Authors: Kim Dare
Axel rolled his office chair forward. Bayden edged sideways to give Axel more room. Axel put his elbow on the desk alongside Bayden. His other hand still rested on Bayden’s waist. Axel was now firmly between Bayden and the door.
Bayden looked past Axel, wondering if it was just his imagination that made him wonder if Axel was worried he was going to run away.
“Did you always think you’d leave after six weeks?” Axel asked. He was doing that thing where he spoke very slowly, giving himself plenty of time to think and select each word with care.
Bayden nodded.
“It never occurred to you that you might want to stay here for longer than that?” He frowned, but not because he was angry—his expression came from the ferocity with which he was studying Bayden, trying to read him in a way which was first nature to a wolf but so difficult for humans.
“I…” Bayden unfolded his arms and pushed his hands into his pockets.
Axel waited.
“What I wanted wasn’t important. I’d only saved up enough for six weeks, sir,” Bayden admitted.
Axel nodded slowly. While he thought, he stroked Bayden’s side. Bayden closed his eyes, relishing the idle gesture.
“A few things have changed since you started submitting to me.”
Bayden opened his eyes as he forced down a fresh wave of guilt. Things had changed, but they hadn’t changed for the better. This wasn’t the way he’d wanted things to turn out. A bitter taste filled the back of his mouth.
“Is there anything that would stop you from being able to stay with me for as long as you wanted to now?” Axel asked.
Bayden cleared his throat, but he still couldn’t get a word out. He shook his head.
“Originally, we spoke about re-negotiating after six weeks, but we’re going to defer that.”
Bayden forced himself to look up.
“Any renegotiating can wait until other things are settled.” Axel didn’t make it a question, it was a statement of fact. “It’s not something you need to think about right now. Things will continue exactly the way they are. Your wages cover the rent on your flat, don’t they?”
Bayden nodded.
“So there are no decisions you need to make today. Everything can wait. That applies to both the punishment and the renegotiation. One thing at a time,” Axel reminded him.
Unsure his voice would come out steady, Bayden took refuge in another nod. He could stay. The knowledge spiralled through his mind leaving a joyful, glittery vapour trail in its wake, but shame rushed through him in the wake of every positive emotion, obliterating any relief he might have felt. What kind of wolf felt happy when a member of their pack was barely cold in the ground?
Axel’s phone made a noise. He reached past Bayden and picked it up from his desk. He read something off the screen and sent back a text, his thumbs moving too rapidly for Bayden to decipher the words.
“That was Sal,” Axel said, putting the phone back on the desk. “She called earlier to say she’s flying out tonight and wants a lift to the airport. She just texted me the times. It will be during opening hours.”
Bayden said nothing.
“I’ll give you a choice. You can come with me, or you can stay here.”
“Whatever you prefer, sir.”
“I prefer to give you the choice.”
Bayden shuffled his feet. He couldn’t keep following Axel around like a puppy forever. Axel should be able to meet his sister without someone tagging along and getting in the way. The last thing he wanted was for Axel to regret inviting him to stay on just a few seconds after he’d granted that permission. “I’ll stay here, sir.”
Axel stood up. He brushed their lips together, but he didn’t linger for a longer kiss. It was about praise not sex. “That’s fine. You’ll be in charge when I’m gone.”
“Me?”
Axel chuckled. “Yes, you. Who else? Some of the other Dragons will be here. One of them will take over behind the bar when you take your break, and they’ll jump in if you need a hand. There’ll be plenty of guys who’ll back you up if there’s any trouble.”
“You wouldn’t prefer one of them to be in charge, sir?”
“Because they’re doms?” Axel asked. “Because they’re full members of the club? Or because they’re human?”Any humour that had been in his expression disappeared when he reached the last option. “You work here. You live here. You’re my sub. I don’t expect you to take orders off anyone but me and, yes, when I’m not here, you’re in charge. The other guys will help you, but they all know better than to play the dom with you or to tell you what to do—they all know you won’t get in trouble with me for disobeying any of them.”
“I’m sorry, sir.” He seemed to be saying that all the time lately.
