23 comments/ 52460 views/ 47 favorites Forgotten Ch. 01 By: ladyofdark1981 Author's note: This is my first time, please be gentle. @)-,-'- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter 1: Fate. Michelle always knew she was a special girl, her grades excelled her teachers' expectations and with graduating from university at the same age, everybody usually graduated high school; a long story short, she was a genius. Now, at twenty-five, she devoted her life to saving endangered species from extinction by cloning and freezing the embryos, she had no time for frivolous activities, such as socialising of finding a boyfriend, she did not care for clubbing or dinner parties with her colleagues, she cared only for the helpless organisms at her species' mercy. Her logical mind focused on the re-sequencing of a strand of D.N.A. from a thylacine, one of the many unfortunate creatures that crossed paths with humans. Although, technically, she only worked with endangered organisms and not the extinct variety, but she indulged occasionally to help a man she had met during her time at the University, Dr. Michael Paterson, a geneticist with a passion for bringing extinct species back to life, providing they were the result of human intervention, so no dinosaurs for him. But Michael was more than a friend to Michelle, she loved him and she was sure that he loved her too, only he did not want a romance to get in the way of his research, well, that's what she kept telling herself. For a scientist, Michael was different, his passion for extinct animals was not unusual, but his free time resembled that of a millionaire playboy, with what Michelle had learned about him, he was the eldest son of a wealthy family and holidayed in exotic locations around the world. She heard of many women who graced his bed, but that was from the grad-students who gossiped over everything, so she could not believe it. Chastising herself for letting her mind wander from the important task monitoring the gene sequencing. "You're still here?" Michael asked as he entered with two cups of hot espresso, "Not that I'm upset about it, but, don't you have a life outside this lab?" Michelle laughed as she examined the tissue sample she had under the microscope, "This is my life." "What do you do when you're not here?" he asked, trying to draw her into a conversation. "Sleep," her one syllable answer mildly annoyed him. "Oh, and occasionally I go to the supermarket." Michael chuckled at her response, "that's it?" "Yes," she leaned back from the microscope, "Do you know what time it is?" she asked, stretching out her sore and tired back. Dr. Paterson checked his watch, "almost seven," he informed her. Michelle nodded and stood up, "You know we're going to be late." "For what?" she asked, stretching again, "Is there a convention I wasn't told about?" "No," he grinned at her, flashing his bleached teeth at her, "Our dinner reservation at Leandro's." Michelle looked at him, cocking her head to the side in the way Michael found adorable, she was his mate and he loved her; ever since her first day on campus. "Why would we have a table booked at the most romantic restaurant in town? Anyway, it has to be booked months in advance, what could warrant such attentions to be dished out on me?" He tried not to sigh aloud, for an intelligent and beautiful wolf; she definitely missed the more subtle things in life. "It's your birthday," he told her in disbelief. "Is it?" she checked her digital diary, "huh, so it is, I didn't realise," she laughed, walking off to the showers. Michael took a deep breath, inhaling her scent, she was coming into heat for the first time and finally, he could claim her after twelve years of waiting, she would finally be his. When he first saw her all those years ago, she was considered a child prodigy and through the years, he watched her become a mother to all the endangered animals in the world. He watched her clone and raise a mouse in an artificial womb; his pride for her grew with each achievement. He heard the shower begin and decided to followed suit, showering and dressing in a formal suit. He moved to the foyer to see Michelle in a pair of tight black jeans, a tour t-shirt for Rammstein and black combat boots. "I never picked you for a metal chick," Michael observed, offering his arm to her. She sent him an amused smirk, "You know, Chivalry died at the Battle of Agincourt," she countered, avoiding his arm smoothly, "Do I have time to change?" Michael checked his watch, "Not really," he looked down to her; she had tied her hair back in a simple ponytail; his heart melted, "You look fine." Slapping his arm, she chuckled, "You're just saying that." With her hands in her pockets, she followed Michael to his car (she did not know what type of car it was, nor did she care). Taking her seat next to Michael, he drove her to the five-star Leandro's Classic Italian Restaurant. "You should know, the dress code there is very strict; I probably won't be allowed in." Michelle looked more pleased with the fact rather than disappointed. "Nonsense," he chirped, "I happen to know the owner and I am sure he could give his old friend Mike a little leeway for his surprised date." "Mike?" she laughed, "You hate being called that!" "We were cub buddies when we were young," he shrugged, "And he owes me more than he cares to admit," Michael laughed as he added the last bit, remembering the many situations they ended up in and Michael would take the blame to save his friend. "I can see you being a trouble maker," she quipped, "like not warning me of this birthday celebration, it just drips with mischief." "Is it truly wrong to take a colleague out to celebrate their birthday?" Michelle rolled her eyes, "I'm not your typical date, now am I?" he knew where she was going with this, "your typical prey is usually thinner, taller and fairer than I. Or have you dropped your standards?" she said this with a sarcastic tint. "I'm only kidding; I know we're friends and if you wish to celebrate my birthday in such an extravagant way, who am I to stop you?" Michael felt hurt from her last statement, as if she were only doing it for him, as a friend. "When was the last time someone did anything nice for you?" She paused to think, it took longer than he anticipated for him. "The Vicar of Castleton Parish, he and his wife helped me when my Dad died eleven years ago, well he wasn't my real Dad; he was a journalist in Africa and was killed by guerrillas on assignment when I was a baby. Mum married Gary, my step Dad, but she died from a bear attack whilst hiking with friends in some park when I was about ten. Gary raised me until he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, I don't think I need to fill in the rest." She turned to look out the window, "I've kept to myself ever since." "Don't you get lonely?" "Nah," she looked back with a smile, "I have the grad students to pester me and I have you to beg me for help with your never ending quest to resurrect an extinct species." @}-,-'- They pulled into the parking lot; Michael had a reserved slot near the entrance, much to Michelle's surprise. "A regular here, huh?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I didn't know you liked Italian food that much." "My father loves it," Michael smiled at her, "I'm just using his parking space." He dove out the car to open the door for her, only she had beaten him to it. "What?" "I had planned this night for a couple of weeks now," he sighed, "can you please let me be a gentleman for you?" "You don't have to, it's just me here, you don't need to pretend," she rested her hand on his shoulder, "I won't tell any of your girlfriends you are just a regular guy, I promise." "I hate to break this to you," he said, opening a door for her, "But this is me, I like to be the gentleman. You are just difficult, Shell." They walked up to the front desk, "Reservation for Dr. Michael Paterson." "Ah yes," the small girl behind the desk punched in the details to the computer, "Table for two, by the back window." The girl looked up, "I'm sorry, we can't let her dine here dressed like that," she spoke with distain to Dr. Michelle Achermann. "I told you they wouldn't let me eat here," Michelle sighed, turning towards the door, "Thank you for the sentiment." "Michelle, please don't leave," he reached for her hand, "Clearly the girl does not know who I am." He pulled her back to the desk, "Young miss, is Andrae Leandro in tonight?" she nodded slowly, "then tell him that you have thrown out the date of his friend Mike because you didn't like the way she looked. Regardless of the fact that she is a brilliant geneticist and just may save many of your favourite animals from extinction." "Brittany, is this man bothering you?" Andrae asked as he closed his office door behind him. "Sir," she stammered, "he says he knows you." Andrae looked up, "You love to torment my staff don't you, you ol' bastard," his hazel eyes drifted to the woman at Michael's side, "I see you finally have developed taste." He reached over the desk and kissed Michelle's hand. Michael growled and Andrae backed away, "Ah, this is her." "You will show us to our table," Michael stated through clenched teeth, "old friend." Michelle thought the entire transaction between the so-called friends looked more like a mafia boss getting his way, and what was that growl about? She followed the two men, who spoke secretively in front of her. She let Michael pull the chair out for her, even though it felt strange to do so. Andrae gave them a menu each and left to give them space. The table was far from the others, in a bay window that overlooked the elegant landscape garden out the back, the table itself had two red candles in silver holders and a single red rose in a crystal vase. "Do you like it?" Michael asked, looking over his menu. "It's beautiful," Michelle answered with astonishment, "No offence, but it feels like this should be for someone else." He chortled sadly, "No, Michelle, this is for you." She did not know what to do, this man, the one she had fallen instantly in love with on her first day was now acting out her dream. "Wow," she finally uttered, "I have never had anything like this done for me before." Michael reached for her hand, "Michelle," his voice dripped with honey, "I have wanted to do this for you, for a very long time." "Dr. Paterson, I ..." "No, do not call me Dr. Paterson ever again," he pleaded with her, "just Michael." "Okay," she responded slowly, "Michael." Her previous protest died in her throat. It was not uncommon for colleagues to form romantic attachments, but Michelle never imagined it would happen to her, and never with Michael Paterson. The man seemed to have models hanging off his arm and a different one each week; now he chose to have a romantic dinner with her, for her birthday. "Here," he handed her a rectangular gift, it was heavy and obviously, a book, "I hope you like it." Michelle opened it to see a copy of the hobbit, a first edition. "Michael, this is beautiful," she gave him the first authentic smile he had ever received from her, "Thank you." They placed their orders and enjoyed their three-course meal, plus dessert. Michael was disappointed that she did not eat as much as he had hoped, an increase of appetite was a clear indication that her heat cycle was in full swing. "That was the first meal I have enjoyed for a long time," she commented, resting her hand on her full stomach. "I am glad you liked it," he reached into his jacked pocket, pulling out a box, also gift wrapped, "I have one more present for you." She unwrapped the small gift and opened the box, inside was a ring with a moonstone, the traditional mating gift from the male to the female. His heart leapt to his throat when she gasped, "Is that a moonstone?" she asked, breathlessly. "Yes," he answered anxiously, "do you accept it?" She sent him another smile, brighter than before, "they are my favourite; yes, I accept it." As she slipped it onto her finger, Michael had risen from his seat, "Michelle, my I please have this dance?" She laughed, "There is no music, Michael." As if by magic, the lights dimmed and a slow, dreamy song began to play from hidden speakers, "My Love?" Michelle felt her heart thundering in her chest, did he just call me his love? She thought, placing her hand in his and joining him in the unhurried, intimate dance. "Michael?" she called softly. "Yes?" his breath gliding over her ear. "Do you love me?" she asked in a fact finding way. "Since the first moment I saw you," he sighed, pulling her closer with his warm embrace. "Why do you ask such silly questions?" "You always preferred more," she words stalled in her throat, she cleared it and continued, "Glamorous women than I." She saw him blush; she had never seen him blush before, ever. "I was shy," he whispered, "and a little scared you didn't feel the same way." "Who says I do?" she asked automatically, unable to stop herself. He pulled back, "Don't you?" he did not want to live if she said no. It was now her turn to blush, "I am new to this dating thing, I feel a little overwhelmed." "Do you love me, Michelle?" he asked urgently, almost desperately. "I've never felt love before," she answered, "apart from my family; I have never been close to anyone." Her answer deflected his question beautifully, a typical defensive move for a vulnerable person. "I have never felt as I do for you with anyone else," he explained, drawing her close again, "everyday, I would pray that you would still be there at the university, hoping that you weren't some beautiful dream." Clasping her hand, he pressed his lips to it; "come home with me tonight." Michelle stumbled, flushing a deep crimson, "I ... I," she did not know what to do, was he asking what I think he was asking? She wondered, trying to straighten herself. Michael hushed her, "I won't hurt you," he stroked her hair in a way she had never felt before, "But I am finding it hard to resist you." "Michael," she whispered low, barely audible over the soft music that floated about them, "I'm scared, I've never been with a man or anyone." "All the better," he answered in kind, lifting her lips to his, "I like the idea of being your one and only." She quivered under his attentions, his lips covering hers in a passionate kiss that no movie could compete with. She tried to think of a way to escape this new situation she found herself in but her body demanded to stay. "What ..." she tried to speak, but her voice died in the throat. "Sshh, just go with it," Michael lulled into her ear. He slowly pulled her away to his car, she had no idea they had moved until he buckled her into the passenger seat. She looked up at him with dazed eyes and he fell to give her another ardent kiss, one filled with intent. Tearing himself away, he took his seat and began to drive. @}-,-'- Michael pulled into a large circular driveway; Michelle looked up at the large, elegant mansion, a Greco-Roman palace, complete with columns and arches. The gardens were illuminated with lights, showing off a myriad of marble statues and sculpted conifers. Impatiently, Michael tore open the passenger door and scooped Michelle into his arms, "You have no idea how long I have waited for this," he said before another mind-blowing kiss, which sent Michelle's body into an uncontrollable need, her stomach tightened and her thighs trembled and began to sweat from the heat she produced. Michael growled with delight and raced to the room he had prepared for her. He kicked open the door and made his way to the large bed in the centre of the room. Michael became more loving, laying her in the nest of plush pillows he assembled. Michelle felt weak, overwhelmed by her sudden change of relationship with the infamous Dr. Paterson. He kissed her softly, stoking the fire in her belly with each gentle stroke of his tongue against hers; he slid his hand under her t-shirt, relishing the softness of her skin under his touch. She whimpered in defeat, her hand nervously reaching for his face, caressing his cheek with her fingertips, her neatly manicured nails grazing lightly across his flesh. "Shell," he whispered hotly against her ear, "Do you trust me?" She silently nodded, looking into his eyes with anticipation and fear. He gave her a warm smile and began to undress her, beginning with the black t-shirt that he found amusing. Underneath, he found a simple and innocent white cotton bra, truly an innocent; he thought as he teased the hidden taught nipples beneath their smooth canopy with his nose, eliciting a small moan of approval. He moved to her combat boots, torturously unlacing them as she writhed, begging him to kiss her again; her feet covered in equally virginal white cotton socks. He could not resist tickling the underside of her foot, he wanted to hear her laugh again; a laugh that sent his heart racing and his soul to swell with love. He tugged away the socks to see her bare feet, like her hands, her toes neatly clipped and the skin so soft. He gave her a wolfish grin, clawing his way up to the button of her jeans, flicking the button and sliding down the zip to find another piece of white undergarments, only, as he could already smell, stained with her excitement. Savouring the scent she emitted, he removed the jeans and began to remove his own clothing. He smiled, hearing her quiet gasp at the sight of his bare chest; with a thin cover of light brown hair and not an ounce of fat, it was clear she was enraptured. Michael leaned over her, allowing her to explore his body with her tentative hands, her fingertips tracing the out line of his pectorals, causing him to growls with desire. He snaked his hand around her back, unclasping her brassiere, freeing her soft, supple breasts for his mouth to torment. The more she moaned to more his restraint faltered; tearing his pants off with one swift motion, he was hovering naked over her, with only the fabric of her underwear separating them. "By the gods above, you are beautiful," he crushed his lips to hers in a hungered fury; Michelle reached around his expansive chest, pulling herself closer to him, Michael's entire length pressing against her furnace, pinning her beneath his large body. He broke their kiss, trailing down her neck with a series of torturous bites and nips, sucking her skin between his lips in slow and pleasurable nibbles that led to her right breast, where her nipple begged the same attention. He took his time getting there, her moans of enjoyment and disappointment interlacing in a purely primal growl from her lips. Finally, he took the now aching nipple between his teeth, gently biting as he tickled the end with his tongue, Michelle cried out as a wave of pleasure rolled over her. Michael relished her moan like a fine wine. Slowly he moved to her other nipple, repeating his actions until she moaned again. He wanted her, needed her; he continued down over the lines of under developed beasts of her wolf, which looked like two parallel lines of tiny moles. His fingers played with the elastic of her underwear, inching them down. "Michael?" Michelle called; her eyes on his, her face flush. "Yes, my love?" he smiled, what was she after? "I want to taste you," she said almost silently, "before you taste me." "This is your night," he sat up, watching her crawl over to him, "you can do what ever you wish." She gave him a shy smile, clasping his throbbing staff with a nervous hand. Positioning herself to rest herself in his lap, he brought the weeping head to her lips, her tongue licking at the salty droplet waiting for her. Michael groaned, stroking her hair as she gradually took him into her mouth, sucking gently so not to make him cum too soon. She wanted to tease him, in her naïve way. Forgotten Ch. 01 The sensation was bliss, Michael did not know if it was what was happening to him or who was doing it. Michelle became more adventurous, taking as much as she could before she gagged, eliciting a small chuckle from Michael, "don't hurt yourself my sweet, the night is just beginning." She hummed in response causing her lover to moan. Finally, it was too much for him, he pulled out from her hungry mouth, edging around back to her last remaining item of clothing, a small pair of white cotton briefs. Sliding them down her long legs, he pulled them to his nose, inhaling her scent deeply before moving to heated core. His tongue glided seductively over her eager lips, tasting her honey as it seeped through. Michelle's incoherent mumbles from his introductory attention drove him further, dipping his tongue in, flicking the hardening nub within its hood, causing her hips to buck and release a deep, throaty groan, which sounded suspiciously like his name. He worked his tongue around her virginal opening; savouring the divine taste, she produced. Lapping at her hardened bud, his raspy tongue tickled it in just the right way, causing her groan to evolve into a whimper. As she came, Michael's mouth flooded with a gush of sweet nectar, but he did not let up, continuing his attentions until she relaxed and her chest slowed. "Michael?" she purred, encouraging him to move up to kiss her again. "What is it my sweet?" he asked, bearing down his weight against her slender form. He pressed his lips to hers with a slow and ardent sweep of his tongue, letting her taste the result of his skills. "That ..." her breath failing her, "was amazing." He smiled at her, stroking her hair affectionately, "there is so much more I wish to share with you," he uttered as he nuzzled her neck, he trailed his fingers down, tickling her oyster's pearl, "What I wish to do next will hurt, my love." "I know," she sighed, her knees parting in submission as his fingers explored her most intimate of orifices. "I love you," he whispered in her ear, massaging her insides, stretching her gently to accept his intrusion. She writhed under him, meeting the soft thrusts of his digits with equally soft sighs and whimpers. Michael looked at her, her face contorted with ecstasy as she bit her lower lip, stifling her cries. "Are you ready, love?" he asked, lining up at her entrance. Michelle gave a slight nod and braced herself for the pain that would follow. Michael pushed slowly, breaking through her maiden's seal; she cried out at the sudden pain and gripped his hips with her knees. "Michelle, breathe." She held her eyes tightly shut, she had no idea it would hurt that much. Eventually she took a breath, "that really hurt," she whined. "Talk to me," Michael suggested, "it might take your mind off the pain." "Okay," she paused trying to think of a topic, "The weather's been crazy of late hasn't it?" Michael laughed, "You want to talk about the weather in the middle of love making?" "Alright," she tried to smile, "Am I your first virgin?" His eyes softened, "yes," he kissed her lightly on her lips. "So, right now, you're just as nervous as I am," her words stated with a slight grin. "Yes," he replied with a chuckle, "how am I going?" She wormed her arms around his broad chest, "I'm lying in the arms of the man of my dreams," she pulled him closer, "But if you require a more accurate assessment, you will need to repeat the analysis a few more times." She smiled sweetly up at him. Michael laughed again, "I just might have to do that," he kissed her, moving his hips to test her comfort, when she did not complain he increased his efforts, letting her gasps guide his attentions. He could not believe how perfect she felt, tight, wet and fit him like a glove. The faint odour of her virginal blood drifted to his nose, stabbing his heart, knowing he caused her the injury, but at the same time, his wolf howled in triumph, being the first inside her. He fought his instinct to go hard, he wanted to draw out the night, savour it and listen to his love cry out in ecstasy as he pumped into her in measured thrusts. Michelle writhed beneath him again, her legs locking around his taught waist, for one so inexperienced, she had passion. Michael's lips met hers again, their tongues meeting with a frenzy of caresses. By the gods, she tastes so sweet, Michael thought, nearly loosing control again. She moaned desperately as his speed increased, he would make her scream tonight in many ways, but mostly; he wanted to hear his name on her lips. He began to increase his speed, giving a slight flick at the end of his thrusts; driving her wild in his arms. She tore her lips from his, crying out as he pushed her endurance, forcing yet another orgasm to ravage her body. She tried desperately to scream his name, but only a primal howl escaped her mouth, right before she bit into his shoulder, still growling from pleasure. Michael's head spun as her teeth sank deeper into his flesh; she had taken the first bite, showing her dominance over him; not what he expected. He had to flip her over now, onto her hands and knees, take her from behind quickly, before he submitted. Reluctantly, he pulled away from her, positioning her over a pyramid of pillows, "My turn, love," he gnarled in her ear, leaning his body against her back, "I love you." Without any hesitation, he drove himself into her heated cove, drawing another howl from Michelle. He would not hold back anymore, gripping her hips with his large hands, pulling her onto his eager staff as he pushed into her. The room faded into nothing as Michael gave into his primitive need. His nose and mouth elongating into a snout, his ears sharpening to points and migrating to the top of his now long head; his hands grew, as his fingers did, each now tipped with claws, his already large chest also grew to nearly twice its original size and finally, a coat of grey-black fur sprouted all over his body. He was ready to claim his mate. Michelle mumbled chaotically as Michael became more vigorous, pounding her from behind in pure animalistic lust. It did not take long for him to lock into his love, his knot swelling rapidly, breaking through the second seal (Known to Wolves as the mating seal), pain shot through her for a second time that night, far more intense as the first. Michelle cried out, falling limp in Michael's hands; he scooped her up in his arms, pulling her to his chest. Michael saw that she had fainted in the reflection of the mirror in the headboard of their bed; a flash of guilt hit him in the sternum. Not wanting to prolong her discomfort, he accelerated his bliss, bringing himself to the point of orgasm. As the first of his molten jets shot into her, he grabbed her shoulder in his jaws, clamping down hard and breaking the skin, concluding the ritual. His trusting slowed and he reverted back to his human form, with great care he lowered his mate to the bed, gently patting her hair and body, kissing the bite he gave her. "You are mine now, Michelle," he whispered to her unconscious form, "As I am yours. I promise to do what I can to make you happy and you will not regret this. I love you." Still wedged inside her, he wrapped his arm around her waist and drifted off to sleep. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I do hope you enjoyed it :Þ Forgotten Ch. 02 After an agonising five months of waiting for my editor to do his job I took it back and did my own editing so please forgive any grammatical and spelling errors. I will deal punishment to my editor shortly (my partner) @}-,-'- Chapter 2: The Honeymoon Is Over! The dawn filtered through the drapes of the bedroom. Michael had woken a few minutes before and watched the morning glow bathe his mate in the sun's warmth. He was still locked inside her, which surprised him at first until he felt a fluttering around his swollen appendage causing him to harden again. He saw the dried blood from his bite in the crook of her neck and decided he would clean it once he was free from her body. He gave her a gentle squeeze nuzzling into her dark mahogany hair and inhaling deeply. She was now in full heat and her scent alone was enough to make him explode inside her again without any effort. He nearly squeaked at the sudden orgasm, "My love, you are full of surprises." His euphoria was broken by a quiet rapping at the door, he began to welcome the guest inside when his mother's head peeked around from the back of the door, a huge smile animating her youthful face. "Is this her?" she asked joyously. Michael nodded and held a finger to his lips, begging his mother to remain quiet. She moved further into the room followed by the packs Alpha, Michael's father. "She is beautiful, my son," His mother grinned happily, tears filling her eyes, "my only son, finally mated after nearly seven hundred years!" "You will be the envy of all the other males in the pack," The Alpha smiled, "your pups will be absolutely gorgeous." He sniffed the air and his smile broadened, "and I believe that will be sooner than we thought." Michael laughed softly, "I hope so," he stroked her messy hair, "I want everything to be perfect for her." "You should bring her breakfast," his mother suggested, "She will be very hungry when she wakes." "I would love to," Michael blushed, "Only ..." "Only he's still locked inside, Mollie," the Alpha took his mate into his arms, "Remember the night we mated? You kept me in there for nearly two hours!" he nibbled her neck causing her to giggle. "William, stop it!" she chided playfully, "We'll leave the two of you alone, let us know when she wakes up so we can meet her properly." Michael nodded and watched his parents leave, he nuzzled Michelle's neck again and drifted back off to sleep. @}-,-'- It was nearly noon before Michelle's body released Michael, she still slumbered exhausted from the previous night. He slowly eased himself out of bed to retrieve a washcloth from the adjoining en suite to clean the blood from her neck and thighs. Michael smiled at the four bloodstains on the sheets the biggest being the blood from the tearing of her mating seal, she had bled more than he had thought and she would probably hurt a bit when she woke. Not wanting to alarm her, he quickly wrung out the cloth and began to clean her. Working the cloth around the curve of her beautifully shaped bottom he could not resist kissing each cheek. Hell, he wanted to do more than just kiss her. He quickly finished cleaning her neck and discarded the cloth wanting to now wake her. He gently rolled her onto her back and parted her knees, his senses exploded with the onslaught of pheromones she emitted, each tiny particle screaming for him to take her again to plant his seed in her. He fought his instinct and drove his mouth to her swollen and slightly bruised womanhood, his tongue sliding the entire length and tasting his spending from the previous night along with her nectar and blood. Michelle sighed, "You still going?" she asked sleepily then chuckled, "Your stamina is incredible!" Michael laughed, "My love, it is midday. We have both had adequate sleep and now I wish to pleasure you before I get us something to eat." "Midday?" she asked waking fully alarmed by the news of the time. "Yes." "SHIT!" she cried sitting up fast, "My devil embryos are being delivered today!" she tried to get off the bed when Michael wrapped an arm firmly around her. "Dr. Monahan knows that we won't be in today," He explained, trying to sooth her agitation, "He is happy for us and congratulates us." Michelle stopped, "Okay," she looked at him for a moment then relaxed, "I take it he noticed us, huh?" Michael chuckled, "yes, that and as you know it is University policy for couples to be noted for legal reasons." She nodded, "I'm sorry to sound demanding but could I get something to eat?" Her eyes pleaded with him. How could he resist her? He rose from between her thighs and made his way out the door. "Hey!" He stopped, "What's the matter?" he asked, turning to look at her. "You should put a robe on," she pointed to the wardrobe. He cocked his head to the side curious to her reason for him to cover up. He then thought that she was a little worried that other females might try something on him if he were naked. "As you wish, my love." He swaggered over to the wardrobe removing a black silken robe and covered up, "Better?" "Yes," she smiled sliding to the side of the bed again. "Where are you going?" he asked now, his confusion returning. "I'm getting dressed," she explained, "I may not be expected at the lab today, but my two dogs will want feeding." She searched for her underwear. "I'll send someone to feed them," he replied casually with a grin. "I do not think that Tala and Fenrir will like that," she stated dryly pausing her search to shoot him an incredulous look. "Is that their names?" "Yes and they do not like strangers," she explained, "They are likely to attack whoever you send." He laughed, "Then we will go there together after lunch," he said and disappeared out the door. Michelle sat on the bed feeling the ache in her nether regions, she had expected some pain for her first time though she had never expected her first time would be with the one man who had haunted her dreams since she first arrived at the University. In truth, she had never expected there to be a first time she had promised herself when she was sixteen that Dr Michael Paterson would be the one man who could take her innocence. By the time she was twenty-three she had concluded that she would never loose her innocence because of the tall and beautiful women Michael would have hanging off him, a new one each week and never did they come back. She sighed lying back on the love nest of pillows and high thread-count sheets. She closed her eyes listening for movement outside the door, to her surprise there was quite a commotion out there women gossiping and men joining in something had gotten the occupants of the house excited today. She felt a little self-conscious at the number of people out there it was like a busy shopping mall or something. Michelle decided then that she would not venture out of the room until it was all clear out there, she did not want to be looked down on as a whore or anything. The commotion in the hall began to quiet down and Michael returned with a whole trolley full of food and beverages. "How much do you think I will eat?" she asked shocked at the shear amount he had. "I forgot to ask what you wanted," he shrugged with a faint smile, "So I had the cook whip up a bit of everything." Michelle swallowed hard, her mouth watering profusely at the sight of what could only be described as a cardiologist's worst nightmare. "What is there?" "This is three rashers of bacon with two fried eggs, two grilled field mushrooms and wholemeal toast," he pointed to the first plate. "This is scrambled eggs, grilled button mushrooms with a tangy cheese sauce on sour dough," he said pointing at the second plate. "This is French toast with fresh forest berries," the third plate. "And this is porridge with cream, dark brown sugar, nutmeg and cinnamon." He handed her a tall glass of orange juice, "There is also a pot of freshly brewed coffee and fresh cream too." Michelle thought she would drown on her own saliva it all looked and smelled so good and very different from her standard bowl of cereal with low fat milk and coffee with low fat milk and artificial sweetener. In fact, the food before her made her feel ashamed of her regular diet of convenience foods and dietary supplements. "I'm going to need to do a lot of laps of the pool to burn that lot off," she said staring at the feast. "I can help you with that if you wish," Michael smiled devilishly wheeling the cart towards the bed, "Please, make yourself comfortable." Michelle complied and Michael gave her a set of cutlery and a small foldout table for her lap. She looked at the knife, it looked to be made out of silver with a golden grape vine that coiled around the handle and the fork was the same. "What would you like to try first?" he asked as he gestured to the four choices. "I'll start with the bacon and eggs," she answered timidly, there was no way she could finish the first plate let alone all four. Michael handed her, her desired plate and sat back to watch her eat. She finished that plate quickly so Michael handed her the scrambled eggs next and that too was gone within minutes. The French toast was next and it suffered the same fate leaving the bowl of porridge for her to consume. As the last spoon full passed her lips she reached for the coffee he had prepared for her, two sugars and a good helping of cream it was the most indulgent coffee she had ever had the privilege to drink. Leaving the contents of the cart decimated Michelle flushed a deep crimson with embarrassment, "I'm so sorry," she uttered covering her eyes with her hand, "I didn't leave you anything." Michael was impressed she ate everything and drank all the offered coffee and orange juice. "I will find something later," he smiled, "Did you like it?" "Absolutely," she enthusiastically replied, "I can't believe I ate the whole lot considering the amount I ate last night," she laughed, "I have eaten the equivalent of a whole weeks worth of food this morning alone." "You must not eat much," Michael sounded worried, "You don't regard those artificial models as being what a woman should look like, do you?" Michelle roared with laughter, "Excuse my language but fuck off! Some looked a little better than a med student's plastic skeletons with shrink-wrap over them." His worry dissipated. He removed the foldout table and crawled onto the bed, "How are you feeling?" he asked with subtle intent. "A little sore," she whispered, "but I think I could be up for more of what you have to offer." She snuggled in close holding him firmly, "Promise me that you will be gentle." "I promise," he lifted her hand to his lips with a smile. Michelle could see his devotion to her in his eyes and a playful grin teasing her on his lips. Yes, she loved him more than anything in the world and she did not want to leave his arms. There she felt ... home. She waited with bated breath for him to make the first move and she was not disappointed, his lips touching hers with feather light caresses. His fingers entwining with her mahogany locks, pulling her closer to deepen their kiss. Their tongues met with ardent passion curling around each other as though trying to pull the two of them closer together. Shell wrapped her legs around Michael's waist, coaxing him challenging him to make a decisive move. He did, flipping her onto her back and pinning her beneath him with his solid body not once breaking their kiss. She could feel him growing against the curves of her cheeks and her tight little rose bud, his size baffled her the shear length and width that would fit most women's fantasies actually existed on the man she had loved and admired for so long. He broke their kiss, "You want it don't you," he breathed hotly in her ear, rolling his hips to emphasise his statement. "Yes," Shell hissed with impassioned ferocity her mind clouding in a haze of lust that Michael seemed to induce around her by his mere presence. She had no idea what was causing her to act so out of character nor did she care, all Michelle wanted was to feel his lips his touch his masculinity. Her body ached for him to possess her to drive his entire length into her to complete her and sate the burning need that consumed her. Michael did not wish to delay he could feel her need for his body and although she was his to control he was her slave the moment he caught her scent through the ventilation of the of the Biology building of the University. The sweet fruity aroma that intrigued him called to him like a siren calling to her prey. Her scent was stronger now, intoxicating him like several shots of absinth laced with pure endorphins which was meant only to beguile his senses and enslave him. With a crooked grin he looked down on her vulnerable form her chest heaving with anticipation to his next move. He tenderly brushed his lips against hers, trailing down her jaw to her ear. Michelle quivered as not only his tongue danced over her sensitive neck and ear but his talented fingers glided down her soft abdominals tickling each puckered nipple on the way down to the torrent of moisture that rivalled the monsoon. She needed no more teasing her body demanded satisfaction and he had the choice of weapon. With a swift smooth motion he buried himself to the hilt encountering no resistance or friction only a quiet moan begging for more. He leaned back resisting the urge to hammer into her only wanting to gaze upon the perfection before him, "Shell, look at me," he demanded with a deep husky voice that rumbled like distant thunder. She opened her eyes staring into the deep blue pools of desire captivating her. He grabbed her ankles bringing her feet to his chest, she could feel his heartbeat like a canon firing in quick succession, it tickled her. He closed his eyes and began to kiss each of her toes, normally she would have begun laughing and kicking about as she hated her feet being touched however the subtle movements of his hips stayed the violent reaction. Her head lolled around as his attentions stimulated pleasure centres that she did not know existed. Her eyes closed again groaning with the build of her release. Michael held her feet to his chest as he began to change again, his piece swelling to lock her to him. Michelle giggled when his chest hair changed to soft downy white fur tickling the bottom of her feet, "Michael, stop it," she opened her eyes. He smiled down at her but his smile froze just as hers had. He watched her beautiful expression turn from ecstasy to something he could not place, her gentle moans vanished gradually then her movements until she lay still. He watched her just stare at him in silence. He thought that perhaps she had decided to play a game with him only her eyes said otherwise and if it were a game it unnerved him greatly. "Shell?" he called to her trying to break her out of this catatonic state she fell into, the deep guttural voice of his wolf/man body reverberating through her. As though waking her she blinked with wide eyes for a moment taking in the image above her and it started the slow creep of shear terror starting in her belly and spreading throughout to her extremities edging into her chest causing his to increase in speed and height of each inhale and finally reaching her voice rousing it from the stunned silence with an ear-splitting scream. Her face was the perfect blend of fear shock and absolute horror, Michael tried in vain to calm his panicking mate by stroking her leg and hushing her. Shell responded by drawing her knees to her chest and kicking him square against his sternum propelling him across the room tearing him from her. He collided with the opposing wall knocking the air from his lungs and crumpled in a foetal position clutching his now wounded staff. Michelle wasted no time as soon as he left her body she ran to the adjoining bathroom and locked the door behind her. She was breathing heavy again her throat throbbed with the raw pain that resulted from her continuous scream. She slowly stepped away from the door her eyes still wide with renewed fear at the sight of fresh blood on the white tiles trailing towards her. She noticed the trail leading up her legs and a dull ache at the source. She scanned the large room for a towel to stem the bleeding next to the bath two white fluffy towels hung with two bathrobes. Cautiously glancing at the door once more she whipped one of the towels from its hook rolling it up and placing it between her legs clamping them shut to keep it in place. Next she reached for a bathrobe covering her now shivering form, "I must be dreaming," she whispered to herself sitting on the toilet in the far corner not once taking her eyes off the door. Michael had not moved paralysed by the infliction to his favourite part of his anatomy. 