“It’s the full moon again,” Will said when they were sitting on the couch together that same night.
After Sage had done some invoicing, with a good amount of grumbling, they’d decided to watch a show.Sage had made Will pick something, and now they were adding their commentary to the highest grossing TV fantasy show of the last ten years or so, and there wereissues, such as, why did no one care about when summer was coming?
“Shit.Again?I meant to add a reminder to my phone.You want me to drive you to the woods or somewhere?”
Will quickly shook his head and leaned his head on Sage’s shoulder.“We can just keep watching this.I don’t want to run.I want to stay in with you.”
“Works for me.”
And so, when Will felt moonrise tugging on him, wanting him to change his skin, he headed upstairs.He took a detour to the laundry room though, because it sounded like some small animal had gotten in there, and he didn’t want to freak out any critters when he turned canine and scary.
“Oh, it’s just you,” he said to Lemon, who was fighting to get free of the several clothes pins Sage had used to hang it from the clothesline.A writhing assemblage of stuffed cotton and thread should have freaked Will out, but he took it as a sign that he was becoming a witch that it made him smile fondly instead.
Back in his room, he took off his clothes and waited for the shift.Changing shape was like the drop from the highest point of a roller coaster ride, and Will had always loved it.Once he was in his wolf form, his sense of smell was even better, but it was like all he could smell was Sage.
He hurried back downstairs to where Sage was waiting.He looked at Will just like he had the last time.Sage seemed impressed, and Will liked that.He settled in next to Sage on the couch, but not before daring to sniff his neck and carefully lick the skin there.
“Oh, fuck.That tickles.”Sage buried his hands in Will’s fur.
Will yipped and got as close as he could.They spent a few more hours just cuddling, and it was perfect.Will’s attention was barely on the show throughout it.
Later, when the moon was well past its zenith, Sage tapped the top of Will’s head.“Feel like heading to bed?”
Will nodded in the human way and jumped off the couch.He watched as Sage stretched, his shirt riding up to reveal the dark tip of the raven’s wing.
With Sage’s scent so strong and him casting Will those sweet smiles as they went up the stairs, the wolf’s desire was clear and present in the forefront of his mind.PleaseSage.Be closeto Sage.ProtectSage.
Will was not an alpha, but Sage was only human and didn’t have a werewolf’s strength or the ability to shift at will.Will knew he had to guard Sage, and he would fight to the last if he had to.
The possessiveness was strong, but it wasn’t overbearing like alphas could be.Will would simply be near him whenever the full moon was out.Even if it wasn’t, he would defend Sage.As a shifter, he healed better, and he was physically tougher.With his wolf ruling his thoughts, all this made perfect sense.
And that was the easiest thing—knowing what he wanted.It gave Will purpose, and purpose was good.
The attic smelled of Sage’s magic, and Will inhaled deeply as he watched Sage get into bed next to him.Sage ruffled the fur on the top of Will’s head and pulled his ear before using the sheets to cover them both.
“G’night.Joyous night, put out the light.”
With a wave of magic, Sage’s attic room was in darkness, and in his heart of hearts, Will’s wolf howled.He was exactly where he wanted to be.
13
Will
Likeitalwaysdid,moonset and the ensuing shift pulled Will right back to being fully awake, but this time around, the possessiveness the wolf had felt toward his Sage made Will’s craving only stronger.
He moved closer under the covers and nuzzled Sage’s neck, right where the wolf had licked the skin in that vulnerable area.Sage groaned and stretched in his sleep as he rolled onto his back.Will’s cock bobbed in anticipation, and he straddled Sage.He wanted Sage so badly that it damn near hurt.Sage’s heady scent made thinking almost as hard as his cock already was.
“Always so horny after a full moon.”A lazy grin played on Sage’s sleepy face.
Right.Words.“I want you,” Will said.“Please.Can I kiss you?”
“Sure.C’mere.”
Sage’s hand sank into Will’s hair, pulling him close.The wolf had enjoyed Sage’s touch, and human Will did as well, but the worry crept in, fringes of fear throttling the want he felt.
He let the kiss happen all the same.Sage was as soft as he remembered, in the best possible way.It was exciting to be able to feel Sage’s mouth against his and taste him.
The wolf had wanted to lick Sage’s lips, but Will knew humans weren’t all for that wolf behavior, and he’d controlled it.Right now, in his human form, Will let Sage’s smiles and sunshine taste sink into him.
