12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

Without realizing it, he had fallen asleep. Maltin was on the bed, kissing him awake as his eyes fluttered open. “Maltin. How long have I been sleeping?”

“A couple hours, my darling. Food is here. It took us this long to agree on what to order, so we ordered everything.”

“I’m starving.”

He got up, stretched, and started to get off the bed, but Maltin stopped him. “You were smiling in your sleep. Are you…better?”

Remembering his vow before he’d napped, he smiled at Maltin. Maltin’s brows were drawn harshly, and his worry evident. “Yes. Much. I’m happy, Maltin. Maybe the happiest I’ve ever been.”

“Thank goodness. I…thought maybe, finding out about the…about having children, that it might have been too much.”

“Promise me, Maltin, you won’t ever put expectations on our kids. I don’t ever want them to feel like we’re disappointed in them.”

“Well, dear, you have to know, I’ll expect them to do well in school and be good and productive people.”

“Yes, yes, besides that! Like, we’d never expect them to be rich and fancy, or have powers they might not have, or…you know.”

“I know. You’re wonderful for worrying about that, but it’s unnecessary. I just want them to be happy and healthy like I want for you.”

“Then feed me!”

As they walked down the stairs together, Maltin confessed, “I did make that appointment. Tomorrow, we’ll go, and if the doctor says it’s okay, I thought we might as well travel to see the Pengroves.”

A knot formed in his stomach. and he felt like vomiting. “See them. God, Maltin, they’ll be so happy to learn I’m not theirs. That’s going to hurt, no matter what I might think.”

At the bottom of the stairs, he was suddenly in Maltin’s arms, and he felt Maltin’s love emanating from him. “Jack, you have me, you have Rodney and my mother and the rest of my insane family now. No matter what!”

“I like that. I like that a lot, Maltin.”

“Good. Let’s feed you.”

The spread was huge. Chinese takeout, pizza, and burritos. Rodney was pouring the drinks, including some virgin ones for Jack.

They had a good time that evening, keeping the talk of shifters and family out of it. Jack relaxed more than he thought he could.

When it was time to retire that night, Maltin handed his uncle a pillow and blanket and pointed to the couch. “It’s comfortable,” he said.

“You must be out of your mind, Malty! I don’t lay my pretty head where others sit their behinds!”

Jack watched in awe as Rodney started twirling his pointer finger around in a circle as his hand stretched before him. “ Expandere! ”

As Maltin and Jack watched out of the big windows, the wall grew outward, the two windows bricking over to blind them to the rest. Yes, the windows disappeared, but the sound of brick scraping against brick was loud, causing Jack to cover his ears with his hands.

Then, when the scraping stopped, a door appeared out of nowhere in the center of where the windows had been. “There. A nice suite for me while I’m here, complete with private privy.”

Maltin laughed while shaking his head. “The couch is good for most, Rodney.”

“I’m far from most, Malty.”

Jack stepped toward the door, then asked Rodney, “May I see?”

“Of course, dear boy! Take a gander at my immeasurable prowess when it comes to magic. Well, when it comes to anything, really.”

“Dear gods and goddesses,” Maltin groaned.

Jack opened the door, and he blinked at what he saw. If he hadn’t been around witchcraft most of his life, he’d have never believed his eyes.

It was glorious. The room had expanded inside much bigger than it could have outside, but that was magic—the impossible becoming possible.

A bed was in the center of the far wall, which was currently lined with stained glass windows.

The floors were shining walnut, and traditional antique furnishings were like antique silver, a king-sized bed with tufted champagne silk material framed in ornate swirling frosted silver and gold-brushed oak. The headboard was nearly six feet tall, the footboard half the size, leaving a nice back for the tufted bench at the bottom of the bed.

The huge dressers and nightstands matched perfectly, painted gold in place of the tufts of the bed and every piece of furniture had beautiful claw feet.

The bedding matched the champagne color of the tufting, and thick pillows cascaded to the center of the bed.

The ceiling was adorned with murals of clouds and cherubs, and the wardrobe was open, showing lines of fine clothing. Jack was impressed, to say the least. “You’re more powerful than even I imagined.”

“Why, thank you, kind sir.”

“Don’t blow smoke up his ass, Jack. He does that plenty on his own.”

As Jack giggled, Rodney pinched Maltin’s cheek. “Such a jealous boy.”

“Ass,” Maltin accused, laughing.

