Chapter Thirteen - Family

I woke surrounded by the warmth of the four men and felt no need to get up. I realised that I wasn't even embarrassed about being naked around them. I must have made some movement because encircled my hand in his and pulled me into his arms. He entwined his legs with mine and stroked my hair soothingly as we drifted off to sleep once more.

Clay woke me up later by licking my cheeks like a cat or a dog and I laughed. 'Do I taste nice?' I joked.

'Actually, you do' He replied. I don't think he got my sarcasm so I shook my head and stretched. As I stretched, Clay tickled his fingers down my sides and I squirmed. 'You look funny when you do that' he commented and then tickled me again. I writhed on the bed and knocked Clay over playfully. We rolled around and I eventually pushed him off the bed. He hit the floor with a thud so I thought I had won, but he leapt straight at me and propelled us off the other side of the bed and onto the floor.

He had taken me by surprise and he now had me pinned. I stuck my tongue out at him and he laughed. He leant down and kissed me. While he was preoccupied, I flipped him over and pinned him as he had done to me. I grinned down at him and then resumed the kiss. He made a low sound deep in his throat - almost a growl or a purr - which made me laugh and draw away.

'What was that place in the forest you took me to last night?' I asked.

'It was our Lupanar. We hold meetings there with the other shifter races sometimes or go there at full moon. Most important events are held there because it is our sacred place. We also take new Lycans there for the first time they change. It's a tradition; they are welcomed into the pack.'

'What was that big chair thing that Lucian was sitting on?'

'That was the throne where the pack Ulfric sits. It gives our pack its name; the Thronnos Rokke Clan. It has been there for hundreds of years and it was built at the same time as Stonehaven. Things have obviously been added t Stonehaven to keep it up to date. Stonehaven is my home and has been ever since Lucian found me and brought me into the pack. He has been like a father to me, just like Alcide is to you. This could be your home,' he sat up and hugged me against him, 'you can be happy here. I want you to be happy here, we all do.'

I didn't know how to reply so I buried my head into the curve of his neck and inhaled deeply. He, like Lucian, smelled of musk but Clay's scent was stronger, almost heavier in a way. I sighed. 'I want this to be my home,' I whispered in a soft voice, 'I feel safe here, like I did with my mother. I haven't felt safe in a long time, but I feel like this is my home, that I belong here.'

Clay must have known how much this confession had cost me. After all, I had been through so many bad things here. He raised my face to his and kissed me. He made that sound in his throat again and I laughed quietly to myself. Then that thing happened again and I froze. The force inside me - which Clay said was my beast - rose to meat his and they entwined and stretched between us. I gasped when it thudded back into me and I came back to myself with a jolt. Clay held me to him and whispered 'I love you, Max, and I always will.'

'I love you, too.' I murmured as I realised that I did actually love him with all of my heart. The only problem was that after a lifetime of being alone, I wasn't sure if I could completely share my life with anyone. I would have to get used to it, after all, he was my mate. He squeezed my arms and started to lick my face. I giggled childishly and someone knocked on the door. It was Lucian asking if we wanted any food, so we told him that we would be down in a few minutes. One thing that I had noticed was that he wasn't wearing any clothes and I tried desperately not to show it on my face. I must have failed because he left the room chuckling to himself after giving me a knowing smile.

'How many people normally live here?' I asked Clay after I listened to Lucian's footsteps fade away.

'Around twenty five, including us. Why?'

'I'm just wondering if they all do casual nudity…' I grinned.

Clay chuckled. 'That is our way. Anyway, when we change back from being wolf, we are all naked, so what's the point in hiding?' I blushed and he laughed as he pulled me to my feet.

'Well, forgive the poor woman who's going to have to get used to all those strange naked people, will you?' I retorted sarcastically. We grinned at each other and I had a childish idea. 'Last one to the kitchen is a rotten egg!' I exclaimed and then dashed off. I made it down the stairs and into the hall as Clay ran after me. 'I win!' I taunted as I pushed the door open but I stopped dead in my tracks. In the kitchen was a spotted leopard, a strange rat thing and a giant black wolf. They sat next to each other on the floor, staring intently at me. This could not be good.

