“Okay,” Sparrow said.
“Okay?” Caden repeated.
“Well, yeah, what did you expect me to say?” Sparrow asked.
“I don’t know, but something more than ‘okay.’ It’s not like you hear every day that men can turn into wolves,” Caden replied.
“True, but for some reason, I’m not scared and I trust you,” Sparrow replied. “If you say it’s true, I’m taking your word for it.”
Sparrow wasn’t sure why he was so fine with what he was hearing. It probably had to do with the fact that sitting on Caden’s lap was making him fucking horny. Stupid pregnancy hormones.
Caden looked at him quizzically, almost like he thought Sparrow was a few bottles short of a six pack, before adding, “If you think I’m lying, I could show you.”
“Show me what?” Sparrow asked in confusion.
“My wolf,” Caden replied.
Five
Caden
Caden was holding his breath. As much as he knew he was expecting too much from Sparrow after just finding out about shifters, he wanted his mate to want to meet the other half of him. His wolf was as much a part of him as his hands and legs and he needed his mate not just to be okay, but he needed him to accept his wolf.
“Okay, I would love to meet your wolf,” Sparrow said.
“Really?” Caden asked.
“He won’t like… eat me or anything?” Sparrow asked.
“I can promise you, my wolf will be as gentle with you as I am. I am still aware when I’m a wolf and I would never hurt you. It would kill me to see you hurt in any way. He, I mean my wolf, would never hurt you,” Caden said.
“Why couldn’t you hurt me, you just met me?” Sparrow asked, his adorable face scrunched up in confusion.
Caden debated telling him the truth later, but he figured he might as well share everything in one go and deal with the fallout all at once.
“You’re my mate,” Caden blurted.
“Mate? But we just met. Don’t we have to get to know each other first before we can say we are mates?” Sparrow asked, his face scrunching further.
Caden thought about how to explain this. “Humans have to get to know each other and figure out how they feel and all that. With fated mates it’s different. We believe it’s like the other half of your soul. It’s like everything you never knew you needed, plus everything you ever asked for, coming together in one person just for you,” Caden said, hoping Sparrow wouldn’t think he was making it up to take advantage of him, or whatever other things could occur to him.
“And you think I’m that person for you?” Sparrow asked in a doubt-filled tone. Caden was paying attention, looking for any sign Sparrow was receptive to what he’d said, and he didn’t miss the flash of hope that came into his omega’s eyes.
“I don’t think, I know,” Caden replied, making sure to meet Sparrow’s eyes, hoping he’d see the truth there. “Wolves and a lot of other shifters can tell their mates by scent. It’s like smelling all your favorite things in the world. It’s like catnip to a cat,” he added, still looking, holding Sparrow’s gaze.
“And is that what I smell like to you?” Sparrow asked bluntly, but his eyes betrayed him, they were so full of hope.
Caden placed his nose at the crook of Sparrow’s neck and breathed in deeply. “You smell like caramel and cinnamon, and every time I breathe you in, it feels like every Christmas morning rolled into one. It feels like everything good and perfect. My wolf howls every time he scents you. You make him happy.”
Caden felt the moment Sparrow gave in to him, because the man leaned into Caden’s body, relaxed into him, and his wolf howled at the first sign of his mate accepting him.
“Do I make you happy too?” Sparrow whispered.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Caden said, tightening his hands around Sparrow. “You make me happier than I ever thought I could be.”
“Even though I’m carrying another man’s baby?” Sparrow asked in a small voice, like he was scared of the answer.
“You’re carrying our baby. Our first child. No one else’s. I don’t care who came before me. All I know is you’re mine now. And I’m never letting you go,” Caden declared.
“But you don’t know me,” Sparrow said stubbornly, like his brain was trying to fight what was happening, or like he was too scared to believe it was.
