Once Adres and Macauley had reached the bottom of the mountain, he noticed that the pack lands were abuzz with activity. Everyone was outside and milling about as if they were waiting on an announcement. There were a few waves in their direction, but apparently Adres wasn’t the new mate that everyone was dying to see. And according to him, the omega could not have come at a better time because Adres preferred to keep a low profile.

He was unsure if he should follow Macauley to his home—because he wasn’t ready to leave his side yet—or if he should go to his cabin and not smother him.

Macauley gripped his elbow and turned him around, pulling him into his hard chest. “Go get your things and bring them to my cabin. Your nights and days will be spent with me.”

Adres was never going to have another private thought in his life. A slight curve tilted the corner of his mouth as Macauley shook his head. And he was okay with that.

No. You sure won’t. And I guess me either. Macauley shrugged. But I have nothing to hide.

Me either, beloved.

“I have to stop by my shop and let my workers in, and then we’ll go to Justice’s house. I want to see this omega that has the compound in an uproar.”

“Yes,” Adres agreed, casting his eyes down to Macauley’s throat. He didn’t lower them to the ground but just enough to show his submission.

Macauley jerked him in tighter and pressed his mouth to Adres’s bared throat. Don’t start anything you can’t finish, he growled. “I suggest you go unless you want the pack to hear what you sound like when you—”

Adres flashed away, leaving Macauley chuckling as he heard him mutter, I thought so.

“Hey, guys,” Macauley greeted his two apprentices who sat sitting on the bench in front of his shop. He jogged up the steps and unlocked the front door. “Today should be pretty light. I got a few deliveries for you to make, and Leron, I want you to go ahead and start the sanding on Marissa’s new dining set. She’s actually paying with cash, so let’s make sure there’s not a nick on that surface.”

“So, it’s just business as usual, huh?” Leron asked as he came into the shop behind him.

Macauley folded his arms and leaned against the door to the back room of his workshop, giving them a bored expression. “Is there something different you two wanted to do?”

Christian blushed the color of his shaggy auburn hair, his eyes on his dirty Converse. “Well, yeah.”

Macauley pushed off the wall and went towards them. He grinned down at them, smelling the young pheromones that were difficult for them to hide at their age. Leron and Christian were seventeen and nineteen. And both of them were skilled with their hands and focused on mastering their craft, but as of late they’d been more curious about sex than anything. Particularly with vampires.

Wick’s guards and especially his legion were an impressive group of men and women. Christian had been eyeing the blond twin who followed him around at Adres’s orders.

“Does it feel… ya know… good?” Leron asked, his rich brown eyes dancing with interest.

Macauley nodded.

“Come on, Alpha,” Christian grumbled. “Give us something.”

“It feels amazing, okay—”

Christian gave Leron a high five. “I told ya.”

“But—” Macauley stressed. “—I should talk with Justice first. There can be dangers involved.”

“We know,” Leron hurried. “But our alpha said if the vampire is not our true mate, then it won’t be hard for them to stop drinking… even… even during sex.”

“For fuck’s sake, Taleb said that?” Macauley frowned.

“Yeah. We asked him since he’s been with Henry for so long, and he’s never had a problem like you did with Lord Adres,” Leron stated easily, but the words still cut like a dagger.

He was right. Only he and Adres were true mates who had almost killed each other.

“I understand. But let me speak to Justice anyway, just to be safe.” Macauley eyed them both. “You got it? It’s good you went to your direct alpha, but don’t do anything until I speak to your AZ.”

They both nodded, tilting their heads in respect before trudging away to their workspaces. Their disappointment was upsetting to his wolf, but Macauley had to make sure they protected themselves.

Although, he was sure Taleb was right. He always was. He would do what he felt was safest. “I’ll speak to Justice today, all right? I’ll have an answer for you in the morning.”

