Mating Dance

by Merryn Dexter

  “Sander.” His name on her lips was a sigh, a plea, a benediction as he lowered her onto her back. He tugged the thong and her jeans free until she was naked except for her bra. Exerting gentle pressure to her knees, he spread her thighs, laying her open before his greedy eyes. A dusting of blonde curls framed her sex, arousal glistening between the folds. The sweet fragrance of her passion hit like a drug to his senses. Unable to fight the need to taste her, he thrust his hands under her ass, lifting her hips to meet his mouth.

  Sharp, sweet, with just a hint of salt, her essence coated his tongue as he buried it deep in her pussy. Her hands gripped his hair, trying to tug him away as she gasped in shock at the sudden invasion. Refusing to yield, he shifted his mouth to suck her clit, teasing the tight bundle until the pressure from her fingers relaxed and dropped away. He growled his approval, knowing the vibrations would further stimulate her, and she cried out, bucking against his face.

  Wetness coated his chin, and he slid lower to gather her cream with long, deep licks. Raising his eyes, he stared up her body, continuing to lap at her. Her breasts heaved as she panted, and the muscles of her stomach pulled taut as she lifted her hips in offering. Turning his head, he bit the inside of her thigh before sitting back on his heels. She whimpered at the loss of his tongue, and he replaced it with a thick finger, pressing slow and deep before withdrawing to circle the entrance of her pussy. “Feeling good, darling?” he murmured, and she hummed softly, rocking her hips so the heel of his hand rubbed against her clit.

  Adding another finger, he worked her open. Thrusting and twisting, he leaned forward, increasing the pressure of his palm. He braced himself with his other hand, resting it beside her head. Aqua eyes met his as he fixed his mouth on hers. Sharing her taste, he mimicked the action of his fingers with his tongue. Nails scratching at his shoulders, she clutched him closer, moaning her pleasure into his mouth.

  Her hips faltered, losing their rhythm, and he knew she was close. Pulling free, he shifted his attention to the curve of her neck. “Come for me,” he demanded, biting down on the tender flesh at the top of her shoulder. The dominant command all she needed, she turned into his cheek, muffling a scream as she fell over the edge.

  A heavy fist thumped against the wooden door. Sander jerked away, crouching over his vulnerable mate, snarling in fury at the intrusion. “Hey! You kids need to cool off.” The deep rumbling voice was unmistakable. With a squeak of horror, Rory wriggled out from under Sander and scrambled into her shirt.

  The knock came again, and she whispered, “Pants, where are my pants?”

  A laugh burst from his mouth.

  “It’s not funny!” she hissed, glaring at him as she thrust her legs into her jeans.

  “It kind of is,” he replied, moving to the door, checking she was decently covered before undoing the bolt. Leaning against the doorframe, he crossed his arms over his bare chest, making sure to block the entrance as much as possible. “Hey, Gee. What’s up?”

  The big bear blinked a couple of times, impressing Sander with his composure. “Hey, Sander. Just wanted to say it’s good to have you back in town.” A muscle in Gee’s cheek twitched when an embarrassed whimper came from within the shack. “Well, hopefully I’ll see you guys at The Den sometime soon. First round’s on me.” With a nod, and a quick “See ya, Rory,” Gee moved off shaking his head and muttering, “What is it with that Burrows family? Why can’t they find a nice comfortable bed, like normal wolves?”

  Sander spun on his heel, laughing as he watched Rory shake her leg until her thong slid out of the bottom of her jeans. “So you ready to try for a home run?” He grinned, ducking a cushion whizzing toward his head. “Rain check?”

  Her scream echoed around the shack. Maybe not….

  Chapter Eight

  The dance was two weeks away and Rory was at the end of her tether with “helpful” suggestions regarding the decoration of the hall. She was beginning to wish she had stood firm against the matrons and refused to be involved. Yeah, like that was even an option. Between the bickering at the committee meetings and the rising sexual tension between herself and Sander, her head spun.

