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FIC: Aloha: Lei of the Wolf, 5/10 fandoms: Lotrips/CW rps (Colin/Orlando, multiple pairings, NC-17)
Masterpost
Previous ch
Once Karl stated they needed to make a stand together as a pack Karl took note of everyone’s reaction and immediately noticed those who didn’t make the connection of what he was saying. He could have clarified himself, pushed to make them understand, but decided to give them a short reprieve. Knowing they’d understand soon enough.
Billy was the first to start as he gathered Viggo, Hannah, and Elijah to work with him. Surprisingly there seemed to be some animosity between the siblings, and each appeared hesitant to work alongside Billy. It was Viggo, who kept everyone on track and pushed Billy to take the lead to feed off of their combined energy as he started to weave protection spells. The first batch of spells focused on the perimeter to act as a force field surrounding the house, creating a temporary sanctuary behind its invisible walls.
Problem was as they had seen earlier with Orlando the lycans in the other pack also had magic, the power to push; to manipulate a human into doing something against their will. Worst case scenario they’d be able to manipulate his humans, those without magic, leaving Orlando and Sean the most vulnerable.
He hated to do it, but Karl forced himself to sit down and meditate. He needed to center himself before he attempted to correct their marks and make them pack. Although he could simplify things by just upgrading their mark from human-pet to human-pack, but even as the thought crossed his mind his beast immediately rejected it. He had made the mistake of leaving them vulnerable and it almost cost Dom his life. To mark any of them less than full pack would belie what he feels for each of them and frankly add insult to injury.
However there were consequences. What it’d mean to them not to mention it would be another manipulation by not telling them the consequences of a full mark. Though under the circumstances Karl knew it could be their only chance to survive. If any one of them was injured even freshly marked with their bodies changing they’d have a higher rate of survival to weather against a lycan’s attack. In flux their bodies able to accept his spores in order to heal—no longer human, but they wouldn’t be lycan either.
Over the years whatever arguments Karl had with himself about whether he made the right decision when he marked Dom human-pet instead of pack—it all changed the moment the mark’s magic called on him. From that moment he knew he’d have to take drastic measures if there was any chance to save Dom. He’d had every intention to do whatever it took to save Dom. However it was taken out of his hands when he discovered the other alpha had marked Dom.
It was during the fight when Karl pushed the alpha into submission; initially his bite was only to force the young alpha to submit. However once he tasted the other alpha’s blood, Karl realized he was too late to claim Dom. Drowning under his beast’s jealousy, fear and worry, Karl did what his beast demanded, to insure he wouldn’t lose Dom—he marked the other alpha. Allowing his beast to do the unthinkable and dropped his back incisors to sink in further into his skin, shooting secretions to mark the alpha as his cub.
It was unheard of. Something he shouldn’t have been able to do—yet he did—instinctively knowing it’d be the only way to keep Dom close to him without outright challenging the alpha. A challenge, Karl was sure that’d end fatally for the younger alpha and in return knew he’d end up having Dom’s hatred for killing his mate. Karl could only be thankful he had enough control over his beast to not disrespect Jeremy’s Originator. Where he conceded the Alpha’s right and placed his mark on the young alpha alongside and just below the original alpha’s mark. Already Karl had rationalized it had been his right, to reward the young alpha and adopt Jeremy as his cub, in some fashion like a father-in-law.
Though once they made it out of this situation, Karl knew the one he’d really have to convince would be Jeremy’s Originator and Sire.
Clenching his jaw, Karl forced himself to think of the here and now. That he needed to prepare to do the unthinkable – to claim each of them not only as his pack, but with full rights. Though Karl cringed at the very idea of not giving them a right to decide, he also knew he’d rather face decades of their hatred rather than leave them defenseless to die.
Shaking the morbid thoughts Karl concentrated on the task at hand. With Jeremy already marked that left the other eight to be marked. Opening his eyes he knew where he needed to start with the most vulnerable within the pack, the humans with no magic: Sean and Orli.
Karl glanced out to the porch. Dealing with Orlando meant he had to deal with the young cub. Though it was something he needed to do, he’d rather not start with Orli. Turning around he sought out Sean. Sean had his back to him, but Viggo caught his gaze and returned his stare. From the look Viggo was giving him, he understood what Karl intended to do.
Karl didn’t wait as he stood and strolled over. Sean finally realized he’d lost Viggo’s attention and turned Karl’s way.
Intuitively Viggo stated, “You’re going to correct your mistakes.”
Karl offered Viggo a smile and nodded, silently answering him.
“What?” Sean glanced back and forth between them. “Your mistakes? You mean the marks?” then demanded, “how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
Karl couldn’t stop himself when he replied. “With a bite.” Enjoying Sean’s quick response as his eyes widened comically in fear.
Dryly, Viggo asked, “You intend on biting all of us?”
Karl only nodded, watching as Viggo comforted Sean. It didn’t last as Sean realized what Viggo said, and correctly interpreted what it’d mean for him, but also Viggo.
Watching them interact, especially now that they were consciously aware of what they actually felt for each other, there were no subtle or hidden meanings behind the way they reached out to touch and comfort each other. Karl felt the familiar pang of loss for Phillip. Observing their open concern, love, and protectiveness should have been bitter—painful. But he found himself coming back to Sean. There was something about the man, his mannerisms the way he projected his feelings, the way he held himself, the fierce protectiveness he had over Viggo.
Belated Karl realized a door had opened—that Sean’s actions resonated and somehow pushed open memories of Phillip, intimate memories Karl had locked away after Phillip’s death. The unexpected bombardment of memories shocked Karl, for a moment he had to steel himself afraid it’d crippled him.
However as quickly as the images of his Sire came, emotional memories followed of how Phillip did everything within his power to protect Karl even to his death. It reinforced what he didn’t have the time to do: indulge in the nostalgic memories—he needed to protect the pack around him, his pack!
Forcibly shoving the memories away, Karl opened his eyes to see Sean’s green eyes boring into him. Karl wasn’t sure what he was projecting, but whatever Sean saw in his eyes, his initial hostility gave way to something softer as he asked. “Why a bite? Wouldn’t that make us one of you?” Though what Karl saw in Sean’s eyes conflicted with the tone his voice captured. What Karl heard was an undisguised disdain in Sean’s voice when he used the word us, making it abundantly clear to Karl how Sean actually felt about him now that he knew the truth of his nature.
He shouldn’t have been surprised; instead he was hurt, yet being this close to Sean looking into his eyes Karl still couldn’t let the man die not if he could help it. Shoving his emotions aside, Karl stepped in closer.
Sean held his ground; Karl could only admire the man’s fortitude. “The initial mark I made on you and the others was as one of my human’s, something that was created only by my touch. To others a human mark only indicates a cared for pet. In a pack of lycans, humans are pets that come and go— easily die out.”
He heard Viggo’s involuntary gasp, watched Sean’s eyes narrow when he referred to them as his pets—watched as his disbelief turned then deepened to disgust. “Out of respect, if we had the time, I could mark each of you as my pack without biting, but we don’t have that luxury. Right now we’re surrounded, tonight once we parley, and I refuse to give them Colin. They will attack and go after the weakest first—humans. Any human-pets would be the most vulnerable; it’d indicate that I don’t care enough about what happens to them.” Karl held his breath before he spoke, hoping his words wouldn’t turn out to be a lie. “However I won’t force my mark; it has to be your choice.”
Karl stepped in closer, their noses a mere inch away, his breath ghosted over Sean’s face. “My mark distinctly placed, here…” Sean jumped as he felt Karl’s finger run just under his neck by his jugular. “Of course you do have a choice… yes or no, to willingly accept and submit to my bite.”
Sean held his ground even though Karl felt the shivers of fear or maybe excitement run through Sean’s body. Boldly Sean asked him, “You didn’t answer the question.”
Not sure what the question was Karl only lifted a brow, to silently inquire.
Sean swallowed, bolstering his stance. “Is that going to make us one of you?”
Although Karl had no intention of disclosing what the new mark would mean. He waited a half a second before deciding to stick as close to the truth as he could. “No. It’s not like the movies where you get turned with one bite. It’s a bit more complicated. Ultimately to turn you I’d have to shift into my beast. No this would be me biting you in this form marking you my pack.” He held Sean’s gaze and waited.
It was Viggo who answered first. “Alright we’ll do it.” Sean turned toward Viggo clearly surprised. Viggo returned Sean’s stare answering. “We both will.”
Then addressing Sean, Viggo told him. “I’m not going to take a chance on losing you—not now. We’ll both do it, all right?”
Sean’s body answered as he immediately leaned into Viggo, and nodded before his voice followed to confirm Viggo’s decision. “All right then.”
Sean turned back to Karl. “I’ll go first.”
Despite his quivering stomach Karl smirked and answered, “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
At his response, Sean nervously licked his lips, and then bravely faced him looking him square in the eyes. “What do you want me to do?”
“Simple, submit.” He watched, nostrils flaring when Sean nodded and then lowered his eyes. He almost laughed, wanted to tell Sean that his submission was a mental barrier not a physical one, but he enjoyed the sight of Sean’s commitment too much. Overly excited, his stomach clenched nervously with butterflies as he inhaled Sean’s scent. His thumb swept over the spot he was going mark. Instinctively he moved, lips brushing over Sean’s skin as he inhaled deeper, his beast raged with sudden desire. He wanted Sean.
