BAYNE
I glanced to my side, watching as Brett did a great job of eating. Granted, it was fried chicken, and we were all using our fingers to eat, but he'd managed to find the other small side dishes on his plate with me only having to tell him once where they were. He struggled a few times to keep the pasta salad on his spoon, but he was slowly getting the hang of it. I was so proud of how hard he was trying to make this all work.
"More tea?" Corta asked from beside us.
"Please." I smiled.
"Me too, please." Brett wiped his mouth with his napkin. "Do you guys always eat like this?"
Josh laughed from across the table. "When Corta and the women cook, we do. It's why so many of us stick around here for dinner."
I smiled at Kurt's mate. "You live here, that doesn't count. But I agree, I tend to eat here more than at home. Corta's kitchen never lets us down." I leaned closer to Brett, whispering even though I knew everyone around could hear what I was saying. "We're better eating here than have me cook."
Brett laughed. "I'm sure you're not that bad. Between the two of us, we can figure out something."
Corta grinned. "My wolves are always welcome at my table."
Kurt glanced over at me as he ended the call he'd been on. "That was Cohen. The doctor will be here tomorrow afternoon to see Brett."
I felt a wave of nervousness hit my mate. Wishing there was a way to make it easier on him, I reached over and gripped his thigh. "This is a good thing. We'll have some answers. Maybe he can fit you for the prosthetic eyes quickly and you won't have to wear the patches all the time."
Brett nodded, but didn't say anything.
I hated that no matter what we did, he would never see again. "We'll be here." I reached for my corn on the cob. "Brett and I hiked up the mountain today and let him get the scent of the area."
Kurt's eyes widened. "And?"
"I recognize one of the human scents, sort of." Brett set the chicken leg he'd been eating down.
"Sort of?" Kurt asked.
"I know I've smelled it before, but it was mixed with something. The best way I could describe it is it was a secondary scent. Like if Bayne had been wearing your shirt and been there. I could smell a strange smell I didn't know, but it was mixed with a light tang of one I did."
"Do you remember where you smelled it the first time?" Kurt looked hopeful.
"No, I know it was here in Montana. So, it had to be somewhere I went with Bridger, but I'm not sure where. I mean, we hit the bar, a couple stores, dropped by a couple of his friends' houses. Hell, it could have been someone I passed on the street for all I know. I'm just sure I'd smelled it before." Brett leaned back. "As soon as I'm a little more confident getting around, I want to go into town and hit some of the same places I went with Bridger. Hopefully, I can smell it again."
"So far, that's the best lead we have. Don't push yourself too fast, but go with it. We'll take anything we can at this point." Kurt draped his arm around Josh. "If you want, Josh and I will go out with you. Make it a double date."
"Thanks, I'd like that. It will give me a chance to get to know you guys better. Especially since I'm hoping you'll be willing to accept me into your pack soon." Brett covered my hand with his.
Kurt smiled. "I was hoping you'd want to stay here. You're welcome into our pack as soon as you feel ready. We can do the ceremony anytime you want. I have a feeling Pete was expecting this. He tried to tell me that you were needed there. That your pack was hurting for men."
Brett laughed. "Honestly, he said that?"
"He did. He said the women weren't able to find partners and birth rates were down." Kurt watched Brett closely as if wanting to see his reaction.
"That's bullshit. Half of our women are pregnant. Pete has over forty children. He breeds with the single females as long as he can. He hates men in the pack because the women will pair up with them just to keep from having to sleep with him again." Brett's angry scent was strong enough for everyone in the room to smell. "He tried to force my sister to his bed, and then he fined my father thousands of dollars when she left town and refused his request."
Kurt growled softly. "How old are the girls he's forcing into his bed?"
"He's smart enough to wait until they are eighteen, but even then, it's rape if you ask me. Very few go willingly. It's only to protect their families and a fear of upsetting their alpha. They've been raised that this is how it is. Our men tend to leave, not willing to deal with Pete's ego."
"No one challenges him?"
"A few have but lost. He is powerful, just not smart or decent. It's easier to move on than deal with him. I almost didn't come back from California, but I wanted to be there if my parents or sister needed me. Now, with my blindness, I'm no use to them anyway." Brett ran his fingers over his eye patches.
"You don't have to worry about your family. They are welcome here if they choose, but even if they don't, I think Pack Authority needs to look into how Pete is running his pack. I know we are lenient on allowing packs to make their own rules as long as they don't break wolf laws, but this rubs me wrong. Populating a pack with the alpha's offspring will only lead to problems later, not to mention the women deserve better." Kurt blew out a heavy breath. "I don't get it. Running a pack isn't hard."
