Unwilling Ch. 09

Jared took a deep breath and shook himself. He had known on some level what he must look like, but Darla had the eyes of a normal person, and for her to notice his eyes meant that everyone would. Not a good idea. Taking deep breaths, he tried to calm down his pulse, murmuring, "You do what Rayne does, or tells you to do. We don't want them to know that I'm the Alpha at this point, because they would just wait until I'm gone and grab Darwin again. That would be bad, because I'm going to be out all the time. Rayne on the other hand will be at home all day, and they won't get close to an Alpha. Understand?"

Harry looked over the back rest of his seat with a surprised expression. "That's brilliant! Where did you learn that?" he asked with admiring eyes. Rayne growled softly next to him, but he didn't react, and Jared didn't answer.

They got out of the car with Darla sticking close to Jared's side. The parking lot was nearly empty, now that the big supermarket had closed for the night, but a few cars here and there still waited patiently for their owners. It was enough of a hindrance to make looking for Darwin time-consuming and difficult. He could be anywhere, and Jared was getting restless as he walked away from the car.

"They wouldn't get close to an Alpha because he can make them do things, right?" Darla whispered, barely keeping up with the male's angry stride.

Jared wanted to snap at her, yell into her face that he didn't care about those things right now, but he couldn't. She was being helpful, hell, she even wanted to help the pack save one of their own, and he needed to do right by her if he couldn't un-wolf her. Taking a shallow, controlled breath, he nodded and whispered back, "that, and whoever that guy is, he is acting against the orders of his own Alpha, which means he won't get help from his own people if things turn sideways." A grim expression appeared on Jared's face as he followed Rayne and Harry, who was jogging circles to look for Darwin and that guy. "And boy, are things going to turn sideways if I get my hands on that hillbilly."

A call broke their hushed conversation.

"Over there," Harry hissed, trying to be quiet but failing. He was pointing over to a roofed shopping cart shelter to the back of the parking lot, then he started running with Rayne hot on his heels. Jared could only see two pairs of legs through the maze of cart wheels, but he trusted Harry to recognize his own friend.

"Remember, Rayne is the Alpha," he whispered to Darla and sprinted after the two. He had to rein himself in to stay behind Rayne. His first instinct was to charge and splatter whoever had dared to touch his mate against the cheap plexiglass wall, but that would mean war. War wasn't good business on their first day as guests.

What he saw when he finally reached the other side of the cart shelter left him feeling angry and amused in equal parts. The attacker actually looked like a hillbilly, unkempt and dressed cheaply in dirty clothes, and he had his hands on a very dapper, well-dressed Darwin, trying to pull him away from the shelter. Darwin, on the other hand, was having none of it. He had both arms clasped firmly around a steel crossbrace, spitting thick wads of saliva whenever the werewolf tried to come closer, resisting every attempt to peel away his arms from his safety spot. He already had a black eye and was standing crooked like something hurt in his back, but he wasn't going down easy.

The urge to break the guy in two bloody pieces was almost overwhelming, and he must have taken a step towards the two because suddenly Harry was there, grabbing Jared's hand like a frightened child. He didn't try to pull him back or stop him from moving, he didn't do anything else, but it was enough to calm Jared down. The touch reminded him that he was responsible for too many lives to risk them for jealousy now.

At the same time, Rayne stopped about five feet away from Darwin and his attacker. Darla was staying between Rayne and Jared, ready to pounce if the situation escalated any more. There was no need for introductions at this point. Any werewolf would have been able to hear them come closer, and at this short distance he probably smelled what they were too.

"Let him go," Rayne growled forcefully, bristling to the threat in his own words in a way Jared had not seen on him before.

The guy pushed Darwin against the side of the shelter with one hand at his neck, forcing him tightly against the cold metal he was hugging. Then he looked over his shoulder, taking in Rayne's dark-skinned, angry form, and grinned. His teeth were yellow and crooked, and a piece of one of the lower teeth was missing, but it still was a dangerous, derogatory expression. "Who allowed the Mussulman to talk, eh?" he goaded, giving Darwin's neck a good shove and smashing his forehead against the plexiglass in the process.

To anyone else it would probably have looked like blunt force, but Jared recognized the covert threat instantly. That werewolf was probably racist in some way, yes, but deep down he couldn't care less what color Rayne's skin was. It was just a test, a fight of wills, to find out what kind of flavor this new pack of guests really was. And probably a grab for power he couldn't get his hands on in his own pack. Jared wanted to step forward and take over from Rayne, fearing the dominant might misinterpret the situation and bring Darwin's life into danger, but Harry stopped him once more with a single twitch of his hand, reminding him of their plan.

