My eyes were clouded with tears but I felt my way through the bag, grasping at jeans, a sweater, a blouse...and then my fingers touched paper. What was this?
I pulled it out. It was only a small piece of notepaper that had been placed under everything the crew had packed. It was folded four times and as I unfolded it I saw a hand-written note:
Whatever happens, I’m yours and you’re mine. My moon, my love. ---T
My heart swelled. I would have given anything in that moment for a car. There’s no doubt that I would have found my way to him and, wordless, torn his clothes off and taken him. I wished that he could have been here to protect me, but in a strange way he had. It was my desire to be with him that had strengthened my resolve, and he’d saved me.
In the morning after what I can only describe as a fitful sleep on my part, the crew showed up. Craig hadn’t yet come down, but I was already dressed and set for the day ahead.
“I want to go back to the house,” I told Susan when I saw her. I hoped not to have to explain myself.
“But you and Craig are supposed to spend the day together,” she protested, much to my chagrin.
“I don’t care. We’re not going to. Do what you need to do. I think you’ll find him just as unwilling as I am to have another date.”
Susan left me then to go and talk to Craig, returning after a few minutes.
“Take her back to the house,” she said to the others. “We’ll figure it out. We’ll just use footage from last night for her segment.”
The drive to the house seemed to take forever. All I could think about was Tristan.
When I arrived I opened the front door. The building seemed so empty now, with most of the girls gone. The two remaining were nowhere to be found, but I wasn’t interested in them.
I ran through the house after dropping my bag on the floor, hunting for the producer who’d been left behind. I felt my heart shredding itself as I tore around; he wasn’t there. Where was he? Had he left? Was I not going to see him again?
When I’d checked the back yard I gave in and threw myself down on one of the couches, my face in my hands. All I wanted in the world at that moment was for Tristan to hold me. I didn’t care about consequences; I didn’t care if I might die as a result of it. I just needed him.
I sat, breathing deeply, trying not to cry. I needed to solve this problem, to figure out my situation. How would I leave this place? How would I go on with a life after what I’d experienced?
“Nikki.”
I took my hands down and looked up, confused about what I was hearing. He wasn’t here. I was imagining his voice.
Tristan stood in front of me, his beautiful face staring down into mine.
I stood up and threw my arms around him. Finally I sobbed. He held me tightly, his arms entirely wrapped around me, enveloping my body in a protective gesture.
“Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
When I could speak I said, “No. I didn’t let him. I didn’t even let him near me. I shifted and he backed off.”
“Oh, Nikki. He’s not going to be happy about this. But I’m so glad you’re all right. I really think I might have killed him if he’d done anything…”
“I think he’s just using me, Tristan. He wants to get at you for some reason.”
“It’s the alpha in him, trying to prove to me and the rest of the pack that he gets what he wants.”
“Except that he doesn’t want me. I know he doesn’t.”
“He wants to prevent me from having you, which is almost as bad,” he said. “Listen, you should go up to your room and get some rest. The last thing you want now is for us to be caught together. It’ll only be a day or two more and then this will all be over.
I looked at him, tears still in my eyes. “You don’t think he’ll choose me in the end, just to get back at me…do you?”
“I don’t know. Craig’s a wild card and he’s been known to show judgment that’s more cruel than kind. There’s regret in the pack for allowing him to take charge. And no one regrets it more than me.”
“Kyla told me that you let him win your fight. That you were protecting him and the pack. She said you thought you could do more as the subordinate to protect them.”
“Yes, that’s about right. But I was wrong about it all. I made a mistake and the whole pack is paying for it. He’s reckless and unkind. An alpha needs to look after his own, but Craig doesn’t. And I wish I could go back in time and fix it all. But if I did I would never have met you, you see. I found you because I was looking for candidates. So I can’t regret it too much.”
With that, he kissed the top of my head and said, “Now go rest.”
“All right. I will.” With that, I picked up my bag and headed upstairs.
Fourteen:
Confronting the Alpha
The day dragged on. The only time I left my room was to get something to eat. I didn’t see Tristan again but I couldn’t feel too sorry for myself; I’d gotten the hug I’d so needed. I had to think about the next morning, when we’d have the final dismissal ceremony. I went to bed that night in a state of tense apprehension, bracing myself for what was to come.
When morning came, Jay did my makeup as usual.
“How are you today, sweetie?” he asked. There was a look of concern on his face.
“I’m okay. Not looking forward to the day ahead though, I’ll admit.”
“I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that your greatest wish isn’t that you’ll get chosen in the end.”
I looked at him in the mirror and smiled a little. “You’d be right about that. I’m terrified of it, in fact.”
“Well, my fingers are crossed that you’ll get cruelly rejected on television, if that’s what you want.”
“Heh. There’s nothing I want more, believe me.”
