Jordan

 

 

Jordan groaned as he opened his eyes. Shit, what the fuck did I drink last night? I swear someone is going to be in a world of hurt once I find out what the hell happened. This is all Bronx’s fault; it must be.

He tried to sit up but a strong hand rested on his shoulder, pushing him back down. “Bronx, I’m going to kill you,” he mumbled. His mouth felt dry and his head hurt like a sonofabitch.

Jordan heard the deep chuckle before, “You really need to stop mistaking me for Bronx. It’s starting to hurt my fragile ego.”

He snapped his eyes open and they instantly connected with Duncan. He closed his eyes quickly, and he opened them again. Wherever he was, it was too damn bright, and it made his eyes burn and his headache spike higher, causing him to moan in agony. This was not from a hangover. “Too bright,” he moaned covering his eyes with one of his arms.

“Turn the lights down!” Duncan barked. “It’s okay,” he said. “You can look now,” he instructed as he pulled Jordan’s arm away from his face.

Jordan slowly opened his eyes. “Where am I?”

“What do you remember?” Duncan asked instead of answering him.

He sat up on the bed and this time Duncan did not stop him. Hell, what do I remember? Mate or some other word for it. What was it again? Something amans. Duncan told me I was his soulmate, after turning into a wolf and I sort of freaked out. Blayze was the last person I remember talking to. “Blayze, I was talking to him, and I got up to…”

“And then you fainted,” Blayze said, coming to stand beside his bed. “How do you feel?”

“Like someone’s tap dancing on my skull,” he answered. “Promise me the next time we decide to drown our sorrows, no more of whatever I drank.” Blayze chuckled, and so did Jordan, who immediately regretted it and started massaging his temples as he moaned. “Can I get something for my head, please?” he asked and noticed that the mirth did not reach Blayze’s eyes. He looked at Duncan, who was also staring at him with worry in his eyes. “Okay, what’s wrong, you are both looking at me as if I grew another head or something.” He chuckled, hoping to relieve the worry on their faces. “Duncan, what’s wrong?”

“Here, take these,” Blayze said, handing him two pills. He looked at it suspiciously forgetting his earlier request. “It’s over-the-counter pain killers.”

Feeling satisfied, Jordan took them and swallowed them dry just as Blayze handed him a cup of water. “Thanks.” He looked at Duncan, who was still staring at him. “Okay, you’re too quiet, and you still haven’t explained to me why I’m here. I know that we have a lot to talk about. So why don’t you tell me what’s wrong first?”

“I…” Duncan started. “I’m just glad you’re okay. The past three days…”

“Three dayths!” he yelled in surprise. “What do you mean three dayths? Ow!” What the hell, I just bit my tongue.

“Shit, you have to be careful, you're not used to having canines,” Duncan said, that got Jordan’s attention.

“Canines, what the hell are you talking abouth? Ow, thun of a bitch,” Jordan yelled. Oh gods, did I get turned into a werewolf?! “Duncan, don’t tell me you turned me into a werewolf or whatever the hell you are without my permission.”

“Jordan Masako Sutton, you will watch your mouth or I will wash it out with soap!” Jordan’s eyes widened and he looked up to see his mom standing at the foot of the bed.

“Mom, what the f…heck are you doing here?” He was confused, why was his mom there when all he did was get drunk?

She didn’t answer him. Instead, she turned to Blayze and Duncan. “I need some time alone with Jordan, do you mind?”

“No, not at all,” Blayze answered. “I need to get back to the hospital, anyway,” he told her then looked back at Jordan. “I’m glad you’re awake.” He patted Jordan on his hand, only that time, he didn’t flinch or experience any kind of pain. Then he was gone.

Hospital? Wait, I’m not in the hospital? Where the hell am I? What the hell is going on?

“I have a few things to do as well,” Duncan said. He got up and cupped Jordan’s cheeks lifting his face to meet his. Duncan’s hands were warm and welcoming on Jordan’s skin. He wanted Duncan to touch, stay, and comfort him more, he felt as if they had been apart too long. Could this be part of the mating thing? I have so many questions. “It’s good to see those sparkling ruby eyes of yours again.” Jordan smiled. “Do me a favor.” Jordan nodded, not sure what he was agreeing to, but he just wanted to have Duncan continue to touch him. He would agree to anything. “Listen to what she has to say and see things from her side before you blow up and cut her out of your life. She has a good reason for doing what she did.”

