Page 24 of Fated
Caleb set his bag down by the desk, attention shifting as they began unpacking. The summit packet lay waiting, filled with schedules, maps, and details about the attending packs. He picked it up, flipping through the pages as Asher hung their clothes in the wardrobe, the domestic familiarity of the moment anchoring them.
“Darius Bloodstone is leading tomorrow’s negotiations on the northern territory disputes,” Caleb said, his tone thoughtful as he scanned the documents. “His son, Kai, will probably be involved. Their pack borders ours, but they’ve shown no interest in Crescent Fang.”
Asher glanced over, his earlier playfulness replaced by the laser focus that made him such an effective beta. “Maybe this is the time to change that.”
Caleb nodded, considering the implications.
“Look beyond alliances of convenience,”Fenrir cautioned.“Selene weaves threads we cannot always see. Some bonds transcend paper agreements.”
“It’s worth considering, but the Bloodstones...they’re a different world, Asher. Wealthy, powerful. Their pack is practically an empire. They’ve probably forgotten we even exist.”
“Sheremembers,”Fenrir encouraged.“Being forgotten is our greatest strength. We move unseen where others stomp with heavy feet.”
Asher snorted, the sound carrying both amusement and challenge. “Then make them pay attention—remind them.”
“Hmmm... Moonshadow,” Caleb’s tone was contemplative as he continued scanning the list. “Their alpha-heir, beta, beta-heir, and it looks like the alpha’s daughter are attending. They’re...intriguing.”
“Why?” Asher paused his unpacking to give Caleb his full attention.
“Reputation,” Caleb replied, tapping the page. “Erik said they’re one of the few packs that seem to have avoided the greed and corruption plaguing the others. Strong, respected, but never overreaching. They’ve stayed small but built a legacy on loyalty and honor.”
Asher nodded, moving to stand behind Caleb, close enough that his warmth seeped through his shirt. “Could be worth building a connection. If they’re as principled as you say, they might align with us.”
“Possibly,” Caleb agreed, trying to focus on the papers despite Asher’s distracting proximity. “Erik advised treading carefully. We don’t know much about any of them or their true motivations.”
“Erik is not alpha. He is not here. You are,”Fenrir intoned.
Caleb let out a slow breath. These packs would only see the alpha of a forgotten pack when they looked at him, never the male beneath who questioned every decision, who relied on his council’s wisdom and Asher’s unwavering support. His public mask was refined now—smooth and seamless from years of practice—while the raw honesty he shared only in Asher’s arms remained his true face.
They continued strategizing late into the night, conversation flowing easily as always. But when the clock struck midnight, Asher stood, stretching. He stepped closer, hands settling on Caleb’s shoulders.
“That’s enough for tonight,” he said, his voice firm but laced with affection. His thumbs worked the tense muscles at the base of Caleb’s neck as he tugged him away from the desk. “Time to wind down.”
Caleb allowed himself to be pulled toward the bed, tracking Asher hungrily as he shed his shirt and pants with grace. The sight of his naked lover never failed to stir something deep within him—something primal and reverent all at once.
Asher climbed onto the bed on all fours, presenting himself to Caleb. His dark eyes smoldered with unrestrained desire as he glanced over his shoulder. “I’m yours, my alpha.”
The sight of Asher offering himself so willingly ignited something deep within Caleb—adoration, hunger, the undeniable urge to claim what was his. A shiver ran through him as Fenrir surged forward. The wolf growled possessively, its presence a fierce reminder of the primal bond between alpha and beta.
Climbing onto the bed, he trailed his hands over the broad expanse of Asher’s muscled back. His fingertips lingered at each dip and curve, mapping valleys and ridges with the veneration of an explorer on sacred ground. Caleb pressed his lips to the base of Asher’s neck, breath hot against his beta’s sensitive skin.
Fenrir growled in his mind again, urging him to bite, mark, and make Asher his in every way. But Caleb resisted. They weren’t fated, and no matter how strong their connection was, he wouldn’t dishonor Selene’s will. He trusted Her plan—trusted that She would find a way to let them remain lovers and partners for life.
“Watch for her signs,”Fenrir encouraged.“Our Goddess speaks through the unexpected.”
The thought pierced through Caleb’s haze of desire. They’d built this life together without Selene’s blessed bond, finding depth and meaning through choice rather than fate. Yet he couldn’t silence the whisper of doubt—the question of whether this summit might reveal why they’d been denied that sacred connection.
“Choice is its own blessing,”Fenrir reminded him.“Selene honors those who forge their own paths with intention.”
The possibility both terrified and intrigued him, but tonight, in this moment of connection, he would silence those doubts and celebrate what they’d created together.
Asher arched his back under Caleb’s touch, a low growl of anticipation vibrating in the beta’s throat. Caleb slid his hands around Asher’s chest, feeling the rapid thrum of his heartbeat, before moving down past his waist to stroke the hard length of his weeping cock. The sensation of Asher’s arousal in his palm heightening Caleb’s own need. He leaned in, lips brushing Asher’s skin as he whispered filthy promises, each word laced with a mix of dominance and worship.
He trailed his lips down Asher’s spine, mapping the terrain of his beta’s body, alternating between tender kisses and sharp nips. The glossy veil of sweat forming on Asher’s skin tasted like devotion—salt and heat mingling on Caleb’s tongue. Asher’s skin prickled as his muscles responded to Caleb’s unspokencommands, each subtle arch and twist honored the trust between them.
When Caleb pulled away, Asher whimpered at the loss of contact. Caleb stood, hands shaking as he stripped off his clothes. He caught Asher watching him, the beta’s expression blazing with raw hunger. Caleb’s gaze softened, a flicker of tenderness cutting through the primal intensity.
Caleb rummaged through his toiletry bag, retrieving a bottle of lube and tossing it onto the bed. His gaze lingered on Asher’s waiting form as he steadied his breathing.
