by Liv Brywood
Kendra’s gaze shot to Morgana. “I don’t know if she’ll allow it.”
Kane said, “We have as much right to make rules as she does. No one ever said witches couldn’t live with the wolves, we’ve just assumed our current living conditions were the way it should be.”
“But that can change,” Raff said.
Kendra nodded slowly. “If it’s okay with Morgana, I’d love to come live with you.”
Kane waived Morgana over and explained his proposal.
Morgana smiled. “I’ve been wondering that myself. I don’t see any reason why wolves or witches couldn’t live with each other. I wouldn’t want to try to force our groups together, but if you want to move in with the wolf kings, I don’t see a problem with it. You have my blessing.”
Kendra beamed. “Thank you.”
Kane and Raff stepped into the center of the circle. They turned to Kendra and dropped to one knee in unison. “Will you agree to be our life mate?”
Several attendees gasped and whispered amongst themselves.
In a loud, clear voice, Kendra said, “Yes.”
Applause broke out as a rush of men and women surrounded them to congratulate them.
Later, they jumped across a bonfire and a broom to solidify their commitment to each other. As the sun rose in the sky, the party wound down.
Kendra yawned and turned to Kane. “Are you ready to go home?”
He grinned at her and Raff. “Let’s go home.”
***The End***
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Midsummer Night’s Alpha
Ruby planned her escape as she danced along the outer edge of the Summer Solstice bonfire. The gathering of wolves and witches grew louder and bawdier as the sun set on the longest day of the year. She counted on their revelry to provide the cover she needed to slip away.
Wolf packs from all over Yellowstone met deep within the forest to celebrate the marriage of the God and Goddess. In this case, the marriage of Kendra to the twin wolf kings. Ruby envied her friend. Everyone else seemed to find a mate with very little effort, but Ruby had absolutely no luck in love. Maybe she was destined to spend the rest of her life alone.
As she wove through the laughing revelers, she spotted a break in the tree line that would be perfect. Although she loved her coven, she couldn’t possibly ignore Shaw’s invitation to spend time with him and some of the naughtier men in his wolf pack. Ever since he’d dropped the suggestive invitation during the Beltane ritual six weeks ago, she couldn’t stop dreaming of his lips. She couldn’t wait to have them on her neck, on her breasts, and lower… much lower.
One of the youngest maidens broke from the group and pranced toward the raging bonfire. She whipped a flowing veil from around her waist and began an erotic dance. The crowd hooted and hollered to encourage her sexual gyrations.
While everyone focused on the maiden, Ruby spun toward a large lodgepole pine. She raced toward the darkness to escape the light from the bonfire.
When she’d traveled a hundred feet into the woods, she turned and looked back toward the Midsummer celebration. Light flickered against the tops of the trees and penetrated a few feet into the woods, but she was more than safe.
She grinned. Her heart thumped in her chest as she inched through the moonlit forest. She circled a steaming geyser. Water splashed along the edge of the path. She hurried past the geothermal feature toward an obscure hiking trail.
Once she reached the dirt path, she ran along it. Her long hair whipped in the summer breeze while her gauzy dress clung to her curvaceous body. She wasn’t model perfect, but she loved every inch of her flawless skin. Someday she’d find a man who wanted to share his life with her. Until she found that man, she intended to have as much fun as possible.
Lost in thought, she almost jogged past Shaw. In his human form, he stood six feet tall. Moonlight traced the muscles on his bare chest as he stepped onto the path.
“I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it.” He smiled as he scooped her into his arms.
She laughed as he swung her in a circle. “I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
He set her down. “How was the celebration?”
“Fun. Kendra married Kane and Raff. Morgana gave the traditional blessing over the gathering. I might have had even more fun if I had stayed,” she teased.
He grabbed her hand. “I doubt it. I have a really fun, really private celebration planned for tonight.”
“Really?”
He leaned toward her as if to kiss her. “Um, hum.”
She closed her eyes and waited. When nothing happened, she peeked to find him grinning. “What?”
“You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”
“Thanks.” She blushed.
“Have you been out to the hot springs yet?”
She shook her head. “Nope. Lead the way.”
“It’s kind of far, would you like to ride me?”
Her mouth went dry as flashes of him in a variety of erotic positions skipped through her mind. “Um…”
“I mean as a wolf.”
How embarrassing. She wanted to bury her face in her hands. Of course that’s what he meant. “Sure.”
“Give me a few seconds to shift.”
The fur along his arms thickened and his eyes took on an otherworldly glow. As his body cracked and contorted, she stood and waited. She’d seen the transformation more times than she could count, but it never ceased to enthrall her. How could a man become a wolf so quickly?
She really shouldn’t be surprised. After all, she’d witnessed all kinds of magic over the twenty-eight years she’d been on this earth. But still, it stunned her every time.
Shaw shook his golden coat and pawed at the ground. His luminescent green eyes shimmered in the cloudless night.
She ran her fingers through the thick thatch of fur along his neck. “If I had all that hair on me, I’d be dying of heat in the summer.”
