Part 5

Of Wolves and Men

The sunlight streamed in through Sebastian's open windows the next morning. He wanted nothing more than to linger in bed with his mate. Hunter had to be sober by now. Maybe he'd let Sebastian get close again. Reaching over, his hand closed on empty air. Hunter was gone.

Sebastian found him half an hour later on the tennis court behind the house. "Practicing your backhand?"

Hunter didn't bother to look Sebastian's way. "Something like that."

"I didn't realize you knew how to play."

"I was raised on a military institution. I know how to do a lot of things that would surprise you." Hunter was bouncing the ball again and brought his hand up for a serve.

"Does that including shifting?" Sebastian leaned against the side of the court and watched as Hunter completely missed the serve. "Guess not." Hunter gave him an angry look and Sebastian waved his hand. "Come on. We have work to do."

The Smythe family home was very large with everything a young wolf might need, including access to part of the Dalton Woods. Sebastian walked with Hunter right to the edge of the woods and pulled his shirt over his head. "My parents wanted more children, but all they ever got was me."

"This house belongs to your mother's family," Hunter said knowingly. "You came back here to join the pack when you got tired to moving all over the world. Last year you graduated from the University of Paris, but that degree was mostly a collection of credits gathered from colleges all over, you only spent one semester there. I'm guessing you speak French."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed, "we have to talk about respect for privacy and your mind reading ability. You pulled all that out of my head?"

"No." Hunter said following suit and removing his own shirt, "Blaine told me. You know, yesterday, while you were gone all day without a word. I'm supposed to be your mate, I don't even have a cell phone number for you."

"To be fair, if Blaine told you all that, he could have given you my number." Sebastian tested the mating bond and sure enough, Hunter was hiding something. "Do you have a cell phone?" Sebastian asked half-mockingly.

"No. But I went looking for you. People said they saw you riding off on an ATV with some guy. It wasn't until after that I started reading minds…they all kept repeating Scandals. How you like to meet most of your conquests there."

The jealousy in Hunter's voice made Sebastian smile. Not remotely bi-sexual eh? "It was Kurt. Kurt is Blaine's mate. He's human. They live here. You met Blaine and if you weren't so drunk, you'd remember meeting Kurt. And yeah, I used to have a thing for Blaine but he never had a thing for me. He only had eyes for Kurt. Now I understand why."

Hunter stared at Sebastian for a long moment and he wondered if the half-bred wolf was reading his mind. It didn't feel like it. Hunter's mind reading had a signature that Sebastian could feel. Instead, of answering Sebastian's accusations about drunkenness, Hunter put his hands on his hips. "What are we doing here?"

"We, are learning to shift." Sebastian began making a slow circle around Hunter, turning his body to the side slightly. "You have to let the wolf out or it comes out on its own and gets violent. Not shifting also causes madness…and in your case, anger issues." Hunter sneered at Sebastian and looked as if he might speak when Sebastian pulled a right hook out, swinging around and making contact with Hunter's jaw.

The other man's face snapped back with the momentum and suddenly he was looking at Sebastian as though he were ready to tear him apart. "What the fuck!"

"It's nice to know I can surprise you." Sebastian smirked as he rounded Hunter again. "I was beginning to think I couldn't."

"I hope you're not looking to kick my ass," Hunter said taking up his own fighting stance, "I was raised on a military facility, taught by trained combatants. I eat pampered poodles like you for breakfast." Hunter came at Sebastian then who moved lightning fast get out of his way.

So many things made sense now. Hunter's wolf had been suppressed for years because of his phenomenal internal discipline, but he'd avoided the madness that stemmed from that. Fighting on the base must have served as a pressure release valve for the wolf's aggression. Sebastian got in one more hit before he saw the subtle change. Hunter accessed his wolf and tagged Sebastian in the gut hard, knocking the man back. "Oooof! he was on the ground and blinking away pain. "That was a good shot." Rolling back onto his feet, Sebastian shook it off and got back into stance, "I bet you never lost a fight."

"Nope." Was all the warning Sebastian got before Hunter lunged at him again and Sebastian went down, taking Hunter with him and throwing all his weight back hard so that the two men would roll over one another.

Each man tried to get the upper hand in what was essentially a wrestling match. Sebastian had Hunter pinned by the legs, but Hunter had Sebastian by the throat and was clearly trying to choke the man out. "Who's Damien?" Sebastian blinked away his dizziness. "I know he killed those people in Dayton. He was leading the mob chasing you. I know that's why you left!"

The two men rolled over and over again as Hunter gain another advantage, Sebastian lulling him into a false sense of security, before he rolled on top of Hunter and pinned the man in a leg lock, his arms pushing at Hunter's shoulders.

