Apex: Dragon's Blood M.C. by B.A. Stretke (1)

Apex: The geometric center of a turn. The point at which a turn is negotiated at the highest speed and the motorcycle’s direction has changed.

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

Chance Bashford moved from the large round table by the window to the counter as soon as he saw the three, large leather clad giants enter the coffee shop. He wasn't stupid enough to think that they wouldn't force him to move considering the other tables were all small compared to their bulk. They weren't fat; they just took up a lot of space. They were huge men, tall and muscular.

Chance’s short, thin frame wouldn’t hold up under any sort of aggression from any of them.  He preferred to move of his own accord rather than wait and risk having them move him by force. One punch and he’d probably be out for a week. He noticed that three came inside while several remained outside talking.

The largest of the three took the seat Chance had been using and as soon as he sat down, acted as if he were looking for something. He kept glancing around the table and then down at the chair he sat in. Chance didn’t stare but could watch him easily through a reflection in the cookie display case that was situated on the counter to his right.

Chance figured he could watch the breathtakingly handsome man without detection. Chance loved large, powerfully built men. He felt himself drool a little when the large man flexed his arm to take a menu from one of the other guys. His muscle tone was fantastic and his face, so full of hard lines and dark features, Chance felt himself getting hot.

Everything was fine and Chance was really enjoying himself, until the moment their eyes met in the reflection. Apparently, the man could see Chance just as clearly as Chance could see him. Chances heart lurched and his breath caught in his throat.

Chance averted his eyes immediately but still noticed the big guy getting up. You don't stare at men like him and live to tell about it. Fear swamped Chance as he grabbed his phone and took off out the back of the seating area and ducked into the kitchen. If the guy followed, he wouldn't know if Chance went to the bathroom, the kitchen or out the back door. Hopefully, he wouldn't feel inclined to check all three possibilities.

Chance’s friend Dane was a cook at the little café/coffee shop and was cleaning some of the machines when Chance came in and hid behind the door. “What’s up?” Dane whispered to him.

“A big guy caught me staring.” Chance whispered back. Dane nodded and motioned him to come over nearer the refrigerator where he could hide out of sight from the doorway, in case the guy came into the kitchen.

“Stay there and no one will see you.” Chance crouched down and Dane went back to cleaning equipment.

"Thanks." Chance stayed crouched there for what seemed like an eternity and was considering heading out the back door when he heard the kitchen door swing open and he knew the big guy was there. He could feel the intensity in the air and the vibration of the floor beneath his feet. Dane would try to divert him, but Dane wouldn't be able to help in a fight. He wasn't much bigger than Chance, who stood five foot six and a hundred and fifteen pounds. The two of them together wouldn't be able to raise a bruise on the big guy.

"You can't come back here; it's against health department regulation." Dane stepped up to block Chance from view. If the man came too far into the room, he would see him. Thankfully he seemed to have stopped at the entrance.

"I'm looking for a little man that headed back in this direction." The man spoke and Chance thought he felt the ground vibrate again, or was it just his nerves. The tone was so deep and menacing that Chance thought he might wet himself. Fear like nothing he ever experienced spiked through him as he held his breath and squeezed his eye shut, willing the man to please leave.

“There is no one here.” Dane was lying through his ass and thank God he was good at it. There was a deafening silence for a few moments before the other man spoke again.

“Well, if you happen to run across him, small, blond with big, blue eyes, tell him Calum Keith is looking for him.” The man did not say another word and did not wait for a response, just turned and left the kitchen.

Chance fell to his knees and covered his face with his hands. “I’m a dead man.” He whispered and then looked up at his friend, hoping for answers or even just a piece of advice. After a few moments of silent staring, Chance lowered his eyes to the floor in front of him.

"Whoever he is, he's not from around here. So maybe he and his friends will be moving on soon." Dane answered, a hesitation evident in his voice. "Stay here for a while longer. They're probably just stopping for coffee. I'll keep watch and tell you when they leave."

Dane moved to the front of the kitchen and over to where he could keep an eye on the main room. The small window in the door off to his left gave him a shitty view, but the men at the front table were not easy to miss.

"Thanks, Dane." Chance didn't know what else to say. He appreciated his help but also felt tremendous guilt for getting his friend into such a dangerous situation.

“That guy is huge, Chance. Why in the hell did you choose him to piss off?” Dane went about his duties, never taking his eyes off the main room, but kept up a conversation with Chance who was still seated by the refrigerator.

“I didn’t even realize I was staring until I got caught, and then it was too late.” Chance whispered.

"His friends are just as menacing looking as him. They sound like a biker gang." Dane's conversation was not comforting in the least.

“Shut up, Dane. I’m scared enough as it is.”

“Oh, don’t worry, they won’t hang around just to beat your little ass.” Dane turned slightly to make eye contact with Chance. “I think he just wanted to scare you. He had to know you were here and he just walked away. Guys like him eat and breath intimidation, but he isn’t going to go out of his way to hurt you.”

Chance stayed right where he was seated. He wasn’t taking any chances on getting caught. He might just sleep the night there by the fridge and hope things looked better in the morning.

“They’re getting up and the big guy, Calum, is paying the cashier.” Dane paused and then quickly ducked to the side and pressed his back to the wall. “Fuck, I think he saw me.”

“Not you too.” Chance mumbled.

“No, they’re leaving. Oh, thank God.”  Dane moved over to where Chance still huddled. “I’d wait a few minutes and then duck out the back door. Go straight home and lock the door.”

"That was my plan." Chance stood up and moved towards the door that leads to the hallway. He hesitated for a while still afraid the big guy was out there somewhere waiting to pounce.

"Wait here; I'll go out and make sure they're gone." Dane pushed past him and went out onto the main floor. Chance watched from the small window in the door. Dane stood by the big front windows looking up and down the street and then headed back towards the kitchen.

“It’s safe, their gone.” Dane seemed sure of himself so Chance zipped up his hoodie and made quickly for the backdoor. Once he was in the ally, he felt the apprehension crawl up his spine and take root in his imagination.

The ally was dark since the sun was beginning to set. Chance didn’t live far from the café but it seemed like miles as he rushed to get home. He lived with his cousin, Blake, but he wouldn’t be any help if those bikers showed up. Blake wasn’t the type to stick his neck out for anyone, not even family.

Blake had offered Chance his extra room for financial reasons only. Chance needed a place and Blake offered him a room at what he thought was a fair price. They weren't friends and they lived very separate lives. Blake wouldn't think twice about handing him over to that big biker if the guy came knocking.

…

Calum waited in the café for longer than he intended. After three cups of coffee and two donuts, he decided it was time to leave. The little guy was not coming out of the kitchen. He was scared, Calum understood that. He and his men were a little threatening to men like the cute little blond hiding in the kitchen.

He motioned for his friends to follow and he approached the cashier who seemed a bit uncomfortable with their presence, but was quite professional and didn’t make an issue of it. It was while he was standing in front of the cashier that he noticed the cook in the back watching him. The guy knew he was caught and quickly ducked out of sight.

Calum paid the bill and led his men back out onto the sidewalk and over to where they'd parked their bikes. He stood there for several moments staring at the small café before turning to his brother Bryn. "We're staying a few days. Find us some lodging." Bryn nodded and pulled out his phone and began searching.

“You interested in that little human who sat at the counter?” Bryn asked as he continued to study the information on his phone.

“Yes.” Calum didn’t elaborate. He wasn’t certain, but he believed that the young man might be someone very significant. The vibrations he felt while in that café brought on feelings of something old and deeply profound.

“Okay, we’re booked at the Laramie Inn, five rooms for three nights.”  Bryn stuck his phone back in his pocket and gave Calum his complete attention. 

All the guys came closer as Calum gave them instructions. “Keep a low profile. Well, as low as is possible. But remember no going to jail and no property damage.” With that, Calum let them go and investigate the town with orders to check in before morning. He wasn’t surprised when his brother Bryn and his friend and Second, Alrick stayed behind.

“What are you planning, Calum?” Alrick leaned back on his bike, a black and chrome vintage Harley Davidson Shovelhead and crossed his arms over his chest. “What has you all pent up about that blond headed human?” Alrick was always to the point. They’d been riding together for too many years for Alrick not to know what was on Calum’s mind.

“He smelled too good. I need to get closer.” Calum told his friend.

Alrick chuckled, but there was a hint of hope in his eyes. “You think he’s special?”

"I believe he 's special, but he's scared. I followed him into the back of the restaurant after he bolted. He was hiding behind a fridge." He shot his friend a small grin.  "I didn't have the heart to frighten him further, so I just dropped my name and asked his friend to let him know I want to see him. I thought I was subtle and non-threatening."

Both Alrick and Bryn busted out laughing. “Subtle, nonthreatening? Have you looked at yourself in a mirror lately?” Bryn asked and continued to laugh. “That kid was probably scared shitless just to have made eye contact with you. I can’t even imagine how scared he was when you followed him. Hell, you even scare me sometimes.” Bryn was riding him now. He loved his little brother but he could do without his mouth.

"Okay, so I might have upset him, a little." Calum conceded the point. "He's going to be sneaking out the back door pretty soon and I plan to follow him. You two can head to the inn and I will meet you there later."

 “Sure you don’t want us to help you find him?” Alrick offered. Calum ignored them. Calum loved his Clan but sometimes they could be a big pain in his ass.

Calum got on his bike and pretended to drive away with them, but just parked down the street about a block. He then walked back towards the café and ducked down the alley that ran behind.

…

Calum and his men had been traveling the Amerca's now for over a hundred years. They left their dragon circle and their home on the Shetland Islands in Scotland and traveled to America to find a place and a future. Unfortunately, they had yet to settle anywhere. A new place, a new experience, seemed always to call. Their search seemed endless.

Calum had led his men through many battles and many missteps in their pursuit of a new home. They left their birthplace and their Circle in hopes of finding that connectedness that would spur on the growth and power that had eluded them on the Shetlands. Their King, Duncan Adair, sent them on this quest to find their bonds.

It had been centuries since any of their Circle had found their mates, their bonded ones, and without mates, there was no growth. Children were only possible through the union of fated pairs. The Clan Keith, led by Calum Keith set out on this journey with high hopes of finding their mates and propagating their Dragon Clan and Circle. As the years and decades passed their hope suffered, but their duty to their King stood fast. They would continue their quest until satisfaction was theirs.

Calum hadn't told his friends or his brother exactly what he'd felt when he sat in that café chair and smelled that deep earthy, evergreen scent. He was cautious, not wanting to get their hopes up if it turned out to be nothing. Although, when he locked eyes with the blond beauty in the glass reflection, the feeling was electric and nothing was going to stop him from following the man. That was until he tasted the man's terror.

He rounded the side of the café and went to the back door. The man had exited there minutes before; he could smell him, so clearly. Not sure of how to approach the skittish little human, Calum had opted to back off and follow at a distance once he'd left the café. Now he wondered if he should have just spoken to the man while in the kitchen and tried to calm him. The more the frail human ran, the more afraid he would be. Nothing he could do about that now.

He could see the blond about fifty yards ahead of him and was careful to keep hidden as he followed. The longer he trailed the man, the more he experienced, and the more he was certain this man was his. Whoever the blond man was, he belonged to Calum Keith of the Clan Keith of the Shetlands Dragon Circle. The recognition was heady and satisfying. After one hundred years, their quest had begun to be realized.

His men will be ecstatic to hear that he’d discovered his mate, here in this dusty town on High Plains of Wyoming. They had been told by their seer at the time of their departure that when the first mate was found, others would follow. His heart rate continued to increase with the excitement of what lay ahead. His mate was small, and he was beautiful and Calum looked forward to learning all there was to learn about him.

For starters, he ached to know his mate’s name. He watched as the man hurried through the streets and came to, what looked to be, a converted school building. The building now housed apartments and appeared a bit run down. The little human took a quick glance over his left shoulder and then ducked his head before disappearing within the structure.

He didn’t see Calum, but his fear was still apparent. Calum walked up to the front door, entered quietly and listened. He could hear his mate’s footsteps and followed the sound to the third floor. He watched from the head of the stairs as his mate came to the door at the end of the long hall and, after inserting a key, unlocked the door and entered.

Calum pulled out his phone and called Kyle, one of his men who grew to be a computer genius in this new age of technology. Kyle would get him the information Calum wanted, he always did.