'What the hell just happened?' He asked himself, replaying everything in his head over and over. He had not done anything to hurt Michelle or intimidate her, he had only done what any male would do for his mate to pleasure her in every way possible. With the worst possible timing his mother returned, "Is everything alright, Mickey?" she asked prior to seeing his crumpled body on the floor. "Please," he groaned out, "Don't call me that." "Oh Great Mother!" she ran to her son's side, "What happened?" She pulled him into her arms cradling her son. "Mother," Michael looked up at his now very concerned mother with his tear-filled eyes, "please let me go, I'm not a pup anymore." She reluctantly let him go, "I know but you are still my little boy no matter how old you are," she saw the disarray that was her son's bedroom, "Where is Michelle?" "She screamed while we were making love and kicked me off her," he pointed to the bathroom, "She's in the en suite." "Do you want me to get your father?" she asked, still wanting to comfort her injured child. "No, I'm good," he sat up on his own leaning his back against the wall, "Don't trouble Dad with this, Shell's a lone wolf. She probably just had an anxiety attack with the prospect of belonging to a pack now." Molly looked at him not believing her son's explanation for the sudden change in his relationship with his mate. "Fine, you deal with your fretful mate," she stood up straightening her skirt, "then the two of you can come to the Alpha's office so we can finally meet her properly." Michael nodded and watched his Mother leave. Slowly he turned his attention to the bathroom door. He had to get her out of there so they could talk. @}-,-'- Michelle tried to listen to the conversation on the other side of the door. She had learned very little from what she heard, only that Michael hated being called Mickey, the fact would have made her laugh if she was not so scared. Gradually her logical brain began to take control again, she surveyed her surrounds in earnest now. She had done the one thing she always said she would not do, trap herself in a dead-end. All those horror movies she sat there yelling at the victim's stupidity when they were being chased only to do it herself. "You stupid bitch," she berated herself, "you did the cliché horror movie thing and now your trapped by a fucking werewolf!" Curiosity now caught her wondering if she had been bitten and would she become one herself if she had? Rising from the toilet seat her legs tingling from the restricted blood flow she made her way to the basin where the mirror sat above it. She slipped the robe off her shoulders and inspected them with a critical eye and there it was, a bloody and bruised bite mark looking more painful than it felt. "So," she swallowed hard, "Michael's a werewolf and I will become one." She stood for a moment longer studying the teeth marks, "his wolf is much larger than any of the living species of wolf ...," she paused shaking her head, her inner scientist analysing the facts did not help with her determined anger. "I'm going to kill him!" Forgotten Ch. 02 She spun around when she heard the door knob twisting, remembering she had locked it she wondered how long Michael would wait before smashing the door down, that's what werewolves did wasn't it? When the door did not open or smashed to pieces a soft knock rapped on the painted solid wood door. "Shell?" He called, "Come on, open the door." Michael sounded calm, how dare he be calm with this! "What do you want, Dr. Paterson?" she asked in a formal tone, hiding her fearful quiver poorly. He winced. "Michelle, please come out of there," he begged his voice pained with desperation. "And why would I do that?" she retaliated getting angry that he was sounding like the one wronged in all this. She glared at him through the door she was sure he could feel the icy stare. "I do not want to talk to you through a solid oak door," he leaned his forehead against the door sighing at her stubbornness. "Tough," she replied crossing her arms, "I'm not going out there with you!" she was pacing anxiously, was it wise to challenge a werewolf? Probably not but she did it anyway. "Shell, what's wrong?" he pleaded. "What's wrong?" she echoed him incredulously, "you are a FUCKING WEREWOLF!" she yelled fighting the urge to open the door and tackle him, "When were you going to tell me you were one? Or were you just waiting for me to turn into one so I couldn't escape?" Michael was getting angry now, "Michelle, you won't turn into werewolf because you already are one." He squeezed the brass handle of the door crushing it in his fingers. "I think I would have noticed if I were," she spat back at him, "I don't have a problem with silver or have an uncontrollable desire to howl at the moon!" she punched the door, the shockwave going through Michael's head, "And a funny thing, Mickey ..." "Don't call me that!" "... I have never turned into a wolf," she snarled through the wood, "ever." He stepped back from the door, apprehensive at her statement, "Never?" he tried to open the door more forcefully now, cursing his father's criteria for doors in the house, "Michelle, we must talk about this." "No Michael," she responded, "You are going to leave that room so I can get dressed and I am going to walk out of here." She had adopted her commanding voice the same one she used on the undergraduates when they try to push her to consider them for lab assistants. "Do I make myself clear?" He hated when she spoke like that she sounded like his father after dealing with pack business, the 'I'll tear your throat out if you disobey me' tone. "Alright," he conceded retreating from the room after pulling on a pair of boxer-shorts. Shell waited until the bedroom door closed before she unlocked the door and left the chilly bathroom. Moving as quickly as she could she dressed not bothering to tie up her boots and edged her way to the bedroom door. She pressed her ear to the solid wood door straining to hear if it was clear on the other side, which it appeared to be. Opening the door she peeked around. "Michelle," Michael was waiting for her leaning against the opposite wall, "We need to talk." She saw his blood shot eyes downcast and forlorn. "You had your chance to talk," she glared at him hardening her exterior to the display of emotion he gave. "You had plenty of time to tell me what you are, yet you chose not to. Why? Was it to trap me into staying? You know if you had asked me I might have said yes." "Shell ..." "No, I'm leaving now," she hastily left Michael's presence heading down the staircase towards the main entrance. Outside the extensive gardens were filled with children of all ages and a few wolf cubs all of different ages. They all seemed happy just playing with each other under the midday sun. Over in the gazebo a teen couple were kissing their hands excitedly roaming over each other's bodies. A rush of guilt ran through her upon spying the two adolescences she turned away and continued down the driveway with increased determination to get home. A commotion erupted behind her, "Fuck you, Lester!" a girl screamed at someone obviously named Lester. Michelle heard a slap and the telltale sound of stomping feet. "Arsehole!" Shell continued towards the large iron gates. She heard those same feet quicken to a jog, "Hey, where you goin'?" Michelle stopped, turning to see the girl who had moments ago been kissing the blond boy in the gazebo. "Home," she replied simply. "I haven't seen you here before," the girl said, she was quite tall nearly a full head above Michelle and had jet-black hair, "who were you visiting last night?" "Excuse me?" this girl was a little too forward for her liking. The teen cocked her eyebrow, "you know, visiting?" a cheeky grin crept across her face. After a long silence Michelle looked away wanting to continue her now not so hasty escape. "Michelle," Michael came jogging out, "Please listen to what I have to say, I beg you." "Great Horned God Above!" the girl exclaimed excitedly, "The Michelle?" "Not now Gwen," Michael snapped at her, "I need to speak with Michelle alone." "You said you were going home," Gwen looked towards Michelle ignoring her brother, "You are home," she lifted Shell's left hand, "you accepted his mating proposal." "NOT NOW GWEN!" Michael's voice rising to a volume that caught everyone's attention. Michelle took the distraction as the perfect opportunity to run. When Michael returned his gaze to where Michelle stood where he saw an empty space and the distinctive clomping sound of her army boots on the paved driveway. "Shell, please! Come back!" She was not listening she wanted to get out of there and come hell or high water nothing was going to stop her. Eventually she made it to the large iron gates, they were closed and locked. Not wanting to give up she began to climb the metal barrier kicking her legs over just before Michael could grab her ankle. Ignoring his pleas she continued walking along the quiet country road. She had remembered which direction they had travelled from the night before and retraced it as best as she could. No more than five minutes into her walk she heard a truck rumbling in the distance behind her turning back and flicking out her thumb summoning the driver's attention and was soon in the truck with a man who looked to be in his mid twenties with a scruffy beard and a dark tan. "So where are you heading, ma'am?" he asked politely. "Just into town, I'll be fine once I get there," she replied looking out the window. "So," he asked slowly, "what were you doin' out at the ol' Patterson place?" her head shot around to study his curious expression. "What do you know about them?" she enquired suspiciously. "Only that they are the oldest pack in the country," he shrugged changing lanes to over-take a car. "You know what they are?" she blurted out shocked that some stranger knew the truth about Michael and she who had been a colleague for over ten years knew nothing. "William, the Alpha, helped my mother about four, maybe five hundred years ago," the driver spoke as though having a mother who could have graced the court of Queen Elizabeth I as a normal thing made her uncomfortable. "He helped protect her from a rival for her territory whilst she was pregnant with me and me sister." "My God, what are you?" she asked feeling the urge to jump from the vehicle. "Were-Tiger," he smiled, "And I must say that if you were also a Tiger I would invite you to mate with me this season and carry my first brood." "What do you think I am?" she asked ignoring the blatant non-human pick up line. "You're a Wolf, Ma'am," he replied cocking an eyebrow at her in question, "and your mate is a lucky man." "How do you know I am a Wolf?" "You ask a lot of questions, ma'am," he took his eyes off the road again trying to figure out where the interrogation was leading. "How do you know I am a Wolf?" she repeated her fingers tapping the armrest. "You smell like one?" he answered thinking she was just being stupid, "you smell like a Bitch in heat and you also have the scent of a male on you. Smells a bit like the Alpha but not quite." Shell felt her stomach drop was Michael telling the truth? Was she already a wolf? And if so, why did she not know? No, he must have done something to her she had no memory of being an animal. @}-,-'- Michael retrieved the keys for the gate when he could not climb over it as easily as Michelle did, the females were always more agile than the males regardless on which species of Were they were. His sister did not help at all, yes she was excited to meet Michelle and he had talked about no one else since he met her. Gwen obviously wanted to meet the girl who had captivated her brother but her timing had given Michelle a chance to run without him being able to talk to her. He followed her scent out onto the road and ran to follow it until it stopped dead. "No!" he cried angrily, she had hitchhiked with some stranger and now could be anywhere. He paced on the spot for a while trying to figure out what he was going to do. His father had the sense to follow his son the situation was unusual and thought that it would not be wise to let him chase his wayward mate on his own. "Do you know where she lives?" William asked his son. "She told you what happened didn't she," Michael responded, "And no, I would have to get that from Monahan." William nodded, "I'll drive you," he placed his arm around his son's shoulders, "you are in no condition to be behind the wheel." They walked back to the compound and Michael sighed, "I guess you won't be giving the pups their music lesson today." Forgotten Ch. 03 Another self-edit with more story building and character introductions and revelations. Enjoy! @}-,-'- Chapter 3: Nothing is as it seems. Tala walked into the lounge room carrying coffees for Fenrir and herself. "I don't know," the large muscular woman sighed, "Maybe that man she talks about all the time finally made a move on her." "I sincerely hope not," Fenrir growled, "We were charged with protecting her innocence as well as her life," he accepted the offered hot beverage and sipped it cautiously, "Bleddyn will have our hides if she returned as damaged goods." Tala laughed, "You never saw how he would ignore her she is only a runt after all." "Runt or not she is still his only daughter and from his mate's only litter," the mountain of a man rested his feet on the cluttered coffee table, "We'll give her until tonight and then we'll go hunting for her." "Agreed," Tala slumped in the seat across from her partner and used the remote to switch on the television, "with all that money you think she could indulge in some pay TV or a few more DVDs." Fenrir chuckled, "we could occupy our time the old fashioned way," he grinned mischievously. Tala shook her head, "I would like to know the princess is safe first." @}-,-'- Michelle felt the relief wash over her as the Were-Tiger truck driver drove away, he had left her by the bus station so she could catch a bus to her destination which happened to be the University and the bus she needed was ready to leave. She dug into her pocket and pulled out her wallet, it had been many years since she had to use public transport and she hoped she had enough for the fare. She could not believe her luck on finding another were in less than twenty-four hours and one who knew her colleague's family. Michelle could not call Michael her friend at that moment and definitely not her lover as both titles needed trust and he had shattered that when he opted to keep his other nature from her and it broke her heart. If only he had said something to her everything would have turned out differently. "Yeah," she spoke to herself, "you probably would have ran before that night of unbelievably fantastic sex." She sighed, "Maybe I should have listened to him," she thought hard about the last few hours and shook her head, "Fuck it!" She boarded the bus and sat near the rear exit to make a quick escape once she reached the University. Her stomach growled, how could she be hungry so soon after that feast Michael had given her? She chose to ignore it surely it was the excitement of her morning that caused her body to grumble for food, she had been an emotional eater when Gary died she lived at fast food restaurants until the vicar helped her deal with the loss of her step-father. The town houses caught her attention there was a lovely house with wisterias growing along the fence, it stood out from the rest of the houses as it was the only one that had a wild look about it all the other houses had neat little gardens with well kept lawns and trimmed shrubs. There it was, the vines were in flower with purple and white blooms and no doubt a fragrance that would make you dizzy if you remained for too long. Shell loved that house and made up her mind that if it ever became available she would buy it and keep all the windows open for the exotic perfume to waft throughout the house. The house was also conveniently within walking distance of the University which meant that her stop was coming up next. With a quick thank you to the driver she made her way to her office to pick up her car keys, carefully avoiding everyone. Luckily nobody seemed to notice her as she ran towards the staff car park at the rear of the biology building. Steeling her nerves once she was in the driver's seat she could not drive home if she was overly emotional, in this case rage as she found Michael had anticipated her destination with a man who could have been his brother walked with him towards the southern entrance of the biology building. They had not seen her, she did however fear they could smell her they were wolves after all and would pick up her scent. Starting the engine she carefully backed her little hatchback out and drove away. @}-,-'- "So this is where you work?" William asked trying to calm is frantic son. Michael nodded waiting for the car to stop moving so he could spring out and retrieve the information he needed to find his mate. His father followed him out of the car and into the building. William looked around and spotted the office with a few young women working inside and although he was mated he could not resist the challenge of charming all four of them. "Ladies," he greeted them leaning on the counter beaming a broad smile. Michael shook his head leaving his father safely in the foyer while he raced to Dr. Monahan's office, the old bear had all the personnel files that involved an immortal. Apart from the three weres, there was also a banshee that worked in medicine and a vampire in the drama department. "Ah! Mike what are you doing here?" the older man with chocolate hair and dark brown eyes questioned his friend, "Aren't you suppose to be honeymooning or what ever you wolves call it?" They stood in the hall in front of Monahan's office which was fortunately empty. "Rick," Michael began as they entered Dr. Monahan's office, "I need your help." He conveyed all that had occurred and the reason why he stood before his friend when he should have been making love to his mate. "Well," Dr. Monahan sighed, "I'd say you're royally fucked." Michael slumped in the chair, "I need her address so I can iron things out and we can overlook this little hiccup." Rick roared with laughter, "She thinks you tricked her into your bedroom to forcibly change her into a were, following her home will not help you." "She is my mate," Mike felt defeated, "I think she maybe hurt. When she kicked me off ... I saw a trail of blood." The bear stopped laughing, "Now that is serious." He rummaged through the files in the bottom draw of his desk, "here," he handed Michelle's file to him, "go find her." Michael nodded and raced out, "Dad, please leave the office girls alone," he grumbled as he entered the foyer. William turned towards his son, "Excuse me ladies," he bid his goodbyes to the now flirtatious office girls. They moaned their disappointment as the Alpha left. "Do you have to flirt with every female that crosses your path?" Michael did nothing to hide his disapproval, "What would Mum say?" "She finds it amusing," he defended himself, "so have you got what we came for?" "Yes," Michael read out the address to his father and the two sped off. @}-,-'- Michelle unlocked her front door, "I'm sorry guys," she apologised to her two dogs as the jumped around her quite obviously happy she had returned. Fenrir stopped and began to growl he had scented another male and it was coming from Michelle and to make matters worse he was a wolf. "Fen what's wrong?" she crouched down to the large animal. Tala now growled but at Fenrir, she bit his ear until he yelped and rolled over. "What's gotten into you guys?" She continued into the kitchen looking for something to eat. 'You idiot!' Tala thought across to Fenrir, 'What's gotten into you?' The male wolf looked at his partner, 'she's fucked a wolf!' He snarled back. 'I think she may have mated with him! She in heat!!!' 'How can she mate with a wolf is she has no idea she is one herself?' Tala growled back, 'Bedella made sure she would not remember anything of her past life only the implanted memories she gave her.' 'She couldn't remove the fact that she is a wolf!' Fenrir argued, 'She still carries the wolf scent!' Before the two wolves could continue their argument they smelled the delicious scent of fresh meat, Michelle knew how to spoil them she always gave them fresh meat not once had she given them biscuits or canned food. They let their stomachs lead them and ate the offered morsels. Shell searched through her music collection on the desk top computer finding the music that suited her current mood, the rage had set back in again and she wanted to listen to something to calm her down, so her collection of the heaviest music she owned began to rumble out the speakers. The windows pulsed with the throb of the bass and she could swear the neighbours were calling the cops already. Michelle wish she had stopped by the liquor store for a few beverages, she never drank until the previous night and now she just wished she could drown in a bottle of rum or whiskey or anything with a proof above 80%. But she had nothing, the only drug that she could be happy with would be the instant coffee she had every morning, "That will do," she made the coffee stronger than she would normally have it. She picked up a sandwich she had made earlier and took a bite out of it while she waited for the kettle to boil. @}-,-'- The music could be heard clearly from the outside of the average sized house in the suburbs. Michael screwed his nose up at the noise, why did his mate have to like this rubbish? "This is a pretty house," William said joining his son in the driveway, "I like the colour of the bricks." Michael moved past his father and banged on the door. @}-,-'- Michelle rolled her eyes, she knew that escaping Michael would not be easy but did he have to track her down so fast? "Michelle!" he called from the front door, "Please let me in!" The anger she felt increased, "Leave me alone Michael," she called back turning the music up louder with the remote. "Damnit!" Michael punched the door he dented it but did not break it down, that would have been rude. Tala and Fenrir heard the raised voices over the heavy music. 'I can smell him!' Fenrir growled. 'Who?' Tala responded angrily more concerned with Michelle's welfare. 'The bastard who touched the Princess!' Fenrir resisted the urge to shift into his human form, they could not reveal their true nature to the Princess unless her life was in danger. "Fuck off!" Michelle yelled through her front door over the deafening music. William huffed, "your bitch is obstinate," he grumbled to his son. "I will get to the bottom of this," Michael said to his father tersely, "I will bring her home and live happily ever after!" his voice rising in an unconscious challenge to his father's authority. "Careful boy!" William growled between clenched teeth, "You are not ready of the position of Alpha yet!" "Nor do I want it," Michael returned to banging on the door, "Michelle open the door." "There is no way I am letting in a werewolf into my home," she shrieked back, "Don't you have to wait for an invitation?" "That's vampires," Mike sighed she was deliberately provoking him he could feel it. Although their bond was new he could already feel her base emotions, she was ready to fight him and at this point in time he was willing to please her desire. "And that is just a myth, vampires would just walk into the house if they felt like it." "Oh what fantastic news," she sarcastically replied, "Not only are there werewolves and tigers but vampires as well! Next you will be telling me that pixies exist!" "They do." Michelle let out a frustrated scream, "Anything else I should know?" "Move back from the door!" William had had enough of the verbal sparring his son and daughter seemed to enjoy. "What?" Shell asked as the door flew open hitting her in the head and casting her backwards into a bookcase causing the contents to fall on her. It was enough for Fenrir he shifted into his hybrid form and tackled the Alpha as he bent down to check Michelle's condition. Tala had shifted too into her human form, "Fenrir!" she called as she too was tackled by Michael. William threw Fenrir off him and went back to checking Michelle's injuries the mark on her forehead caused him to wince his anger lead him to injure his son's mate, Mollie will kill him for this. Michael had the two wolves by their necks, "Okay, now I'm really confused," he looked to his father who had picked the unconscious girl. "What have you done?" He was murderous ready to snuff out the lives of not only the two wolves he held but also his father. Fenrir growled, "What have you done to Princess Bleddwen?" William shot his head around, "Of the Dawnlight Pack?" Michael had never heard his father scared before, he even scented his fear in the air. Michael stood watching the exchange between the two males, "We were assigned to hide her," Tala explained, "along with a human, Gary. We were to keep her hidden until the threat had passed." "I thought the threat had passed," William responded raising an eyebrow challenging the woman to argue his statement. "We have not received such news," She said dryly, "Our orders were simple; keep her save and keep her pure until she was mated to the Midnight Pack Alpha." "Well he cannot have her," Michael growled, "She is MY mate." The news sent Fenrir into a frenzy breaking from Michael's grip, the shock of Fenrir's escape startled him for only a moment but his retaliation was thwarted by Tala who had beat him to the man. She had shifted into her hybrid form and captured Fenrir in her jaws until he calmed down. William grunted at the obvious pain that Fenrir felt, "your mate?" he asked the wounded wolf who nodded rubbing his neck. The Alpha motioned for Michael to take Michelle to the car. "Now I need the two of you to come back to our territory." The two wolves nodded and shifted into their wolf forms and jumped onto the backseat with an unconscious Michelle. @}-,-'- Bleddyn looked out the window to the perpetual dawn, his mate had gone into labour early again the fifth time since their first litter and he hoped that this time their pups would survive. The Pack doctor came out of the birthing suite and shook his head sadly. Bleddyn closed his eyes, the tears he held in fear now spilling over, "how many?" "Six," the doctor answered, "two boys four girls." He approached his Alpha placing his hand on his friend's shoulder, "Steren has been calling for you. She needs you." The Alpha wiped the tears from his eyes he could not be seen weakened not even in front of his mate, especially now when she needed him strong. He entered the infirmary where his beloved mate lay in the hospital bed her cheeks stained with her tears and the bodies of the six pups lying in her lap. "My Heart," Bleddyn clasped her hand with his, "This is not your fault." "I know," she wept, "but what have we done to anger the gods so much to keep taking our children from us?" she picked up one of the boys and cradled him to her chest, "this one would have made a beautiful Alpha." She broke down howling over her dead children. Bleddyn did what he could to comfort her pulling his mate into his arms and gently rocking with her until she calmed to a pained whimper. "Come, My Heart," he removed the pups from her lap and handed them to one of the nurses who waited patiently to prepare them for their journey to the after life. She held all six pups as though they were still alive and left her Alphas to grieve. "Steren," Bleddyn cooed in her ear, "I will get to the bottom of this, I promise." @}-,-'- Mollie stood at the front door her arms crossed and tapping her foot impatiently, the sight of her new daughter unconscious and two unknown wolves had angered her. William may be Alpha but it would not stop her from giving him a piece of her mind. "Mollie," William stopped dead when she held up her hand. "What is going on here?" she asked her mate not needing to gesture to the newcomers. "We should have the answers we need," William answered truthfully, "but I fear it will only cause us to ask more." The two strangers remained in their wolf form and submitted to Mollie, who just nodded and passed them to reach her son, "How are you feeling my dear?" she asked him sincerely resting her hand on his arm as he held his mate in his arms. "Confused and tired," he went inside and headed straight to the infirmary. William motioned for the two newcomers to shift, "you will follow me." He led them to his office on the second floor. Several young pups ran to his side trying to steal hugs from him as he passed them. They looked disappointed when he told them to wait. Fenrir felt a stab of jealousy towards the Alpha of the Patterson Pack, he was truly loved by all of those around him and he was so laid back perhaps he and Tala should petition this man to join his pack once they were given leave of their assignment from Bleddyn. It would be a more peaceful rest from their assignment than what they would receive for failing in their duty to Bleddyn. The office was warm and friendly with pictures of all the pack members and their families hung on the walls and decorated all the flat surfaces. A clarinet sat on a stand with some sheet music lying next to it on a chair, it appeared to have been put down hastily. William leaned against his desk crossing his ankles and his arms across his chest, "Who wants to start?" he asked the two wolves waiting for one of them to begin talking. When neither spoke he continued, "My son last night mated with a woman he has loved for years. This morning however she had no idea what had happened and began panicking when my son made love to her, injuring both my son and herself in the process." Tala dropped her eyes she explained everything, the threats to the Dawnlight Pack, the hiding of the Alpha's litter all over the world and the involvement of the Sídhe to hide the pups from themselves. "and now we wait for contact from the Pack to welcome us home," she finished, "though I fear that with Gary's death and the Princess's need to move from the town we were placed in, we may be lost." "Why haven't you contacted them yourselves?" William asked, his eyes trapping Tala in his gaze, "it is not hard to travel to Dawnlight." "We could not take the Princess with us, nor could we risk being spotted by the enemy," Fenrir spoke flatly, "that was why we had Gary, he was human and not seen as a threat." William nodded he was torn, he must inform Bleddyn that his daughter has mated with Michael but that could cause stress with the Midnight Pack and their Alpha Brynjar who was know for his volatile nature. He trained his dark eyes on the two wolves before him, "how can you change into pure wolf form?" he asked abruptly remembering the way they looked in their wolf form, no trace of their humanity remained. "The Sídhe changed us so we could appear as animals," Tala explained, "to hide in plain sight." "Fair enough," William pushed himself off his desk and circled it to a concealed bar fridge beneath the desk and pulled out bottles of beer tossing them to the wolves, "Anyway, I'm William, or Bill to my Betas." @}-,-'- Gwen had seen it, Michelle was hurt and there were two unknown wolves with her father and brother, she was determined to find out and began to follow her father up the stairs. "What are you doing?" an adolescent male voice asked from behind her. "Piss off Lester," she snarled at the intruder, "I don't want to talk with you ever again!" "Because I touched you?" he asked cautiously. "What do you think genius?" she continued to stalk her father and the newcomers with Lester annoyingly close behind. "Who are they?" he whispered in her ear tickling the delicate shell with his breath. Gwen huffed, "That's what I'm trying to find out." They skulked around the corner to see the Alpha's office door shut with a soft click of the latch. Gwen trotted up to the door and pushed her ear to the solid wood door. The Alpha's voice carried through the wood clearly but the other two in there were muffled by the hardwood door. "What are they saying?" Lester inquired interrupting the Alpha's question about something that would have been a really juicy piece of information. Forgotten Ch. 03 "LESTER!" the teen growled turning her head to scowl at him properly, "I am trying to find that out and all you are doing is making it impossible for me to discover anything!" The boy sat back, "Sorry," he Mumbled, bowing his head slightly as he watched Gwen place her ear against the door again. "Oh this is useless," she sighed, "I can't hear a thing in there!" She kicked Lester to follow her after standing up, "Come on, let's go see if Michelle's okay." Lester feeling like he was forgiven followed Gwen to the infirmary where they heard Michael yelling at one of the pack doctors. "Maybe we should just go back outside?" Lester suggested his face blanching at the Beta's loud voice, "Your brother frightens me." "You'll never be my mate if you think like that!" Gwen berated him, "you'll never make Beta either and I need you to be a Beta because I will be one. I don't plan on being an Omega forever." She pushed past him and walked to the foyer where one of the female betas was hanging the bed sheet that Michael and Michelle had mated on the official announcement of their joining. Gwen guessed that nobody had told the beta that there was trouble yet. "Shit!" Lester cried, "Michelle was a virgin!" Gwen turned to look at the sheet, the four distinct blood stains for all to see and scent, "huh, no wonder she panicked," Gwen laughed dryly, "I do believe that brother of mine fucked up." "What do you mean?" the blond boy asked, naively. The young woman sighed, "Really Lester, have you ignored every dinner conversation for the last twelve years?" she shook her head, "Michelle is a lone wolf, chances are her parents never told her about mating properly." "Oh," the boy acknowledged, "then why did she agree to it in the first place?" Gwen glared at him, "Do I look like a mind reader?" she descended the stairs to the ground floor and proceeded to the infirmary. The door which normally was open was shut and locked, Gwen huffed angrily rattling the door with no hope of opening it. The infirmary door by the Alpha's decree could never be closed and locked without a valid reason, was Michelle that bad that they needed the precaution to stop her from running away? "What do you mean she won't wake up?" Michael roared at the medic on the other side of the door. Both Gwen and Lester jumped back from the wooden barrier both quietly pleased that it was locked. "Maybe we should go," Lester suggested tugging at Gwen's arm. "I want to know what happened to her," she pulled out of his grip and listened. "Whatever your father did to her has caused her to fall into unconsciousness," the medic explained frantically, "It should not have happened but it did, so all we can do is wait ..." "I'll kill him!" Michael burst through the door passing his younger sister and her intended mate without a glance in their direction. He was on a mission to see his father, the urge to avenge his mate would mean that he would have the blood of his father on his hands before too long. "Fuck!" Gwen exclaimed, "I better warn Dad!" she raced off leaving Lester behind frozen to the spot at the prospect of Michael taking on his own father could mean that by that night there would be a new Alpha and a funeral pyre to