The Felidae 4: Lev’s Discovery
Jade Buchanan


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Copyright ©2007 Jade Buchanan


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 ISBN: 978-1-59596-695-7
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Editor: Connie Alberts
Cover Artist: Bryan Keller

  



  

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 The Felidae 4: Lev’s Discovery

 Jade Buchanan

  

 Lev Gatti has been with his lover, Morgan, for years. He is deeply in love with him, but for the past few months Lev has been having erotically charged dreams about another man, a human. A man he’s never met.

  

 Morgan Laren has been with the Gatti brothers since he was a cub. From his first taste of the carefree, fun-loving Lev, he’s wanted to be with him. He doesn’t know if that’s possible anymore -- how can he fight against a mate bond?

  

 Aaron Coleman has just been thrust into a world he didn’t know existed. He’s being forced to adapt and find a way to live among alien beings very different from him. Yet, despite his own serious misgivings, he can’t stop thinking about both the fun-loving Lev and the wise-cracking Morgan.

  

  

  

 Chapter One

  

 “What the hell am I doing here?”

 Aaron Coleman sighed, turning over on the mammoth bed to lie on his back. His whole life had been turned upside down in the last few weeks. So much so that he kept thinking it was all a dream.

 He was afraid to go outside the room he was put in. He didn’t know these people, despite the fact that they had saved him from what was possibly a fate worse than death. He just didn’t know how to treat them now.

 “What am I supposed to say? ‘Hey Usama, sorry ’bout making your mate fight for me and all. Hope there’s no hard feelings.’ Right, I can see that going over real well.”

 He didn’t even know where to begin sorting out the craziness around him. A month ago, he was on top of the world. About to make partner in his dad’s company, Coleman Resources, a week away from a fantastic hiking trip in B.C., and so close to scoring with the cute coffee guy downstairs in the building.

 Now where was he?

 On a spaceship -- a spaceship -- after narrowly being turned into some fierce tiger-like cat man’s bitch. If that wasn’t enough to change his opinion regarding life, he didn’t know what was. He had always been a cat person, but this was ridiculous.

 At least things could be worse. There was another human on board. Although, if push came to shove, she would definitely be on their side. Apparently, little Rowan was sleeping with the leader of the men who’d saved him -- Laithe -- and his second in command, Fahd, as far as Aaron could determine.

 Laithe Gatti ran this ship like a seasoned sailor. He knew every piece of equipment on board and had the respect and love of his crew. He had to admit, Laithe was something else. Towering over Aaron by more than a foot, he was entirely covered in silky smooth fur, head to toe. A thick, chocolate brown mane puffed out around his head, framing his feline features. He resembled one of the Barbary Lions Aaron had seen once on the Discovery Channel. Fascinating creatures. Laithe prowled around whatever space he was in, dominating the room, just like the lion he’d watched on television. Definite leadership material.

 If there was one thing Aaron understood, it was leadership material. It was his business to know what made a leader, from behaviour to temperament to bearing. Companies came from all over to have Coleman Resources tell them how to run their businesses.

 He sighed. “Looks like it’s just not my year to take over the company. I need to get back home or Dad’s gonna give the business to someone else.” He lowered his voice. “Fred Coleman waits for no man. Leaders are made, son, not born,” he grumbled, repeating one of the many lectures he’d gotten over the years.

 Stretching in place, he considered the others on board. He still had trouble picturing Rowan with her mate. She was tiny, voluptuous, but still tiny. Her hair was a sleek russet bob, fluttering around her face, framing a lovely smile. Her body was curved in the most interesting ways, and Aaron definitely understood the appeal for most men. Just because he didn’t want to sleep with her didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate how attractive she was.

 And then there was Fahd. The big, black bastard was definitely intimidating. He got the feeling Fahd didn’t care for him much. Covered in a sleek, black pelt, he reminded Aaron of the type of man who would do anything to ensure his loved ones were safe. He was always with either Laithe or Rowan, protecting the two of them from any and all threats. He either thought Aaron was a threat or he really didn’t care for him for other reasons, because the cat man had ignored him from their first meeting.

 Fahd was one of the Pardus people, according to Catan. The small Lynx had spent a lot of time with Aaron recently, explaining their customs and identifying all the things he would need to know in order to live with them.

 He liked Catan. He was smaller than Aaron, and the fur on his body was longer than the others, resembling the cats he saw more often in the Rocky Mountains. His buff-colored fur was an interesting contrast to the sleek forms of the others. His face was always open and trusting. He thought about what the man had told him when they first met. How the pride had taken him in after he had been abused, his family killed. At the time, Catan mentioned it to try and reassure him that not all the Felidae were horrible people.

 It had definitely worked. He’d been sitting in his tent, listening to Catan explain the incidents that had brought them together. Up until that point, Aaron had been despairing over what had happened to him. But just sitting there, listening to Catan talk had somehow relaxed him. Made him realize that he would be able to survive whatever happened.

 Catan was the perfect example of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. His life after his attack had been a textbook example of the five needs exerting themselves. First the physiological need for shelter and food, the safety need for security and protection, the social need for belonging and acceptance, the esteem need for self-respect and autonomy, and the self-actualization need for growth and self-fulfillment. Heck, he could take Catan to a few of his clients and show him as a test case for what life should be like.

 Catan might prefer to sit back and let others tell him what to do, but underneath it all, he had a very calming presence. He just wanted the people around him to be happy. It was a nice trait to have. One he definitely didn’t expect to find among all these barbaric men and women.

 The Felidae were unlike anything he’d ever experienced before. Loosely arranged similar to the big cats on Earth, they seemed to value strength above all other things. Heck, that pretty much summed up what had brought him to Laithe and his men in the first place.

 Apparently, the man who had taken him was one of the Tigris clan. All Aaron knew was the tall, imposing man had borne more than a passing resemblance to a really big Tony the Tiger. It was something he never expected to happen. Like some horrible nightmare, Tony jumped off the front of a cereal box to bring him to some alternate universe where cats walked and talked.

 It was Planet of the Apes all over again. Make that Planet of the Cats.

 He thought about the others he had met over such a short period of time. There were Asad and Usama, of course. Asad and Usama were Laithe’s younger brothers. Asad the second child and Usama the baby of the family.

 Apparently Asad was mated to the little Lynx, Catan. Aaron initially thought they were an odd match, considering that Catan had been abused by a man who bore a passing resemblance to Asad. The second Gatti brother and Catan’s attacker had both been from the Leo clan, the ruling clan of the Felidae . But it had only taken watching them once for Aaron to realize they were perfectly suited together. Asad was so tender with Catan, caring for him and making sure that he was never uncomfortable. It was actually really nice to watch. Yet another thing he didn’t expect to see among a race of people so different from the humans he was used to.

 Usama was probably the other person he was closest to among everyone on board. He looked so different from his brothers. Laithe and Asad at least resembled each other, although Laithe was darker, and had a chocolate mane where Asad was the same shade all over. Where his brothers were a beautiful tawny gold, Usama was pure, blinding white. He had apparently been born with some kind of recessive gene, being born with a physical weakness that set him apart from the other people around him.

 It had to be tough on him, having such an obvious weakness to a people who valued strength.

 It was a good thing his own mate was so strong. Rajiv was something else. He was one of the Tigris, just like the man who had taken Aaron, but he seemed decent enough. He’d stepped up and saved Aaron, regardless of the fact that he didn’t want to. He’d only done it for Usama, but Aaron didn’t really give a shit what his reason was. Rajiv had saved his life. He certainly owed the man.

 Aaron was trying his damnedest not to think about the other Gatti brother. Lev had avoided him for the most part since they met. He wasn’t sure why, but it probably had something to do with the odd looks everyone else kept giving him. Well, everyone but the last man on board. Morgan Laren.

 He didn’t know why, but he got the feeling Morgan didn’t like him. Not in the same way that Fahd didn’t like him. No, Morgan wasn’t trying to protect his loved ones from an outsider. Was he?

 Morgan was so different from the other men on board. He was a Pardus, like Fahd. Though Fahd was completely black, Morgan was a rich, loamy gold. Black rosettes were interspersed like big giant paint splotches, splattered across his body. His fur was short, and looked like it would be so soft to touch. Not that he wanted to touch the man. No, he wasn’t like Rowan. He couldn’t be attracted to these creatures. There was no way. Was there?

 Heck, how would that even work? Hypothetically, if he was attracted to them, they weren’t even human. What if they didn’t line up or something? Although, if Rowan was able to have sex with them…

 He closed his eyes, picturing Morgan in his mind. He tried to imagine what it would feel like to run his fingers through his hair. Would the man like it? Would he moan and ask for more?

 “Touch me,” Morgan groaned, moving into each stroking caress along the top of his head.

 Aaron grinned behind Morgan’s back, letting the silky smooth fur awaken the nerve endings in his hands. He loved the feel of the other man. Morgan was sitting in front of him, his legs sprawled out.

 He fondled Morgan’s skull, learning the differences between them, rubbing the backs of his ears. He grinned at the vibrating purr that erupted from Morgan. He stroked his palms down his neck, smoothing out the muscles that jumped under his fingers. Cupping his shoulders, Aaron bent his head, placing an open-mouthed kiss to the back of his neck.

 Moving around his body, Aaron studied Morgan. The other man had his head thrown back, his mouth gasping for breath. Good, he wanted the man out of control, tied in knots because of him. All because he wanted Aaron so badly.

 He poked gently in the middle of Morgan’s chest, tipping him backward until he lay down on the ground. Aaron crawled up, straddling the other man. Leaning over him, he pressed strong fingers into either side of his temple, massaging away any stress. He wanted him boneless for this.

 Morgan sighed.

 “Looks like you have him all stretched out. Now what are you going to do with him?”

 Aaron jerked around at the deep voice coming from behind him. Lev was standing in the doorway, a leer on his expressive face. Aaron tipped his shoulder, studying the Leo from beneath half-lowered lashes. “What do you think I should do?”

 Lev chuckled. “Fuck him hard. Just the way he likes it.”

 Aaron’s cock gave one mighty jerk. He went from zero to sixty in two seconds, primed to do exactly what Lev wanted.

 Lev was suddenly there beside him, pulling him off Morgan and setting him to the side. Aaron watched while Lev pressed the spotted man’s legs up to his chest, demanding that he hold them in place. Morgan wiggled his hips, practically begging for it.

 “That won’t do. I want to hear him beg.” Aaron surprised even himself with his words. Who knew he had that in him?

 “You heard the boy. Beg for it,” Lev crooned. His fingers were busy at Morgan’s hole, preparing him for Aaron’s hard cock.

 “Please, please fuck me, please put it in me. I need you,” Morgan whispered. His body was trembling, his hands shaking where he was holding his legs apart.

 Aaron smiled wickedly, scooting over until he was between Morgan’s thighs. The head of his cock nudged Morgan’s hole, bumping up against the wrinkled skin. He grabbed hold of the base of his shaft, lining himself up. He started to push inside, velvety warm skin parting for his invasion.

  

 The door slid open, startling him. Morgan stalked into the room, not even bothering to knock. It was as if his thoughts had conjured the man out of thin air.

 “What the hell do you think you’re doing? I could have been busy in here, did you ever think of that?” Aaron asked, infuriated that he was almost discovered jerking off. His cock was rock hard, only his thin loincloth saving him from complete and utter humiliation.

 “Is that right? What could you possibly have been doing that would be interesting in the slightest way?” Morgan asked, a mocking tone in his voice.

 Aaron flushed, turning over to his stomach to hide his erection. “You don’t know the first thing about me, Sabor, so don’t try and tax your mind too much.” If Morgan thought he could intimidate him, he had another think coming.

 “My name is Morgan, unless your little hairless head is too small to contain that information.”

 “I know what your name is, furball, so thanks for pointing that out.” He slid off the bed and stood up to glare at the other man.

 “I get the feeling you need things pointed out to you more than once,” Morgan quipped.

 “Can you actually count higher than one? I didn’t think you beasts knew how to do that. I’m so impressed. Really, see this is my impressed face.” Aaron raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips.

 Morgan grunted, a curious coughing noise from deep in his throat. Speaking of deep in his throat… Aaron was starting to get turned on again by this situation. They were toe to toe, closer than they had ever been before. He still had to look up to meet the Pardus’ eyes, but it didn’t make him feel vulnerable at all. Quite the opposite, in fact.