 

CHAPTER TWO

 

Chance hurried passed his cousin who was lounging on the sofa and went straight to his room. He closed and then locked the door, he wasn’t sure why, it just seemed safer. His mind instantly went back to the man in the café. He’d been careful to wait until it was clear and then sneak out the back. He checked several times on his walk home and, he saw no one following.

It looked like he might have gotten away, this time. Never again would he allow himself to get caught staring. If Dane hadn’t covered for him, he didn’t want to consider the painful things that could have happened to him. The biker guy was huge and his friends, damn, they were a massive bunch of mean muscle. If he didn’t have to go to work tomorrow, he would stay in his room for a couple of days just to make sure they didn’t find him, if they were still looking.

Chance took off his hoodie and dropped on his bed and ran his fingers roughly through his hair. He lay there for a while staring at the ceiling and wondering what the big biker was doing right now. He was safe in his room so he felt he could let his thoughts wander. The guy was something; he was everything Chance wanted in a man, lover, or boyfriend. He chuckled as he said the word. That man did not look like boyfriend material, but Chance wished it to be true.

Whoever he was, he looked like someone who had led a tough life and wouldn’t take shit from anyone. Chance wished he didn’t have to take shit, but it seemed to come his way on a regular basis. Between his cousin, Blake, and his boss at the Salon, Angela, he took enough grief to last him two lifetimes. But he needed a roof over his head, and he needed his job, so he took their shit and kept smiling.

Chance wasn't a stylist or anything cool like that. He was the receptionist and one-man cleanup crew. He took care of the stylist's stations, the nail techs desks, and the entire spa. He was the first one there in the morning and the last one to leave at night. He was certain that the biker guy would never find him at the Loveday Salon and Spa. They were not the Salon type. He smiled at the thought. He could go to work in the morning and not be afraid of bikers beating him up.

The guy was probably long gone by now anyway. They were a biker club, the patch on their leather jackets read Dragon's Blood and it depicted a fierce, fire-breathing dragon. Those people never stayed in one place too long and Chance doubted that Laramie would hold much interest. Damn but that guy was handsome, though. The intensity of the green eyes that met his in that reflection had his heart leaping into his throat and it wasn't all due to fear. That look was sensual and in a way, it seemed almost carnal in its depth and hunger. His square jaw and dark stubble were just bonuses on a man who was the perfect bad boy, perfect wet dream.

Chance shook himself and sat up on the edge of his bed. He needed to get that guy out of his mind. He may have been ruggedly gorgeous, but he could also kill Chance with his bare hands. He’d obviously offended the man by staring and if he’d found him in the kitchen, Chance probably wouldn’t be alive right now. He needed to keep that truth first and foremost in his mind.

…

Calum moved from the building to the sidewalk out front of the rehabbed apartment building and waited for Kyle to call him back. He'd scoped the area wanting to be familiar and aware of his mate's environment. The area was quite a bit run down and by the looks, he was getting by passersby and the people hanging out, it appeared that a plethora of illegal activity was present within a two-block radius of his mate's home.

He would have to convince his mate to move as soon as he had the opportunity to meet him. This area was not safe and he was surprised that someone as timid and fearful as his little blond mate would live in such a place. He circled the area and the apartment building a couple more times and then returned to his cycle still parked down the block from the café, and headed to the Laramie Inn.

Bryn had rented five rooms, making it two per room. They’d learned, over the years, that any more than two to a room made management uneasy. They were a rough bunch and they looked like people you’d want to avoid, but with that said, they were also decent, honorable men who lived to serve their Chieftain, Calum Keith and their King, Duncan Adair. They respected the respectable and never, deliberately, brought harm to the innocent or the weak. They were ten men on a quest that finally, after a century, was beginning to bear fruit.

Calum entered his room and Kyle was there on his laptop working away. Bryn and Alrick were seated at a small table. They were each drinking a beer and Alrick handed one to Calum as he too took a seat at the table.

"Tell us, Calum, is he your mate?" The hope and anticipation was there in Bryn's tone and shone clearly on Alrick's face as they both waited for Calum's answer. The implications would be life changing for them all.

Calum stared at them for a moment, deliberately making them wait. “Yes, the blond man seated at the counter at the café is my mate. I have no doubt.” Calum watched their combined looks of hopefulness turn to bursts of excitement. Alrick rarely showed his emotions but they were there for everyone to read. He knew what it meant and how it would affect them and their Circle back home. It was a miracle, a miracle they’d been searching out for the past one hundred years.

“You know what this means?” Bryn asked, but it wasn’t a question. “We stay, this is our place.” Bryn slapped the table. Calum nodded and shifted his gaze to Alrick who was shaking his head with a guarded smile on his face as if he was afraid to believe what he was being told.

"It's true Alrick; I found my mate here in this town in the middle of nothing." Calum reiterated for Alrick's benefit. He was rewarded with a true smile and a nod of pure joy.

“I found him Calum, the newest member of the Dragon’s Blood motorcycle club, Clan Keith and the Shetland Dragon Circle.” Kyle’s announcement had all three men giving him their complete attention. Kyle hit a couple more buttons and then turned the screen to show them a large picture of the smiling blond man. Calum felt his heart move into his throat as he stared at the fine-looking young man.

He stared silently at the image on Kyle’s screen, overwhelmed by the youth and beauty of his soon to be mate. Calum had watched him from afar and knew he was special, but to look deeply into those sky-blue eyes and see the innocence and joyfulness staring back, was soul stirring.

“His name is Chance Bashford. He’s twenty-one years old, five feet, six inches tall and one hundred fifteen pounds.” Kyle continued to read off all the facts before adding his personal commentary. “He lives at 2430 W. Spruce, Apartment 3C. It appears to be a seedier end of town. He rents a room from his cousin Blake Bashford. Blake looks like a bad biker wannabe.” Kyle gave a sneer obviously not impressed. “Chance works at the Loveday Salon and Spa as a receptionist and cleanup. Graduated high school and completed one year of college. He has two older brothers and his parents are still alive.” Kyle swiped through a few pages and then continued.

"The family is not close based on the fact there are no family photos anywhere online. I also picked up a piece of correspondence, Chance attempting to contact his parents, but there was no response. That piece was dated two years ago and there has been nothing since. Parents retired to Southern California and both brothers work in New York. Just not a very close family, I guess." Kyle glanced over to Calum. "He seems like a good kid from everything I've been able to dig up. He's just a man living his life and trying to be happy as far as I can see. His best friend is Dane Knight, cook at the Grand Avenue Café."

Calum kept saying the name over and over in his mind, “Chance, Chance.” It was strong and fit his mate perfectly. His dragon stirred as he thought of his mate, Chance Bashford, and their future together.

"He was born here in Laramie and has lived here his entire life. The only family he has remaining in the area is his cousin Blake Bashford." Kyle looked up at Calum with his green eyes shining bright and wearing a smug smile. "Congratulations, boss, your mate is lovely. If mine is even half as gorgeous as your Chance, I will be extremely satisfied."

Each man in the room was looking forward to the possibility of finding their own mate, here in Laramie, Wyoming. The discovery of Calum’s mate opened the door for others to find theirs in this dusty little corner of the world.

“What are Chance’s hours at the Salon?” Calum asked.

"Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to closing which is at approximately 7 p.m. He gets an hour off for lunch anywhere between noon and 3 p.m. and a couple of breaks depending upon clients." Kyle supplied easily.

“Are you planning to confront him at his place of employment? You do know that he’s afraid of you.” Bryn’s expression said it all. He was worried that Calum would rush in and make matters worse rather than better.

“No, I would never put my mate into such an awkward position.” Calum rolled his eyes at Bryn’s implication. “But I do plan on waiting for him outside the Salon tomorrow at 7 p.m., sharp.” He raised his eyebrows at his brother waiting to see if Bryn had anything else to add, but he merely nodded.

“Good plan.” Alrick chuckled.

"He's so cute, Calum," Kyle added with considerable enthusiasm.

"That he is, Kyle," Calum responded to Kyle's description. Calum drained his beer and moved over to sit next to Kyle.

“Would you tell me what you can about his cousin, Blake.” Calum was deeply concerned for Chances safety. His cousin lived in a bad section of town and he didn’t like his mate living there. Calum wanted to know why Blake lived in such an area and why Chance would agree to move in. The atmosphere was obvious with the illegal activities happening right in the open. Either Chance was clueless to the ways of the world or he settled when he decided to rent from his cousin. Either way, Calum intended to get him out of there as soon as possible, preferably, immediately.

It took Kyle less than a minute to bring up everything on Blake Bashford. “He’s thirty-two and works security at a local bar called Night Whispers. It looks like a dive and caters to hard cases and lowlifes. He’s been a part of numerous arrests relating to his position at Night Whispers. Possession, assault, theft, etc.” Kyle turned to look directly at Calum with a dire look in his eyes. “What the hell is your sweet mate doing living with this scum?”

Calum shook his head. “Maybe he feels a loyalty to family, considering the others left him on his own. Chance might believe that Blake is all the family he has left.” Calum searched hard to come up with a plausible reason for Chance to be living there.

“I doubt that, boss. It got into Blake’s email and he’s not very complimentary of your Chance. He calls him everything in the book and Blake has the extended edition of the book.” Kyle looked pained by the messages.

Calum read a few of the emails highlighted. He noticed one particularly disgraceful description Blake had included in an email to someone named Z-ded and Calum’s furry began to boil. “That fucking piece of shit will learn to keep his fucking opinions to himself.” The air in the room began to get heated as Calum blew smoke and flames from his nose and mouth.

Calum quelled his beast but the anxiety of his dragon was ever present. The thought of his mate living with someone so dangerous and dismissive was unacceptable. The sooner he met Chance and convinced him of their bond, the better.

“You need to get him to safety. This guy is bad news.” Bryn commented as he leaned over Calum’s shoulder and stared at Kyle’s screen. “Look at the guy standing next to him in that picture.” Bryn pointed at the screen. “That emblem on his leather jacket belongs to a rogue wolf pack in Colorado. Why is Blake hanging with a character like that?”

…

Chance remained in his room watching a movie on his laptop. Blake didn't like him out in the living room when he was home. Blake said Chance bothered him so Chance always stayed out of his way. Blake had threatened to kick his ass a few times since he'd moved in and Chance didn't want to push it. Blake was in no way as scary as that biker guy at the café but still, he was bigger and meaner than Chance.

Thoughts of the guy from the café came flooding back and soon Chance realized he was no longer watching the movie on his laptop. His mind was full of the muscled magnificence of the dark rider. Chance grinned to himself at the apt description. Now that he felt relatively safe, he could allow himself to appreciate the vision of the man. If Chance hadn't been scared out of his mind, the thought of such a specimen of masculinity following him was sort of exciting. Although, if he'd caught him and beat his ass, it wouldn't have been quite so exciting.

He turned off the movie and closed his laptop when he heard voices from the living room. Blake had some friends over and Chance couldn't stand Blake's friends. They were a bunch of jerks that tried to be hard asses but only succeeded in being bigger jerks. His door was locked, but for good measure, he got up and pushed his dresser over in front of it.

Sometimes Blake’s friends decided it would be funny and entertaining to harass him. Chance didn’t find them funny in the least and he didn’t feel like dealing with their immaturity and abuse tonight.

Chance turned out his light and got ready for bed in the dark so as to not draw the attention of the men in the living room. He crawled into bed and pulled the covers up around him like armor against the bad element outside his bedroom door.

Chance woke a few hours later to the sound of someone pounding on his door and pushing at it as they tried to get in. He sat up and looked around frantically for an escape but saw only the window to his left. It was big enough for him to get out but he was on the third floor. The ledge just below the window was wide and hopefully, he could walk it to the apartment next door.

“Come on, open up.” It was the drunken voice of one of Blake’s friends. Chance hated those guys. They pretended to like him in the beginning and made him believe he was one of the crowd. That was until one night a few weeks ago, when they started getting rough with him, both verbally and physically. Blake had just sat there and did nothing to help him. If it hadn’t been for the one called Zack, Chance would have been badly beaten and possibly assaulted. Zack had made them stop, but even he wasn’t someone you would consider good or kind. They were all dark and useless as far as Chance was concerned.

