CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER EIGHT

Kristof had done a thorough job of interrogating Rule, and the man was telling them everything they wanted to know and answering every question. Kannan had never witnessed the power and control of a true alpha wolf before, and apparently neither had Rule.

A lot of what he told them they already knew such as Ron being paid to set up Eric, but he didn't implicate Chester, which was a relief. Eric loved his friend and Kannan hoped that Chester hadn't betrayed that love.

"Where is Cal?" Kristof asked.

"I don't know." Which was the truth. "He's obsessed with that guy, Eric, and he wants to finish what he started, which is what he told me." That news had Kannan in his face instantly.

"Is Cal all talk, or does he plan to carry out that threat?" He demanded while holding Rule by the hair of his head.

"He will carry it out. He's already threatened Ron. He said if Ron didn't bring Eric to him, then Ron would be the one to entertain him this evening." Kannan was not worried since he knew how Eric felt about Ron. It was not likely that he would go anywhere with Ron or do him any favors.

Rule was informed that he had twenty-four hours to leave town, or he would be removed forcefully. Cal would receive the same mandate once he was located and questioned.

"We don't have anything on the rest of the pack or on Decker, but I believe it is only a matter of time before that pack is banished in its entirety," Kristof explained to them.

"Too bad we can't deal with them now rather than later," Kannan spoke his thoughts.

"I agree, but those are the laws." Kristof was sympathetic. "Let's find Cal and see what he tells us."

"Yes, sir."

"Kannan, you can return to your beloved, and we’ll let you know when we have Cal." Kannan planned to go to Eric's apartment and see if he needed help packing. He smiled at the thought. Being away from the little man was even harder than he anticipated, and he figured it would be hard.

"Say hi for me," Gage told him and gave him a quick wave.

Kannan made it downtown in record time and parked out front of the apartment complex. He was so eager to see his beloved that he ran through the front door and took the stairs rather than wait for the elevator. On his way up he started to experience a feeling of dread and panic which did not make sense unless those sensations were coming from Eric. With that thought exploding in his mind he raced to his apartment door which was partly open.

His heart was pounding when he swung it wide and saw Chester lying on the floor. He grabbed him and shook him awake while yelling for Eric. "What the hell happened here?" He demanded.

"Ron, it was Ron." That's all he needed to hear. He rushed from the apartment while calling Gage. He asked him to check on Chester and gave him the briefest of explanations before jumping into his car and taking off, tearing up the street.

Kannan focused on Eric, but it was hazy, and it became clear that he'd been drugged. The anger and the fear were dueling in his brain and turning into a righteous rage. He could sense the lowlands and could also feel the presence of wolves near his beloved. The Red Crescent Lounge flashed in his awareness, and he reached out again, channeling calm and strength to his beloved. Eric needed to stay in control because wolves love a good fight and a chase.

"Don't give them what they want stay still and focus on me." He pushed the words to Eric and felt Eric's heart relax and his panic softened, he heard him. Kannan kept the beautiful image of his beloved in his mind and sped through the lowlands to the Red Crescent.

Eric felt himself hit the cold cement floor and groaned in pain as the impact dislocated his shoulder. The pain was excruciating, and his breath caught in his throat. "Stop, you’re crying bitch. That's minor compared to the discomfort that lies ahead of you this evening." Ron was still talking shit and acting like he wasn't in any danger.

"They’re not going to let you leave Ron. Two humans to play with is twice the pleasure and twice the fun." Eric was trying to regulate his breathing to lessen the agony radiating from his arm, but it was not working. The drugs had worn off, but he was on the edge of a blackout, and he couldn't let that happen. He couldn't be that vulnerable.

"These are the humans you brought me?" The voice was not familiar. It wasn't Cal. It was deeper and angrier. Eric tried to look around the room, but the pain in his arm prevented him from moving. Suddenly, he was grabbed and brought to his feet. "You’re hurt." The guy was pissed, and he took Eric's arm and snapped it back into place. The pain was out of this world, and Eric felt himself leave consciousness for a moment.

He was then thrown across the room and landed again on the cement floor, but his arm felt better. "Prepare them."

"No, I’m not part of the deal. I brought you Eric, and that's all I’m not included. Cal said bring Eric, and I’m free to go." Ron was figuring out that it was dangerous to trust wolves.

"Cal doesn't run this pack, I do, and I say you're staying Ron." The wolf was shouting and making the room fill with dread. "Now strip because you have a long night ahead of you." Eric attempted to sit up but was once again grabbed and pulled to his feet. The man holding him started tearing at Eric's clothing. His shirt was torn off of him and there were hands at the waist band of his jeans and then everything stopped.

The man holding him dropped him abruptly, and Eric stumbled backward but did not fall. He looked around and saw all the men there, Cal was off to the side, and the big one was front and center. He assumed he was the one doing the yelling. They were all silent now and were all staring at him. Ron was nearly naked and was standing against the wall, trying to cover himself.

