by Anya Byrne
He still hadn't found an answer to that question when he slid his meal into the oven. Since he was too hungry to wait, he opened the fridge to find something to snack on. His gaze fell on the pressed bacon he'd planned to feed to Mathias the wolf before Peter's call. However weird it had all been, Ward couldn't forget holding the wolf and crying in his fur, the same way he couldn't forget that tender kiss on his forehead. He needed to know more, much more before he could draw a real conclusion. After what had happened with Peter, he couldn't trust easily, not even—or especially—a shape-shifting Adonis. But God help him, he wanted to. He was afraid, but he wanted this to be real. And that was perhaps scarier than the werewolf thing.
He was just taking the cooked meal out of the oven when he heard the car approaching. Confused, he set his dinner on the table. As far as he knew, no one in Willow Cove was aware of his visit. He'd brought along everything he deemed necessary, and after Mathias's departure, he hadn't gone to the town. So who could be driving in to see him?
In hindsight, the answer was pretty obvious, although it didn't occur to him until he went the answer the door. Standing on Ward's porch, looking just as handsome as Ward remembered him, was Mathias.
"Hi," the werewolf greeted Ward with a small smile.
Ward must have looked surprised, because Mathias's expression sobered slightly. "Am I early? We didn't exactly set a time, so I made an educated guess."
"That's not it," Ward replied quickly. "I just didn't expect you to drive here."
Mathias's golden eyes lit up with comprehension. "I don't go running around in wolf form everywhere, you know," he said. "It's sort of inconvenient, what with the no clothes thing. Not to mention that people aren't exactly inclined to sell something to a wolf."
Those words were pretty confusing, up to the point that Mathias offered him the bouquet of flowers. Ward had no idea how he'd missed it, even if Mathias had obviously been holding it behind his back. The thing was huge, bright red roses emanating a sweet perfume that Ward had always secretly loved. A cliche, he knew, but he refused to feel embarrassed about it.
That didn't mean he wasn't left a little dazed by Mathias's gesture. He'd forgotten the last time anyone had given him flowers. "Thank you," he said, gingerly taking the bouquet in his arms. "This is... This is very nice of you."
Realizing he was still keeping Mathias out on the porch, he stepped back and gave his guest room. Mathias walked into the house, and the way he moved, with so much veiled strength and elegance, made Ward's fingers itch for a brush and easel—or at least a pencil.
It was as he put the flowers in water that the thought connected with something entirely different, and more practical. He hadn't taken a shower after his painting binge. He'd remembered to wash his hands, but his clothes were stained with paint and he smelled like turpentine. Wincing, he threw a look in Mathias's direction. "Sorry about this. Give me a moment, and I'll go wash up and change."
"It's not a problem," Mathias replied. "I take it you're a painter?"
Ward nodded, feeling vaguely uncomfortable. Usually, this was where everyone asked to see his work, but right now, he wasn't sure he could share the fruits of his labor. They were more than just paintings to him. He'd exorcised his confused emotion within those portraits, and they were something private which he would have preferred to keep safe.
Mathias didn't ask. "Somehow, it suits you," he said instead. "And you look cute, with the paint on your nose. Very... fetching."
Ward gaped. It was not the first time anyone called him cute, but somehow, Mathias managed to make it sound different.
What was it about the werewolf that hit just the right notes inside Ward? He couldn't tell, but it made him roll his eyes and say, "The paintings are in the bedroom. You can take a look while I shower and change."
Judging by Mathias's expression of shock and surprise, the werewolf had understood more about Ward than Ward had given him credit for. "Thank you," he said, his voice strangely reverent.
Unable to come up with a reply, Ward nodded and bid a hasty retreat. So far, this evening had produced one clear answer—Mathias was real. If only Ward had figured out how he truly felt about that.