The yelling continued as Chance pulled on his jeans and t-shirt. He quickly slipped on his shoes and slid out of the window just as he heard his dresser moving against whatever force they were using on the door.

He pressed his body against the brick wall and shuffled along the ledge toward the apartment window next to his. Apartment 2C had been empty for several months and he prayed the window was not locked. He heard the crash of his dresser hitting the floor as he opened the window, thanked God and stepped into the vacant apartment. Without hesitation, he hurried to the door and dashed out into the hallway and ran down the stairs.

Chance heard them yelling and stumbling out into the hall. They knew he was trying to escape and they were excited by the opportunity to give chase. They were yelling and laughing as they tore after him. Chance put on every bit of speed his short legs could produce as he pushed to get out of the building and into hiding somewhere. Zack wasn't among them; there was no one to stop them this time. Chance knew that if they caught him, they would hurt him, badly.

…

Calum stood outside as the rest of his men settled in for the night. He stared up at the stars and centered his dragon. Something was disturbing him; the night was restless. He thought of his mate in that neighborhood and he shuddered. He wanted the vulnerable little man away from the elements surrounding him. He wanted to bundle him up and bring him to the safety of his protection, but that wasn’t possible, not yet.

Calum needed to go back and check on him. His dragon was urging him to go and Calum never second guessed his dragon. He woke his brother to inform him that he was going back to his mate’s apartment building to check things out. Bryn understood and offered to go along, but Calum was confident he could handle whatever presented itself. Scum bag humans and lowlife wolf packs were nothing to a dragon on a mission.

Calum brought his bike up to the front of the rundown building and parked it along the curb. He nailed each person around with a threatening stare. He made it clear, if they touched his bike, they would die. Everyone quickly averted their gaze and hurried on down the street.

Calum stepped onto the sidewalk and looked up at the old converted school building. He felt it stronger now, as he drew nearer he began to taste the panic. His mate was in distress; there was no mistaking that acrid scent stinging his nose. He focused on the front doors just as Chance dressed haphazardly came bursting out the doors and ran down the steps towards him.

Calum rushed up to him but Chance stopped abruptly, fear coloring his expression. Three men that Calum recognized as wolf rushed out the doors after Chance but also halted when they spotted Calum. “Come to me, Chance.” Calum reached out his hand and beckoned him forward.

…

Chance didn’t know which way to run. Behind him were three nightmares that would make his life a living hell if they caught him, and in front of him was the scary biker dude who wanted to throttle him for staring. He kept looking back and forth from the biker in front of him to the goons behind him. Finally, without knowing why, he moved towards the biker who was holding out his hand and calling to him.

This was probably a huge mistake, but something in his gut told him the big biker was the safer choice. Step by step he moved closer and soon he too reached out his own hand and took the large calloused hand of the biker. “Please don’t kill me.” Chance whispered under his breath as the man pulled him closer and moved slightly to stand in front of him. The sweet smile he received was completely unexpected and seemed out of character for the dark, serious man.

“You’re safe with me, Chance.” He spoke again, this time his tone was softer but still rough and gravely. “Stay behind me.” He added with a stern glance.

The statement sounded distinctly like an order, and Chance had no plans on disobeying. The guys coming after him were standing back and eyeing up the new arrival. The fact that they'd stopped and been obviously weighing their options was enough for Chance to pin his hopes on the scary biker.

"We don't want any trouble with you." The one with the longest hair and the forced sneer said as he tried to look not intimidated. "He belongs to us." The words were spoken with less confidence. The three of them began looking at each other questioningly when the tall, dark man defending Chance did not answer them. But his stare was clawing at them.

They were afraid, Chance could almost taste their fear and it was delicious. He stole a quick glance at the mountain standing in front of him and wondered as to his own safety. He'd made a choice and now he would have to accept whatever came of it.

“I belong to no one.” Chance said through gritted teeth as he balled his hands into tight fists. The man in front of him glanced back over his shoulder at him and a small grin warmed his otherwise grim expression. Chance couldn’t help but smile back.

“You should get out of our way or you will deal with all of us.” Said the dunce who just didn’t seem to the get the fact that this guy was not impressed by any of them. Chance stayed still as the big biker took a step forward and planted his feet further apart and did that neck crack thing that just put your teeth on edge.

“Come and take him, if you think you can.” The big guy stared them down for a few moments waiting for any takers. Suddenly the loud mouth of the three decided to take a run at him. It didn’t end well considering his buddies did not back him up.

The fight was over before it started. The big guy grabbed loud mouth by the throat and raised him off the ground as his two buddies ran away. They didn’t go back into the apartment building but rather ran to their pickup and took off leaving their friend to whatever the big guy had in mind.

The big guy brought him up close and spoke very clearly as the loud mouth squirmed in mid-air. “You will leave Chance alone. If you so much as glance in Chance’s direction, I will end you. Are we clear?” Chance was amazed at his savior’s strength and composure. He acted like this shit happened every day and was not particularly worth his time or effort.

After getting an agreement, the big guy tossed loud mouth to the ground. He watched silently as he dragged himself to his feet and vacated the area as fast as his unstable legs and damaged lungs could move him.

 

CHAPTER THREE

 

Chance was relieved when they’d all gone, but then suddenly realized he was now alone with the big biker, the one he’d ogled in the café. His own fear quickly bubbled to the surface, wiping out his previous satisfaction. It was now his turn to pay the piper.

Calum couldn't believe those assholes had the gall to threaten his mate. Those bastard Wolves were lucky to be still breathing. If his innocent little mate hadn't been present, Calum would have made sure the three never came near Chance again. He would have made their absence a permanent condition.

"Thank you." He heard Chance's soft, tentative voice from behind and turned to regard him fully. Calum was ready for battle the moment Chance came running from the front doors with those wolves on his tail. Even now, he found it difficult to keep his dragon under control. He'd pushed his mate behind him to keep him safe, but to also keep him from witnessing the emergence of his dragon. The smoke and fire were bleeding from his nose and mouth the minute that wolf, the stupid fucker began to make demands. He growled deep in his throat as the memory assaulted him.

Chance looked up quickly and took a small step back, obviously having heard the sound. Calum decided to ignore it and get down to business. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Calum reached out a tentative hand towards Chance in hopes that he wouldn’t continue to back away. He’d accepted it once before, to Calum’s delight, and he wanted to repeat the action.

Chance once again reached out and took the man's hand. It seemed the right thing to do and really, he'd been nothing but nice and helpful, so far. "I'm okay." Chance wished his voice wasn't so wispy and vulnerable sounding, but he couldn't help it.

“Who were they and why were they chasing you?”

"They're friends of my cousin, Blake. I rent a room from Blake, and sometimes his friends come over, get drunk and they get mean." Chance had a hard time keeping eye contact with the formidable man. Chance felt a little helpless and it wasn't a good feeling.

"My name is Calum Keith." Calum pulled Chance a little closer, having not released his hand yet. Chance moved closer and seemed to be calming down. The fear and trepidation that had been thick in the air was now dissipating.

"Do you have a place to go? I don't want you going back to your apartment; you are not safe there." The concern shocked Chance and all he could do was stare for a moment before gathering himself and answering. He wanted to ask, ‘why do you care' but he resisted. Calum didn't seem the type of guy who would tolerate backtalk.

He was tall, taller than Chance had first thought when he ran from him in the café. He must be six and a half feet tall at the very least. He stood head and shoulders above Chance. He was a biker, that was obvious with the large black and chrome cycle parked behind them and the leather that Calum wore. He was built like a warrior of old, muscled and broad and he stood firm and sure as if he owned the world. His green eyes held Chance in a tight grip. His hair was shoulder-length and black as a raven’s wing. It looked soft which struck Chance as strange for some reason.

"My friend Dane lives a couple of blocks South. He always lets me stay when things get bad here." He had difficulty admitting that this had happened before and unfortunately, he usually didn't get away. Chance darted his eyes from left to right taking in the area and noting that they were completely alone, the street was vacant. The sidewalk and street in this area was never empty, there was always business of one sort or another going on, but not tonight. The oddity of it struck Chance and he settled his gaze on Calum.

Calum brushed his fingers down the side of Chance’s face needing the contact with his mate. His skin was like silk beneath his fingertips with a warmth that reached into Calum’s heart. He wanted to take his little mate home with him and protect him from every possible danger, but Chance was human and still quite skittish. He had to win his favor and work on his agreement. It would take time and time was something of which his dragon had very little. He could feel the stirring in his soul and the presence skitter across his skin. His dragon wanted out to claim and defend their mate.

“Call your friend and see if he can take you in.” Calum desperately wanted to take Chance home with him, but he knew that it was unlikely Chance would agree.

“I left my phone inside.”

Calum reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his cell and handed it to Chance. The call was quick and Dane readily agreed. Calum was glad that his mate had such a loyal friend on whom he could depend. Chance handed him back his phone and turned away as if to leave. Calum quickly grabbed his upper arm to stop him. "I'll give you a ride. This neighborhood isn't safe." Again, the words were an order, not an offer. Chance nodded and followed the big man to the bike parked at the curb.

Calum handed Chance a half helmet from his saddlebags and helped him get it on and secured. "Have you ridden before?" He asked.

"Yes, I used to own a bike, much smaller than this." Calum detected a touch of sadness in Chances words and wondered what happened to his mate's bike.

Calum mounted the beast in a fluid motion and indicated for Chance to climb on back and assisted him in getting seated. Soon Chance was positioned snugly behind Calum with his arms wrapped around his waist. It felt too personal but also filled Chance’s mind with a flood of erotic fantasies.

Chance that sensed the excitement he was feeling was beginning to become apparent and attempted to scoot back an inch so not have his hardening cock pressed so tightly to Calum’s hard muscular back. Calum prevented this by reaching back and with a hand on his hip, forcing Chance closer. Embarrassment swamped him at the realization that Calum would have to be numb not to feel Chance’s hard cock straining between them.

Calum took great care with his mate but managed to lurch his bike a couple of times, making Chance grip him a little tighter. Having his mate on the back of his bike, holding him so tight, was worth every day of the past one hundred years. It was worth every loss, every pain and every minute of searching.

Listening to his elders talk of the thrill, the pure exhilarating glory of finding your mate did not prepare him for the sensations of pleasure and satisfaction currently running through his system. It was indescribable, beyond understanding, until it was upon you. He now understood the meaning of his quest, and it's importance to his people. Every dragon deserved to find their mate and it wasn't just a matter of procreation and the security of the species, as he'd previously thought. To have your mate was to have a life that was full, rich, complete and content. It was a life of constant, lovely possibilities.

He could feel the steady beat of Chance’s heart against his back and the gripping of his fingers in Calum’s shirt front. The sensation of belonging brought a smile to Calum’s stern face and filled him with pride. Chance was a prize and he never imagined Fate would gift him with such a lovely innocent as his mate. For everything he’d done in his life, he deserved nothing more than a harsh, crusty old barnacle, not this tender little beauty, but he was never giving him back, never.

They arrived at Dane’s place much too quickly, as far as Chance was concerned. He pressed the side of his face against Calum’s back, drinking in the scent of black leather and squeezed tightly as the bike glided down the street. This man, who he had feared, was now his savior. What a difference a few hours can make.

Once Calum brought the bike to a stopped in front of Dane's home, Chance straightened but did not release Calum immediately. He enjoyed the feeling of having the man in his arms. It was something strange to him, but he chose not to analyze it now. For now, he was going to enjoy the moment that was to end very soon.

“Does your friend rent the entire house.” Calum wondered why Chance wouldn’t just move in with Dane rather than stay with that piece of shit cousin of his.

“No, he rents a room, like me. He sneaks me in and I sneak out in the morning before his roommates wake up.” Chance felt like he was suffering just one humiliation after another with this obviously confident and secure man. He probably can’t wait to dump my ass and get on with his life. Chance did not voice his thoughts. Calum didn’t have to do anything, he didn’t have to help him and he deserved Chance’s gratitude not his bitching.

Okay, Calum was not at all satisfied with the arrangement as presented, but he didn't know what to do about it or how to say what he wanted to say. He dismounted and assisted Chance in doing the same. He removed the helmet and placed it back in his saddlebags; he was stalling hoping that the right words would come to him.

