A J Jarrett Nehalem Pack 06 His Perfect Mate

Nehalem Pack 6

His Perfect Mate

Jake Weathers just wants to be happy. After the death of his
father and the abandonment of his twin brother, all he longs for is

something normal in his life. But what he wants and what he gets
are out of his control.

Carl Sampson has learned life doesn’t give out favors or happy

endings. Being held prisoner with his younger brother for the past
three years has left him a broken man. Daily physical and sexual

abuse has taken away his ability to trust others. That is until he
comes face to face with his mate. Learning to trust again might be

Carl’s toughest challenge yet.

Carl discovers all too soon that he can’t run from his past. After

his brother is taken by the very man they escaped from, Carl has
to put his issues aside and accept Jake’s help. But Carl is starting
to wonder if he can sacrifice his mate in order to save his brother.

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Paranormal,
Vampires/Werewolves
Length: 41,475 words

HIS PERFECT MATE

Nehalem Pack 6

AJ Jarrett

EROTIC ROMANCE

MANLOVE

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www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

HIS PERFECT MATE
Copyright © 2013 by AJ Jarrett
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62740-103-6

First E-book Publication: June 2013

Cover design by Harris Channing
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be
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All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance
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PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

If you have purchased this copy of His Perfect Mate by AJ Jarrett
from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also,
thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy

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HIS PERFECT MATE

Nehalem Pack 6

AJ JARRETT

Chapter One

“Jake, where are you going?”
Jake turned around to see his brother Josh standing behind him.

“Over to Holden’s house.” He gestured out the back door.

“Oh.” Josh shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back and

forth on his feet. “I didn’t know you two were such good friends.”

Jake loved his brother. They were twins and had always shared

every part of their lives with one another but after their father died
everything seemed to change. In his grief Josh took off, whereabouts
unknown, leaving Jake behind.

For far too long he had been a follower and now he didn’t need

his brother to guide him through life. He was a grown man and it was
high time he started making his own choices. He just hadn’t told his
brother of this little revelation.

“Well we are. After you left we started to hang out. He’s a great

guy.” Jake looked just past his brother’s shoulder. He hated seeing the
hurt look on his face. It wasn’t like he liked bringing up the fact that
Josh took off for a month without telling anyone where he went but it
was a hard subject to avoid.

“Fuck, Jake, I’m so sorry about that. I never did it to hurt you.”

Josh looked away from him. “I just didn’t know how to deal with

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everything going on.” Josh let out a small chuckle. “I guess I’m more
of a coward than I care to admit.”

“No you’re not.” Josh took stepped closer to his brother. “I don’t

blame you for leaving. It hurt not knowing where you went but I get
why you did it. I’m not trying to punish you for anything. But while
you were gone I had to adapt without having you here.” He spoke the
truth. He didn’t blame Josh for his actions but he couldn’t be at fault
for moving on with his life either.

“I know you did.” Josh pulled him into a tight hug. “But I still feel

like I failed you and Cole. I’m the oldest. I should have been here for
you guys.”

It drove Jake crazy how Josh always thought he needed to take

care of him and their younger brother Cole. They were grown men
who didn’t need a caretaker. Yes, Josh had always taken on the role as
leader but now they didn’t need him to fill that position in their lives.
They just needed him to be their brother. Jake was happy with that
and wished Josh could see that.

“You’re here now. Cole and I are grown men who can take care of

ourselves.” He patted Josh on the back and took a step back. “Just
don’t jump ship again without telling us,” he teased. “We at least need
to know where to forward your mail.”

“Wise ass.” Josh lightly punched him in the arm.
“You know what?” He started to laugh. “I am wise. So don’t you

forget it.”

He gave Josh one more hug goodbye then started the trek up to

Holden’s house. Holden lived with Skyler and Noah and their young
son Carson. A few months back Holden came to town and dropped
the bomb that he was Carson’s uncle. Wouldn’t have been a huge
shock if it weren’t for the fact that Carson’s mother had drugged
Noah in order to become pregnant.

Holden came to Nehalem when he learned that his father had

discovered that his sister’s baby stilled lived. Holden’s father was the
alpha of their pack and a crazy son of a bitch to boot. The man had

His Perfect Mate

ordered the death of his daughter then wanted her son dead as well.
Holden being the good guy that he was tracked Noah and Carson
down and was there the night his father attacked. Luckily none of
them got hurt but Holden’s father and his men had been killed in the
battle. Not much of a loss in Jake’s opinion.

But since then Jake had become good friends with Holden.

Holden was there to listen to Jake when he was dealing with his
father’s death and his brother’s abandonment. Jake poured his heart
out to Holden and shed more than a few tears on his shoulder but
Holden didn’t judge him. A bond formed between them and Jake was
happy to call Holden a friend.

Skyler and Noah’s property backed up to the Carsten family’s.

The walk only took about fifteen minutes. If he were to shift he could
cut the time in half but he enjoyed making the walk on his human
legs. He loved the way the night breeze would brush against his face
and the smell and sounds of nature all around him. It gave him time to
just be him and to relax without the constant prying eyes of his
brothers.

As he walked out of the trees he could see the lights on in the

kitchen. Skyler stood at the sink washing dishes. He jogged up to the
back door and knocked. Skyler glanced over his shoulder, smiled,
then waved for him to come in.

“Hey, Sky.”
“Hey, Jake.” Skyler turned around, drying his hands on the towel.

He had a worried look on his face. “Can I ask you something?”

Jake could feel the hairs on the back of his neck begin to rise.

“Sure,” he said slowly, not sure he wanted to hear what Skyler’s
question would be.

“Do you and Holden have something going on between you two?”
“Excuse me?” Jake’s eyes widened at the question. Did he like

Holden? Yes, but he didn’t think beyond that. No one ever asked Jake
if he preferred men over women and he never discussed it with
anyone. It was none of their business. If he had to label himself he’d

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have to say he was curious but still he never thought of Holden in that
way. They were friends and neither of them wanted to jeopardize that.

“I’m not insinuating anything thing. I’m just curious,” Skyler

rushed to say. “I mean just because your brothers have joined the club
doesn’t mean you’re a member by association.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” At times he felt Skyler

talked in a language only Skyler could understand. He often wondered
how Noah kept up with his mate’s antics. “What club?”

“Oh you know.” Skyler twirled the towel in his hand around. “The

we love cock club.” Jake rolled his eyes and Skyler began to laugh.
“But seriously I’m just asking because Holden has a friend over. And
if something is going on between the two of you, I wanted to
forewarn you.”

“Sky, we’re just friends.” He wanted to put Skyler’s nerves at

ease. And he also didn’t want Skyler to think he and Holden had
something going on and that Holden was being unfaithful or some
shit. “He can do whatever he likes.”

“Oh thank God!” Skyler sighed dramatically. “Ever since that guy

showed up I’ve been sweating bullets. I didn’t want to be the one to
break it to you if you guys were, you know, hooking up.”

He totally didn’t get Skyler’s logic. “Even if we were why would

an old friend coming over to see Holden automatically imply that he’s
cheating?”

“Because the guy is gorgeous. If I weren’t with Noah, I’d be

trying to get me some of that.” Skyler’s eyes fell shut and he made a
humming sound.

“Dude, you need help.” Jake pointed toward the hall. “Is Holden

in the TV room?”

“Yes, and trust me when you meet Seth you’ll want to drool down

your chin. Yummy!” Skyler snapped his fingers then turned back to
the dishes he was washing in the sink.

Jake shook his head as he walked down the hallway. He admired

the way Skyler could speak his mind so freely. Skyler knew who he

His Perfect Mate

was and didn’t make excuses for it. Jake hoped to one day be that
confident in his own skin.

As he neared the room he could hear voices coming through the

door. He could make out Holden’s voice and another. They were
talking in low tones and Jake couldn’t decipher what they were
talking about. He stopped at the door and knocked once.

“Jake,” Holden said when he opened the door. “Did you get held

up by Skyler again?”

“Of course,” he answered as he stepped into the room. His eyes

immediately landed on the man sitting on the couch. And he had to
admit that Skyler was right. The man was beautiful. He looked like an
angel who had fallen from grace sent to live among the lonely humans
of the world. He had dark-blond hair with bright-blue eyes. A dark tan
colored his skin and stubble covered his jaw. He looked gorgeous and
lethal all at once.

But regardless of the man’s good looks, Jake didn’t care for the

hard stare the other man was giving him. Jake wasn’t some
lightweight but the man lounging back on the couch looked like he
could wrestle a bear and live to tell the tale.

“Jake, let me introduce you to my friend, Seth.” Seth stood up and

offered his hand to Jake and he accepted it. “We’ve been friends for
years.”

“Nice to meet you, Seth.”
“Likewise,” the man said then sat back down.
“So what brings you to Nehalem?” Jake asked as he took a seat on

the couch across from where Seth sat.

Seth tilted his head and cocked an eyebrow at him. Jake sat back

further in his seat, not sure if what he had just asked had pissed the
guy off.

“Seth has come here because he needs my help with something,”

Holden answered. Seth opened his mouth to say something but
Holden waved off his reply. “Seth, we can trust Jake. He’s my
friend.”

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“What’s going on?” Jake’s stomach clenched tight. He had a bad

feeling.

Seth narrowed his eyes at Holden and Holden gave a nod of his

head. With a resigned look on his face Seth started to explain. “Jake, I
grew up in Holden’s pack but when I turned eighteen I chose to leave.
I’m not one for large groups.” A smiled cracked the hard exterior of
the man’s face. “I moved to a town in Vermont called Clawson. I like
it there. It’s peaceful, away from any large cities, and I don’t have to
deal with pack life. Until recently I hadn’t had any problems in
avoiding other wolves.”

Jake wasn’t one to judge. Seth’s choice to leave his pack was his

own to make. Not everyone wanted to be under the rule of another
person and a pack always had an alpha. And sometimes the wolf in
charge was a piece of shit that didn’t make the right decisions for the
pack’s benefit.

“So what changed?” Jake asked.
“I spotted a young wolf on my property.” Seth shrugged. “Not a

big deal until I noticed him more and more. Then I caught the wolf
hunting on my land so I decided to follow him. The wolf never
suspected that I had been following it and when he shifted I couldn’t
believe the condition the kid was in. His body was thin and he looked
malnourished. Scars covered the kid’s back like he’d been whipped.
When I tried to approach him to tell him he was on private property
he took off. Several days later I tracked him to a small, rickety-
looking shack. And there were two of them. Brothers, I’m assuming.”

Jake hated to hear of anybody suffering from abuse, but what did

this have to do with Seth needing help? “Why didn’t you approach
them once you found where they lived?” It seemed like the most
logical thing to do.

Seth let out a harsh laugh. “You’ve never had the privilege of

being under the rule of a deranged alpha I take it?” Jake didn’t like
Seth’s tone and just glared at him. “That’s what I thought. You look
like you’ve lived a pretty pampered life.”

His Perfect Mate

“Hey!” Jake stood up and Seth did so as well. His fist balled up

tight and he could feel his body tingle with wanting to shift.

“Knock it off!” Holden shouted and put his arms out to separate

them.

“Because, one of them had a gun and by the condition they were

in they would probably shoot first then ask questions later. They need
help and I’m not much of a people person. So I wanted Holden to
come with me. He’s got a way with people and most seem to like him.
I’m hoping he can help me get these boys the care they need and off
my land.” Seth sat back down on the couch and put his head in his
hands. The man looked tired.

Before Jake knew what he was doing he said, “If Holden’s going

then so am I.”

“What?” both Seth and Holden asked simultaneously.
“If these kids need assistance then I want to help. And I want to

make sure nothing happens to you.” He didn’t think Seth would hurt
Holden but he wasn’t sure about the two wolves he spoke of. Also he
needed a vacation.

“Um, are you two seeing each other or something?” Seth asked.
“Dear god!” Jake threw his hands in the air. “Can’t two men just

be friends? I swear everyone has sex on the brain.”

“Let me guess, Skyler got to you, too?” Holden asked with a wide

grin on his face.

“Yeah. Not that you’re not attractive but I don’t see you in that

way. No offense,” he answered honestly.

“None taken and I feel the same. But are you sure you want to go

with us? It might take a few days and it might be dangerous. If what
Seth says is true these wolves might be skittish toward anyone trying
to help them.” Holden rested a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sure. I can handle my own and I need some time away.” Jake

didn’t need to tell Holden why he needed to get away. His friend
knew. Jake loved his brothers but ever since Josh left Cole had been
treating him as if he were the baby of the family. Then when Josh

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returned his brother looked at him as if he would fall to pieces at any
moment.

After their father had died he thought he might lose his mind. The

grief was like a knife to the chest and he didn’t think he’d be able to
live through the pain, but he did. Jake worked through his grief and in
the process changed as a person. He no longer needed to depend on
Josh to tell him what to do next. Jake really liked the person he’d
become but his brothers still hadn’t gotten used to the new him.

“Well then, I guess you’re coming with.” Holden pulled him into

a hug and Jake went willingly. Seth sat on the couch glaring up at him
and Jake couldn’t help but grin in response.

They made plans to leave the next morning. Holden asked him

again if he really wanted to go and Jake reassured his friend this was
exactly what he needed. It gave him a purpose, plus it was something
he decided on his own. It was his choice to go and he couldn’t wait to
head out at daybreak. All he needed to do now was explain to his
brothers and Devon that he would be leaving for a few days. Devon
was his boss and new alpha and he didn’t think the man would have
an issue with him taking time off, but his brothers would be a
different story.

His Perfect Mate

Chapter Two

When Jake got home that night Josh was still there. Jake and Cole

lived with the Carsten pack but Josh had chosen to live with his mate
Jensen in Silver Creek where Jensen had a house. His brothers and
their mates were sitting on the couch watching a movie. He could hear
their laughter as he came through the back door.

“Great you’re still here,” Jake said as he came into the living

room.

“Yeah, little brother twisted my arm until I stayed.” Josh must

have read something on his face because he grabbed the remote and
paused the movie. “What’s up?”

“Nothing, you being here just saves me from having to call you.”

He took a seat on the coffee table. “I’m going to be leaving for a few
days.”

“Where are you going?” Cole asked.
“Away with Holden.”
“Oh,” Cole said real slow then started to smile like a fool. “I get

it.” He nudged Jake in the knee.

“What is wrong with you people?” Jake asked his little brother.

“Just because Holden and I spend time together doesn’t mean we’re
sleeping together. Jeez.” He blew out an annoyed breath. It would
seem everyone pegged them for being a couple.

“I just assumed.” Cole looked to his mate Josef then to Josh. “I

think we all assumed that you two were dating.”

“Well, we’re not.” He slapped his hands on his thighs. “But back

to what I was saying. I’ll be gone for a few days. Holden is going to
visit a friend Seth and I’m tagging along.” When Cole made a sound

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of surprise Jake narrowed his eyes at his brother. “And, no, they are
not dating either.” Or so he thought.

“So where are you going and what will you be doing while you’re

there?” Josh asked.

Josh had been born mere seconds before him and it irritated Jake

that his brother treated him like a small child in need of constant
parenting. Jake didn’t need to answer to anyone. He could come and
go as he pleased. But out of respect he would tell his brothers where
he’d be unlike Josh had done a few months back. Jake didn’t want to
make anyone worry about him.

“Clawson. It’s a small town in Vermont.” He looked to Josh.

“Seth invited him for a visit.” Jake held back the part about the two
stray wolves on Seth’s property. No need to make his brothers worry
because then they would try and talk him out of going.

“That explains why Holden’s going but why are you?” Josh sat

forward and pointed a finger at Jake’s chest.

“Not that it’s any of your business, Brother,” Jake sneered at Josh.

“But I want to go. I need some time on my own. It seemed to work
wonders for you.” It was a low blow but of all people Josh should
understand him wanting to get away for a bit.

“Come on, you two.” Cole interjected before Josh could say

anything in his defense. “Jake, I think it’d be good for you to get
away and have some time to yourself.” Cole shifted to look at Josh.
“You agree to, don’t you, Josh?” With a tight nod Josh gave his
approval, not that Jake needed it.

“Okay then.” Jake stood up. “I’m going to go talk to Devon and

let him know I’ll need a few days off work.”

Jake left the room without saying another word and headed for

Devon’s office. Yellow light seeped out from underneath the door and
he could hear Devon’s chair rolling back and forth across the
hardwood flooring. He knocked once and waited.

“Come in.”

His Perfect Mate

Jake pushed the door open and stepped inside. “You got a

minute?”

“Of course.” Devon put his pen down and smiled up at him.

“What can I do for ya?”

“I wanted to see if it would be okay for me to take a few days off

work?” He took a seat in the chair in front of Devon’s desk.

“Sure, where you off to?” Devon asked him.
“I’m going to go out of town with Holden and his friend Seth.” He

quickly explained how he just wanted to get out of the house, hell,
away from his brothers for just a little while.

Devon understood and said he could relate. He had two brothers

of his own that put him through the wringer on a daily basis.

“Hey, Jake.”
Jake stopped at the door and turned to look back at Devon.

“Yeah?”

“If you need anything don’t hesitate to call me.”
Jake smiled and appreciated the offer from his new alpha. “Will

do, boss.” When he stepped out of the office he wasn’t surprised to
see his twin leaning against the opposite wall. “Josh, what are you
doing out here?” He shut the door behind him.

“Waiting for you.” Josh pushed away from the wall and came to

stand before him. “Are you sure it’s safe going out of town with two
men you barely know?”

Jake wanted to roll his eyes. “Yes, Josh, I do. I’m not helpless. I

can take care of myself. I don’t need you to hold my hand anymore.”

Josh flinched at his words. “I never said you did, Brother. I just

worry is all. After what I did, taking off like that, I don’t blame you
for being standoffish with me but I want you to know that I love you
and I’d die if anything ever happened to you or Cole.” Josh’s voice
started to crack and Jake could see tears well up in his brother’s eyes.

“Josh, stop thinking that I’m upset or trying to find ways to punish

you.” He lightly punched Josh in the arm. “It hurt when you left but I
get it and I don’t blame you. But you have to understand that now it’s

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my turn to go and do a little self-discovery without you. Do you
understand what I’m saying?”

After a few moments of silence Josh nodded his head and wiped

at his cheeks.

“I do.”

“Great!” Jake pulled his brother in for a hug then started for the

stairs. “I need to go pack and get ready for tomorrow. I’ll call you
when I get back.”

“Jake,” Josh called out. He turned around and raised an eyebrow.

“I’m here if you need anything, just call me, okay.”

Jake nodded his head and smiled down at his brother then headed

for his room. He started pulling out clothes and laying them out on his
bed. Seth hadn’t said how long they’d be gone so he thought it best to
only pack a few days’ worth. He’d probably be in his wolf form a
good chunk of the time and he didn’t really want to have to lug
around a ton of crap he might not need.

Once he finished packing he took a quick shower then climbed

into bed. He tossed and turned but couldn’t get comfortable.
Excitement like he never felt before kept him awake. He couldn’t wait
to leave in the morning. Something about this trip had his body
surging with energy.

* * * *

Beep, beep, beep.
Jake rolled to the side and slammed his hand down on his alarm

clock. The sound was like nails on a chalkboard screeching in his
ears. He climbed out of bed and went to go to the bathroom. He
washed his face and brushed his teeth then got dressed.

The house was quiet as he left his room. The sun had yet to rise so

he hadn’t expected to see anyone as he left the house. Jake walked out
the front door and took a deep breath of the chilly morning air. The
sun was just coming up over the trees and lighting the front yard.

His Perfect Mate

Frost glistened on the blades of grass that had started to turn yellow
with the changing of the seasons.

Jake stood on the front porch with his backpack over his shoulders

and his hands jammed into his pockets waiting for Holden and Seth.
They had planned to leave at seven that morning and it was a few
minutes before that. But Jake was eager to leave and didn’t mind
braving the cold morning as he waited.

A large black Jeep came up the long driveway and Jake took the

steps down to the sidewalk. When the Jeep stopped moving the
passenger window came down.

“You ready?” Holden asked.
“As I’ll ever be.” He pulled open the door handle and hopped into

the back seat. “Seth.” He nodded a hello to the man.

“Jake,” Seth said in not too friendly of a tone.
“So.” Holden pulled Jake’s attention from Seth back to him.

“What did your brothers say? Did they freak out on you?”

Seth turned around in the drive then headed down the road toward

the interstate. Every once in a while he’d catch Seth staring at him in
the rearview mirror.

“Nah, not really. Even though I told them it wasn’t a romantic

getaway with you, I think Cole’s still hoping.”

“Him and Skyler both.” Holden chuckled. “But seriously are they

okay with you leaving?” Jake could hear the concern in his friend’s
voice.

He shrugged. “I guess so. I think even if I was going away for a

romantic weekend with you they’d still be worried about me. I’m
starting to think they think I can’t function on my own or some shit.”

“Maybe they just worry because they’re your family and that’s

what family does,” Seth said in a soft voice, never taking his eyes
from the road.

“Maybe.” Jake turned and focused his attention out the side

window. What Seth said was true and Jake was fortunate to have a

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family that cared about him, but sometimes it could be too much. In
Jake’s opinion his brothers went overboard with the worrying.

The drive carried on in silence for about an hour until Holden got

restless and turned on the radio. Jake took off his jacket and propped
it against the window to rest his head on. It seemed like the perfect
time to catch a few extra winks.

A little over five hours later they came to the Clawson city limits

and Seth drove through the small town until nothing but trees
surrounded them. After a little more driving Seth hit his blinker and
turned down a dirt-beaten path. The foliage had turned from vibrant
greens to rust-colored oranges and brown. As the Jeep drove past
leaves blew into the air, scattering in all different directions.

The road was so bumpy that Jake had to keep grabbing the side

handle to keep from falling over. Finally Seth turned down a narrow
road and Jake could see a log cabin in the distance. It reminded him of
the cabin his father, he, and his brothers would stay at when they’d go
hunting while in human form. His father believed every man needed
to know how to handle a rifle.

“Home sweet home,” Seth said as he pulled the Jeep up to the side

of the house. He turned off the engine and climbed out and Jake and
Holden followed suit.

“It’s nice, Seth,” Holden complimented. “Has a rustic welcoming

appeal to it. All I need is a beer and lip full of chewing tobacco and
I’d be right at home here.” Seth started to laugh and Jake turned
around, thinking he was hearing things. The hard lines of Seth’s face
loosened when he smiled and Jake thought it was a good look for the
man.

“I say we get you two unpacked and have some lunch then go

looking for my uninvited guest.” Seth opened his front door and they
filed into the house behind him. “There’s no telling what they’ve been
up to since I’ve been gone.”

Jake dropped his bag in an empty chair. “What are you so worried

about? I think there’s enough animals on this land for you to share,”

His Perfect Mate

Jake said more as an afterthought. He didn’t mean for it to come out
sounding judgmental but he didn’t see what the harm was if these two
young wolves lived on Seth’s property. He was only one man. It
wasn’t like he used up every square inch of the land all at once. Jake
couldn’t grasp why the man couldn’t share with the less fortunate.

“Because, I’ve been worried about them, you prick.” Seth spun

around and stormed toward him. “You didn’t see them. They look so
young and sickly that I hated having to leave to come ask for help.”
He pointed a finger into Jake’s chest. Jake swatted it away. “You
don’t know me and don’t pretend you know what I’m thinking. Got
it?”

Jake narrowed his eyes and took a tiny step forward until he

bumped chests with Seth. A growl seeped past his lips.

“Cool it, you two.” Holden pushed between them. “We’re all on

the same side here.”

Jake pulled his steely gaze from Seth to look at Holden. He

nodded his head. “You’re right, Holden. I’m sorry, Seth. I didn’t
mean to offend you like that.”

“It’s okay.” Seth ran a hand down his face and Jake could see the

tension cording his muscles. “Like I said I’m not good with people
and I didn’t mean to give the impression that I didn’t care about these
young men. I’m just not comfortable having them here. I feel
responsible for them and that’s a feeling I don’t like having.”

“Understandable,” Jake said.
Jake walked around taking in his surroundings. The cabin only

had two bedrooms which meant Jake and Holden had to share a room.
Not a big deal. The bed was a queen and had plenty of room for them
both. It might be a little close for comfort but nothing that bothered
either of them. They both had siblings and were used to sharing.

Once they had their stuff put away they headed out to the kitchen.

The kitchen wasn’t very big and with three grown men in there it was
a little crowded. Jake took a seat at the small table so that he wasn’t in

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the way and watched as Seth and Holden made lunch. Seth prepared
the soup while Holden made some grilled cheese sandwiches.