“I know this seems fast to you and you don’t know me yet, but please believe me when I say, I know everything I need to know. And I’ll learn the rest. I know the gods would not send me a mate if we weren’t perfect for each other. I know you haven’t had an easy life until now, baby, but I will do my best to erase those memories. To make you happy. All I want to do is treat you like the treasure you are. Because you’re my treasure, the most precious gift from the gods to me. I will do my best to make sure I never ever give you a reason to regret meeting me, if you will do me the honor if being my mate.”
“All I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever prayed for, from the moment I was old enough to know it was possible, was somebody who loved me completely, who would never throw me away when they got tired of me, or when I was no longer useful to them. I don’t care if you can turn into Wile E. Coyote. Yes, I want that. I want to be your mate,” Sparrow said, his eyes lit up with joy.
“Really?” Caden asked, his body buzzing.
“Really,” Sparrow said, his beautiful face beaming with happiness.
“I swear you’ll never regret it,” Caden declared, and he swore to himself he would do everything he could never to break that promise until he took his last breath.
Then, the most amazing thing to ever happen in the history of his life happened. Caden leaned over and brushed his lips softly against Sparrow’s, before pressing down more firmly and kissing his mate for the first time.
The electric buzz that came over Caden when he touched his lips to Sparrow’s was unlike anything he had ever felt before. His body came to life as his mate kissed him right back. Sparrow opened his lips and pushed his tongue right into Caden’s mouth.
Caden licked Sparrow’s tongue and then swirled his tongue into Sparrow’s mouth. Caden felt his cock hardening in his pants as he began to get aroused by the kiss. Sparrow mewled in his throat, and Caden could almost taste his answering arousal, the scent of Sparrow’s excitement was so strong.
Caden wrapped his arms around Sparrow. When his omega wriggled around on his lap getting more comfortable, Caden gasped in pleasure. Sparrow had moved, perhaps unintentionally, placing Caden’s cock directly between his perfect ass cheeks.
Sparrow broke their kiss and looked at Caden. “I just think you could do better,” he said sadly.
“I can't do better than a fated mate, sweetheart. Nobody can. The gods made you just for me, and me for you. Your past is what made you who you are. And to me, who you are is beautiful. I'll never find another person who will complete me the way you do. It’s not possible. That's what fated mates means,” Caden said hugging Sparrow close to his heart.
“I don’t know who’s finally looking out for me, but I never could have expected to find a mate, let alone a fated mate, and then here you are, and you seem amazing… I just feel like you’re too good to be true.”
“Oh, baby, I’m not perfect. But I hope I can live up to what you expect of me. I’m still only human, so if I fail, please don’t hold it against me,” Caden said.
“You’re already more than I expected,” Sparrow said, resting his head on Caden’s chest.
Six
Sparrow
Sparrow couldn’t believe this was happening. He couldn’t help but think about what the lady on the bus had said, she’d told him, You definitely will be, son, good things are about to happen for you, my dear. I know you’ve been through so much in your young life. But it’s just beginning. Be open to the unbelievable, son. Don’t be scared. Your life is just about to begin. She had finished by patting him on his hand.
He wasn’t sure if she knew what was about to happen, or if s
he was just saying it to make the lonely pregnant omega feel better, but he didn’t care. If this was what she meant, then he would take it. Maybe he was just reaching because he wanted it to be true. He hadn’t seen Caden’s wolf yet, but he believed him. He believed him when he told him that he was his fated mate.
Hunter, Caden’s brother, had come to speak to him when he’d gone back to the kitchen, to make sure he wasn’t overwhelmed. Hunter had assured Sparrow he was safe, and he shouldn’t feel like Caden was pressuring him. If he hadn’t been sure he was making the right choice, Hunter telling him he was welcome here, regardless of whether he mated with Caden or not, helped. Well, it assured him that these were good people, and he couldn’t wait to know and love Caden. The word mate kept echoing in his head and his inner self was doing the shimmy at the idea of finding someone to belong to – not belong to like he had with Frank – but belong together.
