by J. L. Berry
Drake her wolf hummed with happiness.
“Thank you Alpha,” Drake said sounding dismissive. Alpha Grey chuckled and left the room. Drake removed his hands from Autumn’s eyes and moved to kneel before her. “Baby, your Dad called you here so I could ask you something.”
Autumn’s heart was in her throat as she stared into Drake’s eyes. Holy crap. Her heart beat faster as Drake took her hand in his bringing it to his lips and placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles. “Will you have dinner with me?”
A small laugh burst from her lips. Presumptuous much her wolf chastised her. A brief flash of hurt crossed Drake’s eyes and she realised she hadn’t answered.
“Of course I will! Sorry, I wasn’t laughing at you I just.... never mind.”
He smiled gently at her before leaning in and kissing her lightly on the lips. Pulling her to her feet, he slipped his arms around her slim waist and nuzzled the side of neck inhaling her cinnamon apple scent.
“Here I got something for you,” he pulled away from her and spun her to face the coat rack behind the door. On it hung a black garment bag. She smiled coyly over her shoulder at him before stepping forward and opening the bag. Inside hung a midnight blue cocktail dress with a fitted bodice embellished with sequins and a flowing skirt.
Autumn ran her fingers over the soft light fabric, “It’s beautiful thank you.”
Drake stepped behind her kissing her shoulder. “You’re beautiful. I’ll leave you to change and then we’ll go for dinner. There are shoes too in the box.” He kissed the back of her head and headed out of the door.
Autumn took a deep breath. This was not what she expected to be happening this evening and she felt unnecessarily nervous. This was Drake, her childhood friend and long-term boyfriend, there was nothing to be nervous about. Perhaps that was why he chose to do this the day before her birthday, to try and take the pressure off? It amazed her how different things felt within the space of a few hours. How one day she was considered a child and the next she would be a woman with enhanced power and the desire to start her own family.
Refusing to succumb to nerves she changed into the beautiful gifts Drake had given her. The dress fitted her body perfectly without feeling binding. The sliver peep-toe heels complimented the dress although would be impractical to walk very far in, but she knew Drake had a thing for girls in heels. Autumn caught her reflexion in her father’s window and paused. She felt all grown-up all of a sudden. The amber of her necklace brought out the red tones in her hair, the blue of the dress made her skin look creamy and smooth and the heels enhanced her shapely legs. She smiled, knowing her parents had clearly co-ordinated their efforts with Drake. It made her happy to know her family accepted him since he was going to be her mate.
She left her father’s office expecting Drake to be waiting but found the foyer of the main building completely empty. Puzzled she exited via the main door. “Drake?” She called but he was nowhere in sight, neither was anyone else.
Instead what she saw was a trail of tea-lights placed in mason jars their vanilla scent lingering in the air. Autumn gazed in wonder as she followed the lights, weaving their way along the path to the forest. Drake stood at the entrance to the forest dressed in a dark grey suit and white shirt open at the neck. He broke into a beaming smile at the sight of her and she could scent his arousal.
“Wow,” he sighed.
She blushed at the compliment knowing he felt far more than that one simple word conveyed. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her deeply, caressing her tongue with his. He swept her up in his arms bridal style causing her to squeal in surprise. She wrapped her arms around his neck to secure herself as Drake began to walk.
“Those shoes are amazing but not practical for where we’re going,” he advised her cryptically.
Drake carried Autumn along the forest trails towards the lake. She gasped when they finally reached their destination and Drake set her on her feet. A small round table, draped in a white linen cloth with high back chairs was positioned in the clearing. Candles glowed on the tabletop and in strategic places around the area looking like tiny fireflies in the blue dusk. Placing a hand on the small of her back Drake led Autumn to the table and helped her to take her seat. He opened a hamper hidden behind the table and removed two plates covered with metal domes along with a bottle of wine.
After pouring wine into the glasses he removed the metal domes with a flourish, “Ta daa!”
