THE RED ZONE
Book Eleven
Sandrine Gasq-Dion
~~Dedication~~
For Terry and Crain
To my family
My loyal readers from LRO and the
newest ones!
Jenjo, Kim and Jen.
Frank, for his frankisms
Theresa Webber for the third set of
eyes
© Copyright
2012
This is a work of fiction and any
resemblance to persons, living or dead, or
business establishments, events or locales
is coincidental. All Rights Are Reserved.
No part of this may be used or reproduced
in any manner whatsoever without written
permission. WARNING: This book
contains material that maybe offensive to
some: Violence, graphic language,
homosexual relations, and adult situations.
CHAPTER ONE
4
~~CHAPTER TWO~~
23
~~CHAPTER THREE~~
42
~~CHAPTER FOUR~~
68
~~CHAPTER FIVE~~
90
~~CHAPTER SIX~~
109
~~EPILOGUE~~
122
Chapter One
“Jesus, Wyatt!” Sebastian hit the
ground with a loud grunt. The air left his
lungs and he coughed, shoving Wyatt off of
him. The next thing he knew, more of his
teammates were on top of him.
“Will you guys knock it off? This is
serious!” Sebastian tried to get up and was
pushed back down; his teammate Brock
straddled his hips.
“Well hiya, sexy,” Brock waggled
his eyebrows.
Sebastian grinned. Brock was one of
the other gay guys on the football team and
a male whore. Sebastian had dated him for
a few weeks before figuring that out – and
Brock made no excuses for his behavior.
Sebastian pushed Brock off of him and sat
up. Wyatt was looking at him with an
eyebrow raised.
“Okay, what?” Sebastian asked.
“You guys still going out?” Wyatt
watched as Brock walked away, shaking
his tight ass.
“Nope, thought I told you that much.”
Sebastian stood up, stretching out his back.
“Maybe I did tell you and you were just so
involved in your own love life you forgot.”
Wyatt frowned. “I’m sorry; I know
I’ve been preoccupied with Preston. I am
here for you, though.”
Sebastian groaned, holding his head.
“No, I’m sorry. I can’t begrudge you
happiness, you deserve to be happy and
Preston’s a good guy. I’m happy for you,
Wyatt. I just wish…”
“You wish what?”
Sebastian sighed, looking up at the
sky. “I wish I had that one guy who makes
me happy. Who knows what I like and likes
the same things. I’m so tired of being alone.
God knows I’ve been an ass. I was a huge,
ginormous ass to you when we dated; I’m
glad you forgave me.”
Wyatt grinned. “Well, Nikolai didn’t
give me much choice. Damn, that man is
fiercely protective of you, Bastian. Why
didn’t the two of you ever hook up?”
“Nikolai?” Sebastian laughed. “He’s
like my brother; I can’t see him like that.”
“Did you tell him? About the notes?”
Wyatt asked.
“Are you kidding me? You want
Nikolai here? In Seattle? On a rampage?”
“Point taken,” Wyatt frowned. For
months now the gay football players had
been receiving threatening notes, their cars
had been broken into and their lockers
defaced. So far, nothing really bad had
happened but Wyatt knew things could
change rapidly. He looked at Sebastian,
who had started weaving back and forth.
“Hey, are you all right?”
“Yeah, I think so. I’m just…I don’t
know, I feel weird.”
“Like weird how?” Wyatt stepped
closer to Sebastian, sniffing him without
making it look like he was. His keen
werewolf nose didn’t smell anything
unusual, but Bas had been acting weird
every time they were around each other.
“Kinda like a head rush maybe?”
Wyatt helped Sebastian sit. They sat
quietly and watched the rest of the team
running plays. Sebastian had changed a lot
since they’d dated; he’d grown reserved
and quiet.
“Is everything okay at home?”
Sebastian stifled an incredulous
laugh. “Oh, just great. My father keeps
asking when I’m going to stop being
ridiculous and admit I’m not gay. He’s cut
me off in every way since I came out, said I
had to live with my actions. Thank God for
Nikolai’s dad.”
Wyatt smiled. Vicious Vince
Markov, once an out-of-control killer and
now an assassin for the government, had
settled down and married an FBI agent.
According to Nikolai, his dad was still
vicious but being in love had kept his kill
count to a minimum. “He’s paid your way
at school, hasn’t he?”
“And then some.” Sebastian leaned
back on the AstroTurf. “He’s been there for
me from the beginning. Well, him and
George.”
“How is George? I haven’t seen him
for a long time. Probably because I don’t
go to your house anymore,” Wyatt laughed.
“He’s good, still calls me once a
week and asks me about my classes, my
grades and football. I guess he’s been to
every game,” Sebastian mused.
“Shit, your father doesn’t even do
that.”
Sebastian grinned. “George has been
like my babysitter for my whole life.”
A football came flying into
Sebastian’s lap; he and Wyatt both looked
up to see their team standing around them,
hands on hips.
“So, we just sit on our asses now?”
Brock smirked.
“Oh, it’s on!” Wyatt shouted.
Sebastian stood up, laughing as Wyatt
took off after Brock. He looked over at the
rest of the players. “Well? Run, assholes.”
~~
Nicholas leaned back in his chair and
checked the time. His shift was almost
over; he was hoping he wouldn’t be called
out before he got a chance to leave. He
sighed, running his hands over his face.
Who was he kidding? Work was all he had
these days. He took extra shifts just to keep
busy and spent time with Scott and Jude -
anything to keep his mind off the fact that he
didn’t have a mate. It was depressing
really.
At thirty-two, things were looking
bleak. He’d been born a wolf, one of the
only werewolves born from two werewolf
parents that he knew of. He hadn’t heard
too many stories. His mother had gone
crazy and killed herself; the feral side
never quite left the women who had been
bitten. His father had left after that. He
couldn’t deal with raising a werewolf
baby. Alexander had come into the picture
and raised him from a pup.
Nick scowled thinking about his
father. What kind of man walked away from
a newborn? An asshole, that’s the kind. He
picked up his cup of coffee and took a
swig.
“Bleh!” Nick spit it back in the cup.
The brown swill sloshed around then
settled again. “Oh, I need some real
coffee.”
“Ask and you shall keep asking.”
Nick leaned back, looking at his
partner. “Well aren’t you just a dick?”
Casey O’Shea was the biggest
asshole in the precinct; no one would work
with him except Nicholas. The day they’d
met, Casey had called him a pretty boy and
asked him how he liked his milk and
cookies.
Casey’s hair was so red you’d think
he had dyed it. His skin was pale and his
eyes were light blue. If the name didn’t
give the hint he was Irish, everything else
did.
“I am?” Casey furrowed his brows in
thought. “Oh! That’s right. I am.”
“Burly dickhead,” Nick laughed,
throwing his day-old donut at Casey.
“Pansy ass.” Casey caught it, taking a
bite. “So, got a new boy toy yet?”
“Nope, haven’t found a guy I wanna
bend over for yet,” Nick waggled his
eyebrows.
“Oh, fer fuck’s sake, Stevens,” Casey
sighed loudly. “Now I have a visual.”
“You’re welcome,” Nicholas
whispered seductively.
The door to their office slammed
open and Nick sat up quickly. His captain
looked panicked.
“What is it, Cap?” Nick stood up.
“School bus full of football players
just turned over on the Five by Hubbell.”
Nick looked over at Casey. “Let’s
head out.” He had never seen his captain
look this shaken, not in all the years he’d
been working at the precinct. Captain
Rhoades was usually a very calm man -
when he’d had his coffee. Nick’s eyes went
wide.
“Was Travis on the bus? Oh God,
was Wyatt?” Nick’s voice rose.
“I don’t know. Officers are at the
scene, but I have no way of knowing until
they get back to me.”
“We’re out, I’ll call, okay?” Nick
stopped by his captain, dropping his hand
on the older man’s shoulder. “It’ll be
okay.”
Nick practically ran to his truck with
Casey trying to keep up.
“Dammit, Stevens, slow the fuck
down!” Casey wheezed.
“Stop smoking, old man.” Nick hit
the remote on his truck. He slid into the
driver’s seat and fired the truck to life.
Casey slid into the passenger seat,
breathing hard.
“I’m down to a pack a day,” Casey
coughed. “Jesus, could you have gotten a
louder fuckin’ truck?”
Nick pulled out of the police
precinct. “It’s diesel; I like huge, loud,
gas-guzzling trucks.”
Nick hit the Five with a purpose,
siren blaring. He wove in and out of traffic
deftly. They came up on the clusterfuck in
the middle of the highway in no time. Nick
jumped out of the truck and ran for the
football players standing around the bus,
looking dazed. He spotted Travis right
away.
“Travis!” Nick grabbed him by the
shoulders. “Are you all right? What
happened?”
Travis blinked and tried to focus.
“Detective Stevens?”
“Yes, what happened? Is Wyatt with
you?” Nick looked around the area,
panicked.
“Nah man, he was on the other bus
with Bas,” Travis dragged a shaky hand
through his short, spiky hair.
“What happened? Do you
remember?” Nick assessed Travis; other
than a little cut above his eye, he seemed
all right.
“Don’t know. It seemed like one of
the tires blew out in front, then one in the
back. The bus driver tried to right us, but
then I think he tried and…and…”
“Overcompensated?” Nick provided.
“Yeah, that. Anyways, we hit the side
of the tunnel and rolled over.”
“Okay, I can hear the paramedics
coming; I want you to call your dad, okay?
He’s worried sick.” Nick wrapped his arm
around Travis, trying to comfort him. He
heard a short whistle from Casey and saw
him looking at the underside of the bus.
“Stay right here, okay?”
“Yeah,” Travis nodded. “’K.”
Travis seemed to be in a daze still,
so Nick grabbed his cell and called his
captain. “Look, I’ve got Travis right here
okay, Cap?” Nick handed the phone to
Travis. “I’ll come find you in a sec, stay
right on this spot until the EMTs get here.”
Nick ran to the overturned bus, where
Casey was kneeling down by the back end.
“What’s up?”
Casey pointed to the back end.
“Something look fishy to you?”
Nick narrowed his eyes. “The tires,
the air is low on all of them.” He made his
way from the back to the front. “Brake lines
are cut, too.”
Casey looked at Nick. “This was no
accident.”
“Looks like we have a case, partner,”
Nick declared.
~~
Nick followed the ambulances back
to Harborview; he waited for all the kids to
be seen before he started questioning them.
Some had concussions; others had broken
bones. The driver was in intensive care; the
front windshield had slammed into him
from force of impact. Nick went to the next
kid on the list, Lance Walker, tight end on
the football team. He entered the room and
smiled at the young man’s mother pacing
back and forth.
“Mrs. Walker? I’m Detective
Nicholas Stevens; I’d like to ask your son a
few questions about tonight if that’s all
right?”
“Yes, sure, that’s fine,” she said
distractedly.
Nicholas sat by the bed and pulled
his notepad out. “What do you remember,
Lance?”
Lance sat up, taking a deep breath.
“We had just finished kicking Oregon’s
ass…” Lance looked over at his mother.
“Sorry, Mom. Anyway, we were singin’
like we always do, the new players, you
know the freshmen who made the team, they
were singing with us. We heard, like, this
loud ‘pop,’ then the back of the bus kinda
shifted. Then we heard another one. Bubba
was, like, what the hell? Bubba’s the bus
driver, by the way.” Lance looked over at
the detective.
“Then he, like, turned the wheel and
stuff and I heard him say he couldn’t stop
and for everyone to hang on, you know?
Then the bus hit the wall in the tunnel and
we skidded across the lanes of traffic. Next
thing I know, the bus was on its side.”
“When you say you heard a pop, you
mean like a small explosion? Or did it
maybe sound like a semi when the tires
blow?”
Lance furrowed his brow. “Like a
semi, it was loud as hell.” Lance looked at
his mother. “Sorry, Mom.”
“Have there been any threats?
Anything you can remember against the
football team?” Nick wrote in his
notebook.
“We had some graffiti and stuff in the
locker room.”
“What kind?” Nick looked up.
Lance’s cheeks went red. “Stuff
against gays, mainly on Bas’ locker and
Wyatt’s; they are two of the gay guys on our
team. We have more than that and none of
us care, you know? They play ball and they
kick ass.” Lance looked over at his mother
again.
“I know, I know, you’re sorry,” she
managed to laugh. “You’re twenty-two,
Lance. I think you can curse.”
Nick chuckled, continuing to scribble
in his notebook. “Anything else?”
“We had some stuff happen at the frat
house, hang ups and stuff.”
Nick stood up, closing the notebook
and putting it in his pocket. He handed
Lance his card. “If you can think of anything
else, call me okay?” Nick put his hand out
to Lance’s mother. “Nice to meet you,
ma’am.”
Nick closed the door behind him and
ran into Casey out in the hall. “What did
you find out?”
Casey pulled out his notebook. “I
talked to Brock Holloway and Jordy Crain.
Graffiti in the locker rooms, hang ups, cars
being broke into and all of it happening to
football players. Seems Sebastian Price
gets the worst of it.”
“Wyatt’s ex? Never met the guy.”
Nick looked at the time. “It’ll have to wait
until tomorrow. It’s after two in the
morning.”
“Damn!” Casey looked at his watch.
“Where the hell did the night go?”
Nick ran his hands over his face. “I’ll
drop you at the precinct. I’m going to go
home and shower the night off.”
~~
By the time Nick got home it was
well after three. He parked on the side
street and walked up to his two story house.
The houses on Adler Street sat up from the
road so he dragged up the stairs, unlocked
the door, slipped inside and turned the light
on. He turned the alarm off and toed his
shoes off by the front door. Making his way
into the living room, he tossed his gun and
badge on the couch and made his way to the
kitchen shrugging the kinks out of his
shoulders. The light was still on above the
stove and he turned it off, reaching for his
bottle of water in the fridge.
He walked upstairs to his room on
auto-pilot, undressing and throwing his
clothes on the side chair. He slipped into
the bathroom and turned on the shower to
heat it up. His answering machine was
blinking on the nightstand and he pushed
‘play’ as he finished undressing. Scott’s
voice broke the silence.
“Dude, we’re going running this
weekend at the park, so take some time off
and stop fisting yourself!” Scott laughed.
“Call me!”
Nick chuckled and turned the
machine off. Stepping into the shower, he
let the hot water relax his muscles and
clean away the day’s grime. He’d been a
detective for almost four years now; he’d
gotten this far by catching criminals faster
than almost anyone else. In the beginning he
used his wolf traits to the fullest. Now he
relied on his gut instinct.
Toweling off, he checked out his
reflection in the mirror. Light grey eyes
stared back and black hair stuck up in all
directions. He supposed he was handsome;
he had a square jaw and high cheekbones.
His nose was thin and not too long and he
had full lips - not bee-stung lips, but full.
Nick smiled at his reflection.
“You are going to jack off until your
wrist breaks,” Nick laughed at himself.
He hit the bed and closed his eyes.
He would have to go down to the college
and talk to the rest of the football players.
Something was up, and he didn’t like the
feeling in his gut. If someone was after gay
football players, Wyatt was in danger as
well. Nick took a deep breath, letting his
muscles relax. He shut his brain off and
fell out.
~~
Nicholas’ alarm went off at seven
and he moaned, rolling over. Slapping at
the annoyance, he threw his legs over the
side of the bed and rubbed his face. He
stood up, wincing as his back protested. He
had just enough time to stop and get coffee
before heading to the precinct, then on to
the college.
He stuffed down a quick breakfast
and started his truck remotely as he
grabbed the rest of his gear. The remote
starter came in handy, especially when the
weather was extreme. He could leave the
heat or air conditioning on, start the truck
and by the time he slid into the driver’s
seat, it was comfortable.
Nick made good time getting to the
precinct. He slipped into his spot and
jogged into the building. Casey was already
at his desk, looking through witness
statements.
“Well, you look lively,” Nick
chuckled.
“You look like shit.” Casey leaned
back in his chair, stretching his arms out.
“Did you bring me some coffee?”
“Nope,” Nick laughed, taking the
coffee cup out from behind his back. He
looked over at the coffeemakers that lined
the counter in the main area. “How old is
that stuff?”
“Don’t care,” Casey yawned. “I need
somethin’ man.” Casey took the proffered
coffee from Nick and swallowed a big
gulp. “Ahhh.” Casey tilted his head. “You
look like you got hit with a big bag of what
the fuck.”
“Damn, you’re a bitter Strawberry
Shortcake, aren’t you? All you need is the
damn hat and striped green and white
socks,” Nick chuckled. “I’m heading over
to the college to talk to Sebastian Price,
what about you?”
“Frat house,” Casey rolled his eyes.
“That’s all I need this morning, to talk to a
bunch of delta gamma phi omega
whatevers.”
Nick laughed. “Not too happy having
that detail, are ya?”
“What can I say? I was the smart,
independent kid
.
And I didn’t have to join
an alphabet soup group to get girls.” Casey
stood up, grabbing his notepad. “Lunch
later?”
“Yeah, I’ll call,” Nicholas affirmed.
Walking out to his truck, he saw
Tucker and Wesley just getting off shift. He
laughed as Tucker stumbled out of the
squad car. The two cops had chosen the
late shift so they could spend more time
with their firefighter fiancés.
“Nick,” Tucker nodded and stretched
his back out, yawning.
“Tucker. Long night?” Nick grinned.
“Oh yeah, we got all the crazies last
night,” Wesley chuckled. “Some guy was
running around Pike Place naked.”
“I miss all the fun!” Nick snickered.
“You didn’t miss shit,” Tucker said.
“His dick was the size of my pinky.”
“Well, in all fairness, it was cold last
night,” Nick laughed.
Tucker looked at his crotch. “Yeah?
Mine’s still big.”
“Mine’s bigger.” Wesley smacked
Tucker’s ass, walking towards the building.
“Later, Nick.”
“Uh huh, take a hot shower,” Nick
winked.
~~
It was almost nine when Nick pulled
up to the dorms at the University of
Washington. Classes were still in session
for a couple more weeks, and then it would
be Christmas break. He made his way to
McCarty Hall for his first visit, with
Sebastian Price.
He walked down the long hallway,
feeling eyes on him. As he neared
Sebastian’s room, the smell of almonds
was strong - really strong. Nick knocked on
Sebastian’s door and waited. The door was
flung open and when Nick got a good whiff
of the guy standing there, his eyes shifted
and his cock grew thick in seconds.
Oh shit. This kid
was his mate.
“Yeah?” Sebastian shifted from one
foot to the other.
“Sebastian Price?” Nick tried to
control his lupine side, but the aroma
coming from Sebastian was strong. Not
only did he smell deliciously of almonds,
but another downright arousing aroma
emanated from him. Sebastian stood with a
jar in his hand, his finger inside, scooping
up whatever it was.
“Yeah, that’s me. Who are you?”
Sebastian eyed the sexy man at his door.
Damn, the guy was smokin’ hot. He licked
his finger, which was currently covered in
Nutella, his favorite snack of all time.
“I’m Detective Nicholas Stevens, I
was on—”
“Aw, shit man, you’re a cop?”
Sebastian tried unsuccessfully to shut the
door as the cop’s foot slid in between the
door and the jamb. “Look man, I didn’t do
shit.”
“I’m just here to ask you a couple
questions about the bus accident last night.”
Nick pretended to look for his notebook as
he waited for his eyes to see color again.
“I wasn’t on the bus, case closed.”
Sebastian tried again to shut the door.
Nick put his hand on the door. “I
know you weren’t, but your fellow players
said you’ve been targeted for harassment.
The bus accident was no accident.”
Sebastian opened the door a little.
“What do you mean?”
“Air was let out of the tires and the
brake lines were cut,” Nick took a deep
breath and looked up - a huge mistake.
Sebastian’s eyes were a captivating light
blue with flecks of grey and gold flecking
the iris. His hair was blond, cut short in the
back with length at the top, and he had the
most luscious lips…
“Um, you going to come in or what?”
Sebastian opened the door further.
“I wasn’t invited.” Nick licked his
lips, trying to control himself.
Sebastian tilted his head to the side.
“What are you? A vampire? Just come in.”
Nick raised a brow. “It’s customary
to wait to be invited into someone’s living
quarters.”
Sebastian grinned. “An 18th century
vampire?”
Nick almost sighed out loud; Jesus,
Sebastian was beautiful and built like a
brick house. He walked into the room and
looked around. Football trophies lined the
bookshelf and pictures of Sebastian and his
friends covered the walls. Nick walked to
the far wall and inspected one of the
pictures closely. Wyatt was smiling, his
arm around Sebastian. On Sebastian’s other
side was Nikolai Markov.
“So, you’re friends with Nikolai
Markov, huh?”
“Yeah, I am. What of it?” Sebastian
flopped down on the chair at his desk.
“Nothing, just asking.” Nick finally
got down to business. “So, from what I’ve
been told, you’ve had some problems.”
Sebastian shrugged his shoulders.
“They keyed my car, punctured all four
tires, left notes in my locker, under my door
—”
“Do you have them? The notes?”
Nick asked.
Sebastian nodded, opening his desk
drawer. “Wyatt told me to keep them, that I
might need them.”
Nick took the notes from Sebastian,
careful to keep their fingers from brushing.
He looked down and frowned; all of them
were typed. They mostly said the same
thing - that as a gay man, Sebastian would
be going to hell and they were more than
happy to show him the way.
“I don’t like this,” Nick frowned.
“None of them were handwritten?” Nick
looked up, locking eyes with Sebastian.
The temperature in the room went up a few
degrees and Nick swore he smelled a new
scent coming from Sebastian, but he
couldn’t put his finger on it.
Sebastian shifted in his chair;
something about this cop was giving him a
woody. He hated cops, always had. He’d
watched Nikolai get rousted for things he
hadn’t done just so the cops could say
they’d nabbed a Markov. Cops just left a
bad taste in his mouth.
“No,” Sebastian rubbed his face with
his hands “My dad said this would
happen.”
“What would happen?” Nick leaned
against the wall.
“That the fucking crazies would come
out when I came barreling out of my closet.
I told my dad I was bi, hoping to cushion
the blow, but I like men, plain and simple.
I’ve never found a woman attractive.”
“How long has this been going on?”
Nick shifted his position, trying to edge his
hardened cock over without being obvious.
“It started about a month after I came
out. It’s been getting worse, but I didn’t
want to make anyone worry. I left the frat
house cuz I thought I would be putting the
guys in danger; I was afraid shit would get
worse,” Sebastian sighed in frustration. “I
was hoping they’d just get bored and leave
me alone ya know? I mean, so what? I’m a
gay football player, there’s more than one
on the team.”
Nicholas paced the room. “Is there
anything else? Have you felt like someone
was following you at any time?”
“I’ve felt like I was being watched a
couple times, but…” Sebastian shrugged it
off.
Nick stopped pacing. “I want you
somewhere safe until we figure out what’s
going on.”
“I’m safe right here, besides, this is
the only place I can go. Well, except for
Nikolai’s and I really don’t feel like taking
that flight over to Russia. I just want to
relax over Christmas break.”
“Okay, what about your dad?” Nick
folded his arms over his chest.
“No go, he’s still pissed I came out
to the whole world. Like Seattle’s the
whole world,” Sebastian rolled his eyes,
snorting. “Besides, he’s probably having
his annual Christmas party at the house for
his investors; God knows he can’t have his
gay son there making him look bad.”
“What about your mom?” Nick asked.
“Nope. She died right after I was
born, some kind of cancer.”
“Any other family who could take
you in?” Nick asked.
“No, we moved here from Russia
when I was in middle school, that’s how I
met Wyatt. My dad changed countries
because he didn’t want me hanging around
with the Markovs, said it was bad for
business,” Sebastian chuckled. “Like that
would keep Nikolai away from me. He’s
been my best friend forever,” Sebastian
added.
“What about staying with Wyatt?”
Nick asked.
“At the love shack?” Sebastian shook
his head. “Nooo thanks.”
“Anyone else?”
Sebastian furrowed his brow in
thought. He could stay with George, but he
didn’t want his father coming down on
George for harboring his son. Sebastian
sighed.
“No,”
“You need some kind of protection.”
Nick paced back and forth.
“Oh, hell no.” Sebastian stood up
shaking his head. “I will not have cops on
my ass every day; I can’t stand you
assholes as it is. I’ll be fine on my own.”
Nick narrowed his eyes at his mate.
“I don’t think you understand—”
“Yeah, I do. I’m a grown man and I
can take care of my own shit, Detective
Dickhead.”
Nick raised a brow. “Dickhead?”
“If the dick fits,” Sebastian shrugged
his shoulders, smirking. “Ya gonna arrest
me?”
“No.” Nick hid his smile. His mate
was gorgeous and feisty; his mind was
screaming at him to take Sebastian and
mark him. “But, I will be in touch.”
“Oh, I feel safer already,” Sebastian
said dryly.
Nick crossed the room and stood in
front of Sebastian. He was a few inches
taller than Sebastian and maybe a little
bigger in the muscles department, but
Sebastian was just breathtaking; he’d never
seen a more beautiful man. The smell of
arousal seeped from Sebastian and Nick
smiled as Sebastian’s nose twitched.
“You should be nicer to me; I’m
going to be the one you call when the shit
hits the fan.”
“I doubt that.” Sebastian looked into
very silvery grey eyes; he was sure his
mouth was hanging open. Detective
Stevens’ eyes were hypnotizing and the
smell coming from the man… Sebastian
took a deep breath, inhaling the wonderful
scent. What was that scent? Some kind of
cologne that made people want to bang
you?
“Here’s my card.” Nick took the card
out of his wallet and put it in Sebastian’s
hand. They both had a reaction, like an
electrical shock and Sebastian backed
away from him. “If at any time you feel
threatened, call me. I don’t care what time
it is, understood?”
Sebastian nodded.
“Good, I’ll just see myself out. I’d
wait until nighttime to leave, because you
know, I sparkle, but I actually have a
criminal to catch,” Nick winked as he let
himself out of Sebastian’s room.
Sebastian sat on the bed in a daze. He
could still smell the detective’s scent in the
room and his cock hardened even more.
What the hell? All right, so as cops went,
this one was okay and really freakin’ hot!
He looked at the time and moaned. He was
going to be late for his business class.
Sebastian grabbed his books and took a
look around his room; if he forgot anything,
he was screwed.
~~
Nick made his way over to Wyatt and
Preston’s apartment as soon as he left the
college. His dick was still hard and his
senses were on overload. When members
of the pack had gone to France to trap a
werewolf who was causing problems, Nick
had become addicted to the almond pastries
they ate almost every day. He had the
baker, Claire, sending them once a month
so he could get his fix. Now, Sebastian
smelled like almonds. It was almost too
much. Nick jumped out of his truck and ran
up the steps to Preston and Wyatt’s unit. He
rang the bell and heard Preston yell at him
to hang on a second. The door opened and
Preston stood with a towel wrapped around
his hips.
“Hey, Nick, come on in.” Preston
stepped aside.
“I need to talk to Wyatt, is he here?”
Nick asked.
“Yeah, he’s just getting ready for
class.” Preston walked into the kitchen.
“You want something to drink? You look
kinda…flustered.” Preston grabbed a bottle
of water from the fridge.
“Because I am. I found my mate
today.” Nick sat on the stool.
Preston dropped the bottle of water
he’d been holding. “What? Do we know
him or her?”
Nick laughed. “It’s a guy and yes, you
do. It’s Sebastian Price.”
“What!?”
Nick turned to see Wyatt in the
hallway. He stood up quickly. “I didn’t ask
for this, Wyatt, you know that, right? We
don’t get to choose our mate and—”
Wyatt laughed. “Nick, calm down. I
never loved Sebastian; besides, I have
Preston.” Wyatt walked into the kitchen and
picked up the bottle of water off the floor.
