Chapter Fifty – Will That Make a Fire?
The pack flocked to him, pulling him away from Jack and Vince, and lifting him up. Theodore gestured helplessly, trying to hold onto his mates, but his people were like a fast-moving river now, carrying him on their hands, making it impossible for him to do anything but enjoy his victory.
"Join us," he shouted. "Jack, Vince, don't you dare leave now!"
"No chance of that," Vince's voice reached him from behind. "Jack needs to be convinced to shift back to his human shape."
"Convinced is barely the word you should use, Vee. I'm more like… inexperienced."
Funny how he could still hear their words so clearly even as the crowd of wolfshifters was carrying him away. It took him a good moment to understand that, as wolves, Vince and Jack were quite fast, and they were keeping up with everyone while exchanging their usual happy banter.
"You won't be inexperienced for long, Wolfie," Theodore shouted again.
"Hush, Theo. Everyone will hear you. What if I start blushing?"
"I'll kiss you until you stop blushing."
Theodore couldn't see his mates and since he was forced to face skyward there was little he could do. A sensation of calm, a serenity he didn't believe himself capable of, was slowly taking root inside his mind. He was back with his pack, to Whiteflame and—
He craned his neck, turning his head left and right. Yes, he was right. His pack had returned, and with them nature around them had changed. Gone was the wasteland he had faced before. The lands around them weren't a thing of the past, either.
It was spring. The air smelled of flowers and new grass, and if it weren't for his pack's shouts of triumph, he would surely hear the buzzing of insects and the fluttering of butterfly wings.
Whiteflame's lands belonged to winter for the greater part of the year. But they had springs like this sometimes and short summers when the sun shone brightly.
He had so many things to be thankful for. His mates had helped him, returning him from the land of the dead, and now his pack no longer resided there anymore, either.
The crowd stopped and he was slowly helped to the ground. Theodore felt it beneath his feet, too real for this to be a dream.
Before him stood two figures, dressed in the most beautiful clothes their pack made.
His eyes filled with tears, but he blinked them away.
"Mom. Dad." It was all he could utter, because his chest expanded to the point of making him stop breathing.
His parents looked at him only for a moment. Then they rushed to him together, pulling him into their arms, saying his name repeatedly and hugging him through small sobs and murmurs of gratitude.
It looked like his father didn't consider crying unmanly, because his wrinkled eyes were squeezed tight and tears were pouring down his face.
"Father," he said, still not knowing what to add.
"Just call me Dad, Theo. Like when you were very little. We missed you so much, Mom and I."
Theodore couldn't stop looking at his parents' faces. They were the best parents in the world, and he buried his face in his dad's broad chest. At least for a moment, even as a grownup, he'd allow himself this moment. The pack would surely forgive the alpha's son for showing this moment of weakness.
It felt good. It washed him clean. He cried and cried against his father's chest, while his mom caressed his head and whispered words of encouragement he hadn't known he needed for so long, without even dreaming of such a moment.
He sniffled, coming back to the present after a few good minutes, during which no one else said a word. The pack was silent, choosing solemnity over anything else in times like this. Theodore felt grateful toward them, too.
"Wait," he said, allowing his mom to wipe his tears away gently with her smooth fingers, "I thought I told you not to call me Theo."
His mom smiled slyly. "Since you're allowing your mates to call you that, I think we should do the same."
"My mates? Jack and Vince? Have you met them?"
"Briefly. And Jack carefully informed us that you are quite fine with being called Theo. We like it a lot. We might never call you Theodore again," his dad teased him, ruffling his hair. "You're a handsome man now. But you'll always be our boy."
"Are you truly here?" Theodore asked, feeling his father's shoulders, wrapping one arm around his mom, his eyes moving from one to the other. He couldn't get enough of looking at them.
"Yes. As are you. You deserve all our gratitude, alpha," his father said.
"Alpha? But you're the alpha, Dad," Theodore protested.
"Come, we have all the time in the world to discuss such things," his mom said. "Your father has carried the burden of ruling our pack for centuries now. Of course, that means that you will have to take on many responsibilities. How about a good meal now? And introduce us to your mates."
Theodore felt his head spinning from too much information and too much happiness. He turned his head and saw Vince and Jack not far from where he and his parents stood. Jack was still in his wolf shape, which meant that he needed a tiny bit of coaxing so he could learn how to easily move from one shape to another. It would come naturally to him, an alpha's mate.
"What are you two waiting for?" he asked. "Don't tell me you're afraid of meeting your in-laws."
"As if," Jack protested right away. "And we already met them. Sort of. I have no idea how much time-traveling experience counts."
"It counts a lot," Theodore assured him. "Vince, take Jack under your arm if you have to."
***
Well, Theo definitely had a point. Jack, however, had other things on his mind, such as how the heck he was supposed to learn how to shift when it took young wolves plenty of time to go to and fro like that. Sure, Vee had mastered that stuff in like a second, but not everyone was a genius like him when it came to such things.
