Chapter 12
The sounds of the forest faded as Dakota lost himself in the pleasure of kissing his mate’s soft but firm lips—that was, until the sound of his growling stomach broke the spell. Breaking off the kiss, an embarrassed Dakota said, “Uhm, sorry, I haven’t eaten since this morning.”
“Babe, mine has been growling too; I haven’t eaten since last night. Didn’t you hear it?”
Dakota shook his head. “I guess I was a little preoccupied,” he said, shyly. Glancing around the glen, he realized how late it was. “Holy shit! I have to get home and make dinner!” Dakota said, stumbling, as he tried to get up.
“Whoa! Trust me…my mother has made dinner for everyone, well, except for us.”
“But Jackson will worry why I’m staying out so late. I never told anyone where I was going.”
Grabbing Dakota’s hand, he pulled him back down beside him. “No he won’t, because I told him where you were and he knows I was headed out to find you.”
“Did you tell him we’re mates?”
“Yes, do you have a problem with that?”
Sighing, Dakota shook his head. “Not really. It would’ve come out sooner or later anyway.”
The resignation in Dakota’s voice wasn’t reassuring but Slate decided to not worry about it right now; instead he wanted to get his mate back to the house and then, feed him. “Why don’t we head back and I’ll make you something for dinner.”
Dakota’s face brightened. “That’s right, Colton told me you like to cook. Okay, do you want to shift and run back or walk back?”
“I’d prefer to walk back with you in the moonlight, if that’s all right.”
Dakota thought it over and decided he really did want to spend more time with his mate.
He knew they needed to talk about having pups and all of that, but right now, he just wanted a moonlight stroll with Slate.
“That’s fine, I’d rather do that too,” he said, rising to his feet again, and offering his mate a hand.
Grabbing it, Slate rose, and slinging the empty backpack over his shoulder, led Dakota down the mountain on the dirt path he’d followed when he was searching for him. “I’m hoping you know the way back.”
“Yup…just follow this path until you get to a fork, then take the one to the right and it’ll lead us back to the house.”
Walking in silence for a few minutes, Slate wished they were already mated so at least he could know what his mate was thinking, but he knew it would take some time before that happened because of the promise he made to his mother.
“Was Jackson angry I left?” asked Dakota, worrying about what he would find at home.
Slate stopped, turned around so he was facing Dakota, then grasping his other hand, he looked intently at his mate. “Not at all. Please stop worrying about it. I told Jackson you were my Fated Mate and I wanted to claim you, but I told you I won’t do that until you agree, okay?”
Dakota stared at his mate’s face, loving how the moonlight highlighted Slate’s features. Nodding slowly, he felt his worry disappear as his body was flooded with his mate’s love. Smiling in response, he said, “You know when you do that, it makes it so easy for me to forget everything except you.”
Growling his approval, Slate said, “Good, now let’s go so I can show off my cooking skills.”
Giggling in response, Dakota happily followed his mate. “Tell me more about the trouble you got into as a pup.”
Snorting, Slate said, “Only if you promise never to tell anyone what a complete shit I was back then. Sometimes when I think back about all the crap I pulled, I’m amazed my parents still speak to me now after surviving my youth.
Half of it was spent going to bed early as punishment and my poor brother spent half his youth trying to talk me out of my crazy ideas.
By the way, he never did…the best he could hope for was getting me to make a few changes in the interests of protecting me from the danger that made my ideas so cool. ”
“Did he get punished too?”
“Sometimes, but usually when he came up with his own ideas,” Slate said, laughing. “My mother told my father I was a bad influence on Steel the time we took her car and drove it into town so we could go to the fair.”
“Why, cause you didn’t get permission?”
Smiling broadly, Slate said, “No, though we didn’t do that either. My parents were furious because Steel was only twelve.”
“Twelve? Holy shit! Now I know why you didn’t ask.”
“Right. We knew what the answer would’ve been even though my brother could drive very well. The funny thing, it was actually my brother’s idea to drive us and, of course, I was all for it.”
