Chapter Nine

Half an hour later, Landon was at a loss for words. A million thoughts raced through his head, all vying for attention. Parents, murder, Pack, kidnapped, Omega, mates. Holy shit! Those last two were a real doozy.

“So, you’re saying that all this time, there’s never been anything wrong with me?”

“That’s exactly what we’re saying,” Dax replied. “Everything about you is completely normal for an Omega wolf.”

“And you and Noah are my mates?”

Noah held his head high. “Yes.”

“And you’re both okay with that?”

Noah lowered his head and pinned Landon with a look that was so filled with heat and possession, he had to lock his knees to keep from falling to the floor like a swooning princess.

“Yes,” Noah rumbled, the sound low and gravel-rough. “You are ours.”

Landon’s body sagged as a warm wash of relief filled his body. He couldn’t believe it. After all the taunts and jibes and abuse, he was finally getting everything he’d ever wanted. Excitement and worry churned together in his gut, leaving him slightly nauseated. While he wanted to be happy and enjoy the moment, nothing this good ever happened to him. He couldn’t help but wonder when the other shoe was going to drop.

Dax seemed to pick up on his unease the quickest. Moving to the bed, he sat down next to Landon and took his hand. The difference between them was huge, as Dax’s massive hands completely enveloped his own. “I don’t want you to stress about the mating. You’ve survived something most people couldn’t even imagine. We want all your focus on healing and getting well. Everything else can wait. Just know that Noah and I will be right here with you, every step of the way.”

Landon released a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. “Okay.” While he was definitely attracted to both men, it was nice to know he wasn’t going to be expected to immediately jump into bed and spread his legs for them. He still needed some time to process everything that had happened.

“There’s something else we need to discuss.” With his clenched jaw and steely eyed stare, Noah took serious to a whole new level.

“Jesus Christ. What now?” Landon demanded.

“The doctor came by and treated your wounds. He did what he could, but he’s concerned that there may be more wrong than what we can see. He was sure that once you were able to shift it would speed up the healing and make the wounds less severe. However, even when you completely lost consciousness, your wolf never came out. None of us have ever seen anything like it…not in a Shifter wounded so severely, in any case. We’re not sure what has been done to you, but Doc is looking into it and will let us know when he knows more.”

Landon’s stomach dropped as he realized just how close they were to figuring out his shameful secret. It was his own fault. If he hadn’t tried to escape so many times, Alec wouldn’t have felt the need to make an example of him. It had been the longest night of his life as Alec proceeded to set off his collar, over and over, for nearly twelve hours straight. The move, designed to show the others what happened to those with thoughts of escape, had left Landon forever changed. If the Grand Rapids Pack knew how truly defective he was, he doubted they’d be so kind and welcoming. A Shifter who couldn’t shift was like a fish who couldn’t swim. He’d be lucky if they allowed him to leave. Many Packs still maintained the practice of culling the weak.

“Your doctor doesn’t need to go to any trouble. I’m sure everything will be fine as soon as I’ve had a bit more time to rest and regain my strength.” He winced at the panicked edge in his voice.

Noah and Dax’s brows furrowed, almost in unison. It was kind of funny up until the point where he was pinned in place by their disapproving gazes.

“Everything is not fine, Landon.” Dax frowned. “Any Shifter who was injured as badly as you are should have been able to Shift by now to heal the damage. After you passed out, it should have happened automatically. The fact that you couldn’t proves that something isn’t right.”

Landon shook his head. “I’m sure it will work itself out. I’m sure there are more important things you should be worrying about right now than one injured runt of a Shifter. Really, I’ll be fine.”

Noah glared at him suspiciously. “There’s something you’re not telling us.”

“There are a lot of things I’m not telling you. You’re practically strangers to me. Sorry, but you’re not privy to my every thought and life experience. Some things are personal.”

“Not from us,” Noah rumbled, rising to his feet. His body seemed to grow larger as his eyes darkened in anger. “There won’t be any secrets between the three of us, ever!”

“I don’t owe you anything other than a thank you for saving my life,” Landon shouted, hoping his anger would disguise the guilt and fear that were growing inside him.

Hands fisted at his sides and chest heaving, Noah loomed over him, a frown twisting his lips. “Is that what you think? You are our mate. You owe us that and more, pup. Much, much more. The sooner you figure that out, the better off we’ll all be.”

A whine escaped Landon’s throat as fear dug its claws into him and wouldn’t let go. Acting on instinct, he hunched down and tried to make himself as small as possible in an effort to protect his more sensitive bits from the pain he feared was coming. With his arms around his knees, he tucked his head into his chest and waited for the blows to fall.

His body stayed tense as he anticipated a strike, but it never came. Landon almost jumped out of skin when a warm hand came down on his shoulder, gently easing him out of his huddled state. Strong fingers caressed the line of his jaw then moved on to smooth away the worry lines he could feel forming between his eyebrows. A pair of soft lips made contact with his own and his first instinct was to jerk away. Instead of escape, he found himself unable to move, held firmly but gently between those strong hands.

Panic grabbed a hold of him but was quickly quashed by a series of soft, fluttering kisses that rained down along the seam of his lips. Surprised, Landon had no idea how, or if, he should respond. He was sure it would turn out that all of this was a dream and he would wake up back in his cell.

Eyes closed and head back, he allowed the contact while making no move to reciprocate, just reveling in the novelty of the pleasure. After a few long minutes, Landon’s lungs began to burn from the lack of oxygen and his lips were forced opened as he gasped for air. A thick tongue pushed its way into Landon’s mouth and his eyes flew open in shock.

Dax. His cock filled with a speed that left him feeling dizzy and disoriented. All Landon could focus on was Dax as he thrust his tongue forward, exploring every inch of his mouth. Licking and tasting, Dax’s invading muscle encouraged Landon to join in the fun.

