Epilogue - Hale Part 2

The drive and hike to the campsite were uneventful, thankfully. I’d linked Austin to be careful about his grandfather. Not that I think he’d come back to the house, but I want to be sure. I don’t need him starting shit with the kids. He thinks Austin is a failure for losing his legs and mating with Suzie. And let’s not start on his opinions of River and Sage. It will just anger me to linger even a moment on it.

“Is it weird I’m more nervous about tonight than I was our first time together?” Erin broke the silence as we set up camp.

“Not at all. I’m nervous too. And before you say I’ve done this before, this is different. There wasn’t any risk when I marked Jen. I spoke with Beta John about his marking experience. He was terrified she died because she was unresponsive after the marking. Only later did he realize it was because she was receiving her wolf. But it still scares me. I don’t want to risk losing you.” I frowned.

“That’s why we are doing this on the new moon. There isn’t a risk to me as long as we do this tonight. Getting a wolf is just an added variable. I don’t need a wolf to be happy with you. And I know Jason will still love me if I don’t get a wolf.” Erin assured me, settling onto my lap.

“How did this go from me reassuring you about our mating to it getting flipped?” I teased, wrapping my arms around her. “And this feels like a familiar start.”

“We reassure each other. And at least my shorts aren’t wet.” Erin giggled, leaning in and kissing me.

I laughed a little into the kiss, but our laughter faded as the kiss deepened. It’s good that we were both wearing tear-away clothes because they didn’t stay on for long as we yearned for more. Knowing tonight was going to be our mating had Jason all in and a bit more aggressive than usual as his influence made me more dominant in our caresses, turning into rough lovemaking on the sleeping bag.

‘We have to last longer. The moon is nearly at its apex.’ Jason encouraged as Erin rolled us to take top. I groaned as her nails scraped down my chest as she set a new pace. Just beyond the beautiful sight of Erin riding me, I could see the new moon’s faint outline reaching its peak.

Gripping her hips, I sat up, kissing along her neck, knowing it was time to mark her. “It’s time.” I groaned against the hollow of her neck. I know we agreed to marking, but I still want her permission.

“D…do it.” Erin moaned, rolling her hips, seeking release. I’ve been holding off on letting her cum as I wanted to time it with the mark so it won’t hurt as bad. As I sank my teeth into her neck, I reached between us, my thumb finding her clit to send her over the edge, calling my name so loud birds were flying away from the nearby trees.

“It’s your turn. Even if it’s only temporary, you should be able to mark me now.” I breathlessly instructed, offering her my neck, unconsciously showing the side that didn’t have my mark from Jen.

I growled as she bit me. Initially, it felt like a human bite, like when she bit me during sex. But then I felt the change, fangs pierce my flesh, her hips moving faster as she rode out her orgasm, sending me over the edge with her. On instinct, I bite her mark again, feeling the infinite loop of the bond flowing between us.

Breathless, we leaned our heads on the other’s shoulders, coming down from not just the high of orgasm but from the marking. I could feel Erin’s heartbeat, and when it started to slow too fast, I panicked. ‘Don’t panic. Remember what John said. It will be alright.’ Jason instructed, taking more control to try and counter my emotions.

It felt like forever before I heard a new female voice herself, ‘Hello. I’m Astra.’ Erin sat up, eyes wide as she looked at me, confused, worried, and happy. “Am I hearing things? Did you hear her too?” she questioned.

“Yes. I heard Astra. You have a wolf. And Jason is chomping at the bit to meet Astra.” I smiled, cupping her face, kissing her sweetly. Jason was ready to shove me out of the way to get closer to Astra.

“Um, if they’ll give me a bit to catch my breath. I can try to shift so they can.” Erin suggested.

“Of course.” I assured her, moving us so we were lying down so she could rest before trying to shift. I’m as eager to see Astra as Jason, but I also know that shifting takes a lot out of someone, and Erin needs to be ready before jumping into it.

