by Melissa Haag
“I will clear the room after we eat.”
* * * *
When Charlene entered, half the pack was already in the main room. The scent of cooking sausage had brought them in.
She immediately went to the stove and took the fork from Mary. Each pop and sizzle made her jump and wince.
The grease is hot, Thomas. She’s burning herself, Mary sent me.
I went over to Charlene and held out my hand for the fork.
“Please,” I said, watching her wince as another spot of grease landed on the back of her hand. “Let me.”
“No, it’s okay.”
The spot was getting redder so I plucked the fork from her hand.
“Mary, pump some cold water for her, please.” I nudged Charlene toward the sink.
“Bully,” she mumbled as she slowly did as I asked.
As the pump groaned, I flipped through the sausages. They were brown on the outside and greyish all the way through. No pink.
“They’re done,” I said.
The waiting males hurried to line up behind me. I took a plate and loaded it with enough sausages and eggs to feed both Charlene and me. Taking the dish to the table, I set it down and looked toward Charlene. Mary stopped pumping and went to join Gregory in line. Charlene looked at our plate, then the line, and starting moving across the room. When she would have passed me, I grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the bench.
She smiled and sat with me. I handed her a fork, and she dug in with the same enthusiasm she had with the cereal. I waited, willing to let her eat her fill.
As she chewed, she skewered a sausage and waved it in front of my face. She swallowed and grinned.
“If you don’t start eating, there won’t be anything left.”
I chuckled and bit the sausage off her fork. She quickly went back to eating. I picked up my fork and slowly started to eat. I didn’t want to take anything away from her. If hunger still clawed at me when we finished, I could go catch a rabbit. She couldn’t.
After she cleared her side of the plate and had stolen a few bites from my half, she set down her fork with a groan. I pulled the plate closer and ate the rest in a few bites.
Her fork was still on the side of the plate. I licked that clean too, enjoying the taste of her.
It’s time to leave, I sent the pack members, respecting Winifred’s request.
As I stood and carried the dishes to the sink, so did the rest.
No matter the answers, talk to me before you act, I sent Winifred.
I will.
Winifred said that I should stay to help clean, Mary sent me. I’ll leave as soon as I’m done.
Moving to the door, I left Winifred with Charlene, Mary, and Ann while the males followed me outside.
“Winifred brought the netting we needed. The coup is finished,” Anton said when the door closed. “We just need the pheasants and their food supply.”
“I’ll help,” Carl said. He and Bine had enough wood stacked for the winter. If more was needed, we could cut during the cold. However, catching pheasants couldn’t wait.
“We should gather dried grasses, too,” Hem said. “I can start that. I’ve finished off the wood we had to make window covers.”
While they went to work, Gregory lingered in the clearing with me. Mary joined us outside several minutes later.
“We’ll hunt for lunch,” Mary said, taking Gregory’s hand. I was sure they would do more than hunt.
They left me alone to pace the clearing as the scent of warm chocolate drifted from the building.
Instinctively, I reached out to Grey and encountered the empty place where his connection with me had once been. I’d never missed Grey more than in that moment. He would have talked to me, distracted me with some kind of foolish exchange, and helped me see a brighter future instead of letting the horrible worry and fear race inside my head.
Everything is fine, Thomas Winifred suddenly sent me. She can control human will, manipulate them to do as she wants. Her gift works differently with us. She can move us with her mind but not control us. Jean and I see no threat in her gift.
I exhaled shakily and rubbed my forehead.
Thank you.
Now stop pacing and go help your pack. We’ll have cookies when you’re finished.
I spent the rest of the morning chasing pheasants.
THIRTEEN
After a weekend of fruitless pheasant hunting and mediocre metal scavenging, Gregory and I watched Winifred pull from the yard. Charlene turned away from the door and went back inside. I could see the restlessness already building in her.
“I’m going to take Charlene out to look at sanctuary land. She gets restless here,” I said to Gregory.
“Mary said the same thing. Charlene seems bored. I’ll keep an eye on things.”
I snorted.
“The only thing you’ll be eyeing is Mary.”
“You have no idea. She’s under my skin and in my blood. I can barely think straight. I just want to touch her all the time,” he said softly as we moved toward the rest of the pack near the edge of the clearing.
“Then you two can stay here and keep an eye on things,” I agreed.
He wouldn’t be much help anywhere else.
After two days with eggs and sausage for breakfast, Anton and the rest of the pack were willing to spend more time trying to catch pheasants. I would have never thought killing them was easier than bringing them back alive. But it was.
As soon as they left, Gregory and I went inside to join the females.
“Ready, Charlene?” I asked.
“For what?” She set aside the plate she’d just dried.
“I thought we’d start with a walk along the north border.”
“Is that far?” She wiped her hands on her jeans.
“Far enough that I’d need to carry you there and back if we don’t want to sleep out there.”
She looked at Mary, who was eyeing Gregory. The mating pull still gripped the pair, and I knew how they would be spending their day.
“Did you need me here for anything?” Charlene asked her.
