"What did your boy do?"

Vampire.

We turn to face the man who spoke and of course it was one of the vampires.

"He drank more than his limit and spoke out of turn." Maddox answers before whispering. "To a human."

"Naughty boy." The leech chuckles. I hate when he calls me boy. I want to rip his throat out!

"And I'll be taking him home to deal with him." Maddox answers but before we can turn to leave the Vampire stops us.

"What's the hurry to leave? There's no better place to punish your sub than this club. Come on have a drink with us." He says.

"Public embarrassment is one of his limits. I won't push him and frankly I don't want to drink with my enemy." Maddox answers. I can feel my mind clear the longer I'm in contact with my mate. I look to the vampires. We could get information from them if we play this out.

"We aren't enemies on neutral ground and I'm buying. As far as the boy is concerned, some limits are made to be pressed. Is it a hard or soft limit?" The vampire asks.

Maddox looks at me. I can tell he is asking for permission to play the leech's game. I'm probably going to regret this but I give him a slight nod.

"Soft... but I don't have anything with me. I expected a well behaved puppy." Maddox growls gripping the back of my neck making the vamp smirk. I know Maddox acting but dang this does something to me.

"There's a little shop. They have plenty of options." The vampire suggests and I gulp. I expected something simple and this just got more serious. Why did I agree to this again? I'm feeling a bit woozy.

I follow Maddox to the little shop that is connected to the club.

"Are you sure you're okay with this? I'm speaking as your mate not your dom. I don't want you to submit to what I think. I need to know if you really think you can handle this. Are you sure?" He whispers looking worried.

"I'm sure. It's a good opportunity to study our enemy... I am a bit nervous about public punishment especially when I wasn't really doing anything wrong." I tell him and he nods.

"I love you and we both know this is just a show to get information from them." I nod to Maddox and he looks around the shop then smirks. "We're punishing you for speaking out of turn, right?" He asks before grabbing something. "I think this will do nicely. I'm sure our vampire friend will think I'm soft but I'm fine with that... plus I really want to see you gagged."

With that he shows me his purchase. A blue gag in the shape of a bone. After paying the inflated price for the gag Maddox places it in my mouth before securing it behind my head.

"Come along pup." He says leading me back out onto the floor with a hand on the back of my neck.

"Just a gag? If it were my sub..."

"But he's not." My mate cuts off the vampire as we reach the table. "Mind your own, leech. The embarrassment is the real punishment for my boy, and it's none of your business how I handle my sub." I love this man.

"Have a seat then, wolf." The vampire hisses.

"Kneel." Maddox tells me as he sits across from the vampire. I take my place at his knee and lower my head. This is embarrassing he got that right. "Good boy." He whispers placing a hand on my head and the vamp scoffs.

"You're soft wolf. How will he learn if you coddle him?"

"Did you just want me here to insult my ability as a dominant? Because if that is the case we can leave. You don't know anything about our relationship so I'll tell you again, mind your own." Maddox growls.

"My apologies, wolf." The vampire nods. "A toast! To new friends in times of war." He says sliding Maddox a drink.

"To free drinks on bad days." Maddox responds. He may be playing up the angry dom thing but there's also the dislike for out current company. He's not usually all grumpy it's odd.

"So wolf, how is pack life recently?" The vamp asks with a smile and I growl.

"Hush, pup." Maddox scolds but continues putting my head. I'm sure he wanted to growl too but I'm playing the unruly one while he's playing nice... of course not too nice because that would be suspicious.

Being in this position feels so good. Not being with the vampires but at my master's knee with him scratching my head. It's so relaxing.

Maddox stops scratching my head as the vampire says something I wasn't paying attention to.

"Mmmmmmm!" I let out a whine in protest.

Why master stop?

I look down at my pup when I hear that whine. I was ticked at the vampire when he started making lude comments about Logan and stopped petting him which was apparently some great sin in his eyes. He looks up at me and I melt. There's my puppy.

He's in his headspace for the first time and I can even enjoy it because of this leech. He isn't even giving me any information just eying up my mate.

"We're leaving." I say standing up. Logan gets excited when I stand.

"So soon?" The vamp asks standing as well.

"Yes, I need to get my pup home." I say.

I lead a happy puppy to the door. He doesn't even seem bothered by the gag that he's started chewing on like a toy he can't loose. I didn't tighten it all the way because this wasn't supposed to be real and I knew Delta Logan was anxious enough as is, but puppy Logan seems to be enjoying his new toy. It's honestly adorable.

"Get back here!"

"YELP!"

I see red. The idiot leech grabbed the back of the gag and pulled Logan back so hard he crashed into a girl who dumped her fish bowl of a drink on him. When I turn to get my mate the vamp is holding him up by the gag while Logan claws at the straps. I let out a vicious growl.

"Put him down!" I yell and he drops my boy.

"Come on wolf. Sharing is caring." He smirks like I'm not about to rip his throat out.

"Logan, come." My mate hurries to my side. He's still clawing at the gag which I quickly remove but his jaw is not in good shape. His whine makes me rethink attacking this guy. Take care of mate first. "Touch him again and I will filet you alive. Your kind will be dead soon enough. Don't make me hasten your demise."

The vamp just laughs

"Sure thing wolf... but what ever plans your little pack have are going to fail and your puppy will be in my bed." He tells me. I'm about to kill him but I see Logan rub his jaw with a closed fist and whine. He's still in puppy space and I can't leave him unattended no matter how much I want this guy dead.

I pick up my mate and leave. Hopefully they believed Logan's "slip up". I really hope I see him on the battle field.

"Maddox what happened? Logan!" Alpha Brenton asks surprised to see me carrying my boy into the pack house. I go to take him upstairs not really hearing the man. "Maddox stop!" He yells and I pause. "Tell me what happened." I sigh before facing him.

"I will explain everything, Alpha." I say nodding in respect. I have to be careful not to challenge him considering I am of Alpha blood as well. "Please let me get my mate settled first." He looks at Logan and nods. "Can you please have someone bring up an ice pack? He needs it." I ask and he agrees.

"Come on pup let's get you cleaned up." I whisper once we are in our room.

I'm surprised that he doesn't fight me as I bathe him he just whines when I touch his jaw or stop scrahing his head. Right by his temporal bone seems to be his favorite spot. I have to keep physical contact with him or he whines even more.

I love the few seconds of the happy pup I got as we were leaving. Seeing him like this makes me sad. I love that he wants me but I hate that it's him being in pain that has caused it. I wish we would have just left but I gave the decision to him and Delta Logan thought it was a good idea.

Once he no longer reeks of alcohol I pull him out of the tub and dry him off. I put my shirt on him and take a wiff. Sue me, I like my mate smelling like me.

I take the ice pack that was brought up to me and wrap it in an extra hand towel. I get the puppy curled up in bed with the ice on his jaw. He should be better by morning. It takes a while for him to sleep but once he does I slip out of the room to find my Alpha.

"I want them dead, Alpha Brenton." I growl and he stands up. It seems the rest of the pack leadership came while I was helping my boy. The sitting room has everyone here waiting for me.

"What happened to my brother?" Landon asks standing as well.

"The Vampires happened."