RAIDEN ||

Ok, I knew exactly what I was doing to my little wolf when we first got home.

Home.

What a foreign word to me.

I haven't had a home in 7 years, man that feels good to say. Home. I'm home. With my mate.

When we first walked in, I had to admit that I was pretty nervous, but my Dylan seemed to notice that immediately and came to my side.

His beautiful presence next to me, calmed every fiber of my being. My heart beat to his breath. Everytime he inhaled a breath only to release it, I felt myself vibing to his heart's beat.

I just couldn't help myself earlier, I had to touch him. I had to let him know how much I wanted him, but I was careful not to push him too far.

Only an attempt to hold his hand, I never intended to bring his gaze up to meet mine when he watched our fingers twirl in sync, but Onyx pushed forward with me and we both wanted nothing more than to meet my Dylan's eyes.

Those beautiful ocean blue eyes, the same eyes that reminded me of a oceans never ending wave crashing against the shore.

I stared into his eyes, those eyes that belonged on mine. His breath that belonged against my lips, his heart that beat to mine.

So I leaned in closer and I felt the way his breath caught in his throat, the way his heart skipped beat after beat, the way he swallowed so loudly, as if my closeness made him nervous in all the right ways.

Then I uttered the words that I knew would make him melt, the same way he melted everytime I praised him.

"Thank you for giving me a home Pups, you're the best thing to have ever happened to me."

The way his eyes widened at my sudden praise had my own heart fluttering. I slowly let his chin go before I slipped my hand from his and took a step back only to hear him whimper at the loss of my touch. Instinctively, my pups took a step towards me and I couldn't help but smile.

My pups promised he would try and he did. He never once pulled away from me, never once turned his nose up at my urge to touch him and I was so thankful for that.

I promised him that I would try a friendship before we get to actually being mates, so me pulling away gave him that and I think we're both holding up our end of the bargain beautifully so far.

•••

Currently I was sitting in the TV room with Dylan, Gabe, Avery and my pups family.

Hunter drug Roman upstairs after the moment between Dylan and I.

There's no doubt the horny bastard that is my brother was doing something illegal to his mate right now with all the roaring I could hear coming from upstairs.

Everyone else was playing cards around one of the tables they had in here and they either couldn't hear the nonsense that were happening or they were really good at hiding it. Me not so much, everytime I heard Rome roar or Hunter growl, I scrunched my face up in disgust.

Hearing my brother and his mate get down was not something I had on my bucket list of things I wanted to be witness to on my first day home with my mate.

I was sitting in the farthest area of the TV room, harboring a chair of my own, not enjoying the crowded scene of the room right now. There's way too many wolves and if all these men weren't already mated, I would have been further on edge.

Then I heard the front door open and close. My ears perked up at the sound of someone entering the place I now call my home. Apparently I was the only one who heard this, based off everyone's reactions or lack thereof.

"Hello?"

"Family?"

I growled at the all too familiar voices.

Garrett and Theo walk in only a few minutes later and Onyx and I instantly become uneasy. For one, these were unmated males around my mate and the other is pretty damn obvious at this point.

I don't like the wolves and no amount of tolerance building or love for my pups could make me ever like them.

Their eyes catch me in the corner of the room and I snarl, leaving nothing to the imagination as I bare my canines at them, knowing all too well that mine are bigger and badder than theirs could ever be.

I'm the son of a Leopard and a Lion. Two of the strongest in my species. Our strength outmatched the strength that any wolf could ever contemplate.

I kill shit with ease, strangling it with my fucking jaws, enjoying the way my prey thrashes in my mouth before feeling the life slowly drain from its being.

I hunt alone, all I need is myself. I don't need multiple little fur balls like wolves do.

I have the second strongest bite force of any other feline or canine for that matter. All blessings from being the sheer power and size of a Lion with the cunning, intelligence and speed of a Leopard.

These wolves can't take me on, not alone. Not even 3 at a time. I would have demolished these flea bags that day if my mate never intervened and he knew it, that's why he helped. That's why he used our bond against me.

That's why these two little young fuckers had to torture me together, they were too full of bullshit to ever approach me alone and without the use of their little poison.

Bitches.

"Hi Raiden." Theo said.

"It's good to see you home." Garrett said.

Yeah thanks... but you can choke on my monstrous dick. Respectfully.

"Thanks." That was all I could say to them out loud, the rest of my thoughts weren't exactly appropriate for the setting.

I watched as the two fucktards sat at the table with everyone else. Unfortunately for them, they both sat one chair too close to my pups and that earned a nice, threatening growl from me.

"Too close." I growled as they both sat down, just for them to shoot out of their seats in the same second.

"Relax Raiden, he's my brother." Garrett said, making me chuckle.

"Yeah man, he's my cousin. I don't want him." Theo explained, as if I cared.

"And that means what to me? He's my mate and you're too close, so move or fight me."

