The Dance of Wolves

I am beaming with pride and admiration for my beautiful, clever mate. I am in awe of how he handled the whole Piasa business. The Winterqueen is going to award him with the noble title of Consul. It will allow him to come and go into the heart of Fae and be treated with the utmost respect. He can study in Fae universities once he learns to read and speak the language.

Kitsa pulls me aside to talk to Demi, not as my wolf spirit, but as her friend, Demetrius. “I am glad the dreams I sent finally reached her so the cycle could finally end. It was all that I could do. Alma was once a creature of this magical forest. She always existed in the in-between whether it was as an owl that moved between the mortal and immortal realm, as a shifter, perhaps even as a pure spirit. She really is the perfect mate for you now that you share a body with a half-Fae.”

“Yes, she is. They were both worth the wait for us.” I answer on Demi’s and my behalf.

Kitsa hangs her head low and her voice breaks as she says, “Demetrius-Amal, you suffered so much and for so long and it’s all my fault. I know I’m shameless for asking, but can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”

Neither Demi nor I hold any grudges with the princess now, though he may have in past lives. She suffered too. I nod and give her a side hug. ” I am sure the reason why we found solace by your tree wasn’t just because Demi finally found you, but also because your presence comforted us like an old, loyal friend.

“What will you do now?”

Kitsa considers for a moment, “The war may have ended years ago, but the hostility still exists. There has always been tension between the courts and my marriage was supposed to bring all of our people together. I will seek out Lord Baron and fulfill my duty. If Mother still wishes for me to succeed her, I will do that as well.”

“I’m sure you’ll do fine.” How alike we are, considering we are both destined to be in an arranged marriage. Kitsa’s was arranged by her mother, the queen, and mine through the goddess; if anything, I had the advantage because of the physiological effects of the mate bond, or rather I would have the advantage if the bond between Aksal and me was strong in both directions.

“What about you? What is next?” Kitsa asks after a few minutes of comfortable silence.

“We’ve only just found our mate. Demi is once again bonded with Alma. What I want most of all is to connect with Aksal just as deeply.” I look down at my hands, resting in my lap. “I’m ready to give him everything I have and everything I am, but I don’t know if he is willing and ready to reciprocate my feelings.” I look back up into Kitsa’s face and give her a wry smile. ” Heh, the last couple of days was just a failed attempt to seduce him using his love of plants.”

“Won’t it be fine when you complete the marking?”

I glance at Aksal’s back and nod. “I hope so.” To be honest, I am curious how the Piasa’s knowledge will help us, now that both its Fae and demonic side are beholden to him.

“Hmm, let me give you something you can share with your mate. I acquired it in the tropical lands of the Summer Court. He will know how to manage it, I think.” Lisa hands me a small sack with ties long enough to make a necklace. I hang it about my neck.

“Your kindness is appreciated.”

The Winterqueen beckons Kitsa and we say our goodbyes. I’ll see her again soon at the wedding. Kitsa will officially award Aksal his title during the reception.

It’s just Aksal and me left. We transform and trot the rest of the way to my home. I live on the outskirts of the Harvest Moon pack lands. I have more privacy this way and it is convenient for when I’m on patrol duty.

My house is nothing special; I give Aksal a short tour. It’s a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bath, ranch with a chimney. I have a large kitchen with an oval island and bar stools because I love to cook. The main bedroom has thick one-way glass for two of its walls and the spare has a sliding door leading to a terrace.

“You have a really nice place, but it doesn’t feel lived in. You don’t have any photos up, for example, and it’s so clean...uh, for a single guy, I mean. Also, why is this place so far from the packhouse?”

“Ah, well, I do a lot of patrolling. Demi and I have a lot of pent-up energy to release, I guess, so we aren’t home much.”

“Does your pack know, uh, your preferences?”

I smiled at him. “Yes, I came out only because so many unmated females kept being pushed on me, but that has nothing to do with why I live further out. Remember when I told your parents about what it was like for me growing up as an orphan? I was happy that so many families were willing to take me in but I didn’t want to play favorites so I don’t keep pictures up.”

“What’s that?” Aksal turns around after admiring the view in my bedroom to see me laying the gifted satchel on the nightstand.