****
Mathias was distracted. He'd come here with the best possible intentions, and more certain of himself than this morning. Saul had proven to be quite open-minded when Mathias had told him about Ward. He'd asked Mathias to make sure Ward understood the necessity of the secrecy of their world, but he'd also agreed to an eventual meeting between him and the pack. Still, he'd pulled Mathias aside and whispered a clear warning. "Make sure he's ready for it, Mathias," he'd said. "I don't want unnecessary panic. I'm not sure how Shan would interpret that, and given Jessie's condition..."
"Of course, Saul," Mathias had said. "I completely understand. I won't take any chances."
And so Mathias had decided to take it slow and woo his mate the way humans did with their partners of choice. The flowers had been well received, so he considered that part of the plan a success—until Ward had said he'd go take a shower and Mathias's cock went rock hard just at the image of his mate bathing.
It wasn't hard to picture. Mathias was nothing if not imaginative. It came with the territory, with his legacy as a Sidhe. One of the first things he'd ever learned had been the importance of imagination, since magic was something fluid that followed the threads of a person's mind, and to use it, Sidhe needed to be open-minded in a more literal way than Saul.
The end result was that he stood in Ward's living room for longer than he himself would have ever admitted. He tried to suppress his arousal, but nope, it didn't work. His cock strained against his zipper, demanding to be let out to play. He heard the shower running, and his wolf nudged him to join in.
Mathias reminded the treacherous member such a course of action would most likely be counterproductive. Instead, he decided to follow up on Ward's invitation to view his paintings.
He realized all too well that it was not something Ward would have done lightly. It was akin to a Sidhe exposing their most intimate spell work, or Sidhe healers opening the doors to their herbalism labs. It was very much like looking into Ward's heart, and for the moment, far more important than any carnal pursuit.
Nothing he knew prepared him for the shock he received when he saw the paintings. They were of him—as a wolf, and as a human. The details were incredible, each individual clump of fur lovingly depicted on the canvas with a skill that took his breath away. Mathias's human body had received a similar treatment, and he shivered as he imagined his mate painting every line of his likeness, laboring over the portrait of his nude image.
The paintings had one thing in common—Mathias's eyes, and the clear effort Ward had put into depicting them. Mathias never really paid much attention to his own eye color, and he couldn't help but marvel at the way the gold of the wolf's gaze almost seemed to glow.
He felt Ward before he heard him, and he turned just as his mate walked up to him. "What do you think?" Ward asked, leaning against the doorjamb. "Any good?"
"I think you flatter me, and I only wish I could do true justice to your talent."
Ward arched a brow. "Come now, Mr. Girard. Don't disappoint me with polite platitudes."
Ward meant that, Mathias realized, which was probably why he'd used Mathias's last name. "I am not an artist," he replied, "but I have known many in my time. I know that polite platitudes are offensive when they are just that—but I assure you, I'm being completely honest. But since in this case, I am the model... I will say that what crossed my mind was that I had no idea my eyes looked like that."
He smiled and looked back at the paintings. "It's funny. I think artists see the world differently than most people do, in bright colors, in bright life. It reminds me of the Sidhe. For the Folk, everything is energy, and energy is life, color and vibrant passion. Like your work."
He faced his mate again and brushed his fingers over Ward's cheek ever so slightly. A spark burst from his fingers, h
is magic reaching out to Ward without Mathias even willing it to. Ward's breath caught and his eyes widened. His nostrils flared and the scent of his arousal filled the air, as heady and bright as the colors on the paintings.
Mathias could have leaned forward to kiss Ward. It would have been so easy. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and Ward didn't seem inclined to deny it.
But chemistry was not enough, not for him, and not for Ward. He stepped out of the bedroom and simply took his mate's hand. "Come. I think I caught a very appealing scent coming from the kitchen, and you did promise me a meal this morning."
Ward laughed. "That I did. I hope it doesn't disappoint."
As Mathias followed his mate down the stairs, he knew that being patient with Ward wouldn't be easy, but it would be right. Most of all, it was definitely worth it.