The dress they gave me that day was the nicest so far; a full-fledged evening gown in a flowing translucent material layered over red taffeta. I assumed that the other two ‘ladies’ would also be elegantly outfitted and I just hoped they’d outshine me. In all sincerity I hoped that Craig was in love with one of them, but given the black nature of his heart I wondered if he was capable of love at all.
The crews were setting up in the backyard, creating a temporary arbor covered in flowers that I assumed we’d stand under while one of us was picked off. I went out to have a look, concealing myself behind the gazebo so that I wouldn’t be seen or get in the way.
As I watched them work, Craig came out to talk to a couple of the producers who were milling about. My heart leapt when I saw Tristan walk out to join them.
I wasn’t much interested in their conversation until I saw a look of anger seem to spread across Craig’s and Tristan’s faces at once. I inched closer, moving to the side of the gazebo behind a couple of cleverly-positioned spruce trees.
“No way,” Craig was saying. He was addressing his words to Susan, who stood with the usual expressionless resolve that I was used to witnessing. “The deal is that I get to choose. I’m not keeping her til the final two. She’s a fat, ugly bitch and I’m not going to pretend to the world that I want to have her around.”
“Craig…” Tristan growled at him, an inhuman tinge to his voice.
“Oh, what, Tristan? Are you going to try and tell me she’s not? She’s a fucking pig and I’d be embarrassed to have people think I’ve chosen her above a couple of hot women. I don’t give a shit that she’s a shifter. I get that you idiots want to keep her for ratings but I can’t get rid of her fast enough. She’s fucking horrible.”
Tristan didn’t say anything now, but the look on his face spoke volumes. Silently he grabbed Craig by the lapels of his suit and picked him up. I’d long suspected that he was incredibly strong, but seeing this was impressive to say the least.
I knew that I should be upset by the words coming out of this man, this supposed alpha, but I wasn’t. I found myself numb; there was nothing that could possibly emerge from his mouth that wou
ld hurt me. I knew that he was the horrible one, and I knew in my heart of hearts that I wasn’t the ugly person in this yard.
Tristan wasn’t quite so willing to let Craig’s words go, though.
“She is the most beautiful woman I know,” he snarled, suspending his leader in the air before him, “and the best person I know. And you are a fucking pig.” With that, he advanced a few rapid steps and flung Craig, suit and all, into the pool.
When the alpha came up for breath, gasping with surprise, Tristan shifted. By now the whole crew, much of the wolf pack, was standing outside in the yard watching.
Craig dragged himself out of the water and in a cracking of bones he shifted into his form in front of Tristan. As in a show of solidarity, the crew shifted now: Jay, Susan and the others. Only a few human stragglers stood about.
I wanted to cry out, to tell Tristan not to risk his life for my honour. But a part of me hoped he would show Craig who was the real leader, once and for all.
I wasn’t disappointed. Tristan waited for Craig’s approach, knowing that the alpha would be characteristically hurried and reckless. All he had to do was be patient. The other wolves had given them a wide berth and, as Craig came around the pathway that surrounded the pool, he lunged at the black wolf.
Tristan was ready and waiting and as Craig leapt through the space between them, he reared up on his hind legs and his giant jaw opened. His teeth sank into the grey wolf’s neck and the two conjoined forms twisted in the mid-air and came back down. Tristan had somehow managed to throw Craig onto the ground, his mouth still on the alpha’s throat.
In Craig’s eyes I saw something like fear; the whites were prominently on display. He clearly hadn’t expected this outcome. Tristan stood with his jaw clamped, calm and quiet, not letting up for a second. It was almost like watching a wrestler hold the other down as the referee counted to ten.
After what seemed like several minutes, I heard something. At first I didn’t think it could be coming from the wolves; it sounded like a tiny puppy. It was a whine, a whimper. It was repeated several times and I realized that it was coming from Craig.
When Tristan was satisfied that he’d won, he finally opened his jaw and backed away.
All at once, the pack shifted back into human form; all but the two fighters.
They stood, mostly naked, shreds of clothing all over the elegantly-groomed lawn and patio. In silent reverence they stared at the pair before them.
Finally, Jay said, “We have a new alpha.”
There were mutters of agreement and I wondered if this was really how the rules worked; this wasn’t the “official” sort of fight that I’d imagined. But most of the pack had now seen Tristan easily take the alpha down.
Craig and Tristan shifted now. Tristan stood tall and proud, his sculpted body coated in sweat, while Craig cowered on the ground, a trickle of blood coming from his neck.
“Anyone who disapproves, say nay,” said Jay.
No one spoke.
“All who approve say aye.”
A deafening chorus erupted: “AYE.”
There was a new alpha, and his name was Tristan.