Yeah I was no longer in the mood to play nice.

To be quite honest, the only one here that deserved even an ounce of my kindness is my mate and Avery.

He wasn't there during my capture, he didn't know anything about it, he didn't know I was in the cells and he hasn't once been disrespectful towards me or my mate that I've seen. So he's good in my books.

My mate being the other only because he's my mate. If he wasn't and he's done what he's done, I would have torn him apart already and left his head to hang off the nearest branch. Respectfully of course.

Dylan turned around in his seat to look at me when I growled again because Garrett and Theo weren't moving fast enough for my liking or Onyx.

"Raid, relax. They don't want me and I damn sure don't want them." My mate chucked, although I was yet to see the humor.

"And like I told them, I don't care about that. Family or not, they're unmated wolves and they're too close to you. I don't like it, so they can either move or fight me about it." I argued back, shifting uncomfortably in my chair as Dylan raised out of his.

"Nobody is fighting anybody." Dylan said pointing at me, as if it was the end of the discussion.

Yeah no sir, I won't question him in front of his pack, but here in our home and in front of his family and closest friends, you can bet your ass, I would be letting him know how I feel about things. Respectfully... or not.

"Pups, I think you have it confused here. I'm not suggesting that they move, I'm telling them to move. They won't sit that close to you. I don't care who they are." I explained, getting out of my chair now to follow his body language.

"Yet Gabe is sitting next to me and my dad and uncle are within arms reach."

"They're mated Dylan."

"And they're my family, you can't just come in here and take over Raiden."

"I'm not taking over, but I'm not comfortable with unmated wolves sitting so close to you. That can either change on its own or I'll make it change." I explained folding my arms across my chest.

My mate took that as an opportunity to walk over to me. I dropped my arms when he stopped in front of me, our chests were almost touching as he glared at me.

"You won't be making anything change in here Raiden. I'm the Alpha here, not you. I know we've come to some sort of compromise, but this wasn't apart of it. My brother and my cousin will join us at this table and sit in the only two chairs that are available. End of discussion."

I stared back into his eyes, searching for the man that I've come to love being around in the past week. Where was the man from earlier in the kitchen? The one that spoke volumes from his body language alone, the one that desperately wanted me to kiss him.

We continue our little stare down until Dylan sighs and glances over his shoulder before looking back at me.

"Raiden." Dylan whispered my name like it was a warning instead of the most important keepsake my parents provided me with.

"I'm not backing down from you pups, they won't be sitting next to you and I won't drop this issue. We both know my aura is stronger and I won't allow you to try to intimidate me again." I whispered back holding his gaze.

His frown softened.

"I'm not asking you to back down Raiden, but you can't challenge me like this in front of our pack. It doesn't matter who it is. Family, friends, whoever. You can't do this or someone will question my leadership. Please just stand down. Im begging you."

I searched his eyes, looking for the lie that clearly didn't exist.

"You promised me that you would never challenge me in front of the pack. Please hold yourself to that, please Raiden... I can't lose my position. This means the world to me."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

I did promise that and currently, I was breaking my promise...

"It's all I have left of my older brother. Please Raiden."

Seconds pass by before I slowly felt my anger dissipating, until the moment came when I finally just gave into my mates wants.

"Fine." I grit through my clenched jaw.

"Thank you." Dylan breathed out and he fully took me by surprise when he grabbed my hand.

My eyes traveled down to his fingers that danced across mine. "Thank you." He whispered again and I nod.

"Do not challenge me again Raiden." He said louder, as if he was trying to make the whole room aware of his authority over me. I narrowed my eyes at him again and went to respond when he cut me off.

"It's just a precaution. I'm not ordering you around or trying to intimidate you, but I have to make it known that I'm the Alpha and you've submitted to me... please Raiden." He whispered again and I roll my eyes at him before nodding again.

"Act like this hurts and then say you submit to me when I tell you to... ok?" He explains and I reluctantly nod again.

"Do not challenge me again Raiden." He says again, forcing his aura over me. I feel it wash over every pore on my skin, it's so much weaker than mine, it doesn't even phase me, but I put on a little show for the people in the room.

Only for you pups!

I hunch over and clutch my stomach, trying to make it seem like he was affecting me before I cry out in pain.

"Do you understand me Raiden. Do not challenge me again!" He growled and I nod, before glaring at him.

"Yes, yes I understand." I grit through my teeth again.

"Submit!" He growls again and I whine before baring my neck to him, putting on the best show for his family and friends.

I feel him pull his aura back and I let out an exaggerated breath before sinking into my chair. My lovely little mate crouched down to meet my eyes, then he smiles softly.

"Thank you." He whispers again, his voice was soft and gentle. I nod to make sure he understood that's I was fine and I would do that shit for him.