Chapter Six
Over the course of the next few days, Mathias and Ward fell into a routine. Mathias spent most of his mornings and afternoons with the Lone Wolf Pack. His medical attentions weren't always necessary, but he enjoyed getting to know the adult Jessie and befriending Will all over again, without the added burden of the sexual attraction. Jessie's pregnancy was progressing nicely, his blood pressure stabilized by Mathias's magic. It was likely that any day now, the twins would decide it was time to make their entry into the world.
Things were more slow going on the Ward front. Mathias had not forgotten the promise he'd made to Saul. He wanted to blame it for dragging his feet with breaching the topic with Ward, but the truth was that once he came by Ward's place—every evening like clockwork—they always avoided the proverbial werewolf in the room. It wasn't that they didn't speak about Mathias's nature. Mathias refused to shy away from his mate and more than once, he'd come to the house in shifted form. He'd also explained how his magic worked and even showed Ward a handful of smaller spells. Ward still had moments when he could barely shake off his shock and disbelief, and more than once, he'd asked Mathias to shift for him on purpose, but his painting seemed to channel that confusion into more creative avenues. He'd also understood and easily agreed with Mathias's plea to keep everything he'd learned a secret.
Despite all this, Mathias had yet to reveal the truth about where he went during the day. They also hadn't approached the topic of Ward's ex, or anything in the human's past that he might have been uncomfortable with.
They were tiptoeing around one another, and for Mathias, that was fine. His werewolf instincts screamed at him to claim the man, but in his heart, he knew that was not what Ward needed.
As it turned out, there were some things that Ward simply deserved to know, and Mathias was strikingly reminded of that a week and a half into their little not quite dating. They went out for a walk throughout the property, ironically heading in the general direction of the Lone Wolf Pack's home. Mathias wasn't alarmed. He was too happy that his mate was holding his hand to think about that. And then, Ward sat down at the base of a tree and let out a contemplative sigh. "Did I ever tell you why I came here?"
"Very little," Mathias replied as he joined his mate. He hadn't mentioned much of his reasons for the move ever since that first day, when Mathias had been a wolf.
"This was my grandfather's family home. He was among the few people who provided genuine support when I came out." He laughed lightly and leaned against Mathias's shoulder. "It's an old story. He used to say I reminded him a lot of his brother. I thought I could find some of the acceptance he gave me, to chase away what happened in New York—which I'm sure you figured out. I'm not quite there, but... It's so strange. Sometimes, that life seems ages ago."
Mathias's heart clenched. Ward was being honest, so Mathias couldn't shy away from the truth either. In his heart, he knew the real reason why he was hesitating, but he hoped that after the time they'd spent together, his mate would understand.
Swallowing nervously, Mathias braced himself for what would undoubtedly be a difficult conversation. "I have a confession to make," he said. "Or rather, there's something I haven't told you."
Ward tensed and pulled away. In the darkness of twilight, his eyes shone with a distrust that pained Mathias. "What is it?"
"It's about your great-uncle."
The shock that filled Ward's face was almost gratifying to see. Obviously, his mate had been expecting anything but that. "What?"
"Your grandfather's brother," Mathias elaborated. "I know him. He's a dear friend. Well, he's actually the reason why I came here to begin with. He needed my help with something very important, and I've known him and his son for many years."
"Wait, back up." Ward lifted his hands and took a deep breath. "Are you telling me my great-uncle Will is still alive, and here, in Willow Cove? How is that possible? And... He has a son? Grandad told me his brother was gay."
"It's... complicated." Mathias licked his lips, unsure how to proceed. "I'm not sure how much your grandfather ever knew about what happened then, but my guess is that it probably wasn't much. The truth is that some fifty years ago, your great-uncle fell in love with a werewolf."
Ward gaped at him. "You're joking."
Mathias shook his head. "They met and fell in love. It was a difficult time for gay couples, as I'm sure you know. They had to hide." And how remarkable it was that Mathias could actually say all this while only feeling regret that his friend had to suffer so much. "It's a long story, but eventually, they made plans to run away together."
