Mate Bond

The males circled in the opposite direction outside them, always interested in fertility. The men might stay calm until the moon ceremony, but after that, no female Shifter would go without a male tonight, unless she was very fast and good with her claws. Looking at the eager faces of her female cousins and Bianca’s girlfriends, Kenzie knew they wouldn’t try to run very fast.

Bowman didn’t join the dance, though Jamie did, celebrating his cousin’s joy with him. Bowman stood with Cade outside the circles, Cade grinning, loving the ceremony. Bowman didn’t smile, but Kenzie could tell he was glad of this mating.

Matings meant more cubs, stronger Shifters. The cubs born of the mating frenzies tonight would never wear Collars, if Kenzie and Bowman could help it. That thought made the occasion even brighter.

Bowman caught Kenzie’s gaze and held it as she danced. His eyes were smoke gray, the sunlight bringing out the sparkle in them.

He was virile, strong, his sweatshirt and jeans showing off his honed body. More than one woman looked his way in longing. He might be mated, but Bowman hadn’t formed the mate bond, and there was always a chance he’d find it with one of them. A cub born of a Shifter leader was powerful indeed.

No, Kenzie decided after watching the women watch Bowman awhile. It wasn’t just the prospect of a strong cub that made all the unmated females look at him. Bowman was in-your-face, body-clenching hot. Simply touching him made Kenzie ripple with fire, and the fact that she could touch him whenever she wanted made her tighten in satisfaction.

Kenzie shot him a smile, one that said she didn’t care how many women followed him with their eyes. Bowman was hers.

Bowman frowned back at her, his look becoming fierce. He had no idea what wild fantasies were flitting through her head, and that made her smile widen.

More scowling from Bowman. The expression made his face hard, his mouth tight. Kenzie would soften it with kisses later.

Bowman held her gaze until the dance took her around the circle and too many Shifters got between her and him, and he was lost to sight.

The sun sank, the winter night closing fast. The clouds parted and the moon rose. Another cheer went up, this one holding a wilder note. Voices turned to howls as clothes were shed and Shifters assumed animal forms.

Those who stayed human began a chant to the Goddess. Circles formed. The moon shone down, brushing the woods with silver, rendering it an enchanted place.

The cries, howls, and ululations were shrill with bacchanalian excitement. Bianca and Marcus stood in the middle of the circle again, Bianca’s garland slightly squashed, Marcus’s wildcat eyes glowing soft gold.

Bowman raised his hands for silence, and mostly got it. The chanters continued, the circles moving slowly as the dancers shuffled their feet in the halting rhythm.

“Under the light of the Mother Goddess,” Bowman said, his words booming over the crowd. “As your Shifter leader . . .” He broke off, his eyes sparkling with mirth. “Are you sure you two want to do this?”

Around him Shifters shouted and screamed, crying out in rising frenzy.

Kenzie draped her arm around Bowman’s shoulder. “Get on with it, sweetie. Marcus is about to explode.”

Marcus winked at Kenzie. Bianca giggled, looking as though she wanted to jump Marcus’s bones any second.

“All right then.” Bowman drew a long breath. He raised his arms again, playing it up, then he threw his head back and howled.

The sound, even from his human throat, cut through the night. The wolves of his pack, attuned to their leader, took up the howl. Those in wolf form let it rise in crazed joy, celebrating the Goddess, and her symbol, the moon.

Kenzie felt her wolf respond. Her fingers slid into claws, and her throat wanted to take up the howl. Only great effort kept her from shifting all the way.

Bowman’s howl wound to a close. He brought his arms down slowly, but the Lupines’ cries went on. Joining it were the yowls and roars of the Felines and the rumbling growls of the bears.

Bowman spoke in a loud voice. “Under the light of the Mother Goddess, as the leader of the O’Donnell pack . . . and Marcus’s boss . . .”

“He acknowledges this mating,” Ryan yelled from his father’s feet. “Like Mom said, get on with it, Dad.”

Laughter burst out, softening the crazed screaming and howling. Bowman’s face split with a grin, and he said loudly, “What he said. I acknowledge this mating!”

Kenzie was laughing at her son and mate so hard that she could barely get out her words. “The blessings of the Goddess be upon you!”

Another long whoop went up, followed by more screaming, roaring, howling, shouting. Kenzie had once gone to a concert with Bianca and her cousins, in a crowd that had filled an arena. The noise had been crazy, but it was nothing compared to what the entire Shiftertown could do when they were rejoicing. Shifters knew how to party.

Bianca and Marcus were lifted away on shoulders, carried through the chanting crowd. Kenzie found herself lifted as well, passed over heads from hand to hand while she laughed.

Ryan was being bounced around too, and loving it. Bowman, everyone left alone.

The cubs ran around like crazed streaks, paying no attention to the adults. Clothes began to come off, Kenzie’s female cousins throwing off their shirts as they were lifted by the crowd, moonlight touching bare breasts.

In her younger years, Kenzie had joined them, but as leader’s mate, she kept her clothes firmly on. No use tempting males to come after her, which would make Bowman have to discipline them. She had enough sense, even on a night like this, to keep from that kind of mess.