by
Why can’t everyone just accept that I’m a broken fucking wolf and be done with it?
Connor, beta wolf and second for the Davis Pack, could hold his own in any fight. He was a fair man, who dealt with all people equally, accepting who they were, and helping them where he could. His larger than average size meant that most other wolf shifters accepted his ways, but deep inside Connor always knew he was broken. Which wasn’t a problem, until he met his mate at a pack get-together, and realized his ‘differences’ would impact someone else.
I knew what I’d been signing up for. I told Connor I would wait, and that I understood.
Alpha Leyden was a typical alpha wolf shifter - he fought when he had to, cared for his pack, and enjoyed intimacies with anyone willing who crossed his path. It was the wolf way, and he never saw anything wrong with the way he lived his life. Until, one night he scented a huge man who seemed immune to his appeal - a man who when confronted with who they were to each other, ran away.
“I still intend on biting you, Connor, and I want for you to bite me. So we’ll be mates, regardless of whatever else happens,”
Connor was determined to stay away from Leyden for his own good. But when he learns Leyden is in trouble, he can't ignore it and goes to help. The two men came to an agreement, and Connor accepts Leyden's bite. But a lot of pack wolves didn't agree with Connor and Leyden's new reality. Were Connor and Leyden strong enough together to make the positive changes they both believe in, or would the old ways win out in the end?
Not Even Close is an MM Fated mates story between a demisexual wolf shifter and an alpha. The first 14,000 words of this story was written for an MM Goodreads Anthology back in 2015. Forty thousand words have been added for those readers who wanted to know "what happened next."
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Demisexual, Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: Ageless/Immortal
Protagonist 2 Age: Ageless/Immortal
Tropes: Fated Mates / Soul Mates
Languages Available: English
“How long do you think you are going to prop up this wall?” Alpha Davis slid along the wall beside him and looked out over the crowd. There were more than fifty shifters in the room - everyone having a great time. The drinks were flowing, there was plenty of food on the long tables and most people had found someone to play with. The smell of arousal and testosterone was making Connor’s nose twitch, and he hoped he didn’t sneeze on the Alpha.
“You said I had to attend, Alpha, so I’m here. Just making sure there isn’t any trouble,” Connor said, tilting his neck slightly to show submission. Although he and Davis were friends and had grown up together, it was never a good idea to disrespect someone the size of his Alpha. Connor was tall at six foot four, but Davis had three inches and about eighty pounds on Connor.
READ MOREDavis sighed and handed Connor a beer. “These meet and greets are supposed to help pack members find their mates. You aren’t going to find anybody if you keep hugging the shadows like you are. You need to get out and mingle a bit.”
“I don’t want to find my mate, you know that,” Connor said quietly, knowing that Davis would hear him clearly enough, even with the noise around them.
“And I’m telling you your ambivalence toward sex will change when you scent your intended,” Davis said.
Connor flushed. He wasn’t ambivalent about sex. He just thought his first time should be with someone who took the time to get to know him first. Connor knew that being a thirty-year-old virgin was virtually unheard of in shifter circles. But he couldn’t help the way he felt, and a casual fuck just wouldn’t do it for him. Connor was worried sick that he would meet his mate one day. The whole mine, fuck, and claim business was usually done within hours of meeting, but Connor knew that he couldn’t be like that - not even with a fated mate.
“You know I don’t want that to happen,” Connor said, forgetting for a moment that he was speaking to his alpha. “I meet my mate. He wants to fuck. I want to get to know him first. I can see that going down like a lead balloon. It would be better not to meet him at all. At least then this mythical person won’t know his mate’s a fuck-up.”
“If he’s your true mate, then he will wait. And you aren’t a fuck-up, you’re just different,” Davis said, looking Connor straight in the eyes. Connor had no choice but to bow his head. He wasn’t stupid enough to challenge his friend.
“It would be a lot easier…” Connor started to say, still staring at the floor, when a honeyed deep voice interrupted them.
“Davis, thank you for your hospitality this evening. My pack members are all having so much fun.”
Conner felt a shiver of recognition shimmy its way down his spine. He could listen to that voice forever. His wolf, usually a grouchy bastard, was whining in his head, apparently more than happy to belly-up for the stranger. Connor kept his head bowed, determined not to look at anyone that could attract his wolf in such an uncharacteristic way.
“Leyden, I wasn’t sure if you were going to come over this evening. Although I see you’ve been enjoying the company,” Davis said with a laugh.
“I’m just being friendly,” Leyden said with a laugh of his own.
Oh my freaking god. Connor wanted to wallow in that sound and just…wallow in it. Nervous, because this was not the way he normally reacted to anyone, Connor decided a hasty retreat was in order. He needed to do some serious thinking and get his head on straight. He slowly sidled his way along the wall, away from his Alpha and that tempting voice. But the Fates weren’t smiling on him.
“Connor,” Davis said sharply, stopping Connor in his tracks. “Meet Alpha Leyden. Leyden is new to his position, but his pack is our neighbor. Leyden, this is Connor, my beta and pack second.”
Connor looked up and he knew it, he just fucking knew it. That honeyed voice Connor was already in love with just had to belong to his earlier object of appreciation. Connor wanted to run. He wanted out of the room. He had never seen such perfection before - especially so close up.
COLLAPSE
