by Lee Savino
I could almost smell her perfect scent even over the smoke and fire. I half closed my eyes and inhaled.
My eyes snapped open when I realized I wasn’t imagining her scent. My beloved stood at the entrance of the cave, barefoot and clad in a simple shift we’d provided for her.
Her eyes widened as she took in the rocky clearing full of warriors and wolves.
“Brenna,” I snapped, rising. Every wolf in the clearing swung his head towards her, their faces full of one dangerous emotion: desire.
Brenna sensed it. In an instant she did the worst thing she could’ve done. She took a step backwards. Retreat, and a wolf knows you’re weak.
I launched myself across the clearing, but not before a young red haired warrior darted to her side. Fergus was the smallest of us, but he had the strength to lift a buck thrice his size and carry it up the mountain. He would break our beloved and not even realize he’d tried.
A second after I realized I would not reach Brenna in time, a hand came out of nowhere and clamped onto the youth’s shoulder. “Change,” Wulfgar ordered, and Fergus’ body obeyed. The young man turned into wolf, following the command of the third most dominant in the pack. A few other warriors winced as the order blew through them like a cold wind, almost forcing their own Change.
I bowled past the two of them, grabbed Brenna and hoisted her over my shoulder.
“You’re in trouble now, lass.”
She squirmed and I backed up my words with a sharp swat on her backside as I strode down the cave hall to our rooms carved out of the mountain.
“We told ye not to leave our quarters, lass. What were ye thinking?” Real fear rose in me, and I pushed it down, turning to anger instead.
I heard a grunt behind me and I whirled, snarling. A blond warrior had followed us, unable to resist the siren scent of our woman.
He growled a challenge.
“Mine,” I snarled back. I shrugged Brenna off my shoulder and pushed her towards our quarters, at the same time stepping between her and the would-be attacker. “Back off, Siebold.”
The warrior crouched in preparation to fight, a wild light in his gold eyes. His shoulders hunched as he roared in challenge.
“Change,” I barked, and put the power of the Alpha behind it.
Siebold fell onto hands and knees, fur appearing along the ridge of his spine. His bones snapped and crackled as his wolf took over. “Stay.” I ordered smugly, and left him in the hallway, howling in defeat.
I paused on the threshold and took a deep breath, fighting to control my feelings before I entered our room.
Brenna waited with arms crossed over her chest. She didn’t look afraid. She looked incensed.
She met my gaze boldly, but when I prowled up to her she had the good sense to back away.
My hand went around her neck, collaring her. My skin burned when it touched the silver torc we’d given her to wear.
My own beast was close to breaking free.
I forced it back.
With effort, I removed my hand from around her throat. With both hands, I wrenched the torc open and removed it. I dangled the bent metal in front of her face.
“Ye agreed to wear this, aye?”
She nodded.
“Knowing what it would mean? Knowing that ye would have to live among the pack, and obey us?”
She nodded again. I threw the torc on the floor. She flinched as silver struck stone, but her eyes never left mine.
“You agreed to live among us, to obey Samuel and I and follow our rules? Rules that protect ye? Rules that keep ye safe?
Her forehead furrowed, but she still nodded. She knew where I was going and didn’t like it.
“Ye are a woman of honor, Brenna, I knew it from the first. Were ye trying to leave? To go back on yer word?”
She shook her head.
“Ye broke a rule, Brenna. We left ye alone, but I was soon to return with food. We will never leave you alone for long. That is the reason Samuel and I claimed ye together. If one of us falls, the other will provide for ye.” I dragged a frustrated hand through my hair. My wolf was howling for me to throw her to the floor and take her now, mark her with my seed, so she and any other wolf knew who she belonged to.
The beast also lurked, ready to pounce the minute I lost control. Like the wolf, it wanted to claim our beloved, but it also craved blood, and pain.
I dragged in a breath and tried to stay calm. “We care for ye. But we need ye to follow the rules. Understand?”
She nodded, the anger had left her face. She wasn’t yet contrite, but close enough.
