Rescued by His Lone Wolf Mate (4 page)

In the end, there was no reason to even make the attempt.
Pursuing the need that wouldn't abate, Connor pulled out of his mate, then
thrust back inside. He aimed for Dani's prostate, wanting to see his lover come
undone, to have Dani climax on his dick. Dani moved with him, impaling himself
on Connor's cock, seeking more of the penetration.

From that point on, they fell into a perfect rhythm, like
lovers who'd just been reunited after a separation that had kept them apart for
far too long. For all Connor knew, that was exactly the case. Perhaps they had,
indeed, been together in another life. To Connor, it felt like all these years,
he'd waited for Dani, surviving the harsh existence of a lone wolf for the sole
purpose of finding the beautiful man in his arms.

The urge to claim Dani gradually became too powerful, too
much for him to contain. He found himself moving faster, thrusting harder,
seeking to bury his cock deeper inside his mate's welcoming channel.
Fortunately, Dani understood what Connor wanted. He tilted his head, offering
himself to Connor. With a wild snarl, Connor struck, biting down on the
juncture of his lover's throat.

The taste of his mate's sweet blood filled his mouth, and
with one final thrust, Connor found his peak, tumbling into an orgasm that sent
him spiraling into a world where only he and Dani existed. He sensed the moment
the mate bond clicked into place, binding them together for all time. He felt
the echo of Dani's pleasure even as his mate followed him over the edge, his
cock spurting jets of warm cream over their abdomens. His knot expanded,
molding their bodies together in the most intimate way possible.

But their bond went deeper than that, reached a level that
humbled Connor. He had heard a lot about mates, and yet, nothing that he'd ever
been told or witnessed had prepared him for this. He saw Dani's memories,
sensed his pain and insecurities, but also his hope for the future.

Two images collided and mingled, reflections of past hurts
and traumas. It hurt to see and relive the moment he'd been cast out of his
pack, even if he now knew his father couldn't have done anything else. It hurt
even more to witness the memory of Dani's banishment, so raw and fresh in his
lover's mind.

Still, both of them accepted it, accepted the pain that came
with the pleasure, understood what it meant. They had been shattered and
rejected, but the jagged edges of their hearts fit together just right, like
pieces of a puzzle Connor had not even realized existed. At one point, Connor
didn't know where he ended and Dani began. His body and consciousness echoed
with feelings and sensations both his own, and not, and his wolf howled in
satisfaction as he instinctively reached out to his mate through their new
link.
Dani. My Dani.

To Connor's surprise, Dani reached back. His mind, like
Connor's, was a jumble of overwhelming emotions, but one thing, one concept was
there, very present, shining bright through their connection.
Mate.

One word, a word that held so much meaning especially when it
came from Dani—and the past ceased to matter. In that single syllable, Connor
felt the love he hadn't dared to hope for, a still budding emotion that had
somehow exploded into something powerful and all-consuming.

He didn't know how long it lasted, but when he finally came
down from the high and released his hold on Dani's throat, he felt both
emotionally drained and happier than ever before. His knot receded and he
pulled out of his mate with a pang of regret.

He couldn't truly be disappointed, though, because as he
collapsed on the bed, Dani curled close to him, the motion so natural it truly
felt they'd done this a thousand times before. Connor wrapped his arm around
Dani, simply holding his mate and taking in the sound of Dani's breathing, the
scent of his sweat and of their spent passion.

They didn't speak. Connor didn't think he could have said
anything, but then, he didn't need to. Their new bond still vibrated with the
aftermath of their orgasm, and while Connor could no longer see Dani's
thoughts, he still felt his mate's emotions. It was beyond beautiful. It was
home, the home Connor had always craved without actually daring to hope for it.

"You'll stay with me, won't you, Connor?" Dani
finally asked. "No more thoughts of leaving."

Connor realized his mate must have caught a glimpse of his
earlier plans. He kissed Dani's forehead and held him even tighter. "I
think it's safe to say things have changed a great deal, for both of us."