“So? What was it like?”
Nick sighed, dragging his fingers
through his hair. “Oh God, I wanted him so
bad. He smells so damn good, like almonds
and something else I can’t quite put my
finger on.”
“Wait, where did you run into
Sebastian?” Preston asked.
“One of the football team’s buses
overturned last night. Seems the football
players, at least the gay ones, have been
having some problems.” Nick looked at
Wyatt. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Wyatt looked nervously between
Preston and Nick. “It wasn’t that big of a
deal, just some letters and writing on my
locker. Sebastian gets the worst of it. I
don’t know if it’s because he’s the
quarterback or what. But they mess with
him a lot more.”
“And I’m just hearing about this
now?” Preston raised a brow at his mate.
“I’m a werewolf, it’s not like I can’t
take care of myself,” Wyatt balked.
“Yeah? But as your mate I’m
supposed to be privy to everything. Now,
in the future I want to know all of it, got
it?” Preston grabbed Wyatt, pinning him to
his chest. “You are mine, Wyatt Quinton.”
Nick sat on the barstool at the island.
“Did you smell anything around the time
you found the letters? Like someone you
might know?”
Wyatt furrowed his brows in thought.
“No, and that’s the weird part - it’s like
whoever is doing this is either never the
same person, or they are covering their
tracks really well.” Wyatt kissed Preston’s
lips, smiling. “I talked to Jordy last night,
he’s doing okay. Bas and I were on the first
bus out; I didn’t hear about anything until
four in the morning.” Wyatt looked at
Preston. “While you were still at work at
the firehouse.”
Preston nuzzled Wyatt’s neck. “I
worry about you, whether you can take care
of yourself doesn’t matter. You are my
mate, Wyatt, for life.”
“So,” Wyatt smiled at Nick. “How
did the first meeting with Bas go?”
Nick smiled sheepishly. “He
was…very outspoken. He doesn’t like
cops, that’s for sure.”
“That’s because of Nikolai; I know
how he feels though. I’ve watched Nik get
hauled in by the cops just because he’s a
Markov. Nikolai is a good guy; just don’t
get on his bad side.”
“Well it doesn’t matter how he feels
about cops, he’s in danger and I will not let
someone hurt my mate. The bus accident
was no accident,” Nick sighed.
“That’s what I heard,” Preston
nodded. “When we got to the scene, the
cops who were still there were talking
about it.”
“You didn’t tell me you were there,”
Wyatt said, looking at Preston in surprise.
“I didn’t want you to worry. Most of
the kids walked away without a scratch.
Some of them had broken bones,” Preston
said.
“Yeah, I know Brock has a broken
arm.” Wyatt looked at Nicholas. “You
know, Sebastian’s going to be speaking at
the gay/straight alliance meeting on campus
tomorrow. That’s, like, the perfect
opportunity for someone to come at him.”
“He didn’t mention that,” Nick
scowled.
“Probably doesn’t want cops
around,” Wyatt grinned. “I think you can
sway him, Nick. I mean, look at you.”
Preston laughed. “I’d be jealous, but
he’s right.”
“Did Bastian look at you? I mean for
more than a few seconds? Did he make
direct eye contact?” Wyatt smiled
wickedly. “I know how Sebastian thinks; if
he looked at you for more than a few
seconds, he found you attractive.”
“I don’t remember. I was too busy
getting a boner,” Nick laughed.
“I remember those days,” Preston
sighed happily. “What am I saying? I still
get boners for Wyatt.”
“Yeah, on that note,” Nick stood up,
adjusting his gun holster. “I guess I have
somewhere to be tomorrow.”
“I’m supposed to go, too; I can keep
my eyes and nose open,” Wyatt said.
“All right. Well I’m going to go to
back to the locker room, take a look
around. I’ll see you tomorrow, Wyatt.”
“Yep, take it easy Nick.” Wyatt
walked Nick to the door. As soon as he
left, Wyatt turned and look at Preston.
“Sebastian? What are the odds?”
“No shit,” Preston laughed.
~~
Nicholas spent the rest of the day
checking out the locker room and talking to
more football players. They had given him
a few names of students who hated football
players and made sure they ragged on them
in the school’s newspaper. He met up with
Casey at around four; their lunch date had
turned into an early dinner date. Nick
walked into the crowded restaurant and
found Casey way in the back, already
nursing a nice, cold drink. Nick sat down
and grabbed a menu.
“So? How was kappa gamma beta
omega whatever?” Nick grinned.
“I swear a bunch of them were gay,”
Casey chuckled. “One of them asked to
touch my gun.”
“Yeah?” Nick cracked up.
“It was the highlight of my day, up
until I talked to the cheerleaders,” Casey
waggled his eyebrows. He sipped his beer,
regarding his partner. Nicholas Stevens
was one hard nut to crack, but he’d liked
the man from the get-go. He wasn’t whiny
like the rest of the men he’d been partnered
with over the years.
“So, I did some homework on the
Price kid. And guess what I found?”
“What?” Nicholas snapped to
attention.
“His legal name is Sebastian
Pratham; his father changed it when they
moved to the States. Sergei Pratham, or
Price if you will, has his hands in
everything. Oil, natural gas, you name it.”
“Any priors on Sebastian?” Nick
asked.
“Nope, clean as a whistle.”
Nick sat back with a relieved sigh.
“Well, that’s good.”
Casey eyed his partner. “You met
with him today…”
“Yeah?” Nick shifted in the chair.
Casey’s lips curved up in a knowing
smile. “Could it be you’ve found someone
you’d like to bend over for? Or are you
doing the driving?”
“Case!” Nick looked around the
restaurant, making sure no one could hear
him. “Okay, fine, he’s hotter than hell,
okay? Happy now?”
“I will be, if you tell me the kid has
the hots for you,” Casey answered.
“I don’t know.” Nick took a long
drink from his beer.
Casey leaned forward. “I also read
the report from the Russian authorities on
the death of Sebastian’s mother. It was
ruled a suicide.”
“A suicide? Sebastian said she died
of cancer,” Nick said, surprised.
“Maybe that’s what the old man told
him, but no – it was suicide. She shot
herself right through the heart.” Casey sat
back looking at Nick. “Be careful on this
one, Nicky.”
Nick sat back, processing the
information. Why would Sebastian’s father
lie to him? To keep him from knowing his
mother had taken her own life? And why
did she? Nick had more questions than
answers now.
Chapter Two
Nicholas woke up refreshed and
ready to get to work. Sebastian was
speaking at the gay/straight alliance
meeting today and he had every intention of
keeping his mate safe. He showered and
shaved in record time and drove like a bat
out of hell to the precinct. Casey was
already there, drinking his Starbucks and
eating Krispy Kremes. Nick noticed he had
his own coffee and donuts on his desk.
“Well look at that,” Nick smiled
wide. “My partner bought me coffee and
donuts?”
“Nope, Wyatt stopped by this
morning,” Casey mumbled, his mouth full
of donut.
“Wyatt did? Why?” Nick sat down
and took a large gulp of coffee. “Oh God,
that’s heaven.”
“Something about the meeting going
on at noon; it’s on the football field,” Casey
said.
“Well that’s just fucking fantastic!
Just put Sebastian out on a podium where a
sharpshooter can have his way,” Nick
shouted.
Casey’s mouth fell open and a bite of
donut landed on his desk. “Damn, Nick, you
really think it’s gone that far?”
“I brought the notes back with me,
did you read them? I’m not taking any
chances.” Nick grabbed his coffee and
stuck a donut in his mouth. “MmmMmm.”
“I take it that means you’re leaving?”
Casey raised a brow and sat back,
watching Nick race out the office. Picking
up the phone, he took another large gulp of
coffee. “Yeah, this is O’Shea; send some
uniforms over to Udub football stadium.”
~~
Sebastian drove down Westlake
Avenue towards the college. He’d stopped
at B Bam! to pick up a shirt he’d been
eyeing and was now running a little behind.
He’d be there in plenty of time, but he
wanted to go over his speech again. He
was finding it hard to concentrate after
meeting Detective Stevens. The man had
occupied his thoughts from the minute he
laid eyes on him. He looked older than
himself, possibly late twenties? Why was
he even considering anything about the
cop? He hated cops. Sebastian chuckled to
himself. This cop was different - he was
hotter than hell.
Checking the rearview mirror, he
noticed two cars close behind him. He
picked up speed, shifting the Jeep into fifth
gear. When he turned onto Ninth Avenue,
the cars turned with him. Sebastian drove a
few more blocks before turning again onto
Broad Street. Again, the cars followed.
Now he knew he was being followed and
fear crept in. He grabbed at his cell phone
and pulled Detective Stevens’ card out of
the glove compartment. The phone rang
once and the detective answered.
“Detective Stevens.”
“There are two cars following me,
what do I do?” Sebastian kept his eyes on
the two cars behind him; once again they
turned when he did.
“Sebastian? What are you driving?”
Nick asked.
“Black Jeep Wrangler.”
“Where are you?” Nick felt bile
rising in his throat.
“Heading towards Denny Way.”
“All right, take it to the Five, okay?
I’ll meet you there.” Nick turned onto
Broad Street.
“Oh, shit, shit, shit! They’re pulling
up on either side of me!” Sebastian
shouted. The first car sideswiped him,
trying to send him into the other one.
“Slam on the brakes!” Nick shouted.
“They’ll keep going; flip a bitch and come
back up Broad Street!”
“Flip a what?” Sebastian slammed on
the brakes. The two cars kept going and he
made a wide circle, heading back up Broad
Street.
“Are you all right?” Nick shouted.
“Yeah, I think so. They hit me,
though.” Sebastian checked the side roads.
“Where are you?”
“Coming right at you, huge black
truck.” Nick passed Sebastian then turned
around and stayed right on his tail. “Keep
going to the precinct, I want your Jeep
looked at.”
“Where is that?” Sebastian asked.
“Virginia Street.” Nick kept his eyes
on the road behind him as he followed
Sebastian all the way to the station. As
soon as they arrived, Nick jumped out of
his truck and ran to check on Sebastian.
“Are you okay?” Nick opened the
door for Sebastian, who seemed a bit
shaken up.
“I think so.” Sebastian looked at the
side of his Jeep. “Oh, no.”
Nick looked at the bent-in door on
the Jeep. Paint was missing, but there was
also paint from the car that had tried to
push him off the road. “We need to get it to
the forensics guys; I can give you a ride
back, once you’ve been checked out.”
Sebastian regarded the detective. He
looked concerned, maybe even a little
scared. “You’re not like most cops, are
you?”
“If there’s one thing I can promise
you right now, Sebastian, it’s that I will
always be here for you, no matter what.”
Nick took Sebastian’s arm, leading him
inside the building. He motioned to the
desk clerk. “Get Kellan Brady-Fournier
over here.”
“Why are you calling Kellan?”
Sebastian sat down in one of the waiting
room chairs. “I’m fine, just a little shaken
up.”
“I just want you looked over, okay?”
Nick sat down next to Sebastian and
dragged his fingers through his hair. “Wait,
how do you know Kellan?”
“Long story,” Sebastian said.
“Did you get a good look at the
drivers or the vehicles?”
Sebastian shook his head. “No, their
windows were blacked out. But one of
them was a BMW and the other one was a
Lexus, I think.”
“Color?” Nick asked.
“Um, BMW was silver, the Lexus
was black.”
“Plates?”
Sebastian sighed. “No, I was too
freaked out.”
“It’s okay, just relax,” Nick replied.
It took a little over five minutes and
then Kellan walked into the precinct. He
made a beeline for Nick.
“What happened?” Kellan took out
the pressure cuff.
“Sebastian was almost run off the
road; I just want to make sure he’s okay.”
Nick sent a mental message to Kellan.
“He’s my mate.”
Kellan raised a brow, smiling.
“Kinda young, isn’t he?”
Nick sighed loudly. “Now is not the
time.”
“I’m so happy for you! Now you can
get laid,” Kellan snickered.
“Will you quit? This is serious!”
“How old are you, Sebastian?”
Kellan squeezed the rubber ball, inflating
the pressure cuff.
“Twenty-two; I’m a senior.”
Sebastian looked from Kellan to the
detective.
Kellan frowned. “Your pulse is a
little high. Do you feel okay? Any
dizziness?” Kellan looked at Nick. “His
pulse is racing, how long has he been
sitting down?”
Nick looked at his watch. “Over five
minutes. Is something wrong?”
“You need to take it easy for a bit, all
right?” Kellan looked at Sebastian. He was
perfect for Nick. The fates knew what they
were doing. Again.
“Wait, I still have to give the
speech!” Sebastian stood up.
“Wait a minute, you can’t be serious
Sebastian! They just tried to run you off the
road!” Nick practically roared.
“I’m not going to let them scare me
out of this; I promised I’d make this speech
and I’ll be damned if some scare tactics
stop me!” Sebastian set his jaw tight,
looking at the detective.
Nick sighed in defeat. “Fine, but I’ll
go with you.”
Sebastian crossed his arms. “Not like
that you won’t. You scream cop.”
Nick cocked an eyebrow. “Fine, but
you stay right here while I change, got it?”
Sebastian pouted. “Fine!”
Kellan chuckled. “I’ll keep an eye on
him.”
“I’m not a child.” Sebastian
narrowed his eyes at the detective.
“Just…stay here.” Nick walked back
to the locker rooms.
Sebastian eyed Kellan. “So, how do
you know Detective Stevens?”
Kellan sat down. “He’s my brother.”
“You guys don’t look alike.”
Sebastian sat down next to Kellan. “It’s
good to see you. How’s Mr. Brady?”
Sebastian chuckled.
“It’s Caden Fournier and he’s fine,”
Kellan smiled.
“Fine?
He is like, wow hot!”
Sebastian laughed.
“Oh, really?” Kellan sat back,
laughing.
A few minutes later Nick came out in
jeans with a black T-shirt stretched across
his massive chest and biceps. He had
hiking boots on and the shirt revealed the
huge Celtic cross tattoo on his bicep.
“Oh hell…” Sebastian muttered.
Kellan nudged Sebastian. “What was
that you were saying about ‘wow’ hot?”
“Better?” Nick put his hands on his
slim hips.
Sebastian swallowed hard, trying not
to look at the detective. “Um, yeah, sure.”
Sebastian felt the hairs on his neck standing
straight up; his palms grew sweaty and an
unfamiliar feeling twisted his gut in knots.
His eyes grew blurry and he blinked
rapidly, trying to focus.
Kellan looked at Sebastian. “Are you
all right?”
“Yes, I think…”
Kellan lifted Sebastian’s face up; the
pupils were expanding then contracting.
“Did you hit your head?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Sebastian said
slowly.
“What’s wrong with him?” Nick
came to Sebastian’s side; he squatted down
in front of him. “What is it? Talk to me.”
Nick took Sebastian’s face in his hands.
“Are you sure you want to give this
speech?”
Sebastian’s eyesight blurred again
looking at the detective. “Yes, I do. I don’t
make promises I can’t keep.”
“Neither do I.” Nick helped
Sebastian up, putting an arm around his
waist.
Kellan took Sebastian’s wrist,
closing his eyes. “Have you ever had a
head injury?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Are you
serious? I play football.”
“Any surgeries? Anything that
required an overnight hospital stay?”
Kellan asked.
“Nope, never been sick a day in my
life,” Sebastian bragged.
Kellan looked at Nick. “His pulse is
still racing. When he’s done with the
speech take him home and make him relax.
It was good to see you again, Sebastian,”
Kellan smiled, shaking his hand.
“You, too.” Sebastian felt a warm
hand on his side, and the heat seeped
through his shirt.
Kellan motioned Nick to the side.
“Look, Caden and I are taking off for a few
days, are you going to be okay? I mean, I
can put this off if you need me.”
“Nah, I’ll be okay. I’ve got Preston,
Scott and Jude if anything goes down. You
enjoy your time with your husband.” Nick
gave Kellan a tight hug. “I love you.”
“Love you, too.” Kellan took Nick’s
face in his hands. “I’m so happy for you.”
Kellan hugged Nick one more time before
leaving the precinct; he waved to Sebastian
on his way out.
“Come on.” Nick led Sebastian
outside to his truck. He opened the
passenger door and got Sebastian settled in.
He made his way back around the truck,
slid behind the wheel and looked over at
Sebastian, who seemed preoccupied with
his hands. “Are you sure you’re up for
this?”
“Yeah,” Sebastian nodded. “I am.”
~~
All during the speech, Nick kept his
eyes on Sebastian and the surrounding area.
Kellan had talked to Scott and Jude and
they were now on the lookout for anything
out of the ordinary. Wyatt and Preston were
in the front row keeping an eye out as well.
As soon as the speech was over, Nick
walked Sebastian back to the locker room.
“Hey, Bas!”
Nick turned to see one of the football
players from the bus wreck, Lance Walker.
Sebastian smiled. “Hey, good to see
you made it.”
“I may not be gay, but I can still
support my friends.” Lance eyed the
detective. “Detective Stevens? What are
you doing here?”
Nick shot a look at Sebastian. “Just
here to make sure nothing goes wrong.”
“Oh, okay. Well, I just wanted to say
great speech! I’ll see you at practice - big
game Saturday!”
Nick waited until Lance was gone
and then turned back to Sebastian. “What
game?”
“Oh, we play the University of
Arizona on Saturday.”
Sebastian looked
through the contents of his locker.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Nick
asked.
Sebastian shut the locker and turned
to face Nicholas. “Look, I’m not going to
hide from these people.”
“Just the same, I think we need to go
pay your father a visit, see if he can house
you until I catch these guys.”
Sebastian shook his head. “He won’t
let me stay there.”
“Let me try, okay?” Nick asked.
Sebastian shrugged. “It’s your gas.”
Nick walked beside Sebastian to the
parking lot. “Where’s his house?”
“Mercer Island.”
~~
The drive to Mercer Island seemed to
take a lifetime; they pulled into the
driveway of the Price house at almost
three. The house was beautiful, two stories
with a rooftop patio overlooking the water.
Nick thought of his house in comparison; he
didn’t make a butt-load of money but he
was comfortable. Nick got out of the truck
and went around to help Sebastian out.
“I’m okay, you know,” Sebastian
smiled, watching the detective fidget.
“Call me crazy, but I’m worried
about you.” Nick took Sebastian by the arm.
The front door opened and a man
stood in the entryway.
“Oh wonderful, what has he done
now?” the man asked.
Sebastian pursed his lips. “I haven’t
done anything, Dad.”
“Mr. Price? I’m Detective Nicholas
Stevens of the Seattle Police Department.
Do you mind if I come in and talk to you?”
“I thought you said you hadn’t done
anything? And you may call me Sergei,
detective,” Sergei said smoothly.
For some reason, Nick wasn’t
comfortable calling Sebastian’s father
“Sergei.” In fact, he wasn’t comfortable at
all around the man. “Your son hasn’t done
anything wrong; it’s about what’s being
done to him.”
Sergei looked at his son. “Well,
come in.”
Nick let Sebastian go first as they
walked into the warm house. Bamboo
flooring spread throughout the entryway
and into the living room. The walls were
all white with no pictures whatsoever. It
looked like someone had just moved in.
Nick took a seat next to Sebastian on the
plush couch and faced Sergei Price.
Another man walked into the room and
Nick’s eyes tracked him as he walked
behind Sergei. The man was about his
height, he wore plain black slacks with a
white button up shirt. He looked to be about
late forties, with greyish blonde hair and
blue eyes. He stood behind Sergei and
cleared his throat softly.
“Will you be needing anything, sir?”
“No, thank you, George.” Sergei
waved his hand, dismissing the man from
the room.
“Hi, George,” Sebastian smiled
warmly.
“Sebastian,” George nodded, giving
Sebastian a wink.
“As I’ve said, Sebastian has been
having some problems.” Nick followed
George out of the room in his peripheral
vision.
“Oh?” Sergei looked at his son.
“Yes, he’s been receiving threatening
letters and today someone tried to run him
off the road,” Nick explained.
“I knew this would happen!” Sergei
shouted. “I told you when you decided to
come out that people would not understand!
They think being gay is a sickness,
Sebastian!”
Nick stood up. “Excuse me, sir. If
being gay is a sickness then I am infected as
well.”
Sebastian’s jaw dropped.
“I believe Sebastian should live here
for a while, just to insure he stays safe,”
Nick continued.
Sergei shook his head. “No. I have
told Sebastian that this was his decision
and he must live with the consequences of
his actions.”
Nick narrowed his eyes at Sergei
Price. “You would leave your son to
whatever these people have in store for
him?”
“Unless Sebastian agrees to retract
his statement, he must deal with what he
has started. It will make him stronger. He
must learn there are consequences and
every action has a reaction,” Sergei stood.
“I believe this conversation is over.”
Nick stepped closer to Sergei. “If
anything happens to Sebastian, trust me, my
reaction will have action.”
“Are you threatening me, detective?”
Sergei snarled.
Nick leaned in even closer. “No,
that’s a promise, Sergei.”
Sebastian sat, eyes wide, jaw
dropped to the floor. He’d never seen
anything like it. No one ever stood up to his
dad like that, except Nikolai. He had a
newfound respect for Detective Stevens.
“Um…”
“Let’s go, Sebastian.” Nick made
sure Sebastian was in front of him, as they
left the house.
As soon as Nick pulled out of the
driveway, Sebastian turned in his seat.
“Wow, I’ve never seen anything like
that.”
“You’ll stay with me. No arguments.”
Nick looked over at Sebastian.
“Okay.” Sebastian looked out the
window, grinning.
Nick looked over at Sebastian in the
passenger seat; he was looking out the
window, but Nick could see the grin on his
face. “Who’s George?”
Sebastian turned in the seat a bit to
look at the detective. “He’s been my dad’s
right hand man since I was a baby. I think
he taught me how to walk. He’s always
been around. The first time I ever hurt
myself playing, he was the one who found
me.” Sebastian smiled at the memory. “He
put alcohol on my knee and blew on it to
make it stop hurting. He told me I was
special.”
“Sounds like a good man,” Nick
noted.
“He is.”
They were pulling back into Seattle
when Nick heard the unmistakable sound of
a stomach growling. He looked over at
Sebastian.
“Hungry?”
“Yeah, I don’t know why but I’m
starving,” Sebastian chuckled.
Nick thought about it. “Do you like
smoked meats? There’s a sandwich place
over on Third—”
“Armand’s Salami?” Sebastian said.
Nick almost slammed on the brakes
in surprise. “Yeah? You’ve eaten there?”
“It’s like, the best place on Earth,”
Sebastian grinned. “You want me to call it
in while you drive?”
“Um, yeah, sure,” Nick handed his
cell phone to Sebastian. “It’s on speed
dial.”
“It is on mine, too.” Sebastian
grinned, taking his cell phone out.
“We can swing by your room, let you
get some clothes and whatever else you’ll
need,” Nick said.
Sebastian pushed a button on his
phone; looking at the detective he smiled.
“What do you want?”
“Surprise me,” Nick said.
Once they’d gotten Sebastian’s
clothing and other items he’d need, they
went to grab their sandwiches from
Armand’s. The smell in the truck was
mouthwatering and Nick tried to pay
attention to the road.
“You can eat you know, you don’t
have to wait for me,” Nick suggested.
“I can wait.” Sebastian looked out
the truck window. “You live around here?”
“Yep, just up the hill.” Nick drove up
the road and parked in front of his house. It
wasn’t Mercer Island, but he liked it. The
two-story home looked comfortable and he
and the guys had just given it a fresh coat of
paint. Opening the truck’s door, he grabbed
Sebastian’s duffel bag and went around to
the other side of the truck. Sebastian was
already getting out, holding the sandwich
bags tightly in his hands.
“Is that it?” Sebastian nodded to the
two-story beige house.
“Yes, it’s not your dad’s house, but I
like it,” Nick smiled, waiting for Sebastian
to catch up to him.
They got to the top of the stairs and
Nick unlocked the door. He turned the
alarm off and toed his shoes off. “Well,
come on in. I’ll give you the code for the
door, but I doubt I’ll be letting you out of
my sight.”
Sebastian knew his face was red.
“Uh, okay.” He took a look around as he
followed Nicholas to the kitchen. The
couch was a sectional and a dark chocolate
shade, most likely suede. Pictures of the
detective and other men lined the walls,
along with some pictures of snow covered
mountains. One of the pictures grabbed his
attention and he walked over to it.
“Wow, that’s really beautiful. Is that
the aurora borealis?”
Nick looked out from the kitchen.
“Yes, a friend of mine took it last winter.”
“Like, a boyfriend?” Sebastian kept
his back to the kitchen.
Nick smiled to himself in the kitchen.
“Nope, no boyfriend. I really don’t date
much.”
“Oh?” Sebastian didn’t know why,
but that statement put him at ease.
“Well, being a vampire detective
makes it hard to date,” Nick chuckled.
Sebastian snickered, looking at more
pictures on the wall. One of them showed a
group of men, at least twelve, all standing
around with big grins. Sebastian found the
detective in the picture. He looked
absolutely beautiful, no shirt on, and his
abs were ripped. “Who are all these guys?”
Nick came out of the kitchen with
two bottles of water and napkins. “Really
good friends.” Nick motioned to the floor
in front of the coffee table. “I’ve got throw
pillows to sit on; I really don’t eat at the
table much.”
Sebastian sat on one of the pillows
and opened up his sandwich; the smell
made his mouth water. “Oh God, smell
that,” Sebastian groaned, taking a large
bite.
Nick opened his sandwich and had to
smile, it was just what he would have
ordered. Finocchiona on warmed Italian
bread. It was heaven, and Nick took a large
bite, savoring the taste of curry. “God,
that’s so good,” Nick mumbled through a
full mouth. Nick swallowed, and looked at
Sebastian’s sandwich. “You got the same
thing?”
“It’s what I normally get,” Sebastian
grinned. “I’ve tried them all, but this one’s
just got a pow!”
Nick chuckled. “Yeah, it’s the curry.”
“I can make chicken curry; I mean if
I’m going to be staying here, I can cook.”
“Really?” Nick looked at Sebastian
in surprise.
“Well, yeah. I took cooking classes
all throughout middle and high school.
Don’t you cook?”
Nick shook his head. “Nope, don’t
have time. By the time I crawl home from
work, I’m too exhausted to cook.”
“But you can cook?” Sebastian
persisted.
“I can make eggs, does that count?”
Nick grinned.
“I guess I’ll have to give you some
lessons in cooking,” Sebastian said. He put
his sandwich down and looked at the
detective. “Look, thanks for letting me stay
here. That stuff today - it kind of freaked
me out.”
“I want you to be safe, Sebastian. If
that means having you at my side
twenty-four hours a day until I catch these
guys…” Nick shrugged.
“Why would you? I mean look how I
acted towards you.” Sebastian looked into
the detective’s eyes.
Nick leaned over, palming
Sebastian’s cheek. “No one is going to hurt
you, ever. Not on my watch, got it?”
Sebastian’s skin went up in flames
and his dick was hardening in his jeans.
The smell of the detective wafted up his
nostrils, overpowering the curry, and he
felt himself flush. His eyesight blurred
again, making him a bit woozy.
“Hey, are you all right?” Nick felt
Sebastian’s forehead. “Jesus, you’re
burning up.”
“I feel fine, I think,” Sebastian
blinked.
Nick narrowed his eyes. “I’m not
buying it. I’m calling Scott over.”
“Who’s Scott?” Sebastian asked.
“Another brother and also an EMT.”
Nick picked Sebastian up off the floor and
carried him to the extra bedroom in the
house. Putting him down on the bed gently,
he removed his shoes.
“What’s wrong with me?” Sebastian
tried to focus on the room.
