Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf [Wolf Creek Pack 6] (10 page)

Yeah, he is.
He couldn’t ever remember anyone defending him

quite like Stefan did. It grabbed a small part of Ben, deep inside, and

made it glow just for the little man. Ben grinned. “He’s mine.”

Not able to stand the separation a moment longer, Ben reached

over and grabbed Stefan by the arm and yanked his mate into his

arms. He heard a small yelp fall from Stefan’s lips a moment before

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67

he covered them with his own, kissing the man until all resistance fell

away and Stefan kissed him back.

When Ben finally lifted his head a few moments later, they were

alone in the entryway of the mansion. Ben looked down at Stefan,

excited by what he saw. Stefan’s face looked flushed, his lips wet and

swollen. His sky-blue eyes looked dazed. Stefan looked like sex

incarnate.

“Where’s that blue room, baby?”

Stefan pointed to the stairway across the room. “Upstairs,” he

whispered.

Ben grinned and swept his mate up in his arms, quickly walking

toward the stairs. He couldn’t have cared less that they were smack

dab in the middle of a vampire coven mansion or that his mate just

chewed the coven prince out. He didn’t even care that they were there

on a mission to save Stefan’s best friend.

Ben’s only concern at the moment was finding that damn blue

room they were staying in, getting Stefan naked as fast as he could,

and introducing them both to the wonders that could be found in a

bed.

Or against a wall.

On a countertop.

The floor.

Ben wasn’t picky. Any flat surface would do.

* * * *

Stefan’s heart thudded in his chest. He twisted his hands together

until he realized what he was doing. Dropping them down to his sides,

he started plucking at the soft material of his slacks as he paced

around the room.

He was nervous and scared. The only thing that kept him from

totally losing it was the large, silent form who stood by the window,

watching him freak out. He adored Ben—really, he did—but the man

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had never had a best friend before and didn’t understand why Stefan

felt concerned.

“Baby, calm down,” Ben said. “You’re going to make yourself

sick.”

Stefan shook his head. “I can’t. I know Prince Zacarius can order

Audley in here alone, but either Oliver or Dane could cause quite a

stink about it. I don’t want to cause the prince any problems. He has

enough without my shit.”

“Stefan, your prince is just as concerned about this situation as

you are. I’m sure he doesn’t mind helping you out. He’s the prince of

your coven, baby. He understands these things.”

Stefan turned to watch his mate cross the room to him. Ben

insisted on being there when Stefan met up with Audley. Stefan

couldn’t say no to his mate, especially not after the previous night.

Ben had rocked Stefan’s world and then cradled him close as if he

were the most precious thing in the world. If Stefan hadn’t already

been in love with Ben, he would have fallen then.

“Everything is going to be okay, baby,” Ben said softly.

Stefan closed his eyes and leaned into the hand Ben stroked down

his face. How anyone could ever think his mate was anything but a

kind, gentle man, he didn’t know. It showed every time Ben touched

him.

Stefan opened his eyes and looked up at his mate. He tried to put

everything he felt for the big man in his eyes. “I love you, Ben.”

Ben’s breathing hitched. His eyes widened. The deep golden color

in them shined brighter until it looked like sunshine. Stefan saw Ben

blink several times as moisture seemed to gather in the corners. He

opened his mouth as if to say something, then snapped it close.

Stefan smiled. He reached up and cupped the side of Ben’s face.

“You’re more than just a mate to me. You’re the man I want to spend

the rest of my life with. You mean the world to me, Ben, and I will

love you until I die.” A single tear trailed down Ben’s cheek. Stefan

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69

wiped it away with his finger. “I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it

to you if I have to.”

Ben chuckled. “You don’t,” he whispered. “I’ve just never had

anyone tell me that they loved me before. I don’t think anyone
has

ever loved me before.”

“I do.”

“I believe you.”

“I just hope that someday you’ll feel the same,” Stefan murmured.