  He’d been patient with her, infuriatingly so at times, but he didn’t seem in any hurry to claim her. The insecure young girl haunted the back of her mind, worried he didn’t feel the same connection. The urge to claim him, to pour forth the words of love in her heart intensified every day, but fear of rejection held her mute. With a sigh, she bent her head to the task of twisting thick wire to form the framework of the huge wreath that would hang suspended from the upper-floor balcony of the hall. Her student volunteers were working on longer looping frames that would garland either side of the wreath.

  It was Saturday morning, and she had been surprised when the teens turned up early to help. Other members of the pack passed through, wanting a peek at the almost-completed structure. It was a pleasing sign of the positive improvements within the pack how many sat down to lend a hand. Before she knew it, she had a regular production line going.

  The theme of the dance was renewal. A traditional spring theme as Rory wanted to acknowledge the history of the dance, tracing it back to its earliest time as a rite to appeal to the spirits for their blessing on the new season’s plantings. The recent resurrection of the Winter Solstice celebrations had been a success in spite of the horrors that had followed soon after. The alpha was keen to continue with events to bind the pack closer together. It had only been a year since his return, and old hurts and bad memories would take a long time to heal.

  A pack run had been called for that evening, another example of the unifying activities being reintroduced. The human half of their natures had seen Drew heal from his gunshot wound, but the wolves needed to see their alpha, too. Run with him, hunt with him, mark their territory anew with the melded scents of family and home. It had been a long time since Rory had been on a pack run, and she was nervous in the extreme. The injury to her right hand was less obvious in human form, but she couldn’t disguise it when she ran as a wolf. Limped as a wolf, more accurately, as the missing claws made it hard for her to distribute her weight.

  She’d been invited to join the Burrows, shift at their home, and meet up with the rest of the pack as part of their group. Hannah would stay at home with Bridie and Will who were closing the restaurant for the night. It was going to be Jessie’s first run, and the little girl was beside herself with excitement, according to Sander. Most children didn’t experience their first shift until they were older, but the healing that had saved the little girl’s life had awoken the latent wolf genes in her heritage.

  Her thoughts wandered as her fingers twisted and shaped the pliable wire. The kids chattered among themselves, the group expanding and contracting as people came and went. A shadow crossed over her, and she lifted her head as Stefan squatted beside her.

  “Have you seen Daniel anywhere this morning?” he asked, a frown marring his brow. She pondered a moment before responding. A lot of people had passed through, and she sifted the images and scents in her recent memory.

  “No, I can’t recall him being around this morning. Have you asked the others?” She nodded toward her teens. When he confirmed he had, she offered another alternative. “Maybe he’s with Sander.” As though summoned by her mention of his name, the fresh wintergreen scent that stirred her body and soul swirled in the air. Wolf and woman locked immediately on the source as Sander strode across the large room, his focus just as keen.

  Uncaring of their audience, he went to one knee before her, cupping her face to press a kiss to her lips. The response within her drew a chuckle of very male satisfaction from him. He turned to his brother, clasping his shoulder in greeting. “Everything okay, Stefan?”

  “I was just explaining to Rory, Daniel hasn’t shown up this morning. I’d arranged to help him with the transfer of his mural onto the wall.” He paused, sighing briefly. “This is the third meeting he’s missed.”

  Co
ncern laced her mate’s scent as he rose abruptly, shoving his hands on his hips as he huffed out a breath. “I’m guessing there’s an issue with his mom. I don’t know the full story, but she seems to be on her own with Daniel and a couple of little ones. I’d better go over there and check on him.”

  Rory scrambled to her feet. Placing her hand on his chest, she looked into his eyes. “You’re really worried, aren’t you?”

  He nodded.

  “I’ll come with you. We’ve achieved a lot more than I expected, thanks to so many volunteers.” Hand in hand, they moved through the hall, Rory pausing to thank various people on the way.

  Their route took them along Main Street, busy with pack members shopping, browsing, or just passing the time of day. Another sign of the returning health of their community. Two groups met in a laughing tangle at the entrance to the convenience store, performing that universal left-right sidestep as they tried to pass each other. A small boy toddled free of the group, wobbling toward the steps. With a shout of alarm, Rory dashed forward, scooping up the little boy moments before he tumbled off the top step. The little darling giggled and patted her cheek, seemingly oblivious to the danger he’d been in.

