by Delta James
The door to Declan’s room opened and Ava whirled around to find herself face-to-face with Bethan.
“And you do not give him enough,” Bethan said gently.
She crossed the room and pulled Ava close. Ava resisted at first, keeping her body rigid but when Bethan refused to relinquish her hold, Ava collapsed against her, sobbing.
“Oh, God, Bethan I’ve made such a mess of things. He could die because of me.”
“There now, Ava, everything will be fine. I spoke with Greg, what a lovely man, he said Declan is transitioning easily. He attributes that to you being close to his side. We’ve been so worried about you.”
“Maybe you...”
“No maybe about it and not just me... all of us. Ioan and Colum both have been moving heaven and earth to find you.”
“See now, Ava, I told you that your pack would be looking for you,” said Bess, smiling.
Ava pulled away from Bethan. “Only because Ioan intends to make some kind of strategic alliance for the benefit of Calon Onest using me as a bartering chip. Too bad I’m not a virgin, I’m sure I’d have fetched a better price.”
Ava felt the crack of Bethan’s slap across her cheek before she ever saw it coming.
“That is enough, Ava. I will not stand by while you slander my mate, who I might remind you is also your alpha.”
Ava could do nothing but stare at Bethan in disbelief. Never before had she seen her raise her hand to another soul. Bethan was always the model of serene composure and kindness.
Bethan turned to Bess. “I’m sorry you had to see that.”
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for, Mistress. I rather suspect our dear Ava had that coming.”
Bethan approached Declan’s unconscious form. “So this is our newest alpha wolf. I can see why you got carried away.”
Declan was lying on his back, his powerful chest and six-pack abs bare and revealed as he had pushed the covers down to below his waist. Ava was shocked to see Bethan trail her hand down from the bite wound, which was healing but looked like it would scar, between his muscled pecs and down the center line of his body.
Ava growled low and menacingly.
Bethan turned back to her and smiled. “I thought that must be it from what Rozalyn said.” She turned back to Bess. “Delightful young woman, your mistress. They say she was beta at Bae Diogel. Their alpha was once mated to my older brother.”
Bess smiled. “Yes, Mistress. We’re all very happy Oliver took her to mate.”
“That’s not nice, Bethan,” said Ava through clenched teeth.
“If you’re going to be honest, you might admit I’m owed a bit of payback for your naughtiness.”
“Perhaps,” agreed Ava quietly. “But I won’t go back.”
“I rather doubt this one would allow it, when he wakes. Oliver says he’s an alpha and that he would bet everything his pack owns that he will claim you.”
“And what about what I want?”
Bethan laughed. “What do you want, Ava? Do you even know? Or, as I suspect, do you know but refuse to admit it?”
“I think, Mistress, that our Ava is afraid to even admit she wants it.”
Bethan turned back to Bess. “That could very well be. But it’s understandable. I fear that we didn’t always understand how deeply seated Ava’s feelings of not belonging ran.”
Taking Ava’s hand in hers, she continued, “And for that, my sweet girl, I am so profoundly sorry. Ioan, Colum, and I feel as though we all failed you.”
“You never failed me. I failed myself and the pack,” Ava said as she sank down on the bed, her face a study in utter despair. “I’ve been so awful to you, to Maddie, to Griffin... Declan deserves better. It would just be best if I was gone when he woke.”
Bethan and Bess surprised Ava by laughing. Bethan sat down and hugged her close.
“You have failed no one, little wolf and you are worthy of only the very best. Ioan has been turning down requests to take you to mate for years. He didn’t believe you would be happy with those that offered and yes, for a time hoped you and Griffin were fated, but that was never meant to be. Griffin found his Maddie in New Orleans and you your Declan. It was unfortunate that you heard that conversation between Ioan and me that afternoon. Was he upset with you? Yes and rightfully so. But unless someone had convinced him that he was your fated mate, Ioan would never have seen you gone.”
“But what about this fiasco I’ve caused?”
