Summer of Awakenings

by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

  This morning, Will had been sitting in the chow hall alone when Seth had joined him. Will sat in awe as the man piled food on his plate, almost overflowing it.

  “Are you hungry?” Will sat, jaw dropped, as Seth shoveled plate after plate of food into his mouth.

  “I’m a growing boy,” Seth winked.

  Yes you are. “So, um, what do you have planned today?”

  “Well, I was supposed to help Jacob at the training facility, but I think he got Kory to help. So I have to feed and brush horses. I don’t suppose you’d like to help with that?”

  “I don’t know; I’m still kind of getting used to the horses.”

  “Well, spending more time with them will help with that, and I could use the help.”

  “You don’t have to spend time with me, you know.”

  Seth put his fork down, regarding Will. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “I’m just…” Will sighed. “Look, I’m sure there are other people you’d rather spend your time with than me.”

  “You’re wrong,” Seth sat forward. “I would love to spend time with you.”

  “Why? You don’t even know me.”

  “Well, I can’t get to know you unless I spend time with you, right?” Seth grinned.

  God, that smile. Will’s pulse raced. “I guess…”

  “Good! It’s decided.”

  Will sat back on the bench. What had just happened? He’d just agreed to spend time around huge animals. This, by the way, scared the shit out of him. Will eyed Seth in his peripheral vision. Lord, but the man was so beautiful. Will found his palms sweating just looking at Seth.

  “Did you get enough to eat?”

  “What?” Will blinked and focused on what Seth was saying.

  “I asked if you’d gotten enough to eat. We’ll be out there for a little bit.”

  “Oh, yes. I don’t eat much.”

  Seth watched Will closely. His hands were sweating and he had a wild, panicked look in his eyes. “Look, I understand if you don’t want to spend time with me. I know how I look, but I promise I’d never hurt you, Will. I know my job description says otherwise, but I would never lay a finger on you to hurt you.”

  Will studied Seth’s face. He looked almost sad, as if he was used to people shrinking away from him. The man was intimidating, but the more Will spent time with Seth Ralston, the more he regarded him as a gentle giant. Will reached across the table and took Seth’s hand.

  “I believe you wouldn’t hurt me.”

  “You do?” Seth sat back in astonishment.

  “I’ve seen you with the horses when you think no one’s looking. You’re very sweet, kind and caring with them. Anyone who’s violent wouldn’t act like you do.”

  “I am a violent man, Will. I had to be. Don’t get me wrong, I did what I had to do. I didn’t like it, but it is what it is. The difference is, that’s my job and when I’m not working, I’m free to be me.”

  “I like you,” Will stammered. “I mean I like the real you… the you who’s free to be…” Will sighed in exasperation. “I’m saying this all wrong.”

  Seth held Kory’s hand, his thumb rubbing the soft skin. “I know what you mean. I like you, too.”

  “You do?”

  “What’s not to like?”

  Will banged his head on the table. “Where should I start?”

  “Let’s start with who’s hurting you,” Seth said quietly.

  Will’s head snapped up. “Oh, I told you I fell—”

  “Please don’t lie to me, Will. I’m not stupid. This guy, whoever he is, I promise I won’t let him hurt you ever again.”

  “You can’t make that promise.”

  “Watch me.”

  They didn’t speak for the longest time after that. Just put away their dirty dishes and walked out to the stables. Will watched Seth closely with the horses. He was so patient with them, so kind, it was odd to see someone of his size be so gentle. Will brushed Apollo’s mane and smiled when he got nuzzled again in his hair. They worked quietly, side by side for a half hour before Seth finally spoke.

  “Are you thirsty? There are some water bottles in the fridge in the office.”

  “I could use a drink,” Will set the brush down. “I’ll bring you a bottle of water.” Will turned and stepped on the end of a shovel, which in turn shot up - the handle aiming straight for his forehead. A hand shot out and grabbed the handle before it hit him.

  “Wow, you’ve got lightning fast reflexes! I would have had a large imprint on my face.”

