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Outbreak	By : Need2ScreamNow Category: Singers/Bands/Musicians > Avenged Sevenfold Views: 1987 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't know the boys in A7x, I'm not making any money and this is all fiction.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Jimmy sat on the back steps looking up at the sky; Johnny had left his side for the first time in a week to help Zack make some kind of bread for dinner. Jimmy was still under strict orders to rest and he was absolutely sold on the idea of lying around all day with his mate pressed against him. A sweet breeze blew through the yard and Jimmy closed his eyes taking in the scent, on the wind was another familiar scent. “All taken care of?” he asked Brian as the wolf sat down next to him. An irritated growl was his only response and Jimmy opened his eyes, a smile tugging his lips. “It’s done now and unless you throw another fit you’ll never have to drywall again.”
Brian made another irritated sound. “Where’s your shadow?” he grumbled. Jimmy looked over his shoulder where Johnny and Zack were flicking dough at each other.
“Playing with dinner,” he yawned. Brian looked too and after a moment snorted but his sour mood had improved. “Brian,” Jimmy asked losing his humor, the black wolf canted his head but gave no other indication he was listening. “What happened to me?” Jimmy tried to hide the tremor in his voice but Brian’s practiced ears would hear it.
Brian looked at Jimmy, the full effects of his dark brown stare going straight through him. “You contracted rabies,” the black wolf said after a long silent moment. Jimmy stared at him not breathing. Brian had always had a darker sense of humor but nothing about that was even a little funny.
“Brian,” he hissed too angry and frightened for any other words. The black wolf’s gaze didn’t waver.
“You contracted rabies,” he said again slower, every word deliberate.
Jimmy’s chest constricted. “No,” he whispered trying to breathe. He hadn’t gotten into any fights, by the gods, he was well past old enough to know when to run when he smelled sickness.
“Do you remember how it happened?” Brian asked softly.
Jimmy stared at the ground. He hadn’t smelled sickness, he would have told Matt immediately if he had. “How long ago?” His hoarse voice wavered. He couldn’t remember being sick. He could remember vague pain, a headache that wouldn’t end and aches in every bone and muscle but he couldn’t remember much else.
Brian drummed his fingers on the boards once and said, “Symptoms fully manifested two weeks ago, so you probably got into it about a month ago.”
He couldn’t have gotten rabies, he would be dead…unless they had taken him to The Doctor, then he would be alive, but…No Tau would not have let him out of his sight until he woke up.
“We didn’t tell anyone. You were too far gone to be saved,” Brian said quietly. Jimmy’s empty stomach twisted inside out and bile rose in his throat, he shook his head again still not able to breathe. He tried to remember, something, anything to call Brian on his lie but his memories were fuzzy, hazed with fever and pain and completely worthless. A warm arm circled his shoulders and Brian’s scent was stronger, he pressed his nose against the black wolf’s shoulder inhaling his familiar scent trying to ground himself again.
“We need to know, James. If a sick wolf has made it all the way from Arizona to California all the alphas of North America need to have a serious discussion.” Brian’s voice was a little distant and when Jimmy looked up he was staring into the distance.
Jimmy swallowed and balled his hands to keep his shaking under control. Brian was right, he needed to remember how he’d gotten sick. The 1267 outbreak had been horrific, but easily enough contained once the infected area was quarantined. An on that scale in the present day could spread from North America to the deserts of Egypt in a day. “Arizona?”
Brian nodded with a deep sigh. “Matt spoke with Magnus just before we found out you were ill. Arizona is having a hell of a time and no one can get enough answers to figure out where the epicenter is or how it started or how far it’s gone through the state. A couple of the packs have been completely wiped out and Phoenix, if there are any left, has lost its alpha and two or three others.”
