Red: Burnt Image

I slowly laid Aries' body down on my bed slowly trying to make it as quiet as possible to not wake him up. After waking up with him sleeping on a chair near me while his hand only a hairline away from my hand, I can't help but feel relieved as he was alright although I felt guilt that I wasn't able to arrive sooner, I could see the bandages wrapped around his arm and possibly around his body as well. I wince slightly as the soreness of my injuries kick in after feeling his weight left my arms. The wounds are already healed and my body is going well in fixing itself up but that doesn't ignore the fact that they were beaten up.

I've never imagine in my entire life I would see my old man succumb to insanity. It wasn't what I expect at all.

I noticed a stray strand of white hair was draped on top of Aries' nose so I bent over to brush it back when he moaned lowly. Shit! We're so dangerously closed and that sound made me shiver. My eyes now trapped on his lips. Fuck! I haven't kissed him in awhile.

I immediately stood back when I was about an inch away from his lips. My hand grabbed the blanket and placed it right above his chest. I unconsciously, ran my thumb over my own lips as I felt how dry they were. I straighten up and started to walk away from the bed but stopping just a few feet away before looking back.

I was struggling with the things running through my mind right now. Things that does not involve clothes and a whole lot of Aries squirming and writhing under me. I winced at the tightness of my pants all of a sudden as I rubbed my hand on the fabric.

I haven't been laid in days! And my mind is making me go crazy for him. I wanted to touch him and make him yell my name. My feet started to walk on their own without me noticing. Each step so slow as my mind raced to the drumming beat on my chest while cold sweat started to ran over my skin. I swallowed an invisible lump in my throat as I stopped at the edge of the bed. My eyes fixed over Aries body.

He moved once more exposing his chest a bit over his unbuttoned shirt. I swallowed hard once again, I ran my finger over my own collar, trying to loosen them as I felt confined and suffocating. I was feeling hot. It didn't help when Aries' body decided to shift in his sleep once again. Pushing the blanket down and raising his shirt in the process.

My eyes trace the exposed skin leading to his groin. I grunted as I willed myself to shut my eyes but it was futile. Images of Aries sprawled naked in bed flashed before my eyes. I didn't know I had it in me to fantasize about a naked guy. Not that I find Aries being naked repulsive. It was quite the opposite and judging by the tightness of my jeans and the following discomfort of it pressing against my dick. I'm quite sure I'm as turned on as fantasizing about naked women before meeting Aries.

I shouldn't feel this, I started to say to myself as I started to move back, lifting my legs as if they were stuck to the ground. It felt heavy and hard. We rejected each other. We shouldn't feel this such intense pull I'm feeling right now.

"Blake." Aries moaned as he shifted, raising his right arm over his head and the other dragging over the lower part of his shirt.

I bit my lower lip. Damn you, Storm! You're not fucking helping. I don't want to jump you and start raping your fucking ass! You'll fucking hate me! But no. You are fucking pushing my buttons even though you're fucking asleep!

Damn you! Damn you!

I gave myself a hard slap on the cheek and instantly dashing out off my room and into one of the pack house' comfort rooms. I immediately clicked the door lock shut and dropped my pants to the floor. I waste no time freeing my tool from my boxers and wrapping my hand around my length. The tight grip made me moan and weak on the knees. I started to rub my hand over my length in an unprecedented speed. Images of Aries flash before me. Sprawled on the bed naked and ready. I licked my lips as I feel the foreskin peel back and exposing the head. I leaned over the door as I bucked around my hand. I pictured the tightness of my hand as the tightness of Aries' insides making me catch my breath as I drove myself to euphoria as I could feel the cum building in my balls. I fasten the pace once more and in a few seconds I erupted over the toilet without wanton. Stream after powerful stream of white liquid sprayed over the toilet and floor as I gripped the based of my cock tightly.

I leaned against the door exhausted as if I ran a mile or two. My chest was rising and falling so hard and my heart was pounding so fast as sweat ran down my skin. I glanced down at my cock and saw it was still hard and standing at attention.

I ran my other free hand and combed my hair backwards. I slowly stood up but weakly leaned back at the door as I felt my legs shake. I groaned but started to stroke my length again, moaning at the tingles it gave me, with the accompanying sensitive tip, I shivered at my touch.

