He was the oldest and taking care of his siblings had been his responsibility as he grew up—it was the chore he loved the most. Many times, he was more their fatherthan brother, especially when pack problems took their father away from home for many days and nights. And he loved that feeling!
When he learned his younger siblings had been killed, he grieved deeply for days because it felt like he’d lost his own children. And he supposed they were, in a way. And now the Fates found a way for him to be a father—this time a real father—not the surrogate he’d previously been with his siblings. A million more questions swirled in his mind interrupted by a knock at his study door.
“Come in,” Jackson called, standing and waiting to greet the man who would be his mate. Steel opened the door, entered, and shut it behind him. Jackson ogled his mate, eyes darkening with lust as they roamed over Steel’s body, landing on the erection that was filling his jeans. He could hear his wolf’s howl echoing his need for the first touch, the feel of his mate’s hand against his naked skin. He stood still, as his mate examined him, hoping he would please Steel. But Steel’s response was unexpected. “Why?” he asked.
Oh shit, Jackson knew immediately his mate was upset by his initial rejection of their mating. He didn’t need any other clues except the hurt he saw in Steel’s eyes. Jackson cleared his throat, as he thought about how to explain why he’d done it without causing any more damage. “I’m very sorry I hurt you but I felt it was the only way to protect you from the danger our pack faces.”
Jackson held up his hand to stop a response, before continuing, “Several years back the rest of my family was massacred by the Silver Point Pack whose Alpha is my uncle. I had no idea there was bad blood between the packs because my father, the Alpha of the Fox River Pack, kept a lot of those issues from me. Anyway, they massacred the Fox River Pack one night while everyonewas sleeping. They thought they’d killed all of them but then discovered the seven oldest sons of the Alpha were missing and sent a team of enforcers to kill the rest—namely me and my brothers.”
Steel looked stunned as Jackson continued. “Knowing we have a death sentence hanging over our heads, I wouldn’t subject my mate to the same fate. I figured you’d never know we were mates because of my protection spell. So, I was fulfilling my need to protect you by not alerting you; it was the only way I could think of in the heat of the moment. I would never hurt you intentionally, please believe me.”
As Steel listened to Jackson’s story, different emotions consumed his body—sadness at his mate’s loss, anger at the cowardly attack and finally, stronger than any other emotion—and one his wolf was in total agreement with—his fierce desire to protect Jackson forever. Steel and his wolf made a promise to each other: they would seek out and destroy any threat to Jackson for the rest of time and would never stop until their mate was safe.
He now understood why his wolf loved Jackson—here was a mate who would sacrifice his own happiness to make sure Steel was safe. He felt like getting down on his knees and thanking the Fates for sending him the other half of his heart. Steel made a vow, right then and there, never to disappoint the Fates; he would care for his mate and show them he treasured the gift they gave him.
Jackson saw the different emotions crossing Steel’s face before seeing his mate’s wolf make an appearance—claws extended, incisor teeth dropped, and hair growing on Steel’s hands and arms. As he fought the shift, Steel vibrated with intensity and, just when Jackson thought Steel would lose the battle, his wolf retreated. Steel’s eyes narrowed, studying Jackson with blatant desire
“I understand—and thanks for acting as a mate would. It must have nearly killed you to make that choice. But that’s moot now. My mother tells me you intend to claim me—as I will you—so I will stand proudly by your side to fight and protect you and those you love. That is my right as a mate.”
Steel stepped toward Jackson, compelled now to touch him, and saw Jackson take a deep breath before closing his eyes. His reaction to Steel’s scent was obvious by the big bulge in his crotch and when his mate opened his eyes, Steel saw Jackson’s wolf shining through them. He had to touch his mate—now! Steel grasped Jackson by his arms, pulling him tight to his body, their hard cocks rubbing against each other. Steel swallowed a moan as his mate’s body merged with his, lowering his face to Jackson, now needing to taste him more than anything else. Fisting one hand into Jackson’s soft hair, Steel lowered his lips until they were just a hair’s breadth away from Jackson’s, whispering, “I need to taste you.”
