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Fated To His Alpha

Gay First Time Wolf Shifter Romance

By: Van Cole

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Table of Contents

Foreward

Foreward

Overthrowing Jenner's reign gave me power, and claiming the Territories of Willow gave me wealth but the one thing I truly want is right in front of me, our new shifter Landon. And you can bet on me taking him too. When he is ready, of course.

This I know, Landon craves submission. As a former soldier, he is good at taking orders. Now that he has joined our pack, I am in charge of his every move. I tell him when to eat, sleep, and move. I am his sole protector and commander. But it is not enough to satisfy my hunger. I will not stop until I have him. His first time, his complete submission, and his heart, will all belong to me. It's good to be the King.

Fated To His Alpha

1

I made the mistake of going out of the pack for a submissive. Our lovemaking was as boring as Geoff's texts.

Next.

I put my phone down into the center console and looked back up at the line of cars ahead of me in line. Starbucks. What a cruel mistress. If one more girl in leggings and Uggs parks her Prius and dashes in for a pumpkin spice latte, I am going to snap. A few Frappuccino’s left the window.

I tapped the screen of my phone to check the time. Eight-forty two. And three more texts from Geoff. Yawn.

I inched my car up behind the pick-up truck in front of me. Beep. Beep. Beep. My car's sensor warned me I was getting too close. Ugh. I toyed with the idea of calling Geoff to bring me an Americano. Bad idea.

The universe's sense of humor never failed to amuse me. I am the Ultimate Ruler of All Werewolves East of the Mississippi and I have to wait in line for coffee.

Damn humans. They had forced our kind to hide in plain sight. We all kept jobs, houses, even families, to let those fragile creatures keep their narrow view on reality. If they knew what lived among them, the world would be a different place.

The line shifted. The only thing between my precious caffeinated beverage and I was a pickup truck.

My phone beeped again. Eight-forty seven and another text from Geoff. The only thing good about him was his mouth. When it was full.

A few hot beverages and a large bag headed out the window and into the pickup truck. Finally. He pulled forward at a glacial pace.

I inhaled deeply, filling my lungs completely. My bodyguard Chaz had already been in three altercations this year because of my temper. I needed to keep a cool head. Drawing attention to myself or the pack would endanger us all.

The pickup cleared the way and I pulled up near the menu. I always got the same thing, but window shopping was a hobby of mine. New things always excited me, even if I only got to look. A garbled voice blared out from the speakers.

"Just an Americano, please. Black. Thanks." The unnecessary politeness of ordinary humans makes my skin crawl. Please, thank you, yes ma'am, no ma'am. Asking was for the weak. This werewolf cowering had to end, and who better to end it than me?

A pimpled teenager with bushy hair popped his head out the window. Asher.

"That will be four twenty-five, Sir." He leaned out further. "I've got it. My pleasure serving you, your Highness."

My gut tightened with pride. "Good boy. You are learning quickly." My pups were too plentiful to remember, but Asher was a rising star in our pack. Once his transition into wolf-hood was complete, I would choose his future, inside the pack and the outside human world. He was a natural submissive and would be a loyal right paw, serving the Kingdom.

I was going to reveal my plan for further territorial expansion at the next counsel. At every full moon we met in my country home, away from prying eyes. It was the one night a month that our shapeshifting abilities were unpredictable and fiercely strong. Some whispers of mutiny arose during my last campaign, but they were quickly squashed by our momentous victory. I knew my plan would kick start the whispers all over again, so I had to be ready.

Asher cleared his throat. "Your Americano, Sir." He leaned in again. "My King."

I winked at him and put my coffee in the cup holder. "Do not forget Chaz's soy latte. He is two cars back." His eyes grew wide and he nodded furiously. Chaz was actually four cars back, but the little shit needed to learn.

Today was going to be a good day. Time to sell some ordinary creatures some overpriced houses.

-2-

Today was not going to be a good day. It was only lunchtime and everything was going to shit. A couple that had been dragging their feet on making an offer had called to cancel, a deal I've worked on for the last month had fallen through and a timid couple received an inspection report for a home that is under contract and was requesting time to "think". Why this species isn't extinct I will never know.

I need a release. My phone beeped again. I am sorry baby, I just do not know where we are at. Can you call me, please? I'd like to talk about it. Geoff seemed to think that he had a right to question me. He needed to be punished. I pushed the button to call him. He answered on the second ring.

"Where have you been Darry?" Geoff sounded near tears.

What a stupid nickname. Who shortens Darryl?

"I've been calling and texting since last night!" It was actually since last afternoon, after we fucked on your couch, but who is keeping track.

Breathe. "Oh my Gosh, babe. I am so sorry. I forgot my phone in my car last night after I left your place and I did not get any of your messages.”

"Yeah, right. Do you think I am that stupid?" he hissed. The hair on the back of my arms stood up. He had no idea what was coming.

"No honey, of course I do not think you are stupid. Do you mind if we meet at your place for lunch? I want to be somewhere private. Somewhere we can talk.” As soon as I got him alone, he would be vulnerable.

"My place?" His voice came out in a squeak. "Don’t you think it is better if we cool it for awhile? Things have been so...confusing."

"I just want to talk. If you’re busy, we can do it some other time." It drove him crazy when I acted aloof. Distance was like his Spanish Fly. His desire for reassurance was insatiable.

"No, um...I will think of an excuse or something. I will get out of here. Can you give me an hour? The hospital is jam-packed today."

"I will see you then."

"Great, I can't --"

I hung up before another word escaped his stupid face. I had to get going. Planning Geoff's punishment in under one hour was not going to be easy.

Exactly an hour later, I pulled my car into the parking lot of Geoff's pretentious high rise condominium complex. Sixty minutes had ticked by since we spoke.

Energy pulsed through me, begging to be released. My insides hummed and my muscles were taut with anticipation. I thumbed out a text to Geoff. Here. One thing I knew for sure, the faster he texted back, the more open he was to...reconciliation. Just then my phone buzzed. Geoff.

I will buzz you in. :)

Today might turn around after all. I turned off the car and popped the trunk. Last weekend's shopping spree, after a bottle of wine, was not in vain after all. Does everyone shop for sex toys when they’re a little drunk, slightly lonely, and majorly horny? Thank the Moon and Stars for Amazon Prime.

My overnight bag had the usual essentials; pajamas, toothpaste, toothbrush, a razor, condoms, lube, and a few, ahem, nonessential toys. You know, just your average werewolf king's go pack.

He is up there waiting for me. Just the thought made me excited. I pulled my pants from around my crotch. I did not want anyone in reception to think I did not fit in around here. Like I would ever subscribe to the land of the limp dicked consumers.

I did a last check in my side view mirror to make sure I did not have anything on my face. My three-day stubble accentuated the square line of my jaw. The contrast of my dark brown hair and pale skin brought out the gold flecks in my hazel eyes. My decision not to shave was the right one. I was going to make Geoff see what he was missing.

As I walked through the sterile white lobby and through to the double elevators, I was greeted by the front desk attendant.

"Mr. DeMarco, I've been told to bring you right up." I cringed at the use of my human surname. Blech.

"That's certainly not necessary, Simon. I know my way around by now. I will push the button and be on my way."

"Very well, Sir." He crossed his hands over his polyester uniform and stepped back behind the desk. Simon certainly followed the rules of his station. There was a certain wisdom in that. I am sure that Simon could surprise most men with what he knew about the world.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened. An attractive woman in her forties, wearing lipstick a shade too dark, walked a leashed Pomeranian out the doors. Her heels clicked on the marble floors. When I stepped into the elevator, I was greeted by a cloud of floral notes. The bitch has taste, I can say that much.

By the time I got to Geoff's door, I was quivering with excitement. I knew just how hard I was going to push his head down, and exactly where I was going to rake my nails across his tanned muscled body. I took a deep breath to steady myself. My head needed to be clear, and my hand steady. This show begins and ends with me.

I raised my hand to knock, but the door opened. Geoff was cleanly shaven and his thinning hair was slightly damp. He usually combed it a certain way to hide his balding, but when it was wet, there was nothing he could do to hide his exposure. His button-up shirt was pressed and crisp. His grey slacks were my favorite. They hugged his bottom, just right. He pulled the door open and I entered without a word. He backed into the door, pushing it closed.

"Listen, I just want to get a few things out in the open." Geoff's hands were up and at his sides in a "Don’t shoot" gesture.

I was also extremely interested in getting quite a few things out and open, but I could tell from the look on his face, that wasn't what he was talking about.

"We should talk about our relationship. Things are really getting confusing and it is making me feel very insecure, to be quite honest." Geoff ran his fingers over his hair and adjusted his collar. His Adam's apple jutted out from his neck. The last time I was here, I left a bite mark next to it. This time, I was going to leave two. Maybe three.

"Darry, honey? Are you listening to me?" Geoff's cheeks flushed a pale pink. His lips pursed slightly. Of course I was paying attention. I knew my prey well. He asked too many questions about our relationship. Constant almost.

Geoff never went outside the bathroom without his teeth flossed, face moisturized, and deodorant reapplied. With his impeccable taste in clothes and a compulsive need for self care, most people would write him off as high maintenance. But, I knew his secret. The secret he was trying to cover up with all that grooming. He was insecure to the bone. So, lucky for me, he would do just about anything to get validation.

"I am really sorry Geoff. I wasn't listening."

A squeak of disapproval erupted from his lips. "This is what I am talking about...you never listen!"

This was going to be fun. "You expect me to listen when I am standing here in front of you?" I threw my hands up and shrugged.

Geoff squinted and scratched the back of his head. "Yes?"

"You really do not get what you do to me, do you?" His face softened. Bingo.

Geoff exhaled an exaggerated sigh. "Why are you so ...?"

I took two steps closer to him. Geoff backed up against the door. Another step closed the gap between us. I lifted my hand up and touched his cheek. He closed his eyes and leaned into my palm.

"I have no idea." And I really did not. I leaned in and nuzzled my face into his.

"Ah! Your scratching me!" Geoff laughed and cupped my head in his hands.

"Good." I wrapped my arms around him and inhaled. He always smelled like a mix of flowers and black pepper. I am sure it was some potion that he rubbed on secretly in the bathroom, but the mix of sweet and spicy comforted me and stimulated my appetite. I kissed his neck gently. "Would it be so terrible?"

"You know whatever you do now, I am yours."

I did. My lips pressed into his flesh harder. I ran my tongue gently over his neck. His vein pulsed beneath my caress. Why had I tried to ditch him again?

"You are the worst boyfriend ever." Geoff leaned back and put his hands on my chest. His eyes locked with mine for a few seconds, before he lowered his gaze.

"Boyfriend, huh?" There it was. He was constantly testing my boundaries. Desperately, seeking closeness, serving himself up to me on a platter like some piece of already carved meat.

He thought he knew me. That he wanted to share his life with me. I wonder how long that would last if we went on a field trip through the forest and bathed in the moonlight. What then, Geoffy?