Once he had finished seasoning the roast beef and had popped it in the oven, and had finished peeling, washing and putting the potatoes for whipped potatoes on the stove to boil, he texted Bradley.
S: Anything you want to tell me? Like you’re a wolf! BTW, your cousin is my mate.
He was about to start on the biscuits, but he didn’t get a chance to, because it was less than a minute before his phone started ringing. He rinsed his hands quickly and picked up the call.
“Oh my days, so yeah, we’ll come back to the wolf thing. You found your mate. Lucky cow – or is that wolf. I’m so jealous. Do you know how amazing and awesome and rare that is?” his friend gushed on the phone, not bothering to say the customary “hello” first.
“I think I’m beginning to get an idea,” Sparrow said, smiling.
“Oh my God, who is it? Is it Hunter or Caden? Doesn’t matter, both of them are great. They’re the best alphas ever, even though they’re super-protective,” Bradley said. “Oh my God, trust me, you’re in the best hands, babe. They’re nothing like Frank… Squeeee! I’m so happy for you. And totally not jealous,” Bradley finished on a laugh.
“Lol! Well, it’s Caden, and Oh My God, can we say holy Thor hotness? That man is a blond Adonis. I wanna climb him like he’s a tree,” Sparrow giggled.
“Ohhhh! I’m sure you will,” Bradley teased.
Sparrow blushed at the image his brain supplied of him doing just that, and he had to think of gross things to stop the erection he could feel coming on.
“I’m so happy for you, babe. You deserve it, and trust me, finding your mate is one of the greatest honors a shifter has, and I know Caden will cherish you the way you deserve,” Bradley said in a serious tone.
Sparrow sniffed. “Thank you, B, you don’t know what that means. First you get me a job – and who knew that would lead me to my forever future? I thought he would be mad because of the baby, but he was so sweet, B. He said the baby was his now.”
“Totally sounds like Caden. And trust me, Spar, he means it. He’ll treat you right. Oh my God, we are officially family. We were family before, but now it’s like official and everything,” Bradley said happily.
“You’ve always been my family, B,” Sparrow said, emotion choking his voice. “Love you, B.”
“I know, Spar. I love you too, man. And don’t worry, I’ll be done with classes soon and I’ll be back home, okay. Make sure that cousin of mine throws you a mating celebration.”
“Lol, I will. Anyway, gotta go, need to finish dinner before they kick me out on my first day,” Sparrow joked. For the first time in his life he could joke about something like that happening, because he knew it wasn’t going to happen.
Sparrow went back to his cooking. He checked on the meat and reduced the heat on the potatoes. While he was making the dough for the biscuits, he felt an arm wrap around his waist, and immediately sighed, feeling Caden behind him. “Thor, huh?”
Sparrow giggled. “Eavesdropping?”
“You say such nice things. I may take it up permanently if it means I get to hear you talk about climbing me like a tree. I think I can make that happen,” Caden said, nipping his earlobe and making a shiver crawl up Sparrow’s spine.
“Go away. I need to finish cooking so no one thinks I’m a freeloader,” Sparrow said, even though he rubbed his ass on Caden’s erection.
Caden kissed his neck before stepping back. “Later. We are going to finish this later.”
Sparrow nodded, and only took a deep breath after he felt Caden leave the kitchen. He realized that as time went on, he would be able to feel when Caden was nearby and he couldn’t wait.
Seven
Caden
That was some good eating. From the moment they came close to the house, Caden’s mouth began to water from the smell of the food waiting for them. The men had almost cheered when they laid eyes on the steaming piles of food sitting on the dining room table. Caden was so proud of the guys for how they’d praised Sparrow, and he didn’t miss how his mate had blushed through it all, or the way he’d sat up straighter with each compliment.
That was what Caden wanted, to see Sparrow flourish here. Caden had helped Sparrow with the dishes after dinner since his mate had insisted on doing them, but he knew he would have to make sure Sparrow heard him when he said they were like a family. He didn’t want Sparrow to feel like he had to cook and then clean.
