“Hey, what’s all the yelling about?” Jay asked after snatching a quick kiss from Tim.
“The usual. He wants to go out alone.”
Jay glanced at Robin, a sympathetic expression on his face. Robin couldn’t keep the angry flame within him going. Not with Jay gazing at him like that, which made it all the more irritating.
“Do you really believe he’ll be in danger? Maybe he could just stroll around the house and pastures?”
Robin looked at Tim again, allowing himself new hope. Tim’s shuttered expression didn’t bode well, but if he’d listen to anyone, it would be Jay. Robin held his breath as he waited for Tim to answer.
Hesitantly, Tim said, “I don’t know.”
“What’s supposed to happen to him? None of us have smelled a wolf since we arrived here. Not that I’m all that sure what Thompson would smell like, but you two would recognize another wolf,” Jay said.
Damn, why hadn’t he thought of that argument? He directed a pleading look at his brother. “I haven’t smelled another wolf. Come on, Tim, please. I’m going crazy here! Besides, it’s not certain Thompson is anywhere in the vicinity.”
Tim seemed unconvinced. Now was probably not a good time to tell Tim about the weird and somewhat scary odor Robin had smelled since their arrival….
A moment later, he wanted to smack himself. That smell! It had intensified in the past few days until Robin sometimes couldn’t think of anything else. The smell was probably the source of his restlessness, even though he couldn’t figure out what exactly he smelled. At first, he’d hoped for a miracle, that the smell belonged to his mate, but since it bore no trace of a wolf, it had to be something different.
Gathering himself, Robin pushed those notions aside and begged, “I promise I’ll stay close to the house and only explore at the edge of the forest.”
“What if someone sees you? Your fur color isn’t exactly easy to hide.”
Robin pulled a face. As much as he liked not having a dull gray coat, he sometimes didn’t care much for his pristine white fur either.
“Also, Jay has two lessons to teach this afternoon. The first one starts in an hour, and you know the kids usually show up early. What if someone sees you? If one of those kids sees you, there would be a bloody hunt. Trust me, you don’t want to get that kind of experience,” Tim said. He pulled Jay around and in front of him, then tucked him close to his body.
Robin observed them, confused by the sudden bout of jealousy he experienced. Even though he had always stated he was too young for a mate anyway, he desperately wanted to belong to someone and experience the same happiness Tim and Jay did.
Robin simply couldn’t stand the overly affectionate behavior of Tim and Jay anymore. A guy could only take so much, and his limit had definitely been exceeded.
Not getting laid for almost three weeks in a row didn’t help. What he wouldn’t give for a nice blowjob right now. He wouldn’t mind sucking someone else either. Robin was a big fan of oral sex—maybe because all his experiences so far had been in that department. As embarrassed as he was about it, he had never been able to pluck up the courage to let anyone penetrate him.
Robin wracked his brain for something he could say that would convince Tim to let him go out alone. Shaking a stray curl from his face, he ventured, “I could go in the evening.”
Jay’s wince told Robin all he needed to know even before Tim answered in a flat tone, “Alone and in the dark? No way.”
“Fine,” Robin snapped before he stalked toward the kitchen. “I’ll go and see if Walter needs help.”
“Robin!” Tim called.
Robin ignored Tim’s shout while Jay spoke to him soothingly. “Leave him be, otherwise you’ll only yell at each other again. Let’s take the horses out. We could ride along the edge of the forest, take a look for ourselves for any obvious danger. You can’t coop him up or force him to be together with us forever.”
A small smile tugged at Robin’s mouth when Tim grumbled something. He’d leave this particular fight to Jay, as he would be the only one who could persuade Tim to let Robin run. It sure sucked to be the baby brother of an overly protective alpha wolf.
TIM STOOD on the porch, one arm looped around Jay’s shoulders, and scowled at Robin.
“Be sure to let us see you once in a while. If anything happens or you smell something—”
Robin continued Tim’s sentence, “Then I’ll come straight back here or call you. Yes, brother dearest.”
Tim’s scowl intensified. Jay raised himself on tiptoes and nudged Tim’s cheek with his nose, whispering, “Tim, let him go.”
