Chapter 34
The night passes, dawn breaking over the horizon ushering in a new day. The boys were greeted with relief and concern by the rest of the group. Hakeem would get an earful from his aunt and uncle when he awoke the next day, for now they were relieved he came back to them.
That morning Eddie and Hakeem awoke side by side in Eddie’s bed, covered in bandages, heads throbbing.
The worst hangover fills their bodies, aches and nausea like never before experienced.
The exhaustion from the night before digging its claws deep into their bones.
Jackson strolls in carrying breakfasts of sports drinks, carbs and protein to help nurse his loves’ aches.
“If the nausea doesn’t kill me the throbbing in my head might,” groans Hakeem as Jackson helps him sit up.
Jackson chuckles to himself, “You just went a little hard on the mana. You’ll be fine.”
“I retain the right to be a grump this morning,” argues Hakeem whilst a pout forms on his lips.
Jackson kisses his forehead and rubs a thumb across his cheek, “Fair enough. Eddie, are you up yet?”
Eddie groans, an arm draped across his eyes, “Hard liquor has nothing on mana exhaustion. I am both starving and nauseous, tired and wide awake. My muscles hurt more than the day after a full body workout.” Eddie’s own bare chest is more wrapped up than Hakeem’s.
Dr. Gob Lin had come by late last night to give them a once over, astonished cuts and bruises was the worst either of them had suffered.
Even the healing mana burn on Hakeem’s palm showed no sign of infection.
Jackson makes his way over to Eddie’s side to help him into a sitting position. His eyes close tight as the aches tear through him, “I thought werewolves healed fast.”
Jackson kisses his cheek as he hands him a bottle of sports drink, “You ran out of mana, love. I’m just happy your supply lasted enough to survive the drop.”
Eddie graciously accepts the bottle, fingers grazing Jackson’s.
A tingle runs through his body, making him shudder where he sits.
His eyes snap open and focus on Jackson’s.
An understanding that eluded his exhausted mind clicks into place, emotion surging through his heart that brings tears to his eyes.
“It’s you,” he whispers before turning to Hakeem, whose own eyes widen when a similar sensation burns through him, “both of you.”
Jackson smiles at him sweetly. “Only when their eyes truly meet, will their souls reach out to one another.” He recites an old saying passed along the fae and shifters for as long as anyone cares to recall.
Hakeem reaches out to caress Eddie’s cheek, “What is this feeling? It’s so familiar but stronger than anything I’ve experienced. Almost like-”
“When you first felt my magic?” Adds Jackson, eyebrow raised and a coy grin across his face. Hakeem nods as he gazes into Eddie’s eyes, who in turn holds his soft cheeks in large hands.
“You’re the clever one here, my love. You know what this is, don’t you?”
Hakeem sputters as he runs a hand through his curls, gaze leaving Eddie’s.
“Mana matches share a soul, magic so grand it splits between two bodies. That’s what all the old stories say.
When a shifter turns of age they can meet their…
..fated….” he looks at Jackson and Eddie, realization spreading across his face, “mate. Eddie’s a late bloomer… ”
“He is,” replies Jackson, chin resting on his palm, elbow propped on the bed.
“His first shift was last night.”
“It was,” says Eddie as he takes Hakeem’s hand in his.
“The wolf slowly awakened for months. This whole time….” Eddie turns Hakeem towards him, pressing a soft kiss to his lips, “It’s been both of you.
The missing parts of my soul. I never thought I’d get the chance to experience this.
To feel as whole as I do now. I knew I was meant to be with you,” he turns to look at Jackson lovingly, “both of you, since the first day.”
Hakeem sputters, his words failing him. Jackson giggles, shaking his head, “Stay with us, Hakeem. I can’t imagine the odds of having two fated mates because they happen to be a mana match.”
“Improbable” says Hakeem, carefully running through the scenario in his mind to ensure this isn’t a fever dream, “but technically, not impossible. There may have been-I don’t know, maybe a couple in recorded history, but-but-but-”
“But nothing. You can feel it as much as we can. As unlikely as it is, the answer is clear to see.” Jackson stands and faces them both from the end of the bed, adoration pouring out of forest green eyes.
“We are fated mates. After all we’ve been through, all the tears, bloodshed and aggravation.
After Eddie’s first shift all the pieces fell into place.
And I can honestly say, I fell in love with the both of you before the answer rang true in our minds.
