10 comments/ 19438 views/ 16 favorites Fulfillment 02 By: KemMyst Dear Readers, Not so much sex in this one, but there is sex. Have to set up/move the story along. KemMyst Thanks for reading. ****** Friday dawns cloudy. It was the third and final day of the unmated gathering. Although there had been the potential for trouble around the initial meeting since the visiting wolves would be uncomfortable off their home ranges, Lyssa had been warned that this day would probably be the most boisterous, the most volatile. But today marked a turning point. Earlier, they would have been on good behavior, both to attract a potential mate and so as not to disgrace their pack. However, things got a bit more tense as time passed. Two, or more, males vying for a female's attention could lead to some nasty fights. And females after a male could be particularly vicious. Those who hadn't paired up or didn't see a potential mate in any of the attendees were liable to get stinking drunk and stupid. They would all need to take extra care today. An accidental bump or unknowing word could start a small scale riot, and groups would square off along pack lines. The Wyeth wolves woke and headed down to breakfast. Natalie took a tray to Cassie and Samuel. Males were not well tolerated in the vicinity of the new pup. Erich has dragged Madeline down with him. Some of the others eye her speculatively, trying to gauge his interest in the small female beside him. Since Erich was to be Beta, she would be joining the pack if they mated. Roland also brought a female with him to breakfast. She was blond, with long wavy hair, and green eyes. She had a lean body with large, full breasts. They were talking quietly. She could be another addition to the pack, as Roland was Alpha heir. Martin had apparently not taken a female to his bed. Celia had paired with a Gates male. Members of the pack had a hard time not looking. His coloring was highly unusual. His hair was white in the low lighting of the dining hall, but when he stepped through a beam of sunlight, it flared a golden red. His eyes were the deep blue green of the sea. [Mm, nice man candy, Celia.] Celia growls, low in her throat. [You've already got yours, Anna.] [Doesn't mean I can't admire.] Lyssa checked on arrangements again with Simon, who was accepting another shipment of beef. Emmett sent three of the adolescents, two younger females and a male, to May and Maggie, to help with the laundry. And he had Jamie and Justin run the perimeter of the range. Then he and Randall went to briefly check on the captive wolf, before Randall headed to the warehouse to meet with Mathias and Gabriela about the business. A shipment was coming in that he wished to oversee. Things were pleasantly quiet that morning but everyone started to get tense as the time approached for the unmated to arrive for the final day. It was counted as a success thus far for Lyssa and Wyeth since it appeared there were already a few couples coming out of it. Depending upon what had happened last night, it was possible there were already mated pairs. By midafternoon wolves begin arriving again in the Wyeth compound. Erich tucks Madeline under his arm and walks around the back garden with her, talking about the plants. ".. and a bunch of them have meanings attached to them." "Like roses for love, right?" "Right, but that's just the red ones. Other colors of roses mean different things." She brushes her hand over the branches of a bush with dark green glossy needles and is rewarded with a familiar resiny scent. She pulls off a small piece and rubs it between her fingers, crushing it and releasing more of the volatile oil. Erich was taken aback by the potency of the smell. "Rosemary is for remembrance." Erich looks confused. "The essential oils in the rosemary plant help memory. So, just smelling it helps you remember.." She loses her train of thought as he turns her, takes her shoulders, and pulls her up to him, kissing her deeply. Her hands go around his neck. After a couple of minutes, he releases her. She blinks her eyes, seemingly dazed, and he nibbles on her neck. "What were you saying?" "Huh?" *** Wolves eat, and troll, and drink. Lyssa and Emmett watch as the alcohol consumption ramps up. Those that hadn't found mates, or had been spurned, were beginning to drink away their troubles. They took note of the more determined consumers and Emmett posted some of the males to keep watch over those four or five. Four wolves had declined the invitation to this last day but there were still close to 40 wolves in attendance. Roland and the Ross female had decided to part company and were looking elsewhere. Joanna has elected to stay in her room until Nathan arrives. Calvin looks for Stephanie and finds her outside, standing stiffly, completely focused on a couple of visiting males. He walks up behind her and puts a hand on her shoulder. "My dear,.." He barely gets the words out as she grabs his hand, whirls and twists, snarling at him. She's wrenched his arm behind his back and has her forearm around his throat. [Stephanie?] He was tense, ready to fight, the automatic reaction to a perceived threat. She reacts quickly, releasing him and stepping back. "Alph.. Calvin, I apologize." Calvin takes a couple of breaths, ratcheting down from battle readiness. "The fault is mine, my dear. I shouldn't have crept up behind you while you were working. I'll be in the dining hall and I'll leave you to it." Stephanie watches as Calvin heads back into the house. As he disappears she shakes herself and returns to vigilance. *** Emmett and Randall were watchful, both trying to keep track of the visiting wolves and keeping the sentries fresh by rotating their stations. Lyssa walks around, checking on things, watching the drinkers with some trepidation. She sees Calvin sitting off to one side and walks over to sit beside him. "Is something wrong.. Calvin?" "Unfortunately, my dear, several things. It's almost worse than when I led the pack." "Would it help to talk about it?" "I'm not sure where to even begin." He looks down and sighs. "You've got one of my.. one of our pack locked up. My son is having more difficulty as Alpha than I would have expected. And I've found someone I would like to spend time with and I'm quite sure I'm mucking it up." The revelations give Lyssa pause. She had been hurt and then so busy she hadn't realized one of the wolves that had kidnapped she and Joanna had been taken alive and was being held by Wyeth. The admission of problems in the Ross pack was highly unusual. Wolves didn't talk about issues within their own packs. If it was a pack matter, they kept it to themselves. And he had been spending time with Stephanie. What he expected from such an unemotional female as Stephanie was beyond her. "Trouble indeed. Can't you be Beta to your son, advise him?" "He doesn't want my advice. Sampson has tried but Michael intends to change the way the pack runs. He has some murky plans he doesn't divulge." "There must be someone he talks to. A friend? A woman?" Calvin sighs. "One of our females warms his bed but holds no sway over him. His friends are gone. I haven't seen them in days." He looks at her more closely. "Lyssa, can you tell me what happened to the wolves that took you and Joanna?" "They had me drugged. I don't remember much of anything." "But you've heard. They told you what happened. The others are dead, aren't they?" "One is. The other ran." He considers asking how, but decides it doesn't matter. They are quiet for a time. Calvin drains the beer he's been holding. "What can you tell me about Stephanie?" Lyssa sighs. "Not much. She mostly keeps to herself. She doesn't talk much. And, even if she did, it probably wouldn't be to me." Calvin looks confused. "When I first came to the den, Stephanie was set to watch me, since I wasn't a wolf. Then.. something happened to me and she was at fault. So we aren't anything resembling close." "Is there anyone she is close to?" Lyssa puts her hand over her mouth and looks remote, thinking, "No." "No one?" Lyssa shakes her head. "No family, no friends?" Lyssa looks at him, mouth open. "I don't think so." "What happened to her? This is not normal behavior. She has no family, no friends; she isn't seeking a mate. Was she born into the pack?" Lyssa wrinkles her forehead in concentration. "I don't think so." Emmett comes over and sets a couple of beers on the table then slides his arms around his mate. "So, Calvin, what are you and my mate talking about?" Lyssa places her hands on Emmett's and squeezes, lightly, leaning back against his chest. "He's asking me about Stephanie. I just realized she really doesn't have any friends. That's kind of sad. I'm wondering what we could do." "You can't force someone to have friends, Lys. She has reason to act as she has, as she does. And she would be upset if we were to interfere in her life." "How long has she been with the pack, Emmett? Was she born to Wyeth?" Emmett gusts a sigh. "No, Calvin, Wallace brought her in, oh, it's gotta be fifty years back." "Oh, my. It's her." Emmett and Lyssa both look up at him. "Wallace told me he'd brought, that he'd found, a female who'd been through something horrific.. That he'd brought her into the pack." There was a sudden outburst, the sound of blows landing, growling, the ripping of cloth. Emmett immediately stands, Calvin beside him. "Lyssa, stay." [Wyeth males, to the dining hall, now.] Several males run in to contain the fight. Emmett yells, "Outside! Take it outside!" One chair thrown, which Martin snatches out of the air before it can hit someone. A table broken. Randall strides up. "Enough! Go to the circle or go home!" [Who are they?] [Severn and Macy, Randall.] "Get out of my house, now!" Claws were out, snarling, growling, the smell of blood. The two males were oblivious. No one was ready to wade in just yet. Nathan walks in as the melee continues. Calvin gets an elbow to the face. [Casey, stop it!] Nothing. A broken window. Bloody claw marks in the wall. More broken furniture. Nathan notices Lyssa walk up and he fears she'll be hurt. She puts a hand on Emmett's shoulder. "Lyssa, get back." [I can stop this.] Holes in the wall, more blood. [You'll knock us all down.] [No. I won't. But I need line of sight.] Emmett reluctantly moves to one side and she focuses on one of the males. An inhale, a furrowed brow. Emmett flinches, expecting pain. The male goes down. The other stops, amazed, and Emmett and Nathan grab him. He reacts, roaring and throwing his weight against them. He suddenly goes limp. A few heads swivel toward Lyssa. "OK. Get them outside and apart." The two wolf men are dragged outside and then in opposite directions. Nathan goes with the Severn male. [Austin, come to the outside of the dining hall.] [On my way.] The two males start to come to, neither very happy. Randall stands beside the Macy male as he gets up, growling. Randall growls back. [What happened?] [He hit me.] [Did he have a reason?] [No.] [Are you drunk?] [Um. Yeah.] [Stay here.] [Yes, Alpha Wyeth.] Randall walks over to the Severn male. "Speak." "Sir. I accidentally knocked into the Macy male and he rounded on me. I defended myself." "I wish you would have done so outside." "Please, sir, let me know what the damage is and I will reimburse you." "Are you drunk?" "I had a couple, Alpha." "You may stay. The other male is going home." Randall looks him over, noting the injuries. "See our healer." "Yes, sir." Back to the other male. "You are leaving us. Will you go peacefully?" He grumbles. "It wasn't my fault." "Yes or no?" "Yeah." Joanna skids to a stop just outside the doors, looking for Nathan. Lyssa stands to one side of the door, arms crossed, watching. "What happened?" "Small brawl. Beer and testosterone fueled." "Anybody get hurt?" "Just them. Nathan's here." They watch as the Macy male is escorted out. "Why don't you go grab him?" "Are you OK?" "Mm, hm." Joanna walks over to Nathan, who absentmindedly slides an arm around her waist as he, and a couple of the other Severn males, stand with their pack mate, watching the Macy male being removed. As the car carrying him leaves the compound everyone relaxes. Nathan looks down at Joanna, and smiles. "Hello." "Hey, Nathan." He inhales. "Are you set on staying here?" "Um. No." "C'mon. Let's go for a ride." He takes her hand and starts pulling her toward the front of the house. [Mom. Nathan and I are going for a ride.] Ariel stops, tempted to say no, but Joanna was an adult now and could, more or less, do as she pleased. She should be happy that she was telling her she was leaving. [Have fun. Be careful.] *** Emmett walks up behind his mate, puts his hands on her shoulders, and slides his hands down her arms so that he can circle her waist. [Amazing. I didn't even hear you.] [Ya know, I could probably kill anyone here and nobody would ever know.] The comment came out flat and emotionless and it stunned him. She'd managed to refine her ability somehow, had apparently killed one wolf without harming others nearby and had just knocked out two more. Neatly. Surgically. It was disquieting. It was alarming. It was true. [You would know, sweetheart.] He squeezes her, kisses her. "We need to get this cleaned up. How're we gonna get the window covered?" "We'll get Stacey on it tomorrow. It should be fine tonight." "But the bugs.." "Sh, sweetheart. It'll be fine. Let's try to enjoy the rest of the evening. You did so well." Well? Well at what? The party? Knocking out the two males? He almost sounded patronizing. A number of pack members, as well as some of the guests, grab pieces of broken furniture, piling it outside for later disposal. Anton sweeps up the glass. May helps clean up the spilled food and drink. "Alright, everyone, excitement's over. Try to enjoy the rest of the evening." Erich heard the fight and had kept himself and Madeline away. They head back in for something to eat as the fuss dies down and watch the Severn male, with a ragged and bloody tear across his abs, head for the Medical ward. *** Stephanie had watched the fight from the periphery, prepared to aid her pack if need be. But others were closer and ready. As long as it didn't spread, things would be fine. She winced as she saw Calvin take a blow to his face and watched him shake it off. Watched also as Randall, her Alpha, steered him to the ice as Thomas came up with a butterfly bandage. Satisfied, she went back to looking after a couple of other drunken wolves. They had walked toward the Wyeth circle and were appraising it. A movement, slightly beyond them and to the right, catches her attention. So, she walks over, to assure herself that nothing was amiss. Coming across a gap in the understory, she sees one of the females stroking the exposed cock of a male. She looks away, ready to move on, when the smell of beer and vomit hits her and she realizes the male isn't moving. Stephanie steps closer. "What are you doing?" "Jus havin' a lil fun. Go 'way." Her words are slurred. Inebriated. "No. I don't think so. Get off of him." "Hey. He won't mind. Guys like sex." Stephanie closes on them. "Not when they're unconscious. Step away." The female stops, glaring at Stephanie, her hand gripping his partially filled penis tightly. "No." She starts yanking on the male's penis again. "If you don't step away, I'll pull you off." "Why do you care, anyway?" More pulling, a slight groan from the male, a small movement of his head. Stephanie takes another step forward, readying herself to grab the female. Calvin quietly walks over. Coming into earshot he hears her say. "You are on Wyeth pack lands. I will not allow you to continue to molest another of our guests, particularly unwilling and unconscious." He hears the growl start in the other female's throat. Stephanie snarls, "Now!" waits only a second, and launches herself, grabbing the other female and dragging her away from the male. "Hey! Leggo! Help." [Help! I'm being attacked.] As Stephanie pins the other female to the ground, shouts and noises are heard as her pack mates come running. Calvin watches as three Gates males run up and roughly haul Stephanie away from the female she had pinned. Enraged, Stephanie shifts to intermediate form, throws off one male and claws another as the Gates female gets up off the ground. As the males begin to shift, she throws one off and spins, knocking the third on his ass. Calvin steps up as the three surround her. "She's done nothing wrong. It was your pack mate who was acting improperly." "Stay out of this, old man." Cal bristles at the statement. [Randall, Emmett, could use some help out here.] He steps up to the wolf who had spoken, getting into his face. "Back down. I can still beat you, son." All are growling. Stephanie is balanced on the balls of her feet, ready for the attack she is sure will come. The female screams, "Get her!" Two of the wolf men go for Stephanie as Calvin heads for the third. The female jumps on his back. He doesn't have much chance to watch Stephanie, occupied as he is. He slams backwards against a tree, dislodging the female and knocking her out. He snarls, "Let's see if you can do more than talk big", leaps at the male and grabs his wrist. Vaulting forward and rolling, he hears the telltale pop as the other male's shoulder is dislocated. His opponent roars in pain, turns, and swipes at Calvin. Blood wells up from three gouges in his upper arm as Randall, Emmett, and two Severn males wade into the fracas. Emmett and Austin grab one of the males harrying Stephanie, the other Severn male comes to Calvin's aid, and Stephanie crouches on the chest of the third male. [Oh, baby, you get my juices flowing.] She snarls, snapping her jaws in his face. "Stop! Now!" Randall sighs as the combatants quiet. "Would someone kindly tell me what started this?" "She attacked our pack member." "Stephanie, please get off the man." A growl continues to rumble in her chest as she complies. The Gates female groans, rubbing her head. "Stephanie. May I have your explanation?" "Of course, Alpha Wyeth. This one," she points to the other female, "was fondling one of our guests. He was, and still is, as you see, unconscious." Heads turn to take in the sight of the prone male with his cock hanging out of his pants. "I told her to step away and, when she refused, I pulled her away. The other males came up and attacked." "Liar! She was messin' wi' 'im an' came at me when I said I'd tell." Randall narrows his eyes. "Come here." Hesitantly, she walks over. Randall grabs both wrists, brings her hands to his face, and sniffs. Her eyes go wide; she knew she was caught. "Calvin. Do you have anything to add?" "I saw the female you're holding on the male. I heard Stephanie give clear warning then saw her remove the female, who yelled for help. Then these three arrived." "He's in bed with her! He's lying." Randall glares at the male who spoke. The Gates male drops his eyes and turns away. "Stephanie, your hands, please." Stephanie comes closer and offers her hands to Randall. "She does not smell of the male; this one does. Do not think to accuse a former Alpha of lying. I know he has not bedded her." "Then why is he hanging around her?" Jade green eyes light on Calvin. [A good question.] "Do you wish to use our circle, Cal?" Calvin nods. "Stephanie?" A moment, a look at the other female, and a sharp nod. "Bring them." The males are dragged and the female herded to the circle. Fulfillment 02 Stephanie walks inside and waits, pacing, growling. Randall looks at the Gates female. "What is your name?" "C, C, Constance." She's shaking. "You want me to go in there and fight her?" "Yes. Stephanie indicated she wanted to face you in the circle. Now, go." Constance stands there, frozen. Randall shoves her within the boundaries. "She's never fought anyone," one of the males says. "Then this will be over quickly." Stephanie snarls and leaps at her. Constance shrieks and runs, remaining in her human form. Catching her easily, Stephanie grabs her by the throat and lifts her off the ground; small trickles of blood form where claws pierce skin. Then, the smell of urine and a noise of disgust. Stephanie tosses her to the side and stalks out of the circle. Randall looks to his friend. "Calvin?" Calvin strides in as Constance crawls out, sobbing. He hears Stephanie grumble, "Poor excuse for a female." She turns, crosses her arms across her chest, and watches Calvin. Emmett growls in the Gates male's ear, "Hold still," and locks his arms around his chest. Randall grabs his arm, pulls and twists slightly, resetting the head of the humerus back into its socket. The male rolls his shoulder, testing it. Calvin crooks a finger. "Come, young one." "Alright, old man, let's dance." He walks in, cocky, bouncing on his feet like a prizefighter. "The hell you aren't hitting that. That's one feisty female." He feints left, jumps back. Calvin does not respond. A braggart. All talk. He'd watch a bit, just to be sure of his opponent, before making a move. "C'mon. Watcha got, old man?" He shifts one way, shifts the other. Calvin's eyes follow, but he stands loosely, comfortably. "You ain't got nothin'." A snarl and the male launches himself at Calvin. Calvin ducks and takes hold only enough to send the male spinning, then resumes his loose stance. "Try again, youngster." "Robert!" Robert roars and goes for Cal again. Calvin steps sideways and shoves him to the ground. Robert rises, growling. "What is this? Stand and fight like a man!" Calvin chuckles. "I have no need of another scar. You have yet to lay a finger on me. If this is what you call fighting, I can teach you a lesson." Another roar from Robert, "Bastard!" and another charge. Calvin pivots and, grabbing Robert's leg, pulls him to the ground and settles on his back, putting strong jaws around his neck. [Rage does you no good in a fight. Rage makes you blind and stupid. Submit.] Robert roars and twists, tossing Calvin sideways, ripping bloody tracks into his own neck. Calvin hops onto all fours, then lands on Robert's chest, the claws of one hand around his throat. The claws of the other hand lay over the top of his thigh. "Submit." "What're you, some fucking deviant? Let go of my leg." Randall calmly remarks, "He's got your femoral artery under those claws. One slice and you bleed out in two minutes, maybe less the way your blood's pumping. Submit." Robert goes still and limp. "Fine." Calvin waits a moment longer since he doesn't see capitulation in the younger male's eyes, then sighs, and stands. He was not Alpha and this was not a member of his pack. Randall looks around the group as a number of wolves had come to watch the fight. "Anyone else?" Heads shake. "You four are leaving us now. One more outburst like this and the party ends and your Alphas will hear of it. Understood?" Heads nod. "Cal, I can get you some clothing." Calvin watches Stephanie begin to walk away. "In a minute, Randall." [Stephanie?] Stephanie continues to walk away. Calvin heads after her. [Easy, Cal, she was just deprived of a good fight.] [Not stupid, Randall..] He moves more quickly. Randall watches briefly, then turns and heads for the outbuilding. *** The ride is thrilling and she holds tightly to him. The bike travels sinuously, at high speed. Nathan takes tertiary roads, avoiding most of the traffic. The lights of oncoming traffic were somewhat hurtful to werewolf eyes. She held tightly to him, enjoying the feeling of his muscles under her arms, against her body. He smelled wonderfully male. She trusted him. Beyond the feeling of the strong body before her, she felt the throb of the bike's engine. She was wrapped around him again, this time by choice, not by chance. He drives on, just enjoying having her with him. He wasn't sure just where he was headed, until he realized he was closing on home. It was soon, probably too soon, but [Joanna, would you like to meet my parents?] Her arms tightened around him. Yep, too soon. [You can say no.] [No. No. That's OK.] He could feel her heart beating a bit more quickly. [I'm not dressed...] [You're fine.] He pulls one hand off the bars and squeezes one of hers at his waist. He turns a couple of corners and pulls in to the enclave of the Severn pack. Joanna looks around as he drives in. There are a couple of brick walls to either side of the driveway, funneling them into the center of the compound. She never really considered what other pack compounds looked like. There were several lanes, each having a few houses on them. At the center was the largest of them, three stories tall. There was also what looked like a community center and something else that looked like a large gymnasium. A couple of barracks type buildings. Nathan pulls in front of a small house off to one side of the main house. [What is this?] [My house.] [Nathan, I'm not... I'm not ready for this.] Nathan dismounts the bike. "Sweetie, this is just where I'm parking the bike. My parents live over there." He points to a house nearby, closer to the main house. He takes her hand and waits for her to get off the bike. He then takes both her hands in his. "Joanna. Let me make my intentions clear. I really like being with you. I want to spend more time with you. I'd like you to meet my family. I'd like to get to know you better. I won't force anything, or push you to do something you don't want to. If we grow closer, I'd be happy. If we find we don't like each other so much, we'll move on. Will you trust me?" She looks into his blue eyes, swallows, and nods. "Yes." He smiles, tips up her chin, and kisses her. His hands slide around her waist as hers climb up his back. He pulls her shirt up a little, so that he can touch her bare skin. They've barely begun when someone whistles, long and low. They break apart, embarrassed. He turns. "Kyle. You're interrupting. I was trying to make her more comfortable." He takes her hand, twining his fingers in hers. "Is that what they call it, brother?" Nathan closes his eyes and sighs. "Joanna, this is my older brother, Kyle. Kyle, Joanna." Kyle steps up, takes Joanna's free hand, and presses a kiss to it. "Ah. The Wyeth Alpha daughter. A pleasure." He chuckles as a growl rumbles in Nathan's chest. "Easy, stud. Kendra'd have my nuts if she thought I was messing with your mate." "Kyle." There's warning in his voice, his name stretched out to two syllables. Kyle grins at her. "I'll warn Mom. You'll probably want to give her 10 minutes before you show up. Unless you were planning on something else?" "Kyle!" He puts his hands up. "Going, brother, going." He backs away, then turns, whistling as he walks between a couple of the houses. Nathan puts his hand over his face. Idiot. A heavy sigh. "Kyle's a pest. He enjoys tormenting me. I'm sorry. My other brothers aren't like that." "Kendra is his mate?" "Yeah. She's been pushing females at me. For some reason she really wants to see me mated. I wanted to avoid them, so much for that. Are you alright?" Her face is screwed up, like she's eaten something distasteful. "Joanna?" She bursts into laughter. After gasping for breath, she says [Wanna mess with him?] [What did you have in mind?] [Where do they live?] *** Stephanie is grinding her teeth and growling as Calvin closes on her. He puts a hand on her shoulder and she whirls, snarling, leaving three deep gouges across his abdomen. He sucks in a deep breath at the pain and fights himself to keep from striking back, shredding the bark on a nearby tree instead. "Oh! Selene! Calvin!" She drops to her knees and closes her eyes, baring her throat. He looks down at her, breathing deeply. He saw her fear, her resignation. She expected to die for this; she accepted it. He heard her breath hitch and saw a single tear leak down her face. He reaches down to her. She flinches and a small, strangled cry escapes her lips. He hauls her up by the shoulders and she hangs there, limp, head hanging off to one side. "Stephanie. Look at me." His voice is calm, even. She opens moist eyes. The jade color sparkles at him but her disappointment pierces his heart. She smells his blood, feels the wetness of it against her belly. She looks into his green eyes, unsure of the emotion she saw there. But his voice. She'd heard that kind of flat, calm tone before. She couldn't believe her life was going to end this way and couldn't understand why he hadn't killed her yet. Just trying to prolong her pain. She was, however, surprised at her tears and ashamed she wasn't doing a better job facing her death. He slid an arm around her body and put a hand around her neck, tilting it upright. At least she was looking him in the eye. But her voice broke as she said, "Do it." He crushes her to him and kisses her. She said 'Do it', so he did. He pulls her against him and kisses her. She stopped breathing and went rigid. He watches her eyes go wide. She starts to struggle, pushing against him. It hurts and he releases her. She backs away, hand over her mouth, chest heaving. She clenches her fists and yells at him, "What do you want?" He smiles, licking his lips. She growls, chest still heaving. "Males want nothing else. You bring nothing but pain. Leave me alone." She turns and stalks off. He watches her leave, and groans, feeling the pain of his injuries again. Sighing, Calvin turns and walks toward the house. Calvin enters the Med ward, "Healer?" The male he fought, Robert, has had the cuts in his neck treated and is being led out by Emmett and Alex. Robert bares his teeth at Calvin. Calvin smiles back, showing his teeth. [Randall. Calvin has received further injury.] "Calvin, is there a problem?", Emmett asks. "Perhaps. But it is my own." *** Stephanie bolts for the woods, wanting only to distance herself from the entire situation. It was the last night for the unmated. If she stayed away long enough, he'd leave and would have no excuse to return. Her only thought now was to run until she tired, so she could fall asleep. And so, the brown wolf ran deeper into the pack lands, farther from the house. She knew he could track her, if he wanted to, but hoped he wouldn't. She was nothing but an Omega but, as former Alpha, he still had a high status. He could do as he pleased, within reason, on Wyeth land. Her Alpha held to pack laws but did not allow mistreatment of the young and weak. Then again, she was neither young nor weak and shouldn't need his protection. Ah, but she'd watched Calvin fight. He was good. He was very good. She could delay it, but she would be overpowered if he wished to hurt or restrain her. But, he hadn't. Her claws had bit deeply and she knew she had hurt him badly, and he hadn't retaliated. Hadn't asked for her throat, or for anything, except... That look. Sex. He wanted to fuck her. After she'd gotten away, after Wallace, the previous Alpha Wyeth, had taken her in, she vowed no male would touch her again. He'd kissed her. She'd clawed him and he'd kissed her. How seriously fucked up was that? He could have thrown her down and raped her. Would her Alpha have done anything if he had? Calvin was his friend, after all. But, he didn't. He just, just kissed her. She didn't understand; was he trying to seduce her? It wouldn't happen. Males were opportunists, inherently untrustworthy. It was probably just a consequence of the gathering and all the rutting going on. Yes. Stay away until he left and it would fade. She was just a novelty to him, after all. *** Her voice is raised. "No, Nathan. No! Take me home." "Joanna, please, I just wanted to introduce you to my parents." "If your brother is any indication of what your family is like I don't want anything to do with you!" The door to the nearest house flies open as he reaches for her. "Joanna..." She shoves him. "No! Take me home!" [Sorry.] A woman with dark hair and dark eyes steps out. "Nathan. What's going on?" "Nothing until your mate decided to get involved." "I let Nathan take me out of our range and Kyle said.." A growl rises from her throat. "Kyle? What did the fool say now?" Kyle comes around the corner to face his angry mate. "Kendra, hon, I didn't say anything." "Then why is she demanding to be taken home? What did you do?" The older couple behind them watch in dismay. His mother speaks, "Nathan. Is this the Wyeth daughter?" "Yes, Mom. This is Joanna. Joanna Wyeth, my parents, Juliet and Jonathon Severn." Juliet puts a hand out. "Come, love, I'll take you home if you want to go, but how about some tea first?" Jonathon raises an eyebrow at his youngest son, who smirks and nods towards Kyle and Kendra, currently in a loud and animated conversation. A knowing nod and he turns to Joanna. "Please, Joanna, let us disabuse you of your opinion." "OK." Joanna, flanked by Nathan, allows herself to be led around the corner to their house. [What did he do, Nate?] [The first thing he did was touch her. He kissed her hand then suggested I was gonna take her to bed instead of bringing her to meet you.] Nathan is getting agitated. [Who suggested the response?] [She did.] Jonathon laughs, deep and hearty, as they enter the house. He speaks quietly, "Good for you, Joanna." The Severn family sits with their guest, taking quietly. Juliet brings out tea and cookies. Nathan sits beside her, holding her hand and giving it little squeezes every so often. Joanna watches his parents, seeing little touches, smiles between them, something in their eyes as they looked at each other. It was obvious they loved each other. After about an hour, Nathan says, "I probably should get her home. Ready, Jo?" "Sure, it was nice meeting you. Thank you for the tea." [A lovely girl, Nate.] The Severn couple stands and walk them to the front door. "Good evening, Joanna. It was nice to meet you and we hope to see you again." He puts her back on the bike, takes her face in both hands, says [You can breathe, now.] and kisses her. Nathan strokes her cheeks with his thumbs, his fingers in her hair. "They like you." She gives a tired smile. "Alright, let's get you home." *** Randall walks in as Natalie works on stitching Calvin's abdominal wounds and Wade sets few stitches in his arm. [Ah, Cal, did you have to go after her?] [Yes. And I approached her from behind.] Randall arches an eyebrow at him. "Not stupid, Cal?" Calvin smiles, shaking his head. "Oh, I know better but," a sigh, "I wanted some time with her tonight. If I've not completely screwed up this time, I'd like a chance to come back and visit." "Care to elaborate on the 'screwing up'?" "I kissed her." "Before or after she clawed you?" "After. After she offered me her throat." Randall shakes his head and exhales. "She's damaged, Cal." "I know, Randall. Your father spoke to me about her after he brought her into the pack." "She has no interest in and little use for males. She doesn't trust us." "In all the time she's been here, has anyone mistreated her?" Randall stops. "No. Are you implying something, old friend?" "She's been accepted into the pack; she doesn't leave but rarely; she's been around Wyeth males for decades. Randall, unless she were isolating herself completely, she's developed a trust that no one here will harm her. She must feel some level of safety." Randall mulls this over. "Safe? Comfortable? She's guarded. I'm not sure she'll ever feel safe." The stitching completed, Wade and Natalie step back. "Thank you, healers." Randall throws a pair of sweatpants at him. "Here. What did she say to you?" "Males only want sex and only cause pain. And to leave her be." "I think that might be wise. I should speak to her." Calvin lays a hand on Randall's arm. "No. Don't. My injuries are my fault." They are quiet as they regain the dining hall. "Do you know how to overcome your fear, old friend?" Randall sighs. "Exposure in low doses, increasing in frequency or intensity." Cal smiles. "Exactly. Unless she asks you to keep me away, and I'm betting she won't since she won't want to appear weak, I ask that you let me spend time here." "Of all the females, Cal. What is it about her?" "The same thing that called me to Sabine. Her eyes." There are no further incidents that evening and their guests begin to depart as the moon climbs into the night sky, hidden behind clouds, a ghostly circle of light. A passing shower has most running for cars. The drunken male snorts and wakes in the clearing, thinking he must have passed out while taking a leak. Although there was the smell of a female. Had he had sex with one of them? Oh, Luna, had he passed out in the middle? He'd never live it down. [Jonas!] Joanna was returned to her room, with another kiss and a promise to return. Madeline left Erich with a deep and long kiss and an understanding of future connections. Calvin reluctantly bid his friends goodbye and drove home. Stephanie growls up at the weeping sky and heads back to the house. Lyssa collapses in to a chair. It was done. The Wyeth pack cleans up after their guests, breathes a collective sigh of relief, and heads for their respective beds. Samuel ventures out while Cassie and the pup sleep. ***** Saturday dawns cloudy still and the pack wakes to normalcy, save for one thing - the Ross wolf that remained guarded and chained in the back building. Erich woke alone in his bed and found he missed the small warm soft presence that had been Madeline. He was going to have to petition the Tucker Alpha to bring her into Wyeth, even if only for a week or so. Stephanie woke in the woman's quarters cranky and out of sorts. She headed immediately to the training room. Emmett woke to Lyssa's hair in his face, her head on his chest. And he listened. To her breathing, to the beat of her heart. They were close to being two years mated. His mate. He tightens his arm around her. The fingers on his chest move and her middle finger circles his nipple. "When was the last time there was an unmated gathering?" "About six years ago." "Did you go to it?" "Yes. Like the rest, I kept looking for my mate," Lyssa flicks that nipple and he jerks, "searching for her in Wyeth and the other packs." Lyssa now pinches his nipple and he gasps. "Happily, I also looked outside of the packs." "So, how many gatherings did you attend?" Her hand works slowly down his chest. His mind is firmly focussed on that hand. But she had asked him a question. "All of them." She strokes across his stomach and he groans. "How many is that?" "I'm not sure. Eight or nine." He wills her hand to move lower as she runs her fingers through the line of hair that travels from his navel to the nest of dark grey hair at the base of his cock. It twitches and starts to fill. "So, two or three females a gathering. You've had sex with a couple dozen females." Her fingers circle in that line of hair. It was probably about three dozen, total, but he wasn't about to tell her that. He reaches up to cup her face as she strokes his swollen cock. "I've only ever slept with one female that I love." Fulfillment 02 He feels her smile against his chest as her fingers continue to trace up and down his shaft. He thought he might go mad with the soft, gentle touches. He wanted her to wrap her warm hand around his length, to pump it up and down, to take him into her mouth, to impale herself on him so that he could worship her body. A low growl starts in his chest. "Right up until the time you met me." "No. Once I saw you the first time, I was done. Why the questions? You and I were both with others before we were mated." "It's just.. The gathering made me wonder." "Sweetheart, I wonder something." "Hmm?" He growls, grabs her, and rolls them over, holding her wrists to the bed and locking her legs under his. He looms over her, the head of his cock rubbing between her thighs. "Were you planning on making me mad with your touch?" She smirks, looking up into his chocolate brown eyes. [How is your arm?] She clenches her fist and flexes her wrist. [Good.] [And your ribs?] [Good.] He smirks back down at her, seeing dark eyes hazed with lust. "Good." He leans down and engulfs a rose colored and erect nipple with his mouth, nipping at the tip. She gasps. Her fingers turn into claws. Her neck is already arched backwards, straining against the bed. She moans as he continues to alternate between sucking on her nipple and lightly biting it. Her legs try to open wider so that he can settle between them but they're trapped under his. The head of his cock rubs against her entrance, sliding past towards the bed. She can't even shift her hips to capture him. Emmett has moved his mouth up to her collarbone and was slowly bestowing kisses and small nips from one shoulder to the other. Lyssa grunts. He pauses, a moment, and she feels the smile against her skin. He then sucks her skin into his mouth and pulls strongly. [What are you, 16? I don't need a hickey!] [It'll be gone by the time I'm done with you, mate.] He releases the skin he's held in his mouth and looks down at the dark purple mark he's left. A quick dip down to suckle at her nipple again, then back up to her chin, kissing and nipping around her jawline. He chuckles when she tries, unsuccessfully, to latch onto his mouth with her own. She was stuck, couldn't touch him, and was increasingly frustrated, which he seemed to be enjoying, but she was not. Not in the least. In fact, it was really starting to piss her off. Now he was licking the side of her neck, where the mating mark was. She took a deep breath. [If you intend on licking me all morning I'd just as soon you get off me so I can take a shower!] He pulls back, wincing, to look at her. "Sweetheart, are you in pain?" She stops and takes another deep breath. "No." "Then why the yelling?" "I don't want to be teased. I don't want to be held down. Can't you just love me?" Was that it? Because he was holding her down? She was out of sorts. But, she had been captured, chained, hurt, hobbled because of her injuries, then the party and the gathering. So much had gone on in such a short amount of time. She needed her mate's love. Well, then. "Of course, my mate. Of course I can." He released her hands and, braced on his elbows, leaned down to kiss her. Then, in one fluid movement, he rolled them again, so she was on top, and lifted her body above his straining erection. He lowered her slowly, making sure she was ready, and moaned when she had enveloped him completely. "You feel so good around me, mate." Lyssa exhales, her hands braced upon his strong chest as she shifted her pelvis. "And you feel good inside me." He watches her lip tremble slightly and her voice cracks a little. "I love you, Em." He reaches up and pulls her down to him. "You're strong. You're beautiful. I love you, Lyssa." He cradles her against his chest, holding her tightly to him, and waited for the emotion that he thought would break free. But, after a couple of minutes, she took a deep breath and kissed his chest, then pushed upwards. He releases her and she rotates her hips before settling down on him once more. Then it begins. She moves up and down on his shaft, lifting and dropping herself on his engorged length. He allows her to set the pace, wanting her to feel comfortable, wanting her to feel pleasure. She scratches down his abs lightly and is rewarded with a light growl. As one of his hands moves upward to touch her, she takes hold of it and sucks one of his fingers into her mouth. Her tongue swirls around the enclosed digit and he stiffens further inside her. How can that one little action turn him on even further? His other hand traces up the side of her hip, her waist, and runs along the edge of her breast. At this, she releases his finger and tips her head back with a moan. He watches her, the gorgeous body of his mate above him, and feels his knot grow. Her head comes up and her eyes widen as the swelling is embedded in her slippery pussy. And, now, he takes her hips and starts his short thrusts. [Touch yourself, sweetheart. Bring yourself over with me.] Dark slitted eyes look at him as her hand traces down from her breast, to her navel, and through the dark curled hairs to the sensitive nub that resides below. He feels her dip into the juices flowing from her womanhood as she moves the lubrication to her clitoris and begins to rub. His thrusts come faster. [Lys. I can't..] With a howl that's almost a roar, he releases deeply into her. She's gasping for breath, mouth open wide, finger furiously rubbing near where their bodies are joined. As his cock begins to slow its pulses, he feels the tightening around him that signals her impending orgasm. In a haze, he reaches up, grabs both breasts, and tweaks both nipples. She shrieks and arches backward over his legs. He snakes an arm around her waist, to prevent her from going all the way back and bending his embedded cock in half. She comes back forward, gasping, and he pulls her back against his chest. He nuzzles her ear and murmurs, "You are marvelous." "Thank you. That was wonderful." They fall into a doze, locked together, on the bed. ***** Lyssa calls from the bed. "What's going on? Where are you going?" He was dressed in jeans and a charcoal t-shirt, a couple of shades darker than his hair. "He's been in the cage long enough. He's starting to rant. Randall and I are going to find out what he knows." She shoves herself upright. "I'm coming." "Lyssa..." "No. You can't stop me. I want to know. Is he a threat?" Emmett's grin is feral. "If he ever was he is no longer." "Alright, then." Having risen, she yawns once and slides into a pair of jeans and a peach tank top. He stares at her. "What now?" More specifically, he was staring at her tits. She snaps her fingers in front of his face. "Em?" He blinks. This time a different grin splits his face as he reaches for her breast and rubs his thumb over her nipple. "I like the top." She arches her eyebrows at him. [Sexy.] "Sexier than naked?" His grin gets broader. "Males are so weird." He drops his hand and takes hers. "C'mon. Let's grab something and go see Randall." Simon and Thomas are currently at guard. They separate slightly at their Alpha's approach. [I want you behind me, Lyssa.] [You forget, mate, I can kill him where he stands.] It's another flat statement. He grunts in acknowledgement and takes her hand. Randall opens the door. The smell hits them all. Rancid, unwashed, male. Devolved. Alan is curled up in the corner. He turns and blinks towards the open door. Randall snarls and Alan covers his head with his arms and whimpers. "Stand up!" Using his arms, Alan basically climbs up the wall and turns, fearfully, to face Randall. The chain rattles as he struggles to stand like a man. Randall's eyes bore into him and he says nothing. A minute passes. Two. Lyssa leans forward slightly. Emmett squeezes her hand in warning. "Just kill me!" Randall continues his stare. "What do you want?" No response. "What!?" Another minute as Alan trembles. Randall's voice is quiet. "Tell me everything." It all comes tumbling out. "He, I guess, saw her one day, them, I guess, when he was running the edge of the range. He kept talking about being Alpha, especially after the Madam Alpha died." A breath. "With the Alpha's decline, he thought he'd get it. And, he thought, he thought.. He needed to be mated. The other one was at the burning. So, hey, mate an Alpha daughter. He kept seeing them together. And, I guess, he came up with a plan." Alan takes a few heaving breaths, licks his lips, and glances at Randall. "He started talking to the three of us about it. Any of the others who were old enough were already mated. So. So. Grab the girl and he could mate her." "Then, the invitation came. It was perfect. Grab her and wait for her birthday." Lyssa growls involuntarily. Fucking asshole. Kidnap a young woman, rape her and force her to be your mate. It was quite similar to what had almost happened to her after she arrived at Wyeth. [Easy, sweetheart. Didn't happen.] [But it could have!] Emmett winces. [Please, dear heart, no need to yell at me.] [Sorry. We need to get that rule changed. No female should ever be forced to mate someone. The packs should have a council or something.] [Easy, Lys. Not the time.] [It almost happened to me!] Alan has gone on as Emmett and Lyssa converse. He glances at Lyssa when she growls. "He said that one could mess with your head." "Since we always saw them together it would take more than just him to grab the daughter, his mate. And we knew you'd follow, search for them." "So, we got the ATVs and parked them close by. He figured out where to hide them, outfitted the basement of the house. Got syringes full of sedative." "We were ready. So we watched and waited." "He, he started to get antsy." "Then, they showed up. I called him and we waited. Made sure no one was around." "We grabbed 'em. She," he gestures to Lyssa with his chin, "bit Jason and he smacked her. Then we all heard her yell. I got the needle in her arm." "M.. He put his foot on her neck and told the daughter to come or he'd kill her." "She came. We took off." "Left the young one alone. He'da killed us." The growl starts in Emmett's chest now. "We didn't touch her either! Young one wrapped herself around her." "Kept her out, every time she started waking, we gave her another dose." "Cept she woke up. Gave us all the whammy and the young one ran." "Jason told us to kill her and took off after the other one." "Gerry was pissed, kicked her a few times, started punching her. We heard Jason take off in the truck and knew we were fucked." "The other male came in and said we should have some fun before we killed her, that she'd fucked up his life." "Gerry insisted on taking her first. She clawed him, he landed on her, ready to screw her, and collapsed. The other male came at me." "And your males showed up." Randall pins Alan to the wall by his throat and snarls in his face. "Who. Is. He?" "Michael." In a very small voice. "Excuse me?" "Michael. Ross. The Alpha." Randall abruptly drops him, turns, and strides out. The doors close behind him. A plaintive wail rises from the outbuilding. "What are you gonna do with me?" Emmett and Lyssa trail Randall back to the house. He turns to them once inside. "Lyssa, please let me know when your strength is returned and you are fit to fight." Her eyes go wide. "But.. Ran.. Alpha. Me?" "You suffered the most at their hands. Joanna will be your second." "But, but. Me?" The question is almost a squeak. Randall stands tall and looks her in the eye. "You have been sparring. You are the Beta's mate. You have already made your first kill." She drops her head. "Yes, Alpha." Checking for Emmett's response to his movements, Randall puts two fingers under her chin and lifts her head slightly. "You are reluctant." She nods slightly. "I've studied the workings of human society. We have to, to survive in this world and interact with them. There, human criminals are pursued, hunted, tried, and punished. If the criminal's life is forfeit, someone else does the killing for the victims. It's sanitary, bloodless." "You aren't in that world anymore. Werewolf justice is swift and deadly. There are no 'technicalities' here. You have learned, insisted on, fighting males of the pack. Therefore, you are capable of meting out his punishment." An inhale and a shuddering exhale. "Yes, Alpha." [I'm not sure she's capable, Randall.] [Showing weakness before the pack would not be good.] Randall walks away, to attend to pack matters. Lyssa clutches Emmett, wrapping her arms around him and laying her head on his chest. She murmurs quietly, "I don't know if I can, Em." "You are the Madam Beta and the victim. It's your duty." Lyssa closes her eyes. The tone of his voice made it clear he didn't understand and expected her to do it. She doubted she could explain it to him. It was just so, so natural for him. The day passed quietly as the Wyeth wolves ran, and talked, and ate, and fucked, obliterating the scents and signs of the foreign wolves, reclaiming their range. Stacey was setting new glazing in the broken window. Anton was looking into replacing the broken tables and chairs. Others pursued leisure activities or performed necessary pack duties. Lyssa sat quietly on Emmett's lap, while he worked at his desk. Erich struggled to put together a petition to bring Madeline in for a visit. Joanna was texting Nathan, who was working again this day. Fulfillment 03 Saturday dawns cloudy still and the pack wakes to normalcy, save for one thing - the Ross wolf that remained guarded and chained in the back building. Erich woke alone in his bed and found he missed the small warm soft presence that had been Madeline. He was going to have to petition the Tucker Alpha to bring her into Wyeth, even if only for a week or so. Stephanie woke in the woman's quarters cranky and out of sorts. She headed immediately to the training room. Emmett woke to Lyssa's hair in his face, her head on his chest. And he listened. To her breathing, to the beat of her heart. They were close to being two years mated. His mate. He tightens his arm around her. The fingers on his chest move and her middle finger circles his nipple. "When was the last time there was an unmated gathering?" "About six years ago." "Did you go to it?" "Yes. Like the rest, I kept looking for my mate," Lyssa flicks that nipple and he jerks, "searching for her in Wyeth and the other packs." Lyssa now pinches his nipple and he gasps. "Happily, I also looked outside of the packs." "So, how many gatherings did you attend?" Her hand works slowly down his chest. His mind is firmly focused on that hand. But she had asked him a question. "All of them." She strokes across his stomach and he groans. "How many is that?" "I'm not sure. Eight or nine." He wills her hand to move lower as she runs her fingers through the line of hair that travels from his navel to the base of his cock. It twitches and starts to fill. "So, two or three females a gathering. You've had sex with a couple dozen females." Her fingers circle in that line of hair. It was probably about three dozen, total, but he wasn't about to tell her that. He reaches up to cup her face as she strokes his swollen cock. "I've only ever slept with one female that I love." He feels her smile against his chest as her fingers continue to trace up and down his shaft. He thought he might go mad with the soft, gentle touches. He wanted her to wrap her warm hand around his length, to pump it up and down, to take him into her mouth, to impale herself on him so that he could worship her body. A low growl starts in his chest. "Right up until the time you met me." "No. Once I saw you the first time, I was done. Why the questions? You and I were both with others before we were mated." "It's just.. The gathering made me wonder." "Sweetheart, I wonder something." "Hmm?" He growls, grabs her, and rolls them over, holding her wrists to the bed and locking her legs under his. He looms over her, the head of his cock rubbing between her thighs. "Were you planning on making me mad with your touch?" She smirks, looking up into his chocolate brown eyes. [How is your arm?] She clenches her fist and flexes her wrist. [Good.] [And your ribs?] [Good.] He smirks back down at her, seeing dark eyes hazed with lust. "Good." He leans down and engulfs a rose colored and erect nipple with his mouth, nipping at the tip. She gasps. Her fingers turn into claws. Her neck is already arched backwards, straining against the bed. She moans as he continues to alternate between sucking on her nipple and lightly biting it. Her legs try to open wider so that he can settle between them but they're trapped under his. The head of his cock rubs against her entrance, sliding past towards the bed. She can't even shift her hips to capture him. Emmett has moved his mouth up to her collarbone and was slowly bestowing kisses and small nips from one shoulder to the other. Lyssa grunts. He pauses, a moment, and she feels the smile against her skin. He then sucks her skin into his mouth and pulls strongly. [What are you, 16? I don't need a hickey!] [It'll be gone by the time I'm done with you, mate.] He releases the skin he's held in his mouth and looks down at the dark purple mark he's left. A quick dip down to suckle at her nipple again, then back up to her chin, kissing and nipping around her jawline. He chuckles when she tries, unsuccessfully, to latch onto his mouth with her own. She was stuck, couldn't touch him, and was increasingly frustrated, which he seemed to be enjoying, but she was not. Not in the least. In fact, it was really starting to piss her off. Now he was licking the side of her neck, where the mating mark was. She took a deep breath. [If you intend on licking me all morning I'd just as soon you get off me so I can take a shower!] He pulls back, wincing, to look at her. "Sweetheart, are you in pain?" She stops and takes another deep breath. "No." "Then why the yelling?" "I don't want to be teased. I don't want to be held down. Can't you just love me?" Was that it? Because he was holding her down? She was out of sorts. But, she had been captured, chained, hurt, hobbled because of her injuries, then the party and the gathering. So much had gone on in such a short amount of time. She needed her mate's love. Well, then. "Of course, my mate. Of course I can." He released her hands and, braced on his elbows, leaned down to kiss her. Then, in one fluid movement, he rolled them again, so she was on top, and lifted her body above his straining erection. He lowered her slowly, making sure she was ready, and moaned when she had enveloped him completely. "You feel so good around me, mate." Lyssa exhales, her hands braced upon his strong chest as she shifted her pelvis. "And you feel good inside me." He watches her lip tremble slightly and her voice cracks a little. "I love you, Em." He reaches up and pulls her down to him. "You're strong. You're beautiful. I love you, Lyssa." He cradles her against his chest, holding her tightly to him, and waited for the emotion that he thought would break free. But, after a couple of minutes, she takes a deep breath and kissed his chest, then pushes upwards. He releases her and she rotates her hips before settling down on him once more. Then it begins. She moves up and down on his shaft, lifting and dropping herself on his engorged length. He allows her to set the pace, wanting her to feel comfortable, wanting her to feel pleasure. She scratches down his abs lightly and is rewarded with a light growl. As one of his hands moves upward to touch her, she takes hold of it and sucks one of his fingers into her mouth. Her tongue swirls around the enclosed digit and he stiffens further inside her. How can that one little action turn him on even further? His other hand traces up the side of her hip, her waist, and runs along the edge of her breast. At this, she releases his finger and tips her head back with a moan. He watches her, the gorgeous body of his mate above him, and feels his knot grow. Her head comes up and her eyes widen as the swelling is embedded in her slippery pussy. And, now, he takes her hips and starts his short thrusts. [Touch yourself, sweetheart. Bring yourself over with me.] Dark slitted eyes look at him as her hand traces down from her breast, to her navel, and through the dark curled hairs to the sensitive nub that resides below. He feels her dip into the juices flowing from her womanhood as she moves the lubrication to her clitoris and begins to rub. His thrusts come faster. [Lys. I can't..] With a howl that's almost a roar, he releases deeply into her. She's gasping for breath, mouth open wide, finger furiously rubbing near where their bodies are joined. As his cock begins to slow its pulses, he feels the tightening around him that signals her impending orgasm. In a haze, he reaches up, grabs both breasts, and tweaks both nipples. She shrieks and arches backward over his legs. He snakes an arm around her waist, to prevent her from going all the way back and bending his embedded cock in half. She comes back forward, gasping, and he pulls her back against his chest. He nuzzles her ear and murmurs, "You are marvelous." "Thank you. That was wonderful." They fall into a doze, locked together, on the bed. ***** Lyssa calls from the bed. "What's going on? Where are you going?" He was dressed in jeans and a charcoal t-shirt, a couple of shades darker than his hair. "He's been in the cage long enough. He's starting to rant. Randall and I are going to find out what he knows." She shoves herself upright. "I'm coming." "Lyssa..." "No. You can't stop me. I want to know. Is he a threat?" Emmett's grin is feral. "If he ever was he is no longer." "Alright, then." Having risen, she yawns once and slides into a pair of jeans and a peach tank top. He stares at her. "What now?" More specifically, he was staring at her tits. She snaps her fingers in front of his face. "Em?" He blinks. This time a different grin splits his face as he reaches for her breast and rubs his thumb over her nipple. "I like the top." She arches her eyebrows at him. [Sexy.] "Sexier than naked?" His grin gets broader. "Males are so weird." He drops his hand and takes hers. "C'mon. Let's grab something and go see Randall." Simon and Thomas are currently at guard. They separate slightly at their Alpha's approach. [I want you behind me, Lyssa.] [You forget, mate, I can kill him where he stands.] It's another flat statement. He grunts in acknowledgment and takes her hand. Randall opens the door. The smell hits them all. Rancid, unwashed, male. Devolved. Alan is curled up in the corner. He turns and blinks towards the open door. Randall snarls and Alan covers his head with his arms and whimpers. "Stand up!" Using his arms, Alan basically climbs up the wall and turns, fearfully, to face Randall. The chain rattles as he struggles to stand like a man. Randall's eyes bore into him and he says nothing. A minute passes. Two. Lyssa leans forward slightly. Emmett squeezes her hand in warning. "Just kill me!" Randall continues his stare. "What do you want?" No response. "What!?" Another minute as Alan trembles. Randall's voice is quiet. "Tell me everything." It all comes tumbling out. "He, I guess, saw her one day, them, I guess, when he was running the edge of the range. He kept talking about being Alpha, especially after the Madam Alpha died." A breath. "With the Alpha's decline, he thought he'd get it. And, he thought, he thought.. He needed to be mated. The other one was at the burning. So, hey, mate an Alpha daughter. He kept seeing them together. And, I guess, he came up with a plan." Alan takes a few heaving breaths, licks his lips, and glances at Randall. "He started talking to the three of us about it. Any of the others who were old enough were already mated. So. So. Grab the girl and he could mate her." "Then, the invitation came. It was perfect. Grab her and wait for her birthday." Lyssa growls involuntarily. Fucking asshole. Kidnap a young woman, rape her and force her to be your mate. It was quite similar to what had almost happened to her after she arrived at Wyeth. [Easy, sweetheart. Didn't happen.] [But it could have!] Emmett winces. [Please, dear heart, no need to yell at me.] [Sorry. We need to get that rule changed. No female should ever be forced to mate someone. The packs should have a council or something.] [Easy, Lys. Not the time.] [It almost happened to me!] Alan has gone on as Emmett and Lyssa converse. He glances at Lyssa when she growls. "He said that one could mess with your head." "Since we always saw them together it would take more than just him to grab the daughter, his mate. And we knew you'd follow, search for them." "So, we got the ATVs and parked them close by. He figured out where to hide them, outfitted the basement of the house. Got syringes full of sedative." "We were ready. So we watched and waited." "He, he started to get antsy." "Then, they showed up. I called him and we waited. Made sure no one was around." "We grabbed 'em. She," he gestures to Lyssa with his chin, "bit Jason and he smacked her. Then we all heard her yell. I got the needle in her arm." "M.. He put his foot on her neck and told the daughter to come or he'd kill her." "She came. We took off." "Left the young one alone. He'd killed us." The growl starts in Emmett's chest now. "We didn't touch her either! Young one wrapped herself around her." "Kept her out, every time she started waking, we gave her another dose." "Cept she woke up. Gave us all the whammy and the young one ran." "Jason told us to kill her and took off after the other one." "Gerry was pissed, kicked her a few times, started punching her. We heard Jason take off in the truck and knew we were fucked." "The other male came in and said we should have some fun before we killed her, that she'd fucked up his life." "Gerry insisted on taking her first. She clawed him, he landed on her, ready to screw her, and collapsed. The other male came at me." "And your males showed up." Randall pins Alan to the wall by his throat and snarls in his face. "Who. Is. He?" "Michael." In a very small voice. "Excuse me?" "Michael. Ross. The Alpha." Randall abruptly drops him, turns, and strides out. The doors close behind him. A plaintive wail rises from the outbuilding. "What are you gonna do with me?" Emmett and Lyssa trail Randall back to the house. He turns to them once inside. "Lyssa, please let me know when your strength is returned and you are fit to fight." Her eyes go wide. "But.. Ran.. Alpha. Me?" "You suffered the most at their hands. Joanna will be your second." "But, but. Me?" The question is almost a squeak. Randall stands tall and looks her in the eye. "You have been sparring. You are the Beta's mate. You have already made your first kill." She drops her head. "Yes, Alpha." Checking for Emmett's response to his movements, Randall puts two fingers under her chin and lifts her head slightly. "You are reluctant." She nods slightly. "I've studied the workings of human society. We have to, to survive in this world and interact with them. There, human criminals are pursued, hunted, tried, and punished. If the criminal's life is forfeit, someone else does the killing for the victims. It's sanitary, bloodless." "You aren't in that world anymore. Werewolf justice is swift and deadly. There are no 'technicalities' here. You have learned, insisted on, fighting males of the pack. Therefore, you are capable of meting out his punishment." An inhale and a shuddering exhale. "Yes, Alpha." [I'm not sure she's capable, Randall.] [Showing weakness before the pack would not be good.] Randall walks away, to attend to pack matters. Lyssa clutches Emmett, wrapping her arms around him and laying her head on his chest. She murmurs quietly, "I don't know if I can, Em." "You are the Madam Beta and the victim. It's your duty." Lyssa closes her eyes. The tone of his voice made it clear he didn't understand and expected her to do it. She doubted she could explain it to him. It was just so, so natural for him. The day passed quietly as the Wyeth wolves ran, and talked, and ate, and fucked, obliterating the scents and signs of the foreign wolves, reclaiming their range. Stacey was setting new glazing in the broken window. Anton was looking into replacing the broken tables and chairs. Others pursued leisure activities or performed necessary pack duties. Lyssa sat quietly on Emmett's lap, while he worked at his desk. Erich struggled to put together a petition to bring Madeline in for a visit. Joanna was texting Nathan, who was working again this day. ***** Sunday The next morning, Nathan arrives and asks permission to spend time with Joanna. He begins teaching her to ride a motorcycle. They take a picnic lunch out into the woods. They eat and talk quietly. He watches her, looking at the lines of her face, the way her hair fell across her shoulders, the way her mouth quirked up when she smiled. She has a small beauty mark on the cheek, near her left ear, and a light spattering of freckles on her nose. They hold hands as they walk back to the house. As he gets ready to leave he collects her into his arms and runs his hands up her back under her shirt. "You smell good, Jo." "You do, too, Nathan. When can you come back?" "I've got things to do tomorrow, then I've got work again." "Oh. Have you seen 'Thor'? I haven't had a chance yet." "No," he says into her hair. She looks up at him, reading the expression on his face. "OK. Yeah. A couple of us went out last week. But, I wouldn't mind seeing it again. Especially with you." He pulls her more tightly to him and she gasps, feeling his hard length against her thigh. He tips her face up and kisses her, groaning at her taste. One of his hands drops down, below her waist. He cups one of her buttocks, pulling her more firmly to him. A couple of wolves watch from around the corner, grinning, as the young male says his goodbye. Stephanie stands beside one of the front windows, arms crossed, watching. Ariel hears the low growl start in Stephanie's chest as she steps over to see what she's looking at. It was Joanna and Nathan in an intimate embrace. "Is their activity displeasing to you, Stephanie?" "Males. Only after one thing." "Indeed. The same as us. A mate and family." Surprised, Stephanie glances at her Madam Alpha. "May I ask why you are so concerned with my daughter's activities?" Stephanie stiffens; this could be taken as a challenge. "Madam Alpha. My allegiance to Wallace extends to his blood kin. I will not see her hurt." Ariel steps closer. "If he were doing anything she did not want, the entire pack would be down on his head." Ariel glances back to her daughter, smiles, and turns to Stephanie. "Not all males are beasts, Stephanie. You would do well to remember that." She pauses, then continues on. "I want you to look around you the next few days and look at the evidence in this pack. Look at the mated pairs. I will ask you to tell me what you see before Erich's installation and the pup's naming." A sigh. "Yes, Madam Alpha." Ariel walks off as Nathan rides away. What she sees in the mated pairs? What did she mean by that? *** Calvin arrives later in the day and sits with Randall for a while. He is then invited to dinner. He sits between Ariel and Emmett, chatting lightly with each, and occasionally glancing at Stephanie. After looking at him once, she keeps her eyes on her plate and leaves before the meal normally ends. Calvin frowns slightly at her departure. *** Madeline began to feel nervous. A second day and she hasn't heard from Erich. Was he not going to call for her? Didn't he want her? She admitted it to herself; she wanted to be his mate. She'd jump if he asked her. He was so amazing. She got tingles just thinking about him. Waking up with him, showering together, it had seemed to right, so nice. But, maybe he hadn't really felt that way about her. She crawls into bed, doubting what she thought had been a connection. Emmett caught up with Erich after dinner. "Hey, Erich, what's going on?" "What do you mean?" "I thought you and that female were getting cozy. What happened?" "Nothing. I mean, I'm trying to get the petition together. It's not coming out right." Emmett laughs and claps him on the back. "Just request her presence for a few days and ask if the Alpha has any desire to be compensated for her absence. It doesn't have to be fancy." "But, it just seems so.. bare. It seems like there should be some explanation." "The Alpha will understand your motivation and, if she's excited about it, he'll be happy to oblige. Have you called her?" "Madeline? No." "Erich!" Erich flinches slightly at the sound of the reprimand. "It's been two days, she's probably wondering now if you've changed your mind." Fulfillment 03 "Selene! No. I want to see, to spend some more time, to be sure." Emmett laughs. "Listen to yourself! My friend, if your brain hasn't latched on to the fact that she's your mate, the rest of you certainly has." [Lyssa.] [Yes, Em?] [Tell Erich two days is too long not to call his mate.] [His mate?] [He's dithering, working on the petition to make it perfect but he hasn't talked to her since the gathering.] [Erich. I would be feeling sad and disappointed about now if I were her.] [But, I don't know what to say. If you think it's been too long, she might be mad.] [Erich, if you want this female, call her, tonight. If she doesn't take your call, you go over, with flowers. If she does speak to you, start the conversation with 'Madeline, I'm an idiot.' the rest will follow.] Emmett chuckles, hearing his mate's advice. "Go on, Erich. Sounds like good advice. Suck it up and call her." It's rather late when the call comes into the sitting room of the Tucker women's house. "Yeah, it's Tabitha. ... In bed, probably. I'll see if I can get her up." Tabitha looks at the others. "Can we stop it for a minute and back it up?" The other two just nod and flap their hands towards Madeline's door. Tabitha strides over and raps on it. "Hey! Mad! You got a phone call." A listless voice comes from the other side of the door. "Yeah, sure." "It's Wyeth." The door abruptly opens. Madeline stands there, in a light blue baby doll, eyes hazy, hair mussed and tangled. After a moment to take in the younger females, she rushes over and snatches up the phone. "Hello?" She hears him swallow. "Madeline, I'm an idiot." She collapses back into the chair, stunned. Then she begins chuckling, then laughing, then it progresses to the point where she's sobbing and sucking in air. After a couple of minutes, she wipes her eyes and replies, "Are you my idiot?" "Oh, my blossom, I hope so. I've been working on the petition and I can't get it to sound right. And then I realized it was a couple of days and Lyssa basically told me I'd better call you or I might lose you. Oh, Maddie, I should have called you earlier." Her reply is one word, a word she fixated on. "Petition?" "Well, yeah, don't you want to?" She has no real idea how old he is, but, since he was going to be Beta soon she knew he had to be quite a bit older. Right now, however, he sounded like a vulnerable young pup. "Well, yeah, Erich. 'Course I do." "Oh, thank Selene. I was trying to make it perfect, giving all the reasons and Em said that I didn't have to give reasons I just had to ask and hope you agreed." Again, she focused on that one word. "Reasons? What reasons?" He stops then, stops rambling, stops hyperventilating. He releases a shuddering breath. "What are you wearing?" "If I tell you will you tell me your reasons?" She now hears a reluctant smile. "Yeah. OK." "Alright, then." She looks at Tabitha. "The slippers have a high heel and some black fur around the front. Then, I've got a silk," she hears his breath catch, "robe on. Red with black trim." The younger females are gaping at her. Her description, of course, bears no resemblance to what she was wearing. His voice is husky now. "What's under the robe?" "Just me." He groans. She listens to him breathe for a bit, then asks the question. "OK, so what are your reasons?" An exhale. "I like the sound of your voice. I like the white tip of your tail. I like the way you know what the different flowers mean. The way you fit so nice in my arms and against me in bed. I like your purple eyes, your little hands, the noises you make, and the way you taste." "You put all that in the petition to my Alpha?" Her question is almost a squeak. "Um, no, but I couldn't give him all those reasons. Madeline, what are you really wearing?" "A blue baby doll." "And, does it have anything on it?" She looks down. "Um, no." "Out with it." "Erich." "I'll send it first thing in the morning if you tell me." She sighs. "It's got a kitten on it and says 'Cuddly' underneath." He barks a laugh. "That's my girl! Pack for a week. I'll see you tomorrow." She drops the phone into the cradle with a goofy grin on her face. As she gets up, she realizes the others have been watching and listening, open mouthed. She lifts her chin and walks back to her room with a spring in her step. As the door clicks closed she hears the others start to talk. She grabs a duffel and puts it on the floor beside her dresser, then starts thinking of Erich, a whole week with him. And she pictures him, green eyes, big shoulders, strong arms. She didn't even come up to his shoulder so she had to crane her neck to see his face. She sat on the bed and thought about his mouth. The full lips, not like Mick Jagger's, those were kinda gross, but full and plump and great for kissing. Among other things. She flops backwards onto the bed and her hand creeps up, under the top of the baby doll. She brushes her fingers over her right breast and sighs, feeling the tingle there that echoed in her core. She does it again and again, thinking of Erich touching her, and makes a startled little cry when she flicks her erect nipple with a fingernail. Her other hand now works its way downward and she runs her fingers along the waistband before venturing further. Lower, to the top of the brown curls there. She runs a finger through those curled hairs, tracing circles and S-shapes, teasing. Lower still, she feels the slight rise of her mound and the beginning of the bifurcation at the top of her lower lips. Closing her eyes and spreading her thighs, she rubs all four fingers up and down her slit a couple of times, feeling the moisture that has developed there. She felt the warmth, the slickness, the swelling. So, one finger, dipping in, bringing some of that slickness to the nub at the top of her folds. She pictures his face as she begins to rub, oh, it had been so incredible. Stroking, circling. Another dip in, faster, faster, almost there. "Ah. Ah. Erich." The sitting room has gone deathly silent, then, the younger females burst into laughter. Great. They'd heard her, she thought as she lay there panting. And, she thought, it was not as good as when he had done it. How many orgasms had he given her that night? Three? Four? More? She wasn't sure, but she'd certainly let him convince her again. And how would it feel to have him inside her? Although she'd expected it, it hadn't happened. Of course, they really had only been together that one night. Sleep. And pack. Tomorrow she was off to Wyeth with Erich. ***** Monday Correspondence between the packs was higher than usual this day. Erich's petition for Madeline was sent early. Wyeth received several missives. The other Alphas thanked them for their hospitality to their unmated and offered reparations for any damage caused by their pack members. Three mated pairs had already come about as a result of the gathering. This morning Samuel returned to his duties and Cassie ventured back to their room with their pup. Everyone who saw her stopped to admire but she growled at anyone who got too close. Ariel and Lyssa would make a brief visit later in the day. *** About an hour after he submitted the petition to Tucker, Erich is practically bouncing off the walls. "Why haven't they answered yet?" "Their Alpha may have other things to attend to, Erich. Easy, they won't ignore you." "Uh, Emmett. Can I get Lyssa to help me with something?" "Like what?" There is the barest edge of possessiveness in his voice. "Wanna pick up something for Maddie but I have no idea where to go or what size to buy." Emmett smiles. "Sure. Go ask her if she's got time." Lyssa and Erich are off on a shopping trip. "OK, Erich, what are we looking for?" "Something she said she was wearing last night. Heeled slippers with black fur around the edge and a silk robe, red with black trim." "If she said she was wearing it.." "She wasn't. But I want to see her in it." Lyssa smiles. "OK. Long or short?" "Huh?" "The robe. Long or short?" "Oh. Umm." "Long is glam, like an evening gown. Short is sassy, kind of a tease." "Oooh. Short." "OK, got it. I've got a couple of ideas." Lyssa directs him to a sex shop. As they walk inside he's clearly out of his element. An attendant addresses them. "Looking for a special toy? A video? Something leather?" "We're here for an outfit," Lyssa replies. "Oh, sweetheart, you've got some curves just itching for a bustier, or a teddy. And I see him in black leather, with a nice cock ring, and a hood." Erich chokes. "We'll be fine, thank you." Erich goggles at the toys. Imitation phalli. Stimulators of various types. Blow up dolls. Strap-ons. Lubricants. Restraints. Hoods. Gags. Whips. Paddles. He stood before a swing and gaped. The attendant chuckled. [Erich, over here.] [People actually buy, use this stuff?] [Yep, people find their pleasure in many ways. C'mere. Let's look at the clothes.] In the back of the store, they find some long robes associated with see through nightgowns. Lyssa turns, spying a red teddy edged in black. She feels of the fabric. "That's not a robe." Lyssa grins. "No, it's not. But it's mine." She pulls her size off the rack and turns back to Erich. "Have you found anything?" "Yeah. I think so." "How tall is she?" Erich looks blank. "Where does the top of her head come to?" He points to about his collarbone. "OK, so about 5 feet." She picks up the robe Erich is holding. "Size 12? No, way too big for her. Let's see..." Lyssa sorts through and finds a size 4, but nothing smaller. She holds it against Erich's chest. "Probably still a bit big for her but it's probably all we'll find on short notice. I don't think we'll find the shoes here but we'll take a quick look." The only footwear on the shelves were boots with spike heels and boots with thick heels. "Alright, we're off to the shoe store." The attendant smiles at Lyssa. "For you?" She nods. "Nice choice. Do you need any lube, batteries, cleaner?" "No, thank you." Erich places the robe on the counter. "A gift?" "Uh, yeah." The attendant places it in a box, wrapped in red paper. "Any lube, batteries, toy cleaner?" "Um. No?" "You sound like you're not sure." "He's sure." "OK, then. Thanks for shopping at Rouge Leather. Come again." Erich is a little dazed walking out and glances back once at the store. "OK, Erich, give me the keys." "Huh? Why?" "I'll drive to the shoe store. You're likely to run us off the road." Erich hands over the keys. "That was.. surreal." After a couple of shoe stores they settle on a pair of pumps. Lyssa figures on a size 5. "OK, stud, let's get back and see if you've got your answer." "Stud? Oh, yeah, I hope I've heard by now." "Then we'd better not keep her waiting." As if on cue, Lyssa's cellphone goes off, and she smiles sheepishly as Duran Duran's 'Hungry Like the Wolf' plays. "Hey, Em, what's up?" [Erich, speed?] At the thought of going to get Madeline Erich has unconsciously sped up. "I'll assume Erich is driving?" "Certainly, my mate. We're on the way back, probably about 10 minutes out." "Erich's petition has been, as we expected, approved. He is free to go pick up Madeline at any time. Although, it would be wise of him to warn them he's coming." "Wonderful, I'll let him know. Love you." "I love you, too, mate." Lyssa flips her phone shut. She takes a deep breath and looks at Erich. "Erich?" He looks at her, expectant. "Can I ask you a question?" "Um, uh, yeah, sure." Lyssa takes a deep breath. "Randall expects me to fight, uh, I guess, kill that wolf from Ross he's holding. Em says I've got to do it. I can't talk to him about it. What happens if I don't?" Erich slows, pulling off the side of the road. Lyssa asks, "What's wrong?" He puts the car in park and turns to her. "You don't want to punish him for what he's done?" "Well, yeah, but why does everyone expect me to just go into the circle and kill him?" "I don't get it, Lyssa. You've been learning how to fight males. You are capable. You're the one who got hurt, that they did the most damage to. It's your right. It's your kill." "What if I wasn't considered capable?" "Then a mate or a family member would do it. If you didn't have either of those then Randall would do it. But you can do it, what's the problem?" "I don't know. I don't think I can, Erich. Why is it so important?" "The pack has seen you fight. You are Beta. You show weakness if you don't punish your attacker." Lyssa closes her eyes. "Damn. That's not why I wanted to learn to fight." "You've already killed one of them, why is this different?" "He was right there, on top of me, ready to rape me." She looks over, startled by Erich's growl of anger. "I was defending myself. This is, is cold-blooded murder." "It's retribution for crimes against the pack. Humans kill each other for revenge." She doesn't respond. He takes a breath, exhales. "Lyssa, you're a werewolf, albeit a changed human. Members of the pack were surprised and pleased when you showed a willingness to learn to fight. It made them all feel better about you being Emmett's mate. Not doing this would be a big step back. It will confuse everyone, since they expect it of you. You'll lose status. It's not only your right, it's your duty." She puts her head in her hands. [Lyssa? Erich? Where are you?] [Coming, Emmett.] Emmett awaits them as they return to the den. "Everything go OK?" Erich looks excited, happy. Lyssa looks distressed. "I've got something to do quick before I go to Tucker. Thanks, Lyssa." "Sure, Erich, anytime." Her voice sounds almost disinterested. She's carrying a package. He stands there, looking at her, as Erich jogs into the house. Her stance, her face shows she's upset. [Lyssa, dear heart, what's wrong?] [Nobody understands.] He hears pain in her send and, as he steps toward her, she drops the package and rips through her clothes. The chestnut colored wolf dashes off. [Lyssa? Lyssa!] Emmett shifts and takes off after her. Understand what? He had no idea what she was talking about or what she might do. All he knew was that she was upset and he needed to find out why. *** Erich has talked to his Alpha, the Tucker Alpha, and has placed his purchases in his chest of drawers. Now he runs out to the yard, to the car, to go get his Madeline. He finds Lyssa's package on the ground. What had happened? He picks it up, curious. [Anton?] [Yes, Erich.] [The Madam Beta has dropped her package. I'm leaving it on the front steps. Please see to it that she gets it.] [Certainly, Erich.] Smiling broadly, he puts the car in drive and heads out. *** How had she ever gotten herself into this insane mess? Oh, right, a werewolf decided he was interested in her. Dammit! She loved Em, she really did and, when she consented to be his mate, she had agreed to become one of them and abide by their rules, their laws. But, some of their laws were crazy. Like forcing females to be mated to someone if they bore a mating mark, willing or not. Like being unable to punish someone, particularly an Alpha, for crimes against another pack. Like killing someone for looking at a female you were interested in. Like expecting her to kill someone in other than self defense. She hadn't understood it all when she'd agreed to become a werewolf and now it was too late. She wasn't like them but they all, all of them, expected her to do it. Like it was normal. How twisted was that? Emmett chased after his mate. She was running blindly, dead on through the woods. What was she running from, or to? She had been out shopping with Erich, getting something for Madeline. She had sounded fine when he had called to tell her that Erich's petition had been approved. What had happened in the few minutes in between? He could've asked Erich but he was likely out of range by now. Nobody understands. Understands what? [Lyssa, stop!] No response. [Lyssa, please.] He got something from her then, but it was an emotion he couldn't put a name to. He finally caught up to her, mostly because she'd stopped. She was lying, facedown, in a field of daisies. The same field from which she and Joanna had been taken. And she was crying. And he had no idea why. He stopped, and changed to human form as well, crouching beside her. He hesitated, briefly, before touching her arm. She flinched, shrunk away from him, slightly. So, he gathered her into his arms and held her. He stroked her hair and rocked her and waited for her to speak. He hadn't seen her cry like this since before they were mated. And, now that they were here, he dimly realized where the problem lay. It was several minutes before she calmed enough, breath hitching, to get out, "I'm not like you." Oh, perhaps he was wrong. It sounded like her not feeling truly one of the pack. But he wasn't going to guess. He murmured in her ear. "Please, sweetheart, tell me what you mean by that." "I, I.. You all solve all your problems by biting, clawing or killing." "Yes, we do. Those are all standard werewolf responses to conflict." "But," a sniffle, "you were raised that way, I wasn't. I can't just go in there and kill him." OK. He was right the first time. But now, what would he do? It was expected that she and Joanna would enter the circle and kill the Ross wolf. Joanna wouldn't have a lot of trouble with it but Lyssa was having a hard time dealing with this aspect of werewolf justice. "OK, mate. I'm trying to understand here. You killed one of them in the basement. Why is this different?" "I was defending myself. I'm not sure I meant to kill him, I just did. I was scared and thought I was going to die so I just, just hit him with everything I could muster. And I don't like that I did it. I feel like, like I've lost part of myself." She leaps from his arms and paces away. "I never, ever thought I'd kill anyone, but I have, and now everyone expects me to do it again. Especially you." "Lys, it never occurred to us that this would be an issue. We, we don't think that way." He sits, looking at his mate, who's standing, looking back at him. She was his mate. It was ingrained in him to protect her. And, so, "I'll talk to Randall." "And do what? Have you do it instead? Erich said that it would be a bad idea, that the pack wouldn't approve, that I'd lose status, which means you would, too." "It'll be fine." "No." She clenches her fists. "It won't. I'll look weaker if I don't do this. They'll question your judgment. Wonder why you chose me, a weak human female, to be your mate. I don't heal as fast; I'm not as strong; I can't give you pups." Pups? Where the hell did that come from? Now he had something else to worry about. But, first, to address the issue at hand. He took a deep breath. "Alright, Lyssa, tell me, within reason, what you want to do." She grabs the hair on both sides of her head with her hands and groans in frustration. "There's no good way out of this." She sits heavily on the ground. "If I do it, it's bad. If you do it, it's bad. If Randall ends up doing it, it's worse." She looks at him and he's not sure he likes what he sees in her eyes. "I'll do it." "Lyssa." "No, this is what you all want, isn't it? You want me to act like a werewolf, fine. I'll act like a damn werewolf. I'll do it." He starts to move toward her and she holds her hand out to fend him off. "No. Please. Just leave me alone for a while. OK?" She paces away from him, further into the field. After walking a couple of circles she turns and looks toward the Ross range. *** Erica is on his desk, naked from the waist down, her legs wrapped around Michael's waist. Fulfillment 03 He's pumping into her, thrusting deep and hard, holding on to her hips for purchase. Her dark hair hung over the edge of the desk, her eyes closed, her mouth open. [Michael Ross, you bastard.] He stops, fingers digging cruelly into her hips. She opens her eyes. [What did you say?] "Nothing. I didn't say anything." His hand goes to her throat. "Don't lie to me." "I'm not. I didn't. I had to be somebody else." He stops, and thinks. Had it been the Wyeth bitch? "Did you hear anything?" "N, no, Alpha." He pulls out of her and sits in the chair. "Get down here and finish me off. I have to think." Empty, frustrated, Erica gets off the desk and kneels in front of him, grasping his swollen dick and sucking him into her mouth. *** Erich finally arrives at the Tucker den and pulls up at the main entrance. He takes note of multiple faces in the windows as he gets out of the car. A large, dark haired male comes out to greet him. "I'm Tony. I was told to expect someone from Wyeth. Are you him?" "Yes. My name is Erich. I've come to pick up Madeline." "Please, follow me. My Alpha wishes to meet you." "Oh, of course." Erich is a bit surprised, thinking he would just pick up Maddie and go. As they entered the main floor of the house, a female detaches herself from a group and follows the two males. Erich glances back once, as pack members stood aside, and realizes it was the Madam Alpha of Tucker. A relatively short walk brings them to the Alpha's office. Tony ushered him inside and closed the door behind him. Erich stands, awaiting the Alpha's attention, as he is subjected to the scrutiny of the Madam Alpha. She walks around him, looks him up and down. He is dressed in a pair of khakis and a light green polo shirt. The Madam Alpha stops in front of him, sniffs, then places a hand on his chest. As he looks directly ahead so as not to seem a challenge to her, she looks at his face. She then turns to her mate and nods. "You are to be made Beta soon?" The Tucker Alpha does not look up from his work. "At the next full moon, yes, sir." "What has interested you in our Madeline?" "I found her outside on the night of the Alpha daughter's party and we went for a run. I enjoy being with her." "You intend to mate her?" "If we find we're compatible and she agrees, yes, sir." Phillip Tucker finally looks up and smiles at him. "We know you will be able to provide for her and any pups. Treat her well." Erich nods, once, in agreement. The door opens and a red blur rushes him. He catches Madeline and she kisses him. Following behind are two more females, one older and one of a similar age. A clearing of the throat has Madeline sliding from his grip. "Mom. This is Erich. Erich. This is my mom and my sister Matilda." Madeline's mother looks at them, her eldest daughter nestled in the arms of a large male from another pack. Her mother smiles with tears threatening. "Can I trust you to take good care of my baby?" "Yes, Ma'am." Matilda says, "I've heard good things about you. I'm glad Maddie has found a good male." "Well, I hope I live up to everyone's expectations." There is a pause and another throat cleared. Madeline pulls away slightly and stands demurely beside Erich. "Thank you, my Alphas." Erich makes a short bow. "Alpha Tucker. Madam Alpha." He turns to Madeline's family. "Ladies. Thank you." Madeline starts to drag him from the room. Her mother and sister follow to say their goodbyes. The Tucker Alpha looks at his mate. "Well, Nat, who'd have thought our Madeline would catch the eye of a Beta?" *** Joanna and Nathan are at the movie theater. The seating makes it difficult for them to sit close to one another so they hold hands. The huge bucket of popcorn on his lap is steadily disappearing. She tries to lean against him but gets uncomfortable rather quickly, leaning against a hard armrest, so she sits back up to watch the movie. As it ends and the credits begin to roll, he pulls her into his lap. She swings her feet into the seat she had occupied as other patrons get up and leave. He holds her close and nips at her neck as the lights come up. She turns her head to kiss him as the attendants start to clean up the theater for the next showing. A young human male finally stands over them and clears his throat. "Gotta leave, guys." Nathan smiles and rises, setting Joanna on her feet. [Now I remember why I don't like movie theaters so much.] [Why's that, Jo?] [The smell.] He takes her hand. "I know a place that makes killer subs." *** Lyssa heads back to the den with Emmett trailing her. She heads directly to Randall's office. The door is open, so she walks in. Both Randall and Ariel look up. In a firm voice, Lyssa says, "I'm ready to finish the business with Ross, my Alphas." Randall and Ariel study the looks on the faces of the Beta pair. Lyssa's stance indicates she is resolute but the quirk in her mouth and her eyes show discomfort. Emmett looks both sheepish and distressed and keeps darting glances at his mate. Randall replies. "Wednesday evening, then. Dusk. We'll inform Joanna." "Thank you, my Alphas." She turns to leave, obviously avoiding contact with Emmett. "Lyssa." Lyssa stops and turns back slightly. "I told Cassie we'd be in for a visit at 3." "Of course, Madam Alpha." She continues out the door as Emmett turns. "Emmett. Stay. Shut the door." Emmett does so and turns back to his Alphas. "Is there a problem?" He looks briefly at his Alphas, seeing both confusion and concern. "Yes. But there's nothing to be done about it." After submitting to another minute of inspection, he says, "I have a meeting with Brandon in 15 minutes, if there is nothing else?" Randall sighs. "No. Go." "Thank you, my Alphas." They had been formal, very formal, especially Lyssa. [Something's very wrong, Ran.] [I know, El. But what are we to do?] *** Erich drives Madeline to the Wyeth den. Madeline is happy, excited, giddy. Erich keeps glancing at the small female beside him. It felt so good to have her coming home with him, to have her staying with him. To eat with her, sleep with her, run with her, wake up with her. He would have his duties to attend to, of course, but she would get to know the others and find out if she liked it here, as much as she liked him, if she liked him enough. It was good that Lyssa was Emmett's mate. He would expect the two Beta females to be close and Lyssa was a fine female. He'd introduce them later; they'd get along well. He'd also have to introduce her to the Alphas. Ah, a mate of his own. He'd found a female he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. Just one more thing before they mated. Just one more thing. And he was both thrilled and frightened by it. It was kind of scary since she'd spent her whole life in the Tucker den. She'd very rarely left the den. She'd sometimes get someone to drive her to the garden center to pick up supplies or to buy some new plants. She didn't even know how to drive. Now, it was possible she'd never go back. She looks at Erich and couldn't imagine being happier. There was just getting used to a whole new bunch of people. Maybe she could make some friends. She really wasn't close to much of anyone at Tucker. Her things are put in his room and he shows her around, introducing her to several pack members. He looks for, but doesn't find, Emmett and Lyssa. At dinner, she sits beside him and others note his infectious grin. The Beta pair is absent from dinner, as well. Emmett comes in near the end and eats quickly. So, Erich introduces her to his Alphas and takes her upstairs, where he pleasured her again before they curled up in his bed to sleep. Lyssa crawled into bed early with a quick, "Good night." to her mate. Emmett frowned as he looked at her back. After looking a bit, he returns to his work. He slides in beside her later, puts his arm around her, and pulls her close. She was fairly stiff in his arms and it takes some time before he feels her fall asleep. Stephanie lay in her single bed, staring at the ceiling. Calvin hadn't shown up today. Maybe he'd gotten the hint. ***** He lay still when he woke; Lyssa snuggled in closely to him. Tuesday. She would fight, well, kill the Ross wolf tomorrow. She and Joanna. Even though she didn't want to but because they all expected it. She was a werewolf now and it wasn't hard to forget that she hadn't always been one. In almost every way, she had taken well to being one of them. But, for 29 years, she hadn't been. She had been raised to see things differently. He remembered now her reaction when she learned he'd killed a male from the Macy pack in a challenge. A challenge for her. He also remembered some questions she had asked occasionally which were rather alien to them. He also thought of her suggestion of a pack council. And what had she meant when she said she couldn't give him pups? His mind runs through several possibilities when she moves slightly and sighs. As he feels her wake, he kisses the side of her neck and says, "Morning, sweetheart." His hands move, almost of their own accord, and she grabs them. "Not this morning, Em. OK? I don't much feel like it." Reluctantly, he loosens his hold on her and she sits on the edge of the bed. After a couple of minutes, she gets up and goes into the bathroom. This would not do. He would talk to Randall today. Nathan went to work, and started his shift, as usual. However, the men and women around him noted a distinct difference in his demeanor this day. He's a bit distracted, twirling a pen, breaking into a grin regularly. "Hey. Austin." "Yeah, Joe?" "Nate started getting some, huh? What's her name?" "Ask him yourself. I'm not going there." Randall and Ariel have gone to the business site to look over the inventory. Several members of the pack would be pulled in to check the current listings against the items in stock since they were going to shift to a different recordkeeping software. So, Emmett had to wait to speak to his Alpha. However, he was introduced to Madeline as Erich brought her with him to the office area where they worked. "Where's Lyssa at? I thought she might show Madeline around a bit. "Off to the warehouse. She's kinda in a crappy mood right now." "But the party went great and she's back home and alright." Erich stops, remembering her questions in the car. "Oh, right." "Yeah. Well. I'm gonna talk to Randall." "I don't know, Em. It's her right. It's her kill." Emmett closes his eyes and counts to ten. "She really doesn't want to do it." "You're only gonna make things worse." "Can't get much worse," Emmett grumbles. "Why don't you call Jo?" "She's not off with Severn?" "No. He's got work today." "Oh, good idea." Randall and Ariel return to the den while Lyssa, Mathias, and Gabriela spearhead the effort to get the inventory up to date and transferred over. Emmett goes to speak to him after lunch. "So, Emmett, what do you think of Madeline?" "I've just barely seen the female, Randall. I came to talk to you about something else." Randall arches an eyebrow. "Oh?" Emmett breathes in, exhales. This would not be an easy conversation. "It's Lyssa. The Ross wolf. She really doesn't want to kill him." "She seemed quite certain yesterday." "I know, but she was just saying that so she won't look weak in front of the pack." "Her assessment is correct. You know she will look weak if she doesn't do this. Why are you here without her?" "I..." Emmett closes his eyes and breathes. "As her mate, I wish to take on this responsibility. To keep her from harm." Randall looks at him for a full minute. "I will speak to her when she returns from the inventory." "Thank you, my Alpha." *** Calvin shows up in the late afternoon, having secured permission to return. Sampson stopped to drop him off before running some errands for the Ross pack and asked to speak to Randall. "I can't, in good conscience, continue to aid him in destroying the pack. Three males have disappeared. He's spent a large amount of money redecorating the Alpha suite. No one else in the pack is aware, but he just placed an order for a red Viper. He's not watching the business at all. He's harassed a couple of the younger females and they're afraid to tell their mates. There's been talk among some of leaving. He refuses to listen to petitions." "How much does Cal know?" "Maybe about half. I'm not sure, he's no longer my Alpha. And my Alpha does not deserve my support anymore." "Sampson. If I take you in, what will happen to the pack?" "Someone else will become Beta, probably Peter." "And, will the pack be better or worse for it?" Sampson puts his head in his hands, despondent. "Worse." "The Alpha has a grave responsibility for the health and well being of their pack. The Beta's role is no less important. Unless things fall apart completely, I cannot take you in." Sampson leaves, heavy at heart. Calvin sat outside, waiting to catch a glimpse of Stephanie, perhaps to speak to her. *** Lyssa comes back just before dinner, kisses her mate, and sits beside him. Stephanie sits in her usual place, her eyes hard whenever she looks at either Calvin or Randall. As the meal ends and pack members begin to disperse, Randall said [Lyssa, we need to have a conversation.] "Yes, Alpha." She looks at him, then Emmett. They go to Randall's study, Ariel trailing. "Please, sit." Emmett sits. Lyssa remains standing. "The inventory is proceeding well. We should be finished by week's end." "I am pleased to hear it. Why don't you sit?" "I prefer to stand." "Lyssa, Emmett has spoken to me earlier today. He asked to take your place in the circle tomorrow. 