He mulled over that. He and Johnny hadn’t been to Arizona since their last tour. He had a better understanding now of why Brian and Matt were so distressed though. A rabid wolf covering that much territory could have infected any number of wolves between its home pack and the coast. “Park,” he said jerking his head up. “A month ago, Johnny and I went to Jacob’s National Park. But I don’t…” What had he gotten into that Johnny hadn’t? If any animal had been rabid his small mate would have been the one most likely to stumble across it. “Fuck,” he muttered rubbing his temples. He reached for his wolf’s memories of the trip. Sights, sounds, and smells rippled through his mind like a flip book but everything lined up with his human memories.
Except for one.
He’d been looking for Johnny, poking around in rock falls. Apprehension coated the wolf’s memory. Around one of the rocks the smell of fresh death wafted. A deer with its haunch torn up, a messy kill he had guessed was from an inexperienced coyote or wild dog. The heavy smell of infection permeated the air but the flies hadn’t gotten too deep into it. “There was a deer carcass,” he whispered. “I had no idea where Johnny had wandered off and I was hungry so I grabbed a bite.” He swore, heart pounding in his chest he looked the memory over again and again. The wolf had been a little resistant, but whatever sickness smell the animal carried had been diluted enough by then no red flags came up.
“Carcass,” Brian said, cupping his chin, still staring into the middle distance. “It wasn’t a direct infection then. The disease was in it, but with it already dead…”
“I didn’t eat much,” Jimmy whispered, hugging himself. “Johnny called and I went to him.” A hard shudder racked his thin body. Had the kill been fresher and Johnny not so worn from his day of romping in the desert he would have suggested they eat their fill.
“You’re fine, Jimmy, you made it through,” Brian murmured. Jimmy lifted his head and looked over his shoulder where Johnny was scowling at Zack oblivious to him and Brian on the porch.
“Johnny, his arm,” he couldn’t finish the thought. Had he hurt his mate? Had he hurt his Jonathon, he would cut out his heart if he had. His mouth dried and the threat of throwing up turned into a promise.
Brian’s arm tightened and he added the other. “Johnny is in perfect health, you scared him, you scared all of us, but he’s fine,” he whispered, his voice the same soothing tones he had used centuries before as they made love.
Jimmy’s lungs started working again and he sucked in a jagged breath. “His arm,” he whimpered, the scar made by teeth and the neat stitches holding everything together. Brian’s nose ran across his temple and down his jaw.
“He’s fine. You didn’t hurt him, he caught it on something when he ran away,” his soft voice crooned. Jimmy’s body shook in Brian’s warm embrace, he wanted to believe him, desperately wanted to believe him, but there stayed a reservation that Brian was telling him only what he wanted to hear.
“Jimmy, what’s wrong?” Johnny almost pounced on him and Brian’s scent withdrew as his mate nuzzled him, his fear mingling with Jimmy’s. Jimmy’s hand slid up his arm to the scar, the ragged bite scar on his arm. Tears stung his eyes and he didn’t try to blink them back, he had hurt him, he’d gone after his mate and hurt him. Johnny curled against him his calloused thumbs brushing away stray tears, “I love you, Jimmy,” he murmured, his brown eyes were the color of honey and full of love, no fear or pain. Their foreheads bumped together and Johnny didn’t break eye contact. “I’m all right,” he whispered, a hand rough from work as a mortal and now bass playing stroked down the side of his neck. “You didn’t hurt me.” His eyes didn’t waver and Jimmy’s heartbeat started to slow, his breath came easier and he closed his eyes. Johnny’s lips pressed against the tender spot under his ear. “You would never hurt me,” he breathed. Jimmy pulled him tight against his chest, he would believe his mate. Even if he knew it was a lie.
*~*~*
Zack watched Jimmy cling to Johnny, the gray wolf was paler than ice and still shaking but whatever Johnny had whispered to him was calming him. Brian stood up moving slow so he wouldn’t startle the pair and tugged Zack inside. Zack followed him but continued looking over his shoulder. “What happened?” He had never seen Jimmy that upset before.
Brian kissed his forehead. “He knows a bite scar when he sees one,” he whispered.
