Chapter Nine
Although Lamont had pretty much given up on his idea of ever finding his mate, on dark nights when he was alone, he used to imagine what claiming his mate would be like – back in the day before Raoul was the first to meet his mate, and that dream became a reality for other packmates one by one.
In every dream he’d had, Lamont had taken his time.
There would be dates - dinners at romantic restaurants, long walks where they’d share stories, maybe a weekend trip somewhere beautiful.
He’d always wanted to court his mate properly, the way someone who was going to be with him for eternity deserved.
He wanted to show that out of all of the hellhounds, he knew about caring for his mate’s needs.
In his head, the collar ritual would come later, after they knew each other, after there’d been soft touches and stolen kisses.
He’d make it perfect. Romantic. Memorable.
But Ewen’s matter of fact telling in Lord Hades’s waiting room of those shocking ten days had shattered those fantasies with a strong smack of the reality hammer.
I would’ve died if you hadn’t shown up when you did.
The words wouldn’t stop echoing in Lamont’s head.
His mate - his brilliant, brave, stubborn mate - had nearly died because Lamont hadn’t followed his instincts.
Hearing about Ewen’s mating sickness had filled him with guilt.
Now they were actually together - and Coda and Lord Zeus be damned - Lamont couldn’t wait anymore.
Lamont knew Ewen wasn’t ready for the sexual side of their claiming.
Ewen still needed to heal, he needed regular meals, plenty of sleep, and yes, they had other things they needed to discuss as well.
Lamont would settle for a kiss after the collar was around his neck, if he were lucky enough to get one.
But the claim needed to be made, both for Ewen’s health, his peace of mind, and his hound and the silver fox as well.
The box materialized on the bed between them, and Lamont’s breath caught when it began to glow, soft golden light spilling from the edges.
Previously just a velvet paperweight, because the box wasn’t really useful for anything else, seeing it glow now made his hound surge forward with enough force that Lamont had to lock his knees to keep from shifting right there.
Ewen’s face lit up, his eyes going wide. “It’s glowing.”
“Yes.” Lamont’s voice came out rougher than he intended. His hound was pushing, pushing, wanting out, wanting to see their mate touch the box that only they could open. “It will only do that for you.”
“Thousands of years.” Ewen traced one finger along the edge of the box, and the glow brightened. “You’ve waited thousands of years for this.”
“Worth it.” Lamont meant every word. “You’re worth every second.”
Ewen’s cheeks flushed, but he didn’t look away. Instead, he gripped the top of the box and lifted. Lamont held his breath.
The box opened smoothly, with no hinges visible, revealing the collar nestled inside on black silk.
Gems caught the lamplight - rubies, sapphires, emeralds, all set in dark leather that looked supple despite its age.
The collar was massive, sized for a hellhound’s neck, and Lamont could feel Lord Hades’s love and pride in his hellhounds coming from every stone.
“Oh.” Ewen gasped. “Look at that. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s absolutely stunning. Lord Hades must’ve been so pleased with you.”
Our mate senses that, too. Lamont tried to hold back, tried to give Ewen a moment to admire the collar, but his hound was done waiting - his patience had reached its limit. With a surge of power that Lamont couldn’t contain, his hound pushed through the shift.
His human form melted away, bones reshaping, muscles expanding. Within seconds, a massive hellhound sat on the floor by the hotel bed, exactly where Lamont had been standing. He was panting softly, his eyes fixed on Ewen’s face.
Lamont was huge in this form - larger than any natural dog, with sleek dark fur that seemed to absorb light.
His eyes flickered with the flames from the fires of the Underworld.
Hellhounds weren’t exactly comforting creatures.
They were built to guard the gates to the Underworld, and intimidate souls who thought about trying to escape.
They were known as the most feared shifters for a reason.
And yet, sitting patiently - okay, not really patiently, but he was sitting down - Lamont’s hound waited and hoped that Ewen wouldn’t be scared.
Ewen blinked, and then blinked again. Then a smile spread across his face, genuinely delighted. “Hello there.”
Relief flooded through Lamont. His hound whined softly, his back end wiggling in tentative excitement.
“You’re gorgeous.” Ewen reached out slowly, giving Lamont’s hound time to pull back if he wanted. When his fingers touched the top of Lamont’s head, both man and hound nearly melted. “Look at you. You’re so handsome.”
Lamont’s hound leaned into the touch, not caring that he was being totally shameless.
His hound had never been touched by a person before.
Ewen’s fingers scratched behind his ears, and Lamont discovered that an eternity of dignity meant nothing compared to a mate’s scritches.
His butt wagged faster, and he pressed closer, soaking up every touch.
“Your fur is so soft.” Ewen ran both hands through it now, fingers working behind Lamont’s ears in a way that had his hound’s back leg twitching. “I wasn’t expecting that. I thought you’d be all smoke and heat, but you’re just...soft.”