“Go to bed and make a litter of pups for your mother to enjoy in her golden years.”

“Her golden years were a hundred years ago, or more, but you’d never know it looking at her. Goodnight, Rodney, and rest well. You’ll need all your strength in case Jack’s former family is in a fighting mood.”

“Pish, posh,” he drawled.

Jack lay in the bed with Maltin, being held from behind as they spooned. “Jack,” Maltin whispered. “Are you going to be okay, doing all this?”

“No, but I have to.” His heart hurt, knowing how relieved the Pengroves would be that he wasn’t theirs. “I never wanted to hate them.”

“It’s hard to hate family, Jack. But you’re loved now. I can tell Rodney’s already taken with you. My mother will pretend to be cross, but she’ll come around quickly. And, when she’s acting cross, know it’s her own fears that she kept my father from a fated mate, and his destiny to become a shifter. It’s not you or me.”

“That would be hard to live with, I suppose.”

“Sleep, my darling. Tomorrow will be a long, strange day for us both.”

He woke to see an Asian woman carrying a tray of breakfast foods and a silver pot of coffee. Jack sat up and scooted back against the pillows and piping of the headboard. “Maltin! Maltin, wake up!”

Maltin woke with a start, but once he saw the woman, he sighed, “Dammit, Rodney.”

“He asked me to bring this to you. The chef prepared fresh croissants and fruit for you, as well as poached eggs and Turkish coffee.”

“Rodney,” Maltin called out, and up the stairs came his uncle, silk peach-colored robe around him and white ascot around his neck. “Yes, Malty?”

“You scared Jack half out of his wits!”

“So sorry, dear boy. I wasn’t a bit tired last evening as I’d thought, so I went out and found this lovely lady.”

The woman sat the tray on Maltin’s lap and blew a kiss to Rodney before descending the stairs.

“Really? Bringing strangers here? And what chef?”

“My personal chef! Do you expect I eat cornflakes?” he asked with a scowl. “Please!”

Jack couldn’t help but laugh at their friendly banter, trying to disguise it as conflict. The thing he’d longed for all his life was heavy between them, familial love, and more than that. They knew one another. Faults, fears, fun, and memories lay between them, and Jack was terribly envious of them. One day, he hoped to have the same with…anyone.

“I’ll send him back to your mother by ten, no worries, Malty. What would she do without her morning soft-boiled eggs and toast corners?”

Jack took a strawberry from the big bowl of fruit, and once he bit into it, the sweetness enveloped his entire mouth. “Wow!”

“Only the best, Jack. Only the best! We imported these from Japan this morning, fresh off the vine, and the cantaloupe is from Rocky Ford, Colorado. Never accept second best,” he said, then playfully frowned. “Well, too late for that, but I’m not gay, so you’re stuck with second best, I’m afraid.”

Maltin laughed and held up his fuck-you finger to his uncle. “Go away and let us eat.”

“Of course! I have new clothes for the both of you for our trip to see Jack’s former parents and a limo will be here soon to whisk us away to the doctor and then on our longer journey, so eat up, shower, and get changed.”

Jack ate all the strawberries as Maltin picked at a croissant. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m a worrier, Jack. I must confess this now before I surprise you.”

“Oh, right, because I hadn’t noticed it from the first minute I was here.”

“Excuse me?”

Jack laughed as he took one of the croissants. “You worried over me touching your precious cars. I got it. If I had those, I’d worry too.”

“Well, yes, they were…I’m afraid that was my only love for a long time. Now, that has changed.”

Jack’s chest warmed at his meaning. “I’m glad, but you can still love the cars. I won’t be jealous.”

“So big of you, my love.”

Jack heard the words, and he warmed more. My love…how he’d longed to be loved at all, and after all the waiting, he was. He knew at that moment that he could face his hateful family with the strength of a million men.

Ashes of hatred had suffocated him, choking any loving feelings from him, but he had spat out those ashes at last, finding a clear, sweet love.

After eating the best croissant he’d ever imagined, so buttery and light, he was ready for the day. “Meet you in the shower?”

“I’ll be there presently.”

Jack didn’t have to wait long, as Maltin was getting into the tub with him minutes later, closing the curtain that hung from the oval hanging rod behind him.

He was taken into Maltin’s arms, and soon he felt Maltin’s chin resting on his shoulder. “We’ve had little time to be alone. I hope you are okay with that.”