Even if he ever could love someone like me, he would never be able to share my life with me, at least, all of it. He would never know what it was like to run with the pack, to win territory in battle, or howl in chorus with a hundred others, a song as ancient as the pyramids.

Could I spend my life with someone who could not share that with me? He would never be a part of my pack. Although, I am pretty sure my men outside my personal sphere were aware of my...preferences, there is no way they would accept Geoff as a mate. My job is to protect the pack and to grow it. There were responsibilities that could not be shaken from me, no matter how much I detested them.

"Where did you go?" Geoff put his hand on my chin and guided my head until I met his gaze.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about our future," or lack thereof. Geoff walked forward and planted a kiss on my lips. God, I forgot how soft his lips were. I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him closer. Pressing into him, I ran my hands up and down his firm body.

A sudden vibration shook us both. My cell phone buzzed in my pants pocket. I pulled it out to turn off the ringer when I noticed the caller's name. Jamison. My bodyguard. He always parked a block away to give me privacy, but he knew I was on a visit of a personal nature. He would not interrupt unless there was something truly and desperately urgent.

"I have to get this." I pressed my fingers to his lips to quiet his protests. My heart began to pound. Something was wrong. "What is it?

"Your highness, we have got a problem at our border. The guards found an injured male from another pack."

"So, get rid of him! I am busy! Why did you bother me with this?"

Jamison cleared his throat. "Uh...Sir...he's asking to see you. Says he has information about an impending attack from the West."

"Do I have to do your job for you? I am sure he's a Taradoor spy. He's just asking as a ploy to either spare his life or assassinate me. Not interested either way. " Geoff yawned and stalked off. I'd have to make it up to him later.

"No, that's just it. He's not asking for the King. He's asking for Darryl DeMarco. Your human name."

My blood ran cold. How could anyone that knows my human name know that I am a shapeshifter? My worlds intersected only under my supervision. There were a handful of men that knew my human identity and they had been with me for years. I paid them handsomely and provided a life for them that anyone else could only dream about. Why would they betray me?

"And he's got markings we have never seen before. "

"Markings? You mean a clan from outside the country?"

"Maybe. He swore up and down he is simply a recent recruit from Dylan's crowd, drank too much last night, passed out in the woods and woke up alone."

"You are telling me, a shapeshifter said he got lost in the woods." I strained against my anger to whisper. I did not want Geoff to overhear and ask questions. "Does he think we're idiots?"

"That's the thing boss. I really do not think so. He seems legitimately confused. I do not understand it. These are definitely shapeshifter marks, I just do not know what pack. He said he came out with Dylan and some of his buddies that he met in a bar. They were there for a few hours and Dylan suggested that they go into the woods and continue the party. He says he does not remember anything after that. My guess is that Dylan thought he was pulling a fast one on a human."

"Has he done this before?"

"Not to my knowledge, but there have been some rumors of him exposing himself to humans as a gag."

My heart flared. The idiot was putting us all at risk. And for what? "The stranger is more urgent, but we need to deal with Dylan."

"I understand, sir. What are my orders?"

Jamison was a loyal soldier. He would help me squash this problem before the day was out. "Keep him there and the next question he answers will be mine. Understand?"

"Understood. Godspeed." The line closed with a sharp click.

When I hung up and turned around, I was caught off-guard by Geoff's icy stare.

"You can't keep doing this to us."

His face was strained and pink. Water welled in the corners of his eyes. I crossed into the living room where he was standing and cradled him in my arms. The drama that I had to put up with for a decent fuck in this town was criminal. "It's just work. Can't you understand that?"

"You’re just running away. If you walk out that door, we're through." His voice cracked.

I was in no mood for hysterics. Just because I get called away to work sometimes does not mean I am ‘avoiding intimacy’ or some other popular psychology term that Geoff found trolling Facebook accounts. If he cares about me so much, why can't he accept who I am? I am King and my pack comes first, no matter who is in second place.

"I will see you later." Even though I knew I was right, a pinprick of guilt seeped deeper into my gut. As I walked out to my car, I tried not to replay the noise that escaped Geoff's throat when I closed the door behind me.

-3-

I pulled up to one of my warehouses at the edge of the city. We used it to stockpile medicines, weapons, and other things that we might need for war. Humans could find us out and try to exterminate us again. Another pack could try to reclaim the territory that we have taken over the years. Sometimes random, foreign tribes try to encroach on our territory. Werewolf and tribal hierarchy was complex enough to understand when you are within your own pack, but when you add in the potential of an unknown invading your land, it was too much to comprehend.

I needed to know what this stranger meant for us. If another wolf pack was upon us, we needed to be prepared. And if this was a foreign invasion, there were alliances that needed to be refreshed and reinforced.

Geez, this was turning out to be quite a day. Or just your average Tuesday. Apparently, now, we also used it for interrogating potential spies and assassins. Every time I thought I'd seen it all, another surprise was dropped from the heavens.

Jamison was parked a block north of the warehouse. It would take him a few minutes to walk here. I stepped out into the warm sunshine. The harshness of winter had left us, but the air still had a sharp bite. I tilted my face up towards the sun. My lenses darkened. This was my second week of wearing transition lenses. Unless I was driving, they really took the fun out of things. I did not like seeing things outside of their true realities. It was bad enough I had to wear contact lenses to cover my yellow irises, but now they even robbed me of true sunlight.

How great it must have been to live before the modern age? When werewolves were known entities of the darkness, owners of the night, and not some domesticated house pup spending most of their time pretending, to avoid detection. A man wielding a gun with silver bullets was one thing, an army of automatic weapons was another. Now the humans could fight us from behind a computer screen. I spotted movement in my peripheral vision, Jamison.

"Getting a little old to be doing this? I think my grandmother could have strolled here faster."

"Your grandmother's dead." Jamison's grin stretched from floppy ear to ear. Most shapeshifters in human form did not resemble their true selves. However, Jamison was a shapeshifting artist. He could control minute details of transformation better than any one of us.

"Hence your shame." My grandmother had been dead for twenty years. Another she-wolf was competing for her spot at my grandfather's side. The she-wolf was half her age. My grandmother was too slow and she caught her right in the throat. In the end my grandmother got her revenge. She spent every last bit of her energy to catch her. Their duel ended with my grandmother shaking her neck until it snapped in half. My grandmother did not realize how much she was hurt until she saw the blood. Her efforts to punish the young one, only caused her blood to pump out onto the snow faster. We begged her to turn into a human so we could take her to the hospital, but she refused.

"If I am going to die, I am going to die as myself, not as some bulb-headed weakling.” Our somber howls that night caused quite the stir. Over the next week, as we howled the ancient rites of mourning, there were daily reports in newspapers about "Unusual wolf activity in the area" and "Wild Suburbia: How Close is Too Close?". The humans talked a good game about saving the environment, but in reality they are just as selfish as the rest of us.

Jamison put his hand on my shoulder.

"Are you ready?"

I stood and thought for a moment. I knew whatever was on the other side of that door was something that would change everything. I could feel it in my bones. Whether he was a foreign spy or simply a drunk wash-up that informs on Dylan, the calm waters of today were almost gone. Ripples have a tendency of building into waves.

"Yeah, let's get it over with. I am dying to know whether or not I need to rip Dylan's head off."

Jamison clapped me on the back and laughed. As we yanked open the metal door, I realized that was the second time in two hours that I'd opened a door with expectations. I just hoped this time, I got what I wanted from within.

-4-

He was skinnier than I thought he would be. Scrawny even. Shaggy, strawberry blonde hair, a lumberjack beard, and flannel that looked like it belonged next to grunge in the dictionary. Could this be a mastermind foreign spy? They must have really scraped the bottom of the barrel with this one. He could not be more than twenty-five. The smell that emanated from him was definitely authentic werewolf. Werewolf piss that is. And it was one of ours. I rolled my eyes.

"Jamison. How did you miss this?"

His eyes darted from the kid to me and back again. "What do you mean?"

"Do you notice anything off about his scent?" Jamison might be my muscle, but he certainly wasn't a tracker. God help us if we ever need him on the hunt.

"Get closer. Take a big whiff."

He screwed up his face, but he scooted closer to the young man. Jamison's nostrils flared like a rabbit. "Werewolf, sir. I do not smell anything else."

"You are getting rusty, my friend." I dropped my pants and my dick out my boxer shorts. A hot steam of urine escaped the tip of my penis. The young man's jaw dropped. Jamison rolled his eyes. He was used to my bold antics by now. "Take a whiff." Jamison backed up and crossed his arms over his chest.

"You can't be serious."

"Hurry up before I run out."

The boy put his hands over his mouth. His eyes crinkled up in laughter. He had to be a clueless one. Imagine being captured by werewolves and still finding the humor in power games between your captors. Either that or he had been in worse situations. Jamison's face looked like he swallowed a lemon.

"It just smells like piss to me." He placed his hand over his nose and mouth.

"Maybe I should start drinking more water. Or less coffee."

"Can you get to the point?" The old man still had some spark left in him yet. He hadn't talked back to me in quite some time. I love giving Jamison a hard time. When I was growing up, he was like a brother to me. Ten years my senior, he always looked after our pack's pups and made sure we did not get into too much danger. Now that I was pushing forty, Jamison needed to give it a rest. But, he wouldn't let anyone else look after me.

"He smells like a werewolf alright. I will say. He smells just like a werewolf from our pack. More specifically, he smells exactly like a werewolf from our pack pissed on him."

"Or he knew enough to cover himself in piss so that he could sneak into our territory and spy on us!" Jamison's watery eyes shone in the dim lighting of the warehouse. The young boy's eyes stretched wide in his skull. I could sense a shift in his smell. His adrenaline was pumping. Fear.

"I am just lost! Those guys took me to the woods and then ditched me. Just help me get back home!" He turned towards me with pleading eyes. "Please let me go. I do not know what kind of illegal operation you guys have going on here, but I did not see a thing. I will not tell anyone I was here." His voice caught in his throat when I came closer. He shrank away, backing up into the wire fencing sectioning off this part of the warehouse from the others.

His fear seemed genuine. Why was this boy in the woods and why had Dylan taken him out to the woods, or had he?

"Jamison get a hold of Dylan. Bring him here."

"I'd rather not leave you alone with him until we determine the level of ri-"

I cut him off. Something was wrong here. "That's enough. Go get him."

"Yes, sir." Jamison stalked off, no doubt seething. As if I could not handle myself with this little shrimp.

"Come with me. I will not hurt you unless you try something." I extended my hand out to the young man.

He reached out and touched my palm. Shivers went up my spine. The hair on my entire body stood up. What in the hell was happening?

"Whoa." he exhaled softly. He must have felt it too. There was no way he was human. I pinned him up against the wire. His eyes squeezed shut and he winced away from an imaginary strike.

"Why were you in my woods?" I snarled.