  “Would you have lunch with me sometime? Maybe down by the lake?” Seth blurted out. He almost groaned; he hadn’t wanted to ask Will out like that.

  “You…want to have lunch…with me?”

  “Yes, you know that afternoon meal people are fond of?” Seth grinned and waved his hand in front of Will’s bewildered face. “Hello?”

  “Okay, yeah, sure, that sounds nice.”

  “Really?” Seth leaned against the wall. “You’ll go?”

  “Well, sure. I believe you when you say you won’t hurt me. And believe it or not, I think you’re crazy good looking. I’d be insane to turn you down.” Will saw Seth’s astonished look. “Oh, not that you’re gay or anything; I’m sorry if I presumed too much. If it makes you uncomfor—”

  “Calm down,” Seth took Will’s flailing hands. “I’m not uncomfortable. I’m bi, Will.”

  “You are?” Will whispered.

  “Yes, I am. So, it’s a date?” Seth smiled, holding Will’s hands.

  “Yes, it’s a date.” Will smiled. “Wait, what day?”

  “Whenever you’re ready.”

  ~~

  By nightfall, a large bonfire was going and the group sat around the fire pit. The campers would be showing up soon and they had precious little time to relax. Kory turned his stick over, browning the other side of his marshmallow. Wyatt waited for his to be on fire before blowing it out and shoving it in his mouth.

  “Ew, it’s burnt, Wyatt.” Sebastian’s nose twitched as he browned his marshmallow perfectly.

  “I love them burnt, tastes better.” Wyatt licked the stickiness off his fingers.

  “So,” Kory peeled his marshmallow off. “Please tell me we won’t be singing ‘Kumbaya’ around the fire pit. No offense, but I’ve had enough of that to last me a lifetime.”

  “I think we should go through Will’s playlist,” Wyatt said.

  “Why mine?” Will looked around at all the guys.

  “You have the most diverse music. We should be able to find something that everyone would like.”

  “Take Kory’s; I’ve got some weird stuff on mine,” Will insisted.

  “Oh, you mean the Barbra Streisand?” Sebastian sat forward clasping his hands together. “No worries dude, I sing her songs in the shower sometimes.”

  Will blushed. “Not just that.”

  “Hey, everyone listens to Celine Dion now and then.” Lance winked at Will.

  “I have one song!” Will admonished.

  The whole group burst out laughing.

  Wyatt looked at his watch. “Well, counselors, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it’s almost midnight and we have a long day ahead of us.”

  Lance stood up and stretched his back out. “Good night, folks. See you in the morning.”

  Will stood up and felt a hand in his. He looked over to see Kory smiling at him. “What? You look like a kid with a huge secret.”

  “Can I hang in your bunk tonight? I have to talk to somebody and you are always there for me.”

  Will grinned. “Something happened?”

  “Yeah, can we?” Kory motioned to the cabin.

  “Sure.”

  Will turned on the light in the cabin and walked over to his bed. He sat down and looked around the room. He’d put night lights up in all four corners of the cabin. Ryder Winters was deathly afraid of the dark. Will couldn’t blame the kid. After what had been done to him, Will was surprised he was functioning at
all. Will grabbed a pillow and eyed Kory.

  “So?”

  Kory sat down on the opposite bunk. “Jacob kissed me.”

  Will’s eyes went wide. “But…you…”

  Kory blushed and toed the floor with his sneaker. “I know, I wasn’t sure if I was gay or not, but when he touched me…” Kory fell back on the bed and smiled at the ceiling. “It was a perfect first kiss.”

  “It was your first?” Will’s jaw dropped. “We talk and stuff but you never opened up about that.”

  “Well it’s kind of embarrassing, you know? I’m almost twenty and that was my first kiss. I tried just hanging out with girls at school, you know that, it just didn’t ‘click’ for me. But with Jacob…”

  “So now what? Are you gay now?”

  “I’m still trying to figure things out,” Kory sat back up. “What I do know is that when Jacob Steele touches me I get all knotted up inside and my stomach flips. I got a hard-on today just from his hands on me.”

