Two Howls Read online

  Max nodded, crawling off, going for his clothes.

  Ulf stopped Max, grabbing his hand and pulling him back in close. “This is my territory, there are no others, no pack. Just us.”

  “You…” He could see Max drawing himself up, trying to wrest control from Ulf.

  “Yes. My territory.” He put both of Max’s wrists in one hand and slammed their bodies together.

  “No…” Max’s lips parted and those bright eyes rolled.

  “Yes. Mine.” He ran his hand along Max’s spine, showing he meant all of Max. Ulf knew his place here, and he would teach Max his. “I make my own rules here. No one hurts for being different.” And whether there was only himself, or him and Max or thirty, no one would.

  Not that he would ever be leader of a pack of thirty. He was quite happy here on his own. Maybe happier now that Max had been brought to him, but he had no intension of overseeing a large pack. None whatsoever.

  Max’s cock was needy, filling and growing heavier by the minute. Ulf circled it with his hand, fingers squeezing. Hot and velvety against his palm, Max was a good size, not too long, but thick. A very happy handful.

  “Mine. My rules. My pup.”

  “Not a pup.”

  Ulf chuckled, the sound rough, unused. “You are mine.”

  Max shook his head, but the needy cock in Ulf’s fingers didn’t lie. He rubbed his thumb back and forth across the top, spreading the single drop of pre-come that had beaded at the slit.

  “Such a needy pup.” Ulf would have never thought he wanted someone so needy, but Max felt so right. His hand continued to move along Max’s cock. The things he wanted to do to this pup…

  “N…not a pup.”

  “Are too. My pup. Mine. Every inch. Gonna show you.”

  Max buzzed against him, the energy electric. Growling loudly, Ulf took a kiss, his hand working that pretty prick. Max whimpered, the sound a mixture of need and denial.

  The pup could deny it all he wanted, this was real. This was instinct. This was true.

  Ulf kept stroking, determined to make Max come. To rub the scent of his pup’s seed into his skin.

  “I can’t do this,” Max cried.

  Ulf thought Max could. “You’re doing it, pup. You’re doing it right now.” He rubbed his thumb across the tip again, then pressed against it.

  The sting made Max gasp, groan. So Ulf did it again.

  “Uhn.” Max jerked, expression shocked.

  “Sweet pup.” Grinning, he rubbed that little cockhead, threatening with his thumb. Max shook his head, and licked his lips, over and over.

  With his other hand, Ulf rolled Max’s balls. Seed poured over his fingers, hot and wet, the scent heady as hell. Groaning, he spread the come between them, smoothing some into his own belly, and then Max’s.

  Max swayed, knees almost buckling. His arm went around the lovely body and he pulled Max up to him. “I have you.”

  “I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t just… I don’t do this.”

  “You just did, Max. You spilled all over our bodies.”

  Those lean cheeks went a deep, dark red.

  “It was good. And now it’s my turn.”

  He got a wide-eyed look, a mixture of desire and fear.

  “You got to come,” Ulf pointed out.

  “You made me!”

  “I did.” He laughed. “Now you make me.”

  “You won’t tell on me?”

  “I’m not telling anyone, pup. It’s no one else’s business.”

  “Just once and then I have to go.” Max reached for him, fingers trembling.

  “We’ll see about that. But yes, you should return the favor. It’s my due….”

  “Your due?” Max’s touch made his eyes cross, calluses dragging on his skin.

  “As Alpha.” His words were hardly more than growls.

  “I don’t have an Alpha.”

  “You didn’t have an Alpha.” Who had hurt his pup so badly that he felt so alone?

  “That’s what I said.”

  Max clearly wasn’t getting his meaning. “You do have an Alpha now.”

  “Shh.” Max stroked him, base to tip, just once.

  “Did you just shush me?” He didn’t know if he was amused or angry. Possibly just shocked.

  “Uh-huh.” Max gave his cock another stroke.

  “No shushing.” The stroking, however, could continue.

  “Mmm.” Two more touches, slow, easy, rolled over his hot flesh.

  “Drawing it out. I like that.” Ulf thought Max was doing a fine job for someone so clearly untutored.

  “Uh-huh. Shh.”