“What are you talking about?” He looked from his mom to Duncan, he was thoroughly confused. Was he sick or something? “You’re starting to scare—” Before he could finish his question, Duncan pressed their lips together. Jordan moaned, and Duncan groaned as he swiped his tongue along Jordan’s lips. He lifted his arms and wrapped them around Duncan’s neck, bringing them closer together somehow. His body was on fire, and it seemed that only Duncan had what he needed to silence the inferno roaring inside of him. He wanted more of Duncan’s touch and his kisses.

Slowly, Duncan separated their lips, but did not let go of him. They stared at each other and Jordan couldn’t fathom why he was angry in the first place. He felt so calm and cherished, just from Duncan’s touch. His worry was also slowly seeping away. Who could be angry at the sweet and handsome man? “Remember what I told you,” Duncan whispered.

“I will. Promise me you will come back to me and kiss me like that.”

“That’s a promise I can definitely keep.  You and I have unfinished business.”

Jordan smiled when Duncan kissed him once more, then pulled back and got off the bed. Jordan watched as the man he cared about walked over to his mother who was still standing at the foot of the bed. He squeezed her shoulder, and she gently touched his hand before Duncan walked out the door. Maybe he overreacted about the whole lykosian thing, it looked as if his mother and Duncan had gotten along while he was sleeping for three days.

Fuck, three days! How is that even possible?

Everyone must have been going out of their minds with worry. But there was nothing different about the man he was attracted to. Duncan’s presence still had a way of positively affecting him. Maybe I should give in to my feelings and stop questioning everything. Seeming to be satisfied with his rational thinking, Jordan stared at his mom who appeared nervous.

She took a deep breath and started fussing with the blankets. “Are you cold? Hungry? Do you want anything to eat?”

She was definitely nervous about something. “Mom,” he said trying to get her attention, but she ignored him. “Mom!” He grabbed onto her wrist, stopping her from fixing the blankets. “What’s wrong? Why are you here, anyway?” He could see tears well in the corner of her eyes. “Mom, you’re scaring me, what’s wrong?”

She cupped his cheeks the same way that Duncan did not too long ago. Her thumbs rubbing his cheeks. “I love you so much,” she told him.

“I love you, too.” He smiled, touching the hands on his cheeks. “Now talk to me.”

“I’m so sorry, we are so sorry, Jordy. We wanted to tell you everything before you found your sodalis amans, but—”

“Mom, you know what that word means? How? What’s going on?”

“I do,” she answered. “However, we have a different term for it. Every sect does. We refer to our mate as sýntrofos, which means the mate taken from my soul or soulmate.”

Jordan felt as if his world was being turned upsidedown. “When you say we, what do you mean by that?”

“We as the nyxians,” she answered plainly, as if discussing a recipe. “If you remember those fairy tales I used to read to you as a child, you used to love the ones about faes and werewolves. I encouraged what you thought were fantasies because I knew it was true.”

“I…I…” Jordan didn’t know what to say. Is she trying to tell me they aren’t all fairy tales? He was completely speechless. First Duncan and now his mom.

“Oh, Jordy, I’m so sorry. There were many times I wanted to tell you—”

“Tell me! Gods, Mom, how many times have you told me secrets have a way of coming out and I shouldn’t keep things from you?”

“I know, but…” She looked away from him and Jordan could see shame and regret written all over her face. There was more she wanted to say, but Jordan wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear it. Then he remembered Duncan’s words.

“You called me Jordy,” he said to her, and she turned to look at him. “You only call me Jordy when you have bad news.” He spoke slowly because he did not want to bite his tongue again. “We don’t have a dog anymore, so it can’t be that. And I know how to take care of a fish now, so you don’t have to flush my goldfish down the toilet. Wait!” he said. “Please don’t tell me something is wrong with Dad. Is he alright?” Jordan was starting to fear that something was wrong with his dad.

She stopped him. “Your father is fine,” she told him, then looked away as more tears streaked down her cheeks. “Oh gods, I hope you don’t hate us for what we had to do.”

