Inspecting the ceiling, Norm murmured, “I love the way you linked them, combining the stars in their noses to show them as one.”
“My grandfather taught me to revere both the bear and the wolf since they’re both strong and great predators,” Smoky said.
Norm nodded in agreement. “In the book I read about Manetu, it explained that the bear represents a sacred power while wolves are the wild forces of nature and protection.”
“You’re right, Eagle Feather,” Smokey growled. “Outside our world, you will never find a wolf and bear mating, but it can happen here, though rarely. The Great Spirit has blessed Ollie and Mac’s mating.” Then, shifting his eyes away from the stars on the ceiling, he said, “Time for us to vamoose so they can get to claiming each other.”
“Right,” Remy said. “I’ll be back with everyone.”
“Uh…Remy,” asked Theo, “could you bring Ollie and Mac first and meet us in the hallway instead of in here? And then, after I get them settled, bring my parents?”
“Sure,” Remy grinned, sensing that Theo was planning something. “I’ll be back shortly,” he said, before vanishing.
Theo checked out the room one more time to make sure he had forgotten nothing and then, looking at his mates, waved his hands. “C’mon…we gotta leave before he comes back with them.”
Smokey quickly ushered his mates out into the hallway and closed the bedroom door behind them. “You did good, Shining Star,” he murmured, smiling at Theo.
“Smokey’s right,” Norm said softly. “Ki couldn’t have done better.”
But before Theo could answer, Remy appeared with Ollie and Mac and their luggage.
“Wow!” Ollie exclaimed. “This really is better than the rides at the county fair.”
Giggling, Theo said, “Definitely.”
Norm turned to Mac. “Everything okay with Theo’s parents?”
“They’re fine and eager to see their son. They wanted to come with us, but Remy insisted he had to do it in two trips.”
“There’s a reason for that…” Smokey began.
Grabbing Ollie’s hand, Theo pulled him over to the bedroom door, stopping in front of it. “Are you ready for your surprise?” he asked, grinning.
Holding out his hand, Ollie looked at Mac, waiting for him to grab it. Then after his mate had joined him, he turned to Theo and said, “Now I am.”
“You guys have to close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you to open them…okay?”
“Okay,” Ollie said, closing his eyes. “Now what?”
After Theo confirmed that Mac’s eyes were also closed, he opened the door and tugged them both forward. “It’s in here,” he said, leading Ollie and Mac into the room and over to the spot that would give them the best view of it. Then, dropping Ollie’s hand, he said, “Stay here and keep your eyes closed until you hear the door shut…okay?”
Raising an eyebrow, Ollie said, “Uhm…okay, but why do we have to wait?”
“You’ll see!” exclaimed Theo, giggling and placing an envelope in his cousin’s hand.
After Ollie heard the door close, he squeezed Mac’s hand. “Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Mac murmured. “On the count of three…3…2…1.”
Opening his eyes, Ollie’s jaw dropped at the scene around him. “Oh. My. Gods!” he shouted. “Look!”
Surveying his surroundings, Mac could only grin. The Love Queens had struck again, and they were the lucky recipients this time. “It’s perfect,” he murmured, shivers running up his spine as he pictured Ollie naked on the forest bed as his wolf sank his teeth into his shoulder. It was the final step in fulfilling his life-long dream. Looking at Ollie, he asked, “What did Theo give you?”
Dropping Mac’s hand, Ollie tore open the envelope and looked inside, finding a sheet of paper. He pulled it out, scanned it briefly and then exclaimed, “It’s from Theo!”
“What does he say?”
Ollie began to read the letter out loud.