 “Ooh, I’m quite impressed with your ability to make faces. Makes me all tingly, just thinking of the types of faces you can make. C’mon, pull an angry face for me.”

 Aaron had to bite down hard on the inside of his mouth, determined that he wasn’t going to give Morgan the satisfaction of seeing how much he was beginning to enjoy this. He was actually starting to like him, despite himself.

 “No? How ’bout a happy face? Can you do that, or are your people too simple to entertain on demand.” Morgan chuckled, reaching up his hand to stroke along the coarse hairs covering Aaron’s jaw. “Hmmm, I didn’t think your people had hair on their faces. Rowan certainly doesn’t.”

 “Ju-just the men do. I normally shave it off,” he said, his heart pounding.

 Morgan was watching him intently, studying his reactions. He suddenly shook his head, moving back out of reach. “I had a reason for coming in here. I’ve been chosen to kick you in the ass and tell you to get out and mingle with the rest of the pride. You’ve moped enough and we’re nearly at my home. So you better get over it.”

 “What do you mean we’re nearly at your home? You’re supposed to be taking me back to Earth. I thought that was the plan?” Aaron asked, his voice raising.

 Morgan shrugged, not answering his question. “Are you going to go out peacefully or do I have to drag you out kicking and screaming? If you want my opinion, I’d rather drag you out. It’d be more fun for me.”

 “I’d rather stay in here, thank you.”

 “I don’t care what you would rather do. Lev wants you outside. He thinks you’re being antisocial.”

 “You know what? I don’t really care. I’ve been through a hell of a lot of crap in the past week and if you and Vincent don’t understand that, then I don’t know how much simpler I can make it for you,” he fumed.

 “Lev.”

 “What?”

 “You called him Vincent. His name is Lev,” Morgan explained patiently.

 “Do you honestly think I don’t know what his fucking name is?”

 Morgan raised his hands in the air. “I’m just trying to explain that you called him Vincent.”

 “I know what I called him. I’ll call him whatever the hell I want, Heimlich Menudo.”

 Morgan shook his head, obviously perplexed. “I’m not even going to ask.” A small smile played at the edge of his mouth.

 Aaron refused to admit how enticing that smile was. He was going insane. He couldn’t be attracted to these cat men. He just couldn’t be. Regardless of his recent fantasy, he wasn’t interested in a relationship with them. He just needed to get laid, that was all.

 He needed to go home. Now.

  

  

  

 Chapter Two

  

 Lev paced on the bridge of The Shahnaz , waiting for Morgan to bring up the human male. Aaron. His mate, Aaron. He still couldn’t get over the fact that he had a mate. It was almost unheard of for a Leo to mate with a male in the ancient ways of his people.

 He grimaced, thinking of how Morgan was taking this, but they both knew he didn’t really have a choice here. Morgan was his chosen mate, but something had happened a few weeks ago. He had started dreaming about another man. A hairless man. A man he had never met before.

 He had always thought this was impossible. Laithe was the mated one in his family. When Laithe had started to dream about Rowan before sharing her eyes, seeing what she was seeing, Lev had been overjoyed. Finally, their pride leader was taking a mate. He was justified in his position to lead them. A Leo who didn’t share the mate bond wasn’t able to be a leader. It was the way of their people.

 Only the strongest men, in body, spirit and mind, were able to lead the prides. Generations ago, the Leo had realized their strongest members shared an intimate bond with their mates, a way of looking through each other’s eyes, of sharing thoughts in a way that connected them to an unbelievable degree.

 Those men had become the greatest leaders the prides had ever known, ushering them into a new world where they had to fight to make sure cubs were born each generation. They didn’t have enough females; they were declining in numbers. But as long as the prides were still led by the strongest men, they would find a way to get through this and dominate the skies once more.

 He just didn’t expect it to happen to him.

 He wasn’t quite ready to be a leader. He didn’t think he had it in him, to be honest. He was perfectly fine sitting back and letting Laithe make all the decisions. If he was right, and he became one of the pride leaders, then who knew what would happen to him.

 He turned at a sound, watching the stairs closely. In a matter of seconds, first Morgan and then Aaron appeared on the bridge. Aaron didn’t look happy to be there, but at least he was out of his room. Well, Usama’s room, but seeing as Usama was now bunking down with Rajiv, he didn’t think it mattered much.

 “Good, you came,” he said, nervous despite himself. He didn’t think Aaron liked him much, but he couldn’t keep his eyes off him. The human nodded, keeping silent.

 Aaron was smaller in form than Morgan and him, lightly muscled where they were more obvious. His body was compact, the muscles in his biceps flexing when he crossed his arms over his chest. He was wearing a loincloth, and thank the prides, he had finally stopped complaining about it. Apparently the humans covered themselves more.

 Lev shook his head, secretly amused at them. If the rest of humanity looked anything like Rowan and Aaron, he really couldn’t understand why they would want to cover themselves up. Aaron didn’t really look like his brother’s mate, but he was very similar in coloring.

 The main difference between them -- well, except for the issue of certain pieces of equipment -- was that Aaron had little metal circles around his eyes, holding two pieces of thin glass together. Glasses, he had called them glasses. He said it was to help him see better, but after Usama convinced Aaron to let him try them out, his brother had mentioned they didn’t do anything but make him dizzy.

 Strange. Humans were strange.

 Aaron’s body was hairless, except for short bristles on the very top of his head. They were a beautiful orangey-gold, the color of the sun at its highest peak. He had similar coloring to some of the Tigris they had rescued him from. Lev growled, remembering the fear that he would lose his mate before he had even gotten him.

 Morgan shook his head in exasperation, walking past him to go to the atrium. It was strangely empty. Normally it was occupied by at least one other pride member. He slunk down onto one of the benches, curling up his legs to slouch along the seat and turning his head, looking out the windows at the stars.

 Lev watched him, unable to think of a way to make things right between them. It wasn’t fair to do this to Morgan, but he didn’t know what to do. He loved him. He would do anything for him if he just asked. Anything but give up his mate. Morgan couldn’t ask that of him. He knew how rare it was to find someone to share a mate bond with.

 He glanced back at Aaron, startled to find the other man studying him carefully. Aaron tilted his head, turning to look at Morgan before returning his gaze to Lev. He would give much to know what the man was thinking. He refused to think about how easy it would be to just open his mind and enter his mate’s thoughts. He wouldn’t do that. Not without Aaron’s consent first.

 “We’re coming up on Felid soon. You are free to go into the atrium and watch our descent,” he said, waiting until Aaron nodded before turning back to his console with a sigh.

 He wasn’t doing any of this right. He felt clumsy for the first time in his life, unsure of how to act around the other man. Hell, he didn’t even know if Aaron liked men, let alone if he would be willing to tie his life down to a man from an entirely different species. What if Aaron didn’t find him attractive? Hell, this was bad.

 He shifted his eyes to the side, catching sight of Aaron standing in the atrium a few feet from Morgan. The two men were ignoring each other again.

 “Relax, brother. Things will turn out all right for the three of you. Just wait,” Laithe whispered, coming up beside him.

 He turned to study his brother. Laithe always appeared as though he had everything under control. The only time he had ever seen him shaken was when Rowan had been attacked not too long ago by the men who had once abused Catan. It was a good thing they were dead. Laithe didn’t let anyone touch what belonged to him.

 It was something he should consider. Morgan was his. Aaron was going to be his. If he wanted to be with both of them it was past time for him to make a move and stick with it. He wouldn’t let anyone get in his way. Grunting, he let his lips curve up, already plotting what he would have to do.

 “That’s the spirit. Don’t give them too much time to resent the situation. You belong with both of them. Believe me, it won’t be easy for you, but just look how happy I am with my mates,” Laithe said, pitching his voice low.

 Lev leaned into his brother’s arm, running his tail along Laithe’s back. He rubbed his face against his shoulder, purring softly. He could always count on his brothers to say the right thing. “Thanks,” he said, straightening. “I know what needs to be done.”

 They both turned to watch as they drew closer to Felid. Lev inhaled, bringing the woodsy scent of his family deep into his lungs. At the edge of his awareness, he caught the scents of Morgan and Aaron in the atrium.

 He shifted, willing down his rising erection. Now was not the time to get hard over the combined scent of his mates.

 Laithe shook his head. “You never change, brother.”

 “It’s not my fault.” He chuckled ruefully. “Can you blame me?”

 Laithe was silent for a moment. “You need to tell Father what is happening to you. He needs to know.”

 “I know.”

 “A decision must be made.”

 “I know, Laithe.”

 “The other pride leaders must be called forth.”

 “ I know,” he hissed.

 Laithe held up his hands, backing away. Lev huffed, shrugging his shoulders to try and ease some of the tension riding him. He didn’t know what he was going to say to his father. This whole thing had happened backward. He should have been prepared from birth to become a pride leader like Laithe had been.

 He wasn’t ready for this.

 Strong hands landed on his shoulders, kneading right where the knots were. He purred, leaning back into Morgan, letting his familiar touch soothe him.

 Morgan tilted his head, resting his cheek against Lev’s, remaining silent. Together they stood, both lost in thought.

 The familiar features of his home were becoming larger in the windows. The entire top half of The Shahnaz was open to the skies, allowing them an undisturbed view outside. Acres of grasslands spread out before them, interspersed with small crops of trees.

 The mountains rose in the background, framing the view in front of them. Small, thin rivers ran down the sides of the mountains, winding through the valley. Abodes were set at intervals in the grass, blending in to the surrounding area. It would be hard to see unless you knew where you were looking.

 It was comforting to see his home so close. In the distance, he saw figures exiting one of the abodes. A flash of brown mane caught his attention, his father coming forward to meet them.

 “Oh, my God, that is absolutely incredible,” Aaron whispered, coming up to stand beside them. He leaned forward, pressing both hands against the window, his face inches away from the surface. His gaze was constantly moving, probably trying to soak in everything in a single glance.

 “I’ll take you exploring if you would like,” Lev rumbled, nervous to see how his offer would be taken.

 Aaron looked at him, shifting his gaze to where Morgan held on to his shoulders. He shrugged, lifting one hand to fiddle with the side of his glasses, sliding his fingers along the wire arm. Lev stifled a groan, grunting when Morgan pressed against his back. If he wasn’t mistaken, that definitely felt like Morgan was interested.

 “I’d like that,” Aaron said, softly.

 Lev couldn’t hide the wide smile that erupted across his face. Aaron returned his smile, tilting up one corner of his mouth in a small grin.

 Morgan shifted his hips, reminding Lev of his presence behind him. He reached back one arm, curling it around Morgan’s waist. “Great, Morgan and I can show you around whenever you want. I can’t wait for you to see our home. I think you’ll like it.”

 Aaron shrugged. “I’m sure I will, but I won’t be staying long. I’ll wait for you all to talk to the leader of your people, then Laithe said he’d take me home.”

 Lev swung his head around, finding his brother. Morgan tightened his hold, keeping him in place when all he wanted to do was stalk over and pick a fight with Laithe. How could he tell him that? Aaron was his!

 Laithe met his angry gaze, shaking his head imperceptibly. Lev relaxed, realizing that Laithe probably had to tell the man something. They couldn’t tell him the truth. That definitely wouldn’t go over well. He snorted softly. Yeah, he could picture that conversation. Hey Aaron, by the way, you won’t be returning home. I’ve decided to keep you as my mate. So I hope you like furry men because you’ll be stuck with one forever. Oh, and I come with a partner. So hope that’s okay .

 Laithe turned, stepping to the side and waiting for Fahd to lead the way to the doors outside. Asad and Catan had made their way to the bridge sometime in the last few minutes. He hadn’t even heard them approach. He sighed. Something was going to have to happen soon or he’d be a pile of wasted Leo. He was losing his touch.

 To the left of him, Usama and Rajiv huddled together, the big Tigris tenderly holding his brother close. Usama was nearly healed from his fight against Shyam, the piece of poison that had attacked them. Lev knew Usama couldn’t wait to get better, but he was so thankful his brother had survived, he didn’t care how long Usama had to wear the cast on his arm.

 A broken bone was considered lucky when one was fighting a fierce Leo. Shyam had given new meaning to the word tyrannical. He had never been entirely right in the head, but Lev’s father, Haytham, could never do anything unless Shyam stepped out of line. When he attacked the defenceless Lynx on their own homeworld, leaving only one survivor, Haytham had been infuriated.

 They were lucky the pride had been nearby and were close enough to respond to the distress call. If they had been but a few hours later, Catan wouldn’t have survived. His wounds were too grave. As it was, they were all lucky.

