by Jenny Frame
Zaria smiled. “Yes, I can’t wait to feel the earth beneath my paws.”
Kenrick would just have to run her feelings off. “Let’s go.” Kenrick shifted quickly and stretched out all her limbs. Zaria shifted and surprised Kenrick by nuzzling her snout.
Before Kenrick could respond, Zaria shot off into the forest saying, Catch me if you can!
Kenrick growled. She tricked me.
She sped off into the forest after Zaria’s wolf. Kenrick was faster than Zaria by a long way and soon caught sight of her brown and black fur up ahead. The exhilaration of the chase was taking over, and all that mattered was tracking Zaria and catching her.
They darted through the trees, Kenrick gaining on Zaria with every step. Kenrick had the advantage of knowing every tree in the forest and took a few shortcuts. She eventually got to a few yards behind Zaria.
You can’t catch me, wolf, Zaria teased.
She’s challenging me? Kenrick thought.
Kenrick had never had so much fun. She forgot about all the rules she had imposed on herself and followed her wolf play instincts. Kenrick leapt through the air and knocked Zaria’s wolf onto her back. Zaria lay submissively, panting while she stood over her.
Kenrick’s heart was pounding, her body surged with energy—and then she remembered Zaria’s issues and fears. Kenrick jumped straight off her, leaned her front legs down, and lowered her head.
I’m sorry, Zari. I was just playing. I didn’t mean to frighten you.
Zaria jumped up. You didn’t. We were just playing. You don’t need to submit to me, Ricky. Stand up.
I don’t want to frighten you, Ricky replied.
Zaria padded closer. I challenged you, Ricky. You did nothing wrong. Let’s have fun.
Kenrick stood up tall and gave her a lick on the snout. Okay, sorry.
Zaria lifted her head up high and took a big sniff of the air. You’re right about your forest, Ricky. It’s different.
What do you scent? Kenrick asked.
Wood, leaves, pine needles, lush wet raindrops on green leaves, and safety.
Kenrick was filled with joy at Zaria’s description. She scented what Kenrick did. Safety and hopefully home. Follow me and I’ll show you more, Kenrick said.
This time they padded on together, side by side.
* * *
Zaria slowed her speed to keep pace with Kenrick as they came out from the trees to a clearing. She saw a waterfall cover the mouth of the small cave and fall into a shallow pool that washed away into the river. The unusual thing about it was the water was red, and the stones that the water washed upon were red.
What is that, Ricky? Zaria asked.
The humans call it the Devil’s Cave. There’s a whole folklore going back generations. They say that witches, fae, demons, Vampires, and werewolves are seen here.
Not weremonkeys? Zaria joked.
Just the wolves. Of course, over the years we’ve had all kinds of paranormal creatures visit us here, but not to consort with the devil. We never discouraged the rumours, though. They kept a few humans who would want to hunt us away.
Are there any natural wolves here? Zaria asked.
No, they were hunted to extinction in Scotland. They say the last one was killed in the seventeenth century, but my pater and I have been campaigning the Scottish government to let us reintroduce them on our private land. It would be good for the balance of the environment.
Sounds like a good idea. So what turns the water red? Zaria said.
Kenrick snorted. It’s just the red sandstone underneath that gives it the red colour. Perfectly natural, but try telling a superstitious human that.
I’d love to get a picture of this for Marco.
We will. If you’ve had enough running for just now, why don’t we head back. Ma will be expecting us for breakfast.
Great! Zaria said with false enthusiasm. Tension and nervousness painted a more accurate picture of what she felt.
* * *
Zaria had a shower, then looked through the clothes she had brought with her. Eden, Kyra, and Lena had been generous, but these clothes weren’t her own. She hadn’t earned the money or served a useful purpose in the pack to earn them.
The thought depressed her. She owned nothing and had nothing to offer. She was going to meet Kenrick’s parents in borrowed clothes. Even if she was brave enough to stay and have a life with Kenrick, she was never going to be good enough. How could she be a Mater of such a wonderful pack, which ran multinational businesses, when she didn’t even have her own clothes?
