Chapter 15

Fifteen

By the time Symon and his brothers had explained everything to their dad, he was grumpy, tired, and overhyped on sugar.

Adrian and Isaac had been playing video games and then sprawled together, napping, so he got on his laptop and did what he did best.

Business.

He fired off emails to his legal team, cc’ing Rian on them. He wanted Carl kept in jail, no bail. He wanted the Henry guy found. He wanted to know who was paying Carl for the code.

Then he got a hold of the building manager at the office to have him sign off on getting everyone back to work. Security, he beefed up. And he called Helene about managing the rest of the team for him while he dealt with Adrian’s life for a few days.

He caught himself sitting and growling.

He rarely growled, especially not at home, but he was definitely growling.

Symon wandered into the kitchen, just in case he was hungry, and Stan was standing there looking at him.

“What? What’s the matter?”

“You sprung an ear, man.”

Panicked, he reached up, finding nothing but his normal, human ears. He rolled his eyes at the tease and sort of smoothed his hair back, which, he had to admit, did seem a little shaggier than normal. “Ha ha, so funny.”

Stan stared at him for a minute and then smiled. “You know that it’s okay, right?”

“What?”

“You are a wolf, and that’s okay.”

Symon wasn’t sure exactly what that was supposed to mean. He wasn’t stupid. He understood that Stan was being comforting, but Symon had been there for Stan’s attack.

Symon had seen what happened. Symon knew one had to control the wolf at all times because terrible things could happen.

To good people.

“I am a wolf,” he admitted, “but?—”

Stan shook his head, interrupting. “No. No buts. I’ve been thinking about this, and you are a wolf and a man. And you’re a good man, but you’re also a good wolf. Just like there are bad ones. Just like there are stupid ones and scared ones and wild ones and urbane ones. We are who we are. And denying any part of that can’t help.”

Symon stared at Stan. “What happened to you? Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m absolutely fine.” Stan chuckled at him, obviously tickled. “I like Adrian. I like him a lot. He’s kind of a dork, but he’s a wolf too. A wolf whose best friend is a kitty.” Symon got a long, kind of judging look. “You and I have spent a lot of energy trying to be super Zen. Have you ever noticed how goddamn stressful it is?”

“I—” His mouth just kept falling open as he tried to talk. “I mean, yes. I just don’t want to be what everyone thinks we are.”

“So don’t be. But don’t deny half of yourself, either. I mean, is your dad a slavering beast?”

“No.” No, his father was the definition of a good alpha. Controlled, but in touch with the wolf so he could lead the pack.

“So what’s the hang-up? Is it me?” Stan tilted his head. “Because while I appreciate you and our relationship and our friendship, at some point you are going to have to lead the pack.”

He knew. He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle it, but he knew.

“And what are you going to do?” Symon asked.

“I’m going to come with you. I’m going to cook. I’m going to be Adrian’s friend. I will probably play with your children.”

“Aren’t you interested in finding a mate?” It seemed to Symon that everyone deserved to feel as wonderful as he felt right now.

“No. I have a good life. I’m happy. I have my books. I have my kitchen. I have television. I have games and time with you in the pool. I have long walks in the mountains. And I’m safe here with you, and that’s what I want.”

Symon didn’t know what to say, but he supposed it really wasn’t his place to say anything. So he nodded. “You will always have a place in my home. In our home. No matter what.”

“Fair enough. That’s all I ask for. Is a place to live my life. The way I’d like to.”

“And the periodic box of really, really good chocolate,” Symon pointed out with a wink. He knew Stan’s weaknesses.

“Yep. That’s one of the advantages of being a turned werewolf.” Stan chuckled. “It doesn’t make me queasy like it does you.”

“I still like it.” He sighed. “You’re right. I need to— You know what? I’m going to see if Adrian wants to go for a run with me.”

“Take your brothers and Cy. Just in case. And that way he can get to know the pack.”

“Good idea.” He hugged Stan. “Thank you.” Symon padded into the living room to wake his mate.

Adrian blinked up at him. What? What’s wrong?

Nothing. I thought I’d ask if you wanted to go for a run.

A run? Like…put on your tennis shoes and jog? Because, yeah, no.Poor Adrian looked utterly confused.

No, baby. Wolf out and run. I have some land. I thought I’d see if the brothers wanted to go. Maybe Cy. He waited for the inevitable shock. Hell, Symon was a little shocked himself.

“Oh.” Adrian actually said that out loud. I’ve—I haven’t run with the pack. Not since I was a kid. I’m not a very beautiful wolf.

Yes, you are.It didn’t matter to Symon that he hadn’t seen Adrian. Adrian could shift and be pink and purple with three legs, one ear, jiggety teeth, and a lazy eye.

And Symon wouldn’t give a shit.

He would know, his mate was beautiful.

Adrian rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to argue, and Symon just tugged him again. Come on, let’s go play. What do you have to lose?

Goddess knew he wasn’t on the table for that question.

All right, all right, I’ll go. Don’t let anybody bite me.

