Chapter 46: Chapter 45

Chris tugged Jaxson’s maroon t-shirt down, beyond the muscle bulging from his neck and shoulders. The same was happening to him, Jaxson’s fingertips brushed his skin gently, tingles of pleasurable electricity zapped from his fingers. A shiver worked its way down his spine. He nestled his teeth against Jaxson’s skin, a spot that would half be visible on most of his t-shirts. Chris’ movements were mimicked, sharp canines scraped his skin working a moan from deep in his chest.

“Together.” Jaxson’s link came through, without any indication, they bit deep into each other’s flesh at exactly the same moment.

Groans of pleasure rumbled around the small clearing. It hurt, but it was like no pain he’d felt before. It was blissful. He shivered as Jaxson retracted his teeth, licking his wound. Chris did the same, inspecting the mark he had bestowed. Two deep puncture wounds surrounded by his teeth marks. A pride welled in his stomach. The male was his and his alone.

His pride was doubled. A faint feel he’d had for months punched him. He peered to his right… it was Jaxson.

He’d been feeling Jaxson.

He launched, knocking Jaxson to his back, he kissed him with so much force he tasted blood. There was a burn. A burn in his very soul. Marking wasn’t enough. Mating was.

Ripping at Jaxson’s belt he nearly sliced the leather altogether. Jaxson wrestled Chris to his back, his claws digging into the denim of his thigh.

A loud growl of malice ripped through the clearing.

Their furious passion stilled. Jaxson leapt to his feet, eyes flitting left and right. Chris had matched, his back against his mate. The growl had echoed, there was no telling where it had come from.

Fear pounded his heart, it could be friendly. A growl didn’t automatically mean foe.

“Surprised to see you alive.”

Chris couldn’t see the male who had spoke, but Jaxson had stiffened.

“Intruder, south. A rock pool with moss,” he linked, before pushing to his brother images of where they were, how they got there.

“Coming.” He got back instantly.

“The witch will pay,” another male, movement caught to Chris’ left, this was a male he recognised. Didn’t necessarily know… but…

“Uncle? What are you doing?” Jaxson asked incredulously.

“This is wrong, boy, and you know it. We cannot allow this to go on.”

“Did you… you tried to kill me?” Betrayal sored into Chris, Jaxson’s pain felt deep within Chris’ chest. He swallowed, understanding where he was coming from.

“Don’t act so surprised. This can’t be allowed. It was what was best for the nation. Sacrifices have to be made.”

A growl came to Chris’ right, a tan wolf stepped over the rock pools, teeth bared before more movement snapped Chris’ gaze in front of him. Two grey wolves stepped forward out of the trees.

“Five, there’s five of them. I’ve linked Marc… It might take him a while.”

“Rip these arseholes apart.” Jaxson sneered through the link.

“Together.”

“Wait. Wait for them to-”

“If you are raising the alarm you’ll be dead before they get here. We hoped to not have to murder a royal. But needs must.”

“Shift. Shift now!” Jaxson barked.

Chris lunged forward towards the darker of the two grey wolves, transforming mid-air. As soon as he was on the darker wolf, the other was on his back. Claws burnt down his spine. His teeth sliced into the darker grey wolf, his claws swiped its ribs. He shook, trying to loosen the grip of the wolf on his back sending searing pain through his back but he ignored it. It was all he could do.

Blinding the wolf below him with a well-aimed blow, he launched backwards, finally releasing himself from the grey wolf. He pounced, claws gripping into flesh, he continued his momentum. He didn’t have time to see where he’d thrown the grey wolf as a husky lunged at him, blocking his view.

He did not feel equipped for this fight. He did not train in combat. He’d never been in a fight! A blow landed on his muzzle. Despite his strength as a wolf, he did not have the techniques he was sure he should have. Swiping with his paw he desperately tried to battle back, get the upper paw.

A surge of confidence straightened his back. He jumped over the husky wolf, dodging teeth to glide his claws along the beast’s back.

The blinded wolf snapped teeth over Chris’ hind leg. Snarling, he shook him off. Adrenaline pumped through his veins. They were alone, at least for now. The fight continued, he barely knew who he was clawing, whose blood was in his mouth. He couldn’t bear weight on his front paw when he dived on the tan wolf who had Jaxson’s burnt orange wolf pinned.

Before he knew it, he had three wolves snarling and snapping at him, forcing him backwards, away from Jaxson.

Surging forward, he attempted another jump but was flattened, his head knocking painfully on the rocks.

Two wolves ascended on Jaxson, Chris growled, the wolves weren’t attacking him, but similarly weren’t letting him move. With the reprieve, he sought through the pack link to Jaxson’s uncle. The link wasn’t through a name, more a feeling. Every link had a different feel, a different colour. A barrier was risen but Chris pushed through.

“He’s your blood, how can you do this to your sister’s son? We have done nothing wrong, The Goddess decided for a different route, that is all. It is the same love as you and your mate. Do not rip your family apart for a prejudice that has no grounding. We haven’t hurt anyone, you-”

“Get out of my head!”

Chris smiled to himself, he couldn’t block him. Most wolves could block a link… few could block a Hunterson link.

“You must see past whatever this hatred is. Have we harmed you? Have you even seen anything that hurts you? We are mated wolves just like you.”

The husky wolf pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. “Shut up!”

“Who are these wolves? Why commit treason to your crown? Go against your Alpha? Your King?”

He snapped his teeth next to Chris’ ear, a sting igniting as a canine caught him.

A whine caught his attention, he strained to look between legs to see a whir of brown and auburn. He couldn’t tell what was happening, it was a scuffle that appeared neither wolf started or ended, they were joined in their ferocious battle.

He wanted to link him, ensure he was OK… but couldn’t risk it. Linking shifted your focus, Jaxson needed all his focus. Chris struggled under the hold he was still under, weight pinning him to the soft moss.

How could a place of such beauty now hold memories of bloodshed? It was supposed to be a perfect memory. Right now they should have been sealing their bond. But no. They were fighting. Fighting for their love.

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