“I am letting him go!”
“Come on now, Robin, shift. I can’t stand the drama anymore,” Walter cut in, his voice thick with exasperation as he settled in his favorite chair on the porch. “You’re an adult and can do as you wish.”
Tim glared at Walter. “He’s my brother, and I decide—”
“Oh God!” Jay moaned.
“You do not make Robin’s decisions. He’s an adult by law, or do you werewolves have different laws? I understand you’re worried about him, believe me I do,” Walter took in a deep breath, glanced over at Jay, and then added, “I’m surprised he hasn’t gone running without your permission already. All he had to do was go behind your back. It speaks for him and how much he respects you and your father’s decision that he’s obeyed so far.”
Robin’s eyes widened. Walter was right. He could have gone running, yet everything within him bristled at the mere idea. Sometimes his senser personality, with its classic traits of affectionate and clingy behavior as well as submissiveness and gentleness, could be a real obstacle.
Since he didn’t have those baby blues of his for nothing, he directed them at Tim. It had the same dramatic effect as always, especially since Robin added a heartfelt plea to it. “Please, Tim. Walter’s right. I could have gone behind your back, but I didn’t. That has to count for something.”
“Mom and Dad will kill me if something happens to you,” Tim replied. In a whisper he added, “Not to mention what I’d do to myself.”
“Nothing will happen to me, I promise.” Robin pulled the shirt over his head before working on his belt buckle.
“I just had a change of mind. I’ll go with you,” Tim declared.
Robin’s head shot up, his jeans pooled around his ankles as he gaped at Tim. “No! You promised I could go alone!”
Tim shrugged, loosened his embrace with Jay, and stepped forward, pulling the shirt out of his jeans. Jay snatched Tim by the back of his waistband and stopped Tim’s approach. “Tim.”
“What?”
“Leave Robin alone.”
“No.” Tim shook his head.
“You—” Robin started, trembling from pent-up frustration. Why the hell couldn’t he just shift and run without Tim’s permission? Life would be so much easier.
“Shift,” Jay demanded. “I’ll distract him.”
“You are not going to distract me,” Tim objected.
“Wanna bet?”
Walter heaved a long sigh. “Should I get my headphones?”
Jay blushed but kept his eyes trained on Robin. “Come on, Robin, shift. He already gave you his permission.”
Robin couldn’t go through with the shift. Defeated, he bent down to retrieve his clothes, when Tim laid a hand on his shoulder and stopped him. Robin looked into his eyes, which had changed color from a light blue to a steely gray, the way his eyes always changed when he was agitated. “Don’t make me regret my decision,” Tim said.
“I won’t.” Robin hugged Tim before he quickly stepped out of his jeans, lost his briefs, and shifted.
Robin yipped once, which caught Tim’s attention. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.
Couple of hours? No way! That’s too long! One hour, tops.
No, it isn’t. I’m sure you’ll find a way to spend the time I’m going to be absent.
Two hours, not a single minute longer!
All ri
ght, Robin agreed.
He dashed away in long, powerful leaps, enjoying the strength of his canine body. The horses in the paddocks whinnied fearfully. Some of them reared and galloped as far away as they could. Only Starlight and Ally, the big Shire horses, blinked at Robin, not in the least bit fazed by the sudden apparition of a wolf in their midst.
When Robin reached the edge of the forest, he slowed down and glanced back to the house. Walter was nowhere in sight. Robin felt for Jay’s father, who had to come to terms with a lot during the past two weeks. He had done so surprisingly well.
Tim and Jay were leaning against the porch rail with Tim’s arm wrapped loosely around Jay’s waist. Jay made a shooing gesture with his right hand toward Robin before he tilted his head upward to receive a kiss from Tim, who complied in an instant. Once Tim and Jay started kissing, they were completely lost to the world around them.
Robin stared at the couple much longer than was acceptable.
After he finally averted his gaze, he trotted deeper into the thicket. His earlier excitement seemed to have evaporated now that he’d gotten his way. He was happy for his brother, he really was, but… a small part within him resented the fact that Tim had found his mate. Tim deserved happiness, especially after all he’d gone through.