His mouth dropped open to reveal a long, pink tongue. She giggled. Of course he couldn’t answer, werewolves couldn’t talk when they were in wolf form.
She climbed onto his back and leaned over to grab two tufts of fur. After she laced her fingers through his fur, she held on.
He took off at a trot. During the day, he worked as a park ranger, so he knew every inch of the forest. They’d sat together during the Spring Equinox feast and he’d shared some of his favorite backwoods stories. She could listen to his voice for hours. Deep and seductive, every word he spoke sounded like a sensual invitation.
As he ventured into the deep woods, she strained to see through the dark shadows. She’d never been into this part of the park. In deference to the wolves, the witches from her coven didn’t wander into the back country without a werewolf guide. It was partially a safety issue too. Black bears and grizzlies roamed the woods searching for a tasty snack. She didn’t want to become one, so she’d always traveled with a group.
As he wove through the pine trees, the heat from his body seeped into her thighs. The gentle vibration of his gait inflamed her already aroused body. She’d lost her virginity years ago during a drunken Spring Equinox celebration but never regretted it. It allowed her to fully embrace her sexual nature.
Although she couldn’t seem to find a husband, at least she could still enjoy the carnal pleasure of a man’s cock. The occasional fling gave her the physical release she needed to keep her sanity. She couldn’t imagine going longer than a few months without sex.
As they approached the hot springs area, she squirmed. She had no doubt about his intent. In her tradition, Midsummer’s night focused on the marriage of the God and Goddess, whether literal or symbolic. Tonight she’d become Shaw’s symbolic mate.
Moonlight flickered across the surface of a large pool of water. Glacier-strewn boulders surrounded the spring, giving it a sense of privacy.
Instead of decr
easing his pace, Shaw dashed forward. She yelped as he splashed into the water. She tumbled over his head and plunged into the warm spring.
When she surfaced, Shaw was in the process of shifting back to his human form. She stood in the waist-deep water and waited with her hands on her hips. The fabric of her dress clung to her like a second skin.
As he regained his human form, a devious smile spread across his face. “Oops.”
She laughed and splashed water at him. How could she be mad at him when he was dripping wet and hot as hell? If he wanted to engage in silly foreplay, then she was more than happy to oblige. He paddled the surface with his huge hands until their playful warfare left them soaked.
Tendrils of hair hung along the edge of her face. She pulled an errant strand out of her eyes. “Accident my ass.”
He shrugged. “I’m not the best judge of distance.”
She swam toward him. The second she came close enough to reach him, she lunged out of the water to tackle him. His priceless look of surprise disappeared along with him as she pushed him beneath the surface.
Breathless and feeling deliciously alive, she waded through the waist-high water toward the outcropping of boulders. The weight of the water-logged dress slowed her movements. It would come off at some point, so why not now?
She pulled the dress over her head and tossed it onto the rock. A rough intake of breath alerted her to how close he’d drifted. Less than a yard away, he strode toward her. The virility in each powerful step made her heart skip. Droplets of water clung to the tips of his hair. Stubble cast shadows along his strong jaw.
She swallowed back a moan. She didn’t want to appear too needy, but that’s exactly what she was. She craved the thick length of his cock and couldn’t wait to wrap her hands around it… then her lips… then…
As he joined her, his thigh brushed against her hip. She held her breath, unsure of what to do next. There was always an awkward moment before someone made the first move. She didn’t want to presume anything. Although she was pretty sure he wanted her, if he didn’t, she’d look like a fool.
She leaned back against a rock and stared at the starlit sky. “It’s beautiful tonight.”
“I love Midsummer. The huckleberries are ripe and sweet; mushrooms are everywhere. Long days slide into warm nights.”
He turned to face her. Her lips parted. She inhaled in anticipation. He braced his hands against the rock on either side of her shoulders. When he leaned in to kiss her, she was more than ready. His lips brushed across hers before returning to claim her mouth.
She sighed into the kiss. His hands dropped to encircle her waist. The possessive way he held her made her heart swell. Even if this was only for a night, she would happily accept his tender touch. She missed being held by someone. Sometimes she just needed a hug.
The kiss evolved from sweet to passionate. His tongue parted her lips and dipped to explore her mouth. She melted against him. The heat from his kiss radiated down through her chest and surged into the swollen flesh between her legs.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other in an attempt to quell the building desire. But her subtle movements only served to further inflame her feverish pussy.
He moved closer and slid his hands around her waist. “I have something I want to ask you, but I don’t want to mess up the night.”
“What?”
“Have you ever eaten a magic mushroom?”
She shook her head. “Never. Only the witches with second sight use them. The rest of us have been warned about the danger of taking too much. I’ve always been afraid of trying it.”
“But have you ever wanted to?”
“Yes.” She waited a beat. “Have you tried them?”
“A few times. It’s part of the rite of passage for young werewolves, but we also use it when we want to experience the magic of the season.”
She cocked her head to one side. “You realize what season we’re in, right?”
He grinned. “The season of abundance, fertility and breathless passion?”
“Mmm. That’s one way of putting it.”
He stepped closer. “I’m fully aware of the affect it will have on us.”
