For the first time since he was a cub, Arslan found himself face-to-face with a man he really didn’t know what to do with.Lions were easy.Students required a different approach, but after so many years standing in front of a lecture hall, Arslan knew how to deal with them, too.A pet who didn’t want allowances made for him was a new and unpredictable quantity.
Arslan met Ryland’s eyes but found himself unable to read the emotions that raced through his expression.The most important man in his life and the one he could so easily fail.
Ryland stepped straight into Arslan’s personal space as if it never occurred to him to hang back, and Arslan’s arms automatically went around him.He quickly settled his hands on the small of Ryland’s back, welcoming him even closer.Coming face-to-face with the pride in their other form really didn’t seem to have fazed the boy in the least.
“You can do that, too, sir?”
“Yes, of course.”
Ryland nodded.His gaze roamed over Arslan’s face, and Arslan knew he was wondering what he would look like as a lion.“Will you show me later, sir?”
Arslan nodded his acceptance of the request before he looked past Ryland to the lions that had filed into the room.They all looked very guilty now.Little cubs who’d been caught playing games they’d been warned about before.Not one of them tried to meet Arslan’s eyes.
It took more strength than Arslan knew he had to step back from Ryland in order to go through the proper forms.
“If you come to us willingly and of your own free will, with no thought for your own gain and only wishing to add to the pride, then you are welcome.”This time, the words were far harder to say.Last time he’d said them, it had never actually occurred to him that Ryland might say no.
Last time, he’d known that Ryland should belong to him, but it had been a lion’s instinct that made all the decisions.The lion part of him had wanted Ryland from the first moment he’d seen him, but now, it felt like Arslan had far more to lose.It was one thing to deal with a lion’s desire to possess.Then, he hadn’t really understood that the human side of him needed Ryland, too.
He needed Ryland beside him.He needed to feel Ryland’s skin under his palms and know that he was safe.If Ryland’s time away from him had taught Arslan anything, it was that he couldn’t lose Ryland again.And everything rested on the boy’s answer.
“If you wish to belong to the pride, to take your rightful place in the pride, you are welcome.”
Ryland stared up at him.Just like last time, there were far too many emotions swirling in his eyes for Arslan to have any idea what he was thinking.
“If you come to us without lies or secrets, you are welcome.”
He could feel the attention of the younger lions boring into him as the whole room seemed to hold its breath on his behalf.
“If you are who we believe you to be, say that you wish to take your rightful place in the pride, and you will be welcomed.”
As Ryland continued to hold Arslan’s gaze through the whole speech, the world changed around them.Arslan could still feel the other lions’ presence in the room, but they were very far away.The whole world was very far away, as if the only people who really existed right then were him and Ryland.And, while Ryland stared back up at him, it was almost impossible to believe that he didn’t feel the same way.
“Yes, sir.”
And, as simply as that, it was done.
Arslan held out his hand.Ryland took one step forward, and suddenly, he was in Arslan arms, holding onto him so tight, it was hard to believe all that strength came from one relatively small human.
One of the younger lions let out a whoop as he morphed back into his human shape.Pandemonium descended.Arslan gave into the temptation to grin into Ryland’s hair as he held him in return, as tightly as he dared.He felt his mate smile against his shoulder in response.
When he finally looked up, Arslan shook his head at all the younger lions.It didn’t take much to induce them to celebrate, but this time, he couldn’t blame them.
“Can we eat now?”
Arslan met Blaine’s eyes.The younger lion hesitated, but Arslan only made him wait a few seconds before he nodded his permission.It wasn’t easy to resist the urge to throw them all out so he could be alone with Ryland.Still, he forced himself to let them to stay, to let them begin to get to know the newest member of their pride properly.And he let them linger long enough to be reassured that their leader was willing to forgive them, too, provided they learned from their mistakes.
“When they are gone, you and I are going to have a very long talk,” Arslan whispered in Ryland’s ear.“Then, we’re going to see what else we can find to do to pass the night.”
The man who’d laid on the rug with him two short weeks ago shouldn’t have been able to blush at the suggestion; Ryland managed to.“I’d like that, sir.”
They fetched their food from the table and returned to their seats around the fireplace.Just as he had warned Ryland before, Arslan kept him well within his sight.He didn’t actually let him out of arm’s reach.He had the right to keep him that close now.Ryland was his.His pet.His mate.Arslan’s lips twisted into a smile at the thought.
“Are you to live here now?”
Arslan turned towards Luther’s conversation with Ryland as the question caught his attention.“When you need to be informed of our decisions, Luther, you will be.”
Ryland glanced up at him.
