“Hmm, must be because she’s a hybrid. I’ll have to ponder this further.” Nico rose up to his full height and walked out of the house. I just sit here wondering how many centuries that male has lived to know everything he does. I draw in a steadying breath as I move out the front door to go for a walk.
Elena stops me and pulls me around the corner with her. “Shhhh… don’t alert the others.” She’s going all James Bond and shit on me, and has us sneaking around the compound. It’s gotta be a Lycan trait to be bat shit crazy. She leads me to a shed out back. Not creepy at all... no not at all.
I’m half expecting this to turn into a slasher movie where heads and body parts will be hanging from the ceiling. Nope, it's much worse! The two heads Aurora brought back are being boiled in a large cauldron in the middle of the room. I feel sick to my stomach seeing the heads of the Dire Alpha and his Beta son bobbing around, floating and sinking in the cauldrons water. There’s random eyeballs floating around in the cauldron giving it a Halloween feel. Unfortunately, it’s all real and not for Halloween. Clearly Elena isn’t fazed by what Aurora has done, but she can tell I’m disturbed by it.
“Death is but a doorway Andre. Do not fear what cannot be controlled.” She came out carrying herbs and some bottles of unknown liquid. She started mixing it together until it was boiling without a fire. Ok, now I’m getting concerned. She leaned forward and plucked several hairs from my head and threw it into the mix. Ok so, either I was about to be cursed, killed or turned into a zombie. Maybe I shouldn’t have watched all those horror movies with Aurora when she was growing up. Oh, shit am I the reason she’s the way she is? My eyes shoot to the only escape route then back to Elena. Can I make it out in time before she turns me into a zombie? “What are you so afraid of Andre? I’m trying to figure out the magic my sister used to bind the two of you to Aurora.”
Apparently, I’ve been panicking for nothing, but you must admit, it hadn’t looked good for me. “Dimitri may be the better one to test. He was the one that the blade sliced. I’m bound to him by blood because of our jobs in the castle. My gift is an echo of what he got.” Echo, side effect, happy accident... how ever you want to call it. It's really disheartening to think my extended life span was a mistake, or an accident. I look down at the ground when Elena comes over and hugs me. She knows this whole thing is breaking me. I love that homicidal wolf like my own child. To leave her now, I can’t bear to think about it.
“I will do everything within my power to help you and Dimitri.” She kissed my cheek gently and moved away back to her cauldrons. “The best I can figure out is that my sister used blood magic combined with black magic. I’ll need Dimitri’s hair to determine how far down the rabbit hole my sister went.” Her eyes locked with mine and I could clearly see the faint glow of her wolf backing up her claims. They truly believed that they could help us. I just give her a slight bow and back out of the shack.
Aurora’s mate Jayce is walking around with his head down and kicking a rock around. “Something bothering you son?” His head snapped up and his wolf blazed to the surface then faded slowly he gave me a soft nod and motioned towards the swings. I followed him watching his body language he looked dejected. I wonder why? Aurora isn’t the type to ignore anyone for any reason. We reached the swings and we chose the two-right next to each other. Side by side we began to swing. “You gonna talk or did ya just need someone to hang out with?”
He laughed softly then turned to look at me. “Sorry, I’m still dealing with leaving a man I’ve been with for the better half of fifty years for a female. Don’t get me wrong I’m thankful and blessed that I’ve found my mate.” Jayce sighed deeply and drew in a slow measured breath just before a single tear fell. “Part of me I feel like I’m betraying what we had. The other part can’t wait to start our forever.” He rubbed at his eyes then looked back at me. “I thought she was going to murder me for kissing Sebastian back the way I did. I swear to the Gods I saw my life flash before my eyes and I pictured Aurora ripping my head off or my spine out. That female is fucking lethal and then cool as a cucumber like nothing happened afterwards.” His eyes were wide as if he was still in shock over it all.
