Chapter Six

Joe couldn’t sleep. Not with his mate’s arms around him and his scent teasing his senses. His mind churned, going over and over everything that had happened. Joe’s torso still ached from Seth’s healing, although he felt light years better than he did before. His cock was determined to make an appearance and attract his mate, as was his buffalo, but Joe was well used to ignoring the needs of both. It was what Doc said that was keeping him awake.

Joe felt as though someone had ripped his guts out with a crowbar when Doc said he’d had a family before. Always used to seeing Doc alone, he struggled to cope with the jealousy that surged up in him when Serenity’s name was mentioned. But he felt guilt too, that was just who he was. In his head, no one should ever feel jealous of a dead person. There was another shattered dream in Doc’s confession. Joe always wanted children, but he didn’t feel right mentioning that to a man who barely saw his great grandchildren.

It took every ounce of control to not jump Doc when he got his first feel of the man’s abs. The roughness of the shifter skin didn’t bother him. In fact, he got a warm glow knowing Doc trusted him, above all other people to know his secret. You’re both loners – who are you going to tell? His cynical side reared its ugly head, but in a strange way, knowing they were both loners, even if it was for completely different reasons made Joe feel more connected to the older man.

The rustle of a bush outside his window reminded Joe of the other fact he’d learned that night. One that had nothing to do with his mating. Joe couldn’t escape the obvious. His uncle had crept into Arrowtown with the full intent of killing him. Coating his horns with a poisonous substance proved premeditation although someone would have had to do that part of things for him. It’s not as though buffaloes had opposable thumbs. Joe had to realistically consider who might be after him next. The town’s previous mayor, another uncle to Joe, wasn’t likely to do anything overt but the ex-mayor had a brother who’d always lived on the fringes of society.

It’ll be Uncle Myron, Joe thought decisively. Not directly – he’d probably send men in to do his dirty work first or a few of my cousins. He’s not one to make a direct attack, but it will be him the poisonous substance came from. I’d bet my badge on it. Analyzing the situation helped give Joe the clarity he’d missed since he’d been injured. It was the only way he was going to be able to keep his mate safe.

My mate. Joe wanted to pinch himself even though his shoulder was still bruised from when Doc pinched him. In repose, Doc looked a lot younger although he still had fine lines splaying from the corner of his eyes. His face was thin, almost as though he didn’t eat enough, and his jawline was hard. His eyebrows and scruff were a lot darker than the gray in his hair. Joe had been sorry Doc had used the bathroom to change into a pair of boxers and t-shirt but then he guessed that was more habit than anything else.

It’s going to take a while before he can fully trust me with his nakedness, Joe thought fondly, although he was in much the same way. For all Doc’s easy acceptance of Joe’s fears on the sexual side of their relationship, the man had insisted on sleep rather than claiming him. Maybe he still wasn’t sure…maybe….

Stop it! Accept that he’s here in your bed now. He wanted to be here. He asked to stay. He begged for your forgiveness on his knees. That has to mean something. It must.

Forcing his eyes closed, Joe tried to sleep. He’d never had anyone in his bed before and he didn’t dare move a muscle in case Doc moved away from him. Pale light just started to streak the night sky as he finally dozed off.

/~/~/~/~/

The sharp peal of a phone woke Doc up. He immediately realized he wasn’t in his own bed, and it wasn’t his phone ringing. Joe, I slept with Joe, and it was a good night’s sleep too, even if it’d only been a few hours. Reaching over his slowly stirring mate, Doc took Joe’s phone off the bedside cabinet and answered it. Whoever was calling had withheld their number.

“Who is this?” He growled in a low tone.

“Doc?” The voice was almost a whisper. “Doc Farriday, is that you?”

Doc immediately recognized the voice. It was the ex-mayor Quincy. “What are you doing calling Joe’s phone?”

“Oh, no. Oh, shit. If you’re making a house-call, things must be bad.” Quincy sounded panicked even though his voice never rose above a whisper. “Tell me Joe’s going to heal. Tell me he didn’t get gored that bad? Oh no, it wouldn’t matter anyway. One scratch and he’ll be dead in days. You’ve got to do something. You’ve got to find a way to combat that damn magic serum.”

“You knew about this attack?”

“Yes. No. It wasn’t my idea. Fucking Robert’s gone off his rocker and he’s taking the rest of the family with him. I didn’t want to do this. I tried to stop him. But he’s missing – no one’s seen him for days and shit, now you’re at Joe’s. How bad is he?”

“Why?” Doc snarled, ignoring the question. “Tell me why anyone would do this?” He wasn’t about to let Quincy know his nephew was sitting up listening to both sides of the conversation.

“There’s a raid planned.” Quincy’s voice dropped so low Doc could barely hear him. “Soon. I don’t know when. Robert wants to take back the town. He’s pissed everyone in town voted to throw him out and he’s pissed they didn’t vote for him the way he expected. He wants his position back. Joe was the only one standing in his way and now he’s dying. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”

“There’s a hell of a lot of people in this town who’d stand in his way if he tried anything like that. Rocky, the new sheriff for one thing, or Ra the new mayor,” Doc said, infuriated at the idea people he cared about were being threatened. “Your best idea is to turn yourself into the shifter council and tell them everything you know.”

“I can’t. Robert watches my every move and if he’s not around one of his loutish sons is always keeping an eye on me. If Robert comes back and finds me gone he’ll kill me.”