To sum things up, I jerked off about five more times and each time I cummed as strong as the first one. I was still half hard when I left the comfort room but touching it was starting to sting. So I just sprayed the whole room with water as to flush out the cum that I literally coated the whole room. Though I don't know if spraying a whole can of air freshener would erase the stench of arousal as well.

I was walking down the hallway when I heard my father yell from his room not far from where I'm at. I slowly walked towards the door and leaned against it as I looked over the opening between the slit of opening between the two doors. As I peeked inside, I saw my father all patched up in bandages all over his chest with his left arm cuffed in a sling over a white clothe. He was sitting on his bed with his stoic face he usually have.

I saw mom, sitting next to him on a chair near the bed. Her expression is that of concern and sadness. She was looking down on her clasped hands. She looked like she was injured with a bandaged arm. I clenched my fist knowing too well who might have caused it.

Suddenly, a broad back covered my sights on my parents. The guy soon walked away and I got a better view on his face and what I saw surprised me. It was Frank's old man!

"It's not like that Lance. You're still as stubborn as ever! I'm not doing this just for you. Think about how it would affect the pack." Frederick points out as spread his right arm outwards. My old man just clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Why are you even trying to push yourself on things you clearly can't accomplish alone?!"

"Why do you even care! You left the pack to be with that piss of shit you call a mate!" My old man cussed as he glared at Frederick's direction causing the air in the room drop with murderous aura. "As far as I know you don't have any more rights to this pack! Fucking Beta."

"You don't get the right to call my mate names either, Lance!" Frederick growled warningly as he stood in front of my old man's bed. "I'm maybe your Beta but I'm not afraid to stand and fight you if you belittle my mate! At least he's half the man you'll ever be!"

The scowl on my old man's face was imminent and I could feel his murderous aura radiating like spades towards Frank's old man. But Frederick stood his ground and didn't even flinched as my father good up to meet his gaze.

"Are you challenging me?!" My old man growled. "Because we all know how things would end up if you try." He smirked as he shoved Frederick back with his free hand.

"You forget, Lance. Welsh is a Navy Seal." Frederick smirked his confidence profound in his tone as he looked at my old man tauntingly. "Let's not forget you've been beaten by your own son. Who I might add is less of an experienced fighter than you are."

My old man narrowed his eyes at Frederick menacingly before turning back to his bed.

"Thank the Goddess that I'm in no condition to drill your motherfucking ass down the dirt, Hunter!" My old man growled as he turned on to sit on his bed once again. I gave a sigh of relief as I was expecting an all out slugfest in that room for a moment.

"Yeah. What ever, Lance." Frederick mockingly replied as he looked at my mom sympathetically before returning to look at my old man. "So, as I was saying..."

"And said no!" My old man roared, making Frederick stop mid-sentence to look at my old man perplexed. "I'm fine. I just got a bit irritated that's all."

"Are you even listening to yourself!?" Frederick spat as he massaged his temples with his left hand. "You attacked Ethel! You attacked your own pack! And you almost killed your son's mate! That's going out of bound, Lance."

"Fuck you! Blake can get over it." My old man spat back and I couldn't help but clench my fists. "That's what Jessica's for!"

"You're so miserable now that you had to find your own son a replacement mate!" Frederick fumed as he points out. "Why can't you accept Blake had a male mate and is actually happy about it! Are you trying to make him as miserable as you that you drilled into his skull that having I male mate is the end of the world!" Frederick looked at mom apologetically once more before returning his gaze back to my old man. "Well, you better accept it Lance! Because you have no choice but to accept it! What's your problem anyways?! It didn't bother you when I told you my mate was a guy! Hell, Welsh was also human so I had it more difficult than you! You had the most amazing mate in Stephen that you had to ruin it for the both of you!"

"Fucking shut your mouth!" My old man roared as burst of flames exploded before Frederick, pushing him back in surprise. My mom stood from her chair and quickly went towards Frederick's aide, the flames were not so big that when the emergency sprinkler system kicked in they were immediately gone. "I told you to never to mention his name ever again!" He yelled, his eyes wide in anger and something I can't put myself into. The water gushed from the ceiling already stopped and it seems that they were quite drenched in the water. "Fuck!" My old man growled as he clutched his hand over his neck, I assume where his mark was located. "He-he should be dead! I held him in my arms as he..." My old man looked down at his legs and croaked an unmistakable sob. "I didn't mean to... He said we would be together forever..."

