Something borrowed

Russ groaned as he forced his eyes open against the pounding headache pulsing behind them. He clutched his head as he glanced around the now empty, now clean room. He groaned even louder as he slid himself over the edge of the bed, clasping his head as he did. His eyes moved to the nightstand where a tray sat. He rubbed his forehead as a halfhearted smile curved his lips. He popped the two waiting pills, chugged the bottle of water, and then plucked a muffin from the tray. He studied it for a second, then took a bite and chuckled. "Blueberry, not bad…" He pulled on a pair of sweats and a tee before grabbing another muffin and heading down the stairs. He hadn't even made it to the bottom floor when the sweet smell of baked goods reached his nose. Some of the staff were whispering outside the doors of the expansive kitchen as he passed by. He chuckled again as he shifted the muffin in his palm. "Good morning, ladies." He nodded to the maids, who all bowed each hiding dark blushes as they did.

Russ didn't need to follow the commotion through the kitchen. He already knew exactly where the giant hulking man would be… where he was every time something was troubling him. Russ's steps froze as soon as the wide expanse of the familiar back came into view. "Ah… shit…" Russ muttered under his breath.

Ry glanced over his shoulder but quickly returned to the task at hand. "You're up… how did you sleep…"

Russ ran a hand over the back of his neck as he walked around the counter Ry was working at and placed the muffin in front of the giant man. "I would ask you the same… but seeing as to how my bedroom and kitchen are both filled with baked goods this morning, I can already guess." He blew out a heavy sigh as he walked over to the other side of the counter and leaned against it beside Ry. He tugged back first one side and then the other side of the neck of Ry's shirt. "I can also guess the reason…" He leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. "When did she mark you?"

Ry glanced up at Russ before turning his attention back to the truffles he was working on. "Right after you…" He shot him another glance, his cheeks reddening. "Are… are you mad?"

Russ shrugged. "Maybe a little…" He huffed a sarcastic laugh. "Funny thing is, I'm not sure which I'm more irritated over… The fact that the two of you were together again after I'd passed back out… or the fact that she marked what I'd already marked as mine…" Russ tilted his head back in an impish grin. "Stupid hu-ah!"

Hearing Russ refer to him as 'his' had been equal parts shocking and arousing. He'd forgotten all about the mountain of truffles and other treats he'd been working on since before dawn and instantly sprang at Russ, his lips pressed to Russ's before he'd even realized he'd moved. One hand tangled in Russ's messy hair as the other clasped the small of his back snuggly pressing him against him.

Russ pushed against Ry's chest in surprise. "Wow, man!" His eyes shot around the palace kitchen as he continued to hold Ry at arm's length. "We're kinda in a public place here, man…" His troubled gaze moved back to Ry's. "Besides, I'm still not exactly comfortable with kissing you. I mean… I know that sounds stupid after what we did… but still…"

Ry swallowed down his disappointment as he nodded and forced himself to step away. "Yeah… I understand. I don't expect you to suddenly be ok with everything with me all at once…"

Russ nodded awkwardly. "Yeah… well ok. As long as we're on the same page here…" He looked around awkwardly still. "So, um… where is Jaden?"

Ry cleared his throat as he turned his attention back to the truffles. "She left already. I gave her a ride over to Jos's this morning. She was excited and wanted to help the others…"

"Oh yeah?"

Ry nodded, another blush creeping up his neck as he trained his focus on the dessert.

Russ arched a brow. "What am I missing?"

"They know… They're all going to know aren't they?" He blurted as he ran his hands over the fresh bites on his neck.

It was Russ's turn to blush as he nodded. "Yeah… I hadn't thought much of it on my way down, but I guess most of the staff here already know." He blew out a sigh. "I'm sorry, I didn't think last night… I just… acted on instinct."

Ry turned a confused gaze to Russ. "Why would you do that on instinct? I thought it was a mating thing?"

Russ shrugged. "Fuck if I know… I guess I was too drunk, and it felt too good… Why did Jaden?"

Ry shrugged. "Because she wants to mate… to have my kid… makes sense for her, right?"

Russ ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I don't know… I should go get ready for the wedding… you should too. You're covered in flour and chocolate and shit… What is this?" He ran a finger over a smudge on Ry's hand then licked it off his finger. "Strawberry? Raspberry maybe?"

