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Corey Toni

Griffin

into the room. He stood with both hands protectively holding his stomach, as if he expected something bad to happen to his baby at any minute. Tommy looked down at his watch then pointedly at Ethan.

"It's six o'clock on a Monday evening. Why in the world are you still working?"

Ethan looked at the clock on his computer screen and sure enough, the damn thing flashed six zero one pm.

He glanced back at Tommy and smiled sheepishly.

"Got lost in the work I was doing; didn't even realize how late it was."

"Well, it's time to stop. Tonight's poker night and it's our turn to host, which means you need to get out of this office and clean up a little before everyone starts arriving.

Ben will want to introduce you to some of his mates." That knowing glint was back in Tommy's eyes again.

"What aren't you telling me?" he asked, staring at the Alpha mate.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Tommy replied with a huff and turned to leave.

Ethan didn't miss the huge grin that broke out on the guy's face though.

"You better get a move on. Wouldn't want to be late or anything." Tommy chuckled as if he'd said something funny and then flounced—well, at least that's what Ethan

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assumed the man had been trying to pull off—from the room and left Ethan staring at a now-empty doorway.

Shaking his head at Tommy's behaviour, Ethan

turned back to his computer. He silently wondered if the man was always like this or whether it was the pregnancy that caused it.

Ethan saved the files he was working on then shut down the computer. He tidied everything on the desk in preparation of coming back tomorrow morning then closed the office door behind him and headed to his room.

As he walked across the hall, he heard the doorbell chime and swore softly. The last thing he wanted to do was be late. Ben and Tommy had explained about their poker nights to him and he'd been invited along to last week's, which had been held at one of Ben's friend's houses. Seeing as how Ethan had only arrived late the night before, after several long days of driving, and then starting the new job the next day, he'd begged off, stating all he wanted to do was collapse on his bed and sleep for a week.

Now though, he didn't have any excuses and both Ben and Tommy were expecting him downstairs. To tell the truth, Ethan was kind of looking forward to meeting some new people. He'd met several over the course of the last week as pack members came for meetings with Ben on different subjects. He'd also spoken with a great number on

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the phone but it was always nice to put a face to the name.

Apparently the guys downstairs were Ben's closest friends. Ethan would meet the rest of the pack at the next group get-together, which was scheduled in a few weeks—

on the night of the full moon. He'd just missed the last one.

Ethan was looking forward to running with the pack. He had been on a couple of little solo jaunts since he'd been here, but there was no better feeling to Ethan than running with your pack.

Feeling a little grungy after being stuck in his office for most of the day, Ethan decided to take a quick shower and clean up. He stripped off his clothes, threw them in the basket in the corner of his room, and walked into the attached bathroom. The bathroom wasn't huge, just enough space for a decent size shower, toilet, and washbasin. The walls were a light green colour and the large rectangular tiles a nice shade of cream.

What Ethan really liked about the shower was the way the showerhead came down from the ceiling instead of being attached to the wall. He stepped under the spray and let the water flow over his head and down his body. Ethan stood there for several minutes, just letting the water wash away his day before he stepped back and picked up the body wash. He soaped himself up, and contemplated stroking off a quick one but doubted he had the time. Ethan

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knew he was already late and didn't think taking time to have a quick wank was entirely appropriate.

Ethan quickly rinsed giving his half hard dick a couple of strokes before he turned off the tap and ran his hands down his body, trying to remove some of the excess water.

He dried off and dressed in a pair of old,

comfortable jeans that had moulded perfectly to his body over many years of wear. Ethan picked out one of his favourite shirts and pulled it on. It was black and soft with use; the slogan 'Shhhhh, no one knows I'm gay' was written in white across the front.

Ethan didn't bother with shoes, as he was inside and had no plans on leaving. He ran his fingers through his strawberry blond hair, trying to get it into some sort of order.

Finally ready, Ethan left his room and started down the hall. Halfway down the stairs, the most amazing scents wafted up to him. He stopped when the sexiest voice he'd ever heard, bar none, drifted through the house.

"Has Declan been cooking again? Because if he has then I want me some of that." the male voice asked.

Ethan could hear both Ben and Tommy laugh, along with someone else that he didn't recognise. He started moving again, almost as if he was in slow motion. As

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Ethan got closer to the group gathered in the other room, his body started to take notice. The scent was becoming stronger and his dick, which had started to harden at the sound of the voice, was now trying to break out of his jeans. Even Ethan's wolf was getting in on the act; the damn beast felt like it was clawing at him from the inside.

His heartbeat also increased to the point Ethan was scared he might have a heart attack, when suddenly everything clicked all at once in his mind and Ethan knew exactly what was happening.

"
What is
that intoxicating smell?" the male voice asked again.

Ethan rounded the corner to the room.

"That would be me," he announced, as he stepped inside. Ethan briefly noticed the shit-eating grins on both Ben's and Tommy's faces, along with a couple he had met the night of his interview. He ignored the puzzled looks from the men he'd never met. His gaze zeroed in on the man who would hopefully change Ethan's life for the better.

"And who the hell are you?" The man looked more confused and annoyed than anything. He stood there with his arms crossed over his chest and stared like he was waiting for an answer. Ethan just paused and raised his brow. The man would get it in a minute. If not, Ethan was

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sure Ben would help the guy out; after all, Ethan was pretty positive both he and Tommy somehow knew that this guy was Ethan's mate.
That's the big mystery. That's what they
have been smiling about and keeping from me.

Ethan let his gaze roam over the man fated to be his.