"It wasn't your fault, Lance." My mother spoke after being silent for too long. "Your father would have found out about your relationship with Stephen sooner or later." She approached my old man slowly and as she reach my old man, she wrapped her arms around him and started drawing circles at his back as to comfort him. "We can't hide the truth forever, Lance. And it was heartbreaking for me as well. You and Stephen were meant for each other from that day you met each other in the woods." She said with a hint of pain in her voice as she cupped my old man's cheek gently. "The circumstances were not in your favor. I just wished you two would have eventually ended up together."

Stephen?! I couldn't helped but be surprised at that. So my old man's actual mate was actually a guy! Well, talk about coincidence. I guess the fruit doesn't fall from the tree I supposed. But what about mom?! Was she a replacement mate like Jessica is? Has something happened to my father's mate that he is no longer here? Questions flooded my mind but I decided to push them back to listen to their conversation more. I found my old man looking blankly at his lap for some reason. The room was quickly dried out thanks to the ventilation system installed in each room of the house.

"I felt him." My old man spoke after a long silence making Frederick and mom look up at him confused. He grasped the fabric of his pants as he gritted his teeth tighter. "Yesterday." He started, his tone void of emotion. "And the day before."

"What are you talking about Lance?" Frederick asked until his expression slowly changes from confused to shock in a few minutes. "You mean? It can't be! You said he was dead! How is that possible?!"

"What do you mean Frederick?" Mom asked confused. But when Frederick looked at her, she immediately got her answer. She looked at dad with tears on her eyes. "Oh, Lance! A-are you sure?"

"I'm not certain." He replied in his emotionless tone. "I felt the sparks. After so long, feeling it again felt painful..." My old man clasps his left arm as he averted his eyes to his side. "It's been too long Ethel. Too long. I've never imagined, for so long, that I could... He, he could be alive. Stephen could be out there." My old man started to tremble slightly that mom held him to calm him down. The defeated look on his face was so clear that I felt bad for him.

Losing your mate and pushing yourself to live your life without them by your side made me feel sorry for my father. He pushed himself to live on even the obvious pain he was in. I couldn't imagine what would I have done if Aries would - I paused, shaking my head. I was obviously dumb and inconsiderate. I was about to let the best thing in my life slip away because of my own stubbornness.

"But, Lance, it's been years. How can someone who is dead be alive all this time?! And why now?" Frederick reasons out. "It might be your mind playing tricks on you. It's been too long that you lived without your mate... Your body and mind have might taken a lot of toll that they are messing with your sanity."

"Fuck! I don't know, Hunter! I can't answer those dumb questions of yours! But one thing I'm certain, my mate's alive! Stephen's alive and I'm going to find him and kill him!" My old man growled as he clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with determination and lust. Both my mom and Frederick took a surprise jump at his statement. "I'm fucking going to wring his neck after leaving me alone all this years and I'm going to pound his ass so deep, he'll-" my old man glared at Frederick's direction and growled. He weakly stood up and grabbed the edge of the table near his bed to stop himself from toppling down. "What are you looking at??"

"You do know you're dreaming right?" Frederick snickered as my old man's right eye twitched in annoyance.

"And why is that?!" He growled warningly but that made his Beta smirk wider.

"I don't see you pinning your mate down anytime soon." Frederick smirked. "I seem to recall you lying on your back with -"

Frederick's sentence was cut off quickly with a sudden jab to his gut by my old man. The mature Beta dropped to his knees quickly as he clutched his battered abdomen. Mom let out a sudden gasp but seem not so surprise at my father's action. What's so surprising is the prominent red coloring on his cheeks, even with his menacing looks, no one can deny that he was blushing.

"Shut the fuck up, Hunter!" My old man growled. He looked down at his Beta with a scowl. "And for the record, Stephen will submit!"

"Oh, come one, Lance." My mom started to chuckle. "Who would buy that. Back then we all know you where the one -"

"Don't let me hit you, Ethel." My father snapped at mom with a glare. She didn't stop her from chuckling even more. "You know I don't have any qualms on hitting you! You maybe a girl but that doesn't mean I'm not going to punch in the gut."

"Oh, I like to see you try." Mom smirked. "My gut has already been punched be that log of yours and frankly I'm not taking it in again! Its like stuffing yourself with arm inside." She batted her eyes playfully. "Not that you're going to use it anytime soon when your mate's around." I could hear Frederick hearty laugh at his kneeling position.