“You’re still learning.” He stroked Bayden’s cheek. “Tonight’s not a test. You just do what you always do, and it will be fine.”
“Yes, sir.”
Just do as you always do.
It was a clear order; Axel always gave clear orders. But it wasn’t an easy order to follow. The minute Axel walked out of the pub to fetch his sister, the world tilted beneath Bayden’s feet.
Axel not being there changed everything. Bayden needed Axel—even if he couldn’t quite put his finger on what he needed him for.
He didn’t need him to be able to do his work behind the bar. That was easy. He wouldn’t need help from the club guys when he was serving drinks. He wouldn’t need anyone if there was trouble either. He could look after himself.
He stared down at his knuckles as he absentmindedly served another customer. Even if he hadn’t been in a fight for a while, a wolf didn’t forget those kind of skills just because life got easier for a few weeks.
Bayden could still fight. It was one of the very few things that hadn’t changed since he first rode into The Dragon’s Lair. He could still drop any human he needed to.
If he’d needed to go back to earning his living with his fists, now that his six weeks were over, he could have done it. No one would have had to force him, or even ask. He’d
wanted
to go back to doing that at the end of his six weeks—he had.
He’d have taken whatever bets he needed to. He’d have supported his mother and his grandfather without any hesitation. He didn’t need to be with Axel so much he’d been willing to wish his own blood dead in order to be able to stay with a human.
No wolf would do that, no good wolf.
Several more customers came and went. Bayden glanced at the clock above the bar.
It was stupid to miss Axel when he’d only just walked out of the building. Bayden could look after himself. He’d have been able to look after his mother and grandfather too. He’d have been more than willing to give up his time with Axel. It was what wolves did, wasn’t it. They put the other wolves in their pack first—always.
Thoughts swirled through his head faster and faster, until they overlapped each other in their rush to remind him of all the ways he’d screwed up. If his grandfather was still alive he’d have… If his mother had stayed away from Danville and let him look after her, Bayden would have… If there were still bills that needed to be paid, he’d…
“Bayden.”
He moved down the bar and served another drink. As soon as the customer turned away, Bayden’s thoughts came rushing back.
If it had been necessary, he’d have… He shook his head at himself. Who was he kidding?
He’d failed to be a good wolf in so many ways.
Bayden swallowed. Was that what had killed his grandfather in the end? Had he realised just how poor a representative of their species his grandson was? He’d been so ill, that kind of realisation could easily have been the final straw.
Bayden’s throat tried to close up. He’d been trying so hard to be a good wolf for so long—proving that he could pay his way and be a good member of the pack. Had his grandfather realised it was all a lie—that he was too selfish to deserve to be called a member of any pack? Bayden’s hands shook as he took empty glasses off the bar and set them on the counter behind him.
He couldn’t keep screwing up. Panic pounded through his veins. It was too late to impress his grandfather, or even convince his mother that she wasn’t better off at Danville. But he could fix things with Axel.
That had to be possible, because he couldn’t lose Axel as well. His heart faltered even thinking about it. His breath stalled in his lungs. He gripped the edge of the bar.
One thing at a time—that’s what Axel had said.
Remembering the order let Bayden push his panic aside.
One thing.
He hadn’t been able to stop Axel paying debts that were nothing to do with him. He couldn’t alter when Axel was willing to punish him for his mistakes. But he could control some things. He could control…
Bayden’s mind went blank. He racked every corner of his brain. He’d handed over the decisions about so many parts of his life, but he could still control…
When he paid back the money he owed Axel. Yes! The moment the idea hit him, he knew that he’d stumbled on the one mistake he could fix that very moment.
Seven hundred pounds. He looked at the clock again. A straight forward bet on a fight wouldn’t do it—not if he wanted to be able to hand Axel the money as soon as he got back to the pub. But the right bet with the right person…
Bayden assessed the men in the pub, discounting one possibility after another. Finally, he spotted a familiar face at the table in the corner. That particular man hadn’t been around much since their last bet. Even now, he only lurked on the edges of the crowd, aware that he wasn’t really welcome.
The right bet with the right person.
Another glance at the clock and Bayden headed to where Drac, Griz and Hale were sitting with a few other men, playing poker.
