WeresDigest (14 page)

“Perhaps not having full were-shifting caused that.
Doesn’t matter. I’m quite happy in who I am now, Zi-Den. I wish you three well.
I won’t be going back to your place tonight. I’m going to visit my parents’
graves and then head back in the morning.”

“By yourself? Let me arrange transport. I didn’t use
the new flying machines to get to Auck because there are no safe landing areas
around that town. But if you wanted to take a little bit longer route to the
other side of the Between-lands one can be arranged.”

She shook her head. “I traveled the Between-lands long
before Hajin brought you or Vek to Auck. He just knows them better and the
shortest routes. I know how to return and can take care of myself. The main
sheriff’s office in Auck has a long-range communicator and I’ll let you know
from there I got back fine. Goodbye, Zi-Den. Keep true to your heart and your
family. Have the life you were meant to have.”

“Be true to your own heart, Letha. He cares for you
deeply.”

She shrugged and took a step back from him. “We’ll
see. Goodbye to you too, Shaja. Be happy with your son and husband. I wish you
well.”

Zi-Den saw Shaja standing in the opened doorway, her
face showing surprise. He too had been slightly startled for he hadn’t heard
his wife open the door. Letha let out a chuckle as she passed Shaja with quick
movements and he had the feeling Letha knew that Shaja had been there a few
minutes listening in on their conversation.

Shaja came over to him and glanced down at their son
then back up at him. “My heart will always belong to the two of you, Zi-Den.”

He pulled her swiftly into his arms and kissed her
soundly. “I love you, Shaja. Never forget that.”

“I won’t,” she answered him quickly and firmly. “I
love you very much.”

She reached up and stroked his left cheek, her eyes
beaming her deep love for him. “This Were’s heart will always belong to you,
m’love.” Then she wound her arms around him and gave him a hard and thorough
kiss, showing him how serious her heart and body truly belonged to only him.
His heat rose.

When she pulled back, he grinned wickedly down at her.
“Thane’s asleep. I’m anxious to get you home now.”

She chuckled seductively. “Good, I’ve missed your heat
against my own. But first, and as much as I want you, we both need to make a
stop and talk to Vek. About her.”

“I think that’s a wise choice,” he agreed with her and
then walked with her out of their son’s hospital room, heading towards Vek’s.
The man and he had a few things to talk about, their son, and Letha. If that
stubborn man knew better he’d hurry up, heal and get Letha in his arms for
good.

Chapter
Seven

“I like you, Vek.” The intelligent young lad was wiser
than his tender age, “but I like my dad lots more. It’s ok right?”

“Yeah, it is. Zi-Den is a good father. I just hope you
and I can be close friends if you want to, Thane.”

“I’d like that very much. Mom and Dad said it was ok
too.”

“Good.” He’d told him, assuring him his parents made a
wise decision and glad the child had talked to them about the whole situation
and letting Vek into his life. That conversation had come about during an
outing they’d had together. Often in the park or around Zi-Den’s estate they
would take a few hours out together every day. When Vek ran with Thane, he was
amazed by the boy’s swift agility. Though he regretted not being able to teach
him to shape-shift into a full-were, he could show him how to half-shift and
use his abilities that way. After his talk with Zi-Den and Shaja he’d decided
to stay a couple of weeks with them and get to know Thane better, to heal as
the child did. Thane was a quick learner and a bright child. He was proud of
the boy. The two of them had spent a little time each day together, first in
the hospital and then at his parent’s home, and had somewhat become friends.

Thane still called Zi-Den father, though he knew the
truth of who his biological parents were. And Vek was good with that. He’d also
talked to Thane about that and told him during one of their outings and discussions
that he’d always be there for him and would never try to take Zi-Den’s place as
his father. So Thane called him Vek. He asked Vek questions about his life. He
even asked him about Letha. The boy had said that Letha visited him twice
before she’d left. He’d liked Letha right away and said she was pretty smart.
And Thane asked if he loved Letha like his mom loved Zi-Den. He said she’d make
a good step-mother. That hit Vek soundly. And though he didn’t like leaving his
son, he knew what he had to do. He needed Letha, wanted her in his life. And he
was damn well going to show her that she needed him too.