Why did I come here? She’d raised Kenrick’s hopes that she’d make a life with her. She sighed and closed her eyes. Ovid’s face burst into her mind. I’m spoiled goods.
“No. I’m not,” Zaria told herself firmly. She stood up angrily and picked one of the dresses Eden had given her. For however long she was here, she would give the best impression she could.
Zaria dressed and applied some light make-up. She looked at herself in the mirror and brushed down her dress. I’ll have to do as I am.
She walked out of her bedroom and turned around to look for Kenrick. What she found made her lose the power of her legs. Kenrick was naked, standing under the outdoor shower, eyes closed and soap suds running down her wet body.
Zaria was instantly wet, her teeth erupted, and her mouth watered. She had never seen anything more erotic in her life. Kenrick was massaging shampoo into her dreadlocks and squeezing them out like a sponge.
Her eyes fell to Kenrick’s buttocks. They were muscled and powerful, and Zaria couldn’t help but imagine herself slipping in front of Kenrick under the shower. She could see in her mind Kenrick’s wet, soapy hands grasping her breasts, thrusting those gorgeous buttocks into her, while she sank her teeth into her neck.
I’m not good enough for her. Maybe Kenrick secretly knows that, her demons said.
She had thought that showing up at Dante and Eden’s that morning was enough to show Kenrick that she wanted to see what they could be to each other. But since they’d been in Scotland, Kenrick had only given her pecks on the cheeks or lips, and she purposely didn’t look at her or her body the way Zaria looked at Kenrick’s. Maybe now that they were back in her pack, Kenrick realized Zaria wasn’t what she wanted.
She gasped and opened her eyes quickly. Get a grip of yourself.
Zaria then noticed Kenrick was watching her. Did Kenrick know what she was thinking about? She didn’t know what to say or do, so she just walked over to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. She took a long sip of water and started to cool down.
Kenrick came into the kitchen wearing just a towel. “Zari? Are you all right?”
Touch me, touch me now, Zaria said like a mantra. She didn’t want to make the first move and get it wrong.
“Zari? Look at me.”
Zaria turned around slowly. It was worse than she imagined. Her eyes were level with Kenrick’s breasts, water dripping down them in the sexiest way. She had her eyes fixed on one drop that had made its way to her nipple and was begging Zaria to lick it off. She covered her face and said with exasperation, “Stop, don’t, the water, the drips—it’s just too much.”
Great Mother, what did I say that for?
When she took her hands away from her face, Kenrick was looking at her with confusion.
“Water? What do you mean?” Kenrick said.
Zaria closed her eyes and centred herself. “Sorry, I’m not making much sense. I’m nervous about meeting your family, your pack.”
“Don’t worry about that, lassie. They’re going to love you. I promise.”
“I’ve never been in a loving family pack like yours, like the Wolfgangs. I don’t know what to expect, I suppose.”
Kenrick took her hands and squeezed them. “I’ll be holding your hand.” Then she leaned in and kissed her on the cheek and whispered, “I’ll be there and so will Rhuri. Don’t worry. You look beautiful in that dress, by the way. You’re so pretty.”
“Thanks,
” Zaria replied.
“I’m just going to get dressed in your bedroom, okay? I won’t be long,” Kenrick said.
Zaria took her bottle out to the balcony. Why did Kenrick want to get dressed in the guest bedroom? Zaria felt like Kenrick was either holding back that natural dominant side of herself, or definitely wasn’t as interested as she had been. They had to talk about these things if they were to have any future together.
Zaria took a sip from her bottle and then heard some scrabbling noises from below the balcony. She walked to the edge and saw a child climbing up the tree as high as the branch Kenrick had been sitting on.
“Hey, take my hand, quickly. Get onto the balcony before you fall,” Zaria said in panic.
“I’m okay.”
The child climbed as nimbly as Kenrick. Zaria grabbed her when she was close and pulled her over the edge of the balcony.
“Thank the Great Mother you’re safe,” Zaria said.
The child gave her a big smile. “I’m good at climbing, just like Aunt Rhuri and Ricky.”
Then it clicked. “You’re Milo?”
“Yeah, are you Ricky’s new mate? The one from America?”
