Worry and Fret

There were grunts and hard hits. Malcolm and Cash were fighting and Byron was worried, at first. He didn't want to see his mate getting hit. He was beside Trevor and Emma and watched. The twins were fun to watch because he could tell that they have always practiced.

Malcolm fell from a ledge and landed on his back with a thud. Byron was standing up. He was ready to rush in. Cash was on Malcolm and then he flipped Cash and pinned him.

They both laughed as Malcolm looked up. "I'm fine, Byron."

He stared at Malcolm until he was sure. He nodded. "I'm next then." Byron smiled. Malcolm pulled his twin up and hit him on the back. He loved fighting with his brother.

Cash was a little worried about what was happening when this was over. Malcolm wasn't going to want to leave but he wasn't ready to talk about it. Things were changing and he hated that and he was a little scared. He hated that too.

"Right. Come on." Malcolm smiled a wicked smile as the Alpha charged him. They fought hard and Malcolm was eventually pinned. He didn't really fight too hard.

Byron had no interest in moving. "Uh." Malcolm saw the look in Byron's eyes. Byron took Malcolm's mouth with his and they melted together. Byron's body covered Malcolm. Malcolm wrapped his leg around Byron's legs. His brothers just stared.

"I said no sex in here!" Trevor wasn't kidding. He walked up to Byron. "Sir."

Byron groaned and released Malcolm. "Okay. No sex. Stick in the mud!" He rolled off and pulled Malcolm off the floor and into him. They sat together.

Emma and Tucker agreed not to kill each other and practiced together twice. Tucker had a great time fighting with her. He was starting to really like Emma. Cash and Emma took their turn.

Malcolm couldn't concentrate because he was holding Byron's hand. He didn't care about the practice.

"We need to talk later about...the bite? Whatever that is?" Malcolm was curious.

Byron hummed. "Oh, Malcolm. Don't tease me. I would love to mark you. We were thinking about it when I had you pinned earlier. It has to be volunteer though. I can't make you do it. I have done that with a few of my wolves but this will be different. You need to know that."

"Different how?" All kinds of things flashed into Malcom

"Well, I marked Skylar and Val. Val is in charge of my scouts and Skylar is my Beta; neither of them were sexual. Those marks were for better communication. I don't always have time to talk so the connection with them comes in handy." Byron took a breath.

"I have never done it with someone I loved. This will be different but I can't wait to do it." His eyes began to glow a soft orange. "I have thought of nothing else since we slept together the first night." Byron wasn't sure if this would weird Malcolm out.

"Calm down, Byron. I know this is all new. I saw the mark on Skylar. I know that it wasn't romantic. So, how did you do it? I couldn't be more freaked out so just tell me." Malcolm was curious.

Byron smiled as he nodded. "So, we were in my office. They signed a contract and there was a lawyer in the room. It was very legal. They offered their bare neck and I bit them. I held them until I felt them give up and relaxed. When one is bitten, their instinct is to pull away or fight and I need them to relax and trust me. I feel the trust and then let go and we are connected when it's needed."

"I see. And with me?" Malcolm had to ask.

Byron smiled. "We wouldn't need a lawyer..." He winked. "...With you, I want it to be very sexual. I don't know why but I want to take you to bed and then bite you. I can almost taste you now!"

Malcolm saw the wolf in his face and it disappeared. "Sorry, Malcolm. You have nothing to fear from my wolf. He loves you and I didn't expect that."

"We are connected all of the time and he knows you. You never have to worry about him. You remember him in the woods, he licked you. I know I get a little wolfy and I didn't want to freak you out."

Malcolm just stared. "Oh, okay. I don't know what to say to that. I have some werewolf questions for later." He watched Byron nod. "So, when you mark me, you are going to make it rough?"

Byron growled and his eyes were yellow. "Yes, I will. I have dreamed about doing it. I can't wait but maybe when you're more comfortable. I don't want to scare you or force you into anything. We can wait."