“No. Go on and enjoy your day. Gregory and I will find something here to occupy ourselves.”
A slow grin spread on Gregory’s face.
Charlene blushed and focused on me.
“All right.”
I motioned for her to lead the way out the door. As soon as we were in the yard, I scooped her up in my arms. Her hand pressed against my chest, distracting me as I ran toward the lake.
What Gregory said about Mary was exactly how it felt when I was near Charlene. I’d wanted her for my own from the moment I scented her. Not Claiming her was killing me. The need to connect with her drove each decision I made. I was trying to be patient and win her affection the human way, but I desperately wished biting would have worked.
She turned her head just then, likely hiding from the cool wind. However, the brush of breath against my chest robbed the move of any innocence as she laid her cheek against my shoulder. I strove to ignore it, to keep going. But when she set her hand over my heart, I had to stop and set her on her feet. She was killing me with need.
She looked up at me, puzzled and uncertain. I reached for her hand and lifted it back up to where it had rested. Over my heart. Did she know she owned it? That she owned all of me?
I brought her other hand up and set it on my chest, reveling in the feel of her skin against mine. It soothed and tortured me. Pleasure and pain. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“I never thought such a simple touch could do so much,” I said. “I understand what Gregory means.”
“About what?”
“Every little thing Mary does drives him crazy. All he wants to do is touch her, hold her close. The waiting is testing his resolve.”
Keeping her palm over my heart with one hand, I reached out with the other to lightly traced the curve of her jaw.
“You tempt me, Charlene. I want to kiss you every time I see y
ou and lay beside you every night. Claimed or not, I belong to you; and the distance you want is getting harder to maintain.”
I hoped honesty would help sway her. Skimming my thumb over the edge of her bottom lip, I listened to her breath catch.
“Thomas, please. I can’t...”
Her lips said no but her body said yes with her scent and the way she leaned into my touch. Which did I listen to?
“We don’t know what will happen when the rest of your pack returns.”
Her gaze pleaded with me to understand and respect her words. Frustrated, I dropped my hand.
“Right.”
I picked her up again and continued running. We passed the lake in no time and moved further out. When we neared the border, I slowed. I didn’t want to set her down, but knew she wouldn’t want to be carried the whole time. So I compromised. I eased her to her feet but kept an arm around her shoulders.
She glanced up at me, a questioning look in her eyes. She wouldn’t let me get away with even a little contact. Disgruntled but determined not to show it, I quickly dropped a kiss on her forehead and released her.
“This is the edge of sanctuary territory. Winifred posted it when she officially purchased it.” I pointed to a sign that prohibited the hunting of any animal on the land. Not far, there was another sign nailed to a tree. Winifred had done everything humanly possible to keep humans from hunting sanctuary lands.
“Beyond this, there are a few parcels of open land and then protected land. It’s perfectly placed for us to roam. But only here are we truly safe.”
I waved to the left, and we started walking.
“My mother and father ran on a stretch of land much further north. I grew up with snow three of the four seasons. When they died, Grey and I decided to head south. We’d heard about this place and were curious why an Elder would waste time with it. It lived up to our low expectations. Still, we stayed in the area.”
“How long ago was that?” she asked.
“Grey was twelve, and I was nine.”
“That’s a long time to be on your own.”
“Not on my own. I’ve had Grey.” Mentioning him made the hollowness ache.
“If Grey’s older, why are you the pack’s leader?”
I laughed slightly.
“If you asked Grey that question, he’d tell you he spent enough time leading me that he didn’t want to do it anymore. And maybe some of that is the truth. He’s always watched out for me. I think pushing me to lead the pack was another way of leading me. If that makes sense.”
She didn’t say more, and for a long while we walked in silence. I paid attention to the sounds around us, listening to and learning about the territory I hoped to hold for a long time. The rustle of small game assured me that there would be food come winter, but I knew we would need to expand our reach if the pack continued at its current size. The lake would help. And from the gurgling sound ahead, the lake might not be our only source for fishy food.
Eventually, Charlene’s stomach started to rumble. I grinned at her and took her hand in mine.
“There’s a creek ahead.”
It wasn’t large, no more than a meter or two across, but I was sure we’d find something edible in its waters. Dropping to my knees on the bank, I leaned over the waters and watched for movement. Something dark skittered beneath the clear surface. With a fast grab, I pulled a crayfish from the water.
I showed it to Charlene, who looked skeptical.
“What is that?”
“Lunch.” I broke off the tail and sucked out the meat to show her how it was done.
She stared at me with growing revulsion. Her gaze flicked to the still wriggling top half.
“Sorry,” I said, quickly tossing it into the water. Her gaze remained locked on the creature as I stood.
“You were fine with the fish,” I said, not quite sure how crayfish were any different.
She tore her gaze from the water and blinked at me before answering.
“It’s fine, Thomas. Just a bit shocking. I’m not that hungry anymore.”
Her pulse skipped at the lie. Still, I nodded and led her away from the creek. It didn’t take long for me to realize my mistake. The fish had been cooked. Humans didn’t eat raw food. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of that. What could I possibly find out here, this late in the season, that she would eat? Nothing. I hated the idea of returning so early. I’d wanted to spend the whole day with her.