Minute changes in Rayne's posture were enough to make his presence more imposing. He was positively dripping with menace and power, enough to give even Jared a pause. He had known from the beginning that Rayne wasn't a pushover, and definitely undeserving of his low rank in the last pack- or packs, if one was inclined to believe Rayne's stories-, but whatever tight grip Rayne was having on his own powers was now let loose. The result was breathtaking.

"I'm in no mood to play games with you. I've had a shitty week, and it will go on like that for the unforeseeable future," Rayne snarled with enough calm menace to peel off nail polish, "If you're looking for a fight you have found the right playground. But be aware that my people are itching to rip something apart, and we won't play fair."

Jared grinned like a hyena, and even Darla seemed to grasp the meaning of Rayne's words without further explanations. If the guy didn't let go of Darwin at once, they'd attack together and simultaneously. No duels, no going at it 'mano y mano', just good, honest violence. His teeth began to itch and pulse as his canines elongated and grew sharp tips, and this time, he did nothing to stop it.

A flash of uncertainty, doubt and worry went through the guy's face as he looked first at Rayne, then at Darla and finally at Jared, who was looming over everyone else not only in size and mass, but also in anger. He probably was trying to calculate his chances in a fight, and realizing it wasn't looking good.

His fingers around Darwin's neck twitched once, twice, then let go. Darwin instantly pushed away from the cart shelter and stumbled towards Rayne. Red imprints stood out starkly against his pale skin where he had been grabbed. The way he hunched over told Jared a story of other, hidden injuries, and the thought sent a jolt of rage through his body, making him almost lose control over his shape.

This time, not even Harry's warning tug could stop him from rushing forward, but he didn't go very far. As soon as he reached Darwin, he wrapped an arm around him and pulled him further back, pushing him behind his back to block the line of sight. Jared knew his face was on the way to grow fur, but he didn't care. Now that Darwin was safe, the panic deep in his chest settled and left all the space to rage, the need to rip the stranger into tiny, bloody shreds. 'One wrong move, just one, please,' his mind begged as he instinctively flexed his muscles, ready to pounce. Only Rayne and the necessity to keep their charade going held him in place, but only just.

If he knew what was going on behind him, Rayne didn't show it. "Good choice," he grunted, still keeping his presence on a level of lighthouse-like strength, "Now scatter. If I ever see you again, I'll let my pack rip your legs off."

There was a glimmer of hatred in the eyes of the unkempt werewolf as he turned around and ran, obviously unhappy about the way things had turned out. His last glance met Jared's, who was still hiding Darwin behind his imposing form, and he smiled at the retreating man. It was a nasty, vengeful smile, a promise what would happen if he saw him again.

"He's gonna try again," said Darla, sounding as ill-humored as Jared felt.

Rayne nodded. "Yeah, he will. God help him, but he will."

His dark gaze scraped over Jared's tense chest, then he turned away. "Let's go home. Someone please hide our Alpha's face until we're clear of human settlements."

~*Darwin*~

Everything hurt, but nothing was broken.

It was a sobering conclusion, but better than the alternative. Darwin had never been so happy to hear Rayne's voice, and now, sitting in the car and huddled against Jared's body, his smell filling the air and his arm continuously stroking his flank, Darwin felt relief and happiness in equal parts. His stupid, idiotically heroic plan had worked, and he would- against all odds, at that- live to see another day.

Surprisingly, even Darla had come to save him, and was now chatting animatedly with Rayne, who once again had taken it onto himself to chauffeur them around. Harry tried to fuss over Darwin's scrapes and bruises, but every time he touched Darwin, Jared made a deep, rumbling growl and pulled him away from the searching hands. He probably would have done the fussing part himself if they had been alone, but right now he couldn't, so nobody else was allowed to.

The strange smell of his would-be-kidnapper clung to Darwin's clothes like a bad afterthought. He wanted to shower and burn his clothes, but he'd have to settle for simply washing them. As for the shower, the way Jared was acting promised no chance to do that anytime soon. Not before he had made sure his mate was alright and everything in order.

Darwin could imagine how Jared would do that. Moreover, he was having a hard time not imagining it vividly, and hard-pressed to hide the bulge in his crotch at the same time.

When the car stopped, everyone got out quickly, relieved by the prospect of being 'home', of getting back inside the one safe haven they had. Everyone, but Darwin and Jared. Rayne threw a last glance back at them, grinned, and shooed both Darla and Harry inside to give them privacy.

