by C. W. Gray
Flufflepuff curled in his lap, a warm weight of support.
Janine and several other Rocchi family members worked in the kitchen, cooking a feast for the evening. Apparently, this week was about eating and sharing time with family—a family he wasn’t really a part of.
“You work in a potion shop, huh?” Niels gave him a strained smile, then mouthed, I’m so sorry.
Sonny cleared his throat. “Yes. My mentor and I run the place.”
“Your spelled spaghetti was good,” Katrin said, mouth curving in a half smile.
Coleen winced, then shuddered. “Don’t remind us of that, Mom.” Her gaze sharpened on Sonny. “Leo is the type to want to settle down, Sonny. You seem nice, but you two aren’t mates. He’s a bear shifter and one day, his mate is going to show up. What will you do then?”
Turn them into a donut and flush them down the toilet. Wait, we are mates, so I don’t have to worry about that. I think. Leo sure hadn’t acted like they were mates.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “That’s between Leo and me.”
“Is it though?” Katrin asked. “This is a family gathering and he invited you. Like Coleen said, you seem nice, but you aren’t family. He shouldn’t have brought you.”
“Mom,” Niels said, eyes shocked.
Flufflepuff poked her head over the table and hissed at Katrin.
Sonny blinked away tears, a hard knot forming in his stomach. He knew he wasn’t family. No matter what Leo said, Sonny would never be his family. Maybe they were right. Maybe we’re not mates.
Katrin gave Fluff a wary look. “I promise I’m not trying to be cruel, Sonny, but I know my son and his heart gets involved too quickly. Please, understand. He’s not for you.”
“Damn it, Katrin,” Janine said, stomping to the table. “I leave for five minutes and you break Sonny’s heart. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m just being honest.” Katrin winced. “You’re far better than that awful Dillion, but you’re a witch. You can’t be Leo’s mate. He certainly doesn’t act all that protective or possessive of you and you haven’t been claimed.”
Flufflepuff hopped on the table, hair standing on end, and hissed loudly.
Sonny covered his mouth, stifling his cry. She was right. We’re not mates. We can’t be. What was I thinking? Why didn’t I listen to Aaron?
Janine held her hands up, worn face full of anger. “Enough, Katrin. You truly don’t know a thing about Leo and Sonny’s relationship.” She pulled Sonny out of the chair. “Grab your cat, sweetheart. I can see those thoughts churning in your head. We need some air.”
Katrin sat up straight, face red. “Janine, I’m just—”
“I said enough,” Janine interrupted. “Keep your mouth shut for five fucking minutes.”
Coleen glared at Flufflepuff when the cat swatted at her. “Grandma—”
“You too, Coleen.” Janine shook her head. “I’ve never been more disappointed in my family than I am right now.”
Niels squeaked and covered his mouth while Katrin and Coleen looked devastated at Janine’s words.
Sonny wiped his eyes and picked up Flufflepuff, burying his face against her fur. “Settle down girl. I know the truth can hurt.”
Janine pulled him toward the backdoor. “Sonny and I are going to milk the cows.”
Sonny told his heart to stop thumping so loudly and his eyes to quit leaking, but it didn’t work. I love him. I love Leo and want us to be mates. Goddess, why does this have to hurt so much?
Janine grabbed their coats and pushed him through the door. “Oh, sweetheart, that look on your face just about kills me. I’m glad Leo isn’t here right now. He’d have some choice words for his mama and those words would be hard to forgive.”
She tugged her coat on and wrapped his around his shoulders making him slip his arms through one at a time before zipping it up to cover Flufflepuff. Then she pulled a warm knitted cap over his head and down to cover his ears. After donning her own mittens, she patted his cheeks. “Things will work out like they should as soon as Leo gets back, sweetheart. Let’s go milk the girls. They’re good producers so we milk them three times a day.”
He followed behind her, mind muddled and vision still blurry from the damn eye leakage. He was happy that he’d worn his low-heeled boots since he’d have to hike through snow and cow poo.
The walkway leading to the large red barn was paved and clear of snow. Janine noticed his surprise and shook her head. “Have you ever milked a cow, Sonny?”
Sonny wrinkled his nose. “No. We get our milk in jugs like the Goddess intended.”
