MATURE CONTENT TOWARD THE END

As it turned out, bathing a cat was not as easy as it seemed. Once I got back to Oakwood, I first went home to clean up before going to the pet store and buying a bunch of items I thought the cat would need.

The first thing on my list was a bath. I don't know what I was expecting, but like its human twin, the cat fought me every step of the way. Water splashed everywhere as the cat twisted and squirmed in my grip, its dark blue eyes glaring at me with pure indignation.

"Easy, buddy," I muttered, trying to keep my hold steady. "I know you don't like this, but trust me, you'll feel much better afterward."

The cat hissed and tried to leap out of the tub, but I managed to hold it down just long enough to rinse off the last of the soap. Soaking wet and looking thoroughly miserable, the cat finally calmed down as I wrapped it in a towel.

"See? Not so bad," I said, though I was pretty sure neither of us was convinced.

I never had a pet, so everything I was doing was entirely based on what I presumed was common sense, the internet, and what the people at the pet shop told me to do.

I carried the miserable cat out of the bathroom and took a seat on one of the stools in the kitchen as I tried to dry it off to the best of my abilities. As I did so, I noticed just how malnourished the poor thing was. Even with the mats, I could still feel its skinny body which made me frown.

"You'll be okay, Cronan Jr.," I told the little guy.

As if on cue, the sound of the front door opening had me instantly perking up. My mate's scent found its way to my nose and I smiled as I stood up and made my way to the front door.

His eyes met mine and he opened his mouth to say something, but the words seemed to get stuck in his throat as he sniffed the air and dropped his gaze down to the towel in my hands.

As if sensing that someone was there, the dark-furred feline poked its head out and stared at Cronan with the same unimpressed expression he was giving it.

"Fen, what are you doing with a cat?" He asked with crossed arms.

"Welcome home," I greeted with a warm smile as I approached him and raised one of my hands to pull him closer. I expected him to try and pull away, but he allowed me it to my surprise.

"The cat," he reminded.

Both Cronan and Cronan Jr. stared up at me with the same narrowed expression and I found myself smiling sheepishly at the both of them. I pulled away from Cronan and held the cat out in front of him and gave him the best pleading expression I could manage.

"Can we keep him?"

"No," Cronan immediately responded. "Take him back to wherever you found him."

"I found him in the woods. I can't just dump him again," I explained. "He's bonded with me."

As if on cue, the cat jumped from my grasp and took off which made Cronan scoff. "Sure it has. And what do you mean you found it in the woods? Was it in that cabin? Why does everyone love that dusty cabin so much?"

"It wasn't there. I found it when I was out of town," I told him. "Come on. Don't you want a furry friend around?"

"No," Cronan deadpanned.

I studied him closely. I expected him to be tired after his trip, but it seemed to be the opposite based on the way his foot was thumping against the ground and he kept moving around. I glanced down at the cat again and sighed, realizing I wasn't going to win this battle right now and it wasn't my main priority anymore.

"Okay, we can talk about it later. How about we go for a run instead? You look like you could use it," I suggested instead.

Cronan seemed surprised by my words at first, as if he was shocked I noticed his behavior, then his expression softened slightly and he nodded. "Yeah, I could use a run.."

I put the cat down gently and watched it scurry away to a corner of the living room. "Stay here, Cronan Jr. We'll be back soon."

He paused and his eyes locked onto me like a missile locked onto its target. "What did you name it?"

"Nothing. Come on, let's go on that run," I rushed out and hurried down the hall to grab a bag.

Cronan was standing where I left him with crossed arms and I offered him a smile and grabbed his hand as I led him out of the house.

"I missed you," I admitted while we walked toward the woods. "Did you miss me?"

He glanced at me. "Almost. Until I saw you brought a cat into my house and then the feeling faded."

"Come on! It's cute. It looks like you."

"If you say that again, you and your cat will be living in that shabby cabin again," he warned.

I couldn't help but laugh, despite his serious expression. "Alright, alright. No more comparisons. Let's just enjoy the run."

As we reached the edge of the woods, I took a deep breath, savoring the fresh scent of pine and earth. We stripped and shifted into our wolf forms. Instead of immediately taking off, I took in my mate's dark form and leaned in to nuzzle him.

Cronan huffed but didn't stop me, so I took it as a sign to continue. Part of it was because I missed him and the other part was because I, and my wolf, wanted him coated in my scent on the off chance we came across another wolf.