“Thank you for helping me out.” Chance said the words that would signal their departure from one another. When Chance turned towards the house and began to walk away, Calum reached out and stayed him with a light touch on his shoulder. Chance turned back to him, his translucent blue eyes questioning as they stared into Calum’s.

Calum scrambled to explain and said the first thing that came to him. “When do you leave, in the morning?”

“I take a quick shower and leave around six. I wait in the park until I go to work at nine.” Chance smiled and then added as if reading something in Calum’s expression. “It’ll be okay. This isn’t the first time.” The smile on Chance’s face was fragile.

“I’ll be back at six and we will have breakfast together.” Calum didn’t wait for a discussion as he got on his bike and started it up. He drove away with a heavy heart. He didn’t want to leave his mate in such a situation, but there was nothing he could do without totally creeping the guy out.

He parked just around the corner and waited as he watched Chance crawl in through a first-floor window. Someone on the inside was helping him. This was so fucking wrong and his dragon was becoming furious as they observed Chance scramble through the window. Never again, he vowed.

…

Dane was at the window when he arrived and had it opened and ready. He appreciated his friend and knew the risk he was taking letting Chance stay with him. Dane's roommates didn't allow sleepovers and Dane could be kicked out for letting Chance stay the night, but Dane had never turned him down. Dane was his best friend and he always tried to help.

Chance would find a new place to live, living with Blake was no longer possible. He planned on checking into the men’s shelter in town during his lunch hour. He would have done it in the morning but Calum said he was taking him to breakfast and he hoped that he was sincere.

He explained what happened to Dane and, also told him about the man from the café. Dane was as surprised as he had been.

“He saved you?” Dane’s tone was full of disbelief.

“Yeah, shocked me too. Blake’s friends ran off like scared little boys when faced with a man of Calum’s stature.” Chance slipped off his pants and made himself comfortable on the floor next to Dane’s twin bed.

“Well I’m glad he was there and I’m glad he holds no ill will towards you for staring at him.” Dane chuckled from where he lay on his bed. “Next time a hot guy comes into the café, keep your eyes to yourself.”

“No doubt, man.” Chance didn’t share with Dane the invitation to breakfast that Calum had made. He feared that he wasn’t serious and in the end, wouldn’t show. No need to pile the humiliation on too thick.

…

Calum stormed into his room and slammed the door behind him. Bryn was still up watching television and Kyle and Alrick were playing cards. When Calum had left to check on Chance the three of them decided to sit up and wait. They all gave him their complete attention. He paced the room and explained the events of the evening and the situation of his mate. They understood that he felt helpless and they sympathized.

“Those fucking assholes have been harassing Chance for a long time, from what I gather through our short discussion. His cousin is a useless piece of shit, he takes his rent money and then offers him up to his abusive friends.” Calum sat down heavily onto the love seat against the wall and drug his hands through his hair. He was so on edge that the slightest thing could set him off and he would fly over to where Chance was spending the night and just scoop him up. That idea was a go for his dragon as soon as it crossed his mind, but he had to stay calm and work this out rationally.

“What’s your plan?” Alrick asked.

Calum looked over at his second in command and pulled together all the considerations he’d been mulling over on his way back to the motel.

"He needs a place to live and I want to give that to him. He can't go back to his cousin and his friend doesn't have room." He turned and shifted his gaze to Kyle who was seated across from Alrick. "I want you to find us a large rental home. I want it plush and in a good neighborhood, well good, but willing to accept a bunch like us."  He then looked at Alrick. "I want you to have Duncan and Angus investigate the wolf pack here in town. Find out how long they've been around and if they've claimed any territory."

“How soon do you want the house secured by?” Kyle was already at his computer checking the area and making offers.

“I want us moving in tomorrow. I will be making the offer of a room to Chance in the morning when I take him to breakfast. I need the address and access by tomorrow. Chance will be under our protection come tomorrow evening.” Calum felt more in control now that he had a plan. His only fear was that Chance would refuse him, but how many options did Chance have? If he presented himself in the proper light, Chance would not fear him or his men.

Breakfast seemed like days away instead of mere hours as Calum waited for Kyle to close the deal on a twelve-bedroom sprawling log home in a quiet, secluded area on the edge of town. It was a lodge in a previous life but was converted into a single-family home a few years back. It boasted ten acres, which would give them privacy and would keep away the prying eyes of neighbors. Kyle sweetened the deal and the owner made the arrangements for them to move in immediately. It would be a good first step towards setting down permanent roots. Now, he just had to convince his mate to move in.

CHAPTER FOUR

 

Chance got up at five and took a quiet shower before slipping back out Dane's window. He wasn't sure if Calum would actually show up, but he planned to wait until six thirty before heading to the park. To his shocked surprise, two large and capable hands gripped him by the waist as he scooted out the window. He was lifted from the edge, and his feet were placed firmly on the ground.

"You're early." Chance felt silly for such an obvious statement; it also came out a little too excited.

Calum stepped up closer and kept his hands on Chances hips. "I've been here awhile. I didn't know when you had to vacate, and I didn't want you out here on your own so early in the morning." Calum continued to move closer, and Chance wasn't sure what his intent was but felt suddenly confident that it was probably something good.

Calum was taking a chance that he would be soundly rejected but there was no way he was stopping himself from getting a small taste of his beautiful mate. He stared into those blue eyes as he descended and took Chance’s plump, pink lips in a kiss that stunned and left his senses dazed. He’d been turned on by a kiss in the past, but never electrified by one.

Chance was in heaven; the big man was kissing him. The lips, the hands, the way he tasted was sending shivers of delight to every nerve in Chance's body. He'd not been often kissed, and he'd never been kissed well, until this moment.

Calum ended the kiss slowly and drew back to once again stare down into those beautiful blues. He felt his heart pounding out of his chest at all the possibilities that stood before him. "Let's go." Calum smiled at the look of pure bliss on his mate's face. He'd overwhelmed the man, and it wouldn't be the last time. Calum intended to teach Chance the pleasures of loving a dragon.

He led a dazed and smiling Chance to his bike and soon they were on their way. Calum had considered having a picnic breakfast in the park but decided instead on the diner uptown near the University. He took the extra-long way since he was loving the feel of Chance holding him so tightly. He looked forward to many years of this lithe little body being pressed against him.

Chance was flying high from the kiss and the close proximity of the hottest guy in town. Calum Keith was definitely one for the history books. He had no idea why this guy was paying him the least bit of attention, but he wasn’t going to complain.

They pulled up in front of the all-night diner on Grand Avenue and, once again, Calum helped him off the bike and took his helmet off for him. Chance was going to enjoy the attention for as long as it lasted. This was an erotic dream come true. A dark, handsome, badass boyfriend for Chance. God, if only that were true. Chance walked beside the big man into the diner, and everyone inside turned and took notice. It was a heady feeling of pride and accomplishment to be with someone like Calum, and Chance was eating it with a spoon.

Calum lead Chance to a seat in a booth up front. The place was quite busy for such an early hour, but there were still booths to be had. He liked the sun rise through the window, and he hoped Chance liked it too. He ordered for both of them and Chance didn't seem to mind. Once their coffee arrived, Calum began his plan of persuasion.

“Why did you run from me at the café yesterday?” He started at the beginning of their misunderstanding, hoping to clear everything up. Chance looked up at him as he took a small sip of his coffee. Calum loved his manners, the gentle way he sat and the delicate way he held his cup and drank. He would take pleasure in every moment spent with his mate.

“I thought you were going to give me a beat down for staring.” His words were soft and held more than a hint of apprehension.

Calum smiled and reached across the table to place his hand on Chance's. "I was flattered, sweetheart, not angry. I was staring at you too." This seemed to brighten Chance considerably.

“Really, wow, I thought I was dead.” Chance laughed nervously and took another sip of his coffee. Calum didn’t like the nervousness in Chance’s voice. He was about to say more when their food arrived.

He leaned back and waited for the waitress to set everything down and thanked her. He watched for a few moments as Chance took the first few bites and noticed that he ate with restraint as if holding back a need to consume more and faster. This was the behavior of a civilized man who was very, very hungry but was trying very hard not to show it.

“When was the last time you ate, Chance?” By the startled look on Chance’s face, he knew he’d hit a nerve.

“Yesterday.” The answer was strained.

"What did you eat?" Calum needed the truth.

“Crackers, with some peanut butter.” Chance looked around the diner and then down at his plate, embarrassment suffused his face.

"Eat, baby, you'll never be hungry again, I promise." Calum gave the firm directive, and he was pleased to see that Chance responded immediately. He watched as Chance finished the bacon and eggs. He ordered more bacon and also another glass of milk. Calum was furious that no one in Chance's life recognized the fact that he was starving himself.

“Does your cousin take all of your money?” It was a guess, but Calum was pretty certain of the answer. He knew men like Blake and they were takers of the first order. They left nothing and cared for no one. Calum waited while Chance struggled with an answer. Finally, he simply nodded yes and then finished the last of his milk.

Chance was beyond mortified. He arrived thinking that he would flirt and have a good time and get breakfast out of the deal, but it turned sour too quickly. How pathetic he must look? He couldn’t look at Calum.

When the second order of bacon showed up, he couldn’t resist and took a couple of slices. Yeah, he was hungry, but he was hungry most of the time. He ate, he just didn’t eat a lot, proteins and carbs were his focus, hence the crackers and peanut butter. It was a fact he didn’t feel comfortable discussing with the drop dead gorgeous biker seated in front of him.

"You're not going back there," Calum stated, and Chance's head shot up and locked gazes with him. "I know you can't stay with your friend, so I'm going to explain something, and I want you to listen and keep an open mind." This was it, Calum was going to make his pitch.

“My men and I have rented a large home on the edge of town. It’s located on Baker Road. It’s a large house with more than enough bedrooms to accommodate all of my men. I am offering you a room.” Calum saw the way Chance pulled back and sensed he was going to dismiss the offer outright so hurried on before he could voice his thoughts.

"I'd planned on renting out the extra rooms. You need a place, and I need renters." It was a lie, but Calum was ready to say near anything to entice Chance to say yes. "You'll have a bedroom and access to all common areas. Food and utilities will be included in the rent." He was pulling all of this out of his ass, but Chance seemed to be thinking about it.

"How much is the rent? I'm paying my cousin five hundred a month, but that doesn't include anything but a bedroom." Chance was shocked by the offer but also intrigued by it. He was sure he couldn't afford the rent if it included so much, but he was curious.

Calum scrambled for an amount that would sound legit but wouldn't financially gouge the guy. He didn't want anything from Chance, all he wanted was for his mate to be safe and under his protection. "Three hundred a month. Five hundred was overcharging you, but I don't think your cousin had your best interest in mind. Three hundred is a fair price for what I'm offering." He talked fast and tried to sound confident, so Chance would believe and accept.

Chance was astonished at the amount and didn't know what to say. "That doesn't seem fair to you." He said, finally but everything in him wanted to accept. This man surprised him by the minute, but still, there was the apprehension brought on by the fact that he really didn't know this man or his men.

This could be a setup of the worst kind. Calum called them his men, so he was the leader. The patch on his jacket was serious, he led a motorcycle club. This wasn't some weekend warrior, make shit up situation, this was their life, and they were for real. Chance tore his eyes away from the seeming hopeful concern in Calum's expression.

“This is a legitimate offer, I’m not playing with you. Whether you agree or not, you are not returning to cousin’s apartment. I will find you something else, but you are not going back there.”

Calum wanted to make it clear that Chance was going to be laying his head somewhere else tonight. If he was not comfortable with Calum and Calum’s men, then he would find him another safe and suitable location. He didn’t care if he had to strong arm him a bit to get him to agree, it was for Chance’s own good.

“Why do you want to help me? Why did you help me last night?” Chance wanted to agree, room and board for three hundred a month was a dream come true. His only fear was that, like Blake, all things would change once he moved in.

Calum watched as the guarded expression crept over his mate's face, and he didn't like it. He and his dragon were on the verge of just gathering him up and flying to the mountains. There was a lot to be said about the old ways of courting and claiming.

"There is nothing nefarious going on here. I want to help you, Chance. I was attracted to you in the café, and that was why I followed you into the back. I also knew that you were hiding behind the refrigerator." That got a reaction as Chance's eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't press it at the time because I could see that you were afraid. I found out your name and address and was planning on going to see you when all hell broke loose at your apartment."

