"I know you're awake, my love." He said softly and trailed his fingertips up Kyle's naked back. "I assume you have questions." He said, and Kyle looked up at him and then settled once again with his head on Lev's chest.
“You know John Maxwell?” He asked.
"Yes, he was related to one of the Pack members, and although he was human, he was trusted with our secrets. That was a mistake we will never make again." Lev said more than Kyle was equipped to understand, but he wanted to be truthful, and eventually it would all make sense.
"He told me about the waterfall and gave me a copy of the map he'd drawn. I was trying to find it when you found me instead." Kyle said clearly, having heard enough of the call to comprehend the issue. "I'm a photographer, and I didn't completely believe the story John had told about the falls, and its power, but he sounded sincere, and I thought, regardless of its power, a waterfall in the moonlight would be beautiful to photograph."
“It’s absolutely enchanting, and it must remain secret. I know it's hard for you to accept, but there are things in the forest that are not of your world, and they cannot be laid bare and exploited." Lev held him close, hoping that their bond would translate the truth of what he was telling him.
"John said some pretty fanciful things, such as rejuvenating waters, healing lights, and energies that function in and around the falls. He also said it only energized during a fullmoon and the air must contain rainwater or mist." Lev realized that John had given it all away, and it was disheartening.
"Is it true?" Kyle asked and moved up onto his elbow so he could look down into Lev's eyes and read his expression. Kyle was reading him; he wasn't completely on board, but he was listening.
“I am Alpha of the Wilder Wolf Pack of the Aveline Forest. My people have occupied the forest for several centuries. We live in secret deep within the forest, and we protect the sacred power of the falls. We number three thousand forty-five souls." He held Kyle's gaze and saw disbelief flash, confusion show, but also belief and hope.
"You're telling me that you're a wolf shifter and you lead a pack of wolf shifters who live in the forest." He was clarifying, but the difficulty was taking over, and his belief was beginning to waver, so Lev did what he needed to do. He moved to the edge of the bed, then stood and turned to look at Kyle, who was on his knees, looking up at Lev.
"Seeing his believing," Lev stated and shifted. He was powerful and skilled, and his shift took less than a second. His wolf was large, about the size of a grizzly bear, and black and fierce. He stood there in all his frightening glory, staring back at Kyle, who was now frozen in place with his mouth open on a half scream. He caught himself and forced a calm that impressed Lev.
After a few minutes of silent staring, Kyle carefully reached out a hand toward the huge beast. Lev stepped closer, allowing Kyle to run his fingers through his fur. The feeling was sensational, and his wolf was in heaven having their mate touch them so tenderly. Lev shifted back and sat on the edge of the bed.Kyle moved to his side, and silence continued for a few more minutes.
The fact that he didn't faint or run was significant. Lev had not met a human who could handle seeing a shift the first time without a serious reaction. Kyle had stiffened but did not look away or try to escape. He kept his eyes on Lev and on his wolf, and the expression was not fear. He felt Kyle's hand rubbing his back, and then Kyle lay his head on Lev's shoulder.
"I knew it was true, I saw you in the woods, but part of me thought perhaps I'd hallucinated. In my heart, I recognized the wild part of you out in the woods and then here in my apartment. I was difficult to accept then, but not now." Kyle was talking slowly and thinking about every word he said.
“I didn’t expect the change to be so swift and complete that caught me by surprise, but I found it beautiful, and I found your wolf also beautiful." Lev turned and smiled.
"You're the beautiful one, my love, both body and soul."
"Things are making sense now, crazy sense but sense nonetheless." He kept his hands on Lev, either stroking his arm, his thigh, or his back. The touch was calming for Lev, and he suspected it did the same for Kyle. It was all part of the bond and their special Fated connection.
Lev explained his culture in basic terms, hitting the points that Kyle would deal with immediately and leaving other matters for later. He realized they were mates because Lev had been using the term liberally since their first meeting. He struggled with the Fated aspect, but considering everything else he’d accepted, he agreed it wasn’t a leap to believe in destiny.
"It will take time, and I will be with you by your side." Lev wrapped his arm around Kyle. "We have a lifetime to learn everything about each other, and wolves live a very long time."
"How long?" Kyle looked up at him, his eyebrows tight together.
"You've entered the world of the supernatural, and as my bonded mate," he touched the little claiming scar, "you inherit many of the aspects of my life as a shifter. Your life will lengthen to match mine, you will heal faster, you will rarely be sick, and other perks you will notice as the bond continues to strengthen and connect our lives."
"You still haven't told me how old you are." Kyle reminded, and Lev chuckled.
“I’m eighty years old.” He stated.
“You look thirty.”
“We don’t really start to show age until we reach our second century. I’m actually considered young for a wolf shifter. My brother Mykel, my Beta, is seventy-six." He chuckled when Kyle let out a long, drawn-out, heavy sigh.
"How long do wolf shifters live? What is the average life span?" Kyle asked, curious.
“The average is around two fifty to three hundred years, but some have lived longer.”
"That's a lot to think about." He said thoughtfully and dropped his head back against Lev's shoulder. "You knew me when you saw me in the woods?" He asked, suddenly changing the subject.
"Not until I caught your scent. You smell like lemon and ginger, and it hit me like a sledgehammer." He smiled and dropped a kiss on the top of Kyle's head. "I went after you to scare you off, but once I caught your scent, all I wanted was to claim you. I know I frightened you, and I'm sorry, but I couldn'tlet you go. I had to have you. My wolf was going crazy, and all I could focus on was the fact that you were mine, my Fated mate."
"That was a wild night, and I enjoyed every minute of it." He chuckled softly. "I'm not usually so quick to get naked with someone I just met, but I felt so many things when I looked at you. I could see your wild side; it was clear, but I was never afraid of you. I recognized that there was something very special between us." He paused for a moment.
"I just fucking wanted you, and I wasn't going to pretend otherwise." He blurted.
