by Marie Medina
I don’t even actually know where it is the Fens live. Northern Europe is all I’ve been told. The sky was constantly gray and overcast, and I didn’t notice anything that could give me a clue. Hell, I wouldn’t even know if there had been something about the landscape or trees or anything that could’ve given me a clue. I don’t anything about vegetation or levels of snowfall or length of days. Ryden said the borders were protected somehow. Is it an encapsulated world like the island where the fae court is? Do humans just stay away instinctively, or can they literally not get in? Other fae races live all over the world. Are their attitudes toward the Fens the same?
Owen looked up because everything seemed quieter suddenly. Erik and Ryden had stopped their exercise, and Ryden strode toward him with concern on his face.
“Everything okay?” Owen asked as his mate sat down on the wooden bench to his right.
“I was about to ask you that,” Ryden said, reaching for Owen’s hand. “It was past time for a break anyway, but I could feel the worry building inside you. I want to know what’s causing it.”
“I didn’t mean to distract you.”
“Didn’t say that. I could block it if I had to. What’s wrong?”
“You have to ask? It’s not as if it’s changed.”
“I sense it’s more than just anxiety about me failing the challenge to come.”
Owen thought about the things Ryden had said about being able to sense his feelings. “It’s gonna be hard to hide things from you, isn’t it?”
Ryden frowned. “I don’t want you hiding anything from me.”
“I didn’t mean maliciously. I meant in a not burdening you kind of way.”
“Even though we haven’t sealed this with vows, for me it’s a done deal. You are my burden, and I am yours. Since we’re in it together, we’ll both bear the load, which will make it easier.”
“That sounds wonderful, but a bit too simple.”
“Doesn’t mean it can’t work. If you aim for the ideal, what you actually get can come pretty close at times,” Ryden said, running his thumb over Owen’s knuckles. “Erik and I will continue tomorrow. Would you like to go for a walk? Tell me more about what’s bothering you?”
“Sure,” Owen said, closing his book and rising.
Ryden kept hold of his hand, tugging at it as he stood. “You sound so excited.”
Owen sighed.
Ryden squeezed his hand but didn’t press, which Owen realized he appreciated. They walked away from everyone else, and once they were on a garden path a little distance off, Ryden quietly asked, “Are you having second thoughts, little one?”
“I’m wondering how I’m going to live up to the expectations people are going to have of me.”
“And who has said something to worry you?”
“No one.”
“So you’re worrying yourself for nothing?”
Owen gazed up at him. “Nothing? Don’t you remember telling me how I’d never be accepted?”
“Under a clan leader who was opposed to such unions, yes, that would have been the case. But once I’m clan leader, no one will dare disrespect you.”
“But will they actually accept me, or just pay lip service and keep up appearances?”
“I can’t speak for nearly two hundred people. Some will be indifferent. Some will like the fact you’re an omega and can give me children. Some may resent you. Look down on you. Many may see you as weak. Think I made the wrong choice and maybe even say so. But in time, you will show them what is inside you.”
“And what’s inside me that’s so great?”
“At this moment, you’re worrying you will let me down in some way. That you won’t be good enough. You’re doing that because you don’t want to disappoint me. I like that you value me so highly. Even if it is only because we’re mates.”
Owen stopped in the middle of the path. “It’s not only because we’re mates.”
“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” Ryden drew closer and caressed his cheek. “You going to say you love me, little one?”
“I’m starting to,” Owen said.
Ryden’s hand went still. “Perhaps you should guard your heart a bit more these next few days. You’ll have yourself tied up in knots if you start thinking you love me.”
“So what I feel isn’t real?”
Ryden sighed heavily, looking exasperated. “Nothing is coming out right at the moment. What can I say or do to calm you?”
“Sometimes there isn’t a way to do that. Sometimes you just have to worry or be afraid.”
Ryden closed his eyes, a soft growl coming from his chest. “I know,” he said, opening his eyes. “But I want to protect you from everything.”
“Because we’re mates?”
“Yes, but it’s more than that.”
Owen tilted his head. “You pictured yourself alone. Did that include never falling in love?”
“I didn’t foresee it happening. My parents weren’t mates, and their marriage was arranged. I doubt they were in love.”
“How did they die?”
“In battle. A coven of shapeshifting witches from deep in the mountains of Russia.”
Owen felt a chill move over him. “Witches? No one has said anything about witches.”
“Do you mention child molesters and murderers in everyday conversation? There are witches all over the world, good ones and very bad ones. Magic is neutral. The wielder determines if the ends are good or evil.” Ryden looked around and led him farther down the path. They exited the garden and headed for the tree line. “I haven’t met your parents, and you haven’t mentioned them. You said I was all the family you had now. May I ask?”
“Shifters can have many human ailments. We’re immune to some, but not all. We usually die of the same things humans die of. Heart attacks. Cancer. Accidents.” Owen looked down at the grass as he said, “My mother was mentally ill. Eventually killed herself. My dad stopped taking care of himself. Died of the ‘flu.”
Ryden stopped him and looked down into his face. “I wish you’d told me sooner.” He pulled Owen close and held him.
“I don’t want pity.”
