Part 30

The tension filling the kitchen was unbearable. John flicked a look at Alex but the other man's attention was totally and utterly fixed on Josh. Licking his dry lips John blew out a low breath. Trying to ignoring the impatient huffing of his wolf, he rubbed the back of his neck and murmured, "Josh…"

"I'm sorry."

"What?" asked John, frowning at the soft call that had cut across his own faltering apology.

"I'm sorry," repeated Josh. The little wolf look so upset it was taking all of John and Alex's combined strength not to rush over and hug him

""For what?" croaked Alex his voice breaking slightly with tension.

"For interrupting," murmured John, a hard blush starting to colour his cheeks, "I didn't know you were... I ...Hunter just…I'm sorry!" he exclaimed, "Really I am so so …"

"There's nothing to be sorry for," chuckle John, smiling when Alex nodded in agreement,

Moving as one, they closed the space between them and Josh, practically cornering him.

"Josh honestly," began Alex before his voice cracked, "There is nothing to apologise for and I..."

"But I interrupted you!" declare Josh. his wolf howling at the idea of upsetting the two dominant shifters surrounding him. Forcing himself to look up, he glanced at Alex then at John before losing his courage. Staring at the floor as if it was the most interesting thing in the wold he murmured, "I interrupted a private mating moment and I…"

"It wasn't a mating moment…"

Alex tensed, his tiger hissing at John's declaration. For a moment he flexed his shoulders, bristling at the idea that what he and John had almost shared wasn't a mating moment. But then as John continued talking, Alex felt his tiger melted into the biggest soppiest purr possible

"…it would never be a mating moment without you between us."

Josh stared up at him with the biggest most startled eyes either man had ever seen.

X x x x x x x

Arching in surprise as Randy bit the back of his neck, Evan let out a loud mating howl. His wolf basking in the pleasure of having his mate's total and undivided attention focused solely on him. Slumping back down onto the soft pile of leaves they had chosen as their mating bed, Evan closed his eyes trying to stop himself falling apart as Randy chased his own release. There was nothing gentle about mating with Randy. It was harder and more demanding than anything Evan had ever experienced and he never quite got used to it. With the pleasure starting to fade, the hint of pain that always there, that always hovered at the edge of their mating, started to make itself know. Screwing his eyes shut he fought his wolf's desire to change. The natural instinct to shift in order to ease the pain started to war with his human desire to please his lover.

He tensed uncontrollably, his body clenching around Randy, ripping a string of expletives from Randy. Expletives that were punctuated with hard nipping kissing to the base of his neck, kisses that bordered on the painful as the large shifter snarled his annoyance at the break in its rhythm.

"Randy please…" begged Evan, his voice rough with the mating howl that had been ripped out of him only second before.

"Nearly...there…" growled Randy butting the back of Evan's head with his cheek, "You...feel….so …damn…" his voice was drowned out in a series of growls and snarls as his inner wolf took over.

Evan cried out in pain, his entire being hurting as Randy's lupine side overrode his more human side, the pack beta giving in to his natural instinct – the instinct to totally and utterly dominate his mate no matter what the outcome. As Evan started to writhe under him, Randy threw his head back and released a howl loud enough to be heard back at the pack house.

Slumping forward Randy lay on top of Evan practically crushing the smaller man beneath him. It was only the uneasy whimpering that dragged Randy back from his posit mating bliss. Pushing up onto his arms he glanced down and swore. The back of Evan's neck was stained red where he had nipped too hard. Without even thinking he lowered his lips lapping at each break trying to clean the wounds his lupine teeth had made in his lover's delicate human skin.

When Evan didn't respond, Randy frowned and pulling back even more, he glanced down and hissed is shock. Evan's neck wasn't the only part of him stained pink. Pulling back so he could sit on his ankles Randy stared at Evan's body, his eyes glued to the dark stains marring the top of Evan's thighs. Running a hand down his mate's quivering back, Randy rumbled, "I'm sorry. I..."

"Don't be," soothed Evan his voice shaking slightly, "It's been a while since we've done it. Plus with everything that's happened, it…"

"I hurt you," breathed Randy his eyes fixed to Evan's backside.