Jackson felt his body tremble as Steel whispered against his lips and instantly, all anxiety about their mating fell away as he rose up on his toes and pressed his lips against Steel’s. Warm, soft, yet firm lips moved against his as he pressed hard in his need to claim Steel. Jackson parted his lips, his tongue peeking out to take a taste of Steel and then, connecting with Steel’s mouth, savored the flavor of his mate, a moan rising from his chest.
Steel drove his tongue in, memorizing every part of Jackson’s mouth, growling as the flavor of his mate spread throughout him until it was in his soul—indelibly etched there forever.
Suddenly, Jackson sucked Steel’s tongue in and out of his mouth, demonstrating what he wanted Steel to do to his ass. Steel could feel his cock leaking pre-cum and heknew if he continued, he’d be claiming his mate on the floor. And that wouldn’t do at all. He also didn’t want it to happen with everyone here, so he reluctantly pulled himself away from Jackson’s mouth and, looking into the glazed, lust filled eyes of his mate, murmured, “Let’s take this to my home where we’ll be alone.”
Jackson felt the sudden loss of heat as Steel pulled away. He pulled Steel back toward him so their bodies could touch again and where he could continue to lose himself in Steel’s mouth. When that didn’t happen, Jackson growled with frustration and tried to pull harder. Steel resisted and instead pulled him toward the door.
As he regained awareness of where they were and what he wanted to do in his study, Jackson’s face turned pink.Damn, I was going to fuck my mate right next door to where my brothers and Steel’s parents are. Well, that was an erection killer.Jackson glanced at Steel, embarrassed at his wanton behavior and said quietly, “My bedroom is upstairs if you’d like to claim me there.”
Steel looked at his mate’s face and chuckled softly, “Let’s take this some place more private. I have a home not too far away and we can be alone. If you have the space, my parents will stay here and make sure no harm comes to your brothers.”
Jackson nodded and Steel took his hand, leading him out of the room and down the hall to the den. As they entered the room, there was silence and all eyes were on them. “Jackson and I will be going to my home for a while.”
Jackson looked at his brothers’ faces and saw worry.
Logan spoke up, “Jackson, is that all right with you?”
Jackson answered, “Yes, I’m fine and everything is okay. While I’m gone, would you show Oracle and Maximus to the guestroom? And Dakota please see that they havesomething to eat. When I get back, we’ll have a pack meeting.” After his brothers nodded their assent, Jackson headed for the front door.
Mystia got up and walked over to him. “I need to remove the spell in order for Steel to claim you. Do you have a problem with me doing that?”
Softly Jackson said, “No, go ahead.”
She raised her hands, held them over Jackson’s chest and chanted. Jackson saw her lips move but even with his wolf’s hearing he couldn’t make out her words. Mystia stepped back and smiled at Jackson. “It is done.”
Jackson knew the protection spell had been lifted when he heard Steel inhale deeply and felt his lips descend behind his ear, nuzzling and licking while mumbling how much he loved Jackson’s scent.
Embarrassed by the PDA, Jackson pulled Steel firmly through the front door and shut it behind them. “We’ll have to use your car since I haven’t replaced mine yet,” Jackson said.
And with the reminder of the harm that had befallen his mate in the orange grove, Steel’s wolf snarled, eager to track down the assholes who had hurt him.
Chapter 11
Driving down the road, Steel turned on the radio and “Little Bit of You” filled the air. He glanced at Jackson who was staring out his window. Saying nothing, Steel softly sang along with the song as he focused on getting to his house as fast as possible.
Jackson stared sightlessly at the scenery, his mind in turmoil as the scent of Steel swirled around him. He tried to control his response but his cock refused to cooperate—it was wet and hard, filling him with lust, causing him to breathe erratically as if he just completed a marathon. His wolf was excited; he’d rolled over, huffing in anticipation at the idea of Steel claiming him.