"Good one, Ethel." Frederick choked before cracking another laugh. My old man growled at them again but they continued laughing. They continued for a couple of minutes before settling down. Frederick stood up as if he wasn't hit by a bulldozer punch from my father. "Jokes aside. How do you plan on looking for your mate now? You can't just search the whole world and turn the earth upside down just to look for Stephen."

"Oh, how about we asked Aries." My mom suggested. I immediately narrow my eyes and perked my ears upon hearing the mention of my mate's name. "He should know where his -" I pressed my weight over the door too much and soon I found myself down on the floor with my old man, mom and Frederick looking at me.

"I see we've got an eavesdropping wolf in our midst." Frederick smirked playfully as he help me up. I looked at them once I dusted my pants, gauging their expressions. I looked at mom and she looked between happy and sad. My old man was no different from his usual facial expression. "I assume the cat's out the bag. I guess -"

"Blake, honey." Mom called as she played her hands on her lap. "How much have you heard?" I sighed before looking at them.

"Most of it." I started as I looked at my old man. "So, I guess you're looking for your mate." I said nonchalantly. I didn't say it out of spite or anger, I understand where my old man is coming from. I suddenly grew a bit of admiration in him for some reason.

"Yes." Was his plain reply as he looked at me. His eyes a flame with determination that I can't deny. "And I don't fucking care whatever you think about now. So don't try to stop me."

"Who's stopping you?" I grinned.

"You're not mad, Blake?" Mom asked confused. "With all of this." I nod.

"You're oddly level headed with all of this." Frederick stated as he looks at me. "You alright with your old man , pft,..." Frederick stiffle a laugh as he made a ring with his thumb and pointer finger and started to poke it with his other finger. A lamp suddenly flew passed Frederick that was too close for comfort and smashed against the wall.

"Shut the fuck off, Hunter! Or I I'll rip your head off your damn neck!" My old man roared. He stood up and started to match passed Frederick and into one of the closets in the room. "I'm not staying in this room with you damn fag!"

"And where are you going?" Frederick smirked and followed my old man to the other room chuckling. "I'm not the only one who has a guy as a mate here, Lance!" The loud bickering and laughter continued as their voices got quieter.

I looked at mom and she was folding the bed sheets with a smile. I approached her on the other side and tucked the pillows in my hands. She looked up to me with a smile.

"Is everything fine with you son?" Mom asked, concern laced on her voice as she patted the pillows in a pile. "I mean knowing all this."

"I'm fine mom. It maybe odd but with all the shit that happened to me this pass few days this means nothing." I replied. "So is, uhm, the old man bisexual or gay?" I tensed at asking her about it but she gave a hearty laugh before approaching me.

"He's straight, Blake. Well, if that what concerns you. Yes he's straight." She replied. We walked out to the adjoining room door that leads outside. "He's only gay..." Mom made air quotes. "...for his mate. If you catch my drift." She nudged my side playfully.

"So, how does this all end up to be?" I asked as we stopped by a wooden bench. Mom sat quietly before I followed suit at the other side of the bench.

"Well, you see..." She started. "...your father wasn't all brutish and commanding like you usually see him. Back then he was a young wolf, son of a well-known Alpha."

"Grandfather." I state as she nods.

"Well, your grandfather was a very traditional type of person. So to speak." Mom continued as she looked at the house. "He was a good man. But he sees things as he gree up. And as the same time as humans have same sex relationships were not accepted and frowned upon, our community..." She paused. "...were at the same boat. It's not just because they found it odd or disturbing but for the reason of producing an heir, specially, for wolves that have high statures in our world. Mates of all types of pairings were already present since time immemorial." She breathes out as she looked up at the sky with a sad smile. "Since a couple of a same sex can't produce an heir, the community sees it unfit and condemn the notion from making light. Mates were torned apart and had to live their lives in a lie. Some went mad and become rogues. Some who couldn't handle the separation went and killed themselves."

I looked in horror at what my mom was telling me. I couldn't imagine my life if I was born in that era.

"And then there's a story of your father and his mate." Mom closed her eyes. "He was about 17 and was a promising wolf to succeed in his father's title, Alpha. He is also a very charismatic guy so you know your father doesn't get low on ladies. He had everything set ahead of him, a clear and secure future. But..."

I looked at my mom and she started to cry. She reached for her handkerchief but I quickly grabbed her hand and wiped them myself. She looked at me and smile before planting a kiss on my hand.

"He met his mate." I state. "So, it gone downhill from there I guess." Mom looked at me quite surprised but her expression quickly fell into an understanding smile.

