I was nearing the edge when I was pulled from my climax by the sound of a door closing. Both Damon and I froze in place as we heard footsteps.
“Hey Damon? Sorry to interrupt, but this is important,” I heard, and I saw a look of concern cross Damon’s face.
“Who-” I began to ask, but the door burst open and I gasped as the scent of gingerbread and open fire invaded my senses.
“I hope all are decent in h-” The deep, jovial rumble was cut mid sentence as the feeling that I could only describe as everything clicking into place and becoming complete flood through my body.
“Oh my goddess,” I whispered as I knew in that instant that the fated mate bond had snapped into place. I looked up at Damon, my eyes widening in shock. I saw his own eyes widen as he realised what had just happened. A growl sounded to our side and a single word was uttered.
“MINE.”
Damon barely mouthed the words, “Oh fuck,” before he disappeared in a blur from above me and went crashing into the wall.
Chapter 5
Liam
Thecitysceneryblurredas I drove faster than I should have, my jaw clenched in frustration. God, I hated this place. The noise, the filth, and the chaos of it all was suffocating. But I had no choice but to come here. After the look on my father’s face when he and Gregg arrived home this morning. They left quickly yesterday afternoon after my father had received a phone call. I tried to ask what was happening but my father said he would explain when he got back. All I knew was that a friend of theirs needed help.
I had been sitting at breakfast with my mum and sister when they had returned. My mum felt the distress and upset as soon as he entered the pack gates. It was less than half an hour before my mum mind linked me to come down to the Alpha office. To say I was shocked when I entered the office was an understatement. The place was a mess. My fathers large mahogany desk was smashed against one wall and books and papers were everywhere. My father was sitting in his leather desk chair nursing what looked like a large glass of whisky in his hand, his posture and expression screaming defeat. Gregg was standing next to him with his hand on my father’s shoulder. He had a gift of calming down my father, and it looked like it was working overtime right now. It was a gift that his son Damon, my best friend and future Beta shared and it came in handy more than once, especially when I lost my temper.
My father had quickly explained that an old friend of his had been in trouble. They had gone to help him but had got there too late and the people after him had caught up to him and killed him. My father said that they needed to find the rest of his friend’s pack as a matter of urgency but all he knew was that they were in the area. He told me to get Damon and it would be all hands on deck to find these people and bring them to safety. I hadn’t asked any more questions. I had jumped in my car and left for the city straight away.
As I drove deeper into the city, my mind couldn't help but drift back to the conversations Damon and I had shared about the woman he was seeing. It wasn't like him to get so wrapped up in someone; he was usually all about casual flings and one-night stands. But this woman, she seemed different.
"Liam! You've got to meet her, man," Damon had gushed to me one evening at our pack's training grounds. His eyes were lit up with excitement as he spoke, a rare sight for someone who usually kept his emotions in check. "She's bloody amazing."
"Really?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "What makes her so special?"
"Everything!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. "She's smart, funny, and gorgeous."
"Sounds promising," I conceded, genuinely curious about this mystery woman who'd captured my best friend's heart.
"Promise, man." Damon grinned, taking a swig from his water bottle. "I'm actually thinking about petitioning for her to join the pack."
"Wow, that serious, huh?" I couldn't help but feel impressed. This was uncharted territory for him.
"Yeah," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I even, uh... I think I might love her, Liam." Hearing those words from Damon's mouth sent a shock through my system. Love? That was a powerful emotion, especially for a werewolf. We didn't throw that word around lightly. As the Alpha heir, I knew the significance of such a commitment.
"Love, huh?" I mused, clapping him on the shoulder. "Well, if she's that important to you, then I trust your judgment. Just be careful, alright? Things are complicated right now."
"Trust me, I know," he replied with a grimace. It was hard knowing that bringing someone into the pack could give them a death sentence, but time was already running out and my father believed that more pack members would actually help us deal with this cloud that we have been living with my whole life.
As I snapped back to the present, my grip on the steering wheel tightened. I had to get him away from his new lover and back home. With a determined sigh, I pressed down harder on the gas pedal, my mind racing alongside the speeding car. I just hoped that whatever awaited us back at the pack wouldn't shatter the fragile happiness my best friend had finally found.
As I pulled up to the safe house, my thoughts were a storm of concern and frustration. I didn't want to interrupt Damon's date; he deserved this happiness after everything we had all been through. Exiting the vehicle, I strode towards the private elevator, my heart pounding in my chest. My wolf, Musk, stirred within me, restless and eager all of a sudden. Its excitement was contagious, and despite my reluctance to disturb Damon and his date, I couldn't help but feel a spark of anticipation.The more steps I took toward the elevator, the stronger that connection became. I tried to suppress it, knowing full well that letting the beast loose in a moment like this could lead to disaster.
"What is wrong with you?," I said to him in my head, feeling my pulse race as the elevator doors slid open. "You are being weird." Musk just replied with a grunt and carried on his restless pacing. The elevator doors opened once more, revealing the sleek, modern hallway of the safe house. I strode forward, my footsteps echoing against the polished floor as my wolf's restlessness continued to grow. There was something in the air, a tension that set my nerves on edge and made it difficult to focus. I couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental was about to happen.
I entered the access code on the keypad, my fingers trembling slightly. As soon as the door clicked open, I was assaulted by the most intoxicating scent I'd ever encountered. It was like a burst of citrus, sweet and tangy, and it seemed to wrap around me, urging me towards the closed bedroom door. My wolf's excitement grew exponentially, its desire to track down the source nearly overwhelming.
"Easy, boy," I murmured under my breath, trying to keep him in check. I forced myself to take in the rest of the apartment first, hoping to regain some semblance of control. Clothes were strewn haphazardly across the floor, a trail of discarded garments leading from the front door to the bedroom. An uneaten pizza sat abandoned on the coffee table, flanked by an unopened bottle of wine. It was clear that whatever had transpired between Damon and this woman tonight, it had taken priority over everything else. I couldn’t help but grin at what fun he must be having. It had been a while since I had let loose. I still had my fair share of fun but I was more cautious about it after what happened with Jessica.
"Hey Damon, Sorry to interrupt. But this is important," I shouted as I approached the closed bedroom door, my heart pounding in my chest. Even without my werewolf hearing, the sounds of pleasure emanating from behind the door were unmistakable.
"Sorry dude," I muttered under my breath, feeling a pang of guilt for barging in on my best friend's intimate moment. But there was no time for hesitation. Whatever had happened during my father's trip, it needed immediate attention.
With a deep breath, I pushed open the door and bellowed, "I hope all are decent in h-" My words caught in my throat as the intoxicating citrus scent hit me full force, sending an overwhelming wave of completion through my entire being. My pulse raced and every nerve in my body seemed to awaken, as if charged with electricity. It felt like I'd been existing in a world devoid of colour, and suddenly everything around me was vibrant and alive. The heady sensation left me momentarily disoriented, the world narrowing down to that potent aroma and its source.
