Sally was the one who found and helped Anna give birth to my mate Lily. Alice explained that Anna was having a hard time giving birth in wolf form. Worse, because they had all stayed in wolf form for so long they started to have a hard time calling up their human side.
Anna was in bad shape and bleeding out when Sally found them. She helped to remind them all of what they truly were so they could shift back. Once human, she talked Anna through the birth of Lily. She’d taken them in like family and had out a roof over their heads.
I heard someone approach and could smell that it was a shewolf. When she didn’t immediately show herself, I decided she wasn't a threat and continued to listen to Anna and Alice. They talked about Sally being a great shewolf and how she would have made a wonderful Luna.
They talked about the years they lived with Sally and how she had taught them to survive in the mountains as humans. The moment Anna stopped talking the question tumbled from my lips
“Did Sally lose her pup or do I have another sibling somewhere out there?”
Before Alice could answer, I watched the woman who had been keeping herself out of sight emerge from behind the trees. I knew the moment I saw her, this is my older sister she looked more like my father than me or any of my brothers did.
(Lauren’s POV)
I listened as my aunts told my brother our story. I watched Lily whom I thought of as a sister sit next to her mate, my brother by blood. I wanted so badly to step out from behind the brush and introduce myself, but I feared that my brother might not want to accept me. I like my grandfather am meant to be an omega.
I know that my father thought that was something to be ashamed of, but my position in a pack can actually be a very important position. I am the glue that keeps us all together. Mother says I am as important as an alpha that without a true omega most packs can’t survive. Then I heard him ask if my mom had given birth to me and I just stepped out.
I stood there just feet away from my brother staring at him not really knowing what to expect. Then he opened his arms and beckoned me into an embrace. It was more than I could have hoped for. I couldn’t help myself and started to cry. I think my brother felt the wetness on his shoulder and wasn’t sure what to do so he started to pat my back like a father would a crying child. I hiccuped then pulled away from him. Lily reached out and gave me a big hug. Then she said
“We just lost Sally about a month ago. Her death was hard on all of us, but particularly on Lauren.”
My brother turned and looked at me again before saying
“I am so sorry for your loss Lauren. If there is anything I can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to ask”
Then I did the most natural thing for me to do. I dropped to the ground into a kneeling position and submitted to my brother by baring my neck to him.
“Thank you alpha. I appreciate you kindness”
The rest of the wolves seeing me submit to Ryan took a collective intake of breath. Anna , Alice and both my uncles dropped beside me and did the same. I heard Anna say
“Ryan, I do believe its time you proclaim yourself alpha of our new pack. Perhaps in honor of my family you could call it Rockledge?”
I watched Lily kiss him lightly on the cheek then kneel beside me. I looked out at the crowd through my lowered eyelashes and saw the majority of them now kneeling. I watched my brother stand up and straighten his clothes before he said
“I Ryan Madison do hear by claim myself as Alpha of” He paused for a moment looking around then continued “of the Rockledge wolf pack. Any who oppose me say so now and prepare for a death challenge. Otherwise bow now and pledge allegiance to me!”
After a few moments of silence a loud cheer erupted from the pack. I felt more tears slide down my cheek as I realized I was at the birth of a new pack. I watched my brother shift and I too shifted then we did the most wonderful thing in the world. We started to run as a pack and claim our pack territory.
Chapter 26
(Kalli’s POV)
I rolled over and looked at my mom who was lying in bed next to me. I was exhausted but still having trouble sleeping. My mind was racing and I just couldn’t seem to turn it off. Mom took that moment to roll over and look at me again
“Sweetie, why are you still awake? Can’t you sleep without Lucas?” She asked
“No Mom, it’s not that. I slept without him all last week and did fine. It’s just I am really confused about this whole thing. Don’t get me wrong, I am very relieved that Nikoli and Lucas have come up with some sort of treaty for now, but” I paused looking for the right words
“but, I am kind of unhappy that they decided without me.”
“oh baby” mom reached out and slid her hand down my hair, then continued
“Don’t worry yourself about those sorts of things. Our men have always taken care of us and always will. That’s the way it works best. Lucas and Nikoli are both strong men, and they will be sure to find a solution that we all can live with. Now go to sleep, you will see everything is going to be fine”
I can’t really explain why my mom’s comments just said made my blood boil by they did. Instead of comforting me, I was now pissed off. I found myself getting angrier by the second. I started to say to myself in a very sarcastic voice
Don’t worry Kalli. Don’t worry your big strong man will take care of everything for you. Don’t you know we aren’t supposed to be thinking about what we want for ourselves. I am just a shewolf and don’t have a brain. I’m just a dumb girl who doesn’t know anything and can’t possibly decide for myself. Don’t worry the big strong man will take care of you. Don’t worry your stupid little head about what you want. Don’t worry my Ass!