"Why haven't you passed out yet!" Hunter growled and Sebastian saw a spark of yellow in the man's eyes.

"Who...is...Damien!" Sebastian choked out again and Hunter let Sebastian go, his body going limp. Sebastian rolled off of Hunter to catch his breath.

"He's my biological father." Hunter replied finally and walked closer to the woods.

"He killed your parents." Sebastian had worked that much out on his own and didn't expect a reply. A wolf couldn't lie to its mate. So the truth hung awkwardly between them, Hunter's real father had killed his own mate, Hunter's mother, and Hunter was a witness to it. Sebastian walked up behind his mate and stopped just shy of the man's bare back. "I know you didn't do it. Whatever was between your biological father and his mate wasn't your fault. She was a victim, just like those murders in Ohio. You were being smoked out." Hunter had too much control over his wolf to let it go wild like that.

"I might as well have." Hunter was shaking his head and Sebastian understood the truth. That Hunter believed he was responsible for what happened. "If I had just agreed to go with him the first time, no one would have died."

"He wanted you in his pack." Sebastian reasoned. "Join or die?"

"A great ultimatum." Hunter took a breath and turned to face Sebastian, "I read his mind, just once. I know he killed my father outright and my mother…I think it was an accident. She was supposed to be his mate, but she rejected him. He has a pack. He calls them his wild wolves, but that's not what they are. Most of them are human. All of them are killers."

"You have a pack now, Hunter." When his mate looked as though he might not believe the truth of that, Sebastian went on. "At least for the moment it's a pack by extension. They'll stick by me and I'll stick by you."

"And what if they don't want that? What if they turn me out? Or worse, what if they start disappearing the way those civilians did in Dayton?" Hunter shook his head, "I won't have anyone else's blood on my hands. I'll go back on the run."

"Then I'll leave with you." Sebastian answered without hesitation. "They're pack, but you're my mate. You're always going to come first." How could Hunter's wolf not have the same need to be near its mate that Sebastian's did? Even a half-bred wolf would have the mating heat running through its body. Maybe Hunter's years of finite control over the wolf were getting in the way. When Hunter didn't say anything in reply, Sebastian began removing the rest of his clothes. "What? Aren't you reading my mind?" He tried to smirk, but the fight took most of that out of him.

"Not really. What are we doing? I'm not sure I'm ready for all that butt stuff yet." Hunter had the grace to blush as he said that, but Sebastian laughed out loud.

"Yet, huh? Don't worry. We're just going to for a run. It's better than fighting to relieve the aggression and the wolf loves it." Sebastian was folding his jeans and stacking them on top of his shoes, leaving him in a pair of dark blue boxer briefs with a 2Xist Logo across the top of the band.

"I...I can't." Hunter rubbed his hand across the back of his neck, "I might hurt you. Or someone else."

"I'm your mate." Sebastian was completely naked and standing confidently in front of Hunter. "You won't hurt me. And I won't let you get out of hand. I saw you pull the wolf back for me last night. You can do it." He tilted his head and read Hunter's expression. The mating bond was pulsing with too many emotions to count, hesitation and anticipation among them. "You don't remember punching a hole in the bar when another guy tried to pick me up?" Hunter's facial expression changed then, perhaps he did remember. "Take off your clothes so they don't rip."

"I still say this is a bad idea." Hunter mused, but he was stripping all the same. "And…this is not an invitation. My eyes are up here."

That got a smirk out of Sebastian, "stop reading my mind."

"Stop making it easy." Hunter was deliciously naked and perfectly gorgeous as he stood in front of Sebastian. "What do I do?"

"Just relax and call the wolf forward the same way you do when you're fighting, only don't pull it back, keep calling it forward. When you feel the change, don't fight it. Let it happen. Breathe into it. If this is your first full change, I'll be honest, it's going to hurt like hell. I'll be right here." Sebastian's eyes were already yellow and he silently went down on his hands and knees, having shifted many times, he was accustomed to the pain that went with it. It never lasted long and soon enough his hair grew along with his canines and his hands became paws.

A full-sized chestnut-colored wolf was sitting in front of Hunter then, watching him expectantly. Sebastian let out one solid bark and then watched as Hunter went through the change. It took twice as long as it had for Sebastian who was accustomed to the trauma of bones growing, along with hips and spine realigning itself. Only Hunter's change was different. He was a half-breed and his wolf was no wolf, but a true monster. He looked as if he walked right out of a Grimm fairy tale with his large body and he stood on two thick legs with a wrinkled snout and a grimace of large, sharp teeth.

