by Mathew Ortiz
***
Days passed, and Donovan and Oliver grew closer. They spent as much time together as they could. Donovan crept into Oliver’s room every night, as the wolf in him could not abide not curling up to his mate as they slept. Insulated from the world, he was able to put out of his mind his brother’s impending visit. Dathan would scent their mating, and he wasn’t looking forward to his brother’s wrath.
But for now, the lazy days of summer were for him and his mate. Strolling hand in hand in the maze, they found privacy here since the house always had someone running around it. Stealing a glance at Oliver, his chest swelled with pride. His mate was perfection in form, mind, and power. Loosely tied golden hair fluttered in the breeze. The same breeze wafted Oliver’s delectable smell to his nose. His wolf grumbled in satisfaction. Dressed in jeans shorts and a pale peach tank top, Oliver meandered barefoot beside him in the soft, lush grass. Their bond flowed more powerfully via their hands. It was a good time to practice talking mentally. Oliver initiated the conversation.
I was thinking, we’ve never been out on a proper date.
You’re right. We met, bonded, had sex, mated, and had sex again, yet we haven’t had dinner out together. Oh, and had more sex.
Like that part don’t you?
More and more each time. Do you want to go out on a date?
Kinda. I want to be with you in public. Not sure if I want all my family to know. Shakespeare’s is a nice place. And not many supernatural go there.
Sounds nice. How about tonight?
I thought you’d never ask.
Anything for you. Hey, I’m new to this bonding stuff, but you feel like you’re twisting your tail over something.
Twisting my tail?
Old shifter saying. It means you’re worrying about something.
Not worried. Curious.
‘Bout what?
You can say no, I’d understand, but I’d like to see you shift to your wereling and full wolf form. I mean, I’ve seen your wereling form but…
Donovan brought them to halt and tugged his mate close. “All you need do is ask. I could never say no to you.”
“I didn’t want to push.” The center of the maze loomed into view and they strolled in, sitting down on a bench.
“It’s okay. How about this? I wolf out for you, and you show me your powers…all of them?” Curiosity killed the cat or the wolf, and Donovan had wondered what all his mate was capable of. If he was going to the Ascension Trials, Oliver must have quite an array of powers.
The smile Oliver gave him made him all mushy inside.
“Deal.”
“Okay.” Donovan got off the bench and set about stripping. Oliver eyes went wide.
“Are you crazy? Why are you taking off your clothes?”
“Because if I don’t, I’ll tear them when I shift.” Tossing his shirt to the side, his shorts followed. Since he didn’t wear underwear, he was nude in moments. He growled low as his mate looked him up and down, fixating on his cock.
“Stop that. You’ll muddle my concentration.” Stepping back, he shook his body to loosen up. “Ready?”
Oliver nodded. “Ready.”
An inhaled breath and he summoned his wolf. Flesh rippled, bones cracked, and his body stretched, shifting into his wereling form. Adding almost a hundred pounds to his frame, Donovan grew to six-eight in height. His body sprouted a thick blanket of sandy brown fur. A long tail grew from his tailbone, and his legs reformed like the hind legs of a wolf. Black claws replaced his nails, and his face morphed, into a large muzzle with long canines. His ears extended and his head took on a wolf-like quality. In all it took all of ten seconds. Stretching, he turned his attention to his mate, wondering how he would react.
“That is so freaking cool!” Oliver ran over to him and wrapped his arms around his fur covered torso. “You’re huge!”
A low growl came from deep in his throat. His cock thickened and threatened to slip from its sheath. This was not something he had counted on. The smell of his mate was inflaming him, and he couldn’t tamp down his desire. Gently he pushed a confused Oliver away from his overly stimulated body.
“What’s wrong?”
Donovan’s voice was low and growly as he spoke. “Babe, I’m still a man here. Your rubbing up against me is…having an effect.” He pointed to his now fully hardened cock that was free of his sheath. The large prick glistened proud and fat, the knot huge at the base.
“Holy crap! It’s as big as my arm!” Oliver gasped, only to come closer to inspect. “No wonder my ass was sore. You’re a good size normally, but this is a monster cock!”
Donovan chuffed out a breath. “Oliver, back away. It’s taking all my control not to mount you, and I don’t fuck in my wolfen forms.”