'To keep you from harm.'" "I didn't ask him to do that." "I understand that." "I said I'd do it." "Yes, indeed, you did." "Then, what's changed?" "Your mate came to speak to me of his concern." She turns to glare at Emmett. "I said I'd do it. You had no right." Her voice is getting louder. Emmett stands to face her. "I have every right to protect my mate." She turns back to Randall. "Do you have a reason for me not to do it?" "No." "Are you going to order me not to?" Randall's eyes stay focused on her. "No." "Thank you. May I go?" "Yes." She turns and strides from the room. Ariel now speaks. "She seems determined to go through with it, Emmett." "It's not her, Ariel. Something's wrong and I don't know how to fix it." He catches up to her at the top of the stairs. "Lyssa, wait. I just..." She turns around and shoves him. "How dare you? Going to Randall behind my back?" [You've said you really don't want to do this. It's not something that will bother me..] "Why didn't you do it when you found us?" [We wanted more information..] "You couldn't have 'persuaded' him, earlier?" [Well, yes, but it's your..] "Yeah. Got it. Werewolf justice." [I would appreciate it if you wouldn't keep interrupting me.] She stands, looking at him, arms crossed. [We also shouldn't be discussing this in public.] "This isn't a discussion. It's an argument." [Please, Lyssa, either send to me or come with me to our room.] "I'm mad at you and I'd probably hurt you if I sent to you." [Dear heart, I didn't mean to upset you with this. I only meant to perform a task you find distasteful.] He reaches for her. She snarls at him. [Task? Distasteful? My god what's wrong with you?] She turns away, "Don't follow me." and walks away. Emmett looks after her. He had no idea what to do. None. He had thought he understood. He had thought she would be relieved. He'd thought it would make her happy. Calvin had continued to sit after the meal ended. One arm thrown over the back of the chair, he watches as the wolves of the Wyeth pack talk and visit. He hears the argument and is saddened by it, by what his pack, his son, had done. It wasn't over yet. Stephanie looks at him. He wasn't going away. Why was he interested in her? She wouldn't fall on her back and spread her legs for him. Was that it? Was she a challenge? There was nothing else. Emmett walks to one of the 4th floor rooms and knocks on a door. "It's Emmett. I'd like to speak to Anna." The door opens and Jeremy hands Emmett a beer. "C'mon in." "I'm sorry to bother you but I'm trying to help Lyssa, to understand what's going on in her head. I thought you might be able to help me, Anna." "The strange wolf?" Emmett nods. "What's the problem?" "Randall is sending her to the circle against him tomorrow." Anna closes her eyes and bobs her head. "She doesn't want to do it but she marched into the Alpha's office yesterday and told him she was healed and ready. I went to him and told him I'd do it. And now she's mad at me." "I don't understand." "I'm not sure you can understand, Emmett, it's not the way you were raised. Jeremy had his arms around is mate and is nuzzling her neck. "She told him she'd do it." Emmett nods. "Then you know you just undermined her decision with the Alpha." He grimaces, knocking the back of his head against the back of the chair. "I don't like what it's doing to her. I'm worried. "This is completely foreign to her, Emmett. She doesn't know how to do it. As a wolf, she's only two years old, a pup. She's trying very hard to be a Beta, to be strong, to be what everyone expects. But, in her heart, it's not her." "What can I do?" "Nothing. She's determined to go through with it. Support her in the decision. But, be prepared, you're already seeing it. This will change her. But, how it does, how she ends up after, depends on you." "She's been through so much lately. This is just one more thing." "This isn't the first time. But this time, she's got you." Emmett stands. "Thank you, Anna. Good night, Jeremy. Thank you." "Good night, Emmett." Jeremy leans down to kiss his mate, hand dropping from her shoulder to her breast. Emmett walks to the roof, thinking. He had to let her do it, if she could. Although he wanted to help her, wanted to take over, he would stand behind her and support her this time. He looks up at the waxing moon and howls, long and mournful. She was curled up under a blanket, in front of the fireplace. He could tell she wasn't asleep. He walks into their room and sits on the bed, looking at her. "I'm sorry." She doesn't respond. "Would you please come up here and sleep in the bed with me?" She pulls the blanket a little more tightly around her. He sighs. "OK." He walks over, crouches, and gives her a light kiss. "Good night, my mate." Emmett lies on his back, staring at the ceiling. Lyssa lies on her side, staring at the hearth. In the wee hours of the morning, he finally breaks the silence between them. "Lys. I can't sleep without you here. I thought I wouldn't have to any more when we got you back. You'll be more comfortable up here and maybe you'll be able to get some sleep, too." She releases a sigh but doesn't move. "Tell me now, then, cuz I'm coming down." "You don't trust me." On his way over to curl up with her, he halts, dumbfounded. "What? Of course I do." "No, you don't, or you wouldn't have gone to Randall behind my back." "I.." He closes his mouth, looking at her back. Was that it? She rolls to her back, finally looking at him. He drops down beside her but doesn't touch her. His voice is quiet. "I thought I was doing a good thing, something to help my mate. I thought you'd be relieved. But, I shouldn't have done it without talking to you." "Damn straight." "I don't always understand you but I keep trying. Of course, I'm never really sure if it's because you were human or because you're female." She quirks her lips to one side and exhales, annoyed. "I went to talk to Anna." Fulfillment 03 Lyssa levers up on her elbows. "OK, so who in the pack doesn't know?" "Well, it didn't help that we had an argument about it in public." A pause. "She told me I undermined your decision. I get that." Lyssa raises her eyebrows. "I hate it when you're mad at me. I miss you." He gets down on the floor beside her and lays a hand on her belly. She takes it, holding it away from her body. "What do you say?" "I'm sorry." He moves to kiss her but she shakes her head. He pulls back, looking at her, thinking. What was it she wanted him to say? Oh. "Madeline, I'm an idiot." He grins at her. She shakes her head again. "C'mere, idiot." He wraps his arms around her and she yawns. "Get some sleep, mate." "I've got to be at the warehouse at 7." "Sleep, and leave early. You shouldn't be tired in the circle." "OK." Another yawn. Tired, in a couple of ways, she quickly falls asleep in her mate's arms. He does soon after. Fulfillment 04 Dear Readers, Here is the next installment. Chapter 5 will likely take a bit longer with the holidays and my writing style - hope I don't keep you waiting too long. Happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate it. KemMyst ********* Wednesday morning dawns brightly. Madeline wakes in Erich's arms. This was her third night with him and they still hadn't had sex. He'd touched her, pleasured her, made her feel wonderful. But, she hadn't felt him inside her yet. She wondered why he hadn't. He got erections, so it wasn't some kind of physical problem. So, then, what was it? She'd told him she wasn't a virgin and she wasn't but she wasn't sure how to do this. As she understood from listening to the other females, it usually wasn't that hard to get a male to have sex with you. Did he think she wasn't pretty, wasn't good enough? No, that couldn't be right. He'd asked for her, brought her here, showed her off, introduced her to the Alpha pair and to Emmett, the Beta. The other Beta. She wanted to be his mate and was getting an idea of what it meant to be at Wyeth and what his position as Beta would mean. But, she wouldn't agree until they had taken that last step. So, what to do? He had her tucked tightly against his body and she felt his morning erection against her backside. Smiling to herself, she wriggles her butt against him. He groans and moves, but doesn't wake. It was enough that she could roll mostly to her back. He groans and tightens his hold on her. But, she has one arm free enough that she could reach over and begin to stroke his cock. The sound he makes next is more one of pleasure and she tries then to wrap her hand around his member. She couldn't get all the way around it with her small hand. Oh, he was a bit bigger than Ryan had been. She and Ryan had fooled around for awhile before he decided he liked Shirley more. Erich's eyes come open as a small warm hand goes around the base of his cock. [So. Taken control of the stick, have you, my Blossom?] Violet eyes look into green as she replies, "Uh, huh." and moves to cup him with both hands. He rolls to his back as she begins to move her hands up and down his hardened length, working it to turgid fullness. He groans when her small wet tongue makes contact with the underside, leaving a wet trail from the tip as her hands work lower down. Madeline moves, straddling his thighs, and he watches her mouth envelop the tip of his cock. He's about to object as her teeth touch his foreskin, but she carefully uses them to pull his foreskin down so that she can concentrate her tongue on the sensitive head beneath. He sucks in a breath, "Oh, Selene", as she works on his tip. The tip of her tongue dips into the weeping opening up top and slithers back so she can taste his precum. One hand continues to pump up and down his shaft while she fingers his balls with the other. She takes as much as she can into her mouth, practically drooling over it, covering it with her saliva. Picking her head up, she releases him with a slight pop and starts crawling up his body, intending to work her wet and empty pussy over it. But Erich had other ideas. He drags her up and kisses her, then pushes her around for a 69. The beginnings of her protest are lost as he attacks her seeping slit, paying special attention to her sensitive button. So, she went back to working on his cock. His motions grow jerky as he grasps her hips. "Oh, Mad.. Oh, Blossom. I'm..." He thrusts his hips up as the first spurt catches her off guard. A stream of cum runs down his length to puddle at his crotch before she was able to swallow the rest. He holds her still as he gasps and pants and she feels his breath on her wet lips. As he wilts in her mouth he returns to bringing her pleasure. He pushes two fingers into her and sucks strongly on her clit. As her legs start shaking, he moves his tongue over her clit and feels her break. Her body shakes; her pussy clenches around his fingers. He pulls her around again as she pants. [I need a shower before I go to work, Blossom. Care to join me?] Her smile makes his day. *** All potential visitors had been warned to come early, or not at all, that day. Lyssa went back to work on the inventory. Nathan had work that day, and so, was unable to visit. Calvin, understanding what was likely to occur, agreed to stay away although his instincts were to protect his pack mate. Joanna showed Madeline around some more and then passed her off to Stephanie. Madeline indicated her desire to go outside. As they sat in the garden and Madeline looks around more carefully Stephanie decides to ask the question. "Why would you choose to leave your pack and come here to enslave yourself to the needs of a male?" "What?" She couldn't believe the question this Wyeth female had posed. "Why would you choose to subjugate yourself to a male?" "I don't understand. I just want to find someone to have a family with, to care for, and who cares for me." Stephanie huffs. "Don't you like males?" "Not particularly." Madeline looks at Stephanie, confused. Then she smiles. "Erich treats me wonderfully. I look forward to being his mate. You've never wanted to be mated?" "No." Madeline smiles again and places her hand over Stephanie's. Stephanie stiffens, slightly. "I hope you find a male that will make you happy." Stephanie looks down at the small hand covering her own. This female, who wasn't part of the pack, was hoping she'd find a mate. How could she respond? I hope not? That sounded, well, wrong. Still, she should say something. "I don't think so." Madeline was confused and a little afraid. She'd never heard of a wolf that didn't want to be mated. It was innate, instinctual. They never stopped looking for their mates. It took years, sometimes a lot of years, but everyone looked. It was very rare that a wolf didn't ever find a mate. But, to not even look? What could have happened to her to have resulted in such a profound change? As soon as the words leave her lips, Madeline knows it was the wrong thing to say. "What's wrong with you?" Stephanie's eyes flare and she whirls, standing and baring her teeth. "Wrong with me? There's nothing wrong with me. The fault is with the males. We'd be better off if they were all dead." She stalks off. Madeline watches her leave, cowed. And she murmurs to herself, "But then there wouldn't be any of us left." Madeline sits for a while wondering what could have possibly gone wrong. She was looking forward to making some friends, new friends. Had she made an enemy here? [Erich?] [Hey, Maddie, what's up?] [I'm in the kitchen garden. Can you come here for a couple minutes?] [Something's wrong, isn't it? Stay there; I'm coming.] Madeline frets until Erich arrives, sitting beside her and pulling her into his lap. "What's wrong, Blossom?" "I just.. I was talking to Stephanie and she asked me why I wanted to get mated. Actually, she asked why I wanted to 'enslave myself to a male's needs'. When she said she never wanted to mate I told that I hoped she'd find a male to make her happy. When she said she didn't think so I, as soon as I said it I knew it was wrong but I couldn't take it back." Erich quietly asks, "What did you say?" "I asked her what was wrong with her and she started saying that males were bad and we'd be better off without you." Erich tips her chin up. "She didn't... seem like she'd hurt you?" "No. But she was mad. I don't understand." He wraps her tightly in his arms. "We're all so used to her we don't even think about it anymore. We really should warn people, but, then again, she wouldn't want us to talk about her." "I don't know any details but Randall's father, Wallace, found her when they went after a group of rogues. Wallace brought her into the pack." "So, they.. she.. oh, how horrible. I should apologize." "She doesn't want anyone's sympathy. She just wants to be left alone." "But, but.. she's a wolf, too." Erich sighs. "Yeah. She is." Erich calms Madeline down, holding and petting her. *** Joanna gets more and more antsy as time passes. Lyssa is keyed up. Too keyed up to nap. Emmett checks on her a couple of times. She lies in the bed, curled up, but wide awake. "They're having dinner early tonight." "I'm not hungry." "Have you eaten today?" "Yeah." "More than the toast you nibbled on this morning?" "I was busy." "Dear heart, you need to eat." "Not hungry." He sighs, heavily. "Alright, I'll go get something quick and be right back." A number of Wyeth wolves who lived offsite begin arriving. Everyone was interested in seeing the werewolf who had been involved in the kidnapping of the Alpha daughter and the Madam Beta. And they had been told that Joanna and Lyssa would be dispatching him. It was a spectacle no one wanted to miss. Wolves were gathering at the circle well before Randall called for Joanna and Lyssa. Emmett rubs Lyssa's back as she gets up and stretches. He'd been unable to tempt her with the tidbits he'd brought up from the kitchen. Emmett opens the door and goes to wolf. Lyssa looks at him, takes a couple of breaths, and shifts. Emmett trots beside her as they head down the stairs and out into the darkening yard. A howl goes up as Lyssa enters the circle. Emmett sits at the outside edge. There is another howl as Joanna comes in, flanked by her parents. Joanna walks in, twitching. The Alpha pair sit on the edge near Emmett. Some pack members move aside to allow Erich a place up front. Madeline sits beside him. Roland is on the other side of the circle, carefully watching his little sister. At a word from Randall, Paul and Alex approach, shoving a bound male before them. The company of wolves appraise the male as he is brought to the circle. Paul and Alex hold him by the arms at the edge for a minute. Lyssa is pacing inside. Joanna is sitting and waiting. At Randall's nod, his bonds are cut and the Ross wolf is shoved into the circle. "I didn't do anything!" he yells. Randall's send reaches them all. [This is one of the wolves who kidnapped our pack members and conspired to have my daughter, your Alpha daughter, forcibly mated. One of those responsible for our Madam Beta's recent injuries. He has been brought here to receive his due.] Alan looks around. The big chestnut wolf and the smaller cream colored wolf were females. They had sent two females to kill him. He looks again, sniffs; it was them. There was no way he'd get out alive but he could probably take both of them with him. He puffs up; his confidence returning. Randall, Roland, Emmett, and Erich note the change in his demeanor. The two females were both in wolf form, but nothing said he had to be, so he changes to the intermediate form as Joanna runs in to bite him. He twists and smacks her, throwing her to one side with a yelp. Lyssa growls, snarls, and heads for him. As he turns, she ducks under his arms to bite at him. He lashes out with a foot and kicks her, catching her in the chest and knocking the breath out of her. As he steps forward to take advantage, Joanna comes back in, gouging a bloody track in his arm. He shakes her off and roars. A howl goes up from the assembled wolves at the drawing of blood. Lyssa tries again and again is knocked sideways. She looks up and pants, [Jo, we need to coordinate..] He whirls as Joanna comes in again and knocks her out this time. Another howl from the pack and Ariel stands. As he picks Joanna up, Lyssa charges. [Lyssa, not as wolf!] She leaps at him, grabbing his arm and biting down. [Let go!] With a roar, he staggers, drops Jo, and grabs Lyssa by the throat. Things had gone bad in a hurry. Ariel darted in and pulled Joanna out. Lyssa has shifted and was clawing at the clawed hand tightening around her windpipe. Randall and Emmett snarl and wade in. Emmett says [I'm going high.] Randall took Alan's legs out from under him as Emmett smashes down on the arm holding Lyssa and grabs her. Emmett rolls both of them to the side as Randall turns to take out Alan. Lyssa squirms, trying to get out of Emmett's arms. Randall tears into Alan's throat as Lyssa pounds the ground and screams. The pack howls as the Ross wolf's blood pours onto the ground. It was done. The wolf was dead. Randall had killed him. Lyssa lay on the ground where she had been struggling to rejoin the fight, with Emmett still holding her in place. Ariel holds her daughter in her arms, with a hand to her face, waiting for her to wake. Randall settles back on his haunches and howls. The rest of the Wyeth pack give voice in answer. Erich looks over the scene, Madeline beside him, vaguely disappointed. The Wyeth wolves start to disperse, a few at a time. Some, off for a run. Some, off to fuck in the woods. Some, back to the house. Joanna begins to wake and jerks, looking for the threat. Randall walks over to check on her. Erich pulls Madeline away. Paul and Alex remove the body for disposal. Lyssa lays there. [Just fucking great.] Emmett was checking her for injury. [How badly are you hurt?] [What did the two of you think you were doing?] The send is cold, low, tense. [Excuse me?] [You didn't give us a chance. You wanted us to do this and then you didn't let us.] Heart pounding, chest heaving, she glares at him. [He was.. You would have been dead in a few more seconds. Joanna was out..] She just looks at him. It was an argument she wasn't going to win. Besides, it was too late; it was already over. [And how will the pack feel about me now?] [Lyssa. You tried. But a cornered wolf is dangerous and unpredictable.] She punches him in the shoulder. [So, you purposely sent us into a dangerous situation?] He looks at her, shrugs, and nods. [We were ready, in case.] She huffs. [Ask Erich what he thought of the fight. Truthfully.] He looks at her a couple of minutes more. He had thought she was going to die. They had only had seconds to react. He and Randall both made the same call, virtually at the same time. She was acting for all the world like a wolf who had been denied her kill. She hadn't wanted to do it in the first place and now she was mad because she didn't get to. He couldn't, for the life of him, understand how her mind worked. [C'mon. Let's go for a run. You'll feel better.] [Yeah, sure.] like a disgruntled adolescent. Randall, Ariel, and Joanna watch the Beta pair. [Guess we didn't do so good.], says Joanna. [We understood how much of threat he could be as a cornered wolf with no way out. We were prepared to intervene.] [Lyssa doesn't look happy.], Joanna states. [She's been struggling with her feelings over this since I told her she would be the one to administer his punishment. It's not over yet for her even though he's dead.], her father replies. [She and Emmett had a fight about it.] [I heard. But, now that it's over, they'll be.. She'll be OK, won't she?], is Joanna's question. [I hope so. I hope she'll be back to her old self soon.] Emmett takes off. Lyssa sighs, shifts to wolf, and follows him. A bonfire has been lit beside the lake and several pack members were sitting around it. Some were skinny dipping. Others were simply enjoying the fire, the outdoors, and a cold beer. They discuss the fight. The pack now settles back into more familiar activities. The Ross wolf was no longer a problem and there was no need for anyone to guard him. However, there were other new things going on. A strange female, a new female, who was likely going to become part of the pack. A young male apparently courting the Alpha daughter. And an old male seemingly courting a staunchly unmated female of the pack. The Beta female, Lyssa, was apparently healed, finally, or she wouldn't have been fighting. She had also been acting fairly oddly of late. Her mate is as perplexed as the others. Emmett tries to push the thoughts from his head and enjoy the run. Smell the fall scents in the woodland. Smells of ripeness, of age. Smells of prey. The smell of his mate. He inhales deeply. He feels the strength of his legs, the brush and grass along his flanks, the feeling of earth beneath his paws. Wolf sight worked well at night, penetrating farther than any human could imagine. He could see the plant life clearly, especially since the moon was approaching full. Saw the movements of small animals. What he didn't see was his mate. Lyssa was trailing him, not running beside him, or roaming ahead. She was quiet, not speaking as they ran. They didn't always talk, but something in her demeanor worried him. He'd tried talking to her and it really hadn't helped. He was going to have to figure something out. He'd give her until Erich's installation. Now that he'd decided when, what would he do? ***** Thursday A week since Cassie and Samuel's pup had been born. The newest Wyeth wolf was a week old but it would still be a few days until they learned her name. This morning, for the first time, Cassie brought her new daughter with her to breakfast. Most wolves looked on with some envy but kept their distance from the new family. Cassie was nervous. If anyone got closer than she felt comfortable with they were met with a low growl and a lift of her lip. Samuel stayed beside her, trying to keep her calm. Several of the females wandered by to admire the little brown female, whose eyes were not yet open. Emmett watches as Lyssa glances over and looks away. The other females were fawning over the little one, which was not unusual. He couldn't wait until they had one of their own but his mate seemed to be hurt by their good fortune. What was he going to do if her mood didn't improve? He just had to figure something out. Madeline sat chatting happily with Joanna, getting more comfortable in the Wyeth den. Emmett watches Erich look at her and assumed they would be mated soon. Lyssa gives him a quick kiss and was off to the warehouse. He had a chance to run his fingers down her shoulder to her hand as she pulled away. Calvin shows up around lunchtime. He briefly chats with Ariel and then goes to sit at the table where Stephanie was eating. He greets her and takes an empty chair across from her. Her only response is his name and a more intense scrutiny of her plate. As soon as she finishes, she clears her plate and leaves. Calvin finishes the meal, talking with some of the others. Nathan comes by and gives Joanna another lesson on the motorcycle. When the rain falls they go out for a ride in her Mini. The young ones run, and play, and sit for their lessons. Calvin is in the training room sparring with Roland when Stephanie walks in. She steps into the doorway and stops when she notices him. After a second, she gathers herself and enters. She starts out leg pressing 550 pounds. Roland gets a claw on him when Calvin gets distracted by her scent. She had just come in from a run, probably a perimeter sweep. She smelled of outdoors, woods and fields, and her own female fragrance, intensified by sweat. He catches himself and turns back to the fight, giving Roland a feral grin. He had waited over a year for Sabine; he could be patient with Stephanie. She had greeted him and hadn't actively avoided him today. It was a small step forward. Stephanie watches as he fights Roland. He was good; he was very good. Fast, economical in his movements, anticipating his opponent's move. He would be interesting to fight. Then she shakes herself. What was she thinking? Lyssa returns late from the warehouse and climbs to their room. [Em, I'm home, going up to the room] [Have you eaten?] [I'm fine. Just tired.] Emmett frowns as he watches Jamie and Justin spar, evaluating and giving instructions and recommendations. Fulfillment 04 Madeline goes to Erich's room and walks around it, imagining her life in the Wyeth den, imagining a life with Erich. But she wonders what was going on since they still hadn't had sex. She goes into the closet and looks at the clothes she had there. Cute. Cute. Comfy and old. Formal. Frumpy. She had nothing flirty to wear. She needed new clothes, especially if she was gonna be a Beta's mate. Madeline knew there were clothes somewhere. Every pack had a spare clothes room as they were really hard on clothing. But anything here belonged to Wyeth and she wasn't one of them. So, what else? She thinks of some romantic movies she had seen. Oh, men thought it was sexy when women wore their shirts. OK. She goes to the dresser and pulls open the top drawer. Socks and underwear. Next drawer, shirts. She picks one up. It smells, very faintly, of him. It would be better if she had something that really had his scent but the clothes he had been wearing yesterday were gone and she couldn't very well grab the shirt he was wearing off him. As she was putting the shirt back she notices a box on one side of the drawer. A red box with black lines on it. Curious, she pulls the ribbons off the box and lifts the lid. Oh! She searches further. Nothing. Next drawer. Jeans, khakis. Bottom drawer. Aha! [Madeline, honey, where are you?] Eek! He'd be coming soon. She starts hauling her clothes off and tosses them towards the closet. She quickly pulls down the bedcovers, takes a deep breath, and rolls herself on his side of the bed, in his scent. Then, into the robe, [Maddie?] [Upstairs, Erich.] Grab the slippers. Now, where to be to best effect? The bed? Obvious. Sprawled in front of the fireplace? Eh. Maybe. The couch? Not the worst idea. Quick. Need to decide. Aha. She perches on his desk and giggles slightly, slipping the shoes on. She can feel herself getting wet at the prospect. Madeline leans back on her hands, arching her back and thrusting her breasts forward. The robe is loosely tied, open to her navel, the swell of her small breasts visible. Erich opens the door and stops dead at the sight, hand on the doorknob. Emmett runs into him, shoving him further into the room. Lyssa peers around both males, wondering what's going on. Madeline squeaks, spins, and falls off the edge of the desk. Lyssa grabs Emmett's hand, "C'mon, Em, she's got something else in mind." Emmett scents the air and allows himself to be pulled away. Erich continues to stand there, door open, as Madeline peeks around the edge of the desk. He inhales, licks his lips and, already knowing the answer, asks, "What's under the robe, Blossom?" Madeline picks herself up and assumes the classic pose. Hand on her hip, that hip thrust forward slightly, chest up, head down, peering at him through her eyelashes. "Just me." She unties the robe and lets it slide down her arms to drop behind her. It lands in a red puddle. Erich is aware of a somewhat painful sensation as she takes a step towards him. He shifts the growing hardness in his pants as two wolves running past in the corridor skid to a stop and return to look. Erich rumbles a growl and shuts the door in their faces as Madeline closes on him. She was a vision. Brown hair, falling around her shoulders. Her little nose, purple eyes, the hint of a smile on her face. Her nipples were standing proudly atop her breasts. She had a mole on the outside of the right one and a birthmark above and to the left of her navel. Her skin was a light tan, unmarred by scars, unlike his. Little hands and feet, graceful arms and legs. At the top of her legs, the hair that covers her mound. A scent was emanating from there that had him aching with need. She smells of him, also, but the smell of her arousal overpowers that. His fingers go to the button on his jeans and her husky voice comes to him, "Let me." She takes a larger step and falls forward, off the slippers. He catches her, groans, and hauls her against his body, crushing her lips to his. One slipper falls to the floor with a clatter as his tongue invades her mouth. [You've been snooping.] She jerks a little in his arms. Was he mad? His hand takes hold of her hair and he pulls her face away from his. "Mm. Punishment. What would be suitable?" "P, punishment?" Something glints in his eyes and his face splits in a satisfied grin as he hauls her over to the couch. The other slipper comes off as he puts her over his knee. "Erich!" Completely naked, he looks at the expanse of soft skin she affords him. He uses one hand to hold her down while raising the other over her wriggling ass. One firm swat has her gasping, then, "Erich." comes out in an almost reproachful tone. Another swat. "You've been a bad little wolf." "Stop!" She is appalled, upset, and a little scared. He caresses one small buttock, gliding down a trembling thigh and back up, glancing across her womanhood before raising his hand to swat her again. She twists her head to look up at him. She was startled, but except for the sting as his hand contacted her backside, he wasn't hurting her. And, he was stroking her. Another swat, another stroke of her thigh, a finger lingering longer between. "Now. Are you sorry for what you've done?" His hand is raised above her behind again. "Um," she thinks, "no?" Another swat, and he rubs the reddened spot, then delves lower again. His fingertip briefly breaches her opening. She breathes, "More." He laughs, low. "Have you been naughtier than I know?" She takes her lower lip in her teeth. "Don't tease." His finger is circling her opening, gliding through the slickness there. It slides down to her clit, and rubs lightly. "Oooh." Another circle and he slides that finger inside her. She's very wet so it slides in rather easily. He slowly pumps that finger into her, caressing her sensitive nub as he does. Carefully, gently, he tries to work a second finger into the wet tight channel of her body. She groans. "Aah." and her muscles tense around them. Erich stops. "Oh, Maddie, does it hurt?" and starts to pull away. She shakes her head. "Uh, uh." He takes a deep breath, worrying at how small she is again. He was aching and wanted nothing more than to be inside of her, but... A sigh. He had to see if he could loosen her up some more. At this rate it could take weeks. His second finger was in and he started stroking in and out. He wants to make her come again. So, he works that sensitive bundle of nerves that was, at present, below his pumping fingers. "Oh, oh, oh, oh, LUuuunnnaaa." He's startled when her teeth clamp down on the side of his thigh. She also clamps down on his fingers, her muscles tightened down on them. Selene, he'd never fit. As Madeline pants and comes down from the orgasm, he pulls those fingers out, to taste. She rolls off his lap and sits up, watching him lick her essence from his fingers. She pulls herself closer, her mouth to his ear. "Now, Erich, I want something else there." He whispers back. "I think we should wait." She pulls away slightly to look at him. "Wait? Why?" "Maddie, I just think..." She pokes him in the chest. "Look. We're both adults here. Consenting adults I might add. If there's a problem, I should know what it is. Don't you want to get mated?" He wraps her in his arms and holds her tightly to him. "Selene, yes, of course I do, but..." She looks up at his face, he was afraid of something. He nuzzles against her neck, hiding his expression. "I'm afraid I'll hurt you, my Blossom. You're so small." She makes an odd noise, inhales, and puts a hand to his face. "Erich. Where do you think pups come from?" He looks at her, confused. "I do understand how children are conceived, Madeline." Again, a funny sort of snort. "No, silly. I mean when they're born." It takes him a second. Birthing. "If a pup can fit through there I think you'll fit." He looks at her, thinking, still hesitant. Madeline twists, to straddle him, and holds his face in both her hands as his hands automatically circle her small waist. "Erich. I told you you aren't my first and, though it's been pleasant," he raises and eyebrow, "wonderful, I want more." A pause. "We can't complete the mating without it." At that, she raises up slightly, and kisses him, her tongue brushing against his lips. He groans and pulls her more tightly to him, tasting her mouth, the smell of her arousal filling his nostrils. He stands, taking her small weight easily in his arms, and she wraps her legs around his waist. He groans again as their tongues continue to duel and explore, his swollen cock painfully encased in denim. At the end of his bed, their bed, he stops and pulls her away from him, her heels still holding around his hips, her hands at his shoulders, her lips wet and slightly parted, her violet eyes glinting. He lightly tosses her backward onto the bed and she bounces once, arms splayed out to her sides. She gets up on her elbows to watch him. As he peels off the green t-shirt, she licks her lips and he watches her eyes run over his chest. Next, his hands go to the button on his jeans. [Slowly, love.] As he undoes the button she asks, "What's under the jeans?" As the zipper starts sliding down, she catches sight of the navy boxer briefs he had put on this morning, the waistband bowed out by the head of his cock. He takes a breath. "Something you've showed interest in." He smiles. She smiles back. [Might I see it?] Slowly, teasing both her and himself, he carefully works the jeans down over his hips and onto the floor. He kicks off his Dockers and removes the pants, making a great show of carefully folding them over the arm of the chair. She has a great view of his backside and whistles appreciatively. He grins and turns back to her, his thumbs in the waistband of the boxer briefs. "Ready?" Her voice is breathy. "Oh, yes." Erich, again carefully, starts to pull down the underwear, slowly revealing the swollen column of flesh that stood proudly, curving upward from a thick nest of curled brown hairs to point vaguely at his navel. She could almost hear the blood pulsing through the veins that encircled it. Could almost feel the warmth radiating from the reddened foreskin, the eye peeking out just weeping precum. As he puts one hand and knee on the bed, he sees the gleam in her eye. He shifts forward a bit more and she grins at him, shooting off the bed. He growls, and turns. She scoots behind the couch, putting it between herself and Erich. He recognizes what she's doing now and grins, his canines slightly elongated. She sees the feral grin and prepares to move as he begins to stalk her. Closer. Closer. Madeline watches the muscles in his legs tense as he prepares to pounce and scoots behind the desk. The rumble continues in his chest as he moves toward the side of the desk. A little more and she runs. He chases her, behind the desk, around the room, over the bed, back behind the couch, where she slows. "Maddie." A warning. She feints right, then left. He grabs the edge of the couch and throws it over to get to her. She takes off again and he follows. As she vaults over the bed again he gets ahold of her foot. Success! He'd gotten his prize. Madeline falls face first into the bedcovers. She struggles and he grabs the other foot, working his way up her calves, and thighs. He pulls her hips off the bed and inhales deeply. [I smell you.] Leaning down, he licks her, once, and groans. She turns her head to look at him as he stands behind her. He rubs the head of his cock against her entrance, starting to lubricate himself, to smooth his passage. He takes himself in hand and starts to push forward. He gets the head of his cock into her, pushes forward a little more. He feels her muscles tighten, hears her sigh, feels her relax a bit around him. Tight. Tight. Selene, she was so tight. He has to work slowly. As much as he wants to surge forward and fill her, he has to take it easy, he has to give her time to accept him. [Tell me, Madeline, if you need me to, if I need to stop.] [No, Erich. Don't stop.] She pushes backward against him. He slides forward, inches back, slides forward again, making headway, slowly. She was right, of course, she could accept him, was accepting him. He would finally have her tonight. His Madeline, his Blossom. He was surprised when he bumped against her cervix; he was in, as far as he would go. He stops, waiting, afraid he might explode. She was a tight, warm, silken sheath around him. [Oh, my Blossom.] [Now, Erich. Make love to me.] He gathers himself and pulls out partway before sliding back in. Oh, Selene, it was just a bit easier. He moves slowly, sliding in and out of her slick heat. She groans, pushing back against him as he slid forward. Think of something other than how tightly he was being held, how he felt as if he'd lose control every time he pushed back in. He needed time to bring her up to an orgasm but felt like a young male in his first pussy. He smells her fragrance, her arousal. He had a female in his bed, a female he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, a female he wanted to mate. And she smelled wonderful, felt wonderful. He continues his slow thrusts and feels the passage of his cock in her tight sheath become a little easier. So, he bestows kisses on her back, across her shoulders, nibbles on the right one. [My beautiful Blossom.] She's panting beneath him, filming with sweat, the scent of her intensifying. [Mm, so good, more, Erich, more.] He smiles against her skin at the request, balances on one arm over her, and snakes the other around her waist so that he can touch her. He runs his hand over the front of her body, briefly caresses her breasts, and listens to the moans his touch elicits, then slides his hand down to where their bodies are sliding together. She jerks slightly at his first touch, then relaxes into it as he strokes her clitoris. Another moan. [Faster...Please?] Erich smiles again at her request and picks up the pace a bit, both of his thrusts and the stroking of his finger. [Oh, Luna. I love you.] He can't help the wide smile that breaks across his face; he couldn't believe it. He was going to be mated. Now. A slight ripple in her muscles told him she was close and Selene knew he was barely holding on. He leans over, to cover her, and sets his teeth at her neck. [Yes, Erich.] As his body erupts into fur, hers did as well. She didn't think she could handle him in human form. And so, fur slides against fur and his knot is lodged inside her. A tightening on his turgid member causes him to rub more firmly on her clitoris. She shrieks his name and breaks around him. He almost loses all control as her muscles contract. He feels his cock swelling, ready to release the load contained in his tight balls. He wanted to roar, but there was something he had to do first. She had said yes. She had agreed. So. As her muscles gripped him tightly and he felt his ejaculate boil up from his balls like lava through a tube he sets his teeth more deeply and closes his jaws. As Madeline arches in pleasure, wailing, under him and his cum floods her depths, he tastes her blood and marks her as his mate. Then, he sits backward on his heels, not wanting to crush her, pulling her back against him, turns his head and howls. While there was soundproofing in the den, it was not proof against all noise. Many wolves nearby heard the howl and understood what it signified. Emmett squeezes his own mate tightly. "He's done it, sweetheart. Erich has taken his mate." "Yes. It seems so." His erection is pressing against her backside. "I love you, Lyssa. I'm so glad you agreed to be mine." "Mmm." She sighs as his hands move. Yes, his friend had taken a mate and Emmett wished to celebrate with his own. So, he kisses her, touches her, tastes her skin. After a few minutes, he slides into her, feeling the familiar pleasure of being enveloped by her moist heat. As he moves above her, it takes a little while for him to realize she's not acting as she normally would. She is subdued, quiet. He slows. "Sweetheart, are you feeling alright?" Lyssa opens her eyes, looks at him. "Mmm, hm." Emmett resumes his thrusting as she closes her eyes and pants lightly. The tightening of her muscles around him has him moving more quickly. As he erupts inside her, she releases a slight moan and he feels the slight ripple around his shaft. He howls as well, then rolls her on top and hugs her to him while they're locked together. Emmett falls asleep within a few minutes and she lies there, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat, feeling the strong warm solid body under her, his comforting scent in her nose. She hears a few other howls as she tries to fall asleep. But she couldn't. It was as if she didn't fit in her own skin anymore. She didn't know what she was going to do. *** Friday Lyssa wakes early, having dozed off and on through the night, in her mate's arms. She sighs and slides from the bed. Emmett groans and rolls, his nose to the place that held her scent. Lyssa washes up, slips out of their room, and drives to the warehouse. Erich wakes with his mate in his arms. He smiles into her hair and pulls her back against him. His hands begin to roam possessively across her body as he nips at her earlobe. She yawns and twists, to look into his blue eyes. "Was it a dream?" "No, my Madeline, my Blossom, my mate. It wasn't. You belong to Wyeth now. You belong to me." She rolls against him, hiding her face against his chest. He strokes her back. "Maddie. You aren't sorry, are you?" He waits for her to answer. "No. Not sorry. I'm happy. It's just so much." Carefully, tenderly, he makes love to his new mate. Emmett wakes to a cold bed, the warmth of his own mate missing. [Lyssa?] No answer. [Lyssa?] The smells of breakfast waft up the stairs. [Has anyone seen my mate?] The question takes everyone aback and has most concerned. The Beta's mate, missing again? [Beta, she left early for the warehouse.] Emmett closes his eyes and exhales. [Thank you, Paul.] [False alarm, everyone.] He opens the door to Erich, arm raised as a prelude to knocking, Madeline under his arm. "Erich, what are you doing here? I assumed I wouldn't see you at all today. That you'd be.. celebrating." Madeline ducks her head and blushes. Erich looks at Emmett. Emmett looks at Erich. "Um. Is Lyssa OK?" "Went to the warehouse early, for some reason." "Oh. OK." "Anyway, congratulations. Welcome to Wyeth, Madeline." The small face framed in brown hair tips up to him and she smiles, shyly. Erich turns her away. "Let's get you something to eat, my Blossom." He gives his new mate a squeeze as they head for the stairs. Emmett looks after them, happy for his friend, but confused at what was going on with his own mate. Nathan has the day off and has invited Joanna to a day at Dave and Buster's. They play a number of games but, with the place mostly to themselves, end up monopolizing the simulated racers. At first, they begin by simply seeing who can win each race. Then, Joanna bumps his car with hers, running both off the simulated track. Laughing now, they take turns trying to bump the other car off the road, while still being able to finish the race themselves. It doesn't really work. Lunch is pop, fries, and big, fat burgers. He takes her to a nearby park and they walk around, hand in hand. She lets out a slight squeal when he pulls her against him and leans back against a tree. They stand quietly, his arms around her, holding her close, and his chin atop her head. She can sense he's thinking hard about something and remains silent, feeling comfortable and safe wrapped in his strong arms, against his strong body. Fulfillment 04 And she begins to think about him, his smell, how he feels, and begins to think about doing more than just leaning against him. He speaks quietly, "How would we do this, Jo? You're the Alpha daughter. I'm the nephew of an Alpha. I have a job in the human world. I don't know how we'd do this." "Nathan, isn't this, well, early? I mean..." His voice goes lower. "I want you, Jo. I want you to be my mate. I want to grow old with you." She sucks in a breath, a slight gasp at his admission. He feels it, smells it, a slight spike of fear in her. She was young and hadn't seen much and had obviously had no experience with males. So, this frightened her, because she was nowhere near feeling what he was. He had felt the need to admit it; would it scare her away? "Nathan...", her voice is wary. "Sh, Jo. I understand. You don't feel that way." He exhales. "Just tell me one thing, OK?" She swallows and nods, the back of her head rubbing against him chest. He hears her heart rate pick up. She feels something in his chest grow tense. Another heavy sigh from him as he continues to hold her against him, looking out at the park over her head. "If you don't think you could ever be with me, tell me now, and I'll stay away from you. But, if you think we could be more than friends, that you could love me, that there's any chance you could agree to be my mate, I'll wait. I'll wait until you're ready. It'll be hard, but I'll wait." She lets go a shuddering breath, tears threatening. How did she answer something like that? There was so much emotion there; she wasn't sure what to say or how to say it that wouldn't sound hokey. Her brain wasn't working quite right. As she struggles to form coherent sentences, trying to order her thoughts, his mood falls. Another exhale from him; his breath burns in his throat, "OK, Jo, I'll take you home." As he starts to loosen his hold on her, she grabs his hands. "Um, Nathan?" He stops, waiting. "I don't know how, um, which words, I mean..." She takes in a big breath, and releases it. "Just say it, Jo. I'll ask if I don't understand." "Um, OK, um. I don't know if I want to be your mate. You're nice and you smell good and I like going out with you, but I'm only 18 and I'm not really thinking that far ahead. And, it's kinda scary, thinking of all that, thinking about the rest of my life, and, and, I'm not sure." She finally runs out of steam. "Are you thinking at all that it could never happen?" "No." "So, there's a chance you might want to be my mate? Someday?" "Uh, huh." She pulls her hands, which she had grasped more or less at the level of her hips, upward. There's a slight hesitation, and then, she pulls them to her breasts. Stephanie, meanwhile, is again tolerating Calvin's presence. She and Alex were running the perimeter, doing a standard sweep, with Calvin following. He'd obviously gotten permission from Randall to tag along. As a wolf, he was impressive. Large. Strong. A grey so dark as to be almost black with light grey on the muzzle. Still, for his age, he moved easily, fluidly, and, as a former Alpha, confidently. He was apparently chatting with Alex as they ran. Why? Why was he here? Why did he keep coming to see her? She didn't want him to, but he kept showing up, kept approaching her. She had told him to stay away, but he hadn't. She'd ignored him. It hadn't worked. He was tenacious. Well, he had been pleasant to her, stood up for her with the Gates issue. But, he'd kissed her. Kissed her! After she'd clawed him. She yelps as she stumbles over and exposed root. Damn. She was supposed to be watching, supposed to be paying attention, supposed to be checking the border of the pack's land for threat or incursion. As much as she didn't want it to, his presence was affecting her. Madeline and Erich approach the Alpha pair. The newly mated couple is congratulated and sent off to speak to Tucker. Ariel says, "Welcome, Madeline, to the pack. We'll give you a few days to settle in then figure out where you fit into the pack." Madeline ducks her head. "Yes, Ma'am." A call to Tucker has the Madam Alpha of the pack answering. "Ah, Madeline, I trust this is good news?" Madeline blushes and Erich grins. Erich clears his throat. "Mm, hm. Madam Alpha, I beg to inform you that Madeline and I have mated." Natalie Tucker smiles. "Congratulations. I'm pleased you've found your mate, Madeline. I'll talk to Phillip about your transfer to Wyeth. I expect you'll be coming back to collect your things?" Madeline glances to Erich and then to her Madam, former Madam Alpha. "Um, yes, ma'am. I'd like to say goodbye to my mother and sister." "Certainly. I can have her up here in a couple of minutes if you'd like to tell her now." Erich pulls Madeline into his lap. "Yeah. That would be great, um, ma'am." Madeline's mother arrives, trepidation on her face until she sees her eldest daughter on the screen. "Oh, baby, does this mean...?" Madeline pulls her hair to one side so that her mother can see the mating mark, fresh and pink, on her neck. "Yes, Mom, I'm mated now." "Oh, I'm so happy for you, sweetie! Will you be coming back at all?" She looks up at Erich. "I expect so." Erich smiles down at her. "Of course she will. She can always borrow a car and go for a visit." [Um, Erich, I can't drive.] Startled, he twists her in his lap. "You can't drive?" Her mother responds, "Our Madeline has always been a homebody. She never felt the need to learn." She smiles again and sniffs. "Many things will be changing now, I suppose, sweetie." "Yeah, Mom, I guess they will." Her mother then looks to Erich. "When can she come?" "I'll be pretty busy until the full moon." Madeline is running her hand over his chest, distracting him. "Of course. I understand. Don't stay away too long." Erich's attention returns to the conversation. "Oh, she won't. I promise." He kisses the top of her head. Madeline looks up. "I'll see you soon, Mom." "OK, sweetie. Be happy." The newly mated couple smile at each other. "We will." The inventory is concluded in the late afternoon. An additional check will be performed the next day. Lyssa wearily gets into the car and rests her forehead against the steering wheel. A few of the others leave while she sits there. She finally turns the key in the ignition and starts the car. Pulling out, she turns left, away from the den. Driving with no real destination in mind, she finds herself at a place she hasn't seen or thought about in months. Her old house. There wasn't much left, the city had apparently razed the fire-blackened remains of her previous life. She stares bleakly at the heaped ruins that nature was beginning to reclaim. Lyssa takes a few deep breaths; she really shouldn't stay long as her previous neighbors could recognize her. It had only been a couple of years since she had gone missing. Sighing heavily, she puts the car back in drive and takes off again, heading west. She was well into Severn territory when her cell rang. It was Emmett's ring tone. "Hey, Em." "Sweetheart, are you still at the warehouse? The others said you were in the car and looked like you were ready to go." "Um. No. Uh. I decided to go for a little ride." A pause. "Oh. OK. Give me a call when you're coming home and I'll have a tray of food and a bubble bath ready for you." "Yeah, sure. Sounds good." "I love you, mate." "You, too, Em." He puts down the phone and bows his head. She had sounded depressed, tired, and less than enthusiastic about the bubble bath, something she normally really enjoyed. He had meant it as a treat for her, a reward. He wanted to pamper his mate after the work at the warehouse, her time in the circle, and the fact that she was now healed from the kidnapping. He wanted to make her feel cared for and appreciated. As Emmett walks downstairs, he passes Madeline and Erich and turns away slightly at their obvious happiness. Lyssa returns late, having driven around rather aimlessly for a couple of hours. Emmett greets her at the door and is a bit shocked by her appearance. She looks tired and has obviously lost more weight. He wraps her in his arms and kisses her. He then sweeps her up and carries her to their room. Emmett kicks the door shut and gently deposits her on the bed. His hands go to her waistband. She pleads, "Oh, Emmett, please." He draws away, looking hurt. "Lys, I have a warm bath waiting. I was only going to strip you and put you in it." She closes her eyes and draws in her lips. "Um. Sorry. I just don't feel so well." "Sweetheart, should I get Natalie?" "No. No. I think I'll be OK if I get some sleep. I'm tired." "OK, then. Here." He pulls off her shoes and socks, the shirt and bra, then slithers off her pants and panties. He's touching her, of course, but there's nothing sexual in it. He's simply undressing her, his touch gentle. Emmett places a kiss on her forehead and slides his arms under her knees and back. As he picks her up she wraps an arm around his shoulder. "I probably shouldn't. I'll fall asleep in the tub." He puts his nose in her hair. "I'll be there with you, to make sure you won't drown." He lowers her into the warm water and she releases a sigh as the warmth envelops her. "Oh, that feels nice. Thank you, Em." "OK, mate, settle in, I'll be right back." He returns with a small plate and a glass of white liquid. "What's that?" "Something for you to eat." "I'm really not.." "Lyssa!" She startles and looks up at him. "You haven't been eating enough. You're losing weight. Here, drink." He hands her the milk. She sips at it. "Seriously. Drink it." She huffs and finishes the glass, handing it back to him. "You need fat and protein. You're due for another heat in the near future. You've been complaining you're tired. You need to eat." She gives him an annoyed look. "Would you like something different to drink?" She breathes and thinks. "A beer?" "OK. While I get it, you will put pieces of the meat or cheese into your mouth, chew, and swallow. Repeat. I want some of that food in you by the time I get back." She gives him a sloppy salute. "Yes, sir." He looks at her until she drops her eyes, huffs, and picks up a piece of cheese. She makes a point of putting it in her mouth and starting to chew. Emmett walks downstairs, since he had drunk the last beer from their small refrigerator while he was waiting for her to return. He moves quickly, wanting to get back to her quickly for a couple of reasons. In the first place, he hadn't been able to spend much time with his mate lately. In the second, he was going to make sure she ate. He strides back upstairs, carrying a couple of beers. He's happy to see a little of the food gone. But he wanted her to eat more than that. "Sweetheart?" "Hmm?" "Would you mind if I got in there with you? I'd like to hold you. And, you won't fall asleep and drown if I've got you." "Yeah. OK." Emmett strips, dropping his clothes on the floor. Lyssa looks over at her mate and the sides of her mouth raise slightly. She picks up another piece of cheese and puts it in her mouth. He closes his eyes, picturing Phyllis Diller naked and trying to remember the scent of hyena. Satisfied he had himself under control, he slides behind her as she leans forward in the tub, then pulls her back against him and hands her a beer. She takes a drink and he feels her relax back against him. That was good. Lyssa takes a couple more bites of meat and finishes about half the beer when her breathing deepens. The beer bottle falls from her grip and clatters on the floor. Emmett finishes his beer and pulls the plug on the water. Lyssa groans and her head shifts, but she does not wake. He dries her off and places her in the bed. After cleaning up the bathroom, he slides in beside her. It's after midnight when he wakes to growling. And fur. The other side of the bed holds a wolf. One apparently in the midst of a nightmare. He resists the urge to reach out and touch her. The growl coming from her was menacing, a warning, and her upper lip was lifted. So, he calls to her, his voice calm. "Lyssa. Lyssa, sweetheart, wake up." There was no change. "Lyssa. C'mon mate, it's alright." Carefully, slowly, he touches the chestnut fur of the wolf in the bed beside him. "It's alright, Lyssa. You're safe." Emmett begins to pet his mate, stroking her fur. "It's OK, Lys. You're OK." The growl stops and is replaced by whimpering and her paws twitch. "Shh, shh, sweetheart, you're OK. You're in our bed. I'm here." Lyssa's eyes open and she blinks. She then turns her muzzle so that she can look at him, and licks his hand. He watches as she shifts, changing to human form. "Em? What? I changed?" He nods. "In my sleep?" "It happens sometimes, Lys." What he doesn't say is that it primarily happened to pups and adolescents. It was fairly rare for an adult to go wolf in their sleep. "It's OK, sweetheart. You sounded like you were having a bad dream." He hugs her tightly to him. "I wanted to wake you up; make it stop. Do you remember what it was about?" "No." "Well. Let's get you back to sleep, hmm?" He holds her, but it takes some time before she falls asleep again. Fulfillment 05 Dear Readers, Sorry this took so long but holiday errands and travel have cut into my creative time, and some sections are harder to write than others. Next chapter is in the works and, hopefully, won't take as long. Enjoy the story and the holidays. KemMyst ******* Saturday Lyssa did remember the dream, at least, parts of it. He had woken her gently enough that she had been able to retain part of it. There had been blood. Lots of it. She smelled it. It covered her muzzle, she felt it in her mouth, felt her jaws around someone's throat. She felt that last breath pass through the windpipe in a groan. And her eyes lit briefly on several bodies, nearby. Wolves. Bloody. Throats torn. Not one moved. She saw grey fur. What was wrong with her? Why would she have dreams like that? She didn't want any of them dead. They were her friends, her family. Her mate. Emmett leaves her in the bed with a kiss. "I've got to get to work. We've got petitions, Erich's installation, and the pup's naming tomorrow. Gonna be a busy day." Lyssa groans and pulls the covers back over her head. [Don't go in if you don't feel well. They can finish without you.] Another groan from her. "Feel better." ** Erich and Madeline are grinning and whispering like lovers with a secret. Randall and Ariel watch and smile, glad that another of their pack members had found happiness with a mate. Happy that the size of the pack would likely increase with another mated pair in the pack. Calvin arrives early that day. He was trying to find different times of day that would allow him to interact with Stephanie. He hopes that she will loosen up, get more comfortable around him. However, he knew how difficult it would be to overcome the indoctrination of her youth. And, unfortunately, the kiss he had given her had set him back in her eyes, badly. He had been careful not to touch her again but hoped his continued presence would begin to de-sensitize her. She had duties to her pack, as did he, and he did not want to interfere with her work. That was, apparently, all she had. With no real friends and no romantic entanglements and decades before her, her life was her work. Perhaps, given time and a softening of her feelings, he might petition to join the Wyeth pack, to be near her. But this was something he had to evaluate carefully if, no, when, the time came. Could he be just another member of the Wyeth pack? Or would conflict arise between himself and Randall because of his personality and traits, those things that made him Alpha? He wasn't having trouble with Michael in charge of the pack but, then, he had been otherwise occupied. In fact, he continued to see and hear things that were deeply troubling. He could not, however, just take Alpha back from his son. There would be a confrontation; he would have to kill Michael to do it. Alpha was passed, generally, from father to son, going the opposite direction would be disruptive to the pack. It would also point out his weakness; that his own offspring had not been trained properly, was incapable of leading the pack. Calvin's mood grows darker as he contemplates the many problems associated with the, as yet, brief reign of his son. It did take a while for young Alphas to get their feet under them, but things in the Ross pack appeared to be getting worse, not better. The most enticing scent pulls him out of his reverie as Stephanie sits at the table. He looks at her and smiles. She grunts a 'hello' before starting in on her meal. ** Lyssa showers, dresses, and hauls herself off to work. The cross checks on the two sets of software were completed and the new system put in place. Training for the employees would start the following week. She says goodbye to the others after thanking everyone for their help and hard work. Again, she starts driving away from the den, not quite ready to go home. This time, she ends up at another burned-out house. The place where she and Joanna had been held not so long ago. She sits in the car and stares. Another part of her life literally burned to the ground. Her past was gone, even her recent past. The only thing she had left was a pack of werewolves. Sighing, she puts the car in drive and heads back to the den. A light snow begins to fall. ** Joanna had been invited to the Severn compound, to have dinner with Nathan's parents. She and Madeline are in the clothes room, where Madeline is picking out some new clothes and Joanna is looking for the right thing to wear to dinner. Madeline has a small armload of skirts and blouses. "Don't you wear pants? You can get a few more outfits, you know." "No, I've never felt comfortable in pants. I feel freer in a skirt. And, there's not a lot here in my size." Joanna replies, "Oh. I guess not. We'll have to get Alison your size for when she gets more clothes and you'll need to let her know your preference." "Oh, sure. Have you figured out what you're wearing tonight?" "No. I can't make up my mind. I don't want to look too young, too flirty, too frumpy, too anything." "Has he told you what they'll be wearing?" "He just said 'regular clothes'." "Lot of help," Madeline replies. "Who's gonna be there?" "His parents, 'course. And some or all of his brothers and their mates." "Pups?" "Yeah. Not sure how many there are." "OK, Jo. So, his parents, his brothers and their mates, and the grandpups. So, nothing frilly or too girly... You've got some dark pants or capris, right?" Joanna nods, "Yeah, sure." "Then just a nice blue sweater to go with your eyes and you should be good to go." Joanna exhales. "You know, you're right. Thanks, Maddie." ** Lyssa drives back to the den and hands off the car to Anton. She climbs to the Wyeth 'control room', gives her mate a kiss and starts to pull away. Emmett snakes his arms around her, pulls her to him, and kisses her more deeply. After a few moments, she puts a hand to his chest and pushes away slightly. "Randall," she says, "I'm sure Mathias has already told you, but the new software is up and running. It's been put through all the tests successfully. Mathias and Gabriela have training sessions set up for the other employees next week." "So, there were no issues?" "Not yet." Randall arches an eyebrow, "Meaning?" "No one likes change. Moving to a new system will make many of them uncomfortable for the foreseeable future. But, hopefully, when they see how seamlessly the integration is between receipt, delivery, inventory, and sales, including the links to the provenance, they should learn to appreciate it." "I see. Thank you, Lyssa." As she turns to leave, he says, "Oh, Lyssa?" She turns back, "Yes?" He takes in the look of her, something seems.. off. "Although she's not yet officially a Beta, Ariel wants to take Madeline with you for another visit to see Cassie's pup this afternoon." She sighs. "Of course, Alpha Wyeth." After standing at the window of their room for a while and staring at the woodlands outside, Lyssa sends again to the east. [You'll regret the day you ever met me, Michael Ross.] The call comes for her shortly thereafter from Ariel, [Lyssa, please come to our room.] [Of course, Ariel. Be there in a bit.] Lyssa walks down the staircase to the second floor and approaches the Alpha suite. She takes a deep breath and knocks. "Come in." Lyssa enters the sitting room of the Alpha suite. Madeline looks up and smiles as she walks in and Lyssa's lips quirk up in a slight smile. "Welcome, Lyssa. We've been talking about Madeline's duties at Tucker. We could use someone knowledgeable about plant life." "I see." "Have the two of you had much of a chance to talk?" "Uh, no, ma'am. The warehouse..." "Of course, we've kept you quite busy of late. Well, Madeline, I'm sure the two of you will soon be getting on like old friends." Lyssa looks at Madeline and nods, once, with the barest smile. Ariel stands. "Let's go see Cassie and her pup. You understand our objective, Madeline?" "Yes, Madam Alpha, I guess so." Lyssa can feel a growl begin. "Beta duties, Ariel?" Ariel looks at her, surprised by the thinly veiled anger. "She will be Beta tomorrow, there is no reason not to." "Of course." The three walk upstairs to Samuel and Cassie's room. On the short trip, Madeline follows behind and watches Lyssa. What she was seeing, had been seeing of her, was in direct contrast to everything she had heard about the other Beta female. It was... a little scary. Ariel knocks on a door and is met with the sound of squalling. Cassie opens the door, bouncing the little one. "Madam Alpha. Lyssa and, um, I'm sorry?" Ariel gives her a radiant smile. "Her name is Madeline, Cassie. I've invited her since she'll be Beta tomorrow." "Oh, uh, OK. Um. I haven't had the chance to clean up." Cassie turns, allowing the other three females in. There were some clothes piled in a corner, the bed was not made. A crib to one side held several blankets and a stuffed rabbit. Madeline was cooing at the baby. Lyssa was decidedly not looking at the baby. The little one smacks her lips, squeals, and clutches for her mother's breast. "I'm sorry, she hasn't settled into a schedule yet." Cassie unbuttons her blouse and raises her daughter to her left breast. The baby latches on and begins to nurse. Again, Ariel smiles. Madeline's grin is almost goofy. Lyssa's expression is pained, almost hard. Ariel sits as Cassie settles on the bed. "How are you feeling, Cassie? Do you need any help?" "Not getting a lot of sleep, she's up all night. Well, I guess that's not right. She wakes up every 2 or 3 hours, hungry." Ariel's voice is calm, gentle. "Every baby is different. You may want to try getting more fat with your protein. If your milk is higher in calories, she may not need to eat so often." "I'll have to try that. Thank you, Madam Alpha." Cassie rubs her daughter's back as she suckles. "We won't stay very long but I wanted to introduce Madeline to some of the duties she will have as a Beta female." Cassie nods. "Now, Madeline, what do you see?" "OK. She's, let's see, 10 days old?" Cassie nods. "Then her eyes should be open." Cassie says, "Yes." Ariel says, "Good. What else?" Madeline cocks her head and looks, then gets closer and touches the baby's blanket. "May I?" Cassie nods again and Madeline pulls the blanket away so that she can more closely examine the little one. She then glances at Ariel. "OK. No visible abnormalities, limbs look good and strong," Madeline runs a finger along the bottom of the baby's foot and it clenches and pulls away reflexively, "good reaction and suckling well." She looks at Cassie and smiles. Cassie smiles back, tiredly. Madeline then looks to Ariel. "A healthy pup." Ariel looks at Lyssa. "Lyssa, anything you wish to add?" As Lyssa moves forward, Cassie feels like pulling away. Lyssa moves closer and inhales, then moves back. "No, Madam Alpha." Ariel puts a hand on the hand Cassie has on her daughter's back. "Sleep when she does. At least until she starts sleeping through the night. You and Samuel have settled on the name?" Cassie nods. "I look forward to hearing it. Thank you. We'll show ourselves out. Ladies." The three of them stand and start to file out as a growl rises in Cassie's throat and she twists her daughter away from them. Ariel turns back at the sound and Madeline startles. Cassie's attention is riveted on Lyssa. Ariel pushes the Beta females out the door and closes it behind them before turning to Cassie, who relaxes the slightest bit. "Cassie, can you tell me what precipitated that growl?" "I'm sorry, Madam Alpha, I don't know why. Something about, about the Madam Beta made me want to protect my daughter. I'm sorry, I just..." Ariel speaks quietly. "It's alright, Cassie. Just relax." ** Joanna had planned on driving to the Severn compound but Nathan felt obliged to come pick her up. So, Joanna gave in, and got on the back of the bike. Nathan again parks in front of his house and they walk around it, to his parents' house. He knocks once and ushers Jo in. Two pups chasing a third knock her off her feet. A male she hadn't yet met caught her. "Oops. Sorry, the boys are pretty rowdy." As he hands her off to Nathan he says, "I'm Matt." "Thanks, Matt." Nathan sets her on her feet. "Nathan?! Is that you?" "Yes, Mom." Juliet Severn comes out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on an apron and flanked by three younger females. One of them was Kendra. Juliet holds out her hands, takes Jo's, and pulls her into a hug. Joanna is a little uncomfortable with this display. "It's good to see you again, dear. You've met Kendra." Joanna nods at her. "These are my other daughters. This is Laura and Mary." "Nice to meet you, Joanna." "Dinner'll be ready in about 15 minutes. Go on in and sit down for a bit." Juliet kisses her youngest son. "Watch out for the hooligans." The women return to the kitchen as Nathan steers Jo to the living room. Four males are seated, watching the game. Nathan points, "You know Dad, and Matt, and Kyle, that's Luke. So. Those are all my brothers. The kids are Lewis, Mark, Norm, and Nelson is probably in the kitchen with Mary." He yells to the males. "Say 'Hi, Jo'." Eyes flick up, then back to the game. "Hi, Jo." comes from four throats. One of the youngsters comes to a dead stop in front of her. "So, you're gonna be Uncle Nate's mate?" "Um." "Go on, Norm. We're just seeing if we like each other." One of the other boys tackles the youngster at their feet and the two start rolling around, wrestling and growling. Joanna squeals as Nathan pulls her into a chair on his lap. [You'll be safer here.] The four adult males look briefly at the young couple and smirk or smile. A yell of disappointment goes up as a play is missed. The boys roll around on the floor, chase each other, trip each other, tackle each other, and generally seem to be trying to take each other apart. Two of them appear to be about 7 or 8 and the other 4 or 5. [Lewis is Kyle and Kendra's, Mark and Norm are Luke and Laura's, and little Nelson is Matt and Mary's.] Joanna was busy trying to sort out all the scents in the house. There were so many strange new wolves around. It was as if she were in a strange den, which, really, she was, and it made her nervous. She fidgets in Nathan's arms. He pulls her closer and puts his mouth to her ear. "It's OK, Jo. Just relax." He knew she was nervous, knew that it was a lot of unfamiliar, and she tries to focus. [Seriously? Kyle and Kendra? Luke and Laura? Matt and Mary? Don't you need to find someone named Nancy?] [I don't want someone named Nancy.] Nathan nuzzles her neck. "OOOooooh." Kyle notices and has to bring it to everyone's attention. Kendra sticks her head in the doorway. "C'mon, we're ready." Nathan stands and sets Joanna on her feet. He laces his fingers in hers and draws her to the doorway. As he steps through, he pulls her quickly around into him as the three boys rampage through to the dining room. "BOYS!" Juliet Severn stands by the table, hands on her hips, giving her grandsons her best grandmotherly scowl. "We have a guest. Your Uncle Nathan will be quite cross if she gets bruised or knocked down. Now, apologize." The boys line up before Nathan and Joanna. "We're sorry." Joanna smiles and chuckles. Nathan smirks. "Go sit. Grandma's gonna get your fathers." The boys scamper to the table where Mary is seated beside a small boy, about toddler age, who is trying to escape a high chair. As Nathan seats her in a chair at the large trestle table, Joanna hears a groan go up from the men as the television goes off. Kendra and Laura put rolls and salad on the table and take their seats as the men file in. They settle beside their respective mates and children, looking a little grim. "Well, you boys can all stop looking like someone died." Kyle sounds like a whiny child. "But, Mom, it was State and ... Ow." Juliet smacks him on the back of the head. "Now, let's have a nice pleasant meal and try not to overwhelm the girl." Nathan picks up a plate of turkey. "Turkey? Or would you prefer pork?" ** Ariel hunts down Lyssa. [Lyssa, I need to speak with you.] Lyssa closes her eyes at the summons; it sounded like she was going to be scolded. [I'm in the sitting room.] She's sitting in the smallish room that overlooks the back garden. She can hear half the males in the TV room down the hall, watching the big game. But the sitting room held no TV, just some overstuffed chairs, games, books, and a small area for making hot drinks. Ariel strides in and sits beside her. The others look up briefly, then return to games or books. "Lyssa, Anton has told me that the car you've been driving was returned almost empty and that there are a lot more miles on it than there should be." "Oh, Ariel, I've put a lot of hours in this week and I'm tired." "That's not an excuse for ignoring the standard tasks required of all pack members." "Don't scold me like an errant child, Ariel." "Lyssa, what's going on? This isn't like you." The others in the room are beginning to pay attention to the conversation. "Nothing's wrong with me. I felt like taking a drive. I was tired and didn't fill up the car; it's not the end of the world." "Now you do sound like a spoiled child. You have a responsibility..." Lyssa throws the book she's been reading on the floor. "You have no reason to be yelling at me. I know what you want me to do. Quit making such a big deal of it and stop telling me what to do." The entire room goes dead silent as the growl grows in Ariel's throat. "Lyssa, you know you're wrong. Don't push me." Several of the wolves start moving for the door. "Why, what're you gonna do? Lock me up in the outbuilding? Beat me up?" "I am your Alpha! You will listen to me." Most of the others have cleared out as Ariel's growl gets louder. Alex is astounded to see chestnut fur break out on Lyssa's arms. [Um. Randall. Emmett. You'd better get in here. Sitting room. Uh. Now.] Lyssa leaps up, having shifted to intermediate form. Ariel responds in kind, becoming the russet wolf woman. Both are growling, claws ready, tattered clothing on them, and starting to circle each other in prelude to an attack. The sound of feet pounding down the corridor is heard as Lyssa leaps at Ariel. They meet with snarls, claws grasping, jaws open. Lyssa, by virtue of her size and weight, knocks Ariel to the ground and the breath from her lungs. She snaps at Ariel's throat. "LYSSA! NO!" There is a moment of hesitation at her mate's command and Ariel hooks a leg around Lyssa and heaves, throwing her off. Ariel now pounces on Lyssa, straddling her waist, a clawed hand around her throat, the tips of the claws of her other hand over her heart, drawing blood. Lyssa's voice is all gravel as she growls out. "Get off me you sanctimonious, redheaded bitch!" Ariel snarls, and smacks Lyssa's head against the floor. "Submit." Emmett watches, vacillating between pleading for his mate's life and asking Randall, who was standing beside him, to intervene. Fear had him sweating. Lyssa spits out one word as she pulls her feet against her butt, "No." and she bucks Ariel off. Randall grabs his mate and Emmett his. Lyssa shrieks in his arms and Ariel struggles, as well. "Lyssa. Stop this." Emmett's voice is full of emotion. "Ariel, please." Lyssa is gasping, panting. Ariel is completely enveloped in Randall's arms. "Stop! Both of you. NOW!" he commands. Both Lyssa and Ariel still. "Ariel, would you like to explain to me why you and our Beta female were having a serious altercation in the house?" Ariel takes a deep breath and shifts back to human form. "I was reminding Lyssa of her obligations to the pack." Lyssa growls. Fulfillment 05 "Care to be more specific, El?" "The car she was using was returned almost empty with excess mileage." Randall looks at Lyssa, whom Emmett was still holding and who had not shifted back. "And we felt the need for violence?" Ariel's answer comes out as a light growl, "She challenged me." Emmett's eyes go wide and he sucks in a breath. Randall looks at their current female Beta. "Lyssa, shift to human." Lyssa stares at him, not dropping her eyes. Randall stares back and a rumble begins in his chest. Emmett sends, [Lyssa. Shift back.] Lyssa huffs and returns to human form. "Do you have anything to add?" Lyssa grumbles, "Didn't appreciate the public reprimand." Ariel responds, "I treat you as I would treat any other pack member. You're no different from anyone else here." "Yes," Lyssa spits out, "I am. I may not be as fast or as strong as the rest of you but I can take any of you." She narrows her eyes at Ariel and Emmett feels her tension since he hasn't released her. Emmett commands his mate, [Lyssa, don't do it. Stop this.] She huffs out a breath. "Fine. I submit." The tension in the room begins to drop. Randall spins his mate in his arms. "Come, El, let's make some tracks." Ariel looks at Lyssa, then to her mate, and nods. With a hand to the small of her back, Randall guides her out the door. Within a minute, two more wolves streak out into the cold, dark woods under the light of a bright moon. Emmett closes his eyes, relieved, and continues to hold Lyssa. He feels her continuing agitation and can't stop the anger in his send. [What did you think you were doing?] [She came at me like I was some irresponsible teenager.] [Did you go driving again tonight?] [Yes.] [Where?] He feels her tense up again. [Tell me.] She huffs. [I went to the house.] [Yours?] She shakes her head. [Lyssa, why would you go back there?] [They're both gone, Em. Both burned to the ground.] She continues to fidget in his arms. He exhales. [Do you want to talk about anything?] [Nothing to talk about.] [You challenged Ariel!] [She was making such a big deal out of it.] [If she felt the need, she wouldn't hesitate to scar you, even kill you. You know that.] [For forgetting to fill the car?!] [Lys, you know your responsibility for using a pack vehicle...] [Don't you start.] Emmett sighs. [Lemme go.] He loosens his grip. [You need to burn off some energy. Why don't we go for a run?] Again, a huff from her. She shifts to wolf and takes off. Emmett strips, sighing, and shifts. He threads his way through wolves who were trying to look like they weren't listening. He then takes off after his mate, chasing Lyssa, again. She runs quickly, streaking for the deepest part of the range, away from any of the more recent scent trails. He follows her, thinking of what he would do tomorrow, how he would approach Randall. Tomorrow was the full moon, and Randall would hear petitions from various pack members. It was up to him to decide on disputes within the pack, discuss members moving into, or out of, the den, any questions on the spending of large amounts of money. Any threats to the pack or range would also be brought up, particularly if there was a human element involved. It was a combination of a court and a town hall meeting. Emmett is startled when Lyssa runs down a small deer. It was a young doe, one of this year's fawns grown out of its spots. It bleats in fear as she gouges a chunk out of its shoulder and knocks it down. He arrives as she rips out its throat. [Lys?] Her head turns to him, muzzle covered in the deer's blood, and she snarls, warning him away. He backs off, watching as she rips into the carcass, feeding on the warm meat of her prey. But he circles, gauging her range. Whenever he gets too close she charges and snaps at him. She had never so completely given in to her wolf before, not even on her first hunt. It was as if her human side was completely subsumed. She didn't talk, wouldn't acknowledge him, unless he got too close to her kill. As a much larger male, it wouldn't have been hard for him to take it from her, if he wanted to. When she finishes, she moves off to the side and scratches a flank against a tree. The smell of fresh venison calls to him and he grabs a few mouthfuls as she trots away, back toward the den, her belly bulging. After a few moments, he follows. ** Joanna survives the meal with Nathan's family, the questions, the strange turns in conversation, the occasional growl from Nathan. At these times, she notices him looking at Kyle, once, at Kendra. Little Nelson was a cutie pie, a little blue-eyed boy in his mother's lap. The other boys were boisterous the entire time, stopping to bolt their food only when Nathan's father yelled, "Boys!" Nathan extricated them a decent amount of time after dessert had been served. Joanna thanked the women and said her goodbyes as Nathan led her from the house. "So, is your head ready to explode?" Joanna smiles. "No. Maybe. You really got your head stuck in a peanut butter jar?" "I was just a pup and I'm going to kill Matt." "It's a nice story," her mouth quirks and, as he turns to look at her, she begins to laugh again. He looks at her, resigned, until the snickering stops. She gets up on her tiptoes and kisses him. [My knight in shining armor was a pup, just like anyone else.] His eyes widen as he looks at her while she continues to kiss him. [Knight in shining armor?] As she pulls away she looks at him and smiles. "Mm, hm. Riding a very loud black horse. Saving me from the evil prince." He sweeps her up into his arms and twirls her. "A fairy story, are we? Well, princess, I don't know if we should attempt the dangerous journey back to your castle tonight." She looks around. The temperature has fallen and wet snow covers the ground, a couple of inches deep. "I could borrow a car, if you want, or you could sleep here," they round the corner of the house. "I'll sleep on the couch." Joanna looks at him with wide blue eyes and he watches her decide. "Yeah. OK." Nathan lets out the breath he hadn't been aware he was holding and puts his nose in her hair. He walks her to the door and opens it. "Welcome, Joanna, to my house." He pulls her shoes off and drops them on the floor mat before setting her on her feet on the rug. He listens to her inhale, scenting the air, as he pulls off his own shoes. He laces his fingers in hers, "I'll give you the dollar tour." Nathan flicks on the light and she takes in the front room. The carpet is beige Berber with speckles of different colors; the walls are white. Coffee and end tables of heavy, polished wood. The television was over 40 inches. The furniture is in browns, overstuffed, and comfy-looking. A recliner sat, turned towards the TV. The dining room holds a small table, covered with papers, and a sideboard. The kitchen was small and spare, the counters virtually empty, but for the coffeemaker. The scent of seared beef fills the air along with roasted potatoes. "You cook?" He smiles at her, a little sheepishly. "My mother made certain that each of us could make a few basic meals." Joanna cocks her head at him, smiling. "So we wouldn't be over at their house every night when we got hungry." She chuckles. "Good plan." "OK. Bathroom here. Bedrooms here." He opens the doors and she peeks inside. One is made up as an office with a weight bench off to one side and shelves of music and movies on one wall. The second, smaller bedroom holds his bed. He sucks in a breath when he realizes there is a pair of dirty pants on the floor. She suppresses a growl at the scent of an unfamiliar female. The scent, however, is old. He hurries in and kicks the pants under the bed and pulls the bedcovers a little straighter. Joanna smiles. "It's nice, Nathan." "Uh, sorry. And thanks." There is a pause. "You wanna... watch the news a bit? Unwind from the craziness that is my family in one room?" "Sounds good." "OK." They go back out to the kitchen. "Something to drink?" He opens the refrigerator door. "I've got beer, um, cider," he grabs the slightly bulging container, "or a science experiment." He puts it back. "Or water, I guess." "I'm good, Nathan." They sit on his couch, a little stiffly, as he turns on the TV and runs through the channels. She's a bit nervous and he's surprised at how nervous he feels. Finally, he snakes an arm around her shoulders and pulls her against him. She doesn't resist. After a bit, she pulls her feet up on the couch, snuggling into him. "Cold?" "Huh, uh." A pileup on the interstate. A shooting at the unemployment office. The weather. Continuing cool with more snow on the way. The results of the game. "Damn." She looks up at him. "I lost $20 to Luke." He looks down at her and smiles. He takes a deep breath. "Have I told you how good you smell?" She thinks for a minute. "I don't think so." He reaches around to cup her face. "Well. You do." He then leans down for a kiss. When he pulls back she gasps for breath, her face still turned up to him. He pulls her into his lap and kisses her again. His arms go around her back, cradling her to him as he kisses her thoroughly. Her breasts are lightly touching his chest and he decides to see if she will allow him to lavish appropriate attention on them. He strokes down her back then runs his hands back up, under her shirt. Her skin is soft, smooth, and he wants more tonight. So, he strokes her sides, finding she's a little ticklish on her outer ribs. He rubs his thumbs under the curve of her breasts. A small moan comes from her, and he smiles. [Can I take the shirt off?] She looks a little dazed, licking her lips, and he got hard, right there. "Huh? OK." He first pulls her around, to straddle his lap, then starts pulling up the hem of her light sweater. She raises her arms over her head, to help him. He throws the sweater to the other side of the couch. Joanna is sitting on his thighs, knees on the couch, in her pants and a simple, white cotton bra. Nathan pulls her against him again, hugging her tightly and filling his nose with her scent. He smells warm, woodsy, masculine and she felt safe and, and what? She struggles for the right word to describe it. Cared for. Loved. That was it. Safe and loved. He was kissing her, his warm lips on the side of her neck. As he works his way upward, she tips her head to one side. Light kisses move upward and he nips at her earlobe. She gasps and giggles slightly. Nathan takes her face in both hands and kisses her deeply, thoroughly, then moves to her other ear and down the other side of her neck. She was immersed in his scent, completely surrounded by him. Nathan puts his hands at her shoulders and tips her upper body away from him slightly. He looks into her eyes and smiles, then dips his head to kiss the hollow of her throat. Her breath catches there and she feels her chest start heaving as he leaves butterfly kisses over her collarbone. Joanna swallows, feeling his hands move. He unfastens the back of her bra and runs his hands under the fabric, covering each breast with a hand. As he rubs his thumbs across her nipples, she gasps again and experiences a strange sensation. It was like a little spasm, a twitch, down at her... where she... How? How was he able to make her feel that, down there, in her private place, when he was nowhere near there? He was touching her boobs, not her...there. But it was like her nerves were connected. "Ah!" She jerks as he captures both nipples between thumbs and forefingers and rolls them lightly. And she's glad she has her arms around his neck. She notices that he's watching her closely, watching her reactions to what he was doing. He seems pretty pleased with himself. The last time he had touched her boobs they had remained fully clothed. This time.. She reaches for his shirt and manages to untuck it and unbutton a button before he stops her by pulling off her bra. She watches his eyes go wide and tries to decipher the feeling she sees in them. Was it lust? Love? Appreciation? What a weird word to think of. As she contemplates this, his mouth moves closer and, oh! another jolt down there. He's got the top of her body bare before him and, oh, he liked what he saw. She was gorgeous. He takes a few moments to look her over and notices the scar on her left side. "Joanna, when did you get shot?" "Oh. Yeah, that. Well, when Emmett brought Lyssa into the pack, she was still human. We thought Thomas had claimed her, mated her, and Dad was ready to send her to him. She didn't want to go. Well, Emmett took off with her, out of the den." "That's right. I remember. Your father asked for help to find them." "Well, when we found them I asked to go along. Dad thought I could keep her calm while the others got Em. As they grabbed him, Lyssa came out, with a gun, and told them to let him go. I came around the door suddenly and she turned and fired." "Lyssa. The Beta. Shot you?" "Uh, yeah. She didn't mean to but she was only human and she was scared and she was trying to save Emmett." His hand travels down her body and he touches the scar. "It's not too bad, is it?" she asks. He looks up at her and smiles, shaking his head, then couldn't resist the temptation to taste her. He leans down and takes her left nipple in his mouth and sucks strongly. He's glad to hear her gasp. He suckles on that sweet nipple a bit longer while lightly kneading her other breast. Tonight. Tonight he would begin to find out how she liked to be touched and find out some of the noises he could get from her. As he pulls away she makes a small sound of dismay. He blows on that wet nipple and it seems to crinkle up even tighter. He looks up at her briefly and grins. She smiles shyly back at him and blinks. Returning his attention to those sensitive, pink points, he flicks one with his fingernail and listens to a little whimper. So, he drops his head again and pulls the nipple back into his mouth. Her hands go to his hair as he flicks that nipple with his tongue, then sucks on it. And, now, he smells it as she begins to moan. He smells the beginnings of her arousal. And the smell builds as he continues to worship her breasts. He imagines how wet she's getting, how it would feel to touch her there, to feel that slickness. He considers what she might taste like as he bites lightly on the soft, pointed tip in his mouth, her moan changing to a light squeak. She throws her head back and clutches his head tightly. He goes on, switching back and forth periodically, until she's panting in his arms. Her chest heaving, he puts a hand behind her head and tips it back towards him. He kisses her fiercely, possessively. She kisses him back with equal fervor as he pulls her back against him. When the kiss breaks he sees something in her eyes and her hands go to his waistband. The sudden contact with his swollen cock makes him groan as he catches her hands, brings them to his lips, and kisses them. Quietly, his voice rough, he looks into her blue eyes and says, "Not tonight, Jo. We have a lot of time." She looks at him, a bit confused and put out. "But, I want you to." He brushes hair from her face and rests his forehead against hers. "It's not time. You want me to, Jo. I want us to. This is you and me." "But, I'm ready, Nathan." He smiles, stroking his thumb over her slightly swollen lips. "I know you are, I can smell you. But, I'm not." She opens her mouth to reply and he puts a finger to her lips. "There's no need to rush and so much to do before that." He sighs. "I've told you I want you, Jo. But I also want to enjoy the trip there. It'll give you a chance to explore, too. OK?" She looks at him and he raises his eyebrows at her. "OK." "C'mon. It's late. Let's get you to bed. We'll have to get up early so I can get you home." She furrows her brow. "Oh. Work tomorrow." He nods. "Did you need a t-shirt or something to sleep in?" She bites her lip. "Um. Yeah." "OK. Let me change the sheets and get you a t-shirt." "Nathan?" "Huh?" "Can you sleep with me, in the bed?" He looks at her, considering how strong his willpower was. Thought of what it would be like to hold her in his arms through the night. "Sure." ** Emmett caught up to his mate on the way back to the den. She was slowing as he came up behind her and she smelled good. So, he grabs her by the scruff of the neck and plunges in. He growls lightly as she fidgets under him, growling lightly herself as they fucked in the cold moonlight. After they were able to separate, she goes back to the den, upstairs, and after washing up, crawls into bed. He checks on a couple of things and slides in beside her. Lyssa is snoring lightly as he pulls her back against him. And now, later, there is a whimpering in the bed beside him. Lyssa has gone to wolf again in her sleep. Emmett wakes, looks over and throws off the bedcovers. Emmett gets up on an elbow and looks at his mate. Her muzzle and paws begin twitching and a questioning sound comes from her throat. "Lyssa?" Her legs now begin pedaling as if she were moving quickly; she growls. "Lys?" The pedaling continues and she snuffles. "Lys!" He puts a hand on her shoulder and she snarls and snaps at him, catching a finger and drawing blood. The twist in her upper body allows her claws to catch the sheets and her upper body ends up over the edge of the bed. The rest of her follows and she falls to the floor with a thump and a yelp. Emmett peers over the side of the bed, where he sees Lyssa has shifted back to human form and is curled up on her side. She hasn't woken. It takes him only a second to slide out of the bed and crouch beside her. He picks her up and places her back in the bed. She yawns and stretches. "Em?" He kisses her temple. "Shh, sweetheart, go back to sleep." There is a soft sigh from her as she drops back into sleep. But her sleep is restless. She rolls, moves, and whimpers, once rolling over quickly and inadvertently smacking him in the face. So, he pulls her into his arms, trying to comfort and quiet her. But she struggles, moaning. He releases her then and continues to watch, trying to figure out why this was happening and what was happening. She was obviously having nightmares, but why now? He would have expected them just after they found her and Joanna, just after their rescue. But that was almost two weeks ago now. She was healed from the beating she had endured after Joanna escaped and had been fine through the party and the gathering. He notes that she's gone quiet beside him and is glad for it but then shakes his head when she goes back to wolf. He thinks back. Things had begun to unravel with the Ross wolf and their appointment in the circle. It had upset her to think of simply killing him outright. But she had been mad when he tried to take her place. And then, when Joanna was out and the Ross wolf had Lyssa by the throat, he and Randall had waded in and Randall finished him. Lyssa was again pissed at him. Emmett had done as she asked and talked to Erich about the fight. Erich had told him he had been a bit disappointed in the fight, that it hadn't gone on long enough for many of the others and that, while they understood it, Randall had just killed him after Jo and Lyssa had been pulled out. Randall had essentially taken their kill but, then again, he was Alpha. Emmett had expected her to start spending more time with Madeline but that really hadn't happened. He attributed it to the work at the warehouse. And, then, to top it all off, she had gone off driving for hours and had gotten into a brawl with Ariel! She was erratic, moody, and violent. It wasn't good for the pack. Fulfillment 05 And, in the meantime, she was barely eating, except for the deer earlier, was having trouble sleeping, and seemed to be withdrawing. Even from him. He could only think of one thing. He looks over at the chestnut wolf. Her ears, lips, and paws were twitching again. He had to get her away from the pack for a while until they could work out whatever was twisted up in her head, until he could get her to face whatever demons were apparently haunting her. Sunday The pack woke to a day full of promise and growth. A new pup. A new Beta. An additional pack member. Madeline and the pup were already considered members of the Wyeth pack but they would be formally presented to the others tonight. Sunrise brought a cold, clear day although they smelled snow coming. The sound of a motorcycle was prelude to Joanna's return. Stephanie, Gordon, and Thomas start out the door as young Severn pulls up with their Alpha daughter on the back of his bike. She hops off, kisses him thoroughly, and runs into the house, a spring in her step. Stephanie snorts as the three wolves turn off to start a perimeter sweep. And then she remembers the task her Alpha had set for her. To speak of what she saw in the mated pairs. Crap. She didn't have much time left to come up with something. Stephanie circles one way around with Thomas while Gordon runs in the opposite direction. There was little chance of a problem, as the packs would keep to their own ranges at the full moon. But, then, it was only a couple of weeks ago that wolves from another pack had taken two of their members off their range. That had been a rare event, a throwback from ancient days when packs readily killed or kidnapped those from rival packs. It had been a question of resources back then, now they were more... civilized. But they were still wolves. Still enjoying the run, the hunt, and very protective of their territories. And, so, the perimeter sweeps. ** There were smiles on the faces of several wolves as Joanna trips up the stairs, smelling of Nathan Severn. Roland is walking down the stairs as she walks up. "So, sis, how was it?" "Chaotic. Four pups running around the table, his parents, his brothers, and their mates. So, I've met his entire family." He grabs her chin and tips her neck to one side, then the other. She slaps his hands away. "Stop it." "Yeah, I guess not, or you wouldn't have come home." "Did you think I got mated?" "You were gone all night," Roland says. "The snow made it bad for the bike." "Uh, huh. Sleep well?" Joanna pokes her older brother in the chest. "Shut. Up. Besides, it's none of your business." [Mom. Joanna's home.] [I heard the bike, Rolly. Thank you.] [Joanna, I wish to speak with you this morning.] The tone of her mother's send made her uncomfortable. [OK, Mom.] Joanna washes up, thinking of the night before. It was neat. It was comfortable. It was amazing. Even though she was ready to go all the way, it was really nice just to sleep in the same bed with him. It had been a bit uncomfortable at first. She didn't know how to act. He had pulled her back against him and she'd gotten too warm. So, Nathan had let her go and she'd moved away. But she woke up this morning to Nathan laying on his back and her curled up against him, with her head on his chest and his arm around her. He had slept with a t-shirt and sweatpants on; she had worn one of his t-shirts. And, now, she thought of what it would be like to lay there with him, skin to skin. And, then, to do the rest of the things that she thought about, that were a little scary. And she wondered how long it would be, what it would feel like because, so far, it had felt pretty good. She had to talk to someone about it. [Lyssa? You around?] Lyssa and Joanna are sitting in a corner of the dining room. Lyssa's hands are wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee. She takes a deep drink. Her voice is tired as she asks, "So, Jo, what's going on?" "I spent the night with Nathan." Lyssa looks up and examines Joanna a little more closely. "Oh?" "He... we..." Lyssa closes her eyes. One. Two. Three. "Fucked?" Joanna makes a face. "Ew. No. Why would you say it like that?" "Then what did happen?" "He just.. Well, we went back to his house cuz the roads looked bad and, while we were on the couch he, well, my shirt came off." "All by itself, huh?" "Well, no, but, oh, Lyssa, it was so, so amazing. And it was just my boobs." "Breasts, Joanna. There's no reason for you to talk like a child." "Um, yeah. Breasts. I had no idea it could feel so, so good. And it was like they were connected to my, my, OK, I don't even know exactly where there is." "So, how far did it get?" "That's it. I kinda wanted to but he wouldn't." Second base. "Wouldn't?" "He said we had time. And then we got into bed and slept. It was warm and I had some trouble sleeping with someone else in the bed but it was so nice. I was sorry to have morning come." "It gets better, just so long as he isn't a total dick. Just make sure to tell him if you don't like something he's doing or you'll end up having to put up with it forever." "Um. OK." Joanna peers at her friend. "Lyssa. Are you OK? You don't look so good." "I don't know. Em says I'm having nightmares. I got into an argument with your mother yesterday. I don't feel quite. Right." Joanna puts a hand on Lyssa's arm and pulls back when Lyssa's lip lifts slightly. "Have you talked to Natalie?" "No." "Is this about what happened? To us?" "I don't know." Ignoring the warning signals, Joanna throws her arms around her friend. "Lyssa. You're OK. You're safe. You saved us." Lyssa sits stiffly. Joanna continues, "You were fine a couple days ago. What happened? I know I haven't been around a lot, but you can talk to me. Something's wrong." Lyssa sits, hands still around the coffee cup, staring off into space. "Nothing. Everything." [Maybe I wasn't cut out to be a werewolf.] "What are you thinking?! Lyssa..." [Quiet, Jo. You can't tell anyone.] [But, why? It's not like you can stop being one.] "I know." Lyssa turns away from her young friend. "Talk to me." Joanna puts a hand on her arm again and is rewarded with a growl. Lyssa had never, ever growled at her before. "OK, Lys. I'll leave you alone now. But come talk to me later, OK?" A noncommittal grunt is her reply. Joanna heads upstairs to find her mother and finds Emmett just leaving the Alpha suite, a worried look on his face. She peeks in. "Mom?" "Come in, Jo." "I'm sorry, Mom, I should have called last night." Ariel looks at her daughter, smiles, and tucks a lock of hair behind her ear. "Yes, sweetie, it would have been nice if you had. How are you and Nathan doing?" "Um, good, Mom. I've met all his brothers and their mates and pups." "And what did you think of them?" "It's kinda creepy. Jonathon and Juliet. Kyle and Kendra. Luke and Laura. Matt and Mary?" Ariel chuckles. "Jon has some odd ideas on naming pups. And how they got their mates..." She shakes her head. "But, I asked you here for another reason." Joanna cocks her head. "What?" Ariel sighs. "One of our pack members has become increasingly volatile. I'm trying to gauge the level of threat she is to the pack." Joanna gasps. "Mom, you can't hurt Lyssa!" "Jo, she challenged me last night." "No. She wouldn't." "Defiant. Argumentative. And initiated a fight with me." Ariel waits for her daughter to process this information. "I'd like you to tell me what you've seen." Joanna sits and thinks for a minute. "I don't know. I haven't really been around much lately." "Anything you can think of, Jo. We're trying to figure out what's going on and how we can help." "Um, well, I was talking to her earlier and she was kinda rude. She wasn't like herself. And, she said," Ariel waits for her daughter to finish, "maybe she shouldn't be a werewolf." "How did you feel around her?" "Kinda uncomfortable. Mom, she growled at me." "Why did she growl?" "All I did was touch her arm." Ariel nods, exhaling. Joanna looks at her, worried. "She started a fight?" Ariel nods. "And there have been other things? She said she's having nightmares." "And, if she remembers anything about them, she's not saying. She snapped at Emmett last night, in her sleep, and drew blood. She seems jealous of Madeline and put Cassie on edge. Emmett also said she's driven to her old house and the house where you were held." "It's gotta be something about them taking us, Mom." "Perhaps. It could be something else, after all, she wasn't born to the pack." "She went through a lot when she was growing up." "Thank you for reminding me, Jo. That might be part of it." "What're you gonna do?" "I'll be discussing this with your father. Unfortunately, her case is not a simple one and, while she may not be able to do it with claws and teeth, the fact that she's killed with a strong send means we need to be cautious." "What can I do?" "Be her friend, Jo. Just be wary." ** Some of the younger pups are tumbling, wrestling, and biting each other in the training room. Released from their lessons for the day, they are determining a pecking order, or status, within the pack. While their place in the pack was largely determined by birth there were ways to both increase and decrease status. Females looked for a strong male who could provide for her and their pups. A weak male would have a much harder time finding a mate, even now. But, the realities of the world in which they lived also played a role. Other abilities – strategy, planning, technology, leadership - were important for promoting oneself. In the social structure of a wolf pack, cooperation was essential and, though the Alpha's word was absolute and werewolf justice swift and deadly, diplomacy was also needed, both within the pack and without. The young pups didn't recognize all of this, of course, but were acutely aware of status. Lyssa was working her triceps, and getting mildly annoyed by the persistent growling coming from the other side of the room. Stephanie is nearby, dead lifting 300 pounds. In between sets, she looks over at Lyssa. "Madam Beta, may I ask you a question?" Lyssa sighs. "I suppose." "I have heard that you did not want to kill the Ross wolf who harmed you but you did it anyway, that you demanded it, even though the Beta agreed to do it." Lyssa stops what she's doing and looks at Stephanie, eyes hard. "Do you want me angry, Stephanie? Do you want to fight?" Stephanie keeps her eyes down. "No, Madam Beta. The Madam Alpha has given me a task and I am trying to complete it." "By reminding me of my failure?" Lyssa barks at the pups. "Get out!" Startled, the young ones scrabble to a stop. A hard look from her has them running from the room, yelping, tails between their legs. Lyssa turns to Stephanie and growls. The growl unnerved Stephanie, though she was not afraid. She keeps her eyes averted. "It is not my intention to make you mad, Madam Beta. I want to understand." Lyssa's chest is heaving and she closes her eyes. She was mad, recognizes it as being out of proportion, but was unable to calm herself. She wants to strike out at someone, something. Stephanie was a fighter and performed most of the tasks commonly assigned to males of the pack. Would it help her calm down? She didn't get a chance to fight Ariel the night before. Lyssa opens her eyes. "Stephanie. I propose the following. We spar, no holds barred. If I win, you walk away. If you win, I will answer your question." Stephanie considers this unusual proposition. The Beta might be angry if she agreed to the terms but her Madam Alpha had given her a task. "The circle?" Lyssa nods. "No mental attack that will put me down." Lyssa shakes her head. "No punishment if I injure you." Lyssa barks a laugh and shakes her head again. "Is there a specific form you wish to maintain?" Lyssa considers briefly. "No." The Beta female could not beat her. She did not have the years of training, of hard fighting, the scars Stephanie had. She would get the answer to her question. "Agreed." Lyssa smiles, rips through her clothing, and races out to the circle. Stephanie strips and follows, a brown wolf with lighter forelimbs and head, chasing a larger, chestnut wolf to the Wyeth circle. Lyssa enters and moves to the opposite side, then turns to wait for Stephanie. Stephanie enters the circle and sits, regarding her opponent. Hackles up, head low, teeth bared, Lyssa watches as Stephanie's eyes track her. Overconfident. Just sitting there, waiting for her to do something. Stephanie turns her head slightly as she watches Caroline return from an outing with three of the pack's pre-adolescent pups. However, her ear is flicked in Lyssa's direction and she hears the almost silent rush of the Beta female. Stephanie skitters out of the way and trips Lyssa in the process. Lyssa catches her balance and turns, shifting to intermediate form, kicks off a rock, and launches herself at Stephanie. The send goes out from one of the young males. [Fight!] And the question comes back from a few. [Who?] [The Beta female and Stephanie.] Several wolves come out of the house as Stephanie, now in intermediate form, rolls and throws Lyssa off to the side. Lyssa rolls to her feet, snarling, and launches herself again at Stephanie. Emmett runs out, followed shortly after by Erich. Stephanie twists to one side and shoves down on Lyssa as she comes by. Lyssa stumbles and rolls, coming up with a good-sized piece of log. Whirling, she breaks it over Stephanie's back. Emmett evaluates the mostly silent fight while trying to figure out whether this was a sparring session or something else. [Stephanie's doing a good job, trying not to hurt her.] Erich says. His attention is diverted slightly by the arrival of his mate. [Yes. Lyssa's doing all the attacking. Stephanie has had a couple of opportunities already to take her.] Emmett replies as Joanna settles on his other side. The only sounds are the grunts and heavy breathing of the combatants, mostly Lyssa, and the sound of paws or feet on the ground. Then, the smell of blood. Lyssa ducks under Stephanie's arms and leave a tear across her thigh. The typical howl goes up from the assembled wolves at the drawing of first blood. Lyssa backs off a bit, wearing a slight, wolfish grin. Emmett sees her muscles bunch before her next leap. Lyssa, as wolf, was going after a wolf woman – Stephanie. It was the mistake she had made with the Ross wolf. Stephanie twists as Lyssa leaps for her arm and leaves the bloody track of one claw down Lyssa's side. Erich smells Emmett's blood and looks to his friend. Blood is dripping from his clenched fists, held firmly at his sides. [Easy, Em, Stephanie's being careful.] Careful, yes, but Lyssa was his mate and Emmett feels the powerful urge to protect her. Seeing and smelling her blood set his teeth on edge. Joanna is nervous and takes Emmett's hand. [I don't get it, Em. What's she doing?] Emmett turns briefly to Joanna and pulls his hand out of her grasp, then looks back to the fight. [I don't know. She was mad when I pulled her away from that wolf. Picked a fight with your mother. Maybe she just needs to let it out.] Lyssa pauses and scents the air, picking up the smell of her mate's blood. She looks at him and is distracted enough that Stephanie could easily take her. She doesn't, but rushes by, smacking Lyssa's muzzle as she passes. Lyssa's teeth snick together and she bites her tongue. Turning, really pissed, she snarls and lunges. As with the Ross wolf, Stephanie grabs her by the throat and shakes her. Lyssa, the wolf, struggles and scrabbles, trying to inflict damage. The wolf woman is easily able to hold her away. Stephanie catches the beginnings of Lyssa's change and slams her to the ground on her back. Lyssa's head bounces off the frozen ground as a light snow begins. Dazed, she can't get away as Stephanie settles atop her. She struggles, though her wrists and legs are pinned The wolves surrounding the circle howl; Stephanie has clearly won the match. Lyssa narrows her eyes at Stephanie. [Ah, ah. No mental attack.] Stephanie sends. Lyssa closes her eyes, huffs, and lays still. [I bow to your superior skill.] Stephanie cocks her head slightly and looks at her Madam Beta, not submission but an admission. As she releases Lyssa and sits back she says [My question, Madam Beta?] Lyssa sits up and puts up a hand to stop Emmett's approach. He halts, a question on his face. [No, Stephanie, I did not want to come into this circle and just kill him.] [Even though he had a part in your capture, confinement, and pain? Strange. The Beta meant to take your place but you demanded to do it, why?] [I need to be able to take care of things myself.] [I understand. Thank you, Madam Beta.] As Stephanie prepares to leave another send from Lyssa stops her. [Stephanie, wait. That may be one of the reasons, but it's not the most important one.] Stephanie turns to look at her. Lyssa takes a deep breath, then releases it. [It would have gone badly if I hadn't tried, for Emmett.] A pause. [I did it for him.] Stephanie turns and looks at her more closely. Lyssa looks back at her; she clearly doesn't understand. [Ask any of the others, ask Joanna, what they wouldn't do for their mate.] Emmett comes into the circle to collect his mate, turning her to look at the wound on her side. Stephanie watches and remembers their first few days at the den. And she walks away, noticing Erich nuzzling Madeline, who had left her pack for her mate. And she thought of Calvin and Sabine. [Feel better?] Lyssa looks at her mate and sniffs as he examines her wound. [Why do you smell like Joanna?] [What? She was standing next to me.] [No. It's more than that. What have you to been doing?] [It's just my hand, Lys. She grabbed it when you got hurt.] Lyssa doesn't look convinced. [You're jealous? Of Jo?] [Maybe I'm not wolfy enough for you.] [Lyssa, stop. Look, we're late for lunch and then we have petitions, but you should see Wade first. C'mon.] [Got it, Em. Go get something to eat; I'll be there.] Lyssa stalks away, looking for the pack's primary healer. She walks into the medical ward to find Thomas stitching up one of the young males. He ducks his head. "Madam Beta," an exhale. Lyssa pivots to leave. "I'm almost done here." "I'll be fine." "It's a long wound, Madam Beta. It likely needs stitching." She looks over her shoulder. "Where are Wade and Natalie?" "Lunch, Madam Beta." "I'll be back." Lyssa goes up to their room and washes up, wincing at the pain and washing her blood down the drain. Sighing, she dries off, slips on a dress and pads downstairs to eat. She slides in beside Emmett, who checks the contents of her plate. There isn't much there, not as much as she would normally have. She smells the soap on his hands. He'd washed up, removing Joanna's scent. They eat in silence although the dining room is really loud. People are trying to wheedle the baby's name out of Cassie and Samuel; Joanna is chattering with Madeline about Nathan; and Erich and Roland are deep in conversation. Lyssa finishes her plate and rises to clear her place. "You should have some more, mate." She turns and slams the plate and glass down on the table. The hall goes dead silent. The reply comes out between clenched teeth. "I don't need you telling me what to do. You're not my father." [No, Lyssa, I'm your mate and I'm worried about you.] She replies, "I'm fine" and stalks off. As he steps from the table a calm voice enters his mind [I wouldn't follow her, Emmett.] He stops, eyes closed, as conversation resumes. [I have to, Ariel. I've got to find out what's wrong.] Fulfillment 05 He finds her in their room, twisted before the mirror, looking at the long scratch down her side. He sits on the couch, "Come here, Lyssa." The tone is calm, quiet, gentle, and she turns and gives him a dirty look but slowly wanders over to stand nearby. Emmett looks up at his lovely, maddening, and seemingly troubled mate, grabs her hand and pulls her into his lap. She pushes at him as he wraps his arms around her, preventing her escape. "Em." "No. Sit. We've got about half an hour before petitions." "Suppose Madeline'll be there performing 'Beta duties?'" "Lyssa, what is this? You're jealous of Madeline, jealous of Jo. You're not eating, not sleeping. You're picking fights. You're being rude and hurtful and this isn't like you. What's going on?" "Maybe I'm just being all the werewolf I can be." ** As Lyssa and Emmett continue their rather acrimonious discussion, Ariel summons Stephanie. Stephanie enters the Alpha's sitting room, an anteroom to their suite. "Stephanie, please, sit." Stephanie obediently sits. "How is your wound?" "I'm fine, Madam Alpha." "Did Lyssa ask you to spar?" "No, ma'am." "May I ask why you were fighting?" "That is a matter between us, Madam Alpha." Ariel sighs. "Of course. However, on that subject I will have you answer my next question." Stephanie stares fixedly ahead. "Did Lyssa's behavior prior to your time in the circle seem unusual?" Stephanie's eyes flick to Ariel, then away. "Yes, ma'am. She was touchy. Her reaction was beyond what I expected." "I thank you for refraining from doing her great harm." Stephanie nods in acknowledgement. "Now, earlier in the week I asked you to tell me what you see in the mated pairs. Tell me what you've discovered." Stephanie swallows and feels the Madam Alpha watching her closely. "It is... difficult to describe." "Simply describe your thoughts as best you can." "I saw," a pause, "touching, kissing, looks between mates." "Certainly, as well as activity beyond that." Stephanie nods. "But, you understand my intention was to have you look deeper." Stephanie licks her lips. "Yes, Madam Alpha." "Well, then, continue." "I saw a female willing, and eager, to leave her pack and stay in a strange and unfamiliar place. For a male. Another female spending a lot of time away from the den and her family. I've heard of a male staying with his ill mate although he certainly could have done otherwise." Ariel ticks the individuals off in her mind. Madeline. Joanna. Calvin. "Another male who was sought after by many females choosing as mate a female without status. Emmett. Ariel asks, "And why would they do such a thing?" "I'm not sure." "Come now, Stephanie. You have an idea. I want you to tell me what their reasons might be." "They get something out if it." "Both the males and the females?" "I, yes, I suppose so." "And what would that be?" "Sex," comes out quickly. "Security. Pups." "Reasonable answers, but superficial. Did you speak to any of them? Did they say why?" "Yes, ma'am. Madeline, the new Madam Beta, said that the new Beta treated her well, wonderfully and she also told me she hoped I would find a male to make me happy." Ariel bows her head so Stephanie wouldn't see the small smile on her lips. Stephanie inhales, exhales. "But it was Lyssa, the Madam Beta, who I asked to tell me more." And that, Ariel thought, given Lyssa's current mood, was the reason for the fight. "I asked her why she demanded to kill the Ross wolf when she didn't want to, when the Beta already said he'd do it. She said she did it for him, so he wouldn't lose status." Stephanie stops, looking expectantly at her Alpha. "You know there's more than that, Stephanie. It's not just status." "I suppose it's love." "Don't say the word as if it might poison you. I can't understand what you endured before Wallace found you." Stephanie inhales sharply and stiffens. No one ever mentioned it around her, what had happened to her. "Your experiences have, of course, colored your views but you have lived among us for decades and you've seen nothing like that in our pack. And, if you don't already know it, believe that if you were to be kidnapped we would search for you as fervently. We would bring you back to us." Ariel rises and walks to the door. Stephanie, sensing she's being dismissed, also rises and turns to make her way from the Alpha suite. "It's about time for me to go down for petitions, but Stephanie, you've seen it but do not allow yourself to believe. Not all males are evil or have bad intent toward females. Calvin is a good man." "I have no need of a male." "You're a wolf, Stephanie. Each and every one of us feels a pull to mate. Even you." Stephanie stops and takes a breath. Ariel pauses, recognizing that something important may be going on in the mind of her packmate. Stephanie asks a quiet question of her Alpha. "Why would he want me?" "The wolf sees a strong female. As for the man? Well, I can't say all the reasons but something calls to him, perhaps your loyalty, your dignity, certainly other things. You should ask him." Stephanie feels something tighten in her chest, feels something clutch her heart, at her Alpha's words. Her next words are almost a whimper. "Madam Alpha?" Ariel smiles at her and heads downstairs to hear the pack's petitions with her mate. Stephanie stands in the doorway, one hand on the doorjamb, dumbfounded. She'd endured, and lived, only by closing herself off. Loyalty. Yes. She owed her life to Wallace Wyeth and his pack and she had vowed to do anything for Wallace and his blood kin. Fight and, yes, die for them. And so she had trained and learned to fight. To help the pack. To contribute. Dignity. Dignity? She didn't understand why the Madam Alpha had used that word to describe her. She was just an Omega and that seemed a word to describe Alphas, or perhaps Betas. And she thought of the Wyeth wolves, male and female, and her time with them, and how she had been treated since arriving, all those years ago. Dignity. And she remembers what the Madam Beta had said. As much as she may have feared doing it and had opposed it on human moral grounds, Lyssa had entered the circle to face the Ross wolf. For her mate's sake. That was a type of loyalty, wasn't it? To her mate. To her pack. To the way of werewolves. But Stephanie couldn't figure out, for the life of her, where dignity entered into it. ** Petitions were held in the dining hall, the only room that could hold the entire pack, although it was rarely filled for this occasion. And it was not, on this day. Erich's sister, his older sister, Naomi, was there. Emmett was slightly surprised to see Cameron there. Emmett sat at the head table beside Randall and Ariel. Lyssa sat beside him, quiet and grumpy, her eyes beginning to bruise after the smack on the snout that Stephanie had given her. Petitions were not a particularly formal affair, but Randall, with input from Ariel and Emmett primarily, made the decisions. So, Randall begins this month with, "So, who will go first?" Some of them look at each other before Cameron stands. "Alpha Wyeth. The roof on our house needs to be replaced. I would like to ask for the help of three of the pack in tearing off the old roof, and putting on the new." "Of course, Cameron, we can spare three members for a day or two. When do you anticipate the work?" "Next week, if we can. I'd like it done before winter hits." Randall nods. "Thank you, Alpha." Ariel smiles. "How is Theresa?" Cameron breaks into a wide smile. "We're having another pup." "Wonderful, Cameron. Make sure she comes in to see Natalie." "Of course, Ma'am." He sits back down, grinning. Randall looks at the faces of his pack, smiling, happy to hear of another pup coming. "Who's next?" Simon stands. "My Alpha, the cold storage room is 22 years old. Therefore, beyond its expected lifespan. It's time to put a replacement in." "What is your plan for the replacement?" "There are new pumps, better equipment, improved insulation." "Your plan is a total rebuild?" "Yes, Alpha." "What is the cost of a simple refrigeration unit replacement?" "Pump, condenser, refrigerant charge, scavenge of the old refrigerant. About $3500." "And the retrofit?" "Tear down, replacement unit, rebuild, permitting and inspection, as well as a temporary storage locker. Estimated cost and time, $17,000 and five days." "And the payback period?" "Estimated 42 months." Randall sits a moment, thinking. "Unless something substantial arises, start the retrofit in spring." "Thank you, Alpha." Simon sits and starts making notes. Naomi stands now. "My Alphas. We have the happy circumstance of a growing pack but with the increase in the number of pups we need more space and others to teach them." "Thank you, Naomi. As the need is not immediate, I want you to work with Erich and Anton with regard to space. It sounds like we need to consider expanding the house or building another structure." "El?" Ariel looks at her mate. "Please work with Naomi to determine and fill the gaps in teachers." Ariel nods. "Thank you, My Alphas." Naomi sits. Randall looks around. "Anyone else?" Erich clears his throat. "Um, Alpha Wyeth, we've gotten another call this morning from a couple from the Ross pack. They're expecting their first pup and don't want to raise it there." Randall sighs, scrubbing his hands over his face. "How many does that make now?" Emmett answers. "Eight." Randall responds. "Nine." Emmett glances at his Alpha. Who was the ninth? Was he counting the pup? Calvin? The Wyeth Alpha looks out over the pack members assembled there. Naomi had the adolescents here for a pack civics lesson. "I would like to do nothing more than help other werewolves," everyone waited, understanding that a 'but' was coming. "However, we can't take that many without compromising our own living situation or raising the ire of the new Ross Alpha." One of the youngsters shoots to her feet. "Alpha Wyeth?" Randall looks at the young female, light brown hair, pale skin, hazel eyes. She was a little slower than the others. "Yes, Hannah?" "Ire, that's mad, right?" Randall nods. "So, you're saying he'd be mad if some of his pack came here?" "Every time someone in his pack leaves, the pack gets smaller. If more than half a dozen or so leave, he'll notice his pack disintegrating and things could get very bad. For the wolves who stay in the Ross pack and for us." She cocks her head and thinks for a moment. "Huh. OK. Thanks, Alpha." Randall makes the pronouncement, "Unless they have specific allegations of abuse, we can't take them in." He sends to Ariel. [As much as we might want to help.] Ariel covers his hand with her own. [You know we can't pick and choose, Ran. And we can't take them all.] "Alright, everyone, thank you." Emmett turns to his Alpha and clears his throat. "Actually, Randall, Alpha, there's one more thing." Randall looks a bit confused, then regains his composure. "Emmett, what do you have?" Emmett turns to Erich briefly. [Sorry to do this to you so soon after you've mated.] "We have a problem and I want to," he exhales, "I need to take my mate out of the den for a few days to stop the disruption. I think some time away would be best for all." Lyssa goes still and quiet beside him. He takes that as a bad sign. Of course, he hadn't told her what he had planned. Randall looks at Lyssa, then Emmett, then his own mate. Lyssa appears to be seething. Emmett is resolute, waiting. And Ariel's look was encouraging. The rest of his pack, those in the room, were now suddenly very interested in this interaction. "Lyssa, do you have anything to say regarding your mate's request?" Lyssa is staring at the table in front of her without seeing it. The whole room hears her grind her teeth together. "No." "For the good of the pack, I agree. You have a week, sooner if possible, to return to us. When do you intend to leave?" "Tomorrow morning." Randall nods, "Agreed," and raises his head to look once more around the room. "Anyone else?" No one speaks up. "Alright, then. Thank you all. I'll see you later in the front hall." ** Petitions were held in the late afternoon of the full moon, shortly before the evening festivities, as they normally didn't take very long. With business out of the way, they could enjoy the announcements, the birth of pups, or just a run or hunt under the full moon. Tonight was a special occasion. Emmett sits beside his mate as the others disperse and he knows she's not at all happy with his request. [So, taking me away. Is that going to make it all better?] [No. But you staying here is not an option. So, pack a bag, we leave early tomorrow.] [And if I don't?] [I will carry you bodily from this house. One way or the other, we're going away.] [Why do you think ordering me around is going to help?] [Because the other way hasn't.] She sits there, grumpy, arms crossed. [And you had to bring it up in front of the whole pack.] [It affects all of them.] She doesn't respond to that and they sit there, quiet. He knows she's not happy about it, but she hasn't been happy about much of anything for days. This was the only thing he could think of, get her away from the pack, away from distractions, so that all she had to deal with was him and whatever was causing her to act this way. Joanna skids to a stop inside the dining hall. The body language of her friends keeps her from closing the distance. Her brother had told her they were leaving in the morning and she wanted to talk to them before they left. But now didn't seem to be a good time. So, she sighs, turns around, and walks away. Maybe she should talk to Natalie. She throws back a quick send. [Em, can I talk to you?] [Not now, Jo.] ** As is typical for a full moon, the entire pack begins to assemble. Members who lived outside the walls of the house begin to arrive. They visit with relatives or friends. When Cameron returns with his mate, they are congratulated and the females begin to gather, attracted to a pregnant Theresa. Emmett and Lyssa exit the dining hall and climb the back stairs to avoid the press of the crowd. The front doors and a couple of the windows have been opened, to release some of the heat given off by the assembled bodies. Snowflakes drift in, melting on bodies or