by Jade Royal
“What’s up?” Tristan asked.
“What’d she say to you about sex?” Gina asked.
“After she confronted me about the pedophile comment I made she told me that if I was going to convince her I didn’t think that way, then I need to fuck her. She said I don’t know what she wants, and all she wants is to get fucked, and I should do it. I, however, declined.”
“Why?”
“Because that just didn’t seem like something my Gem would say.” Gina smiled at his endearment. It was painfully clear he had accepted Gemma as his mate.
“Good decision. Asking to get fucked was her wolf talking. That’s the kind of animal she has, but we’ve talked about sex before she hit puberty. She has this idea that when she loses her virginity, it’s going to be in a field of flowers, something more than just fucking….something intimate. Do not have sex with my daughter if you don’t plan on fulfilling her in the way that she wants, not her wolf. That can come later. But her first time must be the way she imagined it being. Her wolf is going to push at you Tristan. She’s gonna want to be taken in a rough way. But don’t give in.”
“So I’m supposed to be tough on her because her wolf wants that but not fuck her roughly because Gemma doesn’t want that?” Gina laughed at his confused facial expression.
“Good luck. She is truly an anomaly ain’t she?”
“The best kind,” Tristan smiled. “Thanks for talking to me.” Gina hugged him tightly. As her daughters mate, he was going to hold a place in both her and Gabe’s heart forever.
“You do right by Gemma you hear me?” She asked as she walked him to the door. Gabe was just outside chopping wood. He stopped and watched Tristan engage with Gina. The moment she moved away from him, Tristan heard the whirring of the heavy axe flying past his head. He ducked out of the way quickly then looked sharply at Gabe.
“You hurt my pup son, and next time I won’t miss,” he warned. Tristan realized he didn’t duck out of the way, Gabe had thrown it intentionally not to hit him. Gabe may have been in his forties, but his features and his strength surely didn’t show it.
“Heard you,” Tristan said. “Thanks for everything.” He bowed at the man to show him respect before taking off. Jaxson and Zander were waiting for him at the edge of the territory ready to go.
“Found what you were looking for?” Jaxson asked.
“Yup,” Tristan replied. “Let’s go check out that so-called warehouse. I know where it is. But let’s shift and run there.
Stripping off their jeans, they stuffed it in the bag Tristan had. After shifting, Zander carried the bag in his mouth. Tristan led the way towards the direction of the warehouse that Owen told him about. Running full speed in wolf form had them at the warehouse in no more than half hour. It was far enough from their home in the caves thankfully. Otherwise, it would prove a larger threat. At this distance any human entering the woods would have to trek on foot for almost 4 hours before they got anywhere close to the waterfall that hid the cave. The three wolves stayed hidden in the trees looking out at the warehouse. An occasional car passed along the long highway, but it was barely enough to call it traffic. Leaving Jaxson and Zander behind, Tristan quickly ran across the highway. He went straight to the warehouse sniffing around. The human scents were lingering around, but there was nothing else. Not the smell of silver or wolfsbane. Going to the back, he jumped up on a windowsill of a broken window and peered inside. It was empty.
Seeing all he was going to see, he jumped down and hurried back across the streets into the safety of the woods before any human decided to come along. It was still daylight, and one was bound to show up.
Empty, he said to Jaxson and Zander.
Does that mean they went to hunt somewhere else? Zander asked.
Let’s hope, Jaxson replied. Tristan led the trot towards their home before he began sprinting the way. He noticed out of the corner of his eye that Zander kept up. He was fast, real fast. Kellan would appreciate those skills.
At the mouth of the cave, the three wolves shifted back into their human forms. Breathing heavily, they dressed in the clothes they’d carried. Kellan was waiting for them to hear about the warehouse. Tristan told him promptly it was empty and maybe the hunters were gone to another part of the woods.
“Does this mean we can move freely now?” Jaxson asked. Kellan thought hard about it.
“Yes. Since it seems they’ve packed up. I still don’t want anyone going anywhere by themselves, especially one of the she-wolves. I don’t trust the fact that there were hunters here, to begin with. And there’s still someone out there who tried to take us out.”
