Page 14 of Take Two (Valleywood: Season Three)

Chapter 14

Declan

Please let me run .

You want to show off your skills to our m— friend . Geez, we’d swapped fluids and he’d been inside me. He was more than a friend, and I latched onto a hope that he wasn’t just a fuck buddy. But I couldn’t claim him as my mate. No, I could, but sleeping together and making one another come wasn’t the basis for a lifetime mateship.

That was a lot of thinking .

Phobos was ungodlike, or maybe he retained some of his godly powers—half a god?—but he might not be able to keep up with a wolf. It’d have to be more of a trot or a lope.

Fine. But go slowly . If my beast spied a fox or a deer, any agreement would be trampled on and instinct would take over until he’d made the kill.

My wolf jerked his head toward a thicket of trees, clumped close together, and he padded over the earth, scattered with remnants of snow. He glanced behind to make sure Phobos was following. He was, but I guessed he wasn’t about to break into a gallop.

As my beast was low to the ground, he avoided branches that smacked Phobos in the face, and our walk was accompanied by groans and “Shit,” and “Fuck.” Occasionally he matched my wolf’s pace, appearing at his shoulder, eyes glowing, before falling back and complaining about the great outdoors.

I picked up the scent of a rabbit as my wolf did, and while I begged him to ignore it, my request was futile. Instinct ruled and in this moment was stronger than the mating bond. He scrambled through the brush, weaving through the trees and leaping over logs. In the distance Phobos grunted and panted while yelling he wasn’t dressed for this.

The rabbit was heading for his burrow when my wolf gained on him, the fluffy tail bobbing just out of reach. The animal scrambled for safety, but my wolf snared his back leg and sank his teeth into the soft flesh.

This was the signal for me to withdraw deeper into my wolf, just as he did when I had sex. The skin and blood, the cracking of the bones, the sinew and the meat and tissue overwhelmed me. And I worried how Phobos would react. He was or had been a god of fear. He must have witnessed blood and gore during his long life.

A thought struck me. His long life. Did he live forever? Had he mentioned it? I trawled through my memories, but I didn't recall having that conversation.

There was a loud thunk on the ground as Phobos threw himself down and panted. He said nothing as my wolf finished eating but tried to catch his breath. He no longer held my clothes.

Enough. I’ll take my skin now. I’d have to return to my clothes naked—wherever they were—but I wanted to gauge Phobos’s reaction.

Maybe not the best idea to shift before my beast cleaned himself. There were twigs in my hair and blood streaked over my cheeks and chest.

“Now who’s the messy one.” Phobos removed a leaf from behind my ear.

“Not a fair comparison.”

He removed his coat and put it around my shoulders as we meandered back to where he’d dumped my clothes.

“You’re not grossed out? You know, by the killing?”

Phobos paused, and with his hands on my shoulders, turned me to face him. “Life is messy.” Using one finger, he bopped my nose. “Don’t say it. We’re not talking about my housekeeping skills.” He grinned. “As a god, I’d caused people to react in ways which led to a negative outcome. I can’t judge what the universe and evolution deem appropriate for a shifter’s beast. Besides, I’ve accompanied my dad into countless battles.”

Despite my superior shifter warmth, I was shivering, and Phobos put his hand in mine. His was so soft, as if he’d never done a day’s work. I guessed he hadn’t, according to what humans and shifters considered work.

Him witnessing me shift and my beast’s hunt had gone better than expected, so that was one item checked off the list of “things my mate should know about me.”

I hummed a favorite tune as we drove back to the bar, but Phobos rolled his eyes, saying I shouldn’t consider a career as a singer. Ouch!

Traipsing into The Wolf's Dan, our fingers entwined, Wren approached us. Her gaze went to our hands, and she gave an almost imperceptible nod.

“Someone was looking for you while you were gone.”

From which side of the family, I wondered. Was Deimos trying to stir up trouble even though it was obvious the business hadn’t gone under and was instead thriving? Or was it my father, back to try and guilt me into returning to the wolf shifter way of life and doing his bidding?

But when Wren described him, a ball of fury churned in my belly. I knew he’d return, but I’d wrongly assumed he would wait and come at me with a different argument.

I left Wren and Astor to manage the customers and fled upstairs, Phobos at my heels. I flung myself onto the bed, the mattress squeaking in sympathy.

