Chapter 4
Emilio
I was shaking with barely contained rage when we arrived on the scene.
Even with our driver breaking land speed records, the trip to Grizzly territory took ages, and I was so close to jumping out of the car and running in my wolf form.
But I forced myself to stay calm and stick with Santino.
We had no idea what we were walking into, and it wouldn’t be smart to charge in alone.
By the time we got to the border, Santino was busy calling every fucking reinforcement he could find.
“Stop!” I shouted at the driver. A little bit of my alpha bark was accidentally infused in the order, causing the beta to slam on the breaks in the middle of the street, but I didn’t give a fuck. Nico was here.
I was out of the car before Santino could call for me and sprinted toward where I could sense his brother.
Save mate! my inner wolf screamed at me as I fought to remain in my human form. It was hard, since I barely ever fought for control, but I had a feeling I needed to stay like this.
That was when I saw him, cornered in an alley. Five in bear form, and another two in human that were shooting at my omega. My wolf, who was limping toward a gate. I howled, unable to stop the instinct, and the bears froze in place.
I’d known that Nico was likely mine since he’d turned eighteen.
Every day after the tattoo parlor, the feelings had just continued to get stronger and more defined until it had been impossible for me to deny.
But because there was no fucking way that could ever happen, I’d locked up them up and did my best to avoid that possible bond.
I even frequented our clubs, hoping to find an omega who was another potential mate for me.
Luckily, since Nico hadn’t had his first heat yet, he didn’t sense the same thing, and it had bought me time to figure out what to do.
Not that it had helped. Well over a year later and I still felt as strongly as I had for Nico on day one, and no one had ever come close.
Hell, the last few months, I couldn’t even fuck anyone, no matter the designation.
I’d started to feel physically sick whenever I tried.
Both me and my wolf only wanted one person.
And he was so off-limits, it made the bond nothing but a cruel temptation.
The connection felt different now. I didn’t know how I knew, but it wasn’t one-sided anymore.
The way Nico’s focus lasered onto me, it must have been triggered for him as well.
I swallowed hard as Santino came up next to me, his gun drawn and pointed toward the largest bear, the one who looked to be in charge.
All I wanted to do was run to Nico, but training forced me to stand my ground.
Soon, more scents of family surrounded the area. Reinforcements were coming.
For a moment, we were at a standstill, which was good because I couldn’t drag my gaze away from Nico’s tiny form.
He was completely still, his head tilted to the side. And then my little white wolf lowered his body, his neck barred, offering his submission. To me. Holy fuck.
It was a heady feeling, especially because I couldn’t do a damn thing about it. I glanced at Santino. He had to make a move and break this.
There was a quiet hum throughout the two gangs that had gathered here, as everyone else wondered what the fuck was going on. I didn’t have the same question.
“He’s in heat,” Santino growled. His amber eyes were glowing and his canines were extended.
“He’s what? That’s impossible.” Even though I subconsciously knew that had to be what was happening, it was way too early, but it was the only thing that made sense. The only reason why Nico was feeling the bond.
I sucked in a breath, needing some kind of proof so the block in my mind would go the fuck away.
Honey, flowers, slick, and lust all blended together in the perfect intoxicating combination.
I growled, deep and low, my canines extended, and my dick instantly hardened.
My omega was in heat and fucking surrounded by men he didn’t belong to. I was going to kill them all.
“Get him the fuck outta here,” Santino snapped, reminding me I wasn’t alone and as my instincts dictated I should solely protect my mate, he had others here who loved him and would die making sure he was safe. “We’ll handle this.” He gestured toward the Grizzlies.
I took one last breath when I was still far enough away from Nico that other scents masked his potency some. Once I got close enough, I wouldn’t be able to breathe till we were out of here. I couldn’t risk a rut taking over.
“Cover me,” I told my best friend between gritted teeth. I saw in his eyes he had questions.
I wasn’t the only one affected, obviously.
Especially the alphas were feeling it. If we didn’t get Nico out of here soon, we might need to guard him even from our own men.
The only one who wasn’t shaking with need was Santino.
But like I said, we’d grown up together.
We knew each other inside and out. He could tell immediately something was going on, and I could only pray that when this was all said and done, not only would I still be that person for Santino, but I would be alive at all.