I pointed to the torc on the floor. “So choose again, Brenna. Will ye stay? Knowing ye must submit to our rules?” My heart quivered a little. She could say no. Was I really allowing her to choose again whether she would leave us? Would return her to her family if she refused to pick up the torc? In my heart of hearts I knew I would. It would mean death for me and Samuel, and possibly the entire pack, but I would do it.
The knowledge should’ve frightened me. Instead, I felt stronger. “Do ye choose us?”
She nodded. Inside, I rejoiced, but kept my voice stern. Brenna could’ve died today, torn apart by wolves in rut. I had to make her understand.
“Then ye deliberately disobeyed us and must face the consequences.” I pointed to the floor.
Uncertainty crossed her face.
I snapped my fingers in her face. “Submit. Now, lass. I’m not in the mood to be trifled with.”
She stiffened, but she sank down.
At the sign of her submission, my anger receded.
“Pick up the torc.”
She did so. Her usually graceful fingers trembled, but not with fear. With need. My eyes widened as I realized my dominance excited her. As I watched the pulse flutter in her throat, my own body quickened at the scent of her desire.
“Offer it to me.” Instinct kicked in and she kept her eyes lowered as she offered up the circlet. I felt more powerful in this moment that in a lifetime of conquering others on the battlefield.
“Good lass.” I accepted the torc and moved behind her, keeping my voice gentle. “Lift yer hair.”
She obeyed and I felt my body tighten further at her submission. I replaced it around her slender neck.
“Rise, Brenna.”
My hand cupped her neck again, pulling her close. “Look at me,” I encouraged, and she did.
“Ye belong to us. Forever.” My thumb played over her lips. Eyes on mine, she opened her mouth, and bit the tip of my finger.
My control snapped.
I pushed forward, half lifting her and carrying her to the nearest surface to rut. The dais was too far away, but I made it to the wall, pressing my beloved against the hard surface. Her head hit the stone but the lust in her face told me she didn’t care. Her hands roved over my arms and shoulders. Her nails dug into the taut muscle as I held her aloft.
“Ye don’t leave the cave without permission,” I growled. She deserved punishment, but I was too angry to mete it out. I was too angry to do anything but fuck her.
She glared at me and tugged at my shoulders, pressing her lower half closer to mine. My hands found the top of her shift and rent it in two, baring her body to me. The desire to bite into her shoulder, to make her bleed, to hold her by the scruff of the neck and shake her was almost overpowering. But she wasn’t a female wolf who could handle such rough punishment. I would have to settle for fucking our naughty human against the wall, hard.
I hitched one leg up around my hip and thrust inside her.
Her whole body rocked backwards. Her mouth opened in a perfect circle of satisfaction.
I drove into her again and again, steadying her so her head didn’t slam against the wall, but otherwise not holding back. She gripped my forearms and tilted her hips, accepting the punishing thrusts, welcoming them.
“I can barely control myself around ye,” I told her. “You think the pack will hold back? You’d be lucky to survive.”
; My hand collared her neck, pressing into the torc, feeling the reassuring coolness of the silver against my palm. She could’ve died today at the hands of the pack. The beast within didn’t know love or gentleness. Even now, I wanted to whip and fuck her into submission.
I’d settle on the latter until I was under control.
I let go of her neck and braced one hand against the wall. The other cradled her head while my hips snapped forward. “Ye will remember who owns you. We are yer masters. And ye will obey us so ye do not come to harm.”
She panted in my ear.
She was enjoying it. Good. I wasn’t going to stop until I’d marked her with my seed. I couldn’t go outside and tear out the eyes of every wolf that’d beheld her, but I could mark her as mine.
I lifted her slightly, driving up into her, trying to plant myself so deep inside her body she’d feel me forever. As I groaned her name, she angled her head and kissed my neck.
The tender act sent a shudder through my body. “Och, lass.”
Her body tightened and she started to convulse. As her orgasm took her, her knees buckled and she sagged against me. Holding her close, I ground into her hips, letting my own pleasure wash over me.