 Morgan released him, brushing up against him one last time before making his way to the stairs. Lev gestured for Aaron to follow. They were the last ones onboard. Everyone else had already disembarked.

 At the doorway, he squared his shoulders, preparing for what was to come. Morgan turned to smile at him, his eyes twinkling. He chuckled, grateful to have the other man’s support. Aaron stepped beside him at the door, brushing up against his arm briefly before he moved away.

 Just that one touch was enough to tighten his whole body. He grimaced, his senses overloaded from the presence of his mates. He was starting to get frustrated. Fuck, he needed release.

 Stepping out into the warm breeze, he tilted his head up briefly, letting the winds brush against his mane. His fur puffed out around him, the wind caressing his body and cooling his heated skin.

 He had no idea what he was going to tell his father. Things like this weren’t supposed to happen.

 This wasn’t going to be pretty. Looked like his fun-loving days were over. Glancing over when Aaron stepped in front of him, he studied the delectable ass of the human. With a smirk, he looked toward Morgan, licking his lips when he considered the familiar backside of his other mate. Nah, if he got his way the fun wasn’t going to end.

 He squared his shoulders, pulling his gaze away from the two men, not wanting to meet his family with the mother of all hard-ons.

  

  

  

 Chapter Three

  

 Morgan paced forward, moving toward Haytham and the others. Lev’s mother, Ariel, had Rowan in a death grip, rocking her back and forth. Both women were wrapped in silky cloths around breast and hip. Ariel’s were the color of the night sky while Rowan’s were the color of the pale waters running throughout Felid.

 Ariel released Rowan, crying out and rushing toward him. He grinned, holding out his arms and hugging her tightly when she burrowed her small frame into his own.

 “I’ve missed you, my heart son.”

 “We were only gone for a few days,” he replied, his heart warming from both her statement and her obvious joy at seeing him.

 “Any time you are away from me is too long, Morgan.” She stepped back, placing both her hands against his cheeks. Holding him steady, she stared intently into his gaze. “I think we need to talk.” She sighed. “What did my son do now?”

 “I didn’t do anything, Mother. Why do I always get blamed for everything?” Lev complained, coming up and enfolding her from behind. He rocked her back and forth, rubbing his cheek along the top of her head, locking eyes with Morgan.

 He nodded his head. He wouldn’t say anything until Lev had explained.

 Ariel was so different from the men around her. Smaller than her mates, her body was compact and sinewy. Her face was elegantly sculpted, the fur covering her body a very light tan. She looked like a cross between Lev and Usama in coloring. Lacking the full mane of the Leo men, she appeared more delicate, although anyone who knew her realized how appearances could be deceiving.

 She wasn’t exactly the delicate creature she appeared to be. She was probably a better hunter than her mates, and like most of the Leo women, she spoke her mind whenever and wherever she pleased. Her mates loved her for it and the five men kept her busy.

 Lev’s uncles appeared behind them, the three men standing together. Ariel had to be strong. She was mated to men who were born to be the rulers of a vast number of people. Lev was born into one of the great prides. His father was the Appaliunas, the King of the Leos and the undisputed ruler of the entire Felidae .

 Laithe, as the eldest and the only son to show signs of following in his footsteps, was the heir to the Felidae leadership. It was common knowledge that he would take over when Haytham felt he was ready.

 Turning his head at a flash of black, Morgan gazed at the fifth man who made up the ruling family. Pantheras was Fahd’s father, Haytham’s personal guard, and his lover. It was normal to assume that things would have been difficult for Ariel when Haytham brought him into their relationship, but she loved him as much as Haytham did.

 Ariel had so much love inside of her. She had no problem sharing herself between the five men. He shook his head. His own mother would have been rolling over in her grave at the thought. She had hated his father. Actually she had hated all men. Including him.

 “Welcome back home, my sons,” Haytham spoke, his voice deep, reverberating through the clearing. “We should get you settled. Lev, I need a word with you.”

 Morgan glanced back at Lev. He looked worried, but Morgan was sure everything would sort itself out. Lev stepped forward, following his father back to the abode he had emerged from before. No one followed them.

 The rest of the pride dispersed, walking in different directions. He was left with Ariel and Aaron, the two of them watching him intently.

 “You should introduce me to your new friend, heart son,” Ariel said, smiling.

 “Ariel, meet Aaron Coleman. He is from the same planet as your new daughter.”

 Aaron nodded his head, walking forward and holding out his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

 Ariel studied his hand, widening her eyes when she looked back at Morgan for guidance.

 “You clasp it in your own, Ariel,” he said, trying to stifle his grin. It had caught him by surprise the first time Aaron had done it to him, but he still found the humor in it when others didn’t know how to react around the humans.

 Ariel gingerly placed her fingers in Aaron’s grasp. “You’ve been cooped up in the ship for too long. Why don’t you two head over to the trees and I’ll bring you out refreshments.” Without giving them a chance to say anything, she turned and left them standing beside each other.

 “Well, umm, you don’t --” Aaron started.

 “Don’t think --” Morgan said at the same time.

 “You first,” Aaron laughed.

 “Don’t think you have to stay with me. If you’d rather go find Rowan or Catan, I can show you where they are.”

 “Nah, I don’t want to bother them. They seemed like they all wanted private time with their mates anyway. But if you want to take off on your own, I don’t mind,” Aaron said, twisting his glasses again.

 Morgan shook his head. “I don’t mind.” He led the way over to a nearby copse of trees, glad to be out of the sun and getting some shade.

 “Oh, thank God, shade! I was starting to get hot out in the sun,” Aaron said, flopping down to lay at the base of one tree. Aaron’s skin held a faint tinge of pink, a light brush of color.

 “Your skin changes color?” he asked, standing over the human.

 “Just in the sun. I think I have three colors, white, pink and red,” he laughed. “I burn if I’m out in the sun for too long.”

 “Your skin is so fragile?” Morgan asked, incredulous. He couldn’t imagine being so vulnerable to the elements. The sun bothered him if he was out in it too long but that was more because he preferred the shade, not because he got sick if he was outside.

 “I guess so. I mean, not every human’s is. I just was born this way.”

 “You are more like Usama than I thought at first. He too was born with physical traits that set him apart. Made him more vulnerable.”

 “See, I think it makes him stronger,” Aaron argued. “It takes a bigger man to take his weaknesses and rise above them.”

 “You could be right,” he admitted.

 “That’s what I like about you guys. You all complement each other so well.”

 “The pride?”

 “Yeah, you’re a team. All working together, supporting each other in everything you do. It’s nice.” He closed his eyes with a sigh, reaching up and pulling off his glasses, holding them in his hand.

 Morgan studied him, considering the other man. He was very attractive. He could see what Lev liked so much about him. He knew what Lev and the others thought, but it wasn’t Lev’s bond with Aaron that he hated. No, he understood the mate bond and what it meant for everyone involved.

 If he was honest with himself, he was afraid that Lev would find the human more appealing in the long run. What if he loved the mate bond so much he decided that it meant more than his own relationship with Morgan? What would he do if the man he had always walked beside decided to throw him away for a stronger mate? A more fulfilling one. He couldn’t give Lev the things Aaron could.

 He vaulted himself into the tree above Aaron, catching hold of a large branch near the bottom of the tree and swinging up onto it. Sprawling out, he straddled the branch, letting his limbs hang limply to either side. He swung his tail back and forth, closing his eyes.

 “Could I ask you a question?”

 Morgan opened one lid, staring down at Aaron lying directly underneath him. He nodded, remaining silent.

 “How long have you been with the pride?”

 “Years. I was young when I came upon them.” His voice was sleepy.

 “Can you tell me about it? You don’t have to if you don’t want, but I want to know more about you all.”

 “I was born to the Pardus. Did anyone explain what that means?”

 Aaron nodded his head, sitting up to rest his back against the base of the tree. He tilted his head, keeping Morgan in his sight.

 “Not many Pardus live on Felid. Most prefer to make their home on Seren, the main Pardus planet, but I was lucky in that my mother lived very close to the Leo prides here on Felid. I never knew my father. The Pardus are different from the Leo. We don’t live together unless there are reasons for it. My mother hated men. All men. She never said why, but she couldn’t stand me some days.”

 “Gosh, I’m so sorry.” Aaron’s voice was earnest.

 “I’m used to it. Besides, growing up with Ariel more than made up for whatever my own mother might have lacked.”

 “So how did you come to live with Lev and his family?”

 Morgan smiled, conscious of the mention of Lev and not one of the other Gatti brothers. So, it seemed that Aaron might be interested after all. It could just be curiosity, but it was a start.

 “My mother died. This is probably going to sound bad, but I’m glad she did. When I was still a child, she was attacked by another Pardus, a man who tried to force himself on her. I tried to protect her, and I still bear the scars from that day. She fought fiercely and in the end killed the man. Unfortunately, her wounds were too grave and she died soon after.”

 “Wow, that’s horrible. Were you okay?”

 Morgan shrugged, twisting his tail again and thumping it against the tree branch. He stretched, pleased when Aaron followed the movement with his eyes. He had put his glasses back on his face and the blue eyes behind the frames watched him closely.

 “I had managed to crawl to the pride territories. It was Leander who found me, one of Lev’s uncles. He carried me home with him, bringing me to Ariel. She cared for me, making sure I became better and then claiming me as one of her heart sons. She had done the same for Fahd years earlier, but it’s a good thing her mates understand her nature. They didn’t object when she told them what she wanted to do.”

 “Is that why your pride has so many other clans in it? I was wondering about that after Catan explained that it was so rare to have non-Leos in a pride.”

 “Mmm… most of the prides don’t mingle with the other clans. I don’t mind too much. I don’t care for a lot of the other Leos anyway. And I have practically nothing to do with my own people. I’m where I want to be.”

 “Must be nice,” Aaron muttered under his breath, slumping down and looking at the ground.

 He had the feeling that the human hadn’t meant for him to hear that. “So tell me your story,” he said. “What brought you here? Do you have loved ones back home?”

 “Not really,” Aaron said. “I live by myself and I work for my father. My mom split when I was a baby, so I guess we kind of have that in common. She wasn’t exactly a loving person either, but she had other things she wanted to do. Having children didn’t fit in with her life goals. My dad was pretty good to me growing up and my older brother always looked out for me. They didn’t spoil me or anything but my dad definitely pushed me to be the best I could be.”

 Morgan twitched his ears, hearing the soft tread of Lev coming toward them. He remained silent, not wanting to interrupt Aaron. He wanted to know more about the man. If Lev wanted him in his life, then Morgan better find a way for the two of them to connect. He wasn’t going to give up Lev. Besides, he found the human curiously appealing. He wasn’t sure what it was yet, but he always followed through on the things that caught his attention.

 “I was always pretty good in school, wasn’t straight A’s but I was close. Not like Darren. He was always the smart one. He’s an animator now at some big company. Pretty damn good too.”

 Morgan shook his head, not entirely sure what that all meant.

 “I’m good at what I do though.”

 “What do you do?” he asked, curious.

 “I’m a project manager for my dad’s company. Coleman Resources is one of the top management consulting companies in Western Canada. Pretty damn spectacular, but we’ve worked hard to get where we are. I’m pretty close to making partner. My dad has other employees that have been there longer, but I’ve put a lot of work into taking classes and doing a bang up job for my clients. It finally paid off.”

 “Are you upset you were taken from your life?”

 “Kind of. I mean, it wasn’t as if my life was this spectacular, wonderful thing. But I was going places. Literally and figuratively.”

 Morgan was silent, rolling that around in his mind.

 “How were you taken?” Lev asked, coming up and standing in front of the human. Morgan dropped his tail, touching the top of Lev’s head with the very tip. Lev threw his head back, smiling up at him. He reached up, curling one strong hand around his tail and giving it a firm stroke. Morgan purred, stretching in place. Heat rushed through his body, inflaming the nerve endings all along his tail.

 He looked back to find Aaron studying their interaction closely. The redness that had faded from his cheeks was back now. He was breathing heavily, his eyes glazed over. Morgan purred louder, shifting on the branch.

 “Uh, I was out hiking in this remote area. I had a week’s vacation so I wanted to spend some time alone with just myself and my thoughts. I turned a corner on the path and found this man up ahead. I swear, I thought he was a Sasquatch or something. I don’t remember much of what happened after that but he must have thought I’d be fun to play with, because the next thing I do remember is waking up on Himalay.”

