“Okaaaaay, Eddie is half naked,” Joseph turns his head as he realizesEddie’s clothes are in tatters.
Christopher produces a towel and drapes it over his son as Annabella and Joseph help Jackson and Hakeem up. “Guess our research team has to look into Alpha strength enchantments for Eddie.”
“Alpha?”Asks Jackson. That’s when it clicks. The overwhelming power, the paralyzing fear, Eddie is the-
“Lycan! Correctamundo! Our super amazing and awesome Eddie is the Alpha werewolf of legend,” says Hakeem matter of factly with a giggle as he falls limp in Annabella’s hold.
Joseph regards him with concern as he wraps an arm around Jackson’s waist to support his son. “What’s with Hakeem?”
Annabella chuckles as she adjusts the loopy mage in her hold. “Mana drunk. His body isn’t used to the amount of mana he used. With Jackson as his nearly endless supply, it’s not a surprise.”
“Jackson is amazing like that too. I have two amazing boyfriends that I love so very very very…uh, what’s the word?”Asks Hakeem.
“Much?” Offers Christopher as he leads his son towards the manor.
“Yeah!” Exclaims Hakeem triumphantly.
As the boys are led slowly back to the manor, Jackson’s eyes lock with Eddie’s for the first time since the man changed back. A feeling erupts in his heart, an answer ringing clear in his mind that connects all the pieces of the puzzle together. He smiles to himself at the long awaited realization. “Of course it’s you.”
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 wideawake. 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.”
