Chapter Ten
Valerian
I frowned as I looked around the outdoor setting the wolves had quickly constructed under the supervision of Nicky and Jax near a gazebo by the back porch. A white tent that somebody had obtained from the rental store in Brevard seemed to be the star attraction. Mason told me it was used probably for weddings, or wedding receptions, though the idea of having a wedding in a tent seemed pretty odd to me. I had been a desultory Catholic, once upon a time, but religion had never figured heavily in my life. Still, the sacraments were for a church, not a tent in the backyard, surely. But hell, what did I know? Religious ceremonies hadn’t figured into my thinking in a long, long time.
The idea of a “party” was foreign to me too—I’d hated to appear unintelligent by asking what it entailed exactly, so I’d simply kept quiet and observed. Certainly, I’d never been to any kind of party as a boy growing up mostly in the streets, and never celebrated anything either, unless you counted being happy each day at dawn when I got up to discover I had survived to see another sunrise.
I‘d been to plenty of orgies after Cassius found me. Maybe that was like what Mason was calling a party? There had been naked, writhing bodies at the orgies, both the dead and dying bodies of the bloody thralls, and the vampires gorging themselves on blood and sex. They had sometimes lasted all night. I was fairly certain that wasn’t what Mason had in mind though.
They had tried to make everything look nice. There were some tables set up for eating, with rented white table cloths, an area for dancing in the round thing Mason was calling a gazebo, a sound system, and tiny white Christmas lights hanging and dangling from every available surface, tree, or vine. I’d lived hundreds of years and never encountered something quite so…garish and mawkishly sentimental. Glancing over at Finn, I noticed his handsome features were dancing with excitement. Of course, he would find the décor to be to his liking. Then too, there had been the promise of food.
The fake party atmosphere surrounding me saddened me in a way. It wasn’t truly a celebration for Mason’s return home, although it should have been for his sake. Would this be what his life would be like as long as I was with him? Never getting what he needed and deserved, but having to settle for something less. It wasn’t what I wanted for him.
Mason thought he could lure Cassius into the wolves’ lair with a challenge he wouldn’t be able to turn away from. He thought that seeing us all celebrating—with no worries about his threat to me and all of them—would make him crazy enough to attack us when we were all together. But Cassius had been evading slayers and their tactics to ensnare him for centuries and I thought it was far more likely that his vampires would pick us off one by one, sneaking around the perimeters and snatching anyone foolish enough to stray away from the lights.
Marco’s wolves, still thirsting for blood because of what Cassius had done to Cade, were barely holding their growls of bloodlust to a low rumble. Thankfully, the loud music already blaring helped to drown out the aggressive sounds they made as they followed Jax and Nicky’s orders, setting things up. Finn was giddy with the hopes of ripping Cassius apart for all the pain and suffering he’d put me through all those years ago, and for threatening to try and take me away from him and Mason.
Mason, the thinker and planner, was busy checking to ensure we hadn’t overlooked any detail, not even the slightest. It was a good thing. Overlooking a detail where Cassius was concerned could easily lead to death and destruction.
I knew, Cassius and his vampires were capable of destroying all of us. I had no idea how large a force he had with him. The biggest part of me suspected that’s very well how the night might end, and the idea of Finn, Mason, Jax, the beautiful Nicky, or even the arrogant Marco dying because of me made me want to get as far away from all of them as possible. Despite the lies I’d told Mason and Finn, I had intended to give myself up in exchange for their safety, but I knew deep down in my un-beating heart Cassius wouldn’t consider that a viable option. I’d been foolish to attempt to steal away from Finn and Mason the other night. Cassius would never allow them to live knowing that they’d been my lovers. He’d hunt them down, rip out their hearts and make me watch as he drained them and the life died from their eyes. In fact, he’d revel in it. But if he killed them, I’d have no choice but to die along with them.
The possible slaughter of the men I loved and Mason’s family—his pack—weighed heavily on me. But almost as heavy was the possibility of me witnessing and participating in the destruction of my own sire. I hadn’t been able to properly convey my feelings about Cassius to Mason and Finn. He had saved me, in a way, a long time ago. He had once been my entire world. He’d taught me how to survive. He’d brutalized and used me. He’d whispered words of ownership and his jealously had been notorious among our kind. Perhaps my ambivalence over him was because I wished for death in a way. I had killed many people in my long life and feasted on their blood. Could it be a wish to destroy this thing that I had become? To end my potential for evil doing and express my grief over what I was? Well, that was maudlin, even for me.
