by Jade Royal
“Tristan took Jayce somewhere out of the cave. Don’t know where though. But it better be good cause I could be getting my round three right about now,” Rita said.
“Round three?” Gemma gasped. “Shit how many times do you do it?!”
“Shit, it don’t get good until the third round,” Kyra said. Jaxson scoffed at Kyra.
“What the hell do you know about going three rounds? You look like a tap out after first round type of chick.” She threw a piece of her scrambled egg at him.
“Just because your other women can’t last more than one round doesn’t mean I can’t. And besides, if you can’t keep it up, it’s not the woman’s fault.”
“Don’t listen to them Gemma,” Bliss spoke. “It’s all up to preference. You don’t have to fuck for that long or that many times. If your man knows what he’s doing, then one time is more than satisfactory.”
“But,” Jaxson spoke. “If it was good the first time you’ll probably naturally want more. Right, Kyra?” Jaxson winked at her.
Don’t start with me Jaxson, She spoke into his head. I’ll fuck the shit out of you. Jaxson’s wolf pounced up quickly ready to accept her challenge. He couldn’t help the arousal that peaked inside his body. How could he not want a taste of her? She smelled like caramel and chocolate. In all his years on this planet, he’d never smelled any wolf that smelled like literal candy. Bliss had smelled sweet but Kyra? It was intoxicating. No one should even smell like caramel and chocolate.
Is that a promise? Jaxson asked her. The chocolate eyes of her wolf gleamed for half a minute before she regained control of herself and her human eyes returned.
Mira stared in shock between Kyra and Jaxson. What the hell was happening between them? She felt their electricity humming and the scent of their arousal. She knew they weren’t mates. So why the hell were they having that kind of attraction? Mira wasn’t allowing it. If they had that connection, she wouldn’t have a place in the pack.
“Jaxson,” Mira said.
“Hm?” he asked not even breaking eye contact with Kyra. Mira shook him so he would look at her.
“I’m not feeling too well. Can we go back to my room please?” Mira felt his arousal snap immediately He jumped up immediately to help her.
“Sorry Mira, of course.” He quickly scooped her up in his arms. Kyra watched as Jaxson whispered to Mira as he carried her out of the dining area. The rest of the she-wolves noticed their interaction.
“Think they’re a thing?” Bliss questioned.
“They seem to have a connection,” Rita replied. Kyra was usually the outspoken one and ready to give her opinion, but on this, she was completely quiet.
“What you think Kyra?” Gemma asked.
“Hm, I don’t know. She doesn’t seem like his type.”
“No more than Tristan is my type,” Gemma said.
“The world does work in mysterious ways,” Rita acknowledged. Kyra was still quiet. She could have sworn that she and Jaxson were sharing a connection. She knew Jaxson wasn’t her mate, but there was something about him that made her wolf happy and daring. She just wanted to jump his bones every time she saw him, and her wolf was hardly like that for any other wolf. She loved sex, it was a beautiful thing, but she wasn’t daring like she was with Jaxson. And she thought they were sharing a moment, but maybe it was just her. Maybe the threat she’d put in his head, and his response was just teasing on his part. They always joked with each other maybe; he thought she was just joking again. Either way, it was a punch in her gut. If he was interested in Mira, Kyra just needed to back off. He wasn’t her mate, and she had no claims to him. So Kyra wasn’t going to get in their way. But something inside of her was deeply saddened by the thought.
“Speaking of Tristan,” Kyra said switching the subject. “How’s his sex game?”
“Oh come on,” Kellan sighed. “I don’t wanna hear this shit.” He got up with his plate and went to the kitchen.
“I mean, he has a big one, but I don’t know anything else.”
“He hasn’t rocked your world yet?!” Rita asked. “Even Jayce fucked me before we mated.”
“So did Kellan,” Bliss added.
“Well we were going to, but then I completely messed it up. I panicked at his pace, and I realized I couldn’t handle it. He sensed that, and I guess the thought of the fact that he was hurting me or that I wasn’t ready made him back off completely. He said when I was ready we could take that next step. Thing is I am ready. I just don’t know how to communicate that when he can hear my heart racing and feel my fear and anxiety.”