A tangy-sweet smell tickled my nose and I looked around. Berries. I could smell them.
Moving through the bramble, I found a small patch of picked over blackberries.
“Better?” I asked.
“Much,” she said with a relieved smile. We worked together to find some with enough juice left in them to eat. She ate everything she picked and licked her stained fingers when she couldn’t find any more.
“Here,” I said, holding out the handful I’d gathered.
“It’s all right. You eat them.”
I ate one then extended my hand again. “Your turn.”
She hesitated for a moment then took one. She was stubborn and wouldn’t take another until I did. We continued walking the property line when we finished.
“So what exactly are we doing out here?” Charlene asked after several minutes of silence.
“Keeping you from loneliness.”
She stopped walking and turned toward me.
“Thomas, I didn’t mean to take you away from your responsibilities.”
“I can do what’s needed from here,” I said, touching my head. “I thought you wanted space. That was the only reason I stayed away.”
Her clear expression clouded. Confusion drifted over her features, then worry, and finally uncertainty. The whole while, a light wisp of desire flavored her scent.
“Maybe we should head back,” she said.
I scooped her up in my arms and gazed down at her.
“Haven’t you figured it out yet? You don’t need to run from me. I’m willing to be whatever you need. Even patient.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly, and I knew I’d guessed right. She was attracted to me, but something was holding her back. I hoped it wasn’t her silly human ideas about age. I wasn’t some human boy. I wouldn’t mate with her then leave her. What I offered was for the duration of both our lives.
Focusing on the trees, I started home.
* * * *
I paced her bedroom and watched her sleep. The weak moonlight barely shone on her hair. Yet, I had no problem seeing each rise and fall of her chest.
The day hadn’t gone as I’d planned. Instead of keeping her company and bringing us closer, she’d fled inside as soon as we’d returned. Throughout dinner, she’d remained quiet and withdrawn. And it was killing me.
I knew I wasn’t welcome in her bed. She’d been very clear about that the last time she’d pushed me from it. But I needed to touch her. To feel connected.
Unable to help myself I moved closer and stared down at her. Her lips were slightly parted, her expression peacefully relaxed.
If I kept it innocent, she wouldn’t mind. Would she? I considered the space on the mattress beside her. She hadn’t left me much room, but I could manage. Easing myself down beside her, I listened to her breathing. When it remained steady, I shifted my weight leaning on her just a bit to stay on the mattress. With a sigh, I draped my arm across her waist and set my head on her chest.
The steady beat of her heart soothed me, and I started to drift off.
I couldn’t be sure how long I slept before I heard her breathing change. At some point I’d moved. My head was next to hers with my mouth close to her shoulder. I had her legs pinned with one of mine and my chest was half on top of hers.
The contact made me tingle, and I didn’t want to move. She wiggled under me and a bolt of need hit me hard in the gut. It took everything I had not to rub my hips against hers.
She grabbed my shoulder and pushed. There was no way I was leaving
.
“Thomas,” she whispered. “Wake up.”
Nope. She’d need to push me off the bed again.
“Thomas,” she said right in my ear.
The volume hurt, but the brush of her breath just spiked my need higher.
“Now what?” she whispered.
Go to sleep, I thought. Or kiss me. Yeah. Kisses trailed along my neck. My skin heated at the thought.
Then she turned her head toward me. Toward my neck. My heart began to pound fiercely. I heard her lips part. Her breath tickled my ear as she leaned closer. The feel of her teeth on the shell of my ear almost broke my control.
Panic washed over her scent.
“Please tell me you’re awake and in control of yourself,” she said, a warble of fear in her words.
“Barely.”
“Barely awake or barely in control?”
“Both.”
I turned my head and brushed my lips against her ear. My canines were long, but I didn’t plan to bite her. Yet, I needed a taste. A sip of her sweetness.
She shivered under me and moved into my touch.
“Thomas, I can’t breathe.”
“I have the same problem when I’m this close to you.” I ran my tongue around her ear.
She shivered again and turned her head away from me, giving me better access.
“No, Thomas. You’re too heavy. I can’t breathe right.”
I lifted myself slightly and trailed kisses from her ear to her jaw to her chin. Her lungs rose and fell in short excited breaths. Unable to wait longer, I claimed her lips.
She sighed and wrapped her arms around me. Her fingers gently stroked my back. I gently pressed my hips against her, trying to ease the growing ache as I nipped her bottom lip. She opened her mouth to me. I growled and dipped my tongue inside. Her hands pressed against my back, encouraging me as her tongue met mine. I shuddered and moved to fully settle on top her. The first touch of my hips to hers caused her to pull away from the kiss.
Panic engulfed her, and she pushed at my shoulders.
“Stop.”
I groaned and immediately pulled back but I didn’t move away. She stared up at me, her wet lips begging for another kiss I knew she wasn’t yet ready for. Dropping my forehead to her pillow, I tried to calm myself.
