Enforcer - 16. Chapter 16

Jed walked with Buzz toward Parker’s cabin. “You sure you’re gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Zef will be there. And I promise I won’t buy any upgrades.”

Jed couldn’t help but smile. “Okay. Good.”

Since Colton had to work, Jed was taking Parker and Wylie to see Doc. Buzz would be heading into town to open the service station on his own. Even though the threat of Buzz’s asshole brother appeared to be over, Jed still worried about his mate. Leaving him so soon after the challenge was hard as fuck.

Speaking of hard fucks... After the challenge, Buzz had taken care of Jed. He washed him in the shower, tended to his cuts. Then he pushed him onto the bed and proceeded to ride the hell out of him. It was fucking hot watching Buzz bucking up and down on his big cock, lost in pleasure, telling Jed how strong and powerful he was, telling him he loved him.

“You thinking about last night?” Buzz whispered. He ran his hand across the front of Jed’s pants.

Jed thrust his hips forward, chasing after Buzz’s hand. “Fuck, baby, let’s go back to bed.”

“We can’t. Duty calls.”

Buzz kissed Jed soundly before he headed off to work.

With a huge ass grin on his face, Jed knocked on Colton and Parker’s cabin door. When Parker called out for him to come in, Jed opened the door and entered.

“We’re almost ready,” Parker said from the table. “Just give us a few minutes to finish eating.”

Wylie was sitting on a booster seat at the table eating breakfast. Holding a French toast stick in his fist, he dipped it in syrup and tore off a bite. Speaking of syrup, his mouth, chin, and hands were covered in the sticky stuff. But damn, those French toast sticks looked good. If he wasn’t convinced he’d pull back a stump instead of a hand, he’d snatch one off the little pup’s plate. That boy was fucking those toast sticks up!

After a couple weeks with the Timber pack, the pup seemed to be acclimating well. He was eating regularly, and putting on weight, growing stronger by the day. Colton somehow managed to potty train him in just a few days. But then, Colton was the only person the pup actually obeyed.

The boy was still skittish around anyone but Colton and Parker.

As Jed moved toward them, Wylie yanked his plate close to his body, making it clatter against the table. Cowering over it, he shot Jed a glare while baring his teeth.

Parker placed a hand on the back of Wylie’s head. “It’s okay. No one’s gonna take your food. There plenty more if you want it.” He glanced up at Jed with glistening eyes. Rapidly blinking, fighting back tears, he went to the toaster, and heated up another batch of sticks for the boy.

Well, shit. The little devil just about shattered Jed’s heart into a million pieces. He jerked his thumb toward one of the chairs in front of the fireplace, and slowly backed away. “I’m gonna sit over here, little dude. Take your time. Eat as much as you want.”

Parker and Jed waited for the boy to finish eating. Once Jed sat down, and he realized no one was going to take his food away, Wylie relaxed and set about demolishing the rest of his food.

Afterward, it took Parker several minutes to clean up the sticky syrup the boy managed to get everywhere. Once Parker got him cleaned and dressed, they were ready to go. Even though he was wearing his little brother Dug’s hand-me-downs, the boy looked stylish and adorable. The way Jed and his brothers grew, they barely wore the clothes before outgrowing them anyway, so they looked brand new.

“Can you get the spare car seat?” Parker asked, pointing toward the contraption by the door. Another hand-me-down from Jed’s mom.

After Jed successfully got the seat set up in his truck, they headed to the vet’s office.

The pack-mates followed Doc into the back exam office. Parker set Wylie on the exam table. “Be a good boy for Doc. He’s like us, remember? He won’t hurt you.”

The pup didn’t protest, but he watched Doc with a cautious eye.

Doc patted Wylie’s arm before taking his vitals. “There’s a good lad.”

“Should we be concerned he doesn’t seem to be talking? Shouldn’t a boy his age be talking by now?” Parker asked as Doc examined Wylie’s ears, then his eyes.

“Now that he has normal interaction with others of his kind, I imagine he’ll begin talking soon. In just this short time, his progress is remarkable. Give him time. Be patient.”

