by J. E. Cluney
A call on my cell informed me that I was due to patrol tonight, and I scowled as I headed out. I’d been looking forward to welcoming Tay back properly, but it’d have to wait. I’d have to hope the other two could ease her distress while I was gone.
I stripped down to nothing in my room and headed out into the hall, pushing out the kitchen side door and shifting into wolf to head to the grouping area to begin my patrols. It would be agonizing hours thinking about Tay, about her soft skin beneath my fingers, her sweet lips and stunning emerald eyes. I imagined taking her in wolf form as we did on occasion, although I knew she preferred it in human shape. I couldn’t help that it was fun and primal, making love as wolves.
Maybe I’d challenge her for the choice. She’d spoken adamantly about her training, and I knew she was enjoying it. I’d love to see how far she’d come. It was not often that she’d bested me in our spars back before she left. Many ‘wolves practiced their combat to keep on their toes and in prime condition, and Tay loved joining in and taking us on.
I did wonder if her new training would have pushed to a new level. I could only wait and find out.
By the time I returned to the mansion, dawn was around the corner. I slipped into my room and began getting dressed before I caught Tay’s scent. She was in the mansion, probably in her old room. I skipped dressing, heading out into the hall in only my boxers after grabbing her gift, intent to find the woman I love. I needed to see her again, to feel her small frame against mine. I wanted to hold her and cherish her, tell her how much I missed her. And the way my cock twinged at the thought of her naked, there was more I needed to give her. I needed to remind her that she was ours, and that there was no one else who could fulfill her like we did.
I gently opened her door, careful to not wake her as I slipped inside her room. Tay was nestled into the deep navy blankets, her fiery red hair vibrant and splayed out across her pillow. The sight made my heart squeeze, and I strode over to place the carved wolf on the bedside table. I’d spent some time on the wolf a few weeks ago when I couldn’t get her out of my head.
I eased under the blankets beside her, slipping my arm under her and pulling her close. The realization that she was stark naked only turned me on, and I could sense her waking from her slumber.
“I missed you,” I murmured, drawing in her sweet earthy scent mixed with lavender and sex. It smelt like Nathan had gotten to her, but the thought only excited me more.
“I missed you too,” she mumbled, still not quite awake. I wrapped my arms around her, nuzzling her back and kissing her neck softly. I’d dreamed of simply holding her for so long now, showering her in affection. God, I missed her.
I held her small, soft hands in mine against her belly, entwining my legs with hers as I relaxed.
She turned in my arms, sighing as she looked at me sleepily. That adorable, sleepy expression made me smile as I took in those tired, green eyes.
“I was excited to hear you were coming home, it’s a shame as to why though,” I sighed as I cupped her face, running my thumb over her lower lip. She was stunningly beautiful.
“Yes,” she breathed.
If Nathan had had her, I could only assume Jaye had too. I was a little bummed they hadn’t waited for me, but I’d make do. We’d just have our joint fun later on.
She stroked my beard, the soft sensation sending tingles down my body.
We spoke about my patrol and I could’t help the need inside me to take her, to have her right here.
Things took a fun turn from there, and we ended up exploring each others bodies before winding up madly dashing down to the river as wolves.
It was there that I sparred with her before finally having her, burying my desperate desire inside her and riding her hard.
She was mine, ours, and we wouldn’t let that disgusting Alpha have her. Hell, she wouldn’t allow that prick to have her. And if it was up to me, I’d kill him for even thinking it.
“You will kill me,” I moaned as Tay ground against me as she perched on my lap.
The harsh bark of the pine dug into my back as we made-out, and I was desperate to rip all of our clothing off and have her right here.
“No,” she chuckled. “But I’ll make you want to fuck me hard,” she purred as she slowly gouger down against me.
I moaned as I gripped her hips, pushing my erect length against her. It strained against my denim shorts, and I wanted to free it and drive it into her hard.
