Matesummer Monday: Howl Down the Moon's Trio of budding mates

 

The trip back to Slade’s cabin turned out to require three SUVs, with all the supplies the folks in the borderlands needed, in addition to the clothes Slade had bought Luka and the tools and the rest of the woodworking supplies they’d retrieved from his house. Winter hadn’t been kind to it, between the high winds and the already damaged and listing timbers. With the way the hallway and wall had collapsed, getting into his old bedroom had been difficult, but he’d been determined to retrieve Lily’s drawings. Slade had been none too pleased about the gashes and cuts he’d received from the jagged ends of broken wood and had tsked and fussed the whole time he was treating them. Still, he’d understood Luka’s desire to bring those memories with him and promised that they’d frame them and hang them on whatever wall Luka wanted when they got to the cabin.

He could hardly believe the three of them were going together. When Slade had come back from Rand’s and said he didn’t know if the other wolf would be joining them, Luka had gotten on the phone, prepared to plead, only to have Rand tell him he was coming. Now there were two SUVs in the garage and a whole lot of stuff that needed to be organized and put away.

Rand’s dads had gone with Slade’s to deliver supplies to the rest of the borderland residents, leaving the three of them to figure out how to rearrange the house. The dads had conspired to make sure Luka, Slade, and Rand spent the long ride in their wolf forms, curled up on the large back seat of Rand’s SUV while Nathan drove. Slade’s father had driven Slade’s while Rand’s dad had brought theirs filled with the extra supplies Slade had picked up. Somewhere along the way, Slade had rested his head over Rand’s back and fallen asleep, while Luka had fallen asleep in the V made by their bodies, his head on Slade’s shoulder, Rand’s pressed against Luka’s side. They’d woken to the soft clicking of a camera phone and Rand’s father’s grinning face as he’d taken pictures of them.

“This is a fantastic kitchen,” Rand enthused as they gave him the tour.

“To be honest, I’ve always felt like it was too much, considering I only had myself to cook for. That table has gotten more use since Luka’s been here than it ever did when it was just me. I’d just take my food out to the living room and sit by the bay window or in front of the TV.”

“That’s better than I managed most days,” Rand admitted. “Between skipping meals or eating them at my desk, my kitchen didn’t get much of a workout, outside of the coffee pot. I’ve got a notebook full of recipes I’ve been dying to try though, if no one minds me taking over the kitchen from time to time.”

“Have at it,” Slade said. “Luka and I have been alternating cooking, or cooking together, depending on what else we had going on at the time. You’re welcome to jump in however you want. There’s enough space in here that we wouldn’t be bumping into one another; that’s for sure.”

“I see that,” Rand remarked. “It looks like you had the place built for a family.”

“Because I did.”

“Wait until you see the bedroom,” Luka said, grasping Rand’s hand and tugging him down the hall. “It’s got three dressers, a huge closet, and three sinks in the master bath.”

Rand put on the brakes in the doorway, much to Luka’s surprise. Turning, he saw the hesitant look on Rand’s face and gave his hand a gentle tug. “Don’t you want to see all of it?”

“Shouldn’t we discuss the sleeping arrangements first before I invade your space?”

Glancing from Rand to where Slade stood behind him, Luka got the distinct impression that he was missing something.

“You’re right,” Slade said. “We should, so let’s talk. Where would you be comfortable sleeping?”

“Shouldn’t the question be where would you feel comfortable with me sleeping?” Rand shot back.

“I wanna sleep in the middle,” Luka piped up, hoping that would settle things and give him the chance to finally get cuddles from both of his mates at the same time.

“That’s not the issue, Luka,” Rand said, giving his hand a gentle squeeze.

And here he’d thought they’d left their issues back in town and could finally get with the hugs and the snuggling.

“Not yet, anyway,” Slade added.

“I don’t understand,” Luka said, looking from them to the double king that took up the center of the room. “The whole bed is comfortable.”

Slade chuckled, and Rand finally stepped out of the doorway, before hugging Luka and kissing the top of his head.

“We’re trying to work out if Rand wants to join us in here, or if he’d prefer the guest bedroom,” Slade said.

Luka pressed his face against Rand’s chest, hoping to hide the fact that his cheeks were heating up, and he was a bit embarrassed about getting lost in yet another conversation. It just hadn’t dawned on him that they wouldn’t be sleeping together. “Oh.”

Slade’s hand slid up his back, thumb stroking over the back of his neck. “It’s all good; pretty sure you just stopped Rand and I from descending into another round of questions with no answers, which wouldn’t have helped anyone.”

“I’ve got no problem joining you in here, if you’re both good with it.” Rand said. “But I wouldn’t want to make things awkward for either of you, and I can’t promise to keep my hands to myself in my sleep.”

“I’m good,” Slade said. “Your hands aren’t going to bother me any. I’d rather we start out as we intend to end up. It cuts down on the unnecessary moving. Besides, you make a good pillow; wouldn’t mind napping on you again.”

Chuckling, Rand reached over, tugging Slade until they had Luka sandwiched between them. “Going to be awfully hard to do without squishing Luka.”

“Maybe Luka will like getting squished,” Slade replied.

“Not maybe,” Luka said, going up on tiptoes so he could nuzzle Rand’s neck. “Luka likes getting squished.”

“Well,” Rand stammered, letting out a long sigh when Slade leaned over Luka to nip and nuzzle the other side of Rand’s neck. “Guess that, uh, settles that.”

“Yeah, it does,” Slade murmured.

Luka sighed contently, breathing in their mingled scents and the feeling of peace that washed over him as they held one another.

“We should get everything put away,” Rand suggested, Luka’s wolf picking up on a note of reluctance in Rand’s voice. “Slade has an early morning tomorrow, so we should probably think about going to bed early tonight.”

“Wanna help me make sausage and pancakes in the morning?” Luka asked, hoping to send Slade off with a full belly.

“I’d be happy to,” Rand replied.

“You two do not have to get up with me,” Slade said firmly. “I’m perfectly capable of grabbing something before I head out.”

Touching the side of Luka’s face, Rand urged him to meet his gaze. “Did you hear something?” Rand asked.

It took Luka a moment to realize he wasn’t being literal. Smiling, he shook his head. “Nope, sure didn’t.”

“There is no reason that all three of us have to leave a nice, warm bed at four in the morning,” Slade protested again.

Giggling, Luka nuzzled Rand’s hand. “I still don’t hear anything.”

“Me either.”

Huffing, Slade threw his hands up and marched out the door, muttering beneath his breath about stubborn wolves who didn’t have enough sense to sleep in when they had the chance.

Rand and Luka collapsed against each other, giggling because they could still hear Slade’s mumbling from all the way up the hall, but there was humor there that softened Slade’s rumbling voice.

“Let me guess,” Rand whispered after their laughter had subsided. “He’s good about doing for others and shit about letting others do for him?”

Nodding, Luka couldn’t deny that he’d noticed the same thing.

“I am so sorry.”

Rand’s apology left Luka confused once more, but when he opened his mouth to ask why, Rand placed a finger over his lips, silencing him.

“I’m apologizing because I’m the same way,” Rand explained. “And I can only imagine the struggle you’ll have getting either of us to bend on that.”

“I’m going to have to get really creative and ask for plenty of advice,” Luka replied, smirking up at him. “It’s a good thing Slade gave me a cell phone and put a whole bunch of numbers in it. I’m sure someone can give me some good tips on dealing with stubborn, headstrong mates.”