Pack and Mate (2 page)

Cort paced, waiting for someone from the club to arrive. Instead
of calling as soon as Finn left he’d waited until morning, being hugely
patient, only then calling the office and demanding someone come help him. He
was all worked up over that sweet pup he’d met last night and needed to find
Finn as soon as possible, if not sooner. He’d never felt the pull of another
wolf before and while it was a new experience, it was intense.

A soft knock came to his door. “Cort? Cort, it’s Kyle. I
understand there’s a problem?”

Finally. Which wasn’t fair, he hadn’t been waiting long,
really. At least not since he’d called. It wasn’t Kyle’s fault he’d been
waiting all night. Or that he was impatient by nature.

He opened the door and indicated Kyle should come in, the
kitty slinky and fine. “Thank you for coming.”

“Anytime. What seems to be the problem?”

“I met a pup last night and I need to find him.” Needed to
do so quite desperately.

“Is he a member?” Kyle asked.

“No, but he was at that party last night. He was related to
the boy getting collared.”

“O-kay.” Kyle pursed his lips, and then his face settled
back into the calm expression he usually wore. “Do you have a name? A phone
number? Anything? Jim and his Master are on their honeymoon.”

“His name is Finn and he has a twin. Lives in an apartment,
I think with a half-dozen pups.” And the boy had smelled like his. Had felt
like his. Cort had to find him but he didn’t have the foggiest idea how to
start. Which was why he was enlisting Kyle’s help. It was frustrating though,
not to be able to take charge, to just go out and find the pup and drag him
back to his den, which was what his instincts were telling him to do.

“Finn. A twin. He’s a wolf I’m guessing?” Kyle typed on his
phone. “Anything else you can tell me?”

“He’s lovely. A ginger—I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ginger
wolf.”

“Finn and Patrick McGee.” Kyle’s eyes lit up. “Oh, excellent—they’re
on the guest list from last night. At least I have names to start with.”

Finn McGee. Now Cort had a full name too. “Can you find him?”

When he’d first come, Kyle had said they’d find his sub, his
mate here at the club. And it had been true. At least it would be if Kyle could
help him locate Finn.

“It may take a few days but we’ll find him.” Kyle’s lips
pursed, the expression the picture of frustration. “Jim brought the twins to
his bachelor party. Lovely lads—totally fresh out of the woods and very worried
about the rules of the city. I believe he’s found work as a painter.” Was it
any wonder Kyle was in charge of the club? He was the man with the information.

“Yes, he said something about a job.” Honestly, Cort had
been caught in those eyes, in the scent of the pup and he wasn’t entirely sure
what all had been said. “I appreciate your help. I tried going out and
following his scent but…” He’d lost it outside the club, the city so full of
scents and noises and it had been impossible.

“If they left in a car, that’s near impossible. I know.”
Kyle purred softly, the sound clearly meant to soothe, to ease. “I’ll find him.”

“I believe you.” Cort needed to, every fiber of his being
said he needed Finn and he had to believe that Kyle could help with that.

“He may come back to you, you know. His first moon in the
city is coming soon,” Kyle pointed out.

“I would like that. If he comes to the club you’ll bring him
to me?”

“I’ll call you immediately, yes. Those pups are going to
have a hard time of it, riding out the moon alone. I may suggest that they all
come and stay instead of roaming the streets.”

Cort wasn’t sure he could handle six pups—it had been the
noise that had driven him—and Finn—away from the party in the first place. He
was very much used to being a solitary wolf—preferred it for the most part, in
fact.

“I could. If there was a place for them I could pay for it.”
Money was not an issue. He’d been banished but his Alpha had paid him well to
stay away and not come back to fight for the title of pack leader.

“I’m sorry?” Kyle blinked at him then his eyes went wide. “Oh.
Oh, no. I meant here at the club, in guest quarters, not here in your quarters.”

“Oh, that would be good.” He’d been alone long enough,
gotten so used to his own company, that he wanted only his mate now, really.

“I would never impose upon you, Cort. Never. I simply, well,
you know me. I worry. I’d rescue every single one of us in the city if the
owner would allow it.”

“You’re a good man, Kyle.” He’d known it from the moment
they’d met. Kyle had a heart big enough for everyone, and doubly so for
submissives.

“Thank you, dearest.” Kyle gave him a quick, hard hug, and
he surprised himself by hugging the lean feline back.

“Thank you, Kyle. I’ll try to be patient.” It was not his
strong suit though.

“Be patient. Plan. I’ll find him.”

“Good.” He patted Kyle on the back, his feet itching. He
needed to shift, to go out and run, but a good long walk on his human legs
might do it. He could get out in the city, see if he couldn’t sniff out his
pup, pick the trail back up somewhere. It couldn’t hurt.