"Vee," he whispered as Vince immediately took Theo's recommendation to heart and stuffed poor little ol' him under one arm, "what if I'm stuck like this forever?"
"Like me," came a small wavering voice from behind them.
"Skarg!" Jack exclaimed. "I feel so guilty now. Put me down, Vee. We need to talk to our little fellow here a little."
"You'd find any excuse not to join Theo right now. Are you that shy, Jack?"
"Nonsense," Jack protested. "We need to find a good place for Skarg in the pack."
He was barely back on the ground and had just turned to face their unusual accomplice when someone came barreling from behind. Jack yelped and jumped out of the way of the human-mountain or mountain-human moving like that.
He shouted in disbelief when he saw Theo all over poor Skarg, now thrown to the ground and having to support a full-grown alpha on his chest.
"Theo, no!" Jack hurried to Skarg's aid, followed by Vince.
He grabbed tufts of Theo's white fur and pulled hard to remove him from his puny victim.
"Theodore, Skarg helped us find you and free you," Vince said, always the voice of reason.
"He's with them," Theo accused. "Just look at him."
"You're hurting him. He's just a poor boy. He needs a pack. Come on, Theo, don't be like that." Jack wrapped both arms around Theodore's neck and pulled him back. "Oh," he exclaimed, once he realized what he was doing. "It looks like I turned back into my human shape! How did that happen?"
Vince was a lot more efficient in getting Theo off Skarg's chest. The skeleton boy stood with difficulty, making pathetic wheezing sounds.
"It's all right, Jack. I knew I was asking for too much when I asked to join your pack. I will just… go."
Jack let go of Theodore and jumped in front of Skarg, barring his way. "Absolutely not. Vee, please make Theo understand. Tell him I won't love him anymore if he dares chase Skarg away."
"Theo is standing right here," Theodore said, sounding like he'd calmed down a bit. "Are you vouching for your friend, then?"
"Totally," Jack said, meeting Theodore's amazing blue eyes. Wolf eyes. Wow, he was just so beautiful.
"And you will continue to love me?" Theo teased him.
"Of course," Jack exclaimed. "Wait. Wait a minute. Did you just--"
Theodore shaped into his human, laughing and coming at him fast. "You better make sure your strange acquaintance behaves. We won't tolerate dark magic wielders among us."
"I don't even know any black magic," Skarg argued.
Jack had to grab onto Theodore's bicep and hoist himself over it so he could still see Skarg. "That's right. He's completely harmless. Don't let yourself be fooled because he goes by the name of Lord of the Underworld. That's like his stage name. Like a DJ."
"Are you sure you're helping him by telling me all of that?" Theodore teased him and hiked Jack up in his arms.
"Maybe… not," Jack agreed. "Wait, where are you taking me?"
"I believe dinner will take a while to prepare. Mom, Dad, isn't that so?" Theodore threw over his shoulder at his parents.
"Without a doubt," Tharion said in his sonorous, pleasant voice. "This young lad will surely help us hunt and skin a few deer."
"I have no experience with deer," Skarg said. "But I can learn."
"Your friend is safe with us, Jack," Tharion said. "You and Vince go with Theo now. He must have been missing you a lot."
"What a coincidence," Jack said. He wrapped his arms around Theodore's neck. "I missed him a lot, too. Did you miss Theo too, Vee?"
"You know I did," Vince replied smoothly.
"Get on my back," Theo said, manipulating Jack with ease.
He didn't have time to ask what that was all about, because he had to hold on tight as Theodore's wolf broke into a run.
***
Vince had never experienced freedom like this. While he had quickly come to terms with being a guardian when his parents had shared their knowledge with him, he hadn't envisioned himself a wolf.
But he was one. And he was flying over fields of green grass, jumping over boulders as if he had wings, dashing through the fast waters of a shallow river, taking in the fresh air, the clear sky above, and a new life that was only beginning for the three of them.
Jack was more vocal in expressing his wonder at the beautiful scenery they were traversing. He was barely holding onto Theodore's fur, shouting and squealing in delight at the tiniest thing he noticed, like fish swimming in the river, a flower raising its crown from the grass, or a daring butterfly coming to land on his outstretched hand.
They stopped at the mouth of a cave, hidden from view by a curtain of moss. It was only then that Theodore allowed Jack to stand safely on his own two feet. Vince didn't even question how natural it came to him to shift back to his human shape, taking after Theodore's example.
"Wow, is this your little hiding place?" Jack asked, bending at the waist and trying to sneak a peek at whatever lay inside the cave.
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Theodore said gallantly.
There was nothing gallant, however, about the way he smacked Jack's ass, making the clairvoyant straighten up as if a pole had just poked his lovely behind.
"Hey," Jack protested, "is that your idea of foreplay?"
"It wasn't until now. But yes, spanking you sounds like a great way to whet my excitement," Theodore said abruptly.