"I told the other guys. And I told you. Dylan, that guy I met at the bar, took a bunch of us out there. We were drunk. I can't remember anything after arriving in the woods. We might have lit a bonfire or something. I do not know. There is nothing but blackness. And then I woke up and everyone was gone." He was still squinting, bracing for the punch.

"Look at me. I am not going to hurt you, if you tell me the truth."

"I am telling the truth!" His roar almost knocked me off my feet. His eyes opened wide and the color knocked the wind out of me. His left eye was green, the color of sparkling jade. The right eye was yellow. Werewolf yellow.

"You are a shapeshifter." That spark, or electricity earlier, whatever that was, it had to be because on some level I recognized that he was our kind. Right? What else could it be? "What's your name?" We'd spent all this time asking him what had happened, we had forgotten to ask him who he was.

"Landon. Landon James." His eyes burned brighter now.

"Your real name. Not your human name." Landon put his head down and exhaled loudly. He started to tap his foot.

"Listen dude. I do not know what the fuck ya'll are on. But, I do not want any part of it. Could you please, just let me go?"

I grabbed his wrist. The hairs on my neck stood up again. My whole body tingled. What the hell was with this guy? "Listen, you aren't getting out of here until we figure out who you belong to and why you were in our woods."

The door opened. Jamison was back with Dylan in tow. Now, hopefully, we were going to get some actual answers. Dylan did not look happy. He was red in the face with what looked like a shiner on one eye. I wondered if Jamison had to give it to him in order to get him to come here. When Dylan spotted Landon he stopped dead in his tracks.

"What is this about?" He swallowed hard. I had seen Dylan fight battles for territory, get into bar fights, hell even jump out of planes and off cliffs, and never waver. How could he be afraid of this runt?

"You tell me." I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back. "It seems like we have a story that needs clarification."

"Can we talk alone, sir?"

"Anything that you need to say you can say it in front of Jamison and I."

"No, I mean..." Dylan tilted his head towards Landon.

Interesting. He seemed nervous. What in the hell had happened in those woods?

"Out with it. I am losing my patience."

Jamison dragged a bucket over and turned it upside down. He squatted and plopped down onto it. I raised an eyebrow at him.

"I am old." he mouthed.

Dylan shifted from his right foot to his left foot and stared at the floor. I looked over at Landon. His face was unreadable, jaw set and eyes open and watchful.

"Dylan, speak." If I did not start getting somewhere, this was going to be bad.

"Bram and I met Landon at Lee's Landing. He seemed like he was...fun. So, we brought him back to the woods to, uh, continue the party.

After we lit the bonfire, the boys started getting rowdy, gassing each other up. Next thing I know, the boys are shapeshifting. I decided to join them, we thought it would be funny, you know, scaring a human. We were so hammered that no one would have believed him. We had shot after shot after shot, things got fuzzy. So, we transformed and expected him to run, or hide, or cry like a little baby.

This motherfucker freaks out. Starts screaming, so we start laughing. And then he transforms and he's bigger than all of us. Of course, we stood frozen. And then as soon as he started coming for us, we just upped and ran. We weren't trying to fight last night, we just wanted to have a few laughs. No big deal. We're paying for it with our hangovers.”

"No big deal?" Dylan was lucky I did not rip him apart in front of the others. "Where do I begin!? Revealing yourself to a human. On purpose. For no good reason. Not realizing he's actually a shapeshifter. And then when finding out he is a shapeshifter, instead of reporting him, so that we can deal with the situation, you run away like a pussy and then leave him there for others to find. What if another one of our pack hadn't found him? What if he would have snuck up on one of our men and hurt him or worse? Their blood would have been on your stupid head!" I was breathing hard now.

"Landon, is this what happened?" I turned to look at Landon. He was sitting cross legged on the floor with his torso bent over his knees. His head was bowed and his forehead was resting on his palms.

"I do not remember. It can't be possible. I am not, a ...uh...what did you call it. Shapeshifter?"

How could this guy live his whole life not knowing what he really was? Is that even possible? To live your life completely unaware of what is buried inside of you?

"Jamison, show me his marks." There is no way that a non-shapeshifter could carry our markings. I wanted to settle this. A dull headache settled in between my eyes. I had a feeling I would not be going home for a while.

Jamison got up from the bucket and headed over to Landon. Landon scrambled back to standing. He put his hands up in a gesture of surrender. His eyes were wide with fear. These were not the eyes of a man that knew what he was doing.

Jamison stalked over to him and ripped up his shirt to reveal a long slender waist. His muscles were not my usual washboard chiseled preference, but the taut definition was a pleasant surprise. Underneath all that disheveled mess was a surprisingly attractive torso. What other secrets could Landon have for us? Jamison spun Landon around and lifted his shirt higher.

"Hey, dude, what's the big idea. I would have taken it off. What in the hell are you looking for?"

I heard Dylan inhale sharply. Jamison leaned in closer to the pinkish red markings on his back.

"I've never seen it in real life." There were always rumors, growing up, about half werewolf and half human hybrids, but no one had actually ever seen one first hand. There were some that hypothesized it was impossible. Others said that the half human portion would kill any shapeshifting abilities or strength. But, there it was in front of us. He carried the mark of the werewolf, a crescent moon shaped birthmark. However, Landon's tattoo was unlike any other werewolf I had ever seen.

Over the years, I have seen thousands of birthmarks. Pinkish, pale white, light brown, dark brown and everything in between. There were big ones and small ones and hidden ones. Some were on feet, stomachs, breasts, buttocks. I had even seen one on a scalp. But, never had I seen a creature that carried the mark of both human and werewolf.

In fact, most humans do not visibly carry the mark of their own kind. Some have it hidden in nearly invisible places, even to their own selves. Humans often have the mark that is mistaken for a mole or removed for aesthetic reasons. Since they do not value it, it simply went away. Forgotten, like most things ancient, the mark of humans has nearly vanished from the face of the earth. Only old kinds remember it.

It is quite simple, really. We are the moon, ever-changing in the darkness. They are the sun, static and unyielding. And most likely to burn out in a fiery death. They are the yin to our yang, our counterparts on earth. And here we had a very special creature. One that carried the mark of them both.

-5-

"So I am guessing, you aren't going to let me go any time soon?" Landon had asked that question at least three times in the last five hours. Each time I answered him with the same response.

"I told you. You are free to go. But, you want to figure out where you came from as much as I do, so how about we keep going?"

"I am really tired." The bags under his eyes had grown steadily with the ticking clock. He seemed to have the stamina of a human.

"The quicker we get through all of this information, the sooner you can leave. However, I can't let you leave until I know that my pack is safe."

"And I have told you a hundred thousand times, I am not a danger to anyone. I am a nobody. I've got a four year old and an ex-wife. After high school I went to college for a year and dropped out. Got sick of working in restaurants, so I served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. I am just an ordinary soldier trying to get by."

"I know that you are saying that. And that you might even think that. But, there has to be something in your past. Are there any other times that you have blacked out?"

Landon went white as a sheet. "What do you mean?"

"You blacked out when you shapeshifted. It seems like you were simply reacting to your life being in danger. It usually happens much earlier, sort of a puberty, if you will. But, for you maybe this could have been your first time. But, how old are you? I find it hard to believe, as a soldier, you have never been in mortal danger."

Landon pressed his lips together. His forehead furrowed. He seemed far away.

"You can tell me." I put my hand on his hand. My senses whirred to life. My eyesight sharpened, hearing amplified, my muscles began to tense. He was causing me to shift. I fought back the urge to transform. Breathe. There was something about this man. He looked up at me and sighed.

"There is about three months of my time in battle that I do not remember. Two weeks in Kuwait, Three in Iraq, and about a month in Afghanistan. I do not know where I was. Or what I did. But, there were a few prisoners of war that said a wolf attacked them. No one took them seriously. In fact, none of it was ever mentioned officially. They just figured people in warzones, stressful situations, there is no telling how your brain can process a situation. You tend not to rely on memory in places like that."

He ran his fingers through his hair. It must be a nervous habit. Every minute he takes his calloused palms and runs them through his long strands.

"That must have been difficult."

"War is war. You aren't there because it is easy."

"No, I mean losing pieces of your memories."

"To tell you the truth I never really thought about it much. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that something has been brewing inside of me for a long time."

"Can I ask you a favor?" If he was going to ask me to let him go again, I was going to put him through the wall.

"Is it possible for me to shower? I have not shaved in a week and my clothes are disgusting. I can smell myself."

"Imagine how I feel. I am the best hunter on this coast."

"So let me do you a favor then." His eyes crinkled with laughter. The noise of him laughing filled the warehouse. His laughter came from deep inside, unashamed and joyful. How could someone have so much joy when they'd experienced so much uncertainty?

"Let me see what I can do." I went to speak to Jamison and sent Dylan out for supplies. "I think he is telling the truth. The gaps in his memory, the inability to succeed despite his wits, the broken relationship, volunteering for three tours? He's escaping from something whether he knows it or not."

"Don’t let your dick lead you. That's all I am saying."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Jamison had never spoken about my sexuality out loud before.

"I know you. I've known you for years. do not go barking up the wrong tree just because it is a challenge."

I stared at him for a moment. Jamison had never taken this tone with me before.

"Pick your jaw up off the floor and let's go. Apparently, you have already decided that we have got a new soldier to train. Well guess what. He's your recruit."

I hated to admit it, but Jamison was right. I was losing my edge on this whole fiasco. While we were waiting for Dylan to return, I went to the bathroom to freshen up. I always kept a travel kit in my car for times where running home wasn't convenient. Toothpaste, razors, soap, condoms, I had it all. Just as I finished zipping up my case, I heard a sharp knock at the door.

"Can I come in? I really have to go." It was Landon. My heart began to thump loudly. What did Jamison mean about me barking up the wrong tree? I was never one to get my vibes crossed. I was the guy that gave blowjobs to half of my girlfriends so-called boyfriends in high school. There wasn't too much that could remain hidden from me for long.

I unlocked the door to the bathroom and let him in. There was one stall, one urinal and a sink basin. We were quite economical when it came to our warehouses. We very rarely held a hostage in them.

"Thanks. I've been holding it for ages." He ran into the stall and shut the door. I turned the faucet on as a courtesy. Besides, hearing a man pee was about as romantic as hearing him microwave a frozen dinner. Necessary noises, should remain where necessary.

I looked at myself in the mirror and lingered. Perhaps this could be a test. I mean, this is quite a small space to be trapped in with a man. That's it. I will flirt a little bit. Go fishing. See if he responds at all.

The toilet flushed and the door swung open Landon made a beeline for the sink. Good hygiene, check. He turned his head towards me and smiled. Great teeth, check. It was go time.

"Can I see your mark again."

His eyes bugged out. "Um, I am not sure.."

"I want to see it. Show me." I clipped my words. Barked orders. He met my gaze. I could tell he was struggling against the urge to say, Yes sir.