"No. It made him happy." Mom patted my hand. "He struggled at first on accepting it. And he sure is a hard but to crack. He's so stubborn that he didn't left the pack grounds for half a year just because he didn't want to see Stephen." Mom chuckled as if she remember like it was yesterday.

"And you know this, how?" I can't help but ask.

"I was one of your father's friend, silly." She replied. "Oh, and before you ask me. Yes, he tried to hit on me multiple times but I declined. Your father doesn't care if he's going down with it even with his friend." She started to laugh. "And thank the Goddess, I didn't fall for his annoying charm."

"So it seems it failed. Looking how the old man still head over heels at his mate right now." I said cocking my head at the pack house.

"You know that love is eternal when it is true love." Mom mused. "And that what Lance found in his mate. He maybe stubborn to admit it but Lance actually fell in love at the first time he set his eyes on his mate."

"And pray tell mom, how do you know-" I raised a brow.

"Well, I might have overheard him confess his feelings to himself after he decided to lock himself for half a year and I might be eavesdropping at that moment." Mom smirked. "Well, Stephen was no slouch either. He came over the pack grounds after their fateful encounter in the woods. And even with Lance constant refusal to see or talk to him, Stephen continued to come."

"I guess eventually the old man cracked and gave in." I concluded. If I were in the same situation then I would've cracked sooner. "So how come you got pregnant with me and is married to him?"

"Well, it was that one night that I always regret. You see your father and I got so wasted so much and we kind of had sex and in a few days later I got pregnant with you." Mom looked down. "My mate died when I just knew him for just a few days. When I knew I was pregnant with you, I felt devastated. I was about to break a bond between two people who are deeply in love with each other."

"So how did my old man found out?" I asked as I felt the tension build up as each tale is revealed.

"I told them, both your father and Stephen." She states.

"And..."

"And I was expecting for Stephen to go mad but it was your father was your father who I least expected to suggest to..."

"Abort me." I groaned. "But wait! It clearly didn't go through. Then how?"

"Stephen. He reasons out to Lance on how it is wrong to kill his own child. He was happy that Lance had a chance to have a kid of his own that Stephen wasn't able to give. He was also apologetic on what your father has done." Mom speaks. "I haven't seen a person so giving and kind as your father's mate was. Stephen was a great person and it saddens me that he was the one who suffered the most." Mom's eyes started to water. "A few days later your grandfather found out that I was pregnant with your father. And your grandfather confronted Lance and out of fear and pressure... I forgot to tell you, Blake. That during the time your father and Stephen were going out. They kept it a secret from any one except for their closest friends." Mom wiped the tears off her eyes and smiled sadly.

I took her hand in mine and smiled at her. She grasped my hands in a squeeze before continuing her tale.

"And it was doomed from the start. Out of fear and disrespect from his father and the back, Lance told his father that we were mates." Mom states. "And soon it was announced that we were to bond befoe the full moon of the same month. It was announced throughout the state."

"Stephen found out?" I asked the obvious.

"Yes. And he was not happy one bit. He stormed at our pack grounds without consent and reservations that when he got caught he was a gathered mess when he was brought to your grandfather." Mom fidgets. "Stephen announced that he was Lance' mate and when your father was asked infront of the pack. He froze and said one thing that a mate shouldn't say to his mate." I swallowed hard as my hand felt cold. Knowing too well what's about to happen and it shook me to the core on how it felt frightening familiar. "He denied it. And poor Stephen was devastated. He was then thrown out of the pack grounds with a wounded heart."

Mom lifted her hand to brush the stray hair that dangled in front bof her face. Combing the black hair to her ear before giving a defeated sigh.

"Days later we heard that Stephen was also getting engaged to his also pregnant mate. And when your father heard the news he fumed and started to wreck the place." Mom frowned. "He started to change. Started to be cold towards me, to the pack. Started to drink." I processed what mom just told me but one thing baffled my mind that I immediately voiced my concern.

"Wait, how come Stephen's engagement was announced too?" I asked. Only high stature wolves only get their bonding announced. Mom crossed her brows and looked down as she seem to struggle in something.

"You see, Stephen is..." Mom started to speak when something clicked in my mind. That name it sounded quite familiar.

"Stephen..." I croaked as fear mirrored in my eyes. I looked at mom as she looked back at me as if she read my mind. "... Don't tell he's Aries'-?"