see off the old. Gwen's feet barely touched the ground as she ran towards the Alpha's office. The chance of arriving to warn her father before her brother could was slim so instead she headed for her mother. @}-,-'- Mollie sat with a few of the beta mothers and their young pups in the communal sitting area on the ground floor of the manor. Mollie's four youngest pups were drawing on the walls with the crayons they had not that it bothered the mothers group as that was what the walls in the area were for once a week the omegas would clean the walls so the pups could draw on them again preventing them from taking their artistic persuasions out on other parts of the house. The women discussed all the current topics of gossip that concerned the pack at the time namely the mating of Mollie's son, Michael. Mollie had tried hard not to let the situation weigh on her, it was suppose to be a joyous occasion for the pack that the heir apparent had found a mate and she was not going to let slip that things were not going as smoothly as they should. A few of the women were not as happy as others were hoping that one of their daughters could have caught the heir's attention instead of the packless bitch. "So what was that palaver at midday?" one of the unhappy mothers asked Mollie, "yelling and scowls between the newly mated couple, trouble in paradise already?" "I cannot tell you," Mollie answered truthfully her resolve to hide the problem until it was all sorted out more solid than ever with the woman's question, "but I believe that is a matter for my son and his mate to settle don't you think?" The other mothers nodded their agreement, "Jess, your Lydia may not have succeeded in winning the affections of Michael but he will be our Alpha one day," Another mother spoke to the disgruntled woman, "They will sort out whatever the tiff was about and we'll be welcoming Michelle into our little group with her belly round with pups before you know it." The woman spoke with a hint of excitement in her voice, her daughter Vicky missed out on Michael's romantic attentions all together not that she was not pretty enough for him, she had her own dealings with males and possible suitors to even consider looking at the enigmatic Michael Patterson. Mollie smiled at the way Jess closed her mouth rethinking her need to continue her train of thought. "Have you heard that Claudia is pregnant again?" Mollie distracted smoothly. @}-,-'- "Mum!" Gwen yelled at the top of her lungs running to the family room, "Michael! Dad! Fight!" Gwen's heart beat painfully within her chest her head spun from the exertion of her sprint. Mollie turned to see her daughter running towards her and the desperate worry plastered across her face. Without a moment hesitation, Mollie focused on her mate in his office. Closing her eyes, her mind reached out, 'William! Michael is coming to ...' @}-,-'- The office door flew open crashing into the wall behind it startling the three occupants of the Alpha's office. William had heard his mate's warning when the door opened revealing his very angry son. William remained calm he had a feeling that his son was there to exact revenge for the unintentional injury Michelle had incurred by his action earlier at her house. "She won't wake up!" Michael growled menacingly at his father, "Your negligence has hurt my mate!" he went to lunge at his father when the two newcomers intercepted him tackling him to the ground. "She won't wake because it is part of the incantation," Tala explained to the distraught wolf who struggled against the two who pinned him to the floor. "The Sídhe enchantress Bedella did it to protect Bleddwen from harm she will wake after a few hours remembering nothing of her stress." "Will she remember me? Our mating?" Michael felt the anxiety rising inside his being, please let his love remember. "Yes, but she will need time to adapt," Tala sighed. Michael felt the two wolves move from his body and sat up, "All I can do is wait," he stated cradling his head in his hands and fought the urge to weep with the helplessness that consumed him. "It could be worse," Fenrir now spoke sitting beside the beta, "She could have mated with her intended, an Alpha named Brynjar who is as cold and dark as the realm he resides in." Michael looked up with the question of who and why. "He is the Alpha of the Midnight Pack and has a contract with the Princess's Father to mate with her once she came of age which is now null and void due to your claim on her." @}-,-'- The new moon was always a time for celebration in Midnight, the realm of perpetual night. All the wolves and the associated clans tribes and villages in the area would gather in the clearing deep within the Obsidian forest to feast and enjoy themselves. Brynjar along with his fifteen most trusted Betas sat at one end on the long table that also accommodated the local Vampire clan. The Lord of Clan Midnight was a tall lithe man with stunningly blue hair which he inherited from his sídhe mother, his pale white skin and dark blue eyes from his vampire father, a very popular Lord among his own kind and close friend to the very pale Alpha. "Bryn, you old dog," Lord Einar Midnight called across the heavy wooden table, "What has you so down?" The Alpha looked down at his plate of roasted pig and sighed, "I wait still for Bleddyn to present his daughter to me," the Alpha growled at the uneaten food, "I need a mate to continue my line and the one I could find myself attracted to and she not by my side." "Then go to her," Einar pulled one of the serving wenches into his lap a human woman of around forty years with ample assets and long flowing chestnut hair, "You are Alpha of Midnight, you should take what you want and discard what you don't." The Lord brushed the woman's hair aside and inhaled deeply, he shivered with anticipation of the woman's blood, "like I do." He placed a gentle kiss over her jugular before sinking his teeth into the soft flesh. The woman cried out in rapture as the Lord drank deeply from her throat. He let his hands wander over her ample form, squeezing her rounded bottom as his own pleasure mounted. "Do you have to do that now?" Brynjar complained more envious of the erotic sight than disgusted by it. Einar cut short his meal, healing his bite with a drop of his blood from his tongue and with one last kiss to her neck he let the wench move on and focused back on his friend. "You are a mood killer," the vampire grumbled, picking up his mug of ale and drinking it down in one shot. "Go to Dawnlight and demand your mate, you have a contract so you have every right to take what is rightfully yours." Brynjar smiled then, "You are right," he picked up the leg of pork and took a large bite out of the side. "Bleddyn won't risk another war, he already lost his eldest in the last war with the Aurora Pack and he only has three more sons and the petite gem of a daughter left. I think I will get the beta females to prepare for the mating ritual, give the boys a good show when I take her innocents." Einar laughed, "I look forward to seeing it, see if the rumours of your ... talent lives up to reality." He gave a suggestive wriggle of his eyebrow and picked up his cutlery to eat what had been served on his plate. "And if I live up to expectations?" Brynjar let his eyes linger on his friend. "Then," the Lord smirked between morsels, "I will have to bite you." He chuckled, "though you really should ease up on the tough guy routine, remember what it cost your father." The Alpha sobered, "Without my perceived persona I will loose all respect." Einar leaned closer, "You are not your father, the man was insane that is why you killed him remember?" the vampire hated it when his friend would doubt his ability to lead without the threat of tyranny. "Talking about it is one thing but acting on it is a whole other thing. You are better than that, be just to your pack be strong to others and be ruthless to your enemy and never get confused to where you show aggression. Anyway it doesn't suit you." The wolf softened, "I hate diplomacy." @}-,-'- I did say there were new characters coming and the character Bedella is one I absolutely love as she is an unknown quantity. Forgotten Ch. 04 Well it could be a bit of a wait for the following chapter as I have an overactive imagination and only 24 hours in a day but on the plus side is that you will see more of my twisted little mind's creations along the way. :Þ @}-,-'- Chapter 4: Waiting. Michael sat at Michelle's side holding her hand and waiting for her to wake. It had been several hours since William accidentally knocked her out whilst breaking through her front door and now it was getting late in the afternoon and the shadows were growing long. Michael did not understand what was going on, the two wolves that were disguised as Michelle's pet dogs had told his father everything but nobody had bothered to tell him anything yet. The unconscious Michelle groaned and rolled over startling Michael out of his daze. "Shell?" he called to her hoping that she was finally waking up. To his surprise Michelle stretched and began to shift into her lupine form. The change was so subtle that he was not sure he was actually seeing correctly, her face paled and a mask of fine downy white fur sprouted over her skin followed by a coarser darker layer around her eyes like the band on a racoon, her nose and mouth grew from the relatively flat human features to the more canine snout with a black point for her nose. Michael was mesmerised by the beauty of her lupine form as it gradually came into existence, he watched her ears grow and sharpen and her ribs gently change to the more voluminous torso of her wolf. The change took nearly an hour but at the end a gorgeous silvery grey werewolf lay beneath the sheets of the hospital bed, the gown torn to shreds. Like all lycanthropic creatures they retain a percentage of their human side when in animal form, Michelle's paws were more like human hands with claws at the tips of her fingers and no doubt that her eyes remained the earthy garnet he had fallen in love with. "She does that nearly every night," Tala whispered as she entered the room, "because of the spell that Bedella cast twelve years ago, it suppressed her ability to morph into her wolf so it only happens when she sleeps." The muscular woman sat next to him staring down at her charge, "the sídhe are curious fae. Bedella is a close friend of her father Bleddyn, the Alpha of the Dawnlight Pack." "The outer realms?" Michael asked, "So that's why you called her by another name." "Yes, she was named after her father," Tala moved her gaze to him trying to be sympathetic, "Her real name is Bleddwen." "'Beautiful Wolf'," he translated, "Why was she cast out of Dawnlight?" The woman sighed, "Aggressive politics and near fatal threats forced Bleddyn's hand to hide all his remaining children. His heir was murdered by the Aurora pack nearly twenty years ago and did not want to risk any more of his children when the dhampires began making threats. She was kidnapped by the dhampire clan and was rescued by Fenrir and myself." Tala rubbed her eyes feeling the exhaustion from their busy day, "long story short: Bleddwen and her remaining three litter mates were hidden around the seven realms, I don't know where her brothers went but she wished to come here and have the name Michelle." Michael squeezed her hand, "I don't know my mate at all, do I?" "There's more that you should know," she continued, "there is a contract between the Midnight and Dawnlight Packs which is over a hundred years old. The heir to the Midnight Pack had come to Alpha Bleddyn to seek his aid to remove his father from power. Alpha Bleddyn agreed to help on the condition that the two packs become allies. It was just to be a peace treaty but Bleddwen in all her childish enthusiasm for wanting to do what the adults do insisted in attending the meeting and the aspiring Alpha instantly took to her so now the peace that both Midnight and Dawnlight now share was on the condition that Bleddwen mated with the Midnight Alpha." "So I may have started a war?" "That depends whether Brynjar is that concerned with upholding the contract a century after it was signed," Tala paused in thought before continuing, "he may challenge you for the rite of mating her or he might petition the elders for an annulment. Either way you might very well end up dead." "A comforting thought," Michael sarcastically responded. "I wonder if any of my sisters would be willing to take Michelle's place?" "Don't be too quick to offer your family up as compensation, you know nothing of the man," she warned her eyes boring into his with intense caution, "I hear he is much like his late father, cruel for his own entertainment." "Then you do not know him personally," Mike smiled to himself at the discovery, "What you hear could just be rumour." "Rumour or not, you must not so hasty when it comes to dealing with the outer realms," she gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder, "Just be here for Bleddwen for now. She needs you." Michael smiled as the masculine woman left and he returned his attention back to his own mate who had reverted to her human form. He brought her hand to his lips, "Please wake my love," he whispered as he kissed her. @}-,-'- Fenrir lay in bed, he had been waiting for his mate for nearly an hour when she finally entered the room. "You took you sweet time," he grumbled. Tala had entered quietly expecting him to be asleep, "I like the young Beta," she said softly. "I couldn't let him remain in the dark." Fenrir sat up his long blond hair flowing over his shoulders, "I wish this assignment had gone differently." He reached out for his black haired beauty, "though this is not entirely a bad turn of events." He swept her dark hair aside and planted a series of gentle kisses along the olive skin of her neck sending a quiver through her entire body. "I have wanted to do this of ages," he muttered into the crook of her neck before he bit her. Tala gave a small whimper as her mate's teeth sank into her drawing out several beads of blood in the process. "Fenrir," she called softly leaning into his loving arms as the wrapped firmly around her waist. His hands did not idle for long, slipping under the t-shirt she wore and tracing the outline of her muscles. "Yes," she hissed as he bit down harder his fingers trailing lower, creeping their way under the elastic of the track-pants she wore. "Too long," he growled as he released her shoulder licking up the red fluid. "Too long," she agreed, her hips trembling as he found the sizable nub and squeezed it gently. "I'm going to bite this," he teased tweaking it hard causing her to cry out. Tala and Fenrir had waited twelve years to be able to copulate in human form. Wolves were pack animals and usually close to other members of their pack, mates needed to be close to one another and being separated for any length of time could lead to many psychological problems and in the worst case death to both of them. Mated wolves also had a need to be intimate frequently regardless of whether the female was in heat or not, a female's fertility just intensified that need. Fenrir flipped Tala onto her back ripping her clothing off in an unceremonious way, leaving her writhing on the bed anticipating his next move. Fenrir's strikingly blue eyes seemed to glow as he grinned at his mate, "I am truly the luckiest wolf in all of creation," his broad toothy smile was mirrored by his mate. "What are you waiting for?" she asked coyly opening her legs to show her desire for him. The aroma of her lust hit him, "I hunger for you love," he growled dropping to his knees and bowing his head to bit the throbbing button he promised to entertain. Tala exploded with a gush which Fenrir did not waste, lapping every drop up with his skilled tongue. As Tala's breath slowed from the exertion her mate flipped her onto her stomach, "I want you to scream my name bitch." Gripping her hips tightly he rammed himself forcefully into her neglected dripping hole. "Fenrir!" she cried as his sudden invasion sent a thrill up her spine. She clamped down around him, increasing the pleasure for the both of them. As fast as inhumanly possible Fenrir thrust into Tala with the desperation he had built up over the last decade. "Moan for me!" he commanded, "show me how much you have missed my touch!" Whether it was conscious or not Tala groaned at the delight of having her man her mate filling her until she felt like she would burst as he wound the tension within her core. Fenrir gave into his primal lust loosing most of his humanity and forming into the dark grey wolf-man his mate fell in love with over two centuries earlier, locking her to him as he ploughed the both of them to a bliss-filled climax. Fenrir's back and abdomen burned from the exercise they had not received in so long but he did not give up he was on the precipice holding himself back until he felt Tala's release. He did not wait long her spasms were too much for him, his control melting away and he flooded her womb with his life giving seed. Tala laughed in victory at what the two had done, for the first time since their assignment began they had shared each other's bodies with out the fear of their secret being exposed. Fenrir fell back pulling Tala with him, "I think I will play with these for a while," he chuckled tweaking her overly sensitive nipples, "If you don't mind." Tala sighed, "Not at all," she relaxed to her mates attentions with the knowledge that he would keep trying to pleasure her until she either passed out or begged him to stop. @-,-'- It was in the early hours of the morning when Michelle finally began to wake. Michael had curled up on the bed next to her holding her close as instinct had taken over while he slept. She blinked in the dark room, seeing lights off in the distance in what could have been an office of some variety. She had no idea where she was the last thing she remembered was storming out of the front gates of Michael's home. He was a werewolf how could she have missed that? He always did had an exceptional sense of smell and could pick her moods like they were his own. A part of her ached for him he may have been a monster but he never hurt her, but how could she know if he would in the near future. Her shoulder hurt where he had bitten her however unlike before she did not feel a rush of fear about the bite now it was just hurt and anger. She guessed she would turn into a wolf now, isn't that how it worked in the movies? The werewolf bit or scratched their victim and that person changed at the full moon. Michelle thought of what she had known and how it would all now change, she was a monster now. She wept, her fairytale happily ever after had turned into a nightmare her prince charming the villain in the story rather than the romantic hero. Michael stirred at the gentle convulsions of Michelle's sobs. "Baby, don't cry," he whispered in the dark room, "I'm here, I'll look after you." Michelle did the only thing she could do when startled in the middle of the night with a werewolf holding her, she screamed. "No," Michael pleaded trying to calm her as the doctor and a few nurses entered the room, switching on the light to see what had caused the ruckus. "What is the problem?" the doctor asked staring at the couple on the bed Michelle struggled to free herself from her mate's arms, "Mrs Patterson please calm down." Shell did not react to her new name that would mean that she were married to him and she was most definitely not married to Michael 'the werewolf' Patterson! "Sweetie, that's you," Michael explained when he felt her shaking her head. "NO!" she shouted back at him, "I am not married to you nor will I ever marry you!" she kicked her legs about to try to loosen his grip on her. Michael felt her words stab at his heart, although the concept of marriage is for more human immortals and humans themselves and did not carry as much depth or meaning as a mating, she did not understand he had to remind himself. "No you're not married to me," he took a deep breath, "we're mated." Michelle froze, "Like animals?" she half sneered in fear at his words, "what does that mean?" He did not want her screaming again but he had to tell her. "Shell, I asked you to be my mate and you agreed," he began, "only you did not know what was going on." He inhaled gently, "what's done is done, you are now my mate, my beautiful wolf." "I told you I am not a wolf," she felt the bite throb, "At least I wasn't before." The doctors walked away leaving the couple to sort out their problem. "Do you know the ritual to turn a human into a werewolf?" Michael asked a subtle challenge for her to disagree. "You bit me ..." she argued. "A bite won't do it anymore," he retorted, "it takes the entire moon cycle for the wolf to take hold in a human and a lot of magic with it. A bite will only mark a person as a wolf's mate." He tried to hold her closer but she still fought him, "you did mark me first." Michelle's eyes widened with his evidence, "You tried to dominate me in our mating." "But," she began though her thoughts and words died before they could reach her mouth. The bite she gave him looked as nasty as the one she received from him only more human. "I wear this mark with pride, Shell," he inhaled deeply, "and your scent in exquisite, you're in heat." "What?" she asked more to the last part of the statement, "You mean I'm in season? Fertile? Like a dog?" "Yes," he let his hand travel down to where her womb lay hidden in her abdomen, "your scent is intoxicating to me." He gave her a wicked grin, "most definitely not a dog." "But I was told I couldn't have children," she felt the tears begin to form again, "my doctor told me that my plumbing didn't work." "A human doctor, baby," he succeeded in pulling her close as the realisation of her dream could now become reality, "you are probably hungry, it's one of the symptoms of your heat cycle. Your metabolism increases with the anticipation of a litter of pups, it also allows you to have more energy for conception." "Is that why I feel so ..." she couldn't say it, she could not believe she was a wolf, why had she not known? "Amorous?" Michael completed her question to which she nodded, "yes and to fight it will cause no end of trouble unless I have already succeeded in creating life with you." He gently caressed her cheek, "it will last for around a month and as you only began nearly two days ago." He hesitantly brushed his lips against hers, "You drive me wild Shell." The experimental kiss did not get rejected like he thought it would, "when I realised that you were going into heat the day of your birthday I knew I couldn't wait another fifty years before we could be together." She gave him a curious look, her mind was screaming for her to get up and leave but he smelled so good. "Fifty years?" "The average length between heat cycles for werewolves," he explained as he kissed her again, "when I caught your exquisite scent I nearly broke our most sacred law just to keep everyone away from you." "What is our most sacred law?" she was getting her wit back, "why can't I become a wolf if I am one?" Michael ceased his romantic attentions, "our most sacred law is anonymity, all immortals must swear by this or the mortals will find out and trouble will happen." He rested his forehead on hers gently pushing her onto her back, "And I cannot tell you why you can't shift at will it is not my place to do so, but you do shift and your wolf is just as beautiful as you are." Unconsciously Michelle sent out waves of pheromones to her mate she was so confused to the whole situation. On the one hand she was with the man of her dreams on the other she was learning that what she thought about her life and those around her was not as it seemed. She felt her heart beat accelerate at the close proximity of this caring man. Instinct began to override her mind she needed Michael now! As though reading her mind his hands began to remove the clothing she wore or at least what was left of it, he had not let the pack doctor to undress her as his primal need to protect his mate had kicked in instead he had prepared her for her night in the medical wing of the Alpha manor. He felt her breath hitch as he exposed the soft globes of her breast to the cool air of the room hardening the peaks. Michelle felt ashamed for how her body reacted to Michael, sure she had fantasised about him doing what he was doing right now and in those fantasies she never dreamed of doing what she was about to do. "Michael stop," she begged quietly her voice lacking the conviction of her words. He did as she asked much to his surprise. Shell's eyes caught his, "I'm scared," she hoarsely whispered her body screaming at her to take the man in front of her. "Don't be," Michael replied pulling her into his arms and gently caressed her back, "I won't hurt you I could never hurt you." His nose twitched at the influx of pheromones which triggered a low grumbling groan, "give into your instinct." Michelle let out a sob, "I have never had these ... urges before," she wept into his shoulder. "Not this strong." "I find that hard to believe," he responded lightly trying to help her relax. "It's true," she whimpered, "I usually suppressed those feelings with focusing on my work I hate not having control over my body, that's why I don't drink much." Her face burned with desire and embarrassment. "Don't fight it," he pleaded again, "it could be bad if you do. For both of us." "I don't understand," she cried harder. He sighed, "Shell, you are a wolf in heat. Your body is filled with hormones that are driving you to breed. It is your nature to breed at this time it is the only time in the next fifty years you will be able to do so and as you are mated with me I too will feel the affects of your hormone rush. If we do not act upon it we could loose our minds and possibly our lives." "What?" "Shell it could kill us," the gravity of his words sunk through the both of them. They remained in silence for a while, neither looking at the other. "Why would anyone do this to me?" Michelle asked eventually her voice filled with grief, "Was I a bad person to be punished? Or was I just unwanted." Michael held her close, "Come on I'll take you back to our room." Michelle nodded but said nothing nor did she move much as Michael scooped her into his arms. He hoped that the familiar room could help ease the discontent she felt at that moment. The hallway was empty as Michael guided his mate back to their room as everyone would be either asleep or hunting in the forest on the estate. Michelle's eyes did not focus on anything as he glided up the stairs to their room, "Shell I'll take care of you," he whispered in the silent hall, "please look at me." She turned her eyes slowly to meet his her lips showing no sign of responding verbally to him so he continued, "what ever your past contains I will love you unconditionally. The moment I caught your scent I knew that I could love no other ..." He entered their bedroom and laid her on the nest of pillows. "Yet you still took all those women to bed?" Michelle finally said not bothering to hide the pain the memories of the women caused. She let her gaze drift. "Was I physically unappealing?" "No, not at all ..." Michael protested but was cut off. "Then what made you take others?" she still would not look at him. He knew technically he had done nothing wrong. "All those years I watched you with others. Each time I saw you with someone new I would cry myself to sleep ..." her voice caught and Michael felt a surge of sorrow flow from her followed by anger, "I always hoped that you would want me to be there for you. When you asked me to dinner it was the happiest moment of my life and the next thing I know I'm married to you!" "Mated," he corrected. Forgotten Ch. 04 "WHATEVER!" Shell yelled, "You jumped the part I was waiting for, the romance and anticipation and the worst part is I had no choice in the matter!" "You consented," he argued. "I was ignorant of what you proposed ergo, non-consensual," she struggled out of his grasp, "and now I'm expected to just pop out children?" she watched him ready to correct her again but was silenced by her glare. "Don't you dare correct me again. I don't give a fuck what your excuse is, you could have eased me into this yet you didn't. It has cheapened everything and left me feeling like nothing more than a mail-order bride whose job is to satisfy your wants and needs with no care for my own." She hopped off the bed and began to pace rapidly around the room. Michael wanted to calm her down, to hold her however with every attempt to do so she fought him off, "Shell you are going to hurt yourself." She let out a laugh that chilled Michael to the bone, "I don't care at least it will be honest and not a lie." She laughed again, "a physical pain to match the emotional one, how can that be wrong?" "Sweetie please calm down," he begged rushing to her side to calm her, "you're tired and your hormones are ..." "Done lecture me about hormones," she stopped and glared at him again, "I have a doctorate in Genetics and a masters in Biology." Michael wrapped his arms around her, "I'm sorry I have been a complete arse, forgive me please." Michelle convulsed and broke down again weeping in despair. "Just leave me alone," she sobbed. The Beta sighed sadly removing his embrace from her and retreated to the door. With a backward glance he saw his beloved mate collapse to the bed and cry and he had no power to comfort her let alone understand what she was feeling. She was thinking like a human acting like a human. With a heavy heart he left their room and made his way to his former bedroom. @}-,-'- Shell heard the door close, her mind was racing at a million mile an hour. A part of her never wanted to see that man again for ruining her life but the other part of her wanted nothing more than to remain in the safety of his arms. How was she to work this out? Her stomach ached from hunger again and the rest of her body ached for Michael. She wanted to cry harder she wanted to scream and shout and kick and punch yet no energy to do any of it. She needed to get out of there but Michael would only track her down again, she felt trapped. With a deep sigh she inhaled the faint scent from the previous night, the smell of their sex attacked her senses showing no mercy. Her blood began to boil with the carnal memories of what the man of both her dreams and now nightmares did to her. The lustful thoughts only caused more confusion, she needed to clear her head. Sitting up slowly Michelle made her way over to the adjoining bathroom and began to run a hot bath, the first bath since she was a little girl. Wanting to feel clean she added some of the pungent rose scented bubble bath to the hot water and found a natural loofer and more rose scented products like body wash shampoo conditioner and body lotion. She slipped into the tub before she finished filling it. The warmth soaked into her with ease yet did nothing to calm the turmoil of her mind. She tried hard to just sit there and relax however the memory of Michael's hands caressing her body refused to go. Taking the loofer in her hand she added some of the body wash and began to clean where she could still feel his touch. When the sensations did not fade she scrubbed harder determined to remove it. The feeling of Michael's touch spread over her body as though he were actually touching her. Shell began to panic scrubbing harder and harder her skin now looking raw and bleeding in places, this did not stop her as the feeling was still there. How long she scrubbed for Michelle did not know. With the water now cooling and with the pink tint of her blood staining it she decided to get out angry that the sensation of Michael's touch had not gone. She had at least got his smell off her skin replacing it with the rose scent of the body wash. "Hopefully he will see that I am not his now," she thought aloud. The memory of the bite mark on her shoulder would be harder to take care of. Standing in front of the mirror she looked at the extent of the bite and tried to determine whether it would scar. It was still bruised and where the teeth had punctured her skin were thick scabs. "I wonder if I can get that fixed," she mused tracing her fingers over the wound. She decided to take a trip into town the following day to get a referral for a plastic surgeon to have the bite stitched up and with any luck it will not be visible anymore. Now she just had to get out of this place long enough to get it sorted. She paused for the moment as a wave of guilt passed over her. She should at the very least leave Michael a note telling him that she was leaving. She mulled it over in her head and figured she probably would still be writing by the time he came to check on her so she decided against it. Heading back to the bedroom she dressed again in the same clothes she had worn for the past few days, not knowing how they came back into her possession. She really did not feel comfortable here, she wanted her own bed with her own things and most of all she wanted to go back to work and try to incubate those devil embryos that had been delivered to the university that day. Upon noticing the break of a new day she corrected her thoughts and left the room again hopefully for the last time. It was quiet with only the odd person moving about. She refused to make eye contact with any of them as she retraced her earlier escape. A few of the people wandering about would stop in their tracks and bow their heads in her direction, she ignored this and continued. Outside the early morning dew still clung to the foliage of the trees and blades of grass giving the garden a crystalline appearance in the dull grey of the morning. Shivering in the cool breeze that blew gently she decided to pick up the pace so she would not freeze. "Mrs Patterson," one of the omegas called to her as he trimmed the topiary, "where are you going?" Shell refused to acknowledge the address as far as she was concerned she was still Michelle Achermann and that was not changing any time soon. "MRS PATTERSON!" the man called again dropping the hedge trimmer and running over to her pulling her around to look at him, "Where are you going?" Michelle struggled, "let go of me!" she snarled wrenching out of his grip, "And I am most definitely not Mrs Patterson!" she began to walk away. "You must stay," the man begged, "Mrs Patterson!" "That is not my name so please will you cease calling me such," she had stopped and glared at him, "My name is Dr Michelle Achermann, I am not married nor do I wish to be. I live alone and plan to do so for the foreseeable future. Now I wish to go home and sleep in MY bed in MY bedroom at MY house where everything is peaceful and normal. I wish to spend some time caring for my two dogs and get on with my life like I had never been to this god forsaken place!" She gave a dramatic gesture to the compound and turned away for the gate which was locked once again. "I cannot let you leave," the man insisted, "Orders from the Alpha." She stared at the man in the eye, "see this look?" she pointed to her eyes, "this is the look of me not giving a shit what your Alpha says, he has no control over me." "Please," the man pleaded reaching for her arm again which she swatted away, "Why must you leave? Did something happen?" Michelle laughed, "I don't know you," she cried, "Why would I divulge such information with someone I do not know?" "Jay," he shook her hand in a hurried greeting, "Okay, now why must you leave?" "You're one of them aren't you," Shell stated coolly, "one of those creatures." Jay cocked his eyebrow in confusion, "Creatures?" "A werewolf," Shell continued in frustration, "a monster." Jay took offence at the slur, "Now wait one minute Mrs Patterson," he received a slap to the face for that, "What was that for?" My name," she repeated, "is Michelle Achermann. I am not nor will I ever be Mrs Patterson, is that clear?" He nodded, "Michelle," he corrected himself, "We are not monsters you are not a monster none of us are monsters. We are werewolves and we are like every other person out there only we change into a lupine form whilst mating hunting or fighting." "Yes," she snorted, "Information I could have done with earlier." She folded her arms in agitation, "I wish to leave so I may continue with my life as though nothing happened. I will not tell anyone about you or the others as I wish to forget the whole incident." "You don't understand," he began only to be cut off. "Nor do I wish to," her eyes were hard as the burrowed into his. Jay lowered in submission. "But you accepted his proposal," her repeated the words that Michaels sister had said the previous day and pointed to the moonstone ring she still wore on her finger. "Then let me fix this," she yanked the ring off and threw it into the garden, "There, problem solved." Jay was horrified, if his mate had done what Michelle had just done it would have killed him. Shell stomped off towards the gate when a red sports car pulled up out the front and the gates began to open. She took her chance for freedom and raced out through them. As she passed the car a smooth Italian voice called to her, "Where is the beautiful Michelle Achermann going this early in the morning?" It was Andrae from the restaurant. "Home," she said as she passed. "Would you like a lift?" he offered gesturing to the seat next to him. "Yeah fine, whatever," she opened the door and got in fastening her seatbelt. They pulled away and Jay ran to the now closed gates yelling for them to return but the loud rumble of the car's engine drowned out his pleas. Jay sank down with fear filling him. He could be punished severely for letting Michelle escape and he shivered at the possibility. @}-,-'- "So the magnificent Michael Patterson failed to win the heart of such a beautiful woman?" Andrae asked Shell as she stared out the window, "I must say I am surprised, the look in your eyes the other night spoke volumes of love for him. May I ask what went wrong?" "The list is too long to mention," she huffed, "But I do not wish to talk about it." "Suit yourself," the olive skinned man sighed, "Mike must have done something quite bad to warrant such a response from his intended mate." "I am not his mate," she said more to convince herself that responding to the man next to her. "It is a shame that he did not succeed," Andrae reached out to her and brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "Then again," he began to smile, "that means you are free to try with me if you wish." Michelle looked at the handsome man beside her, "you really think I'm beautiful don't you." When he nodded she felt the tears well in her eyes again. "I am flattered but this is all to much for me." