by C. C. Dado
Zeus got a call from Christian to come to the lodge, and it was chaos as usual when he got there, but it was a nice chaos. He was surprised to see Seth, Jack, and Wizard. He felt bad then for not bringing Toren, but he wanted to be a filter if the information Christian had was bad. Toren’s wolf was close to the surface now that he was almost weaned off his medicine, Zeus could feel it. He needed to sit down and tell Toren about what they were soon.
Christian, Max, and Seth sat at the table talking, Kron asleep in the playpen, while Jack and Kimber trained Rosetta. Rosetta sat on command, and Kimber proceeded to clap her hands in excitement over the little devil’s achievement. Wizard stood off to the side of the table, working on his tablet. Zeus could feel the nervous energy vibrating off him as usual.
“Hey there, handsome,” Max said, more relaxed than Zeus had seen him since Kimber and Kron had come into their lives.
Christian got up from the table, gesturing to Wizard and Zeus. “Let’s go talk in the office.”
Zeus looked around at the people in the room, his family. “We can talk here.”
Christian looked at him like he wasn’t sure before pulling out a chair for him to sit.
“Did you want me to go? I could take Kimber and Rosetta upstairs,” Jack asked, picking Rosetta up off the floor.
“No, stay. You’re part of this, part of us, now,” Zeus said, receiving a giant smile of approval from Seth and an awkward hug from behind from Max.
“I’ll put a cartoon on for Kimber,” Max said, herding her into the other room.
“Toren is a shifter,” Zeus informed everyone, once Max had returned.
Jack made a sound of surprise.
“I knew it!” Max said in excitement. “I knew he smelled different lately. At first I thought it was just you being his personal shadow, but it wasn’t.”
“Did you change him?” Jack asked, almost looking hurt before turning sad eyes to Seth. “I thought you said you couldn’t do that?”
Seth eyes bulged as he started to stutter a response. “I… I…. No… you can’t… at least I didn’t think….”
Zeus saved him from continuing. “No. I didn’t change him, that’s not how we work. Like us, he was born a shifter. But for some reason, his mom had been giving him medicine to suppress his wolf.” Zeus paused, letting them take in what he was saying. “He doesn’t know he’s a shifter.”
“Oh my God,” Max said, coming around from behind him. “And he just randomly ended up at Easter Valley?” Max still sounded suspicious.
“No,” Zeus answered, knowing this wasn’t going to go over well. “He was sent here to find the kids.”
Max growled, canines already descending as Christian jumped up from the table.
“Max. Calm down,” Christian said, calm, loving authority in his voice.
“Why would you allow him near them?” Max yelled at Christian in disgust.
“I didn’t, not until I was sure he was not a threat. He was forced to come here, people threatened to take his home. You have to remember he doesn’t know he is pack. He was supposed to notify the person if he found the kids, but he didn’t, Max. He didn’t call them. Once he saw the kids, he knew he couldn’t do it, even if it meant losing the only home he’s ever known.”
Max seemed to relax, even though he still looked guarded.
“We have a plan to keep the kids and him safe,” Zeus assured Max. “He’s my mate,” he continued, pleading with Max to understand.
“Well fuck,” Max said, throwing himself down in the open chair at the table.
Christian walked around behind Max’s chair and massaged his neck. “It’s going to be okay. I promise you. Wizard, tell them what we have so far.”
“Umm… okay, yeah, sure,” Wizard said. He was not one to talk a lot, choosing to do most of his interaction from behind a computer screen. “So, Toren was given a list of towns to search for the kids. I created a fake trail of the kids from one of the other towns that will lead them to a plane crash and death certificates for two unidentified children.” His fingers flew over the tablet before turning it to show a news story he had somehow hidden on a news webpage. “I also removed any trace of Toren coming to Easter Valley. He’s ghosted now.”
They all stared, impressed, as Wizard stepped back, shuffling his feet.
“That’s great, Wizard. As usual, you are amazing, and I don’t know what the pack would do without you.” The alpha’s praise caused Wizard’s cheeks to flush.