“I don’t know but I don’t like it.”
Nick sat Sebastian up and removed his
shirt; looking at his back, he gasped in
surprise. A large Celtic cross covered
Sebastian’s back, but Nick could see what
looked like long claw marks from his
shoulders to his lower back. “What is
this?”
Sebastian smiled slyly. “It’s a Celtic
cross, you should know what they look like;
you have one, too.”
“Not that. The marks on your back.”
“Oh. I don’t talk about those,”
Sebastian frowned.
Nick narrowed his eyes.
“Sebastian?”
“Yup…”
“Did your father do this?” Nick
asked.
“No, he told me he didn’t, said I was
attacked by a cougar when I was younger,”
Sebastian yawned, moving to his side.
“I’m going to get Scott over here, try
to get some rest, all right?” Nick grabbed
his cell phone and sat on the edge of the
bed. What the fuck had happened to his
mate? He swore if Sergei Pratham had
anything to do with those scars, he’d kill
him with his bare hands.
“Detective?” Sebastian yawned,
closing his eyes.
“What is it?”
“What’s that cologne you wear?”
Nick furrowed his brows. “I don’t
wear cologne, just soap.”
“It smells really good,” Sebastian
mumbled.
Nick leaned over; he pulled
Sebastian’s eyelid up and looked at his
pupils. They were contracting and then
expanding, bleeding all the color out.
“What the hell?”
~~
Scott didn’t take long; he arrived a
half hour after Nick had called. He ran up
the stairs and opened the front door.
Slipping his shoes off, he punched the
numbers into the alarm panel.
“Nick?”
“In here.”
Scott went to the back guest room and
found Nick hovering over a man on the bed.
When Kellan had told him that Nick had
found his mate, he’d been elated. Scott
looked over the younger man on the bed, he
was blond and beautiful. Just Nick’s type.
“What’s going on?”
“I don’t know. He’s on fire, Scott; his
pulse is outrageous. I mean, he was almost
in an accident today but he says he didn’t
hit his head. His pupils keep dilating. I’m
worried.”
Scott moved to the side of the bed
that Nick was on and gently moved him
aside. “Let me take a look at him, okay?”
Scott looked up. Nick wasn’t budging.
“You know I’d never hurt him, I promise.”
“I know that,” Nick nodded. “I just…
I can’t bear to be away from him.”
Scott smiled, patting the bed. “You
don’t have to be, just move up by his head,
okay?”
“Okay.” Nick sat towards the top of
the bed, taking Sebastian’s hand in his own.
A small shiver ran through both of them and
the smell of almonds invaded his senses.
“Do you smell that?”
Scott looked up. “What?”
“Almonds. You don’t smell it?” Nick
asked.
“No, but he’s your mate, so that’s not
odd.” Scott shined the penlight in
Sebastian’s eye. The pupil contracted like
it should, then went back to normal when he
removed the light. “Other than the high
fever, I can’t find anything wrong with
him.”
“He needs to see Alex.” Nick palmed
Sebastian’s face, smoothing the sweaty hair
from his brow.
“Keep him hydrated,” Scott smiled at
the look of love on Nick’s face. “You
already love him, don’t you?”
“They weren’t lying,” Nick
whispered. “I’d die for him, kill for him
and do anything in my power to protect
him.”
“Get some sleep, bro. I’ll pull an all-
nighter with him.”
“I don’t want to let go.” Nick choked
back the emotion he was feeling. What if
something was wrong with his mate? The
thought of not being able to spend his life
with Sebastian crushed his heart in a vice.
“Don’t then; stretch out on the other
side. I’ll stay awake. You need rest.” Scott
slipped dissolving aspirin between
Sebastian’s lips. “Go to sleep, Nick.”
~~
When Nick opened his eyes, sunlight
had crept into the room through a small
crack in the curtains. He stretched in bed
and looked over at Sebastian. He was still
asleep, breathing normally. Nick relaxed
with a loud sigh. Thank God.
“He’s all right, his fever broke
around three. He needs fluids, though,”
Scott said.
“You sleep at all?” Nick sat up in
bed.
“Nah, I don’t need to until later. He
needs plenty of rest, though.” Scott
motioned to Sebastian.
“You cook, right?” Nick smiled at
Scott.
“Oh no…yeah I do, but—”
“Please?” Nick pouted.
“Damn you and your irresistible
pouts,” Scott chuckled softly. “I was going
to say you have no food in this house.”
Nick smiled wide.
“Oh Jesus, fine, give me some
money,” Scott sighed in frustration.
Nick waited for Scott to leave and
then checked on Sebastian before stepping
into the bathroom to take a quick shower.
He washed his hair quickly and then went
about soaping his body. He stopped and
looked at the bar of soap. It wasn’t anything
expensive, just some kind of moisturizing
soap. Nick brought it to his nose; it didn’t
smell that strong, did it? Maybe Sebastian
had a sensitive sense of smell? He rinsed
off quickly, toweling his hair semi-dry. He
crept back into the bedroom to see
Sebastian still asleep. He didn’t know
whether to wake him or not. In the end, he
checked his pulse and crept back out of the
bedroom, leaving the door open just in
case. Nick opened the pantry and was
relieved to see he at least had plenty of
coffee. The doorbell rang and Nick ran to
the door before whoever was there rang it
again. Casey stood on his front steps
wearing a smirk.
“Coffee?” Casey asked, pushing the
coffee container towards Nick, along with
a bag of Krispy Kremes.
“What do you want?” Nick narrowed
his eyes. “Since when do you deliver?”
“Since I’m curious as to why my
partner isn’t at work.” Casey walked in,
pushing by Nick. “Did you have a wild
night? Got some boxers hanging from your
ceiling fan?”
“Shh!” Nick dragged Casey into the
kitchen.
“Damn, it was an all-nighter?”
Casey’s eyes went wide. “You must have
been driving, cuz yer walkin’ just fine.”
“Will you shut up!?” Nick whispered
a little too loud.
Casey leaned against the counter
chuckling. “Come on; give an old man a
thrill.”
“You’re forty,” Nick raised a brow.
“Whatever.” Casey waved his hand
in the air. “Come on, Stevens, spill.”
“Sebastian’s in the bedroom,” Nick
admitted.
“Damn, you sure did take the whole
‘interview process’ to a new level,” Casey
smirked.
“It wasn’t like that!” Nick smacked
Casey in the arm.
“So he drove?”
“Neither one of us was driving!”
Nick said, exasperated.
Casey frowned. “How does that
work?”
“Jesus, O’Shea,” Nick sighed. “Look,
yesterday before the speech Sebastian was
tailed by two cars; they decided to take a
swipe at him. He called me and I went to
find him. By the time I got there, the two
cars were long gone. Sebastian was shaken
up. I took him to his father’s house – which,
by the way, asshole. So anyway, I didn’t
want to drop him off at the dorms, so I
brought him here,” Nick took a deep breath.
“There.”
Casey crossed his arms. “So you’re
keeping him here.”
“It’s the only place I know he’ll be
safe,” Nick stated.
Casey narrowed his eyes. “You have
a thing for him.”
Nick ran his hands over his face in
frustration. “It’s hard to explain—”
They both heard a short cough and
looked up. Sebastian was standing in the
hallway, not quite sure what to do. Nick’s
eyes ran the length of Sebastian slowly.
Jesus, the kid was just beautiful.
“Um, hi?” Sebastian tried to smile.
“Well, I’m straight and I can see why
you brought him home,” Casey chuckled
softly.
Nick elbowed Casey in the gut.
“Good morning. This is my partner. He’s
not a vampire,” Nick winked.
“What?” Casey asked.
Sebastian chuckled, walking into the
kitchen. He put his hand out to Nick’s
partner. “Sebastian Price.”
“Casey O’Shea. Nice to meet you,
Sebastian.” Casey looked at Nick and then
back to Sebastian. “Well, I’ll just be going
now. You enjoy that coffee, Nick,” Casey
smiled wide. “I’ll just see myself out.”
Scott was coming in as Casey was
leaving; Scott smiled, smacking Casey on
the ass.
“Hey, sexy.”
“You know, you always make me
feel better, Scott,” Casey chuckled.
“It’s that ass, Casey. Someday, I’m
going to bite it.” Scott waggled his
eyebrows.
Casey laughed. “Perv.”
Scott took the grocery bag to the
kitchen and stopped. Sebastian was
standing by the stove. “Nick, there’s more
bags in the truck, can you get them?”
“Sure.” Nick gestured to Sebastian.
“Have a seat.”
As soon as Nick left, Scott turned his
attention to Sebastian. “So, I see you’re up
and walking around. How do you feel this
morning?”
Sebastian stretched his arms out.
“Like I just slept twenty-four hours
straight.”
“Any nausea? Blurry vision?” Scott
crouched in front of Sebastian, taking his
wrist.
“Nope, I feel good.” Sebastian
looked down at Nick’s brother. “So, um,
you’re Nick’s brother?”
“Yep.” Scott kept count on
Sebastian’s pulse.
“Is he, like, involved?” Sebastian
gazed out the window.
Scott looked up. “Nick? No, he
doesn’t date much. The dates he has been
on didn’t pan out. Either his job got in the
way or his needs would.”
“Needs?” Sebastian pulled his
attention from the window back to Scott.
“Well, Nick’s more of a relationship
guy, he doesn’t do one night thrill bangs,”
Scott chuckled.
Nick walked back into the kitchen,
juggling four shopping bags. “What the hell,
Scott?”
“Your fridge is empty, Nick,” Scott
rolled his eyes.
“What did you buy?” Sebastian
looked in one of the bags. “I can make
something with this.”
“Oh! Lookie there, Sebastian can
cook.” Scott stood up, righting himself. “I
can go home and sleep.”
“Sebastian, are you sure you’re up
for this?” Nick put the grocery bags down
on the kitchen table.
“Well, sure. I mean cooking is a
relaxing art.” Sebastian sifted through the
bags.
“On that note,” Scott said, “don’t
hesitate to call if you need anything. Jude’s
off for the next three days.”
“Who’s Jude?” Sebastian looked at
Nick and Scott.
“Another brother,” Nick answered.
“Another one?” Sebastian grinned.
“How many brothers do you have?”
“A lot,” Scott laughed, thinking about
all the packs combined. “Anyhoo, I’m off to
catch some sleep. Don’t kill each other,”
Scott winked.
“Nice to meet you!” Sebastian called
after Scott.
Nick sat down at the kitchen table.
“So, what are we having?”
“Well, we’ve got eggs and some
cheese. I can make a mean omelet. Plus
there’s some sausage and stuff.” Sebastian
started taking the groceries out of the bag
and loading them into the fridge.
“You don’t have to do that.” Nick
stood up and began unpacking some of the
groceries.
“I’m not an invalid,” Sebastian
smiled, taking the gallon of milk from Nick.
Their fingers brushed and Nick felt the
hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
Sebastian backed up into the stove.
“Are you all right?” Nick moved
quickly to Sebastian, who was holding onto
the stove tightly.
“Yeah, I think so.” Sebastian looked
up into very concerned silver eyes.
“Maybe you weren’t ready to be up
and around just yet.” Nick set the gallon of
milk on the counter.
“No, I’ll be fine,” Sebastian took a
deep breath.
“All right, if you need me, I’ll just be
in my office,” Nick said.
“Gotcha.” Sebastian turned back to
the stove as Nick left. He took another deep
breath and steadied himself. He could hear
his heart pounding in his ears. “What the
hell?”
Nick closed the door, leaning against
it. How the hell was he supposed to be in
close quarters with Sebastian when all he
wanted to do was kiss him and hold him?
This was going to be the worst kind of
torture. It’s not like he could just say ‘Hey,
by the way, I’m a werewolf, not a vampire,
and you’re mine.’
Nick sank into his desk chair and
turned his computer on. He had some
investigating to do; hopefully the forensics
team had found something on the Jeep that
they could use. In the meantime, he was
going to have to deal with being in the same
house as his mate without touching him.
Nick banged his head on the desk.
“Shit.”
Chapter Three
The next few days were hell. Nick
was in a constant state of arousal every
time he saw Sebastian. He could tell the
kid was going crazy and suffering from
cabin fever, but there was no way in hell he
was going to let him out of the house
without some form of protection.
They had argued the night before,
heatedly, about Sebastian’s need to get to
his classes. Wyatt had dropped off all the
homework Sebastian had missed and Nick
got the death glare. This morning, he was
on his way out to the college to check
Sebastian’s room for any signs of
tampering. Sebastian was still asleep, so
Nick figured he could go and be back
before he woke up. He left him a note on
the fridge and exited the house quietly.
The parking lot in front of the dorms
was packed; Nick pulled into the only
available spot, all the way down at the end.
He studied the parking lot as he walked to
the building. Taking the stairs, he exited the
stairwell to find a crowd of kids huddled in
groups. As he walked closer, he could see
they were gathered around Sebastian’s
room.
“What’s going on here?” Nick asked,
flashing his badge.
The crowd moved and Nick caught a
glimpse of Sebastian’s door. Blood was
smeared down the entire length of the door
and the word ‘fag’ was written in the
blood. Nick pulled out his cell phone and
called the precinct.
“Get out to the college now, bring a
team.” Nick hung up and looked at the kids.
“How long has this been here?”
“Since this morning. I walk by here
all the time and it wasn’t there yesterday.”
Nick looked at the kid who had
spoken. Maybe five ten, black hair and dark
brown eyes. “Your name?”
“Colin, Colin Greystone.”
“Anyone else see anything this
morning?” Nick asked the crowd. None of
them spoke up. “Get out of the hall then.”
Nick took Colin Greystone aside.
“Colin, I’m Detective Nicholas Stevens,
Seattle PD. When did you notice this?”
“I was on my way down to the school
paper, about six this morning?” Colin said.
“Did you see anyone in the halls?”
“No, I mean we had the exterminators
here all week, but I didn’t see anything
weird.”
“Exterminators?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, kids can’t seem to keep their
dorm rooms clean. We had a roach
problem, a bad one. They’ve been all over
campus for months now, trying to control
the problem.”
Nick raised a brow. “Did you say
you work for the school newspaper?”
“Yeah, I’m the editor,” Colin tilted
his head. “Why?”
“You have a problem with gays on
the football team?” Nick studied Colin’s
face.
Colin cracked up. “Are you serious?
Okay first off, I’m gay and second? I’m the
wide receiver.”
“But you allow others to write what
they do about the football players?” Nick
asked.
“Freedom of the press, freedom of
speech, call it what you will, but they are
allowed their opinion. I don’t have to like
it, but I do have to print it.” Colin looked at
the door. “Bastian’s a good guy. I mean,
he’s got his anger issues, but he’s a good
guy,” Colin asserted.
“Anger issues?”
“Well yeah, I mean I can’t blame
him. It started back when he was dating
Wyatt. He’d never been quick to fight, but
then - I don’t know, he just had all kinds of
rage in him. Other teams would tackle him
even after he let go of the ball, trying to
take him out of the game. He got hit hard a
few times, and then…I don’t know,
something just snapped.”
“Did he hit his head? I mean to the
point that he didn’t get up right away?”
Nick asked. Something was starting to
make sense now. If Sebastian had a head
injury, it could explain quite a few things.
Colin furrowed his brow in thought.
“Maybe against Oregon the first time? I
mean, he was knocked pretty hard and his
helmet was thrown off.” Colin shifted from
one foot to the other. “Um, if that’s it, I
need to go. We have a game tonight.”
“What?” Nick snapped to attention.
“We play Arizona tonight and I have
to get the paper in order before I head out
to pre-game warm-ups.” Colin looked at
the detective. “You need my number or
something?”
“Let me give you my card; if you
think of anything else, call me okay?”
Colin nodded. “Sure, anything I can
do to help.” Colin started down the hall,
and then turned. “Detective?”
“Yes?” Nick asked.
“I hope you find whoever did this. I
get my own letters, but it’s nothing
compared to what Bastian gets.”
“Can you give me the letters you’ve
gotten? I can compare them to Wyatt’s and
Sebastian’s.”
“Sure,” Colin smiled. “I’ll go get
them.”
“Thank you.” Nick turned back to the
door. He unlocked it and walked in; flies
were everywhere. The window was wide
open and the bed had been slashed. Blood
soaked the sheets and was spread all over
the walls.
“Oh, my God,” Nick whispered.
“Jesus Christ!”
Nick spun around to see Casey in the
open doorway.
“Fuck, Casey!” Nick put his hand to
his chest. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“What the hell happened in here?”
Casey stood in one spot. “We can’t touch
shit until the guys get here.”
“Where are they?” Nick asked.
“Right behind me, let’s get back out
into the hall; I don’t want to make their jobs
any harder.”
Nick followed Casey out; he leaned
on the wall across from Sebastian’s room,
dragging a hand through his hair.
“What the hell is going on, Casey?
This is escalating.” Nick smelled the air;
the blood wasn’t human, it was animal -
pig’s blood as a matter of fact. What the
fuck was going on?
“This is like that ‘Carrie’ movie,”
Casey peeked back into the room.
“That was prom,” Nick raised an
eyebrow.
“Whatever…looks like a horror
movie in there,” Casey looked around.
“Where’s your boy?”
“At the house and he’s not a boy,”
Nick snapped.
“You sure he’s there? There’s a game
tonight, and he is the quarterback,” Casey
pointed out.
“I told him before that he can’t leave.
Now he really can’t,” Nick sighed.
“Oh, and he’d do what ya tell him,
would he?” Casey narrowed his eyes.
“Detective?”
Nick turned to see Colin holding
pieces of paper in his hands.
“Here are the notes,” Colin offered.
“Thanks, Colin.” Nick tried to smile.
Casey eyed the kid. “You are?”
“Football player, Casey. He found
the door this morning.”
“Football player, huh?” Casey
grinned. “Tell me, do you think your
quarterback would miss the game tonight?”
Colin laughed so hard he almost
threw up. “Hell, no! He’s got a grudge
against the Wildcats.”
Casey raised his eyes to Nick. “Case
closed.”
“He wouldn’t.” Nick closed his eyes.
“Oh shit, he would.”
Colin spied Will making his way
over, mouth agape. “Will?”
“What the hell?” Will whispered.
“You are?” Nick eyed the younger
man.
“We’ve met, outside the police
precinct?” Will stuck his hand out. “Will
Cooper, I was there talking to Tucker and
Wesley?”
“Oh, yes. Sorry.” Nick shook his
head in apology. “With all this going on,
I’m a little on edge.”
“What the hell happened in there?”
Will leaned over as far as he could to see
into Sebastian’s room. “Oh my God.” He
put his hands over his lower face in shock.
Casey eyed Will. “And you know
Sebastian how?”
“We are both in charge of the
gay/straight alliance,” Will answered
slowly. He pursed his lips when Casey
cocked an eyebrow at him. “I am gay,
therefore I wouldn’t do this,” Will
motioned to the door and room. “Are you
going to have some kind of surveillance on
him at the game tonight?”
Casey chuckled. “Detective Stevens
doesn’t think Sebastian will go.”
Will’s mouth fell open. “I’m sorry,
have you met Sebastian Price?”
“Fuck, I’m out,” Nick said, taking off
at a run.
~~
Nick drove at top speed back to the
house. He ran inside, checking all the
rooms.
“Sebastian!” Nick shouted. He
stalked into the kitchen to see his note on
the fridge; right under it was a note from
Sebastian.
“Detective, thanks for the room and
grub, but I have to be somewhere tonight,
Bastian.”
Nick crumpled the note in his fist.
“Goddammit! How am I supposed to keep
him safe if I can’t even keep an eye on
him?” Nick looked at the time; it was
nearing one in the afternoon. He’d been
gone a lot longer than he’d thought. “Shit.”
Nick jumped in his truck and started
towards the college. He took his cell phone
out and called Wyatt.
“I’m looking for Sebastian, Wyatt.
Have you seen him?” Nick asked.
“Why, yes, I have,” Wyatt raised a
brow “We’re getting ready to leave to meet
up with the team. Would you like to talk to
him? He’s sitting right here.”
Sebastian scowled. “Traitor.”
“Keep him there, I’m on my way,”
Nick snapped.
Wyatt hung up the phone, looking at
Sebastian. “He cares; he just wants to keep
you safe. Look, I’ve known Nick a long
time and he’s a good guy.”
“How come I’ve never heard you talk
about him?” Sebastian asked.
Wyatt shrugged. “I don’t know, I
mean he’s older than me. I didn’t get to
spend much time with him when I was
younger. I’ve known him my whole life I
guess.”
“He’s so…irritating.” Sebastian
couldn’t help but smile. “But he went off on
my dad. Only Nikolai’s done that.”
“Really?” Wyatt smiled wide. “I
would have loved to have seen that! You’re
dad’s an ass.”
“Yeah, well, Detective Stevens was
all up in his face. It was so cool.”
Wyatt sat back on the stool, crossing
his arms. “You think he’s hot, don’t you?”
Wyatt almost laughed; Sebastian sat rigid
on the stool and looked away.
“He’s older than me, I mean, isn’t
he?” Sebastian asked.
“I would guess, I mean he’s a
detective. But he looks young,” Wyatt
cracked a grin. “You do like him.”
“Shut up,” Sebastian chuckled. “You
ready for the game tonight?”
“Hell yes, those guys need a smack
down,” Wyatt grinned.
The doorbell rang and Wyatt looked
at Sebastian with a smile. “Your man is
here.”
“Stop it,” Sebastian felt his cheeks
heat.
“Maybe he can frisk you?” Wyatt
chuckled. He yelped as Sebastian smacked
his ass as he went to answer the door.
Nick came barging into the kitchen,
looking at Sebastian with what he knew
was a look of complete anger; he couldn’t
help himself, not after what he’d seen this
morning. “Are you nuts?”
“No, I have a football game tonight. I
am not missing it because some Bible
thumping, homophobic asshole wants to
scare me,” Sebastian said, his voice rising.
“You have no idea what happened
this morning. This isn’t a joke, Sebastian!
Your room was broken into sometime very
early this morning.”
Sebastian stood up. “Did they take
anything?”
“That’s the least of your problems!”
Nick shouted. “There’s no way in hell you
are going anywhere! Do I make myself
clear?”
“You are not my father!” Sebastian
shouted. “You don’t own me!” Sebastian
ran out of the apartment, slamming the door.
He hadn’t even made it across the grass
when he was tackled from behind; he hit the
ground with a loud grunt. “Get the fuck off
of me!”
Nick whipped Sebastian onto his
back and straddled him. “They broke into
your room, smeared blood all over
everything and ripped your bed to shreds.
This is escalating, Sebastian. Do you
understand what I’m saying to you?”
Sebastian’s mouth opened in an O of
surprise. “They…they what?”
“You heard me. Blood everywhere,
your bed, your clothes ripped to shreds.
This isn’t some kind of joke, Sebastian, this
is dangerous.”
Sebastian pursed his lips. “All that
means is that I have to go tonight. I can’t let
these people scare me into hiding!”
“Jesus Christ, Sebastian! Do you
have a death wish?”
“I’m going to that game,” Sebastian
growled, struggling to get free.
“The hell you are!” Nick stood up,
reaching for his cuffs.
Sebastian popped up and pointed at
him. “Unless you arrest me for something,
you can’t hold me, Detective, and you can’t
make me do anything.”
“I can take you in; I’ll make some shit
up if I have to.”
“I was wrong.” Sebastian looked at
Nick. “You’re just like all cops, willing to
bend the law when it suits you. You stay the
fuck away from me, Detective. I should
have gone with my gut and slammed the
damn door in your face!”
“I’m going to protect whether you
like it or not, Sebastian!” Nick shouted.
Nick watched helplessly as Sebastian
ran from him. He hung his head; his anger
had gotten the best of him.
“Shit.” Nick felt a hand on his
shoulder and looked to see Wyatt with a
small, sympathetic smile on his face.
“I’ll keep my eye on him tonight.
Maybe you should come to the game, too?”
Nick shook his head. “It will only
push him further away. I’ll ask the guys to
go. Please make sure he stays safe, Wyatt.”
Wyatt watched as Nick climbed back
into his truck. He could see the pain he was
in, worried about his mate. He just hoped
the fear was unfounded.
~~
Sebastian walked the narrow hallway
to the locker room on high alert. Truth be
told, the thought of someone breaking into
his room and smearing blood everywhere
freaked him out, but dammit he was the
quarterback and he was not going to let his
team down. The closer he got, the louder
the voices became behind the closed locker
room doors. He put his hand on the door,
taking a deep breath. Pushing the door
open, all talk stopped and all eyes focused
on him.
“Guys,” Sebastian nodded, heading
towards his locker.
“We didn’t think you were playing,”
Lance said.
Sebastian stopped walking and
turned slowly. “Of course I’m playing, you
guys need me.”
“Yeah, but…” Travis looked at his
teammates. “After all the stuff —”
“Oh hell, that’s child’s play. Ain’t
that right, pumpkin butt?”
Sebastian grinned, not turning around.
He’d know that voice anywhere.
“Oh shit. Fuck my life. Hello,
Nikolai.”
“Baby!” Nikolai put his arms out
wide. “Come give Papa Bear a hug!”
Sebastian turned and looked at
Nikolai. “What the fuck are you doing
here?”
Nikolai pouted. “That’s all you got
for me?” Nikolai waved his fingers. “Come
here; let me feel that tight ass.”
“Oh shit,” Sebastian groaned,
walking over to Nikolai. “It’s good to see
you,” Sebastian grunted as he was pulled
into a bone crunching hug. “Not that I’m
complaining, but what brings you here?”
“Wyatt does,” Wyatt said, standing in
front of his locker with his arms crossed.
“Oh hell, I should have known,”
Sebastian sighed. “Will you stop fondling
my ass?” Sebastian laughed as Nikolai
kneaded his globes.
“Damn, he could grab my ass
anytime,” Brock leered.
Nikolai raised a brow. “We’d have
to get past that broken arm, sweets.”
“It’s the left one,” Brock waggled his
eyebrows suggestively. “The right one
works just fine.”
“Woof!” Nikolai walked over to
Brock. “Look at this guy’s biceps.” Nikolai
tilted his head, leaning over to look at
Brock’s crotch. “Yep, I can work with
this.”
Sebastian cracked up. “Nik, back to
why you’re here?”
Nikolai stood up straight, smacking
Brock’s ass. “Someone told me you’ve
been having problems and you know me…”
Nikolai snickered.
“Yes, I do, which means destruction
and screaming are sure to follow,”
Sebastian arched a brow.
Nikolai smiled wide. “It is my
reputation.”
“Fuck, that’s hot.” Brock eyed
Nikolai’s six foot something tall frame;
muscles bulged out from all directions and
the tattoos on the guy…sheesh.
Nikolai turned his head, licking his
lips. “Later, baby, I’ll take care of you.”
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Nik!”
“What?” Nikolai snapped back to
attention. “Look, you know why I’m here.
Wyatt told me everything. So now, who’s
this cop assigned to you?”
“He’s not assigned to me,” Sebastian
corrected quickly.
“Sounds like he had the right idea
keeping you hidden away. I heard about
your room.” Nikolai took Sebastian’s
hands. “Now, you really don’t want me set
loose on this town, do you? I’d feel much
better if you stayed with the cop.”
“Hey,” Travis looked around.
“Where’s Greystone?”
“I thought he was on the field
already?” Wyatt looked at the other
players.
“He’s not in the locker room?” Jordy
went down one of the rows. “Colin?”
Wyatt smelled blood on the air,
human blood. He walked around the locker
room, trying to get a sense of where it was
coming from. The sound of running water
came from the showers. Wyatt walked in
and looked around, all the showers were
running at once and the room was filled
with steam. He went to the first one,
shutting it off. His foot kicked something on
the floor and he heard a low moan. Wyatt
bent down, letting his eyes shift. There,
beneath one of the showerheads, was a
badly beaten Colin Greystone.
