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Without another look at Belleron – Henry now held a cloth to his neck – Alek walked away.
“Bell, are you okay?” Wick asked his friend again.
“That was some welcome, Chadwick. Next time a goddamn fruit basket will suffice.” Belleron stared at his reflection in the mirror. The bite mark looked angry and tender. Alek had yanked away before he properly closed it.
“It should heal mostly, but—” Wick went to raise his hand.
“Don’t touch it,” Belleron hissed.
Wick cocked his head to the side. “I would never.”
“I’m sorry. This is just. It’s um. My word, I don’t know what to think.”
“He’s your Beloved.”
“I suppose he is.”
“Alek is a good man, Bell. He stood by me when Justice had to fight Erman and he’s nothing but supportive of his family, his packs.” Wick paced slowly. “I’ve only known them a short while. I wish could give you a better explanation of why he behaved that way.”
They could hear Justice and his brothers’ loud voices carrying through Mikel’s home directly to the study where he and Bell were.
“It sounds like Justice isn’t going easy on him,” Wick stated the obvious.
“You’ve more than filled me in with what’s going on during our chats, but you failed to mention exactly how the claiming is done. I thought there was at least a hello before my life becomes permanently cemented to him.”
“Yes, usually. Shifters scent their mates before we can identify our Beloveds. But there is a period of courtship, albeit minimal.”
“I picked up on his scent as soon as he advanced on me. Then, I was struck stupid. He was… he’s so beautiful….”
All chatter and communication through the house came to an immediate halt as Bell continued to marvel over Alek, despite what he’d just done. That was a true mate.
“So strong, and he smelled… he smelled like the widow Bradley’s wild berry farm.” Bell chuckled. “You remember how we used to get in trouble sneaking in there at two in the morning.”
“I do.” Wick smiled fondly. “Couldn’t eat them, but we loved smelling like the sweet perfume it left all over us.”
“Just like that. I wanted that scent all over me again. He smelled wild, sweet, and little bit dangerous,” Bell said wistfully. They were in a house full of shifters, everything being said was being heard throughout. “I couldn’t’ve stopped him if I wanted to. And I didn’t want to, Wick. I didn’t want him to stop him, either.” Bell pointed at the closed door.
On cue, his captain tapped twice then opened the door. “The convoy is gone. They’re settling in at the Sparks coven. I told them to stay put, I’d be back with instructions for completing the final part of the mission tomorrow.”
Wick agreed with Ramon’s decisions before he gave a few commands of his own. “Well done, Captain. I want you to oversee the operation alone.”
Ramon and Bell both gave Wick confused looks.
“You’re more than capable of handling it and you have enough manpower to complete the job safely. Belleron will be unavailable the rest of the weekend, while he bonds with his Beloved.”
“Of course. I will report back when it’s done.” Ramon told Bell congratulations before closing the door behind him.
“I didn’t come all the way here for time off. I have a job to do, Wick. After all you’ve told me and especially after what I just witnessed, there’s no time for dawdling. You want to create, implement, and enforce new laws regarding unbefitting behavior with shifters, you need a new Lord Protector appointed, and a bigger army… how am I to help you do any of that if you sit me on the bench?”
Wick busted out laughing. “I can’t believe you still say dawdling.”
Belleron stopped and eyed Wick like he hadn’t known him practically his whole existence. “Who are you and what have you done with my friend?”
Wick came over and placed both hands on Bell’s cheeks. “I’m in love. It’s an amazing thing. A wondrous thing. Something we’ve been denied for no apparent reason.” Wick shook his head. “If you’d arrived a half second earlier, you would’ve seen Henry dancing.”
Bell jerked his head back.
“Yes. You heard me.” Wick nodded towards the door. “Don’t be afraid of being fated to an alpha. He can take you on a ride you never thought possible.”
“Well I guess he’s not as mad as we thought,” Justice said, still standing in front of his brother as they listened shamelessly to Bell describe his impression of Alek.
“Then he’s the nicest person in the world, because I would’ve knocked your fuckin’ block off,” Mac growled.
“Oh yeah. I’d like to see you try.” Alek squared off with his brother.
Justice and Taleb rolled their eyes and moved in to push them apart. None of them ever put their hands on the other, but when it came to true mates, Alek’s wolf seemed to be acting without his consent.
