Chapter 40

Reeve parked in the safe house garage and climbed out of the SUV. Thinking about the unexpected arrival of Josiah's oldest son, he whistled a nameless tune while tossing his keys in the air. He was feeling good. It was more than a happy coincidence that Tristan showed up, right when Reeve was out of options. And he was sure the Great Spirit had something to do with it.

Entering through the back door, his senses were immediately assaulted with delicious aromas, reminding him it had been a long time since lunch. After taking a quick peek in the oven, Reeve's mouth watered at the roast he saw. Yup…things are definitely looking up. But as good as everything looked, he needed his mate more. Following the voices he heard, Reeve walkedinto the living room, stopping abruptly when he scented the presence of an unknown shifter.

A low growl behind him slithered down Kahn's back to his cock, hardening it instantly. Snapping his head around, he grinned at his mate, his eyes traveling down until they found Reeve's bulge. Smiling, he reached out and took hold of his mate's hand, pulling him next to him. "Mom, Patty, meet my mate, Reeve Nicolet."

"Oh my, Elenor never mentioned you had a mate," Patty said. "Congratulations!"

"Thanks. I just found out today," Kahn replied.

"Nice to meet you, Patty," Reeve said.

"Reeve, I'm so pleased for you and Kahn," Elenor smiled, before giving him a quick hug.

Touched by the woman's kindness—considering his unpleasant involvement with her husband's death—Reeve murmured, "Thank you, I promise I'll always do right by your son."

"I have no doubt," Eleanor replied. "You're a good man and my son is lucky the Fates gave you to him."

"Sorry to disagree, but I'm the lucky one," Reeve said, smiling tenderly at his mate.

Heat flooded Kahn's cheeks at the love he found in his mate's face. No one—not even his long-time college boyfriend—had ever looked at him like that. With just one look, Reeve made him feel cherished and important, and suddenly Kahn was ready for his mate to claim him.

"Kahn?"

Bending down, Reeve whispered in his mate's ear, "Pay attention, cari?o…"

"Huh?"

"Kahn," Elenor called his name again. "Are you listening? Patty wants to know when I'll be moving in."

"Uhm…I…I'm not sure," Kahn replied, glancing at his mate.

"My men can help you move any time, Mrs…"

"Call me Elenor, please."

"Elenor," Reeve said, smiling. "You don't have to decide now."

"I'm eager to get my daughters settled in their new home so would the day after tomorrow be okay?" asked Elenor.

"That'll be fine," Reeve replied.

"Then I better go," Patty said, gathering up her things. "I'll call the house cleaners and meet them there tomorrow. Nothing's worse than moving into a dirty house."

"Thank you very much, Patty," said Elenor, giving her friend a hug. "And don't forget…you're invited to my housewarming party."

"I won't," Patty said. Then added, "Kahn, it's been a pleasure and I look forward to attending your show. Reeve, hope to see you again."

"Mom!" CeCe called, bounding down the stairs. "Suzie wants to know if we're gonna eat soon."

Opening the front door, Patty chuckled. "Teenage girls are almost as bad as boys when it comes to food."

Closing the door, Elenor turned around and stared at her daughter. "What was that?"

Totally confused, CeCe asked, "Huh? What was what?"

Sighing, Elenor turned to Reeve. "Do you have a moment to talk?"

"Sure."

Nodding, Elenor glanced over at her daughter. "CeCe, leave us…I'll call you and Suzie when dinner is ready." Shaking her head at the sound of her daughter's muttering and stomping feet, she sat down opposite Reeve and Kahn. "I'm sorry about that…"

"Mom…forget it. CeCe will grow up, eventually," Kahn said, adding, "I hope."

Chuckling, Elenor replied. "You'll be surprised how fast it'll happen. Now, let's move on…first is Josiah's burial. I've given that some thought. As I understand it…there's no way he can have an open casket. The other issue is a burial site. I thought about burying him alongside my parents but frankly, I think that would be an insult to them, so the only option is cremation."

"Are you sure, Mom?" asked Kahn.

"Yes…very sure."

"Would you like me to arrange it?" asked Reeve.

"I'd appreciate it if you would…and quickly," Elenor replied. "The next item pertains to my daughters and my personal belongings we left at the Alpha house when we left. My condo is fully furnished but I would like to take the girls' bedroom furniture along with all the other items in their rooms."

Nodding, Reeve asked, "What about you?"

"Only my clothes and the jewelry I inherited from my mother and grandmother. The rest, the High Council can have."

