Despite Will's less than exciting sex life, his body yielded easily to Dean's ministrations. Dean watched him carefully as he scissored his fingers inside Will, and if he could have spoken, Will would have told his mate to get on with it already. But he couldn't make his vocal cords work, so instead, he hung on for the ride, and moaned, gasped and whined when Dean relentlessly massaged his prostate.

  At one point, he began to fear his mate would get him to come again before they fucked. Thankfully, Dean prevented that by removing his fingers from Will's body. Will's protesting grunt turned into a cry of pleasure as Dean replaced those very same fingers with his thick cock.

  Slowly, Dean slid inside him, and as his mate's hot length pierced Will's channel, the world began to fade away. The burn of the entry hurt, but instead of making their lovemaking less pleasurable, it fueled Will's lust, crystallizing into an all-encompassing heat that took over every inch of Will's body.

  For a few moments, Dean stilled inside him, giving Will time to adjust. It wasn't really necessary, but Will appreciated the consideration nonetheless. He appreciated it so much he clenched his ass muscles around Dean's cock, encouraging his mate to give him more.

  Dean got the message, loud and clear. He pulled out of Will, then thrust back in, hitting Will's prostate dead on. Will would have screamed—and maybe he did—but Dean chose to silence him by pressing their mouths together once more.

  It went on and on for what seemed like forever. Dean kept fucking him, moving in and out of him, his steady thrusts gradually becoming stronger, faster, almost violent. At first, Will tried to move against him, to meet Dean's motions with his own, but soon, his mate's pace grew too overwhelming for Will to match. He ended up wrapping his arms around Dean's neck and hanging on for dear life, using Dean for an anchor despite the fact that his mate was the one to steadily sink him into a continuous haze of impossible pleasure.

  If he wanted to be perfectly honest, he'd never known what to expect when it came to the claiming bite. Dean had explained what it entailed, and over the years, Will had learned more details, finally seeing it with his own eyes in the relationship between his son and Andreas. But when the moment finally came for Dean to claim him, he still wasn't ready for it.

  Will got a single warning, when Dean separated their mouths. He'd been kissing Will continuously, only stopping to allow them both to breathe, before delving in once more, as if he couldn't get enough of Will's taste. Now, though, he didn't press their lips together again. Instead, he scanned Will's face with his stormy gaze, as if seeking answers to a question he hadn't asked.

  Will couldn't provide a reply, but his body moved without him even thinking about it. He titled his head, offering himself to his mate. It was enough. Seconds later, piercing pleasure-pain rushed over him as Dean buried his sharp fangs in Will's neck, and his dick into Will's ass in one last, particularly hard thrust.

  Will suddenly knew what it was like to be utterly and completely Dean's. In his heart, he felt emotions that were an echo of his own despite not belonging to him. Within his body, he experienced his climax twofold—through himself, and Dean. In his mind, he heard Dean's voice, a reverent whisper, beautiful in its simplicity. "Will. My mate."

  Three syllables, and they said everything Dean hadn't been able to tell him for so long, revealed everything Dean had been forced to hide. Three syllables, and Will relived every emotion more intensely than ever.

  Even as he convulsed through the waves of his orgasm, he remained aware of Dean's emotions, entwined with his own. Layers of pain, pleasure, need, and most of all love settled over Will, and it was so all-consuming he didn't even know where he ended and Dean began.

  It was too much, far too much, more than fifty years of feelings coming crashing down on both of them. When the climax began to melt into an afterglow, Will realized he was crying. Maybe that would have taken him aback, but he couldn't think anyone could blame him for letting go.

  Dean's cock head swelled within him, keeping them bound for a while longer, the physical connection an echo of what Will now felt deeply in his heart. Will found refuge in that. By the time Dean's dick finally slid out of him, Will's quiet sobs had subsided.

  "It's all right," Dean whispered against his lips. "I'll win."

  "You don't know that. You can't know that."

