Taken By The Pack (7 page)

in a world without logic right then. He wanted structure and safety. His pack was small and Brandon was, as always, right.

Justin squeezed Brandon’s firm ass and pulled him in closer as he teased the tip and made Brandon rock for more. The ink on Brandon’s hip was a male torso, all the ink just turned Justin on even more. Brandon was his bad boy. Danny would be a good guy. And more. They did need more.

Taking all of Brandon again, Justin hummed and growled to drive his lover crazy.

Brandon bucked and pulled back. Justin was the proverbial dog with a bone— he’d never give up or hurt Brandon. Even for Danny.

Justin wrapped his arms around Brandon’s waist and sucked until he felt Brandon give.

The cum filled Justin’s mouth, and he swallowed every drop before standing and kissing

Brandon fully.

“Let me catch my breath!” Brandon said against Justin’s mouth.

Justin couldn’t stop. He kissed along Brandon’s cheek to bite his ear. “You’re mine. No

matter how big the pack gets or doesn’t, you’re the one I can’t live without.”

Brandon curled his arms around Justin and held him tight. Justin felt safe as Brandon

whispered, “I feel the same way. But we’ll get Danny.”

* * * *

Frank’s hospital room. Oddly enough, it didn’t come from the Pipeline crowd but from his younger sister’s web of gossip girls. Danny’s sister-in-law really was the only broadcast news Fairbanks needed. Her little sister hung with Brandon’s little sister.

It was usually his day off, but Brandon decided the tattoo parlor was the best neutral

ground he could find. Justin was flipping between annoyed at Danny and feeling rejected.

Brandon debated telling Justin that Danny was coming but decided the revelation might just be the emotional break they all needed. It had to come from Danny.

Setting out sandwiches in the employee break room, Brandon heard the backdoor open.

Justin huffed and sat on a hard plastic chair by the old round table. “What’s so urgent? Isn’t it your day off? Why are you here?”

He was annoyed. Not the mood Brandon had been hoping for. “It’s a meeting, sort of.”

“It’s a family business, but your family business that I don’t work for. I don’t need to be here for a meeting.” Justin shrugged but grabbed some fries.

“Not business. Pack.”

Justin’s eyebrow arched. “We live together. Why here? There are three drinks.”

“Take it easy. I just thought it was time to try to mend the fences, just in case.” Brandon had called Danny, he wasn’t so ego driven that he was unable to make the first move. Danny sounded relaxed and happy to hear from Brandon. To Brandon’s surprise, Danny hadn’t admitted he was out. In truth, no one had even seen him at the Pipeline yet. The lunch could feel things out.

“You didn’t,” Justin accused.

Just then, Danny walked in from the front door. While Brandon’s sister minded the store

the men could talk about the Pack stuff. “Right on time. Grab a seat and a sandwich.”

Danny nodded to Justin who shrugged in return.

“Why did you invite him? He owes us.” Justin folded his arms.

Brandon clapped a hand over Justin’s mouth. “Stop and listen. I mean it. You’re being a

jerk.”

Justin’s eyes met Brandon’s, and he knew Justin would behave. Removing his hand,

Brandon took the seat between them. “Glad Frank’s okay, Danny.”

Danny still stood there in the doorway, looking nervous but somehow confident. Brandon

could sense a new ease in him, even if the situation was tense.

“I owe you two an apology and a thank you. You saved my brother faster than anyone

else could have. I wanted to text back or call.”

“And?” Justin asked.

Brandon nudged Justin’s shoulder.

“It’s a fair question,” Justin replied.

“It is. I’m sorry. I got caught up with family crap. Then I felt like I’d waited too long. It was like a bad Seinfeld episode. I don’t know what to say. I knew you’d be mad.” Danny looked at Justin.

“Justin is hurt more than mad,” Brandon said.

“I’m right here. I can speak for myself.” Justin looked at Danny. “I get mad when I’m

hurt. We could’ve been shot by hunters or the rescue team.”

“I know. I’m so glad nothing bad happened. But my brother is still laid up. He needed

help and things got crazy.” Danny sat down and looked at Brandon.

Brandon smiled. “I know how it is. Family business.”

“You know, don’t you?” Danny asked.

Brandon leaned back and smiled. “I know a lot of things. Tattoo artists hear all sorts of conversations. People in the chair talk about anything.”