"As Josiah's wife, you have the right to claim ownership to more than just that," Reeve explained.

"I understand…but I'd rather you sell everything and give the money to Jackson and his brothers, or to any pack members who are in need."

"I can do that if that's your decision, but I'll need you to sign a document relinquishing your rights," Reeve said.

"Fine," Elenor said, smiling. "That's it for me…did I miss anything?"

"I don't think so, but there is one other thing," Reeve replied. "Until the pack is stable, all of you are at risk so the Council agreed that my men will continue to guard you. I know it's not ideal, but I regard it as very necessary."

"That makes me feel much better," Elenor assured Reeve. "The pack needs an Alpha and, until one is chosen, there's always a risk a member could take out their anger on me or Kahn."

"Is that okay with you, cari?o?"

"If it means I can return to my…uhm, our condo, then yes," Kahn said.

"It does…and I look forward to spending our first night there," Reeve smiled.

Clapping her hands together, Elenor exclaimed, "Excellent! But first, tonight we celebrate your mating! Kahn, go get your sisters while Reeve helps me in the kitchen."

~/~/~/~/~

Reeve wasn't sure about the state of Kahn's mind regarding their claiming, so after dinner, he insisted on cleaning up the kitchen while his mate took a shower. Once he heard Kahn's bedroom door close, he quickly finished and headed upstairs. Ducking into the bedroom he used whenever he stayed at the safe house, Reeve stripped and entered the bathroom. After washing up, he pulled on pajama pants and padded out of his room and into Kahn's. Closing the door quietly, he smiled as he sat down on the bed. His mate was still in the shower.

Kahn stared at himself in the bathroom mirror, nervously biting his lower lip as drops of water from his wet hair slowly dribbled down his face and fell from his chin. It had been a whirlwind of a day, starting with the discovery of his mate to finding out he had a half-brother. Now, Reeve waited for him in the other room and, while his body wanted his mate, his mind still wasn't totally onboard.

Kahn couldn't figure out what was holding him back from jumping his mate and biting him. It wasn't his wolf, because his animal was eager to do it as soon as possible. And the list of seemingly insurmountable problems he'd faced just that morning seemed to have been resolved one way or another. And he had to admit his mother's solution about Josiah was just perfect, since his father would be reduced to ashes, just as he'd done to the members of the Fox River Pack.

So what the fuck is the matter with me? I should be in there, humping my mate instead of hiding in here.Touching one of the wet tracks on his face, Kahn's finger followed it down until it disappeared. Then he did it again and again until each was gone and his face was dry. In a strange way it was cathartic; the mixed emotions he'd held at bay the last few days had vanished and, with them, his guilt. His mother was right—it wasn't his fault and if he continued to take on the sins of his father, he would just become another one of Josiah's victims. And he would never allow that. When he concluded that the last burden weighing him down was finally gone, he knew it was time to begin his new life with a mate that desired him despite all his flaws. Grinning, Kahn grabbed a towel and started to dry himself.

It seemed like forever to Reeve before he heard the water being turned off in Kahn's shower, during which time he had to deal with his buffalo's anxiousness to claim his mate. But until he figured out how far his mate wanted to go, his animal would have to wait. He'd promised to give Kahn time, and he certainly intended to keep his word. Looking up when the bathroom door opened, Reeve's breath caught in his throat at the sight of his mate standing in silhouette, the lights behind him outlining his gorgeous body with an ethereal glow.

Rising, Reeve took a step toward his naked mate, finding the answer to his question clearly written on Kahn's face. Gone were the doubts his mate had about their claiming, and in their place was lust, with a heavy dose of arousal. Reeve's eyes traveled over his mate's chest, mapping out where his tongue would venture on the trail to Kahn's hard cock which was now dripping as proof of his need.

Reeve wanted their first time to be unhurried—so he could drive his mate out of his mind with passion before he came. Closing the distance between them, he reached out and slowly caressed his mate's muscles before leaning in to suck Kahn's hard nipples. His mate both surprised and excited him by spewing out a steady stream of moans and whimpers while pleading, "Fuck me," over and over. "Easy, cari?o," Reeve murmured, "Everything in its own time."

But Kahn was slowly being driven out of his mind as Reeve continued to kiss and lick every part on his body that he could reach. He'd never had this much attention lavished on him before, and was swept away by the waves of pleasure enveloping him. He felt loved and wanted—feelings that had been missing throughout his life. Unable to resist, Kahn ran his fingertips over the hills and valleys of his mate's chest, stopping only to pinch his nipples before continuing his journey downward.

