by Bonnie Vanak
The candles flickered, casting ghostly shadows around the circle.
Robert took a silver dagger and made a small cut in his palm. Blue-black in the silvery moonlight, his blood dripped upon the dragon’s head, then fell to the ground, turning silver.
He lifted his head to the sky. “I speak to the power of the Goddess Danu. Let this union be blessed, and as we come together as one to consummate our mating, endow us with the strength of our people, the Lupine.”
Robert turned to Aurora and his expression turned tight with desire. But his hands were gentle as he clasped her palms. “I, Robert Keynes, take you, Aurora Seville, as my forever mate, to fill your belly with my seed. May you conceive strong, healthy offspring.”
The six couples laid their hands upon Robert and Aurora and then stepped backward and removed their robes. Robert led Aurora over to the back of the stone dragon. He removed his robe and his mask.
“I bare myself before the old ways, as I take this female for my forever mate, to mother my young,” Robert said in a loud voice.
Her hand shaking a little, Aurora removed her robe and mask. She spoke in a loud, clear, voice, “I bare myself before the old ways, as I accept this male as my forever mate, to father my young.”
Cool air caressed her body, but for once she did not feel the cold. She was aware of Robert’s rich, spicy scent, the power of his naked body and the fluid grace of his muscles.
Tremendous heat filled her, from the drink or the solemnity of the occasion, she did not know.
Robert helped her to lie upon the dragon on her belly. Her cheeks ignited with furious embarrassment. She felt him spread her legs and tensed.
Then the delicious scent of coconuts filled the air. Pure, natural. She felt the oil slide over her thighs, then between her thighs, across her cleft. It felt wicked and she undulated her hips, moaning as he slid a finger into her channel.
The circle of six couples ringed her. Robert clasped her hips. But then he pressed a kiss against her spine, so tender it made her aware of the man. Robert. The wolf who would not hurt her.
“To our home. It’s about damn time we had some privacy.”
“You’re ready for me, aren’t you?” he murmured.
Agonized with anticipation, she raised her bottom higher into the air. Robert grasped her hips. Bending over her, he slowly pushed his thick penis into her wet, yielding flesh. She gasped as he gently battered against her barrier, then he gave a hard thrust and broke through.
The pain caught her off guard, but she refused to show emotion, no, not before these wolves. Then Robert bent his head and murmured into her ear.
“Hold onto me, sweetheart. We’ll get through this together.”
He laced his fingers through hers and his touch gave her strength.
Aurora arched as he withdrew, then thrust into her again. His muscled body held her in place like a wild animal dominating its mate. Trapped beneath his heavy weight, she could not escape, yet this vulnerable position felt instinctively right.
His penis pumped slowly and steadily into her as she gradually became oblivious to the others around them. Then he pulled her up on all fours and slipped his hands beneath her, cupping her breasts, squeezing gently. His thumbs flicked teasingly over her cresting nipples as he rocked into her. She felt burning need replace shyness.
Nothing mattered now but Robert, wrapping himself around her as if trying to penetrate her whole body. Claiming her in this ritual, his cock thrusting in and out of her slippery sheath as she clenched around him.
Her mate. No other female would feel his muscled arms gather her close. No other female would cherish his tender kisses, his skilled fingers tracing every inch of her trembling skin or his massive, thick penis filling her.
A growl rumbled deep in his throat as he nipped her neck possessively.
She pushed against him. Wriggling, trying to get him in deeper. Aurora tossed her head back and moaned. He gripped her hips, steadying her.
“How bad do you want it, Aurora?” he asked thickly.
“Deeper, fuck me deeper, Robert.” Her voice sounded rough and thick to her own ears, nearly unrecognizable.
He thrust into her, hard. She took him, begging for more. Faster and faster he thrust, his sweat-slicked body smacking against her, his testicles slapping against her, his cock sinking deep inside. Aurora rocked back and forth with him, shuddering with pleasure and then screaming out as her orgasm hit her.
