Long Road Home (8 page)

“You’re dragging this out too much,” Drew said. “Tell him already.”

“I’m a Werewolf. Drew is my Alpha. His father was my Alpha before him, but he threw me out of the pack because of my sexual orientation.”

He continued speaking. Thom saw his mouth moving but he couldn’t process anything. Not with the room swimming around him. Strong hands grabbed his shoulders as he fell forward.

“Snap out of it.” Drew shook him hard enough to jar him back to the present.

“Werewolf?” The word came out as a squeak.

“Yes.” Hank knelt in front of him.

“I know a great therapist who specializes in psychotic delusions.” He fell silent when Drew growled. They certainly were fond of the noise.

“Show him.”

Hank looked at Drew for a second before returning his attention to him. “Remember, no matter what happens, it’s me. You have nothing to worry about or fear.”

They weren’t the most comforting words given they were coming from a crazy person, but he nodded. His options were limited. “Okay.”

He took a step back and then his body morphed into a Wolf. The edges of the room dimmed again as Thom fought against the urge to black out.

“Man up,” Drew whispered. “You have no idea what he risked to show you this. The least you could do is accept his show of trust as the gift it is.”

He reached out one shaking hand to touch the blond fur on top of the Wolf’s head. “I won’t tell anyone. Ever. I swear.” The Wolf padded closer, encouraging him to scratch behind one of his ears. The jealousy, the man’s protectiveness, even the secretiveness of the commune made sense. They were Werewolves. “If he bites me….”

Drew snorted. “He won’t. Unless you’re into biting.”

“Would I become—”

“No. You’ll never become a Werewolf.” Some of the harshness had left Drew’s voice but he still sounded firm. “If he chooses to take you as a mate, you’ll live a healthier and longer life.”

He looked at Drew. “This is a lot to process.”

Hank shifted back into a man. He appeared so lost and scared for a second, Thom had to reach out to him.

“He’s honest,” Drew said. “And he smells kind.”

He jumped up and took a step away from the two men. He’d officially reached his breaking point. Now, with Hank a human again, he already doubted what he’d seen. “I smell kind? What the hell did he mean?”

“Take a deep breath.” Hank stepped toward him slowly as he complied with the order. “Good. We can worry about the smelling thing later. There will be plenty of time.” He turned to Drew. “Thank you. For everything.”

“I’ll give you two some time alone.”

His heart beat painfully at being alone with a Werewolf. He couldn’t ask Drew to stay, however. Being alone with two Werewolves didn’t seem any safer.

“It’s okay. Deep breaths.” Hank’s voice had a hypnotic note to it. Thom found comfort in the slow easy words. “You’re going to be okay.”

When Hank kissed him, he found he believed the promise. “You’re a Werewolf.” He said the words against Hank’s mouth.

“I am.”

“I’m a little scared,” he admitted.

“Me, too.”

He found the idea of Hank being afraid of him funny. “I can’t hurt you.”

“You’re the only person in this world who could.”

“Drew threatened to kill you.”

Hank sighed. “If you betrayed me by telling someone about me or put my pack at risk, I would beg for death. It would be a kinder fate.” He pushed Thom back an inch. “You get that, don’t you?”

“I do.” Crazy as it seemed, he did. He understood. His brain had finally caught up with his other senses.

“Good.” Hank kissed him again. “Do you want me to stop? To leave?”

He pulled Hank tighter to him. “No.”

“Thank God.” His fingers tickled as he pulled Thom’s shirt over his head.

“Will you move back to the compound?”

“It’s a town. Not a compound.” His work-calloused hands skimmed over Thom’s ribs. “I wouldn’t move anywhere without you. If you’d feel safer there, we can discuss it.”

“I like my farm. It’s the only home I’ve ever known. It’s where I feel safest.”

“Then we stay here.” He undid Thom’s pants and pushed them and his boxers down so they puddled around his ankles. “Now, turn around and brace your arms on the table.”

Hank grabbed a tube of lube out of the kitchen drawer and spread the slippery substance over Thom’s ass. “No condom this time. Werewolves can’t get or spread disease.”