the tile floor. Randall and Ariel stand back from the balcony, waiting for the others to arrive. Erich and Madeline come to stand near the Alpha pair. And, as has become usual, Erich has his mate tucked under his arm. Madeline's arm is around his waist. Emmett and Lyssa approach with Cassie and Samuel close behind. The baby is quiet in her mother's arms. With all the pertinent parties present, the Alphas move forward to the railing. As they come into view, the murmuring of the pack below begins to wane. When everyone goes quiet, Randall speaks. "Wolves of the Wyeth pack, another momentous day has arrived. First, tonight we welcome a new Beta. [Erich.] Erich steps forward to the railing. Randall takes his hand and clasps his arm, then turns him to Emmett. Emmett repeats the gesture. Erich is then turned to face the crowd. Several howls go up as well as cries of 'Beta.' "In addition, our new Beta has already added to the pack. For those of you who have not met her, Erich has mated Madeline. Come to us from Tucker, and now a Wyeth wolf and Beta. More howls as Erich pulls his mate forward and Madeline turns, hiding her face against his chest. Matings were generally not so celebrated, but Madeline was both and addition to the pack and a new Beta. The baby begins to cry. Randall again addresses his pack. "We also today celebrate another happy circumstance. Samuel's mate, Cassie, has given us a new pack member. Their first is a female and, today, we learn her name." Randall holds out his hands and Cassie places the crying, naked, infant girl into them. Randall looks her over as the crying increases to a wail. She is then passed over to Emmett, who looks at her and smiles down. The baby's breath hitches as she looks up at him and the crying eases. Emmett hands her over to Erich, who is unsure of how to handle her. He gives her a quick once over, then hesitates, trying to figure out the look on her face. He exclaims, "Selene," as a stream of urine runs down his arm and side. Erich, Cassie, and Samuel look horrified. Emmett, Ariel, and Randall laugh. Madeline and Lyssa smile. Cassie quickly takes her daughter back into the towel she's holding and she and Samuel step to the railing as Erich steps back and strips out of his soiled clothes. "We welcome and accept...," he is supplied with the name, "Emmaline as the newest Wyeth wolf." The assembled wolves fairly roar at the new addition. "Males! With me, for the hunt!" The males strip and shift to wolf. About 20 streak out the front door to bring back fresh meat for the celebration. A small knot of males remain behind to guard. Cassie descends the stairs with Emmaline, followed by Ariel, Lyssa and Madeline. She ducks into the bathroom at the bottom of the stairs and quickly cleans her daughter up. When she comes back out, the females gather around to admire the baby. Emmaline whimpers a bit at all the different scents swirling about her, wrinkling up her little nose. The snow falls down on the hunting wolves and the celebration continues on into the night. Fulfillment 06 Dear Readers, The next installment. I know these middle two have taken a while. I'm sorry for making you wait. I'm looking at 3 maybe 4 more chapters. KemMyst ************************* Monday Another night of disturbed sleep. Another night of his mate pulling away from him. Another night of a wolf in the bed with him and her nightmares. Lyssa's wolf had enjoyed having her mate cover her the night before but Lyssa herself was all prickly silence. She had thrown some things into a bag and crawled into bed. Emmett had tossed some things together himself, discussed with Simon and Paul the gathering of some supplies and loading of a car, then climbed back upstairs. He looked at his mate's back before he shed his clothing and crawled in beside her, hoping he was doing the right thing. Emmett rises early, before dawn, and dresses. He looks over at the bed wishing he could just crawl back in with his mate and show her how much he loved her. "C'mon, mate, time to go." Lyssa pulls the covers back over her head. "Don't wanna." "Now. Or I will haul you downstairs as you are." Emmett stands tall, exuding confidence and authority over his mate. He watches the bedcovers move, fur bristles and a wolf leaps at him from the bed. He dodges the attack. "We're leaving. Get dressed, since you're up. You need to be away from here." She snarls at him. [Lyssa! I said now.] He watches the dark brown eyes of his mate flick up at him. Grumbling, she changes form and throws on a sweatshirt and jeans. Then she turns, putting her hands on her hips. "Shoes." Snorting, she slides on shoes. "Get your bag. Let's go." As he closes the door to their suite Emmett sends [Randall, Ariel. We're leaving.] [Emmett, be careful. I think she may be going feral.] [I will, Ariel. We'll be back as soon as we can.] Emmett pulls his silent mate into the garage and gets her into the car. [Stay!] As he turns and opens the driver's side door, he notices Joanna, standing at the door that leads into the den. Her eyes were glistening and, as he watches, a tear rolls down her cheek as she raises her hand in farewell. [Promise you'll make her better and bring her back.] [Believe me, Jo. I'll do my best.] [No. Promise.] Emmett looks at the young woman, their friend and the Alpha daughter. Joanna looks younger than her 18 years. He gets into the car and starts it. He sends [I promise.] then puts the car in drive and pulls away. Lyssa stares out the window. [Goddamn you, Michael Ross.] Michael Ross has been lightly pumping his dick as he watches Erica. "That's it. Squeeze your tits." Erica's kneeling on the bed, facing him, as he directs her. Her hands are on her breasts and she's kneading them while watching him stroke himself. "Now, grab your nipples and pull." She pinches her erect nipples between thumb and forefinger and pulls forward. "Again, harder." This isn't something she particularly enjoys, but she repeats the action, tugging a little more forcefully. He smirks and inhales. "How wet are you?" She slides her hand down her body and delves between her legs. She inhales and closes her eyes briefly as she strokes across her clit. "Show me." Erica raises her fingers to him, showing the shiny slickness on them. He smiles. "Good. Hands and knees." As she drops forward to do as he says, Michael gets up, a hand still wrapped around his length. He gets on the bed behind her, then strokes up and down once before placing the head of his dick at her seeping opening. He pauses briefly, then shoves forward, into her wet pussy. "Aaaah." He sets up a punishing rhythm, practically pummeling her with his dick, pounding into and out of her sopping pussy. And he leans forward, over her, his teeth on her neck. Erica closes her eyes. He was teasing her again, tormenting her. She'd basically resigned herself to the fact that she was his toy, nothing more. He would never mate her. She was coming up, the stimulation of his heavy balls hitting her clitoris, the angle of his penetration pushing her toward climax. She feels the slight increase in his size, then the formation of his knot. Now lodged inside her, his thrusts become short and hard. Oh, she was close. He scrapes his teeth against her neck. Surprisingly, she feels fur sprout between them and, at the moment of climax, his teeth puncture her skin. Oh, Selene, he'd actually done it. They were mated! He was too far gone now, racing towards his release. Michael felt the pressure on his shaft as she got a bit tighter around him. He was above her and playing a favorite game, letting her think he might actually do it this time. Might actually make her his mate. As if. Close now, so close. Almost there. The voice in his head has him bristling, the wolf in him coming out at the first sounds. And, angry, his jaws snap tighter. [Goddamn you, Michael Ross.] He empties himself into her, tastes blood on his lips, feels the difference of a body covered with fur. Son of a bitch! He had bitten Erica. By all the laws of werewolves, the laws of the pack, they were now mated. He had never intended to mate her, she was simply there for his relief. Luna, what would he do now? He pulls them onto their sides, changing back to human form as he did so. "Oh, Michael, I never thought it would happen." A mistake. It was a mistake. He needs to tell her that but not while they were connected. The pack would be pleased; his father probably would be too, but this was not what Michael wanted. And the Wyeth bitch, this was her fault. He was going to have to shut her up once and for all. He does not respond to Erica but, before he falls into a sated sleep, thinks 'I can always get rid of her if I need to.' Nathan is sitting in a squad car, waiting for someone to run the light in front of him. There had been four fatal accidents at the intersection in the last year and a half, three of the four around dawn. He hears the vibration of his phone and glances over to see a text has come through from jowolf989. "She's gone." Nathan grabs the phone and fingers the keypad. "Who?" "Lyssa." "Taken?" "No. M took her to get better." "RU OK?" "No." Nathan punches buttons and puts the phone to his ear. "Jo, love, what's wrong?" Joanna hesitates a second, stopped by the term of endearment he's just used. "Jo?" "Um. Lyssa's been acting really weird lately. Mad, nasty, picking fights. She challenged Mom." Nathan sucks in a breath. A challenge of the Alpha? "She fought Stephanie yesterday. Been scaring people. Emmett says she's having nightmares. She growled at me." Nathan hears the emotion in her voice. "When did it start?" "I don't know, three, four days ago I guess." "Really different than the way she normally acts?" "Yeah. Do you know something?" "There's a thing that happens to some humans who've been through something awful. It can be them almost dying or seeing someone else die. Sometimes other things. It's called PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. They see it a lot with soldiers. It can take years to come out." "And you think this is that?" "Some people get scared of everyone, everything. Some get mad, get violent. Some go into a state where they think they're back in a bad place and someone's out to get them, paranoid." "How long does it last?" "We had a couple guys actually leave the force. They never came back." A small silver two-seater flashes by. "Gotta go!" He throws the phone, flicks on the lights, and tears out after the offender. Joanna is startled by the abrupt end to the call but knew Nathan was working. She figures he'll call back later to apologize. But, she needed to look up this PTSD thing. So, she runs up to her room, to her computer, because it was going to be easier than trying to look it up on her phone. She starts with Wikipedia and begins to read. Post traumatic stress disorder aka shell shock aka battle fatigue. First noted during wartime although also seen in victims of abuse, violent crime, etc. Symptoms include everything from catatonia to nightmares, violence, and risky activities. Seen anywhere from immediately following the triggering incident to years later. Treatment varied but was generally some combination of drugs and therapy. And there was no real means of predicting who would be susceptible to it or how long it might last. Joanna keeps reading, looking for signs of hope, that, if Lyssa did have this thing, she would get better. She got more and more scared with what she read. No one knew who would be affected or how badly, there was no consensus on treatment, nor did they have any idea how long it would last. It was her human side that was responsible, she had never heard of a werewolf having a problem like that. And then she thought, Lyssa had said something to them about how she acted after her family died. Maybe she was susceptible to it. Would it be worse this time? If Emmett, for whatever reason, felt the need to kill Lyssa, she doubted he'd come back to the pack. It was entirely possible she'd never see her friends again. [Mom. I'm scared.] [Jo? Sweetie, what's wrong?] [Where are you?] [Coming, Jo. I'll be right there.] Ariel hurries to her daughter's room. She knocks once, opens the door, and walks in headed straight for Joanna. "Jo. Is Nathan alright?" Ariel wraps her arms around her daughter as she voices the question. Joanna blinks, so focused on Lyssa that the question took her off guard. "Ummm. Uh, yeah. He's OK." Her mother's first thought was that she was worried about Nathan. Joanna thought about that a bit and realized how much had changed in a couple of weeks. Ariel recognizes she had asked a question off subject. There was only one other thing it could be. "I'm worried, too, Jo." "Nathan said it sounds something like something called post traumatic stress. They don't know what to do about it or if the person can get over it. Mom," Joanna chokes back a sob, "what if they don't come back?" Ariel holds her daughter tightly, her chin atop Joanna's head, and says quietly, "We mourn and go on, Jo." She feels Joanna start shaking. "But, you and I both know how hard Emmett will fight to keep her. He won't give up trying to help her get better. Being werewolf right now might help." "But, maybe it's worse." Ariel had no answer for that. "It's up to them now, Jo. We have to trust them." She holds her daughter as her fear takes over and she cries. As the crying eases, Ariel strokes her hair. "I didn't get a chance to tell them goodbye." Joanna's phone rings and both she and her mother glance at it. Nathan. She releases her daughter and says, "Talk to him, sweetie." The tone sounds as the call goes to voicemail. Ariel kisses Joanna on the top of her head. "Call him back, Joanna. Talk to him." She strokes Joanna's hair once and gets up to leave. As she reaches the door Joanna says one more thing. "You didn't tell me they were coming home. For sure." "I wish I could, Jo." Outside the closed door, Ariel leans against the door. Letting go of their youngest was hard, but she had to do it. Joanna was an adult now, and thoroughly smitten with a young male from another pack. She could be mated soon and might be going to live with them. So, she had to start transferring the reins. To allow Nathan to comfort her, listen to her, share with her. It made Ariel sad, that her baby was growing away. [Randall?] [What's up, El? Do you need something?] [Comfort.] [I'll be there in 15 minutes.] Randall finishes what he's doing and strides off to their room, to comfort his mate. She's got her arms wrapped around herself, staring out the window of their bedroom. He knew she heard as he walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her. He feels her lean back against him. He briefly considers asking her why she was in need of comfort then decided simply to offer her whatever comfort she desired and talk to her after. Ariel twists in his arms and puts her face against his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist. One of his hands holds her to him by the waist and the other comes up, rubbing her back. He feels wetness through his shirt as she quietly cries against his chest. His hand moves up, cradling her head against his chest. He stands, holding her, until she sniffles, pulls an arm away and wipes her tears. "Thank you." He leans down and hauls her upward, so he can look her in the eye. "Care to tell me about it?" She smiles sadly at him. "Our little girl's grown up." He sighs. "Ah, so it happened last night." He backs towards the bed, hauling her with him so that he can sit with her more at eye level. "No. Well. Maybe." He sits down on the bed and puts her in his lap, his nose in her red hair. "If she hasn't had sex with him, then what's got you going, El?" He strokes the side of her face. "I was just talking to Jo and she's worried about Lyssa." "As we all are. And?" "Well, when I was talking to her, Nathan called. She looked at the phone and looked at me. She let it go to voicemail but I knew she wanted to talk to him." Ariel inhales and exhales. "So, I told her to call him, talk to him, and left. She's not my little girl anymore, Ran." Randall responds quietly. "No, El, she isn't. She's an adult and we've got to let go a bit. She could well be mated by the end of the year." Ariel sniffles and punches him in the shoulder. "Told you we'd have a Severn in the family." "Yes, you did." Ariel looks up at the strong, handsome face of her mate, the green eyes, his dark brown hair. She runs her fingers through that hair. "I want another pup, mate." "You do remember everything that's involved? The weight gain, the cravings, the discomfort?" She smiles, her eyes far away. "Yes." "Your last heat was interrupted, we don't know what the next will be like." "I don't care." He leans down and kisses her. [Far be it for me to deny you giving me another pup.] [Wanna practice?] [Always, El. Always with you.] And, so, Randall's hand drops to her breast and he swallows the moan that rises from her throat. Her hands wrap around his shoulders, fingernails digging into them. After a few moments, he pulls her away from him and sets her on her feet. "Back up a couple of steps." Ariel looks at her mate and complies. "Take off the pants." She smiles and her hands go to the waistband of her pants. Her thumbs slide back and forth a couple of times, then she undoes the button. Slowly the zipper is pulled down. The pants are barely held on her slim hips. She shimmies slightly and the pants slither down to the floor. "Step out." Ariel sees the hungry look in his eyes and the bulge that has grown in his pants. Randall looks at his mate in appreciation. The lovely tanned legs that allow her to run with him in the woods. He gets a peek of the reddish hair at the juncture of her thighs, just barely visible under the bottom of her blouse. He licks his lips. "Turn around." Slowly, she turns her back to him and he looks at the firm curves of her buttocks. "Spread your legs and bend over." He watches her slide a foot over and bend forward. And now, now he begins to see the soft, lightly furred folds that lay between her legs. "Are you wet, mate?" He listens to the breathless word that leaves her lips. "Yes." Of course she is, he can smell her. "Now, go to my desk and lean over it. Open yourself to me. Show me what you offer." She walks to his desk, briefly glancing over her shoulder and, bracing herself on it, leans over further. Her fingers show between her legs as she spreads her outer labia and he is given a view of the moist, darkened folds she reveals. He groans. "Ah. Lovely." Ariel hears the almost imperceptible squeak as he rises from the bed. Next comes the sound of his zipper and his groan as his engorged shaft is released. She hears the fabric drop to the floor and his quiet footfalls. [Don't look around.] She closes her eyes and listens to him breathe and tries to guess where he will touch her. He's right behind her; she can feel the heat of his body. She's almost quivering in anticipation as she feels her own moisture increase and smells the fluid dripping from his cock. His first touch is the tip of his penis against her opening and both groan as he thrusts strongly into her. [Is this what you want, my mate?] [Yes, Ran. This and your pup.] He pulls out, slowly, and pushes all the way back in, savoring the feeling of the hot wet channel his manhood is ensconced in, savoring the feeling of his mate around him. In, and out. And again. He leans down, over her, and puts his hands over hers on the desk as he slowly pumps her from behind. He feels the warmth of her body and nuzzles the collar of her blouse out of the way so that he can lick her neck. Her mate was covering her and licking her neck as he continued his slow slide into and out of her wet pussy. She could feel every inch of him, feel his strength. And she felt his knot start to swell as he pushed into her. She feels his hand come off of hers as he becomes firmly lodged within her. As he begins his short, hard thrusts, he reaches to the sensitive place at the top of her slit and starts to rub. As her muscles begin to quiver around him, she feels him set his teeth at the joint of her shoulder and neck. As he bites down, she crashes over the edge, crying out his name. A few seconds later, as her claws gouge into the wood of his desk, she feels his molten seed spill into her and hears his howl of possession. Calvin has called to ask if he could visit and has been granted permission. He had thought that Michael would have announced a new Beta the previous night but that hadn't happened. Michael seemed content to have Sampson as his Beta. What he had done was announce a drop in pack revenue and a need to rein in spending. They had lost a pack member as the result of a mating and, while there wasn't a new pup to announce this month, Rachel was due at any time. Everyone had perked up for the hunt as there are few things a wolf pack enjoys more. They stayed out, eating and drinking, for longer than was the norm. Calvin arrives at the Wyeth den after lunch because of the tumult at Ross. It was completely unexpected, but Michael had apparently mated Erica that morning. And he didn't seem at all pleased by that. Erica was reservedly happy. The Ross pack now had an Alpha pair and Calvin considered the possibility of grandpups, while wishing Sabine had lived to see it. Stephanie, as he expected, was in the training room and was sparring with Alex. Calvin sits at the butterfly machine and starts reps, watching her as he did so. Alex was good and outweighed her, but she had learned much and was able to counter his moves. He found that Stephanie was a good fighter in her own right. Then, he watches as Alex performs a complicated movement and Stephanie ends up on her back. Alex puts his hand out and helps her up, saying "You always fall for that one." "That's because no one else can pull it off without telegraphing. Again." Alex drops her five more times with the same maneuver. On the sixth she only stumbles. Calvin watches, openly fascinated. Alex checks the time, he's obviously got something else to do. "Good, Stephanie." "Thanks. Another time, Alex?" "Certainly." Alex leaves, for whatever task awaits him. Stephanie turns, fully aware that Calvin has been watching, and greets him. "Calvin." "Stephanie. Good day to you." He looks her over. "I could use a work out, if you have time and would be so inclined." "Close drills or a real match?" He was startled, while he had asked the question he really hadn't expected an answer. He stumbles over the next few words. Fulfillment 06 "A match, I suppose, if you would." Stephanie looks at him. He does not seem his normal, confident self. "The circle would be better." "Certainly. What was that maneuver? I've never seen anything like it." "Alex and Emmett came up with it one day when they were sparring. Alex is the best at it. You can take down your opponent almost every time with it." "Can you do it?" "Better than some, not as well as others." "I wouldn't mind learning it myself." "You'd have to get permission from the Alpha." "Of course. Shall we?" Stephanie nods to him and he drops his clothes in the corner as she shifts to wolf and waits for him. He was large and well-muscled and scarred from fighting, all those things one would expect of an Alpha male. His hair shows grey and his eyes show cunning and her wolf, well, her wolf wanted to rub up against the large greying male. Stephanie shakes herself and huffs, then trots out the back door toward the circle. Calvin inhales, scenting the air, smelling the light floral scent of the female he was following. Following her to the Wyeth circle, to fight. It was the only way he could think of to connect with her. She had no hobbies that he was aware of, only this, and there was whatever horror had claimed her youth. But today's interaction was encouraging. She had spoken more to him in the last few minutes than all the times before. And she had pleasantly accepted his request to spar. Without hesitation. So, he follows her to the Wyeth circle, still unable to put a name to the flower she smelled of. Lyssa sits in the passenger seat, arms crossed over her chest, silent. Emmett glances at her a couple of time, then forces himself to watch the road. He'd succeeded in getting her away from the pack. Now he needed to plan how he would get her back to her old self. How would he dampen her growing rage? She had become combative, not sleeping, barely eating, unless as wolf. Well, he'd had some of her favorite foods packed, to see if he could tempt her that way. And, where they were going, she would have the opportunity, well, her wolf would be able to hunt to her heart's content. The sleeping part, he didn't know. As for her anger, well, there would only be one person left for her to take it out on. And he hoped he could handle her. He didn't want to think of what might happen if she got mad enough to knock him out and run off in the car. Now, he was glad he had thought of it – he'd disable the car when they got there. She had grudgingly accepted his orders and, while not exactly voluntarily, she had come with him. Wait, Joanna had been able to block her. That was something he needed to learn. He'd have to call Joanna, once they got where they were going, and see if she could describe how she did it. Emmett turns off of the main road and onto a dirt lane. A light cloud of dust follows them and Lyssa starts to notice their surroundings. They were out in the woods. He was taking her to the wilds. He had gotten her away from the pack, away from her friends. To take away the disruption. Her. What did he plan on doing with her? What could he do with her? He had reminded her that Ariel would kill her if she felt Lyssa was a threat. Would he? Could he? Kill her and go back to his pack? A low rumble begins in her chest and he glances over at her. "Lyssa, I'm not doing this to hurt you." He knew the sound of a threatened wolf when he heard it. What was she thinking? She was his mate, how could he hurt her? Why would she think he would? "Lyssa, I'm not doing this to hurt you." The growl stops, but she doesn't respond. Get her into the cabin and hope he could get her to talk. He turns onto a narrower lane, a forest road, and, after a couple more climbing turns, pulls up beside a cabin. He puts the car in park, turns off the engine, and sighs, slumping heavily in his seat. They were here, wherever 'here' was. Her wolf senses told her they were west and south of the Wyeth den. She looks around them as Emmett turns the car off and hears his sigh of resignation. There is snow on the ground, about 6 inches deep. Tracks indicate a car and a single human being had been there recently. The only other visitors had been deer, squirrels, and rabbits. There was a smallish clearing around the cabin, although the forest was showing signs of encroachment on the space. They were perched on a flat spot on the side of a ridge and the view to the north shows trees and rock ledges. The trees surrounding the cabin were mostly old pines and firs. Oaks make up the bulk of the deciduous trees with some maple and beech thrown in. The leaves are changing from brilliant reds and yellows to mostly browns, and are falling even as she watches. It was actually quite a lovely place. The cabin was rustic-looking, appearing to be made of logs. It wasn't big, maybe about 15 by 20. A small window at the apex of the roof suggested a loft. The two windows flanking the front door sported ugly gingham curtains. At least, Lyssa thought were ugly. Emmett removes his seatbelt and pops the door. As he gets out, two doe that have been cautiously approaching spook and run, their white tails showing their route of escape. Lyssa believes they were probably used to humans being there, possibly having been fed by them. But the scent of the predator made them bolt. They could be an easy meal. Her grin is somewhat feral. Emmett fetches the key and unlocks the door, opening it. He goes back and forth a couple of times, pulling supplies from the trunk and carrying them inside. He closes the trunk, opens the rear door, and grabs her bag. Lastly, he opens her door and looks down at her. "I know you're mad. I know you don't want to be here." He crouches down beside her. "Do you realize something's wrong with you?" She exhales, inhales. "You think something's wrong with me?" It was going to be harder than he thought. "Do you think something's wrong with you?" There is a pause before she answers. "Maybe." Not much of an admission, but, at this point, he'd take it. "I want you to promise me one thing while we're here." She looks into his eyes and he looks into hers. And he tries to pick through all of the emotions he sees there as she looks at him. Anger, a lot of anger, and he understands that, to a point. But there was something else there and he struggles to figure out what it is as his wolf tries to rise to the challenge of his mate's stare. There's a flicker in her eyes and she does turn away first. Hope blooms in his chest. He wouldn't give up on her. "Promise me you won't run away and that you'll talk to me." The other emotions he saw in her eyes before she turned away? Fear. And sadness. Joanna leans against Nathan's chest with his arms wrapped around her. He sits there, holding her, comforting her. She was upset because the Beta pair had left and she had looked up PTSD and, what she had found, some of what he'd told her, had frightened her into believing that they might not come back. So, he holds her, feeling a little guilty, murmuring to her in what he hoped was a comforting way. This wasn't something he was particularly good at. He had grown up in a house full of males, his mother the only female in the house. And, as the youngest, he hadn't gotten any special treatment, except, perhaps, from his mother. No, he had been picked on almost as soon as he could run. As the smallest and, therefore, weakest of them, it was almost inevitable. He knew certain things, how to be gentle with the smaller females, although those in his pack were stronger than most others. He knew how to be with females in bed. But, dealing with them when they were upset? If they weren't throwing things he wasn't exactly sure what to do. But, so far it seemed he was doing alright. She was sniffling just a little. He had tried to come up with some options in talking with her earlier but she finally said, "You can't fix it. Can you just hold me?" And so, he did. He didn't quite understand how it helped but he also didn't have a solution to the problem. So, if this was what she needed it was simple enough. While he waits for her to settle down, or let go of him, or do whatever it was she was going to do when she was done, he looks around her room. It was the first time he had been inside. It was down the hall from the Alpha suite and across from Roland's room. The room was done in light colors – light blues, light greens, another color that was kind of pinky-purply. There was a chair, a desk, a dresser, and the small bed was pulled up beside the window. He wasn't sure what size it was but it was smaller than queen size. And that was where he was sitting with her, his back against the headboard. Her scent fills the room but he also catches the scent of her mother and brother. Other than that were some older, female scents, one from the Beta female. There's an open jewelry box on the dresser and he caught a glimpse of blue as he walked by. There were some framed photos on the wall, a child's drawing of some wolves, at least, he assumes they're wolves, and a, believe it or not, stuffed bear. The bear, well worn, rested on a small pink and blue blanket. It was, he thought, a pretty girly room. He's startled when she reaches up to touch his face and looks down to where she's stretching up a little, to be kissed. And so he does. He leans down and touches those soft pink lips with his own, turning his head slightly and finding them. They're parted just a bit and he pushes his tongue forward, so that he can taste her mouth. She puts her hands on his shoulders and pulls herself closer to him as they thoroughly explore each other's mouths, their tongues twining and caressing, sliding past each other, delving deeply and withdrawing slightly. He groans, pulling her closer, and she relaxes into him. After a bit more, she gasps for breath and he takes the opportunity to ask, [Can I touch you?] She looks up at his eyes. Blue, so blue. A different sort of blue than hers. And what did she see in them? Tenderness. Anticipation. She was a little frightened of what he would do but, oh, if it felt like last time.... [Yeah.] Nathan twists her, pulling her back against him, into his lap. and he feels the warmth of her body and he feels his cock start to fill as he thinks of what he intends. His left hand climbs upward and he pushes her bra up so that he can caress her bare breast. His other hand circles her waist. He unbuttons the button on her jeans and pulls down the zipper. He slides his fingers back and forth under her waistband and finds the top of her panties. Soft skin, her belly warm against his hand. He feels the edge of her panties, cotton again, like her bra. He runs his fingers back and forth a bit, considering the light brown fur just below them. How soft would it be? Then, lower still, to actually touch her. Would he delve inside? Maybe. It would depend on what he found. While he knew a male had never touched her, it was possible that she had touched herself enough to have broken her own hymen. Oh. He was going to go down there this time. Oh. She could feel the swelling under her butt. He'd barely touched her and he was already turned on. His fingers were warm and a little rough. Calluses. Oh. A jolt. He has her nipple again and was rolling it around. Oh. Wow. Nathan moves his hand a little farther down her belly and finds the curls that cover her mound as she tips her head back and moans. Music to his ears. He nips below her ear and pushes farther, finding her cleft, the top of her lips. He smiles as her legs open slightly. So, he ventures further as she clutches his leg and the bedcovers. There! He touches her clitoris, feels the softness of her labia, caresses her breast, watches her face. He continues to nip at her jaw line and strokes her, feeling the wetness start to seep from her and he starts to smell the wonderful scent of her arousal. He begins to knead her breast, rubbing his thumb over the hardened tip that sat on it and moves his fingers down to her opening, feeling the warmth of her lower lips, to see how he should proceed with her. Pressing lightly, he finds the barrier at her entrance. It gives, slightly. She hadn't broken it herself, nor would he, now. So, he runs his finger through the moisture her body created, covered her little swollen nub with it, and begins to rub. She gasps, "Ah," as he rubs her swollen clit in small circles. She takes a deep breath and her body starts to tense. What the hell? What was he doing? Why did she feel this way? It was so, so strange, almost painful. She wasn't sure she liked it. So she rolls, off his lap, away from him, panting and looking at him. "What was that?" He's completely taken aback when she squirms away and looks at him. "What was that?" She's gasping, panting, but, from her responses, he hadn't brought her to climax. "Jo. I'm trying to get you to orgasm. You haven't had one before?" "Um. I don't know. I guess not. I guess." "Come back up here with me." She looks at him, unsure. "I won't hurt you. I just want to bring you that pleasure." "But," she sits on the edge of the bed, near him, "it didn't really feel good." "How did it feel?" "Um. Maybe we shouldn't do this now." He reaches out and pulls her gently toward him. She doesn't resist. He nuzzles her ear and speaks quietly to her. "You were almost there, Jo. It wouldn't have taken much more." She murmurs back. "It kinda hurt." "You start to tense up just before you let go." He holds her to him; her heart is still racing. "Trust me, Jo. It's incredible. Let me try again." She bites her lip. "You're sure?" He smiles and kisses her. As he pulls back he says, "I'm sure. Let's take the pants off, huh?" Her blue eyes look into his and he sees the apprehension. He waits, now was not the time to push. If she didn't trust him in this he might as well go home and try to forget her. She must see something in his eyes because she exhales and says, "OK." She pushes and kicks her jeans off, and leans back against him, tense. "Relax, love. I want you to feel good." She exhales again, a little shaky, and forces herself to relax. Time to start again, to make her feel comfortable with him, to get her started, before he ventures below the waist. And so, he starts by kissing her, rubbing her shoulders. Then, turning her back away from him and pulling her back against him, he nips and nibbles below her ear and covers both breasts with his hands. He holds them, cups them, weighs them, and then rubs his thumbs over her nipples. It doesn't take long before she begins moaning, tipping her head back against his shoulder. He nibbles at her jaw line as he continues attention to her breasts, then starts one hand on its journey south. She tenses again, slightly, and he just keeps nipping and rubbing, while stroking her ribcage with his lower hand, moving a little lower with each pass. He finds her navel and runs a finger around it, ranging in wider and wider circles. She's left her panties on and it doesn't take him long to contact them. Catching her nipple between a thumb and forefinger, he rolls it, pulling on it a little. She gasps and he slides his hand into her panties, combing his fingers through her softly curled hairs. He whispers in her ear, "Just going to touch you, Jo." She inhales a deep breath and he presses onward. He traces wet kisses on her shoulder, back and forth, up her neck. One hand is busy, rubbing over her nipple, cradling her breast. The other hand, well. He extends his forefinger and slides it between her thighs but she didn't open her legs this time. Since her legs are more or less on top of his, he spreads his own a bit, and hers come with. [You smell so good.] He slides his forefinger across her soft folds, then adds another finger, sliding past her puffy lower lips, between them, collecting the silky slickness her body was making and bringing it up to the pleasure point above. Again, a slight jerk and a gasp as he touches it. She knew what it was, what he intended on doing but it feels so weird. It was as if all her senses were focused on that one point. She hears his breathing, feels the heat, the strength of his body, smells him and herself. She feels the coolness left behind after the wet kisses on her shoulder, feels his warm hand playing with her boob, um, breast, and then, the other hand, down there. She was sensitive, because she was excited or because he had already touched her there, she wasn't sure. His fingers stroke across her little clitty, now that he's smeared it with her pussy juice and, after a couple of strokes, he uses his middle finger, she almost giggles, thinking he was using his 'fuck finger.' And, then, oh, it feels so strange, but, he was right, strange in a good way. She rolls her head to the side and murmurs. He slows, probably checking to see if she was OK with it, then started up again. The hand on her breast has stopped playing with it and is now clasped around her, holding her steady. Oh, oh. Nathan feels Joanna start to arch backwards, and he feels her legs start to tense up. She was getting close. He holds her close, holds her tightly against him, so she couldn't get away again. This time, this time he was going to hold her as she climaxed. [Almost there.] Her toes begin to clench and one set of fingernails digs into his thigh, the other is clutching the bedcovers. She was tight, she was ready, he rubs a bit harder, a bit faster. [Let go, Jo.] She sucks in a deep breath and he nips at her shoulder. This time, she comes apart. "OOOooooOOOOooooOOOOhAAAAaaaah!" He's glad her face is turned away from him; she was loud. She pants, shaking a little, eyes closed, body relaxing. He holds her, murmuring in her ear, his arms wrapped around her, until she comes back. When her breathing returns more to normal, she says, "Wow." "What do you think?" "Um, wow, Nathan. But I think I might have peed a little." "I don't think so, Jo. It smells like you just squeezed out a little more juice. That's normal. How do you feel?" "A little tired. Like I won't be able to walk for a bit." "How 'bout we snuggle down and get some sleep?" "Yeah, OK, sounds good." In the meantime, Emmett has started a fire and is preparing a meal. Lyssa sits nearby, rubbing her forehead with her hand. "Does your head hurt?" She brings her hand down into her lap. "No." He sets out plates, glasses, and silverware since it seems she wasn't inclined to do so then brings the food to the table. Big, rare beef steaks, potatoes baked at the hearth, corn. He watches her as she eats, silently. She carves into the meat, eating most of it and about half the potato, before pushing the plate away. He doesn't comment but pulls it over and finishes what she's left. After all, they hadn't had breakfast. Emmett clears and performs a perfunctory cleanup. Arms braced on either side of himself on the counter, he looks at Lyssa. "Would you like to go for a run or talk?" "Don't feel like talking." "Alright, then, a run it is. Let's go." She looks up at him, his tone brooks no argument. She sighs and drops her clothing. He looks over his mate, at the body he loves, and decides on the safest question. "How's the gash?" "Fine." It wasn't, he knows it still hurts; she had broken open the scabs a couple of times the night before and it was still red and angry looking. He opens the door and shifts to wolf man, following his mate out and closing the door. As he changes to wolf, she takes off, following a deer track. she'd scare everything for miles. He decides to let her head and follows the enticing scent of female wolf, he female. She glances behind her a couple of times but runs on, down the ridge, splashing through the small stream at the bottom and up the other side. The color of her coat makes her very easy to follow in the white landscape with the winter grey trees. Not that he couldn't follow her track or her scent. Fulfillment 06 Emmett ranges off to her left, brushing against snow laden pine boughs and scaring up a small snowshoe rabbit. He gives chase briefly, but let it go since he'd just fed. Lyssa has reached the rock ledges and was snuffling in a couple of holes. He watches her disappear into one of the large holes, the end of her tail betraying her presence, before backing out. After some more, running around the edges, she climbs to the top of the ridge. The top of the sandstone outcropping provides a better view than their cabin's placement on the next ridge. She stands at the top, near the edge, tongue lolling. And she turns, taking in the view. There were hills or ridges, keeping the views relatively short. Or, perhaps you could call it a plain that had been cut into by streams. However, the sun shone down on the mostly leafless trees and the pines. Also revealed was a trail, either for hikers or horses, looking to come from somewhere on the other side of their cabin. Smoke rises from the chimney. Another column of smoke reveals someone else in the area. Lyssa feels the warmth of the heated stone beneath her paws and lies down with a grunt. Emmett comes up to lay beside her as she puts her head on her forepaws and looks over the valley. A sound, 'Whump!', has both on their feet. Emmett looking for the source. Lyssa, stiff legged, hackles up, teeth bared. They had been dozing. They start to relax when the sound comes again. Lyssa whirls, growling, and they watch snow slide from one of the larger pine boughs, lubricated into movement by the sun. He nudges her with his head, time to go back to the cabin. She huffs and drops off the top of the ridge. Lyssa ranges off toward the trail before swinging up to the cabin. Back inside, she shifts and dresses. As he picks up his clothing she says, "It's pretty." There. It wasn't 'Fine' or a one word answer or something negative. Maybe she needed to let her wolf out more? She sits at the table, idly running her finger over the surface. He sits opposite her and reaches across the table, taking her hand. "Lys." She stiffens slightly. "Something's wrong. You know it." She looks up at him and he catches a glimpse of fear in her haunted eyes before they turn dark and hard. She growls down at the surface of the table, scuffed, burned, and stained. "You made me a werewolf. I'm trying to be one." "You keep trying to make everything into an argument. I don't want to argue with you." "Then why are we here? We could have done this back at the den." "No, we couldn't. I had to get you away from the others." She pulls her hands from his, plants both of them on the table, pushes the chair out with her thighs, and stands. "OK. Now what?" He exhales. Good question. "I really don't know." She shakes her head and turns away, "Great." That was it. Conversation over. He walks up behind her and wraps his arms around her. She continues to stand there, seeming tolerating his embrace. [Lyssa, I love you.] Quietly, she responds, "Will you still love me if this is what I am, now?" He has no idea how to answer that question. Just the depth of it stymied him. What she was now? But, he had seen something in her eyes. "You're my mate, Lys." He squeezes her a little tighter, then releases her. He turns to the bag he's brought and pulls something out. She turns, watching him. Emmett turns on the TV and the Blu-Ray player and settles a disk in the tray. Pushing it in, the lead-in to the movie starts. "C'mon, let's watch a movie." She hears the opening music, her favorite movie, her guilty pleasure. Last of the Mohicans. The opening scene has her twitching, her wolf itching to chase the deer on the screen. She growls lightly and sits, her eyes tracking the deer's movements, the rush of fear. She startles at the shot that kills it. He watches her, sees her reaction. Her wolf was close to the surface. And he considers her actions of late. Threatened, that was it. Her actions were that of a frightened, frustrated, threatened wolf. Instinctual responses. OK, so she needed to feel safe. He'd taken her from home, so that didn't help, back to a cabin in the woods, which should be soothing but would remind her of the time they ran from the pack and thought they would be hunted down and killed. Alright, then, what else would help? What had made her feel safe? Him. It had been him, in wolf form, at her house. So, he drops his pants, pulls off his shirt, and shifts to wolf. He gets up on the couch with her. Lying there, he puts his head in her lap. She absentmindedly scratches his ears. That night, after dinner, he again reverts to wolf and lies beside her on the bed. She looks at him, confused, but slides under the covers and curls up beside him. He wakes briefly when he feels her change, going to wolf beside him. Shortly thereafter, the nightmares begin – paws, ears, muzzle twitching, whimpering, growling. After a while, she quiets again. And, after watching her briefly, he falls back asleep. However, in the early hours of the morning, she changes back to human form. He rouses and decides to match her. He shifts to human, yawning and rolling onto his back. He comes full awake suddenly, teeth at his throat, a wolf straddling his body. Still. He had to be still. [Lyssa?] No response but growling. He feels the points of her teeth on his neck and struggles not to move. [Lyssa. Dear heart.] Nothing. No response. She was asleep. And she could easily kill him without recognizing it. Only one thing he could do. He quickly brings his hands up and shoves her off him, backwards, off the bed. Her teeth tear his skin and she hits the floor with a yelp as he sits up. She slides, gets to her feet, and snarls, hackles up. He sees her muscles tense in preparation for a leap and yells, "Lyssa!" as he shifts to wolf to face her. As she stalks him he decides he needs to end this quickly, before anyone gets really hurt. So, Emmett lunges, knocking Lyssa down and shifts, grabbing her limbs and holding her still. She suddenly quiets and he looks at her. He shakes her. "Lyssa. Lys, wake up." Her eyes track to his and she shifts to human form. She looks at him, blinks, and starts to stretch. "Mmm, Em." They're on the floor, skin to skin, and, for a minute, he sees his loving mate. And he leans down, to kiss her. His lips meet hers and he groans. Lyssa starts at the sound, looks around, and struggles. "What's going on? Why are we on the floor? Get off." Saddened, he moves away from her. She sniffs and looks at his neck. "Emmett. Em. What happened to your neck?" He sits up and takes her hand. He looks up, into her eyes. "You had me by the throat, Lys." She pulls her hand away. "No. I didn't.. I, I..." "There's no one else here, Lys. I didn't do it to myself." She's looking at him, as if trying to understand what he means. "Mate, you attacked me. In your sleep. These marks are from your teeth." "No. I couldn't. I wouldn't." He looks into her dark eyes, waiting. "I, I.. I had you by the throat?" Solemnly, he nods. "I could have killed you." He makes no response. She sits, thinking, her eyes far away. He waits a while then quietly says, "Hey, c'mon, you could use some more sleep." He pulls her up and moves her to the bed. She's quiet, introspective. He crawls in beside her and slowly pulls her closer to him. Closer. Closer. And she doesn't protest. For the first night in a while, he was able to hold his mate in his arms as they slept. She wasn't completely relaxed but he believed it would be better when she drifted off. It felt good, being wrapped around his mate in the bed. And he was glad that she let him do that. He starts to doze off, feeling better than he had in days, feeling that Lyssa was on the verge of getting better. Lyssa was stunned and her mind was running around in circles a mile a minute. Emmett, bloody scratches on his neck. Her nightmares, torn and bloody throats. She had attacked him, in her sleep. She was lucky he wasn't dead or badly injured. She had become a danger to her mate, to the man she loved, to the one who loved her and would do anything for her. He'd done it before, before they were mated, and was doing it again. After all, he'd dragged her away from the others, away from the pack. And, he could have killed her after knocking her away. What could she do? If she fell asleep, she could do it again. Oh, but it felt so good to lie here in his arms. It would be so nice, so easy, to fall asleep like this. No. No. She couldn't. She had to stay awake. She listens to his breathing, takes in his scent, and listens to him fall asleep behind her. When she moves, his arms tighten around her. OK, stay awake. It takes time, but he rolls to his back with a sigh, his arm flopping over his waist, the other arm trapped under her body. She makes her decision and moves. He comes half awake when she moves beside him, recognizing by the movement of the mattress and the coolness on the other side that she's left the bed. However, when he was hit by a short blast of cold air he realizes she's opened the cabin door and gone outside. He sits up abruptly, now coming full awake. [Lyssa?] There was no answer. [Mate. What are you doing?] Still no response. [Lyssa, answer me!] Nothing. Fulfillment 07 Dear Readers, Sorry for the delay, don't mean to aggravate you but I've been ill. Quite a bit of exposition in this one to move the story along. Just a little sex, next chapter will have more. KemMyst *** Lyssa had spent the last hour going over what had happened as Emmett fell back into a doze. There was no other explanation -- she had put her teeth on Emmett's throat. She could have killed him. She was acting out her nightmares and was a danger, particularly to her own mate. And she wasn't getting any better. If anything, she was getting worse. There was only one thing she could do. She slips out of the bed quietly and pads to the door, taking one last look at Em as she did so. The tears threatened to start and she knew she'd never be able to leave him if she started crying. So, she swallows, opens the door, shuts it, shifts, and bolts. Her initial sprint is almost blind, just getting away. She hears Emmett's sends but doesn't answer. He was awake and would probably be coming for her shortly. She doesn't have enough of a head start and the snow wasn't falling heavily enough to cover her track. Down the ridge to the stream. Damn, the snow is deeper here. She muscles through and crosses the stream, running along its edge toward the trail they'd spotted. A glance to the left and she sees Emmett bounding down after her. He was bigger, faster. She wouldn't be able to outrun him for long. He had to catch her. He had to. No use to call to her, just catch up and get her back to the cabin. It was past time to talk, to find out what this was. He loses sight of her as she runs upstream and around the nose of the ridge. Thankfully, she was a dark colored wolf and he would be able to track her easily by sight in the snow. Thankfully, she wasn't very far ahead. Around the corner, she's climbing up another ridge, headed for the trail they'd spotted. There were orange paint marks on some of the trees; it looked to be a horse trail. She gains the trail and heads upward, climbing sideways up the ridge. He didn't know where the trail led or how long she'd follow it. He could go directly up, straight up the ridge and try to catch her. Making his decision, he does, leaving the trail and climbing straight up. The snow makes it more difficult, but he pushes forward. She glances behind again. The waning full moon is bright in the sky although the clouds, which were dropping large snowflakes, keep most of the light from the landscape. Emmett's grey fur make him more difficult to see under such conditions, but she should still be able to track him by movement. Where was he? She had thought it would be easier on the trail, but the snow actually seems a bit deeper here. As she gains the top of the ridge she pauses briefly. She shouldn't stay on the trail. He could follow it, and her, more easily. Where should she go? She wasn't really sure where she was, or what was around. OK, so...oof! She's knocked over. Her reaction is immediate, and automatic. [NO] She looks at what had hit her. Emmett. Oh, god, no. She sniffs at him, licks his muzzle. Over the thundering of her heart, she hears the strong steady beat of his. She watches his ribcage rise and fall with his breathing. Thank goodness she'd only knocked him out. OK. OK. He was alright. Now she could get away. Lyssa nuzzles him and whines then licks his forehead before turning away and moving down the ridge. He wakes and thrashes upright from where he'd been lying in the snow. What the hell? He'd caught up with her, bowled her over... She wasn't nearby. She'd knocked him out. Damn. Now, where was she? He looks around and doesn't see her. But there was her track. Thank Selene he hadn't been out longer. He starts after his mate. Again. He follows her track down the hill. Where the hell was she going? He hurries, as fast as he was able. A gust of wind and he sees her, the darkness of her coat making her stand out. So, he pushes on, closing on her again. She's breathing heavily and having more trouble getting through the snow. He was going to catch her. Now, how would he keep her from knocking him out again? A wall. He had to block her out. She hears his paws hitting the ground behind her, his breathing. He was close. Lyssa wheels, turns to face him, and growls. Emmett hesitates, then advances on her again. [Come back to the cabin with me, dear heart.] Dear heart. The term he used to show her how much he loved her. Even now, he was telling her. And asking her to come back. But she wasn't sure she could be trusted, so she gathers herself. [No!] He goes down again and she whines, hating that she'd done it. Darting forward, she snuffles and licks his muzzle before turning away again to leave. It was harder this time. If he'd only let her go. She hears him start to struggle upright. Damn. Turning back, she finds the chocolate brown eyes of the grey wolf as he gets to his feet to face her. One fat snowflake falls on the end of his nose. She swallows at the wondrous sight of her mate licking it off his muzzle. Her heart hurt looking at him. [Come back to the cabin.] [No.] He twitches but doesn't go down. Crap. He takes a step forward. [Stop.] His muzzles twitches, but that's all. [Em. STOP] A slight stumble. Shit. He had figured out how to block her. She could hit him harder but she could really hurt him. And wasn't that the point of her leaving? So she wouldn't hurt him? Emmett set up a wall. It was uncomfortable, unusual. Werewolves were automatically very open to their mates. But, since they could block out other wolves' sendings, they had to have some ability to block their own family, he just needed to reinforce that. He heard her, sort of, but it was garbled and the power was dampened. She tries a couple more times and realizes she couldn't stop him. He raises his lips in a wolf grin. He knows that she knows now that she couldn't get away from him. [Back to the cabin, mate.] He'd find out what she thought she had been doing when they got there. Lyssa whimpers, whines, and fidgets as the snow settles on her dark coat. He looks at the dark eyes of his mate as the eastern sky begins to turn violet. [We need to get back before it gets too light.] She huffs, hangs her head, and takes a step forward. As she starts back she is close enough that he can rub up against her. She stands still as he does so then moves on, back toward the cabin. As she starts up the ridge, the way she had come, he sends, [No, follow the stream back.] Another huff and she complies. She'd failed. He'd caught her. And now he would be on guard. He was herding her back to the cabin and now would come the highly uncomfortable 'talk.' No getting away from it. He'd put his back to the door if he had to and wait her out. Why not though? Why shouldn't she talk to him, tell him what was going on in her head? Maybe then he'd realize that.. that she should go. The snow was pretty, but it was getting hard to push through it, belly deep and sometimes more. He notices that she was having trouble working through and surges forward to break trail. Emmett pushes forward, through a drift, and drops into the stream bed. It hadn't been cold enough to freeze the water, though a rime of ice lined the banks. He walks directly into the water and trots off toward the cabin, glancing back once as he did. She was hesitant about walking in the cold water but, cold feet or plowing through snow? She steps in and is surprised. It isn't as cold as she expected. He leads her around the ridges and through the snow up to the cabin. Once inside, she sits on the floor and bites at the icy snow packed between her pads. Emmett walks into the bathroom and starts the shower then returns to the front room. "C'mon. Let's get cleaned up. Then I'll get breakfast and we'll talk." Joanna wakes up in Nathan's arms, in her bed. He was laying on his back and she had her back to him, her head on his arm. It was warm and pleasant and he smelled so good. And there was last night, what he did... She needs to get a bigger bed. He yawns and stretches as the smell of breakfast wafts upstairs and into the room. His free hand strokes her side, then he rolls up behind her and kisses her shoulder. "Morning, Jo." She's a bit nervous. "Uh, morning." He sobers. "You worried about your parents?" "No. Yeah." He sits up and pulls her up with him. "They understand what's going on. Between us." He wraps her in his arms. "Would you rather sneak around?" "What? No!" She sounds a bit indignant. "Well, then," he kisses the side of her face, "time to be a grownup." She huffs. "Look, your parents, the adults do things like this all the time and don't act embarrassed about it. It's all normal." "Easy for you to say. You've done things before." "C'mon, love, let's get dressed." Joanna looks down at what she's wearing. Naked from the waist down, she had pulled on her sleep shirt during the night. He was wearing a pair of blue boxers, and nothing else. As he nuzzles her neck, she pulls away. "I need a shower." He watches her leave the bed and scoot into her little bathroom. He debates following her in as he hears the water start to run but, her reaction this morning meant she still wasn't comfortable being naked around him. She'd probably scream at him to get out. So, as he waits for her to finish, he dresses and goes to stand at her window. The water stops and she comes out, a towel wrapped around her head and another around her body. He watches her reflection, sees her glance at him, then go to her closet. "Breakfast smells good." She whirls, half-dressed, and sees he's still looking out the window. "Tuesday. Scrambled eggs. Toast. Sausage and bacon." She throws on a Hello Kitty t-shirt and takes a couple of steps towards him as she rubs the wetness from her hair. "Did you want to wash up?" "Naw. I'm good. I can't stay too long." She looks a bit disappointed. "Oh. OK." He walks over to her and puts his arms around her, rubbing his arms up her back and kissing her lightly. Now she smells like him again. "It's Mary's birthday and I don't think you'd enjoy the whole bunch of unfamiliar people and all." She gives him a look that has him wincing slightly. "Did you wanna come?" She steps away, turns, and flaps a hand at him. "No. It's fine. I got stuff to do." "Are you mad?" "Nope. C'mon. I'm hungry." She was. She was mad. And she didn't quite know why. She didn't think she'd really want to go to a party for his sister with a whole lot of strange people. But he didn't even ask. She thought about what that meant as they sat down to breakfast. And she looks at the empty places that normally held Lyssa and Emmett. Now she feels sad, and worried. Stephanie sits at her usual place and looks around for Calvin. She now expects him to show up. To come and see her. They had had a nice sparring session in the circle. It was good to spar with someone whose moves you were unfamiliar with. It made it more like an actual fight. He had beaten her twice and she put him on the ground, her teeth at his throat, once. She eats while looking around more than she normally would. She sees Nathan Severn sitting beside the Alpha daughter. Hmmph. Looked like another mating in the works. Although she looked a bit upset this morning. Then she sees Cassie with her infant daughter. Tiny fists, light hair, baby blue eyes. Something she had never wanted and didn't think she could ever have, even if she did want it. "Stephanie, about ready?" She blinks and looks at Samuel, shoving the last of her breakfast into her mouth. "Sure." Time for perimeter sweep. And today was the time for a more complicated check of the range. The Alpha would be renewing the scent marks today, as he did every month. Calvin was tutoring Erica in the duties required of the Alpha female of the Ross pack. While certain duties were fairly universal, each pack had some different things they expected their Alpha female to manage. In the case of Ross, she would have oversight of the kitchen, and the clothing, and the den's furnishings. That meant budgets and Calvin and Amanda, the female that had been managing those areas since Sabine got sick, were explaining things to her. Unfortunately, she wasn't taking well to the lessons. Michael was off somewhere, doing who knew what. Normally, new mates could barely be separated from one another. "You promised you wouldn't run." "No. I didn't." Had she? No, maybe she didn't. "OK, so why did you?" "Maybe I was sleepwalking." "You were awake." "It was a nice night. I felt like going for a run in the snow." "And you felt it necessary to knock me out when I came out?" Quiet. She had no response for that. Lyssa sits at the small table and Emmett is leaning back against the counter, facing her. They've cleaned up, and eaten, and the snow had stopped falling. And he was trying to figure out what had happened that morning. He looks at her, shakes his head. "If you were trying to get away from us, Lys, you had other opportunities. This was nuts. You don't know how to survive out there on your own. Without a pack, in winter, it's suicide." She makes no answer, staring at the surface of the table, tracing designs on the surface with a fingertip. He was so frustrated he wanted to scream. He closes his eyes and takes several long breaths. What? What could he do? She wouldn't talk to him. How could he make any sense of it if she wouldn't talk to him? He needed a drink. Emmett goes to the refrigerator and pulls out two bottles. Twisting the caps off, he sets a beer in front of her and takes a drink of the one in his hand as he sits at the table. "I don't know how many times I went to your house, to see you. It always gave me a thrill when I saw you. It didn't matter what you were doing." "I watched, from a corner of your yard one day, as you planted a bunch of flowers. They were little purple and yellow flowers. You were wearing a pair of blue shorts and a light blue top, a halter top." "I smelled you, your sweat, you smelled so good to me. I could see the edges of you breasts as you moved. And I wanted to touch them, wanted to taste them. I watched your fingers, as you dug in the soil, as you put the flowers in the ground, as you pushed the dirt back around them, and wished they would touch me with such care, so lovingly." "There was another time, you were sitting on the bench on your back porch. It was a pleasant evening and you were reading a book and looking a little sad." She had slugged down the first beer, so he brought her another. "It took me a while to figure out what you had on your feet." She looks at him. "Your socks had little dogs and cats on them." She chuckles lightly. "I kept coming back to you, Lyssa, and it wasn't just my wolf that wanted you. I did, too." "I remember coming by once, to see if could catch a glimpse of you again. It was midafternoon and partly cloudy, so it would have been harder for you to see me. The leaves were just past green, thinking of turning. It was warm." Emmett takes another drink. He smiles. "I scared the squirrels." "You wondered why they ran towards you. It actually scared you a little. That was me." The sides of her mouth quirk up a little. She sucks down the rest of the beer. Emmett sets another in front of her. Her dark eyes flick up to him, then back down. Her finger traces through the condensation on the bottle. "What happened the day you ended up on my porch?" She knew bits and pieces but he never really had told her everything that had happened that day. She surely had inferred most of it. What was even better though, was that she had asked a question at all. And not in anger. "I was running a perimeter sweep. I volunteered for the wide sweep fairly often, so that I could pass by your house. So that I could see if I could see you again." "I sat there for a while, watching you. In and out, around your yard." "Since I had been there often enough, I had marked the area." She quirks another slight smile and asks, "Did you have a favorite tree to pee on?", before she takes another drink. He smiles back at her. "A couple. And, since my scent was so concentrated there, the Macy pack took notice. So, this time, one of their males came by. He asked what I was doing there and turned to see what I was looking at." She takes another drink. "What was I wearing?" His look is soft as he smiles at the memory. "Your hair was in two little ponytails on the sides of your head. You looked so young." A pause, as he remembers. "You were wearing jeans, those crocs things, and a blue PETA t-shirt." She laughs at that. "Yeah, People Eating Tasty Animals." He takes her hand. "I'd smelled your cooking before so I knew you were no vegetarian." Emmett sighs. "Well, he looked you over, made some rude comments, and said he had a better chance of having you than I did." "Rude comments? About what?" She sounds a little pissy again. "About humans, dear heart. About how weak you were. And that he'd probably break you if he gave you a good, solid fucking. And then he wondered how you would feel, what your cunt would be like, and then started talking about maybe catching you outside and slumming. After all, it wouldn't be hard to take you down and get your clothes off with claws and werewolf strength. Maybe he'd just knock you down and take you as wolf." Emmett actually crushes the bottle of beer he's been holding. "Damn. It still pisses me off." He gets up, cleans up the mess, and returns to the table with two more bottles, one for each of them. "I wanted him out of there but, now that he'd seen you, now that I'd staked a claim by marking your place, he kept it up." "I told him to leave you alone and go away, that if I found out he'd touched you that I'd kill him. I told him you were mine." He looks up at her face, thinking, in her current frame of mind, it might piss her off. She laughs and takes another drink. "So he basically said we'd see and gave me this look... well, it was a challenge. For you. I couldn't let him.. I went for him and we fought. The slamming of your back door distracted me and he ripped up my leg. That really got me mad so I knocked him down and took out his throat." "And, with three good legs, I limped over and laid down on your back porch." "You could have gotten home." Emmett looks at his mate. "Yes. Eventually. But I wanted to see, I wanted to know how you'd be with me. And, maybe I thought I might be protecting you, that I might need to." She takes a couple of breaths, still staring at the table. "Do you think he would have actually tried something?" "I had no reason to doubt it." "So, before you even knew me, you were protecting me?" He exhales. "Yes. There was no way I was going to let him, anyone, touch you." And he hears emotion in her voice when she says, "You never told me that." Jo spends the day looking at colleges and acting cranky. It just made her mad that Nathan didn't ask her if she wanted to go to Mary's party. Yeah, she wouldn't know much of anybody and it would probably be uncomfortable and awkward and she'd probably get really bored and maybe wanna go home but, he didn't even ask. Madeline knocks on the door once and they talk for a while. She gushes about Erich and asks about a couple of the pack members. It takes a little while, but she notices Joanna isn't her usual, bubbly self. "What's going on, Jo?" "Nothing." Madeline inhales. "He spent the night. Are you OK?" "Um. Yeah." "Doesn't seem like it. Did he do something wrong? Something you didn't like?" Fulfillment 07 "No. Um, yes." "Which?" Madeline cocks her head, looking confused. "One of his brothers' mates is having her birthday today. And he just went, without inviting me." "Do you wanna go?" "Well, no, probably not. But he didn't even ask." "He probably figured you didn't want to and that it would be silly to ask." Joanna huffs, her body language showing plainly what she thought of that. Madeline looks for something to cheer her up. "Hey, I've been talking to Simon and going over seed catalogs. My eyes are going funny. I was figuring on a run. It's really pretty outside. Wanna come?" Jo looks into Madeline's eyes and sees excitement there. Madeline was new enough that she hadn't seen a lot of the Wyeth range. "Sure. OK." Emmett looks across the table at his mate. She didn't look mad anymore, actually, she looks more sad. "I couldn't believe the way you just took care of me like that. Most humans would have called animal control, you just started cleaning me up, when you had no idea what I might do." "I don't know why. You were hurt and I just, well, I didn't think they'd help you so much at the shelter and then, if you were there long enough they'd kill you and, well, it just seemed like a good idea at the time." Lyssa sighs and takes another drink of the beer in her hand. "You really hated Ronnie, didn't you?" "Yeah, I did. A male in the way, your male. He didn't treat you very well. And he challenged me the first time I saw him." Emmett chuckles. "His biggest problem with that was that he was afraid of me." "What did you do to his jacket, anyway?" "Just ripped it apart with claws and teeth and pissed on it. It was what he deserved." "I'm glad you were there, Em. He ended up being a real psycho." Emmett sighs. "He's still got a year left on his sentence." "Whatever did he think he was going to accomplish by burning my house down? Did he think I'd take him back? Move in with him?" Emmett runs his fingers through the hair at the side of her face. "You kept him from hurting me." He smiles at her. "Did I ever thank you?" Emmett nods. "I was a wolf at the time but, yes, you did." She stares off into space for a bit. "I have a question to ask you, since we're talking about this." She turns to look at him. She doesn't disagree. He lets out a big breath. "You didn't love me when you agreed to mate me, did you? Did you just think of me as a better choice than Thomas?" "I do love you, Em." "I know, Lys. And I love you." "Does it make a difference?" He sees tears start to well up in her eyes. He grasps her hand again and gives it a squeeze. "No. I suppose not." She looks down at the table top, chews on her lip, then her eyes flick back up to him. "I was stuck. My house gone. People thinking I was dead. And you told me I couldn't leave. I didn't have a whole lot of choice. You were the only one I really knew. You got me into the mess I was.." Another squeeze. "We were." "...we were in but you'd also tried to get me, get us, out of it. I couldn't understand why you would do that. All I could think was that you felt responsible." "I was." A sigh. "Yeah. And you'd been telling me you wanted me. And you'd been around me for days. And, except for leaving me alone once we got here, you'd never done anything I didn't want. I felt safe around you. I, it felt good to have you around and you made me feel good. And, and, you got things from my house before Ronnie burned it down. And you went back for Mom's necklace after they brought us back here. And, and.." She swallows and her voice gets rough. "Nobody's ever done anything like that for me. It wasn't that you were a better choice than Thomas. It's that you were a better choice than any guy I'd ever met." Tears slip down her cheeks and he brushes them away with his thumbs. "Hungry?" "Starving!" "OK. Simon sent a couple of good meals already made. I've got one to pop in the oven. Shouldn't take more than half an hour." "Have we got any chips?" "Uh, sure." Lyssa finds and dives into the Doritos, scooping up salsa, and stuffing her face while Emmett heats up lunch. She inhales deeply; it smells good. "Oh, really? Roast beef and potatoes?" She's practically drooling. She puts away the chips and salsa as he pulls the pan out of the oven. She sits as he brings the platter to the table and licks her lips, inhaling the scents of the meal. Lyssa carves off a large chunk of the roast, shovels some potatoes on her plate. She groans around the first mouthful as Emmett serves himself. She was eating well, which he was glad for. She had lost weight and her next heat should be coming soon. Now, he'd got a start, getting her to talk. Now he needed to keep going. They polish off the food, all of it, together. They carry the dirty dishes to the sink. "Why did you run this morning?" "I was...going home." Damn. She shut down again. What the hell? "We're hours from home. Why didn't you take the car?" "Would it have worked?" He stands at the counter and hangs his head. He picks up the beer and swallows the rest. The bottle hits the countertop and he starts to turn. Alcohol. It loosened both tongues and inhibitions. They'd just eaten so he would need her to drink a couple more bottles. Opening them, he sets another in front of her. Now, how best to get her to keep drinking? "Hey. I brought the Underworld trilogy. Wanna watch and laugh at all the crazy werewolf stuff?" A movement of her shoulders, a non-committal shrug. Emmett sets up the player then takes her hand and leads her to the couch. As the opening credits roll, she drinks more of the beer. He pulls her against him as they watch the movie, getting her another beer when she finishes hers. When he pulls her back over, she feels looser, more relaxed. Then, with the amount of alcohol she's had, comes the inevitable run to the bathroom. He pauses the movie until she returns. The film comes to the point where Selene, the death dealer, is trying to wake Viktor, an elder vampire. He murmurs in her ear as he wraps his arm around her. "You keep going to wolf in your sleep. You seemed better after we went out for a run yesterday. Maybe we need to let your wolf out more. Were you asleep when you left this morning?" It comes out as a strangled wail. "I tried to kill you this morning!" "Did you think I would hurt you?" "You said Ariel would kill me if she thought I was a threat. Randall would do it, if he thought so. Is that why we're here?" He ignores the question, asking one of his own. "Is that what your nightmares have been about? Have you dreamed of killing me?" "No. Yes. No. Um." He waits. "There was one night when you woke me. I remember seeing dead wolves. Wolves with their throats ripped open, blood. I smelled it. I saw grey fur." "Lyssa. Mate. Something's going on in your head. Something's gotten confused. I want to see if we can work through it. You've gotten so angry all of a sudden, arguing, getting into fights. It isn't you. Can you tell me what you're feeling? What you're thinking? You've come out with these comments lately, about everyone wanting you to be a werewolf, about being all the werewolf you can be. What does that mean?" "You all want me to fight, to kill. That's how you do things." "You've taken so well to being a werewolf, Lys. Sometimes we forget you weren't born one. You've been sparring, learning how to fight. And you've already killed another werewolf." Lyssa shoves away from Emmett and wails, "I didn't mean to! He was, he was going to rape me and kill me and I just wanted to stop him." Emmett lowers his voice a bit, trying to sound calm, trying not to let things get out of hand. "OK. We know that but you weren't, well, you didn't really seem to be having any trouble with that. And it's... It was your right to kill the other wolf so we all thought... Randall set out his punishment as he would have with anyone else. He treated you as any other wolf in the pack with fighting skills." "But, he wasn't trying to kill me. I hesitated when he asked me, told me. You saw it. You, of all people, should have known that I couldn't do it. And the other one? I think I was still in shock, just trying to heal, working on Jo's party. I didn't have time to think about it." "That's why I talked to Randall. That's why I asked to take your place." "But you never even talked to me about it. You just did it." "You didn't want to." "I had to try and you know it!" "Lys..." "What did Erich say?" Emmett is taken aback by the abrupt turn in conversation, "Erich?" "About the fight." "Oh. That. Yeah, they were kindof disappointed." "Sure. They wanted to see a spectacle. It wasn't any fun cuz it ended so quick." Lyssa huffs. Emmett grabs a couple more beers and hands her another. "Alright. Can you explain to me why you got so mad? Why you insisted on doing it even when you didn't want to?" She exhales, "I did it for you." "What do you mean, you did it for me?" Another long exhale. She looks down, grasping the beer. Another inhale, and exhale. "I know it's a werewolf thing, a pack thing. Better fighters tend to have higher status. Ariel fights and she's Alpha." A pause and he opens his mouth, but she continues. "They explained it to me when I first got here, the importance of status and that mating someone of lower status could bring you down. And I had no status." "Lys.." "There are ways to change things. You've done that. Erich. But I'm still a drag on you. I wasn't born a werewolf. I'm not as strong, not as fast, not as anything. So I've been trying. Trying to get better. Trying to fit in. Trying to do the things you do. Trying to make you, the pack, proud of me." His heart thuds in his chest. "Mate, I.." She talks over him. "After Thomas, after knowing Ariel fought, and being mated to a Beta, I knew it would be better if I learned how to fight. So, beyond the strength training, I started sparring. After all, a bunch of the women spar. But, I knew I had to be better." "A lot of good it did me." His voice remains quiet. "Lyssa. No one can fight a bullet or a tranquilizer." "Yeah. There's that. But it also put me in the position where Jo and I were sent into the circle. And Jo was ready for it. She wanted to do it." "I gave you an out." "No. You went behind my back." He takes a deep breath, releases it. "Alright, I did. It's in my nature to protect you, or to try, anyway." She's started to get angry again, he could see the tenseness in her body. Time to change the subject. "So. You ran from me this morning because you thought I might kill you?" She takes a deep draught of the beer before answering. "No. I didn't think you would." "You ran because you thought you might kill me?" "Yes. I thought I might." "You learned to fight because you thought it was the right thing to do?" "Mostly. But, surrounded by a bunch of werewolves that are stronger and faster, maybe I wanted to level the playing field." "That's a better reason, at least. And you wanted to fight, agreed to kill, the Ross wolf for me, for the pack." Lyssa has the bottle raised to her lips. She stops and brings it back down. "Yes." Emmett shakes his head. "And you're upset that you killed the other one, even though he was about to kill you." "Yes." "Don't get mad at me. I'm just trying to get it all straight in my head, trying to understand. I'm trying to figure out your motivations." Another drink. "Just trying to be a good werewolf, dammit." "Lys, sweetheart. You've been a good werewolf. You are a good werewolf." Lyssa looks down into the neck of the beer. "Woof." "Stop it." She glances at him, looks away. "The thing is, you took to being a werewolf so well. You didn't seem to have any trouble adjusting to our lifestyle. You became one of us. And you've done it so well, we never thought there would be any problem with what is normal for us. You need to talk to us, tell us, tell me what bothers you. What you can and can't do. I'm your mate, for Selene's sake." Her voice goes quiet and tired. "I'm the weakest member of the pack." "Other than the pups, Anna is weakest and she's never had these sorts of problems. You, sweetheart, are anything but weak." "Anna isn't Beta. She hasn't had to do what I have to." Emmett reaches over and pulls her tightly to him. "Dear heart. I never meant to make this so hard for you. I never meant to have you do things you didn't want to do. I wanted you with me. I wanted you happy. And it seems you got mad every time I tried to make it easier on you." "Easier? Not one of you gets it." He looks at her, waiting for her explanation. "I've been dropped into an alien society." He looks to object. "Not saying I didn't go willingly but I asked for it without understanding everything that was involved. I've had time to learn. The weak don't do well in a wolf pack. They're either destroyed or dominated." Emmett turns his face into her hair. "Lyssa. Lyssa. We are not that way, not like the pure animals, or haven't you noticed? A couple of hundred years ago that may have been the case but we've ... evolved since then." "And Michael Ross is a prime example. Not to mention Thomas." "Alright, some more than others. Has anyone in the pack been bothering you? Saying things? Challenging you, formally?" "No." He gives her a squeeze. "Then what is this?" Lyssa releases a big exhale. "I thought I was doing the right thing but it didn't help. It just made things worse." Emmett kisses the side of her head. "Now, sweetheart, I'll start by saying you contribute to the pack. Randall and Ariel agree. It's good that you've learned how to spar since that's practically a form of play for us. But, all the training in the world won't help against overwhelming odds, a threatened hostage, or a tranquilizer and chains. That's how they brought me back to the den, remember?" Lyssa smiles slightly at the memory and nods, once. Emmett cups her chin. "You did the brave thing, the right thing, when they had you and Jo and I'm so glad you weren't killed. It's the reason you're still here with me. But, we were wrong to push you into the circle with the Ross wolf. We thought you were up to it. I'm sorry." "So, tell me. Why the fights with Ariel and Stephanie?" "She made me mad, giving me a dressing down like that in front of the others and, I guess I thought if I could stand up to the Alpha.." Emmett sighs and shakes his head. "And Stephanie, well, even as an Omega she fights with you guys, so if I could hold my own with her, I'd be stronger. After all, I'd failed in the circle." "So that's it? Trying to make up for not killing the wolf in the circle?" "Mostly." Another squeeze. "You know they both held back." Lyssa closes her eyes and huffs. "The fight with Stephanie, at least, would have been over much more quickly if she'd pushed. They both have decades of experience. Everyone knows how new you are to sparring even though you've gotten pretty good. And you showed your inexperience when you tried that move against an opponent in intermediate form." "I know. I guess. I wish I was better." "Like anything else, Lys, it's practice and experience. Bet you could beat Madeline without breaking a sweat." Lyssa laughs, yawns. "She'd probably wipe the floor with me." A pause. "I'm kinda tired." "I believe a nap is in order, mate, for both of us." Calvin arrives at Wyeth that afternoon and seeks out Ariel. He talks to her about Erica and her Alpha duties. "I'm not sure she's up to it, Ariel." "Is it that she's incapable? Or that she doesn't want to?" He looks at her. "I'm not certain. I don't understand why he mated her. She's not suited to be Alpha. and he's, well, Michael doesn't seem particularly pleased to have a mate." Ariel looks at him. "The taking of a mate is a conscious decision, Cal. I can't imagine how it could have been done accidentally." "No. It's crazy. But I don't know what to do." "Surely, Cal, you've had someone take over when Sabine got sick. They'll just have to keep doing that." "It isn't fair to have Amanda continue in those duties. My pack," he pauses, swallows, "the pack is unsettled as it is." "It is the Alpha's responsibility to deal with these things." Calvin runs a hand through his hair. "I don't know what to do." "What you can, Cal, only what you can." There is a silence between them for a time. "I need to get to the warehouse for our monthly meeting. I think I saw Stephanie going into the sitting room." As he looks up she sees a light in his eyes and a smile start on his face. "Thank you, Ariel." Randall greets Calvin along the way, congratulating him on his new daughter and bringing up the possibility of grandpups. Calvin winces slightly and gives a noncommittal answer before heading off to find Stephanie. She looks up and greets him as he enters and he watches her play checkers with Anna. Anna makes motions to leave after she wins the game and Stephanie asks, "What about the third game?" Anna looks a bit confused. "Oh. Sorry. I thought you'd like to talk to Alph..Calvin." Stephanie practically grunts, "Calvin can wait." Embarrassed, Anna glances between the two of them and re-takes her seat. Calvin watches, wondering exactly what she had meant by that. Checkers was a game of strategy, however limited, and Stephanie apparently kept thinking 3 or 4 moves ahead. She wins this game. Anna thanks her and leaves. Calvin sits in the newly vacant seat. "Favor me with a game? Or three?" Stephanie nods, they reset the pieces, and the game begins. He wins, then she wins, the board almost void of pieces at the end of each game. They finally stop after Stephanie has won her 4th of the seven games. "Do you play chess, Stephanie?" She gives him a rather feral grin and they trade pieces. As the game begins, he tries to get her to talk about something other than the game. "So, did Alex give you the new scar?" The mark was still a bright healing pick. "No. It was the Beta female." He's a bit surprised by that. "You and Lyssa have been sparring? Well, that's ambitious of her. I would think you are far better than she is." Stephanie sniffs. "I am. I would beat her blindfolded and on one leg. But I had asked her a question and the only way she would answer me was after a match. I wouldn't have done it, otherwise." He stops. "Really? And what question did you ask?" She drops her head. "I won't say." Alright, whatever it was was a sore subject with her. "So, you won't be sparring with her again?" "Only if they return and her skills improve." Intrigued, Cal asks. "They return?" "The Beta pair, the first Beta pair, has gone away to see if they can get her head on straight. The Beta has taken his mate to see if he can get her settled down." She suddenly realizes she's revealed sensitive information to someone who was not Wyeth pack. She drops her head, staring at the board. "I shouldn't have said anything." Calvin looks at her. "Are you worried about them?" "He is a fine Beta. It would be trouble if we lost him." "Lost him? What about her?" "She's been acting strangely." Stephanie moves her rook. "I really shouldn't say." "Alright, Stephanie. So tell me," as he takes her rook with his bishop, "do you like flowers?" Joanna gets a text from Nathan, "Y don't U cum over?" She replies. "No, 2 late." "M said U should cum." "Got stuff 2 do." "Pls?" "Busy. TTFN." Ariel looks at her daughter as Joanna slides the keyboard back and pushes the phone away. The unhappy look on Jo's face prompts her to ask, "Is everything alright?" Joanna blows out a breath in exasperation. "He thinks he can ask me to come over to the party now." "Excuse me?" A huff. "It's his brother's mate's birthday and they're having a party. He left to go to it and now he's asking me to come." Fulfillment 07 "Did you want to go?" "No. I don't think so." Ariel smiles to herself. Ah, the misunderstanding between sexes. "So, he didn't ask and you're mad he didn't even if you didn't want to go anyway." Joanna looks at her mother and pulls a face. "Yeah." Ariel laughs. "Mom! It isn't funny." "Sweetie, males think differently than we do. You need to get used to it. In his mind if you're going to say no and he knows that then there's no reason to ask. Of course, it is possible the party was planned for family only and that you weren't invited." "I guess." "Alright, then, what about your essay?" He feels her wake, recognizing the difference in her breathing. He whispers in her ear. "This is nice." He's spooned up behind her, holding her. He feels lazy, content. "MMmm." She makes a noise of agreement. "Lyssa. What did you mean when you said you couldn't give me pups?" She tenses and her chest starts to heave. "Em." He waits, his breath warm in her ear. "It's been a couple of years. Maybe, maybe I can't." "Sweetheart, we have plenty of time." "You were so disappointed the last time. You think it should have happened by now." "I'll be happy when it does happen. But we don't need to worry about it. You've seen that females don't catch every time they have an estrus cycle." "I've come into heat seven times, Em, seven. Natalie couldn't tell me yes or no. Maybe because I was changed, cuz I wasn't born wolf..." Her voice gets rough. "Are you sorry I agreed to mate you? Can you mate someone else?" He takes a minute, thinking carefully of how to answer her. "I don't want to mate anyone else. And, one day, I'll feel a pup kicking in your belly. My pup. Ours." He takes a breath. "It won't happen on your next heat, though. Too much has happened. Your injuries alone, so close to estrus.." "Michael Ross." Her voice is full of venom. "There needs to be some sort of committee, a council or something, to oversee some things for the packs. He shouldn't be able to get away with it just because he's an Alpha. And Joanna. He was gonna rape and mate her. No female should be forced to be someone's mate against her will." "You're asking for a lot, Lys. The packs are run independently and wouldn't take well to someone else telling them what to do. And the mating bite starts the female's estrus cycle. She'd have to be paired with someone." "Sure, why not keep everything the same way, the way it's always been?" She's up on one elbow, looking down at him. "Would you want that for your daughter?" Her mouth quirks to a slight smile as a growl leaves her lips. "Different when it's your family, isn't it? How do the widowed females handle it? There are ways, you just don't want to think about it. I know I'm a minority here, but some things need to be changed. The world isn't static; it's changed around you. The pack shouldn't stand still." "You're going against generations of pack law. Hundreds of years of indoctrination. It's not that easy." "Really? What have you asked me to change? And who jumped out of that window to keep me away from Thomas?" He looks up at her, she was right. "How strong was your indoctrination then, huh? It's not that you can't change, you just need a good reason to change." He lays there, considering. They had been ready to hand her over to Thomas because they thought he had mated her. It was against her will. And, though it pained him to do it, because of her, he had taken her, left his pack, and run. "Randall took me back." She looks at him. "Yes. Is that normal? Would it have happened in the 'old' days?" His eyes flick up to her and Lyssa sees surprise and shock there. His reply is low, quiet. "No." He swallows. "Absolute obedience to the Alpha. That's the way it's always been. To disobey risks punishment, or worse." She touches his face. "Don't tell me you can't change. It's already happened. You don't live out in the wilds. You do business with human beings, live with them, help them sometimes. You've changed with the times, you just don't think about it. It's been slow enough that you didn't notice. And, why? Because you care about something, like staying alive. Or someone, like me. Or Randall and Ariel for you." "I want Michael punished, you want him punished and you, we can't, because of a pack law, a pack consensus. You already work together, mingle, this would just make it a formal thing." "We, Lys. Don't keep saying 'you.' You're every bit a part of the pack, part of our lives. You aren't some outsider. When you were taken we weren't just looking for Joanna, we were looking for both our pack members." She pauses, looking at him. "I'm hungry," she says as she sits up and swings her legs over the side. "Can we eat and keep talking? If you want to keep talking..." What he really wanted was to make love to her for the next three days. But, he realizes as he looks at her back, her hunger was a good thing. And so was the talking. They quietly put dinner together. Roasted pork loin, potatoes, onions, carrots. After the food goes into the oven, Lyssa starts hunting for something in the supplies. "What are you looking for?" "I'd kill for some coffee." "Beans in the freezer, sweetheart." Lyssa pulls out the coffee beans as he pulls the grinder from the box. She inhales deeply, "Oh, god," as she dumps some into the grinder. Lyssa taps the ground beans into the coffeemaker and starts it. Emmett stands behind her, places his hands on her shoulders and runs them down her arms. He brushes his lips against her hair. She twists, puts her arms around his waist and her head against his chest. He now puts his arms around her and holds her, close to him. They stand that way quietly as water drips through the coffee grounds and into the pot below. As the last drop falls, she turns away and he releases her. She finds a couple of coffee cups and, filling them both, hands him one. Taking a deep draught, she swallows, "Oooh, that's good." He takes her free hand. "Let's watch the movie, huh?" She sits beside him as he starts the movie over, fast-forwarding to the awakening scene. She sips the coffee. The smell of roasting pork fills the cabin. As they sit to eat Lyssa says, "Simon really made sure we had enough, didn't he?" "Yeah, he's got a good idea of how much we'd need." She takes a bite of the pork. "Mm, that's good." "I think it's from our new supplier." "Oh. Do we have anything sweet?" "I'm not sure. I didn't look through everything." He watches as she eats well and drinks the coffee she'd made. As they finish and clear the table, she pours another cup for both of them then digs through the supplies. Chips. Drinks. Canned goods. Pasta. "Aha!" Triumphantly, she holds up a bag of chocolate chip cookies. Setting them on the counter, she wanders over to dry the dishes he's washed. That done, she takes the cookies and coffee to the couch and sits. He joins her, picking up the remote. "Ready?" She nods. The movie picks up again as the darkness falls around them. The evening, the time is more relaxed than it had been between them in several days. The movie ends and he starts the sequel. Somewhere along the line, even with the coffee, she falls asleep, sliding sideways and leaning against him. He sits, enjoying the closeness, enjoying her warmth, not really watching the movie, until his eyelids grow heavy. He turns everything off and pulls her into his lap. She murmurs pleasantly and turns into him. Emmett carries his mate to the bed and lays her in it. He shucks his clothes and crawls in beside her. It was odd, lying beside his clothed mate, but he wasn't sure she'd want him to disrobe her. She had seemed better this afternoon. The question was, would it last? He lies and worries and falls asleep with her scent in his nose. Joanna lies in her bed, a bit miffed, but inhaling Nathan's scent where it lingered. Last night had been so nice. She was growing comfortable sleeping with him but, the other thing? He had touched her, made her feel...weird...good...strange but... So, she thought of what he'd done, how he'd touched her, and she felt a little thrill go through her. It had made her moan, and squirm, and yell. And she couldn't stop herself. It was a little scary. Her hands had strayed to her boobs. Maybe, maybe she should figure it out. Lyssa had said something about masturbating, that she had to have done it. Well, she hadn't, she never saw the point. After all, wasn't that the kind of thing a male was supposed to do? But her hands moved and she touched her boobs through her t-shirt. The tips were already in little points, hard and sensitive. The rest of them didn't feel anywhere near as much as the tips. She pressed on them, then rolled them around a little with the pads of her fingers. That felt good. And she scraped her fingernails across them, still over the t-shirt. Weird. That felt good, too. The t-shirt was new, and kinda heavy, and, as she tried to grab her nips with two fingers, they slipped away. Even that felt pretty good. And she felt herself beginning to get wet, down below, and she thought about touching herself there, like he did. And she figured she could find everything by touch but she'd never really looked there, and maybe she should. After all, it was hers. It wasn't often but she had seen males licking their mates there. She should really see what they were looking at. So, she got a hand mirror and propped it up against a pillow. She waited, and listened, and got nervous. So she shoved a chair under her doorknob. Most rooms in the den didn't have locks as everyone respected other's privacy, when they wanted it. She settles back on the bed, with the mirror pointed at her crotch, and feeling kinda silly. She takes a big breath and looks. Fur, curly light brown hair, on top, and trailing around down the sides on the way to her butthole. She spreads her legs wider. She knew enough about biology to know they were called lips, or labia. And her little clitty was there, too. Tentatively, she touches herself. The lips are soft, and warm, and look a little red and swollen. There is a slick, sticky fluid on the inner ones. She touches it and brings her fingers up to her face. Sniff. Kinda musky, kinda like her. Huh. She thinks about licking her fingers but decides against it. She peed from down there. So, she uses her fingers, opening up her lips, looking at herself a little more closely. There was a triangle at the top with a little nub in the middle. She touches it, then presses on it, then strokes across it. Mmm. The clitoris. Last thing. Vagina. Where the male stuck his penis. There was an opening down there. As she looks more closely she sees there are a couple of holes, but certainly nothing big enough to put a penis in. She prods with her finger, it was kindof springy. Luna, a finger wouldn't even fit. Right there, where there should be a hole, was a membrane. She had a hymen. And it would hurt when it broke. Now she was a little more scared of what would happen her first time. Maybe, maybe, she should talk to Natalie about it. As she pulls her fingers away, she strokes across her clit. Oh. A small jolt runs to her center. Well, she decides, let's see if I can do it myself. So, she kicks the pillow and mirror off the back of the bed and settles back against her pillow, her hand between her legs. Joanna strokes, touches, and feels her way. After stroking her lips a few times and feeling the wetness rise again, she exhales, puts her fingers on her little clitty, and begins to rub. She starts slowly, rubbing lightly, in rather wide circles. It feels good but, so far, nothing like what Nathan had managed. There's more juice, more liquid coming from her, and that feeling is kinda weird too. She discovers it feels better when she has some on her fingers, so she gathers more and, with little vibrating motions, rubs at the nub at the top of her thighs. She feels her muscles start to tighten up as she rubs and, with a bit more work, she groans, feeling a couple of pulses at her opening. She falls back, panting, and a little disappointed. As she pulls the covers up and yawns she thinks, it was nowhere as good as what Nathan had done. Emmett feels the mattress shift and listens intently to see what she was up to. Would she try to run again? A trip to the bathroom then he hears her settle on the couch. [Sweetheart, are you alright?] [Yeah. I'm good.] [Then come back to bed.] [I think it would be better if I stayed here.] He rises and walks into the other room where she's lying on the couch and looking uncomfortable. He crouches next to her and brushes the hair from her face. "You're going to be uncomfortable here and I won't sleep either. Come back to bed." Her eyes open and her dark eyes look into his. "I don't think it's a good idea." "Lys, you haven't had a nightmare tonight. I want you in the bed with me." She blinks. "Em, I could have killed you last night. I don't ... I'm gonna stay here." So, he throws another log on the fire and lays down on the floor before the couch. She rolls onto her back and sighs. "Em, you don't have to..." "Mate. My place is with you. I sleep with you." Tears well up in her eyes and she sniffles. After a couple of minutes he sits up, slides his arms under her, and pulls her down onto the floor with him. Pulled on top of him, he strokes her back. She sniffles and he feels her tears against his chest as he continues to hold her close. Her breathing slows, the sniffling stops, and she falls asleep on top of him. Fulfillment 08 Thursday Madeline wakes the next morning to her mate nuzzling her neck. His hands are on her small breasts and she can feel the hard length of him against her backside. [Are you awake, my Blossom?] The send is quiet. She groans and moves. "Mmm, no. I need more waking." She smiles, where he cannot see. He growls then, nipping at her ears and, while the fingers of one hand tweak her nipple, the other slides down her body to the juncture of her thighs. [You smell awake.] [You can't smell if I'm awake.] He slides a finger between her thighs and brings it, wet and glistening, to his nose. He sniffs. [Yep. Awake.] She wiggles her butt against him, making him groan, and he slides a finger inside her. Barely mated a week, her size meant he still has to take things slowly with her. So he rubs, and he strokes, as her juices really start to flow. He works another finger into her and slowly pumps the two in and out. She sighs and moans as he strokes across her clit. She's twisted enough that she can pull his head to hers. Hungry mouths meet and their tongues duel in the moist caverns. Her other hand reaches for his erect member as he starts to add a third finger to her slippery heat. [You're very, very wet, Blossom.] He breaks the kiss and drops down to nip at her nipple. He hears her sharp intake of breath and, now that he's working three fingers in and out, removes them and rolls to present the head of his cock to her slippery, engorged lips. She clutches his head to her breast and shifts her hips as he starts to press into her. He feels his foreskin push back as the head passes into her entrance. He stops and takes a couple of deep breaths. It felt so amazing with just that little bit of penetration, but she whimpers. [Don't stop, Erich.] A long groan leaves his throat, hers is filled with a moan, as he pushes completely inside. She shows no evidence of pain or discomfort but clutches his shoulders tightly as he begins his slow slide back out. After seating himself once more in her depths, he begins to increase his tempo. She meets him with each stroke, panting and digging her nails into his triceps. She felt so full; it always felt so incredible. He stretched her and his strokes pulled at her labia, stimulating her further. He sinks down on his elbows, continuing his thrusts. He scrunches down a little, takes her face in his hands, and kisses her deeply. His movements become rather jerky as his knot swells inside her. [Love...you...mate.] [Oh, Erich. I love you, too.] He breaks the kiss, raises his head, and howls. And, as full as she already is, she feels it. The pulsing of his cock, his seed filling her further. He comes down on his elbows hard, just stopping himself from crushing her. He sucks in air. After a short period of recovery, Erich pulls them both onto their sides and hooks a thumb between their bodies. Sliding down he finds her sensitive nub and presses on it. She moans and he rubs. If possible, she gets even tighter around him. A slight shriek, and a groan, and her muscles pulse in waves around him. As she pulls in a breath he removes his hand, wraps it around her, and pulls her more closely to him. --- Joanna wakes, cranky and irritated. She had gotten a couple of texts the night before but hadn't answered him. She figured he'd probably come over later and say he was sorry and then she'd just say OK and kiss him. Sigh. Ariel looks at her daughter at breakfast. Quiet, staring at her plate, pushing things around. Even Randall and Roland noticed. [What's on Jo's mind, El?] [First spat with a first love. It should blow over soon.] --- Lyssa had gone to wolf in her sleep again. Emmett followed suit, stretched out beside her, his head over her shoulder. She whimpers and he inhales. Her head jerks and he wakes. Another whimper and he licks her ear then wuffles in it. She quiets, stretches, and yawns, scratching her ear against the rug. She twists and shifts to human. Emmett changes to human form and runs a hand over her belly, giving her a peck on the cheek. "Morning, sweetheart. How do you feel about breakfast?" She twists her head, looking into the chocolate brown eyes of her mate. A sigh. "Breakfast sounds good." Emmett rises, his erection bobbing in front of him as he heads for the kitchen area. She watches, sighing. He looks good, her mate, so good. Emmett pulls some things from the fridge and sets them beside the stove. She throws a log on the fire, drags on a t-shirt, and pads over to help him. She looks at the dozen eggs as he starts bacon frying. "So, scrambled?" "I was thinking Denver omelets." "With bacon?" "Bacon on the side, sweetheart." "OK." She sets to chopping ham and onions. As she reaches for the cheese his hand slips down her back to cup her ass. She jumps a little and smiles slightly as he takes his hand away to deal with the bacon. He pours scrambled eggs into the skillet and watches them cook in the bacon grease. Breakfast is quiet, pleasant, and she eats a little more than a third of the food, something close to her normal appetite. "So, sleep well?" "I feel good. You were with me, how did I sleep?" "Maybe, well, you were whimpering a little this morning, just before we woke up." "And wolf again, too, huh?" "Yeah, early this morning." "Well, guess it's a good night when I don't try to kill you in my sleep." He gets up and wraps his arms around her. "How would you feel about a run? I think your wolf might appreciate it. I know I would." She takes a deep breath. He puts his mouth to her ear and murmurs. "Come outside and play with me." Her breath leaves her in a chuckle. "Sure." They go outside, into the snow. He drops down, chest to the ground, looking up at her. [Ready?] [Seriously? Are we 12?] [C'mon, you haven't had a chance to play in weeks. Catch me.] He takes off, running around the back of the cabin. Lyssa yips and takes off after him. they romp, and frolic, chasing each other up and down, around trees. He pounces out at her, bowling her over. She comes, growling, and launches herself at him. He fends her off then leaps over a mound of snow. She plows forward and trips over the log underneath. She yelps and slides headfirst down the side of the hill. The sound of voices comes to them as he bounds down after her. [Lys? You alright?] He catches up to her, where she's come to rest wrapped around a tree. [Lys?] She raises her head and looks at him, a wolfish grin on her, tongue lolling. He can hear laughter in her send. [Real graceful, but kinda fun.] [Can you move?] [Uh, yeah.] She thrashes, having trouble getting purchase to move. She slides off to one side and a little further down the slope. The voices are louder. [We need to get back to the cabin before the humans see us.] Her dark eyes looks up at him. She founders a bit, then gets her legs under her and shoves upward. They work their way back up the slope, glancing back occasionally and seeing bright colors moving along the trail. It would be best if they weren't seen. As they gain the back yard of the cabin, Lyssa asks [Are there wolves around here?] [Nothing permanent. Lone wolves have been spotted a couple of times. A lot of the sightings are probably coyotes.] On the front porch, they shake off snow and re-enter the cabin. He turns to look at her. Snowflakes glisten in her hair. Her body is tanned, relatively lean, but well-muscled. Her nipples were crinkled up from the cold. There were scars on her body from her fighting. He breathes, "You're so beautiful." She looks up at him and gives him a little smile. He stretches his hand out to her and she takes it. He pulls her around, facing him, and takes her other hand in his. He looks down at her, waiting. She looks up at him, waiting for what he would do. After a minute, she blushes and asks, "What?" He brushes his lips over her forehead. "Just looking at my beautiful mate." He puts his arm around her shoulders and gently brings her against him. He feels her soft skin, her breasts against his bare chest. He sends to her, since he can't bring himself to voice the question, [Do you regret having mated me?] Surprised, she looks up at him. "No." He closes his eyes. "Never?" She lays her head against his chest and her palm over his heart. "I can't say it's always been easy but, no." He heaves a big breath. "So, Madam Beta," she looks up at him, he's never addressed her that way, "I think we might discuss those things you would like to see done differently in the pack." She pushes away from him. "But, Randall.." "If we discuss things now, here, we can either come up with a better argument together or I can tell you what will likely never fly. You'll have to pick your battles, Lys." She looks at him again, considering. "Coffee?" "Ah, Selene, yes." She grinds the beans and starts the coffee. He watches her disappear into the bedroom and she comes back out with socks, sweatshirt, and sweatpants. He wanders over and picks his own sweatpants off the floor, dragging them on. She pulls the coffee cups out and he walks up behind her. She turns and is surprised by how close he is. Her dark eyes look up into his lighter brown eyes, her soft pink lips are slightly parted. He releases a breath, picks an evergreen twig from her hair and kisses her before backing away. She brings both cups to the couch, hands him one, and curls her legs underneath her as she sits beside him. He takes a sip. "Aah, good. Thank you." They drink for a short time in silence. "Alright, mate, I'm sure you have a list of things, changes, you want to talk about. Let's hear it." She looks into her coffee cup. "Well, OK. There's the pack council. Getting rid of forced matings for the females. Um, oh, females leading the hunt. And, um, homosexual pairs." She sits, thinking. "That's all I can think of right now." "Alright, let's start with the hunt..." --- Calvin has come to spar with Stephanie again. In the Wyeth circle, the two circle, and snarl, and leap, and claw. Attacking, retreating, parrying. Some pack members wander by and watch briefly, then continue on. Randall saunters out to watch. The brown female and the greying, dark-haired male grapple. They roll, twist, snap. Calvin pins her, holding her to the ground with his weight. She twists, she growls, she tries to hook her leg around his and roll him, without success. So, she stills under him, sighing. [You win.] [Then I claim a prize.] Her forehead creases. Prize? There was no prize for sparring. He leans down, kisses her briefly on the lips, then jumps off. "Again?" She rises, looking narrowly at him. "I think we're done." He makes a short bow. "Thank you for the match." She stalks off and Calvin approaches Randall "I've arranged to send a side of beef and three hams." "Calvin?" "I've been eating your food, using your resources. I feel obliged to repay you." Randall looks pointedly at the retreating Stephanie, then back to Calvin. "Resources, Cal?" Calvin Ross smiles. [And she didn't claw me this time.] Randall wraps an arm around his friend. "Coffee?" "How 'bout a match?" The Wyeth Alpha strips down in answer. "In my own circle, Cal?" "Shall we see?" The two large brown wolves square off. --- Nathan's mood is depressed and distracted. She wasn't answering him. He's got a half dozen roses in a plastic sleeve tucked in the back of the bike and is off to the Wyeth compound. He's worrying his lower lip and not paying the strictest attention to the road. A car pulls out in front of him. He recognizes the danger and hits the brakes too late. Unable to avoid it, the front wheel of his bike lodges in the front wheel well of the car. His body leaves the bike. --- Emmett has discussed several of Lyssa's thoughts with her, figuring out her motivations and reasoning and explaining some of the obstacles to change as well as ways to approach their Alpha with her suggestions. She's loosened up considerably in the last day. And it had been days since he had experienced the pleasure of her body. He wanted to love her, wanted to ask her, but then thought perhaps he should wait for her to approach him. But his body was fairly humming this close to her and his tenseness had nothing to do with her recent volatility. He sits, watching her hands, one on the table, the other around a beer bottle. Her nimble fingers, thinking of them touching him. He inhaled her scent. If anything, even a bit more heady than usual. And they were here. Alone. Together. No duties. Simply with one another. "Em?" He looks up at her. "Hmm?" "Are you OK?" He grabs the hand next to him and flashes her a brilliant smile. "Yeah, sweetheart, I think I'm good." Lyssa blinks and smiles back at him and she rubs her thumb over the top of his hand. It was crazy. They'd been together a couple of years but she had no idea how to approach him. She wanted comfort. She wanted closeness. She wanted to be covered in his scent, wrapped in his arms. She wanted to feel his love. But he wasn't trying to get closer to her. Why? Didn't he want..? [Are you? Are you good?] There's an odd look in her eyes as she sends the question and the emotion in it is something he'd never heard from her. He cups her hand in both of his. "What is it, mate? Tell me what you want." She swallows. "You, Em, I want you." He looks into her dark brown eyes and rises. He brings her upright, pulls her into his arms, and kisses her fiercely. When the kiss finally breaks, he looks at her again. "I've been waiting for you to say that." He picks her up, presses his lips to hers, and carries her into the bedroom. --- Joanna is sitting by one of the front windows, chewing on her thumb. He'd stopped testing, hadn't called, and she was now beginning to worry. Was he mad at her? Should she call him? Madeline saw Joanna sitting in the front hall and pulled away from her new mate. "Maddie?" She stretches up to kiss him. "I'll be up in a little while, Erich. Jo looks like she could use some company." Erich reaches down and pulls her pelvis against his. She feels his cock twitch as he says, [Don't be long.] and releases her. Madeline walks over and sits next to Jo. "Still worried about them?" "No." comes out quickly. She turns, "Oh, um, yeah." "OK, that's not what you're thinking about. Must be Nathan, huh? What's up? You still mad at him?" "Um, yeah. No. He stopped