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands, "You are sweet but I need some time to deal with what I have at the moment." "Then time I will give you," Andrae smiled warmly at her. They fell into an awkward silence. Michelle's mind returned to the bite on her shoulder and the fears that came with it prompting her to talk again. "what's it like to turn into a wolf?" Andrae hit the breaks bringing the car to a sudden stop, he looked at her with shock in his eyes, "Do you not know?" "Why would I?" she asked, "I only found out about your kind yesterday." "Impossible," he uttered, "you are a wolf how could this be new to you?" "I don't know," she hung her head as though she was confessing a crime, "All I know is that everything has gone to shit and I have no idea what to do." Andrae reached to pull her shirt aside to check for a bite mark, his suspicions that more was going on than he knew had to be confirmed. Michelle jumped away from his hand, "please give me time to accept what you are," she pleaded fearfully with him. "As you wish," he pulled back and resumed their journey into town. The rest of the trip was quiet with the exception of directions that Michelle gave him so she would not have to walk so far home. "Beautiful Michelle," Andrae kissed her hand softly and slipped his card into her hand, "call me when you are ready." "Thanks," she replied nervously and watched him leave. She walked the final block to her house and gasped at the damage she saw her front door had been kicked in and her bookcase smashed with her books sprawled all over the place. She ran inside, "Tala? Fenrir?" she called, the panic beginning to rise within her as her two companions were nowhere to be seen. The entrance seemed to be the only place where damage had occurred. Wasting no time she called the police to investigate the breaking and called the dog pound to see if her two dogs had been picked up. @}-,-'- William was still sound asleep with Mollie securely in his arms. The four newest members of their family huddled in-between them also slept. Mollie sighed as one of her daughters kicked her while she slept, dreaming no doubt. But the disturbance was enough to wake the Alpha female and she intended to wake everyone now. "Bill," she prodded him in the chest, "Bill, you awake?" The Alpha groaned, "I am now," he yawned lazily and propped himself up on his elbows, "what can I get for you my beloved mate?" Mollie loved it when he called her that, her stomach fluttered like the first time she met him. Yes she loved this man of hers. "Well?" His mate giggled, "Alice kicked me." "You woke me because of that?" he grumbled playfully. "No," she smirked, "I woke you because I would like to remove the pups back to the nursery so we could have some alone time." She wiggled her eyebrow to emphasise her intentions. "Right," he grinned back at her, carefully sitting up to collect the girls into his arms and carry them to their room that was next to theirs. As he returned he saw one of the omegas talking frantically with Mollie as she sat semi-naked on their bed, she was nodding to what the man said. Bill felt a wave of jealousy wash over him but calmed himself quickly, clearly the nature of the conversation was urgent as Mollie made no attempt to cover up. "Mollie?" he called, startling both. "Oh Bill," she leapt into his arms, "Michelle's gone again!" she struggled to hold back her tears, "she has thrown Michael's ring away and left with Andrae!" Fury burned inside of him, "Does Michael know?" he asked struggling to control his temper. "I don't think so," Jay replied, "I knocked on his door and I heard nothing so I assumed he was still asleep." The Alpha nodded, "you have my permission to enter my son's room to wake him and inform him of the situation." Jay raced off in the direction of the Michael's room. "Bill," Mollie began to cry, "Why is this happening?" "She was unconscious for most of the night," he pulled his mate close for a final hug before they dressed, "I did not have the opportunity to discuss what Tala and Fenrir had to say yesterday." He punched the wall, "This is my fault! I should have waited with her." "William," Mollie rested her hand in his, "You were not to know this would happen." "I should have known she would run," the Alpha led his mate out to their son's room. "I hoped that she would stay." "My love," The Alpha's mate cooed as they walked from their room towards their son's, "after learning that Michelle did not know she was a wolf, perhaps we should give her time to adjust." Bill looked at Mollie apprehensively, "We should do this the old fashioned way, slowly introduce her to the pack the same way we do with humans." "What if she rejects him Moll?" the Alpha's concern evident with the pain in his voice. "What if she decides to leave and never return?" Mollie chuckled, "We both know that will never happen. In the end they will be happy it is all just a matter of time." Feeling a lot better William relaxed as they made their way. @}-,-'- Michael's old room felt alien to him even though he had moved out of it just three days ago. His old bed was not a comfortable as the new one he had shared with his mate. The night had brought back all the dreams he had whilst waiting to make a move on Michelle, one of his favourites was sharing a bath with her. Slowly massaging the suds over her naked body was something he had yet to experience with her, perhaps tonight she will be more open to the thought. He dressed in a simple pair of faded blue jeans and a faded black t-shirt hoping the relaxed attire would please his mate, making a mental note to try to find out more about Michelle and her tastes. He made his way out to the garden next to harvest a dozen red and pink roses to show the sincerity of his love for her. This romancing thing was not something he was use to, werewolf romance usually involved copious amounts of sex, hunting and food. He doubted that Michelle would be up for hunting and the sex would be out of the question. Approaching his marital bedroom he noticed Jay and his parents standing worriedly discussing something. "Mum? Dad? What's going on?" Mollie's eyes showed relief, "You didn't follow her?" she asked calmly. Mike stopped, "What has happened?" he gripped the flowers and raced into the bedroom to see it empty with the strong scent of rose body wash and the fainted hint of blood. "No, not again," he whined dropping the flowers on the floor which Jay picked up and searched for a vase. "Son why weren't you in here last night?" Bill asked as a parent would interrogating a misbehaving child. "She asked for some time alone," He sighed, angry at himself for not seeing what she would do. "And like a caring mate you gave her what she wanted," his mother said, "why don't you go find her?" Michael looked up at his parents, "She has left me for a second time, what if she doesn't want me?" "Don't give up on her," Molly took her son in her arms and held him in a motherly embrace. A thought occurred to her that could help her little boy, "Why don't you go stay with her at her house." "Molly don't be silly," William began but was silenced by a stern glance. "Sweetie," Molly continued, "her life has been turned up side down, maybe staying with her and living like the scientists you are and go back to work. Get some normality back in her life." The Alpha figured out what his beloved mate was saying, "it is something to consider, son. She only found out that she was a wolf a day ago. That's a pretty big deal for someone who thought she was human." After a moment to think about the suggestion he nodded, "I will go to her and woo her like I should have years ago." "That's my boy," Bill slapped him on his back, "go win her heart and get me some grandchildren." @}-,-'- I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. I am surprised that my fingers don't cramp up with how much I type. Forgotten Ch. 05 I finally manage to complete this chapter, it wasn't writer's block it was writer's indecisiveness. Enjoy! @}-,-'- Chapter 5: Take Two. Bleddyn and Steren both stood before the pyre holding the torches they had used to light the fire that carried their children to the afterlife. The Alpha was worried for his mate, she had stopped talking again. Each time they lost a litter she would stop communicating with everyone. At first it was a few days but the last time it happened she stopped talking for over a year and the Alpha was concerned that she would refuse to talk all together. The attendants of the funeral had left to allow the Alpha and his mate a final moment with their pups, however this gesture was short lived as the Midnight Pack Alpha Brynjar approached slowly. "My condolences Alpha Bleddyn," he bowed, "Had I known you were in mourning I would have delayed my visit." Steren did not acknowledge Brynjar's presence, instead staring at the consuming flames as her children slowly vanished. "You were not to know, Alpha Brynjar," Bleddyn sighed, "they died during their birth yesterday." The Midnight Pack Alpha genuinely showed sadness at the passing of the children. Although Weres were, for the most part, immortal the children were susceptible to many dangers and illnesses due to their long childhood. Brynjar himself had lost many siblings as he had grown up which had lead to his mother's suicide and his father's alcohol addiction which robbed him of his title. "My sympathies Alpha Bleddyn, if there is anything I could do to help ..." "I wish there was," Bleddyn turned to greet his guest fully, "But I suspect I know the original reason why you are here." Brynjar stood stoically as the Dawnlight Alpha approached him, "You, yourself are feeling the urge to mate. You have come for my daughter." Brynjar nodded, "I have," he lowered his gaze as a sign of respect, "But I will delay for your family are in mourning." He glanced up to try spy her, "Where is the beauty I seek? I do not see her." "She is still in hiding after the dhampires incident," Bleddyn rubbed his face as the frustrations and worry for his children crashed down upon him, "my trusted knight Gareth has not reported on her condition for over a decade and I am worried she has been lost." Brynjar's stomach lurched, his mate was lost? "Where did you hide her, I will go and retrieve her." The Midnight Alpha did not like the news that she was missing, he had been patient for years until she was old enough for them to join and now he was fighting with his annoyance and anger at her father. "You will be unable to," Bleddyn explained, "I have had earth blocked from all outer realms to protect my children. The only one who can reverse it is Bedella and she herself is on earth to help transport anyone from that world who needs it." "Is there no other way?" Brynjar questioned feeling defeated for the moment. "None, not even other sídhe can break through her spells. She is unique among her kind." Bleddyn noticed a few of the Beta females collecting his mate and taking her inside. Maybe having her children back would cheer her up. "There is something you can do to help speed up the resolution to my problematic dhampires." "I could exterminate them for you," Brynjar suggested sarcastically, "bunch of mummies boys anyway." "You are close with the Midnight vampire lord who is if I remember correctly, a sídhe dhampire himself." "I am and yes he is," Brynjar acknowledged, "it is only the males born to human females who give any trouble." "Could you get him to help me?" Bleddyn pleaded, "The vampire lord here is weak and refuses to help as several of the dhampire clan are his sons." "I would not wish to cause tension between the vampire clans," the Midnight Alpha hesitated, "but if what you say is true than perhaps an intervention from the pantheon would be a better choice." "I'd rather not," Bleddyn winced at the mention of the pantheon, "If they could guarantee that Brenna would be sent then I would feel better about the situation, but as I understand it she is on assignment in Britannia for the royal court." "Why would you want her?" Brynjar asked shifting into a more comfortable stance with his arms crossed leisurely across his chest. "She is an expert in vampire politics," the Dawnlight Alpha sighed, "and this state of affairs is very much built on politics. That and I have no time for Gaël." "I agree with you on that one," a smooth and seductive voice called from behind the Alphas. "He is a pompous arse." "Lord Einar?" Brynjar asked, "you followed me?" The wolf's voice was stained with amusement. The blue haired vampire lord swaggered up to the two wolves and offered his hand to Bleddyn, "my condolences for you loss, Alpha Bleddyn." He bowed his head solemnly, "Now to matters that I can help with, Wade has let his bastard sons get away with too much." "Has he caused you grief with their actions?" Bleddyn asked. "No I just don't like him," Einar shrugged, "But his dhampire sons are going to be trouble in the future. Even in Midnight we have heard whisperings of an uprising among their ranks against the vampire Lord Wade. The fool is oblivious." "Yes, I too have heard such whisperings," Bleddyn acknowledged, "But Lord Wade chooses to ignore it." "I will see him and inform him of my arrival," Einar bowed to leave, "as a courtesy from one lord to another." The vampire left in the same manor he arrived, swaggering and oozing charisma. Brynjar shook his head, "one day his confidence is going to bite him in the arse. And if it were up to him I'd be the one to do it." @}-'-,- Michael sat in his car with a few packed bags silently praying that Michelle would not turn him away. On the passenger seat was a fresh bunch of flowers and the recovered moonstone ring that one of the children had found. He was determined to correct what he did wrong, she was too precious to him to try any less. Under extreme control he managed to not spin his tires nor receive any speeding tickets during his travel into town. As he pulled up out the front of Michelle's house he saw a police car drive away and a worried looking Michelle closing the door. With a deep breath to calm his nerves he got out of the car with his peace offerings and quietly made his way to her front door. He rapped softly on the wooden door that was remarkably still in one piece after what his father had done the previous day. Shell opened the door, her eyes filled with tears. "Please Michael, just leave me alone," she sobbed, closing the door on him. "Just hear me out," he said, stopping the door from closing completely, "I'm sorry for not telling you what I was, I stupidly thought I would not have to." Shell reopened the front door and waited for the rest of his apology. The Geneticist handed her the bunch of purple hyacinths which he was sure his mother would kill him for later, "But as you are not aware of the circumstances of your nature and I have information to help ratify that. I will explain all I have learnt and to hell with the consequences." She smiled sadly as she looked from the flowers to his distraught eyes. "I have lost two days of research, my house was broken into and my dogs are gone," she explained in a low voice, "they were all I had, Michael." She broke down, "Everything has gone to pot." "Sweetheart," he soothed, stroking her hair to calm her as he took her in his arms, "all is not as bad as you think." She sniffled as she looked up at him, "how so?" Her pleading eyes made his heart melt, "Come," he uttered, "I will get you something to eat and I will explain everything." She nodded and walked inside with him. Michael placed her on the couch and he went into the kitchen to search for something to feed her. He realised that Michelle had not lied that she usually did not eat much as most of the cupboards were bare and what was there was not suitable for a wolf in heat. He returned to the lounge room and sat beside her, "I have a great idea," he began, "lets go out for something special." She gave another smile, "You saw my cupboards didn't you." "Yeah," he gave her a worried look, "how on earth do you survive?" "I never really thought about myself," she confessed, "I have my work and my dogs and that's all that really mattered after I gave up on you." She regretted her words. "Sorry." "Don't apologise," he went to pull her into a hug but hesitated, not wanting her to retreat again, "I should be the one apologising. I gave you no indication of my feelings towards you and those other girls did not help the situation, for all the pain and suffering I have given you, I am sincerely sorry." Shell shifted uncomfortably, "You wolves always so emotional?" she asked with a twinge of sarcasm. "Only to our family," he gave her a tentative grin hoping that she would at least return it, which she did and equally reluctant. "I love you Shell, I always have. Had I have known what had happened to you I would have done things differently." "What do you know Michael?" she asked seriously, "I'm sure I can handle it. I found out I'm a werewolf yesterday, it can't get more shocking than that." He was reluctant to speak at first because in actuality it was the responsibility of the Alpha to deliver such news. But after thinking about it he remembered something his sister Janis had said once, 'it's easier to beg forgiveness than ask permission.' Granted that was what she had said after mating with a vampire and their father was ready to murder his daughter's mate, Lisandro for the insult until Janis announced she was with child. That made the Alpha change his mind and now was most certainly glad he did not. Michael hoped that this would not upset his father as much but it really was up to him to tell his mate about her past if her parents were unable to do so. "Some years ago," he began carefully watching Shell's reaction, "you were taken hostage by a clan of dhampires, they are half vampire and half whatever else. In this case they were half human, particularly their mothers were human and for some reason that mix tends to make the dhampires different to the others and all together untrustworthy." "Why was I taken hostage?" she asked, pulling one of the cushions from the couch into her arms and hugging it. "In truth I believe it might have something to do with the fact that you are the child of Alpha Bleddyn, he is a very powerful wolf and governs nearly a third of the Dawnlight wolves. You and your brothers were brought to earth to be hidden sometime after you were rescued. Your dogs are not really your pets but body guards and your step-father was your guardian whilst here." Michelle did not react straight away, her thoughts were racing around her head. Michael reached for her hand which seemed to bring her back to the present, "so Tala and Fenrir are really people and we're all aliens." She processed her words through her head again, it sounded ridiculous to her and she laughed, "Well it could be worse I guess. I could have been sent here as punishment for some crime." "You are taking this well," Mike shuffled closer to his mate and to his surprise she did not flinch or back away. He wrapped her in his arms and she relaxed against his shoulder. "There's one more thing." "What's that?" she asked, inhaling deeply noticing for the first time his masculine scent that reminded her of a eucalypt forest after the rain. "I sort of ruined a contract your father had with another Alpha who wanted to mate with you," he said nearly too quick for Michelle to hear. "What does that mean?" She looked up into his worried yet caring brown eyes, "Are we in trouble?" "I may be," he said after a short silence, "Dad hasn't sent anyone to Dawnlight to inform him of our mating and I have never met your father before and I've heard he's quite large, even for a were." Michelle looked down at herself, the inner scientist surfacing again, "I must take after my mother," she said flatly as she surveyed her rather average size. "Tala called you Bleddwen," he informed her gently, "Princess Bleddwen to be exact." "I prefer Michelle," her words caused Michael to laugh as she sounded more like a young child plainly stating a fact. Her face then cringed, "Oh God, I let them sleep on my bed when I ..." her voice trailed off and her face burned a bright crimson. Mike could only guess as to what she was remembering. "Do I have to return with you?" He shook his head, "I was hoping I could stay here with you," he said, hopeful that she would not turn him away, "so we can get to know each other properly." He silently pleaded as Michelle deliberated on her response, "Sure, but you will sleep in the spare room until I feel comfortable about having you around." "You will need to deal with your," he tried to word his concern for her health during her heat cycle, "Ah, your urges until you are finished your heat, so will I." "I don't know what you mean," Shell said but it dawned on her, "you mean ..." she let her words fade as the reality of what Michael was saying sunk in. "I'm afraid so," he nodded, "Unless you want me to help there." "No, it's too soon for that," she nearly spat out in haste, "I mean, I'll be fine." He nodded and looked away, "I have something to give you," he returned his gaze to his beautiful mate and half heartedly smiled, "again." Her embarrassment from the previous topic now fading rapidly, Michael pulled out the moonstone ring and presented it to her. "I could get down on one knee if it helps." She stared at the ring as he held it in front of her, "is it important for me to wear it right now?" she asked, clearly still apprehensive about the symbolism. "Only around wolves," he compromised, "But it would please me greatly if you wore it all the time." "You know I cannot wear jewellery in the lab," Shell responded, "I am working with embryos of endangered species and I can't afford to risk their lives for a sentiment." "I would not dream of harming those precious babies of yours," he captured her hand in his and began to slide the ring back in place halting before he finished, "if it's okay?" he begged waiting for her response. Michelle nodded and her mate beamed with joy as he kissed the ring. Shell felt the love behind the kiss and her heart filled with elation and remorse, "I do love you Michael," she declared, "but this is going to take some getting use too." At that moment, Michael wished more than anything that their bond was complete but he knew that would not happen until she carried their first litter. "I know it will," he let her hand go, "Would you mind if I gave you a kiss? I could really use one right about now." Michelle stiffened, "would you settle for a hug?" Knowing that was all he would get for the time being, Michael wrapped her in his arms and inhaled her scent. Relieved that she was safe in his arms and she would not run for now soothed his worry. "So, what would you like for lunch?" he asked, "Your cupboards are not fit to feed anyone, so after you pick where we will eat I will introduce you to the markets and online cook books." She giggled at his intention to teach her how to cook, "I know a little pub back in Castleton that does a kick arse steak. It will only take half hour to drive there and you can meet the vicar and his wife while we're there." "That sounds nice." @}-,-'- Tala was the first to wake after the night of long over-due passion, her muscles ached but she would not change it for anything. She had found herself pinned under Fenrir who was snoring loudly from exhaustion. With all her strength she pushed her mate off her body and rolled off the bed to stretch. "Awake so early?" Fenrir asked with a yawn and a stretch of his own. "It nears noon," Tala smiled, climbing back on to bed, "you wore us both out." She kissed his nose and retreated to dress. "Not nearly enough," he grinned watching her pull a t-shirt over her head. "Though a bite to eat would be a good thing for now." Tala laughed, "If it is not sex, it's food," she taunted him and raced out of the room. Fenrir followed without worrying about clothing and chased her out to the main hall where a large number of the pack were gathered. "What's going on?" One of the near by omegas replied Tala's question, "Michelle has run off again and Michael has gone after her." Tala sighed, "How bad is it?" "Well," the omega began with a hint of excitement at the news, "Michelle threw the ring away and stormed out of here renouncing their mating!" the woman who looked to be middle-aged acted as though it was a new story line to her favourite television soap. "Oh finally something exciting happening within this pack!" Fenrir snorted at the woman's comments, she actually enjoyed the turmoil their charge was causing. "Why would such behaviour make you so happy?" he asked her. "Everything is so boring here," she remarked with a shrug, "It's been years since we've had a good drama in the pack, not since Janis and the vamp." Tala shook her head and moved closer to the higher ranking members of the pack. Several of the betas were shorter than her, establishing herself in this pack would be easer than she thought. She finally caught the Alpha's voice in his announcement to the pack, "So Michael will not be here for an indefinite time until the crisis is over," he shot the crowed a grin, "and with any luck more pack members to be born." Everyone chuckled and dispersed, "Alpha William," Tala greeted him with a bow. "Just call me Bill," he corrected her. "What can I do for you?" "I just got here," she informed him, "Am I to believe that our charge has left again?" she asked so professionally that Bill could not believe his ears at first. "Yes," he confirmed, "My son has gone after her by himself this time." He studied her reaction, when nothing occurred he continued, "He will be trying to play things her way." Tala smiled, "Ever the demanding princess." Bill was relieved to see that the strong woman was not all business, "Why do you call her princess?" "She insisted," Tala grinned at the memory, "when she was around a century old she read a story about a princess who lived in a castle and because she also lived in a castle, and could not tell the difference between an alpha and a king she insisted we called her 'Princess Bleddwen'." Bill chuckled, "I guess it stuck." "It did," she sighed, "she's like my own daughter Bill. I only want to see her happy." "I understand," Bill empathised, "having many daughters myself, I know the pressure to keep them all happy." He laughed, "Though it does not always work." @}-,-'- The drive to Castleton was more enjoyable than Shell thought it would be. The conversation was sparse but the music Michael had on his stereo was classic seventies hard rock. They had settled in at the pub and had ordered their lunch. The building looked to be over a hundred years old and had pictures of patrons from the past, one Michael noticed was his parents from the 1890's. "What are you looking at?" Michelle asked as she returned from the ladies room. "See this picture here?" he asked her pointing to his parents with an amused grin. "What about it?" "They are my parents," he watched her face light up in shock, "We live much longer than regular people." "How much longer?" she nearly stuttered the question. "Indefinitely," his answer was as shocking to her as the picture of his parents, "we age very slowly and at a point we just stop and further aging becomes voluntary." "That's incredible," she looked back at the picture, "so how old are you?" Mike chuckled at her question, "I was born around 1300 in Scotland, I cannot give you an exact date as we didn't keep records at the time." Forgotten Ch. 05 "Wow, your old," she teased, "and you don't look a day over thirty-five." Mike huffed, "you know that a couple of centuries ago I would have looked twenty-five." Before they could continue the waitress delivered their meal, or at least the first course. They began to look like a regular couple on an afternoon out in the quiet little country town. "Why do you get a beer and I get a lemonade?" Michelle asked as they sipped at their vegetable soup. She tried to catch Michael's eyes with her own. "I didn't want to risk it," he replied after a short silence, refusing to meet her gaze. "Risk what?" she asked innocently, still looking at him. "In case we conceived the other night," he answered her. "Conceived," Shell swallowed hard, "as in conception. After one night together?" She did not know what to think of his logic, if they had managed to create life it would be unlikely that any damage would befall the tiny child yet as they would only a couple of cells floating around in her womb. "Were pregnancies are treacherous," he explained, "any little thing can cause a miscarriage." "So no alcohol?" she enquired rhetorically. "No." Mike's one word answer was so quick that Shell nearly giggled. "Coffee?" she continued. "Not really," he said shaking his head. "What about my music?" she asked exasperatedly, "Please tell me that I can still listen to something heavy." "And pollute our children's minds before they are even born?" he mocked, "I would prefer you didn't." Shell propped her head in her hand, "What about work?" Michael thought about it, "I will let you know depending the project," he replied mirroring her, "no pathogens or the like." "I only want to grow babies," Michelle sat up, "I just never thought that mine would be ever on the agenda." "Ours," he corrected her and reached for Shell's hand and squeezed it. "Life with me won't be so bad, I promise." "Are you trying to get me to forget everything that has transpired in the last few days, Doctor Patterson?" Shell asked with a mock-serious glare. "Is it working?" he asked hopefully. "No," she replied dryly. "Wouldn't dream of it my dear," he smiled when he saw Michelle's face crack into a grin, "I do love you, you know that don't you?" "You better," Mike flinched playfully at her comment, "you have turned my life up-side-down so I expect you to pull your weight." "You're not going to let me live this down are you," it was a statement. "Nope." @}-,-'- Somewhere on the other side of the globe in a trailer behind a stadium hosting a well known rock band a tall curvy sídhe woman lounged back on a chair with a joint perusing the two men who stood before her. "So boys," she smirked whilst taking a drag at the rollie, "What have you got for me?" Her vivid green eyes scrutinising their forms and she liked what she saw. The men grinned, "we heard you have a talent," one of the men said, "in exchange for certain favours." "That I do boys," her green lips split into a wide toothy grin, "what would you like me to do?" The man who remained silent turned around and lifted his shirt showing an intricate tattoo of a dragon with a nasty looking scar running through it, "I was knifed a few months back and it wrecked me tat," he explained, "I've had it since I was eighteen and I was wondering if you could fix it." Bedella laughed, "Too easy," she hooked her fingers into the waistband of his jeans and pulled him closer, "This comes at a price of my choosing, you understand that don't you?" The man nodded, "What ever it takes," his words sounded confident. The sídhe woman gently touched the puckered scar with her plump lips, enjoying the shiver that ran through the man's body. Without warning she gave the entire length of the scar a slow wide lick, repairing not only the skin but the intricate pattern of the tattoo. "Now for my payment," she informed them huskily. "What is the payment," the first man asked apprehensively while the other admired his back in the mirror. The mauve skinned beauty stood up, her leather clad body curvy in all the right places. "I have a few ideas," she grinned at them. They were both curious and cautious at the same time. Bedella crawled onto her bed at the other end of the caravan looking over her shoulder she smiled at the two men, "are you two just going to stand there or are you going to join me?" Stunned, they just stood there looking at her as she reached for her back and began to undo the lacing of her corset. They finally got the hint, the payment would be with their bodies and they were all too happy to do so. "Remove your clothing," Bedella ordered with a cheeky glint in her eyes. The men did not hesitate any longer, they removed their clothing as fast as they could and climbed onto the bed with her. "What would you like us to do?" one asked as he touched her round leather-clad bottom. "Are you just going to touch me or are you going to actually do something with those fingers?" Bedella's husky voice had them tearing at the leather to get it off her as quickly as possible. The shorter of the two men traced his finger around her tight puckered little hole and pressed it in and was rewarded with a hungered groan. The other lined up his throbbing flesh to her mouth and thrust it in, she hungrily began to suck him deep into her throat and increased in vigour. The man at her rear slid his other hand up her thigh, opened her nether lips and entered her roughly. "Yes," he groaned, "Take it." Bedella chuckled and pushed back with as much ferocity as the man gave. She did not care to know their names, they were all the same regardless of where she goes. They are nearly all willing to give her what she wanted without question. It is not like she does not give women a go, they just do not have that wonderful piece of anatomy that makes her want to scream every time she feels one enters her. Well almost, the larger man at her mouth was quite nice, not much length but stretched her jaw making her excited by the prospect of it filling her. The other man felt a little less impressive, she could feel him but not the stretching she craved. "Oh fuck yeah!" the man groaned as he felt her muscles squeeze tightly around his rigid staff, "you are hot!" And she was, the heat building to nearly an uncomfortable level, "You're burning!" he pulled out and fell back, "Holly Shit! I've grown!" Bedella removed the other man from her mouth, "how about you put that somewhere else," she suggestively hinted to him by slapping the perfectly rounded cheek of her bottom. "You are one kinky bitch," he smiled and lined up, "come on Matt, get up." He pushed in slowly with a long drawn out groan until he was completely in. He waited for Bedella to adjust around him. The man known as Matt while still shocked at his new size found his way back inside Bedella, sandwiching her between him and his friend. "Come on boys," she cried, "I don't want to walk after tonight!" Her encouraging words had them thrusting harder. The trio were in their own world of euphoria, their bodies sliding against one another covered in sweat and Bedella's nectar. The sídhe woman cried out in ecstasy as one orgasm after another rocked her body, this is what she lived for hot bodies pressing into hers with such enthusiasm, she was in heaven. They were so engrossed that none of them heard the light rapping at the door. The door of the caravan opened and the guardian of Alpha Bleddyn's son Peredur, Sir Amandus entered the rocking trailer. He stood watching the three writhing on the bed with his arms crossed. It had taken him nearly four months to track her down this time, which tour she had tagged onto to suit her lifestyle. Amandus cleared his throat and waited. And waited. And waited. "Lady Bedella!" he finally called when they did not notice him. "Ah, Amandus," she panted, "you are going to have to wait your turn. It is very hard to suck your cock in this position." The middle aged man huffed, "I have no time for such trivial activities, I am late to update the Alpha and only the two brothers are guarding him." He uncrossed his arms and moved closer to the bed, "Peredur is alone most of the day among beautiful women, do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" The two men moved off Bedella and began to dress, "we should probably go," one said and they both left. "Now look what you have done," she whined, "you ruined a perfectly good evening." Her long green hair tumbled over her shoulder in a very sensual way, "I hope you plan to rectify that." "Madam," Amandus sat on the mattress next to her, "It has been too long since I saw my wife and children, they are all grown up now." Bedella sighed, "until the situation with the dhampires is sorted you must stay at your post." She slapped his arm, "life with the Alpha's mischievous son not rewarding enough?" Amandus laughed, "the man's a womaniser and he's getting worse. I shudder to think what he's been like since his coming of age." "You don't have to worry about him spontaneously mating with one of those women," she reassured him, "His mate will be born in another twenty years in Starlight to the Queen of the knighthood." Amandus nodded, "we should get this over with." Bedella agreed and pulled on a silk robe. She began to calm in a meditative trance, the temperature of the caravan began to drop and a small pinprick of light appeared in front of her. It grew with blinding intensity and width, with a final burst the door between the worlds opened letting the Dawnlight's sun shine from the other side. "Let's go," she chirped, clapping her hands together and stepping through. Amandus followed with a quick step and the doorway shut. @}-,-'- I hope it was worth the wait. :Þ Forgotten Ch. 06 This took longer then I intended but it could not be helped, Enjoy! @}-,-'- Chapter 6: Come What May The assembly of Dawnlight vampires all turned towards the entrance of the grand hall as Lord Einar entered. The blue-haired man glided up to stand in front of Lord Wade and his wife Lady Abigail. With his usual smug grin he bowed, "Greetings Lord and Lady Dawnlight," his smooth voice bringing a smile to the Lady's face. "I have come to ask permission to visit you territory." "On what business?" Wade asked with annoyance at his wife's smile. "I come to help you with your dhampire problem," Einar informed him whilst openly checking the Lady Abigail out. "There is no problem," Wade grunted. "Now Wade," Abigail warned, "They have been a thorn in our sides for centuries." The Lady's clear distaste for the clan populated primarily by her husband's bastard children. She feared for not only her own safety when it comes to the dhampires but the safety of her young daughter also. "We have no problem," Wade sneered at his wife, "We have not done anything to them to provoke them." He turned his attention back to Einar, "Only the wolves have a problem with them." "The dhampires have caused me to be cautious of them," Einar said airily as he checked his nails, "As they have threatened the mate of my best friend." His gaze settled on Abigail again. "You have our permission to deal with them," She said defiantly, ignoring her husbands growls, "Just remember who is the actual ruler here Wade." She glared at him, "I think you have protected them long enough. I know most of them are your sons but you have a daughter also, don't you think she is worth protecting?" As though called a girl who looked no older than five years old ran into the chamber, she ran up to her mother and jumped into her arms. Einar's flirtatious expression vanished, the girl was the very image of her mother, black hair, soft mocha skin, hazel eyes and plump chocolate lips. "Now I have extra incentive to deal with them," he gave the girl a bow, "The thought of something so precious in danger only makes me more determined." The girl looked at him as though he said something out of place, "You have blue hair," she stated flatly, "San I have blue hair?" She looked to her mother who just laughed at her little girl's reaction. "My mother is a sídhe," he explained, "A fairy." "So you're a fairy?" She asked excitedly, "Do you grant wishes?" She bounced on her mothers lap clapping her hands. Einar was speechless, her enthusiasm made him want to give it a try. It had been years since he played with magic as he grew bored with it. He gave the girl's father a look of askance, silently requesting permission to entertain the little girl. An annoyed nod was all he received but it was enough to allow Einar to give the girl what she wanted. He stroked her hair lightly and the little girl giggled, little did she know he had turned the girl's hair the same shade of blue as his own hair. The room gasped at how fast the change occurred. "What's happening?" The little girl asked. "Look in the mirror," Abigail suggested to her, barely containing her laugh. The girl squealed at the change she saw, "My hair is blue!" "It is only an illusion," Einar explained, "It will fade over the next few hours back to your original colour. I do not