STORY EXCERPT

“Brandon,” Aiden said in a surprised voice as he looked between him and Roderick. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.”

“I changed my mind.” He shrugged his shoulders and stepped into the entryway. Aiden shifted out of the way as he shot nervous glances behind him. “What’s the matter? You’re acting weird.” He could see sweat bead up on Aiden’s forehead and the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down like a bobber on a fishing line.

“It’s nothing.” Aiden laughed nervously. “It’s just…”

“Hey, Brandon.” Viktor gave him a chin nod as he came to stand next to him. “You’re late. E’s already left with some friends but feel free to stay for some cake.”

“What!” Brandon snapped more harshly then he intended to. In a calmer voice he asked, “Where did he go?”

“Out with some guys from the swim team.” Viktor’s face scrunched up in concentration. “I think one was named Marcus.”

Motherfucker! Brandon knew exactly who Marcus was. He’d seen the young man at the swim meets. The guy always hung out with Erik. He hated the way Marcus would smile and playfully tease Erik. Even more so that Erik reciprocated the flirtation. But what could he do? Marcus was a good-looking kid and someone that was Erik’s age. Maybe Erik had moved on. Brandon could have lost his chance to claim Erik for his own. He couldn’t blame Erik for looking elsewhere for affection since he pushed him away every chance he got. But damn, in the back of Brandon’s mind he always thought they’d work out their differences and be together.

His mind began to race with everything that Erik and Marcus could be doing. This wasn’t over. He had to at least lay his feelings out on the table for Erik. Today was the mark of a fresh start for them. Brandon was willing to wipe the slate clean.

“We’re not sure what time he’ll be home but we can tell him you stopped by.” Viktor offered.

“Where did he go exactly?” Brandon kept his tone even so not to give away that he was freaking the fuck out.

“Brandon.” Aiden reached out to rest a hand on his forearm. “Why don’t I have Erik call you when he gets back tonight?”

“Like hell I’m going to sit at home while my mate is out there partying it up with some other guy.” He lost it. He didn’t mean to shout at Aiden but fuck, Erik was his mate and no man had the right to touch what was his.

All this mate crap didn’t mean shit to him until he met Erik. Now that’s all he thought about. Brandon was a human for god sakes and humans didn’t have life mates. So all these crazy emotions coursing through his body were Erik’s fault. Had they never have met Brandon wouldn’t be in this predicament. Erik belonged to him for better or worse.

“Everything okay in here?” Devon, Erik’s oldest brother and alpha of the pack, asked as he wrapped an arm over Aiden’s shoulders, giving Brandon a sympathetic look.

Viktor waved a hand toward Brandon. “Looks like the hunter has finally decided to stake his claim to his wolf. Only problem is little brother isn’t here to accept his offer.”

“I never said I came here to claim Erik. I just...” his voice trailed off. He wasn’t quite sure how to finish his thought. Yeah he wanted to see Erik but did he really want to make that sort of commitment tonight?

“You just what?” Devon pushed. “I know I asked you to keep your distance from Erik but today of all days you should have been here on time but you weren’t.”

“I know but..”

“No buts, Brandon.” Devon cut off his thought. The man’s eyes took on a shimmering glow. Brandon wasn’t pack and he didn’t like the way Devon talked down to him. “You’re an adult and you couldn’t even show up to your mate’s birthday party so yeah I let him go out with his friends.”

“You act like he’s innocent in all this!” Brandon shouted. “It’s been hard on me, too. Him texting me and showing up at my house whenever he wanted. It was hard to stay away from him.” He fisted his hands to keep from punching a hole in the wall. “It killed me every time I had to send him away but I’m not some pervert. I wouldn’t take advantage of Erik like that. I respect him and you too much to ever do that. So why don’t you cut me some fucking slack.”

“Why should I?” Devon took a step forward to stand directly in front of him.

“Because I love him,” he said through clenched teeth, his fist balled up at his sides.

The room had grown quiet. Devon met his gaze and smiled at him. “He’s at the camp grounds off of Woodson Road.” Brandon turned to leave but Devon’s voice halted him. “I didn’t mean to push you so hard, just wanted to make sure what your intentions are.”

“I get it but just because I feel this way doesn’t mean he does.” Brandon voiced his biggest fears. He looked over to Roderick. “You coming with?”

“Nah, you need to do this on your own. I’d just be in the way.” Roderick grinned at him.

“I’ll give him a ride back to Silver Creek.” Devon offered.

Brandon nodded his thanks to Devon then walked out the front door. He needed to get to Erik before he did something stupid. Over the past month he’d watched as Marcus and Erik had grown close. No one knew that Brandon attended Erik’s swim meets but he hadn’t missed a one. He hung back in the crowd so no one could see him. Erik didn’t need any extra distractions. But the closer Erik became to Marcus it was becoming harder to sit idly by and do nothing.

ADULT EXCERPT

“Why do you act like this?” Brandon asked, his face had grown solemn. “You make all this so hard.”