Jed resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He’d heard that too many times to count. Hopefully the kid wouldn’t have to hear it over and over.

“I assume he has a healthy appetite?”

“Oh, yeah. That’s not a problem.”

“Good.” Doc listened to the boy’s chest with his stethoscope.

“How old do you think he is?” Parker asked.

“Without actual records, it’s hard to tell. I’d guess he’s close to two years. He’s in remarkable shape, given the way he was mistreated. He’s a strong pup, big for his age.”

“There’s a lot of that around here,” Parker noted. He looked down at the toddler with a proud smile on his face.

* * * *

Jed and Buzz sat on the sofa together in the common building rec room. They’d started out playing video games on the big screen TV, but watching Colton and Wylie was far more entertaining.

After decimating an entire plate of chicken nuggets and a juice box, the pup obviously felt it was too hot in the room. He stripped down to his underwear, and he and Colton began a game of chase.

“Pup,” Colton barked. As he reached out for the kid, Wylie let out a laugh and darted around the sofa.

‘Round and ‘round the boy went, giggling all the while. Colton chased him, making a playful show of his growls and snarls. Finally, he scooped the toddler up. Colton lifted him over his head, and blew a raspberry on his tummy. The boy squealed with laughter, kicking and flailing his arms.

The two sat down on the floor and Colton pulled the boy’s T-shirt back over his head. He pulled on the cute little denim overalls and buttoned them up. “There. All better. Now Parker won’t have a fit when he sees you. You know how he gets when you run around in your undies.”

Wylie whined and yanked at the overalls.

“Ah,” Colton admonished.

Defeated, the pup dropped into Colton’s lap and sat down, curling into the safety of the alpha wolf’s chest.

Jed couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of Parker running after Wylie down by the river. “Pup! You can’t run around in just your underwear. People will think we’re trash!”

Some day, Colton would make a good dad, and so would Parker. They’d already grown hopelessly attached to the boy. When the Council found Wylie’s home pack and his parents, they were going to be devastated.

“Colton!” Parker came running into the room. “It’s Shell.”

Colton, Jed and Buzz all jerked to attention.

When Wylie saw Parker, he bounced up onto his feet and ran over to him, knocking into the man’s legs.

“Hey, you.” He leaned down and picked Wylie up, balancing the toddler on his hip. He grinned at Wylie, who reached up and touched Parker’s golden hair. “Are you being a good boy for Colton?”

“Pup. What’s happening?” Colton asked, pushing to his feet.

Wylie grabbed a fistful of Parker’s hair. “P—.”

Parker blinked. “Did he just call me ‘Pa’?” His eyes went glassy and he hugged the boy tight. He grinned proudly at Colton. “He said his first word.”

Wylie let out a growl and squirmed against Parker, trying to free himself from the clutches of an overzealous bear hug. “Puh!”

When the realization hit him, Jed doubled-over in laughter. “Ha!” Between guffaws, he managed to spit out, “He’s not saying ‘Pa’, he’s saying ‘pup’.”

“Great.” His lips pursed together in a frown, Parker set Wylie down. “Now the pup is calling me ‘pup’.”

Jed and Buzz laughed harder.

Colton interjected. “Pup, concentrate. What about Shell?”

“Oh, right! She’s gone into labor. Curtis is helping her to their car.”

Relieved it wasn’t something dangerous and unexpected, like rival packs or hunters, Jed pushed off the sofa and got up. Everyone piled into their vehicles and sped to Doc’s clinic.

Curtis and Parker helped a ragged-looking Shell inside where Doc was ready.

“She’ll be well-taken care of,” Doc told the pack.

Curtis and Shell disappeared into the back with Doc while everyone else sat in the lobby and waited. Jed had been through this with his mom.

It was going to be a long night.

About an hour later, Buck and Stan arrived with drinks and snacks. Once they finished the light meal, everyone settled down in anticipation.

It wasn’t until nearly four hours later when Curtis emerged from the back.

“I’m a dad. To a beautiful little girl…” He couldn’t continue because he got choked up.

Everyone was instantly on their feet, showering the proud new papa with congratulations, hugs, and handshakes.