“What did you tell him?” Matt asked coming up behind the black wolf hair still damp from his shower.
Brian shrugged. “That Johnny caught it on something while escaping,” he watched the lanky wolf and shook his head. “Which he doesn’t believe.”
“It would have killed him to hear the truth, even if he knows you were lying,” Matt said softly.
“Carcass,” Brian said without preamble. Zack gave him a blank look but Matt’s confusion cleared in seconds. “He and Johnny went to a state park. He found a deer carcass.”
“There still might be sickness in California,” Matt murmured staring at the wall. “But at least we know he didn’t come into direct contact.”
“I think how he got the infection has shaken him just as much as Johnny’s arm,” Brian said softly watching Jimmy press his ear against his mate’s chest.
Zack leaned against Brian and nuzzled his neck. “Johnny knows how to calm him,” he murmured. Jimmy was still weak and thin but his wiry strength was already starting to show in the ropey tendons taut under his skin as he squeezed his mate close.
Brian glanced at the setting sun; he was hoping Terasi could make it to the beach. They’d started impromptu swim lessons when the water was calm. She wouldn’t be a swimmer like Johnny and Zack, but she could paddle for a few minutes before her heavy body started to pull her down.
*~*~*~*
Terasi became human as Brian approached. “Sorry I’m late.” He said pulling leaves from his hair. With Jimmy well again he had felt a little less guilty for leaving the pack but his need to see Terasi was visceral. She stepped away from the light froth of the waves and walked over to him a gentle sway to her hips. Brian clamped down on his wolf and human arousal and racked his brain for something intelligent to say.
Terasi smiled at him. “It’s all right, I haven’t been here long.” her quicksilver eyes glowed in the moonlight. Light fingers ran down the side of his face as she pulled more bits of leaf from his hair. His skin tingled where she touched and he breathed in her sweet scent.
“How…how was your day?” he breathed, his human lust was becoming unruly. She stepped away with a sigh and shook her head.
“My parents are still working out their deal with that Bryce wolf, I’ve come to hate him more than Hunters.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Brian started to breathe again free of her scent and head now a bit clearer.
            Brian’s stomach grumbled, nothing a human would hear, but Terasi’s acute hearing would pick up on it. A light blush colored his cheeks. “Sorry, we had an early dinner.”
Terasi smiled at him holding back a laugh. “I’ve been trying not to think about food.”
            “Would you like to hunt? It would be a waste to bring down big game but there are plenty of rabbits and voles.” This was his preferred game. Wolfish pride rose in him, he was the best at catching small game. Not even quick little Zack could catch a rabbit as fast as him.
Terasi looked to the woods uncertainly, now the blush was on her cheeks. “I’ve never actually hunted,” she said softly. Brian cocked his head to the side not able to catch the surprised look before she saw it. She toed the sand tracing small squares. “My parents would prefer I be like one of those pampered princesses. They’ve never taken me on a hunt.” Water, Brian could understand alphas keeping pups away from, but hunting?
            “Then I’ll have to teach you,” Brian said just as soft. He wrestled back the hundreds of questions buzzing through his head and shifted to his wolf form to make sure he kept his mouth shut. What pack didn’t teach its young to hunt? Maybe it was the ancient knowledge in him, but a wolf that didn’t know how to hunt was…helpless and useless. Why would her parents put her in such a submissive role? Shaking out his coat to stop the questions, he woofed once asking Terasi if she would join him.
            “You can really teach me?” she whispered. “I’m not too old?” Brian snorted and trotted into the low bush line with head and tail high. Terasi laughed and a moment later her misty wolf form raced up to his side prancing with excitement. It was like teaching Zack all over again.
Only a few hours before sunrise they returned to the beach; Terasi still buzzing with excitement and joy and Brian trotting happily by her side. Despite Terasi’s fear, her wolf instincts had been sharp as any others and with instruction she had managed to pounce on a rabbit. A rabbit that may or may not have suffered a leg injury a moment before the young wolf spotted it.