“Axel said one of you would cover the bar while I take my break,” Bayden said.
Drac drained the last of his pint and scooped up his chips.
Griz indicated the seat Drac had been using. “Grab a stool. I’ll deal you in.”
Bayden shook his head.
“Don’t have the balls for it?” Hale asked.
Bayden didn’t have time to waste rising to that kind of bait. “There’s something I need to do.”
He went straight to the table in the corner, aware that he’d attracted some attention but not inclined to care. It wasn’t the kind of bet he liked taking, but maybe that was as it should be. It would hurt, but he deserved to hurt after screwing things up so badly and being such a poor excuse for a wolf.
With the terms of the bet set, he headed toward the back of the pub. Griz and Hale had abandoned their card game and were hot on his heels.
“What’s going on?” Hale demanded, as they caught up with him halfway along the corridor that led to the back rooms.
“A bet,” Bayden said.
Hale caught hold of his arm and pulled him back. “What?”
“A bet,” Bayden repeated. One that would let him earn enough to pay Axel back that night.
“No.”
Bayden looked up at Hale. “It’s nothing to do with you.”
“You think Axel will agree with that?”
Bayden frowned. “Yes.”
“Then you’re an idiot. And if you think I’ll believe Axel signed off on this, you must think I’m an idiot too.”
“Axel doesn’t think I’ll do what you tell me,” Bayden said. “He’s never said I have to obey you.”
Anger filled Hale’s scent. “If you’re going to be riding with us—”
“Then I should prove that I’m capable of seeing through any bet I make.”
Bayden tugged his arm out of Hale’s grip. He turned and ran straight into Griz.
“Bayden, slow down and think for a minute. Okay?” Griz’s tone was mellow. He wasn’t ordering anyone about. He was being friendly and reasonable. He also had hold of Bayden’s arm.
“Let go of me. If you don’t do that when I ask politely, I’m allowed to insist. Axel’s very clear about that.”
Griz and Hale exchanged glances.
“Axel’s going to freak,” Griz said.
Bayden didn’t bother to disagree, but that wasn’t because he thought that Griz was right. Bayden knew how things worked. Money was important. A wolf proving that he could pay the bills—that he would do whatever it took in order to do that—was important, too.
One thing at a time. It would have been better to prove that he could be a perfect human submissive or that he could take whatever punishment Axel wanted to dish out. But, Bayden wasn’t above scrabbling for crumbs. Proving he’d do what it took to pay his debts would be a start.
He turned to the man who’d taken his bet.
Proving this particular point would involve a certain amount of pain, but that wasn’t a problem. Bayden was used to that kind of pain.
* * * * *
Griz was lurking in the pub doorway when Axel drove into the car park. Axel’s blood went cold. He jerked the car to a stop, not caring how badly he parked, and jumped out of the car. “What happened?”
“You need to keep your temper,” Griz said.
Axel tried to step past him, but Griz blocked his path.
“Get out of my way.”
“Axe. Listen to me. You need to keep your temper. He’s not himself at the moment. You said it yourself—he’s still grieving.”
“Is Bayden in there?” Axel demanded.
“Yes.”
Axel’s pulse slowed slightly. “Is he okay?”
Griz hesitated. He was a big guy—but not so big he couldn’t be moved aside when adrenaline spiked in Axel’s veins. Axel shoved Griz out of the way and damn near threw himself into the pub.
Bayden was behind the bar. He had his back to the door, but he was there, working away as if it was just any other day.
Jesus—Axel was going to kill Griz for scaring the hell out of him that way.
Bayden turned around.
It felt like someone had punched Axel in the stomach.
“He took a bet,” Griz said from somewhere behind him.
“A bet,” Axel repeated blankly. One of Bayden’s eyes was swollen shut. His lip was split. A vivid purple bruise covered his jaw. Dried blood crusted on his temple, matting into his hair.
“He lost,” Griz said.
“Bayden doesn’t lose bets.” Axel could barely breathe well enough to get the words out. Bayden didn’t lose bets. It just didn’t happen. Bayden had his jacket on and done up, hiding his body from the neck down. Axel’s gaze went helplessly from one facial injury to another.