CHAPTER 227: THE SHANGRI-LA SUITE

"They make sure that all of us have pure blood and as soon as the child is born it is tested for pure blood. Anything less than that..." Shepherd’s voice trailed off, haunted. "I don’t want to hear those kinds of screams again."

"Shepherd, I’d like to introduce myself to you at this time. I am Zachary Spinelli, also known as Mr. Zack, and I own the Z1." Zack’s voice was warm but firm. "Here at the Z1 we do not discriminate against anyone or who they choose as their mate. All classes of Genmen, Genman hybrids and humans live together in peace and harmony. From what I can gather, you’re interested in young Eleck here, and if he decided to mate with you that would be okay—but don’t get me wrong, it’s your choice."

Shepherd broke out in the biggest smile. "Oh yes Sir, I would definitely consider—no Sir, I would definitely approve of mating with Eleck and the sooner I can get started, the sooner I can get back home."

Zack reached over and took the young man’s hand in his. It was time for the hard reality of life. "Shepherd, I need to tell you something. Eleck, the one that you say you would like to breed with, who has no doubt set your hormones into overdrive by the way you’re squirming—he’s available and I can tell he’s very willing to help you out in your situation, but he needs to tell you something." Zach looked over at Eleck and cleared his throat.

Eleck stood up, walked over and took a knee beside Shepherd’s chair. He took the young man’s hand in his and cleared his throat when suddenly Shepherd’s body was overcome with hormonal reaction and he vented himself, causing seepage to run from his chair onto the floor. Eleck grabbed his coat and laid it over Shepherd’s lap to help hide it.

"We have a small problem, Shepherd. I’m not what you think I am—I’m 100% pure human male. I work and live on the Z1 because this wonderful gentleman gave me a chance at life." Eleck’s voice was steady and honest. "I fully intend to find a mate and have children with my mate and raise them on the Z1. I don’t care what your ranch says—nobody owns you. You don’t have to do anything for anyone else but yourself, and if you want a child, I don’t have a problem. If you want one tonight, we will make one tonight. We just have to get to the breeding quarters."

Shepherd started to get up when he realized that he was soaked and sat back down. "I can’t believe I made a fool of myself right here in a public place. Genmen aren’t supposed to show their emotions—we’re supposed to watch ourselves and not let ourselves be known."

Eleck stood up and raised his voice to address the restaurant. "With a show of hands, how many Genmen, hybrids, and Genman lovers are in this restaurant at this time? And if I might go one step further, how many people don’t give a damn if there’s a Genman sitting next to them?"

Shepherd started looking around and was shocked as every hand in the place was raised. He had found the promised land. These people didn’t care who you were and they didn’t care if they were sitting next to a genman, a hybrid or a human.

"So, Shepherd, I’m getting ready to drive back to the Z1, and I’m going to be taking this young man with me. I just need to know where you want to go." Zack leaned forward. "One, I can put you up in guest quarters, lock you down until you can choose a suitable mate. Or I can deliver you to the breeding quarters and tomorrow morning you can come out as parents, because you’re not going back to the 3 bar Ranch at all. And if you give me the communicator that they’ve given you so I can track the numbers, there’s not a whole lot of Genmen there that will be very happy to have their freedoms. If possible, we’re going to bust the doors open to the white rooms and put an end to their reign of terror."

Shepherd placed his hand upon Eleck’s. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Ever since I saw you walk through that door, I knew you were the one for me. I could feel it deep in my bones, deep in my stomach, deep in my heart." Eleck’s eyes never left Shepherd’s face. "So let me help you up so we can go make a baby."

Shepherd had forgotten about his situation when he stood up and everyone saw his very soaked backside. There were a few hoots, a few hollers and a lot of clapping as the two young people walked out the front door of Constantine’s with Mr. Zack.

Zack made a swift trip up to the clinic and waiting at the front door was Lex. "This is my grandson Lex—he runs the clinic and the center. We need to do a blood test and a simple exam just to make sure that you are in cycle so that you two can make this baby."

Within a few minutes, Lex came back into the exam room where the two young men sat. "Everything’s fine, everything looks great. We’re going to put you in the Shangri-La room so the two of you can start making babies."

Lex returned to his grandfather. "What were the results of your testing?" Zach inquired.

"Just as you suspected, Sir. Shepherd is in cycle, brought on by his mate being close to him—they won’t have any problems." Lex consulted his notes. "Shepherd definitely isn’t going to have any birthing difficulties and yes, this is his fourth child to conceive."

Zack took out his communicator and called his old friend at the GBI. They had some work to do. They were bringing that corporate monster down and the sooner the better. Shepherd was just another chink in the armor, but he was very important.

Zack looked up to see Brent coming down the hallway looking around for his friend. "Brent, you won’t find them. They are in Shangri-La where they will be visiting until tomorrow morning." Zack’s expression was knowing. "You have no doubt realized that your good friend met his mate this evening and the two of them are getting to know each other quite intimately as we speak."

Brent’s mouth fell open. "You mean Eleck and that nice young man are, you know, making a... you know what, now?"

Zack placed a hand on Brent’s shoulder and walked him out of the clinic. "You see, young man, in my line of business, when two rights meet, they need to get together and make a third. Eleck had spoken to me that he was ready to settle down and have a family of his own, but he needed to meet the right person." He paused thoughtfully. "Irvin is meant for you and he knew it even before the date, but he wanted you to realize that. He figured if you thought that you might lose, you would fight harder for him. The only thing he didn’t plan on was a fantastic young man by the name of Shepherd walking into his life."

"I’m going to arrange it so the two of you will be roommates with a plus—that plus is Shepherd. He will be staying with you also. You’ll get to see firsthand the first couple of trimesters of a Genman being pregnant and what he and his mate will go through for each other." Zack’s tone became more serious. "Then when you’re ready, Irvin will let you know when it’s time for you two to bond as a couple and create a life of your own. That doesn’t mean you try to wear him out and put a kid in him every nine months—it means that you two grow together and nurture the new life that you create and bring forth."

"What Shepherd doesn’t know is, the 3-bar ranch as of 30 minutes ago doesn’t exist anymore. The owner, the crew, everybody associated with that nightmare has been arrested and charged with Genmen trafficking, kidnapping and even murder." Zack’s voice carried satisfaction. "We hope that we end up finding the white rooms as they’re called, but until then we can keep knocking away at the wall in front of us, one ranch at a time, freeing Genmen and saving lives. Now go back to the dorm for the night—see your friend tomorrow, if he’s not too tired and sore to walk."

Shepherd stood in the room and just looked around. He looked at the very nice man beside him and couldn’t believe that they were about to make a baby. He didn’t know what to do.

Eleck sensed that Shepherd was terrified, so he walked over to the bed, took a seat and slowly started to unbutton his shirt. He patted the bed beside him with his hand. "Join me," he asked softly. When Shepherd sat down, he leaned over and kissed him. It wasn’t a quick kiss either—it was a very deep and passionate kiss.