by Alisha Basso
She gasped. It hurt. He was too big. Biting her lip, she dug her nails into his arms as he pulled out and pushed into her twice more, each time entering more deeply until he was fully sheathed.
Tears trickled from her eyes and he bent forward licking at them. “It will be fine. The first time can be difficult,” he reassured. “You’re small compared to me, but in a moment it will be better. Tell me when the pain subsides.”
Some part of her brain noted that Kane trembled as he held himself still inside her, but she was too consumed with what she herself was feeling to wonder why. After a few moments, the burning dissipated and she swallowed hard before nodding. “I’m all right now.”
Slowly, he began to move within her and soon the pleasurable sensations returned. They seemed to grow from inside her, like a bubble slowly expanding. As Kane moved his shaft, it stroked her female parts. Her breathing became shallow. She needed more...more of something, though exactly what, she wasn’t sure. Her fingers dug into his back and he seemed to understand.
Kane plunged into her faster, harder, deeper... Suddenly the bubble burst and she lost control, her limbs quivering as she found her release. Vaguely, she was aware of Kane grunting in pleasure before collapsing on top of her but his weight felt comforting, as if it grounded her and kept her safe.
After a moment, he pulled out of her and rolled over. The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing.
As the pleasurable feelings faded, Elise’s rational mind took over. It was not Bryan who had just brought her to her first orgasm. It was Kane—a virtual stranger. Feelings of shame and regret washed over her. How could she have enjoyed being with him? It all seemed so wrong, but there was no going back. She was mated to him for life.
Her thoughts had brought her full circle and now she was pressed against Kane’s chest, his arm around her waist. She felt trapped both by his limb and the fact that her life was now bound to his. The future loomed ahead. What would it be like to spend the rest of her life with this man? To share his bed? Bear his young? Grow old beside him? Did he like to run in the forest or would he be too busy with his duties as Alpha to spend time with her? And who were the members of his pack? She’d have to leave her friends and family behind. Her new position as his mate would guarantee her respect, but would anyone be her friend or was she destined for a lonely existence?
Fears and doubts tumbled through her mind as she fell into a restless sleep.
Chapter 2
In the morning Elise awoke to find herself alone in bed. She stretched and winced, her body stiff from her activities the previous night. Twice Kane had awakened her. Each mating had brought her physical pleasure, but her heart still felt heavy. There was no love between them, only sex. If it had been Bryan, they would have made a blood-bond, biting each other’s necks to mark the fact that they belonged together. It would have forged a mental connection that would grow throughout their lifetime. Kane had made no move to do this and while Elise was relieved not to bear his mark, she also was unaccountably miffed by the fact. She would have liked the opportunity to refuse and earn a small victory, proving she was still loyal to Bryan.
There was no sign of Kane and she listened carefully, wondering if he was in the next room. All was silent. Well, at least she didn’t have to face him right away, though in some ways getting that first awkward greeting over with might have been nice. Rolling out of bed she made her way across to the bathroom, her feet silent on the soft carpeting.
The previous night she’d been too keyed-up to take in her surroundings, but now she looked around with interest. Elise seldom visited the cabins but knew her father had recently had them redecorated. The decor was simple, natural wood and colonial furnishings. Splashes of colour were found in the draperies and cushions; it seemed pleasantly welcoming. The bathroom was small but contained all the needed amenities and she made use of the shower, washing away the remnants of their nocturnal activities. She stayed in the bathroom as long as possible, delaying the moment when she would have to go find Kane. Finally the water began to run cold and she reluctantly stepped out. Drying herself off, she donned the pants and T-shirt she had brought in with her.
Taking a deep breath, she exited her temporary haven only to pause mid-stride. The bedding had been changed in her brief absence; the Council had been quick to gather the evidence that the union was complete. Embarrassment heated her face as she imagined Kane stripping the bed and then handing over the stained sheets. She twisted her fingers together. How she would ever be able to face any of the others. It really was a ridiculous custom to cling to in this day and age.
That she’d been untouched wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in her pack. Her father was very traditional and had guarded her closely. While her friends had been off on dates, it had been well-known that she only went out in groups. Bryan had been the only male she was ever allowed to run with. Even he admitted that her father had given him stern warnings that there had better be no inappropriate behaviour if he valued his life. At the time, Elise had thought her father was merely overly protective. Now she was coming to realize that she had just been an object, a pawn to be used in political manoeuvring.
At that moment the bedroom door opened and Kane appeared. “Good morning, Elise. I heard you in the shower when I came in, so I made some breakfast for us.” Briefly she made eye contact with him and he must have noted her flushed countenance for his eyes darted to the fresh sheets on the bed and then back to her. “Yes, the Council has been here to check on our union.” He spoke the fact blandly as if it was of no more importance than the weather, and Elise forced her feelings down trying to match his nonchalant attitude.
He extended his arm, ushering her into the kitchenette. The table was set. Bacon and eggs, juice and toast were waiting. “I wasn’t sure what you liked to eat first thing, but this is what I can cook. I hope it’s suitable.”
Elise looked at him in surprise. Her father had never set foot in the kitchen, always too busy with his work as Alpha. “You cooked this?”
