My Muscular Beast Mate

A friend of mine got called away on an off-world mission, so she asked me to look after her bonded Beastkin for a while.

Which brings me to my own partner. Hes ridiculously handsome, with a chiseled chest and a perfectly sculpted ass thats an absolute dream to touch. Hes also got a pair of fluffy ears and a big, bushy tail. Normally, he wears a permanent scowl and keeps his distance. If I touch him for more than a few seconds, he gets annoyed.

But that night, he was kneeling before me, his eyes a hazy, heartbreaking mix of longing and despair.

Baby, dont look at him.

I can be good, too.

Sebastian is my bonded mate, my first and only since I came of age.

His true form is a white wolf.

Hes a man of few words, his presence as cool and sharp as a winter morning, but damn, is he beautiful.

Because of the Civic Mandate, he usually keeps his fluffy ears and bushy tail hidden, maintaining a human form.

I opened my eyes a little after seven. Sebastian was already standing in front of the full-length mirror, knotting his tie. He fastened the top button of his dress shirt, a fortress of fabric that covered him from throat to waist. The crisp material strained against the hard planes of his chest before disappearing into his slacks, tracing the lean line of his waist and the firm curve of his ass.

It also did a fine job of hiding the passionate mess of kiss marks and scratches from the night before.

I couldn't help but savor the memory. A great rack really is a mans best dowry.

He noticed I was awake. His ice-blue eyes flickered toward me for a moment. He pulled the blanket up a little higher over me before looking away again. Go back to sleep. Im heading to work.

I patted my cheek, my silent request for a goodbye kiss.

Sebastian hesitated. He didn't move.

Instead, he slipped on his suit jacket and hurried out the door, mumbling something vague. Tonight, maybe.

I sighed, a little disappointed, and rolled over to face the wall.

And so, I missed the sight of his ears, the tips blushing a faint, tell-tale pink.

Our relationship has always been lukewarm at best.

Except for when were performing our official duties, which are usually white-hot, we barely speak to each other.

When every human comes of age, the Civic Registry automatically pairs them with a Beastkin based on a compatibility rating. The Mandate was designed to benefit both humans and protect the Beastkin. Without regular soothing from a human partner, an adult Beastkins psionic energy will slowly fade.

Eventually, they just wither away.

Most bonded pairs have a compatibility rating between sixty and eighty percent. Anything over ninety is considered a rare blessing.

According to the Registry, Sebastian and I are a ninety-five percent match.

So, naturally, we registered our bond.

They say that the higher the compatibility, the more deeply a pair influences one another. They can even develop a telepathic link. I had been filled with so much hope for our life together.

Now, it just feels like I was the only one hoping.

Sebastian doesn't seem to like me. He greets me with a cold shoulder every day, and our nights are just a matter of routine. I wouldnt be surprised if one of these days, he asks me to dissolve the bond.

After Sebastian left, I went to the dining room for the breakfast hed made. A perfectly seared steak sat on the plate, surrounded by a handful of vibrant berries. Next to it was a steaming mug of protein milk and a soft-boiled egg, a wobbly smiley face drawn on top with sauce.

He made me something different every single morning. His own breakfast was always the same: a vial of nutrient solution.

Beastkin are the opposite of humans. Their sense of smell is incredibly sharp, but their sense of taste is weak. They don't require much from food, and the solution is just to maintain basic bodily functions.

Just then, my wrist-comm chimed with an incoming video call.

I answered, and a holographic image of my friend, Nora, shimmered into existence.

Aria! I need a huge favor she pleaded, her hands pressed together.

Whats up? I asked.

I got an off-world assignment on X26. Its a remote planet, the system out there is a mess, and Im worried about taking Liam with me. Can he please stay with you?

Liam is Noras bonded Beastkin. His true form is a young ram, barely an adult. He was sitting beside Nora, and as he listened, his soft curls seemed to wilt. He looked utterly dejected.

I knew Nora would never willingly part with him unless she feared for his safety, so of course, I said yes.

That afternoon, Nora brought Liam over in her sky-speeder. The two of them had a long, tearful goodbye at my front door.

Ill be back before you know it, sweetie, Nora said, planting a kiss on his cheek. And Ill bring you a diamond from X26.

Liam blushed and nodded, quietly reminding her to be safe. They were so wrapped up in each other it was sweet enough to make my teeth ache.

Finally, with her departure window closing, Nora rushed off.

Liam stood in the doorway, dragging his suitcase behind him, his round, watery eyes fixed on her disappearing speeder. Hes on the smaller side and still looks like a kid.

Dont worry, I said, trying to comfort him. Shes on a medical relief mission. Shell be fine. Just make yourself at home for a few days. Ill show you around.

I helped him get settled in the guest room, making sure he had fresh towels and toiletries. Just as we finished, the sound of the front door opening echoed through the house.

Im home.

Sebastian was shrugging off his coat and loosening his tie with one hand as he stepped inside.

His eyes softened the moment they landed on me. Aria

His voice trailed off.

It was as if hed just caught an unfamiliar scent in his own territory. His eyes narrowed, the pupils contracting into sharp slits. With a soft pop, his silver-white ears sprang into view, twitching rapidly.

Liam, who had followed me out, jumped in fright. A short, woolly tail manifested in a panic, and he ducked behind me.

With both of them partially shifted, my house suddenly felt like a zoo.

I know theyre Beastkin, not actual animals, but theres no denying the primal instinct between a wolf and a lamb.