“I’ll tell Jayce,” Jaxson said.
“I already did,” Kellan said. He pointed at his temple. Jaxson chuckled. He should have known Kellan would update Jayce instantly. That’s just the bond the alpha, and the beta had.
As they spoke, Niles came out of the cave. He stopped immediately and was going to turn back, but Tristan could smell his mate from a mile away. She was directly behind him.
“Um Gemma,” he whispered.
“What’d I tell you about going near my wolves?” Kellan bit out.
“I went to find him,” Gemma spoke up. “It’s my fault. Tristan wants me to be with someone my age, so I am.” Kellan looked at Tristan realizing this was an issue between two mates. Tristan walked over to them. He hovered over Niles for a long moment before he looked at Gemma. He spoke with the eyes of his wolf blaring down at her.
“You can be his friend all you want Gemma, but the only wolf you’re gonna be with is me. You got that?” Her wolf eyes lit up. He got the attention of her wolf. Just like her parents said he would if he was firm with her.
“Don’t pretend to want me now cause-” he grabbed her by the back of her neck and kissed her deeply, effectively shutting her up. He was rough at first, keeping the attention of her animal before he softened, sucking on her tongue softly to get the attention of her. It worked beautifully. She whimpered in his arms and kissed him back like she needed his kiss to survive. Before arousal took them both in its grasp he pulled away from her. He held her close, still keeping his grip firm on the back of her neck.
“After I make love to you Gemma, you’re gonna get the fucking your wolf wants so damn bad.” Tristan saw her wolf in his head whimper in delight. Gemma gasped and pushed away from him. The look of surprise on her face made him smile.
“Yeah. I got your wolf’s card. Go on. Keep trying me.” He kissed her on the forehead before going inside the cave. Gemma stood there unable to think for a moment. The sense of delight that her wolf expressed at his words was something Gemma never felt. Then when she thought of all the times he was a dick to her, she remembered her wolf liking it. And if her wolf liked it; so did she. But his soft kisses strummed her heartstrings. She didn’t understand how she could want soft and hard at the same time. It was bizarre.
“He’s eventually gonna kill me,” Niles shook his head as he walked with Gemma to the hot springs.
“Where’s your alpha?” Kellan called after him.
“I don’t know,” Niles said. Kellan shrugged and headed back to the cave.
“I’ll be back in an hour,” he announced. “I have a meeting to head to.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jaxson spoke up. Kellan didn’t object. Even though it was a meeting specifically for alphas; no alpha traveled alone without backup. And for today; Jaxson was going to be all he needed in case he was attacked or ambushed.
He kissed Bliss deeply before he left; and rubbed her belly to say goodbye to his pup before he was off. He only planned on staying at the meeting for no more than an hour. Bliss pledged to be waiting for his arrival right at the entrance of the cave. Of course he just thought it was her being pregnant and dramatic.
Shockingly, he returned from the meeting and from doing some work on the cabin to find that Bliss had indeed stayed at the entrance and waited for him to return.
“The meeting went well. The sanctuary idea
is a hit.” He was met by Bliss waiting for him at the entrance.
“Great! Now, Jayce told me we can leave the cave now. I wanna go out!” Kellan smirked at his mate.
“No, you can’t leave.”
“Why?” she sobbed. Kellan looked at her sharply. Her emotions were all over the place because of their growing pup. He never knew when he was going to get her anger or her tears.
“Because it’s still dangerous for you.”
“Please, please Kellan I need to go outside. The she-wolves will all be with me. Don’t do your mate wrong.” Kellan hated when she begged him, unless it was sexually. That was a game he loved to play, but she shouldn’t beg for her freedom.
“Fine. The entire pack will come out.” She jumped on him in a fit of happiness before all the she-wolves came out of their hiding places where they were listening in. Tristan was trying to relax with a beer in hand, but Selena pulled him up from his chair and dragged him towards the exit as all the wolves exited. Jaxson and Jayce followed along shaking their heads.
Once outside, they all began running through the woods in human form so Bliss wouldn’t feel the need to shift. The men stayed back since the females didn’t run too far, but Zander ran with them just in case.
