Scott pulled into the parking lot of the strip center that housed the Rougaroux Social Club and shut off his engine. Mike wasn’t there yet. Good. Gave him time to get his shit together and figure out what the hell he was going to say.
Hey, Mike. Found a mate. She’s a he.
Hey, Mike. My mate is a guy.
Hey, Mike. I’m not gay, but my mate is.
Scott groaned and ran his hand over his face. He got out of the car, went to the front door and unlocked it with his key. Both he and Mike had keys to the club, in case one of them had to miss a meeting or get inside for something.
He’d just turned on the light in the back room when the headlights of a car flashed in the window. He waited as Mike came through the door.
“Hey, Scott.”
“Hey, Mike.” Scott motioned with his hand for Mike to join him in the small office that held all the file cabinets filled with information about the Rougaroux Club and its charity work. They made sure nothing in the files could ever be linked to or hint at the wolf pack’s existence.
Scott dropped into the chair behind his desk as Mike sat in one of the chairs on the other side.
“So what’s up?” Mike leaned back and propped a booted foot on the edge of the metal desk.
“I have to talk to someone, and you’re the only person I trust.” Scott leaned forward, gripping his hands together.
Mike frowned. “Hey, this is serious. Is this about Wyatt? He challenge you?”
“No. Not yet, anyway, but if this comes out, he will.”
“Merde, buddy, you’re scaring me.”
“That makes two of us.” Scott took a deep breath and launched himself into a rambling explanation. “You know my mom is all wrapped up in the church and superstitions, right?” Mike nodded. “Well, for the last four months, she’s been casting a love spell to bring me a mate. It worked. Only it sort of backfired, and now I’m in deep shit.”
Mike laughed, then sobered when he saw Scott wasn’t laughing. “What? She’s ugly?”
“No, it’s worse.”
“She can’t cook? ’Cause if that’s it, it’d be a deal breaker for me.”
“No!” Scott shouted. “Look. Just let me get this out, and keep your mouth shut, okay?”
“Sure.” Mike frowned.
“My mate showed up in town, and it’s not what my mom or me ever expected.” Scott leaned close and lowered his voice. “It’s a guy.”
Mike stared at him, eyebrows laced together. Then he exploded into gales of laughter. “Son of a bitch! You got me that time, buddy!” He whipped his head around. “Where’s the fucking camera? Where is it?” Mike leaned down to check under the desk.
“Mike, there’s no camera. Goddammit! It’s not a fucking joke!” Scott bolted out of his chair and slammed his fist into the wall.
Mike froze, the laugh dying on his lips.
“It’s a guy. He’s from New Orleans, and he’s gay. He said he’s taking a painting course here for a week, but he’s been having dreams about me for months.” He rested his head against the wall.
“How do you know he’s your mate?” All the humor drained from his voice.
“When I first saw him, it was like lightning struck me. For him too. I can’t get him out of my mind.” Scott closed his eyes. “I kissed him.”
“What the fuck!” Mike exploded out of his seat. “You kissed him?”
“God forgive me. I couldn’t help it, couldn’t stop myself.” Scott groaned. “You have a mate. You know what the pull is like, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but Sharie is a woman.”
“So. I don’t think it matters to my wolf.” Scott went back to his chair and sat. Mike sat down also, and they faced each other across the desk.
“What the hell am I going to do?” Scott whispered, dragging his gaze up to meet his beta’s.
“I have no fucking idea, boss. But whatever you do, you better do it fast, ’cause when Wyatt finds out, the shit is going to hit the fan.” Mike ran his hands through his hair.
“I’m going to see if my mom can reverse the spell. Break the connection between us.”
“Hell, has that ever been done?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask you. What happens if a wolf denies his mate?”
Mike thought for a minute. “He either finds another or sickens and dies. That’s all I’ve ever been told. And I’ve never heard of anyone breaking the connection between mates.”
“Neither have I, but then, I’ve never heard of gay werewolves.”
“Are you gay, Scott?” Mike frowned, and for once the look in his eyes shook Scott’s belief that his best friend would stand by him no matter what.
“No. But what if I were? What if this doesn’t work, and I have to take him as my mate?” Scott knew what he was asking. Would Mike stand by him in a fight, if it came to that?
“Scott. We’ve been friends for most of our lives. Fuck, man, we ran together as kids, did our first change together. There’s no one I love more than you, and that’s the truth.”
“But…” Scott could hear the ‘but,’ even if Mike didn’t.
“But nothing.” Mike stood. “I’ll stand by you. No matter what. You’re my alpha, Scott. I love you, and I’ll fight for you if it comes to it. I don’t want Wyatt leading this pack way more than if gays are in it.”
“Thank you. You don’t know how much that means to me. Really, you don’t care about having gays in the pack?”
“Look. This is 2017. Gays are everywhere, even here in St. Jerome.” Scott’s eyebrows shot upward. “Not naming names, but I don’t let who a person loves come between me and them. It’s not my business what goes on in someone’s bed.”
“Right.” Scott cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the talk about beds and love. He didn’t love Ted. He just wanted him sexually. Deeply, insanely, wanted him. That wasn’t love. That was just wolf chemistry and hormones.
Scott held his hand out for Mike to shake. Mike took it, gave him a hard squeeze, and then slapped him on the back.
“Kissed a guy, right?” Mike’s eyes gleamed.
“Uh, yeah.” Scott shuffled his feet.
“Was it hot?”
“Fuck, yeah.” Scott groaned. “I’ve got to find a way out of this, Mike. If my mother can’t undo the spell, I’m fucked.”
“Well, I thought alphas always topped.” Mike snorted as he held back a laugh.
“Shut the fuck up.” Scott snickered. “Damn straight I’m topping.”
“He’s gay, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Bet he gives a goddamn fantastic blowjob.”
Mike and Scott groaned, then laughed. “I don’t intend on finding out.”
“Really? Thought you might want to try it out, see what you’re missing?” Mike teased.
“Shut up and go home to your woman.” Scott moved around the desk, and he and Mike walked through the conference room to the front door.
“Really, Mike, thank you. For everything.”
Mike slapped him on the shoulder. “It’s nada, man. I got your back.”
Scott locked up as Mike got into his truck and drove off. Now all Scott had to do was to find his mom and get her to undo the spell.
He glanced up into the night sky. Tomorrow was the last night of the full moon. Would she have to do the spell now or wait until the next month?
One thing he did know. He didn’t want to wait another month. No way could his resistance hold out against the pull of the need to claim his mate.
He might have kissed him, but no way was he fucking a man.