  “Look, I’m not trying to be a dick, but if this is just an experiment to see if you’re gay or not, don’t hurt the guy, okay? I’ve been on the receiving end of that before and it really sucks. A football player in high school wanted to see if he was gay. I really liked him and he decided that after kissing me, he wasn’t gay. He never spoke to me again and threatened to hurt me if I told anyone that we’d kissed.”

  “I don’t think it’s an experiment. When he kissed me, I felt something. I’ve been around girls and I never got the feeling in my gut that I get when I’m with Jacob.”

  Will smiled, taking Kory’s hand. “I’m glad; I just don’t want to see anyone get hurt.”

  Kory tilted his head. “You look happier than normal. How was your day with Seth?”

  Will blushed and looked down at the floor. “He’s really sweet, you know? I mean he’s huge, but he’s so gentle. He invited me out for lunch.” Will looked up shyly. “He said he likes me.”

  Kory grinned and hugged Will. “That is so awesome! I’m so happy for you!”

  “Don’t get all excited, he didn’t say he loved me,” Will laughed. “But he did confirm he is bi.”

  “Well now,” Kory waggled his eyebrows.

  “Quit!” Will laughed and fell over on the bed. Kory tackled him and they wrestled playfully. Will pushed Kory off the bunk and laughed when he hit the floor.

  “Oops.”

  “Hey!” Kory looked up from the floor. “Thank God you are on the bottom bunk.”

  “Get back up here; I want to hear all about your first kiss.”

  Kory looked at Will from his position on the floor. “Thanks, you know? For being my friend even after I told you how I used to be. It means a lot to me that you gave me a chance.”

  Will put his hand out to help Kory up. “Hey, we have a lot in common and you make great sandwiches. Now get up here and spill.”

  Kory stretched out on the bed next to Will and put his hands behind his head, threading his fingers together. “Where to start…” Kory sighed, smiling.

  “From the beginning.”

  Chapter Four

  The sun’s morning rays swept across Seth’s face and he shielded his eyes with his hand.

  He sat up in bed and looked over at Jacob, who was still sleeping. They’d agreed to be counselors as well teaching the self-defense class. Seth had been concerned that he and Jacob would frighten the kids, but Riley had assured them that the kids had been told about them. Seth thought about his conversation with Will the day before and smiled. He’d be having lunch with his mate soon. He hoped. Hopefully he would find out who the man was who was hurting Will. Seth threw his legs over the side of the bunk and stood up, cracking his back and neck. The beds weren’t small by any means, but they were small for him and Jacob.

  “Morning,” Jacob mumbled, rolling over onto his side.

  “It is that,” Seth pulled the shades all the way up.

  “Ow,” Jacob rolled back over.

  “So are you going to talk to me about the kiss? Or should I just keep getting the highlights from your mind?”

  “Dammit, I swore I turned my thoughts off,” Jacob chuckled into his pillow.

  “Nope, I heard it all. How soft Kory’s lips are, how beautiful he is.” Seth tilted his head. “You know if I didn’t know how big of a badass you actually are I’d think you were a woman.”

  “Fuck off!” Jacob threw his pillow at Seth, laughing.

  “It’s just so sweet how you can’t stop thinking about him.”

  “And you’re different?” Jacob lifted his head with a wry smile.

  “Nope, never said I was,” Seth walked to the door and opened it. The fresh smell of pine trees wafted into the room. “Breakfast awaits.”

  “Yeah, let me hop in the shower and I’ll meet you there.”

  Seth took the path down to the chow hall and stopped halfway there. Caden and Wayne were running around in wolf form with Ethan and Gage. Wayne had been encouraging them to shift more often as it made things easier on the boys. They cried at first, fearful that shifting would bring bad men to take them away. But Wayne shifted and reminded them that they would never be hurt again. After that, the boys shifted all the time. They were adorable wolf pups. Riley sat on the fencing watching them while petting Fury. Wayne in his wolf form was as big as Apollo, maybe bigger.

  “Holy shit.”