"We're lucky we have you and your father before you." I met Kurt's angry gaze across the table.
"I'll let my parents know they are welcome. Thank you for that. I'm just waiting to hear what the doctor says before I make any huge changes," Brett said.
"You should know tomorrow. Cohen seems hopeful that this guy can help you." Kurt smiled at Corta as she set more food on his plate. "You two let me know if you need anything. You have the full pack's support behind you."
"Thanks." I took a deep breath as Kurt sent a wave of support through the link we shared with him as our alpha. I couldn't wait until Brett was able to feel Kurt's compassion through the link as well. Hell, I couldn't wait until we mated, and he could feel our own mate link stronger than it already was. "We're good, but thanks. We're going to sneak off in a bit and spend some time alone." I met Kurt's understanding gaze.
"I'm happy for you both." Kurt grinned.
"And I'll bring breakfast to you in the morning. I'll knock and leave it on a cart outside the door. You two take as much time as you want." Corta bent down and kissed my cheek before moving to Brett. "I'm going to kiss your cheek, so don't jump," she said as she bent in and kissed Brett's cheek as well.
A blush colored Brett's neck, but he smiled. "Thank you, Corta. Thank you, all of you, for making me feel so welcome. I know this has been hard on everyone. Bridger talked about a lot of friends in the pack."
"He was well liked." Kurt sighed. "His parents are planning a memorial for him. I'll let you know as soon as I have a date."
I pushed my plate back. "You done?" I brushed my lips over Brett's ear.
"Yeah, again, thank you for dinner. It was amazing." He reached over, searching for my hand.
I took it as I stood, giving a nod to everyone as I gently tugged Brett out of the kitchen. I was thankful I had such good friends. Corta had motioned me to leave our plates and go as everyone else watched us, most knowing we were going off to perform the mating ritual.
It was strange thinking that soon I would be officially a mated wolf. I still didn't know what it all meant or what would happen once we mated, but I was excited to find out. I'd watched Cohen and Kurt and a few others after they mated, and I saw how it had changed their lives in so many ways. All good. I wanted that. I'd always been nervous that I'd regret having to give up my freedom, maybe feel tied down, but that wasn't the case at all. I was finding that I wanted that attachment, that commitment. I wanted Brett to be part of everything I did.
As we made our way to our room, I wrapped my arm around his waist. "No doubts?"
"None." He smiled. "I'm ready for this. Excited for it. I'm nervous about what it will mean for us tomorrow. Not in a bad way, but how intense this connection is going to become. I already feel you as if we are part of one another. For it to get any stronger will be hard to get used to, but I welcome it."
"Me too." I pushed the door open to our room. "From what I hear, it's like you'll instantly know everything about me in a way. You'll feel my emotions, you'll know my fears. Cohen said that unlike humans who end up questioning each other's love, we will always feel what the other feels and know we are loved. There is no doubt, no questioning. It's a pure love that nothing can ever break."
Brett walked to the bed slowly, stopping when his legs hit the edge of it before he turned and sat down. "Do you know exactly how we do this? I've heard stories, but never really paid a lot of attention. I didn't think I'd ever find my mate, so it didn't matter."
"Cohen pulled me aside earlier and talked to me. He said things will just happen naturally, but that we will do a partial shift during sex and bite each other at the same time after we both say the mating vow. Do you know it?"
Brett nodded. "I used to dream about being able to say it to someone when I was younger. I'd lie in bed and imagine what it would be like."
I pulled my shirt over my head and tossed it aside before going over and sitting next to him. "I'm glad I'm the one you'll be saying it to."
He smiled. "So, after we say it, the shift happens, and we bite?"
"Yep, I guess we sort of let both our human and wolf sides come out at once. Our heads will become wolf, our bodies stay human. Cohen said it's magical and hard to explain, but the moment we bite, we'll both likely come. That's the final step to sealing our mating."
Brett placed his palm over my bare chest, curling his fingers into the hair. "Do you want to do this a certain way? Want me to let you take me this time?"
I could sense he wasn't exactly excited about the idea of me taking him, and that was more than okay with me. I didn't want to be inside him. I needed him in me. "No, I want to feel you. I'm not much for topping." I brushed my hand down his cheek. "I will if that's ever what you want. I've done it before, but I am happier when I am the one to hand over control and let you take me."
"Fate really did know what it was doing when it brought us together. I've bottomed before and while I don't hate it, I am more turned on by being the one topping."
"Then we'll have no problems." I leaned in and kissed him, slowly at first, teasing my lips over his softly. He moaned against my lips, and I took the opportunity to deepen the kiss, sliding my tongue over his lips and into his mouth as I pulled him closer so I could slide my hands under his shirt and over his skin.