What I felt for Cassius was nothing for like I felt for Finn and my sweet Mason. My heart, if it could beat again, would not beat for him. But he was still my sire and once I had almost worshipped him.
A sudden thought occurred to me that stopped me cold. What if Cassius didn’t understand the concept of love? Had forgotten what that even felt like? He was incredibly old and it had been a long time since he’d experienced humans, or wolves, for that matter, on any level other than as a food source. What if he was only capable now of ownership? Cassius hadn’t been lucky enough to stumble upon his true mate, which no longer sounded nearly as ludicrous to me as it had less than a year ago, so it was entirely possible that Cassius might not…comprehend the concept.
Could I really participate in destroying him? Could I watch Mason and Finn take his life and not be affected in some way? I wasn’t sure.
“You look sad, babe,” Finn whispered as he sidled up behind me, hooking an arm around my neck and pulling me up against his large body. He felt like a heater to me. I wondered if I was like an iceberg to him. “Why do you look like that? You know I’m going to protect you, right?”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Since when do I need you to protect me?” His words had touched me, but there was no need in letting him know how easily I could be manipulated by his possessiveness.
He chuckled softly against the back of my neck and then followed that with a love bite. “I hope to hell my existence never requires you stroking my ego, Val. Because if it did, I’d die a quick and painful death.”
“Yes, but I’ve stroked everything on you except for that and your ego needs no help from me anyway.”
He kept nibbling on the back of my neck, and I suspected he was doing it because he knew just how badly I needed the distraction, not to mention how much it annoyed me.
I’d never tell Finn, but he and Mason weren’t just a distraction, of course. They were my anchors. After I was taken from Cassius, there’d never been another soul, living or dead that I’d depended on, or could count on in any way, much less enjoyed passing time with. Even now, it felt strange to need both of them so much. That weak part of me, the part that still considered Cassius to be my sire, wished Cassius could have been lucky enough to have tasted this sweet nectar of loving someone. Could it have changed him? I thought it had changed me.
“Stop worrying, Val. Everything is going to end the way it should—in our favor. I don’t care how strong your sire is, he won’t be strong enough to take you away from me and Mason. He’ll be fighting for revenge, or for this stupid sense of ownership you say he feels toward you, but Mason and I will be fighting for something more important.”
“What’s that?” I asked, already knowing what he would say but desperately needing to hear it anyway.
I could feel an arrogant smile curling his lips as he kept nuzzling my neck. “Mason and I will be fighting for love.”
“What if…what if someone dies, Finn?” I asked and then laughed bitterly. “That’s a stupid thing to say. We know people will die. Both vampires and wolves. I’ve brought this battle to the doorstep of Mason’s family, and they’ve done nothing to deserve this.”
“Since when does a vampire care about people dying?” He must have seen the look on my face because he suddenly crushed me to him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that—I was trying to be funny, but not so much, huh?” He held me back away from him to look down in my face and I was so miserable I allowed it.
“Now you listen. First of all, I’m the one who led them here. Me and that stupid Roark, who I plan to murder as soon as I see him again, if I can beat Mason to it. Second, I’m glad you’re worried about me and I’m glad to hear you’re even thinking about Marco and his stupid grays. And third, like Nicky said at that meeting, Cassius is not going to give up—like ever. Didn’t you admit as much?”
“Yes, but…”
“But nothing. We could leave and try to outrun him, but neither of us is built like that. Eventually, we’ll have to take a stand and fight him and isn’t it better to fight him here and now, while we have the back up of Marco’s wolves, or when we’re all alone and have our backs to the wall?”
I pushed him away, embarrassed. “Okay. I’ve agreed to do this. And I didn’t say I was worried.” I understood Finn’s logic and that, in itself, was troubling. Understanding Finn’s thought processes was as easy as catching a flea. And about as productive.