“You can go now if you would like,” Christian added, obviously recognizing that Wizard was uncomfortable.
“Yeah, thanks,” Wizard said, rushing out of the room.
“Also,” Christian continued after Wizard was gone, “Zeus has been weaning Toren off his meds, hoping his wolf will slowly come to the surface and not cause permanent physical or mental damage in the process.”
“You guys are amazing,” Jack said in awe, Seth practically sitting in his lap now.
“You have been busy,” Max said, sounding marginally impressed by his mate.
“I also got hold of my contact from Kimber and Kron’s pack to find out if he knew Toren or his parents, which is why Zeus is here.”
Zeus felt his heart rate increase.
“He knew Toren’s mom. She was mated to a human she met in college. She disavowed the pack. She didn’t want her mate to know she was a shifter. My contact wasn’t sure how she had managed it for all these years, especially since she had a shifter child, but we know it was the monkshood she was giving him. She was probably taking it herself.”
“I can’t believe someone would poison their own child,” Max said, appalled.
“She diluted it, just enough to keep his wolf suppressed,” Zeus informed them, not that that made it any better.
Everyone at the table looked at him with sympathy in their eyes.
“So what can we do to help?” Seth asked, reaching out and placing his hand on Zeus’s forearm in comfort.
Zeus looked around the table, all of them ready to do anything to help his mate. He loved his family.
“Thank you.” Zeus tried not to let emotion get the best of him. “I’m going to tell Toren tonight. Everything. I know his wolf won’t be held back for much longer. I can sense its power so close to the surface now. And Toren is feeling more and more unstable, not understanding what’s going on.”
“If you need anything, you call us,” Christian said, everyone at the table nodding in agreement.
Zeus headed home, eager to be done with the secrecy.
ZEUS KNEW something was wrong as soon as he pulled up in front of the bakery. He took the steps two at a time, hearing Toren’s whimper of pain through the apartment door.
“Toren,” he hollered, looking around the apartment. “Toren,” he said again, noticing Toren’s door was closed. He could feel his mate’s pain in every joint in his body.
“Stay away!” Toren hollered at Zeus as he opened the bedroom door. His voice sounded distorted, deeper. He was curled up in a ball on the bed.
Zeus started forward.
“Don’t come closer… please.” Toren’s voice turned to a desperate cry.
Zeus suddenly realized what was happening. Toren was shifting. He’d waited too long to tell him. Regret washed over Zeus at the fear and pain he had caused his mate.
“Leave, please. Leave.”
“I am not leaving you, baby,” Zeus said, gently sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I don’t know what’s happening to me.” The fear in Toren’s voice broke Zeus’s heart.
“You’re going to be okay,” Zeus said, softly touching the blanket that covered Toren. He jerked in response. “I need you to trust me, Toren. I know it hurts.”
“How do you know?” Toren asked, confused.
“You weren’t sick. You were never sick.” Zeus knew Toren was listening to him through the pain. “You’re not crazy either. We’re different, Toren, both of us. Heck, half the people you come across in Easter Valley are
different. That medicine your mom made you, it suppressed a part of you that is trying to come out now that you’re off it.”
“What are you talking about? My mom wouldn’t… ugh.” He curled in on himself even more as the pain took him.
“We’re shifters, Toren.” Zeus stated the fact the only way he knew how. “That feeling you have like there’s something inside you is because we share ourselves with the soul of a wolf.”
Toren whimpered at Zeus’s words.
“I know it’s hard to believe what I’m saying is true, but I know deep down a part of you has to hear the truth in my words.”
They sat in silence, Toren coming in and out of pain.
“Is it killing me?” he finally asked.
“No, baby, but he can finally see the surface after being held back for so long. Let me help you, please.” Zeus couldn’t hide the concern in his voice.
Toren uncurled himself and turned partially toward Zeus, the bones of his face stuck between man and wolf.
Mine…. Zeus’s wolf shook him from within. Toren had to be in both physical and emotional pain.