As he waited for Seth and Holden to finish lunch Jake felt his

phone vibrate in his pocket. He took it out and saw Cole’s name flash
across the screen. He opened the message and smiled.

Did you make it there okay???
Of course, Jake typed back.
Cool. If you need anything just call me, okay?
I will.
Talk to you soon, Jake. Love you!!!!
I love you too. Jake added a smiley face at the end of the message.

Ever since Cole started dating Josef he’d been more open with his
affection and Jake liked it. It made him feel good to know someone
loved him. Subconsciously he knew his dad and his brothers cared for
him but it never hurt to hear someone express those feelings out loud.

He quickly put his phone away when Seth brought over the bowls

of chicken soup. Holden followed behind him with a platter of
sandwiches. His stomach growled loudly and he moved a hand over
his belly in hopes of masking the sound. He grabbed up a sandwich
and soaked it in his soup then took a bite. His stomach sighed in relief
to have substances filling it.

As he sat there and ate, Jake kept glancing looks at Seth.

Something about the other man told Jake to keep his guard up. He
didn’t think the man was a threat to him but his father had taught him
to keep his eyes and ears open at all times. A threat could come from
anywhere or anyone when he least expected it.

His Perfect Mate

Chapter Three

A few hours later Seth led them through the woods toward where

he spotted the young wolves that had been squatting on his land. The
sun hid behind the clouds and the temperature began to drop. Jake
took out his gloves and pulled them on.

“About how much further?” he asked.
“Ten maybe fifteen more minutes,” Seth answered. The man kept

trudging forward.

“As long as we get there before dark we’re good,” Holden chimed

in. “If we approach these wolves in the dark it might look suspicious
and they might go into attack mode.”

“It’s survival mode, Holden,” Seth corrected as he turned around

to face his friend. In that instant Jake saw something flash before the
other man’s eyes but Jake wasn’t quite sure what it was, fear or
understanding.

As they made their way up a small embankment there was a break

in the trees. Sitting in the center of a small clearing was a little cabin
that looked like it had seen better days.

“That’s it,” Seth whispered.
“I can’t smell anything but the smoke coming from their

chimney.” Holden pointed to the roof.

Jake took a deep breath and pulled on every wolf instinct in him to

try and make out a scent. His eyes watered from the brisk, cold air.
Just as he filled his lungs for a second time a man stepped out of the
house. The sweet aroma of freshly baked bread and honey fanned
under his nose. His eyes fell shut as the smell took control of his body
and his dick twitched in his pants.

AJ Jarrett

Shaking off his arousal, Jake opened his eyes. The young man

wore a pair of blue jeans that were covered in dirt and grime and had
holes in the knees. His flannel shirt hung loose around his body,
buttoned clear up to his neck, and a vest jacket over that.

Jake shifted to get a better look at the man’s face. Even with the

distance separating them Jake could see the light blue of the man’s
eyes. They almost looked milky white with a swirl of blue bleeding
through it. The man’s skin was pale with deep, dark circles under both
eyes. Jake watched as the man straightened from staking the wood
that had fallen from the pile and his shaggy brown hair fell across his
face. The layers lay in different lengths as if he had cut his hair
himself and done a terrible job at it.

Mine! a voice inside his head screamed. Jake straightened and

made to stand up.

“What are you doing?” Holden hissed in a low voice. He grabbed

Jake by the arm and yanked him back down to the ground.

Holden’s tight grip on his arm shook him from his trance. He

turned to look at Holden. “He’s mine.”

“What?” Holden mouthed. His jaw went slack.
“He’s my mate.” He tried to get up but Holden refused to let go of

his arm.

“If you go over there spouting off that you’re his mate he might

freak out.” Seth leaned closer to whisper.

Jake stared hard at Seth. No one was going to keep him from his

mate. A low growl bubbled up his chest and his lips pulled back as he
snarled at Seth.

The sound of something thudding to the ground had all three of

them jerking their heads back toward the small cabin.

“Who’s out there?” the man shouted.
Jake tried to stand up but Holden still had a death grip on his

hand. “Let go of me.” His voice came out garbled. His canines had
lengthened from his gums and his lips and cheeks were puffed out.

His Perfect Mate

“I said”—the man paused and the distinct sound of a shotgun

cocking traveled to his ears—“who’s out there?”

“Let go,” he snapped at Holden.
“Dude, no way.” Holden pointed in Jake’s mate’s directions.

“He’s got a fucking gun in his hands. He’s prepared to shoot and that
means even you. Mate or not.”

“The bond between mates is strong. I’m sure once he catches

smell of me he’ll put it away.”

Holden looked from him then to Seth who just shrugged his

shoulders. “What’s the worst that could happen?”

“Are you serious?” Holden whispered dramatically. “He could get

shot, that’s what.”

Jake peeled Holden’s fingers from his arm. “I’ll be fine. Trust

me.” He gave his friend one last reassuring smile then stood up. “Hi,”
he called out in a friendly tone. His mate widened his stance and
aimed the gun at his chest. Jake put his hands up in surrender. “I’m
not going to hurt you. I swear it.” He took a few more steps forward.

“Stop right there, mister.” Jake could see his mate’s knuckles

glow bright white from the hard grip he had on the gun. “Just turn
around and forget you ever saw me or this place.”

“Why would I do that?” Jake’s arms fell to his sides. “Can’t you

feel it?” He continued to walk toward his mate.

“I said to stop!” the man shouted. “Get off my property!”
Jake ignored his mate’s warning and kept walking. Maybe if he

got close enough the other man would feel the connection and put the
gun away.

He smiled at his mate who never dropped the gun. The barrel

aimed right at his chest and for one brief moment Jake thought he saw
a slight hesitation in the man’s resolve, but no. His mate curled his
finger and a shot rang out.

The force of the impact had Jake stumbling back a step. He kept

his eyes on his mate’s face. No look of regret, just one of triumph.

AJ Jarrett

What the hell? He shot me. Jake fell to the ground. The hard dirt

floor didn’t soften the impact. Warmth spread out across his chest and
he stared blindly up at the graying sky. The nerves in his body came
awake with a jolt and pain fanned out from where he’d been shot. His
vision went fuzzy and he thought he felt someone touching him. All
sound was drowned out by his heartbeat pounding in his ears. He
wanted to get up but he couldn’t get his body to comply.

Jake let his eyes fall shut. If he just rested for a few minutes he’d

be okay. He’d heal and be fine. And when he woke up the first thing
he’d do is take that shotgun from his mate and toss it off the nearest
cliff.

That was Jake’s last thought before his mind went blank and

darkness pulled him under into comforting nothingness.

* * * *

“What the hell is wrong with you?” a dark-headed man shouted at

him as he ran to the man lying on the ground.

“Who…” His voice hitched as he tried to speak. For some reason

he felt like what he had just done was seriously wrong. Besides being
the first person he had ever shot something else didn’t feel right about
what had just happened. Almost like he felt the man’s pain in his own
chest.

“Give me that.” A tall man with blond hair stepped forward and

ripped away his only line of defense.

Carl took a cowering step back. Without the shotgun he and

Casper were left vulnerable. What if his old pack sent these men for
them? What if they were going to take them back?

Oh god no!
“What do you want?” He took one step back then another trying

to get closer to the cabin. He needed to get away and find Casper. His
younger brother had gone out hunting earlier and hadn’t gotten back

His Perfect Mate

yet. He prayed if Casper saw the commotion he’d stay away and hide.
“Get off my property.”

“Yeah, right.” The blond man laughed. “You are on my land, you

gun-wielding moron.” He pointed to the man on the ground. “Why
would you shoot him? He meant you no harm.”

Carl looked to the bleeding man then up to the other. Words failed

him. Fear had him wanting to bolt but not without Casper.

Just then a howl ripped through the trees and he saw a streak of

brown as it raced toward him. He turned in time to wrap his arms
around Casper’s neck, holding him back. Carl didn’t know these men
and didn’t want to chance they’d hurt the only family he had left.

“Shh, calm down, Brother,” Carl whispered into Casper’s ear. He

could feel his brother’s pulse racing under his thick fur. Casper settled
down and sat at his feet. He rubbed a hand over Casper’s head then
stood up to face the other men. The blond man still held his gun and
stood there staring at him like Carl was a lesser man than him. It
angered him. He wasn’t weak. “I said to get off my property and give
me back my gun.” Rage fueled his courage. Courage he hung onto by
a single thread. “Did our pack send you here?”

“Huh?” The blond-haired man looked at him like he had grown a

second head. “What pack?”

“Seth, help me.” The man turned to look at the one kneeling on

the ground next to the man he had shot.

Carl watched as the man helped his friend pick up the one

bleeding. His face had gone pale and Carl wondered if the stranger
was dead.

“Do you have any first-aid supplies in your cabin?” the dark-

headed man asked.

A whine had him looking down at his brother, and Casper’s sad

eyes pleaded with him. Knowing it was the right thing to do, Carl
waved them toward the cabin. “We don’t have much but you can help
yourself.” He stopped walking and held up a hand. “But after that you
have to leave. Do you understand?”

AJ Jarrett

“Yeah, yeah, now get out of the way.” The blond man pushed past

him, carrying the other. He shoulder-opened the door and went inside.

Casper nudged him in the thigh and Carl walked toward the cabin.

Once inside he saw the blond man lay the injured man down on the
makeshift bed he and Casper shared. The other man rummaged
through their cabinets until he found the little first-aid box they had. It
was one of the few items he had stolen. When he and Casper escaped
from their alpha’s house they only had the clothes on their backs and
even that wasn’t much. Carl hated to have to break the law but they
needed supplies. He made a vow to someday pay back for everything
he had taken.

“There’s only Band-Aids and alcohol wipes in here.” The dark-

haired man sounded panicked. “We need to get him to a hospital.”

“And say what?” the other man asked. “If we go to the hospital

they’ll ask questions that we cannot answer.” Carl noticed the man
looked at him and his brother when he said that. “If we can get him
back to my house I can call a friend.”

“You don’t have any friends!” the dark-headed man shouted at the

other. He started to pace the floor.

“When I moved to Clawson I introduced myself to the pack in the

area. It’s small and they have their own doctor.” He shrugged. “I can
tell them there was an accident and get their assistance.”

“Good, then let’s go.” The dark-headed man grabbed a few paper

towels and held them against the bleeding man’s chest.

The blond-headed man lifted the man off the bed and headed for

the door. Without knowing why Carl stepped in his path. He looked
down at the man’s pasty white face and felt a pain in his chest as if he
had been shot. He couldn’t explain it but he didn’t want the man to
leave.

“Get out the way or he’s going to die,” the man said in a gruff

voice.

His Perfect Mate

Carl stepped out of the way and watched as the men walked away.

Something gave way in his heart and it screamed for him to go after
them and follow.

He flinched when he felt a light touch to his arm.
“I can tell you are frightened of something but I swear we didn’t

come here to hurt you.” The dark-headed man looked out toward his
friends then back to him. “Just please don’t leave. We just want to
help you and your friend.”

“He’s my brother,” Carl said without thinking about it.
“I had a hunch.” The man smiled. “I have to go but please don’t

run off. It would kill Jake if your bullet doesn’t first.” With that the
man took off running after his friends.

Carl watched until they were only specks in the distance.
“Do you believe them?” Casper’s voice sounded small and

fearful.

“I’m not sure but I feel like we can.” He turned to his brother. “If

they came here to kill us or take us back they would have done so. I
think we should wait.”

Casper wrapped his boney arms around his thin body and Carl

stepped forward to hug his brother. “Don’t worry, Casper. I’ll keep
you safe. I promise.”

“I know you will, Carl,” Casper whispered against his neck. “And

I’ll keep you safe.”

After a few minutes Carl let Casper go and told him to get

dressed. Both their stomachs were growling and Carl thought it best
to make some supper. Casper had caught a rabbit while out hunting
and he took on the responsibility of gutting and cleaning it while his
brother sat and watched.

The graying sky had darkened by the time he was finished. He

tied the meat to a stick and carried it inside to lay over the fire. Every
so often Casper would rotate the meat so it would cook evenly.

AJ Jarrett

Carl went into the tiny kitchen and poured some water over his

hands to get them cleaned. He stared out the window hoping he might
see the men come back with word that Jake was okay.

Jake.
The name flowed off his tongue like a leaf flying in the wind,

smoothly and without effort. He didn’t know what it meant and tried
to tell himself that he didn’t care. Keeping Casper safe was all that
mattered. Because if he knew anything it was that their alpha
wouldn’t stop until he had them back and that was something Carl
could never allow to happen.

His Perfect Mate

Chapter Four

Jake slowly opened his eyes and realized he was back in Seth’s

cabin. His thoughts instantly went to the young man in the woods and
he tried to sit up. Pain radiated from his chest straight down to his
toes. He fell back on the bed, gasping for breath.

“Dear god!” he cried out.
“Oh good you’re awake,” a man with gray hair and glasses said as

he stared down at him. “You gave your friends quite the scare, young
man.”

“Huh?” Jake scrunched up his face as he tried to remember what

had happened.

“You were shot, you idiot.” Holden came into view. “When

someone points a gun at you, you fucking stop moving and do as they
say.”

The old man waved a finger at him. “Your friend is right about

that. A person with a gun who is willing to kill another person has
nothing to lose so you need to be more cautious.”

“I didn’t think he would actually shoot me.” Jake rubbed his hand

over his chest. His fingers brushed along the bandage taped to his
skin. “We’re…”

“Mate or not he had a gun!” Holden threw his hands in the air and

paced the bedroom floor. “Had you been killed your brothers would
have ripped my throat out and I wouldn’t blame them if they did.”

Jake didn’t feel comfortable talking about wolf issues in front of a

stranger. He fidgeted on the bed and tried to use his eyes to convey to
Holden to keep his mouth shut.

AJ Jarrett

“It’s okay, son.” The man patted him on the shoulder. “I’m the

doctor for my pack. Seth called me and explained what happened.
Trust me, I won’t tell your secret if you don’t tell mine.” He winked
at Jake.

“Oh.” Jake didn’t know what to say. Seth had said he wasn’t a

people person yet he knew the local pack. “Well thank you, Mr…”

“The name’s Merle.”
“Thank you, Merle. I really appreciate the help.” He looked down

at the bandage on his chest. “How bad was it?”

“Not too bad. I had to dig the buckshot from the shotgun shell out

of your chest. You’ll heal but you will definitely have some scars.”

“Thanks again, Merle.” Scars he could live with.
“Don’t mention it. Glad I was able to help.” Merle started to pack

up his belongings. “Being as you’re a wolf shifter you’ll heal just fine
but if any complications arise have Seth give me a call.”

Jake thanked him again and Holden escorted Merle out of the

room. Now that the room had gone silent his mind wondered back to
his mate. Jake couldn’t believe his mate had shot him. He
remembered his mom telling him that sometimes love hurts but he
didn’t think she meant it in this way. Even now with as pissed off as
he was he couldn’t wait to see his mate again.

“Don’t even think about it.” Holden came back into the room and

sat down beside him. “I know you want to get back to your mate but
you need to heal first. I think he’ll understand being as he’s the one
that shot you.”

“It’s my fault.” Jake shook his head. His mate warned him to not

come any closer but Jake ignored him. He saw the fear in the man’s
eyes and should have been more sympathetic to his mate’s situation
and not his own selfish needs.

“Oh it is, is it?” Holden crossed his arms over his chest and glared

at him. “I think it’s mighty impressive how you shot yourself with a
rifle. That’s a real great talent. I’m sure Criss Angel would love to
learn the secret to your trick.”

His Perfect Mate

Jake rolled his eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that and you know it.

I’m just saying I shouldn’t have tried to approach him like I did. He
was frightened and shot to protect himself.”

“I agree you shouldn’t have gotten near him but in your defense

you aren’t the threatening type.” Holden waved a hand at him. “This
guy shot you without even thinking about it. Something for sure has
him spooked of other people.”

“Makes me wonder what has caused him to be this way.” Jake’s

chest started to ache but it wasn’t from the gunshot wound.

The sound of the front door opening then closing again had him

and Holden looking toward the bedroom door.

“Glad to see that you’re okay,” Seth said in greeting.
“Thanks.”
“Where have you been?” Holden shifted on the bed to face Seth.
“I went back to check on our new friends.” Jake’s ears perked up.

“They didn’t leave which is a good sign.”

Jake agreed with Seth. And more than anything he wanted to get

out of this bed and go to his mate. The other man needed him if he
realized it or not. He threw off the covers and tried to scoot past
Holden.

“Dude, you can’t go there now. It’ll just make things worse.”

Holden put his arm out to stop him from getting off the bed.

“Jake,” Seth said his name. Tearing his attention from Holden he

looked up at the other man. “Holden’s right. It’s past eleven. If you go
there now it’ll just make things worse. Let’s give them time to adjust
and we’ll go back there at first light.”

“But what if they run?” That was the one thing that scared Jake

more than anything.

“They won’t.” Seth huffed out a breath. “If they were going to run

they would have done so by now.”

“He’s right, Jake.” Holden placed his hand over Jake’s. “I’m not

sure if your mate understands what you are to him and I didn’t say
anything. It’s not my place but I think he’s worried about you. When

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we tried to leave with you he stepped in Seth’s way, stopping him.”
Jake’s eyes widened. “Yeah. I told him to stay put and we’d be back
for them.”

Jake considered this good news. A smile cracked the frown on his

face. He could wait a few more hours. He didn’t want to but his
friends were right.

Jake cleared his throat. “Thanks for helping me, Seth.” He done

nothing but butt heads with the man since they met but he owed the
man his life, literally.

“It’s cool.” Seth smiled wide, baring all his shiny white teeth.

“Let’s just say you owe me.”

Jake didn’t like the sound of that and the look on his face must

have conveyed his feelings on the issue because Holden started to
laugh. Never one to hold a grudge Jake had to agree. He did in fact
owe Seth a favor or something in the very least. The man save his life
after his mate shot him. Jake hoped that one day he and his mate
could look back on all this and laugh but they had a lot to work out
before they got to that stage in their lives.

* * * *

“Wake up, sunshine.”
The familiar voice had Carl opening his eyes in time to see a fist

plunging toward his face. He gasped in pain but the sound was
drowned out by the continuous blows to his head and body.

“You thought you could leave me, did you?” Another blow to the

side of his head. “Silly boy, you’re mine.”

Carl brought his arms up to shield his head but it only left the rest

of his body open for his alpha’s abuse. The man hit and kicked him
until Carl started to go in and out of consciousness. His body ached
and his brain tried to regain focus.

His Perfect Mate

Casper, his mind shouted. Need to protect your brother. Carl

rolled to the side and felt around the bed for where his brother should
have been but it was empty.

“Stop, please god, stop.” His brother’s fearful cry caused their

alpha to stop kicking Carl to a bloody, broken mess. “I’ll go with you,
just please stop hurting him.”

“Casper, my dear.” Carl could hear the heavy footfalls as the

alpha walked across the room. He turned to watch. “You need to be
punished for leaving like you did. Actions have consequences and
you’ve been a very bad boy.”

“Tobias, leave him alone,” Carl managed to say. Blood filled his

mouth from his busted lip. He swiped a hand over his mouth but it
only smeared the bright-red substance across his face.

The floor vibrated under his head as he watched their alpha walk

back toward him. He knelt down and whispered into Carl’s ear, “See
this is what happens when you try to leave me. Do you know how
hurt I was when I found out you had left?” Tobias spoke in a
menacing tone. “Losing your brother is your punishment. I’m sure
after you spend a few days alone you will make your way back home
and I’ll be waiting for you.” The man kissed the side of his head and
Carl tried to pull away.

“Anton.” The alpha said the name of his next-in-command and

Carl didn’t have time to anticipate the blow. A boot connected with
the side his head and his vision went black.

In the distance he could hear his brother’s cries as he begged to

say goodbye to him but the alpha refused. The door banged shut and
Carl lay there numb, unable to move a finger to help his brother. He
began to gag on the coppery taste in his mouth.

Images of what they left behind ran through his mind like a bad

movie. The beatings, the things they were forced to do. But Carl had
gotten off lucky. It was only the alpha that was allowed to touch him,
but Casper? He was a toy the alpha’s men passed between them.

AJ Jarrett

Oh god I need to get to him. Carl tried again to will his body to

move but it was useless. A tear leaked out of the corner of his swollen
eye to mix with the blood drying on his face. This had been his entire
fault. If he could only have loved Tobias none of this would have
happened.

His Perfect Mate

Chapter Five

At daybreak Jake was up and out of bed dressed and ready to

leave before Seth and Holden had even woke up. Jake kept rousing
them to hurry up as he followed behind them, trying to get them to
move faster.

Earlier that morning he woke up in a cold sweat with a feeling of

dread weighing down on him. He tried to blame it on a nightmare but
he had a sinking suspicion that wasn’t it.

“Slow down,” Seth called out to him. “You’re going to fall and

break your fool neck.”

Once they started out that morning Jake ran ahead and Seth and

Holden could barely keep up. The ground was uneven and surrounded
by trees of all sizes blocking his path. At times he felt like he was in a
pinball machine dodging obstacles as he trudged through the woods.

Thirty minutes had passed when the rundown cabin came into

view. Holden had raced up to catch him before Jake could reach the
house.

“Maybe we should make our presence known,” Holden suggested.

“Make some noise, call out our names. You know something like that
so he doesn’t shoot at us.”

“Good call.” Jake took a deep breath to calm his thudding heart.

“Hello. It’s me, Jake, from the other day.” He looked over to Holden
who nodded his head in encouragement and he called out again. “Are
you in there? Can we come inside?”

He waited but no answer followed his questions. The setting

seemed to quiet. He glanced over at Seth who stood with eyes
narrowed examining the house.

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“Something’s not right.” Seth started toward the house.
“I agree.” Jake took off for the front door. He could hear Holden

running along behind him. When he reached the cabin door he turned
the knob. It was unlocked and he stepped inside. He looked around at
the shabby living quarters and gasped in horror when his eyes landed
on a bloody figure balled up on a blanket on the floor.

“Fuck!” He fell to his knees. Blood mingled with the sweet scent

of his mate. Very gently he rolled the man to lie on his back. His
mate’s body went willingly. Rage pumped in his veins when he
caught the first sight of his mate’s beautiful face. It looked like
someone had taken a baseball bat to it then used the bat on his body.
“Baby, can you hear me?” He brushed his mate’s hair off his
forehead, trying to rouse the man.

“Does he have a pulse?” Seth knelt down next to him and placed

his fingers on his mate’s neck. Jake resisted the urge to growl at Seth.
The man only wanted to help. “I can feel it. It’s strong. He must just
be sleeping. Damn someone really did a number on him.”

“Where’s his brother?” Holden asked.
“You can’t possibly think his brother did this to him?” Jake

couldn’t believe that. He had two brothers of his own and no matter
how mad they got at one another they would never take it so far as to
harm the other.

“Casper,” his mate said weakly. “I need to find Casper.”
Jake pulled his mate close to him and rested the man’s head in his

lap. “We will but we need to help you first.”

The sound of his voice must have startled him. His mate propped

up and crab walked until his back hit the far wall. “Stay away from
me.” One eye was swollen shut and the other bloodshot as he stared at
Jake.

“It’s okay.” Jake softened his tone. “We’re the men from the other

day.” He paused for a brief moment, giving the man the opportunity
to remember. “I swear we’re not here to hurt you but we need to know
what happened.”

His Perfect Mate

“Th–th–they came and took him,” his mate stuttered.
“Who’s they?” Seth asked.
“Our alpha.” His mate’s eyes darted from him to Seth. “I have to

get him back.”

“We will.” Jake reached out his hand then quickly pulled it back,

thinking better of it. He didn’t want to frighten him more than he
already had. “Can you tell us what happened here?”

* * * *

Carl tried to piece together what had taken place. His head hurt

like hell and he couldn’t see out his right eye. Every time he blinked
his one good eye pain shot through his face. If he felt this bad he
could only image what he looked like.

“Kid, what happened?”
Carl’s head snapped up as he looked at the visitors from the

previous day. The man, who he had shot, Jake, squatted down in front
of him with sad eyes racking over his face. As he gazed into Jake’s
bright-green eyes the fear he felt started to drift away. He couldn’t
explain it but he knew deep down Jake wouldn’t hurt him. The man
had kind eyes and kindness had been something Carl hadn’t
experienced much of in the past three years.

“Baby, please talk to me. Why would your alpha do this to you?”