Quickly, Hunter's wolf went down on all fours to make eye contact and growled into Sebastian's face. Anyone else would have been running for cover, but Sebastian wasn't having it. His wolf quickly turned it all into a game and nipped at Hunter's snout before tearing off into the trees. The wolf stopped once to allow his mate to follow and when it looked as though Hunter might be confused, he barked again. Hunter was after him then, one wolf chasing another until they were running in tandem. Hunter's wolf was much bigger and darker with patches of thinner hair around his large arms and thighs.

Chasing each other quickly turned into pursuing every small thing that moved in the woods; birds, squirrels, rabbits, and even an opossum. Sebastian did his level best to run Hunter's wolf into exhaustion and finally stopped by the bank of a small stream to curl up beneath a tree. Hunter's wolf was timid at first about the situation and sat across from Sebastian rather than with him. Not missing a beat or a chance to be dominant, Sebastian moved and curled up near his mate, keeping an ear out for predators while he napped. The tactic worked because soon enough Hunter's wolf was sleeping soundly and Sebastian's drifted off with him.

The sun was waning by the time Sebastian opened his eyes as a human. His arms were curled around Hunter's waist. Hunter had shifted in sleep as well and the man looked so damn peaceful. Sebastian almost didn't want to wake him. He lay still, on his side, just staring at Hunter's relaxed face. He wondered how long his mate had been sleeping with one eye open and not trusting anyone with his secrets.

Sebastian's thumb ran idly back and forth along Hunter's bare waistline and he stayed silent as he watched his mate open his eyes. Hunter didn't say anything either, but Sebastian felt the apprehension and the need through the mating bond. It was a shy sort of feeling, as though Hunter didn't know how to ask for the things he wanted. Finally, something Sebastian could handle! Leaning forward slowly so as not to spook his mate, he kissed the corner of Hunter's mouth then ran his lips along Hunter's just shy of kissing the man. The mating had already been so much to handle, Sebastian wasn't going to take his mate anywhere he didn't want to go, but he desperately wanted a kiss. Resisting his mate's drunken invitations the night before had been punishing. Now they were both sober and their aggressive natures were sated, he desperately wanted the kiss Hunter had asked for repeatedly the night before.

It was Hunter who pushed forward and made the contact final. Their lips were pressed together and Hunter went still as if he didn't know what to do, even though Sebastian could sense the nervousness through the mating bond. Taking over wasn't something he had issues with. Sebastian lifted a hand and cradled Hunter's jaw, his lips moved gently against his mates, as though he were kissing a cloud.

For all intents, this was likely Hunter's first kiss with a man and Sebastian's first kiss with his mate. It needed to be special. Slowly, his kiss became more insistent, and his lips parted so his tongue could taste the seam of Hunter's lips. Sebastian let out a low hum of satisfaction as Hunter's taste filled his senses, making him greedy for more. Hunter's mouth opened with no hesitation and it was the other man who deepened the kiss, nearly taking Sebastian's breath away. His mate was an amazing kisser! Sebastian liked taking control in a kiss, but Hunter's tongue was so expertly moving through his mouth that it was impossible not to simply go with it and enjoy the ride.

Between his legs, Sebastian felt the tingle of his own libido and his cock growing harder as their lips became more in tune with one another. He wanted to roll on top of Hunter and pushed forward to do so, but Hunter had other plans. Damn, that dominant nature was hot! Hunter's body was half over Sebastian, kissing him expertly and Sebastian could feel his mate's thumb rubbing at Sebastian's hip bone. It was so, so close to his erect and leaking cock that was laying heavy against Sebastian's stomach, just begging to be touched. It wasn't until Sebastian whimpered from all the teasing that Hunter gave his own whimper in return.

His mate broke the kiss, breathing quick and deep, he placed his forehead against Sebastian's. "I don't know what to do…" Of course Hunter would be nervous. Sebastian was his first male experience after all. He looked so flustered and nervous with kiss-swollen lips that were parted just so.

The desire in the mating bond was flowing both directions and driving Sebastian insane. He'd always heard how the mating bond made a wolf mad with lust, but now he was experiencing that desperation for himself. "Touch me. Please? Or let me touch you? Let me suck you?" Sebastian swallowed hard and licked his lips, "please Hunt? I want to. I need to know what you taste like."

Hunter looked at Sebastian with a look he decided was surprise and then shook his head just slightly. The real answer to the question was in the mating bond though; it surged with sexual energy from Hunter and encouraged Sebastian to materialize the fantasy he'd started two days before. Rolling over quickly, he kissed Hunter until the man was off him, half sitting up and resting back on his hands. When he started to lay back, Sebastian stopped him. "No. I want you to watch me. You can touch my head and hold it if you want to." No mating bond was needed to see that Hunter was a control freak and needed as much command over the situation as Sebastian could give.

