Page 19 of Ascendant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #6)
A few hours later, Schaawe Lake
Gray laughed at Marie and Kiah as they used the water slide in wolf form—howling on the way down and paddling back to shore to do it again.
William had left them in his care while he went to pick up Jack from the airport.
Apparently, the True Elder was bringing three shifters back with him because Luna had revealed something about their future that required an urgent visit to Gladstone.
The whole idea of active guidance from the moon left Gray with questions that couldn’t be answered to his satisfaction.
While he refused to discredit their beliefs, he didn’t fully understand this connection to Luna or how it worked.
As a non-shifter, he had to accept that certain things would not make sense, at least not yet.
Whatever their quirks or foibles, these people were strong, intelligent, loving, fiercely protective, and had the most well-adjusted families he’d ever seen.
Their free-wheeling views of sex and intimacy had caused more than one embarrassing moment in the few days since his arrival.
Aside from constant displays of affection, shifters seemed to enjoy bawdy comments, jokes laced with innuendo, and even open nudity at times.
Nolan and his mate Garrett, who apparently lacked filters, had a penchant for randy shenanigans and yet enjoyed a deep and abiding love that no one questioned.
The Diné were much more reserved and circumspect as a people, though Gray had always believed that loosening up a bit wouldn’t hurt.
Either way, he found that the residents of Gladstone enjoyed a great deal of freedom in their committed relationships.
Becoming mates was a lifelong venture, and it gave them a confidence and security that human couples rarely achieved.
From what he’d picked up without asking directly, shifter sex was both intense and extremely satisfying, though Gray’s inexperience left him unable to form a comparison.
With the travelers arriving soon, and the aroma of something delicious wafting through the air, the lakeside bunch decided to head towards the packhouse.
Besides sex, he’d discovered that food was a top priority for shifters—not surprising given their lupine nature and excellent sense of smell.
Kiah and Marie certainly noticed that it was time to eat; both of their bellies growling ominously after they retook their human forms. Gray helped towel them off and get redressed before they joined the others on their way to lunch and what promised to be a noisy welcome for Jack and the others.
############
The comfortable flight home had passed quickly, especially for Jack and Sergio who got a head start on teaching dreams. While they were occupied, Shane and Milo shared stories about their home with Dante and Nick, giving them some idea of what to expect.
After landing and retrieving their luggage, the group was quietly ushered into the airport terminal via a service door.
From there, they parted with their bearded human host and went to meet the van sent to fetch them.
Unable to wait a moment longer to see his mate, William had come along and greeted Jack with a multitude of hugs and kisses.
Now on their way to packlands, the van buzzed with conversation, mostly in Spanish, as Dante, Sergio, and Nick observed the forested but relatively flat terrain out the windows.
The drive didn’t take very long, and once they reached Highway Two in Rapid River, Jack imparted some advice.
“We will arrive shortly, and our people are waiting to greet us. Gladstone is a tactile group, so you can expect to receive many hugs. We will begin with lunch at the packhouse, and then you will be shown to your accommodations. Remember to speak English, since I am the only one at Gladstone who understands Spanish. Ben, Evan, William, and I will always be available if you have questions or need something during your stay.”
Nick barely heard a word Jack said, having picked up an enticing and arousing scent through the open windows.
What was that? Who was that? The closer they got, the more agitated his wolf became—threatening to shift and run off in search of that incredible aroma.
Unable to hide the spike of adrenaline, or his arousal, the other occupants stared at him in wonder.
Jack, however, knew exactly what was happening.
As they approached the security gate, he reached into Nick’s mind in an effort to short-circuit the normal shifter response.
Your mate is human.
Do not frighten him.
Control your wolf.
Slow and easy.
Jack gently withdrew as Nick’s expression revealed both need and confusion.
He’d never attempted something like this before and wasn’t entirely certain it would work.
The mating call was extremely powerful, and if Gray resisted Nick, the situation could become complicated. Jack opened the mind-link with William.
“Nick has scented his mate. While I keep him calm, send Evan a text. Ask him to monitor Gray when we arrive.”
William understood what was at stake and fired off a message by the time the van passed the upraised gate.
Moments later, he received a thumbs-up emoji and nodded to Jack.
Meanwhile, Dante was growling with concern for his friend and annoyed that Jack and Sergio had kept him in the dark.
In less than a minute, they’d all find out how this unusual mating would unfold, and then deal with the consequences.
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With only seconds to spare, Ben and Evan slipped in next to Gray and the twins at the front of the crowd.
Evan knew one of their visitors was meant to mate with Gray, but this pairing was extraordinary on many levels and instantly beset with baggage.
What was Luna thinking? At least here at Gladstone, the couple would have help and support when it came time to make difficult decisions about their future.
Gray stood next to Evan, holding the twins’ hands as they bounced with excitement to see their father.
Jack had been gone for several weeks, and judging by the size of the crowd, his friends had obviously missed him.
Did they always greet returning travelers and guests this way?
Gray supposed it reflected their bond as a pack, which was nearly as strong as individual family ties.
What would that be like? His wandering mind snapped back into focus when people began to wave and cheer as the van rounded the last bend and entered the parking lot.
The side door slid open, and William stepped down, followed by Jack. Next came their three guests—handsome shifters, especially the one in the middle. The one staring. The one walking straight towards him.
The crowd, including the twins, suddenly quieted down as the man approached, every eye watching him and the visitor. What was happening? Gray was about to ask Evan to explain when the man’s scent hit him like a freight train. Omega! No, no, no—not a repeat of what happened with Jonah!