Jake whispered and Carl found himself leaning forward to try and
capture the warmth coming from the man.

Did he just call me baby? Carl’s brain snapped back to attention at

that one word. He pushed away from the man and overcompensated
the distance between the back of his head and the wall and slammed
against the unforgiving surface. Stars flashed behind his clenched
eyelids.

That word brought back to many bad memories. Tobias had called

him that.

Stop! Jake isn’t like him. Carl willed himself to relax.

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But how do you know? A little voice in his head whispered a

warning and it was right. He needed to keep his guard up if he was
going to find his brother.

“Get away from me now,” he growled at Jake. Carl didn’t know

him and he could be just like his alpha, wanting something from Carl
that he wasn’t willing to give.

“I’m just trying to help you,” Jake started to explain but Carl

didn’t want to hear it and turned his head away. “Us being ma—”

“Jake, now isn’t the time.”
Carl looked at the tall man with blond hair standing in the corner.

His eyes held a warning and Jake stopped talking.

“What’s your name?” the dark-haired man who talked to him

yesterday asked. “I’m Holden. You remember us, right?”

“Yes, I do.” Carl nodded his head. “My name is Carl.”
“Carl,” Jake said his name real slow and Carl found himself

wanting to lean closer to him again but stopped himself.

“Well, Carl, this is Seth.” Holden pointed to the man standing in

the corner. “And you remember Jake, he’s the one you shot.” Holden
turned his finger to point at Jake. “As you can see he pulled through
just fine.”

Holden rested his hand on Jake’s shoulder and Carl could feel a

growl rumbling in his chest. He didn’t like Holden touching Jake. But
why? There were so many questions and no time for answers.

Carl brought a hand up to his face and used his fingers to feel

around his puffy eye.

“We need to get out of here before whoever messed him up comes

back,” Seth ordered.

“I can’t leave.” Carl started to panic. “What if Casper gets away

and comes back. I need to be here.”

“Listen, kid.” Seth kneeled down next to Holden and Carl felt

surrounded by the three men. “I’ve seen your brother, I don’t think
he’d be able to overpower anyone.”

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Carl had to agree with that assessment. Casper and he had grown

thin and weak over the past three years but even more so once they
left the alpha’s house.

“Look, we’ll help you find your brother but you need to come

with us.” Seth said it as an order.

“But why do you want to help me? What do you want in return?”

He had to ask because he’d learned everything came with a price.

“Nothing, Carl.” Jake reached out his hand but hesitated in

touching him. Carl could see his fingers trembling. “We want to help
you because it’s the right thing to do.”

Carl sat there silently debating what to do. He did need help.

Getting Casper back from Tobias would be hard just for him alone.
They barely escaped the first time and now he was on his own without
Casper.

He took a good look at the three men. They were bigger than him

and looked stronger too. If it came down to a fight these men would
be able to help.

Seth had a lethal look to him that frightened Carl, yet he’d never

admit it. His broad shoulders and thick arms looked like he could do
some damage to another person’s body. Holden looked just as strong
but something about him didn’t scream that he was a violent man. He
looked trustworthy and sympathetic. He had been kind to Carl even
after he shot his friend.

His eyes slowly moved over to Jake and his heart started to pound

in his chest. There was something about Jake that made Carl want to,
well, want. The man had a strong and muscular frame and the golden
skin tone made him beyond handsome. His eyes shined like stones
and his full lips glowed a warm pink. He didn’t think it possible to be
attracted to another person after what Tobias had done to him. But as
he stared into Jake’s green eyes he wanted to have a future beyond the
nightmares that haunted him while awake and asleep.

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“Okay but it won’t be easy.” He needed to warn them what they

were getting themselves into. “My alpha is ruthless and he doesn’t
care who he hurts.”

“We understand.” Jake stood up and held out his hand for Carl to

take. “And that’s why we are going with you.”

Carl’s hand shook as he reached out to take Jake’s. When their

fingers connected a shock of electricity prickled against his skin and
he gripped Jake’s hand tighter, allowing the man to pull him to his
feet. Jake smiled down at him and Carl quickly let go and took a step
back.

“If there’s anything here you need grab it and let’s get out of here.

We’ll head back to my house and get my Jeep.” Seth walked out the
front door, leaving it open for them to follow.

Carl looked around the small room and nothing stuck out as

something he had to have. They had left everything they owned
behind when they escaped but even then that wasn’t much. Tobias
had taken all their possessions and destroyed them.

A shiver rippled over his skin at the memories of being held

captive. The small jail cells they were forced to live in. Carl had never
committed a crime yet he had been forced to live like a criminal. He
could still feel the cold steel bars as he gripped them night after night
praying for the strength to break free.

“Carl, you all right?” Jake asked. “You’ve gone pale like you’ve

seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine.” He blew off Jake’s concern. He didn’t need this man

to feel sorry for him. “Let’s go. There’s nothing for me here.”

Carl followed Holden out the door. His body ached all over and he

had a slight limp as he walked. He held a hand to his left side as his
ribs pulled tight with every step he took.

They walked into the trees with Seth leading the way. The sun

broke through the clouds but did little to keep him warm as they
walked through the dense forest. Carl pulled his shirt tighter to his
body wishing he had a heavier coat to wear.

His Perfect Mate

It seemed like they had been walking forever when they finally

came to the back of a much nicer cabin than he and his brother had
been living in.

“Let’s get you inside and cleaned up.” Jake gently touched his

shoulder. “Are you hungry?”

As if on cue his stomach growled loudly. Carl brought his hands

up to cover his stomach, embarrassed by the sound.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Jake smiled as he walked past him. “I’m

starving too. In the rush to get back to you I totally skipped
breakfast.”

He was taken by the man’s omission and stared up at him. “Why

did you want to get back to me? I shot you. Don’t you hate me?” Carl
asked.

Jake spun around and grabbed him by the shoulders. “I could

never hate you. You were afraid and did what you thought was best to
protect you and your brother. I would have done the same thing.”

Carl couldn’t move. His was held captivated by Jake’s handsome

face and his words. The man didn’t blame him or hate him. “Thank
you,” was all Carl could say.

A small grin turned up the corners of Jake’s lips, easing the stress

lines around his mouth. Jake wrapped an arm around Carl’s shoulders
and guided him into the cabin. Holden stood at the small stove
making something that smelt delicious. His stomach rumbled again
and Jake nudged his shoulder and laughed.

“Sit.” Seth pulled out a chair at the table and Carl sat down.

Taking orders was something Carl had grown used to over the years.
He didn’t think Seth would take a whip to his back if he refused but
best not to find out. “Your face looks better. That eye isn’t as
swollen.”

On the walk over he hadn’t noticed when he was able to start

seeing out his right eye. He had too many other things running
through this mind to notice. Besides worrying about his brother he
couldn’t concentrate with Jake so close to him. On the hike over he

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kept stealing glances at the man. Every now and again rays of sunlight
would bounce off of Jake’s hair creating a halo-type effect. Carl’s
fingers itched to tunnel through the thick, silky locks.

Jake caught him looking and grinned at him. Carl was surprise to

see the man blush. A pretty pink brightened Jake’s cheeks and Carl
couldn’t help but stare. The sharp lines of his masculine face softened,
almost making the man look childlike. Carl thought it was a good
look for the tall man.

Carl took notice of his hulking shoulders. A dark-gray pullover

hid the shape of Jake’s body but when the man would raise his arm or
flex his muscles, Carl could see the strength the cotton material kept
hidden.

“Here you go.” Holden sat a plate of eggs with some bacon in

front of him and the delicious smell distracted him from his thoughts
about Jake.

Carl smiled his thanks but waited until the others had food before

he dug in. He might have had to live like an animal over the past few
years but he still remembered the manners his mother had taught him.

They ate in silence. Every now and again he’d catch Jake looking

at him and he had to swallow down a giggle as the man’s cheeks
became flushed. Being around Jake, even Seth and Holden, almost
made him forget the past or that his brother had been taken.

But like always reality came pounding down on his shoulders to

remind him how fucked up his life had become.

“Can you tell us exactly what is going on here?” Holden asked

when they finished eating. “How did you come to live here and what
are you so afraid of?” Holden pointed at his face. “By the looks of it
you have every right to be.”

Carl stared down at his empty plate and swiped the fork over the

surface. Warm fingers wrapped around his wrist and he stopped
playing with the fork.

“Let us help you.” Jake slid his hand down to entwine his fingers

with Carl’s.

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The contact had Carl gasping on the inside. The rough callouses

on Jake’s palm told a story of a man who worked with his hands but
in that masculine strength held a gentleness that had Carl wanting to
melt at his feet. He didn’t feel afraid to tell Jake what had happened to
him and his brother. Carl prayed his instincts were right and that he
could trust Jake.

“So much has happened. Where do I start?” His voice cracked and

he could feel the tears pool in the corners of his eyes.

“From the beginning,” Jake gently said. He then cupped his other

hand over Carl’s.

“My brother, Casper, and I grew up in Edgerton. It’s a small town

in Vermont. It’s kind of like here.” He motioned toward the window.
“Secluded and faraway from the city. We loved it there. We were so
far from town our mother homeschooled my brother and I. Our only
interaction with other kids was when we attended pack meetings.”
Carl’s eyes stung as the memories of the past floated to the surface.

“I don’t mean to be insensitive but you need to get to the part that

tells us how and why you came to live on my property.” Carl looked
up at Seth and the man waved his hand around signaling for him to
get on with it.

“A week before my eleventh birthday our alpha was murdered by

hunters. The wolves that were with the alpha said they were out
running in wolf form when it happened. Tobias was the second-in-
command and naturally he took over.”

“Tobias?” Jake asked. “This is the current alpha, I take it?”
Carl nodded his head. “Yes and it didn’t sit well with my father.

See him and the deceased alpha were best friends and my father had
reservations about being under Tobias’s rule so he had made
arrangements for us to move. A few days later Casper and I were
home alone when Tobias came by. He explained to us that our parents
had been in a car accident and died. I was only eleven and Casper
nine.” His throat began to burn at the memory. It was the darkest day
of his life. “We had nowhere else to go and Tobias took us in. I had

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been so grateful for that. It kept Casper and I together.” Carl swiped
his hand under his eye to wipe away a tear. “He was always so nice. I
didn’t have a clue what he was capable of.”

“What changed?” Seth prompted.
Carl didn’t want to tell them. He’d been so stupid. He fell for

every lie Tobias ever told. They would think him foolish and just a
dumb kid but he had to be honest with them. These men were willing
to risk their safety to help him. He at least owed them the truth. “I
stopped sharing his bed.”

“Excuse me?” Jake shouted. Carl tried to pull his hand free but

Jake wouldn’t let go.

“Jake, calm down.” Holden touched Jake’s forearm. Carl watched

as Jake turned to Holden. When the two men’s eyes met the pressure
on Carl’s arm loosened. Holden smiled at Jake and Carl lost it.

“Would you please stop touching him!” he screamed so loud that

even his ears began to ring. His fist balled up and he banged them on
the table top. Here he went making a fool of himself again in front of
complete strangers but damn it, he hated seeing Holden touching
Jake. It drove him crazy and he didn’t know why and that just made
him even angrier.

Holden pulled his hand way. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything

by it. Jake and I are just friends.”

“No, Holden, I’m sorry.” He flattened his hands and laid them flat

on the table.

“It’s okay, Carl.” Jake pulled Carl toward him and Carl fell into

his arms. It felt so natural to be this close to Jake. After the time spent
with Tobias, he didn’t think he’d ever let another man touch him but
this felt good. “I’m sorry for shouting at you. Can you finish telling us
what led to you and your brother running from your alpha?”

Carl rubbed his forehead in the area where Jake’s shoulder and

neck connected. The man’s fresh, clean scent seemed so strong right
there.

He felt light headed from the masculine scent. He took one

more deep breath then pulled away. “Tobias had always been kind to

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me. I thought he was like that with all the wolves. After we went to
live with him he started spending more and more time with me. I
loved the attention and the next thing I knew I had fallen for him.” He
could still remember the first time Tobias had kissed him. His strong
fingers caressing his cheeks. The softness of his lips as Tobias kissed
along his jawline. It seemed like forever ago.

“I was only sixteen when we got together. Casper tried to warn me

that what Tobias was doing with me wasn’t right but I ignored him. I
so desperately wanted to feel loved and taken care of that I would
have done anything he asked and I did. We’d been sleeping together
for over a year when things started to change. I couldn’t leave the
house and he even limited the amount of time I spent with Casper.
When I questioned him he’d hit me. He would always apologize after
and swear it would never happen again but it did. When I finally
found the courage to leave Casper and I had barely made it off the
property before he found us. He had his men bring us back. They took
us to the basement of Tobias’s house and they put us in cages. After a
few days of being locked up they came down and took Casper kicking
and screaming back upstairs. I screamed for someone to help him
until my throat went raw but no one came. When they brought him
back Casper had been severely beaten and drugged. After the drugs
wore off he told me what had been done to him. Tobias’s men took
turns raping him.” Carl stared down at the table. The guilt that he felt
for not protecting his brother ate at him every time he looked into
Casper’s big blue eyes.

“What about you?” Jake asked.
Carl couldn’t bear to look into his eyes. “Tobias was the only one

allowed to touch me,” he mumbled.

“Why did no one help you? This is crazy.” Holden pushed his

chair back and started to walk back and forth in the small area. “Your
alpha deserves to die.”

“And he will because I’m going to kill him.” Jake’s voice had

grown rough and garbled.

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Carl didn’t know what to say. He wanted the alpha dead but not if

it meant putting Jake in danger.

But why do you care so much? the little voice in his head asked.

Carl chose to ignore it because he didn’t have time to examine why he
felt so strongly toward a man he just met. And what he might feel
toward this man didn’t mean anything. The most important thing was
getting Casper back.

His Perfect Mate

Chapter Six

After listening to Carl’s story Jake was fuming. He could barely

keep from shifting and killing something. But that would only be
counterproductive and just eat up time they didn’t have.

“Should we call Devon?” Holden suggested.
“Who’s Devon?” Carl asked. His eyes looked around the room

wildly as if he were looking for the nearest exit.

“Devon is our alpha back where we live. Trust me he’s nothing

like yours. If Devon knew of this he’d be here and ready to kill
yours,” he reassured Carl. “But no we’re not going to involve him or
my brothers just yet. Let’s see if we can handle this situation on our
own. It’s never good for an alpha to stick his nose in another’s
business even if what the bastard is doing is wrong.”

Jake had learned that from his father. He said to always mind your

own business and not to borrow trouble if it can be avoided. Devon
didn’t need to be involved in this situation but Jake found himself
knee-deep in it and was ready to draw blood for the grievance
committed against his mate.

“Fine but at the first sign of trouble I’m calling him. I’m new to

the pack. If I let you get yourself killed they’ll tear me limb from
limb.” Holden stopped pacing long enough to give him a hard stare.

“What can I say, they love me.” He nudged Holden in the arm as

he passed by. Jake turned to look at his mate when he heard a light
growl come from his direction. It would appear that his mate was
jealous and Jake had to wonder if Carl could feel the bond between
them. “Easy, Carl, Holden and I are just friends.”

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Carl brought his hands up to cover his face. “I’m sorry.” He

moved his fingers so that one eye was visible. “I don’t know why I
keep doing that. I barely know you. Maybe it’s just from all that has
happened.”

Jake chewed on the inside of his cheek, pondering if he should tell

Carl. Something must have shown on his face and Seth called out to
him.

“Jake, now is not the time. We need to have clear heads when we

go into this. Keep whatever it is you want to say to yourself for right
now. Okay?”

His jaw clenched tight. Seth knew exactly what he wanted and

needed to tell Carl but he had to agree with Seth. Now wasn’t the
time. “Sure, Seth, whatever you say.”

Carl kept looking from him back to Seth. The young wolf must

have sensed the tension in the air.

“Come on, guys,” Holden spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention

to him. “We need to get a plan together and get going.” He put his
hands on his hips. “So who has a plan?”

“We’re going to drive up to Edgerton in my Jeep,” Seth answered.

“When we get there we’re going to walk on foot to the house. From
there we’re going to camp out and watch the property until we know
exactly how many wolves are there and to find the easiest way to
break Casper out.”

“What?” Carl stood up. “How long will that take? We can’t leave

Casper in there. I know what they will do to him.”

“Relax, kid.” Seth held up a hand, cutting off any further outburst

from Carl. “I sympathize for what you and your brother have gone
through but I’m not going to put four people at risk just to save one.
We need to be smart about this or it won’t matter if we get Casper out
or not because we’ll all be dead.”

Carl’s head fell forward and Jake took a step toward his mate. He

rested a hand on Carl’s shoulder, trying his best to lend the man some
of his strength. What Carl must be going through had to be sheer

His Perfect Mate

torture but Seth was right in his estimation of how to go about things.
They needed to watch the house and wait for the perfect opportunity
to attack. That would be the only way they all would survive this.

“Carl.” Jake squeezed his mate’s shoulder where his hand lay.

“We’ll get him back.”

“I hope so.” Carl looked at him with red-rimmed eyes on the

verge of tears. “He’s all I have.”

Jake couldn’t stop himself from pulling Carl to his chest and

wrapping his arms around his mate. If he could only tell Carl what
they were to each other maybe the man would trust him more. But
knowing that they were mates might be distracting to Carl.

Almost timidly he felt Carl’s thin arms wound around his waist.

The man’s body shook as the tears he tried to hold back ripped
through his body. Jake held him tight. Carl needed to get all his crying
out now because when it came time to fight he needed to be prepared
and ready for battle.

Seth pulled out his laptop and mapped out a route that would take

them on every back road toward Carl’s alpha’s house. They wanted to
stay hidden as much as possible as to not give away their intentions.
From what Carl said the alpha wouldn’t be expecting Carl to show up
with help. They had to use the alpha’s weaknesses to their advantage.

They packed up the supplies they’d need to camp out for a few

days. Seth only had two sleeping bags and said they’d have to share
because there was no time to run and buy more. Jake found himself
looking forward to nightfall. He’d be able to snuggle close and keep
his mate warm.

He shouldn’t be having these types of thoughts right now but he

longed to be close to his mate. He needed to show Carl that not all
men were monsters.

Before they left Jake talked Carl into taking a shower. His cuts

were healing but Jake guessed that it had been weeks since the man
had had a proper shower. Carl tried to debate that they didn’t have

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time for him to take a shower but Holden intervened and said there
was plenty of time and even lent the man some clothes.

With the Jeep loaded up they headed out. Clouds rolled in to cover

the sun and a gray haze lay out before them. Jake thought it seemed
almost foretelling of what was to come. He could lie to the others
about not being afraid but he couldn’t lie to himself. The fear of the
unknown had his heart racing and his palms sweating. He already had
lost too many people in his life that he loved and he didn’t want to
add Carl to that ever-growing list.

One town faded into another until nothing but rolling fields with

trees covering the ground surrounded them. If the situation that
brought them to this area hadn’t been so dire, Jake would have
commented on how beautiful the scenery was. The different shades of
greens and browns made for a pretty backdrop.

Seth hit the blinker and Jake leaned forward to look out Carl’s

window on the left hand side. Hamilton Park.

“What are we doing here?” Jake asked.
“This park borders up next to alpha Tobias’s house,” Carl

answered without even looking up at him. “Casper and I came
through this way when we escaped.”

“Exactly.” Seth put the car in park. “This park is known for

camping and hiking so we can leave my Jeep here without causing
suspicion.”

Seth and Holden climbed out and Jake and Carl followed. The

temperature had dropped and a brisk wind cut through the trees,
chilling Jake to the bone. He had never been one to be bothered by the
weather but he found himself shivering and he shoved his hands into
his pants pockets.

As he looked around he saw a few other cars parked in the long

parking lot. A ranger’s station sat off to the left but the building
looked dark. Either the park ranger was out checking on campers or
had left for the day.

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“Jake, come on.” Holden hollered for him to come help and he

rushed over to his friend. “You nervous?”

Jake grabbed his back pack and put it on. “A little. You?”
“Yeah, I am.” Holden handed him a sleeping bag. “My father was

a crazy son of a bitch who had his own daughter murdered and for
some reason I’m scared more now than when I had to fight my father
this past summer. Something seems off here.”

Jake turned to look after Carl. He stood with his back to him

facing the trees. He had to agree with Holden. Something didn’t seem
quite right. “I think we just need to be overly cautious. If we don’t
come home in one piece I think our families will bring us back from
the dead just to kill us again,” Jake joked, trying to help ease his
friends’ nerves.

“Damn right they would.” Holden grew serious. “I’m not afraid to

die, Jake, I’m just not ready to leave. I’d miss out on Carson growing
up.”

Carson was Holden’s nephew he just got reconnected with. The

kid was a sweetheart that had grown on Jake. He understood what
Holden had to lose and it made it that much more selfless what his
friend was willing to give up if this situation with Carl’s pack went
south.

“Holden, you don’t have to come with us. I’d totally understand.”
“No way are you ditching me.” Holden smiled. “We’re in this

together for better or worse.”

“Oh would you two please stop talking about dying and did you

just quote marriage vows?” Seth shook his head. “Maybe Carl should
be worried about how close you two are.”

“Fuck you,” Jake snapped. “I take my mating seriously as well as

my friendships. Aren’t you the least bit worried that something could
happen to Holden? I thought he was your friend, too.”

“He is and he knows that I care about him.” Seth glanced at

Holden. “But he also knows I’m not controlled by my emotions like

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you bitches are.” Seth shouldered his bag and turned to walk toward
where Carl stood. “Let’s go!” he shouted over his shoulder.

“How did you ever become friends with that guy?” Jake asked

Holden. “He’s a dick.”

“True but he’s my dick.” Jake squinted his eyes at Holden who

blushed. “Not like that. Jeez!” Holden punched him in the arm.
“We’ve been friends for a long time. He hasn’t had an easy life so I
overlook his dickish behavior.”

“Ladies,” Seth called out to them. “Are you done changing your

tampons? Because we really should get going before it gets dark.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “I hate him.”
“Yeah he brings out that emotion in a lot of people.” Holden

started to laugh. “But he’s right. Let’s get going.”

Holden and Jake walked over to where Seth and Carl were. They

took the path that led up a tall hill. Jake looked back toward the
parking lot one more time then followed behind his friends. Darkness
would be upon them soon and he didn’t want to be caught out in the
open just in case Carl’s pack was out hunting for him. Jake had no
desires for himself, his mate, or his friends to become this fucked-up
pack’s prey.

His Perfect Mate

Chapter Seven

Jake brought up the rear. Carl walked in front of him and Jake

could hear his mate’s deep intake of breaths. He sped up to walk
beside him. Carl’s face was flushed and perspirations dotted his
forehead and dampened his hair. The hike was grueling but not
enough to make a person be this exhausted so soon. They’d only been
walking for a little over an hour.

“Carl, are you all right?” He rested a hand at the small of Carl’s

back and could feel the heat coming off his mate through his clothes.

“Just a little winded is all,” Carl huffed out.
Jake took off his pack and pulled out a bottle of water. “Here take

this.” He pushed the bottle into his mate’s hands.

Carl took a long drink then gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.” Jake slowed his pace so Carl didn’t feel like

he had to strain himself to keep up. “So you want to talk?” Jake
cringed internally at how lame he sounded. Being around Carl made
him feel so insecure.

“About what?” Carl asked.
“I don’t know.” Jake shrugged his shoulders. “How old are you?”

he blurted out.

“I’m twenty.”
Twenty! his mind screamed. “You’re just a pup.”
“Hey!” Carl tapped the half-empty bottle of water on Jake’s upper

arm. “You don’t look much older than me.”

“Well thank you. I appreciate the compliment but I’m actually

twenty-five.” He grinned down at his mate.

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“Still that’s young.” Carl started to stumble and Jake reached out a

hand to steady him. “So do you have any family?” Carl asked.

“Yeah, two brothers. Cole’s the baby and my twin’s name is Josh.

He was born a few seconds before me so he likes to think he’s the big
brother.”

“You have a twin?”
“Yep and we’re identical.”
“What about your parents?” Carl asked.
Jake walked in silence for a moment before he could answer. His

dad had only died a few months ago but it still stung. He took a deep
breath. “They’re both dead. My mother died when I was little. She
was hit by a car and my father passed away a few months back.
Another alpha abducted him and when we went to get him back a
fight broke out. He was shot while trying to protect Cole.” His throat
began to burn with unshed tears. “My dad might have been a hard
bastard to live with but he loved us.”