The want was thick and heavy driving him to move, his tongue lapped over Sean’s skin then nipped at the skin pulling. Hearing Sean’s moan was followed by a guttural curse; it brought him up short a reminder of where he was and what he was doing. That he had his hands on Sean holding him close. Opening his eyes he was surprised to see Viggo, openly staring at him. What surprised him more instead of a heated flare of jealousy that he had expected to see, what he saw in Viggo’s eyes was an odd mix of concern and curiosity intersected with longing.
He was further stunned when he caught a whiff of arousal—Viggo’s and Sean’s. He inhaled memorizing their scents. He didn’t know what to make of Viggo’s arousal. Sean’s he understood, he knew what humans experienced under the touch of a lycan, but Viggo he hadn’t touched, yet. Regardless Karl didn’t stop in his task as he continued to tongue bath Sean’s skin.
Viggo held his ground and didn’t waver, not even when Karl’s teeth started to lengthen. Unfazed Viggo moved in closer almost pressing into Sean’s back. Viggo’s hand swept up to soothingly caress Sean’s back, as he quietly shushed him. Murmuring nonsense in Sean’s ear, though his eyes never left Karl’s and they stayed like that, close—intimate.
It was only when Viggo nodded that Karl realized what he had done, that he had waited for Viggo’s permission before he bit into Sean.
Stunned at the realization, even more when he felt Viggo’s fingers card through his hair as he gently pushed him forward and his teeth sank into Sean’s neck. Instinctively he responded his back teeth sank in deeper anchoring to create the mark he needed. To mark Sean as his until death making Sean the first human in his newly formed pack.
Once he created the mark his teeth retracted and he started to pull up cleaning the wound, coating it thickly with his saliva to heal. Coming back to himself, aware of his surroundings Karl realized he had closed his eyes. Viggo’s fingers were still entangled in his hair, caressing him in slow steady strokes.
With a last lick Karl pulled back. Sean moaned at his absence and immediately leaned forward to close the small gap. Viggo chuckled, pressing Sean’s body in, but maneuvered Sean a bit more to the side as he took Sean’s previous position and aligned his body, chest to chest with Karl’s body. His eyes twinkled in amusement; eyebrows lifted in an exaggerating gesture extending a silent challenge.
Karl didn’t know what to say, he couldn’t even articulate his feelings, but Viggo was definitely putting him off center. Pushing at things he had locked away years ago with Phillips death. When he thought of Phillip, Viggo’s hand was suddenly there and pressed against his cheek silently demanding he look at Viggo.
Karl did, gazing deeply into Viggo’s eyes. His heart beat faster, it was odd that he felt so young, like a cub, yet he didn’t feel threatened. Viggo’s thumb swept across his cheek; the gesture was sweet, innocent and seductive rolled into one. On impulse he knew Viggo wasn’t challenging him. Something his beast already knew and only rattled inside his chest in its want to taste both of them.
Viggo’s hand slid to cup around his neck pulling him in closer, maneuvering him until Viggo’s words were whispered against his ear sending shivers of excitement throughout his body. “It’s my turn.”
Karl shuddered and inhaled Viggo’s scent; the arousal around him was overwhelming as Viggo pressed in closer while Sean did the same to his back. Sean’s hand rubbed soothingly up and down his side his weight solid, comforting as Sean pushed him against Viggo; the other hand mirroring what Viggo had done earlier, threaded through his hair encouragingly pressing him forward even as his teeth sank into Viggo’s skin to mark him as pack.
Billy openly watched as Karl marked Sean and Viggo. He should have been surprised to see the intimacy between the three of them. However after he’d arrived, and helped Viggo shield himself; he had seen glimpses - premonitions of the three of them together intimately. So he wasn’t surprised unlike Elijah apparently was. He almost wanted to laugh out loud at the mock reaction of shocked innocence, although Elijah was anything but innocent.
Something Billy had figured out only by accident was how gifted Elijah was, and how vast that gift was. It wasn’t until Elijah had dropped his shield, emotionally battered between what he had seen and interpreted as Dom being raped to Dom’s acceptance of his perceived attacker—Jeremy. It was only then that Billy was able to see the full extent of Elijah’s gifts.
Once Billy was over his shock, he realized how powerful Elijah was. Just taking into account the strength of his shield, the unique way Elijah had built and layered the protective shield around him—its resilient strength had protected Elijah leaving his powers undetected by everyone around him.
Not that the shield was doing him any good at the moment—Elijah was distracted and too emotional to erect the shield’s walls. Right now under the vulnerability of his current state, Billy knew what to look for and could easily see each layer and the full extent of Elijah’s gifts including areas the boy hadn’t tapped into. It was staggering, but Billy knew with training, in time he had no doubt that Elijah’s power would rival his own.
He also saw what all three of them, Hannah, and Viggo had seen years ago when they started filming, that Dom and Elijah were destined to be together. Dom’s new status as a werewolf didn’t change the vision he had of them being together, but what he didn’t see was Jeremy in that picture.
His stomach clenched at the implication. He had just spent over an hour casting spells to heal and strengthen the alpha who had risked his life in order to save Dom.
During the process, Billy was able to touch the man’s thoughts and more importantly his beast’s emotions. He’d discovered the depth of Jeremy’s love for his cub Colin. It was what ultimately drove Jeremy to mate with Dom. How both sides: his human and beast were consciously fully committed to mate with Dom.
However now that they were mated Dominic’s safety was prominent, edging out his cub and more important Jeremy’s own life.
Jeremy more than proved his worth in Billy’s eyes, that he had risked his life to save both Colin and Dom; all because of his own stupidity when he refused to allow Karl to mark them as anything but human. Then Jeremy turned around and sacrificed his life again when he fought and lost to Karl. Billy had no idea when it was happening in real time, but as it replayed in a vision from Jeremy’s memory, he understood what was happening. What it’d mean in terms of lycan law. The social structural of their packs, Billy finally had to concede their dynamics were far more intricate than he had believed.
Once he tapped into the memory, Billy didn’t need Jeremy to tell him what he was thinking, of what and why he made his choices. Billy could see it unfold, and this time he was able to understand the consequences of what he was seeing—each move was calculated with one objective to save Dom and Colin.
Billy winced when he compared and replayed the visions: seeing the fight with Karl from Jeremy’s prospective, knowing and tasting the truth, inside Jeremy’s soul and into his beast, against the premonition he had of Dom’s future that Jeremy wasn’t in. When he thought of Jeremy in the future with Dom or Colin nothing came to him only blackness.
“Huh, thought you were a better actor?” Billy turned and moved toward the choked voice then paled suddenly feeling guilty when he saw Jeremy staring at him.
The man was where he left him on the couch, his battered body healing barely conscious yet he offered a smile. “You’re fucking transparent.” He started to laugh; it quickly turned into a cough. A second later he was at Jeremy’s side offering to help him sit up.
Jeremy grabbed Billy’s arm, staring into his eyes before he could glance away. “At least you’ll know the truth.”
Startled Billy looked in the man’s blue eyes.
“It wasn’t exactly a one way deal you know—the visions. I might not be as old or experienced as Karl, but I’m not exactly a cub either I know how to shield my thoughts from a mage even with this thick noggin.” He tapped his skull emphasizing his point.
Surprised Billy just stared at him wide-eyed. He had no idea werewolf’s had such a power, but kicked himself when he thought about it further—why he was never able to really read Karl. Cursing on the obvious oversight, Billy started to erect a shield, closing whatever he had accidentally revealed.
Undisturbed by Billy’s actions, Jeremy shrugged. “I needed you to know. It’s not like I don’t know who you are. Well the actor you, anyways. Another one of the famed hobbits; you’re Pippen, the one who sang. Good voice by the way. Read about how close you guys were, how close you are with Dom. If…” Jeremy reached for his hand, and squeezed. “If things don’t go my way, I’m grateful he’ll be taken care of, to be with someone he loves and he really loves Elijah.” He paused as he thought of something then laughed; it came out more like a jagged gasp that turned into a cough. Clearing his throat, he stated seriously. “Have to be dead not to see how much Elijah loves him back.”
Billy closed his eyes inhaling, his heart aching that he caused this. Jeremy squeezed his hand again. “Tell me, my cub… do you see him, when this is over? He’s going to be okay, and live right? Like Dom?” Billy swallowed, words caught in his throat. Instead he turned toward the door where Dom and Orli sat with the large beast that was Colin. He took notice of how both Dom and Orli leaned into Colin’s body. Then he saw Colin in his human body being consoled by Orli. Billy closed his eyes, nodding his voiced cracked, as he solemnly answered “Aye,” unable to face the man he had unintentionally condemned to death.
Elijah couldn’t stop staring as Karl marked Sean then Viggo. It took him a moment before he closed his mouth. He had suspected there was something a spark between Sean and Viggo, but Karl. Especially now that they knew what Karl was… Almost involuntarily Elijah shuddered with disgust realizing he’d have to tolerate the same and accept Karl’s mark. If he could he’d rather tell Karl to go fuck off, but knew that wasn’t an option.
Elijah shifted his gaze back to Dom. His decision to comply had nothing to do with their current plan of defense, but rather because he couldn’t stand the idea of being alone, to leave Dom. And right now that’s where he was, alone. He stood on the outside separated from Dom and regardless of what was going to happen or even what already had happened… he swallowed, and tried to push away the visions he had seen.