His dick, now hard and hot, pulsed with desire, leaving Gray breathless and flushed.
The stranger didn’t stop to introduce himself or shake hands.
Instead, he wrapped Gray in his arms, pressed together from thigh to chest and cock to cock.
Lost in that incredible scent and the man’s body heat, Gray couldn’t help but pull him closer.
He responded with a rumbling growl that left shivery vibrations against inflamed flesh.
Nearly overwhelmed, Gray moaned when the sexy shifter planted his nose under his left ear, scenting deeply and leaving small licks and kisses. Only then did the words he was whispering finally get through to his addled brain.
“Mine. My mate. All mine.”
Mate? He was this man’s mate? But how… it couldn’t be …
they’d just met and… and… Gray’s confusion and doubt ebbed away, replaced by a calm acceptance of something he’d never imagined for himself.
Soon, the intense sexual desire that nearly brought him to his knees was reduced to a bank of glowing embers—still there, but no longer the only thought in his head.
When he opened his eyes, Gray found himself seated next to the handsome stranger on Ben and Evan’s couch.
How did they get here? Had he passed out in the parking lot?
Those thoughts were forgotten as the man gently cupped Gray’s cheek and pulled him in for a gentle kiss.
Plush lips and scratchy whiskers tickled and teased just long enough to reawaken his libido, and Gray stifled another moan.
Pulling back, he immediately missed the intimate contact, but there were introductions to be made.
“My name is Gray Claw. Why do you think I’m your mate?”
That prompted a small chuckle and a broad smile.
“I’m Nicolas Garcia, but I prefer Nick. You are my mate, and I know it because I recognized your scent before I ever saw you.
I wasn’t expecting a human, but that’s something we can talk about later.
What I really want is to get naked with you, though I’m starving.
How about lunch, and then we’ll get down to business? ”
Gray laughed at Nick’s honesty, and while he wasn’t opposed to intimacy with this beautiful man, it was probably better to eat first.
“All right. Where is everyone?”
Nick wasn’t sure how he knew, but the answer was on the tip of his tongue.
“They’re waiting for us in the packhouse. It’s just through that door over there. I can’t wait to introduce you to my friends.”
When they stood up, Gray reached out to stroke fingertips over the stubble on Nick’s face and kissed him soundly.
The man growled again and his eyes turned from dark brown to a warm amber—wolf’s eyes.
Gray shivered at the implied danger of Nick’s inner beast, but it thrilled rather than frightened him.
Nick grabbed a hand and tugged him toward the door.
“Come on, mate. If we don’t get going, I’ll end up riding you right here in the living room. Oh, by the way, I won’t like it if anyone touches you, and they can all smell our arousal, so don’t be embarrassed if they tease.”
Gray was still processing all of that when they slipped through the door into a packed lunch hour crowd.
The whole place erupted in cheers, whistles, and applause, turning his face fire engine red.
Nick tugged him through the crowd toward his friends who’d saved places and were waving them over.
As they sat down, Michelle and Perdy showed up carrying large plates of birria (goat) enchiladas, drinks, and dessert.
Nick wanted to sit on Gray’s lap, but the contact would have been too distracting.
Instead, he scooched over so they were touching from shoulder to thigh, and between bites, made introductions.
“Guys, this is my mate, Gray Claw. Gray, this Alpha over here is Dante Navarro. Next to him is Sergio Rivera, one of our pack True Elders. Maybe we can find mates for them, too, while we’re here.”
The surrounding tables all burst into laughter, and the men devoured their meal while they got acquainted.
They asked where Gray was from, what tribe he belonged to, if he had any siblings, and what type of work he did.
When he told them about being the unofficial caretaker of the new Lobo packs on tribal land, all three men wanted to know more about the restoration efforts.
In turn, they answered Gray’s questions about their families, jobs, and life back in León.
When the subject of their future came up, Dante answered for all of them.
“We don’t know yet, but I get the feeling we won’t be joining the pack in Chihuahua.
Luna seems to have something else in mind, but we aren’t sure what it is.
While you and Nick get to know one another, Sergio and I will be learning from Jack and Alpha Blair.
Whatever we end up doing, I want us to stay together if we can. ”
Once they finished their meal, Jack and Evan came over to see how everyone was doing.
While Evan spoke to Dante and Sergio about their housing and training, Jack gently probed the newlymates’ minds for problems. Thankfully, Gray had accepted the idea of mating with Nick, though he didn’t fully understand the implications yet.
Nick’s wolf, however, was insistent about turning and claiming Gray.
Jack convinced him to back down and simply enjoy their physical connection for now, buying time to address the couple’s unique situation.
During lunch, Nick’s things had been delivered to Gray’s quarters in Quad Four.
On their way there, Jonah and RJ intercepted the couple bearing sex toys, pain medication, and helpful tips for a comfortable mixed mating.
Nick appreciated the advice, and though he’d had plenty of practice bedding humans, none of those encounters were with his mate or sustained over several days of near-constant sex.
Gray, on the other hand, was mortified by the specificity of their advice.
His earlier amusement at shifter attitudes now became intensely personal, and he felt like a fish out of water.
Nick noticed the change in his scent and wrapped an arm around his waist as they walked the rest of the way to the Quad.
“Don’t worry, mate. We’ll go as slow as you need, and I’ll never hurt you. Trust me, you’re going to have a lot of fun while we figure things out. Now, let’s get in there so I can unwrap the gift Luna’s given me.”