Was that what everyone in the pack thought? “No we’re just friends, but I am from America,” Zaria said.
“The way you talk is cool.”
Milo was a beautiful child. Around ten years old, she had warm brown skin, darker than hers, a mop of brownish-blond loose dreadlocks, and light blue eyes.
Zaria smiled. “Thanks.”
Milo’s speech was a mixture of English and Scottish with a hint of a French accent, a nod to her heritage before she came to live with her aunt.
“Does your aunt Rhuri let you climb this high?” Zaria asked.
Milo’s eyes danced all around the room. “Yeah, she does…but not this high. Granny says if she catches me she’ll bite my bum.”
“Who’s your granny, Milo?”
“The Mater. My aunt’s my only real family, but the Mater looks after me lots when Rhuri is working. I’ve called her Granny since I was wee.”
Zaria smiled at the Scottish showing itself at the end of that sentence. This cub was adorable. “Well, you should listen to your granny. You might get hurt,” Zaria said.
Milo nodded. “Is Ricky here?”
“Yes, just getting dressed.” At that moment Kenrick came out of the bedroom. She was looking so good, wearing jeans, a vintage looking Guns N’ Roses T-shirt, and boots, and her hair looked amazing as usual.
“Ricky!” Milo said.
Milo ran over to Kenrick and she swept her up into her arms. “Hey, little cub. How are you?”
“Great. I missed you loads.” Kenrick turned Milo around and held her upside down.
Milo giggled and laughed as Kenrick walked over to Zaria. “Have you met this little cub then?”
“Not little.” Milo struggled and giggled in Kenrick’s hands.
“Yes, I did. She climbed up the tree. Another weremonkey.”
Kenrick laughed and let Milo down. Milo staggered and then found her balance. “Tell me about Wolfgang County, Ricky.”
“I will, once we get to Granny’s, I promise, but she’ll bite our behinds if we’re late,” Kenrick said.
Zaria was amazed at how good Kenrick was with cubs. She was a natural, both with the Wolfgang cubs and Milo. She would be the perfect parent.
She caught herself rubbing her abdomen. It was a biological impulse triggered by Kenrick, something she’d never experienced before. The needs and wants of mating had never come up in her life before, and now here she was, wishing she could give Kenrick a cub.
They hadn’t even made love yet, but Zaria’s body, her wolf, was pushing her in that direction. But Kenrick wasn’t giving her any of the dominant wolf signs that she wanted sex. They had to talk soon.
Chapter Seventeen
Milo ran ahead of Kenrick and Zaria. Kenrick held Zaria’s hand tightly. She wanted to make her more relaxed, although she was feeling tense herself. She wanted Zaria to be her Mater and be accepted by her pack.
Kenrick had no doubt that her parents and friends wouldn’t let her down. She just wanted everything to be perfect for Zaria, and to make sure Zaria had what she’d never had before—pack, family, and love.
“Your mom and dad’s house is much bigger than yours,” Zaria said.
“Yeah, it’s about three times as big, but it’s well supported by some of the oldest trees in the forest,” Kenrick told her.
Milo ran up the walkway ahead of them to the front door. She knocked at the door and disappeared inside. Kenrick felt Zaria grasp her hand more tightly as they got closer.
“Don’t worry, please, Zari. They won’t bite.”
When they neared the bottom of the stairway, Zaria pulled them underneath the house.
“Are you sure you told them I was a Lupa?” Zaria asked with panic in her voice.
“Aye, I told them, and I told you that you had nothing to worry about. My parents are good people.”
Zaria placed her hand on Kenrick’s chest. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean they weren’t. It’s just that I come with a lot of baggage.”
Kenrick covered Zaria’s hand with hers. “I’m strong enough to help you carry that baggage, we all are, and my pack will help you throw that baggage away. I asked my ma to only invite close friends, and they won’t judge you.” She leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Zaria touched her face. Again with the peck on the cheek. Zaria was ready for much more, and she guessed it would have to be her that brought it up.
“Come on,” Kenrick said.
Zaria followed her up the walkway and tried to steady her breaths. When they got to the top, Kenrick knocked at the door and opened it straight away.
