by Amy Star
When her mother and sister finished with her hair and helped her into the robe, she looked in the mirror that she had looked in every day of her life and didn’t recognize herself. Where before she had seen a scrawny girl, a woman now looked back at her. Even her sister was shocked by the change in her appearance. Her mother just smiled at them both as they stared at the change in her. Her lean body looked womanly and the curve of her breasts and hips was amazing, even to her.
She had been nervous that she would not appeal to her mate physically, but her mother assured her that would not be a problem, and she knew in that moment that she was correct. The ceremonial robe revealed her legs, long and lean, yet strong. Her arms, tanned from hours of work outdoors, looked exotic when juxtaposed with the deep blue color. It brought out her eyes, making them look like pools of deep water. Her mother said men could drown in such eyes and be grateful for the privilege, which only made Mali laugh and Kalia blush.
She stared in the small mirror of the sacred lodge and tried to see any trace of herself in there when she heard footsteps approaching. The deer pelts that were hanging from the ceiling to create a door opened to reveal someone that she had never expected to see; Luke – the son of the chief.
He stopped when he saw her, saying nothing. His eyes were locked on her and she could not seem to move. Her mother had made it very clear to her that she should not speak unless spoken to when her mate entered because he should take the lead in the moment, so she stood silently and took in the sight of him.
He was a very handsome man. His body was strong and lean. His muscles rippled in the moonlight. His sandy brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail at the nape of his neck. From his right ear, an earring dangled. He wore no shirt, revealing his ceremonial tattoos. On his chest, an eagle soared. On his left arm, a serpent wound its way around his bicep.
He was the epitome of what any girl could want in a mate. In addition to his physical appeal, his connection to the chief gave him and his mate an elevated status in the tribe. He was revered on his own as a brave and skilled warrior and he was seen as a leader among the tribe. However, she could not bring herself to be relieved that he was her mate. He was a dour man. She could not remember a time when she had seen him smile or laugh. Even now, standing before her, he wore a serious expression on his face. He was only five years older than her but she could not remember a moment where they had spoken to each other. She could not even recall a stolen glance between them. In all the hours she had spent imagining whom her mate would be, he had never even crossed her mind. In truth, she never thought of him much at all.
As her mind raced, she became more and more uncomfortable with the way that he was looking at her. His eyes were fixed on her, but he was not smiling and he did not make any effort to speak to her. For a horrifying moment, she thought that her worst fear was coming true. She thought that he was disappointed in her as his mate.
Still, she would not cower before him. She was the daughter of a proud warrior and her mother trained her well to be the mate of a man’s dreams. She stood boldly before him, not blinking. She met his gaze and held it. It was then she realized it was not disappointment that he was experiencing. There was a hunger in his eyes that thrilled her. She knew then that he was simply trying to process things as she was.
It relaxed her a bit to know he desired her. The expression on his face proved that. Still, he did not move towards her. Though she did not know it, he was frozen by her beauty. Standing there in the light of the candles and the moon, she looked more like a dream than reality.
Luke was afraid if he moved to touch her, she would vanish entirely. To him, she looked fearless as she stared back at him. There in the silence, it felt as though they had both fallen out of time and space. They existed only in a world of their own, together.
The feelings of desire that came over Kalia were like nothing she had ever experienced before. She knew the lodge was sacred, but she wondered if it was magical. The passion growing in her was irrational and wonderful. The heat began to bubble in her and she was suddenly craving his hands upon her.
When he still did not more towards her, she thought she might go mad with want. His eyes had the light of passion in them and it only fueled her want. His muscles tensed and his nostrils flared, letting her know he could sense her own desire growing. She felt herself blush, the heat creeping across her cheeks and yet she did not look away from him.
It was then that he moved, like the predator that he was. He crossed the space between them in a fraction of a second. His lips crashed down upon hers. Thought he must have known she had little experience, he was not gentle with her. His lips were demanding and she found it quite thrilling. She kissed him back eagerly; unsure of what had gotten in to her.
Her thoughts drifted to what he must think, his virginal mate kissing him so desperately but he did not hesitate in his efforts so she was fairly sure he did not mind. He looped his arm around her waist, pulling her body tight against his. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck for balance, but he took it as encouragement, deepening their kiss.
His hands roamed her body, traveling every inch of her skin. She knew she should be embarrassed, but she was thrilled by his touch. He must surely think her immoral for her wanton reaction to his touch. She couldn’t seem to make herself care, though. It was exhilarating. She had never even let a boy kiss her before. She had done everything as a young werebear female should. She kept herself pure. She never even touched a male that was not of her family before that night. The physical intimacy she knew was coming had been one of the main reasons that she was so apprehensive about the mating process. Now, she understood why the newly mated girls were always smiling.
