Polaris Skies

Chapter 17

Deck turned to Yeller. "I've been informed that you're the heavy hitter of the bunch, Cashia. Are you mated too?"

Yeller was thrown back to the darkness of his mind as his wolf pushed forward, responding automatically, his voice dropping an octave, "Yes sir, Tereza. She is paired in my genetic code currently. When a suitable mate to this boy appears, I will be able to release her and be with her as a mate should once again, same as Sven. Anything else you require, sir?" Cashia bowed as best he could on the broken love seat.

Deck gaped before closing his dropped jaw. A smile tugged at his lips as he tried not to laugh. "You picked quite the carrier if you wish to have your mate." Deck tried to keep his smirk to a minimum. He watched the wolf's gaze turn inward.

"Go hifreann leat1! I can't believe you said that," Yeller hissed at Deck. "I can't believe you knew." He sank into himself, burying his head in his hands.

Deck recoiled. He hadn't expected Yeller's reaction. He watched the blond hide behind his hands in embarrassment. Not entirely sure where to go next with his blathering, he patted his friend on the shoulder reassuringly. "What is it that Nat always tells you? Tag bag ay?"

Yeller looked up at him beseechingly. "Tóg go bog é2? And you, you're not...you know...mad or disgusted or anything?" he whispered.

"Hell no. I don't swing that way, but your wolf friend might have a few foul words about the mix-up." Deck nodded to him.

"Does everyone else know?" Yeller whispered, mortified. Zola and Sun Hee shrugged.

"It didn't take much to figure out your type, Yeller. Though, it might take a bit longer to find him in this wasteland. I don't think Nat swings that way, do you, wolfman?" Zola poked at her friend.

Nat looked up when the wolf released its stranglehold, not having paid attention to the conversation. "Huh?" He blinked, startled to be back in the front, his eyes changing to his regular colour. They had been talking to him.

"Want to take on a second lover?" Sun Hee flicked a thumb in Yeller's direction, Deck falling in the crosshairs of that motion. Nat stared at her, stunned, then to Deck.

"She wasn't offering." Deck pointed at Yeller.

Heat burned at the tips of Nat's ears as he dodged his focus around the corners of the rooms before settling to a spot in front of his feet. "Oh, um, well...uh." He swallowed back a flutter in his stomach.

You're joking, right? Sven snickered at him.

Nat wanted to cower under the taunt, wanted to climb into a hole. He knew, though, he couldn't lie to himself about this if he wanted to reign in this beast. No, actually, I'm not, and you should probably get that through your thick head if you're gonna be occupying mine. Nat bit back, trying to fight down his feelings. He had been raised against this line of thought. He had been taught to fight it and to only follow his desires in a mainstream fashion. To not have to deny his tangled feelings; that would be ideal. How the hell was he supposed to know what to do about it?

The group watched a series of emotions wash over Nat's face. They waited as he spoke with the wolf. Hiding his mouth behind a shaking hand, he glanced back at Yeller.

"Really?" Benj sat forward, surprised. "No wonder you've been off the wall the past few weeks."

"Are we all discovering our sexuality this week or something? Is it bring your feelings to class day?" Nat snipped back.

"Hey." Deck waved him down. "There is nothing shameful about how you feel about a person or different people." He looked pointedly between Yeller and Hana.