 Lev continued to stroke his tail, pulling hard before sliding his hand back up again. Morgan shifted on the branch, trying to pay attention to Aaron’s words, but uncomfortably aroused.

 “Seriously, I think this is my cue to leave. You guys don’t need a third wheel for this.”

 “Third wheel?” Morgan asked.

 “You know, when two’s just right and three’s a crowd? I mean, you guys don’t need me here for what you obviously want to do. I may wear glasses but I’m not blind, and Vincent here is about to poke my eye out with his protruding man-bit.”

 Morgan chuckled, sitting up on the branch, arching his back when Lev brushed his thumb along the fur of his tail. “You don’t know everything if you think you need to leave. Trust me, Lev wants you to be here as much as he wants me to be here.”

 Lev remained silent. Probably waiting to see what was going to happen next.

 Morgan jerked his tail out of Lev’s grasp, swinging down to drop beside him on the ground. He straightened his legs, stalking forward to push Aaron back against the tree trunk. Lev moved forward to frame him from behind. His hands came up, smoothing along Morgan’s sides.

 He purred, backing into the touch. Morgan wrapped his tail around one of Lev’s thighs, brushing the tip against the sensitive inner crease of his thigh. Lev shifted behind him, groaning.

 “You better tell me now if you aren’t interested in something, Aaron. I’m not fooling around here,” he rumbled.

 “I don’t know what I want,” Aaron replied.

 “Do you want to stop?”

 Aaron shook his head, a quick back and forth movement.

 “Good,” he crooned. Morgan lowered his head, keeping his gaze on Aaron. Aaron’s eyes behind the wire frames fluttered, finally closing. Morgan pressed his mouth to Aaron’s, slanting his lips and swallowing the gasp that escaped. Lev moaned deeply behind him, rubbing his shaft against Morgan’s back.

 He thrust his tongue into Aaron’s mouth, duelling with the other man, licking inside. He couldn’t get enough of the taste of the human. He was so different from Lev, in a way that called for him to explore every inch of the man.

 Aaron lifted his arms, wrapping them around his neck. One long-fingered hand reached up to toy with one of his ears, stroking along the sensitive back. He twitched, his turn to gasp.

 Pulling away, he lowered his head, licking along Aaron’s neck, following the strong cords to his powerful shoulder. Arching his back to mouth along his shoulder blade pushed his ass closer to Lev. The Leo took full advantage, running his fat cock along the crease of his ass, bumping over his hole. He whimpered, caught up in the two men on either side of him.

 Aaron stroked his ear again, a glancing caress that sent shafts of arousal straight to his groin. His body was hypersensitive, every touch by either men pushing him closer to a place where he could lose himself in the feelings they created.

 “I want to see you together,” Lev rumbled.

 Aaron gasped, pulling back to exchange a heated look with Morgan.

 “Why?” Morgan asked, turning his head to look at his mate.

 “It’s the only way this will work between us. Don’t you see, Morgan? You have to be first. You’re in this completely.”

 “Wait, what are you talking about now?” Aaron whispered.

 Morgan hugged Aaron close to his chest, rubbing the side of his face against the coarse hair covering the other man’s jaw.

 “Have you been having dreams recently?” Lev asked, carefully keeping his voice even.

 “What does that have to do with anything?”

 “Please. Please just answer the question.”

 “So, I’ve had a few Beauty and the Beast style dreams lately. What’s your point?”

 “Was I in them?” Lev asked.

 Aaron shrugged, leaning harder into Morgan. “I don’t remember much of the dreams. There was a lion in them. So it may have been you. Honestly though, they were just dreams. They didn’t mean anything.”

 “You’re wrong.”

 “Lev, just take it easy on him, won’t you?” Morgan interrupted, seeing the flash of irritation in Aaron’s eyes. “Let me?”

 Lev huffed, wrapping his hands more strongly around Morgan’s hips.

 “What Lev is so eloquently trying to tell you is the dreams you’ve been having are important. They signify a mate bond. Like the one that Laithe and Rowan share. It is a common occurrence among the Leo. The strongest men in the prides share a mental connection with the one person they are destined to be with. Lev is your mate and you are his.”

 “No fucking way,” Aaron exclaimed. “That can’t be right.” He briefly struggled, calming down when Morgan tightened his hold.

 “Please, just hear us out.”

 “Look, I don’t know what kind of crack you and Simba have been smoking, but I’m nobody’s mate.”

 “Who’s nobody?” Lev quipped, obviously trying to lighten the mood. “Do I have to hunt the man down and beat him senseless?”

 Morgan snorted, shaking his head. He was heartened when Aaron simply rolled his eyes. “Is he always like this?” the man asked, raising his eyebrows.

 Morgan smiled, baring his canines.

 “So, what does this mean? You do realize I’m still planning on going back home.”

 Lev tensed behind him. Before he could say anything, Morgan spoke. “We understand that, and Lev will do whatever you wish. The bond, once it has been established, is unbreakable. No matter where you are, the two of you will always be connected. I just want you to realize that.”

 “Fine, I get it. Can I have some time to let all this sink in or is that against the law here?”

 “You can have as much time as you need,” Lev replied. He paused. Morgan waited for him to say something further. “As long as you realize we’re going to fuck now, you can have as much time as you need.”

 Morgan snorted again, shaking his head. Sometimes it was scary how well he knew his love. He had seen that one coming.

  

  

  

 Chapter Four

  

 Aaron honestly didn’t know what to think right now. If the two furballs in front of him were right, what exactly did that mean for him? Did he want to be tied down to Simba for the rest of his life?

 Regardless, he was too turned on now to back away. He knew himself and was honest enough to admit that he would find a way to deal with all of that later. Right now, he wanted to connect with them. All this mate crap could be dealt with afterward.

 “You wanna fuck, or you wanna watch?” he asked, pleased when both men groaned.

 He had gotten so fucking hot earlier when they were touching. They were so comfortable with each other, each movement choreographed as if they had done it a million times before.

 “How long have you been together?” He was curious to know the answer.

 “A couple years after Morgan came to join us. Maybe a decade? I don’t really remember,” Lev answered, shrugging his shoulders.

 He must have tightened his hold on Morgan’s hips because the man swayed in place, his eyes closing once more. He wanted to get his hands on both of them, but he had no problem playing with just Morgan this first time.

 He couldn’t imagine that the guy was actually okay with all of this. If he’d been with someone for ten years and all of a sudden his partner developed some kind of mystical bond with someone else, he wouldn’t be happy about it.

 It definitely explained why Morgan had been avoiding him before though. It made him feel a closeness to the other man that he hadn’t before. He didn’t want Morgan to get hurt. Regardless of whatever happened between Lev and him, he swore to himself that he wouldn’t fuck things up with Morgan.

 He was lucky the man was even talking to him.

 “Well, looks like it’s just you and me, kid,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at Morgan.

 Morgan snorted, twitching his ears. They had been as soft as he’d first imagined. The fur on his head was silky smooth. He’d love to feel that between his thighs. He moaned at the image in his mind.

 “Mmm, I like that look. What brought that up?” Morgan asked.

 “Your hair,” Aaron said. “It’s so smooth. I just suddenly had this idea of how smooth it would be between my legs.” He swallowed roughly.

 Morgan bared his teeth, a purr rumbling up from his chest. Aaron pressed closer, rubbing his hands against the muscled expanse of his chest.

 “That can be arranged,” Morgan grunted. Before he realized what was happening, Morgan had taken a step backward. He grabbed Aaron around the waist, sliding to his knees in one graceful move. Lev remained behind the other man, his eyes heated while he watched what Morgan was doing.

 The Pardus nuzzled against his straining loincloth, pushing the fabric to the side. Aaron gasped, reaching down to take it off, but Morgan stopped him. He rubbed his cheek against Aaron’s hip, stroking the soft fur along his skin. It tickled.

 He squirmed in place, leaning back to press harder to the tree behind him. He was glad for the support.

 Lev smoothed his palm along the top of Morgan’s head, guiding him to the side where he nuzzled against Aaron’s other hip. Lev may have wanted to watch, but it seemed he was going to take an active role in this.

 He couldn’t take his eyes off Morgan. The spotted man looked so damned erotic, kneeling with his face pressed to his groin. Damn, that was hot .

 He whimpered, needing a more intimate touch. “Please, stop fucking around and take it off,” he said, moving his hands to reach down.

 Lev immediately grabbed his arms, pressing them up above his head. He stepped forward, leaning over Morgan, completely obscuring his sight of the other man.

 A moist puff of air was his only warning before Morgan licked along his hip bone. He shuddered, jerking against Lev’s hold. He couldn’t believe it, but it was even hotter not being able to see what Morgan would do next. It ratcheted his arousal up another level.

 “Oh, no you don’t,” Lev teased. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

 Morgan ran his long tongue over his skin, following the line of the loincloth over his belly before lingering at his other hip. He scraped his canines along the sensitive flesh, teasing his upper thigh before moving again. He didn’t stay in any one place for long before moving on.

 Aaron jerked in place, struggling against Lev’s hold on him. He locked eyes with the other man, feeling a strange pressure at the edge of his mind. Lev kept his gaze constant on him, not letting him go. A soft touch against his mind, almost like a brush of fur, had him closing his eyes.

 Lev snarled, and Aaron snapped his eyes open again. Lev was studying him. That soft touch intruded once more. This time he was sure it was the man standing in front of him. What did they say about the mate bond again?

 Morgan teased the thin skin at the crease of his thigh, inserting his tongue under the flap of the loincloth. He whimpered again, pressing his hips forward. Morgan lifted his hands and placed them on his hips, holding him still.

 “Fuck, this isn’t fair. You guys are double teaming me,” Aaron gasped.

 “You like it?” Morgan moaned, blowing a puff of air against his straining cock.

 He needed that mouth now, or he’d go nuts. “Please, Morgan…”

 He snapped his hips again, testing the hold Morgan had on him. Morgan drew him into his mouth, loincloth and all, pulling the head of his cock into the tight, warm cavern. Aaron cried out, his gaze going hazy.

 Lev pressed against his mind, the soft touch growing more insistent. He wouldn’t be able to take this much longer. “Let me in, baby, let me in,” Lev crooned.

 Aaron closed his eyes, relaxing his body and his mind, letting them take him completely. His mind was filled with the presence of Lev, barrelling in like a freight train. Lev’s arousal kicked his up another notch. His vision was filled with a glimpse of his own passion-filled countenance, confusing since his eyes were still closed. He blinked them open, getting a double image. He could see Lev in front of him, but he was also getting images of his own face, like he was looking out of Lev’s eyes.

 Lev growled, taking his mouth in a fierce kiss, controlling, demanding. Morgan snapped the strip of cotton at his waist, baring him completely and engulfing his cock, skin to skin.

 He cried out, his voice lost in Lev’s mouth. Morgan was using his tongue to caress his balls while the length of his cock was held tightly in his mouth. Hurrah for long tongues! The man was seriously talented. Fuck, he was about to lose it.

 Lev moaned. He could still feel the man in his mind, even though he had full control of his eyes again. He twisted his hands, realizing that Lev now held him still within one of his big hands. He looked down to see the other hand curving along Morgan’s head. Lev smoothed his palm along the fur between Morgan’s ears, caressing his lover.

 That’s it, baby, I want to see you come. Come for him. Lev’s voice fluttered through Aaron’s mind, goading him on.

 Lev released his mouth, whispering against his lips, “See how much he wants it? He wants you to shoot off in his mouth, release for him. He’s dying for the taste. My little whore can’t wait to taste every thick, milky drop of you. Give it to him, Aaron.”

 Aaron gasped, throwing back his head, banging it hard into the tree behind him. His balls tightened, Lev’s words inching him that much closer to release.

 Come on, you know you want it, need it, Lev whispered in his mind again. Un-fucking-believable.

 He gasped, tightening his ass, pumping his hips. His release jetted out of him. He didn’t even have enough time to warn Morgan before he was coming so hard he saw stars behind his eyelids.

 “That’s it. Drink it all down, Morgan. Little cumslut, can’t get enough of it, can you?” Lev crooned, his voice tender, loving.

 Morgan hummed, his throat working, pulsing against the tip of his dick. He twitched, the sensation almost too much. Morgan must have been a mind-reader, for he backed away with a final lick, releasing Aaron’s cock.

 Aaron slumped within Lev’s hold, trusting that the two men would support him. He felt utterly boneless. “Goddamn, I needed that.” He gasped for breath.

