––––––––

Coti looked at the man he’d fought that they’d called Champ. “Explain?” he ordered.

“You’re not my alpha, brother.” Alaric stood to his full height.

“Brother? How is that possible?” He inhaled, taking in the familiar smell of his mother and father. “Fuck!” he roared. “You can have this.” He ripped the ring off his finger. “I’m not taking over anything. I don’t want nothing to do with that bastard or his shit.”

Alaric looked at the ring Coti had thrust into his hand. “I don’t want this,” he said, a loneliness echoed in his words.

For the first time, Coti looked inside his brother’s mind. He saw his mother laughing with a young Alaric. As he searched, he could see his parent’s happiness had indeed been true with Alaric, unlike with him. When he’d left, Alaric had been an infant. “What do you want?”

His brother looked at Jules, then at Coti. “I want my family. I came here looking for you but found her. She’s mine, even if you don’t want to accept me in your life.”

“Well, shit, I think this is a discussion best held somewhere other than the middle of a blood bath.” Kellen’s tone brooked no argument.

Alaric stared at Kellen. “You’re his alpha then?”

Kellen nodded. “Yep. You got a problem with authority, son?”

His brother laughed. “You do realize I’m much older than you?”

“Age don’t mean shit to me. Grab your woman and let’s go. We’ll figure this out back on our turf. I have a feeling this place is about to get a cleansing. Ace, you and your crew joining, or what?” Kellen turned to face the felines.

Ace shook his head. “Nah, we’ll just stick around and make sure there’s no stragglers lurking about.”

NeNe’s head went up, a growl emitted from her before she launched herself out the back of the tent. He tried to discern what she’d smelled that had her bear going off, while chasing after her. He came to a skidding stop as he, Xan, Bodhi and Kellen glared at the three females corralled around Gracie and her girls.

Lyric waved at Xan. “Creed said all was clear and that our girl might need some help. Voila, the bitches are here.”

Coti scratched the side of his nose. “Aren’t they the bitches?” he asked pointing at the snarling trio.

Syn shrugged and blew a kiss at Bodhi. “Hi, honey. Be a dear and hold my earrings.” She tossed a set of huge gold hoops toward her mate.

“Karsyn, you get hurt, and I’ll beat that pretty little ass,” he warned.

“Fucker, I’m right here.” Kellen pointed at his chest.

NeNe moved next to Lyric and Syn. “Wow, you girls sure do know how to show up late to a brawl.”

Coti contained his snort as the three females shoved each other around, then turned to the women they planned to beat down. Next to them, Gracie, Kris, and Paula were like Amazons, yet none of the Iron Wolves females showed an ounce of fear.

“Since you three like to gang up three to one, we thought we’d even shit out.” Lyric waved at herself and Syn, then NeNe.

Gracie huffed. “How’s that evening things out?”

Lyric smiled a wolfish grin. “’Cause we’re a lot badder than you three. We don’t need to gang up on anyone, let alone a little human to prove we’re tough.” Lyric reached up, not missing a beat and brought Gracie’s head down to her knee. The movement was smooth, fast, and vicious.

Coti almost missed it.

“I taught her that,” Xan said from beside him.

“That one’s mine,” NeNe yelled at Lyric.

Lyric released a bleeding Gracie. “My bad. Here you go.” She tossed Gracie to the side, ducked a swinging blow aimed at her head from Paula, and tackled Kris.

Coti and the others stood with their arms crossed while their females commenced to beating the shit out of the shifter women who’d hurt NeNe. His mate landed on top of the one he knew had caused the most damage to her, raining down blow after blow on the other woman. NeNe was so focused on hitting and cursing while she pummeled Gracie, he feared she wouldn’t see the woman’s hand shifting into that of her wolf. He opened his mouth to warn his mate but froze as Kellen shook his head. “Let her be.” He tipped his head toward the fight.

NeNe grabbed Gracie’s arm, snapping it backward. The crack loud to his shifter ears. Gracie’s howl of pain was even louder. Minutes later, the Iron Wolves’ females all stood back from their opponents, a little battered, a whole lot bloody, but they smiled.

Lyric held up her fist, knuckle bumped Syn, then NeNe. “We the baddest bitches,” she announced, then howled.

The rest of the pack howled along with her.

“Time to go home.” Kellen clapped him on the shoulder.