think your parents would have been happy with me if I permanently changed it to blue." "Indeed," Abigail chuckled, "I love the colour of your natural hair." The girl smiled at Einar, "What else can you do?" She asked sweetly. "I would first like to know your name, princess," the sídhe dhampire enquired. "Kaelea," she whispered and turned beet red, hiding her face in her mothers shoulder. "Kaelea, I can do some wondrous things," he kneeled at Abigail's feet, "And some terrible things but I only use my magic when I have to, like what I have come to try fix." "Are you going to kill my brothers?" She asked turning back. "If I have to," Einar replied, "I am hoping to talk them out of attacking my friend's mate's family." "They won't listen," Kaelea said, "They hate us, they hate the weres, everyone," her voice lowered to try hide what she was saying, "They said they a going to kill mummy and me and take over the seven realms." Wade jumped up, "I think you have overstayed your welcome, Midnight." The vampire lord glared at his peer with loathing, "I suggest you leave now and leave the dhampire clan alone." Lord Einar stood to his full height, standing just a few inches taller than Wade, "You will forgive me if I happen to hold my friendship with Alpha Brynjar higher than others," Einar explained with distain. "His mate is in hiding because of their actions, you own daughter is scared of them and you wish me to leave them alone?" He raised his voice with each word he spoke, "Leaving them alone has resulted in them posing a threat to not only Dawnlight but the other realms also! So no I will not leave them alone, but I will give you my word that I will avoid killing them if I can, however if they refuse to negotiate I will eradicate them without remorse." He turned an left the hall, leaving the occupants silent. @}-,-'- Just outside of the Dawnlight Pack's castle a group of about a dozen dhampires hid in the trees, the fortification of the castle was difficult to scale but not impossible. The clan's chief, Abaddon studied the previous path they had used years earlier, a crack in the main defence wall which had been easy to climb was now repaired. "Damon, scout the north wall and report back to me if you see any potential entrance points," the chief, "Pythias, the same for the south." The two brothers nodded and left for their assigned destinations and Abaddon continued to study the wall for any little foothold that could be exploited. Unlike their immortal cousins, human dhampires do not have the speed to scale the wall with little to no effort. Abaddon felt no resentment for the fact that his human blood slowed his movements and made him more vulnerable to injuries, he felt the opposite. He loved his mother more than anything else in the seven realms, she may have been a mistress to Lord Wade but was not treated with the same respect other women who shared his bed received. He was her eldest and was born in normal human gestation like all his brothers, he had the blood thirst like regular vampires and had faster than the human rate of healing but still much slower than that of a full vampire. These traits left the dhampire to utilise the only thing that was not hindered by their mixed background their minds. A dhampires brain is their strongest asset, cunning and planning their only weapons. Damon made his way back to the chief, "A vine is growing on the north wall. It looks like an old grape vine, the tendrils are thick and should hold the weight of a man," he explained quickly. "It sits close to the western wall." Abaddon smiled, "Then we will be in the shadows," his grin widened, "Excellent." "Why are we here, brother?" Damon asked the chief, "The Alpha's children are not here." "I have a feeling the Alpha is missing his children," he spoke coldly, "That and the young bitch is needed for her contractual obligation." "So she will return," Damon said, "You wish to continue with your plans from before?" "Yes," Abaddon replied, "She has the strength our clan needs to get the upper hand and finally take our place among the immortals." "Do you think that forcing her to bond with you will work?" His younger brother questioned hesitantly, "You may need to mate with her instead as a vampiric bonding requires consent." "If you remember," he turned to Damon, "Bleddwen quite liked my attentions, I still long to see her smile as she wakes in my arms." Abaddon's eyes glazed over, "She was the one who encouraged me to elevate us to join our fellow immortals where we belong." Before Damon could respond to Abaddon's statement, Pythias returned, "Nothing stable on the south wall." "Okay move quickly and place yourselves around the castle where the Alpha moves," Abaddon ordered them, "There is a special guest at the castle and I want to know who and why he is here." @}-,-'- Damon settled in the rafters of the dining hall, Alpha Bleddyn, his mate and their guests Alpha Brynjar and Lord Einar sat at the grand table with a banquet laid out elegantly along the length. He stayed as still as he could, taking advantage of the air duct to carry his scent away from the wolves below. He waited for them to talk to discuss something, anything, but they sat in silence. Bleddyn seemed to be watching his mate with sad eyes and the others had their eyes trained in on their plates. "I've decided to bring the kids home," Bleddyn said to his mate, "I miss them too and you need family after our loss." Damon's heart jumped, the Alpha's children were returning, Bleddwen was returning. Steren looked up to her mate her eyes were red and swollen, "My babies are coming home?" She asked with a glimmer of hope. The Alpha smiled as he nodded, "Yes, you need them love." He reached out to her hand and held it tightly, "As soon as we hear from Bedella I will ask her to find them and bring them home." "And I will wait until your grieving has eased before taking your daughter as my mate," Brynjar spoke up, "I would not wish to part you from your only daughter so soon after her return." "You are too kind, Alpha Brynjar," Steren uttered, "But I would not wish for you to suffer with loneliness." Einar chuckled and threw his arm around the wolf, "He won't be lonely, he'll have me," his confident grin made Steren smile. "Why don't you stay a while after you mate with Bleddwen?" Bleddyn suggested, "Like a honeymoon." Damon listened carefully, this news of Bleddwen to be mated so soon would not go down well with Abaddon and his plans. He was about to leave when a scantily clad green haired mauve skinned woman strolled into the room, "I hope there is enough for Amandus and I," the woman said as she sat next to Lord Einar, "You're cute." Damon knew who this woman was, the Bedella mentioned earlier, this was the first time he ever saw her and she was nothing like he imagined her to be. Lord Einar cocked his eyebrow at her, "I like a woman who is direct." Sir Amandus kneeled at Alpha Bleddyn, "Sir, I have come to report that your son is well but I believe he must come home as soon as possible," he explained quickly. "Then bring him home," Bleddyn responded, "Bedella, please leave my guest alone." Bedella had worked her way onto Einar's lap and planted her lips on his. "I want you to retrieve my children from Earth and return them," the Alpha sighed. The sídhe woman grumbled, "Your knight over there ruined a very good night for me." She turned her attentions back to Einar, her hands sneaking under his shirt to find the chiselled physique underneath. "Sir," Amandus spoke drawing attention back to him, "May I please spend a day with my wife? I miss her terribly." He silently pleaded with the Alpha to which Bleddyn nodded and Amandus excused himself to find his beloved. The two Alphas glared at Bedella and Einar, "Would you mind taking that elsewhere?" Brynjar huffed at his friend. "Gladly," The vampire lord replied, picking the delectable fae up and taking her from the hall. Damon took that as his signal to leave and update his chief, in the next day or so the main focus of Abaddon's desires will return and they needed to plan. @}-,-'- The Castleton vicar's house reminded Michael of the 1950's with the floral wallpaper and tea set, the white doilies and the three ornamental ducks hanging on the wall. The vicar and his wife were a kindly old couple who were currently caring for a teenage boy who had run away from home. Michael sat in the living room with the vicar and the teen as they studied him. In the kitchen, Michelle and the vicar's wife prepared some sandwiches. "So is this the young man you have talked about for some time?" The vicar's wife asked. Shell blushed, "It is, mama Peggy." Peggy laughed, "I thought you had given up on him." "That is yet to be decided," Shell let slip. "Miss Ackermann," Peggy chided, "You haven't done something stupid have you?" The elderly woman's glare broke through Shell's defences. When Michelle's eyes dropped Peggy let rip, "I thought better of you Michelle than to give yourself to a man before your wedding night." Shell thought of the moonstone ring, "He does intend to marry me," she knew she had technically lied as she was already considered his wife among the werewolves, "He asked me two days ago." Peggy's frown lifted to a smile, "You will marry in our church!" She pulled Shell into a warm hug, "Hang on, you implied that you might give up on him." "We had a fight and I haven't completely forgiven him yet," Shell mumbled, not wanting to talk about it too much. Back in the living room the vicar eyed Michael intently, "I hope your philandering ways are over now that you have our Michelle's heart," he said suddenly. "I have promised myself to her," Michael retaliated, "I love Michelle." The vicar seemed happy with that, "If you hurt her, I'll kill you." "Gerald!" Peggy cried as she carried a platter of sandwiches, "I'm sure young Michael here would never hurt our lovely Michelle," her smile a partially disguised the warning she shot at the wolf. The teen laughed at Peggy's expression, "I get that one all the time," he chuckled to Michael, "Like us mere mortals would ever be pious." "I don't know about you," Michael said to the boy, "But I wouldn't chance going up against her." "Neither would I," the boy chuckled, "I'm Peter by the way." "Yes," the vicar cut in, "He came to us with a heroin addiction and he's only fourteen years old." "But we got him off that crap," Peggy smiled, "He's returning to school next week." "Good for you," Michelle cheered Peter as she sat down and tucked into one of the sandwiches. "My goodness girl," Peggy exclaimed, "Didn't you eat enough at lunch?" Michael froze and glanced at his mate as she began to brighten with a crimson hue, "Michelle, please tell me you aren't feeling pressured into this marriage due to a new arrival." Shell cringed, the idea of a pregnancy out of marriage was a taboo subject in the vicar's home and if she was indeed with child she would be marched down that aisle faster than her feet could carry her, "I don't think so," she finally answered. "It matters not, if you are doing what only married couples should do, you will be married soon," the vicar sternly stated, "I suggest you make the preparations." Michael was shocked that people still thought that way in this day and age. He remembered his escapades in previous centuries with young women and there had been times when he had to disappear due to the girls making demands for marriage for reasons of their virtue being given to him. Many of those girls went onto have families of their own, now he was in that position again only this time he not only wanted to stay around with the girl in question but did not like that it was humans interfering with laws and rituals of werewolf lore. "Surely in this day and age society has evolved to more liberal virtues," Michael protested with a grin. "It's attitudes like that, that have caused the wide spread of things like venereal diseases and children born outside of marriage," the vicar argued back. Michael decided not to push the issue, he knew for a fact that the only change in human society when it came to sex outside of marriage was that it was now sociably acceptable thanks to the hippy movement and contraception, immortal society encourage the exploration of their sexuality. They never have trouble of underage pregnancies or anything because they instil the importance of consent at such a young age. "Not that it will concern us for much longer," Michael spoke light heartedly, "Michelle has made it clear that she wishes to be married in your church, so when she is ready to do so, we will." Michelle's eyes could have ripped chunks out of him for the revelation, "But we won't rush into things as I have my research to think about." Both the vicar and his wife found Shell's response satisfactory, Peter laughed, "How did you survive this place Michelle? Everything is such a drama." "Study. And lots of it." @}-,-'- Michael thought they would never get out of the vicar's home, he had to suffer through the virtues of marriage and celibacy like they ever worked for humans anyway. Michelle's stomach had been growling most of the afternoon and early evening which thankfully only he could hear. The brief visit to a fast food restaurant served to ease her hunger until he could get her home. "Are you sure you don't want any?" Shell offered him a bite of her chicken and mayonnaise roll. "I am not the one who needs it," he smiled at her, "I can't have you in agony while we go shopping to fill your cupboards." "I can't believe that I am eating so much," she commented between bites, "Will this last the entire month?" Michael nodded, "It could get worse though, if we conceive it will continue until the pups are born." Shell finished her chicken roll and the box of seasoned chips, "So what is the plan for this evening?" "I cook you dinner and we have a night of passionate love making," he replied hopefully. "Why don't we watch a movie or something instead?" Shell countered, shooting him down, "We need to get to know each other properly before I fall for that again." Mike could not help but gaze at her heated expression, yes she was still annoyed at him but he also could detect the faint hint of her arousal that she fought to keep under control. He could only hope that she would give in soon and her stubbornness erode away to release the woman who gave herself to him just a few days ago. He pulled the car into the parking lot at the supermarket up the road from his new home with his mate, Shell wasted no time stepping out of the car and making her way into the store which had something she decided she wanted, chocolate. Mike followed her after locking the doors and jogged to catch up. "Is there anything particular you want?" He asked her as she charged forward to the confectionary aisle. "Something European," she replied as she sifted through the various imported chocolate bars, "Nothing too sweet." His soft chuckle halted Michelle's endeavour to find the perfect chocolate bar, "What?" "I'm just going to buy one of everything and let you enjoy them at home," he said, amused at her incredulous stare. "Aren't you suppose to be hunting for our dinner?" She retorted sarcastically. He laughed at her attempt to upset him, "I'm crouched and ready to pounce," his amusement evident in his tone, "How does lamb sound?" "Whatever," Shell waved him off as she filled the trolley with an unhealthy amount of confectionary and pushing it further along only to repeat the process. Mike shook his head and retrieved another cart to do actual food shopping. After filling the cart with so much meat to make a vegetarian faint he went to find Michelle. Much to his surprise he found her stalking the frozen aisle looking for ice-cream and other frozen desserts. "Shell, I need your help to get the veggies," he pleaded as he saw her head appear from behind a fogged up freezer door. "I thought you were taking care of that," she said as she eyed the contents of his trolley. "I was hoping you would be more helpful with this shopping trip," he sounded like an impatient parent talking to their teenage child. Shell rolled her eyes and closed the freezer door, "Show me the way," she smiled deflating any frustration Michael may have been feeling. Shell waltzed past him with a cheeky grin on her face and he followed forgetting that he was meant to be guiding her to the produce section. Michelle directly aimed her trolley to produce and began loading what she could into her cart. Forgotten Ch. 06 Michael laughed at her enthusiasm and followed until she gave a frustrated growl at the lack of space the trolley had. "Don't you dare laugh at me Dr Patterson or you will be sorry for it!" Her feisty retort did nothing to deplete the mirth he felt and even with all the trouble they would have to deal with until she was ready to accept the wolf way of life he was never more happy to have her for his mate. "You are perfect my beautiful wolf," he praised her and in spite of the glare she returned he continued, "Lets take this lot to the checkout and go home before the ice cream melts." Shell gave him a quick nod and they were on their way. @}-,-'- Michael acquainted himself with Michelle's kitchen as he packed away the food she left alone when they made it home. Shell left him to do dinner like he promised her earlier that day and she retreated for the comfort of her video games with the guarantee to keep the music confined to her headphones to allow Michael the pleasure of cooking to some Frank Sinatra. He found that the simple task of preparing a meal for his mate felt so rewarding, knowing that her experiences with flavour was limited he sincerely hoped that she would appreciate his efforts. Singing alone with 'Ol' Blue Eyes' he did not notice the frequent cussing had stopped in the living room. Michelle had given up trying to concentrate on her game and decided to clear out the room Michael would be sleeping in. A daunting task by anyone's language. She sighed at the towers of boxes that reached to the ceiling and filled with many things she had not thought about for a long time. Most of it belonged to Gary, he had asked her to keep it until someone called Bedella came to see him and then she was to give it to her and who ever this Bedella chick was she must have been important to him. With great difficulty, Shell began to deconstruct the towers and take the boxes out to the garage which was mostly empty. Shifting the contents was not so hard once she got through the bulk of it and as she closed on the last of them she knocked over one and it spilled across the floor. "Shit!" she cursed and began to clean it up. Something caught her eye, an aged parchment with a red seal that looked like a howling wolf. "What the fuck?" She picked it up and looked at who it was addressed to, it was addressed to her, well the other her, Bleddwen. She debated as to whether to open it or not, when she decided she would Michael called her for dinner. She placed it on the bed and left to eat. @}-,-'- Michael was thrilled at her delight to his culinary abilities and finished the meal with a home cooked blueberry pie with creamy vanilla ice cream. They now cuddled up on the couch watching some romantic comedy that was clearly not amusing Michelle. "What is the matter my love?" Mike asked as he held her. "I don't think I'm in the mood for a film like this," she uttered, "It's too touchy feely." Michael laughed again, "I thought you would like this movie," he responded, "Maybe get you in the mood for a little more than just cuddling." His soft nuzzle against her ear began to distract her and her head fell to the side giving him unrestricted access to the slender column of her throat. "Michael," she whined as he kissed up to her ear, nibbling her lobe softly with his lips, "Please!" "Gladly," he answered quickly before she could stop his progress. Knowing that if he pushed too hard she would withdraw again so he had to walk that precarious line that could show his desire but also show restraint to please her. He resisted the soft globes of her breasts and the inviting thighs that were covered in the skin tight jeans she wore. Michelle gasped as his teeth grazed the bite he gave her that first night, triggering a rush of heat funnelled straight to the velvety centre of her being, "Michael please stop that, I can't ... I can't ..." "Then don't," he guided her lips to his and held her close as he ravaged her mouth with his nimble tongue. Much to his surprise Michelle did not fight him off, instead throwing her arms around him preventing him from moving away even when he needed to take a breath. Shifting their position on the couch he pinned her under his hard body, "What are you doing?" Michelle frantically asked, ready to bolt from him. "I promise not to remove any clothing from your wonderful body," he quickly assured her, "But please let me hold you, you are perfection to me." Shell thought for several seconds then relaxed, "Not one hand to wander to somewhere it should not." Michael placed his hand on his heart, "You may guide my hands to where you wish them to be." A faint red tinge coloured her cheeks, taking his hand in hers she placed it over her heart. "I want you to touch me everywhere but you hid part of yourself and that is hard to look past." "What if I promise to pretend to be human and keep my primal nature safely locked away," he suggested, "For now." "I would like that," she smiled moving his hand up to her cheek, "We keep the clothing on but you have free reign of my body." It was like all his birthdays came at once. Rushing to take her lips again he pressed his sex against hers to let her know what she did to him, rubbing against her in simulated intercourse. Shell let a soft moan rumble in her throat as she clung to him, meeting his movements with her own. The teasing thrusts Mike delivered felt too good, Shell wanted more but the fear of seeing the large grey wolf looming over her she held her tongue. He let his hands trail down the sides of her torso, feeling each rib on the way down tickling the sensitive skin. "I love you so much Michelle," he breathed into her ear, "I wish to tease your nipples with my mouth if you will allow me." His request caused her flesh to ripple with goose bumps. "Would you have me remove my shirt?" "If you are okay with it," he tugged at the hem but made now attempt to remove it, "Leave your bra on." With a single nod she pulled the tee shirt over her head revealing a lilac lace brassier where her perfect pink nipples peaked through. He caressed them through the lace inciting a sigh of pleasure from his beloved mate, captivated with the blissful expression written across Shell's face. "What happened to your mouth?" He chuckled and lowered his lips to the delicate bud swirling his tongue around it, drawing out a sustained cry of satisfaction. Taking this as a good sign he lightly pinched its partner, making sure to keep everything light and gentle. He had not paid attention to what she was up to with her own hands until he felt a sharp jerk to his shirt and the material fall away, "I thought clothing was to remain on?" He challenged playfully. "I've changed my mind," she cried arching up to him, "I want you now, all nine inches of you!" "It's ten and ... Okay!" He tore her jeans off along with the briefs she wore and buried his face in her molten core, his tongue diving deep to relish the intense flavour that was solely hers, pure ambrosia. He bumped his nose against her throbbing little button as he feasted. Shell could have died at that moment and know that she died the happiest girl on earth, his desire to bring her to the earthly delight of sexual climax over his own made her day. How could she ever doubt his intent, he clearly loved her and cared for her deeply. She did not want to think of the what could have happened, what he really was, what she really was, none of it mattered anymore. She would learn to accept all that stuff but later, much later. Michael pounced over her, pushing her knees aside, "When did you get the time to remove your pants?" Shell asked when she found him naked. "I didn't expect you to notice anything else while I was sampling the taste of Tasmania," he grinned with her nectar all over his face. "May I enter?" "Fuck yeah!" she cried, wrapping her legs tightly around his hips. Mike wasted no time pounding into her chanting in his head to not change and scare her again. She felt so wonderful, so hot he could not stop his knot swelling, "Don't be scared, it's just my knot, I can't help that," he quickly assured her, "but we will be stuck together for a while." "Ohmygod! That feels fantastic!" She howled, throwing her head back and curving her chest against his. Mike cried out his release as Shell screamed her own so loud that he was sure that the neighbours would call the police. As their breathing slowed and the sweat stopped dripping from their foreheads Michael kissed her again, "You are more beautiful than I have ever seen your before." He rolled over so he would not crush his mate. "I love you." Shell rested her head against his chest, "What must you think of me? With me changing my mind like that," she mumbled into the forest of dark hair that grew on his chest. He squeezed her close, "I think you are a wonderful woman who knows what she wants," he laughed aloud, "When your stubbornness is not in the way." Shell laughed also, "I guess I am a real bitch in every sense of the word." "My bitch," he corrected her, "As I am yours." "Wow," she mockingly cried, "You're a bitch too?" "If you want me to be, love," she settled down again and Mike gently stroked her hair, "I will be anything you want, just say the word." "I'll hold you to that." @}-,-'- I trust most of you had a great new year and to all those affected by the flooding or fires I hope you and your families are safe and well. Forgotten Ch. 07 Finally finished this one. I began this before the earthquake/tsunami/nuclear crisis of Japan and agonised whether to change it once the disasters occurred but decided against it. I love the country and culture and their language is beautiful to listen to. I hope you enjoy this chapter. :Þ @}-,-'- Chapter 7: Life goes on. Michael was the first to wake after their night of passion, Michelle slept soundly on his chest with her fingers entwined in his chest hair. He stroked her hair softly as her gentle breath caressed his exposed flesh. For the first time in many days he felt content, his mate was in his arms and at that moment he did not have a care in the world. Fate it would seem had other ideas. His mobile phone began to ring in pocket of his jeans and as always it was just out of arms reach. Carefully, he tried to wriggle closer to the offending noise without disturbing Michelle. After a moment of difficulty he managed to retrieve the phone as it stopped ringing. He waited for the voicemail notification and then listened for who called, it was his father. News that his sister Janis and her mate had returned from the Iberian Kingdom but had yet to return to the compound as they decided to have a short vacation in Cairns first. Michael hung up the phone and tossed it aside. "Who was that?" Michelle yawned as she slowly woke up. "My father," Mike clarified, "My sister and her mate have returned to Australia from Iberia." "As in Spain and Portugal?" Shell asked stretching out her naked body in a feline manner. "Yes, they were there on a personal mission to become officially bonded in the vampire community. As my sister's mate is a vampire from Madrid it is customary that the Iberian King and Queen recognise them as a couple. The vampires have called the Iberian peninsula as Iberia so when dealing with them we refer to it as Iberia also," he explained. "Wow, you weren't kidding about the vampires huh?" Shell giggled, "What are they like? Do they burn up in sunlight and shriek at the crucifix?" Michael laughed, "No, for the most part they are much like humans only they need more iron in their diet and drinking blood is the easiest way to do that." "So they can just eat more red meat and whole grains and not have to worry about drinking blood?" Michelle had lost all fear of the supernatural and now curiosity clearly had taken over. "I guess so," Mike replied with a shrug, "But I heard that drinking blood is one of the most erotic experiences for both the donor and the recipient." "So your sister has a vampire for a mate," She stated, "Guess that caused a ruckus." "Yes," Michael chuckled at the memory, "My father was furious at first but now is happy that he will be a grandfather." Michelle sat up, "Children mean a lot to werewolves, don't they." She swallowed hard with her fear of not actually being able to conceive, or if she did but lost the baby. "We love our families more than anything else in the world," he smiled and pulled her into a warm embrace, "Do not fret, either way I will be with you and love you until you decide we are ready to move on." Shell remained silent as Michael held her, she nodded to his statement and sighed. "Come, lets get dressed and go into the uni to check on those devil embryos of yours." Shell pulled out of his arms and wiped at her eyes which had reddened in the last few minutes, "That sounds good." @}-,-'- Mollie was excited, Janis would be home soon and Michael had not returned defeated so everything was looking up. She dropped her youngest litter off at the communal sitting room in the care of the omegas and quickly made her way towards the medical wing, in particular the birthing suites. "Madam Alpha," one of the nurses bowed, "Can I help you?" "Yes," Mollie smiled, "Janis is returning soon." The nurse nodded with a grin, "The first of the grandchildren due?" Mollie laughed with joy, "Yes, I am sure it will be within the month." "And you want to prepare her suite for her arrival?" "How did you guess," Mollie could not hold back her excitement, "I think Janis would like something overlooking the gardens." "I know just the one," The nurse guided Mollie to the third floor where some of the more luxurious rooms were. The room was decorated in pastel blues, pinks and yellows with a shallow bath in one corner and a large low lying bed in another. The large bay window dominated an entire wall and it opened up onto a balcony that had a perfect view of the knot garden. "This is wonderful," Mollie quickly began to make plans as to personalising it for her daughter. "How many are we expecting?" The nurse asked. "I don't know, I have never had experience with a mixed mating before," the proud grandmother to be confessed, "I am not sure what to expect." Mollie returned to her work whistling cheerfully. @}-,-'- After a banquet of a breakfast, Michelle and Michael walked through the doors of their research laboratory. Being a weekend there were not too many assistants working on their projects but it was clear that they curious to see who had arrived. The fact that Mike held Shell's hand tightly and in clear view of the students had their tongues wagging. Shell swallowed the lump that formed in her throat, "Maybe we should reconsider this," she rapidly spat out. Her mate foiled her feeble escape attempt and guided her to the locker room. "It is not a surprise to them that we are together," Michael informed her, "Only that you finally with me is the news." Shell shook her head, "Is there anyone around here that didn't know about your feelings for me?" "Not that I know of," Mike smirked and helped her with her lab coat, "It seems you were the only one." "Bite me," she grumbled, not liking that she still felt ridiculous for not noticing Michel's love for her until it was shoved in her face. "Gladly," he pulled Shell into his arms and nuzzled at the mating mark he gave her, "But we won't get any work done today if you tease me like that." He wasted no time in nibbling the scar on the crook of her neck causing her to moan and melt into his arms. Shell mumbled incoherently as she let her mate distract her with his intimate intentions. All thoughts had left her mind unless they were of what she wanted Mike to be doing to her at that moment. "If the two of you can not behave you should go home," a familiar deep voice chuckled from the doorway. "Rick, do you mind?" Michael looked up in annoyance, "We're having a moment." The were-bear laughed at the embarrassed look on Michelle's face, "If you insist on behaving like a couple of teens then I suggest you go to your office like the rest of us." "Sorry Dr. Monahan," Shell mumbled and tried to escape Michael's grasp to continue with her preparation for the day. "No need Mrs Patterson," Monahan smirked, "I was only teasing." Mike cringed at the name Rick decided to use. Michelle's discomfiture disappeared at the address, "Dr. Monahan, how long have you known me?" She asked coolly. The were-bear paused his amused chuckle and answered, "Since you first arrived at the university twelve years ago." "Then please address me by my name and not by Dr Patterson's mother's name," she continued curtly. "If you excuse me, I have a species to save from extinction." She left after changing as quickly as she could. "Did I say something wrong?" Rick asked his friend, baffled at her behaviour. "She is finding it hard adapting to mated life," Mike explained, "She refuses to take my name or live at the compound." The bear swallowed hard, "Ah." "Ah?" Mike gave his friend a questioning look, "What do you mean 'ah'?" With a strained sigh he replied, "Michelle's grad students have a special surprise for her in honour of her 'marriage' to you." "Ah." @}-,-'- Amandus and Bedella had arrived from Dawnlight out the front of the large London apartment building that Peredur, or Peter as he was known to his friends, lived with his two 'dogs'. "So this is where you live with Bleddyn's darling little misfit?" Bedella mused, "How much of his previous life bled through into this one?" "Too much," Amandus grumbled, "Drugs, women, late nights of debauchery, it is almost like he never change." The two made their way into the building and up to the seventh floor where the more valuable apartments began. The front door was locked, as it should be, when they arrived. The flat was silent which Amandus concluded that 'Peter' was asleep after another night of sin and seduction. Upon opening the door two large wolf-like dogs galloped up to the intruders and shifted into two burly men, "Sir Amandus," one said, "Welcome home." "Thank you Gideon," the man felt deflated at the sight of clothing strewn everywhere, including a black g-string hanging from the light shade, "It's good to be home." "Wish we got here sooner," Bedella pouted, "Would have been a fun night." "Lord Einar was not enough man for you?" Amandus mocked, "I heard his stamina would rival yours." Bedella laughed, "We both had much fun and will do so again in the near future but we agreed to each bring a friend to join in." Amandus chuckled and moved past Gideon and Tane, the other wolf, to reach his ward in the master bedroom. The pile of limbs greeted the protector in the middle of what was left of the large Californian king size bed, underneath the pile of bodies was a very content Peter Baxtar AKA Peredur Dawnlight. "Get up Peter," Amandus wasted no time in worrying about modesty of the 'guests' as they did not seem to care, "Peter there is something important you need to do." "Impossible," Peter yawned, "I have another week until the photo shoot with Bonsai Warriors." "Bonsai Warriors?" Amandus had no idea what Peter was talking about. "The Tokyo Metal Band?" Peter answered exasperatedly, "The fine art of blending classical Japanese folk music with the classic heavy rock of the 1970's and a twist of 80's electrica?" "Sounds complicated," the knight huffed. "It is," Peter climbed out from under the mountain of women, "But they wish for me to photograph them for the launch of their third album which is to be held at some castle in their country, I forget which one." "I suggest you wake these women and give them something to eat," he looked at their emaciated bodies with disgust, "They could use it." Peter waved him out of the room in frustration, "They're models, they don't eat." Amandus wanted to just grab the man and drag him back home but they needed to get things settled here first, much to his displeasure. @}-,-'- Michelle had had a bad day, first her graduates wanted to know why they were not invited to her and Michael's wedding which she explained had not happened and covered with the explanation of a joke between Dr Monahan and Dr Patterson. Next came the overwhelming arousal she had been warned about. The constant throbbing in her lower belly drove her mad and nearly dragged Michael off to a dark closet for some relief. She managed to get most of her planned work finished by taking frequent toilet breaks to mask the fact she needed sexual reprieve. The constant state of hunger tormented her also, when one of her assistants overheard her stomach growling she had to lie about missing breakfast. She never liked lying to anyone, now she found herself lying with such ease that it frightened her. She had to keep her nature secret, her condition had to be kept secret and the fact that Michael had won her heart so easily, she had to keep that secret. There was no way she would let onto him that regardless of what had happened between them that she found him irresistible. When he met with her at lunch she had to put on a show that she was upset with him announcing their marriage before it happened, she had to settle the records in the main office as they had already altered them to Mrs Patterson. Now that the day had come to an end and most of the others had gone home she settled in her office and ate a pizza she ordered once the coast was clear. She was expecting Michael to enter but he took longer than she expected. The pizza she ordered for him began to look appetising, even with the olives on it, and if he took any longer he would not have a pizza to enjoy. The familiar throb decided to let itself be known again, she wanted to relieve it but she wanted Michael's help. "What's taking you so long?" She asked her absent mate, "I need you now and you are taking your time." After several more minutes and half of Mike's pizza later he arrived with a frown. Something had upset him. "Are you alright?" Shell asked. His face brightened at her concern, "Just an unwanted return of someone." "Who?" He sat down across from her and took a piece of his Pizza, "Do you remember Carol Evens?" Michelle snorted, "Unfortunately." Her past concerning that woman were not pleasant but did not reveal it to her distressed love. "Well she is back from Vancouver," he said after enjoying the morsel. "The Canadians probably kicked her out for her attitude," Michelle bitterly replied. "They do not like rude people." "She wants her old job back ..." Mike began to explain. "She can't," Michelle cut him off, "I have that job now." "She has always been able to persuade Rick to do what ever she wanted," he added. "I do not care," Shell grumbled, "The bitch can suffer, she quite if you remember." Michael was silent for some time before he told her the one thing he had wanted to avoid, "She quite after I broke off our relationship." Michelle stared at him, "Your relationship," she echoed with a hint of impending doom. Her lack of response had him worried, Michael had only just managed to get through to her after their disastrous beginning and now a troublesome ex-girlfriend had come back to haunt them. "Shell?" "Is she here?" "No, not yet," this was far too calm for his liking, "She called Rick a few hours ago." "Tell Rick to reject her demand but offer a good reference for somewhere else," she