Will You Bite Me If I Ask?
“Hmm, let me see,” Danny said, willing to play along with Vince’s game, at least for a bit. “It must have happened at a carnival. Your mom wanted to have her future told – I know how much she likes that sort of thing – and instead, she learned that she was going to give birth to the best guardian in the galaxy. How am I doing?”
Vince snickered. “You’re so far off I’m suffering from second-hand embarrassment. No. A wolfshifter actually came to my mom and dad’s house. In the middle of the night. And he told them the whole thing.”
“A wolfshifter? Are you kidding me? And you’ve kept this a secret from me all this time? How could you?”
Vince shrugged. “I grew up knowing it’s a secret. I didn’t question it, because mom and dad looked dead serious when they told me I could not say anything about this even to my best friend.”
“And did they know I was that best friend?”
“They had to move so I could go to the same kindergarten that you did. The wolfshifter in question was very old, but he must have said something to convince them of the importance of me becoming your guardian.”
“Okay, okay,” Danny said, taking a large sip from his mug and burning his tongue in the process, “but what about after? When Ryder appeared? And Jack? Ah, was that why Jack didn’t have that hard of a time to convince you?”
“He had a plenty hard time. While I’m telling you all these things as if they were a foregone conclusion, my parents had to protect me, too. So for a long time, they only told me several half-truths. Also, there was a possibility for some crazy mofos would try to get to me – and get rid of me – to get to you. So, I had to be careful and cautious.”
“Wow, I can’t believe it. So, you knew I was a healer?”
“No. The wolfshifter only told my parents that you were the key to the survival of his pack.”
“So, he was part of Ryder’s pack?”
“I think so. Shortly after he visited my mom and dad he was found dead. It was even on the news. The police investigated for a while, because it seemed like such a strange death. He had suffered internal organ failure. On all his organs. At the same time. People throwing the garbage out behind a restaurant on a back street discovered him. My mom and dad freaked out for real. But they knew they couldn’t ignore my purpose. They wouldn’t, I guess.”
“Okay, that’s quite the story. Could it have been Cassandra?”
Vince shrugged again. “You might have to ask your mate about that.” He threw Danny a lopsided grin. “I pushed you into his arms, I deserve to be best man at your wedding.”
“Of course, that position was already yours. But did you know he was a wolfshifter that night, when we first met him?”
“No. I was really only thinking you needed more luck in your love life. And while I knew you were important, I had no idea you were an alpha’s mate. As I told you, I only knew half-truths. Jack, unfortunately, suffered the brunt of my suspicions. I really had to shake him down to get the truth out of him. And I still didn’t believe him for a while. My luck – our luck, really – is that he’s such a resilient little thing. Nothing scares him. Not even Theodore.”
Danny’s head was crowded with all the revelations Vince had just shared with him. “By the way, what’s the deal with the three of you? Since you’re my guardian, how come you’ve gotten tangled up with both of them? Or you’re just there?” He didn’t know how to ask without sounding like Vince was a third wheel in the strange relationship that seemed to involve Theodore and Jack.
“You no longer require my protection. Once I realized you belonged with Ryder and didn’t need me anymore, I felt weightless. But as I followed Jack around, I understood that my purpose wasn’t finished.”
“So,” Danny asked cautiously, “do you have to protect Jack now? But Jack has said some really strange things, like how he has to kiss Theodore. Does that mean that he’s Theodore’s mate?”
Vince scratched his head and winced. “It’s a bit more complicated than that. Trust me, I thought I was heading toward my retirement from being a guardian until Jack’s funny cards told us that I must also mate with Theodore Pembroke.”
“A threesome?!” Danny exclaimed and then slapped one hand over his mouth. Jack was sleeping soundly, but that didn’t mean that he couldn’t wake up.
“As I said, it’s complicated. Jack is a handful, Theodore sulks, and I’m supposed to make sense of it all by myself. You wouldn’t want to be in my shoes, trust me.”
“I trust you. Can I help? Or maybe Ryder, somehow? Theodore no longer has a pack, so he’s a lone alpha. He doesn’t even have a home, right?”
Vince nodded. “Yes. Despite his many riches and properties in Glasstone, he is as good as homeless and destitute without his pack and his pack’s lands. He doesn’t want to accept that fact, obviously. It was the reason he became so greedy.”
“Yeah, I mean, eighty-seven percent of the city? That’s nuts,” Danny agreed.
“You’re right about that. Although I can’t condone any of his actions as the big kahuna at Pembroke Industries, I understand his line of thinking. He wanted to use riches from the human world to get his lands back. And his pack.”
“But--” Danny began. He paused to ponder over his next words. “I thought that his pack was gone. As for his pack’s lands… where are they? Do they even still exist? I wouldn’t be surprised if a coven of witches have made a portion of the planet disappear with all of us humans being none the wiser.”
Vince winced and confirmed Danny’s wildest assumptions with a quick nod. “You’re not that far from the truth. It’s not like his pack’s lands disappeared, but they are beyond… how should I say this so it makes sense? They are beyond a veil. A magical veil.”