“Me!” Erik shouted, jabbing a finger into his chest.

He had enough. He had taken all the shit Brandon had given him over the years and he was done. Knowing that Brandon had a thing for Roderick, Erik would be damned if he let this man tell him what he could and couldn’t do.

“Sometimes I wonder if you realize how heartless and mean you are. The things you say and do.” Brandon shook his head. “I swear you have no conscience or filter from your brain to your mouth.”

“That’s rich coming from you.” Erik pushed Brandon in his hard chest. A shock stung through his fingers at the contact. “If anyone is cruel that would be you. So why don’t you go run off and find your new fuck buddy, Roderick, and leave me the fuck alone.”

“Huh?” Brandon gripped him hard around the wrist. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Erik didn’t feel like having to explain what he overheard or listen to Brandon lie to him. He got it. Brandon was a grown man with needs and it would appear his mate had found solace in another’s arms. It was time that Erik accepted this and move on.

“Nothing.” All the fight gone from his tone. “Just please go away.” Erik turned to leave.

“No, not this time.” Hurt shown in Brandon’s eyes. “Please, Erik, talk to me.”

“And say what?”

“I don’t know.” Brandon shrugged his broad shoulders. “I’d take anything at this point as long as you don’t walk away from me.”

Erik’s eyes took in the way Brandon’s shirt tightened along the thick muscles incased in the material. God, how he wanted to touch the man and feel the strength corded along his body.

Huh? Brandon’s words slowly seeped into his foggy brain. Erik tore his gaze from Brandon’s magnificent body. “Me walk away from you? Do you mean like the way you’ve walked away from me over the past two years?”

“Erik that was different and you know it.”

He did but it didn’t make it hurt any less. “Brandon just go. There’s nothing left to say.” Erik turned to walk away. He desperately wanted to be with Brandon but he just didn’t know if he could trust the man.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” Brandon held tight to his wrist and used his other hand to grab Erik’s other arm, stopping him in his tracks. “There’s so much still left to be said if you’d just listen.”

Erik reared around, yanked his hand free, and then fisted his hands in Brandon’s shirt. “I’m sick of listening.”

“Then let me show you, Erik.” There was a pleading in Brandon’s tone that made Erik’s heart beat quicken.

“Maybe, I want to show you.” The wolf inside Erik was hurt and angry and it needed to show dominance over its mate. Show Brandon that he wasn’t just some little kid anymore, but a man that had desires. Desires only Brandon could fulfill.

He moved so fast it knocked Brandon off balance and Erik caught him, shoving him up against a tree. Brandon’s legs were spread wide as he fumbled to get his footing. Erik banged his back into the tree. He could feel the slight tingle in his gum tissue as his canines started to lengthen and drop down. Brandon gaped at him and a low growl rose from deep inside Erik.

The smell of Brandon’s fear and arousal wrapped around Erik causing his dick to harden and his mouth to drool. His eyes fell to the supple pink flesh of his mate’s mouth and dove in unable to pull himself back. The sharp points of his teeth pierced Brandon’s lips as Erik kissed him hard.

Erik forced his tongue in past Brandon’s resistance and tasted his mate with intense need. The sound of his big strong mate whimpering fueled him on. Brandon’s fingers dug into Erik’s biceps but didn’t try to push Erik away. If anything he pulled Erik closer.

He moaned loudly and his pulse raced as he tasted every inch of his mate’s mouth. Nothing had ever felt more right in his life.

Brandon’s tongue began to move alongside his, dancing as one. Erik let go of Brandon’s shirt and moved his hands around to grip at his mate’s waist, feeling the tight coil of muscle under his fingers. Brandon reached his arms around Erik’s and rested his hands on Erik’s ass, squeezing his cheeks in a pulsing grip.

Erik moaned and sucked harder on Brandon’s tongue. He took a step forward, aligning his cock with Brandon’s where it lay long and thick behind the man’s zipper. Brandon hissed in a breath as Erik ground his hips into his mates.

Fire pooled in his balls wanting to break free. Erik rubbed his fingers up Brandon’s back to wrap his arms around Brandon’s neck and moved his hips forward with a rough and raw speed. The need to come blinded him to anything and everything. Any thought of anger toward his mate vanished as his release spun higher to the surface.

Brandon’s hold on his ass grew firmer and urged Erik to move faster. With teeth and tongue they fought for dominance over the other. Erik growled and nipped hard at Brandon’s bottom lip. Blood oozed from the small puncture wound and Erik lapped it up then thrust his tongue into Brandon’s mouth to share the spicy flavor.

As his orgasm played right on the fringes of his control, Erik broke the kiss to bury his face in Brandon’s neck, nipping and sucking as his mate gasp for breath. Brandon’s reaction to his touch drove Erik wild and he couldn’t hold on any longer. Cum shot out his dick to paint the inside of his pants. The warm spread like fire as he stilled his hips and held close to Brandon drawing in deep breaths.