I held onto Collin's hand as we entered an enormous building. Werewolves were everywhere inside and out. I had never seen so many in one place before. A brown werewolf greeted us at the door and took us to an elevator. Collin led me inside.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"We're looking at an apartment."
"We're going to live here?" My tail flicked back and forth.
Collin nodded. "Yes, but first I'm going to introduce you to someone. You're going to stay with him while I go back to the estate and pack."
"Okay. Who are they?"
"Axil's mate."
My ears perked up. "That red werewolf that was on TV?"
"Yep." He put his arm around my shoulders. "Let's hope he's calmed down since being marked."
I opened my mouth to ask what he meant but the elevator doors parted. Collin took my hand and walked to the one door on the floor. He knocked. A human wearing a suit opened the door. He bowed his head and motioned for us to enter.
The human closed the door. "If you wait here, I'll go tell Master Axil that you're here."
The apartment was really nice. It had a black and white theme with some metal mixed in. I hoped our apartment was similar to this one.
"Get off of me!"
I jumped and pressed into my mate's side.
"Clinging bastard." A red-headed human wearing only shorts marched out of a room and went over to the seating area. "Mated to a damn pervert." He flopped down on the couch and turned on the TV.
I tugged on Collin's hand. "Is that him?"
"Hmm..." He arched a brow and watched the human.
"Collin," announced Axil. "You're early."
"I have things to do today."
Axil nodded and stood in front of us. "When do we not?" he laughed. "Hello, Milo." He patted my head between my ears. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine." I glanced at the man on the couch.
He was completely ignoring us.
"Good to hear." Axil looked at my mate. "I took care of it. The whole ring was dismantled and the majority of the omegas were returned."
"Majority?" said Collin.
"That is business for another day." He smiled and grabbed Collin's shoulder. "Let me introduce you to my mate. Jed," he called.
The red-haired man didn't move.
Axil sighed and went over to the couch. He snatched the remote and turned the TV off. "We have guests."
Collin and I moved closer. I was starting to understand why red werewolves were to be avoided.
"I'm not in the mood." Jed was laying face down.
"I told you about Collin and Milo. The sub is going to be staying with you during the day. It makes it's easier on security to not have to watch two apartments."
"Whatever."
Leaving Collin's side, I wandered around the couch. My mate was eyeing me. I gave him a smile before tapping on Jed's shoulder. His head snapped to me with a scowl. It softened when he must have realized it hadn't been his mate who had touched him.
"Hi, I'm Milo."
He propped his head up onto his hand. "Well, aren't you the cutest thing that ever wandered into this house." He peered up at Axil. "I prefer him over those high ranking bitches that your other friends bring over."
"Jedrek, you are pushing it."
Jed sat up and slunk down into the couch. "So you get to be babysat along with me?"
I nodded. "My mate is going to be working with yours." I motioned to him. "This is Collin."
He looked over the couch. "Good god, who the hell messed up your face?"
I frowned at the comment while my mate glared at Axil who gave him an uneasy smile. "They're not bad," I stated. "He's very handsome as a human."
"Just as a human?" said Jed.
Bowing my head, I felt my ears splay out. I didn't know if I wanted to be left here with him, anymore. Jed was rather rude.
Axil gripped his mate's shoulder. "Be nice. You and Milo have a lot in common."
"What? We both have dudes for mates and we take it up the ass. Wow so much to bond over." Jed flinched when Axil tightened his grip.
"He's human-born."
Jedrek perked up. "Really, you're human too?"
I nodded.
"He grew up as a slave as well," said the beta. "I felt he was someone you could talk to."
Knocking is mate's hand off, Jedrek scooted to the end of his seat. "How long ago was it?"
I staggered back and ended up sitting on the coffee table. "A few weeks."
"Your feet are better than. They take forever to feel right."
"Yeah." I smiled. "Collin had to pack me everywhere because it hurt so much to walk."
Jed glanced at Axil. "He did the same thing. It drove me nuts. I have legs of my own. I don't need your help."
