“I didn’t say that either. Being the alpha’s son didn’t spare me.” Fuck. He hated saying that and if Brownie wanted more from him, he wouldn’t get it. The pack had torn his father apart for a reason. He’d had a sickness. If anything, Yuri was even more convenient than any other child had been.
Brownie’s lips returned to Yuri’s neck, wiping away the past. Only the way he felt beneath Brownie existed now. He made Yuri want to be touched… only by him. A deadly-sounding growl vibrated against Yuri’s neck. The sound went straight to Yuri’s cock like a caress.
“Damn right I’ll be the only one touching you.”
A sad smile pulled at Yuri’s lips. He had a hard time holding on to it. Brownie had nothing to worry about. Yuri had less than zero interest in being with anyone else. But he knew he would never have the same loyalty, and that hurt. Brownie was an alpha. He wouldn’t be faithful. It was expected of him to grow the pack.
Brownie sat back on his heels and stared down at Yuri with a closed expression. It was like he was angry and trying to hide it. After a second, he snagged Yuri’s backpack and dragged it closer. He pulled out a t-shirt and cleaned their skin the best he could before pulling out the blanket Yuri kept stuffed in the bag for cold nights. With his thoughts kept on lockdown from Yuri, Brownie wrapped Yuri in the blanket. His gaze avoidedYuri’s. Yuri had a bad feeling Brownie didn’t want Yuri to see his rage, but Yuri didn’t know what he had done wrong. This was a familiar feeling, though. He was always the fuck-up. Everyone shut him out.
Brownie’s gaze shot to his, as if he heard that thought. “You’re mine. I’ve told you a dozen times hellhounds aren’t wolves. Our world isn’t like yours. The only way hellhounds are created is by Lucifer’s hand. Nothing is expected of me but to guard him… and now to be your mate. I’m not a wolf,” he repeated, sounding angry. He stood and plucked Yuri’s tightly wrapped body from the ground. In a flash, Yuri found himself over Brownie’s massive shoulder. He ground his back teeth, trying not to think and piss off Brownie more than he obviously had. Brownie slung Yuri’s backpack over his other shoulder and took off like a shot. Oddly, Yuri didn’t feel the least bit unsecured. He didn’t get beaten to death by a bumpy ride. Brownie kept him tucked tightly in a way that simply had Yuri along for his run. But his position made it hard to keep up with where they were. He sort of recognized the floor of Frost’s house before a leap through the mirror had him staring at Lucifer’s bed. That disappeared just as quickly as Brownie strode through the castle at a clipped pace. If they passed Lucifer or Riku, Yuri didn’t see them or hear them. The air left his lungs as he landed on a soft mattress. Everything smelled like Brownie. Yuri wanted to roll around in the scent and keep it for later. But his gaze refused to budge from Brownie long enough for him to do anything. Brownie stripped. He was so fucking sexy. The scar, showing him as Yuri’s mate, caught and held his attention. It nearly blended with a ragged scar Brownie already had. That thought led to another. A pain sliced through his chest. “I’m not your first mate.” He hadn’t reallythought about that before. Brownie had said the scar came from a bar fight. Only mates could scar each other.
Brownie’s eyes flashed dangerously as he finally focused on Yuri. Yuri recoiled a hair at the rage he saw in Brownie. “I’m not a fucking wolf.”
Yuri swallowed. “Okay.” Even he heard how small he sounded. Everyone was always angry with him. Brownie was the one person he didn’t want to feel that way with.
Brownie swiped a hand over his face. He looked defeated. His eyes seemed almost sad as he straddled Yuri’s body. While keeping his weight balanced on his knees and heels, Brownie effectively kept him pinned. “Please listen to me.”
At the pleading in Brownie’s voice, Yuri nodded. “Of course. Anything.” He meant it. Yuri would always do anything Brownie needed.
Brownie’s muscles relaxed. He obviously recognized Yuri’s loyalty. Yuri would always give him anything. “I know I’ve said this all before, but I need you to really hear me. Hellhounds aren’t part of your world. We aren’t created or ruled by Odin. I’m not like you. My skin scars. I can talk in animal form and my blood would boil away anyone else’s skin. Yet you drank it… like only a true mate could. We don’t procreate. In fact, most creatures on this side of heaven never receive mates. It’s almost unheard of unless we leave here to serve Celeste. My only guess is you’re the one she blessed. Not me. I’m only benefiting from the grace she’s extended to you.”
Yuri clung to every word. He was fascinated and confused. His mate was a mystery to him in so many ways. Yuri realized how little he understood about the underworld.
Thankfully, Brownie kept talking. Yuri knew he wouldn’t let Yuri live in the dark. “Hellhounds don’t kiss or care about each other. We don’t have parents. There’s no such thing as nurturing. We exist to serve Lucifer. In our downtime, maybe we’ll fuck, but that’s also an act of bravery. It’s vicious and dangerous, since we might choose to tear each other’s throats out. This world is nothing like yours. Being with you, there’s no way you can understand what that’s like for me. You are softness and sunshine. Laughter and warmth. You’re everything I never knew before you. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be right now. There damn sure isn’t another beast I want to touch.” He motioned between them. “This is a blessing I couldn’t even dare to dream. There’s no one else, period. You’re everything.”