Oliver licked his lips. “Kinda kinky when you think about it. You don’t suppose—”
“Just toss that notion out of your head. Never gonna happen.” Donovan balked when Oliver looked again at his cock and licked his lips again. His mate was full of surprises. “Enough. Time for full wolf.”
He let his whole wolf free this time. Falling to his hands and knees, the shift completed and he stood, a three hundred-pound massive wolf, only a few feet from Oliver.
Chapter 10
Dropping to his knees, Oliver sat on his haunches and gazed at his powerful bondmate. The wolf was huge, covered in sandy brown fur and, to an ordinary person, terrifying. Not to him, though. Opening his mind, he called out via their link.
Donovan?
I’m here, babe. I’m perfectly cognizant in my full wolf form. Shaking his muzzle, he fluffed his fur out. Oliver grinned and opened his arms wide.
“Come here, Wolfie.” Crooking his finger at Donovan, he chuckled when Donovan managed to arch a brow at him. Padding over to him, Oliver wrapped his arms around the neck of his mate and buried his face in the sweet-smelling fur. Rubbing his face in the soft pelt, Oliver hugged Donovan tight for a few moments, then let go at last. Sitting back on his haunches, he admired the sheer force of his mate. Powerful shifter magic swirled around him. Oliver raised his hand gingerly and scratched Donovan behind the ear. A long pink tongue lolled out of Donovan’s muzzle, and he pushed his ear into Oliver’s hand.
“Ah, you like that, huh?”
Donovan huffed and nuzzled his face against Oliver. He must be marking me with his scent! Damn, if he didn’t think his bondmate was stunning in his wolf form. Oliver laughed out loud as Donovan licked his face.
“You’re beautiful, Donovan.” And he meant it.
Donovan’s tail came up, wagging furiously. His large muzzle bowed low, and he bumped Oliver back, making him sprawl onto his ass, legs out. Before Oliver knew it, the shifter’s nose was in his crotch, snuffling wildly. He pushed the big wolf back, but to no avail.
“Hey, stop it! You’re making me hard.” The wolf’s face came up, and Donovan’s tongue hung out the side of his mouth. “Horn dog! Shift back to human. I want a kiss.” He pushed away the slurping tongue. “No, human.”
The large wolf snorted and backed away, but not before stealing one last sniff at Oliver’s junk. Oliver barely had time to blink as Donovan rippled, shifting back to his human form. Oliver covered a laugh when he saw Donovan’s cock bob as he finished shifting. He held out a hand to Oliver and helped him to his feet. Oliver practically floated up. He forgot how strong his guy was, even in human form. Soft lips captured his, and he groaned, letting Donovan’s tongue into his mouth. Sucking on the moist intruder, he felt the evidence of his shifter’s ardor pressing against his belly. He broke their kiss.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to see my gifts?” he stuttered, and Donovan chuckled.
“I already got a good sniff of your gifts.”
He smacked Donovan’s arm. “Do you want to see or not?”
“Only if we smooch some more when you’re done.” Donovan nibbled his way down Oliver’s neck, nipping at his collar bone. Oliver sighed and his mate stopped, grumped a bit, and stepped b
ack.
“Right.” Donovan folded his arms over his chest, and waited.
“If I say move back, just do it.”
“Okay.”
“My first set of powers come from the branch of World Powers: subcategory, Evocation. My first power was Telekinesis.” Oliver gestured upward at the bench, and it slowly floated in the air. He lowered it and proceeded with the demonstration. “Next is Aerokinesis.” He looked up, and the breeze picked up and grew stronger, rustling the hedge. “I’m not using my full power. I can create hurricane-force winds.
“Wow.”
“Thanks. Next is a new one under Evocation.” Oliver pointed at a rose bush to his left. His hand glowed green, and the plant exploded in new growth, lush and full. “I have control over plants, or chlorokinesis. Next are my mental abilities. The power of Clairvoyance and Divination under the Mind powers via Perceptions. Clairvoyance allows me to read minds and send my thoughts to other people. Just like when I speak to you, except I can speak with those who are not supernatural.”