Parker’s grin nearly rivaled Curtis’s. “It looks like Timber Pack has grown by one more.”

Colton looked at Buzz, then at the toddler asleep against Parker’s chest. “Actually, that makes three.”

* * * *

Parker drew in a quick breath. “Oh my god.” He sat on a stool behind the counter, staring intently at his laptop.

Jed closed the drink cooler, cracked open the can of soda and took a sip. Mmm. Nice and cold. He had to admit that his mate’s idea of getting the drink cooler was a good one.

He moved around the counter to stand next to Parker.

A powder blue blanket lay on the floor next to Parker’s stool. Wylie sat on the blanket, playing with a small stuffed wolf with white fur and a toy police car. Quietly and intently, he chased them around each other, until he saw Jed moving in. He then scooted around so his back was to Jed, hiding his toys from view.

“What is it?” Jed asked as he peered over Parker’s shoulder. The alpha-mate had those data files on his screen again.

“I found him,” he answered.

“Found who?” Buzz asked as he stepped into the lobby. He set aside the bucket and squeegee he’d been using to clean the outside windows. After wiping his hands on a rag, he joined Jed’s side.

Jed automatically put his arm around Buzz’s shoulder, and pressed a kiss to the side of Buzz’s head.

After a few taps on his trackpad, the computer opened the file Parker had found. It displayed in his Internet browser, looking like a web page.

Jed leaned in and read the title off the screen. “Christopher Wyland. Who’s that?”

Parker let out a strained breath. “It’s Wylie.”

Buzz swallowed audibly. “Christopher? His name’s Christopher?”

Seeing Buzz go pale, Jed reached up and touched his chin and lifted his head. “You okay?”

Buzz shook his head. “I’m fine. I mean—” His head shaking turned to a nod. “I’m fine.”

Jed leaned in close and asked quietly, “That was that boy’s name, wasn’t it?”

Letting out a breath, Buzz nodded. “Yeah.”

Jed wrapped his arms around Buzz and held him for a moment, trying to comfort him as best as he could.

“I’m okay,” Buzz whispered. “But it’s always nice to get extra hugs from you.”

Jed chuckled, then pressed a kiss to Buzz’s head. Letting go of his mate, he turned back to Parker, who was staring intently at the computer screen. “Are you sure it’s the pup?” he asked.

“Positive. All of the stats match. He’s twenty-six months old. Black hair, blue eyes.”

“Does it say where he’s from?” Buzz asked.

“No. It says his mother is Sandra Wyland; no father listed. Let me see if there’s a file for her.” Parker tapped at his trackpad and keyboard for a few minutes, then a new file opened. “Found it.”

“Sandra Wyland,” Jed read. “Deceased. No known pack association.”

“It has to be them,” Parker insisted. After a moment, he asked, “Do you think the hunters killed her?”

Jed could tell Parker was anxious over this, so he couldn’t help but be cautious. “There was no picture. It might not be him.”

“Try to do an online search,” Buzz added.

Parker looked down toward the floor. “Christopher?”

The boy stopped playing with his toys and looked up, focusing his big blue eyes on Parker.

Parker looked like he was on the verge of tears. His hands shook, his breath caught. He shut the laptop a bit too hard; luckily it didn’t break.

Jed reached out and gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Parker and Colton had become quite attached to the pup. Even Jed had to admit the kid wasn’t that bad, now that he was living under Colton’s guidance. His natural born instincts compelled him to obey the alpha, as well as giving him an innate desire to please his pack leader.

They’d all be glad to see him returned to his home pack, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t hurt to watch him go.

Parker bit his lip, then let it pop free with a slow exhale. “I better call Colton and leave him a message. He’s going to have to call the Council.”

* * * *

“Right. I understand, Alpha.” Colton turned his back to everyone as he spoke into his phone.

Jed sat on the edge of the sofa along with everyone else, all eyes on Colton. The entire pack was gathered to welcome Shell and Curtis’s baby.

And what a sight she was. Little Rose Lakewood was the cutest, sweetest thing Jed had ever seen. In sharp contrast to Wylie, she was quiet and well-behaved.