calling. He isn't here. Madeline, what does it mean? Do you think he's mad at me?" Madeline looks at the young woman, obviously in love with young Severn and worried. They'd had their first argument. She rubs Jo's arm. "He'll come. Maybe he had to work late." Joanna's eyes go wide. "Work? Oh, what if something happened? What if he got hurt? What if he got shot? What if he's dead? I, oh, I never told him..." "Jo. Jo. Breathe." Joanna looks at her, even more upset, and fumbles for her phone. "Who are you gonna call?" Jo sends a text to Nathan, then fidgets, waiting for an answer. Next, she calls. The phone rings but no one answers. "Oh, Selene, oh, Selene, Where is he?" Joanna looks at the phone, fumbles, drops it. Reaching for it, she knocks it away. Madeline picks it up. "Do you have his parents' number?" "Um. No." She looks about ready to cry. "Maybe if we call Severn?" The phone rings, the ringtone indicating someone she doesn't know. Madeline looks at the screen and hands it over. Joanna looks at the screen and answers, a note of hysteria in her voice. "Kendra? What's wrong?" She listens intently. "Where?" Joanna gets up, heading for the garage. Madeline looks after her. [Is he OK?] [Accident. Gotta go.] Joanna races for the garage, grabs the keys to her Mini, gets in and peels out. Paul frowns behind her at the marks left on the concrete. --- Emmett lays his mate down on the bed and strips the t-shirt off of her. His eyes rove hungrily over her curves. As he hands come down to her own waistband he grabs hold of them, brings them over her head and settles part of his weight on her. He sticks his nose in her hair and sniffs, noses her jawline, licks her neck. Lyssa closes her eyes and sighs. [Settle in, mate. I intend to take my time.] Lyssa feels her body heat; a rush of blood travels to the sensitive places between her thighs and wetness begins to rise there. She feels his smile against her skin. Emmett's hand traces down her side, goes down to her knee, then moves between her legs. Her legs open of their own accord and he smiles again as his hand makes its way up to the crotch of the sweatpants. His fingers linger there, moving the fabric around, pressing it against her lower lips, rubbing across her clitoral hood. "MMmmm." Emmett then brings his fingers up to his nose and inhales. Ah, yes, muted but there, the scent of her sex. A scent that would overwhelm his senses soon enough. But for now, just a small prelude. With his free hand he shoves down his sweatpants and removes one foot. Picking up the other, he grabs them and, ripping through the seams, pulls one of the legs into pieces. He deftly ties her wrists together and then to a corner of the bed. Her eyes focus on his stiffening manhood, watching as the head emerges from the foreskin. He removes her sweatpants and she lifts her hips to help him. She is left in a nude, seamless bra and a pair of blue cotton panties. The mood is slightly marred by the less-than-sexy undergarments but her nipples strain against the fabric of the bra and the panties were damp. With the other half of the sweatpants, he ties one ankle to the opposite bedcorner. She writhes slightly as he plants a kiss on her red butterfly tattoo and turns away. [Hold still.] She watches his backside as he walks away. Mmm. Biteable. She loved his body, the way he moved and thought of his muscular thighs working as he pumped into her, the feel of his back under her hands. And she wondered what he had planned. The dampness grows between her thighs as he returns with a razor and shaving cream. --- Joanna makes it about a third of the way to the Severn compound when she runs over a piece of debris in the road. Hauling the wheel against the pull to the blaring of a horn, she narrowly avoids hitting an oncoming car. The Mini comes to rest on the shoulder of the road. Taking deep breaths against the surge of adrenaline, she carefully exits the car and looks down at two flat tires. And screams her frustration. She pulls her cellphone out and, in the rush, drops it. "Damn it!" Grabbing it up, she dials home. "Wyeth." "Paul, I need a car, now. I'm on...," a momentary pause as she looks around, "..County 52 near Mason. The Mini's got two flats. Hurry." "I'll need to clear it with you father." "Yes, yes, do it!" A few moments as she paces. "Joanna, what's going on? Are you alright?" "Nathan's been in an accident. The Mini's got two flats. I need a car, Dad." Emotion starts to color her voice, almost pleading. "Alright, Jo. We're coming." The phone goes dead as she says, "You don't have to.." --- Emmett has shaved Lyssa's lips naked but left a small patch of dark chestnut hair on her mound. Unfortunately, it's taken longer than it normally would as her womanly juices kept making things sticky. He closes his eyes and inhales, while tracing a finger over her lower lips. "Mmm. Soft, warm, and sticky. And you smell good enough to eat." He looks up to find her dark eyes hazed with desire and her hands wrapped around the bindings on her wrists. As she starts to pull he says, "Uh uh, I have chain in the car if you try to break the rules of the game." "Rules?" she asks, voice thick and husky, "what rules?" Fulfillment 08 He crawls up her body, smiles down at her and takes her lower lip in his teeth. The head of his cock is the only other point of contact, on her thigh. [My rules. Tonight you will submit to me while I reacquaint myself with your treasures.] Lyssa shudders at the thought. What would he do? How would he touch her? And how long would it be before he brought her the release her body now craved? She growls, then moans as he slides his hand down her belly and cups her womanhood. He growls back. [Mine.] Her chest heaves as she looks up at his eyes, filled with love and pent-up desire, and bobs her head. And, so, it begins. His hands stroking, over her body, over her curves, paying as much attention to her face and belly as to her breasts and newly-shaven mound. --- Randall arrives with Paul, who exits the car and holds the door open for Joanna. "Give Paul the keys, Jo. He'll take care of the car." "OK," she hands the keys over. "But what are you...?" Randall starts the car in the direction of the Severn compound, asking "Is he at the hospital?" "Um, yeah, they were taking him there." "How bad is it?" "I don't know. He hit a car." Her voice rises, she's ready to cry. "Joanna. Why don't you call whomever called you and get an update." Randall's voice is calm, rational. She lets out a little squeak, swallowing down her grief and fear as she looks at her phone for Kendra's number. Flashing lights bring her attention back to something outside the car. A tow truck holds a Cadillac with a tire wedged in the wheel well. The remains of a black motorcycle lay on the tail end of the tow truck bed. Pink petals are strewn down the side of the road. Joanna lets out a little shriek. "That's his bike!" "Call, Jo. Find out how he is." Joanna hunts for the number in her phone and hits the button to dial with shaky fingers. --- Since Emmett had only tied one of her ankles he had flipped her onto her stomach and caressed the back of her body. And, while she loved the feeling of her mate's large, warm, rough hands on her body, she positively ached for a more intimate caress. She whimpers as he begins to kiss his way down her spine. [Patience, mate.] She groans. There was no way he was going to give her what she wanted until he was ready. he covers her back in kisses, nipping at select points at her shoulder, ass, earlobe. And she focuses on his touch, his scent, the feeling of bedcovers under her, the coolness from the moisture his lips leave. She feels the tightness of her nipples, in her core, the wetness flowing from her, leaving a damp spot on the bed, washing over her clit. After an eternity, he flips her back over and starts pressing kisses on the front of her body. She whimpers every time he gets close to her sensitive areas but he doesn't touch them. He's got her gasping with need when he finally, finally, simply kisses her nipple. She nearly jumps out of her skin at the intensity of the feeling and she shrieks. Emmett stops and looks at her, wearing a smug, self-satisfied look. Panting, she watches and growls as his tongue leaves his lips and approaches her left breast. --- Randall continues driving as Joanna makes the call. Voicemail. "Kendra, where are you? Call me." Randall glances at his daughter, knees bouncing, clutching the phone, staring out the window. "Jo. Jo?" She turns to look at her father and a tear runs down her face. "They won't be able to call if they're at the hospital." Joanna sniffles. "The wreck didn't look too bad." She opens her mouth. "If the car had hit him broadside or pinned him against something I would be more worried." "But he could still be..." "Really hurt. Yes, Joanna, I know." He puts a hand on her leg briefly. "Think good thoughts and don't break the phone." Joanna looks down, she's starting to crack the case. As she starts to put it down, it rings. She snatches it up and hits the button. "Kendra? How is he?... Nathan? Oh, thank Selene. Are you OK? Where are you? What happened?" She stops firing questions as Randall again touches her leg. [Breathe, Jo.] She chews on her index finger as she listens. "Oh. Oh, good. Well, I guess. So, you're gonna be OK? ... Oh. OK. I'll be there soon. ... No, I wanna... Dad's driving. ... OK. See you soon." The Wyeth Alpha looks at his daughter for explanation. "They're taking him home. He's got a broken collarbone and a little concussion. But he's OK, Dad. He's gonna be OK." "I'm glad to hear it. Now, would you like me to wait for you or do you intend to stay?" She chews on her lip. Her father was asking if she wanted to stay overnight with a male, alone. "Um. I guess he'll only have one good arm for a while, so, I could stay and help him." "Alright, then. I'll have Paul bring your car once it's fixed." "Thanks." --- Contact. Finally. He had dropped his head to lave her nipple and was now sucking on it. She arches and moans, but it wasn't enough. She wanted, needed him inside of her. Now. She snarls and rips the bindings at her wrists and comes up, bloodying his nose in the process. "Ow! Lys.." She grows claws and takes out the binding on her ankle then pushes him to the floor, straddling his waist. She leans down to sniff, then lick, his neck. Shocked, he looks up at his mate. Zero to sixty in an instant. She's vaulted straight into estrus. Her voice is gravel. "Fuck me." "Bend over the bed." She rises quickly, pulling him up as she did so. She whirls, pressing her head into the bedcovers. He takes a brief look. Sleek chestnut fur on her body, ass pointed up at him, the soft, wet petals of her womanhood exposed by her stance. She wanted no foreplay; she only wanted to be filled. He plunges into her inviting depths with a groan as she growls. --- Randall pulls into the Severn compound and slows. "Which way, Jo?" "Oh, um, over there. That's his." There are no lights on in the house as they pull up. "I don't think he's here." "Maybe his parents'?" A car pulls up behind them. "That's him!" "OK, Jo. Good night." She turns back, already halfway out the door, and stretches back to give him a peck on the cheek. "I love you, Daddy." "You, too, my girl." Joanna shuts the door and runs for Nathan, who's gotten out of a car driven by Kyle. Upon seeing the sling, she checks herself and approaches him more slowly. Randall looks in the rear view mirror as Nathan wraps his good arm around his daughter and puts his cheek against the top of her head. Kyle slaps Nathan on the back and says, "C'mon, mate," as he walks away. [Take it easy, stud.] Joanna looks at Kyle's mate. "Thank you, Kendra." Nathan stands there, holding her. His voice is quiet. "Sorry, Jo." "You're alright. It's alright." "C'mon. Let's go inside," He steers her up to his place and she glances back once, watching her father leave. Nathan follows her look. "Your father drove you, huh? That was a good idea." As he ushers her inside, she says, "Actually, I was driving my car but I ran over something." "I guess I should teach you how to change a tire." "I can change a tire, dummy. I had two flats." They sit on the couch and he groans a bit before putting his arm around her. "I saw the bike." "Yeah. I really liked it." He sighs. "I'm thinking it's probably totalled." "What happened?" "Car pulled out in front of me, didn't have time to stop." "Seriously?" With his good arm, he pulls her closer and sticks his nose in her hair. "MMmm." She nudges him. "I needed to see how mad you were." Joanna chuckles. "Dummy. Decided to wreck your bike and see if I'd come running?" He now kisses the side of her head. "Oh, Jo. They all thought I was nuts. Everyone kept asking where you were. When I didn't have a good answer, they started in on me, all of them. My brothers groaned and shook their heads. Kendra told me, in no uncertain terms, that I was an idiot and needed to ask you over." She looks up at him. "Idiot?" He smiles down. "OK, that's not the word she used." Joanna tries to hold back a smile. "What did she call you?" He closes his eyes and sighs. "Fucking damn fool male." Jo bursts into a laughing fit. When she finally calms down, she asks, "So, you texted me?" "Mom found me in the corner after that and talked to me. She told me what I should do." Another sigh. "So, I got on my bike, got some roses, and headed for Wyeth." "Pink ones, huh?" "There was a red one in there, too." He pulls her close to him again. "I was so scared you were really mad at me." "I was." "I couldn't stand it, Jo, I had to come see you. I love you, Jo." She sucks in a breath. What was she supposed to say to that? Did she love him? She cared about him, sure, tonight showed that. "I'm glad you're here, Jo. Thank you." She snuggles closer to him. "You scared me tonight." --- Thank Selene for werewolf stamina. This was one of the times when it was really needed. Females were more or less insatiable during their heats but the body would periodically assert its need for food, drink, and rest. She was asleep. His maddening, complicated, beautiful mate. And the cabin smelled strongly of sex. He moves her dark hair away from her face and kisses her, before succumbing to sleep himself. Lyssa wakes him, a couple of hours later, stroking him to full hardness. "Ah, mate, you're awake." He groans. "Yes, Lys. I'm awake. Shall we continue?" She straddles him and leans down, sniffing his neck. "You smell good." He picks her up and slides her onto his stiffened length. As he takes her nipple into his mouth, she throws her head back, her hands beside his head. [And how do I feel, sweetheart?] She slides up once, then down on him again. She looks down on him, dark eyes slitted. "Yesss." hisses out between her teeth. Her nipple is caught briefly between his teeth as she pushes upright. And she gasps at the sensation as she puts her hands on his chest and he puts his hands on her hips. Deep. Fast. Hard. Sex at this time was not about gentleness, it was about procreation. Emmett watches the tattoo on her left breast bounce with their movements. After they were mated, she had gotten a grey wolf standing on a rock tattooed there. His eyes flick briefly to her right breast, which shows bite marks from another wolf, then travel down her body, to the left side of the small patch of dark pubic hair he'd left last night. A small red heart, that he could cover with his thumb, sat there. This tattoo she had had when he met her. For blood, she had said, for family, since she had lost hers in her teens. And, lastly, she said, it was where she would start her own family. All thoughts left his mind as she stiffens above him, her vaginal muscles gripping him tightly and pulsing around him. His knot was again lodged inside her and he feels his balls tighten up as they prepared to deliver their load. Her howl was shortly followed by his and, as she falls forward onto his chest, another howl comes from just outside the cabin, echoing into the valleys. As they lay and recover from their fifth tie, Emmett listens intently for the sound of the wolf outside. They were in its territory, certainly, but wolves were generally too wary to approach an occupied cabin. It was either extremely hungry or he smelled Lyssa. A growl leaves his throat at the thought. Lyssa's head moves slightly, but she was asleep on his chest in the predawn. He falls asleep with his arms around his mate, feeling their combined juices run over his balls and drip down onto the sheets. --- She had gone into his cupboards and fixed him a meal of sausage and onions in sandwich rolls. He needed protein and some fat to help him heal. His mother called before bringing over a meatloaf for them to eat and instructed Joanna on how to reheat it. Joanna had then helped Nathan undress and prepare for bed. He was right-handed and had broken his right collarbone as he pitched over the car. He growled at his dependence and she had blushed as she helped him remove his pants. He had insisted she join him in the bed even though he would be uncomfortable that night. Joanna did not sleep well either, as he kept waking and moving and making pained noises. She had asked him about pain medication but he didn't want to use it with her around. In some ways werewolves reacted similarly to humans to many drugs. However, some of them reacted badly to drugs. Nathan had also said it wasn't that bad. He woke to the sun streaming into his bedroom and Joanna snuggled up to his good side. She was awake, just looking at him. "Like what you see?" She blushes, uncomfortable with anything even hinting at sex. And, while he appreciated her innocence and their discovery of her body's responses, he couldn't wait to see true passion flare in her eyes when she looked at him. He licks his lips. She makes a non-committal noise but her hand was flexed and she was tracing little figures with her fingers in his chest hair. His voice gets husky. "A little lower, love." She looks down. They'd kicked most of the covers off but there was still a light blanket over them. There was a tenting below his waist. She hesitates slightly then moves her hand a bit lower and runs it over the top of his abs. His breath catches and she freezes. "Did I hurt..?" "No. Don't stop." She looks at him then back down. Her hands begins moving over his muscled abdomen. Each stroke brings her a bit lower and her hand disappears underneath the blanket. His head is lain back and his eyes are closed. She reaches the waist band of his briefs and stops there, stroking repeatedly across his belly. His voice now holds a hint of pleading. "Please." Joanna takes a breath and moves her hand a little lower, brushing against the top of his penis. He releases a shuddering breath. She was unsure but that breath made her feel ... proud, she supposed, that she could make him feel that way. So, she reaches a bit lower, and strokes his hardened shaft. He pushes his pelvis upwards and groans, "Joooo." She stops, cupping his erection. He pants, opens his eyes, and looks at her. "Shorts?" She looks a little confused. "Oh, you want them off?" Nathan nods. She exhales and pulls down the bedcovers. Sitting near his waist, she puts her fingers in the waistband of his briefs and begins pulling them down. He feels tension in the head of his cock, "Wait." He sticks a finger in the waistband and pulls it over the head. "OK." As he lifts his hips, she slides the underwear off and down his legs. She looks up at him, holding his underwear. His arm is in a sling but he is naked in front of her. Strong legs, arms, covered lightly in his brown hair. Scars, probably from fighting. His eyes, blue, looking at her with, what?, lust? His face framed in his short brown hair. Down his body, a line of that brown hair leads from his belly button to his... He watches her look him over. This was the first time he was completely naked in front of her. Well, except for when they had run as wolves. She was currently staring at his cock and was still holding his underwear. Softly, breaking the spell, he says, "Touch it." She comes back up to sit beside him and, realizing she's still got the underwear, drops it. It looks like others she's seen, rising out of a nest of curly brown hair. A large vein runs up the bottom and it bounces lightly with his heartbeat. His foreskin was a pinky brownish color and the eye was peeking out, a drop of liquid glistening at the end. She reaches out and touches him. She's surprised, "It's soft." Nathan smiles. "Not the compliment most males would enjoy hearing." Joanna pulls her hand away and blushes again. "I just meant..." "It's OK, Jo. I know what you meant." Even light teasing had her worried. She ducks her head, embarrassed.. She then cocks her head, examining it a little more closely, and inhales. The head interests her and she traces her fingertip around his foreskin, then pushes at it, a little. "It does retract." She looks up at him. "Does it hurt?" He smiles. "No. Go ahead." She takes his foreskin and pulls it back from the glans, getting some precum on her fingers. She brings them closer to her face and he groans as her tongue pokes out wetly from her mouth and she tastes it. Joanna looks up at the groan, a questioning look on her face. "That was so sexy." Her? Sexy? She almost chuckles in embarrassment. He grabs her with his good hand and hauls her up to him, kissing her. [Yes, Jo, you are sexy.] She gasps when the kiss ends and lays against his chest. Her hand strays down towards his penis. "So, we should probably do something for you." He strokes her arm. "I'd really appreciate it." Joanna creeps back down his body. "OK. I'll try it. But I've never done this before." Nathan holds his breath as her light brown hair shields his view of what she's doing. He moans as her warm mouth envelops the head of his cock. Her hand wraps around his base. She inhales and sinks down on him. Coming up, she sinks deeper on the second attempt, gagging a little. He's about to give advice when he finds her hand is now wrapped around him, as a stopping point. He clenches his hands as she bobs up and down on him. The warmth of her mouth surrounding him, resisting, as best he can, the urge to thrust up into it. He starts gasping. [Suck.. a little ... and ... pump your hand.] She concentrates on trying to do all that at once. Suck constantly? Off and on? Try not to gag. And her hand? Oh, teeth. What should she do with her tongue? Something must be working because his knot was growing. His hand wraps into her hair and he pushes her head onto him. After a moment of tenseness, she forces herself to relax, trusting him not to hurt her. He moves her head a little faster. She hears his heart hammer, his panting breaths. A little faster. [Now. Suck hard.] She tries, like she's trying to pull him inside out, and is startled when something gushes into her mouth. Joanna pulls away and spits as the rest of his semen spurts out onto his belly. She looks up at him. "Oh. sorry." His chest heaves and he blinks. He clears his throat. "Hmm. Come up here with me." as he strokes her hair. "C'mon." She allows herself to be pulled up to his side again. He's sweaty and gobs of semen are gooeyly resting on his belly. He kisses her on the lips. "Thank you." And he hugs her against him. She lays there, watching his face, listening to his heartbeat slow and is surprised when he falls asleep. Weird. While he would have dearly loved to have her in the shower with him, Nathan decides to try washing up alone. He hadn't actually gotten her completely naked yet and wanted to avoid the temptation of her naked and glistening in front of him. His shoulder is feeling a bit better, a bit looser. The smell of eggs and frying ham greets him as he pulls on sweatpants and puts the sling back on. A knock at the door has him striding out into the living space. Nathan opens the door to his Alpha and one of their healers. "Uncle Aaron, Alpha." "Good morning, Nathan. We've come to see how you're doing." "Yes, sir." Alpha Severn glances toward the kitchen. "I'd also like to speak to your guest, briefly." "Sir?" Aaron arches a dark eyebrow at his youngest nephew. "Jo? Turn off the food and come out here, please." She peeks around the corner. "I'm not dressed." "It's OK, Jo. My Alpha wishes to speak to you." She walks out in one of his t-shirts, which stops about mid-thigh. Aaron Severn puts out his hands in greeting and she takes them. "Alpha Severn." She looks directly at his chest. The daughter of an Alpha, she knew better than to look him in the eye. That would be a challenge. Fulfillment 08 He pulls her close enough to get her scent well then tips her chin up. "Ah, child, you very much resemble your mother in her youth. But I see your father in you, also." "Thank you, Alpha Severn." He looks over at Nathan, who's standing by rather nervously. "Have you been taking care of my pack member for me?" She flushes a bit and squeaks out, "Yes, sir." "Thank you for that. Healer?" The man, who has been patiently standing in the doorway, steps forward. "Shall we see how badly my nephew's managed to mess up his shoulder?" The healer, another relatively large male with burning brown eyes, almost black hair, and a ruddy complexion, points out a chair. "Sit." Nathan sits, obediently. The healer, with amazing gentleness, pulls Nathan's arm from the sling and begins manipulating it, asking questions about the pain type and level. He then palpates the bruising, as well as the broken bone, drawing a grunt from Nathan. Next come questions with regard to the head trauma. The healer then turns to Joanna. "Ms. Wyeth, have you noted anything unusual in his behavior? Any speech problems?" "No, sir." He gives her a startled look. Neither Alpha nor Beta, he was rarely, if ever, addressed as sir. The healer turns to his Alpha. "The head wound is not troubling and he is healing well." "Thank you, healer." "Alright, then, young man, I'll leave you to rest and recover. You have sufficient food stores?" "Mom's sending over food." "We'll find out about the bike." "I'd like to get it fixed, if we can." "We'll see, Nathan. Alpha daughter." The two men take their leave as Joanna heads back to the kitchen. The day continues in such manner. Family and friends come to check on Nathan and check out Joanna. Lyssa and Emmett continue their marathon of sex, occasionally eating lightly, or tending the body's other needs. As darkness returns, the wolf is again heard outside the door. Nathan finishes giving Joanna a tour of the Severn compound and brings her back to his house where they watch a movie and retire. Nathan is feeling better, though not completely healed. Joanna's Mini sits outside and her mother had thought to send spare clothing. Friday Emmett is again servicing his mate as dawn turns the sky to a blue peachy color. And, as she grunts to his thrusts, he growls possessively when he catches a glimpse of fur at one of the windows. They were on the couch where she was kneeling over him, licking his neck, as he helped her up and down. --- Joanna wakes again in Nathan's bed, snuggled up next to him. She's woken before him again, after all he was still healing, and was looking at him again. He'd lost the sling during the night. It wasn't one of the larger bones so it would heal quickly. He was a little upset that he'd only be allowed desk duty for a couple of weeks because of it. She was cradled in his arm and felt so good, right there, right now, with him. She'd been so panicked when she'd found out he'd been hurt. She kisses his chest lightly and whispers, "I love you." An enormous smile breaks over his face and he turns to look into her face. "Say it again." "Really?" "I just wanna be sure I heard it." She exhales and hides her face. He brings her chin up and kisses her. She closes her eyes, opens them, and looks into a bemused and expectant face. "I love you, Nathan." He squeezes her tightly. "And I love you, Joanna Wyeth." He grins at her. "What's so funny?" "Not funny, Jo. I'm happy. I don't think I've ever been so happy." Pounding at the door means his brother Kyle has come for a visit. [Go away, brother.] A chuckle comes through the send. [Enjoy.] "Not gonna let him in?" "Not now. I just wanna hang out with you a bit longer." It's another hour before Kyle and Kendra return, with Nathan's parents. Nathan and Joanna have washed up and dressed. Juliet embraces Joanna who looks at Nathan with a question on her face, mouthing 'What?' Kyle slaps Nathan on the back and his father shakes his hand, clasping his arm. Juliet pushes Joanna's hair away. With no bite mark on that side, she looks at the other. "Mom. We're not mated." She steps back. "I'm sorry. Kyle said you were." "And how would Kyle know?" Kendra smacks her mate. "What did he say?" "Ow. OK, he didn't say it, exactly, but I figured that was what was going on when he said 'Not now.'" Jonathon Severn shakes his head and looks at his youngest. "Hungry?" "Yup." "Alright, then. How 'bout we go to Platters for brunch?" The wolves drive to a local restaurant and feast. On the way back, with Joanna driving, Nathan apologizes for the misunderstanding. "They really want you mated, don't they?" "Curse of the youngest." "And having all your brothers already mated." "Yeah." "So, what did you send to Kyle?" "Just told him to go away. We were having such a nice morning I didn't want it interrupted." "And he thought that meant we were getting mated?" She sounds a bit irritated. Kyle was good at misunderstanding things. Nathan reaches over the gearshift. "Sorry, Jo. They just wanna see me mated and any little thing makes them think it's happened. Please don't let it spook you." He takes a breath. "You shouldn't get mated until you're ready." Joanna doesn't answer. She grips the steering wheel and stares straight ahead. He watches, hears her swallow. Nathan figures she's mad and it takes him a few seconds to realize she's sniffling. "Jo, he says quietly, "why don't you pull over?" Without answering, she pulls off to the side of the road. His brother slows and Nathan waves him on. "What's wrong? Did I say something? Did Kyle or Kendra..?" It takes him a second to catch what she's saying. "...to mate me by force. One of them said something about training. I could have been..." "It's OK, Jo. You're alright. I can't imagine... I don't know how horrible it was for you but you're out. You escaped." He strokes her hair. "The nightmare's over." She looks at him, eyes glistening. "Turn the car off and come over here." She does, climbing over the console and settling into his lap. He enfolds her in his arms. "It's a bad dream, Jo. And it's over. And I hope I make you happy." --- Calvin had come over to spend time with Stephanie again. They've done some sparring and gone for a run. He continues to attempt conversation with her but it's like pulling teeth. So he talks, about Sabine, about Michael, about the pack. Stephanie grunts replies now and again and actually answers some questions. She doesn't venture much of anything herself, but he learns a bit more about her and she's not trying to get away from him. Calvin spends the afternoon with her and was happy she was getting more comfortable around him He reaches over at one point and strokes her hand. She pulls away slightly and gives him a dirty look. But, at least, she hadn't gotten up and fled. "What do you like to snack on?" "I don't snack." "Not at all? No cookies, cake, anything?" She shakes her head. An aesthetic. He'd bet anything that her room was bare and empty. She certainly didn't wear anything but muted colors, browns. A green or blue blouse would do so much for her eyes. What had she been before her ordeal? "I have to get back and help our Alpha female with her duties. Would you walk me to my car?" She looks at him. He had been examining her, but it wasn't the look she associated with a male's sexual predation. It seemed almost wistful. "Yes." She rises, fluidly, obviously well in tune with her body, and turns to walk him to the garage. While the front hall and front doorway are large and wide, the stairwell to the garage was relatively narrow. Only the smaller members of the pack could walk two abreast. This was designed to create a chokepoint in case of an attack from the lower level. His hand brushes hers a couple of times as they descend. Just as they stop in front of his car, he asks, "I would like to kiss you goodbye. Will you allow me?" She looks at him, her green eyes measuring. She must have been comfortable with what she found. "Alright." He takes her hands and steps closer. She watches his lips approach hers and braces herself. He'd asked and she was allowing it. What had gotten into her? The kiss is soft, light, and she could feel the power simmering in his muscles. He steps back and exhales, his breath lightly brushing her face. "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow." He releases her hands and climbs into the car. She turns back to the stairs as he exits and finds Paul, standing shock still, mouth open. --- It had taken Nathan a while to calm Joanna, although he wasn't really sure what was wrong, why she was upset. She was here, saved, and untouched. The Alpha, MIchael Ross, was mated now. She should have nothing to fear. She drove them back to the Severn compound and his house. As they walk inside she says, "I should call home." "Uh, sure." It was strange, she'd really never given him anything but her undivided attention. He's surprised as he was feeling a bit jealous of whoever she intended on talking to. She curls up on his couch and he tries to make himself scarce in his own house. Nathan catches snatches of her side of the conversation. It sounded like she was talking to her mother. She talks about him, there was something about school, and the last thing he heard was something about the Beta and his mate. Joanna had grown very close to the Beta female. Of course, their recent kidnapping had likely cemented their relationship. He'd changed the sheets and started the laundry. He was emptying a drawer in his dresser when she came in to find him. "How's your shoulder?" "Good. feels a lot better. How're things at home?" "OK. What're you doing?" "Cleaning out a drawer for you." Joanna squeaks, "What?" "Just making a place for you to keep a couple of things when you stay over." "Oh. OK." He finishes up and turns to look at her. Scared and uncertain. He was trying not to move too quickly but he continues to underestimate how incredibly naive she was. "Do you need to do some laundry?" She looks into his earnest face and bursts into laughter. It ends quickly. "Sorry, just sounds so funny coming out of a male's mouth." He looks back, mouth quirking up to one side. "Yeah, I probably should." "OK. We'll start when we get back. I should go check in with the healer once I get the dryer started." They walk, hand-in-hand, over to the main building. --- Emmett has chopped up some sausage and cheese into large chunks and has downed about half a gallon of milk. He looks across the room to Lyssa, who's currently curled up in front of the fire, naked, snoozing. They are finishing the second day of her heat and their fifth day away. They were supposed to be returning to the den but they couldn't leave while she was in estrus, unless he tied her down in the back seat. And, still, she'd scream or howl the whole way. He should call Randall but there was no cellphone coverage here. He didn't dare leave her alone long enough to find a spot. She'd follow him, or worse. As he contemplates his options, she twists, groans, and stretches. Her naked body is bathed in flickering firelight. Lyssa's hair was brightly lit by the declining rays of the sun, highlighting the bits of red in her hair. Her eyes fairly shine with lust. Lyssa gathers her limbs under her with a lupine grace. Her head comes up, eyes fixed on her mate, and her nostrils flare as she scents him. She stalks him across the room. Emmett pulls the food in front of him and watches her eyes flick to the food, then him. She licks her lips. "Food, first, mate. Then we can return to making pups." She looks into his eyes and reaches out, snagging a piece of cheese and placing it in her mouth. --- Back at Nathan's house, he strips off the shirt he's wearing. "No more sling. I'm glad to be rid of it." "So, when do you go back to work?" Joanna asks as she stares at his lightly haired chest, his dark rosy nipples standing out against his tanned skin. "I don't go back 'til Monday, and then they'll have me on desk duty for a few weeks." He sounds annoyed. Fascinated, half-listening, she reaches forward to touch his skin. He catches her hands. "Hungry?" She nods. "OK, let's make some dinner." They cook up a sausage-filled marinara sauce and a mess of pasta. A large platter of pasta is placed on the table with bread, drinks, and a block of parmesan cheese. Nathan piles her plate and grates some cheese on top then sits, facing her. "Dig in." Joanna takes a forkful and puts it in her mouth. A slight inhale and she starts coughing. Nathan looks concerned as she coughs, finally catching her breath and grabbing for the pop. Sucking it down, the burning is worse. He hands her a piece of bread. "Here. Eat this." She looks at him with disbelief. "Really." As she chews on the bread, she asks, "How much hot sauce did you put in there?" "Not that much. Is it really too hot for you?" She gingerly takes a smaller bite. "Don't inhale." She chews, swallows, without the coughing. "OK, it's pretty hot, but I can eat it." "You sure?" She nods and starts eating. "I'd kinda like to see the news." He flips on the television and changes the channel a couple of times. He pays particular attention to the local news and criminal activity. The finish the meal and take the dishes to the sink. As their hands touch he turns and catches her around the waist, nuzzling her neck. His voice is thick. "It's time for dessert." Her arms are around his waist as well. "What's for dessert?" Nathan holds her away slightly and looks down her body. "You." The heat rises to her face as he grabs her shoulders and brings her into a passionate kiss. She's panting when the kiss breaks. He takes her hand and leads her to the bed. She's surprised when he falls to his knees but he looks up at her with a hunger in his eyes. His hands circle around her back, at her waist, and he pulls her pelvis to him, resting his cheek against her belly. After a minute, his hand goes to the button on her jeans and he pulls the zipper down. Nathan puts his nose against her bare skin and inhales, then starts to pull her pants down. Not knowing what to do with them, she puts her hands on his head, feeling the softness of his hair. Her pants are around her ankles and she steps out of them. He looks at her panties, the pale blue cotton she had put on this morning. And she thinks she would need to start wearing something with lace or something. Nathan kisses her belly, then sticks his nose in her crotch and inhales, groaning. His thumbs are rubbing her hipbones. "Oh, Selene." He slithers the panties off and there she was, her essence, naked before him. He was finally going to taste her. Nathan rubs his nose in her short curly fur and pulls her right leg over his shoulder. Joanna can hardly believe it. She was standing on one leg, cuz he had hooked the other one over his shoulder, and Nathan had his nose in her crotch, as if she were the best thing he had ever smelled. As if that part of her was the best thing he had ever smelled. She was shivering, with his face down there, because she wasn't sure what to expect. His lips are soft as he kisses just inside her hipbones. His hands are warm as he holds her hips where he wants them. She feels his breath down there, hears his heartbeat. He sits back on his heels and tilts her hips a bit more. And, then, it happens. She feels his wet tongue sweep over her lips. About the time she feels coolness, he does it again. And again. And then his tongue snakes between her lips, to where she feels herself getting wet. It was... interesting. Different. Not what she expected. He was licking her, but she had seen females writhing and moaning. Maybe something was wrong with her. Then, she feels his tongue probe against her opening, her membrane, her hymen. Then, he finds her clitty. Ah. Oh. That feels good. Then she starts to lose herself in the feelings. She tastes good. And she was seeping enough to satisfy him. He would have liked to have shoved his tongue inside her, but her hymen prevented that. He could break it, with a finger or his tongue, but he wanted to wait. To have her so high she'd barely notice the pain of it. He was still exploring her innocence, slowly showing her what pleasure he could bring her, what her body could do. And, so, he flicks his tongue over her clit, occasionally sweeping up the juices her body was producing. But mostly focused on showing her pleasure. She starts making noises and clutching his hair. Marvelous. He flicks her little bud with his tongue, sweeps up her juices, and feels the flush of her passion. Better still, she was open to him and accepting of what he was doing. He continues, thoroughly enjoying himself, and her taste. Under his thumbs her could feel her muscles start to tense up and he briefly hopes she wouldn't fight it this time. Closer, closer. She's moaning and digging fingers into his scalp. One last sweep of her delicious juice and he sucks her clit into his mouth and flicks it with his tongue. She breaks, giving a little shriek. And her legs buckle. His hands shift quickly and he guides her toward the bed, where she bounces once, gasping. "Oh. Wow." She looks down her body at him and reaches for him. He grins, wolfishly, as he rises. "Scootch up, love." She climbs further up the bed and he climbs up beside her, after throwing the blanket over her bare legs. He cuddles up beside her and kisses her cheek. "That was yummy." She turns to him and he just smiles at her. Fulfillment 09 Dear Readers, This is the part where you can't please all of the people. Some of you will appreciate this part of the story and some, from what I've read, will be disappointed. There are at least two more chapters to follow. KemMyst ******** It was dark outside the cabin again and Emmett growls, low and threatening. Lyssa inhales deeply, wakes, and asks, "What?" "Listen." Lyssa is quiet, concentrating. Above the beat of Emmett's heart, she hears snuffling at the door. Startled, she looks to her mate. "What is it?" "A male. He's come the last couple of nights." "Werewolf?" Emmett shakes his head. "Then why is he here?" "For you, sweetheart, he smells you." She squeaks, "Me?" He pulls her against him and rubs his nose against hers. "Seems like he's a lone male and looking for a mate. He smelled you in season and came for you." She'd finished her heat or they wouldn't be having a conversation. It had been short, just over two days, and this was a consequence of her recent injuries. Mostly. Maybe. He strokes her hair and kisses her. Her eyes are wide with revelation. "I'm starving. If you don't mind, I'd like to get a decent meal together." She stretches, her lithe body covered in a film of sweat and his scent. As he sits up he glances at the liquid drying on her thighs. He runs a finger lightly up from her belly to her chin and she nips at his fingertip. He smiles and rises and she watches his backside move away. A groan and she sits up. "Food does sound good." As she stands, fluid runs down her leg. "I'd like to clean up a little." Emmett turns to her. "Only a little, sweetheart. I want to soap you up thoroughly later." As she walks to the bathroom, he hears her murmur, "How I can walk straight after all that, I'll never know." He starts a meal, thawing a couple of chickens and peeling some potatoes. Lyssa emerges from the bathroom, having cleaned most of the stickiness from her thighs. He was happy to see that she still smells strongly of him. She walks over and wraps her arms around her naked mate. "Mmm." Pulling back, she swats him on the ass and he jumps, dropping a potato on the floor. She grins at him, washing out the chickens, removing giblets, and stuffing and seasoning. In the oven they go and she turns to Emmett, who's loaded a large pot with peeled potatoes. He pulls her close and puts his chin on the top of her head. His hands scrub up and down as he says, "That'll take a while. Why don't we wash up?" She looks at her hair in the mirror as he starts water in the big claw foot tub. It was sticking out in several spots, screwed into crazy spikes. She turns, hand on her hips, and looks at Emmett, his longish grey hair looking as it always did. "How come your hair doesn't look like this?" He smiles. "Because, sweetheart, I do drag my fingers through it occasionally." Lyssa frowns. "What day is it, anyway?" "Friday." "Friday?" He sees her counting back. "So, only a couple of days this time?" He pulls her against him. "Dear heart, your body's been through a lot lately and, so, it wasn't ready to sustain a regular heat cycle." A normal estrus cycle was 3-5 days and occurred once or twice a year. Although all females were a little different, many were on an essentially annual cycle. Lyssa was settling in at about 7 or 8 months. Emmett steps into the big tub and pulls her toward him. "C'mon in." She steps into the tub and Emmett pulls her back against him, kissing her cheek. She sighs as the warmth of the water envelops her. She was a bit sore from their calisthenics and the water feels good. They lay in the water, quiet and relaxed. Lyssa finally breaks the silence. "So, I probably won't get pregnant this time either, will I?" Emmett exhales. "Probably not. We'll think about it next time." "I'm sorry." "Lys..." He stops. He was disappointed. Of course he was. But he didn't want to feed into a dark mood. "We should have been home today. Randall and Ariel have got to be worried." "Can't we call?" "No service here. We'll call tomorrow, when we get out of the woods." Emmett takes a washcloth and soaps it up He takes one of her arms and runs the washcloth over it. Next comes her other arm, her neck, and upper back. Lyssa murmurs pleasantly as he works. Soaping the washcloth again, he slides it over her front, her breasts, her belly. Now she moans and he nips at the side of her neck. And she feels it, he's grown hard again behind her. Even after the marathon of sex, he was ready again. The washcloth disappears as his hand, slippery with soap, runs up and down the front of her body. As sore as she thinks she should be, her body responds. He gauges her responses and, with a little maneuvering, slides back inside her. The pace is slower, the intensity builds more slowly, as he pumps into her from below. After the past couple of days she's gotten more sensitive and she comes relatively quickly with a groaning cry. Emmett feels the pulsing around him and thrusts a few more times before emptying himself once more. She lies back against him and he enfolds her in his arms, until he slips back out. As the water cools, she washes up and drains some of the water. She then replaces the stopper and starts refilling the tub with warmer water so that Emmett can wash up. Lyssa washes her hair in the sink as he cleans up, then walks out to check on dinner. Freshly scrubbed, their hair damp, they sit down to the meal. The rest of the evening is quiet. They stoke the fire, start to tidy the cabin, and begin packing. They sit together on the couch, enjoying their closeness, and watching another movie. As the curl up together to sleep, Lyssa murmurs, "I wonder what's happened at the house while we've been gone." "We'll find out soon enough, sweetheart." Saturday Morning dawns, warm and foggy. Michael Ross had heard from his father that the Wyeth Beta pair was out of the den. He learns that they have gone a distance away, alone, and were due to return. The bitch had messed up his life, badly, and he wanted nothing more than to make her suffer. If they were out of the den, he could get to them. Now, how would he go about it? Erica was currently riding his morning erection as he considers what he might do. His mate, and it was so hard to think he had a mate, has grown timid and skittish. Emmett rolls and glances outside then curls back up with Lyssa, who's still sleeping peacefully. As the sunlight streams more strongly in the window, she stirs. She opens her eyes and lies there, on her back. "Guess we gotta go back, huh?" He strokes her shoulder and arm. "Don't you want to? Don't you miss them?" "Well, yeah, but it is nice to get away sometimes." "I tell you what, we don't have to leave right away, we could go out for a run." "In daylight?" He gestures to the window. "The fog is thick enough. If we see anyone, we can come straight back." She looks at him, it seems a bit reckless. She smiles. "You're on." Low lying fog blankets the area and they romp through the slush. Lyssa skids to a stop and checks out the smell at a tree, its roots gnarled around a large rock. Wolf. Male. Emmett walks over, sniffs, and growls. In response to the other male's marking, he lifts his leg and covers the other wolf's mark with his own. Even though it wasn't their range, Emmett feels it necessary to broadcast his presence. Mostly he shows his possession of the female. Lyssa takes a sniff, drops down on her forepaws, and takes off. Bounding through some deeper snow, she runs along the edge of the slope. A drift overreaching the edge gives way and she goes skidding down the slope. Emmett follows, bounding down after her. She comes up, half-buried with wet snow. She struggles out, shaking her fur. [OK, now that's just annoying.] She looks down at herself. Most of her lower half is muddy. Emmett nuzzles her, checking for injury. He gives her a lick then takes off down the stream. She sighs and takes off after him. They run through the water, through the snow, and up the opposite ridge. They both turn at the smell of deer but they were well fed and the deer were skittish in the fog. After tracking around the top of the rocks for a little while a shout sends them back to the cabin. Lyssa stands in the doorway, muddy up to her knees and elbows as well as across her belly and breasts. Emmett looks at her and smirks, "You could use some cleaning up, sweetheart." He grabs her, kicks the door closed, and hauls her bodily to the bathroom. He sets Lyssa on her feet in the tub and pulls the curtain around them. Emmett turns the water on to start it warming then pulls her body to his, smooths her hair from her face and kisses her deeply. She melts against him. They spend time in the humid cocoon soaping each other up, and touching. Finally, with the water starting to cool, he runs his hands down her arms and rests his forehead against hers. "We should head back." Lyssa reaches behind her and shuts off the water. "Yeah." The car is packed. The fire is out. The kitchen is clean and the linens are stripped. Emmett's nostrils flare at the lingering smell of sex and his eyes track the wolf's prints in the yard as he pulls the door closed. He glances at his mate, sitting in the car, and exhales in relief. He had his mate back and they were returning to the pack. As they start down the hill, Lyssa says, "I have a question, Em. It's kinda...strange." Emmett stops the car and looks at her. "OK, Lys, what?" She looks at her hands, folded in her lap. "What would have happened if I had got away from you and gone into heat out there?" "You're wondering about him?" Lyssa looks away from him, chewing on her lip. She nods. "Do you really want to know?" She closes her eyes and shakes her head. He goes on, "You already know the answer. As wolf, you would have stood still for it." She exhales slowly and he puts a hand on hers. "You never would have gotten away from me." He takes her hand, kisses it, and puts the car in drive. They move down from the hill and out of the woods. She looks out at the landscape moving by, woods, clearings, meadows. The snow was melting and running rivulets down the sides of the hills and along the road. The moisture in the air was condensed into a mid-level fog but the bright sun would burn if off. *** Calvin was tutoring Erica again while Michael ran off on some errand he didn't elaborate on. Erica was quieter than usual and Calvin wondered why. Her initial happiness at being Alpha female had been severely dampened and his son's own behavior indicated that it wasn't a particularly happy union. The pack was taking notice and it wasn't good. Erica was distracted and having trouble with some of the basic things she had understood the day before. Cecelia, who was in charge of the kitchens, was showing some impatience. Calvin's mind wanders and he smiles, thinking of escaping later to visit with Stephanie. *** Joanna wakes up with Nathan curled around her, an arm over her hip. He sighs, his breath ruffling her hair. "Morning, Jo." She twists, looks at him, and smiles. "Morning." His fingers stroke lightly across her hip and belly. Jo feels her heart flutter. Nathan slowly expels a big breath. "What would you like to do today?" "Uh. Hadn't really thought about it." Just then the sounds of a motorcycle coming closer has him rising. "What the..?" As he heads for his front door Joanna looks for her pants. She follows him as he throws open the front door. A dark blue motorcycle sat behind her car and Nathan's brother Matthew steps forward, a set of keys dangling from his fingers. "Best we could do on short notice. Uncle is having your bike taken to the shop. She's been totalled but that doesn't mean she can't be repaired." "She?" Matthew makes a short bow. "Good morning, Joanna. Most forms of transportation are referred to in the feminine." Joanna puts her fists on her hips and turns to Nathan. "Does she have a name?" "Have you named your car?" "Um. Cricket." Matthew crushes his lips together trying to hold in the laughter. Nathan chuckles, his merriment leaking out. Joanna rolls her eyes. "OK. Ha, ha. What's her name?" Nathan sobers. "Nike." "You named your bike after your sneakers?" Matthew chuckles. Nathan shoots him a dirty look. "Don't remember your Greek mythology? Or didn't you study it?" Joanna wilts a little. "Didn't seem real important." "Nike is the goddess of speed." "OK." Nathan looks at her. Joanna shrugs and looks away. Matthew looks at the two of them and clears his throat. Nathan strides down to look over the new bike. He stalks around it, touching the cowling. Matthew speaks. "Triumph Tiger, 1215, 12 valve, 3 cylinder, 121 Nm torque, shaft drive, obviously, fuel injected ride-by-wire. So, whaddya think?" Nathan stands before the bike, musing. "It'll do." He looks at his brother. "Who do I owe?" "A bunch of us got together. We'll get it figured out." Matthew looks at his baby brother looking at the bike. "Well. Go on." Nathan walks up to Joanna, catching her around the waist. He kisses her cheek. "Breakfast and clean up first. I'll thank everyone later." "OK, bro. Have fun." Breakfast consists of pancakes and steak. The pancakes are slathered with butter and covered in maple syrup or jam. Joanna liked strawberry jam on hers. The steaks were just beyond rare. Cooking for two required a bit more coordination. After clearing the table and washing up, Nathan turns to Joanna and extends his hand. "Our turn." He leads her into the bathroom. After another quick kiss and his hands go to the hem of her t-shirt and he begins to lift it. She raises her arms as he pulls it over her head and off her body, dropping it on the floor. Next, he unbuttons the button on her jeans and pulls down the zipper. He pushes them down, pushing her panties down with them. He's finally got her naked in front of him, alone, with him. She glances at him timidly, hiding her sex behind her hands as he looks her over. He gently takes her hands and pulls them away from her body, so that he can see all of her. Finally, she gathers her courage and repeats the process with him. She puts her hand on his chest and he pulls her to him and kisses her. Finally, finally, they were completely naked together, skin to skin. She wraps her arms around him and he rubs his arms up and down her back. Taking a deep breath, he moves away and starts the water. Once it was warm enough, he pulls her into the shower with him. He turns her under the spray, then soaps up his hands. He kneels, and starts with her feet and calves, stopping mid-thigh. Next came her hands and arms, to the shoulder. He turns her away, washing her neck, rubbing her shoulders, then his hands run down. Her back, around her waist. He watches the soap suds slide down her pale skin and closes his eyes, almost disbelieving what was in front of him. Then, his soapy hands slide over her buttocks, firm, smooth, just a bit wider than her waist. She jumps a bit when he ventures into the crack of her ass. She holds her breath as he washes up her legs, but he stops before he gets there. Her back. She'd never considered that it would be so sensitive, how it would feel to have a male's hands running down it. She hadn't had anyone wash her since she was a pup, except for when she'd been shot. Her mother had helped her clean up that night. Oh, her butt, his hands were there. And it felt weird having him run his fingers up her buttcrack. He gets closer behind her and soaps up her boobs. She swallows a moan. He washes her belly next. Then, there's only one place left. Joanna braces her hands against the side of the shower and spreads her legs somewhat, as he presses up behind her. She feels his warmth on her back as he places his hands over hers and presses a kiss between her shoulder blades. She turns her face to kiss him. His hands slide up her arms to her shoulders, down her sides. He rests his hands on her hips and splays his fingers over her belly. He strokes them, lightly, closer to her navel, and she inhales. Then, his hands disappear. He soaps up his hands and slides them over her belly and through her pubic hair. There's a slight twitch in his cock as his fingers probe between her legs, slowly, softly, caressing. This time she gives voice to the moan. His hands come up, crisscross her body, and he lightly cups her boobs. He whispers to her, "Wash my back?" The water was starting to cool and he twists her out from under the spray. She puts her hands on his chest and looks up at him. "Water's going cold, love." She smiles a little timidly at him and soaps up a washcloth. She runs it over his back, his arms. another slide down to his butt and she lightly washes him. He backs her up, turns, and takes the washcloth. She glances down, his cock has shriveled up some. Weird. Nathan soaps up quickly and rinses off in the tepid water. He dries her off and she dries him. They dress and he says, "Let's go for a ride." *** Calvin has slipped his responsibilities. Even with both the Alpha and the Beta of the pack away, he drives to the Wyeth den. Stephanie awaits him there. Sampson is accompanying his Alpha on an errand. They are far from the den and Sampson wonders what they are doing. However, he does not question his Alpha, except within his own mind. Michael Ross was not the leader his father had been. In Sampson's opinion, his 'Alpha' was not a leader at all. They have driven past the Wyeth territory and were well into Severn. He has driven through a rural area and then through a small town. His Alpha remains silent beside him, although obviously searching for something. The usual collection of houses was in the town, something that may have been a hotel at one time, another something that was probably the general store. There's a diner and the local bar. Over the bridge is the main intersection, a flashing red light, and the gas station. Michael Ross could not believe his eyes. It was them. Fortune had smiled on him and the object of his rage was in his sights. It had been such a long shot. Two miles away and around a curve, Michael has Sampson stop the truck. He takes the wheel and turns it around. Going back through the town, he takes particular note of the car. A couple of miles further, he finds what he wants. The road comes to a T-intersection there and the side road climbs a small rise, which gives a good view of the road on which they would travel. He faces the truck towards the intersection and waits, eyes glued to the cross road. They wait. He was finally going to be rid of the bitch. *** They are coming back from their trip away. Lyssa was essentially back to her old self, and Emmett was very thankful for that. Emmett was belted in. Reluctantly, he let Lyssa take her seat belt off and she scooted over on the seat to nestle up against him. So, she was snuggled up against him in the car, warm, and soft. It had been a honeymoon, of sorts. They were still in a rural area and there were no other cars on the road. The ride back is quiet. They were simply enjoying each other's company before the return to the den. Lyssa turns and starts to look up at her mate when a large vehicle looms in the driver's side window. "EM!" The collision knocks them off the road and into the ditch. The ferocity of a high speed impact from a vehicle almost twice the size and weight of the car they were riding in was almost explosive. Lyssa was thrown across the car and against the other door as it came to rest at an angle in a ditch full of water and the window shattered into thousands of pieces of glass. She shrieks and tries to cover her head with her arms as she bounces back from the impact. She feels the wetness start creeping in around her shoes as the water comes into the bottom of the ruined door. Fulfillment 09 The airbags deflate and the acrid smell of the explosive chemicals fill her nose. She shakes her head, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. Then coughs. "Em? You OK?" "Emmett?" She opens her eyes and looks over to the other side of the car, where Emmett is hanging from the seatbelt, unconscious. "Em?" She starts to scrabble toward him. "Em? Em? Wake up!" She barely gets a look at the mangled door as she reaches him. "Oh, God, Em." Through the shattered window on the other side of him, she glimpses two figures. "You fucking maniac! Call 911!" Her only response is a laugh from the figure standing on the edge of the road above her. The laugh chills her to the bone. She blinks. It's Michael Ross. "Em, Em, Em, EM?!" The volume of her voice rises with each syllable, until she's almost screaming at him. Nothing. He was breathing. His heart was beating. She smells his blood, sees it running around his chin, down his arm. They had to get out. Had to get away. She wants him to wake, but he wasn't, so she thought quickly as to how she would get him out of the car. A change to intermediate form gave her claws and she rips the seatbelt apart, only to have Emmett's dead weight fall onto her. UUFF! She's waiting for Michael Ross to come down and get to them. With Emmett incapacitated she figures he'd kill her first and then him. Get out! She had to get them out and away. She struggles out from under him and climbs out of the window. She splashes into icy, muddy water. How? How was she gonna get him out of the car? She had to get him away. Had to get them away. The thought keeps repeating itself in her brain. Get away. Had to get away. Fight or flight. Her brain, at present, had chosen flight. She'd have a hell of a time pulling him out the window. Actually, she didn't think he'd fit. Looking up, watching for Michael, she grabs ahold of the door frame. Lyssa yanks on it, and it gives. Putting her hands and claws around the back edge, she yanks on it again. The door pulls open slightly and the bottom of the door wedges in the mud of the ditch. She screams in frustration and fear and grabs the top of the door again. She folds the doorframe down and grabs Emmett's arm and head. As she braces against the door with her feet and starts to heave she hears a cold and somewhat familiar voice command, "Kill them." *** Sampson was shocked. His Alpha had just purposely crashed into another car, sending it off the road and into the ditch. The Range Rover was damaged, and would never move again under its own power, but the car was mangled. He fears for the occupants. As he steps forward to assist the victims of his Alpha's ire, Michael stops him. He hears Lyssa's yell for a call to 911 and reaches for his cellphone. Michael Ross laughs, a cold, cruel laugh, and shakes his head at Sampson, indicating that he should put away his phone. And he watches Lyssa change, claw through the seatbelt, and pull herself out from under him and climb out of the window. Then, aching to aid her, watches her desperately work at the door and grab her unconscious mate. Michael Ross then issues a command. "Kill them." Sampson turns, appalled. "Excuse me?" Michael turns and cuffs him. "I said, 'Kill them.'" His tone was matter of fact. Sampson tastes blood and spits. Breathing heavily, he turns to his Alpha and, deciding Michael Ross was no longer worthy of being his Alpha, says, "No." *** He'd finally gotten them. He was going to get the Wyeth bitch and send her straight to hell. The car was a mess and her mate was either badly hurt or dead. The bitch was working on getting him out, so he was probably still alive. His dream scenario would be to slowly kill her mate while she watched and then kill her but conditions were far from ideal. Although this road got little travel a car could come by at any time and humans were notorious for helping each other out in such situations. And so. He told Sampson to kill them and was astounded when he refused. "You're refusing me?" Sampson nods. "I will not help you kill innocents. I've heard the rumors of what you did. Your father said Wyeth killed two of our packmates. And all because of your misguided ideas. I'll be your Beta no longer. And I'm ashamed to be of Ross." "Don't get in my way." Michael goes back into the Range Rover, rummages around briefly, and gets back out. Then he starts down the side of the road, towards the mangled car. He feels pressure in his skull and, having felt similar effects when the bitch had sent her long range contacts before, assumes she was calling for help. Ha. Even if help were to come, it would arrive too late. Now, to dispatch the bitch and her mate. *** Lyssa's pulling Emmett out of the car when Michael starts heading in their direction. Em was still out, and she had no idea how badly he was injured. [HELP! RANDALL, CALVIN, HELP US!] He was coming. He had a gun. What could she do? He wanted them dead. He wanted her dead. Emmett couldn't help her now. She had to take care of it. She had to protect herself and her mate. From the top of the bank, he looks down at her, desperately trying to pull her mate out of the ruined car. "I've wanted you dead for some time now, bitch, and now, now you'll get what you deserve. You've ruined my life! I was fucking that whore when you cursed at me the last time and I bit her. I never intended to mate her. And, you lost me the little playmate I really wanted. I hate you more than any other living thing on this planet and now I'm finally going to be rid of you." He raises the gun and fires it at her. Shooting downwards is difficult, and the bullet whines off the hood of the car. The whine of a bullet reaches her ears as the bullet ricochets off the hood of the car. So, she hit him with a powerful send, knocking him out. He pitches forward, sliding facedown down the embankment. She looks upward, at the other male, but he doesn't seem to be threatening them. He had simply pulled out a cell phone and was making a call, and watching her. She braces herself and heaves, finally dragging the heavy weight that was her mate from the car. His body splashes into the bottom of the ditch and she pauses, breathing deeply with the exertion. Now, she had to get him out of the water. Hypothermia in an injured individual could be quickly fatal. So, she grabs him under the arms and hauls him out of the other side of the ditch towards the edge of the woods. She leaves a trail, bloody drag marks through the snow. A groan. Michael Ross moves and struggles to his feet. Panic shoots through Lyssa again. Who was close? They were near Severn's territory. [NATHAN, HELP ME. HELP US!] With murder in his eyes, Michael Ross wipes mud and snow from his clothes and, after groping a bit, raises the gun. [NO!] She hits him again and he goes down for a second time. More dragging. She finally gets Emmett against a tree, propping him upright so that she can check him out. Lyssa glances back at Michael and then crouches beside Emmett. A badly bleeding head wound, since he was out he probably had a concussion. He was alive and she hoped he would recover. But, without knowing just how badly he was hurt, she couldn't be sure. Of course, while she knew werewolves healed quickly and would survive injuries that would kill a human, she really wasn't sure how much punishment they could take and live. He was bleeding from numerous cuts and scrapes and the smell of his blood filled her nostrils. "C'mon, Emmett, let me know you're OK. Wake up." Michael gets to his hands and knees and starts pushing himself upright. He crosses the ditch. His voice is a bit rough as he says, "Damn bitch. I will kill you." [STAY DOWN.] A little closer again, he falls on his face in the snow. Lyssa's shivering with fear and frustration and she didn't know how she was going to get out of this situation. Michael was trying to murder them. The male on the top of the embankment could also be a threat, although he hadn't made a move as yet, either to help or to hurt. No one could possibly get to them in time. And, human police or other humans might show up at any time. Oh, god, would he kill someone if they just happened by? And how would she explain her lack of clothing? Of course, that was the least of her worries. Oh, geez, this was such a mess. "Emmett. Wake up, please." Michael moves again, starting to get up, moving towards them again. [STOP.] And, he's down again. *** Calvin's phone rings and he answers. "Sampson. What's going on?" Calvin's face darkens as he listens to his Beta, his former Beta. He had heard Lyssa's send, and believed she was in trouble. Now, he knew she was in trouble and that his son was the cause. "Michael ran the Wyeth Betas off the road and he ordered me to kill them. I refused. He's been trying to get to them and keeps falling on his face. I've called our tow service and the Severns to help." "So the Betas are alright?" "The male is injured, unconscious. The female pulled him out of the car and towards the woods. Michael hasn't gotten to them." "Sampson. Do not allow him to hurt them." "Certainly, Alpha." "Sampson, I'm not your.. I'm going to inform the Wyeths and we'll get this dealt with." *** "Em. C'mon, Em." Michael moans and moves again. Lyssa's head snaps up. He stands and takes another step, the gun raised in their direction. [DOWN.] She then looks up at the male on the embankment. [Who are you? What do you want?] [My name is Sampson. I am Beta of the Ross pack. I've been dealing with the mess my Alpha has created. How is it that he has not gotten to you yet?] [Somebody had to have said something about what I can do.] [I know you can send for distances. I was in Calvin's presence during one of your tests.] [Will you help us? Or do I have to worry about you, too?] [Calvin has ordered that you not be harmed. Other than that, I've called for help.] Lyssa hides as the sound of an approaching car is heard. A car slows, stops. "Hey! Is everybody alright?" Sampson answers them. "I've called for help. They're on their way. But thanks." The car starts moving again, "OK. Hope things end up OK." Michael gets up on hands and knees and starts crawling towards Emmett and Lyssa. Emmett is alive, and away from the car, and as safe as she could make him. But Michael was still coming for her, for them. She had to protect them. Had to stop him. [Go to hell, You Fucking BASTARD!] It seems to take forever, but Austin and Casey from the Severn pack show up in police cars. Sirens wailing, lights flashing. Lyssa has knocked Michael down four more times in the interim. The tow truck driver shows up while Casey and Austin are securing the roadway. He hooks up to the Range Rover and starts to haul it away as Nathan pulls up with Joanna on the back of his bike. Joanna jumps off and rushes down the bank, "Lyssa! Are you alright?" [Clothes, Jo. Please get me some clothes from the car.] "Uh, sure. What happened?" [Bastard ran us off the road. He hurt Emmett. I don't know if he's alright. He won't wake up.] Jo hears the emotion in her send. Her mate was injured by a male she despised. Joanna goes into the car and pulls out a shirt, a pair of pants, and a pair of shoes, then takes them over to Lyssa. Lyssa is staring fixedly at Michael Ross, who's being loaded into a police car. Sampson gets into the back with him. Michael looks dazed, not really aware of his surroundings. He keeps mumbling, "Kill you bitch. Kill you bitch." His hand is twitching and he looks around. On spotting Lyssa, he starts screaming, "It's her!" Austin gives Casey a look. "Get them out of here." Casey replies. "Sure." Joanna brings Lyssa the clothes and Lyssa changes back to human form and dresses quickly. With the threat gone, Lyssa crouches next to Emmett. "C'mon, Em. Wake up for me." Joanna looks at him. "He doesn't look too bad." "Did you see the car?! Emmett was driving! He should be dead. Hell, I should be really messed up." "Lyssa. He's alive. He'll heal." "How can you be so sure?" Nathan and Austin come down to help. "We'll take him up to the car. Get you home." "Should we move him? I don't know." Nathan looks at her, then the car. "You pulled him out, didn't you?" "Uh, yeah." "We can't make him any worse. Let's get you home." Austin and Nathan get Emmett up, into a seated fireman's carry, and slowly and carefully haul him up to the other police car. Joanna's been firing questions at Lyssa, who's been watching the males carry her mate. Lyssa's so concentrated on Emmett, she's ignoring Jo. As they load Emmett into the car, Joanna lays a hand on Lyssa's arm. Lyssa's head whips around. Joanna rocks back slightly as Lyssa bares her teeth. Lyssa stops, takes a deep breath, and looks at Jo, who asks, "Lyssa, are you hurt?" Lyssa is pensive a moment. "Um. My shoulder hurts. My head. I don't know." Joanna throws her arms around Lyssa. "Oh, thank Luna, you're OK." Lyssa closes her eyes, tears threatening. [But Em may not be. Oh, Jo, what'll I do?] Lyssa gets in, next to her mate and pulls him against her. "Emmett, you have to wake up. Wake up." Joanna looks at Nathan. "I want to ride in the back with her." Nathan looks at her, hurting for her friend. "Of course, Jo. I'll follow you, Austin." "OK, Nate." He looks at Joanna. "Everybody in." She tries to sit in the back, next to Lyssa, but it's a tight fit. She moves up front to ride shotgun as Austin starts the car. As they start to move off, Lyssa looks back at the wreck. "What about our things?" "We'll get them. The tow truck will bring it to our den." Emmett's head rests on her shoulder, blood still leaking slowly from the head wound. She cradles his head to her, whispering to him. "Come on, you've got to wake up." "Madam Beta? Um, Lyssa?" Lyssa looks forward at Austin's question. "Can you tell me how it happened?" "We were just driving down the road. As we passed the side road I saw the truck come at us. Full speed. He didn't brake at all. He rammed us and we went into the ditch." "And then?" Lyssa strokes the side of Emmett's head as Joanna watches them. "They got out of the car. I cut Em out of the seatbelt and pulled him out of the car and away. As I was getting him out I heard Michael say 'Kill them'. The other male, isn't he the Beta?, said 'No.' So, Michael came down toward us. He had a gun. I kept him away." Austin looks at her in the rearview mirror, obviously skeptical of her claim. "OK. Anything else you want to add?" "No. The only thing I want is for Emmett to be OK." Joanna looks at her packmates. "Dad and Calvin will be here soon." Finally, Emmett moves slightly, and groans. "Em?" In a voice filled with gravel, the reply comes, "Lys?" "Oh, god, oh, god. Em!" She bursts into tears. The chocolate eyes she loves open. "Oh, I feel like crap." He focuses on Lyssa. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" "You're alright!" "OK, so why're you crying?" "You're alright." "And you think males are weird." He looks around. "Severn. Jo. What'd I miss?" Joanna lets out a rather shaky laugh. "Apparently, you missed Michael Ross' attempt to kill the both of you." Emmett pulls away a little, sitting more upright, and looks at him mate. "Ross? He did this?" Lyssa sniffs. "Yeah." "Where is he?" Austin answers, "Casey is taking him and the Beta home." "This time, I'm going to kill him." Emmett growls. "I'm going straight to their den and kill the son of a bitch." Joanna replies, "You can't. Emmett, the pack'll take you apart." "I don't care." "I do, Em." He looks at his mate. "You can't leave me, you brought me into this mess." He looks at her. "Besides, it's really hard for you to have pups if you're dead." Joanna zeroes in on that one word. "Pups? Lyssa are you...?" Lyssa shakes her head. "No, Jo. But we want them. I hope we can have some sometime soon. I just came out of heat." She smiles at her mate and he pulls her to him, his nose in her hair. She tenses briefly, then relaxes. "Em, don't let me hurt you." "You could never hurt me, dear heart." "But, your head, you said you felt like crap. Don't you have broken ribs or something?" "Oh, Lys, some things are sore but I'll be OK." It's a short drive later that Austin pulls into a big parking lot. Emmett growls, "What are you doing?" "Your Alpha and Calvin Ross are meeting us here. They'll be here shortly." Lyssa takes her mate's face in her hands and kisses him tenderly. [Oh, god, Em, I thought I'd lost you.] He pulls her into his lap and he looks at her more closely. "Lys, are you injured? You weren't belted in." "Bruised up some, but I'm OK." He wraps his arms around her and kisses her back. "Good." *** "Don't you want to know what happened?" "You'll just have to go through it again when Randall arrives. I can wait." The blue Buick pulls into the parking lot and parks beside the police car. Nathan's bike is parked nearby and he lounges against the front door of the car, looking at Joanna. The two men get out of the car and approach the back of the police car. Randall opens the rear door and looks in at the Beta pair. "So, Emmett, how do you feel? You don't appear too badly injured." "No, Randall, nothing too horrible. A good knock on the head and sore on the side from the door but I'll live." "Lyssa, how are you?" "Same thing, Randall, without the knock on the head." "Good. Now, I think we should allow Austin to return to work before there is trouble. Jo, why don't you and Nathan continue your visit and we'll take these two back to the den." Joanna slides out of the car. "OK, Dad." She gives him a quick kiss. "See you later." She looks back at Lyssa and Emmett. "You two take it easy, OK?" "Sure, Jo. See you later." Joanna turns to Nathan and, arm in arm, they walk over to the bike and get on. The motorcycle revs to life and the young couple take off. Emmett and Lyssa climb out of the squad car with a thank you to Austin. They then get in to the back of the Buick. Randall slides behind the wheel and Calvin slides in the other side. Austin leaves, returning to his duties. As the four werewolves head for the Wyeth den, Randall looks in the rearview mirror and, focusing on Lyssa, asks, "What exactly happened?" Emmett looks at his mate. Lyssa takes a deep breath and sighs. "I saw the SUV through Em's window just before it hit us. He t-boned us. Just rammed into the drivers' side door." She takes another breath. "We ended up in the ditch, windows smashed out, my mate unconscious, bleeding." This time she swallows and closes her eyes. Then, she looks back up. "I saw two males on the top of the embankment. I heard Michael Ross say 'Kill them.'" Calvin interjects, "What did Sampson do?" He had been told, of course, that Sampson was there. Sampson had told him, briefly, what had occurred but Calvin wanted to hear the story from the victim's viewpoint. "I was trying to figure out how to get us out of there, so I wasn't watching, but I heard him say 'No.' I shifted to intermediate and started clawing through the seatbelt so I didn't hear anything else. Emmett was hanging there cuz we were tipped sideways in the ditch. The blood was running down his face, down his arm. Anyway, I got him loose and he fell on me." She looks at Emmett and smiles a little. "You are heavy, mate." He smiles back at her and squeezes her hand. "So, my brain was still screaming at me to get us out and away. I got out from under Em and out the busted window. But I wasn't gonna be able to get him out the window. So, I yanked on the door, but it wedged in the ditch. I grabbed the top of the door and, don't ask me how I did it, folded the top of the door down and grabbed him. Michael was coming down the embankment, and I saw a gun in his hand, and he shot at me, so I hit him." Emmett inhales and stops her. Fulfillment 09 "Lys, are you hit?" She shakes her head. "He missed. Anyway, I hit him and he went down. I hauled Emmett out and dragged him towards the woods. I just felt I had to get him, us, away. I watched the other male, uh, Sampson, but all he did was take out his phone and make calls. Michael kept coming toward us, so I kept knocking him down." "Then the two police cars showed up and Jo and Nathan.. Oh! No, a car stopped to see if we needed help and Sampson told them that he'd got things taken care of. I hoped that they'd just go away because I didn't know what Michael might do to them.." "Jo got me some clothes. Austin and Nathan got Emmett into the car, and we started back to the den. That's it." Randall looks at his friend. "Cal? Any questions?" "No, I believe I understand. Sampson has said essentially the same thing." Lyssa looks at Calvin Ross, then Randall. "He's gonna get away with it again, isn't he?" Calvin closes his eyes, looking quite sad. "Perhaps not. Time will tell." "What do you mean?" "I'd rather not say until we know more. But, I must say, I'm glad you are both alive and relatively undamaged." Emmett looks at Ross' former Alpha and asks, "Excuse me, Calvin, but why are you here and not back at the Ross den with your son?" "I will go back soon enough to speak to him. If I am not Alpha there is little I can do. I did want to make sure you were alright first." Closing on the Wyeth den, Randall asks the question both he and Calvin wanted an answer to, "Lyssa, how many times did you scream for help?" "You heard me?" "Indeed." "I didn't think anyone would hear me," she mumbles to herself. A pause. "Twice. Once for the two of you and, later, for Nathan, since I thought he'd be closer." "Your control is considerably improved and your power is more than impressive. Calvin found me shortly after we heard you. In addition, I was with Ariel and Erich and all they were aware of was an effect like a pressure wave. Yes, Madam Beta, we heard your call." "I didn't think anyone would make it in time." Lyssa says quietly. The yard holds a large number of Wyeth wolves; others hover in the windows. As the car comes to a stop, Randall says, "The two of you will report to the healers before you go back to your room." In stereo, the answer is, "Yes, Alpha." The four wolves exit the car in the garage. Paul approaches to receive the keys for the car and Ariel waits to see the condition of the first Beta pair. "Well, thank Selene that the two of you are alright." "Yes, mate, I believe our Betas will be fine. I'm sending them to the Med ward right now." Randall greets his mate with with a squeeze and a kiss. Stephanie stands to one side of the garage, quietly, waiting for Calvin. Emmett guides Lyssa through the door, into the house, and they turn toward the infirmary. Erich meets them there. "You guys OK?" Emmett looks at his friend, and Wyeth's second Beta. "Looks like. I'm really sick of us being a target, of Ross' willingness to kill anyone and everyone to get to Lyssa. He was the one to blame and he keeps coming after her because she messed up his plan." "So, I heard, more or less what happened. How did you get away?" Lyssa looks at him. "He hurt Emmett. My mate was unconscious, I thought he might die." Her voice gets rough. Emmett gives her a squeeze around the waist. "Michael came towards us so I kept hitting him every time he got back up." Watching Emmett for any adverse reaction, Erich puts a hand on her arm. "Good for you, Lys." Wade and Natalie hover in the background. "C'mon, sweetheart, let's get this done." Lyssa looks at the Wyeth healers. "Start with him, if you would, he's the one who was unconscious." "Beta, if you please," Wade indicates the table and Emmett climbs on. Emmett is subjected to a minor battery of tests. Memory, sight, range of motion. He was heavily bruised on his left side, broken ribs, and his shoulder was sore. Emmett refused an analgesic. After the examination, he is pronounced fit for light duty. Light duty for a werewolf, however, would be equivalent to hard labor for a human. Natalie, meanwhile, was checking Lyssa out. "I've been told you screamed distance twice?" "Mm, hm." Lyssa responds as Natalie looks at her eyes. "And, how many times did you hit your attacker with a send?" "I'm not sure. Maybe 6 or 7 times." "Any blurring of your vision? Headache? Nosebleed?" Lyssa shakes her head. "Why the questions?" "Just making sure you didn't hurt yourself with your sending. That you didn't overextend yourself." "Oh. I see. That's happened before?" "There are reports of wolves who had difficulty sending for a period of time after some excessive sending." [Can you hear me?] Lyssa looks at Natalie. [Yes.] [Please send to Emmett.] [Em?] Emmett turns to look at his mate. "Lyssa? What is it?" [Natalie just wanted to check my sending.] "She's coming through just fine, healer." "Alright, then. Lyssa, let me know if anything changes or you feel anything odd. Other than that you're likely to feel the effects of your struggle to free your mate later." "Well, Randall, it appears that your Betas are going to be alright. I'll go back to our den and see what's going on with Michael. He was acting oddly." "Certainly, Cal. We'll see you another time?" Calvin looks at Stephanie, and smiles. "I will." Lyssa and Emmett are surprised to see Calvin lightly squeeze Stephanie's hand and turn for the garage. *** Michael Ross has been strangely disoriented on the trip back to the den. Sampson gets nonsensical answers to questions or strange monologues that have little or nothing to do with the subject at hand. Sampson finally stops asking questions and simply thinks of what this all means for the Ross pack. His Alpha appeared to be currently incapacitated. He was, as a result, Alpha pro tem. Or, temporarily in charge of the Ross pack. There is no group of wolves awaiting them. Sampson thought it best to return quietly. While he did not intend to say much about what had happened, the rumors would surface. He would give it until overnight and then, if nothing changed, he would talk to the pack. They would be very unsettled. They already were unsettled. This would make it worse. The pack was fracturing. He had to try to keep things stable. Until.. Until what? Until his Alpha got better? Until someone else was named Alpha? Until something changed for the better? He could only hope things would get better. Sampson cleared the route to the Alpha suite and guided Michael to it. He summoned Erica and the pack healer. Erica was distressed at Michael's condition, trying to get him to recognize her, say something to her. The healer, Sharilyn, got nothing different from him. There was nothing wrong with his heart, his reflexes. But, he was not acting at all normally. Erica and Sharilyn look to Sampson. "What do we do? What happens now?" "At this point, we keep it quiet. Say the Alpha is ill, nothing more. He may recover by tomorrow. If he does not, then something will have to be decided." Erica looks at him. "What does that mean?" "Given the current situation, the role of Alpha falls to me at present, you will do as I say. Tomorrow we will reevaluate the situation." Emmett and Lyssa return to their room and collapse onto the couch. They barely have a second to catch their breaths, when a question comes in. [Em, are you and Lyssa OK?] "Erich wants to come see if we're OK. Are you up for it?" "Can't say how long I'll be pleasant about it, but, yeah." [Hey, Erich, come on over.] Erich knocks on the door shortly thereafter. "C'mon in, Erich, we don't feel like getting up." Erich walks into the room, with Madeline tucked under his arm. "Hey, guys, there's all kinds of rumors running around. What happened?" The soft voice that is Madeline's interrupts. "What Erich means to say is 'Are the two of you alright?' You do kinda look the worse for wear." Lyssa looks at her and starts laughing, and works up to a little hysterically. Emmett pulls her against him and she stops and pushes away. "No, Em. You're hurt." She then looks up at the other Beta couple. "Um. Sorry. I've had a crazed Alpha try to kill me and my mate, pulled him out of a mangled car, and mangled the car myself. The definition of alright is a bit loose here." Emmett pulls her to him again. "Please, have a seat, and excuse us if we don't get up." Erich drops into one of the chairs and pulls his mate into his lap. "OK. Spill." "Michael rammed us and shoved the car into the ditch. I didn't wake up until we were on the way home. Apparently, Nathan and Austin hauled me up and put me in a car." "I got Em out of the car and away. Michael told his Beta to kill us but he didn't. So, Michael came for us and I just kept knocking him down." "He's not dead?" Lyssa gives them her 'Are you kidding me?' look. "No." "OK. He tried to kill you, for real, again, and he's not dead?" Emmett chuckles a bit, and groans in pain. "You do remember who you're talking to?" Erich chuckles a bit, himself. Lyssa was a werewolf who wouldn't kill unless she was in imminent danger, and, with her ability, more often than not, wouldn't have to. Madeline pipes up again. "Can we get you anything?" "Right now I think I just want to curl up with my mate and count my blessings." Erich rises, Madeline in his arms. "OK. We'll let you settle in and get some rest. I'll make sure Simon has something prepared so that you can eat when you wake up." "Thank you." Madeline runs her hand down Erich's face and kisses him. Emmett smiles at his mate and clears his throat. Erich puts his forehead against his mate's and chuckles. "Going." After the door closes Emmett pulls his clothes off, then pulls Lyssa's shirt over her head. "C'mon, let's get some rest." He's really bruised up, and would likely be in real pain later. "We should clean up first." "We'll buy new sheets." The pants come off and she is as naked as he. He reaches for her, to carry her to the bed. "No. Don't you dare. I hauled you out of the car." She pulls the covers off the bed and crawls in with Emmett following shortly after. She groans in pain. "Lys?' "I thought I was going to lose you." He turns, giving her a light kiss. "You saved us, dear heart. I'm proud of you. Thank you." A light sob escapes her lips. "I love you, Em." "Sh, mate. I love you, too. But now, we need to heal." Emmett rolls over to be closer to his mate, but hisses in pain. Lyssa tries to roll up against him, but she's bruised on her right side. They can't spoon, which would be more comforting to both, because of their injuries. So, they lie there, holding hands. He pulls her hand to his lips, and kisses it, then lays their laced fingers between them. Nathan drops Joanna off later. While he had planned on taking her to a nice dinner, she was too keyed up over Lyssa and Emmett's return. She couldn't sit still and was distracted. He figured it would be best for her to see her friend and welcome her home. Nathan considers going with her for a visit, but decides it would be best for Jo to see them alone, first. Joanna runs into Erich first. "So, where are they?" "Jo. Jo. Calm down. They're in their room, resting. They were pretty banged up." "What did they say?" "Not much. What did you see? You were at the scene, right?" "The car was really messed up. The whole side was bashed in. Lyssa was in half form and Em was propped up against a tree. Casey and Austin had Alpha Ross in the car with his Beta." "What did Sampson do?" "Nothing. Well, not much. Lyssa said Alpha Ross told him to kill them and he refused. So he went after them. He had a gun. Lyssa just kept hitting him until help got there." "You'd think she'd have killed him." "He was gonna kill them both, and she still couldn't, wouldn't do it. It's so weird." "We've just got to recognize she'll never be the wolf the rest of us are. She's different, and she always will be." "I'm so glad she's back." "Me, too, Jo. Me, too." She looks at him, the new Beta, and calms down. "I guess I should wait until they get a chance to talk to each other. Emmett didn't wake up until we were almost here." "I think that's probably a good idea." Neither one of them is particularly in the mood for sleep, even though they know they should. So they lie beside each other, holding hands. Their breathing is slow, although Lyssa's heartbeat is a bit faster than normal. And, since neither of them is sleeping, Emmett asks the first question. "I'm sorry to have to ask this, dear heart, but do you think I might have to worry about you again?" "Wow, Em. Out of left field." "I think, considering everything that's happened, the question is relevant." She inhales, and turns her head to look at him. Her dark brown eyes look into the chocolate eyes of her mate and he squeezes her hand. "I hope not. This was, different. When my family died, there wasn't anything I could do. It just happened without me. When Ross took us, I couldn't do anything either. Bound, chained.." "We've talked about this, Lys. What you did was hard, and wonderful. What you did saved both you and Jo." He kisses her hand again. "And, this time, this time, you pulled me out of the car, you stopped Michael Ross from killing us. You realize, don't you, that if you had been knocked out we might both be dead now? Unless his Beta were able to do something, he would have shot me, made sure I was dead, and then killed you. It's all because of you that we're alive." "Of course, it was me he was after." "Yes, mate, but, given how much he's come to hate you and what I've heard about him, I think he would have enjoyed torturing you first. Which means he would have wanted you to know who it was. If he had killed you outright, he couldn't have done that, although you would have been out of his hair." "OK, I don't think you're making it better." "I do wish you would have killed him, though. No, wait. I find I'm looking forward to squeezing the life out of him with my own hands." "Em. Please. Don't do anything to get yourself killed. Don't leave me here without you." Emmett rolls over, wincing slightly. He strokes her hair, down the side of her face. "No, my mate. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to be with you for a long time. You and our pups." "I love you, Emmett." "I love you, too, Lys." "We're not gonna get any sleep are we?" "I don't think so." "You know everybody's gonna wanna know what happened." "Of course. And, I'm sure there are things that have happened since we've been gone." "Did you see Stephanie?" He smiles. "Yes. Do you feel like getting up?" "I could eat." Lyssa and Emmett carefully exit their bed and move into the bathroom. They clean up, moving slowly. She looks over his bruises and he looks at hers. She puts her palm on his chest, gently and asks, "How much does it hurt?" "Quite a bit, mate, but it'll get better." He pulls her head towards him and kisses her forehead. "We should go downstairs." Lyssa walks to her closet and pulls a sheath over her head. "Ow, ow, ow, ow." Emmett's voice is concerned, "Lys?" "It's my shoulders, Em. They're really, really sore." Emmett smiles "I guess you need more practice pulling cars apart, mate." She swings, smacking him on the arm. He grunts. "Oh, Emmett, I'm sorry." He pulls her into his arms and groans. "OK, I guess I can't do that for a bit longer." Emmett pulls on some sweatpants and, arms around each other's waists, they limp into the corridor. A couple of the wolves in the hallway smile and greet them. As they head for the stairway, Joanna's voice is heard. "Celia, have you seen Lyssa and Emmett yet?" [Coming down the stairs, Jo.] Feet are heard pounding up the stairs. Lyssa asks, "Why aren't you with Nathan?" "He knew I wanted to come back and see how you were." "Then why isn't he here with you?" "It's a pack matter. He figured it would be better if he stayed away until we settled down." Joanna walks with Lyssa and Emmett to the dining hall. Some of the others they pass trail behind. As the first Beta couple sit at a table, Simon and Hannah leave the kitchen carrying platters. One is set before Emmett, and the other, in front of Lyssa. Both are piled with rare beef and venison, roasted potatoes, and peas. "The healer said you would need a lot of protein to help you heal." "Thank you, Simon. Hannah." Hannah blushes. Simon pulls her away. "Come, Hannah, we need to start dinner." The other wolves wait patiently as the first Beta pair dig in to the food. Lyssa groans around a mouthful of food. "Why does it taste so much better right now?" [Because your body needs it, mate.] Others continue to gather as the Beta pair feed, wanting to hear the story of what happened. Randall and Ariel, recognizing the growing assembly is something they need to manage, come down to the dining hall. Randall looks at his pack. One of the more brash young males asks, "Can we punish the Ross pack now, Alpha?" "This was not the pack's doing, only their Alpha's. We will determine the level of reparations later." Ariel looks at the Betas as she calls for the healers. "You didn't rest for very long. Emmett, you've been injured more seriously than I thought." Emmett's entire left side and arm is a mass of dark bruising. Randall speaks to his pack. "I understand you are all curious but recognize that our Betas will need rest." The wolves in the vicinity nod. As Lyssa and Emmett finish their meal, the wolves move a bit, and settle in for a story. With the brashness of youth, the questions are started by the same young male. "Is the Ross Alpha dead?" "No, he's not." "Why not?" Lyssa opens her mouth, closes it, and answers. "I don't know. I couldn't do it." There is grumbling from various members, mostly males. "Is it true their Beta was there?" "Yes. He was ordered to kill us but refused. He called for help." "Did you rip the car apart?" Lyssa smiles. "No. Well, some. I bent the car door to pull my mate out." "Did you see it coming?" "I saw a truck coming at us. Then we were in the ditch." "I heard there was a gun." "There was. He shot it once and never got another chance." "Do you think he intended to kidnap you again?" "No. He wanted us dead." "Beta, what did you see?" "Nothing. I was knocked out by the accident and woke up on the way back to the den." "I heard that you were able to call this far for help." "I felt it." Lyssa looks at Erich. "What did it feel like?" "Like my skull was a little too small for my brains." "Her call did reach this far. I heard her clearly." "Do you think Calvin Ross has anything to do with it?" Randall bristles at the question. Lyssa and Emmett both say, "No." Randall says, "Calvin Ross is an honorable wolf. He had nothing to do with this." He looks around the hall. "Enough questions. Our Betas need their rest to heal." The pack murmurs but the questions stop. Wade approaches the Betas. "I see your injuries have progressed. How do you feel?" "Sore," comes from both of them. Wade looks Emmett over and puts an ear to his back. "Breathe." Wade listens to Emmett's breathing. "Your ribs don't appear to be too badly broken. Good. Now, rest." Lyssa takes her glass and raises it to her lips. "Ooowwww." Wade turns to her. "What is it?" "My shoulders hurt." "Didn't you just pull the Beta out of the car?" "Uh, yeah. Bent the door, too." "And you hurt yourself doing that?" Natalie walks up. "Ah, mate, you keep forgetting she was human, once." "Oh. Yes. Of course, dear." Natalie looks at them. "Rest. Both of you." Fulfillment 09 Several of the wolves touch them as they walk out of the room and back up to theirs, flanked by Erich and Joanna. "I'm so glad you're back." Emmett turns and Erich claps him on the shoulder. "Good to have you back with us." Emmett carefully wraps an arm around his mate. "It's good to be back." The Beta pair sleep, healing. They had only been gone a little over five days, but it seemed much longer. And, although not much had changed in the Wyeth pack, there were some momentous things happening. Joanna was getting much closer to Nathan and, if they hadn't expected it before, everyone in the pack knew that they'd be mated. The question was, how soon? And the changes in Stephanie? It was nothing short of amazing. She was spending much more time with Calvin, and had been caught kissing him. While no one was sure what would happen, if anything, between them, the pack was buzzing with speculation. Ariel was quietly pleased that her intervention may have contributed to the changes in Stephanie. Randall was happy for his friend as his pursuit was a bit more promising. Fulfillment ONE So. It all starts with an email, one you almost deleted. You didn't recognize the email name. For some reason, however, you opened it. If you hadn't none of what I have to record here would ever have happened. The happened in July, a very hot one, and you were still stewing about missed chances, lost opportunities in Vegas. The two of you had come so very close. The young bartender, the suite, the drinking. In retrospect, she had been as ripe as a peach just at the instant when you can start to dent it with your thumb, almost ready to fall off the tree into your hand.. A miss so close that it was like Pujols missing a fastball, a millimeter. In this case one Vodka Red Bull too many. Then, have come all that long way, have made all that progress, she had fallen back, lapsed into the American prudery which, in her case, was not very deep or forceful but just forceful enough to make her shy from your great dream. When you brought up Vegas, she'd say she had forgotten it. When, in the throes of love-making you mentioned it, she acted as though she hadn't heard you. The love-making, in spite of her beauty, started to seem flat. She even gained a pound of two, something she had never done before. "Dear . . ." read the email. I hope you have opened this and remember me. I'm the bartender from the El Cortez—or I was. I guess a lot of visitors to Vegas remember their visits for life. It's rare that a visitor is remembered her. But you are. Or, to be honest, your wife is. This is a city of beautiful women. Many are pros, and so being beautiful is their profession, in a sense. Any man who actually lives here gets satiated with beauty, the way a Pasha with a harem must get tired of sex. So it takes someone extraordinary—an Angelina Jolie—to turn heads in any of the hotels. Frankly, however, my head was so turned by your wife, I have to go to a chiropractor. Every day I kick myself—I should have known better because I am a bartender—for giving her that one last Vodka Red Bull. Anyway, let me cut to the real reason I am writing to you. I am not the only one who noticed her. Dozens of guys, even guys I don't know, have kept coming up to me 'Who was she?' 'Did you score with that fantastic blond?' 'Have you ever seen a butt that pretty, and those breasts, the smile?' And, most often 'When is she coming back?' I consider you guys friends, so I didn't answer some of these guys. The questions kept coming, however, and, eventually, I weeded out all but twenty or so guys, and the remaining were good friends and trustworthy. I told them the truth about what happened (or didn't), but I never gave them any way to get in touch with you. One night, one of them, a friend called Ray, who works at Trumps, got very lucky at the blackjack table. It's a long story. Ray has a great memory if you know what I man. Anyway, he comes out of the casino with over a hundred bills, the ones with the picture Of Grover Cleveland on them. And he is buying drinks, and a bunch of these guys, my friends, heard about it, and we had a big party, with a couple of girls and everything, the works. Well, some of these friends of mine are rich. One of them is related to Trump, another has a big interest in Harrah's, another is a lawyer who represents two big casinos here. Anyway, Ray, in his enthusiasm, brings up your wife, and there are moans all around the table, and remarks like 'What a piece of heaven.' and 'Where did that super hottie go?' Other guys couldn't even talk. They just moaned. And so Ray says, 'Tell me the truth, Bobbie, you know where she is?' And I am a little plastered and so I nod yes. Ray takes five bills out of his wad. 