“Divination lets me see what I need when I focus. I have to show you that at the house. I like having my stones read. Last is the ability to speak to the dead via Necromancy under the body powers. It helps me talk to ghosts…”
“Hence your job as a ghost hunter. Who better than a witch who can talk to them directly?” Donovan grinned at him and Oliver nodded, happily.
“Exactly!” He smirked, then sobered. “The last of my abilities are the Body Powers. I can heal people with my power of Abjuration.”
Donovan shifted a clawed finger and scored his own arm, drawing blood, pain etched in his face. “Show me.”
“Donovan! Are you crazy?” Oliver hurried over and grabbed the bloody limb. The claw mark was deep, and blood poured out, deep ruby red. Covering the wound with his hand, Oliver called for his Abjuration power. A gold glow encompassed Donovan’s arm, and the tissue stopped bleeding. The edges closed up, and the flesh healed. Relief washed over Oliver, and he punched Donovan in the shoulder.
“Ow! What’s that for?”
“Never, never do that again. Seeing you bleeding made me sick.” A hysterical edge tinged his voice, and Oliver’s eyes stung with tears.
“Hey, hey, I’m sorry. I only wanted to see you use your power.” Donovan fell to his knees in front of Oliver and looked up. “I’m an ass. I shouldn’t have scared you like that. Forgive me?’
Oliver frowned at him and anger surged through him. He grabbed Donovan’s ear and pulled…hard.
“Ow, ow, ow!”
“You are an ass. You scared the crap outta me!” He sighed and let the ear go. “Damn, why can’t I stay mad at you?”
“’Cause I’m adorable.” Donovan swept him up into his arms. “Sexy.” And kissed him. “Funny.” Kiss. “Smart.” A wet kiss this time. “Loyal.” Nibbled his chin. “And yours.”
Oliver chuckled. “Don’t forget modest.”
“Ain’t nothing modest about me, babe. This whole time we’ve been chatting, I’ve been naked as the day I was whelped, and you haven’t said a thing.” The deep laugh above him made Oliver smirk, and Donovan slipped his clothes back on. Hecate! I’m falling in love with this man. The notion exploded across his consciousness and Oliver froze.
“Hey, you smell afraid. What’s wrong?”
Damn that sensitive nose of his. “Nothing, I thought I heard a noise. Ever since we were attacked months ago, I get jumpy at times. I think all the sneaking around has got me on edge too! I think we need to tell my family.”
“I think some of them know already.” Donovan commented casually, and Oliver pinned him with a look.
“Who knows?” He demanded. Donovan chose that moment to look at his receding claws, ignoring him.
“Well, William knows. He caught me that first night we were together and grilled me. I was honest.”
Oliver covered his face with his hands and groaned. “That means Rush knows.” Running his hands and fingers down his face, he shrugged. “I think my Aunt Mags knows. Who am I kidding, of course she knows. She’s the Keeper.”
“I think we should go up and tell them all right now,” Donovan replied. Oliver nodded, and his shifter scrambled to his feet. Linking hands, they made their way from the maze. Oliver didn’t even ask questions; he followed Donovan as the man led them from the Maze. He knew he would be hopelessly lost, but not Donovan. The man’s nose and keen senses led them without misstep to the entrance of the Maze.
Warm sun shone down, and the air had that dry quality of the lengthening summer. Oliver couldn’t remember a time in his life when he had felt so at peace with himself. Donovan’s larger hand covered his, and he leaned into him as they walked.
Is this what William and my mother felt? The calm presence of their bondmate? The warmth of love, unfettered washing over them?
Since meeting and bonding with Donovan, his magic was stronger, more controlled. It was if Donovan was an anchor in the storm that was Oliver’s life. In him, he found solace, comfort, and support he never thought possible. Since their parents had died, the Blackthorne siblings had relied on each other for everything. It was them against a world that did not like them at times. They had fought, loved, and stood up for each other for so many years. None of them had gone looking for bondmates. In fact, it was quite the opposite, as they tended to isolate themselves from the magical community.