"Yeah you did," agreed Evan wincing as he rolled over. He propped himself up on his elbows and stared up at his mate. Sex with Randy always hurt. It always had. Ever since their first time when he'd met randy on his sixteenth birthday sex with the more dominant wolf had hurt. He sighed and forced himself to sit up trying to ignore the way his lower back and thighs complained. Curling his legs under him he held his mate's gaze for a few moments before sighing, "I'm surprised you didn't hurt me more to be honest."

"What?" spat Randy horror spreading over his face at the mere idea of purposefully hurting Evan, "What do you mean?"

"I mean," soothed Evan absently running a finger down Randy's chest and picking off the few leaves that clung to the cooling sweat, "Given what has happened over the past few days I'm surprise you weren't rougher. Normally when you get stressed and upset then the sex gets rougher." He held Randy's gaze then shook his head and chuckled adding, "Guess you must be growing up finally."

Randy glared at him a moment, his wolf snarling at the implication of what Evan, but then as he replayed his mate's word Randy gave a little huff as he realised Evan was trying to give him an out of a conversation neither of them really wanted. He smiled slowly and shaking his head, he huffed, "Growing up or growing old which one?"

"Up," chuckled Evan, "No one could ever accuse you of being old."

Randy stared at him then cupping Evan's face in one hand, he trailed a thumb over his mate's lower lip and rumbled, "What would I do without you?"

"Cause havoc and quite possibly murder someone?" joked Evan but then as he saw the truth in Randy's eyes, as he saw the real fear that underpinned Randy's words, his wolf gave a little growl of sadness and pressing his lips against Randy's thumb, he added honestly, "I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay, Randy, I promise. You're not going to lose me."

For a moment neither man moved then without warning Randy lunged at him. Falling back into the pile of leaves Evan shrieked with laughter as his mate started to tickle him both their wolves basking in sheer pleasure of spending time together with no other distraction.

X x x x x x

Ignoring the indignant calls from Dan, Lex bounded up the stairs two at the time. Sniggering to himself as he thought of the totally inappropriate text he had send Roddy using Dan's phone, he balanced the plate he was carrying and fumbled with the handle. After a few moments he managed to open the door. Slipping into the darkened interior he kicked the door shut wincing when it cracked shut. Freezing he waited for an angry call from the bed. When none was forthcoming his wolf gave a nervous little howl, his lupine side instantly reaching out seeking his soul mate. He frowned when he didn't get an instant response from Chris's wolf.

Moving with surprising stealth, he headed straight for the double bed. Setting the plate down on the side table, he glanced over and bit his lip. Even in the half-light he could see how pale Chris looked. Dark shadows highlighted the pale skin and there were lingering hints of the tears that had run down Chris's face during the forced shift.

Unable to stop himself, Lex reached over tracing one of the tear tracks with the pad of his thumb, his wolf whimpering at the idea of his mate having been alone and pain. Turning his hand Lex brushed a knuckle along the side of Chris's face and smiled. There really was nothing he loved more in the world than Chris, not that he would ever admit it but there, in the half gloom and with his mate apparently fast asleep, Lex could finally let his guard down and show his true feelings.

Moving so he didn't wake the slumbering wolf, he sank down beside him, spooning against the more dominant wolf, taking a position that Chris normally took with him. It was very rare for Chris to be the weaker of the two, for Chris to be the one in need of comfort but at that moment Lex knew instinctively that was what his mate needed. He needed comfort. And Lex was more than willing to give it to him. Moving closer he spooned against Chris's back, his arm sliding over the bare midriff pulling his sleeping mate back again him. Sighing softly Lex closed his eyes and without thinking he pressed a kiss to the side of Chris's neck.

For a moment there was not response then he felt Chris tense and for a moment he expected to be shouted at but instead Chris simply reached up and threaded his fingers with Lex's hand and squeezed. Without speaking Chris leant back even further the soft stuttering sigh saying more than words ever could.

Hiding his smile against the soft blond hair, Lex closed his eyes and settled down with his mate. He was more than content to stay curled up in the room all day long if that was what Chris needed. Hell he'd do anything to make his mate happy even forego time with the pack and their friends. No matter what it took he would make sure Chris recovered as soon as was physically possible.

TBC