Bethan smiled. “Pfft. So you bit and turned your mate. What were you expected to do, let him stay human and you never experience the ecstasy of being knotted and tied to your beloved? Good for you for taking matters into your own hands is what I say.”
Ava stood looking at Bethan in utter amazement.
Bethan laughed. “What, you didn’t think your mistress enjoys all being mated to an alpha male has to offer? I know Griffin knotted you as a wolf. It is nothing compared to being knotted and tied by your fated mate. I can tell you Griffin feels badly about that and Ioan gave him quite the dressing down for it. He even briefly considered banishing him because of it. But I persuaded him that my baby brother, while absolutely wrong in what he’d done, had not meant to cause anyone harm... most especially you.”
“How did you do that... persuade Ioan, I mean? He always seems so intractable.”
Bethan hugged her. “Let’s just say that as much as I enjoy having my mate’s knot buried in me? He enjoys burying it even more.”
Ava shook her head. How could she ever have doubted this woman who sat beside her, who had come so far just to be with her and reassure her that her pack wanted her back... had never wanted her gone. She hugged Bethan to her.
“I’m so sorry... for everything.”
“Don’t fret, little wolf. We’ll get everything set right. I promise.”
“Mistress?” said Bess respectfully.
“Please, Bess, call me Bethan.”
“Bethan, then. Can you see if you can get her to eat? She’s barely eaten at all.”
“We’ll have to change that. I suspect when her mate awakens and is feeling better he will move to mark and mate her. And once he has a knot form, he’ll be keen to claim her fully.” Bethan patted Ava’s knee. “You’re going to need to be well rested and fed for that.” She paused for a moment. “Oh, that could prove awkward.”
“What?” asked Ava with concern.
“Born alpha male shifters grow up knowing and understanding a knot. But a human male? I’d give anything to be a fly on the wall the first time it swells on him. I take it he’s well hung? He looks like he would be.”
Ava burst out laughing. “I’ve had no complaints in that area. Save, as you say, that being human he couldn’t knot me.”
As the three women considered for a moment the scene in which someone would need to explain to Declan what a knot was and what was to be done with it, they began laughing.
Bess was drying tears of mirth from her face when Roz joined them.
“Oh, that’s nice, the three of you are up here having all kinds of giggles and I’m stuck down there with Greg while he tries to mollify two very growly alphas—Oliver and Ioan.”
“Ioan is here?” asked Ava.
“No, Ioan is on Skype. You’ve caused quite the to-do back in Wales. Ioan is demanding your return; Oliver is saying as you are here and have fled Calon Onest that you are now under his protection. And I rather suspect this one,” Roz said, indicating Declan, “will tell them both to go fuck themselves as he means to keep you.”
“Well, ladies,” said Bess, “how about if I go downstairs and get us all a nice hearty lunch? Maybe one of you can get Ava to lie down next to Declan and actually sleep instead of worrying herself to death.”
“If you haven’t been eating or sleeping, you may want to take advantage of your ability to do so before he wakes up and has his way with you,” teased Roz.
* * *
Declan woke feeling as though a freight train had hit him while he had be
en drinking heavily. His head pounded and his stomach churned as though he had the mother of all hangovers. As he slowly became aware of his surroundings he could sense several people moving around him. He reached to his side to feel the comfort of Ava taking his hand in hers.
Ava raised his hand to her cheek, rubbing it there before kissing it and then leaning down to kiss him as well.
“You really must love me to kiss me like that when my mouth feels like I’ve been sucking on dirty socks,” he said.
He was reassured by the sound bubbling up from her throat. “You do realize that I’m the only one who’s said that.”
“Said what?” he asked, opening his eyes.
“I won’t say it again until you do,” she whispered seductively.
He chuckled. “I love you, Ava.”
Declan looked down at the IVs still attached to his arm. He scooted himself up in bed.
“Declan, how are you feeling?” asked the man Declan remembered was called Greg.
He looked around the room and saw Bess, the look of relief on her face evident.
He turned back to Greg. “I feel like shit. What the hell happened?”
