13 comments/ 12291 views/ 22 favorites Splendour In The Grass Ch. 01 By: favours AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is my first story (long time reader, first time poster) and I intend to make it at least a few chapters long. Forgive me that there's no sex in this chapter, but there definitely will be in the future. I would really, really appreciate feedback, positive or negative, and that may determine how fast I post future chapters. Thank you for reading and enjoy! * The sun had long disappeared below the horizon before the girl noticed how late it was. She was suddenly alone amidst the sea of study tables, the sixth floor of the library now empty after the mass exodus that had occurred a few hours earlier. The fact that it was Saturday night had probably had something to do with the patrons slowly filing out until only she remained. She sighed slightly before snapping out of her thoughts and gathering the possessions that she had strewn across the table during her day spent camped out there. The silence in the stacks was broken by her actions, a reminder of her absolute solitude. She supposed that there were librarians somewhere, patiently filing away the documents disturbed by kids eager to finish their papers. However they weren't anywhere near her now, lending a sinister air to the room which she rarely felt. The large room, with its walls lined by shelves filled with books, was usually a place of comfort to her. It was at once a haven from the outside world and a gateway to a connection with those she admired most: the brilliant minds whose words had inspired her all of her life. She sighed again, this time due to fatigue, and packed the remainder of her things into her bag. Her mind was starting to wander after having been in the same place for so long. As she walked toward the exit the heels of her boots were the only sound echoing against the walls. She neared the exit and nudged the door open, slipping into the stairwell. She walked down to the first floor and out of the building, nodding goodbye to the few faces that she encountered before she stepped into the cool evening air. The streetlamps were not yet all illuminated. Their floods of circular light peppered the sidewalk before her like stones in a stream, encouraging her to leap from one to the other so that she could cross the river of darkness and return to her cozy apartment. She was eager to crawl into bed and relax... with a book, of course. As she progressed along the few blocks past the library, she neared the small pathway toward her complex. She wouldn't have stayed at the library so late if it weren't so close to her home. The ten minute walk was usually convenient, but at night... she shivered, pulling the light sweater that she wore closer to her body. She prepared to pass through the treed pathway, reminding herself that there was nothing to be afraid of, that this was only a patch of trees in an otherwise safe, urban environment. Regardless, she quickened her footsteps as the night thickened. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end when she felt a dead stillness settle around her. It was as though, for the moment, life had ceased in the small wood: no movement stirred the air, and little light penetrated the thick covering of trees overhead. The girl felt a sense of dread and realised that something awful was about to happen around her. She could feel it as though it were part of her own body. She felt that somewhere near her, death was present. The feeling intensified and she looked behind her, sure that she had sensed someone's presence in her immediate vicinity. She felt silly as she realised that no one was there, and scolded herself for being so skittish before turning back to the direction in which she was headed. When her building appeared beyond the trees, she unconsciously quickened her pace to a light jog until she was safely within reach of its doors. Her return to civilisation after the brief encounter with the wilderness soothed her. I can't believe I fell for that, she thought. I felt like I was six years old again, afraid of the darkness in my basement. She hurried up the stairs and into her apartment, confident that there was nothing to be afraid of. She prepared to retire to bed, walking slowly through the dark rooms in her home, proving to herself that she was safe. That didn't stop her from making sure that the door was locked before she went to sleep. -------------------------------- She woke the next morning with an uneasiness about her that she couldn't identify. Nevertheless, she went on with her morning routine, drawing solace from the common practices. She was a creature of habit, this much she had to admit. Maybe I'm too boring. The thought ran through her mind as she cooked herself an omelette, her favourite and only breakfast. With few friends and little excitement in her life, she often felt as though she were missing out on whatever it was that made life so grand for everyone else. She shrugged it off after little deliberation. What made life worth living for her were the things that she was passionate about: her studies. She thought back to something that John Cusack's character had said in High Fidelity: "It's what you like, not what you're like." While she would never consider it fair to judge someone's personality based on their tastes, she did consider it true in her case, if only because her tastes were all that she had. She had immersed herself in literature in her teenage years when there was so little else in the world that had interested her. The adolescent ennui that she had felt was not reflected in her peers, and they seemed to prefer to attempt to meld their bodies together in every waking moment, a desire which she did not share. Instead, her best friends became characters like Hamlet, whose existential pondering gave her hope that somewhere out there were people to whom she could relate. She sighed lightly. Friends were not her strong point. Instead, she had spent the past few years of her life studying toward a degree in English literature. She was now on the cusp of graduation and had no social experiences to show for it except for being a habitual patron of her University's library and maintaining a lowly part-time job in a local grocery store. Her mind continued to reflect as she slid the now finished omelette onto a plate she had prepared on the counter. Twenty years old and I've never been to a club. No family, no friends... definitely no boyfriend. Not even any sexual experiences. God, I'm a twenty year old virgin. She took a bite of her omelette as she let the last realisation sink in. Rather than feeling regret, she felt indifference to the fact that she had long ago accepted. A relationship was simply not something that was going to be part of her life. She finished her breakfast and cleaned her plate, catching her reflection in the window above her kitchen sink and frowned. She wasn't unattractive, or at least she didn't think she was. She was confident with her body and didn't care very much about what others thought of her appearance, but that didn't mean that she didn't maintain a reasonable level of hygiene and grooming. Despite her shy nature and aloofness, there had been men who had tried to flirt with her and make advances. She simply did not return their affections. Sometimes she thought that she was simply asexual, and that she didn't have the ability to feel lust or physical desire for another person. However, lately... lately that had changed. She thought of the episodes she had been having and shivered, vividly recalling their intensity. Each would last a few days. A few days of pure, unstoppable sexual frustration. It was not aimed at anyone in particular, or at least she didn't think that it was. In fact, during these times she was plagued with the feeling that there was only one way to relieve it and that whatever it was was not available to her. She blushed. Not that I don't try to relieve it anyway, she thought. A few days of locking herself in her apartment and lending pleasure to her body were all that these periods would allow. She couldn't work, she couldn't focus on any task, she could barely eat or sleep. And masturbation seemed to simply exacerbate her arousal, although it was all that she had. During these days she was filled with a very specific need, a desire to be... To be what? she thought. To be fucked mercilessly until I collapse due to pleasure? She knew that even this did not do justice to the strength of her desire. She tilted her head back, stretching her neck out as she had unknowingly tensed her body while reliving the feeling. She had to get ready for work anyway. She stood, sighing again. Dwelling on it would do her no good. -------------------------------- She hummed happily on her way back home after her shift. It had been a good day. Everyone in the store had been pleasant, and the sun shone brightly on her as she walked outside into the afternoon air. She almost wished that the grocery store were further from her apartment to give her an excuse to stay outside. It seems I hardly ever get more than a few blocks away from home anyway, she thought. As she prepared to pass once again through the small wooded area that led her home, she wondered why it had struck such fear in her last night. Probably just exhaustion, she reasoned. Her feet treaded lightly on the dirt path as she felt comfort within the trees, a far cry from yesterday's response to the area. She took in the foliage; the greens of the trees and the purples and yellows of the small flowers that dotted the ground along with the sparse grass. She breathed deeply, inhaling the fresh air, so different from the smoggy odour of the city. So untainted, so clean, so... rancid? she questioned, baffled as the stench of what she instinctually knew was rotting flesh assaulted her nostrils. She couldn't help herself, she had to investigate. What could be so close to me that smells so horrid? She turned to her left, peering through the trees to where they thickened in the distance. Her feet led her through them, crunching on the soft shrubbery and dusty ground. Branches from the younger trees brushed her shoulders lightly, caressing her arms in welcome. She felt safe here, and almost forgot that her original intent had been to locate the foul smell. In her curiosity she failed to realise that she had been walking for more than ten minutes. She stopped suddenly, taking in her surroundings. How did I get here? I had no idea these trees were so thick and went on for so long. She was lost but felt comfortable that she was in no harm. She couldn't explain her absolute conviction that this was where she wanted to be, where she was supposed to be. As she once again sniffed the air, she located the smell of meat. It was stronger here, but smelled less rotten, and more... more what? More appetising, she thought, and immediately shook her head and snorted in disgust. What am I thinking? It smells like raw meat. Definitely not something that I want to eat. However, she followed the scent, walking once again through the trees until they thinned, revealing a small clearing. She immediately halted in her tracks when she saw what lay at the center. A beautiful deer, its huge brown eyes staring straight at her, lay slaughtered on the ground, its insides torn apart. She was struck with grief for this poor animal: its life had been ripped from it, and obviously in a painful fashion. The aroma of its body hit her and she reeled, gasping for air. She needed relief from the smell, but couldn't tell whether she wanted to run or... to feast. Her mind finished the thought and she rejected it immediately. I do NOT want to