The after-moon party was bigger than ever.

Shifters from the pack and more guests from the South had joined to celebrate the potential union of Connor and Nancy. The Alpha hadn't said that this was the occasion officially, but Connor knew his father hoped. The only reason he didn't stop it was the fact that their packs would soon be joined, everything be damned.

Jamie had been elusive, mostly avoiding Connor, even at work, where he'd taken to shadow Sara instead, but Connor didn't have it in him to be mad at his mate, since he'd messed up at the full moon. His wolf had been brash, which had caused Jamie to worry, which is not what Connor wanted. He promised himself he'd be more discreet from now on.

For his beautiful mate's sake.

On the night of the party, everyone was dressed in earth tones, celebrating their collective heritage. Even though they were from two different sides of the country, they were all children of nature, all shifters with primal needs and ancient magic. Connor himself wore a red-gold uniform that contained a white shirt and a red robe. He wasn't crazy about wearing such clothes, but he was required to do so on special occasions.

He swept his gaze through the guests, but there was no Jamie. At least not yet. Nancy, on the other hand, smiled as she approached him. She wore a beautiful blue dress that accentuated her body. Her hair was perfectly styled to the side. Such a perfect mate... for somebody, not Connor.

He smiled politely. "Hey, Nancy."

"Hey you," she said cheekily. "Do you want to dance?"

"I'm not a great dancer. Do you mind if we just talked instead?"

She nodded, weaving her hand through his arm, signaling to all the others they were engaged. Connor winced, but didn't stop her.

"I have to say I was surprised by your gesture."

Connor looked at her twinkling eyes. "What gesture?"

"The doe. It was delicious."

Hearing that his present had been eaten by someone else, not Jamie, had Connor's wolf growl at poor Nancy, whose eyes widened. Quickly recovering, Connor said, "Sorry, but that wasn't from me."

She frowned. "I know it was. It smelled of you."

Oh for the love of... "I don't want you to get the wrong idea, Nancy."

"And what idea is that?"

If he told her the truth, would he ruin all chances he had with Jamie? He needed more time and he couldn't just out and say it. Damn it, Connor really wanted to speak the truth, but he held his tongue.

"I'm sorry, Nancy, I'm still not sure."

She bit her lip, her face falling. "Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I was mistaken."

The hurt on her face did something to Connor. He felt so bad that he held her hand tight, not letting her escape. "Please don't think it has anything to do with you, Nancy. Really, it doesn't."

She jutted her chin up. "Then what's the problem?"

"I can't say, I'm sorry."

Nancy looked away and into the crowds. "So you're saying this party is a lie then? These people are celebrating something that will never happen?"

"No, I'm saying... I can't explain it."

She nodded, then looked into his face. "Can I have at least one dance?"

Feeling bad about deceiving her, he agreed to two.

Everyone seemed to be happy, seeing the two dancing and smiling, as it should have been. The Alpha laughed rancorously, and even Miles enjoyed himself. Connor's friends gave him stupid winks and smirks, but it was all a pretense, a lie, just like Nancy had said. The only person Connor wanted to see that night was Jamie, and he was–

Connor's wolf snapped his nose up. There it was, faint but there.

"Excuse me, Nancy, I have to go," Connor said and followed the scent outside in the gardens. There was a place where not many people knew to look, behind a hedge, and it didn't surprise Connor to know Jamie had found it.

He found the boy perched on a tree, swinging his legs and snapping twigs. When he sensed Connor, he stilled.

"Are you allergic to parties, Jamie, or just me?"

Jamie snorted. "I should have known you'd find me."

Connor leaned against the tree trunk, looking up at his beautiful mate. He wore a blue suit, in the same patterns as Nancy's dress, but it was more unassuming. He was perfect. "Call me crazy, but I thought the party was going on over there, not here in the brush."

"Yes, I saw you enjoy yourself," Jamie snapped.

Connor was startled, hearing his mate be so harsh with him was a first. He thought about what Jamie might have seen. He was just dancing with Nancy... which, of course, might have made his mate jealous.

Wait, was Jamie jealous?

Connor grinned. "And what exactly did you see, mate of mine?"

"Stop that. Don't pretend you weren't there, enjoying yourself and thinking, wouldn't it be nice to just pick the easy one."

"Easy one?"

"Easy way out. The beautiful girl, the perfect mate, the one everybody likes, not the disappointment, the one who has to hide every full moon, the loser."

"That's not even close to what I was thinking," Connor said firmly. "Why don't you come down here, my neck's hurting."

"Or you can go back to the party," Jamie grumbled.

"Fine," Connor muttered, then started climbing the stupid tree to reach Jamie.

"What are you doing?"

"If you won't come to me, I'll come to you. As usual."

"Connor, don't, someone might see," Jamie hissed.

"Nobody's going to see since you've chosen the most godforsaken tree in the darkest fucking corner, Jamie." He grunted when he finally reached a branch that almost snapped under his weight, scaring Jamie.

"Connor, get down from there."

"No," Connor grumbled and climbed another branch up. This one was sturdy enough and it was close enough to Jamie's, so he sat down on it. "You know, people tell me I'm stubborn, but they should meet you."

Jamie let out a soft breath. "I didn't make you climb here."

"I go where my mate goes. Period."