“I’m fine, Maltin. I’m only scared, I guess.”

Maltin moved his head, resting his forehead against Jack’s as he chided, “No need for it. You’ll have us there with you.”

“I know. I’m more scared of the doctor right now. My fear of my family will come after, I guess.”

“My love, I know it’s all so new and frightening, but we’re two people now. We’ll take all of it on together, face it, fight it, whatever we need to do.”

Jack wrapped the naked, wet man in his arms and cried a little on his shoulder. He’d never been able to let down his guard like that, but with Maltin, he knew he could. He felt deep in him that Maltin would never judge him or hate him. They were two people and one heart, after all.

Dressing in the suits Rodney had given them, Jack felt like an imposter. His was grey, matching his eyes perfectly, and the silk T-shirt he wore under the jacket was so soft that he felt like sleeping.

That’s how he felt. Soft, warm, and loved, and he could sleep with how good it felt like he could finally lay down his stress and walk freely.

Maltin’s was red, and he looked wicked in it. A tie of pure crimson was around his neck, and his shoes were muted black like the button-down shirt under his jacket. He and Rodney were like twin opposites, as he wore a black suit with a red shirt.

Together, they were like a high-class boy band. They rode in the limo, Rodney facing them as they said hand in hand, an easy tune playing through the speakers. Rodney sipped cognac, but Maltin teased him about how early it was in the day.

“It’s nighttime where I’m from, or nearly. France misses me, so I’m waving to it in the best way I know.”

“Misses you?”

“Yes. I am the apple on that tree.”

Rodney stayed in the waiting room while he and Maltin entered the doctor’s office. After being given a long questionnaire to fill out, Jack nervously wrote his shifter identity; the nurse took his vitals and then took his form. “Oh, hellhound. That’s rare. The doctor will be in soon.”

She hadn’t flinched at learning what Jack was. “Did you see that?”

“Jack, do you think we’re special? I’m sure the doctor has seen almost all forms of supernatural creatures come through here.”

“Still. I…I about puked writing it.”

Maltin took his hand, kissing him over the knuckles. “Stop being so scared of us, baby. We’ll be fine.”

The doctor came in, and he and Maltin both swallowed at the same time. Talk about a doctor being sexy—the man was beautiful.

Sunkissed skin that glowed bronze, reddish-blond hair that looked like he was on fire, and as hot as he was, he could have been. Smiling to show perfect white teeth framed in cherry red lips, he nodded to the two of them and said, “I’m Dr. Cleveland Morris, Jack, and…” he looked at the paperwork, but Maltin wasn’t listed.

“Maltin Graves, Dr. Morris.”

“Maltin, good to meet you, Jack.” Looking back at the paper, he asked, “Hellhounds?”

“Yes,” Maltin answered with his head held high. “We both are.”

“Mated hellhounds?”

“Yes, he’s my mate.”

Jack was glad Maltin was there. He couldn’t form words for anything.

“Very nice. Congratulations. I’m a horse shifter, which is why I’m one of the city's leading veterinarian/human doctors.”

Knowing he was a shifter made Jack calm considerably. “That’s…that’s great.”

The doctor stared at Jack for a moment. “You look nervous.”

“He is doctor. We’ve only discovered our shifter animal very recently, and Jack never knew he was a shifter at all. He was…let’s say, adopted into a witch family.”

“Ah, I see. Well, welcome to the family, Jack.”

Maltin winked at him and Jack felt a lot of his nerves calm. “Thank you.”

“It says here you think you may be with child. Well, shifters are very similar in most things, like breeding, but exceptions exist. Avian shifters, for example, have different rules than most, but hellhounds are far different still,” he told them as he sat on a stool. “Have either of you shifted yet?”

“No,” they answered in unison.

“Well, even without an examination, I can tell you that you won’t be pregnant. Hellhounds must shift first at least once before becoming pregnant.”

“Oh?” Maltin asked. “I…I knotted when we made love, so I thought…”

“Of course, and that is how it will happen. You’re the alpha, I’m taking it, and you will knot at times; other times, you won’t. It’s telling you, however, that you will be shifting soon. I can’t tell you when because that isn’t known. Hellhounds find their mates differently; they mate only after shifting at least once, and their gestation is short.”

“Short?” Jack was back to being anxious. “So, what? I can just have litter after litter?”

