Chapter Ten

Two days later, Landon was curled up on Noah’s couch, his bare feet tucked under him, pretending not to stare as Dax and Noah washed dishes in the kitchen. He’d never been more grateful to get out of bed in his life. The trip from the bedroom to the living room had been exhausting, but he’d managed it completely on his own. The doctor had been by to examine him twice more since his arrival. The older man always left after delivering the same advice—shift.

Landon groaned. It wasn’t like he wasn’t trying. Ever since that first brush of fur, he’d done everything he could think of to coax the wolf out of hiding but wasn’t having much luck. While he was experiencing more of the teasing touches, the stubborn beast was keeping itself hidden. He hadn’t mentioned it to the doctor, but the separation from his wolf was taking its toll on him. His appetite had gone from small to almost nonexistent and he had begun to suffer from random, painful body tremors. Landon prayed that with a little more time and patience, his wolf would find its way back to him. Hopefully sooner rather than later. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep his condition a secret from his mates.

When a knock sounded at the door, both men stopped what they were doing, their bodies going as taut as bow strings. Dax went to answer the door while Noah immediately took up a protective stance at Landon’s side. The tawny-haired man made his way across the room, shoulders back and determination evident in every step.

As Dax opened the door, Landon caught a glimpse of an extremely handsome blond standing on the threshold. He saw the flash of blue eyes and miles of golden skin and was immediately struck by an attack of inferiority. Between Noah’s and Dax’s thickly muscled bodies and this stranger’s sleek, golden good looks, Landon officially felt like the ugly stepchild. Was there no one in the Grand Rapids Pack who wasn’t gorgeous?

Landon was surprised by the deep, booming laugh and bone-crushing embrace Dax exchanged with the beautiful stranger. Even more surprising was the intense surge of jealousy that burned through him as he witnessed another man put his hands on one of the men he had come to think of as his.

The men ended their embrace and joined them in the living room, laughing and joking like old friends. Casting a glance to his right, Landon was surprised to see the visage of fondness transforming Noah’s face. Coming to stand before them, Dax wrapped an arm around the man’s shoulder in a gesture of familiarity and caring that Landon didn’t really appreciate. Even his dormant wolf must have agreed because he could swear the beast’s hackles were raised and he was poised for attack. His mouth turned down and a small growl rumbled free of his chest. Dax’s smile faltered when he met Landon’s cool gaze, obviously picking up on the tenor of his thoughts. Gifting him with a gentle smile, he palmed Landon’s cheek.

“I’ve got someone I’d like introduce you to. Landon Parker, I’d like you to meet Jai Miller. Jai is a Pack Gamma and a good friend. He is also best friends with Eli Steele, Noah’s younger brother and our Alpha’s mate. Not to mention the biggest troublemaker in the Pack.”

Jai gasped in mock outrage. “You say troublemaking, I say fun-loving. I’m still convinced that none of you know how to have a good time. Someone has to spice things up for the rest of you. If it weren’t for me, you’d all be bored to tears.”

“Versus the tears of frustration we suffer from now?” Noah gave him a pointed stare that Jai completely disregarded.

He turned to Landon, smiled wide and held out a welcoming hand. “Nice to meet you. Don’t let these stodgy old guys give you the wrong idea about me. I keep this place lively. When I first got here, the Grand Rapids Pack was two steps away from a retirement home.” Brushing off a shoulder, he gave Dax and Noah a cocky leer. “They’d be lost without me.”

Landon smiled. He’d never met anyone like Jai and thought it was pretty safe to assume he never would again. Confidence and happiness seemed to emanate from his very pores. Just being near him kindled a spark of hope inside Landon. If he could find the strength to move beyond what had happened to him, maybe he could find some measure of the same happiness Jai had achieved. Maybe then he could really start living instead of just existing.

Taking the offered hand, Landon gave it a gentle squeeze. “It’s good to meet you, Jai. Were you part of the team that rescued me?”