“Know what?” Justin asked.

Danny smiled. “You didn’t tell him?”

“Obviously, it’s better coming from you.” Brandon unwrapped his sandwich and grabbed

a bag of fries.

Danny sat and put a straw in his drink. “At the hospital, the day you saved Frank’s life, I sort of lost it. I came out to the family. No plan. No idea what to say. It just flew out of my mouth.” He sipped his drink.

Justin’s entire posture changed from a frown to a smile. “You’re out?”

Danny nodded. “To everyone but my Dad. He’s had blood pressure spikes with the

chemo treatment, so until he is one-hundred percent stable, we’re not telling him.”

“Well sure.” Brandon supported Danny before Justin got on a high horse and fell off.

“Okay, yeah. That’s just great. Congrats.” Justin stuck with happy. “So why didn’t you

call then? Plenty of gay guys here for support. And we haven’t seen you at the Pipeline.”

Brandon rubbed Justin’s shoulder. “Babe, relax. Eat.”

“Sorry.” Justin turned to Brandon. “How did you find out?”

“My sister, but I wanted you to hear it from Danny. We need to talk.” Brandon knew

once the dialogue had begun it’d be okay.

“It’s my fault. I’ve been slowly telling people at work and friends of the family. The

focus is on Frank. I didn’t want to upstage him.” Danny picked at the French fries.

“Not even us?” Justin began to eat.

“I wasn’t sure how to. I’d overreacted to your stuff. Then when my family stuff

happened, you saved Frank. You’re both just way too good.”

“It’s the human thing.” Justin shrugged.

“Please, you hoped this would soften Frank up somehow. Not that he’d know it was us.

But you already sent him that proposal.” Brandon had to keep it all honest, or it’d never work.

“He got it. He’s interested,” Danny said. “He doesn’t like helicopter rides.”

Justin smiled. “Serves him right.”

Brandon kicked Justin under the table. “So Danny, are you planning on going to the

Pipeline? Even just for fun. If you’ve got your eye on a certain guy, we can tell you if he’s single or a player. Or twisted.”

“I’m not sure I’m ready for a relationship yet. I thought I wanted it, but I’m still adjusting to my real life and my gay lifestyle fitting together.”

“Then you need to go to the Pipeline. Stop thinking so much and just enjoy the eye

candy. It’ll happen,” Justin said.

Brandon nodded. “Absolutely. Burn off some energy and have fun. We’re free tonight if

you don’t want to walk in there alone. Just your gay friends from high school. No pressure.”

Danny blushed. “Actually, if this went well, which I think it has, I was going to invite you two out to my house tonight for dinner and whatever.”

Brandon saw Justin’s smile grown. “Sure. Sounds great.”

“Six o’clock?” Danny suggested.

“Perfect.” Brandon nodded.

The men settled down to eat in earnest. Brandon didn’t bring up the pack idea, but Justin didn’t either, so Brandon went along and played it cool for now. Even if Danny had screwed every gay man in Seattle, he needed to find his way in Fairbanks. First step was achieved, and they’d see how tonight went. One step closer to the pack.

Being out to the family left Danny feeling free, but he didn’t do any of the things he’d expected. Or apparently what Brandon and Justin thought he’d do. Danny wanted to go to the Pipeline and dance and kiss guys without fear or guilt.

Not any guys. Brandon and Justin.

That was the trip up. He couldn’t get those sexy shifters out of his head. It seemed like a dream, intense, unexpected and finished in a jarring turn. Avoiding them was easier, but people were surprising him lately.

Danny wasn’t the best cook but managed not to overcook the pasta or burn the sauce. The

garlic bread was toasty but not black. When the doorbell rang, Danny felt a rush.

What was wrong with him? Two men? Shifters! Two weeks ago, all he’d wanted was one

guy and to have the outing over with. This complicated everything and they’d only spent a little time together. But he couldn’t help it. He wanted them. He’d invited them out of pure need.

Danny opened the door, not sure if they’d be in wolf or human form. Tonight, it was

human, dressed and they’d even driven over in a car.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hi,” Justin said hesitantly.

“Smells good.” Brandon broke the ice and kissed Danny as he entered.

Danny smiled and kissed Justin as he walked in. “Pasta. I’m not a great cook.”

“We’re not picky. Yesterday, I ate a fox, as a wolf.” Brandon made himself at home as

they went to the kitchen. He poured wine into the glasses. “We owe you an apology, as well.”