Autumn giggled at his antics, “This looks amazing, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, I hope you like it!”
They ate their meal of date and walnut stuffed chicken with dauphinoise potatoes and green beans while discussing their day. The main course was followed with a New York style cheesecake, Autumn’s favourite. She moaned with contentment as the first mouthful melted in her mouth. “Goddess this is so good.”
Drake chuckled at her shaking his head, “Really? I think there’s a chipmunk the other side of the lake who didn’t quite hear you.”
In a brazen move Autumn replied, “Jealous that the cheesecake makes me moan?”
Drake growled in response his eyes flashing black. Autumn picked up her fork placing the last bite of cheesecake in her mouth and sucked the fork. Drake shifted uncomfortably in his seat as his dick twitched in his pants at the memory of what her mouth could do. As she withdrew the fork slowly from her mouth and placed it on top of her plate Drake surged from his seat round to her side of the table. He placed a hand on each arm of the chair cradling her in as he licked his lips slowly.
“I want you,” he whispered into her ear.
“What happened to delayed gratification?”
“I think we’ve delayed this long enough don’t you?”
Chapter 11:
For the last few days Elijah had been carefully scouting the territory of the forest and searching for more signs of his mate. He became familiar with the pattern of the patrols and so when one evening the pattern changed he sensed an opportunity to delve deeper into the territory. He found himself beside a large lake, the sky reflecting off its glass-like surface. In the distance he could see a table adorned with candlelight. As the breeze blew across the lake toward him he caught her scent, only this time it didn’t disappear and he could appreciate it in its entirety. He’d been wrong about the spiced apple, it was more specific than that.
Cinnamon his wolf hummed, she’s smells like home-baked apple pie. She was coming this way he knew it and his wolf was elated.
A slim but toned girl appeared wearing a fitted midnight blue cocktail dress, her long russet hair cascaded in waves down her back.
Mate! His wolf called out, the happiest he had ever been.
She was escorted to a seat by a tall muscular male with tawny brown hair. What the hell? Who is that guy? Does she not know we’re here his wolf pined.
He watched them enjoy an intimate dinner, his jaw clenched in frustration as he ground his teeth but he held himself in check despite his wolf’s snarling. When the man leapt to the other side of the table trapping his mate in his wolf flipped, surging forward to shift his body.
Mine! He snarled.
Not wanting to draw the attention of any potential patrols he loped around the edge of the lake rather than swimming across. His feet pounded the earth as he weaved between the trees making his way around to the clearing as quickly as possible.
This is it he thought.
His wolf leapt into the clearing, finding it empty. His howl ripped through the night as his wolf was denied the chance to meet his mate properly for the first time.
DRAKE CARRIED AUTUMN back to her parents’ home despite her protests. Setting her down on the front step he brought his lips to hers in a gentle caress. In the distance a wolf howled causing them to giggle, breaking the moment.
“Well someone has great timing,” Drake joked. He gazed into Autumn’s wide grey eyes, “Baby, don’t look so scared. If you want me to go I will, if you want us to just get ready for bed an
d sleep then that’s fine with me too.”
“It’s not that... I want to I just....” she didn’t know how to tell him she was embarrassed that everyone would know what they were doing.
“You’re folks are staying away tonight,” he said gently, understanding her need for privacy. Autumn looked at him with wonder; he always knew what she was thinking and would want before she could even ask for it. Without another word she opened the front door taking his hand as she headed up the stairs to her room.
She opened the door to find her room filled with flowers and candlelight. The scent of lilacs mingled with the vanilla of the candles giving her a sense of peace and comfort. Spinning to face Drake her eyes welled with tears as she fought to prevent them from falling. His hazel eyes were filled with love as he smiled softly at her.
Autumn reached behind her back pulling the zip of her dress down to the bottom. The bodice fell away from her chest and she shimmied the dress over her hips to let it pool at her feet. Goosebumps spread over her skin despite the warmth of the room as Drake’s eyes dilated at the sight of her. He stepped forward gripping the back of her head as he kissed her with fervour. Their tongues tangled as their hands explored the curves of each other’s body’s. Breathless they broke the searing kiss. Drake ran his nose along Autumn’s causing her to sigh in contentment.
