"Because now Alpha Rob can report them to the council of shifters and they can be sanctioned. Once that happens, there isn't a clan out there that will accept them."
"How is that going to stop them from coming after you again?"
Randal could hear the worry in Luca's voice and it soothed something deep inside of him. It had been a long time since anyone had been concerned about him. "Once they are sanctioned, if they step foot in Alpha Rob's territory, he can execute them."
Luca gasped. "He can execute them?"
"We're bear shifters, baby. Predatory animals. Because we are so big and so lethal, there have to be rules we follow. Those rules might seem strict to you, but every shifter is taught these rules from the time they can walk. We all know what type of life we lead and how dangerous we can be. There is swift justice for those who violate those rules. There has to be."
"Have you ever killed someone?"
"No, but I'm not an alpha. Unless I am defending myself or someone else, if I kill someone, it's a death sentence."
Luca's hands clutched at Randal. "I don't want you to die."
"I don't either, which is why I don't have any plans to attack anyone. Don't get me wrong, if you were in danger or if someone in the clan was, I'd do whatever I had to do to keep you safe, but I have no plans to attack someone indiscriminately."
"Yeah, good plan."
Randal chuckled before grabbing Luca and rolling the man underneath him. "So, if I'm no longer paying restitution, and we have permission from the alpha, can I claim you?"
Luca's breath caught. "Are you healed enough? I don't want to do anything that might hurt you."
"The only thing hurting me is not having you."
"I've always been yours, Randal, even when we were apart."
Randal smiled, liking that answer.
"I hate to ask this, but under the circumstances I have to. Do you know what you're doing?"
"Technically, yes," Randal replied. "Have I ever done it before, no. It was too dangerous to act on the feelings I had." Randal grinned at the little growl that came out of Luca's mouth. It almost sounded like a bear. "Since meeting you, I've imagined a lot."
Hours and days of daydreams involving his mate.
"Oh yeah?" Luca's grin matched Randal's. "What have you imagined?"
"You under me, taking my cock and my teeth."
"That's a pretty good imagination." Luca swallowed hard. "Let's do that. Claim me, mate."
Randal groaned as he leaned down to kiss Luca. The man's words stabbed him right in the heart, but they also made him whole, something he had been sadly lacking his entire life.
"We need lube," Luca panted heavily.
"Since I'm already naked, we just need to get you out of your clothes."
Luca grinned. "That might help."
"I’ll look for some lube. You get naked. We'll meet back here."
Randal didn't wait for Luca's reply. His legs were a little shaky when he stood up beside the bed, but not enough to keep him from searching for something to use as lube. He'd waited two years to claim his mate. He wasn't going to wait another second.
He didn't find anything in the nightstand so he went to the bathroom. He almost crowed in triumph when he found an unopened bottle of lube in a basket on the counter, along with a stack of clean washrags, a bottle of massage oil, and a candle. He wanted to shake the hand of whoever put the little gift basket there, but later. Much later.
"Luca, I found...sweet mother of mercy." Randal nearly swallowed his tongue when he hurried back into the bedroom and found a very naked Luca spread out over the bed, every inch of his golden tattooed skin on display.
He held up the bottle in his hand. "I found some lube."