“It was a mating gift, I guess you could say, from Kitsa. I’m not really sure what’s inside it but the bag itself is called a boundless bag. It’s a portable portal to another dimension that serves as storage space for the owner. It can hold an unlimited amount of items and it can preserve perishables indefinitely. Once it’s attuned to someone, neither it nor what’s inside can be stolen.”

“Wow, that’s pretty cool. I can see how that would come in handy.”

I nod affirmatively. “As for the contents, she said you would know how to use it.”

Aksal walks over and opens the pouch. He reached inside and pulled out a small, potted...cactus? It had long, triangular, swollen leaves with a silver-colored fuzz over the smooth, olive skin. Aksal blinked twice and rubbed his eyes.“I can’t believe it! I-I mean, I knew it existed, but it’s so rare, even among the Fae!”

Seeing my puzzled expression, he explains. “It’s a Fae version of an aloe quicksilver succulent. See the silver fuzz? Plants with this trait have healing properties for shifters poisoned by silver. It can be ingested to neutralize toxins, applied to wounds to speed healing and reduce pain. That alone makes it priceless. It has cosmetic uses too. Its gel not only moisturizes the skin, but also eliminates scars and wrinkles- like ‘fountain of youth level’ wrinkle elimination! This miracle cactus saved my mom’s life when she was pregnant with me. She was attacked with a silver weapon while shielding the children she was sequestered with during the raid. It was part of the reason she went into labor early with me and...you know the rest.”

Aksal’s suddenly exuberant mood fizzles out on a serious note. “Uh, it can also be used for-ah, lube.” Aksal’s face burns beet red and I chuckle; I know his intent was to lighten the mood at his expense.

He bends over to hide his expression. “It’s pretty sentient too since you have to ask permission from it to receive the gel. If you take a leaf by force, the secretion becomes as poisonous as brown spider venom.” He whispers a few words to it, then places an empty glass under a leaf. In a few moments the glass is half full with a colorless, viscous liquid. “See?”

The gel has a slick but pleasant feel and a soft floral scent.

“In the wild, I hear it attracts fairies and other lesser Fae with its scent,” Aksal yawns widely, “It probably needs a consistent flow of magic along with good soil, sunlight and rain.

I know Aksal is probably hungry and exhausted from the day’s events. I run a bath for him while we chat.

***

Aksal dips his hand in the water, testing the temperature and I turn off the faucet.“Aksal, take your time soaking and I’ll put something together for us to eat.”

“You’re just as tired as I am, moreso because you fought. The bath is big enough for both of us, so--” His words fade out towards the end and he reddens with embarrassment. His shy expression turns me on, makes me want to do naughty, perverted things just to see him flush with pleasure. I’m a little afraid that if I join him right now, I might push him out of his comfort zone.

“I want to join you, but I’m starving, so you go in first, while I get dinner started...how about I give you a hand with washing your hair as a compromise?”

“Okay.”

I place a towel and bathrobe on the vanity and I leave him to it. I take a quick shower in the spare bedroom, dress and get to work. I’m a bit of a romantic and I wanted to make tonight special. I light a few logs for the fireplace.

I have a tradition. I have been attending the Gathering for the last 10 years and every year I buy groceries to prepare a gourmet meal for my precious person. After the third year, I was less confident I’d find anyone, after the fifth year, I basically used food to console myself in my loneliness. But this year...

My mate is in my home. I have found my mate. It hits me like a splash of cold water. This moment is real. It’s happening.

I set Salt Spring Island lamb chops with rosemary in the oven to roast along with a large acorn squash and then I caramelized baby carrots with butter and cinnamon on the stovetop. I set the timer on the oven to shut off after ten minutes and place the frozen yeast rolls on the top shelf. I’ve stalled as long as I can but I’ve been wanting to hold his bare body to me since I started the bath.

Entering the bathroom, I go straight to the cabinet and bring out the shampoo. “Aksal, looks like I can join you after all.”

As I get closer to the tub, it looks like Aksal is completely submerged.

“Aksal? ….Aksal?!” He’s not responding at all. I pull him out of the water and position his head. I massage the water out of his chest and begin CPR. One, one-thousand, two....Did he fall asleep waiting for me? Breathe! How long has he been without air? His pulse is faint. One, one thousand, two, one-thousand. Goddess, please!

I curse myself for not staying by his side. I’m terrified I’ll lose him. I can’t! I pour all my energy, all my hopes into each breath I give him.