“Are you sure?” He asked.
Autumn didn’t reply with words, instead she slipped her hands under the lapels of his jacket pushing it off his shoulders to join her dress on the floor. Swallowing, she started undoing the buttons of his shirt, her hands trembling. She peppered caressing kisses across his bare chest as he pulled his arms from the sleeves. He swiftly unclasped the back of her strapless bra and dropped it to the floor with the rest of their clothes.
“You are so incredibly beautiful,” he murmured into her ear.
Before she could over think the situation he pulled her tight to his chest kissing her again as he inched them back towards the bed. In a fluid motion he lifted her and gently placed her on the mattress his body covering hers as their legs tangled together. Her hands roamed over his sculpted back muscles and biceps as they continued to kiss. Drake’s mouth moved along her jaw and down her neck where he suckled on her skin. Autumn tilted her head backwards granting him easier access as he skimmed one hand down the side of her rib cage to massage her breast. He ducked his head lower taking her erect nipple into his mouth and sucking gently. Autumn writhed beneath him giving off a soft whimper as she threaded her fingers into his hair. Smiling Drake moved his mouth to her other breast while continuing to knead the first.
Slowly, he shifted his hand down her stomach and over the outside of her thong. He lightly ran his fingers over the surface of the material causing Autumn to shiver in response. As he slipped his fingers around the edge he discovered her folds were already wet with arousal. He drew slow circles around her clit as he ground his own erection on her hip. When she began to moan he recaptured her mouth with his, delving his tongue deep to war with hers. She ground her pelvis against his hand desperate to gain more friction. Unable to resist her sweet scent a moment more Drake rose off the bed to remove his trousers and boxers. Autumn raised herself on to her elbows to watch him strip. Her eyes instantly drawn to his rigid length and the salty dew already present at the tip. Unwittingly she licked her lips.
Mine, her wolf growled.
Drake smirked at her with a knowing look in his eyes. In the blink of an eye he had grabbed her ankles and pulled her to the edge of the bed.
“I love these heels on you,” he admitted before feathering kisses up her leg.
He knelt before her, eyes focused on her face as he slowly slipped her thong over her legs. Pushing her knees wide, Drake opened her up before him. Watching her intently, he guided one finger from the top of her cleft to the bottom before slipping it inside her. He felt her clench immediately at the penetration, as he guided his finger in and out at a steady pace.
Autumn couldn’t bring herself to look at him and collapsed back on to the bed closing her eyes. She focused on the pleasure he was strumming from her body as he leaned in and swept his tongue between her folds upwards to flick over her clit. Her hands fisted in the sheets as her thighs tightened around Drake’s head. He placed a hand flat on her stomach keeping her in place as she ground herself onto his face. Inserting a second finger he hooked his fingers slightly to stroke her front wall while he sucked more firmly on her clit. The increased pressure was driving Autumn and her wolf crazy as they begged for release.
“Drake!” She cried out as her toes curled and she felt the orgasm course through her body.
He wiped his face on the sheets as she calmed her racing heart. Drake scooted them further on to the bed and lay down beside her, his erection at her hip. Caressing her cheek with his hand he laid a kiss on her forehead.
“We can stop here if you want?”
Autumn looked at him in surprise, “Don’t you want to?”
“There’s nothing I want more, but I know we’re not officially mates yet and you’ve always wanted to wait.”
“I know, but it’s nearly midnight and I can’t imagine being with anyone else but you.”
She turned on her side to face him, running her fingers teasingly from his chest down to his erect cock. She spread his arousal across the head with her thumb as he closed his eyes groaning with pleasure. All the while she watched him the way he had watched her. He took her hand and rolled her onto her back pinning her beneath him. Drake nuzzled her neck inhaling her scent before he shifted between her legs to position himself at her entrance. Holding his bodyweight on one forearm he cupped her face with his free hand and kissed her as he pushed himself inside as gently as he could.