In the back of his mind, he remembered Drew mentioning being mated. The word rolled around as if trying to find a place to settle. He had so much new information to digest, though, the word continued to roll until Hank slid one finger through the tight muscles of his ass. All thought shut down at the sensation.

“I love you, Thom.” Hank slid a second finger into him as he said the words. Thom arched his back as emotion and desire swept through him.

“I love you, too.” As Thom said the words Hank pulled his fingers out of him. He didn’t complain. The head of the man’s cock had already started to push against him.

“Say it again,” Hank commanded.

He forced himself to relax so he could take Hank into him. When his balls hit Thom’s thighs he said, “I love you.”

“Fuck yeah, you do.”

There were no more words as the man laid claim to his ass. With every groan, growl, and thrust, he felt the tie of possession tightening between them. His spine started to tingle, and his balls tightened as he approached climax. Hank grabbed his cock and jerked him off as he released his warm semen deep inside him.

He’d been fucked senseless in the kitchen by a Werewolf.

The scent of feline heavy in the night air woke Hank from his deep sleep. He rubbed his eyes as he tried to remember why cats were enough of a worry to wake him. His thoughts were still trapped in a post-sex lethargic state. He didn’t want to focus on anything or anyone other than the man curled up next to him.

When a Wolf growled, however, he sat up on full alert. The attack, Thom’s wound, the possibility of a cat shifter in the woods—his heart pounded as the memories of the past week flooded his mind. He took a second to collect himself and then slipped out of bed silently. Days of rising hours before the farmer had given him all the practice he needed to accomplish the feat.

He didn’t bother dressing. He didn’t need to. As soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he shifted into his Wolf and raced outside. Soft growls and yips reached his ears, but they were in the distance. Not wanting to be left out of the chase, he ran in their direction.

The night air held a cool note as it breezed through his fur. He reveled in the sensation. He’d been so concerned about being discovered by the other man he hadn’t allowed himself to shift all week. Hiding his Wolf was a thing of the past. The promise of running wild and free forever made up for the week of keeping his Wolf locked up.

His Wolf howled in agreement. The scent of cat tickled his nose. He came to a dead stop and sniffed again. A loud hiss echoed through the night as a large weight landed on top of him. He managed to get out a few quick barks before he became fully engaged with the shifter.

Cat shifters were tricky beasts. They were fast, agile, smart, and had wicked sharp nails. As such, he’d gone out of his way to avoid them. Not this time, however. He would rather this one come after him than Thom. He dropped down to his stomach and rolled over to force the cat off his back.

He spit and hissed, but did let go. Hank jumped up and squared off against the shifter before howling to let his pack members know his location. The cat had black fur and bright green eyes. He would’ve considered it handsome if they weren’t currently locked in a deadly standoff.

The cat swiped at him with his sharp claws, but he easily dodged the attack and pounced at the animal. Fur filled his mouth as he looked for an opening to deliver a critical attack. The cat dislodged him before he could sink his teeth into it. Bitter disappointment washed over him as he jumped to his feet and circled the cat again.

They were evenly matched. The cat countered his brute strength with grace. Every time he tried to pin the shifter, it would contort its body to elude the move. Worse, its claws offset his teeth. He had gotten in a couple of good bites, but the cat had marked him as well. Blood ran over both their hides freely. He couldn’t seem to gain any advantage with the shifter.

He started to slow. The day had been a long and emotionally exhausting one followed by a passionate round of sex. He’d been running on endorphins and courage when he’d stepped out the door. Maybe chasing down the shifter had been stupid under those circumstances, but he refused to leave Thom in danger.

The cat jumped at him. Sharp nails and long teeth filled his vision for one second, but then were replaced by a blurry streak of fur. Ryker. He would recognize Drew’s Enforcer’s scent anywhere. The Wolf terrified anybody who had enough sense to recognize the concept of mortality.

Drew ran up next to his Enforcer but shifted back into his human form as he reached the two. “Good work.” He thought the compliment had been for Ryker exclusively until he saw Drew nod in his direction. The simple praise made him want to howl with pleasure. “He’s been a slippery little devil.”