eat this deer carcass. That's bloody ridiculous! And sickening to boot. Stifling the thought, she walked toward the deer, wanting to comfort it in some way, although her rational mind knew that it was beyond help. She kneeled before it and placed a hand on its soft neck. It was still warm and she felt tears brim her eyes as she turned away, intense sadness washing over her. Her eyes lifted toward the sun that was visible in the clearing, but were halted by what she saw as her body froze in fright. The largest wolf that she had ever seen (the only wolf that she had ever seen, actually, although it definitely looked larger than those she had seen on nature programs) was standing at the treeline less than ten metres away, stock still, its eyes locked with hers. They glowed despite the bright sunlight and contrasted its dark brown fur, so dark that it was almost black. Its mouth opened slightly and the first sound that she had heard it make escaped its jaws: a low, menacing growl. Her fear almost overcame her and she racked her mind for what to do in case of a wolf attack: Play dead? No, that's for bears. Puff up? No, that's... mountain lions? When was she ever going to see a mountain lion? She quit considering the best method of defence and decided that her only option was to run. She slowly, so slowly, rose slightly out of her kneeling position and heard the wolf growl again, this time louder. She froze, and considered that maybe the sound was not meant in warning but in some kind of challenge. It probably thinks I want the deer! I bet it killed it and now it thinks I'm moving in on its dinner! she realised in fright. Shit! Why did I have to come out here anyway? She again moved to back off, but this time saw it step closer as she did so. Dread settled upon her. There's no way that I'm going to be able to outrun a freaking wolf, especially not this one. It continued to move toward her and she shut her eyes in fear, knowing as she did so that the approaching predator would probably be the last thing that she ever saw before it tore her to shreds. -------------------------------- Jonah had returned to claim his hunt in the afternoon after killing it, confident that there were no other wolves in this part of the city who would dare try to take it from him. He had marked it liberally with his scent before leaving it the night before, and anyone foolish enough to try to steal a deer that reeked with the scent of a Beta of the Murphy pack was asking for trouble. As he approached it, however, he noticed the young girl kneeling beside it. She didn't seem intent on claiming it for herself, though, and rather seemed to be empathising with the dead animal in the way that so many bleeding heart humans often did. He sighed inwardly. He could scare her away, sure, but now he wouldn't be able to hunt here again. There was no way a frightened girl wasn't going to report a wolf sighting, for God's sake. He supposed that it was his fault for not hunting before they had left the compound. It was assumed that he would have, and a place to hunt was not accounted for when a group of high-ranking weres went on a diplomatic trip to the city. He reminded himself to punish the Omega who had planned this trip for their lack of foresight. But back to the matter at hand, Jonah thought as he approached the edge of the clearing, making himself visible to her. As she turned away from the deer, she noticed him and froze. He didn't respond, wondering what she would do. Humans could often be a source of entertainment, especially when considering their various reactions to seeing a wolf right in front of their eyes. Being a Beta, Jonah knew that he was big, and although he could smell her fear, she didn't scream or run away. She simply stared. He could tell that she was thinking, and wondered what she would come up with. She finally started to get up, taking her time. She seemed less afraid now, as though she thought that he wouldn't move to attack her. Foolish assumption, as I could easily do just that. Jonah watched the creature calmly try to move away but as the smell of her fear dissipated, another scent revealed itself. He growled as he realised what it was. She smelled like a werewolf, but he couldn't scent another pack on her. There's no way that this girl's human, so what's she playing at? Can she not smell who I am? Why doesn't she just shift if she wants to challenge me for the deer? She seemed to have heard his growl and she froze again. He moved forward, intent on figuring out what in the hell was going on. He noticed that she shut her eyes tightly and seemed to refuse to acknowledge his presence. If this girl's trying to frustrate the hell out of me, she's doing a damn good job, he huffed to himself in his head. He was almost in front of her now, and was about to shift and ask her what her damn problem was when she fell to a crumpled mass on the ground. She had fainted. Jonah growled angrily. Great. He knew that he could take the deer and enjoy it somewhere else, but he needed to know for the safety of the pack what an unidentified were was doing out here, and why she was acting so strangely at that. He shifted finally and sighed, throwing her over his shoulder, beginning the walk back to the group. Splendour In The Grass Ch. 02 She awoke with a start. Her eyes focused on what appeared to be a ceiling as she realised that she was lying prone on her back. Her spine sensed a softness beneath her, and her hands tightened to grab hold of the fabric that she lay on. A bed. But not mine. She forced her eyes to scan her peripheral vision before turning onto her side, ensuring that she was alone. She was. After listening for a few moments to make sure that everything around her was silent, she rose to her feet and looked around, quickly assessing her surroundings. The bed that she had been lying on was one of many in the room, which appeared to be some sort of barracks. It was built of logs in the style of a longhouse with a door on each far end, but all that it contained were neatly made single cots. There must be sixty beds in here. Did they do something to me? She looked down at her torso and legs. Nothing out of order, but still... The room made her uneasy. She was still wearing the clothes that she had been wearing before... her eyes widened. The clearing! The wolf! She had only just remembered the chain of events that preceded her current predicament when she heard the door at the end of the room closer to her open and she turned to face the entrant. It was a man. A large man. His tall frame, blond hair and well- muscled body indicated an attractive man, but his scowl destroyed any attraction toward him that she felt she ought to have. Besides, she thought, he kind of scares the shit out of me. As he stalked toward her, she struggled to form a sentence. "Where am I? Can you help me?" The man snorted and walked past her to the bed next to hers. He turned to face her with arms crossed, and she noticed that his eyes looked exactly the same as those of the wolf in the clearing. "You're in no position to be asking questions. Sit. It took you goddamned long enough to wake up." He barked the order out in such a way that she felt compelled to comply and began to sit down. She caught herself, though, and spat back at him in an instant. "I'm not doing anything until I'm treated with my dignity. I have no memory of how I got here or where I am, and you obviously do, so forgive me if I'm a bit curious!" She finished, realising that her voice had risen in anger as she spoke. He merely sneered at her. "Nice try. But I'm not falling for the whole 'I'm just a pathetic ignorant human' routine. In case you can't tell, I'm not exactly the type of man to be fucked around with. You're not getting anything past me, so just stop trying before I have to hurt you. And now that I've helped you understand, it's time you answered some questions. What were you doing with that deer, and why didn't you shift in the clearing? Better yet, whose pack are you? Even rogues have more sense than to challenge me like you did." His words left her in a daze. What the hell is this guy talking about? She stayed speechless, her mouth opening slightly before shutting again. She hadn't the slightest idea how to answer him. He sighed in frustration. "Look, what's your name?" He attempted to soften his face. Maybe he was pushing the intimidation thing too hard. She hesitated, but spoke quietly. "Lucy Atwood." He noticed that she maintained his gaze while speaking to him and was annoyed that she was not more frightened of him. He spoke to her then in a patronising tone as though he were trying to explain something to a child. "Well, Lucy Atwood, I'm Jonah Messer, and I'm a Beta. Are you pack?" She ignored his tone and instead focused on his words. Her eyes narrowed before she responded. "Am I what? What's a 'Beta'?" Jonah was getting very frustrated with her persistence in this charade of innocence and practically snarled his next words. "I said are you pack? As in, whose pack do you belong to? Are you Harrison? Stehle? Carmichael? I told you before not to fuck around with me." Lucy let out an exasperated sound, clearly as frustrated as he was. "Look, I don't know what the fuck you're talking about! Tell me where I am and how I got here right now!" She was breathing heavily and her skin flushed in her anger. She had never met anyone so absolutely uncooperative and unhelpful. Christ, what if this freak kidnapped me and now he's playing mindgames with me just to get me to crack? I'm being held captive by a sociopath! She had reached her breaking point and walked out into the centre aisle between the beds, intending to leave through the door that the man had come in by. She took another step and before she realised what had happened, his hand grabbed her forearm and she was flipped onto her back with a thud. The room faded into blackness once again as she lost consciousness for the second time that day. -------------------------------- Jonah couldn't believe that he had made the girl pass out again, Granted, he had flipped her pretty hard, but still. He'd probably have to repeat the same tiresome conversation with her when she woke up. But what was I supposed to do, just let her walk out the door? Jonah had no patience for liars. That didn't change that he was sick of dealing with this girl, though. Better to bring her to someone better equipped to extract answers from her. -------------------------------- When Jonah reached the compound, the girl was still unconscious and draped over his shoulder. He passed through the main gates, gathering a few questioning glares from other pack members. He merely rolled his eyes in response, allowing them to think whatever they pleased. Probably better at this point to keep it quiet that I'm carrying the subject of an interrogation into their midst. He moved quickly toward the back building and deposited her in a holding cell. Pulling a cell phone out of his pocket, he summoned Levi, the pack doctor. It would be necessary to assess her injuries before continuing her questioning. It would also be unwise to underestimate her at this point... He alerted the guards to accompany Levi into her cell when he arrived. Satisfied that he was finished with her for now, he breathed a sigh of relief and left the back building, allowing himself to relax for the first time since having met Lucy. If that is her real name, he thought. She was feisty, he had to give her that. If she really was as ignorant as she claimed to be, he could imagine that she would be an interesting person to be around. If she weren't lying. Which, of course, she is, he reminded himself. Jonah shook her out of his head and stripped in the yard before he shifted back into his wolf. After all this, I still haven't eaten. It was time to hunt. -------------------------------- Lucy awoke in an unfamiliar location yet again. It was a cot, although in a setting far more dank than last time. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, ignoring the pounding in her head and studying the room for an exit. There was no way that she was sitting around to wait for that asshole to come back this time. Her heart sank when she realised that the reason that the room appeared so unwelcoming was because it was not a room at all, but rather something similar to a prison cell. The wall to her left was not a wall but a row of metal bars displaying a hallway made of the same concrete that comprised the entirety of her cell except for the cot and a small bench opposite, and a toilet in the corner of the room. God, now I'm literally imprisoned. Confusion and hopelessness overwhelmed her and she felt tears begin to form in her eyes before wiping them hastily away. Reality was becoming too much for her and she felt herself praying that this was only some sort of nightmare. The sound of footsteps shook her out of her stupor and she quickly scurried to the edge of the cot furthest from the door. Please, God, don't let them torture me. I haven't done anything to deserve this. I just want to go home... I don't want to die. I just want to go home. It all finally became too much to bear and sobs bubbled up from the darkest place inside of her, wracking her terrified body as she began to wail incoherent pleas of deliverance. -------------------------------- Levi allowed the guards to escort him to the captive's cell begrudgingly. Jonah had warned him that the girl may be a threat, but were guards really necessary? He was a doctor, not an interrogator. He just wanted to help in any way that he could. Before they were even close enough to hear her cries, Levi and the guards could smell her complete and utter desperation. Being a naturally compassionate person, Levi was struck with the urge to comfort this poor creature. He dashed to her cell, pursued by the surprised guards who unlocked the door and hesitantly allowed him inside. Levi, however, did not hesitate. He wasted no time in approaching the hysterical girl and wrapping her up in his arms, allowing her to sob into his shirt for a good five minutes until her cries softened and eventually stopped. Lucy looked up for the first time into the face of the person whose shoulder she had cried on. She was met with the soft eyes of an older man whose kindly face and presence set her immediately at ease. The man moved to take a seat beside her, staying close to her. "Hello. My name's Levi. I'm a doctor and I'm here to help you." He smiled reassuringly, attempting to indicate that he meant no harm. Lucy couldn't help but put the little trust that she had left at that point in the man. After all, that other man - Jonah, she recalled in disgust - had been so hostile. "H-help me." she begged Levi, who seemed to be her only hope. "Help me please." -------------------------------- Fifteen minutes later, Lucy was on another cot. This one, however, was substantially more comfortable than the other two had been, and the journey here had consisted of taking an elevator up two stories to emerge into another long hall of beds separated by sliding curtains, like some sort of infirmary. She hadn't even protested when she had been changed into a hospital gown and placed in a bed and on an intravenous drip. She trusted Levi. I have to. He's the only one here who seems to be looking out for me. Everyone else that she had encountered couldn't seem to have cared less about her... although, to be fair, everyone else that she had seen was limited to Jonah and the two guards who were with her still, monitoring her, and Levi. Levi reminded her of a fatherly figure. She had just met him, but had been put at ease by his presence and guessed that he could probably explain to her what the hell was going on, and get her home. But... do I want to go home? The thought occurred to her and before she could instantly discard it, she considered it carefully. Did she want to go home? Although she was confused, she was not happy at her 'home'. She was lonely. Her bed was beside one of the large windows that lined the walls of the room and the view outside of it indicated to her that she was on at least the second floor. What kind of building has both a prison and a hospital in it? She filed the question away to pose to Levi, who had disappeared after he attended to her, promising to return shortly. The throbbing in her head had subsided, allowing her to admire the view outside and take in the bright sunlight that flooded the room. Outside, perhaps half a kilometre away, was a building large enough to be a small hotel. It looked to be five stories and was built in the style of a Victorian house. She could see people coming and going from various entrances, but was too far away to focus on them. The house was surrounded by a beautifully manicured garden in what she guessed was the back side of the building, the side that she was facing. In the distance she could see more buildings which appeared to be about houses of a similar style, though none rivalled the enormity of the main building. There was a path that looked like a road, though there were few cars. People mainly walked from building to building, and many looked to be playing around of relaxing in the grass. The overall impression she got was that of a small village. The entire area was surrounded by trees, and it occurred to Lucy that the area had probably been cleared long ago to make room for this little settlement. It was then that Levi returned to the room, approaching her and smiling. "Feeling better?" He asked brightly. Lucy felt a small smile form on her face. "Yes, thank you, but I really do need some answers." Levi nodded understandingly. "Well, first, maybe you could tell me what led up to you being in that cell and I could clarify from there." Lucy was silent for a moment, but then began to recount the events of that day. The wooded patch, the desire to find the smell, the clearing, the deer, the wolf... and meeting Jonah. Levi remained focused on her as she explained, silent but for a few interjections such as "Mhmm" and "I see". When she had finished, she looked at him questioningly. Levi seemed unsure how to respond. He rubbed his face and sighed. "Lucy, are you aware of the existence of werewolves?" He had phrased the question so bluntly that Lucy's first reaction was to laugh. Her outburst subsided, though, when she saw Levi's expression remained serious. "You're kidding, right?" "I'm afraid not. You're currently sitting in the hospital ward of a building in a compound, which is where we live." We. He said 'we'. Lucy started violently as she realised that the man before her was some sort of lunatic and that she had surely been kidnapped by some cult. Levi noticed her reaction and sighed yet again. "I was afraid that you'd have a hard time taking my word for it. I would too. I need you - we all need you - to understand, so with your permission, I'd like to shift." He had spoken bluntly again but this time his expression was pleading. Lucy made no attempt to respond. Please, God, tell me this is some sort of nightmare. Levi rose from his seat and stood at the foot of her bed. "I'm warning you not to be frightened. Just know that whatever happens, I'm not going to hurt you." And with that, the Levi that she had met just earlier began to change. His torso was the first to be altered, becoming thickly furred with a silvery-white hair, and his arms and legs followed suit. His clothing shredded and landed on the ground in a tattered pile. Before she realised it, Lucy had watched his limbs crack and rearrange their shape as he landed on the ground on all fours, his skull now completely transformed as well. His ears had changed shape, his jaw had elongated, his snout... Snout. I'm looking at a wolf. Holy shit. Lucy said nothing but stared in shock as the wolf that used to be Levi sat back on his haunches and stared calmly at her. She knew that she should feel frightened, but she didn't. He wasn't like the wolf in the clearing, whose presence had been threatening. This wolf - Levi, she reminded herself - seemed as though, if anything, he merely wanted to comfort her. Lucy stopped to think. Was she really about to accept the existence of werewolves? What was the evidence that this wasn't some kind of messed up scam? This guy changing into a damn wolf right in front of me seems like pretty irrefutable evidence, she thought. Maybe it wasn't so unbelievable. Stranger things had happened. Or maybe she was just in shock after having witnessed the most unbelievable experience of her life. "Okay, Levi. I believe you. I get it. You're a werewolf. You're all werewolves." she said, looking at the guards who watched her reaction as intently as Levi seemed to be doing. She noticed for the first time that they had the same eyes as Levi, the same eyes as Jonah, the same eyes as the wolf in the clearing. Every werewolf that she had met had had the same striking amber eyes. She gasped, an epiphany striking her. "Was that wolf in the clearing actually a werewolf? Is that why it didn't kill me?" Levi, still in wolf form, opened his mouth as if to respond before realising the state that he was in. He trotted out of the room, leaving Lucy open-mouthed before he returned a few moments later wrapped in a towel. Oh my God, Lucy thought, how mortifying! He's naked! "Sorry." he began. "I don't have a change of clothes. I wasn't really planning on shifting here." He didn't seem embarrassed and rather carried on. "To answer your question, yes, that wolf was Jonah. It sounds from your description of the events that he saw you, identified your scent, and though that you were challenging him for his kill. Once you passed out, he brought you back to an old barracks that we have around there to question you. I take it he didn't like it when you refused to answer him, and when you tried to leave you say he knocked you unconscious. Typical Jonah," he scoffed, "always responding to situations with more anger than is necessary." Levi was more of a peacekeeper, and believed that either conversation or medicine could solve almost any problem. He stopped then, a buzzing emanating from his pocket. he pulled out a cell phone and answered it. "Speak of the devil." he said into the device. "We're in the second floor hospital room now. Yes. Okay." He put it away and refocused his attention on Lucy. Lucy took in what her new friend had just said. "So it was all a bit of a misunderstanding. But you said he 'identified my scent'. What did you mean by that?" Levi prepared himself for what he was sure would be the most unbelievable part of all of this for her. "Lucy," he began, not quite sure how to phrase what he was about to say, "you're a werewolf. I can tell by your scent. We all can, including Jonah. That's why he didn't just frighten you away. That's why he expected you to know what he was talking about when he asked you those questions. I know that you're being honest. I'm a pretty good judge of character." he said, half-smiling. "But Jonah didn't know. He was understandably concerned and though that you were lying, so he perceived you as a threat and brought you here to our holding cells." Lucy was calm for a moment. Too calm. Levi looked at her suspiciously, ready to comfort her but also unsure of how she would react. Suddenly, faster than he thought the girl would be able to, she sprang from the bed and past him, sprinting for the door. She was no match for the speed of the guards, who