He didn’t lie exactly when he accused Jeremy of rape, he saw it. One vision after another hit him, of Jeremy violating Dom. Thrusting deep, coming inside of Dom’s unconscious body that laid draped over Colin’s still form. What he didn’t say was he also knew why Jeremy was doing it. Knew what Karl tried to tell him that it wasn’t rape, that Jeremy was doing the only thing he could to save Dom’s life. Even when he was in his beast’s form, Jeremy was gentle, marking Dom as his mate. Elijah felt Jeremy’s desperation, the growth of his love as he continued to mark Dom long past the point of his own safety.
Elijah couldn’t deny he was grateful, to Jeremy and Colin, grateful that Dom was alive, but it did nothing to dim the heat of his jealousy. Elijah never felt so lost and hurt. The fact was, he was steadily losing Dom and he didn’t know how to stop that bitter truth.
It was only after Billy told Jeremy about Colin’s fate; did the young alpha stop fighting and allow the magic to lull him to sleep in order to regain some strength. Though they both knew it wouldn’t be enough. Not that Karl had done any real damage, but Jeremy was weak had already depleted his energy by mating and healing Dom. Too weak to shift, forced him to stay in human form leaving him vulnerable. What he needed was time to heal properly. The problem was they were running out of time.
Billy already knew there was no way Jeremy would survive another fight. He wasn’t sure what to do. To just sit back and let it happen seemed wrong. Karl was right if Jeremy hadn’t added his strength and mated with Dom, been powerful enough to heal Dom and pull his own cub back they’d all be dead.
And Jeremy was strong, it was in his line; a heritage that he had passed on to Colin and to Dom.
Heritage, lineage, the words rolled around his head as Billy looked at Karl. He knew Karl’s Sire had died and that Karl was alone. It had been the main reason he fought Karl to mark them only as human—it was his fear and ignorance that Karl would lose control and want them as a pack purely to make them subservient to Karl. Why he fought so fiercely against Karl’s instinct.
It’s only now that Billy started to understand how wrong he was; that being pack actually made an individual stronger not weaker as he had believed.
Looking down at Jeremy, even in his weaken condition sound asleep, the alpha had the strength to shield his mind.
Under hooded lashes Billy glanced around the room before closing his eyes and he ran through the memories he had lifted from Jeremy earlier. It didn’t take him long to find the signature of Jeremy’s Sire.
It was a long shot, but one Jeremy deserved, and it was the only thing Billy could think of and offer the young man. He had done a similar spell for Karl, to warn him if any of his marked was in danger. Only then he had Karl right there and had just touched the man to anchor the spell. This time, the spell had no direction. It’d be a risky like a message in a bottle being thrown out to sea hoping someone and the right someone would find it. It’d be a gamble, one Billy decided to take, directing the spell’s net out to the mainland’s coast, with a slim hope that it’d reach Jeremy’s alpha in time.
Squatting down on the floor, Billy crossed his legs and concentrated. After pulling what information he could about Jeremy’s Sire, Billy clasped Jeremy’s hand, adding an energy signature hoping Jeremy’s Sire would recognize it as his cub. Focused Billy started to weave his magic, strengthening each strand to stretch out toward the Alpha lycan.
Elijah closed his eyes, his energy drawn to the flare of magic above him. It was easy to recognize the signature of Billy’s magic. However what was odd, it wasn’t a protection spell as he had expected. It took Elijah a moment to realize it was some kind of seeking spell, then another moment to pick up what Billy was seeking.
Opening his eyes, Elijah looked around him to see if Hannah or Viggo had felt it, but neither of them seem to sense what Billy was doing. Even Karl appeared unaware. Suspicious, he turned his attention back to Billy. It was then he noticed how Billy clasped Jeremy’s hand.
Unable to read their thoughts Elijah focused on the spell Billy cast, it lay naked above him, gathering energy. Biting on his thumbnail, Elijah tried to decipher out how he could read the spells intent.
Quietly Elijah sat down in a chair across from them, and drew his knees up, closing his eyes, resting his head on them; his focus entirely on the spell that danced above him. With ease Billy effectively shielded himself although what he couldn’t do was cloak the spell from anyone else capable of reading its energy. Instinctively Elijah knew enough not to interfere or break the spell. Instead he allowed his energy to follow the stream, to ride it trying to determine what Billy was doing. He knew it had to do with Jeremy, could feel bits of information about the man within the stream.
He didn’t trust Billy and because of Jeremy’s connection to Dom, Elijah had to know. Digging deeper, Elijah latched onto the information Billy was trying to send. It was an SOS to Jeremy’s alpha. Abruptly Elijah was hit with the vision Billy had, Jeremy would die trying to save them—saving Dom and Colin.
Stunned Elijah abruptly let go, his energy clasping back into himself.
Startled Elijah stared back at Billy then he shifted his gaze to Jeremy’s still frame. Jeremy was going to die. Stunned, Elijah’s heart leapt with joy that he was going to have Dom back—Dom would be free of the werewolf. As quickly as he thought of it, he realized how selfish he was being, knowing that Jeremy’s death would devastate Dom.
Jeremy was why he had been so jealous. Although they were relative strangers, what Dom felt for Jeremy being his mate, he loved him freely. Dom’s reaction, Elijah couldn’t deny how much it hurt. Not only was it fast, but to know Dom was that connected and loved someone that fiercely when it wasn’t him.
The truth was Elijah didn’t want Jeremy in the picture however he didn’t want the man’s death nor did he want to cause Dom any further pain… at the awareness, Elijah’s chest hurt. He knew he wouldn’t be able to face Dom if he didn’t do something. He couldn’t play ignorance and disregard Billy’s attempt; he loved Dom too much—far more than his jealousy.
He had to do something, for Dom’s sake and he had to do it now.
Glancing overhead, Elijah finally understood, Billy was trying to seek out Jeremy’s Sire by throwing out a net hoping to catch his attention. It wasn’t enough. They’d need to narrow the field down. If they knew who his Sire was. Glancing at Jeremy, Elijah realized he was still protecting Dom and Colin using shields to prevent them from suspecting the depth of his weakness—why, he wouldn’t make it through another battle.
Besides Billy had already tried, if he or Billy pushed too hard it’d only injure the man’s shield and break him further. There was no point looking toward Dom, he didn’t know anything about the man other than what he felt. Then Elijah glanced at Colin— maybe.
With a single focus Elijah concentrated and quietly made a suggestion. Then he watched as it took root before he tried to push for an answer. It had been a technique he had used in auditions to ferret out what the casting agents were looking for. Images, thoughts, phrases all geared to help him secure a role. Thankfully Colin was distracted and he was able to easily pick up the name Jeff and the image of Jeremy’s cell phone beside a bed.
Quietly Elijah stood and walked to the back of the house. He stopped in the hallway knowing that he’d find the bed rumbled from what he seen in his vision where Jeremy took Dom over and over. Before he opened the door, he inhaled almost gagging on the lingering scent of semen. Knowing it’d be heavier on the other side of the door; Elijah held his breath and pushed the door open. Ignoring the bed and the images that taunted him, Elijah spotted Jeremy’s cell just as he had seen from Colin’s mind beside the bed on the night table.
Unexpectedly the image changed and he saw Dom wake up. He gasped seeing how Dom eagerly pushed back accepting Jeremy’s cock and his claim. Swallowing the pain he felt Elijah grabbed the phone and dashed out of the room shutting the door behind him. Panting feverishly as he tried in vain to mentally shut out the images, and purposely ignored his own crude reaction as his cock hardened under the images.
Forcibly pushing himself forward, Elijah flipped the cell open and hit contacts, scrolling down the names until he found Jeffery Dean Morgan—thankfully there was only one Jeff listed. Hitting dial he waited anxiously for Jeff to answer.
He didn’t have long to wait or even wonder if he’d made a mistake since the man who picked up had caller ID, drawling out a friendly, “Cub, what’s going on? Are you all right?”
Elijah inhaled as panic took over. A second later although the man sounded calm, he asked, “Who is this?” Seconds or minutes passed Elijah couldn’t say, but his stomach dropped when he heard the alpha’s threatening growl.
Elijah swallowed and stuttered out, “Jeff?” It was low, but Elijah heard the audible gasp. “It’s Jeff right, and you’re Jeremy’s Alpha?”
Immediately the man demanded, “And you are?”
Although he didn’t confirm being Jeremy’s alpha, he also didn’t deny it. Elijah exhaled in relief, only for it to be quickly replaced by nervous fear as he now had to explain why he was calling in the first place—to deliver news that Jeremy was hurt. And worse that he saw Billy’s vision where Jeremy died protecting Colin and Dom. It was a gamble since he didn’t know the man, but Elijah was betting Jeff would be one tenth as protective and loved Jeremy, at least as much as he’d seen and felt from Jeremy in regards Colin and Dom. Though scared Elijah bit the bullet, and pushed ahead, stumbling over his words. “I, it doesn’t matter… we’re at Colin’s place in Hawaii. He’s going to need you, they both will. But it’s Jeremy, he’s hurt. I saw it, he’ll die. He’s too weak from saving Colin and mating with Dom, then fighting Karl, he won’t… he’ll shift when he shouldn’t and sacrifice himself again in order to save them. He only has one chance, his alpha. He’ll need you; I can’t lose Dom like this, I love him, I….”
Trailing off, Elijah expected Jeff to say something, anything. As the silence stretched he finally broke the silence, “Jeff? Jeff, are you still there?” Receiving no answer Elijah glanced at the screen, to see he was still connected and had enough bars… then Elijah felt a small trace of magic. Investigating the source he discovered and knew its intention was to block incoming and outgoing calls. He only hoped Jeff had heard enough, would take him seriously and by some miracle for Dom’s sake he’d make it in time to save his cub Jeremy. Snapping the cell closed, Elijah was startled, hearing a pop and anxiously looked around then he rushed back into the living room.