He was angry she’d left so soon. She’d come to give
him support and hadn’t stayed long enough to…to what? To say she loved him? Vek
knew what she needed and he was going to show her that. If she wanted him to
make a choice then he would, but in his own time. Perhaps that was one of the
main reasons he stayed, but also to get to know Thane better.

After a month of being with his son, he knew he wanted
to get back to his old life too. And he missed her. He told that to Thane,
Shaja, and Zi-Den one night over dinner. As much as he’d loved his time with
them, he had to go. Though Thane was sad, the boy hadn’t asked to go live with
him, but that he’d like to visit Auck with his parents if that was ok by Vek.

Vek assured him it was and would be looking forward to
the visits. He promised to visit Thane here in Strank also. That made the boy
feel better and his parents too. But they should get back to their lives just
as Vek needed his old haunts around him, the main one being Letha. He wanted
her as much as he needed to breath. His life would not be complete without her.

Zi-Den helped him arrange his return trip. Just a
month after he left the hospital and stayed with his friends and son, he headed
back to Auck. Vek realized that Zi-Den and Shaja were that to him now. His
friends. But Letha was his life, his reason for living. He’d be all the father
he could to Thane, but that was different from needing his true mate with him.
His
were-heart
beat irregularly without her. Somehow, he knew he needed
to show her that.

* * * *

Letha had settled into her regular routines within a
week after her return from Strank. It’s what she needed. She’d never been a big
city gal and was glad to be back in the wide open territory of the spread out
smaller city of Auck. This was home to her. Perhaps she’d visit
other
places from time to time, but Auck would always be home to her. Only one thing
would make it more perfect. But that was his choice. Braden had said his job
would be here for him when he returned, if he chose to. She’d found out from
her boss that Vek had communicated with him from the larger city and let him
know what had gone on. So Braden knew Vek had a son and that Vek was taking
some more time off. Letha hoped Vek understood her real reasons for leaving him
there. He needed time there with his son, alone as much as possible, so he
could just concentrate on getting to know the boy. Her couple of visits with
him had told her what she wanted to know.

The boy liked Vek, but was unfamiliar with him. But
her extra senses told her he wanted to know Vek still. She’d wanted him to have
that time with his son, and to come to terms with the fact Thane needed Shaja
and Zi-Den in his life. It’d been just over a month now and he hadn’t returned.
Whatever happened, she didn’t regret her decision to come back sooner. He
needed his own time, just as she wanted hers, to know her own heart and more. She
knew he cared for her, but she wanted him to come back on his own when he was
ready. Letha felt good to be home and back in her old job again, but missed Vek
like crazy. She didn’t rest well without him nearby, without knowing he was
there to cover her back when the job got insane. But mostly her heart hurt with
extreme loneliness while he was gone. For her it had been a long healing
process. For she knew she loved him, could not live without him, but she didn’t
want to force that choice on him. So she put her mind on her work and duties
trying not to think about the fact that he might not come back…

* * * *

Vek thought the three-day trip back to Auck the
longest he’d ever taken. Hajin had once more guided him to Auck, taking the
shortest route. Still, it was agonizingly long to his heart and mind. He
couldn’t wait to be back with Letha and she’d know just how much once he set
foot in their home again. It had been their home, and their work place for the
last several years. He’d been an idiot not to realize it all sooner. They’d
become too comfortable with each other. Now he wanted more, to feel that zing
of excitement again that they had; that he realized he’d taken for granted. Being
away from her had shone him what he missed and what was most important in his
life. Thane would always be important to his life, but his heart and body
needed more, he wanted his mate with him. His
were-heart
would not be
complete without her. When he got to the local sheriff’s office where they
worked, she wasn’t in.

He stowed his gear in his old room, not seeing it
occupied and quickly took a long hot shower. He checked in the front office and
in her room after getting out of the shower, and decided to lay down for a
short nap while he waited for her. He hadn’t realized just how much the trip
back had taken out of his stressed mind until his head hit the pillow. Then he
was out fast, falling into a very tired and deep sleep…with thoughts of her
still on his mind.

