CHAPTER FIVE

J amie had just returned to the station when the call came in. It was a call that caused the earth to fall out from beneath his feet. It can't really be happening, his brain screamed. He'd just found his mate, and they were just beginning to come to an understanding.

He grabbed the corner of the desk in order to steady himself. His wolf, usually somewhat docile, raged within him to break free and hunt down his mate and kill the man who was holding him. He felt his canines slice through and his claws tear into the wood of the desk before he was able to push back and regain control barely. "Go to him, Jamie," Helen spoke softly.

Jamie took off like a shot, thinking of nothing but the fact that Ivan was okay, that he was indeed okay. If he wasn't okay . . . well, Jamie refused to think about that.

…

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.

Ivan felt his mate's excitement, and it pushed him to give Jamie everything he asked for. He increased the pressure and lapped at Jamie's quivering length with his tongue. He pushed Jamie's pants out of his way and reached behind to his tight entrance, inserting one finger as he went down to bury his nose in Jamie's groin and then pull back, sucking hard and determined. It was when he inserted the second finger and started pumping rapidly along with the oral stimulation that Jamie lost it.

Jamie thought the top of his head was coming off when he arched and exploded, pumping load after load of hot seed down Ivan's throat. His hands were still buried in Ivan's hair, and it was the only thing that kept him from flying off the bed. He was soaring with endorphins pinging around his brain and clouding his vision. It was out of this world. When he finally landed and opened his eyes, he found that they were both naked now, and Ivan was looking down at him like he was a special gift.

"My turn now, baby," Ivan said and took Jamie's legs and pushed them up against Jamie's chest, and separated them so he could settle between them. Ivan had never before used an endearment with him; it just wasn't the way the man talked, but hearing him call him baby while preparing to fuck him silly hit all of Jamie's romantic buttons. Ivan didn't wait; he'd already loosened Jamie while he'd sucked him off, so Jamie was more than ready for him.

Their eyes connected and held as Ivan plunged inside Jamie's tight silky body in one thrust, burying himself completely as his balls slapped against Jamie's ass. Ivan waited for a mere heartbeat before beginning a punishing rhythm going deep and hard and pulling out almost completely before sinking back into the hilt. He started to go faster and harder as Jamie began to moan and plead for more. Ivan gripped Jamie's hips in order to keep him from sliding into the headboard and to keep his ass up flush to Ivan's pelvis.

The room was filled with heavy breathing and the sound of flesh slapping; it was a heady mixture.

Jamie tried to push back as Ivan rammed forward, increasing the pressure and the sensations. It was nearly too much; black spots danced across his vision as he arched and screamed his release.

Ivan slammed into his mate, going as deep as possible, and came as Jamie's orgasm put a stranglehold on Ivan's cock. He couldn't hold on any longer. He shot stream after stream filling Jamie's needy hole. When Jamie screamed, Ivan sank his teeth into the mate mark and claimed him again, needing to make sure this wolf belonged to him and him alone. Jamie gasped and clung to his mate.

They lay there in each other's arms for several minutes, not speaking, just breathing and thanking the powers that be that they were both okay and together. Jamie turned to his mate with one of the sweetest smiles Ivan had ever been the recipient of. "My wolf loves you so much, Ivan, and so do I."

Ivan chuckled and pulled him in for a kiss. "My wolf loves you, Jaime, and so do I."

EPILOGUE

Jordan Randall met his end at the hands of Alpha Lance Hendricks. His remains were sent back to Michigan, along with an explanation of his death. The coroner's report indicated death by a wild animal, most likely a wolf. Ivan Rand signed off on all the paperwork, as did Beta Aaron Beaumont, the acting sheriff of Lonepine.

Asher had been abducted in Wisconsin and was forced to drive Jordan Randall to Lonepine. Due to his physical and emotional trauma and the fact that he had no family to go back to, he was staying with the Pack until he was more fully recovered. Being a human, the Pack members were notified to control their shifting when the boy was around.

As it turned out, Ivan, Viktor, and Colin all requested membership into the Lonepine Pack of Wolf Shifters and were all accepted. The Pack doctor Derek Conrad took Colin and Asher under his wing and arranged for counseling with their Pack psychologist. It was decided that at some point, Asher would be brought into the Pack secret, but not until he was better able to handle the information.

Viktor took up residence in a remote cabin on the mountain away from people and their problems. His time as Alpha of the Traverse Bay Pack had left him with a distinct distaste for people and their problems. His new Beta had taken over the Traverse Bay Pack, and Viktor had wished him luck.

Viktor swore his allegiance to Alpha Lance Hendricks and the Lonepine Pack. "This is the happiest day of my life Ivan. Finally, I can live life on my own terms. You're here, and Lance Hendricks is one of the finest Alpha's I've ever met, and it will be an honor to serve him." He slapped Ivan on the back. "I'm heading out; Alvin is showing me a few places up in the mountains. As soon as I'm settled, I want you and your lovely mate Jamie to visit."

"As long as you remember that he is my lovely mate." Ivan laughed.

"I'll try to remember." Viktor hugged his brother and shifted before taking off with Alvin and disappearing into the woods.

Ivan, always the police officer at heart, accepted Lance's offer of the position of Sheriff of Lonepine. Aaron was sick and tired of having to hold up that position and was relieved when Ivan took it over. Ivan was pleased to be able to work with his mate.

"So, who's buying lunch today?" Terry asked as he sat down at his desk across from Jamie. Ivan came out of office and joined his men.

"I believe that would be me, considering I'm the new guy, and I want to impress all of you with my generosity," Ivan answered and slid a seat over next to Jamie and sat down. He looked at the computer screen in front of Jamie. "What are you working on?"

Jamie scrubbed his hands over his face before answering. "The Perron couple again." He said, frustration filling his tone. "They are such a nuisance, and I'm not sure how to deal with them anymore. They're seeing and hearing the boogie man around every corner and behind every tree. They are driving us all crazy." Jamie turned to regard his mate as if waiting for an answer.

"I'd like to wow you with my people handling skills and offer a perfect solution, but I don't have a clue. Maybe my skills will improve after lunch; come on, let's get something at the Black Bean." He rose and waited for Jamie and Terry to get their shit together.

"You're going to fit right in around here, boss," Terry commented. "We're all pretty much clueless."

T HE END