“I’ll tell you what,” she sighed as she clambered off me. “You catch me, you can fuck me however you want,” she grinned as she began stripping.
I stared at her as she stripped down to nothing, her perfect body standing before me in all its glory.
Fuck. I had to have her. Now.
I leaped up, yanking my clothes off so that we both stood naked before each other.
“Game on. Catch me before I reach the river, and I’m yours,” she smirked.
I hated the tease. She was faster than me, but there were odd times when I could catch her. Or maybe it was because she allowed me to. Who knew.
Tay shot off, her body morphing to that of a red-brown wolf as she hurtled into the pines.
I gave immediate chase, shifting and tearing after her like my life depended on.
Well, my dick did.
She yipped and ran, jumping around as she teased me.
I’d draw so close, believing I was almost upon her, and then she’d flit off.
I snarled as I struggled to keep up. Speed was not my thing, and she knew that.
I burst into a clearing, slowing as Tay crouched down, her ass in the air as her tail wagged.
She was enjoying this game too much.
I stalked around her as she watched me, those yellow eyes not missing a single movement I made.
I crouched down too, wagging my tail as she yipped.
She darted forward, and I knew I’d catch her now.
I barreled into her, sending us tumbling in a soft game of wrestle as he nipped and growled at each other.
She circled, and I saw my chance.
I lurched forward, jumping up to mount her and driving myself into her.
Sex as wolves was something I loved, as it brought out all the pure animal desire inside me. Not to mention we then got stuck together for a while. Knotted together.
But because we were werewolves, this time together was utter bliss as we’d discovered. It wasn’t overly common for couples to mate in this form, but those that did it swore it was one of the best ways to do it. And I knew Tay loved it too.
It was obvious as I mated with her that she’d allowed me to take her. She could’ve gotten away with ease, but she wanted this too.
We climaxed together, and my length swelled, locking us together as a new kind of bliss rolled over us as we froze.
White danced before my eyes as euphoria washed over me, and I howled to the sky above in pure bliss.
Tay was mine, ours. And even if she left, she’d always come back to us.
Always.
8
I laughed as I sat with Chris and Janet, holding little Jamie in my arms. He had his mother’s green eyes and soft, brown hair. He was two now and had grown so much since I’d last seen him as a newborn. He was already talking a bit now, although sometimes I had no idea what he was trying to say.
He sat in my lap, silently watching the others play and run around, giggling and pointing happily at the crowd.
It was a wonderful turnout. It seemed all the children of the Pack were here, and most of the Pack had shown up to support the day and simply socialize.
The children loved the obstacle course, and they had set the slip and slide up on the lower end of the grounds, making the most use of the gentle slope there. The water balloon fight had already ensued, and laughter and vibrant life filled the air.
Someone set the barbecue and assorted dishes up in a buffet style, and I was planning on heading up soon to collect something to eat for myself.
Seeing over seventy people swarmed into the area made me ecstatic, it was hard to deny that being with my Pack didn’t make me feel right at home. Many had already come up and welcomed me back, asking about my plans, if I intended to stay in the mansion or build a cabin. My father hadn’t told them of the proposition it seemed, and if he was back in time, he intended to inform them tomorrow night at the communal dinner. I refrained from sharing the truth of my return, wanting to keep my father’s wishes.
“Here, I can see you eyeing the food, how about I take him and you go grab something? Chris can get something for me,” Janet smiled, winking as Chris rolled his eyes but sat up from laying back on the picnic blanket.
“Thanks,” I said as she took Jamie back, causing him to grin widely as he nestled into his mother. Her ash blonde hair was tied up today, but the ponytail had loosened, strands of her hair falling in her face. The look of love she gave both her son and my brother made me smile warmly. She was a good mother and partner, and I was glad Chris had chosen her. She sat cross-legged in an oversized black and pink floral dress that allowed for that kind of position.
“Hey, I’ve brought the cheesecake out.”