  "I do," Dean said, with a certainty that shocked Will. "I'll win, because I refuse any other result. I lost you and Jessie once. I won't lose you again, no matter what I have to do, and especially not now. I love you."

  In that moment, when Dean smiled at him, when he murmured those sweet words, Will finally dared to believe his mate. Their relationship might not have worked out the first time around, but surely fate wouldn't be so cruel again. Right?

  Chapter Seven

  A few hours after Dean had been released from the cave, Boris came for him again. Dean had spent the time talking with his mate, catching up with everything they had done while never once moving away from one another.

  They hadn't made love again, but simply touching and speaking made Dean feel closer to Will. For the first time, Will had shared the truth about his past with Dean, without censoring himself. The knowledge of Will's painful experiences had hurt Dean in turn, but he was glad Will had left nothing out. They needed this for their new beginning.

  They spoke softly, cuddled together under a quilt so that would-be spies would not be able to overhear or witness too much of their intimacy—or at least, more than they already had. Still, when their time ran out, Dean was ready for it. Both he and Will were clean and dressed when Boris entered the room.

  "I hear you've had your last meal, Simmons," the other wolf said, shooting Will an unpleasant smirk. "Time to finish this, don't you think?"

  "Indeed I do," Dean replied calmly. "Please, lead the way."

  The challenge was to take place on Olkhon Island, where the Gathering itself had been held. A helicopter was already waiting to take them there, and Boris didn't keep Will from coming with them. Dean wondered if he should be relieved or worried at what that meant.

  The island itself was quite generous in size, and easily accommodated the thousands of werewolves that had come here for the Gathering. The humans in the area were among the most respectful Dean had met in his life, but then, they were used to it by now. Most of them probably suspected at least some sort of supernatural activity when it came to the Gatherings, but Lake Baikal was one of the few regions where humans didn't naturally panic at the idea of something paranormal. Ironic, given the type of prejudice werewolves themselves displayed against humans.

  The helicopter flew them over the glittering waters of the lake, but Dean was not moved by its wild beauty. He took advantage of the respite to drink in Will's beloved features. Boris didn't seem to be paying attention to him, but Dean didn't want to risk any overt displays of affection, so he contented himself with mouthing "I love you" again.

  He still couldn't believe his mate had wanted Dean to claim him, despite everything that had happened between them. It was a gift, one Dean would definitely not waste. He clung to it, solidified it into pure resolve.

  It wasn't that he overestimated his own abilities or underestimated those of his opponent. Will had told him enough about Mathias that Dean would never make that mistake. It wasn't even that he believed himself to be stronger than Mathias, at least, not... from an objective point of view. But strength wasn't always objective, and neither was skill. A battle could be influenced by more factors than the individual features of a combatant. In this case, Dean was relying on something he had, and Mathias didn't—a mate.

  The helicopter finally landed on the island. Dean didn't get to say anything more to his mate, because as soon as the doors opened, they were separated. Several werewolf guards appeared and dragged Will off. Dean studiously didn't look behind, even when he heard Will make a sound of distress. He had to be calm, to take everything in stride. If he hadn't panicked fifty years ago, if he hadn't yielded so easily to his father, he and Will might not have been torn apart.

  No one bothered to tell him anything. Obviously, they assumed this was a sort of execution, and that Dean wouldn't have a chance against the Sidhe hybrid.

  The guards led him to the amphitheater that had been built for the purpose of easing the proceedings of the Gathering. In the past, it had been somewhat difficult to accommodate the large number of Alphas while allowing everyone to take part in the decisions, but this particular Gathering had drawn such a crowd that the hosts had been forced to erect the temporary building.

  When Dean had seen it for the first time, he'd know this Gathering would not end well for him. He'd hated it then, and he hated it now. He didn't particularly care that he was shoved through one of the entrances, but he didn't like it at all that his mate was ushered onto the grounds through the other doorway. Will was talking to Mathias, gesticulating wildly, but stopped when Dean's gaze set on him.