“I know it’s scary,” Zeus said, scooting closer. As another flare of pain hit Toren, he waited for it to subside. “I need you to do what I say, okay? Take some deep breaths.” Zeus heard his choppy breaths as he tried to calm himself and failed. “I need to be closer to you, Toren, please let me hold you through this. I can’t handle seeing you in pain.”
Zeus reached out his hand, and gently placing it on Toren’s back, he could feel the spinal changes that happened while shifting, now stuck midshift. It normally happened in seconds, the flash so fast there was no pain. The stalled shift must be excruciating. He didn’t think a full shift was possible with how weak Toren was. He leaned into Zeus’s touch in exhaustion. Even though he was scared, he needed him. Zeus moved his body, wrapping himself around Toren.
“Close your eyes,” he said, rubbing his hand up Toren’s neck. “Now concentrate on your mind, try to ignore the pain, baby. I know it’s hard, but you have to stay calm, and you have to find yourself. Can you sense it, Toren? Can you sense that you’re not the only one?” The question made Toren cry harder. “Shh, move away from it, baby. Focus on that other part of you in your mind and go away from it. Can you do that for me?”
“I can’t, it hurts.”
“You can. You are so strong, Toren. Stronger than anyone I know. Focus on my voice, and do what I tell you. You know where he is, Toren, he’s part of you. If you focus, you will feel it. You don’t have to be afraid of him.”
Zeus stayed quiet. He could tell Toren was trying to focus his mind.
“I feel him,” he said, his voice hitching on the words.
Zeus tightened his hold, trying to give Toren his strength. “Good job, baby, now don’t be scared. He would never hurt you. All you have to do to find yourself again is move away from him. Separate yourself in your mind.” Zeus felt the bones in Toren’s back flattening out, his cries piercing Zeus’s mind, as his jaw shrunk back to that of a human.
“You did it, baby,” he whispered, kissing a spot right above Toren’s ear.
Toren turned into Zeus’s arms and started sobbing harder, pressing himself against Zeus’s chest. Zeus wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but eventually Toren talked.
“I’m scared.”
“I know.” Zeus caressed his head. “But you don’t have to be. What you went through is not something most shifters experience. Most shifters grow up in a pack, and we’re taught how this all works from the time we are babies. Shifter kids look forward to their first shift like a rite of passage. But we’re taught what will happen and how to do it so things like what happened to you don’t happen. I can teach you.”
“No.” Toren leaned back, away from Zeus’s chest. “I’m going back on the medicine.”
“That wasn’t medicine, baby. It was poison.”
“I can’t go through that again.”
Zeus thought over his words, trying to figure out how to make him understand. “What were you doing when the pain started?”
Toren wouldn’t make eye contact at his question.
“Toren?”
“I was lying down for a nap, and I noticed that your pillow smells like you. It’s the best thing I’ve ever smelled in my life.” He looked down again, clearly embarrassed. “I was smelling the pillow when the pain started.”
Zeus couldn’t contain the relief in his voice. Knowing that he was right, his wolf was right. This was their mate.
“He’s trying to find me, Toren.”
“What?” Toren looked up, confused.
“Remember when you told me I make you feel not broken?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why?”
“No.”
“Because you’re my mate.”
“Mate?”
“Yes, my mate. All wolves have a fated mate, one other soul that is the other half of their whole. The perfect circle, remember? You know them like you know yourself, and without them you are only part of yourself. You make me whole. My mate.”
“Mate….” Toren held on to Zeus tighter, like he needed him to breathe.
“It’s going to be okay,” Zeus said again. “We can talk more in the morning, but right now I can feel how tired you are. Sleep. I’ve got you.”
TWO BEAUTIFUL brown eyes were staring at Zeus when he woke up, Toren’s face on the pillow next to his.
“I’m a wolf,” Toren said as if to test the reality of the statement.
“You are,” Zeus lightly chuckled, happy his mate was moving forward.
“You are too,” Toren countered.
“Many of us here are,” Zeus said, reaching over to caress Toren’s side.
