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Deke

D inner ended not that long after Safi dropped that bomb. The Luna was really working her magic by handing us a ready-made solution right when we needed it most. Judging by her recent interference, we really were her chosen pack. I was ready to accept it for the massive gift it was. What had we done to be so generously guided? No clue. Didn’t care. I was just damn grateful for it.

Maybe we needed to make a statue for her, really honor her properly. I’d ask Dalton about it. He’d know if we could afford it. He’d also know someone to make it.

After we cleaned the kitchen, I made sure to burn an offering for The Luna out in the yard to give my thanks. She had done so much for the pack, giving all the betas the sickness and opportunity to change, guiding so many mates here, talking to us, visiting us, letting my cousins see their mom. Now there was one more thing to add to the pile. She deserved more than pieces of the meal I’d enjoyed with my mate and friends. I lit a candle for her, too.

“To our goddess, I give my thanks—“

“We give our thanks.” Ozyn joined me by offering up a couple of his flowers from the posy Safi had brought. I knew he treasured the sweet gift, so the act was more poignant.

“Right.” I squeezed his hand approvingly. “We give these to you for your continued guidance.” I looked up at the crescent moon. “For seeing your shifters and protecting them. We love and appreciate you for your continued support. Dalton and Larken were worried about bringing another life into their family soon after their babies. We tried to help, but it might take too long. You showed you are always listening by giving us a simpler solution through our friend. That way, they can choose to add to their family if they want to. Thank you for always guiding us and for the gift that is my fated mate.”

Ozyn added a dinner roll. “Thank you for never forgetting your promise to your brother and for my Deke. He saved me and I saved him. You gave me an equal in my mate. I am so grateful.”

The simple speech nearly brought tears to my eyes with how heartfelt it was. Our bond was wide open, meaning Ozyn could feel how much it affected me.

“Take me to bed?”

“Yeah.” Together we checked that everything was put away, switched off lights, and ensured the doors were locked. While we were in a heavily guarded area of the compound, we didn’t need to make it easier for anyone trying to get in.

I led Ozyn up the stairs, his hand in mine. My heart was full of joy. Our family was growing! My bond with my mate had settled enough for us to have friends over without incident.

Some of what I was thinking about must have hit the bond, because Ozyn laughed.

“No growling for a change. I’m glad you invited Safi over and that Winter came too.”

“Maybe next time we could have Chase join the party.”

“I’d like that. Chase has been kinder to me than I deserve.”

None of the lamps were lit in our bedroom. The only light was from the moon through the thin drapes. We only had the damn things because Kade didn’t want our home to look so barren. I’d insisted we have ones which let in the light, knowing how much Ozyn needed it to feel safe. Kade, understanding completely, had found the right ones.

My mate stripped and climbed into bed naked, beckoning me with a crooked finger and a smirk. He looked so perfect bathed in moonlight.

Eager to join him, I dropped my clothes on the floor and jumped in next to him.

Ozyn’s giggle was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard. I wanted to do anything to make him laugh again. Instead, I captured his mouth with a deep kiss, pouring all my love and joy into it. He’d made me the luckiest wolf ever when he’d flown through the portal to find me.

Soon I had Ozyn writhing under me as my hands explored his lithe body. He’d really developed a healthy shape. I was so proud to call him mine. I followed my hands with my lips and tongue next until I was pushing my tongue into his soaking wet hole.

“Ah! So Good!” Ozyn cried as I ate at him, loving the taste of his slick. I nosed at his balls, licked over his cock, then suckled the head, making him squeal.

I laughed against his entrance. He wriggled. “This okay?” I held his thighs apart. Confining him in any way could be a trigger to him. I wanted to ensure his comfort. He was the love of my life, he deserved that and more.

“Yes.” I felt his gratitude for checking.

Holding my prize, I worked him open more with my tongue, then slowly with a couple fingers.

Eventually, I felt Ozyn get restless. “Please! I need you.” Ozyn looked frantic.

“What if I just want to please you like this? Would you come on my fingers with your cock in my mouth?” I licked the drop of precome at his crown.

“No! Your knot! I want it!”

Now that he had made his demand, I couldn’t think of anything better than giving him what he wanted.

I slid inside my mate slowly. Wrapping him in my arms, I pumped my hips when he let out a long breath and relaxed around me. He felt amazing.

We moved together under the light of the moon for a long time, kissing, touching, enjoying each other’s bodies until Ozyn’s release pulled mine from me. My knot forming prompted another, smaller orgasm from Ozyn.

Rolling us, I carefully adjusted my sleepy mate, so he was draped over my chest. “I’m so proud of you. The way you let me hold you felt awesome.” It had been a risk. I was worried he would panic about being boxed in, but he’d just held my eyes, letting his love show. He’d sunk into the pleasure of the experience rather than let bad memories win.

“Thank you,” he whispered. Then, in a stronger voice, he changed the subject. “Tomorrow we should visit Aldrin and ask how he is coming along with the blood sample I gave him.”

My laugh jostled him. “It’s only been two days.”

“Exactly. It will take him a long time to isolate what he needs in my blood if he manages it at all. Should we not take the pressure off and tell him about the moonroot?”

“We can do that. I’m sure James will appreciate Aldrin having the extra time to do what we thought was impossible until you. Having more than one source of heat control gives omegas and deltas options, which can’t be a bad thing.” Speaking to Aldrin would be good for another reason. “Can he check you and the babies over?”

