His Perfect Mate [Nehalem Pack 6] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) by AJ Jarrett (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📕

“Carl,” Tobias said in an authoritative tone.

“Sorry, sir,” Carl said sweetly. “This must be what Anton wanted you to see.” Carl slowly turned his head to the left exposing the healing bite mark on his neck.

Tobias stood up so quick the bed shook. He grabbed Carl by the chin and yanked his head further to the side. Carl winced in pain. “What have you done?” Tobias let go of his head and backhanded him across the face.

Blood filled Carl’s mouth but he stayed silent. Pain shot across his cheek and he held his body tight waiting for Tobias to land more hits but they never came. He cracked open his left eye and saw that Tobias had moved toward the fireplace. The man knelt down in front of it and used a key to turn on the gas. He grabbed the matches and sparked one to life. A blaze started and Tobias stood back up. He turned around and headed for the bed.

Without saying a single word Tobias unlatched the chain from the headboard and pulled on Carl’s arms until he stood up. The man didn’t say anything but Carl could read his expression loud and clear. There was a coldness in his eyes that had Carl panicking.

Tobias led him to the foot of the bed. Carl kept his gaze on the door. If he could just get a running start.

“Don’t even think about it.” Tobias’s words came out rough and garbled.

Tobias freed Carl’s right hand. He pushed Carl until he stood with his back flush against the bedpost. He then pulled Carl’s arms to cross at the wrist behind his back. The wood felt cold and unforgiving against his back even with the warmth of the fire heating him from the front. Tobias clenched the chain tight and Carl sucked in a breath as it pinched.

“Tobias, what are you going to do to me?” Being tied down was nothing new to Carl but usually Tobias made sure Carl was lying face down with his bottom in the air. Tobias liked to punish him but it always ended with Tobias having his way with Carl’s body but this position was different. It made him feel extremely vulnerable.

Tobias pulled on the chain to make sure it was tight and Carl hissed as he felt his shoulder start to pop. The man moved back toward the fireplace and grabbed the poker from the holder next to it. He placed the pointed end in the fire and stood there.

“In all the years we’ve been together I’ve never once bitten you.” He turned the poker to lie at a different angle. Carl could see it start to glow a fiery red. “And you leave me for few days and you let some other mongrel mark your delicate skin. Why?” He growled out the one word.

Carl tried to swallow around the bulging lump in his throat. His jaw worked up and down but he couldn’t find the words to say. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and did his best to speak the truth but he had a feeling Tobias wouldn’t like it. “Because I found my mate.” His voice sounded small and weak.

“How could you be so stupid!” Tobias shouted. “There’s no such thing. That man lied to you. You let him use you.” The hand holding the poker shook.

“No I didn’t!” Carl cried back. “He treated me with nothing but kindness. He also told me the truth.”

“And what truth is that?” Tobias turned back to face him, the poker held high in his hand.

Carl licked his lips and darted his eyes from the blazing poker back to Tobias’s wild eyes. “That you’ve been lying to me for the past nine years.”

Tobias started to laugh like that was the funniest thing he had ever heard. The sharp sound bounced off the walls and Carl tried to shrink back against the bedpost. In all his years he’d never seen Tobias like this.

“If you only knew of all the things I’ve done for you.” Tobias walked toward him. “I’ve lied and killed to make sure we were together and this is the thanks I get?”

Tears filled Carl’s eyes the closer Tobias got to him. Tobias telling lies wasn’t a surprise but who had he killed? And why? He didn’t understanding what Anton and now Tobias were trying to say. “Tobias.” The poker drew his attention away from the man. “What are you talking about? Who did you kill?”

Tobias came to a stop in front of him and placed one of his big hands on Carl’s chest. “Take your pick, my pet.” Tobias’s face distorted into a mask of evil that frightened Carl more than the boogey man did as a child. “The alpha, pack members, the nice older lady who use to come visit you and your brother, and your parents,” Tobias said with glee.

Carl’s breath caught in his throat and his chest started to heave. “What?” he asked breathlessly. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. “Why?”

“Because I wanted you.” Tobias started to caress his hand over Carl’s chest right where his heart lay. “The alpha could tell I had a strong infatuation with you and tried to keep me from you. He didn’t understand how hard you made it. Every time you’d see me, you’d run to me and want me to hold you or play with you. You never gave me a moment’s rest.” Tobias curled his fingers into Carl’s pectoral muscle, his claws digging deep. Carl clenched his eyes shut and bit back a scream.

“When I tried to explain that I thought we were mates the alpha was insistent that I leave until you were of age.” Tobias chuckled. “Like I could leave you.” He uncurled his fingers and Carl’s bright red blood coated Tobias’s fingernails. “So naturally he had to go. I recruited Anton and a few others to help me. It was easy getting rid of him. He was old and