Karl turned to see Elijah walking out from the hallway, demanding, “What happened?”
Beside him it was Viggo who answered Elijah, “They cut our power.”
Karl inhaled, it made sense to not only trap them there physically, but to increase their vulnerability and block any feasible avenue for them to reach out. To confirm what he suspected Karl walked over to the wet bar and turned on the water to discover they had turned it off; leaving them with no amenities.
Under his breath, Karl cursed and heard Sean state, “Tactics, making us sweat while they close gaps against escape.” Sean clasped Karl’s shoulder offering his support and kept it there squeezing.
Karl concurred with Sean’s assessment and answered bitterly, “Yes.” He met Sean’s eyes, and saw the fear under the man’s bravado. He longed to take Sean in his arms, but forcibly held his distance. Fighting his beast’s insistent urge to bury his nose against Sean’s skin then Viggo’s; to inhale and taste one then the other learning their scents – to not stop until he took them both by burying himself deep within their bodies.
Forcibly Karl tried to rein in and master his beast from acting on the impulse.
He didn’t have time to ponder his emotions, but he knew what he was feeling was more than just a sexual attraction that drew him to his new packs mates, Sean and Viggo.
It was Viggo that brought him back to reality, stating, “You have to finish marking the others.” He inclined his head toward the door.
Karl didn’t want to leave their side to taste anyone else, but a quick glance at the others Viggo indicated, Karl couldn’t deny they were his responsibility and they needed to be firmly under his protection as his pack. Karl suspected Colin’s negative response would have less to do with being claimed pack—that the young cub would be more than willing to join his Sire and cub, but rather Colin’s objection would be his claim on Orlando.
If they had the time he’d indulge the cub and allow Colin to mark Orli. However the prospect was problematic. Any claim Colin attempted now in his beast’s form could result in Colin claiming Orli as his mate, or worse his beast might accidentally try to Sire Orli. It’d be too soon, he was still a cub and too weak from Siring Dom and shifting too many times. What he feared was that if Colin forced it and shifted back to human he was sure Colin would lose the ability to shift again—even if it was to protect Dom or Orli.
No, the risk was too high he couldn’t allow the cub to take the chance. If he had to, Karl would wake Jeremy and force him to order his cub to submit. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to resort to such drastic measures.
Karl lifted his eyes over to Sean then Viggo. It was under Viggo’s gaze that Karl felt his anxiety melt away and he gathered strength from the empath. Inhaling, he closed his eyes and made the decision to tackle and approach Dom first. Before he even moved toward the door, Hannah stepped in front of him. \\Me first.//
The hairs on his neck stood as he stared down at the girl feeling the static energy of her magic then he realized she spoke telepathically. He glared and straightened his stance even as he bore into her eyes. It was unnecessary posturing since he already stood a foot taller over her petite frame.
Tentatively Hannah expelled a shaky breath before he heard her voice in his head. \\Please, you have to claim me first. I know you don’t understand, but…// She grabbed his hand and placed it over her heart. \\The moment you mark me you’ll taste the truth of my words…//
His eyes widened, as she said what he hadn’t shared with anyone—how he’d know each of them intimately through the mark, would know if they tried to lie or hide anything from him. To an extent he did already. Only this time as their alpha he’d be able to pick up more than just their underlying emotions.
Karl didn’t think as he reacted, startling everyone else in the room; lifting her so he could stare into Hannah’s eyes. Her small frame belied the strength of her magic.
In the background he heard Elijah yelling, telling him to put her down. Purposely ignoring the commotion around them under his breath for her ears only he demanded, “Tell me, what you see?”
Hannah’s eyes widened with a mixture of surprised shock then she squeezed her blue eyes shut; her lips trembling as she shook her head and gasped out. \\No…//
Karl watched her face contort in distress even as his gut twisted in fear. “Why?”
Slowly she opened her eyes, though spoken in trepidation her words were clear in his head. \\There are several crossroads with different outcomes. This, to be claimed first… it’s the most I can do. Still it’s a ripple that will have consequences – some that I have seen some I haven’t. If I tell you or anyone else even one vision then it’d influence an outcome —but I’m betting on your instinct…//
Karl inhaled her scent, and knew she spoke the truth. His fear and instinct was also telling him that what she saw was one or more dying. “Once I claim you?”
Her eyes started to well with tears. \\No, I can’t. I’ll still be able to block you.//
Karl didn’t like her answer, but also read between the lines of what she didn’t say. “But the others: Billy, Viggo, Elijah, at least with them you can share the burden...” She shook her head no.
\\For the same reasons, it all has to play out… it’s the only way.//
In frustration Karl’s grip tightened hard enough to make her wince. Abruptly he eased his hold even if he wanted to shake the truth from her lips. Instead he focused on what she said: that it was several crossroads—and to his mind that meant that if he favored and protected one then those actions could endanger another.
Hannah was right, he couldn’t know, not even to share the burden. Karl could see it in her eyes that the visions she saw and carried inside were painful. Something she was prepared to endure on her own. It grated against him. She was to be his pack and he wanted to protect her. “Then there is one that plays out in our favor?”
Slowly she nodded. He’d have to do exactly what he had demanded the others to do: trust.
He quickly adjusted his hold as he leaned in to imprint her scent. Karl nipped her skin, his incisors dropping to pierce her skin effectively marking her as his.
Through the mark he could feel the urgency. In response perhaps because she was the youngest or because she was the only female he cradled her as a babe.
Abruptly Karl heard Elijah’s high-pitched protest “Stop it!” just before he felt Elijah pummel his fists against his body before he tried to latch onto Hannah’s body and forcibly pull her away from him. “Let her go, let her fucking go!”
Protective and still holding the girl, he gently extracted his incisors. Once she was standing on her own feet, Hannah reached up and hugged him one last time before she let go and stepped back. By the look on her face, Karl suspected she felt the turmoil of Elijah’s emotions as profoundly as he did.
A part of him was sympathetic and knew the boy was still reeling from losing Dominic. Like the rest of his fellow cast members they had watched Dom and Elijah dance around each other for the last few years. Beyond that realization a larger emotion surfaced—anger.
In comparison to his own years, the boy was just a child and with each breath his beast rankled to show Elijah exactly who was his Alpha and where his place ranked within the pack.
Swiftly Karl turned and reached out, hauling Elijah’s body up against him until they were eye to eye. “Your turn?”
Almost immediately, in the physical sense, the fight fled Elijah and his body just hung in Karl’s arms. However whatever fears the boy had suddenly shifted, to reveal Elijah’s rage and disdain—all of it was directed at him. The intensity and depth of what Karl saw reflected in Elijah’s face sent a shiver down his back. Gone was the innocent joyous boy, the young man Karl had once called friend; in his place, was a man that was torn between furious anger and deep pain: lost and alone left floundering within Karl’s tight grasp.
Simultaneously Viggo and Billy reprimanded him as they both spoke in warning. “Karl.”
He refused to glance their way, even as Sean added his own objection and he and Viggo moved toward them. They called out to him again demanding his attention. It was then Karl heard the change in Viggo’s voice a concern that had nothing to do with Elijah. The screen door banged open. A scuffle followed as Colin manhandled Dom and Orlando pushing them inside ignoring their vocal protests as the front door was slammed in their faces echoed by the screen door. Only to follow Colin’s threatening growls.
Elijah’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Shit! It’s too late. If you’re going to mark me, do it now!” Seconds passed where Karl was too stunned by Elijah’s demand to do anything other than gawk at the boy.
Then the adrenaline hit him, and he felt the need to comply. His heart thundering ready to burst through his ribcage when he answered with action and aggressively pulled Elijah closer to sink his teeth into the boy’s skin.
Karl heard the collective gasp of the others who stood witnessing the assault. Despite Elijah’s demand he knew they only saw him being excessively forceful, but he didn’t have time to be gentle.
Any doubts he had vanished when he tasted Elijah’s blood and felt the depth of boy’s magic.
Retracting his teeth, Elijah pulled back—blood smearing his neck.
A hand quickly clamped over the mark even as Elijah eyes rounded and he licked his lips as if he was having a difficult time concentrating.
Inhaling Karl searched out Viggo needing the man’s calmness. However Viggo’s attention was so fully engrossed on what Billy was doing that Karl’s breath caught. Billy stood in front of the couch facing the door with his arms out spread-eagle with his palms up, his face contorted. The muscles in his arms trembled against an invisible force making it obvious he was struggling.
Karl heard a faint but frantic, “Cub” and knew before he actually saw it that it was his new cub Jeremy struggling successfully against the magic Billy had used to push him into sleep.
Still held in Karl’s grip, Elijah swallowed in horror as he was lifted further off the ground as Karl started to shift; then belatedly, made the connection that this was the start in a chain of events that’d lead to Jeremy’s death. Although he was too late, Elijah screamed out, “No, don’t!” Karl ignored his plea but dropped him gently before he made his way toward the door. Elijah stood there dazed; it seemed almost comical as he watched Karl’s large paw deftly open then close the door behind him- as if the single door would protect them.
Elijah couldn’t see what happened next behind the closed door, but fear ran down his spine at the earsplitting howl that rang out.
Only Hannah’s grip on his hand when she pulled him down away from a lamp that flew across the room. It was enough to momentarily distract him from the reason why Karl had roared.
