FORBIDDEN MATE

Finding his mate should have been Patrick Holland's greatest day, instead it turned into a nightmare with one phone call. His mate didn't want him. His heart broke, but at sixteen he was too young to do anything. The next ten years--ten long years-- of Patrick's life are spent at odds with his mate. Split by forces he can't comprehend and a long line of misunderstandings, Patrick doubts he'll ever get the man he's both loved and hated.

Jake Richmond never expected to come home from uni to find the youngest Holland brother was his mate. Knowing the news might uplift his still grieving father, Jake shares the news only to have his young mate threatened. Jake does the only thing he can think of, protect Patrick. The next ten years are nothing but torture for Jake as he watches his mate grow into a remarkable young man.

They say time heals all wounds, but how much time?

Re edited and expanded version. Original story: 35,728 words. Expanded version: 81,192

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Excerpt - Chapter One:

Jake stretched as he got out of his beat-up old Toyota. It was good to be back in his hometown again, and he was looking forward to catching up with his best friend. He had gotten home the night before after another six-month stint at the University of Melbourne. Jake was studying for his Masters of Commercial Law and had another eighteen months' worth of study ahead of him.

However, now it was semester break and Jake had come home. He wanted to see his friends and run with his pack. That, especially, Jake had missed. Living in the heart of a large city for most of the previous few years while he was studying caused issues with his inner wolf. There wasn't a great deal of land in cities where a were could shift and run during the full moon.

Jake was really looking forward to running with his pack once again. Speaking of pack, he looked up at the house of his Alpha, Joe Holland. Alex, his best friend, had no idea he was home for the holidays yet. He'd gotten in late and thought to surprise his friend this morning.

Jake walked up the brick pathway, noticing there were no cars parked in the drive. He wondered if anyone was actually home. If not, he would just call his friend and find out where the hell he was. Excited now to see Alex, Jake quickened his pace.

Lifting his knuckles, he rapped loudly on the solid wood door three times before taking a step back and waiting. Jake frowned when the door wasn't immediately opened and realised his surprise wasn't going to work if no one was home. Turning around to head back to his car, Jake had only taken two steps when he heard the unmistakable sound of the door swinging open.

Jake spun around, expecting to see his best friend standing in the doorway. Instead he was confronted with the sight of the extremely sexy and delicious smelling, not to mention totally off-limits, youngest Holland brother.

Jake shook his head to clear the lust coursing through his entire body. The only thing that seemed to do, however, was to stir the air around him and allow the most wonderful scent he had ever smelt in his life to permeate every pore in his body. Jake groaned as his cock hardened to just this side of painful, and his gums itched as his canines threatened to extend.

He had never lost control of his wolf before, but staring at the young man in front of him was causing all sorts of internal struggles. Jake had always been especially drawn to Patrick, but with the cub being so much younger than he was, he had kept his distance. Now, his wolf wanted that distance to disappear.

Before Jake knew what was happening, he found himself with his arms full of hot, horny teenager as Patrick attempted to climb his body. Jake moaned when their hard shafts rubbed against each other as Patrick's soft lips found his. Jake wrapped his arms tightly around Patrick and took control of the kiss while the younger man clung to Jake's body.

He staggered back towards the house until he had Patrick pressed up against the wall. Jake's wolf howled his approval of the situation. His brain finally kicked back into gear, though, and he remembered exactly whom he was practically molesting against the front of his Alpha's house.

Breaking the kiss, Jake looked down into the shocked dark eyes of the boy in his arms. Nearly black eyes stared back at him, heavy with lust and what Jake thought looked suspiciously like love. Shaking his head, Jake tried to take a step back, only to realise Patrick was still wrapped around him.

"Mate," Patrick whispered at him.

"Shit!" Jake couldn't help the expletive from passing his lips. He didn't expect this when he came home from uni. Jake's heart skipped a beat as the happy, excited expression slipped from Patrick's face and his legs fell from around Jake's waist.

Mate? How the hell could this have happened? Jake knew he'd always been drawn to Patrick, just as Patrick had always seemed to find a way, in his younger years, to insinuate himself into whatever Jake and Alex were doing. Neither of them had minded much. Jake had put it down to a case of hero worship or something similar. But Patrick being his mate had never really crossed his mind.

The age difference between them had made sure that Jake never looked at Patrick that way. If that wasn't enough, the idea of making a move on his best friend's youngest brother and what Alex would do to him if he ever found out was certainly enough to stop any errant thoughts he might have had in their tracks. That wasn't to say that Jake's eyes didn't automatically search out Patrick anytime the man stepped into the same room as him. He just refused to think of it as anything other than looking out for the younger man.

Now though, things had changed. In the time that Jake had been away, Patrick had matured and grown even more beautiful. Wanting nothing more than to see his mate smile, Jake really couldn't deny the fact that the younger man was his mate when his entire being screamed the truth of the words. He cupped Patrick's face in his hands and gently pecked his lips in another soft kiss.

"Is anyone else home?" he asked, wanting to move this from the front where anyone and everyone could see.