'Give her this. Tell her to fly out. The husband too.' (All the guys who met you liked you, and they thought you were really 'generous). Next thing I know, all the other guys are taking out big bills. The short of it is that you now have $30,000 in an account at CityBank. The guys want you to use it first to buy her clothes and stuff and then to fly out her for a week or two. They got you the penthouse at Trump's. So that's free. 702-693-7111 Call me at this number 702-693-7111. It's the Bellagio. That's where I work now. Oh yes, there's no obligation. These guys will be happy just to look at her, to talk with her, to dream that they have a chance. So don't take this the wrong way. Bobbie. TWO can't say she minded the shopping spree a bit. Wonderful dresses—club wear she called them—shoes so stacked you didn't see how a woman could walk in them, underwear of the best quality, perfumes. Her fans in Vegas were out ten grand before we even got on the plane. At the same time, she was reluctant. She kept saying that the two of you were going to Vegas to have fun and meet people, nothing more. "I don't remember just what happened last time, and I glad I don't." Then later "I think I'll give drinking a rest. It seems that I kind of lose my head when I drink and do things I don't want to remember. So I am on the wagon, at least until we get back from Vegas." These remarks weren't exactly music to your ears. You knew that she was quite right—in part at least. Without the alcohol she would hardly flirt with another man, let alone sleep with him. You rested your hopes on the notion that the Vegas atmosphere and the company of so many people drinking would break down her resolve. Like a lot of people, once she took the first drink, the next was inevitable, and so on. No one was at the airport to meet you, but when you got to the hotel, the suite was filled with flowers. You went out on the balcony and took in the great view of the city. She began to relax a little. Maybe she had expected to be mobbed. Dinner was quiet. They met with Bob, who showed them to a table where a fine old Chateau Mission, on the house, awaited them, along with caviar and other hors d'oeuvres. The wine was delicious, but she wouldn't touch a drop, clinging to her vow. After dinner Bobbie introduced us to two of his friends, Al, who owned a piece of Harrah's, and Dave, who was a stock-broker. Both were young good-looking men. They invited us to Tryst, where a good band was playing, and the next thing you knew you were on our way in Al's chauffeured Rolls. We sat at one of the club's huge couches, with Bobbie on one side your wife and Dave on the other. You could see that they were pleased with their attention. Both were fixed on her. Yet she still hadn't ordered a drink. Both men are drinking rum-and-tonics. When Bobbie's second arrived, he offered her a sip. She shook her head no, but he kept insisting and swore he wouldn't touch the drink until she had tasted it, and so, to be polite, she did. She took a sip, and then a deep swallow. "This is so good—I've never had anything like it," she said. "Well, it's yours. I'll get myself another." It is a warm night, and you are all pretty thirsty, and she knocked down the drink in record time, and then, to your deep satisfaction, ordered her standard, Vodka-Red Bull. You know that the particular combination in that drink, the caffeine and the alcohol, would loosen her up fast. She isn't slow about knocking back her second Vodka-Red Bull, and your heart began to beat with hope. The band has started up. You could see one of her pretty feet, her stiletto half slipping off, rock in time to the music, and her calf rocks and her thigh, inches of which were visible, white and sweet, rocks too. That's when Dave asks you if he could dance with her. You told him yes, trying hard to keep your excitement from creating a tremor in your voice. Helping you to remember all this is not the same as telling you something you simply don't know. Nonetheless, like most readers, you are in a rush to hear what happened next, and you will resent this interruption, so I will make it short. Dave (his full name is Dave Winston) is a stock broker, who had made his millions well before the crash of 08. He had gone to Brown University where he was the star shooting guard on the basketball team and the quarterback on the football team. Majoring in Economics, he graduated as class Valedictorian, only the second Black student to win that honor in the history of the university. He took his first job with Bear-Stearns, made partner by the time he was 26, and retired in two years, a multi-millionaire. He improved, in another arena, as a passer and shooter, with a reputation for satisfying women that was unequaled among his peers. There were rumors that he had unique moves and extraordinary equipment. He has kept in shape, never gaining a pound since the days when he deluged the basket with three-pointers. He dances well too. You could see that. His hand on her back, her back bare because of the low cut of the gown, he back so beautifully muscled and yet so creamy in the low light. Now thoroughly tipsy, she stumbles, and he pulls her to him to support her, his hands moving down to her heavenly hips. You watch them, your heart thumping. He whispers something. She laughs. She glances at you. He is pressing her to him harder now, his hips and groin thrust against her soft belly. He is talking to her. She laughs. You can tell by her laugh that she has drunk enough now to lose control. He kisses her quickly, lightly on the lips. The kisses take effect like shots of vodka. After each kiss you can see that her mouth is opening, all the more ready for the next. And the next comes more quickly, deeper, longer. You see her twist and gyrate, rotating her hips, pushing against him,. She feels him. She feels him now huge and granite hard. Her naked image comes into your mind, the belly so soft and yielding, and you imagine it dented now by David's erection. You come back to the real, you take another drink. You look at them again. You can see now that she has insinuated her left hand between the two of them, her long fingers have opened a button on his shirt, and ventured in. One of his hands is now full on her butt as they dance. You cannot see where the other is, but as they turn, you watch, amazed, as her face floods with ecstasy. His finger between her legs, he still dances gracefully, leading her steadily, but she is frenzied now, hardly able to keep the beat. She twists against him, shameless now in this public place, unable to help herself. He kisses her deep as they dance. She all but collapses against him. They pause. He kisses her again, a long, long staggering kiss, and she comes out of the embrace woozy, her pupils wide open. She is like a fighter who keeps getting up off the deck, each time a little slower, a little more vulnerable to the next knockdown. Or a butterfly caught in the web and kissed by the quick spider, at each sting less able to flutter or escape or resist. She is beside herself. Her hands move everywhere. They fly to his neck, to his butt. They slide against, they stroke the Himalayan bulge in his pants. She is vanquished. No. She is going over to the opposing side. She has gone over to the side of the invader, is abetting in the siege, and slips the key to the main gate into his hand. His hand, still on her full butt, presses her hard against him, his hand so black against the whiteness of her dress. He draws her to him hard, and she grinds against him. She has forgotten that she is married, that her husband is watching, that she is in public. He kisses her again. They swing near, turn again, and you see that her hand, removed from beneath Winston's shirt, is fumbling desperately with his belt buckle. She tries to bring her other hand to bear on the task. Winston smiles. Taking her by that hand, he leads her towards the elevator. He looks at you over his shoulder with a triumphant but conspiratorial grin. He nods. As though you had received a printed invitation, you follow. Fulfillment 10 Dear Readers, Probably three or four chapters to follow before I come to my desired ending. Sorry the submissions have been rather chaotic. Sometimes life interferes and some parts are harder to write than others. Enjoy, KemMyst *** Sunday Lyssa and Emmett learned of these new occurrences the next morning at breakfast. And the pack breathed a collective sigh of relief at the Beta female's change in mood. While still in some pain, her shoulders still sore, she was smiling, talking. Emmett was pleased to be back with his pack, with his mate. Calvin did not arrive this morning, and there was a lot of talk as to what was happening with the Alpha, Michael Ross. At the Ross compound, Erica is woken by her mate. Michael nips at her neck and rolls her over onto her hands and knees. He kneels behind her and presses his morning erection against her opening. She's not ready for him yet and yelps. [Not yet, Michael.] He presses forward anyway, grunting and pulling at her hips. She tries to get away as the burning pain hits her. [No. Stop.] His claws dig into her hips and he shoves forward, working his way into her tight, dry channel. Tears fill her as the pain overtakes her. "Stop!" He ignores her, pulling out slightly and surging forward again. While he's never been particularly gentle or considerate when he coupled with her, he'd never hurt her like this. [Michael, you're hurting me.] Her only response is a grunt and another push. He's finally seated fully inside her and stops for a second while she tries to collect herself. Could she call for help? Would anyone help her? And then, the pull back, and his thrusts begin in earnest. She whimpers, having never felt pain like this. The only thing she wants now is for it to be over. [Calvin. Sampson. Someone, help me, please.] The burning eases as he continues to plunge into her, but only because of the blood. Her blood, lubricating his stiff dick. She sobs into the bed as he continues pumping into her. A noise reaches her ears. The door. Someone opened the door. "Please. He's hurting me." She hears the sniff as someone scents the air. Sampson has arrived, Calvin just behind him. "Michael, stop. Michael?" "Michael, get off her!". He growls and continues his thrusts. Erica continues to sob. "Sampson, let's pull him off." "Certainly, Calvin." The two males walk over and drag Michael away from his mate. Michael screams in rage and frustration and shifts to intermediate form as they hold his arms. Erica drops to the bed, tears leaking, blood on her thighs, and curls into a ball. Sampson asks, "What happened?" Michael doesn't answer, he simply struggles against their hold. "Erica?" She sniffles a little, "He put me on my hands and knees and just shoved in. I wasn't ready. I told him to stop. He ignored me. He hurt me." "Michael? Alpha?" Michael continues his struggle, trying to reach Erica, screaming his frustration, his dick standing stiffly out in front of him and trembling, coated in her blood. Calvin looks at his son. "Lyssa." "Kill the bitch! Kill the bitch!" Sampson and Calvin look at each other. "He's not getting better. We need to secure him downstairs so he doesn't hurt anyone else." [Sharilyn, would you come to the Alpha suite and see to our Madam Alpha?] [Of course. I'll be there shortly.] [Albert, Mathias, come to the Alpha suite, we need your help.] Calvin and Sampson drag Michael to the door and are met by two other males. They look surprised, but grab their Alpha and start hauling him downstairs. Sampson sends out a command [Everyone, in your rooms. Now.] Michael is chained in a basement room. Calvin and Sampson stay behind as the other two males leave. "I would ask that you not speak of this to the others." The two males nod their response. [I don't think he's going to get better, Sampson.] [I think you may be right.] Sampson sighs. [So, my Alpha, what will you have us do?] Startled, Calvin says, "Alpha?" The door has closed, they are alone in the room, except for an enraged Michael. Michael is straining at his bonds, growling, snarling. "I have no wish to be Alpha, Cal. It's your job. You have no other heir. The pack will be in chaos otherwise." "You're right, Sampson. You're right. I guess I need to take over again. I never expected this. I thought I could turn it over to Michael, watch the pack grow. Learn to live after Sabine." He looks back at his son. "What will I do with him, Sampson? I've lost him too." "You have time to decide that, Cal. Alpha. But, now, you need to tell your pack you're back in charge." Calvin looks at his son, looks back at Sampson, and sighs. "You're right, my friend. Would you call the pack together?" "Of course, my Alpha." There are howls of relief and happiness as Calvin announces that he is taking over as Alpha again, that Michael was incapacitated. Erica looks small and frightened at the announcement. "Erica, please, come with me. Sampson." Sampson and Erica proceed to the office area and enter the room where the Alpha maintains the pack records and operation. "Erica, are you alright?" "Calvin, uh, Alpha, I." She takes a deep breath and releases it. "I'll heal." She looks at him. "Will Michael?" "I've asked our healer to give us her best opinion and, since there doesn't seem to have been any improvement overnight, she isn't hopeful for a full recovery. Unless something changes soon, he probably won't get any better." "What will you do with him? With me?" "At this point, Erica, I can't say for sure. We'll have to see if he improves at all, if he is docile enough, or if he can be controlled. If he's a danger to the pack.. well, time will tell." "As for you, you are mated to my son. You will retain your status as such. We'll have another room prepared for you. I don't expect you to move out immediately, as Michael may still show some recovery." "If you need help, please see Sampson." "Yes, Alpha." Erica takes leave of the Ross Alpha and Beta. Calvin sits heavily in the chair behind the desk. "How bad are things?" "They will be better now, Cal, but Michael has made an awful mess of the finances and the business." "Alright, call Peter and Paul in here. Let's see what we can do to straighten things out." "Cal?" Calvin has started sifting through the papers on his desk. "Hmm?" "We should tell the other packs." Calvin puts his head in his hands. "Let's give it til this afternoon." Calvin looks up to Sampson. "I never thought I'd say this but, I'm glad Sabine isn't here to see this." A pause. "Am I going to have to kill my son, Sampson?" "I hope not, Cal. I hope not." Another pause. "I'll get Peter and Paul." "Thank you." ***** Lyssa and Emmett are again sent to the healers for an evaluation. Natalie suggests Lyssa get some heat on her sore shoulders. Wade checks Emmett's ribs, pleased with their rate of healing. Both are reminded to get sufficient protein and calcium and more rest. "You'll be good as new within a day or two." "Thank you, healer." Emmett nuzzles Lyssa's hair. "Come, mate, let's get you something warm on your shoulders." Lyssa smiles, allowing herself to be led up to their room. They are waylaid by Joanna. "Hey, Lys, I want to talk to you." Emmett smiles at her. "Can you give us an hour or so, Jo?" She looks between the two of them, and sighs. "Yeah. OK." Upstairs, Emmett pulls Lyssa into their room, pulls her close, and kisses her. When the kiss breaks, she sighs, and rests her head against his shoulder. "I kinda wish we were still at the cabin." "Me, too." He takes her hand and leads her to their bathroom. He turns on the water and waits for it to warm. Turning, he looks at her. "How much do you like the dress?" She breaks into a huge grin. "Um, it's OK." He seizes the neckline and rips it down the front, tearing the fabric from her body. "Em, I don't think you're up to anything strenuous. I'm not sure I am, either." He chuckles, then laughs. When he finally has enough breath to speak, he says, "The way things have been for us lately, I'm not sure when that will be." She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "I hope this is the end of it. I'm really not in the mood for being beat up again." "We'll see, Lys. How about that shower?" "Sure, Em. Sounds good." Dropping his clothing, he takes her hand and pulls her into the shower. He turns her under the spray, so that it cascades over her shoulders. She groans at the feeling and closes her eyes. Lyssa rolls her head a bit, trying to unkink the tight, sore muscles, then opens her eyes again. She looks at her mate, noting the dark bruising on his left side. Injuries left from the accident. No, it wasn't an accident. Michael Ross intentionally rammed them. There was nothing accidental about it. She growls, low, involuntarily. "Lys?" She looks up at his face, notes the concern there. "Sorry, Em. Just looking at your bruises and thinking about Michael Ross." "I'd like to give you something else to think about, mate. I'm going to make you think about nothing but me." He's in the shower with her, facing her. She picks up one of his hands, brings it to her lips, and kisses it. She then places it on her breast. His mate was standing in front of him, with water cascading over her wonderful, curvy body. He hoped she had caught this time but it was unlikely with all the craziness that had gone on before her heat. Craziness that Michael Ross had started to begin with. He had attempted to take his mate away from him, twice. The growl that rises in his throat now is quickly cut off as he realizes his hands are sliding over the wet, slick body of his mate. She tips her head back against the wall as his thumbs circle on her nipples. "Oh, Em." She moans as he continues to touch her. His hands briefly leave her body and she opens her eyes to look at him, ready to protest. But, he gives her an appreciative grin, and soaps up his hands. "I think I'd better make sure you're clean, while we're at it." He runs his hands over her curves, down from her shoulders, under the bottoms of her breasts, over her hips, and he watches the soap bubbles slide down her skin. He reaches up to her breasts as he drops down to his knees in their shower. Kneading, rolling her nipples. She again inhales, closes her eyes, and moans. He then reaches around her body and grabs her ass, pulling her towards him. Emmett pulls one of Lyssa's legs over his shoulder and is treated to a glimpse of a different kind of wetness, the wetness that came from her. The warm water raining down on them also dampened her scent, but, if he got closer he'd be able to smell her. So, he did. He sticks his nose in between her legs and inhales deeply. Next comes the first lick. His tongue extends and he flicks it over her clitoris. "Oh, yes." "OK, I'll clean things up down here while I'm at it." Lyssa smiles, and looks down at the grey head of hair that her hands are braced on. She pulls his head more tightly to her. Now, to taste her juices, to take what her body made for him. So, he took the first taste, savoring it, groaning. [You taste so good, mate.] [More, Em. More.] [If you wish it.] And he begins, sweeping over her folds, delving into the warm wet tunnel that fit around him so well. As he works at her with his tongue, his forefinger pushes between her buttocks, flirting with the pink rosebud between and she squirms. Not the place for that. So, he keeps after her, loving the sounds of her moans, feeling her hands clutching at him. Her clit has extended, reddened, engorged, peaking out from its hood. He continues to stroke it with his tongue while also sweeping up her juices. Her legs begin to shake and her cries get louder. He holds her steady with his hands as he works her to the edge. Emmett twists his head slightly and sets his teeth around her clit, biting down lightly. And she shrieks, "Ooooh, god, EMMMmmmmm." Fingernails dig into his scalp as he feels the spasming around his tongue. He holds her steady while she pants and recovers. One last lick and she jerks, sensitive. "Ooh." [Are you clean, mate?] "Mmm." He pulls her leg off his shoulder, rises, and reaches around her to turn off the shower. "I think it's time for another nap." He reaches for her and she backs away. "You're still too hurt, Em. I can walk." They grab towels, dry off, and head for the bed. Curling up together, they work on healing. As he nods off, he hears, "Thank you, Em." ***** Calvin informs the other packs of his return as Alpha of the Ross pack. The news is taken in stride by every pack but Wyeth. Randall is the last Alpha he speaks to and has the longest conversation with. "How is Michael, Cal?" Randall hears the pain in his friend's voice. "Not well, Randall, not well at all. He's still not in his right mind and our healer isn't hopeful." "I'm sorry, Cal." "So am I. Unfortunately, he brought this on himself. Just as bad, he took others with him." "What do you mean? Is Sampson alright? Emmett and Lyssa are healing." "Ah, Randall. Sampson was not injured. Michael's mate is now afraid of her status in the pack. And, of course, we lost Jason, Gerry, and Alan. The business is in worse shape. And some of the other pack members have not fared so well during my son's tenure as Alpha." "I hope that you'll be able to turn some of that around, fairly quickly." "The pack seems pleased that I have assumed the role of Alpha again." "I should let you get back to work, then. If there's a way I can help, Cal.." "One thing you can do for me, Randall," Randall waits, expectantly, "could I speak to Stephanie?" "Let me see if she's around." Randall's attention shifts, while he calls for Stephanie. He says, "She's on her way. Is there anything else we need to discuss?" "Well, there is the matter of your demolished car. And the injuries to your pack members." "The car is one thing, Cal. And, we can wait until you get things under control there. As for Emmett and Lyssa, well, I believe Lyssa may have made her own justice for them." "And Joanna?" "She wasn't harmed, just scared, and it appears she's found her mate as a result." "The Severn pup?" "Yes, they've been spending a lot of time together. Ah, Stephanie, the Ross Alpha would like to speak with you." "Alpha Wyeth? The Ross Alpha?" "It's Calvin, Stephanie. He wants to talk to you." Randall says, "I'll talk to you again, Cal." and hands the receiver to Stephanie. Stephanie sits in the chair indicated by her Alpha, who nods at her and leaves the room, closing the door behind him. "Hello?" "Stephanie. I'm sorry, but I may not be able to visit for a few days. I have much to do for my pack, at present." "Of course, Cal, Alpha Ross, I understand." "I'll call you in a day or two." "Of course." "Goodbye, Stephanie." "Goodbye, Alpha Ross." She puts the phone down, cutting off his response. He hears the sound of the disconnect as he says, "It's Calvin, to you." ***** Joanna can't stand it any longer and knocks on Lyssa and Emmett's door. A sleepy send comes to her. [Who's there?] "It's Jo. Did I wake you?" Lyssa comes to the door in a robe and comes into the hallway, closing the door behind her. She looks at Joanna and back at the door. "He could use more sleep. He's really banged up." Joanna throws her arms around Lyssa, taking the older woman by surprise. "I'm so glad you're back. I thought we might lose both of you." "Bastard needs an attitude adjustment." "Um, that's not what I meant but I think he's got that." "What do you mean?" "Um. Maybe I should let Mom and Dad tell you." "Jo.." They walk to a little sitting area on the floor and take a couple of chairs. "Well, Calvin Ross has taken over as Alpha." "He has?" Joanna nods. Lyssa's eyes go wide. "I thought I didn't kill him." "You didn't, but it sounds like you really scrambled his brains." "What do you mean?" "Dad says Michael isn't dead but that he's not acting right." Lyssa looks rather upset by the news. Joanna grabs her hands. "Lyssa, It's not your fault. He tried to kill you and Emmett. You were protecting yourself." Lyssa now looks down. "I know, it's just, well, .." She stops speaking, and shakes her head. Joanna pats her hand. "Madeline is doing well. And, do you know about Stephanie?" Lyssa smiles. "I heard. It's hard to believe." "Everyone was surprised. You've never seen gossip spread so quickly." "Did she kiss him on her own or did he kiss her?" "Nobody knows how it started but them. But Paul came across them in the garage. He says it looked like she wasn't fighting it." "Well, good. She should be happy. Wait, what happens now that Calvin is Alpha?" "There's no reason they can't get mated. Hey, did you know Michael got mated?" "What? Mated?" She rubs her forehead and mumbles to herself. "That's right, he said something about it." Joanna looks at her, concern showing on her face. "Yeah, the morning you left. We found out the next day." "Um, wow. Things won't go too well for her, will it?" "I don't think Alpha Ross will make it hard for her." Lyssa mumbles, "No. No, She's probably got it hard enough already." She exhales strongly. "I thought I was going to die, Jo. I thought he'd killed Em and thought he was going to kill me. That's twice in a month." Joanna moves over to Lyssa's side. "Trouble just comes to find you, doesn't it?" "Gee, thanks. This time you started it." "Did not." "Did too." "No, it wasn't me." "How's Nathan?" Joanna blushes slightly, dipping her head. "We're...good." "So, he's making you happy. Everywhere?" The blush deepens. "So, want to talk to me about something? Or have you talked to Ariel?" Joanna squeaks, "Mom? Um, I can't." "Just make sure you talk to someone, if you need to." "I never thought it could feel so..good." Lyssa smiles. "So, now you know why we all appreciate sex. It's a wonderful thing, to be able to please your mate and have them please you." "We aren't mated." "Yet." "Lyssa!" "Oh, Jo, we know it's gonna happen, you know it's gonna happen, you just have to decide when." They can feel the vibrations of a large body approaching, and Lyssa looks up to see her mate. "And why have you pulled my mate away from me, Jo?" Joanna looks up, startled. Emmett grins down at the two of them. Jo gets up and hugs Emmett. "I'm so glad you're back." She pulls away as he groans. "Oh, sorry." Lyssa looks up at her mate. "How are you feeling? Not 100% yet if a little girl can hurt you." "Hurt me? I can throw you over my shoulder and beat you in the circle, if you wish." "Alright, Mr. Big Bad Werewolf. But your ribs are still healing and you really shouldn't. How do you feel?" "You're right. Not completely healed yet. My ribs ache. Soon, though, I shall be able to show you how well I am." He smiles, giving her a rather lecherous grin. "And, how are you feeling, sweetheart?" "Better. Still sore in the shoulders. Jo's been catching me up on the gossip. Apparently, Michael Ross was mated the day we left. And Calvin has taken back Alpha." "What? Why?" Lyssa looks a bit upset. He puts his arms around her. He turns to Joanna. "What happened?" "You really should talk to Dad." "Jo.." "Michael Ross has, well, he's not Alpha anymore." [Dad? Could you come to the sitting area on the third floor?] [Joanna? What is it?] [Lyssa and Emmett want to know about the Ross pack.] [On my way.] "OK, Dad's coming to talk to you." Emmett changes the subject. "So, how's Erich been?" "Not real sure. I've been gone a lot. But it sounds like he's doing OK." "Is his mate fitting in alright?" "I should go talk to her sometime soon." Fulfillment 10 "I think she'd like that, Lys. You weren't exactly in a good mood before." Lyssa lets out a breath, and murmurs, "No. I really wasn't." Randall strides up to them. "How are you?" "Better all the time, Randall. What's going on with Ross?" "Sit, please. This will not be easy." Lyssa looks at him. "Why? Is he...? Did I kill him?" Ariel arrives with a platter of food for the Betas, along with a pitcher of milk. "I see you're feeling better," she says as she sets the food down. "Hungry?" Emmett reaches for a sandwich and Lyssa pours milk for both of them. "Well," Randall begins, "I believe we will all feel better when you return to a normal schedule and can resume your duties." Emmett replies, "Of course, Randall, we could begin again today, if you wish." "If you're thinking clearly, you could begin some of it. I'm sure Erich would appreciate some relief and Gabriela could use some help at the warehouse." Lyssa looks at the Alpha pair, "Um, Randall, what's happened to Michael Ross?" Emmett puts down his glass and pulls Lyssa close to him. "Jo said I'd 'scrambled his brains.' What does that mean, exactly?" Randall looks closely at the Beta female. "How many times would you say you knocked him out?" Lyssa's forehead creases in concentration. "About, maybe, one, two, three, four, um, I guess ten or so." "What happens to humans who are knocked out multiple times?" Lyssa's voice goes quieter. "Brain damage." "Michael Ross is apparently no longer up to the task of Alpha. Calvin has taken over again. If Michael recovers, things may change but, for now, Calvin Ross is Alpha of the Ross pack." Lyssa closes her eyes, considering. Emmett speaks up. "And he got mated recently? How is his mate taking it?" "She's afraid of her status. Apparently it happened the day you left." Lyssa's voice remains quiet. "Um, Randall, Alpha, uh, what will happen if he recovers?" "I'm not certain. Calvin is very caught up right now in trying to re-stabilize the pack. It seems some things did not go very well while under Michael's leadership." Lyssa replies, "Yeah, he mentioned something to me about it." Randall continues. "At this point, I'm not sure if Calvin will relinquish control again." A big sigh from Lyssa. "And, if he doesn't recover?" Randall looks at her closely. "That will be up to Calvin. It depends upon what his state is." Lyssa buries her face against her mate's shoulder. Emmett takes her shoulders and brings her away so that he can face her. "Don't get lost on me again, Lys. He had a gun and you said he fired it at least once." She nods, biting her lip and looking a little teary. "He intended to kill both of us, you know that. You could have killed him outright, but you didn't. You simply kept him from killing us, as best you could. It was self-defense." Lyssa takes a deep breath as the Wyeth Alphas and their daughter watch the exchange. She closes her eyes and takes another couple of breaths. She raises her head and looks up at Emmett. "You're right. And I've wished him dead so many times for what he did to Jo and me. If he had left us alone it wouldn't have happened." Emmett squeezes her to him. "Ow, Em." "Oh, sorry." She turns, clear-eyed, and looks at the Alpha pair. "I have a question. I know there's no good way to punish someone from another pack, [Lys, I'm not sure now is the time.] but what would have happened if I had killed him? An Alpha? Would Calvin, the Alpha Ross, feel obliged to come after me and kill me? Would someone else in the Ross pack do it?" Randall looks thoughtful. "You pose an interesting question." He looks at his own mate, who is chuckling a bit beside him. "What?" It is Joanna that answers. "I guess you don't remember that part of your training, huh?" Lyssa looks at her, cocks her head and furrows her brow. "The fight for Alpha is a fight to the death. If you had killed him you would 'unofficially officially' be Alpha of the Ross pack." "What?!" Emmett breaks into laughter. "That's the way it's always been done, mate. If control isn't transferred between family it's transferred by force." "But, um.. me?" Ariel reaches across the table and pats her hand. "Probably not, Lyssa. I don't know if it would work that way for you. Females have not been allowed control of the packs. Although a wolf pack will follow its Alpha, I'm not sure they'd follow a female, particularly a changed human." Lyssa grumbles, half under her breath. "You guys really need to crawl out from under the 17th century rock you've been hiding under." Randall smiles at her. "I'm not certain what would have happened if you had killed him. Some might call for revenge and we might have to provide security for you whenever you were outside, particularly off the range." Lyssa quirks her mouth, looking unhappy. "Calvin, I'm not certain. Michael is his son, his blood, but he also knows what his son is, and what he had done. As for Alpha, would you want it?" Her eyes go wide and she shakes her head. "Nope. Don't think so. I wouldn't even know where to begin." Emmett kisses the side of her head. "No time to think of such things when someone's shooting at you. I suppose it's good that you didn't actually kill him. The turmoil would be," a big inhale, "overwhelming." Ariel looks at her mate. "Told you she would make for interesting times in the pack." Jo and Lyssa respond, in stereo, "You did?" Ariel laughs. Randall responds. "Yes, my mate, indeed you did." He nuzzles her neck and runs a hand down to cup her breast. "You were right." [Including our soon-to-be son.] [It won't be very soon, but that will come.] Seeing their Alphas having a private talk and a touch, Emmett runs his hand up Lyssa's thigh, fingers touching skin where her robe parts in the front. Jo clears her throat. "Ahem. I think that's my cue to find something else to do. See ya." She rises and walks off, pulling out her cellphone as she does. Lyssa leans over and kisses her mate. "Em, since we're up I should probably get ahold of Gabriela or Mathias and see what's going on." Emmett sighs and gives her one last caress of her thigh. "And I should go see how Erich is and what needs doing." They rise from their seats and, hand in hand, head back to their room to dress. Randall and Ariel, however, are in a heated embrace on the loveseat, clothing already hitting the floor. The Beta pair return to their duties for the rest of the day. Some glitches have shown up in the software at the warehouse and certain files needed to be replaced from the backups. In addition, employee training needed to be repeated with certain individuals, as they were either not filling out fields appropriately or were hitting keys they shouldn't. Most of the employees had grumbled at the new system but were now finding it easier to use. Lyssa followed up with the manufacturer on a couple of outstanding bugs. Emmett meets up with Erich and they go over what had been going on in his absence. Emmett digs in to some of the tasks that either needed his attention or were lower on the priority list and had waited for his return. "How're the twins doing?" Erich looks over at his friend. "How are you doing?" "Gonna take a couple more days before I'm a hundred percent. Justin and Jamie?" "Jamie's getting the hang of some of the more complicated sparring moves. I think Justin's got the nose for tracking." "Good. We could use another tracker, or two, especially with you in here and mated." "Charlotte has said something about Mercy's tracking. She's got keen eyes and a good nose." Emmett turns to look at Erich. He was hesitant to put a female up as tracker for the pack but, why not? As Lyssa had said, females were not incapable, it was just that they had never been allowed into those roles before. Females were protected since they would bear the next generations but, there would be long periods of time when they weren't pregnant, so... "Alright, why don't you set up some training sessions for them? I'll get someone to start Mercy on sparring sessions." "Mercy, too?" "Mercy, too. You brought it up. I'll double check with Randall but, if she's got the nose for it, we shouldn't waste her potential." Erich looks at Emmett long enough that Emmett asks, "What?" Erich smiles. "You've changed some since you mated a human." A light growl and Emmett sends, [I'll have to tell Lyssa that.] "Don't get her mad at me!" Dinner is its usual self that night, all members returned to the den and doing well. The youngest pups ran around the tables grabbing bites from parents along the way. Others were being taught table manners and the adults were visiting with one another. Stephanie was seated at the table she usually occupied and was looking a bit sad. Natalie comes up to the first Beta pair after the meal. "Madam Beta," Lyssa looks at their female healer. "Oh, yes, Natalie. I'm feeling pretty good." "I'm pleased to hear it. So, you've had no bleeding or cramping?" "Wait, what?" "You should have told me earlier. I was just told you just came off your heat." Lyssa's eyes go wide. "Oh. No. I didn't even think to tell you." Emmett looks at the healer. "This early, healer, would we even know?" Natalie frowns. "Probably not." She looks pointedly at Lyssa. "Please let me know if you feel at all..odd." Lyssa sniffs. "Yeah." Emmett pulls her against himself in a bruising embrace. She can feel the anger, the hatred, just simmering off his body. The fact that she could be pregnant, could have been pregnant, makes her suddenly sad. And he, he was upset enough that fur began to break out on his body. [That's it. I'm going over and kill the son of a bitch if it's the last thing I do.] Roland notices the change and alerts his father and Erich. The three of them stand and surround the first Beta pair, Emmett covered in short grey fur and claws, with the beginnings of a muzzle, and Lyssa, caught up in his arms. [Em, no. You said it probably wouldn't happen this time anyway.] [He's tried to take my family from me too many times.] A snarl rips from his muzzle and several pack members edge away. The voice of the Alpha booms loud in his ears. "Emmett, what's happened?" "Nothing. I'm fine." Randall looks pointedly at his friend and Beta. He then turns to Lyssa. "What did Natalie say that upset him?" Lyssa sniffs again. "She asked if I was OK, Alpha." Randall now looks confused, as do the others. "I had my heat while we were gone." Randall nods, looking grim. "I know what's in your mind, my friend. You will not go to the Ross compound and kill Michael Ross. He's in no condition to be challenged and may not even understand why you're there." Emmett snarls back. "He's a waste of breath and I want him dead." "Understand me, Emmett Forester. At this point you have no recourse. Take care of your mate." Emmett continues to growl his rage and frustration. Randall gives the order. "Circle. Now." Randall strips off his clothing and changes to wolf. Emmett's clothes are already in tatters. He puts his mate to one side of him and fairly roars at Randall. Randall stares into Emmett's eyes and Emmett drops his gaze and follows his Alpha out to the Wyeth circle. At least he was recognizing his Alpha's authority to that extent. The two wolves face off on opposite sides of the Wyeth circle, Emmett, snarling and raging, Randall, watching. He paces back and forth, watching Emmett's moves. He does not attack, but tries to reason with his Beta. [Emmett, I sympathize...] Another snarl from Emmett, [Sympathize? She hasn't gotten pregnant yet, Randall. It usually doesn't take this long. If he took a pup from me...] [Have there been any signs?] Emmett shakes out his fur. [No. But, would they be the same for her? If it just happened, would there be any sign at all?] [Then, how would you know?] Emmett stops, staring at his Alpha, chest heaving, growling low in his chest. [My friend, she's had a hard enough time of it lately. Don't make it worse. I don't want to keep bringing you down here to knock some sense into your head.] Emmett snarls one more time and takes a step forward. Several wolves are on the edge, watching with interest. Lyssa is there, as well, leaning on Ariel. Emmett, with his injuries, is really in no condition to face his Alpha. In addition, his rage has made him careless, and he glances at his mate. Randall runs forward, trips him, and puts jaws around his Beta's throat. [Submit.] Emmett howls his despair and Lyssa pulls away from Ariel, running down to crouch at Emmett's head. Everyone gasps. Such a thing was not done. Randall growls at her while she scratches Emmett behind the ears. [Alpha,] she sends, [we need a pack council. We need a better way of resolving things like this.] Randall adjusts his grip and looks at her with one green eye. [Would you challenge me, too, Madam Beta?] [Lyssa, stay out of this.] Lyssa lays down, beside her mate, her neck mere inches from Randall's jaws. [You are a fair and wise Alpha, Randall. You look to improve the lives of your pack. At the next full moon, I have a suggestion or two you may never have considered. You see, I want to make things better, too.] Randall huffs. [Submit. Or do you want my position?] Emmett feels the warm body of his mate beside him. Dammit. They'd never know if she had been pregnant, unless, by some miracle, she still was. And what if she was? He could miss the chance to see their first pup. Emmett groans his frustration. His Alpha had forbade him from going to the Ross compound and killing Michael Ross. He was injured and could not win this fight, particularly since Randall's teeth were already at his throat. Besides, he really had no wish to be Alpha. And, Lyssa, his mate, was here beside him, in the circle, against all reason. He's taken too long in answering. Randall's jaws begin to close. Lyssa gasps at the smell of his blood and gathers herself. He feels a slight pressure gathering in his skull. [Lys, don't do anything stupid.] [I submit to your wishes, Alpha.] Randall opens his jaws and steps back, then sits, and howls his victory to the pack. Emmett lays there, ribs burning, breathing in pain, his eyes closed. Lyssa strokes down his side and his breath catches. "Em? Are you hurt worse?" [Yes and no. Mostly reminded that I'm not healed yet.] A chocolate brown eye opens and looks up at his mate, who's up on an elbow looking down on him. [You were foolish to come into the circle, mate.] "I wasn't gonna let him kill you." Randall has been listening and sizes up the conversation. He sends to both of them, [Attacking me without challenge would have left you with punishment, Madam Beta. This is pack law. Some things will never change.] Lyssa looks over at her Alpha. "I know, Alpha." Randall looks at the first Beta pair, then to his own mate. [Up for romp, El?] [Where shall we go, mate?] [I think I know just the place..] The Alpha pair, a smaller russet wolf and a large brown, rub against one another then tear off into the woods. The wolves surrounding the circle either head off for a run, themselves, or return to duties or pastimes. Lyssa lies beside her mate on the cold ground of the Wyeth circle. "You want some things changed, too, or there wouldn't be disagreements like this." Again, that brown eye focusses on her. [Slowly, Lys. You can't push too hard.] She gently strokes his side and checks that the others are gone. [Do you need help?] Weakness in the Beta male would not be well tolerated. [No,] He sighs, [the cold actually feels pretty good.] "Oh." Lyssa strips, shifts, and lays beside her mate, a dark chestnut wolf beside a large grey. Snow starts to fall after a while, and the ground begins to disappear under a light carpet of soft white. Two wolves, in a circle of stones, are dotted with snowflakes. [Lys?] [Hmm?] [Erich told me today that I've changed since I mated you.] [Mm. Do you think you have?] [I was alone. All I had to think of was the pack and myself. Keep to the laws, keep everyone in line, keep everything running smoothly. It used to be that simple.] [So, I've mucked up your nice, simple life?] [No, no, dear heart. But I think differently now. I have a family now. That changes things, my focus, my goals.] [Your ability to adhere to pack law...] He growls lightly at her. [Hey, I'd only known you for a few days and you were ready to leave. You chose to leave your pack rather than submit to a pack law you didn't like.] Emmett gets his feet under him and pushes upright. Shaking himself, he throws the snow off his body and faces his mate. Lyssa has gotten up also, to face him. Even as wolf, she could see some emotion in his chocolate brown eyes. [I didn't choose to leave my pack, Lys. I chose you.] He steps forward, and rubs against her. She rubs down both his sides, then licks the corner of his mouth. [Submissive, mate? You?] [You know what I mean.] A large exhale from the large grey wolf leaves a gust of steamy fog around his muzzle as he looks out to the darkened, leafless trees. [I haven't been out for a run since we got back. Care to join me?] [Lead or chase?] [I think just a nice run to the meadow and back, sweetheart.] [Let's go.] The two take off through the falling snow. ***** Nathan has come, again, to visit Joanna. The motorcycle he's currently driving is a sapphire blue and quiet, a shaft drive. The lights shine on a pair of wolves fucking just inside the treeline as he turns to park. He's greeted by several Wyeth wolves as he enters the front hall, and looks around. The Wyeth den was becoming more and more familiar to him and he was able to greet many of the Wyeth wolves by name now. It seemed a bit easier to him than the Severn compound. Here many of the pack lived in a large house. It was easier to find others and see how the pack was faring than at home where they lived more separate lives. This was where his Joanna had grown up. Yes, his. She was, unless something really horrible happened. When, not if, was the question. He smiles to himself as he looks around. He would be mated, sooner rather than later. He notices an older female standing at one of the windows. Her stance was rigid, staring out into the darkness, but he saw something else in her. Something in her face, sadness, and wondered at the cause. [Jo? Where are you?] [Maddy and I are out by the lake.] Grinning, Nathan goes to the side door and strips. Changing to the large brownish wolf, he shakes out his fur and heads out after his 'girlfriend.' ***** Lyssa and Emmett return to the den after a run through the snow. Both have been relatively quiet. [Em, what have you heard about Michael Ross' mating?] [Why do you care?] [Um, tell me first. Please.] [I haven't heard much. First thing in the morning, the day we left. I've heard some say she's not suited to Alpha. I've heard others say he didn't seem too happy about it. Why?] [I think it's my fault.] He stops dead and she barrels into him. A slight hop trying to avoid it has her chest on top of his back. He growls at her. [Get down, now.] [Sorry. What?] [That's a dominance display. I don't like it.] [OK. Geez, don't get all cranky.] He stands and faces her debating if he needed to demonstrate his dominance to her or not. Lyssa looks back at him. That had really bothered him. [I didn't mean to, it was an accident.] She licks the corner of his mouth again. She watches the tension go out of his body. Another cloud around his muzzle as he exhales. [I can't have you appear dominant to me, Lys. I just can't. Especially not as wolf.] She swallows, and says nothing. He stares at her and she drops her eyes pretty quickly, although a bit pissed at herself for doing it. Fulfillment 10 Emmett sits on his haunches, the position making him appear much larger than her. Even though he already was much larger, this accentuated the difference. [What do you mean, it was your fault?] She hangs her head. [I.. I've..] A big gust of breath has her face wreathed in fog and tiny ice crystals cling to her muzzle. [I've been sending nasty comments to Michael Ross. Calling him names. Long distance sendings. He told me, while he was on the bank, that it was my fault he was mated.] [Mating is a conscious act, sweetheart, I have difficulty in believing you were the cause.] [He said he was with her the last time I did it. That he did it by accident. Is it possible?] [Yes, I suppose.] She drops to the ground, dismayed. [What's wrong?] [His poor mate. He's one thing, but what about her?] [Calvin will care for her.] Lyssa whines and skitters. [Come, mate. We should rest, finish healing.] Emmett leads off and Lyssa follows. They climb the stairs to their room, take a shower together, and fall into bed. Emmett has some new bruises. ***** Nathan is sitting on Joanna's bed, holding her against him. In the past couple of days, while she was gone, tending him, a larger bed had been put into her room. "So, are you feeling better now that the Betas are back and in one piece?" "Well, yeah, mostly. But I'm so pissed at Michael Ross. I wish there was something we could do." "I'm sure Alpha Ross will pay restitution." "That's not what I meant." "I know, love, I know. But that's all that can be done. What's happened is over; the Betas are healing. Calvin Ross has taken Alpha. And everyone should carry on with their lives." Joanna blows out a breath. "I suppose." "I see you've been working on college applications." She twists her head around to look at him. "Yeah." "Where are you thinking of going?" There was an edge of something in his voice. They hadn't talked about this, at all. There was a university nearby. It was a long commute, but she could do it. There were also a couple she was looking at that were some distance off. "I'm not sure, exactly, it depends on where I get accepted." Soberly, he responds. "Oh." "Nathan, I..." "No, Jo. Don't. You have to think of your future. We aren't... Well, we aren't anything yet." While werewolves had terms like pack members and mates, Alphas and Betas, there was no real word for what they were, although it was understood by all that they were a couple. "Yes, we are. You... I..." She twists around in his lap and plants a kiss on him. It's like she's trying to devour him. She pulls herself closer, wraps her arms around him and holds on for dear life. He hesitates, slightly, then slides his hands around her and pulls her tightly to him. In the next few seconds, she's tugging at his shirt, trying to pull it off his body. As he works to remove the offending material, she yanks her shirt up over her body. Once they are both topless, she pulls herself against him again, tightening her arms around his back. Squashing her breasts against him. Caressing the nape of his neck, running her fingertips over the short stubble of his hair. She kisses him again, as if she can't get enough, rubbing her bare skin against his. It doesn't take long before he smells it. She's become aroused. He's torn. She was rubbing up against him, touching him, kissing him. Wanting him. She was pushing this forward. He had been the one to initiate everything prior to this point, mostly. She had acquiesced all three times. This time, well, was she sure? He takes a deep breath, takes her shoulders, and pushes her away slightly. Looking into her blue eyes he sees determination, resolve, and more. She suddenly looks vulnerable. "What's wrong?" "What do you want, Jo?" She curls up against his chest. Head against it and palm on his heart. Her voice is low and full of emotion. "I want to be yours." He holds her close, not sure he can trust himself right now, filled with emotion. She'd agreed. But was that really what she meant? She ran her nails up and down his back and he grew hard, considering what he would do. His brain was getting fuzzy with her this close and her sudden pushing. And, so, he relents, kissing her, running his hands up and down her back. Tasting her, feeling her soft skin against him. Her hardened nipples pushing against his chest, the smell of her getting stronger. He lays her down on the bed, looking into her blue eyes, her light brown hair spilled out across the pillow, her breasts heaving. He rolls off to one side of her and reaches out, touching her cheek, trailing a finger across her jawline, and then down, between her breasts. Joanna whimpers. He slithers the pants and panties off her, today light purple with pink spots. He smiles to himself as he sees them. Then, as she gets up onto her elbows, he peels his own pants off and drops them to the floor. She lays back and reaches out to him. Nathan crawls back onto the bed, moving up beside her. Smelling her passion. She feels the hardness of his penis against her hip as he leans in to kiss her again. He was warm, and naked, and good-smelling, and looking at her with love in his eyes. Her breath caught in her throat. Tonight was the night. Nathan was thinking of how to do this. It would hurt her when he pushed in. He had to get her to the point where she wouldn't notice so much. So, he had to get her close and he rolls to the side and starts stroking her body. She closes her eyes and sighs. He kisses her, nips at her jawline and cups one of her breasts. She runs her hand up his arm and down to his waist. As his mouth dips to take one of her nipples into his mouth, she reaches down to stroke his stiffened length. He groans against her breast at the sensation. Lavishing attention on one breast, he grasps the nipple of the other and rolls it between thumb and forefinger, and listens to her moan. Ah, music to his ears. But he needed more and suddenly wished he had a third hand. Barring that, he nibbles on her nipple and slides his hand down to her lightly furred mound. He feels her spread her legs a little and slides his fingers between her legs. Her hips shift as she tries to get more from his touch. She's slippery, ready for him, but he didn't have her where he wanted her yet. He wanted her so lost she'd barely feel it when he breached her. It would be easier if he could finger fuck her but.. Well, they'd take care of that tonight. So, he slides his fingers through her soft folds and she pushes her pelvis against his fingers, silently asking him to do what he'd done before. He continues, sucking on her tits and rubbing at her little nub. More. More. She moans, groans, and clutches his hair, his shoulder. He works her slippery little clit and nips at her nipple until she tenses, then shudders beside him with a long groan. As she pants and gasps in the aftermath, he lays beside her and strokes her belly. Her breathing and heart rate slow slightly and he runs his hand over her breasts. She gasps, and her eyes open suddenly, looking at him in disbelief. Nathan rolls partway onto her and dips his head to her breast again. Joanna whimpers a bit and her hands clutch his shoulders as he continues to lavish attention on her stiff, taut nipples. He gathers up some of her slick juice and again rubs her clit. Her chest heaves and a series of low moans leaves her lips. Her nails dig into his shoulders. Taking his hand away, he poises his stiffened length at her entrance. She stops breathing, briefly, and he bites her nipple a bit harder. She lets out a little cry and he pushes past her virgin barrier, breaking it, the first male to enter her body. She holds her breath again and he waits for her to adjust. She was slick and tight around him and he felt as if he might burst. He smelled the tang of her blood. Nathan brushes her hair from her face. "You OK, Jo?" She looks up at him, a little scared, and nods. "Yeah." "Alright, then, love, here we go." Nathan pulls out slightly and pushes in farther. Once more, and he's seated fully in her. He stops and groans. [Nathan, are you OK?] [You feel so good.] And, it begins, the rhythmic dance. In, out, thrusting into her warm, wet sheath. He puts his lips on hers and kisses her and his hips continue their regular movements. He could go at any time and was purposely moving slowly so that he wouldn't come too quickly. But it was like trying to hold back the sea. Her eyes grew wide as his knot swelled and he pushed it inside of her. She gave another little gasp of pain - it hurt. [Sorry, Jo, I know you're still sore.] From there, well, he could just stop and let himself deflate but her hips were keeping time with him and she hadn't told him to stop. So, he pumps into her with short, stabbing strokes. It doesn't take long before he groans her name and fills her with his seed. He drops onto his elbows, so as not to crush her, while he gulps in air. His breathing slows a bit and he kisses her briefly. Dropping down, he puts his arms around her and rolls them over, so that she's on top. Nathan looks into her eyes, she seems a little disappointed. He takes her shoulders and pushes her upright. She gives him a look of annoyance. "We can cuddle in a second, love, just hold still." He hooks his thumb into the place where they're joined and finds her clit. She gasps. Her hands go to his shoulders and she braces herself against his body as he starts to rub. Joanna's hair falls over her face as she tries not to fall onto him. "Oh, oh, oh, Nathaannn." She comes apart on him and he gives her a couple of deep breaths before he pulls her down on top of him. She'd done it. She'd gone 'all the way.' She wasn't a virgin anymore. She felt ... well, full was one word, since he was still inside her. A bit sore, but it didn't really hurt. Tired, sweaty, warm, ... his. It was what she had said she wanted. She had half-thought he might bite her. That they would be mated tonight, after all, then she'd really be his. But she was tired, and he seemed tired, and he was holding her, and it all felt pretty good. She fell asleep in his arms. ***** Emmett heard whining and looked at his mate. She was whimpering again, in her sleep. No, no, Selene, no. She was reverting. He was losing her again. She hadn't changed to wolf, which was an improvement, but she was obviously having another bad dream. He takes a deep breath and pulls her into his arms. "Lyssa, you're alright, mate." A pulse, a pressure, and she jerks in his arms. He puts his nose in her hair. "Awake?" "Hmm, yeah, what's up?" "Are you OK?" "Huh? Why?" "Nightmare." "Oh." She kicks up on her elbow and twists to look at him. "What, did I go to wolf or something?" "What were you dreaming?" "Dunno. Can I go back to sleep?" He looks up at her. She was unconcerned. Who was he, then, to worry? But he had felt something, like she had yelled at someone, and he had no idea who, why, or where. It seemed like she didn't know either. That wasn't good. Fulfillment 11 Dear Readers, Here is the next installment, and I seem to have a few more to go before I get to where they're going. Thank you for reading, KemMyst ***** Monday The wolf guarding Michael Ross reported to the Alpha that, in the middle of the night, Michael had simply stopped breathing. Calvin Ross' howl of despair and loss rang out through the den. Several other howls echoed the corridors in response. The healer was dispatched to the basement and confirmed Michael's death. The reason was not obvious. Sharilyn assumed it was complications from the abuse his brain had taken two days prior. The cremation was scheduled for that evening. Calvin tells Erica, who breaks down into a sobbing mass. While he wasn't sure there was any love lost between the two, her place in the pack was now in jeopardy. She was no longer Alpha female, nor was she even the mate to the Alpha heir. She was a widow, an Omega, and had now lost whatever respect she had gained. She was liable to be maltreated by some of the other pack members. And she would have her first heat with no mate. Calvin tried to reassure her but she would not be comforted. Calvin then contacts the Wyeth pack. Randall offers condolences and asks after the pack. Calvin provides a brief and vague reassurance, then begs duty and breaks the connection. Randall calls the first Beta pair into his office and relays the information. Lyssa looks a bit disturbed at the news. Emmett looks grim. He comforts his mate and they prepare to take their leave. "Emmett, a moment?" Emmett watches his mate leave and turns back to his Alpha. "Your response to this news is interesting, my friend. What do you know?" "She had nightmares again last night, Randall. I'm not sure she's gotten over everything. This could make it worse again. She will hate feeling responsible for his death." "There's something else." Emmett drops his eyes. "Go on." "I felt something last night. I'm afraid she may have killed him in her sleep." "Does she know?" "I'm not sure." Now it's Randall's turn to be concerned. "This is a real concern, Emmett. Is it possible you only thought you felt something; that you were half-asleep yourself? That this is strictly a coincidence?" Emmett's response is not immediate. "I suppose I might have imagined it." "Her movements, noises, may have affected your dreams, your thoughts." "I suppose." "We have no proof, unless she admits it. I hope your mate does not prove to be involuntarily dangerous." Emmett's mood grows even darker. "I will find out, if I can." "You will tell me if there is a problem?" "Of course, my Alpha." Emmett leaves and Randall worries. He'd run with her before; tried to circumvent pack law. She was not his mate then, but was now. He would risk everything to protect her. Emmett is worried himself. She had almost killed him in her sleep while they were at the cabin, away from the pack, although that had been with teeth. He hadn't told anyone about that, the accident had been foremost in everyone's minds. Now, he thought that something had happened last night. Was it only his imagination? He hoped so. The alternative was too upsetting to contemplate. He couldn't ask her outright but, knowing that she would hate it if she had done it, he expected she might confess it. If she were aware. The only good news was, if it had happened, she hadn't killed him or anyone in the pack. He returns to his duties and Erich notes his introspective mood. "What's up? You look like someone just ate the last steak." "Nothing. Or, nothing I'm sure of." "Is Lyssa OK?" "Yeah, Ross is dead." "The Alpha?" Emmett shakes his head. "Michael. Lyssa's OK?" "Think so. It's gonna bother her though." "Yeah, I guess. Hey, Simon's got Hannah working full time in the kitchen now." "Well, that should be interesting. Have you talked to Mercy's parents?" "Yeah. They were both a little stunned and not really sure they want to let her learn." "And, Mercy?" "Seemed kindof interested. A little scared." "Good. So, when do you think you might be able to start drills with her?" "Me? It's winter." "Yes, you. You're our best tracker, she should learn from you." "You're right. I am the best. I guess I could start her on following tracks in the snow." "Good. We'll have to get some of the females to start her on sparring." "Jo would be a good partner but I don't know how much she's gonna be around now." "We'll find someone. She can learn with Lyssa. How 'bout Madeline?" "Maddie? I don't know." "C'mon, Erich. She's a Beta. She should learn some things." Madeline has gone to talk to Lyssa. She barely seems to notice Lyssa's funk and chatters on happily about Erich, the possibilities for the new garden, Joanna's romance with Nathan, a couple of the pack members, the Alpha pair. Lyssa listens, making encouraging or appropriate noises from time to time. Madeline finally stops. "Lyssa, what's wrong?" "Hmm?" "I know I don't know you very well but I'm trying and, well, you just don't seem like you're here." Lyssa takes a deep breath, holds it for a moment, and releases it. "Michael Ross is dead." "Yeah, I heard. Why is that a problem?" "Because I'm pretty much responsible." "Really? I've heard a lot of the pack talk about what happened." She starts ticking points off on her fingers. "He kidnapped you and Joanna, or had you kidnapped. You were chained to the floor and drugged for several days and threatened with death. You woke up, sent Joanna to escape, and were beaten almost to death by some of his goons. And you managed to kill one yourself before the males came to rescue you." "Accidentally." "What?" "I accidentally killed one of them." "Yeah, OK. Anyway, you healed. The Alpha sent you into the circle to punish the one they caught alive, which you didn't manage to do. The Ross Alpha comes after you again, rams the car, shoots at you, injures your mate, and tells you to your face he wants you dead. He's gone and you're safe now." "You all think killing is so easy, like it's no big thing." Madeline looks at Lyssa, her eyes wide. "No big thing? Of course it is. We don't take the death of other wolves lightly. We all feel badly when it happens. Have you seen any of us kill while you've been here?" Lyssa shakes her head. "Do you concern yourself with the death of food animals?" "No, but that's..." "Different, yes. Are you saying there's never a good reason to kill?" Lyssa opens her mouth to object. "How about for your pup? Your family? Your mate?" "Well, yeah, if they were in danger, if someone was going to kill them." "Michael Ross intended to kill your mate. And you. If he deserved to die for trying to kill Emmett, why not you? Are you worth any less? Would you rather be dead and not him?" Madeline continues, putting a hand on Lyssa's arm. "We don't have jails, because things are different for us than they are for humans. And human jails won't hold us. Well, except for some really weak Omegas. We can't manage things the same way they do. Things we do for play, the way we raise our pups, the way we spend our days would not be allowed in human society. But, even there, would your life be worth less than Michael Ross'?" "Lyssa, he forced you into it. You can be sorry that he's dead. You can even be sorry that you did it. But you need to remember that it's better that it's him and not you. Sometimes we have to fight for what's ours. Sometimes, unfortunately, we have to kill." Lyssa is quiet, thinking. Madeline watches her, waiting. Finally, Lyssa looks up at her, "Thank you. Really." *** Brandon is changing the oil on a couple of the pack vehicles and replacing spark plugs under Paul's tutelage. As he finishes up, wiping his hands on a rag, he notices a package off to one side of the desk where the paperwork is held. "Hey, what's this?" "Oh, no, that belongs to the Madam Beta. I haven't given it back to her." "Want me to do it?" "You want to?" "Sure. Why not? You think she'll bite my head off or something?" "You know she hasn't been in the best of moods." "Ha. Ain't that the truth?" "Seriously, why would you want to?" "Got my reasons. Deal?" "Alright, it's your neck." Brandon cleans up some and then goes out for a run in the gathering dusk and snow. Feeling refreshed, he cleans up for dinner then goes back to the garage to get the package. Paul looks at him sideways and shakes his head as he walks away. Brandon ducks into the first floor bathroom quickly and opens the package. Oh. Lacy. Red and black. Some sort of sexy female clothes. He'd really never seen anything like it. He reached his hand out, wanting to touch it, but pulled back at the last minute, knowing that leaving his scent on the material would get him beaten up by the Beta. So, he puts the top back on the box, having trouble because it was kindof flimsy. Most of the pack has already gathered in the dining hall and the smells of beef and pork has his mouth watering. He scans the room, making sure of the Beta female's location, and walks in, box in hand. He makes straight for her, knowing there were eyes on him. Somehow recognizing she is being approached, Lyssa looks up and notices one of the young males headed straight for her. Her eyes go wide and a spike of fear shoots through her. Why was he coming to her and what would Emmett do? Then, she realizes he has a box in his hands and recognizes it. She looks directly into his eyes and shakes her head, slightly. As Brandon pivots, Emmett looks up, and notices his abrupt change in direction. He's hard pressed not to growl at the youngster and looks at his mate. Lyssa has acquired a sudden deep interest in the food in front of her. What the hell? *** Calvin is ready to tear his hair out at the mess that had been made of the finances of the pack. Whatever had Michael planned on doing when the money ran out? They would have to be careful for the next year or so to bring things back to the way they had been before the couple of months that his son had had control of the pack. How could it have gotten this bad so quickly? Sampson looks at his Alpha, trying to keep him on task, trying to help him triage the situations. Finally, he says, "Alpha. Calvin. Perhaps you should take a break for a while. How is the female you've been seeing in Wyeth?" "Oh, Luna, Stephanie. I haven't spoken to her or seen her in days." Calvin rakes his fingers through his hair. He looks down at what he's working on. "I really want to get through this tonight." "The body is being prepared, Alpha." Calvin puts his face in his hands. His son. He had said goodbye to his mate only a couple of months prior, now he had to send his son off. His family was gone. All of them. He was alone. "I'm sorry, Cal. I wish it could be different." Calvin Ross stands. "Thank you, Sampson. Tell everyone that I intend this to be private." Calvin strips down, leaves the room, and walks out the side door. There is an area, close to their circle, which has been cleared for such sad occasions. Michael's body has been laid out on a bier by Sharilyn and one of the young males of the pack. A burning torch is planted in the ground nearby. Calvin strides to the site and Sampson follows. A few of the wolves come out to witness. Cal looks at his son's body and sorrow fills his heart as he takes the torch without preamble and thrusts it into a few spots underneath. As the flames begin to lick upward, growing in size, feeding on the wood, Erica comes out. She is hugging herself and looking small and frightened. Her eyes are wide as she watches the fire grow. As Calvin howls mournfully, the rest of the pack responds. More wolves come out of the den until practically his entire pack surrounds him. Even though they may not have liked having him as their Alpha, they came to pay their respects. Sampson knew they had come for Calvin. They stood and watched as his body caught fire and was then obscured by the flames. Time went by and another mournful howl went up as the bier collapsed, sending sparks up into the sky. Erica can't take anymore and runs back to the den. *** Emmett is, well, in a pissy mood. He had growled and looked at Brandon off and on all during dinner. Brandon had melted away early and Emmett, having finished dinner, left Lyssa and went to find him. Lyssa had acted suspiciously and he was going to find out why. Brandon was certainly closer to her age, but, when would they have had a chance to do anything? He had never smelled Brandon on her. Lyssa watched as Emmett's mood got ugly. She should say something to him but what? After Brandon left Emmett, stoic and growling, rose abruptly and headed into the den. Lyssa followed, wondering and worrying what he might do. Everyone got out of the way as Emmett moved through the corridors and up the stairs. Toward the end of the one hall, he pounds on a door. It opens and Lyssa glimpses Brandon's startled face as Emmett grabs him by the throat and shoves him up against the wall. "What do you have to do with my mate, pup?" Airway constricted, Brandon can do little but squeak. [Delivering a package.] "Emmett, stop!" Emmett sees the package on a desk in the room and growls at the other young male who started to enter, Brandon's roommate, Ross. He walks over to the box, dragging Brandon by the throat. "Why are you giving my mate a gift, pup?" "No, Em. He's not! Stop it." Emmett knocks the package open and the red and black lace teddy falls out onto the floor. Emmett snarls and starts to close his fist. [Not a gift. Left in the garage.] "Emmett Forester, listen to me! I bought that when I went out to help Erich find something for Madeline. I dropped it and forgot about it." Brandon is trying to breathe as Emmett turns to Lyssa. "Why did you warn him off in the dining hall, mate?" The question is suspicious, angry. "Let him go you big, jealous lump! I just didn't want everyone else to see it cuz you'd want it opened up as soon as he dropped it off." Brandon falls to the floor, hauling in air. Emmett looks at Lyssa. "I was embarrassed that everyone else was gonna see it so I wanted to get it later. I wanted it to stay private, between us." He rumbles, lightly. "I bought it for you, stupid." He looks at the teddy, looks at her, looks at Brandon. Of course, the outburst has numerous pack members milling around outside the door. [Emmett. Is there a problem?] [No, Randall. No problem.] He scoops up the box and its contents, throws Lyssa over his shoulder, and turns. "Sorry, Brandon." "Put me down!" [Emmett, you're not healed yet. Put me down.] [I'm well enough, mate. I want to see what you had planned for me.] It doesn't take him long to get her upstairs to their suite. Erich, Madeline tucked under his arm as usual, catches sight of them. "Everything OK, Em?" Kicking open their door, he glances back at the other Beta pair, "Lyssa got me a present. I'm going to see what it is." [What I got when you bought the robe for Madeline.] Erich smiles, a broad grin, and whispers to his mate. "Go get your robe, Blossom. I want to see you in it tonight." Madeline reaches up a hand to his cheek and pulls his face down to hers. [Give me 15 minutes, mate.] "Emmett? Roof?" Emmett nods to his friend as he deposits his mate in their room and puts the box and teddy on the bed. He reaches down, cups her ass in his hands, and pulls her pelvis against him. His hard length was pressed against her belly as his hands roamed her back. His mouth comes down on hers with bruising force. She staggers as he abruptly releases her and walks out the door. Lyssa looks after him, licking her swollen lips. After a moment of disorientation, she turns to the bed. Deciding against simply changing, she goes to the closet and strips. A quick shower in the bathroom gives her a light peach scent, a fruit that Emmett favored. She then went into her things, looking for the right accessories to go with the teddy. After a time, Emmett returns. "May I come in, mate?" Where to stand? "I'm waiting." Ah, there. "Yes, I'm ready." Emmett opens the door and looks inside but doesn't see her immediately. He raises his head and inhales, turning right toward the bathroom. "Sit on the bed." He sits, adjusting himself to minimize his discomfort. He was hard in anticipation of what awaited him. Movement has his eyes tracking a bit to the left of the door. A foot, in a high heel, emerges from the shadows of the closet. The leg that foot is attached to is encased in nylon, black, with a red rose at the ankle. The rest of what emerges from the closet takes his breath away. He gasps as his mate of two years slinks out of the darkness. The hose were thigh high. A swath of bare skin lay between the top of the hose and the tiny red underwear she had on. A small triangle of silk, sodden, covered the pubic hair he had recently trimmed. His tongue runs over his lips and he groans at the sight and smell. A small bit of lace trim, again red, ran along the bottom of the teddy. It ran around her, at her hips, across the tops of her thighs. Up from there, the material is black, with little red lips embroidered on it. Some stiff material allowed it to nip in at her waist and flare out again at her hips and breasts. Straps over her shoulders were set widely. Her breasts were held in lacy cups, her aureolas clearly visible through the material. Time seemed to stop for him as she took another step forward on high heels, something she rarely wore. "Ah, Selene. You are the most gorgeous female, mate." He makes to rise and she shakes her head, to stop him. Slowly, she approaches, standing in front of him briefly. She then turns, giving him a view of the back of her, as well. The underwear was thong and the back of the teddy rose slightly, framing her buttocks to good advantage. He reached out and caressed her ass, running his hands over the round globes. As he moved to pull her towards him by the hips, she again stops him, and turns to face him once again. She crawls over his lap, knees to either side of his thighs, heels beside his knees. His nose is in her cleavage and he inhales her scent before she sinks down into his lap. Her hands slide into his hair on either side of his face and she leans in to kiss him. She tastes him, thoroughly, as he does her. Their tongues duel as she presses herself against him. He groans into her mouth as she settles into his lap. His hands slide up her sides and he grabs her under the arms and twists, throwing her onto the bed. He's quickly over her, his body pressing hers into the bed. Clothes. He had clothing in the way. He twisted sideways slightly, unzipped his jeans, and ripped them in half, tearing the fabric from his body. He was biting her nipple through the lace as he kicked one leg away. He refused to relinquish contact with her body. Her hands were on his shoulders as he rolled to the other side and removed the other leg of the jeans, growling when they resisted slightly. Underwear was quickly dispensed with. In pieces. She was growling and writhing below him and he moved upward, nuzzling her neck, then setting his teeth on the mating mark and biting down. He lifted up from her as she jerked under him and pushed her knees toward her shoulders. He shoved the thin piece of red fabric aside and pushed inside her. She gasped. Wet. Warm. Ready. For him. Her fingernails were digging into his shoulders. She raked them down his back. He arched and drove deeper. [Lyssa. Oh, mate.] She's panting, groaning, when he slows. She looks up into his chocolate brown eyes, seeing something there. Fulfillment 11 He drops one elbow, and rolls them over. She lays fully on his chest and shifts her hips back and forth, stimulating them both as she continues to look into his eyes. He pulls her against him, mashing her breasts against him, feeling the lace lightly scratching his chest. He takes her face between his hands and pulls her lips to his. Another passionate kiss leaves them both gasping and her hips never cease their slow roll. Emmett pushes her more upright and she plants her hands on his pecs. [I want to touch you, mate.] Her movements are faster now and he thrusts upwards as she comes down. His knot swells and she pushes until it enters her, stretching her, locking them together. The stretching and the pressure expose her clit and her sensitivity ramps up. He is caressing her breasts, a large hand on each of them. Lyssa goes up and down on him, with a circular roll of her hips as she comes to the bottom. Her breath comes in pants and she feels her body tighten up. [I'm close, Em.] He hauls her back down toward him and she rolls her hips on him. He can feel the first little pulses around him and sucks a nipple into his mouth, through the lace covering it. He bites it and she shrieks, the muscles surrounding him pulsing in waves. He takes her waist and pushes against the contractions until his seed pulses out, into her. She lays on his chest, feeling boneless. [Love you, Em.] [I like the present, mate.] "MMmm." She closes her eyes, happy. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her temple. [I love you, too.] A loud shriek and groan is heard through the walls. Emmett smiles. [I'm glad Erich found Madeline. You did well for the party.] The only response he gets from her is a tired. "Mm." He hears the steady beat of her heart, her regular breathing. He inhaled her scent and the soft smell of peaches. Mingled with that was the smell of their joining. She had fallen asleep on him. So, he let his eyes close and fell into a warm, comfortable, sated sleep. *** Brandon was laying in his bed yanking at his manhood. His thoughts are filled with a vision of a chestnut haired, curvy female in a black and red lace teddy. Tuesday The smell of breakfast cooking had his stomach growling but he was loath to move. His mate was curled up against him, quiet, sleeping soundly. For the first time in days, weeks, she hadn't woken in the night, hadn't gone to wolf, hadn't had nightmares. Emmett swallowed. He thought she might have trouble sleeping after Ross' death. But, thankfully, it seemed she might be alright. It seemed that life might get back to normal. The sunlight shone in on her hair, lighting up the red in it. It glowed around her face. She opened her eyes to see him smiling at her. "You are so gorgeous." Lyssa rolls towards him, still in the teddy, and strokes a hand down his side. It had gone green and yellow with the fading of the bruises. "Do you still hurt?" "Nothing I can't handle." He gives her a lecherous grin. "Have something in mind?" "Making up for the last couple of weeks." She smile she gives him in return lights up his world. *** Alex is sparring with Stephanie. She seems distracted, thinking of something else. He puts her on her back twice, without even trying. "Your mind's not in this, Stephanie." "Just fight me, dammit." He raises his eyebrows, looks at her. He steps back and waits for her. She looks at him, angered at her own inattention to matters at hand. This was her, it was what she was good at, what she had trained for. Why was she mooning over a male? She feels Alex come at her and ducks, just in time. She takes a deep breath and turns her attention to the fight. Still, she's not her usual self. The match ends with her on her back, again, sporting what will be another scar. She growls and takes off, running into the range. Alex looks after her. Should he bring this up to the Betas? The Alpha? Maybe the healers? The pups come out, running around his feet, taking over the circle. Several of them set about playfighting, mostly the young males. So, he steps to one side and watches, seeing who matched up, who bested their opponents, who showed better grace and coordination than the others. He picked out a couple of the young males to follow and concentrated on them. The Betas would want to know who had the better skills. A yip and a whine had him turning to look at one of the young females. She had taken down a young male of a similar age and size. Interesting. *** Stephanie ran. He was Alpha again. He had no reason to come visit her now. And she found it irritating that it made her sad. That she wouldn't see him again. That she had come to depend on his visits. And, now, now that she looked forward to seeing him regularly, that he had dropped it. That she had been nothing more than a distraction for him. After all, what would an Alpha want with an Omega like her? Selene! At least it hadn't gone any further than kisses and hand holding. *** Calvin did have some private funds. Some of the other pack members did, as well, from work they took outside the pack. While pack funds were used to provide food and furnishings, pack members did have some small amount of spending money for themselves. Calvin had rarely needed for anything, especially once Sabine had gotten sick. The money in an account set aside for him had grown, more than he realized. Sampson had objected but he transferred most of the money into the pack funds. He also took about half of what had been allotted to Michael - he had not spent much of that money, just the pack's - and left the rest for Erica to use. He had a basic plan for recovery and it would take doing without some luxuries for a while. But the pack would survive. Sampson called the pack together. They had a large meeting room in the back of the house and they came, some relieved, others a bit frightened. Calvin stood before them and apologized for the treatment they had received at his son's hands. He told them that he expected to remain Alpha for some time but that a successor would have to be found as he could not keep the role forever. There were some pleased howls. Then, for the hard part, he explained to his pack that they would have to cut costs, to some extent, for the next few months. They all looked a bit upset and resigned. Calvin heard a couple of low growls and chose to ignore them. Sampson, however, noted who the disgruntled parties were. There was only setting the planned changes into motion. And Erica. He called her into his office. Sampson escorted her in. She sat in a chair, looking rather dowdy, huddled and smelling of fear. "Sampson, please send Sharilyn up in, say, half an hour." "Of course, my Alpha." Sampson leaves the room, closing the door behind him. He hears her say, "What are you going to do with me?" "What do you mean, Erica?" "He's dead. I'm not Alph.. I'm nothing now. What's going to happen to me now?" Calvin closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Michael had no brother to take her, as in the old days. Michael had not been killed by another wolf in a quest for dominance, so that wasn't an option. He, himself, no longer had a mate, so, really, he could. But he had no desire to. He wanted someone else. He really was under no obligation to take Erica as mate. And she had not risen well to the role of Alpha. It would not be good for the pack. She looked at him, fearful, crying, as he considered the options and discarded them. "I have Michael's money allotted to you, so you will do alright if you manage it properly. You'll have to go back to the laundry." This pronouncement is met with fresh sobs. "I'm sorry, Erica. I won't take you, I'm courting another." "I heard. Some cold bitch from Wyeth!" Anger now shows in her voice. The duties of an Alpha were sometimes unpleasant, like now. He takes a deep breath and looks her in the eyes. Her eyes go wide, she sniffs, and looks down. Good. "You have Michael's money. You have a position in this pack. You are no longer Alpha." She mumbles. "Just an Omega. Just your son's mate." "You continue to have a place in this pack but my son is dead. I suggest you find a male you can couple with when you go into heat. You will be taken care of." Calvin puts a hand on her shoulder and she pulls away. "Please tell me if you have trouble with any of the pack." She gets up and runs from the room. Sampson returns. "She may be trouble, Cal." "I hope not, Sampson. But you may be right." He spoke to Sharilyn for a time about her, to find if there were anything that would alleviate her stress, if there were anything that might stop, or lessen, her first heat. There were things some used to bring a female into heat, some worked, some were only stories. Nothing they knew of would prevent estrus. The only treatment they had was sedation. It was not a good option, but it was better than nothing. They would use it if need be. Estrus in a widowed wolf, unfortunately, was something to be managed. Even worse, for Erica, it would be her first heat. And he grieved, for her, for himself. He had no possibility of an heir now. The calls then began, to providers of services, to contractors, and he had an appointment with a finance manager at the local bank. Tomorrow morning he would visit the business, and see if he could manage without laying off any of the employees. Wyeth also needed to be repaid. He knew Randall would be kind but he wanted to repay the damages as soon as possible. Calvin fell into bed that night, exhausted. The next day, Erich has Madeline drive around the range. The tertiary roads were not heavily travelled, especially not in the middle of the workday, so she had a chance to become a bit more comfortable behind the wheel. And, although she may have had a good idea of where she was while running around as wolf, she still didn't know the area very well. So, Erich took her out to the remains of the house where Joanna and Lyssa had been held. They stopped for a while, looking at the burned timbers. Some one had knocked it down so all that was left was a pile of charred debris. "Were you there?" "I tracked them out of our range and out this way but," he sighs, "they covered their tracks pretty well and then got into trucks and rode off. Can't track a vehicle on an asphalt road. When we came after them, I got there after most of the action was over. Nathan had rescued Joanna, she was on the back of his bike, and Emmett made me wait in the car while he went into the house. I didn't see anything until he came out with her in his arms. I drove them back to the den." "She was so beat up, barely conscious. He thought she was going to die. I thought she might. And it was just so.. sad." "You weren't mad?" "Not then, later. It was just about Joanna and Lyssa being alright. Getting them home, back to the den. But we couldn't do anything." "He's gone now." "Yeah." Madeline puts a hand on his thigh. He looks over at her and smiles, a little sad. "But, I found you because we got them back." He leans over and kisses her. "My Blossom." "Would you drive back?" "Sure." They change places and talk about other things on the way home. *** Calvin had returned numerous things to his control as accounts and records had been put in Michael's name. His death was recorded with the county office, the death certificate signed by the healer of the Foster pack, who was a licensed M.D. He then reviewed the state of the business with Peter and Paul and, while things were not great, they were not as bad as he had thought. No one need lose a job, thankfully. On the way back to the den, he passes a florist and thinks of Stephanie. Not a wise use of funds at this time, but he hadn't seen her in days now. He missed her and wanted to let her know he was thinking of her. It was next to impossible to get the flower she had professed was her favorite, so he settled for something he knew. A flower Sabine had liked. Daisies. Gerbera daisies.. He had one sweetheart rose, pink, placed in the center. The card read only, "Soon." Then it was back to the den, Sampson, and the work to be done. *** [Somebody coming in the gate. Human. Delivery.] May met him at the door and took the flowers. "For someone named Stephanie." "Thank you, I'll see that she gets them." Cassie came out with the little one as he left. "Ooo. Who're those for?" "Stephanie." "Stephanie? Really? Who from?" "No name on the card but you know who's been spending time with her as well as anyone." The bouquet sits in the front hall awaiting Stephanie. Everyone who sees it shows interest. Word spreads quickly. When Stephanie finally comes back into the den, she looks at it, reads the card, and scowls. She drops it into the nearest wastebasket and stalks away. Hannah ran by on the way to the kitchen and stops dead when she sees what Stephanie has done. "They're pretty. Why don't you want them?" "Because males are all liars." Hannah stands there, highly confused, watching Stephanie walk off in a huff. "All of them?" The Wyeth pack has settled back into normalcy, except for one. Lyssa spars with Ariel, trying to improve her skills. Her shoulder still bothers her a bit, but it doesn't limit her ability. Emmett is clearing out the backlog from his absence and talking with Erich about his new mate. Erich is working on a plan for training both Justin and Mercy. Joanna is home, working on her lessons. Ariel gets more aggressive and Lyssa backpedals, suddenly completely on the defensive. A moment of inattention and Lyssa gets a gash on her shoulder. [Ow.] Ariel bares her fangs at Lyssa, crouches slightly, and begins to stalk Lyssa again. Lyssa circles and sees something in the Madam Alpha's eyes. A rush and Lyssa fades back a bit, managing to trip Ariel. [Alpha. You're needed in the circle.] Ariel rolls, coming back up to her feet quickly, and scales one of the boulders in the circle. [Lyssa? What is it?] Lyssa keeps her eyes on the Alpha female, shifting backwards as Ariel currently has the high ground. [Ariel. Something's off. Please come.] Lyssa shifts to wolf and rolls onto her back, exposing her belly. She forces herself to lay still as Ariel laughs. Ariel jumps off the rock and races over to the Beta female. She shifts to wolf herself and sniffs at Lyssa. Face, neck, chest. She raises her muzzle and sniffs at the base of her tail, her sex. Lyssa twists, uncomfortable with the inspection, and Ariel growls at her. Still. Stay still. On the other hand, she was afraid of what Ariel might do. While she tried to maintain the submissive posture, every inch of her was screaming to run. Ariel's muzzle was partly opened, directly over her belly. The fight was over, but she wasn't acting that way, and Ariel could kill her easily right now. [Alpha?] Another growl. Lyssa whines. [El, what are you doing?] Ariel whirls and her muzzle goes up. She scents the air and launches herself at her mate. Lyssa gets up as Wade, Natalie, and Emmett approach. [Lys?] The four turn to the Alpha pair. Randall had gone to wolf and was sniffing and licking his mate's backside. She was crouched in front of him, tail cocked to one side. "I would say she's gone back into heat." "You're right, dear. I assume it's because she didn't complete her last." Emmett looks at them as Lyssa sits beside his feet. "How long do you think it will last?" Wade and Natalie look at each other. Natalie answers. "I would look for the normal span. Our Madam Alpha is typically in estrus for four days." His hand falls to Lyssa's head as Randall mounts his mate. "Thank you, healers. Well, sweetheart, I've got a few minutes if you'd like to continue your practice but then I'll have to get back to work." [No, Em, unless you want to.] He sniffs, then crouches and checks her shoulder. "Are you alright?" [Yeah, it's not deep. You'd better tell Erich.] As Lyssa trots beside Emmett on the way back to the den, he asks, [Submissive posture but you smell really scared.] [I thought she was going to kill me.] [If you thought she might kill you, why didn't you knock her out?] [I don't know. I didn't think of it. In all the sparring I've done, you've trained me not to use it.] Emmett thinks of it. She was right, they had not had her use that ability during practice. But, it was a weapon for her and she should be trained in its use. The question was, how to do that. In addition, they knew wolves could block her sends and that brought up another question. Who should be taught to block her? [But you thought of it when I was chasing you?] [No. You startled me.] Emmett stops. Lyssa circles in front of him, sits, and looks up at him, like a dog would. He crouches down. [So, you do it without thinking about it.] Lyssa whined and fidgeted. [Just that once. I'm sorry, Em, I didn't want to hurt you. I just meant to get away.] Just that once. So, if she had sent one last time to Michael Ross, she wasn't aware of it. And if she had no idea and Ross was dead, they would never know, unless it happened again. The bottom of his jeans are getting wet from the snow as she watches emotions slide over his features. She worried about his lack of response to what she had just said. He looked at her like she was some strange thing, with a mixture of fascination and a bit of fear. His hands were on her shoulders and he was scrubbing up and down a little. It felt good, through her fur, but he was thinking really hard about something she'd said. [If I can really hurt somebody, like I did with.. with..] [I know, mate. No need to say his name. No reason we can't forget about him now.] Lyssa whines and licks his face. [But, Lys, you need to be trained. You have a weapon the rest of us don't and need to learn how to use it, how to control it. We'll figure out a way to do it without hurting anyone. Since Jo and I can block you, you can start with us. We'll get it figured out.] Her send carries a sense of depression. [OK. Can we go in, now? My butt is cold.] He smiles and scrubs his hands up and down her back, scratches her ears. [I love you, mate.] She licks his face again just before he rises. [Me, too, Em.] The Betas lives temporarily became a bit more complex with the Alphas otherwise occupied. Roland would take over many of Randall's duties in the interim but there would still be more for them to do. Lyssa, as female First Beta, would take over some of Ariel's duties. A couple of the other females would take some of the others. After all, it was only for three or four days. First Emmett and Lyssa had been away, now Randall and Ariel were unable to manage the pack. Ah, a Beta's work was never done. Lyssa slept well again that night. Emmett was grateful for it. It seemed that she had come out of her funk. Things were returning to normal. He woke with a soft, warm, female presence beside him. Lyssa rolled over and ran her fingertips over his stomach, briefly catching the ticklish spot near his hipbone. Emmett sucks in a breath but otherwise holds still as his mate touches him, waiting for what she would do. Next, she strokes, working a little lower with each pass, closing on his now rapidly hardening cock. There is a brief, light brush across the very tip, and her hand stills. Emmett holds his breath. She grasps him firmly and he groans at the contact. Smug dark brown eyes look up at him and she smiles just before she presses a kiss to his collarbone. Lyssa now strokes his length lightly as she kisses and licks down his body. He lay there, getting harder with each touch, anticipating what she would do. Emmett closed his eyes, taking in her scent, hearing her heartbeat, feeling her saliva cool on his body, the feel of her hand, her lips, her skin against his. Voluntarily cutting off one sense, he followed what she was doing with the others, waiting... Fulfillment 11 Her mouth envelops the head of his cock, and he moans. Her tongue probes the eye, which is weeping slightly, then swirls around the glans that has been exposed. The head is partly peeking out of his foreskin. His hips thrust up as her mouth descends on him. He listens to the wet sounds as she slurps, sucks, and licks at his manhood. He feels the warmth and the wetness of her mouth. He feels the pressure of her tongue against him, the feeling of her throat at the head, the suction. An almost painful tightening of his balls begins and his hands twine in her hair. Lyssa knows now how close he is from his heartbeat, the sounds he makes, and his reactions. She pulls as much of him into her mouth as she can, sucks strongly, and wraps a hand around his scrotum. With a hoarse cry, he blasts a first shot down her throat. She maintains the suction, swallowing the load delivered to her, as the volume and frequency of his ejaculate decreases. Swirling the last bit in her mouth, she looks up into the unfocussed brown eyes of her mate, and says [Yum.] Emmett drags her back up his body and kisses her as his eyes start to close. [Thank you for the wake up, sweetheart.] He woke with a soft, warm, female presence beside him. Joanna was in his arms. His mate. His love. His Jo. She smelled absolutely wonderful and his cock began to fill as he thought of touching her, how she felt, against him, around him. He nuzzled the hair away from her neck and nibbled on it. She made a small noise and he shifted his pelvis against her buttocks as one hand moved upwards and the other down. Nathan dragged his teeth against her neck as he stroked her lightly furred lips and kneaded a breast. Now she begins to moan. He continues until he feels she's wet enough. He slides a finger into her wet pussy, strokes in and out a couple of times before adding a second. Joanna is making little noises of pleasure, slight sounds of passion. He picks up her top leg and shifts in the bed. He pushes the tip of his penis against her opening and it slides past. [Jo, help guide me.] She blinks, not sure exactly what he meant, when he tries again. Oh. That was it. She stretches her hand between her legs and lightly holds his length. As he moves, she aims him, helping him to enter her body from that angle. They both moan as he pushes into her moist warmth. [Oh, Jo.] [Nathan.] He pumped into her and she tried to figure out what to do with her hands. With him behind her, she didn't have anything to touch, nothing of him to hold. He had her by the hips, helping her move with him. The pressure of his cock was pressing on her inner walls in a way she hadn't felt before, different but not unpleasant. As she feels his knot pushed into her she hears, [Touch yourself, Jo. Bring yourself over with me.] She strokes herself, tentatively. It was, at least, something to do with her hands. [More, Jo. Come on, pleasure yourself. I want you to come with me.] She can hear it in his send, feel it in the tenseness of the body behind her, his hips slowing their thrusts slightly. So, she exhales and brings one hand to her boob and the other to her clitty. Joanna plucks at her own nipple and starts to rub at her sensitive nub as he starts to move more strongly again. "Oh. Oh. Nathan. Nathan. Oh." And he feels it, the first tightenings of her muscles around him. "Yes, Jo." Their voices mingle, growing more animalistic, louder, as they come together in a mingling of body fluids, scents, and feelings. Two howls leave the throats of the two new mates as they climax as one. He woke with a soft, warm, female presence beside him. Madeline felt the warm breath of her mate in her ear. He nipped at her ear, licked her neck. She couldn't move much as he lay partially atop her. His hand had slid down her belly and he was caressing her thighs. "What would you like, my Blossom?" Her violet eyes turned up to him, she smiles, lasciviously, and says, "Your tongue." At that, Erich smiles, and begins to work his way down her body. Leaving lovebites as he makes his way across her neck, one hand caressing her breast, the other caressing her nether lips. Small marks remain, indentations of teeth. Just above her right breast, a large red mark. A horrendous hickey. She moans and twists and pleads, "Erich." His body weight keeps her in place but her hands on his shoulders try to push him down. [Are you wet, my Blossom? ] The slick fluid is dripping from her warm cavern. "Oh, yes." Her hands move to his hair, twisting in the brown locks. "Erich." He smiles, as his mouth moves to cover her taut nipple. She moans when his tongue flicks that nipple, as his thumb and forefinger roll the other. The same attention to the other and then, then he leaves a trail of saliva on the way to that wet, soft place. [So, you want me to taste your petals?] [Oh, Luna, Erich, yes!] Erich chuckles then settles himself between her thighs. He starts by licking up one side, then the other. Her fingernails are beginning to dig into his scalp. He pauses to take in her scent, and groans. Then, the first taste. Oh, such a mild salty sweet taste. "Ooo." Her fingers tighten in his hair. He sweeps up her juices, licking up the wetness leaking from her. At the top, he flicks her clit, drawing noises and the clenching of her fingers. As she starts to twist, he wraps his hands around her thighs to hold her in place. More licking, his tongue stabbing into the wet tunnel. He feels her body tighten up as he concentrates more on her sensitive nub. A shrill scream leaves her lips as she breaks. He doesn't give her a chance to recover as he uses his thumbs to expose her most intimate place. Erich continues to lick, suck, and tease her button when she bucks against his hands as her second orgasm hits. Her juices continue to flow and he keeps after her, nibbling at her thighs, licking at her lower lips. He then sucks her clit into his mouth and bites lightly and watches as her body goes rigid and her mouth opens in a wordless scream. A gush of fluid coats his chin. Erich releases his mate and climbs back up her body. Her body flushes, she pants, trying to catch her breath. He smooths her sweat soaked hair away from her face and kisses her, lightly. [Was it good for you?] She punches his arm then rolls onto her side, against him. As her breathing and heartrate slow and her eyes begin to close, he gets a sleepy send [Yeah.] He woke with a soft, warm, female presence beside him. Ariel is licking at her mate's penis. Erect, covered in a sticky mixture of their fluids and her saliva, his length is pointed upwards as he rises from sleep. "Mm, El. Ready for another round, I see." Crouched between his legs, a hand at the top of each thigh, her hair hides her actions. He watches her head rise and the veil of red hair parts to reveal her eyes, blue, shining with her need. Her mouth opens, and she looks into his eyes as her tongue extends to touch his exposed glans. His foreskin had already retracted somewhat from the head and, as he hardened further, he was ready to resume his duties to her needs. She growled lightly as he took her by the shoulders. "Come up here, my mate. Let me put that to better use." Randall pulled her up his body and then took hold of her hips. Raising her over his turgid member, he asks, "Are you ready, El?" She growls lightly and he slides her onto him, feeling the wetness of his mate's muscles surrounding him, and sighing at the feeling. Ariel collapses down on his chest, sniffing and licking at his neck as her hips started moving. Sliding herself up and down on him. As his hips move in opposition to hers, he hears [Alpha, I have food for you.] His movements slow as he responds [Leave it outside the door, Simon. Thank you.] He's got her hips and is aiding her movements, thrusting up as she comes down. In response to the female's pheromones at this time, it doesn't take long for his knot to form, and he ties with his mate. She pushes up slightly and her nails dig in to his pecs. Faster, faster, hard, stabbing strokes. She's grunting in time with his thrusts. He feels his balls readying themselves and, one hand on her ass, he puts the other on her shoulder and pulls her back down to him. He shifts partially, changing to the intermediate form, and her eyes widen slightly as she feels the change within her. He turns her head and sets his teeth at her neck. She wanted another pup and he would do his best to give it to her. As his seed pulsed into her depths again, he bit down. Her muscles clenched down on him, almost painfully, and she howled her climax. Randall licked her neck, turned his head, and howled as well. Stephanie woke in her bed, alone, as did Calvin in his. There was no warm female with him this day. Fulfillment I stand outside his house I can feel the intoxicating blend of nerves and excitement. I take a deep breath and smooth out my short black skirt, my skin tingling in anticipation. I can already feel how hard my nipples are, pressing against my white button down shirt. One more breath and I knock on the door. I wait what feels like an eternity before he open the door. He, him, Sir, Master, that which had always been just an idea, a dream. Now I am about to realize that dream. A slow smile spreads across my face as I see you and feel myself become wet with desire as the nerves suddenly vanish. You slowly look me over, watching me fidget as your face remains blank, giving away nothing of your thoughts. After a moment you finally invite me in and as I walk past you tell me to stop. I hear the door shut as I stand there waiting. Taking my wrist you turn me around so I face you. Slowly you run your hand down my cheek, looking into my eyes. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I nod, feeling the nerves coming back. "Yes...yes sir, I am." I hear the slight tremble in my voice and even I am not sure how much of it is uncertainty and how much is excitement You keep looking, weighing what you see in my face. I feel your hand tighten on my wrist and look down as you grab my other wrist pulling my arms behind my back. Drawing me against you, you kiss me hard. My first instinct is to struggle against your grasp as you hold me. I can feel my heart beating wildly and my pussy drenching my panties as I finally submit to you. You keep kissing me until you suddenly let go, taking a step back, leaving me gasping for breath. Nodding towards the couch you tell me to go over and wait for you. I kneel next to the couch, head bowed, awaiting your instruction. You sit on the couch next to me and pet my head. "I think it's time to follow up on your promise." I glance up at you as you unzip your pants. I unconsciously lick my lips in desire as I see your hard cock for the first time. "I got you off last time we spoke; now it's time for my pet to return the favor." I crawl in front of you my eyes never leaving your cock. My mind can think of nothing else except how much I want to find out what you taste like. "Yes sir, thank you sir." On my hands and knees I kiss the head of your cock before slowly sucking it into my mouth. I love the feel of it hitting the back of my throat as I suck as much as I can into my mouth. I moan softly in contentment as I suck on you, my tongue flicking against the head of your cock, my ass wiggles happily. You grab my hair, telling me to be still. Whimper softly I try, but it isn't long before I start to wiggle again. Sighing in exasperation you push me off your cock. "If you can't do what you are told I will remind you. Stand and bend over the arm of the couch." I jump up and hurry to follow your command, not wanting to upset you more then I already have. I bend over the arm of the couch as you come up behind me, kicking my feet further apart and lift my skirt up. You slowly run your hand over its white roundness framed by a black lace thong. "I am going to spank you now for your disobedience and you will count out loud each one until I feel you have learned this lesson, and you will ask me for your next one. Do you understand me?" I nod miserably "yes sir I understand you." I feel the sting of your hand on my ass causing me to jump. "One sir, please may I have another to help me learn my lesson?" Your hand comes down again on my ass. "Two, sir, may I please have another?" I squeal as you spank me again a third time, even harder than the last. "Three, sir. May I have another?" I can start to feel a warmth to my ass as it slowly starts to turn red under your hand. The next 7 blows fall, each a little harder than the last. By the end I am panting as you lightly rub my tender ass. Giving it a light pat you move my skirt back down. "Good girl, now let us try this again." You sit down and I sink back between your legs trying not to wiggle as I tenderly kneel, my red ass a reminder to be good. I hungrily take your cock in my mouth. I can feel my whole body trembling in desire as I suck your cock. After a few minutes I feel your hand in my hair guiding my head faster and faster. Your cock forcing its way down my throat till I am gagging around the intrusion and I can feel saliva starting to drip down my chin. You give a soft grunt as you cum in my mouth, your salty seed trickling down the back of my throat. I start sucking hard trying to get all of it I can. After you are done I give your cock a last few licks making sure I have gotten every drop of your cum, knowing it's too important to waste. Sitting back I happily lick my lips. "Thank you sir, I hope this pet has pleased you." You pet my hair. "Yes pet you did well. Now we can have some real fun, but first be a good pet and strip for me" I stand and start to quickly unbutton my shirt. You sigh in annoyance "Stop! If you can't do it right then don't do it at all." You grab my arm and lead me to the middle of the room as I stammer out an apology. Shaking your head you quickly finish unbuttoning my shirt. "I was hoping you would be a good girl for me, but I see you still have a lot to learn." I hang my head in shame as you roughly pull my shirt off, exposing my black lace bra. Reaching around you undue my bra and pull it off as well. "Hands behind your head, fingers interlocked and don't put them down till I tell you to." I do as you say. Your hand smacks down across my breast, first the right one and then the left. I try to stand as still as possible my hands gripping together. I feel my nipples becoming harder with each smack. After I have lost count and my breasts have turned red and are throbbing you finally stop. You unzip my skirt and pull it off of me leaving me in my black lace thong. You lightly run your hands over my sore breasts as I grip my hands tighter to hold still. My breathing is coming is short gasps and all I want is to dance away from the light caresses that are threatening to send shivers through my body. "You did very well, I'm proud of you for holding still. You may release your hands and come with me." Leading me out of the living room and into the bedroom you motion to the bed. "Now be a good pet and go lay on the bed." I lay down and you come over sit on the bed next to me. You start to slowly run your hands over my body. "Do you trust me?" I nod "Yes sir, I do." You gentle kiss my forehead "Good, now close your eyes." I close my eyes and feel a blindfold slipped over my face. Your hands keep traveling slowly over my body. They slip down my right arm as you take my hand and tie it to the bed frame, and then do the same to my left hand. Moving down my body you tie off my feet leaving me spread eagle. My perspective narrows to your hands as it roams around my body. I arch against my bonds as you take my left nipple in your mouth, flicking your tongue back and forth. Then you take my right nipple in your mouth. As you suck on it you snap a clamp on my left nipple causing me to squeal and pull at my bindings. You then place a clamp on my right nipple. I am panting and straining against the bonds holding me down. You tug hard on the clamps to get my attention, "stay still." I whimper and hold still trying to ignore the pain radiating from my abused breasts. "Please sir, please, it hurts so much." I take shallow breaths trying to ignore the blood pumping through my body, everything starting to tingle. "Shh, I know, it hurts, and I will remove them, but when I'm ready and not before, so stop begging." I groan softly as I feel soft fir slowly running over my skin. "Yes sir, I'm sorry sir." The fir starts on my face and moves slowly down my body, across my sore breasts and down my abdomen. I tense as you move across my hips doing my best to hold still when everything in me wants to rub my now throbbing clit against your hand. I swallow my pleading, knowing that it will get me nowhere. The fur continues to travel my body as you lean over and bite into my side. A soft "please" escapes my lips. You bite me again harder, pulling and twisting my nipple clamps. Sitting up you start pulling and twisting my nipple clamps; asking in a low voice "does my pet want me to touch her clit?" My voice trembles, "yes sir. Please touch my clit." Your hand runs down my abdomen. "Are you sure?" I nod my head, "please sir." Your hand moves under my panties, rubbing slowly against my pussy. My breath comes in short gasps as I ache to have you touch my clit. Suddenly your finger clamps onto my clit. My body clenches to keep from moving, but still you draw your hand back, pulling hard on my clit as you draw a whimper from my throat with it. I hear your laughter as you release my clit, flicking it hard. You kiss my throat and breathe against my ear, "be careful what you ask for. But I'm not a cruel man; I will let you cum soon, but not yet. Now I give you a choice if I untie you will you be a good girl and do what I say, or should I leave you for a while so you can calm down first?" "Good girl sir, I will be a good girl." I feel your hands move down my legs and untie them. Then you reach up and untie my arms. You sit me up and tie a rope halter around me, using the ends to tie my hands behind my back. Taking another length of rope you tie my left ankle and lace it through the back of the halter and then down my other leg. You arrange the pillows under my hips and bend me over as you tie my other ankle. I am now on my stomach, my hands tied behind my back and my ass in the air, my legs bent. I can't help but to press myself against the pillows. You smack my ass hard. "I told you to be still." You grab a pair of scissors, cutting my panties from me and then stuff the soaking wet thong in my mouth. Getting up you go to your closet coming back with a cane and swat my ass. I scream into the thong that is gagging my mouth, trying to squirm out of the way. "The more you move the longer this will go on." I take a couple of breaths through my nose, feeling tears streaming down my face. After the fourth swat I find myself starting to hump the pillows again. The pain flows through me and finding its way to my core. By the time you get to number 12 I am starting to soak the pillows. As you gently rub my ass, your fingers slipping inside me drawing my wetness out as you bring it up to my ass. "Relax pet and I will let you cum." I nod and try to relax as you continue to play with my bruised ass. I start to open to your ministering as you slip one finger inside my ass and then another. You reach above me to the night stand and draw out a condom and some lube. Slipping the condom on your now hard cock you lube it up and start to press it against my ass where, after a little pressure, it slips in. My eyes open wide as I feel a hard cock filling my ass for the first time. I cry out in pain as I try to adjust to you. Starting slowly you move in and out of my ass. The clamps on my nipples drag against the bed sending shivers though my body. After a few minutes the pain fades and a wonderful new feeling of pleasure floods my body. I try to beg you to go harder but the gag prevents me. Your slow pace is driving me mad as I start thrusting back against you. Slapping my ass hard you growl "Stay still." I try to concentrate on anything except your hard cock in my ass. My breathing is shallow as I do my best to stay still. Time fades away and my world becomes the feeling of you slowly moving in and out. After some unknown amount of time you give a soft laugh and then grab my hair pulling my head up as you start to fuck my ass hard. Groaning I fight the ropes as the only thing supporting me, as you ram my ass, is my knees and the hair wrapped around your hands. "Cum for me my pet, cum for me now." I gasp as my eyes roll back in my head and I cum harder then I can ever remember cumming in my life. After a few more strokes you growl as you cum in my ass and let go of my hair, letting me fall forward. I slowly slide into happy oblivion. I wake sometime later lying on my side, a blanket covering me. I am untied and the clamps have been removed. My head is in your lap as you slowly run your fingers through my hair. "Feel better?" I nod and smile slowly just feeling the sensations of my body. "Thank you sir." I fall asleep listening to you chuckle as you lean over and kiss my cheek, "you're welcome pet." Fulfillment 12 Dear Readers, Sorry, this part of the story broke up kind of funny so it's not the neatest transition. Also, because of what's going on, there really isn't any sex in this chapter. There will, as you might expect, be more later. Enjoy, KemMyst ***** Thursday Calvin called to Sampson and they ate breakfast in his room. "So, Cal, you've called me here for a reason?" "As much as I hate to think about it, we need to consider my replacement." "You won't be dying anytime soon, my Alpha." Calvin closes his eyes and sighs. "You know the reality of the situation as well as I, Sampson. My mate is gone. My son is gone. I have no heir. We need to talk about my successor. If you don't want it, we need to look at the candidates and start grooming someone." "As crazy as it sounds, what about one of the sons of one of the other Alphas?" "Ah, thank you for thinking of what I hadn't. Even one of their Betas might be a possibility. Alright, let's set out our possibilities. Within the pack. The potential Alpha heirs. And the Betas. We'll figure out who we have and narrow the choices down from there." "The pack is only now getting settled down again. And there is some grumbling about the new budget. Another change of this magnitude will certainly upset them." "We're only examining the possibilities, Sampson. Nothing needs be done right now. But I'm tired, Sampson, and I'm old, and I won't live forever." *** Lyssa and Joanna practice fighting in the circle. After a good session that has both panting, Alex and Stephanie approach for a session of their own. Lyssa and Joanna sit on their haunches to watch. They could learn by watching the others. So they watched and critiqued, shifting to intermediate form along the way. Then Alex performed the maneuver that he and Emmett had developed, sending Stephanie flat on her back. She got up and growled. "Again." The second time she is rocked back on her heels, off balance, but still standing. Further work has her using the same move on him and he goes down. "Selene," he growls. Lyssa looks at Joanna. "Why is that so hard to dodge?" Alex and Stephanie look at her. He says, "Stephanie is best at avoiding being taken to the ground. But she is only successful about half the time." "Really?" Stephanie growls at her. "You've barely learned the basics. You're not ready for anything this complicated." Lyssa grumbles. "Doesn't look that complicated." There is a brief exchange between Alex and Stephanie. "Come down here then. Let us see how easy it is." Lyssa stands and walks down into the circle. Stephanie faces her. Lyssa looks at her. Two breaths, and Stephanie moves. Lyssa dodges to the left, out of Stephanie's grasp. Alex and Joanna gasp. Angered, growling, Stephanie tries again. Lyssa dodges again, keeping her feet. "Alex, what am I doing wrong?" "Nothing." "Maybe you should test her." Stephanie fades back and Alex moves into position. Lyssa watches him, waiting for him to move. She settles into a posture of readiness when he moves. She drops down and, kicking to the right, sweeps him off his feet. He looks up at her, from his landing place, on his butt. "How did you do that?" Lyssa shrugs. "No idea. Just doesn't look that hard." The three of them now look up at Joanna. She looks down at them. "What?" "Come down here, Jo," Alex says. A huff, and Joanna walks down into the circle. "Have you been watching?" "Yeah." "Alright, then. I'm going to try it with you. Ready?" "Why me?" Alex moves, sinuous, shifting. Joanna stumbles, mostly avoiding him, but doesn't go down completely. He looks at Stephanie. "Incredible." [Emmett, Erich, would you come to the circle?] Emmett comes back, [Why?] [There's something you need to see.] Lyssa looks at Alex. "What's going on?" "We need to show some of the others." "What others?" "The Betas are coming. Everyone would expect you to be taken down by that maneuver. They will want to see." Emmett and Erich arrive and the four experienced fighters take turns trying to knock down both Lyssa and Joanna. Joanna is taken down about a quarter of the time and Lyssa is knocked down only once. The others are shocked and mystified. Why would either of them be able to avoid a series of movements that the experienced fighters could not? Their were two clear possibilities. One was that, for some reason, females were better able to see the patterns and avoid the strike that would take them down. The other was that experienced fighters were set into some patterns that made it more difficult to respond in a way that would keep them upright. Emmett approaches his mate and she holds her hands up to fend him off. "Seriously, Em, I think I'm done." The Betas look at each other. "Well, Erich, I think we need to do some testing." "I suppose so." Randall is informed of the new development with respect to the Wyeth's virtually foolproof takedown moves during a brief intermission in servicing his mate. He concurs with Emmett's assessment and agrees that testing of younger members be done. *** Stephanie, after the others left, is vaguely unhappy. Calvin had not come. He had said he would see her soon. He'd sent flowers with a note that reiterated that message. She inhaled, exhaled, and stood there. Well, after all, he was Alpha now. Again. Why would he want anything to do with her? She didn't need a male, didn't want a mate. She had only been a distraction for him, since he apparently didn't have much to do after he handed Alpha to his son. So. Best to ignore it. To forget him. She steeled her heart to stop expecting him. To go back to doing what she had before he had insinuated himself into her life. *** Later that evening, Lyssa sits beside her mate, watching The Fast and the Furious. Again. She almost had all the dialog by heart, now. She waited until the current sequence concluded then turned to him. "Have you ever played chess with Stephanie?" Emmett does a doubletake. "What? Who?" "Stephanie? Chess?" "No. Why?" "I was wondering how good she was and if I should ask her to play a few games." "I'm not following, sweetheart." Lyssa looks at him. "Alright, First Beta, you haven't noticed Stephanie's mood the past couple of days?" "I haven't noticed much different." "Then you aren't looking." He growls, turns off the film and turns to his mate. Lyssa looks at him, eyebrows raised. "She's quiet, grumpy, and keeping to herself." "That's not unusual for her." "She's been staring off into space and thinking hard about something. I think she misses Calvin. Alpha Ross. He's come to see her pretty much every day since the party. Since she's not into girly things I was trying to figure out how to, well, occupy her, give her something else to think about." "Lyssa. Are you saying you don't expect Alpha Ross to continue to see her?" She looks into his chocolate brown eyes. "Why would he want to?" "Are you serious?" He looks at her dark brown eyes and sees doubt there. "Alpha Ross has lost his mate and has obviously been looking for companionship, why would he stop?" "Well, he's Alpha now. Can't he get just about any female he wants?" "Depending on how traditional he wishes to be, he could take his son's mate." "You're making my point for me." "You didn't let me finish." He looks at her. She says nothing. "But, if so, he probably would have done it already. He's showing behavior seen in some of the older ones who stalk a mate." "Stalking is not a good word to use in the human world." "You understand what I mean. Carefully, slowly, approaching skittish prey. Circle, close, come from another direction." "Is he much older than Randall?" "Yes. That's part of why he made his son Alpha." "OK. I guess. But what do we do about Stephanie?" "I'm not sure we should do anything." She turns slightly and pokes him in the chest. "OK, First Beta, aren't you supposed to be concerned with pack members' welfare?" "It's also not my place to pry." Lyssa huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "Seriously? Everybody knows everybody else's business." He inhales. "I'm not sure what to do. And, if I were to ask her, she'd tell me nothing was wrong and to leave her alone." "Are you sure?" "Lyssa, you are First Beta, too. Females are you and Ariel's job. Get Erich's mate in on it." "I'm trying to figure something out and you're not helping." "Ask her. Spar with her. Talk to Ariel." "Fine." "Are you mad at me for some reason?" "If you don't know I'm not going to tell you." Emmett pulls her into his arms. She pushes at him. "Let me go." He nuzzles her neck, inhales her scent. "You smell so good." She twists, trying to get away from him. He holds her tighter. [Are you going to go to her now, mate?] [No.] [Then how 'bout I make you feel better?] "Emmett Forester, are you trying to seduce me?" He's licking her neck, nibbling at her jawline. [Is it working yet?] Lyssa smiles and climbs into his lap, straddling his waist. [I don't know, maybe you should try something else.] Emmett moves his mouth lower, and sucks on her breast, pulling at the nipple through the heavy cotton t-shirt. *** Stephanie wakes a couple of days later, alone, as usual, in her single bed. She rises slowly to greet the day. Although it was early, breakfast would be served soon. She stretched and dressed, then padded down to the dining hall. The others wandered down for their first meal of the day. Lyssa looked over at Stephanie, then to Ariel, who had finished her heat the night before. [Madam Alpha, does Stephanie seem depressed to you?] Ariel's blue eyes turn to Lyssa's dark brown. [She seems more taciturn than usual.] [Thank you.] [Do you have something in mind?] [Yes.] One of the younger pups runs up to the Alpha couple and growls. Ariel turns and Randall faces his young opponent. "Think you're a big male, eh, pup?" More growling from the young one. "Alright, then, show me how tough you are." Randall shifts to wolf and the pup, a small black and tan male, leaps at him, mouth open. The youngster catches his Alpha's ear and Randall knocks him over. Still growling, the pup tries again. Randall knocks him down again and puts his teeth around the young one's throat. The pup goes deathly still. After a few seconds, Randall lets go and steps back. The pup twists and gets to his feet, head low, tail between his legs. [Be careful of what your friends dare you to do, pup.] The young male slinks on his belly away from his Alpha. *** Calvin and Sampson are eating breakfast in the Alpha suite and discussing progress. "Cal, you're tired. You've been working on this for five straight days. You should take a break. You have some time to make the changes; things won't disintegrate in a few hours." "There's just so much to be done, Sampson." "I know. But you won't help the pack if you're too overcome to make good decisions." "You're right. You're right. I should take some time before looking at some of this again." "Good. What would you like to do?" "I'm not sure." "What about the Wyeth female? You should visit her." "Ah, Sampson, how is it, in all these years, you haven't found a mate?" Sampson inhales and sighs. "My Alpha, I don't want you to think less of me." Calvin looks confused and concerned. "What do you mean?" Sampson looks down, rubs his forehead with his hand. "I have never found females to be... enticing." Calvin looks at his friend and Beta as if the world had suddenly shifted on its axis. "Are you saying you don't like females?" "I prefer the company of males, Cal." There is a pause. Calvin was rather a traditionalist, primarily because of his age. "It does not impact my work here. I hope this does not strain our relationship." Cal looks at him for a few moments, as if struggling to understand this new turn. He couldn't imagine loving a male. He had so loved Sabine. He couldn't imagine what it would be like to go through life without that. "Is there someone...?" Sampson answers before Calvin has a chance to finish the question. "I have not found anyone in the pack who shares my ... tastes." "How did I not notice this, my friend?" Sampson gives a quick smile. Calvin seemed to be accepting of what he had revealed. "You were looking for something else." [Alpha Ross?] Calvin's attention shifts and he holds up a hand to his Beta. [I hope I am not interrupting. She will not say it, but she misses you.] Sampson looks at him. "Is there a problem?" "Not here." "Ah, at Wyeth?" "Of a sort, Sampson. I have left her alone too long." "I'll have a car readied." Sampson rises and heads to the door. "Thank you. Oh, Sampson?" His Beta turns back. "We should probably discuss making Cecelia Beta." Sampson nods once, sharply. "I think that would be appropriate, my Alpha." Calvin stopped at a couple of florists, but could not find any flowers he considered appropriate. The dead of winter was not a good time. He