Yuri sniffed. He hated how close to tears he was. Life had been way too hard. Brownie felt way too much like Yuri had a new family.
“I’m your mate. I am your family.”
The softly spoken words broke Yuri. He rolled upward, tossing the blanket aside, and snagged Brownie’s neck, hauling him down. Yuri claimed Brownie’s mouth, and all thought vanished. He was just a man beneath his other half. Yuri couldn’t get close enough.
Brownie had gone from never kissing to unable to get enough in a single day. There was no way he could have known exactly how carnal the act could be. He was transfixed. Nothing existed but Yuri’s mouth. He should have realized how amazing this would be simply by how desperate he always made Brownie to groom him. Brownie had never spent so much time licking every inch of anyone. He had never groomed anyone other than himself before Yuri. Why hadn’t he immediately recognized Yuri as his mate? The way he had wanted to take care of him from minute one was unfathomable before him. This wolf was his.
Brownie desperately wanted to be inside Yuri. He was just as out of depth here as he had been with kissing. Brownie wanted every second to feel good to Yuri. He didn’t want to hurt him. That wasn’t something Brownie knew how to do. But he felt everything Yuri felt, so he hoped he would figure it out.
His mouth moved to Yuri’s ear. He wanted to lick it. “I want to make love to you.”
“Yes.” The breathless whisper cut through Brownie’s soul. The way Yuri gripped his arms and writhed beneath him said a lot about his restlessness. He wanted Brownie too. That still fucked with his head. Yuri was so flawless… except for Brownie’s bite mark. Brownie’s stomach growl.His. Yuri belonged to him.
“Hold on. Just give me a second.” It really took some rooting for Brownie to find lube. He owned it, but—as he had told Yuri—his life was very different from Weres. The sexy way Yuri’s whiskey-colored eyes watched his every move had Brownie near to panting. He wet his fingers and got to work, getting Yuri as wet as possible. Fuck. He was a man on the edge. Everything was so goddamn gorgeous about Yuri. They genuinely didn’t match. He couldn’t stop being blown away that Yuri even let him touch him. His hunger turned dangerous. He was used to claiming what he wanted. Brownie turned more treacherous by the second. The demon dog inside him was barely held at bay.
“I want you inside me.”
Brownie swore he lost sight at Yuri’s desperate-sounding words. A red haze coated his vision. He sounded demonic when he responded. “I’m barely me right now. Don’t toy with me. The hellhound inside me wants to claim you.”
In a show of strength, Yuri rolled upward, grabbed Brownie, and twisted. Brownie blinked at the ceiling. He didn’t get taken down. His confusion lasted for less than a second when Yuri’stight body sank onto him. Brownie’s back bowed as Yuri’s heat squeezed his cock.
“Holy fuck, Yuri. I—” He had no idea what he meant to say. His brain flew out the window when Yuri lifted and lowered himself, taking Brownie even deeper. Everything short circuited. His claws tore through the sheets. He fought to keep them clear of Yuri’s beautiful skin. The sounds he made were as unfamiliar as finding himself on his back.
Yuri’s tongue circled Brownie’s nipple.
Brownie realized he could slightly separate what he felt from what Yuri felt. Damn. He wasn’t in pain. Yuri wanted this every bit as badly. He used Brownie’s body to take his pleasure. That was all he needed to know. It was also the last coherent thought he had. Yuri’s fangs sank into Brownie’s chest, right above the nipple he had just licked. His entire body reacted. The growl he released would have scared any other beast. He felt Yuri’s pride, along with his pleasure. Brownie was no longer in control. His needs were. He flipped, pinning Yuri beneath him. Brownie tore into Yuri’s throat and drank. A blinding light of ecstasy flashed through his mind. The sweet taste of Yuri’s life-giving force brought Brownie slamming back down to reality. Yuri had already been lightheaded once tonight from blood loss.
Brownie quickly licked the wound, sealing it. Even as he watched the scar appear, his pride didn’t outmatch his worry. “I’m sorry. Damn. I wasn’t thinking. You have to make me stop before I do stupid shit. I’m so sorry.”
Yuri’s tongue filled his mouth, silencing him.
Brownie’s heart slowed. His mind stilled. Peace and satisfaction settled on his shoulders. He had never experienced anything truly beautiful before. This had been soul-searing. He floated on a cloud. Brownie had felt pride and attachment. Being Lucifer’s protector gave him that. Brownie had never felt this before. It was something new. Something he didn’t know how to name. It was beautiful and ugly. Affection and jealousy. This was a deep possessiveness he would tear anyone and anything apart to keep. If it had a name, he didn’t know it yet. All Brownie knew was they were for eternity and nothing could touch them.