Brian trotted into the waves and dunked his head a couple times to wash off the remaining blood. Terasi stayed closer to the shore and shifted to human but she still went in up to her knees. “My mother told me wolves can’t swim,” she said when Brian shifted back to human as well. She walked a little deeper, not mid-thigh like Brian, but for her it was like diving into the deep end.
He shrugged. “Most can’t, our bodies are too dense to float, but there are some who can.” He walked closer to shore so they could talk more comfortably, “I can only swim short distances.” Looking out across the water it was impossible to tell where sky ended and water began. “There are two wolves in my pack that can swim without a problem. They love the water.” When he looked back at her Terasi straightened her spine and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
“I wish I could have met you years ago,” she whispered. “And I wish I didn’t have my parents and this Bryce boxing me in, he doesn’t care at all about me. He just wants territory, just like my mother.” Her cheek brushed his and Brian pulled her against him. “Since I can remember my mother has told me the wolf I would be mated to would be this strong, almost mythical, creature; the Prince Charming of our kind.” She shook her head. “That isn’t Bryce. He’s a creepy ass. I want someone like you.”
Brian blinked when he heard her whispered words. Someone like him? He had been called many things over his too-long life, but Ideal Mate and Prince Charming had never been among them. Hugging her closer he relaxed against her like he had once done with Jimmy and Matt. “I wish I could have met you a thousand years ago.” He didn’t mean for the words to sound so weary but the age came through. Terasi blinked and turned her head but didn’t pull away.
“A thousand?” she whispered. “That’s not an exaggeration? You’re really…you’ve seen a thousand years?” He felt her shiver and kissed her shoulder, breathing in her scent. He kissed her shoulder again and then the soft curve of her neck. She turned her head and pecked his lips. He caught her shoulders before she could pull away and pressed their lips together again, this time slipping his tongue into her mouth and tasting her cinnamon flavor. Tongues slipped like satin across each other, Brian’s fingers traced the contour of her shoulders down her breasts and to her hips as his tongue memorized her mouth. He pulled away again panting, taking in her scent, filling his lungs letting her clean smell over take and drown him. A soft hand slid up his cock, squeezed his thick shaft, before repeating the motion. He let his head fall back as pleasure cascaded through his body. He rolled his head forward again and caught her mouth in another deep kiss, his moan vibrated through her mouth as her pace increased.
He came, spurting between their bodies, head thrown back in choked ecstasy. He came until it seemed his insides had drained and then sank to the sand with breath ripping in and out of him. Terasi sat in front of him and trailed her tongue across his bottom lip before slipping it into his mouth. Arousal hit him again and he surged forward pressing her back into the sand, one had cupped a breast gently rubbing, feeling its weight, while another slid down her belly and into the junction between her legs. Feeling her warm body slicked just for him his hips pushed against her. Their kiss broke when her body arched against his, pressing his fingers deeper, she cried out for him. The urge to take her, mark her as his own was almost overwhelming, the need to have his cock buried in the heat surrounding his fingers made his thoughts fuzzy. A finger stroked her clit and she arched against him again, fingers dragging down his back. His hand left her breast and instead wrapped around his cock again, his hips moved with greater urgency in and out of his hand. His fingers teased her entrance; pushing and stroking but never entering.
Forcing his hand off his cock he planted it in the sand next to her hip and dropped his head to her chest tracing a dark nipple with his tongue. Her hands tangled in his hair and pulled him down to her skin where he suckled and moaned. His fingers soaked with her wetness rubbed her harder. He lifted his head cursing, their hips so close, and his cock rigid and throbbing to be inside her. All it would take is one thrust, she would feel the pain for only a second but he would make her forget it, make her sing for him. He pulled his fingers out with another curse and slid further down her body, his hand wrapped around his cock again.