Jai’s eyes turned serious and lost some of their warmth. “I’m sorry to say, no. I seem to have a personality that clashes with some of the members of Dax’s team. Oil and water, I guess. No matter. I’m just glad they were able to get you out and destroy the building so no one else will have to suffer in that place the way you did. Every facility we are able to locate and destroy brings us one step closer to stopping Alpha Steele and his Pack of monsters. That brings me to the reason for my visit.” His eyes softened and his body lost some of its previous tension. “Our Alpha would like to speak with you and your mates, if you’re feeling up to it. He’s hoping that you might have overheard something that could provide insight or details into Alpha Steele’s plans.”

“Of course. I’m not sure how much help I can be, but I’ll be happy to help in any way that I can. I just need a few minutes to get ready and I can meet him in his office, if this is a good time.” In reality, a visit with the Alpha was the last thing he wanted to do. No one wanted to walk into a room with a powerful predator when they weren’t at their physical best. As it was, Landon was pretty sure a gang of kittens would be able to take him down. Unfortunately, turning down a summons from an Alpha was never a good idea. At least not if you wanted to keep breathing.

“That would be perfect.” Jai smiled. “I’ll go ahead and let him know to expect you. There’s no rush so please, take your time.”

With a nod to Noah and Dax, Jai make his way to the door and quietly let himself out of the apartment. Landon remained seated until the door clicked shut behind him. He lowered his feet to the floor, levered himself off the couch and waited for the room to stop spinning then slowly shuffled his way to the bedroom. He could sense Noah and Dax behind him, shadowing his steps, but they never said a word. Rifling through the closet, he grabbed a sweatshirt, followed by a thick pair of socks, before moving to sit on the bed to dress.

“We don’t have to go.”

Dax’s eyes were solemn and a frown tugged at his normally joyful mouth. Landon didn’t like the change.

“I was summoned by your Alpha.”

“You’re still healing,” Noah answered.

Landon gave him a gentle smile and shook his head. “Only a fool with a death wish would refuse an Alpha’s request for an audience. I’ve had enough close calls with death lately. I’m not interested in another. Especially when I have a choice in the matter. You two may be strong enough to stand up to an Alpha, but I’m definitely not. I won’t give him any reason to hurt me or want me dead.”

Noah stiffened and his face flushed with outrage. Dax merely cocked his head to the side and looked at Landon, his expression unreadable. The contrast between the two would have been comical if he hadn’t been worried that Noah was going to have an aneurism.

“An Alpha is the leader of the Pack,” Noah gritted out, his eyes dark with anger. “It’s their job to guide and protect their Pack mates, not harm them.”

A memory of Charles Steele and his bunch of mercenaries descending on his Pack flashed in Landon’s mind, causing an involuntary shudder to work its way through him. He pinned Noah with a withering stare. “Not in my experience,” he responded coolly. “If the last few months have taught me anything, it’s that the strong strive to oppress the weak. If they haven’t done it yet, then they are just waiting for their opening to strike.”

“You do realize that I’m an Alpha, don’t you?” Red faced and scowling, Noah blocked his path, as immovable as a brick wall. “Is that what you think of me, as well?”

Landon groaned in frustration. “I’m trying here, Noah. No, I don’t think of you as someone who is trying to hurt or oppress others, but you are also not a typical Alpha. You’re not running a Pack nor do you seem to want to. You aren’t driven by a hunger for more power. My experiences with Pack leaders hasn’t been good. In my mind, they’re suspect until they proved otherwise. I’m sorry if that upsets you, but that’s just the way it is for me. Now,” he snapped, “if you’re done with the hurt feelings and drama, I have a meeting to attend.”

He rose from the bed and hobbled out of the room in a wave of righteous indignation. No way in hell was he going to sit by and let Noah ‘teach’ him about the strong, caring Alpha wolves from his story books. Landon could tell his own stories, but they were far from bedtime material. They were the stuff of nightmares and he had only one wolf to blame—Alpha Charles Steele. Locked in a cell, chained down and bleeding, he had promised himself that one day he would find a way to make Alpha Steele answer for all the damage he’d caused and the lives he’d ruined. That promise had kept him alive and he intended to see it through.

