Chapter 16

“Golden Sun,” Theo murmured, desire filling his eyes as he gazed at his fantasy standing before him.

Taking several steps into the clearing, magic and good spirits enveloped Smokey before seeping into his skin. It felt exactly like his grandfather had described and he briefly wondered why it had taken him so long to accept that part of him. But as fast as that thought came, it flew out of his mind just as quickly when his eyes landed on Shining Star dressed in the traditional mating clothes of buckskin decorated with beads, shells, and feathers. Shaking his head in disbelief, he walked slowly to his mate, stopping a foot away from him. “How can this be?” he whispered, more to himself than Theo. Reaching out, he ran his fingers down the sparkling rows of tiny glass beads in the chest plate. Then, looking up and seeing the love in Theo’s eyes, he smiled.

“Golden Sun,” Theo said, emotion filling his voice, “tonight the three of us will become a new tribe…one that is about love and acceptance no matter who we are, and one that will teach our cub about the Great Spirit and the blessings he has bestowed upon us. Our cub shall also be encouraged to be true to who they are, will be taught to be a guardian of the earth, and will learn that there’s more good than evil in the world.”

Quietly joining Smokey at his side, Norm murmured, “Welcome to the Tomkin Tribe, Smokey.”

“It means…” Theo began.

“Home of Spirits,” Smokey finished, “and it’s perfect.”

“As you are to us,” Norm said .

“Once we were three, but tonight we shall become one…in soul and spirit,” Theo added. “Golden Sun, are you ready for Eagle Feather to claim you?”

“I am,” Smokey said, solemnly.

“And are you ready to claim Eagle Feather?” Theo asked.

“Yes…very much so,” Smokey replied.

Norm then took Theo’s hand and both dropped to one knee. Looking up at Smokey, he asked, “Gabriel Hamilton, will you marry us and do us the honor of becoming our husband?”

“And the father to all our cubs?” asked Theo, looking up at Smokey.

Stunned, Smokey stared at Theo and Norm for a moment until he finally realized they were waiting for an answer. Dropping down opposite them, tears rolling down his cheeks, his voice overcome with emotion, he answered, “Yes…yes, to both questions.” Then, leaning forward, he wrapped his arms around his mates and pulled them to him. Kissing first Theo, then Norm, Smokey murmured, “Together in all ways…forever.”

“Forever!” Theo and Norm said in unison.

That word echoed in Smokey’s mind and he continued to kiss his mates as good spirits enveloped the trio, filling them with love. It was everything Smokey never thought he needed, but now it was something he could never live without. “I love you both so much,” he whispered.

Cupping Smokey’s cheek, Theo murmured, “The love we have for each other will grow stronger until it binds us inseparably together. You were an unexpected surprise, but one Eagle Feather and I are so thankful for. You complete us and are as necessary to us as the air we breathe. It was destiny that, after each of us was ripped from our homes, we would come together to make a new one…one where we will teach our cub to keep the old ways of your people in his heart.”

“Golden Sun,” Norm said softly, “Shining Star and I will help you in your quest to expand the power of good spirits over evil ones so that our cubs might grow up in a better world—one where respect for nature and the bounty it gives forth will increase a hundredfold. This we vow to you, Lord Manetu.”

The last words being said, silence fell in the clearing and Smokey gazed in awe at his mates. The deep loneliness he’d hidden from the world after his parents had died was gone and in its place stood Theo and Norm and their love for him. Placing a hand over each of their hearts, he whispered the words his grandfather had taught him so long ago—words he never expected to utter.

Theo gasped at the heat of Smokey’s hand on his chest, but before he could react a blinding light penetrated his body, making him one with his mates. Glancing over at Norm, he smiled at the blissful look on his face, knowing his own face must be mirroring it. “Wowzers!” he exclaimed.

“Wowzers indeed,” Norm murmured, staring at Smokey. “What did you do?”

Smokey said nothing. Instead, he closed his eyes and whispered the rest of the words. Within a second, the magic and good spirits that had melded with him upon entering the clearing were shared with his two mates. Opening his eyes, he said, “The answer to your question, Eagle Feather, is that we are now one in every way. Pure of heart and soul, you both will sow only good spirits everywhere. Evil cannot harm you, for it can never again get a foothold in either of you.”

Stunned, Theo asked, “We are Manetus?”