"Here." He took off his shirt in one motion. He put his hands on the sink and leaned over. I walked over so I was directly behind him. I ran my finger from the base of his spine up towards his mark. He squirmed, but he let me continue.

I rubbed my finger over the ridge of his marks, tracing the sun and the moon.

"Do you know what these mean?" His skin was soft. The smooth skin was nearly hairless, extremely odd for a werewolf. I would have to spend all of my time getting back waxes to be this smooth. Perks of being half human I guess.

"That I am a freak?" He ripped his shirt back down and turned to face me. He leaned back into the sink basin and crossed his arms over his chest. I pushed down his elbows to his sides. He should be able to discuss this without protection.

"It means that you are special. Not just in the fuzzy, everyone is special kind of way. It means that you have a gift, the ability to walk between worlds and truly belong in each. We do not know of any other werewolf and human that is alive. In fact, the documentation, even in our ancient texts is quite rare. No one has ever really been sure about what would happen if our kinds were brought together." I put my hand on his shoulder and gazed into his eyes, both yellow and green sparkled. He looked down at his feet.

"I've never belonged. Being a soldier was the only thing I was ever good at. Now that's gone."

"It does not have to be." He looked back up at me, his forehead bunched up and his eyebrows furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

"Werewolves have soldiers too. We are in a constant state of war actually. A war against ourselves and other packs, a war against being discovered, a war against the humans, if it should come to it." That was definitely a simplified version of our existence, but I wanted to comfort him.

"War? Like war, war?" How very eloquent.

"Not like human war. We do not blow each other up from far away and invade other territories simply for resources." Well, that was a lie. We had invaded three this year alone to pillage and plunder. But, you know. For the sake of rose-colored glasses and all.

"I am always in need of a good soldier." And that was the truth. I never wanted to be the type of leader that ruled by blowing smoke up the asses of others. But, there was something about Landon that made me want to give him what he wanted. At least, for a while.

"But, I am not a werewolf." He really had a thing for stating the obvious. I guess it was good that he liked combat. Words seemed to not be a strong suit of his.

"You’re right about that. You aren't a werewolf. You are a shapeshifter and a human. It is necessary that you do not forget you are both. Embrace it. Don’t run from it. If there is anything I've learned from humans, it is that there is nothing wrong with not fitting into a box."

"But, how can I fight werewolves if I can't control myself? I've never shapeshifted on purpose before. It's always just happened."

"We'll help you. You have it in you to transform. How could you know what you are capable of, if you have never really tried? I will have my best men train you. You will be a shapeshifting soldier in no time!" I could only hope that my men did not think I had gone soft or lost my mind. I was betting a lot on this working out. What if he could not learn to control his abilities? And, would his human half weaken him against other shapeshifters?

His smile was like a tonic. "I will do it. I would do anything to get back into uniform again."

"Uh...about that. We're not exactly organized like the military. Sure, we have our rankings and things like that, but it is more of a ...monarchy. I am the King, you see." His eyes widened and his mouth opened in a small "o".

"You’re the...King?" What an innocent little puppy.

"Yes. Which means you obey my every command. Do you understand?"

"Sir, yes, sir." Yikes, what a habit to break. At least he was enthusiastic.

"You are not a human soldier anymore. I do not need the validation. I know who I am and how powerful I am. It is nice to call me Sir, Your Highness, or any terms of respect, but there is nothing formal. You are not a man without free will. If I give you a command, I am not giving it to titillate my ego. The reasons are much bigger."

"I understand. Sir." I loved the way his mouth shaped around the word, Sir. I put my hand back on his wrist. The tingle began as soon as our skin touched

"I can feel the power coursing through you. Trust me that you will be a great shapeshifter when we are through with you."

"Now, Dylan should be here any minute with your things. Make sure to get presentable."

"I will."

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my arm. My stomach dropped and my knees felt like custard. His eyes seemed to glitter in the fluorescent lighting.

"Thank you."

"You are very welcome." I spun quickly on my heels and exited the bathroom door. It was another twenty minutes before my heart stopped pounding in my chest.

Whatever kind of werewolf he was by blood, I knew he was going to be a powerful one. I wondered how far I would go with this new pet of mine. I knew the secret he carried within him, that perhaps was hidden even to himself. I knew, deep down, he was a soldier because he loved to please. He believed in something outside of himself, something greater than his own ego and desires.

No matter what people thought about an alpha ruler, the true power was carried in submission. For, how long can an alpha stand alone without others to dominate? Taking was easy. It was giving that took strength.

-6-

Jamison, Dylan and I were discussing training strategies when we received the shock of a lifetime. Dylan was convinced that I was making an egregious error by allowing Landon or "The Human" to live.

"He's an unknown entity. No matter what he is capable of, he will never be dependable or predictable. He hasn't learned to control his shapeshifting in nearly thirty years. In fact, up until yesterday, he wasn't even aware he was a shapeshifter. What are we running, a charity?"

"He might not have known explicitly, but he knew something was up. I talked to him myself, remember? He's accepted this way too easily. If he wasn't aware on some level his whole life that he was different, why would he accept this information so readily now?"

"That's what I am talking about! He should be in a mental institution pulling his hair out by now! It does not make any sense. The Human knows more than he is letting on. You are telling me it is simply coincidence that the first half blood known in over a millennia just waltzes into your forest unaware? I do not think so! He knows what he is and he's just pretending. You watch, he will play this innocent pup routine until our guards are down and then he will rip our throats out in our sleep."

Although I hated to admit it, Dylan had a point. How could Landon simply accept the existence of werewolves and his own nature so quickly.

Didn’t he have more questions? Concerns? What about his parents, shouldn't he be questioning everything he has ever known right about now?

He's simply taking a shower, like it is the most natural thing in the world to find out you are a werewolf. I had to explore this further.

"I am aware of your concerns, Dylan. But, I think the risk is worth it. He could be a secret weapon for us. If only for the publicity." I stuck out my tongue at Jamison, who rolled his eyes in response.

"That's another thing we need to discuss. If any of the other packs find out that we have a half breed, we're in for some shit. We need to keep this quiet, even to the rest of our men."

Jamison was always a step ahead of me, but always on my level. I loved the man for it. I grabbed his shoulder in a half hug, which he tried to shrug off playfully. But he was grinning from ear to ear. I did not show him enough affection.

"That's for damn sure. Perhaps we just keep this between us, but we will need to bring in a couple others for his training."

"Why? We can handle it. I've taught enough first years to know how to inspire transformations." Dylan had a thing for trying to help young females with their transitions. He said the hard work made them desperate for a stress reliever that he was oh-so-happy to provide. I could vouch for quite a few new shapeshifters that had desperately wanted to serve the King.

"He's not an ordinary first year. He's nearly thirty and he's been suppressing his true nature for years. We need to be careful with how we approach this. We are going to be tearing down some reinforced walls, we do not know what is behind them." Jamison was right again. Did this man eat wisdom with his bacon and eggs?

"We will proceed with caution. I will continue to interview him and try to gain information. You all pay close attention and anything out of the ordinary should be reported to me immediately. For now, I will put him up in my house so that I can keep a close watch." Jamison raised his right eyebrow but said nothing.

My neck began to get hot. What would it be like? A half human, half werewolf would certainly be similar in ways to both? I mean, I had certainly had my share of humans. Most of us had. It was pitifully easy.

Werewolves were more difficult. Too many werewolves viewed sex as only a mating ritual or a chance to plant their seed. Duty. Honor. Growing the pack. Not many werewolves indulged in sex for love or because they simply enjoyed it. There was always a grander purpose in the rearview mirror.

I was a weirdo in my own right. I loved the game of sex. The push and pull. The power dynamics and intimacy. I enjoyed closeness without a self-sacrificing motive. And I certainly loved to be served and obeyed. I wonder if Landon was the same.

"I forgot to mention that there is an ex-wife and son in the picture. We need to know whether the boy shares his father's abilities and what the situation is with the ex-wife. How much does she know? I imagine that if she lived with him long enough to have a son, she had to have witnessed his odd behavior at some point. We need to know whether the boy belongs to us or them."

Jamison spoke up first. "I will check out the ex-wife and son. My arthritis is acting up and some good old-fashioned human surveillance work will get me off my feet."

"I can help you with Landon's sessions. I do not want to miss this." Dylan was used to being in the spotlight. He knew that the truth of Landon's identity would eventually be discovered and that his new claim to fame would be that he trained him. I had a mind to deny the smug bastard, but unfortunately, my choices were limited.

“I am going to test his limits. If I put him through the paces, he might reveal something. Maybe I can take him on a hunting trip or teach him to track.”

Dylan smiled a dopey grin. “A human tracker, if that does not beat all.”

“He could not be any worse than you. You mistook Landon for a human. It's your fault we're in this mess.” His face fell and turned pink. That will teach him to be such a knob. It might have been Dylan that brought Landon to our attention, but Landon had unknowingly entered werewolf territory and put himself in the center of our pack. Was this something that his heart called out for, or did he have motives of his own? Just then, the bathroom door opened.

“Oh my.” Jamison gasped.

“Would you look at that. Dude cleans up well.” Dylan was making the understatement of the century. Of course, he would never give undue props to another male.

The Landon that stepped outside of the bathroom resembled nothing of the shaggy, unkempt young man that I'd interviewed for the last two days. Landon was smoking hot. He had shaved his stubble, revealing a sharp jawline and muscular neck. His hair had been shaved close, similar to a military style. The hot shower had steamed his face pink and flushed. The clothes Dylan had bought fit closely, a hair on the snug side. A black t-shirt and dark wash jeans. Hardly a fashion statement, but the simplicity of the outfit let Landon's rugged attractiveness shine through.

“Seems like you are getting a hang at this shapeshifting thing already.” How had I missed the curve of his pillowy lips?

Landon's cheeks burned a bit brighter. He flashed me a small smile. “It feels good to have short hair again.”

“Come, have something to eat with us, then we'll get started on your training. After your first lessons, I will show you where you'll be staying. We have enough clothes for you for several days until we have time to go back to your apartment and retrieve your things. Just make sure Jamison gets your address and we'll go get anything you need."

Landon raked his hands through his hair again. What a tell. I needed to talk to him about that. “Um, I do not really need anything. I was actually crashing at my friend's place, on his couch. You know, the divorce and all. There isn't anything there that I can't do without."

“Minimalism at its finest. We have got ourselves an idealist here. Probably the first time a shapeshifter's ever gone green, what do you say, Sir?” Dylan was a real asshole sometimes. But, werewolves did tend to have an appetite for the finer things in life. Landon truly was an outsider in many ways, from either side.

“Well, that makes things easier. We'll have to take you out shopping later. do not worry about a thing.” We had a lot to do and I hadn't slept for forty-eight hours. “I am going to go back home for awhile. I need to take care of some things. Drop him off at my house when you are through with him.”