I was so scared that I had stopped breathing for a few seconds. My pulse jumped to my throat and I started to back away. Clay, who had come in behind me, stopped me by wrapping his arms around me in a loose hug and he carefully lowered both of us so we sat on the floor. He entwined his legs with mine so that they were pinned to the floor and I couldn't get up.

My brain kept screaming 'escape!' and 'get out of here' but Clay's grip was firm and he wouldn't let me go.

He motioned for the black wolf to come slowly forwards and I retreated into Clay's hold. It sat at Clay's feet with its head to one side and its tongue lolling out, looking at me. 'It's ok. Raze won't hurt you.' Clay soothed in a voice used normally for a frightened chil - which was exactly how I felt.

'Raze?' I stuttered.

'Yes, Raze. He is in wolf form. Look at his eyes.'

I did what he said and found that they were actually Raze's eyes on the wolf's head. 'Oh my god!' I gasped.

'Shhh, its ok.' Clay said as he stroked my hair. He must have also made some move because 'Raze' stood up and walked closer until he was level with my side. I shrank back and held my hand out, as if it would help keep the wolf away from me. It licked my fingers quickly and I jumped. I looked at it warily and it licked my fingers some more, as if to say it wouldn't hurt me.

'Is that really Raze?' I asked which the wolf snorted at. Clay laughed which made me jump again. I got the feeling that the wolf -or 'Raze' - was mocking me. I don't like being mocked so I defiantly (but tentatively) reached my hand out towards the wolf's head. I lightly brushed my hand over the top of its head but the wolf pushed its head firmly against my hand. I gasped and almost took my hand away, but I realised how warm and soft its fur was. I stroked its head more surely and it licked my wrist which made me grin. I started to tickle it behind the ear butI stopped myself and started to take my hand back, unsure of whether I should or not. After all, this was no ordinary dog. Raze licked my hand and whined which made me laugh so I indulged him and continued to tickle him behind the ears.

The leopard started to slink towards us, followed by the rat thing and I froze uncertainly with my hand resting on Raze's head. Clay must have felt my discomfort because he said 'The leopard is Micah and the rat is Rafael.' The leopard and the rat bowed their heads in unison, as if to greet me and I laughed before I could stop myself as it was so uncanny. I slowly knelt up and stroked the leopard and the rat on the head.

'Weird' I muttered to myself as I noticed that Micah still had his forest green eyes with golden tinges and Rafael has his chocolate brown eyes, even in their animal forms. 'Are there any other types of animal… shifters?' I asked after thinking of the appropriate word.

'No, just wolves, rats and leopards. We call ourselves Lycan, the rats call themselves. There are rumours of another faerie species as well as Furions but I haven't seen any. There are also some humans with special abilities, I suppose, and Vampires.' Clay replied.

'So you really weren't kidding about that guy…' I looked at Alcide who was sitting at the table drinking coffee 'he's the one from St. Louis. You know, the club?'

'I know. He told me last night.'

After a short pause I grinned. 'So, are the rumours true? I asked. 'Like, do they sleep in coffins because if they go in the sun they will explode? And are they afraid of crosses and holy water?'

'Some of the rumours are true. Daylight does burn them, but they won't explode immediately and they can't stand crosses or holy water. They can sleep in beds like normal people, but most prefer coffins and if you give a vampire garlic, it will just give it bad breath.'

'Really?' I exclaimed excitedly.

'Yes, really' Alcide replied with a grin. 'However, vampires can't eat much solid food so they sustain themselves by drinking blood. They are immortal and extremely strong like the shifter races and they can fly without wings.'

'What?'

'They just seem to float away. You should ask Jean Claude when he wakes up. They are not just people with fangs, though. To be turned into a vampire they drain your blood and give you some of theirs. After three days, you reawaken but you are not truly alive - or dead. They are undead.'

I leaned back into Clay's arms for a few minutes as I digested the information. 'Cool' I mumbled. Clay grinned and kissed me on the forehead. I jumped when Lucian suddenly announced that the food was ready and Clay laughed.

I then stared wide eyed as the leopard, rat and wolf moved back and changed into their naked human form. 'Breathe Max, breathe.' Clay chuckled as he turned me round and kissed me. Raze, Micah and Rafael laughed and I blushed as Clay picked me up and sat me next to him at the table.

When we were all sat down, Lucian brought the food over and sat down. We all started to eat and I thought to myself – what a strange way to start the day. Very strange indeed.