"Why do I get the feeling it didn't work out?" Ward asked in a trembling voice.
"Because it didn't. Dean's father... Your great-uncle's mate—Dean—had a very strict family. His father was the Alpha of their pack, and well... Imagine that period's homophobia, coupled with werewolf nature. Unpleasant result."
Ward's breath caught. "Did they kill him?"
"They forced him to marry someone else, threatening Will's life. It was quite horrible. They were separated before Dean could even explain, and for decades, Will thought his mate had abandoned him. And then... There was Jessie."
"Jessie? Is that his wife?"
Mathias blinked in confusion, before realizing the unisex name and his earlier mentioning of Will having a son had made Ward draw the wrong conclusion. "No. His son. You see, when Will left Willow Cove, he was pregnant. Turns out werewolf men can impregnate humans even in homosexual intercourse."
"Okay, I know that has to be some sort of joke." Ward shook his head adamantly. "It's just not possible. I can accept magic and you shape-shifting, but humans are humans. Pregnancy doesn't work like that."
"Believe me, he was just as surprised. It's how he and I met. He was confused and on the run. I found him trembling and afraid, masquerading as a pregnant woman and trying to cross the border into Canada. I ended up helping him throughout the rest of his pregnancy and then, for a while, with raising Jessie."
Something in his tone must have given Ward a hint regarding Mathias's past with Will. "You were in love with him, weren't you?"
This was what Mathias had feared, and it was far too soon in their relationship to deal with it. "I suppose I was, in a way," he nonetheless admitted. "He's very much like you."
It was completely the wrong thing to say, and Mathias knew it that very same moment. Ward was on his feet and stalking away before Mathias's brain could even process the full extent of his "fuck, you're an idiot" train of thought.
Mathias scrambled after his mate, hating himself for hurting Ward like this. "Wait, Ward, please."
"I think not," Ward snapped at him, continuing to walk. "I should have known better than to fall into your little fairytale. I'm done, Mathias. I won't be a replacement for my great-uncle."
"No, that's not it!" Mathias caught his mate's arm and forcibly turned him around. "Please just let me finish."
At this point, it was completely counterproductive to be vague, so Mathias told his mate everything. He explained how his long life had affected him, leaving him aching for his other half. He told Ward about Will, about the feelings that had slow
ly built inside him as he got to know the human. He spoke of the resentment he experienced because Will still loved Dean, and how it had eventually led to Will leaving him—and their argument decades later. Ward listened, just like Mathias had asked. He became increasingly pale when Mathias told him about what had happened at the Gathering, but he didn't try to move away.
Finally, when Mathias finished his story, Ward swallowed convulsively. "I want to meet him," he whispered.
"I expected that you might," Mathias replied. "I told him about you, and he looks forward to meeting you."
Mathias didn't say it, but he knew that it had hurt Will to leave his family behind. He hadn't regretted it. Jessie had always been the most important thing for him, and he'd seen everything he'd done for Jessie's sake at justified. Still, he'd mourned the news of his brothers' deaths during the war, and later, due to old age. But these weren't Mathias's secrets or his emotions to share, and he couldn't reveal them to his mate.
However, there was something else he needed to address. "Before I lead you to him, I have to explain his situation. Because of his pregnancy, he hasn't aged, so he looks the same as he did when he left Willow Cove. And Jessie... Well, the reason I came here is that he and some of their closest friends are starting a new pack, and he's pregnant too.
For a few moments, he waited for a reaction, knowing that most likely it would not be a good one. He could see it in Ward's eyes, in his tense stance. That didn't mean it didn't hurt when Ward whispered, "Please let go of me."
The tone was so soft, but it burned over Mathias's skin like a brand. He released his mate, his wolf whining with the rejection he heard. Ward cradled his arm to his chest, like Mathias had genuinely hurt him, although that couldn't have been the case.
"I need some time to wrap my mind around this," he continued. "Don't come to the house again."