settled for simplicity. One yellow rose surrounded with baby's breath. He drove to Wyeth and arrived mid-morning. [Stephanie?] There was no answer to his call. Cassie walks into the entry hall with her infant daughter. Calvin turns as Emmaline coos. He approaches the new mother carefully, looking at the baby in open appreciation. "What a beautiful pup. What's her name?" Cassie is a bit nervous. "Alpha Ross. Um, it's Emmaline." Jamie is standing nearby, watching. Calvin gestures to him and hands over the flower. Calvin stays a few steps back. "May I?" He gestures to the little one. Cassie looks at the baby, looks at him. "Oh, OK." Calvin steps forward, slowly, and holds out his arms. Cassie transfers her daughter into his arms. "How old is she? About a month?" "Yes, um, Alpha. She was born the night before the gathering." Cal sniffs of her hair, strokes down her little arm. A tiny waving hand captures his finger and he smiles down into the face of the baby. Stephanie walks in, stopping dead at the look of unbridled wonder on his face. She swallows, then turns to leave. Samuel sees his daughter in the arms of someone other than his mate. Worse yet, this was a male from another pack. Samuel growls as he descends the stairs. Cal hands the baby back to her mother. "I did not mean to give offense. I simply wanted to enjoy the company of the infant for a minute or so. I congratulate you on your good fortune." He steps away as Samuel approaches, a low rumble continuing to emanate from his chest. Samuel puts his arm protectively around his mate and their pup, looking Calvin in the eye the entire time. Calvin turns back to Jamie while continuing to watch Samuel out of the corner of his eye. As he reaches for the flower, he notices Stephanie walking away. "Stephanie?" A soft female voice behind him says, "She threw out the flowers you sent." Cal drops his eyes as he exhales. He thanks both Cassie and Jamie. [Stephanie, I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier.] [I'm sorry, too, Alpha Ross. I can't give you what you want.] [Where are you? Please come talk to me.] Nothing. She does not respond to him. He follows her scent farther into the den, moving quickly. He weaves through a couple of rooms and around several of the Wyeth pack members. They move out of his way as he closes on the object of his visit. "Stephanie, wait." She stops and turns, growling lightly. "Don't you have duties to attend to?" Wyeth pack members watch the interaction with interest. He approaches her, backing her into a corner. He puts a hand on her arm and leans in. As she turns her head away, he brushes his lips against her cheek. "I've missed you." She turns her face back to him. She blinks up at him as he hands her the rose. "I couldn't get your favorite." Stephanie holds the flower, looking at it, looking at him. She's unsure if she should stand, leave, or throw it in his face. "Well? Are you glad that I'm here or mad that I've come?" "I.. am.. pleased to see you, Alpha Ross." "Stephanie," he whispers intimately to her, "my name is Calvin." "Calvin. I don't understand why you are here." "I've come to see you, of course." Stephanie finally allows herself to be collected into a room with him, and away from prying eyes. It takes him time to reassure her that he wanted to continue his relationship with her. Emmett and Lyssa heal from their injuries. Joanna and Nathan's relationship deepens. The packs continue on. Pups grow. Females go into heat. Adolescents are schooled. Males spar and carry out their duties. ***** It was three months after the Beta pair had returned from their trip away that a howl of triumph was heard from Nathan's house. Kendra is woken by her son, Lewis. "Mama. Mama." A small hand touches her arm. Kendra opens her eyes. "What is it, baby? Have a nightmare?" "No, Mama. It's Uncle Nathan." Her eyes go wide and she sits up. "What is it? Is he here?" "No, Mama. I think he's at home. But I've never heard him howl in the middle of the night before." "A long howl?" The small earnest face nods. Kendra snatches her little boy and hugs and kisses him. "It's OK, baby. It means you've got another Auntie. Your uncle Nathan's got a mate. You can go back to bed." "Can I stay here with you and Daddy?" "Alright, but just for tonight. You're too big to be sleeping in here with us." Lewis crawls in between his parents and quickly falls asleep. Nathan brings his new mate to his parents' house after breakfast, where Juliet and Jonathon welcome her into the family and the pack. Joanna looks a little uncertain about it but she and Nathan had discussed it. She would move in here with him. Strange as it was to think, she was now Severn pack. Before his brothers and their mates could descend on them, Nathan puts her on the bike and they go to Wyeth. As they pull in Joanna sees a car waiting for Stephanie, to take her to the Ross den. Nathan waits as she puts her hair up in a clip. [Mom? Can you come out front?] [I'll be out in a minute, Jo.] Joanna reaches out a hand to her new mate and turns to him. She looks up into his eyes and smiles as his arms go around her and hers slide up his shoulders and into his hair. He looks down into blue eyes filled with love and happiness and leans down toward her gorgeous pink lips. She stretches up to meet him. Bodies tightly entwined, scents intermingled, they kiss. The kiss is that of new, young love, two individuals who can't get enough of each other. They would be prototypical mates, virtually inseparable for their first few weeks. Nathan hoped to take some vacation time. Ariel steps out the front door to the two lovebirds groping each other in front of the den. [Ran. come out here.] [What's going on? I'm in the middle of something.] [Jo's mated.] [What?!] [Come out.] [On my way.] Ariel steps forward, toward the couple, toward her daughter and her daughter's new mate. Nathan sees her coming and twists Joanna around to speak to her mother. He's leaning back against the bike, his arms low around her waist, as Ariel approaches, arms open. Ariel takes her daughter's hands as Randall bursts from the house. She sees a quick flash of fear in Nathan's eyes. Ariel pulls Joanna close as Nathan releases her to Randall's command. "Severn! With me." Nathan respectfully follows Randall back into the den. Joanna looks after him. "Ah, sweetie, I'm happy for you. How do you feel?" Joanna's hand goes to the pink, healing wound on her neck. "Kinda strange. It's like I can't quite believe it's happened." "It'll seem like a dream for a while, Jo. As long as you're happy, it's good." Fulfillment 12 "I am happy, Mom." "Good." Ariel sighs. "So, I assume you'll be leaving us soon." She puts an arm around Jo's shoulder and steers her toward the steps. Joanna stops. "I, I hadn't thought.." "It's OK, sweetie. It's a transition. You don't have to let go of everything, all at once." "But, but, Em, Lyssa, Maddie, Rolly, you and Dad. I can't..." Her eyes start to water. Ariel squeezes her shoulders and guides her up the steps and into the house. "You can, and you will. You have several new sisters now and there will be new friends in the Severn pack." "But you won't just be down the hall anymore." "No, we won't. But you can visit." [Emmett, Erich, bring your mates to the first floor sitting room. Roland, see your father.] [Coming.] [On our way.] [Something wrong?] Ariel doesn't answer as she settles Jo in a chair. Nathan is practically vibrating with nervousness as he follows the Wyeth Alpha into his office. He stood, stiffly, as Randall stalked around him, silently. Just about ready to crack, his new father speaks from behind him. "If I hear she's been in any way mistreated believe you won't regret it long." "Yes, sir! Uh, no, sir! What I mean..." Randall steps in front of him, startling him back a step and into silence. Randall smiles, part feral, part threat. His voice takes on a conversational tone. "If I had any inkling that you might be such a male, you never would have gotten close to her." Randall claps him on the shoulder and he staggers slightly. "Welcome to the family, pup." "Um. Thank you. Sir." "Loosen up, boy, I'm not going to eat you." Nathan swallows, his eyes flick up to Randall's eyes, then he drops them down to Randall's chest. Nathan was not small by any means but Randall was large, and looms over the young male. "I assume you'll be living at Severn." "Yes, sir, my job.." "Of course, of course, although you could transfer. But, there'd have to be an opening and you've only got a few years in." "Oh, yes sir," "Congratulations, pup. There's one thing I would ask of you." "Uh, sir?" Randall puts his arm around Nathan's shoulders and draws him closer. "Her mother would appreciate it, when she carries your first pup, if she could spend her last days here." "We haven't even thought that far ahead." "Just something to think about. C'mon, let's go find them." Joanna is surrounded by members of the Wyeth pack, mostly females. Emmett looks at Nathan. "So apropos, Severn. Valentine's Day. Easier to remember." "Valentine's Day?" "A human celebration of love, you must have heard about it." He smiles at his own mate. "You learn all sorts of interesting things. Gifts are usually exchanged." The four couples practically mirror each other, each of the males has his arms around his mate, pulled back against him. Randall and Ariel. Emmett and Lyssa. Erich and Madeline. Nathan and Joanna. *** Calvin had told the pack he wanted no interruptions for two hours. He brings Stephanie to his suite. She stops dead at the sight of the bed to one side of the room. He sits on the couch and pats the spot beside him. "Come sit beside me, Stephanie." Slow, he's moved so slowly, but it was taking forever. While he could kiss her and hold her hand, anything else made her freeze and she'd push or pull away. While Sabine had made him wait more than a year, there had still been touching, stolen moments. She stood there. "Please, Stephanie, we need to have a conversation." Stephanie crosses her arms over her chest. "I can hear you just fine." He sighs, then stands, and begins pacing the room. He stops and looks at her. "Stephanie, I haven't harmed you. What are you afraid of?" "I'm not afraid." "I smell it on you." She huffs. "I've asked you here to have a private conversation. And you don't trust me. Even after all this time." She looks down, appearing vaguely ashamed. "I haven't done anything you haven't wanted." "No? You kissed me, hounded me." "Why are you here?" Stephanie opens her mouth, shuts it. She really had no answer, or not one she'd admit. He steps towards her and she backs away. Calvin stops and drops the volume of his voice. "Stephanie. What did they do to you?" *** Mercy was following a trail. Justin and Jamie had taken off and she was supposed to find them. The first one she found would be sent back to the den, to help in the kitchen. The second she had to spar with. Then they would return. She was only thirteen, well, almost fourteen, and the Beta had petitioned to have her learn to track. She was enjoying herself thoroughly. Her mother was not happy. Her father didn't know what to think. *** Stephanie stares out the window, fists clenched at her sides. Not seeing anything. No, seeing the past. "I was studying to be a healer." Calvin is astonished, a healer. She had been a sensitive, caring member of a pack before what had happened to her. Now she was hardened, self-isolated. She turns to him, looking directly into his eyes. It was a challenge and, even as Alpha, he allowed it, simply because of what she was. "Tell me, Calvin, why you have been spending time with me. Why have you been pursuing me." He stood and approached her, stopping before reaching her. "Your eyes, Stephanie There's something in your eyes. That and your strength." She continues to look at him. He can tell she isn't satisfied with his answer. He exhales. "Your eyes drew me to you initially but there's something else that attracts me, that I can't put a name to." Her stance changes slightly, it's almost as though she were hugging herself. She looks at the floor. "He said one of them was hurt, that he needed stitches. I turned to get our healer and he grabbed my arm and started pulling me away, saying I could handle it." "I was, well, a little surprised, confused, annoyed. But I went with him. I was so naive." "He took me to the end of the range and we met up with three other males. None of them was hurt." "He gave me to them." She closes her eyes and breathes. "I screamed, I clawed, I fought. It wasn't enough." "They knocked me out and took me away. I had no idea how far I was from home." "They stripped me naked and tied me to a bed, facedown." "There were five of them and they raped me in every way imaginable. I was clawed, bitten, beaten." "Somewhere along the line one of them got the bright idea to give me the mating bite. Thought it would be fun to have me go into heat. And, then, they thought if they all bit me, it might be a constant heat, or more often. But I've never come into season." Calvin's voice is very quiet. "How long?" "Years. It was years." She sighs. "A lot of years." Stephanie turns back to the window. "Wallace showed up with half the pack. It was a massacre. They died quickly, and bloody." "Wallace took me away, back to Wyeth. I didn't know how to act, what to do, how to feel. He was patient with me." "What about your pack?" "I couldn't go back there. Wallace gave me a place to live, food. I pledged myself to protect him and his blood. And I worked on getting strong, so I could do that." "You trusted him." "He freed me, fed me, housed me. He made me a part of his pack and forbade any of the males to touch me. I was...alive." Calvin comes up behind her and takes her shoulders. "Did you have a beau?" "Yes." "Does your family know you're alive?" "No." Calvin opens his mouth to extort her to tell them she had survived. But Wallace would have done the same, years ago. "Sabine miscarried our first pup. Our second was stillborn. We held our breath during her third pregnancy. Michael came early, but survived. She caught three more times, but couldn't hold a pregnancy. She was strong enough to be Alpha, but she couldn't give me any more pups." Stephanie's still facing away from him. "Well, what do you expect from me? I wouldn't be able to, either." "I know." "So, then, what? You've felt pain too?" Her voice is clipped. "It. Doesn't. Compare." "No, no." Calvin exhales and steps closer to her, holding her upper arms without holding her against him. "My mate is gone. My son is gone. I have the pack, but I'm alone. I want to spend the rest of my life with someone. And I'm wondering if it might be you. But, you've never told me anything about yourself and the only way for me to do that is to ask you directly. And I wanted to find out about the thing that has affected you so deeply." She stiffens under his hands. "Happy now?" "Why are you so angry with me?" "Because you want to make me something I'm not." He steps slightly closer, his mouth at her ear, his voice intimate. "No. Stephanie, I want you to be what you were, caring, social, a true member of a pack.." She rounds on him. "I am a full member of Wyeth." Anger flashes in her green eyes. His voice remains calm. "Are you?" She glares at him, even more pissed off by how calm he is. "You survive there. You fight for them. Your life is theirs. But you have no friends, no one you're close to. As a wolf, how could you go so long without being close to anyone?" Her teeth are clenched. "You know why." "They're long bones and rot. The males who did this are dead. The members of Wyeth accept you. But they aren't close to you. Unless you're sparring, you won't let anyone touch you." He reaches out and touches her cheek. She lashes out, knocking his arm away, backing up. She stands, back to the wall, eyes darting around as if looking for an escape route. He stands back, looking at her. "Answer one more question, if you would. Then, if you wish to leave, I'll have you taken back to Wyeth." She waits a moment, then nods. "Why have you been willing to spend time with me?" *** Joanna walks around, almost hugging herself, looking at things with new eyes. At things she felt she was losing. Nathan kept his arm around her but stayed quiet. He didn't quite know what to do with her, again. She stops, sitting beside the lake, staring at the house. He sits behind her, his legs spread around her. He wrapped his arms around her. Suddenly, several of the pups burst from the back door. Running, chasing, nipping. Nathan watches, smiling. Joanna says, "Recess." Then she sighs as a couple run by. One young female stops, sniffs Nathan, flirts her tail, and takes off after the others. "I'm going to miss this." He sets his chin on top of her head. "There's no reason you can't visit." "But it won't be the same. I won't wake up here.." "You've spent enough nights at my place and woke up there with me." "I know. It's just, kindof making me sad." One fat tear drops on his forearm. "Things change, Jo. You're looking at schools.." She inhales, exhales. "I'm not gonna go now, am I?" "Why not?" She twists in his arms and he kisses her temple. "We've got some things to talk about, Jo. Some decisions to make." Joanna sighs. "It's almost lunch time. Can we stay and eat before we go back?" "Sure," he chuckles, "you'll need your strength to deal with my family, when we get back." They stand and he pulls out his cellphone. Turning it on and looking at the screen, he winces. "What?" "37 messages. Mom, Kendra, Uncle Aaron. They're not particularly pleased that we took off." "Great. Now I got your family mad at you." He squeezes her. "They're your family now, too." "Gonna let me take some of the heat?" "Tempting." He leans down and captures her lips. *** Lyssa's on the roof, arms wrapped around herself, watching Jo and Nathan. She jumps as Emmett slides his arms around her waist. "Penny for your thoughts." "So young. Starting a life together. So many possibilities." He sticks his chin over her shoulder, looking down to the lake where Nathan and Joanna are sitting. "Are you happy for them? Or sad?" She tips her head back against his shoulder. "A little of both. Happy she's found him and sad that she won't be around anymore." "She hasn't been around much lately." "Yeah, but she always lived here. Who am I gonna spar with?" "I thought you and Maddy were getting along well." Another sigh. "Yeah. But Joanna was the one who was with me most when I got here. Well, her and Stephanie. Well, she's not here either." "Are you close to Stephanie? I had no idea." "No. But, like I said, she was here when I got here. She helped." "Things change, Lys." He squeezes her tightly, takes her hand. "Hungry? I smell lunch." "My big, bad, bottomless pit." "You're no slouch yourself, sweetheart." *** Calvin calls for two trays to be brought to his suite. Stephanie paces, glancing at him occasionally. She finally sits when the food comes. His tray holds ham, baked potato, and peas. The one placed before her holds a rare 24 ounce steak, mashed potatoes, and cauliflower. Some rolls sit between them. He watched her examine and sniff the food before she started to eat. She was suddenly highly suspicious of him. As if he'd hurt her in some way, drug her. He makes no comment on her actions but begins to eat. She watches, then digs into the meat. Bloody and slightly warm. She finally looks over at him. "I don't know how you can eat that." He looks up and smiles at her. "It's got a tanginess to it I appreciate. Have you ever tried it?" She shakes her head. "But you've eaten bacon?" Sighing, she nods. The rest of the meal is quiet. He wipes his mouth with a napkin and sets it down and looks at her. "Thank you for sharing a meal with me. Have you decided to answer my question?" Stephanie stuffs one last roll into her mouth and chews thoughtfully. "I don't know. You are .. pleasant company." It was time to confront the issue more directly. "Do you think I'm going to force you?" She turns away. "What is there to stop you?" "Me. My morals. I have no reason or desire to force a female. And you would be difficult if I were to consider it." She smiles briefly, then returns to her dour look. "Fucking. It's all males think about." He reaches over and grabs her hand. His grip is tight, surprising. "I could have fucked you weeks ago. What I'm after is more, closeness, companionship. Love." She wrenches her hand away and scowls at him. She snorts. "Love." "Have you ever loved, Stephanie? Your family? You said you had a beau." "I don't remember." He looks at her, considering. "Shall we have a match?" "Chess?" "Our circle." She looks at him, measuring. She nods, briefly. The Ross circle was set up differently. The Wyeth circle was a shallow bowl with a couple of boulders in it. The Ross circle was a little bit larger. A small flat area had the rest curving upward like the sides of an amphitheater. A tree of some size actually stood within an edge. Calvin won the first round as some of the wolves of his pack moved around the edge to watch. The second round had them fairly evenly matched until Stephanie performed the maneuver he had seen at Wyeth and set him on his back. A collective groan went up from the assembled wolves. Calvin picks himself up and smiles at her. "Best of three?" She settles herself into a stance of readiness and smiles in acknowledgement. The third round begins. After circling a bit, Stephanie heads for the high side. Calvin watches, turning with her. She waited a moment, then rushed him. She ran straight for him, a wolf woman. He waited, braced himself. As she leapt at him, he grabbed her arms and fell backward. Momentum has them both going over and, with her arms held, she can't stop it. He stops them with his legs. Settling his weight on top of her, looking into her green eyes, he says [My round. I claim my prize.] Stephanie sighs, closes her eyes, and purses her lips. [No. I have something else in mind.] As the howl goes up from the Ross wolves her eyes snap open and she starts to struggle. "No. Let me go." [All I ask is that you lie beside me in the bed, to take a nap.] "No." [Fully clothed. Napping, Stephanie.] "No. Let me wash your stink off of me and let me go home." Part of being a leader was knowing when to pick your battles. He would not win this. "As you wish." Calvin rose and offered her his hand, though he knew she wouldn't take it. She gave him a dirty look and got up. As she stalked back to the house Calvin sent to his Beta [Sampson, please have someone prepared to return Stephanie to Wyeth in half an hour.] [Of course, my Alpha.] Stephanie went directly into his bathroom without giving him a second glance. As the water ran he lay back on his bed, fingers laced over his waist. He closed his eyes and tried to decide if this was the last straw for her. He had pushed her to disclose her past, had pushed her into an admission, however faint, that she cared for him. He might have pushed his luck too far today. Then he began to wonder what he would do without her company. She had been a comfort to him, particularly after his son's death. It saddened him. The water stopped and he swallowed. It took a few moments before she emerged, naked. Nudity was not generally an issue with them and had never been with her. She looked briefly at him as he closed his eyes, and she saw the sadness in them. As she turned to dress in the clothes she had left in his room before the sparring match, she said, "I don't need your pity." He raised up on one elbow to look at her. "What you saw on my face, in my eyes, was not pity, Stephanie. I am sad to be losing your company." She turns fully to look at him. He watched her face to see how she would react. She was having difficulty holding on to her anger. She clenched her fists and growled at him. "How do you do that?" He smiles. "For one, it's a talent. For two, it's the truth." She stands there, topless, staring at him. "I have never lied to you, Stephanie." Stephanie pulls a tank top over her head. It was cream colored and he could still see her nipples through the fabric. He took a deep breath and worried what she would think as his cock began to firm up. Her mouth quirks to one side and she snorts. "Sleep, huh?" "My body responds to yours. That does not mean I will act on it." She pulls on a brown flannel shirt, her only concession to the weather. "I have to get back to the den." "A nap, Stephanie, nothing more. You are certainly capable of dissuading me if I attempt anything." She gives him a feral grin, shakes her head. [Sampson, my room please.] "Give me two minutes." She backs toward the door and jumps slightly at the knock, so focussed on him. "Enter." "You called me, my Alpha." "I want two males outside of my door for the next hour. If Stephanie calls for help, in any way, they are to come in and extract her and you will take her home." Sampson's face shows confusion. "Understood?" "No. But I will follow your order, my Alpha." "Thank you." Sampson turns to leave, glancing at Stephanie before he opens the door. Calvin holds a hand out to her. Stephanie looks at the door, at him, then at the door again. He tries to keep his face neutral as she takes the first step, but his heart swelled. She was coming to him, of her own volition. She hears two bodies settle outside the door. Large bodies. He lies in the bed, looking at her, hand out. He wasn't coming after her but letting her come to him. Her decision. It was her decision. He wasn't forcing her to do anything. She swallows and takes a step forward. His heart speeds up slightly and she stops, her heart pounding. He watches her, holding still, his eyes shining. Another step. It was almost as if she were walking though deep snow. Her heart pounded harder. He wasn't speaking to her, wasn't doing anything but looking at her and holding out a hand to her. Fulfillment 12 Another step, her blood rushed in her ears, she couldn't hear anything. Her stomach tightened, she felt sick. Another step and she started to gasp. He sat up now, alarmed. Stephanie fell to her knees. He stood. [Sharilyn! Alpha suite.] "Stephanie?" She's on hands and knees, head down, a hand out to ward him off. He ignores the hand and crouches beside her as she sits back on her heels, sucking in air. "What's wrong? Stephanie?" Sharilyn enters the suite with the two males following closely behind. She crouches on Stephanie's other side. "What is it?" "Can't.. breathe." "Can you stand?" Stephanie shakes her head. "Broken ribs?" Another shake of the head. Sharilyn checks eyes, gums, heart, for fever, then breathing. "She was fine a few moments ago." "Something she ate?" "Steak, mashed potatoes, cauliflower." "No one else is ill. Her lungs are clear." Stephanie's breathing starts to ease. She pants, swallows. Calvin picks her up, turns and carries her to his bed. He looks into her eyes, smooths her hair from her face, then backs away. "Healer?" Sharilyn checks her again. "Better?" Stephanie nods. Sharilyn looks at Calvin. "She appears to be fine now, Alpha." "Thank you, healer." Sharilyn and the males leave, closing the door behind them. Calvin sits on the side of the bed. "Are you alright?" She looks up at him. "Yes." Well, she was in his bed now. He had placed her there himself. "Good." He stands and turns away. "I'll let you recover. Call if you need anything." Stephanie takes a deep breath. "You had planned on taking a nap." He whirls back, looking at her, his blue eyes wide. Tentative, unsure, her heart pounding, she puts a hand on the bed beside her. He smiles a beatific, full-tooth smile that overcame his entire face. He strode quickly to the closet, pulled on a pair of sweatpants, and strode back. He took her hand and kissed it. Then, looking down on her, said, "If you don't mind, that was always my side of the bed." She looks up at him and looks to the door. Of course, he would take the side closest to potential danger. She scooted over and he slid in beside her. He laid on his back and closed his eyes. She laid on the other side, a bit tense. Her eyes flicked around, looking at things in the room, sometimes lighting on him. He looked so peaceful, content. After a few minutes, his face grew slack and a light snoring began. A nap. Who needed to sleep in the middle of the day? She'd never seen him do it before. Of course, she had no idea how old he really was. She thought of him as close to her own age but his hair was greying where many wolves her age were not. Of course, the Wyeth Beta's hair had been grey for as long as she had known him. Was it his age or just his natural coloring? *** Joanna had packed a couple more things and gone back to the Severn compound. Her compound. Her home. She took a deep breath and hugged him a little tighter. He briefly took his hand off the brake and patted her knee. As they approach, Nathan slows, [Ready, love?] [Uh, huh.] [Hey, Mom. We're back.] He winces at her response. [Nathan Severn! How dare you take my new daughter away before I have a chance to welcome her into the family properly.] [Easy, Mom. Her family is a lot smaller.] [I'm not apt to forget, pup.] As the pull in front of his house, he turns his head to her. "Mom's really mad." "Tell her she won't get any grandpups if she keeps it up." "Luna, Jo! Don't even joke about that." He pulled her off the bike and chuckled, kissing her before his mother got there. Hand in hand, they await storm Juliet. Juliet approaches, arm outstretched, finger pointed to the main house. "Go present yourselves to your Alpha, then come straight back here." The finger is now pointed down, at her feet. "Yes, Mom." They duck and run for the main house while Juliet Severn watches, hands on her hips. He pulls her sideways as they come to the house. He puts her back against the siding, takes her face in his hands, and kisses her. Her hands go into his hair as she surrenders to the kiss. Some wolves hoot, some clap, and others gawk at the young couple. Nathan again takes her hand and leads her into the house. The third, and top, floor of the house was like a penthouse and held only two large rooms. Aaron Severn sat at the far end, behind an imposing oak desk, in conference with two of the pack. Nathan waits with Joanna while Josiah announces them. Aaron does not look at them but, after a couple of minutes, his nostrils flare. He glances at them and rises while the other two continue working. Nathan goes to his knees, pulling Joanna down with him. The Severn wolves tended to the large and Aaron, himself, was an imposing figure of caged strength. Power radiated from his frame. He circled them and Nathan tilted his head back, baring his throat. Joanna caught the movement and did the same. He stopped before Joanna, grabbed her face with one hand, but without force. He tipped her head to see evidence of the mating bite. He released her and stood in front of Nathan. Aaron grabbed him by the throat and hauled him to his feet. Nathan stared fixedly at his uncle's chest as Aaron snarled. Joanna was beginning to be really frightened by the display. There was nothing like it in Wyeth. Had they done something horribly wrong? Did they need his permission before mating? Dropping Nathan, Aaron returned to Joanna and, taking her shoulders, raised her to her feet. She kept her head tilted as his face approached and a spike of fear shot through her. He nosed along her cheek and inhaled deeply at the nape of her neck. He was taking her scent. Nathan stood beside Joanna and took her hand as the Severn Alpha backed away. They heard someone else enter the room. The Alpha female, Sarah, came to stand beside her mate. She walked to Joanna's free side. Joanna's eyes flicked to Nathan, then to the Alpha female. Her fear was abating but Sarah Severn dipped her head, sniffed along Joanna's jaw, then stuck her nose behind Joanna's ear and inhaled deeply. She stepped back. The newly mated couple held hands, facing them, as there was some exchange between the other two. "You were remiss in not coming to me earlier, pup." "Yes, uncle, I'm sorry." Aaron growls at his nephew, rather menacingly. "Um, Alpha, my Alpha. Yes, we should have come to you earlier." Sarah spoke next. "So, you've brought a new female into Severn." "Yes, Madam Alpha." "What do you have to say for yourself?" Nathan was at a loss. As Joanna says, "I love him, " Nathan spits out, "She's my mate." The Alpha pair burst into laughter. "Welcome to Severn pack, Joanna Wyeth Severn." Relief. While they may have committed a faux pas by not showing up earlier, she was accepted into the pack. It was extraordinarily rare for a mating to be denied but there was always that little niggling doubt. Sarah took Joanna aside. "The day after tomorrow I'll send Marla to you. She'll help you get integrated." "Thank you, Madam Alpha." Joanna heard Nathan say, "Mom wants a piece of me next. She's not happy with us either. Well, she is, but she isn't." "Go, then, placate your mother." Aaron returns to his work and Sarah walked out of the office with them. "You'll be presented at the next full moon." "Yes, ma'am, Madam Alpha." It was strange to say but Joanna was now part of a pack where she couldn't call the Alpha female Mom anymore. *** Like most wolves, Calvin could catch sleep at any time and, while he did enjoy the occasional nap, it was a ruse to bring her closer. Stephanie had fallen into a deep sleep beside him and had actually rolled against him. He lay there, hardly daring to breathe. Though they were not skin to skin, he was enjoying her scent and her warmth. He was concerned, however, as to how she would react when she woke. Calvin lay there, wanting to stay that way, but nature was calling. He waited as long as he thought prudent, then began to slide away from her. As he sat up, she stirred. Her eyes opened and she blinked at him, then jerked upright. He says softly, "I need to relieve myself. If you wish to stay, I will return shortly. If you wish to return to Wyeth, I will call a car." As he goes into the bathroom, she climbs off the bed. She stands there, looking at the bed, smelling his scent, unsettled. The toilet flushes and the water runs. When he comes out, she is gone. He drops his head and sighs. Strengthening his resolve, Calvin pads to the door. She's standing stiffly against the wall opposite his door. She won't meet his eyes. "I have duties." "Of course. I'll have a car take you back to Wyeth." He steps closer, putting a hand to each side of her, on the wall. Stephanie inhales, a gasp, and puts a hand on his chest to keep him away. He pushes forward and places a kiss on her forehead as she pants. He then takes her hand and leads her to the garage where he puts her in a car. "Thank you, Stephanie, for coming. I enjoyed today." She does not answer, only nods her head slightly. *** Madeline and Erich return from a trip to the county seat. She had gotten her driver's permit. She pulls in front of the den and stops before she gets to the garage. "C'mon, Blossom, you can pull it in to the garage." "But.." She had scratched the opposite front fender on the car the last time she had tried. "Just take it slowly and I'll tell you if you're too close on this side." She creeps slowly into the garage opening. Erich says, "Stop." Madeline jams on the brakes. "What?" she squeals. "It's OK, Maddie. See where you are? See how close you are on that side?" She punches his arm. "Don't do that!" He looks at her, startled. "I just wanted you to see how close you are on that side, you've got plenty of room over here." Madeline successfully pulls the car the rest of the way into the garage and Paul takes possession. Erich takes his mate by the shoulders and kisses her. "Good job." *** Joanna and Nathan are surrounded by his family. There was eating, talking, laughing, touching. Dinner was a grand affair, and lasted late, until Nathan and Luke pleaded work the next morning. The new couple were sent back to their house with catcalls and not-so-subtle innuendos. Joanna flushed crimson. *** Back at Wyeth, Stephanie had thrown herself into a prolonged workout session. She then ate, and retired. She spent the night restlessly tossing in her single bed. Fulfillment 13 Dear Readers, Sorry, I've left you alone for far too long. I am still working on the series and have yet to come to the conclusion as certain things beg to be expanded upon. There will be more, sooner rather than later. I hope you will enjoy the rest of the chapters. KemMyst ***** Calvin drove to Wyeth the next day after lunch and went directly to Randall's office. "My friend, how are you? Is the pack well?" "Well, Randall, things are improving. I hope to see things back to normal by year's end." "Good. Good. I have things to attend to. We're preparing the business taxes." "I'm sorry to come unannounced but I have a request of your healer." Randall raises an eyebrow. "I wish to speak to her of Stephanie's... condition." "Is there something I should know, Cal?" [I only wish to know how badly she was hurt, physically.] "She didn't say anything about being hurt." Randall growls. "What happened?" [No, Randall, I did not injure her. All those years ago, the males that held her.] Calvin looks into Randall's eyes. [I want to know if she can feel pleasure.] [Ah, Cal. I highly doubt she'll ever let you touch her.] [She joined me for a nap yesterday.] Randall's eyes go wide, then he throws his head back and laughs. "Whatever you need, Cal. I'll have our healers speak to you." "I would ask that you keep this quiet. She will be angry at my prying." "Of course." Natalie spoke to Calvin briefly, telling him what she knew. Stephanie had arrived beaten, bloody, with a couple of broken bones. She had never had a full examination, as traumatized as she had been, it was felt it would be best to simply allow her to heal. However, as she learned how to fight, Natalie had had a couple of occasions to treat wounds on her thigh or belly. *** Joanna was left in Nathan's house, their house, after he left for work, and was at a loss. She had washed dishes and clothes then walked around looking at things. Nathan called at lunch and they talked for about half an hour. She considered going to her new mother's but she had had enough of all of them the previous day. It had been chaotic, intense, and highly personal. Juliet had already started talking about grandpups. Barely mated 24 hours and already being pushed about pups. Who knew when she'd have her first heat? And she was anything but sure she was ready. Home. She wanted to go home. So, she got into her Mini and drove to Wyeth. [Remember, everyone, best behavior, we will have humans in the den for a couple of hours.] [Madam Beta, would you remind those running sweep?] [Of course, Randall.] [Wyeth wolves on patrol. The Alpha reminds you not to return to the den in wolven form until the all clear is given.] Samuel and Justin were running wide sweep. Mercy was shadowing Stephanie on the short sweep. Mercy stumbled on the announcement and Stephanie slowed slightly, but continued on. [How do you get used to that?] Mercy asks when she catches back up. Stephanie snorts. [Can't get distracted. We have important duty.] A vaguely unsatisfying answer. Wilson Pinchot and an associate arrived shortly thereafter in a white Lincoln. Pinchot was not completely aware of what the packs were, but they were entities unusual and complex enough to require extensive treatment of taxes. The business alone needed the review of CPAs but the fact that multiple families lived under one roof and were providing services for the group as well as being provided for made things, well, hairier. They were considered to be some sort of odd cult although they did not recruit. After pleasantries were exchanged and coffee brought, the meeting began. Randall and Ariel began with discussion of people living on the property. Lyssa was asked in towards the end as the conversation ended on the number of youngsters being schooled on the property. Lyssa had met Mr. Pinchot the previous year and would accompany Pinchot and his associate to the business to look at the books and the new software system. Wilson Pinchot was a small, fussy man in a grey suit with Nez Perce glasses and a bad combover. His associate was introduced as Lorelei Harrison, a prim blond in a navy suit with a white cotton blouse and dark hose. Lyssa shook hands with both. Pinchot's was weak and rather damp. Harrison's was firm, dry, and hinted of an inner strength. Lyssa looked a her a second more than was polite before she dropped her eyes. Hmm. "If you're ready to go to the business now?" They both stood and collected their things. "Mr. Wyeth, a pleasure." "Thank you for your help, Mr. Pinchot. Good day, Ms. Harrison." She nodded in acknowledgment. "Mr. Wyeth." Lyssa leads them from the room and down the stairs. Thomas stares after them as they pass. [All clear everyone.] Gabriela spends the afternoon with them in the company's conference room. Lyssa showed them the new software and its operation. An annual report was prepared and printed out. After a couple more hours, the accountants take their leave. *** Stephanie returns with Mercy and goes to the workout room and sets up the weights. She is bench pressing 220 pounds as Calvin walks in. "Hello, Stephanie, are you well?" He only reply is a grunt as she pushes the weight upward. "Yes, I see that you are. I would like to take you out to dinner." Stephanie sets the bar into the cradle and sits up. "What do you mean?" "Dinner? Out of the den?" She looked at him as if he had three heads. "You've never been outside of the den for a meal?" She shakes her head. "I would like to take you." "What would I eat?" "Whatever you like." She lies back down. "No. I don't think so." Stubborn. Horribly stubborn and set in her ways. And she never, never left the den. He exhaled rather forcefully. It was a big step for her yesterday, he had thought she might take another. But it seemed she might need time to re-establish her equilibrium. So, he went to the dead lift bar. 800 pounds sat on it. It had been some time since he had tried that weight. He closed his eyes, took a couple of deep breaths and squatted. Hands on the bar, he pulled up, flipped it up to his chest, and pushed it over his head. He held for 3 counts, 4, 5, and released it back down to the floor. She looked away as soon as he caught her eye. They had dinner in the den. *** Joanna's head was spinning. She had spent the day with a Severn wolf named Marla. She had been informed of the pack rules, which were essentially the same as Wyeth's. Petitions in Severn were made at the new moon instead of the full. But presentations, celebrations, were held at the full moon. She was shown the medical ward, the workout area, the clothing rooms. Sshe was shown to what was called the pantry, as most of the pack made their own meals, and how to account for food removed. She met a lot of different wolves. Scent made it easier to keep them sorted out but, still, there were a lot of them. There were records to file and assets to transfer. And they were invited to dinner with the Alpha pair the next evening. Joanna was sitting quietly in a chair when the sound of a motorcycle is heard. Nathan opens the door, expecting a happy greeting from his new mate. "Jo? What is it, love?" She looked rather frightened. Her mouth opened and a little squeak came out. She closed it, swallowed, and said, "I don't know how I'm gonna remember it all and," she looks up on him, "we're supposed to have dinner with the Alphas tomorrow." "Jo, Jo. It's OK." He raises her from the chair and slides into it, gathering her back into his arms. "How can the Alpha daughter be so unnerved by dinner with the Alpha pair?" She burrows her face into his shoulder. "So, Marla showed you around?" She nods against his chest. "No one expects you to remember everything new at once. And the Alphas just want to get to know you. They've already accepted you into the pack. You don't have anything to worry about." "It's so different here, Nathan." "You've been here half the time lately. You know quite a few in the pack, pretty much where everything is." "But, now, it's for real." He squeezes her tightly and kisses the side of her face. "You're gonna need to talk to somebody from Wyeth. They're still there. Call your Mom, Lyssa, anybody else. You can always talk to Mom or the other mates." She wasn't crying, thank Luna, just overwhelmed. He had her in his lap and her scent filled his nose. His mate. It was wonderful even though he didn't quite believe it himself, yet. He was mated and she smelled good. His hands began to travel her body as he murmured in her ear. "We'll go see your parents soon, too. I love you, Jo." He nuzzles her neck and nibbles on it. She stiffens for a second and then, like a switch, the tension just drains out of her. She twists, a delightful pressure against his cock, and puts her arms around his neck. Joanna kissed him, locking her hands around his head. As she pulled away from the kiss, she wriggled her bottom and actually giggled. She jumped off his lap and ran to the other side of the couch. "Tease." He got up, watching her, and stripped off his uniform shirt. She looked at him and, after a second, pulled off her own shirt. He kicked off his shoes and took a step toward her. She threw her shirt at him and danced away. He looked at her, his mate, as he pulled off his socks. Her light brown hair framed her face and her small breasts were topped with tight pink nipples. He stepped one way, then the other. She watched him from the other side of the couch. He stopped and put his hand on his waistband. She mirrored him. He undid the button. She did the same. Next came the zippers. Then, thumbs around their sides in the waistbands, the pants begin to slide down. They both bend over, shoving their pants to the floor, and step out. He was wearing green boxer briefs with a large bulge in the front. She was wearing lacy black bikinis in stark contrast with her pale skin. He licked his lips. She smiled and licked hers. He brought his hands up to his chest and rubbed his thumbs over his nipples. And he watched as she brought her hands up to her own small, firm breasts and rubbed. She watched his cock twitch in his shorts and he groaned. Grasping his nipples, or trying to, he pinched at them. She pinched her own nipples and moaned quietly. He inhaled deeply, dropped his hands, and rushed her. Too late! He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her off to their bedroom. He laid down with her, running a hand over her slight curves, while she melted against him. Nathan slid a hand into her panties and caressed her sex, sliding fingers over her lips, dipping into her wet tunnel. His other hand caressed her breast. She moaned and twisted. He rolled and pulled off his underwear. As she rolled, he stopped her with a hand on her belly. He climbed partway up her body and stuck his nose between her legs. He inhaled deeply then licked across the crotch of her lacy panties. Again, she giggles slightly but squelches it as he looks up at her with love and lust in his blue eyes. He slithers the panties off as she clutches the bedcovers in anticipation. Surging back up her body, he licks her again, for real, skin to skin. He continues his climb, kissing bits of her as he works his way up. Hip. Navel. Lower ribs. Left breast. Right breast. collarbone. Both eyelids. Her mouth. She was tight and he had to work slowly still to keep from hurting her. He was poised, ready to fill her, as he looked down into her eyes. Her blue eyes looked into his and her smile filled his heart. Another breath. [I love you, Jo.] Her arms reached out, hands on his buttocks, and she pulled him into her. He was about halfway in and had to pull back when she whispered, "My mate." About 20 minutes later Juliet sends to her youngest, [Your father's started the grill, want to come over?] Nathan is lying on his side, face to face with his mate. She quirks her mouth to one side, a bit annoyed by his inattention. He focuses on her face. "Mom wants to know if we want to come over for barbeque." "Um..." "Probably sausage and hamburgers." "Kinda killin' the mood here, Nathan." He kisses her nose. "I'm hungry."" "Well, we can't go right now." His stomach growls, very loudly. She looks at him, eyes wide. "I didn't get a chance to eat lunch." She huffs and pushes away slightly. "Jo, love." She's looking annoyed now. He pulls her back to him, rolls to his back, and kisses her. *** Calvin has come over at dinnertime at Wyeth to find Stephanie at her usual place. When he sits beside her, she growls at him, "Why are you here?" He takes the hand nearest him and kisses it. The pack members nearby who noticed, smiled. She pulled away. "I would like you to come back to Ross with me." "It's late." "You won't come for a visit?" She stops, puts down her fork, and turns to look at him. "Please, Stephanie, I would like you to come with me tonight." Please. He didn't command her. Of course, he was not her Alpha. She had heard his voice carry the weight of command, of leadership. He had told two males of his pack to guard the door and pull her out if she yelled for help. As if she would need to do that. He had brought her to his den, to his bedroom. He could have done whatever he wanted to her, kept her there, but, as soon as she woke and said she wanted to leave he had let her. Calvin Ross confused her. She didn't understand him. But, she had to admit it to herself, she did trust him, at least, to some extent. "Alright." A wide smile from him. [Alpha, may I leave the den?] Randall looks over, [You don't have to ask permission, Stephanie. But, it is good for us to know who is in or out.] Calvin looks between Stephanie and the Wyeth Alpha. "What was that?" She shoves more of her dinner in her mouth. [Permission to leave the den.] "Did you ask last time?" She nods, chewing. Calvin turns to the Alphas' table. [Why does she need permission, Randall?] [She doesn't, Cal. She just insists on asking.] Calvin relaxes. He hadn't even realized that he had tensed up. Stephanie was looking at him. Had he growled? Probably. She finishes her meal and now looks at him, expectantly. "Shall we go?" She took her plate, cup, and silver to the station to be washed and turned back to him. He extends a hand. She reaches out and takes it. The behavior is common enough now that few take note of it anymore. But Lyssa smiles and squeezes Emmett's thigh under the table. Emmett jumps slightly, then smiles, wrapping an arm around his mate and caressing the underside of a breast. Stephanie sits in the passenger seat of the car, silent. Calvin stole occasional glances at her as he drove. She was a woman of few words, so unlike his Sabine. He was so drawn to her. Did she feel anything, at all, for him? No questions, no curiosity. She was just there, quiet, with him. He pulled up to the front of the den and parked there. Stephanie looked over as he shut the car off and got out. He led her to a small room, off to the side of the dining hall. A table was laid out, a lighted candle in the center. A small side table holds desserts. Pastries. Tarts. Small cakes. A large carafe of milk sat in a bath of ice. He pours a glass for her and himself then sets a raspberry tart in front of her. "What is this? I told you I don't eat desserts." "When is the last time you had something like this?" She inhales, exhales. "I don't know." He comes around the table and places a fork in her hand. "Try it." Stephanie closed her eyes and inhaled. The richness of the chocolate and the cream. The sharp smell of the raspberries. Cooked flour, butter. The pastry is flaky and imperfect. The raspberries shown a vibrant purplish red, shiny, coated with something. A glob of whipped cream sat on it and curled shavings of chocolate were scattered atop it. "Go on." She looks at him, looks at the dessert. The fork twirls once. "It won't bite." She inhales, poises her fork, and cleaves a small corner. Calvin watches as she raises it to her lips, carefully. He watches as her mouth opens. Her lips are a little asymmetric. Who knew how many times she had been hit? She certainly wouldn't remember. But they are a dusky rose in color, her teeth white, her tongue, moist, barely touches the top of her bottom lip as the bottom of the fork touches it and slides in. Her mouth closes, the fork sliding back out, one crumb of the pastry left on it. She holds it in her mouth for a moment, chews and swallows. Stephanie sits for a moment. Her green eyes flick to him, then back down. He reaches over with his hand, lightly brushing her fingers. "It's OK to indulge from time to time, Stephanie." She focuses on him, eyes a little wary. He looks back at her, keeping his face neutral. Her eyes are drawn back to the tart and she takes another forkful. He twists, reaches behind him, and pulls a small chocolate cake to him. She pauses, interested in what he has. The cake is unadorned but for an orange sauce partly covering it. He watched her eat, taking the occasional drink of milk, as he digs into his cake. She looks surprised as something oozes out. "It's a lava cake." She cocks her head to one side and then goes back to her dessert. He watches her eat. She finishes the tart, licking her lips occasionally. He sees her watching as he raises a forkful of gooey cake. He points the fork at her. "Would you like to try it?" She reaches for the fork but he holds onto it and extends it in her direction. Scowling slightly, both hands on the fork, she guides it into her mouth. Closing her lips, the fork slides out and she relinquishes control. He had fed her, and this time much more intimately. In the old days it was telling and something like gentling a wild creature. You got them accustomed to your presence, used to your voice and scent. Then you left food, provided for them. It was an accomplishment when you got them to eat from your hand. Long ago it was taken as a sign of interest in the other. The male's first steps in courting a mate and in the female's acceptance of him. A strong male would provide for his mate, and their pups. Those days were long gone, but it still gave him a thrill. "Did you like them?" Stephanie runs her tongue over her lips one more time. His heart skipped a beat. "Yes." "I'll let Bethany know you enjoyed it. Would you like anything else?" She reaches for the glass and drains it. "No." There is a second pause before she says. "Thank you." He finishes his cake, pleased with himself. "There's more, isn't there? You didn't bring me here just for this." Calvin sets down his utensils and looks at her. "I'd like you to spend the night." Stephanie stands abruptly, knocking her chair over. "Take me home." He folds his hands and places them on the table, looking at her calmly. "Stephanie, please, sit." She stands, looking at him, breathing heavily, tense. He continues to sit, looking up at her. "Stephanie, you wanted to know why you were here, I gave you a direct answer. I wished you to try a dessert and to spend the night with me." A light covering of light brown fur sprouts on her arms and face. "You have asked me why I've wanted to spend time with you and I have answered. Stephanie, why have you been willing to spend time with me?" There is a slight growl in her voice, the timbre a bit harsh. "I told you. You are pleasant company." "The time you spend with me is enjoyable to you." She nods, sharply, once. "Even though I'm male." She inhales, exhales, nods again. "Even though I've told you what I want, you continue to spend time with me. Why?" Fulfillment 13 Her mouth opens. "Look deep, Stephanie." She closes her mouth, swallows. He stands, slowly, his confidence and power wrapped around him. She involuntarily took a step back. "You have known my intent for some time, Stephanie, yet you continue to interact with me. Something in you wants this." He steps to the side of the table. She shakes her head, her mouth dry. "I know you were abused, Stephanie. And I can't imagine, and don't claim to understand, the horrors you endured. You've survived. And no male has touched you gently since you healed." "Except me." He takes another step. "You trust the males, at least a little. You trust me, a little more." The silence stretches between them. "Stephanie, are you afraid you might enjoy it?" She steps back again and begins pulling at her clothing. She disrobes, standing completely naked in front of him. She gestures to herself. "This. This is what I am. This is what they've done to me. Why would you want to touch me?" He had, of course, seen her before, but this time he took the time to more closely examine her body. She was relatively slim, as most female wolves were, muscles corded in her arms and legs. Her breasts were a little larger than most and it looked as though one of her nipples had been almost bitten off. There were multiple marks on her neck from the mating bites her keepers had delivered. Additional marks from clawed hands that has apparently held her by the throat. Marks on her shoulders from both claws and teeth. An old semicircle of claw marks at the edge of her pelvic bones, probably from being held during her rapes. Other scars from her fighting. Her buttocks were nicely rounded and held both scars and bitemarks. Her back muscles twitched as he circled her. He stood in front of her again and looked down. Starting at her feet, he scanned upward. More claw marks where her thighs met her body. Her pubic hair was not one color, mostly brown, with lighter brown coloration near her vaginal lips. There was a scar which left a hairless line across her mound. Strong abdominals, breasts again, collarbone, chin, lips, nose, and those green eyes framed with her short brown hair. Defiant. Angry. Anticipatory. He reaches for her hand and she steps away. He follows and grabs her hand. She swings with the other and he deflects it, while bringing the captured hand to his lips. "Did you sleep well during our nap? Were you comfortable?" She stops and blinks. "I don't understand." He holds her hands. "Did you feel comfortable during the time we napped?" "Yes." "Would you sleep beside me, in my bed, tonight?" She swallows, examining his face. He waits, letting her decide. He had always let her decide, even if he had made the first move by kissing her. But, she would not take these steps on her own. He had to ask. Sleep. He had said sleep. Not sex. He was looking at her, waiting for an answer. "Alright." He smiled at her, obviously pleased with himself. It pissed her off and she growled at him. And then she yelled as he picked her up, "Hey! Put me down!" He stops and sets her gently on her feet. "I can walk. And I will not be carried, naked, through your den." "Of course." Stephanie dressed and they walked up to the Alpha suite. "Would you like me to reiterate my order to take you home if you call for help?" She shook her head then stopped dead as they reached the doors. "The Alphas will wonder why I haven't returned." He takes her hand. "No. They won't." "The pack. Both of them. Will think I've had sex with you." "Do you care what they think?" "No," she growls. "They'll think I'm weak, that I've gone soft." Calvin thinks to himself, Yes, you do care. How to answer her? Ah, yes. "Do they consider Ariel soft?" "What?" "Your Alpha female, does anyone consider her weak?" "No." Calvin pushes the door open and turns slightly to her. "Are there any rituals you perform before going to sleep?" A dark-haired wolf watched them, following their progress. "Excuse me?" "Bathing, brushing teeth, taking a beverage?" "I sometimes read, sometimes run." "I sit and watch the news." "You're interested in human news?" "I interact with humans, Stephanie. We have to be aware of their rules, anything that may affect us." "Come, sit with me while I find out what is happening around us." She takes some deep breaths and walks in, then carefully sits beside him. The television screen powers up and, after a few commercials, ends up in the middle of the sports. Basketball. Next comes financials, weather, local news. A fire. Abduction of a child. Burglaries. A local protest. "Why do they keep interrupting?" "It's how they make money to provide the service. The advertisers hope it will persuade people to buy what they sell." She had been completely sheltered. She obviously had had little contact, if any, with humans and had no idea of the workings of the human world. Stephanie had kept to the Wyeth den, she did not drive, and had isolated herself there. From what he had found, she interacted with the others only to the barest minimum. She had denied everything she was for 5 or 6 decades. And both Wallace and Randall had allowed it. It made him both sad and angry. Though she would vehemently deny it was the case, he was drawing her back, making her a werewolf again. Calvin yawns. "Well, I'm tired. If you wish to watch for a while, please feel free. If you wish other clothing to sleep in, we will get you something." "No. I'm fine." And, at that point, he wondered what discomforts she had put up with in the intervening years so as not to ask anything of anyone. So as to appear to need nothing from anyone. He rose. "Well, then. Goodnight." He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to the top of her head which she tried, and failed, to avoid. He walks to his closet and changes into a pair of cutoff sweatpants. He glanced at her, sighed, turned off the lights, and climbed into his bed. Alone. She looked at the television. What was she supposed to do? She normally just stripped and climbed in bed. She flipped through the stations and found a show on rabbits. But she barely paid attention. She heard him roll in the bed and thought, What was she doing here? Why was she doing this? She didn't know what had gotten into her, why she would agree to such things. What in the world was wrong with her? But, she had agreed to it. She would do it. She flicked off the television, throwing the room into darkness. She heard his breathing, smelled his scent. The room smelled of others, faintly, both males and females. Of course, he was Alpha and would interact with other members of his pack here. He was not asleep, but resting there, waiting for her. She rose and looked at the bed. It seemed smaller somehow but was still large enough that she wouldn't have to touch him to sleep in it. He held still, quiet, waiting for her. Waiting for her to decide. She could do any of several things, including going to wolf and sleeping on the floor. She took one step. Another. He waited. She approached the foot of the bed. Her chest felt tight, her stomach clenched. She stopped, and took a few deep breaths. She waited for her heart to stop pounding. What was wrong with her? Time passed. She took another step. And another. She was at the corner and it was hard to breathe. What was this? Another wait. Another step. It was getting harder. She growled, low, and noticed his movement. He was watching her. She took three more steps to just beyond the center of the bed. She whirled, sat, then lay down on the other side of the bed. Her breathing was labored and she was tense. She tried to relax. He made no comment, made no move to touch her. *** As they cuddle together in their bed, Madeline asks her mate a question. "They left pretty late. Do you think she'll stay overnight?" Half asleep, Erich says, "What?" "Stephanie. Do you think she's spending the night?" "I find it hard to believe she would." "I've only heard bits and pieces. She was kidnapped by rogues, right?" "Mm, hm. Had her for years. Wallace found them, rescued her." "Wallace was the Alpha's father?" "Yeah. Before my time." "Was she born to Wyeth?" He yawns. "Nope. Somewhere else." Madeline thinks for a minute. His eyes start to close. "How many were there?" "Hmm?" "The rogues. How many?" "Five, I think." "What about the other females?" "Never heard of any others. Emmett might know." Madeline shivers and Erich tightens his arms around her. She whispers, "How horrible." He mumbles, sleepily, "We got her out, saved her." Madeline cuddles closer to her mate as he falls asleep. "No," she murmurs, "I'm not sure you did." *** Calvin was old enough that he no longer slept particularly well, especially when it was cold out. But he was surprised when he woke and saw the time. They still had some time before breakfast. Stephanie had her back up against him, sharing warmth as the bedroom was cool. He smiled to himself then realized what had woken him. She was twitching, whimpering. He had an arm around her, though they weren't quite spooning, and he tightened his grip slightly, trying to comfort her. He whispers, "It's OK, Stephanie." A male's voice. A male's scent. Oh, Luna, she was still a captive. It had all been a dream. She was 19 again and being held by 5 sadistic males. His hand went to her shoulder. Luna, it was happening again. She froze, but her heart pounded. His hand moved again and she involuntarily voided her bladder. He sat up now and shook her shoulder. "Stephanie. Wake up, little one." She was breathing quickly, eyes closed. "It's Calvin. You're having a nightmare." Her eyes flew open and her jade green eyes stared up at him. She swallowed and her eyes roamed, taking in his face, and the room. Her nose wrinkles and she raises the sheet. Stephanie sits up, sliding away from the wetness. "I'm sorry. I'll go." She gets out of the bed and starts pulling at the bedcovers. Calvin threw off the covers and came to her. "I'm sorry." "Stephanie, look at me. Look at me!" Her eyes snap up to his. "Why don't you go get cleaned up? I'll get some clothes and have this taken care of." She looks at him, frozen in place. He gestures to the bathroom. "Go on." Stephanie, walking a little funny, heads for the bathroom. As the water starts, he opens a window. As snow drifts in he chucks the bedclothes out. Next, he folds up the king-sized mattress, which fights him, and shoves it out the window, too. Clothing. The couple of things he had kept of Sabine's would not fit her. A knock at the door is followed by [Alpha, do you require anything?]. They'd noticed him throwing things out the window. [Everything is fine, Malcolm. I need clothing for our guest. Please have someone bring a large t-shirt and sweatpants from our stores.] [I will return shortly, my Alpha.] [Stephanie, I will have clothing for you shortly. I can give you one of my shirts.] She walks out of the bathroom, dry and naked. She looks at the dissembled bed. "I will pay you for the damage. I am sorry." He walks so stand in front of her. "Stephanie." She refuses to look at him. He takes her face and forces her to look at him. "There is no need for payment. No reason to be sorry." "I soiled the bed like a pup!" "You were having a nightmare. You were afraid." "No." There is a knock on the door. "Leave them outside the door." "Alpha? Is there anything you need? Anything else?" "No, Sampson. Thank you." A pause, he hasn't left. "Are you alright, Cal?" "I am fine. Return to your bed." His attention returns to her. "You were back with them, weren't you?" She looks at him, doesn't answer. "It was a nightmare. And I made it worse by trying to comfort you. You are not at fault." Her face is a mask, showing no emotion. "You were transported back, a young woman, and afraid of the next abuse you would suffer. Then, I'm sure, my scent and my touch increased the fear. I am sorry I caused you.. discomfort." She swallows. He was correct, what reason did she have to deny it? "You're right. I was back with the rogues. One or two of them would sleep with me. That way I couldn't get away. That way they could keep me." He looks at her; she looks at him. "Do you feel comfortable enough to stay the rest of the night? Or would you go home now?" She looks at the bed or, more correctly, at the boxspring. "We could sleep as wolves." Another pause. "We may have an empty room, I'd have to check." He watches as she shifts, turning into the brown wolf with light forelegs. She walks over to the rug, an area rug in front of the couch, and curls up, tail over her nose. He cranks the window closed and shifts, sliding easily from the shorts, then goes over to lie beside her. Fulfillment Dear Readers, Here is the first chapter in the continuing story of Lyssa and Emmett and the Wyeth pack. I've got a couple more chapters done but I'll warn you they won't all come quickly. For those of you new to the storyline the first installment is Animal Lover and the second is Pursuit of Happiness. Enjoy *********************************** Joanna's maturation party continues into the early morning hours. Couples steal off into the woods. Youngsters are chased off to bed, or back to it. Others drink, eat, dance, and talk. Some return home, others move to bedrooms or sleeping areas. Joanna falls asleep in a chair and Ariel suggests to Nathan that he take her up to her room. While he hadn't expected it, he nods to the Madam Alpha and moves to pick Joanna up. She protests, sleepily, "I'm not tired." He gets her into his arms. "Dad?" She sniffs and her eyes open. "Nathan?" Her sleepy blue eyes look at him, her light brown hair lies over his arm, loose, soft, like strands of silk. "Your mom said I should take you to your room." Her eyes go wide and she stiffens slightly. She was afraid of what that meant. "Sh. Just to your room, Jo. Just to the door." She knew the mechanics, had certainly seen sex in various ways between various mated, and unmated, couples. But she was afraid of what she did not know. "Um." He watches her bite her lower lip. So endearing. "Do you know if Cassie had her pup yet?" "I didn't hear anything. Is this her first?" Joanna nods. "Mom said the first one usually takes a while." Silence again and he stops at the landing at the top of the stairs. "Which way?" "Um. I can walk." He smiles at her. "Your mother asked that I see you to your room, which I will do. Besides, I'd like a kiss before I go home." "You have to go home?" she bites her lip again, realizing how that sounded. "I have to work in the morning." "But, you'll be back?" He smiles again. "Yes." Erich and Madeline are curled up together off one of the trails. They had been talking quietly and fell asleep in the evening warmth. Madeline yawns and stretches as someone calls her. Erich groans and rolls as she stands. [Erich. It's time for me to go home. Erich?] Erich huffs in his sleep. [Madeline!] [Coming!] She gives Erich a lick, [Thank you.] and heads for the house, for the car that will take her home. Cassie gives birth to she and Samuel's first pup, as her nervous mate stands by. The pup, a female, will be named in eleven days, at the full moon. Natalie leaves the new family in the birthing room, and heads to bed. As the guests leave the compound, the adolescent pups are roused, to help with the cleanup. While some grumble, they are reminded of their duty to the pack as incipient adults. As an unmated male now, Randall invites Calvin back the next day. Emmett maintains vigilance as their guests take their leave, both to maintain security of the den and to keep track of Lyssa. Thankfully, that is no longer difficult as she's no longer moving about. She's curled up in his lap, snoring lightly. *** The Wyeth pack sleeps. Erich wakes alone in the woods. He yawns, stretches, and opens his eyes. [Madeline? .. Maddie?] He smells her, her scent clings to his fur, but she's gone. He feels a profound disappointment as he returns to the house. Joanna wakes, alone in her bed, her dress in a pile on the floor. Then she smiles, thinking of the goodnight kiss Nathan had left her with. He had brought her to her door and set her on her feet. She looked up into his eyes. They were a startling blue, very light in color, like a misty sky. They held her, drew her in. He stepped closer to her, took her shoulders and ran his hands down to take hers. His smell. She had, of course, smelled males all her life. They were familiar, comforting, and made her feel safe. Nathan's scent made her feel different. Definitely male, it almost made her shiver. He leaned in, and she traced her hands up his arms, to his shoulders, and around his neck. He placed his hands on her hips, circled her waist, and pulled her closer. As their lips came together, she felt the softness, the warmth of his. Then, his lips parted and his tongue touched hers, slid into her mouth, and explored. She opened her eyes and saw him watching her as they kissed. Then his eyes closed and he groaned, pulling her more tightly to him. She felt the hardness of his body, his muscles, his... Oh, he was aroused. She felt his hardness. It scared her, made her curious, made her feel powerful. He groaned once more, pulled her tighter, then released her and broke the kiss. She heard his heart hammering, the depth of his breathing, and saw something in his eyes. He brushed his lips across her cheek, "Good night, Joanna." He stepped back and walked down the hall, away from her. She stumbled into her room and exhaled. "Wow." This morning she yawns and stretches, arms above her head. She touches her lips, smiles, and gets ready for breakfast. Ariel is awakened by her mate's laving of her neck. His warm hand is on her breast, a fingernail raking over her sensitive nipple. She moans, "Ran." "I'd like to dance with you again, El. Would you like to dance?" His mouth moves to her breast now while his hand trails down her body, to stroke between her thighs. She sighs. "Oh, yes." He can smell her. She's wet, ready for him. He rolls over, onto her, and looks into her eyes. He's poised, ready to sink into her, his cockhead rubbing against her slippery opening. Her husky request makes him groan and capture her mouth in a fierce kiss. "Hard, Ran, don't be gentle." One firm, hard thrust and he buries himself in her slippery heat. She shrieks into his mouth, digging her nails into his shoulders. He pounds into her, hard and fast, her hips rising to meet his. It doesn't take long before his knot swells and he forces it into her well lubricated pussy. He feels her clenching around him as he jabs fast and short, then howls as he empties himself into her. He collapses onto her as she sighs under his weight and kisses his shoulder. "Mmm. Marvelous wake up, Ran." "You're not so bad yourself, El," he pants. The next morning Lyssa wakes to the sounds of the pack, the comforting smell of her mate, and the uncomfortable feeling of his arm across her chest. She nudges him. "Em. I love your arm around me, just not so much right now." He groans and rolls. "Emmett?" His eyes open and he jerks his arm away. "Oh, Lys, did I hurt you?" "No. Just didn't feel so good, even though it did." "Huh?" His eyes, her favorite chocolate eyes, were hazy with sleep, his grey hair tousled. He smelled wonderful. She caresses his cheek with her good hand and he kisses it. "How do you feel this morning?" "Better. Every day better. But not there yet. I'm so sick of being hurt." "Natalie's gonna take your cast off today. Maybe we can go for a run." "If she lets me shift. Hey, did Cassie have her pup?" Emmett smiles, his eyes lighting up. "A little female. Naming ceremony in 11 days." "Do the females ever get to go on the hunt after a naming?" "Would you want to?" "Am I not a wolf?" "Mmm. I find that rather arousing." He sighs, "but I think I'd really hurt you if I showed you how much right now." "There are parts of me that aren't hurt." She smiles at him, licking her lips. He smiles, "Perhaps I can find a spot." Roland was very busy this morning. He's currently sucking on the pussy of the female settled over his face while another is riding his cock. Cyn and Diana had latched onto him, in more ways than one, and had wormed their way into his bed for the night. It may have made him a bit uncomfortable at first but was not unpleasant. Cyn was riding him, driving up and down his hardened length while a low growl rumbles in her chest. She has braced herself against his chest and alternates between scratching his abs and digging into his pecs. Diana, meanwhile, was sitting on his face. He had ahold of her hips, trying to keep her tilted so that he could use his mouth and tongue to best effect. She has her fingers wrapped tightly in his hair. He felt her muscles clench around his tongue every time he stabbed it into that warm wet tunnel. Then she'd moan or groan as he tongued around her slit, producing little shrieks and bucking her hips when he sucked her sensitive bud into his mouth. Cyn's motions were getting jerky as she pumped his staff in and out of her pussy, her muscles starting to tighten around him. Luna. How did males keep track of two females at one time so that everyone got satisfaction? So, soon. He flicks his tongue over Diana's clit as one of her hands goes to her breast to pluck at a tight nipple. He then bites lightly on it and hears her shriek her climax. A gush of fluid hits his face and he sputters, shoving her sideways so he doesn't drown in her juices. Cyn continues rising and dropping on him, harder, faster, as Diana yells, "Hey!" and he wipes off his face. "Luna, woman, you're like to drown me." Cyn stiffens and howls above him as he jerks his hips up to deliver his load into her waiting depths. Two howls bounce off the walls of his room, one higher pitched than the other. The three of them collapse into a sweaty heap on his bed. Cassie cleans off her new daughter with her long rough tongue. Samuel lies on the floor, head on his paws, staring at his mate and their first pup. A little dark haired female. [She's beautiful, Cass. So are you. How do you feel?] [A little sore. A little tired. Happy. .. She's gorgeous, isn't she?] He licks Cassie's forehead. [Just like her mother. I love you, mate.] [I'm glad we have a few days before the naming ceremony.] [It's gonna be busy for the next couple of days, though. And I have duties.] Cassie flops over onto her side as the pup noses her way to a nipple and latches on, suckling thirstily. Cassie sighs in contentment. [She's a hungry little thing. You still like the name?] [Yes.] After breakfast, the pack takes stock of supplies and arrangements for the next two days. The adults discuss the party, the Alphas, the food, the various unmated wolves, the decorations, the clothes. There is also talk of the wolf imprisoned in the outbuilding. Simon and Anton start preparing for the arrival of their guests that afternoon. Lyssa made her way downstairs to check on the food and arrangements. She did need to get more beef for the following day and everyone had enjoyed the raspberry trifle, so she thought to order more. The alcohol was holding up better than she expected. Ariel walked in to check on the work. "I see all is well in hand. Very good." She looks at Lyssa. "Doesn't your cast come off today?" "I'll go find Natalie shortly. Have you seen Cassie's pup? How is she?" "Nervous, as are most first time mothers. Especially with so many strange wolves about. But she's well. A healthy pup." "So, she's probably going to hide the next couple of days." "And we likely won't see much of Samuel, either. He's been relieved of his duties to see to his family." Their guests begin arriving some time after lunch. Erich and Emmett are taking a turn guarding Alan. "So, Erich, what happened to you last night? I barely saw you." "Had a couple of females sniffing around. They were a handful." "Since you're going to be confirmed as Beta soon, I'm not surprised. Either of them to your liking?" "Maybe. If they hadn't both come at me at the same time and pulled my clothes off." Emmett tries to muffle his laugh behind a hand. "Don't laugh. They didn't have you backed into a corner." "How hard did you try to get away?" Erich gives Emmett the evil eye as they stand there a few minutes longer. Erich's nostrils flare and his head swivels toward the house. "Selene! They got Roland." Emmett turns to see two females hanging on Roland. "So. Slept alone last night?" "Kindof." "OK, Erich, give." "I went out to the back garden..." Calvin arrives early and is greeted by Randall. "How are you doing, Cal?" "Both excited and troubled in spirit, my friend." "Come in. Let's see what food and drink has been set out." An exhale. "I have an idea of what may be troubling you but that's not something we should discuss." "Is he still alive?" "Yes." Randall stops any further questions with a look. "What is it that has you excited?" "I find myself looking forward to seeing one of the females of your pack." "Stephanie?" Calvin nods. "Tread lightly, Cal, she's been badly used by males." "She seems pleasant enough around me." "She's never looked for a mate and she is not part of this gathering. She will be attending to her duties today." Joanna sits on the front steps as Lyssa greets the returning unmated wolves. Some pair off quickly, others eschew those they had been with the evening before, looking for a different potential partner. Others head directly for food and drink. A couple of the younger males sit and talk with Joanna for a while, but it's obvious her attention is elsewhere. [Jo. I see Severn's here. Did Nathan say he was coming back?] [Said he had to work today.] [Well, then, he'll be here later.] [Uh, huh.] A couple of the Severn males were absent but would surely show up later. If they had found any of the unmated females to their liking, they would be back. Severn's duties in the police force would give them less latitude for time off. Gordon brings food for the imprisoned wolf, who's beginning to lose his cool. He'd been fed well since they'd put him here. He hadn't been beaten, or questioned, simply shackled to the floor. He had no idea how long he'd be there or what they were going to do to him. He had expected a quick, bloody, and painful death. He hadn't gotten that and it was almost worse. They wouldn't say what was going to happen. "Alright, Erich, off you go. See if you can find a nice female." "Sure, Gordon, thanks. See ya, Em." Erich walks back to the house, looking for Madeline. Calvin eventually runs into Stephanie and she reluctantly resumes their conversation from the previous night. Joanna sits up as another car arrives and a couple of Severn males step out. Nathan is not one of them and her face falls. Where was he? She gets up and goes into the house to get something to drink when she hears the sound of a motorcycle. She rushes back out to see Nathan getting off the bike. He was dressed in a grey t-shirt, a pair of black jeans, and black motorcycle boots. Nathan walks up the steps, smiling at her. "Hey, Jo. Did you think I wasn't coming?" "You might have had something important to do." "Well, I did have to find something." He holds a small jewelry box out, balanced on his palm. "What did you do?" "Got you a present. Here, open it." He takes her hand and places the box in it. "You didn't need to .." She opens it. Inside is a pair of earrings, small blue glass hearts that dangle from small chains. "I figured they'd match the necklace. Happy birthday, Joanna. Well. A day late." "Oh, they're great. Thank you!" She throws her arms around him and kisses him. He slides his arms around her waist and holds her close. She then steps away and takes his hand. "Hungry?" "Starving." She laughs and he walks with her to the buffet table. One of his cousins grins at him from the other side of the table. [Finding anything to your liking, Nate?] [Go 'way, Stuart.] The other Severn male chuckles. Joanna looks between them but no explanation is forthcoming. She wasn't dumb. Probably something about her. "So, anything happen at work today?" "Pretty boring, really, mostly reports.." Emmett stands, staring through a crack in the door at the Ross wolf. Alan looks at the brown eye that's watching him. "What do you want?" "What did you do to my mate?" "It wasn't me, it wasn't me, it wasn't me!" "But you helped, you were part of it." The tone is quiet, with an undercurrent of menace in it. [Emmett, don't get on the Alpha's shit list. We're supposed to leave him be.] [He's about ready to crack. I can find out what happened.] [About ready. Unless the Alpha changed his orders you oughta leave him alone.] Emmett does not speak further, but continues to glare at Alan. When Alex comes to relieve Emmett, Alan is practically screaming. "Make him stop!" "Lyssa told me to tell you Wade and Natalie let her shift. She said you should come find her." "Where is she? Why didn't she tell me herself?" "She figured you'd have more fun looking for her. Didn't want to give you any hints." Emmett grins, pulls off his clothes, and shifts to the large grey wolf. He sits back on his haunches and howls, clear indication to his mate that the chase was on. Lyssa tried a few tricks since she wasn't yet strong enough to elude him for any period of time. While she was mostly healed, there were still little aches and pains, particularly in her arm/foreleg. The bruises had turned yellow. But you couldn't see that on a chestnut colored wolf. She ran around a female watching two males fight in the circle, leapt over a pair of females napping together on the ground, apparently having pleasured one another. Huh. She wasn't aware of any homosexual pairs among the wolves. She knew there was nothing against it in the pack laws. Oh, pay attention. Run into the small lake to the northwest of the house. Oops. There was Emmett's howl. He'd be coming after her now, once he figured out where to start. Running into the water wouldn't distract him for long. Hmm. Where did she want to be caught? If she had been allowed to shift maybe she started from Medical, but, if he were supposed to find her she must have come outside. Not the garage door. Not the side door. Aha, there was her scent, mingled with others, out the back of the dining hall. Another howl from him. [I have your scent now, mate.] She does not answer. Alright. Nose down, Emmett starts tracking. Lyssa decided on the spot. She ran three large circles around it, then leapt up on a rock. On the other side was a small depression, under a tree, covered with low growing grasses and some ferns. She turned around twice and lay down. Emmett smells blood as he passes the circle and settles in to chase down his mate. Lyssa generally couldn't elude him for long, since he was faster and she wasn't at full strength yet, she wouldn't get far. Smell the sex in the air as he jumps over the two females, one twisting and groaning as she woke. Further on, to the lake. He chuckles as he sees she had waded in the shallow water. Now, where had she come out? On the opposite side, he sees Erich with a small brown wolf with white socks and a white tip on her tail. Madeline. Erich might well have found his own mate. Things were going well. Now, to find his. He finds her prints, where she had come out of the lake. Then, some zig zagging in the woods. Veering left, wait, the trail went both right and left. She had circled back on her trail, and more than once. That meant she was probably close. He stops, raises his muzzle, and scents the air. Faint. Maybe. Alright. He'd have to run the circle. He follows to the right, slowly, checking to see where she'd left it. He comes back to her entry point. Nothing. Did she backtrack her incoming trail? His wolf was quivering in anticipation of finding her. OK, walk the circle and look. He hadn't smelled anywhere she'd gone off trail. The circle was small enough that he could grid search it quickly. He walks the perimeter, slowly, nose up instead of down. And now, since he wasn't concentrating on scent, he knew where she was. There was a little hollow under a tree on the side of a hillock. She had found it one day when her wolf had been exploring. The afternoon they'd spent there. Mmm. As if he needed any further encouragement. Fulfillment 14 Dear Readers, I am working on getting to the ending but it's going to take another 3 or more chapters. Some things just turn as you right or beg for expansion. I hope you enjoy this installment. KemMyst *** Nathan left for work at his usual time the next morning and Joanna went to class. When she returned Kendra and Laura swept her up for a shopping spree. "But, I have clothes..." "You need a few new things, now you're mated." "C'mon, Jo." Kendra slides behind the wheel of a Chevy Equinox. Laura guided Jo to the passenger side and climbed in back. "But, the money..." "You're on Nathan's accounts now. He makes decent money." "I couldn't.." "Of course, you can. That's why it's there. Anyway, he'll like what we're after." "Where are we going?" Kendra smiles at Laura then they both look at Joanna. "Lingerie shopping." "I've got underwear.." "Too late, Jo. We're going to find you some nice things for Nathan." A couple of minutes go by when Laura leans forward. "So, how is he?" "Who? Nathan? He's good." "No. Jo. How IS he?" Joanna blushes scarlet. The other two females chuckle lightly. They talk briefly about their children, how they were progressing, then turn more intimate. "So? Did you get him to try it?" Joanna perks up. What were they talking about? "Yeah, he wasn't real sure, at first, but he got into it." "So? How'd it feel?" "It was a little uncomfortable at first but then I could feel everything. All he had to do was breathe." Joanna was listening with interest. "He shaved you?" Both older females turn to look at her. "Nathan shaved you?" Joanna blushes again. "No. But Lyssa does that sometimes." The two look at each other and smile. "So? Did he shave you? How did it feel?" "No. That wasn't it. We were playing with wax." Now she's really confused. "Wax?" Kendra takes up the explanation. "You light a candle, get it melting, and drip wax on your mate's body." "Hot wax? Doesn't that hurt?" Laura chuckles a little. "It stings a little, but then it's like it lights your nerves up." "But, you've got to get it off." "Yeah. That's part of it. Maybe you take a little bit of skin off, fingernails scraping at it." "Uh, where?" "Nips. Lips. Tip of his wang." Joanna's eyes go wide and Kendra and Laura laugh. "C'mon, don't tell me you're strictly missionary." "What?" Laura interjects. "Face to face sex. You've done other things." Joanna swallows, thoroughly embarrassed, and nods. "This is just something different to try." Kendra pulls into a strip mall and parks in front of a store named Lace and Garters. Joanna looks at the name and the display windows and swallows again as her sisters hop out. "C'mon, Joanna," they call to her. Joanna steps out of the car and walks to the door Laura's holding open, taking a deep breath, she walks inside. Kendra is looking through one of the racks. A saleswoman walks over to them, black camisole, short black skirt, hose, tall heels of more than 4 inches. She was blond, with curly hair, not quite ringlets, to her shoulders. Her lipstick was a dusky rose color and a ring with an onyx charm sat in her eyebrow. She looked to be in her mid 30s. "So, ladies, what can I do for you today?" Laura puts her hands on Jo's shoulders. "New victim. Just married." *** Stephanie is returned to Wyeth that morning and some of the wolves, primarily the males, make teasing noises. She growls at them. A couple of the females titter, and she stares them down. Emmett walks by on the way to talk to Simon about the upcoming changes to the cold storage unit. "Stephanie, is there a problem?" "No problem, Beta." "Justin, Jamie, and Mercy could use a workout with a new sparring partner. Do you have time to work with them?" "Of course, Beta." She was peeved and a bit unnerved. [You cannot prevent them talking about you. You have done something interesting. And, I hope...] he trails off. She looks at him. [Yes? What?] The tone is snappish. Definitely annoyed. [I was only going to say I hope you spent an enjoyable night with the Alpha Ross.] A low growl comes from her throat as he turns and walks toward the kitchen. [Madam Alpha, may I speak with you?] [I am currently occupied, Stephanie, unless your need is immediate.] [No.] [If you come to the Alpha suite in 20 minutes, I should be free.] [Yes, Madam Alpha.] "So, Caroline, how many of the pups were you planning on taking on this field trip?" *** Joanna has tried on and tentatively modeled a couple of outfits. Black lace, black silk. A red halter-type dress. "Ladies. If I may?" The saleswoman, Sharon, was holding up a transparent dark blue baby doll. Kendra goes, "OOoo. Go on, Jo." Joanna takes the proffered outfit and disappears into the dressing room. "I think that will match her coloring better and accentuate her assets. What about either of you?" "My preference is leather." "Consider something different now and then. How do you think he would react?" Kendra looks at her. "That's an interesting thought." Laura has come up with a white, open cup demi-bra with red trim and a pair of bikinis with a frilly backside. Sharon looks at her. "A short sheer robe works well with that." Laura giggles and turns to find one to fit. "Come out, Joanna." The door cracks open. "I don't know." "C'mon, let us see." "Who's out there?" "Just us. C'mon out." Joanna peeks around the edge of the door and checks out the area. Seeing only Kendra, she opens the door more fully. The top is sleeveless and hangs to just below her navel. The neck is lightly gathered and the material is a sheer dark blue. The shape of her breasts was easily seen and her nipples may as well have been bare. The bottom was simple. A small triangle of slightly less transparent cloth covers the front, although it was difficult to get the full effect because she had to wear her underwear to try on the outfit. There was a larger triangle over her behind and small straps over her hips to hold them on. "That's it, Joanna. He'll love it." "I might as well be naked. And he's already seen me naked." "There's just that little bit of mystery, he can't see everything clearly this way. Adornment." As Laura comes back around the corner, Joanna shrieks and ducks back into the room. "Hey, Jo, let me see." Kendra walked off to one side of the shop as Sharon moved to assist her. Joanna peeked back out and looked at Laura. "Uh. Wow." "You don't have to understand all the reasons, like you could understand a male's viewpoint. You only need to know that they like it." She steps closer to Joanna, voice pitched low so the saleswoman can't hear. "It's related to the hunt, the chase." Joanna goes back in to change as Kendra comes back with a length of material in black. Laura slides into the same room with her. They all come back out, Joanna nervously clutching what she'd worn, Laura dangling her items from her fingers, and Kendra sporting a crotchless black lace catsuit. Joanna's eyes fairly bulge out of her head at the sight as Kendra turns. "So, Joanna, do you have any heels?" Kendra's dark hair spills over her shoulders and she looks at them with a sparkle in her brown eyes. Her nipples are poking against the fabric and they can smell her excitement. "I'm buying this." "Yes, you are. You understand you are required to wear undergarments to try anything on?" Kendra smiles and Sharon takes a step back. "No problem. Sorry." After they make their purchases they go back to the car. "So, Jo. Do you have high heels?" "No. Why?" "Much sexier, gives your hips that little extra sway." "Uh, OK." Unable to manage anything higher, Joanna ends up with a navy sandal with a kitten heel. "Now, the best thing would be to wash up and meet him at the door with it on." The two older females smile at her. "He'll love it." She looks back at them, a little disconcerted. Laura gestures with her head towards Kendra. "Hers won't last the night." *** Stephanie strides into the Alpha suite. Ariel looks up at her entrance. She puts down her work, folds her hands on the desk and says, "What is on your mind, Stephanie?" Stephanie stops abruptly and looks at her Madam Alpha, then looks around the anteroom. Strange to think, as long as she had lived here, that she could count on her fingers the number of times she had been in this room. "Stephanie?" "Madam Alpha, I..." Ariel had never seen her this uncertain. She waits expectantly. "The others are..." How could she complain about that? She knew that the others were gossiping about her. "I am uncomfortable." "In what way?" Stephanie closes her eyes and clenches her teeth. "Is it something to do with Calvin? Or here in the pack?" Stephanie inhales on a slight gasp, as if to speak, but does not. The Madam Alpha looks at her, relatively certain of what the matter was with their reclusive female packmate. While she enjoyed gossip as much as any and knew more than most due to her position, she needed to tread lightly here. And it seemed she would have to drag it from Stephanie. "You spent the night at Ross. I'll assume that it is the source of your discomfort." "Yes, Madam, Alpha." "I ask again. Is it Calvin or the pack?" Nothing. "Has someone in the pack been harassing you?" "I know they're talking about me. It, I don't know why it bothers me." "You are very familiar with being on the periphery. There is, however, nothing any of us can do to stop it." Stephanie closes her eyes and exhales. "And there's apparently something about Calvin you wish to discuss.." "You won't tell anyone?" Ariel had never heard her sound so vulnerable. "Depending upon what you divulge, you realize I may have to share it with the Betas?" It was understood that she would speak to the Alpha about it. Stephanie nods, clearly unhappy. "Has he forced you to do anything you did not want?" She shakes her head. Ariel would have been horribly and unpleasantly surprised if he had. Stephanie's voice is low, quiet, and Ariel strains to catch her words. "I dreamed of them last night." Them. Obviously the rogues who had held her. "Stephanie, did you and Alpha Ross... couple last night?" Stephanie looks at her hands, twisting in her lap. "No, Ma'am. We slept." Slept. Calvin had been moving slowly and had managed something they had considered virtually impossible. They had apparently slept together in his bed. "Did Calvin do something... Excuse me. How did you come to dream of your captors? Do you know?" Stephanie swallows, and breathes deeply. "You were with him, on the bed, perhaps his arm around you. A male, holding you. An you were transported back to your captivity. What happened then?" Her answer is again quiet. "He said he tried to comfort me." Which must have made it worse. "And?" "I need to pay for the damage I caused." Ariel frowns, had she lashed out? "Did you injure the Alpha Ross?" Stephanie lowers her head and shakes it. "No, Madam Alpha. The bed." "You certainly have sufficient funds to reimburse the Ross pack. What happened?" "I," and inhale and exhale, "I soiled the bed." Ariel took a moment to figure out what next to say. "Is it your intention to stay the night again?" "How can I..? Why would he...?" Her breathing speeds up. "Breathe, Stephanie, slowly." Stephanie stops hyperventilating and complies with her Madam Alpha. "Good." She releases a breath. "I can't imagine that he'd invite me back." Ariel frowns again, confused. "How did you leave, Stephanie? Did he throw you out?" The response is quick. "No! No. He.." Defending him but so unsure. While Stephanie had long been an adult she was acting for all the world like a young smitten female. As much as she would deny it, she cared for Calvin Ross and for what he thought of her. "...apologized. He sent me to clean up and took care of the bed. We finished the night as wolves." A pause. "He was probably just being polite." She sounded saddened. Ariel reaches out, carefully, as Stephanie was a wolf who didn't like to be touched. But she touched Stephanie's hand. "He cares for you and is aware of the reasons for your reaction." There is a knock at the door, startling both. "Madam Alpha? I would like to speak to you." "I'm busy at the moment, Madam Beta. I will inform you when I am free." Ariel returns her attention to Stephanie. "Other than that, how was your experience?" "Madam Alpha?" "Was lying in the bed with him pleasant?" "I suppose." "Then accept the invitation when he asks you again." "Yes, Madam Alpha." "Do you wish to discuss this further?" There is an exhale. "No, Madam Alpha." "Please, come talk to me if you need to." "Yes, Madam Alpha." "Leave the door open and, if you see Lyssa, please send her to me." "Yes, Madam Alpha." As Stephanie leaves, Ariel exhales. [Our little girl is growing up, Ran.] [What are you talking about, mate? Jo's well and truly mated.] [Not Jo. Stephanie.] [Ah, I see. I look forward to hearing about it.] [Love you!] Lyssa knocks and stops in the doorway. "May I come in?" Ariel glances at the records she was working on. "Of course." Lyssa enters and closes the door behind her. Ariel arches an eyebrow at her. Lyssa comes to stand before Ariel's desk, hands clasped, looking down. "What is it, Lyssa?" Lyssa takes a couple of breaths. "I came to apologize." "Indeed? What's happened?" "No. I mean for before. Challenging you. Being angry with everyone. Hurting Jo." "Not only Jo but Emmett, Lyssa." There is spike of anger. "You don't need to tell me.." She went straight to being defensive, why was she so mad? It was, after all, true. It was, after all, why she was here, after all these months. Ariel looks at the Beta female. "You've come to assuage your guilt over your actions." Ariel pauses. "Joanna was hurt but you know she has forgiven you. She's happy to have you returned to us. As the rest of us are. The pack is relieved to have you restored as we are whole again. We were all afraid that you had gone feral and that we would lose the both of you. It would have been a great loss." "I.." "The human part of you, Lyssa, was the reason for the issues to begin with. You had assimilated well but you were not born a werewolf. There are things that are innate with us that you do not share. You will always be different from us." She really couldn't respond to that; her Madam Alpha was going somewhere with this. But she murmured. "I'll always be less than you." "Less, perhaps, but more, as well." Lyssa's dark brown eyes lift to Ariel's face. Ariel had never realized before the depth of her dark eyes. "You have a skill none of the other wolves in memory has had. And, with it, you saved both my daughter and your own mate." "Anyone else would have helped Joanna." "Helped, yes, and died in the attempt. And Joanna would now be Michael's pet." "You've tamed our Emmett. He was never satisfied with any of the females presented to him, no one but you. And we came so close to ruining it all for him, didn't we?" Lyssa looks down again and swallows. Ariel puts her fingers under Lyssa's chin and lifts her face. Looking mildly unhappy, Lyssa looks at the Madam Alpha. "Didn't we?" Lyssa nods, sharply, once. "I'm sure you're not aware of the manner in which you've affected Stephanie." "Stephanie?" "It was your answers to her questions that allowed her to chance her relationship with Calvin." "Me?" Lyssa asked, surprised. "With a little additional help but, yes, you." Ariel smiles at her. Lyssa is quiet a few moments. "What does going feral mean?" "It happens rarely and we aren't quite sure why. There have been theories. The Foster's healer postulates an imbalance in brain chemistry. The affected wolves become volatile. And entirely bestial." Lyssa looks both frightened and saddened. "It is as you fear. They have to be destroyed." Again, Lyssa's voice goes quiet, although, this time, it's in Ariel's head. [That's why he took me out of the den.] Ariel takes a few steps around the desk and takes Lyssa's face in both hands. "He took the responsibility on himself, for the pack's sake. But, if he had had to kill you, he would never have returned to us." Lyssa's voice is strangled by emotion. "What if I killed him?" Tears glint in the Madam Beta's eyes, there was something more here. Should she answer the question? "We would hunt you down." Tears now ran down her cheeks as Lyssa takes hold of Ariel's forearms. "Is there something I can do to make it more likely I'll get pregnant?" Ariel exhales. "Old wives tales." She flashes a smile. "Or should I say 'old bitches tales?' Nothing certain. Have you talked with Natalie? Or Wade? Or Thomas?" Lyssa shakes her head. "Start there." Lyssa takes a shaky breath and stands, briefly holding Ariel's hands. "Thank you, Ariel. Madam Alpha." As she opens the door to leave, she finds Cassie in the doorway, bouncing a fussy Emmaline. "Madam Alpha, may I speak to you?" Ariel sighs. It was going to be one of those days. Lyssa sought out her mate. She followed his scent, instead of calling for him. The warm, woodsy, masculine scent of Emmett. It was hard not to run across it almost anywhere in the den but she caught a recent scent trail. Gordon watched her scent the air, intrigued. He didn't think he'd ever seen the Madam Beta follow a scent trail before. Into the back hallway, she found he had ducked into the kitchen. Half a dozen cookies were missing from a tray. Oatmeal. She smiled. Hannah looked startled as she walked through, Simon was showing her how to cook venison. It was marinating in red wine, vinegar, black pepper, and onion. No, chives. She went out the back door and around the back of the house. Noises. Fighting. Practice with the young ones. Samuel and Emmett working with them on some drills. No sign of Erich. He was probably off coaching Mercy. The breeze blew in their direction and the chocolate brown eyes of her mate settled on her. Without a word, she walked up to him, standing on the perimeter, and wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her as everyone stopped to look at them. Samuel asked [What?] to which Emmett replied [Not a clue.] After a minute or two, she released her grip and Emmett let her go. [Better?] [Yes. Thanks.] She put her hands on his chest and got up on tiptoe in prelude to a kiss. He took her shoulders and leaned down, planting a brief, forceful kiss on her lips. When he released her, to catcalls from the young males, she smiled up at him, then turned away, still smiling. 