Coti waited for NeNe to come back to him. She stopped by where his brother stood with her mother, her hand shook as she ran it over her mom’s head. They had a lot to talk about, but now that Mac and his merry bunch of fuckups were taken out, they had time. He met Alaric’s gaze. The empty black orbs were replaced with green, the same as his. Fucking family. His kept growing.

“You ready?” NeNe asked, staring up at him.

“Yep.” He’d face anything as long as he had her with him.

Coti and the others cleaned up before gathering in the office at the Iron Wolves. His brother sat holding Jules who appeared to be getting stronger with every passing minute.

“So, how is it that you’re his brother?” Xan asked. Breezy slapped him on the arm, but he just stared at Alaric, demanding an answer.

Alaric shrugged. “I guess I take after my older brother. My soul was very determined long before I came into this world. Even when I was just a little sperm surrounded by all those other little sperms that were stronger than me, had a longer tail than mine, swam faster than me, I fought my way through. I even got knocked into other sperms, it was a battle all the way, but look at me now, I made it to the end.”

“Holy fuck, another one?” Kellen gazed up at the ceiling.

Laikyn climbed into his lap. “I think you’re getting paid back for all your bad deeds.”

Coti closed his mouth with the help of NeNe’s hand. “Did you just refer to yourself as a sperm fighting other sperm?”

Wyck handed him a beer. “Yeah, he did. Freaking weird. I like him.”

Alaric nodded. “Thanks. It was a tough time to be a sperm.” He winked.

Jules sighed. “Please stop speaking of sperm and you in the same sentence, honey.”

Coti laughed as his mate used his hands to cover her eyes. “Where’s Creed when I need a distraction?” she asked.

“Damn, did you get an eyeful as well?” Syn asked.

Several men growled around the room. NeNe turned and kissed Coti. Ah, his little mate was most definitely in for a reminder of whom she belonged to. She may have been unclaimed, but from now on, he’d make sure everyone knew she was his.

They stayed at the club for a lot longer than he wanted, yet he gave NeNe a chance to be with the pack. Jules yawned, making Alaric stand with her in his arms.

“Do you have somewhere to go?” he asked his brother.

“I have many homes. My instinct called me here, though. I thought it was to find you and maybe it was, but I think it was also for her.” He kissed Jules on the forehead.

“Renee, you’re a wonderful young woman. Exactly who I wish I could’ve helped shape you into being. As parents it’s our job to teach our children,” she whispered. “Children give us the ability to appreciate with grace the lessons they teach us as well. I was robbed of that with you.” Jules wiped a tear

NeNe hugged her mother. “We’ll have time to get to know one another. Life didn’t go as you planned, but we can swerve with it. I love you.” She put her hand over her mom’s slightly rounded stomach. “I really hope you’re having a girl; my last brother was a dick.”

Her mother blushed. “Alaric says she is. Our children are the mirrors that reflect back to us the shadows of ourselves. They show us the shame and our own insecurities. I would’ve loved and nurtured you as a child, ensuring you grew as an adult to be the brave woman you are today. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I am for this one.”

“You will be,” Alaric assured her.

Coti’s brother grunted. If they wanted to know for a fact, he could find out, but until he was asked; he wouldn’t intrude. No matter what gender, he noticed his mate wasn’t asking if his brother was the father or not. Again, Coti could tell them that answer but didn’t since nobody asked.

He couldn’t wait to get her home and show her how much she meant to him. If and when they had children, he’d do everything in his power to be a great example to them. Nothing like his own father. He’d seen through Alaric’s memories happiness and love, given and received from both his mother and father. For a brief moment, he’d felt bitter jealousy at the life his brother had compared to what he’d grown up with.

Holding the door to his truck open, he winced at the bruises on NeNe. “I swear, I’m going to wrap you in bubble wrap. You seem to be a walking bruise.” He ran the back of his hand down her cheek.

NeNe held his hand to her face. “These don’t even hurt. Actually, I feel pretty fucking awesome after handing Gracie her ass.”

He chuckled. “There is that.”

“Hey, you got a minute?” Alaric called out.

Coti settled NeNe into his truck, wondering what his brother wanted. Kellen had already offered him the use of one of his vehicles, so he could get back to where he’d been staying before Mac had captured him. He’d seen how the Dark Fae had been used to enthrall him in order to keep his animal at bay while he fought, holding Jules over his head. What else was there to say?

“I’ll be right back.” He kissed NeNe on the lips, tasting beer and her unique flavor combined.

