Page 32 of Ascendant Moon (Gladstone Shifters #6)
This wasn’t the same as RJ’s turning at all.
He’d been exposed to Jonah for over a year and had acquired enhanced senses.
He was, in some ways, wolf-like already.
No, Gray’s situation was actually more typical than the Gladstone family realized, and Dante prepared to intervene.
At the same time, Sergio touched Gray’s mind with gentle words of assurance.
“Your mate and friends are all here with you, Gray.”
We will not leave you.
“The shift happens fast and won’t even hurt, I promise.”
No fear. Embrace the change.
“Your wolf will know what to do.”
He is part of you. Trust him.
Gray stopped shaking and looked up to smile at his patient mate.
Nick gave him a soft kiss, helped him out of his shorts, and positioned him on hands and knees.
Sergio then beckoned Evie over, and she stood next to Gray, opposite Nick, placing her hand flat on the man’s back.
Both Omegas cranked up their scent, surrounding Gray with comforting pheromones.
Dante knew there would never be a better time, and aimed his Alpha power directly at Gray.
“Gray, SHIFT! ”
In a flash, Gray’s human body morphed into a beautiful Lobo, teetering on long legs.
Nick patted his rump, encouraging him to sit down while his head cleared.
Delighted, Evie stroked the thick ruff around his neck and scratched his ears, all while keeping him calm with her scent.
Nick sniffed and petted his wonderful mate, whispering encouragements.
Lobos were known for having individually identifiable features, unlike their larger cousins.
Gray’s face was strikingly symmetrical, with an almost completely white muzzle—except for a band of brown that started at the base of his black nose and merged with a mix of gray and brown on his forehead.
Both ears were edged with rusty-colored fur, along with his flanks and hind legs.
Evie couldn’t help but share her opinion.
“Your coat is soft and has so many colors! Mine is all white like my papa’s.”
That seemed to get Gray’s attention, and he licked the side of Evie’s face, making her giggle.
He stood up, then, following Nick on a quick stroll around the yard to get his bearings.
When Evie asked if she could shift, Nick joined her, and the three played and scented one another for several minutes.
Dante called them back over to the group so he could initiate the shift back to human and make sure Gray was handling things well.
At Dante’s command, Gray’s human body appeared—blocked from view by Nick. His mate held him close, murmuring reassurances.
“I’m okay. It’s just kind of strange now, but not scary. Can you show me how to shift by myself?”
Nick guided him through the mental preparation and Gray practiced shifting back and forth several times in a row to get a better feel for it.
That’s all it took, and Gray thanked Ben and the others, especially Evie, for their help and support.
Eager for a run with his mate, the pair headed off through the trees like a couple of young pups.
############
They returned to the quad about an hour later, famished and horny—much like Jonah and RJ had done last night.
Between Nick’s insatiable need to teach his mate the good stuff, and Gray’s new stamina, the pair spent a pheromone-soaked afternoon experimenting.
When suppertime finally rolled around, Dante pounded on the door, demanding that the couple make an appearance at the packhouse.
Nick dragged Gray into the shower while explaining why they couldn’t just ignore him.
“He’s right, love. We need to go or they’ll never leave us alone.
Chalk it up to shifter curiosity and plain old nose-in-everyone’s-business.
I mean, the pack’s been waiting for days , and they’ve never known someone who’s been turned before.
They need to actually see you and get a whiff of your new scent—ours too, now that we’ve claimed each other. ”
Even wiping a wet, soapy hand over their mating scars produced shivers and moans, almost derailing their need to get cleaned up.
As requested, Nick had bitten Gray closer to his shoulder rather than at the base of his neck, hiding the scar from casual human observation.
Nick didn’t like the compromise, and he only agreed to it because shifters would always know Gray’s mated status by his scent.
They paused long enough for a few heated kisses and then finished, dried off, and dressed.
Unfortunately, the bedroom was a total wreck, but they’d have to take care of that later.
Just outside the door, they found Dante and Sergio waiting for them, all smiles while they scented the couple with growly approval.
The area around the packhouse was strangely empty, except for Jonah and RJ on approach from their Eastside home.
They, too, wore fresh mating scars and Gray noted their combined scent.
Jonah inclined his head toward the packhouse doors and issued a warning.
“They’re up to something in there. Brace yourselves men. We’ll be lucky to get anything to eat if my suspicions are correct!”
Before they were even inside, the place exploded with cheers, clapping, and shouts of congratulations.