“What was the big deal about the fair?”
“We heard there’d be lions and elephants and since we’d never seen any, Steel thought it’d be the only time we’d have a chance to.
So off we went and had a fucking good time eating all the different foods and going on rides.
We never did see any animals, but the fun we had playing the games…
and winning…made up for it. You know, if it weren’t for the games, we’d have gotten away with it. ”
“I don’t get it. How could games give you away?”
“Our mother was away that day and Dad was in his office with the company’s accountant so neither knew we had gone.
Steel made sure we got back way before dinner so when it was time to eat, we strolled in, acting like we had just came from our bedrooms. That night, when mom walked in to say goodnight, she found my bed covered with stuffed animals…
tigers, teddy bears, frogs, snakes…in awful colors.
She then checked my brother’s room and found his closet chock full of them.
You see, when I said we won the games we played, I mean we won every freaking game they had…
not once, or twice…but over and over until the car was jammed full with so many stuffed animals, they filled the back seat. ”
Dakota bent over laughing, picturing Slate and Steel driving home with their treasure and sneaking it inside, never thinking it would give them away. Gasping for breath as he tried to stop, he finally stuttered, “I’m surprised you’re still alive.”
Grinning, Slate said, “Well, safe to say, we are but we were grounded for three months with extra chores…lots of extra chores.”
Leaving the forest behind, Slate led his mate up the steps to the front door, then stopped. “I think everyone is sleeping but if you want, I can go in and check first.”
Smiling at his mate’s thoughtfulness, Dakota said, “Thanks, but it doesn’t matter.
I’m going to face them at some point. C’mon,” he beckoned, pulling the door open and stepping inside.
Holding Slate’s hand, Dakota led them to the great room which was empty except for Jackson, sitting in a chair, reading.
“Hey Jackson, sorry I left without telling you.”
Standing, Jackson’s eyes examined his brother, noting how close Slate stood to Dakota in a protective stance, their hands intertwined. “Are you all right?” he asked.
Glancing at Slate, who was smiling at him, Dakota smiled back, then looked at Jackson. “Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry about lunch and dinner. We were just headed to the kitchen for something to eat.”
Waving his hand, Jackson said, “As Kieran would say, ‘no problemo’. Oracle will be cooking for the next couple of days, so go spend some time with Slate. I think it’s about time you have a break from your kitchen duties.”
Grinning, Dakota said, “Thanks, I appreciate it.” Then, he added in a low voice, “If you don’t like what she makes, I can step in again.”
Chuckling, Slate said, “Don’t worry babe, my mother makes a mean omelet and my dad can grill steaks so I think everyone will be okay for a few days.”
Jackson chimed in. “Listen to Slate, her cooking is fine…not as good as yours…but good enough. Go figure out your life.”
Nodding at his brother’s instructions, Dakota said, “Thanks, bro,” before leading his mate to the kitchen.
Slate glanced around the kitchen, impressed with the design, materials and functionality. “Did you design this?” he asked.
“Not everything. It was here when we moved in but I was able to tweak it so the flow was better. Right now, I’m adding on to the kitchen since the pack is growing.
Logan is designing the new baking area with two sets of double ovens, a separate sink, more cabinets and other stuff.
I also needed the extra space because Theo is learning to cook and Lizzie, Dylon’s mom, helps out so it can get crowded in here.
Moving the baking over there,” he pointed, “will help prevent us from bumping elbows.”
“That sounds good,” said Slate. “Let’s see what’s available.
Lots of my recipes are ones I picked up traveling to different parts of the world on business.
I can use this, and this…” Slate said, rummaging around in the fridge, pulling items out and setting them on the counter. “How about some breakfast enchiladas?”
“You know how to make those?” asked Dakota doubtfully.
“I do, and they are awesome, if I do say so myself. Got the recipe from a doctor when I was in Mexico building homes for shifters. Used to make it for your brother Colton a lot when we were in Mexico and never heard him complain.”