He reached out and turned her face towards him and wiped the tears that slipped down her cheeks with his thumbs. “I wish I could say that I’m not angry finding out that you and dad have been keeping this big a secret from me. But I could never hate you both.” He smiled, it wasn’t forced, and that seemed to help a bit. “Now, why don’t you tell me what’s wrong and why you’re here.”

She nodded and Jordan reached for some tissues sitting on the side of the table, handing it to her. He was worried, and Jordan was certainly not used to seeing his mom like that. He could not remember ever seeing his mom so distraught. She cleaned up her beautiful face and sat down in the chair beside his bed.

“It started nearly thirty years ago; my sister fell in love with a man she shouldn’t have.”

“You have a sister?” Jordan asked in surprise, he never knew he had an aunt.

“I used to,” she whispered, there was so much sadness on her face. “She looked exactly like our mother, your grandmother. She used to remind me so much of her growing up. She was kind to everyone who met her, she was intelligent. Her only fault was that she was a dreamer. She was so much like you in every regard. We were as different as night and day. But I loved her so much. She was my best friend and encouraged everyone with her kind words.  She used to tell me I was too serious and thought that I should try and enjoy life. We were the apple of our father's eye until our mother died. And in the blink of an eye things changed. The man that used to welcome his people to talk to him about their problems became closed off and cruel to his people, and his daughters.”

He was about to ask a question when she stopped him.

“Jordy, I need to finish this.” He nodded his head for her to continue. “You see, in his demented mind, Father had set up arranged marriages with other nyxian nobles without our knowledge. When Marika found out, she was livid, because she was the oldest she would be the first to be married. Marika begged our father not to let her live in a loveless marriage. But our father, Bergstrand, wouldn’t hear of it. He was adamant on the marriages.” She paused for a few seconds to wipe away more tears, Jordan was listening and already decided he didn’t like that Bergstrand guy.

 Who the hell names their kid Bergstrand, anyway?

“I knew how she felt, because I too felt for someone below my station. We kept our affair a secret, the only one that knew was my sister. We shared everything. When she told me what our father had planned for her, we came up with a plan to run away with the men that we loved”—she chuckled— “gods, we were so young in our thinking, as you kids would say. No matter how old you become, love has a way to blind you. Our plans took longer than we wanted and during that time my sister became pregnant with her lover’s child. Bergstrand was livid when he found out and hunted down her lover. Once he was caught, our father tortured him.” Her voice cracked as if she was remembering everything like it had happened yesterday. “He tortured him in front of her. He forced him to shift in order to heal, and the torture would begin all over again. Through it all, I remember him telling her how much he loved her and to take care of their child. It only angered Bergstrand even more. We begged and pleaded with him to spare the man’s life. Marika vowed not to see him anymore if our father would set him free. But all of our pleas fell on deaf ears.”

Jordan gasped. “Mom, what are you saying? Why would your father do that?”

“I think he was a good man once. He had to be for my mother to love him the way she did. But after her death something inside of him snapped. Marika and I found out the hard way. After he had killed Marika's sýntrofos in front of her, she went into a state of depression. What’s worse was Bergstrand didn’t show one ounce of remorse or regret for what he did. He even went as far as to threaten to kill her child, but she protected him until she was able to give birth.” His mother’s lips began to tremble and Jordan reached out to pull her into his arms but she stopped him. “I was in the room that night, and she begged me to take care of her child, and not to let Bergstrand get his hands on her son. She named him after his father. If…if I had known what she had planned, I would have told her no. But I loved my sister so much and I wanted to do anything to make her happy.”

“What did she do?”

“S…she killed herself with the same knife that had her sýntrofos’s blood on it. He killed her, Jordy. Not with his own hands, but she died the night her sýntrofos did.”

Jordan gasped and covered his mouth. He stared at his mother as tears ran down her cheeks.