“I’m sorry.” Jake jerked in surprise when he felt Carl’s warm, thin

fingers entwine with his. “I guess you and I have a lot in common,
huh?”

“I guess we do.” He wanted to squeeze Carl’s hand but was too

afraid his skittish mate would pull away. “Do you remember your
parents? I know you said you were only eleven when they died.”

“I do.” Carl stepped closer to him. “I can still remember the scent

of my mom’s hair.” His mate took a deep breath as if smelling
something. “Lilac. She loved lilacs. She also had this long and
flowing hair. The long golden strands were always so soft and shiny.
When I was little I’d twirl my fingers in it over and over again. God,
she was beautiful,” Carl said wistfully.

“And my dad was the best. He spent all his free time playing with

Casper and I. He worked as a mechanic in town and the drive was an
hour each way but he made sure if he got home late to at least tuck us
into bed and read us a story. We didn’t have much but we had each
other.”

His Perfect Mate

They walked in silence, still holding hands, for a bit. He caught

Holden looking over his shoulder at them. His friend looked down to
where Jake and Carl’s hands were connected and smiled.

“As more time passes I’m afraid I’ll forget them,” Carl said in a

near whisper that Jake almost didn’t catch what he had said.

“You know, I use to think that way about my mother after she

died. That I’d forget her smile, the sound of her laugh, the way she
felt when she would hug me, even the way she looked.” Jake closed
his eyes and he could still picture her as she had been. He opened his
eyes and looked down at Carl. “But one thing I’ve learned is the
memories do become fuzzy and you might not remember every little
detail but you won’t forget them. They are always close to our
hearts.” He shrugged. “At least that’s what I think.”

“I like that.” Carl brought his other hand over to rest on Jake’s

wrist. “The one thing I won’t forget is how in love my mom and dad
were.” Carl chuckled. “He used to chase her around the house and
when he’d catch her he would lift her up in the air and swing her
around. Of course, Casper and I thought it was so gross and would tell
them to stop.” Casper’s frowned down at the ground. “I’d give
anything to see my dad chase my mom around like that just one more
time.”

“Sounds like they were true mates.”
“Mates? That’s not a real thing.”
Jake tripped over his feet at Carl’s words. “Excuse me?” he said

loudly enough that Holden and Seth turned to look at them. “You
don’t believe that mates are a real thing?”

“Tobias said that was an old wives’ tale that parents told to young

wolves so they wouldn’t be promiscuous.”

Jake let out a harsh laugh. “And you believed him?”
Carl yanked his hand from Jake’s grasp. “Don’t laugh at me.” A

low growl erupted from Carl’s lips.

“I’m not laughing at you.” Jake stopped walking and pulled Carl

around to face him. His mate’s face had reddened and his nose flared

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with each intake of breath. “I’m just upset that someone would tell
you something like that. It’s not right and it wasn’t fair for Tobias to
lie to you.” He tried to explain. “A mate is someone you love without
reason. Someone you would lay your life down for. A person that you
feel an undeniable pull to and all you want to do is hold them and
make them feel safe. It’s the purest type of love there is.”

Carl’s gaze fell to stare at the dead brown grass. Jake’s heart

pumped in rapid pulses as he waited to see what his mate would say
next. Did he believe him or did he still believe in the lies Tobias had
told him? Jake couldn’t fault his mate if he did. Being held prisoner
for so many years might have brainwashed Carl to believe everything
Tobias said.

“He lied to me,” Carl mumbled under his breath. In a fast

movement Carl’s head shot up and Jake took an instinctual step back.
“I feel like such an idiot.” Carl brought his hands up to cover his face
then turned to look away from him. “So my parents probably were
mates. Jesus!”

“Hey.” Jake lightly grabbed Carl by his wrist and pulled his hand

away from his face. “You can’t beat yourself up over this. You were
young when you went to live with Tobias. He was supposed to teach
and guide you in the ways of being a wolf but instead he only taught
you what he wanted you to know.”

“But still.” Carl shook his head. “One of my parents’ friends

would come to visit us when we were young.” He looked up to meet
Jake’s stare. “She’d talk about mates and us finding ours. When I
asked Tobias about it he told me it was crap. I can’t understand why
he’d lie about that.”

Jake’s teeth started to lengthen and slid down to dig into his

bottom lip. Rage unlike anything he felt before started to build in his
chest. Tobias took advantage of Carl and his naivety. It made him
want to rip the man’s throat out even more than he did before. Carl
had spent over nine years with Tobias and had no reason to think his
alpha and lover would lie to him.

His Perfect Mate

Jake dropped his chin forward to rest on Carl’s head. “It’s not for

you to figure out. You know the truth now and that’s all that matters.”
He had to bite his tongue to keep from telling Carl that they were
mates. Carl had to deal with enough truths today and Jake didn’t need
to pile it on even thicker. Carl ran hot and cold and Jake really didn’t
know how his mate would react to finding out.

“Come on, you two,” Seth called back to them. “It’s getting late

and we need to make camp before the sun goes down.” Seth looked
up to the sky and Jake followed his gaze. The sun had lowered and so
had the temperature. They needed to get settled before night rolled
over the landscape.

“We better catch up or Seth might leave us behind,” Jake lightly

teased. He urged his mate forward and followed a few paces behind.

* * * *

They walked for what seemed like an hour before Seth finally

stopped and went about setting up a campsite. Night had fallen and
the wind had picked up. Carl wrapped his arms tightly over his chest
and tried to keep warm.

The last time Carl had been camping had been with his dad when

he was just a little boy and he didn’t necessarily think what they were
doing now could be considered camping.

Frist off, Seth wouldn’t allow them to build a fire. He feared that

Tobias might be scouting the area for signs of Carl’s return and didn’t
want to take the chance of discovery. Carl understood and agreed
wholeheartedly on that. He didn’t doubt for a second that Tobias was
keeping watch for signs of his return.

Then Seth neglected to bring a tent. He thought it would be too

much to carry and would just slow them down. Another thing Carl
agreed with him on but that left them with only two sleeping bags and
four men to share. In Carl’s estimation a big problem.

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“Here.” Seth handed Carl a bag filled with brown-looking meat.

At his blank look Seth explained. “It’s beef jerky. This trip was a little
unexpected so all we have are granola bars and jerky. Hope you like
it.” Carl watched as Seth turned and walked away.

He took a seat next to the small lamp Seth had set up. With his

keen wolf vision he didn’t need light to see in the dark but it took
away the spooky feeling of being deep in the woods. The low light
caused shadows to bounce around as the trees’ limbs blew from the
wind. He brought his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms
around them. He still clenched the bag of beef jerky tightly in his
hand.

“So do you want the green sleeping bag or the blue?” He could

hear Holden and Jake talking. The two men stood off to the side next
to a tree. “I’m thinking the green is more romantic. What do you
think?”

Jake started to laugh and Carl could feel the hairs on the back of

his neck begin to rise. Holden seemed like a really nice man and Carl
couldn’t say for certain exactly what annoyed him the most. But every
time Holden got close to Jake something in Carl wanted to scream
mine and punch Holden just to make sure he got his point across.

“Kid, stop growling.” Seth plopped down next to him. “They’re

just friends, nothing more.”

Carl stared over at Jake but quickly turned his focus to Seth.

“Why should I care?” He pulled open the bag and took a chunk of the
jerky out.

“Maybe you shouldn’t but I’m just telling you so that you don’t

do something crazy like attack Holden.” Seth grabbed the bag from
his hand.

“So Jake and I’ve been talking and you and him will share a

sleeping bag,” Holden announced as he and Jake walked over to him.

What? his mind shouted. Carl didn’t want to be in such close

confines with another person. Just the thought had his hands

His Perfect Mate

trembling. He’d admit to having a slight crush on Jake but it didn’t
mean he wanted to be trapped in a sleeping bag with him.

“I’ll be fine without one,” Carl quickly said then took a bite of his

jerky.

“Carl,” Jake said in a soft voice. “The temperature is going to

continue to drop and you’ll freeze to death. Even wolf shifters can
succumb to hypothermia.”

Carl nibbled on his food. Jake spoke the truth and what good

would he be to his brother if he were dead. “Fine.” He relented after a
few seconds had passed. “But I don’t understand why we don’t just
shift. We’d be there in no time.” Carl thought if they did that he
wouldn’t have to share a sleeping bag with a man who tempted his
control.

“Because, in wolf form we couldn’t carry our supplies,” Seth said

around a mouth full of jerky. “This isn’t a snatch-and-run type job.
Those men won’t just allow us to walk up to the door. I’ve seen the
marks on your brother and I saw what they’ve done to you. We need
to take this Tobias by surprise and hit him where it hurts and that
means we’ll probably have to take out a few of his men. Get them
before they get us.”

Carl stayed silent as he pondered what Seth had just said. He

wanted his brother back but he couldn’t be stupid about it.

Tobias took Casper to get back at him. The next time he might

punish Carl by killing his brother so he had to be patient and do as
Seth said. Because without these men his brother would never be free.

“I guess we’re sharing I take it.” Seth said to Holden, changing

the subject.

“Yep, and don’t even think about trying anything. We’re friends

but not that type of friends,” Holden teased.

“Fuck you.” Seth threw his half-eaten jerky at Holden.
“That is exactly the type of thing I’m trying to avoid here.”

Holden tossed the sleeping bag at Seth.

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Carl started to giggle as the two men argued back and forth. It

almost made him forget that he’d be crawling into a small sleeping
bag with another man, almost but not completely.

“We better get some sleep.” Seth stood up and looked out into the

distance. “I want us up before the sun rises and starting back on our
way.”

Carl nibbled on his jerky and looked out the corner of his eye

toward Jake. The man didn’t seem to have a deceptive bone in his
body and his actions so far didn’t lead Carl to think Jake would force
him into doing something he didn’t want to. But people wore many
masks and would lie to suit their own needs and Carl couldn’t help
but think somewhere deep inside Jake, lay a monster with the ability
to attack at any moment. He just prayed Jake didn’t turn out to be like
Tobias.

His Perfect Mate

Chapter Eight

An hour later Carl lay in the confines of the sleeping bag with

Jake next to him. The man didn’t try to touch him. If anything Jake
went out of his way not to make any contact with Carl at all. For
reasons unknown to Carl, it pissed him off.

Yeah, he wasn’t ready to have feelings for another man but damn

if he didn’t want to be surrounded by the heat radiating off of Jake.
Every now and again they’d brush arms and Carl felt his pulse spike
and warmth spread over his body.

Carl tugged his stocking cap down tighter around his ears and

rolled to his side facing away from Jake. He thought if he didn’t have
to see the man lying there maybe his desire to touch Jake would fade
away.

The soft sounds of Seth and Holden’s breathing started to lull him

to sleep. His eyelids became heavy and he yawned wide enough to
pop his jaw. He tugged the edge of the sleeping bag closer to his chin
and let his tired mind take a rest.

“Don’t be afraid of me.”
Carl could hear the sincerity in Jake’s tone. Without a single

hesitation he let Jake pull him into his strong embrace. Carl felt
himself falling forward to rub his nose along Jake’s bare chest. A light
covering of hair tickled along his nose and he breathed in deep, not
wanting to forget the woodsy smell coming off the man.

“I’ll never hurt you.” Jake slowly started to kiss down Carl’s

cheek to settle and tease along his jaw line. His head fell back and he
let Jake have his soft and gentle way with him. “All I ever want to do
is make you happy.”

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Carl moaned as Jake’s tongue trailed down his neck to suck up a

mark where his pulse beat rapidly. His body came alive with a jolt
and he could feel his cock stabbing up toward his navel. He lightly
rested his hands on Jake’s biceps and held on. The man worked his
lips and tongue in ways Tobias never had and Carl melted into each
sensual touch.

Jake pulled back and ran his fingers down Carl’s chest. He slowly

lifted the T-shirt he wore up and over his head. Carl was helpless to
do anything but raise his arms. Once the covering was gone he
instantly dropped his arms to shield his pale and scarred chest from
the other man. Where Jake had a deeply defined muscular chest with a
bronze coloring that made Carl long for summer, Carl looked like a
skeleton with flesh clinging to his bones.

“Don’t hide from me.” Jake very gently pulled Carl’s arms back

and eyed his body.

“I’m ugly.” Carl’s voice cracked as tears welled in his eyes.
Jake’s warm, thick fingers came up to cradle his face and forced

his chin up so he could meet the man’s gaze. “No you’re not.” Jake
kissed his forehead, then dropped soft kisses to each cheek. “You’re
the most beautiful creature I’ve ever laid eyes on and I’ll spend the
rest of my life proving it to you.”

With that Jake captured Carl’s lips and wrapped his arms around

his waist. Carl brought his arms up to loop around Jake’s neck. Jake
licked and sucked along his mouth and all Carl could do was open
wide and let the man do as he wished. It had been over three years
since he’d been kissed with such passion, back before Tobias proved
to be a heartless monster, but even then Tobias couldn’t compete with
Jake’s kisses.

As if by magic Carl found himself completely naked lying flat on

his back in the most comfortable bed he had ever had the pleasure to
rest on. It felt like fluffy white clouds hugged his body from
underneath while Jake’s body cradled him from the front. Every inch

His Perfect Mate

of Jake’s body fitted snug against his, as if they were of the same
body.

Jake wedged his way between Carl’s thighs and Carl let his knees

fall open. The hot tip of Jake’s shaft nudged at his opening and Carl
lost the ability to think. His head dropped back and he moaned as Jake
nipped along the base of his neck, moving over to his collarbone.

As Jake started to rock forward, Carl lifted his legs to rest on

Jake’s hips. He moved in time with the strong, gorgeous man above
him, wanting only what Jake could give him. One forceful thrust of
Jake’s hips had his manhood seated fully in Carl’s tight opening. His
body shook and pulsed around the hot length buried deep inside him.

Jake started to move and Carl held on for dear life. Sparks went

off behind his eyelids and his body began to tingle. His teeth started
to lengthen and his upper lip pulled back in a snarl. He grabbed
tightly around Jake’s shoulders as his orgasm rolled through his body.

Unable to stop himself, he struck Jake right where his neck and

shoulder met. Hot pulses of cream left his body as he bit down harder
on the man’s shoulder.

“Ouch!”
Carl woke with a start. He sat straddling Jake’s lap with his teeth

buried deep into his neck. The moon still hung in the sky and
darkness filled the night. He blinked his eyes, getting his wits about
him, then slowly pulled away from Jake. The man’s eyes were
rounded and had a glazed-over look about them.

“I’m sor—” Before he could finish his sentence Jake rolled him

underneath him and covered his mouth.

Jake’s smooth tongue rubbed alongside his and coaxed mewling

little moans from Carl. He brought his hands up and ran his fingers up
under Jake’s cap until he could grip ahold of the man’s hair. The
texture silky and soft as it tangled around his fingers.

The sleeping bag hindered their movements and Carl growled in

frustration. In the tight confines he couldn’t hold on to the man like he

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had in his dream. Sweat started to break out across his forehead even
with the chilling temperature surrounding them.

Almost as fast as it began it ended. Jake rolled away from him and

cursed quietly under his breath. Carl stared up at him. His chest
heaved with every intake of breath.

“What’s wrong?” His voice sounded small and distant.
“Nothing.” Jake rolled to lie on his back. “Everything is perfect,

you’re perfect but…” Carl turned on his side and stared down at Jake.
His face was distorted by the shadows bouncing over the ground and
he had to squint to try and get a read on the man’s face.

“But what?” Carl needed to know what was going on in Jake’s

head. He had never acted like this before and he knew it had
something to do with Jake. He swore to himself after what Tobias had
done to him he’d never let another soul touch him but here he was
being the aggressor toward Jake. He had even bit the man.

“I just thought when my mate bit me it would be while we were

making love not fooling around on the hard ground with my friends
sleeping fifteen feet away.” Jake used his thumb and forefinger to
pinch the bridge of his nose.

Mate? Carl’s brain got stuck on that one word. “Huh?” was the

only intelligible thing he could say. Jake had caught him off guard.

Jake pulled his hand from his face to look at him. “Shit!” He

quickly shifted to prop up on his elbows. “I didn’t mean for it to come
out like that. It’s just you took me by surprise and now you’ve gone
and bitten me.” Jake stopped to take a deep breath. “I’m doing this all
wrong.”

Carl held Jake’s gaze as he tried to wrap his brain around what he

had just confessed. Early that evening Jake talked about how having a
mate was a real thing not some made up nonsense like Tobias had told
him. He tried to remember exactly what Jake had said.

Someone you love without reason, someone you would die for.

Mates share an undeniable pull that can’t be explained. Love.

His Perfect Mate

His mind began to race. He thought back to the first time he met

Jake and even while he had a gun pointed at the man’s chest
something inside him screamed for him to stop.

Then when Jake came back for him all Carl longed to do was hold

the man close and tell him everything would be all right. And then
there was the explainable jealousy that sparked his anger every time
Holden got close to Jake. He didn’t know why he hadn’t put it all
together earlier. Jake practically told him but Carl had been too pissed
off to see the truth.

Once again he made a fool out of himself. “No, I’ve done

everything wrong,” Carl admitted. “I’m not sure what being a mate
means or how we should have done this but I’m sorry. I didn’t mean
to bite you. I was just”—he could feel heat rush up his neck to settle
in his cheeks—“I was having a dream and got carried away, I guess.”
He tried to turn away from Jake’s questioning eyes but Jake held him
down with one hand.

“You were having a dream about me?” The corner of Jake’s lip

quirked up and Carl wanted to find a hole to bury himself in.

“Yes!” he snapped. “Now will you please let go of me.” He

pushed against Jake’s unrelenting hand.

“Wait a minute.” Jake moved closer. “Was this a sexy kind of

dream?” Carl cringed as Jake started to laugh softly.

“Yes.” Carl smacked Jake’s hand away and climbed out of the

sleeping bag. “Stop laughing at me. I don’t like to be made fun of.”
Carl didn’t look back as he stormed off into the darkness. Tobias had
spent years making him look like a fool and he didn’t want Jake to
think it was okay to treat him that way.

* * * *

Jake rolled to his stomach and watched as Carl took off into the

woods. His mind said to get up and give chase but his body was
dwelling in the afterglow of becoming someone’s mate. He never

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noticed how incomplete he had been until now. A bond had been
cemented between him and Carl and he felt light-headed as if he had
drunk too much. The grin on his face would probably never leave.

“Hey, asshole.” Jake turned in the direction of Holden’s voice.

“Maybe you should go after your mate now that the cat’s out of the
bag.”

“More like wolf,” Seth said in a sleepy tone.
“Shut the fuck up.” Jake heard a muffled grunt. “Jake, go after

him. He’s been hurt before and you need to show him how love
should be. And I don’t want that little shit getting caught by his old
pack.”

Crap! Jake never thought of that. He hopped up and headed in the

direction his mate had left. Most of the trees were bare and the
moonlight rained down around him, but he still found it rather hard to
locate his mate. He stopped walking and listened. A few snapping
twigs and heavy breathing had him turning to the left. He let his feet
carry him closer to his mate.

In the distance he made out a silhouette of a person sitting on the

ground. The sound of soft sobbing met his ears.

Jake felt like a complete dick for causing his mate pain. He didn’t

laugh to be cruel. He was just so overwhelmed with happiness he
couldn’t fight back a fit of the giggles. It had nothing to do with Carl
not knowing they were mates.

Easing carefully over the rough terrain of the forest floor he

stepped closer to his mate. As he got nearer Carl looked up.

“What do you want?” Carl’s voice hitched as he glared at Jake.
“I came to check on you.” Jake sat down next to Carl on the cold

hard ground. “And to apologize.” He reached for Carl’s hand and
breathed a sigh of relief when the man didn’t pull away. “I wasn’t
laughing at you. I was just so excited that you knew the truth and that
you were having a dream about me.”

“How can you be happy about that? You have a loser with a crush

on you.” Carl belittled himself.

His Perfect Mate

“Hey.” Jake squeezed Carl’s hand tight. He didn’t like to hear his

mate talk down about himself. “You’re not a loser. You didn’t even
know that mates existed until I told you a few hours ago. So you
shouldn’t beat yourself up over that.”

“I should have realized then that we were mates.” Carl tried to tug

his hand free but Jake refused to let go. “But instead of listening to
you and letting what you said sink in I flew off the handle and got
mad at you.” Carl let his head fall forward to rest on his raised knees.

Jake scooted closer and turned to where he could wrap his arms

around Carl. The position was awkward but he wanted the man to
know that he wasn’t alone. That he would always be there for him,
good times and bad.

“You’re under a lot of stress right now. Your brother has been

kidnapped by your psycho alpha and you still need to heal from the
time you spent with that monster.” Carl never elaborated on what
exactly happened to him while in the care of his alpha but Jake had a
pretty good idea. He also didn’t want to get confirmation from Carl or
he’d run straight to Tobias’s house and kill the man as he slept,
inevitably putting them all at risk.

“I know but I still feel stupid. Yes my brother had been taken by a

man who loves to inflict pain on others and it’s eating me up inside
that I can’t save him but I still should have figured it out.” Carl sat
silent for a few minutes then turned to face him. “I also never had a
dream like that before. The touch, smell, and feel of your body were
so vivid and real. I couldn’t control myself and I’m not sorry for
biting you.” Carl turned his attention toward the darkened woods. “It
was like I felt something snap into place inside me.” He grabbed his
chest.

He used his fingers to slowly turn Carl to face him again. “That’s

because we are mates.” Jake slowly leaned forward, giving Carl time
to stop him but he didn’t. Jake lightly brushed his lips over Carl’s and
reveled in the soft fullness. A groan seeped past his lips and he moved
even closer, crushing Carl to his chest.

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Carl twined his arms around his neck. His mate kissed with such

timidness that made Jake hunger to show him what it meant to be
loved properly by one’s mate. He didn’t want Carl to be shy or fearful
that he’d embarrass himself. They would both make mistakes and at
times stumble and fall. But he needed Carl to know he’d never leave
him.

They kissed for a while longer and Jake could feel his cock swell

to painful proportions. Jake wiggled his ass where he sat on the
ground trying to find a comfortable spot. Carl still sat clinging to him.
Jake had to think the man was just as uncomfortable as he was.

He placed one more light kiss to Carl’s swollen lips then moved

back. “Would you be okay with lying back on the ground? My legs
are killing me.”

“Sure.” Carl moved so that Jake could lie down first then he

snuggled close once Jake got situated.

The atmosphere seemed so romantic as they snuggled close under

the stars. They were sharing their mating with nature. Something that
pleased Jake’s wolf. The longer they lay there Jake started to wonder
what exactly took part in Carl’s dream. He lightly combed his fingers
through Carl’s hair. “So if you don’t mind me asking what happened
in your dream that had you biting me?” He wanted to facepalm
himself. Could there have been a less suave way to ask that?

“In my dream you told me you would never hurt me.” Carl didn’t

seem to mind Jake’s bluntness. “Then you told me how beautiful I
was and to never hide from you.”

Jake had to agree with his dream self. So far it sounded like stuff

he would say.

“Then we were both naked laying on what felt like fluffy clouds.”

Carl propped up on his elbow and gazed down at him. “Then we
made love. You were so gentle and caring. I couldn’t believe someone
was cherishing me so kindly.”

“Oh, baby.” He guided Carl back to lie on his chest. “I wasn’t in

your dream so I can’t say with one-hundred-percent certainty that it

His Perfect Mate

will be exactly like that but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying my
damndest to give you that.”

Carl placed a finger over Jake’s lips. “You already have.”
Jake rolled over on top of Carl. The hunger in his mate’s eyes

spoke to his soul and his wolf demanded he give his mate pleasure.
He had never been with another man before but his instincts took
over. It was as if his body knew how to please its mate.

He kissed Carl until he was gasping for air then slowly worked his

way down his mate’s body. Through the layers of clothes Carl wore
Jake could still feel his mate’s bones where they stuck out to
pronounce from his body. Once they rescued Casper, Jake was going
to make sure both the brothers received the care they needed and all
the food they could ever want. Both brothers were in desperate need
of gaining some weight. It wasn’t healthy to be so thin.

Carl’s body trembled and his breathing picked up the lower Jake

went. He shoved up the material that hung over Carl’s stomach and
kissed the heated skin. Carl’s abdomen quivered as Jake tongued his
navel. Jake sat back on his knees and fumbled with the fastening on
Carl’s jeans. Finally he was able to free the snap and parted the
zipper. He glanced up to see Carl staring back at him. Carl chewed on
his lower lip and Jake could see the uncertainty playing across his
face.

