Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any other character in that universe.

A/N: I am sorry that I haven't been able to update this story or any of my stories as much as I would like to. Real life is extremely hectic right now.

Chapter 20: Mates for Life

Remus was restless. The wolf was so close to the surface that he could feel its anxiousness and excitement. This had Remus worried for the simple fact that he had never been able to feel the wolf this close before a transformation and that scared him. He had taken his potion but he still wasn't sure it was going to work as well as it usually did. Maybe it was because the wolf had recognized the wolf in Lucian and was eager to make him apart of his pack but then it could also be that the wolf seen that Lucian was a threat and was wanting to challenge him. He didn't know and he was glad that he wasn't going to be near Lucian. Of course now he was worried about Severus. He had never been around a panther during his transformations and Remus hoped that nothing would happen that would damage his and Severus's fragile friendship.

He was just about to head toward his bedroom to prepare for his transformation when he heard a knock on the door. Hesitantly Remus opened the door and upon seeing whom it was he stood off to the side as Severus swept through.

Glancing at the pacing man Severus sighed, "You seem very agitated, is there something wrong?" Severus asked when he followed Remus into the bedroom and noticed that his hands were trembling slightly as he gripped the back of a chair.

"Something is off tonight and I can't tell if it is a good thing or a bad thing. The wolf is closer to the surface then ever before and it seems excited about something." Remus said hesitantly not wanting to scare Severus away but he wanted to make sure that he was aware of the change.

Severus watched Remus closely for several minutes before he said anything. "Do you think it is because Lucian is here and the wolf recognized him for what he is as well?" he asked wondering if something bad was going to happen.

Remus shook his head, "I don't know, it could be that the wolf wants to take a younger wolf into its pack or it could be that wanting to challenge him for pack dominance. I really don't know I have never been put in this position before." He said seriously before he sat down on the end of his bed and looked up at Severus morosely.

Severus looked at Remus and wondered if it was a good idea for him to be here. "Do you want me to leave?" he asked quietly.

Remus shook his head vehemently, "No, I think it would be best if you were here with me just incase something happens and I try to escape. You would have a chance to prevent me from getting too far." He said softly as he curled up on the bed the ache in his joints becoming more prominent with each passing moment. The time was drawing close for his transformation.

Remus gasped out painfully to Severus to change before it as his body started its ritualistic monthly transformation.

Severus felt his body melting into the long languid form of a black panther. He could feel the sinewy muscles rippling over his bones as he moved cautiously toward the trembling wolf. After seeing Remus's transformation first hand he had a whole new respect for the man that endured excruciating pain every month. It made him all the more resolved to find a cure. A slight movement from the gray and brown wolf still lying on the cold floor quickly interrupted his thoughts.

Remus slowly got up onto all fours and took in a deep breath only to stagger back in shock. It couldn't be true he thought to himself as he tried valiantly to fight down his wolfish instincts that were threatening to overwhelm him. For the first time in his life he could smell his mate and the urge to take his mate was so strong that it was almost debilitating. Shock was probably what was causing him from acting at the very scent of his mate, shock that his mate was none other than Severus Snape.

The dizziness was starting to increase, as the flood of pheromones invaded is overly sensitized nose. The unique scent of his mate was heady and intoxicating and it was making him feel as if he had downed a bottle of Old Ogden's Fire Whiskey. The urge to take his mate and mark him was starting to take hold and nothing that he could do was going to prevent the inevitable from happening. He was going to make Severus his tonight whether he wanted to or not; he just hoped that Severus would someday be able to forgive him.

Severus watched the wolf pace back and forth in front of him watching him with an unblinking gaze. He knew something was wrong just by the way that the wolf was looking at him. Severus didn't know what was going on and he just wondered if he was going to make it out of this room alive. Determined not to show his fear he bowed his head slightly letting the wolf know that he was not challenging him. He hoped that Remus's mind was in there somewhere and that he would recognize Severus for who he was.

Severus watched wearily as Remus starting walking toward him slowly in almost a stalking manner. Things were not looking good for him at all. He needed to get out of here before something happened. Severus turned quickly toward the door and hoped that he could get to the door with enough distance between the two of them so that he could change back open the door and slip out it without Remus getting loose.

He wasn't two feet from the door when he felt the larger animal tackle him to the hard floor. Severus could feel his heart beating madly in his chest and he hoped that in his fear he didn't shift back into his human form, if he did he was as good as dead. Struggling with all his might he tried to get out from underneath the massive weight that was keeping him pinned down to the ground. He could feel the wolf shifting slightly over him but before he could use that to his advantage and lip out from under him Severus felt razor sharp teeth sink into his shoulder rendering him helpless to fight back.

Then he felt it, the strange tug of magic that started flowing into him from where the wolf was still latched on. Amazingly Remus didn't try and bite deeper or hurt him in any other way. Before Severus could think anymore on this strange occurrence a wave of dizziness swept him into a blissful darkness. Little did he know that Remus quickly followed him into the dreamless oblivion.

Remus slowly was coming aware of his surroundings when he felt a warm body underneath him. He could taste blood in his mouth as he backed slowly away from the black haired man who was still asleep. Shaking his head slightly to clear the fuzziness he tried to remember the night before's events. The last thing that he remembered was trying to fight the urge to mark Severus as his mate. Terror ran through his body freezing everything in him instantly, hesitantly Remus brushed aside Severus's long hair revealing a bite mark.

As he dropped to the floor in shock he whispered out loud, "Severus is going to fucking kill me."

"Why am I going to kill you and what the hell happened last night!" Severus said as he groaned and rolled over looking at the distraught man on the floor.

Remus pushed himself up off the floor and leaned over to Severus. He brushed his fingers over the healing bite mark.

"Last night the wolf took over and acted on pure driven instinct." He said quietly his voice apologetic. "Your mine now. The wolf marked you as his life-mate."

Severus sat there in shock. He had long ago come to terms with the fact that he liked Remus in more than a friendly way but to be thrown together in such a final way was terrifying him. Not to mention if it ever became knowledge to the wizarding world the both would be killed.

"Severus I am so sorry I never meant for anything like this to happen. Merlin, I should have just told you to leave last night." Remus said his voice shaking in remorse.

Severus looked up at Remus, "It's not your fault and self pity isn't going to help us in the long run. We need to get back down to my quarters and check on the boys." Severus said standing and straightening his robe and running his hand through his hair. He picked up the robe that Remus had taken off last night and handed it to the man.

Remus gratefully took the clothing and slipped it on. The walked together toward the door knowing that they would have to talk about what happened the night before but first they needed to check on Lucian to make sure that there were no problems with his transformation last night. Remus just hoped that Lucian and Draco had both been safe last night, especially with Lucian's forced transformation the night before.

As they stepped into Severus's quarters they were greeted with the warm and appetizing smells of breakfast. Following the mouth watering aroma Severus and Remus walked side by side into the kitchen they were met with the sight of Lucian and Draco digging into their breakfast and Lucius sipping tea and reading the Daily Prophet.

Severus looked at his son with a critical eye wondering how his night had gone. "How was your night?"

Lucian grinned up at his father through a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "Yep, no problems at all. How about you two, anything happen last night with Remus?"

Remus and Severus glanced at each other with worried expressions. "You could say that." Severus said deadpanned.

Three sets of eyes were on the men still standing in the door of the kitchen an obvious tension filling the room. It was Lucius who broke that tension. "Well are you going to tell us what happened or are you going to stand there all day?"

Remus looked worriedly at Severus wondering if he should tell them or not. When he saw the slight nod of Severus's head he took a deep breath and dropped the bomb, "I marked Severus as my life-mate."