“You know she was gonna get you to give in,” Tristan teased plopping down.
“And I bet if Gemma pleaded with you you’d give her the damn world.”
“Got that right,” he sighed.
“Thankfully I am not sprung,” Jaxson commented.
“Oh please. With that shit you were thinking earlier your ass sounds sprung,” Kellan said.
“I haven’t fucked her if that’s what you think.”
“I don’t know why. You’re obviously interested. If you wanna whip out the chocolate syrup, then this must be serious.”
“I’m gonna kill you!” Jaxson exclaimed as Jayce and Tristan began laughing at him. Kellan dodged out of the way of the punch Jaxson threw at him. Like they were kids, they rolled around trading punches. It was Selena that came running from the woods with worry on her face.
“What happened?!” Kellan asked quickly worried something was wrong with Bliss.
“No-nothing! I felt pain, and I thought you were hurt!” Kellan rubbed his chest where Jaxson had punched him.
“No. This idiot just punched me because he wants to lick syrup off of-” Jaxson tackled Kellan again, and they resumed fighting.
“Men,” Selena rolled her eyes. “I thought something was the matter with the two of you.”
Dell exited the cave casually. Kellan and Jaxson stopped fighting immediately and looked up at him.
“Where you going?” Kellan asked him. “Bliss is that way you can’t-”
“I’m not going that way,” he grunted. “Relax.” Dell rolled his eyes and walked in the opposite direction of where Kellan’s mate was, but he was smiling as he did so. He walked away from the cave and didn’t stop until the cave was well behind him. When he looked behind him, none of the Phoenix pack members were watching him. He crouched low and used the bushes to hide as he headed in the direction of Bliss, going in a circle to effectively avoid Kellan. He kept his distance, and by the time he saw Bliss, he was behind her. He pulled the dart gun from his waist. There was never an opportunity to get at her because she was locked up with Kellan. This was going to be his only shot. Lying on the ground, he steadied himself and aimed the gun at her back. She was sitting around a bunch of flowers, laughing with her sister wolves that she hardly paid attention to her surroundings. Dell smirked as he pulled the trigger. The dart sailed through the air, faster than he thought it would. It hit her straight in her back, and the purple smoke rose up immediately from her flesh. He quickly got to his feet and hightailed it from the area. By the time he came back from meeting with Bryce, Bliss would have lost her pup from shifting.
“Bliss?” Rita asked. Bliss was in the middle of saying something when she went completely silent.
“Are you okay?” Kyra asked. Bliss’s wolf rose up immediately from her relaxed position to one of defense. She snarled and raced towards the invisible barrier that would allow her to emerge into the world. Bliss fought the wolf back, but something had frightened her. She was ready to attack, and nothing was going to stop her. Not even their pup.
“She’s gonna shift,” Rita gasped seeing Bliss’s human eyes tinker away. Purple smoke rose up from behind her.
“Wolfsbane?!” Kyra asked. Bliss growled and snarled, her body jerking as she fought her shift.
Kellan felt off the second that Selena’s eyes began to glow. He looked out to where Bliss was but didn’t even see her.
“Bliss. Something’s wrong,” Selena declared. She took off immediately both her hands and eyes glowing. Kellan ran past her, fear striking in his heart. In the clearing, Rita and Kyra was trying to hold Bliss down and talk her out of shifting, but she was growling and jerking uncontrollably. Selena rushed to her side and put her glowing hands on Bliss, but it didn’t help. Her face began to change, and that’s when Kellan felt true despair. He kneeled next to his mate and held her.
“Please baby calm down. Hear my wolf. Be calm.” But he knew once her facial features began to change there was little anyone could do to stop her from shifting. All he could do was kiss her belly and bid their pup goodbye.
“Don’t give up Kellan,” Kyra urged. “We have to do something!”
“What?!” He exclaimed.
“Take her back to the cave. Come on!” He scooped her up in his arms and held her closer. Against her jerking body, he rushed towards the cave with the pack following him. Zander was the only one who stayed behind looking throughout the woods before he took off to track a scent.