When Kahn's fingers were stopped by the soft material of the pajama pants his mate was wearing, he aggressively pushed them down and groaned when he got his first glimpse of Reeve's cock. Turgid and flushed, it jutted out at him, begging to be caressed. Licking his lips, Kahn sank to his knees, fascinated by the way it twitched, as if it were beckoning him to keep going. Zeroing in on the juicy, leaking tip begging for his attention, he leaned forward and closed his mouth around it, savoring his first taste of Reeve.

Kahn froze for a second at Reeve's deep growl, then grinned, not an easy thing to do with his mate's shaft in his mouth. His eyes traveled the length of his mate's naked body, whose muscles were now rippling with tension as Reeve tried to control himself. That did it. Relaxing his throat, Kahn traveled down the delicious cock until his nose was buried in the curly hair surrounding it. Sucking and deep-throating his mate's rod, he continued until Reeve's balls hardened and began to draw close to his body. He was perplexed when his mate pulled his cock from Kahn's mouth and lifted him up until they were once again face to face.

"Not yet, cari?o," Reeve murmured, sweeping Kahn into his arms and carrying him over to the bed. Gently placing him on his back, he watched as his mate spread his legs, giving him a perfect view of Kahn's pucker. Then Reeve grabbed his own cock, stroking it, anticipating how it was going to feel in the velvet heat of his mate's tight hole.

Climbing slowly onto the bottom of the mattress, Reeve started at Kahn's left foot, trailing his tongue over every inch of it before proceeding up his mate's leg. Licking and biting, Reeve's mouth traveled up to the vee in Kahn's groin before starting down his other leg. By the time he'd finished, his mate's eyes were blown wide with lust.

Forcing Kahn's legs further apart, Reeve slid up and took one of his mate's balls into his mouth, gently sucking and licking it. As the taste of his mate's ball sack penetrated his tongue he moaned, and then, so the other ball wouldn't feel neglected, gave it the same pleasure.

Checking on his mate, Reeve found Kahn deep in the throes of passion. As he reluctantly removed his mouth from his mate's nut sack and licked his way up his mate's shaft, Kahn's heavy breathing increased. Soon Reeve's tongue was licking and gently nipping the ridges beneath the dome of his mate's cock, seeking out their most sensitive parts. He knew his lover was close to erupting; he could feel the drops of Kahn's slippery pre-cum on his tongue. Holy Fuck! It was a perfect aphrodisiac and made his own cock even harder than it had been before.

Giving in to Kahn's need, Reeve slid his mouth down to the root of his mate's manhood, burying his nose in the curly garden, inhaling the intense scent there. He felt Kahn tugging at his hair, urging him to move. Slowly, he licked and nipped his way up the length of Kahn's shaft until, once again, he reached the tip. Pausing for a second, he then sucked hard encouraging his mate's now-engorged cock to slide deep into his throat.

Bobbing up and down on his mate's rod repeatedly, Reeve felt Kahn's balls draw tight to his body, signaling that his mate was on the verge of shooting and, while he really wanted to swallow Kahn's cum, other items on his agenda would have to come first. Drawing back, his mate's cock slipped from his mouth, shiny with his saliva.

Straddling his mate, Reeve reached down, wrapping his fingers around his own cock, tugging at it slowly. He watched as Kahn's half-closed eyes caressed his body with so much fire he thought he might ignite. Reeve moved closer until their cocks were touching. Encasing their two cocks in his large hand, Reeve growled, "Mine!" Stroking them, he leaned down for another taste of Kahn's mouth.

Moaning, Kahn parted his lips, sucking in Reeve's tongue, seeking to reach every nook and cranny of his mate's mouth. His body was now shaking with passion and, when his mate finally released his grip on their cocks, Kahn's hand sought out his own cock; the need to stroke it was too great to ignore.

Reeve grabbed a tube of lube off the bedside table and liberally coated his cock and fingers. Then, tossing it aside, he brushed Kahn's hand away before lowering his mouth to his mate's cock while reaching for the puckered hole that would soon be filled by him. Pushing a finger in, Reeve felt his mate tense up. Pausing, he murmured, "Easy, cari?o." And after he felt Kahn relax, he lowered his mouth onto his mate's cock again, while, at the same time, pushing his finger further into him.

Crying out with pleasure when Reeve's finger penetrated further, Kahn realized it wasn't enough. "More!" he grunted.

