STORY EXCERPT

Cold. That was the description most shifters he knew used to describe Daniel, but that wasn’t true at all. None of them knew the man underneath the Alpha or the hidden pain Daniel lived in. Chad did. Daniel only looked indifferent because part of him had died when his wife passed away eleven years ago.

Daniel was a living, breathing miracle, because most shifters who lost their mates committed suicide afterwards.

Chad knew wanting Daniel like this wasn’t right. Daniel was his father’s best friend, and Max’s father. He’d hoped his crush would fade away in time, but it didn’t. The desire only grew worse, sharpened to a such fine point that each time he gazed on Daniel, his heart ached a little more.

Daniel wouldn’t be like the pricks Chad dated in the past. Those assholes were just boys pretending to be men. They didn’t want him, not really. They wanted his money. Well, his dad’s money and access to the Windshide Pack. None of them saw the real him, but Daniel always did.

Chad couldn’t count the number of times he’d run to Daniel’s office in the past, because he couldn’t talk to his own father. Daniel never called him immature or spoiled. The Alpha always listened to all his problems, even though they seemed juvenile at times.

“I knew you’d end up here. Your father and Max have been looking all over the city for you,” Daniel told him. With Daniel looking down on him, the Alpha looked massive.

Guilt hit him at those words. Even in his drunken state, he understood Max and his dad were worried about him.

“I’m fine, as you can see.” He slurred his words. Damn. What must Daniel think of him? Chad shivered, finally beginning to feel the bite of the cold air. To his surprise, Daniel took off his jacket and placed it over his shoulders.

So warm, Chad thought. The jacket also carried Daniel’s scent. He wondered if Daniel would let him keep it.

“You’re cold. Let’s get you inside,” Daniel suggested. The Alpha offered him a hand up. Chad stared at Daniel’s big, callused fingers for a moment. He noticed one vital thing. Daniel had stopped wearing his wedding ring. Since when?

“I need to call Max,” he mumbled. His head spun as he let Daniel help him up. Bile rose in his throat. His stomach felt queasy. Chad bowled over and threw up right over Daniel’s expensive Italian shoes.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

Shock reverberated through him. He’d never be able to live with the shame. How could he be so careless? Chad was so angry with himself. Chad was about to wipe his mouth with the back of his head, and was shocked when Daniel grabbed it. The Alpha pulled out something from the pocket of his trousers. A dark green handkerchief with the letters D and S embroidered into it.

Before Chad could protest that he’d just dirty up the fabric, Daniel wiped the corner of his mouth for him.

“Don’t worry about it,” Daniel said smoothly. The Alpha handed him the piece of cloth, which he accepted.

“How old-fashioned,” he whispered.

Was it his imagination or did amusement flash through Daniel’s eyes? Right now, he realized, heartbeat spiking up, Daniel’s eyes weren’t their usual dark forest-green color. They were a bright green-gold, telling him Daniel’s wolf was also peeking out.

“Are you calling me a relic?” Daniel asked him.

“No way,” he blurted. “You’re far from that.”

“Inside,” Daniel repeated.

Daniel gently tugged his arm and led him inside the house. Chad had to admit, Daniel manhandling him was kind of hot. Well, technically, Daniel wasn’t using much force although Chad wished Daniel would use more. He didn’t mind being ordered around as long as the commands came from Daniel.

“Your shoes,” he began.

Daniel stepped out of said shoes. “There. Someone will take care of them. Not to worry. Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up.”

“Ben said the same thing.”

Daniel growled softly under his breath, making him jump. “Ben?”

“Yeah, your Beta passed me earlier, suggested the same thing.” Chad had trouble putting one foot over the other. They were climbing up the stairs. “Ooh, where are we heading?”

“My bedroom. It’s the nearest room with a bathroom.”

“Your bedroom?” Chad asked suggestively. He winked at the Alpha. “Scandalous.”

Daniel snorted. “You’re flirting with me. Right now?”

That bruised his ego a little. Of course. Daniel wouldn’t find him attractive in this state. No one would.

“I’m surprised you haven’t kicked me out of your house,” he said. Daniel reached for the doorknob to the room in front of them and opened it. Chad was finally treated to the rare sight of where the Alpha slept. Where the rest of the pack house was lavished with expensive and designer furniture, Daniel’s room almost looked spartan. It contained a queen-sized bed, a desk, a closet. A few pieces of workout equipment.

“Why would I?” Daniel sounded puzzled. “You’re my son’s best friend, and Allan’s kid.”

“Kid? Is that how you see me?” Chad demanded as Daniel somehow managed to usher him to the bathroom. Chad was slightly taken aback when Daniel turned on the lights. The bathroom was massive. Marble tiles lined it, and it came with a jacuzzi. His mouth hung open a few seconds.

“Kid? No.” Daniel spun him by the shoulders so Chad looked him in the eye.

Nausea hit him again. Daniel seemed to sense he was about to vomit, because the Alpha stepped aside. Chad ran to the water closet and unloaded the last contents of his dinner.