“What can I do?”

“About me being the only son of an Alpha, and him wanting me to return to the traditional way of life where he gives me to an Alpha of another pack?” My voice was decibels higher than usual, and any shifters in the bar would hear it over the thump thump thump of the music blasting from the jukebox.

“Sorry.” I winced and pulled him onto the bed beside me. “The snark wasn’t directed at you.” It was, but it was Father who had my belly coiled in frustration and fear.

Phobos wrapped his arms around me, and I flung a leg over his hip, hoping I could forget the rest of the world existed and it was just us two. He rested his chin on my head, and we lay in silence, apart from the pulsating beat on the floor below. A giggle burst out of me because any pulsating last night and this morning had originated from us.

“Glad you can laugh about the situation.”

I didn’t have the energy to explain, so I held him tight.

“We can’t go on like this.” Phobos searched my eyes.

The words struck fear in my heart, and I gulped, hoping Phobos wasn’t going to disappear from my life. It was a lot having a serious relationship with a wolf shifter whose powerful father refused to accept that his son could make his own choices. And until I gave in to Father’s demands, the situation would never change.

“I don’t blame you if you want to leave.”

He tilted my chin so we were looking into one another’s eyes. Mine were filled with tears, but I was determined not to cry.

“Never.”

“Huh?” I was prepared to hear the words, “I’m sorry.” I must have been mistaken. “Not what I was expecting.”

He peppered my lips with kisses. “Me and my messy ass are not going anywhere.”

“Your ass is perfect.”

“Glad we got that settled. So, how do we solve this issue with your dad?”

I cringed. He wasn’t a dad. That suggested kindness, love, and protectiveness. Father had none of those qualities.

“There is a way, but it’s pretty drastic.”

Phobos’s mouth fell open, and he shook me, terror evident in his expression. “No. We are not doing that. There will be no jumping over a cliff, taking pills, or slumping in a carbon monoxide-filled garage.”

That was a huge leap, like the jumping over a precipice he described.

“I’m not suggesting that !” Though perhaps when I explained mating, he might reconsider. “You are my mate, the one fate chose for me.” I took a deep breath, trying to gauge his expression. “If we mark one another, Father cannot override that bond.”

No, there was one way. “Unless he killed you.” Shit, I said that out loud.

“You’re willing to be attached to my sorry ass for the rest of our lives?”

“Messy butt, sorry butt, saggy butt when you get old? Absolutely.” That sparked the question I’d asked myself earlier. Was he immortal? I had to ask, because if so, I would be a distant memory in centuries to come. Being dead, it wouldn’t matter to me, but he would be alone. Unless he was able to mate again.

“Your life span… is it similar to humans and shifters?” I couldn’t bring myself to ask if he’d live forever.

“Longer, much longer.” He put a hand on either side of my head. “As my partner and soulmate, your life will extend to match mine.”

There was a lot to unpack in that statement, thinking of me outliving my friends and neighbors. But he’d settled the issue enough for now. Knowing I’d live alongside him was a comfort. We’d discuss it in detail later.

“Wait!” He slid off the bed and complained that was the mattress's last squeak. “I’m buying a new bed today. Or you come live with me. But hold that thought.”

He kneeled on the floor, and I rolled to the side of the bed and hung my head over the edge. “What are you doing? Is this a god ritual?”

“It’s what humans do? I’ve tried to scare many of them so they don’t go through with it, but they’re a tenacious lot.”

That was true.

He took both my hands. “Declan, owner of The Wolf’s Den, son of an asshat Alpha, wolf shifter extraordinaire whose beast catches and kills wild animals, will you be my forever mate?”

“Of course I will.” I was giddy like a kid on their birthday. We kissed, and I got a tongue stuck in my mouth to celebrate.

“Is that it? Are we good?” He crawled over the floor. “If this had been my place before it was clean, I’d have found something to fashion into a ring.”

“Shame cereal boxes no longer contain toys.”

Phobos’s eyes lit up. “For sure, I would have found a ring in one twenty years ago.”

I didn’t need a ring or a piece of paper. “Mating is more involved than saying a few words. It’s not like a human wedding ceremony.”

“Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.”

I pursed my lips because I was in line for some afternoon delight.

“I need your cock.”