Chapter 13: The Wolf and the Trees (Part II)

Standing on the west wing terrace, Kano rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. Cayden shook his head. “Don’t be embarrassed. I realize now that we should have already had this conversation.” He cleared his throat. “When two people love/like one another—or are just really horny—they show those feelings by…” Kano cut his eyes, and Cayden nodded. “Right, you know that part, considering you’ve officially been to pound town.” Hearing his brother growl, he threw up his hands. “Okay, okay, moving along to marking, or as I like to call it, the wolf and the trees.”

Kano’s mouth dropped, and he looked at his brother in disgust, causing Cayden’s eyes to widen. He seethed. “I am not suggesting you are to do that on her!” Kano looked his brother up and down and cocked his head back. Cayden gasped. “No, I do not do that to Anastasia! I would never be so immoral!” Kano sneered, and Cayden cut his eyes. “Says the one who just worked through a century of sexual frustration across from the room where his parent’s portraits lie.” He laughed when he heard Kano almost choke as he covered his face. “Yeah, that’s right! Cover your face in shame, harlot,” he said.

Kano removed his hands and tilted his head. Grinning at Cayden, he pointed at him and then up at the sky. Cayden’s face paled, realizing he’d done far worse. In his excitement at finding his mate, he’d forgotten to take out the portrait of their great grandmother from his room and return it back to its proper one, post remodel. He covered his chest and belted, “Noooo nana! Close your eyes! Don’t look at me in my fornication!”

Kano folded his arms to his chest and muttered, “Mmm… mmm… mmm.”

Cayden face greened. “Let us never travel down this road of insults again.” Kano agreed, equally disgusted. Calming himself, Cayden looked at his brother. “What I was trying to say is that there are different kinds of marking, but they all have the same purpose… claiming.” Kano’s eyes widened, and he nodded. “Hugging, touching, wearing something of yours puts your pheromones on your mate as a sort of back off, I’ll kill you type of thing—which is especially useful if you haven’t marked her permanently,” he said, tapping the back of his ear.

“Sex is self-explanatory. Pheromones—and well, just about everything else mixes during.” Kano nodded, slightly embarrassed at how much he’d loved when Essence smelled of vanilla, and him. “Still, the two are only temporary, as I’m sure you realized when she no longer smelled like you. Your wolf could give a rat’s ass if anyone that’s not your mate no longer contains your scent, but your mate walking around without a signal to others to back off—yeah nope, not happening. And that protective nature gets even more intense once you and your mate have consummated.”

Kano groaned, and Cayden shrugged his shoulders. “I mean, you could always make it permanent and just turn—” Kano shook his head firmly, and he sighed. “Okay, but you can’t avoid that conversation forever especially now because it’s only going to get worse.” Kano tilted his head, and Cayden looked at him seriously. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Kano, don’t insult my intelligence or yours,” he said.

Feeling his brother pat him on the back, Kano looked to the floor, knowing it would break his heart if he asked Essence about turning, and told her he was in love with her, only for her to reject both sentiments.

Essence paced the courtyard. “What the fuck am I even still doing here? He clearly doesn’t want to see me,” she murmured. She shook her head and balled her fists to her sides. “I’m out of here.” Turning, she collided directly with Kano, and he grabbed her before she could fall. Her breath caught as his gold eyes stared at her. Lifting her, he closed his eyes, knowing she was going to kill him for what he was about to do. Before she could react, Kano pulled off his shirt and rubbed it over all her skin that was showing, and at the same time, he tried to stop his ears from bleeding from her expletives.

“Are you crazy?!” she fumed when he finally stopped attacking her with the fabric. He grabbed her shoulders, his pale eyes trying their best to tell her he was sorry. Trying to calm herself, she inhaled sharply. “Why did you do that? And why have you been avoiding me?!” Kano sighed and leaned into her, scrunching his nose in a sniffing motion. She paused. “What? To make me smell like you? I don’t under—oh, is that why you’ve been ducking me harder than someone who owes child support?” Though confused about the reference, he nodded.

Joining hands, they walked to a secluded area of the courtyard and sat down. “You really freaked me out today,” she said. He closed his eyes, and turned away, and Essence shook her head. “No, not your eyes, Kano. I know you’re a wolf. You freaked me out because, um—that was the best date I’ve ever been on, and this morning it felt nice waking up to you, and—” She sucked her teeth. “I’m not making sense, am I? I’m terrible at trying to explain how I feel.” Kano grabbed her and kissed her gently. Caressing her face, he huffed as she laid against his chest.

Essence stroked his arm. “I don’t really get a lot of the werewolf stuff, but I know that people who are dating are supposed to communicate. Prime example; I like the way you smell, so this doesn’t bother me.” Placing his head onto the top of hers, he rubbed, gently mixing his scent with hers more. He nodded, hearing her words, and pulled her up. Taking her hand, he ran it across his scar and closed his eyes. When he opened them, she saw so much pain on his face, she felt her own crumble. He moved, but she grabbed him. “What happened to you?” she asked.

Nuzzling into her neck, he whispered, “I’m different. Not everyone understands different.” Essence pulled him closer. “Cayden took my place so I wouldn’t be killed. This is just a reminder of how much hatred others can have for the things they don’t understand, so they try to destroy.”

Essence looked at him. “Different is good. It’s beautiful, and thoughtful, and I like different a lot… more than a lot,” she said. Her hands to his face, Kano, though afraid, knew it was time. Laying his head against hers, he closed his eyes, and slowly shifted.