5. Alec

Chapter 5

Alec

H e was in bed with a giant werewolf.

That was the first thought that crossed his mind when he opened his eyes in the dim light the next morning—at least, he assumed it was morning. Wherever he was, and no matter his bedmate, he was far more comfortable than he had been in weeks—hell, years.

Living with his stepfather had been stressful and frustrating and he was glad to be free, though he wanted to visit Stu merely to see the fear in his eyes when Alec punched his smarmy face. Stu was a grade-A asshole and deserved to reap every drop of karma Alec could wrangle up, but none of that was currently as pressing as his need to pee.

He remembered everything from the day and night before, mind clearer and body on its way to healing now that the magic-nulling shackles were off and he had a decent meal in his belly after weeks of junk food and dirty cistern water.

Bruises and scrapes were healing, and were not as painful as the day before. He felt stronger already, like he could rebuild the world from the atoms up, but that all had to wait while he navigated escaping the huge bed and the giant wolf curled around him like he was a pup and Leif a mother wolf guarding her den. Leif must have Changed sometime in the night after Alec fell asleep.

A tall shoulder blocked his view of the tunnel, and there was enough light to make out the shape of tall, fluffy ears and the thick, heavy mantle of fur covering the upper portions of the sleeping wolf’s neck and shoulders. Leif was curled around him with only a space just in front of his nose for Alec to crawl past.

He managed it, tumbling free of the blankets, and found himself on his butt on the stone floor, looking up at a very amused werewolf staring down at him, jaws cracked in a wolfish smile, teeth long, bright white, and wickedly sharp.

“Good morning, greenbough,” Leif said in the rumbly wolf voice, words coming from everywhere and yet somehow soft enough to only just be heard. His jaws did not move with the words, so it was magic that gave him a voice in that form. “How did you sleep?”

“Well, thank you,” Alec said as he got to his feet, stretching. A black nose was there for him to catch himself as his muscles protested the movements, and Leif sniffed along his torso and up his neck, great bellows of hot air and the earthy scent of fur and blood following. A large tongue licked along one side of his face, and Alec burst out laughing, gently pushing away the huge head, fingers landing in dense fur.

“No wolfie kisses until after I use the bathroom,” Alec scolded lightheartedly.

“I shall make breakfast, then,” Leif waited for Alec to move away from the bed before stepping off the platform, and he shook out his heavy coat, ears flapping, tail flagging high enough it nearly brushed the ceiling of the tunnel. Bright eyes watched him steadily, unblinking, as he made his way up the incline of the tunnel and slipped into the bathroom.

He caught a glimpse of the great beast as he padded past the bathroom door before Alec shut it completely, and he marveled at the sheer size of the werewolf in his wolf form. He’d never seen or heard of a werewolf so…huge. Even in his human form he was big, though attractively proportionate. Alec’s cheeks burned as he recalled the sight of Leif naked and he washed his face in cold water to ease the hot blush in his cheeks.

He used the toothbrush Leif gave him the night before and cleaned up as best he could before leaving the bathroom and heading up the tunnel to the cabin portion of the…den.

In daylight, it was clearly a den. The space near the fireplace was meant for someone with hands to work, cooking essentials clustered around the hearth, a metal sink with an antique hand-pump coming out of the wall beside it, and shelves on the walls. No refrigerator that he could see, but there was electricity, and the windows overlooking the outside clearing in front of the cabin let in a lot of light, even with the cabin on the westward face of the mountain. There was little in the way of human detritus like trinkets and keepsakes and comforts, aside from books and blankets, and lush furs that hummed with magic, preserving them. Alec wasn’t the most keen student in school but he doubted there were any animals in the Appalachians that grew a pelt that matched the ones in Leif’s collection.

It was a straight line from the door to the tunnel, and the wooden floor was clean and well- maintained, but it still bore the evidence of constant travel by a large creature with claws back and forth, and the path from door to tunnel was kept free of any furniture.

Alec had a feeling Leif spent a lot of time as a wolf. Living as he did in the deep woods, that was probably the most efficient form to take.

He saw no sign of his host, and the door opened just as he thought to look out front. Leif stepped in, a tall man instead of a wolf, naked but for a towel around his waist, hair damp and flipped back over his shoulders, and he carried a basket in one hand. “Is it raining?” Alec asked, squinting out the nearest window, but he saw no sign of rain or dark clouds.

“I brought food in from the root cellar,” Leif said, holding up the basket. “And I had a shower outside at the well.”

“It’s cold as hell out there.” Alec worried he’d kept Leif from using his own bathroom to clean up. “I’m sorry, I’m taking up your personal space.”

“I hardly noticed the morning chill,” Leif said with a disarming smile. “Don’t worry about me. Let me feed you, and we can discuss what you want to do about your situation.”