“That’s natural for having sex for the first time. Hell, I was just as much as a wreck myself,” Rita said.
“I don’t know how to do much of things.”
“And that’s why you have sister wolves,” Bliss said. “You just ask us anything you wanna know because Tristan needs to know that you ain’t no lightweight.”
“Hell, I definitely am right now,” Gemma laughed.
“We’ll fix that honey don’t you worry,” Kyra said.
“Make sure you ladies have this conversation far from my ears,” Kellan said.
“Oh hush up,” Kyra waved him off. “You don’t think about our ears when you fucking Bliss to hell and back. Shit, neither does Jayce.”
“What about Jayce?” Jayce questioned coming into the dining area. Rita jumped up and ran to her man, jumping into his arms. He caught her and twirled her around before kissing her deeply. For a moment everyone watched as they tongue kissed each other like they hadn’t been together for years.
“Unless we’re all invited for a kiss I suggest ya’ll break it up,” Kyra said. Rita broke off the kiss while laughing.
“What were ya’ll talking about anyways?” Jayce asked.
“You don’t wanna know,” Kellan told him.
“Where’s Tristan?” Gemma asked.
“He went to his bedroom to get something.”
“What did you two go and do anyways?” Bliss asked.
“All up in my business,” Tristan said appearing from the tunnels.
“I am your alpha don’t forget that. And I’m still gonna get you back for calling me fat too!”
“Not like I was lying,” Tristan teased pointing at her rounded belly.
“Hey, that’s my pup you talking about. Watch it,” Kellan said. He came over to Bliss and hugged her, holding her small round belly.
“You still didn’t tell us what you were doing,” Kyra said trying to see what he was hiding behind his back. Tristan ignored her.
“Hey my Gem, how are you?”
“I’m okay,” she smiled. If he was always going to call her his gem, she knew she was always going to be blushing. She wanted to kiss him, and as if he was reading her mind, he walked over to her and leaned down to kiss her softly.
“You had pancakes without me huh?” he questioned tasting the syrup on her lips.
“No one told you to go missing,” she smiled. From behind his pack, he pulled out a large bouquet of orange flowers. Gemma gasped and took the flowers. Her wolf rolled over loving the scent of the tulips and the chrysanthemums. She remembered telling him she loved flowers and the fact that he went out his way to get her flowers in her favorite color made her feel special.
“I don’t know what to say, Tristan. Thanks for doing this.” She leaned up and kissed him again.
“You have trouble controlling you wolf Gem, and I want to start exposing you to any and everything that will help you better control her. You love flowers, and I thought that the gesture would both please your wolf and please you. Besides, I’ve been a dick to you. It’s about time I show you that I can be the mate you need.” Gemma was speechless, and she could only look at the flowers. But the other she-wolves were touching their hearts and saying ‘oohs’ and ‘ahs.’ They rushed over to Gemma and looked at her flowers and smelled them.
“You’re so lucky you get flowers,” Bliss said.
“Yeah. I wish I had some daisies i
n our bedroom.” Rita added. Both Bliss and Rita crossed their arms and looked across the room to Kellan and Jayce. Both males stood there unsure of what to do and what to say.
“Some men we got,” Rita said shaking her head. Both Bliss and Rita led Gemma away with Kyra and Selena following behind them, talking about the flowers.
Tristan was just watching his mate walk away and feeling her sense of contentment when he felt a hard punch to both his shoulders.
“Ow, what the fuck?!” Tristan looked at both Kellan and Jayce who were standing next to him.
“Great fucking job!” Kellan snickered. “Now my mate is looking at me like I’m some sort of lame because I never got her flowers before.”
“Rita won’t ever let me live this down. You told me those flowers were for decorating the cave!” Tristan just laughed at them and shrugged.
“I guess ya’ll betta step your games up.”
“You know, you’re supposed to be our brotha,” Kellan said. “And you making us look like shit.”