told him with a look that broached no argument. "He has agreed to see her tomorrow," he did not like the way her expression darkened, "But you would have a say as you are a senior member of staff." Michelle smiled maliciously, "You tell Rick that I will be at that meeting tomorrow." "But she ..." "Don't you dare tell me you are concerned for her feelings after all these years of not seeing her?" Shell sighed, the woman had done it again and she was not even in the room. Michelle's early years at the University under her watchful eye had been hell and if it were not for Michael she would have left. The memories of the put downs and open aggression now filled Michelle's mind in such clarity it was like yesterday. "Shell?" Her clouded eyes worried Michael, "What is it?" "She is not coming back here," she declared, "Ever." @}-,-'- Carol Evens was a middle aged woman with a narcissistic strike a mile wide, she had a way of getting everything she wanted with the exception of Michael Patterson. Her history with the wolf dated back fifteen years when the two met in the staff room his first day. She was a graduate geneticist with aspirations of finding the cure for cancer and the glory that would follow with it. When Michael had transferred from another research lab she set her sights on him and he did nothing to dissuade it. Their love affair had began hard and fast, purely animalistic. But it all screeched to a halt when the golden child of the education system decided to go to their university and Michael's affections dried up like the drought that had gripped the eastern seaboard. They became argumentative and bitter but underneath it all Carol felt that Michael still loved her, she loved him like no one else so it was only right that he loved her. She stood out the front of the building that had been her work place for over ten years, it was a crisp morning with the dew still on the grass. She flicked her red hair back over her shoulder, she knew that Dr Richard Monahan was attracted to her and who wouldn't be? She was slim, lush natural red hair and blue eyes. She always believed her legs were her best features so she would show them off at every opportunity, like now she wore tight stretched denim jeans, stiletto heals and a low cut blouse. If this does not persuade Rick to employ her again she did not know what will. She walked confidently into the building. @}-,-'- Michelle was preparing for war, she dressed in her most flattering and unconventional clothing she could find. The black leather pants and bodice, it was something Michael preferred to keep in the bedroom and he told her so. "Don't you think you should pick something a little more conservative?" He asked her from their bed. Michelle refused to look around, this was hard enough without being tempted not to go in so early in preference for exploring their fledgling relationship in imaginative ways. Michael wanted nothing more than to coax her back to bed, he refuse to dress at all and let the sheet just cover his genitalia leaving his leg and torso exposed to tease her back to his arms. "I want to intimidate her," she confessed, "I suffered under her for too long and rejoiced when she left." She then turned to ask Mike the one question she had been wanting to ask since she found out why Carol left in the first place, "Why didn't you tell me you were involved with her?" "I thought you knew," he replied, "Everyone else did." "That excuse again?" Shell paused as she surveyed the tantalising scene before her, her resolve faltered. "Perhaps it is because I lost interest in her when you arrived," he crawled across the bed letting the sheet fall away to reveal his desire for her, "You are all I could think about, all I still think about." "With the exception of your cloning project," she corrected him. "That is fulfilling a promise to a friend," he hooked his finger in the waistband of the tight leather wrapping and pulled her towards him, "It did give me an in with you." Shell collapsed on the bed and Michael quickly covered her with his hardened body, "So all the help I thought I was giving you was just a ploy to snag me?" The reply to her question was a needy kiss with a quick bite to her lower lip. She melted into the bed as Michael undid all her hard work in preparation for the day, with the clothing tossed to somewhere else Mike began to tease each and every sensitive peaks that lined her torso with light nips and nibbles. Shell cried out both in frustration and in pleasure, she still was annoyed that Michael could do this to her when she knew that he had kept another secret from her but his mouth was unrelenting in its sensual torture. It was pointless to fight against him when he started, at least that is what Shell said to herself to excuse her own desire to let him continue. Michael knew this but said nothing, Shell needed to let go of whatever her problem was and he knew the exact thing to do that. "Close your eyes," he whispered huskily. When she complied he dove between her thighs and began to feast on her molten core. He like every other wolf in the world enjoyed this part of love making more than any other part, to pleasure one lover until they scream for peace. He loved her flavour, the heat she emitted and the sound of her pulse race with each of his fervid laps of his tongue. Shell's mind went on a holiday, she did not remember her need to get to work quickly nor the aggravation she felt at another secret kept by Michael but the sensation consumed her. How could he be so good at this? Why was he so quick to jump down there and slip his tongue between those lips and tease her sensitive nerve cluster relentlessly? Worst of all why was she so willing to let him? For how long he worked his magic on her was not known, all Shell knew was that she was covered in sweat and panting like she had just run a marathon, the endorphins raged through her veins at a great rate of knots and nothing else in the world mattered. Forgotten Ch. 07 Her mate had other ideas, in one swift movement he clamed her body, complete with possessive bite to the crook of her neck and instantly change to semi-hybrid form. With his phallus growing and locking in place and his teeth enlarging as he bit down drawing out blood as he broke the skin. In an instant Michelle was alert, the pain was not there but the panic was, "Michael," she gasped trying to keep calm. "MICHAEL!" He caught himself in what he could only described as a horrifically erotic entanglement. The taste of her blood was a powerful aphrodisiac he ever encountered so the effort of pulling back was physically painful. "I'm sorry," he panted against the rapidly healing wound, "I was overwhelmed by you, I should ..." Michelle cut him off with a searing kiss, the coppery taste of her blood was not unpleasant as she thought it would be. Deep down it drove her wild and that alone scared her. "I know," she breathed in his ear, "I cannot fault you because of your nature." She chuckled nervously, "You sure get big when you're like that." Although his guilt had not dissipated he laughed at her observation forgetting that she did not know, "Keep giggling like that and I may do it again." Without letting her respond he grabbed her hips and thrust in with all his strength, driving all his energy to one thing and that was his mate's climax. "You're forgiven," Shell cried out as he gave it his all. Like a machine Mike pumped in and out biting his lip to prevent his own release for her. Feeling her muscles quiver around him was torture each time she quaked with rapture, he must hold out. The ringing of his phone broke his concentration and he spilled his seed into her depths, "I'm sorry," he panted at the over stimulation his now tender appendage received from his mates trembling walls. Michelle was the one who answered the phone, "What?" She barked into the microphone, angry that the piece of technology had ended her time with her mate. Did she really just think that? "Good afternoon Mrs ... Dr Ackermann," it was Rick, "Just wondering if you were coming in today?" Mike took the phone, "You had better have good news," the wolf warned as he soothed his mate with loving strokes of her hair. Rick was silent for a moment, "Well ..." "You didn't did you?" It was rhetorical but Mike knew Rick's weakness for human women and if Carol did what he feared she would do it would not end well. "She is a good scientist," Rick began to explain. "Damnit Rick!" Michelle jumped at Mike's sudden outburst, "How could you do this to me? To Michelle?" Shell had a good idea what had happened, she had lost her job as chief researcher to the woman who had caused years of anxiety and pain. Ten years earlier: Michelle was excited to have graduated so quickly, her masters degree in Genetics and Biology was an achievement to the eighteen year old who had worked relentlessly whilst caring for her ill step-father. She had been accepted to work with Dr. Evens as one of her graduate students and she even got her own office! The excitement wore off when reality did not live up to expectations with the cramped cubical that masqueraded as an office but it was more than she had before. The lab was more to her liking, the highest quality equipment and more grant money than a student could comprehend what to do with. Well that last part was not entirely true but it was still impressive by anyone's standards. The excitement dulled when she met Dr. Evens who appeared to know her had the look of distain in her eyes. Had she done something to upset the woman already? She just put it down to PMS and began preparing tissue samples from the chunk of whale that beached itself a few days earlier, she could not decide if the rotten fish smell was coming from the sample or her hormonal superior. The day continued like that, preparing samples for the more senior assistants to analyse and avoiding Dr. Evens as best she could. But it continued like that for more than a month with the addition of being the scapegoat for everything that went wrong and just being a convenient person to yell at when things went awry. If it were not for Dr. Patterson and her Step-father she would have left. It all came to a head at the science department's annual cocktail party, she bought a new dress and she decided to tackle heals for the first time, all black. She even went to the hairdressers to get made up, she had one goal that night and that was to catch Dr Patterson's attention. The night did not go as planned, as she stood at the far corner with a rather potent beverage trying to drum up the courage to speak with him on a non-professional topic when a furious looking Dr Evens stomped over and slapped her hard across the face, clawing her nails in the process. Michelle could not remember what was screamed at her but it was enough for her to decide to leave and vow never to go to one of these stupid parties again. The following day she heard that Dr Evens had been offered a job overseas and quit. She found herself promoted to lead researcher and everything worked out for the best and she decided not to report the attack. Present Day: "I can't believe that guy!" Michael growled as he threw the phone across the room, "I'm so sorry sweetie, Rick has a weakness for human women and she used that for her own ends." Michelle slumped on the bed, "Call him back and tell him we will not be in until tomorrow," she said emotionlessly, "I think I am not feeling to well." "In a maternal way?" Mike asked cheekily. "No," she replied despondently, "In a 'having to put up with that awful woman again' sort of way." "You dislike her that much?" "You have no idea," her mind pondered on her new situation some more before her stomach grumbled loudly, "I am seriously sick of this constant hunger." "Say no more and I will take care of everything," he leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead and walked out to the kitchen to prepare something to eat for the two of them. Michelle watched him walk out and began to cry. @}-,-'- Carol leaned back in the chair across from Doctor Monahan in his office focusing on the oak tree outside the window behind him, the leaves had started to turn yellow. "So you want your old job back," Rick mused after looking over her file, "You know we already have a head researcher, your former colleague Dr Pa... Ackermann," the verbal stumble did not go unnoticed. Dr Evens laughed, "I do not know how you got the two of them confused." The woman stretched her back, thrusting her breasts towards the bear catching his attention, "But I cannot understand how that little clumsy mouse could get my position." "Former position," Rick corrected her, "Dr Patterson recommended her after your unexpected departure and I must say she has improved this department immensely." Carol's eye twitched, "Michael recommended her?" She felt hurt, yes he had broken off their relationship but how could he want that little tart to have her position? Was it only her job the usurper stepped into or had she taken her position in his bed also? "She is quite the scientist," Rick grinned ignoring Carol's displeasure, "Have you read her paper on the artificial womb? It is remarkable." Carol glared at him, "She stole the idea from me," she lied. "No she didn't," Rick laughed, "She had worked on the idea for years and you had no idea about it because you shot her down so many times." Carol glared at him, "Yes I know how you treated her, I have hidden cameras in all the labs because of bullying claims made by other former lab assistants under you." Carol was angry, they all had designs on Michael and she would not let them near him, "Surely you do not take a stern talking to as bullying," she asked innocently, "I run a tight ship and do not like people slacking in any way as that slows productivity." "Mike thinks we should not let you back," Rick told her, the revelation like a dagger to her heart. "Why?" The pain in her voice was evident. "He probably believes you are only wanting to try renew your relationship with him," the bear shrugged, "Also you would be forcing his ma...," Rick paused and corrected himself, "fiancé to a lower position, one she worked hard to achieve." Dr Evens saw red, the little bitch had wormed her way into Michael's bed and is going to take him as a husband when it should have been her! Carol plotted quickly how to manoeuvre everything back into her favour. She wondered if Dr Monahan still had a weakness for breasts and thighs like he did all those years ago. She kicked her feet up onto the desk and unbuttoned the upper button on her blouse, "Is there anything I can do to sway you from your current standing?" Another button unbuttoned, "I have a couple of ... points that could persuade you," the last button parted ways with its receptacle and a red lace brassiere came into full view. Rick growled, her body had been well cared for over the years. For a forty year old woman she had the body of a thirty year old. Yes she had had work done, implants, possible liposuction and goodness knows what else but she appealed to his baser needs and being a were-bear he was a slave to those needs. Sensing a victory Carol stood up and dropped her jeans revealing a matching red g-string, "Like what you see professor?" She asked in mock purity. The bear's control failed and before Carol had time to prepare she was thrown down onto his desk, her underwear torn off unceremoniously and his impressive organ pushing into her. "You are dry woman!" He scowled spitting in his hand to provide some lubricant to ease his entrance. "You took me by surprise," she groaned as he forced his way in and began to use her as she offered. Rick stopped thinking as he pumped into her, he was not fond of the woman but she was available and he took advantage of that. "Is the job mine?" She asked mid-moan as Ricks inhuman appendage plunged in deep. He mumbled his response that neither confirmed nor denied her question. "Rick! Answer me or I take you to Human Relations for sexual harassment!" Rick stopped and growled menacingly, she had trapped him. "Fine," he barked out and pulled out of her still largely dry body, "Put your clothes on and get out, I have a phone call to make." Carol smiled as soon as he turned his back to her, she won. @}-,-'- The following day Michelle sat and watched the morning news whilst nibbling on some fresh pastries and sipping her decaffeinated coffee. Her eyes watched but her mind was elsewhere. With a huge sigh she took another bite of her Danish pastry and continued to stare blankly at the television. Michael placed a fresh tray of pastries on the table and sat down with her, "Are you sure you are fine?" he asked for the umpteenth time that morning. "Yeah," she huffed, "I can't just sit at home and sulk." The reality of loosing her position made her depressed but her stubbornness demanded that she show a back bone in this situation or history was doomed to repeat itself. "Will you tell me what the matter is?" He asked compassionately. "Not right now," she replied and stood up to brush her teeth, "Are you ready to go?" "I will be in a minute," he gave her a reassuring smile as she left for the bathroom and turned his attention to the news. "AND NOW TO ENTERTAINMENT," the program announced, "CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHER PETER BAXTER IS MISSING LAST SEEN AT HIS LONDON APPARTMENT THREE DAYS AGO." Normally such celebrity news would not draw Michael's attention but for some reason he looked up to see a picture of the man and dropped his croissant. The man looked like Michelle only more masculine and with facial hair. "HE WAS REPORTED MISSING BY A WOMAN CLAIMING TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND YESTERDAY WHEN HE DIDN'T ANSWER HIS PHONE. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING POSSIBLE FOUL PLAY." "Michelle!" Mike called out to his mate, "You have to see this!" Shell raced out of the bathroom still brushing her teeth, "What?" she asked with the brush still working. "Look!" He pointed to the television. "... MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF WHEN HE TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEN UNKNOWN BAND 'REQUIUM OF THE DAMNED' BACK IN 1999 ..." "What about it?" She asked after seeing a montage of the man's photographs. "Don't you think he looks familiar?" He hinted at her resemblance to the missing man. "Yeah," she answered incredulously, "It's Peter Baxter the photographer, everybody knows him." She took note on the announcement, "Huh, shame. I liked his work." "I am sure there is something else you could find familiar about him," he hinted at her hair colour. "You lost me," she replied giving him a blank stare, "Anyway I am going back to the bathroom before I dribble on my shirt." She left him alone in the kitchen again. "Bloody woman," he grumbled and finished his breakfast. "I will need to find out more about this Peter Baxter." @}-,-'- Just so I am not inundated with questions about Carol, no she does not know about the immortal world. Forgotten Ch. 08 I would like to thank Jen for editing this for me and giving me the motivation to write more. I do hope everyone likes this installment. @}-,-'- Chapter 8: Territorial Warfare. "So what you're telling me," Peter tried to wrap his head around the news that he was not only not human, but third in line for a title as a werewolf Alpha. "My dogs were really my body guards and you, Armand are really a knight to the man who is my father and your name is Amandus?" The young man rubbed his temples trying to make the information stop hurting his head. "And what are you exactly?" He asked Bedella directly. "Your fairy god mother," she replied dryly. "Trust me everything will make sense when we unlock your memories." "In a land that is stuck at dawn," he confirmed what he had been told, the Sídhe nodded and Peter groaned. "I need a drink." He staggered over to the liquor cabinet, poured a shot of tequila and downed the bottle. After a brief sway he then downed the shot, "Bats thetter." he slurred out before collapsing face first on the floor. Bedella looked down at the unconscious young man. "Damn, I never took him for a two shot screamer," She stepped over him and grinned. "It is nice to see that he hasn't changed much." Amandus sighed. "Gideon, Tane, please pick him up so we can finally go home," he looked to Bedella. "I wish to be with my wife." With a nonchalant shrug she began the short ritual to open the portal to Dawnlight. "Off you go," she shooed them through. "I'm off to Dubai to find Sir Ethan and his anal retentive ward Dewydd or David as he is known among his peers." "I thought they were in America." Amandus commented. "They were but as David is in business and has been in Dubai for the last few years." Bedella replied as Gideon and Tane carried Peter or rather Peredur through the inter-dimensional doorway. "Are you not going to reverse the memory block?" Amandus asked as he readied the final step home. Bedella chuckled and traced a small glyph on the unconscious man's forehead. "He will remember everything once he sees his parents." "Thank you," Sir Amandus shook her hand. "Until the mating ceremony." He stepped through the portal and disappeared. Bedella chuckled. "Yes and I look forward to it." @}-,-'- Fenrir lounged back in his bed, living at the Patterson compound was like living at a five star hotel. Tala was in the shower cleaning up after another marathon session of lovemaking. Yes, life was perfect here. The large blond reached for the television remote and turned the television on, ever since arriving on earth he found that he liked to see what the world was up to in the comfort of his own home. Life in the home of William Patterson was wonderful. Fenrir and Tala had been given the position of omegas and in the security sector. They were not expected to start working until Michelle was comfortable enough to return to the compound which meant they had an indefinite holiday. Tala did not wait to familiarise herself with the security system at the compound and scouted the entire property while Fenrir explored the more enjoyable side of the compound. He discovered that the gardens were not only decorative, but functional as it provided shelter for the hundreds of children who lived there. He took to telling them stories of Dawnlight and the great wars that frequented the land. The one story they all seemed to like was the one where he and his mate, Tala rescued Bleddwen from the evil dhampires. He never told them that Bleddwen was Michelle. He would let them find that detail out when she finally comes to her new home. His days on the compound were wonderful but they also reminded him of his own desire to become a father. Since they took the assignment, Tala's oestrus was delayed and cannot be activated again until Bedella does her magic and Fenrir will have his mate pregnant in no time. This morning was practice as he liked to call it, he was so vigorous that he was convinced that Tala would be walking bow legged for the rest of the day. He chuckled at the thought of her being asked why she walked funny by others when something caught his eye and the colour drained from his face. On the television was the image of Peredur and several crying models who said he was last with them before he disappeared. "TALA!" he called at the top of his lungs, "PEREDUR HAS BEEN CALLED HOME!" The water of Tala's shower stopped and she dashed out from the bathroom with nothing but a towel and her hair dripping over the carpet. "It's over?" "Looks like it," he gave her a smile. "We can start a family." Tala on the other hand was cautious, "Has Bill contacted Bleddyn yet?" Fenrir shook his head. "We both have tried but could not get through, the parchment remains blank." "I wish I knew where Gary kept his," she sighed. "It would have made this much easier." "I know," Fenrir stood up from the bed. "I think I should tell Bill." "Yes, hurry." With a nod Fenrir threw on a robe and dashed off to the Alpha's office. @}-,-'- Bill was playing his clarinet and the children were all trying to play along with recorders, tambourines, triangles and bongo drums. There was no melody just a cacophony of noise that had the Alpha chuckling for what the children lacked in talent they made up for with enthusiasm. "Well done," Bill praised them. "Now why don't we try to keep in time with the metronome this time," he pointed to the ticking device on his desk and the children laughed. "Okay, let's start again." They all erupted in a burst of music when Fenrir knocked respectfully at the Alpha's door. The music stopped and Bill ordered him in. "Sir I must speak with you," Fenrir announced. The children whined at the news and started to stand. Fenrir felt a twinge of guilt at the disappointed faces. "We can speak in the hall, it won't take long." Bill nodded, "We won't be too long," he said to the children who sat back down. He stepped out to the hall and closed the door behind him, "What is bothering you Fenrir?" Fenrir took a deep breath. "Peredur, Bleddwen's brother appears to have been taken home." "How do you know?" Bill asked, crossing his arms across his chest. "I thought you didn't have contact with the others." "We don't," Fenrir explained. "His identity here was Peter Baxter." "The missing photographer?" Fenrir nodded. "Well then, I have some things to take care of," he chuckled. "My son will have to deal with hiss soon." "I am still apprehensive about that," Fenrir cautioned. "Bleddyn does not like not getting his way." "It is every daughters mission in life to make her father's life a living hell," Bill mused. "I have over twenty of them and each have caused me grief in one way or another." His face split into a mischievous grin. "You will know what I mean when you have children." "I have to wait until Tala is able to," Fenrir's heart warmed. "I envy you, you know. Not the position of Alpha, but your life as provider for your family. And one day soon I plan to match you." "Let's see what your mate says about that," Bill chortled. "We may be the symbolic dominant in a relationship, but the truth is very different." "Don't I know it," Fenrir joined Bill in the chuckle. "I can only imagine what Michael is going through. Bleddwen always liked getting her own way and I dare say Michelle is not that different now she has someone to pamper her. " "Michael would be revelling in it," Bill added. "Now I must help our toddlers with keeping time." He re-entered the room to find one of the older children playing with his clarinet. "No you don't play it like that, rest the reed on your bottom lip," the Alpha did not get angry at the young pup who was playing with the expensive instrument. "That's it, you got it!" Fenrir smiled at the young boy who grinned, delighted with his achievement and closed the door to return to Tala. @}-,-'- The morning was cool as winter approached quicker than anyone wanted. Michelle grabbed her jacket just before leaving the house and now in the car park of the university on the outskirts of the town where the fog still clung to the lower topography of the landscape, she was grateful she did. Mike gave her a smile in an attempt to reassure her that he will not let her down after the fiasco the previous day. "I'll get it sorted, sweetheart," he promised her. "No matter what it takes." "Well if that bitch thinks she can just come in and take over she has another thing coming," Shell growled. "I'll be damned if I let her walk all over me again." Michael looked at her in curiosity. "What do you mean?" Shell shook her head, "Don't worry about it." They both entered to find the building had not turned the heater on which meant either it was dirty or broken, both scenarios were likely as most of the funding was siphoned off to research projects and the maintenance of the building was one of the casualties of such practice. "Huh, heaters fucked again." "Yeah." Mike agreed as they made their way to his office. "I am so glad my project doesn't rely on stable external temperature," Shell mused dryly. "So happy I took your advice on an independent heating system." "After suffering through a few winters here you learn a few things," Mike grinned and reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I have a couple of tricks I could teach you," he wriggled his eyebrow suggestively. "I would love to but I have to go skin a bear." Michelle answered sweetly and with a chaste kiss to Michael's cheek she skipped off down the hall to Rick's office. Mike smiled after her when her words sunk in. "Oh shit!" @}-,-'- Dr Monahan sat behind his desk reading his email dejectedly, he knew that any moment now he would have to deal with Dr Patterson and his mate for Carol's resumed employment at the university after a decade. He needed to get rid of that scheming woman, but he also needed to find a way to protect himself from any repercussions for his inappropriate actions. Thankfully Dr Evens had not arrived yet and he had no idea if the wolves were there either. He was pulled out of his misery by the polite knocking at his office door. "Come in" he called without looking up. "Hello Richard," came an eerily sweet voice after the door clicked shut. He looked up to see Michelle grinning at him, something about her did not look right. "You've been a naughty boy." Rick felt a shiver race up his spine as he looked at her, Shell's presence was different and in a way that disturbed him. "Are you feeling alright?" He asked, standing to give her aide if she needed it. "What the fuck do you think?" She snapped back, her expression turning malicious. "I lost my job to a whore!" He dropped his gaze to the floor. "I am sorry ..." "Oh just shut up," She continued. "So she manipulated you, you're a fucking bear couldn't you have just ripped her head off and save us from her?" She settled into the chair opposite him like a queen sitting on her throne. "Now how are you going to fix this little problem?" She tapped her finger on the arm of the chair impatiently waiting for him to answer. Rick wanted to give her a definitive answer but he had no idea how he could. Before he could speak to voice his shame Michael burst in. "Rick please do not punish her!" Mike cried out before analysing the scene in front of him. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Michelle ignoring him and glaring at Dr Monahan. "Ah Shell?" He did not recognise her at that moment, she looked different. Her whole demeanour was alien to him like there was a stranger sitting in the chair that his mate sat in. "Darling, look at me." he pleaded, kneeling at her feet and clasping her hands lovingly. Michelle blinked. "Michael?" She swayed on the seat, "I don't feel so good." Mike pulled her into his arms. "Tell me what happened." She shook her head. "I don't remember," which was not entirely true. The events that occurred since they arrived were like trying to remember a dream with confusing half memories and disorientation. Rick stood by and watched what unfolded, the whole situation felt surreal. Mike helped Shell to her feet and began to guide her out of Rick's office. "She blackmailed me," Rick said before they left. "She knew my weakness and I couldn't stop myself." "It's alright" Dr Patterson consoled his friend and left with his distressed mate. Rick felt bad, Michelle was generally a sweet girl who did not cause any trouble but the way she spoke to him was almost frightening, making him wonder what she was actually capable of. @}-,-'- In Michael's office Shell relaxed into Mike's chair. "I feel so tired" she mumbled as her mate backed away. "You are prioritising your natural needs over everything else." Mike explained as he walked to the cupboard to retrieve a fold out camp bed. "Which is?" She asked yawning. "Eating, sleeping and reproduction," he smiled as he answered her while he setting up the bedding. "Right now you need to rest, when you wake up you will be hungry and then," his grin widened. "You will want me." She chuckled at his expression. "Will you take care of my embryos today?" "I do have my own projects you know" he protested playfully. "I'm calling in one of the favours you owe me," she countered. "Now get goin'. You have my work to do." Michael laughed and kissed her forehead. "What would you like me to get you for lunch?" "Yes" she replied and dozed off. "I love you, sweetheart" he whispered and laid her in the bed he prepared for her, tucking her in. He walked out of the room, closing the door silently and made his way towards the labs. He had already decided to keep an eye on her devil embryos before she asked, she had placed twenty zygotes in two of the artificial wombs she developed a few years back and as they are marsupials they will be 'born' in twenty-one days. Michael loved the carnivorous marsupials of Australia which was one of the reasons he took up the challenge to try to bring back the Thylacine. He paid no attention to who he walked by until he felt a finger hook in the waist band of his trousers. "Where do you think you're going," came an unwanted voice. "I've missed you, you know." Mike refused to turn around. "It's been ten years Carol, I've moved on." "With that weak little Michelle," she acknowledged. "Where is she, I haven't said hello." He felt the heat of rage begin to rise. "You leave her alone" he yanked her around to face him. "Haven't you done enough to her already?" He did not bother to hide his anger. "After what she did to me?" Carol retaliated aggressively. "Stealing you from me and breaking my heart, the little whore will get what's coming to her!" "I left you because I did not love you," Mike made sure he announced each word clearly so as not to cause any confusion. "I am in love with Michelle and we are m... engaged." "She will never love you the way I do," She smiled ignoring everything he said. "I came back for you, bought a house for us to live in, complete with garden and enough rooms for a family." "I have a home with Michelle" he argued. "Now go away, I do not care if you have a high rank in the labs, you will not be here long, so leave me alone." He shoved her away and continued on his way. Carol watched him leave feeling hurt. "I will get you back Michael Patterson, no matter what it takes." @}-,-'- Michelle woke up after a pleasant dream of her and Michael alone on a beach in winter by a coastal cave. The dream was romantic though the scenario bewildered her, making love on a beach with a gale blowing straight from the Antarctic and a drizzling rain was not her idea of fun. That and the sand would get everywhere. She rolled onto her back thinking of how much her life had changed in a week, her anger towards Michael was a distant memory, though it is very hard to stay angry at someone who had such a nimble tongue and was very eager to use it. She chuckled quietly, blocking all negativity from her mind. In reality she should be thanking Dr Carol Evens for returning as there was the possibility that she would find herself on maternity leave soon and the lab would need to replace her. That thought alone made her smile, not the jealousy that Carol would hold but the prospect of being a mother. She knew her children would have brown hair as both she and Michael had brown hair, but she hoped they would have their father's mazarine eyes. "What has you smiling so beautifully this afternoon?" Her mate called from the door. Shell rolled her head towards him. "Just trying to figure out what our babies will look like." She stretched some of the fatigue out of her body, "Something smells good." "I have some pies from the cafeteria and decaffeinated espresso." He placed his offerings on the desk and crouched at her side to provide her with assistance if she needed it. "I was talking about you," Shell tugged on his jacket to pull him closer to capture his lips which he surrendered to instantly. Climbing onto the bed with her, he was on top of her immediately, letting his hands navigate their way under the covers to find any patch of naked flesh to caress. "I'm glad to hear it" he breathed in her ear before taking her lobe between his teeth and giving it a sharp nip. Shell gasped at the sudden pain, but it was quickly forgotten as his wonderful tongue licked it better. "We will have to be quick, sweetheart, your grad students are plotting a revolt against your department's new head." Shell laughed. "Trust Carol to be so efficient at alienating her underlings in under a day." Her laugh was contagious and Mike soon joined her in her mirth, "She wasn't like this before." "Yes, she was, just like a fucking psychopath," Shell giggled. "Targeting those she feels unworthy and all nice to those she likes or could do something for her." She sobered suddenly, "I nearly killed myself because of her." Mike's laughed died. "I was the focus of her anger which I didn't understand until yesterday. Long story short I tried to OD on Doxylamine, but all I did was have a really good night's sleep." "Human drugs are not that effective on us thankfully," he pressed his forehead to hers. "How much did you take?" "Double the advised dose," she answered. Mike chuckled. "That wouldn't even kill a human unless they had an allergy to it." Shell gave him a quizzical glance. "I studied pharmaceuticals before I changed careers." "Well I am glad that it didn't work," she finally said. "We better have lunch so I can rescue my crew from the evil witch." "I know some witches and not one of them are evil," Mike informed her as they moved to the desk to eat. "Now eat up." "Yes dad," she sarcastically replied and quickly ate her lunch and drank her coffee. "So how are my babies?" "They are still only a clump of cells, but they are not rejecting the apparatus," Mike answered her. "I have to say you have put a lot of them in only two devices." "Devils can gestate up to thirty young, but only three or four live as there are not enough nipples for the young to feed from so only the fastest live," she explained factually. "But we have the means to feed all of them so we can expand the genetic diversity and help ensure the survival of the species." "Have you thought about doing the same for the cheetah?" He asked. "You know they are in trouble genetically speaking." "Their variation is dangerously limited," Shell sighed. "It is almost like they are clones of one another," She looked up at her mate and smiled. "Maybe you could help me there, can you get your hands on some preserved tissue samples that are viable for DNA extraction?" "I could look into it," he answered. "I'm guessing you wish to splice extinct genes with living genes to improve the diversity." Forgotten Ch. 08 "That's the idea," Shell stood and stretched her back. "But I wish to focus on my devils first. I love those little guys and I can't bear the thought of them dying out because of a disease." "You know that's what I love about you, Shell" Mike smiled. "You do this out of love rather than the acclaim of your peers." "And if you keep up this charming act of yours, you might just take over as number one love in my life" She smirked and waited for his response. "This is no act" he declared, pulling her into his arms. "And what do you mean I might become your number one love?" Shell giggled. "You are my number one love. I just like to tease you." "Good to hear it," he gave her a kiss. "Now will you be alright with Carol out there stalking the halls?" Shell nuzzled into his neck. "I figured that with you trying hard to get me knocked up, it is probably for the best that she is back, this lab needs someone who knows how this place works, because I will be on maternity leave." "I like the way you think." @}-,-'- Michael was pleased with his day; the re-sequencing of his sample of Thylacine