He got up from the bed, pulling up his jeans and shucking his ripped T-shirt, throwing in the direction of the trash. He walked into the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror. He was shocked to see a smile on his face. He was happy, for the first time in a long time. After his sister’s death, Duncan wasn’t sure if he would ever feel this happy. He was shocked when Jordan had told him he loved him.
Duncan wasn’t sure what brought it on and he didn’t care. Just hearing the words set his soul on fire. Getting a wash rag, he warmed it up, walking back to the bedroom and gently cleaned Jordan up. He leaned in and kissed his lover. He needed a quick shower before he left. He was going to have to bribe his friends to secrecy. If Jordan found out that the guys were still in the house and heard them having sex, Duncan would be in so much trouble. He rushed through his shower and got dressed in all black.
He left a note for Jordan, letting him know that he had to take care of a few things and would be back when he could. Duncan hoped he would be back before Jordan woke up. Where he was going, he didn’t want his mate anywhere near it, even though he promised Jordan that he would be a part of what was to come. But Duncan wanted to protect his mate in any way possible.
He went downstairs, expecting to see everyone waiting for him. The only one still hanging around was Harrison. Duncan promised himself he was going to try and be nice to the blood sucker. Jordan and his parents considered the man a treasured family friend. “Where’s everyone?” Duncan asked.
“They are waiting outside, except the two nyxians that have decided to stay behind to protect their new prince.”
“Don’t let Jordan hear you call him that,” Duncan said jokingly. He was trying to like the man for Jordan’s sake, but years of not liking their kind were embedded in him. But it was time things change.
“Why?” Harrison said, shrugging his shoulder. “It’s what he is.”
“Well, first let him get used to all this shit before you give him a title,” Duncan told him. “Once others realize that he’s here, I’m sure there will be more nyxians knocking down our door for refuge.”
“I guess you would rather he stay home and play the little wife to the big bad Alpha and his two little pups.”
Duncan growled and grabbed Harrison by his collar. “What the fuck is your problem with me? I’m trying really hard to put our differences behind us, but you are making it very hard for me to do that.”
“Besides the fact that our kind hate each other,” Harrison said not backing down from Duncan or pulling himself away from his hold. “I hate you more because you have the one person I wished was my mate instead—”
“Of what?” Duncan whispered dangerously. “Me! Jordan is mine, get that through your fucking head right now!” he growled showing his canines. “But answer me this, if you hate your mate so much, why couldn’t you do it?” he asked, shaking Harrison. “Why didn’t you just turn him over to die or leave him to die the night you turned him?” The other man said nothing, he simply stared at Duncan. “I’ll tell you why.” He released him and pushed Harrison away from him. “Because fate and the gods rule our lives, no matter how much we want to deny it, and we can’t win against them. They are stronger than we are. You have no idea why the gods put him in your life—”
“Did you go willingly when you realized Jordan was your mate?” Harrison snapped, cutting off Duncan’s rant. “The last time I checked you liked women with large breasts. Don’t tell me you don’t miss having a woman in your arms.”
“No, I don’t! Since the day Jordan walked through that door, I haven’t been able to think straight. Did I fight my attraction for him? Yeah, I did.” Duncan pinched the bridge of his nose, hoping to calm his thoughts. “I even went on a fucking date and the entire night I felt as if I was cheating on my mate. Look, I don’t give a fuck what the hell you do with your private life. I hate that I asked you to choose between Jordan and your mate. But I also pity your mate, if you're standing here more worried about Jordan than the man the fates and gods gave you.” Duncan sneered. “It would do you some good to stop lusting after mine and figure out what the fuck you want. Now stop your fucking belly aching and let’s go.”
Duncan opened the front door, walking out of the house. Jerking the door open to one of the Suburbans parked out front and got in, slamming the door shut. “Let’s go,” Duncan commanded, he didn’t spare a glance at Ryland who was in the driver's seat.
“Um...are we going to wait for Harrison?” Ryland asked him.
Duncan grunted by way of answering, just as Harrison got in the back seat. He could see from the corner of his eyes as Ryland looked from him to Harrison in the back seat. The tension between the two men was thick; so thick that even cutting it with a sharp knife would do nothing. Seeing that neither man was going to say anything, Ryland shrugged his shoulders and started the truck. Duncan heard his Beta whisper something to the effect of “this should be a bowl of fun.” He would have chuckled if the situation were on the other foot. But no one would come between him and his mate, no matter how long they have known each other. Jordan was his and no one else's.
Thirty minutes laterthey pulled up on the outskirts of town. They didn’t want to be too close to the hunters’ compound in case there were guards patrolling the area. The tall forest trees were covering the hunters’ compound. Aoi said the compound was being protected by nyxians, loyal only to the king. Duncan got out of the car and walked over to Aoi, who pulled out a large sword that was strapped to his back, hidden under his leather jacket.
Duncan cocked an eyebrow. “Planning on doing some major damage?”
Aoi looked at the sword in his hand. “I hate the fact I will be killing people I have lived and trained with. But it is something I must do to stop the king from wreaking havoc on the world. One day I would like to claim my mate and settle down in a world where we won’t have to worry if our children will be hated.”
Duncan nodded, he respected and liked the man since he’d met him.Considering they were family, since the man was Jordan's uncle.Other members of his pack, along with Harrison and a few members of his coven, joined them as well. Ryland pulled out a bag from the car and dropped it at his feet. Bending down he reached in and pulled out radios. “We will be using channel two, keep them open and no chatter—keep that for after we get rid of the fuckers,” Ryland said to everyone.
“Who died and left you in charge, dog?” Mikahel, a sanguine, asked, glaring at Ryland.
Ryland rolled his eyes. “Look,” he said, standing up. “I know this might be a bit late for it, but fornowlet’s call a truce. I’d rather have you watching my back than trying to put a knife in it. And I’m sure you all feel the same way.”
“I agree,” Jeremy, one of the sanguines, said and walked over to stand beside Ryland and put his hand on his shoulder, nodding his head. Others slowly nodded in agreement.
“Good,” Duncan said. “Now that we’ve got that all cleared up. Let’s split up in teams of three. Aoi and Harrison, you’re with me.” He didn’t wait around to see who got paired with who and started walking into the woods; he let them figure it out for themselves.
“Do you think that was a good idea?” Harrison asked.
“If what I think is coming our way does, they need to find a way to work together and if they see you and me do it, then maybe they will take the large chip off their shoulders.” He stopped and looked at Harrison. “I’m trusting you to get me back safely to my mate.” Duncan knew what he was doing, even if his head was telling him he was a fool to trust a blood sucker. Harrison nodded and started walking again. They moved slower the closer they got to the compound. He was able to see a few guards patrolling the area. He pulled and clicked the radio he had fastened on his clothes. “Okay, people, talk to me,” he instructed.
“We have four on the east side,” Ryland came back. “Two above and two below.”
“Charlie, what about you?” Duncan asked.
“We are clear on our side, but I would feel safer if we took the two top ones out just in case.”
