Taylor couldn’t control himself, but Johnny could, so he had to be strong enough for the both of them.
He let Taylor slump over him, his jaws holding Johnny in place as his throat vibrated. It was a deep, resonant sound that sent a shuddering pulse to Johnny’s balls. He flinched from the feeling, his abs tightening as his hips thrust forwards into Taylor’s. It was an involuntary reaction, and before he could get a grip on his body, his dick bucked and he realised he was coming in his own boxers.
Johnny held very,verystill, only able to pant and groan as he pressed his forehead against Taylor’s shoulder. This was not happening. This wasnotfucking happening. But Taylor’s teeth were still in his neck and his balls were still pumping.
Johnny squeezed his eyes shut, willing his pheromones to calm down. Suppress. Suppress. Suppress. He was used to suppressing them—he’d been doing it for over a decade.
Sure, things had gotten heated before, but that was when they were teenagers trying to figure out their tangle of hormones and confusing, seemingly random bursts of aggression. Sometimes they were mean just for the sake of it, sometimes they hit each other, bit each other, but that was a part of learning to be an alpha.
The biting was just an outlet for the aggression, and fucking hell, Taylorwasa biter. His snapped fang was evidence of that after his own father had punched him in the mouth when he bit his leg and wouldn’t let go.
A tiny whine escaped Taylor’s throat, and Johnny realised they’d both been standing there for the best part of a minute. He blinked, vision blurred, and body heavy.
Eventually, Taylor dislodged his mouth and pressed his damp forehead to Johnny’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, gripping both of Johnny’s forearms. “I’m so fucking sorry. I couldn’t—I didn’t?—”
“I know,” Johnny breathed. “I know, Tay.”
“But, your scent—you smell so fucking?—”
Johnny clenched his teeth and pushed Taylor away. “Y-yeah, sorry… I-I-I—ah fuck. Just… don’t worry about it, okay? Are you going to tell me what that was about?” Johnny said, trying to direct Taylor’s attention away from his scent.
Taylor huffed, his breath hot and damp. “I-I found William up in the woods when we were looking for the wandering wolves. He was on his own. I tried to get hold of him but he ran away.”
Johnny sighed, bracing a hand on Taylor’s shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
There was a panicked look in Taylor’s eyes. “I-I don’t know. I just… wanted to deal with it myself.”
Johnny stepped forwards, gripping Taylor’s arms. “Please tell me you called social services and didn’t just go storming round there?”
Taylor let out a bitter laugh. “Of course I called them, and you know what they said?”
“They’ll add it to the list?”
“Yep.”
Johnny grimaced, the mess in his pants turning cool and uncomfortable. “Is that where you went after dropping me off?”
Sighing, Taylor leant forwards to rub his mouth against Johnny’s torn-up T-shirt. “I didn’t do anything. William was in the front garden playing so I just left it.”
“And the scrape on your cheek?”
“William.”
“Fuck’s sake, Tay. Why didn’t you call for me?”
Taylor sighed, pushing Johnny back. “You don’t think that was my first thought? Get JP. JP will know what to do. It’s always my first fucking thought, man. I can’t… I can’t keep doing that.”
Johnny swallowed, straightened and looked Taylor dead in the eyes. “Why not?” he said, stomach twisting as though he were about to receive some very,verybad news.
Taylor’s brows pulled together as he backed away. “Because this is what it’s always like, isn’t it? I fuck up, you come to the rescue. I forget to get up for work, you drag me out of bed. I almost punch a guy, you hold me back. It’s just—” He scrubbed at the back of his hair, eyes flicking back and forth across Johnny’s bitten neck. “It’s me. It’s always me fucking up, and it shouldn’t—” He shook his head and turned away. “I can’t… I shouldn’t… You know what I’m trying to say, don’t you?”
Johnny’s throat clenched. “N-not really,” he said, voice cracking.
He wanted to reach for him again, but when he tried Taylor jerked away.
“I’m saying that whatever I do comes back on you and the pack. I’m dragging you down, JP.”
