his mate to know that Garrett wasn’t the only alpha in the bedroom.
With one hand on Garrett’s shoulder, Lachlan used the other to guide his aching cock to his mate’s hole. He swiped the bulbous head over the muscle and grinned as he watched Garrett’s muscles tense.
Using his other hand, Lachlan pushed forward until the crown sunk inside.
Lachlan released a loud moan and pulled back out. On his next breath he pushed in farther and Garrett arched his back, jutting his ass out further. Lachlan brought his other hand up to grab Garrett’s other shoulder and gave one quick thrust forward until his thighs met the back of Garrett’s ass. He held still for just a moment before he started pounding into his mate.
Garrett grunted with each inward stroke but never protested Lachlan’s handling of his body. In and out, harder and harder, Lachlan was getting lost in his mate’s body. On the next thrust, Lachlan knocked Garrett forward. Lachlan took that moment to push Garrett’s head into the carpet and held him there. He leaned farther over Garrett’s body as he slammed home with every stroke. Keeping one hand on Garrett’s head, Lachlan used his other one to reach around and pump Garrett’s cock. Lachlan’s orgasm stirred just beneath the surface, but he wanted to feel Garrett come on his shaft while he thrust into his tight heat.
Lachlan fisted Garrett’s cock in time with his hips. Cum collected in his balls, and he was moments away from shooting his load deep in Garrett’s velvet channel.
Garrett had claimed Lachlan in the blood, sex, magic ritual. It was only fair Lachlan do the same for his mate. Lachlan pulled out of Garrett and sliced a thin line from tip to base down his length. Blood instantly beaded up from the shallow cut. He then collected a drop of blood that dribbled from the claw marks he gifted onto Garrett’s body and wiped the contents over his angry red tip, then thrust back into Garrett.<
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“What are you doing?” Garrett rasped as he tried to push onto his elbows.
“Claiming my mate.” Lachlan locked his arm in place, not allowing Garrett to get up. He was in control, and Garrett had to follow his orders.
Lachlan’s body felt strung tight as he rammed into Garrett. He was just about to come when he felt Garrett’s erection swell in his hand. Garrett’s seed shot out the tip, bathing Lachlan’s hand in warmth. The dual sensations of feeling Garrett clamp around his cock and the smell of his mate’s pleasure shoved Lachlan over the edge into the most delightful free fall of his life. He came long and hard inside Garrett’s smoldering depths. Their bonding connection had already been cemented into place, but Lachlan could have sworn he felt their souls strengthen in power.
Garrett collapsed to the floor, and Lachlan followed him down, not ready to pull out of Garrett’s welcoming body. He half lay on the floor and on his mate. Garrett didn’t seem to mind. He just lay there trying to catch his breath.
After a few minutes Lachlan pulled out and climbed to his feet.
He went into the bathroom and rinsed off his cock then grabbed a wet cloth. Garrett was still lying motionless on the floor when Lachlan returned. He knelt down and wiped away the cum leaking out of Garrett’s stretched hole. When he was done Lachlan tossed the soiled cloth in the direction of the bathroom, not caring if it actually made it to its destination.
Looking down at his mate on the floor, Lachlan had no desire to lounge on the hard surface, even with the carpet, when he had a nice cozy bed to share with his mate. They needed to talk, and Lachlan would be damned if they did it on the cold floor.
“Come on, Garrett. Get up.” Lachlan tapped Garrett on the shoulder when he didn’t move.
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Garrett turned his head and looked up at him. “No. If I get up you’re just going to kick me out. I prefer to lie here on the floor so I can be near you.”