There was silence between them, not awkward, but companionable, which is why Connor relaxed and glanced back at the party. He could see the people in the gardens as well as the ones inside, through the high clear windows. It was the perfect place to spy on the party, but not be a part of it.

"I would tell everyone tonight, if you'd let me."

"No," Jamie said fervently. "My dad would kill me, Nancy would cry, and... well, your dad will be disappointed."

"So those people over there are more important than you?"

"Yes."

"Are they more important than me?" Connor asked, tugging on his mate's leg.

Jamie looked down at Connor sadly. "Of course not."

"Then why won't you let me choose? Forget about other people, I've already chosen, I fucking did it a long time ago, so you won't change my mind, even if you decide to sulk and refuse me for the next ten decades. I'll still wait for you."

"Ugh!" Jamie grumbled. "Why are you so stubborn!"

"Why are you?"

"Because I know what's best for you, why won't you just let me... give that to you?" Jamie said, his shoulders flopping.

"You think Nancy's the best thing for me?"

"Yes, clearly."

Connor sighed, leaning against the tree, getting ready to tell a story. "You know, when I was ten, I had a dream. It was this boy, this perfect beautiful boy who told me he was my true mate. Since that day I've been telling people my true mate was a boy, and he was out there. Everyone who listened, I would tell them, again and again."

Jamie gaped. "Really?"

"Jamie, I told you, I've been waiting for you. Every time someone scoffed and called me crazy, I chose you over them. I chose you over making nice. I chose you. And now I'm asking you to choose me back."

Jamie shook his head, a single tear falling down his cheek.

Connor's heart constricted, as though a fist held it in his chest. "Jamie, baby..."

"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I just don't want you to hate me."

Connor had heard enough. He did his best to hoist himself up and perch on the branch where Jamie sat, between his mate and the tree trunk. He drew Jamie to his chest and engulfed him, just like he'd always wanted to do. He wanted to protect his smaller mate, who couldn't shift and protect himself. His wolf was so happy, he yipped in his head.

"I could never hate you, baby. I love you."

Jamie looked at Connor's earnest face with wonder. "You–"

Connor touched his nose to his mate's and then kissed Jamie on the lips, slowly and sensually, taking what belonged to him. If it took a lifetime, Connor would convince Jamie that they belonged together. They were true mates, damn it.

Feeling more than a little annoyed, Connor bit Jamie's lip, eliciting a moan from Jamie. Connor's cock stood to attention, his whole body coming alive, and he gripped Jamie so hard, that it probably hurt a little. Jamie didn't complain, but he did arch into Connor, their cocks touching through fabric, and Connor groaned, wanting, needing... more.

He dug his fingers in his mate's ass cheeks and squeezed, crushing Jamie into him. They rutted against each other, fueling the fire between them, and as they kissed like drowning men, soon, it became too much for either of them, as Connor said "fuck" and Jamie growled, the sound spurring on his mate. Connor bit Jamie's ear, Jamie bucked, and when his mate finally seemed to explode and shudder in his arms, Connor let himself come.

With Jamie's name on his lips.

They panted for a while, neither one saying anything.

Finally, Connor broke the silence. "Fuck, Jamie."

"Yeah..."

"Can't we just stop this nonsense and mate?"

Jamie laughed. "Gods, I'm tempted."

"But...?"

Jamie's hand caressed Connor's neck, as their foreheads touched. "But you know this is going to be bad. If you told everyone–"

"That you're my mate."

Jamie sighed. "If you told everyone, what would your father do?"

"I don't fucking care what he does."

"What if he banishes you? Is that possible?"

"I don't care if he does."

Jamie leaned away and hit him on the chest. "Stop being so stubborn. I am trying to talk to you, Connor."

"Okay fine..." Connor sighed. "I suppose it might be bad, but it's nothing I'm not willing to deal with. I really don't care, baby."

"And what about Holden Wells?"

"Who?"

"My supposed mate."

Connor growled. "You're my mate. Mine."

"I know, but I sighed a contract, Con. We can't just ignore that."

"I'll give that weasel whatever he fucking wants. Don't you worry about him, you're mine now and that means I'll take care of everything."

"So you've decided?"

"Damn right," Connor growled.

"Aren't we supposed to decide things together?"

"Yes, and if you weren't taking fucking forever to do it, baby, we would, but in this case, I'm sorry, I am tired of waiting."

"Then go back to Nancy!" Jamie snapped.

Connor snapped back, "Never." Then he sighed. "I think we're not communicating very effectively."

Jamie burst out laughing. "You think?"

"Look, you're the only one who would argue with me to the death, Jamie. Only a true mate does that, nobody else."

Jamie fell silent, which gave Connor the opportunity to sniff his mate's hair and play with it a little. His wolf was so excited at the proximity that Connor found himself rubbing his face all over Jamie's.

Jamie laughed. "Okay, down, boy."

"I'll go down when you go. And then we go back in together."

Jamie's eyes went wide. "No... not now, not like this."

Connor didn't argue, he simply started to descend, but not before he secured Jamie, and then he started carrying his mate down as well.

"Oh my gods, what are you doing?"

"Shh, baby, I'm getting us down from here."

And he did, despite Jamie's protests and then incredulous laughter.

What a chapter!

Okay, first of all, what did you think about Nancy? Is she getting attached to Connor? Do we feel bad for her?

And what about the steamy scene between Jamie and Connor? Was that hot or not hot enough? :D