“I’m so pathetic,” he whispered, still sitting on the floor. “Just leave me here to rot.”

“Don’t be overdramatic.” When Daniel tried to help him up again, Chad angrily brushed him off and said, “I can stand on my own.”

ADULT EXCERPT

The smell of freshly made waffles woke Chad up. His stomach growled as he sat up and spotted Daniel, entering the room with a tray of food and coffee. Chad released the breath he’d been holding. Not a dream.

He really did sleep in Daniel’s bed the night before. That also meant Daniel spent hours in wolf form, trying to outrun his desire for Chad.

“Morning. You feeling better?”

“I am.”

“Good.”

“I had a nightmare,” Chad said, as Daniel used a foot to close the door behind him. “That I’d wake up to find you gone. You only left a note, telling me a driver’s waiting for me to drive me back home.”

“Your father’s expecting you,” Daniel said unhelpfully, placing the tray on the side table next to the bed.

This morning, Daniel only wore a pair of worn-in jeans, nothing else. Chad licked his lips.

“I think I like this look more than you wearing your suits,” he said.

Daniel regarded him with a thoughtful look on his face. Chad wanted to leap at him, climb Daniel like a tree. Then he’d rub himself all over Daniel’s firm, hard muscles. Touch him, except an Alpha only allowed intimate lovers that kind of privilege.

Daniel took a mug from the tray and sat carefully, at the edge of the bed, far from him. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Aren’t you going to just feed me breakfast and send me back?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“Last night, you heard me talking with Ben[KM1] .”

Chad was about to deny it, then realized, what was the point? “Yeah. I did, but you’re going to act like you usually do.”

“What’s that?” Daniel took a sip of his coffee.

God. Chad loved Daniel’s patient tone. Daniel was the quiet kind of man who seldom spoke, but was deadly when provoked. That also made Daniel an incredibly good listener.

“All honorable and noble.”

Daniel’s laughter caught him completely off-guard. Chad had never heard Daniel laugh like that before. Ever. “I’m none of those things.”

“You haven’t touch me, much less kissed me, although you told Ben I was your mate,” Chad grumbled. He took a risk, sat closer to Daniel. The Alpha didn’t move an inch, didn’t stand when their shoulders touched. “Did you change your mind? Do you find me undesirable?”

Chad never had any problems with men before, human, shifter, or other. They usually flirted with him and he flirted back. Easy as pie, except none of those men were Daniel. Daniel reached out, used his fingers to tip his chin.

The Alpha’s touch burned, made him swallow. So close. Daniel’s face wasn’t one he’d normally consider pretty or typically handsome. His Alpha was hard and rough all over. One touch and Chad was becoming horny.

“It’s the exact opposite,” Daniel told him. Then Alpha finally leaned in close to kiss him. No. Daniel didn’t kiss. He took without apology, leaving Chad gasping. He gripped Daniel’s muscled shoulder, kissed him back fervently.

Daniel plundered his mouth, stuck his tongue down Chad’s throat, and rammed heat down his throat. Yes, he silently thought. That fire went all the way to his balls and thickening cock.

All his doubts disappeared. Any logical thought emptied out. Daniel clutched at his shirt. One powerful jerk and the fabric tore. He moaned into Daniel’s mouth as Daniel pushed him back down on the bed so Chad lay on his back. The Alpha moved his hand down his tattered shirt to touch skin.

Chad’s body felt feverish, his dick full and already leaking pre-cum. Daniel moved his fingers to the hem of his shorts. The Alpha shredded that too, leaving him completely naked.

Daniel pinned his arms above his head, kissed him again. This time, it was slow, tender. Daniel pulled back, breathing hard.

“Don’t stop.” Chad pleaded. “Please. Aren’t you sick of denying yourself? Last night, you escaped into the skin of your wolf. You must’ve decided something about me, about us.”

“There is no us yet,” Daniel said. “But there will be.”

Those words made his heart leap. “Truly? Because I’ll say it again. You’re the only man for me, Daniel Shepard. Always.”

Daniel loosened his grip on his wrists. “Keep your hands there while I taste you.”

This was it, Chad thought. All his fantasies were coming to life. He kept his hands obediently above his head as Daniel spoiled him with kisses. Daniel nipped, kissed his way down his chest, belly. Daniel closed his mouth over his dick and sucked softly on the tip. Chad groaned, lifting his hips off the mattress, but the Alpha only kept him in place with those strong hands.

The Alpha traced his shaft from base to root with his tongue. Chad groaned, pleaded as Daniel opened his mouth wider and sucked on him slowly, carefully, like he was a sweet treat. He could’ve come right there and then, died and gone to heaven.

Daniel lifted his head to gaze down at him. Chad’s heart nearly stopped as he spotted Daniel’s pure, gold eyes, his slightly lengthened fangs.

“You’re not leaving this room,” Daniel said with a growl. “Not until I claim you in every single way.”