Chapter Eight

Consciousness returned to Landon like a bitch slap to the face. One minute he was surrounded by the soothing dark of oblivion. The next, he was jerked awake by the sound of shrieking children and a myriad of bare feet slapping on hardwood.

“What the hell?”

Loud and abrasive, the sounds were nothing like what he’d become used to in his own version of Hell. The shock to his system drove away all remaining traces of sleep, leaving his faculties struggling to catch up.

As the fog finally lifted, memories of what had happened at the facility returned. It came to him in bits and pieces, snap shots that gave him the highlights but never showed him the full picture. Alec had struck him, no doubt in a frustrated response to another failed testing attempt by the doctor. Landon remembered catching a hint of a new scent in the air before a pair of strange wolves burst into the room and attacked Gregory and his men. Other wolves had appeared, joining the fight, then everything had gone black. He must have passed out because he had no memory of the outcome or what had happened after. The only thing he was sure of was that he wasn’t in his cell, nor was he still at the facility.

Landon’s struggle to open his eyes was met with a bright light and a gentle cocooning warmth. It had been so long since he’d truly felt anything other than the bone-numbing cold that seemed to encompass this place, he couldn’t help but enjoy the sensation. The cell he’d called home had been a black hole, leeching away every bit of heat until all that was left was a tomb, cold and empty of life. Sad as it was to admit, that description had fit him as well. He had begun to feel more dead than alive, looking ahead with longing for the day his suffering would finally end.

Squinting against the cornea-searing light, he waited with watery eyes for his vision to focus but was once again met with a blinding wall of white. Maybe he was dead… Would it matter if he was? For all he knew, the rest of his Pack had been killed. He hadn’t seen or heard any trace of them in weeks. No one else cared if he lived or died. Maybe it would be better to stop fighting and let nature take its course. He’d already lost everything. Even his wolf had been silenced weeks ago. It was something he would have thought impossible before his capture.

A tear rolled down his cheek and he quickly brushed it away as the room finally began to come into focus. Sunlight was streaming into the room through a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows on his right, filling the space with a bright golden glow. The rays danced along his skin and drove the chill from his body and he could just make out the tops of the trees from his spot on the bed.

The sound of movement to his right caused his heart to nearly stop as his eyes locked on the form of one of the biggest men he’d ever seen, stretched out and sleeping in a recliner placed just to the side of the bed. There was something about him that seemed familiar but Landon’s memory was a blank. With his sleep-tousled honey locks, golden skin and surprisingly full lips, Landon had to admit he was gorgeous. Long lashes fanned out from his closed lids, which emphasized his high cheekbones and strong jawline. The thick, silver rings that hung from his ears definitely served to increase his appeal, as did the hint of ink that Landon saw peeking out of the collar of his shirt.

Dressed in just a pair of threadbare jeans and a plain cotton T-shirt, there was still no mistaking him for the predator that he was. Thick muscles corded his body and strained against the material of his clothes. The man practically oozed testosterone. Even his bare feet, which were propped up carelessly on the footrest of his chair, looked strong and masculine. There was no doubt in Landon’s mind that this powerful man could do some serious damage if he were so inclined.

Landon pulled up the blankets with small, cautious movements. No way in hell did he want to catch the attention of the slumbering giant. He settled back into the softness of the bed and tried to decide what his next move should be. The last thing he wanted to do was wake the man, at least not until he had an idea whether he was going to be a friend or another enemy.

He needed to get up and move. Knowledge was power and he had spent way too much time being powerless lately. After months living under someone else’s thumb, Landon had learned to use any advantage he had wisely. With any luck, he would be able to glean some kind of information about his location before anyone realized that he had regained consciousness.

His stomach cramped, signaling nature’s call to action. A slave to his needs, Landon threw back the covers and struggled to get himself up into a seated position. He tried to focus on the task at hand but was nearly overwhelmed by the pain radiating through his body. It was a living thing, burning and stinging over his skin, like being covered by a tiny army of fire ants, followed by a thick layer of hot lava. There wasn’t an inch of skin that escaped the fire.