  “Oh, Cody!” a woman cried as she hurried toward her, snatching the child from Rory’s arms. Cody’s mother turned without a word of thanks to yell at the familiar teenager struggling to control an identical small boy, clearly Cody’s twin. “Danny! What were you thinking? All I ask is for a little help, but you can’t manage even the simplest of tasks!” The teen ducked his head, cheeks flushed, mumbling an apology as he finally got his little charge under control.

  Rory glanced up at Sander. His arms were folded and a soft growl rumbled in his throat. Casual observers took note of his hostile body language and moved away, leaving them isolated on the steps of the store. The woman’s tirade trailed off and she spun to face them. Dark-purple smudges lay heavy beneath her brown eyes, lines of tension furrowing her brow and bracketing the sides of her mouth. Her light-brown hair fell in a limp tail down her back, her scent heavy with stress. Julia Maddox looked older than her forty-eight years, a rare occurrence in wolves owing to their extended life-span. A scowl further darkened her features as she thrust the toddler at her elder son and started to herd her family down the steps.

  “We missed you at the youth club today, Daniel.” The ice in Sander’s tone was unlike anything Rory had heard before, and she placed a restraining hand on his arm.

  “He doesn’t have time for nonsense like that,” Julia snapped, giving her son a small push when he would have stopped to talk. Poor kid. Rory’s heart ached as Daniel curled in upon himself, steering his little brothers away.

  “He has real talent, Ms. Maddox—”

  Julia snarled and rounded on him. “Talent doesn’t put food on the table. Talent doesn’t help me pay our bills. I need Daniel at home, minding the twins, not messing around with pencils and paint! As soon as school is over, he’ll be out to work. Stop filling his head with stupid dreams of things that can’t happen! Correspondence courses for art school?” she scoffed. “It’s all well and good for the likes of you with plenty of money. He needs a job!” An ugly flush mottled her skin and tears glinted in her eyes as she railed at him.

  Rory stepped forward, wanting to comfort her distressed pack mate, but Julia shook her off. “You weren’t here, Sander Burrows! You don’t know what it’s been like! You think you can just waltz back into town and tell me how to raise my child?” Her voice was shrill, tears coursing down her cheeks. “Why did you come back? Why did you come back and he didn’t?” The words were barely intelligible through her sobs, and Rory caught her as she crumpled to the ground.

  Familiar scents surrounded them as the matrons descended. Miss Claire stroked Julia’s hair, whispering soothing words, Miss Fern crouching beside her. “Oh, Julia dear. Hush now, it’ll be all right.”

  The elder wolves took the distressed woman in hand, and Rory eased her way out of the huddle, moving swiftly toward Daniel who stared in horror at his mother, the twins clinging to his legs. She touched each of the little ones on the head before stroking the boy’s cheek.

  “I know it hurts, Daniel, but this is for the best. Your mom has obviously been trying to do too much on her own, and that’s not how pack is supposed to work.” She glanced over her shoulder as Betty, the alpha’s mate, joined the group. Daniel whined, and Rory patted his back. “Now the betas are aware of things, they’ll make sure your mom has all the support she needs.”

  “It’s my fault, though. I let her down by being selfish….” The words were barely audible, but they hurt her heart.

  “Daniel, sweetheart, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. Magnum did this, not you. He tore so many families apart, just like yours.” The boy’s breath hitched and he pressed his forehead into Rory’s shoulder. She rubbed his back, watching Sander who stood deep in conversation with Miss Kathy. As though feeling her stare, he glanced up, his eyes raw with pain. Her wolf surged, desperate to comfort their mate, but the boy she held needed her support more than the man. She nodded to show him Daniel was okay, and Sander turned his attention back to the fierce old woman.

  Knowing her friends would support her, she drew back until Daniel raised his wet face. Brushing the tears away with the back of her hand, she smiled. “The pack run is tonight.” Daniel nodded hesitantly, looking down at his little brothers who were patting and rubbing his legs as they tried to comfort him. “You and your mom will run with us tonight. Bring the boys to the Burrows’ house, Hannah will watch over them. She’ll have Will and Bridie to help her. Your mom knows them, doesn’t she?”