All that changed when Rush joined the family. William had been so damn difficult when he moved back home that at times Oliver thought he was bound and determined to destroy the family. He knew it wasn’t true, but it felt like it. Rush was a blast of fresh air in the stagnant world they were creating. He laughed aloud. He was not afraid to express his opinion and didn’t give two flips that they were witches. More to the point, he didn’t care that William was a witch. He loved him completely. Oliver watched as his angry, bossy, and demanding brother slowly changed over the months. Oh, William was still bossy and demanding, but he was no longer angry. In Oliver’s opinion, his brother mellowed radically. William laughed out loud now, and often. The two of them may argue, but it never stuck for long. He had often wondered if their bonding was responsible for it. Now he knew it was.
The bonding mollified his brother, calming him, just as the steadiness of Donovan gave Oliver peace of mind. That’s why William was so much happier. How could one not be, when the other half of their soul, their soulmate, was with them at all times?
“I can see smoke coming from your ears.” The teasing tone broke his train of thought. Looking to his left, he saw the shifter grinning at him.
“You won’t see that often. I’m only pondering the changes in our lives since Rush came.”
“William and Rush are very much in love, aren’t they?”
“Yes. William is so—so--I don’t know…less asshole-ish that before,” Oliver snickered as they ascended the stone steps to the large back patio.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“What’s up with Duncan?’
Oliver jerked to a halt. Sighing, he answered. “Duncan’s past life counterpart was in love with a human male. The man was Ezekiel Abramson. He was the past Duncan’s bondmate. When past Duncan was put to death, Ezekiel wasn’t there to save him. Duncan cursed him to eternal unrest, and when Ezekiel died, the curse prevented him from moving on. For nearly three centuries the ghost searched for his lost love. He found him when past Duncan was reborn as my brother. They met, ghost and witch, and fell back in love.”
“A ghost? Are you yanking my chain?”
“Nope. But that’s not the reason Duncan looks like the walking dead. Duncan’s former lover, a demon, was working for the creature trying to destroy us. He--he raped Duncan and was about to kill him when Ezekiel possessed him and turned the dagger on the demon himself. In saving Duncan, Ezekiel broke the curse. Which was great.”
Donovan stopped them and touched Oliver’s face. “I hear a ‘but’ in there.”
“With th
e curse broken, he was able to move on. Even if he didn’t want to. He was forced to cross over and leave Duncan behind. In a sense, he died, and Duncan was devastated. Nothing could be done. Since then, Duncan has been slowly dying. Not eating, and sleeping less and less each day. He wants to join Ezekiel. His soul is broken, and I’m afraid he is close to joi—”
The jarring sob broke through Oliver’s lips before his could stop it. Nor could he stop the tears as they fell. Donovan wrapped his arms around him and rocked him as he cried.
“Nothing we do makes him better. He’s dying, and we can’t stop it.” Jagged pain knifed his soul at the idea of losing Duncan.
“I’m so sorry, Ollie.” Donovan’s voice was soothing.
“Thanks,” he sniffled as he lay his head on Donovan’s shoulder.
“Anytime. I’m always going to be here for you.”
“I like that.”
“Good. Let’s go to the library and call your family. It’s time to let it all out. No more skulking. No more hiding. I want all to know that you’re mine.” Donovan pulled on his hand and led him toward the door.
“Well, at least one thing is in my favor.”
“What’s that?”
“My older brother brought home a human, and my middle brother was in love with a ghost. My bondmate being a werewolf shouldn’t even cause a ripple.” Oliver wiped his eyes and laughed with honest relief.
“Bingo!”
“You know Bingo was another famous dog.”
Donovan threw his arms up. “Damn it!”
“Come on, Wolfie. Let’s go meet the family.” Even as he said it, Oliver opened his mind and fired off a single thought. Family meeting in the library…asap! He got back all the replies he wanted as they entered the library. Oliver stood by the massive fireplace, and Donovan found a chair in by the window while they waited. They weren’t alone for long.
***
Jaime skipped down the stairs and met up with Rush and William. She looked at them questioningly, and William gave her a non-committal shrug. Behind her, the tinkling rustle of Aunt Reeka’s many bracelets heralded her descent down the stairs. Duncan came into view from the kitchen, a glass of juice in his hand. Draining it, he was about to turn to go back into the kitchen and put it away when she flicked out her hand, and it shimmered out of existence. He grinned at her, and she strutted over to him.
