Page 38 of Ascendant Moon
Nick growled, tightening his hold on Gray.
“Nobody touches you!I’ll rip their throat out if they do.”
Gray knew he was serious, but it wasn’t a control thing or even jealousy—his wolf would protect what belonged to him. It may sound like violent caveman behavior to some, but to Gray it was comfort, protection, and commitment. He was okay with that.
“Good. I don’t think we’ll ever have to worry about it then. Umm… are you interested in having kids?”
Nick hadn’t expected the question so soon, but it meant that Gray was thinking long term.
“I’d love to raise some kids with you, but there aren’t a lot of shifter pups that need homes. Otherwise, we really don’t have any options.”
Gray’s scent took a nosedive of confusion and disappointment.
“But why? I mean, RJ told me that Omega males can carry children by becoming a Change Mate. We wouldn’t have to adopt pups if you can give birth, right?”
Now it was Nick’s turn to be confused.
“What?! I’ve never heard this before. Oh, Luna help me—isthatwhy I go through heats every winter? Nobody at León ever mentioned such a thing, so I…”
Clearly hurt, Gray tried to pull away. Nick held on so he could apologize.
“I’m sorry. You caught me by surprise, that’s all. I’d give my left nut to make pups with you, but I didn’t know wecould. We better talk to Evan or Jack and learn how this works. Now that I think about it, we’d make some awesome kids. How about we go back to the bedroom and practice some more?”
Chapter 21
Meanwhile, at Ben and Evan’s home
Evan and Sergio sat side by side on the couch, hands clasped together and eyes closed. Teaching dreams required uninterrupted quiet time, and because it left the True Elders vulnerable, extra protection. Both entry doors were being guarded by security personnel, and Ben used the time to instruct Dante on the fine art of Alpha leadership. They were ensconced in his packhouse office, which also prevented Ben from getting too worked up over someone touching Evan for an extended period. The impulse to reclaim his mate following these sessions remained strong, and to a point, he’d gradually attained better control.
Today, Evan was sharing memories of his own experiences as a pack True Elder. Sergio needed to know the various ways to serve, help, and protect his people wherever Luna might lead them. Through dreams and experience on the ground, it was obvious that increased interaction with humans meant an even greater role for True Elders. Luna had responded by revealing those who were lost, hiding, or confused so that they could take their places in shifter society.
Even the number and frequency of True Elder births had surged, breaking all the old rules and ensuring that future packs would be well-equipped. With the recent addition of the Calhoun triplets, Gladstone itself was now home to five specially gifted brothers. Evan assumed there would be more down the road, but no one yet knew the effects of multiple True Elders in a single pack.
Near the end of their two-hour session, Evan stopped the memory transfers and answered Sergio’s questions. He was a quick study with a sharp mind, though his isolation in León left him unprepared for shifter society at large. He and Jack were determined to bring him up to speed before Luna led him and his friends elsewhere. Given the small size of their group, Sergio should be able to grow and mature along with his future pack.
After an informative Q&A, Sergio asked if he could share a memory of his own.
“I had an interesting dream last night, and need your advice.”
Evan readily agreed, and the dream unfolded in three distinct scenes. They reviewed it a second time before the discussion began.
“I think what I’m seeing is our little pack’s future, but I don’t know where or when. Should I tell Dante, Nick, and Gray about it?”
Intrigued and excited, Evan shared his impression of the dream.
“Yes, I think those were snapshots of your future. Luna rarely gives us everything we want to know with a single dream, so you can expect more in the days ahead. Meanwhile, there were obvious hints as to where and when. I’m going to make an educated guess here, but Luna went to a lot of trouble bringing the four of you together here at Gladstone—specifically Nick and Gray.
“So far, nobody thinks your future is in Mexico, and since Gray lives in Arizona, I believe that’s what Luna was showing you. If I’m not mistaken, raising goats and sheep is a common occupation for the Navajo. You must have also noticed the desert-like conditions, and that matches much of Arizona. Asfor the other people at the table, I’d say it’s a given that you and Dante will soon find mates and start families of your own.”
Sergio’s scent reflected the joy and excitement of hearing Evan confirm his own interpretation of the dream. Now, what was he supposed to do with it?
“So should I tell them? How do I know how much to share and when?”
Evan knew he’d ask, as he should, but he had an additional suggestion for the man to consider.
“My advice is not to say anything yet. If your future is intertwined with the Navajo, you need information about their life and culture. See if what you learn matches the dream. I suspect Nick and Gray’s mating week is just about over, so you don’t have a lot of time. When we’re done here, take a nap, get something to eat, and then do some research. I have a laptop you can borrow, and if you need help, I’ll ask Jonah to do some digging for you.”
Evan let go of Sergio’s hand and they both opened their eyes. With a brain freshly stuffed full of memories, Sergio was little lightheaded and stayed put on the couch. Meanwhile, Evan went to fetch the laptop and opened the mind-link to let Ben know they were done. Moments later, he and Dante arrived in a cloud of angsty Alpha pheromones. Evan called out instructions for Dante as Ben hauled him to their bedroom amid possessive growls.