 Lev and Morgan chuckled.

 “Glad to hear it. Now, get your ass over to our room. I’m dying to stuff my length up this little hole,” Morgan said, running his finger along the crease of his ass.

 He twitched again, bucking his hips. “Oh, yeah,” he whimpered. He needed that.

 Lev released his hands, backing up to let Morgan stand. His loincloth was in a pile on the ground at his feet. He stared down at it, trying to figure out if there was any way it could be salvaged. “Fuck, guess I’m going nudist colony today. Hope your family aren’t prudes,” he said.

 Lev snickered, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t worry about that. They all like a good bout of sex anyway. So no one’s going to be surprised.”

 With that he bent at the waist, pushing his shoulder into Aaron’s stomach and hoisting him up in a fireman’s carry. Morgan slapped his ass, causing him to yelp in surprise.

 He squirmed once, feeling the slide of soft fur against his sensitive cock. His aching organ twitched, obviously up for another round with these two sex gods.

 “I like the sound of that,” Lev said, pitching his voice low.

 “What?”

 “Sex gods, that must be good.”

 “Stay out of my mind, Vincent!”

 Lev laughed, smoothing his palm over the curve of his ass, lingering along his ass crack. One nimble finger glanced over his hole, pressing and releasing. Aaron groaned, jerking his hips again.

 “Oh, Lord, I’m going to go blind,” Usama said, humor in his voice.

 Aaron buried his face in Lev’s back, swatting him hard when the man just laughed.

 “Don’t worry, Usama, I’ll make sure you’re the picture of health. Perhaps a physical? Just to make sure,” Rajiv smoothly interjected. Usama hummed.

 Aaron just shook his head. “Thanks a lot, Shere Khan. Can you please take your mate somewhere else?”

 That brought a round of laughter from everyone but him. Frickin’ fantastic .

 This whole group was just a bunch of pervs. They obviously had no problem with seeing others having sex, but it was kind of nice, if he were being honest. It lent a closeness to them he hadn’t realized existed before.

 Snickering, Aaron thought, The family that fucks their mates together, stays together .

 They turned into one of the structures he’d seen before, the cool interior a welcome respite from the pounding sun they had to walk through to get here. Lev carried him down a corridor, stepping aside to let Morgan walk past them.

 He looked down, seeing the flash of spotted legs at his side before he heard the snick of a door opening.

 Lev stepped forward, and he heard the door close behind them. He was suddenly airborne, landing with a soft thump in the middle of a springy bed. At least it was comfortable.

 Aaron wiggled his hips, settling himself in place. He watched Morgan and Lev moving throughout the room. Morgan grabbed something off a shelf, coming back to the bed. Lev sat down on an armless chair, spreading his legs and sprawling over the wide seat.

 He glanced back at Morgan, watching as the man crawled on to the bed, coming toward him. “This is what you want?” Morgan asked.

 Aaron nodded, his face flushing. He couldn’t deny it. He was waiting for the feel of Morgan deep inside him. There was something about the thought of that large form blanketing him that made his dick throb.

 Morgan threw a bottle on the bed beside him. “Okay, since you’re being so accommodating, get yourself ready for me.” He grinned, baring his gleaming canines.

 Aaron smiled wickedly, picking up the bottle with a raised eyebrow. “Oh, you want me to get myself ready, do you? And how should I do that? You want me to squeeze this out on my fingers first?”

 He turned the bottle over, pouring a generous heaping of scented oil in his hand. It reminded him a little of lavender, not a scent normally chosen by him, but he didn’t mind it too much.

 Aaron rubbed his hands together, smoothing the liquid over his palms. He wiggled in place, placing one slick hand firmly on his rising shaft, tugging to get himself completely hard again. Lifting his hips, he moved the other hand between his thighs, teasing his fingers over his hole.

 He pushed out with his ass, sliding the tip of one finger into his anus, gratified when Morgan and Lev let out heated moans. Teasing them and himself, he pressed that one finger in and out, over and over again.

 Morgan’s mouth was open, his breathing audible. He swallowed hard.

 Lev opened his mind, showing Aaron how turned on he was. He could see himself, spread out on the bed like a wanton whore, begging to be fucked. He kind of liked the image.

 He added a second finger, rimming himself before inserting both fingers. He scissored them, smoothing out the ache inside his ass, making room for the thick cock he couldn’t take his eyes off of. Morgan was kneeling now between his thighs, his fingers dancing over his own flesh. His cock was large, tilting down when Morgan released it.

 Aaron’s breaths came in pants, his hips moving freely. Morgan’s cock was so fucking different from anything he’d ever seen before. He really should have seen it coming, so to speak, but he couldn’t believe that it was spotted. Just like the rest of him, his cock was a loamy gold, small black rosettes splashed out along the thick length. It was hairless, although his balls were covered in the same silky fur that encapsulated the rest of him. Little bumps ringed the glans, and his mouth watered to find out what they tasted like.

 “Christ, Morgan, get your ass up here. I need to taste you,” he said, his voice strained.

 “Not yet. I won’t be able to hold off if you put those lips on me, and I need to get a piece of your ass first.”

 He whimpered. “Fuck it, then take me, you spotted bastard.”

 Morgan grinned, releasing his cock and blanketing Aaron in one movement. He bumped the head of his shaft against Aaron’s fingers, still playing at his hole.

 “Wait, not like that,” Lev gasped. “I want to see.”

 Morgan shook his head, his forehead crinkling. Aaron pushed him, guiding him over onto his back. He straddled Morgan’s hips, letting the long shaft tease his crack. “Better?” he asked.

 Lev moaned in response.

 Lifting up, he waited until Morgan grabbed his hips, supporting him. He reached back, grabbing hold of Morgan, holding his cock in place. He teased it once, twice over his twitching hole before sinking just the tip inside. They both moaned, nearly overcome from the feeling.

 Aaron relaxed his ass, pushing out and letting gravity sink him lower onto the thick pole in his ass. God, could he ever feel that! It was unbelievable. For a brief moment, he tried to remember when he’d last been fucked, but couldn’t recall. His last boyfriend had been a solid bottom, so he had always topped. He had missed this, missed the fullness of being filled by a hot, hard dick.

 He finally bottomed out, Morgan’s pelvis cradling him. He rocked in place, not wanting to miss a second of the fullness.

 “Fuck, I need to move,” Morgan cried out.

 Aaron lifted himself, supported by Morgan’s strong grip, pulling up and up until just the head of his cock was still inside. He cried out, feeling little fingers scraping against the walls of his ass. That must be those little bumps he had noticed before. Good God, it felt amazing.

 With a low groan, he slid back down, the welcome thickness inside him again. He opened his mind, wanting Lev to get as much of this as he could. Lord, it was so frickin’ incredible. He didn’t want this to end.

 Again and again, he smoothly slid up and down the pole inside him, twisting his hips to give Morgan as much friction as he could. He wanted this to be memorable, wanted to please the other man as much as possible.

 Morgan threw his head back, panting.

 Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a tawny blob come up to his left. Letting his head fall back, he watched Lev approach them. He lifted one hand, waiting until Lev caught it in his own larger palm. Lev crawled onto the bed, rising to his feet until he stood beside Aaron.

 He shifted in place, angling around until his own cock bumped against Aaron’s lips. Lev’s cock was as thick as Morgan’s, but it angled upward, slapping his ridged stomach. Aaron stuck out his tongue, running it along the curious bumps he’d noticed on Morgan’s cock. They were smooth to the touch, but raised beneath the flesh. Lev groaned; he obviously liked the feeling. Morgan released Aaron’s hand, and he used that hand to cup Lev’s balls, rolling them around in his palm.

 Aaron picked up his pace, his own cock slapping against his belly with every thrust. Morgan took pity on him, reaching one spotted hand down to grab him firmly, stroking in time to his own thrusts inside Aaron. He moaned again, taking Lev inside his mouth, done with playing around.

 He was going to come, and by all that was holy, these two were coming with him. He wasn’t giving them a fucking choice. He tightened his ass, creating a vice around Morgan’s cock. Flattening his tongue on Lev, he lost himself to the taste of his mate.

 Shit, his mate? What was he thinking? He’d just met the man, no matter what they told him. How could he be thinking anything permanent already? Was he that easy that a good fucking would change his mind?

 In the back of his mind, he realised this was more than a good fucking. This was something serious. He’d never felt this way before, this consumed by his lovers. Hell, to be honest, he’d never been with more than one man before. Was that all it was? Just the passion from having his first threesome?

 Morgan cried out, clamping down on Aaron’s cock with his hand, squeezing him tightly. Aaron gasped around Lev, sucking strongly. That was all it took. Lev came in spurts down his throat, releasing himself. Morgan bucked his hips, lifting them off the bed and throwing his head back before he found his own release.

 Aaron whimpered, so damn close. Morgan flicked a nail along the slit in his head, pressing that dagger-sharp nail into his hole. His balls drew up tight before he was coming hard, seeing stars again. He blacked out for a moment. He couldn’t believe how intense it was.

 Releasing Lev, he slumped down on top of Morgan. Lev bent his knees, falling to the bed before rolling to his side. He shifted Aaron, bringing him to the side of Morgan and in between the two men. They were all breathing erratically, trying to catch their breaths.

 “Holy fuck, I think I’m dying,” Aaron gasped.

 Lev chuckled, squeezing him in close. He rested his head on Morgan’s shoulder, curling into his side. Behind him, Lev wrapped himself tight to his back.

 Crap. He didn’t want to lose these men. What was he going to do now?

  

  

  

 Chapter Five

  

 Lev groaned, wincing at the pain in his head. He was vaguely aware of the others around him. The scents of Laithe and their father calmed him before he could work up a good rage.

 The last thing he recalled was getting up to answer the knock at his bedroom door, moving quietly so his mates didn’t wake up. What happened?

 “You know why we’re here?” his father asked, calmly.

 “This better be important. I left a really warm bed for this.”

 “Now is not the time to joke, Lev. Please, just answer the question,” Laithe interrupted.

 Lev opened his eyes, staring at the sight in front of him. He was lying in a cave, surrounded by the pride leaders. His father, Haytham, and Laithe were directly in front of him, both crouched down. The other leaders fanned out behind them, curiously serious. This could only mean one thing. “I know why we’re here,” he said.

 “Explain it to me,” Laithe said, his voice even.

 “I’m to be tested. In order to determine if I really am a pride leader, I need to be tested. If I pass, I get my own pride. If I fail…”

 “If you fail?” Laithe asked.

 “I don’t know what happens if I fail. Has anyone ever failed before?”

 The pride leaders exchanged glances, remaining silent. Wonderful. He took that to mean that if he failed, he wouldn’t be walking back down the cliff to join his mates anytime soon.

 “This is a sacred ritual. Known only to us. If you pass, you must never speak of what goes on here to anyone. Is that clear? Not even to Morgan or your new mate. You must keep this a secret,” Haytham said, leaning forward.

 “Is that part of the test?”

 “In its own way.”

 “I understand. I won’t speak of it to anyone.” He blinked up at them, wanting them to realize how serious he was about this.

 “Believe me, brother, you won’t want to speak of it to anyone. This won’t be easy on you. I at least had time to prepare. There have never been two pride leaders from the same family. None of us saw this coming.” Laithe stood up to lean against the wall.

 “I know that, Laithe. I definitely didn’t expect this either.”

 “We must prepare you, son.” Haytham held out his hand. Lev placed his hand in his father’s, allowing Haytham to pull him up to a standing position. The air around him stirred, wafting up the lingering scent of his mates.

 “You smell like you’ve been fucking,” Durai, one of the pride leaders, commented.

 Lev grinned, returning the man’s smile, remaining silent. Durai was the most easily distinguishable pride leader. He was still young, around Laithe’s age, but years ago he had been involved in a territorial dispute. He bore a deep scar, bisecting his right eye, blinding him on one side. Despite that, he was one of their strongest fighters to this day. No one went against him. Not if they wanted to live.

 His father huffed disapprovingly, wrinkling his nose. “You need to be cleansed first. Follow me.”

 Lev stared at the walls around him, glad he could make out the impressions within the inky dark cave. The further within the cave they went, the darker it became until only a thin shaft of sunlight remained behind them.

 They had come upon a small pool, utterly still in the quiet space. No one spoke, the other men fanning out around him until they formed a circle around the water. At a glance from his father, Lev stepped into the water, submerging himself in a single movement. As much as he hated washing the scent of Morgan and Aaron off his body, he needed his wits about him right now.