She sat back and sighed. “I’ll be right here.” Her eyes closed as he shut the door.

In three strides he met Alaric in the center of the parking lot. “What’s up?”

Alaric tilted his head to the side. “You didn’t ask about our parents or sister?”

“I heard you say you were the last of our family. I’m assuming they’re no longer alive?” He ignored the ache in his chest.

His brother nodded. “That’s right. When father passed away, it was his time as happens with shifters due to age. I think he still thought our mother would bond with him fully and extend his life. She asked him throughout the years if he would ask you for forgiveness, but he was a stubborn male until the very end. With mother on one side and me the other, he did.”

Coti waited but Alaric didn’t continue. “He did what?”

“He said he was sorry for what he’d done. Said it was his pride that kept him from reaching out to you, up until several years prior. However, he said he did try to link with you, but there was no bond. He said his heart nearly felled him when he’d thought you’d died. I realized in that moment he’d sent men out to find out what happened. Those men returned weeks later with a tale of a man who could do amazing things but wouldn’t tell us where you were.” Alaric paused. “I never heard our father speak with so much pride as when he talked about you, his first born Ulric. Your name means Wolf Ruler, did you know that?”

Coti laughed. “Some ruler I am. I never wanted that damn title, not like he did.”

Alaric sighed, then looked Coti in the eyes. “I was never able to measure up to you. When we fought, even though my wolf was locked down, I really wanted to defeat you.”

A grin split Coti’s cheeks. “I kinda got that, what with the way you tried to take my head off. Look, it’s been long enough to hold grudges. I wish I could’ve met the man you called father and felt love for, but that’s not what I had. For you and me, we have today, tomorrow, and whatever else we’re given, moving forward. Sure, we could hash over the past, but what’s that going to get us but angry. You pissed because I don’t give a shit about an old man, and me pissed because you had a happy childhood.” Coti put both hands on Alaric’s shoulders. “Your mate in there, along with your cub, needs you to focus on them and your future. You need a pack to keep you level. I know Kellen will welcome you, and NeNe wants to get to know her mama. All that other shit is just that, shit. You think your sperm was strong, clearly mine was too. Now, let’s hug it out so I can go fuck my mate.”

His brother mimicked his pose, gripping his shoulders. “You realize I’m now your father-in-law, right?”

“Ah, fuck me. Don’t even start with that bullshit.” He tugged Alaric in for a hug. “Get outta my face, brother,” he laughed. For maybe the first time, he actually felt a familial connection blossoming. He’d severed the one he’d had when he’d been turned away from the Cordells. Damn, thinking of the wolpires made him realize he still had another conversation that needed to happen. “I know you didn’t get any of the vamp blood from our mother, but you’re still cousin to the Cordells. When I have a chitchat with them, you’re coming with.”

Alaric nodded. The poor bastard had no clue, which Coti planned to keep it that way until it was too late. Maybe having his baby brother as a shield, he wouldn’t have to deal with them, much. One could hope.

“Keep thinking that,” Creed murmured in his head.

“Fuck. Get out of my mind,” he roared out loud.

Alaric and NeNe stared at him. He pointed at his head. “Creed.” The one word was all he had to say.

They drove home in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. He wanted to find out where she was mentally after all the revelations of the day. Her dad and brother hadn’t made it out of the campground alive, which in his opinion was a good thing. Most of the shifters who were made had to be put down. The ones who were salvageable were now in the care of Ace and his crew. Kellen had seemed relieved to not have to deal with a menagerie of shifters. If he was being honest, he was too. Their pack had a lot of changes recently and could deal with less stress for the foreseeable future. Half-crazed made shifters that ranged from lions, bears, to wolves needed a smaller pack, something Ace was willing to handle.

“You’re thinking awfully hard over there.” NeNe rolled her head on the leather seat to stare at him.

He’d never get tired of looking at her even when she was sporting bruises. “How do you know I’m thinking?”

She reached across the space and rubbed between his brows. “You get this crinkle right here,” she explained.

Coti grabbed her hand, kissing her fingers. “I’ll try to think quieter.”

“Hmm, I like your thoughts.” She turned toward the front as they pulled into his drive.

Neither said another word while he parked inside the garage or while he came around to open her door. As she went to slide out, he reached in and took her into his arms, exhaling when she snuggled into him. Her warm breath fanned across his neck, making his dick instantly hard.

