The Alpha's Onyx & Fire by Jess Buffett Read Free Book Online

outside.
    Leontis swirled around, his entire being becoming rigid as he got his first real look at his mate. “Sage?” he asked tentatively.
    Eyes blazing with fury, Leontis didn’t even struggle when Sage’s hand wrapped around his throat and he was shoved roughly up against a wall. A moan slipped passed his lips, however, Sage didn’t seem to notice. So consumed with anger, Leontis knew that Sage hadn’t scented him yet, though what had his mate so furious he had no idea.
    “What the hell do you want?” the Alpha seethed. “You need to stay the hell away from my mate. Do you understand me? Whether it’s money or something else, you’re not going to get it.”
    Thoroughly confused, Leontis struggled for breath as Sage’s hand held him tighter. “I don’t know what you’re talking about? What money?”
    “You expect me to believe you came all this way because you’re in love with Tessa? That you tracked her down with no ulterior motive?”
    Leontis’s vision began to dim from lack of oxygen. “I...my mate...Tessa…”
    “Bullshit,” Sage snarled. “She is my mate. Try again, fucker?”
    “I...know. You…too.”
    For the first time, Sage’s mask of aggression slipped just slightly. “What?”
    “S-smell, me.”
    He didn’t think he would hold out much longer. He needed Sage to smell his scent, recognize him.
    Confusion marred the Alpha’s handsome features as he sniffed the air lightly. The confusion morphed into shock, followed by lust. The hand around his neck loosened, and Leontis gasped for breath, sliding down the wall.
    From his position on the floor, he peered up at his mate. “Sage?”
    “Y-you...you’re my…”
    He sighed with relief, eyes closing briefly. “Yes. I’m your mate too.”
    “No!”
    Sage’s sudden outburst had his eyes springing open. “What?”
    He felt the gaze of his mate rake over his skin, and it wasn’t entirely pleasant. Leontis couldn’t tell if it was dismay or revolution playing on Sage’s features, but either way, it sliced through him like a knife.
    “You can’t be...there is no way.” The Alpha backed off, the exit his obvious direction.
    Leontis sat slumped against the wall, not even moving to stop his mate from leaving as devastation flooded him.
    “Well...that was unexpected,” drawled one of the brothers.
    “Chase, now is not the time,” Richard warned. Leontis could feel the weight of the former Alpha’s gaze on him but refused to look. He couldn’t, didn’t want to see what was there.
    Climbing to his feet, the only thought on his mind was getting as far from the Alpha family as possible.
    “Wait!” Richard called to him as he stumbled to the door. “Please, son. Just wait. Clearly we didn’t know who you were to my son. All we knew was there was a possible threat to my son’s new and unclaimed mate. We had no idea.”
    He darted a glance over to the man, surprised to see compassion, sympathy, and regret staring back at him. “I don’t even know what you’re talking about. All I know is that I found one mate who disappeared on me, and when I tracked her down to New Hope, I discovered I had another mate.” His eyes trailed back to the spot where Sage had exited. “And he wants nothing to do with me either. Am I so horrid?”
    He didn’t expect any of them to answer.
    “I don’t think it’s you, son,” Richard offered. “I’m sure it came as quite a surprise to my son to find he had a male mate.”
    While Leontis could understand that to a point, to outright reject him was another thing. As it was, Chase’s next words squashed that theory.
    “You’re kidding, right, dad?” Chase scoffed. When the older man frowned and the two other brothers snickered, Chase explained. “Dad, I love you, but you really can be slow. Sage has no problem with a male mate. It wouldn’t be the first time he hooked up with a guy.”
    “It wouldn’t?” Richard’s eyebrows shot up, and Leontis listened eagerly.
    “No.” Chase grinned.