“I didn’t give myself time to mourn her death. That night I took the child along with my sýntrofos, and we ran as fast as we could. Bergstrand caught wind of what was happening and chased after us. We were almost caught, but not without scars that we found out about later. Laxus and I reentered the human world; the world we vowed never to enter again, but we had no other choice. We knew how much Bergstrand hated the human world. We had to keep you safe; I promised her I would keep you safe. We still had friends, or we thought we did, but later found that while we were gone, they were all killed except one that was a witch who was gifted in shield magic. I asked her to shield us from my father, but I knew sooner or later the shield wouldn’t last long. I asked her to block your abilities from you. We didn’t realize that you finding your own sýntrofos would break the block. We had our names changed and adapted to living as humans so that we weren’t found. We didn’t know how to tell you who or what you were without exposing ourselves. If I’d known you would turn out to be the mate to the son of one of my dearest friends, I would have prepared you for everything that’s about to change in your life.”

Jordan didn’t hear the last of her words, his mind was going a thousand miles a minute at what he was thinking. “What are you saying? You said you took her son?!” Jordan demanded. “Are you telling me that…”

“I…I’m not your mother, and Laxus is not your father,” she whispered.

“N…no…no, that can’t be. Tell me you’re lying.” His voice cracked as realization hit him that the woman he’d called Mom his entire life wasn’t.

His mom started to cry again. “I’m so sorry, Jordy, I am so sorry. I wish I could change things and you got to meet your real mother, but I can’t.”

Tears ran down his cheeks, and he had no idea why he was crying. Was it the fact that he had been lied to all his life? Or the loss of parents he had never met? It could also be seeing the woman who had been his mother all his life break down in tears for doing the one thing she had always done, love him, unconditionally. Either way, his heart was breaking and so was hers. She had been living with the pain all that time. Slowly, Jordan got out of bed and kneeled beside her, ignoring the pains in his legs. He pulled her into his arms, comforting her. That time she didn’t try to fight him. “It’s okay, Mom.”

“You have to believe me, Jordy. I planned on telling you, but I honestly didn’t know where to start. When you were twelve and got sick that one time I thought you were coming into your lykosian genes, but when nothing happened, we still were not sure if you were going to be one of us. The block was still in place so we were not worried. Maybe we should have told you then, but you were so young and I wasn’t sure you would understand.”

“Shh…it’s alright, I understand, you were trying to protect me. I wish you had told me sooner. But I think I understand or at least I’m trying to. This is a lot to take in.”

She pulled back and brushed away the tears on her cheeks. “I know. And I wish there could have been another way to tell you all of this…”

“It’s okay, Mom,” he said, quieting more of her explanation.

“You are so much like her,” she told him. “You have her eyes, and you inherited both our mother’s hair color and her beautiful smile.”

“I hope you will be able to tell me about her one day.” He went to get up but remembered his mom had said something crazy. “So, I’m not human?” His mother shook her head.

“We are dark nyxian or a dark fae. The gods saw fit to bless us with the ability to walk in the light and the dark. The abilities we use to defend ourselves are seen as dark by the more lighter sects. But you are a hybrid. You are a half nyxian and half lykosian. Your father’s blood still flows through you.”

“Well, shit.” That threw Jordan back a bit, his world was just blown. All his life he thought he was human, now to find out that he was something else; something more.

“Jordan.” He looked up to see his father standing at the foot of the bed, staring down at them.

“I’m sorry—”

Jordan raised his hand and shook his head. “Don’t…don’t apologize, because there is nothing to apologize for. Am I disappointed that you both didn’t tell me about everything? Yeah, I am, but I can understand where you were coming from. You both were trying to protect me. Maybe it’s because I’m tired and whatever drugs Blayze gave me have me feeling loopy, but I get it. Besides, from what little Mom told me, her father was an evil man.”

“Is,” his father corrected. “He is still alive.”

“Well, damn.”

“Language, young man. You’re not too old for me to put over my knee.”

Jordan turned and smiled at his mom who was forever threatening to spank him. Yup, that is what she is, I love her. He turned and looked at his dad. I love them both and nothing will change that.

“So now that the block is broken, will he be able to find me?” he asked them both.

They looked at each other and then back at him. “We hope he’s given up his need for revenge,” his father told him.

“After all, he still has a kingdom to run,” his mother added.

“Yes, a kingdom that rightfully belongs to Jordan. You are more than just his grandson. You are a threat to him.”

