Carnal (4 page)

Cole?
Everyone stayed quiet, no one moving as they watched him.

“They named him Alexander.” Merrick’s voice was a gruff growl as he leaned against the wall, big arms crossed over an equally big chest.

Alex looked back at the woman who started crying harder, her whole body shaking with the force of her sobs. Alex wasn’t
stupid,
he knew that the man and woman were his biological parents. Hell, he could smell the bloodline—it matched his own. He wanted to comfort her, even though he didn’t know them. He wasn’t a bastard. He stayed where he was, though. He was starting to put some trust into Merrick and Landon, but the other people… He couldn’t get a clear determination of what their ultimate goal was.

“I am Killian St. James. This is my brother, Kale, and our mate, Alice. We are the alphas of this pack. Please, have a seat.” Killian gestured for Alex to sit down, the authority in his voice clear. “We know you must have many questions. I know I can speak for everyone when I say we have some as well.”

“Okay.” Alex looked between everyone, his gaze going back repeatedly to the crying woman.

“I assume you know what you are or you wouldn’t be here, in Forrest Haven that is.”

Alex swallowed. “I can only tell you what I was told.” Both twins nodded for him to continue. Alex went into detail about what his parents told him, about the inner beast, the feral desires that freeing it would invoke. That got a lot of low murmurs and raised eyebrows, but he continued, realising he couldn’t stop even if he wanted to. Telling his story, about what he had learned, what he had bottled up for so long inside of him, made him feel…alive, awakened even.

When he was done, everyone stayed silent. “So, you were told we are nothing but wild animals that feed and tear apart woman and children?” There was an exasperated note in Kale’s voice. The twins looked at each other then at Merrick and Landon.

“I guess, to an extent. My adoptive parents may have been fanatics, but they took care of me.” He felt the need to defend his dead parents, even knowing they had told him lies.

“We are known as the
Luecross
. We are shape shifting wolves that reside in Forrest Haven,” his biological father spoke up. Alex didn’t miss how he tightened his grip on the woman who had grown quieter. “You were taken when you were only a month old. Your mo…Helan and I,” the man stammered, audibly swallowing before continuing, “should have watched over you better. We were just so tired that night, we didn’t even realise someone had come into our home until it was too late.”

The woman sniffed before pushing away from the man. “We can’t start off this way.” The woman rose and smacked his hand away when he meant to pull her back down. She held her hand out and Alex noticed how it shook. He stared into her eyes—eyes the same amber colour as his. He embraced her hand, hearing her breath catch before she threw herself into his arms and squeezed tightly. All the men were by her in an instant, not attempting to remove her, but there just in case. Alex felt slightly offended they thought he would harm her, but then, they didn’t know him any better than he knew them.

She pulled back, her eyes swollen and red as she tentatively lifted her hand and stroked it down his cheek. “I named you Cole.” She was quiet for an instant, just staring at him before she spoke again. “Alexander suites you nicely, though.” She smiled and stepped back, smoothing her hand down her skirt in the process. “Please sit next to me, Alex. I want to explain everything.”

She led him towards an empty seat and sat beside him. She wiped away at the tears that fell down her cheeks. “I don’t know where to start.”

“How about at the beginning?”

She smiled up at him, nodding almost absently before she took a deep breath and began, “When you were born…” Her voice caught a little, as if the tale she was telling brought back too many memories. Alex placed a hand atop hers, trying to express comfort and give her strength. She smiled and continued, “When you were born, Edward and I were ecstatic. It took us years to conceive, but when it finally happened we were so happy.”

Helan started crying again and Alex looked around almost frantically. He didn’t know what to do, what to say. A little voice inside his head urged him to comfort her, hold her and tell her everything would be okay. He listened to that voice, moving closer and embracing her. She didn’t stiffen or pull away, but instead wrapped her thin arms around him and held him tight as she cried harder.

“You smell just as I remember.” Her voice was muffled against his chest, but she didn’t pull back. He admitted, holding her felt nice—comforting, like he had been missing something his whole life.

“Seeing you for the first time was like looking into a mirror,” Edward said as he stood. “I had never cried in my life, but when I saw and held you for the first time, I couldn’t hold back the tears.” He smiled absently, as if he were picturing that moment in his mind.

Helan pulled away then, wiping her face in an
embarrassed
fashion before staring into Alex’s face. “We have so much time to make up for. You must know we never lost hope that we would find you. We had search parties out for you, and when Merrick and Landon told us they had a lead on your whereabouts, I thought I would die with happiness right then.” Her hand grabbed his, her eyes seeming to memorise his features.

“We have all the time in the world now.” Alex spoke softly, happiness welling up in his heart as he spoke the words. This was the start of a new future—he could feel it in his heart.

* * * *

Alex followed Landon as he opened up the cabin door and ushered him in. By the time he had finished speaking with Helan, the sun had set and he hadn’t felt like making the trek back to the lodge. Landon offered up his spare room and Alex had gratefully accepted. He still couldn’t believe what he had been told tonight. Not only had he found out that his adoptive parents had kidnapped him—not rescued him—but he also realised the
Luecross
wolves were not crazed beasts that attacked unsuspecting victims.

They had families and friends. They might be able to change into a wolf, but they also did mundane things such as go to the grocery store, or plant gardens behind their houses. They were the same as he.

He had known all his life what he was, but the people who raised him had warped his mind, moulding it so it was exactly what they wanted it to be, what they wanted
him
to be. He had so much time to make up for. After speaking with Helan and Edward, Alex wanted to know so much more about them. He could sense how much they cared for him, and he felt guilty—albeit, it wasn’t his fault—that he wasn’t able to give them the son they so desperately craved. He could, however, let their adult relationship grow into a close bond, and maybe he could show them the love they deserved?