Once the pretty kitty was gone Cort grabbed his wallet and a
pair of shoes—he’d discovered very quickly that people expected you to wear
them in the city—and headed out.

His pup was out there, unclaimed, unmarked and lovely. Cort
needed to find Finn before anything happened to his pup. His protective
instincts were on overdrive.

Out on the street he turned his face to the sky, letting the
sun kiss his skin for a moment. Then he closed his eyes and let his instincts
guide him. Left. He needed to go left.

He held the image of Finn in his mind—ginger and lovely,
receptive and sensitive with the most amazing emerald eyes. And the taste. Finn
had tasted like nothing he’d ever known. Sweet and salty, like the best kind of
caramel, the kiss had touched him deep in his soul.

He strode through the streets on gut instinct alone, nose
working overtime for that scent.
Pup. Pup, where are you? Where are you?

He heard soft laughter, deep in the core of his brain, happy
and gentle. Oh yes. His pup was out there, waiting for him.

He swerved right suddenly, chasing down a feeling. Every
single fiber of his being focused on this most important hunt, his nose worked
overtime and his wolf called out, again and again.

His nose continued to fail to catch his pup’s scent but he
kept following his gut and his heart, moving through unfamiliar streets. He
wasn’t sure where he was in relation to the club anymore and he wasn’t sure how
long he’d been walking—it felt like hours.

He stopped in front of a diner, the scent of hamburger and
grease and— There. There, sitting and having lunch, head in a book. His Finn.

Cort spent a long moment just looking, taking in every line.
There was a fineness to the pup, a barely held wildness. Finn was compact but
not tiny, sensitive but not weak.

Finn’s head tilted suddenly, his nostrils flaring.

Yes, pup. I’m here.

Cort kept staring, watching every single movement in his
pup. Long fingers stroked the worn cover of the book as it was closed, then
Finn’s green eyes started moving, searching. Cort was grinning by the time
Finn’s gaze found him, his whole body tingling.

Oh. Oh, look at the smile.
Finn’s entire face lit up
and the pup waved.

Cort waved back.

Someone bumped into him, breaking their locked gazes and he
snarled. When he looked back at the window Finn was gone.

No. No. Pup.

Cort ran for the door, meeting Finn as he came out. “Cort.
Cort, hi!”

He couldn’t contain his smile and he wrapped his arms around
Finn, giving him a hard hug. “Hi, Finn.”

“Oh, I thought I’d have to wait to come down until the
weekend. It’s good to see you.” Finn beamed.

“I had to come find you,” Cort admitted.

“I’m glad you did. I didn’t even get your phone number.”

“I didn’t even get your last name. And you didn’t get your
steak.”
Or me.

“I didn’t. Everyone was waiting and, well, we’re not pack,
you and me. I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.”

“Of course we’re pack. I know you feel it too.” Cort nodded
toward the diner—Finn had known he was outside.

“I thought… I thought for a second that I heard you.”

That made him smile. “Not with your ears.”

Finn shook his head. “No. Not with my ears.”

“Come back to the club with me.” Now that he’d found Finn
they could be together.

“I have to go back to work after my lunch break or I’ll get
fired. The Alpha—no, no the boss is very strict.”

Cort growled at the word
Alpha
—he was Finn’s Alpha.
He would accept the word
boss
for this other man though.

“You won’t need to work when you come live with me.”

His pup looked confused. “Do you need something painted?”

And now he was confused. “No.”

“Then how would I work for you?”

“No, you won’t need to work at all when you come live with
me. We’ll be pack.” He had enough money for them both. There was no reason for
Finn to have to leave him every day and work for a strict boss.

“Pack.” The word seemed to warm Finn all through and the
smile Cort got was blissful.

“Come with me,” he said again.

Finn reached for him and a couple of pups barreled up to
them. “Finn. Finn, the Alpha’s waiting. We have to work. The payment for the
den is today. We have to pay that before the moon.”

God, they were adorable pups, all of them, so earnest, so
worried. Cort had to smile.

It also reminded him of Kyle’s offer to house the pups
during the moon. “I need your numbers for your den. Kyle wishes to speak to you
about the moon.” Kyle would be pleased he’d made contact, had found them.

The boys looked to Finn, who nodded. “He’s a good wolf.”

“He’s not the Alpha.” That from the tiny pup, a worried one.

“Boss. Here Alphas are called bosses.”

Finn’s twin popped his head out of the diner. “Boys, you can’t
stay there! My Alph—boss will be mad. Go. Work.”