Sebastians ice-blue eyes were locked on Liam. His canines, now slightly elongated, peeked out from behind his lips as he let out a threatening snarl. A low, guttural growl rumbled in his chest, and he took a restless step forward.

But then he saw me, standing protectively in front of Liam, and he froze.

He was trapped in the entryway, pacing back and forth, his gaze shifting to me, filled with a wounded, confused look.

Between the two of them, Liam was clearly the vulnerable one. I couldn't spare a thought for Sebastian's hurt feelings. I quickly ushered Liam back to his room and, with fumbling hands, administered the sedative injection Nora had left for emergencies.

I hadn't anticipated such a volatile reaction between them. Seeing Liams breathing slowly return to normal, I finally let out a sigh of relief. Thank God he was okay. I would never have forgiven myself if something had happened to him on my watch.

It was over an hour before Liam was completely back to his usual self. I felt a nagging sensation, like Id forgotten something important, but I couldn't quite place it.

What was it?

I scratched my head, trying to remember as I walked back to my own bedroom.

The master bedroom was dark. I flicked on the light switch, blinking against the sudden brightness.

When my eyes adjusted, I remembered exactly what I had forgotten.

Sebastian was kneeling on the floor, legs parted, still dressed in his black suit. The stark white of his skin was a shocking contrast against the dark wood. Veins stood out on his forearms as he braced his hands on his thighs, the fabric of his slacks pulled taut, revealing the faint lines of his shirt garters.

He was fully clothed, yet the sight was unbelievably seductive. Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Sebastian looked up, his ice-blue eyes meeting mine from below. The light caught a wet sheen on them, like a thin layer of morning mist.

He begged, his voice raspy.

Baby, please touch me.

I can be good, too.

As he spoke, I felt something soft and furry brush against my leg. I looked down.

It was his big, bushy tail, tentatively nudging closer. The very tip of it gave a hopeful little flick.

When I didn't pull away, it seemed to take that as encouragement, curling possessively around my ankle.

Sebastian had always been so stoic, so reserved. Hed never done anything this bold before.

If I could resist this, I wouldnt be human.

I released a wave of my psionic energy, and his breath immediately hitched. A dark fire ignited in his eyes, turning them into a deep, swirling ocean, as brilliant and captivating as the rarest sapphire.

He moved toward me as if in a trance, murmuring my name.

Aria youre mine.

The air crackled with a thick, unspoken promise. I ran my fingers down the length of his tail, feeling the soft fur, then let my hand drift toward his thigh.

The muscles there went rigid under his trousers.

He tilted his head back, exposing the vulnerable line of his throat, and let out a ragged breath. Then, he reached out, his hand enveloping mine. Slowly, deliberately, he guided my fingers to the buttons of his shirt, undoing them one by one.

A small, triumphant thought sparked within me. So, he does feel something for me after all.

But as my touch grazed his mind, I felt the familiar emptiness of his psionic seaparched and desperate. A chill of realization washed over me.

This wasnt about love. This was instinct. Our high compatibility rating made his natural urges for me impossible to overcome. The presence of another Beastkin, Liam, had just triggered his primal, possessive nature.

He needed me.

That was all.

And so, I didn't bother explaining about Liam.

And he never asked.

And so, we engaged in the most intimate act two beings can share, our bodies close, our hearts miles apart.

When I woke up the next morning, Sebastian was already gone.

A warm breakfast was waiting on the dining table. Hed even made a plate for Liam. The fried egg on my plate was decorated with a cute, happy cat face.

Liams was decorated with an angry little scowl.

The poor lamb looked terrified the entire meal, his hand trembling so much he could barely hold his fork.

After we ate, I figured a lambkin probably needed to get out and stretch his legs. Unsure of where to take him, I settled on the nearby shopping complex.

Liam, being newly adult, was fascinated by everything. I used Noras credit chip to buy him a small mountain of things, trailing behind him like a pack mule loaded with shopping bags.

We hadn't even left the complex when the sharp crack of plasma fire split the air.

The calm dissolved into chaos. Screams erupted as people scrambled for the exits. Fortunately, the Federal Security Division arrived in minutes, quickly restoring order inside and setting up a security perimeter outside. No one was allowed to leave until the threat was neutralized.

Liam had never seen anything like it. His face was pale with terror, and his already unstable psionic energy began to fluctuate wildly.

I hadnt thought to bring Noras sedative with us. I cursed myself for being so careless. Liams psionic distress was starting to affect the people around us, making them agitated and anxious, and he was clearly in pain.

I gritted my teeth. Liam, I can perform a temporary psionic soothing, I said. Ill explain everything to Nora when you get back, okay?

He nodded desperately.

Slowly, I extended my psionic energy, using the standard, clinical soothing technique they teach at the medical centers. Id only ever done this for Sebastian, and always in a much more intimate way. I had no idea if this formal method would even work.

To my relief, the color started to return to Liams face. I let out a breath I hadnt realized I was holding.

When I looked up, I noticed the crowd had parted around us, creating a silent, empty space.

I turned my head.

And saw Sebastian.

He was standing behind me in his black tactical uniform. I had no idea how long hed been there, just watching me. His face was a mask, as cold and unreadable as ever. His ice-blue eyes were voids, betraying nothing.

But if you looked closely, you could see the fine tremor running through his body, a stark contrast to his rigid posture.

I opened my mouth to explain, but with so many people around, it wasnt the right time.

A flicker of raw despair, of utter brokenness, crossed his face.

Then, in the next second, Sebastians gaze shifted from me to Liam, who was now resting his head on my shoulder.

And then, to my horror, he raised his gun.