In response, Dani crawled on top of him and smiled.
"It's a good change, I take it."

His voice was husky and raw after all the moaning he'd done,
and his eyes glowed with sensual promise. Despite having the most exhausting
orgasm of his life, Connor went rock hard once again. He reached for his mate
and proceeded to prove to Dani that no, there would be no more thoughts of
leaving. Just this, the two of them, together, forever, the heat that had
melted the heart of a lone wolf, and the bond that had convinced a rabbit
shifter it was okay to be different.

Epilogue

Dani awoke feeling comfortable, warm, safe and... sticky.
Individually, none of the sensations were new to him. In the warren, he often
curled in bed with his numerous siblings, many of whom had the tendency to
prank Dani, and each other.

Despite that memory, he didn't for a moment feel confused or
taken aback when he opened his eyes. He didn't wonder where his family had
gone, or why he wasn't in the warren. Everything came to him with crystal
clarity—and he knew that the comfort had nothing to do with his previous home.
Instead, it was all because of the tight, but welcoming embrace of the man who,
against all odds, had saved Dani from a group of attacking humans, and himself.

The man—or rather, the werewolf—in question grinned down at
Dani as Dani opened his eyes. "Morning there, sleeping beauty."

"Morning," Dani mumbled against Connor's chest.
"You've been awake long?"

"Maybe," Connor drawled, playfully stretching the
word. "Aren't you lucky? You now have a creepy stalker boyfriend who
watches you while you sleep."

"Not a boyfriend," Dani teased as he extracted
himself from Connor's embrace. "A mate."

Possessiveness flickered in Connor's eyes as Dani spoke, and
Dani could have easily let his lover reach for him and have a repeat of the
night before. He didn't. Instead, he stepped out of the bed and simply looked
at Connor.

Connor had feelings for him, that much was true, but there
was one thing they hadn't gotten to share, and it was too important for Dani to
ignore. The difference in their species was not something Dani could disregard.
He didn't think Connor would reject him because of it, but he wanted to show
this part of him to Connor, just like he'd shown everything else.

Connor must have sensed or guessed his thoughts, because he
made no move to reach for Dani. Instead, he just sat there and watched, giving
Dani time to gather his thoughts and his courage. Dani embraced the
opportunity, closed his eyes and summoned his animal form.

He didn't know how it was like for other shifters, but the
change in sizes that came with shifting into a rabbit could be very confusing
at first. Thankfully, despite his young age, Dani had always managed to
circumvent the aftereffects that appeared for others of his kind. When he
opened his eyes again, he was far smaller, sitting on his hind legs on the
floor and looking up at Connor.

Connor slid out of the bed and walked toward him, slowly and
carefully, as if trying not to spook him. He crouched by Dani's side, eyeing
him with a mix of curiosity and awe. When he reached out and gently pet Dani's
fur, Dani could have purred—had he been a feline shifter.

He decided he felt playful and bit Connor's fingers. Mentally
snickering, he sneaked through Dani's legs and ran to the other corner of the
room.

If he'd actually wanted to hide, he never would have chosen a
closed, small space for it, but really, he was only playing, and Connor knew
it. "Minx," he said with a mock-threatening growl. "Come
here."

Moving faster than humanly possible, he lunged toward Dani.
He didn't shift, which was perhaps a good idea, since Dani's animal form was
far more inconspicuous than Connor's. Nonetheless, Dani let the werewolf catch
him. When Connor took him in his arms, Dani nuzzled close to his mate's chest,
listening to the sound of Connor's steady heartbeat.

When Connor sat back onto the bed, Dani allowed himself a few
moments to revel in his mate's acceptance. It was nice, to feel Connor's rough
fingers trace his ears, his tail, his paws. His mate seemed to enjoy knowing
every side of him, and Dani wanted that in turn.