The trek to Alpha Kellan Reeves’ office would have taken an eternity if Landon had gotten his way. In his current condition, a turtle could have made the trip faster. It didn’t help that his office was two floors down and at the opposite end of the massive house. The modest home where he had grown up in Three Rivers could have easily fit inside this one at least five times over. If the house was a means for measurement, the Grand Rapids Pack had to number in the hundreds versus the twenty or so Shifters that had called the Three Rivers Pack home. At least they had, before Charles Steele had paid them a visit. He had no idea what had happened to the rest of the Pack in the months since the attack. Ten of them had been taken to the facility but, no matter how many times they’d asked the guards and doctors, they were given no information about what had happened to the rest.

The reminder had a wave sorrow building up inside him. Blinking rapidly, he tried to will them away, but it was a mission destined for failure. Strong arms bracketed him from behind, pulling him into a solidly muscled chest, as another body pressed into him from the front. The combined scents of Noah and Dax surrounded him, calming him almost instantly. Breathing deeply, he soaked in their comfort even though he knew he was just allowing his infatuation with Noah and Dax to grow stronger. If he was being truthful, it was already too late. He was half in love with them already. So much for protecting his heart. He just prayed that when this whole, sorry mess was done, they would all be able to move past the nightmare and start fresh.

“Thank you.” The words were whispered against Noah’s throat and punctuated with a kiss.

Warm lips worked a path up to the hollow behind his ear as the familiar sweet scent of Dax’s breath wafted over him. “If you’re not ready, we’ll go right back to the suite and send word to Kellan that we need to reschedule. After everything you’ve been through, we know it’s hard for you to believe that you’re safe here. Please trust me when I tell you that, whether you have information or not, no one will hurt you. For now, you are a guest of the Grand Rapids Pack and, as such, have the protection of the Pack. We’ve already spoken to Kellan and he’s decided to offer you and your Pack mates a home with the Grand Rapids Pack. Eventually, we hope you’ll consider accepting the offer, but that is a decision only you can make. Until then, just know that we will protect you with our lives. No one is ever going to hurt you again. You have our word.”

Landon leaned back and glanced up to meet Dax’s green-eyed gaze. Looking deep, he saw only honesty reflected back at him. The need to believe had never been stronger. He wanted to throw caution to the wind and trust these men to take him into their hearts and care for him and protect him forever. It was a ridiculous dream, but when Dax leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his lips, he couldn’t fight the kernel of hope that twinged in his chest. When Noah duplicated the action, Landon decided it was time to stop second guessing their motives and accept their affection. They were mates and it was time for him to start acting like it.

Noah pulled back slowly and gifted him with a gentle smile. “We’ll deal with this later. For now, we need to know if you want to go through with this meeting or if you’d like to go back to the room and rest?”

Hot and aching with need, Landon couldn’t even think as lust coursed through his body. His cock was like a steel rod in his pants, full and heavy and in desperate need of attention. How could they expect him to form words when they had amped up his libido to dangerous levels? The least they could do was offer to help him take the edge off. As it was, he was going to have to officially meet the Pack Alpha with a raging hard-on the size of Rhode Island. Words alone could not adequately describe his ire.

“I’m fine,” he stammered, trying to catch his breath. He could have lived without the shakiness in his voice. “I just want to get this over with.”

Noah and Dax exchanged a look he couldn’t decipher. Landon felt a pang of jealousy at the closeness the men shared. It made him feel like an outsider when all he wanted was to belong to them. To be a part of them. They were supposed to be mates. They shouldn’t be cutting him out of things, especially when he was standing right there in front of them. A throat clearing caught Landon’s attention and he once again found himself the target of their combined regard.