I looked up as Scott joined us, offering his hand to help me to my feet. I accepted, grinning as I looked over to where Jaye was busy painting the faces of two girls. One had requested a bright blue butterfly framing her face, and the other wanted to be a tiger for the day.
Over near the barn, Nathan and a handful of other Pack members were leading other children around on the horses, and he was laughing as a young boy puffed his chest out and pretended to be a rodeo star.
I followed Scott eagerly up to the barbecue area where more tables had been laid out with assorted dishes and now desserts.
Chris moaned and rubbed his hands together as he eyed the array of food.
“Remember, you could be feeding for two now,” I gave him a playful jab in the ribs. He just snorted and grinned as he grabbed himself two plates, heaping them up with barbecued meats and quiches, nutty breads and casseroles. I honed in on the potato bake, knowing it was one of Nathan’s, and he made a killer bake. Scott proudly presented his cheesecake with a bow, set on a separate table with the desserts.
I moaned at the thought of snaring a piece of it, but knew I’d have to wait until after the main foods.
“Chris and Janet seem happy, that’s good,” Scott remarked as he followed me around the table, loading up his own plate, stacking it twice as high as my own. With his size, I didn’t doubt he’d be coming back for seconds, he needed the extra amounts to keep up with his metabolism.
“Yeah, they may already be pregnant again too,” I said as I grabbed plenty of pork pieces and chicken.
Scott nodded at this and cast a look over his shoulder at the other two boys.
“We’re all good with kids,” he remarked.
I froze at the words, my mouth setting in a grim line. It was true, they were all great with kids. I’d watched as Scott had tried to teach the children how to carve small wolves from their chunks of wood. Only the older kids could try, as we didn’t trust the younger ones with knives.
I sighed as I stared at the table of food, my heart plummeting. My boys would make great fathers, and yet I was the reason they couldn’t be. I was holding them back from their potential because I was selfish. The thought rocked me and I looked away from Scott as my eyes welled. How could I claim to love them and yet stop them from being all they could be? All three of them would make great dads, I could see Scott teaching his son how to build his own toys, how to carve exquisite woodwork, how to fish. Nathan would teach his child how to ride like a true cowboy and how to hunt and track. Jaye would teach them to focus on their dreams, to embrace their creativity and read to them at night.
I was the one stopping all that, crushing that hope of theirs.
I growled as a lone tear slid down my cheek, annoyed that I was allowing my emotions to get the best of me. One of my main lessons with Neema was to control your emotions, don’t let them control you. Something I still struggled with.
“Hey, everything all right? Was it something I said?” Scott asked gently as he touched my shoulder.
“Nothing, I’m fine,” I growled as I pulled away. I stalked off with my food, my appetite gone as I headed to the barn to hide away.
Scott withheld from running after me, and I was grateful. I would not let them see me weak like this.
I let my tears out once I was inside the barn and safe from prying eyes. I set my plate of food on a bale of straw, slumping down against the hay and pulling my knees up before me.
I loved my three boys like nothing else. The past two years had been excruciating without them, but I threw myself into my training and work to distract myself.
I wanted to be with them, and seeing them today with the children made me wonder if we could one day have something more. But I had plans for my life, plans of becoming a Huntress. I so badly wanted my life to mean more, to be able to protect myself against anything that came my way.
“You okay?”
I jumped as Jaye stepped inside the barn door, and I closed my eyes as I swiped the wet trails down my cheeks.
He sighed and sat down beside me, our shoulders just touching as he placed a hand on my knee.
“I’m sorry,” I sighed, reining in my sorrow as I took in a wavering breath to calm myself.
“What for?” Jaye frowned, and I turned to him, shame and guilt filling me as I bit my lip to stop it from trembling.
“I know you guys might want me to be a breeder. To give you children,” I mumbled.
Jaye just stared at me with those soft, loving blue eyes beneath his hair.