Greg smiled. “Ava bit you.”
“Why are you people so fixated on that? We were in bed and frankly I was going at her pretty hard and she nipped me. No big deal.” He could see Ava becoming agitated. He slipped his hand behind her head and pulled her close in order to claim her mouth. “I’m fine, baby. I told you that I wasn’t going to spank you for that but as soon as I’m feeling up to snuff, you’re getting your bottom spanked for keeping secrets and you’re going to tell me all of them.”
Ava seemed to settle quickly before grinning at him. “That’s nice; you take a long nap, scare me to death, don’t fuck me for several days, and the first thing you want to do is spank me?”
“Not the first thing...” he admitted, smiling at her. He turned back to Greg. “How about you get me unhooked from this thing and then give Ava and me some privacy.”
Greg started to laugh. “I thought you said you felt like shit.”
“What can I say? Apparently I’ve been neglecting my woman.”
Greg shook his head. “Typical alpha. I swear they can be half dead, but get them near their mate and all they can think about is getting between her legs. How about I unhook you and we see if you can eat and drink something and keep it down.”
“Fine. Get me a whiskey and some time with my woman and I’ll let you know if I need your help.”
“Declan Collins,” admonished Bess. “You behave yourself. That is your lady you are referring to.”
Declan looked at Ava, who was grinning from ear to ear. He sniffed the air; he could swear he could scent her arousal. He turned back to Greg and growled low and menacingly. Greg took a step back.
“And this is why we don’t turn males very often. And as far as I know, there’s never been a turned alpha before.”
“Unhook me and get out.”
“Easy, big guy,” Greg said, coming forward and quickly unhooking the IV.
Declan made a continued low, menacing growl as long as Greg was anywhere around Ava. He couldn’t ever remember making that noise before or feeling as aggressive toward another male or as possessive about a woman... his woman... no, his mate, his brain corrected.
“I’ll leave you ladies with him,” said Greg, backing slowly away.
Bess stood. “You behave yourself while I go get you something to eat... and I don’t mean that honey between your mate’s legs that you’re so intent on.”
The door had barely closed before Declan had Ava on her back, stripped off her leggings, his pajama pants pushed down past his buttocks and his thighs between her legs as he nudged them apart.
“Declan, Greg said you needed to wait.”
“Greg doesn’t have a hard cock and his woman with a wet pussy.” He slipped his hand up along the inside of her thigh before sliding two fingers into her drenched pussy, stroking her. “Give in to me, Ava. I need you.”
She was starting to yield to her baser desires when there was a knock and Roz and Oliver stepped in. Declan turned, covering Ava and roared in feral warning at Oliver, who answered his challenge.
Roz got in front of Oliver, pushing against his chest as Ava did the same with Declan. Ava was desperately trying to find a way to cover both her and Declan’s nakedness.
“Oliver, knock it off!” shouted Roz.
“Get out,” roared Declan who suddenly looked like someone had punched him in the nuts.
Greg came back in, quickly assessing the situation.
“And this would be why I wanted you to eat and drink something first. Roz, can you get Oliver out of here.”
“Yes,” Roz answered, “but why the fuck did you tell him to check on them?”
“Because this is the only the second time I’ve ever attended to a turned male and the first alpha. I thought if you two were here, our new friend there would refrain from trying to claim his mate.”
“Roz, there’s Ketamine down in Declan’s truck and a tranquilizer gun. Maybe you should go get it,” said Ava helpfully.
Roz laughed. “Ava, my dear, I think you and I are going to be the best of friends.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” growled Oliver at Roz.
“Are you kidding me?” she teased. “What a great story that would make. Think of it—the former beta mated against her will to the alpha of the Hamptons,” she said in an overly dramatic voice. “The heroine of our story tranqs the bastard and the newly turned alpha male to keep the latter from fucking his yet to be claimed mate. Film at eleven.”
Oliver looked at her and smiled. It was obvious that Roz’ teasing had gotten through to him.