Patrick just shook his head, looking a little too stunned to answer. Jake grabbed his hand and led the youth into the house. He needed to go somewhere he wouldn't be tempted to ravish the barely legal young man. The age of consent in the state was sixteen, but Jake was still six years older than Patrick, and the thought was just wrong as far as he was concerned. His wolf, on the other hand, didn't care about age differences. All he cared about was the fact that his mate had been found and was of suitable age. Jake had to grit his teeth as his animal fought for what it wanted.

Looking around, Jake decided the lounge room with its large couch was definitely out, as were any of the bedrooms. That only left the dining room and the kitchen. They seemed safe enough.

Jake took a seat at the head of the table, while Patrick sat in the chair to his right. He never once let go of Jake's hand, which Jake was silently happy about. His mate may be young, but Patrick was still his and Jake wanted to touch as much as he was allowed.

"So, this is a surprise." Talk about stating the obvious, but Jake was still a little in shock.

Patrick laughed and the sound shot straight to Jake's cock. Patrick's entire face lit up, and Jake wanted to see his mate laugh every day, just so he could see that expression. It wasn't like Jake hadn't seen or heard Patrick laugh a million times in the past, but now everything seemed different. The way Patrick looked, how he felt, his scent…oh god, how his scent filled Jake's lungs and seemed to settle inside him.

"I didn't realise the mating instinct would feel so strong. I'm only sixteen," Patrick said, breaking Jake away from his thoughts. Patrick blushed and ducked his head, shy all of a sudden. Jake groaned as his cock throbbed in his now uncomfortable pants. Jake was about two seconds away from dragging Patrick out of his chair and laying him out on the table like a buffet. "I've always had a crush on you," Patrick admitted so quietly that if it wasn't for his superior hearing, Jake would have missed it. His mate's soft confessions weren't helping Jake's control one bit.

Jake tucked a knuckle under Patrick's chin and lifted his face so he could once again look his mate in the eyes. He knew Patrick wasn't going to like what he had to say, but there was no other choice as far as he could see. "I can't claim you yet." But boy did he want to. His wolf howled inside him and scratched to be let out. Jake winced as he felt like he was being ripped open from the inside out.

Patrick's eyes widened and his mouth opened in shock.

"Please hear me out." Jake cursed, not at all liking the look of hurt that crossed Patrick's features. "You're only sixteen. I'm six years older than you, and I'll be leaving again in a week to go back to Melbourne for uni. If I claim you now, I wouldn't be able to leave you behind, and I can't take you with me. You still have school here to complete." Jake hated the situation as much as he knew Patrick did, but there really wasn't anything that could be done. If he hadn't come home, if he'd just stayed in Melbourne until he'd finished his Masters, then Patrick would have been older, more mature and they would have had to ability to mate, instead of having to wait like they were being forced to do now.

Patrick looked so sad, but he nodded his understanding.

"I'm not saying I won't claim you, Patrick, we just need to give it time." Jake pulled Patrick forward and kissed his mate, trying to reassure himself as much as Patrick that everything would work out if they just gave it the time they needed for both of them to finish school. Breaking the kiss, another thought entered Jake's head. "Fuck, your brother and your dad are going to kill me." He groaned at the mere idea of telling Alex his youngest brother was Jake's mate.

Patrick laughed again, the light tinkling sound seeping into Jake's skin. "I won't tell them until you're willing to claim me. How's that?"

Jake was blown away by what Patrick was willing to sacrifice for him. He knew Patrick didn't offer his word lightly, and Jake also knew just how close the Holland family was. There were never any secrets between them. For Patrick not to announce that he'd found his mate to make things easier between Jake and Alex was mind-blowing.

"You don't have to do that, Patrick. I don't mind if you want to tell them, they're your family," Jake said carefully, not wanting to sound ungrateful.

"I know I don't have to, Jay, but I want to." The sound of the nickname Patrick had given him years ago said in Patrick's soft voice sent shivers down Jake's spine. "I want to keep you all to myself for the time being. If no one else knows, then you're all mine." His cheeks turned pink at the confession. Jake loved the look.

Patrick rubbed his hand over the stubble on Jake's cheek. He'd been lazy since he finished school and hadn't shaved in several days. "I like this look on you. It makes you look even sexier than before."

"I should head off before your family gets home and finds me ravishing you," Jake announced suddenly, the lust in his voice making it even deeper than usual. His body screamed to do just what he'd said.

"You can ravish me anytime you want," Patrick offered.

Jake wasn't strong enough not to bring their lips together and once more take control of the other man's mouth. He thrust his tongue past Patrick's lips and growled at the taste. He slowly gentled the kiss until he pulled back completely.

"Have you got your own phone?" Jake asked when he once more had the power of speech. Patrick nodded and gave him his number. "I'll call you tomorrow."

"I'd like that," Patrick said and then they stood.

They walked through the house to the front door in silence. Cupping Patrick's cheek, Jake placed a gentle peck on the kiss-swollen lips. "Be good," he whispered before he turned and left the house. Jake didn't look back as he didn't think he would be able to leave if he saw his mate watching him walk away.