“Guys!” Wyatt shouted. “In here!”
Wyatt turned all the showerheads off as the
rest of the team rushed into the showers.
“Colin?” Wyatt gently lifted Colin’s face.
“Who did this? Did you see them?”
Colin shook his head slowly. “No,
they hit me from behind.”
“Call an ambulance,” Travis said.
“I’m good,” Colin tried to stand. “I
can play.”
“Are you fucking nuts?” Brock
yelled. “You’re not doing anything but
going to the hospital.”
Wyatt helped Colin up and then he
noticed the writing on the back of his shirt.
“Oh, God.”
“What?” Nikolai stepped into the
shower. On Colin’s football jersey was
written Sebastian’s next. Nikolai turned to
see Sebastian’s face; all the color had
drained from it.
“Do you see this, Bas? Do you see
what they did to this kid? I’m going to
fucking kill someone!” Nikolai roared.
“Whoa!” Brock backed up.
“Nikolai, calm down,” Wyatt spoke
softly. “Can you get Colin to the hospital,
please?”
“I’ll be okay,” Colin attempted to
stand. The next thing he knew he was swept
off his feet and into massive arms. He
looked into very dark eyes. “Who are
you?”
“Colin, this is my best friend, Nikolai
Markov,” Sebastian introduced.
Colin’s eyes went wide. “Markov?”
“I can see my reputation precedes
me. Don’t worry; you’re not on my hit list,”
Nikolai said lightly.
“We should all go to the hospital,”
Travis said.
“NO!” Colin looked at his team. “Get
out there and put the smack-down on those
fuckers!”
Nikolai raised a brow. “He’s got
spunk.”
“Are you sure, Colin?” Lance asked,
quietly.
“Fuck yes, and make it hurt,” Colin
growled.
“Oh, I like him,” Nikolai smiled
wide. “You heard the kid, get your asses
out there and put a hurtin’ smack-down on
their asses.”
“Nikolai,” Wyatt motioned him over.
“Get a hold of Detective Nicholas Stevens,
all right? Tell him what happened here,
he’s the one in charge of the case.”
“He cool?” Nikolai tilted his head.
“Yeah, he is,” Wyatt smiled.
~~
Nick flew though the emergency
room doors in a panic. Alexander had
called and said a football player had been
brought in, beaten. He couldn’t be sure
which one. Nick’s pulse pounded as he
found the nurses’ station.
“I’m Detective Nicholas —”
“Down the hall, room 212,” the nurse
smiled. “Alex said you’d come.”
“Thank you!” Nick ran down the hall.
He came to a sliding stop when the smell of
testosterone invaded his senses. A quick
look down the hall told him why. He
walked quickly, seeing the man straighten
up.
“Detective Stevens?” Nikolai put his
hand out. “I’m Nikolai —”
“I know. I’ve met your father,” Nick
smiled, shaking Nikolai’s hand. “It’s like
looking at twins.”
“I tried calling the precinct, went
straight to voice mail.” Nikolai looked at
the detective. “Wait, what? When did you
meet my dad?”
“Denali, at the after-wedding party.”
Nick looked at the door. “Is it…
Sebastian?”
“No, it’s Colin Greystone,” Nikolai
smiled, looking at the detective. “You like
Bas, don’t you?”
Nick stiffened. “I’m trying to protect
him; he went to the game anyway, didn’t
he?”
“Yes, you should have known he
would. Bastian isn’t the type of guy to back
down, but I guess you’ve already figured
that out, haven’t you?” Nikolai asked.
“Is Colin all right? Someone must
have seen him helping me this morning,”
Nick sighed, looking at the door. “Was it
bad?”
“Well, come on in and look for
yourself.” Nikolai opened the door. “He’s
sedated; he’s got a concussion and
contusions all over his body. I think they
cracked him over the head and then kicked
him when he was down.”
“Son of a bitch,” Nick whispered,
looking at Colin Greystone on the bed.
“He’s one hell of a fighter though,”
Nikolai stood over the bed, smiling at
Colin. “He got some hits in along the way.
Look at his knuckles.”
Nick leaned over, looking at Colin’s
face. “Jesus, this kid took a beating.” Nick
looked up at Nikolai. “This is exactly why I
wanted Sebastian safe.”
“You’ve got to let him come to you.
It’s partially my fault, he hates cops,
always has. The shit I’ve been through with
cops…” Nikolai shook his head with a sad
smile.
“Yeah, well, your dad and I get along
just fine. Keegan’s perfect for him, calms
him down in a way,” Nick mused.
Nikolai nodded his head in
agreement. “He’s so freakin’ cute, too.”
“I know, right?” Nick smiled,
laughing softly. He turned serious and
motioned Nikolai over to the chairs. “How
much do you know about Sebastian’s
mother?”
“Not much. I know she died not too
long after he was born. He didn’t want to
talk about it much.”
“What about the scars on his back?”
Nick asked.
Nikolai shrugged. “I asked about it
once, he told me he was attacked by a
cougar or something. I didn’t question it
much, attacks like that happen a lot in the
area where we grew up.”
“His mother committed suicide,
Nikolai,” Nick said.
“She did?” Nikolai furrowed his
brows. “Why? Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know, but I bet it had
something to do with being married to an
asshole,” Nick said wryly.
“Oh, we are going to get along just
fine,” Nikolai grinned. Turning in the chair,
he looked at the detective. “I know Bastian,
you need to back off. He will come to you
if he feels threatened or scared. I think if
you got him to your house already, you’ve
made an impression.”
“I’m worried about him, he’s been
having high fevers and his pupils dilate.”
Nick ran his hands over his face. “He needs
to see a doctor.”
“I’ll do what I can.” Nikolai sat back
in the chair. “You know, you’re cool, for a
cop.”
“Detective,” Nick corrected with a
smile.
“Details…”
~~
The game had been going slowly
down the shitter; it probably had a lot to do
with the team worrying about Colin’s
condition. Sebastian had been hit more
times than he could count and the anger was
rising the longer the game went on. Wyatt
was taking out players left and right and
Travis had already taken two players out of
the game completely. They were behind by
one touchdown and there was a little less
than minute remaining. Sebastian huddled
with his team, looking at all the guys he’d
come to love.
“All right, it’s time for the lefty
loosey righty tightie,” Sebastian called,
rubbing his hands together in glee.
“Oh, hell,” Wyatt laughed.
“You know the drill,” Sebastian
looked at his teammates. “We only have
one shot at this. I refuse to spend the rest of
my senior year knowing we lost to the
Wildcats. You guys in?”
“Hell, yeah!” came the collective
shout.
“Who are we?” Sebastian shouted.
“THE HUSKIES!”
“Let’s do this shit!”
The play went down perfectly.
Sebastian back-pedaled, cocking his arm
for the throw he knew had to be flawless.
The ball flew forty-five yards and landed
perfectly in Travis’ outstretched hands.
Wyatt took out one of the Wildcats chasing
Travis as he ran into the end zone, tossing
the ball to the official and shaking his hips.
“Hell, YES!” Sebastian shouted.
The coach signaled the play for the
two-point conversion from the sideline and
Sebastian took it to the huddle.
He smiled at his teammates. “All
right guys – quarterback sneak. I’m running
it right down their fucking throats! Linemen,
clean out the middle for me and I’ll buy
steak dinners for everyone. Break!”
The offensive line dug in, waiting for
the snap. When it came they charged
forward, creating a hole you could drive a
bus through. Sebastian scooted into the end
zone untouched.
The football field broke out in chaos
as fans poured down to congratulate them.
Wyatt ran into Sebastian’s arms, hugging
him tightly.
“We did it!” Wyatt shouted.
Sebastian was grabbed and hoisted
onto his teammates’ shoulders as the crowd
went crazy. The band was playing “We are
the Champions” by Queen as they left the
field. Sebastian stood in the shower later
on thinking about the win. The strangest
part was that he wished the hot detective
had been there to see it. God knows he
hated cops with a passion, but for some
reason this detective had occupied his
thoughts from the moment Sebastian had
opened the door to find him standing there
looking like a movie star.
He dressed quickly and made his
way out to the parking lot. He hadn’t
realized how long he’d been in the shower;
the parking lot was almost empty now.
Sebastian unlocked his Jeep and threw the
duffel bag into the backseat. He climbed in
and put the key in the ignition. Pausing, he
looked around the lot. He swore he felt
eyes on him from somewhere. Shutting the
Jeep’s door, he started the engine and
backed out of his spot. The detective had
been right about one thing - he knew he was
in danger now. Things were escalating with
the trashing of his dorm room and now the
attack on Colin. He just hoped the
Detective Stevens would find out who was
doing all of this.
~~
The next few days were quiet for
Sebastian. He and Nikolai were staying
with Wyatt and Preston. He hadn’t had any
more notes or threats. He was on his way to
see Colin today; Nikolai was already there,
pulling guard in the room. Colin was going
to be in the hospital for a few more days.
Things had been good.
Except for one
thing - he missed Seattle Detective
Nicholas Stevens. Sebastian pursed his
lips; he hated admitting it, even to himself.
He wanted the guy. He wanted his hands on
him, he wanted his lips; he wanted to feel
their bodies pressed together. His cock
thickened just thinking about him. Sebastian
let out a frustrated sigh. A cop, for Christ’s
sake.
Sebastian got to Colin’s room to hear
Nikolai on the phone; he knocked and
peeked around the door. Colin was asleep
and it sounded as if Nik was talking to his
father.
“Yeah, I got it, talk soon.” Nikolai
hung up and smiled at Sebastian. “Hey,
what’s up?”
Sebastian closed the door quietly.
“How is he?” Sebastian motioned to the
bed.
“Still sleeping peacefully. Doctor
Romasko said that’s a good thing. It gives
his body time to heal. You okay?”
Sebastian tried to smile. “Yeah, I’m
good. Just tired I guess. I keep having these
weird dreams.” Sebastian sat down in one
of the chairs
“Like what?” Nikolai asked, taking
the seat next to Sebastian.
“Wolves.” Sebastian looked at
Nikolai. “I know, weird, huh? I’m running
down the beach somewhere and there’s this
huge wolf running beside me. What does
that mean?”
Nikolai shrugged his shoulders. “I
don’t know. Anything else happen in these
dreams?”
Sebastian cheeks heated. “Um, well,
I stop you know? And then when I turn
around…” Sebastian lowered his voice,
“it’s the detective, standing there naked.”
Nikolai raised a brow. “Damn, I’d
pay to see your dreams.”
“Dammit, Nik!” Sebastian smacked
Nikolai’s arm.
“Oh, come on! I’ve seen the guy!
Holy fuckin’ shit is he hot!” Nikolai
whispered.
“Yeah?” Sebastian smiled wickedly.
“Yep, he swung by this morning to
check in on Colin. When he met me he
didn’t bat an eyelash at me and he has met
my father.”
Sebastian looked at his cell phone;
the cop’s number was programmed into it.
He wanted to call him so badly. “I don’t
know, Nikolai. When I tried to leave he
said he’d make shit up to arrest me.”
“He was just scared,” Nikolai said.
“You know you like him.” Nikolai stood
up, and bent over the chair. “Oooh!
Detective! Oh yeah, frisk me!”
Sebastian had to laugh; Nikolai was
bent over the chair, humping it, all while
smacking his ass from behind. “You are so
twisted.”
“Well, that’s not something I wake up
to every day,” Colin smiled from the bed.
“Hey!” Nikolai walked to Colin’s
side. “You’re up.”
“And getting a show,” Colin laughed.
“How do you feel, Colin?” Sebastian
asked.
“Like I just got my ass handed to
me.” Colin changed positions, sighing.
“Um, I heard the nurses talking; I
guess your dads are on their way?” Nikolai
said.
Colin sat up. “Oh shit, they were in
Ireland renewing their vows I think. Wait,
what day is it?”
“It’s the 20th,” Sebastian said.
Colin leaned back with a contented
sigh. “Oh good, they don’t renew until New
Year’s Eve.”
“Well, anyway, they are on the way,”
Nik shrugged.
“Did that detective come today?”
Colin asked.
“He was here earlier, why?” Nikolai
took the seat next to Colin’s bed.
“He was really nice,” Colin said.
“See?” Nikolai raised a brow at
Sebastian. “Now stop being an ass-wipe
and call the guy.”
“Whatever.” Sebastian rolled his
eyes. “I have to get my books, so I can
study. I’ll see you back at Wyatt’s later?”
“Yep, stay safe, Bas.” Nikolai fist
bumped Sebastian.
Colin relaxed back on the bed,
smiling, as Sebastian left the room looking
confused. “You think he’ll call him?”
“Why, you sneaky little fuck!”
Nikolai laughed.
~~
Sebastian flew down Mercer Ave,
top off, wind blowing through his hair,
enjoying the sun. He changed lanes, guiding
his Jeep down the busy Seattle street. The
light was just changing and Sebastian hit
the brakes. Nothing happened. Panic set in
and Sebastian braced to be hit by traffic
coming from both directions. He flew
through the intersection, gaining speed as
he headed down the steep grade.
“Oh fuck.” He pulled out his cell
phone, contemplating who to call. In the
end, he called Detective Stevens. He really
didn’t have much choice. The phone picked
up on the first ring.
“Sebastian?”
“I’m on Mercer Avenue and my
brakes are out!” Sebastian shouted into the
phone.
Nick was up in an instant, grabbing
his keys. “Stay on that road! Do NOT try to
turn, your Jeep will flip. I’ll be there as
soon as I can!”
Sebastian heard the line go dead.
“What the hell? Detective Stevens?” The
line was quiet and Sebastian threw his cell
phone on the passenger seat. He supposed
he could have called Nikolai, but that
would leave a mess of bodies on Mercer
Avenue. Sebastian chuckled, which was
odd considering he was flying down a busy
street with no way of stopping. He honked
the horn as he flew through another busy
intersection, just missing being grazed by
an SUV. Another steep downgrade and
Sebastian felt the Jeep picking up more
speed; he knew he should be doing
something, he just couldn’t remember what.
The fear was paralyzing him.
“Jesus! Doesn’t this damn road ever
go up?”
~~
Nick flew down the roads; he’d
gotten Sebastian’s position from Casey,
who’d been watching the street cams. He’d
called Preston and Scott and Jude to meet
him at the Third Avenue and Mercer Street
intersection. His mind was racing;
Sebastian was in danger and he’d sounded
petrified. His cell phone rang, displaying
Preston’s number.
“We’re making our way through
traffic, but we’ll beat him there,” Preston
said.
“Thank you, Preston. You’re the only
one here with Wayne’s bloodlines; if
something happens to Sebastian…” Nick
closed his eyes.
“It won’t, you know that. I’ll be
there.”
“All right, I see you guys.”
~~
Sebastian tried to keep his Jeep on
the road but the more intersections he flew
through, the more worried he became about
getting hit. The faint sounds of a siren could
be heard in the distance and then an
ambulance came into view. His cell phone
rang again, showing Detective Stevens’
number.
“Sebastian, listen carefully - try to
shift to a lower gear.” Nick stood in front
of the ambulance, watching Sebastian’s
Jeep flying down the road.
Sebastian downshifted, feeling the
Jeep drag back a bit. “Okay, now what?”
“The street is leveling out; it should
slow you down some. Pull up on the
parking brake.”
Sebastian did as he was told; the
Jeep slowed down a bit, but not enough.
“Now what? I’m still going too fast.”
“See that curb to the right coming up?
Jump it into those shrubs.”
“What? Are you crazy?” Sebastian
shouted.
“If you don’t do it, you risk going
through another intersection. Stay on the
phone with me.” Nick watched the Jeep
come down the hill and hit the leveled out
portion of the road. It looked to have
slowed down considerably, but it still
wasn’t enough. “I won’t let anything happen
to you, you know that right?”
Sebastian closed his eyes. “I know.
You said you’d always protect me.”
Nick watched the Jeep. “I’m right
here, I won’t leave you.”
“I’m scared,” Sebastian whispered.
Nick swallowed hard. “I know, just
hang on. Brace yourself. Now!”
Nick watched as Sebastian hit the
curb. He lost control of the Jeep and it
flipped, hitting upside down. It rolled again
and came to a stop.
“Sebastian!” Nick ran for the Jeep.
He pulled the door right off its hinges.
“Nick!” Preston shouted, jumping
from the ambulance. He ran over to Nick
and put a hand on his shoulder. “You need
to calm down,” he told him quietly,
“everybody’s watching you. Chill on the
superhuman strength.”
Nick shrugged Preston away and
picked Sebastian up in his arms. “I’ve got
you.”
“Detective?” Sebastian’s eyes
opened slightly. “You’re here.”
“I won’t leave you, I promise.” Nick
nuzzled Sebastian’s blood-covered face.
“He needs blood, Nick,” Preston
leaned in, whispering. “He might have
injuries we can’t see.”
“Let’s get him in the bus.” Nick
looked around; people were gaping at the
accident. “Get out of the street, assholes!
You want to cause another accident?”
Nick took Sebastian to the back of the
ambulance and Scott set up an IV line. “We
have to give you some fluids, okay? Hang
in there, Sebastian.”
Nick looked around while Preston
dropped blood from his wrist into the bag.
Finding a good vein, Scott slid the needle
in and hooked Sebastian up. Preston
watched the color coming back into
Sebastian’s face, the wounds already
healing from the lifesaving werewolf
blood. Sebastian moaned while Jude
cleaned his face.
Nick held Sebastian’s hand as he
opened his eyes; the ache in his chest made
it harder for him to breathe. Someone was
trying to kill his mate. “How do you feel?”
Nick smoothed the blond hair from
Sebastian’s forehead.
“Like I ran into a curb and flipped,”
Sebastian tried to smile. His eyes met with
Detective Stevens’. “You stayed with me.”
“I told you, I’d always be here for
you,” Nick smiled, caressing Sebastian’s
face.
Sebastian searched Nicholas’ face;
right then he knew he had feelings for the
man. He was pretty damn sure the detective
felt the same. “How badly am I hurt?”
Jude wiped the remaining blood from
Sebastian’s nose and removed the needle
from his arm. “Well, you got a bloody nose
from the air bag, other than that? Not a
scratch.”
“Seriously?” Sebastian sat up and
wiggled his toes and fingers.
“Seriously,” Preston winked. “Seems
Nick had a good plan.”
Sebastian arched a brow. “Seemed
crazy at the time.”
“Some of the best plans are the crazy
ones.” Nick helped Sebastian up, hooking
an arm around his waist to steady him.
“You feel okay? I can take you back to my
house; that is, if you want to go?”
“That sounds good,” Sebastian
nodded, looking into the cop’s eyes. Damn
but they were beautiful. He’d never noticed
how grey they were before, probably
because he was too wrapped up in hating
the asshole detective. Sebastian chuckled
softly.
“What’s so funny?” Nicholas
tightened his arm around Sebastian.
“I was just thinking about our first
meeting, Detective.”
Nick stopped walking; he pulled
Sebastian around to face him. “I think you
should call me Nick from now on.”
“What if I want to call you
Nicholas?” Sebastian teased.
Nick leaned in close, a breath away
from kissing Sebastian, and smiled. “Better
than Detective Dickhead.”
Sebastian’s skin went up in flames
and he was instantly rock hard. “Okay,”
Sebastian chuckled. “Nick.”
“Better.” Nick walked Sebastian to
his truck, opening the door for him. “I think
you should go to the hospital, just in case.”
Sebastian nodded absentmindedly,
his mind still on Nick being so close to
him. “Okay.”
~~
After a quick trip to the ER, Nick
finally took Sebastian back to his house. He
parked on the side of the road and turned in
the seat, looking at Sebastian. “Are you
sure? I only want you here if that’s what
you want.”
Sebastian took Nick’s hand and
looked into his eyes. “I want to be here. I
feel safe with you.”
“That’s all I want - for you to be
safe.” Nick swallowed hard. “I’m sorry
about the way I acted. I was just so
worried.”
“I guess you had a right to be, huh?”
Sebastian said. He looked down, their
fingers had entwined and he hadn’t even
realized it. The smell of the detective’s
soap flooded his nose and his eyes grew
blurry again. “Oh Christ,” Sebastian
whispered.
“What’s wrong?” Nick watched as
sweat formed along Sebastian’s forehead.
He reached his hand out and touched the
skin. “Holy shit! You’re on fire!”
“I’m cold,” Sebastian’s teeth
chattered.
“We need to go back to the hospital.”
Nick started the truck.
“No! I’m fine; I just want to lie
down. Please!” Sebastian pleaded. “No
more hospitals.”
Nick sighed heavily, turning the truck
off. “All right, but you will let me take care
of you.”
Sebastian nodded. “Okay, I’m just so
cold.”
“Come on.” Nick got out of the truck
and jogged to Sebastian’s side. He opened
the door and lifted Sebastian from the seat.
“Put your arm around my neck.” Nick
carried Sebastian to the front door and
unlocked it. Slamming the door shut with
his foot, he quickly punched the numbers in
for the alarm and took Sebastian to the
guest bedroom. He put him down and took
his shoes off. Sebastian crawled into the
bed, pulling the covers up to his neck.
“I’ll get another blanket.”
“Wait…” Sebastian grabbed Nick’s
hand. “Could you…get in with me?”
Nick smiled, crouching down to
Sebastian’s level. “Yes, I will. Just let me
get another blanket, okay?”
“’K,” Sebastian nodded.
Nick grabbed the down comforter
from the linen closet and pulled his shirt off
on the way back. Shucking his pants, Nick
left his briefs on; he put the comforter over
Sebastian, and then crawled in from the
other side. Sebastian’s body was like a
furnace, but his teeth were still chattering.
“Come here,” Nick whispered,
pulling Sebastian into his chest.
“You’re so warm,” Sebastian sighed,
nestling into Nick.
Nick inhaled the scent of almonds
from Sebastian’s hair; he nuzzled him and
closed his eyes.
“Nick?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you, for everything.”
Sebastian closed his eyes, and relaxed into
the warmth.
“You’re welcome,” Nick whispered.
~~
Sebastian opened his eyes to a
beautifully tanned, smooth chest. He
touched the skin, relishing how it felt under
his fingers. He looked up into the face of
Nicholas Stevens, asleep. Lord, the man
was beautiful. He had thick, long lashes
and soft skin. It was the eyes that had
Sebastian, though. They were a shade of
grey he’d never seen before, with a silver
sparkle. Sebastian smiled; he’d made the
vampire crack the day they’d met and, even
then, he’d been attracted to the cop.
Sebastian pulled the covers back a
little looking at the body in bed with him.
One large bicep was wrapped protectively
around him, while the other was underneath
his pillow. Toned abs and pectoral muscles
moved with every intake of Nick’s breath.
Sebastian leaned closer, inhaling Nick’s
scent; his cock thickened immediately and
his nose twitched. God, he was so damn
horny for this man. Sebastian realized he
really needed to go pee. He moved
cautiously, trying not to wake Nick.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Sebastian froze; the bicep pulled him
in closer until he was skin to skin with
Nick. The heat shot up his torso and straight
down to his cock, making it fill even more.
“Um, bathroom?” Sebastian smiled,
looking at Nick’s face. His eyes were still
closed, but the lips curved up in a knowing
smile.
“I’m comfortable, though,” Nick
chuckled.
“You want I should pee in the bed?”
Sebastian grinned as Nick’s eyes opened
slowly. And there they were: Those eyes
that seemed to look right through him into
his heart. Sebastian was transfixed, falling
into silvery eyes that seemed to soak him
up and pull him in, and he felt himself
leaning forward. Warmth flowed over his
lips and Nick’s arms came around him.
Sebastian got his arms free, wrapping
them around Nick’s neck as they slowly
kissed each other for the first time, their
tongues searching, tasting eagerly, hungrily.
Sebastian pressed his body closer, needing
Nick’s warm skin on his own. He slid his
fingers into Nick’s hair, moved them down
to the nape of his neck and pulled his mouth
closer. God, he couldn’t get enough, taste
enough, feel enough of this man.
“Nick…” Sebastian whimpered as
Nick’s teeth nibbled on his lower lip.
“Jesus, you taste so good,” Nick
growled, pulling Sebastian closer to him,
his hand gripping Sebastian’s tight ass.
Sebastian felt the heat rising under
the blanket, whipping him into a frenzy and
he gripped Nick’s hair tightly. The kiss
became more explosive and Nick rolled
them over, crushing Sebastian with his
weight. It was delicious, Nick was
delicious; he wanted more, he couldn’t get
close enough.
“Ow.” Nick pulled away from the
kiss, feeling his lip. “You bit me.”
“I did?” Sebastian looked at Nick’s
lips - sure enough, a single drop of blood
oozed from his bottom lip. “Oh God, I’m
sorry!”
“Damn. Frisky little thing, aren’t
you!” Nick laughed, wiping his lip.
“You’re not mad?” Sebastian sat up,
resting on his elbows.
Nick leaned over, bringing himself
inches from Sebastian’s lips. “You drive
me crazy.”
“Is that good?” Sebastian smiled,
running his finger down Nick’s toned chest,
making lazy circles around his nipples.
The loud banging at the door stopped
Nick from uttering his next words. He
raised a brow at Sebastian.
“Expecting anyone?”
“No, but now I really have to pee,”
Sebastian laughed.
“Go on,” Nick swatted Sebastian’s
ass as he got out of bed. He made his way
to the front door and peeked out the peep
hole. Casey’s eye was right in his face.
“Jesus, Casey!”
“Open the door! I’ve got coffee!”
Nick sighed and unlocked the door.
Casey stood on his front steps with a huge
grin. “What?”
“Damn, did shit get crazy last night?”
Casey pushed past Nick into the house.
“What does that mean?” Nick walked
to the kitchen with Casey almost stepping
on him along the way.
“Well, let’s see.” Casey put the
coffee down on the counter and turned to
give Nick the once-over with a practiced
cop’s eye. “One, your hair looks like some
birds nested in it. Two, your lip is bleeding
and three, your back is covered in long
marks. Kinda like nail marks,” Casey
waggled his eyebrows.
“Huh?” Nick walked over to the
mirror in the living room. His eyes went
wide at the long, angry red marks down his
back. “Holy shit,” Nick whispered.
“Damn, you must be one hell of a
fuck, Nick,” Casey bent over, laughing.
“Shut up,” Nick grinned. “Nothing
happened last night.”
“Your back says otherwise.” Casey
leaned against the counter. “Did you and
the quarterback get a little rough in the
huddle?”
Nick smirked and opened his mouth
to respond when a sudden heat tore through
his veins. He gripped the counter as the
feeling spread through his body. Sucking in
a breath, he squeezed his eyes shut, forcing
his lupine side back. His heart pounded in
his ears and his pulse raced.
~~
Sebastian let the cold water slide
down his back; he’d decided to shower
after he’d heard Nick was with his partner.
He was on fire and his pulse raced and
throbbed, making his head feel like it was
in a vice. He held onto the shower wall as
his eyesight blurred once again. The cold
water barely registered on his scorching
skin and his breathing became erratic.
Sebastian turned the water off and grabbed
a towel. Stepping out of the shower he
looked in the mirror. His face was flushed
and his pupils were blown.
“What the hell?” Sebastian looked
closer; something was wrong with his eyes.
He took a deep breath, trying to regulate his
heartbeat. “What is wrong with me?” His
thoughts strayed to Nick in bed last night,
Nick’s warm body pressed up against him,
holding him. Sebastian’s cock grew thick
with the thought of Nick’s lips, his tongue
licking the inside of his mouth, those hands,
squeezing his ass. Nick.