caught her in their arms before she could get there. "I'm no fucking werewolf!" she snarled. "Let go of me! Let me leave! Let me go home, please! Fuck you! Let me GO!" When the guards held her she struggled even harder. Levi felt a deep sadness in his heart. He wanted to help her, but he didn't know how. -------------------------------- Eli Lennox cracked his knuckles and looked up from the papers on his desk when he heard a knock at the door. Scenting Jonah, he relaxed slightly, sure that his friend's interruption would provide a break from his work. "Come in, Jonah." he commanded. The blond man entered, grinning as he saw his Alpha and best friend swimming under a mountain of paperwork. "How goes the pencil pushing, sucker?" Jonah joked, striding into the room as though it were his own. Eli grinned. He and Jonah had known each other since they were pups, and Eli's parents had taken Jonah in when they found him abandoned in the woods near the compound. Since then they had practically been brothers, and although Jonah was Eli's Beta, he never hesitated to break the boundary of what would be considered taboo between the two ranks in another pack. They loved each other dearly, though neither would admit it. "I'd rather be out for a run, but responsibility calls. Speaking of running, you smell like the woods." Eli could detect the forest on his friend beneath Jonah's natural scent, but below that, something else lingered... something sweeter, tantalising. Splendour In The Grass Ch. 02 "Yeah," Jonah replied casually, "I just got back. It's amazing out there today. But there's something else I came here to tell you." Eli forced himself to listen to what Jonah was saying, hungering more and more for the source of the mysterious scent that he carried. "Not just a social call, then?" he joked. Jonah turned serious. "Unfortunately not. I found a rogue wolf today in a wooded area in the city. What in the hell she was doing there I don't know, but she was challenging me for a kill I made and wouldn't shift when I challenged her back. Then, get this," he snorted, "she passes out when I approach her, and when I take her somewhere for questioning, she pretends she doesn't know what I'm talking about and tries to get away. She wouldn't admit she was were! Anyway, I had to knock her out when she tried to run off. I put her in a holding cell and sent Levi to her. She's probably fine now. I thought you should question her and see if she responds better to you. We have to know what she's up to." Eli sighed. As busy as he was, Jonah was right. He stood up, adjusting his clothing before walking around his desk. "Come on," he said to Jonah, "let's get this over with." Jonah nodded, pulling out a cell phone and quickly calling Levi. "They're on the second floor hospital ward." he explained once he had hung up. The two men wasted no time in reaching the back building, the location of both the holding cells and the infirmary. The trip was not very long. Out of Eli's office, they navigated through the corridors and rooms that comprised Eli's living space, about half of the fifth and topmost floor of the main building. Once they reached the main hall on that floor, it was a short elevator ride and out of the main lobby on the first floor outside, then a few minutes' walk to the back building. They had reached the second floor when they both heard the shrieking. They both rushed to the main entrance of the room, Eli reaching the door first and nearly pulling it off of its hinges as he yanked it open. The second that he did, he was bowled over by the sweet aroma that flooded his nostrils. It was the most mouthwatering scent that he had ever encountered and the intensity of it left his head spinning. He was stopped in his tracks as he let it flood through him. His head tilted back and he let out a groan, his eyes rolling back in his head and blood flooding to his groin. He was pulled back to reality as he regained sight and looked into the room. He was oblivious to everyone staring at him as he assessed the situation: Jonah had pushed into the room ahead of him and begun growling, sensing conflict. Levi stood off to the side, looking worried as two guards that he recognised vaguely held onto the source of the tempting scent: a small girl whose actions betrayed her docile appearance. Even with her face twisted into a snarl and her mouth shouting obscenities at the guards restraining her, she was a beauty. Wavy light brown hair shook wildly as she squirmed. Large hazel brown eyes framed by delicate lashes led downward to a perfectly shaped nose atop the most luscious and inviting lips Eli had ever seen. His eyes travelled downward to the graceful slope of her creamy alabaster neck and made him want to sink his teeth into it. Her chest heaved and was flushed pink with frustration, and he growled as he felt himself become even harder while taking in her pert breasts bouncing as she struggled and her tight, round ass twisting her long legs into vicious kicks aimed at her captors. He had never wanted so badly to bury himself inside of a woman than he did at that moment. I've got to get a fucking hold of myself, he thought. Using every ounce of self control that he had, he approached the still howling woman and addressed her directly. "Stop fighting. Now." Lucy was in a daze as she struggled against the two guards and felt her head become cloudy when the large man approached her. She heard his deep voice command her to stop and her body instantly became weak as she stopped struggling and allowed herself to focus on the person standing before her. He was tall, at least six feet tall, with a well built body to match. Even beneath his collared shirt and slacks she could tell that muscles covered his frame, but he wasn't bulky and had what she supposed was rather the equivalent of a swimmer's body. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing sculpted forearms that led into large, strong hands which were reaching out for her. Her lips parted in surprise as his hands cradled her face, and she instantly felt a heat flood her body. Wetness pooled in her panties and her legs grew weak as she took in the scent of him. Earthy, like cedar and moss, yet spicy and musky. He smells like pure sex. Fuck. She looked up into his face for the first time and was again struck by her overwhelming attraction to him. He looked like he had been sculpted by gods. Short, curly black hair framed his face, his strong jaw supporting lips that made her ache to kiss them. His nose led upward to the most striking blue eyes that she had ever seen. It's like he's staring into my soul. She had never felt so open and vulnerable, and as she stared back into his eyes she felt her body changing in a way that it never had before. Before she knew what had happened, she had slipped out of his grasp and landed on the floor, standing. Standing, on the floor? What the hell? As she looked down at her legs, she realised that they were not human but canine, and covered in chocolate brown fur. She grew frantic and tried to scream, but all that came out was a whining howl. Levi had watched the exchange take place and had just seen a girl shift who, before today, had not known that she was a werewolf. This was not good. He reached behind him to the wall where a medical cart stood and grabbed an emergency syringe full of a powerful tranquiliser. He rushed toward the shocked Lucy and injected it in her neck, watching as she crumpled to the ground. AUTHOR"S NOTE: Now that they've met I can get to the best parts. Please leave feedback and I'll post the next parts as soon as I can! Splendour In The Grass Ch. 03 As soon as Lucy had fallen, Levi reached down to check her for injuries. He knew that he had acted the way that a doctor should have in the situation, but was still concerned with the girl's well-being. The instant that he reached down toward the slumped brown wolf, he heard a feral growl emanate from Eli's throat. Levi looked up toward his Alpha, whose face bore a threatening expression and whose body tensed as though he were holding himself back from something. "Woah, there..." Jonah began, turning to approach his friend and stopping in his tracks when he saw the wild glint in Eli's eye. Jonah, who had stood still watching Eli's bizarre reaction to Lucy and the girl's surprising shift, had now begun staring intently at his friend. Eli had reacted to the girl in a way that Jonah had never before witnessed. Eli had become Alpha at a young age, forced into the position after the death of his parents and many of the pack elders at the hands of a rival pack when he had been less than twenty years old. Though Jonah had been fourteen at the time, he had recognised the change in his surrogate older brother when, through family lines, the responsibility of leading a pack had landed on Eli's shoulders. The combination of losing his parents, who had been his only family (and Jonah's too) and suddenly losing his youth as well had caused a shift in Eli's personality that had permanently altered him. He became more withdrawn and more cold around everyone except Jonah. Jonah knew that this was because after the incident, he was all the family that Eli had left, regardless of their lack of a blood connection. Eli had thrown himself into his position and embraced it fully, working hard to make a better life for the pack. And he had succeeded in many ways. He had given them safer lives through training pack members in combat techniques and improving security. He had also single handedly increased the quality of life and brought the pack into the new millennium by improving the financial standing of the pack business that supported their lifestyles and allowed them to maintain their community. The downside of this was that Eli had become the textbook workaholic. His serious manner regularly made it difficult for him to show much emotion, and yet here he was using a gentle touch and welcoming body language toward some girl that he hadn't even been introduced to. And who's a prisoner and possible rogue to top it all off! Jonah was completely flabbergasted. And when Levi had gone to touch her, Jonah could have sworn that he growled in a way that was positively... possessive? What the hell was going on with him today? Jonah made to speak again, ignoring Eli's glare. "What's up with you, man? He's just making sure she's okay. She did collapse, after all." Jonah motioned toward Levi and Eli followed his gesture, the two men now focusing on Levi as he attempted to lift Lucy, still in wolf form, into his arms. Eli realised the man's intent and moved to do it himself. "Levi, let me." Eli reached down and gathered the wolf easily into his arms, brushing off the other man's attempts. Levi was getting old and wasn't in the greatest shape any more, and Eli didn't need the pack's only doctor pulling a muscle and putting himself out of commission. I may very well be needing his services again soon with the way this one fights, he thought, looking down at the bundle of chocolate fur in his arms. And such soft fur at that... Eli felt a calmness with her in his arms, her body heat radiating against his core and her scent, even stronger in her wolf state, wrapping around him like a boa constrictor threatening to cut off his airways. He realised that he was still painfully hard. That won't do. He chastised himself for his lack of self control, burying the thoughts of burying something else of his... preferably in the delicious specimen in his arms. He cleared his throat, looking up at the other men whom he had temporarily forgotten about and noticing the uncomfortable atmosphere in the room. "Eli... we need to talk about this one. She needs help." Levi looked at his Alpha