“Yes. I am capable of fending for myself, you know.” He chuckled at her expression and helped her into a chair. “Also, I can’t have my mate undernourished. We used up a lot of energy last night.” This final remark was accompanied by a kiss on her cheek and a casual caress over her breast. Elise momentarily froze, but Kane sat down opposite her as if nothing had happened and began serving. “We’ll need to take a few days to get used to each other, to become acquainted with various likes and dislikes. Is there anything you aren’t fond of eating?” He paused in the middle of spooning up some egg and looked at her enquiringly.
“Um...not really.”
“Good. I’ll eat almost anything myself. Do you like to read? Watch movies?” The meal progressed with Kane asking her questions and Elise supplying answers. When she didn’t question him back, he would fill in his own preferences. Elise had to admire him for the effort he was making. He was being friendly and polite, showing an interest in her. Apparently, he was committed to making their union work.
After a while, she began to relax and found herself expanding on her answers. Kane smiled at her, obviously pleased that she was making an effort.
“Our territories adjoin to the east, and with our packs under an alliance, we technically have miles and miles of forest to roam in now,” he explained, leaning back and sipping his coffee. “Personally, I love a good run over rugged terrain. How about you? When I first saw you, it was apparent that you’d just come in from exercising.”
“Yes, I’d been out with...a friend.” The faint smile that had been on her face faded as she recalled her last run. If only she’d known it was to be the last time she would ever be with Bryan, she would have savoured the time even more, storing every sight and sound and scent...
“And this...friend…would he be the young male who was looking daggers at me yesterday? Tall with sandy hair, and about twenty years of age?”
Elise hesitated, but knew Kane could find out from a
nyone in her pack. Her friendship with Bryan had been no secret. “Yes. That was Bryan. He had hoped to speak to my father about being my...mate.” She looked away, her eyes misting over.
“And you?” Kane prodded softly. “How did you feel about that?”
Staring at her hands, Elise whispered her answer. “I...I was hoping for the same thing.”
“I see.” Kane was silent for a moment, and then sighed heavily. “I’m not surprised. You’re a beautiful female and it would be strange if no one in your pack had wanted to mate you.” He continued slowly, seeming to chose his words carefully. “You know, Elise, sometimes our lives have moments of great disappointment. It’s difficult at the time, but we have to move beyond.” He reached across the table and put a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Our being mated was of great importance to the well-being of both our packs. It’s our duty to them to make this work, agreed?”
His amber eyes bore into hers, the authority of his position evident and, after a moment, she nodded in agreement. He was right. Duty to her pack, and duty to his, necessitated making this union work. He stood and extended his hand to her. Hesitantly she reached out, placing hers in his. Warmth enveloped her hand and slowly worked its way up her arm. Smiling encouragingly, he pulled her to her feet.
*****
Standing at the edge of the woods, Elise waited for Kane. After cleaning up from their morning meal, he’d headed up to the pack house to deal with a few pressing matters, saying he’d meet her in half an hour. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to run with him—it had been an activity that she and Bryan had enjoyed together—but knew that she needed to make their union work. Running could turn out to be one of the few things they had in common.
It was another lovely fall day. The trees were painted with orange, red, and gold while the sky was a bright clear blue. Heat from the rising sun was slowly burning off the morning mist but wisps still swirled low to the ground giving everything a faintly magical appearance. She loved this land and knew every square inch by heart. Closing her eyes, she visualized running down the twisting paths, leaping over fallen logs, splashing through streams. It really was the best place in the world and she couldn’t imagine ever being this comfortable or at peace anywhere else.
Inhaling deeply, Elise let the fresh, crisp air invade her lungs and energize her body. Kane was later than he had thought he’d be and she began to move around restlessly, bending to touch her toes, stretching her arms over her head then twisting side to side. She glanced towards the house. How much longer would he be? As Alpha, she knew his time would not always be his own, but did that mean that her time must be spent waiting, doing nothing? She stared deep into the woods. The land was calling to her. Did she dare go ahead without him?
Her father had expressly forbidden any pack member to go out by themselves. Hunters sometimes laid illegal leg traps and a wolf could be caught and shot before anyone in the pack was aware. That was how her mother had died...
“Good morning.” A voice spoke behind her and she jumped. Spinning around, she saw Bryan standing a few feet away. The sun was shining on his sandy brown hair, giving it a golden glow.
“Bryan!” She felt her heart leap with joy and she rushed over to hug him, only to have her friend step away when she was but a foot away. His movement brought her headlong rush to an immediate stop. “Bryan? What’s the matter?”
“What do you mean, what’s the matter? You know what the problem is.”
“No, I don’t.” Elise shook her head puzzled at the change in her friend. Bryan was usually so happy and easy going. Now he sounded bitter, a scowl marring his normally handsome face.
“You’re mated to Kane. I can smell his scent on you.”
His words cut like a knife into her heart. How could he be so cruel? “You know that wasn’t my choice! The Elders decided on the need for the union. You were at the ceremony yesterday and heard the speeches just as I did.”
