Strength of the Pack (36 page)

Blind need and hunger, that’s all Lucas felt from Noah. The touching, the affection; Noah
hadn’t
been immune, even if his body hadn’t reacted in the usual way. Lucas licked back against Noah’s aggressive tongue. He felt Noah’s hands come up to cradle his head and hold him steady.

The kiss was hard. It felt as though Noah was trying to crawl inside of Lucas through his mouth. They both breathed hard, chests heaving. Noah’s breath was particularly hot against Lucas’ cheek. Reflexively, Lucas’ hand came up to clutch at Noah’s shoulders.

Lucas’ cock grew harder. It pushed against his fly insistently. He wanted to climb on top of Noah, push his burgeoning erection against Noah’s firm belly and grind against him. Lucas very nearly shifted to swing a leg over Noah’s lap when he remembered where they were and why.

He pulled back abruptly, and Noah made a sound of disappointment. He continued to nip his way along Lucas’ jaw.

“Holy fuck,” Lucas breathed as a shudder ran through him. “You’re not well enough for this. I can’t take advantage of you this way.”

Noah laughed against the pulse in Lucas’ throat. “Some of the ideas you come up with,” he said enigmatically.

Pulling back all the way, Lucas reached for the call button. “Let’s get this stuff out of here. You probably need to sleep soon.” He packed Noah’s shaving gear back into its bag.

Anton appeared almost immediately. He glanced over Noah and gave an approving nod. “Good work, Lieutenant.”

When they were once again alone, Noah watched Lucas through hooded eyes. “Damned if you aren’t right,” he said. “I’m suddenly very tired.” He tossed back the blanket on Lucas’ side of the bed.

Lucas crawled in beside Noah, arranging himself carefully but for maximum contact. Noah wrapped both arms around Lucas and pressed his face to Lucas’ temple.

“You smell good now,” Lucas sighed against Noah’s throat.

“You always smell good,” Noah murmured sluggishly.

Moments later, Lucas followed Noah into sleep.

Lucas shouldn’t have been surprised to find the hospital ship had a designated area set aside on deck for werewolves to shift. It was cordoned off, so the wolves couldn’t get in the way of the sailors on duty. Medical personnel were close at hand, especially in cases like Noah’s, where no one was sure what to expect during the first post-op shift.

Noah lay on a heavily padded gurney as they rolled him onto deck. Lucas walked alongside. The orderly lowered the gurney, so Noah’s wolf would have no difficulty climbing off.

“Remember to have him lay still once he’s shifted,” Doctor Matsuno said to Lucas a final time.

Noah slid his arms out of his gown. Nurse Chavez helped him to carefully roll onto his uninjured side. When he shifted, his wounded side would still be accessible to them.

Lucas knelt at Noah’s head and closed his eyes, reinforcing that Noah had to lie still once he’d shifted. He ran his palm lightly down Noah’s spine until the feel of warm skin became soft fur. Lucas opened his eyes and stroked Noah’s head between his ears and down his neck. Inside his head, Lucas felt Noah calm and serene, waiting to be told he could get up and run around.

Standing, Lucas removed the blanket and Noah’s gown. Already, Noah’s feet hung off the edge of the gurney. Matsuno and Chavez stepped up, Chavez with a set of electric clippers in hand.

“Not yet,” Lucas said. “He’s not done.”

“Seriously?” the doctor asked. Chavez’s eyes grew round.

Sure enough, only Noah’s body fit on the gurney now. He lifted his head, since he had nowhere to lay it, and his tail hung off onto the deck.

“Wow,” said Doctor Matsuno. “I suppose it makes sense. He’s a big guy in human form, and True Alphas are the largest of all.”

Lucas knelt to cradle Noah’s head while the doctor shaved down the fur around the surgical wounds. When he was done, he examined them briefly.

With a satisfied nod, Matsuno turned to Lucas. “They look about two weeks old instead of two days. That’s good. You can turn him loose.”

Lucas stood, and Noah slowly placed his forepaws on the deck. Carefully, he shifted until his haunches sat on the gurney. He eased himself the rest of the way off with his uninjured hind leg. It only took him a few cautious steps before Noah was easily making his way across the deck on three legs.