Senses alert even in his sleep state, he heard the
faint rumbling of the shower going. It could only be Letha home. Home and in
his heart once more. He glanced out the window and saw darkness had set. He’d
slept longer than he’d intended. Vek jumped from the bed and headed for the
bathroom. Another shower couldn’t hurt. He moved as quickly and as quietly as possible
into the bathroom and was rewarded by finding her there; and evidently wrapped
up in her own thoughts. Letha wasn’t a woman who let her guard down easily. She
usually only did in the shower or in his bed when she knew she’d finished a
lengthy round of the job or wanted to relax in his arms. He slowly opened the
shower door and slipped quietly up behind her. She let out a soft
mmm
sound when he slid his arms around her…

* * * *

It’d been a long day, she’d had a few trouble makers
today, but fortunately it wasn’t so bad she had to lock them up in the old
cells. She didn’t need to hear them banging around or leave them in there long
enough to wait for the judge to be woken up from his dinner. It was the weekend
and she hoped it stayed low-key troubles or none at all. Her local region
wasn’t a heavy crime one, but things happened hectically upon occasion and she
liked to be ready when trouble came looming around.

It was after dusk when she returned. She locked the
front doors to the office and went to the side entrance to her home quarters. A
long hot shower was the first thing on her mind and that’s where she went. She
stripped, turned on the shower, and then got in. The half-modern stall was wide
enough for two people almost, and the water usually always ran hot to mildly
warm depending on how she adjusted it. She closed her eyes and let the water
spray her fully, enjoying the heated sensations of it caressing her body.

She hugged herself, wishing Vek was here stroking her
beneath the water, whispering words of love and more to her, taking away her
stress and filling her with his wolf-heat. She missed semi-shifting and having
him take her strong and leisurely or hard and quick depending on their needs at
the moment. Missed his hard body next to hers. She imagined him slipping into
the shower, stroking her, heating up her entire physical being to a fiery
frenzy, making her want him to an unbelievable distraction. It felt as if he
were with her now, caressing her in rhythm with the water spraying over her body.

“I’ve missed you, needed you,” he said softly as his
nose and mouth nuzzled against her cheek and his large strong arms came around
her pulling her up against his hardened body.

She soaked it in, smelled his scent, and then gasped,
spinning around, finding him in actuality with her. She swiftly wound her arms
around him and kissed him with hard heated little kisses.

“I missed you. I didn’t wanna go, but felt…I had
to…Oh, Vek…never let me be…without you again!”

“Never again,” he chuckled between responding kisses.
“I’ve missed you…missed your sexy body, everything…about us…”

Then he cupped her bottom and she automatically put
her legs around his waist and backside. In seconds, his stiff erection was
inside of her slick channel, pumping her hard and furiously. Their heat built
rapidly as they moved furiously in hot rhythm together. She howled out with him
as an incredible orgasm wracked both their bodies at the same time. Then they
stood there, for several long moments, letting their heat subside and the water
warm them down. They quickly washed each other, dried off and he immediately
scooped her up in his arms and headed to his bedroom. Once there he pulled her
into bed with him and cuddled with her.

“You will never leave me like that again, do I make
myself clear, woman?”

She chuckled softly at his hot command. “Yes, love.
But you know you needed time to know Thane. To make sure you knew what you
wanted.”

“I know that now, Letha. I enjoyed my time with my
son, but he’s better off with Shaja and Zi-Den. They’re good parents to him. I
do intend to be part of his life and hope you’ll go with me to visit him there
or we can have them here. He did ask about you.”

She grinned and tilted her head upwards. “I liked him.
He’s a part of all of you. Perhaps one day, when we’re ready, we can give him a
little sister or brother, as I’m sure Shaja and Zi-Den want to. I knew right
away they were right for each other.”

He drew her tighter to himself. “I would like pups of
our own, in time. I agree they are best for each other now. I feel we’ve all
let go of the haunts of our past and moved forward. I love you, Letha. Be my
mate, my wife forever. My life isn’t complete without you.”

She nuzzled as close as possible to him. “Nor is my
human or
were-heart
complete without you, my love. Forever and longer…”

The End