Squeezing his eyes shut tight, Landon blew out a breath and renewed his efforts, trying to push aside the pain and concentrate on his surroundings. His torn flesh pulled with every move, sending sharp jolts of pain through his body. A glance down at his bare chest displayed a multitude of small cuts and bruises in varying stages of healing. Many of them were swollen and oozing and tinged an angry red. Bandages covered a good portion of his chest and throat, the pale cloth stained a startling crimson as many of the wounds were still fresh and weeping.

When his bladder gave another uncomfortable twinge, he knew it was time to get this show on the road. No longer able to delay the inevitable, Landon managed to maneuver himself off the bed and onto his feet. As soon as he was vertical, the room began to tilt and sway like a ship on rough seas. The combined sensation of an empty belly and a full bladder had Landon losing his footing and sent him slamming into the wall with a bone rattling force that had his stomach threatening to rebel.

His lungs burned. He gulped down air in an attempt to regain his calm and settle his stomach. Pushing through the pain, Landon took a staggered step forward. His body held strong for all of five seconds before his muscles seized and sent him crashing to the floor. There was nothing he could do to bite back the agony-filled scream that rent the air. Momentarily dazed by the impact, Landon lay on his back, gasping for air while wave after wave of mind-numbing pain crashed over him.

“What the hell?” a deep voice sounded from the other side of the bed. Something scraped roughly against the floor, followed by a presence at his side a moment later. “Jesus, baby. What did you do to yourself?”

Baby? Landon tried to place the voice, but his thoughts were so fogged by the pain still ricocheting through his body that he couldn’t focus. He was helpless, trapped in a room with a stranger who could just as easily hurt him as help him. There was a hand in his hair and he flinched away at the unexpected contact. The hand tightened, giving his hair a gentle tug and forcing him to look up into the greenest eyes he’d ever seen. The eyes, in combination with the light amber color of his hair, was stunning. It gave the impression that he could have walked right out of the pages of a book about Scottish warriors.

Landon licked his lips, envisioning the man in a kilt and nothing else. The slight flutter of his stomach and the twinge in his groin took him by surprise. He began to wriggle anew, desperately hoping the man didn’t notice his embarrassing state.

“Enough of that,” the man admonished with a grin. “I’m the last person in the world who would hurt you. Now, quit squirming around and let me help you so you don’t hurt yourself any worse.”

Landon didn’t even have time to protest before he was carefully lifted into the air and cradled against a massive chest. He gave a half-hearted push at the wall of muscle, but all he got was a chuckle in response.

“You’re gonna have to do a lot better than that to move me, babe. That was nothing more than a love tap.”

“Put me down,” Landon groused. “I’m not a child and I don’t like to be laughed at.” He was tired and in pain. He refused to be a joke for some stranger’s amusement. Even if the man was gorgeous.

The man’s smile softened as he gazed down at him. “I’m not laughing at you, sweetheart. I’m just so fucking glad you’re awake. You passed out and we couldn’t get you to wake back up. We tried everything. Even the doc made a go at it when he came to treat and bandage your wounds, but you didn’t even twitch. You had us worried.”

“Us?”

“Well, yeah. Me, Noah, our Pack, your Pack mates. Everybody. Nobody knew why you were out or when you would wake up. Doc just told us we would have to wait it out and that you would wake up when you were ready.” The man grimaced. “I’ve never been very good at waiting.”

“My Pack mates are here? They’re alive?”

“Yeah. Some of them are a bit worse for wear, but they’re all on the mend, now. None of their wounds were anywhere near as bad as yours. They’ll all be fine in a couple of days. As soon as you’ve rested and healed up a bit, we can take you down to see them.”

“More rest?” Landon groaned. “It feels like I’ve been sleeping for a year. How long was I out?”

His smile dulled and his expression became serious. “Three days. You have to promise never to do that to us again. It was pure hell.”

Landon was shocked by the vehemence in the man’s tone. “I’m sorry. Maybe I have brain damage or something but, do I know you?”

“Oh, shit!” A sheepish look crossed the man’s face and his cheeks flushed an attractive shade of pink. “You’re gonna have to forgive me because I’m an idiot. We’ve spent the last few days keeping an eye on you and getting to know your Pack mates. They’ve told us so much about you, it feels like I already know you. I’m Dax Marshall, Beta for the Grand Rapids Pack.”