 No one outside of the leaders knew what went on during the rituals. Laithe had spoken the truth when he said that he wouldn’t want to speak of it. It seemed like it would be disrespectful to all the men who had gone before him. This deserved to be held in high regard.

 He ducked his head, slicking back his mane, wetting his head. With a grunt, he shook the water off his face, running his hands over his eyes to clear his vision. Shuddering, he blinked, shaking his head once more to get the last lingering drops of water off his face. He hated getting his face wet. It felt like he was blind when he did it, vulnerable to anyone wishing to sneak up on him.

 Of course, no one would be able to approach him here unless it was one of the other pride leaders, but he was sure they meant him no harm. He was pretty sure, at least. Fuck, I wish I knew what was going on here .

 Haytham was bent down outside of the circle of men, lighting branches of herbs. Curling ribbons of smoke drifted to the ceiling, releasing the pungent odor of the wood and plants. He breathed deep, drawing the smoke into his lungs.

 “This is a symbol of our tie to our ancestors. As the smoke links the earth to the sky, so too does it link us to our forefathers. The men who came before us were strong of mind, body and spirit. May they aid my son today, purify him of his weaknesses and bless his strengths. Shut off his mind to matters of the body, close his mind to the link that makes him worthy of their notice,” Haytham intoned, coming forward to take his place in the circle.

 “Rest, my son. Rest and breathe deeply of the smoke. It will relax your mind and shut off the link to your mate, as it does for the rest of us. They have no place with us now. You must do this alone.”

 Lev nodded, a slight twinge his only upset at closing off the link to Aaron. His mate wouldn’t be able to help him here anyway. He wouldn’t understand what was happening. This was something that Lev was going to have to do on his own. He closed his eyes, settling back in the water.

 The herbs were relaxing him, clouding his mind until his thoughts were a jumble. No one thought came out to dominate. They were simply a continuous stream at the back of his consciousness.

 “You must rid yourself of your earthly thoughts, purify yourself for what is to come. This will not be easy for you,” his father said.

 He nodded his head slowly, a brief concern flashing through his mind at how slow he was moving before that thought too joined the rest at the back of his mind.

 He didn’t know how much time had passed before he heard someone call his name. He opened his eyes, staring around him at the other pride leaders. They were sitting cross-legged around him, chanting soundlessly. Their mouths were moving but he couldn’t hear anything from them.

 Shaking his head, he figured it was probably just his imagination.

 He heard his name again. Darting his head around, he looked at each of the leaders in turn, trying to figure out which one of them had called him.

 Lev!

 Wait, he knew that voice. “Aaron,” he cried out.

 Lev, help us.

 He moved through the water, his movements sluggish, uncoordinated. “Father, Aaron’s in trouble. We need to end this.”

 His father remained silent, his eyes closed, rocking back and forth.

 He grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. Haytham didn’t move. Panicking, he turned to Laithe, placing his hands at either side of his face. “Laithe!” he screamed.

 Laithe too remained silent, his mouth shaping words that wouldn’t come out.

 What was going on? Why weren’t they hearing him?

 Lev, I need you. Please, Lev, something’s wrong with Morgan. I need you, Lev. They’re killing him.

 “Aaron,” he sobbed. He crawled out of the water, splashing the men sitting beside the edge. Crawling between two of them, he managed to reach the wall of the cave. Inch by inch, he pulled himself up the wall, confused as to why his body wouldn’t react the way he wanted it to. Was it the herbs? He needed to get to his mates.

 Lev, Morgan’s dead, Morgan’s dead. Aaron’s panicked voice sawed through his mind, bringing discord and pain with it.

 Lev was openly sobbing now, tears wetting his skin. His hands hurt, why did his hands hurt? His eyesight was suddenly blurry, and he couldn’t figure out why he was so sore.

 Blinking open his eyes, he studied the wall inches from his face. Wait a minute… that wasn’t the wall. He was on the goddamn floor again. When did he fall down? Pushing himself up with shaking arms, he pulled his legs up underneath himself. He couldn’t stand, but he was able to crawl toward the exit.

 Minutes -- or hours -- later, he realized it was darker than it had been before. His head wobbled back. He was woozy. He hadn’t heard Aaron’s voice again. His Morgan was dead? His heart felt empty, his eyes stung. Morgan couldn’t be dead. He couldn’t live without him. He couldn’t be dead. Where was his Morgan?

 “Morgan?” he whispered, his voice cracking. “Morgan, where are you?”

 “I’m here. Did you call me?”

 Lev swung his head up, trying to find his beloved. “Morgan!” he shouted, laughing through his tears. “There you a --” he cut off, staring in shock at the transparent figure of Morgan in front of him. No! No, he wouldn’t believe it.

 “You aren’t Morgan,” he cried, curling his body into a ball and clenching his eyes tight. “You aren’t Morgan. Aaron?” he cried out. Aaron? Please answer me, mate. Please .

 Why couldn’t he hear Aaron? Where were his mates? Why wouldn’t they answer him?

 “I’m right here, Lev,” the ghostly figure of Morgan said. “I’m right here.”

 Lev clenched his eyes tighter, refusing to look up. “No, no, no, no…”

  

  

  

 Chapter Six

  

 “I’m sure he’s fine. Lev is strong,” Aaron soothed, watching Morgan pace back and forth in front of him. He grimaced, the headache that had been bothering him all day throbbing insistently.

 “Lev hasn’t prepared for this. He had no idea this was coming. What if he… no, he’ll be fine. I know it. He’ll be fine.” Morgan rubbed at the back of his head, wincing.

 Aaron immediately stepped forward, probing gentle fingers along the tender spot, his own pain forgotten. “I can’t believe Fahd hit you that hard. I’m going to kill the man when I get my hands on him,” he fumed, pissed off beyond all belief.

 “He was just doing his job, Aaron. He didn’t mean to knock me out. He just wanted to keep me in place.”

 “It doesn’t matter. His ass is grass, I swear by all that’s holy.”

 “Does that make you the lawnmower? Isn’t that how the saying goes?” Rowan asked, coming into the room. “I’m so sorry, Morgan. Believe me, my mate got a piece of my mind when he told me what happened. I can’t believe he hit you.”

 Fahd stepped in behind her, growling low in his throat. “I didn’t mean to knock him out. Laithe told me to make sure no one followed him. When I saw Morgan step outside their room, I just reacted. When are you going to forgive me for that?” he asked, exasperation clear in his voice.

 Aaron turned his head, sticking his tongue out at the black cat. “Keep apologizing, Bagheera, and I may consider it.”

 “I wasn’t talking to you, little man. I was talking to my mate,” Fahd rumbled, keeping his gaze on Rowan.

 She sniffed, jerking her chin in the air. “You’re going to have to do a lot more than apologize for keeping me out of this. I can’t believe you and Laithe didn’t tell me what you were doing. Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have said anything!”

 Fahd stepped closer to her, holding out both his hands. Rowan crossed her arms over her chest, shaking her head at him. Aaron would have snorted but he didn’t have time to concern himself with them.

 “And to make matters worse, I can’t even connect with Laithe right now. This is ridiculous,” she continued. “I’m trying to give the jerk a piece of my mind and he doesn’t even have the decency to listen to me rant to him!”

 Aaron jerked his head up. “That’s it! Belle, you’re a genius.”

 “Of course I am. What does that have to do with anything? Oh, and why do you keep doing that? I noticed you doing it before.”

 “Doing what?” he asked, confused.

 “You keep calling everyone different names,” Rowan said.

 “Oh, Lord, I do that all the time. Don’t mind me. Just chalk it up to Darren’s influence. He’s always making me watch all these animated movies and TV shows with him, so he can get ideas. I guess I tend to pick up nicknames.” He chuckled, remembering some of the good times he’d had with his brother, throwing popcorn at the screen whenever Darren saw an animator doing something he didn’t like.

 “Who’s Darren?” Rowan asked.

 “My big bro.”

 “Hold on, you have a brother named Darren? Darren and Aaron? Oh my God, that is way too cute,” she squealed.

 “Yeah, my mom hated me. No joke.”

 Morgan stepped up behind him, placing his hands on Aaron’s shoulders, clouding Aaron’s mind with his spicy scent. Underlying Morgan’s scent was the faint presence of Lev, giving him something to focus on.

 Aaron closed his eyes, trying to bring up an image of Lev in his mind. Where are you, big guy? I know you’re out there somewhere. Please, just talk to me. Lev?

 “Is he not answering you?” Morgan asked. The worry was clear in his voice.

 “I don’t understand what’s wrong,” he said, trying not to panic. “I should be able to connect to him. Didn’t Lev say I would always be able to connect to his mind? What’s going on here?”

 “Calm down, new son of mine. Lev is all right.” Aaron swiveled his body to look toward the door. Haytham had entered the room without them noticing, followed by Ariel and his three brothers.

 “Where is he?” Morgan demanded, releasing Aaron to step in front of him.

 “He is awaiting the two of you. You must go to him.”

 “Where?” Aaron asked.

 “You will know where to find him,” Haytham replied, looking intently at him.

 Morgan shook his head, a confused look on his face. “I don’t understand. Why would we know where to find him? I don’t even know where you took him.”

 “Perhaps I should rephrase my words. You will need to find out where to find him. He needs you two now, more than ever. Will you go to him? Join with him?”

 Aaron stepped close to Morgan, stroking his palms along his arm.

 Morgan glanced down at him, offering him a small smile in reassurance. “We will find him, together. Have no fear.”

 Aaron nodded, too confused to say anything else.

 Rowan stood off to the side, biting her lip, gazing back and forth between them. “Haytham, I can’t contact Laithe. I’m starting to get a little worried. Is he with you?”

 Haytham shook his head. “Laithe has stayed back to tend to Lev. He refused to leave him, in case his mates are unable to come to him.”

 Aaron heard them talking but he couldn’t quite process the words. His mind was still cloudy. He didn’t understand what was going on here. He might not have straightened everything out in his mind, but he knew that he wanted to see what was happening between Morgan and Lev and him. He wasn’t a quitter, but he was a little scared of what was happening.

 What had they done to Lev? Where had they taken him?

 Haytham ushered them out of the abode. Standing outside were the rest of the pride, silent witnesses to whatever was going on.

 “We’re going with them,” Asad said, stepping forward to stare down his father.

 “No, you are not.”

 “Father, don’t try to stop me. Those are my brothers up there.”

 Rajiv shifted in place, a silent threatening motion. Usama quivered in front of him, his mane puffed out around his face in agitation. He was still cradling his arm.

 “If I have to knock every one of you out, I will do it. Do not challenge me,” Haytham roared. “This is between your brother and his mates. You will stay here. Is that clear? ”

 “Asad, please,” Catan pleaded, holding on to his mate’s arm.

 Asad nodded, frowning fiercely. His movements were abrupt, controlled. His tail jerked back and forth. Catan continuously smoothed his palm down Asad’s arm, probably trying to calm him down.

 Haytham turned back to them and Morgan bared his teeth in a threatening display. “You will go to the Chanda Pass. There you will meet with your guides. They will show you the way. Hurry.” He turned, stalking away, his tail jerking violently.

 Aaron straightened his shoulders, inhaling deeply. “Where’s the Chanda Pass?”

 “At the foot of the mountains,” Morgan replied, biting his lower lip.

 “Okay, we can do this. We need any supplies?”

 “You will need rope and water,” Rajiv interjected calmly.

 Usama hurried off. “I’ll get rope,” he said, over his shoulder.

 Asad shrugged, placing a kiss on the top of Catan’s head. “I’ll get you enough water for whatever you may need.” Catan followed him back inside the abode they were all standing in front of.

 “He’ll be okay, right?” Aaron asked.

 No one answered him.

 An hour later they were standing at the opening of the Chanda Pass. Despite Haytham’s threat, the other members of Laithe’s pride were all with them. Even Rowan. Fahd had tried to stop her, but she had only had to give Fahd one terrifying glare before he finally relented.

 They had discussed this on the way here. The others would accompany them to wherever they would meet their guides. Whoever they were.

 “Are you sure you can do this alone?” Asad asked, for what must have been the fiftieth time.

 “We don’t have a choice, Kovu,” Aaron said. “Haytham said we have to do it alone, so we do it alone.”

 “As much as I want to have you all there, watching our backs, I think we should follow orders this time,” Morgan added.