Just as the party started, it was interrupted by a phone call from a Council representative.

It had been a week since Colton had called to relay the information they’d discovered on the flash drive. The Council rep was not pleased Parker had kept a copy of the data, but they didn’t press the issue because of what he’d discovered. Still, they made Colton destroy the flash drive as well as pledge there was no backup. They were confident the data would be enough to find the boy’s home pack.

Colton had been on the phone already for several minutes, but the Council member was doing most of the talking. He paced back and forth, practically wearing a hole in the rec room’s rug, as he spoke into his cell phone. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Oh my god,” Parker muttered to himself. “I can’t take it.” He looked like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

“Puh.” Wylie—er, Christopher—crawled onto Parker’s lap. Parker helped him up. Jed couldn’t help but smile. He had to admit the little demon could sometimes be cute. Like now, when he saw how upset Parker was, and sat in his lap to comfort him.

“Yes, Alpha, I understand. We will. Good afternoon to you, too.”

Colton hung up the phone. He looked exhausted. His shoulders dropped, and he drew in a deep breath. When he exhaled, it stuttered. Standing up straight, he looked back at Parker with tear-filled eyes.

“No.” Parker shook his head back and forth, and wrapped his arms tightly around Christopher, pulling the boy back against his chest. “Colton. Please don’t let them take him.”

Colton squatted down on his knee in front of Christopher and Parker. He took one of Christopher’s hands. “Christopher. You’re going to be staying with me and Parker. The Council is drawing up adoption papers. I know you don’t know what I’m saying, but me and Parker are going to be your daddies. Forever.”

“What?” Parker started to tremble. “Really? He’s ours?”

“Yes. His mother wasn’t part of any registered packs. They couldn’t identify the father, or find any relatives.”

“He’s staying?”

“Yes, Parker. He’s staying. Actually, I’ve been thinking about this for a while. We need to make this official, pup. Especially if we’re gonna adopt him, and be a family…”

Parker repeated himself. “What?” He sniffled and a tear escaped, leaving a track down his cheek.

Colton shifted his weight and dug into his pocket. He pulled out a gold band and held it up. “Pup. Parker. You’re already my alpha-mate. Mine forever. You already wear my permanent mark, but I want the rest of the world to know who you are to me. Will you marry me?”

Without hesitation, Parker belted out, “Yes!”

Colton launched himself forward, pulling Parker in for a hug and a steamy kiss.

Trapped between the two kissing men, Christopher growled and squirmed. Colton pulled back and laughed. He pressed a kiss on top of the little boy’s head, then pressed a quick kiss on Parker’s lips.

Not so long ago, Jed would have made a joke about Colton’s corny cheese ball proposal, but with Buzz sitting at his side, he finally understood. Instead, Jed was the first to jump up and congratulate Colton, shaking his hand and giving him a hug. He then did the same to Parker.

Once everyone settled down, Shell stood up, cradling Rose against her chest. “Okay, we’re here to party. Looks like we have cause for a double celebration.” She leaned over and kissed Parker’s cheek. “Girl, I’m so happy for you.”

“Gur,” Christopher repeated.

Parker sighed dramatically. “Great.”

Everyone else burst out in laughter.

* * * *

Buzz looked up into the sky. The full moon was coming. He closed his eyes and breathed in. The scent of the campground and its surrounding forest comforted him. This place was his home now. Here in Timber, with Jed, his mate.

Tonight’s ceremony would make it official.

The ceremony would actually welcome three new members: Christopher, Rose, and Buzz. After the ceremony, the pack would go for a run, then there would be a feast in the dining hall.

Buzz was still thrown off by Wylie’s real name being Christopher. The Christopher that he grew up with was dead, killed in cold blood on his brother’s orders. He knew that this Christopher would never grow up living in fear like that. Gay or straight, this Christopher would be loved no matter what.

And Buzz felt that same love from all of his brothers and sisters here.

Though none loved him like Jed did. His mate was the most loving and caring man he knew. He was perfection in the flesh.

“Hey, baby.”

