-Tavyra's POV-

Today we walked a total of about 17 hours, tomorrow's walk will put us on top of the Rouge camp and we all knew that. Tonight was the night where the next rising sun was a guarantee that we'd live another day. I know most of the ones traveling with us. Alice and Robbie have been my favorite so far. They have so many stories together and even before. Not even of how they got together, but of war times, of their kids, or even their parents when they were younger. I met the rest of the vets, but I also met some of our younger members. Some of them were cockier, that they could take this whole rouge camp by themselves, but there was a reason there was a good number of us and not just 10. I don't know what I was getting into to, and I don't think they would be either. 

We all sat around the campfire, telling stories and making jokes. We were having a good time, eating some hunted food from the day before, even some drinks got pulled out and passed around accordingly. Zannic seemed to enjoy all the smiles on everyone's faces, but he didn't engage in the fun. I feel like something is on his mind. He seemed a lot calmer than last night. He told me he was talking to his mother and father. I believe him, I really do, but he concerned me a bit. Maybe he had a mental breakdown, but from what?

Maybe I just need to give him some time for figure something out. I know he's smart enough. 

-Zannic's POV-

I stood on the outskirts of the campfire, listening to the different conversations going on. I had to admit, this was very nice. Tavyra was glancing towards my direction every once in a while. The firelight looked so pretty on her. It complimented her skin perfectly.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Tyson, his head down and looking away from me, "Hey, could I talk to you?" 

I haven't talked to my Beta since the rest stop incident, maybe he wanted to apologize, maybe. "Yea, of course." We stepped far enough from the camp fire to not be heard from what he had to tell me, but close enough to be seen by the light. "What's up." 

He rubbed the back of his neck and has yet to make proper eye contact with me, "Sorry about yesterday. I...I'm having a hard time coping with this whole mate thing..." He admitted. 

I looked at him quizzically, "What do you mean? Did you reject her?" 

He sighed, "No..." I could tell he was leaving something out. 

"Then what is it?" I put my hand on his shoulder to be supportive of him because he looks distraught. 

"My mate..."  

I was trying to be patient with him, but I was never too patient to begin with, "What about her?" 

"That's kinda the thing..." He hung his head. 

"What, buddy?" 

"It's not a she." 

At the moment, I couldn't think of anything else she could be. Was it a dog? A wolf? I'm confused. "Huh?" Was all I could really manage. 

"My mate is not a girl." He admitted. This was the first time he actually made eye contact with me, and I could see the fear of judgment in his eyes. 

"She's not a girl?" He nodded around with me as I was trying to make sense of everything. 

"Yea, she is a he." 

Then it finally clicked. His mate was not a girl. He was in fact, another guy. Tyson's mate was a guy. I don't really know what to say to him. "Good job!"? "Better luck next time."? First, I needed to know how he felt about this whole situation. I've honestly never heard of same-sex mates before. "H...How do you feel about it?" 

He sighed, almost in defeat, "He's my mate, man. I don't wanna be away from him." I thought back to how happy Mom and Dad looked last night. They didn't care about who was around, they simply cared that they were together, in each other's arms after years of separation. I don't think it mattered who they were, I think it simply mattered that they were together, and I've never seen them happier apart. 

I looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was eavesdropping. I caught eyes with Tavyra and she looked slightly concerned. I gave her a thumbs up to let her know everything was okay and she nodded, but she didn't seem satisfied. I turned Tyson around to make sure no one could read our lips, "Listen, do you love her-I mean him?" 

He bit his lip, he knew I wouldn't judge him, but maybe he hasn't accepted it himself. "Of course I do." He admitted. 

"Then you shouldn't worry about it. That's your mate. You need to show them off like there's no tomorrow." He nodded, I think he's wanted to show him off from the beginning, but I do understand where he's coming from. He's in a position of power and both liberal and traditional ideals are populated throughout our pack, but he's in power regardless so why does that matter? Well, he is infamous for being the lady killer on pack grounds, but who cares at this point. It's all up to him. "Look, I'm proud of you either way if you want to show him off or not, and I will always have your back cause you are my Beta after all." 