“I’ll show you to your room. I have some spare clothes for you and you can wash up if you like. I know it’s been a long day.” Landon led him into a spacious guest room, gave him a change of clothes, and showed him where the bathroom was.

When Alex was done with the shower, he slipped on the lounge pants and stepped out of the bathroom. He didn’t bother wearing a shirt. His skin was too sensitive, too hot to have clothing rubbing against it.

Steam cascaded around him, like a halo of vapour. He made his way towards the living room, Landon’s intoxicating scent pulling him in like a fish on a line. The lights were off but the television was on, the glow from the screen lightly illuminating everything in a multitude of colours. Alex rounded the corner and saw Landon leaning back against the couch, a long-necked bottle in his hand, wearing nothing but a pair of jeans. He swallowed at the sight. All those hard muscles, flexing and rippling with even the smallest of breaths. The top button was undone and Alex could see the trail of blond hair that started below Landon’s navel and disappeared beneath the material. Alex adjusted his cock so it wasn’t tenting the bottoms he wore.

He stepped out from the shadows and quickly made his way towards the love seat. The way it was positioned was awkward, but it hid his erection.

“You can sit over here. The way that chair is situated there’s no way you can see the TV.” Landon moved over and patted the seat next to him. He kept his eyes on Alex as he took a long pull from the bottle he held.

Alex mentally cursed and got up, shielding his erection as he sat next to Landon. He pressed himself as far against the side of the couch as he could, but it was no use, he could still smell Landon’s thick, male aroma. It was driving him mad. He cleared his throat. “So where’s Merrick?”

Landon glanced over at him. “Beer run,” he murmured and took another drink from his bottle before tipping it towards him. “Want one?”

Alex wasn’t much of a drinker, but he hoped the alcohol would dull some of his senses, including his arousal. “Sure.” He watched Landon get up, his jeans hanging so low on his hips that he saw that perfect V of muscle on his abdomen flex with each step he took. His erection throbbed and he felt wetness coat his thigh. He adjusted himself again and nearly groaned from the contact. Landon came back and handed him a bottle. Thanking him, Alex quickly took a long drink.

“You want to watch a movie or something?”

“Okay.” Alex took another drink of his beer and watched as Landon flipped through the channels. They both decided on a scary movie. Alex leant back against the couch, unable to keep his focus on the show. The female screams and groaning zombies did little to distract him from who sat right beside him.

He refused to look over though, needing to keep some kind of self-control over his body. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he stole a glance at Landon. What he saw had his heart slamming in his chest and his cock throbbing in excitement.

Chapter Five

Landon was staring at him with his erection in hand as he slowly stroked it. Alex’s mouth went dry, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to resist any longer. He took another drink, the alcohol sliding down his throat seeming to make his arousal thicker, more noticeable. He felt a stab of courage wash through him. He moved closer to Landon, feeling his shaft bob with every shift of his body, his semen smearing across his inner thigh. He sat so close to Landon, he could smell the honey-sweet beer on his breath as it caressed his senses.

“It’s too hard.”

“What is?” Alex
whispered,
his eyes on Landon’s mouth as he spoke.

“Not touching my mate.”

Alex snapped his gaze up to Landon’s eyes, furrowing his brow in the process. “What?”

“My mate, or more so,
our
mate.”

“Our?”

 
“Merrick and I.”
Landon moved closer, lifting a hand and touching Alex’s lips. “From the first moment we saw you, all those years ago, we knew what you were to us.”

“I don’t understand.” Alex’s mind was reeling. He knew what a mate was to a Luecross, Helan and Edward had explained as much. To be a mate of a
Luecross
wolf meant to be forever bonded to them.

“You’re our mate, Alex. We have been searching for you our whole lives.” Landon leant forward and pressed his lips to Alex’s.

They were warm and smooth, firm and gentle. Landon brought his hand up and cupped his head, stroking his tongue along his lips until Alex opened for him. They both groaned when their tongues touched.

Landon pulled back slightly, his lips still lightly pressing against Alex’s as he spoke. “That’s why your arousal is so high, why
our
arousal is so high. Mates can’t keep their hands off each other on a normal day, but when the mating season is coming, nothing can keep them away.” He kissed Alex passionately again, dragging his tongue across Alex’s lips before pulling back once more. “Your body and animal know who we are, and it’s time you did too.” Landon stabbed his hands through Alex’s hair, tilting his head to the side and slanting his mouth against his.

The kiss intensified, their tongues pressing, rubbing, dancing against each other and bringing Alex closer to orgasm. He could feel it in his very bones, the promise of pleasure just a touch away. Alex lifted his hands and started stroking Landon’s arms, pectorals and abdomen. The muscles and sinew were hard, strong. Alex sifted his hands through the light smattering of hair covering Landon’s chest. They explored each other, tweaking nipples, biting lips.

Landon suddenly pulled away and stood, helping Alex up as he resumed the kiss. Landon’s hands went to Alex’s waistband, tugging his pants down until they were pooled at his feet. Landon removed his own jeans and grabbed Alex’s shaft, stroking it as he trailed kisses across his jaw and neck.

“Your cock is so perfect, Alex.” Landon breathed against his collar bone.

Alex groaned and closed his eyes as he felt Landon’s thumb tease the slit at the tip of his cock. He spread the pre-come around before bringing his fingers to his own lips and licking the glistening fluid off. Alex watched in erotic awe as Landon’s tongue worked the clear fluid from his fingers. Then he slanted his mouth against his again. Alex could taste the saltiness of himself and it spurred him on.

He slipped his hand between their bodies and gripped Landon’s cock. He was so thick that Alex couldn’t wrap his fingers around the shaft. Alex’s anus clenched, the need to be filled growing to the point of being unbearable.