Page 55 of In The Shadow of The Wolf

Randall paced back and forth in front of Ivan waving his gun and knife as he raged about his treatment and downfall, all of which he blamed on others. To hear him tell it, he did nothing wrong, and his crimes were the fault of everyone else, including Ivan.

“You could have helped me, Ivan.” He ranted. “You could have made up a story, and no one in Michigan would have been the wiser. You should have done that for me, Ivan. I would have made it worth your while. That stupid kid Ronan wasn’t worth my career; I had plenty of other dupes that were giving me everything I wanted. I can’t believe that kid and his sister actually destroyed me, and you helped them.” Randall swung the butt of his pistol and slammed it into the side of Ivan’s face, but it would take a lot more than that to hurt a beta wolf.

“It wasn’t the kid who destroyed you. It was the Alpha, Lance Hendricks, who destroyed you.” Ivan finally spoke. He knew all of this would be coming to an end very soon and that Randall’s minutes on this earth were numbered. He could smell and hear the wolves gathering outside the cabin. The Pack was preparing to strike.

“He tricked me, got the drop on me, but that won’t happen again. This time I plan to kill Ronan James, and maybe I’ll make that big hulk Hendricks watch; that is if I don’t kill him first.” Randall continued to pace as his talk got more and more insane.

“He got the drop because he’s an Alpha wolf; no one can beat an Alpha.” Ivan taunted him in an attempt to get the man focused on him and not on the sounds outside the cabin. “It was the wolf who brought you down, and he would have killed you if one of his men hadn’t stepped in and convinced him to let you go. He won’t be so lenient this time.”

“That’s a load of horse shit, and you know it. I was hallucinating and thought he had turned into a wolf, and that’s why he was able to take me. They probably drugged me at that coffee house.” Randall wasn’t making any sense, but Ivan wanted him to keep talking and distracting him from what was really happening.

Randall lunged at Ivan and sliced the knife across Ivan’s face from cheekbone to chin. “Shut up!” he screamed and was about to deliver another more deadly blow when all hell broke loose.

The door to the cabin burst in as the windows which Randall had covered exploded. The room was filled with angry wolves, and before Randall could draw a breath and raise his gun, he was set upon by the largest wolf in the Pack.

…

Ivan rocked to the side and was able to topple the chair he was tied to. He hit the floor with his shoulder and just hoped to keep out of the way as Lance tore Randall apart. He had no sympathy for the man; he was getting what he deserved. He was a monster in an expensive suit, hiding behind his power and position. It was time he paid for the pain and death he’d caused.

Jamie came on the scene just as Alpha Lance and his soldiers took the cabin by force. His mind was swamped with the fear that Ivan was still inside with Jordan Randall. His mate would be caught between Randall and Alpha Lance, which was not a good place to be.

Jamie tore across the open ground leaping through the door that had been destroyed, and searched frantically for his beloved. The room was in an uproar, and Jamie was about to lose his fucking mind when suddenly he saw Ivan on the floor.

He gasped and quickly ran and then crawled to get to his mate, who was struggling to free himself. “Ivan, are you okay? Are you hurt?” He cradled the man’s head in his hands and noticed the slash across his face, which was bleeding profusely. “You’re bleeding.” Jamie cried and tried to wipe away the blood with his hands, but it was useless.

“I’m okay. Just untie me so I can stand. I’m okay. He didn’t do anything except cut me.” Ivan had to convince his mate that he was not severely injured. Jamie was beginning to panic. “Calm down, Jamie; I’m okay.” Ivan wrapped his arms around Jamie once he was freed, and they made their way outside. Ivan glanced back over his shoulder. “The Alpha does not need our help.”

Once they were outside, Jamie buried his face in Ivan’s shirt. “I was so afraid I’d lose you.” He confessed with a shaky voice. “When I went to the station, and they told me Randall was holding you hostage, I thought I would die, I couldn’t breathe, and my wolf was furious, and it was all I could do to control him.” Jamie calmed and pulled tight to his mate, drinking in his scent and comforting his wolf.

“I’m thankful you came to help me. It was like a ray of sunshine when I looked up through that shit show in there and saw your face, Jamie.” Ivan cupped Jamie’s face and kissed him like his life depended upon it. “I love you, Jamie, and I want to stay with you here in Lonepine if your Alpha allows me.”

“You want to move here with me, but I thought you were the beta of your pack?”

“I am, but my brother has stepped down, and I really don’t want to serve under anyone other than my brother or Lance Hendricks.” He kissed Jamie again.

“I am so happy to hear you say that?” Jamie returned the kiss with an added fervor. “I think they have everything under control here. How about I get you home and get you some medical attention?”

“Sounds like a great idea.” Ivan tucked Jamie under his arm, and they headed to Jamie’s Jeep parked about a quarter-mile from the cabin. Neither of them looked back; the business of Jordan Randall was being handled, and Alpha Lance would let them know if he needed anything further from them.

…

Jamie’s apartment was a welcome sight. After making sure his brother, Colin, and the young boy Asher who turned out to be nineteen and not fourteen, were okay, they said their goodbyes and headed for town.

Jamie sat Ivan on the edge of his bed and immediately got out his first aid kit and took care of his cut, which had already started to heal. He cleaned it up, but neither stitches nor a bandage was necessary. “There, good as new.” Jamie placed a kiss on the healing wound and quickly put the supplies away.

Ivan took the opportunity to wash up before meeting Jamie back in the bedroom. “So, come on over here, sit down and tell me what you’ve decided.” He’d told Jamie he wanted to stay in Lonepine while they were out in the woods, but Jamie needed to hear it again, and he needed details.

Ivan took a seat on the edge of the bed next to Jamie and took his hand, holding it loosely in his. “I’ve thought about it, and I would like to petition for membership in the Lonepine Pack. All I had at the Traverse Bay Pack was my brother, and he is no longer there. I don’t see any reason for me to return. You are here, your family is here, and you are happy here. I believe we should stay here.”

“You’re making me so happy, Ivan. I would have followed you anywhere, but I love my home, and I know you will too.” Jamie threw his arms around Ivan and forced him onto his back on the bed. “I need you, Ivan.” He said with a seriousness that captured Ivan’s attention. “I need you to claim me again. My wolf is still agitated and needs to be reassured of your health and wellbeing.” He kissed him deeply.

Ivan pulled back slightly and looked into those alluring sage green eyes. “Not a problem; I believe our wolves are on the same page.” Ivan rolled and placed Jamie underneath him and then scooted them both back onto the bed. “I’m so happy I found you,” Ivan whispered, but Jamie heard him clearly.

“I’m glad you came back for me,” Jamie said, reminding Ivan of one of his biggest blunders.

“I will never take you for granted again. I know my priorities now, and you top the list.” Ivan nuzzled Jamie’s neck and started to unsnap his uniform pants, and pulled down the zipper to quickly free Jamie’s hard, needy cock. “I love your cock, always so firm.” Before Jamie realized what Ivan was doing, he went down on him, swallowing Jamie’s length until the head hit the back of his throat.

“Oh, you feel like heaven.” Jamie groaned and buried his fingers in Ivan’s beautiful black hair. Heady pleasure swamped him, and he started to thrust his aching cock into Ivan’s hot, wet mouth. The need to go deeper was overruling everything in Jamie’s mind as thrust after thrust, he felt the pressure and suction stimulating and titillating him to the edge.

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