“In a way,” Smokey replied. “But whereas I have a choice of whether or not to use my good spirits, they will emanate from you at all times.”

“Will anyone know this about us?” asked Norm, worried that Theo and himself might be in danger.

“No one will…just us,” replied Smokey.

“What about Jackson?” asked Theo. “Should we tell him?”

“Not unless you want to,” Smokey said.

Theo glanced at Norm. “What do you think, Eagle Feather?”

“I think we should, but it can wait until Jackson meets with Smokey to tell him about the pack,” Norm answered.

“Is that the meeting where Jackson tells me about the power Dylon has?” asked Smokey.

Astonished, Theo asked, “How do you know about that?”

Chuckling, Smokey said, “Alex told me…at the meeting with Dylon. I gathered he wasn’t supposed to say anything but I already knew Zane could walk through walls, and Cody could become invisible. Glenn told Ghost and me about what happened in New York when he went to rescue his mother.”

Alarmed, Norm asked, “Does Jackson know this?”

Shrugging, Smokey said, “I don’t know…maybe…Glenn might have told him, but I know he h asn’t said anything to anyone else. He’s a tiger…a silent hunter…and they excel at keeping their mouths shut…that’s what made him such a good agent and why the Agency was willing to give Willow round-the-clock protection in exchange for Glenn remaining with them. Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.” Just then, Smokey’s stomach growled. “Oops…I guess that doesn’t apply to my gut.”

“Oh my goodness, I forgot all about the special mating dinner Dakota made for us,” Theo said, pointing over to the table laden with covered dishes.

Rising, Smokey swept Norm and Theo into his arms, kissing both of them before letting go. Gesturing toward the food, he asked, “May I escort both of my mates to our table?”

“Certainly, kind sir,” Theo giggled, linking his arm through Smokey’s while Norm did the same. “Lead the way.”

Looking up at the sparkling rainbow hue arch floating above the table, Smokey murmured, “Fucking beautiful…absolutely fucking beautiful.” Then glancing down at Theo, he asked, “When did you and Norm do all of this?”

“This afternoon…while you were with Dylon.”

Smokey’s eyebrows shot up. “No way…all of this…the lights, the arch…dinner and…and…a bed? Tell me you didn’t lift the bed.”

“No, silly. It was a group affair,” Theo replied, grinning. “Norm’s job was to keep you occupied while Kieran, Fionn, and I set up the clearing for tonight. But then Logan found out, and then Jackson got Remy involved and… voilà . Did you know magic makes everything easy-peasy? Well, except for the food. It took some convincing, but finally, Slate agreed Kota could make our mating dinner as long as Hope helped him.”

“Did everyone know about your proposal to me tonight?” asked Smokey.

“Pretty much so,” Norm replied. “Well, not Glenn, Sawyer, or Alex, but only because they were in the meeting with you and Dylon. C’mon, let’s eat.”

Lost for words at the news of everyone’s part in the special night his mates had planned, Smokey simply nodded and held Theo’s chair out for him before sitting down next to him, with Norm on his other side. Gazing at them, he heard his grandfather’s voice, telling him of a place where he would be safe and surrounded by those who would protect him from others who would seek to use his abilities for evil. But in his wildest dreams, he never could have imagined the place would be a wolf pack. After sending a quick thanks to the Great Spirit for guiding him to the Blackwood Pack, he said, “I can’t wait to see what Dakota’s made us.”

~/~/~/~/~

For once, Cain appreciated being in a maximum security cell since the lights remained on all night, though he never could figure out what the purpose was. All it ever did for him was make him angry…until he was given a blanket. Then it was easy to block out the light, or at least reduce the glare so he could get some sleep, but that was then. Now, he had no interest in sleeping. Shuffling through the books the witch had left, he picked the one about growing vegetables—something that reminded him of the only good time he had in a foster home. Leaning back against the concrete wall, he opened it and was soon oblivious to everything around him .

Peering in through the tiny cell window, Frank was satisfied that Mystia’s concerns seemed unwarranted, but what he saw still didn’t ease his fears about Foster ending up at the Blackwood Pack. Studying Cain, he had to admit he seemed harmless, sitting there reading a book about gardening. Snorting quietly to himself, Frank was sure it was all an illusion, an attempt by Foster to fool Jackson into giving him a ‘get out of jail’ card and his gut told him Jackson was going to fall for it.