I left them all at the warehouse and returned to my apartment. I could hear rustling from behind my door. The cleaning lady must still be around. My keys jangled in the lock.

When I entered, I was greeted with the delightful smell of onions frying. Just what you want your apartment to smell like when you have a guest for the first time.

“Matilda! I told you I was going to eat out for the next few days!” A garbled reply emanated from the kitchen. If there was one person on this earth I could not yell at, it was Matilda. When I got to the kitchen, every bowl and plate I owned was out.

“I know. I know. I just thought you would want a home cooked meal when you got back from your business trip.” Damn this woman was good. I pecked her on the cheek and stuck my finger in the casserole dish.

“Your macaroni and cheese is the greatest I've ever tasted.” She hugged me with one arm and stirred pie filling with another. I was going to have to get my ass to the gym.

“This is why you need to settle down, so you aren't being cooked for by an ugly old lady.” She pinched my cheek. “Such a handsome man should not be alone.”

“Being alone is never a problem with me.” I winked and took another finger full of macaroni. She swatted my hand away.

“Shoo. This is my castle. You look exhausted. I will leave everything in the fridge with reheating instructions. Go take a nap.” My head swam and I suddenly felt lightheaded.

“You are right. A good nap is what I need.” That and a good stiff something else. But the nap was going to have to do. For now. I kissed her goodbye and headed straight for the master bath. After a quick shower, I climbed into bed and drew the covers over me. What would it be like to rub my hands through Landon's hair as he lay beside me? I brushed away the thought and fell into a blissful nothingness.

-7-

The pounding at my door interrupted a dream of a warm sandy beach.

“Just a minute!” I shouted. My head was fuzzy and my arm had fallen asleep underneath me. My neck cracked as I stretched. I was getting old. The knocking repeated. “I said, just a minute!” It had to be Dylan. Jamison would have rang the buzzer.

I stumbled to the door, still dressed in boxer shorts and a t-shirt. I peeked through the keyhole. Dylan's puffy mug stared back at me.

“Hey boss! I've got a gift for you!” The only gift I would consider lately would be to give Dylan a good smack in the teeth. I opened the door and stood behind it. Dylan waltzed in. Landon followed. When he saw me his eyes opened wide.

“Oh, uh. Sorry. Um, do you need to go get dressed?” His fluster warmed me. Why was he freaking out about me being in my boxers?

“I will put some pants on if it makes you uncomfortable,” I said. Dylan just smirked. He was used to my envelope pushing.

Landon flushed deep red. “No, I um. I am sorry. This is your house, I just uh. I am fine.”

Dylan handed me a bag. “Here you go honey. His diapers and wipes are in there and I will put a few bottles in the fridge. Now I am going to go suck some guy's dick in a condo I paid for with your alimony!” He mimed a cock going in and out of his mouth.

“Hilarious. I will make sure your next job is as a comedian.”

“The Human could not transform.”

“That's hardly a surprise. Most full werewolves do not get it on the first try.”

“We'll see, Sir. We'll see.” Dylan really was getting a mouth on him.

“You will see Dylan. And when Landon becomes a lethal entity of my kingdom, it would be a shame to think that you had any doubts.”

“Of course not, Sir. I am sure he will be a fine soldier.” Dylan looked like he had swallowed a lemon.

“That's all Dylan. you are relieved of your duties for today. Please come and retrieve your pupil tomorrow at ten.”

“See you then, Sir.” Dylan exited without even acknowledging Landon. From the look on Landon's face, that suited him fine. I turned to Landon and grabbed his bicep. Dressed in another t-shirt that hugged his torso just right, Landon looked like a soldier on off-shore leave.

“You hungry?” His face broke out into a dazzling smile.

“Starving.”

“Let me throw on some clothes and I will feed you.” Dear God, he’s been here two days and I am already using phrases like ‘I will feed you’. What the hell is wrong with me?

After I changed, I reheated Matilda's feast and spread it out on my dining table. I lit a candle on the stove to cover up any of the lingering onion smell. I got out a bottle of wine and placed it near the table.

I popped my head out into the living room where Landon was watching some sports event. The man was a walking masculinity advertisement. It's like he looked up how to be macho in the dictionary and arranged his life surrounding that. Was it intentional? Or was he just the opposite of every guy I'd ever been attracted to up until now. Most of my dalliances had involved rich and powerful men that wanted to be treated with a tasteful hint of superiority. They turned down their noses at uncouth behavioral traits such as burping, ball games, and beer guts. He bounced off the couch and practically ran into the kitchen. He froze when he saw the set up.

“Wow. You went through a lot of trouble. We could have just grabbed a burger or something.” He rubbed his stomach and looked longingly at the food.

“Nonsense. You deserve a real meal.” As did I. In all of this excitement over our new soldier, I realized that I'd skipped the last three meals. He sat down and I poured him a glass of wine. I held out my glass to him.

“To your new life.” He grinned and held his glass out to me.

“To new friends.” My heart swelled. It had been a long time since I sat down with someone over a meal, with no plans for hooking up.

I'd gotten so busy with running the pack, working real estate deals, and chasing and rotating submissives, I had very little time for simply relaxing with a friend. It felt nice.

Over mindless chit chat and several helpings of Matilda's delicious food, we finished a bottle of wine. I went to grab another. I came back and twisted the corkscrew into the cork with the bottle between my legs. The cork started to crumble. Fuck.

“Ah…” This never happened and of course it was happening in front of Landon.

“Here let me help you.” He pulled the bottle from me, brushing his hands over mine. The skin that he touched set on fire. Landon popped the cork from the bottle with ease. “See, who knew? I am good for something.”

“My hero.” I mock curtsied. He snorted with laughter. Did I just do that? What the fuck? Say something smooth. Something sexy. “I actually prefer liquor to wine.” And that is not it.

“Well, in that case, after this bottle, we'll switch.” He winked. Except the only thing I had in the house was a bottle of watermelon vodka from an engagement party my office threw for one of the brokers. He's going to think I am an idiot. Maybe I can feign tiredness beforehand and sneak off to bed. When he's at training tomorrow, I will go to the liquor store and get cowboy vodka. Or whiskey or something. Brown stuff. Rye? What the hell does he like to drink?

I took a shot. “I am more partial to bourbon myself.” Landon put down his wine glass.

“You know that sounds great. I’d fancy me a real drink after all.” Good job. Now, he's definitely going to know your an idiot. And sooner.

“I actually do not have any. Sorry.” My shoulders reached my ears with a shrug that Atlas could have used to shoulder the earth.

Landon’s laughter dripped like honey. “Well, then I guess I better shut my mouth and drink my wine.”

Too embarrassed to speak, I raised my overfilled wine glass. I needed to get drunk as quickly as possible. Maybe, if I moved the conversation along, he would forget.

“Do you want anything else to eat. Or dessert? There's lemon chess pie in the refrigerator.

“Lemon chess pie? Who are you Martha Stewart?” Goodness no. Paula Deen maybe.

“Housekeeper. She insists on filling my fridge with things that give me a potbelly.”

“You, Sir, have no pot belly.”

“Please. I am obese!”

“Are you out of your mind? I'd do anything to have a chest like yours. And do not get me started on those shoulders.” Well this was certainly making me feel better. This could not possibly be platonic conversation?

“It's from all the fork to mouth action. It's quite the workout.”

Landon drained the wine from his glass and poured himself another. A new flush had appeared on his cheeks. He was up to three glasses.

“Well, if you are okay, I am going to head to bed. I am not as young as I used to be so I've gotta get my beauty rest.”

“Do not go yet. Can you stay a minute?”

“Okay. Did your training go okay?”

“I do not want to talk about that.”

“Is there something else on your mind?”

“I remember a few things from when I was a kid.”

That's not surprising. His cool reaction to everything was a definite indication he was aware, but did not want to accept his reality. Like most of us. “Why don’t you tell me about it.”

“When I was a kid, I had an imaginary friend. Well, at least my Mom told me it was my imaginary friend when I told her about it. It sounds so stupid to say it out loud. There was actually a wolf that used to visit the woods behind our house. He always watched me and I could feel it when he was there.

The first time he ever appeared, I was seven or eight years old. The back of my neck was tingling and the hair on my entire body stood up. I just knew something was watching me. When I turned around, I saw a wolf near the tree line. He was just staring, looking straight at me. When he saw me, he and I both froze and stared at each other.

I was so young, I had heard that wolves were dangerous, but somehow I knew that he wouldn't hurt me. I took a few steps towards him and he did not move, so I kept going. I inched further and further to him. It must have taken me twenty minutes to reach him. All the while he remained still, never taking his eyes off of me. Even when I finally reached him and put my hand on his head, all he did was bow his head. What kind of wolf does that?

After that, the wolf met me every day. Every single day. Like, seriously how did I not understand that this was not a freaking wolf?” He looked at me with pleading eyes. “I feel like I am going insane. Like I've always been insane and always knew and I just did not want to admit it.”

I grabbed his wrist and squeezed. “You are not crazy. I am here. I am real. I am a shapeshifter, just like you.”

“Spoken like a true hallucination.” His eyes were watering, but he smiled weakly.

I did not want to say anything, but the thought that a werewolf was interacting with a seven year old human was a bit concerning. What could he have possibly wanted with the child? “What did the wolf do when you came close?”

“It was weird, he acted kinda like a dog. One that knew me already. We played fetch and I would ride him around the yard.”

That sounds like an awful lot of work for a werewolf to do for shits and giggles. Could he be making this up?

“One day my mom came outside and found us there. She started screaming at the wolf to go away. I've never seen my mom like that before. Like she could have exploded. Her eyes were all wild and her face turned purple. All she kept saying was “I told you to stay away!” At first, the wolf just stayed but then she started chasing him and he ran away.

I asked my mom when I was ten or so whatever happened to him and she said that I was playing with the neighbors dog, Jasper, and that there was never any wolf. And then I asked her why she got so mad that day and she seemed pretty embarrassed. She just said that she did not want him to hurt me.”

“Did you ever ask your neighbors if they had a dog named Jasper?”

“No, I just listened to my mother. I had no idea any of it was ever going to matter. Eventually I just accepted the narrative that it was my neighbor's dog. But, I've always known that it was a wolf. It wasn't a wolf was it? That wolf was a werewolf.”

“Most likely, yes. Do you know anyone that would have wanted to hang around you as a child? One of your family members or parent's friends?”

"No, it was always just my mother and I.”

“"What about your father?” The father was the most likely suspect for Landon's playmate. Only parents spend that much time with kids without getting bored.

“I stopped asking my mother about my father when I was twelve. Every time I asked her about it she would tell me another story. They were all some tale where he was heroic and did not have a choice but to leave, or that he died somewhere, but they were never the same, so I just stopped asking. It's embarrassing to hear your parent's lie.”