Hank shifted. “With all due respect, my Alpha, what now?” They’d caught the man who’d tried to kill Thom, but they still didn’t have any answers.

“I’ve been in contact with his people. There’s a bounty on his head. He’d thought to get back into their good graces by weakening my pack. With the winter coming, he sought a way to starve us out. He thought your farmer would be an easy target—being human and all. He miscalculated.”

The cat hissed and squirmed in Ryker’s jaw. A quick movement from the wolf sent a loud
snap
through the woods, and the cat stilled.

“His actions weren’t sanctioned by his people so, officially, the threat ends with him.”

Hank looked from the dead cat back to his Alpha. “How did you find out so much in such a short time?”

“I protect my pack.” Drew’s lips twitched as if he was fighting back a smile. “Sometimes protecting them means meeting a threat head-on and full force. Sometimes, however, it means making phone calls and scheduling political meetings.” Drew looked behind them at the home Hank shared with Thom. “Go home to your farmer. Tell him he’s safe.”

Home. His home. Thom had invited him to live there with him. He let the realization settle in. For too many years, his home had been his rig. Thinking of the small farm as home filled him with a sense of contentment. He nodded and then walked back to the house.

Warmth surrounded him as soon as he stepped over the threshold. The lights were still off, but he didn’t need them to find his way. He’d learned every step and turn during his time here. He made his way up the stairs and into the bathroom without tripping or stumbling once.

He took a quick shower to wash off the blood clinging to him and then slid back into bed.

“Where were you?” Sleep made Thom’s words slow and a little slurred.

Hank wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close. Joy filled him as every inch of his body pressed against Thom’s. “I had to take care of something. Nothing for you to worry about.”

“I thought I heard something in the woods.” The man snuggled against him. The soft skin of his ass rubbed against his cock. “I rolled over to ask you about it but you weren’t here.”

“I’m sorry.” He kissed the man’s temple.

Thom looked up at him. “If you’re so sorry, why are you grinning like an idiot?”

“I found something I thought I’d lost.”

He rolled over so his chest rubbed Hank’s. “What?”

“Home.” The word seemed too simple to encapsulate the depth of happiness filling him. “My home. Our home,” he corrected. “Together.”

Hank walked over to the group of people despite the tinge of nervousness making his stomach tight. After five months of being back in the area, coming to Los Lobos only caused a slight twinge of discomfort instead of the overwhelming urge to run as far and fast as possible. He counted the improvement as a victory.

“Where’s your mate?” When Drew looked squarely at him, he had to avert his gaze.

“He’s at Gee’s Place. We’re having dinner there after the run.” His human had made tremendous strides in finding his place in pack society since their mating two months ago. Sure, Los Lobos would never be their home, but he had become comfortable hanging out in the small town and visiting with the others in the pack.

Drew smiled. “Let’s not keep him waiting too long, then.”

“He’s probably busy unloading the shipment from Texas even though I told him I’d do it when we were done. He does too much.” Since winter had set in, Thom had gone with him on several cross-country trips. The time alone had been amazing, but Hank loved seeing the grass poke through the slushy remnants of snow. Planting would start soon. With local crops once again available, there would be fewer road trips in both of their futures.

“I’m sure Gee’s patrons are thankful for the fresh produce you brought back. As am I.”

Pride filled him at his Alpha’s praise. He hadn’t realized how much he missed being purposeful. He would always be grateful to Drew for giving that back to him. He nodded at Drew before turning his attention to the others. Most had already shifted. Taking a deep breath, he focused his energy and allowed his shift to sweep over him. He’d been sitting behind a wheel too long. He needed to run.

Drew shifted quickly and then howled at the moon. The edge of excitement filling the air became contagious. His howl filled with joy before he followed his Alpha across the night landscape.

***

Thom carried the last box of produce into Gee’s place as a chorus of howls broke the silent night. Gee would probably call him crazy, but he would swear he heard his mate’s. The deep timbre made him shiver, and his skin broke out in goose bumps.

“Can I make you a hamburger while you wait?” Gee set a pint of beer in front of him. “My cook’s on the run with the others, but I’m sure I can still fling a patty or two.”