“Well, Dax Marshall, this is going to be a little awkward since we just officially met and all, but since you’re still carrying me, would you mind taking me over to the bathroom? It’s where I was heading when I crash landed and it’s kind of become an emergency trip at this point.”

“Oh, damn, babe. Of course.” He carried Landon across the room without even being short of breath.

When he opened the door, Landon took a moment to be thankful that at least he’d been heading for the right door, even if his attempt to get there had been wholly unsuccessful. Normally he would have taken a look at the fixtures and décor but, at the moment, he was a man on a mission.

Standing in front of the sink, Dax slowly lowered Landon’s feet and allowed his body to slide down his much larger frame. Landon sucked in a breath as the friction of the material dragging against the sensitive skin of his shaft caused his dick to lengthen and swell. He was so shocked by the reaction, someone could have knocked him over with a feather.

When Landon was a teenager, he had been diagnosed as having a sexual aversion disorder. While he’d been able to appreciate the qualities that made a person attractive to others, he was unable to feel any arousal. He had met with the Pack doctor, multiple specialists and research centers and none of them could come up with a cause or a solution for his problem. It would either correct itself or not.

They all tried to be optimistic, encouraging him to see the bright side of things, but they weren’t the ones facing what could be hundreds of years as a eunuch. For a hormone-laden teenager, the news had been devastating. He’d wanted a chance to feel what all the fuss was about. While all his friends were out taking their new-found sexuality for a ride, Landon remained unchanged. At twenty, he’d like to say that he had matured into a man who could accept his lot in life and find a way to deal with it. Unfortunately, he’d made a practice of never lying to himself. For the most part, his situation sucked.

“Landon.”

“Huh, what?” Dax’s deep voice brought his attention back to the present.

Dax chuckled. “I asked if you thought you could stand on your own or if you’d like some help?”

Landon couldn’t have been more embarrassed. An image of Dax happily holding his junk while he took a piss popped into his head and had him blushing fifty shades of red. “No,” he coughed. “I think I’ve got it under control. Thanks, though.”

“No worries. I’ll just wait outside the door. Give me a shout if you need a hand getting back to bed, okay?”

Ducking his head to hide the scarlet of his checks, Landon managed a nod and turned away. He waited for the door to close then shuffle-stepped over the use the facilities. While he did manage the feat alone, he was exhausted by the time it came to wash his hands. His eyelids were heavy and it was all he could do to keep his head up and not let it fall back down to his chest. With the last vestiges of his stubborn pride, he bit the bullet and called out for a helping hand.

He expected to see the honeyed head of Dax, so Landon was startled when a strange man entered the room without a bit of hesitation. His build was comparable to Dax’s, but that’s where their similarities ended. His dark hair had been shorn so short that it was barely more than a shadow across his scalp. Where Dax’s eyes were a vibrant green, this man’s were the color of a stormy day at sea. Blue and gray blended together to create a turbulent shade that was both beautiful and heartbreaking. There was so much pain in those eyes. Landon couldn’t look away.

“You called for help?” His voice rumbled over Landon, causing goosebumps to break out over his skin.

“Who are you and where’s Dax?”

A small smile quirked his lips. “Afraid I’ve done something to him? Don’t you worry about Dax. That man is more than capable of taking care of himself and anyone else that comes along.”

Landon’s disbelief must have been showing because the man laughed. It was a rich, happy sound and Landon couldn’t help but laugh as well.

“Dax is waiting in the other room. I just got back from a meeting with the Alpha so he let me come and get you. My name is Noah Steele.”

“Steele? As in Charles Steele?” Landon hated the tremor of fear he heard in his voice but after the last few months, he figured he deserved to show a little fear.

Noah’s wide smile and relaxed stance vanished. His six and a half foot frame went as rigid as a board and his blank expression would have made an ice cube look warm. Regret shadowed his handsome features and left Landon wishing he’d never opened his mouth.

“Yes. Unfortunately, Charles Steele is my father. I can’t even try to tell you how sorry I am for what was done to you because of him. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I have to apologize anyway. What was done to you will be a regret I’ll carry with me the rest of my life.”

Landon was confused. “Why are you apologizing? Were you at the facility or did you have any part in what was done to us there?”