“You’re attracted to me?” Chance sounded so shocked that it made Calum chuckle.

“Yeah, but that’s not the only reason I’m offering you a room. I would do the same for anyone in your position.” Calum reached over and once again placed his hand over Chance’s. The contact calmed his dragon and just felt really good. “You will have privacy and your own space.” He was hard selling because he could see Chance crumbling. The guy wanted to say yes but was torn.

"I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth, but what if I move in and you or one of your men decide that I don't fit or I discover that I don't like the arrangement," Chance asked.

"There won't be a lease, it will be month to month, and if there are problems and you want to leave, your rent will be prorated." Calum knew that neither he or his men would do anything to make Chance uncomfortable, but Chance needed some assurances, and he was more than glad to give them.

"That is extremely generous, thank you. I'd like to see the place." Chance was giving in. He had few options at this point. He'd planned to check into the men's shelter on his lunch break because that was his last choice.

Now he had a possibility of a room, food, and a guy who seemed interested in him. He wasn’t thinking long term and definitely wouldn’t start making wedding plans, but Calum had an earnest sincerity that came through in every word and gesture. Chance wanted the opportunity to know him better.

“I’ll pick you up after work.” It wasn’t a question, no, it was a statement that brooked no opposition. Chance nodded his agreement.

…

Calum insisted on driving him to work, even though Chance said he could walk. It was less than a mile away from the diner, but Calum did that dominant, ‘do as I say' thing that Chance found he could not resist. When they pulled up out front of the salon, every face inside was suddenly pressed to the window. Chance had never been the focus of jealous curiosity before, and he loved it.

Chance cut a look at the women in the window and gave them a smug smile that told them Calum was his. He didn’t believe that was actually true, but he was going to play it to the hilt just for the satisfaction of seeing those women envy him.

Calum seemed to not even see them as his entire attention was riveted on Chance. “I’ll pick you up here at seven.” He said and again Chance couldn’t find words and just nodded his agreement. He was so overwhelmed by everything that had taken place in the past few hours that words were impossible.

Calum hated leaving his mate, but this was the human's routine, so he had to go along with it, for now. Once they were mated Chance would have no need to work, he would be Calum's mate and the health and welfare of his new clan would be his only concern. But, for right now, damn it all, he had to ride away and wait until seven o'clock.

As Chance was turning away towards the building, Calum called him back and there right in front of all those busybodies in the window, Calum kissed Chance, deep and determined. It would leave everyone with the clear understanding that Chance belonged to him and no one else. His dragon was riding him hard and, unfortunately, the kiss did not go near far enough to appease him, but it helped.

Chance felt himself melt into the arms that held him so firm and gentle. He was being devoured by lips that tasted like everything great and felt like home. His mind was leaving him, and his emotions were taking over. Chance kissed back as fiercely as he was being kissed. The need to take what he wanted was swamping his usual shy personality. He knew he wouldn't get too many kisses like this one and he was going to make the most of it. He wrapped his arms around Calum's waist and held on.

Calum was knocked back by the way Chance rose to the occasion. His mate was full of surprises. Chance was obviously feeling the bond and Calum’s dragon pushed for more. Calum bit Chance’s lower lip drawing a tiny drop of blood, which Calum consumed immediately. He felt the energy from that tiny drop right down to the soles of his feet. It was truly electrifying in its effect.

The consumption began their bond, and now Calum would always have a connection to the little human. It was the first step towards their final claim and Calum was eager to get the ball rolling.

Calum kissed across Chance’s cheek and bit lightly on his earlobe before whispering dark and husky. “You’re mine Chance, all mine.” He then released Chance and got back on his bike. With one riveting, backward glance, he drove away leaving Chance standing on the sidewalk, breathless and in love.

Well, maybe it wasn’t love, but it was something damn powerful. Chance stared as Calum drove away. He was falling fast, God he hoped this wasn’t some big joke. He liked having someone like Calum in his corner.

He never had anyone who could stand up for him. He had Dane who was the best, best friend anyone could ask for, but he too had limitations. He was in much the same life hole that Chance was in. He worked for minimum wage at the café and paid way too much for rent.

Chance never shared most of his problems with Dane, because he would want to help, and he couldn’t afford to help. Calum could help him, with everything, and he seemed to want to help. Chance stayed on the sidewalk until Calum was completely out of sight. He took a deep breath and went inside.

"Since when does a nothing like you rate a hottie like that?" Shawna, one of the less pleasant stylists, demanded. Chance did not respond, although they couldn't have pried the smile off his face. "Where did you meet him?" She became more demanding and stood in front of the reception desk. "Was it a pity fuck?" She went in for the attack, but Chance remained silent, and she finally left when her first client walked in.

Angela came up to him and demanded that he keep his personal life to himself and out of her salon. Chance nodded but didn't comment.

No one was going to make him feel bad for kissing that sexy, leather-clad man. Calum was worth all the jealous scorn they could muster. The rest of the girls were pretty much okay, after a few verbal jabs everyone got back to work.

Chance kept watching the clock, willing it to go faster. He couldn’t wait to go see the house that Calum had rented and prayed that it was all he claimed it to be. He decided that Calum was just a good guy who was interested in him and was doing him a favor.

 

CHAPTER FIVE

 

The three wolves that had harassed Chance were back at Blake's apartment along with Zack, and he was not pleased. "Did he come back this morning?" Zack asked clearly peeved at what had taken place.

"No, but I drove by his job, and he's there. He'll be back here tonight, he has nowhere else to go." Blake explained quickly.

“You and these morons have one job, and that is to take care of Chance Bashford and make sure that he is prepared. If Conrad finds out that you guys have been damaging the goods, you will wish you’d never been born.” Zack didn’t wait for any comments and abruptly left the room.

…

Kyle secured the purchase, and soon everyone was pitching in and getting the place ready for Chance. "He'll like it Calum. The place is homey, comfortable, and has all the necessary conveniences." Bryn assured as he oversaw the interior decorator they hired to complete the living room. Within twelve hours, they'd rented a house, hired decorators and contractors to make it a suitable home and were ready to accept their first tenant.

“You all did very well.” Calum praised. “I know that Chance will be happy here.”

“What time are you picking him up?” Bryn asked.

“He gets off at seven, so we should be here by seven forty-five at the latest.”

"We'll be ready." Kyle piped in. "He'll love us all and never want to leave."

Calum chuckled. "I hope so." Alrick came to stand beside him, and the look on his face had Calum sobering immediately. "What's wrong?"

“The three men who were attacking Chance are part of a loosely connected pack, of sorts.” Calum gave him his complete attention.

"An alpha, a former member of the Colorado pack, came to town about a year ago and started picking up strays. But from what we've heard, there isn't a lot of loyalty or structure. They're more on the gang mentality."

“Do they claim territory?”

“Not in the way a pack claims and maintains territory. Again, it’s more like gang occupation of a few blocks to the west.” Alrick was all business. Calum could see the plans forming in the man’s eyes.

“You want to take them out?” Calum was not against the idea.

“They are an irritation and have the potential of being a serious enemy.”

“How many are there?”

"Eight wolves and about a half dozen hangers-on. That's where Blake comes into it. We discovered that he owes the group a considerable amount of money. Based on that debt, he appears to be working for them, just grunt work and low-level enforcer jobs." Alrick completed his report.

"I learned this morning that Blake charges Chance five hundred a month for one bedroom and I know for a fact that the rent on the entire rundown apartment is only three hundred. He also takes money from Chance. Chance barely has enough to survive." Calum glanced over at the men working to get the house in order as he considered how much of Chances situation he wanted to share. "I took him to breakfast, and I don't think he's had a decent meal in a very long time. He's been taken advantage of for the last time." Calum swung his gaze back to look at Alrick.

"I say we do whatever we have to secure Chance's health and safety. We take out that shit pack and his cousin." Alrick was a proactive guy, and it was what had always endeared him to Calum. They had been friends all their lives as well as being cousins, always together, always supportive of one another. Alrick was his perfect second.

"I'm bringing Chance here tonight, and I will convince him to stay. I'll get what I can from him regarding his cousin and the wolves. We'll make our decision then." Calum clapped his hand on Alrick's shoulder.

"Okay." Calum could see in Alrick's expression that he did not agree, but he would not voice further opposition.

…

Chance finished cleaning and closing up and was locking the front door when he heard the motorcycle approaching. His heart began to beat frantically at the implication. He’d been aching for this moment ever since Calum had departed this morning. He turned around and was greeted by the most handsome man in all of Laramie. Calum kept the bike idling and motioned for Chance to come closer.

“Get on sweetheart, I have a house to show you.” He handed Chance the helmet and helped him get properly seated before pulling away from the curb and roaring down the street.

Chance loved the loudness of the cycle and the power that thrummed through his body as he sat with his arms wrapped around Calum. He acknowledged that the excitement he was feeling was equal parts cycle and Calum.

He'd had to sell his motorbike shortly after moving in with Blake. He'd had too many bills, and Blake had threatened to throw him out if he didn't make his portion of the rent on time every month. It had been his only mode of transportation so for the past year, he never went any further than his feet could take him.

He used to like driving into the mountains and camping and just fun road trips, but now the city limits was as far as he went. The freedom and the peace he felt riding on the back of Calum's bike was intoxicating. Too soon, they pulled into a long drive that ended in front of an older structure. It was a sturdy log home, and Chance loved it immediately.

Calum had his men disperse so as not to overwhelm his mate. He would introduce him tonight to Bryn, Alrick, Kyle, Angus, and Donell and then the rest in the morning. He got off the bike and helped his mate to stand beside him. Chance handed him the helmet, and Calum quickly stowed it away. Calum draped his arm around Chance's shoulders and lead him casually towards the front door.

“I hope you like it.” He said as he opened the door. “We may look like a rough bunch, but we like to keep a clean and orderly household.” He watched as Chance slowly entered the great room that was the hub of the entire house.

Chance was speechless. He never expected such a beautiful and opulent house. This place was magazine worthy, and although it looked perfect, it also looked like someone's home. It wasn't stuffy or untouchable, it was lovely, and Chance never wanted to leave. He'd never expected such a place when Calum had suggested he rent one of their rooms. For a biker club, they had some very specific tastes when it came to lodging.

Calum was thrilled with the look of wonder and excitement that filled Chance’s eyes. “You want to see the rest?” Chance nodded his head eagerly as Calum lead him through every room.

Calum explained everything regarding the house, appliances, his rights as a tenant, which Calum made purposefully broad. He then led him back into the great room, or living room as the decorator called, in order to introduce him to a few of his men. He wanted to get a sense of how accepting his mate was going to be.

The guys were all seated around the room. They were dragons and valued personal space so having them accept Chance was as important as having Chance accept them. They would be living in close quarters, so trust was important.

Calum felt Chance tense as they entered the room and he got his first look at the lot of them. They were doing their best to look friendly and inviting, and Calum appreciated their effort. Bryn was the first to step forward and reached out his hand to Chance.

Chance immediately leaned forward and accepted Bryn’s hand with a tremulous smile. “Nice to meet you Chance, I’m Bryn Keith, Calum’s little brother.”

Chance was off balance, but he wasn't scared. The men in the room were huge and intimidating for sure, but they didn't scare him. He didn't know if it was because Calum stayed close to his side and he knew Calum could and would protect him, or if the guys were as easy as the vibe they were giving off.

"Nice to meet you too, Bryn. You have a beautiful home, and I appreciate you all letting me stay. I won't be a bother, and I won't get in your way." Chance wanted to stay, he didn't want to go to the shelter.

"I'm sure you'll fit right in, Chance." Bryn smiled and slapped in on the upper arm. Chance nodded and returned the warm, welcoming smile Bryn had given him. Bryn looked a lot like Calum although a few inches shorter and there was a light-heartedness about Bryn that Calum did not possess.

Chance met each man in turn and found that they all were not what he'd expected. They were friends and family that had been traveling together for a very long time. They were well spoken and mannerly, and they all exhibited a friendliness towards him that hoped was genuine.

The only one that seemed a little standoffish, but not in a rude way, was Alrick. He was guarded and careful with his words. Chance understood Alrick's acceptance and that his friendship had to be earned.