“Wait, what the he...heck are you two talking about?”

“Jordan, we had to change our names when we reentered the human world, again. Your full title is Crown Prince Jordanie Masako Shihon Valnan of the dark nyxian sect. I am second to the throne, Princess Ayumi Yuriko Shihon Valnan of the dark nyxian sect.” 

He looked at his parents to see if they were trying to pull his leg. He would have burst out laughing if his parents’ face wasn’t so serious. Really, me, a prince? Bronx is going to laugh once I tell him. Will I be able to tell him?

“That’s a whole lot of names,” Jordan finally spoke as he went to stand, and the room began to spin. “Shit, not again,” he mumbled, falling forward on the bed. That time he did not black out. His dad was right next to him, helping him into the bed. He was getting tired, but he knew that he and his parents needed to talk. He had so many questions for them and for Duncan. But it would have to wait until he got some more rest. He closed his eyes and smiled when he felt his mom’s lips on his forehead and his dad’s strong hand on his.

“Are you sure he’s in here?” Maddison asked her brother.

“Yup, I can smell him, and I heard Uncle Duncan talking to Uncle Ryland about going to the old building,” Benjamin answered, opening the door and peeking through the small crack. Benjamin was worried about Jordan. It had been a few days since he saw his friend. He and Maddison had spent the weekend with their friends and they were very excited to get home to tell Jordan about all the fun things they did. When Uncle Duncan told them that Jordan had to go away for a couple of days, it reminded Benjamin of the time their uncle told them about their mommy and daddy not coming home anymore. He was worried, and he knew that Maddison was as well. Benjamin knew it, but she tried to act as if she wasn’t.

“We are going to be in so much trouble once Uncle Parker knows we are gone,” Maddison whispered.

“No, we won’t,” Benjamin told her. “Jordan will protect us, promise.” Benjamin walked further into the large room the minute he realized that his uncle Ryland had left the room. “Come on.” Quickly as he could, he ran into the room with Maddison right behind him. And that was when he saw Jordan sleeping on one of the beds. Without thinking, Benjamin ran up to the bed. Jordan was sleeping, and he was about to wake him when Maddison stopped him.

“Don’t, what if he’s hurt?”

Benjamin turned and looked at her, she was finally showing how worried she was about Jordan. “What should we do?”

“You could climb up here with me.” They both gasped and looked over to Jordan who was staring down at them. “Come on.”

“Are you sure?” Maddison asked.

“Yup, I’ve missed you two.”

“Sir, I also have the contracts and the new name change to Com Stock Inc., you also have a two thirty meeting with a Mrs. Smithe, and a board meeting with the board of directors at five. You also have a business meeting with a Ms. Silverman at eight.”

Duncan nodded his head, listening to his secretary list everything that he had to do. From the look of it, he wouldn’t even have time to take a bathroom break. “Anything else?” Duncan asked and prayed she would say no, he really wanted to be with Jordan. But he had already been away from his office for three days.

“Um…no, Mr. Pryde, that’s it.” She went to leave just as his cell phone rang, and he picked up seeing the name on the screen. He waved at his secretary and she got the message and left his office.

“Parker, what’s up?”

“It’s the kids.”

“What about the kids?” Duncan demanded as he sat up in his chair, worry building inside of him. He couldn’t take any more unexpected things happening to his family.

“They aren’t here; I’ve searched everywhere for them, but I can’t find them anywhere.”

“What the fuck do you mean, Parker?!” Duncan yelled. “I leave them in your care for a few hours and you lose them?” He got up from his chair, grabbing his jacket. “I’m on my way home and you better find them before I get there.”

“Yes, Alpha.”

Duncan hung up his cell and shucked on his jacket. He was about to storm out of his office just as his cell phone rang again. “Ryland, I don’t have time to talk, I’m on my way home—”

 “If it’s about the kids that’s why I’m calling, they’re fine.”

“What do you mean they’re fine?” Still the knots tightened and settled in the pit of his stomach.

“I stepped out of the bunker for a few minutes, and when I came back, I found them talking with Jordan. I figured Parker must be going out of his mind with worry.”

Duncan exhaled and scrubbed his face roughly. “Yeah, he just called. I swear those two are going to give me heart attacks on a daily basis. How did they find him?”