Cort growled. He didn’t like this at all. He needed a phone
number or house number for the other pups and for Finn to come home with him.

Finn grabbed Cort’s phone, punched in numbers. “Our den, my
phone. Call me? I stop work at six.”

For a moment Cort considered grabbing Finn, tossing him over
his shoulder and taking his mate home. Then the sounds of the city reminded him
that this wasn’t where he came from. There were different rules here. And doing
that probably wasn’t allowed.

“I’ll be here.” He nodded to the address Finn had given him.
“At six.” Then he would convince his mate to come home with him.

“At six.” The smile he got started a fire in his belly.

“Six.” He watched as the pups all raced off together, his
Finn in the middle of them.

He checked his watch. He had five hours to make his home
ready for Finn. He looked around, trying to figure out where he was so that he
could find the club and get ready.

“You did a good job today. The boss was pleased and said you
can come back all week.” Finn was the one who had convinced the boss to let
Little Red and Cillian work for the day.

Little Red beamed, even though the pup was filthy and
exhausted. “And we can pay for den now?”

Finn nodded. “We can pay for the den now.”

Living in the city was hard, but new and sometimes fun. And
now there was Cort. Right here in the city.

“Is that big male going to live in our den too?” Cillian asked.

“I don’t think so. There’s not room and he has his own
place.” A quiet place.

They turned the corner onto the street where their den was
and right there, out in front of it, were Cort and another man.

Little Red pressed close against his side. “Are they going
to bite us?”

“No. No, Cort is…” Well, Finn would let Cort bite him but
Cort had better not be biting anyone else. “No.”

Cort caught sight of him and Cort’s whole face lit up.
Oh.
Finn’s heart started pounding, beating faster.

Cort started walking toward them. Little Red whimpered
softly, hiding. The little pup was the runt of his family and had been bullied
and pushed away all his life. It left him timid and worried all the time.

“It’s okay, I promise. I swear,” Finn reassured Little Red
as best he could.

The man with Cort was walking toward them too. He was
different from Cort, thin and slinky where Cort was big and solid. All those
muscles and the lovely eyes and—

“Finn.” Cort took his hand.

“Cort, this is Little Red and Cillian. They’re not mean and
I told them you wouldn’t bite either.”

“I’m not going to bite anyone. At least not them.” Cort gave
him a wicked smile.

The slinky man cleared his throat at that and Cort nodded
toward him.

“This is Kyle. He’s from the club.”

“Hello, Kyle,” Finn, Little Red and Cillian all spoke
together, as polite as could be.

“Hello, boys.” Kyle’s voice was soft and easy, his smile
friendly.

“He has a proposition for the pups,” Cort told them.

“Would you like to see our den? We have soda and coffee.”
That was polite, right? Finn had been brought up right.

“Okay. If you come home with me after.” Cort wasn’t looking
at anyone else, just Finn.

Kyle nodded. “I’d like to, very much. Then I can talk to you
all about the moon.”

“We’re on the third floor.” They headed upstairs, the tiny,
dark stairwell smelling like smoke and old booze. Everyone else would be home
now, and when Finn opened the door Pat was cooking, Louis was folding clothes
and Nathan was standing on his head.

Cort stared and Kyle tilted his head.

“What’s he doing?” Kyle asked.

“Standing on his head.”

Cort chuckled.

Kyle rolled his eyes. “Yes, sweetie, but why?”

“I’m going to learn yoga things so we can pay for our den,”
Nathan announced. “I don’t like washing dishes.”

Well, that was an answer.

“How…interesting.” Kyle kept watching Nathan. “So this is
the first moon in the city for most of you, isn’t it?”

“All of us.” Patrick came out of the kitchen, sniffing. “Finn,
what’s going on?”

Finn wasn’t sure he knew, honestly. “Cort is my friend.”

“This isn’t about Cort.” Kyle smiled at Little Red. “We
understand at the club what it’s like to be a were. We want all of you to come
and spend your first moon with us, where it’s safe. What Cort and Finn want to
arrange between them is of course up to them.”

The pups all spoke up at once and Finn moved to his twin,
who came to him, the questions flying like crazy.

“Jim’s club?”

“The club?”

“Why?”

“Is it safe?”

“Pat?”

“Finn?”

“Of course it’s safe,” murmured Kyle. “It’s a good place. We’re
all weres there. Come on, pups, it’s better than spending your first moon holed
up here.”

Cort cleared his throat. “It’s safe. You’ll all come.” Cort’s
voice was firm, sure. As though it was an Alpha’s, and it sent a pleasant
shiver down Finn’s spine.