Lucas felt Noah’s relief and anticipation as he gracefully hopped across deck, eager to explore and investigate. Lucas decided to find a quiet corner from which to sit and watch Noah enjoy his newly restored mobility. He changed his mind when Noah stopped and swung his huge head back to look at him.

Noah made it abundantly clear that he wanted Lucas’ company for his walk on deck.

“Yes, Sergeant,” Lucas muttered as he crossed to Noah. He snorted a laugh when Noah licked Lucas’ neck and cheek with his large, pink tongue.

He strolled along, keeping pace with Noah, watching him sniff at nearly everything he could reach. In his head, Noah knew there was no need to check for threats, but the deeper, more primal part of him was driving his actions. He was compelled to ensure Lucas’ safety, even knowing the deck of a Navy hospital ship was one of the safest places Lucas could be. Noah’s focus on his safety surprised Lucas.

Finally satisfied with security, Noah roamed the deck, taking in every scent he could locate: metal, oil, water, salt, the humans and the wolves who had all come before. Lucas strolled beside Noah, running his hand through the thick, white fur, enjoying Noah’s enthusiasm for all the stimulation to his senses.

They passed close to the rail, and something caught Noah’s attention. He trotted closer and lifted his face into the wind. Lucas came to stand beside him, watching as his fur blew back from his face. Noah squinted into the heavy breeze, opened his mouth and let his tongue hang out to one side as he panted.

Lucas smiled and reached out to pet him roughly. Noah’s joy rolled powerfully through their link. It was infectious. Lucas shared Noah’s happiness. Noah sat carefully on his haunches. Lucas slung an arm around Noah’s huge body and leaned against him. Noah turned his head toward Lucas and nosed at him, inhaling deeply despite the wind. When Lucas scratched beneath Noah’s chin, Noah licked his hand.

“Lieutenant Young?”

Lucas turned to see Doctor Matsuno approaching slowly. “Yeah?” He nudged Noah’s ribs when he sensed him about to express his annoyance at the interruption.

“Time for Sergeant Hammond to shift back. We don’t want him healing too quickly or stressing a partially healed bone,” the doctor explained.

They followed Matsuno back to the gurney, Noah still limping on three legs. With an aggrieved groan, he climbed gingerly onto the gurney and carefully lay down. Lucas covered him with the gown and the blanket.

Seconds later, Noah himself lay on his side on the gurney. He slipped his arms into the gown and turned onto his back with little difficulty. Lucas jumped to help him, but it was quickly evident Noah no longer needed it.

“Let’s get you inside, Sergeant,” said Doctor Matsuno. “So I can check your wounds, and we can plan your physical therapy.”

“The only therapy I need is to shift a few more times,” Noah said sharply.

“You tough guys always say the same thing.” The doctor smiled. “Shifting heals the wounds, but it doesn’t strengthen weakened muscles.”

Back in their room and with Noah in his bed, Matsuno lifted the bedding and gown to examine Noah’s wounds. Lucas was amazed at their progress. They looked nearly healed.

“Excellent,” Matsuno declared. “Okay, Sergeant, we’re going to have you shift for a while over the next couple of days. When you’re ready, we’ll ship the two of you to the Warrior Clinic in Bethesda.”

“And after that?” Noah asked.

“They’ll work up a therapy program for you to continue back in Oceanside,” the doctor replied. “Then you get to go home to finish healing.”

“But I will heal?” Noah demanded, his anxiety palpable through their link. “We’ll be redeployed with my platoon, right?”

“I have no reason to think you won’t make a full recovery,” Matsuno answered. “The rest is up to the Marine Corps. I wouldn’t worry, though. I’m already getting inquiries as to when the two of you will be ready to return to duty.”

Noah visibly relaxed. “Good. When can I shift again?”

Matsuno chuckled as he headed for the door. “Tomorrow, Sergeant. Now, you rest. I’ll see you both tomorrow.”

When they were alone, Lucas slid Noah’s dog tags over his own head. “I think you’re ready to take these back.” He hung them around Noah’s neck and tucked them into the front of his gown.