“I don’t know, but you do realize the past few days they’ve been asking for Jordan, and they are very attached to him. Do you think they have formed a bond with him?”

“I don’t know, is that even possible?” Duncan asked. “If they did, you know what that means? They saw him as family from the first time they met him.  I still want to know how they found out about the bunker, I never took them there and I know Ben and Mari never did either.”

“Well, he is a nyxian, what if they recognized what he was before we did? And used that bond to find him?”

“It’s a possibility, are you sure they are okay?” Duncan asked.

“Yeah, they are doing alright. I’ll give Parker a call and tell him where they are,” Ryland told him. “I wish we knew more about nyxians than the basics. Did Jordan’s parents tell you how they were able to hide it from him and everyone else?”

“No, not yet. I wanted to give her and Laxus a chance to explain it all to Jordan first. I’m still not sure how they knew my father. So many unanswered questions. I still can’t wrap my head around all of this.”

“I understand. But, I think we should move Jordan, we can’t afford for him to figure out about the other guest we have hidden in the closet, so to speak. I’m going back inside to check on them,” Ryland told him. Duncan heard the door closing.

“Yeah, I agree,” Duncan said.

“I can check with Ayumi and see if it’s alright to take Jordan home if you want?” Ryland asked. 

“No, let me do that. I’m going to cancel my appointments for the day and—”

“Don’t do that.” Duncan was shocked, he wasn’t expecting to hear Jordan on the other end of the phone. “It’s very weird hearing you call her that, she’s always been Mom to me.”

“Hey,” he said with a smile on his face even though Jordan couldn’t see it.

“Hi,” Jordan whispered. Duncan thought he sounded good. “Don’t be mad at them, they were worried, and frankly, they didn’t believe you when you told them whatever you did.”

Duncan took off his jacket and loosened his tie. He threw his jacket over the chair. “Hey, you try answering the mountain of why questions to kids who can smell when you’re lying to them. I really didn’t know what to say to them. How are you feeling?”

Jordan snickered. “Next time be honest with them, they understand more than you think. And I’m fine, by the way, I’m ready to go home.” Duncan’s heart started beating very fast at Jordan’s implication. “To our home, if that’s what you want. I mean, I still don’t understand all of the mating stuff and apparently the new me, but if you are willing to try, then so am I.”

“How can you say something like that and not expect me to want to rush home and wrap you in my arms and keep you there all night?”

“Well then, I guess you have an incentive to come home as soon as possible.”

“I guess, I do. I will see you when I get home tonight then.” He couldn’t believe that Jordan was flirting with him when only a few days earlier the man practically ran away from him.

“I’ll wait up for you,” Jordan had told him before they said their goodbyes.

Duncan hung up with a pleasant smile on his face. Things were looking up between him and Jordan. Throwing his phone down on his desk he tucked his hands in his pockets as he walked over to the large windows behind his desk, looking out at the bustling city. Other than the possibility of someone coming after his pack, things in his life were looking up. Duncan scratched at the rash on the left side of his chest and neck that had been bothering him for a couple of days. He’d been so busy and worried about Jordan, he forgot to have Blayze take a look at it.

Duncan chuckled to himself. Finally, he and Jordan were moving towards their mating. Jordan wasn’t the only one that had questions about his heritage, he wanted to know how Jordan’s parents were able to hide or suppress his nyxian appearance and abilities. He’d heard tales that nyxians were born with special powers. Duncan had no idea what was coming next when it came to his mating. It seemed whatever he did three nights earlier satisfied their bond, keeping the effects to a low hum. Otherwise, Duncan would be feeling as if he was going out of his mind. The desire to be closer to his sodalis amans physically, still pulled at him.

“Soon,” he whispered to himself before closing his mind off to everything else and concentrated on his day. He had a beautiful mate waiting for him at home.

Jordan hugged his mom and then his dad, and watched as they walked to their car before driving off. They helped him back home and got him settled. He was surprised earlier when he woke up and the twins were beside him. He later found out that he was in a bunker that used to be a hospital that was used in the war between the sects.  Everything was all new to him, things you hear in fairy tales were becoming true in his life.