Janine chuckled. “City witches. What can you do with them?”
They slipped into the warmth of the barn and Sonny looked around, surprised at the cleanliness. He didn’t see cow poo anywhere. He let Flufflepuff out and his familiar went to sniff around.
“Our girls are over here.” Janine walked toward the back. “Now, the first thing you need to do is say hello.”
Sonny followed behind her and stared into the first cow’s liquid eyes. The brown cow was in a stall filled with straw and looked fairly standard for a cow.
“Moo,” the cow lowed deeply.
“Moo to you too, ma’am,” Sonny said, nodding.
Janine smiled. “Since you and Daisy get along so well, I’ll let you milk her.”
She went on to explain the milking process, but Sonny only heard about half of what she said. He had found the cow poo. There was a big pile of it in the corner of Daisy’s stall.
Janine patted his shoulder, then pushed him through Daisy’s gate. “Let me know if you need any help. Remember to use lube.”
He yelped. What the hell am I doing? “I don’t know her that well!”
Janine laughed. “For your hands. Dear lord, I’m going to have fun with you, sweetie.” She tossed him a pair of latex gloves. “Just wear gloves if you don’t want to lube up. Holler if you need me.”
She went to the next stall and Sonny slipped his gloves on while contemplating Daisy. “Your boobies, my darling Daisy, are too far down. Normally I would kneel, but don’t think I’ve forgotten that huge pile of poo I spotted earlier.”
He waved a hand and mumbled a simple incantation to levitate Daisy. Why kneel when Daisy can float?
“Moo!” Daisy’s legs started kicking in panic as she rose in the air.
“Whoa, calm down, Daisy.” Sonny tried to steady her, but she was too scared.
Daisy kicked out, striking him in the shoulder and he fell back, butt landing in the huge pile of cow poo. Sonny’s lip trembled and he squeezed his eyes closed. He could feel the warmth of the shit seeping through his favorite jeans. A whine escaped him, then like a dam breaking, his tears came, hard and ugly.
“Moo!” Daisy kicked and kicked, floating through the air like a demented bird.
“What the hell?” Janine stared at him, then at Daisy. “What did you do, Sonny?”
Daisy quieted down as she floated around the barn, brown eyes darting around with interest.
“My cow’s flying.” Janine said in wonder.
Sonny covered his face and cried harder. I’m a fucked-up failure of a witch. No wonder fate wouldn’t give me Leo for a mate. He’s not my honey bear.
The barn door opened and Katrin and Coleen walked in, bringing a cold blast of air with them.
“We’re sorry, Sonny,” Katrin said. “We didn’t mean to upset… Daisy’s floating. What the hell?”
The two women watched as the cow floated out of the barn and into the yard.
Janine rolled her eyes. “Don’t just stand there. Catch Daisy before she floats to the neighbor’s house. You know they’ve been trying to buy her.”
Katrin and Coleen ran outside and Janine knelt beside him. “Sweetheart, I know you’re upset, but I need your help with Daisy.”
He mumbled something, not even sure what he was trying to say, and took her hand, letting her help him stand.
She spun him around and winced when she saw his backside. “You’re a mess, but we’ll get you clean.” She put an arm around his shoulder and walked him out of the barn.
Katrin and Coleen each had one of Daisy’s hoofs. Other family members were trying to help too, but Daisy kept floating higher.
Niels saw him and winced. “I can smell you from here.”
“Damn it, witch,” Coleen said, scowling. “Look at the mess you’ve made. Why couldn’t Leo have found a nice bear?”
An image of Leo with someone else popped into his head and anger shot through him. Sonny’s eyes narrowed and he growled, snapping his fingers. Coleen’s head shimmered for a moment before shifting into a pecan pie. The other Rocchi family members scrambled back in surprise.
Katrin kept a hand on Daisy’s hoof, but her feet started to rise from the ground. “Coleen, keep your mouth shut. Oh shit, you don’t have a mouth.”
“Sonny.” Janine looked horrified. “I hate pecan pie. Why didn’t you give her a pumpkin pie head instead?”