“Thank you for hanging onto them for me,” Noah replied, fingering them through the fabric. “I liked knowing you were wearing them.”

Lucas smiled in response. He’d enjoyed wearing them. It had been a way to keep Noah close. Lucas had felt marked and claimed while he’d worn them. He’d felt safe. He’d felt like he belonged.

En route to Bethesda, Maryland
United States of America

The transport plane was filled with narrow racks for the patients and portable equipment for the staff. Noah was assigned a rack near the other ambulatory patients, the ones with injuries to their arms or, sadly, their minds. He could move about freely without hindering the medical staff tending to the severely wounded.

Lucas had been assigned an actual seat for takeoff and landing, along with the other non-medical passengers. As soon as they were airborne, he’d unclipped his harness, grabbed his backpack and located Noah’s bunk. Without a word, Noah sat up to make room for Lucas. They sat with their backs against the bulkhead, typing on Lucas’ laptop or reading one of his paperbacks.

It was one of the most peaceful, relaxed times Lucas could remember, despite the loud droning of the aircraft’s multiple engines.

“You know, we should discuss living arrangements before we arrive home.”

Noah’s casually spoken statement took Lucas completely off guard. What was worse, when he reached for his link with Noah, he found it shuttered. Noah was withholding something. He was hiding his thoughts or part of himself from Lucas. It was rare for Noah to hold back, rare enough that Lucas couldn’t remember when the last time was. Despite that, Noah’s anxiety bled into the link.

“Living arrangements?” Lucas kept his inquiry deliberately vague.

“Yeah. Your house? My house? A new house altogether?” Noah asked blandly.

Fuck. Noah was talking about the two of them living together. Lucas had never considered that. He’d been so focused on Noah’s injuries, he’d given no thought to their return home, period.

Lucas grasped at a thought Noah was trying to hide. He was worried. He was worried, but he was also frustrated. He hoped Lucas would once, just this once, stop hiding how he felt and what he wanted.

Noah’s face gave nothing of his inner turmoil away, and Lucas was impressed. He’d have to remember Noah’s poker face hid some pretty intense emotions.

“Well,” Lucas swallowed hard, “I haven’t thought much past tomorrow since you were wounded,” he admitted. “I have a spare bedroom, but I use it as an office. I mean, I could change that. I’m just thinking out loud, right now.”

Lucas was bewildered by Noah’s disappointment. Noah hid it away from Lucas and instead fed his pleasure into the link. He was at least relieved that Lucas wasn’t resistant to sharing space with him. Very primal feelings followed. Den. Safety. Security. Comfort. Family. Lucas began to comprehend what this meant to Noah.

“I have a spare bedroom with a pretty good-sized bed,” Noah said. “We can start with you moving in there and see if we need to find someplace new all together.”

Noah’s dark mood confounded Lucas. “You don’t live in some run-down surf shack in Pacific Beach, do you?” he teased, desperate for Noah to shake off his malaise. “You’re a Marine, so I suppose you don’t live like a slob. Then again, you are a bachelor.”

Noah laughed, and Lucas’ breath caught. He was so fucking gorgeous, and the genuine happiness that bled through their link made Lucas jubilant. He received a flash of an image: a house, sparsely decorated but clean and comfortable-feeling. Yes, Lucas could be at home there.

“So, you can move a few things for the duration of my therapy,” Noah said. “And we’ll move the rest of your stuff when we officially return from deployment.”

“Sure. I don’t know that I want to sell my house. Maybe I’ll rent it out, instead. I’ll think about that later,” Lucas mused.

“Well, if you wouldn’t mind pack members using it from time to time, it might be useful if you kept it,” Noah replied. “Since it appears you’ll be utilizing my guest room from now on.”

“Wait! I don’t want to displace anyone…” Lucas began.

Noah held up a hand, palm out. “Lucas, you’re not. But there are times when a pack member, or even several members, just need a place to flop. As True Alpha, it’s part of my responsibilities to provide that for them. It doesn’t have to be
in
my—our—actual house.”