Our eyes met, and I swore it was like he was giving me permission. I had to be imagining it, but I would hold onto that for as long as I could. Santino gave me one sharp nod.
“Take care of him,” he ordered seriously, eyes still focused ahead.
With Santino’s words fresh in my mind, I sprinted at top speed past the Grizzlies while Santino aimed right at the head of the closest bear.
His target and the guy next to him fell to the ground before anyone else caught on to what was happening.
I didn’t look behind me. Santino and our men could handle it. “Shift!” I barked at Nico, wincing at my tone. He’d give me shit later, but he’d heal faster after a shift, and since he’d been limping, I was worried he couldn’t run fast enough on his own.
Naked and shivering, Nico collapsed to his knees in the alley.
His scent was nearly enough for me to do the same, but I steeled myself and held my breath.
As much as my wolf just wanted to mount and claim his omega, my human brain had enough sense to not let that happen.
I bent down to pick him up and sparks flew when my skin met his, which was .
. . new. I’d touched Nico thousands of times, though not like this, and had never felt this before.
Even with Nico in my arms, I barely slowed down as I took off with the battle raging on behind us. The sounds of roars and howls mixed in with human yells and gunshots.
My nostrils flared as Nico buried his nose in my scent gland. “Alpha,” he murmured as fresh slick leaked from his hole.
Take mate! Needs knot!
“Shut up,” I growled to my wolf, not that he would listen. A bullet whizzed by us. I had to fucking move.
“Hold on, little wolf.” The growl was obvious in my voice. I was barely holding on, but I managed to take off and dart to one of our cars that were all parked in the middle of the street.
I pretty much tossed Nico into the front seat, then I threw myself over the hood and into the driver’s side.
The Grizzlies, whose numbers had seemed to grow, were right on our tail, but thankfully the keys were still in the car, so I managed to get it in drive and fishtailed down the street before they caught up.
“Lio,” Nico whispered, his voice full of pleading.
“Not yet,” I replied, my jaw tight with tension. I had to keep it together until I could get him to safety. I breathed through my mouth and did my best to focus on the road.
It wasn’t easy. Not with all that smooth, dark, tan skin on display and the breathy, little pants and moans that were escaping him.
“Are you hurt? You were limping.” As much as it set my blood on fire to think of Nico injured, it was easier to concentrate on that than his sweat-soaked skin and leaking cock that stood tiny but proud from his body.
“Oh right, fuck. I think I was shot.”
My body went rigid despite his casual tone.
I’d likely sounded the same when I’d been hit with a bullet, it wasn’t like they’d kill us unless it was through the head, but Nico was supposed to be unharmed.
The only reason Santino and I had trained him up the way we had was so he’d be protected from all that bullshit.
I kept driving and forced myself not to stop, since it was dangerous. As much as I hated it, Nico knew what he was doing. Even with his heat getting stronger by the minute, he was cognizant enough to pull his leg up on the seat, shift one hand to claws, and dig the fucking bullet out of his calf.
He cursed quietly under his breath, but once it was out, the wound immediately started healing. I was barely watching the road, my attention mostly on the hole in my omega’s skin as I sat with bated breath until it nearly closed.
That whole bullshit distracted me enough that I almost forgot about Nico’s heat. I turned a corner, dodging a truck that was barreling toward us. Then Nico moaned loudly, reminding me of how dire this fucking situation was.
I nearly crashed when Nico turned on his knees, gripping the headrest, his juicy, little ass sticking out, right where I could see it from my peripheral.
My control slipped for a moment, claws sprouting from my fingertips when Nico’s sweet honey aroma combined with the overpowering scent of his heat and slick filled my nostrils. My dick was already rock-hard. Just being this close to him made me dangerously close to going into a rut.
Then, because I wasn’t already losing my mind, Nico arched his back farther and pushed two fingers into his needy hole. Right in the fucking front seat of one of our enforcer’s cars, while we were escaping Grizzly territory.
“Little wolf,” I warned, the growl even worse than before.
“Can’t . . . Sorry. I can’t wait. They forced my heat, Lio. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Nico sobbed, all the while I could see his arm moving at a rapid rate as he fucked himself on his fingers.