Unfortunately, his rabbit shape had its limitations, and he
couldn't communicate with Connor. He shifted into his human form, eager to
explain, to show, to share. "When I lived in the warren, I used to play
with my siblings like that all the time. I didn't think I'd ever have something
similar again. Thank you."

There were so many stories and so many memories, things that
still hurt when he thought about them. But having Connor here, holding him, helped
soothe that wound.

Connor brushed their noses together in a chaste Eskimo kiss.
"You don't need to thank me, baby. Wait for it. When we get settled
somewhere, I'll give you a real chase."

The words could have held an undeniable sensual threat, but
instead, they were a warm, comforting promise. Suddenly, Dani didn't want to be
here anymore. This room had been their haven, the place where they'd first made
love, but Dani wanted a home, a warren for his new family.

"Come on," he said as he freed himself from
Connor's embrace. "It's high time we left, don't you agree?"

Connor didn't protest, perhaps sensing and empathizing with
Dani's instinct to find a place of their own. As his mate started getting ready
too, Dani reached for his abandoned clothes, only to realize something he'd
completely missed the night before."You tore my shirt."

Dani arched a brow at Connor, but his new mate just grinned,
his eyes twinkling with mirth. "Quite. I didn't hear you complaining at
the time."

The teasing words held a smug satisfaction and a relaxation
that just hadn't been there the day before. Dani couldn't help but smile back,
because he could see it now, how much his touch and presence helped Connor. The
tension and the loneliness that had previously plagued the werewolf were
completely gone. At a different time, Dani would have found it unbelievable
that he could be so important for anyone, but given that he felt the same for
Connor, he couldn't find it in himself to question it.

"What am I supposed to wear now? Everything else I own
is dirty."

Connor reached into his own bag and found a shirt. He draped
it over Dani's naked shoulders, still smirking. "You'll wear something of
mine, of course."

At the back of his mind, Dani could sense the satisfaction
the wolf experienced at the idea of seeing Dani in his shirt. There was also a
level of uncertainty, and Dani both appreciated it and hated it. Their bond was
still new and frail, and they still had a lot to learn about each other's
habits and limits.

In this, though, Dani had no intention of denying his mate.
He pulled the shirt on and buttoned it up. His mate's scent enveloped him, and
it made him feel warm and safe. "How does it look?"

"Beautiful," Connor murmured under his breath.

Dani was not surprised in the slightest when his mate leaned
over and stole a kiss. He forgot all about his previous idea, more than happy
to lose himself in his mate's passion. He felt his body start getting slick
again, and for once, he didn't hate the instinctive response. Now that he knew it
was first and foremost a response to Connor, he could no longer loathe his
nature. In fact, he couldn't wait to explore more of what it meant.

The sound of Dani's growling stomach interrupted their kiss.
Connor pulled away, chuckling. "It looks like your appetite agrees with
our little plan."

Dani scoffed. "Well, can you blame me? We never did eat
last night."

Truth be told, Dani wasn't sure how it had happened. It was
mostly his fault. Rabbit shifters were very sensual creatures once they reached
maturity, and because of his banishment, Dani had never gotten the chance to
embrace his sexuality. His instincts had sort of exploded, and he and Connor
had ended up making love all night, until they'd finally succumbed to
exhaustion at four am or so.

"Well, the salad is still good if you want it,"
Connor offered.

Connor had a point. Dani's salad wouldn't have spoiled
overnight. He nodded, although for some reason, the idea didn't really appeal.
In fact, when Connor passed him the salad, the sight of it almost made him
throw up.

He shoved it away so violently the dish clattered onto the
floor. The sudden action instantly alarmed Connor. "Dani? Baby, what's
wrong?"

Dani didn't really know, but he immediately felt better when
Connor cupped his cheek. He leaned into the caress and smiled at his mate.
"It's probably nothing. Just a stomach ache."

Connor didn't look completely convinced, but finally, he
nodded. "Okay, then. We'll just go and grab a bite downstairs."