“How much will it cost?” That was practical Pat. “We had to
pay for this den today and I have to make food for everyone. We appreciate the
offer but it will depend on the cost.”

Kyle shook his head. “It won’t cost anything. I have
discretionary funds that I’m going to use to pay for the room and board for
three days.”

“Why?” Pat looked at Kyle.

“Because I was once where you pups are and I won’t have any
of our own at the mercy of the moon and this city.”

Pat frowned. “I take good care of them. We’re trying to do
the right thing.”

Finn thought, quite privately, that there was no way he and
Pat could take care of the other four during the moon. He would never say it to
Pat though. His twin had enough pride for an Alpha.

“Oh, darling, I’m not saying that you don’t. But there are
six of you who have never had a moon here in the city. It can be scary.”

Cort growled. “I’m taking Finn home with me. You’d get to
see him during the moon if you come.”

“You can’t take Finn anywhere.” Pat growled right back,
stepping in between him and Cort.

Cort, considerably taller than Pat, puffed his chest up and
stepped forward, right into Pat’s space. “He’s mine.”

Finn could smell Pat’s stress but his twin didn’t back away.
“I promised to take care of all these guys.”

“You’re not their Alpha,” Cort shot back.

Kyle cleared his throat and put a hand on both Cort’s and
Pat’s chests. “Now, now. We all want the same thing here, boys. We want
everyone safe and healthy and happy.” Kyle smiled at Pat. “Your cousin Jim is a
good man and a member. We’d love to have you as guests, like part of the
family. Somewhere warm and safe.”

Cort took advantage of Kyle having Pat’s attention, slipping
around his twin to come sidle up next to Finn. “Hey.”

“Hi.” Finn’s nostrils flared and he inhaled Cort’s scent.

Cort put a hand on his lower back, tingles emanating from
the spot where they were touching.

“Would you like to stay for supper?” Finn asked. “It’s
pasta.”

Nathan moaned. “It’s always pasta.”

“Pasta is cheap,” Pat snapped.

“We’d love to stay,” murmured Kyle. “Thank you. You’ll come
back with us after, though, yes?”

Cort looked as though he was going to refuse the supper
offer but Kyle touched his arm, one eyebrow rising and Cort stayed silent.

“The moon is Thursday.” Little Red looked worried. “I don’t
want anyone to bite me.”

“No one is going to bite anyone.” Pat was about to yell,
Finn could tell. “Everyone sit down. Right. Now.”

The only reason Finn didn’t obey was because Cort’s arm was
wrapped tightly around his waist. The other four all sat though, right there on
the floor.

“Impressive.” Kyle smiled. “Can I help you in the kitchen,
Pat? I’m not a total waste at the stove.”

Pat nodded and he and Kyle disappeared into the kitchen.

Cort turned to him, smiled. “I’m trying very hard not to
just put you over my shoulder and carry you back home.”

Finn didn’t think that was the worst idea he’d heard. And he
wanted another of those kisses, another touch.

“You will come with me, no matter what the others decide,
won’t you?” Cort asked.

“Can you help me find my way back to work?”

“You don’t need to work. You can stay in my den with me.”

“But they told me you have to work for money, Cort.” And
Little Red and Cillian worked because the boss—Alpha—liked Finn.

“I have money. Enough for both of us.”

A tug came to his coveralls. “You can’t go. The Alpha is
scary.”

“Boss.” Finn corrected Little Red.

“The boss is scary.” Little Red pressed close, eyes wide.

Cort held him a little tighter. “You can’t make Finn stay if
he doesn’t want to.”

“But we’re pack. Our own pack.” Little Red pushed up into
his arms, holding on tight.

Nathan groaned. “You need to do yoga.”

“You need an Alpha,” Cort suggested.

“Don’t you mean a boss, Cort?” Finn asked.

“No. I mean they need a Master, or an Alpha. Someone to
organize them, keep them from worrying about scary bosses.”

“That’s my job,” Pat said, coming out of the kitchen with a
big bowl of food. “Pasta is ready.”

Cort turned toward Pat then looked back at Finn, one eyebrow
raised.

“Pat is the older twin. He sort of gets to make the rules.”
It was how it had always worked ever since they’d been small.

“This is crazy. Let’s eat so you can come home with me.”

“The spaghetti is good. Pat’s a good cook.” Finn didn’t want
fighting.

Kyle came out with garlic bread. “Everyone sit.”

They all fit around the table, barely, and Little Red and
Nathan had to share a chair. Cort let Finn sit on Cort’s lap. It was more than
big enough for him. Almost as if it were made just for him. One of Cort’s arms
wrapped around his waist, keeping him close.

“Is this good?” He was happy, warm.