Unfortunately, I knew that reality all too well. My mother was a degenerate gambler. Every time she opened her mouth a lie spilled out. Where she was, what she was doing, I had no idea. “It may or may not have been your father. But, it does not really matter that much either way. You knew something, yes. You suspected something, yes. But, you can't beat yourself up for not knowing that you were something that society was constantly telling you that you weren't. It does not make you stupid, or crazy, or anything else.”

“That's not the only thing. My ex-wife. Uh, Emily. The reason she is divorcing me. She says that I got blackout drunk and hit her, and almost hurt our son, Adam. I know that is impossible. I would never ever hurt him or Emily. But she wouldn't even talk about it or look at me. And the thing is, that night I only had two beers. But I do not remember what happened at all.

I remember coming up the steps to our townhouse and then when I came to, Emily and Adam were gone. I have not seen them since. She called to tell me they were okay, but wouldn't tell me where they are and says she never wants to see me again. Who does that? I mean I know things between us weren't great, but I miss my son.”

“Do you think you could have transformed in front of her? Perhaps that is what drove her to leave you so abruptly? Maybe in her mind, she is just protecting her son. And she's afraid of you because she does not understand you.”

“Even if I am a werewolf, how could she think that I would do something to hurt him?”

“Well, I hate to hell you, but the public relations department of Werewolf Inc., isn't exactly top of the line. we have got quite the bad reputation.”

“Do we deserve it?”

I thought for a moment. I decided the best course of action was to answer honestly. “Yes. But, no more than humans. Werewolves can be evil, conniving, sinister monsters. As can humans. There really isn't as much difference between our species as some people would like to think.”

“Some more than others, huh?” He put his hand on mine and began tracing my skin with his thumb. As the heat traveled up my arm, I began to tremble. I tried my best to keep my cool.

“Some more than others, yes. But we all have our dark sides.” Way to keep it light asshole.

“It's never going to be the same again, is it?”

“"No. It's not. It's going to be better. And you are going to love it.”

“I've always wanted to have special powers.”

“"Ha-ha. We all do. Even werewolves.”

He pulled away his hand and took another swig from his wine glass. “I am really tired."

“Okay. Let me show you to your room.”

“Aren't you going to clean up?”

“I will put away the food. Matilda will get the dishes in the morning.”

“"Matilda?” A perplexed look crossed his face.

“Yeah, my housekeeper.” I giggled. He almost looked relieved.

“For a second there I thought you had a wife due home in the morning.” This was my chance to at least let him know that I wasn't interested in women.

“"There's absolutely zero chance of that.”

“Hence my surprise.” He flashed a quick smile. “Where am I sleeping?”

“Come with me.” I led him to my guest bedroom, right down the hallway from the master bed and bath. A pile of toiletries and laundered towels were on the bed. Matilda certainly was a gracious host. “If you need anything, just let me know.”

“You have been kinder than I deserve.”

“It's really no prob-”I was interrupted by a gentle peck on the lips. Whoa.

“I am sorry I shouldn't have..."

I kissed him back, this time pressing my body against his. I could feel his heat blazing through his thin t-shirt. His soft tongue caressed mine, while his full lips pressed into me. I put my finger in his belt loop and pulled his pelvis close. I wanted to feel every inch of him. The fingers on my left hand intertwined with his.

“Come on. Let's get into bed.” I tugged gently on his hand, but his feet were firmly planted on the floor.

“I...uh...I can't.”

“Do not play hard to get, come on.” I leaned in to kiss his neck, but he put his hands on my chest and shoved.

“I am not gay.” Well, a hot kiss with another gay man usually proves just the contrary, but I understood resistance well. I've got kids too, from a time where I was also in denial.

“Gay or straight, whatever you are, you are attracted to me. Let's enjoy it.” He untangled his fingers from mine.

“I've got a son. A child. You are my...boss...this is a mess. I am so embarrassed. Please do not fire me.” Boner officially killed. Le sigh.

“I am not going to fire you. I am really not even paying you at this point. I will tell you what. I promise that I will forget this whole thing ever happened, okay?” He nodded vigorously.

“Good night.” Landon walked into the room and shut the door without even saying a word. Well, that could have gone better. Such a disappointment. I thought, at my age, I would be past the guys that had not come to terms with their sexuality. Although I wasn't technically out to my werewolf pack either, so I guess we're all struggling. Humans are a tad more accepting when it comes to matters of the heart. With werewolves it was all loins.

I slowly walked back to my bedroom and decided that a nice steaming hot shower would make me feel better about Landon breaking off our night before we had gotten into any real fun. I turned on the tap and let the water run on the highest heat setting. With the door closed, the mirror began to fog. I put some toothpaste on my toothbrush and began scrubbing.

I was an attractive and intelligent man. I got ass all the time. In fact, if I called Geoff this very minute, he would probably toss me at least a blowjob. Why did I care about this stranger's rejection? Sure, he was half human and half werewolf and practically landed on my doorstep. That does not happen everyday. And certainly not for nothing, right? It had to be destiny.

I took off my t-shirt and pants and stared in the mirror. Other than looking a bit more tired than I did ten years ago, I still looked pretty good. I certainly was more attractive than most guys my age. Almost daily gym workouts, facials, massages, scrubs, creams, all of it had to count for something.

Tap, tap.

My heartbeat thumped out of my chest. Could it be? I wrapped a towel around my waist and opened the door. “Hey. What's wrong?”

Landon looked as if he'd seen a ghost. “I do not know what I am doing here.”

“I do not buy that for a second. I think you know exactly why you are here.”

He shook his head. “I really do not. I just….”

“Landon. I am your King now before anything else. Tell me why you are standing in front of my bathroom door.” I am sick of these games. I do not have time for this. He needs to grow up.

“I want you.” He said it so quietly that I thought I misheard.

“Louder. I did not hear that.”

“I want you.” I could feel him trying to catch my gaze, but I was going to have a little fun first.

“That's nice. Do you have anything else to say?” I began closing the door, but Landon put his foot in the door to keep it from closing.

“I am sorry. About earlier, I mean. I am just afraid.” I looked him straight in the eye.

“What are you afraid of, exactly?”

“You, us. This. Everything. I knew it the day I saw you. When we touched, I felt this...energy. I've never felt anything like it. I've never been with a man before. I've never even considered it. All I've done my entire life is follow orders, do what other people wanted. I am sick of not having what I want. What I need.”

I stifled a pretend yawn. Okay, so sue me I am a bit of a bitch.

“Landon I am not interested in a crisis. I am interested in having a man. Do I think you are sexy? Of course. Did I feel the spark that you are talking about? Yes, but I know who I am. I am a shapeshifter with a voracious appetite for all things I like. Good food, good wine, good fucks. I have a good life. I do not need somebody unsure of anything.”

“I am not unsure of how I feel. This other stuff. The werewolf thing. I am unsure. I am confused. I feel like I am losing my mind. Being with you. I am sure of that.”

I reached out to touch his chin. I turned his face back and forth. My little puppet. “I am always right about people. I pegged you as a good soldier.”

“Things were much easier when I was following orders.”

“I could order you to fuck me, you know. Then you would have to. It would be beyond your control. Out of your hands. Your King commands and you obey.”

This time it was Landon who whimpered. “Let me in. I will do whatever you say.”

I opened the door just enough for him to squeeze by me and shut it again. “It's cold in here now.” Landon started undressing. “Did I tell you that you could undress?” He stopped dead in his tracks. I crossed the distance between us in one stride. “I need you to obey me. Otherwise this is not going to work.” He nodded his head vigorously.

“"Good. Now take off all of your clothes." He threw off his t-shirt and wriggled out of his jeans. He had teal boxer briefs underneath, straining against a huge bulge. “Everything. Take it off.” I smacked him across the ass. “Do as you are told.” He whimpered again. He slid off his underwear and stood in front of me, naked and throbbing. Landon reached out for me. I planted a kiss on his lips and then pushed him away. “Get in the shower.”

He turned and opened the shower door. His ass was firm and tanned, and it took everything in my power not to get on my knees and bite it. His broad shoulders barely fit through the entryway. I put my towel on the sink and stepped out of my boxers. The steam hit me in a wave. Landon cupped my ass in his hands and kissed me deeply. I let him hold me awhile. Our lips pressed against each other, both familiar and comforting, and wildly thrilling. I felt as if his lips were carved to match mine. He reached for my cock, but I put his hand back on my ass. I wanted to take things slowly. I wanted to make him burn. Make him beg. I put my hands on his chest and pushed him away.

“Wash yourself.” He laughed and went in for another kiss. I put my hands up again and pushed him away. “"Wash yourself. That's an order.”

He grabbed my hand and kissed it before I could protest. “Yes, sir.” He stuck out his tongue and grabbed the soap. “"Where's your washcloth?”

“I want you to use your hands. Feel each and every part of your body.” He lathered the soap up and began to rub it in small circles into his arm. After his arms he moved on to his perfect stomach. The stomach that I would have considered flabby three days ago just because he did not have chiseled abs. But it was his and it was perfect. He was washing his body unconsciously and out of habit, not pleasure.

“Not like that. Do it slower. Let me show you.” I grabbed the soap from him and put my hands under the spray. The warm water flowed through my fingers. I soaped up my hands and began slowly tracing them up and down his stomach. His breaths grew ragged. I waited until I was sure he would cry out and then I moved on to his back. I used all of my fingers to run slowly and gently up and down his back, focusing on the smooth movement. He grabbed my hands and tried to move them down, but I just shook him off and kept touching his back. “Now you keep going.”

He started rubbing his legs, first his ankle, then calf, then inner thigh and up into his groin. “Keep it slow.” When he finished, I ordered him to rinse.

“Now that you are clean, you have to wash me.” He continued to rub me in circles, in every part of my body, until I could not take it anymore. I pushed past him and stepped under the hot water. “Now, come here.” In his kiss he expressed that all of his fear, doubts, and troubles had melted away and vanished, along with the steam. I still wanted to hear the words. “I want to know what you want.”

“You. You. You. Isn't it obvious?” He nodded towards his hardness. He smiled and kissed me on the neck.

“"Stop deflecting. I want you to tell me what you want from me.” Landon got on his knees and looked up directly at me. He took me in his hands. “I want you to own me. I want you to have me in every way possible. I want you to ruin me for anyone else.” When he took me in his mouth, there wasn't a thing on earth that could suppress my cry.

-8-

We'd made love twice in the shower, then moved into the bedroom. Our pattern was blissful. Make love, cuddle, make love cuddle again. It was punctuated with meals eaten straight from glassware and wine straight from the bottle. When he trained, I helped Matilda plan the meals and freshen the house. I told Jamison I was sick and that he should continue to run things in my absence. I did not receive so much as a text. It lasted for three days. On the fourth day, I got a phone call that changed everything.

“We have got a big problem.”

“Ugh. We must if you are calling me at five in the morning.”

“There has been activity at the border. Soldiers from other packs have been spilling in. It isn't just one tribe, the markings of several have popped up. They are acting as one unit. It looks like an invasion, possibly a distraction.”