The tactic seemed to work and Sebastian felt a hand at the back of his head even before he licked a swipe right up the center of Hunter's cock, just to say hello. Hunter wasn't circumcised and Sebastian took the time to pull the man's skin back and indulge, exploring the man's head with his tongue, looking for the most sensitive places. "Fuck, it's good." He turned his head to the side so Hunter could see him licking at the man's cock. "You taste delicious Hunt." There wasn't anything he didn't want to do with this man and Sebastian let that feeling flow through his entire body as he went to work sliding a little deeper down Hunter's shaft each time he let his mouth fall back down.

Light fingers pressed into the base of Hunter's shaft and his thumb caressed the opposite side while Sebastian's tongue tried to work what anyone would call magic on Hunter's cock. Only as his mate got close, he began moving. Agitation ran along the mating bond, disrupting Sebastian's rhythm. "Hmm?" Sebastian looked up and his lips were cherry red from abuse, his pupils blown. Clearly he was ready to finish what he'd started. "What's wrong?"

"I…can't." Hunter's head was shaking rapidly and he was trying to back away.

Sebastian wasn't having it, reaching out, he held Hunter's thighs, "it's okay. Just relax. Just like when you let yourself change. All you had to do was let go." Licking over his lips, he tried to think of an alternate plan. "I get it. You need more power over it. I do too sometimes. But fuck…I need this." Sebastian hardly noticed the endearment; he was so flustered, "look at me. I am so fucking turned on because of you. Please?"

Blowing air forward between his lips, Sebastian got the reaction he was looking for out of Hunter. He began talking to Hunter in his head, wondering if his mate would read his mind now. 'Use me. Come for me. I'll be right there with you.' Sebastian rocked back on his knees as Hunter stood and let his (very large) cock fall forward, right in Sebastian's face who didn't hesitate to take it between his lips and start sucking. He hollowing his cheeks and instead of grabbing onto Hunter for leverage, he wrapped a hand around his own cock and steadied himself with the other. It was up to Hunter to fuck Sebastian's face, in a manner of speaking. His mate took the cue like a champ, jutting his hips forward and grabbing Sebastian by the hair, he was coming seconds later, forcing himself into Sebastian's mouth, making him choke reflexively. It was all he could do to hold on and keep stroking himself, even as he swallowed every drop of Hunter's seed. He even seemed reluctant to let go, making noises that were half hums and half whimpers. In his mind he spoke again, 'you taste like honey Babe. So good.'

Hunter seemed to be getting sensitive because he tried to pull his cock from Sebastian's mouth, but the man growled shut his eyes, holding Hunter's erection between his lips and hollowed cheeks as he came hard, shooting between Hunter's feet and all over the ground in front of him. Hunter made him let go then and Sebastian practically collapsed forward, breathing heavy. "Fucking…fuck." Were the first words out of his mouth. "That was good. Really good." He chuckled and then so did Hunter, trying to laugh and ease the tensest moment they'd shared so far.

"You're a freak, you know that." Hunter was smiling as he said it and it sparked a genuine laugh from Sebastian.

"I can't help it. Have you seen you?"

It was Hunter's turn to laugh and the two men shared an easy walk back to Sebastian's home. There was no hand-holding or sweet talk, but the atmosphere seemed lighter and Sebastian held out hope for that this mating might actually work.

"Shower, food, and then we can do whatever you like." Sebastian said as they approached the clearing. He'd been telling Sebastian about the other pack members, mostly young men and women who had come from all over the country to seek refuge at Dalton. The story he'd given Wes wasn't a complete farce, instinct really did kick in when a wolf's mate was near.

"What? Like more sex? This was kind of a lot for me." Hunter was blushing all the way to his ears.

"Well. No. I was thinking you could meet the pack, but…we could skip all that and stay naked." Sebastian joked, but he was already reaching for an orderly-looking pile of clothing, as if a dry cleaner had visited them while they were out running. "That's a neat pile of clothes you have there."

Hunter shrugged and began putting his jeans on, "I was raised in a military environment. It rubbed off."

Somewhere in that statement Sebastian got the feeling his mate was either a neat freak, very controlling, or both. "You're not used to changes in your routine. I can tell." He took a chance and asked one last question as he finished dressing. "How many wolves have you met? I mean besides Damien."

"Besides the psycho killer you mean?" Licking over his lips and looking down, Hunter sighed, "just one. He was special ops. A lone wolf. In fact, that's what his buddies called him. He taught me a few things about wolf culture and gave me a some pointers on how to keep the change away." He bent down to put his shoes on, "I never saw him again."

That explained a whole lot and Sebastian had less than 24 hours now to convince his new mate that staying with pack and by his side was the best, right thing to do. Moreover, he still hadn't solved the problem of where Hunter's father was lurking and what the man might do in order to get his son in the wild wolf pack or make sure his half-bred boy stayed silent forever.

Either way, the clock was ticking.