pleadingly, and his honest concern for the girl showed in his eyes. Eli was thankful for having good men like Levi in his pack. He knew that he could always trust the older man's judgement. "You're damn right she needs help. She's clearly unstable and she's a threat to the pack. She needs to be taken care of. You know what I mean, Eli." Jonah shot stubbornly at the Alpha, desperate to have his opinion heard. Eli didn't even show that he had heard Jonah's words. He simply wouldn't entertain the thought of ever harming her. She's mine... forever. He almost shivered as he felt a surge of protectiveness and possessiveness over her, marveling at the strength of his emotion toward the girl that he had seen for the first time only minutes before. He had to put her down somewhere before he did something to her that he would regret. "You're right, Levi, we need to talk about her. Let me just - uh - let me find her somewhere more comfortable, make sure she's safe - I mean, make sure she's being watched, you know. Give me a minute." Eli practically ran out of the room, embarrassed that he had stumbled over his words in front of his subordinates. For a man that regularly projected such a strong image of power and dominance, he was quickly being unwound by the little wolf in his arms. Finding a place for her was another matter. He wouldn't take her back to the cold, sterile hospital ward. She needed warmth, comfort. But he couldn't be the one to give it to her. He didn't even know her name, she was already in a state of practical hysteria and he could imagine the intimidation that his presence would bring. And intimidating amounts of arousal, he thought as he recalled her obvious agitation when he had touched her. He smirked, instantly flooded with male pride. She was already doing bad things to his ego. Before Eli had realised it, he was at the doors to his bedroom. If anyone had questioned him carrying another wolf on his way there, he hadn't noticed. He had been in such a daze as he thought about his little wolf, but his own wolf howled gladly at the prospect of laying her down in his bed. As he entered the room, he placed her softly on his bed and drew the covers over her, trying to make her as comfortable as possible. The effort was probably futile as she was still unconscious, but there was a part of him that distinctly wanted her experience in his personal space to be as enjoyable as it could. He looked down at her, breathing deeply where she lay. She really was a beauty, even in wolf form. She was petite, practically delicate, but his wolf could tell that she had the potential to be strong and fierce. His other side knew that she would be a mate that he could be proud of. Wait a minute, 'mate'? Who said anything about that? he questioned, wondering when his feral part had gained such control over himself. Eli was a hardworking man. He had no illusions about that. He knew he often stifled his need to hunt or take a run when he had too much on his plate, which was practically always. My wolf's been frustrated for a long time and I know he wants to get out. I'd better be careful or this girl will make that happen. He took one last look at her before turning and heading out the door, locking it as he left. After all, she is a security risk... Locking the door would have to do for now. The thought of someone else alone with her, guarding her... even the thought made his blood boil. He really wouldn't be able to hold himself together if that were happening. I'm sure Jonah's overreacting anyway. The boy's got a fighting streak in him. Reaching for his cell phone in the pocket of his pants, Eli dialed Jonah's number. "Come to my office with Levi as soon as you can." he ordered his Beta. "He's right - we have to talk about this little wolf." -------------------------------- Jonah and Levi walked into the Alpha's office to find him not seated behind his desk where he spent most of his waking life, but rather standing by the window overlooking a large portion of his pack's compound. He hardly showed any recognition that the other men had entered the room and they didn't dare to break the silence, instead sitting in the small seating area in the room and waiting for him to acknowledge their presence. Eli had been acting so odd since meeting the girl; they weren't sure how to react to him. He turned to face them finally, running a hand through his jet black hair. He had a weary look on his face, as though he were struggling with some terrible internal conflict. He sat down in a chair across from the two men and looked toward them. "Levi, tell me what you know about our little prisoner." Eli addressed the doctor first, who seemed surprised but went to respond quickly. Before he could, though, Jonah interjected angrily. "Eli, her medical situation is irrelevant. She's a rogue who needs to be put down, now. The fact that she's crazy to top it all off - I mean, denying being a were when we've seen her shift? Her presence is a threat to pack safety!" The Beta was exasperated as he made his case against the girl, and looked disbelievingly at Eli when he made no response. Calmly, Eli shifted his gaze from the doctor to his loud mouthed friend, unsurprised at his outburst but infuriated with its content. "Jonah, I won't have you talk about her that way. I appreciate your efforts and you were just trying to protect the pack when you brought her in. That being said, Levi has a certain way with people that may not be your strong suit. He's spent more time with the girl, and I trust his judgement." Eli gave a small smile to the silent Levi, who waited to respond. Eli continued. "Levi, please, tell us what you know about her." Levi spoke shyly, honoured that the Alpha was placing so much trust in his word. "I know that she was a suspected threat, Alpha, but the situation is far more complicated than Jonah made it out to be. It seems that before today, she was... she was unaware that she was even a werewolf. She's been stifling her wolf side, and it's trying to be noticed in these extreme outbursts of sensation. That's why she seems uncontrollable at times. When Jonah brought her in, she said that she had smelled his kill from a considerable distance and although she isn't aware of it, I'm pretty sure that she was drawn to it by her wolf and its hunger. And when Jonah challenged her, she fainted when she should have shifted and fought him." Eli's eyes widened in surprise. "You're saying that she didn't even know that she's a were? How did she shift, then?" "I'm guessing that was the first time that she had done so." Levi explained. "Something about your interaction, Alpha, and the anger and confusion that she felt at being restrained and being told that she was a were, it really set her off. She couldn't stifle her wolf when she was experiencing so many different powerful emotions at once, and it finally came out. There are probably other situations that would trigger this that we don't even know about yet." Eli was absolutely shocked. How could the woman that he felt such a powerful attraction to be such a foreigner to her community, to her own self? How could she ever understand their way of life? Would she even accept him? And more importantly, where the hell did she come from? His musings were interrupted by Jonah's noises of frustration. "She's playing you, Eli. Levi fell for it too. Don't let him rope you into her lies!" He leaned forward as he spoke, punctuating his words with the pounding of his fist on the coffee table between them. The look on his face was threatening. If Jonah' face was threatening, Eli's was murderous. He snarled, his wolf suddenly at the surface. He reached across the coffee table and shoved Jonah back into his seat, causing the Beta's eyes to show fright and instantly submit. "You will NOT speak about her that way again, do you understand? I don't care how much you dislike her. You will be nothing but pleasant to my mate for as long as she lives!" Jonah's submission was forgotten as he gasped in surprise. "Your mate? No fucking chance! Eli, she isn't your mate. She's just some little scamp trying to fool you, and you're playing right into her clutches! I don't know what she wants, but mark my words, it isn't good." Jonah wouldn't accept this. She was a liar, and she had tried to fight him! There was no way he'd fall for her little charade like everyone else had. He squirmed out of Eli's grasp, knowing that the Alpha wouldn't have let him do so unless he wanted Jonah to be released. "I want you gone, Jonah, now. I'll talk with you later." If Eli didn't have the relationship with Jonah that he did, he would have hurt him by now. Thankfully, Jonah stormed out the second that he was dismissed. Eli sighed again, putting Jonah out of his mind. He would deal with him later. He would make him understand. But for now, he needed to know more about his little wolf. "Levi, what's her name?" Levi spoke quietly again, not wanting to upset the seemingly temperamental Alpha. "Lucy Atwood." Eli repeated her name. "Lucy Atwood." He let it roll across his tongue. It was sensual to him, the words sacred. Lucy Atwood. His little wolf. "Alpha, I need to talk to you about something else." Eli, thinking again of the girl - Lucy, he reminded himself - had again forgotten that he was not alone. Levi continued before he lost his nerve. "You say she's your mate, which I'm not challenging... believe me, I know, when you feel it, you feel it. But remember that although she's going to have to become a part of this community, she knows nothing about it. She's a stranger here. She needs to be integrated, to learn fully about herself and us, about how she is going to live and about our way of life. Give her space. You two can't do anything binding without her fully understanding the consequences of her actions." Levi had spoken delicately, and Eli knew that the doctor was referring to the mating practice. Although his wolf panted with lust with his need to claim her, he knew that the doctor was right. "Thank you, Levi. I understand. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think she might need me. When she wakes, she'll want answers." Eli left the room intending to go straight to his bedroom and further explore Lucy, but was stopped when he smelled Jonah in the hall. It had darkened while the men conversed in the office, and although Eli could only barely see his form in the hallway, he knew that his friend had been waiting for him. "Eli..." Jonah began, his tone rough. But the Alpha stopped him. "No, listen to me, Jonah. You know that I value your opinion and that I trust you more than anyone. You may as well be a brother to me, and nothing can change that. But that being said, Lucy is important to me too." Eli couldn't see his friend's expression but knew as soon as he spoke the words that Jonah would be struck with incredulity at Eli's conviction that Lucy was his mate. "I know it's hard for you to accept, but the way that I feel about her... I can tell, just by her scent. You have no idea how powerfully sure of this I am. You'll feel it someday too, Jonah. And I expect you'll warm to Lucy too, because tomorrow you're going to teach her to fight." Jonah growled and Eli chuckled. His Beta was the best fighter the pack had, and as a new member Lucy would have to learn to defend herself. Who better to teach her but Eli's most trusted ally, and the only male he knew wouldn't try to come onto her? Sometimes he really did impress himself. -------------------------------- When Eli finally reached his bedroom it had gotten late. He stepped inside silently and inhaled the air in his chamber, now full not only of his scent but of hers as well. The perfect way that their scents combined reminded him of his desire to join not only their smells but their bodies by mating her permanently to himself and ensuring that she would be his forever. That would have to wait, though. It might be a good idea to, you know, have a conversation with her first. He stepped lightly toward the bed and heard her breathing, indicating that she was no longer unconscious but sleeping instead. Her body was hardly visible beneath the covers, but he could tell from the head and pale shoulders that she had shifted back into her human form since he had left her. Which means she's naked... The thought of her supple body resting nude in his bed, waiting for him, coated in his scent, was very tempting indeed. He felt his cock stir and his pants become uncomfortably tight. He shed them and the rest of his clothes quickly, lifting the covers and slipping beneath them as he wiggled toward her on his side. He stopped some distance from her as he realised that the best way to get her to trust him was probably not to tackle while he had a hard-on. Eli rolled onto his back, his arms aching to reach out to Lucy but instead planted on the mattress at his sides. Self control was going to be something that he would really have to work on, especially if he wanted to spend any time around her without ravaging her. This is why I've stifled you for so long, he thought to his wolf in frustration. I can't control you when you get out. He and Lucy were similar in that respect. I guess it'll be a learning experience for both of us. He sighed for what felt like the millionth time before drifting into a fitful sleep, his dreams invaded by a certain petite minx. -------------------------------- Lucy awoke in the darkness. I don't remember it becoming night time. Last time I was awake it was late afternoon. Memories of the day flooded her and she tried to keep her body still as she reeled with the shock. I turned into a wolf. Did that actually happen? As Lucy questioned herself, she could feel some other presence in her body. Another, more instinctual voice told her that it had indeed happened and that she had better accept it if she wanted to have any hope of retaining her sanity. She inspected her body, which seemed to be in order. No fur, at least. She was surprisingly calm for having woken up in a strange location for the third time that day. And this time I'm naked? She struggled to remember when she had lost her clothes but found that it was one of the many blank spots in her memory. Lucy stretched out her legs, too tired to question her surroundings and content that she was at least comfortable, here in a big bed, with room to relax... Her leg hit something that felt surprisingly like skin and she retracted it immediately, a jolt of fear running through her. She took a deep breath to calm herself and smelled the same smell from earlier, a smell that she couldn't forget if she tried. Cedar and moss, earthy, the spicy musk of the man from the hospital room. The man that had made her knees weak and who had hypnotised her with his presence. She thought of him and tried not to remember her reaction. I practically fell at his feet! She resolved not to let him know how he affected her, upset with herself that she had let another person have so much power over her. Oh my God, if he's here... I'm naked in his bed. What the hell did we do? Lucy silently prayed that they hadn't had sex, as much as the thought excited her. The embarrassment of the possibility caused her body temperature to rise as she felt a flush cover the skin of her face. I have to get out of here. She moved her legs toward the edge of the bed, hoping that she would be able to slip out undetected and that the rustling of the covers wouldn't wake him. Apparently it was too much to ask for, and she heard a rumbling sound come from deep in his chest as he murmured something in his sleep and turned over half onto his stomach, one arm flinging outward and grasping her around the waist. She squeaked at his sudden response and felt herself being pulled toward him, a protest dying on her lips as she realised that she would rather be imprisoned by the sleeping man than to have to succumb to his presence after waking him. She resigned herself to slipping out sometime in the morning and found herself cuddled against his chest, his breath tickling her neck as his head bent protectively toward her. He murmured something else and though it was too low for her to understand it, the sound sent shockwaves through her body and she felt her pussy moisten. This is unbelievably pathetic. She bit her lip as she concentrated on shifting slightly to put more room between them, but her plan backfired when he pulled her even closer to himself. She was now plastered to the length of his body and practically pinned beneath him, his weight settled comfortably above her. I'm surprised he isn't crushing me to death, she thought. Lucy could feel his body against her and imagined that he was not a light man, judging by the hard muscle which seemed to coat his frame. God, he's hard everywhere, including... she didn't think that she could be more awkwardly aroused until she felt what could only be his hard length pressing against her side. Jesus, he really is an impressive specimen. Even compared to what she had seen in porn, he seemed huge. She felt assured now that they hadn't had sex. I would have remembered that. She laughed quietly at her thoughts, feeling naughty. She couldn't deny that she was curious, though, and could feel her body heating even more as she savoured in the feel of his skin against hers and his scent so close to her. Man, in some other universe, I'd let this guy do terrible things to me... Splendour In The Grass Ch. 03 "Mmm... if you want my actions to stay tame, you should really quit all the squirming and giggling..." The man's sultry voice, thickened with sleep, interrupted her thoughts and made her breath catch. Not only did he smell and feel like sex, he sounded like it too. Lucy was shocked back to reality and realised that he was awake and must have been for a while. And she was touching him, and she was naked, and he was naked, and... Oh God! She scampered across the bed and out of his clutches, fearful of what he was doing to her body. He didn't even open his eyes, but smiled slightly. "Just so you know, the door's locked and it's the only way out. And I'm not going to threaten your decency - just go back to sleep and I won't touch you again..." his eyes flickered open for the first time, meeting hers and captivating her immediately. Even in the dark room she could clearly see his blue gaze looking at her with an intense heat. She felt her lips part and her tongue swipe across them, and his gaze shifted toward her mouth, captivated by the actions of her tongue. He let his eyes linger there before looking back to her eyes, noticing her heavy lids and the desire that she was trying so desperately to hide. He continued in a dangerously low voice. "Unless you want me to." Lucy's mouth hung open in awe of his arrogance. He knew exactly what he was doing to her! Ensuring that she was still covered by the bedclothes, she turned onto her side and faced away from him, intent on ignoring him and trying to fall back to sleep. She could feel his eyes boring into the back of her head and pulled the covers higher over her, further embarrassed at being subjected to his gaze. She heard him chuckle softly. "I'm going to sleep now. See you in the morning, little wolf." Lucy ignored his words and felt herself drifting off to sleep. As hard as she tried to remain vigilant, her exhaustion overcame her and soon she was sleeping deeply yet again. -------------------------------- When she woke again, Lucy was alone in the large bed. She languished and let her body slowly awaken, taking sight of the room that she was in. It was decorated in a tasteful style, and everything looked to be of a high quality. The furniture aside from the bed consisted of regular bedroom fare: chests of drawers, wardrobes, and a small seating area in one corner of the room next to a large window. The morning sun streamed in, bathing everything in a bright light. Most strikingly of all, she could detect a distinct aroma in the room, especially in the bedsheets: it all smelled like the man from the night before. This must be his bedroom... What a bizarre experience. She rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling as she remembered him practically molesting her while nude. Surely that was some sort of sex crime. But she knew that she had enjoyed it on some base, purely physical level. And why was I sleeping in his bed? Lucy assumed that she was some sort of prisoner of these people - werewolves, she reminded herself, of which she was one. How could she be a werewolf? True, she had never known her parents and had been raised by an adoptive family, but if these people really were such a tightly knit community, why hadn't she been part of it from birth? Anyway. I'll get answers later. She remembered the man having said that the door was locked. He must have been her guard. She hoped that he wouldn't be back. She didn't trust her resistance to him. Or lack thereof. Why am I being held prisoner anyway? I answered their goddamn questions. I won't be anyone's pawn! Just as she had somehow resolved to free herself from her prison, Lucy heard a latch on the door turn and it swung open. A girl about her height and perhaps a few years younger than her walked timidly inside, nodding her head at Lucy as she entered. She was dressed in business casual attire like every other person that Lucy had seen at the compound: a plain black pencil skirt and white dress shirt adorned her small body, and her long black hair hung straight in front of her face, shielding much of it from view. She never made eye contact and Lucy wondered what yet another stranger was doing in the room before she had even had the opportunity to dress. Not that I know where my clothes are anyway... The girl's words spilled out of her mouth so quickly that Lucy had to backtrack to understand what she was even saying. "Excuse me M'am but I'll need to know your preferences for clothing and also what you'd like to eat, we have trained chefs so variety is not an obstacle it's more a matter of choosing and while I'm at it you'd probably like to bathe, I'll not make you wait longer than is necessary as the Alpha is insistent that your day begin and he'll be back soon, well not too soon he's a busy man but you know..." The girl blathered on and Lucy lost track of her words as they all seemed to meld together. She didn't know how to get her attention and didn't know what she was talking about anyway. She sat up, holding the covers around her and waiting for a lull in the girl's speech, but none came. Lucy decided that the best idea was simply to interrupt her. "Excuse me," she began, and saw the girl's eyes shoot up toward her, a shocked expression on her face as though she didn't expect to be addressed. Lucy noticed that the girl had the same amber eyes as the male werewolves that she had met: a sure sign that she was a were. Unlike Levi's caring eyes and Jonah's cold ones, these amber globes were large, innocent, and expressive. The girl looked almost frightened to be in Lucy's presence, and remained silent until Lucy spoke again. "I don't mean to be... well, rude, but who are you? And could you speak a little slower? I'm sorry, but I didn't catch most of what you were saying." The girl practically shook as she responded, but did manage to slow her speech to almost a normal speed. "My name's Joanna, M'am. I'm here to serve you in the Alpha's absence. Mr. Lennox had work to do this morning and he asked me to make sure that