His mouth still on Kahn's cock, Reeve continued to stretch his mate open, finally able to insert three fingers, scissoring them back and forth while feeling for his mate's magic spot within.

"FUCK!" Kahn screamed, arching off the bed, exquisite pleasure flooding his body from head to toe.

Unable to wait any longer, Reeve let his mate's cock slip from his mouth, rose up on his knees and, grabbing his mate's legs, pushed them up and toward his mate's shoulders.

Kahn grabbed them, holding them up and spreading them apart. Then he begged, "Fuck me, please, I need you now…fuck…please…"

Reeve's gaze lingered on his beautiful mate, now whimpering at his need not being met, but that was about to change. He grabbed his cock, lined it up with the entrance to Kahn's tunnel and thrusted it in halfway with his powerful hips, pausing a moment for the pain of his mate's muscle spasm to subside.

Breathing heavily, Kahn gazed at the gorgeous man above him and thanked the Fates for giving him this gift—but now he needed his mate to… "Move, dammit!"

Heeding his mate's demand, Reeve plunged the rest of his cock into Kahn and, when his balls finally kissed his mate's ass, he stopped, waiting for a sign that his mate was ready for more.

Reeve's hungry cock inside Kahn triggered shots of pleasure throughout Kahn's body. He was in heaven—no cock had ever felt so good. But he was also happy that the strong muscles of his ass surrounding Reeve's cock were eliciting uncontrollable moans and groans from Reeve that made him even more horny and prompted him to demand, "Fucking move, dammit!"

With his cock encased in the tight, wet heat of Kahn's ass, Reeve had needed every ounce of his self-control to hold still. But now that his mate had ordered him to move, he began a slow, undulating dance for both of them, leisurely sliding his cock in and out of Kahn.

Letting his legs fall onto Reeve's shoulders, Kahn grabbed his own cock, stroking it in time to the thrusts of the cock in his ass.

Shifting slightly, Reeve found that special spot inside his mate and, as his cock brushed over it, Kahn screamed, his hips jerking in response to the fire coursing through his body.

But Kahn wanted more—needed more and from deep within his chest a roar erupted and he snarled, "Faster! Harder! I need more!! Now!!!"

Ratcheting up his thrusts, Reeve's hips moved so fast they became a blur of motion as he dutifully carried out his mate's orders. He could feel his body heating up, his blood boiling and his jaw shifting in readiness for the claiming bite.

The deep golden glow of Reeve's buffalo in his mate's eyes caused Kahn's fangs to drop. His wolf was ready. Kahn was ready to be claimed, to be tied to Reeve for the rest of his life.

Leaning down, Reeve nudged his mate's head to the side, exposing his neck to his buffalo, all the while keeping up the incessant pounding of Kahn's ass. Just as his orgasm began, Reeve bit down hard, his buffalo's teeth tearing through Kahn's skin and muscle, tasting his mate's blood.

Sinking his fangs into Reeve's neck Kahn shot his load, drenching his belly at the same time Reeve's cum filled him, changing his life forever. Oh, my gods! Linked together, Kahn saw his mate's white buffalo running through the grass of the open plains, halting only when he had reached his wolf. Then, as he slowly lowered his massive, shaggy head until their animals' noses touched, a ferocious wind arose, sweeping over them as the Great Spirit wrapped around the two animals and gave them his blessing.

The claiming consummated, Reeve rolled them both over and Kahn's head came to rest on his mate's broad chest. Exhausted, he closed his eyes and, oblivious to the world, listened to Reeve's strong heart beating in time to his. Then, regaining his focus, Kahn felt Reeve caress his body, murmuring words of love. His mate's cock was still buried deep inside him and he could feel an ache. But it was a good ache, reminding him that he now belonged to Reeve.

Savoring the afterglow of their mating, Kahn had never felt more treasured in his life. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed love, but now, since he knew what it felt like, it would be impossible to live without it. Raising his head, Kahn reached up to Reeve's lips, brushing them with his before moving to his jaw. Covering it with tiny, light kisses, he then nestled against his mate, protected and loved. Then he fell asleep, dreaming of the white buffalo who saved him.

When Reeve's cock finally went soft, he slowly slid it out, smiling at Kahn's small whimpers at the loss of him. Then pulling the covers over them, he wrapped his arms around his mate, listening as Kahn's breathing grew steady. Lying there in the darkness, he thought about his youth and the many times he almost gave up, but his animal had urged him on, promising it would be worth it in the end. And his white buffalo had been right.

A life Reeve never truly expected was now his and it was even better than he could ever have imagined.