Alec nodded, not sure what to say. Leif went to the sink and began to wash potatoes, and Alec decided to make himself useful and tend to the fire, but when he went to the hearth it was already happily crackling away on some fresh logs, and Leif had already positioned the kettle over the flames, and a wide iron skillet was held in the flames on a grate on its own arm protruding from the stone walls of the hearth.

“You can make the tea,” Leif called over his shoulder, as if reading Alec’s mind and knowing he felt a bit out of place .

Alec happily went about searching out mugs on the shelves on either side of the fireplace, and he found a collection of herbal and black teas, picking out flavors by scent and touch, knowing what they were with a fingertip to the dark leaves.

Tea was steeping when Leif came over from the sink, washed potatoes in one hand and a long knife in the other. Alec was impressed when Leif cut the potatoes directly over the iron pans, each slice hissing at it landed on the seasoned metal as he made short work of the potatoes. He returned the knife to the area by the sink, walking through a beam of light from the window, and Alec stared in surprise, a hint of something catching the light in Leif’s wake.

“What…” Alec breathed out, trailing behind Leif, who turned at his voice. Alec frowned, and gestured for Leif to come toward him. “Walk back into the light?”

Confused, Leif humored him, and he paused when Alec sucked in a sharp breath and held up a hand, halting his steps. Leif looked down, eying himself. “What’s wrong?”

Alec saw a hint of something. It was like gold flakes floating in the air, but not in an aimless cloud disturbed like dust by those passing by—no, the gold shimmered in Leif’s wake, a narrow line from the center of his torso, through the sunlight, and then…

Alec stepped into the light, too, and saw the thread of gold reaching out to him, and he felt when the golden thread made contact. It lit him up from the inside, and he felt like he was mainlining espresso but without the nausea and jitters.

“There’s a thread reaching between us…” Alec breathed out, and he was startled when Leif made a deep whine in his chest and went to step away. Alec reached and grabbed Le if by the wrist, stopping him from fleeing. “It’s not the curse. It’s not evil. It’s…warmth and comfort…and energy and…”

Leif’s expression was doubtful, worried, and with a hint of fear. Alec hurried to reassure him. “I can see the curse if I wish, and feel it now that I know it’s there, but it can’t see me, not like you fear,” Alec rushed to explain. “I’m not a werewolf.”

“I know,” Leif said slowly. “But the curse drains anyone I form a connection with, and you’re…”

“What am I?” Alec demanded, though not harshly. He felt Leif’s racing pulse under his fingers where he still gripped his wrist. “What is the golden thread I see, alpha?”

Leif froze for a second, the words reaching him in a way they hadn’t before.

“A golden thread?” Leif asked, almost stammering. Alec nodded once, a firm dip of his chin.

“You’re my mate,” Leif burst out, eyes wide. “Fated mate. It’s rare, so very rare it’s nearly a myth even among werewolves, and not at all like the movies and TV shows portray. But this…you…you and I are meant to be mates. The longer you’re here with me, near me, the more the mate bond will grow and bind us together. And then the curse will…” Leif tugged gently on his arm but Alec refused to let go, stepping into the alpha’s personal space and looking up at him.

“What?”

“The curse will drain you of your life and years, and leave you a dead husk. I refuse to see that happen to you. So we’ll have a nice breakfast, and then I’ll escort you out of the woods to someplace safe, and you can get on with your life.”

Alec let go of Leif’s wrist but before Leif could back away, he reached up and wrapped his arms around that strong neck, and hopped up. Leif caught him immediately, hands cupping his ass.

He looked with his gift down at Leif’s chest, squinting. He saw a hint of something silver and very, very old magic, a tangled mess of glowing lines and torn sigils and a thread of silver that had a ripped tail, presumably where it once led to the witch, feeding her years and strength. The multitude of stolen lifetimes glittered within that shattered curse. With that connection sundered, the stolen years stayed with Leif. A horrible burden to carry, but it was not Leif’s fault or desire. He nearly died stopping evil from harming his people further, and while Alec mourned for Leif’s past, he was beyond grateful that the curse let Leif live long enough for Fate to send Alec his way.

The curse lay like the unfortunate, severed segments of a dead snake circling the shard of silver surrounded by scar tissue, and it made no move to intercept or follow the glowing golden thread that began at Leif’s strong heart, reaching out to Alec. If he concentrated, the mate bond was more substantial and visible, and when he let his ability to see magic relax, it returned to the faint sparks of golden flakes in sunlight.

Alec sighed happily and leaned in just enough to press a soft, gentle kiss to Leif’s lips. Wide, startled eyes stared back at him, and Alec decided he needed to be very clear with his very confused mate.

“I. Am. Not. A. Werewolf.” He made sure to enunciate each word very clearly. “That curse doesn’t even notice the mate bond. And the more I touch you,” Alec said with a wiggle, his fingers carding through long, soft hair— “the more I learn about that nasty curse. It won’t turn on me because it’s meant to kill werewolves, and I am not one. And once I understand it better, I’m very sure I can change the curse at a micro-magic level to stop it from killing any werewolves if we decide to join a pack in the future.”