“Are Max and Seth?”
“Yes.”
“Jack?”
“No, but he’s mated to Seth, so he’s part of our pack.”
“Christian and the kids?”
“Yes, but the kids won’t have the ability to shift until they’re much older. And Christian is more than just a shifter, he’s our alpha.”
Toren contemplated Zeus’s words. “The one who leads the pack,” he said, like he was pulling from whatever knowledge he had of wolves. “And what are you?”
“You don’t think I’m just a regular wolf?”
Toren seemed to visually inspect him. “No. You’re a giant,” he pointed out, with a smile lighting his face.
“I’m the beta, the protector.”
“That makes sense,” Toren said, running his hand up over Zeus’s large bicep, tracing his tattoos with his fingers. Toren moved his hand away. “Is this okay?” he asked, clearly insecure about freely touching Zeus’s body.
“Always,” Zeus assured him. “I am yours, Toren, remember?”
“The thing you said last night, about us being mates.”
“Yes.” Zeus moved his head forward onto Toren’s pillow, his lips softly caressing Toren’s. “You are my mate,” he said again.
“Yes,” Toren responded breathlessly, shyly pulling Zeus forward for another kiss.
Zeus had never felt so complete in his life. This moment, this acceptance from his mate, almost caused his eyes to water.
“Does anyone else know?” Toren asked, sounding unsure that he would be accepted after everything that had happened.
“Yes, they already know. I think Christian is going to want to talk with you at some point today. And when you’re ready to try, I will help you shift.”
“I don’t think I can,” he said, turning away from Zeus.
“Hey.” Zeus pulled him back against his chest, resting his chin on Toren’s shoulder from behind. “There’s no pressure. I saw how painful that was for you, and I would never allow you to try it again if I thought for one second it would be like that.” Zeus felt Toren relax into him. “If you never shift again, it wouldn’t change how I feel about you. But I want you to feel whole, and I know that will never happen without finding peace with
your wolf. You are one. I can help you find that when you’re ready, that’s all.”
Toren lay quietly in Zeus’s arms before responding. “Okay.”
The soft words made Zeus tighten his hold. His mate was so brave.
“You’ll be by my side the whole time, right?”
“For eternity,” Zeus said as a promise, kissing Toren’s neck.
They lay there a while longer, just holding on to each other.
“Can I see you do it?” Toren asked quietly.
“You want me to shift?”
“Yes,” he said, but his voice sounded unsure.
“You know I would never hurt you, no matter what form I’m in. Right?”
“Yes,” Toren said, sounding more confident.
Zeus got up and walked to the other side of the bedroom, by the door, hoping the distance would help Toren relax. He stepped back against the wall, peeled his shirt up over his head, tossed it to the side, and started unbuttoning his pants. Toren’s face flushed watching him. They’d held each other every night and kissed but hadn’t gone any further. This was definitely not the way Zeus wanted Toren to see him naked for the first time. He just wanted to stop and take him in his arms again, but he couldn’t. He had to do this.
He pushed his jeans down over his thick thighs, stepping out of them.
“I feel him again,” Toren said, his voice filled with nerves.
“It’s okay, baby,” Zeus said, secretly pleased Toren’s wolf was reacting to him. “He’s a part of you, but you know where he’s at now. You control this. Just stay with me. Watch. I use the same techniques I told you to do.” Zeus closed his eyes, focusing on the recesses of his mind.
“Wait!”
Toren’s words jolted his eyes open. “What?”
“You’re going to disappear. What if it attacks me?”
“It’s still me, baby. He doesn’t completely take over. We are bonded as one. If you talk to me, I will hear you. I promise.” He closed his eyes again, breathing deep, becoming one with his wolf. He was more attuned to the changes in his body knowing Toren was watching. He heard the gasp, then frantic movement across the room as his body changed. The shift was seamless. Once he felt his wolf take over, he opened his eyes. The room appeared in muted shades of color. Toren had pushed himself up against the headboard, holding a pillow tightly in front of him. Zeus took a step toward him.