'Damn, I wish she'd look at me like that.' *** Joanna was waiting nervously for her mate to come home. He was later than usual but had texted her that he had to finish something up for work. She walked around, pacing a bit, chewing on a fingernail. She was dressed in the blue babydoll. Finally, the sound of the approaching bike. Nike had been repaired and Nathan was happy to have her back. She sat on the arm of the couch as he parked the bike and walked to the door. Nathan scrubbed fingers through his short brown hair and was pulling off his jean jacket as he said, "Sorry, love, had to finish a report. We don't have a lot of time before din...ner with the Al..phas." He turned to find his new mate. He stiffened instantly. She was wearing something blue and transparent, her breasts readily visible through the thin cloth, the same blue in the panties. Her hands were slightly behind her on the arm, breasts thrust forward. That is, until she slid off with a squeak, "The Alphas!" Fulfillment 14 He grabbed her as she turned for the bedroom, pulled against him, and showed her how happy he was to see her. She gasped when he released her, burying his nose in her hair. "I'll be too distracted to respond to anything intelligently if that's what you're wearing to dinner." She swings at him. "No! Seriously, Nathan." She tries to pull away. "I've got to change, let me go." He lets her slide out of his grip looking after her appreciatively. "Don't change on my account." She emerges dressed in a pair of black capris and a pale blue shirt. *** Stephanie is invited to dinner at the Ross compound. A car was sent to pick her up. She takes a deep breath and enters the car. The Ross wolf driving was startled as she slid into the passenger seat. He looked at the back seat, then to her. Shrugging, he puts the car in drive and pulls away. Faces showed at some of the windows. At one, a female with red hair smiles broadly as a male with brown hair kisses her shoulder. Dinner is again in Calvin's suite. She eats quietly, her eyes flicking to him from time to time. Calvin spoke quietly about small things. He touches her hand across the table. "You're being quiet." "I have nothing to say." "You have no opinion on anything I've said?" Stephanie shakes her head. There was a lull in conversation. "Who was driving tonight?" "I'm not certain. What did he look like?" "Dark hair, very wavy, brown eyes." "Busted nose? On the smaller side?" She nods. "Trevor." And again she sits, quiet. An emotion wells up in him and he bites off a growl. "Why do you ask?" She looks up, quickly, at him and he watches the flicker of fear on her face turn to anger and determination. "You're mad I asked what his name is?" Calvin takes a breath, schools his expression. "Excuse me, Stephanie. Would you care for dessert?" Jealous. Was he jealous? What else could it be? Stephanie licked her lips. "OK." Calvin lifted a tray and brought over two small plates and set one in front of her before taking his place. "Would you spend the night with me?" She stops, poised, and looks at the bed. A new mattress and bedclothes. She looked back down at her plate and gestured at the dessert with her fork. "What is this?" "It's called a peach crumble." She digs in, chewing slowly, tasting the flavors, trying to unweave the complexity. Peaches, of course. Sugar. Butter. Spices. The topping. "It's good." "Bethany is adept at desserts. Do you want anything else?" "No. Thank you." Dinner finished, Calvin says, "It's time for the news." He extends his hand. "Sit with me?" She takes his hand and rises, walking with him to the couch. Calvin switches on the early news and watches, Stephanie beside him, trying to figure out what was going on. Stories on the television as if she'd entered a movie in the middle. Forty minutes later, he mutes the television and turns to her. "Will you stay?" He watches her trying to form a response. He crouches, taking her hand in both of his. "I would like you to stay." Stephanie looks into an earnest pair of blue eyes. "Alright." Calvin's heart thrills. "I have early sweep tomorrow." "Of course. When do you need to be back?" "About 6." "I'll arrange it." He hands her the remote, which she takes. "I would like a kiss." Looking up at him, she purses her lips. "More of a kiss than that." She gives him a puzzled look. Calvin takes her hands and pulls her upright. He looks into her eyes and slides his arms around her waist and brings her closer. She stiffens as her chest contacts his. He tilts his head and closes on her mouth. He presses his lips to hers and kisses her. His mouth remains closed. He holds there, inhaling her scent, feeling the warmth of her body. Calvin finishes the rather chaste kiss with a light brush to her cheek and a "Good night." He then released her, turned and went to the bathroom. As he closed the door, he smiled. Her hands had gone to his arms, but no further. But she hadn't pulled away. Calvin emerged, wearing sweatpant shorts, and climbed into his bed. She watched a show on Amazons. He had fallen asleep by the time she came to bed. *** Joanna had survived a dinner with her new Alphas. She was glad that Nathan had been there beside her, to squeeze her hand or thigh occasionally. He kept her steady. Aaron and Sarah Severn were nice people, really. They had asked her about herself, her parents, about their first encounter, hers and Nathan's. Aaron relayed a few stories about Nathan's youth. She enters his, their, house giggling slightly and feeling as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. He grabbed her by the arm, swung her against the wall just inside the door, took her face in his hands, and kissed her. Her hands go to his short hair as he presses his body into hers. [Nathan?] [Not now, Ma.] He chuckles to himself and put his forehead to hers. "Mom's got an epic sense of timing." Joanna's hand slides down her mate's body. She grabs his butt and pulls him more tightly to her. "Do you want to talk about your mother?" she smiles up at him. She feels movement, growth, a swelling against her belly as she twists, grinding against him. "What?" He's lost his train of thought. Clothes fly. He picks her up and wraps her legs around him. Nathan carries her over to the couch and sets the edge of her behind against the back. She loosens her grip on him slightly and he arranges himself, poised to enter her body. The tip of his cock is bathed in her juices as he nips at her neck. She throws her head back with a groan and he takes the occasion to latch onto a nipple and sheath himself inside her with one firm thrust. Joanna gasps and moans at the feeling. Being filled by her mate. [I've been thinking of that outfit all evening.] He pulls out, the tip of his manhood lightly touching her opening. [Kendra?] She gulps and he watches her throat convulse. "Uh, huh." He says, [Surprise me with it another night.] as he thrusts back into her and she moans. With her bottom braced against the back of the couch and his arms around her, one at her butt and one around her back, he begins a rhythmic thrusting that has her gasping and moaning, grabbing at his shoulders. It doesn't take long, given his thoughts of the past couple of hours, for his knot to swell. As he presses it into her most intimate place, she begins to pant. She's glistening, filmed with a thin layer of sweat as he begins his short, sharp jabs. He's groaning, breathing heavily, as he feels his imminent climax. [Jo, Jo, I'm..] His send degenerates into a howl of completion. She feels him pulsing inside her, feels the warmth of his seed filling her and, it felt good, but.. She heard his breathing slow a bit and felt his hand interpose itself between their bodies. The pad of his thumb rides over her curled hairs, down to her clit. She gasped as he began to rub. "Oh, oh, there. Oh, yeah. Harder." He followed her instructions and felt her muscles, her legs, tighten around him. Close, close. Just a little more. Her vaginal muscles clenched and the result is an almost painful pressure on his knot. This would be a long tie. Then, rippling, her muscles contracting and releasing around him. Her back arched and he had to grab her to keep her from falling back and hurting herself. And him. She sucked in air and smiled up at him. "MMmm." *** Kendra was riding her own mate. The black lace catsuit had not survived intact. There were holes where her breasts had been exposed. There were small rips on her thighs from teeth, several bite marks were evident on her thighs. Long lines were laid open on her arms and shoulders. Of course, Kyle was almost equally marked. His pecs and shoulders showed marks from her nails. There were bite marks on his neck and collarbone. She leaned down, kissing him deeply as she shifted her pelvis back and forth, rolling herself against him, searching for her release. He reaches up to touch her and she grabs his hands, pressing them back to the bed. "No, no. Kyle, not until I say so." Kyle groans, looks into her eyes, and licks his lips. "Kendra, sweetie.." She bites his lower lip, pulling it away from his mouth. "Not yet." She resumes her movements, rolling her pelvis, rubbing her engorged clitoris against his body. She sits upright again, shifting up and down slightly, rubbing in small circles against his pubis. The weeping evidence of her sexual state is pooled around the base of his hardened length and is trailing over his balls. She throws her head back and grabs her breasts, twisting and pulling at her nipples. Kyle can't hold back any longer and grabs her hips, raising her up and down as he thrusts upwards into the tight wet muscular channel of his mate. "Get down here." Kendra looks at him, then leans down. He takes a nipple into his mouth and bites down. Kendra shrieks, then howls, as her orgasm overwhelms her. The world goes bright as exquisite, almost painful pleasure slams though her body. The strong contractions of the muscles around him sends Kyle over the edge and his howl echoes hers. As his penis pulses inside her, it sets off another set of quakes in her and another orgasm catches her by surprise. She actually stops breathing for a few moments, eyes wide. The additional twitching of her muscles sucks more semen from him and he groans. Both are breathing heavily, sweating, as she collapses onto him. [Damn, baby.] *** She was touching him, a hand around his shaft, her gorgeous mouth around him. Her mouth was wet, and warm. Her tongue was wrapped around him bringing an intensely pleasurable feeling in his cock. He had a hand on one of her tits, oh, he loved their size, and the other in her chestnut hair. He was fucking her mouth, and she was taking him, all of him. Oh, he wasn't extraordinarily large, but he was a good size. He felt himself slide into her throat, and she swallowed, and the feeling on the head of cock was more than he could take. He begins spurting, groaning his release. Brandon waits for his breathing to return to normal before getting up to clean himself up. Ross looks over at him. "Really, man, who is it?" *** Stephanie woke comfortable in some ways and uncomfortable in others. She didn't wear clothing to bed and some things have twisted. An arm was thrown over her shoulders and her back was pretty warm. Not to mention the smell... He moved his nose, half awake, against her shoulder. Then pressed a light kiss to it. "Morning." She pulled away. Stephanie sat on the edge of the bed, facing away from him. Calvin lay on his side, looking at her back. He reaches a hand out toward her, then pulls back as she glances at him. "I have to go." A sigh. "I told Sampson to have a car readied. It should be waiting for you downstairs." She goes into the bathroom and emerges in pants, a flannel shirt over the t-shirt. Shorts that she had worn to bed in her hand. "Leave them, I'll have them laundered." Stephanie drops the shorts and glances back at him again, hand on the doorknob. "Goodbye." "Good day, Stephanie. Thank you for coming." He rolls to his back and closes his eyes as the door clicks shut. He should sleep another hour or so. He rolled to his side as he heard the car pull out. Opening his eyes to slits, he notices the shorts. Calvin slides out of the bed, grabs them, and climbs back in. He inhales her scent, then twists them around and sniffs at the crotch. Ah, her essence. While there was no evidence of arousal, females still smelled differently there. He fell back to sleep with her scent in his nose. He arrived at Wyeth later that day, to see his friend and meet with Stephanie under more comfortable surroundings, for her. What he doesn't expect is to be approached by the Beta female. "Alpha Ross? May I speak to you? Privately?" "Is Stephanie alright?" "Oh, yes. Um, she is." "I see. Something else then." "Please, would you come with me?" They enter a small meeting room and Lyssa leans against the door and exhales. "I would like to explore an idea with you." Lyssa went over her idea of a pack council with him. "You've discussed this with your Alpha?" "Yes. But if you haven't talked about it then it hasn't gone any further. I think it needs to happen." "Why?" "One of these days, the word will get out about werewolves. And we'll either be overrun with people who want to study us or, more likely, hunted down and killed because they're afraid of us. The packs would be wiped out if we don't find a way to work together." Calvin sits quietly for a bit, thinking. "I find no fault in your reasoning. Who would lead this council of yours?" "I'm not sure. It shouldn't just be one pack." "There are seven packs so voting would provide a clear majority." "Maybe a rotating leadership? Or maybe an election?" "I'll consider your suggestion." "Thank you. I really think we need this." Calvin looks thoughtful. "The human race is adept at ignoring things they don't want to see. But, you're right, there will come a time the humans will know us for what we are." He strums his nails against his teeth. "If it is not the Alphas themselves there will be trouble. None will wish to see an affront to their authority." Lyssa looks at him. "This will not be simple, Madam Beta. It will take time and it may take a crisis to bring some of the Alphas to agree to something like this." She stands. "Thank you for listening. I have spoken to Ran.. my Alpha but thought I should spread the idea." "Randall is aware of this conversation?" He watches Lyssa shrink back. "No." Her voice gets quieter. "I did this wrong. Oh, shit." "You must learn to be more aware of werewolf politics. You familiarity with me is no excuse." Lyssa's heart rate and breathing speed up. He smiles, baring his teeth, and chuckles. Lyssa is suddenly afraid. "Of course, I have become too much a fixture around here. I have my pack to run. I should be there. But, I keep coming here because she is here." Calvin Ross looks up to Lyssa. "Madam Beta, how does she seem to you?" Lyssa licks her lips. "Unsettled. I should go." "Of course." Lyssa quickly rises and leaves the room. [Randall, I've got some business to transact.] [My office then, Calvin.] Calvin hands over a check for the car that his son had demolished. Randall accepted it without looking at it. "Is there anything else you can think of that I, that Ross owes you?" "Jo is happily mated." Calvin's face shows surprise. Randall smiles. "Three days ago, Cal. Our Betas are healed and you have paid dearly yourself. How is the pack?" "Better. Although I have two new widows, one of which will go into her first heat any day now." "Michael's mate?" Randall asks. Calvin nods, sadly. Randall stretches. "The taxes are killing me. I could use a break. Up for a session in our circle, my friend?" Calvin sighs. "I could use a workout." Two large wolves trot out of the den and head toward the Wyeth circle. [So, Randall, Lyssa was talking to me about a pack council.] Randall stops dead and turns to face the Ross Alpha. [What did you say?] [Your Beta female broached the subject of an inter-pack council.] [LYSSA FORESTER! Circle. Now!] Lyssa drops the book she's holding and shudders. Fuck. The rat bastard had sold her out. Celia turns to look at her. Breathing heavily, hands trembling, Lyssa fumbles, trying to get out of her clothing. [Randall, stop.] Randall snarls at the older male. A large grey wolf bursts from the den, headed for the Wyeth circle and the Alpha males. [Lyssa!], the Alpha calls again. Lyssa flinches and shifts, shredding the clothing she was wearing and stumbling toward the door. She stumbles again, leaving through the side door, and falls on her shoulder in the muddy slush. Whining, she gets back to her feet and, with trembling legs, her tail tucked tightly to her belly, Lyssa heads for the Wyeth circle [Randall.] [Cal, she's gone outside the pack hierarchy. She knows better than that.] Emmett stands by, worry emanating from his frame, unsure of what had happened. But he didn't think he'd ever heard Randall quite so angry. And it was directed at his mate. Their Alpha female, in the form of a russet wolf, rushes out to find out what was going on. [Ran, what is it?] Randall paces, awaiting the chestnut wolf. Lyssa was slinking out towards the circle, belly low to the ground, whining. Emmett trots over to her. [What happened?] [Stupid.] is all he gets from her. The fear stench coming off her was almost overwhelming. Randall stands, growling, puffed up to his full size. Waiting. [Randall?] [She spoke to Calvin about her idea of a pack council. She's overstepped her bounds, speaking of such things outside the pack.] [It is something that affects us all, Randall, all the packs. I admire the forward thinking.] [Don't you start, Cal.] [Ran, Lyssa is being Lyssa. We've commented on the strategic nature of her mind.] [Talking to Calvin about something like this without me. She's undercut my authority. That can't go unpunished.] [She brought this up almost three months ago, mate. She is acting as Beta female, looking out for the pack's future.] Randall watches Lyssa slink toward him. He inhaled, she was terrified of him right now. He wanted her to be afraid, to some extent, to be more mindful of his place as Alpha. He needed to cement that in her mind. But she was much more afraid than he had anticipated. Emmett stood back, but stayed close to his mate. Randall could see the trembling in his muscles. Curious eyes watch the tableau. Randall shifts to intermediate form and grabs Lyssa by the throat. She yelps and whines, eyes rolled away from him. [Lyssa Forester, do you understand why you're here?] Dangling from his hand, eyes showing too much white flick to Calvin. [I talked to Calvin about a pack council, Alpha.] [Why?] [He's, he's another Alpha and I think it's important. I wanted his opinion.] [You value his opinion over mine?] [No.] A whine. [But?] [But, he's older.] Ariel tries again. [Ran.] [Explain to me your motivation. What do you think you're doing?] [Something good for the pack, for all the packs, Alpha.] [And I wasn't moving fast enough for you?] Another whine. [Was I not moving fast enough for you, Madam Beta?] Randall shakes her. [We need this.] [And I've been too slow..] She whines, [Yes.] Randall stops, he's holding her close enough that she can feel his breath on her face. Emmett watches Randall's jaws open and catches his breath. Randall laughs, full-throated. His hand opens and she drops to the ground. Lyssa stays where she falls, afraid to move. Randall's voice comes out gravelly, as it usually did in that form. "Perhaps you're right, Madam Beta. But there was a better way to go about it." [Yes, my Alpha.] Randall looks to Emmett, who's still quivering in fear for his mate. "Your mate needs to learn patience, Beta." [You will spend the next three nights assisting me with the taxes.] [Yes, Alpha.] Randall shifts back to wolf and shakes out his fur. [Calvin?] The two Alpha males head for the Wyeth circle as Emmett nudges his mate, who's in a miserable huddle on the ground. She stands, shaky, fear still rolling off her in waves. [Lyssa, what the hell was that?] She whines again. [I talked to Calvin about the idea for a pack council.] [Lyssa!] [Told you it was stupid.] [Why would you do that?] [Calvin's a friend..] [An Alpha!] [Yes, that, too, and I wanted his opinion.] [Mate, you're going to age me 50 years.] [I've got to help with the taxes the next three nights.] Fulfillment 14 [Randall hates doing taxes.] [Wonderful.] [C'mon, let's get you cleaned up before dinner.] *** Calvin has dinner with Stephanie, sitting beside her at the table she usually occupies. However, his invitation to spend the night is met with a firm, "No." And his request for a reason goes unanswered. *** Lyssa come to bed late that night, having worked for over three hours to answer and put numbers to the questions Mr. Pinchot had asked. Tax codes had changed again and the complicated nature of the pack made the calculations more difficult. They had made a good amount of headway by the time Randall had dismissed her. Emmett held the bedcovers open and she snuggled up against the solid warmth of her mate in the coolness of their bedroom. He kisses her forehead as he puts an arm around her. "Tired?" "Yeah, my head hurts." "Alright, sweetheart, let's get some sleep." "Mmm." It doesn't take long before she's asleep. Emmett falls asleep beside his maddening mate. Fulfillment He leapt up to find his mate, [Gotcha!] asleep. Curled up in the warmth of the day, nose under her tail, she was lightly snoring. He stepped closer to her, carefully, and licked her forehead. She jerked and snarled, coming awake quickly, ready to attack. He stands still, waiting for her to recognize him. [Em, oh, I'm sorry. I guess I fell asleep.] [I can wait, sweetheart.] [No, Em, I need to feel you. I want you to love me.] She stands there, backside to him, looking over her shoulder, her dark brown eyes calling to him. Emmett's wolf wants nothing more but to take his mate. As she cocks her tail to one side he growls lightly, then takes the scruff of her neck in his teeth. He stands over her, cock hard and dripping. [Yes, Emmett, my mate. Yes.] One firm thrust and he was in. Wet and warm, she hugs him tightly as he groans. [It feels good to be back, Lys.] She pushes back against him and he takes the hint, thrusting into her as she braces herself. He rumbles in his chest as he takes his willing mate and she shudders as he pushes his knot home. Now, it was short hard thrusts until he emptied himself into her depths. She feels the warmth, the weight of her mate covering her. She feels the pleasant fullness of him inside her and the warmth that flooded into her as his cock swelled and released. She feels some pain in her foreleg and it distracts her. As he releases the scruff of her neck he makes a querulous sound in his throat. [Shift, mate. I don't want to crush you.] They both change to human form and, still locked together, he pulls them over onto their sides and cradles her in his arms. His free hand travels down her body and she stops him when he reaches the dark brown curls on her mound. "No, Em. It's OK. I'm good." "But I didn't feel... Lyssa, I didn't satisfy you." "For now it's good to have you with me." WTF? He had pleasured her just this morning. It didn't make any sense, unless, ... "It hurt this morning, didn't it?" "Um." She bites her lip. "It was great, but, yeah, more than I expected, it hurt afterwards. My ribs and my stomach still aren't there yet." She twists and smiles at him. "I'll let you make it up to me later." He kisses her. "Be assured I will, mate." Erich takes Madeline on another run on the trails. She seems much more comfortable as wolf and she was a pretty thing. They romp through the woods and along the trails. She was energetic, playful, and she smelled fresh and female. He was enjoying himself. [Erich, this is so nice. Thank you.] [I'm having a good time, too.] She pounces on him, yips, and darts away. He wonders how much younger she was as he follows the white tip of her tail. She hadn't been at the last gathering six years prior, so she had either reached maturation in that time or had declined the invitation. Maybe she hadn't yet been ready to seek a mate. So, he chases her, smiling a wolf grin, as she darts back and forth in the woods. And, in standard wolf play, he trips her, bowls her over, and puts his jaws around her throat. Madeline goes completely still beneath him and he hears her heart start to hammer. She whimpers and he feels her tail creep between his legs to clamp over her belly. [Madeline?] He steps away, releasing her. She rolls, staying on her belly and not looking at him. [Hey, sweetie, I was just playin'. It's OK.] She looks up at him and slinks closer. He licks her forehead. [I'm sorry I scared you.] She slowly comes up to standing, seeming unsure. What made her react that way? [So, are you hungry yet?] [Uh, yeah.] [C'mon. Simon makes a mean steak.] He leads her back to the house. Stephanie has retreated to the training room and is lifting weights. Calvin watches her, grabbing some 50 pound weights to do some bicep curls. "So, how often do you work out?" "Daily. An hour minimum, more if I can manage it." Her eyes were the color of green jade. He thought they were stunning. She kept her brown hair short. "What led you to the path of the warrior?" She looks at him and doesn't answer. "I'm sorry. I was trained to be Alpha from the time I was a pup. I'm interested in why others do the things they do." She stops, and looks at him further. Taking another breath, she lets it out as she pushes the 300 pounds upward. "I was weak once. I won't be again." Calvin had been Alpha for decades and he had learned and seen much. While he didn't know, of course, the specifics, he recognized the basis for her personality. The comment Randall had made filled in most of the blanks. Now, for a change in subject, "So, my dear, how often do you get outside the compound?" Cynthia and Diana have moved on to a Severn male while Roland is talking to a pretty female from Ross. After having something to eat, Joanna takes Nathan up to the roof. Gordon and another Severn wolf are there, watching for any signs of serious trouble. Anna and Jeremy are curled up together, dozing in the late afternoon sunlight, in their favorite corner. Nathan briefly clasps the Severn wolf's arm. "Hey, Austin." "Hey, Nathan, enjoying yourself?" Nathan's grin is broad as he nods. Joanna nods at Gordon. "Hey, Gordon." "Jo." They hold hands as Joanna points out their circle, the outbuildings, the small lake. "That's Erich, don't know who he's with. Oh, there goes Lyssa. She's got the cast off." Nathan eyes the large chestnut female. "On the large size for a female, isn't she?" "We think it's cuz she was born human." They hear a loud howl. "Oh, that's Emmett. I guess she's playing hide and seek." Nathan closes his eyes at the thought. His wolf was trying to come to the fore, wanting to get closer to this female. To chase her. To catch her. To claim her. He takes a few deep breaths. Calm. Easy. He pulls her to him and kisses her, a bit more demanding this time. She's surprised for a second, then melts against him, her arms wrapping up his back. One of his hands is in her hair, holding her in place for the kiss. The other is around her waist, keeping her body against his. She smells of violets. There's fire in this kiss, the beginnings of a claim. She met him, tongues dancing, and she explores his mouth as much as he does hers. He pulls her head a bit more to one side and she shivers as he nips down the side of her neck. It would be so easy to strip off the light blue sundress she was wearing. He puts his forehead against hers. Both of them are panting lightly. "Joanna. Could I see your wolf?" She takes a couple of breaths. "OK." Why did she feel so nervous? Just thinking about taking her dress off in front of him had her trembling. So, she turns away a little and listens to him pulling off his clothes. Taking a deep breath, she pulls the sundress over her head and drops it, then hooks her fingers in her panties and pulls them off, her heart pounding. And she changes, light brown fur sprouting over her body, her bones rearranging, dropping to four paws, a cream colored wolf with blue eyes. She turns to him. [You're beautiful, Jo. You really are.] He's still standing there, looking at her. He licks his lips, and she's half tempted to run and hide. It's like she's never seen a naked male before. He was about Erich's size. His hair was darker, his eyes that startling shade of blue. He had a sprinkling of dark hair on his chest and some scars, not all of them from claws or teeth. His broad shoulders narrowed down to his waist, then down to strong legs. In between, she watches his cock twitch twice. And knew it was for her. [Am I gonna see yours?] Ah, the double entendre. Especially unintended. Since he was certain she meant it innocently. He only caught glimpses of her body as she shifted. She had a lovely little ass. She had undressed and shifted rather quickly. But he had seen a small, firm breast with a pink nipple at its peak. He had stood there, naked and mesmerized, as she had changed to a beautiful cream colored wolf. He thought briefly of the part of her he hadn't seen, and felt his cock twitch. Then, her nervous question. He almost chokes and he knew she would blush, if she could. He takes another deep breath, and begins his shift. As he drops to his four paws before her, he says [I haven't been on a good run for days. Can we go out?] [Sure, c'mon.] Ariel walks around, checking on things, when she spies her mate headed out to the back. [Have you decided what to do with him?] [There was never any question, El. It was only the manner.] [You haven't questioned him.] [He's starting to crack. He'll tell us all he knows, soon.] After relaxing together for a while, Lyssa says, "I really should get back and check on things." "I don't want to leave." "You can stay here. But I really have to go." "No. No. Erich's sniffing around a Tucker female so I should get back, too." "Tucker? Which one?" "Started with an M. Madison?" "Madeline. Smallish, brown hair, violet eyes." "That's her. He sounded really interested in her." They rise and stretch, "So, he might get a mate out of this." "It'll serve him right." She smacks him. "Ow. What was that for?" "Serves him right?" Lyssa looks a little peeved. "He's always making comments about us." He pulls his mate to him and nibbles on her neck. "Really, like what?" She sounds both interested and a little annoyed. "He'll find out what it's like to love someone as much as I do you." She laughs. "Nice save, Em. C'mon, let's go." They shift to wolf. She takes the longer route down, not quite trusting her foreleg in the jump down from the rock. Emmett stands above her briefly, mimicking the tattoo on her left breast, then leaps down beside her. He practically misses a step on the way back when she asks [Are there homosexual pairs in any of the packs?] Erich has invited Madeline up to his room. He's been moved out of the bachelor quarters and into a small suite. He will be installed as Randall's second Beta at the next full moon. He takes her hand, his other holds a couple bottles of ale, her other, a plate of tidbits to nibble on. His room is done in woodland colors, browns with a couple of tones of green, hunter and forest. Like Emmett and Lyssa's, there is a space for a desk and work area, a sitting area, the bathroom, and the large bed. "Wow. It's so big." "Yeah. I almost don't know what to do with it. I only moved in last week." He gestures to the couch. "That's right, your Alpha is gonna make you Beta, isn't he?" She sits, putting down the plate and leaving a little distance between them. "Yup," he hands her one of the bottles, "not much longer. Em and I work well together, which is good, and there's enough to keep us both busy." "What happened to his mate and Joanna? I haven't heard a whole lot." How much to tell? She wasn't Wyeth pack but rumors got around. But, he also couldn't afford to be seen as accusing the Ross Alpha. The pause as he thinks it over has her saying, "Never mind." "It's a thorny situation and I really can't say much. They were both taken and held in a house off pack lands. Lyssa helped Jo get away and we were able to get there before she was killed." "But who? And, why?" She was definitely getting more comfortable around him. "Evidence leads to another pack and Joanna was the target." Madeline's forehead creases in confusion. "But.. So, what's gonna happen?" "Not much we can do." He clinks the bottle against hers and drinks. She has a drink, too. "So, what do you do at home?" He watches her face light up. "Me? Oh, I take care of the gardens, the trees,..." Calvin admires Stephanie's form as a wolf. She's a uniform brown color with lighter forelimbs and those wonderful green eyes. He had seen the scars on her body. Most looked like typical fighting scars, the others, well, not so much. He lopes along beside and a bit behind her as they move across the lands of the Wyeth pack. She didn't speak as they ran and he found he was content just to be near her. She smelled female, of course, but he was struggling to identify the scent that overlaid the female scent. He watches as she deftly dispatches a rabbit they scared up. Nathan stops short. [Seriously?] While females in his pack fought males, they tended to be larger. Joanna was so... small. She turns to look at him, tongue lolling. [Why not? Mom does. And Lyssa's been learning. There's no reason I shouldn't.] [But...] [What just happened to me? As an Alpha daughter, I have an obligation to help protect the pack. To be strong.] [I can't believe... Who have you been sparring with?] [Emmett, Erich, Alex. And Mom and Lyssa have been teaching me. Oh, c'mon, I'll show you.] They've been heading back to the house and she veers, heading for the circle. [Jo. I can understand the Beta's mate, she almost as big as the males..] [Her name is Lyssa. Honestly, Nathan.] He hears irritation in her send. They come to the circle, but it holds two bleeding males who show no sign of giving up anytime soon. [Well, we can go somewhere else.] He rubs against her. [Hey, um, I should really probably go home. I've gotta work again in the morning.] [Oh. Yeah. OK.] They trot back up to the roof to their clothing. He watches her as she dresses in the darkness, pulling on the dress. As the skirt falls below her waist, he saw what he hadn't seen before, the curls, also light brown in color, between the tops of her thighs. And he thought of what that promised. Damn. He'd be uncomfortable the whole way home, now. He grabs her shoulders and pulls her lips to his. A deep kiss and he drops his mouth to nip at her neck. As he releases her, he growls out [Stay there.] Nathan turns and strides away from her. She stands there, mystified, watching him walk away. After a couple of minutes, she hears the bike roar to life. [Good night, Joanna. Sleep well.] [Good night, Nathan. You, too.] Ariel has now seen the wolf they held, one of those who had taken her daughter. She stands quietly as Randall speaks to Martin and Simon. He was curled up in a corner, the chain extending from his huddled form. She saw him shudder. Calvin bids Stephanie adieu with a kiss to her hand. Emmett checks on Wade and Natalie in the Med ward. They were currently stitching up a wound on the hindquarters of a Macy male. "How have things been going?" "Not bad. Nothing serious. Less than I expected." "Now, dear. The last day is generally worst." Wade looks at his mate. "OK. So, no problems with supplies or the patients?" "No, Beta." "Alright. Good. Let me know if you need anything." Madeline is nestled into Erich's side as they watch the evening news. He's got his arm around her. "They're probably going to call for me soon." He looks down at her. "Stay with me tonight." "Oh, Erich. I don't know." "Give me a chance to convince you?" She doesn't really respond, looking up at him. He takes the opportunity to lean down and kiss her. She makes a small sound in her throat as he reaches across his own body to cup a small breast. He feels the little tip harden up as he rubs his thumb over it and groans at her taste. Like a mild honey. Orange blossoms. Her little hand reaches over, to stroke his chest through his t-shirt. He groans again as she starts making little mewling noises. He breaks away, leaving them both gasping, and stands. Startled, she looks up, shifts her hips forward on the couch, and makes to stand. Erich's voice is husky. "No. Stay there. Lean back." She does so, surprised when he sits on the floor between her knees. "Erich? What are you doing?" He pushes her knees apart and caresses them. Using both hands, he starts inching her skirt up her calves, "Convincing you to stay tonight." She starts breathing more deeply as he pushes the skirt up her thighs. She jumps and giggles slightly when he hits a sensitive spot. He exposes her blue cotton panties with white polka dots as he pushes the skirt up to her waist. He puts the heel of his hand on her mound and rubs in tight circles. Looking up at her, he smiles as he hooks his fingers in her panties. "Take your shirt off for me." Her little hands go to her top button as he pulls her panties down. She lifts her hips to help him. Two buttons gone as he slithers them down her legs and pulls them off her feet. Another button and he sniffs the panties before dropping them and spreading her knees again. He sees the first glimmering of moisture as she starts to seep. Madeline pulls her soft green blouse open as Erich pushes her knees apart. She watches as he moves closer and inhales, closing his eyes in appreciation as he does so. [Orange blossom honey. How soft are your petals, my blossom?] He looks up at her, his green eyes speaking of hunger and passion, before he looks back down between her legs. [The bra.] She arches her back to get to the clasp as his finger reaches out. She closes her eyes and inhales as he gently strokes her outer lips. [Soft. I knew it.] His green eyes sparkle up at her. [All the way off, my blossom.] She likes the way he's taking charge, not ordering her to do anything but directing her actions to his liking. He was turning her on just looking at her. She felt the wetness leaking from her and he'd barely even touched her. She finishes pulling off her blouse and bra and inhales as she sees him lick his lips, looking up at her from between her legs. Madeline feels a tingle go through her, straight to her pussy. She lays her head against the back of the couch as she feels him gently stroke her thighs and lower lips. Who would have thought a male could have such a gentle touch? "Are you convinced yet, Madeline?" Of what? Oh. Yes. "Not yet." He smiles at her. Was he pleased at her cheeky reply, her invitation to do more? And so he did. He kisses his way up the inside of her thighs, kisses her mound, and she feels his tongue sweep from the bottom to the top of her pussy lips. Once. She sighs, grabbing his hair. Then, a frustrated sound leaves her throat. [Don't tease.] [Just enjoying my first taste.] She feels him spread her lips, opening her to him, and his tongue touches her again. Moving, tasting, exploring her folds. [Madeline. It's time to go.] [I'm staying here, Tim.] [Alright, I'll tell the Alpha.] He was lapping at her slit, sweeping up the juices that were flowing from her as she starts moaning. He ventures to slide a finger in her. Tight, oh, Selene, she was tight. Although there was no evidence of it, Erich knew not all untouched females had an intact barrier. [Madeline, honey, are you virgin?] She blinks, breathing hard. [Um, virgin? No.] She yips when he nips her clit. [It's just.. been a while.] [You're so tight, my blossom. I don't want to hurt you.] [It feels.. divine, Erich. Don't stop.] How would it feel to slide his cock into that wet tightness? He was hard, so ready to slide into her, but now he began to think he might hurt her. He wasn't huge but she was, well, tiny. So, he would continue to pleasure her with tongue and fingers. And he would see how it felt to wake with her in his bed. But first.. He pulls his finger out and notices her hooded purple eyes as she watches him lick that finger off. He gives her a crooked smile and slides it back in. Her fingers tighten in his hair. [Maddie.] [Huh?] [Touch your breasts for me. Touch yourself while I pleasure you.] Another slide in and he feels her twitch around his finger, watches her hand move up her body. He works a second finger into her and she tightens down on them. He stops, looking up at her, but sees nothing but pleasure on her face. [That's it, Maddie, squeeze them, roll your nipples, pinch them for me.] He watches her breasts heave as she runs her fingertips over the small nubs and tugs on them. Fulfillment She's relaxed enough around his fingers that he can slide them in and out more easily, so he begins pumping into her. He feels her start to tremble as he works his tongue more firmly against her clit. He holds her hips with his other hand even as she tries to meet his thrusting fingers. As her moans turn to whimpering, her eyes close tightly and she tips her head back. [Look at me, Blossom, I want to see your eyes when I make you come.] She's panting, whimpering, and slowly drops her head, slitting her eyes open. She was close; he knew it. "Don't stop. Oh, don't stop." Her voice is husky in her passion. Faster, firmer, and he feels her tense, clamping down on his fingers. "Luunnnaaa!" Her eyes have opened wide as she crashes over the edge and he watches them darken as the orgasm takes her. Erich watches her breasts heave with her heavy breathing as he raises his head to look at her. His fingers are still inside and he twists his hand slightly, rubbing his thumb over her clitoris. She gasps and inhales. "What..?" Erich grins at her. "Did you think I was done?" "OOoo", she moans as he strokes that sensitized bundle of nerves firmly again. Panting, she says. "But, you.. I've already.." "Oh, no, Maddie. We're gonna do this a couple more times." "Erich, ooo.." He rubs more quickly while wiggling his fingers inside her. Then, as he feels her muscles twitch around his fingers, he shifts down and sucks her sensitive nub into his mouth and sucks strongly on it. "EEEeeee!" Her toes curl and her knees draw up as a gush of fluid covers his hand. She pants, trying to suck in air, and looks slightly horrified. "I, I.." Erich smiles, he'd never gotten a female to squirt like that. [No, Madeline, that's just a female ejaculate. You didn't urinate.] He gets beside her on the couch and pulls her into his lap. "Have you tasted yourself?" He cups a breast as his other hand returns to stroking her. "Huh?" She's a little disoriented, like she's having an out of body experience. Tasted herself? She couldn't think clearly. He had enveloped one of her breasts with one of his hands and was rolling her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, sending little shocks to her pussy, which he was still touching, pumping those two fingers in and out, occasionally stroking across her button. She felt his hard length under her bottom; he was still fully clothed. She expected that would come next. She leans back against his broad chest, content, but keyed up. She sees his hand close on her face. "Open," and he sticks his fingers in her mouth. "That's what you taste like, My Blossom." After she sucks the sweet, salty fluid from his fingers, he caresses down her body and returns them to her sopping pussy. His touch becomes more urgent, firmer still, and she raises her hips to meet his plunging fingers. She can't seem to stop moaning and whimpering as he stroked into her, across her clit, squeezing her nipple and laving her neck and shoulder. She feels the tension build in her body to an almost unbearable level and he must realize how close she is as he increases the tempo of his movements. "Oh, oh, oh, oooooh! Yeesssssss!" A little more, he wants a bit more from her, so he continues, stroking, plucking, nibbling. The spasming around his fingers is almost continuous as he isn't letting her come down. Her breath is ragged, her heart pounding, her moaning constant. He concentrates once more on that little jewel at the top of her folds. She sucks in a breath and yells, "Stop!" and screeches, just as he sets his teeth on her neck and presses down. She went completely rigid in his arms. Then completely limp. "Maddie? Madeline?" He turns her face, starting to panic. Heartbeat. Pounding. Breathing. Heavy. She was alive and didn't seem to be in any distress. Maybe he should get Natalie? Should he dress her? No, Natalie would certainly smell sex on them. OK. Get her into his bed, then call Natalie. He strips the skirt off her and picks her up. She's small and so light. He lays her in the bed and draws the covers over her. As he reaches the door he hears a sleepy, husky voice, "Erich?" He rushes back. "Oh, Madeline, are you alright?" She snuggles down into the covers. "That was incredible." Her eyes close as she sighs. Huh. Then. Damn. He was good. He shed his clothes and slid in beside her. Another night cloaks the Wyeth pack in darkness and sleep. Joanna sleeps, alone, in her bed, dreaming of a dark haired wolf with light blue eyes. Roland had taken a Ross female to his bed. Randall and Ariel sleep, sated, in a tangle of limbs. Lyssa crawls into bed, after a last check of preparations for the last day of the gathering. Emmett cracks an eye and pulls her to his side. "You need rest, mate." She yawns as his arm goes around her. "Not arguing, Em." He kisses her. "Sleep, then." Cassie curls protectively around her daughter and her mate has curled his body around hers. The new family also sleeps, the pup occasionally nuzzling into Cassie's teats for another drink. Fulfillment 15 Dear Readers, Next in the series as things progress. Glad you continue to read and like the series. Enjoy, KemMyst --- The next afternoon Lyssa went to Medical to talk to Wade and Natalie. Unfortunately, she found them in one of the side rooms. Natalie was on her hands and knees, grunting, growling. Wade was behind her, pushing into her quivering body. The sounds of flesh meeting flesh was loud enough to be heard in the next room, the smell of sex wafted through the air. Damn. Natalie was in heat. Thomas came around the corner. "Madam Beta, what can I do for you?" "Um, sorry, nothing." She turns away. "You came here for a reason." "No, it's OK." Thomas swallows. "If it's alright then, I have a question for you." Lyssa blinks at him. "What?" "I," an exhale, "would like your help." "Uh. OK. What is it?" Thomas closes his eyes and swallows. Lyssa wonders what this stocky wolf could want her help with. He looked nervous and unsure. "How would I go about courting a human female?" Lyssa's brain refuses to register. What? Human? Where did he come across a human female? What was she supposed to say? "Who, where did you meet her?" He looks down, seemingly embarrassed. "Here. With the accountant." Her eyes go wide. An accountant, how odd. "Do you know her name?" His voice is almost dreamy. "Lorelei Harrison." "Alright. The first thing you probably want to do is see if she has a Facebook page. You want to find out some things about her, what she likes. Then, you ask her out." "Just like that?" "No, not quite, but almost. You can't," sigh, "act like a wolf stalking prey. Humans don't like being followed." "Neither do we." Lyssa sighs. "Sure. But stalking humans gets you thrown in jail. Anyway, she might be married or have a boyfriend. Then you'll be out of luck. You need to find out more about her first." Thomas inhales. "Thank you, Madam Beta. I.." He straightens; he was not a lot taller than her, and says, "Now. You are uninjured, therefore, you came to discuss something with our primary healers." He looks at Lyssa more closely. "I am here to provide assistance." Lyssa closes her eyes and looks down. She feels very uncomfortable discussing her apparent infertility with the male who had attempted to rape her when she had first arrived. She blurts out, "How can you be a healer and do those things?" He sat on a stool. "The Beta had not claimed you. You avoided him. His scent was not on you. You looked at me, flirted with me. You had no status. I wanted sex." He had left scars on her body and the Alphas had been ready to give her to him. "What did you mean to do at the house?" "You were in no condition to fight or run and I couldn't fight both of them and get you out. I was trying to give the rest time to get to us." "So, you weren't going to.." "Rape you?" He pauses, looking up to her. "No, Madam Beta, I was stalling." He smiles, it was very weird. "The Beta would have scented me on you and killed me." She had no idea how to respond to that. "Now, what is it you wished to discuss?" She looks away and swallows. He was a healer, also, he would probably know something. "Is there anything you can think of that will help me get pregnant?" "Your next heat is months away so.." "Wait, you're keeping track of my heats?" "Madam Beta, we keep track of the estrus of all mated females. We need to be aware for gatherings and it helps us monitor your health." "OK. I get it." "We have time to make some changes." Lyssa listens, but is uncomfortable with Thomas giving her this kind of advice. A doubled howl has her grimacing. "The most important aspect is maintenance of your health. B vitamins, protein, fats and fatty acids, mineral supplements, sweet potatoes. Exercise. For the male, similar things but, to support the fluids and production of sperm, zinc, selenium, ginseng, royal jelly." "For, for Emmett? Not just me?" Thomas leans slightly closer. "Conception is the result of both male and female interaction, his health is also important." Lyssa chest heaves slightly. "Um. OK. Thank you." She starts to step away. "There's one more thing." She stops. "It is believed to make conception more probable if the female achieves orgasm and lays prone quietly for some time after the male ejaculates." Lyssa inhales, exhales. "I know, it's not a suggestion that is easily followed during estrus, but it's something to consider." "Thank you." Lyssa turns to leave. "Of course, Madam Beta." *** Joanna had come back for her lessons and visits with her mother and Lyssa before returning to Severn. A car comes for Stephanie and returns to Ross without her. Lyssa returns to the Alpha's office to help Randall again with tax documents. It's even later when Lyssa makes it back to the Beta suite. She quietly opens the door so as not to wake her mate. Looking at the bed tiredly, he wasn't there. Was he supposed to run sweep tonight? She couldn't remember. It was hard to believe how tired the mental gymnastics had made her. Why was it humid in here? And warmer? Emmett opens the door to the bathroom and is backlit by flickering lights. Naked as the day he was born, he walks over to his mate, takes her face in his hands, and kisses her. He then starts removing her clothing. "I'm so tired, Em." "I've got a bath ready for you." "I'll fall asleep and drown." "No. You won't. Come on." He leads her into the bathroom and coaxes her into the tub. Lying back, he cradles her in his arms. She sighs, relaxing against his body. "Was it worth it?" "Yes." "Only one more night." "Mm, hm." Her eyes close and her head falls to one side. Her breathing deepens. He picks her up, out of the water, and grabs a towel. He wraps her up, dries her off, and places her in their bed. She curls up tightly on her side. Emmett runs the towel over his own body and tosses it toward the door. He slides in beside her, pulls the covers up, and wraps his body around hers. She snuggles into him. She was exhausted. Between her regular duties at the business, the sparring, and the added work after supper she was worn out. He needed to discuss something with her. It was important, but it had to wait. He needed her to be thinking clearly. He wakes the next morning with his firm shaft pressed against her hip. He held her in his arms and she was soundly asleep. He stroked across her stomach and she groaned and rolled, her face against his chest. Her arms were tucked between their bodies, one hand under her head, the other touching him. Her dark chestnut hair was tousled in sleep. And he started to think of what Randall had discussed with him the day before, how their lives could change. It was an amazing opportunity. He could decide and she couldn't gainsay him. But, he wouldn't decide without her; he wanted her to be happy with it. His mate. They would be in it together. He turned and looked at the clock. He had to get up soon to run the wide sweep with Alex. But, before he left, he wanted a taste of her. So, he touched her, stroking her body, his hands down her back, over her buttocks. He traced back up, over her hip, and to the curve of her breast. Lyssa murmured and rolled to her back. Emmett lays a hand on her belly as she stretched and slitted her eyes at him. He licked his lips and smiled at her as she yawned. "I have to run sweep soon." "Mm?", she makes the noise a question. "I would like to touch my mate, to please her before I go." She blinked and inhaled, working on waking up more fully. Hearing no protest, Emmett touches her, one hand kneading a breast, his mouth at the other. He was positioned almost crossways on her body, so that his other hand would be free to investigate her lower body. Lyssa feels little shocks run to her core. Emmett was sucking on one nipple, flicking it occasionally with a tongue made pointy, the other was rolled between his fingers and pinched and flicked with a fingernail. She started to twist as his other fingers traced through her soft lower lips. She felt her own wetness begin to rise. She feels his breath on her body and recognizes when he takes a big whiff of her. He suddenly releases her breasts and shifts his body between her thighs, wrapping his arms around them, holding her open. He gazes for a moment at her dripping womanhood and then looks up and smiles at her. He moves closer and she loses sight of his mouth, but anticipates the touch of it. For a few moments, it is simply his breath that touches her. Chocolate brown eyes look up and lock onto hers. Her hands go to her own breasts and his tongue finally touches her. And she sighs. Wet, and warm, and slippery. He loved her taste but was hard pressed to describe it. His tongue sweeps over her lips, her opening. Emmett stabs his tongue inside her, getting more of her juice. He flirted with her hard little nub, causing her to moan and increasing the flow of her female wetness. And, while he wouldn't have minded staying there for an hour or so, he had duties to attend to. So, he steps up his efforts, alternating sweeping licks with vibrating motions over her clit. She moaned, she twisted, and he held her in place while he feasted. He sucks her engorged jewel into his mouth and nibbles on it. "AAaaah!" Emmett releases her then, takes one last lick of her cream, and moves back up her body. He leaves a light kiss on her forehead as she pants. "Gotta go, mate. Get some more sleep. I'll see you later." Lyssa closes her eyes. "Mmm." [Thank you, Em.] As he opens the door he gets a sleepy send. [Love you.] He turns back, briefly. "I love you, too, Lys." She curls up, working her way over to the warm spot where he had lain. *** The day passed, for most, as it normally did. The weather was warmer that day with a light southern breeze and cloudless skies. Many of the pack slipped out at one time or other to take advantage of the pleasant weather. Calvin Ross did not visit this day but called and spoke with Randall for a time. Then he asked to speak to Stephanie. Summoned, she came and took the phone. However, when she spoke she was short with him. "What do you want?" He stuttered, taken aback by her attitude. Some switch had been flipped a couple of days ago and he only knew that she had spent a restful night with him. "I, I.." He closes his eyes and gathers himself. "Would you spend the night with me?" "No." "I would like to know why." Silence on the other end of the line. "I assume, then, your usual response. That males' goal is only to fuck." His use of the term startles her. "Yes." "Would you like me to show you pleasure?" He hears the gasp from the other end. After a few moments, she replied. "No." "I hear it in your voice, Stephanie. You're curious." The connection breaks. She'd hung up on him. Calvin held the receiver against his mouth, considering his next move. Stephanie sat, staring at the phone. Her Alpha looked at her. He had been close enough to catch the conversation and was surprised that she'd hung up on him. She looked rather shocked by her own actions. She stood, then sat. "How do I call him back?" "555-7677." With shaky fingers, she dials the phone. "Alpha Ross?" "Calvin." "I, I apologize." "For what?" "Do I need to say it?" "Yes." "I'm sorry I hung up on you." "Will you stay the night?" Randall watches her hesitate, sees her grip tighten on the phone. "Alright." Randall smiles to himself. "Then I shall see you later, Stephanie. Until then." "Goodbye." He closed his eyes and put down the phone. Relief washed over him. He wasn't sure what had caused her to pull away again, but she had agreed to come back tonight. *** Lyssa had gone to Randall's office. It took them an hour and a half to re-check the figures. As they finish, Lyssa straightens up, a hand to her back. "May I be excused now, Alpha?" "Not yet, Lyssa." Ariel comes into the office and sits beside her mate and Wyeth's Alpha. "We have something else to discuss." Lyssa bites her lip and seems nervous. A pause stretches out as Ariel touches Randall's face and lays her head on his shoulder. His arm goes around her. "What is it?" Emmett knocks and enters. Lyssa whirls, looking at him, afraid now. "I'm sorry. Ran..Alpha." Her voice is shaky. "Whatever I did.." Randall's voice is quiet, soothing. "Relax, Madam Beta." Emmett stands behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Calvin and I would like to meet with you to discuss further your idea of a pack council." "What? I.." Emmett leans down, whispering to her. "Breathe, sweetheart. Think." Her gulp is audible and she looks at the Alphas. "I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Ariel smiles, then licks the side of her mate's neck. "I have spoken with Calvin and we have agreed it would be worthwhile to further investigate your idea of a pack council." Dazed, she says, "Um. OK." Randall laughs at her confusion. "And, I wish to thank you for your help with the taxes." "Um, I thought that was punishment, um, Alpha." "Yes, it was. But I appreciate the help nonetheless, and the insight." "Uh, you're welcome." Randall's eyes now rise to Emmett. "Have you made your decision?" "No, sir. I'll need a couple of days." Lyssa cranes her neck to look at him. "What decision?" His chocolate eyes look down at her, serious. "Not now, Lys." Ariel's hand has worked its way into Randall's shirt. "There is no rush. But he would like to know by the end of the month." "Emmett. What. Decision?" "You were tired last night, sweetheart, and you don't look better tonight. I'd prefer you were rested." Ariel has practically climbed over her mate, her mouth latched onto his, their tongues vying for dominance. Lyssa has twisted in the chair and is kneeling on it, facing Emmett. Her voice is low, working toward angry. "What decision?" "Calvin Ross has no heir. His Beta has no wish to become Alpha. The Alpha Ross is looking for someone to take over his pack. I've, we've been listed as candidates." Ariel has gone to her knees in front of Randall and is kissing his firm length through his pants. He clears his throat. "Please take your discussion elsewhere." Lyssa turns back, mouth open, as Randall's head tips back and Ariel rubs her cheek against his thigh. "C'mon, mate." Emmett grabs her hand and pulls her off the chair. [Simon, is there coffee?] [We got a Keurig. What would you like, Madam Beta?] [Kenyan Dark Roast. Please leave a couple of cups out, I may need more than one.] [Of course, Madam Beta.] Emmett, having heard the exchange, walks with her down toward the kitchen. It was late for Simon to be in the kitchen. He was either preparing something special for tomorrow or was training Hannah on something. Hannah was knee-deep, or was it elbow-deep?, in bread dough. Lyssa inhaled. Rye bread. And coffee. "Thank you, Simon." He inclined his head in acknowledgment. Emmett makes a cup of Kona as she stirs in sugar and sips. "MMmm." As Emmett takes his cup he looks into the dark, serious eyes of his mate. "Shall we go upstairs?" Lyssa closes her eyes, exhales, and heads for the door. [I wanted to wait until you were rested to talk about this. We don't have to do it now.] She turns and gives him a look. [Why you? Why did he just talk to you? Why wasn't I asked to the meeting?] Emmett stopped. For all that she was one of them now, her mind worked differently. The other females wouldn't have questioned that. No. Ariel would. Maybe, maybe that was part of being female Alpha, thinking differently. *** The Wyeth Alpha female, meanwhile, had taken the thickness of her mate's length into her throat and was humming, sending shockwaves down the length of his cock, to center in his hairy, heavy balls. She was cupping them, massaging them lightly, while he had ahold of her red mane. He was preparing to use it to pump her mouth up and down on him. She felt his scrotum tighten and bobbed once more over his length. As he threw his head back, she tightened her hands around the base of his shaft. His eyes widened and he shuddered, releasing a throaty groan as she let go of his cock. Randall's breath came heavy as Ariel released him from her mouth. She looked up at him, confused. [What happened?] His send came in pieces, as if he were actually speaking. [Retrograde.] A breath. [I think.] She came up, her hands covering the hands he had clenched on the arms of the chair. "Retrograde ejaculation?" He nodded. "Are you alright?" "It seems so, mate. Although I have a wicked urge to piss. And I can't do that in this condition." His erection had not faded. "So, El, I want you on the balcony." Ariel walked to the balcony as Randall rose and stripped off his pants. His continuing erection bobbed in front of him as he followed his mate outside, curving away from his body somewhat instead of resting against his belly. The balcony off the Alpha suite was not large, perhaps enough to allow 6 of them to look out over the range, but provided the Alpha with a good view of the surrounding area. Better still was the view from the roof, above the fifth floor. Ariel stood at the railing, as a light snowfall dropped small white flakes in her red hair. He came up to her, kissed her briefly, and turned her, bending her over the railing. He flipped her skirt up over her back and was afforded a stronger smell of her feminine fragrance. Green lace panties were ripped away and he rubbed the end of his stiff cock against her weeping pussy. With one sharp movement, he buried himself inside her, and sighed. Ariel caught her breath, and let out an appreciative moan. He pumped vigorously into her a few times while she rocked back against him. He then pulled out, to her dismay, and swept up some of her juices with his fingers. Randall slathered her own lubrication between her ass cheeks and presented the tip of his staff to her puckered asshole. Ariel waited, breathing, focusing on relaxing as the tip of Randall's penis entered her back door. While not her favorite activity, she understood his desire for it now. She had wanted to swallow his cream in a great gout but had held on a split second too long. He felt the need for a true release. And soon. She felt the passage of his entire length past her tight sphincter, until he buried himself fully. He pulled most of the way out, and pushed back in. [OK?] [Mm, hm.] He pulls back once more, seeming to gather himself, then set up some deep thrusts, gaining speed. His movement grew a little jerky and she suddenly felt his hand leave her hip and as a buzzing sound began. As he pulled back once more she felt a large intrusion invade her pussy as he shoved a large, humming vibrator into her wet, empty, wanting tunnel. She threw her head back and screamed as an orgasm slammed into her body. Only the railing, and his body over hers, kept her from falling. His final thrust made her gasp as he emptied a smaller load inside her and he roared his climax above her. Breathing heavily, he sets his teeth to her neck and bites down as he reaches down and grabs the vibrator, which has almost worked its way back out of her. He slams it back in, as far as it would go, and she screams again. He feels her muscles clench through her walls. [Do you submit, mate?] [Yes, my Alpha.] [Hold this.] He guides her hand to the vibrator as he releases her neck and begins to pull his wilting member from her. [Stay there until I get back.] Ariel glances over as he moves away from her, to one side of the balcony. A groan of relief and another smell indicates he's pissing off the side of the balcony. He sighs as he finishes and turns back toward her. [Don't move, El.] Fulfillment 15 He strides into their suite and she remains there, bent over the railing, snowflakes settling on her back, a large vibrator humming in her pussy. While pleasant, it wasn't doing a whole lot for her, just sitting there. He had only told her to hold it and stay. So, she began to move. She rested her chest on the railing, took another grip on the vibrator and slid the other between her legs. She felt her nipples rubbing against the fabric of her blouse. And her fingers were stroking her wet, engorged clit. She pulled the vibrator out, slid it back in, and moaned. Again, and again, as she started the climb back up. She almost dropped the vibrator and yipped at a stinging slap on her ass. [Did I tell you to get yourself off while I was gone?] He pulls her hand away and holds the vibrator in place. She whimpers and shakes her head. His stiffened length presses against her leg. [I washed up and was going to offer you this. But, now...] Randall grabs Ariel and hauls her backwards. Sitting in a chair on the balcony, he pulls her into his lap, her back to him. He spreads her legs over his so that she is spread wide. He puts an arm around her waist and the other on her thigh. She sits still as the vibrator begins to inch its way out of her sopping pussy. He had her; she couldn't move away and she felt the warmth and firmness of his stiffened length between their bodies. Her skirt had flopped back over her legs and the vibrator was about ready to fall out, still humming. She felt his breath against her ear. [Go ahead, El. Finish what you were doing.] Ariel grabs at her skirt and bunches it up, catching the vibrator as it moved out. Taking a deep breath, she starts to pump the vibrator in and out of herself. Her fingers have returned to her clit and she resumes her stroking. It felt good but she was distracted. By his smell, by his warmth behind her, by the feeling of his hardness behind her. His mouth descended on the side of her neck and he bit down; human teeth leaving only bruise marks. She shuddered as he licked it. One of his large hands captured her breast, but he simply held it. What she was doing was a pale substitute of what he could do for her and would, therefore, be less satisfying. He was right there, and she needed him. [Randall,] she growls, [give me your cock.] [I thought you meant to pleasure yourself, mate.] Her voice goes low. "Give me your cock." At that, he rips her skirt off, pulls her hand, still gripping the vibrator, from her body, then takes her hips and raises her emptied channel above his now-freed erection. Poised above him, she grits her teeth. "Yesss." Her wetness drips down onto him. Randall fairly drops her, her legs still spread wide, onto him while pushing the vibrator back against her clit. She writhed and shrieked, "YES!", feeling her muscles clench around him. Again. *** Lyssa was simmering by the time they got upstairs to their suite. Emmett guides her inside with a hand to the small of her back. Once inside she rounds on him, coffee sliding over the edge of the cup. "Were you gonna decide without me?" "No, Lys, I was not." "You have to say yes, don't you?" "Not necessarily. No. The decision is ours." "Would Randall let us go?" "He would not be happy about it but, yes, he would." "Is it me?" "Lys, sweetheart," he sits heavily in a chair, "I'd like to start from the beginning." She gives him a bit of a dirty look. She was overtired, and grumpy, feeling she'd been left out of something terribly important. She took a large gulp of the coffee, barely tasting it. He took her short silence for acceptance. She was standing, watching him, which wasn't the best sign but... "Michael was the Alpha's only heir. Under normal circumstances, it would either be a nephew or a Beta who would now be groomed for Alpha. The Alpha Ross, unfortunately, has no nephews. And his Beta is unwilling to accept the role of Alpha." Lyssa opens her mouth, but he continues on before she can interrupt. "It is a very rare thing. He cannot leave it to chance or the pack would fall into chaos with the infighting. So, he and Sampson discussed possible candidates to take over the Ross pack. My name. Our names. Were on the list. Randall told me about it yesterday. I wanted to wait until you got some sleep so we could discuss this calmly and rationally." His name. She focused on that until the end of the last sentence came up. "Am I being irrational?" Emmett closes his eyes, inhales, exhales. "I only meant to have you in a better frame of mind." "There's nothing wrong with my mind." He was going to piss her off even more if he kept pausing, but he had to think of how to go about this when she was this cranky. He takes a sip of his coffee. "Ask your questions." "You want to say yes, don't you?" "I've not decided." "What about Roland?" "He's to be Alpha of Wyeth." "What about Erich and Madeline?" "Too new to the position of Beta." "Why wasn't I there when Randall talked to you?" Another sigh. "You won't be happy with the answer." "Why?" "As I would be the one to be Alpha, the offer was extended to me." She stood, grinding her teeth, eyes looking daggers at her mate. "Our society is patrilineal, sweetheart, you know that, although it offends your sense of fairness." "Randall will let us go?" "Yes." Some emotion crosses her face that he doesn't recognize. "Is it because of me?" She looks upset now. "I don't know what you mean, Lys." "Have I become too much trouble?" Her eyes are bright. She was too tired for this, working essentially double shifts for the past three days, and wasn't thinking clearly. He set down his cup and rose. Emmett stepped up to his mate and took her cup and set it aside. He then took her in his arms. "Randall would not be happy if we left, we, both of us, are valuable to him. But, Lys, he understands the opportunity and would not begrudge us our decision. It is a positive reflection on both of us, to be chosen, that they think enough of us to consider us." She mumbles into his chest. "Me, too?" "Of course, dear heart, you were part of the process. Mates would not be separated." She looks up at him, a little confused. He puts a hand to her face. "Lyssa, if they felt you were not up to the task of Madam Alpha, I would not have been asked." "Oh." Her dark eyes widen. "Oh! Me?" He takes her face in his hands and kisses her. "Of course you. What did you think would happen?" "I didn't... But I'm...." She rests her forehead against his chest. "You're right, I'm not thinking straight." "Come, mate, sleep for you. I have early sweep again tomorrow and, then, we'll talk about this." Lyssa sighs and sniffles slightly, face still against his chest. "I love you, Em." He squeezes her tighter. "Ah, Lys, I love you, too." *** Stephanie was nervous. Trevor was driving her back to the Ross den in the dark. Snow shown intermittently in the glow of the headlights. He kept glancing over at her, until she snapped, "What?" "Nothing, ma'am." Ma'am? He was young but she was an Omega, too, and had no more status than him. He was acting like she was more. He kept his eyes on the road from then on and the rest of the drive passed in silence. She contemplated her actions as they traveled up the drive from the road. The driveway was long, sloping. It bore to the left and up a small hillock. And, there, behind a rather dense copse of trees, stood the Ross den. It was not as tall as the Wyeth den, only three stories, but was broader. Some outbuildings stood off to one side bordered by a long, low field. Trails led off to various directions. Wolves moved out there, patrolling, as they did at Wyeth. The house was low, rambling, and light green in color. Large windows on the third floor showed the location of the Alpha and Beta suites. Lights shown out of several windows, slightly obscured by the falling snow. Calvin Ross waited for her there. Trevor dropped her at the side door and was mildly irritated when she got out without waiting for him to open the door. Stephanie inhaled, squared her shoulders, and entered the house. Sampson met her there. "Is there anything you require?" "No." A slight pause. "Thank you." "Calvin awaits your company in his suite." "Thank you." She turns to the right and climbs the stairs, a small bag in her hands. She stood outside the door. He waits, having felt her approach, well, their approach, as Sampson had come upstairs with her. She was here and he had not brought her to his room. She came of her own accord. She need only come in. Baby steps, she was taking small steps towards recovery, from a past she had escaped so long ago, but still consumed her. He rose, went to the door, and opened it. And offered his hand to her. Stephanie swallowed, took his hand, and stepped into the room. He pulled her closer, brought her into his arms. One arm went around her waist, the other hand went up to her face and he leaned in for a kiss. She looked at him, as his face approached hers, her arms out to the side, bag still in her hand. His mouth touched hers, softly, and she felt his mouth open. His tongue touched her lips. It then traced lightly along their juncture and she relented, and opened for him. Calvin's tongue entered her mouth, on a combination of a groan and a growl. He'd just barely gotten a taste of her when she drew back, closing her mouth. No. Any expression of pleasure or remote sexuality and she pulled away. He stepped back slightly, grasped the handle of the bag and tugged. As she releases it he drops it to the floor. His hands then go to her shirt and he gets the first button undone before she growls and grabs his arm. "No." So, he steps back into her, arms around her, lightly stroking her back. She had stiffened up, and he wanted her to relax. He felt her start to step back and moved with her, keeping contact. Stephanie then used her arms to break his hold on her. He stepped back and she glanced at his face, seeing both anticipation and disappointment on it. "Would you care for anything to eat or drink?" She shakes her head. "Television?" Another shake. Calvin then takes her hand and pulls her toward the bed. She plants her feet and pulls back against him. As her hand leaves his he turns to look at her, hears her heavy breathing, sees discomfort on her face. "Stephanie?" She backs away slightly and, as he moves toward her, sees fear on her face. He stops and waits, for her to calm, for her to say something, do something. If he had suspected before, he was almost certain now. He whispers. "Who was it Stephanie? Who betrayed you to the rogues?" She turned away from him and stood, unfortunately, looking at the bed. She blinked and swallowed, then walked to the window, looking out and hugging herself. He walked up behind her, without crowding her, and says, quietly, "It was someone you loved. Or someone you thought you loved." For the first time since he'd met her, he heard an emotion in her voice other than anger. It was decades of pain distilled into a single word. "Cody." "He took your virginity, maybe screwed you a couple of times, and handed you off after making you think he felt something for you." Her breath hitches and he steps closer. Calvin hesitates slightly before placing his hands lightly on her shoulders. Stephanie jerks and he switches to lightly holding her upper arms. "Have you ever heard of this happening in any of our packs?" He waits, then answers. "No. You haven't." She twists to face him, looking down. He shifts his hands downward, to take her hands in his. Calvin was taller and, so, with her head down, felt the question against his chest in the warmth of her breath. "What do you want from me?" "I want you to trust me, Stephanie. I want to wake up with you in my bed again." Her chest heaves and he hears her swallow. "I can't." "You can't? Can't lie beside me in the bed and sleep?" "Just.. just sleep?" "Yes, Stephanie, sleep. You know, closing your eyes and resting?" She picks her head up and examines his face briefly, before ghosting a smile. "Go, change into your sleepwear. It's late and I'm tired." *** He felt as if he hadn't been asleep very long and wondered what had woken him. Sounds and movement from beside him on the bed. She was throwing her head from side to side and moaning. At least she was still in human form. She rolled to her side and he put a hand on her shoulder. "Lys?" She shifted to wolf, her fur thicker in the cold of winter. His fingers grasped that thick coat as her feet began to paddle. "Lyssa. Lys!" Claws catching on the light blanket, she starts inadvertently dragging her body sideways on the bed. He sighed, what was she thinking of now? Emmett stroked down his furred mate's side. "Sweetheart, wake up." Off the side of the bed, again, with a thud and a yip. As he came over to her side of the bed he heard a heartfelt. "Dammit." A hand grabs the edge of the bed as he looks over the side. "Should I get us some more coffee?" "What? Why?" "Well, I'd say we need to finish talking about Ross." He takes her hand as she climbs back on the bed and squeezes it. "It's got you unsettled." She inhales deeply and blows the breath out. "Yeah, I guess. But, no, we should get some more sleep." "Are you sure?" She nods as she lays back down. Twenty minutes later, she blows out another breath. "Is it because Michael Ross lived there?" "I don't want to mess up an opportunity like this." "But..." "But, yeah, his ghost will haunt me." "I can understand that." He rolls to his side, putting a hand on her stomach. "It wouldn't be comfortable for me there either. Of course, that's if we meet with the pack's approval." "What would happen?" "We'd have to go there to live for a while, learn about how the pack runs, learn the business, and see if we fit in, if we'd be accepted." "Why wouldn't we be?" "The packs all have different cultures, different ways of working. We'd have to fit in with them." Lyssa pauses, closing her eyes. "And you'd be Alpha." "We'd be Alpha, sweetheart." Her voice goes quiet as she asks the next question. "Would we, Em? Would they accept me?" He rolls to look at her face, a question on his. "I'm not.. Emmett, I wasn't born a wolf. Won't that be trouble?" "Lys.." "Tell me the truth, could I mess this up?" Emmett puts a hand on her face and his voice is serious. "Older pack members, especially, would have a problem. There are those that would never accept you as Alpha." She rolls into him, putting her face against his chest. "Shit." Emmett brushes her hair away from her face and speaks, to himself as much as to her. "I'd have to look back into pack histories to see if it's ever happened before. If a changed human has ever become Alpha." Lyssa makes a gasp of surprise. "But, isn't that how you started? The original werewolves were human." He squeezes her tightly. "You're right." Then he sobers. "That still won't convince some though." "What would I have to do to get their respect?" "Calvin's choice would carry some weight but there would be fights. I'd certainly be challenged but you likely would be, too." "OK. Um, OK. I could knock them down." "Yes, but there would be grumbling about that, too. Most males wouldn't consider it a fair fight." "Males?" Emmett strokes down her back. "Yes, sweetheart, it would be both males and females." Lyssa knocks her forehead against his chest a few times. "It would be hard on both of us, Lys, but really, really hard on you. You've brought up a couple of things I hadn't considered and we should probably talk more before we decide." She pulls her head back from his chest and looks at him. "Who goes first? I mean, how would they start?" "I think mated pairs would be preferred. That way the Alpha pair would already be established. The Alpha Ross probably has a list with his rankings. He'd start at the top, I suppose." "I wonder where we are." "Near the top, sweetheart. Near the top." He yawns. "Sorry I woke you." He was starting to nod off as she thought to herself - if they became the Ross Alphas and couldn't have pups, what then? Fulfillment 16 Dear Readers, Sorry my additions are so chaotic but I'm trying to get to the end of this story and I'm getting close so I've been concentrating on the writing. Some of you know I can't seem to write a good, detailed story unless I write it out longhand and then type it in. Unfortunately, this slows things down. I know, excuses, but thank you for your patience, encouragement, and interest. This story has turned out longer than I expected and there are still a few more chapters. Enjoy. KemMyst --- He woke early with a familiar female scent in his nose and the comforting warmth of another body in the bed with him. In the space between sleeping and waking he strokes his hands down that body. He hesitates, confused by the presence of clothing as he snuggles more closely with her. He's spooned against her, arms around her waist and, in a normal physiological reaction for a male, his thick, stiff shaft is held between their bodies. Calvin kisses the back of her neck. "Good morning, my dear." Stephanie jerks and pulls away from him. He pulls her back. "Is my body against yours painful?" "No." "Did you sleep well?" "Yes." "Do you need to return to Wyeth early?" "No." "Then lie beside me a little longer." She had always just gotten out of bed when she woke. Rose and started her day. Lying in bed was never something she did once awake. She got into the bed to sleep, and got out when she woke. That was what the bed was for. Sleep. So, she exhaled and acquiesced. But she was uncomfortable, for a couple of reasons. She was awake. He had an arm around her. And she could feel his swollen dick against her butt. Males. What was it about them that they all woke up with a hard-on? He twisted slightly, and that movement was enough. Stephanie scrambled out of the bed. Calvin rolled to his back, resigned to her leaving, going back to Wyeth. "Would you care for breakfast before you leave?" She looks up at him, crouched beside the bed. "I'm sorry." "What was it?" She closes her eyes. "Stephanie?" "You moved. And I felt you." Calvin sat up. "You do understand that when a male is relaxed, such as during sleep, his penis fills with blood? It's an involuntary physiological reaction." "I remember." That's right, she had been studying to be a healer. "Breakfast?" "Yes." "Would you like to eat here or in the hall?" "The dining hall is fine." *** Lyssa was curled up in the bed, having rolled over to his side. Emmett was on early sweep with Roland. [Hey, Rolly, if you had a chance to be Ross Alpha, would you take it?] [Business is sound. Pack and territory a bit small. Finances are an issue.] [What about the pack itself?] [Without his knowledge, members of Calvin's pack kidnapped Jo and Lyssa. His own son was a part of it and was, by all accounts, a terrible Alpha. Some of the males will object to someone new coming in; there's always some. Some of them will think they should have the job. Why do you ask?] [Randall hasn't told you?] [Told me what? Wait, Ross is looking for a replacement outside of his pack?] [Yeah. Who else is there?] [Gotta be someone...doesn't his Beta want it?] [I guess not, so...] [You and Lyssa, huh? Well, I can't say I disagree. Lyssa's a bit rough around the edges yet.] [She hasn't been with us 3 years yet. She's worried what might happen, that she'll be challenged since she wasn't born wolf. What's that?] A dead deer lay in the snow. They snuffled around it, smelling the blood, seeing where smaller animals had taken their share of the carcass. [Broken rear leg, probably hit by a car.] They briefly rip into flesh, taking a few bites. The cold had preserved it and it hadn't been dead long. But cold flesh was not as appealing as a warm, fresh kill. They moved on. [So, let's see The two of you as possible Ross Alphas. Oh, right, she's worried about being born human. I think she's right, she'll be challenged. You both will.] [It'll be worse for her.] [Yeah, it will. And you won't be able to help her with it. She'd lose any little bit of respect she had being part of a chosen pair if you did. You're gonna do it, aren't you?] [Not sure yet.] *** Calvin drives Stephanie back to the Wyeth den. She had survived breakfast in the Ross dining hall. Calvin had squelched any questions but it was the first time many of his pack had seen her. Many were very interested in their Alpha's female companion. Stephanie stoically ate, knowing they were talking about her. Erica watched Stephanie with malice in her mind. "So, Stephanie, what aspect of healing was most of interest to you?" "Had a naive notion of helping birthing females." "That doesn't seem naive to me. It's a grand goal. And how did your interest develop?" "My mother." "Ah, I see. And what did your father do?" "Carpentry." Her answers were getting brusque. Time to stop the questions since he was beginning to aggravate her. But, he was gaining more insight into her background personality. Her parents both worked in very tactile professions. Stephanie likely would have made a wonderful healer. The world had dealt her a dark blow and Wallace, while he had rescued her, had not saved her. She should have been interacting with pack members in a wholly different way. She relents when he pulls her into a close embrace and kisses her before releasing her to her duties. Calvin then requests an audience with Randall. As Randall was occupied, Erich was sent to talk with him while he waited. "So, Beta, how are you and your mate doing?" Erich breaks into a broad smile. "I never realized what it would be like to have a female that was mine, who I'd love more than anything, and that I'd get upset if another male looks at her too long." Calvin smiles, sadly. "Yes, it's a profound change in life. Wait until the pups come." Erich sobers. "I'm sorry about the Madam Alpha," a pause, "and your son." "Thank you. May I ask you something?" "Sure." "I'd like to hear everything you know about Stephanie. Do you have any idea where she came from?" "I wasn't born when she came to the pack." "I understand that. What have you heard? What have you been told?" Erich closes his eyes. "Her story had become an urban legend, of sorts. The Alpha got wind of a bunch of rogues to the southeast. Bar fights. Animal killings. Probably some of the rapes. Burglaries. Teenagers scared in the woods." "My father was lead tracker before me. The Alpha had him find out where they were, how many. Then he took a dozen males and wiped them out. And found Stephanie. Only Stephanie." "She was terrified of them." Calvin thought, Of course. She likely thought she'd traded one horror for another. "I heard they had to knock her out to get her back here. The females took her in hand and the Alpha ordered that no one touch her." And that order had carried down through the years. She had had no chance to gain friends or get close to anyone. They had inadvertently isolated her within the pack. "She's never come into heat?" Erich looks at him a little more closely and shakes his head. "Well, then, how are you finding your duties?" [Erich, you may bring the Alpha Ross to my office.] "My Alpha is available to speak to you now." Erich escorts Calvin Ross to Randall's office. "Thank you, Erich." Calvin walks to the window and looks back at his friend before crossing his arms and staring at the world outside. "As if she weren't damaged enough by the abuse she suffered, you exacerbated the problem with your benign neglect." A low growl issues from Randall's throat. "I inherited the problem, Cal." Calvin turns, the volume of his voice increased. "Problem?! She is a werewolf, like the rest of us. She needed contact, closeness, just like any of the rest of us." "She didn't want.." Calvin strides over, entering Randall's personal space. "She was a healer, Randall!" His voice drops. "A healer. And you deprived her of contact with others." "I did no such thing." Randall takes a deep breath and backs down his anger at the accusations. "She never showed any interest in anything like that, Cal. She only wanted to fight and protect." "I can't believe you believe that." "What was I to do? Force her to interact with the others?" Calvin sits heavily in a chair and gusts a sigh. "She didn't need to be this screwed up. She was training to be a healer, for Luna's sake." His voice goes quieter. "And the male who was courting her is the one who betrayed her to the rogues." Randall turns to look at the Ross Alpha. Amazed. Unbelieving. "Stephanie never said anything like that to anyone. We don't even know what her name was." "Stephanie is not the name her parents gave her?" "She didn't speak for weeks and we had to call her something. She never corrected us. You've gotten more out of her than we ever have. You've made more progress than any of us." "I've been working outside the constraints your father put in place and that you have maintained." Calvin gusts another sigh. "Do you have any idea whatsoever as to where her pack is?" "Selene, Calvin, we don't even know her real name. How would we even begin?" "You could order her to give you her name." Randall looks at the other Alpha. "And what would that accomplish?" "It would give me two names to search for." "Two?" "She gave me the name of the male who gave her to the rogues." Randall considers what he's been told. "I'll think about it." [Madam Beta. Lyssa. Please come to my office. The Alpha Ross is here.] "Gabriela, I'll have to call you back. I've been summoned." "Of course, can you come by later?" "I think so." "Alright, see you then." A minor software upgrade at the warehouse was acting a little hinky, so Gabriela had called at Mathias' urging. But now Lyssa was going to meet with the Alphas. Since Emmett hadn't been called in, too, it had to be about the pack council idea. Unless, of course, he was already there. Trying to organize her thoughts, Lyssa headed for the Alpha's office. *** The meeting ended with the decision to approach Aaron Severn next. As she was dismissed, Lyssa ventured a question. [Alpha Ross, would your pack accept a changed human as Alpha?] Calvin jerked his eyes to hers, startled. He smiled, as if thinking rather vengeful thoughts. [Yes. They will.] He knew how the game worked. One way or another, he would see to it. It was a couple of weeks later, at the full moon, that Calvin announced to his pack that pairs of wolves would be coming into the den and living with them for a time. That he was searching for a suitable Alpha pair for them. While there was some grumbling, there were few questions. Most understood the necessity. Calvin provided them with the names of the first candidate pair. Clifton and Leigh, Betas of the Foster pack. He and Sampson had discussed the options. Of the five mated pairs the offer had been extended to, three had accepted. Jonathon and Juliet Severn had deferred, as had Cecil and Julie Madison, Betas of the Gates pack. The third couple who had accepted were Wayne and Brenda Tucker, the Alpha's younger brother and his mate. If none of those worked out, another set would be asked. If that didn't work, Calvin would look to one of the neighboring Alphas to take in his pack. But, but, it would never get that far. *** Joanna had settled in with her mate and the extended family she now had in the Severn pack. She was finishing her studies and looking at nearby schools for criminal science programs, even though friends and relatives had tried to talk her out of it. Lyssa and Madeline were getting along well and Madeline was learning to spar. Her small size made her more agile but also meant that sheer size would overwhelm her. And she had been trained to block Lyssa's powerful sends. She and Mercy were also able to avoid the maneuver that would take down the males, except for the youngest. Apparently, something in their training or their manner of viewing the fight made males more vulnerable to it. And Mercy's tracking was progressing well. She had a keen nose and an eye for detail. Her parents had finally accepted their daughter's unusual place in the pack. Stephanie now spent most nights in Calvin's bed. While still strictly sleeping, she had grown comfortable enough that she didn't bolt every time he rolled or murmured and had acquiesced to his request to sleep naked. Him. Not her. She still wore a shirt and shorts as if they were armor. *** It was a month after Nathan and Joanna had mated and the first spring wildflowers were poking through the little remaining snow that Madeline was outside with Lyssa, plotting out the garden. They would be expanding this year, due to the addition of their new horticulturalist. Many of the males were clustered near the circle. Randall was sparring with the older of the young males. Stephanie was working with the pubescent males, not always the brightest group. Samuel took the youngsters, those just out of playfighting. Emmaline, unfortunately, was getting in the way. Erich had a couple of the young females and was ready to dismiss them to work more with Mercy. Alex and Jamie were running wide sweep and Gordon and Paul the close sweep. Madeline, in the middle of an explanation, shivers. "Mad? What is it?" "I don't know." Lyssa watches her face flush as she starts to tremble. [Erich.] [Lyssa, I'm busy.] [Get clear of the kids, now.] Madeline's pulling at her clothing with shaky hands. Lyssa moves closer and is met with a growl. "Get the clothes off, Mad." [Lyssa, what's going on?] [Brace yourself.] A lightly furred wolfwoman bursts from Madeline's clothes, puts her nose up, and howls. "He's at the circle, Maddie." Madeline races off as Lyssa hears, [Is Madeline OK?] [Oh, yeah, headed straight for you.] Erich has stopped the lesson. The young ones scatter and Samuel scoops up Emmaline as the furred female bursts through Stephanie's group to get to her mate. Madeline, for all her small size, knocks him to the ground and crouches over him, one clawed hand on his pecs, one on the ground beside him. "Blossom?" She sniffs his face and neck and then begins to lick him. Samuel laughs and Randall calls out, [We're done here, for now. Go to your teachers, mates, parents, or duties. We'll try again tomorrow.] As the others disperse, Stephanie watches them, briefly. And she counted herself lucky that she'd never go through that. Her captors had apparently badly messed up her system. In all the decades that had gone by, she'd never gone into heat. [Em, Erich's done for a while.] [Madeline's in estrus?] [He never knew what hit him.] She hears the amusement in his send. [Sounds like your first heat.] [Where are you?] [Working with Simon on the new cold storage equipment order.] [Can you take a break for a few minutes?] [Where?] [Back deck?] [Meet you there.] Lyssa glanced back. Madeline was growling and attempting to push herself down on her mate's stiff length. Erich had her hips, a slight grimace on his face since she was pushing down so forcefully she was bending his penis slightly. "Give me a second, Blossom, you're bending me the wrong way." *** Lyssa was pacing the deck on the back of the house, hugging herself. "What's up, mate?" She whirls to Emmett striding out the door. "Pants. Now." Emmett's eyes widen slightly, but his hands go to the button and he drops the cargo pants to the ground. Lyssa circles behind him, presses against his back and circles her arms around his waist. One hand slid down to caress the bulge beginning to grow in his shorts, while the other moved up, scratching lightly along the way to his nipple. Emmett growls as the tension and his shaft rise to her attention. She slides around him, under an arm. She scratches her nails down his back as his arms went around her and she ground her pelvis against the hard ridge of him. [On the ground, mate.] Emmett kicks off shoes and pants. She growls when his hands go to the waistband of his shorts so he gets down, lying back on the cold wood of the deck. She settled between his legs and licked her lips as she looked into his chocolate brown eyes. Grasping his shorts, she watched his eyes as she ripped them from his hips. He groaned as his turgid length sprang free and she lightly licked the head. Another, deeper groan left his lips as the wet heat of her mouth engulfed him and she worked to swallow all of his length. His head went back, rubbing against the wood, and his claws drew tracks in the decking as she swallowed convulsively to get him into her throat. He felt the constriction, felt her nose brush his pubic hair, before she had to come back up. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and he pulled her forward slightly and began to twist her around. He grabbed her hips as Lyssa settled back over him, the smell of her in his nose, wetness evident on the red satin panties she was wearing under the dress. She gasped as he shifted to intermediate form and her hand grasped him almost painfully until she loosened it with his change. She dove back down on him as his tongue swept across her sodden underwear. Teeth then bit in carefully to remove the thin barrier. His tongue now had free access to her most intimate place. In this form his tongue was longer, and he would use it to touch all of her. He started sweeping his tongue over her lightly furred lips. They were warm, swollen, covered with her own wetness. He brought it back into his mouth, savoring her taste, and nudging her clit with his nose. He almost lost track of what he was doing as she strove to engulf him to the root. The feeling of her throat around the head of his cock and her tongue swirling around his length threatened to unman him. So, he did a similar thing, extending his tongue to the fullest and thrusting it into the warm tight source of her wetness, as far as he could go. The tip of his tongue, more flexible than in human form, brushed over her cervix and she squeaked and gagged on his length. Even the contractions in her throat stimulated him. While she could only give his balls a slight lick from her position, she cupped them in her warm hand, cradling them, feeling them start to tighten and draw up. The slackness in his scrotum decreased as his body prepared to fill her mouth with ejaculate. Slick and warm, with pressure in different places because of her tongue's actions, her mouth brought his seed simmering up. He firmed up just a bit more before he exploded and she sucked and slurped his spendings from him. One last lick and she withdrew, turning her head to smile at him while he panted below her. As she shifted slightly, he grabbed her by the hips. [Uh, uh, mate, don't move. I'm not done.] She settled back a bit, until he caught his breath. His thumbs held her open and she felt the faintest touch of his claws between her thighs. She felt the heat of the body below her, his breath on her nether lips, the softness of the short fur that currently covered his body. Then, she felt his tongue, long, muscled, a bit rough, sweeping over her entrance before delving again inside. Lyssa laid her cheek on the fur at the edge of his hipbone and looked at his wilted manhood. She moaned then laid a hand on his now-flaccid penis, considering stroking it to fullness again. [Not that I wouldn't love to, mate, I need to get back to Simon.] Lyssa pouts and groans as his tongue continues its work, within and without. It flutters on her engorged clit and her knees tightened around his head as the fur on his body receded. His tongue shortened, widened, thickened, and pushed more strongly against the hard nub at the top of her folds. Fulfillment 16 She was almost humping his mouth now. "Nnnh. Nnh. NNh." He grabbed her hips, sucked her clit into his mouth, and set his teeth to it. Her legs were shaking. She broke and a slight gush of fluid coated his chin. "Oh, god, Em. Oh, god." "Come up here for a bit." She turned around and lay on his chest while he wrapped his arms around her. *** Stephanie came to his suite, shadowed by a black-haired wolf. She was comfortable with him now so perhaps he should get her to take another step. The opportunity presented itself. "Good evening, Stephanie. How was your day?" He was watching the evening news as she entered. "Fine. The Beta female went into her first heat." She walked over to the loveseat. "Ah. Always a surprise. Perhaps a new pup for Wyeth." "Hm. Maybe." Stephanie twisted, and made a noise. He turned to look at her. "What is it?" "Nothing." He looked at her. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "My back is sore." There's a pause before he says, "I could rub it for you, make you feel better." She looks at him. "I did it for Sabine, when her back troubled her. She said I helped her." "It's fine." "Come, Stephanie, accept the possibility that I can ease your discomfort." "What would you do?" "Massage. A backrub. I would rub your back." He flicks the television off. He tried another tack. He had been introducing her to desserts, trying to expand her palate. Trying to bring her out of the shell she'd stuffed herself into. "Bethany poached some pears, would you care for one?" She looks confused and, so, Calvin takes her hand and leads her to the worktable. She sits, and looks at the pear. It had no skin but had its shape, and stem, and was sitting in a small puddle of juice. "How do I...?" Calvin sat and picked up a knife and fork and began carving into the softened fruit. She watched, picked up her utensils, and started in on hers. After the second slice and seeing the look on her face, he asks, "Do you like it?" "No, not really." He watches her carve another slice out. "Then why are you eating it?" "It will go to waste." Calvin reaches over and drags the plate away from her as she growls. "If you don't like it, don't eat it." She suppresses the growl at having food removed from her and thinks of conversation. "How are things with your pack?" "We're faring well. The first of my widows has come through her first estrus without her mate. Michael's mate, Erica, might have her first estrus any day now. Neither of them will have an easy time of if." She says nothing, having no response to that. He takes her silence for tacit disapproval. "I do the best I can for my pack." "I didn't say anything." "I felt your disapproval. I know I let them down, both of them. I missed the signs, chose not to see, I suppose. I wish things could be different, but, " he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, "I do the best I can." "I wasn't judging.." He stands quickly, knocking his chair over and she jumps. He turns away. Stephanie has become more adept than most at reading moods and body language. She didn't need that in-depth knowledge now. She had not seen him in pain before. He looked suddenly both older and younger, having seen so much and still so unsure. She stood and walked toward him. Comfort. It was what was warranted here. But she hadn't comforted anyone in decades. He felt her come up behind him, caught a glimpse of her hand. It lightly touched his shoulder. "That's all you can do." He puts his hand atop hers and gusts a big breath. "I'd like to ease your back." Two breaths and she asks, quietly, "What do I do?" "It's easiest if you lay on the bed on your stomach. It's also best if you are naked from the waist up." Silently, she stripped off her shirt and climbed onto the bed and lay down. She understood that he would feel better if he could help someone. It was a small enough thing to do. He looks at her on the bed and hesitates. "It's easier for me if I kneel over you, straddling your hips." "OK." Expecting an objection at any moment, Calvin carefully climbs onto the bed and kneels astride her. He can see she's forcing herself to relax. There's just that bit of tension in her shoulders. He looked at the expanse of her back, mostly smooth tanned skin but scars from fighting and the lean musculature of someone who worked out regularly. And the scars on her neck, the mess at her neck where several mating bites had been delivered. Her head was pillowed on her arms, medium brown hair, wavy, kept short, fell behind her and one green eye looked up at him, waiting. "I'm removing my shirt so I won't rip the seams out." She lay beneath him, waiting, breathing. Hearing no protest, he pulls his shirt over his head and throws it off the side of the bed. "Where is the pain?" "Lower back, left side." He puts his palms together, rubbing them to warm them up before touching her. "I'm warming my hands up." After several seconds, he says, "I'm ready to begin." At that, she twists slightly and looks up at him. Annoyed, she says, "You don't have to tell me every little thing you're doing." He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. She hears the sadness in his voice. "I do. Because, somewhere in the middle of this, you'll get uncomfortable and tell me to stop. I'm giving you the chance to do that at any point." She glares at him. "Weeks of experience, Stephanie. Some days I have no idea what I've done to upset you." He watches that settle into her mind, watches her struggle against being defensive. Yes, males had hurt her, but it was oh, so long ago. Calvin had never, ever done anything to hurt her. But the last time she had had any sort of feelings for a male he had left her in the company of 5 sadistic brutes. Calvin's own son was apparently of a similar bent. How far did the apple fall from the tree? "Your son was no angel." He's startled by the statement and had no idea where it had come from. She turned back to the bed and lay her head back on her arms. "I don't understand what you mean. No, he wasn't, he...oh." Realization hits Calvin. He mumbles to himself. "How could the son be unlike the father?" He moves quickly, off of her, and flips her over, grabbing her by the upper arms and pulling her towards him. "What have I ever done to you, Stephanie? Kissed you? Touched you? Fed you? If I'm so abhorrent to you, how can you sleep in my bed? If you don't want to be here, get out. Get out and don't come back!" He shoves her to one side and vaults off the bed, pacing in front of his desk before sitting down, raking his hand through his hair, and grabbing the mouse on the computer. She sits there where he'd tossed her and watched him, anger radiating from his frame. He'd never gotten mad at her before. He'd been so, so tolerant. She was both scared and shaken, unsure of what to do. He was shaking in anger. "Calvin?" "Sampson will see to it that you get home." She steps off the bed, picks up her shirt, and holds it against her waist. She takes a step toward the door, then turns back to him. He notices the hesitation, "I'll have your things back from the laundry and sent tomorrow." Stephanie continues to stand there, feeling her throat closing up. He finishes typing something and looks up, into sad jade eyes. "Well?!" Her mouth works but nothing comes out. "What?" She swallows and still has trouble getting the words out. "I'd like to stay." He stands now, hands on the desk, eying her narrowly. "Why?" She looks down, eyes burning, throat feeling raw. "I like sleeping here." He takes a step around the desk. "And why is that?" "It's, it's comfortable and, and, warm, and you smell.....", she trails off. "Go on." His voice is gentler and she looks up at him again. She looks as if she's about to cry. "You smell good, alright!" She turns away from him at the admission. He walks up behind her and gently puts his hands on her upper arms. "Do you feel safe here?" She swallows and he watches her nod. "And why is that so bad?" "I told myself I'd never get involved with another male." "Never is a long time, Stephanie." "I have obligations to Wyeth." "I haven't asked you to break them." "But, every time I'm here I'm not there." "Has your Alpha indicated there is a problem?" "No." "One of an Alpha's many goals is to see his pack happy." She makes a sound. "No. It is impossible to have everyone happy all the time, but we try for the general wellbeing of the pack. To allow them to spend their time in ways they see fit, as long as duties are performed and it hurts no one or doesn't reveal our presence to the humans. That, Stephanie, is the best evidence of an Alpha's power - a safe and content pack. If Randall expected that I was coercing you in some way, forcing you to come to me, he would never let you out of the den. He may not understand but, in a way, he approves." Stephanie stands there, wringing her shirt in her hands. His hand leaves her arm and moves, lightly, over her shoulder to her neck. Calvin steps into her, pressing his body to hers, wrapping his other arm around her waist. The hand at her neck moves up to cup her face and he gently moves it back and off to the one side. He licks the side of her neck, over her pulse, and she shudders. His voice is husky and low in her ear. "I don't think you've ever been touched the way a female should be touched. Let me show you pleasure, Stephanie." "I don't... I can't..." "Shall we see what your body is capable of, Stephanie? Will you let me explore it?" He kissed her neck now, nibbled at it. He heard her breath catch in her throat. His hand around her waist moved up and he ran his thumb along the lower curve of a breast. "I want to show you pleasure, Stephanie. Will you permit me?" She had no idea what he meant. Fucking. Did he only want to fuck her? How would that be pleasurable? But his voice, his warm breath on her neck, and the gentle touch of his hand under her tit. Something in her body tightened and something lower twitched. Her pulse sped up, her chest began to heave. "Pleasure, Stephanie. Don't you wonder why the others enjoy it? Seek it out? Aren't you curious?" His thumb continued its light brush on the underside of her boob and he nibbled along the edge of her shoulder. She felt something strange between her legs, dampness. What in the world was happening to her? The hand on her face moved down to her waist. It then slid further down, to her hip, across her belly, and his fingers brushed between her thighs. She gasped again as he brought them to his face and sniffed. He breathed against her neck. "You smell good. I'd like to taste you." She twirled in his arms, to face him, shirt dropped to the floor. She looked into his eyes, searching. The look in them was almost sleepy, but intent. There was a slight smile on his face. "Why?", she breathed. "I want you to have something I don't think you've ever had." She swallows. "Why?" He lets go of her and starts circling her. "I like the way you smell. I like having you in my bed. I like the way you fight. Your loyalty. Your innocence.." "Innocence? After, after what they.." He stops, touches her chin, runs the pad of his thumb over her lips. "Innocent to the joy found in making love." He starts circling again. "I like your strength, your loyalty." He stops again in front of her, looking directly into her eyes. "I like your eyes." He takes both her hands. "And because I will enjoy it, too." She looks confused. "Come to me, Stephanie, and kiss me." Stephanie looks at him. A kiss. That she had done before. She stepped closer and his arms went around her, pulling her against him, her naked breasts contacting his chest. Her hands went to his shoulders and they tilted heads as their lips came together. He opened his mouth and touched his tongue to her lips, and, pressed against them. She opened for him and his tongue invaded her mouth. She pulled back a little, but his hand on the back of her neck held her in place as he devoured her. When he finally released her she gasped for breath and swallowed. He looked at her with an intensity that had her squirming and she yipped when he swept her up in his arms. "Put me down." His mouth covers hers to stop her protests as he walks her to the bed. Calvin lowers her onto it. "Will you remove your pants or would you like me to?" She gives him a slightly suspicious look. "Alright, then." He moves up beside her on the bed. Dropping another kiss on her lips, his hand slides across her waist and then upward, to cup her breast. He caresses it lightly before running the pad of his thumb up to her nipple. Calvin watched it tighten up, watched her gasp, watched her squirm. He was pleased, this was the nipple that had been so badly damaged. But the sensitivity, the reaction, was still there. [You must tell me what feels good to you. Different females desire different stimulation. I won't know what you like unless you tell me.] Stephanie gulps and nods. He next rolled that nipple between thumb and forefinger as his mouth descended on the other. She watched, tense, waiting for pain. Calvin continued, his eyes flicking to her, watching. She'd clamped her mouth shut. [Make noise, Stephanie. It lets me know if I am touching you as you like.] He continues, smiling against her skin as the first groan leaves her lips. Her smell was becoming more intense, as well. He was moving his tongue over her nipple, pressing on it, around it. She felt like she had no control over her mouth. She was making noises and couldn't seem to stop herself. And she was feeling more dampness between her legs. It was weird, kind of uncomfortable. And, it felt like her boobs were connected to her cunt. It was like shocks or something. Oh, he was switching. His tongue traced to the other boob and that hand. He was running it down her ribs, her belly. He traced the edge of the waistband. He released the strings on her sweatpants and his fingers slid inside. [What..?] [Pleasure, Stephanie, relax and let me show it to you.] Her eyesight was strange, narrowed but out of focus. She felt his fingertips move down her belly and find the hair there. Light brushing motions, just brushing his fingers lower, and she felt her muscles twitch. Then, those fingers pushed into that hair. He found the scar, that hairless line across her mound, and traced it with his fingertip. She moved and he realized she had spread her legs somewhat and he smiled again against her breast because he was certain she'd done it involuntarily. So, he reached further, moved through the curled hairs, to the top of her opening. No, not yet. First he wanted a quick taste. Further, and he dragged a single fingertip through the wetness there and brought his hand out of her pants. She made a slight noise of protest, and lifted her head to look at him. He showed his fingertip, moist with her essence. He put it in his mouth and closed his eyes as he cleaned it off, sucking her juice from it. And, finally, with that, he put a name to the floral scent that lay beneath the smell of wolf. Lilac. She smelled of lilac. He smiled at her, the slightly feral grin of sex and promise, and moved down on the bed. Grabbing her waistband, he began dragging the pants off her legs. He then moved back up from the foot of the bed and laid a kiss to the inside of her thigh. A little higher and he set his teeth on her and bit, gently, so as not to mark her. She jumped a bit at that, so he licked the spot, then dragged his tongue upwards, as his hands slid under her thighs. Palms underneath, his fingers and thumbs held them, and spread them open a bit more as his tongue caressed the inside of her thighs. He went from making a long wet line to giving her short, flicking licks of his tongue. He raised his eyes and saw her looking back at him. Then he looked down, at her center, for the first time. And closed his eyes in pain. She watched his eyes close, had seen the look in them, and started to move away from him. His eyes snapped open and he grabbed her thighs more tightly. [Oh, little one, what you must have endured.] He took another look. There was a rip in the clitoral hood, but the red nub appeared intact. There was a puncture mark and another scar from a tear on her outer labia, where she must have been bitten and either jerked away or the male had. Other marks, less noticeable, faded with time. Dampness coated the inner lips. He looked into her eyes, inhaled, and smiled. [You smell good. Let's see how you taste.] He watched her watching him as he extended his tongue to run along the outer edges of her furred lips. They were warm, soft, swelling. And he noted the contrast between her softness and the ridges of scar tissue. Calvin ended with a quick flick to her clit and was pleased to hear her surprised gasp. Now, for the taste, directly from her. He swept over the wetness on her inner lips and groans at the taste. He's ready to begin a concerted assault between her thighs but then realizes he's got to make sure of something. [Tell me, Stephanie, if anything hurts. There will be tension, pressure, but nothing should hurt.] Stephanie blinks and he runs his tongue over his lips. This time. This time he'd keep to the outside of her body; no fingers or tongue inserted. So, his tongue swept, and circled, and took the fluid her body was making. He flicked her clitoris with it, vibrated his tongue over it. Stephanie moaned, and fisted her hands in the sheets, and shifted her hips. He held her in place, and continued to work her with his tongue, thoroughly enjoying her taste and reaction as she tried to close her legs. And he felt it, the tension in her leg muscles. He glanced up at her. Her eyes were closed and her head thrown back. He watched the heave of her chest; heard the sounds coming from her. Her hips twisted and he tightened his grip. She was close. He wouldn't let her go until he was finished. So. One last sweep of her juices as he lifted her hips slightly. He placed his lips around her sensitive nub and vibrated his tongue over it. Stephanie broke. And three things happened. She cried out. A long, drawn out, "Aaaahheeee." She squirted, catching him in the chin and neck. And she thrashed out of his grip, to crouch at the head of the bed, swaying slightly. She shook her head and snarled lightly in response to his smug look. Breathless, she asked, "What in Luna was that?" He wipes the fluid from his neck and sucks it off his hand. His eyes twinkle. [I believe you've had your first orgasm, my dear.] "That's what they all go on about?!" That was an odd response. Calvin sobered. "You seemed to be enjoying it. How do you feel? Did I hurt you?" "I don't know." She blinks at him. "Are you tired?" A pause. "Yes, I guess so." "Then why don't we sleep?" There's a knock on the door. "My Alpha, are you well?" "Fine, Sampson, thank you." "Is your guest staying?" "Indeed.." he looks at her for confirmation, "...she is." Stephanie had moved back down on the bed and was having trouble keeping her eyes open. Calvin crawled up the bed, pressed a kiss to her forehead, brushed her hair from her face, and lay down beside her. As she slept, quiet sends entered Stephanie's mind. [He'll use you and toss you.] [You aren't good enough.] [How could anyone want you?] Stephanie woke the next morning in Calvin's bed, with him behind her. His arm was over her chest, his skin warm against her.. naked.. tits. She froze. She felt him, behind her. All of him. Both of them, naked in the bed. And she thought of the night before. And what he had done. And what he would want now. And she sighed, loudly. He woke, and moved, and nuzzled her hair, with a sleepy, "Morning, little one." Fulfillment 16 She lay rigid as he rolled and scratched, yawning. "Did you sleep well?" "Yes." The tone is tight, clipped. He turns to her. "What's wrong?" She got up on hands and knees, dropping her head. "Go ahead." He sits up and blinks. "Excuse me?" "Just do it." He closes his eyes and counts to ten. "Do what?" She sits back on her heels. "Oh. You want me to suck your dick." She reaches out for his morning stiffened length. Calvin grabs her hand before she touches him and counts to ten again. "Answer me truthfully, Stephanie. At this moment, do you wish to to any of those things?" She glares at him. "No, but.." "No buts. If you aren't willing, I don't want it." "I'll do it." "This is not a duty. I am not your Alpha nor your mate." She looked at him. "They all do it." "Talk to them. Others do these things because they enjoy the activity or because they get satisfaction from pleasing their partner. Your less-than-enthusiastic offer has me disinclined to accept anything from you." He swings his legs off the side of the bed and stands, distancing himself from her. "Would you have breakfast or do you need to return?" She looked at his back. He was rejecting her. "I want to go home." He closes his eyes and shakes his head slightly. "Of course you do." "What's that supposed to me?" "Nothing. Everything. I'll have a car take you home." She sits in the back seat, arms crossed, a low rumble emanating from her throat for the whole drive. Fulfillment 17 Dear Readers, Another installment for your perusal. The end is coming although it looks like another 4 chapters. KemMyst *** Stephanie woke the next morning in Calvin's bed, with him behind her. His arm was over her chest, his skin warm against her.. naked.. tits. She froze. She felt him, behind her. All of him. Both of them, naked in the bed. And she thought of the night before. And what he had done. And what he would want now. And she sighed, loudly. He woke, and moved, and nuzzled her hair, with a sleepy, "Morning, little one." She lay rigid as he rolled and scratched, yawning. "Did you sleep well?" "Yes." The tone is tight, clipped. He turns to her. "What's wrong?" She got up on hands and knees, dropping her head. "Go ahead." He sits up and blinks. "Excuse me?" "Just do it." He closes his eyes and counts to ten. "Do what?" She sits back on her heels. "Oh. You want me to suck your dick." She reaches out for his morning stiffened length. Calvin grabs her hand before she touches him and counts to ten again. "Answer me truthfully, Stephanie. At this moment, do you wish to to any of those things?" She glares at him. "No, but.." "No buts. If you aren't willing, I don't want it." "I'll do it." "This is not a duty. I am not your Alpha nor your mate." She looked at him. "They all do it." "Talk to them. Others do these things because they enjoy the activity or because they get satisfaction from pleasing their partner. Your less-than-enthusiastic offer has me disinclined to accept anything from you." He swings his legs off the side of the bed and stands, distancing himself from her. "Would you have breakfast or do you need to return?" She looked at his back. He was rejecting her. "I want to go home." He closes his eyes and shakes his head slightly. "Of course you do." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Nothing. Everything. I'll have a car take you home." She sits in the back seat, arms crossed, a low rumble emanating from her throat for the whole drive. *** Erich and Madeline were found humping in various places out of doors. They actually ended up on the small stone patio near the bench where he had first seen her. Simon had Hannah prepare a tray to leave for them. She stared briefly, mouth open, as Madeline sat on her mate's thighs, facing away from him. He had one hand on one of her breasts and the other between her legs. The platter held rare slices of meat, cheeses, protein shakes, milk, water, breads slathered with butter, sweet pastries. It was a basic starter platter. Couples, and especially the females, developed some fairly specific preferences during a mating cycle. They would be testing things to see what Madeline needed. Some females, like Anna, favored things on the sweet side, others, like May, favored salty. With a standard estrus of 3-5 days, they had time to test several things. Simone had files, checked periodically by Natalie and Wade, on all the mated females. Their health was paramount as they sustained the next generation. First estrus could come any time within the first year of mating. The average was 3-6 months. Madeline was well within the average range. Emmett and Lyssa picked up some of their duties in the meantime, as the others did when they were unable. As part of Mercy's training, Lyssa left a trail for her to follow, rounding one of the large rocks several times, then leaping up onto it. After a couple of circuits and a moment of confusion, Mercy reasoned out where Lyssa was. Expecting her to come from the direction she had, Lyssa was startled when someone leapt up behind her and nipped her tail before racing off. As Lyssa yipped, Emmett's send came through. [Good, Mercy. Very good.] Lyssa leapt back down and flicked her tail. [Ow. That hurt.] [You need to be aware when someone's stalking you. She shouldn't have been able to surprise you like that.] [Well, sure, she's only been a wolf like twelve years more than me.] Emmett stopped and licked her forehead. [We've been concentrating on your fighting. You've picked up the nose and ears with the change but you still could stand to learn more about evasive tactics, running and hiding, and some basic tracking. You're right, we learn most of this as pups. We should work on those things.] He gives her a wolfish grin. [Especially if we start taking females on the full moon hunts.] She skitters a little. [Really?] [Randall's considering it.] Lyssa flicks her tail again. [I gotta go meet with Thomas.] It comes out as a growl. [Why?] Lyssa barks a laugh. [You silly, jealous, lump. He's smitten with a female. A woman. Human. We're working on a way to have him meet her and ask her out. I'm tutoring human dating rituals.] Emmett wuffles in her ear, then snorts. [Serves him right.] She turns, nips him on the rump, and takes off. *** Stephanie was cranky, snarling at everyone, talking to no one. She didn't go to the Ross den that night, nor the next. Most of the others gave her a wide berth. Ariel found her in the weight room viciously pummeling the punching bag. Emmaline had begun shadowing her and was sitting and watching, occasionally yapping at a more solid punch. "Stephanie, I wish to have a sparring session. Assist me." Stephanie turns, dropping her arms and huffing out a breath. "As you wish, Madam Alpha." As Emmaline starts to tag along, Ariel says, "Emmy, go to your mother." A little whine and she walks away. As they approach the circle, Justin and Jamie are circling each other, tense, growling. Justin leaps at his twin and they roll. Coming apart, they notice Ariel approaching and, harrying each other, relinquish the circle to their Madam Alpha. Stephanie enters the circle, rolling her shoulders. Ariel enters and immediately goes on the offensive, attacking Stephanie, quickly taking her off balance. Bowled over, Stephanie recovers quickly and the fight begins in earnest. Snapping, separating, feinting. Stephanie is good but Ariel is better and Stephanie's mind isn't exactly on the fight. After a relatively short bout, she pins Stephanie to the ground, jaws around her throat. [I submit.] [Stephanie, why are you here?] [You asked me to spar with you.] [Too literal, Stephanie. Why are you here?] [I live here.] [Try again. What happened with Calvin?] Stephanie fidgets, still on the ground. Ariel releases her and steps back. [Why are you upset? What did he do?] Ariel had a good idea but couldn't understand why she was acting as she was. [Did it feel good?] [I don't know.] Ariel turns human, gesturing to Stephanie to do the same. "Intercourse?" Stephanie shakes her head. "Fingers?" "No." Ah, the tongue then. "Did he bring you to completion?" Stephanie looks confused. "I'm assuming he gave you an orgasm." "He said so." "And then what?" "I was tired. We slept." "And, so, something happened the next morning." "He rejected me." Ariel sputters. "I find that hard to believe." She looks at the other female. "Provide me with some detail with respect to what happened in the morning." "He had done me the night before. So I was going to let him.." "Let him? What, how did you offer?" Stephanie ground her teeth. She didn't want to talk about this. She was pretty sure none of the others had this kind of examination of their activities. But, her Madam Alpha had asked. "I got on my hands and knees and told him to go ahead. When he didn't seem to want that I turned around so I could suck his dick. And he stopped me before I got to him." Stymied, Ariel is at a loss for words. Stephanie exhales, "May I go, Madam Alpha?" [No.] The send is firm, commanding. Stephanie plants her feet, looking at the redheaded wolf. Eyes blazing with anger look back at her. [You selfish female...] Ariel starts as a growl rises in Stephanie's chest. [He gives you a gift, a treasure, and that was your response?] [I don't understand. I was going to let him..] [Quiet!] The growl continues at Ariel's reprimand and Stephanie drops back to wolven form. [You saw it as a chore, a duty. He did not. He wanted to bring you pleasure, to make you feel good and felt pride and joy in that. Would you have been happy if he had taken what you offered?] [No.] [And there is the difference, Stephanie. He gave willingly, you offered from a sense of obligation. Would you take that which was not freely given?] [If I wanted it bad enough.] [Go. Think. Reflect on his motives, and yours. Truthfully.] "You are relieved of your duties for the next 24 hours. Go to the male's retreat and remain there until tomorrow's dinner." Stephanie stands there, not understanding. "Go. Now." Stephanie huffs, turns, and begins walking away. [Lyssa, please inform the pack members to avoid the male's retreat for the next 24 hours.] [Of course, Madam Alpha.] Ariel consulted with her mate and Randall debates calling Calvin. But, as he had not called to ask after Stephanie, he refrains. Had he broken off, given up, after so many weeks? She then leaves to talk to Simon. Joanna and Nathan were coming for a visit. *** Stephanie had arrived at the male's retreat. It was a smallish cabin of three rooms, two bedrooms with bunks and a living room/kitchen. A porch wrapped around two sides. It was tucked into the edge of some trees, oaks, maple, beech. A small rivulet ran nearby. She sat and looked around. While all the pack knew where it was, it was really only the males who came here. It was for bachelor outings whose frequency was dependent upon the mood of the males. She was uncomfortable here and had no idea of what she should be doing. She paced around, the area thick with scent. Trees marked with scent. Tufts of fur caught in branches and bark. What was she supposed to do here? Think. Think about what Calvin had done. She didn't want to do that. She didn't have sweep to run. There was no exercise room, no one to spar with. She could go for a run, try hunting down dinner. And then what? She supposed she could go inside and find out what was there. Shifting, she unlatched the door and stepped inside. And was hit with the smell of food. Meat cooked long ago. Onions, mushrooms, roasted potatoes. There would be food here; the cabin was regularly stocked. And she suddenly realized, she had not made her own meal, except for the occasional rabbit or small deer, in years. As she searched the cupboards, the smell of pack males was there. Canned foods, dried foods, frozen meats. Hmm. And, so, she gathered things together and began to create a once-favored meal. *** Joanna and Nathan were sitting in a smaller room, eating and visiting with her parents, Roland, and Lyssa and Emmett. The males lightly teasing Nathan and the females noting Jo's glow. [Mating suits you, Jo.] [Nathan suits me, Lyssa. Where's Madeline and Erich?] [She's in her first heat.] Joanna smiles, looking just a little scared. First heats could be tricky, but especially so for a mated couple who were apart as often as they were. Nathan's job had him gone up to 10 hours a day. They talked about Nathan's family, the few new things at Wyeth. [Has anyone seen Emmaline?] The question is worried, starting toward frantic. That got everyone's attention. Ariel waited 3 seconds and, hearing no response, calls out [Who last saw her?] Randall said, "So, Erich is indisposed. Who's our best tracker?" "At this point between Justin and Mercy, I'd say Mercy." [Mercy, to the back deck, please.] Emmett, please organize a search of the den and outbuildings. We'll see if she's gone outside somewhere." "Of course, Alpha." As Cassie, Samuel, Randall, Ariel, and Roland approached the back deck, Mercy was pacing and twitching with nervousness. Cassie and Samuel are also twitching with nervousness, as well as fear for their daughter. "Mercy, I want you to find Emmaline." The small, brindled wolf barks and puts her nose down. She starts rounding the den. The others follow closely. A yelp from Mercy indicates a fresh trail and she casts about slightly before heading out into the range. [Who's with her?] Samuel asks, wanting to know what's happening. Mercy pauses. [No one.] Cassie asks, [She's gone off by herself?] Mercy stops again. [I think she's following Stephanie.] Ariel says, [Everyone stop.]