The Veterinarian and the Werewolf

Chapter 25

Word Count: 2048

A/N ok ok not quite a wedding its a mating ceremony but it's close :) thanks to My Beta's   and this time my husband helped too :)

Warnings: fluff

Chapter 25 – Henry

Henry walked away from his mate, he didn't want to, everything in him was screaming at him to just stay. Stay with that soft warm body wrapped up in his arms, her head resting on his chest. That was where he felt true peace, true belonging. Instead, he was pushing his body to wake up, groaning he heard his wolf yipping at him, "Hurry up I want to run." He chuckled at his wolf's impatience. It had been at least a week since he had been able to truly let go.

Henry grunted softly, trying not to wake up Tom. The poor boy was so exhausted after Adam had spent the evening showing him off to all his family that he had fallen asleep in Adams's arms on the way home. It had taken quite a lot of convincing to get Adam to let him take Tom and put him to bed. Adam had finally left only with the promise that Henry would not leave him alone.

Now, it was early morning. The group of wolves were ready for a run, so as a promise to Adam, Joe and Dillon was taking over from him so Tom would not wake up alone. The sleepy pair passed him whispering, "It's ok Hen, go. We'll just sleep in the other bed. When he wakes, we'll be here." He tried hard not to chuckle especially at poor Dillon, who, unlike Joe, was unused to waking at odd hours and was seemingly sleepwalking his hair standing up at odd angles, his arms wrapped tightly around Joe who was leading him to the bed.

"Thank you," Henry whispered back as he left.

The air was cool as he stepped out of his clothes and laid them behind a tree. Preparing his mind, he bent down his limbs shifting cracking and turning until fur now covered his body. Energised, he let out a long howl that was echoed by the other mates all joining in the run. Dirt beneath his paws, the feel of wind streaking through his fur as he ran, had his heart pumping with exuberance. He had missed this, not just the running, but the freedom to run without fear. To let his wolf free without the ball of grief pushing him. Pure pleasure coursed through him as he finally came alongside the other ten mates. They yipped at him, their own joy evident by the sparkle in their eyes. Another wolf let out a howl, setting off a chain reaction of howls as they all ran, jumped, and played under the glow of the moon.

Sated and now hungry, they arrived at the main building, turning back to their human forms where they were greeted with robes and a table full of delectable meats. Henry watched as the majority, who were childhood friends, talked and laughed with each other. He found himself seated with the only other person not engaging in the gaggle. She was a formidable wolf, probably a beta of her pack. In her human form, she was also intimidating, covered in tattoos, her red hair flaming down her back making him wonder if her temper was to match. But when he said, "Hi, I take it were the only ones here who are not from the young adult crowd," he was met with a warm large smile.

Her eyes twinkled as she spoke back in a conspiratorial whisper, "They will never know what it is to have to wait to find your true mate, but don't worry ours will be all the sweeter because we learned patience."

He chuckled, tickled at the thought of what patience he had learned and how later tonight when he and Jessie completed the mating, that patience would have its sweet reward. Her hand hit his back as she laughed out loud, a blush crept up his neck at the realisation of where his mind had gone.

"It's ok. I think that's on all our minds friend, but maybe more for us, we had to wait for the longest." Another softer chuckle left her lips before she lifted a leg of lamb and bit hungrily into it.

As the group finished their food, a man appeared and lead them down a narrow corridor to a chamber full of beds. One by one they found a place curled up and let sleep overtake them.