“I promise I won’t hurt you,” Jake reassured. “I just want to see

you.”

Carl gave a jerky nod and Jake pulled back the rough denim. His

mate’s cock pushed at the waistband of his briefs and Jake could
smell his arousal where it damped the material. Jake dipped down and
inhaled the wild scent of Carl’s pre-cum. He sucked around the coarse
fabric trying to take in all Carl’s tangy goodness.

A low, steady growl began deep in his chest and Jake’s fingernails

started to grow. He used the tip of his forefinger to slice the briefs
down the center. Carl’s cock lay heavy against his hip. The moonlight

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hit the reddened skin and Jake traced each and every thick vein with
his eyes. He needed a taste.

Before Carl could protest, he leaned down and swallowed down

his mate’s velvety hardness. Carl cried out and his hands went to grip
Jake around the ears. The action caused a bite of pain to make his
eyes water but he didn’t stop. He licked, sucked, and nibbled along
Carl’s shaft. He filed away every detail to memory.

“Jake!” Carl cried. “Please.” His mate didn’t say another word as

Jake took Carl’s full length down the back of his throat. He
swallowed around the thickness, letting his throat muscle massage
Carl’s cock.

Jake carefully clasped Carl’s balls in his hands. The small orbs

were drawn up tight, signaling that Carl was close. Jake sped up his
movements and used his free hand to jack the excess length that
didn’t fit into his mouth. Spit ran down Carl’s shaft and Jake used that
to ease the friction.

“Jake,” Carl said on a long moan as his salty juices filled Jake’s

mouth.

He gulped down Carl’s cum as it pumped into his mouth. It had a

bitter saltiness combined with a sweetness that Jake would always
hunger for.

Carl’s cock started to grow soft and he let the shaft slip from

between his lips. Now that his mate was taken care of he needed to
find his relief and soon.

Jake sat up and unfastened his jeans with a finesse he himself

didn’t know he possessed. He yanked them down his thighs and
started to pump his hand from root to tip. The feel of Carl’s hands on
his bare skin had his eyes clenching tight. His teeth dropped down to
pierce his bottom and he let go of his control. He jerked up on Carl’s
shirt and angled his cock at his mate’s stomach. Cum sprung free
from his cock to land in strips over Carl’s exposed flesh. The sounds
of Carl moaning made his wolf rise to the surface.

His Perfect Mate

Once the last rope of seed left his body Jake fell forward and

buried his face into Carl’s neck. He sniffed the sweaty skin, gave one
lick, and then struck. His teeth sliced through the tender flesh and
muscle like a hot knife through butter. Carl’s claws dug into his back,
tearing through his shirt.

His heart rate started to calm and he let go of the grip he had on

Carl. He placed a kiss to the red, angry mark then sat up. Carl’s eyes
were only at half-mast and a lazy grin pulled his lips up.

“Mine,” Jake said in a garbled tone. His teeth had yet to recede

and his mouth felt full.

“And you, mine,” Carl said in a sleepy tone.
A smile broke out across his face and he dropped down to cover

his mate’s half-naked body. He ran his fingers down over Carl’s face
and his mate started to giggle. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
he couldn’t help but ask.

“I think so.” Carl’s eyes darted between his. “This feels right.”
“It does.” Jake kissed Carl lightly on the lips then moved off his

mate. They used Carl’s torn underwear to wipe away Jake’s release
from their bodies then fixed their clothes and made the journey back
to the campsite. He knew if the sun were up his friends would be able
to see the silly grin on his face and he never felt so grateful for the
cover of darkness.

Once Carl was in the sleeping bag, Jake climbed in behind him.

He cuddled close to Carl’s back and wrapped his arm around his
waist. Jake couldn’t wait until they got Casper back and disposed of
their alpha. Once those things were accomplished they’d be free to
start their lives together.

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Nine

Later that morning before the sun rose in the sky they were up and

continuing their hike toward where Casper was being held. Seth took
the lead with Holden at his back. Jake brought up the rear and took
advantage of checking out Carl’s rear end as he walked in front of
him. Every now and again his fingers would itch to just have one little
touch but he would clench his fist to resist the urge.

Carl had lived a less-than-perfect life for the past three years. His

alpha took advantage of him and used him in ways no young man
should have to endure. Jake felt mighty lucky that Carl had opened up
to him at all. The time they spent together last night had been perfect.
Carl had been so accepting of his touch and Jake couldn’t wait to do it
all over again.

About two hours into their hike Seth stopped and they had a

snack. Carl walked over to him and Jake couldn’t fight the grin that lit
his face. His mate’s eyelids still looked heavy and his cheeks had an
adorable rosy tint to them. Jake imagined that was how Carl would
look like every morning when he woke up.

“I can’t wait until this is all over,” Carl said. He crossed his arms

over his chest and his eyes darted around like he was afraid someone
was watching him. “It’s only been a day but I know what Tobias and
his men are capable of. He’d do anything to get back at me for leaving
and I’m scared Casper is paying the price for my disobedience.”

“Carl, you can’t think like that.” Jake pulled Carl into his arms.

“What has happened isn’t yours or Casper’s fault. I truly believe if
you were still there Tobias would still be doing those awful things to
both of you. You did the right thing by escaping.”

His Perfect Mate

“Thanks for saying that, Jake. But I just made things worse.” Carl

pulled out of Jake’s embrace and turned away from him.

Jake stared at Carl as he stood facing the trees. His shoulders were

hunched over and his head hung low. Jake would give anything to
make Carl happy and if it meant tearing down Tobias’s house to make
that happen then so help him, he would do it.

“If you never left that house of horrors you would never have met

your mate.” Jake looked over his shoulder at the sound of Seth’s
voice. “You can stand there and pity yourself or be grateful for what
you’ve gotten out of this.” An evil grin turned up the corners of Seth’s
lips. “Then get angry. Get so fucking pissed off you see red. We’re
going to need that anger to help get your brother back. Don’t be the
victim anymore.”

Jake glanced back at his mate. Carl’s jaw was clenched tight and

his eyes were narrowed as if he were indeed ready to fight. Seth’s
words must have done the trick. His mate’s nostrils began to flare as
he took deep rapid breaths.

“You okay?” He stepped up close to Carl.
It took a moment before Carl acknowledged he was even there.

With a start he jerked his eyes toward Jake. “I will be. Seth’s right. I
can’t let myself be the victim anymore. It’s my turn to make Tobias
suffer.”

Damn! Jake wasn’t sure if he was turned on or frightened of this

new side to his mate. Seth said the things Carl needed to hear and his
mate took them to heart. But either way if things got too dangerous he
had full intentions of tying his mate to the nearest tree to keep him out
of harm’s way.

“Carl.” Seth waved for him to come to him. “Come draw me a

layout of Tobias’s house.” Carl nodded then headed toward him.

“Your little mate is kind of scary when he wants be,” Holden said

in a low voice.

AJ Jarrett

“Yeah, tell me about it,” he said to Holden but never took his eyes

off of Carl. “But it’s for the best. He needs to be strong for his
brother.”

“I agree.” Holden chuckled. “But I have to say I’m more surprised

that Seth said what he did. He’s more of the strong, silent type but
damn if he isn’t in full fighting mode. If I were Tobias I’d be afraid.”

“That bastard should be.” Jake’s fingers began to tingle as his

nails lengthened. “If I get the chance I fully intend to rip out his
fucking throat.”

“Calm down, Jake.” Holden reached out to touch his shoulder but

a menacing growl from Carl had him jerking his hand away. “Jeez,
Carl. We’re just friends.” Holden held his hands up in the air. “Fuck
kind of, your mate is scary. I think Tobias should be scared of him not
us.”

“Maybe you’re right.” Carl’s eyes glowed an eerie blue as he

stared over at him. The milky whites swirled with the frosty shade of
blue to form a color that Jake would always associate with his mate.
“But I hope he doesn’t get the chance. I want him dead so Carl
doesn’t have to lay eyes on him again.”

Once Carl and Seth were done constructing a map of the house

and outer-lying property they started back on their way. Jake was
pleased when Carl slowed his pace and took his hand in his. No words
were spoken as they walked side by side. The comfortable silence
spoke volumes on how at ease Carl was with him.

“There it is,” Seth whispered two hours later.
They stood hidden behind some trees staring down at Tobias’s

house. The white two-story structure seemed out of place. It looked
like the houses Jake had seen in neighborhoods in the suburbs. The
paint looked fresh and no dirt or debris clung to the house or the
surrounding yard. The lawn was bare of flowers and the trees of
leaves but it had a nice, manicured appearance. Just by looking at it
no one would suspect what took place behind closed doors.

“Talk about fancy,” Holden said.

His Perfect Mate

“He always said an alpha should live like a king,” Carl said

bitterly. “And have everything he so deserves.” The grip on Jake’s
hand tightened and he tried his best with the gloves covering their
hands to caress his thumb over Carl’s knuckles.

“Don’t let him win, baby,” Jake whispered into Carl’s ear. “When

this is all over we can burn it to the ground. It won’t erase the past but
it will definitely take away the reminder of what has happened here.”

Carl looked at him with eyes he could tell were fighting back

tears. He could respect the fact that Carl didn’t want to shed any more
tears over this man and what he had done but Jake would also
understand if he did cry.

“Get down,” Seth said in a harsh whisper and they all dropped to

the ground.

A tall, thin man carrying a duffle bag climbed out of a truck and

walked toward the house. He knocked once then a man with shoulder-
length black hair opened the door.

“The one who answered the door is Anton. He’s Tobias’s next-in-

command,” Carl informed them.

Jake kept his gaze on the house. They lay on the ground for a

good twenty minutes but nothing else happened.

“Hey, guys, over here.” Seth stayed on his belly and scooted back

until he was out of view of the house. Jake, Carl, and Holden did the
same. “Here’s the plan. I’m going to circle around to the back of the
property to see what’s going on at the back of the house. Jake and
Carl, you guys stay here and Holden move to the area between here
and where I’ll be. No matter what no one moves from position, got
it?” Jake nodded his agreement. “Good. When night falls we take the
house. Carl, are you sure it’s just Tobias and Anton that live in the
house?”

“Yes. Anton was the only pack member besides Casper and me

allowed to.”

“Do you know who that guy was that pulled up?” Jake asked.
“No.” Carl shook his head. “I’ve never seen him before.”

AJ Jarrett

“Well hopefully he’ll leave soon. I like our odds better with four

against two.”

Jake had to agree with the man. Not that he was worried but he

liked having the odds in their favor.

Seth headed toward the back of the property and Holden walked

over to his position. Jake and Carl stayed where Seth had indicated.
Jake propped up on his elbows and rested his face in his hands as he
kept watch on the house. Carl lay down beside him and mimicked his
position.

“Do you think they are expecting us?” Carl asked.
“Us? No. You? Yes.” Jake thought it to be expected that Tobias

knew Carl would return. The man knew he had the one person that
would bring Carl back every time, his brother.

“I guess he’ll be surprised when he sees you guys, huh?” Carl

smiled over at him.

“That’s the plan.” Jake nudged his shoulder against Carl’s.
After a few minutes had passed Carl spoke again. “This probably

isn’t the best time but I want you to know something.”

Jake turned his attention from the house to his mate. He wasn’t

quite sure he wanted to know what Carl had to confess. “Baby, you
don’t have to tell me anything that you don’t want to.”

“I want to,” Carl rushed to say. “If we’re going to be together I

want you to know the truth.”

Jake looked longingly into his mate’s eyes and could see this was

something his mate felt he had to do.

“There was a time I thought I was in love with Tobias.” Carl ran

his fingers over the brown grass in front of him. “I let him have me
when I was barely sixteen. I was young and stupid. I thought he really
cared about me.” Carl stopped moving his hand and sat there
motionless for so long Jake started to get concerned. “I remember
Tobias before he became the alpha. He’d come visit my family and
have dinners with us. He was so polite and caring. No one would have
guessed what type of person he truly was.”

His Perfect Mate

Jake had to bite his tongue to keep from howling out his

frustration. His own father might have been a hard man to live with
but he never abused his power as alpha. Just thinking about Tobias
ever laying a finger on Carl had him seeing red.

“When I was locked up in that cage he put me in, there were times

I wished we could go back to the way we were before he became so
possessive. After my parents died all I wanted was to be happy.” Carl
tore at the grass and the blades broke free from the ground. “Makes
me look pretty pathetic, doesn’t it?”

“No, it doesn’t.” Jake took Carl’s hand in his. “You would have

done anything to save your brother and yourself. It’s only to be
expected to make deals and bargain for that assurance that you will be
safe.”

Carl leaned to his side and rested his head against Jake’s shoulder.

“But I still feel like an idiot. You can’t make a crazy person see
reason and Tobias didn’t negotiate. He wanted absolute obedience at
all times. Looking back now it’s fair to say he’s a complete
dickhead.”

Jake jerked his head to the side. His shy little mate had never once

used a derogatory word when describing Tobias. Jake started to laugh.
“Yes, your ex-alpha is a complete and total dickhead.” He kissed the
side of Carl’s head and his mate beamed under the affection he gave.

“Since you shared something with me, I’d like to share something

with you,” Jake said. He had a feeling what he was about to say
would make his shy little mate very happy. Carl looked at him with
big eyes. “You are the first man I’ve ever kissed or touched in a
romantic way.”

“Really?” Carl’s mouth fell open. “But you’re so good at it.”
“Thanks.” He leaned forward to kiss the tip of Carl’s nose. “Don’t

get me wrong. I’m no virgin. I’ve dated my fair share of women but
never a man.” He shrugged. “Sure I’ve flirted with guys before but
something always held me back. As I think back on it now maybe it
was because I was saving myself for you.”

AJ Jarrett

His words must have struck a chord with Carl. Carl’s eyes began

to weep and his chin trembled.

“Baby, please don’t cry.” Jake tried to bring Carl closer to him but

in the position they were lying at made it a little difficult. “I didn’t say
that to upset you.”

“I know.” Carl’s voice cracked. “It’s just a really nice thing for

you to say. I just wished I had waited.”

“Carl, it doesn’t matter what happened in the past because, baby,

I’m your future and that’s all that matters now.” Before Carl could
respond Jake captured his pouty lips in a deep kiss. A whine left
Carl’s lips and sent a vibration clear down to Jake’s toes.

He believed what he told Carl. Yesterday and the day before that

were all in the past. There were things that couldn’t be changed and
on some level Jake wasn’t sure he’d want them to. Everything
happened for a reason, or so his mother always told him, so in some
way maybe they both had to go through all this crap to find one
another.

As the kiss lingered on Jake lost track of time. He became

consumed by his mate and his needy little whimpers. He wanted
nothing more than to strip Carl naked and make love to him right out
in the open but he knew that would be wrong. Carl deserved more
than that. No matter how loud his wolf howled in his brain to claim
his mate again, Jake ignored those impulses. They both had gifted
each other with the mating mark and for now that would do. Once this
situation was dealt with he planned on making their first time together
one of the most romantic things Carl ever experienced.

“Did you hear that?” Carl pulled back and climbed to his knees.
It took Jake a moment to catch on to what was happening.
“Oh my god, that’s Casper!” Carl shouted as he took off running.

Jake lay there dazed as his mate shifted and took off down the hill
toward the alpha’s house.

“No,” he whispered as he shifted to his knees. “Carl, stop!” he

said louder, trying to get his mate’s attention. But the brindle-colored

His Perfect Mate

wolf didn’t stop. Jake lunged for Carl’s hind legs but the wolf was too
fast. Just as he scrambled to get up a heavy weight landed on his back,
pinning him to the ground.

“Be quiet,” Holden whispered close to his ear. “They need to

think he came on his own. We can take on a few wolves, not an entire
pack.”

Jake heard what his friend said but he couldn’t make his heart and

body listen. He struggled to get free but Holden held tight.

Loud barking drew his attention down toward the house. Carl ran

at a lightning-fast pace toward the front door. Jake watched as a man
with short-to-the-scalp black hair threw the door open. An evil grin lit
the man’s face. The sheer madness in the dark eyes made Jake lose
the ability to breath. What had his mate just done?

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Ten

As the kiss between him and Jake started to get heated a pain-

filled cry met his ears. A sound he had heard several times before.

Casper!
Carl pulled away from his mate and took off running. His shift

came over him so fast that he didn’t realize he was running on all
fours until he was halfway down the hill.

The desperate cries grew louder the closer he got to the house. He

willed his legs to move faster. A sharp burn radiated throughout his
muscles and fear soured his belly. God only knew what brand of
torture his brother was having to endure.

You can’t show any fear. You need to be strong. Be strong for

Casper, the little voice in his head shouted.

Carl drew on every ounce of hatred he had for Tobias and let it

fuel his anger. For far too long he’d let the man run his life and the
life of his brother. It was time for Carl to take a stand.

He leapt over the yard with the grace of a deer and stormed up the

steps. Saliva dripped from his jaws and his lips were pulled back in a
snarl. He’d break down the damn door if he had to. Jake, Holden, and
Seth would have his back.

Just then the front door opened up and Carl came to a stop. Tobias

stood gazing down at him with a look that promised pain. Carl looked
over his shoulder to see if his mate was getting close but Carl didn’t
see him or his friends. He was all alone. The ice-cold fingers of fear
gripped around his heart. There was no way he could fight Tobias on
his own. He couldn’t understand why Jake would abandon him like
this.

His Perfect Mate

“I see that you finally made it home.” Tobias knelt down in front

of him. “I must say it took you much longer than I expected.” He
waved a finger, motioning Carl to come to him. “Come here.”

Carl dropped to his belly and ducked his head down low. Even

with the smile gracing his lips, Carl knew Tobias wanted to punish
him. Punish him for not loving him and for leaving.

“I said to come here!” Tobias said sharply and Carl crawled

toward him. He flinched as Tobias ran his hand through his fur. The
gesture seemed so loving and to any bystander watching,
nonthreatening. “Oh the things I have planned for you, my love.
When I’m done with you, you’ll never think about leaving me ever
again.”

A soft whimper sprang from his throat before he could swallow it

down. It didn’t matter how strong he wanted to be. It wouldn’t be
enough. Without the help of his mate, Tobias would for sure beat him
into submission. And knowing Jake had forsaken him, Carl didn’t
even feel like fighting back. He’d take whatever beating Tobias gave
him if it meant Casper would be safe. At this point that was all that
mattered to him.

He’d fallen for Tobias’s lies and it wasn’t fair to make Casper

suffer for his mistakes. Carl would agree to anything and do anything
if he could bargain for Casper’s freedom. His brother deserved a
normal life and one way or another Carl would find a way to make
that happen.

“Let’s go.” Tobias grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and

pulled up. Carl yelped but didn’t fight back. “Anton!” Tobias called
out. “Take my pet up to my room.” Tobias looked down at him and a
sparkle glinted in his eyes. “And chain him to my bed.”

“Yes, sir.” Anton took hold of Carl around the neck and dragged

him up the stairs.

In the distance Carl could hear the clicking of Tobias’s boots as he

walked away in the other direction. Carl wanted to howl in frustration.
If Tobias wasn’t with him then it meant he was with Casper. He sat

AJ Jarrett

back on his hunches trying to break Anton’s hold but the man just
pinched the skin he had a hold of harder. Carl was no match for
Anton’s brute strength.

“Stop stalling!” Anton bit out. He threw open the door and

reached back with his other hand to grab Carl by the tail. Anton with
more power than needed shoved him into the room.

The hardwood flooring was slick under his paws and he tried to

use his nails to slow him down. But it didn’t help stop his momentum
and he banged against the wall with a loud thud. The force rattled his
head and made his vision blurry.

“Shift.” Anton nudged him with his booted foot. Carl lay in a

heap, still stunned from hitting the wall. “I said shift, you piece of
shit!” Anton shouted then followed his order with a kick to Carl’s rib
cage.

Carl grunted and tried to relax to bring about his shift to human

form. He took a deep breath but he couldn’t focus. Anton shouted
again and gifted him with another kick, this one higher, right around
the breastbone.

Just as Anton brought his foot back to land another blow, Carl

forced himself to shift. He brought his hands up to shield his face as
Anton connected with his forearm.

“I don’t know why he wastes so much time on you.” Anton

grabbed him by the hair and yanked him up toward the bed. “Ever
since you were just a pup he wanted you.” Anton shook his head as he
spoke as if he were disgusted. “All the things he did just to have you
and this is the thanks he gets? You run off. And look at you.”

Carl’s head snapped up so fast he became dizzy all over again.

What did Anton mean? What had Tobias done?

Anton’s beady eyes roamed over Carl’s and he tried to fold his

body up to appear as small as possible. “You’re weak and not worthy
of him. Tobias deserves better.”

Carl didn’t say anything. He crawled up on the bed and held his

hands out to Anton. He’d learned long ago to not fight back. Anton

His Perfect Mate

didn’t care how much pain he caused Carl and he couldn’t afford to
let Anton accidently kill him in one of his tirades. If he was dead he
couldn’t help Casper.

Once Anton had Carl’s hands chained together he pulled the

excess chain tight so that Carl’s arms stretched above his head. Carl
winced as his joints popped and he used his feet to scoot up the bed to
relieve some of the pressure.

“What the hell.” Anton let go of the chain and wrenched Carl’s

head to the side. “What have you done?” The man started to laugh.

Hard fingers ran over the mark Jake had left on his neck. Carl’s

stomach dropped and he could feel perspiration break out across his
forehead. He had totally forgotten about the bite mark and he had no
way of covering it up and it wouldn’t matter. Anton would tell Tobias
regardless.

“Boy have you messed up now.” Anton finished latching the

chain to the side of the bed then looked back at Carl. With one last
smirk he slapped Carl across the face. Pain bloomed across his upper
cheek, causing his eyes to water. Anton’s laughter could be heard as
he left the room.

Once the door was shut Carl immediately started to pull on the

chains. His hands felt numb from the binding being so tight and there
was no extra give in the length. He was stuck. He had to wait until
Tobias came to him. The thought of being at that man’s mercy made
his stomach start to stir. His mouth began to water and he began to
gag. Only bitter acid filled his mouth but he swallowed it down.

Carl looked around the room to see if there was anything he could

use to his advantage if by some miracle he could break free. It was up
to him to save Casper and himself. No matter what his mind had said,
his heart couldn’t believe Jake and the others had abandoned him to
this fate. He had to stay strong and pray that Jake wouldn’t fail him
now when he needed him the most.

* * * *

AJ Jarrett

“Let go of me,” Jake gritted out between clenched teeth.
“If I let you go you can’t go down there, Jake,” Holden whispered

against his ear. “They’ll see you coming and kill you before you ever
reach the door. If you’re dead what use are you to Carl?” Holden gave
him a little shake.

His friend spoke nothing but truths. If he ran down there like a

ravenous wolf, Tobias would gun him down before he reached the
drive. That’s what Jake would do if the tables were turned. He had to
be smart about this.

“Okay, I get it. Now will you please get off of me?” Jake looked

over his shoulder at Holden.

Holden climbed off his back but stayed close. Jake got up to his

knees and looked down at the house. It looked quiet and peaceful but
Jake knew it was all a façade for what really was going on behind
closed doors. His mate once again was trapped in that house of
horrors.

“What the fuck happened?” Jake and Holden both turned at Seth’s

harsh words. “How could you just let him go?”

Jake’s lips curled back and his fist balled up. “You think I would

voluntarily let my mate run into danger?” He didn’t give Seth the
opportunity to respond. “You are a fucking asshole if you believe that.
I love him.”

“I know you do.” Seth softened his tone. “But you need to explain

to me what just happened?”

Jake flopped back to sit on his ass. He ran a hand through his hair.

“He said he heard his brother then took off running faster than I’ve
ever seen another wolf go.”

Seth looked from him to Holden. “Did you two hear anything?”
“I didn’t,” Holden said then turned to Jake. “Did you?”
“No.” Jake shook his head. He had been too preoccupied kissing

his mate to have noticed another person’s cry for help, but not Carl.
His mate sprang into action with little thought to his own well-being

His Perfect Mate

and no matter how much that infuriated Jake, he understood. If it were
his brothers Tobias had locked up not even the hounds of hell could
stop him from getting to them. The same went for his mate but he had
to have a plan. Clear minds needed to prevail so they all didn’t wind
up dead. He couldn’t sentence Carl or his brother to a lifetime of
Tobias’s torture.