It was just… whenever he saw the utter adoration in Tim’s or Jay’s eyes, the easy way they talked, laughed, and bantered…. Robin wanted the same. God, did he want someone to look at him the way Tim and Jay looked at each other, their gazes so full of trust and love.
Robin padded deeper into the forest, not wanting to wallow in self-pity, and enjoyed the color play of light and shadow on the ground. He sniffed, searching for an interesting scent, but when he found nothing extraordinary, he pushed his nose under a pile of old leaves, hoping to get a good whiff of something to take his mind off Tim and Jay.
Bugs and worms scattered away in all directions when Robin shoved the crumbling leaves, colored in shades of brown. Deciding chasing some bugs could be fun, he did exactly that. He never hurt the tiny creatures but indulged in that play for a while until his inner tension eased to a manageable degree.
Robin didn’t know how long he played before the luring scent trickled in and occupied all his rational thoughts. He lifted his head to sniff but had to sneeze to free his nose from the earthy smell, then finally he could breathe in the scent. Tentatively, he took a step in the direction of the smell. His cock gave a twitch. Alarmed, Robin stopped. When the fuck did his cock go from flaccid to half-mast? More importantly: why did it do that?
A breeze rustled the tree leaves above his head and even the ones close to the ground. The wind ruffled his fur, and Robin inhaled the various smells the draft carried with it, mostly the smell of pines. A yipping sound escaped his snout when the weird odor assaulted his senses again. He scuttled back and forth, unsurprised by the intense longing to trail the scent. If he followed, where would he end up? Should he tell Tim his whereabouts?
If he went with Tim, he’d be safe. If he went alone… that would have to be seen. Drawing in a deep breath, Robin took a first step in the direction of the scent, then stopped.
He sniffed the air, concentrating on the scent to make sure he got it right before he followed the trail. After the first few cautious steps, the anxiety boiling inside him lessened and he quickened his pace. The urge to find the source of the intoxicating odor finally shoved aside any doubts, and Robin allowed his wolf to lead the way.
Three
THE SCENT called to Robin, setting something free within him—something unfamiliar and primal in nature. Robin’s mood alternated between exhilarated and scared, the combination and sheer intensity of both feelings troubling him.
Robin stopped near a small creek and carefully stepped inside the stream, the cool water soothing his paws and ankles. He took a few swallows of the clear water while his heartbeat slowed down.
The scent was strong around the creek, but Robin was unable to pinpoint it. After raising his snout high in the air, he inhaled the smell deeply, hoping it would infuse his lungs and from there spread to every part of his body, because whatever it was, it had a highly arousing but also calming effect on him. A long, high-pitched yowl broke free from his throat, announcing his longing.
Robin waited before he swept his gaze around. High pines surrounded the small creek, casting shadows on the water’s surface. The creek flowed slowly and smoothly, only occasionally hindered by rocks strewn in its bed. The water swirled around them, creating small vortices that gurgled.
Would anyone answer his plea? What would he do if someone did? Why was he even expecting someone to answer? It couldn’t be his mate—it just couldn’t—although everything would make sense, then.
No one answered Robin. In fact, he couldn’t even hear the usual cacophony of animal noises, just the water lapping at his feet. Robin pricked his ears, concentrating hard on what he could hear—the purling of the creek, the wind whipping through the treetops, and sometimes branches creaking. His breathing sounded harsh, closer to panting. Something wasn’t right, not at all.
Robin walked over to the other side of the stream, the earlier exhilaration dwindling. He shifted from foot to foot, darting his gaze around. An uncomfortable sense of isolation nestled into his insides. Maybe he should have listened to Tim after all?
Shivering, he stood there, not sure whether he wanted to go on with his search or go back to Tim, Jay, and Walter. Going back meant safety, whereas going after his potential mate—or whatever it was he was following—could mean anything.
Robin tucked his tail between his hind legs. He had never heard of a wolf being afraid of his mate. Wouldn’t that mean the scent didn’t belong to his mate? Or maybe his mate was nuts and he somehow recognized it? Whatever the scent was—or to whomever it belonged—it didn’t smell like a wolf.