“Wow. To think that only a couple of days ago I was still doing normal things, like eating toast and watching TV.”
“Don’t ever say the word ‘toast’ in front of Theodore,” Vince warned.
Danny squeezed his eyes shut and groaned. “For what it’s worth, I didn’t mean to hit him that hard. And that was the first thing I grabbed, so it wasn’t even planned.”
“He’ll get over it,” Vince said, looking like he didn’t quite mean it but wanted to put Danny’s mind at ease. “At least, that’s what Jack keeps saying. I wonder how long they’re going to be at odds with one another. Jack definitely sees something in those cards that he doesn’t want to talk about.”
“That’s weird. Jack is the sort who talks about everyone and everything. It has to be something big.”
“I think so, too,” Vince replied.
“What are you guys going to do? Will you have to go in search of that magical veil that keeps Theodore’s pack’s lands hidden? Then what?”
Vince wrapped his hands around his mug, looking thoughtful and a tiny bit worried. He’d been Danny’s bestie for their entire lives, so it was easy to spot when something was gnawing at him.
“I sincerely have no idea. But as long as I’m involved, I’m going to do my best.”
“You wouldn’t be you otherwise. Anything you guys need, you have my full assistance. And not only mine. Ryder’s too. And his family’s. And most likely, his entire pack’s, too. Vince, do you think alphas can have friends? Not just, I don’t know, followers? What are the others called?”
“They are his pack, Danny. Their bond is stronger than that of friendship. They are family.”
“Ah, I see. That makes sense. I will let you rest now. And make sure that you get Theodore to follow Jack’s example and get some proper sleep. He looks like he needs it.”
“Don’t worry. As much as he dislikes being told what to do, he’s in my care now, so he will have to sleep.”
Danny got up and gave Vince, his strong, loyal friend, a big hug. “Thank you for taking care of me all this time. Even if I had no clue. You must have worked so hard.”
“It wasn’t work at all, I assure you,” Vince said. “But it looks like I’ll have to work hard to bring everyone together. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, Vince,” Danny said right away, reluctantly letting go of his friend. For the strangest reason, he felt like he was saying goodbye, and not only for a few hours or a day. “See you later?”
“Of course,” Vince said, chasing all of Danny’s doubts away with his open, honest smile. “I’d like to get to know Ryder better. And all of his pack.”
Danny left his friend to rest, smiling as he heard him calling Theodore inside. If there was someone who could get the quirky Jack and the cold Theodore to work together, it was Vince.
***
Ryder searched for his mate with his eyes again. Although he understood Danny’s desire to see his friend, he needed him something fierce, and that need was becoming more and more insistent. For the curse to truly end, he had to bond with his mate in such a way that their union became complete for the rest of their lives.
Would Danny understand what it meant to bond with a wolfshifter? He was a healer, someone special that had been meant for his pack, but he had lived in the human world, with human rules, and he might get a little scared.
No, he would make sure that he explained to Danny that wolves needed to mark their mates, and seeing how open and understanding he was, he would get it. That didn’t do much for his nerves, though. From the first time he had seen Danny, Ryder had believed that the human before him smelled so good that he felt safe, even in the heart of the city of glass and stone.
Danny embraced him from behind, seemingly bent on taking him by surprise. Although he had felt him before he came near, Ryder didn’t want to take this small pleasure away from his mate and pretended to be surprised.
“Have you seen your friend?” he asked.
Danny nodded. “I learned a lot about him in less than half an hour. It’s an interesting tale, but I know you--” He swallowed thickly and bit his lower lip. Ryder observed the way the straight white teeth sank into the plump flesh, and desire struck him with the force of a lightning bolt.
He grabbed Danny by the hand and began marching him toward the woods. It would have to happen on the naked ground, without any of the comforts Danny the human was used to. But Ryder could no longer postpone it. Their mating was inevitable.
“Where are we going?” There was no distrust in Danny’s voice, only curiosity.
“You will see,” Ryder replied. He didn’t want to sound this curt, but the fire in his loins was already raging.
A beautiful clearing opened before them. This was a secret place that not just any wolf could reach. The place would only appear or to let itself be found for an alpha. He pulled Danny toward a bed of moss and embraced him.
“I must bond with you,” he explained as he sat down and pulled Danny into his lap. “It will hurt, but I will make sure the pain doesn’t last long.”
Danny gave him a confused smile. “Why are you saying that? We’ve had sex before. I mean, you’re big, but I’ve handled you pretty well so far, right?” He blushed to the whites of his eyes as the last words left his mouth.
His beautiful mouth, so ripe for the taking. Ryder knew that his inner animal would soon take over, demanding his right to mount his mate, but he wanted to hold on to his mind’s clarity for a little bit longer so he could explain to Danny what would happen soon.
“I will have to mark you,” Ryder said gently.
“Okay,” Danny said slowly, still looking as confused as before. “Ah, do you mean that we’re going to do it without a rubber? I totally get it. I mean, I’d like that, too. For you to come inside me.” He blushed again.
