Leaning close, Ricky whispered, “Part of me wants to stay here and record this so I can tease my mom later, but I really want to see your wolf.”
“We’ll have plenty of opportunities to catch your parents acting goofy with Alex.” Morgan hunched down and pressed his mouth to Ricky’s ear. “Come play with me, mate.”
Immediately, Ricky’s pulse spiked and his floral scent deepened. “Yes, Alpha,” he rasped.
Morgan wanted to flick his tongue against his Omega’s ear, but one taste would ramp up a hunger that couldn’t be curbed quickly or in front of others, so he held himself in check. “Let’s go.” He stood up, keeping his arm securely around Ricky’s waist. “The moon is calling.”
***
Morgan waited for Ricky to shift, took a few moments to massage his scruff with his human hands, and then changed into his animal skin. The transition was nearly instantaneous and then he was looking down at a wolf half his size. In their animal forms, shifters’ mass generally correlated with their power. Ricky was a young, slight Omega, so as expected, he was a smaller-than-average wolf. What Morgan hadn’t anticipated was his own reaction to the adorable tawny animal.
The petite, trim wolf tucked his tail, rolled onto his back, and whimpered as he stared up at Morgan. His defensive instincts for his mate went on high alert and his powerful body took on a new and critical purpose: he could shield his Omega from danger and keep him safe. Chest rumbling, he lowered his muzzle and licked Ricky’s head, chest, and down his belly. When his mate relaxed, his tail flat on the ground and his eyes hazy, Morgan nudged his flank and then stepped back.
Head tilted to the side, Ricky whined and wiggled, indicating his displeasure with the end of the tongue bath. He looked so adorable that Morgan almost gave in, but his mate had wanted to play and they had limited time before they’d need to return home. So he pushed his snout against Ricky’s side and chuffed.
Apparently realizing the decision had been made, Ricky bounced up and yipped excitedly. Pleased, Morgan darted away from the house and toward the thick trees, his attention split between the path in front of him and the precious wolf at his rear. He finally had the privilege of showing his mate the pack lands he would now call home.
Morgan had spent a decade keeping Golden Valley healthy and prosperous for the good of his pack members. That evening, as he witnessed his mate’s awed expressions in reaction to the well-maintained homes and the bustling town center, his joy at running through clean, dense woods, and his satisfaction at hunting in their plentiful forest, Morgan felt truly and genuinely proud of his hard work.
When they returned to the land surrounding the Alpha house, Morgan caught sight of an almost forgotten line of trees. On the surface, they looked no different from the hundreds of other trees surrounding the property, but if he was remembering correctly… Veering to the left, he guided them by memory and flicked his gaze to his right where Ricky ran beside him. As he had all night, Ricky followed his lead, unfazed by the detour.
Before long, they reached what he believed was the right spot so he slowed and pushed between two wide trees. The space was tighter than he remembered, either because the trees were fuller or because he was bigger, but his memory was correct that this was the hidden entry to his favorite resting spot. Once they wound through three layers of trees, Morgan and Ricky stepped into a grassy clearing, encircled by the thick forest but open to the starry sky. Morgan shifted into his human form and then Ricky did the same.
“Wow.” Ricky’s head was tilted back, his attention on the sparkling sky. “How is it the stars seem so much closer here?”
“I’ve never been able to figure that out either.” Morgan stood behind him, wrapped his arms around Ricky’s chest, and nuzzled Ricky’s nape. “It’s beautiful though, right?”
“Uh-huh.” Ricky rested his arms on Morgan’s and leaned back, tipping his head against Morgan’s shoulder.
“When we first built the Alpha house, there were people around all the time and I needed to be strong for them but—” He took a deep breath and confessed to his mate something he’d never been able to share with anyone else. “I was in so much pain. So, so much pain. I used to come here when I couldn’t hide it. Cried myself to sleep out here sometimes.” Relieved to finally have a safe person to hear about his vulnerable moments, Morgan squeezed Ricky tightly. “Always found it really peaceful.”
“Yeah, I can see why. It smells fresh and crisp and it’s so quiet.” Taking in a deep breath, Ricky’s posture softened and his eyes drifted shut. “You were still a kid then, right?”