Byron was enjoying this conversation because Malcolm never looked away. He held eye contact the whole time. Byron really enjoyed that.

Malcolm touched Byron's face. "You are very sweet." He kissed his mate. He wasn't sure he wanted to wait. There was someone clearing their throat. The two men were just melted together in their little bubble and no one else existed. The men never moved or blinked. They looked into each other's eyes while they talked.

The fight, Trevor and Tucker were in the middle of, had stopped a while ago and they were all watching Malcolm and Byron talk.

They were huddled and whispering and the air around them seemed to vibrate. They were just the sweetest couple and Emma just about melted watching them talk. She never saw Byron look at a person like he did Malcolm and it made her happy.

Cash watched his brother melt into the Alpha and cleared his throat. They didn't seem to know anyone was there. Emma wrapped around Cash and sighed as she watched them. This was so nice.

Byron let go of Malcolm and looked around. Five people were just staring at them. Malcolm cleared his throat. "Oops." He smiled at his mate.

"Oh, well, what did we miss?" Byron had no idea how long they were talking. He got lost in Malcolm.

"Nothing." Emma smiled.

"You missed me puking in that trash bucket over there but I'm sure it will happen again soon!" Trevor commented and laughed. Byron laughed with him.

"Maybe we should finish here and swim?" Emma asked.

"Maybe not a good idea for you two horndogs!" Cash pointed out. Tucker agreed with a nod. He didn't want to watch them have sex in the water and he knew they would.

Malcolm shook his head. "What? We were just talking. We were behaving, mostly." It was borderline.

"Uh, I actually have some work to do." Byron pointed out. He stood and pulled Malcolm up with him. He wasn't letting go of his hand. "You guys go swimming and we will see you at dinner. Malcolm, I could actually use you." He pulled him out the door. "Be in my office." They were gone.

"What was that?" Malcolm asked as Byron pulled him close and walked to the house.

"Val wanted to talk." Byron smiled and held the door for Malcolm. He sighed and entered. He waited for Byron to enter the office first. He wasn't sure why but he did. "Val. Yes. You okay?"

A very muscled man stood up and looked at the floor. "Sir. I have the full report for you and I wanted to tell you congratulations. I heard that you found a mate!"

Byron smiled. "I'm very sorry. I haven't made an official announcement yet but yes. Malcolm, Val. He is the head of my security. He does a lot of the scouting for me and he's very good. You have a file?" He looked at Val.

"Yes." He motioned to the desk.

"Thanks, Val. At ease! Are you okay?" Byron stared at Val. He was silent and he looked worried.

"Read the file. Sir." Byron read the file silently and nodded. It was the information he had before. York was held up and now they needed that phone hacked. "And I wanted to apologize for last night! I didn't realize that York's men were in the area. I missed that one. We was running with Anne." He blushed.

"Anne! Good for you! Val. We were fine. I promise. I wouldn't be Alpha if I couldn't take care of myself and we led them away from the pack. We kept everyone safe and I wasn't upset with you, Val. Malcolm was there to save us."

Val wasn't comfortable having this conversation with Malcolm in the room. "It's not my place but this is our business. I don't want a civilian getting involved and getting hurt. I only mean that I don't want to see you get hurt if he gets hurt, Sir." Val stated and took a breath. He was worried that insulted the Alpha.

"Val. I would normally agree with you but Malcolm is a vampire hunter so I think he may come in handy. Actually, I have brought several vampire hunters with me. You know that Emma and Trevor are here. Malcolm's two brothers, Cash and Tucker, are here as well. We should all meet soon. Get things organized. Get ready for an attack." Byron sighed.

Val looked at Malcolm. "You're a vampire hunter?"

Malcolm smiled. "Yes. I'm pretty good." He winked at Val.

Val smiled. "You helped kill those intruders last night?"

"Yes, I had to save my man." Malcolm smiled. "I needed the practice and it was a great night. Nothing says full moon like killing some vampires. It was the best date night ever."