“We know that you want more than that, Tay. And we’re okay with that. Maybe one day, you’ll change your mind. That’ll be interesting, for sure,” he smiled and chuckled at the prospect. “I don’t know how we’d make that work. Bearing children usually comes after a couple are mated in ceremony, and I’m not sure how we’d fair trying to do that with the four of us.”
“Other Packs have done it,” I muttered. It was true, I’d heard of other Packs who mated up to four males to one female due to their low numbers. Females were considered sacred and cherished in those werewolf Packs. Here, well, I was the defiant and stubborn daughter of the Alpha. I’d bailed on the Pack, so I doubted I was held in the same esteem as the other she-wolves.
“Well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and find out,” Jaye murmured.
I relaxed as he pulled me against his chest. I closed my eyes as his warm arms held me tight, and I listened to the soft drum of his heartbeat, enjoying the gently rise and fall of his chest.
I had something else I wanted to do, but maybe I shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss children. Maybe after I’d been a Huntress for a while, I’d feel more inclined to them.
“You should eat your food before it goes cold,” Jaye murmured as he reached for my plate on the straw bale.
I glared at the food as if it were to blame for my state. But I was still hungry.
I accepted it and the plastic fork he’d brought for me, and he spoke to me about the assorted face paintings he’d done while I ate. One kid had asked to be a train, that had been an interesting one for him, and I laughed at the absurd request.
“Hey, don’t be mean, he really likes his trains,” Jaye grinned stupidly at me.
“He could’ve been any predator or warrior he wanted, and he chose a train?” I scoffed in disbelief. Children were so strange sometimes.
When I finished up my food and nestled back against Jaye, Scott joined us with Nathan in tow.
“I figured you might still want some of my cheesecake. It’s going quick, so I got you a piece,” Scott said sheepishly as he knelt down before us and offered me the plate with cheesecake and berries on it.
The scent of the rich cheesecake filled my nostrils, and I accepted it, thanking him before diving into it.
“There were some other desserts, trifle,
brownies, puddings. I figured I’d get you a bit of each if I could,” Nathan said as he sat down on the other side of me.
“Thank you,” I smiled.
The array of dessert and the cheesecake were delicious and perfect, and I scoffed it all down without hesitation as my boys laughed at my eagerness. I’d always had a sweet tooth.
“So, you seemed quite distressed by what I said,” Scott mumbled, looking guilty and hurt that he’d caused me some distress.
“No, it wasn’t you, Scott,” I sighed, leaning forward to stroke his cheek reassuringly. He gave me a thin smile, not convinced.
“What happened?” Nathan asked.
“Scott mentioned how you’d all make great fathers. Which is true, you’re all good with children, so sweet and gentle. I felt guilty about it. I’m the one stopping you all from having that,” I mumbled as I pulled my knees up before me, glaring at the straw by my feet like it was planning to attack me.
“I told her we’re all okay with that, maybe one day it’ll change, but we’ve chosen you,” Jaye turned to me at the end with a soft smile as he stroked my fiery curls.
“Jaye’s right. We accepted that when we chose to be with you. You’re capable of being more than just a breeder, and you know it. Maybe one day you’ll want to settle down once you’ve lived your life. There’s no real time limit on it,” Nathan shrugged.
“I’m assuming it’ll still be the four of us. That’ll make for an interesting ceremony, if they’ll even allow it,” Scott rumbled, his chest heaving with his deep laugh.
“We’ll find a way,” Nathan grinned.
I sat with my three men for a few moments before shouts from outside drew us to our feet.
“Sounds like they’re heading down to the river for the afternoon swim,” Jaye stated as he helped me to my feet.
“I best head off and get that guttering put up before it gets too late,” Scott said as he stretched, his thick, muscles belly protruding from his shirt.
“Want to help me pop the horses away?” Nathan turned to me.
“Sure. But Scott, can you wait for me? I’d love to come down and help you finish up Leya’s house,” I asked.