He smiled back at me and hugged me back. "Thanks, Zan. You're the best. And you're sure we're good?" 

I patted him on the back, "Yea, of course, bud."

Tyson looked so genuine and happy that I'd accepted him and his situation. I think his biggest fear is that I wouldn't. The next step is to get everybody else to accept him. But I promised myself if we make it back, I'll do whatever I can in my power. 

If. 

I needed to do something before tomorrow. Before they're no turning back. I let Tyson go off and do his thing as I headed towards Tavyra. 

-Tavyra's POV- 

"-Instead of turning left, he turned right into a ditch!" The whole crowd was laughing as Robbie finished up his story about him and Scott on a field trip. I was too busy laughing to notice Zannic coming up behind me. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, "I need to talk with you privately in the tent."

I felt a growing knot in my stomach. I got up and immediately followed Zannic into the Alpha's tent, "Is something wrong?" I asked when the flap behind me closed. 

Zan turned around and chuckled, grabbing me by my waist and pulling me close, "No, sweetie." I looked up into his eyes, his mesmerizing eyes. There was a softness in his voice that immediately calmed my erratic nerves. I was glad nothing was wrong. 

"You made it sound like something's burning," I giggle back, I place my hand on his chest, loving how smooth and strong it was. 

He leaned down and the closer his lips approached, the stronger the pull of my lips were. He tasted like honey tonight, sweet and addicting. His tongue danced across mine as I allow him entrance. Tonight had a different sensation than every other time. There was a pull, a lust, that was never there beforehand. I think I liked the difference, things were more passionate. 

My hands snaked up his chest and curled into his locks, gently pulling them. I groan exited from his lips and into mine. The sound of him gaining pleasure was rewarding in itself. His breathing became heavier as his hands traveled farther and farther down my body. Eventually grabbed my ass and by the way he was grabbing it, he enjoyed it. I quiet growl erupted from him. 

I couldn't believe how sexy that growl sounded. I felt a burning heat in my core as Zan's lips moved further down from my neck to my collarbone, my most sensitive areas. I had to bite my lips to keep the noises from escaping me. I've been touched before, but it never felt this good. This was mind blowing. I closed my eyes and couldn't help but grip his hair a little bit more, this was rewarded by a soft bite from Zan's teeth on my neck. I had to let out a gasp before I cut through my lip. 

"Tavyra," He whispered, lust covering his vocal cords, "Tonight may be our last night together." My core grew larger all from his voice, "I want to make love to my mate." I could no longer control myself and pounced on him. 

We fell backward onto our cot and there nothing but heavy breathing and moving hands. He gripped and played with my breast, showing them love individually. Quiet moans escaped. I could no longer contain them. 

I felt the hard member in his pants that I couldn't wait to get a hold of. His musty smell flooded my nose and it was like I was simply losing myself, something was taking over, but what? With a little unbuttoning and undressing, our bodies were both naked in front of each other, our body heat fighting against the cold breeze from the outside. "Your body is absolutely beautiful." A blush formed on my cheeks. A second of readjusting and things settled down, everything was ready to go as I straddled him and we looked eye to eye, "Are you ready?" He asked me. 

I could simply chuckle, this wasn't my first rodeo, quite literally. I lowered myself on him and I was immediately sent into a blissful paradise. I've had sex before, and quite a few times, but this was a new sensation. The world felt like it was only us around. No one was around. No one mattered. As we made love, this was a stronger connection than ever before. 

There was a sensation in my hands that felt familiar, but also foreign. Zannic growled under me as he picked up his pace, nothing but sweat and heat between the two of us. Minutes felt like seconds, but also hours. Time was non-existent. I looked down at my Mate. My Alpha Mate. I erupted a growl myself, not even registering that my nails had turned to claws and that they were digging into Zan's skin. Maybe I was hallucinating. 

I love you, Tavyra. 

I love you, Zan. 

An overwhelming pleasure took over me, letting my legs shaking as I couldn't help but moan out loud. Yelling to the world about My Mate. Before even coming down from my high, I passed out.