Following the introductions, Bryn announced that they’d ordered Chinese and they all went to the dining room for dinner. Chance had not expected such hospitality, but he wasn’t going to turn down dinner, besides Calum was his ride, so he had to stay for dinner.

They sat around the large, roughhewed table that fit perfectly with the décor and talked and talked.  They were very skilled at getting Chance to talk about himself, and he accommodated their curiosity until it came to Blake. The whole debacle with Blake and his friends was a humiliation that he did not want to discuss it over dinner.

"We simply want to be prepared, if your cousin or his associates become a problem." Alrick clarified, and it sounded reasonable, but Chance realized that these men were being forced to take on his problems and that wasn't fair.

Chance looked around the table and then over at Calum who was seated next to him. "I shouldn't stay here. I can go to the shelter, I've stayed there before, it's safe enough. They lock the doors at ten." He started to push his plate away and get up, but Calum had his arm around him instantly and was pushing him back into his chair.

“You’re staying here. You’re not going to a shelter, I won’t have it.” Calum’s tone was firm and clear.

"I'm not your responsibility. I don't want you and your friends having to deal with my problems. This is your home, and you deserved peace and quiet not a renter who is going to open the door to a bunch of bullshit conflicts." Chance wanted him to understand that he didn't owe Chance anything. "Thank you for everything you've done for me and thank you for making me this offer, but I can't accept. I've been on my own for a long time, I will be okay." Chance forced a smile he wasn't feeling.

Calum was about to lose his shit. Everything was going so perfectly and then suddenly something was said, and Chance starts to see himself as an imposition. "I don't know what it is you think you heard, but no one here considers you to be trouble. We are a biker club, we eat trouble for breakfast. We couldn't give a shit about your cousin or what he thinks he can do, trust me he's never met people like us. Now, you are accepting the room, and you are moving in tonight." Calum cut a stern look at all his men who were nodding and giving Chance every possible expression of approval and agreement.

Chance looked conflicted and glanced around the room trying to read each man, which he couldn't. Chance was never able to read expressions that were explicit, but he tried. Okay, he would accept and within the first week, he would know the lay of the land and if everyone was truly on board with his presence. He got paid next Friday, which was a little over a week away. Calum said he could pay his first month's rent at that time, but he wanted him to move in immediately. He'd give it a week, if things didn't work out, he'd pay for the week and find something else. There, that was a plan.

“Okay, I’ll stay, but if anyone is uncomfortable with the idea, please tell me.” Chance gave them the opportunity to discuss the pros and cons. Although Calum was not so accommodating.

"If anyone has a problem with Chance moving in, they can get the hell out!" Calum raked his gaze across every face in the room daring anyone to speak. It was Bryn who finally commented with a subtle grin playing around his lips.

"No one is uncomfortable, and no one has a problem, brother. We are all pleased that your friend has come to stay with us. We look forward to many others joining us in the very near future." Bryn raised his water glass in toast to the future, and everyone joined in.

 

CHAPTER SIX

 

Calum brought Chance upstairs to his room, which was easily three times as large as the one he rented from Blake. "This is fantastic. Are you sure three hundred is enough?" Chance looked around the room and sat down on the large king bed in the middle of the room. He'd never slept in anything so large, and frankly, he couldn't wait.

“Three is fine, now come I’ll show you the bath. It connects your room and the one next door.”

“Who’s next door?”

Calum looked completely innocent when he answered. “I am.”

"Oh, okay." Chance was glad it was Calum, and he would rather share a bathroom with him than with Blake any day of the week. "All of my things are at Blake's. I don't have much, but I'll need to go back there to pack."

“Not necessary.” Calum walked up next to him and took his chin between his thumb and forefinger. He tilted Chance’s face up to his. “After Blake goes to work, I have two of my men going in to get your belongings. If they forget something, I’ll go back for it myself, but you are never going back there.” Calum’s flashing green eyes were consuming him. They were so mysterious and left Chance feeling like he was someone special.

"You're doing so much, and as much as you claim the rent is fair, we both know that you're giving me a gift. I don't know how or when I can ever repay you." Chance dropped down onto the edge of the bed and wrung his hands briefly before dropping his gaze to the hardwood floor. "I've had a bitch of a life. I don't want to burden you with my sad story, but I want you to really know how much your help has meant to me. My parents kicked me out when I graduated. I wasn't quite eighteen yet, but they handed me a hundred bucks and told me to be on my way. At seventeen, you aren't considered an adult, and there are a lot of things you can't do, but you're also not considered a child, so child services don't give a shit about you. It's a gray area, and if you're thrown out, well you just have to survive to eighteen, and then you can get some assistance." Chance felt Calum come over and sit down beside him and wrap his arm around him. It comforted him like nothing before in his life.

"I lived in the shelter for a while since I was only working a part-time job. The counselor there helped me get into school, and I did one year. It gave me a place to live and food, and I took classes that I thought would benefit me in my life. I had no delusions of completing a degree. One year of student loans was all I could afford, but it gave me breathing room, and I was able to get a job at the salon, and I ultimately moved in with my cousin. I thought it was a good deal at the time, but as things got increasingly unpleasant, I tried to leave, but I never had enough money to leave. Blake always came up with bills for me to pay and I paid them." He turned and looked at Calum and hoped that he wouldn't see pity on the man's face. He was surprised to see anger, not what he was expecting.

Calum listened as his mate described his life and it infuriated him. In the dragon culture, family was paramount, and children were a blessing and a gift. He hated hearing such cavalier abuse of someone they were supposed to care for and protect. He wasn't blind, and he'd traveled the country for years and heard many unpleasant things, but this was his mate and Chance deserved better than the life he was given.

“Your parents abandoned you?” He asked for clarification and Chance nodded but looked away. “What about your brothers, I was told you had two older brothers.”

"They don't even know me. They were both out of the home by the time I was born. I don't even know why my parents bothered to have another child. It didn't make sense." Chance answered, but Calum was still confused.

“Were they in boarding school or were that much older than you, why were they out of the home?” Calum felt Chance tense so began a slow messaging circle on his lower back with his thumb.

“They lived with my grandparents in New York, there was never any contact between us.” Chance scrunched his shoulders and glanced over at the window. “I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your help. It means a lot to me.”

“I will always be your champion.” Calum gathered Chance into his arms and cradled his head against his shoulder. “You can always count on me, I will always be there for you.”

Chance hadn't expected the emotional fallout, but he couldn't stop the tears once they began. Apart from Dane, he had no one to turn to. He had no one who gave a shit if he lived or died and now this man, who any normal person would fear, was telling him everything he ever wanted to hear.

"I know we haven't known each other long, but I'm asking you to put your trust in me. I recognized you as important to me the moment our eyes met in that reflection, and the feeling has only grown stronger with time." Calum whispered softly to Chance as he continued to hold him and let him cry.

“There’s a lot about me that you don’t know yet and some things might scare you. But I want you to know that no matter what happens, I will never let you down.” Calum kissed the side of Chances head and cuddled him closer, pulling him over and onto his lap. Chance went willingly and did not resist.

Chance cried until all the tears he'd held inside for so long were released. He didn't feel embarrassed or ashamed by his outburst but rather relieved by it. Calum held him and did not judge, and that was the greatest gift he'd given him so far. He thought that to be the greatest gift until he dropped his head back onto Calum's forearm and Calum captured his lips in a kiss that out did every other so far.

Calum set his nature free when those beautiful blues full of tears stared up at him. He took Chance’s lips and owned them. He held his mate in his arms and went in to devour. Chance buried his fingers in Calum’s hair and held on, a full participant in what Calum was doing. Calum thrust inside over and over tasting his mate’s sweet flavors and memorizing every contour. This was his mate and Calum wanted him closer and wanted him to stay secure in his arms forever.

Chance had been with other men before, not many, but he knew that what he was feeling for the man who was holding him was much more than just lust. He felt too right, and the amazing sensations that rushed through him at his very touch was incredible.

Chance could feel Calum's body as it pressed against him and his need to experience more became imperative. He wantonly pressed his ass down onto the growing bulge beneath him. Calum's desire was obvious, and he hoped Calum was feeling the need as acutely as he was.

Calum rolled so as to put Chance’s warm, supple body beneath him on the bed. He trailed his kiss down Chance’s throat and across his shoulder, pulling the thin cotton shirt to one side. He wanted to taste his mate and further their bond so he dropped his hand and cupped Chance’s hard cock and gave it a squeeze. In the same instance, he sunk his fangs into Chance’s shoulder tasting and marking his mate for all others to see and respect.

Chance moved against the firm grip and moaned his delight. He felt a sharp pain on his shoulder, but it morphed so quickly into the most erotic sensation ever. Calum was doing so many wonderful things, Chance ran his hands over Calum's arms and traced the muscles of his back. It was wonderful, and Chance decided that he wanted this man, so badly.

Calum unbuttoned Chance’s shirt and slipped it off as he continued to kiss every exposed inch of Chance’s body. “You’re beautiful, Chance, fucking beautiful.” Calum tugged at Chance’s pants and pulled them down his hips. “I want to touch you, Chance.”

"I want to touch you too." Chance answered breathlessly. Calum was kissing him, and Chance was losing his mind.

“Anything you want sweetheart, anything.” Calum grabbed his t-shirt and pulled it off, he wanted to feel skin on skin with his little mate. He wanted to feel Chances soft skin against his own hard muscle.

He lifted Chance and placed him in the center of the bed and stretched out on top of him. His hand went back to Chance’s now naked cock and began a slow rhythm gradually sending Chance over the edge. He moaned so lovely against Calum’s chest. The brush of his warm breath and the touch of his curious hands was exhilarating.

Calum moved down Chance's body kissing and worshiping the thin frame and soft angelic flesh. He was human but he was strong, and he belonged to Calum Keith, Chieftain of Clan Keith. He would mark the beginning of the new age for the Shetland Dragons. He kissed the side of Chance's cock and tightened his grip as Chance began to thrust and moan. It was sending his dragon into a near mating heat that once started would not end until they were both thoroughly sated and marked inside and out.

Calum pulled back his dragon and concentrated on pleasuring his mate. This was all about Chance, and he needed to maintain focus. His little mate was not yet ready to complete the bond, but Calum wanted a taste, and he wanted Chance to experience what they could be together

Chance was going out of his mind with Calum stroking him and the touch of his lips on his most sensitive areas. It was something Chance had never experienced before. He thrust without thought and then couldn’t stop. Thankfully Calum had no problem with bringing him to completion.

The feel of Calum's breath and the vibration of his whispers was heady and wonderful. "Don't stop, Calum." He managed to say although breathless and on the verge of coming. He should stop, show some control, some decorum, but it was impossible with the things he was feeling. Calum was magnificent.

Calum sped up his strokes as he sensed Chance nearing the edge and just as Chance was letting go, Calum leaned up and took Chance’s lips in another scorching kiss. He wanted to taste Chance’s words of ecstasy as they poured from his lips.

Chance came hard, covering Calum’s hand and his own abdomen with thick warm seed. He came and came until he finally slumped back onto the bed and reached down to halt the abuse of his now tender flesh. He covered Calum’s hand with his own.

Calum slowly released his lips and stared down into lust blown blue eyes. "You are the most beautiful man I've ever seen." He said, and Chance looked at him and simply smiled. It was a look of pure excited innocence.

“You’re the beautiful one. You make me feel like I’m someone worthy. I love that feeling.” Chance wasn’t sure what he was saying, it was just feelings that he was desperately trying to put into words.

"You are special, and you are perfect." Calum kissed him again, it seemed he couldn't get enough. He held his mate until Chance's breathing and his heart beat both slowed back to normal. He then straightened and moved off the bed, and went into the adjoining bath. He came out a few moments later with a warm, wet washcloth.

Chance had tried to sit up and was attempting to stand when Calum pushed him back down and began to clean his abdomen and groin. It was so intimate and so caring that it brought another tear to Chance’s eyes. Calum cleaned him thoroughly and then helped him with his pants and shirt, making sure he was fully dressed before leaving the bedroom. Chance could get used to this kind of treatment. He kissed him again before they left the room.

…

Chance was standing at the reception counter, and his mind was not on work. All he could think about was Calum Keith. So much had happened in such a short period of time, it was hard to believe it was all real.