~~
“Hey, are you okay, Nick?” Casey
put his hand on Nick’s shoulder, jerking it
away as the skin blazed beneath it. “Holy
shit!”
Nick took a deep breath, pulling his
lupine side under control. “I’m good, just…
a little warm.”
“You going through ‘the change’
man?”
“Huh?” Nick looked up, focusing on
Casey.
“You know. Menopausal?” Casey
grinned, trying to lighten the mood. “Look,
I’m going to head out, get over to the
precinct. The report on the evidence should
be in today. Call me later, okay?” Casey
patted Nick’s shoulder. “If you need
anything, just call.”
“Sure,” Nick walked Casey back to
the door. “I will. Call me if you find out
anything.” Nick closed the door and leaned
against it. Something very strange was
going on. He’d just heard Sebastian in his
head.
Chapter Four
Nick turned his thoughts off
automatically. He didn’t know what the
fuck was going on, but if he’d heard
Sebastian, there was a good chance
Sebastian could hear him as well. Nick
dragged his fingers through his unruly hair.
He needed to talk to Preston, like, now.
Nick made his way up the stairs to his
room. Sebastian was pulling his jeans on
and Nick got a nice look at that tight end.
He chuckled, thinking about Sebastian
being the quarterback. God, that was a turn
on. He cleared his throat and smiled when
Sebastian turned around with a grin.
“Nice tight end,” Nick leered.
Sebastian zipped his jeans up and
smirked. “Like I haven’t heard that one.”
“Yeah?” Nick advanced on
Sebastian, a wicked grin on his face. “But I
get it all to myself.”
Sebastian wrapped his arms around
Nick’s neck. “Yes, you do. Detective.”
Sebastian’s eye fell on Nick’s back in the
mirror. “Oh my God, did I do that?” The
scratches had begun to heal, but were still
prominent.
Nick smiled, leaning in to catch
Sebastian’s bottom lip between his teeth.
“Yes, you’re an animal.”
“I’m so sorry.” Sebastian trailed his
fingers lightly over the scratches. “I didn’t
even realize I’d done it.”
“It’s all right, it’s kinda sexy.” Nick
waggled his eyebrows. “I thought maybe
we could go see Wyatt this morning?”
Sebastian looked at the clock. “Yes,
we could do that.”
“We can stop for food on our way.”
Nick grabbed his jeans and a T-shirt.
Sebastian pulled his sneakers on and
looked at Nick’s back. “Are you sure…I
mean, I’m sorry I did that to you.”
Nick pulled his T-shirt over his head
and turned to face Sebastian. He took
Sebastian’s hands and kissed the palms of
both. “I’m fine, now come here.” Nick
pulled Sebastian closer, taking his lips in a
rough kiss. When they finally broke for air,
Nick could see that Sebastian’s pupils
were blown again. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, shit, you take my breath away.”
“Come on, let’s go.”
~~
The drive to Wyatt’s and Preston’s
was quiet. Sebastian was content to look
out the window as Nick drove. He had
questions for Preston, quite a few as a
matter of fact. Nick stopped to get food at
McDonald’s and a few minutes later they
pulled into the apartment complex. Nick ran
around to Sebastian’s side, helping him out.
“I’m okay you know,” Sebastian
kissed Nick softly.
“I know. I’m just…” Nick palmed
Sebastian’s face. “I’m worried about you.”
“I’m fine. Now, come on.” Sebastian
dragged Nick to Wyatt’s unit.
Preston answered the door in sweat
pants, his hair sticking up in all directions.
“Hey.”
“Yes, hey.” Nick raised a brow. “I
need to talk to you, like now. Where’s
Wyatt?”
“In the bedroom watching the news,”
Preston nodded to Sebastian. “He’s in there
with Nikolai, why don’t you join them?”
Sebastian kissed Nick quickly and
walked down the hall to the bedroom.
Preston waited for the door to shut
before turning his attention to Nick.
“What’s up?”
“You tell me.” Nick ushered Preston
outside the apartment, to the grassy area
below. “Something weird is going on. I
thought you said your blood heals people
but doesn’t change them into werewolves?”
“It does.” Preston looked at Nick
closer. “What happened?”
“Well, Sebastian and I were making
out this morning and he bit me.”
Preston smiled wickedly. “Ohh, do
tell.”
Nick sighed in frustration. “Look, not
too long after that? I swear my blood was
on fire, I broke out in a sweat like you’ve
never seen and my heart was pounding in
my ears.”
Preston furrowed his brows. “Sounds
like the reaction I had when Wayne bit me.”
“Oh, that’s not all. I swear I heard
Sebastian say my name.”
“Okay? What’s so wrong with that?”
“He was in the shower, upstairs.”
Nick crossed his arms.
Preston’s eyes widened. “But, that’s
not possible. I swear, Wayne said the
blood heals and that’s all.” Preston ran a
hand through his hair, and then looked up
quickly. “Unless…”
“Unless what?”
“Unless he was a werewolf to begin
with.”
Nick stepped back in shock. “But, we
would have known.”
“Only one way to be sure.” Preston
looked at the time. “Alex is on at the
hospital, isn’t he?”
“I think so.” Nick ran his hands over
his face.
“Look, it’s the only explanation right
now. There is no way my blood would
have changed him.”
“All right, well, let me see if I can
get him to go. He’s already been there a
few times and I swear he’s going to fight
me on it.” Nick followed Preston back to
the apartment.
Wyatt, Nikolai and Sebastian were at
the kitchen counter drinking coffee.
“Hey, Detective,” Nikolai put his
hand out. “Good to see you.”
“How’s Colin?” Nick sat down on
one of the stools, pulling Sebastian into his
lap.
“Good, his parents came to get him.”
Nikolai smiled at Sebastian in the arms of
Detective Stevens. “He gave me a rash of
shit and called me a man-whore. Wonder
where he heard that from?” Nikolai
narrowed his eyes at Sebastian.
“Like father like son?” Sebastian
cracked up.
“Hey!” Nikolai swatted Sebastian’s
arm. “My dad is a married man now.”
“Yes he is, but you are still single
and taking full advantage of it. I had to
warn Colin.”
“Buzz kill,” Nikolai muttered.
Nick entwined their fingers, pulling
Sebastian more tightly to him. “I have a
favor to ask of you.” Nick ran his nose up
Sebastian’s neck, taking note of the
quickening pulse. Nick decided a test was
in order, he’d heard the story of Preston
releasing his lupine side for Wyatt when
they’d finally gotten together for good.
“You do?” Sebastian breathed.
“Yes,” Nick let a tiny bit of his
lupine side escape; the reaction was
immediate. Sebastian’s body blew up in
flames.
“Sebastian?” Nikolai leaned over,
feeling Sebastian’s forehead, he pulled his
hand back quickly. “Holy shit!” Sebastian’s
eyes turned black. “Oh, my fucking God,”
Nikolai backed up. “What the hell?”
“Jesus Christ!” Wyatt shouted, as
Sebastian’s body convulsed. “What the
hell?”
“Get him in the car!” Preston
shouted.
Nick grabbed Sebastian, picking him
up. “Follow me to the hospital!”
~~
Nick pulled up to the emergency
room honking his horn. Preston had called
ahead and told Alex to meet them out front.
Nick ran around to Sebastian’s side; he
was soaked in sweat, his body still
convulsing. Alex met them under the
awning and immediately ushered Nick into
one of the exam rooms where he put
Sebastian down on the bed.
“What the hell is going on, Alex?”
Nick paced back and forth.
“Maybe you should wait in the hall,
Nicholas,” Alexander suggested. He
checked Sebastian’s blood pressure and
took his temperature. “He should be dead;
it is one hundred and ten.” Alex
administered a sedative directly into
Sebastian’s neck.
“Jesus!” Nick took Sebastian’s hand.
“I’m right here, I won’t leave you.”
“Explain to me what happened.”
Alexander took blood, checked Sebastian’s
pupils and attached a heart monitor.
“He was in an accident yesterday. I
got him to the bus and Preston gave him a
drop of his blood, just in case he was
injured internally. Well this morning, we
were…well we were kissing and he bit me.
I swear, Alex, not too long after that my
blood was on fire. Preston said what I went
through sounded like what happened to him
after Wayne bit him. So, I think you need to
test Sebastian.”
“You think he is a werewolf?”
Alexander inspected Sebastian’s eyes.
“Yes, but I don’t know how.” Nick
paced. “I heard him say my name this
morning, like he was standing right next to
me, only he was upstairs.”
Alexander nodded. “All right, I will
go run a test on his blood. In the meantime,”
Alexander hugged Nick, “it is all right. If
he is actually a werewolf you do not need
to worry about his core temperature. I will
also call Wayne and ask him what to
expect; maybe he can shed some light on
why you did not realize he was a werewolf
- if he is, indeed, one.”
Nick sat down as Alexander left. He
held Sebastian’s hand, closing his eyes.
“I’m right here, I won’t leave you.”
The door slammed open and Nikolai
barged in, fists balled up tight. Wyatt ran in
right behind him, along with Preston.
“What the fuck did you give him,
huh?” Nikolai dragged Nick out of the
chair. “What did you do to him?!”
“Nikolai, back off,” Wyatt said,
quietly.
“The fuck I will! He did something to
Bas!” Nikolai shoved his forearm across
Nick’s neck. “Start talking, cop.”
Nick’s eyes shifted and his canines
elongated, a low growl left his throat.
“Back off, right now.”
Nikolai backed off, eyes wide,
staring at Nick. “What the fuck are you?”
Wyatt sighed loudly. “What we all
are, Nikolai. Werewolves.”
Nick walked towards Nikolai. “Yes,
and Sebastian is my mate. I would never
hurt him. I’d die for him, kill for him. Right
now, I’d take his place if it meant he
wouldn’t feel pain.”
Nikolai looked from Nick to Wyatt to
Preston. “All of you?”
“Yes,” Wyatt approached Nikolai
carefully. “Your dad knows, Nikolai. He
can confirm it.”
Nikolai sat down in the chair looking
from one man to the others. “I’m going to
kill Pops for not telling me.”
Wyatt’s smile crept up slowly.
“You’re not freaked, are you?”
Nikolai ran his hands over his face.
“Of course I’m freaked. But I’ve known
you for a long time, Wyatt; this doesn’t
change my friendship with you.” Nikolai
looked at Sebastian. “So, you think he’s
one, too?”
Nick walked over to the bed;
Sebastian had rolled to his side. Nick
picked up his T-shirt and gasped. The scars
on Sebastian’s back were gone. “Nikolai,
look.”
“How did you know?” Nikolai
asked.
“If he’s a werewolf, the scars would
heal. This must have been triggered by my
being his mate. Has he ever shown signs
before?” Nick asked Wyatt and Preston.
“When we dated - I mean, he was
completely different. He was angry a lot,
and borderline abusive,” Wyatt recalled.
“Territorial,” Preston nodded.
“Well, we can speculate all we want,
but until Alex confirms it, it’s just a
theory,” Nick sighed, sitting down.
“Alexander will find out, Nick.”
Wyatt hugged his friend tightly.
“Everything’s going to be okay.”
~~
Sebastian opened his eyes slowly.
The overhead light was on low, casting an
eerie shadow across the room. He looked
down at his arm, catching sight of an IV
line. The heart monitor next to him beeped
a steady beat. Sebastian swallowed. His
throat was dry and sore. What the hell
happened? Why was he here, again? God
he hated hospitals, they smelled of the sick
and dying… and bleach. Sebastian closed
his eyes, trying to remember what had
transpired at Wyatt and Preston’s. Nothing
was coming, it was all a blank. He heard
voices nearby, somewhere out in the hall
maybe? But it sounded like they were right
in his ear. He heard Nick’s voice, he
sounded concerned. Sebastian concentrated
on the voices.
“What the hell do you mean he’s not
normal?”
“If you would calm down, I can tell
you. His blood test came back with a very
strange result.”
Sebastian’s eyes went wide.
Something was wrong with him, something
bad. He crept out of bed, removed the IV
line and grabbed his clothing. Trying to be
quiet, he opened the window and looked
out. Shit, second floor. Sebastian looked
back at the door; he had to go, they were
going to run tests on him again. Something
was wrong with him and he didn’t want to
stick around and find out what it was. He’d
been in the hospital long enough. He turned
the heart monitor off to make sure it didn’t
make noise and crept back to the window.
~~
Alexander sighed in frustration. “He
is a werewolf.”
“Couldn’t you have just said that?”
Nick raised a brow.
“I was trying. Now allow me to
finish,” Alexander looked at his clipboard.
“He has the female werewolf gene.”
“So, he’s like, transgender?” Nikolai
quizzed him.
“No,” Alexander smiled. “He carries
the gene of the female, his mother was a
werewolf.”
Nick sat down. “But, I don’t
understand. Why is this all happening
now?”
“The gene lay dormant; it became
slightly active when Sebastian was around
Wyatt. The lupine side recognizes another,
but it did not fully manifest until he found
you, Nicholas. When Preston administered
the blood, it set off a reaction in Sebastian;
his lupine side was set free. You must help
him, he will be confused.”
“Well hell, I know I’m confused.”
Nikolai sat down, dragging his fingers
through his hair and putting his face in his
hands.
“Wayne Maccon is a created
werewolf, Nikolai,” Wyatt said. “His
blood, when passed on to other
werewolves, is so strong it’s almost like a
poison. Then it sets off a reaction in your
body and the lupine side becomes much
stronger.”
“Define ‘created,’” Nikolai said,
confused.
Alexander lifted his hand as Wyatt’s
mouth opened to explain. “Wayne
Maccon’s werewolf line was created by
who we call Artemis and Gaea. Artemis
was the god of light and the vulnerable -
Gaea, the goddess of Mother Earth.
Together with the fates they created
werewolves. Half man, half wolf, they
moved between both worlds. They are the
first of their kind and were meant to rule all
other werewolves.”
“So, like super wolf and shit?”
Nikolai asked.
“Yeah, like super werewolf,” Wyatt
acknowledged with a laugh.
“I have to talk to him; I need him to
know what’s going on.” Nick stood up,
looking at the group. “We need to be here
for him.”
Wyatt opened the door to the room.
“He’s gone.”
What?” Nick rushed past Wyatt into
the room. The window was open and
Sebastian was gone. “Oh, God.”
“You must find him.” Alexander
urged.
~~
Nick drove everywhere he could
think of where Sebastian might be. He
coordinated the search with Wyatt, Preston
and Nikolai and they all covered various
parts of town. The temperature was
dropping and he was afraid for Sebastian.
When sleet started coming down, he
panicked. Nick watched the roads, looking
for any sign of his mate. He needed
answers and he needed them now. How
could Sebastian not have known? He was
twenty two; most werewolves he knew
were shifting right away. It just didn’t make
sense; he hadn’t smelled anything on
Sebastian except for almonds, and
occasionally, arousal. Nick banged his
head on the steering wheel.
“Please be okay, Sebastian.” Nick
stopped at a red light and concentrated.
“Sebastian…”
“Nick?” Sebastian looked around, no
one was in sight.
“Yes, it’s me…”
“How…how are you doing that?”
Sebastian realized he was talking to no one,
at least, not around him.
“You don’t have to talk out loud,
just think it.”
Sebastian closed his eyes. “What’s
wrong with me?”
“Oh God, baby, where are you?”
“How are we doing this?
Something’s wrong with me, I heard you
and the doctor—”
“Please, trust me, Sebastian. I’d
never hurt you and I won’t lie to you.
Where are you?”
“Sitting on your front steps.”
“I’ll be right there, please don’t
leave. There’s a hide-a-key in the
planter.”
“Okay…”
Nick grabbed his phone and called
Wyatt right away. “He’s at my house; tell
the guys I appreciate it.”
“I will,” Wyatt said, relieved. “Good
luck.”
Nick drove with his siren blaring and
the lights on. He didn’t care; he needed to
get to Sebastian. As he pulled onto Adler,
his headlights caught the silhouette of a
person on his steps. Why was Sebastian
still outside? Nick parked on the curb and
got out of the truck, slamming the door. He
took the stairs three at a time and grabbed
Sebastian in his arms. His skin was like ice
and Nick held him close, breathing him in.
“Why are you still outside?” Nick
kissed Sebastian’s neck, loving the taste of
his mate.
“I was hot again.” Sebastian
wrapped his arms around Nick’s neck.
“What’s wrong with me? Am I some kind
of freak?”
Nick unlocked the door; he pushed
through it, still holding Sebastian in his
arms. Punching the code in, he turned and
put Sebastian down. “There is nothing
wrong with you, and no, you are not a
freak.” Nick took Sebastian’s hands in his
own. “In fact, you are just like me.”
“What…what do you mean?”
Sebastian backed up, he didn’t know what
that meant and now the room seemed very
small.
“Please, don’t be scared. You have
to know I’d never hurt you,” Nick palmed
Sebastian’s face.
Sebastian nodded. “I know. I can feel
it. What does that mean? Why did Doctor
Romasko say I wasn’t normal?”
Nick took Sebastian to the living
room, they sat down on the couch together
and Nick tried to come up with some way
of telling Sebastian the truth without
freaking him out. “Remember when you
called me a vampire?”
Sebastian raised a brow. “You’re not
going to tell me that’s what we are, right? I
mean, yeah, we live in Washington, but we
don’t live in Forks.”
“No, we don’t. But we aren’t
vampires – we’re the other one.” Nick sat
back and waited for the information to sink
in. He was startled by Sebastian’s loud
laugh.
“You can’t be serious!?”
“I can prove it, Sebastian,” Nick said
calmly.
“Are you going to turn into a
werewolf or sumthin’?” Sebastian asked.
“I don’t want to freak you out that
much, so we’ll start small.” Nick let his
canines elongate.
Sebastian flew off the couch and into
the wall. “Jesus!”
“Please, don’t be scared.” Nick
stood up. “You’re just like me, Sebastian.
Your mother was a werewolf; you didn’t
know, because it’s been dormant all this
time. When you dated Wyatt, part of you
knew what you were and responded to
Wyatt’s lupine side. Now, since you’ve met
me, it’s manifesting faster.”
“What do you mean? Since I met
you?” Sebastian inched further away, his
mind going a mile a minute. “Wait, what
about Wyatt?”
“I’m your mate, Sebastian.” Nick
walked a little closer. “And Wyatt is also a
werewolf. I’m going to let my lupine side
free, I won’t change into one, just let the
scent out. You’re going to feel it; I don’t
know how you’ll react, though.”
Sebastian ran his hand through his
hair. “This is crazy! Werewolves do not
exist!”
Nick closed his eyes; he took a deep
breath and released his lupine side. There
was a gasp from Sebastian and then Nick
was knocked to the floor. He skidded,
tearing his back up on the carpet as
Sebastian clawed his clothes off. They
were a tangle of limbs on the living room
carpet and Sebastian knocked the coffee
table over crawling up Nick’s long body.
Then his lips were attacked with such force
that Nick cried out. Sebastian ate at him
hungrily, diving into his mouth as his hands
gripped him everywhere. A low growl
came deep from Sebastian’s throat as Nick
tore Sebastian’s shirt and jeans right off of
him with his claws. Suddenly, a loud gasp
came from above him. Sebastian had
stopped and was straddling him. Nick
could see Sebastian’s eyes had shifted and
his canines were peeking through his gums.
“It’s…black and white.” Sebastian
raised a hand to his mouth. “It stings. Oh,
God, I have fangs!”
“It’s okay,” Nick soothed Sebastian
with a warm hand on his back. “It’s all
right, just let it go.”
Sebastian looked down at Nick’s
naked body beneath him. “I want you, like,
right the fuck now.”
Nick pulled Sebastian down. “Then
take me; I’m all yours.”
Nick quickly wished he’d thought that
statement through. He was whipped onto
his hands and knees and Sebastian ate his
ass. His claws slid out automatically,
grasping for purchase in the carpet, sliding
through it, leaving a long gash. God help
him, the only rational thought he had was
where did Sebastian learn to do that? Did
he really want to know? No. Sebastian’s
tongue was fucking him into oblivion and
then a blazing heat shot up his spine into his
shoulders as Sebastian’s cock filled him
and stretched him to his limits. Nick cried
out, desperately trying to push out the
invading member currently slicing him in
half. Sebastian’s arms came around him
just then, and long, slim fingers gripped his
cock lovingly, rubbing him in the most
relaxing way. Calloused fingers swept over
his slit, dipping in and making him shudder
in Sebastian’s arms.
“I’m sorry,” Sebastian whispered in
his ear.
“I’ve…never bottomed,” Nick
choked out the words. Truthfully, he’d
topped two men in his lifetime. He just
hadn’t really wanted to have sex with
anyone other than his mate. Now he wished
he’d banged half of Seattle, if only to have
his ass used to the gargantuan cock filling
him to the hilt.
Sebastian slowed down, pulling out
carefully and then inching in a little at a
time. “Is this better?” Sebastian kissed
Nick’s shoulders, holding him across his
mid-section as his other hand worked his
cock slowly.
“Yes, oh God yes, that feels so much
better, don’t stop,” Nick sobbed.
“Shh…it’s okay. I won’t stop.”
Sebastian kept his pace slow and easy, only
giving Nick what he could take. Never in a
million years did he think he’d be the one
walking the detective though anal sex. Not
that he’d had a lot of it. He’d been too
scared of something up his ass. He’d only
let one guy top him and it had hurt like hell.
The times he’d been the top, he could count
on one hand. Well, two fingers. “God you
smell so good, like Nutella.”
“What?” Nick leaned his head back,
meeting Sebastian’s lips in a slow lazy
kiss.
“Nutella, it’s a hazelnut spread…”
Sebastian groaned. “Are we really going to
talk during this?”
“No.” Nick reared back, shoving
Sebastian all the way in at once. Sparks hit
behind his eyes and his dick shot off, spurts
of ejaculate hitting everything around them.
He felt Sebastian ramming his way home
now; a loud roar pierced the quiet house as
Sebastian came. A blast of heat shot up
Nick’s ass and then canines sunk into his
shoulder. Nick came again, crying out, his
body shaking and humping the air as
Sebastian bit down, the blood pumping in
his ears.
“Oh…Jesus!” Sebastian cursed
against Nick’s shoulder, his eyes clamped
shut and his body jerked, pumping more
ejaculate into Nick. A bright light snapped
into his head and a vision appeared, like he
was watching TV. He was running down
the beach with a black wolf at his side, the
eyes looked to him and Sebastian nuzzled
the beautiful wolf at his side. Wait,
nuzzled? Sebastian saw himself clearly in
the eyes of his mate. His coat was like his
hair, blonde with shades of gold. He was a
wolf, too, running next to his mate. It
looked like Steilacoom beach, maybe?
Before he could think about it more, the
vision vanished.
Sebastian slid out of Nick’s body
slowly, falling into a heap next to him. He
reached over and pulled Nick into his arms,
inhaling that sweet smell of hazelnut. God
he loved the smell of Nick, it wasn’t his
soap, it was just him.
“Are you, okay?”
Nick smiled at the beautiful face of
Sebastian Price; he was already falling
hard for the kid. Well, he supposed he
couldn’t call him a kid anymore, not after
that wild love-making. Sebastian’s brow
arched and Nick sighed. He’d forgotten to
turn off his thoughts.
“Shit,” Nick chuckled, hiding his
face.
“Really? I was that good?” Sebastian
lifted Nick’s face up to his own. “I’m sorry
if I hurt you. I’m…not used to this.”
Nick pressed his lips to Sebastian’s
in a tender kiss. “I’m not either, I haven’t
dated a lot.”
“I know, your brother told me. He
said you wanted what they couldn’t give
you.”
“They weren’t you, Sebastian. You
are mine in every way, and I will never
want or need anyone but you.”
Sebastian sat up. “Oh shit! We didn’t
use anything! I mean I’m clean and stuff…”
Nick smiled, pulling Sebastian back
down to him. “It’s okay; as werewolves,
we don’t catch anything, therefore we can’t
pass anything either.”
Sebastian leaned in to kiss Nick;
God, he loved the taste of him. “Is it
supposed to feel like this?” Sebastian
whispered. “I want you all the time, it’s
like I can’t breathe when we’re apart.”
Nick nodded. “It’s the mate bond. I
knew the minute I saw you that you were
my mate - the pull to you, the need to
protect you above anything else. I want you,
every waking moment of every day. It’s
overwhelming.”
Sebastian traced the soft curves of
Nick’s lips with his fingertip. “I want you,
too, all the time. I can’t smell anything but
you, I ache for you.”
Nick pulled Sebastian closer,
wrapping his legs around him. “I want to
tell you everything. I want you to
understand who you are, what you are and,
above all, I want you to understand that it
makes you better. You can run faster, see
farther, your strength is ten-fold.”
“Did it freak you out? You know,
when you realized?” Sebastian asked.
“No, I’m like you in a way. My
mother was a werewolf and so was my
dad. He’d been alone for a long time. I
guess he just wanted someone to spend his
life with. Well, he found her in the
mountains of Romania,” Nick sighed
heavily. “She’d already been changed into
a werewolf when my dad found her and he
thought he could control her. Turned out,
they were mated somehow. I don’t get the
whole wolf mates thing, I never have
understood how it works. All I know, is
somehow, someway, when you are meant to
meet, you do.”
“So, what happened?” Sebastian
snuggled closer.
“The female wolves, it takes years
for them to become manageable. They are
feral in the beginning, lashing out at
everything and everyone. My dad was sure
that because they were mates he could
control her. It didn’t work; she came after
me as a baby and when she realized what
she could have done…” Nick closed his
eyes. “She killed herself, to protect me
from her.”
“Your dad told you that?” Sebastian
asked.
“No, Alex did. He was there, and
after my mother died my father handed me
to him and left.”
“Oh, God, Nick.” Sebastian held
Nick to him tightly. “I’m sorry.”
“She killed herself, one shot to the
chest.” Nick closed his eyes. It hit like a
ton of bricks. He sat up, looking at
Sebastian. “Just like your mother did.”
“What?” Sebastian sat up. “But she
died of cancer.”
Nick could have slapped himself -
why did he have to blurt it out like that? He
took Sebastian’s face in his hands. “God,
I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that.
My partner pulled up the files on your
family; he found the police report from
Russia. She shot herself, Sebastian, I would
think for the same reasons my mother did. I
don’t think those scars that were on your
back were from a cougar attack. I think
your mother tried to kill you, the same way
my mother tried to kill me.”
“What do you mean were?” Sebastian
stood up suddenly. “You looked into my
background? You spied on me?”
Nick scrambled up; he stayed on his
knees in front of Sebastian. “Look at me. I
did what I had to do to protect you; I didn’t
look at anything I didn’t need to know. I’d
do it all over again, Sebastian, just to keep
you safe.”
Sebastian flipped the lamp on and
walked to the mirror. He turned and looked
at his back. His scars were gone.
“How…?”
“You’re fully werewolf now,
Sebastian. Your body healed itself.”
Sebastian turned slowly. “Show me.”
“What?” Nick sat back, perplexed.
“Change, do your thing.” Sebastian
waved his hands in the air. “Become a
werewolf.”
“Seriously?”
Sebastian put his hands on his hips
and regarded Nick with a most serious
look. “Change.”
Nick grinned, getting up off the floor,
still naked as the day he was born. “Okay.”
Sebastian waited; Nick cracked his
neck from side to side and then wiggled his
arms.
“Does it take all night?”
Nick gave Sebastian a wry smile.
“Hang on to your nuts.”
Sebastian’s jaw hit the floor when,
within seconds, Nick was a wolf. He sat on
his haunches, head tilted to the side.
Sebastian swore he was grinning. “Nick?”
Nick nodded and Sebastian came a little
closer. “You understand me?”
“Yes…you can talk to me, you
know.”
