Page 37 of Ascendant Moon
“I’m glad. I want you, too.”
Nick’s smile lit up the room, and they resumed facing one another on the sofa.
“Okay, so who else is in your family besides Walter and Tayen?”
This wasn’t a topic Gray usually talked about, but Nick deserved to know.
“I don’t have any siblings, and my father died in a work accident when I was eight. My mother never remarried, but I have some aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides. Most of them still live on our tribal land in Arizona, but the Diné are very poor, and life is hard.”
Nick knew very little about Native American tribes or how they lived, and Gray had never been to Mexico or knew much about shifter packs. Obviously, they both had a lot to learn. Nick was, however, intrigued to know that Gray worked with the Fish and Wildlife Service by watching over the newly released Lobo packs on tribal land.
“I don’t really have a position with the Service, but I serve as the Navajo Nation’s contact and keep an eye on the packs when I can. Our people lobbied hard to bring them back, and so far things are going well.”
That got Nick to thinking.
“You know, I hear that natural wolves defer to shifters. I’ve never experienced it before because there weren’t any wolves around León. Dante told me that there are a few gray wolf packs right here, so maybe someone will show us how it works.”
Gray’s eyes widened.
“I’d like to see that. Could I… would you show meyourwolf?”
Nick stood up and began to strip.
“Of course! He’ll want to sniff and lick you everywhere, but then, we both like doing that! If you want me to shift back, just say so.”
Having witnessed it before with Jack and William, Gray was prepared for what he would see. The transformation lasted only seconds, and there stood Nick in his fur. Tail wagging, he walked right up and stuck his nose in Gray’s crotch, but settled down when the man started to pet him.
Lobo coats were less uniform and more colorful than those of Gray wolves, with brown, white, black, and gray fur in unique and distinguishable patterns. Nick had an abundance of rusty-brown on his snout, ears, and shoulders, with a good deal of black on his back, haunches, and the very tip of a bushy tail. Nick began to pant lightly as Gray stroked over and through his soft coat, considering him a beautiful specimen.
“You’re amazing, Nick. I didn’t know you’d be this handsome in both forms.”
Nick responded with more tail-wagging and slobbery licks to Gray’s face and hands. Eventually, he flopped down to expose his belly for a good scratch, and his amused mate complied. His sudden shift back to human form startled Gray, and after redressing and smooches, they returned to the sofa for more conversation. This time, Gray was asking questions.
“You mentioned your parents the other day. May I ask what happened?”
Nick’s expression fell, and Gray immediately regretted bringing it up.
“It’s okay, I don’t like to talk about it but I want you to know. My mom worked in town at one of the tourist hotels and my human dad drove the bus she used every day. Luna didn’t bringthem together, but my mom figured they could still make a go of it. After she got pregnant, she told my dad about shifters and thought he was okay with it. He refused to be turned, though, and after I was born, he freaked out when she explained that I’d be a shifter, too.
“Hector, our senior True Elder, had to influence his mind so he wouldn’t accidentally tell anyone about shifters, and he returned to his old job and life without any memories of us. It broke my mom’s heart, and when I was about five, she went for a run and never came back. Nobody knows for sure what happened, but I assume she’s dead. I stayed with a couple of different families until I was old enough to live on my own, and as the only Omega, they did their best to take care of me. I’ve never met my dad, and everybody agreed it would be better for both of us that way.”
Gray reached for Nick’s hand as he spoke.
“I’m so sorry. I know how hard it is to lose someone you care about, and I don’t blame you for wanting what your parents never had. I won’t leave you, Nick. I promise.”
Nick reached out and Gray settled in his arms.
“Sorry, babe. I need to be touching you right now. What else would you like to know about me?”
“Have you had a boyfriend or girlfriend before?”
Nick almost burst out laughing, but his human mate wouldn’t understand. He knew this question would come up and had no intention of glossing over the facts.
“Well, shifters don’t really date, so, no I’ve never been in a relationship with anyone. Omegas are born bisexual, but I knew I was attracted to guys before I hit puberty. Shifters are pretty free with their bodies for the most part, and we don’t get toohung up on feeling guilty. We also aren’t affected by STIs, so we won’t ever need protection. I’ve had sex with a lot of men, mostly humans, but all that is behind me now because I have my mate. There’s nobody for me except you.”
Gray didn’t respond right away and his scent revealed both discomfort and jealousy.
“Thanks for being honest. I can’t stand the thought of sharing you with somebody else, so I’m glad you won’t ever do that to me. I’m not the cheating type either, so I hope you’ll trust me not to sneak around.”