“Yes, you did, and I like that you’re worried about us, Val, because it means that you care about me and Mason, and even Mason’s family. I mean, I knew you lusted after us. But now you’re finally depending on me for something.” He shrugged. “Don’t get huffy—it’s the alpha in me. We like to be needed. We crave being the badass of the group. Since my parents died, I’ve always been attracted to men weaker than me because I loved that feeling of knowing how much they needed me to take care of them. From the beginning, it hasn’t been that way with you. You haven’t needed me for…well, anything other than sex. Hell, you’re probably as strong as I am, but I’ll never admit I said that out loud.” His hands dropped down to cup my ass. “You have no idea how this whole situation is feeding the alpha inside of me. I’ve walked around with my dick hard all morning long!”
“Yes, we’ve all noticed,” I remarked dryly but I couldn’t stop the smile that fought to curve my lips. I suppose this had been a difficult adjustment for an alpha wolf, mating with a vampire and whatever the hell Mason was turning out to be.
A slight breeze blew up as the wind changed direction and I caught a whiff of a strange smell. Within seconds, my cock was as hard as Finn had bragged his was. The scent was Cassius. My sire was close. I felt like I had just walked into a cobweb, and I instantly knew what was happening. He was close enough to try and use compulsion on me. I tensed up immediately and stepped closer to Finn, who wrapped an arm around my waist. My lips thinned into a hard line as I concentrated on blocking the pheromones he was sending my way.
“What is it?” Finn growled. “Is he here?
“He’s near,” I answered as a tsunami wave of emotion crashed into my brain. Was this from him? It felt like anger, but also overwhelming grief. “He’s…he’s trying to compel me to come to him.” My eyes met Finn’s and I added, “Maybe I should, Finn. There’s a small chance he might let everyone live if I go willingly with him now.”
Finn’s only answer was a menacing growl and a tightening of his hand on my waist.
Mason was suddenly right behind me, pressing his hard body against mine and placing me in the safety of both my lovers’ embraces. Another blast of fury slammed into my temple and then all hints of Cassius vanished as quickly as they had come.
“What’s happening, Finn?” Mason demanded. “Is he here?” When Finn nodded, Mason’s gaze scanned the tree line.
“He’s near, trying to compel Val to come to him,” Finn growled. “Fucking bastard has no idea what he’s about to face.”
“He’s gone now,” I said, trying to soothe them. “Not far, but he’s not as close as he was.”
With my emotions slowly subsiding after Cassius exited my head, I started once again questioning the validity of Mason’s plan. Throw a fake party to try and lure Cassius to us so he’ll think we aren’t expecting an attack? Cassius hadn’t lived as long as he had to fall for such tricks.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Stop worrying, Vampire.” Marco appeared from behind us, startling all of us. When all three of us turned to glare at him, he folded his arms over his chest. “I’m not going to lie about this. I’m not a big fan...” His eyes drifted to both me and Finn following his declaration. “…of either of you,” he added as if his eye fucking hadn’t done the job.
“Wasting time here, Marco,” Mason snapped. “As usual, you’ve made your opinion very well known. Thanks for the extra effort you’ve given us. If you aren’t here to help, then move on. I didn’t make you agree to this.”
“Just shut up for a minute and let me finish.” Marco countered with an angry growl.
“By all means, say what you’ve come here to say,” Finn responded. “You’ve yet to say anything I’ve agreed with, but maybe you’ll get lucky this one time. Doubtful, but there’s an outside chance.”
“I can’t do this,” Marco muttered, throwing his hands up in the air. “I simply can’t have a conversation with this big idiot. I can’t do it.”
“What’s he was trying to say,” Nicky said stepping up beside him and pulling down one of Marco’s biceps to wrap his hand around it, “was that Marco’s wolves will stand shoulder to shoulder with you tonight.” He smiled at Mason. “None of you need to question the loyalty of this pack. They’re prepared to fight to the death if they have to. We’ll wait until nightfall for all this to begin. For the moon to come out. Because moonlight is the wolves’ super power.”
Too bad the same could be said for vampires.