He had a new place, it was comfortable, and everyone was welcoming. After that first little hiccup at dinner, the guys went out of their way to make him comfortable. And then there was Calum, words could not describe the feelings that rushed through his mind and body at the mere presence of the man. He'd intimated that he found Chance attractive and last night he showed Chance pleasure like he'd never had before. Chance couldn't get his mind off the thrill of having someone treat him so tender like he was special and yet so carnal like he was the sexiest thing around. It was reckless, he knew that, but he couldn't deny himself Calum.

“Hey, answer the damn phone!” The harsh tones of his boss Angela tore through his daydream and brought him back to earth with a thud. He grabbed the phone and his pencil and put his mind back on work. On his first break, he went into the alley and called Dane. He wanted to tell him of his good fortune. Unfortunately, Dane was a realist and soon was sucking the pleasure right out of Chance’s good mood.

"You hardly know these men, Chance, how could you move in with them?" That was Dane's most bruising question. He'd asked himself that too, but the vibe he got and the comfort he felt overruled his usual skepticism. How could he explain a bone-deep feeling to Dane and have him believe it? "Come to the café on your lunch hour. We need to discuss this and figure out something safer for you than moving into a biker gang's spare room."

"They're not what you think, Dane. They're a bunch of good guys, and they're doing me a big favor. Come and meet them for yourself." Chance worked hard defending his new roommates, but in the end, Dane had him promising to meet him at the cafe. Perhaps if he could see how happy Chance was, then he'd understand. He headed over to the café at one thirty, his lunch hour was anywhere between one and three depending upon the client flow.

…

Calum was pacing the floor and watching the clock. He would pick Chance up at seven, and he planned to tell him everything. Last night was everything he hoped it would be, Chance pliant in his arms, begging for more. He needed to move this relationship along before his dragon did it for him. He would only be denied so long and last night was a close call. He needed Chance here by his side, building their new lives together. He went over to the large leather sofa and sat down, but still kept an eye on the clock.

He knew Chance was ready, he saw it in his eyes last night. He looked at Calum and saw beyond the muscles and tattoos, he saw the man and the power beneath, and he did not falter.  He would tell him who he was and show him if need be. Chance was not afraid, not anymore anyway. His touch and the longing in his eyes told Calum that he was ready.

Sleeping not more than a few feet away from him last night had been pure torture. He feared his dragon might take matters into his own hands, so Calum had snuck out and under the darkness of the night and shifted and flew into the mountains. It gave his dragon a release which calmed him for a while. When he returned to the house, all he could feel was the presence of his mate, the aroma saturated the air. He could not endure too many nights like that, so he was going to set his cards on the table and claim Chance as soon as possible. He was pulled from his thoughts when Alrick entered the room and sat down beside him.

"We have more information on the wolves." He began. "Their makeshift Alpha, Conrad Lee was kicked out of his pack in Colorado for being insubordinate. Apparently, he has a real problem with any authority that is not him. After several bouts of corrective action, Conrad still refused to follow orders. His Alpha recognized a growing threat to his rule and didn't want to deal with it so had him banished. The guy has a huge chip on his shoulder, and from what I hear, he's here in Laramie attempting to build his own pack. The only problem is the guy has shit leadership skills, and the people he is attracting are all like himself." Alrick took a deep breath and continued.

“What I’m going to tell you now is probably going to enrage your dragon, so be prepared.” Calum centered his dragon and clamped down his power and waited for Alrick to continue.

"Donell went out last night, back over to Night Whispers. He found a willing body over there the other night and planned on hooking up again. The wolves hang out there, and as you know, Chance's cousin Blake works there." Calum nodded and urged Alrick to get to the point.

"Donell overheard two of the wolves discussing Chance with Blake. Apparently, the wolves paid Blake to keep an eye on Chance and to deliver him to Conrad when the Alpha called for him. You see, they think Chance is a human omega and Conrad plans to mate and breed him." Alrick stood and stepped back from his Chieftain knowing that the information would enflame.

Calum jumped to his feet, flames and smoke curling out of his nose and mouth while his shift was barely being held in check. His black hair shot through with iridescent scales, and his features began to elongate. He needed to have Chance with him, now. The threat to his mate was intolerable.

"They were demanding that Blake bring Chance to them, but he didn't know where he was. They theorized about the tall biker who reeked of shifter, but no one seemed to know who the guy was." Alrick placed his hand on Calum's shoulder calming him and helping him to center his dragon. Calum took a deep, steadying breath.

"Let's go get Chance and bring him here. Then we visit the wolves." Calum would eliminate any and all threats.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

 

Dane was not listening, and Chance was not going to walk away from the best thing to enter his life, ever. "You don't know him, Chance." Dane was stuck on that one sentence, and Chance could not get him to budge.

"I do know him. Come with me tonight, and I will introduce you to them all. They are kind and well spoken, they are not what you think.

“You thought Blake was a good guy too, remember?”

“I never thought he was a good guy, I just never thought he was as bad as he turned out to be. That is not the same thing.” Chance was losing his patience.

“It wasn’t long ago that you were hiding for your life behind my refrigerator. You thought he would rip your head off.” He took Chance by the shoulders and shook his lightly. “You can’t trust him, Chance.”

Chance jerked away from his friend, but before he could respond, Blake and Zack came into the back room of the café. "You're not allowed back here," Dane said, but it made no difference to the two men. They entered and closed the door after them.

“So, you’ve been hiding with your friend here.” Blake turned his attention to Dane. “You know, Dane, you’ve turned into just as big of a pain in my ass as my loser cousin here.” Blake then looked over at his friend.

“What do you say we take them both? Dane’s not bad in the looks department, I’m sure we could make a few dollars off him.”

Zack walked up to Dane and grabbed him by the crotch. Dane recoiled, and Chance tried to push Zach away.

"Keep your fucking hands off me," Dane said as he balled his hands into tight fists.

“Yeah, we’ll take them both. I want a piece of that tight, little ass.” Zack shot back. “Conrad can have Chance, but I get first fuck with little Dane here. When I’m through, you can sell him off, if there’s anything left to sell.”

The sickening look on Zack's face turned Chance's stomach, and it was then that he knew they were both in for a world of trouble. He tried to reach for his phone, but Blake snatched it before he was able to raise and alert.

“Who you going to call, Chance? You calling your boyfriend, who saved you the last time?” Blake laughed and grabbed Chance by the neck and hauled up close. “No one is going to save you this time, loser.” He pushed Chance towards the back door as Zack reached for Dane.

Dane punched Zack in the face but it did nothing but raise is anger. He backhanded Dane who flew across the room and slumped to the floor unconscious. Zack walked over and picked him up and tossed him over his shoulder. “I prefer my men unconscious.” He joked and pushed at Blake to get going. The left through the back door that opened onto the alley. They’d parked their truck nearby.

…

Calum entered the salon and was told that Chance had taken his lunch break a half an hour ago. "They don't know where he went for lunch but said he would be back by two thirty." Calum looked up and down the street but knew that Chance had brought his lunch with him so he wouldn't have gone to a restaurant. Then it hit him, the scent of fear, dread, and panic. Chance was in danger.

"Come," he yelled to Alrick and they raced down the street to the café where he'd first met his mate. They tore through the place and out the back door. The air was thick with the panic and terror of his mate. Calum was unable to hold back his emerging dragon and began to shift in the alley behind the café.

Alrick grabbed him roughly and shoved him into a group of mid-sized pines along the far side of the alley. It wasn’t much cover but it was all he had. It was early afternoon and people were out and about. This was not the place to shift and take to the skies.

“Calum, you can’t shift here. We have to follow and we will find hm, control your dragon.” Alrick held Calum in his arms as he struggled to overcome the power that threatened to burst forth. It was only a few moments before he settled and Alrick released him.

“I know where they are.” Calum strode out of the alley and headed for his bike. “I felt Chance calling out to me.”

“We’ll get to him, Calum. They will pay.”

“They will pay.”

…

Chance sat in one of the back room of the bar called Night Whispers. He'd never visited this bar before, even though his cousin worked here. It had an ambiance that just felt creepy. He wasn't wrong, once inside, the creep value was suffocating. They were tied together on the floor like two bundles awaiting delivery. Blake and Zack had roughed them up pretty good before leaving the room. Dane got the brunt of it all. They were a little easier on Chance.

“You okay, Dane?” Chance whispered. “I’m sorry I got you into this.”

“I’m okay.” Chance could tell by his breathing that Dane wasn’t as okay as he claimed. “This wasn’t your fault.”

“Calum will save us.” Chance wasn’t sure how he knew that to be true, but he did.

“I hope so, but I kind of doubt it.” Dane started to cough and it sounded painful.

“Don’t talk Dane. Just try to hold on. He will be here, I promise.” Chance turned his hand a bit and was able to wrap his fingers around a couple of Dane’s.

Chance could hear men talking outside the door. It was Blake and Zack and another man. He had a coarse tone that grated along Chance’s spine. The three of them came into the room Blake walked over and took Chance by the hair and twisted his face up towards the man with the grating voice.

“Here he is Conrad, no worse for the wear. Ready for whatever you have in mind.” Blake suddenly sounded like a used car salesman hawking his wares. The man crouched down next to where Chance lay on the floor and took his chin between his thumb and forefinger. Calum had held him like that and it had been lovely and gentle, this man seemed intent on leaving a bruise.

"He'll do. I plan to build my legacy and only an Omega can provide me strong, healthy pups. Human omegas are so fragile, I hope he survives his pregnancy so he can go through a second.” He released Chance and stood.

"A wolf litter will probably tear him apart," Zack interjected. He sounded excited by the idea.

“No matter, as long as the pups survive.” The man moved towards the door. “Bring them, I want this one pregnant by morning. You can do whatever you wish with the other.” He handed Blake a wad of cash.

Before they made it to the door, there came a crash from the outer room that captured their attention. Conrad moved back to Chance and reached down to grab him by the upper arm and bring him to his feet. He cut the ropes that bound him to Dane before dragging him to the door. “I’ll take this one with me. Go see what’s happening out there and report back to me later at the house.” He gave the order to Zack, who seemed less than thrilled at having to leave his new toy.

Zack pulled Dane to his feet and kissed him hard and painful, leaving a trail of blood that ran down Dane’s chin. Zack laughed at the horror and pain clear in Dane’s eyes. “Oh, that’s just the beginning, baby. I will have you screaming and begging for your life before the night is over.” He laughed again and tossed Dane over to Blake. “Hold him until I check out the other room.”

As Zack was opening the door, it suddenly burst inward sending him sprawling backward onto the ground. Blake dropped Dane and tried to escape but was hauled back into the room by a rough hand encircling his throat. Zack remained on the floor moving backward away from the two men.

Calum and Alrick entered the bar and were immediately embroiled in a battle. The ruffians and thugs that filled out the numbers of Conrad's pack thought they were attacking a couple of average paranormals. It wasn't until the smoke and flames began to fill the room and the body count began to rise that they realized their mistake and those who could vacate did so.

Calum could feel his mate and quickly moved to the back of the bar down a short hallway to a door. His mate was somewhere close and his dragon wanted out. If he didn’t find Chance in the next few minutes, he would release his dragon. He did not hesitate to go through the door with Alrick close behind. The wolf went down easy as did Blake, both were spineless. He noticed Dane on the floor tied up, as did Alrick, who hesitated for a moment before hurrying to his side.

“That twink is mine!” Zack yelled and made a move towards Dane. Alrick grabbed him by the throat and, in a bloody fashion, ended him. Luckily Dane was unconscious or the sight of Alrick’s half shift and the wolf parts spread around the room would have traumatized the man. Alrick never did anything half way, and he seemed particularly enraged at the moment.

Calum concentrated on Blake who he was holding half off the ground by his throat. "Where is Chance?" He would get one opportunity, to tell the truth, and only one. Blake spit and gagged a bit and then answered.

“Conrad took him.”

“Where?”

"They left through the back door. He's taking Chance to the Pack House, it's an old warehouse near the abandoned rail yard. It's the only warehouse still standing." Calum brought Blake's face close to his and let him see the dragon beneath. "Bother him again and I will kill you. Do you understand? Do you want to look like your friend Zack here?" Blake nodded rapidly in terror. Calum tossed Blake to the far side of the room and walked over to where Alrick held an unconscious Dane in his arms.

