It was past four in the morning when they finally rolled up to the Williams' mansion, but Alice was waiting in full alpha mode with two burly enforcer types flanking her. Cole and Dare had driven Amy's car back, with her bound in the back seat, while Gage drove Sean and Luke in Cole's SUV.

Gage couldn't even look at Amy as she was passed into the Alice's custody and bundled away while they trod sleepily into the house. Sean had slept most of the way back, but Luke had been too keyed up. Every time he fell asleep and felt a jolt in the road, he thought he was back in the trunk of the car.

Gage wrapped his arms around Luke as they curled up on the couch and waited for everyone. Sean collapsed on another couch and was back asleep in minutes. Samuel offered them coffee, but Luke didn't want anything else preventing him from sleeping when it finally came. He gratefully accepted a glass of water, though. 

Alice, Cole and Dare finally joined them. Alice didn't waste any time. "You realize we have to turn her over to Mark."

Gage nodded slowly, his thigh muscles flexing under Luke’s hand. "Do you think he'll send her back to Peter?" Luke was glad that idea repulsed Gage. They'd talked some on the way back. Gage had told Luke what he'd seen in their house and Luke shared what he'd pieced together from Amy's statements. It wasn't a pretty picture.

"I can't say what he'll do," Alice said diplomatically. "But I will do everything in my power to make sure they are both punished appropriately. I cannot control how Mark manages his pack, however."

Gage's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed. "I'd like to go with you."

She nodded. "I thought you might. But that will wait until the afternoon. You are welcome to stay here. I'm sure you need sleep, and I'm not certain you're safe to drive."

Luke for one, was finally feeling sleep calling to him now that they were no longer on the road.

Gage looked to Luke for approval before accepting her offer. "Cole can show you where to go. I'll just get a spare blanket for Sean. There's no reason to move him."

When Cole left them in their room, Gage stood still in the middle, silently staring at Luke.

"We're certainly getting around this week," Luke attempted to joke. And then Gage was on him. His arms practically swallowed Luke up, lifting him from the floor in a back breaking squeeze. 

"I could have lost you," Gage whispered.

"You didn't," Luke said, tears pricking at his eyes.

"The ride to the cabin, I kept imagining arriving and finding it empty, with no leads. I can't imagine a life without you now, Luke. I'm yours, body and soul. You could ask me to move to a desert island with you and I'd do it in a heartbeat."

"Would you move to New York City with me?" Luke teased. 

Gage choked a laugh against his neck. "I'd complain every second, but I'd do it."

"What about if we stay right here?"

"I'm good with that too."

An idea was blooming in Luke’s head. No, more than an idea, an urge, a need from deep within his soul. His mother would kill him for not telling her beforehand, but then she'd bring him back to life because he was carrying her grandchild. "Mate me," Luke said.

Gage nearly dropped Luke, pulling back so he could look in Luke’s eyes. "What?"

"Mate me."

Gage’s hand trembled as it touched the spot where Luke’s neck and shoulder met, where his bite would be on display once they were truly mated. "Are you certain? It's not just because of all the emotions?"

"Gage, I've been certain since I first saw you. You were the one who needed convincing. The timing may be because of all the emotions, but I don't see why that needs to be a reason why not. Unless you don't want...?"

"No! No, I do." Gage slowly backed Luke up to the bed, his eyes burning. "You're absolutely certain?"

In answer, Luke slipped his hands under Gage’s shirt to press against the hot skin of his back and pulled their bodies together. Luke claimed his lips and breathed deeply. He wanted as much of Gage in him as possible. His scent, his tongue, his knot. 

They didn't need to speak anymore. The creeping sense of sleep fled at the onslaught of anticipation as they slowly removed each other's clothes. When they were finally both bare, Gage hooked his hands behind Luke’s thighs and pulled Luke’s legs aroun him before crawling onto the bed on his knees, settling in the center of the bed before laying Luke down on his back, never breaking the lock and rhythm of their lips. Luke’s every nerve was on fire, waiting for the touch of his hand or tongue. Luke arched his back, seeking friction, and Gage met him, grinding against him, the hot silk of his erection drawing deliciously against Luke’s. Gage’s mouth slid down to Luke’s jaw, along his neck, and then he lingered at the crook of Luke’s neck, just grazing over the spot where he would place his mark. Luke couldn't breathe until Gage moved down his chest, and then Luke was gasping as Gage teased his nipple, Gage’s hand drifting down Luke’s side, his hip, and then taking both of their cocks in his large hand, wrapping around them with his long fingers and stroking slowly, maddeningly slowly.

Luke couldn't keep his hands still. They were stroking Gage’s hair, grabbing his biceps, scratching his back. Luke could feel slick leaking from his hole. He wouldn't need much preparation at all. His body was ready for his.

"Soon?" Luke begged. He didn't want to say much, didn't want to ruin the moment with too many words.

"Turn over," Gage responded.

Luke did, spreading his knees wide and presenting to Gage, but he pressed Luke’s hips down and sat over them. And then his hands were on Luke’s shoulders, digging deep, massaging, loosening knots Luke hadn't even known he had. Gage tilted forward, slotting his dick in the crease of Luke’s ass and rocked as he massaged. Luke felt a gush of slick, and Gage slid more smoothly over Luke’s ass. 

Gage worked his way down, unlocking every knot, wringing Luke until he was limp beneath him. When Luke couldn't even move because he was so relaxed, Gage finally slid back, and then Luke felt the blunt head of Gage’s cock pressing against his entrance. Gage slid an arm beneath Luke’s hips to change the angle and then slowly slid into him, easily breaching the ring of muscles. Luke had never been able to take someone without being stretched before, but Gage had wrought such a state of relaxation in him, he was able to slide all the way in without a twinge of pain, just pure pleasure. 

The heat of Gage’s knot pressing against Luke’s balls was exquisite. Luke drew his knees under him and Gage matched his movements, raising to his knees so that he could move. Every thrust brought Luke closer to the edge, but in a way he'd never felt before. Normally, the building of his orgasm felt like watching a nuclear mushroom cloud blooming in slow motion, but right now, he felt like a bird, floating from one thermal to another, each raising him higher, and higher, as if pushing him toward the sun until he was too close, and he would burn and fall as Icarus. He was so close, he could feel the bits and pieces that held him together melting, and breaking—Gage pulled Luke against his chest and placed his mouth on Luke’s neck—and then Luke was falling, crashing in a glorious dive as Gage bit, marking him, claiming him. Gage’s knot breached him and locked in place as their scents twisted, twining and changing, binding them together, forever. Luke wouldn't ever hit the ground now. He floated into sleep, overwhelmed but content.