Page 87 of Locke

“Come for me, Emmie,” he growled, and I knew he was right there with me, locked in this moment, angry, passionate and loving all at once. “Come all over this dick. It’s your dick, claim it!”

I cried out as my climax hit me and it took no more hesitation to bite into the thick muscle of his shoulder. Locke’s body shookas he joined me, releasing himself deep inside me. Locke held me up, letting his knot nudge further inside me.

He held me like I was light as a feather, caressing my ass while he continued to shallowly pump his knot in and out of my entrance.

“I’m yours,” he whispered, panting at my neck. “You really claimed me!”

I let go of his shoulder and I saw the blood run down his torso, but the bite I had given him was already healing.

A darker, more animalistic urge had me lowering my head again and licking the crimson liquid off his shoulder.

Locke shuddered and while he was still connected to me, kneeled on the floor, and held me in his arms.

“Thank you,” he petted my hair, running kisses up my neck. “Thank you for accepting me.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Locke

Iobserved Emm meticulously arranging and rearranging the bed, expertly placing the freshly laundered blankets and plump pillows that had just been delivered. I could see her face light up with delight as she pressed her cheek against the velvety softness of the linens. The sound of the fabric rustling filled the room as she skillfully blended the old blankets with the new ones.

She didn't understand what she was doing. Her body went on autopilot, and I hung back and watched her. It was like every other female brought to the Iron Fang. Their nesting instincts took over and my mate’s were taking over quickly.

My bite might have something to do with it, the fact that I needed her to step up and take a role in leadership. I was finewith that because I knew she could do it. She already had a handle on me and she very well knew it.

So, I was savoring this moment. I never thought I would have a mate—not after what the first one did to me. I thought I was over and done with. Grim gave me small hope but I thought my own sins were too much to be redeemed. Look at me now, a lucky bastard indeed.

Here I was, watching my mate make our nest, so the next time we slept, it would be ready. Ready for her to take my knot over and over.

I adjusted myself as I thought about sinking back into her tight cunt. I swear she was sculpted by the gods just for me.

We showered in the massive bathroom made for us. I went all out on the third-floor blueprints of this packhouse. If it was going to be for me or some other alpha, in case I didn’t make it, there was to be enough room for a few pups and a guest room. Unless she wanted to fill the whole floor with our miniature selves.

That might not be a good idea.

When Emm finished, she put her hands on her hips, turned to me and smiled. It was a rare smile, one I’d only seen from her when she was truly happy, not the forced, awkward social smile I’d seen so many times before at the club..

I held my hand out to her and she took it gladly. I led her out of our floor, and down the stairs to the second. Now, that our heat and rut had calmed, to just fucking every couple hours instead of minutes, I felt we could walk away from our nest for a time. I was still rock hard and couldn’t keep my hands off of her. I didn’t think that would ever go away, and now I knew how the other men felt when I’d seen them always looking, touching, and pulling their mates into a darkened hallway in the club.

“This is where the unmated and recently turned rogue will stay,” I explained, as I flicked the switch; filling the room witha soft, yellow glow. The light revealed a dimly lit corridor, lined with empty rooms. I guided her through, the floor creaking beneath our feet. The sight of the shells of rooms awaiting completion was eerie - walls stripped bare, exposed wiring hanging from the ceiling like mechanical vines. The air carried a musty scent, a mix of dust and wood. As we walked, a faint echo of our footsteps reverberated, adding to the sense of emptiness. These rooms, although empty, would hold the promise of shelter for those who hadn’t succumbed entirely to despair.

“Recently rogue? You mean recently rejected from their mates?” There was sadness in her voice, and she squeezed my arm.

“Yes, if they have been rejected recently, Journey believes we can still bring them into the pack and have them stay integrated with healthy wolves. It will help them not forget who they are.” I said sadly, squeezing her arm in return. “Being connected to a pack alpha will slow their decline, and they won’t go rabid as fast as the rest of us who had no pack.”

“And what of the ones too far gone?” Emm gazed down the empty hallway once more and we walked toward the balcony following the railing to the grand staircase.

I sighed. “They will have to remain at the bar, in the apartments there. You and I will need to stay there with them during the week, and then my second, also known as my beta—Grim- will switch with us over the weekends.”

“But why keep them apart? Wouldn’t the most restless rogues want to stay in the forest? Would they be more comfortable?”

I wrapped my hand around Emm’s waist and led her down the grand staircase, onto the main floor. The stones were laid by contracted bear shifters that usually work on the packhouse. I’d sent them away until I had fully claimed my mate. I couldn’t have them around when Emm and I were here, I’d go too fucking crazy.

“They are dangerous, too far gone. They don’t listen well and can be hard to handle. Those rogues could put others in danger if they decide to defy me. There are cabins surrounding this packhouse now that hold the mated, such as Hawke and Delilah, and their pup. At the club house there are more security cameras and there are lockdown capabilities if needed. I just have to keep everyone safe.”

Emm nodded. “And, they might go rabid in the packhouse?”

I sighed and gritted my teeth. “Bones and Journey will do frequent check-ups here at the packhouse. Bones will check the healthy ones’ physical body, while Journey will check their souls and see if they are fading. If they have to, they will move to the bar apartments where they can be monitored more closely.”

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