Eyes searched his expression, and Alec held as tight as he could to his newfound mate when Leif finally seemed to accept what he was saying and took his mouth in a devastating kiss.

Leif kissed like he was dying and the only way to live was to leave Alec a whimpering mess of sexual desire and lust. He fisted both hands in Leif’s long hair and gave back as good as he got, tongues tangling, and he shivered in a wave of arousal when he felt claws prick at his skin through his sweatpants.

He pulled back, panting, and glowing eyes and a mouth full of sharp teeth greeted him when he finally took a deep breath. Grinning, Alec released one fistful of hair and traced his thumb along Leif’s lower lip, gently testing the edge of a fang that dropped from his upper jaw. A tiny droplet of blood welled up before a thin tendril of pain bloomed, and Alec was surprised by how much he liked it. Leif took the digit in his mouth and sucked the droplet off his thumb, making Alec moan softly.

“Are you certain the curse can’t hurt you?” Leif asked, squeezing Alec’s ass cheeks in his big hands.

“Very,” Alec promised, nibbling along that strong jaw. Leif smelled so good, and tasted even better, his skin like spring water and salt.

“And finding a mate who happens to be cursed isn’t off-putting?”

Leif sounded so worried about it, and Alec kissed his forehead, hugging Leif around the shoulders, delighted by the fact that Leif had yet to put him down. “I escaped a dead-end life and forced servitude to find a sweet, sexy, caring alpha werewolf who wants me forever. I have no complaints.” Alec paused. “Well, maybe one.”

“What? I’ll do anything.”

“I want more kisses.”

Leif’s grin was sharp and hungry, and Alec thrilled at it, wanting more, not at all afraid of those fangs or the hunting glow of wolf eyes.

A hint of smoke distracted them, and Alec found himself rushed across the room and gently deposited in the armchair as Leif attempted to save the burning potatoes, swinging the iron arm away from the hearth, and Alec gasped when Leif grabbed the scorching hot skillet with one bare hand, freed it from the arm, and then strode to the front door, trailing smoke behind him.

Leif opened the door and jumped to the grass past the stoop, dropping the smoking pan and the blackened contents and shaking out his hand. Alec sprinted from the chair and was outside to cradle the burned hand in both of his, wincing in sympathy and dismay at the reddened skin swelling with blisters.

“Are you okay?” Alec asked, despite seeing the proof otherwise. “I’m sorry I distracted us both while cooking, I could have started a fire.”

Leif had lost the towel in his run out the door, and it pooled now around his feet. He was unperturbed by the burn on his hand if the hardening cock were any indication, and Alec was torn between tending to the burn and seeing if he could get Leif even harder. He was both a grower and a shower, and Alec’d never been so delighted by a sight before.

The burn was red and angry, and yet even as Alec considered trying his hand at healing, something he’d never done before, the blisters stopped growing and began retreating, smaller and smaller until the palm was smooth and unblemished, and the red faded to a healthy tan. No trace remained.

“I knew werewolves healed fast, but I didn’t know it was that fast,” Alec breathed out, running his hand over the palm of Leif’s healed hand. “That’s incredible.”

“Normally werewolves don’t but I’m a different beast compared to my brethren. Old age never came my way, and each passing year I grow stronger. I heal about as fast as a master vampire now, I think. I would be wizened and decrepit at this stage if not for the curse.”

Alec looked up and met Leif’s eyes, and he knew Leif was still waiting for him to get scared or upset, and yet nothing in him was bothered by Leif’s peculiarities. Alec spent the summer making illegal drugs under threat of death, and then escaped his captors by blowing up the labs and the bad guys. He probably killed a few of them, too, and yet Leif was not at all shocked or upset when Alec told him what happened. He ached for Leif, and wanted to help him however he could. Mate or not, Leif was a good person and Alec wanted to help him.

Smoking pan at their feet, Leif gloriously naked, Alec breathed in deeply, taking in the cool autumn breeze and the weak sunlight around them. He inhaled a lungful of Leif, earthy and metallic with hints of blood, and the scents of damp leaves, and wet earth, and freedom. The damp grass under his bare toes, the slight warmth of sunlight on his shoulders, and the fresh breeze swirling in Leif’s long hair —it was a moment in time he’d never forget. Especially when the golden thread made itself known, a plume of heat and energy alighting in his core, prompting him to breathe in deep again, senses exploding, everything heightened.

Leif cupped the side of Alec’s face with his free hand, leaning down enough for their lips to brush together. “The mate bond is trying to complete itself. It’s happening quickly, but you can stop it or slow it down if you don’t want this.”

Alec shook his head even as he reached up and fisted a hand in that thick, soft hair, holding him in place. “I want you and the bond.”

He kissed Leif. No hesitation, fully accepting, and so very happy that Fate decided he should get lost in this wolf’s forest.