Jonah and RJ were floored to find decorations on the walls and tables, announcing his birthday and their wedding anniversary.
Focused on RJ’s turning, they’d lost track of the days and forgotten about the significance of September fifth.
The evening meal became a multi-layered celebration as both couples were congratulated, hugged, and scented by nearly everyone.
Many who’d feared the turnings, despite Jack’s assurances, were relieved that nothing untoward had happened to either man, and they heaved a collective sigh of relief.
When the meal ended, Perdy and Michelle brought out three massive sheet cakes—one for Jonah’s birthday, another for the Wilson’s anniversary, and a third to welcome two former humans to the fold.
Asked about their future plans, the four-pack (as they were being called) could only say that they were discussing options, unsure of their ultimate destination.
For now, they would remain at Gladstone until the details could be worked out.
RJ and Jonah, on the other hand, were planning to start their family at the next full moon on the nineteenth, and Robyn would serve as the contact person for any help the couple might need while Jonah was locked in wolf form for three months of pregnancy.
############
After supper, the Wilson home
RJ stood in front of the large bathroom mirror, checking out his new and improved body.
More muscle, fuller beard, thicker chest hair, perfect complexion, and a restored foreskin.
Jonah loved it all, though he’d been perfectly happy with RJ as he was.
RJ flexed and turned to see what he could while Jonah explored his man with soft but insistent hands, noting small changes all over his mate’s sexy body.
Pheromones soon filled the small room, and RJ scooped up Jonah, carried him to the bedroom, and divested him of his clothing.
Now that there were no longer any human-imposed limits on their sex life, they’d been having fun with increased endurance, speed, and an almost limitless refractory period.
With RJ’s restored foreskin, his sensitivity increased and Jonah enjoyed testing his mate’s limits.
Even his cum smelled and tasted different, motivating Jonah to extract more during their lovemaking.
Following an enjoyable sixty-nine, they snuggled together before turning in for the night. RJ shared a cheeky comment.
“We’ll have to practice the change mate sex, you know.”
Jonah growled and kissed RJ’s mating scar, giving the man a full-body shiver.
“That’s a good idea. We don’t want to waste Luna’s attention, after all, since full moons are a busy time. I’m sure we can squeeze it in.”
RJ growled as he kissed his mate breathless.
“Keep talking like that, Jo, and you’ll find out what else can be squeezed in .”
Jonah smiled at the thought, but left off with the teasing.
“Mmm…that sounds wonderful, but can we save it for morning?”
“Anything for my mate. I love you Jo.”
“Love you too, Rascal.”
############
Late evening
Eager to explore in moonlight, Nick led Gray on a meandering path that roughly followed Black George Creek.
They had no timetable or destination in mind, nor were they hunting prey.
Gray’s wolf, especially, was almost pup-like in his need to see, feel, and smell the forest—testing his senses in the dark for the first time.
Eventually, their stealthy exploration led to an encounter with an ornery raccoon, now hissing and snarling at them from the safety of a high tree branch.
Ready to change things up, Nick yipped playfully at his mate and took off at full speed.
As intended, Gray’s wolf eagerly followed—dodging trees, jumping over obstacles, and splashing through the shallow stream in pursuit.
Gray still found it odd to be a “passenger” in an apex predator’s head, observing and yet sharing in the moment.
There’d been some confusion when human and lupine natures clashed, but with each new experience they learned to trust, listen, and learn from one another.
Up ahead, Nick stopped abruptly in the middle of a tiny glade and lifted his muzzle to howl at the moon.
Gray joined him, blending their voices in the cool night air.
Others soon responded to the sound, creating a joyful celebration of new beginnings.
When the song ended, Nick began licking Gray’s face and ears—pheromones clearly revealing his desire to get frisky.
Gray’s wolf was certainly on board, but they’d never done it this way before.
Panting, Nick turned to present himself, tail up and off-center.
Gray’s wolf seemed to know what to do, and he ceded control to the beast—mounting Nick with short, rapid thrusts.
It took only moments for him to ejaculate, followed by the knot that would lock them together.
Gray’s wolf pulled Nick down to rest on the soft grass while they waited for the knot to release them.
It was an odd and fiddly coupling to be sure, though Gray assumed practice would improve their performance.
When they were free to move, a frenzy of face licking and body rubs ensued, covering one another with scent.
Intimacy in lupine form was undeniably limited in scope, but their wolves enjoyed it and it strengthened their bond.
With a final round of yips and licks, the pair took off for home at a leisurely trot.