Chapter 7 Ezra
EZRA
“You want to see my wolf?”
I had to make sure this was what he wanted.
Observing a shift and witnessing a wild beast manifest wasn’t for a faint-hearted human.
Not that Reign was likely to collapse, because he had a quiet strength that had enabled him to get out of his father’s clutches.
I just helped him during the final step.
My mate nodded. “I need to see the… your… animal to make sure they’re real.”
That was fair enough. That would have been my first demand if I’d been him. And I’d dumped a load of crap in his lap about wanting to marry him.
But shifters mate, not marry.
Slowly, slowly. Poor guy was already burdened with the knowledge that shifters existed.
Most humans would have freaked out, and Reign might still do that.
But he had fewer options than some guy on the street because he’d run away from an arranged marriage.
There was always an aggrieved party or parties in similar situations, and Viktor and his heir would be searching for him.
And who knew how his father had reacted.
Three people for whom Reign’s interests were not a priority.
The one person who was howling with excitement and not considering the implications of me whisking Reign away was my wolf.
Hurry up. I want to meet our mate.
We had to do this outside, as I didn’t want to break any of Boaz and Keane’s furniture. And I’d have to get naked. My beast didn’t see the problem with me putting my bits on display. But this wasn’t the time for an in-depth discussion about how humans regarded nudity.
I opened the door, explaining that I needed space to do the big reveal. Reign hesitated as the cool evening air washed over us.
“Is he that big?” He wrapped his arms around himself and shivered.
“Beasts are not accustomed to furniture and fittings. My brother would rage if I broke anything.”
We were fortunate the cabin was isolated and surrounded by woods, and now as the sun slid behind the horizon, the sky was a blended mix of orange and pink.
“After you.” Reign eyed me as if he suspected I was playing a trick, and he raced through the door and waited on the porch.
“I’ll watch from here.”
I unbuttoned my shirt and slid my pants to my ankles. Reign’s mouth drooped. “What are you doing? I’m here to see your wolf, not…” He flapped his hand in the direction of my crotch. “Not to see all of you.” The color in his cheeks matched the pink in the sky.
“Shifting will destroy what I’m wearing, so if I don’t undress, I’ll be naked 24/7.”
There was nothing wrong with me strolling around the cabin with my cock on display, but Reign had enough to deal with without calculating how many inches I was.
“I g-guess that m-makes sense.” He lowered his eyes to the bulge in my briefs. His face was now bright red, and it was glowing like a beacon in the dark.
He averted his gaze and studied the tree line, but I didn’t miss him taking tiny glances as I lowered my briefs.
There was a sharp intake of breath as my length bounded out, and while I should have been concentrating on making Reign feel at ease, I was a teensy bit proud that he was impressed with my cock.
Though perhaps he was shocked at how small it was.
That couldn’t be, because me and my brothers used to have measuring contests when we were kids.
Stop! My wolf couldn’t abide me having a crisis, as he was about to meet our mate. Pull yourself together.
My beast took his fur. I’d never get used to the thrill I experienced as my body transformed and my other half took over our identity.
He looked at Reign on the deck, holding onto a pillar for support.
He wasn’t crying and he hadn’t hotfooted to the car or bolted into the cabin and locked the door.
He was staring at my wolf and didn’t say or do anything for a few minutes.
I warned my beast to let our mate set the pace and not to appear threatening.
How do I do that?
Stay where you are.
If this first meeting went badly, we might never mate.
My mate released his grip on the pillar and stood at the top of the stairs. He glanced over his shoulder at the cabin light shining on his shoulders.
“You… he… you’re beautiful.” He put a foot on the first step and paused before plonking himself on the ground. “May I come close?”
My beast bowed his head, and I reminded him not to make any sudden movements.
“You spoke the truth. You really are a wolf.” He edged closer, taking small steps and hesitating after each one. But when he was two feet away, he extended a hand. His fingers trembled as the tips brushed over my beast’s fur.
Despite being tucked deep inside my wolf, my mate’s comforting touch released some of the tension both me and my beast had been holding on to.
“Your fur is so soft, I’d like to cuddle up with you in front of a fire on a cold winter’s night.”
That was so specific, but my wolf wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.
He likes me, right?
I assured him Reign’s initial reaction was positive.
“I’d recognize you by your eyes. They’re a similar color in human and animal form.”
Reign was observant, an excellent quality for a shifter’s mate, and my wolf was enjoying the praise, but he continued to pester me about mating.
My mate sank onto the grass, and my beast sat on his haunches beside him.
We all watched the last of the sunlight disappear with the only source of light coming from the cabin.
“This morning I feared for my life and hid in a storeroom until I met a man who rescued me, said he wanted to marry me, and he transformed into a wolf.” He pinched his arm, leaving an ugly red mark. “Is this real?”
My wolf nuzzled him, and Reign rested his brow on my beast’s head.
“Maybe it’s because I’m exhausted and don’t have the energy, but I keep thinking I should be running off into the woods and take my chances with the wild beasts who lurk there.”
I’d protect him.
Me too, with my last breath.
Minutes and hours passed, and the sky was dotted with stars when Reign shivered and goosebumps trailed over his arms. I urged my wolf to pull away so I could take my skin and get our mate inside.
He complained that I’d spent more time with Reign than he had until I pointed out our mate didn’t have a beast, so of course I’d get more one-on-one time.
As I took my skin, I realized my mistake.
I should have moved further away because now my length would be dangling in Reign’s face.
And when I shed the last of the fur, my mate’s gaze was fixed on my dick, but rather than blushing, he licked his lips.
Damn, but it was still too soon to take him to bed.
After pulling on my pants, I offered him my hand, and he took it, his palm so warm and inviting, I had to remind myself our relationship was only hours old. I pulled him up, and we went into the cabin, shutting the night behind us as I closed the door.
Neither of us was hungry, though there was plenty of rice and pasta and tins of beans, tuna, and soup in the cupboards.
“I need to figure out what we’re going to do.” I jerked my head toward the bedroom. “And you need to rest.”
Reign folded his arms. “This concerns me, and I get a say in my future from now on.”
I loved how feisty he was, and he was right. I was taking over and not asking his opinion. But he couldn’t hide a yawn that snuck up on him.
“I agree, and I won’t do anything without your agreement, but your body’s telling you to rest.”
Perhaps he didn’t want to be stuck in the bedroom, so I retrieved a blanket and pillow and placed them on the sofa.
“We can consult while you rest.”
“Fine.” He stomped to the couch as if he was doing me a favor, but when he placed his head on the pillow, he fought to keep his eyes open. It would have been amusing watching him yank his lids wider if his predicament hadn’t been so serious.
“You won’t leave, will you?”
“Never.”
My phone dinged, and Reign sat up.
“Don’t worry. It’s my brother.”
He slumped back onto the pillow and must have given up the fight with his eyelids.
Status?
At the cabin. Reign knows about shifters. He's sleeping.
We're working on how to approach Viktor. Stay put.
I wasn’t going anywhere.