Ever since Jackson found Steel, Carson had been sitting on the sidelines, watching each of his brothers find their mates, which was hard enough, but now it seemed he was doomed to keep sitting on the bench while his cousins found theirs.I can’t do it.The Fates are asking too much of me.Why would they do this to me? What did I ever do to deserve it?Although Carson knew Fated Mates weren’t guaranteed, still, he never thought it would be his lot not to have one. From his early childhood years on, he’d dreamt of finding his mate—someone who would love him despite whatever shortcomings he might have.
He rose from his chair and began to pace around the room, remembering the hours spent listening to his father pontificate about what a good Alpha should be.Ha! What a fucking waste of time!Though he’d eventually rejected most of his father’s ideas as rubbish, still, he thought at least some of them might come in handy when he met his mate, and he certainly expected to.
Fuck! I fucking wasted all that time. I should have spent it starting my business. Who knows where I would be by now? But no, I listened to all that bullshit because I wanted to be a good mate more than I wanted anything else.
Whatever he’d done to earn the ire of the Fates was a mystery to him, but even if he knew, Carson wasn’t sure how, or even if, he could change their minds.No sense in wishing for something I can’t have. Pacing back and forth, Carson swallowed his bitterness.What will be, willbe.His mother’s words, spoken so often to him as a child, came to mind.
Though confused by those words then, they now became clear to him; it was time to find a new direction, one that didn’t include a mate. Sorting through his emotions, one thing was certain—he had to leave home. Though he’d miss his brothers, Carson would never be able to handle the disappointment of others in the pack finding mates while he was always being passed by.
Once that decision was made, two questions came to mind—where should he go and what could he do. Immediately Dire Enterprises crossed his mind, bringing the first smile to his face since Jackson had appeared in his office.I do have a track record with them, and they have offices all over the world.He made a mental note to speak to Steel about possible job openings, realizing he really didn’t care where he went, as long as it was far enough away from the daily reminders that he was not worthy of a mate.
Satisfied with his new plan, Carson turned his attention back to a file he needed to work on. Steel had scheduled a meeting tomorrow at which Carson would discuss the current status of the grant program with Maximus and Slate. He’d be working late tonight, making sure each application was in order so as to impress Steel and the others tomorrow—especially considering what he was going to ask them.
Heading to his desk, a tidal wave of grief engulfed him; all he could see was the bleakness of his future. Feeling his legs buckling, he grabbed for the back of a chair but, missing, crumbled to the floor. The enormity of his decision to leave filled his mind, pushing out the last fragment of hope that someday he’d be blessed with a mate, someone by his side—someone he could love,protect and take care of the way an Alpha was supposed to. As he came to terms with the future loneliness he faced, he became desperate for a place of refuge. Crawling over to a dark corner of the room, he leaned his back against the wall, drawing his knees to his chest.
Then Carson began to cry, unable to stem the flood of tears sweeping his dreams away.
Chapter 18
Pawing through his hoard, Fionn searched for a gift to give his mate, one that would show Hunter how valuable he was to him. Rummaging through pile after pile, he had yet to find the right one. Quickly discarding gold coins as too common, he thought briefly about some gold bars or jewelry, but they weren’t much better. Tossing aside solid gold crowns, boxes and swords—all bedecked with precious gems—Fionn paused, frustrated that his dragon had rejected all as not worthy. Glancing around, he spied a pile of ancient statues. Scrambling over to them, he chose the one his dragon picked. Fionn held it in the palm of his hand, marveling at its beauty, knowing his dragon was right—it was the perfect gift.
Flopping onto his makeshift bed, Fionn picked up the sketches he’d drawn of his mate, admiring at the strength contained in his face, the eyes that seemed to follow Fionn, and the beautiful mouth, reflecting the sadness his mate was trying to hide from the world. That spoke to Fionn more than anything; he knew what it felt like. Lightly tracing his finger over his mate’s sensuous lips, Fionn wondered how it would feel when they met his.
A thrill went through him, settling in his cock, forcing his hand down to it. Hot, hard and leaking, it wanted his mate’s lips around it, sucking and licking until it erupted. Rubbing it, he closed his eyes, hearing his dragon roar, calling to his mate’s wolf and Fionn felt the bond between them being forged in dragon fire binding them together. His dragon arched his back, spreading his wings in the centuries-old mating dance, calling to his mate. Fionn’s need built, filling his body, demanding his mate’s touch.
Writhing as fire raced through his veins, Fionn gasped for air; his dragon was preparing him for the claiming. Minutes or hours—he wasn’t sure how long the fire lasted—his dragon teased him, played with him, igniting Fionn’s desire, forcing a succession of orgasms, each one lifting him higher toward the heavens. When his dragon finally retreated, Fionn foundhimself floating and basking in a golden glow before falling into a deep sleep.
It was time to go home.
~/~/~/~/~
Colton felt it, but before he could call Cody, his brother called him. Answering his phone, he asked, “Did you feel it? He needs us.”
“I know. I’m on my way.”
“He wants to leave,” Colton said. “Why? What happened?”
“I don’t know,” Cody replied, “I’m at his office.”
“Call me if you need me!”
“Will do.” Slipping his phone into his pocket, Cody placed his hand on Carson’s office door, pausing a moment before pushing it open. The room was empty. Frowning, he wondered where his brother was. Seeing an open file on Carson’s desk, he flipped through it, hoping for a clue. Finding none, he spun around and was just about to leave when he saw his brother hunched up on the floor in a dark corner of the room. Cody moved quickly and sat down beside him, drawing Carson into his arms, holding him tight.
~/~/~/~/~
Opening the door to the motorhome, Mac stuck his head in, calling, “Hunt?”
Hunter glanced at his brother over Mason’s shoulder. “Yeah, what’s up?”
“Good,” said Mac, clambering up the steps. After Maximus informed him Ian and Jackson agreed to him serving as the pack’s temporary doctor, it was time to tell Hunter. Sliding in next to Mason, he asked, “Where are Sawyer and Quin?”
“Last I knew, Sawyer was beating Zane inRogue Wolfand Quin is doing something with Theo and Norm,” replied Hunter.
“In his bedroom?” Mac asked, jerking his head to the back of the motorhome.
“No, he’s in the pack house,” replied Mason.
“Quin? Really? Wow, that’s good to hear,” Mac said. “But I have to admit, I never would have guessed it would be bear shifters who’d bring our brother out of his shell.”