The moment he looked into Alrick’s eyes he knew the situation for what it was and was filled with the satisfaction of their quest, even under these dire conditions. “Is he yours?” He asked and Alrick nodded. “Stay with him, I can handle the warehouse.” He looked around the room and then back at Alrick. “Clean up before you leave.” He then strode out of the room and out of the bar.

…

Chance was scared out of his mind. The thought of having sex with Conrad Lee was making his stomach wretch. The guy was dirty and smelly and looked like hell. Zack had commented that he preferred his men unconscious and Chance could only hope that Conrad felt the same. Unconscious was the only way he would allow such a filthy man near him. Conrad had made reference to wolves and pups and Chance had no idea what he was on about and frankly he was afraid to analyze it too closely.

His mind drifted to Dane and he prayed that whatever was causing the commotion in the bar had played in Dane’s favor.  If anything happened to Dane, he would never forgive himself. The car he was in suddenly stopped and a door opened just before someone reached into the backseat and pulled him out.

"Get on your feet," Conrad yelled and jerked him forward towards a rundown warehouse. There were several cars parked out front along with a couple of cycles. This must be their hideout, he thought and took a quick look around when Conrad opened the metal door and tossed him inside.

There were a few men standing around but no one seemed surprised to see him or interested in helping him. They turned away when Conrad grabbed him by the back of his shirt and started hauling him through the large open room. He saw the makeshift beds on the far side of the room and his panic intensified. “Oh fuck, this shit is getting real.” He didn’t realize he’d voiced his fear until Conrad answered.

"I'll show you real, bitch. Real hot and real hard." He pushed Chance onto one of the mattresses on the floor and fell on top of him. Chance squirmed to try and get away, but with his hands tied he was near helpless and the feeling was devastating.  Where was Calum? Where was his champion? He felt Conrad's hands on him and without thought started yelling. "Calum!" His voice croaked when Conrad backhanded him but he didn't stop calling for the one person who he knew could save him. "Calum, help me!"

"No one can hear you." Conrad taunted. His eyes turned a piss yellow and his teeth dropped down revealing sharp fangs much like a dog. Chance didn't know what he was looking at, but Conrad's appearance was shifting from that of a scumbag to a wild animal.

Chance closed his eyes tight as the inevitable seemed to be about to happen. A crash sounded, and then the weight of Conrad was gone. Chance opened his eyes to see Conrad, who looked like a Lon Chaney wannabe, half man half wolf, fly across the room. The most marvelous of sights was the massive winged beast that stood breathing fire and roaring to the heavens.

There was a huge hole in the roof of the warehouse where the creature had gained entrance, it was unbelievable. Chance stared in awe at the magnificence of what stood before him and, although still bound, he managed to get to his feet and move away from the fray. He watched as the dragon, yes it was a dragon, made war on the warehouse and the wolves defending it.

The other men in the room who were there simply to watch Conrad demoralize and assault him, where now shifting into desperate creatures and trying to get away from Chance’s champion. He pressed himself against the wall and waited. The beast was clearing the area and soon there was nothing left except Chance, the dragon, and the smoldering remains of those who didn’t run fast enough.

The most satisfying moment of the event was witnessing the panic and fear fill Conrad’s expression as he tried to run away. The bastard had hurt so many people and had been suspected in the deaths of others, yet nothing was ever done about it, until now. Conrad Lee would never hurt anyone again.

The dragon, huge but not lumbering, moved swift and sure to a position in front of Chance. He didn’t get too close. He slowly lowered his large head covered in shiny iridescent black scales towards Chance. His eye bore down with a question hanging between them.

Chance didn’t look away; the eyes were so green with a light that made them look they were ablaze. He knew those eyes, he’d looked into them with every kiss and stared into them when he was brought to a fantastic climax. This day made no sense and bent his very concept of reality, but he knew who this was, he knew.

"Calum." He said the name and the dragon began to shift. Slowly the massive beast, that had filled the very room and shook the ground with his presence became the man who had filled all his dreams and desires. Calum, naked and sweaty, stood before him with a look of need and want that had Chance pushing away from the wall and running towards him. He needed Calum's strong arms around him.

Calum broke the bindings that were holding Chance’s hands behind his back,  scooped him up into his arms and planted a flurry of kisses that left them both breathless. He didn’t know how Chance would take the truth of who he was, but their bond had shown him the dragon’s true nature and there was no fear in Chance’s eyes, only love. Yeah, it looked like love had taken root in those baby blues, and that love belonged to Calum.

"This isn't how I wanted you to find out," Calum spoke softly as he continued to kiss the side of Chance's beautiful face. He carried him out of the building where Bryn was standing and waiting with a large SUV. He opened the door for them and they slipped into the backseat. Calum never released him. Bryn drove them back to their home.

“Dane is at the bar, they’re hurting him.” Chance’s voice raised in urgency.

“He’s fine, Alrick has him. He brought him home and is taking care of him, don’t worry.” Bryn spoke from the front seat.

"Thank you, Calum."

"Anything for you, my mate." He punctuated that declaration with a kiss that seared Chance to his soul. Something important was happening, something life changing, something magnificently life changing. His heartbeat thudded in his chest and breathing became an effort as he once again looked into those fiery, green eyes.

 

CHAPTER EIGHT

 

When they reached the house, Calum carried him directly upstairs to his room, not Chance’s room, Calum’s room. It was big and roomy and the bed looked so big it must have been custom made. It was a welcoming environment of comfort and color. He sat Chance on the bed and then began to remove his clothes. Soon, Chance was as naked as Calum and there was no shyness, no reservation as he reached his arms out towards this man who had given him his life back.

“Thank you for saving me, Calum.” He realized he hadn’t thanked him yet and wanted that out of the way.

“You’re welcome.” Calum picked him up in his arms and carried him to the bath. Chance had never showered with another and he found it exhilarating. Calum’s hands were everywhere, lighting fires under the skin and soothing every worry with his kisses and kind, sexy words.

Once they were washed clean, Calum bundled him up in a plush towel and dried him thoroughly. God, he loved the firm touch of Calum's hands. Once again, he carried Chance to the bed and sat him in the center and stretched his long naked length out next to him. He needed to claim his mate. His dragon needed the strength and surety of the bond, and so did he.

Calum leaned over his little mate and cupped the side of his face. He stared down into those loving blue eyes and counted his blessings. When he saw what that wolf was about to do to his little mate, his heart shattered. Freeing his mate and destroying the threat was his focus. He hadn’t taken into consideration that his mate would be front and center for the battle. But he handled it like the strong and capable man Calum knew him to be.

“I know this is going to sound too sudden, but please just hear me out.” Calum began as he traced his thumb back and forth over Chance’s plump bottom lip. “I love you, Chance and I don’t take those words lightly and I have never said them to another. I know I have a lot of explaining to do so, here it is and if you have questions, ask.”

Calum explained his origin, his family, and his quest. He went into great detail as he described his culture and species and what finding Chance meant to him, his dragon and his people. Chance listened, his eyes concentrating and taking in and processing every word. He did not speak until Calum was finished.

“You smelled me in the café?”

“Yes.”

"I was sitting in the chair you took before you, and your friends walked in. I moved to the counter because I assumed you'd want the big table and I was all alone." Chance was spellbound by the unbelievable story that he, without a doubt, absolutely believed. He could feel Calum on an emotional level and he could feel the truth of all his words. It was amazing.

“I scented the most wonderful aroma and I searched the room for its source. Then I noticed you and everything in my life, all my struggles became laser focused on you.” Calum placed a proprietary kiss to the plump bottom lip he’d been fondling.

“You scared me, at first, but once I met you and got physically close to you, the fear dissipated. I couldn’t understand why I so quickly, trusted and leaned on you. Is that the mate bond you were describing?” Chance moved his hand to rest on Calum’s naked hip and pulled him closer.

“Yes, the bond between true mates is present on every level of existence. It begins to form and grow the second that two mates make contact.” He kissed him again. “My love for you will only get stronger. I will always desire you, and I will always be there for you.”

"It's hard for me to say this, but I need to try. I think I love you too, Calum. I can't imagine not having you in my life, not being near you. I want to see you every day, wake up in your arms and go to sleep in your arms. This bonding stuff is fiercely powerful, is it forever?" Chance figured he sounded like a lovesick idiot, but he didn't care, besides Calum was sounding a bit lovesick himself.

"It is forever, Fate designed our destiny and Fate brought us together. Nothing will ever tear us apart." Calum explained in more depth what it meant to be a dragon's mate and the process of mating. When he came to the pregnancy part, he saw Chance's eyebrows shoot to his hairline.

“Pregnant, I could get pregnant, how?” Chance wasn’t speaking in full sentences the idea of having a baby seemed fantastical. “No, don’t tell me. I’ll deal with that when and if the time comes.” Chance moved his hand from where it rested on Calum’s hip and drew it up his side, taking in the feel of every dip and curve and every hard muscle. His mind was officially blown by everything he’d seen and heard this day, but he still could not complain. This man was good, he knew that on a level that defied explanation and he knew he would follow him anywhere. Yeah, he was in love.

“I want to complete our mating and seal our bond.” Calum leaned down and spoke into Chance’s ear bathing him in his hot, moist breath. “I need to be inside you.” Calum rolled his body and seated himself between Chance’s thighs. He kept most of his weight off his little mate but pressed his hard cock firmly against Chance’s tight little ass. He began a slow thrust moving his cock back and forth sensitizing Chance’s tender flesh. “I need you now, Chance.” He dropped another lazy, needy kiss to Chance’s eager lips.

“Yes, I want you too.” Chance thrust upward in time with Calum and increased the pressure. A delicious sigh escaped Chance’s trembling lips and Calum moved quickly. He lifted Chance’s legs and spread them apart and held them as he played with Chance’s tight little hole all red and leaking a clear, slippery liquid. It was something he’d never seen before and now knew it to be fact. True mates had the ability to self-lubricate, it was another tell of the bond being perfect.

Calum spread the gel-like substance around with the head of his aching cock. The more he pushed, the more Chance loosened and prepared to take him in completely. Calum was a dragon and therefore, was a very large man in every respect. But Chance's willing hole was relaxing and accepting his girth inch by inch.

Chance could feel the slow stretch as Calum filled him. He’d never seen a cock as large as Calum’s and after a mere flash of concern, he realized Calum would never hurt him and only pleasure lay in his future. A future that would contain some of the most awesome sex of his life. Calum was a master at bringing every nerve to attention and spiraling every need to the forefront.

His breath came out in short pants and morphed into a tight squeal when Calum thrust in completely burying himself inside Chance. He began a rapid rhythm of hard thrusts that pegged his prostate on every thrust and brought stars to his eyes as his vision blurred from the power of the sensations exploding through his system.

Chance was hard and ready to burst just from the sensations alone. He wasn’t going to last. Calum increased his speed and held tight to Chane’s legs anchoring him in position as he took everything and gave it all.

Chance came with an intensity so fierce, it was a cross between pain and pleasure that was absolutely euphoric.

Calum could hold back no longer he took his mate hard, reveling in every moan and gasp as he took Chance so high he would never be satisfied by another. He stiffened and drove himself so deep their bodies merged into one and he came. He filled his mate full with stream after powerful stream of hot seed, so full that it seeped out and pooled beneath him on the comforter. It was a vision of erotic beauty that he would repeat often. He settled beside him, still buried inside and sank his teeth back into the healing scar of his mating bite.

Chance felt the pain of the bite and the pleasure of fullness and just started to float. He held on and felt the dragon in Calum claim him. The bite sealed his connection not only to Calum but to his dragon and the feeling of belonging swamped him. Tears filled his eyes and soon were running down the sides of his face. He saw the dragon in his mind and he knew he finally had a home.

Calum licked the bite closed and kissed it tenderly. He turned to lock his gaze on Chance and saw the tear. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” His heart tightened at the thought he’d hurt his mate.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Chance looked deep into his eyes and his face lite up with a smile so warm and loving that Calum felt tears forming in his own eyes. “I’m home, Calum and I love you so much.” Calum took Chance’s lips in an embrace that was so passionate that it set his dragon preening in the back of his mind, so at peace, so happy and so complete.

The quest was just beginning.

 

THE END

 

 

-Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this first book in the Dragon’s Blood M.C. series! I welcome all reviews and feedback -B.A. Stretke