Ryden jerked him back, looking angry as their eyes met. “Pity? To feel saddened at your loss? Not so long ago you were telling me you would feel whatever you wished regardless of what I thought about it.”
“I didn’t mean to offend you.”
Ryden relaxed a bit. “I’m not offended.” His hands massaged Owen’s shoulders. “Seems the bedroom is the only place I can do anything right.”
“Don’t think that way.” Owen turned his head to kiss one of Ryden’s hands. “It’s been a few years. It still saddens me, but I’m past the deepest part of the pain.”
“But you’ll talk about them if you want to? If you need to?”
“Yes.” He shifted his weight. “Will you talk about your parents?”
Ryden nodded. “I will.”
“There are bound to be bumps in the road. We’re not doing too badly, considering.”
Ryden smirked at him. “I suppose you’re right. Considering.” He chuckled and said, “You were afraid of me at first, and I didn’t even want to say two words to you.”
Owen laughed softly, still scared but feeling a bit better. “Would you teach me to fight?”
Ryden opened his mouth, but then he shut it again. A few seconds later, he said, “You will never need to, but if it will build your confidence and make you feel more secure, I’ll teach you all I can.”
“See? Good answer. Only took a couple of extra seconds.” Owen smiled and went into his arms again. “I’ll have you trained soon enough.”
“Trained, you say? Not content with just taming me?” Ryden licked his lips and bent closer.
“You said you weren’t sure you knew how to be with someone like me, so I’m trying to help. And like I said, I don’t want you completely tamed,” Owen said before pulling Ryden down into a long kiss.
****
Ryden
tried as best he could not to seem as if he was holding back, but the looks he got from his mate told him he needed to try harder. Owen was still too self-conscious to move naturally, but he seemed to be getting the hang of holding on to his sword.
He’d only dropped it twice in the last five minutes.
“Good,” Ryden said as he blocked another one of Owen’s blows.
Owen struck again, and Ryden blocked again. “Good?” Owen said. “I haven’t even tapped you. Not once.”
“But I haven’t disarmed you.”
“I’ve done that about a dozen times myself.”
“No, only ten.”
Owen stepped back and scowled, his hand tightening on the weapon.
Ryden relaxed his stance. “We’ve only been doing this half an hour. When we started, you didn’t even know how to hold a sword. You don’t expect to be competent by the day of the challenge, do you?”
“Of course not. But it’s annoying. You giving me praise when I’m not doing well.”
“When I was growing up, I was never praised no matter what I did. The Sons of Fenrir don’t offer admiration of any kind until some blood is shed. I’m trying to do the opposite of what was done with me—maybe I’m overdoing it. I want to encourage you.” He stepped forward and touched Owen’s shoulder. “I’m sorry if you think I’m being condescending. Or whatever it is you think.”
“I think…”
Ryden waited nearly half a minute before he softly said, “I think you’re overthinking and putting far too much pressure on yourself.” He took the sword away from Owen and threw it down, along with his own. “Let’s try something else.” He began undressing.
“Not that I object, but we can’t fix every problem with sex.” He started undressing nonetheless.
Ryden smiled. “I’m sorry if you think my enthusiasm is an attempt to fix our problems. What I want is for you to shift.”
“Huh?”
“When Rafe attacked you, you were very brave. You seemed confident in your wolf form. How about we try fighting that way?”
“Okay.” Owen seemed more enthusiastic now, but still he asked, “But won’t you just pin me or overpower me right away?”
“Did you worry about that when you jumped on Rafe’s back?”
Owen shook his head. “I was worried about you.”
“That’s how it would be if a real threat came. Fighting with fake swords … you’re trying to move just right and imitate things you’ve only seen or read about before. But your wolf? It knows how to move. Its instincts can help you. You communicate, don’t you?” Ryden was naked now but waited for an answer.
Owen’s gaze moved over his body without apology. “We do.”
“And what does it think?”
Owen straightened and looked into Ryden’s eyes. “It’s thinking about which parts of you it wants to lick.”
Ryden smiled. “Mine is constantly thinking along the same lines.” He prepared to shift. “Let’s go. I’ll wait five seconds after my shift before making a move.” He knelt and let the wolf take control, his shift quicker and more fluid than Owen’s would be. He stood still and waited, watching the shifter transform. The differences were small, and the transition seemed rougher as fur sprouted and muscles and tendons changed their shape.
Owen took a defensive stance, and Ryden lunged for him. Owen dodged easily and managed to kick at Ryden’s side with his back legs. It didn’t do anything, but he did get the blow in. Ryden rushed him, and Owen ducked underneath him. Ryden snapped at his tail but missed, though the action did get the little wolf’s attention. Owen ran in circles around Ryden, changing directions more than once. Just as Ryden decided to stay still so as to get a better lock on him, Owen changed directions again and leapt on his back. He latched on to Ryden’s ear but didn’t sink his teeth in. Ryden bucked and threw him off.
Owen came at him from behind again, this time locking on to Ryden’s neck. Ryden rolled to shake him free, and Owen let go and got to his feet. Ryden pounced and pinned him down, and Owen pushed hard with all four legs. It hurt, but Ryden refused to move. They looked at each other, and Owen relaxed, shifting back. Ryden shifted his weight off his mate but didn’t rise.