“Then I suggest y’all get both y’all wolf asses out there and find the ladies some flowers,” Tristan laughed. Kellan missed just talking to his brothers without having to worry about all the bullshit going on around them.
“Come on, let’s go get Jaxson. I feel like having a couple of beers,” Kellan said.
“Is this from our friend or from our alpha?” Jayce asked.
“Both,” Kellan smiled. They began to walk off, but Kellan noticed that Zander hadn’t made the move to come with them.
“You too,” Kellan told him.
“Oh, I didn’t think you were inviting me.”
“Well, you are part of my pack. And I’d like to get to know you. What better way than with a couple of beers? Come on.” Zander smiled and stood to follow them. Kellan led the way, but he remembered something.
“By the way Tristan, the women are gonna be in there talking about how you haven’t fucked Gemma yet,” Kellan added. The way Tristan’s face dropped was enough for both Kellan and Jayce to erupt in laughter.
“Oh lord,” Tristan said hitting himself on the forehead. “Aye stop laughing at me!” Tristan scolded his friends as they walked towards the tunnels still cackling at him.
Chapter Eleven
Gemma listened avidly as the women talked about pleasing their men sexually. Even though Kyra wasn’t mated, she was very experienced as well and knew what she was talking about. Gemma seriously felt like a little kid listening to them talk about sex and relationships and have no input. But she was supposed to be learning.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Kyra said to Gemma.
“Nothing really to say,” Gemma replied.
“Are you worried about mating? Even though it’s all we talk about, mating is much more than just the sex,” Bliss said.
“I’m worried about all of it. Even though Tristan is being nice to me and he’s showing me he wants to be with me, I just know somewhere in the back of his head he feels like he has to hold out. I mean, what could keep him from being mated this minute? Nothing but the fact that he thinks I’m not ready.” Gemma saw when Bliss rubbed her eyes. She rested back against the couch and ran her hand over her belly.
“You know something don’t you?” Gemma asked her.
“Well…”
“What is it?!”
“Tristan adores you, he does,” Bliss stated. “But he has a little problem with your age.” Gemma crossed her arms. Even though that was her alpha female, she felt like lashing out against her because of her anger. But Gemma knew Kellan wouldn’t show her any mercy if she dared to attack his pregnant mate because of her uncontrolled wolf.
“He told you that?” Gemma asked.
“Yeah. We um, we had a talk. You know because he’s taken a vow of protection for me. We had time to talk, and I just asked him point blank what his deal is. He just still views you as a little girl sometimes. But I told him not to.” Gemma stood quickly. The she-wolves noticed her eyes flashing.
“Bliss no,” Rita said. “She’s going to lose control of her animal.”
“Shut up!” Gemma growled. “Tell me what he said!”
“I won’t if you’re going to lose control. I’m sorry I even said anything! I was just trying to help,” Bliss exclaimed.
“Help me by telling me what he said,” she pleaded.
“You already know he’s worried about hurting you. After what happened the last time with you two he knows he can’t have you like he wants you. But I told him if he gets to know you as a woman then he wouldn’t have a thought in his head that you’re still just this little girl. He thinks you should be with Niles because he’s more your age. And sometimes it’s hard for him to be okay with being sexually attracted to you because he feels like a pedophile.” Gemma was breathing heavily. She was holding on by a thread and knew she was going to lose it. But it was more than just anger. Tears rolled down her cheek. Because they were mates, Tristan was always going to be aroused by her, just like she was aroused by him. But if in his conscience he thought of himself as a pedophile he was never going to see her as his mate. He was going to see her as some child that was hitched to him for the rest of his life.
“Alpha. Beta. Omega,” Gemma said as she trembled. But she wasn’t worried about losing control of her wolf anymore. Not to anger. She was crushed.
“Gemma, I mean it when he told me that he wants to be-” Ignoring Bliss, Gemma picked up the flowers he’d picked for her and walked out of the living room.
“What are you going to do Gemma?” Rita called out from behind her. The she-wolves ran after her, but Gemma didn’t stop. She followed the scent of her mate to the den Kellan had created out of one of the rooms in the large cave. Gemma entered the room looking straight at Tristan.