Sebastian backed up and fell onto the
couch in surprise. Nick jumped up and sat
beside him, nuzzling his face and licking
him. “That is so weird!”
Nick inhaled the scent of his mate in
wolf form. Jesus, it was twice as strong,
and his body shivered. “God, you smell so
good!”
Sebastian ran his fingers through the
fur at the nape of Nick’s neck. “You are so
beautiful. I dreamt of you, you know? Way
before we met, I used to have these dreams
that I was running with a wolf. I think I
knew, somehow, that you were mine,
Nick.”
“I am yours for life, Sebastian. I
can’t tell you how long I’ve waited for the
day when I would find my mate, the nights
I spent wondering if I would ever have
love in my life. Then, I saw you standing
there with your fingers in a jar looking so
incredibly edible and I thought, well shit.
The mate gods know their stuff because
he’s perfect for me - tall, athletic,
beautiful. You are so beautiful,
Sebastian.” Nick moved closer, rubbing
his body on Sebastian.
Sebastian held Nick to him; even as a
wolf he smelled of hazelnuts. It was warm
and comforting and he felt his body
succumbing to sleep. “I’m so tired, Nick.”
Sebastian closed his eyes, and within
seconds Nick’s strong arms were wrapped
around him, picking him up. He felt as if
they floated up the stairs and his last
conscious thought was that he wanted to be
with Nick for a very long time.
~~
With the morning rays came a new
kind of feeling for Nick.
Peace.
The soft sound of Sebastian’s
breathing filled his ears and warm breath
tickled his neck. Sebastian was spooned
into him, a leg thrown over Nick’s thighs
and an arm wrapped protectively around
him. Nick ran his sensitive nose across
Sebastian’s forehead inhaling the scent that
he knew only his mate had.
Sebastian whimpered against him, his
body moving into Nick’s in a very
seductive way. Nick kissed Sebastian’s
eyes, and then made his way down his
cheek, finally reaching his lips. Nick kissed
Sebastian softly, nibbling at the lower lip
until Sebastian’s mouth opened to him
instinctively. A low moan entered Nick’s
mouth as he glided inside Sebastian’s
warm mouth. Within seconds, Sebastian’s
hands were in his hair and his lower body
was rocking into Nick’s. They definitely
had the sex portion of mating down.
Nick couldn’t get enough of
Sebastian; he tasted just as good as he
looked. Sebastian pulled him on top of him
and they continued slowly kissing, learning
every part of each other’s mouths.
Nick raised his head reluctantly as a
loud pounding came from downstairs.
“Now what?” he groaned.
Sebastian pulled Nick’s lips to his
own. “Just ignore it, they’ll go away.”
“No, I won’t.”
Nick almost fell off the bed.
“Wayne?”
“Yes, now open the damn door. I
want to see Katya’s son for myself.”
“I’m coming! Hang on a sec.” Nick
stood up, pulling his pants on. Sebastian
was hiding his face in the pillow,
chuckling. “What?”
“Did you just hear what you said?”
Sebastian guffawed.
Nick grinned. “Get out of bed, you
need to meet Wayne.”
They dressed quickly and Sebastian
almost tripped trying to pull his sweat pants
on. Going down the stairs to the front door,
he could feel the power of the man behind
it. He stopped, pulling Nick back.
Nick palmed Sebastian’s face. “Hey,
it’s okay. Wayne won’t hurt you.”
Sebastian followed Nick to the front
door, holding his hand. He stayed behind
Nick as he opened the door. Peeking
around Nick’s shoulders, he saw a man
who looked to be in his thirties. He looked
like Bradley Cooper.
“Are you going to invite me in?”
Wayne grinned. “I got you some of
Seattle’s best along with donuts. I know
how you cops love donuts,” Wayne
winked. He peered behind Nick. “You must
be Sebastian?”
Sebastian stepped out a little and
nodded.
“Come on, boy; get out here so I can
see you.” Wayne moved Nick aside. “Look
at you! Spitting image of your mother.”
“You knew my mom?” Sebastian
gasped.
“Sure did, beautiful woman.” Wayne
stepped into the house and walked briskly
to the kitchen. “I have to say when Preston
called me I was shocked. It’s been a long
time since I’ve seen a child of a female
werewolf - well, besides Nicholas here,”
Wayne smiled warmly at Sebastian. “You
are perfect for Nicholas.” Wayne leaned
against the counter, inspecting the younger
man at Nick’s side. “I heard you’ve been
having some problems.”
Nick nodded, sipping his coffee. “Oh
God, that’s good,” Nick inhaled the
wonderful rich aroma of French roast. “So
far, we don’t have squat. No fingerprints,
no shoe prints, no DNA. We are still
following up on a few leads.”
“Well, I’m calling in some of Cali’s
stronger fighters; I’ve still got to get a hold
of Oregon’s alpha.”
“How is that going?” Nick raised a
brow. “I’ve met the alphas, but not the pack
members.”
“The pack members are just like you
guys, sarcastic as all hell and ornery. I
swear it’s like having you guys right next to
me when I’m talking to them.”
Nick wickedly smiled. “So, they’re
awesome and I’ll like them?”
“Maybe. The Cali pack loves to
surf.” Wayne put his hand up. “I know, the
whole California surfer cliché.” Wayne
crossed his arms. “Since you have a
house…”
“You did not tell them they could stay
here!” Nick admonished.
“Okay, I won’t tell you I told them
that,” Wayne grinned. “Relax; when I
talked to Tristan he said he’d be staying
somewhere else. As far as the rest of
them,” Wayne shrugged his shoulders. “I’m
not sure what they will be doing or where
they’ll be. They kind of operate on their
own. Oh, and one more thing - Tristan is a
prosecuting attorney and the other two are
cops,” Wayne explained.
“How old are these guys?” Nick
asked.
Wayne shrugged his shoulders.
“Twenties? I think the oldest one is Tristan
Miles,” Wayne smiled broadly. “He kinda
looks like Brad Pitt, you know, when he
was younger.”
“You look like Bradley Cooper,”
Sebastian blurted out. He felt his cheeks
flush and hid behind Nick.
“So I hear.” Wayne crossed his arms.
“Do I need to see this guy?”
“You don’t know who Bradley
Cooper is?” Nick’s jaw fell open.
“Do I look like I have time to watch
TV? Much less movies?” Wayne chuckled.
“So, is it good that I look like him?”
“Oh, yeah,” Sebastian chuckled
behind Nick.
“How do you know what Brad Pitt
looks like then?” Nick arched a brow.
“Thelma and Louise,” Wayne
grinned.
Nick tilted his head. “How’s
Conner?”
Wayne shifted uneasily. “We’ve
barely talked over the last month. He’s
been really busy at work.”
“Who’s Conner?” Sebastian asked.
“Wayne’s next intended, but he’s
fighting it,” Nick narrowed his eyes. “You
know you care.”
“Never said I didn’t, not the point.
I’m still getting used to the idea that I find a
man attractive,” Wayne sighed heavily. “I
don’t want to hurt him.” Wayne pointed at
Nick. “Stop getting me off track.”
“Well, Sebastian and I now have
your line running through us, thanks to
Preston.”
“You two okay? I know it can be
painful.” Wayne pulled Sebastian over to
him. He looked him over from head to toe.
Peering into Sebastian’s eyes, he smiled.
“You mated with Nick and then you sealed
it.”
“Huh?” Sebastian looked puzzled.
“You bit him,” Wayne chuckled.
“So that was normal?” Sebastian
asked, relieved.
Wayne laughed. “Oh, hell yes, son.
That’s very normal.” Wayne took Sebastian
by his shoulders. “We are your family now,
you are part of this pack and with that
comes protection and love. If you ever need
me for anything, you just call.” Wayne
hugged Sebastian to him tightly. “It’s good
to see Katya’s offspring.”
“What was she like? My mom?”
Sebastian leaned against Nick and strong
arms encircled him.
“She was beautiful,” Wayne shook
his head, laughing. “But she had a vicious
streak a mile wide. She’d been changed for
over thirty years and was still feral to the
core. When Sergei showed up, just roaming
the Irish mountains, I thought for sure she’d
kill him.” Wayne sat down in the kitchen
chair. “Sergei had come to look into some
land and he just happened to wander onto
an area we kept closed off for the females.
When I finally got down the mountain, I
found her crouched over him in wolf form;
seems he was her mate. I guess some part
of her acknowledged that and she tried to
keep him alive.”
“Then what? You just let her leave?”
Sebastian asked.
“She seemed to have calmed down in
his presence,” Wayne looked up at
Sebastian. “I left her alone after that,
thought me being around would push her
feral side back out. I didn’t know she had a
child.” Wayne searched Sebastian’s face.
“You look so much like her; she had a
beauty most women would kill for.”
“She killed herself,” Sebastian
whispered. “Right after she tried to kill
me.”
Wayne stood up, taking Sebastian by
the shoulders.
“She must have loved you very much
to take her own life. It was the same with
Nicholas’ mother. She tried to kill him and,
in that moment, she took her own life to
spare his. Even as feral wolves, women
have that instinct to protect their child
above all else. When she saw what she’d
done, it must have triggered something.”
“I guess I won’t know, until I talk to
my dad,” Sebastian said.
“Does he know what you are?”
Wayne asked.
“He has to,” Nick exclaimed.
“Well, Sebastian’s werewolf side
hasn’t come out until now; maybe his father
thought it skipped you,” Wayne mused.
“That happens?” Sebastian asked.
“Once or twice, depends on the
genetic makeup of the child,” Wayne
explained.
Nick’s mind was in overdrive.
Something was gnawing at him and he
couldn’t put his finger on it. He had to get
to the precinct and talk with Casey. He
turned to Sebastian with a smile. “Can you
hang out here with Wayne for a bit? I just
want to get down to the station and look
into a couple of things.”
Sebastian nodded. “Yeah, sure.”
“He’ll be fine, detective,” Wayne
winked. “I’m a bad ass.”
“Yeah, you are,” Nick laughed,
clapping Wayne on the back. “Watch my
man, should only be a couple hours.”
“Will do.” Wayne turned his attention
to Sebastian. “So now, who’s this Bradley
Cooper?”
Chapter Five
Casey was at his desk as always, tall
cup of coffee and a box of donuts within
reach. Nick slid into his chair across from
him and smiled. Casey was so busy reading
the file he didn’t even notice Nick was
sitting there until Nick grabbed for his box
of donuts. He laughed when Casey smacked
the top of his hand.
“Mine!”
Nick cracked up.
“Suffer.” He grabbed a frosted donut.
“So what’s the plan?”
“I’m going to the college to talk to the
kids at the paper. There are three of them
who have written some pretty nasty crap
about football players. Also, got the reports
back on the dorm room. Nothing. Not one
shred of evidence led to any leads. I’m not
liking this, Nick.”
“I don’t think the kids at the paper are
doing this; I ran a background check on all
of them. Nothing. Squeaky clean.” Nick
closed his eyes, trying to make his brain
work. He grabbed his phone from his back
pocket and called Sebastian.
“What’s George’s last name?”
“Huh?” Sebastian asked.
“You know, George, your dad’s
servant man?”
“Um, Heine? I think that’s it. Why?”
Sebastian asked.
“Just going with my gut, like I should
have all along. Everything okay?”
“You just left, Nick,” Sebastian
chuckled. “I’m fine; I’m introducing Wayne
to “The Hangover”.
Nick laughed. “Have fun!” Nick hung
up and looked at Casey. “Let’s see what
George Heine has on him.”
“We casting a wider net? You think
the dad has something to do with this, don’t
you?” Casey asked.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t have time to
waste while another attempt is made on my
boyfriend.”
Casey arched a brow. “Soooo - now
he’s your boyfriend?”
“Yes, he is.” Nick sat down and
pulled his laptop open. “Get to work.”
They’d been at it for more than an
hour when Nick heard Casey swear under
his breath. Casey looked up just then, his
lips drawn in a tight line.
“Guess who owns a butcher shop?”
“Fuck! I knew it!” Nick grabbed his
keys. “Let’s go get the damn warrant.”
Nick was kicking himself the whole
drive. He’d been so fixated on saving
Sebastian, he hadn’t been thinking clearly
on who could have been harassing him. It
made sense: George, the faithful servant,
was trying to scare Sebastian straight, so to
speak. It was George’s way of protecting
his boss’ assets.
Nick sighed heavily and banged his
fist on the steering wheel. Casey had been
quiet for most of the drive, but now he
spoke up.
“Stop beating yourself up, Nick.”
“I should have seen this! Why didn’t I
see it?” Nick shouted.
“Because you’re in love and
distracted,” Casey said quietly.
“Yeah? Well then I should have been
looking out for my man, instead of falling
over myself. I’m a cop for fuck’s sake.”
“Let’s just get this guy, okay?” Casey
sat forward in the seat. “Right there, that’s
the house.”
Nick pulled to a stop in front of a
ranch style home. It wasn’t big, and a two
car garage sat off to the side. Nick
motioned to Casey and they both walked
over to the garage. Nick peeked inside.
There were sheets or some kind of blankets
over the window, but Nick could see a
black car inside, along with a silver one.
Nick tried the garage door, it wasn’t
locked. Nick raised a brow at Casey and
they opened the door a crack.
The BMW
was parked right next to the Lexus, and the
BMW’s side was scraped with black
paint.
Nick waited for Casey to make the
call and then they moved to the front of the
house. They crept up to the front door and
Casey positioned himself on one side,
while Nick stood off to the other. Nick rang
the bell and could hear someone moving
around inside.
“George Heine, this is Detective
Nicholas Stevens from the Seattle Police
Department.” Nick braced himself as the
footsteps drew closer, and the door was
opened. George stood with his arms out.
“Go ahead,” George said.
Casey slapped the cuffs on George
while Nick read him his rights.
“Do you understand these rights as I
have read them to you?” Nick stood in front
of George. The man was calm as could be.
“Yes,” George said.
Within the hour, George Heine’s
house was filled with cops. Bags of
evidence were removed, along with the
two cars in the garage. Nick leaned against
his truck as the men moved in and out of the
house.
George had been taken to the precinct
by Tucker and Wesley a half hour earlier.
He hadn’t said a word and he wasn’t going
to. His mouth had closed like a steel trap
when Nick had started questioning him. The
only words he spoke were to ask for his
lawyer. Nick wondered if Sergei Price
would provide one for his longtime
servant. Casey elbowed him in the side.
“Get home, Nick. I’m sure Sebastian
is wondering what’s taking so long.”
“How am I going to tell him this?
George has been working for them his
whole life.”
“You just will,” Casey tried to smile.
“Be there for him. He’s good for you, you
know? I’ve never seen you smile so much.”
“You going soft on me, O’Shea?”
Nick grinned.
“Never!” Casey winked, and strutted
off towards the house.
Nick took his time driving back
home. He didn’t know what to do for - or
say to - Sebastian. The kid had just realized
he was a werewolf, had been terrorized for
months and was now mated with an older
man. Gee, could his life be any more
screwed up? Nick sighed in frustration.
Yes he was older, but he didn’t feel it.
Being a werewolf meant looking much
younger than your actual years, which
would explain Wayne’s thirtyish look at…
shit, how old was Wayne? Nick chuckled
softly.
Turning onto Adler, he saw an
unfamiliar car parked in front of his house.
Fear crept in immediately and Nick ran up
the steps, busting through the front door.
Sebastian sat on the couch with a blond
haired man. As soon as he slammed the
door, the blond stood up and arched a brow
in his direction.
“Who the fuck are you?” Nick
snarled.
“Whoa…wait a minute.” Sebastian
jumped up and stood in front of Nick.
“That’s Tristan; Wayne called him to watch
over me while he went to talk to Preston.”
Nick looked ‘Tristan’ over from head
to toe. Dammit, he did look like a young
Brad Pitt.
“Nicholas Stevens; sorry about that,”
Nick thrust his hand out.
“No problem.” Tristan tilted his
head, shaking Nick’s hand. “I take it
Sebastian is your mate?”
“Yeah, he is.” Nick put his arm
around Sebastian’s waist, pulling him in
close.
Tristan grinned. “I’m not after him,
you know. Just doing Wayne a favor and
now that you’re here, I can get going.”
Tristan stretched and turned his attention to
Sebastian. “It was very nice meeting you,
Sebastian.”
“Would you like to stay? I mean for
some coffee or something? I’m really
interested in your line of work.” Sebastian
looked at Nick. “Can he? Please?”
Nick looked into Sebastian’s
beautiful face and felt his bones melting.
“Yes, of course he can.” Nick looked over
at Tristan. “That is, if you’d like?”
Tristan sat back down on the couch.
“Sure, if you don’t mind?”
“Nope, I’ll just go make some
coffee.” Nick pinched Sebastian’s ass. “We
need to talk.”
As Nick made coffee, he could hear
Sebastian’s excited questions for Tristan.
How long had he been an attorney? Did he
put bad guys away? Was the pay good?
Was law school hard? Nick smiled as he
measured out the coffee and filled the
coffeemaker with water. He grabbed some
of the donuts Wayne had brought and made
his way back into the living room. Tristan
looked up as he walked back in.
“So, Wayne told me you caught
someone in Sebastian’s case?” Tristan
inquired.
Sebastian turned quickly on the
couch. “You did?”
Nick glared at Tristan. “Yes, we did.
I was going to discuss it with you later…”
“Sorry, the whole ‘mental message’
came through; I’m not good at being nice,”
Tristan shrugged his shoulders.
“Wonderful,” Nick sighed in
frustration and plopped down on the couch.
He took Sebastian’s hands in his own and
tried to smile.
“It was George, Sebastian. We found
the two cars in his garage, and he owns a
butcher shop. The guys were going down to
question the guy who works there, but that’s
probably where all the blood came from.”
“George? But why? He’s always
been so nice to me.” Sebastian hung his
head. “It’s because I’m gay,” he whispered.
“He thinks I’m sick.”
Tristan sat back, regarding Sebastian.
“Please. There’s nothing wrong with being
gay. I’ve prosecuted tons of cases against
homophobic shitheads and I’ve won them
all. And every time I do, I lean over as they
are walking by and inform them they just
got busted by a gay man.”
Sebastian’s head sprang up. “You…
you’re gay too?”
Tristan smiled. “Yep. I mean, I’m not
running off to catch a Broadway show, but
yes.”
Nick rocked Sebastian in his arms.
“I’m so sorry.”
Tristan stood and coughed quietly. “I
should leave you two alone. I’ll be around
though before I go back to LA.” He
removed a business card from his wallet
and handed it to Sebastian.
“Anytime you want to talk about a
career in law, or just to talk, I’ll be here.”
Tristan thrust his hand out to Nick.
“Pleasure meeting you, Nicholas.”
“You, too.” Nick walked Tristan to
the door.
Tristan stopped and looked Nick
over. “He’s good for you and you for him.
You make a cute couple.”
“Thank you,” Nick smiled. “Anyone
in your life?”
“Nope, no time. Besides,” Tristan
shrugged, “not a nice guy, remember?”
Nick chuckled softly. “Yeah, keep
telling yourself that, Tristan.”
Once Tristan had gone, Sebastian
kept himself busy in the kitchen making
dinner. Nick was in the shower so
Sebastian had nothing to do but make
dinner and think about why the man who
practically raised him would do all the
awful things he was accused of.
Sebastian felt his heart breaking little
by little. George had played with him when
he was younger, taken him to school and
packed his lunches. He’d even played cops
and robbers with him sometimes. It was
hard to imagine that just because he was
gay, George would turn on him. Sebastian
wiped at the tears threatening to spill. It
wasn’t fair. The fact that he was gay didn’t
make him a different person. It didn’t
change who he was deep inside.
“Stop it.” Nick came up behind
Sebastian and wrapped his arms around his
waist. “You’re beautiful inside and out.”
“Why? Why would he do that to me?”
Sebastian wiped his eyes again, sniffling.
“I don’t know, babe. I can’t pretend
to know why some people react the way
they do to someone who’s gay. Look at
Casey – he’s Catholic born and bred, goes
to Mass faithfully and he doesn’t give two
shits about me being gay. He’s just wired
differently and he forms his own opinions. I
don’t know why some people think gays are
sick or an abomination and I don’t care.”
Nick kissed Sebastian’s neck, nuzzling his
hair. “You are just beautiful.”
Sebastian turned and was swept into
Nick’s strong arms. A warm mouth
descended on his and their tongues met in a
lazy, languid kiss. The heat was rising in
the kitchen and it wasn’t from the stove.
Sebastian moaned against Nick’s lips and
was picked up. He was barely aware of
going up the stairs, and even less aware of
his clothing coming off. Nick’s lips never
left his as he was lowered to the bed and
eased gently onto his back.
Nick’s hands investigated every part
of his skin, teasingly dipping between his
legs. A strong hand circled around his
leaking prick and began a slow drag from
root to tip. Sebastian arched into the warm
body hovering over him and was rewarded
with another dive of Nick’s tongue into his
mouth. His breathing was becoming more
labored and his hips moved in time to
Nick’s hand.
He wanted Nick inside him, filling
him, taking away all the pain and fear he
was feeling. He’d never made love, until
Nick. Now he wanted to know what it felt
like to be completely connected to the one
person you felt safe with.
“Nick… please make love to me,”
Sebastian whimpered against Nick’s lips.
Nick reached for his nightstand; he
pulled the drawer open and grabbed the
tube of lube. He positioned himself
between Sebastian’s legs and looked down
into the face of the man he’d fallen in love
with. “Are you sure?”
Sebastian nodded. “Yes, I am…
please, Nick.”
Sebastian closed his eyes as Nick’s
hand slid slowly down his thigh. He felt
coldness at his entrance and then Nick
pushed a finger inside of him. Sebastian
arched into the pressure. A warm, tingling
sensation slowly traveled up his spine as
Nick added another finger, stretching him
out. The delicious rub across his sweet
spot made him whimper and mewl in
pleasure. Nick’s lips were back on his
mouth, teasing and nibbling as another
finger breached the tight ring of muscles in
his chute. Sebastian moved in time with
Nick’s fingers; every push in had him
whimpering, begging for more. His first
time had been nothing like this, and now he
wished it had been with Nick. He was so
careful, so considerate that when Nick slid
his hot length inside there was no pain, only
a fullness that seemed to spread outward,
taking his breath away.
“Nick…oh shit…Nick…” Sebastian
keened.
“Oh God, Sebastian.” Nick stopped.
The feel of Sebastian with no condom…
He squeezed his eyes shut and breathed
through the urge to come screaming. Legs
wrapped around his waist and Nick moved
tentatively, testing how fast and how far he
could go before the feeling returned.
Sebastian was so tight, so warm and he slid
inside easily, as if they were made to fit.
He watched Sebastian’s face as he
slid in, filling Sebastian to the hilt. Their
eyes locked. Nick hadn’t thought that
Sebastian could look more beautiful, but he
did. His lips were partly open, his eyes
locked on Nick’s as soft gasps and low
moans continuously echoed around the
room.
Nick moved in a slow rhythm,
making sure Sebastian was okay at all
times, and when Sebastian’s nails clawed
at his back, begging for more - faster,
harder - Nick obliged. They moved in sync,
Sebastian meeting his thrusts with as much
fervor as he was getting. Over and over he
sunk into Sebastian, and again and again, he
could hear Sebastian’s thoughts. They
matched his own – how unbelievable it felt
being together as one, how they were meant
to be.
There was no pain, only pleasure,
crashing repeatedly like a wave into shore,
bringing new sensations and new emotions
to them both. The heat in the room was
almost unbearable and Nick thought for
sure they would combust as his orgasm hit,
sending him spiraling into a pleasure zone
so deep he never wanted to come out.
Sebastian’s loud howl almost shook
the house; his fingers dug into Nick’s back
with such force that Nick knew he’d have
marks. A stream of ejaculate shot up
Sebastian’s chest and Nick collapsed on
top of him, his canines puncturing the soft
skin on Sebastian’s shoulder. Another loud
piercing howl left Sebastian’s lips and
Nick came again, shooting hot and hard into
Sebastian for a second time as Sebastian
came unglued beneath him.
They held each other quietly, both
shaking from the aftershocks. Sebastian’s
lips were running along the length of his
neck, his warm tongue gliding along the
heated pulse. Nick wrapped his arms
around Sebastian, nuzzling his neck and
kissing his shoulder where his canines had
once been. Nick closed his eyes, he loved
Sebastian, was in love with him. He’d
never loved anyone, had never felt the way
he did right now.
“I haven’t either,” Sebastian
whispered. “I love you, too.”
Nick smiled, lifting his head. “It’s not
nice to listen in.”
Sebastian took Nick’s face in his
hands. “I love you, Detective Nicholas
Stevens. I will never love anyone else.”
Nick kissed Sebastian softly. “I love
you, Sebastian.”
~~
Nick woke up to Sebastian’s soft
breath against the pulse of his neck. A thigh
was thrown over him and a hand was
resting on his chest. Nick loved looking at
Sebastian while he was sleeping; he looked
so angelic. Last night’s events came back to
him and Nick smiled, kissing Sebastian’s
forehead. They’d made love, and it had
been everything Nick had always dreamed
of. His cell phone’s ringtone brought him
out of his fantasy. He grabbed it off the
nightstand and crept out of the room quietly.
“What’s up, Casey? It’s early,” Nick
whispered.
“Yeah, it’s eleven, Nick.” Casey
looked at his watch. “Get down here; Heine
lawyered up and butcher shop man isn’t
talking.”
“Wait - Heine got a lawyer?” Nick
asked.
“Yep. Guess who his first phone call
was?”
Nick stopped mid-walk. “No way.
Price? Why on Earth would he get a lawyer
for the man who tried to kill his son?”
“Got it in one. Get down here.”
Nick cracked the bedroom door
open. Sebastian was still asleep and he
didn’t have the heart to wake him. He
grabbed his clothing and shoes and dressed
on his way down the stairs.
“Wait, butcher shop man?”
“Yes, not to be confused with the
muffin man. He locked up like a virgin at
prom,” Casey snapped his fingers at Tucker
and Wesley. “Stick around guys, please?”
“Yeah, no problem.” Tucker pulled
out one of the chairs in front of Casey’s
desk.
“Look, Nick, I got Flotsam and
Jetsam here waiting just in case shit goes
south. Hurry up.” Casey hung up and smiled
at the look on Wesley’s face. “What?”
“Flotsam and Jetsam?” Wesley
asked.
“Starsky and Hutch better?” Casey
grinned.
“Well, at least they’re awesome
fictional cops and not evil cartoon eels,”
Wesley sniffed indignantly.
~~
Nick sped almost all the way to the
precinct; why on Earth would Sergei Price
- Pratham, whatever - provide a lawyer for
George Heine? The man had terrorized his
son and almost killed him by running him
off the road. When that hadn’t worked he
had cut his brake lines. Nick pulled into his
parking spot and ran into the precinct.
“Where’s Heine?” Nick asked.
“Still in interrogation room one,
why? You going to have a go at him?”
Casey asked.
“Until his lawyer gets here, I’m going
after him.”
Nick grabbed the file on Sebastian
off of his desk and stalked down the hall.
He peered through the window of the
interrogation room. George Heine sat like
he didn’t have a care in the world. Nick’s
blood boiled and he slammed open the
door.
“Good morning, Georgie. I take it
your accommodations were comfy?” Nick
threw the file in front of George.
“Fine.” George looked at the file.
“See that?” Nick opened the file; the
first picture was of Sebastian’s Jeep with
the damaged door. The second one was
Sebastian’s Jeep overturned on the side of
the road.
“Sebastian could have died; as it
was, he was forced to jump a curb and the
Jeep flipped.” Nick watched George’s eyes
as he slowly looked over the pictures.