  Despite the distance between them, Dean could still feel Will's warmth when his lover looked toward him. Ignoring everyone who was watching, he smiled.

  In a way, he'd perhaps meant the expression as a reassurance to Will, but then, Mathias stepped forward and met Dean in the center of the amphitheater, and Dean let the twist of lips turn into a smirk. "Well, I have to say, this is dramatic. You couldn't have planned it better yourself."

  Mathias rolled his eyes. "I have no patience for such games. I've seen it all before. They bore me."

  "And yet, you play them still. I wonder, what does that say about you?"

  "I don't know. What does it say about you that you abandoned your mate and your unborn child?"

  "That I made a serious mistake for which I will always be sorry. Beyond that, nothing that is any concern of yours."

  Or so Dean said, but he still remained aware that he owed Mathias a huge debt. That debt made this challenge far trickier. Mathias was Will's friend, and his rescuer, and while Dean's mate had not actually told Dean not to harm the werewolf hybrid, Dean could still tell there were bonds of affection between the two.

  He didn't like it, but he didn't have to. He just needed to accept it, and he did, just like he accepted that he'd have to work around it.

  Boris chose this moment to interrupt their conversation. "Ready, gentlemen?" he asked, clapping his hands.

  Dean started to disrobe, as did Mathias. "The challenge will take place in werewolf form," Boris said unnecessarily. "No other shape will be allowed. Upon the request of the challenger, the fight will end only once of the combatants is unable to continue, at which point the winner will be entitled to claim his prize."

  Even if he hadn't shifted, Dean snarled. He hated the fact that Will had been reduced to a 'prize', like he was a piece of meat to be fought over by predators. And okay, he also hated that anyone assumed to have the right to claim Will—Will was already his.

  Boris arched a brow at him, and although Dean didn't try to hide his displeasure, he got his temper in check. He was quite pleased that the terms of the challenge no longer involved a fight to the death, but it also made him suspicious. What would happen if—no, when—he won? Somehow, he doubted they'd let him go so easily.

  Dean made a mental note to worry about that later and finished undressing. Mathias had already set his own clothes aside. Will summoned his wolf form and landed on four paws on the ground, now scanning his opponent through his animal senses. Mathias's beast form was quite large—in fact, they were probably even in size, and possibly in strength. The other werewolf bared his fangs at him, but Dean stayed calm. Finally, Boris stepped back to give them room. "Begin!"

  Mathias and Dean instantly lunged at each other. Dean had no time to waste, and no time to hesitate. The first swipe of Mathias's claws hit Dean's snout, but Dean managed to get a good bite in, shredding the flesh of his opponent's paw before he was forced to pull away.

  It only became even more violent and brutal from that point on. The instincts of the wolf came to the fore, and with them, Dean's resentment that this man wanted what was his, and had lived through moments Dean should have experienced. It was a rush of fur, claws, fangs, blood, snarls and howls, and if any of the wounds Dean received hurt, he didn't feel it.

  Dean had fought many times in his life, mostly before he'd become an Alpha, when his father's less than spectacular decisions caused violence to erupt. One time, he'd faced a small pride of lions. He'd lost, and only narrowly survived, but he'd held his own despite being vastly outnumbered.

  He fought that way now, with a wildness born out of sheer desperation, a drive that surpassed even his own instincts of self-preservation. And yet, at some level, he managed to hold onto his human consciousness—and that helped him realize something very important. Mathias wasn't using his magic.

  Perhaps he'd deemed it unnecessary. Or maybe he'd thought to grant this boon to Will, to prove that he could beat Dean on his own terms, without needing any additional power. That was what Dean would have done in his place. Nevertheless, the choice did affect Dean.

  It cleared his mind enough for him to remember his previous resolve, and it helped him focus on his human intelligence. He revised his strategy and waited for Mathias to lunge at him again.

  The moment Mathias was close enough, Dean faltered. The other werewolf managed to bury his claws in the muscles of Dean's shoulder, and Dean released an involuntary whine. He stumbled back, his mobility now somewhat restricted by his injury.