“Of course not,” Noah snapped.

“Then why the hell are you apologizing? This wasn’t your fault so it’s not your wrong to right. Now, quit being an idiot and help me back to bed. Seriously, I’m like ten seconds from dropping and I’ve had enough up close and personal time with the floor today.”

Noah was momentarily stunned before a slow smirk crept to his face. “Yes, sir.”

Moving forward, he gently hoisted Landon up into his arms and made his way back out into the bedroom. Dax was back in his chair at the side of the bed leafing through a magazine. Noah crossed the room and gently set Landon down on the bed. Careful as he was, Landon still had to bite his cheek to keep from crying out when the torn flesh of his wounds pulled tight. Dax looked up at that moment, the smile on his face disappearing as he caught the edge of his grimace.

“Hey, babe. Everything all right?”

“Umm, yea—”

“Everything is fine, D.”

Landon’s eyes jerked to Noah who was looking at him, his face a blank mask. He cursed himself for the slip. Somehow he’d allowed himself to get used to Dax’s playful nickname and had responded to it, in front of Noah no less. God, he was such an idiot. With Dax and Noah in the room together, it was more than clear that they were in a relationship. The chemistry between them was off the charts. The fact that he had been attracted to them both, which was a miracle in itself, just made him that much more pathetic.

“Sorry,” he muttered, dropping his eyes to where his hands were balled up in his lap. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Landon, you don’t—”

“Dax. This isn’t the time.”

“But he thinks—”

“Dax, we’ll discuss it later.”

Landon watched the argument in confusion. It was obvious that they were discussing him but beyond that, Landon didn’t have a clue. Now that he knew the two of them were together, that should be the end of his infatuation, but there was something about them that called to him in a way he didn’t understand. It made him want to get closer and wrap himself in the safety and security he was sure these men could provide. Not to mention that this was the first, and possibly only, time he’d ever reacted to anyone. No, he had to see where this went, even if it ended with his own broken heart.

A throat clearing caught his attention and he noticed that Noah and Dax had stopped arguing and were now watching him with matching expressions of bemusement.

His cheeks heated as a flush blazed across his face and neck. “Sorry…again.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Noah dismissed. “We should be the ones apologizing, anyway. It was rude of us to carry on an argument right in front of you. Most couples have more tact. Unfortunately, we’re not there yet. We’re still operating on a learning curve.”

“So you guys are a couple?” Landon wanted the words back as soon as they crossed his lips.

Dax smiled. “Mates, actually. We found out just before the mission.”

“Wow.” Landon tried to keep the disappointment out of his voice. It was like he’d been sucker punched. “Congratulations. Finding your mate is a rare thing. You guys should be out celebrating, not wasting your time sitting around here playing nursemaid to me.”

“Dax and I don’t consider the time we’ve spent caring for you a waste,” Noah stated firmly. “We’re right where we need to be and will be here for you as long as you need us.”

Landon was surprised and confused by the reverence in the man’s tone. If he didn’t know better, he would say that he heard genuine concern in his voice. No, he had to be projecting his own feelings onto the other men. After so much time in captivity, his wires must have gotten crossed. Kindness and concern had become foreign concepts. Whatever the reason, he needed to get his mind off all the nasty, naked things he wanted to do with Noah and Dax before he lost what was left of his sanity.

“My Pack,” he muttered, needing something to distract him. “You said they were here. Did you speak with any of them? Are they all right?”

“Calm down and take a breath.” Dax chuckled. “They’re all fine. A young woman named Ruby has been our main contact with your Pack. She seems to be the leader of your brood and has been by to sit with you every day. She’s the one who told us your name and where to find you at the facility. She and the rest of her wolves have all been given sanctuary by the Grand Rapids Pack. They have food, clothing and rooms of their own for as long as they decide to stay with us. A few were in need of medical attention but the rest were fine after they were finally allowed to shift. Ruby’s been by a couple times a day to see how you are. She’s been very concerned about you.” He raised an eyebrow and gave Landon a questioning look.

“You’re kidding, right? She’s like my sister. That’s just wrong!”

A hint of relief flickered in Dax’s eyes and his smile widened. “What, busty and blonde not your type?”