“All right. If you’re sure you want to do this we’ll go, but Dax and I are going to be with you every second. If at any point it gets to be too much or you want to stop, you will tell us and then we’re done. Do you understand? If you can’t agree to our terms, we’ll head back to the apartment right now and Kellan will just have to wait until we say you’re ready to see him.”

“I understand.”

Noah nodded. “Good. Now, enough of this proud martyr bullshit. Dax is going to carry you to Kellan’s office and you’re gonna let him. At the rate you’re going, you’ll either hurt yourself or we’re all gonna be eighty by the time we get there. From now on, you will ask for help when you need it or you will find yourself being put over my knee. I’ll ask you again, do you understand?”

Landon blanched, too shocked by Noah’s words to even attempt a response. He must have been sucked into an alternate universe where all his fantasies came true. It was either that or he was developing some kind of issue with his hearing. Maybe he should schedule an appointment to get it checked out.

A hard slap to his ass jolted him out of his thoughts. Eyes wide, he glanced up and was immediately trapped by Noah’s stern glare.

“I asked you a question, Landon. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” he gasped.

“Yes, what?” Noah prodded.

“Yes, Sir,” Landon answered automatically, further shocking himself.

What the hell was that about? Whatever it was had Noah and Dax smiling like Christmas had come early.

“Good boy,” Noah crooned, running his thumb over Landon’s bottom lip.

With a sharp nod to Dax, Noah turned and continued off down the hall, leaving Landon to stare, open-mouthed, at his retreating back. Landon didn’t even have time to call out after him before he was hoisted up into Dax’s arms.

“Is this really necessary?” He gave Dax the most fearsome glare he could manage.

Dax laughed. “Yeah, I think it is. You feel good in my arms, Land. Real good.”

Adjusting his grip, he pulled Landon more securely into his body. Pressed tight against Dax, he couldn’t ignore the swollen rod digging into his hip. He tried to ignore it, even though that was the last thing he wanted to do. For the first time in his life, he wanted to know what it would taste like to take that hot flesh into his mouth and swallow it all the way down his throat. He wanted to feel that satin-covered steel drive deep into his virgin ass. Arousal had been non-existent for him until he had met these men. Now, he was being bombarded by feelings he didn’t understand and couldn’t control. All he knew was that he wanted more. It was an all-consuming fire that burned through him, leaving him hot and needy and desperate to be taken.

Dax looked down, his eyes narrowing as he took in Landon’s appearance. “This is not the right time for this, Landon. You need to control yourself.”

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he gasped as another wave of arousal jolted through him.

“There’s not a damn thing wrong with you,” Dax growled. “You’re in need and that’s totally natural but, at the moment, there’s nothing we can do about it. You have to rein it in and get control of it. You’re pumping out pheromones like nothing I’ve ever experienced. If you can’t tamp it down, we’re going to end up mounting you on the floor of the Alpha’s office. Unless you want us to be today’s entertainment, you need to control it.”

Panic rose up in Landon. “I don’t know if I can.”

Repositioning his arm, Dax encouraged Landon to wrap his legs around his waist and pushed him up against the nearest wall. The contact sent a jolt of electricity through Landon’s body and left him gasping for breath. The hard ridge of Dax’s shaft ran the length of his own creating delicious friction across his sensitive flesh.

“You can and you will,” Dax ordered, dropping down and taking his mouth in a brutal kiss.

It was teeth and tongue and raw, wet heat. By the time he was done, there wasn’t an inch of Landon’s mouth he hadn’t explored. Their tongues twined in a sensual battle for dominance that Landon was destined to lose. That didn’t stop him from fighting. There was something primal inside him that needed this powerful man to prove himself. He wanted Dax to show him that he was strong enough, worthy of claiming an Omega. With a hand fisting his hair and the other wrapped around his hip in a punishing grip, the man did that and more. The way he pinned Landon to the wall, fingers digging into his skin possessively, left no question that Dax was the one in control. He was leaving marks, signs of ownership, that would make it clear that Landon had been thoroughly claimed and was off limits.

