by Jenny Frame
Kenrick growled softly and nuzzled her neck. “Your wolf should be strong enough to protect you, be devoted to their mate’s and family’s happiness. Put their submissive mate first in all things, provide meat for their mate’s table, and most of all do as they are told in the den.”
Zaria raised an eyebrow. “Really? Do as they are told by their submissive mate?”
“Have you never heard the heard the expression Mate’s den, mate’s rules? Or in my ma’s case, Mater’s den, Mater’s rules?”
Zaria sighed. “The Lupas think mates should be seen and not heard, so no.”
“Zari…” Kenrick rolled over and pulled Zaria on top. Kenrick wanted to make sure Zaria was clear she would always be safe if she consented to be her mate. Even though they’d made love last night, Kenrick didn’t try to mate-bite Zaria. She wasn’t going to mess up this chance at happiness, not now that she and Zaria had come so far.
“What?” Zaria said.
“You know if you decide to stay with me, with the pack, you would always be safe. You’ve seen my ma and pater, and Heather and Callum. We are nothing like the Lupas.”
Zaria cupped Kenrick’s cheeks. “I know that. You are the kindest, gentlest wolf I know. It’s taken some time to trust, but I can’t ever imagine any circumstance that you would hurt me.”
“I would die first,” Kenrick said solemnly.
Zaria’s eyes shone yellow, her wolf close to the surface. She pounced on Kenrick’s lips with such passion it took Kenrick by surprise. She deepened the kiss by grasping Kenrick’s dreads and pulling them close.
Kenrick snarled. She was hard, wet, and ached to thrust into her mate. They hadn’t said it yet, but as far as Kenrick was concerned they were mated. She was just going to let Zaria have the time to make sure she was ready for what being her mate meant.
She dragged her wolf teeth down Zaria’s neck. Zaria opened her legs for Kenrick and she dug her nails into Kenrick’s shoulders.
“Yes, Ricky.”
Just as they were getting lost in lust, Kenrick’s phone on the side table started to play a loud alarm. Kenrick jumped and grabbed the phone. “Fuck!”
“What is it?” Zaria said.
Kenrick sat up quickly. “There’s an important meeting at the distillery this morning. It’s my pater’s last one as CEO, and he’s handing over to me, and I’m late. Some Alpha.” She growled in panic.
Zaria reached up and took her hand. “Hey, it’s okay. How long do you have?”
“I’ve got twenty minutes to get there. I haven’t had my morning run, I’m covered in blue and white, I need a shower, and I need to fuck you so badly or I am going to explode.”
Zaria smiled and sat up. “Well then, we’ll need to combine a few of those. Come on, wolf.”
Zaria pulled Kenrick by the hand in the direction of the outside shower, and Kenrick’s look of panic turned into a ravenous smile.
“Good thinking, lassie.” Kenrick pressed on the shower and they stepped underneath.
The hot water hit Zaria’s body and she leaned back to wet her hair. She put a large dollop of shower gel in each of their hands and they began to wash each other.
Kenrick pulled her close and, while they kissed, rubbed her hands up and down her back, soaping her up. Zaria pushed her hips further into Kenrick’s sex as Kenrick rubbed the soap and her hands all over Zaria’s back.
Zaria pulled away from the kiss and said, “The first time I saw you under this shower, I wanted to come in with you and beg you to fuck me.”
Kenrick groaned and spun her around so Kenrick’s sex was pressing into her buttocks.
Oh, Great Mother. My fantasy is coming true, Zaria thought.
Kenrick put some more shower gel on her hands and lathered it all over Zaria’s breasts. Zaria pushed her backside into Kenrick, presenting herself for her mate. Her wolf had been telling her from the beginning that’s who Kenrick was, and now she believed it. This wolf, this pack was her future. She couldn’t turn her back on this.
Zaria leaned her head to the side to give Kenrick access to her neck and grasped Kenrick’s hair. She heard a low growl. Kenrick seemed to like it when she pulled on her mane of hair.
Kenrick kissed and teased her with little nips. Then she said, “I need to fill you up, Zari.” Kenrick groaned.