I started laughing and honestly couldn’t contain it. “I’m sorry Jayce I’d love to say you’ll get use to Aurora’s antics but two hundred years later I’m still not immune to her. She literally can go from serial killer to snuggle bunny in like point five seconds. It scares the bloody hell out of me half the time. Gods help you if someone fucks with anyone she’s claimed as hers, that’s an instant death sentence.” Mentally I’m ticking off the last ten deaths at her talons and sadly I see her point in all of it. I finally hear Jayce laugh a little bit.
“Yeah she’s intense to say the least. I need to sit and talk with her later. I don’t want her to think I don’t care; I’m just trying to get my head on straight before I get intimate with her. Last thing we all need is for me to say the wrong thing at the wrong time and heads start rolling, literally.”
Smart man, he’s figured out our girl quite early on. “I have to ask you a personal question. I know Aurora only says what she means. But do you think she regrets accepting me? I mean I’ve spent more time in relationships with males than females. To be honest Sebastian is fucking hot as all hell. I mean I hope to get to ride that pony at some point. But will she kill one or both of us for being intimate?”
I double blink as the crux of his problem just became blatantly clear. He’s obviously more attracted to males than females. “Ok, umm.. She’s used to being around a gay male.” I point to myself, both index fingers pointing to my face. “She’s always been very accepting of my lifestyle and choices over the years. I tried dating but I couldn’t bring myself to be away from her for too long. What can I say I’m an old mother hen when it comes to her.” I smile warmly thinking about how blessed I’ve been over the years with her. “She loves all of her mates equally. None is above the others no matter what they think.” I cough out. “Sebastian” Jayce starts to laugh again. “All Aurora is going to care about is that everyone is happy and safe and that no one fucks with her wine and dark chocolate.” Jayce raised an eyebrow when I mentioned her kryptonite to him. A slow knowing nod is given, and I smiled in reply to him. I just gave him the ultimate insider information that will win him instant brownie points with our Alpha.
He bounced up from his swing and hugged the hell out of me and kissed my forehead. “Oh, my Gods Andre thank you so much!!! I’m going shopping don’t wait up!” When motivated, a bitch powerwalks.
He took off like someone set his tight ass on fire. Perhaps I just gave him something that the other guys can’t give her. It’s sad that I just lost his company but a delight to watch him leave. My eyes roam the town square and that male from earlier is watching me again. I wave to him and he waves back. Hmm, perhaps I’m getting somewhere? He slowly starts to move towards me, and I feel my heart rate picks up. I’m trying my damnedest to fight my fight or flight instincts. He’s probably the hottest guy I’ve seen in years. His eyes are forest green and his hair looks like charcoal black. The best part, he’s got muscles for days. “Hi.” Oh, my fucking Gods I was just so freaking lame. What the actual fuck was I thinking? I know what I was thinking. I was thinking with my dick. You know the thing in my pants I haven’t used in forever.
The hunk just smiled. “Hi to you too. I’m Darren.” He extends a hand to me, and for a moment my dumb ass just stares at his hand before shaking it.
“Andre, the pleasure is all mine.” I stand before him, we’re almost the same height. My tall lithe frame to his I’ll end your fucking world muscular build. I rested a hand on his firm shoulder and look deep into his eyes. Mine are boring compared to his, but I can easily get lost in his. Just as he leans in to kiss me, I hear cat calling coming from behind him.
Damn it to all hell, the Gods must hate me, Aurora and her other two mates are approaching.
She’s smiling from ear to ear and just has to rub it in that in the
last two weeks she’s gotten more dick than I’ve gotten in the last hundred years. “Hey Dre! Darren, I see you’ve met Dre!” She’s way too fucking chipper, it’s scary to witness this side of her.
“I thought we would have lost you for the better half of the afternoon with these two young studs.” I quirk a brow and look between the two of them. Immediately they both start posturing and puffing out their chests trying to look all badass. Aurora smacked them both and started laughing.
“Oh, trust me Dre they can handle me. I was more concerned where mate number three disappeared off to. He’s so. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s almost like he’s having a hard time adapting away from his boyfriend. I gave him the option to stay with him. I don’t want him unhappy.” Both boys’ wolves surged to the surface making their eyes glow as they sensed andvisibly started to calm down. She sighed gently and rested her head on Sebastian’s chest. “I just don’t want him unhappy Andre. Please talk to him for me. I honestly don’t know how to broach the subject.”
