Chapter 25
Dylon watched Cody finish his breakfast while he drank his coffee. He was planning to spend the day in the forest but first wanted to make sure Cody understood what would happen to Dylon when he was bitten. Once it happened, his fate would be in Cody’s hands.
Cody knew what was bothering his mate and frankly, he thought, if the shoe were on the other foot, he’d be worried, too.
However, there wasn’t any cause to worry.
For the first time in a very long time, he knew he’d be all right.
His mate had restored him and Cody was looking forward to living his life instead of planning how he could escape it.
“Cody, all rules are suspended for now. First let me say, I’m over the moon you want to finish our claiming by biting me. But I want…”
“I know what happens to you when I bite you, Dylon. I understand I will hold your life in my hands and any decision I make will also bind you to it.”
“Good to know because if you ever enter your vision realm and decide not to return…”
“Then I will have signed your death warrant, yes, I’m very aware of that.
It’s why I haven’t wanted to bite you until today.
Dylon, when you first saw me, I was hanging on by the merest of threads.
You came in, took control, gave me a place where my mind could heal.
Then you filled me with your love and by doing so, chased all the darkness away.
I promise I’ll always protect you and guard your life. ”
“Thank you, ma moitié, as I will also. Now, how about a day in the forest?”
“Absolutely, but one other question.”
“What, my pet?”
“I know what my gift from the Fates will be and it won’t involve having children. Are you all right with that?”
“Ma moitié, I never expected to have a mate who could have pups so there’s no disappointment there. But if you want them, there are other ways we can have them.”
“Like adoption?”
“Like adoption, yes.”
“Do you want pups?”
“Yes, if it is meant to be. But not having any will not diminish my love for you. You and me…this is our family. And it is the best family in the world. Not everyone is as fortunate to have found the other half of their heart and soul. But we did. By some twisted, perverse route, we were thrown together at the exact moment we needed each other most. You and I are one with each other, closer, and tied more firmly together than anyone else I know. And whatever our future holds, I will be happy because I have you to love.”
Cody smiled through his tears. “Thank you, love. I have been so blessed by the Fates when they picked you for me. You complete me in every way possible and have given me a future. Once our bonding is complete, the love and happiness I feel right now will be with me…with us…for the rest of our lives.”
“Come here my pet,” Dylon said, patting his legs.
Cody rose, and then sat on his mate’s lap. Wrapping his arm around Dylon’s neck, he began kissing and licking the strong jaw of his mate, occasionally nipping at it.
“My pet, how do you feel about continuing my rules in our bedroom after you bite me?”
Cody stopped, looking at Dylon with concern on his face. “What do you mean?”
“Shush, don’t worry, my pet. Just that I intend to keep my rules in place afterward and I wanted to know if you agree.”
Cody sighed, relieved to know Dylon understood his needs so well.
“Yes sir, I do. I know I have a lifetime of visions ahead of me and they will cause me pain but when I am in our bedroom, everything disappears except you and your love. I need to know I’ll always have a place where I can retreat to find my inner peace.
You do that for me with your rules. I knew I had submissive traits…
I mean I always was a bottom and I liked to be ordered about during sex,” Cody said, then stopped as he heard Dylon growl.
Smiling at his mate’s possessiveness, Cody continued, “But I never knew I was a submissive in the bedroom.”
“I can’t put into words how much I admire you, my pet. Your mental strength is unbelievable and it helps to explain why you are submissive.”
“Really? How?”
“I’ve seen your visions and they almost brought me to my knees.
But you my pet, after you have the visions, you return to this world knowing your mind will suffer the pain that appeared in them.
Not once, not twice, but endlessly. How many men do you know who’d willingly go to a place knowing they will face relentless pain?
Yet, you kept returning. Why? Because you care more about your brothers then you do about yourself.
It would have been so easy to remain in your vision world, cocooned in an endless, painless environment.
“But you never did. Even when the pain in your mind was unbearable, you fought it and struggled to stay in this world. Mental strength…you have it in spades. The Shaman taught me only the strongest can be submissive because they are actually in control, my pet. The rules and punishments are for your benefit so you will be able to do what needs to be done outside our private world. And I will be at your side, always.”
Cody threw his arms around Dylon and rested his head on his mate’s chest. Inhaling his mate’s enchanting scent transported him to a place of love and security, quieted his soul, and healed his heart of all its painful cuts caused by his foresight.
Dylon returned the hug, holding his mate tight as he inhaled Dylon’s scent.
He knew he had finally found what he’d been looking for his entire life—not his father’s power, position or connections—no, someone who needed just him and his special skills.
Someone he could protect and someone who would truly be his partner—tied together forever, never alone again.
Together they sat, lost in their own world as their love swirled around them.
~/~/~/~/~
Slate looked at Arald and the men surrounding him. Behind them he could see his enforcers trying to keep more shifters out. “Good morning, Alpha Arald. Glad you could make it. Why don’t you go in and find your seat, while my men clear the hall?”
“These men are with me,” Arald said.
“Yes, I can see that. However, you have nothing to fear here. My enforcers will keep this building safe from any attacks so all the Alphas will be safe. Trust me, I have taken every precaution. Alpha Ulfric is inside by himself, without any enforcers.”
Arald’s laughter barked out. “Of course, he is. But I’m an important man…not like him,” he said derisively. “My position demands I be guarded at all times.”
“I understand. And you will be guarded…but by my men.” Slate gave his head enforcer a nod after which he said to Arald, as he held the door open, “Please Alpha, I assure you, your men will be looked after by mine.”
Ulfric watched in disbelief as Arald gave in and entered the meeting room alone.
What? How? Arald obeying? Not wanting Arald to see him watching, Ulfric lowered his head and stared at the table top.
