Chapter 5
Steel’s wolf was snarling and snapping as he drove away from Jimmy’s after leaving Jackson behind.
He just couldn’t understand his wolf. What am I missing here?
Jackson is not my mate. My mate has to be a wolf—he knew it because he’d been told not only by his mother who was an Oracle but by no less than three other Oracles.
His mate would help save his species of wolves.
The importance of this was impressed upon him throughout his life. He stepped on the gas, eager to get home to do some research. He needed answers because he had a feeling of foreboding about what was going to happen to Jackson and that was driving his wolf crazy.
Looking around, he wondered if Jackson would like this spot as much as he did. And that did it—his cock hardened in a second and his blood started to heat up. What the fuck? He drove the image of Jackson’s firm body from his mind and thumped his cock several times to get it to go down.
Hmmm, what to do first? Decision made, he stripped out of his clothes and stood still for a second before he called on his wolf and shifted.
Birds scattered as the noise of bones cracking and stretching filled the air.
When the sound faded away, Steel stood in his wolf form, shaking out his fur and scenting the air.
Deer to the east, a small black bear and her cub ambling along the trail to the south and, yes there it was, a path that was free of any animal—Steel knew it wouldn’t be a good day to engage in a sparring match. His wolf was too unsettled for that.
He struck out at a full run for the trail leading north to one of the tallest mountains on his land.
His large paws made no sound on the thickly carpeted forest floor.
Steel had gotten so many mixed signals from his wolf today he needed this time to figure out what was happening.
He knew his wolf needed it also. While he was running, Steel examined his wolf’s feelings regarding Jackson because it was much easier to understand his wolf when they were one, especially now, since he hadn’t understood his wolf’s reaction to a man who had no scent.
Taking in the smells and sounds of his forest, his mind searched and filtered through his wolf’s feelings.
Steel found possessiveness, yeah, he already knew his wolf wanted to claim Jackson.
The next feeling was protectiveness; he saw this when his wolf wanted to find and kill the men who attacked Jackson.
Searching to see what else his wolf felt—oh my gods—what the fuck, love?
His wolf loved Jackson because he knew Jackson was his mate.
He nearly stumbled when that fact hit him.
No! No! No! Jackson was human and couldn’t be my mate—or could he?
His wolf had never been wrong before. He turned around and raced back home.
He had to do the research immediately because if Jackson was indeed meant for him by the Fates, then Steel needed to claim him fast.
Approaching his house, he fought his wolf to force a shift because his wolf was hell bent on finding his mate.
Entering his home and ignoring his nakedness, Steel headed straight for his library.
He impatiently yanked the door open and his wolf vision saw specks of dust dancing on the air currents of the huge, two-story, open room, lined with bookcases on both floors.
His large desk sat in the middle of the room under a ceiling painted with stars and moons.
He crossed over to his computer and entered the search terms he was looking for.
Waiting, he drummed his fingers on the desk, as Jackson’s beautiful face flooded his mind.
The quickness with which his cock hardened and the swiftness of the heating of his blood left him breathless.
Shit, my reactions are happening quicker and growing in strength.
His cock was now harder than he ever experienced in his long life and he stroked it vigorously, trying to relieve some of the pain.
The computer finished its search, displaying a list of documents and books to review.
Quickly glancing at the screen, Steel printed it out and started his research.
As the hours dragged on, he was no closer to finding the answers than he’d been in the beginning.
So far, he’d found no evidence to support his wolf’s claim the human was his mate.
Still, it could be true, since he still had over three-quarters of the list to review.
Sitting among a pile of books, he rubbed his eyes to remove some of their tiredness.
He’d been up more than 24 hours and needed sleep before starting fresh again in the morning.
Before he did, though, he sent the picture of the tattoo on Jackson’s chest to his mother asking her if she’d ever seen it before.
He just had a gut feeling it was important and, hopefully, she would know what it meant.
That knowledge would help narrow his search among the remaining documents and books.
Steel entered his bedroom, wanting to collapse on the bed but forced himself to the bathroom where he turned on the water, climbing into the shower.
As the hot water streamed over his tired and dirty body, his mind again returned to Jackson.
Crap, I never got his last name. Well, at least I have an idea of where he lives.
I wonder if anyone at the gas station… And then before he completed the thought, his cock was up and proud, waving around as if it were trying to find Jackson’s ass.
Moaning, touching his hardness, he knew it needed his attention immediately.
As he wrapped his hand around it, he pictured Jackson on his knees, his full cock-sucking red lips wrapped around his cock as he thrust it down Jackson’s throat.
The picture immediately caused an orgasm and his roar resonated as he came, painting the glass walls with long endless ropes of his cream.
Falling to his knees while the water cascaded over him, he tried to catch his breath and was so weak he couldn’t stand.
Something was very wrong with him—this had never happened—and it was only getting worse.
If he didn’t solve this soon, he was going to start having spontaneous orgasms. His breathing settled down and he slowly got to his feet, turned off the water, and grabbed a towel.
His hair was still damp when he stumbled into the bedroom, fell onto his bed and was asleep before he could draw the covers up.
~/~/~/~/~
Across the globe, Steel’s mother, Oracle—whose name revealed what she was—looked at the picture Steel sent her. She walked toward her husband’s mahogany-paneled study, calling out to him as she entered. “Maximus, the time has come.”
“What time, Oracle?” Maximus asked absentmindedly, as he continued typing on the keyboard of his computer which sat atop his antique cherry desk. But when the happiness in his wife’s voice finally filtered into his brain, he stopped, looked up at her and waited.
