“So, it’s just business as usual, huh?” Leron asked as he came into the shop behind him.
Macauley folded his arms and leaned against the door to the back room of his workshop, giving them a bored expression. “Is there something different you two wanted to do?”
Christian blushed the color of his shaggy auburn hair, his eyes on his dirty Converse. “Well, yeah.”
Macauley pushed off the wall and went towards them. He grinned down at them, smelling the young pheromones that were difficult for them to hide at their age. Leron and Christian were seventeen and nineteen. And both of them were skilled with their hands and focused on mastering their craft, but as of late they’d been more curious about sex than anything. Particularly with vampires.
Wick’s guards and especially his legion were an impressive group of men and women. Christian had been eyeing the blond twin who followed him around at Adres’s orders.
“Does it feel… ya know… good?” Leron asked, his rich brown eyes dancing with interest.
Macauley nodded.
“Come on, Alpha,” Christian grumbled. “Give us something.”
“It feels amazing, okay—”
Christian gave Leron a high five. “I told ya.”
“But—” Macauley stressed. “—I should talk with Justice first. There can be dangers involved.”
“We know,” Leron hurried. “But our alpha said if the vampire is not our true mate, then it won’t be hard for them to stop drinking… even… even during sex.”
“For fuck’s sake, Taleb said that?” Macauley frowned.
“Yeah. We asked him since he’s been with Henry for so long, and he’s never had a problem like you did with Lord Adres,” Leron stated easily, but the words still cut like a dagger.
He was right. Only he and Adres were true mates who had almost killed each other.
“I understand. But let me speak to Justice anyway, just to be safe.” Macauley eyed them both. “You got it? It’s good you went to your direct alpha, but don’t do anything until I speak to your AZ.”
They both nodded, tilting their heads in respect before trudging away to their workspaces. Their disappointment was upsetting to his wolf, but Macauley had to make sure they protected themselves.
Although, he was sure Taleb was right. He always was. He would do what he felt was safest. “I’ll speak to Justice today, all right? I’ll have an answer for you in the morning.”
That seemed to lighten their spirits, and Macauley was able to exhale as he closed the double doors to his back room. The open space used to be a barn until he’d rebuilt the stables and animal pens on the other side of the compound to prevent the stench of the animals from lingering so close to the cabins. He sat at his desk in the far corner and rifled through some maintenance requests that were backing up. Now that he was mated, he should probably consider recruiting some more help. There were more than enough young wolves looking to discover their skills.
Macauley was in the process of ordering a new shower fixture for one of his repair slips when he smelled Michelle’s sweet scent inside his shop.
“Sure, Michelle. He’s back there,” Macauley heard Christian say.
“I know,” she purred. “I’ll only be a moment, boys.”
Oh shit. Macauley did not want her back there. He stood from his desk when Michelle walked in without bothering to knock. But of course, she’d never had to before.
“Good afternoon, Alpha.” She placed a plastic bag on one of his workbenches—the one she used to like to be fucked on—before she turned around and faced him. “You left your things for the table you made me, so I thought I’d bring them to you.”
“I appreciate that,” he said, keeping his distance.
“So.” She propped her hip on the smooth surface, the mini sarong tied around her ass riding up to reveal what she thought he was missing. “How was your night?”
“I think you already know the answer to that.” Macauley wasn’t being fooled by her coy act. There was no mistaking the change in his scent. She knew he was mated.
She gritted her teeth before she converted it into a sugary smile. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Macauley went to his drafting board. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a lot of work to get done.”
“So where is your mate? Hiding from the sunlight, I presume.” She did her best imitation of a frightened vampire hiss before she snickered behind her fingers.
“Michelle.” He lowered his voice, trying not to growl and intimidate her wolf, but she was testing him. “I strongly advise you to leave.”
“I have honest intentions,” she said more sternly, easing off the table and sauntering towards him. She touched her naked stomach, then slid her hand up her body and between her ample breasts. “Look at me, Alpha.”
Macauley glared into her eyes.
“I will give you many pups. Can the Lord of Arms do that? You love children, Macauley, and I know you want a houseful. I will take care of your home during the day…” Michelle stood just on the other side of his bench and leaned towards him, licking her peach-scented lips. “And all of your needs at night.”