He had to think about this. Never in his life had he ever seen Arald listen to anyone.
He was always the one ordering around pack members.
What did Slate do? Could he do it again to Arald?
Hope was now taking root in his heart and for the first time since he’d come up with his risky plan, he believed it might work.
Arald stomped to the table and plopped into a chair. Giving Ulfric a warning glare, he said, “What are you doing here so early?”
Slate spoke before Ulfric could respond. “I scheduled Alpha Ulfric at an earlier time as I hadn’t met him yet. Alpha Ordovic will be here shortly.”
“What’s this? Secret negotiations already?” Arald growled.
“Not at all,” Slate said, “just wanted to introduce myself and ask Alpha Ulfric a few questions.”
“What questions?”
“The same ones I asked you last night…all the questions pertaining to the conference and what we’re trying to accomplish here.”
Once again to Ulfric’s great astonishment, Arald accepted Slate’s answer.
What the fuck is going on? Then he gasped.
Of course, they are in cahoots. This is all show-and-tell for me and Ordovic.
His eyes narrowed as he studied the only man in the room unknown to him.
Ulfric didn’t want to believe it but there could be no other explanation.
But the seed of doubt kept tickling his brain, telling him he’d come to the wrong conclusion.
Deciding to trust his wolf, he looked to see what his reaction was to what he had witnessed.
Uh, what’s this? Expecting to find his wolf in a defensive position, Ulfric was shocked to see him relaxed and grooming himself without a care in the world.
What the fuck? He looked again at Slate and found him watching him closely.
Schooling his face so none of his inner turmoil showed, Ulfric stared back in return, waiting to see what Slate would do.
Without realizing it, he was testing this man, wanting to see his reaction to a challenge such as Ulfric was giving.
Instead of the expected reaction, he received a warm, broad smile from Slate in return. Hope grew again.
“When are we going to start?” Arald asked.
“Alpha Ordovic should be here any minute. In fact, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll just check to make sure there aren’t any problems with my men letting him through.”
Arald waited until Slate had left the room before turning on Ulfric. “What the fuck are you doing? Have you forgotten what I told you? Do my men have to make a visit to your wife to make sure you obey me?”
Shaking at the thought of his wife in danger, Ulfric bowed his head in deference and said, “I haven’t forgotten. When I arrived this morning, I had no idea I was first. I even waited a little while to give you time to arrive.”
“What did you say to him?”
“He asked me my goals for the conference and I said exactly what you told me to say. Honestly, Arald, we only talked for a few minutes before you showed up, and it was all about the conference.”
“Remember how you are supposed to treat me.”
“I remember…always defer to you, always agree with your ideas and never challenge you. Got it.”
“You better or else. Here they come now. Put a fucking smile on your pathetic face, asshole.”
The door opened and Slate ushered Ordovic into the room, indicating where he should sit.
Glancing at Arald and Ulfric, Slate could sense tension between them, but seeing a smile on their faces, he said, “Gentlemen, with everyone here, this peace conference has officially started. Before we go any further, let me introduce myself. I’m Slate Valentin, COO of Dire Enterprises.
At Alpha Arald’s request, I organized this conference in an effort to stop the violence that has besieged your packs for far too long.
“I’m sure everyone knows of my company’s role in building the new hospital and clinic.
And we have other plans to provide jobs and better health care for every member of each of your packs.
But in order to make that happen, stability and safety must be restored so families can once again enjoy the outside without fear of attacks.
Now, why don’t you state your name, the particular issue or issues you would like resolved and any ideas you have for accomplishing them. ”
~/~/~/~/~
Clear blue sky greeted Cody and Dylon as they shifted just inside the edge of the forest. Taking the lead, Cody ran deep into the forest, now wanting to show his mate all the places he loved.
Once again, he relished letting his wolf run free.
Stopping to shift only for lunch, they resumed their trek once more as wolves, Cody leading the way up to the waterfalls again, where they finally lay down, curled around each other, and slept.
The sun was setting when they woke up, but Cody was in no hurry to head back to the house.
Instead, he decided to have some fun with his mate.
Leading Dylon over to the cold mountain water pooled at the base of the waterfalls, Cody indicated to Dylon that he should drink.
As his mate lowered his snout and began to drink, Cody moved behind him and gave Dylon a shove.
Losing his balance, his mate fell head first into the water.
Cody’s wolf chuffed in enjoyment until he realized Dylon was climbing out and heading for him. Backing away, Cody did the only thing he could think of—lowered himself and flipped over, exposing his belly.
Dylon stood over his mate, dripping wet. He knew Cody thought he was angry, but he wasn’t. He was actually happy to see his mate so playful but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to get back at him. Standing over Cody, he gave a playful growl before shaking vigorously, spraying his mate with water.
Cody’s wolf whined as the cold water hit him. Almost instantly, he felt Dylon’s tongue licking his face before moving on to the rest of his body. By the time his mate had finished his erotic overtures, Cody’s cock was hard and leaking.
Wanting to be taken by Dylon’s wolf, Cody flipped his body and crawled out from beneath his mate.
Turning around, he wagged his haunches, trying to entice his mate, before lowering himself to his belly once more, lifting his tail out of the way.
Chuffing his need, Cody wiggled his body, begging for Dylon’s hard cock.
Unable to resist, Dylon mounted his mate and Cody let out a bark of pleasure as his cock slid in.
Fucking his mate, he felt his orgasm build.
Cody was whining and growling and Dylon knew his mate wanted more.
Burying his snout in Cody’s thick ruff until he reached skin, he felt his cock release its seed as his jaws opened and bit down through fur and skin to find his mate’s blood.
Dylon could feel Cody’s cock spasm before he released his neck.
Then, lifting his head to the sky, he let out a long, loud, claiming howl that echoed off the surrounding mountains.