  “You keep shushing me and I’m going to have to start spanking you.” He would too.

  “No way.” Max kept touching, over and over, the strokes getting stronger.

  “You don’t believe me? Shush me again. Go ahead. See what happens.”

  Max stared at him, fingers working his prick. He smiled, hips pushing, encouraging the touches. He knew that Max was intending to leave, to run, but he also felt the connection between them, the heat. And just because the pup ran, didn’t mean Ulf couldn’t give chase.

  “More,” he told Max, arching into the touches.

  Max grabbed hold with his other hand, stroking Ulf’s prick steadily. Yeah, that was better. Ulf leaned in, pressing their lips together. Opening Max’s lips with his tongue, he breathed into his pup.

  The hands around him squeezed, gripped him tight. Flicking his tongue into Max’s mouth, he began fucking it, taking it like it was his. Because it was. Max began stroking him in time, jacking him with a fury. He tongue-fucked Max’s mouth faster, moaning as those hands kept pace.

  It wouldn’t be long now. His first orgasm with his pup. Marking his mate with his seed. Oh, that thought burned him to the ground.

  He cried out, come spraying from him. Max moaned, and didn’t jerk away like he was creeped out. Perfect.

  Ulf rubbed his come into Max’s belly, making Max smell like him. There. Joined. Marked.

  “Mine.” The world growled out of him and he met Max’s gaze.

  Max’s pupils dilated, huge and black and eating up the irises. Ulf didn’t back down for a second, continuing to stare, repeating the word in his head again and again.

  He’d never expected to have a mate of his own. He was holding on to this one.

  Chapter Three

  The world was deeply fucked up. Deeply. Max was naked and smelling of sex, his whole universe on sideways. It was beginning to snow too. He needed to get on the road, get moving. Get out of here. The sky was steely grey, the clouds heavy and ominous, and he knew he was going to have to make a move soon or he’d lose his window.

  The big body spooned up around him, one arm wrapped around his waist, said that that might be easier said than done. A low snore sounded, Ulf’s breath hot on his skin.

  Max shivered, and he rolled carefully, body sliding on the blankets. A groan followed his movements, then Ulf began snoring again. He grinned at the sound of Ulf’s snores, low like a chainsaw. It was comforting.

  It also made him a little jealous. Ulf sounded like he slept as if nothing could ever get him.

  Max knew better. There were all sorts of hunters out there. All forms. Human, lupine, they were lurking everywhere. He shuddered, suddenly goosepimply with cold. Okay, time to go.

  Ulf tugged him back into the warm body again, fingers petting his skin.

  “I have to go, man. I’m on the run.” He couldn’t stay.

  “No, you’re staying. Mine.”

  “I have to. What if someone finds me?” They wanted to keep him beat down, not let him run away and find a life.

  “Who’s going to find you up here?”

  Max shrugged. There were hunters in a hundred forms.

  “Who’s going to protect you here?” Ulf asked next, hand hard on his hip.

  “What?”

  “I asked who would protect you here? The answer is me. I was trying to make a p
oint.”

  “The snow is coming.” And it was warm in here.

  “It is. It’s a sign. You’re supposed to stay.” There was a very stubborn note in Ulf’s voice.

  “I don’t know where I am.” This whole thing felt very ordained and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

  “What do you mean you don’t know where you are—you drove yourself here, didn’t you?”

  He nodded, more than a little embarrassed. He’d been running, exhausted, more than a little out of his mind.

  The hold on his hip tightened. “What did you mean?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

  “We’re north. A lot north. Trouble tends not to come this way and when it does, I take care of it. This is my territory.”

  Max nodded. He got it. This wasn’t his place.

  “And you’re mine. So anyone who comes here will be driven off. And if they’re here for you, that goes double.” Ulf growled menacingly.

  “Yours? We’ve known each other an hour.”

  “You don’t feel it?”

  Max shook his head, but he couldn’t meet Ulf’s eyes because he heard something—a deep song that seemed to ring through him.

  “Liar.” Ulf didn’t seem upset about it.

  Max’s cheeks went red-hot, fiery.

  Ulf tugged him close again, nose sliding along his neck, over his shoulder. “You smell so good.”

