Snow Leopard (bxb)

Chapter 89- Vivid

Ro's POV

After Lukas had a good talk with Mr Ste- I mean Cyrus in his office the latter bid his leave. Jasper hadn't wanted him to go so soon but after a few murmured words from Cyrus Jasper relented. Lukas was surprisingly calm when he left his office, barely a trace of the fear and stress he'd expressed not long ago. He didn't speak anymore of the matter but did ruffle Jasper's hair with a soft smile as we sat down for dinner, the table was a lot quieter than usual, Jasper uncharacteristically subdued, he didn't necessarily look sad, just... he looked lost in his own mind, but then again he had a lot to think about and many feelings to decipher. I to had been quite overwhelmed, but Jasper's situation was uniquely different. I couldn't imagine finding a good match as a mate, but them being male same as you and not a cross or woman, to of grown-up thinking it was impossible... now knowing it could potentially put your life in danger if you chose to pursue the bond you felt.

I know Jasper was... he wasn't the most dominant male shift, his tiger was playful and used a lot of posturing and talk, but at his core... he... ugh, I don't know, he's just not overly aggressive or asserting, if you can see past all the bullshit that comes out his mouth he can actually be kind of sweet, or a little bitch, but I digress.

Seeing him with Inaco, someone so much smaller put him in a dominant position, but with others, I didn't really get that impression. Cyrus had immediately taken control and Jasper had fallen into the dynamic with no trouble, I could imagine many male shifts who would react badly if another male acted in such a way towards them. I for one knew my Jaguar would take personal offence and react aggressively, but then again my Jaguar could be very volatile.

It made me think... what if Nobu wasn't a cross and we'd met in the same way, what would I have done? How would've I reacted? I would have liked to think nothing would've changed, but I didn't know that with certainty. I wasn't the same person back then as I am now, it had only been a few months but it felt like years ago. The danger we'd faced being who we are had accelerated our mating exponentially, hell, we'd be parents before our first anniversary. Cyrus and Jasper's situation was different but it wasn't entirely dissimilar, with rare shifts involved, threat from the council and its followers... it certainly wasn't going to be a smooth ride for them but I hope they get through it like Nobu and I have been doing so far.

We were all tired, getting back to everyday routine and all the excitement and stress, we all went to bed early and when I'd gotten out of my evening shower Nobu was already snuggled under the covers sound asleep, Spooks curled up against the back of his legs.

I dried myself and got dressed for bed, carefully slipping in behind Nobu. With my arm around him, face nuzzled into his neck I quickly fell asleep with a content snuff, easily drifting off into cosy darkness.

The sound of a blood-curdling scream woke me up and I jerked awake. My heart pounded loudly in my chest and my eyes filtered around the dark room frantically.

I quickly flicked on the lamp on the bedside table, eyes darting to where Nobu should be, only seeing twisted sheets. My heart jumped into my mouth and I scrambled off the bed, panic seizing my chest.

I saw Nobu's leg poking out from the other side of the bed and rushed around, finding him curled up on the carpet, cheeks wet with tears and arms desperately circling himself.

"Nobu!" I fell to my knee's beside him, picking him up and cradling him against my chest, his body was rigid in my hold, and from his closed eyes he must be dreaming again.

I didn't go with half measures this time, I set him back down, hurriedly fumbling with our clothes and plastering my naked body over his, letting my weight blanket him. I pressed his nose against my scent gland as I bit deeply into his neck with my shifted teeth, and after a moment his body went slack beneath me. His shallow, rapid breathing slowing, shifted nails leaving his forearms and changing back, blood-smeared under his nails.