“A distraction?”

“The only reason I am suggesting that, is because they aren't attacking. They do not have any weapons and they aren't transformed. They are just marching into our territory.”

“I agree, that is odd. Which side of the woods are they entering from?”

“That's just it, they are entering from the most obvious, least accessible point. Strategically, it makes absolutely no sense to enter in from that side. It could also be to confuse us. Let's not forget what happened last September.”

I did remember. Another pack showed up into our woods disguised as simply women and children. The males had snuck through the other way, while our attention was turned to the vulnerable. The last wolf pack that tried something like that was from the Northern Territories. I'd ripped the Alpha's throat out in celebration of his defeat.

“"What is it?” Landon asked sleepily. “Come back to bed.”

I pressed my pointer finger to his lips. He started to suck it. God it was hard to care about war with a mouth like that.

“Listen, can you handle it until I get down there?”

“Of course, sir. I will see you at the Southwest corner of the property.”"

“I need thirty minutes.”

“Cripes, are you going to walk?”

“"Thirty minutes!” I slammed down the phone. I tickled Landon's ribs with my nails.

“"What's the big emergency?”

“Oh, you know, death, destruction, war, disease, poverty.”

“"No seriously.”

“I've got a problem to deal with and I've only got fourteen and a half minutes left with you before I have to go solve it.”

“How do you want to spend the next fourteen and a half minutes?” He flashed me a cheesy grin.

“You know exactly how.” I leaned down and kissed him.

After a quick shower, I sped down to meet Jamison to see what was going on. I was sure he was overreacting, but you never know. When I arrived, I was shocked at what I saw. Thousands of soldiers were now lined up at our borders. They were in formation, completely stoic, as if lining up in another packs woods was just part of their usual program. I handed Jamison back the binoculars.

“"What do you suggest, sir?” Why did this have to happen now? All of the fucking, and kissing, and cuddling, had rotted my brain. I could not think, especially about war. Who wants to fight when they are getting laid?

“We have done some reconnaissance. This has to be retaliation from Jenner. Nothing else makes sense. You pushed the expansion too quickly and now we do not have the men to defend ourselves.” Dylan quipped.

“Do not address the king that way Dylan. You were fine with all of the spoils you shared, so you were fine with the result. This is your doing too.” Jamison's defense of me was always a little too sharp to be objective. It seemed as if I was in the wrong here.

“Okay, Dylan, so I am wrong. What should we do?” Jamison spat out his gum. Dylan looked at me with a blank stare.

“I did not mean to imply that you were wrong…”

“You did more than just imply it Dylan. You might as well have outright said it. Now that you have got the spotlight and power that you think you deserve, what do you do? Give me an action plan.” Dylan sputtered and stumbled. “"When you come up with something, implement it. And do not let me know. I do not care. You want to lead, go ahead.”

“But, Darryl, what do we do?”

“You are so smart Dylan. You figure it out.” I ran all the way back to my car. I knew exactly what I wanted. It had nothing to do with war, and fighting, and hierarchy, and strategy. It had to do with a luscious pair of lips waiting for me in my apartment.

I figured Landon would be asleep and I did not want to bother Matilda since she'd been putting in overtime lately, so I stopped to pick up breakfast. The corner deli sold the best bagels in the city. I popped in and picked up a dozen and three tubs of cream cheese, one regular, one cream cheese and chives, and one cinnamon sugar cream cheese. Although Landon had a sweet tooth, I wasn't sure he would want sweet cream cheese. You never can tell with people. I did know though, from our three days, that he liked dry cappuccinos, so I got him one and an Americano for myself.

I bounded up the front steps to my building and sped through the lobby. The elevator seemed to take years to climb the eighteen floors. I imagined the hours of lovemaking, cuddling and talking that lay ahead.

Imagine my surprise when I turned the key and opened the door to find Geoff and Landon sitting on the couch. Landon was holding Geoff in an awkward embrace and Geoff was sobbing. Shit.

I dropped the bagels on the floor with a loud crash. It was only then did Landon turn and look at me. He shot me a look that made my soul shrivel.

“"What's going on?” Geoff peeled himself off of Landon and pointed his finger at me.

“You are a bastard!”

I bent down to pick up the bagels. “Thanks Geoff. Could you please inform us as to why in the hell I am a bastard?"

“Do you see what I mean? He's heartless!” Fresh tears sprang from his eyes as he wailed. What an actor. I am through with theatrics.

“"What do you want Geoff. We're kind of busy.” Landon's mouth opened in protest. He mouthed, “What's wrong with you?”

“"Geoff, do you have something you want to talk about?”

“Yes, Darry. Yes, I do. I want to know why, as the worst boyfriend on the history of the planet, do you have another man, a lovely man, sleeping over at your place. How could you?"

“How could I what, Geoff?”

“"How could you cheat on me? How could you do this to me?”

“What are you talking about?”

Geoff stood up. “Are you telling me that you did not have sex with Landon. Multiple times. For the last three days!” I looked over to Landon. He shrugged.

“"No. I am not going to lie to you Geoff. Landon and I are involved now. But, I did not cheat on you. We weren't in a relationship.”

“How can you lie to us like this? You know that we have been dating for over a year and you have never been able to be faithful for more than a couple of weeks. Every time we get close, you run away into the arms of someone else. Well, I am tired of it. I value myself more. I love you Darry, but I can't do this anymore.” He turned and blew a kiss to Landon. “It was nice meeting you honey. Good luck with this one. Just make sure you do not leave him alone.” He brushed by me and landed his shoulder straight into my gut as he walked out.

“Ooof.” I dropped down to my knees. Stars danced in my eyes. I thought I might vomit. Landon ran to me.

“Are you okay?”

I nodded my head. This would pass. I just needed to wait it out. I laid down on the floor and focused on breathing. After about a minute, the pain subsided. When I opened my eyes, Landon was gone. The bagels were still on the floor, a wet mark had come through the paper bag, presumably where the cream cheese was. I got to my feet.

“Landon? Where are you?”

“I am in the bedroom.” I guess he did not want to waste any time undressing after that idiot Geoff stole some of our precious time. When I got to the bedroom, Landon was fully dressed and sitting in the leather recliner at the opposite end of the bedroom. His face was set in a stormy and stern look that I did not recognize.

“What's wrong?”

“What's wrong! How could you ask me what's wrong? You just kicked your boyfriend out of your apartment, after telling him that you have been sleeping with me for the last three days.”

“"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Geoff is not my boyfriend. He's a guy that I hooked up with. Was it regularly? Yes. Did I know he had feelings for me? Yes. But, he was not my boyfriend. We were never in a relationship and I was never committed to him.”

“That is not what he told me, Darry.”

Now I was starting to get angry. “Do not call me that. I am serious. I hate that fucking nickname.”

“"Why? Because it reminds you that you have a boyfriend, while your fucking a new piece of ass?” A pained look spread across Landon's face. Tears welled up in his eyes. “I was falling for you Darryl. Falling for you hard. And in walks this man that says he's been with you for the last year and that he has no idea who I am and the whole story just came tumbling out. I am sorry I did not mean to tell him anything, I was just in such shock.”

I crossed the room to comfort him. He looked so vulnerable and sad. I kneeled in front of him on the chair. “I am the king of one of the most powerful werewolf packs in the country and I just left my second in command in charge so I could come and be with you. I am on my knees here, in front of you. Never have I ever shown weakness or vulnerability to anyone else. And I never will. This is my relationship. You have a part of me that no one else ever will. This is the real me. The alpha and the weak.”

Landon burst into tears. “I really wish I could believe you Darryl.” He jumped up from the couch and walked straight from the bedroom to the outside door. I did not even bother going after him. He took the best of me with him anyway.

-9-      

We spent the next three days collecting men and supplies for our defense against the invasion.

Landon continued his studies with Dylan, but only spoke to me when necessary. He stayed out until late in the night, slept in the guest bedroom, and left early in the morning. Declining all of my requests for him to dine with me, he sent a clear message. I couldn't accept it.

In an effort to clean things up, I called Geoff to give him closure. He laughed and told me to go to hell. But, I felt marginally better knowing that Landon would think I did the right thing.

I stopped showering, changing clothes, and shaving. I just did not see the point. I was miserable and I wanted to look like it.

Each day pressed on and the invaders did not move, other than to line up around us. Each day there were more. Different markings and different territories joined the charge. The tension in the air was palpable. Things were headed into a downward spiral fast and there was no way to stop it. Until Landon came to me with news.

“This is Dylan's doing.” He whispered in my ear.

“What are you talking about?” The idea that Dylan would double cross me was possible, but the idea that he could convince all of these packs, behind my back, to overthrow me was ridiculous. And a bit unbelievable.

“I heard him talking to a werewolf from another pack. All of this is designed to pressure you to make a mistake. When you do, they’ll make their move and overthrow you. Dylan has promised them to add your territory to theirs if they help.

Because their alpha is getting old. He just needs to bide his time and he has a favorable shot at alpha.”

“How in the world do you know all of this?”

“After I heard him talking, I followed the guys he was with to a bar. I bought them drinks until they were hammered and then started asking questions. It all went much easier than expected.”

I shook his shoulders. “You could have been killed! What's wrong with you? Why didn’t you come to me with this? Never do anything like this again do you understand me?”

“I did it to save you. you are welcome.”

“I've been perfectly capable of running this pack long before I met you. I do not need your help.”

“Spoken like a true asshole.”

“You left me! I poured my heart out to you and you just walked away.”

“I was angry. I felt double crossed and betrayed. You had this guy, like three days before I showed up and all of a sudden you threw him to the curb. What's to stop you from doing that to me?”

“I swear on my life. It's not like that. It was never like this with him. I was lonely and he was there. He doesn’t know about me. That I am a werewolf. Or an alpha. He knows very little about the real me. You know everything. Every bit.” I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “We do not want people to hear us talking about their plans. We need to go somewhere private and talk.”

“Do you have time?”

“I think we have fourteen and a half minutes or so, don’t you think?” I laughed and called Jamison over. “Jamison, I am going to take a break. Landon is going to show me some of the skills he has been learning in training over the past few days.”

When we got back to the apartment, my lust for him was fueled by the days we had spent apart and the way his jeans were hugging his ass. On the drive over, I had been stroking him with one hand and driving with another. The elevator was so slow, I thought I was going to have to have my way with him in the lobby of my building. Although I'm probably going to add that to our list of places to do sometime in the near future. I'm sure the front desk attendants won't mind. Much.

As soon as I got him through the door I pushed him down onto the floor.

“Heeeeeey. Your bed is like twenty steps away. Let's go!”

“Noooope.” I took off my shirt and threw it onto the couch. “I'm having you right here and right now. Let's gooooooo.” I mimicked his tone.