Dani eagerly agreed, so much so that he cleaned up the mess
on the floor even if the salad still made him wrinkle his nose. Weird. Maybe it
had some sort of strange preservatives. It wasn't unusual for humans to add
peculiar ingredients to their supposedly natural foods, things that a rabbit
shifter's body rebelled against. Yes, that was probably it.

The explanation held until Dani realized the scent of
Connor's forgotten meal appealed far more. He put it out of his mind, but the
method stopped working when they actually went into the restaurant. Dani's mouth
watered at the smell of freshly cooked bacon and fried eggs, and just like
that, he knew.

In hindsight, he should have been ready for it. His fertility
was the whole reason why he'd been kicked out of his warren. But intellectual
knowledge was not the same as actual acceptance, and he'd been raised his
entire life as a regular rabbit shifter.

The idea of what this meant, of the effects it would have on
his life and Connor's, nearly brought him to his knees. Miraculously, he
managed not to swoon—it would have been quite embarrassing since he had a good
couple of months to go, time enough to faint, throw up and get fat.

For some reason, he could picture himself like that. A few
days ago, the idea would have terrified him, but now, he had Connor. The
question was—how would Connor react to the news? His mate might have been aware
of the possibility of having a child later on, but Dani imagined Connor hadn't
expected it would come so soon.

Breakfast would have to wait, he decided. His nerves simply
wouldn't let him eat, no matter how hungry he was. Nodding to himself, Dani
grabbed Connor's hand and pulled him out of the restaurant.

Connor followed obediently, although he was obviously
confused, and maybe concerned by Dani's behavior.

"Is anything wrong, Dani?" he asked the moment they
were outside.

"I suppose it depends on your definition of wrong. I
think... No, that's not it. I'm sure I'm pregnant."

Connor's eyes widened and his chest heaved as he spluttered,
"But... We... It was only..."

"Rabbit shifter," Dani explained with a sigh.
"Fast pregnancies. As a rule, we immediately figure it out, probably to
give us time to prepare for the kits."

"Kits? You mean... More than one?"

Connor looked like he was going to faint, but he didn't seem
angry or about to run away, so Dani felt encouraged. "At least three, I
would say, although right now, it's too soon to tell. I'm unusual, so I might
have either more or less."

Connor leaned against the wall and stared at the sky. Dani
experienced a moment of uncertainty when he wondered if Connor was doubting
him, doubting the fact that the kits were really his. He needn't have worried.
When Connor looked at Dani again, he was smiling. "Well, it looks like I'm
definitely not a lone wolf anymore. At this rate, we'll start our own pack."

Dani couldn't help it. He burst into relieved laughter, his
heart filling with joy and love as he took in his mate's genuine happiness.
"If you say so."

Connor shook his head, his expression sobering.
"Actually, no. I think we might need some help with this, since I have no
idea how you'd even deliver. We'll go to Willow Cove. Hopefully, the Lone Wolf
Pack will at least explain or guide us in the right direction. And from then
on... Well, the sky's the limit, baby."

Hearing Connor so enthusiastic about their new family made
Dani optimistic in turn.
 
"Sounds
good. But first! Breakfast. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I could eat
two pounds of bacon."

"Werewolf offspring, eh?" Connor grinned.
"Whatever you like, Dani. Come on."

Dani followed his mate back into the restaurant, finally
allowing himself to revel in the hope Connor had given him. Even when he'd been
on the road heading this way, he had feared facing the Lone Wolf Pack, but now
that he had Connor, he wasn't afraid anymore. He wasn't afraid of anything.

He might still be a rabbit shifter, but that didn't define
him any longer. He'd found something unique, special, a bond that spoke to his
soul and to his body. He'd been rescued by a lone wolf with a heart of gold,
and if he had his way, he'd spend his entire life proving to Connor, and to
himself, that sometimes rules were made to be broken, and that no shifter could
be denied a connection as deep as what they shared.

THE END

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