 “The path winds along through here. It will be dark soon, so you better hurry. We will stay here. All of us,” Rajiv said, staring down at them. He crossed his arms, a comforting presence to have at their backs.

 Usama nodded, pressing his lips together. “Be careful.”

 “Keep each other safe,” Catan whispered, holding on to his mate.

 “Please, be careful,” Rowan said, her eyes filling up with tears again.

 Asad remained silent, meeting their gazes.

 “I remember this,” Fahd said, the first words he had uttered since his argument with Rowan back at their home. “When Laithe became a pride leader. I was the only one here. I followed them out. He was fragile, right after. He wouldn’t say anything to me about what happened. But he was very fragile. Be careful with him.” He turned his back, staring out in the direction they had come. Rowan opened her mouth, closing it on a sob. She stepped to Fahd, wrapping herself around his back, hugging her arms around his waist. He huffed out a purr, bringing one arm back to hold her in place.

 Aaron and Morgan exchanged glances. It was time. They started walking, leaving the pride behind them.

 At first, there was nothing to see. The Chanda Pass was a rough path cut through the base of the mountains. It was pretty narrow, with rock walls to either side. They were able to walk side by side at first, but the deeper they went, the narrower the path became. Soon, it was Morgan leading with Aaron stepping behind him.

 Aaron was damn glad Ariel had handed him a pair of leather sandals before they left or his feet would have been cut to pieces by now. Morgan went barefoot, the pads of his feet well accustomed to the terrain.

 Suddenly, Morgan stopped, throwing out an arm to signal Aaron to halt. He peered around his back, trying to figure out why they weren’t moving forward.

 The path opened up into a larger clearing in front of them, but it was probably the people within that were giving Morgan pause. There were three Leos waiting for them, two males and a female.

 “Durai, Khalid, Zula, I take it you’re our guides,” Morgan said, moving to the side to make room for Aaron to stand beside him.

 Aaron stepped forward, studying the Leos before him. One of the men was easily distinguishable. A slashing scar ran across his face, starting above and ending below his right eye. The right eye was milky white while the left eye was a pure amber. Despite the scar, or maybe because of it, he looked like a man who you wouldn’t want to cross. His hands were propped up on his hips, his tail jerking back and forth.

 The other man was massive. Simply larger than any other beast he had ever seen, he looked like he would be taller than even Rajiv. Aaron didn’t think Leos got that big. He was tawny gold, but his mane was small, framing his face, not as full as the others’ manes were. His body had pale markings, stripes that were a shade darker than the rest of his fur. Strange. Was he a Leo, or something else?

 The woman resembled Ariel, but she was more muscular. Her muscles were flexing as she paced back and forth in front of them. She was wrapped in a beige cloth at breast and hip, incredibly blah compared to some of the outfits he had seen Ariel and Rowan in. Unlike the others, she was the first Felidae he had ever seen with a weapon. A knife was strapped to one thigh, held in place with a strap of leather.

 The three of them studied Morgan and Aaron in turn. He wondered what they thought of him and realized that he really didn’t give a rat’s ass what they thought. He just wanted to get his mate.

 The man with the scar spoke first. “Follow me.”

 Morgan smiled at Aaron, encouraging him. He started off behind the man, and Aaron followed him closely. The tall, striped man stepped behind Aaron, followed last by the woman.

 Fuck, this didn’t feel right.

  

  

  

 Chapter Seven

  

 Morgan stepped carefully, keeping his eye on Durai leading them forward. He could hear Aaron’s panting breaths from behind him, and hoped the little human wasn’t tiring. He had a feeling that this could get worse before it got better.

 Where was Lev?

 Durai halted, studying the rocks to his left and right.

 “You do know where we are going, right?” Morgan asked, starting to get angry.

 “Do not try my patience, Pardus. I’m all that stands between you and certain death for your mate. Let me think.” Durai’s voice was smooth, controlled.

 “It is the path on the left, Durai,” sounded a rusty voice from behind him. Khalid sounded like he didn’t use his voice much.

 “I agree, it is the path on the left,” Zula confirmed. Her voice was sweet, a tone at odds with her warrior body.

 Durai finally nodded, turning around fully to face Aaron and him. “You must follow the path to the left. You will find Lev waiting at the top.”

 “Whoa, wait. You want us to climb ?” Aaron asked.

 Durai nodded, keeping his gaze on Morgan. He nodded, thanking the man for guiding them forward.

 Soon, it was just Aaron and him.

 “Can you climb?” he asked, suddenly afraid.

 “Just watch me,” Aaron replied. “And try to keep up.”

 Morgan laughed, surprised he could find humor when things were so grave.

 He took the rope he had slung over one shoulder, tying a knot at one end and looping it around his waist. The other end he tossed around Aaron, tying a knot to anchor him in place. Now they were connected. Hopefully, if Aaron stumbled, his own balanced weight would keep them both safe.

 He shifted the canteens of water at his waist, making sure they wouldn’t get in his way.

 He reached above him, grabbing hold of the rock face. Pulling himself up, he started to climb. It wasn’t long before Aaron was beside him. He was right. The man knew what he was doing. Carefully testing his weight, he placed his fingers and toes precisely.

 At one point Aaron stumbled, slipping when he placed his right hand. Morgan swung his head toward him, bunching his muscles to prepare to grab his mate. Aaron righted himself, but Morgan’s keen eyesight caught the red stain on the rock when he moved his hands.

 He kept his eye on Aaron, but when the man didn’t complain, he remained silent. If Aaron could work through the pain of slicing his hand, he would continue onward as well.

 He concentrated on moving one hand in front of the other. Near the top, his muscles were straining. He was out of shape if this was making him tired. Aaron’s breath puffed out harshly. It was a good thing they were almost finished.

 He grabbed the ledge above him, swinging up and over to crouch at the top. Hauling on the rope, he pulled Aaron the rest of the way, his mate’s body heavy at the other end. Grabbing the man, he swung him up beside him. “Are you okay?” he panted.

 Aaron nodded, grabbing at one of the water bottles when Morgan handed it over to the other man. He tilted his head back, drinking thirstily. “Are we there, yet?” Aaron quipped, still gasping for breath.

 Morgan stood, studying the cave entrance in front of him. “This looks like the place. I can’t imagine there being too many other areas where we could have gone to. He must be inside.”

 Aaron nodded, handing him back the water.

 “Can you call him yet? Try again, please,” he said, concerned that Aaron wasn’t able to reach Lev. This wasn’t normal. He had never heard of something being able to block the mate bond. Maybe it was something they kept secret among the Leo, but he had been with them long enough that you’d think he’d be trusted after all this time.

 Aaron closed his eyes, scrunching his forehead. His shoulders slumped after a minute, and he shook his head.

 Morgan nodded, untying the rope at his waist, before leaning over Aaron to do the same. He coiled the rope again, twisting it to sling over his shoulder. Who knows, they might need it again. “We better start inside. Lev needs us.”

 He held out a hand, pulling Aaron up beside him. They shared a glance, moving inside where their mate waited for them.

 “I wish Shere Khan had told us to bring a light, so we wouldn’t have to walk into a pitch black cave. Hell, what if we walk right past him ’cause we can’t see him?” Aaron asked.

 “Don’t worry. You may not be able to see, but there is nothing wrong with my sense of smell. If he’s in here, I’ll find him.” Within minutes, he was starting to doubt his own declaration. The air was perfumed with some kind of strong herb. He didn’t know what it was, but he had never smelled it before. They continued down the path, Aaron with his hand curled in the fur on his back. He raised his tail, wrapping it around Aaron’s wrist, smiling when Aaron released his back to grab hold of his tail instead.

 “Catch a Pardus by the tail. If he hollers, let him go,” Aaron muttered under his breath.

 Morgan shook his head, about to say something when a scent caught his attention. He froze in place, closing his eyes, turning his head left and right. Catching the scent again, he started forward, leading Aaron closer to Lev.

 When he got close enough to where Lev’s scent became stronger, he started to run. Aaron followed him dutifully, keeping a firm hold on his tail. “Lev!” he called out. “Lev?”

 A groan answered him, and Aaron cried out. “Lev,” they both screamed.

 “Wha…?”

 That was definitely Lev’s voice. Morgan skidded to a halt, going to his knees beside the still form of Lev. He was lying on his side, curled up in a ball. He could smell the blood, and he was fearful to touch his mate when he couldn’t see him clearly.

 What the hell had they done to him?

 “Lev? Oh, Lev, please answer me. We’re here, baby, we’re here,” he crooned, touching his fingertips to the side of Lev’s face.

 “No, no, no, no. You’re not real. You’re not Morgan. My Morgan. Morgan…”

 Morgan glanced at Aaron sitting beside him, confused. “Lev, please. I’m right here.”

 Lev jerked in place, moaning.

 “Lev? It’s us,” Aaron said, brushing his hands along Lev’s sides. “What happened to you?”

 Lev stilled. His ears twitched.

 “Say something again,” Morgan whispered.

 “Lev. Please, Lev. Answer us. Are you okay?” Aaron said.

 Lev moaned, turning over to his back. “Aaron? Aaron?”

 “I’m right here, Lev. Morgan and I are right here.”

 Lev cried out, suddenly jerking upright. Morgan quickly shuffled behind him, supporting his back. “I want out of here. I need to see you,” Lev cried, his voice rusty.

 Morgan helped him up, Aaron backing up to give them room. When they were standing, he and Aaron took up positions on either side of Lev, guiding him back the way they had come.

 The closer they got to the entrance, the faster Lev walked. When they reached the opening, he flung himself outside, breathing deeply of the fresh air.

 Morgan didn’t blame him. He hadn’t been inside long but he already had a headache from the lingering herbs.

 He bit his lip, studying the scrapes and cuts covering Lev’s body. His eyes were bruised, tear tracks matting down the fur on his face. What had happened to him? He sighed, trying to figure out how they were going to get him down the mountain and back to their house.

 A noise above them caused him to tilt his head back. Laithe appeared, piloting his small personal craft, the one he normally used when they were on Felid. The one that had conspicuously been absent when they tried to find it earlier. It was the reason they had to walk the distance to the mountain range.

 He remained silent, his concern for Lev outweighing any anger for Laithe right now.

 Laithe helped them get Lev inside the craft, buckling him down in one of the seats. He closed his eyes, slumping down in the seat. It was as if he could collapse again now that he was safe and with his mates. He was unconscious within seconds.

 “I’m sorry, Morgan and Aaron. I know you don’t understand, but Lev needed to do this.”

 “What happened in there?” Morgan asked, clenching his teeth.

 “All I can say is that Lev was tested by our forefathers. It is different for each man. Lev had his own demons he had to fight. He passed, or he wouldn’t be here with us.”

 “Has anyone ever failed?” Aaron asked, running his hands along Lev’s legs. He hadn’t stopped touching him once.

 Laithe sighed heavily. “Some men aren’t ready to be leaders, despite whatever physical or mental signs they show.”

 “So, that’s a yes? What happens if they fail?”

 “Let’s just say that they don’t come back down the mountain,” Laithe said, turning his attention back to the craft.

 In no time they were back at the opening of the Chanda Pass. “Please tell me those are not my mates sitting down there. Please tell me that Fahd wasn’t stupid enough to let Rowan come here.”

 Morgan chuckled despite himself. He would love to be a fly on the wall when Laithe, Rowan and Fahd sat down tonight. They all had a bone to pick with each other, that was for sure. Would make for some pretty interesting make-up sex though. He wouldn’t mind being there for that either.

 They set down beside the others. Laithe stepped out, studying his pride in front of him. “I distinctly remember hearing that you all were not to accompany Aaron and Morgan to come for Lev.”

 “Is he all right?” Rowan asked, ignoring her mate and rushing forward.

 Laithe caught her up, pressing her back gently. “He’ll be fine. We need to get him home and in bed. I don’t have room for all of you. Start back and I’ll come back for you once I’ve made my trip.” He sighed, shaking his head. He sounded disappointed.

 When he turned around again, Morgan caught the pleased smile on his face. So, Laithe wasn’t that unhappy they had followed him. He probably knew them well enough. The pride was close. Whenever one of them was in trouble, the rest rushed in to help out. It was their way.

 Laithe stepped inside his craft, turning back once more to motion for Rowan to join him. Fahd snorted, stepping aside to lead the others on their long journey back. Rowan didn’t hesitate, bouncing forward to sit on Laithe’s lap. She curled up, wrapping her arms around his neck and twisting to the side so she could keep Lev in her sight.