She felt his powerful body shudder as he climaxed too, still thrusting inside her.
Robert dropped a brief kiss on her back before his cock slid wetly from her clinging sheath. Aurora winced as his flesh left her body. She felt limp with pleasure as she lay upon the dragon, panting madly. Unashamed of his nudity, Robert stood up. Indifferent to silent approval from their audience, he glanced up at the moon rising high in the sky. The round, very full moon.
He helped Aurora to stand and she grimaced at the pull of her sore muscles.
His kiss was tender and sweet. Holding her close, he whispered against her mouth, “Are you all right?”
Aurora nodded and nuzzled her cheek against his jaw, slightly alarmed at her need to turn into a beast, like Lupine. Turn feral and make love again, only with the wildness of the wolf.
She expected that they would fall to the mossy ground and make love again, like Guy and Helen had. Instead, he covered her with the robe, dressed himself as the others did as well.
She looked at him expectantly. Robert drew in a deep breath and walked over the chest. Candlelight flickered in the grotto.
Robert opened the chest and removed something, then closed the lid. He cradled the object in his palms. When he reached her, he opened his palms.
Resting there was a small white stone, about the size of a hen’s egg. It glowed with silver light. Gasps sounded from the couples.
“The dragon’s egg,” Robert said quietly. “It has lain in the chest dormant since I received it as a gift fifteen years ago. It has waited for this moment, for you and I to become mates, Aurora. It has waited to break the curse and heal our people and our land.”
He placed the egg into her hands. Her throat tightened with emotion. The egg pulsed with warmth as it glowed, lighting the grotto. And then tears shimmered in her eyes. Such a beautiful jewel, from a rare, wonderful creature.
I can’t kill the dragon. How can I?
But she would not think of the dreaded task now. Not tonight. Aurora watched as Robert placed his palms over hers. Suddenly the warmth in their joined hands became delightful, glowing as incandescent as fire. Silver light shot out of their palms.
“Open your hands,” he instructed, removing his palms.
As she did, the silver light intensified and then shot out of her hands, ringing the circle, touching upon the land, the trees and plants, and the six Lupine couples. It zipped out of the circle in an ethereal silver glow, like fireworks, and sank deep into the earth. For a few seconds, the entire land lit up, shining like moonlight. Then the light faded.
Gasping with delight, Aurora stared at her now empty hands. The light had faded from the circle. When she looked at Robert, tears shimmered in his eyes.
“Thank you,” he said quietly. “Thank you for mating with me and healing my people and our land.”
He kissed her, then swept her into his arms.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked, wondering if this was another ritual they must complete.
Bashful in front of the crowd, Aurora tensed until Robert’s gentle caresses and kisses fully aroused her. She lay on her stomach, ass in the air. Robert caressed her bottom with soothing, sensual strokes. He slipped a finger between the folds of her wet cleft, rubbing gently, testing her.
He walked for what seemed like a mile and never faltered, though Aurora knew she was no lightweight.
Finally he reached his cabin. He opened the front door, then carried her up the stairs to his bedroom.
She gasped with pleasure.
White can
dles were scattered about the bedroom in crystal holders—on the dresser, the window sill, everywhere, their soft glow casting shadows upon the walls. Rose petals lay scattered on the white satin sheets. In a silver champagne bucket rested a bottle, and two crystal glasses sat upon the side table.
All so romantic and lovely. She could almost believe Robert loved her, wanted to love her. Almost.
He gently set her upon the turned-down sheets of the bed. “I wanted you to feel at home. Susan and the others helped.”
Aurora’s mouth quirked. “If that’s the case, then bring in iron chains and manacles.”
He drew his dark brows together. For a moment she wondered if he was angered. Then he smiled a little. “I can rustle up some ropes, if you like. That should suffice.”
She hugged herself. “You mean we’re not always going to have sex in public?”
A smile touched his handsome face. “No. That was only for the consummation of our mating. Every other time will remain exclusively private, unless you wish otherwise.”
