Tattered Happiness

A Talon Pack Short Story

Author Note: Tattered Happiness is a Talon Pack shorty story that centers on Gideon and Brie from Tattered Loyalties (Talon Pack Book 1). The Alpha of the Talon Pack needs to relax and only his submissive mate is able to help. In terms of a timeline, the events take place after Wolf Betrayed (Talon Pack Book 4)

Gideon fisted his hands at his sides and tried not to let the fact that his wolf was trying to push at him show. Of course, since it was his mate staring back at him, he figured he wasn’t hiding it as much as he thought.

When she raised a brow at him and gently placed her hand on his chest, he knew he’d failed.

He never could hide anything from Brie.

Then again, he wasn’t sure he should.

“What you are going all big bad wolf about?” Brie asked, laughter in her eyes. The damn woman always seemed to know when he needed a kick in the butt—even if he wasn’t sure himself.

Gideon sighed and rested his forehead on his mate’s. She was so tiny compared to him, but they made it work. This time, she stood on the step coming off their back deck while he had his bare feet on the grass at the bottom of the stairs.

“My wolf needs a run, but I just had one.” Hence why he was barefoot. He’d just gotten back from a solo hunt through their forest beneath their ever-weakening wards. He’d run as hard as he could, trying to beat down the inherent rage and fear running through his veins.

An Alpha could not show fear.

A good Alpha did not show rage.

He’d thrown on the jeans he’d left on the side of the deck, and had stood under the moonlight alone for a full twenty minutes before Brie had come outside.

He’d almost been able to breathe again before he scented her, but as soon as she came near, his wolf slammed into him once more.

It wanted Brie.

He wanted Brie.

And though she was his, his brain wasn’t fully functioning at the moment. He supposed that’s what happened when his mate became pregnant in the middle of a war.

Brie slid her hands up his chest and cupped his face. “You’re taking on too much, you know. Maybe you and I should take some time and just be the two of us, mate to mate, not Alpha and Alpha’s mate.” She kissed his chin, and his wolf nudged at him. “We could use a few hours to play big bad wolf and his submissive.”

He let out a growl, his fingers digging into her hips as he took a deep breath through his nose. Of course, that just made him scent her more, and he had to let out that breath so he could keep from flipping her over and pounding into her like a crazed wolf.

Although they both liked it when he did that, so maybe he shouldn’t be holding back.

“I’m thinking myself into circles, and my brain is going to explode.” He let out a rough chuckle before pulling back so he could rub his neck. “I think taking time off to be with you might be the thing I need most.”

Brie rolled her eyes. “Well, of course, my idea is the best idea. It’s my idea.”

He snorted. “I thought submissives were supposed to be sweet and docile?”

She let out a short growl that made his cock hard. He loved it when she growled. “I’ll show you who’s submissive.”

Gideon lowered his head and bit the fleshy part of her lower lip gently. Brie’s eyes dilated before the bright yellow ring around the iris brightened. Her wolf had come to the surface, as eager as his.

“The big bad wolf is out to play again,” she breathed once he moved his lips from hers.

“Only with you, Brie. Only with you.” He lowered his mouth to hers once again, needing her taste. She groaned, and he slid his arms around her, needing her close. “I’m going to make you come, Brie. Right here in our backyard with only the trees to keep us from view. Do you want that? Do you want my hands on you, down your pants, on that sweet heat of yours?”

In answer, his mate rolled her hips toward him, and his cock pressed firmly into her belly. His mouth on hers, he deftly undid the button on her jeans before sliding his hand down the gentle slope of her abs and beneath the line of her panties.

She gasped into his mouth, riding his hand as he flicked his fingers over her clit and between her folds. He used his other hand to grasp the back of her neck and force her gaze to his.

“Come for me, mate. Come on my hand. Let me watch you fall over that edge.”

Brie’s mouth parted, and she moaned as she came, her breaths coming in pants, and her inner walls clamping around two of his fingers.

“Beautiful,” he breathed. As her breathing calmed, he slowly removed his hand from her pants. He traced her lips with one wet finger before licking the rest with his tongue. “Sweet.”

Her tongue darted out and licked up the wetness he’d left behind. He was pretty sure that action had to be the hottest thing he’d ever seen, and they were both still mostly clothed. If he weren’t careful, he’d come in his pants like a damn teenage pup.

“You know, you go all wolf when you watch me do that,” Brie said with a small laugh. “More like caveman-wolf with the whole grunting and claiming thing.”

He let out a growl and smacked her butt. She let out a gasp, and he grinned. “You make me that way. Now, let’s go inside so I can make you come again.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t protest as he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the house. “What about the whole outdoors thing? I thought you were going to take me there?”

Gideon shrugged as he set her down on their couch. “I changed my mind.”

She cupped her face before he moved down to kiss her again. “Feel better?”

He nodded, knowing it was the truth. “I just needed you,” he whispered. “No more running.”

“No more running,” she whispered.

And when they made love there, and later in their bedroom, he knew he’d been telling the truth. He’d only needed her to calm him, to think once again. His brain couldn’t quite function without her, but that was okay. That’s what mates were for. Without her, his life had been a tattered form of what it could be, but now, he’d found true happiness.

And soon, they’d have another blessing, another form of fate.

Their child.

And when that day came, he prayed they would live in a time where their destiny wasn’t in question, when a war didn’t brew on all sides.

But for now, he’d take his mate and his fate.

And that, Gideon thought, was all he needed.