As soon as Jared had the chance, he grabbed Darwin tightly and pressed him against his body from crotch to forehead. Possessive, powerful arms wrapped around Darwin's battered body, feeling and touching everywhere, and with each hiss and grunt of pain Jared growled softly. Darwin knew that Jared didn't hurt him on purpose, and the close contact and the scent of Jared's anger and jealousy flooded his mind with endorphins and shuddering lust that lessened the pain considerably. He could feel Jared's big, sun kissed hands reach the hemline of Darwin's sweater, then they disappeared beneath the cloth and stroked over his back. They felt incredibly hot against Darwin's cold skin, and the intensity made him gasp softly.

"Off," Jared grunted, pulling Darwin's sweater up with a swift motion. "It stinks of that asshole."

Although the air was nippy enough to harden his nipples with the first gust of wind that brushed his chest, Darwin complied happily. A strange, content feeling flooded his nervous system, fueling his need to feel Jared, his mate, against his naked body as quickly as possible. The sweater landed somewhere close to the front tire of the car, forgotten by both of them.

Breathing in sharply, Jared pushed him back against the side of the car, leaning him against the cold metal and inspecting his chest with quickening pulse. His eyes and fingers followed the few darkening patches of skin where Darwin had been hit, and the soft touches elicited a soft moan from his lips.

When Jared grabbed the waistband of his pants to open it, Darwin buried both hands in his blond hair. "Someone will see us," he gasped, making no attempt to stop Jared as he pulled off the pants, growling under his breath. Empty words, filled with the hope they would be ignored.

"They'll learn to cope," Jared replied, sinking to his knees in a quick motion. His lips touched the upper edge of Darwin's pubes and he licked a long, hot and cold line towards his chest. Darwin could hear the succinct clinking of a belt buckle, knowing full well that Jared was opening his own pants. His cock wept furiously with pleasure at the thought of having sex right there, against a car worth more than his college education, but his mind was still faintly concerned with the idea of dignity. It felt wrong not to at least protest, even if he didn't want him to stop.

"But,..." he protested weakly, tugging at the thick, sandy strands, holding his breath as Jared grabbed his thighs to mount them over the crooks of his arms.

"If you want me to stop, just tell me," Jared whispered with a strained, shivering voice, and stepped close enough to rest Darwin's ass on his throbbing cock. The hard, pulsing rod felt giant and hot like molten lava against his cool skin.

Darwin wanted to tell him no, his modesty screaming at him, but it only made his own cock twitch harder. The lube he had bought- much to Harry's giggling delight- was inside in one of the shopping bags, and there was no time to go get it. Instead of stopping Jared, Darwin spat into his palm, grabbed Jared's cock and did his best to offer at least a little bit of lubrication. They wouldn't last long anyhow, already on edge as they both were. Jared shivered violently beneath the hasty, demanding ministrations, growling with eagerness.

When Darwin was done, he took a sharp breath, leaned forward and hissed into Jared's ear, "Fuck me."

It was all the invitation Jared needed.

With a pained groan from both of them, he sunk deep into Darwin's quivering hole, tightening his grip on his legs, pushing him firmly against the car. Jared twitched with need, his breath hitching as he tried to get a grip on himself. The burning pain was sharp and short-lived, enough to make Darwin tighten up and squirm until it faded.

"I won't last," Darwin groaned, and Jared leaned forward to capture his lips and silence the wanton sounds coming from them. It was a good thing, too, because when Jared started moving, only his fierce kiss muffled the lustful scream boiling up from Darwin's chest.

'Making love' would have been an insulting term for their wild, quick copulation. Jared thrust hard and quick, his hands keeping Darwin from sliding or falling down as their unrestrained movement rocked the big car on its suspension. With every thrust and push, Darwin could feel the raw power in Jared's body, feel the fear for his well-being and the relief of having him back rush through the Alpha's tense muscles, and when Jared finally came after just a few minutes of fucking his mate to high heavens, they nearly tumbled to the ground with the sudden relaxation of both their bodies.

Somehow, Jared managed to slide them down to the ground in a more controlled fashion, but none of them had any interest in moving yet. Darwin hadn't come, but he didn't care. Jared's scent and the distinct smell of his come flooded his mind and left him at utter peace, content with their reunion in a way he hadn't expected. His mate had re-claimed him, marked him with his scent, and they were home again, safe.

'Home.'