DNA was progressing nicely. He had successfully avoided Carol by sending her on a pointless errand for some medical equipment that he knew was not available on campus in the medical department. In her effort to please him, she travelled to Melbourne to retrieve the exact piece. As he packed his equipment away for the night he heard the door to his lab open. "You ready to go?" Michelle asked quietly. "Nearly," he responded in kind. "Are you?" "Yes, just made sure my babies were down for the night" she joked, entering fully into the room. "I haven't seen Dr Evens today, did she even turn up?" "She did," Mike said nonchalantly. "I sent her on a futile errand." "Like a newbie?" Shell giggled. "That was cruel ... but funny." She stood behind her mate and rested her hand on his shoulder. "I'm hungry, my love." Mike smiled at her seductive tone. "So am I," he growled, looking up to her amaranthine eyes. Forgetting what he was doing, he took hold of Shell's hips and pulled her into his lap. "You are so beautiful," he brushed his lips against hers. "So brilliant," another kiss. "I cannot believe how lucky I am to have found you." "You found me years ago and you took your sweet time making your move" she chided playfully, grinding her crotch into his. "And you even played with other women before making your move!" she slapped his shoulder a little harder than she had planned to, but he got the message. "You were not old enough," he mumbled, burying his face into her modest chest. "It was only when I caught your scent a couple of weeks ago, did I know you were nearly of age." He sighed as he relaxed against her. "It is forbidden to touch someone under age, for some reason all immortals do not become full adults until their third centenary. Only those within the same age group can do that." "And the other girls?" She challenged. "Why did you go out with them, when you had decided on me?" He huffed. "I did it for the official functions as a front. It always asked for a plus one and I knew if I asked you I would have run the risk to breaking our law because once you were in my arms, I would never have let you go. I kept you at a distance to secure our future." "You could have taken a male plus one," she pouted mockingly. "Instead of breaking my heart constantly with each new 'hand bag'." "Hand Bag?" Mike laughed at her reference. "That's what all us Lab Techs called them," she chuckled. "Because they clung to your arm like a designer clutch. We all called them nasty things behind their backs, but we all secretly wished we were them." Mike swallowed hard. "All of you?" "Yep, each and every one of us," she grinned. "You know we made a pact that if any of us were lucky enough to catch your eye that we would share you among us." Michael paled at her devious grin. "You can't be serious." "You're right," she laughed. "I'm not serious, but it was nice to see that look on your face." She kissed him, "I would never share you, ever." "Glad to hear it," he stood up and carried her out of the lab to his office. With her legs tightly wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck and her lips stuck to his, it was a miracle that Mike managed to navigate the hall. "You don't mind if we stay and do a little overtime?" Shell bit her lip trying to subdue the smile that graced her lovely face. "I am committed to the running of this research facility." Mike rewarded her dedication with a hard, demanding kiss. His hands made quick work of her clothing, leaving it in a torn heap on the floor. He did not need to clear off his desk as it was sparsely occupied. He laid Shell back and opened her legs. "I hope you do not mind that I skip right to dessert." With that, he plunged his face in her depths. Shell rolled her hips, meeting each stroke of his tongue, she was in heaven. Mike ripped his own clothing off, revealing his well toned body ready for his mate's bias scrutiny. Shell was growling as he switched from his tongue, to his finger, working her into a frenzy before he climbed over top and imbedded himself as deep as he could go. Shell's eyes closed surrendering to pleasure, her fingers clawing at Mike's shoulders as he moved in agonisingly slow motion. Her body demanded more but her mate refused to give in. "Don't make me beg, Michael" Shell whined thrusting her hips towards her mate in a vain attempt to increase the friction between them. "No," he teased, pulling back until Shell settled down again. "If you wish to go faster, then you must take the reins," with that he stood back. "I'm waiting." Shell bit her lip in contemplation. She had never been in this position before. "So, you want me to ..." her voice faded the lower her eyes drifted down Mike's body. "Are you still supposed to take my breath away even though I have seen you naked before?" Michael laughed and helped her off the desk. "It's only fair as you do the same to me." He took a deep inhale of her scent, holding her delicate waist. "Now are you going to do something or am I going to have to bend you over my knee?" Shell giggled at his pseudo threat. "Bending me over this desk would be more enticing." "Is that an order?" He asked with a coy grin. "Yes, now hop to it." Shell squealed as she found herself in a very vulnerable position, feet wide apart and her mate poised to enter. "Is this what you want, sweetheart?" Mike asked rubbing the tip of his rigid organ at the aperture of her delicious form. "Now, please!" Shell pleaded in desperation. Mike guided himself in, Shell quivered around him. "Don't hold back, I want to feel you take me at top speed and force!" Shell roared lustfully, squeezing his member tightly with her internal muscles. "Hush, my darling" Mike whispered in her ear. "Someone will hear us." "Your point?" She challenged. "It's just us left." Mike grinned, his mate was mischievous and he liked that. "Alright." With that he granted her request and took her hard and fast. Shell's voice elevated in volume and pitch in incoherent moans. Her joy was music to his ears, he could almost play her body like a musical instrument by the way he moved inside her. Slow and forceful gave a low short moan, whereas short and fast thrusts gave higher melodious cries. If he was feeling more playful he would see what other noises Shell could make, but his need overran everything. He could feel his mate convulsing around him and he joined her in orgasmic bliss. He laid down on Michelle's back, "You like it rough." He panted contentedly. "I guess I do." Shell chuckled with her eyes closed. Mike found her lips for a tender kiss. "If we keep this up we won't be going home any time soon." The both of them laughed. Mike stopped abruptly. "Shell, wait here." He crawled off his lover and swiftly moved for the door. He opened it to find the hall empty, but the scent of cheap perfume lingered ominously, Carol had been there. @}-,-'- Carol had returned from Melbourne quicker than expected, she had decided to surprise him by waiting in his office but found the door locked. She was disappointed at the rapid failure of her plan. She was about to leave when she heard a giggle from inside, heat rushed through her as she recognised the owner of that voice. Carol looked to see if a peek was possible through the window in the door, the blind was pulled down, but the small gap at the side provided a clear view of the desk. Confirmation of what Carol heard only angered her more. The sight of Michael between the thighs of that whore Michelle caused the fury to freeze her to the spot. Unable to move, she watched the two make love, there on the desk like a couple of animals. When they finished she ran in tears from the building. "I'm going to kill that bitch!" @}-,-'- The following day was a continuation of the previous day with very little work being done. When Shell finished her check up on the embryos she quickly retreated to her office, Michael had been called away for the afternoon, so she had very little to occupy her time until his return. Shell became all to aware of her body as she paced the room, the most subtle of movements causing her blood to rise as the all too familiar ache that she had to put up with for the last week. "Damnit," she huffed as her arousal became painful. "Why did you have to be away at a time like this?" she whined at her absent mate. She dropped into her chair at her desk with the intention of alleviating the pressure that built up inside when she saw a pale yellow envelope with her name scrawled elaborately across the front. She looked at it for a moment, then opened it with her letter opener and read the content. It was an invitation to the annual cocktail party for the science department in a month's time. It was almost comical that she still received the invitation after not attending an event for a decade. She let the invitation drop from her fingers into the trash and then she forgot completely about it as she did every year. Shell decided to leave for the day and wait for her mate at home where she could relax without the stress of unwanted company. After a quick explanation to Dr Monahan, she was ready to leave when she literally bumped into Dr Evens. "Where are you off to so early?" Carol asked with a sneer, "Off to fuck somebody else while Michael is away?" Shell gave her a dry stare. "Nope," She replied sarcastically. "Off to watch Oprah at home, then I'm working on wedding invitations for Mike and I. Lots to do, so little time." Shell had deliberately lied about plans for the wedding just to hurt Carol. The truth is that there was no time to think of such extravagances. Carol's eyes narrowed into a scowl. "He would never marry you." The obvious pain in Carol's glare gave Michelle a small amount of satisfaction. "This ring says otherwise," Shell lifted her hand to show Carol the moonstone ring. "Beautiful isn't it?" Shell was not ready for the slap Carol gave her, the woman's hand moved before Shell had a chance to move. "You bitch," she hissed. "Michael is MINE!" She moved to attack again, when Shell stepped back into a large flesh wall that was Dr Monahan. "Dr Evens?" He addressed her directly, "What is the meaning of this?" "She," Carol pointed at Michelle. "Is spreading lies about Dr Patterson." "She does not believe that Michael and I are a couple." Shell drawled. "You claim to be his fiancé!" Carol shrieked angrily. "She is," Rick confirmed. "For only a week, but it is true." Carol hissed at them and stomped away. "She hit you," Rick spoke to Shell now. "Mike will not like that." "The woman is demented," Shell commented. "But she did not hurt me." "That is not the point," Rick pulled his mobile phone out. "I'm calling Mike to let him know." "He will kill her, you know that." Shell shrugged and walked away. Rick closed his phone and went back to his office. He was still tempted to tell Mike for the reason of killing Carol, but quickly dismissed the dark thoughts as they were not him. "Got to do this by the book" he said to himself and continued on his way. He would need to talk to human relations. @}-,-'- Molly giggled in Bill's arms. He had just finished with his usual music lessons for the children and took care of a few pack issues when his mate came in with a twinkle in her eye. "The babies are asleep and I am in need of your touch." She had taunted him with an exaggerated wriggle to her hips and Bill grabbed her and began to tickle her while he nibbled her neck. "I have been thinking of you all day," he murmured hotly against her skin. "After nearly a thousand years, I still cannot get enough of you." He sank his teeth into the bite he gave her the night of their mating, listening to Molly's moan as she melted against him. "Oh yuck!" Gwen choked when she entered her father's office. "I thought you guys agreed to keep that to your bedroom!" "Why?" Bill chuckled. "You rut with that Lester in public." "That's different," Gwen protested. "We're not grouse like you are." Molly sighed and lowered her blouse, much to Bill's disappointment. "What do you want, Gwen?" "Well," she hopped onto her father's desk and smiled. "Daddy, you know how you want me to pull my weight around here?" "Yes," Bill answered cautiously, not entirely liking where this conversation was going. "I was thinking that I could work at the university with Michael and Shell," she smiled sweetly. "I can start as a student there and work my way up." Her enthusiasm was nauseating to Bill, but it also meant she would be earning an income for the compound and in doing so, be out of his hair. He nodded with a small grin; yes let Michael deal with her. "Alright, I will see what I can do, now go and leave me alone with your mother." Gwen made a retching sound and left, her parents laughed, but continued what they started. "You guys are too old to be doing that!" Gwen yelled behind her, closing the door. @}-,-'- The plane took off only an hour behind schedule, Lisandro wanted so bad to relax, but Janis could not get comfortable in her seat. "Would you like me to call a stewardess?" He asked sweetly in his sultry accent. "And do what?" Janis giggled. "No wait, I need peanuts." "As my love commands" Lisandro pressed the button and waited. "I should get a hot chocolate too" Janis nodded, "And a banana!" She added excitedly. "As long as you leave the toothpaste in the courtesy bag I'll be happy," the vampire kissed her hand. "It was hell having to buy a new tube every day." "I can't help I was craving peppermint," she protested. "The gum you got me was weak." The stewardess arrived and asked what they would like, Lisandro gave her the order. "I'm sorry sir," the stewardess apologised. "But there is a little boy in economy who has a peanut allergy so there are no peanuts or products that contain peanuts on board. We do have macadamia nuts." Janis huffed and then nodded. "They will have to do." The stewardess gave her a sympathetic smile. "I know how hard it is in your condition to not get what you are craving." She left and Janis reclined in her chair. "What is wrong, my dear?" Lisandro asked, noticing her despondent sigh. "I'm a little annoyed the Australian Queen would not officiate our joining." Janis sighed. "Yet," her mate added. "She did not want to put you in such a position while you are so close to giving birth. She did say that she will be happy to do it next year after you have recovered." "I know, but I feel like I've been waiting forever," she paused when her order arrived. "And this lot are not making it easy either" she prodded her large round belly. "They like to use my bladder as a trampoline." "I will get them a real trampoline if they wish," he rested his hand on his mate's stomach to feel his children's movements. "I will get them anything they want." "You already plan to spoil them?" Janis shook her head. "What if they are terrors?" "They will be angels." Lisandro refused to believe that children could misbehave, well not his children anyway. "How long ago were you a child?" She asked rhetorically. "You know I was turned in 711AD, at the birth of Al-Andalus." Lisandro waited for her to win the argument. "So your childhood was over in the blink of an eye," she pointed out. "Not only that it was another time where children were encouraged to grow up sooner than they should." "Okay you have won my precious" he kissed her cheek. "I surrender." Janis stretched and yawned. "Did you call dad before we boarded?" "Yes, he is very excited to be seeing you again." Lisandro pulled out a book to read while Janis finished eating and dozed off. They would be landing in Melbourne in four hours and it would be another two hour drive to the compound, so the vampire was glad his mate decided to try sleep now for she would see little once they arrived home. @}-,-'- Michelle tried again, her hand moving as fast as she could trying to get the release she needed, but it was no good, her arm was tired and she just wanted her mate home. As though on cue Michael opened the front door, "Shell?" He called over the rustling of his daily shopping. "I'm in here!" She yelled from the bedroom. A moment later, Mike entered with a package and grinned. "Started without me?" "It just won't stop," Shell complained. "I'm finding it hard to think straight and it is driving me mad." "I had a feeling that was why you left early today," he sat on the edge of the bed and handed her the package with a handful of batteries. Shell gave him a puzzled look and opened the package. She gasped and dropped what he had given her. "A vibrator?" She asked more in shock than anything else. "I have a few others I would like to give you in mind, but lets start off slow shall we?" Mike removed it from the packing and placed the batteries in the compartment. "Lay back and relax" he commanded. Shell did as she was told and Mike pulled the blanket covering her away, he was hit with a wall of pheromones which had him licking his lips. He sat between her legs and teased her sensitive little button out to play before he pushed in the simple streamline device and switched it on. The soft vibrations were strange to Shell, tickling her insides in a wonderful way. "You like that?" Mike asked distracted at watching the silver shaft sliding smoothly in and out of her moist pink hole. The gentle vacillation built the need within her and Shell found her hips gyrating with Michael's controlled movements. Mike felt his body harden with each little noise Shell made, he released his straining flesh from his jeans and began to stroke his length. "Would you like me to suck you?" Shell panted when she saw his reflection in the mirror. Mike did not need to be asked twice, he removed his coverings and joined her on the bed. "I want you on top" he growled, lifting her to his face without effort. Shell went with his guidance and took his member into her mouth and she began to suck on it with the same intensity that the vibrator moved in her. Mike grinned as her excitement dripped onto his face, before he leaned in to take her little thimble of pleasure between his teeth and bit firmly. Shell cried out a muffled scream as the pent up stress she dealt with all day finally flowed out with a gush. Quite chuffed with his efforts, Mike pulled the vibrator out and eased Shell off his staff. He spun her around and lowered her onto him. "Ride me." Mike sighed feeling her body accept him eagerly. Without prompting Shell bounced up and down Michael's turgid rod. It all felt so perfect, but when Shell became more demanding after each release, it was clear it would be a long night. Forgotten Ch. 08 Long after midnight and Shell had passed out, Mike picked up the phone and called Rick. "What's up Mike?" A half asleep bear grumbled into the handset. "I need to take Shell away for a bit," Mike told his friend. "She needs to get through this thing with as little distractions as possible." "I understand," Rick yawned. "I'll take care of your experiments while you are gone." "Thank you." Mike was about to hang up the phone when Rick spoke again. "You should know that Carol slapped Shell today." Rick felt relieved that he had told his friend what had happened. "What?" Mike saw red, that woman attacked his mate! "Shell did not want me to say anything as I think she may have provoked her." "I don't give a flying fuck! That bitch will pay for this!" "If you are determined to seek revenge then please do it by the book," Rick pleaded sincerely. "She blackmailed me remember?" "And I will see that she will suffer for that also," Mike was taking deep breaths to calm down. "See that she leaves everything alone in case she gets it into her head to tamper with anything." "I'll get your sister to do that." "Huh?" "I got a call this afternoon from your father," Rick explained. "Gwen is coming to work at the university." "Why can't I have anything to my self?" Mike thought aloud. "Well, at least I know Gwen won't take any crap." "You should get some sleep, you sound exhausted." Rick chortled and hung up. "How can I sleep now?" Michael pulled Shell into his arms and closed his eyes. @}-,-'- I cannot believe how popular this story is, I never believed my ideas were worth anything at first but all of you wonderful people have proven I have a knack for this. Forgotten Ch. 09 Well, this was a long time coming, too long but when your inspiration goes on holiday without so much as a postcard there is nothing you can do about it. I do hope the length of this chapter makes up for the wait. @}-,-'- Chapter 9: Reunions. Michael had packed the car while Shell slept early that morning. He had made a call to the Hyena pack on the Shipwreck Coast for a room at the popular Were hotel on the beach front. The cliché name of Moonlight Head Hotel had nothing to do with a Were's natural affinity for the moon, but rather the name of the near by beach. The hotel is protected by fae magic to keep all non weres away. Dada was queen of her small pack and manager of the hotel and loved Mike like one of her sons so when he asked about a room for him and his new mate she gave him the honeymoon suite for nothing and refused any offer of cash. Mike found it amusing that the woman he helped design and build the hotel they were about to visit still considered him a close friend despite the fact they had not seen each other for over a century. "Shell," Mike called when he entered the bedroom where his sleeping mate lay. He was in awe at her gentle features as she slept, the slight pout of her lips and her lashes resting on her cheek was the very image of a goddess in slumber. "Rise, my darling," he kissed her softly on those pouting lips and was rewarded with a stifled yawned. "Good morning." "I'll tell you when morning arrives," Shell quipped and rolled over. "Sorry," Mike tossed the blankets aside and picked her up. Shell began to protest vocally. "Hush, my love, you'll wake the neighbours." "I don't give a rat's arse what the neighbours do," Shell screamed, "I want to go back to bed!" "But I thought you would want a romantic holiday by the coast in a luxury hotel suite," Mike whispered hotly in her ear, silencing any argument. "For how long?" She asked as he lowered her to her feet. "Until you are able to function normally at work without the need to jump me every few seconds," Mike explained jovially. "Indefinite leave then," she yawned. Mike laughed at her comment, "I didn't realise I had that affect on you." Shell stretched and scooted off to the shower. Mike joined her once she had adjusted the temperature of the water. "Care for some company?" "Maybe," she smirked, steeping aside so he could have the water. "What are you planning for breakfast?" "There's a bakery I like that do breakfast from 6am," he explained whilst shampooing his hair, "I know you like pastry." "Food of the gods," she giggled, "Like chocolate, ice-cream and gourmet cheeses." "You know your phobia of gaining weight is not relevant anymore," he pulled her close into his arms and nibbled the crook of her neck, "Just as long as you eat enough protein your golden." "If that was a crude suggestion for me to go down on you ..." Shell argued mockingly. "I would never make suggestions ..." Mike protested, but was cut off by Shell's response. "Okay," her mischievous tone worried him greatly, "I won't then." To emphasise her tease she boldly stroked her fingers down his hard abs to the all too awake staff. She turned away and brushed her rear against him. Mike groaned and captured her in his muscular arms, "You play with fire you little minx," he bit her mark and Shell melted in his embrace. "That will teach you to tease a wolf." Shell began to rub her behind into his vary hard and demanding erection, "What are you going to do?" she cheekily asked. "I will sandwich you between me and the icy cold wall," his threat was met with a light hearted giggle. "Let's see," she dropped and took his length in her hand stroking it lovingly. "I still cannot believe you are this big, I thought this size was nothing more than hearsay." She licked his tip, swirling her tongue around the eye. Mike dropped his head back and sighed; he entered her hot waiting mouth and let her take charge. He could not believe how lucky he was. She had learnt her lesson on their first night not to try taking him too deeply so she compensated with her hands gripping his shaft firmly stroking in time with her sucking. He caressed her hair, lovingly encouraging her to continue. Shell pulled away with hunger in her eyes, she grinned devilishly at her mate, "So are you going to sandwich me with the icy wall?" She leaned back allowing Mike to see her body flushed pink from the hot water. All her nipples were hard and begging attention. Michael could not speak as he was enthralled with her body. Slowly he traced the lowest nipple on her abdomen, pinching it until she moaned before moving to the next. Twelve nipples and twelve enrapturing moans later he had her firmly pressed against the white tiles of her shower. Without any effort he lifted her onto his awaiting member. "Oh Michael," she cried. "I love you Shell," he groaned and began to thrust with every bit of energy he had. Shell was howling as he pumped into her, her muscles fluttering so tantalisingly. "I can't hold it ..." He roared, he drained everything he had into her with a silent prayer that he would succeed in starting their family. Again he was pinned to her but Shell did not seem to mind. "Are we going for breakfast now?" Shell asked, tightening her legs around his waist. "I can go with you if you wish." Mike chuckled, "Hold on." He turned the taps off and wrapped them in a big fluffy towel, "Decaffeinated Coffee?" "Joy!" she sarcastically replied and held on. They made their way out to the kitchen and Mike flicked the switch on the kettle. "While we're waiting," Mike insinuated another round by rolling his hips into hers. "I can handle that," she bit his bottom lip eliciting a tremble though his entire body. He pushed her back onto the bench taking her a second time just as forceful as before. He barely lasted longer than his previous attempt when he filled her again. The coffee was downed quickly once it was made an hour later; with several rounds of toast thrown in they finally separated long enough to leave for the coast. @}-,-'- They had driven for over an hour before they stopped for breakfast, which was large and delicious. They continued on their way for another hour when they left the paved road and started down a muddy track. "I hope you are insured," Shell commented when the overgrown shrubbery scratched at the pristine paintwork of Michael's car. "It will be fixed when we get back," Mike smiled broadly; "The pack is quite self sufficient for the most part, you will see when you finally come home." "Am I expected to move there to live?" Shell was not pleased with that idea; she had worked hard to buy her home and would not relinquish it. "Yes," he answered directly, "You are mated to the future Alpha of the Patterson Pack, sooner or later we will be expected to live in the mansion along side my parents." "I do not wish to leave my home," Shell stated, "I struggled to buy that place as quickly as possible and I refuse to leave it." "What if we remain there until you are pregnant then we rent out your house for extra income?" Mike attempted to compromise. "That way you will make money and be closer to our family doctors so they can keep an eye on our babies." He reached over to hold her hand and gave it a loving squeeze, "I only want the best for you." "I feel like my life is being taken out of my control," she sighed, "Before I was alone but master of my own life." "I do not wish to control you," Mike assured her, "But I have some things in my life I cannot control and that affects the both of us. I have the misfortune of being the only son born to my parents which means I cannot step aside for another." "You have sisters ..." "Who are not eligible to become Alpha." "That's sexist, a woman can do everything a man can," Shell argued. "It's not about male dominance," Mike chuckled. "It's biology, female wolves are fast and agile, but when it comes to physical strength they are not a match for a male." "Are you saying that I'm faster than you are?" "And more agile," he reminded her, "In a fight it would be difficult to pin you down as you would probably wriggle free from my grasp." "What about intelligence?" She asked, "Are there differences in that area?" "Not really, females have the advantage in both an emotional and logical decision and males are more on the logical and focused," he laughed, "it is both the strength and weakness of the pack, we have a broad defence, but fight internally because of the differences." His laughs grew, "My mother constantly reminds my father that he doesn't understand her, even after a millennium together." "A thousand years together?" Michelle was shocked at the longevity of hers relationship , "I hope your father can remember their anniversary by now." "You would think that wouldn't you," Mike shook his head with a smile, "But I can safely say that he has forgotten more than he has remembered." Shell snorted, "Your poor mother." "My poor father!" He mockingly protested, "Last year he forgot and my mother gave him a black eye." "I thought you said that males were stronger than females," Shell teased. "Females have one thing that all males do not," Mike informed her, "And that is the ability to manipulate any situation to their favour." "Excuse me?" Shell's indignant glare was enough to end the conversation quickly. "Sorry Sweetie," he gave her a quick kiss to her hand and continued the drive in silence. @}-,-'- The hotel came into view as they rounded the last corner; the old federation style building looked immaculate. The crimson bricks and decorative ivory windows had all the glamour of the birth of the great southern nation. The overcast day did little to dull the brilliant façade. "How beautiful," Shell breathlessly sighed. "This is Moonlight Head Hotel," Mike said quietly, "It belongs to a friend of mine." As though on queue a tall voluptuous African woman opened the door and waved at them, "That's her." Michelle could only stare at her, the woman at the door oozed with sexuality and power. "Michael!" Dada called out, "You're late!" The weather chose that moment to open, Michelle wasted no time racing in doors leaving Mike to bring in the luggage. She went to introduce herself to the gorgeous woman who greeted them, but she just ushered her inside and went to help Mike. Shell shrugged and hunted down the nearest heat source which happened to be a fire place in a beautiful Edwardian parlour. Not bothering to stop Shell scooted around the furniture and stood rubbing her hands in front of the hearth. She paid no attention to the occupants sitting and watching television, at least they were until she trotted past. Outside Michael and Dada were drenched and muddy with a heavy load of luggage in their arms. Dada laughed at how ridiculous Mike looked with the indignant scowl on his face. "You know," Dada said, "You should have known that would happen." "I know," he grumbled, "I just hoped she would have helped." "You are newly mated aren't you," the woman teased. "You will learn soon enough that our darling mates will not do what you want without sweet words and bribery, I have three to contend with, you wolves have it easy." Mike huffed, "She and I had a disagreement before." "Tsk tsk," Dada smirked, "Just apologise, even if it is not your fault because in her mind it is." He blew a raspberry at her and they headed inside. @}-,-'- "You're a pretty little thing," Michelle heard from behind her. She turned to see who had spoken to her, behind her were three men sitting in recliners watching her, "A little small for my liking." The man who had spoken was a pale red head with freckles and a cheeky grin. "I'm sorry?" Shell waited for him to introduce himself, when he continued to grin she continued, "I'm Dr Michelle Ackermann, geneticist." "I'm Sean," the red head stood and gave a bow, the faintest Irish lilt to his voice giving it a theatrical flavour. "Toy boy and underwear model." "No you're not," another scoffed, "I'm Brendan, resident geek." His appearance echoed his statement, unkempt mop of dark curly hair, thin build and a notebook computer on his lap with a glowing alien with large black eyes on it. "He's had tickets on himself since he finally achieved six pack abs." Sean lifted his shirt and tapped the defined muscles, "Beautiful huh?" "If you were not so pale," the third man and Brendan laughed at the huff from Sean. "I am Obi, Dada's first mate." Shell had noted the similarity between the woman who waved at them and the man who had his nose in a book. He was just as dark was Dada, but he was smaller in build than the statuesque woman. He mentioned first mate, what did that mean? Shell wondered. "I see you have met my beloved mates," Dada called out, carrying two suitcases through the door. "Are you hungry my dear?" Shell's stomach grumbled at the reminder of food, "A little." Mike joined them with another two suitcases, "A cuppa would be nice." "Sit down and make yourselves comfortable," Dada gestured to the lounge suite, "Sean, please get our guests some nibbles." "Yes sweetie," the red head scooted off to another room and returned with a couple of packets of chocolate coated biscuits which he then opened and poured onto a plate. He picked up one of the biscuits and nibbled it jovially. Shell did the same only with bigger bites. Mike watched with amusement at her eating the biscuit, chewing quickly to take another bite. "Hungry again?" He asked her sympathetically. Shell nodded as she munched, the chocolate melting in her fingers; the mess looking comical to all those watching. "What?" Shell asked when she noticed the men silently laughing at her. "Perhaps we should retire for the moment," Mike suggested with a small grin, "To get cleaned up." "Nonsense," Dada said, bringing in a tray with a large pot of tea and several fine bone china cups, "You look fine." She handed Shell a cup and winked. "There is no need to dress all fancy for this lot." "Ladies should always try their best for their men," Sean argued. "It goes both ways dear," Dada spoke to him directly, "Would it kill you to moisturise?" @}-,-'- It was early afternoon before Mike managed to get Shell up to their room. Dada and her mates were entertaining and polite, but he needed to be alone with his mate, Shell had begun fidgeting in her seat. Mike knew she was fighting the urge to jump him after she had refuelled on chocolate biscuits and club sandwiches. The view over the sea cliffs looked majestic, the gale blowing from the south forcing the surf to grow larger and more damaging. It was dangerously beautiful. Shell looked out the window as Michael unpacked, mesmerised by the waves rhythmically crashing against the rocks. "It's sublime," she uttered when she noticed her mate looking at her, "I have memories of seeing the beach from a childhood I never really experienced," she paused, shaking her head, "This could be my first time to the coast." "In the summer we could go swimming," Mike said, wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her cheek a tender kiss, "Or would you like to go up north after your oestrus has settled down?" Shell broke out of her trance and leaned her head against his shoulder, "That sounds delightful." Mike brushed her hair away from her neck and began to kiss and nibble softly. Shell melted into his arms as his attentions increased, his lips tracing their way up along her jaw. She did not need much prompting to encourage her to the bed, shedding her clothing before climbing onto the soft nest-like bed. Mike let his lips guide him from her demanding mouth, down her throat and to the rows of overly sensitive nipples. He let his tongue drag over all on one side, from bottom to top then repeated the same torturous lick on the other side. Shell's low moan rumbled in her chest as Mike did it again, this time swirling around each bud slowly. He slid his hand down the smooth skin of her abdomen to the molten pool between her thighs, it was Mike's turn to groan finding the liquid heat seeping out, coating his fingers. He eagerly tasted the sweet nectar, swiftly licking it off with his nimble tongue. He pushed his fingers in, curling them to strike her secluded jewel. Shell's legs jerked the moment he found that little spot so many have trouble finding. A sharp gasp followed by a low groan escaped Shell's pouting lips as Mike took his time, captivated by the ecstasy on her face. "I need you," Mike groaned through clenched teeth, catching her eyes with a steamy gaze. He withdrew his fingers, quickly licking them clean and began to move over her, slowly covering her with his muscular body. With a swift movement he entered her, capturing her lips in a deep kiss, pouring his love into her. Shell clung to him, letting him ride her with the strength and power she craved. Bone rattling jolts rocked through her, her beast of a mate gradually metamorphosing into his lupine form. Shell felt the fur erupt over his body and felt a surge of fear run through her, fighting the panic she relaxed back into his arms, keeping her eyes closed for the time being. Mike's forceful plunges were driving her closer to their simultaneous climax. The knot at the base of his iron rod formed quickly and imbedded inside her as he thrust, locking them together. Mike howled his release the moment Shell shuddered around him; she cried out his name and chanced a look at his devoted eyes. Her heart racing at the familiar sight, his wolf no longer frightening as it did before. He gave her a sloppy lick up her cheek then nuzzled her neck. Shell giggled, "I love you too, Michael." She gave his muzzle a kiss and smiled, "I hope I can do that too one day, it looks like fun." Mike yodelled and closed his eyes, letting exhaustion overcome him leaving Shell to lay awake. "I wish I could do that too," she yawned and joined him a couple of breaths later. @}-,-'- Rick hated dealing with human relations; they always made a big deal out of nothing, so Carol's run in with Michelle should prove to make their year. He hesitated by the door, knowing that once he knocked on it the sadists inside would stir up a whirlwind of trouble. They were too smart for the hypothetical routine. He could just walk away, but he needed to deal with Carol's attitude towards Michelle, he also needed to find a way to avoid being penalised for his infraction with Carol the day she came asking for her job back. Deciding that the lab needed to run smoothly and without petty conflict due to personal issues he knocked. "Enter," a surly woman called out. For a human relations officer, the woman sure did not like socialising. "Good morning Doris," Rick greeted the woman behind the desk. "What have you done this time, Monahan?" She asked him without looking up from her work. Her frown tainting her voice. Rick sat down and gave her a charming smile, "What makes you think I'm involved?" It was not a mystery, Rick's bear nature sometimes got the better of him and minor aggression or sexual harassment cases would occur. Doris did not know the reason behind his behaviour; however he always found a way out of trouble, which infuriated her. "You know what I'm talking about," her eyes bored holes into the bear as he continued to smile at her, "And don't think that your usual disarming smile will work this time either." "I'm here for an incident between two of my subordinates," He explained, "Carol Evens and Michelle Ackermann." "Oh? Carol's back?" Doris perked up, "I hope that her and Mike got back together, they made such a lovely couple." She put her pen down, "What happened?" Rick suppressed a laugh, "Well, first of all, Mike will not be getting back with Carol, he's engaged to Michelle." Forgotten Ch. 09 "I had hoped that boy would have gotten over her by now," Doris grumbled, "She looks like trouble to me." The woman folded her arms in annoyance. "Michelle Ackermann is a lovely girl," Rick explained, not pleased with her reaction, "A leader in her field." