As soon as fate showed him a glimmer of hope… she ripped it away. He was out there alone, and for the first time in his long life, he was afraid. Wick’s soul cried out. “Beloved. Mate.”
Justice barely held back his wolf’s howl from answering his mate. He was on the private deck in his quarters, looking out at the dark forest at four-thirty in the morning, reliving every moment from the time the Vampire King entered the conference room to the moment he ran from him.
“Beloved.”
Justice couldn’t stop the painful yell that escaped him and likely filtered to the ends of the pack lands. He dropped down on both knees, trying to breathe through the fight he was having with his wolf. He wouldn’t go to the vampire, he wouldn’t answer his mate’s call and his wolf was tearing him apart inside because of it. It wanted out. Its mate needed comforting and Justice was preventing it.
He wasn’t ready to make the commitment. He had responsibilities. He needed time, but his wolf was making it his top priority, making Justice feel like he wouldn’t survive another day without the vampire. The mate pull shouldn’t be that strong so quickly. It made no sense. They also shouldn’t be able to communicate telepathically without having actually mated. He didn’t know what was going on.
“Justice!” Justice couldn’t answer his beta. Alek was banging on the door, in seconds he’d kick it down if Justice didn’t say something besides grunts and groans.
“Alpha.” Another voice called out with Alek. “My pack is concerned.”
Oh no. Now the Humboldt’s Alpha, Mikel, was at his door, too. Everyone could probably hear and feel Justice’s struggle, sense his anguish. Justice couldn’t focus on trying to shield his scent when he was using every bit of his strength to keep his wolf inside.
“Beloved, please.”
Justice heard it again – that gut churning plea, in the sexiest accent ever – and this time he had to grit his pain through clenched teeth as he fought against his instincts. His wolf howled long and hard but Justice kept it contained. It felt like a bass drum beating against his ribcage. The harsh breaths, angry snarls and the determined pacing taking place within him was overtaking him. All the while, his mate kept calling to him and Justice wouldn’t answer. He tried to quiet the link but he couldn’t. All it did was give him a brain-splitting headache, something he’d never felt before and never wanted to feel again. He could still feel the King in his head. Talking to him and his wolf. Every now and then his animal would settle, but never for long. Wick’s pain was palpable, so were his anxiety and fear. Not only was Justice’s wolf hurting immensely, but he was too. Chadwick Bentley was the other half of him, but how? That wasn’t even possible. Or so he thought. Justice had never heard of a shifter/vampire mating. Just like no one heard of a shark and a lion mating. Where would they live? They were completely different species without a single thing in common. All Justice wanted was a couple days to pray to the Mother for guidance, consult his brothers. He wouldn’t take what he desired, what was easy. There was more at stake than his own selfish wants.
The loud crash of the door hitting the wall and splintering – into way too many pieces to repair – was the next sound he heard after he fell to his hands and knees.
Don’t shift. Don’t shift. Fight it. Justice chanted in his mind.
“Justice, my god.”
Justice looked up, his eyes heavy and unfocused, switching from his wolf’s vision back to human. His brother, Alek, and the Alpha Mikel were hurrying to his side, both of them with their mouths set in tight scowls with firm lines along their foreheads.
“There’s too much power in here,” Justice’s younger brother said, backing slowly out of the room. Justice could see their apprehension and it killed him that there was nothing he could do to calm the Humboldt pack or his own.
“Everyone out,” Alek ordered, still trying unsuccessfully to help Justice to his feet. “Farica, help ease the pack’s fear. Let them know the AZ is with his betas and is fine.”
“But, Al—”
“Go, now!” Alek ordered, cutting Farica off.
Justice heard her hurry off, leaving only his brothers just outside his door, and Alek and the Humboldt Alpha.
“Talk to us, Justice,” Alek pleaded, squatting next to Justice.
Justice slowed his breaths. He didn’t try to talk until he was certain he wouldn’t scream as soon as his lips parted. It was quiet in his head now and the thought that Wick was gone or had somehow severed the link himself made Justice break down and confess. He just couldn’t do this alone.
Justice huffed tiredly. Mother, he was so beat. It’d been only three hours since he’d met his mate, and already he felt an overwhelming need for him. Justice had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to fight this, although he should be able to. He was certainly strong enough. Wolves could deny their mates. Even true mates, though it was unheard of. The true mate pull was too wonderful and fascinating to ignore and any wolf would be thanking the Mother for years to come for giving them a mate made especially for them.