Owen ran his hands through Ryden’s fur. “You’re so big.”
Ryden could feel Owen’s cock pressing against his belly, and he rose and backed away, looking at his mate, who lay in an open and submissive pose.
Just for a moment, Ryden told his wolf. Then he lowered his head and nuzzled Owen’s chest and stomach, the scent of Owen’s arousal powerful. His little mate trembled, but it was not out of fear. Trying to keep the beast in check, Ryden licked Owen’s thigh, his own body quickening as Owen sighed. Owen’s cock was hard and glistening with need, and he tried to be gentle as the beast’s tongue moved over his balls and then up his cock.
Owen was panting and arching, and Ryden shifted back. He took Owen’s cock into his mouth and down his throat, his fingers reaching underneath him to massage his hole. He felt Owen yanking at his hand, and he looked up to see his little mate sitting up. He pulled Ryden’s hand up and licked his fingers before falling back on his elbows again. Ryden pushed two slicked fingers into his mate, who cried out and bucked up hard. He thrust in time to his sucking, and soon Owen was trembling and spilling into his mouth. He swallowed almost all of it, saving just a little. They’d discovered the night before that Owen loved tasting his cum in Ryden’s mouth. Ryden inched up and then tilted Owen’s head back, letting the small amount of cum dribble onto Owen’s lips. Then he licked it away, biting at each lip, before capturing Owen’s mouth and pressing him into the ground. They held tight, kissing a long time before Owen settled in his arms.
But Owen didn’t stay still for long. He sat up and said, “Run with me. Take me while we’re shifted.”
“I doubt that’s wise.”
“I felt your cock. You aren’t too big.”
The thought had occurred to him as they ran in the woods his first day here. He’d eyed Owen, thinking it might actually work. His wolf’s body was much larger than Owen’s wolf, but he wasn’t quite as well-endowed in his shifted form. The beast growled in his head.
Do you want to take him or not? It’s good you aren’t the same proportions as me. You don’t want him hurt, do you?
The beast quieted, waiting.
“You two talking?” Owen asked, his fingers playing over Ryden’s chest.
“Yes. I actually thought about this the other day.” He looked Owen in the eye. “But listen. One whimper of pain or too much resistance from your body, and we stop. Understood?”
“Yes, understood. It’ll be fine. I’ve done it before. He was a Beta and pretty big—”
Ryden put his hand over Owen’s mouth. “I don’t want to hear about another man inside you. I won’t be able to control myself.” He slowly drew his hand away, tracing Owen’s bottom lip with one finger.
“Maybe that’s what I want,” Owen said, nipping at his neck.
“Remember that in the morning when you’re too sore to get out of bed,” Ryden said, pulling back and flipping Owen to his hands and knees. He swatted at Owen’s ass and said, “Get going. My stride is much longer so you need a head start.”
“But I’m quicker. You’ll be aching by the time you catch me.”
Ryden bent over him, rubbing his cock over Owen’s crack and biting his shoulder. “Which will make it even more fun.” He slapped his ass again. “Go.”
Owen shifted and ran, casting one look over his shoulder.
The beast was ready to run.
Give him another few seconds.
His wolf within howled before settling, thoughts of the prize ahead keeping it from becoming frenzied. Ryden smiled before shifting. He bounded into the trees and picked up his mate’s scent, the smell of need intoxicating.
****
The Afternoon Before the Challenge
Owen turned away from the food laid out on the picnic table as he looked over at his mate. Ry
den had traded in the leather and dark clothes for tan shorts and a light green V-neck t-shirt. He was barefoot and had his long hair braided, and he sat on the ground holding a paper plate piled high with potato chips and two burgers. Some of the children were showing off the fact they’d learned to do cartwheels earlier that week, and Ryden watched them dutifully, looking as if he was actually concentrating and evaluating their skills. He said something to them, and they all listened attentively. A few of the children tried again, a couple of them with more success this time. Ryden smiled and nodded as he said something else. Then someone called to the children, which had them running off right away. Ryden watched them go and then looked down at his food, hesitating a moment before picking up a burger and taking a bite.
Owen walked over with his own plate and sat down beside him. He hadn’t gotten much food because he didn’t feel like eating, but Ryden always noticed when he didn’t eat enough. “This your first cookout?” Owen asked.
Ryden wiped his mouth and said, “Not my first time cooking or eating outside, but I suppose it is my first cookout. We usually roast meat outside during festivals, but there haven’t been many of those since I was a child.”
“Are some of your people worried or scared? About your problem, I mean.”
“We don’t discuss how we feel about things like you do. Or at least not the way you do. I’m sure some are. I’ve mulled the problem over more than once, but my thinking is different now.” He set his plate on the grass and gestured around. “Some of these people here, the ones who are wondering why they haven’t found their mates, might have a mate among my clan. You and I would never have met if we hadn’t both been at that wedding. And you were the one who scented me first. I was avoiding everyone. And I nearly missed out. What if the gods are punishing us for being selfish and stubborn and proud?”