“I feel something, Stefan. I’m just not sure what it is.” Ben

grimaced. “I don’t know much about love. I’ve never had it before. I

need to wait until I know, okay? Just give me a little more time,

baby.”

Stefan nodded. “I’ll give you all of the time you need. I’m not

going anywhere.”

Ben grinned and hugged him. Stefan buried his face in Ben’s

chest. His heart ached to hear words of love from Ben, but he knew he

couldn’t force them. Ben would tell him when he was ready and not

before. Stefan would just have to be patient.

“You’re my mate, Stefan,” Ben said softly, “but more than that, I

want you to be my mate. I don’t want anyone else.”

Stefan smiled, tightening his grip around Ben. It was enough for

now. Stefan pushed back from Ben, ready to tell him so when he

heard voices coming down the hallway. He turned to look at the door,

his heart pounding again.

“Looks like your friend is here, baby,” Ben said. “I’m going to go

stand over here by the window so I don’t scare him, okay?”

Stefan nodded, not really paying attention to Ben. Audley was

here.

* * * *

Ben chuckled to himself as he went to sit on the window sill.

Stefan was practically vibrating as he waited for the door to open. He

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knew Stefan and Audley were close—were best friends—but his little

mate looked like he was about to shake apart.

The blue of his eyes dominated his beautiful heart-shaped face.

His delicate little hands twisted together again. Ben knew if Stefan

started fidgeting with his pants once again, he might wear a hole in

them. The man was so nervous.

The door opening and a small figure being ushered into the room

by Albert caught Ben’s attention. Of course, he recognized Albert.

The small man, though, Ben had never seen before in his life. But he

suddenly wanted to. Audley Ebane was stunning.

“If you will just wait here, young sir, the prince will call for you

when he’s done with his meeting,” Albert said before slipping out of

the room.

Ben suddenly knew where Stefan got his nervousness from when

Audley began to twist his hands together. He heard a loud cry from

Stefan, then his mate flew across the room to hug the smaller man,

smaller than even Stefan.

“Oh my God, Audley,” Stefan cried. “I didn’t think I’d ever see

you again.”

“Stefan,” Audley whispered, his voice as light as a bird’s chirp.

“Is it really you? Dane said you betrayed the coven and got exiled.”

Stefan chuckled. “No, I met my mate at the mate gathering a few

weeks ago. Dane was there and tried to claim me, but Ben got to me

first.”

Audley’s hand covered his mouth and his face paled. “That’s why

Dane was so mad. He expected to mate you.”

Stefan nodded. “Would you like to meet my Ben?”

Ben tried to look smaller when Stefan gestured to him. He didn’t

want to frighten Audley, but he sure wouldn’t mind getting closer to

him. He hadn’t been this fascinated with someone since he saw Stefan

for the first time. He couldn’t understand it or the feelings of

possessiveness filling him.

“Ben?” Stefan asked. “Come meet Audley.”

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71

Ben walked slowly across the room. He could see the fear in

Audley’s eyes. It wasn’t anything he didn’t expect. Most people were

afraid of him—well, everyone except Stefan. He stopped next to

Stefan and held out his hand.

“Hello, Audley,” he said as softly as he could. “It’s nice to finally

meet you. Stefan has told me a lot about you.”

* * * *

Audley swallowed past the sudden lump that took hold in his

throat at the sight of the biggest man he’d ever seen in his life. He

reached out to shake the man’s hand, surprised at the gentleness of

Ben’s grip.

“Hello, Ben,” Audley replied. “Stefan hasn’t told me anything

about you.”

Audley just barely caught himself from jumping when the man’s

chest rumbled with his laughter. He dropped the hand Ben held out to

him and stepped back. Audley couldn’t help but wonder how Stefan

found himself mated to such a man.

“You’re really mated?” he asked, his heart aching.

