Mine to Keep: Fraser Lake Pack, #2

Mine to Keep ~ Fraser Lake Pack Book 2

Lynn Tyler

Copyright © 2016

ISBN: 978-0-9951899-7-3

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or otherwise transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise without the prior consent of the author.

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Chapter 1

Paperwork sucked a big one, and not in a good way.

The only thing that sucked in a good way was Jake, and he was out for his daily run in the forest.

Tristan had high hopes of getting the Fraser Lake pack’s finances in the black by the year’s end. Unfortunately, it was starting to look like he and Chris would be working their asses off for at least another eighteen months before they would see any results.

And then there were the pack members themselves. Bobby and his crew may have been killed or banished, but it hadn’t stopped the rest from occasionally testing his authority. He put it down to the fact that he was extremely young for an alpha, but the constant challenge of proving his worth was exhausting.

Outside called to him, beckoned him with air scented of apples and crisp autumn leaves. The wild rivers would be thick with spawning salmon, and the breeze probably held a hint of sharpness.

And the outside had Jake.

Screw it. The papers weren’t going to magically grow legs and walk away, even if he did wish it would happen. Nothing drastic would happen if he set them aside and took an hour or two to play with his mate.

He picked up his cell and started typing a message to his beta. Am going on a run for a couple of hours. Can you handle things?

He kind of felt bad. Chris had been doing far more than he should as his beta. Usually, the position was one shared by two people. Despite his search he hadn’t been able to find someone strong enough, someone he trusted enough, to take on that role, so Chris had been stuck doing it himself.

The cool air rushed over his skin as he shrugged out of his shirt. He popped the button on his jeans in time to hear his phone chime. Sure. I’ll be over in a few. Have a good time.

The office door creaked open as he set down the phone and a giant tiger padded in. It looked like he wouldn’t have to go far to play.

Good lord, his mate was simply stunning.

He smiled at Jake as he paced closer, shutting the door with a firm swipe of his tail.

Hey, kitty, he cooed, careful to keep a straight face. Though Jake claimed he hated the nickname, he always preened when Tristan used it. Anyone else was liable to get a swipe to the face with some very big claws.

The cat purred and rubbed his big head against the sensitive skin of his lower belly.

He groaned and scratched behind Jake’s ears. It’s going to be one of those afternoons, is it?

Anticipation flowed through him and his dick twitched with interest.

Jake cocked his head, stepped back, and huffed.

Maybe not then.

The muscles under Jake’s sleek fur rippled and began to contort as he shifted into his human body. Soon, a naked male knelt at his feet, panting with exertion.

Mindful of Jake’s post-shift sensitivity, Tristan dropped to his knees next to him and caressed his back, his fingers barely brushing against the man’s skin.

Jake always recovered much faster from a shift than Tristan. He claimed it had something to do with the fact that he was submissive. Whatever the reason, he was right as rain after only a couple of minutes. It was nothing short of amazing.

The expression on Jake’s face was anything but lust. His eyebrows were drawn together, lips pinched, and nose slightly scrunched.

What’s the matter? Tristan asked, tracing one fingertip along his mate’s eyebrow.

Jake huffed again and practically threw himself at Tristan, trusting the alpha to keep him from falling. I can’t find a friend of mine and I’m starting to get worried.

Tristan ran through a mental list of the pack members Jake considered his friends. The tiger tended to hang back on the fringes, even though most of the wolves fell all over themselves to cater to the submissive. Jake was never sure if the pack members liked him for him, or if they liked the feeling a happy submissive gave them, which made the list of those he truly counted as friends short.

I can’t think of anyone who’s missing.

He’s not a pack member. He’s an eagle shifter. I haven’t seen him for almost a week now.

Eagle shifter? Tristan puffed out his cheeks before releasing his next breath, thinking hard. The last time I checked, there weren’t any eagle shifters around.

What? Jake pulled back and stared at him, his mouth hanging open. Are you sure?

Gently pushing his mate away from him, Tristan sat down behind his computer and pulled up the private website the different wolf packs used to communicate information with each other. It had recently been updated with tiger pride and eagle flock information.

He scanned the page, scrolling to the very bottom. According to this, there are no flocks outside of Ontario, which is odd, since B.C. is a haven for normal eagles.

Jake leaned over his shoulder and, because he used a drafting stool at his desk, every single hot, naked inch of his mate’s chest pressed up against his back. Talk about making it hard to concentrate. He wasn’t about to tell Jake to back up, especially when the cat looped his arms loosely around his neck and nuzzled close.

When was this last updated? Maybe a flock relocated after this was made.

A little more searching revealed that the page had been updated within the week.

That makes no sense, Jake said, pulling away from Tristan and leaving his back cold despite the still- warm temperatures. Honestly, Tris, I’ve been playing tag with him since I got here. I don’t know where he’s from, but I’ve played with him every day until last week, I swear.