He walked up the stairs and checked on Benjamin and Maddison, who were already fast asleep. Jordan smiled and realized he was no longer simply their caretaker. Before the changes happened, he felt a strong connection to the twins, as if they were in his blood. After explaining what he was feeling to his mother, she explained that it was his need for his own family calling out to him.

As a nyxian, once he recognized his sýntrofos, the need to have a family would become very important. It was the bond that the twins developed with Jordan, over his time as their caregiver, that enabled the kids to find him just by his scent. Maddison and Benjamin fell in love with Ayumi and Laxus. They were happy to help her make dinner, while Jordan was told he needed more rest. The unblocking of his abilities still had him feeling a bit loopy. He also noticed that the further apart he and Duncan were, the more tired he felt. His mom told him until he and Duncan solidified their mating bond, he would experience discomfort.

  When they sat down to a delicious dinner that Ayumi had made—it was one of Jordan’s favorites, fish and chips done the traditional way—she explained more about nyxians and the things she and her sister had gotten into growing up. Ayumi admitted they were mischievous and were tomboys; climbing trees, getting into fights, and doing things they weren’t supposed to. That was until they discovered boys and their world changed.  She told Jordan why her father decided to leave the human realm instead of staying. He’d felt the world had changed, and he didn’t like the direction it was changing. Ayumi explained that even her mother couldn’t change his mind.

 

She talked a little about Duncan’s father, and Jordan wished Duncan were there to hear the good things she’d said. The man she described reminded Jordan of the man he was falling in love with. Thorin was a kind man who cared about the ones who called him Alpha. Ayumi explained to Jordan that Duncan’s uncle had always been jealous of his brother, Thorin. She’d always wondered if Bradley had killed his brother out of jealousy since she found out about Thorin’s death. Ayumi remembered the day Thorin met Galicia, and how beautiful they were together.  Jordan listened attentively and was fascinated by what he was hearing, it was only a couple hours after things in his life changed from what he would’ve called normal and boring.

One thing was he certainly didn’t like the sound of Duncan’s uncle and was secretly happy that he was dead. When they were younger, Bradley would torment and bully kids and Thorin had to step in and defend the kids against his own family member. Based on what Ayumi observed when they were younger, Thorin was the leader Bradley could never be.

His parents admitted that they had missed the friends they had to leave behind in the nyxian realm. Jordan also found out that other than the grandfather he prayed that he would never meet, he had other family members on his father’s side that his father was still worried about. Jordan still couldn’t believe that in a matter of days his life had changed. On the outside, he looked as if he was handling things pretty well, but in his head, he was trying to process everything.

It’s not every day you find that you’re a prince.

Jordan walked into Duncan’s bedroom and undressed. He stood in front of the full-length mirror in the corner of the room, inspecting what was so different about himself. Yes, he was lighter, if that were even possible. The color of his eyes was still crimson, with maybe a couple of changes that he instantly recognized. They were a bit darker around his irises, more slanted, but that was normal to him, anyway. His hair was longer, and he was debating cutting it.

That was a minor thing that could easily be fixed. And maybe he was just a bit taller, but that could be his imagination. He stepped closer to the mirror and opened his mouth and stared at canines, then closed his mouth and shook his head in astonishment. He opened his mouth one more time and touched his pointed teeth. He still couldn’t believe they were in his mouth and wasn’t used to them yet. He was constantly biting his tongue or lips when he spoke. So he had to be careful when he spoke, something he was not used to doing. He shook his head again in disbelief, to think all that time growing up, he was never human but a mixed breed.

Jordan should’ve been angry with his parents for lying to him all his life, but he honestly didn’t have the energy. Especially after his parents explained their reasons in more detail. What they did was to keep him safe. Jordan looked at his body and smiled at his tattoo, well, birthmark. When he was seventeen and thought he was being rebellious, Jordan had always loved his birthmark and decided to have it tattooed to enhance it. His parents were angry with him when he did it, but at the time he didn’t think that getting a tattoo was a big deal. His birthmark grew from a small little thing to taking up the entire right side of his body.