****
Finn
The moon slunk behind a cloud and I stood up, scanning the edge of the forest that was way too close for comfort now that the shadows were creeping up. The so-called welcome home party had started up over an hour before and so far, it was pretty anti-climactic. The food that some of the mates—they called them pets here—carried out smelled fucking delicious, and predictably the wolves swarmed over the buffet table, filling their bellies, while the mates either stood in little groups, talking in low tones or, if they were braver, went out on the dance floor in the gazebo with other mates and moved to the music in a desultory way.
Everyone was nervous and looking over their shoulders. Some party this was turning out to be, with everyone on edge and the wolves constantly lifting their noses in the air as a strange scent wafted on the breeze.
Oh yeah, the vampires were out there all right, their sweet, musky, slightly coppery smell cloying in my nostrils. The other wolves noticed too and it made them tense and angry. They were watching their mates closely and not allowing any stragglers anywhere. There weren’t any children here tonight, either, this being a strictly adult party. I didn’t think it was because of the drinking though. Little ones had a tendency to wander and would be much too easy prey.
The roaring of a bunch of SUVs heading up the mountain trail from Marco’s lodge sounded over the music, and I turned to watch as they sped up and pulled up in Cade’s semi-circular driveway. A large group of grays and their mates began to pile out. Surrounding them was another group of massive, already shifted wolves, nipping at each other and the SUVs as they ran excitedly along behind and beside them, providing an escort. Even excited as they were and affected by the moonlight, as I was too, they looked disciplined and strong, and I made another note in my head about the training I was going to do when I got a new pack together. Up to now, I had simply been following the traditional ways of the Dire Wolves, and didn’t realize it could be anything else. Now that I knew, now that I had seen it for myself, things would be different. As much as I disliked Marco, he had a few good ideas, and I had to respect that. I wondered if I could talk a few of his gammas into going back to Virginia with us to help out. Assuming, of course, I ever got a pack together again.
Nicky, Marco and some of the others went to meet the new group and while Marco did the one-arm guy clench thing with a big, dark-haired guy who was probably their alpha, I saw Nicky run over to wrap his arms around an obviously human mate with dark, curly hair. They were talking excitedly to one another and even from where I was sitting, I could see the boy was as pretty as some of the females in his group, and wearing just about as much eyeliner. A definite ten on my scale.
Mason came over and stood beside me, giving me the look. “See something you like?” he asked and I smiled at him.
“I do now,” I said, and pinched his ass.
“That’s Zack and his pack,” he said, nodding toward them. “They live in the north Georgia mountains, not far from here.”
“Who’s the cute one hugging Nicky?”
“That’s Gabe, Nicky’s best friend, I guess, since Logan left. I had no idea they were coming tonight.”
“A show of force,” I replied, nodding. “Good idea. All of Cade’s gammas, along with Marco’s and now this Zack arrives with a big group too. Old Cassius needs to see we’re not going to be easy.” I looked over his shoulder, searching for Valerian. “Where is Val anyway?”
“Talking to Connor. “
I raised my eyebrows and Mason smirked. “I know. He’s not comfortable, but Connor walked up on us and sat down at our table. I think Connor’s been a little lost since his mate died. Anyway, he’s been asking Valerian a lot of questions about vampires and covens and stuff.”
I snorted. “Val’s lovin’ that.”
“He’s being polite. For now. I told him I needed to check on you, and left him alone with Connor. It won’t hurt him to become a little more social, and it made him stop brooding for a few minutes.”
I stood up and located Valerian and the young gamma a few tables away and smiled at the expression on Val’s face. “I’ll go rescue him—or should I say I’ll rescue Connor?”
“Either way would work,” Mason said, smirking. “They’re both just trying to be polite. I need to go say hello to Zack and Gabe.” He moved off toward them and I watched him go for a few seconds, as always, appreciating the view. I talked a lot of shit about my scale and how attractive Nicky and some of the other Dark Hollow mates were, but really, all I could see was Mason and Val.
I turned to go find him and saw the gamma was leaving as I arrived, so I gave him a brief nod, which he returned, and I plopped down beside my nightstalker.
“How’s it goin’, babe? Are you all right?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You looked like you were about to climb the nearest wall.”
He looked around at the tent and the gazebo. “Which wouldn’t be anywhere close by.” He shook his head in disgust. “I’m all right. Mason left me with that young wolf, for some reason. He’s not bad, though. Not as irritating as some of the others.”