Oracle sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around Maximus’ neck, kissing and licking him along his jaw. After giving him a long and sensuous kiss, she said, “Steel has found his mate, but he doesn’t know it. We have to go and make sure he does not screw this up.”
“What makes you think he’d screw it up?” Maximus asked.
“One, because he is thinking with his mind instead of his body, and two, his mate has a protection spell on him so even though Steel’s body and wolf know the man is his mate, Steel can’t smell him and therefore won’t pursue him,” Oracle explained.
“How do you know about the protection spell?”
“The Fates told me about it and last night Steel sent me a picture of a tattoo and asked me if I had ever seen it. The tattoo is a witch’s symbol for a protection spell and this one is an anti-scent spell.
” She went on, “I will get our clothes organized and packed and please call to make sure our plane will be ready to go.”
“Are you comfortable leaving our boy alone?” Maximus teased.
“For goodness sake, Maximus, Slate is an adult. I am sure he will be just fine.” Oracle laughed at her husband’s foolishness. She gave him one last kiss before she stood up to leave as he picked up the phone to call their pilot.
~/~/~/~/~
Steel opened one eye, then shut it and groaned as he turned over.
He could tell it was near or after noon.
He’d been too tired to close the blinds last night and the sun shining through his window was high in the sky.
He loved this house. He’d told the architect to bring the sky inside as much as possible so he could always feel he was part of it.
From his second story bedroom, he was able to see the sky in all its shades of glory—from dark nighttime blue, adorned with star diamonds, to stormy rainstorm gray, to the deep blue shades of a cloudless day.
Maybe he should learn to fly a plane. Yes, that would be something I haven’t done yet.
A smile creased his face, as he imagined what it would feel like, to be in a small, single-engine plane, high above the earth, feeling at one with the birds in the sky.
He jumped out of bed, eager to make breakfast and silence his grumbling stomach.
Jeez, he was feeling good as he picked out his old, favorite, worn jeans and a green t-shirt.
He walked barefoot down the steps, reaching the bottom just as his doorbell rang.
Pausing, puzzled at the sound, he inhaled, trying to determine if he knew who might be at his front door.
It had to be someone who was close to him because they knew his security gate password. Suddenly he gasped. Hot Damn! It was his parents! What? Why? How? flitted through his mind, as he hurried to the front door.
“Mom, Dad,” Steel yelled, yanking open the door. “When did you get here? Why are you here? Oh, my gods, is everyone all right?” He couldn’t believe his eyes as his parents reached out to hug and kiss him. “Come in. Let me take your bags.”
“Everyone is fine, sweetie,” Oracle said, as she came through the door and set her purse down on the wood console table in the foyer. “How are you?”
Steel stopped and looked at his mother. Something was up.
He just knew it by her tone. Hmmm, what’s going on?
“Actually, Mom, I feel great today. Why?” he asked, trying not to say anything until he could figure out what was happening.
He glanced at his father hoping to get a clue about why they were here, but nope, his father’s schooled face showed nothing.
Great! Steel felt like a sitting duck, knowing something was going to happen to change his world but not a clue as to what it might be.
Well, two can play this game. “Have you eaten yet? I was just about to grab a bite.”
Oracle smiled. “That would be great. Why don’t you let me make your favorite breakfast?”
Steel should’ve been surprised when his mother mentioned breakfast instead of lunch but she’d always been able to know things even if no words had been spoken.
“That would be a real treat, Mom. I haven’t had the pleasure of your cooking for far too long.
” Steel led the way to his state-of-the-art kitchen as his mother and father followed slowly, taking time to look around his home.
“This is a lovely home, son. The pictures you sent us don’t do justice to the location and beauty of the area. How many acres do you own?” Maximus asked.
“200,000, Dad. It gives my wolf plenty of room to roam without running into anyone,” Steel answered, as they reached the kitchen.
He sat down at the island next to his dad, watching his mother make his favorite breakfast of scrambled eggs and steak.
And just like that, the image of Jackson sitting next to him eating breakfast resulted in a hard cock.
Crap! Hoping to keep his parents from noticing his condition—shit, how bad would that be—he shifted in his seat, trying to erase the picture in his mind.
Casting around for a distraction, his glance fell on his mother.
Wait a minute. Steel frowned. This visit is just too coincidental; it has to have something to do with the picture I sent her last night.
Does she know what that tattoo means? Does it have something to do with Jackson being my mate?
But that would be contrary to what she’s told me about my mate being a special wolf.
But if Jackson is my mate, then Mom would have been wrong and that would’ve been a first. Steel’s eyes narrowed as he studied his mother hoping he’d be able to discover the purpose of her trip.
Unable to discern anything from her behavior, he turned and saw his father staring at him with an expression of hope before quickly reverting to a bland face.
Steel was unnerved by his father’s look.
What puzzled him more, his wolf was calm and curled up without any of the aggression he had shown yesterday.
Enough! All of this was making him wary and he wanted, no, he needed to know what was going on.
Just when he was about to demand some answers, his mother served breakfast. His stomach grumbled loudly at the smell of the steak and eggs, startling his parents.
Mumbling an apology, he told them he hadn’t eaten in a while.
Even though he was more than curious about why his parents were visiting, he certainly didn’t want to get into the story of why he hadn’t eaten since meeting Jackson.
Savoring his steak, he noticed his parents exchanging glances before they began to eat.
He ignored it for the time being, focusing instead on enjoying the delicious breakfast his mother made for him.