Page 3 of Fierce Claim

Though, the thought of going on a mission with Riley, to see how she works and what she does, that’s very tempting too...

Very, very tempting...

2

Mathew

Listening in on Caleb, Riley and Vera from the office was interesting. Since my pheromones couldn’t betray my location and the three of them were way too focused on each other, they had no clue I was there.

Most of what they were talking about, I already knew, like what kind of work Erika’s pack does, partially from what Caleb told me and the rest from working together with them these last couple of weeks. But, when it became about how they met me, I couldn’t stay hidden longer, I had to get involved.

It felt too weird to listen to them talk about me, while they had no idea I could hear every word. And it’s important for Riley to know what kind of pack members she’s getting herself involved with.

She doesn’t have the best impression of me, and I don’t know if this last conversation has made it any better. How is it that she seems to find fault with me all the time, with everything I do?

I know we’re in the same line of work and I know I’m at least a couple of years younger than her, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know what I’m doing. That doesn’t mean that she has to keep picking on me all the time.

It’s frustrating, but it doesn’t look like she’s doing it out of malice, she does it because she cares. She cares about other people and that they’re treated ‘right’. If she did it to be mean, it would have been so much easier to get angry with her, but right now, getting upset with her would only make it seem like I’m sulking. Which I’m not.

Caleb stands up, keeping Vera tucked against his side as he looks at everyone. “I’m off to bed. I suspect we’ll have an exhausting couple of days ahead of us, and I would like to be well-rested.”

“Same.” Jorge yawns. “And the sooner this day is over, the better.”

“Are you off to bed too?” I touch Vera’s cheek and she nuzzles into my hand, nodding. She’s barely awake as it is, all comfortable against Caleb. “Okay. Good night.” I lean forward and she gives me a soft kiss.

Then Caleb wraps his empty arm around me and pulls me against him, kissing me long and hard, leaving my body full of energy and need, his cock pushing against my hip. “Are you sure you’re not joining us?” His voice is a low rumble and my dick strains in my boxer briefs at the promise in his words. He’s clearly much more awake than Vera…

I slowly shake my head, I’m too on edge to even think of going to sleep right now. Having a couple of orgasms in the shower with Jorge and Vera took care of the sharpest sensations, but that’s all it did, it didn’t calm my mind down.

“Okay. I’ll see you when you’re ready.” He gives me another kiss, a softer one this time, and then I get a second kiss from Vera, who struggles to keep her eyes open.

“Night, Riley.” Caleb nods in her direction as he tucks Vera against his side more, keeping her safe, and walks into the house.

I turn to Jorge, who smiles and wraps his arms around me, holding me tight for a couple of moments. He feels very different from Caleb, since he’s not as tall or as broad as the older Alpha, but that doesn’t mean I feel any less safe or less protected in his arms. It’s different, but just as good.

He kisses me slowly, letting me relax in his warm embrace, before he looks at me seriously. “Don’t stay up too late. You’re really going to need your sleep after the evening we’ve just had.”

“I know. I’ll come up soon, I promise.” I nuzzle his neck, taking in his cedar pheromones. “My brain just needs to calm down a little more.”

“Good.” He lets out a soft laugh. “Now, I’m going to follow the other two, before they get up to stuff without me.” He winks and then looks at Riley. “You too. Don’t stay up too late.”

Riley lets out a laughing huff as she waves him inside. “I’m pretty sure I should be the one saying that to you, as I don’t think you’re planning to go to sleep any time soon.”

Jorge laughs, happy, content, as he saunters inside, making sure I get a good look at his ass before he disappears through the door. Tease.

The garden immediately becomes quiet, filled only with the sounds of the wind through the leaves and the chirping of the insects that use the cover of darkness to find someone to fuck and continue the species with.

It’s just Riley and me now, which makes me nervous, so I start wandering further into the garden.

The grass is warm under my feet, tickling my skin, as the air is filled with the scents of flowers and plants. I love being in the garden at night, it’s so calming.

I stop under one of the apple trees, reaching up to touch the lowest branch as my eyes follow it to the leaves at the end.

The flowers have already disappeared, which means that hidden between the leaves are mini-apples that will grow to full size over the summer. I love watching fruit grow, I love watching all plants grow. I grew up in the city, so until I came here, I never saw much greenery.

Riley’s rose scent intensifies as her soft footsteps come closer, stopping behind me. “Did you plant this garden yourself?” Her voice is warm, making my heart race.

“Not the trees, they were already here. But I put together the rest.” It kept me busy while I was trying to make sense of the new world I was suddenly part of. Designing and putting together the garden was one of the few ways I could truly relax at the time.

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