Demi! Demi, why didn’t you tell me our mate was in danger? He should have sensed it. Demi howls in anguish, unable to respond coherently. Breathe!

He convulses and sputters, then takes a few deep, broken breaths. When he opens his eyes I pull him closer. My tears threaten to drown him again. “Aksal, my Aksal, oh thank the Goddess.”

“..m, sorry.”

“What? No, this is nothing to be sorry for. I should’ve seen you were exhausted and cared for you. I’m just so thankful you’re okay now. Let me get some food inside you, so you can rest properly.”

“I’m sorry I scared you...but oddly enough, I do want to eat,” he already sounds stronger. I help him up and dry him off, and then offer him the robe.

I have little appetite for the food I prepared. I watch Aksal closely throughout dinner, occasionally urging him to chew slowly and thoroughly to keep from choking. Each time he apologizes for worrying me from earlier.

He wasn’t kidding about being hungry, he cleans his plate in short order and I offer the remaining half of mine. We wash and dry the dishes and then settle down on the sofa to let our food digest a bit. Holding him close, feeling his warmth, his heartbeat, his breath eases my anxiety.

I was going to be a gentleman and let him have the spare room tonight but there is no way I’m letting him out of my sight. Demi longs to be next to Alma as well. Once I know he’s asleep, I carry him to my bed and spoon around him. I rub my face in his hair, breathing in his scent and then I lean in to kiss his neck. So as not to wake him, in the softest voice I can manage, I ask him to stay with me. “I love you, Aksal.”

“Do you still...want me?” He’s awake after all?

“Yes.” My answer is immediate.

“So, uh. Don’t you want to complete the marking?” The hand Aksal has on my chest is trembling.

“I do, but I thought you might need more time to…” I was going to say, ′ feel the mate pull and fall in love with me’ but as I gaze into his eyes, I don’t see any uncertainty or hesitation.

“Time for what? I like you, you like me. We have all the time in the world to deepen the connection. Isn’t it inevitable? Our wolves were soulmates before either of us were even born.”

Aksal turns around and kisses me, hooking me in with his arm. It’s a sweet, tender kiss made all the more maddening by the restrained intensity with which I return it. I keep his lips under siege, continuing to kiss, lick, explore. Our hearts are beating at the same frantic pace.

I run a hand under his robe, caressing his inner thigh with my thumb moving in small circles. His body shivers in anticipation as I edge closer to his center. Goddess, the way he responds to my touch sets me on fire. I want him. I have to focus on making him feel good or I may climax too soon.

He rubs his free hand across his chest, pleasuring himself. Not to be outdone, I pull him underneath me and move my hand from his thigh to pinch the sensitive discs into fully aroused pellets. He moans into my mouth and grinds against my cock. It drives me crazy. The friction has us both growing hard against each other. He’s so fucking sexy.

He fumbles for the glass on the nightstand before grasping me and stroking my shaft. The gel is warm and slick. I bite his lip and pull my hips out of his reach so I can dip down and nibble at his chest. He struggles against me, trying to pull me up for another kiss but he’s no match for my strength.

“Amal, I want to kiss and touch you too,” he groans, sounding frustrated, but I want him begging, demanding, desperate.

“Not yet,” I growl. Following his lead, I scoop a handful of clear cream from the glass and with a final suction of his nipples I take his cock into my mouth. His hips buck and his surprised gasp becomes a low growl of gratification between his puffs for air.

Encouraged, I alternate between taking him deep into the back of my throat and using my tongue to lick and suck around his tip as I work the shaft with one hand. When he relaxes into the rhythm, I rim my thumb around his hole, slickening and softening it with lube inside and out in time with its pulsating. I remove my thumb and slowly add more fingers to spread and loosen his entrance and seek out his sweet spot.

The wet sounds and the feel of him bearing down on my fingers only tease my senses and ignite more lust. As I imagine how hot and tight it will be when I thrust deep inside him; I hum around his cock.

“Oh Goddess, please. I want you to feel good with me. I- I’m so close… It’s so good…Amal!” My name is a plea for more from his lips. He’s ready.

“Turn over, ” My voice is gravelly; my throat’s dry. As he complies, I slather the remaining balm on his crease and on myself and enter him slowly. I push through a winding ring of muscle and stop to let him adjust. He whimpers, but I’ve only got the head in.

“Aksal, are you okay? I don’t want you hurting.”

