Cody complied, making sure his nipples weren’t touching anything. The sharp pain caused by the nipple clamps was now down to a dull throbbing and he wanted to keep it that way. Once in place, he tried to quiet hisbody, knowing Dylon would not start until he stopped moving. But it was difficult as his body was humming with excitement. A paddling and nipple clamps! I need this! Oh, sir, make me yours, please!
Caressing the quivering globes under his hand, Dylon was pleased with his mate’s reaction. The constant pain of the nipple clamps and the expectation of jolts from the pain of paddling were making his mate’s body twitch and jerk.He waited until Cody finally stilled his body which, Dylon chuckled, was punishment in and of itself.Cody is starting to learn mental discipline that will help him control the effects of his visions.
“One more thing, my pet, you will call out each stroke after you receive it.” Pausing, Dylon raised his hand holding the wooden paddle, and brought it down with a resounding thwack against the firm, round, soft left cheek sending the sound echoing throughout the room. Rubbing the clearly defined paddle imprint, he waited.
Cody grunted, then said, “One, sir.”
Dylon raised the paddle again, bringing it down sharply, this time on the right cheek.
“Two, sir.”
The sound of plump flesh being struck continued as Cody counted. By the fifth time the paddle met his cheeks, tears were flowing freely from the pain. But he craved it. He rocked into the slap each time, but Dylon kept his legs apart, denying Cody’s cock the friction it needed to come, fueling his mate’s need. Cody was finding it harder and harder to remember to count as his body became awash with pain and pleasure. It was like nothing he’d ever experienced. The pain giving way to pleasure as the pleasure gave way to pain. Both fulfilling his deepest needs.
Dylon heard the sobs and the grunts but paid no attention to them because his mate was lifting his ass each time, seeking the paddle’s soul restoring benefit. The Shaman had explained the importance of Cody’s punishments; punishments that allowed him to absolve the guilt he felt over his inability to prevent the pain and suffering inflicted on others. Dylon understood exactly how the visions were both a blessing and a curse, he and Cody would not be able to save everyone. No sense in asking why, he knew shit happened—unforeseen shit they’d have no control over. He lifted the paddle again and nearing the end of the session, let his arm fly, this time with more force than any of those before.
“T-t-twenty, s-s-sir,” Cody stuttered, tears streamed down his face. He hadn’t come, his cock ached, his nipples were burning, his ass felt like it was on fire and never was he so at peace as he was in that moment. Guilt gone, hope flared inside of him—he wanted to bite his mate—more than anything else in the world.
Dylon soothed the deep red cheeks while crooning to his mate for a few moments. He loved the feel of Cody’s bubble butt underneath his hands, so soft yet so firm—the perfect size to grasp and squeeze. Lifting his mate and turning him to remove the nipple clamps, Dylon heard his mate hiss loudly at the quick sharp pain it caused. Rubbing the nipples, he brought blood back to them, easing the pain. After Cody curled up in his arms, Dylon grabbed a throw and wrapped it around his mate before giving him some water to drink. Listening to Cody’s occasional hiss caused when he shifted his weight, Dylon’s worry lifted. He knew his mate wanted to bite him and that meant Cody was almost ready for it.
Tomorrow, they would spend another day in the woods, letting Cody’s wolf finish the healing process. Maybe, his wolf would fuck Cody’s. He would love it, but hismate had to ask for it—and Cody would. He was finally sure of that.
~/~/~/~/~
Low hanging, heavy, cloud cover. A pitch-black night in the Tajikistan mountains. It was as if the gods were blessing his commitment to stop the bloodshed so many of his people had experienced over these long years. Ulfric tried to recall a time in his life that was free of the beatings and killings that Arald had inflicted on his pack. But he could not remember such a time. Now his wife was expecting their first pup, and as much as he was excited about it, he dreaded it just as much. So, when this chance arose, he had to try, for the sake of his family.
After telling his wife he was leaving, Ulfric slipped out the back door and paused. Lifting his nose, he sniffed but found no other wolf nearby. Sticking to the shadows, he quietly made his way out of town, hoping his luck held. Right now, Arald was meeting with the representative of Dire Enterprises in a pre-conference meeting. He hadn’t wanted to wait this long but it was impossible to even contact the other pack Alpha until today.