Collin cleared his throat and folded his arms. "I don't know if I like this."
"What's not to like?" said Axil.
My mate motioned to me. "Milo has had a very sheltered life and I don't need him learning bad habits." He pointed to Jedrek. "Milo is going to start thinking this is how a dominant's mate should act."
"What does that mean?" muttered Jed.
"Oh, come on. Milo is a smart enough kid," said Axil with a cheesy smile. "He's also scared of his own shadow so a quick, don't do it again and that'll be it. Honestly, I'm hoping Milo rubs off on Jed."
"What the hell?" Jedrek sat up.
Axil grabbed him and held the human to his chest. "I love Jed but he is a handful."
"I'm right here!" Jed snapped. "If you're going to talk about me, go do it in your office."
"See," said the beta.
Collin took a deep breath. "I don't know. What if he freaks out? That red fur is making me worried."
"Oh, fu—"
Axil covered his mate's mouth. "Jedrek is all talk. He's still mad about being a werewolf but he's not violent."
"I've heard the rumors." Collin folded his arms. "He's a werewolf killer."
I gasped and covered my mouth. How was Jed still alive?
"A couple Midfield mutts. He did us a favor," replied Axil. "He's not going to hurt Milo. Are you?" He eyed his mate.
Jedrek glared at the wall. "He's a pup. What kind of man hurts a kid?"
"He's older than you," said Collin.
"What? Are you serious?" Jed waved his arm at me. "No way. You're lying."
"I'm nineteen," I said.
Jed shook his head. "Your kind will never make sense to me."
"Our kind," corrected Axil. "I swear to you, Jedrek isn't going to do anything to Milo. If he does, you have my permission to punish him."
"He has your healing enzymes," stated Collin. "It won't do anything."
"We won't mate for a while and then it will."
Collin nodded. "Fine, but one time is all it will take. If he messes up, Milo will stay in our apartment and you're just going to have to deal with the increased security."
"Deal." Axil let Jed go. "If you're ready to go, I have something to talk about with you in the elevator." He started for the door.
Collin reached his hand out for me. I hurried around the couch and hugged him.
"You'll be okay here," he said. "I'll be back tonight." He glanced at Jed. "Tell me if he does anything that makes you uncomfortable."
I nodded. "I will. Bye."
He gave me a kiss and went to meet Axil in the entryway. I waved goodbye as the peer stepped into the hall. The door closed and I felt a little nervous. I had to keep telling myself that this was Axil's house and he approved of our relationship. The TV turned on. Looking over my shoulder, I saw Jed sprawled out across the couch. Playing with my tail, I went to an empty seat and sat down.
"What do you want to watch?"
I shrugged. "TV is new to me."
Jedrek nodded. "Well, then we need to get you caught up on the world." He changed the channel to a talk show.
Grabbing a small pillow, I laid down on my side and settled in. I had a feeling that Jedrek's outbursts were connected to whether or not a dominant was around. I peered over him to see he had pillows and blankets tucked all around him. His eyes were glued on the screen.
"If you're hungry, the kitchen is over there." He pointed. "You can eat whatever you want."
"Okay." I rolled onto my back and watched the screen. "What's it like being the beta's mate?"
Jedrek sighed. "Hell. Being mated to any werewolf is hell."
"I don't know, Collin is very kind to me."
"Hmm... you didn't happen to be his slave before he made you a werewolf?"
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I was, but Collin let me decided."
"Or so you think?"
I frowned and turned toward the couch. "If he didn't love me, Collin could have just left me to be sold off. He's giving up his whole family for me and we're moving to Washington because he wants me to be around other subs. For someone who is just after my body, he sure is doing a lot to make me happy."
Jed laughed to himself. "You sure you don't have any red markings?" He sat up on his elbows. "I get it. My brothers are the same way with their mates. I'm just not ready to give in completely to this messed up world." He laid back down and turned up the volume.
I picked at the fur on my arm and snuck quick glances at him. Jed was completely ignoring me. With a sigh, I started to watch the show. Red werewolves really were something else.