“Yes.” Zaria covered Kenrick’s hands on her breasts and encouraged her to squeeze.
Kenrick moved them a few paces forward so Zaria could brace herself against the shower wall.
Zaria bent over, giving Kenrick access to her from behind. Zaria shouted in pleasure when Kenrick’s claws scratched from her neck down to the bottom of her spine.
“Mine?” Kenrick questioned.
Zaria turned her head to look back at Kenrick. She was partially shifted and looked wild. “Yours,” Zaria replied.
Kenrick parted her buttocks and her clit slipped into mating position. Kenrick groaned in bliss.
Zaria pushed back with every thrust Kenrick made. Her sex was throbbing and readying to come as soon as Kenrick filled her with her essence.
Kenrick thrust faster and faster, every thrust bringing pleasure to Zaria. She looked to the side at the rain battering down from the skies above just a few feet away from them, while the shower thundered down on them. It was as if they were making love out in the open forest, with the refreshing rain falling on their hot bodies, with the fresh scents of the forest surrounding them.
This was what wolf love was meant to be like. This was real, and Zaria knew this was it. She belonged here with this wolf.
Kenrick’s groans became deeper and her breath shorter. “I’m going to fill you up, Zaria.”
Zaria leaned back and said, “Bite me.”
Kenrick didn’t seem to understand at first because she just nipped the skin of her neck.
“No,” Zaria said seriously, “mate-bite me when you come.”
Kenrick’s thrusts slowed. “What? Are you sure?”
Zaria reached back and caressed the side of Kenrick’s face. “Yes. I want to stay. I love you, Ricky. Make me your mate.”
Kenrick’s voice became emotional when she said, “You love me?”
“Yes. I’m yours. Fill me up and make me yours.” Kenrick’s thrusts hastened and become harder. “Yes, Ricky.”
“I love you.” Kenrick was breathing hard and about to come and Zaria would just be seconds after her.
It happened so quickly. Kenrick roared in pleasure, then sank her teeth into Zaria’s shoulder.
The chemicals from Kenrick’s bite swarmed through her body. Her orgasm exploded and her body felt so light, and she experienced an intense high, both physically and mentally. She could feel Kenrick in every cell of her body.
They both fell to the shower floor, gasping for air.
Kenrick held her tight, safe and cocooned in her arms. “Thank you, thank you, my darlin’ lassie.”
“Ricky, I need to look at you.” Zaria turned in her arms and kissed Kenrick softly. The Kenrick she saw when she turned around was not the fierce Alpha who protected her from Leroux and Ovid. She was intensely emotional as she gazed at Zaria, and her eyes were filled with such love.
Kenrick caressed her cheek. “Did you really mean it? You love me and want to stay?”
“I wouldn’t have asked you to mate-bite me if I didn’t. I love you, Highlander, and I want to be a Wulver.”
“I know I bit you, but before you seal our bond, are you really sure? You know what being my mate means.”
Zaria wiped a strand of wet hair from Kenrick’s face. “Yes, I know what it means. I don’t know if I’ll ever be good at the job. I’ve never lived in a normal pack. My sister was a Mater, but it didn’t mean the same under Leroux’s vicious rule. But I’m going to try my best to be the best mate to you, and pack mate to your wolves.”
“You don’t need to try. You’re kind, caring, and the strongest wolf I’ve ever met. You survived, lassie—the Lupas couldn’t keep you down—and now it’s time
to enjoy life with me.”
Zaria was overcome with love for Kenrick. Her wolf had enough waiting and she sank her teeth deep into Kenrick’s neck. Zaria could feel them becoming one now they had both bitten and joined.
She pulled back and saw the fresh blood dripping from Kenrick’s mate bite. She leaned over and licked the blood from her wound. She loved the taste and knowing she had caused it.
Zaria heard in her mind, Can you hear me, bonnie lassie?
I can hear every word. We’re joined. She threw her arms around Kenrick. I love you.
You’re not a Lupa any more, lassie. You’re a Wulver and you’re safe at last.
