Taming the Queen of Beasts

<strong>GAR</strong>

When they finally stepped into the night almost half an hour later, Gar was relieved to see the lights on in his parent's tree. He'd wondered whether they would have stayed for the dancing at the feast. But with everything else going on, he suspected they, like him, weren't really focused on the celebrations.

Gar felt a pinch of guilt. As Alpha, he should be at the center of the party happening in the Market just then. But he also knew Aaryn would be there. And the real feasting didn't start until the next day. He decided because of his new mate, they'd forgive him. But it sat like a stiff fur on his shoulders.

He knocked on the door, but stepped right inside. With the lights on they were likely in the kitchen having tea before they tried to sleep. But there was a thump and a hissed curse as he stepped inside and when he stepped past the door, he found his mother on her feet, brushing her hands on the front of her shirt and looking flustered.

His father sat on the couch looking as disgruntled and rumpled as he imagined he had looked half an hour earlier.

Gar snorted a laugh. "You're way too fucking old to窶能"

"Finish that sentence and I will bite out your throat," his father snapped.

Beside him, Rika tensed. Gar snapped his head to look at her, to measure her for her reaction, but his mother bustled past him and walked straight to Rika, giving her a warm hug so that she dropped Gar's hand and turned all her focus to his mom.

Humph.

"Don't mind them, Rika. Alpha males believe that unless they remind each other, and themselves, of how big and strong they are, multiple times a day, the Creator will suck their balls dry."

"Mom!" Gar spluttered, horrified.

His mother turned. "What? It's true. The two of you sound like the bull Elk during mating season." She dropped her voice into a deep, hoarse bellow. "Look at me! I'm bigger than you! And I mate more! No you're not! And you don't! Look at how big my horn is!"

Rika sniggered.

"Elk have antlers," his father corrected her snippily.

Gar decided it was worth getting set down himself for the pleasure of seeing his dad humbled, so he just grinned. "You just don't understand because you're a female," he said, winking at Rika. "The burdens we bear."

"Please," his mother huffed, rolling her eyes. But she smiled and patted Gar's arm before tugging Rika back towards the kitchen. "I'm so glad you're here. That was quite the introduction to Anima politics. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine," Rika said, shy but she didn't smell of fear as she followed his mother to the kitchen. Gar sighed with relief and dropped into the couch next to his dad.

His father watched the two of them talk quietly while his mother put on a pot for tea.

"The Creator is good to us, Gar," he said a minute later, shaking his head. "Never doubt it."

"I don't," Gar said honestly. Then scratched the back of his neck. "I do have a窶ｦ question though. About the mating bond."

His father turned, brows high. "Really? You have a question about mating? For me? I thought you were convinced you'd surpassed my expertise years ago. I would have sworn when I tried to talk to you窶能"

"Dad, I'm serious."

His father cut off and dropped the exaggerated surprised look, his forehead wrinkling in concern. "What's going on, Son?"

"Nothing. I mean, nothing bad," Gar said quietly, glancing at Rika's back beyond his father's broad shoulders. "But we're窶ｦ I mean, things are moving ahead. Tonight," he said, swallowing. "And she can't do the Flames and Smoke, Dad. That's just going to be too much for her. So I wondered if you and Mom did anything else? Any way we could窶ｦ recognize the bond without the ritual? Rika says humans give vows publicly, but there's no fighting or anything. Do you think the Elders would recognize that?"

His father's face softened. He put his arm up on the back of the couch and squeezed Gar's shoulder. "Is she accepting the bond?" he said, hushed but pleased.

Gar shrugged. "I don't really understand how it works, but yeah. I was going to ask the elders if there was a way we could help it along, but there wasn't time before everything blew up and窶能"

"I'm glad you came to me," his father said, a soft smile on his face. "But I'll tell you, Gar, this isn't about the elders recognizing what you do. There's plenty of mates who never walked the flames and smoke. The bond cements because of the commitment you're making to each other, not the ritual."

Gar frowned. "But you and Mom, and Aaryn and Elreth窶ｦ the bond never snapped into place until after the ritual, right?"

"Sure, but that was more to do with where we were at in our minds and hearts, and I think." Then he turned and called Gar's mother. "Love, the kids want to get married. How would you suggest we make that happen here?"

Mom's jaw dropped and she looked at Rika, hope, excitement, and caution warring on her face. "Is that true, Rika?"

Rika squirmed and her cheeks went deliciously pink, but she smiled at Gar and nodded.

"Oh, sweetie! That's so wonderful!" His mother threw her arms around Rika, and Gar found himself swallowing and trying not to stare, while his father cleared his throat. Then his mother rushed over to pull him up from the couch and hug him too, tears sparkling on her cheeks. "Gar, I'm so happy for you! So happy!"

He hugged her, feeling awkward in front of Rika, but his mate just watched, hands clasped at her waist, and slightly sad smile on her face.

When his mother left him to throw herself at his father, Gar went to join Rika and tug her towards the living room. "If you need a break or anything just let me know okay?"

"Relax," she said, "I'm fine. I got triggered and it's been tough, but I'm feeling窶ｦ I'm calm now. And I'm excited, Gar," she said, then met his eyes, the flames he'd seen earlier, dancing in them again.

And Gar's heart danced right along with them.

"Oh, this is just wonderful. We need to go get Aaryn and Elreth! This needs to be a family窶能"

"Get us for what?" Elreth asked as she walked in the door, Aaryn right at her back.

Gar wasn't sure whether to smile in pride, or embarrassment as his mother turned to his sister and squealed, "Your brother's getting married!"ﾂ