That seemed to lighten their spirits, and Macauley was able to exhale as he closed the double doors to his back room. The open space used to be a barn until he’d rebuilt the stables and animal pens on the other side of the compound to prevent the stench of the animals from lingering so close to the cabins. He sat at his desk in the far corner and rifled through some maintenance requests that were backing up. Now that he was mated, he should probably consider recruiting some more help. There were more than enough young wolves looking to discover their skills.

Macauley was in the process of ordering a new shower fixture for one of his repair slips when he smelled Michelle’s sweet scent inside his shop.

“Sure, Michelle. He’s back there,” Macauley heard Christian say.

“I know,” she purred. “I’ll only be a moment, boys.”

Oh shit. Macauley did not want her back there. He stood from his desk when Michelle walked in without bothering to knock. But of course, she’d never had to before.

“Good afternoon, Alpha.” She placed a plastic bag on one of his workbenches—the one she used to like to be fucked on—before she turned around and faced him. “You left your things for the table you made me, so I thought I’d bring them to you.”

“I appreciate that,” he said, keeping his distance.

“So.” She propped her hip on the smooth surface, the mini sarong tied around her ass riding up to reveal what she thought he was missing. “How was your night?”

“I think you already know the answer to that.” Macauley wasn’t being fooled by her coy act. There was no mistaking the change in his scent. She knew he was mated.

She gritted her teeth before she converted it into a sugary smile. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Macauley went to his drafting board. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to get done.”

“So where is your mate? Hiding from the sunlight, I presume.” She did her best imitation of a frightened vampire hiss before she snickered behind her fingers.

“Michelle.” He lowered his voice, trying not to growl and intimidate her wolf, but she was testing him. “I strongly advise you to leave.”

“I have honest intentions,” she said more sternly, easing off the table and sauntering towards him. She touched her naked stomach, then slid her hand up her body and between her ample breasts. “Look at me, Alpha.”

Macauley glared into her eyes.

“I will give you many pups. Can the Lord of Arms do that? You love children, Macauley, and I know you want a houseful. I will take care of your home during the day…” Michelle stood just on the other side of his bench and leaned towards him, licking her peach-scented lips. “And all of your needs at night.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Macauley deadpanned. Was she honestly pretending not to know how a mating bond worked? There were no goddamn takebacks.

Michelle stiffened. “Then give me the first rights as your surrogate, Mac. You at least owe me that.”

“I owe you nothing.” Macauley frowned. “We were never exclusive. That was your own rule, remember? You have multiple men and women you share your bed with, Michelle. Don’t try to treat me as if I was special now that I have a mate. You slept with me for clout with your little clique. Nothing more.”

“And so what if I did.” She put her hands on her hips. “You used me to warm your cold nights too, Mac.”

Macauley rubbed his forehead, “And now it’s over.”

“It’s over… when I say it’s over,” she bit out, stepping back and untying her flimsy skirt.

“Do not—”

The windows at the top of the building began to rattle, and Macauley’s heart sank to his stomach, remembering what that signal meant. The windows flew open on a force of wind so hard that they slammed against the wood and shattered, raining glass down around them.

Fuck! Macauley felt the air shift and sizzle as if it were being heated, as a humid gust of wind sent papers and materials flying across the room. Macauley barely stopped the drafting board from being hurled away when he spoke through their link. Adres. This isn’t necessary.

The double doors exploded open and splintered into pieces when they connected with the wood pillars. Adres stood there in a cognac-brown shawl-robe with gold embroidery over his black linen suit. The train of his robe blew around him as he glared at Macauley. There was no mistaking Adres’s anger for anything but. Macauley wasn’t afraid of his mate, knowing he could never hurt him, but it didn’t mean he couldn’t be put in the fucking doghouse.

Adres walked inside, his footsteps powerful enough to cause the ground to shake, making the broken glass dance across the floor as he moved. “Was my warning not clear the first time, beloved?” his mate asked way too calmly for Macauley’s liking.

Yes, Adres. You were quite clear.

“Well then. I see you chose to ignore it,” Adres said, then faced Michelle.

She lifted her chin, challenging him.