His heart was as erratic as his wolf, claim her.
“You ok baby?”
Autumn nodded her head as she adjusted to the stretch inside of her. Drake stared into her wide grey eyes searching for the connection he so desperately sought. After giving her a few more seconds to adjust he began to move. He moved slowly but thrust deeply ensuring to feel every last inch of her. After a few strokes she relaxed in his embrace hooking one leg over his hip, allowing him to sink deeper inside her.
“Faster Drake, please,” she begged as she gripped his back to drive him into her.
Smiling, Drake complied powering his hips into hers and was rewarded with a low moan. As they continued, he could feel her walls start to tighten around him and her nails dug into his back. Drake could feel his own release building but used every ounce of self restraint he had to hold on. Autumn felt her body begin to change; she felt a surge of power course through her veins as she became acutely more aware of everything around her. The amber necklace around her neck began to glow softly and as Drake continued to thrust inside her she cried out in bliss.
Holy shit!
ELIJAH HAD FOLLOWED his mate’s scent to the edge of the forest. Ahead he could see houses sorted into streets but given it was now approaching midnight thankfully there was nobody outside. He spied a wooden crate located near the forest entrance which piqued his interest. Shifting into his human form he opened the lid to find a variety of clothes stored inside.
Convenient.
Quickly donning a pair of shorts and a fitted v-neck t-shirt he turned his attention back to finding his mate. This was clearly her pack as her scent lingered everywhere along the streets, as if she passed by daily.
His wolf growled in frustration, we must find her quickly! He tried to calm him and insisted that not being discovered was more important right now.
No, now! Was the irate response. What did he sense that Elijah did not?
Keeping to the shadows, Elijah slipped quickly from house to house until he came across a two story lodge style house with a front porch. Her scent seemed far stronger here and he was sure this must be where she lived. As he approached the front step he inhaled a fresh dose of her cinnamon apple along with a mix of other smells but particularly citrus.
>
Elijah paused, uncertain how to proceed. He couldn’t just walk right in to someone’s home could he? What if her family were there? He was certain having a random stranger walk into your room in the middle of the night was not a good thing, even if they were your mate.
We’ll come back in the morning he told his wolf but his wolf was extremely agitated.
Now, must be now, or we will lose mate! Elijah fought to keep control as his wolf tried to take over against his wishes. But he trusted his instincts and headed up the steps quietly.
Elijah cautiously opened the front door. He heard a woman cry from upstairs, only it wasn’t a cry of pain like he was used to hearing. This was a cry of ecstasy.
Mate!
He darted up the stairs and smelt the sexual pheromones in the air. He understood his wolf’s anger at that moment.
How dare someone else touch our mate.
DRAKE SAW THE GLOW of the necklace and the change in Autumn as her eighteenth birthday dawned. She had never looked so beautiful with her head thrown back in pleasure. As he drove himself deep inside her he swept the hair away from her neck. Drake kissed his way from her jaw down her neck, finding the junction where it met her collarbone. He licked slowly where he wished to claim her and Autumn gasped in response.
Mate! Her wolf called out to her.
“Yes,” she cried as her body tipped over the edge into another orgasm. Drake felt himself surge as Autumn’s walls clamped around his shaft. Knowing he was moments away from finding his own release he lengthened his canines and pierced her neck.
Chapter 12:
With an almighty smash Autumn’s bedroom door was flung open and hit the wall. She screamed in shock as she freed herself from Drake and scrabbled to cover them with her bed sheet. Her sudden movement caused a sickening snap making Drake curse out loud in pain. He had still been thrusting inside her when she scrabbled away, catching his erection at an awkward angle. The pain was excruciating as his penis instantly became limp. Elijah stood in the doorway, his towering frame shaking with anger. His eyes locked on Autumn’s wide petrified stare.