“If you’re anywhere near the town limits Robert won’t be the only one you have to worry about,” Doc warned.

“No, no. I still own an old camping ground, it was in my mother’s name. We’re all staying there in the meantime until things can get worked out. It’s outside the territory boundaries. I didn’t want any of this. You know I always served the town as best I could. I gave that town the best years of my life. I didn’t expect the investigation or that we’d lose the elections. Things were good when I was running things, you know that, Doc. I’m sure if the people would just listen to me at a town meeting, I could show them how things would change for the better with me in charge again. It was Robert who was doing all the damage, not me. I just got caught up with things because of the family name. None of this was my fault.”

Doc shared an angry glare with Joe, who mirrored his expression. It was typical Quincy would be looking to save his own ass.

“And I suppose Joe was targeted because he shares the same family name, too? Robert deliberately set out to kill him because he thought the rest of the town would roll over and do anything he said with Joe dead?”

“Oh, come on, Doc.” Doc shook his head. Quincy used that same tone of voice when he told him his request for funds for an ultrasound machine were unreasonable in light of a declining economy. “I didn’t want to see Joe hurt, but how many other big, genuinely threatening species are there in town? A couple of bears maybe, a dozen wolves and most of them could easily be bribed. Robert saw Joe and his insistence in learning and following every single rule in the book to the letter combined with his size the only true threat in town. Joe’s too idealistic. He doesn’t understand how the real world works. I couldn’t stop my brother. Robert’s gone crazy. I need you tell people this isn’t my fault.”

“And here was me thinking you’d only called out of concern for your nephew. If you’ve got any sense left in that pea-brain of yours, you’ll get your ass to the council and confess everything. It’s your only chance. I’m not going to do a thing to save your pathetic hide. You make me sick.” Doc disconnected the call, put the phone back on the bedside table and pulled Joe into his arms.

“Is there any chance I can take your name once we’re mated?” Joe’s voice was muffled against Doc’s neck, but his arms were a welcome solid weight around Doc’s middle.

“Babe, I intend on marrying you as soon as you’re ready, and I’ll insist on it.”

/~/~/~/~/

It was in that moment, Joe understood the importance of a simple hug. In Doc’s arms he felt acceptance and compassion and while he knew Doc was angry on his behalf, the man still held him firmly, stroking a warm hand down his back. But that closeness was a double-edged sword. Joe was warring with the instinct to mate. His body was on fire, his nipples tingled, and his cock was fit to burst. But he didn’t have the skills or experience to cope with the new feelings. And that in turn set his nerves on edge and made him tense and uncomfortable.

“We need to call Rocky and Mal,” he said pulling his head from the haven offered by Doc’s neck. “And Ra. They need to know there’s a threat to the town.”

“Quincy still thinks Robert’s alive. Probably thinks he’s skulking around here somewhere drumming up support for his return, bribing all the wolves and other predators in this town he dismissed as not important. No disrespect to your fine animal half, but Quincy always had a herd mentality. It’s still early. We can afford to wait a few hours before wrecking everyone’s day.”

Joe’s body quivered as Doc’s hand moved with more purpose, rubbing over his buttocks and then settling on his hip, dangerously close to Joe’s excitable cock. “In the meantime, I think you and I have a more pressing need, don’t you? Or have you changed your mind about us claiming each other?”

“Of course, I want you.” Joe was shocked to think his mate would think otherwise. “I wanted you before I knew you were my mate. If you walk away right now, that’ll never change. You’ll always be it for me.”

“Your heart is the truest and most honest in existence,” Doc said softly, and Joe found himself lost in his mate’s dark eyes. “I will cherish that for as long as we’re still breathing and beyond.” The pressure from Doc’s hand on his hip increased. “I want you to lay flat on your back, babe.”

“But…but…you’ll see….” Joe rolled onto his back, his stomach churning.

“As you’ll see me.” Doc whipped off his shirt and Joe’s mouth went dry. “I haven’t been naked in front of someone for more time than I remember.” He rubbed across where his gray skin met his tan. “It doesn’t look that bad, does it? Sort of like a kinky corset I can’t take off.”

“You look amazing.” Joe could barely breathe, and Doc didn’t help when he slid down and then kicked off the boxers he’d slept in. Joe had seen naked men before. It was part of life as a shifter. But the juxtaposition between gray and tanned skin, the surprisingly muscular build; even the dusky pink of Doc’s cock bobbing against his gray hide was entrancing.

He swallowed and then swallowed again. Everything in Doc’s expression suggested it was his turn. There was a part of Joe that wished Doc would just take the decision from him. Rip off his clothes in a fit of passion, but that wasn’t Doc’s way. He was waiting. It was a question of trust. If I’m not man enough to do this, then I don’t deserve to be claimed.

The shirt was easy. Joe didn’t think his physique was anything special, but it wasn’t anything to be ashamed of. Dropping that garment on the floor, Joe reached for his sleep pants. He couldn’t meet Doc’s eyes. He couldn’t even look in that direction. Doc was going to see him, and Joe couldn’t handle seeing anything negative in his mate’s expression. Flicking his waistband over his hard shaft, he pulled his pants down and ripped them over his feet. Dropping the pants on the floor too, he lay back and stared at the ceiling.

“Very nice,” Doc purred. “I can see we’re going to have a lot of fun with that.”