Breaking apart, they were both gasping for breath.

Landon eyed Dax warily. “For the record, this isn’t the best way for me to get control of myself.”

Dax had the decency to look guilty. “I’m sorry. Looks like you’re not the only one who needs to work on their control.” Resting his chin on the top of Landon’s head, he took a deep breath. “We have to get going. Kellan is waiting and Noah has probably already made it to the office and is going to be wondering what happened to us.”

“Noah?” Landon’s mind was still struggling to get back on track after Dax’s kiss had short circuited him from the neck up. “Holy shit! Noah! He’s gonna kill me. Put me down and get your hands off of me, right fucking now.” Landon squirmed and flailed in Dax’s arms.

Ever the immovable mountain, Dax merely chuckled and held him tighter, further restricting his movements. “Noah’s not going to kill you. He already told you that you’re ours. Now, could you please calm down? You’re gonna end up reopening your wounds.”

“Are you fucking kidding? Did you miss the part of our earlier conversation where he threatened to spank me? I don’t want to give him any excuses. My tongue down your throat seems like a pretty good reason. I doubt he’s going to be real happy if he finds out we were messing around without him again.”

“If you want to be accurate, I had my tongue down your throat. Besides, you never know, you might like a little spanking.” Dax chuckled. When Landon resumed struggling for release, he gave his ass a playful swat, followed by a firm pinch to his right cheek. “Now, be still and let me hold you.”

“Fine,” Landon grumbled, “but if Noah finds out, I’m telling him it was your fault. If anyone’s getting spanked, it’s gonna be you.”

“I’m not worried,” Dax answered. “He already knows that I got a taste of you first. I’m sure he’s a bit put out, but I doubt he’ll do any permanent damage. Sitting down might be a bit uncomfortable for a few days but trust me,” he said, giving Landon a leering once-over, “it was worth it.”

Landon shrugged at Noah’s nonchalance. “To each his own, I guess. I think I’ll pass on the spanking.”

“You say that now. Just wait. I bet you’ll be begging for it.”

Dax’s eyes softened as he reached out and cupped Landon’s cheek in his hand. The look was so tender, Landon had all he could do to hold off a blush.

“All joking aside, I know you’re struggling and confused and I’m sorry for that. I’m sure there was a better way the two of us could have handled this whole situation but, unfortunately, we tend to have the whole ‘bull in a china shop’ mentality. Just know that no one here would ever do anything to purposely hurt you. Kellan might be a pain in the ass about us making him wait, but he’ll get over it and no violence will ensue. Eli has definitely had a mellowing effect on my cousin.”

Landon sucked in a breath, shocked that Dax was so cavalier in the way he spoke about his Alpha. Even if what Dax claimed was true and Alpha Reeves wasn’t an abusive leader, he couldn’t imagine the man would be pleased to know that one of his Pack was publicly disparaging him. It wouldn’t be unreasonable for the Alpha to punish him as an example to the rest of the Pack. The thought of Dax being harmed had panic bubbling up inside him. Landon knew his reaction was crazy. He’d only known Dax and Noah for a few days, but it didn’t matter. There was something about the powerful men that made him want to roll over and submit to them. He’d never experienced anything like it.

Dax leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, effectively calming Landon’s rampant thoughts. With his mouth hanging half open and his eyes glazed and heavy lidded, he knew he must look like a besotted idiot, but he couldn’t make himself care.

Pulling back, Dax graced him with a satisfied smile. “You are too fucking tempting. We’ve gotta get out of here before I bend you over the nearest piece of furniture and fuck you senseless.”

Voiceless with shock, Landon managed to nod dumbly, and allowed Dax to haul him back up into his arms and trudge off down the hall, following the path Noah had taken moments earlier. With every step, he focused on calming his racing heart and slowing his breathing. He didn’t want to walk into the Alpha’s office looking like he was on his way to the gallows, no matter how true he thought the description was.