The music started up again and I saw Nicky pass me on his way to the gazebo, with the black-haired mate in tow. He was walking, but doing an occasional little dance step to the music as he went, like he couldn’t help himself. He really was cute as hell. Nicky worried me some—he was gorgeous, but there was something almost manic about him at times that made me think he was wound a little too tight. The trouble with being up so high was that he could fall just as fast, and he’d need somebody strong to catch him on the way down. I wondered if Marco was that person, and then I saw him at the edge of the crowd, standing with the alpha who’d just arrived, and I saw his close regard. He was talking and smiling at something one of his friends had said, but he never took his eyes from Nicky for very long. Yeah, he knew and kept a close eye on his mate, like I did with both of mine.
I leaned back, smiling to myself at what Valerian’s reaction would be if he knew that was the way I thought of him—as mine to watch out for. He was, though, and he needed to learn that. I stirred uneasily at the thought of the vampire, Cassius, maybe looking at him right now and wanting what belonged to me. He’d had his chance with Valerian, but he’d blown it. I hoped I’d get the opportunity soon to make that clear to him.
I saw Valerian looking toward the gazebo with a slight smile curving his lips and I followed his gaze. Nicky and Gabe were up on the tiny, raised floor, dancing. Actually, they were doing more bumping and grinding than anything else, but that worked just fine for me. Nicky’s jeans were tight, and the one called Gabe had on some that were so snug, he must have had to lie down to get them on. They fit him like a second skin and there was no way he was wearing anything underneath. I noticed he was wearing jewelry—tiny studs in his ears, a wide gold and diamond band on his finger and a close-fitting gold collar. His alpha had made sure everyone knew he belonged to someone. The man, whom Mason had called Zack, watched his mate too, with a possessive gaze, but made no move to stop him from shaking his ass.
It was a damn fine ass, and I enjoyed it for a while before Mason came back over to perch on my lap. “Gabe’s off limits, just so you know. Zack is pretty jealous.”
I rolled my eyes. “Like Marco and the rest of these wolves aren’t? They don’t need to worry about me, though. I’m enjoying the view, but I have my hands full already.”
Predictably, Valerian’s lip curled, his eyebrows drew together and he made a little sound of outrage. “What does that mean?” he asked, his tone icy. “I hope you’re not including me in that little domination fantasy of yours. Or Mason either, for that matter.”
“Don’t fight,” Mason said in a low voice. “Tonight is not about you two measuring your dicks to see which one is biggest.”
I opened my mouth to answer him but then closed it with a snap when Mason gave me a fierce glare. “We’re supposed to be luring Cassius in. Don’t forget what we’re doing here. In fact, Valerian, why don’t you dance? If he’s watching, it might help.”
“I don’t dance,” Valerian said, looking at Mason like he was crazy.
“You can try. Come on, I’ll go with you. Let’s join Nicky and Gabe. Let Cassius see everyone looking at you and admiring you if he’s watching. Maybe it will enflame him enough that he makes his move.”
Since Val rarely denied Mason anything, he grudgingly stood up to go with him, but that’s as far as it went. Mason pulled him by the hand up on the gazebo and started dancing, but Valerian just stood against one of the porch supports and watched him. By the time they arrived at the gazebo, Nicky had already lost his shirt and was dancing with it stuck down in a back pocket. His skin looked deliciously golden under the lights and his eyes were snapping sparks. Gabe had taken his off too and upped his game by loosening the first few buttons of his tight jeans, so I was able to follow his little dark treasure trail almost all the way down until it disappeared at his groin. I knew they were deliberately trying to make a spectacle of themselves, but if I’d been either of their alphas, I would have put a stop to it.
Then Mason leaned over and whispered something in Valerian’s ear and he nodded and smiled before he slowly began unbuttoning his shirt. Mason whipped his t shirt off his head and then he leaned over to help Valerian with the last of his buttons. All the wolves standing around watching the Gabe and Nicky show, moved in even closer to get a look at Mason and my beautiful vampire. And they were something to see.