His lips traveled down her neck, sending goosebumps across her skin. Her hands wove through his hair, pulling it loose from the tie at the back of this neck. She savored the feeling of it against her hands. He moaned in approval and ran his hands over the silk of her robe. When he slipped his hand beneath it, her heart fluttered. She thought he would remove it immediately, but he seemed to be enjoying taking his time with her.
His hand traveled the muscles of her stomach and then, slowly, he came closer and closer to her breasts. When his fingers finally caressed her nipples, she yelped in shock at the sensation, earning a broad grin from the man beside her. Her inexperience was clearly something that he found charming. Gently, he loosened the tie on her robe, opening it and exposing her to his gaze. He froze then, staring at her lean body beneath the moonlight. His eyes took in every inch of her. Nobody had ever seen her naked before. She thought it would be mortifying, but it was truly invigorating. The way that he was looking at her gave her a sense of confidence that she had never experienced before. Emboldened by the fire in his eyes, she shed the robe herself, leaving herself naked before him.
He gasped and then he was on her again. His hands were rough from hard work, but there was something tender about the way he touched her. He seemed to be trying to know every inch of her body and it was endearing to her. She had worried her mating would be rough and painful, but there was nothing like that. His touch made her whole body feel electric. When his lips returned to her collarbone, she felt as though she would catch fire. His lips and tongue traveled down her body, latching on to her nipple. When he began to use his teeth to tease the sensitive bud, she felt her entire body opening up to him.
The warmth between her legs was something she had never experienced before. She was craving him then, so eager for him to enter her. Still, he did not rush. He gently laid her on the mattress and continued to tease her nipples, savoring every moan of pleasure that she made. Gently, his hand traveled from her breast to her feminine folds. She was startled by the feeling of his touch. She had never imagined that he would ever touch her there, but the feeling was so sweet that she nearly fell apart from the pleasure coursing through her body.
Just when she thought she could not feel any more pleasure, he entered her. The movement was sudden and he g
ave her no warning, but she knew then that it was what her body had been craving since he first pressed his lips to hers. There was a moment of pain as he pressed through her maidenhead. He paused, allowing her to get accustomed to the feeling of his manhood within her. She looked up in his eyes as he held himself above her, still and waiting for her to give him a sign to continue. Though he was frozen above her, his expression was triumphant at the knowledge that he had claimed her as his own.
There was tenderness in his eyes that touched her heart. Before she realized what she was doing, she extended her hand to his cheek and caressed his face. It seemed to be all the encouragement he needed. He began to move again and she felt as if she was melting under his thrusts. With each movement, she felt as though something inside of her was growing closer and closer to exploding. Her body seemed to be moving of its own accord, surging up to meet his every movement.
Their pace continued to increase, as though they were both giving in to their inner bear. She had never felt so connected to the bear inside of her as she was in those moments, making love to him. The most primal part of her was surging forward to meet his passion. She bit his neck and scratched his back, earning her growls of approval from him. It was then that he lost all control, thrusting wildly. Just when she thought he was about to reach completion, he pulled completely from her. She moaned in disappointment at the loss of his length within her.
In one swift motion, he flipped her from her back to her knees, pushing her down on all fours in front of him. Without hesitation, he surged in to her from behind and began thrusting wildly again. All she could do was grip the fur pelt beneath her with both hands as she rode out the waves of pleasure that were coursing through her. He gripped her hair and pulled her head back, bringing her mouth to meet his. After searing her mouth with a kiss, he pressed his hand to the small of her back and returned to his blistering pace. She thought that she could feel no greater pleasure until her orgasm finally took her body. He reached completion in the same moment, shaking as he filled her with his seed.
When they were done, she lay with her head upon his chest listening to the beating of his heart. She thought he would say something, but he remained silent. It made the moments they had spent together felt all the more dream-like. Together, they were bathed in the light of the moon and the candles, as they lay with their naked bodies entwined.
If he was nothing else, he was a beautiful man and a talented lover. She decided not to dwell on exactly how he had become so skilled. Still, her obvious inexperience seemed to please him. When he had entered her and known for certain that he was the first to do so, the expression of pleasure and pride on his face had been unmistakable.
She wondered idly if one of the elders had told him what to expect but she doubted that. He had looked quite surprised to see her there. She knew very little of what the male experienced during the mating selection. She knew, of course, they were the ones who got to choose when they wanted to mate and they went to the elders and told them so.
What she didn't know was if they got any say in who was waiting for them behind the doors of the lodge. She knew they weren't allowed to hand pick their mate, but she wondered if they got to tell the elders what they wanted in a mate. It seemed as though it would be discouraged, but she couldn't be sure.
She was shockingly comfortable lying there with him in the moonlight. She was just then beginning to feel as though she might be able to be comfortable with him in other ways, when he began to stir beneath her. To her surprise, he stood up and began to dress. A thousand questions bubbled to her mind, but she kept silent. When he had pulled his pants back on, he looked down at her in her naked state and could not help but smile down at her. The sight of him took her breath away, but she still forced herself to remain silent.