Chapter Twenty
Love and the bliss of afterglow for the newly mated pair soon turned to panic when Kenrick remembered she was late for her meeting. She tied back her damp hair with her leather band, while Zaria quickly got Kenrick’s suit out of the wardrobe.
“The black suit?” Zaria asked.
“Aye, black’s my colour.” She pulled on the trousers as quickly as she could, then looked down at the clock. “Shit. I’m supposed to be there now. Great start to the new era of the Wulver pack. The new CEO is late.”
Zaria handed her the black shirt. “Your pater will understand.”
“Can you text him from my phone? Just say I’m coming in five minutes and I’ve got good news.”
Zaria typed quickly on Kenrick’s phone. “Wait, what good news?”
“I’ve found our new Mater.” Kenrick winked. “That should soften his wrath.”
Zaria giggled and touched her mate bite. “Oh yeah, that.”
Kenrick pulled on her shirt and fumbled over the buttons because she was going so fast. “I hate this thing.”
Zaria stopped her and said, “Take a breath. I’ll do it. What do you think your parents will say?”
“My pater will be over the moon. He always told me I’d find my Mater, even when I despaired that I wouldn’t. You know, I felt so guilty in the lead-up to becoming Alpha that I couldn’t give my pack a Mater. It was like I was failing them before I began, because the Mater is the heart of the pack.”
Kenrick saw a look of worry pass over Zaria’s face. She held Zaria’s hands as they reached for her top button. “Hey, listen—you’ll be fine. We’ve both got a lot to learn about our new life,” Kenrick said.
Zaria pursed her lips and gave her a quick nod. Kenrick knew that Zaria was going to need to gain a lot of confidence, but she was certain with her mother and the other submissives’ support, she would find her place.
“What will your mom say?”
Kenrick let out a long breath. “She’ll be overjoyed, suffocate you with love and affection, but bite my arse from one end of the forest to the other.”
Zaria looked surprised. “Why?”
Kenrick pointed to Zaria’s mate bite. “Mate bite before mating ceremony? My ma is really traditional, and she’s always given me the lecture about respect and waiting.”
“But it was my idea. It wasn’t your fault, Ricky.”
Kenrick snorted. “You think my ma will believe that? I’ll get the blame, but she’ll be so happy at the same time.”
Kenrick tucked in her shirt and took her jacket from Zaria. “Right, I think I’m ready. Remember, I’m going to show you around the distillery today. Will you be okay this morning?”
Zaria nodded. “Yeah, I thought I’d do some grocery shopping—you don’t have any food. Heather said she’d go with me down to the marketplace. If that’s okay with you?”
Zaria looked down and grimaced slightly and Kenrick felt worry and tension through their physic connection. It was a strange reaction to what she had just said. Kenrick didn’t have time to investigate it just now but she would later.
“Aye, nae bother, here.” Kenrick took out her wallet and handed Zaria her credit card. “Get whatever you need. Food or things for you, the den. I’ll write down the PIN on my way out, but I’ve got to run.”
Zaria clasped the card tightly. “Thanks.”
Kenrick rushed to the kitchen counter and scribbled a note with the code. Then she ran to the door but was stopped when Zaria said mentally, Stop right there, wolf.
Zaria walked to the door and grasped Kenrick by the shirt. “Don’t walk out of here without giving me a kiss.”
Kenrick grinned. “Sorry.” Then she pulled Zaria into a kiss.
The kiss deepened. Zaria growled and pushed Kenrick up against the wall. The very cells in her body were screaming to be close to Kenrick, loving her, caring for her. Then she pulled back. “You better get to work.”
“Aye, cheers, kiss me like that and send me off to work.” Kenrick snorted.
* * *
Kenrick took the congratulations of the board members as they left the boardroom. The news of her new mate had turned the serious handover of business power from her pater to a joyous occasion. Once the last wolf left, Kenrick looked up to the other end of the table and saw her pater silently smiling at her.
“You know your mother is going to kill you,” Fergus said.
Kenrick smirked. “She’ll forgive me.”
“You’ve chosen well, wolf. You make a bonnie couple.”
“Thanks for making her so welcome, Da. She’s had such a hard life so far, but now I want to make the rest of it special,” Kenrick said.