Next~
Previous ch
Once Karl stated they needed to make a stand together as a pack Karl took note of everyone’s reaction and immediately noticed those who didn’t make the connection of what he was saying. He could have clarified himself, pushed to make them understand, but decided to give them a short reprieve. Knowing they’d understand soon enough.
Billy was the first to start as he gathered Viggo, Hannah, and Elijah to work with him. Surprisingly there seemed to be some animosity between the siblings, and each appeared hesitant to work alongside Billy. It was Viggo, who kept everyone on track and pushed Billy to take the lead to feed off of their combined energy as he started to weave protection spells. The first batch of spells focused on the perimeter to act as a force field surrounding the house, creating a temporary sanctuary behind its invisible walls.
Problem was as they had seen earlier with Orlando the lycans in the other pack also had magic, the power to push; to manipulate a human into doing something against their will. Worst case scenario they’d be able to manipulate his humans, those without magic, leaving Orlando and Sean the most vulnerable.
He hated to do it, but Karl forced himself to sit down and meditate. He needed to center himself before he attempted to correct their marks and make them pack. Although he could simplify things by just upgrading their mark from human-pet to human-pack, but even as the thought crossed his mind his beast immediately rejected it. He had made the mistake of leaving them vulnerable and it almost cost Dom his life. To mark any of them less than full pack would belie what he feels for each of them and frankly add insult to injury.
However there were consequences. What it’d mean to them not to mention it would be another manipulation by not telling them the consequences of a full mark. Though under the circumstances Karl knew it could be their only chance to survive. If any one of them was injured even freshly marked with their bodies changing they’d have a higher rate of survival to weather against a lycan’s attack. In flux their bodies able to accept his spores in order to heal—no longer human, but they wouldn’t be lycan either.
Over the years whatever arguments Karl had with himself about whether he made the right decision when he marked Dom human-pet instead of pack—it all changed the moment the mark’s magic called on him. From that moment he knew he’d have to take drastic measures if there was any chance to save Dom. He’d had every intention to do whatever it took to save Dom. However it was taken out of his hands when he discovered the other alpha had marked Dom.
It was during the fight when Karl pushed the alpha into submission; initially his bite was only to force the young alpha to submit. However once he tasted the other alpha’s blood, Karl realized he was too late to claim Dom. Drowning under his beast’s jealousy, fear and worry, Karl did what his beast demanded, to insure he wouldn’t lose Dom—he marked the other alpha. Allowing his beast to do the unthinkable and dropped his back incisors to sink in further into his skin, shooting secretions to mark the alpha as his cub.
It was unheard of. Something he shouldn’t have been able to do—yet he did—instinctively knowing it’d be the only way to keep Dom close to him without outright challenging the alpha. A challenge, Karl was sure that’d end fatally for the younger alpha and in return knew he’d end up having Dom’s hatred for killing his mate. Karl could only be thankful he had enough control over his beast to not disrespect Jeremy’s Originator. Where he conceded the Alpha’s right and placed his mark on the young alpha alongside and just below the original alpha’s mark. Already Karl had rationalized it had been his right, to reward the young alpha and adopt Jeremy as his cub, in some fashion like a father-in-law.
Though once they made it out of this situation, Karl knew the one he’d really have to convince would be Jeremy’s Originator and Sire.
Clenching his jaw, Karl forced himself to think of the here and now. That he needed to prepare to do the unthinkable – to claim each of them not only as his pack, but with full rights. Though Karl cringed at the very idea of not giving them a right to decide, he also knew he’d rather face decades of their hatred rather than leave them defenseless to die.
Shaking the morbid thoughts Karl concentrated on the task at hand. With Jeremy already marked that left the other eight to be marked. Opening his eyes he knew where he needed to start with the most vulnerable within the pack, the humans with no magic: Sean and Orli.
Karl glanced out to the porch. Dealing with Orlando meant he had to deal with the young cub. Though it was something he needed to do, he’d rather not start with Orli. Turning around he sought out Sean. Sean had his back to him, but Viggo caught his gaze and returned his stare. From the look Viggo was giving him, he understood what Karl intended to do.
Karl didn’t wait as he stood and strolled over. Sean finally realized he’d lost Viggo’s attention and turned Karl’s way.
Intuitively Viggo stated, “You’re going to correct your mistakes.”
Karl offered Viggo a smile and nodded, silently answering him.
“What?” Sean glanced back and forth between them. “Your mistakes? You mean the marks?” then demanded, “how exactly do you plan on doing that?”
Karl couldn’t stop himself when he replied. “With a bite.” Enjoying Sean’s quick response as his eyes widened comically in fear.
Dryly, Viggo asked, “You intend on biting all of us?”
Karl only nodded, watching as Viggo comforted Sean. It didn’t last as Sean realized what Viggo said, and correctly interpreted what it’d mean for him, but also Viggo.
Watching them interact, especially now that they were consciously aware of what they actually felt for each other, there were no subtle or hidden meanings behind the way they reached out to touch and comfort each other. Karl felt the familiar pang of loss for Phillip. Observing their open concern, love, and protectiveness should have been bitter—painful. But he found himself coming back to Sean. There was something about the man, his mannerisms the way he projected his feelings, the way he held himself, the fierce protectiveness he had over Viggo.
Belated Karl realized a door had opened—that Sean’s actions resonated and somehow pushed open memories of Phillip, intimate memories Karl had locked away after Phillip’s death. The unexpected bombardment of memories shocked Karl, for a moment he had to steel himself afraid it’d crippled him.
However as quickly as the images of his Sire came, emotional memories followed of how Phillip did everything within his power to protect Karl even to his death. It reinforced what he didn’t have the time to do: indulge in the nostalgic memories—he needed to protect the pack around him, his pack!
Forcibly shoving the memories away, Karl opened his eyes to see Sean’s green eyes boring into him. Karl wasn’t sure what he was projecting, but whatever Sean saw in his eyes, his initial hostility gave way to something softer as he asked. “Why a bite? Wouldn’t that make us one of you?” Though what Karl saw in Sean’s eyes conflicted with the tone his voice captured. What Karl heard was an undisguised disdain in Sean’s voice when he used the word us, making it abundantly clear to Karl how Sean actually felt about him now that he knew the truth of his nature.
He shouldn’t have been surprised; instead he was hurt, yet being this close to Sean looking into his eyes Karl still couldn’t let the man die not if he could help it. Shoving his emotions aside, Karl stepped in closer.
Sean held his ground; Karl could only admire the man’s fortitude. “The initial mark I made on you and the others was as one of my human’s, something that was created only by my touch. To others a human mark only indicates a cared for pet. In a pack of lycans, humans are pets that come and go— easily die out.”
He heard Viggo’s involuntary gasp, watched Sean’s eyes narrow when he referred to them as his pets—watched as his disbelief turned then deepened to disgust. “Out of respect, if we had the time, I could mark each of you as my pack without biting, but we don’t have that luxury. Right now we’re surrounded, tonight once we parley, and I refuse to give them Colin. They will attack and go after the weakest first—humans. Any human-pets would be the most vulnerable; it’d indicate that I don’t care enough about what happens to them.” Karl held his breath before he spoke, hoping his words wouldn’t turn out to be a lie. “However I won’t force my mark; it has to be your choice.”
Karl stepped in closer, their noses a mere inch away, his breath ghosted over Sean’s face. “My mark distinctly placed, here…” Sean jumped as he felt Karl’s finger run just under his neck by his jugular. “Of course you do have a choice… yes or no, to willingly accept and submit to my bite.”
Sean held his ground even though Karl felt the shivers of fear or maybe excitement run through Sean’s body. Boldly Sean asked him, “You didn’t answer the question.”
Not sure what the question was Karl only lifted a brow, to silently inquire.
Sean swallowed, bolstering his stance. “Is that going to make us one of you?”
Although Karl had no intention of disclosing what the new mark would mean. He waited a half a second before deciding to stick as close to the truth as he could. “No. It’s not like the movies where you get turned with one bite. It’s a bit more complicated. Ultimately to turn you I’d have to shift into my beast. No this would be me biting you in this form marking you my pack.” He held Sean’s gaze and waited.
It was Viggo who answered first. “Alright we’ll do it.” Sean turned toward Viggo clearly surprised. Viggo returned Sean’s stare answering. “We both will.”
Then addressing Sean, Viggo told him. “I’m not going to take a chance on losing you—not now. We’ll both do it, all right?”
Sean’s body answered as he immediately leaned into Viggo, and nodded before his voice followed to confirm Viggo’s decision. “All right then.”
Sean turned back to Karl. “I’ll go first.”
Despite his quivering stomach Karl smirked and answered, “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
At his response, Sean nervously licked his lips, and then bravely faced him looking him square in the eyes. “What do you want me to do?”
“Simple, submit.” He watched, nostrils flaring when Sean nodded and then lowered his eyes. He almost laughed, wanted to tell Sean that his submission was a mental barrier not a physical one, but he enjoyed the sight of Sean’s commitment too much. Overly excited, his stomach clenched nervously with butterflies as he inhaled Sean’s scent. His thumb swept over the spot he was going mark. Instinctively he moved, lips brushing over Sean’s skin as he inhaled deeper, his beast raged with sudden desire. He wanted Sean.