"I told you they wouldn't let you leave." He said to Ron needing to have the last word with him even in a dire situation like this one. Ron was scared out of his mind and looked to be having a breakdown. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy in Eric's opinion. The wolves continued to stare at Eric, and it was becoming uncomfortable. He shifted from one foot to the other and then glanced at the exit door.

"You're not leaving." The big one growled.

"He wears a claiming scar." Another stated. "He's the beloved of a vampire, and you can smell it all over him."

"Who claimed you, boy?" The big one yelled. He reached out and grabbed him by the throat. "Who marked you?"

"He's going to kill you." Eric choked the words out of his constricted throat, and he found pleasure in the panic that flashed in the big one's eyes.

"Who is he?"

"It doesn't matter who he is. He's one of Nik Hadden's men, and I, for one, am not putting myself on Hadden's hit list. I’m out of here." One of them stated, and Eric noticed several of them run from the room, leaving just the big one, Cal, and two others standing by the door.

"It's only a problem if Hadden finds out." Cal gave his opinion. "We kill the vampire when he shows, and we still have a good time with these two."

"He's going to kill you," Eric repeated, and the big one finally dropped him. Eric got to his feet and took several steps back, weighing and measuring the room and his chances of escape.

"Call to him, call to your vampire." The big one said with a sickening smile. "Bring him here to us."

"No need, he's already here." Eric said as Kannan crashed through the door and killed the two wolves standing there in seconds flat. The big one shifted into his beast and moved on Kannan along with Cal they must have thought together they had a chance of surviving.

Feeling exposed, Eric grabbed what was left of his shirt and tried to put it on, but it was too torn. He stepped back and watched in awe as Kannan took them out swiftly and easily. How he thought he could stay away from that man was a mystery. He loved Kannan, every inch of him.

Kannan was all he ever wanted, and when this was over, he would tell him, and he wouldn't pretend otherwise. Kannan moved on these wolves with a skill and grace that fascinated and mesmerized.

He grabbed the big one by the throat and forced him onto his back onto the cold cement floor. He shifted back to being human and tried to fight, but Kannan kept tightening his grip until life was extinguished. Within minutes of entering the building, Kannan was stepping over the bodies of those animals and rushing to Eric's side. Eric wanted this man so badly that every cell in his body vibrated with that need.

When Kannan took him in his arms, Eric broke, and all the fear and panic that had engulfed him came rushing out in shaking and tears. "I’m sorry I didn't stay with you. I was so scared, Kannan. Don't ever leave me again." He couldn't stop the flood that overtook him.

"I will never leave you." Kannan held him and, let him release the pain and gave him time to calm and center himself.

"Thank you for saving me." Eric wanted to say that first, but his fear took over at first, and he needed to apologize and beg him to stay. "I felt you in my thoughts. You were there, keeping me sane and somewhat calm, considering." He glanced over at Ron with a look of disgust. "He thought he could trade me, and they"d just let him go, but that's not how it worked out. He hurt Chester." His thoughts were coming out in a jumble.

"Chester is awake and okay. I have a friend with him, don't worry."

"When I went home, I started packing. I want you to know that I was planning to come back. Even though I didn't know what I was doing I knew I needed to stay close to you." Kannan slipped off his suit jacket and put it around Eric and the scent and the feel was like heaven. He put in a quick call and then bundled Eric up into his arms.

"Let's go home." He said, and Eric nodded.

"Let's go home," Eric repeated.

Kannan was about out of his mind when he came through the door and saw Eric half naked, trembling, and those bastards standing over him. Death took over, and there was no stopping him from killing every wolf in the room. Decker shifted, thinking his wolf would be strong enough to take him out, but Kannan was in a rage, and a vampire soldier in a red rage was unstoppable.

Cal didn't stand a chance, and he took particular pleasure in ending that piece of shit. Decker was better prepared but still not up to the challenge and, like Cal, went down hard. Seeing him with his hands on Eric made ripping his throat out that much sweeter.

He worried that Eric would be traumatized by the violence, but he seemed to weather it. Kannan could sense relief and a shade of uncertainty from him. His beloved was pragmatic and logical in his thinking, so he would work this out, Kannan had no doubt.

He called Kristof before leaving the warehouse and let him know what happened. He told Kannan to take care of his beloved and not to worry about the wolves. He would handle what was left of them. He also said he'd take care of Ron. Eric hadn't asked about Ron, but if he did, Kannan would tell him the truth. Ron would, most likely, have his memories wiped clean, and he'd be dropped somewhere near the hospital. He was a despicable man, but Hadden didn't kill humans unless absolutely necessary because it caused too much scrutiny. Wiping their minds usually took care of the problem.

They drove home in relative silence, Eric holding him tightly and repeatedly asking him never to leave. It would take a little while for Eric to accept that he was safe and for his logical mind to take over. Kannan would help him every step of the way.

