Page 42 of The Night Wolf
Chapter Twelve
WHEN EVERYONEwas gone, Sean slumped into a chair and rubbed his hand over his eyes.
“Tired?”
“More than. I don’t think I’ve been in a group that big… well, ever.”
Gareth came over and picked Sean up off the chair. He squeaked when Gareth hugged him to his chest.
“What are you doing?”
He smiled at Sean. “The same thing you did for everyone that was there. I could feel your power, you know. It washed over everyone in that room, and their pain eased. I could feel it.” He squeezed Sean. “That was a great thing you did.”
The toll it was taking on Sean was obvious. His face flushed, and he was squinting as though trying to stave off a headache. When he paled and wobbled, Gareth had taken him some food and insisted he eat.
“I wanted to do something for them. I know you said what happened wasn’t my fault, but….” Sean narrowed his gaze. “Are you going to put me down anytime soon?”
Gareth didn’t want to. Holding Sean in his arms seemed right, like Sean was meant to be there. “I suppose I could, if you really wanted me to.”
Sean gazed up, and those violet eyes went soft. “If I’m not too heavy, you could hold me a little longer.”
“You’ll never be too heavy for me.”
There weren’t any words spoken for several minutes, but they didn’t break their exchange. Finally, Gareth could stand it no longer.
“I want to kiss you. You don’t know how badly.”
Sean bit his lip. “Then why don’t you?”
“Because I wouldn’t force myself on you. Never. I know bad things happened in the past, and this would have to be—”
Faster than he thought possible, Sean slammed his hands on the sides of Gareth’s head and dragged him down into a kiss. For an instant, Gareth thought he’d stuck his tongue in an electrical socket, as shocks coursed through his body, burning away all doubt. It was beyond rational explanation, but he knew in that moment that Sean belonged to him. And that scared him. He drew back and peered into Sean’s eyes.
“Sean, I—”
Sean reached up and touched his lips. “Did you feel it too? Like time stood still? You and I were the only two people in the world?”
“I can’t even describe what I felt. It was…. I don’t even know what to say. Me and my wolf were in agreement that you were ours. I know that’s wrong to say, because I don’t want you to think I would hurt you, but I have to say, right now my wolf wants me to claim you.”
Sean tilted his head, exposing his neck. “I’ve never submitted to anyone in my life. I always refused to show weakness. I want to submit to you, though. I want you to be my Alpha.”
“If you want to stay in Lydon, I am.”
A slow smile spread over Sean’s face. “No, not like that. I want you to claim me.”
“Do you know what that means?”
“It means I won’t ever have another in my life. I know that you can have anyone, but—”
“What? Hell no. There is no ‘but’ here. If I claim you, there will never be another for either of us. I am not like any Alpha you’ve ever met, Sean. I guard what’s mine obsessively, whether that’s the pack or our land.” He squeezed Sean. “And I’d like it to be you too.”
“Okay.” Sean was breathless and his eyes were watery. “My wolf says we’re yours.”
Gareth carried Sean to his bedroom and laid him on the enormous four-poster bed. “No one but Dani, Lyram, and Caleb has ever been in this room. It’s my sanctuary, and I want to share it with you.”
Sean nodded. Gareth climbed on top of the bed and hovered over Sean. Those violet eyes were filled with… love?
“Sean?”