“Not even close.”

“Oh, really? And what would your type be?”

Landon’s happy mood vanished. “I don’t have a one.”

“Oh, shit,” Dax groaned, his eyes wide with regret. “I’m so sorry, Landon. I didn’t even think before I opened my big, fat mouth. That was a stupid thing to say. Forgive me?”

Landon nearly stopped breathing. Surely, no one would have told them. No one in his Pack would be that cruel. It was a secret they’d sworn they’d take to the grave.

“W-what are you talking about?” He barely managed to get the words out and his body started to tremble.

Dax’s gaze was unwavering. “Landon.”

Just the way his name sounded when it crossed the man’s lips told Landon he was not going to like where this was headed.

“There’s no need to hide,” Dax continued. “There’s no judgment here.”

Landon jolted. “Y-you guys know?”

Dax’s eyes softened as he stared down at Landon’s face. “Yeah, Ruby told us about your unique situation. Don’t be angry with her. We had a lot of questions when we arrived, not the least of which were what had been done to you and why Alpha Steele was so desperate to get his hands on you. We needed as much as information as possible to keep you safe.”

Mouth gaping wide with shock, Landon couldn’t even speak. Ruby had told them—everything? Oh, God. The betrayal cut him to the bone. He wanted to curl up in a ball and hide. It was bad enough that his Pack knew about his deficiencies. He’d thought he could never feel any lower than he had while in the facility, but he had been wrong. This was so much worse.

A low, keening cry burst from his mouth. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his hands began to shake. Wrapping his arms around his middle, he held tight, knowing that the minute he let go, he would break apart into a million pieces.

“Landon?” An edge of unease crept into Dax’s tone.

“I’m fine,” Landon answered through gritted teeth. “I’m just tired.” There was no way he could handle seeing Dax or Noah look at him with pity in their eyes. He wasn’t that strong.

“That’s bullshit, Landon.” Noah barked. “You’re not fine. I’ll let you get away with the lie this time, but I don’t want to see it happen again. Never lie to us, Landon,” Noah ordered. “Nothing you can tell us will make us think less of you. All we ask is that there is always honesty between us. How else can we help you if we don’t know what’s wrong?”

“Why do you care?” Landon demanded, shame causing his words to have a bitter, angry edge. “I’m just some useless freak you found tied up in a psycho’s basement. Why the hell would you want to help me?”

Dax pulled himself up to his full height, his eyes narrowed dangerously as he stared down at Landon. “I never want to hear those words come out of your mouth again. You are not worthless and you’re not a freak. You’re amazing and special and, most importantly, ours!”

“Dax!”

“No, Noah! I’m not going to keep my mouth shut and tiptoe around it while he’s sitting there, tearing himself down. It our job to protect him, even from himself, and we can’t do that if we don’t even acknowledge the bond between us.”

“He’s not ready,” Noah argued.

“Whether he’s ready or not doesn’t matter. He needs us. That’s the bottom line.”

“Hey,” Landon shouted, snapping his fingers in front of Dax’s face. “I’m right here and I’d appreciate it if you’d stop talking about me like I’m not in the room. I’m a grown man and I don’t need either of you making decisions for me, understand?” Crossing his arms over his chest, he narrowed his eyes and gave them what he hoped was a menacing glare to drive his point home. “Now, what the hell are you guys talking about?”

Noah and Dax looked at each other for a long moment, a silent communication flowing between them with such ease it made Landon’s heart give a little pang. It was foolish to hope that someday he might share that kind of closeness with someone. The only two people he’d ever had a desire to be that close with were already taken.

Noah scowled at Dax’s smug air. “We’ve got some things to tell you, but we’d thought it best to wait until you’d had some time to rest and recuperate. We’ve been through a lot already. We didn’t want you to be overwhelmed.”

“Who are you to tell me what I can handle and what I can’t? I feel like I’m losing my mind here. Please? I need to know what’s going on.”

Running a hand across his dark, cropped hair, Noah sighed. “You’re right. You deserve the truth. All I ask is that you let me finish before you start hammering me with questions. Think you can do that?”

“I think I can manage,” Landon ground out, his face tight with irritation.

Noah raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I certainly hope so.”