. The six wolves halt. [We're headed straight for the males' retreat. Emmaline has been following her around lately and has followed her to the retreat.] She turns to the parents. [I beg your indulgence.] The two wolves blink at her. [Cassie, I will not override a mother's wish for her little one's safety but your daughter has followed and is with one of our better warriors. I would like to see how Stephanie responds. If you feel you cannot stand to have her away from you for a few hours, go, and fetch her now. But, as I said, I would like to see what Stephanie does.] Cassie whines and skitters. [She's not a mother. She won't know what to do.] [Then, Cassie, go collect your daughter.] Cassie and Samuel take off and Mercy starts after them. [Mercy. You're done. Back to the den.] Mercy hangs her head and trots back to the house, followed by the Alpha pair and Alpha heir. *** Stephanie is startled by scratching at the door and a small yip, asking to be let in. She opens the door to the small dark fluffball that is Samuel and Cassie's firstborn. "Emmaline, what are you doing here? Your parents will be worried." Emmaline whines and prances a bit. Stephanie picks her up and carries her inside. As small as she was, it would have taken her a long time to walk this far. Young pups generally barely made it a few hundred yards from the den. Emmaline was quickly turning out to be an independent, inquisitive pup and had developed a fascination for Stephanie. Stephanie looked at her dinner, meatballs, big ones, with a mound of spaghetti, and at the pup in her arms. Dinner that was cooling as she tried to figure out what to do next. Well, she could eat while she thought about what to do. So, she sat, with Emmaline in her lap and dug into the food, groaning around the first mouthful. She hadn't had spaghetti and meatballs in forever. Emmaline was obviously tired but interested in the food. While she sniffed and took a small, delicate lick of the sauce, it didn't suit her. She ate a little of the meatball but, only having milk teeth, had trouble chewing and swallowing it. Stephanie rose, pup in her arms, and looked through the cabinets again. In the back of the pantry, she found a can of evaporated milk. While not wholly suitable for young wolf pup, it would serve until Stephanie could get her back to her mother. So, she sat, dipping a finger in the evaporated milk so Emmaline could suck it off her finger and clumsily eating her own meal with her non-dominant hand. Alright, the Alpha female had told her to remain here and think, but she had not thought that the pup would follow her. Cassie and Samuel would be searching for her. And, so, in defiance of her Alpha's order, she would bring the pup back to her mother. And then return. Emmaline fell asleep in her lap as Stephanie finished eating. Stroking the softness of the pup's fur, Stephanie smiles a bit and says, "OK, sweetling, let's get you home." Two racing wolves yelp and skid to a stop as they encounter a brown wolfwoman striding toward the den. [Stephanie. Emmaline...] Stephanie loosens her arms, to show the little one she had been tightly holding, to keep her warm. [Fine. Tired. She took a little milk and fell asleep.] Cassie quickly shifts to take her daughter from Stephanie's arms. "Thank you, Stephanie. I've never been so scared. Oh, sweetie..." Emmaline whimpers and fusses at the transfer, then yawns as she settles into her mother's arms. Samuel looks over his daughter, then Stephanie. "Thank you for seeing our daughter safe." "Of course." Stephanie watches the new family head back to the den. She stood for a few moments, took a deep breath, and returned to the retreat. The visit with Nathan and Joanna continues happily after the news of Emmaline's safety arrives at the den. Randall asks after Severn pack and about Aaron's schedule, expressing an interest in meeting with him. Stephanie sat in the cabin, staring at the wall, thinking of not thinking. She smiled as she thought of Emmaline and the handful she was going to be. The sight of her, with her parents, on the way back to the den. Then, a flash of Calvin between her legs. And the feeling. The feeling of his tongue. The wetness between her legs. Her tits, her nipples. She had moaned, she had. And, and, pushed her hips toward him. And something gushed from her. She had felt relief, overwhelmed. And she didn't know what to think. And he had smiled at her, triumphant. She knew triumphant. He had been pleased. And she had felt, had felt what? She blinked. She came back to the present feeling something weird low down in her belly. Concentrating on the strange feeling, she reaches down. Wet. Sticky. Between her legs. Like when he had touched her. But why now? Because she was thinking of him? About what he'd done? She had meant to give him something back, something all males seemed to want. But he was right, her offer had been halfhearted. She didn't like the idea but felt she owed him. And he had rejected her. So she thought, about the mated pairs, even those who were only courting. Sex loomed large in the process. And it was true, the females seemed to enjoy it as much as the males. Did she enjoy what Calvin had done? She didn't not enjoy it. Some parts felt good. But the orgasm itself. It was the strangest feeling and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. Would she do it again? And she realized - yes. Stephanie had not slept well since. Even worse, Calvin had not called, not sent a car, not come to visit. Nothing. No word of any kind. Not a flower, not a note. He was apparently done with her and she found that made her sad. What should she do? What could she do? Should she do anything at all? She yawns and wanders into one of the two bunkrooms and is greeted by the sight of tits and pussies. Tacked to the walls were some pages from some pornographic magazines. Pictures of a female bent over, showing off her cunt. A set of boobs, with hoops in the nipples. A dick in her mouth, milky white drooling from her lips. A male fucking a female hanging from some straps. The male smell was intense here. Sick. She went to the other room. Another couple of pictures of naked females but not so bad as the other room. She crawled into a lower bunk, rolled up into a blanket, and promptly fell asleep. *** Morning came and Madeline's heat ended. Madeline looked mildly embarrassed at breakfast as Simon brought heaping platters of meats and pancakes. Both she and Erich looked a little worse for wear, but dug in. Natalie came over to check on them. "After breakfast, bed for both of you. A minimum of eight hours." Erich nods, bleary-eyed. Most of the mated males smile knowingly. *** Calvin was in his office when Sampson tells him Erica wanted to speak to him. Calvin looked to his Beta and nodded. Erica came in and closed the door. Calvin looked up when he heard the latch click home. "What can I do for you, Erica?" "She's gone," Erica says as she glides closer. He narrows his eyes at her as she gets closer. "Excuse me?" She trails her fingers over the edge of the desk as she rounds it. "That cold bitch is gone." She runs those fingers down to his thigh. He sits, flabbergasted. That is, until she drops into his lap. "Erica. Get out." She wiggles in his lap, wraps her arms around his neck and nuzzles along the edge of his chin. "Erica, I've got Alpha candidates coming in, this won't get you anywhere." He tries untangling her arms in a prelude to removing her from his lap. "Stop." Fulfillment 17 She kisses his throat and reaches down to the bulge in his pants. [You want me, admit it.] He grabs her hands and stands, holding her away from him. [Sampson.] "I told you I wouldn't take you, Erica." "She's gone, there's no reason you can't." She licks her lips and smirks at him. He inhales. She wasn't in heat, though this could be a prelude. Sampson entered the room and lifted his eyebrows at his Alpha. "Sampson. Please escort Erica back to her room and send the healer to her." Calvin releases her hands and she turns, wraps her arms around him, and rubs up against him. "Sampson. A little help here." A dry chuckle leaves the Beta's lips as he moves forward to remove the female clinging to his Alpha. She screamed as Sampson pulled her away. "You bastard, you're no Alpha! You're not even male enough to fuck me! Bastard!" Her screams rang through the halls as Calvin sat heavily in a chair. As Sampson walks back through the door, he says, "Where did it all go wrong, Sampson?" "It hasn't, Cal. It's just some bumps in the road." Calvin smells of his arm. "I need a shower." Sampson chuckles quietly again. *** Stephanie rose and ran the wide sweep. She didn't have to, wasn't supposed to, but she had to do something. And she thought, of Emmaline, the pack that had been her home for 59 years. For the first time in a long time, she thought about her family. And she thought of how much she missed Calvin. She went back to the cabin and sat at the table scratching a line in the top with a claw. She then put her head on her arms, and closed her eyes. He was done with her, this time, it seemed, for good. And after what? He hadn't even fucked her. He had licked her until she... And her Alpha had gotten mad at her and sent her here to contemplate her actions. But, other than fighting and ignoring them, she had no idea how to deal with males. She had obviously made a big mistake with Calvin. So she thought back on what her Alpha had said, that she had been given a gift and her response was wrong. Gifts. Gifts. You thanked the giver, in one of two ways, by thanking them or by giving something in return. She had thought that was what she was doing but it was more complicated than that. Three days. Could she do something? Anything? If she wanted to see him again, what could she do? Stephanie returned to the den at the appointed time and went to the kitchen to talk to Simon. Aaron and Sarah Severn arrived after dinner and went to meet with Randall and Ariel. The pack council idea was broached and, while Aaron had some reservations, Sarah seemed to consider it a good idea. Calvin arrived somewhat later and bolstered the arguments for such a council. Promising to consider it in more depth, the Severn Alphas take their leave. Calvin remains at Randall's request. "Have you given up on our Stephanie, my friend?" Calvin sighs heavily and looks over at Randall. "You have to know when to cut your losses, Randall." Randall pours a couple of glasses of scotch and hands one to Calvin. "Glenfiddich?" Randall nods and sits. "Are you really ready to let her go, after all this time?" Another sigh. "I am old, Randall, and tired. I need to stop looking for my own comfort and concentrate my energies on finding a suitable set of Alphas for my pack." Randall looks more closely at his friend, noting the weariness. "On that note, Cal." Calvin throws back the scotch, not even tasting the fine spirit, but feeling it burn all the way down. "Emmett is a fine Beta. I believe he would make a good Alpha. Lyssa, however.." "..is young for the role, yes, I know." "And human, Cal. Many will not see her as fit." "They will accept her if I have to beat them all into it." "Leaving them open to numerous challenges by not allowing them to assert their dominance over the pack." "They'll be challenged anyway." "It's not the same and you know it." "I don't want to argue, my friend. But I do want what's best for my pack. Are you telling me she shows no Alpha tendencies?" "She is a fit mate for our Beta, learning to fight, strong-willed, but she is not as strong as the rest of us and, how shall I say this? Not so wiling to assert her dominance." "She will learn. She thinks of the welfare of her pack." "When can I expect to lose them?" "I intend to bring each pair in for a couple of days, talk to them, let them get a bit of a feel for the pack. Then, a month-long stay to follow operations, get them familiar with the area, personalities, command styles. "You'll be taking the heat cycles of the females into account." "Of course." Randall gusts a sigh. "He's, well, it will be strange not to have them here for a month." "You do have another second now." "Mm. Not your concern, Cal. We'll be fine." Another drink is poured. "Of course, my friend. I'm sorry." There is a pause in the conversation. "How is Joanna liking mated life?" "Glowing, Cal. A little overwhelmed, a little scared of the future. Worried about her first heat." "Severn's a fine match for her, Randall. Her heart led her well." His voice goes lower, edged with a bit of pain. "I envy you the grandpups, Randall." Randall hesitates before voicing his next thought. "You aren't too old." Calvin takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. "There is Michael's mate but my heart is not there. There's really only one legacy left I can leave my pack." They drink in companionable silence, sipping scotch for a time. Calvin rises. "I should get back." "You don't want to see her while you're here?" "No. Perhaps when my successors are installed I may try again to woo her. Thank you for the scotch." She knows he's come to the den so she hangs around the front hall. Gordon is there as security. His scent increases as he comes down the steps. She watches Gordon watch him as he descends. "Good evening, Alpha Ross," Gordon says as Stephanie steps into view. "And to you. Stephanie." He acknowledges her only as he passes on his way to his car. She watches his retreating back in disbelief. Lyssa and Ariel watch from the balcony, having been warned of the potential for trouble. The door to the garage closes and Stephanie sinks to her knees. Nothing. Not a touch, not a kiss. He acknowledged her presence, and that was all. Reactions, emotions, chased through her mind. He was done with her. Did he hate her? Should she go after him, confront him? He'd been after her for weeks, months, and, now, nothing. What could she do? He was Alpha and she was only an Omega. She was lost. Ariel was turned, started for the stairs, when Lyssa put a hand on her arm. Stifling a growl, the Madam Alpha hears Emmaline fussing. "Sweetie, what is it? You're dry. You're fed. Are you cold? Tired?" Looking over the railing again, they see Samuel walk into the front hall, carrying his daughter. They are all amazed to see her little chubby arms go out in Stephanie's direction. Samuel moves closer and the fussing abates. "Um, Stephanie?" Stephanie looks up. "She wants you." She looks up to Samuel then down to the little girl straining to reach her. Eyes flicking to Samuel, Stephanie puts out her arms. Samuel transfers his little girl over and asks, "Stephanie, are you alright?" She doesn't answer him, pulling Emmaline tightly to her and setting back on her heels. She sticks her nose against the fine dark hair on the little one's head and inhales. Her nose felt funny and she sniffed, suddenly realizing tears were rolling down her face. She hunches over the little girl, and her shoulders begin to shake. Samuel is at a loss. Ariel and Lyssa come down the stairs and settle next to Stephanie, one on either side, both rubbing her back. [Emmett, Alex, we have a situation in the front hall.] Ariel knew this type of pain could turn one of two ways. Stephanie could either fall into depression or fly into a rage. If rage, she would have to be contained. Emmaline's little hand continued to tap on Stephanie's cheek as Cassie came down the stairs, looking for her daughter. She gasped, seeing where Emmaline was, and the males watching. Samuel moves over, putting an arm around his mate. [She wanted to go to Stephanie, wouldn't settle down until I handed her over.] [But, what's she doing?] [I have no idea.] Stephanie cried silently for another few minutes then stood, handed Emmaline back to her mother and swiped her forearm across her face. The Madam Alpha and first Madam Beta watched carefully. "I need someone to take me to the Ross den." "Why don't you wait a couple of days, Stephanie?" "It's perishable, my Alpha. A meal." Ariel looks at her, considering. Stephanie looks around at the others. With the exception of the Alpha himself, the best fighters of the pack were in the room. They were afraid of what she would do. She stood, quietly, and waited for her Alpha's decision. "Very well. Lyssa, you will drive her." Emmett whirls and Lyssa looks startled. She stutters, "Of course, Madam Alpha." She inhales and turns to Stephanie. "I'll meet you in the garage." Stephanie nodded. "Thank you, Madam Alpha," and headed for the kitchen. Lyssa went for her purse. Emmett looked at the Madam Alpha. [She needs to talk to a female, Emmett. There will be time on the trip over. And, as Beta, Lyssa will be able to bring her back.] Stephanie held a covered pan in her hands as Lyssa drove. Lyssa sniffed. "Smells good. You made meatballs?" Stephanie grunted. "I'm sure he'll enjoy it." Another grunt. Silence. Finally, most of the way there, Stephanie asks the question. "What are you supposed to do if he, he gives you pleasure, but doesn't want any in return?" Lyssa thinks about that question, it was so odd. She knew Calvin was very old, perhaps, "Is he physically able?" "Yeah. He had a morning hard-on." "Maybe he was tired or not feeling well." "That's not what he said." Lyssa waits, watching road go by in the darkness. "You want me to tell you what happened, don't you?" "It's hard to offer advice if I don't know what's happened." Stephanie growls. "I don't need advice." Lyssa pulls into an empty parking lot. Putting the car in park, she turns to look at Stephanie. "Then why did you ask?" "The Madam Alpha said I was selfish." Lyssa waits again for Stephanie to continue. Stephanie looks back at her and makes an exasperated sound. "He made me come. I was tired. We slept. In the morning, I felt him behind me. He was ready. So, I offered to let him fuck me. When he didn't seem to want that I turned to suck his dick. He rejected me." "Your first problem is that you offered to let him fuck you. Do you understand the difference between fucking and making love?" "There isn't any difference." "While there's nothing wrong with a good, solid fucking, making love is gentler, but no less passionate. It generally takes longer, sometimes hours, and requires a level of intimacy, of closeness, of knowing your partner and what they want, what they need. It also requires the participation of both parties. But, that doesn't mean that everyone comes to climax. Sometimes it's just you. Sometimes it's just him. And normally it doesn't happen at the same time, anyway." "I was giving him his turn." "He doesn't get 'a turn.' You do it because you enjoy it or because you want to make him feel good. It isn't a scorecard. You don't do him because he does you. You won't be 'even.' Females are multi-orgasmic. Males can only have, really, one at a time. Then they're done for a while..." "I know," Stephanie growls. "...and, a lot of times, they'll fall asleep afterwards." "I know the physical of it, had a lot of experience." There is a pause. "Why was I selfish?" Lyssa thinks for a moment. "He gave you a gift, he gave of himself, without expecting anything in return. What were you giving him?" "My body, so he could have his release." "But your heart wasn't in it, was it?" Stephanie considers. "No." "I would say that's why he didn't take you up on your offer. You weren't giving him anything equal in return." "I thought you didn't keep score." Lyssa groans in frustration. "You're not, but if you want to, then you can't be half-assed about it." "The food is getting cold." Lyssa put the car in gear and continued on. Stephanie went inside while Lyssa waited in the car. Lyssa didn't know if she'd gotten through at all. It was such a difficult thing to explain, you should automatically just understand this sort of thing. Mathias welcomed and announced Stephanie. She waited in the entranceway until Calvin appeared. As soon as he got close enough, Stephanie yelled, "Bastard!" and heaved the plate at him. Calvin ducked the flying glass pan but couldn't avoid noodles and sauce. The glass pan broke into three pieces as it hit the wall behind him. Calvin's face, hair, and polo shirt were spattered with sauce and a few noodles stuck at his shoulders and waistband. A couple of meatballs bounced off him onto the floor. The noodles hit with a splat. He stood there, completely taken aback. Mathias had inquired and knew that Lyssa had brought her. [Madam Beta of Wyeth, I think you should come in.] Lyssa exited the car and headed for the front door at a run. Calvin looks at her, anger evident on her face. His nostrils flare and he licks sauce off the back of his hand. As Lyssa is granted entrance, Calvin says, "Good sauce. And why did you feel the need to chuck it at me?" Loudly, Stephanie replies, "I don't know the rules! You've rejected me, thrown me away because I don't know the rules." "Stephanie, what have you done? You've attacked the Ross Alpha! I apologize, Alpha Ross, what are your wishes?" Calvin leans down, grabs a meatball, and pops it into his mouth. [Mmm, beef, pork, venison. I like a bit more salt, perhaps a bit of parsley.] Stephanie clenches her fists. This was not the reaction she expected. "Madam Beta," he acknowledges Lyssa. Stephanie takes a step forward. Calvin turns to her. "The rules are what I have been attempting to teach you, little one, but you are a stubborn pupil." 'Little one?' Lyssa thinks. Stephanie was not a small female. Calvin gusts a sigh. "I am currently endeavoring to secure the future of my pack. I can no longer devote the time required to coddle you." Lyssa snickers at the thought of Stephanie being high maintenance. Stephanie goes red in the face. "Coddle me!?" She hadn't been 'coddled' since she was a pup. "Stephanie.." Lyssa warns. Sampson rushes into the room. "What would you call it when I must be so careful of my words, my actions, when you are so prickly about everything? An untried female is easier to woo." "What? You?" Stephanie sputters. "It's not the same." "It's your shield, Stephanie, your armor. And you're fighting too hard to keep it intact." [You're in love with her.] Calvin's head whips to Lyssa and his eyes show the briefest emotion before he schools his expression and turns back to Stephanie. "It's also an excuse. But, you've proven yourself to me, for I've been stubborn as well." She looks at him, confused. "You trust no one, least of all males. Least of all yourself." He inhales deeply, exhales. "Go home, Stephanie. Come back only if you do." Calvin turns and starts walking away. Stephanie follows, slaps a hand on his shoulder. "That's it?!" Calvin pivots, turning quickly, and grabs her by the throat. [Do you want me to beat it out of you? Is that the only thing you think that you deserve? The only way you think you should be loved?] Lyssa stood still, waiting to see how this played out, not being privy to the exchange. Stephanie spits in his face. He released her at that and she turned and walked away. "I'd like to go home now." As Stephanie walked past her, Lyssa turned to Calvin. "Alpha Ross? Is there anything... May we go?" Calvin wipes the spittle from his face as he replies, "No, get her out of here, please." "I'm sorry." "I know. Good evening, Madam Beta." [Quite the firebrand, Cal. Do you really think you can tame her?] [Only if she tames herself.] *** Severn had agreed that a local pack council made sense given the ongoing changes in the world of humans around them. The decision was made to approach the Macy Alphas next. Calvin, meanwhile, had brought in his first set of candidates for an interview. The Foster Betas arrive and spend a couple of days at Ross. Things seem to go reasonably well, interviews, and questions going both ways. They are kept close, showing some aspects of the pack and its life without revealing too much. Natalie, Ariel, Lyssa, Madeline, and Emmaline kept an eye on Stephanie. Emmaline kept relatively close to her, mystifying everyone. Stephanie was now playing the voyeur. Where before signs of affection and sensuality would disgust her and make her move away, she was now noted watching couples, mated and otherwise, interact. She went to the pack's library a couple of times and looked over some book titles but she never took one while anyone was watching. Hannah walked into the alcove where a couple of public computers were kept and caught Stephanie laboriously typing something. She only got the barest glimpse before Stephanie shut the computer down completely. However, not being computer literate, Stephanie had no idea someone could turn it back on and see what she had been looking at. When Caroline came in and re-booted the computer, she found the browser opened onto a website about relationships. Thomas had been corresponding with Lorelei on Facebook. He was proceeding very cautiously, quite unlike himself. A date. Well, an actual date would involve going out. Lyssa told him that a typical first date generally involved dinner or a movie or both. Sometimes other things, depending on interests. So, the next step in the human dating training was a meal outside the den. When Lyssa told Emmett what she intended, he suggested they ask Stephanie along. Stephanie reluctantly agreed. The Alphas were informed and agreed, as well. Since neither Thomas nor Stephanie had experience, Emmett would dine with Stephanie and Lyssa with Thomas. They debated a double date scenario but settled on acting as two separate couples. And, so, while they went to the same restaurant they drove separately. Unfortunately, Thomas' driving skills were a bit rusty and Lyssa spent part of the trip gripping the door handle. She tries to keep her voice even. "OK, Thomas, you need some more practice with the driving before you take her out." "I'm not... Aren't I...?" "First off, she's human, she won't be able to take the turns at these speeds. Second, you'll attract the police with maneuvers like this. Third, humans don't have those kinds of reaction times. You'll get into an accident or a near miss." "But?" He exhales. "OK, what do I do?" "Accelerate more slowly, there's no need to stomp on the brake pedal. Slowly speed up and slow down. You shouldn't be throwing her around in the seatbelt." Stephanie sits in the passenger seat, wringing her hands. "Why are you so nervous?" "Humans, they're so unpredictable. So...." "Did you have that much trouble with Lyssa? Or Anna?" "They were alone, and female. There will be many of them." "Thomas will have a harder time." "Why? Why him?" "He wants to go out with a human female; Calvin knows who and what you are. You don't have to make small talk. Thomas will need to be on guard the entire time." "Why would the Alphas allow us out if it's so dangerous?" "Because, Stephanie, and I know others have told you this before, they want you to be happy. They want everyone to find their mate, and be happy." Fulfillment 17 "Mate? I don't want a mate." "Happy, then." There are a couple of minutes of quiet, and she asks, "How did you know?" "What?" "How did you know she was the one you wanted?" Emmett sighed. "I had watched her before I met her. Something about her caught my eye as I ran sweep, her smell, something. I can't exactly tell you what it was." "I knew she liked meat. I watched her plant, read a book." "I watched her walk." "And I watched her screw her boyfriend." "You, what? And you didn't kill him?" "It was a hot night, they were sleeping outside and I couldn't. He's a human and so was she. She would have screamed, called the police, and hated me for the rest of her life. The rules are different for them. I couldn't have won her that way." "But, how did you know?" "I looked forward to seeing her. I wanted to spend time with her, touch her, smell her. "Lust," Stephanie says. "Yes. There was that. But more. I've lusted after females and bedded them but there wasn't more. I didn't want to spend time with them. I could just sit and watch her." Stephanie thought about that a bit. "How did she know?" Emmett is quiet for a few moments, thinking of the conversation he had with her about that. "I'm not sure, you'd have to ask her." He sighs. "She didn't. At first. She thought I was an injured animal. She treated my wounds." "Randall and Ariel came to her house, scared her. I brought her to the den and you know what happened. She hated me, for taking her away from her life, making her a captive." "You said she called for you when Thomas attacked her." "She still trusted me." "Still?" "Her boyfriend had hurt her and she ordered him out of her house. He came back, mad, attacked her. I protected her. She was glad I was there with her." "But, even after everything, even after she agreed to be my mate, I'm not sure when she actually fell in love with me. I'm not sure she knows. But she does, and I'm glad." There was something he wasn't saying. She could hear it in his voice but, before she could ask, he said, "You can trust me, Stephanie." A statement. Again, before she could open her mouth to reply, "You trust all the males in the pack" They are in the parking lot now, Emmett puts the car in park. "You trust that we won't touch you, that we'll leave you alone." "Orders." "Doesn't mean someone wouldn't try, after all these years. You even went so far as to help a male, at the gathering." "No one should be abused." "And you trust Calvin, and most of his pack, or you wouldn't go there." "But, why?" "You want something, Stephanie. Need something. More. Just like the rest of us." She grumbled, "I don't need anything." Emmett turns in the seat to look at her. "Then why are you here?" Without waiting for a response from her, he says, "Wait here. He'll want to open the door for you." Fulfillment 18 Dear Readers, Here is the next installment. I have the ending you're all waiting for and should have it uploaded soon. The story's leading me into more writing for these characters. We'll see if it develops into a full-blown story. Enjoy, KemMyst *** They make it through the meal without incident. Lyssa prompts Thomas from time to time on statements, questions to ask, and how to answer questions. Both he and Stephanie learned public human etiquette, how to behave. The mechanics of ordering a meal, eating, paying. As well as proper treatment of the waitstaff. On the way back to the den Lyssa begins the discussion of an uncomfortable and delicate subject - sexual innuendo, suggestion, and signals. She had guided him during the meal, allowed an occasional touch of the hand but nothing further. But, part of this included speaking to him about how to act if she were sexually aggressive, possible activities, how he would have to restrain himself to keep from hurting her badly, safe words. He was almost ready to give the whole thing up when she brought up the subject of wearing condoms. He couldn't, for the life of him, understand how he could wear a covering on his penis, how it would feel, why he would need it. Lyssa then had to explain about human female biology, monthly cycles, and sexual diseases. *** The following week, Emmett and Lyssa were invited to the Ross den for their short interview session. Sampson expressed his pleasure at seeing them again, whole and healthy. Calvin asked after Stephanie and was told of her sudden change in interests. When they returned to the den, Lyssa went up to their suite, to get some things she needed then went back down to collect a car to go to the office. She found Emmett and gave him a kiss of promise before she left. Erich smiled. Lyssa asked Brandon for keys to a vehicle and he dangled a set from his hand. Annoyed by his behavior, she stepped closer to grab them. As the keys hit the floor, he grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her, before quickly letting her go. She stood there, shocked, as he retrieved the keys. Finally gathering her wits, she says, "What the hell was that?" Looking vaguely ashamed, he says [I've never kissed a female before and I wanted to try it.] She looked at him for another couple of seconds, grabbed the keys, and got into the car. As she drove to the business office, she thought, Great. Brandon has a crush on me. How do I let him down easy? *** The full moon of April was coming, so Calvin put off the Tucker couple for the following week. Sampson and Amanda had the taxes finished so he needed to look over the figures before the filing was complete. And the packs basically kept to themselves at this time. They all had their own rites, rituals, and activities associated with the moon. It was the day after the full moon that Stephanie again asked to make some food in the kitchen. Emmaline sat watching her. About the time she was finishing up she realized she needed someone to drive her. [Madam Alpha? I would like to have someone drive me to the Ross den.] There were a few moments of silence. After all, they couldn't always answer immediately. [Have you been invited?] [No.] [Do I have any reason to expect a repeat of what happened last time?] [No, ma'am.] [I hope not, Stephanie. I'm sending Alex with you.] [Yes, Madam Alpha. Thank you.] Alex inhaled appreciatively at the food. [Smells good.] "Mm." was Stephanie's response. As he closed on the Ross range, Alex requested permission to enter and they were granted access. Sampson waited at the door. [Wyeth male, please remain for the next hour, in case we have need of you to return her.] [My Alpha told me such.] Sampson barred her way as she came up to the doorway, arms crossed. "What are your intentions here?" "I have a gift for Calvin, uh, your Alpha." Sampson examines her face. [You have hurt him, Stephanie. I will not have you do it again.] She inhales, exhales. "I've brought dinner." [Can you tell me you won't pull away from him again?] She considers his question. "No." "At least you are being truthful." He considers her a bit longer. With a gesture, he says, "Come in." Stephanie said little as they ate the meal in his suite. "Thank you, Stephanie." "Um. I brought dessert." "Really? Please." As she brings the dish over and cracks it open, he says, "Ah, apples. A pie?" She swallows. "No. Just baked apples. I can't make a pie, my crust is like concrete." They dig in. As he finishes, he says, "I do like the little bit of butter with the brown sugar. Thank you again." He folds his hands and looks at her as she puts her fork down. "Now, Stephanie, why are you here? What do you want?" "I wanted to make you a meal." He looks at her, a slight curve to his lips. He counts in his head, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen. She stands abruptly and turns away. "You want me to say it, don't you?" Silence again. She turns back. "I'm sorry, alright? I'm sorry I threw the pan at you. I'm sorry I'm such a bitch." He stands. "Stephanie, you are a she wolf." "I hate this." "It's not easy, little one, for anyone. What do you want tonight? Would you go home? Or stay here?" There is a big inhale, then exhale. "I would like to stay." A pause. "And..." She stops. "Yes?" She looks down and shakes her head. "Nothing." What she had decided she wanted was for him to touch her again. "Answer me one question, Stephanie." She looks grumpy. "What?" He looks at her, she's suspicious. Too bad. "What was your mother's name?" "Why?" "Humor me." Stephanie blows out a breath. "Theodosia." "Hmm. Old. Unusual." "Yeah." Calvin exhales "Well, then. I have a couple of things to do before the news." "Um. OK. I should tell Alex to go home." Calvin nods as she moves to the door. Sampson watches her leave the suite and sends, [Cal, I'm not sure this is wise.] [She came to me, Sampson. She came back, of her own free will.] On the way back, Stephanie has the feeling of being watched. She stops, then quickly turns to catch sight of a dark-haired female. This female bares her teeth at her, and turns away. After the news, Stephanie, naked, crawls into the bed with Calvin. There is no sex. He was going to wait a couple more days, or until she asked for it. He wasn't sure which yet. She slept naked with him that night and returned to Wyeth the next day. The next night, when she returned, Stephanie fell ill. Sampson was told to inform Wyeth and Sharilyn attended her. Stephanie was only mildly feverish but was in gastrointestinal distress. She felt better after a few hours but it didn't make for a pleasant night. She was fine by the time she returned to Wyeth. Grumbling, she submitted to an examination when she got back. Natalie and Wade found nothing wrong with her. Feeling fine she returned the next evening, only to get sick again. This time, she was a bit worse. Whereas the night before she'd been nauseous, tonight she was in pain and threw up. Calvin and Sharilyn started to try dissecting what might be causing it, debating whether it might be something at Ross. They had eaten in Calvin's suite so that shouldn't have been an issue but, unless it was a cancer, it was something she had come into contact with, either a pathogen or something she had eaten or touched. No one at Wyeth was ill, nor was anyone else at Ross. It was possible she was Patient Zero but.. After several hours the symptoms abated and Stephanie finally fell into a restless sleep. Against Sharilyn's recommendation, Calvin remained close. As Sharilyn left to get some rest herself, Sampson entered the suite. "Cal, I think we need to put off the other candidates until we figure out what this is. If it's something contagious we need to contain it." [I've lost about as much as I can stand, Sampson.] "I know, Cal. And I'm sorry." Calvin exhales, heavily. "Alright, the first decision to make is whether to send her home or keep her here." "If it's a disease we've all been exposed, both packs." "Which means it doesn't matter which, so there's no need to move her." Stephanie's hoarse voice comes from the bed. "I should go home." Calvin walks over, touches her forehead. "Sleep. We'll talk about it later." Sampson looks at his Alpha, at the weariness in his frame. "Perhaps we should ask the Foster's healer." He thinks for a moment, then says. "Call the Foster Alpha and alert him. We should bring him over if she has another attack. And then call the Tucker pack and tell our candidates we need to delay them." [This sounds like a situation that a pack council may be useful for.] Calvin turns to his Beta and growls slightly. "Not now." "Been up with her all night?" Calvin nods. "Then you should get some rest yourself. There shouldn't be anything big today." Calvin nods again and slumps down in the chair, closing his eyes. By midmorning, they both wake, and Stephanie is feeling markedly better. Sharilyn returned to check her over. Stephanie was both embarrassed by her weakness and upset by the constant probing. She was not comfortable remaining at the Ross den but Randall had concurred with Calvin's thoughts on the matter. She grudgingly recognized the need as well as accepting her Alpha's wishes. The evening passed without incident. Everyone relaxed slightly. The next day, however, after they lunched in the Alpha suite, Stephanie became violently ill. This time she had mild convulsions. She was worse. The Foster healer, a licensed M.D., was called out and arrived to see if he could find out what was going on. An examination showed nothing out of the ordinary. Sharilyn shadowed him, learning what she could. "Have you found anything to account for this?" "No. But there are things I would only be able to find out at the hospital." [There is something that fits that we shouldn't discuss in the open.] "Do you think it's necessary?" [And what is that?] "Probably not yet, there are other things we can test first." [A mass in the brain, reproductive cancers.] A pause [Poison.] "Alright, standard medical evaluation and history?" [My first thought was poison.] "That would be best, where are her records?" [It fits her symptoms. If it had only been one instance I would think it inadvertent.] "Stephanie is Wyeth pack, we'll have to ask them." [I can't imagine who but I'll need to warn the Alpha.] Stephanie cuts in, through gritted teeth. "No." The Wyeth healers are contacted by cellphone. "She is 84 years old and a pack warrior. She has never been unwell." "Her injuries?" "Nothing beyond the ordinary. At least, as long as she's been with us." "What about her neck?" The doctor turns her head to the side, exposing the multiple mating bites. "How often does she come into season?" "Five mating bites were delivered over the course of a few days; she has never come into heat." The Foster healer frowns. "Thank you." After hanging up, he turns back to the Ross healer. "Five bites and never an estrus. There may be something to that." Calvin walks back into his bedroom. His face is drawn with worry and fatigue. "Have you found anything?" He winces as he watches Stephanie's body stiffen again. There is black residue at her lips. His tone is brusque. "Tell me, healers, will she die?" "My Alpha, we shouldn't discuss this here." "If she hears, she will know and she will want to know. Speak plainly." "The mating bites and lack of estrus may have triggered a reproductive cancer. There could be a tumor in her brain. It would take testing to determine which. The other possibility is something she ate." Calvin's face darkens. "Poisoned?," he growls. "The symptoms support that theory." "Infection?" "No one else is ill, in either pack, and she would not improve then get worse." Calvin digests the information. "Thank you for your help. Let me get you back to your pack, unless there's something else?" The Foster healer shakes his head. "The charcoal should absorb the toxins, if that is indeed what it is, and speed her recovery. Call if she worsens." Calvin kisses Stephanie's forehead before he escorts Foster's healer out. [Sampson, my office.] [Coming, Calvin.] Calvin paces as he discusses the matter with his Beta. "It has to be be someone here. She was here more than a day before this last incident." "We aren't even sure what it is." "No, but this we can do something about. Now, easiest way would be something in the food. But how?" "You ate.. in your suite. All three times." "Sampson, were they targeting me?" "Fifty/fifty chance of you getting the plate. Chances are you would have gotten it, at least once. If they were really serious, they would have done both plates. What was different?" Calvin considered, working on remembering the meals. "She doesn't like beans. We ate the same things." "Something's different, Cal. You had something different." "Meat. Carbs. Veggies. Dessert." He shakes his head. "No." Sampson gets that Aha! look. "Milk." "You're right. That's the difference. But who would.." he puts his hand on his forehead. "Erica." "We have no proof." Calvin growls. "I can get it." "But what will you do with her if you do?" *** Spring was in the air. The trees were budding, blooming. Madeline was watching Brandon till the newly expanded garden. She had started some plants from seed and was arranging them outside to harden them off. Lyssa came out to talk to her about the garden and the areas she intended on allotting to the different vegetables. Simon had given her an idea of the amount and kinds of vegetables the pack consumed. As the two Beta females talked, the tractor stopped and Brandon walked toward the den. Erich walks out and Lyssa steps back as he goes to slide his arms around his mate. Lyssa is suddenly aware of strong hands grasping her hips. It takes a second for her to realize it wasn't Emmett. She jerks away, "Oh, sorry." It seemed a little harder to get away from him than it should have been. He turns away, mumbling, "Oops, sorry." Erich looks up from where he was nibbling on Madeline's neck. "What was that?" "I don't know. He bumped into me." Erich looks surprised. Unless something was wrong with them, wolves were not clumsy. "Weird." Holding Madeline, he looks at Lyssa and says, "You've got 5 minutes." "Huh?" "Hide and seek. Now. You hide, I seek." "But, I'm not ready." "You think somebody's gonna tell you they're gonna hunt you down? Four minutes 55 seconds." Lyssa turns, slides out of clothes, turns to wolf, and takes off. [Emmett, where do I go?] [Can't help you, sweetheart, get going.] Lyssa ran, trying to figure out what to do, where to go. Erich was the best tracker in the pack. How in the world was she supposed to evade him? Water and strong scents would confuse the nose but he was better than that. In the moist conditions of spring, soft ground would not be her friend. She ran, out into the range, thinking, trying to think. She came to an area of pine trees as Erich's howl reached her ears. It didn't quite sound like a wolf in pursuit of prey, though. Erich looked at Madeline's lavender eyes as she looked up at him. He released her hair as she finished cleaning him off, a satisfied smile on her face. Breathing heavily, he steps out of his pants and peels off his shirt. [Did you think to make it easier on her by distracting me, Blossom?] [No. Maybe. But I figured we had time for a quickie.] Erich crouches, crushes her against his bare chest and kisses her, the taste of him still in her mouth. [Erich.] He sighs, heavily, and shifts to wolf. [Going, Emmett.] The howl this time signals pursuit. He knew where he she had started from, now where had she gone? His nose opened up to another world. The eyes showed you many things, but you saw what you wanted. Sight could be deceiving. Smell, however, had a depth to it. He smelled the damp richness of the spring soil, the musty scent of leaf mould, the green scent of new growth, and the smell of wolf. Each wolf had their own scent, a complex odor which identified them to other pack members. Lyssa smelled like a young female, but there was something more, something that wasn't quite wolf. The youngsters had run over her trail, but that didn't even slow him down. Bounding through a late patch of snow on a north-facing slope may have given her wet feet but left tracks. She made a couple of abrupt changes in direction but he simply kept his nose down and followed. He also kept an eye out and listened as he ran. Ah, she'd crossed back over her trail. A bit longer and he found she had gone into a group of pines. The resinous scent was strong and her trail disappeared. Erich skidded to a stop. She watched him stop quickly and backtrack. [Lyyyyssssaaaa.] comes the singsong call. He was trying to get her to reveal herself. She held still. He was examining her last footprints to get an idea of where she'd gone. Then he began searching, spiraling out from her last print. She smiled to herself, she'd confused him. Erich, the pack's best tracker, didn't know where she'd gone. Ha. She watched him circle around the spot a couple of times then lost sight of him in the pine branches. Lyssa waited, debating on dropping down and heading back to the den. She snarls and twists as her foot is yanked from the bough she was standing on and he takes her to the ground. Once her trail disappeared he backed up and examined the last couple of tracks. The prints were longer, and deeper, a sign she had gone two-legged. She was in the trees. Part of tracking and pursuit included catching the runner. And part of that sometimes included letting them believe they'd gotten away. He didn't look up, simply began spiraling out from her last track. A sprinkling of fresh needles and small twigs indicated where she'd climbed up and he saw nothing that indicated she'd left the tree. Now, all he had to do was get her. They hit the ground growling and grappling. Unfortunately for her, he ended up on top of her. He pinned her to the ground with his size and weight. [Crap, how'd you find me?] [I'm good.] Lyssa sighs. [Yeah, I guess.] [Nice try, though. It'll make a neat test for Mercy.] *** Stephanie improved and, mindful of foodstuffs, had not fallen ill again. She resumed her duties at Wyeth and regularly returned to Ross to sleep. That crisis seemingly over, Calvin called out for the Tucker candidate pair to visit before the next full moon. Calvin was wakened by a strong but tentative hand stroking his penis. He lay on his back, with her beside him, as his partly filled shaft hardened. He took a large breath and quietly asked, "Little one, what are you doing?" She jerked, a little guiltily, and looked at him. Her voice was a little rough as she said, "Trying to bring you pleasure. Do you..? Should I...stop?" He raises a hand to her face. "No. I do not object to your actions." He relaxes back down onto the bed. Her hand is warm and firm around his length and she takes a deep breath. "I'm not sure I know how to do this. They always just ... made me." "Do what is comfortable, Stephanie. I will tell you if it is something I do not like." She looks at him and he looks back, and offers her a smile. "It's alright, Stephanie." She exhaled and looked away from his face, back to what she was doing. She held him and touched the end lightly with a finger, tracing around the edge of the foreskin. Calvin's foreskin was not wide and never covered the end of his penis, so the tip was always exposed. He inhaled at the touch. She looked up and he smiled. Fulfillment 18 Stephanie rolled the foreskin back and leaned down. He felt her breath on the exposed head and closed his eyes. She looked up and saw he had closed his eyes. He was trusting her. She breathed in his scent. While she knew his scent intimately now, it was a little different at his groin. Richer. She had his dick in her hand and, if she actually intended on doing this, she either needed to pump it with her hand or take it into her mouth. Stephanie touched her tongue to the end of his dick, giving it a small lick. And he twitched in her hand. She licked again, swirling her tongue around the head. The taste wasn't bad, a little salty, a little ... him. Making her decision, she sucked it into her mouth. And gagged, letting go and rolling away. He got up on his elbows to look at her as she rolled back. It had just been the thought of what she was about to do that caused her to pull away. And she huffed her annoyance at herself. She took him in hand again and took the head into her mouth, taking deep breaths and trying to relax. He watched her with hooded eyes. She sank down a little deeper and he felt her teeth touch his skin. [Carefully with the teeth, little one. I don't appreciate biting there."] Stephanie backed off quickly, releasing everything. "Oh, sorry." "It's alright. I was just letting you know what I like. Or, rather, what I don't." "Um. OK?" She sat there for a couple of minutes, looking at him. He looked back at her, offering what he hoped was a pleased but neutral face. He watched her make the decision and she approached him and dove back down on him. His eyes closed and he groaned at the feeling of her warm, wet mouth engulfing him. She sucked and slurped on his length, grazing his shaft every so often with her teeth. Her actions were raw since she, he was certain, had never been in control before. And he felt the pressure build. It had been a couple of years since he had been fellated. Sabine's weakness had weighed heavily on such activities and she lingered long after either of them could gain enjoyment from it. He wouldn't last long. He felt that final tightening, as she sucked and her tongue swirled, knew he was getting harder still before his explosion. As he felt the release begin, she jerked away from him. The first gob hit his chest. The second, his ribs. As his cock spasmed a couple more times semen ran down his shaft and dribbled onto his stomach. He sucked in air as she stammered, "I'm, I'm sorry." He turned his head to her frightened look and extended his hand. She looked at the hand, his face, his belly, and the hand again. Slowly, carefully, watching for any hint of anger, she took it. He brought it to his lips and kissed it. "Thank you, Stephanie." "You aren't mad?" "About what?" "That I didn't.." she gestures to the gooey mess on his stomach. "Come here." He pats the bed beside him. After a moment, and continuing to examine his face, she skootches up on the bed. "It's nothing that soap and water won't take care of. I would, however, like to ask you a question." She looked at him again, uncomfortable. "Why?" Stephanie turns away from him, head down. "I thought.." and inhale, an exhale, "you might like it. And.. I thought.." This pause is long enough that he feels the need to prompt her. "Yes?" She hunches down and her voice goes quiet. "If I did you might... touch..." Calvin strokes her bare back. "You'd like me to touch you again? Bring you pleasure again?" "Yes." She glances sideways at him over her shoulder, seemingly embarrassed. Next comes the earnest question. "Will you?" Calvin sits up and swings his legs over the side of the bed to sit beside her. He uses the top sheet to clean himself off somewhat. He puts a hand out to her and she inhales and takes it. "Come with me." Stephanie walks beside him into the bathroom. He reaches in to the shower and turns on the water then swings her into his body. He wraps his arms around her and kisses her. She stiffens, slightly repulsed by the stickiness on his body, then thinks. He was right, it would wash off. This proof of what she'd done. So, she gives in to the kiss, putting her arms around his shoulders and gave back to him. He stuck his hand in the water to check the temperature and she made a surprised noise as he swung her under it. He quickly stepped in after her and kissed her again as the water cascaded over them. Calvin then turned her away from him and took hold of the shampoo bottle. He put a dollop into his hand and massaged it into her hair. She was again surprised at what he was doing then relaxed as his fingers worked over her scalp. When he was done he gently pushed her forward to rinse the soap from her hair. As she worked her fingers through her short locks he grabbed a washcloth and soaped it up. She moved back from the spray and he applied the cloth to her shoulders. Again, the briefest hint of surprise from her before she braced herself. He washed her arms and back and then pulled her back against him. The washcloth ran over her breasts and she made a small noise of pleasure. He nibbled on her shoulder as it slid down her belly and she whimpered. The washcloth hit the floor with a splat as his fingers traced lower, to the juncture of her legs. Fingers comb through damp brown curls, then push further to swollen lower lips. She moaned lightly as he traced over them then flirted lightly with her clit. He ran his finger through the moisture that came from her and strummed her clit as she gasped. One hand cupped a wet breast, thumb rubbing over her nipple. With the other hand, an extended forefinger slid over her slit and then slowly, carefully, slipped into her core. Her muscles clamped down on that digit, hard. He waited for her to relax. A slight loosening and he started to slide it back out. And those muscles tightened again. Vaginismus? He hoped it wasn't a consequence of her captivity. It took a little time, but he was patient, then he was able to slide that finger in and out of her easily. Good. She was panting, her chest heaving, as he added another finger. She was tight, untouched for decades. And he could only imagine what it would feel like to slide home in that tightness. His position meant he was caressing her clitoris as he pumped his fingers in and out of her. He pinched her nipple and set his teeth at her shoulder as she began to tremble. [Let go, little one. I have you.] She moaned, loudly, as he continued to work her to orgasm. He knew she was close, he just needed her to give in to her release. Her head was twisting on his shoulder. So, he pulled his fingers from her and quickly flicked her clitoris. She whimpered, then cried out, and her legs buckled. Stephanie's mouth was open as she sucked in air so Calvin turned her out from under the spray. Breathy, she says, "I can stand." "Certainly." She pulled away, leaning against the wall. He smiled to himself as he took the soap and washed up. She turned and was unable to leave the shower, so she waited, and watched him. He rinsed off and turned off the water. As he handed her a towel, she looked at him, either shy or embarrassed, and said, "Um. Thank you." Calvin stopped and looked at her. "You're welcome, Stephanie. And thank you." She looked up at him and the smallest hint of a smile touched her lips. "Breakfast?" She nodded as she scrubbed her damp hair. *** Thomas arrived home late following his second date with Lorelei wearing a self-satisfied grin. As he called out his return to the den he was hit with two requests for his presence. He sent to the Beta that the Alpha wished to speak with him then headed to the office. He knocks on the door and sees Ariel in conference with Madeline. "Come in, Thomas. Thank you, Madeline. We'll get some of the young ones to help with weeding and watering." Madeline picks up her papers to leave as Thomas walks in, looking her over and licking his lips. [Do not forget yourself, Thomas.] His eyes jerk to his Madam Alpha. "Close the door." As the door clicks home and he turns back, Ariel says, "I'll assume from your current behavior," and inhale, "and the scent on you that you've been intimate with the female?" A wolfish grin splits his face. "Yeah." "Is she .. well?" "Oh yeah." "And you expect to see her again?" "Yes, my Alpha." She looks at him, searchingly. "Is there anything the Alpha needs to be aware of?" "No, ma'am. "Thank you. You may go." Thomas turns and leaves, chuckling, and heads to the Medical ward. Natalie inhales deeply as Thomas enters. Wade looks at him. "I smell blood on you." "She plays rough." Again, the grin. "Is she hurt?" "No more than she wanted." "You look tired." "Busy night." He starts moving toward his room. "Hold on. Caroline's coming back with one of the pups. We've got a compound fracture of the lower leg. It'll take all three of us to set it properly." [Thomas. I want you to lay a trail for Mercy.] [I need to help with an injured pup, Beta. I'm not sure how long it'll take.] [Who's hurt? Do the parents know?] "Which of the pups got hurt?" Just then, Anna and Jeremy rush in. [Sally. Parents are here. Caroline's bringing her in.] [Let me know when you're done and that she's OK.] [Of course, Beta.] He wasn't going to get any sleep but he grinned at the reason. *** The Macy Alphas saw the wisdom of an inter-pack council. They now had a majority with the strongest packs and agreed to approach the Tucker Alphas next. The discussion then turned to where and how often the meetings would be held. *** The Foster Betas had arrived at the Ross den and were settling in for the month. Stephanie stayed away for a couple of days, to allow him to get them oriented. Lyssa found her, sitting off the side of one of the trails, shredding dandelions. She ran by, then thought for a second and turned back, stopping opposite her, but some way off. [What are you doing?] Stephanie grabbed another dandelion and started pulling it apart. [I don't know.] [Did the dandelions make a nasty comment?] Stephanie stops dead, hands frozen, fingers covered with bright yellow tendrils. Her eyes lifted her face to Lyssa, who was sitting there, tongue lolling, a chestnut wolf. [Humor.] [Is something wrong?] There is the usual pause, as Stephanie considers her answer. [I don't know what to do.] Like pulling teeth. [About what?] Stephanie inhales and resumes her destruction of the local dandelions. Lyssa waits, knowing it will take time for her to overcome her reticence and answer. [I pledged myself to protect Wallace and his blood.] Another pause, this one shorter. [Calvin is confusing that.] She murmurs to herself. "I made a pledge." [You've served Wallace's family for years, decades. He would understand.] [I don't know what to do.] [Do what makes you happy, Stephanie. Follow your heart.] [Is this..? Do I..? Is it love?] [Do you want to see him, spend time with him? Do you want to do things to make him happy? Does he make you happy?] Another deep breath. [Yes.] [Then, maybe it is love. Or maybe it's just enough.] *** It was May and Joanna wanted to to out dancing. She also wanted to re-connect with Lyssa. So, as long as Emmett was going, too, Nathan would go. Joanna was excited as the date approached, a Thursday night. Unfortunately, Nathan got called out to run a sobriety checkpoint with three other officers. He told her to go anyway, and have fun. Emmett and Lyssa pick her up about 9. Emmett expressed disappointment at Nathan's absence, but, he decided to play chauffeur and chaperone to the two women. The club was on the smallish side and the band was set up on a small platform beside the front door. The sign on the outside said the band's name was Twister. They were just about ready to play as the three werewolves walked in. Joanna was wearing a short sleeved baby blue sweater and a ruffled black miniskirt over black capris. Lyssa was wearing a scoop necked top, which showed black or red depending on how the light hit it, a pair of straight-legged black jeans, and a pair of low heeled, rolled ankle boots. Emmett was in a pair of jeans and a maroon t-shirt that Lyssa had insisted he wear. It looked as if it were painted on, showing off his muscular chest. There were hoots and catcalls at their entrance, both men and women coveting the three new entrants. That is, until Emmett was revealed in the low light, arm-in-arm with both. The voices then deteriorated to murmuring of what a lucky bastard he was and speculating on them as a threesome. A couple of guys began planning on separating the trio. Lyssa turned, staring directly at the man who had been doing the planning. He couldn't hold her gaze for more than 5 seconds and she gave a feral smile. She inhaled deeply, to be sure of his scent, hearing Emmett do the same beside her. They found a table toward the back, against the wall, where Emmett could watch the door and the other patrons. The waitress brought their order as the band began to play. After about three songs, one started that had a decent beat to it and Jo pulled Lyssa up to dance. Lyssa looked longingly at Emmett, who shook his head and smiled at her. So they danced, facing each other, hips moving, hair tossing. And men began to flock to them. Dancing near them, trying to cut them apart. Casting furtive glances toward Emmett, who would bare his teeth at them when he caught their eyes. It didn't seem to dissuade them. After three songs, Lyssa and Joanna came back to the table, thirsty and laughing. A slow song started and Lyssa pulled a reluctant Emmett to the floor. Their bodies were pressed together and they wrapped themselves in each other's scent. Jo, meanwhile, had a couple of young men at the table, talking to her. One of them actually reached out to take hold of her wrist. She pulled away, but was smiling. As the song ended, Emmett kissed his mate thoroughly and looked into her dark brown eyes. [Love you, Em. But we need to rescue Jo.] Emmett glances over and growls as they walk over. "Back off, guys." "We were just talking." "C'mon, man, you can't hog two hot ladies." "She's married. Her husband's a cop." "Woo, hoo. A cop." [Easy, Em. You can't hurt them.] [I know, Lys.] She grabs Joanna's arm. [Bathroom, now.] [I don't have to pee.] Lyssa pulls harder. [Now.] They take a brief break in the ladies room until another song has Joanna bouncing, wanting to dance. "OK, Jo, let's go." Lyssa and Joanna go back out to the dance floor. Again, men begin to surround them, trying to catch their attention. To dance with them. Hopefully more. Toward the end of the second song, Joanna turned toward a guy who was brushing against her hip. She touched his hair and shoulder. [Jo?] He looked down at her and put a hand on her hip. [Jo.] Lyssa watched her nostrils flare and Jo turned to the left, putting her hand on another guy's chest. Lyssa's eyes go wide and she says, 'Shit,' under her breath. She stops and takes Jo's arm to pull her away. Jo resisted. [Em. We need to get her out of here. Now.] [What's going on?] [It's been three months..] [Oh, Luna. Coming.] Emmett evaded the woman who had been talking to him and waded in as the man slid his arm around Joanna's waist. Lyssa tried pulling her away and one of the men put a hand on her arm. "Your friend wants to play, sweetheart. Let her go." Lyssa grabs his hand and squeezes, until he winces and lets go. Emmett yanks him away from Joanna and grabs her, beginning to haul her out. The men protest and Joanna looks back longingly until Emmett pulls her against him on the way to the door. Lyssa grabs purses and follows them out. Emmett was pulling her through the door as Joanna's hands were roaming his body. A growl rises in Lyssa's throat at the way Joanna was touching her mate. She understood why but, still.. A female in heat looked for someone strong to father her pups. Status was also a factor. And, so, in lieu of her own mate and, as the only male wolf nearby, Joanna would approach him. The mating bond was strong, but Nathan wasn't nearby and Emmett was Beta. "I'll drive. You're going to have to keep her occupied in the back seat." "Me? How?" "I don't know, Lys. But we'll have a wreck if you don't." "We have to get ahold of Nathan." "Get her cell. I'll try to call him." Getting her in the car was a problem. She followed Emmett into the driver's seat and settled on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. He swung his legs out and, between him and Lyssa, got them back out. Coordinating their actions, he climbed in the backseat, followed by Jo and Lyssa. Lyssa grabbed her as Emmett climbed out the other side and shut the door in her face. Now she got upset. Lyssa tried to hold her down as she struggled. Thank god she was coming in slowly. If she had jumped into estrus quickly, some or all of them would be partially unclothed by now. "You're gonna have to keep her quiet. She's liable to start screaming or howling." "Not dumb, mate." Lyssa's voice was strained as she wrestled with her young friend. A couple of guys watched as they pulled out. Lyssa was on top of her, trying to keep her restrained and quiet. "Nathan, it's Emmett. We're bringing Jo home. You need to get there now. It's time." As Joanna yells, "Nathan!" and they both wince, Emmett shoots back. "Voicemail." Lyssa put a hand over Joanna's mouth and got bit for it. "Ow." Jo wormed her way halfway out from under her. Lyssa grabbed her again, got her flat on the seat, and dropped her weight on the younger female. As Jo opened her mouth Lyssa did the only thing she could think of at the moment. She covered Jo's mouth with her own. Jo's eyes went wide for a moment, then she shoved her tongue into Lyssa's mouth and began writhing under her, grinding against her, trapped under her body. Joanna's arms went from pushing against or away from Lyssa to slightering around her, finding her blouse and pulling it upwards. Her nails found Lyssa's back and dug in. Lyssa grunted. [You OK back there?] [Not sure, how far are we?] [Probably another 15, 20 minutes to Severn.] "Nnnn." "Lys?" Lyssa panted. [Call Nathan again.] Joanna's hand has gone to Lyssa's ass and the other to the back of her head. Joanna pulls both parts closer to her, grinding her pelvis against the older woman's and keeping her in the bruising kiss. Joanna bucks slightly and shoves one leg between Lyssa's. Emmett glances back, quickly. "No Nathan. Right to voicemail. You're doing a good job keeping her quiet." "Mmmm, mm." "You OK?" [Gettin' a bit lesbo here, Em.] "Good." [Good?] "She's receptive. Sometimes, with widows or when the mate is too far away, some of the females will please the one in heat. To keep her calm. To help her through it." [But.. me?] Joanna is more eagerly humping her leg. "Can't be another male. Nathan'll feel better if you help her." [I don't know.. I'm not..] "You know how, sweetheart. Just touch her." A pause. "And call Nathan." Fulfillment 19 Dear Readers, Well, here it is, the chapter you've been waiting for and the answer to a question one of you asked me this week. I'll admit this story took more and longer than I expected. Stephanie and Calvin's story just begged for expansion. Enjoy, KemMyst *** Lyssa wasn't into girls but she, of course, knew where all the parts were. [Nathan Severn, you need to come home.] Lyssa moved sideways off of Joanna and slid a hand down her side to the bottom of her miniskirt Joanna whimpered and twisted, trying to get more. Lyssa slid her hand up Jo's thigh, feeling the heat and the dampness of the capris. She was wet, ready, needing her mate. Lyssa slid two fingers over the top of the waistband and Jo reached down and ripped them away. Then her hand moved to Lyssa's breast. Lyssa gasped and moaned, and the car swerved slightly. She slid two fingers into Joanna. Jo grabbed and tore Lyssa's blouse. Lyssa moaned louder as Joanna's teeth found her breast as she kept pumping her fingers into her young friend's pussy. Emmett was hard pressed to concentrate on the road. The wet sounds, whimpering, and moaning combined with the rising smell of sex was distracting. The fact that the smells and sounds were coming from his mate and a female in heat meant that taking deep breaths didn't help. He cracked the window. Fresh air and the sound of the wind helped. His cock was full and uncomfortable and he could only move so far to ease the pressure. His mate would be in for a pounding before they got home. Lyssa began to get lost in pleasure and Joanna was already gone. As Joanna's hips moved in time to Lyssa's fingers, Lyssa felt biting at her nipple and a small, soft hand working to open her pants. Lyssa was kneeling in the floorboards while Joanna was prone on the seat. The cellphone rang and Emmett struggled to grab it. "Jo?" "Nathan, it's Emmett. Jo's gone into heat. She's OK but you need to get home." There is silence on the other end of the line and Emmett becomes acutely aware of the noises coming from the back seat. Emmett hears the strain in Nathan's voice. "What's going on?" "We're headed for Severn, Nathan. About 5 minutes out. Jo needs you." Emmett catches the beginning of a growl in the young male's voice. "Who.. what's..?" "Lyssa's helping. Get home." "On my way." "Drive safe." A howl punctures the night air as Emmett crosses the entrance to the Severn compound. Lyssa pants out. "Call Juliet. Kendra." Emmett sends to the two Severn females and holds himself rigid behind the wheel, hands gripping with enough force to bend it. He puts the car in park, turns off the ignition, and launches himself out into the warm spring air. Emmett sucks in deep breaths as three Severn females rush the car. In between breaths, Emmett gets out, "Nathan's. Coming." Kendra and Mary open the door and another blast of scent rushes out as Lyssa howls and Joanna gasps. Juliet crouches near Emmett. "Thank you. If you and your mate wish, we have a room you could use at our house. Jon and I will be elsewhere." Emmett looks up from his place on the ground and over to the car. He nods as he watches Mary grab a shoulder and a breast while Kendra grabs the other shoulder and slides a hand down Jo's body. They slide her out and onto the lawn while Lyssa sucks in air, her fingers covered in Jo's juices. Kendra dives between Jo's legs, holding her open and licking her pussy. [Mm, nice.] Mary, meanwhile, has shredded the sweater and was suckling one breast while kneading at the other. Joanna was writhing and panting and moaning Nathan's name. Juliet watches Emmett rise. "Come. Bring your mate. We'll inform your Alpha." She watches his nostrils flare. "We can go home." She looks up into his eyes, the heat in those chocolate brown eyes. "You did well to get her this far, you've been strong. It would not do for you to have an accident going home. Take your mate, take the time you need. Let the car air out." Emmett nods and reaches into the car to touch Lyssa. Lyssa, who's frozen, watching Kendra lick Joanna while thrusting two fingers into her wet pussy. Watching Mary suck and nibble on one breast while flicking the nipple on the other. Watching Jo writhe and moan and claw the earth. The smell of arousal was overwhelming. The smell of arousal from five females, one stronger. One in heat. He'd never been in the presence of as much heady female scent before. He was so hard he believed he might explode if he was simply released from the bondage of his pants. He pulled Lyssa from the car and she wrapped arms and legs around him, licking his neck, putting her teeth there and bearing down. "Nnnh, Juliet?" "Come. It's not far." Emmett was hard pressed to follow Juliet Severn. The movement of his steps had his mate's core rubbing against his rock hard manhood. Juliet opened the door to an upstairs bedroom and made herself scarce. Emmett threw Lyssa onto the bed and she bounced, twice. She grasped the bedcovers and licked her lips. "C'mon, Em. Come on." Her voice is husky, almost growling. He held back, briefly, steeling himself, relishing how much she wanted him right now. Then his pants were gone, and hers, too. And he landed over her on the bed. She caught her breath and said. "Hard." He covered her swollen lips with his and shoved in, as far as he could go. The sensation had him throwing his head back and howling. She arched, into him, and her claws cut into his shoulders. He pulled out and dropped his head, looking back down into her dark eyes. She, meanwhile, was looking at where his body pierced her. He had enough restraint to slide into her slowly, and her eyes came up to his. "I love you, Lyssa." Before she could answer, he set up a punishing rhythm, pistoning into his mate's body. She moaned, and writhed, and called out his name. Lyssa's back arched and her muscles convulsed around him and he howled as he emptied himself into her body. And then he collapsed, both of them breathing heavily. *** Mary and Kendra had brought Joanna twice before the sound of the motorcycle was heard. Nathan growls as he sees his mate on the lawn and Mary and Kendra on her. Kendra looks over at the growl, her face covered in Joanna's wetness. He growls again as she runs her tongue over her lips, smiling as she enjoys her taste. It was a part of the life of their pack. With so many males working outside of the den, the females would take care of those in heat until their mates could come to them. He had seen them do it often enough. Kendra was generally quick to volunteer. But, he hadn't wanted to see Jo needing it. It pissed him off knowing anyone else was pleasuring his mate, that he wasn't able to take care of her. He threw Kendra off to the side and yanked Jo up by the arm. She snarled at him until she was close enough to smell him. She then ripped his pants down and shoved him to the ground. As she sniffed at his neck he raised her hips and slid her onto his erect penis. Her nails turned into claws and she dug into his pecs as she began raising and lowering herself onto him. Short blondish fur covered her body. Mary turned away and got up, walking back to the house she shared with her mate. Kendra sat and watched. After a few minutes, Kyle came over, crouched and slid an arm around her waist. After watching Jo throw her head back and Nathan taking her nipple, he bodily grabs his mate and hauls her around the corner to their house. *** Stephanie had become more comfortable around Calvin. Their sexual contact became more regular, as well. A couple of weeks into their stay, he asked her opinion of the Foster candidates. She was hesitant but, with some coaxing, provided him with frank opinion of their perceived weaknesses and strengths. "Thank you, Stephanie. I value your opinion." She looks at him and he knows her well enough now to know she doesn't quite believe it. He takes her face in his hands. "You know the qualities of good Alphas. As a warrior, you know the skills needed to attack, or defend the den. You have a unique sense of fairness and you will not lie to me. Thank you." He kisses her. Later that evening, Calvin had a sparring session with the Foster male. There was nothing unusual in it, both received minor wounds. Calvin won both matches. However, later that night, Stephanie was startled to see the wounds still oozing blood. "Why hasn't this stopped?" "I don't know." "Has this happened before?" "Never." [Healer. The Alpha is in need of a styptic.] Sharilyn was startled by the summons and the request that went with it. But she comes, bearing powders and bandages. "My Alpha, what's happened?" "His wound won't stop bleeding." Sharilyn looks at the marks. "The wound isn't deep. This should be scabbed and healing." She starts sprinkling a white powder into the bleeding cuts. "Hemophilia?" "That's congenital. You don't develop it." "Then it's got to be a blood thinner." A bandage and pressure is applied. "Unless someone injected him with something it must be something he ate." "I.." "We've eaten in the dining hall. Everyone ate the same food." "Not necessarily. It could have a half life of several days, depending on its origin." Stephanie shifts and draws a claw across her forearm. "What are you doing?" "Testing a theory." "So, healer, it may be something I've eaten in the past few days?" "If it isn't something else, yes." Stephanie shows her arm, the small tear already closing, "So, someone's poisoned me." Stephanie crouches beside Calvin. "Who would want you dead?" "Dead? I don't think.." "Something worse and you'd bleed out." "It has to be someone weak. Someone who wants to be Alpha, but can't challenge you openly." "They'd never hold the position." "Then someone who just wants you dead. And someone who wouldn't stand a chance of challenging you directly." His face shows he's just realized something. Stephanie narrows her eyes at him. "You know who it is." "Sharilyn, can you give us some privacy?" "I'd rather get this bleeding stopped first," is what Sampson hears as he enters. "Cal?" Stephanie is watching him as she speaks aside to Sampson. "A minor wound he got sparring won't stop bleeding." Calvin and Sampson share a look. Stephanie growls at them. Sharilyn looks up. [Who is it?] [This is a pack matter, Stephanie,] Sampson responds. [It affects me,] she growls back. The two males are discussing something between themselves when Stephanie suddenly walks purposefully for the door. [Where are you going?] [To kill the bitch. I figured out who it has to be.] "Stop!" Stephanie halts, grumbling. "Why?" She answers without turning back. The two males look back at her and Stephanie turns to look at the red seeping through the gauze on Calvin's side. "We have no proof." "I can get it." "Not yet. She's failed again." "Calvin! She..." [Little one, please. Let me heal and then we will deal with her.] Stephanie's chest heaves in anger, she clenches her fists, and works her jaw. She stood rooted to the spot, trying to decide whether to obey him or not. It was his pack, but he was not her Alpha. She was spending a lot of time here but was not a part of Ross pack. However, the dark bitch had hurt him, it had to be her. And she deserved to be punished. "Stephanie..." She closed her eyes, dropped her head, and shook it, once. "Alright." She turned back, jaw clenched, and watched the red bloom on a new piece of gauze. "What about a diuretic?" Startled, Sharilyn looks over at her. "It might help." She picks the gauze up and looks at the gashes. "And stitches." Sharilyn stands. "And if that doesn't work..." The word comes out in stereo. "Cautery." The blood loss slowed, but didn't stop. Even with protein drinks and other liquids, he looked pale the next morning. Rumors floated around the pack as quickly as in any other group. The fact that Sharilyn had spent several hours in the Alpha suite... Calvin had to show himself. They went to the dining hall for breakfast. He stood up at the end of the meal and Tobias stood, also. "Alpha, I challenge you." The pack looked at Tobias, looked at Calvin, and saw the blood on his shirt. Calvin sighed and headed for the door. Stephanie growled and followed; Sampson close on their heels. Tobias and his entourage made a cocky little group on their way out. The Foster Betas and the rest of the pack were close behind. Calvin was good, but weakened. He gave a good showing but, after a while, Tobias got the upper hand. Calvin was on his back with Tobias poised for the final blow. The assembled wolves gasped as a large brown wolf knocked Tobias away. He turned and snarled and Stephanie attacked him. [Stephanie!!] A stutter in her movements indicated she had heard him. But she ignored him. Tobias belted her and rolled to stand, bracing himself for another attack. They closed, grappled, and rolled. Growling, snapping, snarling. Stephanie pinned him, teeth around his throat. Her send was for all of them. [How do you expect to win a challenge with the Alpha if you can't beat me?] As he sent, [You got lucky,] grumbling went up from around the circle. "Beaten by a female." "I don't know, how would he lead?" "I never minded Calvin." "Not strong enough." Stephanie released him and he stood. Tobias looked at the surrounding wolves and Calvin walked up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. A solid punch puts Tobias on the ground and Calvin settles over him. "The fight is over." "I had you." Calvin smiles. [Too bad.] He goes to Stephanie and looks at her face, a bruise starting to bloom on her cheek. Tobias rushes him and Calvin pivots, grabs his arm, and swings him to the ground. He puts a foot on Tobias' chest, twists the hand, and pulls on the arm. "Submit." Tobias growls, beaten again, and agrees. Calvin looks around again and Stephanie growls as some derogatory remarks are made. He walks back to her, slides an arm around her waist. "This female deserves your respect. She is a warrior and, if she will have me, will be your Alpha." Shocked noises now issue from the pack members as well as from Stephanie. The Foster Betas looked at each other. Stephanie stood rigid. No one knew what to do or say next. Stephanie broke the silence first. "I can't be Alpha." Calvin looks around. "Everyone back to your duties." [You should not have interfered.] [He was going to kill you.] [It was a challenge, Stephanie. That was his goal.] [I couldn't let him do that.] He took her face and kissed her. [Are you hurt?] [Nothing to worry about. You pulled your stitches.] He pulled her down with him, so that they were sitting on the ground. Stephanie growled as a black wolf with brown eyes poked her head over the edge of the bowl. "Look at me, Stephanie." Huffing out a breath, Stephanie concentrates on him. "Why did you say that about me?" "Because it's true." "I can't be Alpha." "If you are my mate, you will be Alpha." She's quiet, thinking. "I intimated that from the beginning." "Why does anything have to change?" He puts a hand to her cheek and says, quietly, "It already has, little one." [Cal. The Foster Betas are packing.] "Damn." Stephanie looks at him, confused. "The candidates are packing to leave." He gets up and starts after his clothes, to dress. [Stephanie. Do not kill her yet.] *** Stephanie returned to Wyeth and Calvin and Sampson spoke to the Foster Betas. They were distressed by recent events, by the apparent dissension in the pack. They returned home as well. "This isn't good, Cal. Our reputation is suffering and things are only getting worse, You aren't helping. You're confusing the pack. They don't understand why Stephanie wasn't punished. She is, after all, not your mate. Even if... That was a killing offense. They think you're getting weak in your old age. They think we might get taken over." Calvin glowers at the other side of the room. "And what do you think?" Sampson blows out a breath in exasperation. "I don't know what to think. Something's changed in you, Cal. I'm just not sure it's good. She's affecting your judgment. She hasn't been punished, for stopping the challenge or for attacking you. The pack is confused, I'm confused, and Tobias won't take this well." "Do you see the Alpha in her?" Another exasperated breath. "Cal, if this is some misguided attempt to keep control of the pack..." A trace of anger colors his voice. "Have I not done well for this pack, my pack?" "Cal, Cal, stop. I'm just telling you how the pack feels." "And who are they to question my judgment?" Sampson gives him hard eyes. "Listen to yourself." The Ross Alpha covers his eyes and breathes for a minute. "I can see it, Sampson." "Cal?" "Happiness, Sampson. With another mate, as rare as that is." Silence settles between them for a time, then Calvin says, "We shall have to wait on our other two sets of candidates, since they have indicated the females will have their estrus shortly. This will also give things time to settle down. Or it will cement a bad opinion of us and they will reject us." "We really should clean house, my Alpha." "Every pack has its malcontents but, you're right, Erica must be dealt with. I don't relish it but I wish we knew how deep it goes. Is she working alone? I have to assume she had something to do with my ... problem." *** Stephanie was sitting on the back deck when Emmaline came out to sit beside her. The young pup flopped onto her side then rolled onto her back. Stephanie gave a slight smile and began to rub the little one's belly. "He wants me to be his mate. How can I be Alpha?" Cassie caught the tail end of the question as she walked out. "Emmy, there you are." She changed to wolven form and flopped down beside her daughter, who rolled away from Stephanie and latched on to a teat. It surprised Stephanie how much that small action tugged at her heart. What was wrong with her? [Why can't you be Alpha?] "I haven't been trained, I don't have any status. Why would he do that?" [He loves you.] Startled, Stephanie looks at the young female nursing her pup. [Why are you here and not there?] *** "In all my years, Randall, I've never been at such a loss. I could use your counsel but the last thing I need is for this to get out to the other packs." "I can be discrete, Cal." "Has she said anything?" "I'm not aware of it, if she has." A heavy sigh comes through the receiver. "She interfered with a challenge." "WHAT?" "She thought I was about to be killed so she took the other male down herself." "Why would she...?" "I was in a weakened state." Silence for a moment. "Too much blood loss after a fight. She was convinced I was going to die." "Thank you." "For what?" "Bringing it to my attention, Cal. She is Wyeth, after all. Do you have any preference as to her punishment?" "Randall, no. That's not why I called." He hears frustration in Randall's voice. "What have you done to her, Cal?" "Talked to her, touched her, spent time with her, loved her." A heavy sigh. "What, then, do you want from me?" "I need her to agree to be my mate." "You've gotten more out of her than the entire pack, how do you think I can help you? Do you want me to order her?" Calvin sighs and says quietly, calmly. "No. I have informed her of my intentions. I want to know her current frame of mind." "I'll have to ask." "My first set of candidates has left as a result." "Cal, what are you doing?" "Trying again to balance my life with my pack's wellbeing." *** Joanna's cycle ended up being rather short, like her mother's. Fulfillment 19 Tired, hungry, Jo is relieved when a knock at the door reveals a large meatloaf and a small vat of mashed potatoes. They fell on the food, ravenous, and then fell asleep. *** Stephanie stays away for a day, thinking. Emmaline hovers within her orbit. Stephanie scratches her ears and talks to her until her parents come to fetch her. She had expected to be called on the carpet for her faux pas but nothing happened. She hadn't confessed to it and perhaps she should have. But she believed that Calvin would have talked to her Alpha about it. She was concerned, confused, and uncertain. Calvin arrived after dinner and, after requesting permission from Randall, asked Stephanie to go for a run. She went, a bit relieved, as was he. The spring day was warm, and pleasant. Some distance off they stopped in a small field of grass and wildflowers. They took a short nap in the warmth of the setting sun. Calvin changed to human form and, watching her, began lightly stroking down her furred side. She moved her head slightly, so that she could look at him. As he gazes into those jade green eyes, he hears [What have you done to me?] "What do you mean, little one?" [I've gotten weak, soft. I was strong, a warrior, a protector. Now what am I?] Calvin sighs and strokes her muzzle. "Someone who is loved." He takes her muzzle and makes her look at him. "I meant every word, Stephanie. If you will have me, I would like to be your mate." [My.. mate?] "Yes. You would be my mate; I would be your mate." Stephanie huffs and looks away. "What? What was that for?" [Alpha? Me? I can't be Alpha.] "Who are you trying to convince?" He inhales, exhales. "Why not? You're strong, you have a strong sense of fairness, you can learn the rest." She looks back at him. He sees something in her eyes. "Are you afraid?" She blinks and looks away again and does not answer. "Do you love me?" [I don't know what love is.] "You do, Stephanie. You did. Your parents. Your siblings." She blinks and exhales. "What do you feel for me?" Stephanie shifts to human form and shoves up on an elbow. "You are pleasant company." It was the old response. Calvin smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. "What else?" Her throat works but nothing comes out. "Alright, Stephanie. I will have an answer to my next question." There is a slight pause. "Why did you interfere with the challenge?" There is emotion in her normally even voice. "I thought he was going to kill you." "Everything in your brain should have been screaming that you not interfere. Why did you?" "I didn't want you to die." "Because.." "Because then I wouldn't see you anymore." No. He wasn't going to get anything more from her, so he leaned over, took her shoulders, and pulled her to him for a kiss. She responded to him, almost frantically, nails biting into his shoulders. This, however, he would not rush. He could feel it in her, almost smell it. Her realization that she could have lost him, that she still might. That something that had found her might go away. He gently pushed her down to the ground and slid down beside her. Her hands went to his head, keeping the kiss. Their lips were melded together, their tongues twining, touching, delving. His hand traced up the side of her body, starting at her knee and slowly working up her flushing body. She shivered. He pulled away and listened to her gasp and smiled as he looked in to those jade green eyes, slightly glazed. His hand covered her breast and he smiled at her. She licked her lips and he smiled again. He heard the first sounds of pleasure leave those swollen lips as he bent his head to lavish attention on the luscious mounds of her breasts. He again took the time to revel in the contrast between soft skin and the scars on her body. Sabine, though she had fought occasionally, carried far fewer marks. As he moved to leave light love bites on her collarbone and off to her shoulder and neck, his hand strayed down her body. His fingers traced through the light brown, curled hairs on her mound. She groaned and moved her hips, wanting him to touch her more intimately. "Calvin..." "Patience, little one, we have as long as it takes." She groans again and clings to him, hands sliding over his body, his shoulders, his back, down to his buttocks, and back up. Her nails grazed his skin, urging him on. He smiles against her, stroking her inner thighs now. She shivered under his touch. Calvin smelled her arousal, felt the stickiness of her juices on her thighs. Tonight he was determined to take the penultimate step with her. And so, he lays atop her. Stephanie was large enough that she could handle his weight without discomfort. He took her face in his hands as the sky purpled. "Tonight, Stephanie, I would like to join with you completely." She jerked her head sideways. [I haven't agreed to be your mate.] He smiled down at her, took her lower lip lightly with his teeth. [I was not intending to mate with you tonight but...] She frowns at him. [..I would like to have intercourse.] She takes a couple of breaths, looking into his eyes. "OK." This was her usual, less-than-enthusiastic response to anything new. He positions himself between her legs, leans down, and kisses her deeply. Calvin can feel the head of his cock touching the slickness between her legs. He's poised, ready. Stephanie gasps as the kiss breaks and she looks up at him. He looks into her eyes as he starts to push inside her. Her face is expectant, nervous. Calvin felt his foreskin move as he felt the pressure when the head of his cock passed beneath her pubic bone. There was a tightness to her, almost as if she were trying to keep him out. He continued to push forward, slowly, as he watched her face. Her breath came quickly and she was searching his face. He smiled down at her as he continued his slow slide in. Slowly, slowly, he continued his push as he assured himself there was no pain on her face. A couple of fingers was one thing, his full girth was another. He blew out a breath when he was seated fully within her and relished the feeling of being completely enclosed in her warm, slick embrace. And he waited, for her to adjust to him, to ready himself for what came next. Her face showed a slight interest. In what he might do, he supposed. She also showed a neutrality, not passion. And, so, Calvin began kissing her while holding his body above her. Nose. Eyelids. Mouth. Throat. She was tall enough, thankfully, that he did not have to bend himself into a pretzel to find her breasts. He began suckling on a nipple as he began his withdrawal. He slowly began a delicious movement, feeling every inch of her walls caressing him as he pushed into her body and pulled out again. He had a thought to bring her up slowly to an earth shattering orgasm. But she lay there, rather passively, not responding as she should. Or as he wanted her to. And, so, he folded her legs up, to her surprised look, and, holding her tightly, rolled them both over. Stephanie looked down on him. Oh, OK, she had seen this from time to time. He waited. To see what she would do. Of course, his current position limited his options. She began to move and he put his hands on her thighs, rubbing lightly. After a couple of minutes, she made a half-disgusted sound, and stopped. [It's not doing anything for you?] She exhales and shakes her head. "I'm sorry." He reached up to touch her face. "If you will continue, I can do something about that." Exhaling, she began to move again and he slid his thumb between them so that he could rub her clitoris as she came down on him. His other hand moved so that he could brush his fingers across her lips, then slid down to a breast. The lubrication that came from her leaked from the space where their bodies connected. He was able to cover his thumb with it and twitch on her sensitive nub as he plucked her nipple. The next time she came down he sent [Stop there.] She had begun making little noises and he knew that she had begun to get pleasure from their actions. Her eyelids fluttered as she looked at him. [Now, I'd like you to try something.] He watched her inhale as he rubbed her clit, as she got wetter. [I want you to find your pleasure, if you can. Tell me what I can do to help you. Try rotating your hips around, rub against my thumb. I'd like to watch you bring yourself over while I'm in you.] She closed her eyes and the movement began. Stephanie tried circles and figure eights, but they were choppy motions. Then she started rocking, small motions, forward, up, and back. He urged her on in his mind, not wanting to break her concentration. She made little grunts and, although his hand was cramping a little, he shifted his thumb from side to side a little. He watched her as she began to pant. Her face showed something and he felt a flutter around him. He took her nipple and squeezed a bit more tightly. Tightness. She whimpered. He released the nipple and she shrieked. The squirt of her juices flooded his crotch. And he felt the spasms of her pussy and closed his eyes at the sensation. After a slight arch backward, she came forward on her hands, breathing hard. She opened her eyes to look at him as a drop of sweat hit his face. Startled, he opened his eyes to her looking at him. He gave her a quick smile as the muscles around him gave one last light squeeze. Her eyes held an emotion he hadn't seen on her face before and he was truly surprised when she bent down and kissed him. [Thank you.] He smiled broadly and hugged her tightly to him. [You are very welcome, little one.] She initiated the kiss. It was a first for her, for them. He had always started anything between them. Her healing was almost complete. While she would always bear the scars of her captivity, she was able to feel again, for someone else. Stephanie was amazed. She had never felt anything like that. It was marvelous. She felt like she couldn't move but she should get him off. "I can see it in your eyes, Stephanie. Sleep. I'll be here." "But.." "No buts, sleep." He held her close, held her to him, as she slept off the climax. He softened, and slid out, but he felt a contentment, having her there. She had come so far. And he had brought her here. After a nap, she kissed him again, rolled off, and took him into her mouth. She sucked and swirled her tongue over him, her hand around his base. As he firmed up before his explosion, he expected her to back off. But she held him in her mouth as the first gout of cum erupted. She did pull away since she had some trouble keeping up with it, but she was trying. It was messy but, as he had told her, it was nothing that wouldn't clean off. "Thank you, Stephanie." He looked up into the night sky. "I would like to wash up a little and then I should get back home. And, if you can, I would like you with me." "I do have early sweep in the morning but, yeah, I'd like to go with you." "I'm glad." *** June was a month of eventful happenings. Stephanie agreed to mate Calvin and became female Alpha of the Ross pack. Tobias challenged her and she bested him, again. Lyssa went through estrus. Two weeks later, Joanna and Nathan arrived, bursting with news. Joanna was pregnant. Both she and Nathan could barely contain themselves. Ariel was overjoyed. Roland slapped Nathan on the back. Randall was quietly pleased at the thought of a grandpup. Congratulations were made and Joanna was embraced warmly all around. A small celebration was pulled together. Lyssa begged off early to do some work at the business. She practically tripped over Emmaline. "Oh, sweetie, I almost stepped on you." Lyssa picked up the small, dark-haired pup and cuddled her briefly before setting her back down. "Go back to your mama." Emmaline looks up at her and whines. "Scoot." Gabriela notices Lyssa is a bit distracted. After a couple of hours, she went back to the den. Without really seeing who was there, she handed the keys over. Then she shrieked as Brandon grabbed her arm, pulled her against him and swung her around so her back was against the wall. He pressed her against the wall with his bodyweight and she could feel the firm length of him against her belly. Her protest was a series of mumbled sounds as he took her mouth in a bruising kiss. As she tried to push him away one of his hands went to the back of her head, keeping the kiss, and the other travelled down to cup her ass, and pulled her against him more tightly. [EMMETT!] Brandon winced and staggered a little, but continued to grind his pelvis against hers. He was groaning and she was screaming into his mouth. [Lyssa, where are you?] All he could see was dark. All he felt was her fear. She shifted to intermediate form and he groaned in apparent pleasure. [Garage.] She twisted slightly and clawed him, one set of marks across his back and another set across a shoulder. Finally, her brain kicked in. [NO!] She heard feet pounding down the stairs as Brandon toppled. As Emmett got close, she looked up, eyes wide, and bolted. "Lyssa, wait!" As he starts after her he throws back to Alex. "Put him in the bunker. Tell Randall." Alex throws Brandon over his shoulder as Emmett takes off after Lyssa. Brandon had done something to her, but Emmett smelled his blood, not hers. Why was she running? He chased her out into the range and caught her sputtering in one of the small ponds behind one of the outbuildings. She was rubbing her hands on her body, scrubbing her face, tears streaming. He waded in, without a word, and gathered her into his arms. Even with the water he could smell Brandon on her, and growled. She collapsed against his chest and clung to him. He stroked her back and waited for her to calm down. She sniffled into his strong chest. "Are you mad?" The question was strange and it startled him. When he thought of what it might mean he went rigid. She felt him tense and started crying again. "I'm sorry." What in the world? He took some deep breaths, trying to calm down himself. Her body rocked back and forth with the movement of his chest. She had been scared, she had screamed for him. And they had come down to find Brandon on the floor, bleeding. She had apparently clawed him and knocked him out. Now.. Emmett smooths her hair away from her face and tilts it up so that he can look at her. "What happened?" She sniffs, swallows. "A couple of months ago.." He shakes himself. Months ago? "...he kissed me. Said he'd never kissed a female and wanted to try it. I figured he had a crush on me and tried to figure out how to, how to let him down easy. Then, nothing. I, a few weeks ago, he was working on the garden and he kinda grabbed me as he went by. I thought it was an accident, but now.." She trails off. He feels the growl start to rise in his chest, the question comes out on that growl. "Sweetheart, what just happened?" "He, he.." Emmett pulled her more tightly to him. [You stopped him, sweetheart. You're OK.] She closed her eyes and said, "He grabbed me, shoved me against the wall, kissed me, hard. And he pushed... I could feel him." Emmett growls again at what had happened to his mate, the liberties a younger male had taken. But he had to ask, "Why did you ask me if I was mad? Why did you say you were sorry? Why did you run away from me?" "I thought you might think it was my fault." He closes his eyes. Her fault? "I felt how scared you were. Why would I think it was your fault?" "I don't know." He picked her up as she began to shiver. Out of the water, he took her to the bank and lay back, with her sprawled on top of him. He held her tightly and thought about what had happened. Brandon had made unwanted overtures to Emmett's mate. Werewolves, unfortunately, generally fixated on a member of the opposite sex and pursued them, looking for their mate. If Brandon wanted Lyssa as his mate, and he couldn't have her, there would be trouble. [Did he hurt you?] She had her hand on his chest, and her cheek, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat. "No." "Good." He kissed the top of her head. She finally settled and rolled off him, onto her back, and tossed her arm across her forehead. She looked up at the blue sky as Emmett rolled over and laid his head on her stomach, a large hand on her hip. After a few minutes, she quietly asked, "Are you gonna kill him?" Emmett exhales loudly. "I smelled his blood, how bad did you get him?" Lyssa swallows. "Not bad. His back and shoulder. What about him?" "Depends on why. If he wants you for a mate, sweetheart, he can't have you." "That's possible?" She shoves up on an elbow. "It doesn't happen often." "Why is it me this rare, weird stuff happens to?" He drags her mouth down to his. [Maybe because you're a rarity in our world, mate.] Lyssa and Emmett lay in the sun a bit longer and then went to talk to the Alphas. "Madam Beta, are you injured?" Lyssa shook her head. "No. No. I'm OK." "She's just shaken up, Ariel." "Do you have any idea what prompted Brandon's ... assault of you?" She drops her head and shakes it. "No." A pause. "But, maybe I should have said something before." "Before, Madam Beta?" Emmett puts his hand on her leg and squeezes lightly. "He grabbed me and kissed me a couple of months ago. When I asked why, he said he hadn't kissed a female and wanted to see what it was like. I figured he had a crush on me and started thinking about how to let him down easy. Nothing happened for a while so I thought it was OK." A sigh. "When he was plowing the garden and he stopped to come back in to the house he kinda grabbed me as he passed. I thought it was an accident then." Randall and Ariel's expressions are getting more and more grim. "When I came back today, I went to give the keys over and he," an inhale, "grabbed me, pushed me against the wall," another breath, "kissed me hard and ground his erection against me." The Alphas exchange glances. "Has he had any relations with any of the young females?" "I'm not aware of any such relationship, my Alphas," Emmett replies. "Where would..." Lyssa interrupts, "Um, where is he?" "I told Alex to put him in the bunker, for now." "What's gonna happened to him?" "That's what we were just about to discuss, if you would stop interrupting." Lyssa looks embarrassed and closes her mouth. "Tucker. Foster. Ross." Lyssa opens her mouth and Emmett puts two fingers on her lips. "I agree." "What about Gates?" "Actually, that's probably a better idea than Ross." "Shall I begin the negotiations?" "I think that would be best." "Brandon was interviewed while the two of you were ... talking. He had expressed no interest in any of our young females and appears to be obsessed with Lyssa." "But he knows Emmett would fight him, that I could hurt him, that we're mated." "Obsession does not care for any of those things. It's possible things may have just remained a fantasy and he would have taken no further action. But your recent heat and the possibility you may leave us for Ross probably triggered this." "Sweetheart, we'll be sending him to another pack and the move will likely be permanent." Lyssa drops her head into her hands. "Why is it always me?" Ariel looks at her. "It isn't. It just seems that way to you." Lyssa looks up at her, unconvinced. "Stephanie has been enough of a handful of late. And you got wrapped up in Jo's kidnapping." Lyssa exhales. "I guess." Her eyes go wide. "Oh, his poor parents, what about them?" "Gordon and Naomi are with him in the bunker now. Naomi is devastated." "Damn," Lyssa says. "Damn. Damn. Damn." "It's nothing you did, although I wish you had told us earlier. It will be alright." Fulfillment 19 Ariel looks at her and smiles, "We're going to start work on a shower for Jo. You did such a lovely job with her party." Lyssa nods. The last thing she wanted to do was set up a baby shower for Joanna. *** Life continued as usual for the packs. Calvin suspended the other candidates' visits temporarily, so that the pack could get used to having Stephanie there. After seeing her take Tobias a second time, no one else challenged her position as Alpha. Emmett periodically lay with his head on Lyssa's belly. He smiled indulgently when Joanna came to visit. Lyssa regularly found reasons not to be around when she came. Emmaline began hanging around Lyssa, alternating visits with Naomi. Brandon went to live with the Gates pack. Thomas came back from a date with Lorelei walking funny. *** Joanna and Nathan came by one night, toward the end of August, unannounced. They stood in the front hall, Nathan with his hands around her slightly swollen belly, grinning broadly. Several of the females had gathered around them. "Yeah, we've been trying to figure out names." Lyssa pled illness, and stayed in their suite at dinner. Emmett went up and checked on her. She was curled up on the bed. She told him to go down and visit. The happy young couple stayed late visiting and were offered a room for the night, rather than driving home tired. They accepted. Emmett crawled in beside Lyssa and she murmured as he snuggled up to her. He ran his hand over her belly wishing he could feel their pup growing there. The weather was warm and the windows were open. But she seemed warmer than normal. And she had been cranky of late. With dawn a couple of hours away, Lyssa slid out of their bed and climbed up to the roof. She sat near the edge, staring out across the range. She hadn't been up there very long when she heard someone else come out. Lyssa heard the footsteps come closer and then caught the scent of the other. It was Joanna. "Lyssa? Why are you avoiding me?" Lyssa immediately gets defensive. "I'm not. I've got work to do. And this thing with Ross.." "Bullshit." Startled by the profanity from Joanna's mouth, Lyssa looks at her. The look drops from her face, to her slightly bulging belly, then away. "What's wrong?" Lyssa's response is quiet. "It's so easy for you." "What do you mean?" Lyssa says nothing, staring back out across the range. Joanna moves to the edge and sits beside her. Leaning forward slightly, the moon glints on Lyssa's tears. Joanna puts a hand on Lyssa's shoulder and Lyssa cries harder. "Lyssa, what is it? What's wrong?" Throat burning, mostly sad and partly angry, Lyssa responds. "It hurts every time I see you. It just reminds me what a failure I am." "Gimme a little help here, I don't get what you're talking about." Now the anger bubbles up. "Three years, Jo. It's been almost three years. I've been in heat nine times. Nine! And look at you. The first time. The very first time." Joanna has no idea what to say to that. There's only one thing she can think of. "I'm sorry." "No, you're not." Joanna pulls Lyssa over, so that her head is in Jo's lap. She strokes Lyssa's hair, and, a little hitch in her voice, says quietly, "I'm sorry I make you feel sad because I'm very, very happy. And kindof afraid. And I'm sorry it hasn't happened for you." They stay there, quiet, as Lyssa's crying abates. Joanna finally says. "I miss seeing you around." Lyssa does not answer. But she starts listening as things quiet down. Night sounds. Sounds of animals waking to the approaching dawn. Noises of the house, some of the inhabitants awake. The light breeze in the leaves. Joanna's breathing and a really rapid heartbeat. "Jo, why's your heart beating so fast?" "That's him, Lyssa, not me." "Him who?" Oh, the baby. "Oh." "Nathan was grinning so wide, I thought he was gonna break his face when he told me." Lyssa twists and looks up at her. "Whaddaya mean, he told you? You didn't know?" "No, I didn't. A lot of times it's the male who figures it out first, who hears the heartbeat." Lyssa mumbles to herself. "That's what he's been doing." "Emmett's been putting his ear to your belly." A quiet statement from Jo. "Yeah, he did, but he's stopped." Emotion colors her voice. "So I guess I'm not. Again." Lyssa sniffles. She blows out a breath then and looks at Joanna. "Anyway, um, how are you doing?" "Mostly OK. Some things are starting to smell a little funny. It's... I don't know but I'm starting to worry." "Is something wrong? What did the healer say?" "No. No. Just ... getting fat, uncomfortable." Lyssa looks at her young friend. Her young, pregnant friend. "Nathan's mom and the mates have been telling me horror stories from their pregnancies." "It's gonna be OK, Jo." Lyssa sits up and hugs Joanna. "Mmm." "What?" "My boobs are starting to hurt." "Oh, sorry." They trade places, Jo's head now in Lyssa's lap. "What does the healer say?" "It's early yet." "And your mom?" "To enjoy it. And not to worry too much." "Huh." The sky begins to lighten off to the east as a soft whine is heard. *** Emmett rolls, climbing up from sleep without knowing just why. He reaches out, Lyssa isn't there. Finally reaching awareness, he hears, [Emmett, it would probably be good if you come up to the roof.] He yawns and stretches, then rolls, putting feet on the floor. Something was going on between Lyssa and Jo, and Jo wanted him there. Emmaline yipped as he caught her with the door. "Oh, Emmaline, I'm sorry. What are you doing here? Did I hurt you?" Emmaline skittered and tried drawing him toward the back stairs. "I know, pup, I'm going. You should go back to bed." She took another step. "No, Emmaline, go back to your parents." As Emmaline walked away, looking over her shoulder at him, Emmett climbed the stairs. He found them on the back part of the roof, Joanna's head in his mate's lap. And he realized he hadn't seen them together in a while. Something fairly profound was going on between them, it seemed. But Joanna had called him here. When he got close enough, she reached out her hand and Lyssa turned to look. He took Joanna's hand and she drew him closer. [Take my place. And listen, if she decides to talk.] She sat up, hugged Lyssa, stood, and gave Emmett a quick peck on the cheek. Emmett sat down beside Lyssa and, when she started to move, he lay down and put his head in her lap. Lyssa began absentmindedly stroking his grey hair. It was slightly longer than hers. She sighed and he took her hand and kissed it. "I've been ... I'm jealous of her." There's a pause before she says, "Just seeing her hurt and reminded me." She looks down at him, inhales, exhales. "And I know why you've been doing that now." He blinks, looking at her dark eyes. And says quietly, "We have time, dear heart. Years and years." Lyssa looks into his eyes, offering him a sad smile. "I guess." Then his expression changes to a look of concentration, followed by a look of wonder. "What?" He wraps an arm around her and pulls her closer. So quietly, she can barely hear it, he says, "I can hear it." He turns, kisses her belly, sits up, takes her shoulders, and looks into her dark brown eyes. "Lyssa. Mate. You have my pup in there." She shakes her head. "What? No, you stopped listening." He shakes her lightly. "Lys, sweetheart. You're pregnant." He laughs and kisses her again. "Luna, mate, we're going to have a pup." She looks at him, not sure if she should believe it. "You're sure?" He puts an ear back to her belly, closes his eyes, and smiles. [Yes.] "I'm gonna have a baby?" "Yes." Emmett pulls her into his lap, wrapping her legs around him, wrapping his arms around her. He kisses his pregnant mate as the first ray of sunshine peeks over the trees. Joanna snuggled up to Nathan, and smiled, as Emmett's joy echoed down throughout the den, waking everyone. The Wyeth pack would have another pup. And, of all the wonders seen by the packs in the space of those twelve months, none was more unexpected than the news that Stephanie, Alpha female of the Ross pack, had come into season.