The want was thick and heavy driving him to move, his tongue lapped over Sean’s skin then nipped at the skin pulling. Hearing Sean’s moan was followed by a guttural curse; it brought him up short a reminder of where he was and what he was doing. That he had his hands on Sean holding him close. Opening his eyes he was surprised to see Viggo, openly staring at him. What surprised him more instead of a heated flare of jealousy that he had expected to see, what he saw in Viggo’s eyes was an odd mix of concern and curiosity intersected with longing.
He was further stunned when he caught a whiff of arousal—Viggo’s and Sean’s. He inhaled memorizing their scents. He didn’t know what to make of Viggo’s arousal. Sean’s he understood, he knew what humans experienced under the touch of a lycan, but Viggo he hadn’t touched, yet. Regardless Karl didn’t stop in his task as he continued to tongue bath Sean’s skin.
Viggo held his ground and didn’t waver, not even when Karl’s teeth started to lengthen. Unfazed Viggo moved in closer almost pressing into Sean’s back. Viggo’s hand swept up to soothingly caress Sean’s back, as he quietly shushed him. Murmuring nonsense in Sean’s ear, though his eyes never left Karl’s and they stayed like that, close—intimate.
It was only when Viggo nodded that Karl realized what he had done, that he had waited for Viggo’s permission before he bit into Sean.
Stunned at the realization, even more when he felt Viggo’s fingers card through his hair as he gently pushed him forward and his teeth sank into Sean’s neck. Instinctively he responded his back teeth sank in deeper anchoring to create the mark he needed. To mark Sean as his until death making Sean the first human in his newly formed pack.
Once he created the mark his teeth retracted and he started to pull up cleaning the wound, coating it thickly with his saliva to heal. Coming back to himself, aware of his surroundings Karl realized he had closed his eyes. Viggo’s fingers were still entangled in his hair, caressing him in slow steady strokes.
With a last lick Karl pulled back. Sean moaned at his absence and immediately leaned forward to close the small gap. Viggo chuckled, pressing Sean’s body in, but maneuvered Sean a bit more to the side as he took Sean’s previous position and aligned his body, chest to chest with Karl’s body. His eyes twinkled in amusement; eyebrows lifted in an exaggerating gesture extending a silent challenge.
Karl didn’t know what to say, he couldn’t even articulate his feelings, but Viggo was definitely putting him off center. Pushing at things he had locked away years ago with Phillips death. When he thought of Phillip, Viggo’s hand was suddenly there and pressed against his cheek silently demanding he look at Viggo.
Karl did, gazing deeply into Viggo’s eyes. His heart beat faster, it was odd that he felt so young, like a cub, yet he didn’t feel threatened. Viggo’s thumb swept across his cheek; the gesture was sweet, innocent and seductive rolled into one. On impulse he knew Viggo wasn’t challenging him. Something his beast already knew and only rattled inside his chest in its want to taste both of them.
Viggo’s hand slid to cup around his neck pulling him in closer, maneuvering him until Viggo’s words were whispered against his ear sending shivers of excitement throughout his body. “It’s my turn.”
Karl shuddered and inhaled Viggo’s scent; the arousal around him was overwhelming as Viggo pressed in closer while Sean did the same to his back. Sean’s hand rubbed soothingly up and down his side his weight solid, comforting as Sean pushed him against Viggo; the other hand mirroring what Viggo had done earlier, threaded through his hair encouragingly pressing him forward even as his teeth sank into Viggo’s skin to mark him as pack.
Billy openly watched as Karl marked Sean and Viggo. He should have been surprised to see the intimacy between the three of them. However after he’d arrived, and helped Viggo shield himself; he had seen glimpses - premonitions of the three of them together intimately. So he wasn’t surprised unlike Elijah apparently was. He almost wanted to laugh out loud at the mock reaction of shocked innocence, although Elijah was anything but innocent.
Something Billy had figured out only by accident was how gifted Elijah was, and how vast that gift was. It wasn’t until Elijah had dropped his shield, emotionally battered between what he had seen and interpreted as Dom being raped to Dom’s acceptance of his perceived attacker—Jeremy. It was only then that Billy was able to see the full extent of Elijah’s gifts.
Once Billy was over his shock, he realized how powerful Elijah was. Just taking into account the strength of his shield, the unique way Elijah had built and layered the protective shield around him—its resilient strength had protected Elijah leaving his powers undetected by everyone around him.
Not that the shield was doing him any good at the moment—Elijah was distracted and too emotional to erect the shield’s walls. Right now under the vulnerability of his current state, Billy knew what to look for and could easily see each layer and the full extent of Elijah’s gifts including areas the boy hadn’t tapped into. It was staggering, but Billy knew with training, in time he had no doubt that Elijah’s power would rival his own.
He also saw what all three of them, Hannah, and Viggo had seen years ago when they started filming, that Dom and Elijah were destined to be together. Dom’s new status as a werewolf didn’t change the vision he had of them being together, but what he didn’t see was Jeremy in that picture.
His stomach clenched at the implication. He had just spent over an hour casting spells to heal and strengthen the alpha who had risked his life in order to save Dom.
During the process, Billy was able to touch the man’s thoughts and more importantly his beast’s emotions. He’d discovered the depth of Jeremy’s love for his cub Colin. It was what ultimately drove Jeremy to mate with Dom. How both sides: his human and beast were consciously fully committed to mate with Dom.
However now that they were mated Dominic’s safety was prominent, edging out his cub and more important Jeremy’s own life.
Jeremy more than proved his worth in Billy’s eyes, that he had risked his life to save both Colin and Dom; all because of his own stupidity when he refused to allow Karl to mark them as anything but human. Then Jeremy turned around and sacrificed his life again when he fought and lost to Karl. Billy had no idea when it was happening in real time, but as it replayed in a vision from Jeremy’s memory, he understood what was happening. What it’d mean in terms of lycan law. The social structural of their packs, Billy finally had to concede their dynamics were far more intricate than he had believed.
Once he tapped into the memory, Billy didn’t need Jeremy to tell him what he was thinking, of what and why he made his choices. Billy could see it unfold, and this time he was able to understand the consequences of what he was seeing—each move was calculated with one objective to save Dom and Colin.
Billy winced when he compared and replayed the visions: seeing the fight with Karl from Jeremy’s prospective, knowing and tasting the truth, inside Jeremy’s soul and into his beast, against the premonition he had of Dom’s future that Jeremy wasn’t in. When he thought of Jeremy in the future with Dom or Colin nothing came to him only blackness.
“Huh, thought you were a better actor?” Billy turned and moved toward the choked voice then paled suddenly feeling guilty when he saw Jeremy staring at him.
The man was where he left him on the couch, his battered body healing barely conscious yet he offered a smile. “You’re fucking transparent.” He started to laugh; it quickly turned into a cough. A second later he was at Jeremy’s side offering to help him sit up.
Jeremy grabbed Billy’s arm, staring into his eyes before he could glance away. “At least you’ll know the truth.”
Startled Billy looked in the man’s blue eyes.
“It wasn’t exactly a one way deal you know—the visions. I might not be as old or experienced as Karl, but I’m not exactly a cub either I know how to shield my thoughts from a mage even with this thick noggin.” He tapped his skull emphasizing his point.
Surprised Billy just stared at him wide-eyed. He had no idea werewolf’s had such a power, but kicked himself when he thought about it further—why he was never able to really read Karl. Cursing on the obvious oversight, Billy started to erect a shield, closing whatever he had accidentally revealed.
Undisturbed by Billy’s actions, Jeremy shrugged. “I needed you to know. It’s not like I don’t know who you are. Well the actor you, anyways. Another one of the famed hobbits; you’re Pippen, the one who sang. Good voice by the way. Read about how close you guys were, how close you are with Dom. If…” Jeremy reached for his hand, and squeezed. “If things don’t go my way, I’m grateful he’ll be taken care of, to be with someone he loves and he really loves Elijah.” He paused as he thought of something then laughed; it came out more like a jagged gasp that turned into a cough. Clearing his throat, he stated seriously. “Have to be dead not to see how much Elijah loves him back.”
Billy closed his eyes inhaling, his heart aching that he caused this. Jeremy squeezed his hand again. “Tell me, my cub… do you see him, when this is over? He’s going to be okay, and live right? Like Dom?” Billy swallowed, words caught in his throat. Instead he turned toward the door where Dom and Orli sat with the large beast that was Colin. He took notice of how both Dom and Orli leaned into Colin’s body. Then he saw Colin in his human body being consoled by Orli. Billy closed his eyes, nodding his voiced cracked, as he solemnly answered “Aye,” unable to face the man he had unintentionally condemned to death.
Elijah couldn’t stop staring as Karl marked Sean then Viggo. It took him a moment before he closed his mouth. He had suspected there was something a spark between Sean and Viggo, but Karl. Especially now that they knew what Karl was… Almost involuntarily Elijah shuddered with disgust realizing he’d have to tolerate the same and accept Karl’s mark. If he could he’d rather tell Karl to go fuck off, but knew that wasn’t an option.
Elijah shifted his gaze back to Dom. His decision to comply had nothing to do with their current plan of defense, but rather because he couldn’t stand the idea of being alone, to leave Dom. And right now that’s where he was, alone. He stood on the outside separated from Dom and regardless of what was going to happen or even what already had happened… he swallowed, and tried to push away the visions he had seen.