Adres didn’t pull any weapons or his sword. Instead, he walked forward, a blast of wind preceding each step, a tempest that Michelle was helpless to combat. She attempted to break through the storm, her hair whipping violently around her face before she growled and shifted into her sienna-brown wolf.

Adres raised his hand in front of him, and Macauley leapt in front of Michelle, fearing for her life. “Enough!”

“I am not going to harm her,” Adres thundered, his voice ricocheting off the walls. “I’m just going to blow her conniving ass to the other side of the country.”

“No, Adres. I can’t allow you to do that.”

“Then get your bitch under control.”

Michelle roared in outrage, and Macauley had to hold her back as he frowned at his mate. “Adres! What the hell? That is disrespectful as fuck.”

“Agreed. So?”

“So apologize,” Macauley demanded. He understood his mate was of another era, but he didn’t recall it ever being acceptable of a gentleman to call a woman out of her name.

“I will after she does.” Adres pulled his hood back, and Macauley had to remember what he was upset about. “It is your own law that respect must be earned.”

Michelle shifted and clutched Macauley, pressing her naked breasts against his back. He hurried and dislocated himself and spun on her, bringing his wolf to the forefront. He pushed his energy towards her, crushing the ill intent she’d come to him with. Michelle whined and lowered her head, baring her throat, appearing displeased at the force.

“Fuck you,” she sneered at Macauley, glaring up at him through her lashes. “I would never apologize to him… or you.”

He wasn’t going to get anywhere with her, and the only way to ensure that she was no longer a problem for his mate, he’d need backup. Macauley opened his mind and reached out to his sister. I need you to handle a situation for me, he said to Farica. A big fucking one.

Of course, she answered. I’m just wrapping up at the daycare, and I have a few hours before Ramon wakes.

Good. I’ll send her over.

Oh hell, Farica sighed. I knew this day would come eventually. I told you she was too manipulative for you.

That you did.

Macauley went and stood at Adres’s side. “Your alpha is waiting to see you, Michelle.”

“You are my alpha.” She bit out, retying her wrap around her body.

“Not anymore.” Macauley took Adres’s hand. “Farica is expecting you. I’m sure you know not to keep her waiting.”

To help make it easier on Justice, they each had pack members they were responsible for, if or when they had issues that needed an alpha’s touch. And Macauley had been Michelle’s since she’d arrived thirteen years ago. But anyone that could not accept their mates or was determined to cause trouble would no longer be welcome. Farica would explain that to her more in case she forgot. Then perhaps Michelle would calm down and focus on one of her many other suitors.

Michelle walked past them and muttered, “I felt his energy, vampire. He still wants me. Call me when he’s ready for some pups.” She left the building as if she’d won the final fight and Macauley assumed she would’ve slammed the door behind her if it hadn’t been broken all to pieces.

Adres turned and faced him with an I’m-two-seconds-from-blowing-you-away-also expression.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Macauley gave Adres his most charming, innocent smile. “You know I can feel that you’re not really angry with me, right?”

Adres continued to glower.

“And I also know that you rather enjoyed bursting in here in the middle of the day and showing off your powers just now.”

Adres clenched his teeth, knowing he was busted when Macauley pulled him into his arms, still feigning upset.

“And you also know that I do not want her.”

“She said she felt your energy,” Adres scolded.

Macauley snorted. “That was gas.”

Adres seemed to catch himself from laughing, but Macauley felt his amusement still.

“Are you ready to go see the omega?” Adres allowed Macauley to kiss him on his cheek.

“Sure. But first.” Macauley walked over to the storage closet and pulled out a large industrial broom and dustpan. “You’re going to clean up this mess you made.”

Adres blinked for a moment, but Macauley didn’t budge. Eventually, Adres yanked the broom from his hands and began to sweep up the glass. He cast Macauley a dirty look over his shoulder every couple of minutes, but he liked it. Liked his mate feisty.

While Adres cleaned in his fine suit and robe, Macauley straightened his papers on his drafting board, then sat down and got back to work. “I’ll bill you for the windows. Next time I suggest you just kick the door open like a normal angry person.”