Realizing that this man was mine forever had my cock thickening, pressing hard against the zipper of my jeans. I would never tire of this, of holding him, tasting him, making love to him. He was what had been missing in my life. He was who completed me.
Brett pulled back, a bit breathless as he continued to run his fingers over my chest. "I wish I could see you."
I smiled. "You see me better than anyone ever has. You see the real me, the me that I hide from everyone else. Once we are mated, you'll see everything about me. Your blindness just saves you from having to know how ugly your mate truly is."
Brett laughed. "You're not ugly." He lifted his hand to my face, caressing over my beard. "You're perfect. I just wish I'd been able to look into your eyes at least once."
"Mate with me and you'll be able to see the world through my eyes." I nipped at his shoulder blade before pulling back again. "Stand up. Let me undress you."
Brett stood, taking a moment to kick off his shoes before turning to face me where I still sat on the edge of the bed.
"I can't wait to learn every inch of your body. I want to spend the night exploring what makes you moan." I slowly stood, moving my hands up his sides as I lifted the shirt from his body. Once I had it tossed aside, I stared down at him, taking in his pale skin, thin body, and narrow hips. I dipped my head, taking one small nipple into my mouth, flicking my tongue over it.
"Bayne…" Brett's fingers tangled in the back of my hair, holding my head to him. "It's like liquid fire when you put your mouth on me."
"Good, because I plan on having my mouth on every inch of you." I kissed lower, over his chest, down his stomach, stopping when I came to the waistband of his pants. "You smell so good." My wolf was on high alert, all too aware of what was happening. He wanted his mate and the only thing stopping him from trying to force me to shift was the fact that we needed to be in human form to make the mating official. Our wolves would get their chance soon enough.
My damn fingers shook as I worked the button on his jeans. I'd never been so nervous and excited to be with anyone. Once I finally got Brett's jeans open, I slowly slid down the zipper, inhaling hard as the scent of his arousal increased. I'd seen him naked before, but as I pushed his pants down his legs, I was greeted with a thick, hard cock that had my body yearning. "Perfect." I wrapped my hand around his length as he stepped out of his pants as they pooled around his feet.
"Let me feel you." Brett's hands came to my waist and worked open my pants.
I forced myself to release him for a second so I could undress, quickly tossing my jeans aside before stepping back to him and wrapping my arms around him as I kissed him hard, our bodies pressed together, our cocks touching, intensifying everything I was already feeling.
"This isn't going to last long. My wolf is going crazy and I'm about to lose control already just kissing you." Brett groaned as I slid my hands around his hips and cupped his ass, pulling him even closer.
"We have a lifetime to make up for it. I don't need romance tonight. I need my mate." I forced myself to release him again. "Let's get on the bed." I turned and climbed onto the mattress before reaching out to pull him on as well.
I eased back, drawing him down beside me. "This feels right."
"It does. I've never felt this way with anyone else." His lips found mine again as he pressed his body down over me and kissed me hard.
I welcomed the weight of his body, the feel of his hot skin against my own, the feel of his cock throbbing against my own. It was like for the first time in my life, no matter what we did, no matter what we tried, I knew it would be good between us. Nothing we did would be bad. We were truly perfect for one another in every way.
I parted my legs, allowing him to settle between them. Reaching up, I cupped his face in my hands. "I don't know how it's possible to love you so much so soon, but I do. I love you more than my own life. You're everything to me." My chest ached with emotion as I said the words to him. I was sure what we shared would only grow the more time we were together, but already it was overwhelming. I now understood why so many wolves died when their mate did. It would kill me to lose Brett now that I'd found him.
"I love you too. When you walked in that door, I knew I couldn't fight this. I went from begging for death to knowing I suddenly had a reason to live. You made me understand that there is so much more for me and even though I can't see, I can live, I can love. I love you so much, Bayne. I don't know how I survived without you for so long." He turned his head, sucking one of my fingers between his lips.
I groaned, imagining those lips around my cock at some point. It wasn't going to happen now. If I didn't give my wolf what it wanted soon, it would take the choice from me. "I need you inside me. I need us to make this official."
Brett pulled away, going up on his knees between my legs. "You want this?" He gripped his cock, stroking it.
"God, yes, I want all of you." I bent my knees, almost ready to beg.
Brett smiled. "If it's this insane every time we have sex, we are never going to enjoy foreplay." He tapped his cock against mine.