Well the more I am kept in the dark the more I am worried. How do they think they can decide what is best for me without even consulting me. This is so typical of Lucas but so uncharacteristic of Nikoli. I would bet my mom had something to do with that. I feel like my future is hanging on by a thread and I need to take charge of it.
I was tired of the people telling me how and what I could do with my life. I tasted freedom last week when I stayed with Nikoli. I’m not sure I can go back to being the silent obedient she-wolf I used to be and if I couldn’t what would that do to mine and Lucas’s relationship.
I wanted to hop out of bed and ask Lucas exactly what he had in mind. Then, I remembered how my shewolf had been acting all night since we came back from the run. I guess she decided it was time that Lucas and I mated and sealed our bond. She was being a real hussy. Even after I turned back to my human form, I could feel her urging me to touch and rub against him. If I went downstairs and saw Lucas we were going to do a lot, but talking wasn’t part of it. I actually growled out loud in frustration. Of course my mom misunderstood because she said
“Kalli baby, don’t fight it. It’s so natural to want to mate and bond with your true mate. For gods sakes stop punishing yourself and go downstairs and be with Lucas. You’ll see it will all be so much better once you’ve mated and bonded” Then she rolled over and started to snore I mumbled back at her sleeping form
“I am not sexually frustrated mother. I am confused about if and with whom I might actually want to love but you wouldn’t understand that since you’ve never been given a choice”
Well maybe I am a little sexually frustrated but if I am it’s because of my friggen wolf. The hussy hasn’t stopped trying to get with Lucas since the run tonight. I know even now she is throwing out pheromones that must be driving him nuts.
Before I could change my mind, I focused my efforts and projected myself out of my body. If I couldn’t talk to Lucas, then I would talk to Nikoli. At least he always acted like he believed I had a mind of my own. Besides, it would be the perfect opportunity for me to spend time with him without my wolf.
The moment my soul left my body I somehow knew exactly where Nikoli was. I willed myself to go where he was and like magic poof there he was. He was sitting at what appeared to be an old antique oak writing de
sk. He looked deeply engrossed in writing in what I think was some kind of journal. I wanted to peer over his shoulder to see what he was writing, but I didn’t want him to know that I was here yet so I decided to look around the room first.
The room was very elegantly furnished even for a master suite. It was huge and had the cleanest cream carpet I’d even laid eyes on. I could see the open bathroom door and noticed the old Edwardian ceramic bath that sat in the center of the room. I also noticed a double vanity that had an assortment of toiletries and lovely fluffy towels hanging from the rack. I felt a small wave of almost jealously hit the pit of my stomach when I looked at all the various lotions, creams and perfumes.
Turning from the bathroom, I eyed up the very comfy looking bed. The comforter was turned down exposing cream colored silk or maybe satin bed sheets. I felt my blood heating and decided to turn and look at of the bedroom window. The sight below me shocked me to my core. His room overlooked the most amazing valley. Probably one of the most stunning views of the countryside I had ever seen.
I turned back to look again at Nikoli. From where I was standing near the window all I could see was his straight powerful looking back. I watched as he dipped his quill into ink again and continued to write in what I am now sure is his journal. Then, I noticed that has body was rhythmically moving up and down and had to wonder what was causing that since Nikoli didn’t really breathe.
Like a kid in a candy store, I glided towards the other side of the room so that I could see what he was doing. I stayed to the shadows since I wanted to keep my essence out of his line of sight. I found my heart hurting as I realized Nikoli was silently weeping blood tears. I couldn’t believe Nikoli could be moved to tears. Nikoli was strong, intelligent, thoughtful, clever, perceptive, insightful and elegant. He was however not emotional or sentimental. Nikoli made choices based on logic and rational facts not emotions.
Seeing him silently cry had me perplexed and was causing my stomach to cramp painfully. I tried to quickly move behind him to see what had made him so sad. In my haste, I must have gotten too close to Nikoli because he froze in place and called to me both on the human and astral plain.
I watched him turn towards me with the proof of his tears still wet on his face. I slid my hand out to wipe them away and was pleasantly shocked to actually feel his skin under my hand. I opened my mouth and managed to stutter out
“how?”
“You are like a ghost when you astral project. Most would not be able to see of feel you. I however am your beloved. I can see, feel and touch you in any form you choose” he said. Then reached out and pulled me closer to him.
Chapter 27
(Nikoli’s POV)
I was tired and was sitting at my desk writing in my journal. I wanted to record every moment I spent with my beloved. I knew that I was going to be a spectator in her life and wanted to capture every moment so that I could relive them in the years after she was gone.
I felt the air shift in the room and slowly wiped my tears. I felt my beloved before I could see her. I knew that she had to be astral projecting since there was absolutely no scent of her in the room. I finished wiping the tears from my eyes and took a hesitant look around.
She was just to my left and looked even more beautiful than she did earlier today. I watched her eyes take in my appearance and identify that I had been weeping. I watched her face move through several emotions that left her feeling vulnerable.