Several vehicles pulled into the driveway and in seconds the rest of the Rocchi family were filling the yard. Sonny sniffed and wiped his nose, eyeing the Christmas trees. I see they were successful. Good for fucking them.
Rosemarie went to her sister and studied Coleen. “I like this new look of yours.”
“She deserved it,” Niels said, nodding. “It does suit her well, don’t you think?”
Leo looked at Katrin, Daisy, and Coleen. “Sunshine, what did they do?”
Sonny’s eyes watered again and the tears were back. Leo took one look at him and opened his arms. Sonny ran to him and sobbed against his chest.
“I’m not family,” he said, pushing his head into Leo’s jacket and mumbling. “I hate your sister and cows stink.”
“Okay,” Leo said simply. “Do you want to go home? We can grab our bags and be on the road in five minutes.”
“Leo, it’s Christmas,” Jesse said, grabbing at Katrin as she floated higher. “You can’t just leave your family.”
Leo’s growl rumbled deep in his chest. “Sonny is my family.”
Thorwald pushed through the crowd and waved his hand in front of his nose. “Bro, your witch seriously smells, but I’d still do him.”
Sonny leaned back when Leo began to shift. He watched in amazement as Leo growled, eyes glaring at his brother.
“My mate!” Leo yelled, voice deepened by the shift. Then it was done and he was a large brown bear chasing his brother around the yard with death in his eyes.
“Oh dear,” Janine said, laughter in her voice. “Ronald, will you keep Leo from killing Thor for talking about his mate? We’ll deal with Daisy.”
Ronald grinned and shifted, clothes scattering around him. A few of the other Rocchi family members did the same then set off to intercept Leo.
“Mate?” Katrin was completely off the ground now, but Jesse had her about the waist. “Really? You’re Leo’s mate? Of course, you are. That makes perfect sense. Oh, Sonny, I’m so sorry.”
Sonny blinked, Leo’s words settling inside him like a warm slice of apple pie. My mate! They were mates. Leo was his and nothing could keep them apart. Nothing.
A grin slowly moved across his face and he started dancing in place, hips wiggling and arms waving in the air. “We’re mates, we’re mates, we’re mates!”
Janine laughed. “Sonny, calm down.”
Sonny pulled her into his dance and they whirled around the yard, feet hampered by the snow. “Leo and I are mates, Janine!”
“Yes, you are.” She shook her head and laughed at him.
“Uh, Sonny? Help, please.” Jesse’s feet were barely touching the ground.
Sonny waved his hand toward them and practically sang the spell to lower Daisy. “Uh, sorry about that, Janine.”
“No problem, sweetie. Daisy needed an adventure.” She glared at one of the stray Rocchi men. “Alfred, help Katrin and Niels get Daisy back into the barn. I can’t believe you all just stood there while Katrin practically floated away.”
Sonny continued dancing until Leo stood in front of him, completely naked. “Honey bear, cover the goods. We don’t need them getting frostbite and falling off.”
Leo growled and picked him up, throwing him over his shoulder. “Mate.”
Sonny squealed. “Is this really happening? My laid-back honey bear is really going all shifter on me?”
“I’m claiming you,” Leo said, voice deep and rumbly. “You’re mine, sunshine.”
Chapter 6
Leo’s head was full of a roar of emotion. Thorwald had looked at his mate. His mom and sister had hurt his mate. A foul smell cleared his thoughts a bit. His poor mate was covered in shit. Covered in it! It was too much.
Distantly, he could admit that he was grateful his grandpa and uncles had kept him from maiming Thor, but it would have been nice to at least get in a swipe or two.
He carried Sonny straight to the bathroom down the hall from their room. His mate didn’t like being dirty and Leo needed him naked.
Sonny slid down the front of his body, making Leo’s already hard dick that much harder. “You know we’re mates now?”
Leo wanted to bite himself. “I’ve known since I met you.”
Sonny’s dreamy expression disappeared and Leo worried he’d have a pecan pie head soon. “You knew? Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”
Leo knelt on the floor and started tugging Sonny’s shoes off. “I didn’t know how you’d respond to it since you’re not a shifter, and honestly, I wanted you to love me for me, not because we’re mates.”
Sonny glared at him. “I knew we were mates. Witches can scry to find out. I knew right after Halloween.”