“It’s perfect.” Cort pressed his nose against Finn’s neck
and breathed in.

Finn hummed softly, his body heating all the way to the
bone. This was way better than sitting on a chair.

“So hungry,” murmured Cort.

“The pasta is good.” He’d already said that. “You can even
have mine.” His hips started to rock.

“Not hungry for food. Hungry for you.” Cort’s hand dropped
down to his lap.

“Oh.” Finn groaned softly.

Pat rumbled and the sound wasn’t soft at all. “Be good. We’re
at the table.”

“We could leave the table,” Cort murmured in his ear.

Oh, God. Please. His entire focus was on the sounds Cort was
making, the heat. Cort stood, that arm around his waist holding him tight
against Cort’s body. His feet didn’t reach the ground at all—Cort was bigger
than he, and so strong.

“Finn,” Patrick called for him, and it was no fair. Not at
all.

“We’ll be back.” Cort turned and carried him off to the
kitchen.

Please let there be more kisses.

Once they were in the relative privacy of the kitchen Cort turned
him, put him down on the counter and brought their mouths together.

Yes. Yes. Finn reached up, arms wrapped around Cort’s
shoulders. Cort grabbed his ass and tugged him in close so they were all
pressed up together. His cock rubbed against Cort’s firm belly and it made his
eyes cross. Insane. This was utterly insane.

But also utterly amazing.

The kiss went on and on, Cort’s mouth absolutely magic. He
whimpered, aroused in a way he didn’t understand, couldn’t comprehend. One of
Cort’s hands left his ass, pushing down the front of his pants instead.

“Oh.” Finn’s eyes widened.

Cort’s hand found his prick and wrapped right around it.

“Can we? Oh!”

“What do you want, my pup?” Cort asked.

“I just—I haven’t really, with someone who makes me ache.”

“I’ll make you come, and when we get home I’ll make you come
again and again and again.” Cort’s words felt as though they were a promise.

“Again?” Was that possible?

“Oh yes.” Cort’s gaze was trying to burn him.

“I…” He wasn’t sure what to do, so he nodded.

Still holding his gaze, Cort began to move his hand,
stroking. The pressure built inside Finn, his balls drawing up so tight they
hurt.

“I want to smell you, pup. I want to taste you.” The sound
of Cort’s voice echoed inside him, so deep, and Cort brought their mouths back
together again, stealing his breath.

A gentle tug to the tip of his cock and he shot, his entire
body alight.

A moan filled his mouth, Cort breathing in hard.

Alpha. His Alpha. Oh, God.

Stroking him a few more times, Cort made his pleasure go on.
When Cort let go of his cock it was to bring his fingers up to his mouth and
Cort licked his hand clean right there in front Finn’s eyes. The corner of his
eyes burned, they went so wide so fast.

Cort offered his hand. Whimpering softly, Finn panted, unsure
what Cort wanted.

“Taste yourself, Finn. See how wonderful you are.”

He leaned in, lapping softly, his entire body awake and so
aware.

“Good, hmm?” Cort’s eyes were shining at him.

“Good. So good.” He lifted his face for another kiss.

Cort gave it to him, licking into his mouth. He could taste
Cort and the faint hint of his own come. Finn moaned, hands sliding down Cort’s
belly, curiosity almost more than he could handle. Groaning for him, Cort
pushed against him. It seemed like encouragement to continue his touches.

The man’s prick looked as if he had a club packed in the
soft slacks, and he measured Cort, base to tip.

That earned him a soft growl. “Yes.”

“So fine. Can I—I want to touch it, you.”

“Please, Finn. I was made for your touch.”

He reached down, carefully unfastened Cort’s slacks,
exposing the hard flesh. Cort licked his lips. God, Cort was huge. A keening
sound filled the air and it took Finn a second to realize he was the one making
it.

“I’m right here and I’m not going to let you go, I promise.”
Cort’s words were soft, but still fiercely spoken.

“You’re so fine.” He whined, shuddered as his fingers
wrapped around the heavy shaft.

“Thank you, Finn.” Cort’s lids dropped almost all the way
closed at his touch.

He stroked, up first, then down, focusing on every single
inch.

“Finn, your touch is like magic.”

He leaned in, rubbed their cheeks together. Cort vocalized
softly for him.
Oh. Oh, heaven.
He called back, his wolf spinning wildly
inside him. Their mouths met over the sound, Cort’s kiss filling him.

His fingers dragged over the shaft, fingertips bumping over
the tip.
Oh, more. More.
Cort deepened the kiss, pressing against him.
He licked at Cort’s lips, tongue flicking. Cort grabbed hold of it and began to
suck on it.