 “Thanks, Laithe,” she whispered, kissing his neck.

 Morgan glanced at his own mates. His. He had learned something on the long walk to get Lev, and even more so with the journey inside the cave. He couldn’t live without Lev, but he had already known that. No, it was the way that Aaron didn’t hesitate any step of the way.

 He could have backed out at any time. No one would have thought any less of him. Morgan studied the man at his side, still petting Lev with gentle hands.

 Aaron could have stayed back at the abodes. He could have stayed with the others and let Morgan walk up the path by himself. Hell, he could have stopped when he cut open his hand or when he saw the pitch black cave yawning in front of him. But he didn’t. He didn’t hesitate at all.

 This man, this human, was stronger than any one of them. He had just met them, but he risked his life to save Lev. Without even hesitating.

 Aaron suddenly looked up, catching his gaze. He smiled, a quick tilting of his lips.

 It was at that precise moment that Morgan finally acknowledged a truth that had been lingering at the back of his mind for days now.

 He loved this man. This human.

  

  

  

 Chapter Eight

  

 Lev groaned, blinking his eyes at the now familiar ache in his head. “When is this going to end?” he whispered.

 “Lev? You’re awake?” Morgan asked.

 Morgan? That wasn’t a figment of his imagination? Morgan was actually here with him? He blinked again, bringing the room into focus. Two faces peered down at him, his mates watching him closely.

 He grinned at them both. He couldn’t believe everything was okay. “Please tell me I’m back at our home and not in that stinking cave anymore.”

 “You’ve got the stinking part right. What the hell was that smell in there?” Aaron asked, smoothing his hands along his left arm. Morgan repeated the gesture on his right, anchoring them all together.

 “Are you sore?” Morgan asked. “Is there anything we can get you?”

 Lev pursed his lips, thinking hard. “There is one thing, but I’m not sure if you can do it or not. It would definitely require both of you.”

 “Anything. We’ll do anything for you,” Aaron said, leaning over him.

 “Suck me. Both of you?”

 Morgan groaned, bending down to capture his mouth with his own. Lev happily leaned in to the caress, running his tongue over the seam of Morgan’s lips. Morgan opened up for him, tangling their tongues together. Aaron moved in to meet them, adding his own unique taste to the mix. They rolled their tongues together, anxious to get as much as they could.

 Lev’s cock throbbed insistently. He didn’t know why, but his pain was leaving him, all except for the ache in his balls. He needed release.

 Morgan moved away from his mouth, sucking a path along his chest, stopping to lick around his nipples, causing him to arch up into the caresses. Aaron moaned into his mouth, wriggling beside him.

 Morgan reached his shaft, licking it up and down like it was the best kind of treat. He hummed under his breath, bathing every inch of Lev’s shaft in his saliva. He groaned, twitching his hips to get more contact with Morgan.

 He tossed his head back, releasing Aaron. “You too, mate. Suck me.”

 Aaron smiled at him, skirting his chest and moving right to his groin. Lev anchored himself up on his elbows, watching his two mates take turns sucking along his cock. Aaron took the head into his mouth, bobbing up and down before relinquishing him with a pop.

 Morgan took up his spot, deep-throating his length and caressing him with his talented tongue. Lev inhaled noisily, watching them from above.

 He was growing so close to release. Morgan had his cock in his warm mouth, holding it in place before moving up and down. He swallowed and Lev’s glans hit the back of his throat. He threw his head back, moaning, before returning his gaze to Morgan and Aaron.

 Aaron was using his little tongue, bathing his balls. Sucking first one and then the other into his mouth. His hands were busy too. The scent of nawra flowers was strong in the room and Aaron’s smaller fingers were toying at the entrance to his ass.

 Lev spread his thighs wider, telling Aaron without words that he wanted him. Aaron hummed against his balls, thrusting one finger into his ass. He groaned, feeling the digit spear into him. He was so ready for this. He jerked his hips, trying to get Aaron to add another digit. “Please, I need something bigger. More,” he cried.

 Morgan released his cock, making room for Aaron, who settled himself between his thighs. His own legs were placed over Aaron’s shoulders, the head of Aaron’s cock fitted up against his hole.

 He tilted his hips for better access, groaning out loud when Aaron’s cock started to press into his flesh. He felt a fluttering at the edge of his mind, a touch that he had been afraid he would never feel again. He opened his mind fully, letting Aaron in. They groaned, their minds linking together.

 Aaron pressed deep with one strong stroke inward. His pelvis met Lev’s body, his cock seated inside of him. It wasn’t enough. “More, I need more,” he groaned.

 Aaron paused, obviously unsure what to do.

 “Here, I’m right here too. Don’t forget about me, my mates,” Morgan said. He urged Aaron to back up. Lev cried out when Aaron’s cock slipped out of his ass.

 Morgan managed to move them all until he was lying on his back, Lev cradled in his arms. “Put me inside him,” Morgan said.

 Lev was confused, until he felt the touch of Aaron’s fingers at his hole again, guiding Morgan’s cock into his empty ass.

 He groaned at the feeling when Morgan bottomed out inside of him, but something was still missing. He cried out, twisting his hips, begging for more.

 “Wait, just wait, Lev,” Aaron crooned. The tip of Aaron’s cock brushed against his hole, pressing insistently. He twisted his hips again, knowing that was what he wanted. Both of them, he needed both of them.

 Aaron began to press inward, stretching him unbearably. He cried out at the bite of pain, thrashing his head back and forth. Morgan held him tight, murmuring in his ear. His mind was blank. He had no idea what the man was saying; all he could do was feel .

 Aaron finally was seated fully in his ass, the pressure almost too much. He whimpered, loving the feel, wanting it to last forever.

 He forgot that Aaron was still linked to his mind. “I want it to last forever too, forever with the two of you,” Aaron whispered against his lips.

 He smiled when Morgan’s hands clenched tightly to his sides. He liked the sound of that, and obviously so did Morgan.

 They began to move, a choreographed dance of the flesh. Aaron sliding out, almost all the way. Aaron sliding back in while Morgan began to slide out.

 If he didn’t know better, he would think it was Morgan and Aaron who shared the mind link, they were so in tune with each other. It was glorious.

 He wouldn’t last long. He knew it. He needed them too badly.

 He didn’t know who came first. His mind was too connected to Aaron’s to tell. All he knew was that they all finished together. The release of one started the release of the other two. Their screams of completion filled the room.

 His mates.

 His.

  

  

  

 Chapter Nine

  

 “Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Lev asked him again, for like the tenth time.

 “I said yes, didn’t I? Seriously, stop asking or I might say no the next time just to get you to shut up,” Aaron huffed.

 They were all gathered in the main room of the abode the pride shared. The rest of Laithe’s pride were standing beside him, and so were Haytham, his brothers, Ariel and Pantheras.

 Morgan and Lev surrounded him on either side, staring down at him with wide eyes. “Can I ask, or does it count if it’s both of us?” Morgan asked.

 “Seriously, the next person who asks me if I’m sure is going to get a kick to the balls. Is that clear?” he asked, grinning when the men all winced.

 “Are you ready, son?” Haytham asked, stepping forward.

 Lev nodded, glancing down once more, smiling his encouragement. Morgan grasped Aaron’s hand in his own. Lev leaned in, rubbing his face against Morgan’s shoulder.

 “Who represents this man in his mating?” Haytham asked, gesturing to Lev.

 Laithe, Asad and Usama surrounded him from behind, fanning out beside each other. Lev glanced back at them, grinning widely. He bounced once, settling down when Laithe frowned at him.

 “And who represents this man in his mating?” he asked, gesturing to Aaron.

 Fahd, Catan and Rajiv stepped up behind him, mirroring the positions of their mates. Rowan came up beside him, acting as his family for this important event. It wasn’t every day one of the pride leaders took a mate. Especially when they had just done this a short time ago.

 Rowan had explained everything to him, blushing the entire time, but she said he needed to know the details before he was surprised at the ceremony the way she had been.

 “Have you brought a symbol of your union together, my son?”

 Lev nodded, producing two circles in his hand, open at one end. They looked like clear plastic, but Rowan had told him it was a strong metal, found here on Felid. Inside each circle was placed a single hair from each of the two men standing beside him.

 He had to admit he was a little scared about this. He wasn’t a major fan of pain, but it would be worth it. He couldn’t wait for this.

 “By the powers that were given to me, as your Appaliunas, I bless these symbols, and pray they give you the strength to keep what the gods have gifted you with. Go now and know that you have the blessing of your people.”

 Lev and Morgan both whooped, grabbing each other in a bear hug. A spotted arm snaked out, grabbing him and pulling him into them. He laughed, throwing his arms around both of them. They were mated! He couldn’t believe he was going to stay with them.

 Everything else would get sorted out. He still wanted to go back home and visit his brother and father, let them know that he was okay and alive. He owed it to them to do that.

 He had mentioned it to Lev and Morgan, tense at the time because he didn’t know how they would react to the news. They had both agreed that he needed to go back at some time, as long as he would let them come with him. He’d figure out how to disguise them later.

 “Will you accept this symbol, Aaron, as a token of our mating?” Lev asked, holding one clear circle out to him. It had a thin piece of tawny hair inside of it. Must be Lev’s ring.

 “Of course. But if this hurts, I get to do something to one of you, deal?” he snorted.

 Lev shook his head, picking him up and tossing him onto one of the cushioned loungers set aside.

 He followed him down, sprawling over the top of Aaron to study him closely. “I’ll try to make sure it doesn’t hurt too much, but there will be pain, you know that,” he explained, smoothing his free hand down the beard that they refused to let him shave off.

 Both men said they liked the feel of it, the contrast of his hairless body and his hairy face. He thought it was weird, but whatever. He was addicted to Lev’s tail and Morgan’s spotted dick so he’d let them have their little fetish.

 Lev trailed one finger down his chest, leaning down to follow his finger with his tongue, trailing along his skin. He wasn’t wasting any time. Morgan captured his lips with his own, muffling his groan when Lev grabbed his cock in his hand. He squeezed gently, applying pressure to Aaron’s shaft. He pulled strongly, from root to tip, getting his cock nice and firm.

 He scraped his nail along the glans, teasing him with what was about to come. Leisurely sucking up marks on his stomach, Lev took his time getting to his groin. He took Aaron’s cock in his mouth, licking around the head and milking his shaft with his free hand. It was fast and hard and brutal, and he loved every minute of Lev jerking him off.

 Without warning, he grabbed for Morgan’s shoulders, moaning his orgasm into the other man’s mouth. Lev drank him down without pause, waiting until he was languishing in post-orgasmic bliss.

 He pressed the tip of his nail into the ridged edge at the top of Aaron’s glans, pressing down and through in one single motion. Aaron jerked, crying out, his whimpers caught by Morgan feasting at his mouth. That would probably have hurt more if he hadn’t been flying on endorphins from his orgasm.

 Morgan released his mouth, allowing him to look down to see what was happening.

 Lev efficiently threaded the ring through the hole he had made, closing it with a snap before licking up the droplets of blood from the tip of his cock. It actually looked pretty damned hot. A small clear ring sat on the top of his glans, a crowning glory.

 Morgan and Lev traded places, Lev handing over a second ring, with a darker tawny hair imbedded within. His mates, now a physical part of him. Pretty cool, if you asked him.

 Morgan wasted no time, repeating the gesture that Lev had made, quickly piercing the top edge of his glans and threading the ring through. He snapped it closed and both men sat back to look at their work of art.

 “You know, I think Morgan would look pretty damn good with one of these. Make that two of these,” Aaron quipped, laughing at the panicked expression Morgan failed to hide.

 He had the feeling this was going to be the start of a very glorious adventure.

  

  

  

 Jade Buchanan

  

 Jade Buchanan was born in the summer of 2006, out of a slightly shy but definitely warped mind. Jade’s alter-ego spends her days working in the world of safety management consulting, but at night she lets Jade out to play. Preferring to live in the world of fiction in which she was born, Jade can be found wandering through fields of words whenever she can. Now if only she can find her dream man -- a time-traveling Scottish laird who was born a werewolf that became a vampire and lived on a pirate ship, only to make his way to the new world and work on a ranch in Montana (with a brief foray in the Navy SEALS), before conquering the space time continuum and becoming a space marauding pirate and ruling the galaxy -- she’d be a very happy lady.

 Jade would love to hear from you. She can be reached at jade.buchanan@yahoo.com or http://www.jadebuchananbooks.com.