“Not to mention said Hamptons’ mistress was one of those pesky Bae Diogel girls we all knew needed to be mated and the other female a naughty she-wolf who probably needs to be spanked more than mated.”
Roz wrapped her arms around him, rubbing her body sensuously along Oliver’s.
“Tell me, oh, lord and master,” she said to him, “why is it you alpha types always think your mates need spanking more than fucking.”
Oliver gave his mate a hard swat. “That’s not true. It’s just we alpha types know that spanking our mates always leads to them submitting in a very erotic and satisfying manner. And you, my mate, had best watch your language before I decide you need to submit in such a way.”
Ava watched as once more Oliver and Declan locked eyes. Neither was willing to blink first. She was grateful to see Bethan enter the room.
“I see Declan is awake and I assume looking to claim what’s his.”
“She’s only his if Ioan or I give him leave to have her,” grumbled Oliver.
Declan growled again. “She is mine and you or this Ioan guy are welcome to try to take her from me. Jesus, that hurts,” he said, grimacing.
“All right,” said Bethan. “Ava and Roz, you two go downstairs and have something to eat with Bess... Greg and I will join you shortly.” When neither moved, Bethan said, “Now, girls.”
Both slowly backed away and quietly exited the door as Bethan closed it behind them.
Bethan continued, “Let the four of us agree that we are about to have the most awkward conversation we will ever have. Oliver, you are the only other alpha wolf here. Declan is a newly made wolf.”
“What the hell do you mean, made wolf,” Declan asked with confusion. “And who the hell are you?”
“Please, Declan, this will go better I think if you just let me say what needs to be said. I am Elizabeth Smith-Davies, mistress to the Calon Onest pack, which won’t mean anything at all to you but means everything to me. Please call me Bethan. I’ll get back to you in a minute.” She turned back to Oliver. “You are the only one who knows intimately the pain he is in right now.”
Greg started toward him. “Declan, where do you hurt?”
Bethan surprised them all by giggling. “Poor Greg, you can only know in theory what he is experi
encing,” she said, casting a pointed look at Declan’s genital area, which was tented from his hard-on. Again she turned to Oliver. “You, on the other hand, I am quite sure experience the phenomenon of the knot on a frequent basis, to the delight of your mate.”
Declan couldn’t believe it when the strong, powerful alpha managed to look embarrassed.
“Greg,” continued Bethan, “you need to give him a short and sweet explanation about what has occurred. I suspect it will help if you and Oliver shift for him. I will be leaving the room for that portion of this little educational seminar. After that, I would suggest that Oliver have a long and frank discussion with Declan about what it is to be our kind and how one goes about knotting and tying his mate so that she enjoys it. After that, Declan, should you have questions you think best answered by a female I will be happy to assist. I just want you to know that while Ava may not have been a virgin when you took her to your bed, when it comes to being knotted properly as a beloved mate, it will be the first time and I will expect you to be as gentle with her as you can be. Gentlemen, are we agreed?”
All three nodded their heads.
“Very good. Then I shall go downstairs where we four girls can have a great laugh about just how uncomfortable the lot of you are.”
Oliver chuckled deeply and opened the door for her. “You, Bethan Smith-Davies, should be giving lessons in how to be the proper mistress of a pack. Your Ioan is a fortunate man.”
Bethan left and Oliver looked back at Declan.
“Let’s you and I start over. Bethan is right, this is going to be awkward... not to mention pretty fantastical. I do want to extend my apologies for the earlier confrontation. I can only imagine how confusing all of this must be as well as painful. Greg, you’re up.”
Declan sat with rapt wonder at the tale Greg spun for him. He started to call him a liar, but could see Greg was quite sincere and even more serious. Greg explained how shifters had come to exist, the nature and territorial concerns of a pack as well as the various Ruling Councils throughout the world. When Oliver removed his clothes, Declan grew concerned that things were going to get a bit weird until he was stunned by Oliver’s transformation into a large gray wolf. The wolf form flowed back into a man and then shifted back again before becoming human one more time and getting re-dressed.