It was a good thing he and Lizzy were moving out to California so he could keep an eye on Foster. Suddenly, an alarm sounded, pulling Frank’s attention away from Cain. Turning, he saw several of the inmates running towards him, yelling and waving guns. “What the fuck?” was the only thing Frank uttered before falling to the floor unconscious.

~/~/~/~/~

After the last scrap of food was eaten, Theo rose from the table and grasped Smokey’s hand. “It’s time, Golden Sun, for us to become one.”

Pushing back his chair, Norm stood and held out his hand for Smokey to take. “My bear and I can’t wait for you to claim us,” he murmured.

Looking up at his mates, Smokey’s heart fluttered at the love for him shining in their eyes. Taking Norm’s hand, he got up and pulled his two mates to him. Tucking them against him, he led them over to the bed before kissing Norm, then Theo. “It’s your night, Shining Star…so tell me what you want.”

“I want to watch you claim Eagle Feather,” Theo murmured .

Smokey’s cock grew hard at the image Theo had just planted in his mind. Nodding, he looked at Norm and found him rubbing his hand over the bulge in his tights. Kneeling down, Smokey covered his mate’s hand with his, keeping up the same rhythm. The growing wet spot caused by his mate’s leaking cock was easy to see. Unable to resist, he brushed Norm’s hand aside and buried his nose in Norm’s groin, inhaling deeply. Not to be denied further pleasure, he reached up and snagged the waist of Norm’s tights, pulling them down slowly until his mate’s cock broke free. Smokey stared at it for a moment before blowing gently on the tip and sucking it into his mouth.

Groaning at the hot, wet heat surrounding his cock, Norm closed his eyes, buried his fingers in Smokey’s hair, and let his head fall back. Tugging on his mate’s hair, he signaled his mate to move, urgently needing to feel Smokey’s throat muscles squeezing his cock.

Keeping his eyes glued on Smokey and Norm, Theo reached down into his buckskin pants, fondling his cock. Watching his mates was even hotter than he’d imagined and the sudden rock-hardness of his cock was proof of that. His need for more had him milking the tip to gather up the pre cum dripping from its slit. Then, circling his cock with his fist, he began stroking it…slowly at first, but then increasing the tempo to match the rhythm of his mates’ performance.

Relaxing his throat, Smokey swallowed Norm’s cock until it was nestled in the tight confines of his throat. Sucking hard, he milked Norm’s cock of pre cum, savoring his mate’s whimpers at his efforts. By now, Smokey’s swelling cock was pressing tightly against his black leather pants zipper and he was sure it would be mangled unless he acted quickly. Reaching down with one hand, he managed to open his pants and liberate his cock, which quickly swelled in appreciation.

Returning his full attention to Norm, Smokey pulled back, allowing his mate’s cock to slip out of his mouth so that his tongue could lick around it for a few seconds before swallowing it again. He knew deep throating would bring Norm to the edge of orgasm and he was determined not to let him achieve it. Denied satisfaction, Norm cried out in frustration. Taking pity on his mate, Smokey sat back on his heels, letting Norm’s cock leave his mouth with a pop.

The look in Norm’s eyes was so filled with need that Smokey knew just how close his mate was to coming. But not yet. Starting at Norm’s feet, Smokey slowly ran his hands up each of his mate’s legs, loving the feel of them encased in tights. When he finally reached his mate’s balls, he cupped them in his hand, rolling them gently between his fingers as Norm pleaded for Smokey to bury his cock in him.

Giving Norm’s balls one last squeeze, Smokey slowly tugged down the tights until his mate was free of them. Then he stood and carefully untied the ribbons holding Norm’s shirt together. Pushing it aside, he gazed at his mate’s muscled chest before pinching one of his nipples. Smiling as he felt his mate’s shudder, Smokey eased the shirt down his mate’s arms letting it drift down to the forest floor.

Smokey heard the quick intake of Theo’s breath at the sight of their naked mate, but he was too busy enjoying the view himself to be distracted. And when he noticed Norm’s eyes focusing on his hard, quivering cock, he grabbed it and began to pump it, smiling as he watched Norm’s tongue sneak out to lick his lips in anticipation. It was time to claim his mate. “Get on the bed, Eagle Feather,” Smokey growled.