“What’s the plan now?” Holden asked as if reading Jake’s mind.
“There’s an entrance in the back.” Seth pointed out toward the

house. “It looks like a way in through the basement. It’s off to the side
away from the back of the house. We’ll wait until it’s dark then shift
and make a run for the door.” Seth took a deep breath and dropped his
head to stare at the ground. Jake didn’t like the look on the man’s
face. “Jake, I’m sorry to say this but I’m hoping Tobias and the other
two men in the house are so preoccupied they don’t notice us.”

Jake closed his eyes and let his head fall back. The thought that

Tobias was touching his mate made his stomach turn and his skin
crawl. “Then what?” he asked softly.

“Once we reach the house we’ll shift back. Get inside and search

for the brothers.” Seth’s face went hard and his eyes narrowed. “And
we kill whoever gets in our way.”

“I’m down with that.” Jake nodded his head. “Holden, you okay

with this?”

“If it means saving Carl and Casper, then yes. We need to do

whatever it takes.” Holden hesitated and Jake could see an uncertainty
creep along his friend’s face.

“What’s wrong?” Jake asked Holden.
“I’m wondering if we should call Devon.” Holden held his hands

up, silencing Jake’s rebuttal. “All I’m saying is we don’t know
exactly how many wolves are in that house. Yes, Carl said Anton was
the only wolf that lived with Tobias and we’ve only seen one other
person go inside but we’re not a hundred percent certain.”

“We don’t have time to wait.” Jake pointed toward the house.

“God only knows what’s going on in there right now. I’m sorry,

AJ Jarrett

Holden, this is a chance I have to take but I will not force you to go.”
Holden had been a good friend to him and any other time he would
agree to call for backup but time wasn’t something they had a lot of.
None of them knew what Tobias’s plans were for Carl or his brother.
For all he knew the alpha had plans on killing Casper as a form of
punishment for Carl. Carl wouldn’t be able to live if that were to
happen and Jake couldn’t live without Carl.

“Fuck you.” Holden punched him in the arm. Jake fell to the side

from the jolt. “There’s no way I’m letting you go down there without
me. I just suggested that because someone needs to be the voice of
reason and besides”—Holden grinned at him—“you’re my only
friend besides this dickhead here. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Not going to happen.” Jake reached out his hand to clasp with

Holden’s.

“Very touching,” Seth said as if annoyed. “And by the way I’m

offended you’d refer to me as a dickhead.”

Jake started to laugh. This whole situation was a clusterfuck but

for some reason having Holden and Seth with him made him feel like
he’d get through this. That they would rescue Carl and Casper and
make it out alive.

He hadn’t known Seth long but he totally understood why the man

avoided people. Seth was the type that didn’t like to get involved in
others’ problems and Jake understood that. The man tried to act tough
but Jake could see through the tough-guy armor he wore. Jake started
to think it was because Seth cared too much. That was the man’s
problem. Sometimes locking yourself away from others prevented a
person from getting hurt and Jake felt like an ass for dragging this
man into this. Granted it was Seth seeking Holden’s help that started
all this but once Carl and Casper were gone Seth could have returned
to his hermit lifestyle but he didn’t. He stayed and was willing to put
his life on the line to help Carl and Casper. In Jake’s book that made
Seth a good man.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Seth asked.

His Perfect Mate

Jake blinked his eyes several times. He hadn’t realized he’d been

staring. “Nothing, so when do we attack?”

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Eleven

Carl jumped in fear when the bedroom door slammed shut. The

chain bit into the tender swollen flesh around his wrist. By some
miracle he had managed to doze off while waiting for Tobias.

“Nice to see you got some rest.” Tobias walked slowly toward the

bed. Carl could feel his body begin to quiver in fear. “Anton said you
had a surprise to show me. What would that be, my pet?”

In the position he was in his arms reached up past his head to

cover the sides of his neck. Tobias had yet to see the mark. He was
shocked that Anton hadn’t ratted him out straight away but Carl had
to assume this was funnier for the man. To draw out Carl’s
punishment no matter if it angered Tobias. Carl often thought at times
that Anton wasn’t happy unless Tobias was furious with someone
else.

“Come on now, don’t be shy.” Tobias ran his fingers lightly up

Carl’s leg starting at the arch of his foot.

He shivered as if a cool breeze cut through the room. If Tobias

saw the mating mark the man would be livid. In all the years he’d
been with Tobias the man had never bit him. Said that he wanted to
wait until Carl became of legal age but by that time Tobias had Carl
locked in a cage and the thought of biting him must have slipped the
other man’s mind. Not that Carl was complaining.

When Carl first became intimate with Tobias the other man had

already convinced him that true mates weren’t a real thing and Carl
wholeheartedly believed him. He loved the alpha with everything in
him but looking back now he only loved as much as a sixteen-year-
old boy could. He had lost his parents and had no other family to call

His Perfect Mate

upon for love and acceptance. So that only left Tobias and the man
had been good to him back then.

It was only when he started to crave the outside world beyond

Tobias’s property lines that his lover became different. It was little
things at first, so small Carl hadn’t even thought they were an issue at
the time. He and Casper weren’t allowed to go shopping, to go to the
movies, or just to walk about town. Tobias forbid it and Carl just
accepted it because he would have done anything to please the man he
thought he loved.

Carl’s eyes narrowed at Tobias as his mind raced through all the

lies and pain he had issued over the years. He now knew Tobias
didn’t know the meaning of love nor had the capability to love.

As Tobias’s hand moved up his leg a small growl eased past his

lips. The anger and hurt he felt started to bubble to the surface. So
what if Tobias beat him blue? At least he’d have the satisfaction of
seeing the man’s face when his eyes landed on Jake’s mating mark.

“Carl,” Tobias said in an authoritative tone.
“Sorry, sir,” Carl said sweetly. “This must be what Anton wanted

you to see.” Carl slowly turned his head to the left exposing the
healing bite mark on his neck.

Tobias stood up so quick the bed shook. He grabbed Carl by the

chin and yanked his head further to the side. Carl winced in pain.
“What have you done?” Tobias let go of his head and backhanded
him across the face.

Blood filled Carl’s mouth but he stayed silent. Pain shot across his

cheek and he held his body tight waiting for Tobias to land more hits
but they never came. He cracked open his left eye and saw that Tobias
had moved toward the fireplace. The man knelt down in front of it
and used a key to turn on the gas. He grabbed the matches and
sparked one to life. A blaze started and Tobias stood back up. He
turned around and headed for the bed.

Without saying a single word Tobias unlatched the chain from the

headboard and pulled on Carl’s arms until he stood up. The man

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didn’t say anything but Carl could read his expression loud and clear.
There was a coldness in his eyes that had Carl panicking.

Tobias led him to the foot of the bed. Carl kept his gaze on the

door. If he could just get a running start.

“Don’t even think about it.” Tobias’s words came out rough and

garbled.

Tobias freed Carl’s right hand. He pushed Carl until he stood with

his back flush against the bedpost. He then pulled Carl’s arms to cross
at the wrist behind his back. The wood felt cold and unforgiving
against his back even with the warmth of the fire heating him from the
front. Tobias clenched the chain tight and Carl sucked in a breath as it
pinched.

“Tobias, what are you going to do to me?” Being tied down was

nothing new to Carl but usually Tobias made sure Carl was lying face
down with his bottom in the air. Tobias liked to punish him but it
always ended with Tobias having his way with Carl’s body but this
position was different. It made him feel extremely vulnerable.

Tobias pulled on the chain to make sure it was tight and Carl

hissed as he felt his shoulder start to pop. The man moved back
toward the fireplace and grabbed the poker from the holder next to it.
He placed the pointed end in the fire and stood there.

“In all the years we’ve been together I’ve never once bitten you.”

He turned the poker to lie at a different angle. Carl could see it start to
glow a fiery red. “And you leave me for few days and you let some
other mongrel mark your delicate skin. Why?” He growled out the
one word.

Carl tried to swallow around the bulging lump in his throat. His

jaw worked up and down but he couldn’t find the words to say. He
closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and did his best to speak the truth
but he had a feeling Tobias wouldn’t like it. “Because I found my
mate.” His voice sounded small and weak.

His Perfect Mate

“How could you be so stupid!” Tobias shouted. “There’s no such

thing. That man lied to you. You let him use you.” The hand holding
the poker shook.

“No I didn’t!” Carl cried back. “He treated me with nothing but

kindness. He also told me the truth.”

“And what truth is that?” Tobias turned back to face him, the

poker held high in his hand.

Carl licked his lips and darted his eyes from the blazing poker

back to Tobias’s wild eyes. “That you’ve been lying to me for the past
nine years.”

Tobias started to laugh like that was the funniest thing he had ever

heard. The sharp sound bounced off the walls and Carl tried to shrink
back against the bedpost. In all his years he’d never seen Tobias like
this.

“If you only knew of all the things I’ve done for you.” Tobias

walked toward him. “I’ve lied and killed to make sure we were
together and this is the thanks I get?”

Tears filled Carl’s eyes the closer Tobias got to him. Tobias

telling lies wasn’t a surprise but who had he killed? And why? He
didn’t understanding what Anton and now Tobias were trying to say.
“Tobias.” The poker drew his attention away from the man. “What are
you talking about? Who did you kill?”

Tobias came to a stop in front of him and placed one of his big

hands on Carl’s chest. “Take your pick, my pet.” Tobias’s face
distorted into a mask of evil that frightened Carl more than the
boogey man did as a child. “The alpha, pack members, the nice older
lady who use to come visit you and your brother, and your parents,”
Tobias said with glee.

Carl’s breath caught in his throat and his chest started to heave.

“What?” he asked breathlessly. He couldn’t believe what he had just
heard. “Why?”

“Because I wanted you.” Tobias started to caress his hand over

Carl’s chest right where his heart lay. “The alpha could tell I had a

AJ Jarrett

strong infatuation with you and tried to keep me from you. He didn’t
understand how hard you made it. Every time you’d see me, you’d
run to me and want me to hold you or play with you. You never gave
me a moment’s rest.” Tobias curled his fingers into Carl’s pectoral
muscle, his claws digging deep. Carl clenched his eyes shut and bit
back a scream.

“When I tried to explain that I thought we were mates the alpha

was insistent that I leave until you were of age.” Tobias chuckled.
“Like I could leave you.” He uncurled his fingers and Carl’s bright
red blood coated Tobias’s fingernails. “So naturally he had to go. I
recruited Anton and a few others to help me. It was easy getting rid of
him. He was old and couldn’t take on five young wolves. Then your
father became a problem. I was never for certain if the alpha told your
father about my feelings toward you but it didn’t matter. He became
suspicious of me.” Tobias swiped a finger over his throat. “So
Mommy and Daddy dearest had to go.”

At Tobias’s confession Carl fought against his bindings. He

wanted to rip the man apart with his bare hands. How could Tobias
say he loved him then go and kill his parents like that? To leave two
young boys without their parents was beyond cruel. “You’re a
monster.”

“I’m your monster.” Tobias patted him on the cheek. He turned

around and walked back to the fireplace. “Then that friend of your
mother’s.” Tobias huffed out a breath. “Filling your head with notions
that would never be for you. I knew by the time you turned eleven
that we weren’t true mates but it didn’t matter. I still wanted you and
when you came to live with me it became obvious you wanted me as
well.”

“I was only a kid, Tobias. I just lost my parents. I was lonely.”

Carl started to cry. “You were always so nice to me. I thought you
loved me but this isn’t love.”

“How can you say that?” Tobias whirled around to face him. “I

took care of you for five years before I ever let my true feelings be

His Perfect Mate

known. I even refrained from killing that annoying kid brother of
yours. If anything I love you too much, Carl.”

In a way Carl pitied Tobias. The man didn’t know what loving

another person meant. Because it certainly didn’t involve killing the
family of the person you claim to love.

“So tell me, did he follow you here?”
“Who?” Carl didn’t bother lifting his head to look at Tobias. All

because of him, Tobias murdered his parents and so many others. It
was a heavy weight for him to bear. How would he ever be able to
explain all this to Casper?

“The man you let bite you.” Tobias looked over his shoulder.

“Because if he did, it’ll make it a lot easier for me to kill him. I do
hate having to be away from you and that’s what would happen if I
had to go hunt down this animal you let mark you.”

Think, Carl, think! You can’t let him kill Jake, too. Lie. Tell

Tobias whatever you have to to keep Jake safe. His mind screamed.
“He didn’t follow me,” he said softly, praying Tobias believed him. “I
shot him so he might be dead for all I know.” What he said wasn’t a
total lie.

Tobias picked the poker up out of the fire place once again and

walked back to him. “But you said he was so kind to you and told you
the truth. How can you expect me to believe you?”

“Because.” Carl lifted his head to meet Tobias’s steely stare. “I

love him enough to know he deserves better than me.” A hot tear
rolled down his cheek. It hurt to say but more so because it was the
truth. Jake did deserve better than him. Carl had been used and abused
and came with a shitload of issues. Jake shouldn’t have to be saddled
with a man who at times feared his own shadow. He’d never be Jake’s
equal.

“So very noble of you, Carl.” Tobias raised his hand to grip Carl

around the throat. “I’ll take you at your word but just so you know if
he ever comes looking for you, I swear I’ll rip him limb from limb
and make you watch.”

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He tried to nod his head but Tobias’s grip prevented that. Carl

blinked his eyes in understanding because he had no doubt Tobias
would kill Jake if he got the chance. Part of him hoped that Jake, Seth,
and Holden had abandoned him. At least that way they’d be safe.

“Good, now it’s time to take care of that nasty mark.” Tobias ran

his hand up the back of Carl’s neck and tightened his fist in Carl’s
hair, yanking his head to the side.

Carl’s eyes widened as Tobias brought the poker up to his neck.

The heat radiated off the piece of iron in pulsating waves. Tobias held
him tight as he lowered the glowing edge to Carl’s neck. He screamed
and screamed until his throat went raw. Tears spilled down his face as
Tobias burned the skin where Jake’s mark had been. The smell of
burning flesh filled the room and the stench made him want to vomit.

As Tobias dug the poker deeper Carl struggled to get away. The

chains held steady and his shoulder popped out of place. He howled in
pain but Tobias didn’t stop.

What felt like hours later Tobias pulled the poker away from his

neck. Carl sighed in relief but the action just caused pain to wrench
through his body. He tried to lift his head to see where Tobias had
gone but quickly hissed in discomfort. The charred skin pulled tight
with every little movement he made. He couldn’t decide what hurt
worse, his shoulder or his neck.

“Sorry I had to do that but you shouldn’t have been so careless.”

Tobias tried to defend what he had just done.

Carl blew out a breath to move his hair out of his eyes so he could

see what Tobias was doing. His eyes were swollen from crying and he
could only see partially out of his eyes. “What are you going to do to
me now?”

“Well first off let’s fix this shoulder.” Before Carl could ask what

he meant Tobias put a hand to his chest and one to his right shoulder
and forced Carl back.

He opened his mouth to scream but nothing came out. The jolt had

his shoulder popping back into place but it didn’t relieve all his

His Perfect Mate

agony. Knowing that Tobias had removed Jake’s mating mark hurt
like nothing had before, even worse than the burn. If he never saw
Jake again all he had were the few memories they had shared and the
other man’s bite mark and now it was gone.

“Oh Carl, how I’ve missed you,” Tobias whispered softly against

his cheek. Carl wanted to yell at him to fuck off but he didn’t have the
power. Tobias had broken him and he was defenseless to do anything
else but stand there and accept whatever Tobias did to him. “I think
it’s only right for me to gift you with my mating mark.”

No! Carl wanted to cry out. He didn’t want it. He would never

accept Tobias as his.

“I’m going to cover you from head to toe with my mark.” Carl

cringed as Tobias scraped his sharpened canine teeth over his jaw.
“We might not be true mates but you’ll wear my mark as if we were.”

With that Tobias sunk his teeth into Carl’s neck then moved to

bite his other shoulder. He cried silently as the man bit every bit of
exposed flesh. After the first twenty or so bites Carl started to become
light-headed. Spots danced in his field of vision and his legs gave out.
Tobias gripped him around the waist and held him up.

Carl hunched over, depleted of all his energy. He could feel the

blood as it ran down his body to drip in a puddle on the floor. Tobias
continued to bite him again and again. Carl gave up the fight and let
his eyes fall shut. He welcomed the darkness as it was his only savior
from the dreadful life he would now be forced to live.

AJ Jarrett

Chapter Twelve

As darkness fell upon them and they made their way around the

back of the property toward the rear entrance of the house. Seth led
the way. Jake kept his eyes peeled for signs of any other wolves but
everything seemed eerily quiet. Only the sounds of birds and deers
frolicking in the distance could be heard.

Holden stayed close to him and Jake assumed the other man

feared he’d take off but Jake wasn’t stupid. His mate’s life depended
on him keeping a clear head and not doing something stupid like
getting himself killed.

Seth waved them over. “Do you see it?” he whispered.
Jake ducked down and squinted in the darkness. He saw the

entrance that led to the door Seth referred to and it seemed rather out
of place on the house. The back of the house had large windows and a
sprawling patio with lawn furniture on it with a few doors leading into
the home. All looked normal except that on the side of the house dug
down into the ground was an entryway.

“Pretty weird, huh?” Seth asked.
“Yeah, it is.” Jake tilted his head to get a better look.
“The way they have it disguised with bushes and grass it’s like

they’re trying to hide something,” Holden said from beside him.

“My guess is they probably are.” Seth removed his jacket then

took off his shirt. “Let’s get ready, guys. Time to go save the day.”
Seth gave a shrug of his shoulders. “Or so I hope.”

“That’s not real encouraging.” Jake stood up and kicked off his

boots then started to take off his clothes.

His Perfect Mate

“Hey, I’m not tempting fate. Being too overconfident can be just

as damaging as being underconfident,” Seth explained.

Once they were all naked they shifted. Seth once again led the

way and Jake followed close behind him. As they got closer a rabbit
darted across the yard and a large spotlight went off, lighting up the
entire area. Seth came to a stop and Jake bumped him from behind.
The light was so bright as if it were noon on a summer day. Seth
motioned with his head for them to follow him. He went wide and
came up directly across from the door. The light kicked off and the
three of them ran under the shelter of the entryway to the mysterious
door.

The space wasn’t big enough for three full-grown men once they

were in human form. They bumped shoulders and stood closer than
Jake wanted to be. Shouldering his way toward the door he reached
out to touch the knob but Seth’s hand shot out to stop him.

“Wait a minute.” Jake let go of the knob and Seth dropped to his

knees. Seth sniffed along the ground and up the door frame.

“What’s he looking for?” Jake asked Holden.
“I’m not sure.” Holden stood with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I’m sniffing for any type of explosives or something that could

be used as a trap or device to signal them of intruders.” He sniffed
down the other side then gave a quick jerk of his head. “Nothing
smells odd which means they aren’t expecting visitors which is good
for us.” Seth turned the knob and surprisingly it opened.

“That’s a little disturbing.” Holden placed a hand on Jake’s and

Seth’s shoulder stopping them. “Don’t you think it’s strange they’d
leave this door unlocked?”

Jake was just about to say he agreed when a loud cry came from

inside the house. He’d never heard Carl scream in pain or terror but
the pitch and tone alerted him that it was his mate crying out in agony.
“Carl.” He took off but strong arms grabbed him from behind.

“Are you stupid?” Seth hissed at his ear. “If they hear us coming

we’re all dead.”

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Jake struggled for a moment then gave up. More screams followed

the first and Jake fought against Seth’s hold to go to his mate. His
skin itched with the need to shift. His wolf wanted out and it craved
blood, blood of the person causing its mate so much pain.

Soon the screaming stopped and that bothered Jake more than the

loud, pain-filled cries did.

“Let’s go,” Seth whispered.
They slowly edged their way down the long hallway. The walls

were light beige and marble floors ran throughout the hallway and
didn’t stop until the very end where stairs began. The stairs went up
and he tapped Seth on the shoulder and pointed.

“I know,” Seth whispered. “But we need to check these doors.

Casper may be down here.”

Jake eyed the thick, heavy wood doors, two on each side. The

doors opened outward not inward and at the top of each door was a
sliding lock that snapped into place. It was designed to let anyone in
but to keep the person inside trapped.

Seth grabbed the handle on the first door and Jake moved to the

opposite side just in case someone attacked from the inside. Holden
held back behind Seth, keeping watch on the back door. Seth slid
open the lock and slowly opened the door. Darkness spilled out from
the room.

“What’s in there?” Holden asked from over his shoulder.
“Not sure,” Jake answered back.
Seth stepped into the darkened room and felt around on the wall.

A few seconds later light brightened the space and Jake brought a
hand up to shield his eyes.

“Nothing in here except a bed.” Seth shut the door and moved to

the door across the hall. “Ready?” he asked Jake.

He nodded his head and took position on the opposite side once

again. Seth slid open the lock and then opened the door. Jake moved
beside him as Seth flipped on the light. He sucked in a gasp once the
light flickered to life.

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101

The floor of this room was slightly angled downward toward a

drain. The walls were painted black. Going halfway up the wall were
pieces of metal that ran along the four walls. A hose and water faucet
lay in the back corner. On the walls were hooks that held whips,
chains, and rope. There were other objects that Jake had never seen
before, something that looked like plier pinchers. A lethal-looking set
of knives hung in order from smallest to largest on the far wall. The
light bounced off the steel blades, giving off a blinding light.

“Dear god,” Jake said, looking around in disbelief. “What’s been

going on here?”

“I’m not sure I want to know.” Seth edged him back toward the

door but before he could shut off the light Holden peeked inside.

“Holy shit!” Holden said a little loudly and Seth brought his hand

up to cover the other man’s mouth.

Seth put a finger to his lips. “We need to be very quiet.” His eyes

snapped to Jake. “Don’t let this get to you. We need to stay
levelheaded so we can get those brothers out of here.”

Jake glanced over Seth’s shoulder one more time. The thought

that his mate or even Casper had been locked in the confines of that
room tore at his heart. The things that any person had to endure in that
room made his blood boil. If it were the last thing he did he’d make
sure Tobias paid for the turmoil he had caused.

The next door they checked had what looked like cages. The room

was split in two with metal bars separating each side. Stone bricks
made up the walls. Thin mattresses lay on the floor with only ratty-
looking blankets thrown on the beds.

“This must have been where he kept your mate and his brother.”
Jake stared around the sad little room. It was bare of any color or

life. A person could go insane living like this. “I want Tobias dead.”

“Don’t worry, Jake.” Seth clasped him on the back of the neck

and gave a light squeeze. “He will be.”

Jake turned and left the room and stood in front of the last door.

“Fourth one’s the charm.” He looked over at Seth.

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“Look.” Seth point down at the floor where light seeped out from

under the door.

Seth opened the door and Jake moved to stand directly behind

Seth. The room was dimly lit but they didn’t need much light to see
that a man was blindfolded and strapped down to a table. His legs and
arms were spread wide and a thick piece of tape covered his mouth.

The man lay motionless. Red angry marks covered the front of his

body in long strips from his feet clear up to his hairline. Jake gasped
in horror to see that the markings even covered the man’s groin area.
The pain those strikes to the body must have caused.

Jake took a step closer and as the man’s scent hit him he knew it

wasn’t Carl. Black and blue marks were setting in on the man’s skin
and a layer of rust-colored blood was smeared all over him. Jake kept
walking until he hit the bed, jostling the man. The man let out a
whimper and Jake went to put a hand on the man but didn’t know
where to touch him. So many cuts and bruises marred his flesh that
Jake didn’t want to cause him anymore discomfort.

“It’s Casper,” Seth said from beside him.
“Casper,” Jake bent down next to Casper’s ear and whispered.

“My name is Jake, I’m Carl’s mate. We’re going to get you out of
here.”

Casper gave a jerky nod signaling he understood.
Jake’s hand trembled as he reached out to remove the blindfold.

Casper squinted up at him. His pupils were dilated and Jake had to
wonder how long they kept him in this condition. He slowly picked at
the tape covering Casper’s mouth. It pulled at Casper’s skin and the
man’s eyes clenched tight and his body jerked. Jake stopped and
fisted his hands. He hadn’t done this to Casper but he couldn’t help
feeling guilty for causing him more pain.

“Here let me do it.” Seth pushed him out of the way. “Casper, on

three I’m just going to yank this thing off of you. Okay?” Casper’s
eyes were wide and he nodded. “One, two.” Seth never got to three
and pulled the tape free.

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103

“What the fuck happened to three?” Casper’s voice sounded rough

and dry when he spoke. His jaw moved up and down as he worked his
mouth open.