At the security panel, NeNe placed her palm over the sensor, a beautiful smile brightened her face when the door slid open. “I love that,” he told her.

“What?” she asked.

He strode through the house, stopping at the fridge for two bottles of water. He placed the cold beverages in her hands, then continued. “I love the way you smile. I love that you’re here with me, that I get to wake up with you beside me.”

They entered the master suite, and he paused. “Is there anything you want to change here?”

She looked around the room. “Not right now. Well, I want us naked, but I’m pretty sure that’s not what your eeep...” she squealed when he made both of their clothes disappear.

“Your wish is my command, armina.” He took the water from her, setting them on the side table next to the bed. “Anything else you wish for?”

NeNe’s eyes went down his body, stopping at his erection. “There’s something I really do want to know.” She began, then scooted onto the bed, turning until she was on her hands and knees. Looking over her shoulder, she licked her lips. “Does this bed make my ass look big?”

Coti tossed his head back laughing. His mate had a wicked mind, but goddess he loved her. “Hmm, I think I need to get a closer look.” He moved closer, the smell of her sweet arousal teasing him. Seeing her creamy white ass in the air, begging to be touched, Coti reached forward and gave her a swat on first one cheek then the other, making her yelp. Before she could scramble away, he bent down and kissed the red flesh. “Beautiful ass.”

He pushed her forward, closer to the headboard, then eased down on his back, wedging himself between her thighs. Hands locked around her hips, he moved her back and forth, licking and sucking her pussy until she came with a keening cry. Just as he was preparing to start all over, his mate growled and launched herself down, taking him inside her in one swift move.

“Goddess, yes,” he groaned.

She moved up and down, setting the pace, her head tossed back. Coti needed more. Flipping their positions, he caged her below him with his body resting on his forearms next to her head. Staring down at the woman who held his soul, he slowed his thrusts. Her lips were moist from where she’d licked them. He bent, licking over her top lip, which was plump and made the perfect bow when puckered. Next, he traced her bottom lip, then delved inside, tangling with her tongue. Their bodies moving together and apart slowly, until the need for more overcame them.

NeNe’s eyes darkened, not to that of her bear, but of need. He lifted her legs up higher on his hips, hissing as her nails dug into his shoulders. With one hand, he grabbed first her right, then her left hand, pulling them above her head. The move made her chest lift, her hardened nipples rubbed against him with each thrust. “So damn gorgeous. My balls ache,” he growled.

“Fuck me harder,” she demanded.

Coti let go of her hands, leaning back on his haunches. NeNe lay with her arms above her head, her legs wrapped around him, completely on display. “You want it hard?” he asked.

She nodded.

“On your hands and knees.” He didn’t allow her to maneuver. Using his strength, he had her flipped and in the position he wanted, pressing her face to the bed. “Hold on, baby.” Coti slammed back inside her, his cock bottoming out over and over as he did as she ordered. He was so close to coming tingles were racing up his spine. While he still had an ounce of sanity left, he released her right hip, smoothing over her stomach and down to the hardened nub. Within a few swipes of his finger, her inner walls began to clench, contracting around him.

“Yes, faster, Coti.” She slammed her ass back into him, her hand pressing against his between her legs.

“Show me what you need, how you need it.” He covered her hand, moving both their fingers over her clit while he fucked her harder, faster, pistoning in and out like an animal.

Her inner walls clamped down on him so tightly he was sure he saw stars. The constant milking drew his orgasm from him with a roar. “Love you, NeNe. Always will, my heart forever.”

“Oh god, I think you killed me,” she muttered, shoving hair off her face sometime later.

Coti still had his semi-erect dick inside her and had no plans to leave his favorite place for the foreseeable future.

NeNe snorted. “What if I need to go to the bathroom?”

“Do you?” he questioned lazily.

“Not the point,” she said around a yawn.

He jerked a sheet over them. “Get some rest, then I’ll see about letting you out of bed, after.”

His mate laughed, but she pulled his arm tighter around her, then slipped his hand between her thighs. “Fine, keep your hand where I can feel it,” she giggled.

Coti didn’t see how he was going to get any rest, but hearing his world, the only female for him make a little snore, he realized he’d do anything for her. Besides, holding onto something as precious as her pie corner of succulence wasn’t a chore.

“I’ll hold your fornicating tool for you next time,” she mumbled.

Yep, he was definitely a lucky bastard.

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