His mate was simply adorable and couldn’t help being so. Ryder felt a wave of tenderness washing through him, temporarily putting his wolf’s desire to possess his mate on hold. Before they moved forward, he had to put his mate’s mind at ease.
“Danny,” he whispered, “would you like to live here with me? I haven’t even asked you that yet.”
“With you, here, among wolves? In the woods?” Danny asked, putting his arms around Ryder and offering him calm and comfort.
“Yes.”
“It sounds a bit unnerving,” Danny admitted, confirming Ryder’s decision to talk a bit with his mate before they bonded was wise. “I mean, we have so many stories that warn us about going into the woods by ourselves.”
“You’re not by yourself, you won’t be by yourself,” Ryder growled, his grip on his wolf loosening. “You’re with me.”
Danny stared into Ryder’s eyes, looking like enticement incarnate. “You know, I did read a few werewolf romance books a while ago. I have no idea if what they said there was true, but I feel like I have to ask about this.” His eyes were shining, and his lips looked moist and inviting. He made the mistake of leaning his head to one side, exposing his neck.
Ryder could feel his eyes starting to burn.
“Ryder,” Danny whispered like he was about to tell him a secret, “will you bite me if I ask?”
Ryder’s wolf growled, his need growing. He moved quickly, positioning Danny on the moss bed with his face down. He would regret his violent actions later, but there was no way he could control his wolf and his need now that Danny had asked to be marked in that sweet voice of his. With another low growl, he ripped the shirt off his mate’s body.
***
Danny gasped as Ryder held him down, trapping him between his strong thighs. So it was true, his messed up mind screamed at him; wolfshifters really did that to bond. Was he ready? But he had asked for it, and Ryder’s eyes were now glowing gold and molten lava. Stopping a wolfshifter from bonding with his mate to ask silly questions would be cruel and cause distress, especially to a strong alpha like Ryder.
He felt the sharp fangs grazing the skin between his neck and shoulder. Would it be enough to brace himself for the pain? Those spicy books always emphasized the intense pleasure the wolf’s mate experienced during the bond but, in the end, Ryder’s big, strong fangs would have to break Danny’s skin and sink deep into his flesh. No matter how he looked at it, it sounded like something that would hurt, and not just a little.
A gasp broke from his lips as Ryder licked the spot he must have identified for the bond mark. It triggered so much insane pleasure that Danny thought he risked losing his mind. It was impossible to deny it; as impossible as that sounded, he would experience the intense delight of the story characters from the wolfshifter romance he had read.
Ryder’s attack was swift and, at first, Danny thought he didn’t feel anything. But a searing pain soon cut through his shoulder, lighting up all his nerve endings.
A calming thought entered his mind. I will cherish you until my dying day, my mate.
Danny jolted, as Ryder’s fangs sank deeper into his shoulder. He could hear Ryder inside his mind. It couldn’t be only his imagination, and no matter how great the pain he doubted it could trigger such a hallucination.
The pain will soon leave your body. Relax. I love you, and I will always love you.
Danny relaxed, even though his arm felt numb now. He lay on the bed of moss Ryder had placed him on and abandoned himself to the flurry of emotions rushing through him. The pain was receding, just as Ryder had promised, and now it appeared to be a faraway sensation. Peaceful relaxation made his body loose and compliant as Ryder sucked on the wound, his fangs slowly retreating.
It wasn’t long-lived, though. Danny felt Ryder’s tongue lapping at his wound marks and a thrill sent a shockwave through his body. His entire body reacted to being taken and possessed. Rough hands rested against the small of his back before lifting him slightly to undress him. While Ryder had been in a hurry to mark him and ripped Danny’s shirt in the process, now he acted in a more restrained manner.
Danny could feel a powerful desire shaking his body. “Hurry, please, my alpha.”
His jeans would most likely share the same sad fate as his shirt, but he couldn’t be made to care. He was out in the open, at the break of dawn, preparing to have his body ravaged by the most handsome and loyal wolfshifter to have ever lived. That was Ryder for him; the rest of the world didn’t matter now.
Only the pleasure of surrendering himself completely remained, shackling his body to the ground below, all willingly, in expectance and readiness of being taken and possessed as only a mate for life would be able to do.
TBC
Author's note:
@Derek - The trio will get their own adventure... because it didn't feel right to leave them 'unresolved'. So glad you enjoyed the story, the sequel will come right after :)
@DavidB - Oh, no worries, David! I know I have a weakness for the stern stoic type, lol. They are just so honest and dependable. Well, Danny and Ryder won't be that much in the sequel, since its heroes need to take the stage :)
@Mark Mortland - You didn't read too much into it... (but too little :P) You'll know what I mean when the sequel begins. And I'm grateful for your patience :) I know some readers might get frustrated with me at times... When I started the story, I hadn't meant it to be 'slow burn', but Danny and Ryder sure took their sweet time in the beginning. I hope this chapter (and the next) will scratch the itch (I caused, and I assume full responsibility, lol).
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