“You don’t feel that way now. What changed?”
“Ha! Jackson asked me the same question. When my brother was slipping away, it hurt me in a way I never experienced before. Here I was…a nurse…my chosen profession, and all my knowledge was useless. And then something Oracle said popped into my head and I realized she was right. The gift I received was just another tool in my fight to save every shifter I could. This wasn’t a moral decision…it was a medical one. Had I done everything possible to save Jackson? And when the answer was ‘no,’ I knew at that moment why I was given the power.”
“So you made peace with it?”
“Yes, and when I saw Jackson come back from the edge of death, I knew then I’d done everything to save my brother and I thanked the gods for finding me worthy of such a gift.”
“I’m proud of you, Colton.”
“Now, I have a question for you.”
“Sure.”
“How come you didn’t know you were royalty? Your wolf gives it away so anyone seeing it would immediately know.”
“I always shifted by myself…away from any other shifter. And I did my runs alone, too. First, because my parents always cautioned me about shifting in front of others when I was young; then as I got older, I just felt more comfortable by myself. My wolf is a lot smaller than other wolves, if you haven’t noticed.”
“Didn’t you ever see yourself reflected in water? Didn’t you see the gold-tipped, white fur that only wolf royalty has?”
“My mother taught me Gaelic…the language of the Scottish Wolf shifters…but nothing else. My father was my teacher when I was a child and history wasn’t part of my schooling. When I went to university, most of the stuff I studied was to get into medical school…history wasn’t a requirement. On the rare occasion I saw my wolf’s reflection, I thought it was the coloring of a Gamma wolf.”
“Okay,” said Colton, “one more question before we head out to enjoy the special day I’ve planned for us. I know we both agreed to have pups…and I’m really looking forward to it…but what do we do about practicing medicine? I know it’s ingrained in you as much as it is in me.”
“I’ve thought about it and the best answer I can give is ‘I don’t know.’ But I have faith we’ll find a solution. Does that work for you?”
“Yup. Let’s take it a day at a time. I believe the Fates will make sure we keep on practicing medicine.”
~/~/~/~/~
Colton led Ian to a waterfall where he insisted his mate strip and join him in the clear, cold water, pooling at the bottom. After coaxing Ian in, Colton wrapped himself around his mate, sharing his body heat. Rubbing his naked cock against Ian’s, passion and desire hardened both their cocks, driving the cold away. Colton moved his lips to Ian’s nipples, now pebbled by the cold water and started nipping at the tiny, hard, pink nubs until Ian was moaning from the need beginning to boil up. Throwing his head back, cries erupted from his mouth as pleasure continued to surge through his body. “Lover, please, I need you…now…please.”
But his pleas went unanswered as Colton continued to drive his mate to the edge of the cliff, not stopping until Ian’s body was on fire with the burning need to come. Moving to Ian’s mating scar, Colton kissed and bit it causing a shiver to reverberate through his mate’s body. Then, moving his lips up his mate’s neck, Colton’s mouth busily gave kisses mixed with love bites until Ian was properly marked as his. Gathering his mate into his arms, Colton waded out of the pool, carrying his mate to a grassy spot, where he gently set him down, covering him with his own body.
Burying his nose in Ian’s neck, Colton began to inhale his scent. He would never get enough of it and it triggered a need for his mate. Licking and sucking until he found Ian’s full pouty lips, Colton immersed himself in the feel and taste of them. He took his time, licking and nipping them until his mate opened his mouth. Then thrusting his tongue inside, he dueled with Ian’s, seeking to bind them together forever.
Ian was desperate. His body was on fire. He needed to come and come soon. Reaching down to grab their cocks, Ian stroked them both, using their copious pre-cum as lube, hoping to find the friction his cock was craving. Hefelt Colton’s hand join his; they were bound together now, depending on each other for the release they both desperately needed. Ian felt his balls trying to escape into his body, but to no avail—held prisoner by his mate’s fingers ringed around the base of his sack.
Colton’s body was also on fire, seeking the relief it needed. He forced their hands to move faster and grip tighter as they chased their orgasms. Freeing Ian’s balls, he moved his finger down lower and pressed on his mate’s pink rose. It took less than a half a second before Ian screamed out his release with Colton following, their cum joining together as they spurted, coating each other with creamy delight.
Rolling off his mate, Colton pulled Ian tight to his chest before grabbing a blanket from his backpack to cover them both. He held Ian, his arms circling him, feeling their hearts beating in synchronism as they slowly descended back to earth. He rested his head against Ian’s and nuzzled him.
Colton had found what he’d been looking for his whole life—the other half of his soul, the keeper of his heart and the place where his home would be forever more. The lovers exchanged whispers before they fell asleep under the cloudless deep blue sky.
~/~/~/~/~
Returning from their waterfall interlude, Colton and Ian took a shower for the last time at their campsite, slowly running soapy hands over each other while caressing and touching. Quickly drying himself first, Colton then toweled his mate dry while feathering him with soft, light kisses.
Then, Ian found himself once more in their love nest of blankets as Colton submitted to him. Ian moved languidly, exploring, licking and kissing the body heloved before moving between his mate’s legs. This time he wanted to be on top—in control—as he entered Colton. Reaching for the lube, he coated his cock and fingers, eager to prepare his mate. Pressing one finger to the hole he desired, he waited until Colton relaxed and then pushed in. Listening to his mate’s long groan excited his cock, causing it to throb.
Ian added another finger, searching for the magic button inside his mate and finding it, pressed it, and watched as Colton’s back arched up high. Ian’s cock leaked a steady stream of pre-cum, stimulated by the cascade of moans tumbling from his mate’s mouth while Colton continued to thrust his needy cock into the air. When Colton was stretched enough that Ian could slide three fingers in and out of his mate’s puckered pink rose, Ian began to nudge Colton’s prostate every so often to keep him needy.
Colton was sure he was losing his mind as new feelings of heated passion and need roared through him. His mate was playing his body like a musical instrument—bringing him to the brink of a finale before backing off, causing him to beg repeatedly. His eyes rolled back as he felt his orgasm thwarted again and again and he was helpless to grant himself the relief he so desperately sought. His hips thrust wildly up every time his mate’s fingers found his button, he dug his hands into the blankets with frustration, seeking help for the uncontrollable desire consuming his body from the inside out. Finally, when he’d lost all hope, when it seemed nothing could help him, he felt Ian’s cock slide inside him, filling him only the way a man could. Ian stared at Colton’s face and saw the moment his mate teetered on the edge of the passion cliff. Then he slipped inside and joined his mate in the fulfillment of their love.
Spreading Colton’s legs wide, Ian pounded into his mate, his balls slapping against his mate’s cheeks as he headedfor the release they both needed so badly. Faster and faster, harder and harder, Ian chased their orgasms, finally hearing Colton shout, “IAN,” as Colton’s cock exploded without even a hand on it. Ian felt his cock being squeezed by the force of his mate’s orgasm and, two pumps later, his cock shot his cream, coating Colton’s velvet channel with his essence.
Collapsing on his mate, Ian was still feeling the effects of their climb to the peak; heart beating double time, rapid breathing, and limbs turned to jelly. Ian felt his mate’s arms surround him, holding him lovingly while Colton whispered in his ear.
“You are my everything, Ian. I love you now, tomorrow, for the rest of time and that won’t be enough for me. I give you my heart for safe-keeping, I give you my love for your pleasure and I give you my soul so I will always be one with you.”