Ry's eyes widened as he stood and stepped over to Russ and took his hand. He brought the finger to his mouth that Russ had just licked and sucked it into his own mouth. "Maybe you should help me get it off…"

Ry swallowed down his discomfort as he pulled into his brother's driveway. He blew out a heavy sigh as he shut off the SUV. "Would you mind taking the desserts over to the banquet table? I need to go let Arei know we're going to be sitting this one out… He'll understand…" Ry leaned over letting his head rest on Russ's shoulder as he clasped his hand letting his fingers tangle with Russ's. "I can't let anything happen to either of you… I know you're strong, and I've seen what she's capable of too… but I've also seen what happens when you piss off the gods… especially Zeus." He shook his head. "I can't lose you, not now, not when I've just gotten you."

Russ swallowed down the panic rising in his throat. Ry had broken down and told him everything after they'd fucked earlier and now he was more terrified than ever before. All the problems he'd thought had been bigger than the world now seemed minute in comparison. He squeezed Ry's hand. "I trust you. Just say the word, I'll do what you say without a seconds guess, and I'll make sure Jaden is safe too."

Ry turned his gaze up to him, some worry fading. "Thank you. You can't understand how much it helps to hear you say that." He pressed his nose to Russ's neck with a sigh. "Just one kiss? We could all die today, you know…"

Russ cupped his face. "One…" He squeezed his eyes closed but didn't have to wait long. Ry's full, slightly parted lips were seeking his out almost instantly. Just as quickly, Ry pulled back and pressed his forehead against Russ's. "Find seats in the back row."

Russ nodded, his cheeks red. "Alright… I'll probably try to find Jos first though."

Ry nodded. "That's fine. See if you can talk Shelly into sitting toward the back with you and Jaden…" He gave Russ one last quick peck before jumping out of the vehicle and heading toward the heavily decorated front porch. Ry blew out a sigh as he made his way through the house and up the stairs toward Arei and Jos's bedroom. Unfortunately, it wasn't Arei he met first, but the bride and her guests.

"Ry! You're here!" Chary called out as she jerked him into the room by his arm. "Look girls who I found!" The room went quiet, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of a glass hitting the ground.

"Oh fuck!" Shelly's words echoed through the room before her hand quickly clasped over her mouth. Her wide eyes moved between April, Jaden, and Ry who stood frozen at the door.

Jos turned from the floor-length dressing mirror, her happy smile quickly turning to surprise. She arched a brow as her gaze moved between the wolves' mixed expressions and Ry. "Um… am I missing something…" Her eyes followed April and Shelly's to Ry's shoulders before widening. Her hand flew to her mouth as understanding dawned. "Oh shit…" She sent Chary a wide smile as she moved toward the door and grabbed her arm. "You know, I just forgot I need… something… somewhere else…"

A wide mischievous smile curved Chary's lips. "My ass you do! Something juicy is going on, and I want to know! What have you done now brother!? Or rather who?!"

When Jaden sputtered out a choke, Jos tugged harder on Chery's arm. "That's enough questions for now… We'll talk to them… after I find that… thing…" Jos had just made it out the bedroom door when Russ's head cleared the top step. "Oh shit…" She began stepping back, blocking the bedroom door. "Um… what brings you here…."

Russ arched a brow. "I was here to see you, of course. What else?"

She glanced over her shoulder toward the bedroom door. "Oh… that's all?" She tugged Chary's sleeve. "Could you, um… guard the door… for a bit…" She sent her an awkward smile. "I'll get Russ to go downstairs to the office and help me find that thing."

Chary's mischievous smile widened. "Of course… Though now I really gotta know what's going on!"

Jos wrapped her arm around Russ's and turned him back toward the steps. "Think really hard, I'm sure it will come to you."

Chary was silent for a second before her eyes widened and then she burst out into laughter. "Surely not!"

Jos sent her another awkward smile as she nodded and continued pushing Russ down the steps not understanding the full extent of the situation herself… yet.

Chary waited until Jos was out of sight before turning back into the room and calling out as she opened the door. "Ry, you little shit! How could you!" But her words died off when she saw the way Jaden clung to him and the heated blush that was now spread across her brother's face and neck.