Whether he enjoyed it or was simply enduring it, I wasn't sure but Cronan didn't pull away until my wolf was seemingly satisfied with how strongly my scent was infused into his fur. His dark blue eyes met mine for a moment, a flicker of amusement in them. Then, with a powerful leap, he took off into the forest, and I followed closely behind.

He slowed down to match his pace with my own and every so often, his alluring eyes would flicker to me and I could see the joy in them.

We paused once we reached a small clearing. Cronan nudged me gently with his snout, a small gesture of affection that immediately made my day. I returned the gesture, pressing my head against his shoulder.

I wasn't sure how long we stayed out there, but I was just glad to be spending time with him. We ran around, play-fought, and basically did everything under the sun until we deemed it an appropriate time to go back home.

We shifted back and got dressed before we walked side by side with our arms brushing against each other's. When we reached home, Cronan unlocked the door and then paused.

"What's wrong?"

"I was going to use the shower, but someone washed a cat in there earlier I'm sure, so I'll use the upstairs one."

I blinked. "We have an upstairs bathroom?"

"You didn't know that?" Cronan asked, disbelievingly.

"I don't go upstairs," I defended.

My mate just shook his head as he went to grab clothes from his room and I did the same. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing until we were both upstairs.

"What are you doing?"

"Showering with you."

"You do realize we have two bathrooms, right?" He asked.

I shrugged. "We'll save water this way and it's more fun. But if it makes you uncomfortable, I'll leave."

"You're such a handful," he told me as he stripped down and stepped into the shower, but there was no malice in his words.

I quickly followed his lead and stripped down before stepping into the shower with him. My eyes ran over his body and I was reminded of the first time I spent the night and saw him emerging from the shower.

"You never told me how your trip went," I said, because if I didn't change the subject I'd be in dangerous territory.

Cronan didn't pick up on this. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

I wanted to ask more questions, but I could tell from his tone that wasn't a smart idea.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked instead as I took the body wash from his hand and started lathering it on a washcloth.

Cronan shrugged and his eyes followed my movements. "I don't know. How was your trip."

"It was good. I got to see some friends I hadn't seen since I left which was nice...are you listening?"

"Stop doing that."

"Stop doing what?"

I followed his eyes back to the washcloth I'd been distractedly still lathering and it was only then that I noticed his problem.

"You really did miss me, huh?"

Cronan rolled his eyes. "Don't go getting a big head."

"It's nice to know you missed me a little."

"You're impossible."

I grinned and reached out to gently scrub his back. "I'm just persistent."

"That's a strange way to say annoy—"

His words came to a halt when my leg brushed against his growing issue.

"Are you going to let me help you?" He studied me for a moment before exhaling and nodding. "Stay here. I'll be back."

I grabbed a towel, partially dried myself off, and headed downstairs to grab the familiar bottle from my room and head back. My mate was waiting exactly where I left him and watched me as I climbed back into the shower.

I didn't waste any time. I leaned in and kissed him while coating my fingers in the lubricant.

"I'm topping next time," Cronan announced just as my fingers pushed into him. His eyes fluttered shut.

"Have you ever topped before?" I questioned, genuinely curious.

He opened his eyes, looking almost a little offended by the question. "Yes, I just haven't done it in a while."

"With Arlo?"

"Are you really asking me about Arlo right now?" His arms found their way to my shoulders and tightened when I curled my fingers.

"Humor me."

"I've topped Arlo, but Arlo and I switched often."

The answer surprised me. Mostly because I couldn't imagine the small omega topping Cronan.

"Do you miss him?"

"Who am I with right now, Fen?" His hand tangled into my hair. "Do you really think I'd be letting you do this if I missed him?"

The answer made me much happier than I thought it would. I picked up my pace, added another finger, and kissed him again.

When I pulled away, I moved down and nipped at his neck around the area where my mark was meant to go. I'd heard the area was sensitive even before you received a mark, but I hadn't had the chance to witness that until now.

Cronan's head burrowed into my shoulder, but that didn't stop me from attacking the area or from moving my fingers inside him until he eventually reached his climax and came.

I pulled my fingers out but didn't pull away from me immediately. I tightened my grip around him while he calmed down.

"Fen?"

"Yes?"

"You can keep the cat," he announced and I smiled. "On one condition."

"What is it?"

"Change its name right now."