“No. The other thing about hellhounds is that they’ll only give birth once. That’s why, for one reason, they have more than one child, usually. There’s no guarantee that there will be more than one child; it’s just what has been observed. Believe it or not, most hellhounds are like you, Jack. They are afraid they’ll be misunderstood and they’re not entirely wrong. Some people hear a man is a hellhound, and they…are worried that the hound is coming for them.”

Maltin told Jack, “I read ahead a little in that book. It said a bit of this. I just…I trust doctors more than books, I’m afraid.”

“Yes, but Maltin, we learn much from books. I’ve never met a hellhound, but my mentor met two. They lost one of their children but had three others, so they were able to go on after mourning.”

Jack grabbed Maltin’s hand. “That was me,” Jack said without thinking.

Maltin explained, “He was given to the witch family after the witch mother had a stillborn.”

“Oh? Are you sure?”

“Yes, very.”

The doctor stood and stepped to the exam table as if he needed to hold onto it to steady him. “This is disturbing, to say the least. My mentor passed a few years ago, and…before he died, he told his wife he had to confess something. She never knew what it was.”

“I’d bet it was about me.”

Slapping the table, the doctor said, “Can you get up here and undo your pants for me? I’ll do an ultrasound to assure you’re the bearer of the children.”

Maltin watched Jack moving to the table and said, “Doctor, this won’t go further from us if it won’t for you. If the doctor is dead, then I’m sure Jack’s witch parents will have to let it go.”

“Let’s hope. My mentor has a family. I hope they don’t become set on retribution.”

Jack felt like a tiny man in a world of giants. Maltin sensed this and stood next to the exam table, holding his hand. “Let’s get on with this, doctor. My mate will get sick if more worry is piled onto him.”

“Of course. I’m sorry, Jack.”

The ultrasound felt strange, the cold stick with lubrication to move it easier over his lower abdomen. It wasn’t long before the doctor told him he indeed had the organs inside of him to carry children. “See there? Your uterus and birth canal branch off your rectum. Quite different than a female, but there it is.”

“I’m a freak,” Jack said, then the doctor frowned at him.

“If you are, I am, and a lot of others, Jack.”

“Sorry. I just…never expected any of this. It’s not easy to get used to.”

Maltin’s hand gripped his tighter, and he told the doctor, “He’s thought he was a powerless witch all his life.”

“This is better,” the doctor told Jack. “I promise.”

Jack looked into Maltin’s eyes, knowing that was the truth. “You’re right.”

“Good. We all come with issues, Jack. Some of us have to get used to flying, some having four legs; others, like you, are made for an even greater destiny. We all have roles to play, and yours, well, you take evil from this world. That’s the most important one, if you ask me.”

Jack hadn’t thought of that. “Thank you, doctor, for…all of this.”

“So, another thing, you will go through a…season. But they won’t last long and won’t produce children yet, so I’ll give you a suppressant, and once you turn, know that when Maltin enters you and knots, there is a great chance that you will have children.”

Jack sat up after redoing his pants. “Will they…come out like babies, or puppies or what?”

“Children, human children, Jack. They, like you, won’t automatically shift until they’ve found their mates and will produce too, but that could be centuries.”

“Centuries?”

“Yes, Jack. Hellhounds are rare! Only so many come into the world, and then they may not have children for a long time. You’re very young to have found your mate. Some never do.”

Maltin held up his hands and said, “Wait a moment, doctor. My father could have children with my mother, who wasn’t his fated mate. They had me. I’m only half a shifter.”

“Then you’re very rare, but it’s not impossible. He wasn’t the one who carried you, I am guessing.”

“No. Of course not.”

“Then that is the reason you are here. And you, Maltin, may never shift. Not all children of shifters shift. Those that aren’t full, like you, I can’t tell you if you will or won’t. I wouldn’t expect to, however. I’m sorry to break this to you.”

“No, no, thank you. We need to know all we can, of course.”

When they left the office and returned to the limo, they filled Rodney in on everything the doctor told them. Rodney listened and then was sympathetic. “It’s a little sad you might not shift, Maltin. You have finite witch power, and it seems possibly no shifter power.”

“I’m fine with it. As long as my mate is okay, that’s all I care about.”

Rodney nodded quickly, then pulled out the carafe of cognac. “Let’s drink, then! Jack can finally take a sip, which may help his nerves. We’re about to head into the witches’ lair!”