  He was distantly aware of the cheering of the crowd around him, the other werewolves obviously quite eager to see Dean perish. Fortunately, their wish wasn't meant to be fulfilled, at least, not right at that moment. Dean's gamble paid off. The taste of incipient victory frenzied Mathias, which probably wouldn't have happened had the hybrid allowed himself to use his Sidhe powers. Just the same, Dean caught the moment when Mathias leaped toward him again, but his previous caution, obviously earned from countless challenges—perhaps as many as Dean had fought—was gone.

  It was enough. It provided Dean with the opportunity he needed. Despite his injury, he found strength in his mate bond with Will. Ignoring the pain and the protest of his body, he threw himself forward as hard as he could. His momentum was such that he could have sworn he heard something crack inside him, but he wasn't the one to fall back. It was Mathias who rolled onto the ground, dazed and shaken by Dean's unexpected counterattack.

  Dean didn't have a lot of time. He was badly hurt, and this gamble had earned him the opening he needed to finish this. Straddling Mathias, he buried his fangs in Mathias's throat.

  It would have been easy for him to just tear Mathias's throat out, but for obvious reasons, he didn't want to do that. He just wanted to do enough damage to force Mathias into forfeiting the challenge. Of course, if he'd been wrong and Mathias used his magic to heal, Dean would be in a whole lot of trouble. Mathias bucked and tried to shove him off, but Dean clawed at his opponent, willing him to yield.

  It wasn't pretty. Mathias's jerky motions had them rolling on the ground in a wild dash for survival and supremacy. Dean was eventually forced to let go, because in his panic, Mathias might actually have torn his own throat out on Dean's fangs.

  Thankfully, the moon seemed to be with Dean, because the moment he stumbled away from Mathias, his opponent shifted back into his human form. Spitting blood, he pressed his hand to his neck. Under Dean's eyes, the wound closed, but it didn't come without a price. Mathias slumped onto the ground, breathing hard, not unconscious, but very close to it. And Dean was still standing, and still in wolf form. He'd won. He'd won. Moon be blessed, it was over.

  The earlier cheering had completely died down into a deafening silence that was only broken by the sound of Will's ragged gasps. Dean could hear them, his senses zeroing in on his mate. Now that his opponent was defeated, he walked—well, limped—toward Will, wanting nothing more than to tear the hands of the guards who'd been holding Will captive.

  Before he could reach his mate, Boris stepped between the two of them. He waved for one of his underlings—or, was that his oldest son?—to approach, and the younger werewolf complied with the silent command. He knelt next to Mathias and looked him over. "Well?" Boris prodded impatiently. "How is he, Sasha?"

  "He will live, but he isn't in any condition to continue the challenge. Alpha Simmons has won."

  Dean could practically hear Boris gritting his teeth at the words, but the truth behind them could not be denied. "Indeed."

  Taking his cue, Dean finally shifted into his human form. It hurt like hell, but fortunately his accelerated healing had made sure he wouldn't end up with splintered bones in his lungs or anything just as unpleasant. Unfortunately, just like he'd earlier suspected, Boris didn't seem inclined to let him go so easily.

  Two dozen werewolves appeared from behind him, all armed with rifles that Dean knew would hold silver bullets. "I won," Dean snapped at Boris. "You can't hold me."

  "You did defeat your Aos Si challenger, but that doesn't mean we will allow you to go free. And since you've already claimed your prize... We can proceed with our previous schedule."

  Dean bared his teeth at Boris, but didn't move or try to protest. His head was swimming, and not because of pain or blood loss. History was repeating itself. Here he was, still unable to reach his mate despite the promise he'd made to Will. Another authority figure stood between them, with a very palpable threat against Will's life holding Dean in check. Because those bullets might be silver, but they'd work on humans as well as they did on werewolves.

  He didn't know what would have happened had a voice not sounded over the amphitheater, taking all of them by surprise. "Stop!"

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12