Her taste hit his tongue like nutmeg and ginger. He flicked his tongue against her clit and slid down her slit pressing deeper than his fingers. Her grip on his hair sent small shocks of pain through him, his tongue found her entrance and pressed in deep as he dared tasting her at the source before doing a slow lick all the way up. He tightened his hand almost painfully around his cock and thrust his tongue in again ratcheting up her screams. He pushed against her core and lapped up her wetness, savoring the heat in his mouth. His tongue pressed against her clit one last time and she arched off the sand, her body stiff and trembling under his hand, wetness flooding his mouth.
She fell to the sand a moment later breathing hard, aftershocks still shaking her body. Brian rose to his knees and watched her come down off her high, stroking and squeezing his erection. His eyes fell on the junction between her legs and he groaned, biting his lip and looking up at the moon. The moon stared down at him, highlighted the sweat and water running down his chest, and caressed his hands as they worked his cock. “Please.” He whispered to her but her stare was unwavering and he knew no matter how many times he came tonight, his body wouldn’t be satisfied until he was in Terasi.
His head snapped back further, breaking contact with the moon when warm lips and tongue touched his swollen head. Forcing his head down again he slowed his frantic hands and tangled them in Terasi’s hair instead as her tongue slid down his shaft. Her mouth was hot and wet, everything he needed. She slid down his cock until her throat squeezed around him and she had to pull back, teeth scraped his sensitive skin, her tongue sliding over his thickness and flicking over his slit. Ancient Greek poured from his mouth unable and unwilling to stop it; praises and curses were equally lavished on her with each suck and pull. She sucked him hard from mid-shaft to head and he came screaming her name in his ancient dialect.
When his shaking stopped he thought he would fall over, his body was drained and felt oddly detached from his mind. Terasi’s soft lips pressed against his and he pulled her close again and stretched out on his back. Her tongue flicked his bottom lip. “That was incredible,” she whispered before she sat up, straddling his stomach. “I mean, I’m a virgin but I’m not Mary. I’ve fooled around before but that was, that was like actual sex.” He kept her from moving any further down his body, his self-control was shredded at best and if they were close enough he would mark her.
His eyes drifted up and down her body. “I’ve had time to practice,” he murmured. Moonlight painted white and silver streaks down her body, highlighting her mussed auburn hair blond but keeping the juncture between her legs, pressing against his belly, in shadow. His cock stirred again and he pried his eyes away from what it wanted to no avail. His mouth remembered how she felt moving against him, her taste, and her screams.
She caught the scent of his arousal and a slow smile spread across her face. “I’ve never had anyone who could keep up with me either,” she whispered rubbing against his stomach. He arched and hissed as his cock stiffened again.
He could feel her getting wetter each time she pressed down on him and each time his cock twitched and ached. She let her head fall back and sighed as she teased him. His cock throbbed only inches from the hot slit pumping against his stomach, she reached back and fisted him, stroking in time with her languid movement.
Flushed and panting she stopped and turned around lying back against him with her legs spread. He turned his head running his lips over her cheek before licking the corner of her mouth. She reached down and slid her fingers up and down his erection a few times making him grind up. She let her head fall back again and closed her eyes while she traced his tip up her tempting core. Brian’s hands clamped down on her hips, his own bucking up and a surprised yell covering her pleased sigh. “Terasi?” he gasped. His self-control dropped away and his hips surged up again but he wasn’t at a good angle, his thrusts got him nowhere closer to being inside her. His head was engulfed for a second in heat and wetness when she pressed him a little harder into her slick folds. Her teasing broke him down, he begged for what he knew he couldn’t have, pleaded and cursed in a dozen languages, and still the tortuous pleasure continued. His tip swept up and down her slit, stroking where and when she wanted, pushing deeper but never deep enough. He could feel the tight ring of her virginity forcing back his sizeable body and he screamed in frustration and pleasurable pain.