  Seth turned quickly and let out a breath of relief. Kory stood watching, his eyes as big as saucers.

  “You scared me; I thought I was going to have to explain all this,” Seth grinned.

  Kory looked up at Seth. “You mean, you know?”

  “Well, yeah, seeing as I am one.”

  Kory tilted his head. “Are we talking about the same thing?”

  “What your brother is, it’s what I am.”

  “So we are,” Kory stepped closer to Seth. “Does Jacob know?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  Kory turned to see Jacob walking down the path.

  “I’ll just…” Seth looked between Kory and Jacob; “…be on my way. See you there, guys.”

  Kory eyed Jacob. His hair was wet from the shower and he wore loose fitting jeans and a white tank that showed off his impressive biceps. Just looking at him, Kory could still feel the softness of the man’s lips on his own.

  “So you know,” Kory said.

  Jacob nodded. “Could you do something for me?”

  “I guess.”

  “Go sit with Riley for a second.”

  Kory tilted his head, but didn’t argue. He walked over to the fencing surrounding the lake and stepped onto the rail.

  “Morning, Riley. How did you sleep?”

  Riley glanced over at Kory and smiled. “About as well as could be expected without Mateo next to me. I’m so used to being with him all the time; it takes some getting used to.”

  “You miss him, huh?”

  Riley nodded, looking out over the field of grass. “We’ve never been apart for more than a week. When I packed to come here, he slipped my stuffed purple hippo into my bag.” Riley smiled, shaking his head. “He’s so sweet sometimes; I forget he’s an assassin.”

  Kory looked out over the lake. Caden and Wayne and the boys had run into the woods to play with the horses. “I’ve met everyone and it never crossed my mind that werewolves existed; I thought it was all fairytale and movie stuff. Then I came to Seattle to visit my brother and my whole world changed in so many ways. I’d been raised to think being gay was wrong and now I see things in a whole new light. The way Mateo loves you, and the way you love him. It’s epic.”

  “I’ve seen Wesley and Kurt,” Riley grinned. “Those two love each other with so much passion.”

  Kory rolled his eyes. “Don’t remind me, I used to live with them. That passion penetrates walls.”

  Riley laughed. His eyes caught movement and he turned to look at Kory. “I think someone wants to speak with you.”

  Kory looked up and his breath caught. The white wolf that had
saved his life during a fire was standing in the middle of the field.

  “Jacob,” Kory whispered.

  “He wanted to tell you,” Riley jumped off the fence and looked at Kory. “Go talk to him.”

  Kory slipped off the fence and walked slowly across the field. Graphite-grey eyes were watching him tensely. Kory stopped a few feet away. Jacob was beautiful in wolf form, just as he was as a man.

  “You keep saving my life, Jacob. I would have hoped you’d have told me about this.” Kory stood still as Jacob padded over to him, nuzzling his thigh with his muzzle. Kory slipped his fingers through Jacob’s soft coat. “You are so beautiful, Jacob,” Kory whispered. “If you thought I wouldn’t understand, you had to know I would. Could you explain it to me?” Jacob huffed and gave one last look before padding off into the woods. Kory waited a few minutes and then Jacob walked out of the woods in human form.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Jacob walked slowly towards Kory. “I didn’t know what to think. I know your brother’s a werewolf; I just didn’t know how you would take it knowing I was the same. When we first met, you didn’t know whether you liked men; adding this to it complicated it.”

  “You being a werewolf is the easy part,” Kory looked up at Jacob. “My feelings for you are more complicated.”

  “But you do have feelings for me?”

  Kory stepped forward, taking Jacob’s hand. “Yes, I do. I know how I feel when you touch me, when you kissed me. It’s not a passing phase if that’s what you’re worried about. I’ve been around girls and I’ve never felt with them the way I feel when I’m with you.”

  Jacob looked down at Kory’s hand in his own and threaded their fingers together. “So, you might be able to see dating me? Knowing what I am?”

  “What you are makes no difference, Jacob.” Kory stepped closer; taking Jacob’s other hand in his. “I want to see where this goes.”