“What’s the matter my gem?” he asked her. She ripped apart the flowers before throwing them in his face.
“You think I should be with Niles huh?!” she snapped at him. Tristan’s mouth opened, but he couldn’t quite get any words out.
“No-I said I wanted you, Gemma. I’ll kill that wolf if he goes near you.”
“Oh, so now that you want me everything is okay, right? Fuck the times when I wanted your ass, right?”
“I’ve been trying to apologize for that! It was fucked up for me to not think about your wants and needs and only mine!” Gemma growled at him and got in his face.
“I want to get fucked. Come fuck me right now. That’s my wants and my needs Tristan, o get fucked. As my mate, you have to do something about it.” Tristan glared down at her. He didn’t know where she was going with this, but he knew she wasn’t ready. And if he knew Gemma, he knew she wasn’t this type of wolf unless she was angry. She was tenacious and didn’t back down, but this display she was putting on was not her.
“I’m not gonna do that Gemma,” he said softly trying to let her wolf know he wasn’t a threat to her by keeping his voice calm.
“Why not?” she growled.
“Because you’re not rea-” unable to control herself, Gemma slapped the shit out of Tristan. The smack stung her hand making it numb, so she knew it affected him just as much. His head was tilted to the side. He slowly looked back at her, but his eyes were no longer human.
“Who the fuck are you to tell me when I’m ready for something?” she sneered at him. Tristan didn’t answer her.
“I know the real reason you don’t wanna be with me,” she growled.
“There is no real reason besides the obvious age difference Gemma. But I told you that-”
“Pedophile right?” she asked. Tristan snapped his mouth shut, surprised. The room was deathly quiet.
“No matter what this mating bond makes you feel Tristan, you’re forever going to think you’re some sort of pedophile because I don’t fulfill whatever fantasy you have in your head about what a woman is.”
“I-Gemma you are-”
“Save the bullshit,” she snapped. “You know maybe I should just be with Niles. And when I start fee
ling pain from resisting the mating bond, I’ll just kill myself. Maybe it’ll spare the both of us from eternal heartbreak.” She sucked in a quivering breath as more tears leaked from her eyes. She pushed Tristan away and rushed out of the room already bursting out in tears. Her wolf was too much in mourning to force herself to take Gemma over, so she flopped over whimpering in sadness.
Tristan watched Gemma run away from him, and he felt like air had been sucked from his lungs. He looked at the torn up flowers all around him. He looked at Bliss.
“You told her?” Tristan asked her.
“She wanted to-”
“Bliss I told you that in confidence! Why would you tell her anything about that conversation? Especially the pedophile thing?!”
“Well, she wanted to know and-”
“That didn’t give you a right!” he snapped at her. “You gave me advice Bliss, and I said I was going to follow it. I’m doing what I can so that wolf that walked out of here knows I want her despite our differences. I didn’t need you making my job any harder than it already is!”
“I’m sorry Tristan,” she whispered.
“If she refuses to mate with me or does something horrible like kill herself because she thinks I’ll never want her then your sorry is pretty useless to me.” Tristan shook his head and walked out of the room going in search of his mate.
“Wait!” Selena called going after him. Tristan stopped to look at the new wolf in their pack.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I can feel her energy. She’s hurt. It’s obviously nothing I can heal because it’s an emotional hurt. But I can give you advice. Leave her be. She needs time right now.”
“What good would-”
“Trust me. It’ll do plenty of good. She’s not going anywhere, Tristan. And I would be there ready to heal her if she does something irrational because of this. I won’t let you lose her. But do give her some time. Let this be part of the process.”
“Can you read minds?” he asked her.
“No, I cannot. I can just sense the energies of people around me whether or not we’re in the same pack: energies regarding health that is. Trust me Tristan, giving her space is not only for her, It’s for you.” Taking a deep breath, Tristan weighed his options. He realized that he wanted to tell Gemma how much he cared for her, but he didn’t exactly know how he was going to say it. Anything he could say he’d already said before. And what would make her believe him?