you would have everything that you needed and that you were comfortable." So this girl's here to 'serve' me, Lucy thought. I guess this is their way of trying to make me forget that I'm a prisoner. "So no chance of me getting out of here, then?" Lucy asked her. Joanna hesitated. "Well, it's not in my orders to let you leave the room, more to cater to you while you stay here. I think the idea is that you're to wait for Mr. Lennox's return. You're not being detained here or anything, if that's what it looks like. But this place is pretty big, and you probably shouldn't leave the bedroom if you don't wanna get lost." She offered an understanding smile. Lucy smiled back, and it turned into a small laugh. "Okay. Thanks, Joanna. I get it, you're just doing your job." The girl seemed sweet, if a little sensitive. Lucy knew that it wasn't her fault that she was stuck there. It was more of a 'don't shoot the messenger' situation. "You can call me Lucy, by the way. It's my name. No need to be so formal, now that we're introduced." Joanna practically giggled as she responded. "Oh, it's just a sign of respect. It's important to us, like a tradition. Of course, I know your name, M'am. Practically the whole pack knows! It's not often that a female shares the Alpha's bed!" The girl stated it as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Lucy was surprised by Joanna's words. "How does everyone know? Is that his name, 'Mr. Lennox'? And why do you keep calling him the 'Alpha'? What does that mean?" Joanna's hands flashed toward her face in the most cliche expression of amazement. "My, you really are a stranger to our world... we all call him the Alpha as a sign of respect for his position, of course. He's like our leader, you know, our 'alpha dog' if you will. Not that we're dogs. And as for how everyone knows, well... it's hard to miss the Alpha carrying a wolf up to his private quarters and then not coming out for the rest of the night. He's usually such a meanie! A bunch of pack members saw. And those guards... well, they just can't keep their mouths shut! They're such hopeless gossips, practically everyone knows your whole story by now! To think he's finally found a mate, and she's a stranger to her own wolf... not that you won't be a great Alpha female, I'm sure... and so pretty, my, the guards were right..." she trailed off, looking down at the floor again as Lucy stared at her in disbelief. "I'm sorry, M'am, I've said too much. It's not my place." "No, Joanna, I asked for an answer and I got it. Besides, I'm glad you were so honest with me. I need people that I can trust right now. I hope that we can be friends." Lucy smiled again at the girl, willing her to look up. Joanna did, and returned with a grin. Lucy couldn't help but to fall for her charm, she was just so open and sweet. Just as she thought this, Joanna ran toward the bed and jumped upon it, flopping down and facing Lucy with a playful grin still on her face. "I'm so glad you said that we could be friends, M'am. We're going to get along great, I can tell!" She took Lucy's arm and pulled her up and out of bed, much to Lucy's embarrassment as her nakedness was once again brought to her attention. Joanna didn't seem to notice, though, and pulled her toward the closed door across the room from them, which turned out to lead to a gleaming white bathroom. It was spotless, and Lucy's attention was drawn to the large claw-foot tub which sat in one corner. It was giant and had brass accoutrements, like something out of a film, and Lucy found herself wanting to try it out. As though she had read Lucy's thoughts, Joanna released her arm and strolled toward the bathtub, kneeling to turn on the water. Lucy stood watching her, unsure of what to do with herself or where to put her hands. She supposed that she could try to escape right then, but where would she go? Joanna was right, she probably would get lost, and she was still nude. Besides, why not take a nice bath and negotiate a way to leave later? She may not ever get another chance to be in such lush settings as this again. And she didn't want to get Joanna in trouble. In the same way that she had responded to Levi, Lucy genuinely cared about Joanna, even though they had just met. Her chance to leave seemed to have passed anyway as Joanna returned to her side and ushered her toward the tub. When she was stood at the edge, Joanna spoke again. "Just a minute, M'am, and I'll be right back with a few things I've prepared for you. I'm afraid Mr. Lennox's bath supplies may not be very female friendly. Oh, and I should get you some clothes and some breakfast while I'm at it. What would you like to eat? And what's your style like?" Lucy absentmindedly muttered answers to Joanna's questions while she tried to hide her embarrassment at having her naked body prodded around by the young girl. "Oh, I'll wear whatever. You know, I like to be comfortable, and casual... whatever is in style, really. And as for breakfast, I'm easy on that too. Typical bacon and eggs type stuff will do fine." Joanna sensed her discomfort and spoke softly as she looked into Lucy's eyes. "Just so you know, M'am, weres are very comfortable with our bodies. It's another of those traditions - just part of our culture. We're raised like that, to be comfortable with our bodies in whatever form they're in. It's nothing to be embarrassed about." Seeing that Lucy wasn't fully convinced, she added, "And you have nothing to be embarrassed about anyway, M'am. You're hot!" The girl winked at her and Lucy felt her face redden as it was her turn to look at the floor. Joanna giggled, squeezing Lucy's shoulder reassuringly. "Go ahead and get in the bath, M'am. I'll be right back, the bath stuff is right outside the door." Lucy turned away and tested the water with one foot. Perfect temperature. She was really looking forward to this bath. As she turned back to make sure that the door was closed, she saw Joanna appear in front of her almost out of thin air bearing a gift basket of bath supplies. Lucy nearly fell into the tub out of surprise. "Joanna, what the hell? How did you get back here so fast?" The girl giggled again, seemingly amused with Lucy's ignorance. "Oh, we're all at least this fast, M'am. One of the many capabilities of weres. I mean, most are faster than me. I'm just an Omega. And when I say we, I really mean all of us weres. You too. You must be lightning quick if you're the Alpha's mate!" Lucy doubted that she had any special abilities that she wasn't aware of, but didn't feel like defending her humanity to another werewolf. Joanna seemed to be finished surprising her anyway, and walked toward the door. "I'll give you some privacy, M'am. Say half an hour and I'll be back with your breakfast. Oh, and don't worry about the clothes, I'll put some outside the door for you when you're done. Just relax." With that, Joanna walked smiling out of the room and Lucy heard the main door close as well. Lucy looked down at the basket that Joanna had left at her feet. A large, fluffy towel, scented soaps and lotions, shampoos, conditioners, loofahs and sponges of all sorts, and every other toiletry under the sun seemed to be contained in the basket. Lucy examined each item carefully before selecting a few to try and climbing into the bath. The hot water made her muscles turn to jelly and she leaned her head back on the lip of the tub, sighing deeply and luxuriating in the heavenly bath. She began by shampooing and conditioning her hair, rubbing her fingers against her scalp as she worked the delicate gels into her long tresses and then rinsed them out. She had never had much noticeable body hair, and realised that this may have been a characteristic of her were nature as Joanna had omitted any razors or depilatory agents from the basket of supplies, knowing that Lucy wouldn't need them. Instead, she moved on to washing her body, thankful for the opportunity to pamper herself after what she had been through. She grabbed a soft, malleable sponge and squirted a large amount of fancy bath gel into it, unconcerned with the idea that it may be too much. Why should I worry about waste? The so-called 'Alpha' is probably footing the bill for this stuff anyway, so I may as well enjoy. Lucy pondered what Joanna had said about him: that he was their leader. It made sense. He exuded power and from what she remembered of his appearance and mannerisms, he seemed like someone that commanded respect and always got it. Probably why he expects me to submit to him. As if I'm some kind of plaything. As Lucy rubbed the sponge over her neck and shoulders, she remembered another thing that Joanna had mentioned a few times: that Lucy was his 'mate'. Surely that couldn't be what it sounded like. Sure they were werewolves, but from what Lucy had learned, they weren't uncivilised animals. Well, they do have the ability to turn into uncivilised animals, but that's not the point. She reminded herself that she was one of these things whether she liked it or not, and that she should probably start thinking of herself as one of them as well. She wasn't entirely opposed to the idea of having a feral side... perhaps that was what was causing her to react with such arousal to the mysterious (and dead sexy) Alpha. All that matters is that regardless of how much I want him, there is no way that I'm letting him near me. He doesn't value me. He doesn't even know me. This is just some power trip for him. I have to make sure I keep my wits about me around him, and stay rational when he's tempting me... But that didn't mean that she couldn't indulge when she was alone. After all, she had to relieve tension if she wanted to have the upper hand over him, and the scent that wafted through the bathroom was so clearly his: heady and male. She moved the sponge lower and swirled it lightly over the tips of her breasts, feeling her nipples harden despite the warm water. She thought of the way that his body had looked when she saw him for the first time, the way that he had felt lying next to her. She longed to run her hands down his muscled body but ran her hands over her own form instead. She abandoned the sponge and let her hands palm her pert breasts, running her thumbs over her nipples before tweaking them, drawing a gasp from her mouth. Her left hand strayed, moving lower as his features appeared in her mind. She wanted his lips running over her, tracing a path down her abdomen as her hand was. She wanted his eyes to see her parted legs, one lifting to hang over the edge of the tub, opening herself for him. She wanted to look into his intense blue eyes, she wanted him to see her own eyes heavy thinking of him, her pupils dilated in her arousal. Lucy wanted his body molded against her, feeling her heavy breathing and kissing her hard. Her hand trailed lower, sparks shooting through her body as the tips of her fingers brushed against her clit. Her hips jerked and she moaned loudly as she imagined that it was his fingers sliding into her hot opening rather than her own. The bathwater sloshed over the edge of the tub and she hardly noticed as she worked herself toward orgasm, writhing uncontrollably and creating unholy sounds that echoed through the large, empty bathroom. Oh, Alpha, I want you to fuck me so bad. Ah, yesss, that's right, right there, unhhh, yes, give it to me... Her voice rang out in her fantasy, louder and louder until she was murmuring it under her breath as she pumped her fingers in and out of her slick pussy and rubbed her clit furiously. Lucy longed to have him pin her down and dominate her, to have him shove his cock inside her and fill her completely. Just imagining it pushed her over the edge. She felt ecstasy approach and a cry ripped