  “I haven’t… I don’t know how to…”

  “You going to finish one of those sentences for me?”

  “No.” No, he was going to run away. He was very good at that.

  Ulf snorted. “Well, at least that was honest.”

  Max sighed softly, not sure what the fuck he was supposed to do. Ulf it seemed, knew, sliding his nose along Max’s neck, mouth on his skin.

  Oh. Oh, fuck.

  Max’s balls tightened, the sensation so much more erotic than his own hand on his prick.

  Ulf’s breath tickled his skin, then it was Ulf’s hot, wet tongue. Someone was making a wild keening noise, someone was crying out. Max was pretty sure it wasn’t Ulf.

  Teeth followed Ulf’s tongue, scraping along his neck. His hips snapped, his body suddenly burning, aching. Needing. Ulf’s body met his, hot cock rubbing against his ass.

  Oh, no. No. He couldn’t. That was too much. Too far.

  Then Ulf rocked against him again. More bites and licks covered his throat, threatening to drive him crazy. The hand on his hip slid forward to stroke his belly. His toes curled, the pressure in his center growing, tensing his abs.

  “Mmm. I can smell your need, Max.”

  “I’m sorry.” See? This was what happened.

  That had Ulf chuckling. “Don’t apologize, pup. I like it. I want it. You don’t have to worry about those fucking assholes who think it’s a mistake here.”

  Max touched one of his scars. They thought it was more than a mistake.

  Growling, Ulf followed his fingers. “Who did this to you?”

  “The pack.” There’d been a cleansing, violent and sudden.

  “They’ll never hurt you again,” Ulf promised, hand stretching to touch all of his belly.

  “I can hand…” Oh, fuck, that felt good. “…handle myself.”

  “But you don’t have to.”

  Ulf’s hand slid lower, wrapping around his cock.

  That’s not what Max had meant. Not at all.

  Ulf tugged at his cock, palm sliding along it.

  His eyes crossed and he shook his head. “Can’t possibly go again.”

  “Oh, you’ve had time to rest. I’m sure you can.”

  Max shook his head and Ulf chuckled. “If you do, you’ll stay another day.”

  Well, he couldn’t, so that was a safe deal.

  Ulf chuckled knowingly.

  That put Max’s back up. “Fine. It’s a bet.”

  “That I’m going to win.” Ulf stroked him slowly.

  “No. I’m done. Tired. Worn out.”

  “With your mate.”

  Max snorted. Males couldn’t mate. Everyone knew that.

  Nobody seemed to have told Ulf, however. He was still working Max’s cock, fingers wrapped tightly around him. The man just didn’t seem to understand the dangers of doing this.

  Kisses pressed across Max’s neck—warm, soft, good. That wasn’t fair. The skin there was super sensitive and Max couldn’t decide whether to offer more or growl and pull away.

  Then Ulf’s teeth threatened. Max’s growl was immediate. Ulf bit down in response, teeth sharp, but not breaking the skin. Max stilled, his brain racing, trapped between defense and intense arousal.

  Groaning, Ulf moved his mouth a little bit and took another bite. Max shook his head, his hips moving into Ulf’s touch.

  “Yes.” Ulf rocked against him, cock hot as a brand.

  “Please. I don’t understand. I’ve tried to be a good wolf.”

  Ulf stilled. “We’re together. You’re my mate.”

  “Two males can’t. That isn’t allowed.”

  “We can and it’s allowed here.”

  His eyes rolled and Max panicked, the mixture of touch and need and the change too much, and he ran. He threw the door open, the ground frigid beneath his feet. He needed to shift or he’d freeze.

  He stumbled and rolled, then came up fuzzy, still running in a pure panic, not even sure what he was racing from.

  There was a howl behind him and the sound of huge paws on the ground. He ran faster, then faster still. Please. Please. Please.

  For a while he thought he’d lost Ulf. Then he realized he was being slowly herded back toward the cabin. The big male didn’t growl, in fact the song was more insistent. Solid. Peaceful. Like his capture was inevitable. Like the best thing, the easiest thing to do was give in.

