in Master’s voice that Quinn couldn’t understand, and it tore at his soul.
“No, I… I want to stay, Master.”
“Good. Get in bed and sleep. I have to be up early tomorrow so I can oversee work on the new cabins. I wish Gareth had called me earlier because we’ve only got a few of them done, and that temporary housing we set up won’t last forever.”
He lifted the covers, and Quinn slid in next to him. He rolled over and buried his face in the pillow, delighting in Master’s scent.
“Good night, Quinn.”
“Good night, Master.”
It didn’t take long for Quinn to fall asleep, and this time, no dreams plagued him.
DEKE SIMMONS sighed as he turned over yet again. He was so damned happy to have his mate in the same bed as he was, but this wasn’t how he wanted it to go. He wanted Quinn in ways he never knew it was possible to want someone. Quinn was the first thing Deke thought of when he woke up in the morning, and he was the last thing on Deke’s mind when he went to sleep.
Everything was about Quinn. Deke worked his job as quickly and efficiently as he could, simply because he wanted to get home to ensure Quinn wasn’t alone too long. Though he’d asked Dani Whitestar to check on Quinn, Deke never felt right if he couldn’t keep an eye on him personally.
What was it about the man that called to Deke so? He understood from Gareth that there truly were fated mates, and he knew to his soul that Quinn was his, but…. He sighed again, and this time he punched his pillow. He had no idea how to make things better for Quinn. Deke was shocked that Quinn was as put together as he was. Anyone else would have fallen apart under the years of abuse.
Still, that didn’t stop Deke from insisting that Quinn talk to one of the counselors Dr. Franklin had brought in to help Ryker’s old packmates acclimate themselves. Quinn had been hesitant and practically begged not to go, but Deke had made a promise to the Supreme Alpha that he would do right by the Alpha Mate’s brother. Quinn had gone for several sessions, but each time he came home more anxious and upset than when Deke had taken him in.
He cracked open his eyes and looked at Quinn. Goddess, his mate was beautiful. When they’d met, Quinn’s hair had been long, and he had a habit of fisting it when he was upset. Deke solved that problem by shaving it off. He hated the idea of cutting those auburn locks, but he believed Quinn’s memories had bad connotations where his hair was concerned and that in order to start fresh, the hair had to go. But what enthralled Deke most were Quinn’s eyes. Where Sean’s eyes were violet, Quinn’s were like onyx swirled with molten gold. Deke knew he could lose himself in that gaze and never regret it for a moment. In fact, he had on several occasions.
Oh, how he longed to reach for Quinn. To pull him close, to shield him from the world. If it meant Quinn would be happy, Deke would gladly renounce his allegiance to Lydon and take Quinn away somewhere they could be safe. Then again, what could be safer than the pack the Supreme Alpha and the world’s only Omegas called home? After all, both Gareth and Sean bore the mark of the Moon Mother, and her blessing had to count for something, right?
What good did it do Quinn? Where was the fucking Moon Mother when Ryker and his pack were raping him?
“Fuck her.”
He hated the thought that he was being disrespectful to the goddess who’d created the wolves while everyone else was building shrines to her, but Deke’s main—only—priority was Quinn. Seeing the pain etched on Quinn’s face hurt more than the accident that severed Deke’s spine. That had meant years of therapy, with the doctors telling him every step of the way he’d never walk again. Didn’t matter, though. Deke would gladly go through the same hell every day if it meant he could see Quinn smile even once.
The thought was a sobering one. Deke had only met Quinn a few months ago, and now he knew without a doubt that he couldn’t live without him. Meeting Quinn had imprinted his mate on Deke’s very soul. They were no longer two separate people, but one entity that wasn’t whole and might never