He came again, spurting against her and still trying to get deeper until his cock softened and his body unlocked from its pleasured arch. An impish smile lit Terasi’s features and Brian growled softly in her ear before his fingers worked their way inside her again. His cum slicked her even more and his fingers moved faster; pushing, stroking, and playing. She writhed against him trying to force his fingers deeper, he stayed just out of reach, toying with her like he had before.
“Brian, please!” she screamed. His thumb slid from top to bottom and up again in a slow stroke, “Elijah,” He breathed. “My real name is Elijah.” She screamed his name, his real name, a keening cry filled with everything he wanted and needed. No one had ever screamed for him like that and as he climaxed with her for the fourth time he knew no one else ever would.
They collapsed to the sand panting and shaking. Brian’s eyes fluttered as he fought against sleep. They both had to be home by morning or the search parties would be out. After a few moments Terasi slowly sat up again and Brian followed her up, slipping out from under her enough she could sit on the sand and he could sit up comfortably. He kept his head on her shoulder, breathing her scent and feeling their hearts echo in their chests.
“I’m supposed to be mated to Bryce next week.” She whispered. A fierce growl erupted from Brian before he could stop it and her laugh was bleak. “Yeah, that’s what I said.”
“I will fight for you.” He whispered.
Terasi gasped and turned in his arms. “Brian?” Her mercurial eyes widened. “What? No, I mean, it’s not that I don’t want you to, but, my god, that’s serious.” She stuttered.
Brian kissed the side of her mouth. “You’re worth fighting for,” he said.
Terasi was pale in the waning moonlight. “I don’t want you to get hurt,” she whispered.
Brian pulled her to her feet and kissed her fully on the mouth. “I will die before I see you mated to someone else.” He whispered against her lips. She sucked in a breath and he kissed her again. “You won’t talk me out of this,” he said.
“I want to,” she said. He led her to the water and splashed cold water on her thighs before sliding his cool hands up her belly, wiping away the traces of their night. Her nipples tightened under his hands and he lingered there a second longer, licking away some of the salty water, before wetting his hands again and sliding them down her butt. His nose brushed up the crease of her knee and then across her hip. “We’ll never make it home if you don’t stop,” she giggled pushing him away half-heartedly.
He stood and licked her lips. “Can’t help it,” he mumbled. He looked up though at the moon sinking closer to the ocean, he sighed and stepped away. “Terasi, can you get away tomorrow afternoon?” he asked hesitantly.
Terasi watched him for a moment and then nodded. “For an hour or two. Why?” she asked cautiously. Brian took a deep breath of briny air and licked his lips.
“I would like you to meet my alphas,” he said quietly. Terasi bit her lip equal bits of hope and fear in her silver eyes. He held out his hand and she took it, wrapping her warm fingers around his.
“Okay, tomorrow around two?” her voice trembled a little and he kissed her deep.
He kissed her lips again and nodded. “Two,” he murmured.
He shifted to his wolf form with a tired groan and jumped into a wave. When he re-emerged Terasi’s mist colored wolf form was sniffing the water and watching the waves warily. Brian walked up and touched their noses together and then backed up a few steps. Terasi followed and he touched her nose again before backing up a couple more steps. She hesitated but Brian splashed up next to her and licked her cheek and with a quiet woof she moved in until the waves lapped her belly. Brian splashed around a little deeper before returning to her and shaking as much water as he could on her. Terasi growled and chased him in the surf and down the beach for a hundred yards until she stopped and looked at the moon.
Brian followed her gaze and his ears drooped. He licked her cheek again and brushed his muzzle down her neck and rested it between her shoulder blades for a moment before she licked his muzzle and started down the beach toward home. His ears and tail dropped low and a low whine drifted out of him. He didn’t think it was loud but Terasi looked back, her tail wagged slowly a couple times and he answered with the same before picking up his paws and heading back to his pack.
*~*~*
            “Matt?” Brian asked the next afternoon. He could feel his anxiety dripping from him and Matt turned around quickly.
