Wolf Hunter (30 page)

Glancing out the window, Westley saw Tom’s car pulling up the drive. “Tom’s home.”

Jaylen responded by rolling his chair into the counter. Westley backed him up and aimed him at the living room. He pulled a gallon-sized Tupperware out of his freezer and set it on the kitchen island that separated the rooms. The herbs inside it gave it a cheerful green look. Tom let himself in. He waved at Westley and crouched down to greet Jaylen. Jaylen tapped the iPad.

Fuck off,
the Scottish lady said.

“
Okay,” Tom said. He squeezed Jaylen’s shoulder. “Missed you too.”

“
How was work?” Westley asked.

“
Quiet,” Tom said. “Not even a traffic violation. You guys all set for tonight?”

“
Shifting outside?” Westley grinned. “Jaylen can’t wait. I even did his hair today.” Westley had taught himself how to do cornrows from watching videos on the internet. The first few times had been disasters, but now he could do straight lines and only pulled a little. He always gave Jaylen a scalp and shoulder massage along with it, which seemed to sweep away any wrongdoing he did with his hair and, as a last resort, there was always a hat on hand they could employ to cover up the worst crimes.

“
Looks good,” Tom said. “But what about you?”

“
Yeah, me too.”

Tonight was the first time Tom had thought it was safe enough to spend the night outside. Most of the pack had stopped taking Westley’s tea. Westley and Tom had talked about sticking close to home despite the supposed lack of danger.

“I’m going to leave you and Jaylen to it tonight, all right? I should be with the pack.”

“
Sure. And by ‘it’, you mean...?”

I’m gonna mate you so good...
For a second, Jaylen’s voice popped into Westley’s mind, but it disappeared as fast. That happened from time to time; Tom had noticed too.
Remnants of the Alpha
. Tom had confided that if Jaylen started using his ability to connect to other wolves in the same way Denton had, he would kill him. “We can’t have another Denton,” he’d said, and after everything, Westley had agreed. So far, Jaylen’s own thoughts, mostly commentary, had crossed into their minds, and it was
nice
to hear his voice again. Westley wanted to ask what it was like for Jaylen in his own mind, but that was a question better saved for when Jaylen had better coordination with the iPad.

“
You know what I mean.” Tom grinned. He made a lewd motion with his hips and laughed when Westley smacked his shoulder. He wandered toward the bedroom, stripping off his uniform and humming Al Green as he went.

“
Hey,” Westley called, “Don’t forget you have to help me dismantle the cage tomorrow. Jaylen’s friend Danni’s coming and she doesn’t know she’s staying with a bunch of werewolves. Considering she’s the person who taught him how to curse his knives to kill them, I don’t want her figuring that out.”

“
I remember,” Tom said. “I’ll be back in time. But I still think you should let me hang my handcuffs in there and we’ll let her think it’s our sex dungeon.”

“
If you make me die of embarrassment, I will never have sex with you again.”

Tom laughed. “When you make a threat, you make a threat.”

Westley fought the urge to throw something at him. “Just be here to help me.”

“
Will do,” Tom said, saluting.
 

JAYLEN BOUNCED THROUGH the rows of cut corn stalks with Westley at his tail. He twisted around, snapping playfully, before darting forward again. He’d chased a rabbit into the field and now was hot on its trail. When he caught up to it, he intended to present Westley with a fine meal. Westley might care for him when he was a drooling human, but as a wolf, Jaylen prided himself on providing for his mate. The rabbit dove into a hole. Jaylen dug frantically, but it was gone.

Westley nuzzled his ear. Turning, Jaylen gave him a lick. Soon, he forgot about the rabbit as his nose found other things to explore on Westley’s body and Westley returned the favor. He loved nothing more than mounting Westley (except doing so on a full belly), laying his mark on Westley’s shoulder with his teeth.

As for anything else, Jaylen didn’t care about it. This was freedom. This was life. This was all he’d ever needed. The voices that tumbled around his mind didn’t bother him as much anymore. He’d grown more powerful and had more control over them. Sometimes he accidentally made Tom or Westley hear one of his thoughts. He needed to be more cautious. Vigilance was key. He was strong enough to keep Denton’s poisons out of his mind. He had no doubt about that. He knew what Tom had said to Westley, what Westley had agreed to, but it wouldn’t come to that. He had control. He might be Denton’s heir, but he wasn’t the Alpha. He wasn’t.

Westley whined beneath him. Being the larger wolf, the practicality of the position wasn’t the best for him. Jaylen tried to be considerate of that, but sometimes he forgot. He nuzzled Westley’s shoulder, trying to soothe him. Westley twitched his tail and hit Jaylen’s flank. Jaylen growled contentedly. The rabbit crept out of the hole, but Jaylen ignored it, choosing instead to lavish his attention on Westley, who twisted to meet Jaylen’s tongue with his own.

WESTLEY AWOKE NAKED in a cornfield with Jaylen beside him. Jaylen’s hands flailed and he struck himself in the chest. Westley vaguely remembered that the plan to stay on his own property had lasted about three seconds. Gathering Jaylen’s hands up in his, Westley massaged him as he brought Jaylen’s fingers to his lips. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.” They couldn’t stay long. The sun rose higher each minute, and even though they weren’t far from home, they also weren’t far from a road where anyone could see them amidst the short harvested stalks.

“
Ready?”

Jaylen did his best attempt at a nod.

“Okay.” Westley pressed a kiss to his forehead. Then, helping him stand and hooking his arm around Jaylen’s back and under his armpit, Westley began the long walk home, step by slow careful step. As they walked, he planned his day. Television for Jaylen. Lately he’d wanted to watch
Ghost Hunters
over and over, which creeped Westley the hell out. So, he’d set Jaylen up with that. As for himself, he would spend some time in his garden—Jaylen would help him snap green beans; when Tom returned, Westley would give him the task of shelling the hickory nuts he’d gathered from the yard—and he’d clean the cabin. He cleaned a lot these days. They lived in a house that needed clear paths.

THE END

Ryan Loveless is a farmer’s daughter. She has a BA in English from a private college in Illinois and a master’s degree in library and information science with an archival certificate from a university in New York. Raised in a conservative family, she was shocked and relieved when her coming out was largely uneventful. She has been writing since she could read and has always drifted toward M/M because she enjoys the relationship dynamics. It’s possible that her first story was about GI Joe. She wishes she still had that story.

Ryan at her blog:

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