“He’s such a showoff kissing you like that in front of me,” Niles grunted. They’d been sitting by the natural springs for over an hour and Niles couldn’t let go of the fact that Tristan had kissed Gemma in front of him. He was babbling on and on about it but Gemma was distracted from what he was saying by an awful feeling in her chest. She stood and walked to the main entrance of the caves. She was nearly bombarded by the entire pack running into the cave. She jumped out of the way gasping as she saw Kellan carrying Bliss’s contorting body.
“Oh no,” she gasped.
“What?” Niles asked.
“Bliss is shifting! She’s gonna lose her pup.”
“Oh my god.” Gemma rushed after the pack. Kellan had dropped Bliss near the kitchen. He held her arms down, but her face was, sure enough, continuing to shift. Gemma understood the pain emanating from Bliss as she tried not to shift but her wolf wasn’t giving in. Tears were clouding Kellan’s eyes knowing he was going to lose his pup. Something in Gemma made her spring into action.
“Move!” She snarled at everyone. She pushed Kellan away, making him let go. Bliss looked directly at Gemma ready to attack. Gemma didn't waver or show any fear.
“Come stop your crying it’ll be alright….” Gemma sang softly touching Bliss’s cheek.
“Just take my hand and hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you, I will be here don’t you cry.” Bliss stopped growling and tilted her head to the side, looking at Gemma. Gemma continued to sing running her hands softly through Bliss’s hair.
“You’ll be in my heart. Yes, you’ll be in my heart, from this day on, now and forever more.” Bliss took a deep breath as her wolf began to back up. Gemma’s sweet singing voice calmed the beasts racing heart. She flopped down and closed her eyes being lulled to sleep. Bliss felt a tear roll down her cheek as the power of her wolf began to succumb, leaving her feeling overwhelmed. She’d nearly killed her baby because she couldn’t control her animal.
“That’s better isn’t it?” Gemma asked softly. Bliss realized what had happened. Gemma had saved her baby. She fell forward into Gemma’s arms and trembled as she cried. Gemma hugged her tightly. She looked at her pack and noticed all their mouths were agape. Kellan moved closer to them. Gemma handed Bliss to him.
“Gemm
a-I-thank-”
“It’s okay,” she smiled. “It’s okay.”
“I’ll be right back. No one move.” Kellan said as he stood. He kept Bliss in his arms and carried her off through the tunnels. Gemma sat back on her knees and sighed.
“Damn Gemma,” Kyra gasped.
“What?”
“I didn’t know you could sing,” Jaxson spoke up.
“Why would you know that? I haven’t told anyone.”
“You’re amazing. Truly you are. You’re voice and getting Bliss not to shift,” Jayce said.
“Thanks. Music is one of those things that both me and my wolf love. I don’t know; it was the only thing I could think of at the moment, so I tried it. I’m thankful it worked.”
“We all are,” Selena said. Everyone was quiet then. Gemma hadn’t looked at Tristan, but she could feel his eyes on her. She didn’t want to look at him because technically she was still upset at him, but she was craving him. Especially because her wolf was craving him from that threat he gave her earlier.
Tristan could see Gemma forcing herself not to look at him. He didn’t want to push her in any way, but he wished he could connect with her in that moment. Her voice, she was a fucking angel the way she sang. It proved even more that she and her wolf were two opposite entities, but they had their commonalities. And music was one of them.
Stop staring at me, she growled into his head.
Can’t. You’re too incredible my Gem, he replied.
I’m gonna smack the shit out of you if you don’t stop.
Damn baby, you just made my dick hard. Who’s that talking? You, or your wolf? Instead of answering she whipped her head around and looked directly at him. Her wolf eyes twinkled at him, and Tristan smirked at her knowing that her wolf was very present. That meant he had her attention and that’s what he wanted.
Kellan came back from the tunnels walking with purpose. He eyes were red, evident that he was crying. Any weakness he had, he left it behind him. Now he was all business. First, he went to Gemma. He picked her up forcefully and hugged her tightly. Tristan leaned off the wall. He couldn’t help the fact that his wolf was agitated at another male touching her. Kellan quickly let her go and waved for Tristan to calm down.