  Hope bloomed in his expression, and Rory battled to hold in a sigh. This little family had come too close to slipping through the cracks. She’d been selfish herself, keeping the pack at arm’s length, interacting when she chose to. Like so many others, self-preservation had taken priority over the needs of the pack. It was time to stop letting fear rule their lives. They would only thrive and heal when everyone played their part, including her.

  ***

  The small blonde wolf shook vigorously, settling her fur as she adjusted from the shift. A thick muzzle rubbed along hers as the huge gray wolf turned from his protective stance to press against her. Sander towered over her in both forms, and she leaned her weight against his solid body as he whuffed and curled his head over her back, pressing her closer.

  An even-larger gray wolf nudged a petite russet female behind him. Rory lolled her tongue out in a laugh when the little omega nipped her mate on the tail. Ven had similar coloring to the other males, Caitlyn a smaller version of her mother’s red wolf form. A little brown pup gamboled from adult to adult, each one lowering to touch noses, scent marking their precious child. A shy pair of light-brown wolves were encouraged forward by Marjorie, as Julia and Daniel joined them. Stefan took point, his mate at his side, and the rest of the wolves formed a group around Caleb and Jessie. Ven took the rear, Caitlyn directly in front of him, and they moved off, loping toward the main meeting point for the run.

  The moon hung low and full in the sky, watching over her children as wolves poured from every direction to gather around the pair of black wolves at the very center of the group—the alpha and his mate. The pack ebbed and swelled like a living being as they turned and mingled, greeting friends, noting the location of others who might challenge for dominance.

  Excitement painted the air as anticipation built, muscles bunched as the wolves watched and waited for the signal. Satisfied the pack was gathered, Drew threw back his head and loosed a howl which was picked up and echoed by all present. The eerie song rippled through the woods, a warning to their prey to flee, a challenge to other predators. The Tao Pack would brook no threats. As one, the wolves surged forward, flowing like water over the land.

  This was home. Written in every rock and tree, the song of the pack hummed beneath their paws as they roamed wide and free across their territory,
renewing their bonds with the nurturing soil. Scents and sounds combined as the pack raced through their home. Splitting into smaller groups, they spread out in all directions. Rory’s heart beat fast as the ground fell away beneath her paws, breath misting in the cool night air. The essence of family surrounded her, Sander never far from her side as the group stayed together. Daniel surged forward, bracketed by Stefan and Caleb while the females closed around Jessie. The boy’s excited yip echoed through the trees when a rabbit dashed from cover and he leapt in pursuit.

  The trickle of a stream over rocks called to them, and they paused to rest, lapping at the icy-cold water. The trio of males would return once Daniel had captured or lost his prey. Sander and Ven positioned themselves to guard the females and the cub, relaxed but attentive. Rory took her turn at the stream and Marjorie curled on the ground, Jessie slumped tired but happy against her flank.

  An unwelcome scent caught Rory’s attention, sharp like green apples. She turned, snarling at a pale-gray wolf who stepped daintily from beneath the trees too close to Sander. Rory’s hackles rose as wolf and woman gave name to the threat—Carolina. A contemporary from their youth. Beautiful, confident, and an utter bitch in both forms. Rory’s lips drew back, baring her sharp teeth at the trespasser. Fury surged in her blood as Rory darted forward to snap at Carolina when she stepped too close to her mate. Forcing the female back, she assumed a blocking stance, her body shielding Sander. She snarled again. The gray circled, feinting forward to nip at Rory’s flank, but she held her position, raising a paw to swipe her opponent’s muzzle when she moved too slowly.

  The gray yipped, turned and charged, aiming deliberately for Rory’s weaker front right leg. The blow staggered her, but she was used to carrying most of her weight on three paws and didn’t go down. This wasn’t the first time the other female had challenged her. Carolina had a reputation as a bully using her superior strength against wolves she deemed inferior. She’d been the same when they were growing up, teasing and taunting with words as well as her claws. She also wasn’t particularly bright, and her attacks lacked variety, so Rory knew what to expect.