Clayton

As soon as we walked into the motel room, I lifted her into my arms, then grabbed the back of her head to pull her in for a deep, hungry kiss. When Eve moaned, I lost any control I had.

She giggled when I tossed her onto the bed, then slid to the edge of the bed while I pulled off my shirt.

"I want to pleasure you," she said, rubbing the bulge in my shorts. I watched as she pulled me free, moaning when she wrapped her lips around my aching length.

When I couldn't take anymore, I pulled away with a growl. After removing the rest of our clothes, I pleasured Eve as she pleasured me. We touched each other all night but never took it to the next step, and it was getting harder and harder to hold back.

I woke up in the morning, the room illuminated in a red glow from the rising sun. I was on my side with Eve lying on my arm with the other wrapped around her waist. Her hands were clenched as she whimpered in her sleep.

I ran my fingers through her hair and whispered, "Little bird, what you see isn't real baby; it's just a nightmare. Listen to my voice and come back to me, my heart."

Her eyes blinked open, "Clay," she whispered, reaching up to touch my face.

I kissed the palm of her hand, then leaned down to kiss her on the lips. "I'm here, Little Bird."

My heart ached at the sight of her tears. "I want to complete the bond." She said suddenly.

"Little Bird, we've talked about this. You know I want to wait and have a proper bonding ritual like my parents had." I told her, caressing her cheek.

"I'm scared, Clay; I would feel safer if we were bonded. I see your death every time I close my eyes, and I couldn't live in a world where you aren't in it." She explained.

We both startled when a fist pounded on the door. "Rise and shine, love birds. It's time to hit the road."

I sighed, then leaned in for a kiss. "I know you are scared. Hell, I'm scared too, baby." I said, pulling away, "Can you give me some time to think about it?"

She nodded, then slid off the bed. After we got dressed, we opened the door to find Asher leaning against the frame.

"It's about time. Since I know my sister is still a virgin, I won't castrate you...Yet" He said with an earnest look in his eye, then turned to Eve. "Father is waiting in the truck; we must get going."

Eve nodded, then headed for the truck. She returned to looking like a wounded bird again with dark circles and jumped at every loud noise.

"She isn't doing very well. Are her dreams getting any better?" Asher asked as we followed Eve to the Bronco.

I shook my head, "No," I said, running my fingers through my hair. "She's terrified, and I don't know how to make her feel safe," I sighed.

Asher slapped me on the shoulder," Just keep doing what you do best, and hopefully, she will come around." He said, but he was not looking so sure.

We pulled out of the motel with her head on my shoulder, watching out the window as the world blurred by.

It was a long thirteen-hour drive back to the house. I was happy when we finally pulled into the driveway.

Eve had fallen asleep in my lap on the way. I smiled as I lifted her and carried her into the house.

Ma was waiting in the living room with Jack when we walked in.

"Ma, I need some advice," I said with a sigh.

"What do you need my advice for?" She asked with a worried look on her face.

"Eve wants to complete the bond, but I want to wait and have a ceremony like you and Pa had. Eve is really scared and barely holding on. I don't know what the right thing to do is." I explained.

She sighed and thought deeply, then said, " As your mother, I would say you should wait. But, as someone who knows what it's like to have a mate, I believe it would be best to complete the bond. You don't have to do the wedding ceremony, but completing the bond will give her some of your healing abilities and make it easier to find each other without using magic. She needs to feel grounded and safe; you are the only one who can do that." she explained, " Why don't you take her to the cabin? You two deserve a night together. Show her what she means to you, son."

"Thanks, Ma. You know where I am if you need us." I said.

I walked out onto the deck, then headed down the path leading towards my parents' getaway cabin.

I was halfway there when Eve's eyes opened. She snuggled into me with a sigh, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"Where are we?" She asked in a sleepy voice.

"We're home now. I'm taking you to my parent's cabin." I explained

Her face scrunched in confusion, "Why are we going there?"

"I thought a lot about what you said at the motel and asked my mother for advice. Turns out the best choice is to complete the bond." I said, looking down at her.

Her whole face lit up with a smile, "Really? You mean it?"

I nodded, "Yes, Little Bird, I mean it. We will complete the bond but wait until we graduate to do the wedding ritual."

With the cabin now in sight, I hurried up the steps and into the cabin, pressing her against the wall as I leaned in to kiss her deeply.

She moaned deep in her throat, driving me crazy. Our clothes disappeared as we made our way to the bed. I hoped to take it slow, but now that we were on the bed, I couldn't hold back anymore.

"Are you ready, Little Bird? I asked, positioning myself at her core.

She nodded, "I want you, Clay. I need you."

I kissed her deeply as I slid slowly inside. When I met the resistance, I pulled out, then, with one thrust, the barrier broke, making her gasp.

Once she was adjusted enough, we were both panting and moaning as I moved in and out of her.

Fur spread over my body, and my teeth lengthened as I grew close. Eve gasped as white fur started to spread over her body.

"What's happening?" She asked around her now long teeth.

"It's part of the bonding ritual. We will bite each other when we climax at the same time. The bond will be completed when my blood touches you tongue and your blood touch my tongue." I explained, "Are you ready, Little Bird?" I asked

When she nodded, I leaned in and bit into the crook of her neck, sinking my teeth deep into her flesh. She gasped, then bit me, sending me over the edge. I growled in pleasure as I exploded.

I pulled my teeth out to lap up the blood dripping down her shoulder. Hmm, she tasted like the sweetest nectar.

Eve moaned as she lapped my blood, gasping when pressure built up in our heads. The pressure popped like a balloon, then there she was; I could feel her inside of me, mind, body, and soul.

"Can you hear me, Little Bird?" I asked through the link.

She nodded, "Yes, I hear you, fuzzy butt."

Her eyes went wide with fear. Feeling worried, I asked, "What's wrong Little Bird?"

"We didn't use protection." She said

"Don't worry, you won't get pregnant. Now that you've shifted, you won't get pregnant until you go into heat. Wolf Guardian women go into heat in the spring and fall. You can also take herbs to help stop the heat cycle until you are ready for a child. You must ask my mother if you want to know more." I explained.

When I woke up in the morning, Eve was sound asleep on top of me with her arms around my neck and her head on my shoulder.

I sighed in contentment, wrapping my arms around her waist.

Eve groaned, clenching her hands, whimpering as a nightmare plagued her sleep.

I was curious about her dreams, so I used our connection to see what she was seeing.

My body tensed as I looked around the familiar Nanatala forest. There were bodies of our friends and families scattered around.

Eve shook as she saw the dead faces of her father and brother.

She whimpered at the sight of my dead mother and sister, then fell to her knees when she found my body. "We bonded; why aren't I dead? I refuse to live without you!" She screamed

I pulled out of her mind, then whispered into her ear. "Little Bird, you need to wake up, baby. It's just a bad dream; listen to my voice, come back to me, my love. I'm alive; everyone is still alive."

She gasped as her eyes flew open, then threw her arms around my neck, "Clay!"

"Shh, I got you, baby," I said softly, rubbing her back, then ran my fingers through her hair. "I got you, my love."