If only his parents had told him what it really meant. He would have realized exactly what the mark signified. It was his standing in the nyxian nobility. Who knew his mother was a princess? Laxus was named as her guard when she became of age and that was how they fell in love. Laxus was not from a noble clan and if Bergstrand had found out, he would have had the man stripped from his position and gods knew what else. Jordan realized that as much as he wanted to know about the world he came from, his parents didn’t want to talk about it. There was so much he had to learn about the new him.

Jordan pushed his hair back and gasped, my ears are pointed! Holy shit, I really did change! I have fucking pointed ears. He was so busy inspecting himself in the mirror, he did not hear Duncan when he got home.

“Well, this is a nice surprise to come in here and see.”

Jordan yelped and turned around, grabbed his shirt off the floor, and covering himself with it. “Shit, you scared me,” he said, pulling his shirt back on.

Duncan smiled. “Please don’t get dressed on my account, I was enjoying the wonderful view.” Jordan felt his face heat up. “Ah, there it is,” Duncan said, walking closer to him and wrapping his arms around his waist. He went easily, dying to be near Duncan. “That beautiful blush.” He bent his head and nestled his face in Jordan’s neck. “Gods, I love the way you smell.”

Jordan tilted his head to the side and wrapped his arms around his mate's neck. Duncan’s hands slid down to his thighs, lifting him up. Jordan wrapped his legs around the larger man’s waist. Duncan pulled back, and they stared into each other’s eyes. Jordan could see the lust burning in Duncan’s cobalt blue eyes. He wanted Duncan just as much. Without saying a word, Duncan started walking them towards the bed.

Their eyes remained on each other as Duncan laid him down on the bed. Jordan moved to the middle and watched as his mate undressed. Jordan was hard and couldn’t hide his erection. Duncan smiled and licked his lips before joining him by lying on top of him. His arms instantly went around Duncan’s neck, holding him close. Jordan closed his eyes, relishing in the perfection that was Duncan Pryde.

“Am I heavy?”

“No,” he purred, and opened his eyes and stared at Duncan, “you feel perfect.”

Duncan’s fingers gently caressed his sides and each time those fingers touched his tattoo on his side, Jordan would feel shivers running through his already heated body, making him visibly shiver. His hips pivoted up, rubbing against Duncan’s cock. It was hard and thick, leaking, and it felt so fucking good against his. Jordan bit on his bottom lip to keep from begging Duncan to fuck him. It was all new to Duncan, who had never been with another male before and he didn’t want to rush it.

“We can take our time tonight.” He whimpered when a light finger brushed over his tattoo and Duncan ground his hard cock against his.

“Does this feel as if I want to take my time?”

Jordan didn’t get a chance to answer, he wrapped his legs around Duncan’s waist, and the position changed everything. Duncan moved his hands down and grabbed Jordan’s ass, bringing their cocks closer. They rubbed against each other. The room was filled with their harsh breathing, moans, and rumbles of pleasure. Jordan knew he wasn’t going to last long. He’d wanted Duncan since the moment he saw him, dreamed and fantasized about being with the man. His gums itched, and he wanted to bite and claim Duncan as his, but knew he had to wait, he needed permission. But he also knew Duncan felt the same pull he did. So instead Jordan buried his face in Duncan’s neck to mask his scream of completion.

He felt his cum between them and seconds later, Duncan’s joined his. Duncan fell completely on top of him, they were wrapped around each other for a while, both trying to regain their breathing. A few minutes later, Duncan rolled off him and flopped down beside him. Duncan reached for wipes and cleaned them both up. He turned on his side facing Jordan.

Jordan moved closer to Duncan, the need to touch him and be touched was overwhelming. Duncan pulled him closer. “I want to claim you tonight, Jordan. Make you mine. And tomorrow introduce you to my pack. I won’t hide you from them and them from you.” Jordan did not say anything; he didn’t understand pack dynamic and what their mating could mean. Would Duncan’s pack members reject him?

“What if they reject me, or you for being with another man?” He looked up at Duncan.

Duncan placed a finger under his chin and kissed him gently before pulling back. “Don’t worry, they won’t, we have same-sex couples in the pack. And whoever doesn’t like it, they are free to leave. But I won’t deny my mate because he just happens to be a man. But let’s leave that for another day. Right now, I want to concentrate on us.”