I made a sharp right, nearly causing Nico to fall over. He whined, but I couldn’t even check on him. I needed to get out of this car.
While there wasn’t an actual sign when we crossed into our territory, there might as well have been with how stark the difference was.
Two blocks in and I was pulling into the back lot of a club that we owned.
I wanted to get Nico to the manor, where he’d be defended and it smelled of family, but we’d never make it that fucking far.
I put the car in park and finally turned my attention completely on the omega humping the seat and full-on fucking his fingers. The leather was a mess and I was gonna owe my guy a detailing, or maybe a whole new vehicle, but I couldn’t give a fuck right now.
“Fuck, Nico.”
“Lio, please. I need more. I need you.”
I couldn’t move. It would be so easy to lean over the console, pick Nico up, and mount him on my dick. With as turned on as I was, I’d have him knotted and sated in minutes. But that was a good fucking way to get a bullet through my brain, and I’d deserve it.
I’d had all this time to come to terms with the fact that he’d never be mine to love.
Santino was extremely protective of his little brother, and I’d never betray him like that.
I had hoped I’d have a chance to talk to both of them before Nico understood the connection.
But I’d kept putting it off like a fucking coward, and now Nico was nearly lost to his heat and I was trapped in this tiny ass car, where I couldn’t escape the scent of him if I tried.
I wasn’t sure I could resist him, and with that little bit of hope that Santino understood and approved, I didn’t want to anymore either.
My claws cut into my palms as I squeezed my fists.
“Nico . . . you don’t know what you’re saying right now.”
His head whipped to me, and the look he gave me almost had me laughing out loud. It was so Nico, his quintessential you’re a fucking dumbass face, that it eased some of my concerns. I guessed he wasn’t as lost in his lust as I’d thought.
“I know exactly what’d I’m saying, asshole. I’m horny, not mindless. My wolf keeps yelling you’re my mate, and I trust him and you. My fingers aren’t enough, Lio. Please.”
Fuck. I ran my hands through my hair, nearly fucking scalping myself because of these fucking claws that I couldn’t get to shift back.
“Santino’s gonna kill me.” Maybe. Probably.
Nico added a third finger. He sat back on his heels and grabbed his cock to start jerking it off. I growled. Only I was supposed to be touching him.
He rolled his eyes. “Are you seriously talking about my brother now?”
“Nico,” I all but begged. “If I take you, that’s it. I don’t think I’d ever be able to let you go.”
He stared me down. His amber-colored eyes, the same as his brother’s, were glowing and his pupils were dilated, but he was fully present when he said, “I don’t remember asking you to.”
My control snapped. There’d be consequences to deal with, but those were future Emilio’s problem. I nearly tore my pants off getting myself free.
Nico squeaked as I grabbed him by the waist, careful not to puncture his beautiful skin, and tossed him into the back seat.
He grumbled at me, but by the time I got myself back there, he was on his hands and knees on the passenger side, his ass presented for me as he rocked back and forth.
The space was tight, and I had to maneuver him around so that we could both fit.
I kissed the back of his neck. “Be sure, little wolf. If I fill you, you’re mine.
Consequences be damned. I’d have no chance of fighting my wolf, and I wouldn’t want to.
I’m a possessive, jealous, needy bastard. Are you prepared for that?”
“Yes. Fuck, yes, Lio. I already know you’re an asshole, but you’ve always been my asshole. I might not have expected this, but I’m not upset about it. I want you. Just put your dick inside me now.”
My canines grazed against his marking spot.
I wasn’t so gone that I’d bite without his permission, but fuck it was tempting.
I pressed my nose there instead, then my cheek, rubbing my scent into him.
He didn’t really smell like any of those fucking bears, so if they’d touched him, it had been minimal, but that didn’t calm me down enough. Nico had to smell like me.
“Lio! Please. Please. Please.”
He rocked back, his slick hole rubbing against my tip. I hissed at the sensation.
“Last chance, Nico.”
“For fuck’s sake! I’m gonna leave this car and find someone else if you don’t . . .”
He didn’t finish his sentence before I sunk my teeth into his shoulder, not his marking spot, and pushed inside him.