She’d had enough of baring herself before others.
Aurora took the champagne flute he offered. They clinked glasses.
“To us,” he said softly. “To a successful mating, and to our happiness.”
Then he took both flutes, removed her robe and his. Robert kissed her, following her onto the bed. His lovemaking was slow and gentle this time, with none of the wildness of the Lupine in the grove.
After, she fell asleep, his arms curled around her as if he never wanted to let her go.
In the morning when she awoke, he was downstairs already, fixing her breakfast. Robert wore a mulberry robe. They ate and she asked questions about the pack as he sipped coffee.
Then he held out his hand. “Let’s go outside.”
On the balcony, he dropped his robe. Aurora stared at his nudity and belted her own robe more tightly. “What are you doing?”
Robert gave her an amused glance. “In my own home, I always walk about nude, sweetheart. You’ll have to get used to it.”
Stretching, he inhaled deeply of the fresh air. “Ah, smell that sweet morning mist. I love this time of day.”
She was too busy admiring the play of muscles flexing as he moved. He’d been inside her last night, every inch of him. He’d claimed her body, had known her exclusively. Yet now she felt him shutting her out. There was something he wasn’t sharing with her. She just knew it.
He scanned the back yard as if searching for something. Then his mouth curved into a delighted smile. “Come with me.”
Tugging her hand, he led her down the stairs to the yard. Robert crouched down by the slash pine tree and gently brushed aside a few pine needles.
“Look.”
She squatted down to where he pointed. From the bough of pine needles grew six small shoots. Aurora looked at him. “What is it?”
“Azaleas. I’ve been struggling to grow them here for a year. They like acidic soil. But no matter how I’ve tried, they haven’t taken root. It’s the damn curse.”
“Caroline’s curse.” Aurora searched his face and saw a shadow darken his eyes. “You never clarified what happened.”
“It was my fault.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I was nineteen and Caroline came to our nursery to buy organic plants for a spell she wanted to test. I gave her a tour of our gardens and she told me she sensed a tremendous power in the earth and my people. I fell in love with her and invited her to stay with me to learn about the earth. We became lovers.”
Insight filled her. “She used you,” Aurora said gently.
He nodded. “She leeched power from the land to enhance her own magick. But her Mage powers were weak, so she turned to the dark arts and in doing so, poisoned the land, cursing it to become infertile. The curse spread to my people. I lost my parents, my four brothers and sisters, so much of our pack…”
Robert’s jaw tightened. “I vowed to do anything to save my people.”
Her heart turned over at the torment in his eyes. She slid her arms around his lean waist, rubbing her cheek against him. Such a strong alpha, who had suffered greatly.
He gently removed her hands from his waist and turned her left hand over, exposing her birthmark. “And now the curse is broken, because of you. We are mated and our people and the land are saved.”
Standing, he pulled her with him and swept her into his arms. Robert planted several tiny kisses upon her face as she laughed, feeling his effervescent joy. Never had she seen this usually solemn alpha so boyish and happy. Aurora was glad she’d done something wonderful, yet she couldn’t help feeling depressed as well. He’d mated her to save his pack and the land, not because they shared anything special.
Then he set her down, smoothed back her hair and studied her face. A shadow darkened his eyes.
“What is it? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
He placed a gentle kiss upon her mouth. “In time. I want to relish these moments we have together for as long as I can.”
That didn’t sound promising.
Robert looked around, sniffing. His expression grew dark. “Someone’s been snooping outside. Guy.”
“He’s your beta.”
“Doesn’t matter. I’m your mate now. I don’t want another male nosing around you.” Robert cracked his knuckles and gave a grim smile. “Time to mark my territory. I’ve been lax, as of late.”
He shifted into wolf. The swift transformation always startled her. Then the wolf loped over to the slash pine tree near the porch and lifted his leg.
Aurora rolled her eyes. “Can’t you just pee in the bathroom like everyone else? What is it with guys peeing outside? Just because you can pee standing up.”