“We will surround Zaria with the love of the pack, don’t worry about that.” Fergus stood up and walked over to the window that looked out over the loch. “This is all yours now. Look after her well.”
“Course I will, Da.” Kenrick joined her dad at the window.
“If you’re lucky, one day you’ll be handing over the reins to your own cub, and I can tell you nothing makes you prouder.” Fergus kissed Kenrick’s brow.
* * *
Heather came to meet Zaria at their den and engulfed her with hugs when she saw her mate bite. They walked down to the marketplace.
“Are you going to postpone the Alpha ceremony, so you can have your mating ceremony first?” Heather said.
“I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about that.” And she hadn’t. Last night and this morning all she thought about was how much she loved Kenrick and the urge to mark her as her own. She never thought she would succumb to that urge, and here she had with a wolf who was going to be Alpha, just like her sister.
A small knot of worry started to form in her gut. Then she remembered her apprehension this morning when she’d hinted that she would need money for food.
Just like Marta.
How many times had she watched her sister be controlled by money. Leroux didn’t give her access to any of their money, so she would have to go crawling to Leroux every time she needed something for the den.
Zaria remembered Marta putting it off until she absolutely had to and the fear in her eyes when she did—then Leroux’s cruel smile as Marta begged.
But that wasn’t Kenrick, her more logical mind told her. It was hard to fight against what she had learned as a child. She had come such a long way in a short time, and Kenrick was the reason for that, but it would unrealistic to think that she wouldn’t have fears and concerns.
Heather stopped and put her hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right, Zaria?”
Zaria smiled. “I’m fine. There’s just a lot to think about. Ricky and I need to talk about it all. It’s all happened so fast.”
“I know. But you’ll have lots of help. Come on.”
Heather led her down to the marketplace and each wolf bowed their head as they passed. The few dominants in the marketplace saluted her too.
“Why are they doing that? They don’t know me, and Ricky isn’t even Alpha yet.”
“They don’t need to know you. What they know is Ricky chose you to be their Mater, and they trust her that you will be a great Mater.”
Zaria felt that knot of worry again. “Can we sit down for a minute?”
“Sure.” Heather led her over to a bench by the side of the walkway. “What’s up?�
�� Heather asked. “I can scent your worry.”
Zaria sighed. “I was brought up in a pack that didn’t follow normal wolf pack rules. I have no experience as to how I should behave, how I should interact with other wolves as Mater. I watched how effortlessly Eden embodies the role in the Wolfgang pack, and Elspeth here. How could I ever compete with that? I’m good at two things, running and hiding. I was never equipped for a life like this.”
Heather took her hand. “It’s not a matter of competing, Zaria. It’s about learning and making the role your own. Ricky will have to do the same as you. I’m sure you know her insecurities about becoming Alpha. She’s carried the guilt of her brother’s death all these years, and wondered if she is the rightful Alpha, but I can see since meeting you that she’s gained a new confidence. Let her and us do the same thing for you.”
Zaria smiled and squeezed Heather’s hand. “It’s just a lot to take in.”
“Ricky said your sister was Mater in the Lupa pack,” Heather said.
“Yeah, but it wasn’t the same thing. No submissive, not even the Mater, had any role in the pack. The dominants kept us on a tight leash.”
“Do you think if your sister had been born in a pack like ours or the Wolfgangs she would have made a good Mater?”
Zaria nodded and smiled enthusiastically. “Oh yes. Marta was the kindest, gentlest person I know. Always thought of others before herself, that’s why she got…” Zaria hesitated. “That’s how she got killed. Thinking of everyone else before herself.”
Heather looked right into her eyes and said, “Then think of this as an opportunity to live the life she couldn’t. You can take the chance at life Marta couldn’t, and I’m sure she’ll be watching you with pride by the side of the Great Mother.”
Zaria grasped the necklace around her neck, the one that connected her to her mother and Marta, and that knot of worry shrank ever so slightly. Could this be her chance to live the kind of life Marta should have had?
One thing she did know for certain was that Marta would rest easy in the Great Eternal Forest knowing that both Marco and she were safe and Leroux was dead.