“He’s with me now; I’ll kill anyone who
comes near him. Do you know how hurt he
was last night? He cried, thinking you hated
him because he was gay.”
George’s head snapped to attention at
that.
“Yes, George,” Nick leaned forward.
“He’s hurt; he doesn’t understand why
someone who took care of him as a child
would want him dead.”
“I would never hurt Sebastian!”
George shouted.
“Yeah?” Nick shoved the pictures in
George’s face. “What the fuck is this then?
Some kind of sick prank? He could have
died! He almost did!” George’s mouth
drew tight, and he turned his face away.
“Why would you do that to him? He loved
you; you were the closest thing he had to a
father, George.” Nick felt bad using
Sebastian’s thoughts, but he had no choice;
something wasn’t right. “He’s devastated.”
“I would never hurt Sebastian.”
George looked the detective in the eyes. “I
love him as my own.”
Nick looked closely at George and
sucked in a breath. “Oh God, he’s your
son.” Nick watched George break down.
The tears kept coming and Nick was
stunned.
“I loved Katya with all my heart,”
George said. “Sergei did not know the
jewel he had. He left her alone all the time;
it was as if their mate bond did not exist.
He was cruel and cold. I was with her
when the changes came and we... fell in
love. I took care of her, nursed her during
her pregnancy. Sergei never wanted a child
and when Sebastian was born, I was sure
Sergei knew he wasn’t his. But he never
gave Sebastian a second thought. We hid
the secret of Sebastian’s paternity as well
as we could. It was easy - he never became
ill and Katya was convinced she had
passed the werewolf gene to him. The night
she attacked Sebastian…”
George closed his eyes. “When she
saw what she had done, she was horrified
and right then she knew she had to take her
own life. Sergei walked in while she had
the gun, he was screaming at her to put it
down and she told him she had to do it for
Sebastian. They fought, Sergei grabbed the
gun and it went off.” George closed his
eyes. “She put her hand out to me in death,
not him. I promised that from that day I
would watch over Sebastian. I would never
put my own child in harm’s way,
Detective.”
Nick sat back in utter shock. “Sergei
knew. Somehow, he figured it out. He
framed you. When Sebastian came out of
the closet, that was the last straw for him,
wasn’t it?”
George nodded. “He was yelling at
Sebastian to retract his statement, said that
having a gay son made him look like a fool.
When Sebastian left, I could hear Sergei
talking to someone on the phone. I did not
know Sergei would try to hurt my son.”
“I believe you, George. I think it’s
best if we keep you here until we get Sergei
and his accomplice. I’m willing to bet my
life it’s the damn butcher.”
“May I…see my son?” George asked.
Nick stood up and smiled. “I’ll get
him down here, all right?”
“Thank you, Detective. You must
care very much for Sebastian,” George
said.
“I’m his mate, George,” Nick
watched as George’s lips curved into a
smile.
“So he has the gene; he is a
werewolf.”
Nick nodded, looking towards the
window of the interrogation room. He
knew no one was watching or listening, but
just the same he put his finger to his lips.
George nodded slowly, sitting back in the
chair.
“I’ll make sure you’re comfortable
and I’ll have Sebastian come down to see
you.” Nick turned toward the door.
“Detective?”
Nick turned. “Yes?”
“You…love him, don’t you?” George
asked.
“With all my heart.”
Nick found Casey, Tucker and
Wesley in the office. He called the house
and waited for Sebastian to answer. After
the fifth ring, the answering machine kicked
on.
“Sebastian, please pick up if you’re
there… All right, call me as soon as you
get this, okay?” Nick hung up, looking at
Tucker and Wesley. “Can you guys head to
my house? Check on Sebastian for me?”
“Yeah, no prob, Nick,” Tucker stood
up, stretching his arms. “My man’s still at
work anyway, so I’m good for a little bit.”
“Okay, good.” Nick grabbed his
keys. “Casey, we need to pay Sergei Price
a visit. George is innocent.”
“I figured as much, he looked
horrified when I accused him of attempted
murder.” Casey grabbed his jacket. “Let’s
go.”
~~
Sebastian jiggled the kitchen window
of his father’s house and pulled it up. He
climbed in and looked around the darkened
room. The TV was on in the living room
and Sebastian could hear his father on the
phone. He made his way down the hall,
keeping an eye out for his father. He’d
heard Nick on the phone; his father was
providing a lawyer for George, the man
who had tried to kill him. After that, he
easily made the decision to pay a visit to
dear old dad.
Sebastian spotted his father in his
favorite chair with a glass of vodka;
apparently, old habits were hard to break.
“Happy, Dad?” Sebastian stood in
the entryway of the living room.
Sergei turned the chair around,
studying Sebastian. “I knew you would
come.”
“Oh, did you? Was it because I’m
with the detective now and I know you sent
a lawyer to help George? How could you?
He tried to kill me!”
Sergei chuckled; he stood up with his
glass. “You stupid boy. George would
never try to kill you. He is your father.”
Sebastian furrowed his brow. “What
do you mean?”
Sergei walked around the living
room, keeping his eye on Sebastian.
“I knew the moment your mother died
that she and George had become lovers. In
death she wanted him, reached for him,
called for him. My mate was with another
man.” Sergei threw the glass against the
wall. “I worked day and night to provide
her with the best of everything, and she was
with him!” Sergei roared.
“I never wanted a child! She just had
to have you! I stood by and watched her
lavish you with affection; I didn’t know
why until she died. It was because you
were his and not mine.” Sergei narrowed
his eyes at Sebastian. “You turned into an
abomination! Loving a man, mating with a
man! You make me sick!”
Sebastian crossed his arms. “Maybe
George had a bigger dick.”
Sergei convulsed with anger and
struck Sebastian in the face. “Do not ever
talk in such a way!”
“If you hate George so much, why
help him?” Sebastian rubbed his face
where he’d been struck. He watched the
slow, evil, twisted smile come to Sergei’s
face. “Oh God, it was you!”
Sergei chuckled. “Seems you are not
so stupid after all. It was so easy. I knew
you might have the gene, knew you might be
able to smell me. I employed the man who
works for George at the butcher shop, paid
him quite a bit of money as a matter of fact.
He used to work on cars, came in handy,”
Sergei rambled. “He knew just how to cut
the brakes on your car. As for the rest, it
was easy for us to get the suits and pretend
to be exterminators. We walked freely
around the campus, leaving notes for all the
gay football players. I was in the process of
leaving one on your locker when that pesky
boy came in so I had to quiet him.”
“You beat up Colin?” Sebastian
stepped back in surprise.
“Of course I did,” Sergei smiled
maniacally. “I wanted you to shut up,
Sebastian, but you are just like her -
stubborn beyond reason. I thought it would
be so much better for my business if my gay
son was dead.”
Sebastian couldn’t believe it - the
man he’d thought was his father had tried to
kill him, repeatedly. “You…hate me that
much?”
“You are not my flesh and blood,
Sebastian. I could not care less whether
you live or die.”
Sebastian’s pulse raced and the air
heated around him, his eyes shifted and his
canines elongated. He smiled as Sergei
backed away from him. “What’s wrong,
Sergei?”
“So you are a werewolf, I knew it!”
Sergei shouted. “I should have shot you
when I had the chance! All alone in the
parking lot of the school, it was the perfect
opportunity to kill you!”
Sebastian felt his heart lurch. “Why
are you telling me all of this? You know
I’ll tell Nick.” Sebastian saw the gun in the
reflection of the TV and ran; a bullet
whizzed by inches from his head.
“I will find you Sebastian!” Sergei
shouted.
Sebastian ran to the front door, only
to hear the house alarm engage. Nick
~~
“What do you mean he’s not there?”
Nick shouted into the phone.
“Just what I said, Nick. Sebastian is
not here,” Tucker insisted.
“Did you check—” Nick stopped
mid-sentence, Sebastian’s thoughts pushed
through. “Oh Jesus, Sebastian’s in trouble!
Get to Sergei Price’s house, Mercer Island,
now!” Nick hung up the phone and looked
over at Casey in the passenger seat. “I can’t
explain it all right now, but you have to
trust me, Case. We need to go in guns
blazing because Sergei is trying to kill
Sebastian!”
Casey pulled his gun from its holster
and checked his clip. “Go faster.”
Three minutes later they plowed into
the grass of Sergei Price’s lawn. Nick
jumped out of the truck and noticed three
wolves running around back. What the
fuck? Another shot went off in the house
and Nick ran for the front door; it was
locked. He looked around the house and
then up at the patio where he saw shadows
moving across the roof. He motioned Casey
around back and Nick climbed up the side
of the house.
~~
“I told you I would find you,
Sebastian,” Sergei chuckled, combing the
outdoor rooftop patio. “You can’t hide.”
“Why didn’t you just kill me as a
child?” Sebastian peeked from behind the
huge outdoor grill. “Why let me live?”
“Too suspicious, the authorities were
not convinced Katya took her own life. I
could not afford to take yours without
casting suspicion on myself. George made
it so easy for me, always doing what he
was told, never asking questions.
“I planted evidence; he will be
convicted of trying to kill you. And his
butcher shop assistant will go down with
him as an accessory.
I will dump your body
somewhere it will never be found,” Sergei
went on as he kicked a glass table over,
looking behind one of the massive planters.
“And your detective? He will die as well; I
have already hired someone to take him
out.”
Sebastian flew out from behind the
grill; he shifted in seconds landing on
Sergei in full wolf form. He tore at
Sergei’s hands and the gun went off, hitting
Sebastian in his side. He let out a loud yelp
and a whine and was kicked off to the side.
“I know how to kill you, Sebastian. It
was the one thing Katya slipped and told
me about.” Sergei aimed the gun at
Sebastian’s heart. Suddenly, he was hit full
force in the ribs and the gun dropped from
his hand and slid across the patio, sliding
to a stop by the edge.
“I know how to kill you, too!” Nick
growled. Heat tore through his chest as
Sergei shoved a knife into him.
“I am not stupid, detective.” Sergei
rolled out from beneath Nick and
scrambled for the gun. Three wolves
jumped in front of him, blocking his way.
He turned to see another man looking at him
with a smile.
“Neither are we,” Casey
deadpanned.
Sergei swung around, knife in hand.
The detective had a gun in his hand and
Sergei lunged for it. He and the detective
struggled before the gun went off. Sergei’s
eyes widened.
“Never fight with an Irish detective.”
Casey stood back as Sergei slumped to the
ground.
“Asshole,” Casey spat. He looked up
to see Nick crawling to a wolf resting on
its side, breathing heavily.
“Sebastian.” Nick ran his fingers
through the fur at the nape of Sebastian’s
neck. “You need to shift back. Can you do
that?” Nick kissed Sebastian’s muzzle.
“Just concentrate; look in my eyes.”
Sebastian whined, locking his eyes with
Nick’s. Nicholas held him as the shaking
started; the temperature on the patio was
rising rapidly. “I’m right here, I won’t
leave,” Nick whispered.
Sebastian’s muscles contracted and
he let out a loud howl as the bones broke
and re-adjusted themselves. It seemed to
take an eternity, and then he could see
color. He could see Nick’s beautiful silver
eyes looking at him with such love.
“Nick…”
Nick looked over Sebastian’s chest;
the bullet had gone in right below his
bottom left rib. Thank God Sergei was a
lousy shot. The skin rippled, the bullet
eased out and the hole closed. There was a
short cough and Nick looked up to see
Casey staring at him.
“So…um…” Nick struggled to find
the words to explain.
“Werewolves, huh?” Casey put his
hands on his hips. “Didn’t think you could
tell me that, Nicky? Who are those three?”
Casey pointed to the three werewolves
sitting on their haunches, watching.
“I think that’s Tristan,” Sebastian sat
up slowly.
“Um, Case, you mind going in the
house, maybe finding some pants for four
people?” Nick asked.
“Now I’m the wardrobe man?”
Casey threw his hands up in the air. “Holy
Mother Mary!”
A few minutes later, Sebastian was
wearing pants and sitting on the bench by
the fire pit. Tristan had been the first one to
shift and was now pulling his pants up,
zipping them.
“And you are?” Casey raised a brow.
“Tristan Miles, prosecuting attorney
in California. I met Sebastian recently and
when Wayne called to ask if we could do
some… well… security, I and the rest of
the guys accepted. We’ve been watching
Sebastian since last night.”
“Last night?” Nick narrowed his
eyes. “You said you were leaving.”
“I lied,” Tristan snickered. “Besides,
the guys were bored.”
“The rest of the guys are?” Nick
asked.
Tristan turned around to look at the
guys getting ready to shift. “This guy is
Jacob Steele.” Tristan heard a snicker from
Sebastian. “Yeah, he knows it sounds like a
porn name. The other one there is Seth
Ralston, and you can bet if you are ever in
a sticky situation, you’ll want these two
with you.”
As soon as the two men had shifted,
Nick figured out why. They were huge.
Nick stepped forward, waiting for the two
of them to finish tying their sweatpants,
before putting his hand out to them.
“Nicholas Stevens.”
“Nice to meet you,” Jacob said.
“Like Tristan said, if you ever need us,
we’re here. Seth and I were Navy SEALs
for six years. Seen it all, done it all.”
Casey stood mouth ajar, staring.
“Jesus Christ.” He’d never seen anyone that
big. Jacob towered over him and had the
biggest biceps he’d ever seen.
“We get that a lot.” Seth took Casey’s
hand. “Nice to meet you, Detective.”
“We…um…we’re forgetting
something, right?” Casey looked at Nick.
“Yeah, dead guy over there.” Jacob
pointed to Sergei. “Don’t you guys usually
call someone?”
Sebastian heard sirens in the distance
and looked at Nick. “Tucker and Wesley?”
“Yes, and we have a round on the
roof that needs to disappear.” Casey leaned
down and picked up the bullet that had been
in Sebastian.
Nick took Sebastian’s hands. “Your
father would like to talk to you. He loves
you very much, Sebastian, but I guess you
knew that as a child, didn’t you?”
Sebastian nodded. “I always knew
George treated me differently. We had
servants at the house in Russia. George
wasn’t the only one, but he always did
things so I’d know I was special. He took
me to school my first day and stayed
because I was so scared.” Sebastian wiped
his eyes, looking at Sergei dead on the
ground. “I’m not sad. What does that say
about me?”
“It means nothing.” Nick took
Sebastian in his arms. “It means absolutely
nothing.”
“Well,” Tristan stretched his arms
out. “Our work here is done. If you ever
need us…”
“Flash a big dick in the sky and
you’ll come running?” Casey smirked.
“Middle finger works, too,” Jacob
punched Casey playfully.
“Ow,” Casey looked up at Jacob.
“You’re not…gay, are you?”
“You have a problem with gays?”
Seth looked down at Casey.
“No! Oh hell, no! Just ask Nick, he’ll
tell you.” Casey looked at Nick, pleading to
back him up.
“He calls me a fruit on a daily
basis,” Nick sighed, shaking his head in
mock sadness.
“Pansy-assed bitch,” Casey growled.
“Burly dick,” Nick laughed. “Relax
guys; he’s cool with the gay side.”
Seth mussed Casey’s hair. “That’s
good little man; I’d hate to have to hurt
you.”
“I’d hate for you to have to hurt me,
too.” Casey eyed Seth’s very large chest in
his face. “How tall are you?”
“Six-five, sweetie,” Seth winked,
smacking Casey’s ass.
Jacob’s cell phone beeped, alerting
him to a text. He frowned and looked up at
Seth. “We have problems.”
“Rogues?” Seth asked.
“Yep.” Jacob holstered his cell
phone and turned his attention to Nicholas.
“We have to go, call us if you need
anything.”
“Well, let’s get moving off the roof.
We have a lot of questions that need
answering,” Nick said.
Chapter Six
Sebastian watched as his father’s
house got further and further away, the blue
lights fading as Nick turned the corner,
leaving Mercer Island and the life he once
knew. What would he do now? Where
would he go? He knew Nick was his mate,
but what did that mean? George was his
real father, the man who had raised him,
taken care of him and played with him. It
was a lot to process in one night. Christmas
was a day away and he hoped he’d be
spending it with Nick. He felt fingers
threading with his own and he looked up to
see Nick’s eyes on the road.
“You can move in with me,
Sebastian.” Nick squeezed their fingers
together. “It’s where you belong.”
“Are you sure? I mean, what do we
really know about each other? What if we
don’t always get along and then you want to
kick me out?”
“Never going to happen, Sebastian.
We are mated for life. We may have our
disagreements and we’ll fight, but we will
always love. Things like this just have a
way of working themselves out,” Nick said,
tugging Sebastian closer to him.
Sebastian leaned against Nick’s
strong body, inhaling the scent he knew so
well now. “You heard me, didn’t you?”
Nick nodded. “I did, I also felt how
scared you were. I think I tore up the front
lawn.” Nick kissed the top of Sebastian’s
head. “I told you, I will always be here for
you.”
“I love you, Nick.” Sebastian nestled
into Nick’s side, leaning his head against a
strong arm. His mate’s arm.
“I love you, too.”
By the time they pulled up to the
precinct it was almost midnight. The day
had taken its toll on Sebastian both
mentally and physically. He’d shifted for
the first time and the man he had believed
was his father had tried to kill him and was
now dead. Nick held his hand as they
walked inside together and nudged him in
his side gently.
“I think someone wants to talk to
you,” he nodded towards the waiting
chairs.
George stood uneasily, clasping his
hands together. Sebastian knew George
was unsure of how he felt about everything.
He walked over to George and stood in
front of him.
“Are you…all right? He didn’t hurt
you, did he?” George looked his son over
from head to toe.
“He tried,” Sebastian admitted.
“I would never hurt you, Sebastian. I
have always loved you.” George was
shocked when Sebastian burst out crying
and reached out to hold him. “I don’t care
that you’re gay, it makes no difference to
me.”
“I thought you hated me,” Sebastian
wiped his eyes, pulling away from his
father.
George took his son’s face in his
hands. “I could never hate you, you are
mine.”
Nick stood leaning against the
counter, smiling at his mate with his father.
They had a lot of lost time to make up for.
Sebastian looked happy.
“Damn that warms a man’s heart,”
Casey said.
Nick looked over his shoulder. “I
didn’t know you were back.”
“Yep, cleaned up the patio. The
wonder trio was gone before the cops even
saw them. Nice of you to tell me your
secret, Stevens. Now I know how you
solved all those cases,” Casey accused
playfully.
Nick turned and smirked. “I solved
them because I’m a good cop, O’Shea.”
“I always wondered. I read people
well, and I just couldn’t figure you out.
Really pissed me off,” Casey chuckled.
Nick turned to face his partner. “So,
you’re not all freaked?”
“I’m a tough Catholic boy, raised in
Boston; nothing freaks me out,” Casey said.
“You should know then…” Nick
lowered his voice. “Tucker, Wesley, Scott,
Jude, Kellan—”
Casey’s eyes widened. “All of you?”
“Yep, and if you tell anyone I’ll
really let Scott bite your ass,” Nick swatted
Casey in the head.
“No wonder he wants to bite it!”
Casey laughed. Watching Sebastian with
George Heine made up for the events of the
night. The two of them were hugging and
crying together. “I’m glad he got a real
father.”
Nick smiled, watching Sebastian
laugh and cry at the same time. “Yeah, me
too.”
~~
Nick opened his eyes to a bright
stream of sunlight. The Seattle sky was
blue, the sun high in the sky. Arms were
wrapped around him and Sebastian’s face
was buried in his neck. It had been a long
night, and Sebastian deserved to sleep in.
George was due for a visit today;
Sebastian wanted to start his relationship
right away with his biological father.
George Heine was a good man; he’d been
framed by a sadistic man for a crime he
didn’t commit. Sergei Pratham was
pronounced dead at the scene and the
butcher shop employee, Clive Warkoso,
was arrested for attempted murder.
Tristan Miles had volunteered to
look over Sergei’s holdings. Even as a
prosecutor, he knew the all law backwards
and forwards; he’d be making sure
Sebastian got what was rightfully his.
Nick pulled Sebastian closer, kissing
his forehead. He couldn’t help but touch
him and kiss him. Sebastian was his for
life.
“Morning,” Sebastian stretched,
burrowing deeper into Nick’s neck.
“Morning, sorry if I woke you,” Nick
nuzzled Sebastian’s hair, inhaling deeply.
“Damn, you smell so good. What is it with
the almonds?”
“I don’t know, but you smell like
Nutella,” Sebastian chuckled.
“I’m going to have to keep that
stocked in the pantry, aren’t I?”
“Hell, yes.” Sebastian rolled on top
of Nick, bracing himself on both arms.
Looking over Nicholas’ beautiful face,
Sebastian counted himself lucky to have
such a gorgeous man as a mate. “Look at
you,” Sebastian ran his fingertip down
Nick’s ripped abs. “Just beautiful.”
Nick closed his eyes as Sebastian’s
warm mouth covered his. Hands teased his
belly button, dipping below the waistband
of his boxer briefs. “Are you trying to
seduce me?” Nick chuckled.
“Is it working?” Sebastian asked.
“Yes, it is definitely working.” Nick
ran his fingers into Sebastian’s hair, pulling
his mouth closer, deeper. The doorbell rang
and Nick sighed in Sebastian’s mouth.
“Now what?”
Sebastian cocked his head to the
side. “Someone’s getting the key from the
planter.”
“Casey,” Nick groaned. Nick could
hear voices downstairs, a lot of them.
“What the hell?”
Sebastian jumped off the bed,
hopping into his sweatpants. “Come on!”
Nick grabbed his own sweatpants
and pulled a T-shirt on. He took
Sebastian’s hand as they descended the
stairs. The living room was full of grinning
men. Casey stood in front of them, arms
crossed.
“What the hell, Casey?” Nick
demanded.
“Merry Christmas to you, too,” Casey
snarked.
Nick’s jaw dropped. “Oh man, I
forgot.”
“You forgot Christmas?” Casey
frowned. “Grinch.”
Nick looked at all the smiling guys.
Tucker had his arm around Austin and Kurt
was standing in front of Wesley, arms
wrapped around each other. Scott and Jude
were beaming like little kids. “Oh Lord,
where did you guys come from?”
“We bought you a tree, since you
didn’t have one.” Scott walked to the front
door. “Take a look.”
Nick dragged Sebastian with him to
the front door. Strapped to the top of
Scott’s car was an enormous tree. He
turned to look at his brothers. “You guys,
you didn’t have to.”
“Oh, we know, we’re just awesome
that way,” Jude winked. “It’s Christmas,
now help us get that thing in here so we can
decorate it.”
The laughter was loud as the guys
decorated the tree. Nick had given
Sebastian the task of setting the angel on
top. George had arrived not too long after
they’d begun and was now helping with the
decorating. The turkey was in the oven,
thanks to Scott and Jude.
Nick sat back, watching his extended
family in his living room. Sebastian was
handing ornaments to his father, who had
given one to Sebastian as a gift. It was an
angel with gold tipped wings and
Sebastian’s name was engraved on her
harp. As the day went on, more and more
friends showed up. Wyatt came with
Preston and Nikolai, and Wayne eventually
showed up, wearing his trademark grin.
They sat around the dining room
table, laughing and telling stories. Casey
had taken the news that all of them were
werewolves remarkably well; he hadn’t
batted an eyelash when he was introduced
to Wayne. Once the turkey hit the table, the
claws had come out. Thank God the turkey
had weighed over twenty-five pounds,
otherwise Casey would have starved to
death in a room full of werewolves.
In less than a half hour the table had
cleared, turkey down to bones, pies and
everything else long gone. They sat around
drinking coffee while Nick watched
Sebastian in the corner with Nikolai and
George.
“He’s going to be okay, Nick,”
Wayne said, leaning against the wall.
“Thanks to you.”
“He’s been through a lot and he still
smiles and laughs. He’s strong.”
“Just like his mother,” Wayne said.
“Katya was a good woman, it’s a shame the
mate bond wasn’t instilled in Sergei. It
doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.
Sometimes the bond is only strong for one,
not the other; it’s hurtful for the one who
feels the pull alone.”
“That’s happened?” Nick asked.
Wayne nodded. “I’ve seen it once or
twice. Katya must have felt very lonely,
mated to someone who didn’t have the pull.
George came in at an opportune time and
filled that emptiness. I’m glad she had him
in the end.”
“He loves Sebastian very much,”
Nick said. “It must have been hard for him,
all those years, not being able to tell
Sebastian who he was, watching another
man treat his son like shit.”
“Sergei wasn’t meant to be a father;
George was,” Wayne smiled, as George
hugged Sebastian again. “Look at him; he’s
positively beaming with pride.”
“His son has done a lot in his
twenty-two years. Granted, he screwed up
a bit before, but that was only because he
didn’t understand what was happening to
him. Preston said he was downright
territorial when it came to Wyatt, and
abusive.”
“The female gene can be hard to
control.” Wayne looked over at Nick.
“You’ve done well, mastering your anger.
Alexander must have had his hands full.”
Nick chuckled. “Oh, I was one hell of
a force of nature growing up. I guess I’m
lucky to have had the male gene as well,
balanced me out.”
Wayne took Nick’s hands. “I’ve
always told all of you, when the time is
right, your mate will come to you. The fates
have a way of bringing you together when
you least expect it.”
“I know, but did he have to be so
much younger?” Nick chuckled.
“I heard that,” Sebastian growled,
looking over his shoulder at Nick.
“Of course you did,” Nick winked.
Nikolai sat back, regarding his best
friend. Never in a million years would he
have thought werewolves existed and he
was sitting right next to one. It didn’t
matter. Sebastian had been his friend from
the very beginning. He just wished he’d
known who Sergei really was; he’d have
taken pleasure in relieving him of his life.
He looked up to see Sebastian eyeing him.
“What?”
“What are you thinking?” Sebastian
asked.
“I’m thinking I would have loved to
put the ‘Markov’ on Sergei,” Nikolai
leaned back, linking his hands behind his
head.
Sebastian wrinkled his nose. “Ew.”
Nikolai looked over at Nick talking
with Wayne. “He’s really got it bad for
you, Bas. I’d love to have someone like that
in my life, you know? Someone who
doesn’t run screaming from me, who loves
me for who I am.”
Sebastian took Nikolai’s hands.
“You’ll find him, or he’ll find you. You
deserve that Nikolai; you’ve been alone for
most of your life. People just don’t
understand you - but look at your dad, he
found love.”
Nikolai grinned. “Yeah, Keegan’s
special. He gives my dad a rash of shit all
the time. You can tell they are in love, the
way Pops looks at him,” Nikolai sighed.
“I’d love that.”
“Well stop banging half of Seattle,”
Sebastian cracked up.
“Finished Seattle, branching out to
Bremerton,” Nikolai cracked.
Sebastian’s eyes blurred and a white
light flashed behind his eyes. A vision
appeared. Scott was smiling at someone. It
was almost as if he was standing next to
him, watching the whole scene and when
his view caught sight of what Scott was
smiling at, Sebastian sucked in a breath.
His eyes flew open and he looked for
Wayne.
“What’s wrong?” Nikolai took
Sebastian’s hand.
“I think…I think I just saw the
future,” Sebastian said.
“Was I in it? Was I getting laid?”
Nikolai grinned lasciviously.
“No. Shut up, perv,” Sebastian
laughed, standing up. He made his way
over to Wayne and Nick. “Wayne?”
“What is it, son?” Wayne asked.
“Um, is it possible for werewolves
to see the future?” Sebastian asked quietly.
“What?!” Nick said.
Wayne grabbed Sebastian’s hand,
pulling him into the kitchen, Nick right on
their heels. “What did you see?”
“Well, the first time I thought it was a
dream; it was me and Nick running down
the beach in wolf form. This time I saw
Scott and I think I saw who his mate is.”