As he saw it, this was his final chance to stop the tyranny he and his pack lived under. But he couldn’t stand alone. He needed the other pack to join with him during the conference if there was ever a chance his pack would be free of Arald and his goons. Pausing often to check for anyone following him, he crept down to the mountain waterfall?where they could talk where not even wolf hearing could distinguish spoken words.
Apologizing to Arald and Slate Valentin for his need to get home to help his wife, Ordovic left the building, nodding to the guards who stood outside the meeting room. He wasn’t sure why his presence was required since nothing would change for his pack. No, Araldcontrolled this land—something even a young shifter knew. And even though he tried to tell himself there wasn’t anything he could do about it, Ordovic hoped that this time might be different.
That was the reason he gave himself for heading to the agreed meeting place instead of home where his wife and children slept. But he wanted a better life for his children. A place they could grow up and not fear being attacked every time they left home. And as the leader of his pack, he owed it to his pack members to at least try to free them from the oppression they now lived under.
Fading back into the shadows at the top of the mountain path, he waited to see if anyone had followed him. His ability at camouflage was superb, though it was a well-guarded secret. After a few minutes he continued down the path. At least he didn’t have to worry about being attacked—killed, yes—but the guy from Dire Enterprises made the three leaders sign a contract agreeing to not attack another pack while the peace conference was in session.
Huh…little did anyone know the contract really applied only to Arald and his pack. He remembered laughing to himself when given the document to sign because it seemed that his nemesis had done it again. It was so simple, in fact, he had to admire the brilliance of the plan. Arald had somehow convinced Dire Enterprises to make a payment to each of the packs to guarantee an attack-free peace conference. Of course, what the company didn’t know was Arald was responsible for all the attacks and the money each pack received would have to be turned over to him. Very devious! But it was exactly the reason he agreed to meet Ulfric at the waterfall tonight.
Ordovic had had enough. His father and older brother were killed when they tried to stand up to Arald, so whathe was now choosing to do ran in his blood. Foolhardy, probably, but he had to try. The money offered to each pack by Dire Enterprises was substantial and it could help his members survive if winter turned out to be brutal. But that wasn’t going to happen; instead, Arald would be able to buy an army of enforcers to do his bidding. Even now, Ordovic could feel his stomach twist in fear at the thought of Arald, the Barbarian, his private nickname for him, having that much more power over his pack.
Hugging the shadows near the waterfall, Ordovic waited for some sign Ulfric was here. He wouldn’t wait long in case Arald finished up with Slate early and decided to stop by to make sure Ordovic would tow the party line. Just when he was about to turn and leave, he heard the call of a Peregrine Falcon and smiled.Ulfric is here!He stepped out of the shadows and found himself looking at the face of his dear friend. Grabbing his arm, he pulled them over to the waterfall and led the way on the ledge to the cave behind it. Once they were safely inside, he turned and hugged Ulfric. “I’m glad to see you made it.”
“Yes, nobody was out tonight.”
Ordovic snorted, “No, Arald is being a good boy for once. He’s too greedy and won’t fuck up the chance of getting the big payday. But enough about that asshole. Tell me how we have a chance to stop him once and for all.”
“Last week, when I was given permission to go to the hospital for the wound one of Arald’s goons gave me, I met a doctor there…Dr. Eddie something or the other…he isn’t important but what he told me was. The first time I was attacked I was treated by Dr. Ian Wallace and when I went in this time, I asked for him only to find out he wasn’t there anymore.”
Ordovic smirked. “This is your big news? I hate to tell you but new doctors rotate in and out of there all the time.”
“I know that, asshole, but this was different. Wallace left and now works for the CEO of Dire Enterprises. You know the same company doing the peace conference.”
“Yes, yes, go on. What does a missing doctor have to do with this bogus conference?”
“Well, it seems he met his Fated Mate who happens to be related to Dire Enterprises CEO’s mate.”
“Well, good for him but that still doesn’t explain how this will help us.”
“I’m getting to that. Last time he treated me, we got to talking and he wanted to know how else Dire Enterprises could help our packs. It seems there is a semi-annual meeting where the doctors discuss what more can be done for the community. Now, I figure if I can speak to him privately, I can tell him what’s going on here without Arald finding out.”