"I will never leave you, my love, I promise." He leaned over and kissed the side of his head, and Eric tightened his grip.

"I love you, Kannan. You’re in my heart and a part of me now. Please don't ever leave."

"I love you too Eric you are my love and my center, and I will never leave you." He just kept reassuring him and giving him what he needed.

He carried him up to his quarters and sat him down on the chair in the bedroom. "I want to get the smell of those wolves off you so I'd like for us to shower are you well enough?"

"Yes, I’m fine, and I"d love to get wet and naked with you." That was his beloved back to himself. The cheeky grin was back.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Get naked." Eric tossed his jacket on the floor, followed by his jeans and briefs. He was naked in under ten seconds. "You are so gorgeous." Kannan reached out to him, but Eric stepped back.

"Your turn." Kannan wasted no time in shedding his clothes and enjoyed the way Eric watched his every move. He was down to his briefs when he suddenly slowed down and began some moves that had his beloved panting and stroking his growing hardness.

"Keep touching yourself, baby. You’re making me hot." Eric stroked and then reached around and began fingering himself, and Kannan thought he was going to die on the spot.

"Oh my God, baby, show me more." Eric rolled his head back and moaned. Kannan stripped off his brief and gave his cock a few firm strokes. "Come here." Eric moved slowly toward him, and just as he stood before Kannan, he looked up at him, smiled, and then dropped to his knees.

He moved Kannan's away and took his hardness between his lips. The touch hit him like a lightning bolt. He ground his teeth together and closed his eyes. When he looked down, he saw his length going in and out of that luscious mouth. He also saw that Eric still had several fingers buried in his own ass, stretching and preparing himself, and the scene struck him as heart-stopping.

He thrust several times, going deep, and Eric took all of him. "I need to be inside you, baby." Kannan pulled back, and Eric tried to follow, but he lifted Eric to his feet. "Come with me, my love."

Kannan adjusted the water temperature and the pressure and then stepped into large expansive shower. He held out his hand to Eric who took it and stepped in beside him. Kannan pulled him into his arms under the warm spray of the shower and drank in the peace and beauty of his beloved.

Eric pressed his face against Kannan's chest, and Kannan ran his hands down Eric's back to press him closer and to grind his hardness against Eric's soft abdomen. "I love how you feel and how you smell."

"You smell good, too, and you taste amazing," Eric responded. They held each other tight, reveling in the moment as the water continued to cascade down their bodies. It was both relaxing and stimulating in equal measures.

Kannan released him and gently turned him toward the wall, indicating that he should brace himself there. Eric placed his palms against the warm tile and teasingly stuck his ass out toward Kannan, who gave it a loving little swat before stepping up to press his hard cock against his waiting, moist hole. "You look ready and wanting my love." He whispered against Eric's shoulder.

"Don't make me wait." Eric's breathy response sent a thrill through Kannan, and he stepped back slightly and plunged his fingers inside, stretching the tight muscle to make sure he was prepared. "I’m ready." Eric panted, and Kannan continued to prepare him, not wanting any pain to get in the way of their pleasure.

Once satisfied, he pulled out and placed the tip of his throbbing cock against Eric's needy entrance. Eric lifted himself and pushed back, wanting to force Kannan inside, but he waited, teasing him with just the tip before abruptly thrusting inside, slamming to the base, and holding himself there. He gripped Eric's hips to control his movements.

Eric groaned and dropped his head, taking in the sensations flooding his body. Kannan pulled out and slammed back inside again and again, picking up speed with each thrust. The tight embrace of his beloved scattered his thoughts, bringing his focus to their heated, sensual connection. "Yes, yes." Eric chanted, trembling under the onslaught of pleasure and the sharp sensations rushing through him.

Kannan slammed hard, burying himself deep as the climax took him, shattering his emotional control. He came, filling his lover with his seed, claiming and marking him as his own forever. He held Eric firmly against him while he trembled out the thrill and the excitement pumping through him. Kannan pulled Eric back from where he was balanced against the tile wall and, with his arms wrapped around him, sunk his teeth into the bonding scar and drank deeply of his beloved"s sweet essence.

The moment he punctured the flesh, he felt Eric jerk and moan, and he came in a rush, painting the far wall with his seed. This was pure beauty, pure ecstasy. This man, so perfect and present, belonged to him, and he belonged to this beautiful little human. Life was wonderful and complete. He pulled out and licked the wound clean but held his beloved captured in his embrace. "I love you, Eric. No other will ever touch me as you do."

Eric was overcome with emotion, and Kannan could feel the flood overtake him. "I love you too." Eric managed to get out as his voice shook. "Don't ever leave me."

Kannan tilted him back against his arm and looked down into his sweet, expressive face. "On my honor, I will never leave you." He kissed him then thoroughly and completely.