“I talked to him a little today already... he sought me out.” That got her attention and she pried herself away from her mates. She grasped both of my hands to literally drag me to the picnic bench to sit. “You’re partially correct. He is having a hard time adapting but I think it's mainly because cause he’s mostly dated males. He loves you and he’s grateful he’s found his mate. From personal experience it takes time to get over a breakup. He appreciates that you gave him a choice. Jayce knows in his heart he made the right decision. His mind just needs time to catch up with what his heart wants.” I draw in a deep breath and watch Aurora. I can tell she’s in a deep conversation with her wolf and just nods slowly.
“I understand Andre. Thank you for being the best Momma bird a pup could ask for.” She leaned forward and kissed my cheek and hugged me tightly. Her mates slowly moved off to give us time and space. “I hope he understands I accept him fully. I don’t mind him kissing or having sex with any of my other mates.” Sebastian’s head shot up with that and his eyes glowed faintly. “There are things only another male could give him. I know I’m strong and I can be rough at times. But let’s face facts, I don’t have a schlong and I’m not about to put a strap-on on to rail my mate from behind” Every male within hearing distance coughed and their eyes were bugging out of their heads.
I coughed and cleared my throat and attempted to look as serious as possible. “Aurora love, that was quite the visual you painted.” She smiled and nodded proud of herself. “Trust me, we fully understand the differences in the mechanics between the genders. You’re absolutely right, there’s things a male can do to another male that a female could never do on her own. But that would never replace your part of this whole bond. You are the glue that holds these boys together. It’s very lucky for all of you so far, that they have been all true matings. Trust me when I say that when a bond is forced it’s never the same or as strong as a true mate. Your poor mother, Gods rest her soul, her only true mate was Nicodeamus. She had to force the bond with the other three males to make the political alliances. That fucking Dire Alpha chose her other mates for her. She didn’t have the choice as to who was in her bond. I was so thankful when I saw her wolf reveal itself to Nico. The Dire Alpha was furious, it’s why shortly after that he forced the other males to be castrated including Nico.
He wanted to be the only male capable of being able to father children. Little did he know that during one of his meetings I snuck Nico in to be with your mom before the Shamans arrived to perform the castrations.” I look down thinking about those dark times and I feel a hand landed on my shoulder. Nico was standing right behind me. My eyes widened with fear because I didn’t know if he wanted Aurora to know the whole story and I had just blabbered everything.
“Relax old friend. I’ve been dreading telling Aurora that story since we were reunited. You have once again done me a great service.” He gave me a gentle side hug and moved forward to stand before Aurora. “Jayce is a smart man. He has a lot to sort out in his mind. Moving and relocating isn’t easy for everyone.” Nico walked over to his daughter and gave her a hug. He held her as only a father could. “Little one, he loves you so very much, never doubt that. Before your mom... I also had a male that I was considering bonding myself to.” Nico slowly lowered his head on top of Aurora’s and sighed softly. “He was the most beautiful male I had ever seen; he and his dragon were lean and sleek and highly intelligent.” Nico closed his eyes as he remembered the past. “My brother the Alpha of our clan called for me one day and told me I was being sent to the Lycan fortress. I argued with my brother as I had no interest in an arranged mating. After all, I already had someone I loved right at home with me.” Nico opened his eyes and pinned a returning Jayce with his stare, rooting him to his spot.
“I arrived at the Lycan Fortress and was escorted to the main hall. Your mom was already so defeated after her first couple of mates were forced matings. She was so sad she wouldn’t even meet my eyes when I first entered. My dragon had other plans. He dropped the temperature in the room so swiftly that frost began to gather on the wine glass your mother was holding.” Nico closed his eyes again and nuzzled the top of Aurora’s head. “Anca’s eyes opened wide as the frost spread across her glass. That’s the moment she looked up at me. She actually saw me. Her wolf burst forth and made her presence known and ran to stand before me. I only allowed my eyes to shift to dragon for the hall we were in wasn’t large enough for me to safely shift in. I touched her face and she nuzzled my cheek. I knew in that moment that she was mine.” Nico gave Aurora a hug and kissed the top of her head and backed away so she could look him in the eyes. “It took a while before your mother and I slept together and completed our bond. It took Andre running to tell us about the Alphas plans to castrate all the mates other than him to force my hand. Mentally I was ready, I knew what she was to me. Emotionally that was a whole other demon to deal with. Emotionally I felt like I was betraying the male I had loved for many years.”