Jake was babbling—Jake only babbled when he was nervous about something.

Why are you so nervous? he asked.

The tiger blinked at him and blushed. I wasn’t sure you would believe me, especially since you said there aren’t any eagles around here.

Tristan reached over and squeezed his mate’s shoulder. Thanks for telling me what’s upsetting you. I believe you. It doesn’t matter what the site says. If your friend is missing, then we should head out there and look for him.

Jake closed his eyes and breathed slowly through his nose, and Tristan’s heart ached at the relief he felt rolling off him. Despite what Jake said about forgiving him and loving him, he knew he had a long way to go before Jake trusted him completely again.

He shook off his melancholy and stripped off the rest of his clothes. I track scents better when I’m in wolf form, he said, in case Jake got the wrong idea.

I know. I’ll stay in human form, though, in case we need to carry him back or something. Let me get some clothes on.

Tristan watched the man walk away, the muscles of his ass bunching and releasing with each step. His dick, which had gone soft with their conversation, perked right back up. Arousal spiked in him, and he reminded himself that they had a possibly injured shifter to look for instead of chasing after his lover.

I can smell that, Jake called.

Can’t help it, he called back.

By the time Jake returned, tucking his shirt into his jeans, Tristan had shifted and waited patiently in front of the door.

Jake stopped beside him and smiled down at him. Thanks for doing this for me. Have I told you lately that I love you?

Tristan’s chest swelled with gratitude and affection. That this man loved him, after all the stupid things he’d done, was nothing short of a miracle. He still occasionally woke up with a cold knot in his chest, panicked at the thought of Jake leaving again. Yet Jake was always there, right next to him, to comfort him and reassure him.

Unable to verbally respond with his own words of love, Tristan reared up and placed his paws on Jake’s shoulders. He stared into those beautiful eyes for about three seconds before licking a stripe up Jake’s cheek.

Ew, Jake whined, pushing him down. Dog spit.

Dog spit? That’s what Jake had to say about his display of canine love?

He dropped to the ground and covered his snout with his front paws. He stared up at Jake with big eyes, hoping to convince him of his sincerity.

The man let out a laugh and bent down to stroke his head. I’m kidding. I know you love me, too.

Jake never failed to make him feel like a young pup in love. He jumped to his feet, yipped, and ran circles around his mate.

Yeah, yeah, Jake said with a smile. I get it.

The door opened and Chris poked his head in. Sorry it took so long. I had to finish up a conference call… the beta’s words trailed off as he took in the actions of his alpha. What’s going on?

Tris is just in one of those moods, Jake replied.

Okay. Well, I thought he was going to join you for a run. Am I too late?

Tristan sobered and stopped running, standing tall next to Jake, suddenly remembering the reason they were going out.

No, Jake answered, his hand coming to rest between Tristan’s ears. We have to go out again. Thanks for coming over.

Chris shrugged. His office is as good as mine, I guess. Have fun.

Tristan led Jake out and waited patiently for him to close the door behind him. He hoped it would turn out fun. He prayed that they would find Jake’s friend happy and healthy.

Because he had no idea what to do with a sick or injured eagle.

*

A cool breeze flowed over them as they ambled through the forest, bringing with it the knowledge that autumn was nearly on them.

Tristan took the lead, his big paws moving nearly silent over the forest floor. Jake walked behind him, scanning the branches as they moved overhead.

They walked for about fifteen minutes or so before Tristan turned and gazed at him, cocking his head, his tongue lolling out one side of his mouth.

Jake smiled. What’s up?

The wolf jerked his head toward him, which Jake interpreted as a request for more information.

I don’t know much about him, to be honest…not even his name. Like I said before, he only ever comes to me in his eagle form. I have no idea where he lives.

Tristan cocked his head and chuffed.

He wasn’t a wolf, and though he was the alpha’s mate, he would never be a part of the pack mind. However, he knew Tristan well enough to know exactly what Tristan asked. I didn’t tell you about him because I assumed there was a flock nearby. I’m sorry.

His mate whined, looking at him so intently that he had no problem understanding Tristan wanted him to know there was nothing to be sorry for.

Thanks, he said, and got a nudge and a lick to the hand as an answer.

He fell silent again as Tristan went back to sniffing the ground. We usually play chase a little farther ahead. Maybe you can get his scent there.

It was only another ten minutes or so before Tristan froze, a small growl slipping from his chest. Jake could hear the question in it. He closed his eyes and drew in a long breath, concentrating on sorting through the different scents of the woods.

Yes, there. A faint hint of eagle shifter. That’s him.

The wolf bobbed his head and slowly moved forward, clearly testing the area for the direction of the scent.

Jake waited as patiently as he could, hoping his mate would find something, anything, to help them find his friend.

Tristan circled the area