We laid there for, I don’t know how long, catching our breath before Erin moved to sit up. While it may have been quiet outside, in our minds, Jason and Astra hadn’t shut up, like children waiting to open their presents. “Let’s do this. I’ve heard you explain it plenty of times to the kids. So I think I’m ready. I want to shift and let Astra run free with Jason.” Erin nodded her head firmly.

“Alright, follow my lead then.” I nodded, moving to all fours to make shifting a little easier. Erin followed my example as I let Jason take control. ‘About damn time!’ Jason huffed as my body changed to his white wolf. When he was in control, he turned to watch Astra come forward. She was beautiful, a total opposite with pitch black fur and golden eyes.

After that was a bit of a blur. Probably for the best because no one wants to have vivid memories of their wolf having sex. This is my second mating, and it still is unsettling, and I feel like I belong on some list because of Jason and Astra’s mating. Before the moon set, we had returned to ourselves and settled into our sleeping bag to rest, waking up late in the morning still exhausted.

I smiled in the morning light as I saw the Shelton shooting star on Erin’s neck. “I love you.” I smiled as I traced the mark as Erin sleepily looked at me.

“I love you too. Oh wow…” She blinked, reaching for my neck. “It’s different from your other mark.” Her finger delicately traced the mark.

“What does it look like? I don’t have a mirror handy.” I asked, curious as to what her mark would be. I know John has a different mark because his mate is a human with a new moon wolf. So I assumed it might be different too.

“Well, it looks like the sun but with a crescent moon inside it.” Erin explained, still tracing the details of the mark with a soft smile.

“Unique, just like you.” I smiled, kissing her. “Come on. We should pack up and head home. Hopefully, our children haven’t burnt the place down in our absence.”

“Don’t joke about that. I don’t want to count how many times Sage nearly did that as a child just trying to make themselves something to eat.” Erin shook her head as we both hurried to pack up and get home.

Thankfully everything was exactly as we had left it. We were bombarded upon entering the house, mainly by River and Sage. Austin and Suzie hung back with knowing smiles. Of course, they knew. Marking Erin looped her into the family link.

It would be an understatement to say River and Sage were excited that their mother had a wolf. They were still talking about it days later when we celebrated their birthdays. And now that we’ve reached the full moon, they are even more keyed up. Tonight they will meet their wolves, and Erin can shift with them, allowing Astra a chance to meet their wolves and others in the pack.

‘Is it weird that I’m turned on to be back here?’ Erin whispered through our link as we reached the campsite we’d had our marking. It happened to be the same site the pack uses for new wolves to shift.

‘No. This location holds a special and personal memory for us. It also happens to be where the pack brings our young to shift.’ I assured her as I took her hand, turning my attention to Alpha Logan and Luna Aurelia.

Austin and Suzie had come out with us to support River and Sage on their first full moon. Despite how excited the twins were, they gave their undivided attention to Alpha Logan and Luna Aurelia. Our Alpha and Luna gave the opening speech, almost identical to the one Alpha John Sr and Luna Elizabeth gave when I was a boy. Good to see some things don’t change.

As the moon crested over the trees, the young were called to make their shifts. River had no problems shedding their clothes. They took quickly to the nudity aspect of being a werewolf. Sage was a tad shyer about it but undressed like everyone else. “Remember what I taught you. You’re surrounded by family. We are here so that it will lessen the pain.” I assured them as I stepped back to give them room.

River took to shifting with ease, landing on their paws, their wolf almost pure black like Astra but with bursts almost like flames of green as markings. Sage managed the transition next, landing next to their twin, their wolf nearly identical but with purple markings.

‘Hello, everyone. I’m Lunar.’ River’s wolf greeted, nuzzling Erin’s hand as she pet them before hugging them.

‘And I’m Eclipse. We are both happy to be here with you all. Please shift so we can meet your wolves too.’ Sage’s wolf greeted as Erin pulled them into a hug as well.

The rest of us shifted to join Lunar and Eclipse as all the families of the newly shifted went on a run led by our Alpha and Luna. Soon Erin, River, and Sage will go through their oath ceremony and officially join the pack. And then we will indeed all be family.