“Brian, what’s wrong?” His hand brushed through his hair and down his belly checking for any injuries.
Brian squirmed out of his touch. “I um, I need to talk to you.” He bit his tongue hard and Matt cocked his head to the side waiting for him to speak. Brian sat down on the flagstone steps with his head in his hands. “Actually, I need to talk to you and Zacky,” he said quietly.
Matt pulled his phone out without a word and punched in Zack’s number and said, “Angel, I need you at Brian’s. No, he’s fine.” Brian let his soft voice ease some of his nerves. Matt sat down next to him after he got off the phone. “Will you at least give me a hint?” he asked.
Brian licked his dry lips, “I, uh, I’ve met, I’ve been meeting. Fuck!” he cursed and got to his feet and started pacing.
            “This have anything to do with your midnight jaunts?” Matt asked leaning back on his elbows.
Brian ran his fingers through his hair and pulled at it. “Yes,” he said shortly. Matt was quiet until Zack slipped in through the back gate. Brian relaxed a little when he saw the green eyed alpha. Matt stayed sitting and Zack walked over to Brian, nuzzling his neck once.
“This about the girl?” he asked. Brian froze and stared at him in shock. Zack giggled and plopped down on Matt’s lap. The larger wolf grunted but wrapped his arms around his mate’s waist and looked up at Brian with almost as much surprise as Brian felt.
Brian swallowed. “How did you…? How did you know?” he whispered. Zack’s green eyes sparkled in the afternoon light and he shrugged.
“I like her,” was all he said. Breath rushed out of Brian.
Matt looked from the beta to his mate with increasing confusion. “What? What girl? What are you two talking about?”
            Brian took a deep breath. “I met a female…a couple weeks ago and I…I want you to meet her.” He finished in a rush.
Matt’s gold eyes were surprised but deeper than that was warm happiness. “I would love to meet her,” he said. Weight lifted off Brian’s chest and his heart beat a little easier. He looked up at the sun and fidgeted, it was close to two. As if cued by his thoughts a quiet knock came from the gate. Zack was still grinning and Matt looked at the gate with keen interest. Brian walked over and opened the gate and froze a moment, struck by Terasi in sunlight. Her skin a shade darker than caramel and her auburn hair streaked with honey. Eyes like liquid silver met his and he shook himself some. Her smile was shy and he leaned forward, catching her in a quick kiss.
“Sorry, I needed to do that,” he whispered. He stepped back and led her in. Matt’s dimpled smile greeted him and Zack took a deep breath before nodding more to himself than either of the other wolves.
            Terasi stepped out from behind Brian and gave the alphas a formal bow, Zack jumped up and cocked his head to the side and looked at his mate. Matt got to his feet as well and kissed the side of his mate’s head.
            “Matthias, Zachary, this is Terasi,” Brian said with more confidence than he really felt. Matt stepped forward and Zack snuggled against Brian’s side.
“Relax,” he whispered. “She’s perfect for you.” He reached up and kissed his cheek. Brian blinked and looked down at the little alpha, tension leeching from him. Matt didn’t say anything but nodded and looked the she-wolf over with a critical eye. Zack huffed and snapped his teeth at his mate. “Quit being a hard-ass Matthias, we both know you love her,” he said impatiently.
Matt shrugged and the smile returned. “I have a reputation to maintain,” he said bringing his mate closer and kissing the side of his mouth. Terasi looked at Brian out the corner of her eye and he wrapped an arm around her waist, she was tense but relaxed against him.
            “I’m Zack, nice to meet you,” the little alpha said wriggling out of his mate’s grasp. Zack rubbed his cheek against Brian’s shoulder. “Maybe now you’ll stop moping around the house waiting for sunset,” he whispered loud enough for Terasi to hear. Brian blushed and Terasi snickered.
Matt narrowed his eyes at his mate. “And how long have you known this was going on?” he asked.