They walked into a large living room, beautifully decorated with natural stone and wooden sculptures. The living room was huge, almost as big as Kenrick’s whole den, but she supposed the Alpha and Mater would have a lot of wolves to fit in, when entertaining. There was the most comfortable leather couch that looked like you would just sink into it bordering the area. Rhuri and another couple she didn’t know were on the couch, together with Milo and a little boy.
They all stood up and had huge smiles on their faces. Rhuri greeted her first. “Hi, Zaria. Good to see you. I hope Ricky’s been showing you around and looking after you?”
“Hi, Rhuri. Yes, she has. Wulver Forest is just beautiful.”
Then a smiling woman with the most gorgeous long auburn hair walked forward and opened her arms to her. “Hi, I’m Heather. Welcome to Wulver Forest.”
Zaria was surprised but happy by this warm welcome. “Thanks. It’s great to be here.”
Heather pulled back and indicated to the tall man beside her. “This is my mate, Callum.”
Callum gave her a warm smile and a small nod of the head. Dominant wolves would rarely greet a submissive physically, not when they had a mate or suspected the submissive was mated. He had the appearance of a Viking with long braided hair and a big beard, but he gave off the aura of a most gentle person.
“Good to meet you,” Zaria said.
Heather added, “And that little boy down there is our son Glen. Glen, say hi to Ms. Zaria.”
He looked up and smiled. “Hi, Zaria. Cool name.”
Zaria chuckled. “I never knew I had a cool name.”
She felt Kenrick’s presence behind her, and she shivered when she put her hands on her shoulders.
“Callum is going to join the elite wolves when I’m made Alpha on Saturday, and Rhuri will be my Second.”
She could imagine them both being so supportive to Kenrick, and it was clear Rhuri was second most dominant wolf behind Kenrick, just by her demeanour.
“Life’s about to change for all of you then?” Zaria said. Could it change for her too?”
Just then an elegant, smiling older woman came into the room. She looked younger than her years. She had fashionably silver hair tied up in a chignon, and wore jeans
, a soft sweater, and an apron with the same coat of arms she’d seen in Wolfgang County.
“Where’s ma big bairn?”
She heard Kenrick groan and then walk forward to hug her mother. “Ma, not the bairn stuff. I’m a grown wolf.”
Zaria leaned over to Heather. “What does bairn mean?”
Heather grinned. “Child, baby. Ricky pretends to hate it, but secretly I think she likes it. She’ll always be her ma’s bairn.”
Kenrick’s mother hugged her tightly then gave her a kiss. “Your pater will be here in a second.” Then her eyes lifted to Zaria and Zaria’s heart started to thud. “Introduce me to the beautiful young wolf you’ve brought home with you.”
Both Kenrick and her ma walked towards her, and the rest of the people in the room thumped their chests in salute.
“Ma, this is Zaria. We met in Wolfgang County. And Zaria, this is Elspeth, my ma, and the Mater of the Wulver pack.”
Zaria went to salute but before she could, Elspeth engulfed her in a hug. “I’m so happy to meet you, Zaria. You have a beautiful name.”
Zaria was a bit overwhelmed at her welcome. This pack seemed as warm and loving as the Wolfgangs. “It’s great to meet you, Mater,” Zaria said.
Elspeth stood back. “It’s Elspeth. You are most welcome here in our pack lands.”
“There’s my big wolf.” Another voice behind Elspeth said.
A handsome silver-haired man with a neat beard walked in holding a whisky bottle and glasses. He was unmistakably the Alpha.
Kenrick gave him a quick hug and said, “This is Zaria, Da, and Zaria, this is Fergus, Alpha of the Wulver pack.”
“Only for a few more days,” Fergus said with a grin. He was clearly looking forward to his retirement. The changeover between an Alpha and their heir was never as happy as this in the Lupa pack. Leroux had killed her mother in combat to become the Alpha, but in the Wulver and Wolfgang packs it was a happy occasion, a celebration of a changeover in leadership. It was amazing.
“Pleased to meet you, Zaria. We’re glad to have you.”
“Thank you, Fergus.”