Eddie, Hakeem, I love you both. Thank you for not giving up on me, for staying by me long enough to get us to this point.
I thank fate for enforcing that we belong together. ”
Eddie and Hakeem interlock their fingers, smiling sweetly at each other. As improbable as it was, it made all the sense in the realms. “We love you too,” they say to Jackson before turning back to each other.
“I love you, Eddie.”
“I love you, Hakeem.”
They kiss tenderly as Jackson sets up their trays on the bed. “Now, let’s get some food in you both before the nausea comes back.”
“Too late,” groans Hakeem before collapsing back into the pillows.
“No more magic duels for a while then?” jokes Jackson.
Eddie burps into his hand, stifling a gag, “Oh gods. I taste sulfur.”
Jackson’s shadows lift the tray off the bed as Eddie rushes to the ensuite, powering through his screaming muscles. Jackson sighs as he looks after his boyfriends for the rest of the morning.
He wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
The rest of the day passes with family coming to the room to check in. The doctor returns to do a follow up (only losing fifteen minutes to Eddie’s siblings awful jokes that they truly find hilarious). Princess Bandit scurries in and out of the room throughout the day.
The little raccoon seems to be stashing something under the large bed.
Jackson checks to find a collection of polished silverware and various knick knacks collected in a small hoard.
“Young lady, you will be giving this back before we leave.” Princess hisses at the thought and seems to pout in Jackson’s lap as he brushes his finger through her fur.
“Just because two of us don’t have the energy to scold you doesn’t mean you can be a kleptomaniac.
” A thought crosses his mind. He holds the small creature in his arms, facing him.
“Any chance you know where my sunglasses are? I seem to have misplaced an expensive pair back in the apartment.” Princess stares at him blankly, blinking slowly.
Jackson chuckles and swaddles her in his arms. “You know, sometimes I wish you could talk and understand us.” He scratches under her chin, earning satisfied purrs.
Hakeem grumbles from where he rests in Eddie’s arms, “Mmmm, as….you…” Jackson quirks an eyebrow and turns to his sleeping love, “wish.”
The air sparks with silver mana, static frizzing Princess fur. “Wait what?” Jackson asks as his head turns back to the small raccoon. “Princess?”
The raccoon smooth outs her frizzed fur before turning her gaze up to Jackson, “Yes, grumpy daddy?”
The raccoon speaks, actually speaks, with a sweet childlike voice. How had they never considered this bef- “Hold the hell on.” Jackson furrows his brows and holds Princess up to his face, “Why am I grumpy daddy?”
Princess points to Eddie, “Comfy daddy.”
“Fair,” admits Jackson.
She points to Hakeem, “Smart daddy.”
“You do always see him studying I suppose.”
She squishes Jackson’s cheeks between her little paws and pulls down to turn his face into a frown. “Grumpy daddy,” she says matter of factly.
Did she just imply Jackson has a resting bitch face?
Jackson sighs and gets up, the raccoon bundled in his arms. “I will process this weekend, this included, in therapy. I should pay that woman more. I don’t know how long this wish will last sooo…” he smirks mischievously. “ Let’s show you off to granny.”
He chuckles as he imagines his mother’s reaction. He would have to ask Janice what grandmother is in Korean. Would Bahera be Teta then? He was sure the entire manor would get a laugh from this scenario as he leaves Eddie’s room to let the two men sleep.
This weekend was filled with laughter, family, secret pasts and powerful awakenings.
Hakeem’s aunt and uncle gave him an earful when he awoke, less hungover than the morning.
They were glad he was safe, apparent by the lingering hug they wrapped him in when he assured them the soreness had mostly melted away.
Eddie’s family stopped by later in the day, all relieved he had come back to his senses.
Every apology he tried to offer was shut down.
They were all amazed and proud of him. They knew he would amount to great things, wolf or no wolf.
Christopher and Annabella apologized for being unable to stop him, forcing Hakeem and Jackson to intervene.
“Don’t let it go to your head. You’re still far too inexperienced to wield that power in life or death combat,” says Annabella defensively. “You won’t have the element of surprise revealing the overwhelming command of an Alpha next time.”
“Bella,” scolds Christopher, as he massages his temple in frustration. “Please do not suggest there will be a next time that you have to face off against my son.” Annabella simply huffs and tosses her hair back, arms crossed across her chest.
Eddie chuckles nervously with his mates by his side, “If it’s any consolation, your fire did pack a punch, my lady.”