"You're welcome. Don't make me do that stupid crap again.. I won't submit to you again." I whisper back and he nods before turning around and going back to the table and joining their card again. To my surprise he made Garrett and Theo trade seats with his dad and mom, so that they weren't so close to him and I was grateful.

The things I do for him...

I was busy glaring at the back of my mates neck, thinking about the things I would say to him in private tonight before my brothers scent hit my nose.

"Screw you Roman!" Hunter yelled and Rome laughed running behind him.

"Come on babe, we talked about it before."

"Shut up! I hope you get hit with constant sneezes and diarrhea while stuck in traffic!" Hunter growled and I snorted.

"Damn!" Rome exclaimed, clutching his chest with a huge smile on his face. "That's harsh little one!" He laughed now walking towards his mate again.

"Whatever! You're a jerk and you know it! Go fall down the steps!"

"Seriously? You want me to hurt myself?" Rome pretended to be shocked at his mates words. Hunter turned around and looked at him, almost like he was contemplating taking his whole statement back.

"Fine, I'll go hurt myself then." Rome said turning to walk away and Hunter ran over to him.

"Stop! Don't hurt yourself, that's just going to hurt me." Hunter pleaded looking up to my brothers smiling face.

"Well stop being mean then, you're way too cute to be so feisty."

"I'm a warrior, I'm not cute." Hunter rolled his eyes.

"You are to me, now stop it or I'll..." Rome said before leaning down and whispering to his mate, who's face heated up at my brothers words.

"Oh my Goddess, stop. Seriously." Hunter begged my brother before grabbing his hand and leading him to the table to join everyone else. Seeing how there was only one chair left, I wasn't surprised when Rome sat down and pulled Hunter onto his lap.

I watched their card game begin and end about 10 dang times from my spot in the corner of the room before my stomach betrayed me and started growling.

Fortunately, I wasn't the only one.

"Dinner time! Cards away!" Dylan's mom, Jade yelled with a huge smile on her face.

"Yes that's right, come on now, we all know the routine." His aunty Sophie said, shooing the men from the table.

Gabe and Avery put the cards away before we all walked out the TV room and into the kitchen. I sat at the diningroom table that sat a few feet from the actual kitchen.

I still didn't really want to be around this many people at one time, my tolerance could only stay leveled for so long before I needed my space away with my mate.

Sophie, Jade and Kaylie were the only ones in the kitchen as they prepared dinner for everyone. I couldn't smell my mate as strong as I could before, so I got up from the table to make my way through the packhouse in search of him.

After what seemed like forever and no matter where I looked, I couldn't find him and I knew eventually I would have to ask someone where he was or to link him.

I walked up to the only wolf that didn't completely bother me.

"Avery." I said as he quickly turned around in Gabe's arms. I never once looked at Gabe though. I didn't need his assistance at the moment.

"Yes Raiden."

"Did you see where Dylan went?"

"He went hunting." Avery answered with a smile on his face, but it only brought a frown to mine.

"For who?"

"For you." His scent hits me just then, stronger than it has been for the past hour and I turn around to see him dragging a dead deer through the house.

Blood was smearing all over the floor and he was covered in it, but I was beyond happy to see him and to see his form of affection for me.

"OH MY GODDESS! DYLAN! WHAT THE HELL! THERE'S BLOOD EVERYWHERE!" I heard his mom scream from the kitchen and I couldn't hold back my laugh. She sounded just like my mom when she scolded me.

"BOY WE ALREADY HAVE DINNER COOKING!" His aunty Sophie yelled and I'm not going to lie, I was scared to go back into that kitchen. Those shewolves meant business.

"I'll clean up the blood mom and it's not for us aunty Sophie. It's for my mate."

"WHY? WHAT'S WRONG WITH HIM? WHY DOES HE NEED A WHOLE DEER? HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO COOK THIS WITHOUT IT BEING SKINNED?!" Sophie yelled again.

"Nothing is wrong with him and he's on a raw diet. Cooked food makes him sick and I'm assuming deer is his favorite because that's what he was eating when I first met him." Dylan explained and my mouth hung open.

He actually remembered that??

Not the raw diet thing, but the deer thing. Onyx had just killed a deer that day we first laid eyes on our mate. I didn't think he knew that, but he recognized that. He remembered that.

Dylan came walking back out of the kitchen and into the livingroom, smiling at me. I returned his smile with my own.

"I'm going to go get cleaned up, I'll meet you in the diningroom. Your deer is on the table, hopefully mom and aunt Sophie cut it up for you. If not, we will just eat outside together." He said holding his smile.

"Seriously?" I ask and he nods before walking closer to me."

"Yes seriously Raiden... I know you're on a raw diet and I also wanted to say thank you for earlier in a way that's not through words but actions. I hope I'm holding up my part of our compromise." He spoke softly before walking past me and towards the stairs.

My pups is going to be the death of me....

Dang he's sweet...

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