  Suddenly the wolf was beside Max, nudging him more firmly. He whined softly, sharing his confusion, his worry. Ulf rubbed against him, muzzle against his. The scent of Ulf’s breath was a comfort, warm and right and they kept moving, Ulf rubbing and licking.

  His legs were trembling when they entered the cabin and the bedding was so soft, calling to his aching body.

  Ulf pushed him into the nest of covers and pillows and began licking him, starting with his nose.

  Max moaned softly, rumbling his thanks. The licking continued, Ulf seeming determined to get all of him. Finally Max turned over, exposed his belly. Ulf licked it as well and Max didn’t feel vulnerable when it happened, he felt… protected.

  Max smelled like Ulf now. Ulf nuzzled in, groaning over Max’s belly. He grew warm from the nuzzling and licking, the soft, pleased sounds. His body melted, and he let go, let Ulf hear his peace.

  Ulf moved on to his paws, cleaning and warming them.

  Such care. He’d never had anyone love on him like that before.

  Slowly, he began to nuzzle and lick, play back. Ulf chuffed, biting at his muzzle. Max groomed Ulf’s whiskers, carefully smoothing them. Ulf let him, eyes dropping closed as he enjoyed Max’s ministrations.

  Together they began to breathe, to sing together. He’d seen others do this, heard them, but he knew it wasn’t for him. His kind didn’t get this.

  Ulf growled softly, nipping his ear. It was as clear as if Ulf has spoken. Pay attention.

  Max blinked, head tilting.

  Ulf’s pleasure was clear, and Max’s ears were cleaned next. That was ticklish, squirmy. He wriggled around, flailing some. Chuffing, Ulf put a solid paw on his head and kept going. He chewed one of his paws, to distract himself from the maddening tickle.

  He could taste Ulf there, on his paw, smell the big wolf on him. It soothed him to the bone, and he felt wrapped in it.

  When Ulf was done, he lay close, vocalizing softly, trills and little growls that spoke of pleasure. Max’s bones felt heavy, and he grunted a bit as he settled. With Ulf’s scent on him and the wolf’s muzzle resting against his, it felt like he belonged. It felt a lot like home.

  He didn’t want to think li
ke that, though. That was dangerous. Still, Ulf made it tempting. Ulf made it hard to ignore.

  ***

  Pleasure clearly made Max nervous, so when he woke again, Ulf bounded up. It was time to go hunt. They were both hungry and there would be plenty of rabbits waiting to be found. And it would be something they could do together, that Max should feel safe doing.

  Max rolled up, shook himself hard.

  Come on! Come on! The snows were coming! They had to go hunt!

  Ulf barked happily when Max followed him out and they headed north together, noses to the ground, searching for prey. He couldn’t wait to see how Max hunted, how they would work together.

  His mate had an amazing nose, following one trail after another. He let Max take the lead, find them their prey. It would help Max feel like this was home.

  Max slowed, nose working hard. Then he stilled for a heartbeat before leaping into a bush. Ulf was ready, cutting around the bush to pick up the rabbit’s trail as it shot out of the bush with Max hot on its tail. Oh! Oh, there were two of them, fat and juicy and ready for winter.

  Ulf and Max turned right, running together as they chased down the rabbits. Ulf made sure that Max pounced and caught one before he bounded and took down the second. He shook it, killed it and then ripped it open, blood hot and wet on his muzzle.

  It was so good. He licked his muzzle, looking to make sure Max had successfully taken down his own meal.

  Max brought the heart to him, nosed it over. So polite. Such a good pup. Ulf touched his nose to Max’s, then ate the heart up, barked once in thanks before tearing into his rabbit.

  Max ate quickly, snapping up the food before burying the carcass and heading off to explore.

  The pup had good manners, Ulf would give him that. It made him angry, that Max had been ostracized, hurt because he wanted to mate with a male instead of a female. It wasn’t like most packs could support too many fertile couples anyway, not these days.

  Putting it behind him, he went after Max, proud to show off his territory. Max proved to be curious, and quick, if a little distractible. Every now and then Ulf would pounce the pretty tail and nip at Max’s muzzle, play. So good-natured in his true form, Max never growled or grumbled. He was eager to play, to dance and run in circles to tempt Ulf with his joy.