Jed came up behind Buzz and wrapped his arms around him. He pressed a kiss to the base of Buzz’s neck and let out a happy moan.

Buzz smiled as he leaned back against Jed. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Tonight would be another big step in their relationship. After Buzz was welcomed into the pack by Colton, Jed and Buzz would cement their relationship with the marking bite.

Buzz shouldn’t be nervous, but he was. He and Jed had sex many times since moving in together, but this time would be different. As they made love, Jed would bite him, and permanently mark the base of his neck. After tonight, he would belong to Timber Pack—and he would belong to Jed Stone.

As the sun began to set, Jed and Trey built up a bonfire in the fire pit in the middle of the campground.

“Oh my god,” Shell moaned. Curtis took baby Rose from her, and handed her off to Stan. She wrapped her arms around her trembling body.

Curtis slid up behind her and held her back against his chest. “It’s okay, babe. It’ll be over soon. Everything is going to be okay. I promise.”

Parker stood nearby, rubbing his bare arms. “It hurts the first time, but once it’s done, it’ll feel great.”

Shell shot Parker a dry look. “Yeah. I’ve heard that one before, right after ‘just the tip’.”

Parker snickered. “Well, look what you got out of it.”

They all looked at Rose and smiled.

“Yeah. You’re right.”

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Colton moved to stand in front of his pack.

Gathered around the bonfire were Buzz, Jed, Parker, Christopher, Trey, Buck, Stan, Shell and Curtis, who cradled baby Rose in his arms.

“Brother and sisters, tonight we welcome two new brothers and a new sister into our pack. Please step forward.”

Jed squeezed Buzz’s hand one last time before letting go. Taking a deep breath, Buzz moved forward until he was standing in front of Colton.

Curtis joined him with Rose.

Colton motioned to Christopher to come, and the toddler moved until he stood next Buzz. Unlike normal, he was silent and still, as if he knew the significance of what was happening.

“Do you pledge your loyalty to Timber Pack?”

“Yes, Alpha,” Buzz replied.

Colton brushed his finger across Rose’s cheek until she met his eyes. He then looked down at Christopher.

The toddler grinned toothily at Colton. “Da.”

Colton smiled proudly at his boy as he rubbed the hair on top of his head. “Son.” He turned to the gathered pack. “Do you accept their pledges?”

“Yes, Alpha,” they replied together.

Colton grasped the back of Buzz’s neck. When Buzz tipped his head to the side, Colton scraped the sharp claw of his thumb, drawing a tiny drop of blood. He leaned forward and sniffed.

He repeated the gesture with Christopher, then Rose. Standing up straight in front of his pack, he spread his arms wide, “Welcome to Timber Pack, my brothers and sister. Welcome to the family.”

“Oh my god.” Shell scratched at her skin.

Buck took Rose from Curtis. “I’ll watch after your cub. You run with your mate.”

“Thank you.”

As the moon began to rise, everyone pulled off their clothes and shifted to their wolf forms.

Buzz stood with Jed, letting his bigger mate sniff him, and occasionally swipe a lick here and there. Buzz didn’t mind. He knew it was Jed’s wolf’s way of taking care of him, making sure he was okay.

A scream pierced the night and Buzz turned to watch Shell drop to her knees. Colton was there to expertly guide her through her first shift as her mate watched with concern nearby.

Within moments, a slender brown wolf rose to her feet, the first time on all fours.

She whined as she took a step towards Curtis. The two finally came together as mated wolves. Like Jed had done, Curtis took the opportunity to rub his body against hers, bathing her in his scent.

Not wanting to intrude on their private moment, Buzz turned back to Jed.

When Colton’s wolf howled, the rest of the pack tipped their heads back and joined in. Even Christopher tipped his head back and let out a pretty good imitation of a howl.

Christopher ran up to the black wolf and grabbed him around the neck. He buried his face in Colton’s fur and sniffed.

“Da.”

Gripping the fur in his fists, the boy climbed up onto Colton like he was mounting a horse.

Colton just stood there and let him do what he wanted. When his boy was secure on his back, Colton took off into the forest.

The rest of his pack gave chase.