Lamont’s hound rumbled, a deep sound of contentment. He’d let Ewen pet him forever if that’s what his mate wanted.
But then Ewen paused, looking down at the collar box still sitting between them. “You’re probably waiting for this, right? We should probably do the actual claiming part before I spend the next hour giving you scritches. Is that what you think?”
Lamont’s hound nudged the box, then Ewen’s hand, then the box again.
“Subtle.” Ewen laughed, and the sound was better than anything Lamont had heard in what felt like forever.
“Alright, let me just...” He lifted the collar carefully, using both hands.
The thing was heavy, designed to fit around a hellhound’s neck, and the gems caught the light as Ewen held it up. “Okay. So, I just...put this on you?”
Lamont’s hound sat up straighter, stretching his neck forward to make it easier. His heart pounded so hard he knew Ewen could probably hear it.
“You’re really excited about this, aren’t you?” Ewen’s voice was soft. He reached out with the collar, opening it wide. “I do realize this is a big deal - it means a lot to me, as well. Okay. Here we go.”
The moment the leather touched Lamont’s neck, the world shifted.
The collar settled into place, and then the two ends clicked together with a sound that resonated through Lamont’s bones.
Power flooded through the bond - ancient magic that Lord Hades had woven into the collars a millennium ago, binding the hellhound to his mate in a way that nothing and no one could break.
As the connection settled, suddenly Lamont could feel Ewen.
Not just physically present, but there, in a way he’d never felt anyone before.
He sensed Ewen’s relief, his happiness, his fox settling contentedly now that their mate wore their claim.
The bond thrummed between them, golden and silver threads already weaving together.
Then congratulations slammed into him through the pack bond, making him jump.
FINALLY! That was Damon, his mental voice practically shouting. I knew you’d be next. I just knew it!
About damn time. Giorgio sounded amused and pleased. Welcome to the club, brother.
Seven down, five to go. Beau’s mental words carried the satisfaction that came from a man who had already built his new family and was loving every minute of it. Well done, Lamont.
Congrats! Farron, Kolton, Cain, and the others all chimed in, sending a buzz of approval through their bond. His brothers. His pack. All celebrating that Lamont had finally, finally found what they’d all been waiting for.
Lamont’s hound couldn’t help himself. The collar sat perfectly around his neck. Ewen’s scent was everywhere, and the bond hummed with just how right it was.
He leaped up, hitting the floor with a thud that shook the room as he landed again. Then he ran circuits around the hotel room at full speed, until even that wasn’t enough. He jumped over the desk, dodged the chair, and leaped back onto the bed where he spun in a circle before jumping off again.
“Lamont!” Ewen was laughing loudly as he clutched onto his blanket. “What are you…”
Lamont’s hound barked, the sound echoing off the walls. He ran another lap, then jumped on the bed again, this time flopping on his side next to Ewen and wiggling his whole body.
“Are you… Was that you having the zoomies?” Ewen stared at him, then burst out laughing again. “You’re an ancient hellhound from the Underworld, and you’re having zoomies. I can’t believe it.”
The hound didn’t care. He rolled onto his back, paws in the air, his butt wagging so hard his entire body shook.
Ewen was his mate. The collar proved it.
Every member of his pack knew it. And his hound was so overwhelmed with happiness that running and jumping and wiggling were the only ways to express it.
Ewen’s hand came down to rub his belly, and Lamont’s hound went completely still except for his frantically wagging back end. “You’re ridiculous,” Ewen said, but his voice was warm. Fond. “Absolutely ridiculous.”
Who cares? The belly rubs were heaven. Lamont’s back leg kicked involuntarily when Ewen hit a particularly good spot, and he heard his mate laugh again.
Having fun? Damon’s mental voice sounded amused. Try not to destroy any furniture.
No promises, Lamont shot back, too happy to care about anything else. He could always fix any breakages with a wave of his hand.
He rolled upright, gave himself a shake, then pressed his massive head against Ewen’s chest. His mate’s arms came around him, hugging his neck, and Lamont rumbled with contentment.
“I can feel you,” Ewen said quietly. “Through the bond. It’s... strange. A good strange, but definitely strange.”
The hound licked his face, and Ewen sputtered. “Okay, no. We’re not doing that. I just got clean.” But Ewen was smiling and scratching behind Lamont’s ears again. “Though I have to admit, this is much better than yesterday with the whole pining away in a basement scenario.”
The reminder sobered Lamont’s hound instantly. He whined, pressing closer, trying to communicate that he’d never let Ewen be hurt again.
“Hey, it’s okay.” Ewen’s fingers combed through his fur. “I’m here. We’re both here. And according to Lord Hades, I’m immortal now, so...no more almost dying, and I assume with this bond we share, you can always find me if I go missing again.”
Lamont shifted back to human form without thinking, needing to speak. “Never again. There won’t be another time like this, I swear, Ewen. If you go somewhere, I go with you. I mean it. I’ll never let anyone hurt you again.”