If anyone bites you but me, there will be hell to pay. Rules are rules.

Oh, look at you being all alpha wolfy and shit. It’s kinda hot.Adrian gave him a nervous grin but stood, carefully extricating himself from Isaac’s hug. How do we do this? Do we go to the bedroom and get naked? And then meet them on the porch? Adrian gave him a suspicious look. Do you have a doggy door?

I do not. Maybe Stan put one in. I never asked. He winked. Come on, baby. We’ll go out my patio door. Let me call the heathens. He took Adrian’s hand and led him to the private patio entrance he had, not the one off the family room. Rian. Quin. Cy. Come run with me and Adrian. Wolf attire only.

Coming, brother.

Yes, boss!

We’re running? Rock on, bro!

The happiness from the guys made him bounce.

Should I ask dad?

He’ll be hurt if you don’t, Quin told him.

You want to go run, Dad? Symon asked.

He felt his dad’s gentle humor. Next time, son. Take your mate out without me this time.

I will. Soon you’ll go with him as well. He couldn’t wait to see Adrian in his true form, in his wolf form.

Adrian raised an eyebrow.

“I was asking Dad. He said next time.”

Adrian’s relief was hard to miss.

“He’s not a bad guy.”

“Yeah, but you’re all amazing. I’m…me.”

“You’re my mate. That’s the most amazing thing in the world to me, baby.” He took a hard kiss. “Now show me your wolf.”

Adrian was nervous. Symon could see it in his eyes, but his lover stripped down, baring himself before swallowing hard and closing his eyes.

He willed Adrian’s wolf to come, to show for him, and slowly Adrian began to shift, the little wolf silvery and gray, eyes shining like the moon.

“Baby. You’re beautiful.” Adrian looked up at him, and he knew his wolf would say it better. So he shifted, letting his wolf come, and it was shocking, how easy it came.

Adrian bowed to him, muzzle on the ground. Mate.

Yes. My mate.He was glad he’d opened the patio door before he’d shifted. No doggie door. So beautiful. Ready to go?

He got a wide-eyed look. Beautiful? You make me so happy…

And you will make me happy for the rest of my life. He nuzzled at Adrian’s ear. Come on. See my territory.

Your territory. Adrian smiled a wolfy, toothy grin. Let’s go.

Rian and Quin joined them almost immediately, with Cy behind, watching their flanks as always. The big wolf was devoted to his pack, to the family, and having him there suited Symon to the ground.

They started to run, moving slowly at first as they headed up toward the mountain. As soon as they got deeper into the trees, deep enough to be able to play without any worries of seeing another human or even worse, being seen by one, they began to play.

Adrian was quick as lightning, slipping through the underbrush so easily that he could barely be seen. Symon imagined Adrian had had to learn to be stealthy early on. As pale as he was, he was like a shining beacon of oh, come shoot me.

On the other hand, he couldn’t wait to see Adrian in the snow. His mate would simply disappear.

Regardless, it was Adrian who caught the first rabbit, snapping it up without it even so much as getting out a scream.

And then Adrian brought it to him. Offering the tribute with a deep bow and a happy tail.

He nipped it carefully, offering Adrian the most tender parts. Symon expected to feel appalled that they were hunting, expected his Zen human self to be disgusted.

That didn’t happen. Wolves hunted. That was what they did. It was as natural as breathing.

And his mate honored him.

He’d never felt anything quite like this. Perhaps later it would confuse him, but right now it made perfect sense.

His mate was here. Loving him. Honoring him. Feeding him. And now he would do the same.

They took off, dancing and hunting, chasing tails and singing to the sky.

Three big red wolves, one gigantic gray wolf, and a tiny white wolf explored and hunted.

He’d hunted with his brothers for years, even if it had been a while, and it was so easy to fall back into familiar patterns. To allow Quin to flush out the prey. For Cy and Rian to take either side, and for him to go in for the kill.

Now they had Adrian to fill in all the blanks. To add to those places that they didn’t have each other. He was clever and quicksilver, just the most nimble little wolf he’d ever seen.

By the time they returned to the house, he was panting, and they found the water feature he’d set up in the yard just for this reason, drinking deep. Stan let them in, smiling at them as they all filed into the family room, flopping together in a pile of ears and tails.

Adrian came right to him. Grooming his whiskers, smoothing the fur on his face. Nuzzling his ears, making sure every hair was perfectly in place.

It was adorable, especially considering that Adrian, the man, was not the most…fastidious on earth.

Are you well, mate?he asked, and Adrian chuffed softly.

I have a pack. There was a satisfaction in the sound of the wolf that he had never heard in Adrian’s thoughts before.

You do. You’re not alone. Not anymore.

And neither was he.

He stretched out long, encouraging Adrian to curl up into his side to rest, muzzle on Quin’s flank.

Adrian wasn’t alone, and neither was he.

He had his pack, and he was ready to run, live with his mate, start his family.

As soon as he caught the sons of bitches that were trying take down his company, at least…

End