At first, Landon was hesitant. With his wolf acting as his own built-in chaperone, he’d never gotten the chance to learn and explore his sexual side. He couldn’t have been more surprised when he experienced, not just a brush of fur, but an alertness inside that was not his own. Was it possible that his wolf wasn’t as far gone as he’d feared? It was nothing close to the awareness of his beast prior to his time in captivity, but it was something. A sign that maybe his old friend wasn’t lost to him forever. These men encouraged his wolf to return, even in small increments. It wasn’t something he was willing to just sit back and ignore. Taking a calming breath, he let go of his reservations and allowed himself to give in to his own need.

His first efforts were short and stilted, his mouth moving awkwardly in a way that practically screamed of inexperience. When he struggled to find a rhythm, Dax was there. Teasing licks and coaxing nips encouraged Landon to explore every inch of his mouth freely. With each stroke of Dax’s tongue, Landon felt himself relaxing into the touch and enjoying the feelings they awakened in him. He reached out with tentative hands and traced the muscled expanse of Dax’s back with his fingers. The warm skin and musky scent of the man was intoxicating and left Landon craving more.

Shifting his position, Landon ignored the twinge of his wounds and leaned in until the length of his torso was pressed tight to the sturdy frame of the muscular blond. Pulling away from his mouth, Landon explored the curve of Dax’s shoulder with his lips and tongue. He knew he should stop. Noah was right there watching and, despite their claim that he was their mate, Landon had no idea how the big Alpha would take to him marking his mate. In the Shifter world, marking another’s mate could be a death sentence. Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t stop from flicking out his tongue to taste the heated skin of Dax’s throat.

Heaven. Musk and man combined with something that was uniquely Dax. All it took was one taste for Landon to know that it would never be enough. It was like coming home. He licked a path up the side of Dax’s neck and around the shell of his ear before sucking the lobe into his mouth and laving it with the flat of his tongue.

“Jesus Christ,” Dax groaned as he reached out and practically dragged Landon into his lap. “That is so fucking hot, baby. I could just eat you up.”

Landon couldn’t stop the whimper that escaped him when Dax took his mouth in a punishing kiss. He was so lost in the pleasure, he almost missed a low rumbling sound from the opposite side of the bed. The moment he heard it, Landon froze. Pulling back, he dared a glance over Dax’s shoulder and met the steely-eyed gaze of one pissed off Alpha wolf. If looks could kill, someone would need to start shopping for a headstone. Landon scrambled backward, out of Dax’s embrace, until he fell right off the side of the bed.

The agony that washed over him was immediate and extreme, pushing away any other thoughts and concerns in lieu of the blinding pain that racked his body. The cry that escaped him was less human and more wounded animal. Cuts and tears reopened, staining his bandages anew.

“God damn it, Noah! What the hell were you thinking? You scared the shit out of him.”

“I couldn’t help it, D. The two of you together… It was just so…”

“Save it! Just help me get him back on the bed without damaging him anymore. Then I need you go grab some more bandages from the bathroom. Doc left some extra supplies in case he pulled a stitch. Hopefully there’s enough to take care of all the new damage.”

Hands were on Landon then, gentle yet strong, maneuvering his limbs and lifting him from the floor. A moment later he was back on the bed, the pillowy surface helping to dull some of the pain of his fall. Gritting his teeth, he opened his eyes and was met with a stormy gaze that burned a hole straight through him. Landon averted his eyes and focused on a point over Noah’s shoulder. He tilted his head and exposed his throat in the ultimate sign of submission to another wolf. The move made left him open and completely vulnerable to attack, but he had no choice. Judging by appearances, the Alpha was seconds away from tearing Landon’s throat out, and after what he’d done, Landon really couldn’t blame him.

“My apologies, Alpha. I have no excuse for my actions. I promise, it won’t happen again.”

The growl sounded again, this time louder and echoed by Dax. Confused as hell and not having any clue what was going on, he froze. While both men were clearly angry, neither of them seemed like they were going to attack the other. He had no idea what was happening, but knew he was missing something huge.

“Alpha?”

“Oh, it’s going to happen again,” Noah snapped, his lips pulled back to expose his sharp incisors. “That was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s gonna happen again, and often, and next time I am going to get a piece of the action.”

Landon shook his head, not sure what to make of the situation he found himself in. “I don’t understand. You were so angry and now—now, I don’t know what’s going on.”

Noah took a step forward, his large frame flexing and bulging with every movement. Reaching out, he cupped Landon’s face in his hand like it was something fragile and precious. “I owe you an apology. I lost myself in my wolf for a moment and scared you, unintentionally.” The chagrined smile he offered Landon softened the hard edges of his face, making him appear a bit bashful and sweet. “He wants you just as much as I do and has a harder time accepting the need to be patient. I’ll try to have better control in the future, though I can’t make any promises. This is new for us, too. We’re all going to have to take this one day at a time and be patient with each other. Please, know that I would never hurt you. Dax and I will do everything in our power to protect you and keep you safe. Believe that.”

“So, you’re not angry with me?” Landon looked up through his lashes, not quite meeting Noah’s eyes for fear of what he might find there.

“No, Landon. Being angry is the furthest thing from my mind. Surprised, thankful and excruciatingly turned on? Hell, yeah. How could I be upset when I’ve found I have been blessed with two gorgeous mates? Trust me, I am the happiest man on the planet right now.”

“Excuse me?” Dax interrupted. “I think you may have to share that title, pal. I’m feeling pretty good about all of this, myself.”

Noah grinned. “It seems I’m going to be getting used to sharing.”

“I think you’re going to enjoy it,” Dax leered.

“I certainly hope so.”

“So do I,” Landon whispered.