Leo paused in pulling Sonny’s pants down. “Really?”
Sonny sighed and cupped his face, looking down at him. “Honey bear, it’s a good thing I love you or your head would be a pecan pie right now.”
“You love me?” Leo felt his bear settle happily inside him, chasing away the last of the fogginess.
Sonny stepped out of his pants and bent to kiss him. “I really, really do.”
“Can I claim you? Please?” Leo’s bear grumbled that this was a very good idea.
“Finally.” Sonny’s head fell back and he stared at the ceiling. “Goddess help me, he finally wants to claim me.”
“Uh, I’ve wanted to claim you for as long as I’ve known you.” Leo stood up and turned the shower on. He almost fell in when Sonny pounced on him.
Sonny kissed him, wrapping his arms and legs around Leo’s body and practically climbing him.
Leo started to suggest they shower, then go back to their room, but he couldn’t wait another second. His bear wanted his mate.
Leo pulled Sonny up and into the shower, hands bracing his ass as they ground against one another. He buried his head against Sonny’s neck, breathing his mate’s scent in and letting it go straight to his dick.
After a few moments of stretching Sonny’s ass and lubing up, Leo finally slid into his mate, relishing the familiar feeling of Sonny around his dick. He moved slowly, suddenly able to tolerate the wait. He had his sunshine in his arms now, so everything didn’t seem so urgent.
His teeth scraped along Sonny’s neck. “I love you, Sonny.” Leo could hear his bear in the low rumble of his voice. “I will love you forever.” He sank his teeth into Leo’s neck, drawing blood and ensuring his mark would remain on his mate for the rest of their lives.
Sonny yelled and came, splattering come between them. He clung to Leo and moved his hips furiously, milking Leo’s dick as he came, filling his mate. His teeth stayed locked in place as his dick hardened again.
“Leo?” Sonny leaned back and gave him a dazed look. “Already?”
“Shoulda done this in the bedroom,” Leo mumbled around his bite. He braced Sonny against the shower wall and pounded into him. His bear would make sure their mate knew they belonged together.
A few hours later, Leo carried a freshly s
howered and almost naked Sonny down the hall to their room. Of course, his siblings and cousins lined the hallway, hollering and cheering.
“About time, bro,” Thorwald said, grinning.
Leo growled at him, unhappy his jerk of a brother was seeing parts of Sonny that he shouldn’t.
“Hey now, no harm meant,” Thorwald said, holding up his hands. “You know why I was pushing you.”
Leo stopped and tilted his head. “Huh?”
“It was clear to Thor and I that he was your mate,” Burkhart said, grinning. He held Flufflepuff in his arms. “Thor was just trying to push you into admitting it to us.”
Leo narrowed his eyes. “I hate you both.”
Sonny yawned and smacked his chest. “Carry me to the room, mate. I’m feeling the urge to make honey cakes.”
The noise in the hall grew almost unbearable. “Sunshine, we’re bears. You know what saying that does to us.”
Sonny settled his head on Leo’s shoulder and watched him, eyes full of emotion. “I know. I want to do something special for you and your family.”
“We’re your family too,” Coleen said, head no longer a pecan pie. “I’m sorry, Sonny. I was way out of line and should have kept my mouth shut. Even if you weren’t Leo’s mate, it was clear to everyone that he loves you.”
Sonny gave her a shy smile. “Really?”
Rosemarie elbowed their sister out of the way. “Really. Now make us honey cakes.”
An hour and one miracle later, Sonny and Leo had somehow managed to get the kitchen to themselves. Leo sat at the table and watched his mate work his magic. A tiny potion bottle stood next to the mixing bowl.
“That’s more honey than you normally use,” Leo said, leaning back in his chair and folding his hands over his stomach. Flufflepuff curled up against his neck, purring.
“I’m making a different recipe,” Sonny said. “Myrtle taught it to me. It’s a Russian honey cake recipe and it will have to be chilled overnight. We can serve them for winter solstice.” He looked over his shoulder, winking. “The trick to this one is to add more butter. Then some cinnamon for protection, and, of course, wildflower honey for happiness. Finally, just a dab of this calming potion to make everyone feel good and relaxed.”