Chapter 1

::::::::::Strong Under Him::::::::::

Ren's hard warm cock that was buried passed his ass cheeks, and his body against his was the only thing that kept the winter cold out.

No. It wasn't the thick blankets, the hot baths or the fireplace. Wayne has never been a fan of the winter season anyway, because he has always felt it was too sharp. Always coming in too empty and too silent, but it levelled up to become one of his best seasons whenever he was in bed with Ren.

It burned more than just warmth in there. Not on his skin but somewhere deeper, and somewhere he couldn't name or put his hands on. And that was exactly what he has always needed-a force and hotness that challenged his coldness.

Ren's breath was still rough against his ears as his chest rose fast, and Wayne's rose even faster.

“Open your eyes,” Ren growled low from above him, almost breathless as he slammed his cock inside him. Harder and deeper. “Look at me.”

Wayne didn't want to, and it was not because he couldn't. It was because he knew he'd fall all over again for him if he dared. But he knew one thing. He was bound to obey him of course. Like he always has, and more so because it was Ren Storm's command–the Alpha of ironclaw and his mate, or so he thought.

And he especially enjoys obeying him in times like this. It was the only time Wayne basked in his weakness, and also the only time he exercised it like real power. Ren was the man he trusted more than anyone else, and the same man he could never really have.

He couldn't help his head from constantly falling back in ecstasy as he forced his eyes open, blinking away the sting of heat and sweat. He fluttered his full eyelashes and met Ren's gaze, parting his lips as he exhaled, and blue steeled eyes like ice that always made him feel warm bore into his.

He stared at Ren's well sculpted face, and Ren looked down at him, crashing his lips unto his as he hastened his strokes. He handled Wayne like he truly needed it. Like he truly needed him more than just a release. And maybe Wayne was just fooling himself, but he allowed himself to believe it just for tonight.

Their hips rolled as their breaths came hushed and rushed, and Ren's weight above him and the way he pulled out the pleasure from him still had him aching for more. Being under Ren was the only time he truly felt powerful, even though he was the weakest omega in the pack. He never felt stronger when he followed his leads, or when he nodded at every word he said.

Wayne's orgasm came kicking at his shaft, and he couldn't hold back himself from breaking the kiss and muttering a curse dipped in pleasure.

He attempted to reach for his hard length, wanting so desperately to stroke himself and finish what they both started, but Ren wouldn't let him.

His grip on his pinned down arms only tightened as he whispered into his ear. “Not yet.”

He licked his earlobe, leaving wetness that sent Wayne trembling. And God! How that made him feel alive.

He was powerless under him, and yet he had never felt more in control of something. Of him maybe. Or of this moment. His dominance fueled his weakness in the craziest way possible, and Ren knew that. Because he long realized that Wayne's weakness fueled his strength too.

“Fuck, Ren...,” Wayne said, voice shaking as his words came out in slurred gibberish.

His eyes rolled as he raised his hands to tightened it around Ren's neck. “I'm going to cum, Ren. Just let me hold it.”

“Look at it instead,” Ren said, tightening his jaw as he pummeled into him further.

And when Wayne did look as he commanded, something slit inside him. And it didn't stop slitting when their eyes met yet again. He moaned out loud without shame, toes curling as he tightly shut his eyes, feeling his wet release on his stomach.

He felt Ren tense as he buried his face in his neck, jaw clenching and his mouth parting. Then he groaned, deep and loud enough that it almost sounded broken when he freed his load. He grunted as every ounce of it made its way inside Wayne, and then collapsed on top of him.

They panted like two dogs playing chase, both of them trying to slow their breathing. They existed in the warm quiet without speaking for a while, and Wayne wrapped his arms tightly around Ren's back. He pulled him closer even though his weight pressed him further into the bed without complaining. Wayne could have folded himself into Ren's bones if he could, becoming one flesh with him if it was possible.

Eventually, Ren rolled off him, and Wayne hated the space that he left behind as the cold came rushing to replace it. He hated how soon reality came crawling back into his heart.

“That felt fucking good,” Ren said in a voice mixed with tiredness and satisfaction.

“Are you leaving right away?” Wayne asked, voice coming smaller than he'd intended.

He lay on his side, facing Ren who was lying faced up with eyes closed.

Ren sighed, covering his eyes with his arm as he still tried to catch his breath. “In an hour or so.”

Wayne pouted and bit his bottom lip, tracing circles on the sheets with a finger in between them.

He picked his words carefully before he spoke again. “I just..., I wish I knew when I'd get to see you like this again.”

That made Ren guess what he was thinking, and he opened his eyes and turned to him. “What?”

“You heard me,” Wayne mumbled without meeting his eyes.

Ren rolled his eyes and groaned softly, lifting Wayne's chin with a finger so their eyes met. “Relax. It's not like I'm going off to die.”

Wayne didn't smile or take the joke. He never did when Ren joked like that. Because his chest always felt tight, and his eyes always stayed fixed on the door every time Ren left for a mission, waiting for his return–whether it was against a rival pack or something worse. The jokes never sat well with him even while Ren always came back. To him, it felt like it might not be a joke at all one day.

“Don't say things like that, Wayne said.

Ren straightened slightly and reached for him, cupping his cheek. “I'll be back in less than a week tops. Before your birthday.”

“I know. I just...,” Wayne trailed off. “As long as you come back in one piece and not carried in a coffin. Please.”

He melted into Ren, resting his forehead gently against his chest and closing the distance between them.

Ren chuckled in a low voice, then pulled back just enough to press a rough kiss to Wayne's cheek. “I will.”

And with that, he stood from the bed and picked up his clothes that scattered around the room, fitting into them one by one.

Wayne watched the way his muscle flexed with every shift. The way the scar across his side pulled tight. He had never seen any scar more appealing to the eyes than the ones on Ren's skin, and not even the one on his lower abdomen beat that.

He thought of Ren as beautiful. That was the only way he could describe how handsome he was. As beautiful as the men that legends write about, and he was just the footnote no one could read.

Ren shoved back a handful of dark brown hair that had fellen into his face. He gave Wayne one last look before slowly heading to the door. He silently wished he could stay a little bit longer, but the wizard king and the elders would be on his neck if he was even one minute late for the briefing.

“Stay out of trouble,” he said, not glancing back as he made it out the door.

Wayne's voice echoed as he ran down the little steps “I'll try.” Even though they both knew he wouldn't really succeed in trying.

Wayne sank back into the bed as the door closed, pulling the sheets up to his chest. His heart felt stretched and too thin, and his mind swirled with thoughts.

He didn't really know if Ren knew and felt what he felt. He never called him his mate, or ever promised him anything. And yet, he kept believing in things he wasn't supposed to want. He believed they were mates, but Ren has never acted like he felt something that serious. Maybe because he was being oblivious to it, or he didn't want to bring up the subject.

Their kind of relationship was forbidden.It was a taboo in their domain, but Wayne knew something could be done if Ren really wanted him. A part of him was fine with it because it had been safer having Ren around, but a bigger part of himself was broken not knowing where they were both headed.

He tried to push the thought off his mind, slowly drifting into sleep as the cold found him again.

And deep down, Wayne knew what was coming for him now that Ren would be gone for days.

And it would be hell.

Because hell always came when he is alone without him.