“Hmm? Yes, though it’s unlikely he will see anything at this early stage,” he said dismissively.

“No, probably not, but I want to check that you are doing okay. You are more important right now.” I stroked the hair off his face. I loved his messy curls.

“Alright. We can ask him when we visit.”

“Good. Larken can cover me for a bit.”

Ozyn was silent for so long, I thought he was asleep. “I think we should go to Abrocaelum to get the moonroot. We can have my family meet me at Ulrian’s castle.”

“Are you sure you want to go back there? Can’t we send someone else?”

“We would be faster than anyone else. Also, while I don’t want to go, I think I have to. It will give me… closure, perhaps. Abrocaelum was my home, it is somewhere our children will need to see, connect with. It is possible they will never be allowed to fly here without issues.” He was quiet for a moment, but I sensed he wasn’t done. “I need to make my peace with the fae now Laer is living there.”

“Good point. I’m not sure I like it.”

“I know. It is for the best, though.”

“It’s alright to be selfish and protect yourself. If you aren’t ready—“

“The longer I leave it, the harder it will be.”

I felt his resolution then. “You are strong, Ozyn. The strongest of us all.”

Proving he never held grudges for long even though I was right, Blake came with us to the meeting with ívarr and Aldrin in the science building next to the clinic. I hated both places on principle. The false cheer inside, along with the smell of antiseptic, was enough to turn my stomach.

Ozyn caught my trepidation and gripped my hand. Just being closer to him made me feel better. I wished we could have done the meeting anywhere else.

On my other side, Blake clapped my back. “Let’s do this.”

The goddess knew I loved Aldrin. The man had saved my life, the lives of my friends. He’d been there for births and for the death of Janet. He was a healer and father I admired.

He could talk, though. On and on he went about things I just plain didn’t understand. Ozyn and Blake were nodding along. Maybe they understood some of it.

Not a word , Ozyn confirmed. Just being polite. Aldrin has seen me at my worst too many times.

I felt a pang of sympathy for him. Never mind my issues with the place, Ozyn’s were worse.

“Aldrin, sorry to interrupt, but I’m sure you want to get back to your research. Can you summarize what you’ve learned so far?” Blake was always the diplomatic one.

“Ah, I am anxious to get to it. Not a whole lot is the answer. There are a number of things which are dragon only traits. Not unexpected. Between shifters and dragons there will be overlap, I’m sure of it. I just need time, which I don’t have a lot of before Dalton’s heat.”

“We have another solution,” I said smugly. Blake sat up straighter, his head whipping round to look at me. Aldrin, ívarr, and James stared at me.

“Do tell,” Blake’s tone was dry.

You do it, I sent to Ozyn.

“We were talking about it at home when Safi and Winter were over for dinner.”

“Heard you had a dinner party. Kade had a bit of a pout about not being invited,” Blake teased.

“Next time,” I drawled. “Now, Ozyn was talking.”

“Yes we were talking about dinner at Dalton’s home and how I interrupted it with your visit. I said you, James, had taken a sample and you and Aldrin were examining my blood for a solution. It was Safi who knew what we needed. He reminded me they had a medicinal plant to control the heats of shifters the fae had stolen for their fighting rings.”

“Of course!” ívarr breathed. “I do not remember the name, but it was effective. Once use was discontinued the heat cycles returned very quickly.” His eyes were lit with his enthusiasm. As usual he blundered along. I liked the elf but he didn’t have much in the way of social graces. He was a man of science above all things. “Hakeem told me about it. There were times I had to attend to recovering omegas, you see.”

Aldrin nodded. “Your stories of their treatment were harrowing. So what is this plant and how do we get some to try?”

“It is called moonroot,” Ozyn answered.

“Moonroot! Of course!” ívarr gave a laugh. “How did I forget that?”

My mate continued, ignoring the interruption. “We will have to return to Abrocaelum and visit the fae. There, we will petition Ulrian to allow us to take samples home.”

Ozyn’s simple use of the term home to mean the pack brought smiles to many faces, Blake’s especially. Despite the sparring match, I knew Blake liked my mate.

“Alright,” our Alpha said easily. “A trip will take a few days to a week, do you think?” Ozyn nodded at him. “You’ll need Safi of course, your mate, Chase maybe? To act as my proxy. Aldrin?” He glanced at the healer. “Do you want to go? Of course, James will go with you. We’ll still have healers here.” Turning back to Ozyn he asked. “Is that too many or too few?”

I enjoyed Ozyn’s puzzlement over Blake deferring to him.

“These are your people, Ozyn, your land. You choose what and who you need to get us a few samples of the plant. We will need a few with roots to see if we can grow it here and still have it be effective,” Blake carried on. Aldrin and ívarr were nodding along, so clearly Blake knew what he was talking about.

“If we are taking so many, which is the right thing to do because they will know more about the science, I will need a couple of days to get in touch with my family. I can fly with two passengers. More is dangerous, so we will need others to fly them to fae territory, otherwise our trip will be much longer and the plant could die on our return.”

Blake obviously agreed. “Good thinking,” he praised, making Ozyn blush and grin. Goddess he was fucking cute.

“Flying on a dragon?” James whispered, an excited gleam in his eyes. “Oh yes!”

“Oh no,” Aldrin muttered.

“You’re about to be Chase’s favorite. He’s been bragging about going flying since Vale took him,” I told my mate. His pleasure over the proposed trip sang along our bond.

Blake groaned. “Chase is going to be insufferable.”