Chapter Six- Acquaintance Talk

Jack chewed on the rare steak and could feel his bones knitting back together. He sighed in relief and pleasure, the former for his healed bones while the latter was for the steak. He then whined happily when Yusei began to work on licking the blood from his fur.

"Those must have been some scratches," Akiza commented.

"They were," Jack admitted. "Now I know what Goodwin meant by fights consisting of teeth and claws." He cautiously got to his paws and found his leg was completely healed. Ah, the healing effects of raw meat combined with a werewolf's natural healing power.

"Well, I think we can head home," Yusei said. "The rest of the unit is probably worried about us." He nodded at the shop owner as the trio left. "Akiza, I will be escorting Jack everywhere for a week for roaming alone."

"Which he wouldn't have done if I hadn't hurt his feelings. It's my fault this happened."

"Regardless, he shouldn't have wandered away from the group. We will be using the time to truly get to know each other."

Jacked noticed that Yusei wasn't mentioning his death desire. Probably doesn't want her to feel worse and besides I'm over it now that I have my mate and look forward to really knowing him. I may be able to get the story of his turning out of him.

Jack awoke to sunlight on his face and he squinted at it as he sat up. I keep forgetting how sensitive my eyes are to sunlight as they're more equipped for night vision. He blinked a few times to adjust to the light before getting up and getting dressed and groomed. He had gathered some of his possessions last week with Blister, but left the other items, like his silver jewelry which would have to be sold since he was now allergic to it.

I will have to do it with Yusei since I can't go anywhere alone for a week, even in our territory. Small price to pay as it's not really safe to go to the human side alone anyway. He left the room and entered The Den to see only Yusei. He smiled at him. "Good morning, Yusei."

"Good morning. I was thinking of showing you the inside of The Park and learn more about you."

"Sounds good. I'd like to know more about you as well." He followed Yusei out the door and glanced to the right to see Blister's bar open and heard music playing from inside. "Where are Akiza and the twins?"

"She's watching them as they play with the other kids. I also think she hopes to catch the scent of her mate." Yusei approached The Park's gate and flipped a latch that no one could accidentally trigger in his or her wild state.

"Will I remember nothing on full moon nights?" he asked as they entered the lush area and Yusei closed the gate. It was clearly meant for animal use and the pair settled on the ground.

"Not until morning. It's necessary to remember so if something went wrong, we can fix it. Goodwin said that before The Park's wall was built, pack members would attack humans or vampires. Some humans died and some were turned. Goodwin had the pack work hard to have the wall up and have latches put in. Only wolves know where they're at so no vampire or human can get in to attack us."

"Akiza mentioned you've been beta for three years."

"Three wonderful years. It was rough at first. It didn't help that I was bitten mere days before the full moon. I was rather angry and quite aggressive during those nights. I adjusted and the following month was much better."

"You didn't like being a werewolf?"

"No. Jack, I never told anyone but, I went over the line on purpose like you did, but unlike you, it was on a dare."

"A dare? Someone dared you to cross the line at night?"

"Yeah. Obviously I did and I was surrounded within minutes. The ones who dared me saw me get bit and changed. They bolted as my change ended so they didn't' see the guards take submissive postures with me as they were omegas."

Jack listened in fascination and knew he would never tell anyone about what he learned. "I can see why you would be angry and I swear not to tell anyone."

"I know you won't. As mates, we keep the other's secrets. This is why our kind has destined mates as the pair would be suited to one another and no one else even if one dies."

"Goodwin did say he didn't take another after his mate died."

"That's right. We mate for life."

"Yusei, what were the terms of that dare?"

"Well, it was more of a test of manly pride. I got that pride and a bite for taking the dare and doing it. If I hadn't frozen upon hearing the alarm, I might have remained human. I don't know what my life would have been like; it wasn't that great three years ago."

"Oh?"

Yusei flashed a rueful smile. "I was a bit of a street punk and lived on the streets."

"No!" Jack exclaimed with mock horror. "A delinquent?"

"Yeah; odd considering I'm enforcing the laws now."

"I'll say."

"What about you, Jack? What was your life like?"

"Unremarkable. I had a decent job, a nice place to live, hardly noticed by anyone."

"And you gave it up because of Akiza."

"I did and I'm glad as it brought us together."

"Yes and the first night of the Mating Moon will be wonderful."

"What exactly goes on during that time?"

"All the pups stay with Goodwin while the unmated look for their mate. The mated ones couple and move into their own place. We will do that but the twins come with us. They're my responsibility after all."

"I don't mind. They're adorable."

Yusei chuckled. "They are, no doubt."

"What if Akiza and Blister find their mates? What becomes of our home?"

"Blister inherits it as his business is connected to it. It won't be hard to find a new home and move in as all of the houses are nice and able to accommodate more than six if the couple has more than two pups."

"How many pups can one produce at a time?"

"Anywhere from one to four and they'll be born in six to eight weeks. Also they are born at night and never on the full moon."

"One to four in six to eight weeks? We could have our own unit if we have four pups?"

"We could. Personally, I would like two or three."

"And I would carry them as I am the omega and you're the beta."

"That's right. You okay with that?"

"Of course. I love you and want to make you happy."

"I love you too." Yusei put a hand on Jack's cheek and learned forward to capture Jack's lips in their first kiss.

Jack savored the kiss and felt the urge to mate rise up inside him. It was an intense feeling and quite strong. They parted and Jack emitted a needy whine. He wanted to mate now, didn't want to wait for the Mating Moon.

Yusei smiled at him, sensing his feelings. "No, Jack. We must wait for next week. Understand?"

"Yes, beta. I will wait."