Shifting Changes (The First Shift) (9 page)

“Well,
I’d say that was a nice ride, huh?” Faolan chuckled behind him as he pulled
out. Shayonn winced. Now that the fire of passion was gone, he realised how
sore he was. Sore and very, very tired. His arse stung from the spanking, his
hole burned from the rough fuck and his shoulders and arms throbbed from being
tied, and yet he felt better than he had in months.

“Next
time I’m going to fuck you when you’re in tiger shape,” Faolan said and undid
the knots in their shirts.

“Next
time?” Shayonn asked feebly.

“Yes.
Or don’t you want me to fuck you again?”

Freed
from his ties at last, Shayonn straightened up and rubbed his aching wrists.
Warm liquid dribbled down his thigh.

“I…
Yes. Yes, I do,” Shayonn replied. Faolan’s spunk seeping out of him was like a
mark. It made him feel strange, claimed somehow. “Faolan?”

“Yes?”

“Can
I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“You’re
a wolf shifter and… Well, I’m aware that different species have slightly
different mating rituals and… Uh…” He broke off and raked back his hair in
embarrassment.

Faolan
stared back at him calmly. “Are you asking if I’ve claimed you as my mate?”

A
nervous chuckle escaped Shayonn’s throat. “I guess I am.” He couldn’t look into
those unsettling eyes any longer and dropped his gaze. Just why couldn’t he
fight Faolan? He was the one supposed to lead, in every way. He was much
stronger physically in his animal form, and in human shape, his social rank put
him way above Faolan.

Faolan
sighed. Shifted his weight, then sighed again. “Shayonn, look… I couldn’t help
it. I hadn’t realised it worked this way. I wasn’t aware that… You’re a
different species, and you’re a guy, there’s no biological reason why you
should be my mate, but…” He swallowed and bit his lip. “You’re right. You are
my mate and I just claimed you. You’re mine now, for as long as we both live.”

Once
again Shayonn was grateful for the tree when his knees went weak and he had to
clasp at the rough trunk for support. “But… How could you? You know I have to…
Fuck!” Shayonn groaned. “My mother is going to kill me.”

Faolan
smirked. “No she’s not. She’ll be shocked, yes, and then she will understand
that it’s the best that could’ve happened to you. She wanted me as your guard,
to protect you, and as my mate, it’s my top priority to keep you happy and safe
from harm.”

“I
know, but… Sod it, you’re a wolf! And a guy! And…and I just told you I’m not
ready for anything stable yet.” Shayonn let out a heartfelt groan. “So now I
not only have to find the mother of my babies and rule a fucking kingdom, I
also have a wolf at my hands. Great. So not.”

“Oi,
stop it!” Faolan snapped. “I’m hardly a burden for you, little prince! I’m well
capable of taking care of myself and probably better at looking after you, too.
Being my mate doesn’t change what you have to do, but it has its advantages if
you want them.”

“Like
what?”

Faolan
lowered his head and took a step closer. A soft smile played on his lips. “I
just told you—my priorities are to keep you safe and…happy.”

His
intonation on the last word made Shayonn’s groin tingle. “You mean…?”

Faolan
put his hands on Shayonn’s hips, stroked up his sides and then pulled him close
for a kiss. “This,” he jerked his head at the tree, “was hot but it was just
the beginning. I can fuck you in ways that will blow your mind. You might be a
spoilt brat who’s destined to be king and doesn’t want to be tied down, but
when I do the tying and spank your arse the way you deserve it, it rocks your
boat like nothing else—and don’t tell me that’s not true!”

Shayonn
moaned. He couldn’t help it. He was turned on again and yes, Faolan was right.
He nodded and lowered his head. “Take me back inside,” he whispered.

Faolan
smiled. “I will. In a bit. And only in your real shape.” He shifted,
transitioning smoothly from man to wolf and Shayonn was stunned by the feral
beauty in front of him, but only for a moment, then he, too, embraced his
animal self and became the tiger he was inside.

Chapter 7

Another
month later, Shayonn felt good in his tiger skin. He had spent some time with Faolan
in shifted form, running around and exploring the area along with reacquainting
himself with his own body. It didn’t feel weird anymore. He’d begun to
appreciate the sheer power of his enormous muscles. They no longer felt like
unnecessary bulk but had become thick steel ropes that were his to control. And
his reactions had improved.

Together,
he and Faolan had taken long strolls in the vast palace gardens, indulging
their animal selves and running side by side. Shayonn wasn’t much of a runner.
His body was built to wait and pounce, but he’d be damned if he admitted to
that. Faolan on the other hand seemed to have no problem at all to run for hours,
other perhaps than to allow Shayonn to keep up with him. They had also been
hunting, chasing after rabbits and small deer. Shayonn couldn’t remember ever
having been so excited about something but what he was facing now made his
heart pound so hard he thought it might just explode.

He entered the room. His paws made no sound but a faint shuffle on
the ground, barely audible even to his own ears, but the females instantly knew
he was there. They turned and stared at him. He took his time.

There
were at least ten of them. Ten pairs of golden eyes that watched his every
move. He could tell they were excited about his presence. Their smell wafted to
him, making him dizzy with its heady flavours of arousal. And it turned him on
in a strange yet fascinating way. This was new for him, something he had yet to
learn how to do with this amazing strange body of his.

He
approached them slowly. His movement sent a ripple through the small group.

They
wanted him. Every single one of them but there would be only one who would have
him. If his mate was even among them. But what were the chances for that,
really? There was just one female in the world who shared the gene that made
him special and he was the only one who could single her out. And if whatever
strange quirk of nature caused the match-ups had made a mistake, his mate might
not have been born yet. Or she could be eighty years old and senile. Wherever
his mate was, she hadn’t been in any of the groups of females he had met so
far. And from the looks of the ten women in the room, today would be no
different.