Mason was bigger than either Nicky or Gabe, though neither of them were exactly small. Since his transformation, he’d been adding a lot of muscle mass and his upper torso rippled with definition. He was gorgeous. As for Valerian, he still wasn’t dancing—just leaning against that damn pole as the three men danced and swayed around him, touching him, running their fingers down that pale and perfectly sculpted body. Mason leaned in to kiss him while Nicky put his hands on Val’s hips and Gabe whispered something in his ear that made him give his slow, sexy smile.
When I’d had about enough, I stood up and walked over to the gazebo, grabbed both of them by their arms and dragged them off the floor. The element of surprise worked in my favor enough that I made it almost to the corner of the lodge before Mason ripped his arm away and pushed me to the ground. He was getting stronger every day. He stood over me with his hands on his hips.
“Don’t ever do that again!” he yelled, pointing his finger in my face. He whirled around to stomp back off and rejoin the party. I sat up, rubbing my ass and saw Valerian smiling down at me.
“Why do you always do that? What were you thinking, treating him that way? You know how he is.”
I got back up to my feet and sighed. “I thought we were past all that. He said he likes to submit.”
“When it’s his choice, yes. You have to respect his boundaries, Finn, or this is going to keep happening.”
“I didn’t like the way everyone was looking at him. At either of you.”
“That’s more your problem than his, though, right? He doesn’t like it so you need to stop or you may not like what he does about it.”
“What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Do you like it when I get possessive?”
“No.”
“Oh, it’s okay for that vampire to beat you and chain you up, but when I…” I broke off, too mad to keep talking. I was suddenly so hurt and angry and jealous my eyes blurred with tears for a moment. I couldn’t forget how hard his cock had been when we took him to the barn.
“You like bondage and being owned by somebody,” I said. “I know you do. Is it just that you don’t like it when it’s me?” I rushed him, grabbing his shoulders and slamming his back up against the wall. I leaned over then and kissed him hard, taking it all. He fought me at first, shoving his hands against my chest, but I got my knee wedged between his thighs and I kissed him some more, swallowing his whimpers and his sighs. I smoothed my hands over his sleek, silky skin and though he struggled half-heartedly with me at first, soon he was trembling under my hand. After a long while, I leaned back away from him. “Unfasten your pants,” I ordered him and after a few seconds his hands moved up to follow my command. When he was done, he put his forehead against mine.
“I love you, Valerian,” I told him.
“Then why do you give me no choice about submitting to you?”
“Because I don’t have any either!” I said, getting loud. I shoved a hand through my hair, and I was shaking. “I have to have you. I think I’ll die if I don’t.” He was just that much shorter than me that he had to raise his eyes to look up at me.
“Okay,” he said slowly. “Then have me.”
I gently turned him to face the wall but then I bit his shoulder, leaving a mark. I wanted to leave marks all over him so anyone who looked at him could tell he was taken—that he belonged to someone. I wished they wouldn’t disappear so quickly. I bent over, yanked down his trousers and laved my tongue against his hole. He made obscene noises while I did, but I didn’t stop. I never wanted to stop. I straightened up, lined up my cock and then thrust deep inside him in one move. He lifted his head, made a harsh sound in his throat, and I did it again.
“Finn,” he said softly. His voice had a catch in it and I bit down on the back of his neck. I couldn’t be gentle—I needed him too much. My hand trailed down his hip and then around to fondle his balls. He whimpered his need and I wrapped my hand around him, stroking him at the same feverish pace my cock was disappearing in and out of him.
“Oh God,” he said, his voice cracking. I thrust up into him again, pulling him downward at the same time and he screamed. He reached around behind him with one hand and dug his fingers into the back of my ass. His fingers would leave bruises, but I didn’t care. I belonged to him and Mason just as much as they belonged to me. Their marks should be all over me too. Three more thrusts and I was done, emptying into him deep inside, pumping him so full the cum rolled down the inside of his thighs. The wave crashed over me, tossed me around and then flung me down. I leaned forward and buried my face in his sweet-smelling hair. I started to pull out, but his hand, still digging into my hip, stopped me.
“No,” he said. “Not yet.” His body went limp under me and his groan was satisfying to me. I was content to stay there as long as he needed me to. I kissed him tenderly on the back of the neck again and again.