You could see the gears turning in Aurora’s head as she took in Nico’s story. “So, what you’re saying Dad is that just because he’s not trying to bone the hell out of me doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love me. It just means that he has a few things to work through first.” Aurora bit her bottom lip and searched her father’s features.
“Da! That’s exactly what I am saying. Give the lad some time. I’m sure when he’s ready, he will make the first move. In the meantime, be supportive of him, love him and show him affection. Make quality time just for him, because out of your mates he’s the most emotionally sensitive. With two potential Alphas in your bond already you need someone that isn’t always trying to prove themselves.” He smiled a smile that told you of the years of wisdom he was speaking from. Nicodeamus gently hugged Aurora and then patted me on the shoulder. He headed right to Jayce and then they both walked off towards the main house.
I looked between Aurora and her two mates as they moved to join her. Her eyes searched mine for a bit then looked between her two mates. “You guys know I’m all good with ya’ll being together right?” Sebastian and Dom nodded and looked at each other then back to Aurora. “Sebastian I’m counting on you to make sure Jayce feels secure and comfortable. Dom you’re his brother and know him best. Any advice you can offer would be wonderful. I know it may be months before he’s ready to mate with me and I’m fine with that.” Her eyes turned to me. “Andre take wing and find that stubborn bear of ours. We will not go in search of the next mate until my bond with Jayce is in place. We cannot venture forth without being able to sense everyone in the bond.” Her hand rubbed over her heart as she closed her eyes clearly concentrating. “I feel him faintly, just barely a whisper. That’s not strong enough to be venturing into new territory.”
The guys just nodded and so did I. We had our orders and now it was time to put them into motion. My first mission seek out the bear. Secondly watch over all my new pups and make sure they all play nice. I start to walk away from the lo
ve fest behind me and strip as I go. Before my new admirer knows it, I shift into my eagle and begin my bear hunt.
I’ve always been my brother’s keeper it’s not a task I take lightly. Jayce has always been the sensitive one between us. I was schooled in combat where he was schooled in the art of negotiating and politics. For being twins we’re polar opposites. I’m a brute, I’m bulky and have a horrible temper. Whereas Jayce has a toned athletic build and is calm as all hell. I mean seriously it takes a lot to rattle his cage. Our faces are almost identical except I have more green in my hazel eyes and he has more gold. I always thought it was unfair because it seemed like his wolf was showing more often than not. I stand here listening to Aurora talking to Andre about Jayce and my chest hurts thinking about how this is hurting her. The level of understanding she has for what he’s going through is mind blowing. I wish Jayce could hear what she’s saying. Then I remember that I have my cell phone, so I started recording the conversation. He needs to know that she’s seeking help to understand. Listening to her makes me love her more. How could you not? She defended my brother against me, of all people, when she first met us. Put me flat on my back and sadly she was right I... was being a dick. Andre is a saint of a male having raised her; it couldn’t have been easy with as jumpy as he always seems to be. Nico her father has arrived and shit I didn’t know he was Bi also. Am I the only one that hasn’t fucked or been fucked by another male?
I’m kinda feeling like the odd man out here. Sebastian kissed my brother and the way Aurora confirmed what I smelled shit it was hot. I didn’t think two dudes kissing would ever be seen as hot by me, but it was. I was almost able to imagine myself in Jayce’s place. What the fuck am I thinking? Am I bisexual? Do I want to fuck my bond mates? I mean anyone other than my brother, because that would just be fucking weird. I know it’s common among our culture for the dominant wolves to fuck the weaker ones to establish dominance. Hmm, I wonder if I could dominate Sebastian by fucking him stupid, then I will be viewed as an equal to him instead of a threat.
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