“I thought it best to not make you linger on the three count.” Seth

shrugged. “Now let’s get you out of here.”

“I can’t leave,” Casper said adamantly. “They’ve got Carl. I won’t

leave him behind.” Casper’s voice held such force and determination
that Jake admired the young wolf. Even after everything he had gone
through he wouldn’t leave without his brother.

“We’re going to get him out of here.” Jake met the other man’s

eyes and didn’t blink. “I swear it.”

Casper eyed him questioningly for a moment then nodded his

head. “I believe you but we might have another problem.”

“What’s that?”
Before Casper could answer, Holden moved into the room, quietly

shutting the door behind him. “We’ve got company, guys.”

“That’s what I was trying to tell you.” Jake could hear the panic in

Casper’s voice. “Bradford is coming back. He said he wasn’t finished
with me.”

“That must be the man we saw come to the house this morning,”

Jake said just as the doorknob started to turn.

Jake looked at Casper and held a finger to his lips. He then

grabbed Holden by the wrist and moved to stand against the wall by
the door. Seth stood on the opposite side. A few seconds later the door
opened and in walked a tall, thin man with deep-brown hair. He
carried an amber-colored drink in his hand. Jake could smell the bitter
stench of whiskey as it sloshed around in the glass.

“Oh, Casper, my dear.” The man sang the words out. “You ready

for round two.” The door shut behind the man. He wore black leather
pants and his hips swayed as he walked toward Casper. The man’s
chest was bare and his pale skin glowed in the low lighting.

Jake caught movement out of the corner of his eye and looked

over at Seth. He pointed to himself then to Jake then toward the other

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man. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what Seth had in
mind.

“Are you having fun, Casper?”
“No.”
The man’s head snapped up at Casper. To say he was surprised

was an understatement.

Seth lunged forward and punched the man in the back of the head.

He fell forward landing on Casper who howled in pain. Jake quickly
grabbed the man by the shoulders and threw him to the floor. A
disgusting thud sounded as the man’s head slammed into the hard
marble floor. The man lay there stunned and Jake didn’t have time to
react. Seth was on the man in a flash. He sat straddling the man’s
chest, pinning his arms to his sides. Seth dug his mouth into the man’s
neck and thrashed his head back and forth until a loud pop sounded.
Seth stood up and wiped his arm over his mouth, smearing the other
man’s blood across his face.

“One down, two to go.” Seth didn’t appear to be the least bit

shook up that he had just killed another person.

Jake turned his attention from Seth and the dead body on the floor

and ran over to Casper. He removed the leather strap bindings holding
him to the bed. Casper sighed in relief.

“Thank you.” Casper tried to get up but started to stumble.
Jake reached out and gently grabbed ahold of him. Casper let out a

hiss as Jake’s arm touched his back. Jake turned Casper away from
him to inspect his back. Just like the front his back was riddled with
red welts and bruises. Not being able to stop himself he handed
Casper off to Holden and began to stomp his foot onto the dead man’s
chest.

He couldn’t believe that another wolf or human could ever do

something like this to another person. Just the mere thought sickened
him. He landed kick after kick to the corpse until Seth pulled him
back.

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105

“You have to let it go.” Seth held strong as Jake geared up to

attack the body again. “We saved Casper. Now it’s time to save your
mate.”

His mate. Jake’s vision became clear and he started to calm down.

The smell of blood hung thick in the air and he wanted to gag on the
stench.

“Holden, I want you to take Casper out of the house. Go back to

where we left our clothes.” Seth handed out instructions. “If Jake and
I aren’t out there with Carl in fifteen minutes call your alpha. Tell him
what’s going on then get Casper and yourself back to my Jeep.”

“I’m not leaving you guys.” Holden clung to Casper but his eyes

darted between Seth and Jake.

“Trust me.” Seth placed a hand on Holden’s shoulder. “We’ll be

out there. This is just a precaution.”

Jake wasn’t quite sure if Seth truly believed that or if he was just

trying to reassure Holden. Either way Jake wasn’t leaving until he
found Carl.

Before Holden escorted Casper out, Seth questioned him. They

needed to make sure that Tobias and his right-hand man were the only
other people in the house. Casper confirmed that they were. Jake said
what he hoped wasn’t his last goodbye to Holden then watched as he
and Casper left through the back door.

“You ready for this?” Seth asked.
“More than you know.” Jake took the lead as he headed up the

stairs. He never had been an extremely violent man or wolf but seeing
what these monsters were capable of caused Jake to turn off his
humanity. God help these men because Jake was out for blood and his
wolf wouldn’t be satisfied until it got it.

God may have mercy on Tobias but Jake had no intentions of

being so kind.

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Chapter Thirteen

“Why do you have to disobey me?” Tobias asked as he knelt over

Carl, trailing his sharp fingernail over Carl’s shoulders.

True to his word, Tobias proceeded to bite every piece of skin on

his body. He had been grateful that the man spared his face. Tobias
said he was too handsome and didn’t want to disfigure Carl’s delicate
features. But he promised that if Carl ever left him again he wouldn’t
be so generous.

After Carl fainted for the second time, Tobias unchained his wrist

and laid him on the bed. The other man knew Carl was unable to fight
back. Fire shot throughout all his nerve endings, leaving him
paralyzed to do anything but lay there like a dead fish. Tobias hadn’t
been gentle as he bit down on Carl’s body. He used savage force that
made Carl feel like a dog’s chew toy.

Tobias started at his neck and worked his way down to Carl’s

ankles, which Carl had to admit hurt the worst. At times he could
actually feel Tobias’s teeth scrap against his bones. When Tobias felt
the front had been covered enough he flipped him over and started on
his backside.

As Tobias took bite after bite he continued to talk to Carl. He said

how much he loved him and how he hated having to punish him. Carl
wasn’t buying it. If Tobias truly loved him he would never have done
the things he had or abused Carl. Love didn’t mean pain. Jake had
showed him that in the short time they spent together.

Jake had treated him like a normal person, not some damaged

weakling. He took his time with Carl and didn’t force himself on him.

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The kisses they had shared were soft and gentle the way Carl always
imagined it should be.

Even in the beginning with Tobias the man had a roughness in

him that frightened Carl. The first time they made love it wasn’t all
Carl had dreamt it would be. Carl had just turned sixteen and
shouldn’t have been faulted for changing his mind. When he asked
Tobias to stop the man ignored his pleas. He took what Carl wasn’t
really sure he wanted to give.

It disgusted him to think about now. He should have seen Tobias’s

true colors back then. But he hungered for love so badly he dismissed
all his misgivings. His own ignorance had put him in this position.

“Answer me,” Tobias growled then struck the back of his neck.
Carl cried out at the sharp impact. He could feel the blood trickle

down his neck to stain the fluffy white comforter underneath him.

“I don’t know,” he answered as best he could. His breathing had

picked up and he sobbed into the blanket.

“We were so happy once.” Tobias lowered himself to lie on top of

his back. The roughness of his pants scraped along his bites and Carl
flinched. “Don’t you remember those times, my pet?”

He’d cried so much he no longer produced tears. All he wanted to

do was die. He didn’t want to give up but he couldn’t go on like this
anymore. To lie to Tobias just to stay alive didn’t seem worth it.

The heat of Tobias’s body left his back. He thought maybe the

man had left the room but he hadn’t. Strong fingers rolled him over.
Carl blinked open his eyes to look at Tobias. He tried to remember
how he ever thought he could possibly love this man. There had been
a time he thought Tobias was the most gorgeous creature he had ever
laid eyes on but now all he saw was a monster. The man’s dark eyes
now looked like lifeless black pits and his strong body only promised
pain not pleasure to give.

“I need to know one thing, my pet.” Tobias grabbed him around

the ankles and yanked him to the edge of the bed. “Did you let that
man fuck you?” Tobias narrowed his eyes at him.

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“No,” he answered honestly. That would be his only regret, that

he didn’t get the chance to make love to Jake.

“Good.” Tobias looked satisfied now that he knew that. It made

Carl hate him a little more. “I’m going to go run you a bath, then
afterwards I’m going to make love to you. We need to make up for
lost time.”

Carl watched as Tobias walked away. He wanted to scream no but

his cries would fall on deaf ears. Tobias thought he owned him and in
a way Carl guessed that he kind of did.

As he lay on the bed he stared up at the ceiling. Part of him still

prayed that Jake and his friends would swoop in and save the day like
comic-book heroes always did. But he just didn’t know anymore.
Maybe all these bad things were happening to him because God felt
he needed to be punished for something.

Carl snapped his head to the side and stared at the door.

Over the

sound of the running water Carl thought he heard a snarling growl.

Could it be? Could Jake be coming to rescue me? Has God seen it

fit to grant me safe harbor out of this house of nightmares?

He strained to listen more but all he could hear was the sloshing

of the water. For one brief moment he got his hopes up but it was a
wasted emotion. This was his life now. A prisoner to a crazed man
who he hoped would soon kill him.

* * * *

Jake reached the top step and peered around the corner. He

ducked back around when he saw a man standing in the kitchen.

“There’s only one man in the kitchen.” He held up one finger.
Seth nodded his head. “I’ll take him out and you go in search of

your mate. I can handle this asshole.” Seth rolled his head on his
shoulders and Carl watched as the air grew hazy around Seth. In a
flash Seth had shifted and motioned with his muzzle toward the
second set of stairs.

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Jake darted across the hall into the foyer. Just as he reached the

steps he heard something hit the floor followed by Seth’s loud growl.
He didn’t stop. Jake took the stairs two at a time until he reached the
top. He walked along the hallway trying doorknobs and sniffing the
air. Carl’s scent was faint. The coppery smell of blood dominated
over Carl’s sweet smell.

The door at the end of the hallway stood out like a spotlight. Jake

had a feeling that was where he’d find his mate. He took one step then
another until he was racing toward the door. He stumbled to a stop
before he crashed into the door. If Carl was in this room it meant
Tobias was as well. He had to be stealthy now. If he could sneak up
on the alpha Jake could kill him quickly. It was better than the man
deserved but getting Carl to safety was his main priority.

His hand shook as he reached out to grab the knob. The fear of not

knowing what waited on the other side terrified him more than
anything ever had. He’d seen his mother killed by a reckless driver,
his father shot to death due to a deranged alpha, and somehow those
things, harsh as they were for him to endure, didn’t compare to what
condition he’d find his mate in once he stepped over the threshold.

Taking a deep breath, Jake turned the handle and stepped into the

room.

* * * *

The sound of the door creaking open drew Carl out of his dismal

thoughts. His eyes stung from crying and clenching them tightly shut
as Tobias delivered his punishment for disobeying.

“Jake,” he mumbled as he saw his mate step quietly into the room.

At first he thought he was imagining it. Jake stood with his back
ramrod straight, his shaggy blond hair in disarray around his face, and
he was naked. If this was a figment of his imagination he never
wanted to come back to the real word. Jake looked like a rugged

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warrior straight back from battle. Sweat coated his tan skin and he
looked effortlessly flawless.

God, I never want to wake up.
“Carl.” The vision of Jake hustled toward the bed. “Oh my god,

what has he done to you?”

Jake reached out his fingers and Carl hissed in pain as the vision

touched him. Carl grabbed frantically for Jake’s hand. His fingers
curled around thick solid muscle.

He’s real! His mind shouted in glee.
“You came for me?” Carl’s throat grew tight as he became

overwhelmed with emotion.

“Of course I did.” Jake took Carl’s hand and flipped it over to kiss

the palm. “I’ll always come for you.”

He couldn’t fight the smile that split across his face. For so long it

had just been him and Casper against the world. It felt good knowing
he had someone else in his corner.

“Baby, you’re bleeding really bad.” Jake’s eyes roamed over his

body and Carl tried to use his arms to shield his ugliness from his
mate. “Stop, please. You’re making it worse.”

“I don’t want you to see me like this,” he whispered. Carl turned

his head away from Jake’s beautiful face. It stung that he’d never be
able to match the beauty of his mate. He didn’t want Jake to be
saddled with an ugly, weak wolf for a mate.

“Carl, listen to me.” When he didn’t look at him, Jake used his

finger to turn Carl’s face toward him. “It doesn’t matter how you
look.”

“It does,” he sobbed. “Tobias has scarred me with his mark. He

even burned my neck until he removed any signs of yours. I’m a freak
now.”

“You are not a freak and I could care less how you look.” Jake

placed his hands on either side of Carl’s face and laid a soft kiss to his
lips. “I love you, Carl, and that’s all that matters.”

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“I love you, too.” Carl placed his hand over Jake’s and held tight.

He was foolish to ever doubt his mate. Jake would never leave him
behind.

For the first time since coming to live with Tobias he felt like he

had a future beyond this house.

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Chapter Fourteen

“Well isn’t that sweet.” Jake spun around to see Tobias leaning

against the doorframe leading to the bathroom. The man clapped his
hands and sneered at him. Tobias pushed away from the door and
started toward him and Carl. “Carl, you lied to me.” Tobias made a
tsking sound and waved a finger in the air.

Jake stood to his full height. He darted a glance down at his mate

who still lay motionless on the bed. Jake could see the fear in his
milky blue eyes and he swore to himself he’d rid the world of the
sadist who caused that look in his mate’s eyes.

“I told you I’d tear him apart limb from bloody limb.” When

Tobias spoke he didn’t even spare a glance at him. The other man
acted as if Jake weren’t standing right there.

“Hey fucker!” Jake had had enough. He wasn’t about to let this

lowlife treat him like he was nothing and the gall of the jerk. To think
Jake would allow him the chance to kill him. If he went down he’d be
taking Tobias with him. “I’m standing right here. You can address me
and leave Carl out of this.”

Tobias turned to him. His head tilted to the side and stared at Jake

as if he just now noticed him. The man’s black eyes assessed him
from head to toe. Jake had to fight the urge to cover himself.

“I can see why you find him attractive.” Tobias grinned at him.

“It’s a waste I’m going to have to kill him.”

Jake barely had time to react. Tobias leapt in the air and had his

claws extended, reaching for him. He slid to the side, landing hard on
his hip. Tobias landed with his knees bent and nails dug into the
hardwood flooring.

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“Come now.” Tobias’s lips were pulled back over his lengthening

teeth. “It’ll hurt less if you just hold still.” His voice rose as he raced
toward him.

Jake climbed to his feet and braced himself. He wasn’t going to

run from the alpha. The man needed to learn his place and by no
means was he superior to Jake.

He allowed the change to crawl over his body. Bones popped and

hair grew. Once Tobias was in reach Jake snapped his jaws and bit
down on the alpha’s thigh. The man howled in agony and tried to
shake loose but Jake held on. Jake clamped down hard then wrenched
his head to the side, taking a chunk of Tobias with him.

The man roared in pain then fell to the floor. Jake circled Tobias

as he lay on the floor twitching. Just as he had done the alpha shifted.
Blood poured from the gaping wound and Tobias hobbled toward
him. Jake snarled at Tobias, letting him know he welcomed the fight.

Tobias went left and Jake went right. The alpha was slowed down

due to his wound and Jake was able to latch on to the back of Tobias’s
neck. Tobias let out a loud, ear-piercing howl and flipped to lie on his
back, trapping Jake underneath him. Jake struggled to get free but
Tobias had gained the upper hand. Tobias rolled to where he straddled
Jake’s body. Jake barked and nipped his teeth trying to ward the other
man off but Tobias dodged his tactics and dove in for the death bite.

Jake clenched his eyes tight and growled as he felt Tobias’s teeth

sliced through muscle and flesh. Tobias snarled against his neck and
waggled his jaw, tearing more flesh from his body. Jake tried to use
his paws to push at the black wolf’s chest but Tobias wouldn’t budge.

It can’t end like this! His voiced echoed in his head. He was

supposed to save Carl from this life.

Tobias clamped down hard and Jake gasped as the pressure began

to crush his wind pipe. His vision started to become spotty and he
blinked his eyelids rapidly trying to regain focus. He wasn’t ready to
die.

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Jake called on his strength to push Tobias off. Just as he planted

his paws the wolf above him whimpered and his jaw went slack.

“You’ve taken my parents. I will not let you take my mate.”
A gargling sound came from Tobias and his body went limp. Jake

shoved Tobias off of him and scrambled to his feet. Carl sat with his
knees under him staring at the black wolf. Jake forced his body to
shift back to his human form. A scream shot out his mouth as his
body stretched and popped back into place. He brought a hand up to
clamp around his bleeding neck.

“Carl.” His voice was hoarse and his throat burned when he

spoke. He reached out with his free hand, beckoning Carl to come to
him. “Baby, it’s okay.”

Carl looked at him in surprise like he hadn’t noticed Jake sitting

there. A rattled breath left his lips then without warning he fell to the
floor.

“Carl!” Jake shouted as his rushed to his mate’s side. The bite

marks on the left side of Carl’s body that had started to scab over
broke open when he toppled over. Thin trails of bloods trickled to the
floor. Jake with as much ease as possible lifted Carl into his arms.

“Are you okay?” Seth asked breathlessly. Jake looked up to see

the man out of breath, holding himself up with the help of the door
frame. Blood oozed down the side of his face to paint across his
muscular chest.

“Yeah, Carl just fainted.” Jake rocked Carl gently from side to

side, praying that was the only thing that had happened. “What about
you?” He nudged his chin toward Seth. “You okay?”

Seth shook his head. “I’m fine but that fucker”—Seth thumbed

over his shoulder—“was one hell of a fighter.” He reached up to
cover his ear. “The bastard bit off a piece of my ear.” That explained
all the blood matting his hair and rolling down his neck. “But he got
his.” A chill ran down Jake’s back at the wicked gleam in Seth’s eyes.

“I’m glad you’re on our side.”

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Seth shrugged and stepped into the room and walked over to

where he sat. “I see you got the alpha.”

“No.” He shook his head. “Carl killed him.”
“Good for him.” Seth lightly touched Jake’s shoulder. “We need

to get out of here.”

Jake nodded his agreement and stood up. He grabbed the

comforter off the bed and wrapped it around his mate’s body. As they
reached the foot of the stairs and headed for the front door, Seth said
he would meet him out front and went toward the back of the house.
Jake didn’t stop to ask why, just headed for the door. He had made it
down the driveway when Seth came running out the house. He put an
arm around Jake and ushered him to go faster. Glass shattered in the
distance as a fire raged to life. Jake turned to look at the blaze, then
back to Seth.

“Too bad the fire won’t erase their memories, huh?” Seth asked

but never took his eyes from the house.

Heat drifted in their direction from the house as the fire grew

larger. Jake wished it could be that easy. But nevertheless his mate
and his brother had to live with the past and do their best to not let it
infringe on their future. A lot easier said than done.

“Jake. Seth!” Holden’s shouts could be heard over the fire. They

both turned to see Holden and Casper running toward them. “Thank
god you guys are all right. I was getting ready to call Devon.”

“We’re fine,” Jake answered.
“Carl?” Casper’s tear-filled voice drew Jake’s attention. “Is he

alive?”

The markings on Casper’s face had scabbed over and some of the

redness had started to fade. He wore some clothes that he assumed
Holden had given him. They swallowed up Casper’s thin body,
making him look like a little kid.

“Yes, he’s alive,” Jake reassured the young wolf. “He’s just

fainted.” Tears spilled from Casper’s eyes.

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“Let’s get out of here.” Seth started off toward the trees and led

the way back to where they had left their clothes.

Once they were dressed they headed in the direction they’d come.

A few hours into the hike they decided to stop and rest. Casper was
too weak to keep going. They made camp and somehow Holden,
Seth, and Casper managed to share a sleeping bag while he and Carl
shared the other. His mate never woke up and Jake held him through
the night as his ravaged body shook and twitched.

At first light they continued on their way back to where they left

Seth’s Jeep. The parking lot was empty and they were able to leave
unseen. It would have been pretty hard to explain the condition they
were all in. Plus him carrying a passed-out bloodied and beaten Carl
wouldn’t have gone over well had someone seen them.

Back at Seth’s house Jake carried Carl into the room he and

Holden had shared and laid his mate on the bed. Casper had gone to
the kitchen where Holden brewed some coffee and hot tea.

“Has he woken up yet?” Seth asked.
Jake sat in a chair by the bed, staring at his mate. “Nope.” He was

starting to get worried.

“If he’s not better by tonight I’ll call that doctor I know,” Seth

offered then left the room.

Jake scooted his chair closer to the bed and caressed his fingers

over Carl’s forehead. The man’s hair had clumped together from
sweat and blood. His face looked so pale but his chest rose and fell in
soft succession. Carl looked as if he were just sleeping and Jake
assumed maybe he was. His mate had gone through a lot and not just
the past couple of days but years.

A soft knock at the door drew his attention. He turned to see

Casper standing in the entryway. “Can I come in?”

Jake sat up and dried his clammy palms on his thighs. “Sure. I

think he’d like to hear your voice, Casper.”

Casper smiled brightly as he rushed into the room. The young

wolf climbed on the bed and snuggled close to his sleeping brother. It

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warmed Jake’s heart to see them together. It made him miss his
brothers.

“Casper, I’m going to go call home.” He stood up. He had just

reached the door when a thought occurred to him. “Hey, Casper.” The
young wolf propped up on an elbow to look at him. “Do you think
you and your brother would like to come live with me? I fully intend
on asking Carl but what do you think about it?”

“I think there’s no other place my brother would want to be.”

Casper smiled at him. “But are you sure you want me to come
along?” Casper still smiled but Jake could see the uncertainty and fear
that he’d say no in the young man’s eyes.

“Casper, wherever we go, you go. You understand that? We’re

family.”

He could see the shine in Casper’s eyes. “Thanks, Jake.”
Jake smiled and gave Casper a small wave and left the room. He

fished out his cell phone and punched in his brother’s number.

“Hello.”
“Cole, it’s me.” Jake gave Cole a simplified version of what took

place. He told his brother that he had found his mate and that he’d be
bringing him and his younger brother back home with him. Cole
sounded excited and promised to inform Devon. Hearing his brother’s
voice made him long for home.

They said their goodbyes and Jake hung up the phone. So much

had happened in such a short span of time. If someone would have
told him four days ago that he’d be shot, find his mate, and be
involved in murder and arson he wouldn’t have believed it. But going
through all that he still wouldn’t have changed a thing because it
brought him to Carl. He just prayed he could help his mate recover
from his past.

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Chapter Fifteen

The soft sounds of snoring woke Carl up. He shifted on the bed

and opened his eyes to see Casper curled up next to him. He blinked
his eyes to try and clear away the sleepiness. Casper’s face was
covered in marks that had started to heal. He lightly touched one and
his heart threatened to crack at what his little brother must have gone
through.

“He’s fine, Carl.”
He rolled over to see Jake sitting in a chair besides the bed. “We

made it out?” Carl asked as he tried to remember what happened.

“Yes and thanks to you, Tobias is dead.” Jake scooted his chair

closer to the bed and took Carl’s hand in his.

Carl closed his eyes and bits and pieces flashed before his eyes,

being restrained, the burn on his neck, and Tobias biting on his body
like a hungry dog. Then he saw himself over a large black wolf
forcing the very same fire poker with the decorative handle into
Tobias’s neck. The beast was trying to kill Jake and he couldn’t let
Tobias take his mate away from him too. Murder was a sin and
against the law. Carl should have felt bad but he didn’t. Tobias got
what he deserved and Carl would never apologize for that.

“You okay?” Jake’s eyebrows rose to his hair line.
“You know what? I think I am.” He grinned so hard his face

began to ache. “We’re free, Casper and I.”

“You are.”
“I just wished I could have prevented everything that had

happened.” Guilt sat heavy in his stomach over what he had learned
from Tobias, all the bad things Tobias had done in the name of love.

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“Baby.” Jake’s thumb stroked over his hand in a circular pattern.

“There’s nothing you could have done to stop Tobias from doing the
things he did. There’s no rhyme or reason to the thought pattern of a
madman.”

“In my head I know that and understand but it doesn’t take away

my guilt.” He took a deep breath. “Tobias killed my parents. He also
killed the alpha all because he loved me. How sick is that?”

“Like I said it’s not for us to understand.”
“I know but it’s not fair to Casper.” He turned to look at his

brother. “He didn’t ask for any of this.”

“And neither did you,” Jake said sharply. “What Tobias did rests

on his shoulders not yours. It’ll take time but we all can get past this
together. It won’t be easy but we’re family now and we have each
other to lean on.”