Finally he spoke, but he did not say any of the sweet words that she had expected. Instead, he said, "I will send my brothers to your mother's home to collect your things. In the morning you will come to my tent. You know where it is, don't you?"
"Yes, I do," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
She had not known exactly what to expect after their mating ritual, but she had been very certain that they would spend the entire night together. Now, though, he was clearly leaving her.
"Good. I will meet you there in the morning to get you settled, but I have duties to take care of during the rest of the day," he said with a practical nod of confirmation.
"That sounds fine," she said, realizing suddenly that she was still undressed. She pulled the closest fur over her to cover herself.
"You can do as you wish in the tent. It will be your domain," he said as he turned and left.
As soon as he left, she laid back down with a thunk, and stared up at the night sky, trying not to cry. Though she was not sure why he had left her, she was very sure that it was a bad sign of what was to come.
CHAPTER TWO
The next morning, she went to her mother's home to find Luke's brothers packing her things onto a wagon. Though it had been less than a day since she had been there, her life in the cabin felt like a different lifetime. Her mother hugged her warmly and she told her that her mate was Luke. The news pleased her mother endlessly. She seemed to finally be at peace with her daughter's future. She thought about telling her mother about how she had been left alone the night before, but she did not want to burden her when she was clearly so pleased.
It was the sight of her bags and cases being carried from the home that finally made the boys realize she was leaving them. They cried and clung to her. It took her mother and her sister to pry them free as she was helped into the wagon by Luke's brother. He was smaller than his brother and his eyes were friendlier. He smiled at her warmly and they fell in to casual conversation while the rest of his brothers sat in the back of the wagon. They were five minutes into the ride when she realized he had already said twice as many words to her as his brother had the night before.
During the short ride, she did her best to look calm. She knew Luke would be waiting for her and she did not intend to let him realize how nervous she was about their lives together. He stood outside the tent expectantly. She was surprised by how small it was. She expected the son of the chief to live more lavishly, but it suited her just fine. In fact, it reminded her of the tent she had lived in with her mother and father when her sister was born. Those had been some of their happiest days and she hoped she and her mate might have similar times in this tent.
It was made of a variety of animal pelts to highlight his skills as a hunter. She knew that all of the warriors used such tactics to show others their bounty. She had always thought it was a showy practice, but as his mate, it was reassuring to her that he was more than the spoiled son of the chief.
He stood near the tent’s open flap. She thought that he would at least give her a smile, but he had no such assurance to give her. Instead, he was pacing back and forth, clearly anxious to get to the duties he had mentioned the night before.
He helped her down from the wagon and mumbled a few words to his brother that she couldn't quite make out. He then motioned for her to follow him. She had expected some sort of warm greeting after their passionate night together, but she was sorely disappointed. He did not even take her hand as he led her in to his tent.
"Welcome," he said with only the slightest of acknowledgment of her presence.
"Thank you," she replied, feeling strange to feel so awkward about the man she would spend the rest of her days with.
"This is my home. I suppose it's ours now, isn’t it," he said, looking as uncomfortable as she was.
He gestured around the room and she took in the full details of the room in which she stood. It was clearly the main living quarters. It was sparsely furnished, to say the least. A rough wooden bench was the only thing one could call real seating and there were no cushions or softness to speak of. A small table stood near a curtain that separated the room from another section of the tent that she assumed was the sleep area
.
“Well, I would give you the grand tour, but this is about it,” he said, looking at her to gauge her response.
“It is a good, solid home,” she said, giving him an encouraging smile.
He seemed to accept that answer and left her alone to go help his brothers grab the last of her things. When they had brought her bags and trunks into the space, he turned and seemed to take notice of her again.
“As I told you yesterday, this is your domain. Feel free to do as you like to it. I do hope you will be able to make it a more homey space. It is barren, as you can see. I am sure that would not be comfortable for you so make any change you see fit. There is no need to consult me about any of them. I'll be fine with any change you desire,” he said practically.
“Thank you,” she said with a reserved smile. The thought of making the space a home appealed to her and she looked forward to having a project to occupy her mind. “I will make it a comfortable home for you,” she said quietly.
“I'm sure that you will. I have been told that you excelled in all of your studies,” he said without looking at her.
“I have tried to apply myself to them,” she said, unsure what else to say to him.
“Is it alright with you if I call you Kalia?” he asked formally. The question caught her off guard. It had never occurred to her that he might call her anything else.
“Yes, I would prefer it,” she answered, trying to match his formal tone. “How would you like me to refer to you?” she asked hesitantly. She had never heard him called anything else, but she thought perhaps it would be rude not to ask after he had taken the time to ask her the question.
“Luke will be fine,” he said. “I need to excuse myself now. I have duties to attend to. Will you be alright here?”