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, "The reason I'm here is that Carol struck Michelle, unprovoked." Doris raised one of her thick eyebrows, "Carol struck Michelle?" "Yes, over the engagement with Mike," Rick continued, "Carol just has to have everything that belongs to Michelle, Mike, her job and who knows what else." The woman gave him a dry look, "Why does Carol have Michelle's job?" Rick felt nervous; he did not want Doris to find out about his little indiscretion with Carol that resulted in her blackmailing him into giving her, her old job back. "That's not important," he replied, hoping it would be enough. "Hmmph," Doris harrumphed, "You are not being truthful with me, young man, but I will find out in the end. Now explain the slap." "Carol called Michelle a liar about being engaged," he revealed, recalling the exchanged he witnessed from the corner of the corridor. He had decided to watch and see if the two could get along, he was wrong to do so. "Michelle showed her the engagement ring then Carol slapped her, I stepped out to prevent anything else happening." Doris wrote the events down in her book, "Why didn't Michelle come to me herself?" "She is on leave with Mike in the Otways," He explained, "They will return next week." "Thank you, Doctor Monahan," she stood to dismiss him, "And for the record, I know she baited you in your office, I was passing by and saw her teasing you, it was unfair of her, but you must control yourself." The stern glare she had been giving him all through the meeting softened, "You remind me of my son, he can't help himself either. Be careful around Carol if she is using dirty tactics and although I like her very much, she overstepped her bounds. Give Doctor Ackermann her job back." She opened the door for him, "Now, I will talk to Carol and get this mess cleaned up." "Thank you, Doris," Rick gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and walked away. "Cheeky," Doris laughed and closed the door behind him. @}-,-'- The fight had been long and Bedella was exhausted from disguising herself as a Middle Eastern woman, complete with the regions fashion for single women. She had given herself a creamy mocha complexion with chocolate brown eyes and shiny back hair, a beauty in anyone's language. She covered her face with a silk scarf, customary of women in Dubai, hiding her plump lips that most men found irresistible. She new she could have just appeared and gone straight to David, but the security in the small country was tight, so she had to do it the human way so she would not arouse suspicion. Customs was boring until the man in front of her was caught with cocaine in his luggage, she could not help but laugh watching him try to talk his way out of it. The guilt was written all over his face before he was led to another room. Bedella stepped up to the customs officer, she gave him an appreciative once over then lifted her bag onto the table. "Anything to declare?" The officer asked, losing himself in her gaze. "No," she replied in a soft, alluring tone. The customs officer smiled at her and began to open her luggage to check she was truthful in her declaration. Finding only clothing and other feminine essentials, he closed it again, "Everything is in order miss," he stared at her again, "Enjoy your visit." Bedella thanked him, even when she subdued her appearance she still managed to turn heads, she liked that. Taking her bag she left the airport and hailed a taxi to take her to David's place of business, on the other side of the city. After a moderate ride in the taxi, she stepped out onto the pavement in front of a tall building belonging to the oil company David worked for. It was once the tallest building in Dubai, but still held its glamorous appearance. Swiftly she entered the building. The entrance opened up to a grand foyer gilded in gold and imitation ivory, it looked more like a palace than a commercial business headquarters. In all her long life she knew of no other race that did decadence like those of the Arab nations. Like dwarves of the underworld, the rich of Arabia decorated their homes with gold and jewels, Bedella loved it. At the front desk another attractive young man sat, answering phone calls and transferring them to where they were needed. Bedella fluttered her eyes to gain his attention, it did not take long. "Can I help you miss?" He asked politely, putting the callers on hold. Bedella batted her eyes again, "I'm here to see Mr. David Leroy, if he is in." She intentionally made herself sound sweet and innocent, flirting in a subtle way. "I'm sorry miss," the young man responded, "He returned to the United States around six months ago." Bedella felt agitated, he had returned to America and his keeper had said nothing. She instantly fantasised about punishing Sir Ethan, but he would probably enjoy that too much. She shook the thought from her mind, "I'm sorry to have bothered you," she turned to leave when she thought she had better find out where in the United States he had gone. "I'm sorry to bother you again, but can you tell me where in the U.S. he has gone?" "Certainly," he tapped at the computer in front of him, "He transferred to our office in New York." "Thank you, sir," she gave him a parting nod and exited the building. She would have to travel by plane again. Sir Ethan will not like her punishment she had in store for him, but she will. Marching towards another taxi, her scarf hid the brooding grin that formed. "The airport, please," she ordered the driver and within the hour she was in the departure lounge waiting for her flight to New York." @}-,-'- Gwen practically bounced in her seat as her father drove her to the University, "You won't cause your brother any trouble, will you," Bill stated dryly, "He will be your Alpha soon and you would hate for him to be mistrusting of you." "Jesus Dad!" She whined, "I wanted to come here to help him with his promise to the thylacines." She looked at her father as seriously as she could. "You want to get closer to Michelle," Bill contradicted her. "I can multitask you know," Gwen crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Anyway, from what Mike's told me about her project, she will need all the help she can get when the baby devils are born." Bill laughed, "Now the truth comes out, you want to play with the babies." He laughed harder as Gwen slapped him on the shoulder. "Her work is important in saving the species," she argued, "The fact they are cute has nothing to do with me wanting to help!" "What ever you say my dear," He pulled into the university parking lot and turned off the engine, "You call me if you need anything." Gwen was out of the car as quickly as she could, "I will," she gave her father a kiss on the cheek and raced inside. Bill drove off as Gwen looked around the reception. "Can I help you miss?" An office lady asked. Gwen jumped around, grinning widely she jogged up to the desk, "I'm here to start work with my brother, Michael Patterson." "I'm sorry," the lady said, "He called in to say he will be detained for a week with Dr. Ackermann." "He never said anything," Gwen was hurt that her brother would take off without saying anything, "Is there someone I can see now?" "Dr. Monahan is available in his office," the woman offered, "And Dr. Evans in the Lab." Rick chose that time to come around the corner with a large espresso in his hand. "Ah, you must be Gwen," he offered his free and in greeting, "Please come with me and we'll get the boring stuff out of the way." Gwen gave Rick a look over and decided that working around him will be nice. She could clearly see the defined body under his suit, his dark hair somewhere between neat and carefree and a short beard that said he was the boss. Licking her lips, she followed him his office. Rick took note of Gwen as she sat down opposite him, she was young, but was she too young? He pulled out his file and a notebook and quill. "Miss Patterson," he finally spoke, the deep rumbling of his voice sent shivers down Gwen's spine. "I am sorry that Mike and Shell aren't here for you." "Pff!" She scoffed, "I'll manage." She leaned back, crossing her legs to appear relaxed. She could not truly relax around a man that oozed testosterone like him. Rick tapped the quill a few times on the desk, neither of them spoke for the moment, something that made Rick feel uncomfortable. Eventually he had to say something. "How old are you, Gwen?" His question was a required one, but with the way his voice quivered as he asked had Gwen cocking her eyebrow in amusement and delight. "My actual age is two hundred and ninety-seven years," she watched him sigh with delight. He was interested. "In the human world I am considered eighteen," she added. "Pity you are not old enough in our world," he grumbled, he marked in the file her age. "When is your birthday?" Grinning at his displeasure about her age, she thought to have a little fun with him, "I'll answer you if you take off your shirt." Rick froze; Gwen's bold ultimatum has his mind spinning. Legally, in the human world, he could get into a lot of trouble for doing what she asked. So could she. In the immortal world he would not get into trouble as nudity among weres was considered natural and irrelevant. He very much wanted to placate her, clothing always felt restrictive anyway, but what if she asked for more? "Well?" She taunted him, folding her arms mockingly, "I'm waiting." She raised her eyebrows provocatively. "You will get me into a lot of trouble," he finally said, looking up at her. He quickly tore away his jacket, tie and shirt, revealing a chiselled physique that any man could be proud to have. Gwen gave him a long and appreciative look, "December fifth," she answered eventually, "Nice abs." He stood for a while, expecting her to ask for another item of clothing to be removed, when all she did was glance up and smile innocently he sat back down. "How about you fill in the rest of this form," Rick slid the file across the desk to her. "I take after my father," he added for no reason. "Mike told me your story when I was younger," Gwen replied, "The child friendly version anyway." She sighed quietly, "So which one was your father?" Rick pulled his shirt back on, "Egbert, I think," he paused for a short moment, feeling guilty for not contacting his family for some time, "But I can't be sure." "You should see them," Gwen said frankly, sliding the completed file back, "I can tell you miss them." Rick nodded, "I think I will," he stretched feeling suddenly fatigued; "I think I'll drag Abby back with me, and her cub." "Sister right?" Rick nodded again. "If it makes you feel better, I'll flash you my tits on my third centenary." The bear laughed, "You will be trouble around here won't you." "For a hottie like you?" Gwen gave him a mischievous grin, "Always." She let him put the rest of his clothing back on, "Now, what will I be doing around here?" "Figured you could help Shell with the devils," he said opening the door for her, "You keep them safe from any harm mostly." She stopped and looked back, "I can't decide if that's boring or cute... Who would want to harm them?" "You need to go down there," he pointed to the end of the long corridor, "That's where Shell's devils are." "Thanks," she walked towards her destination. Rick growled lowly in his chest, deciding that a visit to the gym would be a good move right about now. Christ, Mike's little sister was just as bad as him, at least the way he was before Shell arrived. Rick could not tear his eyes away from the perfect globes of her behind tucked tightly within the faded denim jeans she wore. Scratch the gym, a cold shower was what he needed. @}-,-'- Gwen entered the lab with a big grin, Rick was quite the eye candy, and she would definitely like working here. Grabbing a coat off the hook just inside the door she approached the incubation tanks where the baby devils were gestating. They were little more than flesh coloured spots barely visible even to her eyes. "You guys are going to be so adorable," she said to them, "One day." She walked over towards the microscopes and sat down. Not having anything else to do she pulled out her smart phone and began surfing and socialising. She had not been doing so for too long when another entered the room, Gwen stopped what she was doing and watched the woman walk towards the power supply for the devils. "Excuse me," Gwen called out when it became apparent that the woman was going to unplug the tanks. The woman jumped, "Who are you and how did you get in here?" She demanded. "I'm Gwen, Shell's new assistant," Gwen eyed the red headed woman suspiciously. "Who are you?" "I am Dr. Evans," Carol spoke nastily towards her, "Head of this lab, now get out!" "I have to protect those little babies," Gwen stood up and approached Carol with a deadly gate, "I'm guessing Rick was referring to you." Getting up in Carol's face, Gwen continued, "And Shell's the head of this lab, not some rang-er like you!" "I will not be dictated to by some child who just walked in off the streets!" Carol sneered, her hand already flying through the air to slap her. Gwen stopped the attack and pushed Carol backward, "Touch me and I will kill you." Carol stumbled over a stool behind her. "Now, will you kindly piss off so I can do my job?" Carol had bumped her head on the bench near by, not enough to knock her out but enough to daze her. "You are gone you little bitch!" Carol scorned angrily, rubbing the swelling egg shaped lump forming on the back of her head, "You can't assault me!" Gwen scoffed at the remark from the redheaded woman on the floor, "Whatever," she sat back down and picked up her Smartphone again, "Get the fuck out." She promptly updated her profile with the events that had just occurred and was bombarded with comical comments. Carol rose to her feet and stared at the girl, Gwen looked like nothing had happened. "Fucking teenagers," she muttered and left, hearing Gwen's melodious laughter flutter to her ears as she left the lab. @}-,-'- Bill had not driven back to the compound, but to the airport and now sat waiting for his eldest daughter to step out from the terminal. He had not seen her since she first mated with the vampire nearly two decades ago. The arrivals lounge was crowded with families of travellers from interstate, Bill knew what they felt, but he doubted that any of the humans felt what he did. Janis was his first born, and as such she held a special place in his heart, she was the one who helped him accept the responsibility of being a father. Bill never thought about having children, even when he mated Mollie the idea of a family never crossed his mind. The day Mollie went into heat he did not stop to think of the consequences of taking his mate, the chances of Mollie getting pregnant was slim at best. Being a turned wolf it could take up to a few hundred years for her biology to settle down. However, when he first heard her sweet voice singing one afternoon changed everything. He had assumed she was near him, singing a happy song. His mischievous mind plotted to surprise her by taking her in the meadow when he heard a gasp and was chastised for wanting to waste time while they were suppose to be working to help his father's pack. Bill's heated thoughts vanished; he had not voiced his desires. Spinning around his anxiety grew when he did not see his mate anywhere near him but across the field where she sowed oats for the coming season's harvest with the other mated females of the pack. She stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him. 'We do not have time to play around in the meadow when we have many acres of freshly tilled soil to sow, William!' Her tone broached no argument. He apologised quickly, not wanting to feel her wrath. The sudden ability to hear his mate's thoughts meant one thing, she was pregnant. He was not ready for pups yet, he was too young to be a father. The entire pregnancy was a daily struggle to accept the coming children that grew too quickly in his mate's belly for his liking. Her demands for food and sex kept him on edge, he could hear every little thought and feeling she had. Every craving was experienced by him, every twinge of pain in her back and bouts of nausea. He could no longer stomach ale like he did before. His suffering came to an end the day Mollie went into labour, it was the dead of winter and most of the pack were huddled together in the den for warmth. The birth of pups was usually a private affair for the couple but with little firewood available they had no choice. Bill was so nervous that the other mated males laughed at him while he fumbled through his duties to his mate to aide her in the birth of their first litter. After many hours the first of the pups were born; a little girl with golden hair and dark blue eyes, his Janis. The moment she locked eyes with him all his fears vanished. She reached out to him with her tiny hands and he instinctually let her grab his finger. She pulled it to her mouth and sucked on it before crying loudly, causing him to jump. Mollie took her from his arms and fed her. Watching his daughter suckle from her mother made him realise that everything he had ever done in his life was just a build up to for this, being a father meant everything to him now and he would give his life to protect his family. Lost in reminiscing, he nearly missed his Janis and her mate exit the baggage collection area. When he did spot them his heart ached at the happy and sad image of his little girl walking with a swollen belly, his grandchildren. He never wanted his pups to grow up, but they did and now he had grandchildren on the way. "Daddy!" Janis called out when she spotted him and waddled over as quickly as she could with Lisandro pushing the mountain of luggage on the trolley he procured. Bill smiled broadly, the blond locks of her youth had given way to long, dark brown curls and her blue eyes darkened to match her hair. "My little Janis," he wrapped his arms around her in a fatherly hug, "Not so little anymore." He let his hand drift to her belly where he felt sharp kick to his hand, "Careful little one, I'm the Alpha." "Señor Patterson," Lisandro offered his hand in greeting, "Back safely, as promised." Bill hesitated in shaking his hand, Lisandro may be his daughter's mate but he was still a vampire, something Bill was still struggling to come to terms with. "Thank you." "We should never have bothered to leave Australia," Janis announced suddenly, "The Iberian Vampire Court is backwards in their thinking, flat out refused to officiate our joining all because I'm a wolf." "The Were Council of Spain tried to petition the King, but he ignored every request," Lisandro explained, "I am glad that the Queen managed to temper his ire otherwise who knows what could have happened." Bill grumbled at the Iberian King's disrespect, the man was difficult at the best of times and was prejudice against every race other than his own, Bill had warned them that their efforts would be futile, but both Janis and Lisandro wanted to officiate the Vampire side of their mating in Spain. He decided against saying 'I told you so', there was no point. "Have you set a date for the bonding here in Aus?" He asked, knowing that they would have done so already. "Yeah," Janis answered as they all exited the terminal, "The Queen nearly bounced with joy to be the one who would officiate our joining, we're going to do it next year, after the naming ceremony for these little ones," she rubbed her stomach lovingly, "We thought during the winter solstice, so it won't be rained out." Forgotten Ch. 09 "Where are you having it?" Bill asked, confused as to why the rain was unwanted. "The Queen wants to officiate our joining in Broome," Lisandro explained, "Her winter Palace is there." "It sounds nice," Bill helped his son load the car with the baggage, "Would we be invited? I have yet to see Broome." "Are you kidding?" Janis laughed, "Queen Yooralla is probably the most were-friendly monarch in the world, and she wouldn't have it any other way." With the car packed they left quickly to avoid the traffic of rush hour, "You should call your mother," Bill suggested as he drove, "She misses you terribly." @}-,-'- Mollie put the phone back on the receiver, she felt exhausted from the loving Bill gave her the night before. Bill was on his way back from picking up Janis and Lisandro from Tullamarine, they would still be another hour away, but that did not leave enough time for Mollie to get ready. The entire pack knew that the Alpha's eldest daughter was coming home with her vampire mate that day and the omegas had risen early to prepare the welcoming luncheon, saving Mollie time so she could shower. No sooner had she stepped into the hot stream of water the phone rang again. Grumbling, Mollie answered the phone, "What is so important that you must disrupt my bathing?" As an Alpha, she was not use to this treatment, only one ever dared to do that. "Hello darling," Bill's cheerful voice greeted her. "Bill!" Mollie chided, "Couldn't you tell I was about to have a shower?" "I could, but I couldn't talk to you any other way just yet," the Alpha elucidated, "Janis had a craving for a meaty burger so we found the nearest fish'n'chip shop for her." The thoughts of her daughter's condition calmed her a little, "Well the water is still running so be brief." "I couldn't get in contact with Michael," Bill explained, "I think he has his phone switched off." "He's with his new mate," Mollie reminded him, "Do you really think he will want to be disturbed, but I will find a way to contact him once I have had my shower. Now leave me be!" she hung up before Bill could respond, she knew it would irk him but serves him right for ruining her shower. She could feel his irritation through the subtle bond they had, it made her giggle. @-,-'- Shell was sleeping peacefully in Michael's arms, her head lying on his shoulder. Mike felt so happy, no disturbances, no Carol, no Pack, just his mate in bed with him. It could not get any more perfect. Feeling her breath brush against his neck softly made him smile, his wish of a family with her was becoming a reality, something he had dreamed about for so long. She had been oblivious of his love for too long, he hoped he could make it up to her for not saying anything sooner, she may not say so but she resented him for it. The whole purpose of the retreat was to get to know each other better and to avoid distraction from others while they dealt with the natural course of Michelle's reproductive cycle. In days long ago a mated couple would retreat to a secluded area on pack lands, everyone else would know to leave them alone out of courtesy or fear of being ripped apart by the male or dominant female in the couple. Their kind had evolved to be more tolerant and relaxed about mating, same sex couples accepted a member of the opposite sex to be involved during the mating so they could start families, and Mike always liked the old fashioned approach of seclusion and devotion. He only wished he could bring down a kill for the two of them to feast on before a long night of lovemaking. Berating himself for his views of romance knowing that Michelle would more than likely demand why he killed an animal for no reason then refuse to be near him while she silently punished him. The dilemma nearly every male in existence would experience in their lives, upsetting their woman or partner without the knowledge of how they did it. He was doing it to himself now, he knew he had done nothing at present to anger or sadden his love, yet the guilt was there, the mere thought was enough to prompt him into grovelling for forgiveness. 'I have it bad,' he thought cynically. He shifted to finally switch off the lamp next to the bed when the telephone began to ring. Cursing quietly he answered it before Shell was wakened by the annoying tune. "This had better be a dire emergency or there will be blood spilled," Mike hissed into the phone. "I love you too, son," Bill chuckled into the phone. "You know, for a man who is anxious to have grandchildren you don't like the idea of your own children having time to themselves to achieve that goal," Mike was still trying to be quiet for Shell. "So what is it?" "Tetchy aren't we?" Bill chastised his son, "I wanted to tell you Janis has returned, we're having a little celebration this weekend." "You couldn't have waited until then to tell us?" The wolf fought to keep his ire under control, he had to show respect to his father and Alpha, not an easy thing to do when the man was excited. "Had I known where you were earlier then I would have called then and left you two to it," Bill was not going to be swayed from his mission to make his eldest daughter happy. "Thanks Dad," Mike huffed, irritated at his father's jovial tone, "I hope my injuries have healed by the time we arrive on Saturday." "I thought you said your mate was a gentle creature who couldn't hurt a fly?" Bill was enjoying his son's discomfort. "She was until she came into heat," Mike sneered through clenched teeth, "Now a wrong inflection on a word spoken to her can warrant my balls being ripped off." Bill laughed heartedly, "The joys of a new mating," with that he hung up leaving Mike feeling irritated and despondent. Shell stretched, "Who was that?" She yawned and looked over at the clock, "And at eleven at night?" "My sister has returned from her travels with her mate," Mike sighed, "And my father wants us there this weekend to welcome them home." Shell stiffened, "Do we have to?" She asked; a hint of fear in her voice. "I know she is your sister, but I don't think I'm ready for 'The Pack' just yet." "We have to," Mike murmured, silently cursing his father for putting him in the dog house again. "I am heir to the Patterson Pack so I have to be there." Shell bitterly chuckled, "Why do I have the feeling there is a conspiracy against us?" "The Fates want us to suffer," he joined her in the dry laugh; "You will be fine, we just have to make an appearance and then we can leave." "Won't that piss off your parents?" "Probably," he gave her a smile, "But my first priority is you, and if making you happy pisses them off then so be it." "You sure know how to redeem yourself," Shell giggled and kissed him chastely, "Let's go back to sleep before I get hungry." "Alright," He agreed, giving her forehead a kiss and closing his eyes. @}-,-'- Peredur opened his eyes to the rich glow of a sunrise, the warmth it bathed him in felt so welcoming. His eyes still hurt a little but the paralysing pain of his hangover had mostly dissipated. How did he get in this mess anyway? He could not remember at first why he was hungover in the first place, was there a gallery opening that he drank himself through or was it a spontaneous party? After several moments of blinking and pondering, Peredur finally focused on his surroundings. The first thing he saw was the large mirror across from his bed, reflecting his image in a plush bed of crimson cushions and silk sheets. His rock hard body revealing itself as the sheet fell away, it felt as though something was a miss, it all felt familiar, but not at the same time. Looking to his right he saw the window open to the dawn, the landscape a black silhouette of a valley girt by mountains and filled with a swaying forest. Down the middle a silvery-gold river meandered towards the waking sun. Such an idyllic view, somewhat recognizable from a deeply buried memory of a past long forgotten, a memory that filled him with contentment. Peredur stretched lazily, all residual pain falling away, the relief he felt was inspiring. Instinctually, he reached for his camera on the bedside table only to find it was not there. He looked on the other side of the bed to also find nothing. He would not have gone anywhere without his camera, it was a part of him, without it he felt incomplete. "Peredur?" A soft, maternal voice called to him, another twinge of familiarity hit him. His eyes shot to the source of the sweet voice, "Mother?" It all came flooding back, the loss of his eldest brother, the kidnapping of his sister and subsequent rescue and the need for him and his siblings to go into hiding, he remembered it all. "Mama," large tears began to fall from his eyes as he stumbled and fell into his mother's waiting arms. "Hush my baby boy," Steren cooed, comforting him as he wept with joy and sadness, "Mama's here, I'll take care of you." Peredur held her tightly, his tears soaking her silken blouse. "You're home now, safe and sound." For long moments he wept, clutching his mother as though fearful that she would vanish the instant he let go. Finally he looked up to her, meeting her familiar deep brown eyes filled with love and compassion. "How long was I gone?" Peredur asked in the end, once he found his voice again. "Nearly thirteen years," She replied, her own tears still falling, "You are the first to return, Lady Bedella seeks your brothers and sister." She wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her dress. "Now let's go find your father, he has yet to see you since the day you left." "Where is he?" "In a meeting with the Midnight Alpha and his Vampire friend," Steren smiled, "Now you must dress, you cannot greet your father naked as you did me." With that she glided from the room. Peredur looked down to see she was correct, he had not noticed. Feeling guilty of his lack of dress he searched his room for something comfortable. He could remember everything, as he grew up, his first kiss with a human girl when he was only a century old, watching her grow up and have children of her own and he played with them until they followed their mother's footsteps. Fond memories of sneaking out of the castle to meet with vampire lovers in the ever morning light by the very river he gazed upon. Running from the insatiable appetites of the dryads when his energy waned. The loss of his eldest brother in the war, the abduction of his sister by the despicable dhampires and their eventual removal from their home to be scattered over the Earth. He could not dwell on the influx of memories; his stomach growled loudly reminding him that he had not eaten for some time. Throwing on the closest pair of trousers and shirt he could reach, musing over how Shakespearean it looked until his hunger reminded him to get moving. @}-,-'- The dining hall was the centre of the castle, every important meeting, celebration and so on revolved around food and wine. The castle did have a throne room, but it was only used when human dignitaries came to visit on official business, a human trait that Bleddyn did not understand. He saw his mate enter at the far end of the dining hall, "Is he awake yet?" The Alpha asked impatiently. "He is," Steren grinned, "A little undressed though." She shook her head in a motherly way, rolling her eyes in amusement. She sat next to her mate and waited with the others. Einar sat with Brynjar adjacent to the Alphas, "Do we have to wait for him?" Einar asked the Midnight Alpha quietly, his eyes wandering over the feast waiting for them. "It is custom to wait until all those expected to attend the meeting are here," Brynjar explained, "He is also the Alphas' son, it is not wise to start without him." "You bloody wolves and your weird customs," Einar complained. "It's fucking courtesy," Brynjar growled through clenched teeth. "Where's the courtesy in making such esteemed guests wait for an indefinite length of time?" Einar argued, "We are the guests, are we not?" "And Peredur has been in exile for a long time," the Midnight Alpha explained exasperatedly, "He is officially being welcomed back, ergo this is not a celebration in honour of us!" Einar mocked Brynjar by mimicking him when the wolf looked away, Steren giggled at the two whose antics were relieving the stress she was feeling. How they reminded her of her eldest and her daughter when they were young, but with one dead and the other missing it gave a sobering undertone of the jovial display. Bleddyn watched his mate smile sadly at the Midnight Alpha and Lord, her mind worlds away. "What's on your mind?" He asked her quietly, deciding not to startle her through their bond. "Remember when Hywel and Bleddwen would bicker like that?" Steren asked him with tearful eyes, "They were inseparable weren't they?" "They were," Bleddyn agreed, "Thick as thieves." "That too," Steren chuckled cheerlessly, "Food from the kitchen was never safe around them." The main door to the dining hall opened, Peredur entered slowly, his eyes scanning everywhere, reacquainting himself with his home. "You've redecorated," he said to his parents in greeting. "You must be Peredur," Lord Einar grinned, looking the young man over, "You resemble your mother." "Keep it in your pants, Einar," Brynjar stood up and offered his hand formally. "I am Alpha Brynjar of the Midnight Pack," he gave a respectful bow as he shook the Beta's hand, "This horny imp here is Lord Einar of the Midnight Vampire Court." Einar joined his friend in standing, "I'm in the south tower if you're interested," the vampire grinned mischievously and also shook his hand, "No pressure." Peredur stared blankly at the blue-haired vampire for a moment, "Um ... thank you." He turned towards his parents and mouthed 'What the fuck?' He took his seat between his parents and their esteemed guests. The moment his bottom touched the chair the human kitchen staff entered with trolleys filled with roasted meats of all kinds with vegetables and gravy. Peredur felt his stomach growl, demanding sustenance and he reached for the closest piece of meat, pile of potatoes and jug of gravy. Steren watched her son dive into his meal like he had not eaten in a while, "Hungry dear?" She asked him rhetorically before reaching for some mutton. He grinned back to her, chewing on a large chunk of flesh. "I'll get right to the point," Bleddyn spoke clearly so everyone could hear him, "Peredur, you've met Brynjar and Einar," the young wolf nodded, "They are here because Brynjar is to mate your sister once she and your brothers have returned." Peredur looked back at the Blond Midnight Alpha, "So, you're basically family, huh bro?" The Alpha nodded is response. "And I guess I can be the first of my brothers to offer my condolences, Bleddwen is not someone you want to piss off." "Thank you, I think," Brynjar accepted the strange congratulation with a salute of his ale. "Are the dhampires taken care of?" Peredur then asked his father. "It should be resolved by the time your sister returns," Bleddyn answered his son. "You haven't fixed it yet?" Peredur cried out, shooting to his feet, "Are you mad?" "Sit down," Bleddyn commanded, also standing, "They have proven elusive in our efforts to find and exterminate them." "Any leader would have waited for the threat to pass before retrieving those in protective exile!" Peredur yelled angrily. "Your mother needed you after our last litter died during their birth!" Bleddyn shot back. Peredur looked at his mother who had grown quiet, "Mother?" "There were six pups," she explained through her silent tears, "All waiting for us in the afterlife." "She was nearly catatonic with grief," The Dawnlight Alpha added, "I suggested for your return." "How does Bleddwen's mating come into this?" Peredur asked, looking over to the Midnight Alpha again. "We happened upon the funeral for your deceased siblings," Brynjar explained, "Einar here is attempting to find the Dhampires to resolve the problem with them." "They are quite tricky," Einar informed him, "They can hide their tracks proficiently." "Why not leave an invite up to your room," Brynjar suggested spitefully, "How can anyone turn down such a tempting morsel like yourself." "That is a fantastic idea," Einar sarcastically replied, "I hope they're cute." He rolled his eyes as he looked away. Peredur laughed at them, "Do you think you can reason with them?" "Maybe if you wear your tight leather pants," Brynjar teased. "I am prepared to kill them if necessary," Einar answered as seriously as he could whilst glaring at Brynjar, "Anyway I only wear them for you, Bryn," he winked at his friend. "Anyway, I have discussed with the Dawnlight Vampire Lord and Lady my plans to solve your problem with the Dhampires, some of which are illegitimate children of the Lord. Her Ladyship gave her blessing for me to do what is needed to rid Dawnlight of their infestation. Though I would prefer to not have to kill them, I will do so without hesitation if they give me cause." Peredur relaxed back in his seat, "I would not be so diplomatic with them, though I have good cause; they took my sister and put her life at risk, I have no sympathy for them." "Understandable," Einar acknowledged, "I would probably be of the same mind if they had taken a member of my family," he took a deep breath in contemplation; "Luckily they didn't so I could solve this peacefully." "I do not like your chances," Peredur commented, "They did kidnap a young girl after all." "Why?" Einar asked and the room went silent. @}-,-'- Gwen was eating her lunch in the main staff room while she checked her email, the last couple of days were mundane with the exception of Rick, only a few more years and he was accessible as far as she was concerned. Lester was out of the scene, not that he complained, he actually sounded relieved when she asked him to move on and find someone more suitable. Janis was the focus of the pack at the moment which meant she could nearly do anything without anyone taking notice, not that she had anything she wanted to do. She helped with the organisation of the big celebration on the Saturday, her father had made Mike promise to come and bring Michelle with him so it will also double as a mating celebration. Gwen was just happy to be away from the compound during the day, it was driving her crazy with all available wolves to lend a hand in clean up, decorating or catering. The afternoon that it will start will be something to behold, she wondered if her father would be okay with her bringing Rick as her plus one. She was so engrossed with her email that she did not hear Carol enter, something she would not usually let happen. Carol looked over her shoulder to see an update of the party organisation and the appearance of Gwen's surname. "You're a Patterson?" She asked her, causing Gwen to jump. "For fucks sake woman!" She cursed angrily, "It's rude to sneak up on people like that!" Carol ignored her ire and continued with her question, "Any relation to Michael Patterson?" "Duh, he's my brother," Gwen answered her condescendingly; "Everyone knows that." "Are you close?" Carol sat down next to Gwen in an attempt to appear less confrontational. "As close as any brother is to his little sister," Gwen was quickly growing bored with Carol's new found eagerness to be friendly with her, "Which is to say, when it suits him." "Ah-huh," Carol was not interested if Gwen was not to close but will see what she could get, "What is the party for?" "The concept of privacy is completely lost on you isn't it," Gwen dryly stated, when Carol ignored it Gwen huffed and answered in the hope that the awful woman would leave, "My sister is returning from Ib ... Spain with her m ... husband. We are also celebrating the m ... engagement of Mike and Shell."