"Both of you?" Shelly and April both exclaimed simultaneously.

Jaden nodded as she clung to Ry, his arms awkwardly wrapped around her shoulders. "…but I… I think I'm in love with him… We're going to have a baby together…"

"But what about Russ?" Shelly blurted in confused frustration.

"I know it's a strange love but it may just work you know… Russ still loves me… Ry loves Russ… I do still care for Russ dearly…"

Ry swallowed. "And I care for you…" He muttered.

"Oh hell… Sorry… I'll just…" She stepped back out and closed the door behind her. Chary shook her head as she leaned against the door in complete confusion. She still hadn't recovered when Arei walked up the steps. "Boy am I glad to see you…" She pointed to the door behind her. "You know what the hell our brother has been up to?"

Arei arched his brow. "Do I want to?"

She shook her head. "Well, let's just say if there ends up being another uprising with the werewolves… I know how it was started…"

Arei shook his head. "You've got to be shitting me. Just what this day needs, more drama." He stepped past her and tapped on the door before pushing it open. "I'm here to retrieve my best man… Though I hear that title may need to be revoked…" His brow arched. "What the fuck?"

Ry took Jaden's hand and led her from the room. "We need to talk with you about that."

"WE?" Arei looked between Ry, Jaden, and their intertwined hands. "Does Russ know you're… what? Fucking his wife?"

Ry blew out a sigh as he tilted his head to one side and pulled back his collar and then the other doing the same thing. "I'm fucking them both actually… and I'm here to tell you I'm putting them first today. Now, we can hash out the details behind what I mean by that right here and now, or we can go into another room. Your choice."

Arei blew out a sigh. "Come on."

Russ leaned against the desk in the center of the teakwood office, releasing a heavy sigh as he did. "Ry told me your plans on the way here today… I really wish you'd reconsider." He ran his hand over his neatly styled hair. "I don't understand, Jos. You're finally getting everything you've ever wanted… why? Why risk it all now?"

Jos shook her head. "You wouldn't understand…"

Russ pushed away from the desk. He walked over and clasped both of her hands in his. "Believe me, I may be young, but I've already lost both parents, the love of my life, and my wife… I think I'd understand something about losing things."

Jos frowned. "Then you know?"

Russ arched a brow. "Know? Know what? That Ry is going to try knocking up my wife? Yes, I know. She tried to yeet herself off that fucking cliff last night, and he made a deal with her…" Russ blew out a pained laugh. "I made a deal with him…" He stepped back against the desk pulling Jos between his legs and resting his head against her. "I basically traded my body to him in exchange for him giving himself to her… A deal struck in a lover's hell, am I right?" He glanced up at her tears burning his eyes. "Do you think any of us will come out whole after? I can't see it being anything but tormenting myself… I feel nothing but pain and raw jealousy anytime I think about him touching her… and now... her touching him after I marked him last night… This is so fucked up…"

Jos pressed his head back against her chest and patted his back. "I'm sorry you felt you had no choice in all this… But I'm sure you'll find a way to work it all out… you always find a way to make things work no matter how hard the situation is."

Russ blew out a long sigh. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't be putting all this on you right now. You have enough to worry about." He leaned back up. "Just promise me, you've planned this out well enough that you'll be safe… that you'll come out alright."

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook her head. "I'm dead either way… so it doesn't matter… I'm working on borrowed time as it is… If this works then it's like a bank loan getting approved or extended… if not…" Her words trailed off as she cupped his face, wiping away his tears with the pads of her thumbs. "I died the day I escaped from the DeMarco compound… All this… It's all been an amazing dream…" She forced a tearful smile. "A dream I'll do anything to continue living, you understand?"

He nodded but couldn't bring himself to speak.

She nodded too. "Good. Now go find your family. Hold them tight and get out at the first sign of danger. I will be wed today… but the second my vows are said… leave…" When Russ nodded again in silence, she patted his cheek. "Good… Now go."

Russ stood and pulled her into a tight hug. "Don't die again. I can't lose you permanently." He placed a kiss to her forehead and made his way from the room. A cold chill crept up his spine as a hooded woman passed by him in the hall. He turned and watched as she went into the room without knocking.

Jos turned as someone entered the room. "Did you forget something?" She paused as she instantly recognized the goddess standing before her."