Val smiled at Malcolm and turned to Byron. "I can see why he's your mate, Sir." Malcolm was funny and sure of himself just like Byron.

Byron smiled. "He's very cocky." He winked at Malcolm and Malcolm nodded. Val laughed and cleared his throat. "Val. I want to attack York before he attacks us. He thinks we are weak and I want to show him how wrong he is." Byron's eyes were yellow. "I can't wait to taste his blood!" The wolf was talking there.

Malcolm stared at Byron. Okay, he was hotter right now. He drooled a little and tried to pull himself together. He didn't want to be a woman right now!

He watched Byron and licked his lips. He couldn't wait to get him alone. One of them was getting marked soon. He couldn't wait either.

"Malcolm, Val is my brother" Byon smiled.

"Half brother." Val corrected.

"We don't share the same father but he is my brother and my friend." Byron explained and looked at Val when he said friend. Val nodded. "I keep telling him that he doesn't have to call me sir but I can't stop him."

"Never going to happen, Sir." Val would always show respect for Byron and had no desire to be Alpha.

Malcolm stared at both men. Val had the same stance as Byron and the same hair color. It was dark with silver streaks but Val's was shorter. He had stormy blue eyes. They were brothers. Cool. Val would be his brother-in-law. He loved the sound of that. "Val, it's great to meet you."

"Malcolm, we need Tucker or Trevor to hack that phone. I'm not sure who took it. I was...not paying attention. Can you find out when they will be done with it?" Byron was talking. "I have no idea how long that would even take."

Malcolm focused. It took effort to focus. "I think they wanted to team up on it but I don't know either. I can go ask." Byron nodded. Malcolm left the office and walked down the lane to the water.

They were jumping from a rock wall and enjoying the rainy day. His family looked happy and he sighed. He had no idea what was going to happen when this was done.

He already missed Byron. He knew he could never leave Byron. He wasn't the same as before and that scared him a little. He didn't want to lose himself. That fear sunk in deeper with each step that was farther from Byron.

"You came out here and you're not attached to anyone!" Cash smiled. He walked out of the water toward his brother. "You okay?" Malcolm looked worried or stressed.

Malcolm laughed. "Great. I'm fine. It's the bond. It's tough to be this far away. Do you know if the guys are hacking that phone soon?"

Cash stared. "Are you okay, Malcolm?" He was worried.

"No, Cash! I'm in love with a man!" Malcolm smiled.

Cash nodded. "I know but at least he's the Alpha. Byron McIntyre! Dad and Uncle River are going to freak out!"

Malcom sighed. "I know! I didn't do this on purpose. I wasn't trying to flirt with him but I couldn't stop myself. He said it's the mate thing. I don't have answers yet. Byron and I are talking later."

"It's good to see you happy, Malcolm." Cash watched his twin. "I never thought it would happen. I should have guessed that a strong man would be the only one to take you down."

Malcolm appreciated Cash. "I doubt that Dad will see it that way, Cash." He was really worried about his family.

Cash saw the worry. "I will back you up, Malcolm. I always have your back. You know that." Malcolm nodded. He was ready to get back to Byron.

Cash turned to the water. "Did you guys hack that phone?"

"Not yet. Been busy. I was going to work on it tonight." Tucker promised.

Malcolm nodded. "Can you speed it up a bit? We need a location and a plan. We are going there as soon as we know where there is."

"You are beginning to sound like Byron. All war and no fun!" Trevor teased.

"I will get on that, I was about done swimming anyway." Tucker sighed. He didn't have a woman to hold. He missed his wife. He could call her while he's working. He walked out of the water and dried off. "I'm on it, Byron." He winked.

Malcolm glared and made them laugh. "I'll let him know. Thanks, Tucker."

Cash pulled Malcolm to a stop. "Can we talk later?" He missed his brother.

Malcolm nodded and he stormed back to the house. He had to get back to Byron. He had to be closer and touch him, smell him. This was too far.