Sure, that was the job he had been hired for, but now that he was Caden’s mate, he knew the guys would make him feel like part of the pack. And the pack helped each other. Most of the guys that lived in the house either worked around the compound or had jobs they could do from home. None of them minded pitching in, especially when they were now eating like kings.
After they finished washing up, Caden had noticed Sparrow cleaning the same spot on the counter that he’d already cleaned, and he could feel his mate’s nerves.
Caden loaded the last dish into the dishwasher and then walked up to Sparrow. He came up behind Sparrow again, then took the rag out of his hand and left it on the counter, before turning his mate around to face him.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Caden asked, looking into his mate’s eyes and wondering what caused the sudden distress he could see there.
Sparrow bit his lips and looked away from him, before whispering, “Am I going to the cabin Micah showed me?”
Caden’s heart twisted in his chest at the thought of spending even one night away from Sparrow. Now that he had found him, he didn’t want to sleep apart, but he knew he couldn’t make Sparrow feel like it was obligatory, so instead he asked, “Is that what you want? To sleep in the cabin?”
Caden held his breath and prepared himself for whatever answer, knowing he would respect it and wait until Sparrow was comfortable enough to move into his bedroom. Although Caden wasn’t sure if he would be able to have him stay in the cabin that was away from the main house.
But if that was what Sparrow chose rather than him, and his wolf was in agreement, then they would be sleeping under the stars, keeping watch over their mate.
Sparrow shook his head, but Caden needed some words to be sure of what was going on. “You don’t want to sleep in the cabin?” he asked again.
“No,” Sparrow replied, and Caden felt him take a deep breath, as though he was deciding within himself. “I want to sleep in your room, wherever that is.”
Caden had to stop himself from screaming out his joy. “I hope you know that doesn’t mean we have to do anything?”
Sparrow looked up this time and met his gaze. “What if I want us to do something?”
Caden sucked in a gasp of air, before saying, “Are you saying you want us to ‘you know’?”
Sparrow chuckled. “Uhhh, if you can’t use the word, alpha, I don’t think we can do it.”
“Sex!” Caden blurted. “I mean, does that mean we can have sex?”
Sparrow looked at him, his beautiful eyes dancing with mirth. “So eloquent,” he said before he burst out laughing.
“I’ll show you eloquent,” Caden said, picking Sparrow up and makin
g him squeak. Then he carried his mate to his room.
“I like this whole caveman thing. It’s totally sexy,” Sparrow said, still laughing.
“Duly noted, mate,” Caden said. His whole body was raring to go, and saying the word “mate,” coupled with Sparrow's body against his, and his intoxicating scent, and Caden was ready for his first time with his mate.
Caden held Sparrow as he made his way to his room on the second floor that had his and Hunter’s personal suites. He walked over to the bed and placed his mate gently down like he was made of spun glass. Caden took his time enjoying the sight of his mate in his bed.
While Caden was looking his fill, he could also sense Sparrow’s eyes on him, and he loved the fact that his mate was also taking him in. He’d heard part of Sparrow’s story from his brother, Hunter, and he was so proud of how strong his mate was, but he was even happier knowing that moving forward, it was his job to make his mate’s life easier.
“I wanna meet your wolf,” Caden heard Sparrow say.
Caden looked into his mate’s eyes, making sure there was no fear there, “Are you sure?” he asked.
“Yes, Bradley and I were texting again and he told me your wolf is a part of you and that you were fully aware when you shifted. I wanna meet him too,” Sparrow said, holding eye contact.
“He wants to meet you too,” Caden stepped back. He quickly took his jeans and his shirt off, and he couldn’t miss the way Sparrow licked his lips. Caden took his time taking his briefs off, teasing, and he saw his mate bite his lip, as if trying to hold in a moan.
Caden was loving the scent of Sparrow’s arousal permeating his room. Who didn’t want their mate to love their body?
Finding His Wolf Page 3