from her lips as her orgasm washed over her, sweet relief freeing her from her arousal. The minutes dragged by as she slowly came down from her high, pulling the plug and watching the bathwater swirl down the drain. When it had all disappeared she forced herself to get up and out of the tub, wrapping herself in the towel that Joanna had brought her. If that bath was meant to invigorate me, it didn't work. I'm the most exhausted I've ever been! She giggled again, blushing at the realisation of what she had done. I can't believe I just got off in this guy's bathtub, and damn, was it ever good! Feeling scandalously sexy, she sauntered out of the bathroom intending to get dressed and eat the breakfast that Joanna had promised - her activities had left her ravenous. She didn't expect to come face to face with the man that had occupied her fantasies moments earlier, and he didn't look happy. -------------------------------- Eli rose from his desk and walked around it, leaning against it with his back to it and stretching out his powerful body. He had rushed through his work that morning, upset that he had been pulled out of lying in bed with his mate by a juvenile pack dispute. I hope I didn't scare Lucy last night. To be fair, I had to keep her from leaving, and what am I supposed to do with her pressed up against me, rubbing herself against me? I can't exactly force my body not to react. He felt his body react to the memory and palmed his dick through his pants, not caring that it wouldn't solve his problems. If he didn't get relief soon, he would either die of sexual frustration or do something that he swore he wouldn't - namely, find a surface, bend her over it, and fuck her until they both came - before she even knew his name. Eli took a few minutes to quell his arousal. It was difficult enough not to get hard just thinking about her. He hadn't accounted for how little control he'd have when she was right next to him, and they were all alone... he pressed his eyes shut, banishing the thoughts that his wolf was sending him. Thoughts of Lucy... what she would look like with her ass in the air for him, or with her lips wrapped around his cock, or on her back with her hands pinned above her head, begging her to fuck him. He gripped the desk's surface behind him and felt the wood splinter with the force of his hands. Splendour In The Grass Ch. 03 No. She's more than just the sexiest woman I've ever seen. She's my mate... I need to build a relationship with her, get to know her. She needs my help. She has a whole new life to adjust to. Everything else will follow, he assured himself, praying that it would so that he wouldn't lose his mind. His hardness having subsided somewhat, he decided that then was as good a time as any to head back to his bedroom. His wolf howled happily at the thought of seeing her again. She was certainly feisty, and he found her resistance admirable. After all, he could see why she would want to resist him. He was proud that she was a smart enough girl not to give over to her desires without considering the consequences. He instantly felt guilty as he realised how he had tempted her. The last thing that he wanted was to cause her any inner turmoil. I won't make another move to seduce her. She'll come to me out of love. That's the only way I want her. Besides, it should be easier to hold myself back this time... at least she'll be clothed. He was practically skipping through the empty halls of his chambers, eager to reach his room. He hoped that she hadn't objected to Joanna's company, but she had certain needs, like clothes, that he wouldn't have been back from his work in time to provide. Unfortunately, he couldn't be with her that the morning, but perhaps it was for the best. Waking up next to her naked form yet again may not have been the wisest move. As Eli neared his bedroom doors, he heard faint cries that could only belong to Lucy. If someone's hurting her I'll rip their fucking heart out. He raced toward the doors, grateful at the superhuman speed that being a were afforded him. He turned the lock and practically ripped the double doors off of their hinges as he flung them open, bursting into the room, ready for attack. The screams had quieted, and she wasn't there. Her scent was, though. And it smelled... different. Eli felt his wolf surface as he struggled to identify the foreign aroma. It smelled like Lucy, yes, but also... sex. She smells like she's been fucked. He stiffened as he realised that her screams were not those of pain, but of passion. His canines elongated and he let out an angry roar, livid at the thought of anyone but himself providing her with pleasure. He stalked toward the bathroom, the only place that she could be, ready to murder whichever male had dared defile his mate. But how could another male be here? Eli slowed as logic told him that she must be alone. After all, no pack member would set foot in his chambers without permission, and the only ones that had permission were a few of the female Omegas. Besides, if another male were here, wouldn't he be able to scent them? But if she's alone... holy shit. She's doing that to herself. Eli was dumbfounded. What was she thinking? Why was she masturbating in his bathroom? He was still on high alert, and his sensitive hearing picked up another small noise from the bathroom. It was her voice. "Oh, Alpha, I want you to fuck me so bad. Ah, yesss, that's right, right there, unhhh, yes, give it to me..." Eli couldn't believe what he was hearing: Lucy, entrenched in her fantasy, begging for his cock. The realisation that she was touching herself, bringing her irresistible body to orgasm while wishing that it were he who was touching her, who was making love to her, caused any rationality that remained in his mind to fly out the window. He frantically palmed his groin, now painfully hard and straining against his pants. And she was calling him 'Alpha'... God, she has no idea how fucking hard that makes me. I wish I could claim her right now. I could make her come so hard... her pussy spasming around me... her voice calling out my name... Eli, hearing her noises of arousal, gave himself over to his fantasy, knowing that if he faced reality he would ravish her. Minutes passed as he listened to her moans and screams and imagined all of the terrible things that he wanted to do to her, all the ways that he wanted to inflict pleasure upon her body. When he finally heard her move again, he realised that she was coming toward the door. He made to hide the fact that he had heard her and removed his hand from his groin, eager to touch her instead. Lucy opened the door and trotted out wearing only a towel that barely reached below her ass, swaying her hips and clutching the white fabric together between her breasts, pushing them upward teasingly. Her hair, a dark chocolate brown while wet, hung past her shoulders in waves. She carried a sly smirk and her cheeks were reddened with a flush that spread down her chest. I guess she had a good time thinking about me, he thought, unable to stifle his male pride at having been the source of her arousal. When he saw her look at him, though, her expression was terrified. He knew that he looked wild, but he couldn't help himself. He was so turned on, and so close to release. I could just pin her and fuck her right now... his wolf howled, inexpressibly pleased with the thought. His control suddenly vanished and his mind was consumed only with the thought of pounding his cock into her yielding body. He felt his wolf finally take control and he shifted, hearing Lucy's gasp but failing to register her fear as she watched the giant, jet black wolf with the sharp blue eyes turn to look at her. -------------------------------- Lucy felt like lunch as she stood subjected to the hungry gaze of the wolf that now stood where the man had moments before. She froze, trapped as the huge animal stalked toward her. He was so big, at least twice the size that Jonah had been in the clearing. She made to move backward into the safety of the bathroom, but he seemed to anticipate her actions and before she knew it she was on her back, his body planted soundly above her. He bared his sharp teeth, and she let out a small scream that turned into a whimper as his open jaws approached her flesh. She felt his snout sniff her at the juncture of her shoulder and neck and he let out a whining noise when she reached to push his head away. He growled at her hands and she dropped them immediately, instinctively baring her neck to the creature in fright. He seemed glad for this and she felt his teeth gently grasp her neck where he had been sniffing her before. She wanted to shout for help but her voice died in her throat as she felt its massive length rubbing against her stomach. If I thought he was big in human form... fuck. Trying not to spur him on but realising that escape was impossible, Lucy made her body go limp, hoping he would lose interest. The wolf seemed to take this as a sign of submission and tilted his head down to where she had tied her towel, grasping the fabric in his teeth and pulling it away from her body until her breasts were exposed. He growled again, but she had a feeling that this time it was not out of anger. She tried to fight the arousal that she felt building with this monster on top of her, telling herself that it was wrong. Coherent thought left her brain, however, when she felt his long, raspy tongue snake out from his mouth and lave her breast, hardening her nipple instantly. The next lick was focused on her puckered bud, drawing a guttural moan from her throat and causing him to perform the same act on her other breast. She arched her back as she gave in to the attention that he was bestowing upon her breasts, thrusting them toward him, signalling that she wanted more. I want more, alright, and I can think of another place that I'd like that tongue to travel... The sudden crash at the door was just enough to snap Lucy out of her haze and she peered out from beneath the wolf, seeing a pair of feet and a tray of food lying abandoned on the floor. She heard the footsteps speed away, and just as she turned to focus on the wolf's reaction, he removed himself from atop her and walked a few feet away. He seated himself near the window and looked at her. She saw heat in the blue eyes still, but also... remorse. Lucy heard multiple pairs of footsteps returning and quickly covered her breasts and sprang to her feet just in time for Joanna and Levi to appear at the doorway. The concern on their faces was as visible to her as the embarrassment on her face was to them. They each cast glances at the wolf, who huffed and rose to his feet, his head bowed. He trotted out of the door, leaving Lucy on her own to explain to the confused pair at the doorway. "Umm. I should get dressed." Lucy couldn't meet their eyes as she muttered the words, desperate for an excuse to be alone. She heard Joanna's soft giggle before she spoke. "I'll come clean this up in a minute when you're finished, M'am." The girl plodded away and although she hadn't looked, Lucy was sure that Joanna had a grin on her face. Levi took longer to speak. "Well, at least you aren't hurt like Joanna thought. But Lucy, we need to talk." Lucy made no reply and heard Levi sigh. "I'll leave you to dress." He shut the door softly and Lucy looked around, seeing the pile of clothes that Joanna had left for her on the edge of the bed. The jeans and shirt were comfortable looking and simple, but also good quality and expensive looking. What was even more expensive looking were the lacy underthings that the girl had brought her. Lucy donned them begrudgingly. She was not looking forward to the rest of this day.