Danny set the huge bowl of pasta on the table. “Really?”

Justin sipped his wine. “Yeah, I should’ve been honest with you about the hunting thing

and talked to you directly.”

“We didn’t know how to break the ice.” Brandon sat down at the table. “If we

approached you for sex, you’d have locked up and thrown us out. If we were direct about the hunting, same result.”

Danny put out the garlic bread. “Probably.”

“Believe me, we talked about it. Trying to hang out was what we wanted, but if you were

playing straight…” Justin shrugged. “We overheard the hunting thing, and we had to act. It was planned, but we should’ve handled it better.”

“Full moons make us have poor judgment. We’re more impulsive.” Brandon dished out

the pasta.

They ate, and things seemed relaxed. Danny refilled the wine. “Well, I’m glad you don’t

make it a habit of kidnapping people to get your way. The shifter thing is still a shock.”

Justin wiped his mouth. “Good pasta. Don’t worry about the shifter thing. Think of us as a native Alaskan tribe. We go back to before Alaska was even discovered. Some humans know about us, of course. Interbreeding obviously produces a shifter, like me.”

“We protect our own.” Brandon jumped in. “Hunting is something we live with, but the

aerial part, I’m glad it’s behind us now. Seems like if Frank won’t, others are reluctant.”

Danny nodded. “I think that fueled his ego as much as anything. People respect him, and

his survival story is impressive. You’re really going to do the wilderness experience?” he asked Justin.

Shrugging, Justin swirled the wine in his glass. “Frank and my boss liked the idea. Create a hands-on experience for people who never get see this level of nature and adventure. Not as expensive as the helicopter thing.”

“I appreciate it.” Danny kissed Justin’s cheek and felt foolish for a second.

Justin blushed. “It’s good for us, too. You want to hunt caribou for a real Alaskan meal, fine. Teach them old school ways with a bow.”

“Problem solved.” Brandon wiped his mouth. “So now what does the future hold for our

Danny?”

Danny set down his glass. The question was all on him. “I don’t know. Things are all

over the place. I went from very boring and predictable to gay wolf shifters, being out, my brother nearly freezing, and now he has a job.”

“It’s your life, Danny. What do you want?” Brandon asked. “We can help. We’d like to

be friends.”

Justin leaned in. “Yeah, if you walk into the Pipeline alone, I think you might be mobbed by horny men wanting fresh meat.”

Danny knew where they were headed. The lust and heat filled the room. “I wouldn’t be

mobbed.”

Brandon got up and stood behind Danny, running his hands down Danny’s chest. “Maybe

not literally, but you’d be groped on the dance floor. Phone numbers would be slipped into your pants pockets and guys would be eager to take you into the back rooms.” Brandon’s hands slid down to Danny’s jeans pockets.

Danny’s cock responded to the attention as he kissed Brandon slowly. “I can take care of myself. I’ve been in gay bars before. Lots of them.”

“We know. We just want dibs.” Justin tugged Danny’s fly open. “Unless you’re looking

for one human guy and the hunt for Mr. Right is on. We’ll help in that case.”

Danny’s eyes closed as Justin sucked his cock to the base.

“I need to explore,” he moaned.

“Good idea.” Brandon offered his cock to Danny.

Without hesitation, Danny licked Brandon’s hard member then teased his balls until

Brandon rocked for more. Danny wanted to do more, but Justin had him pinned in the chair with just the skill of his mouth.

Justin picked up the pace and sucked Danny harder.

“Don’t stop.” Danny thrust up. He couldn’t control his need. Being without them for over a week drove him crazy. “I’m so close.”

“Get him off,” Brandon encouraged.

Justin moaned on Danny’s cock and squeezed his balls. Bucking, Danny grunted and

shook as he came in hard spurts. “Yes!”

“He missed us.” Brandon kissed Danny and pulled Justin up to stand.

“God, yes!” Danny reached for Justin’s fly without them saying a word. He needed to

suck them both off. Pulling Justin’s erection free, Danny kissed his sac and inhaled the masculine scent. They really were here for him. Not about the hunting stuff, not for games, all for him!

“It works better on your knees.” Brandon pulled Danny out of the chair.

Smiling, Danny took a cock in each hand and stroked. Brandon and Justin stood shoulder