Kissing his neck, licking his earlobes, heading down to his chest. I was going to lick, kiss, and suck every part of his body. He sat up and took off his shirt giving me full access to his chest and stomach. I took my time and worked slowly from his neck, down to his pecs, and down each arm into his hand. I kissed every part of his hands. After that I kissed his chest and his stomach. The little cuts right above his hipbone got extra attention. He kept his gaze on me, watching my every move. I undid his belt and slid it out of his pants loops. While I was unbuttoning his pants, I could feel his bulge straining against the fabric. I could not wait to get that cock in my mouth. I tugged his jeans and underwear off in one sweep. He started to giggle.

“What is so funny?”

“This carpet is like sitting on cotton candy.”

“Only the best for your highness.”

He laughed louder. “Your royal assness gets treated better than some small countries.”

“Would you like me to bring in rough carpet for me to fuck you on?” I raised my eyebrows. I was actually only half kidding. It would not take me that long to get a new carpet here or to grab one of the throw rugs from the closet. Whatever Landon wanted from me, he was going to get..

“Yes, please. A rough carpet and some champagne and strawberries please, your highness. Now fuck me with your royal wang.”

I rolled my eyes and laid my head to rest on his stomach. “Why are you spoiling the mood?”

“You are the one spoiling the mood, thinking about objects while we are making love. I do not care whether I'm sitting on a golden threaded carpet or something you plucked out of the trash. The whole point is that I am on this carpet, this floor, with you.”

I lifted my hand to his face. “That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” I still could not resist a joke. “Are you sure about that carpet, I have some antique Persian carpets that would be perfect for that bum.”

Landon closed his eyes and started snoring. The loud and exaggerated snores vibrated us both.

“Okay, okay. I have your point. I will stop with the royal talk. If you wanted to kill the mood, you should have asked about my previous love life or something.”

He smiled back up at me and shrugged. “Asking about past relationships is an essential part of dating. How else would you know what kind of relationship a potential partner wants and has? A guy could say that he loves relationships, but he is just in several at once. Plenty of guys do this. Every girl they meet is the most special girl on earth until the next one comes along. Love bombing at its finest.”

“I'm going to love bomb you alright. I'm going to spend as much time as I can loving each and every single part of you.” I flipped him over onto his stomach.

His marks glowed against his paler upper back. The sunlight glistened off of them, giving his dewy skin an almost iridescent quality. Kiss by kiss, I made my way down the back of his neck, his ears, his shoulders, and upper back. I kissed his sides and his lower back. I went over his perfect ass with just a few nibbles and continued on to his taut thighs. Caressing them with my mouth, I worshiped every bit of him that I could. When I reached his inner thighs he was panting and moaning with pleasure.

“Please. Please, fuck me. Please. I need you inside of me now.”

“Not yet. I'm not done.” I spent the next few minutes going up his thighs, up to his hips and ass, and then working my way back out again. I brushed my fingertips over his butt, in between his thighs, and up to his groin. Cupping his balls with one hand, I lightly traced my fingertips over the space that led to his ass. I flipped him back over. His dick was as rock hard as cement.

Now it was time to really get him going. Gripping his dick in my fist, I put the head of his dick in my mouth. Swirling my tongue around the head, I made sure to only catch the tip. He put his hand on the back of my head and tried to jam it deeper in the back of my throat, but the torture was too good to pass up.

“Ah, come on, your driving me insane. Please, just let me put it in your throat. I want to fill your mouth with my cum.”

“Not yet.” I let my mouth slip a little further down his cock and started working my hand at the base. I waited until he started shifting his hips in rhythm and then I backed off. Grabbing his balls with one hand, I massaged his perineum with the other.

“Come on! Please!”

I threw my head back and laughed. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and shoved me down on his cock. With his other hand he led his dick in between my lips. I let him face fuck me for a few seconds. Then I started massaging his balls again and playing with my finger near his ass. Again, he started shifting his hips in rhythm. His dick got harder. I sat up and took my hands off of him. Landon whimpered and covered his face in his hands.

“Daaaaamnit. Please stop torturing me.”

I kissed him on the lips and licked a trail all the way down from his neck to his knees. After letting him face fuck me for a few more seconds, I grabbed his dick and started stroking it hard.

“I'm getting close.” His muscles tensed and his back arched. After a few more seconds, I let go.

“Fuck!”

“Okay, baby. I'll give you what you want. Get on your knees.” After three strokes, we both exploded in unison. Within seconds, we fell asleep. I was still inside of him.

Later, when we woke up, we sat cuddling, naked in the afternoon light of the living room. I realized that I’d never been happy until now. And I wanted to share that with the man I loved.

“People always told me I had boundary issues. Control issues. Anger issues. I thought I was destined for a life of love at arm's length.” I kissed his hand. “Now, I feel so light and happy. Like nothing can go wrong.” Landon sat up on his arms and kissed me.

“Saying nothing can go wrong, is like an invitation for hellfire to rain down on you.”

“"Hellfire is coming. I know that much. If Dylan really is planning to overthrow me, he's got bad news coming. My men are loyal and they will not accept this.”

“Would it be ‘the worst thing in the world’ if he did overthrow you?”

“"What do you mean?”

“I mean, if he does claim the throne, you could let go of all that worry and stress, from having to protect everyone at all times. You wouldn't have the weight of the world on your shoulders anymore.”

“If I am not the alpha, then I do not know who I am anymore. How could I live with myself after that?”

“You wouldn't be by yourself. You would be with me, silly.” Landon nibbled on my earlobe.

I sat up and turned around. “I have to go and fight. If you can't understand that, we are not meant to be together. I will always be a king.” Landon sighed and lay back into the pillows.

“Do what you gotta do, but I can't sit around and watch you risk your life over and over, for something that doesn't even make you happy.”

“You do not know anything about me or what makes me happy!”

“I know that you are pushing me away right now because you know I am right. So why don’t you just go and make it easier on the both of us.”

“You go, this is my house.”

“Fine. Good luck with your kingdom, your highness!”

-10-

We spent the next few days avoiding each other. I was still raving mad about how he did not understand my attachment to the kingdom. But, in my heart, I knew he was right. Ruling had lost its flavor and I'd been hanging on for too long. It was time for someone else to rule. Not knowing what else to do with myself, I decided to share my thoughts with Jamison.

“It's time for me to abdicate. I do not want it anymore. And I particularly do not want war. More bloodshed, days and nights spent in the woods chasing after my own kind just to make them prisoners. I am sick of it. Can't we just all live in peace?” Jamison peered up at me with his cloudy eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“No. I am not. Landon and I, uh, we aren't getting along. He thinks I am being pig-headed and stubborn for not wanting to let someone else lead. His analysis, is that I avoid intimacy by clinging to the purpose of the pack.” Jamison stared at me, laughter in his eyes.

“An insightful man, that one. You do not deserve him.” he giggled again. “The look on your face was worth holding it in all these years.”

“You have got to be kidding me, asshole. You knew this whole time and you never said anything!? Why? I've been tiptoeing around, trying to hide it from everyone, thinking that you guys were gonna oust me from the .”

“If that's what you call tiptoe quietly, I would hate to see you charge. How many hearts have you broken over the years?”

“Quite a few. More than most.”

“That is why it is time for you to get your heart broken. Life is give and take. You can't take forever. Now you have to give. The end is always nearer than it seems.”

“You think I should give up the throne too?”

“I do not think you should throw away your life on a dream you do not want. Maybe it is time to serve a new dream.”

“I think maybe you are right. I am not the same man I was ten years ago.”

“Darryl, you are not the same man you were two weeks ago. It's important for you to see that. To appreciate it.”

“I screwed up, didn’t I?”

“Royally. Now go fix it.”

I called an emergency meeting of the elders. The room was packed and sweaty. My mouth was dry and tongue heavy. When I explained to Landon that I needed him there for the elders meeting, I know that he heard me, but he did not seem very engaged. I hoped and prayed that he would show up. I couldn't do this alone. With people milling in and out, I had a chance to grab Jamison and warn him about what is to happen.

“Good luck kid. You know you can count on me.” After all this time, I had no idea someone was actually in my corner. My corner. Not the King's. Not Darryl the successful real estate agent. Just me. And now I know that I have someone else. Someone who deserves more than just a ruler or a werewolf. Someone who deserves the best of everything I've got. And he walked into the room. Landon. He looked scruffier now because he hadn't shaved. His eyes were baggy and puffy underneath. He must not be sleeping either. Even if he protested and puffed up his chest, I know that he loved me too. He was not that good of a liar. So here I am. About to do something crazy. Something that I hope will save us all.

“Hello everyone. Thank you for coming. I have called this meeting to discuss what is happening at our borders. As you know we have been working tirelessly to figure out why other tribes are gathering. Your brothers, Dylan and Jamison, have been instrumental in developing a strategy and plan of attack. However, I did want to update and brief you on the situation. Here is what I think. I think that over the years, I have become hungry. So hungry that I took money, land, things, even people, to try and satisfy this insatiable appetite for more. Over the years, I have continued to take and take, and I have offered very little in return.” A few mumbles and grumbles started throughout the crowd, but Landon was beaming from ear to ear. I smiled back.

“Now, it is my turn to give back. After much careful consideration, I have decided to abdicate my throne.” Shrieks and whispers spread throughout the crowd. A loud roar followed. People started arguing amongst themselves. Someone whistled and hollered to get their attention.

“The wolves at the border are not out for blood, they are out for a change in leadership. No longer is my leadership serving this community.”

It was Dylan who spoke first. “Why?”

“Great question Dylan. I was hoping that you would ask that. You see, as you know, once a wolf gets to a certain age, it is time to settle down. To put down roots. To start to give back. I want to make a home. I am no longer interested in expanding my wallet or adding more victories. In these last few weeks, I have found a partner. Someone willing to tell me the truth, when I was too pigheaded to hear it. A person that knows me better than I know myself. Someone that I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know. Landon James.”

Over the roar of the crowd, I could barely hear myself think. But, I did not need to think. All that was left to do was to rush into the crowd and kiss him. And he kissed me back.

Six Months Later

When you make a big decision, like giving up your royal title, throne, kingdom, and everything that comes along with it, you expect to feel regret. This thing that you have been clinging to for so long, this thing that you have anticipated grieving for as long as you can remember, is suddenly no longer there. Instead of feeling grief, sadness, fear, or panic, all I feel is joy. I feel joy for the lives that were not lost because of my inability to see the larger picture. Many of my years were wasted in a space of taking, but I guess I had not met the one person that made me want to give everything I had.

“It is breakfast time!”

“I'm coming!” When I entered the kitchen, Matilda and Landon were setting the table, while Adam scooped out bowls of fruit.

After Landon and I came over and explained everything that we could to his ex, she agreed to let Landon share custody. Although she still gets nervous around us. That is okay. I still get nervous around us too. Sometimes, happiness can be a terrifying thing. And like most terrifying things in life, love is a lot more fun.

*****

THE END

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