"Look at him," Jack said, gesturing at Theodore, who was grinning and staring at Jack with a devilish glint in his eyes. "He's been alpha for like two seconds and he believes that gives him the right to spank just anyone."
"You're not just anyone to me," Theodore said carefully to make things clear. "Step inside my little hiding place. I wasn't sure it really existed or if I had just imagined it in a dream."
"What's in there, exactly?" Jack wanted to know.
"It's where mating takes place when an alpha finds his mate. Mates, in this case," Theodore said, stealing a glance at Vince, who felt like he needed to stand tall, just like Jack, when referred to in that way.
"So, now you believe everything?" Jack asked. "I mean, I know we showed up like a throuple in my cards, but--"
"Are you getting cold feet about mating, Jack?" Theodore asked.
"Cold feet? Nope, not at all. My feet are pretty warm. Hot even. Like you. You're hot."
"Jack," Vince laughed, "you're babbling. Come on, you knew we'd get to this point sooner or later, right?"
"Fair. But we've been sort of busy, you know, fighting evil trees, landing on dead squirrels, saving Theo from another evil tree, because they're like everywhere—fine, I'm babbling. Let's not forget the size difference, okay?"
"How could we?" Theodore picked Jack up again and carried him bridal-style into the cave, while Vince held the curtain of moss back for them.
***
Theodore had known of this place only from his dreams. Now that he was here, he knew that they were precisely where they needed to be.
The large room opening at the end of the long corridor leading them into the warm womb of the earth had runes written on the walls, some fading, some of fresher red and blue hues. Jack could accuse him all he wanted that he had turned into an absolute believer overnight, but it was the truth.
His parents, his entire pack, they had come back to life, just like the prophecy in the rock had foretold. There was also something else. Inside his heart, Theodore felt, for the first time since he'd known himself, unshackled.
It was enough to look at Vince, into his dark eyes, and then at Jack, at his slightly parted lips and large eyes, and he knew he was exactly where he needed to be.
Large animal furs were stretched on the ground in front of an old fireplace.
"Wow. This looks pretty awesome," Jack said, walking around and expressing his awe. Theodore had allowed him a bit of freedom since he didn't want his skittish mate to feel pressed into succumbing to his alpha's desires.
He knelt by the old fire and moved one hand through the old ashes. Vince came by his side. Theodore turned his head to meet the guardian's eyes.
"I have an idea," Vince whispered. He cupped Theodore's chin gently. "Jack won't resist if we start first."
Theodore nodded shortly and let his hand run over Vince's collarbone. When they kissed, all his subdued desires blossomed. Blood ran like fire through his veins, making his body hot.
His hand was starting to—
"Ouch," he exclaimed, pulling his hand free from the fireplace.
A small fire was burning within.
"Did you do that?" Jack came closer and stared at the growing flame. "You are amazing, Theo."
"Chalk it all up to my not knowing exactly how everything happens here," Theodore said. "Would you like a kiss, too, Jack?"
"Will that make a fire?"
"I'm sure it will," Theodore said, offering his arm for Jack to drape himself around.
"In your pants?"
The field mouse was still in there, no matter how many adventures and life-changing situations they went through.
But this time, Theodore was all for playing games, so he grabbed Jack's hand fast and placed it over his crotch, immediately earning himself a gasp and then an appreciative sigh.
"Isn't it convenient that we are all suddenly naked?" Vince remarked out loud.
Indeed they were. Just like the fire earlier, things were happening as ordained by a powerful magic. Kind, gentle magic. Theodore pulled Jack over him, while Vince pressed against him from the side. He turned only slightly to allow the guardian to embrace him and press his considerable manhood against him.
Before, he would have balked at the mere implication of such a move. Safe. That was how he felt now, squeezed between Vince's large muscular frame and Jack's slender body.
"I will never have enough of you," he promised his mates.
Vince chuckled in his ear, low and manly. "We will hold you to that, alpha."
"I hope so," he joked back. With his mates, he'd give as good as he'd take. Moving one arm back, he felt Vince's hip with his hand. Then he let it run across the guardian's hard thigh.
Jack was getting busy nibbling at the base of Theodore's throat. "I know this place must be magical and stuff because I feel a strong hunger," he announced.
"Hunger? Would you rather eat than mate with me and Vince?" Theodore asked. Vince was slowly kissing his neck and shoulder, which was quite distracting in the best of ways.
"I didn't say that it was hunger for food," Jack argued. "It is more like hunger for… um, help me here."
"Dick?" Vince supplied right away.
Theodore watched the way Jack blushed and changed colors.
"Well, if I'm brave enough, I think… yeah. It's hunger for dick. Alpha dick," Jack added just to make everything clear.
As if there was any need for that. Jack's little friend was already poking Theodore in his lower belly, making it quite clear what kind of meal the clairvoyant had in mind.
TBC