He didn’t lie exactly when he accused Jeremy of rape, he saw it. One vision after another hit him, of Jeremy violating Dom. Thrusting deep, coming inside of Dom’s unconscious body that laid draped over Colin’s still form. What he didn’t say was he also knew why Jeremy was doing it. Knew what Karl tried to tell him that it wasn’t rape, that Jeremy was doing the only thing he could to save Dom’s life. Even when he was in his beast’s form, Jeremy was gentle, marking Dom as his mate. Elijah felt Jeremy’s desperation, the growth of his love as he continued to mark Dom long past the point of his own safety.
Elijah couldn’t deny he was grateful, to Jeremy and Colin, grateful that Dom was alive, but it did nothing to dim the heat of his jealousy. Elijah never felt so lost and hurt. The fact was, he was steadily losing Dom and he didn’t know how to stop that bitter truth.
It was only after Billy told Jeremy about Colin’s fate; did the young alpha stop fighting and allow the magic to lull him to sleep in order to regain some strength. Though they both knew it wouldn’t be enough. Not that Karl had done any real damage, but Jeremy was weak had already depleted his energy by mating and healing Dom. Too weak to shift, forced him to stay in human form leaving him vulnerable. What he needed was time to heal properly. The problem was they were running out of time.
Billy already knew there was no way Jeremy would survive another fight. He wasn’t sure what to do. To just sit back and let it happen seemed wrong. Karl was right if Jeremy hadn’t added his strength and mated with Dom, been powerful enough to heal Dom and pull his own cub back they’d all be dead.
And Jeremy was strong, it was in his line; a heritage that he had passed on to Colin and to Dom.
Heritage, lineage, the words rolled around his head as Billy looked at Karl. He knew Karl’s Sire had died and that Karl was alone. It had been the main reason he fought Karl to mark them only as human—it was his fear and ignorance that Karl would lose control and want them as a pack purely to make them subservient to Karl. Why he fought so fiercely against Karl’s instinct.
It’s only now that Billy started to understand how wrong he was; that being pack actually made an individual stronger not weaker as he had believed.
Looking down at Jeremy, even in his weaken condition sound asleep, the alpha had the strength to shield his mind.
Under hooded lashes Billy glanced around the room before closing his eyes and he ran through the memories he had lifted from Jeremy earlier. It didn’t take him long to find the signature of Jeremy’s Sire.
It was a long shot, but one Jeremy deserved, and it was the only thing Billy could think of and offer the young man. He had done a similar spell for Karl, to warn him if any of his marked was in danger. Only then he had Karl right there and had just touched the man to anchor the spell. This time, the spell had no direction. It’d be a risky like a message in a bottle being thrown out to sea hoping someone and the right someone would find it. It’d be a gamble, one Billy decided to take, directing the spell’s net out to the mainland’s coast, with a slim hope that it’d reach Jeremy’s alpha in time.
Squatting down on the floor, Billy crossed his legs and concentrated. After pulling what information he could about Jeremy’s Sire, Billy clasped Jeremy’s hand, adding an energy signature hoping Jeremy’s Sire would recognize it as his cub. Focused Billy started to weave his magic, strengthening each strand to stretch out toward the Alpha lycan.
Elijah closed his eyes, his energy drawn to the flare of magic above him. It was easy to recognize the signature of Billy’s magic. However what was odd, it wasn’t a protection spell as he had expected. It took Elijah a moment to realize it was some kind of seeking spell, then another moment to pick up what Billy was seeking.
Opening his eyes, Elijah looked around him to see if Hannah or Viggo had felt it, but neither of them seem to sense what Billy was doing. Even Karl appeared unaware. Suspicious, he turned his attention back to Billy. It was then he noticed how Billy clasped Jeremy’s hand.
Unable to read their thoughts Elijah focused on the spell Billy cast, it lay naked above him, gathering energy. Biting on his thumbnail, Elijah tried to decipher out how he could read the spells intent.
Quietly Elijah sat down in a chair across from them, and drew his knees up, closing his eyes, resting his head on them; his focus entirely on the spell that danced above him. With ease Billy effectively shielded himself although what he couldn’t do was cloak the spell from anyone else capable of reading its energy. Instinctively Elijah knew enough not to interfere or break the spell. Instead he allowed his energy to follow the stream, to ride it trying to determine what Billy was doing. He knew it had to do with Jeremy, could feel bits of information about the man within the stream.
He didn’t trust Billy and because of Jeremy’s connection to Dom, Elijah had to know. Digging deeper, Elijah latched onto the information Billy was trying to send. It was an SOS to Jeremy’s alpha. Abruptly Elijah was hit with the vision Billy had, Jeremy would die trying to save them—saving Dom and Colin.
Stunned Elijah abruptly let go, his energy clasping back into himself.
Startled Elijah stared back at Billy then he shifted his gaze to Jeremy’s still frame. Jeremy was going to die. Stunned, Elijah’s heart leapt with joy that he was going to have Dom back—Dom would be free of the werewolf. As quickly as he thought of it, he realized how selfish he was being, knowing that Jeremy’s death would devastate Dom.
Jeremy was why he had been so jealous. Although they were relative strangers, what Dom felt for Jeremy being his mate, he loved him freely. Dom’s reaction, Elijah couldn’t deny how much it hurt. Not only was it fast, but to know Dom was that connected and loved someone that fiercely when it wasn’t him.
The truth was Elijah didn’t want Jeremy in the picture however he didn’t want the man’s death nor did he want to cause Dom any further pain… at the awareness, Elijah’s chest hurt. He knew he wouldn’t be able to face Dom if he didn’t do something. He couldn’t play ignorance and disregard Billy’s attempt; he loved Dom too much—far more than his jealousy.
He had to do something, for Dom’s sake and he had to do it now.
Glancing overhead, Elijah finally understood, Billy was trying to seek out Jeremy’s Sire by throwing out a net hoping to catch his attention. It wasn’t enough. They’d need to narrow the field down. If they knew who his Sire was. Glancing at Jeremy, Elijah realized he was still protecting Dom and Colin using shields to prevent them from suspecting the depth of his weakness—why, he wouldn’t make it through another battle.
Besides Billy had already tried, if he or Billy pushed too hard it’d only injure the man’s shield and break him further. There was no point looking toward Dom, he didn’t know anything about the man other than what he felt. Then Elijah glanced at Colin— maybe.
With a single focus Elijah concentrated and quietly made a suggestion. Then he watched as it took root before he tried to push for an answer. It had been a technique he had used in auditions to ferret out what the casting agents were looking for. Images, thoughts, phrases all geared to help him secure a role. Thankfully Colin was distracted and he was able to easily pick up the name Jeff and the image of Jeremy’s cell phone beside a bed.
Quietly Elijah stood and walked to the back of the house. He stopped in the hallway knowing that he’d find the bed rumbled from what he seen in his vision where Jeremy took Dom over and over. Before he opened the door, he inhaled almost gagging on the lingering scent of semen. Knowing it’d be heavier on the other side of the door; Elijah held his breath and pushed the door open. Ignoring the bed and the images that taunted him, Elijah spotted Jeremy’s cell just as he had seen from Colin’s mind beside the bed on the night table.
Unexpectedly the image changed and he saw Dom wake up. He gasped seeing how Dom eagerly pushed back accepting Jeremy’s cock and his claim. Swallowing the pain he felt Elijah grabbed the phone and dashed out of the room shutting the door behind him. Panting feverishly as he tried in vain to mentally shut out the images, and purposely ignored his own crude reaction as his cock hardened under the images.
Forcibly pushing himself forward, Elijah flipped the cell open and hit contacts, scrolling down the names until he found Jeffery Dean Morgan—thankfully there was only one Jeff listed. Hitting dial he waited anxiously for Jeff to answer.
He didn’t have long to wait or even wonder if he’d made a mistake since the man who picked up had caller ID, drawling out a friendly, “Cub, what’s going on? Are you all right?”
Elijah inhaled as panic took over. A second later although the man sounded calm, he asked, “Who is this?” Seconds or minutes passed Elijah couldn’t say, but his stomach dropped when he heard the alpha’s threatening growl.
Elijah swallowed and stuttered out, “Jeff?” It was low, but Elijah heard the audible gasp. “It’s Jeff right, and you’re Jeremy’s Alpha?”
Immediately the man demanded, “And you are?”
Although he didn’t confirm being Jeremy’s alpha, he also didn’t deny it. Elijah exhaled in relief, only for it to be quickly replaced by nervous fear as he now had to explain why he was calling in the first place—to deliver news that Jeremy was hurt. And worse that he saw Billy’s vision where Jeremy died protecting Colin and Dom. It was a gamble since he didn’t know the man, but Elijah was betting Jeff would be one tenth as protective and loved Jeremy, at least as much as he’d seen and felt from Jeremy in regards Colin and Dom. Though scared Elijah bit the bullet, and pushed ahead, stumbling over his words. “I, it doesn’t matter… we’re at Colin’s place in Hawaii. He’s going to need you, they both will. But it’s Jeremy, he’s hurt. I saw it, he’ll die. He’s too weak from saving Colin and mating with Dom, then fighting Karl, he won’t… he’ll shift when he shouldn’t and sacrifice himself again in order to save them. He only has one chance, his alpha. He’ll need you; I can’t lose Dom like this, I love him, I….”
Trailing off, Elijah expected Jeff to say something, anything. As the silence stretched he finally broke the silence, “Jeff? Jeff, are you still there?” Receiving no answer Elijah glanced at the screen, to see he was still connected and had enough bars… then Elijah felt a small trace of magic. Investigating the source he discovered and knew its intention was to block incoming and outgoing calls. He only hoped Jeff had heard enough, would take him seriously and by some miracle for Dom’s sake he’d make it in time to save his cub Jeremy. Snapping the cell closed, Elijah was startled, hearing a pop and anxiously looked around then he rushed back into the living room.