The wolf bared his teeth in a beastly grin and circled around the outside of the house, marking as he went. The scent was much stronger now…cedar and sandalwood. Aurora clutched her coffee cup, marveling at this. Was it because they were mated?
Or had her powers emerged now that the collar was off her neck?
A band of pack members came toward the house. Seeing Robert in wolf form, they gave joyful yips and shifted, rushing at him. Some yapped and rolled over, showing their bellies. One she recognized as Guy playfully sparred with him.
The after-mating welcoming committee. Aurora felt a stab of keen regret. And she could not join them. She remained an outsider still, not one of them.
But then the females shifted to Skins again, and Susan approached, glancing backward at the others. “We came here to invite you to a quilting party.”
Aurora frowned. “I don’t know how to sew.”
Her new sister-in-law nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll teach you. Get dressed. We’ll wait for you on the porch.”
That afternoon, she found herself ensconced in a circle of female Lupines, helping to sew a blue-and-white quilt with floral patterns. After pricking her finger too many times, she opted to watch and learn instead. One of the younger children climbed into her lap and promptly fell asleep. Aurora stroked the little girl’s fine, silky hair as she listened to the women gossiping. It was so peaceful, and she felt accepted at last.
She found herself humming an old lullaby she’d sung to Emily when her little sister got restless. Then the other children gathered around her and she went to the floor to teach them nursery rhymes. They started growing restless and hungry, so she went to the kitchen and found healthy snacks.
While the women sewed, she fed the children, smiling at their appetites and the messes they created. Without complaining, she cleaned up, enlisting their help with a few complaints from the older ones.
Gods, she missed doing this for Em. The absolute, shining trust a child put into you was humbling, and there was sheer joy in caring for and nurturing a child. Her arms ached to hold Em again. Was her sister okay? Happy in the adopted home where the Shadow Wizard had taken her?
She hoped so.
Bellies filled, the children gathered around her and curled up like puppies, using Auror
a’s legs as pillows. She herself sat on the floor and leaned against the sofa, listening to the women gossip and feeling content for the first time in ages.
Suddenly the needles stilled and the women glanced up.
Robert stood in the doorway of the lodge’s living room, a smile on his face. His gaze sought hers and he gave a little nod.
Then he turned around and walked away, whistling. Susan stared after her brother. “I’ve never seen him this relaxed before, this happy.”
The Lupine gave Aurora an appreciative smile. “All because of you. You’re good for him, Aurora. You let him be a normal man, instead of the alpha who’s responsible for everyone and everything.”
A warm glow filled her at the praise. It faded as the women continued with their sewing. Certainly she felt more at home now with the Lupines. But what would happen when she killed their beloved dragon and everything fell apart?
How could she kill the dragon? She, who got emotional when a caterpillar died?
That night as Robert turned to her in bed to make love to her, Aurora responded with the drive and passion she felt, but afterward as he fell asleep, holding her close, doubts slammed into her. What was she doing? Becoming ingrained into his pack, when she knew all this would vanish?
But it felt so nice to have a home, even if only temporarily.
In the morning, he made them both bacon and eggs. As they sat on the porch, eating, listening to the birds, he seemed even more relaxed.
“I saw you with the women yesterday. And the children.” His expression softened. “You’re fitting in just fine. You’re good with the little ones. You’ll make a great mother.”
If I stick around long enough. Aurora pushed the thought away. “What’s on your agenda for today?”
“We have to attend the bi-monthly pack meeting. Wolf business. Then I will introduce you to the entire pack under my rule.”
A flush heated her face. “Don’t they already know me?”
He studied her and slid an arm around her waist as if sensing her discomfort. “Not everyone. There are eighty-one members of this pack who live either on this land or have private homes nearby, but we have many others who live further away. All have sworn fidelity to me. Doctors, lawyers, dentists, professionals who choose to live more in Skin, but still want the security of having a pack. Some by the beach, others as far as thirty miles away. We meet every other month in a hall not far from here.”