Zack smiled and kissed his lips. “Long enough,” he whispered. Matt growled at him affectionately and Zack pressed his nose against his shoulder breathing deep. He turned his attention back to Terasi and sniffed again, curiosity lighting his green eyes like gemstones. “You’re not very old, how old are you?” he asked.
“You’re not very old either,” Matt deadpanned. Zack rolled his eyes but a smile lifted the corner of his mouth.
“Twenty-seven,” Terasi said. Zack tilted his head, had he been a wolf his ears and tail would be pointing straight up in surprise.
“You’ve only been a wolf for twenty-seven years, wow.”
“No, I mean, I’m twenty-seven—” Terasi cut the sentence off, snapping her mouth shut so fast her teeth clicked. Brian blinked and Matt became statuesque. Zack still looked confused.
“You’re…a born wolf,” Matt said at last. Now it was Zack’s turn to look surprised. It was rare but wolves could be born not that anyone with all their collective longevity had ever figured out how it was possible. Terasi shrank back, away from all of them. Brian kept his arm around her. He’d never met a born wolf but he’d been around when superstitions were the law of the land. He could only imagine what terrifying stories Terasi had heard of things done to born wolves. Some treated them as demi-gods and others considered them more of an abomination than changed wolves.
Matt cleared his throat. “Well, Brian. I would say you’re robbing the cradle there, but…” he looked at his mate and Zack giggled. Terasi started to relax again.
“There’s something else, Matt,” Brian said. Zack caught the change in his scent and looked at him with concern, Matt’s playfulness dropped off and he was all business again.
            “I’m to be mated to the Los Angeles alpha in a few days,” Terasi supplied quietly.
Matt’s eyebrows rose and Zack shrugged. “So don’t,” he said simply.
Brian smiled at him. “Not as simple as human relationships, Zacky,” he said. Zack’s face crumpled into a pout and he looked up at Matt who was stretching his neck.
“Your pack doesn’t know you’ve been seeing Brian?” he said.
She shook her head. “They’re going to be really angry,” she whispered. Matt sighed but was too old to be overly concerned with pack reactions. As long as he could find a good way to appease Terasi’s pack, Brian could settle the rest. Matt started pacing slowly and Zack went inside.
            “Why do your parents want to mate you to Los Angeles’ alpha?” Matt asked after a moment’s thought. Terasi’s hand slipped into Brian’s and she made an irritated sound.
“My mother. She’s obsessed with rank. She wants me mated to an alpha so she’ll have a hook in another territory.” Brian skimmed his nose across her temple.
Matt paused and looked at them thoughtfully. “Brian is, for all intents and purposes, our beta,” he said.
Terasi shrugged. “Our beta doesn’t do much, only what mother tells him,” she said.
Matt smiled. “The only one who can tell Brian to do anything is Zack,” he chuckled. Brian smiled as Zack’s red and white wolf form came trotting out of the house squeaking his favorite ball.
“Zack has this pack wrapped around his finger,” Brian said taking the ball and chucking it against the far wall with Zack in hot pursuit. Matt watched his mate, affection shadowing anything else going on in his mind. Zack ran around the yard squeaking his ball in triumph.
            “Jimmy and Johnny will be here soon, I’m guessing,” Matt said. Zack trotted over to him wagging his tail and dropping his ball at his mate’s feet. Matt sat down again and Zack pounced on his lap licking his face. Terasi laughed and Zack’s tail wagged faster.
Brian shook his head. “Ham it up, puppy.”
Matt bounced the ball over the wall and Zack barked running to the gate and scrabbling over and after the elusive blue prize. Matt was still smiling when he turned back to Terasi. “Is your pack busy tonight?” he asked. Terasi fidgeted and shook her head. Matt listened to his mate snuffling around in the weeds and bushes on the other side of the wall. “Then we might as well get this settled now. Ask them to meet us in the buffer zone.”
“The beach,” Brian said glancing at the young she-wolf. Terasi looked a little frightened but nodded.
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Outbreak