Fifteen: Epilogue
The view from the hotel room was extraordinary. The highest peaks of the mountain range surrounded us and the sun shone in the clear sky, creating the perfect vista on the horizon. A fire was raging in the wood burning stove that sat opposite the bed, and a thick sheepskin rug decorated the floor before it.
Yet I couldn’t take my eyes off the man in front of me.
He studied me from across the room and I began to wonder if he was ever going to approach. But I liked the tension; I knew that I’d never have to spend another day wondering when I’d see him again. He was mine.
Finally he walked over to me on his own terms, the alpha within him dictating his actions. Without a word he pulled me to him, a searing heat emanating from his muscular form. He pressed his lips to mine and I felt myself sinking, falling into the abyss of utter desire, my body throbbing in response to his. My nipples ached against their constraining lace and my pussy tightened in anticipation, pleading with me again to invite the beautiful man inside me. Our tongues teased one another as if to remind each of us of what was yet to come.
Growling, Tristan pushed me back, guiding my body firmly onto the sheepskin. A determined expression in his eyes, he hurriedly unbuttoned my jeans and pulled them down. His face was nothing short of feral as he took in my scent, inhaling deeply, his perfect head between my legs now.
“My God,” he said, kissing the landing strip that led his eager mouth towards the glistening pink flesh that awaited him. He let his tongue explore my firm pink bud for a moment as I sighed, pulling my thighs apart and arching my back to offer myself utterly to him. Hungrily he ate me, a man finally close to satisfaction.
When he’d gotten a thorough taste of my moist pussy, he slid up my body and I felt his hard cock aching to escape his jeans as it pressed against me. His hands reached for the buttons on my blouse and he began to delicately undo one, his impatience making him choose instead to tear the fabric away in one violent action. I heard the buttons hit the floor in a delicate percussion, scattering around the room.
Tristan peeled the lace off of my breasts, wrapping his lips around an erect nipple even as it reddened before his eyes. He teased the other then, gently biting at each, torturing me as my pussy ached and throbbed for his length.
“I love your body, your arousal,” he moaned. “You’re so fucking sexy.”
“How could I not be aroused?” I asked, my voice hoarse with desire. “I’ve wanted you since the first second I saw you.”
He reached down and unbuttoned his jeans, pulling them off along with his boxers. And then his hips were between my thighs and, with a desperate thrust, he was inside me.
At last.
Nothing on earth had ever felt so good. The long, thick cock that I’d wanted since I’d met this man filled me utterly, spreading my eager, tight opening wide and finally beginning to satisfy the hunger within me. We were one, never to be separated again.
Heat poured off our bodies, the wolf in each of us calling out as longing surged through us.
I watched him pull away, slowly, expertly, blissfully observing his glistening cock ease out of me and thrust back in, pure delight on his face. He began to increase his rhythm, my legs pulling his hips into me. My hands caressed his muscled chest, feeling his strength, his heat, his desire through my palms.
I lifted my hips from the ground and gave my body to him, urging him to move hard against me. I wanted to feel every inch of him, the walls of my channel welcoming him in. I wanted to feel his flesh against my clitoris as he moved into me.
I wanted to come for him.
He understood and, looking now into my eyes, he pushed his body into mine again and again, his throbbing member soothing the flesh that had so long ached for him. Each sense was heightened anew; I smelled him, I tasted him, I felt every vein on his cock stroke my swollen opening.
His speed increased and my pink bud pulsed with the sensation of his body’s contact.
“Oh God,” I said. “Yes, just like that, Tristan. My Tristan. Fuck me hard.”
He obliged, taking me with all his strength as I fed off of his brute force.
“I’m going to come, Nikki…I’m going to come inside you…”
With that he closed his eyes and sealed them tightly. I felt him now, pulsing as heat shot through me in an explosion that destroyed us and enlivened us at once. At the same time I came, my body reacting in a series of violent shudders, my pussy squeezing his cock, urging it into prolonged ecstasy.
When our hunger was sated at last, Tristan collapsed on top of me and we lay on the rug in a state of perfect naked contentment, him still inside me, me perfectly happy to have him stay there forever.
“I am going to fuck you every day, every hour if I can,” he moaned. “This is heaven.”
“It is.” I kissed his forehead then, lov
e easing out of my every pore. “Tristan,” I said as his finger slowly ran along the outline of my right breast.
“Mmm?”
“What will happen to the show after all this?”
“Well, we always said it was about twists. So twists they’ll get. There was one camera on when Craig and I fought and somehow we’ve managed to make a final episode out of it---minus the nudity, of course. There are going to be some very disappointed fans, though. You had quite a following, sweetheart.”
“If they’re true fans they’ll be happy to know I’ve ended up with the man of my dreams.”
He looked into my eyes now and smiled. I was confident enough by now to know that what I saw in his face was pure love.
“And I’ve ended up with the woman of mine.”
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