Karl turned to see Elijah walking out from the hallway, demanding, “What happened?”
Beside him it was Viggo who answered Elijah, “They cut our power.”
Karl inhaled, it made sense to not only trap them there physically, but to increase their vulnerability and block any feasible avenue for them to reach out. To confirm what he suspected Karl walked over to the wet bar and turned on the water to discover they had turned it off; leaving them with no amenities.
Under his breath, Karl cursed and heard Sean state, “Tactics, making us sweat while they close gaps against escape.” Sean clasped Karl’s shoulder offering his support and kept it there squeezing.
Karl concurred with Sean’s assessment and answered bitterly, “Yes.” He met Sean’s eyes, and saw the fear under the man’s bravado. He longed to take Sean in his arms, but forcibly held his distance. Fighting his beast’s insistent urge to bury his nose against Sean’s skin then Viggo’s; to inhale and taste one then the other learning their scents – to not stop until he took them both by burying himself deep within their bodies.
Forcibly Karl tried to rein in and master his beast from acting on the impulse.
He didn’t have time to ponder his emotions, but he knew what he was feeling was more than just a sexual attraction that drew him to his new packs mates, Sean and Viggo.
It was Viggo that brought him back to reality, stating, “You have to finish marking the others.” He inclined his head toward the door.
Karl didn’t want to leave their side to taste anyone else, but a quick glance at the others Viggo indicated, Karl couldn’t deny they were his responsibility and they needed to be firmly under his protection as his pack. Karl suspected Colin’s negative response would have less to do with being claimed pack—that the young cub would be more than willing to join his Sire and cub, but rather Colin’s objection would be his claim on Orlando.
If they had the time he’d indulge the cub and allow Colin to mark Orli. However the prospect was problematic. Any claim Colin attempted now in his beast’s form could result in Colin claiming Orli as his mate, or worse his beast might accidentally try to Sire Orli. It’d be too soon, he was still a cub and too weak from Siring Dom and shifting too many times. What he feared was that if Colin forced it and shifted back to human he was sure Colin would lose the ability to shift again—even if it was to protect Dom or Orli.
No, the risk was too high he couldn’t allow the cub to take the chance. If he had to, Karl would wake Jeremy and force him to order his cub to submit. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to resort to such drastic measures.
Karl lifted his eyes over to Sean then Viggo. It was under Viggo’s gaze that Karl felt his anxiety melt away and he gathered strength from the empath. Inhaling, he closed his eyes and made the decision to tackle and approach Dom first. Before he even moved toward the door, Hannah stepped in front of him. \\Me first.//
The hairs on his neck stood as he stared down at the girl feeling the static energy of her magic then he realized she spoke telepathically. He glared and straightened his stance even as he bore into her eyes. It was unnecessary posturing since he already stood a foot taller over her petite frame.
Tentatively Hannah expelled a shaky breath before he heard her voice in his head. \\Please, you have to claim me first. I know you don’t understand, but…// She grabbed his hand and placed it over her heart. \\The moment you mark me you’ll taste the truth of my words…//
His eyes widened, as she said what he hadn’t shared with anyone—how he’d know each of them intimately through the mark, would know if they tried to lie or hide anything from him. To an extent he did already. Only this time as their alpha he’d be able to pick up more than just their underlying emotions.
Karl didn’t think as he reacted, startling everyone else in the room; lifting her so he could stare into Hannah’s eyes. Her small frame belied the strength of her magic.
In the background he heard Elijah yelling, telling him to put her down. Purposely ignoring the commotion around them under his breath for her ears only he demanded, “Tell me, what you see?”
Hannah’s eyes widened with a mixture of surprised shock then she squeezed her blue eyes shut; her lips trembling as she shook her head and gasped out. \\No…//
Karl watched her face contort in distress even as his gut twisted in fear. “Why?”
Slowly she opened her eyes, though spoken in trepidation her words were clear in his head. \\There are several crossroads with different outcomes. This, to be claimed first… it’s the most I can do. Still it’s a ripple that will have consequences – some that I have seen some I haven’t. If I tell you or anyone else even one vision then it’d influence an outcome —but I’m betting on your instinct…//
Karl inhaled her scent, and knew she spoke the truth. His fear and instinct was also telling him that what she saw was one or more dying. “Once I claim you?”
Her eyes started to well with tears. \\No, I can’t. I’ll still be able to block you.//
Karl didn’t like her answer, but also read between the lines of what she didn’t say. “But the others: Billy, Viggo, Elijah, at least with them you can share the burden...” She shook her head no.
\\For the same reasons, it all has to play out… it’s the only way.//
In frustration Karl’s grip tightened hard enough to make her wince. Abruptly he eased his hold even if he wanted to shake the truth from her lips. Instead he focused on what she said: that it was several crossroads—and to his mind that meant that if he favored and protected one then those actions could endanger another.
Hannah was right, he couldn’t know, not even to share the burden. Karl could see it in her eyes that the visions she saw and carried inside were painful. Something she was prepared to endure on her own. It grated against him. She was to be his pack and he wanted to protect her. “Then there is one that plays out in our favor?”
Slowly she nodded. He’d have to do exactly what he had demanded the others to do: trust.
He quickly adjusted his hold as he leaned in to imprint her scent. Karl nipped her skin, his incisors dropping to pierce her skin effectively marking her as his.
Through the mark he could feel the urgency. In response perhaps because she was the youngest or because she was the only female he cradled her as a babe.
Abruptly Karl heard Elijah’s high-pitched protest “Stop it!” just before he felt Elijah pummel his fists against his body before he tried to latch onto Hannah’s body and forcibly pull her away from him. “Let her go, let her fucking go!”
Protective and still holding the girl, he gently extracted his incisors. Once she was standing on her own feet, Hannah reached up and hugged him one last time before she let go and stepped back. By the look on her face, Karl suspected she felt the turmoil of Elijah’s emotions as profoundly as he did.
A part of him was sympathetic and knew the boy was still reeling from losing Dominic. Like the rest of his fellow cast members they had watched Dom and Elijah dance around each other for the last few years. Beyond that realization a larger emotion surfaced—anger.
In comparison to his own years, the boy was just a child and with each breath his beast rankled to show Elijah exactly who was his Alpha and where his place ranked within the pack.
Swiftly Karl turned and reached out, hauling Elijah’s body up against him until they were eye to eye. “Your turn?”
Almost immediately, in the physical sense, the fight fled Elijah and his body just hung in Karl’s arms. However whatever fears the boy had suddenly shifted, to reveal Elijah’s rage and disdain—all of it was directed at him. The intensity and depth of what Karl saw reflected in Elijah’s face sent a shiver down his back. Gone was the innocent joyous boy, the young man Karl had once called friend; in his place, was a man that was torn between furious anger and deep pain: lost and alone left floundering within Karl’s tight grasp.
Simultaneously Viggo and Billy reprimanded him as they both spoke in warning. “Karl.”
He refused to glance their way, even as Sean added his own objection and he and Viggo moved toward them. They called out to him again demanding his attention. It was then Karl heard the change in Viggo’s voice a concern that had nothing to do with Elijah. The screen door banged open. A scuffle followed as Colin manhandled Dom and Orlando pushing them inside ignoring their vocal protests as the front door was slammed in their faces echoed by the screen door. Only to follow Colin’s threatening growls.
Elijah’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Shit! It’s too late. If you’re going to mark me, do it now!” Seconds passed where Karl was too stunned by Elijah’s demand to do anything other than gawk at the boy.
Then the adrenaline hit him, and he felt the need to comply. His heart thundering ready to burst through his ribcage when he answered with action and aggressively pulled Elijah closer to sink his teeth into the boy’s skin.
Karl heard the collective gasp of the others who stood witnessing the assault. Despite Elijah’s demand he knew they only saw him being excessively forceful, but he didn’t have time to be gentle.
Any doubts he had vanished when he tasted Elijah’s blood and felt the depth of boy’s magic.
Retracting his teeth, Elijah pulled back—blood smearing his neck.
A hand quickly clamped over the mark even as Elijah eyes rounded and he licked his lips as if he was having a difficult time concentrating.
Inhaling Karl searched out Viggo needing the man’s calmness. However Viggo’s attention was so fully engrossed on what Billy was doing that Karl’s breath caught. Billy stood in front of the couch facing the door with his arms out spread-eagle with his palms up, his face contorted. The muscles in his arms trembled against an invisible force making it obvious he was struggling.
Karl heard a faint but frantic, “Cub” and knew before he actually saw it that it was his new cub Jeremy struggling successfully against the magic Billy had used to push him into sleep.
Still held in Karl’s grip, Elijah swallowed in horror as he was lifted further off the ground as Karl started to shift; then belatedly, made the connection that this was the start in a chain of events that’d lead to Jeremy’s death. Although he was too late, Elijah screamed out, “No, don’t!” Karl ignored his plea but dropped him gently before he made his way toward the door. Elijah stood there dazed; it seemed almost comical as he watched Karl’s large paw deftly open then close the door behind him- as if the single door would protect them.
Elijah couldn’t see what happened next behind the closed door, but fear ran down his spine at the earsplitting howl that rang out.
Only Hannah’s grip on his hand when she pulled him down away from a lamp that flew across the room. It was enough to momentarily distract him from the reason why Karl had roared.
Next~