*
* * *

Tarina
shivered in anticipation as she watched the huge white male approach her. He
was glorious with his snow white, glossy fur and the sheer size of him
intimidated and aroused her at the same time. She’d never been one to duck, and
she’d had her share of experience with men in human shape, but this was
different. She didn’t know what it was like to be with a male in shifted form
and had often wondered if she’d ever make the experience. Was the big white
male her mate? It was unlikely, and yet she wondered what it would be like to
be taken by him. Would he take her in this form or prefer their human shapes?
Was he a gentle lover or would he just jump her and bite her neck for something
to hold on to as he thrust into her? The thought made her legs weak. He was so
big, at least half a foot taller than any of the brown males she’d seen in the
colony and she couldn’t help but wonder if every part of him was so generously
sized.

She
might not have known what it was like to be with a man in shifted form, but her
body seemed to know exactly what to do.
Her inner
muscles twitched in anticipation and warmth spread between her hind legs. The
gorgeous white came closer on his way along the line of females. Her chances to
be chosen by him were poor. Like the females, the white males were capable of
detecting the ideal mate for themselves, the one among hundreds of others that
allowed them to produce the much-needed offspring to save their rare breed from
extinction.

He
passed the first two of the golden tigresses, then stopped in front of the
third. He sniffed the air around her, distrustful at first, then with obvious
interest. A low rumble started in his chest as he walked a slow circle around
her. She barely turned her head but watched him from the corners of her eyes.
When he had completed the circle, he stopped in front of her. He sat on his
haunches and still the gaze of his striking green eyes rested on her. The
tigress held her breath. She lowered her head, offering him her submission but
instead of accepting and resting his chin on her the way everyone in the room
must have been expecting him to do, he stood and walked away. The tigress
watched him go with narrowed eyes and a curled lip.

He continued his way along the line of females. Tarina’s heart
sped up as he approached her but the excitement lasted for all of one second,
then he was past her.

It
was almost a relief. What could she have offered him anyway? She had never been
special in her entire life, just another plain brown tigress and the fourth of
five daughters in a family full of plain brown tigers. Her mother was the
special one, the rare white, but she hadn’t passed on her gene to any of her
children and Tarina’s unruly spirit and independence had often earned her her
parents’ scorn. Suddenly there was a buzz of excitement around her and she
looked up. The tigresses who had been perfectly quiet so far started to move,
which meant that the gorgeous white must have found his mate. She didn’t turn
to see who the lucky one was, probably the one he’d checked out so thoroughly
earlier.

Staring
at the ground, she made to leave until she felt someone blocking her way. She
stopped to let the other one pass. It must have been one of the other females,
she thought, and since they were all bound to be cranky with disappointment,
she knew it was better to steer clear of her.

When
the big bodied tiger in front of her didn’t move, she finally raised her gaze.
And froze. It wasn’t one of the other females. Before her stood the glorious
white, close enough to touch her with his nose if she moved so much as an inch
forward.

She
felt his breath on her face, the slow exhalation of air as he held her trapped
in this fascinating green gaze of his. It was as if he could look into her soul
and something deep inside her answered. Something she hadn’t even known
existed.

She
lowered her head, breaking eye contact with him. She didn’t even have to think
about it. It was the right thing to do.

He
tilted forward a bit and she got a first impression of the solid mass of him as
he rested his chin on top of her head. Neither of them moved as they waited for
the others to leave the room although Tarina’s thoughts were spinning.

When
the other tigresses had left, two servants approached them with big robes.
Prince Shayonn shifted instantly and slipped into the garment that was being
held out to him. Tarina did the same, enjoying the lush fabric that clung to
her much as her own fur had done just seconds ago.

Prince
Shayonn turned to her and another shudder rocked her. Her legs were about to
turn to jelly. The prince wasn’t only exquisite and impressive in tiger shape.
He was one of the tallest men she’d ever met, and quite possibly the most
beautiful one, too. He could have easily been threatening, but he seemed to be just
as nervous as she felt. Toying with the buckle that secured his robe at the
front, he stared at the ground. Then he heaved a deep sigh, squared his
shoulders and smiled at her. “Hello. I’m Shayonn. Looks like you’re my mate.
Care to tell me your name?”

“My
name is Tarina,” she said and returned his smile. Damn, those lips. She wanted
to kiss them and invite him to kiss her back, and not just on the mouth. He was
made for sinful activities, but she was hesitant. She’d heard the rumours.
Apparently Prince Shayonn had come a lot closer to one of his guards than
etiquette deemed necessary and even tried to run away to escape the mating
ritual. Watching him closely, she tried to figure him out. Yes, he was nervous.
He seemed to find it hard to keep eye contact, and shifted his weight
frequently. Despite his size, he appeared shy and didn’t follow her invitation
to flirt, so maybe the rumours were true. Well, there were ways to spark a
man’s interest. She’d just have to find out where his weakness lay.

“Tarina.
Nice,” Shayonn said at last. “Well, Tarina. Ready to meet the queen?”

“Sure.”
Tarina smiled at him again, then she followed the tall man along the red carpet
to where the queen sat waiting on her throne. She looked around, trying to take
everything in, and yes, she was awed. Some of her self-confidence left her in
the face of the high ceilings and magnificent murals. Few people who weren’t
members of the royal family were allowed in the palace, and she never would
have expected to be one of them.

The
gentle brush of his fingers to her arm made her turn her head.

“Everything
all right?” he enquired in a low whisper.

She
nodded. “Yes. It’s just… All of this is like a dream, you know. Surreal and
confusing, and I still can’t believe that you have chosen me as your mate.