What if his mate was female? How would that work? He had never been into girls. He liked them as friends, but any kind of advances had him running for the hills. Robin was gay, period. No, the scent had to belong to a male wolf.
No, wait. He’d already ruled out another wolf.
The darkness settling around him didn’t help the queasy feeling in his stomach. Whichever direction he turned his head, something moved in the shadows, leaving him vulnerable and scared. The moon remained partially hidden behind the clouds, but even if the sky had been clear, the moonlight wouldn’t have been able to illuminate the forest ground properly. Or at least not in a way Robin wanted.
Suddenly he started. The moon? Oh hell! Shouldn’t he have been back hours ago? Surely Tim was already looking for him. Why hadn’t he realized hours had passed? Had his wolf taken over without him noticing? His father obviously had a point with not wanting Robin to go anywhere alone in his wolf form.
Robin threw his head back and closed his eyes before he howled at the moon, the sound of his voice echoing through the forest, silencing every other animal in his vicinity. This time someone answered him. Robin jumped at the sound of a roar at the other side of the creek.
The roar didn’t sound like a wolf; it was too guttural for that. After his initial jump, Robin stood frozen, shock waves rolling through his entire body.
Something or someone stamped through the thick brushes, ruthlessly pushing branches and leaves aside. Robin stared into the darkness, waiting for whomever to appear. He whined when a large black bear broke through the undergrowth, stopping his run at the edge of the creek.
Robin’s heart hammered in his chest as he took a few steps backward. The tip of his tail almost touched his breast because he had it tucked up so tightly to his body. Robin sniffed the air, intent on determining whether the scent belonged to the bear or not.
It did. There was no mistaking it.
Wide-eyed and with his heart thundering in his chest, Robin looked at the huge monster opposite of him. Fainting might be an option. Or maybe throwing up. How could this be possible? This wasn’t a wolf! It was a bear! Yet all his instincts screamed at h
im, celebrating that he’d just found his mate.
Robin tilted his head sideways when some oddities about the bear’s appearance caught his attention. The bear’s otherwise glossy black coat was streaked with silver, and his head looked weird, as if it was mixture between a bear and a wolf and—
Robin sucked in air in a desperate attempt to stop himself from hyperventilating. A hybrid? That would explain all of Robin’s conflicting emotions, wouldn’t it? At least now he could be sure the huge black… whatever he was exactly, was his mate.
Was there a reason why Tim’s and his mate weren’t pure wolves? How ironic for them to flee and hide from their clan because Jay was a hybrid. Against all odds, they’d hoped Robin would find a mate, maybe even an alpha—as unlikely as that was—but never in a million years did anyone think Robin’s mate would be a hybrid as well.
While all these thoughts whirled through Robin’s mind, the bear made no noise. He merely stared, scrutinizing Robin in a way that caused him to shiver. Even though Robin trusted his instincts, that the shifter opposite him really was his mate, Robin couldn’t bring himself to go over to him.
When the bear moved in Robin’s direction, Robin yelped. The bear stopped midway while the creek’s water swooshed around him, darkening the fur on its legs. Robin estimated the bear to be at least double his size and three times his weight, though it was hard to tell with the bear’s thick coat.
Robin swallowed when the bear breathed in deeply. The huge animal, who smelled so good, so very enticing, shuffled forward again. Robin scrambled backward, intimidated by the sheer size of him. There was something else, some kind of strange vibes he got from him… it… he didn’t know.
The eerie silence surrounding the bear unnerved Robin. Why wasn’t he making any sounds?
On instinct Robin crouched with his rump curled down, assuming a submissive position. The cold water soaked his fur and drew a gasp from him. The bear approached him slowly, his dark eyes gleaming in the moonlight.
Robin wanted to lick the bear’s muzzle, and he wanted the bear to return the favor. He withstood the temptation to roll over onto his back and present his belly, if only because diving deeper into the creek horrified him.
Secret Energy (Shifters Book 2) Page 2