"It's got to be the mating call. It can't be this crazy all the time. Mates would never leave their bedrooms if it was." I reached between us, moving his cock so it pressed against my ass as I lifted my legs up over his shoulders. "Let's do this, get it out of the way so the insanity ends, and then we can take our time and enjoy each other." My whole body was alive, waves of desire coursing through my blood almost as if demanding that we come together.
Brett gripped his cock, holding it against my hole. "I swear I'll make it good next time, but I can't wait." He pushed forward, parting me and sinking deep in one thrust.
I groaned as I reached for my cock. The moment of pain was nothing. He was in me. We were together. We would never be apart again once this was done. "Move." I needed him to fill me, to coat me in his scent, to give our wolves what they needed.
"Fuck, you're so tight. So perfect." Brett had his head back as he snapped his hips. "It's never felt this good." He bit at his lip as he found a steady rhythm, his fingers gripping my legs tightly.
I stroked my own cock as he speared into me. I kept looking up, wanting to find him looking at me, but reminded by the black patches over his eyes that he couldn't. It didn't matter. At this moment, he was saying everything he needed to with his body.
It was unlike any other sexual experience in my life. My entire body was aware of him. It was almost as if some magical bubble encased us, sealing us together, binding us. It was hard to understand, but I loved it.
"I can't last like this." Brett's words were breathy. "Bayne, I accept you as my mate and will love and care for you, putting your protection above all else as long as we both shall live."
My throat grew tight with emotion as I heard his words. It was so much more than an 'I love you'. This was forever. This was giving himself completely to me and asking me to give myself to him in the same way. "Brett, I accept you as my mate and will love and care for you, putting your protection above all else as long as we both shall live."
My wolf pushed forward the moment I'd said the words and without me even trying I shifted, at least it seemed as if I did. My wolf was there, but Brett was still thrusting hard inside me. I watched as his head changed from man to wolf, and I dropped my legs from his shoulders, needing to get close to him.
Brett leaned down as I rose up, both of us closing the distance between us. I arched my neck, seeing his teeth come for me a moment before I felt them. My wolf took control, and just as quickly I was sinking my teeth into Brett's shoulder the same way he had mine.
The moment we both had penetrated each other's skin, my orgasm rushed through me. My cock swelling and pulsing as my release shot out. At the same time, heat filled me as Brett lost himself inside me, coating me with his seed, scenting me with his smell, claiming me in a way I'd never allowed another.
It was over almost as quickly as it started, both of us shifting back to our full human form as Brett's body collapsed on top of me. I struggled to breathe as I slowly started to come down from my orgasm.
"I love you." Brett moved slightly, still knotted inside of my body and draped his arm over my body as he fought to catch his breath.
"I love you." I closed my eyes, focusing on our connection. I didn't even have to search for his scent, his emotions as I had before we mated. Now, I just felt him as I felt my own. It was like a compartment had opened inside me, storing his feelings, his fears, his happiness. I knew without a doubt he loved me, felt it so strongly that it was almost overwhelming. "I feel you." I moved closer to him, curling my body up against him.
"I feel you too. I didn't think it would be this strong, this connected." Brett pulled me tighter against him. "This is going to take some getting used to."
"It's not bad, is it?" I feared he wouldn't like me being able to know every emotion, almost every thought. I couldn't read his thoughts, but somehow, through the emotional connection, I could feel what his mind was on.
Brett laughed. "You doubt me? I can feel you questioning if I want this. Don't. This is amazing. Sure, it's going to take some getting used to. It will be strange having no secrets, but with you, I don't see it as an invasion of privacy. It's a relief to not have to talk about everything. You'll just know. I won't need to worry how you're going to take something. By the time I could tell you, you'd have already sensed it." Brett gently tugged me closer. "Where are your lips?" He kissed my nose, then lower, finding my lips.
I kissed him, feeling the kiss from his side and mine through our link. It was so strange. It was as if when I caressed my hand down his skin, I could feel what he did. I eased back, falling onto the pillows. "I love you."
"I love you too." He gently touched my chest. "My wolf wants your wolf."
I smiled. "Yeah, mine's restless to be with yours as well." I rolled, forcing his cock to slide from inside me, the knot still not fully gone as I went up on one arm so I could lean over Brett and kiss him for a moment. When I pulled back, I sighed. "As much as I want to hold you, I guess we better let them have their time together."
"We have forever." Brett swung his legs over the bed and stood. "I'm going to shift, okay?"
"Me too." I stood and touched his shoulder before stepping back to give us both room. "See you in the morning."
I didn't even have to offer to let my wolf come forward. He was there, ready. I dropped to my knees, letting him do his thing. It was the four of us now, and I loved that.