“Family,” he whispered. Carl stared into Jake’s deep-green eyes

and the heavy burden of the past started to lift away. It wouldn’t all
disappear overnight but this was a fresh start. Not just for him but for
Casper as well. He’d spend every day right down to his last breath
doing whatever it took to give Casper the life that had been stolen
away from him. And with the help of his mate he knew it was
possible. “I like that.”

“Me too.” Jake leaned down to kiss Carl’s knuckles. “There’s

something I want to ask you.”

“What?”
“Would you like to move back to Nehalem with me?” Jake rushed

the words out so quickly like he was afraid Carl would say no.

“I’d love too but I need to ask Casper what he thinks. I love you,

Jake, but I’m not going anywhere without my brother.” He didn’t
want it to seem like he was giving his mate an ultimatum but it was
how he felt. If Casper didn’t want to go with them then Carl would
stay with his brother. He’d owed Casper that much.

“Then it’s a good thing that Casper’s already agreed to it.” Jake

grinned.

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They sat and talked until Carl yawned so wide his jaw popped.

Jake told him to get some sleep and they could talk more in the
morning. Carl tucked his hands under his chin and lay staring at Jake
until his eyes drifted shut. He couldn’t believe that this sweet man
was his.

* * * *

A few days had past and Carl was up and moving around. Jake

borrowed Seth’s Jeep and went into town and bought his mate and
Casper some new clothes. They planned to head back to Nehalem the
next day and Jake wanted Carl and Casper to have some things of
their own.

Jake was happy to see his mate smile and joke around with his

brother and the others. He seemed like a different person. Jake had to
guess being free of Tobias had to be a major relief for both the
brothers. Just hearing them talk above a whisper was music to Jake’s
ears.

As he pulled up Seth’s drive, Carl stood outside leaning against a

tree. A flirty smile graced his pink lips and Jake groaned at the sight.
He was happy to see his mate being so open with his affection but
Jake didn’t want to push Carl too far too soon. He wanted his mate,
no doubt about it, but Jake still thought Carl needed more time to
heal.

“You want to go for a walk?” Carl asked as he got out of the Jeep.
Carl’s head tilted to the side and his hair fanned across his pale

face. The sun bounced off his light-blue eyes and Jake felt trapped by
his mate’s beauty.

“I should really get these bags inside.” Jake’s voice cracked as he

spoke. His cock start to thicken and he snatched up one of the bags to
cover his growing bulge.

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“Oh come on.” Carl had a little hop to his step as he walked

toward him. “We haven’t had any time alone. It’d be good for us.”
Carl batted his eyelashes innocently up at him. “Please.”

Jake cursed under his breath and tossed the bag back into the Jeep.

“Okay, but not too far. You’re still recovering.”

Carl’s lower lip stuck out in a pout. “You’re no fun.” He started to

giggle. “Now let’s go.” Carl grabbed his hand and led him to the
beaten-down path that ran through the trees behind Seth’s cabin.

Carl walked a step ahead of him and Jake didn’t mind lagging

behind him. It gave him the perfect view of Carl’s little bubble-
shaped ass. The things he longed to do to it. First he’d start out
kissing it, massaging the firm globes apart to make way for his
tongue, then once his mate was nice and prepared he’d enter his warm
body, making them become one.

Jake looked around the property, looking for a spot that just might

be fitting for a little sexy time.

You’re such an animal. You know that? His conscience snapped at

him. Your mate deserves only the best and a romp in the woods is so
not the place to make Carl feel special.

Jake let his head hang down toward his chest. He had to get his

mind off of how cute his mate was and how much he wanted to be
with him. The thoughts running through his mind made him feel like
he was no better than Tobias. Jake didn’t have a clue if Carl realized
he was flirting with him. His mate could very well just be being nice.

“We’re here!” Carl sang out the words.
Jake stumbled to a stop, running into his mate. He looked up to

see what Carl was referring to. A blanket laid out on a flat piece of
ground not covered in trees or weeds. He looked from the blanket to
his mate. Words failed him at the moment.

“Don’t you like it?” Carl’s face scrunched up.
“It’s…” Jake rubbed his hand over his mouth. “What is this

exactly?” He thought it was better to not assume anything. Carl could
just want to kiss and cuddle for a while, which was fine with Jake.

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“I thought”—Carl turned in his embrace and snaked his arms up

and around Jake’s neck—“we could finally be together. I’ve been
looking forward to this since the first time we kissed. And after
everything that happened with Tobias I don’t want to wait. Life’s too
short, don’t you think?”

Carl reached up on his toes and kissed Jake along his jaw. He

closed his eyes and sunk into the warmth of Carl’s lithe body. His
arms moved of their own accord to bring Carl even closer. Carl
moaned as Jake skimmed kisses over his face.

Jake brought his hand up to grip Carl lightly around the chin. “Are

you sure?” he asked as his eyes darted between Carl’s looking for any
signs of doubt.

“I’ve never been surer about anything in my entire life.” Carl

tightened his arms around Jake’s neck, urging him down.

When their lips connected Jake growled into the kiss. He lifted

Carl up off his feet and carried him to where the blanket lay. The
whole time his mind was shouting about how it was too soon and that
he should be the stronger person and wait. But Carl hugged his legs
snug around Jake’s hips, grinding his erection into his stomach. He
feared the heat would burn a hole through their clothes.

Once Jake reached the blanket he dropped to his knees and gently

laid Carl down and covered him with his body. Carl kept his legs
spread wide and Jake situated himself between them. He rocked back
and forth, rubbing their cocks against each other. Carl’s hands gripped
harder and he lifted his hips up to meet Jake’s.

The kiss grew more intense. Carl licked his way into Jake’s mouth

and sucked on his tongue. Jake lost himself in the sensual slide of his
mate’s tongue over his. Carl’s intoxicating taste had Jake’s toes
curling in his boots. His wolf howled its approval for this mating.
Outside under the view of nature seemed natural and right.

“Jake, please.” Carl broke the kiss and pleaded with him. “I want

you.”

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Jake propped himself up to hover over his mate. “Are you sure

you’re ready for this? There’s no rush, baby.”

“I know there isn’t and I love that you don’t want to rush me into

anything but I’m ready to move on and make new memories.” Carl
gnawed on his lower lip nervously.

He could see by the look in his mate’s eyes this was something he

needed not just wanted. If Carl wanted to create new memories with
him then who was he to disagree? All Jake wanted was to make Carl
happy.

Jake didn’t say anything. He lowered himself and captured Carl’s

lips in a smoldering kiss. It was so hot Jake thought he’d melt down to
nothing but a trail of smoke floating away on the wind.

Jake reached down to unzip Carl’s pants. Once open he reached in

under Carl’s underwear to grip ahold of his cock.

Carl let out a yelp of surprise and his hips shot up off the blanket.

Thrilled with Carl’s reaction and eager to give more pleasure to his
mate, Jake tightened his hand and stroked Carl’s cock in an easy up-
and-down motion.

Carl broke the kiss and let his head tilt back as he thrashed from

side to side. Jake relished the way Carl looked in the throes of
passion. His eyes were clinched tight and his lips were slightly parted.
An alluring flush crept up Carl’s neck to spread across his cheeks,
making them a pretty shade of pink.

Pushing back to sit on his knees, Jake let go of Carl’s cock. He

pulled Carl’s pants down his hips and his mate’s hot, hard length
sprung forward to slap against his stomach. Drool pooled in his mouth
at seeing his mate’s naked body, hot and hard and ready for him.

Jake reached for the hem of Carl’s shirt and started to lift upward.

Carl’s hand landed hard on his wrist, stopping him.

“Leave it on,” Carl demanded.
Jake cocked an eyebrow at his mate. “Why?” Did he do

something wrong? He wasn’t sure this was such a good idea anymore.

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“It’s just…” Carl turned away from Jake’s questioning eyes. “I’m

covered in scars. I don’t want you to be reminded of my past.”

“Oh, baby.” Jake placed a hand on either side of Carl’s face. “You

are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen and what Tobias did to
you will never tarnish what we share.” Jake pulled his collar down to
expose his neck. “I have a matching mark he gifted me with as well.
Am I any less attractive to you?”

Carl began to laugh. “No, you’re not.” Carl traced a finger over

Jake’s neck and he shuddered at the light touch.

“When I look at you all I see is the man I love and want to spend

the rest of my life with.” He brushed his thumbs over Carl’s cheeks,
loving how his mate’s eyes fluttered shut at his touch.

A few seconds passed before Carl nodded his head then reached

for the bottom of his shirt. Jake sat back and watched as Carl removed
his shirt and tossed it aside. The wind picked up and the cool breeze
caused his mate’s nipples to harden into little bitable peaks.

Carl self-consciously rubbed his hands up and down his arms.

Being a wolf shifter allowed for his mate’s body to heal faster than a
human’s and all that remained of the bites were reddened marks with
some flaking skin still shedding off. The scars were raised and stood
out against the paleness of Carl’s skin but Jake wasn’t disgusted.
They showed how strong his mate was because he survived Tobias’s
torture and lived to see another day. It made Carl a stronger human
being, something Jake planned to remind his mate of every day.

“God, you’re gorgeous.” Jake stared, unable to look away.
“Now you.” Carl pointed at his shirt. “Pants, too.”
He stood up and did as his mate requested. Jake pulled his shirt up

and let it fall to the ground. He then slowly undid his jeans and eased
them down his legs. He left his boxer briefs for last. The tight fabric
hugged his thick, heavy cock, nicely showcasing what he had to offer
Carl. Carl’s eyes widened as he took in Jake’s cock size and his mate
licked his lips.

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125

Not able to wait a second longer, Jake tugged down his briefs and

moved back between Carl’s legs. He nipped at his mate’s full bottom
lip and as Carl gasped in pleasure Jake plundered his moist, wet heat.

Jake reached between them and adjusted his length so that it lay

over Carl’s. Drops of pre-cum dribbled out of his slit to mix with
Carl’s. Jake ran his finger through the stickiness then trailed his finger
down past Carl’s balls to his ribbed little opening. He continued to
kiss the air from his mate’s body as he slowly inserted one finger
inside Carl. The muscle went tight and he had to coax the small
opening to let him enter. As he eased his finger inward, Carl let out a
long sigh. Jake found that encouraging and pushed deeper. Soon he
was sawing two fingers in and out preparing his mate for his cock.

“Make love to me,” Carl said in between kisses. “Please, Jake.”
“With pleasure, my love.” Jake sat up. He jerked his cock up and

down as he stared at his mate. Carl’s whole body was flushed with
color as he gazed up at Jake. The thought of sinking deep into Carl’s
tight ass had him almost spilling in his hand.

As he continued to stroke his cock something hit him, no lube.

“Fuck,” he bit out a curse.

“What?” Carl looked confused.
“We don’t have any stuff.” He lifted his eyebrows up and down

but Carl just shook his head. “Lube.”

“Oh.” Carl started to laugh. “I almost forgot.” Carl reached for his

pants and pulled out a small tube from his back pocket. “Here you
go.” He tossed it up at Jake and he caught it in one hand.

“God, I love you.” He flipped open the cap and drizzled the clear

liquid into his hand then rubbed it up and down his shaft.

“Good to know.” Carl lay back and brought his knees up.
The way Carl openly displayed himself made Jake tremble. He

gripped the back of Carl’s thigh and used his other hand to guide his
cock toward his mate’s opening. The blunt tip brushed over the
starburst and he darted his eyes up at Carl’s gasp. His mate nodded
his head, signaling for him to go further.

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Jake slid all the way in to the hilt until he rested up flush with

Carl’s ass. Carl’s body accommodated him perfectly. He stayed
seated for a moment savoring the hot, hard grip of his mate’s body
before he began to move. Together they found a slow and steady
rhythm. It was a coupling of two hearts along with two bodies. Jake
had never been more turned on in his life.

Carl let go of his legs and held his arms open for Jake to come to

him. He fell into his mate’s embrace and kissed his swollen lips. The
pressure in his balls began to build and his hips picked up the pace.
Carl’s heels dug into the back of Jake’s ass as he clung tightly to him.
The sounds of flesh slapping against flesh echoed in his ears.

“I love you,” Carl screamed as his cum shot out, smearing over

his and Jake’s chest.

The viselike grip of Carl’s ass clamped down on his cock. Jake

fought back the need to come. He didn’t want it to end just yet.

“Jake, claim me.” Carl tilted his head to the side.
There was one spot right under his left ear that hadn’t been

scarred by Tobias. Jake felt the tingle in his gum tissue as his canines
lengthened into sharp points. As Carl rode out the waves of his
release, Jake struck. He clamped down tight and thrust his hips into
Carl’s welcoming body. His balls drew up tight and just when he
thought he couldn’t handle it anymore, he came hard and deep inside
Carl’s body. Jake couldn’t ever imagine doing this with anyone else
ever again. Carl was his life and love, his perfect mate.

They lay there on the blanket naked as they soaked up the rest of

the afternoon sun. The nip in the air grew colder and Jake suggested
they head back to the cabin before Casper, Seth, or Holden came
looking for them.

Jake helped Carl fold up the blanket then walked hand in hand

back to Seth’s. A smile a mile wide lit up his face. He couldn’t wait to
introduce Carl and Casper to his brothers. He knew they’d love the
brothers just as much as he did.

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“About time you guys came back.” Holden stood at the back door

giving them a knowing smile. “It took everything I could think of to
keep your brother from going out to look for you. Talk about scarring
a kid for life, seeing his older brother getting plowed by you”—
Holden pointed the wooden spoon in his hand at Jake—“would have
freaked him out.”

“How do you know that’s what we were doing?” Jake stopped at

the back steps and pulled Carl into his arms. “We could have been on
a nature hike.” It was possible and he didn’t have to tell his best friend
about his sex life.

“I might have bought that if your adorable little mate hadn’t asked

if I could get him some lube.” Jake looked down at Carl who had his
head buried in Jake’s chest. He started to laugh and looked back to
Holden. “It was a total giveaway.”

“I bet it was.” He kissed the top of Carl’s head then ruffled a hand

through his light-brown hair. “Let’s get you inside before you get too
cold.

They went inside and took a seat at the table. Holden had dinner

ready to go and the spicy smell of spaghetti and meatballs had his
stomach growling.

Conversation flowed easily as they ate supper. Casper reminded

him so much of Cole when he was younger. The way he talked and
got excited about every little thing.

Casper was eager to move to Nehalem. Jake and Holden had both

promised to help get him prepared to take his high school equivalency
test. Amazingly enough Carl had taken his when he turned fifteen.
Jake had to wonder if his mate was some sort of genius, not that he
really thought Carl would ever admit it though.

Carl also promised to help do whatever it’d take to give his

brother a normal life. The way Carl doted on his brother one would
think Carl was his father instead of his brother. Jake figured it was
part of the guilt Carl felt for the life his brother had lived but he also
knew his mate would still go overboard for his brother. Carl had a

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good heart and wanted to help other people. Jake thought it was a
miracle Tobias hadn’t killed that part of his mate’s personality. The
world would have suffered from that loss.

After dinner Carl and Casper helped Holden with the dishes which

Jake and Seth thought was funny. The kitchen being as small as it was
made the three men look like sardines in a can. Holden was wider and
taller than the brothers and looked out of place as he stood in the
middle of the speed-talking duo. Holden kept up with the
conversation and laughed and joked right along with them.

With the dinner dishes put away and a couple of hours of mindless

TV watching later they turned in for the night. Holden and Casper
slept in sleeping bags in the living room. There was a movie on TV
they wanted to watch. Seth took refuge in his room, locking the door
behind him, and Carl and Jake shared the bed in the spare bedroom.

They shared a few kisses but nothing more. Tiredness took hold

over both of them and they didn’t have the energy to go for a second
round. It was probably for the best. Seth was driving them home first
thing in the morning.

Home.
Jake couldn’t wait to get there and start his life with Carl.

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Chapter Sixteen

The drive from Clawson back to Nehalem felt ten hours longer

then the drive up. It had to be because Jake was eager to get home.

Seth had woken everyone up before the sun had even risen. They

all walked around like zombies as they loaded up the Jeep and
climbed inside. Jake sat in the middle with Carl and Casper on either
side of him. As soon as they hit the highway both brothers fell asleep,
leaning on him.

“Nehalem five more miles.” Holden pointed out. “I can’t wait to

get home.”

“You missing Carson?” Jake asked.
“I am. I just came into his life and I don’t want him to forget

about me.”

“Like Noah or Skyler would ever let that happen,” Jake reassured

his friend.

Seth dropped him, Carl, and Casper off first then took Holden

home. Jake thanked Seth for all he did to help them. Seth said not to
mention it being as he was the one who brought Holden and Jake to
Clawson in the first place.

It didn’t matter the reason behind it. Jake still thanked the man.

He hoped to see more of Seth in the future but he wasn’t so certain of
that. Seth liked his solitude and Jake didn’t think having him and
Holden around changed that too much.

As Seth pulled away Jake waved one last goodbye, then

shouldered their bags and walked up the steps of the Carsten house.
He hadn’t grown up here but the house still felt like his home.

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Home wasn’t necessarily where a person grew up, it’s where they

make it and he made his here. Jake just hoped that Carl and Casper
loved it just as much.

“This place is huge,” Casper said in awe.
“Yes it is.” He grinned over at the young wolf. “And plenty of

room for everyone.” He dropped the bags on the porch and poked his
head inside. “Hello!” Jake called out as he opened the door but no one
answered back. He walked inside first. In the past he’d walked in on
some of the mated couples going at it hot and heavy and didn't want
his mate or his younger brother to witness that.

The house was quiet. No TV blaring in the family room or

bickering brothers. Devon, Viktor, and Erik were brothers and as of
lately Devon and Viktor had had their hands full with their younger
sibling. Teenagers were an emotional sort of human beings.

Jake looked in the kitchen but no one was there either. “Huh, they

all must be out.” Not too weird but Jake couldn’t think of a time since
he moved in that someone hadn’t been home.

He pulled out his phone and was just about to dial Cole’s number

when a car pulled up outside. Jake went to look out the front window
and recognized Jensen’s, his brother Josh’s mate’s, car.

Josh hopped out of the driver’s seat and Jake headed for the door.

He’d had his problems with his twin but damn those differences
seemed so trivial now.

“Josh!” he hollered out as he ran down the steps. Shocked flashed

across Josh’s face as Jake engulfed him in a bear hug. “I’ve missed
you, brother.”

“Missed you too.” Josh hugged him back. “What’s going on?”
Jake had always been the quiet brother and neither he, Josh, or

Cole had ever been overly affectionate with one another so this must
have been awkward for Josh.

“Nothing.” Jake took a step back and looked into the face that

resembled his own. “Just happy to see you.”

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Josh stared at him for a moment longer then smiled at him. It was

Jake’s turn to be surprised when Josh pulled him in for another hug.
“Things are going to be different between us. I swear it.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.” Jake’s eyes stung with unshed

tears. He’d already lost so much in his life and seeing what Carl and
Casper had gone through made all the stupid grudges he had toward
Josh for leaving after their father died seem petty. It was time for
them all to let go of the past and live in the now.

He took a step back and rubbed a hand over his eyes. “I got some

people I’d like you to meet.” Jake waved for Carl and Casper to come
down the porch stairs. “Carl, Casper, this is my brother Josh.”

“Good to meet you.” Josh shook Casper’s hand then Carl’s.
“You look just like him,” Carl said in wonder as he stared up at

Josh.

“We’re twins,” Josh said with a smile.
“I know but it still blows my mind that god put two gorgeous men

like you on the planet.” Josh chuckled. Carl’s cheeks reddened and he
dropped Josh’s hand. “Sorry I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“No worries.” Josh turned to Jake and nudged his head toward the

two brothers. “Anything else you want to tell me?” Josh lifted his
eyebrows up and down a few times.

Jake walked to stand between Carl and Casper and put one arm

over each of their shoulders. He couldn’t wait to introduce his mate
but he also didn’t want to leave Casper out. “Josh, say hello to my
new brother.” He looked down at Casper who beamed a smile at him
then he turned to Carl. “And this is my mate.”

“I know,” Josh said flippantly. “Cole already spilled the beans.”

Jake lunged for his brother and Josh dashed away, laughing at him.

“So where is our little brother anyway?” Jake pointed to the

house. “In fact where is everybody at? The house is never this quiet.”

Josh stopped laughing and his expression turned solemn. “That’s

why I’m here. I rushed over here as fast as I could after the services.”

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For the first time since Josh arrived Jake noticed his brother’s

attire. A light-blue dress shirt with a tie around his neck loosened at
the collar and a pair of black dress pants. “What happened?”

“Aiden’s mother died.” Josh shoved his hands in his pockets and

looked out toward the trees. “Suicide.”

“That’s awful.” Jake didn’t know what else to say. Suicide wasn’t

right or fair to the people left behind and especially when it came to
Aiden. He had to go on living knowing that his mother

never accepted

him.

“Yeah, and it gets worse.” Josh looked back at Jake. “Aiden’s

blaming himself. He’s a fucking mess to be honest with you.”

Jake could image that he was. No one ever expects to lose

somebody they loved and for Aiden to lose his mother in that way
wasn’t good. “How’s Aiden’s dad dealing with this?”

“Okay, I guess. He’s being strong for Aiden but still it has to be

hard.” Josh let out a heavy sigh. “They’re burying her in Silver Creek.
Aiden’s dad bought a house there.”

“Who’s Aiden?” Carl asked.
Jake explained that Aiden was Devon’s mate and as far as Jake

knew still not on speaking terms with his mother. After Aiden and
Devon mated he came to live in Nehalem to be with his mate. It
wasn’t that Devon and his family were wolf shifters that caused the
distance because she wasn’t aware of that information. It was the fact
that her only son was gay that drove a wedge between mother and
son. From what Jake knew she had a hard time dealing with that and
instead of talking to Aiden, she avoided him. Aiden’s father tried all
he could to get his wife to come to terms with who Aiden was, but
nothing worked and now it was too late.

Josh hung out for a little longer. Cole called and said they’d be

home soon. He told them no rush. Aiden needed all their support right
now. He wanted to go see his friend but he didn’t want to have to take
Carl and Casper to a funeral. They dealt with enough in the past few

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133

days and Jake didn’t want them to have to relive past memories of
their parents deaths.

Jake got Casper set up in the room next to his. He wanted Casper

to be able to find him or Carl if he got frightened in his new
surroundings. After that he headed down to the kitchen to make some
lunch. None of them really ate anything noteworthy for breakfast and
his stomach growled like a wild beast.

“I’m sorry about your friend.” Carl came up behind him and

wrapped his arms around Jake’s waist.

“Me too.” He finished making the last sandwich then sliced it

down the middle. Jake put the knife down and turned to hug his mate.
“I think in time he’ll be okay.”

“Well they say time heals all wounds.” Carl looked up at him.
“And it does.” Jake kissed Carl softly on the lips.
“Also the love of a good mate doesn’t hurt either.” Carl shot him a

grin. “Because I know without you it’d make it a million times harder
to get over my past and the guilt I feel for Casper. But with you in my
life it all seems not so hard. I look forward to the future.”

“And you should because I’m not going anywhere.” And he

wouldn’t, at least not without Carl.

Life tumbled by too fast at times. One minute Jake remembered

being a little boy running around the backyard chasing fireflies. And
in a blink of an eye he stood in this kitchen with his mate in his arms.
Time went by in a rush and Jake didn’t want to waste a moment of his
life with Carl.

“I love you, you know that right?” He ran his hand up the back of

Carl’s neck, enjoying the feel as the silky strands combed through his
fingers. Never in his life had he been so happy, so in love, and it was
all thanks to this man in his arms.

Carl reached up and planted a passionate kiss on Jake’s lips. He

guessed he got his answer.

Jake knew Carl’s past would still haunt him for years to come and

he would stand by his mate’s side and help fight those internal battles

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that waged in Carl’s mind. Carl’s past is what made him the person he
was today. The good, the bad, and the ugly, it all helped carve Carl
into the man Jake had fallen in love with and nothing would ever
change that.

THE END

WWW.AJJARRETT29.BLOGSPOT.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AJ Jarrett currently lives in the Midwest with her husband and

four children. A lover of M/M romances, she has started writing her
own stories for others to enjoy. She loves her characters to be
antagonistic toward one another but ultimately find their happy ever
after. She believes love can be found in the craziest of places, and a
little humor along the way never hurt. To her, there’s nothing sexier
than two men finding their soul mate in each other and falling in love.
When she isn’t chasing around her kids, she can be found sitting on
the couch with her trusted laptop, giving life to the voices in her head.

For all titles by AJ Jarrett, please visit

www.bookstrand.com/aj-jarrett

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com