Page 40 of In The Shadow of The Wolf

What’s the point in hanging around waiting for Terry to fail or for his friends to scare Henry away? Either way, the outcome was doom. There was to be no happy ever after for them, and dragging it out was just torture. The scene in the coffee shop was Terry’s truth, not the back alley dinners and meetings he had with Henry.

The ceremony was Friday, the day after tomorrow. Henry could, without explanation, return home after the ceremony. He gave Terry until the ceremony, so he would keep to his word, but he refused to hand over his heart in the meantime. No matter how much he ached to give himself completely, he would not.

The mate pull was definitely real, even for him. It wasn’t as strong as what the wolves had described, but it was a compulsion for him that took all of his energy and concentration to resist. If Terry was feeling the same or more, as a wolf is more in tune with the mystical, he would continue to try to make this work. Even though his lifestyle, his friends, and his need to fit in kept him denying it, he would keep trying. His wolf would demand that he keep trying, but he would never choose Henry in the end. As soon as the ceremony was over, he would leave, no long goodbyes, no see you soon.

The Ranch was abuzz with activity. Pack ladies were decorating and baking their hearts out. They were preparing for what essentially was a double wedding, and their excitement was palatable. Molly called to him from the great room, and he quickly heeded.

“You got the ribbon?”

“Yes, right here.” He held up the bag he was carrying to prove it. She grabbed his arm and pulled him forward.

“Let’s get this done, Henry.” She took the ribbon and started to unroll it, handing another to Henry. It wasn’t because he was gay, but yes, he knew how to make proper bows. “We got a million of these to do.” She laughed. “I have a couple of friends arriving from Traverse City tomorrow. They don’t know the details.” She grinned. “But they know that I’m getting married. I can’t wait to see them, and I can’t wait to be properly, legally married to Aaron.” Henry enjoyed making bows and listening to the joy and expectancy in his cousin’s conversation. It made his heart less heavy with his own issues.

“Hey, you two,” Aaron announced his entrance into the room, and Henry watched Molly’s face grow wide with a loving smile. He walked straight over and placed a deep kiss on his mate's willing mouth. They acted as if they were the only two people in the room. That was how mates greeted each other. That is what being a mate was supposed to be like; it was secure and loving, and exclusive. Henry feared Terry would never be capable of any of those things. “It’s looking beautiful in here.”

“Thank you. It will be breathtaking when Henry and I get finished. I’ll make you proud, Aaron.” Molly beamed up at her mate, who reciprocated the expression.

“You make me proud just by being here with me.” They went into another deep embrace, and Henry decided he needed to give them privacy this time. He left and closed the door behind him.

CHAPTER SIX

Henry was in the kitchen helping with the dinner prep when Dean came in and let him know that Terry was there to see him. “He’s waiting in the front room.” Henry was excited to see Terry in spite of himself. He hurriedly washed and dried his hands before heading to the front room.

Terry walked the room back and forth. Everyone was in the back getting ready for dinner, he assumed. He needed to see Henry. He’d sounded upset on the phone, and his explanation for not showing up at the Black Bean was pretty thin.

The moment Henry entered the room, he felt it right down to his soul. Terry turned and first just looked at him. Henry was perfect, and he was his. Henry approached with a smile and a welcoming expression. Maybe he’d been mistaken; he was reading too much into the text. Maybe he really had to get back here and nothing more. “I missed you today.”

Henry stopped and dropped his head briefly before responding. “I’m sorry, I wanted to see you too, but time was short.” Terry stepped forward and took Henry’s hand in his.

“Have you eaten?”

“No.”

“May I take you out?” Terry smiled and pulled on Henry’s hand, bringing him closer until he could take him into his arms. “Come on, don’t say no. Afterward, we could go back to my place and pick up where we left off last night.” He hugged Henry and waited for an answer.

“Okay, sure. Sounds like a good time.” Henry chuckled into Terry’s chest. Terry dropped a quick kiss to the top of Henry’s head and rubbed his back briefly, before moving away and taking his hand.

“You ready.” Terry searched his face thoroughly.

“Yeah.” Henry couldn’t say no. He wanted to be with Terry, despite all his misgivings, and he looked forward to continuing last night's activities. He just hoped that they stayed clear of Terry’s friends. He wasn’t in the mood to deal with those bigoted bastards again. “Where are we going?”

“I thought we would go to the steakhouse downtown. Good food and a nice atmosphere.”

Henry looked at him pointedly and asked. “We will be seen, and assumptions may be made. Are you ready for that?” Terry returned his gaze and thought for a moment before answering.

“We’re two guys having dinner; let them think what they want.” He squeezed Henry’s hand, and they continued out to Terry’s car. Henry wasn’t sure how he felt about that answer. He neither confirmed nor denied their relationship or the impression they would make. When Terry started to pull him towards his car, Henry stopped.

“I’ll bring my own car; it will look less like a date that way. We’re just two guys who happen to run into each other, right? Nothing more.” Might as well help him with the charade Henry relented. Terry paused for a moment and was obviously considering the suggestion. For a split second, Henry thought he was going to refuse and demand that Henry go with him. His heart soared, and then just as quickly, his hope fell flat.

“Yeah, okay, probably a good idea. I’ll meet you inside the restaurant.” Terry let go of his hand and took off in the direction of his car. Henry walked slowly to his vehicle and got inside. He sat there for a moment and then decided to just go with it and stop feeling. It was time he started to build an emotional wall between Terry and himself.

He was going to have dinner and hopefully a full night of sex, which would be an end to it. Tomorrow would be filled up with preparations for the ceremony on Friday, so there was no chance he would have time for Terry. Tomorrow night he would simply make himself scarce, and Friday, he would leave.

Terry felt like a heel; why couldn’t he just relax and stop worrying about what people may think. If he hadn’t been such a supporter of shifters only mating with other shifters and treating all humans as less than, he wouldn’t be in the position he is now. Also, he was never out and proud, believing that gay men were weak, and he never wanted to appear weak.

He’d had bad experiences with humans, but why did he hate all humans because of it? Ronan had told him of Henry's life with his shifter stepfather, yet he never held it against him or any of the other shifters. He glanced in his rearview mirror and saw that Henry was not far behind. It gave him some comfort to know that Henry was there, still letting him try and not pushing too hard.

Terry went inside and secured a table. The place wasn’t too busy, but still, he felt a stab of discomfort that he quickly tried to dispel. He didn’t want Henry to walk in and see uncertainty on his face. Henry arrived shortly after, pretended to act as if suddenly seeing him, and asked the waitress to be seated with Terry. The act made Terry feel sick with guilt.

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