“Good thing Morgana taught us the herbs to use for birth control.”
“And you took some today?” He arched a brow.
She smiled slowly. “I had my suspicions about what might happen tonight. I’d rather be over prepared than have to deal with the consequences.”
“I’m glad to hear it. So, are you willing to take a trip with me?” He held the mushrooms in the palm of his hand. She recognized the brown-capped, white-stemmed fungus as the most potent species in the forest.
“Are you sure this is safe?”
“Absolutely. I wouldn’t do anything to put you in danger. Just eat a little bit and we can take more if we need it.”
She plucked one of the smallest stalks from his hand. At this point, she had a choice. She could either follow him into the unknown, or reject his suggestion and stay in the predictable state of consciousness she’d enjoyed her entire life. She chose the unknown.
After she took a tentative nibble, the earthy taste spread throughout her mouth. Nothing happened. “It’s not working.”
“It will, give it a few minutes.” He popped a larger mushroom into his mouth.
The stars drew her gaze. Subtle streams of light formed figures across the sky. She stared, open-mouthed, at the display. The luminous patterns bent and shifted. It was as if the Gods and Goddesses of the sky danced a waltz together.
“Do you see it?” She whispered as she pointed.
“Hum.”
As she turned to address the non-committal reply, the forest shifted. Orbs of light darted from tree to tree. She’d never seen the Fae. Only witches with an extraordinary gift of sight could see into the fairy realm.
Giggles and peals of laughter echoed through the darkness. When she tried to move toward them, Shaw grabbed her upper arm.
“Hang on. Where are you going?” he asked.
“To dance with the fairies.”
The corners of his mouth turned up in such an alluring way, she couldn’t help but kiss his irresistible lips. His hands traveled from her waist to her chest. He cupped her breasts and bent to kiss the top of each one. When he released the slight pressure from his lips, vibrations of red light pulsed into the night.
She’d never experienced anything like this before. It was as if sound and light worked in unison to convey a divine message. But no matter how much she listened, she couldn’t grasp its meaning.
“I know I pulled you away from the Midsummer celebration, but if you’d like, we could still invoke the God and Goddess of the forest,” he murmured before capturing her left nipple between his lips.
“Call Her.”
His fingers laced with hers. As he pulled their hands out to form a “V”, he began the invocation. “Goddess of the fertile earth, of trees bearing fruit and flowers in full bloom, we call you to bless Ruby with your divine presence. May she honor you during our sacred rite of pleasure.”
A gossamer veil of desire descended from the heavens to envelop her in a haze of lust. The world throbbed in time with her racing pulse. Colors as vivid as the rings around Morning Glory Pool radiated up from the pulsing water.
“I consecrate and bless you in the divine name of the Goddess.” He kissed her softly.
She turned to him as if in a dream. Without thinking, she invoked the name of the wolf God. Her hand flew to her lips. Oh, she shouldn’t have done that. To call upon the God without first preparing the man could kill him.
Shaw’s back arched as he howled. Thick bands of sound swirled up her thighs to caress her silky flesh. As his voice played across her naked skin, she moaned and stepped toward him. Shaw gazed at her with luminous green eyes. The shadow of the wolf God who resided in the forest flickered across his features.
She read the look of pure lust and took a step back. He pounced before she cou
ld move another inch. As he pressed his hips against hers, his hands wrapped around her back. The initial shock of his lightning-fast movement bounced across the ripples of water he’d created.
Their gazed locked and for a second, they weren’t human at all. The God and Goddess of the forest infused their mortal bodies with a hunger so intense, their knees buckled. The shock of the warm water on her face snapped Ruby from the trance.
“Take me to shore,” she commanded.
He scooped her up and carried her. His hands held her thighs. She wrapped both legs around his waist and clutched his bulging biceps. She couldn’t bear to be apart from him for another second.
As she angled her pussy toward his cock, he swung his hips away. “Whoa, not yet.”
“Now,” she demanded.
“Let’s take it slow,” he murmured as he nuzzled her neck.
When they reached a soft patch of grass, he lowered her to the ground. She rolled onto her knees. Eye level with his cock, she licked her lips. Thick veins traced patterns along the side of his cock. The perfectly shaped mushroom-like head pointed skyward in an act of defiance. Gravity be dammed.
Her gaze traveled from his cock up the washboard plane of his abs to his face. Although she hadn’t cast a spell on him, magic shimmered in his eyes.
She’d seen the effect of a love spell on another man a few months earlier. One of the other witches had used an incantation to lure the object of her obsession into the forest. They had mated and the witch had become pregnant. The man had married the witch out of obligation.
After witnessing the demise of their relationship, Ruby refused to use her power to trap a man. She was content to wait until the right one appeared.
“Kiss me.” Shaw’s husky voice caught her off guard. As she moved to stand, he put his hand on her shoulder. “Not on my lips.”
She rubbed her lips together. Every inch of her skin burned with intense longing, but she wouldn’t deny her mate the pleasure he sought.
The tip of her tongue rolled across her top lip. Moist and ready, she brushed her mouth across the head of his cock.