Feeling her pain for my tears caused my heart to flop. God, I really wanted to grab her and provide solace to her soul. I watched her as she reached her hand towards my face. I think she thought her hand would move through me since I was solid and she was technically translucent. The shock of actually making contact with my cheek stunned her into saying
“how?”
I opened my mouth with the intention of giving her a simple explanation then sending her home to her weremate. I kept telling myself that she deserved pups and a mate that could bond with her fully. Our relationship could only ever be one sided.
“You are like a ghost when you astral project. Most would not be able to see of feel you. I however am your beloved. I can see, feel and touch you in any form you choose”
Then before I could think myself out of it I pulled her into me and smashed my lips into hers. I was instantly mesmerized by the feel of against me. She tasted of caramel and apples and her lips were so warm against my much cooler flesh. Actually touching her without her wolf attacking me was causing little pleasurable tingles to radiate from where my lips pressed against hers out across the rest of my body. I couldn’t help myself and made a small almost silent moan. As quite as it was it still must have been loud enough for Kalli to hear since her lips relaxed and soften further while they slowly parted to allow my tongue access to her mouth.
Instinctively I began to move us towards my bed. I wanted to press her down on the mattress and explore every inch of her body with my hands and mouth. The moment we connected with the soft mattress, my conscience started to kick in.
I thought back to the conversation I had with Marie just this afternoon. I had wanted to disagree with her and push my claim but I knew Marie was right. I needed to do the right thing for Kalli. As my beloved Kalli deserved to be allowed to make her own decisions.
I was raised to think logically and see all angles of a situation. I knew better than most that it was more natural for Kalli to bond with her weremate than it was for her to be with me. Kalli was and will always be a wolf. She belongs in a pack with a mate that could provide real pups to her.
My life and my form doesn’t allow for blood children. In fact since Kalli and I could never be more than half blooded we wouldn’t even be able to sir a new vampire together. Our limitations meant that Kalli would never have any of the true benefits of being my beloved. While I would have all of them even if she chooses to live with Lucas.
The truth was, I knew if I had the same choice in front of me I would choose the wolf. The wolf represented all the things any normal shewolf would want in life. She deserved a living breathing mate that could touch her whenever he chose without consequences. She ought to have a pack, no matter how small that will surround her with love. And most importantly she should be able to give birth to her own flesh and blood pups that she can raise in her pack with love and acceptance.
Lucas will provide all of those things for his mate; I could provide none of them for my beloved. I couldn’t even complete the blooding and allow her full access to my soul and emotions. If Kalli chose to stay with me she would be choosing a very isolated life. As an unblooded beloved pair her life would consist of nominal physical contact and the bare minimum of emotional support from me.
I would do the best I could, but my natural method of communication with my beloved is through the bond. Without the bond, most things would be left unsaid and unfelt. Thinking of these things gave me the strength I needed to slow down and keep my physical desires in check. I knew that I wasn’t going to allow this to continue much farther, but before I parted with my beloved I wanted to know what it was that I was giving up, so I tenderly deepened our kiss and slide my tongue fully into her mouth.
Kalli must have appreciated the pressure of our kiss and reveled in the feel of my tongue against hers since I heard her chest rumble with something similar to a purr. The sound instantly caused new surges of pleasure to ripple through my body. I allowed my hands to explore her hair, back and waist. I used my fingertips to apply a gentle massaging pressure everywhere they roamed.
I found myself slowly lowering us both on the mattress with the intention of exploring more of my beloveds body when I felt her shake in what I think was anticipation. Just as I lowered my hands towards the bottom of her shirt I heard something break downstairs. Not wanting to lose contact with my beloved, I pulled my face from her lips, but kept my body pressed into hers.
I listened closely and could tell it was Lidia moving about downstairs. Knowing that she was incapable of doing any real
harm, I turn back to my beloved and took her lips back into mine. Then before I could help my beloved to stay longer with me, I watched as she faded away.
I knew when she arrived tonight that it would only be a matter of time before her body called her soul back. My beloved is young and incapable of projecting for long periods of time without being snapped back into her body. I just wasn’t ready for our time to end. I knew that I was on borrowed time with my beloved. Chance are, I would never have physical with my beloved after tonight.
In fact, it was my intention to convince her to mate and bond with Lucas. I believe she will listen to me and agree that being his bonded mate is the best thing for her future. He can provide the things she needs in life to be happy.
As her unblooded beloved my role should be one as friend and confidant. What we did tonight shouldn’t have happened. She needs to be faithful to Lucas and learn to love me like a brother or uncle. I knew in my and heart this was the right thing, but the pain was so palatable that in my frustration and anger I slammed my fist onto the mattress and watched as the bed and mattress snapped in half sending feathers flying everywhere.
Chapter 28
(Lidia’s POV)
Mated & Blooded, A Blood Ties Novel, Book 1 Page 12