Gesturing for his mate to begin, Dakota replied, “Confident, aren’t you? But I’m going to reserve judgment until I taste them.”
As Slate got to work, he kept Dakota entertained by telling him stories about his cooking successes and failures.
After the enchiladas were in the oven, he leaned back against the counter, smiling at the vast improvement in his mate who was now giggling and teasing him about everything from his chopping techniques to the mess he’d made on the counter.
Finally, the timer dinged and Slate opened the oven.
With a “ta da” and a flourish, he removed his breakfast enchiladas, placing several on each plate and, after garnishing them, said, “Bon appétit!” Then he waited.
Examining the enchiladas with his chef’s eye, Dakota was impressed at how good they looked and smelled, making his mouth water along with eliciting more growling from his stomach.
Cutting into it, and taking his first bite, he groaned; Slate had made them to perfection.
Glancing at his mate, he found him looking smugly back, waiting for the praise he thought he deserved.
Inwardly giggling at the image of his frowning mate impatiently drumming his fingers on the counter, Dakota deliberately took his time eating the first one.
Just when he thought Slate would explode in frustration, he put down his fork and said, “Love it! It’s one of the best breakfast enchiladas I’ve ever tasted. ”
Slate’s smile was so broad, he was sure his face was splitting in half.
He sat down next to Dakota, and began eating his food while sending a silent thanks to Dr. Luna for being such a good teacher.
When they’d finished, Slate rose to clear the table, refusing help from his mate.
He almost missed what his mate asked while he was putting the plates in the dishwasher but when the question finally found its way to his brain, he stopped and looked at his mate, knowing it was very important.
“Go ahead, babe. You have my full attention.”
“Do you want pups?”
Slate pondered the simple question, and then said, “I know the Fates answered my mother’s prayer and gave me a mate who could have pups and, while I appreciate them answering my mother’s prayer, it wasn’t mine.
It’s nice to have the option but, and this is a big ‘but’, the decision to have pups must be made by both of us because it’s our lives.
” Holding up his hand to forestall Dakota from responding, Slate continued, “This decision will affect you more than me because you will be the one to become pregnant, suffer the morning sickness and the tiredness.
A Dire Wolf pregnancy takes an enormous toll on your body as you saw with Jackson, and there are other built-in risks.
“Would I love to have a pup with you? Surprisingly…at least to me…I would, and I swear to be there for you and our pup always. Am I nervous about the risks? Absolutely! Just the thought of something happening to you upsets my wolf and me. Given that all of what I just said has to be considered, I think before we go further we need to begin the conversation somewhere else. You never asked for the ability to have pups so I think this is where we should start.”
Dakota was astounded how quickly his mate had zeroed in to the crux of the matter and knew Slate was right.
He’d never expected to be a parent, much less get pregnant, because he was gay so it’d been a non-issue in his dreams for his future, but now that had changed and he wasn’t sure what he thought about it.
“I don’t know what I think…while I was growing up, the possibility of me becoming pregnant wasn’t something I ever imagined.
And now, poof, I can. Do you see how fucking weird that is? What was impossible is now possible.”
“I do understand,” Slate said, covering a yawn. “Babe, if you don’t mind, can this conversation wait until tomorrow? I’m exhausted and really need some sleep. Is that okay with you?”
Dakota nodded. He, too, was feeling the emotional effects of the long day. “I agree. I could use a good night’s sleep.” He rose from his chair, wondering if Slate wanted to sleep alone since they wouldn’t be fucking—yet.
Slate’s wolf was pacing, clearly upset they weren’t claiming their mate, causing uneasiness in Slate’s gut. He blurted out, “Babe, I really want you to sleep with me tonight. I swear, not to claim you but I just need to feel you close to me.”
Joy filled Dakota’s soul as he spun around and leapt into Slate’s arms. Inhaling orange blossom, allspice, and whiskey, he buried his nose in his mate’s neck, relishing the scents representing home for him.
Slate chuckled. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’.”