Sebastian looked over at Scott, talking with
Jude. “So? Is it possible?”
“Yes, it is,” Wayne said slowly.
He’d read of it in the diaries of the elders.
Offspring of female werewolves changed
by the created ones were given the sight,
which meant Katya had been changed by a
created wolf. Wayne furrowed his brows.
He’d have to read them again, he’d never
seen Katya’s name.
“You’ve been given quite the gift,
Sebastian. I have to urge that you keep what
you see to yourself, however.”
Sebastian rubbed his hands together.
“That’s going to be hard; I’m itching to run
screaming at Scott.”
“He will find his mate when the time
is right,” Wayne said gently.
“Can’t I just give him a little hint?”
Sebastian put his fingers inches apart. “A
tiny one?”
“Can’t he just tell me?” Nick said,
chuckling.
“No,” Wayne said, smiling.
“Dammit!” Sebastian laughed.
“Merry Christmas, you two,” Wayne
hugged them both.
“Merry Christmas,” Nick murmured.
~~
New Year’s Eve found most of the
packs at the Queets reservation. Wayne
wanted the packs to meet and most came.
Scott, Alexander and Jude were the only
three not to make it. The two alphas from
the newest packs had come with their men.
Sebastian had already met the wolves from
the California pack, now he was meeting
Oregon’s. Jonas Brooks towered over his
pack, and they weren’t small either. The
three of them fit in quite well. Sebastian
stood next to Nick as they were introduced.
“Sebastian, this is my beta, Hayden
Cox.” Jonas pushed Hayden forward.
“He’s a bit shy,” Jonas chuckled.
“I am not,” Hayden growled, and then
smiled at Sebastian. “He likes to mess with
me because I don’t talk much.”
Jonas motioned to the other two.
“That is Ross and the other is Noah.”
“The silent ones are always deadly,”
Ross deadpanned.
Sebastian turned to look at the man
who had spoken.
“I’m the comic relief,” Ross grinned.
“Uh un, that’s my job.” Noah held his
hand out. “Noah King.”
Sebastian smiled and shook their
hands; his eyes lit up when he saw Tristan
and his pack mates wandering over.
“Tristan!” Sebastian hugged him
hard.
Tristan hugged Sebastian back before
he pulled away and arched a brow. “Why
are you looking at me like you know
something I don’t?”
“I am?” Sebastian grinned. His eyes
met with Jacob’s. “Hey, Jacob.”
“Little man,” Jacob mussed
Sebastian’s hair and hugged him. He felt
Sebastian suck in a breath and pulled away
quickly. “What? Did I smush you?”
“You…you know who your mate is!”
Sebastian pointed at Jacob.
“Yeah, he does. So unfair,” Seth
pouted.
“Can you yell it louder? I don’t think
my mate heard you in Seattle,” Jacob rolled
his eyes.
“Does Kory know? I mean…what
you are? Who you are?” Sebastian asked.
“No, and he won’t until he comes to
terms with who he is.” Jacob crossed his
arms. “I am not about to try to have a
relationship with a guy who doesn’t know
if he’s gay or not.” Jacob heard laughter
behind him and turned, narrowing his eyes
at Kurt. “What’s so funny, Maguire?”
“Like his brother you mean?” Kurt
gripped Wesley’s hand. “I figured it out.”
“Yeah, eventually,” Jacob sighed
loudly. “Wait, how did you know I know?”
Jacob said, narrowing his eyes at
Sebastian.
“I can’t say.” Sebastian felt all eyes
on him. “No really, I can’t.”
“No, he can’t, back off boys.” Wayne
walked into the middle of all of them. “I’m
sure you all know that Sebastian’s mother
was a werewolf, which gives him…special
abilities that he will not abuse.” Wayne
turned to look sternly at Sebastian. “Isn’t
that right?”
Sebastian nodded. “I know; I won’t
abuse it.”
“That is so cool,” Ross sighed.
“What I wouldn’t give to know who my
mates is.”
“I think those of us who are still in
the dark feel the same way, bro,” Noah
hugged Ross.
“So,” Seth looked at his newfound
pack members. “Cops, EMTs, doctors,
firemen and lawyers, huh? How funny is
that?”
“I think all of us eventually go to a
profession that allows us to help people,”
Hayden said quietly.
Wayne took Sebastian aside; he put
his arms around him and smiled. ‘I know
this is overwhelming. You can’t control it
Sebastian, you never will. You’ll have to
learn to live with it.”
“Did you look it up and stuff?”
Sebastian asked.
Wayne nodded. “I did, I also looked
into who could have bitten Katya. I may
have to go back a hundred years or more,”
Wayne sighed, tiredly.
“How’s Conner?” Sebastian smiled
as Wayne stiffened. “Look, I know I’m
young, but aren’t you afraid you might lose
him?”
Wayne narrowed his eyes. “Are you
trying to tell me something?”
Sebastian grinned. “Now you know I
can’t abuse that power.”
“Smartass,” Wayne laughed.
~~
With everyone busy at the bonfire,
Sebastian took a walk down the beach. The
moon was out, full in the sky. He thought
about the rest of the year; he’d be
graduating with a degree in business. Now
he didn’t know if that’s the route he wanted
to go. It had been Sergei’s idea, not his.
The more he thought about it, the more he
wanted to go into law. His real father had
told him he could be whatever he wanted.
He’d put enough money away during his
employment to pay for Sebastian’s
schooling. It was sweet, but Sebastian had
inherited all of Sergei’s money and planned
on giving most of it towards the outreach
center and camp. Having Sergei’s money
made him sick, but between the camp and
law school he would be able to use it
toward helping others.
He’d moved in with Nick and they
had made the two story house on Adler a
home. He loved Nick, more than he thought
he possibly could. Mate bond or not, they
were in it for life. Sebastian looked up in
the sky; his life had come together nicely.
He had a man, a father who loved him, and
friends he could count on.
“Well thanks, I appreciate the
thought.”
Sebastian turned with a grin, Wyatt
was smiling behind him. “Don’t you know
it’s rude to listen to other people’s
thoughts?”
“Pfft, like we follow the rules.”
Wyatt walked to Sebastian, looking over
the waves silently slapping the shore. “It’s
so quiet.”
“I love it here; I can’t believe you
left when you were twelve.”
“I couldn’t stay; I knew my dad was
lying to me about my not having seen my
mate. I figured if I left, I could find my mate
again more easily. Besides, how could I
turn down boarding school?” Wyatt rolled
his eyes.
“You know why they lied though,
right?” Sebastian had finally heard the
whole story from Nick.
Wyatt ran his hand through his hair.
“Yeah, I do. Still didn’t make it any easier
when I figured out it was Preston and he’d
known all along.” Wyatt smiled thinking
about Preston. “Damn, he’s so fucking
sexy.”
Sebastian laughed. “Hell, look at
what the fates sent me!” Sebastian cracked
up and noticed Nick making his way down.
“Hey, babe.”
“I love it when you call me that,”
Nick smiled.
“Well, I’ll just leave you two alone,”
Wyatt grinned. “Remember, beach sand is a
bitch to get out of your ass.”
“Ew!” Sebastian slapped Wyatt
upside his head. “Go! Perv!”
Sebastian laughed as Nick swatted
Wyatt on the ass. Just watching Nick walk
made his heart race. The black hair shone
in the moonlight and his eyes seemed to
sparkle with mischief.
“What are you up to, detective?”
“Looking for the love of my life.”
Nick took Sebastian into his arms. “Why
did you sneak off?”
“Just wanted to clear my head and
think.” Sebastian felt strong, warm arms
wrapping around him. He leaned back
against Nick’s chest. “Are you okay with
me being so much younger?”
“Where is this coming from?” Nick
nuzzled Sebastian’s neck.
Sebastian shrugged. “I’m twenty-two,
you’re…” Sebastian looked up at Nick.
“Well, older. Isn’t it going to bother you
that people will think I’m your boy toy?”
“Hell no! I’ll be bragging,” Nick
laughed loudly.
“Stop it,” Sebastian chuckled,
slapping Nick’s hand.
“Look at me.” Nick pulled Sebastian
around to face him. “How old do I look to
you?”
Sebastian squinted. “I don’t know,
when I first saw you I thought late
twenties?”
“So, there ya go. People always think
I’m in my twenties, and even if they had a
problem with it, I don’t. I love you, I’ll
always love you.”
Sebastian grinned. “I love you, too.”
“Now, come hang out with all the
pack members.”
Sebastian took a last look at the
beach. He knew he’d be back, he’d seen it.
He and Nick would be getting married right
where he was standing. Sebastian felt
warm lips on his and wrapped his arms
around Nick’s neck. They seemed to kiss
for an eternity before Nick raised his head
slowly. Their eyes met and Nick nuzzled
his nose. His heart raced as Nick took his
hand. He had a man at his side and a future
that looked bright.
“Let’s go, detective.”
“Yes sir, Mr. Price.”
That’s going to be Stevens.
Epilogue
Sebastian ran down the beach in full
wolf form, the sand and seawater spraying
his coat. His eyes met with Nick’s; he was
beautiful in wolf form. The black coat
shone in the sun, the silver eyes looked
upon him with such love. It hadn’t been the
beach at Steilacoom he’d seen in his
vision. It had been the beach at the Queets
reservation. Since then, he’d had more
visions. He’d kept them to himself, at
Wayne’s request, but it was hard knowing
the future and not shouting it from the
rooftops.
Nicholas Stevens had proposed to
him and he had accepted. The wedding
would be taking place next year, exactly
one year to the day they’d met. It was
romantic.
The howls of other wolves had him
turning in the sand; Wyatt and Preston,
along with Kurt and Wesley, were almost
on their heels and the rest of the packs
weren’t far behind. They’d come together
to run as one and Wayne was up ahead,
sitting on his haunches. He still couldn’t get
used to the size of Wayne in wolf form; he
was the size of a horse. George had been
spending time with his son on a weekly
basis and Caden had given George a job in
his company. It had worked out well for
both of them.
The outreach center was filled on a
daily basis; it was heartbreaking to know
so many kids were kicked out of their
homes for their sexual preferences. The
camp was getting sign-ups as well. He,
Wyatt, Will, Kory and Olivia would all
work it over the summer; he looked
forward to helping other kids. Sebastian
came to a stop in front of Wayne and Nick
rubbed up against him, nuzzling his neck.
Conner stood off to the side with a wide
grin, snapping pictures. They needed a
group shot of all the packs combined and
Sebastian sat in front of Nick, nuzzling him.
Wayne trotted around the pack,
sniffing the clean ocean air. “Next time we
meet, it will be as one. I have passed my
line on to you all, some more than others.
It will be up to all of you who have not
been bitten to decide if that’s what you
want. I have had more packs make contact
with me, wishing to join us and I can’t tell
you what a relief it is to know that my line
will go on. All of you have become family;
we work as one, live as one.” Wayne
padded over to Conner, and rubbed up
against his thigh.
Sebastian smiled at the look of shock
on Conner’s face. Wayne was trying, with
small gestures, to assure the younger man
that he did care. It was a step.
“Now, go run!” Wayne chuckled.
Sebastian followed Nick down the
beach; they took a slow leisurely walk,
watching the others play in the surf.
Sebastian rubbed up against Nick, huffing.
“I can hear your thoughts…” Nick
snorted.
“Yeah?” Sebastian whipped his tail
in Nick’s face.
“Wyatt said there’s a wolf den close
by.” Nick stopped, looking at Sebastian in
wolf form. Lord, but he was beautiful. The
honey-gold coat, the amazing blue eyes
shining brightly.
“Are you saying you want to mount
me?” Sebastian chuckled.
Nick twitched his nose in disgust.
“Ew.”
Sebastian rubbed up against Nick,
taking a deep breath of hazelnuts. “It’s a
female gene trait.”
“What?”
“How we smell each other, it comes
from the female gene.”
“Well, that makes me feel better; I
thought I was going crazy.”
“Wayne has been schooling me; I’m
not even halfway through the elders
books. It’s a lot to take in.”
“It doesn’t matter to me why I smell
almonds on you, I just love it.”
Sebastian looked out across the
water. “So right here, I will become
Sebastian Stevens.”
“Yes, you will. For life, Sebastian. I
love you.”
“I love you, too.”
~~The end~~
Sneak Peek at Irish Wishes
Kerry, Ireland 1871
The rain was falling in sheets and
Wayne shielded his eyes as lightning struck
the ground nearby, shaking the valley to its
core. The sheep were being herded into the
barn and he’d been in charge of watching
the cattle. They seemed restless, almost
scared. Ireland in May brought about rain
worthy of an ark.
He’d been restless also. After finding
out that the one woman he loved was his
mate, he’d bitten her to save her life. It
hadn’t gone without a hitch; Juliet Mallory
had become feral from the start, almost
tearing him to shreds. She was angry, with
every right, but he’d not regretted his
decision. For years he had struggled with
the powers given to him - the speed, the
sight, the strength, the keen ability with
scents. He still had not learned all the ways
of the elders; he did not think he ever
would.
“It is quite the shite storm, Rion.”
Wayne grinned. “It is Wayne,
Father.” Wayne turned to look at his alpha
father. Roane Maccon was a sight to
behold. His height made mere men cower
in his presence; he supposed his father had
an air of royalty about him. He led with a
fair hand and a pure heart.
“So you’ve said.” Roane tilted his
head. “What is it that plagues you, son?”
Wayne sighed, looking over the green
fields of grass, swaying in the mighty wind.
“It is Juliet; I do not think she will ever
love me.”
Roane grinned, taking his son by the
shoulders. “She will. Give it fifty years or
so, son.”
“No, you did not see her face. The
look of fear in her eyes when she saw what
I truly was, Da.”
Roane looked his son in the eyes.
“She will love you, it will take time.”
“What if she does not? Am I fated to
be alone?”
“No, my son, a new love will be
chosen for you.” Roane walked along the
path with his son. He had known that one
day he would have to tell his son the story
he was about to recount.
“Once, there was a created one
whose bond did not seal.”
Wayne looked at his father
incredulously. “It has happened?”
“Yes, Nevan Moore was that man,”
Roane nodded.
Wayne’s eyes went wide.
“His mate bond was not sealed; he
was then given a new one. One he did not
expect.”
“I do not understand.”
“He was given a male mate, Rion.”
“A man?” Wayne stopped walking.
“But, that is not possible!”
“It is, and it took Nevan many years
to come to love his male mate. They are
well matched in every way, son.” Roane
looked at his son. Even at twenty-five years
of age, he was still pure, innocent.
“Life is long and full of surprises. I
will teach you how to speak with those
long gone.”
Wayne tilted his head. “What do you
mean?”
“There is a way to speak to those
who have passed the barrier of life and
gone on to a whole new world. None of us
really ever dies, Rion.”
“How old are you, Da?” Wayne
asked.
Roane smiled. “It is not polite to ask
one’s age.”
Wayne grinned. “Old then?”
“Check the paddocks, feed the
females. We shall talk later.”
Wayne did as he was told. The sheep
that were meant for dinner were corralled
into the spot of property for the female
wolves. As soon as he approached, he
heard Juliet’s unmistakable growl. Peering
over the high wall, she seemed to stare at
him, menace in her eyes.
“Juliet…” Wayne tried to see further
over.
“You betrayed me!”
Wayne stopped, his heart pounding.
“I saved your life! I meant you no harm.”
“So, instead you make me into…into
this?” Juliet spat.
“You were dying!”
“You should have let me die! You do
not make that choice!”
“I love you, Juliet.”
“I will never love you, Rion.
Never!”
Wayne jumped back from the wall, as
Juliet’s wolf form lunged at him. Growling
and snarling seeped through the rain-soaked
night as Wayne sat down against the wall
and covered his face. She hated him…she
would always hate him.
By bedtime, Wayne was exhausted.
He crawled into bed and stared at the brick
ceiling. The creaking of shoes alerted him
to his father’s presence.
“Rion…”
“She hates me, Da. It will not change.
She never wanted me to begin with; it was
selfish of me to change her. The bond is not
there.”
“We shall see, now close your eyes.”
Roane sat on the edge of the bed. “Breathe
deeply and concentrate on your
grandfather.”
Wayne closed his eyes, bringing forth
the face of his granddad. As his breaths
deepened, a light shined behind his eyes
and then a voice crept into his head, quietly
at first.
“Rion…you seek answers.”
“I seek knowledge.”
“Then you shall have it. Tell your
father to go away.”
Wayne chuckled, opening his eyes.
“He says go away.”
“Stubborn mule,” Roane chuckled.
Wayne closed his eyes. “I want to
know…”
“If she will ever love you? I cannot
answer; it is best left to be seen. I will tell
you that love comes in many forms and in
many ways. Do not ever push away love
for fear of what others may think. We are
all one, Rion. We love with all, as it
should be.”
“When will I know if it is true love?
Why was I given a mate who did not care
for me? Have I angered the fates?”
“No, my boy. They have been known
to make mistakes…”
“Granddad?” Wayne waited for a
reply but none came. Wayne sighed, rolling
over on his uncomfortable bed. He stared at
the wall, watching the flashes of lightning
dance on it. He’d been in love with Juliet
from the moment he saw her. He’d changed
her to save her life and now was left in
misery since she did not return his feelings.
He’d been selfish in wanting to keep his
mate, a mate who would never love him.
~~
Over the years, Juliet had softened
but never came to love Wayne as he
wanted. He was left empty and alone
emotionally. She stayed with him, had sex
with him, but the love was never returned,
never sealed. Maybe it was best she had
not conceived, for she wouldn’t have loved
their child either. When Juliet had been
killed, Wayne almost felt relief for her. She
was spared a life with a man she did not
love, and in the process left the man who
did love her in total ruin.
Chapter One
Denali National Park, Alaska
The sun’s bright rays drifted across
the wall above Wayne’s bed. He cracked
open one sleep-filled eye as it passed
above his head. Winter was coming; snow
would be on the ground within days,
blanketing the once green park. The smell
of coffee wafted up the stairs, accompanied
by the aroma of biscuits. Conner was up.
Throwing his legs over the bed, his feet met
with the cold wooden floor. Wayne hissed
and pulled his slippers on. His morning
erection was making it difficult for him to
walk normally.
Lifting the toilet seat, he reached
over and turned the water to hot in the
shower before settling back over the toilet
to wait. He’d been trying to talk to Conner
for weeks and had gotten maybe a handful
of words from him - a quick hello and good
morning and maybe now and then a
goodnight.
He only had himself to blame he
supposed. He was so uncomfortable with
his feelings that he’d driven Conner away.
Wayne relieved himself and stepped into
the shower, the hot water instantly relaxing
him. Conner’s face came into his mind as
he closed his eyes and washed his hair. It
always did. Those eyes, the way they
seemed to sparkle when he laughed, the shy
but sexual curve of his lips.
Wayne looked down; he was stroking
his cock without even realizing it. He
thought about Conner’s hard abdominal
muscles, the blond hair sprinkled around
his navel, slipping into his boxers. Wayne
sped up his hand movements, thinking about
kissing Conner’s full pink lips, sucking the
bottom one in and tugging gently on it. His
orgasm raced from him, splattering the
shower tiles. Wayne leaned against the
cool bricks, breathing heavily. Why
couldn’t he just admit it out loud? He
wanted Conner; he wanted him more than
anything.
He stopped and stared at the wall.
Was that true? After all the time he’d spent
thinking about the one woman who had
never loved him back, did he want Conner
more than he’d wanted Juliet? Would
Conner be able to love him? The mate bond
had its pull, sure, but to truly love someone
took more than the bond.
Wayne turned the water off and got
out of the shower. He needed to get dried
off and dressed before Conner left for the
city.
Sebastian Price had sold all of the
late Sergei Price’s company holdings to
him at a very cheap price. It was a way for
Sebastian to tell the man he had thought
was his father – who had tried to freaking
kill him - to fuck off posthumously and it
certainly had benefitted Wayne. The money
made from the businesses was used
towards the outreach centers for struggling
gay youths. Sebastian kept his share of his
inheritance, however, and he’d used it
towards law school and given his own
share to the outreach centers.
Conner now worked at Maccon
Enterprises on Monday through Thursday,
and Wayne knew it was the young man’s
way of getting away from him. It hurt.
For months Conner had been pulling
away and Wayne couldn’t blame him. The
man was protecting his heart. Man. Conner
O’Rourke was a man. A man who was his
mate. What Wayne couldn’t understand is
why it had taken so long for the fates to
provide him with a new one; over forty
years had passed since Juliet had been
killed.
Wayne threw his jeans on and rushed
down the stairs. Conner had a bagel shoved
in his mouth and was grabbing his
briefcase.
“Conner, please wait,” Wayne
hurried over to him.
Conner put the briefcase down and
removed the bagel from his mouth. “I’m in
a hurry, Wayne.”
“I own the damn company, you can
be late!” Wayne growled. Conner had lived
with him for years, whether it was out of
necessity to the packs or because Conner
was comfortable at the cabin, Wayne didn’t
know. He was just grateful Conner had
stayed. “I just want a few minutes to talk
with you.”
Conner eyed Wayne.
“About what? You’ve said
everything I need to hear: I’m a man, not a
woman and you’re not comfortable. Maybe
the fates will see fit to give you someone
who has tits.”
“Stop being crass.” Wayne ran a
hand through his still-wet hair. “I admit
I’ve been bad at this, okay? I don’t know
how to act, what to do. I mean - we have
the same parts!”
Conner stepped closer and leaned in.
“Yes, we do. Which means I know what
will make you sink to the floor on your
knees begging for more.” Conner inched
closer, running his index finger down
Wayne’s chest.
“What you like, I like. And I know
how to give it to you better than any woman
can.” Conner smiled at the look of shock on
Wayne’s face. “That’s what I thought. See
you Friday.”
It took Wayne a second to snap out of
the dirty fantasy in his head. “Wait!”
Wayne grabbed Conner’s hand.
“What?” Conner sighed heavily. “I
can’t do this anymore, Wayne. You have no
idea how my life has been, this just makes
it so much worse.”
“Then tell me about it, I can listen.”
Conner tried to smile. “I have to get
to work. I’ll see you Friday.”
Wayne stood in the front door of the
cabin, watching the one man he could have,
and who wanted him, slide into the truck
that was taking him away for four days.
“Goddammit!” Wayne slammed the
front door and stalked into Conner’s room.
The bed was made; everything was neatly
folded and put away. Wayne walked to the
dresser, lifting a bottle of cologne off the
top. Opening it, he inhaled deeply, closing
his eyes. It was Conner’s scent, the one that
drove Wayne to drink entire bottles of Irish
whiskey. His eyes shifted and he grew hard
in seconds. Wayne collapsed on the bed,
staring at the ceiling.
“Just tell me why, Da? Why?” Wayne
cocked his head, listening for any kind of
reply. None came. He shouldn’t be
surprised though, should he? He had
stopped trying to talk to the elders years
ago, and now he wasn’t sure he knew how.
He rolled onto his side, pulling Conner’s
pillow to his nose. God he loved the smell
of Conner, it was almost a floral scent,
mixed with something musky and earthy. He
was so…beautiful, with the blond halo of
hair, the beautiful medium brown eyes with
gold bursting across the iris. Wayne sighed,
closing his eyes. “Dammit.”
~~
Conner kept his eyes on the road,
swiping at the tears running down his
cheeks. Damn Wayne. He hated every
moment he had to spend with him
pretending he didn’t care, didn’t want to
touch him, kiss him and make love to him. It
wasn’t fair. All his life he’d been rejected
in one way or another. Now his own mate
was rejecting him. Conner wiped his eyes
again, sniffling.
He’d been born in Warrenmount,
Ireland, a stone’s throw from Dublin. Being
raised in a very strict, traditional Catholic
household had made it hard on him as well;
especially when he’d figured out he was
gay. He’d thought for sure he’d be drawn
and quartered in the town’s square when he
came out. Okay, so that was a bit of an
exaggeration. Stoned, maybe.
Conner frowned at the love song
taunting him through the radio. Flipping it
off, he relaxed into the seat and thought
about his life. His first boyfriend had been
in college, at Oxford as a matter of fact.
His parents, not knowing what to do with
their gay son, sent him away. He was a
pariah in their eyes and the faster they
could get rid of him the better. The
boyfriend, Shawn, was not out and kept
their relationship a secret, so for months
Conner was used sexually. When he’d
finally had enough, Shawn had laughed in
his face and said it had all been good and
well, but there was no way he would tell
anyone he was with someone as ridiculous
as Conner. That had stung - a lot.
When he packed up from England and
made his way to the wonderful U.S. of A,
his first job had been as a pizza delivery
boy in California. He’d made tons of tips
and made a good living for a while. Then
he started dating an up and coming actor,
which had gone right down the shitter. Even
though the man was gay he refused to come
out of the closet for lowly Conner
O’Rourke.
Another damaging blow to his ego
and Conner packed up what little
belongings he had and moved to Alaska,
where he met Carson Drake. As one of the
few people qualified for the job as CFO,
Conner was hired on the spot.
He rarely spoke to his parents; in
fact, they made it a point to avoid his calls
every chance they got. So he was on his
own in a strange town, with no friends. On
one of his first weekends in Anchorage,
Conner went to a gay bar for the first time
in his life. There, he’d met Charles.
Gorgeous, pipeline worker Charles.
Conner had loved being with him, the
strong arms wrapped around him, the sex
that had him screaming in pleasure. Their
relationship had been volatile from the get-
go, however. Charles had a fuse that was
easily lit and when it went off, Conner was
the one who received the fallout.
When Charles had shown up at his
job to apologize for the previous night,
Carson had seen them together. Over the
next month, Charles began seeing him less
and less frequently, claiming that he was
busy. Conner had found out the truth when
he’d gone to see Charles at his home.
There, on the bed, grunting like a man
possessed was Charles. With a woman.
Conner had cleared his throat and gotten a
door slammed in his face.
That was followed by everything
he’d dreaded: Charles telling him he was a
piece of shit and a lousy lay.
The following week, his whole life
changed. Carson had come to his apartment
on the pretense of working, but what
Conner got was canines in his neck and a
whole lot of pain afterwards as he shifted
into a werewolf. Then Carson recruited
him to take Dakota Cadotte back from the
Queets pack. Threatened with death and left
with no choice, Conner went to Denali to
kidnap Dakota. He’d almost been killed by
Sawyer Bishop, but had been allowed to
live.
When the dust had settled and
Carson’s reign of terror had come to an
end, Wayne had taken in Conner. For years
now he had been part of the pack he’d been
recruited to take down.
Then that fateful day came when
Wayne sat him down to talk. Conner
sighed. He was Wayne Maccon’s mate. The
alpha of the created ones was his mate, for
life. Only he didn’t want Conner. Well he
did, he was just uncomfortable with the
idea of being with a man. Conner had to
admit he’d had a huge crush on Wayne from
the beginning.
That beautiful golden hair, the bluish-
grey eyes and a body that went on for days
and days got Conner’s attention in a hurry.
Wayne worked out every day and it
showed. His biceps were toned and
muscular, his abdominal muscles rippled
perfectly and his chest was broad and well-
defined.
He only wished he could see what
he’d be getting in the bedroom. Conner
smirked. His own cock was only seven and
a half inches, but he knew how to use it. At
least he thought he did until Charles had
told him otherwise. Since finding out about
Wayne, he hadn’t so much as looked at
another man…
~Irish Wishes~
Start the ride from the beginning
with: “A Marked man”, “Alaska With
Love”, “By the Light of the Moon”,
“Half Moon Rising”, “Best Laid Plans” ,
“For the Love of Caden”, “The General’s
Lover”, “Russian Prey”, “An Ignited
Passion”, “Reflash”, “The Red Zone”
And “Irish Wishes”.
2
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