Stefan nodded. The huge grin on his face matched the one on

Ben’s face. Audley felt sorrow bang at the walls of his heart. He had

always dreamed he and Stefan might be mated one day. It was often

the only thing that kept Audley going when things got tough.

Audley tried to bolster himself with the knowledge that at least

Stefan had someone strong who would care for him, protect him. That

was something. Audley smiled. “I’m glad for you, Stefan.”

“Come, sit down,” Stefan said. “Prince Zacarius has arranged for

us to have a little time alone.”

Audley glanced over his shoulder at the door. “Oh, I don’t know.

Dane and Oliver will be looking for me.”

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“No, Prince Zacarius said he’d keep them occupied for a while,

give us some time to catch up.” Stefan plopped down in a chair and

gestured for Audley to sit down. “Have a seat.”

Audley sat down across from Stefan. His eyes strayed to Ben,

watching him walk to a crystal decanter sitting on a sideboard. He

watched Ben begin to pour three drinks before turning his attention

back to Stefan.

“So, tell me everything that’s happening,” Stefan said. He smiled

when Ben handed him one of the glasses of alcohol. “The royal

consort told me that Dane and Oliver are going ahead with the mating

ceremony. Is that true?”

Audley nodded. He started to reach for the glass Ben held out to

him when he heard a deep growl. The glass slipped through Audley’s

fingers and fell to the floor, breaking into several pieces.

Audley groaned. He was always such a klutz. He reached down to

start picking up the pieces of glass as Ben knelt down to do the same.

Startled, Audley didn’t pay attention to what he was doing and picked

up a piece of broken glass.

He winced as the glass cut into his hand, dropping it with a small

hiss and yanking his hand to his chest. “Ouch!”

“Did you cut yourself?” Ben asked, moving over to kneel in front

of him. It didn’t seem to matter if he knelt or not, Ben still stood taller

than Audley. “Here, let me see.”

Audley held his bleeding hand out to Ben, unable to resist his

quiet command. Luckily, it didn’t seem to be a large cut. It just bled a

lot. Ben held his hand carefully, examining the cut with his fingers.

“Well,” Ben said after a moment. “It doesn’t look too bad. We just

need something to stop the bleeding. Stefan, can you find

something?”

Audley glanced up to see Stefan jump up from his chair to start

searching the room for something to cover Audley’s hand. He

suddenly felt something warm brush across his hand. Audley looked

down.

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73

Audley’s mouth dropped open and shock welled through him. Ben

was licking the blood off his hand, and he looked happy as fuck doing

it. Audley didn’t know if he felt scared or something worse.

The sight of Ben’s tongue brushing across his hand seemed to

have a direct connection to his cock. Every swipe against his skin felt

like a stroke on his suddenly interested shaft. The low growl from Ben

didn’t help matters much.

Feeling like he had totally betrayed his friendship with Stefan by

feeling aroused by the man's mate, Audley yanked his hand away and

cradled it to his chest. His eyes shot to Stefan, widening when he saw

Stefan just staring at Ben with a confused expression on his face. It

bordered on hurt.

“Ben?” Stefan murmured. “What are you doing?”

“Christ, Stefan,” Ben gasped. He leaned forward and grabbed

Audley’s wrist, holding it out toward Stefan. “Taste this, damn it.”

Stefan frowned, but stepped forward and raked his tongue across

the cut on Audley’s hand. Audley trembled as Stefan’s eyes fell

closed and the man groaned as if he had just tasted ambrosia.

Audley glanced up at Ben to see his reaction, only to find the man

staring at him intently. It unnerved Audley and made him feel like

Ben knew something he didn’t. He pulled on his arm, trying to wrest

it from Stefan’s grasp.

“Stefan, please,” Audley pleaded.

Stefan finally released him and Audley pulled away, scooting

back into his chair as far as he could. He cradled his hand in his lap

and looked from Stefan to Ben in confusion. “What’s going on?”

Stefan glanced over his shoulder up to Ben. The big man just