“It’s not bad, it just feels a little weird. I...trust you. Just keep going.” Aksal’s voice is strained.

“Relax. It will feel better in a moment.” I add power to my words and reach under him to stroke him until he dribbles precum on my hand. With a fierce thrust, I seat myself fully inside him, savoring the feel of the spiraling pressure of his hot, slick depths.

Ahh, damn, I never want to take it out; it feels that good. Aksal shimmies his hips a bit and pulls his body away slightly only to impale himself against my pelvis. The thrill of his aggression in this position makes me cry out his name. He repeats the action, milking my cock with each release and suction. I surrender to my instincts and grab his ass with both hands and pound into him with slow, shallow thrusts. I twist my hips to grind against his sweet spot. He moans in a hoarse voice as I keep grinding it.

Aksal throws his head back, giving himself over to lust. “I need...More, deeper.” My shy, innocent mate boldly is begging me to fuck him harder? Oh goddess, yes, I’m helpless against his seduction. I ease back and sit his torso on top of me, connecting us fully. I bite the nape of his neck where his honeysuckle and sweetgrass scent is strongest and grind myself inside him. “Mine.”

He cries out and shudders with his release. I hold him to me and lick the blood away from my mark.

“I want...I want to see you, Amal.” I let him up to reposition himself in a straddle over my thighs and he guides my cock back in his tight hole. We’re sitting face to face like he wanted. The veins on my arms bulge as I help him ride my erection and I feel my balls drawing up tight against his ass.

“Aksal, make me yours too.” His eyes are moist and his gaze is hazy as I look into them, but he nods in understanding. He pulls my head to the side and bites me over the passion mark from this morning. The pain and the ecstasy send me over the edge and I come.

***

His body feels like heaven. I don’t pull out, I hold him close to me while we both catch our breath. He’s all mine now, I’m never letting him leave my side. I adore him.

“Amal, I can feel you now. Your thoughts are leaking out.” He grins brightly at me and I smile back. “The mate pull is stronger. It feels like fireworks exploding through my body from our connection. The sweet, smoky scent coming off of you is so damn intoxicating.” Aksal traces his nose along my neck, inhaling. “You’re really mine.”

I hum in agreement and hold him closer.

***

Aksal

Who knew the gorgeous, serious guy with the stoic and fierce wolf could laugh so much? I can’t get enough of how he glows when his smile touches his eyes. Um, I don’t mean ‘glow’ literally,just clarifying.

I must admit I thought Amal would be absolutely furious with me for being so secretive about the Piasa’s remedy for our mate bond, but in my defense, I didn’t know ‘little death’ was a coined phrase for orgasm for French-speaking boomers. I’ve never even been to Quebec.

Also, I was honestly tired in the bathtub. It was Alma’s idea to hide it from Demi until the last moment after I slid into the water. She had to weaken her link to my life force so that Amal could form his own. We both thought something was wrong when I felt no difference after Amal resuscitated us.

But, everything changed when... the marking was complete. I felt whole. Now, there is this new energy surging through me. Apparently, I’ve got Fae magic.

I promise to use my powers for good, no worries.

Amal and I are like peanut butter and jelly, meat and potatoes, chicken and waffles. I can’t think of other things that go together because I’m hungry right now.

I never imagined I could be this happy. I wasn’t unhappy before, but I know that was just contentment and being at peace with myself. Some people spend years trying to find themselves. Some people spend their lives hoping to find their one true companion only to give up, thinking that only happens in fiction; I found both of them in my teens.

“Don’t say it, Alma.”

“I told you so.” She says it anyway and smirks.

“So much for the run tonight, guess I’ll stay at home and read a book.” Not that he would leave me alone to just read right now. We’re only a week into our honeymoon phase. I’m not gonna lie, my ass needs a break. Oy.

“Hey! Stop growling, you know I was kidding.” Amal and I are giving our wolves some sexy time tonight to make up and make out.

We still have to figure out the other stuff, whether to stay with my pack or his, how to work around my college plans, and so on. We have all the time in the world to figure it out, now that I’m sharing the long chapter of his life.

----

A/N One of my readers pointed out some of the funny ironies in the story, like how Amal is the straight man to Aksal’s humor, yet he's technically 'bent or the fact Amal is gay and he is Fae (a fairy, which is a derogative aimed at gay men that will get you a punch in the face from Alma if used in her presence), also it rhymes. Good catch.