The guy looked to be a couple of inches taller than Ethan's own six foot height. He looked to be around the same age as Ben. The dark, intense eyes stared at him and Ethan thought it would be so easy to get lost in them. He had a strong nose, perfect mouth, and a clean shaven face, just the way Ethan liked his men. His eyes roamed down the other man's body and Ethan noticed a tattoo on the back of the guy's left forearm. Ethan also noticed the bulge he was currently sporting in his black jeans. He wondered absently if that was a result of him or if the man always walked around hard enough to pound nails.

Ethan's perusal was cut short when the guy sucked in a deep breath and started to shake his head. Ben laughed and clapped the guy on the shoulder.

"Congratulations, Corey."

Corey. His mate's name was Corey. It suited the guy. Ethan smiled as he stepped forward. Corey stepped back; the man suddenly looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Are you seriously going to make me chase you

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down?" Ethan asked, a hint of amusement lacing his words.

Corey shook his head rapidly. "I'm really sorry, but I don't want a mate."

"Well, stiff shit, 'cause you got one." Ethan took another step closer and he grinned when Corey seemed to be too stunned by his words to take another step back.

Ethan kept walking until he stood toe to toe with his mate. Everyone around him faded away, Ethan could no longer hear or even see anyone but the man standing in front of him. Corey's breath was coming in short, rapid bursts and Ethan reached out and gently placed a hand on his chest.

"Hi," he whispered.

"Umm… hi," Corey answered hesitantly. Ethan wasn't going to waste any more time. He reached up, grabbed Corey by the back of his hand, and pulled him down slightly until their lips met in a kiss that sent shockwaves through his body. Corey stilled beneath his touch but opened his lips when Ethan pressed forward.

Corey pulled him closer and suddenly their tongues were battling for supremacy as they explored each other's mouths. Ethan groaned, which unfortunately seemed to be the catalyst that snapped Corey out of the lust-induced haze the man must have been in. Corey pulled back and carefully, but forcefully, extricated himself from Ethan's

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hold.

The man stepped back and looked at Ethan again with what he could only describe as sadness. "I'm sorry," he said as he turned and walked out of the room. Ethan stood there, stunned, when he heard the door to the house open and close.

"What the fuck?" Ethan said to no one in particular.

He couldn't believe his mate had just walked out on him.

This wasn't over—not by a long shot—he decided. Ethan had waited too long to finally have a chance at being loved, and there was no way in hell he was going to let it slip through his fingers, just because the man fated to be his didn't seem to want him. He turned to the room to see every eye staring at him, some in sympathy and others with sadness. Ethan shrugged them all off. He would get his man, if it was the last thing he did.

"So, what are we playing?" he asked, as he walked around the table to take a seat in an empty chair. The silence stretched on for another few seconds before everyone seemed to speak at once.

The night was enjoyable, even if Ethan only half paid attention to what was going on around him. He enjoyed meeting Samuel, Kieran, and Bradley, and also seeing Liam and his mate, Declan, again. The food was delicious, the company was great, and the game enjoyable,

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but Ethan's mind strayed often to the man who had walked out the door after the most amazing kiss of Ethan's life.

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Corey paced his living room. What the fuck had happened tonight? He'd gone to Ben's expecting it to be his regular, Monday night poker, hopefully to eat some delicious food and talk some shit with his buddies. Instead, his world had turned upside down.

He couldn't have a mate. Corey didn't want one.

He'd been down this road before and had sworn to never travel it again. Instead, Corey contented himself with one-night stands and quick hook-ups. Living in a small town like Atherton, this was difficult. But since he travelled to Cairns often for his work, Corey happily contented himself with the activity on those visits.

Corey touched his lips when he remembered the jolt of electricity that had shot through him when his mate had kissed him. Corey assumed his mate to be Ethan Davies, Ben's new personal assistant. Corey had been down in Cairns for most of last week so had yet to meet the guy.

He'd also been fucking his way through a steady stream of men while he'd been there.

Fuck! Corey's wolf growled inside him at the

thought of what he was doing while his mate was so close.

Corey growled right back. He didn't want a mate, had

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sworn
never
to love anyone again, not after the disaster of the one and only time Corey had fallen in love with someone.

Corey's phone rang, startling him from his back and forth pacing. He looked at the clock on the wall and was surprised to see it was already nearly midnight. Corey pulled his mobile from his pocket and glanced at the display.

He groaned when he saw the readout. Corey really didn't want to talk to his Alpha right now, but knew if he didn't answer after the events of earlier, he would be in deep shit when Ben finally got his hands on him.

Reluctantly Corey swiped his thumb across the screen and answered the call.

"You will be here at ten tomorrow morning for a meeting." Corey rolled his eyes. His Alpha needed to stay the hell out of his business.

"Ben—"

"No, ifs, buts, or maybes, Corey. Ten tomorrow morning."

"Fine." Corey sighed in resignation. "You're not going to change my mind though, I don't want a mate. You know this."

"We'll see." Ben chuckled slightly. "Ten o'clock.

Don't be late." The phone went dead in his ear and Corey

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shoved the damn thing back in his pocket. Why the fuck couldn't his Alpha stay the hell out of his business? Corey knew why, but it didn't make him any happier.

He supposed if he was now expected at a meeting, he should get some sleep. Corey still had work to get done, even if his Alpha had him jumping through hoops.

Corey turned off all the lights and made sure his house was locked up before he walked down the passage and entered his bedroom. He walked over and touched the lamp next to his bed and soft light illuminated the area.

Corey glanced around the room, wondering what it would be like to share his space with another, then berated himself for even contemplating it.

He'd sworn years before never to go down that road again. Admittedly, Corey never actually thought he'd meet his mate but even so, he didn't think he was capable of opening his heart to another.