They alternated their schedules, adjusting from night and day for another few days. Lazing around, talking, reading, learning each other’s histories. Then there was the fun of running their animals together, skinny-dipping in broad daylight, making love in the hot tub. This was starting to feel like… what did people call laying around for days at a time…? Oh, vacation. He was a King. There was no such term in his vocabulary. Wick had been up for daybreak both days. Justice didn’t complain, in fact, just the opposite. He kept trying to convince him that he didn’t need to alter his daily habits or customs to suit him. Wick appreciated his consideration, but he’d rather enjoyed operating in the daylight. His vampires had yet to see him do this, only his captain, because it was his duty to know Wick was safe, even from the sun. Soon, his entire species would know.

It was Saturday, and Wick was already awake at five in the morning, eagerly waiting on his mate to take him to the pack lands. He’d promised today would be the day. Justice had insisted he needed his time alone to bond with his mate, but they’d been bonding for a week now, Wick was ready to get on the job. The rest of his army would be there this evening. Permanently relocated. The city was about to be flooded with his court. Though the vampires coming were personally trained by and served under his second, ninety percent of them were handpicked by him, so the city had no cause for concern. 

They had much work to do. He was also eager to finally meet with some influential shifters in their community and hopefully make a damn good impression and not embarrass his mate.

“Sit still,” Justice mumbled sleepily, pulling Wick closer, not sure how that was possible, and pushed his mouth against his throat. “Not ready to get up.”

“You’re turning into a llama. Come on, lazy bones. Let’s have a nice run and then get ready for the meeting.” Wick licked at Justice’s Adam’s apple while he rubbed his naked thigh against Justice’s extremely warm one. It was funny he’d never realized he wanted his skin warmed until he laid next to his mate.

“Shh. Baby, the meeting isn’t until noon. There’s plenty time.” Justice tilted his head back while thrusting that ever-hardening cock against Wick’s stomach.

“Now,” Wick moaned, biting into Justice’s jugular, tearing a steamy moan from his mate as he fed. A stimulating bite that had Justice almost spilling his seed between their bellies in seconds. Wick eased his fangs out way too soon, his mate growling his displeasure. Clamoring for Wick when he got up, Justice mumbled how unfair it was for Wick to put that much passion into his bite, knowing Justice was defenseless to it, then leave him full and aching. 

“Fuck.” Justice flipped on his back, watching Wick walk towards the bathroom, his dick leaking and pointing in the direction it wanted to go. “Look what you did.”

“Get up and I’ll fix it. I’ll drink real slow and sweet like you like it.” Wick grinned, closing the door and starting the shower. He was only a quarter full, he usually drank a lot more from Justice, especially for his first meal. His mate knew he wasn’t sated, which was his intent. That would get his mate up and moving.

“So tell me about this second you have coming tonight,” Justice said, driving one of Wick’s many SUVs. He kept stealing appreciative looks at him while he drove. 

Wick adjusted the gold-toned aviator sunglasses that protected his eyes. His Beloved told him multiple times already how striking he looked in his black-on-black suit. Even the tie that he unconsciously straightened and re-straightened was a fine silk and pinstriped black. He was too GQ to stroll through the forest, so Justice drove them to Mikel’s land at the base of the mountain. Justice looked casually fine in his usual snug denims and white t-shirt. He saw no reason to dress up. His mate was no stranger to the Humboldts or the six other important alphas that had traveled to meet with them.

By now, all the packs had been alerted of their mating. Farica had not reported any further uprisings, but Wick feared she’d been saving the unwelcome news for this meeting instead of disturbing Justice’s peace with his mate.

“You’ll like him,” Wick answered Justice’s question about his second in command. “He’s very strong, disciplined, and focused. This will be the first time he’s acting in charge of my personal court, but he’s no stranger to commanding. He leads my entire army already. He’s been with me for so long, I hardly remember those few years without Bell.”

Justice reached for Wick’s hand, holding it on his thigh while he maneuvered over the deep craters in the dirt road.

“Bell and I are close, but never that close. No intimacy. I don’t want you to overreact if he hugs me or something. It may shock the hell out of the other court members but he and I were different. He never minded giving me affection when I seemed to need it. Most vampires don’t have friends, not to mention best friends, and they sure as hell don’t need hugs.” 

“You love hugging.”

“I love you,” Wick countered.

“Why do they put those ridiculous restrictions on you guys? That you shouldn’t feel warmth. That it’s wrong for you to feel this.” Justice parked the truck in one of the few spaces beside Mikel’s home. He pulled Wick’s fingertips to his lips, kissing them gently. Wick closed his eyes, instinctually leaning towards Justice. He rubbed Wick’s cool cheek with the back of his hand. Gripping him behind his neck, he pulled until he could rub his recently shaven jaw along Wick’s face and neck. Scenting him before he allowed him out of the truck.

“I’m nervous,” Wick still whispered, regardless he wasn’t speaking aloud. “I didn’t remember this sensation until now. It’s nerves, right?”

“I know. It is nerves. I can feel it. You don’t have to be nervous. They’ll love you. My brothers and sister are fully behind you, along with the entire Humboldt pack.” Justice stared deep into Wick’s eyes. “Look around.”

Wick finally looked up from Justice’s face. His eyes were wide as he took in all the shifters that’d stopped whatever they were working on and gathered around to welcome them back. Multiple sets of eyes were on them through the darkly tinted windows.

“They’re not only here to welcome me back, but you, too.” Justice kissed him softly.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.” He’d never seen Wick look so uncertain. His King was the epitome of confidence. The fact that he was fretting over how Justice’s people would receive him was touching him deeply.

He got out and went around to the passenger side, touching a few shifters as he did. Several women stood with their pups close as their husbands stepped forward to greet them.

“Justice. Is your mate safe? I have a black golf umbrella.” Farica jogged over, hugging Justice. She turned to the young wolf that had brought Justice’s food up to the cabin. “Ross, run and get the—”

“That won’t be necessary,” Wick said, stepping out the safety of the dark vehicle.

Gasps and cheers went up as Farica ran and flung her arms around Wick’s neck. His mate looked taken aback at first, but slowly his arms came up and wrapped loosely around his sister’s waist. “It’s so nice to see you again, Wick.” His sister turned to the growing crowd, all of them waiting enthusiastically with smiles and welcome posture. “The AZ Mate is here!”

“Farica is a peacekeeper, baby. An omega’s spirit in an alpha’s body. They trust her judgment. Her hugging you, happy that you’re around is big.”

Wick genuinely smiled.