Bryan looked away, his mouth tightly compressed. “I know. It’s just...” He seemed to be waging some type of internal struggle, his fists clenching and unclenching. Finally, he sighed deeply, the scowl fading away leaving sorrow in its wake. “I had hoped to be your mate.”
“I know.” Elise took a step closer and laid her hand on his arm. “I’d hoped for the same thing.” She took his hand in hers. “This union was for the good of the packs, but it doesn’t mean that I’ve stopped caring for you.”
“And I still care for you.” Bryan reached out and stroked her cheek, staring intently into her eyes before switching his focus to her lips. Silence stretched between them and Elise realized that he was leaning closer to her, his intention of kissing her evident. Her conscience pricked and she knew she should step away. Bryan wasn’t her mate. Kane was.
A twig snapped behind her before she could act and Bryan jumped away, pulling his hand from hers. They both turned to see Kane standing nearby, his eyes narrowed and glaring as he took in the two of them.
“Elise, I’m glad you found a way to keep yourself occupied while I was finishing off pack business.” There was an angry edge to his voice which made Elise’s skin prickle with anxiety.
“I...I was just talking to Bryan,” she stammered. Something in his expression frightened her and she stepped back.
“So I see.” Kane shot her a brief glance, and then focused his attention on Bryan, a look of disdain on his face. “This is the...friend...you spoke of this morning?”
“Yes, this is Bryan. We’ve been friends since we were pups.”
Kane gave Bryan an almost imperceptible nod. “I’m glad you had someone to keep you company while you were waiting. However, it would do your ‘friend’ well to remember that you are now my mate and off limits to all others.”
Feeling her face burn at his innuendo, Elise tried to defend her actions. “We were just talking, nothing else!”
“I do not appreciate other males standing quite so close when...talking...to my mate.” The words rumbled from his throat and Bryan retreated, instinctively acknowledging Kane’s dominance.
“Elise, I’d better go. I...I’ll see you around.” Bryan’s voice was quiet and regretful.
“Yes, I’ll see you around.” Elise responded softly, knowing that it was unlikely Bryan would approach her again. Soon she’d be gone and it saddened her to think that her friendship was ending. She watched Bryan turn and head back to the house then faced Kane, anger bubbling up within her. “You didn’t need to chase him off like that.”
“I didn’t chase him off. I merely let him know that you are my mate now and a proper distance needs to be maintained.”
“He was just—”
“I know what he was ‘just’ doing,” Kane interrupted sharply. “I could sense his desire for you and I do not share my mate with anyone. We are bonded and you are mine. No other male is allowed to sniff around you.”
“Sniff around me?” She stared at him in outrage.
“Yes. Your next heat cycle is coming in about a month, isn’t it? Last night, I could already sense the growing pheromone levels in you. He might not be consciously aware of them yet, but in another few days he will. That boy needs to remember you are off limits before his instincts to mount a fertile female cause him to make a grave mistake.”
Elise huffed indignantly. While heat cycles and mating instincts were not a secret within the pack—in fact they were impossible to hide—Elise wasn’t pleased to have Kane bringing her relationship with Bryan down to such a base level. “Kane, you—”
“Elise, this conversation is over. You are my mate. Bryan will stay away. End of topic. Now, are we going for a run or not?”
For a moment, she considered leaving in a snit, but she’d be cutting off her nose to spite her face. She loved to run and Kane was right. As much as she hated to admit it, she couldn’t encourage a relationship with Bryan any more. It wasn’t fair to him. With a brief nod to Kane, she shifted into her wolf form and headed into the forest, vaguely aware of him fo
llowing behind.
The leaves crunched beneath her feet, trees and shrubs a mere blur as she raced past. Leaping over logs, skirting around trunks, she ran for the sheer love of it. Her eyes constantly scanned the horizon as she quickly adjusted her path and pace to suit the terrain. At the same time, she was aware of Kane running behind her. He made no attempt to pass her, but she was aware that he was holding back. His breathing was slow and steady; there was no sense of exertion coming from him.
Elise quickened her pace, curious to test the limits of the wolf behind her. Within seconds, he had adjusted his pace to hers, the distance between them remaining constant. Again and again she tested him, running faster and faster yet he never once fell behind nor attempted to overtake her. He was toying with her. Vexed, she veered off the path heading for rougher terrain. Barrelling over a crest, she headed down a slope, her claws digging into the soil as she sought to gain traction on the slippery, leaf covered ground. At the bottom, a stream meandered along and she splashed across it, before charging up the bank. Her breathing was ragged now, but she wasn’t about to give in. Intent on jumping over a pile of brush ahead of her, she put on a final burst of speed.
Without warning she found herself knocked to the ground and began to fight the assailant. Snapping and rolling, she kept trying to evade her attacker but to no avail. Within moments Kane had pinned her to the ground, his teeth lightly gripping her throat. Instinctively, she froze and whimpered in submission. Kane held on for a moment longer then let go and sat back.
As one, they phased into human form. Kane was breathing a bit faster than normal, but he didn’t appear spent. On the other hand, her own chest was heaving as she pulled oxygen in to nourish her starving lungs and protesting muscles.
“Why did you do that?” She panted.
“There’s a leg trap directly ahead of you. A few more yards and you would have stepped in it.”