We stayed close like that, my body pinning hers to the wall.
I felt Samuel enter the room before he spoke.
“What’s going on?”
I stepped back, letting her feet touch the ground again.
“I’m teaching our beloved a lesson.” I felt a lot better as I ran my hands down her naked form. Brenna shot a sorrowing look at her torn shift on the floor. We rarely allowed her any clothes, thinking that keeping her naked would reinforce our orders to stay in our quarters, away from the pack. We were right. She’d have to earn the right to clothes again, along with our trust.
Samuel folded his massive arms over his chest. “Wulfgar is out there with Fergus at his feet in wolf form. Siebold is in such a state I sent him to the northern watch. It seems our Brenna caused quite a stir.”
“She left the cave, put herself in danger.”
“Is this true?” Samuel snapped, golden eyes heating as he glared at Brenna.
Our woman nodded, her gaze on the ground. At least she was smart enough not to goad an angry Alpha.
“‘Tis partly my fault,” I offered. “I left her alone for too long.”
“That shouldn’t matter,” Samuel said, and spoke to me over the bond. We can’t keep her in the cave forever.
It’s too dangerous, I protested.
I don’t like it either, but if she’s to remain with us, she needs to learn our ways. It is time.
Samuel held out his hand. “Brenna.”
Slowly she left my side and walked to the Alpha. I folded my arms to hide my nervousness. At least I could enjoy the sight of my seed trickling down her thigh.
Our Brenna wasn’t a small woman, but Samuel’s great body dwarfed hers. Her head only came up to his chest. As she approached, Samuel schooled his features into a benign expression. He had the advantage of size and strength, he took care not to intimidate her.
Samuel sat on the dais and drew our beloved closer to stand between his legs. For a minute he only toyed with her hair, pushing it off her bare shoulders.
“I’m going to tell you the rules. You already know one—do not leave the quarters without our permission. You broke that rule, and in a moment I’ll have Daegan punish you.”
Brenna glanced at me with wide eyes and I winked back. After spending myself deep inside her, my wolf felt calmer. The beast was satisfied. My calm wouldn’t stop me from spanking my beloved’s bottom bright red, but instead of losing control, I’d enjoy the act.
She wouldn’t be able to say the same.
Samuel gripped her shoulders as he thought of how to explain our ways to our little human. I didn’t envy him.
“You must understand the wolfpack runs on careful hierarchy. Daegan and I are at the top. As Alpha, I lead the pack, but I also serve it. If an enemy attacks, I am the first to fight. If the enemy succeeds, I am the first to die. In return, the pack gives me respect. I eat first, I have first right to any luxury. Most importantly, if I give an order, the pack must obey.”
I circled the room, replenishing the wood in the braziers. In the pack, I was called “Daegan Silvertongue” for my ability to speak circles around most wolves, but as Alpha, Samuel had the final say. We agreed it was best for him to instruct the new pack members in the rules. When a wolf broke the rules, Samuel judged and ordered punishment.
“You are not a wolf, but you are now a member of the pack. As a human you are…weak. Frail. Unable to protect yourself. I protect any weak wolf in the pack from death, as long as they keep to their place. But I cannot step in all the time. Wolves naturally fight for their place in their pack. It is not my responsibility to stop a stronger wolf from fighting a weaker one, if the weaker wolf challenged him for dominance. Do you understand what I’ve said so far?”
He waited for Brenna’s slow nod.
“Like it or not, you are the weakest in the pack. We will protect you, but if you leave our quarters and walk among the wolves, you are subjected to the rules. You must never look another wolf in the eyes, whether he is in wolf or man form. Doing so means you’ve challenged that wolf for dominance, and you must fight to uphold your claim. They will fight you to keep their place in the pack. That is not a fight you would win.”
“If I hadnae stepped in, Fergus or another would’ve either challenged ye or tried to claim ye. Either way, blood would’ve been shed. Do ye ken?”
Her gaze darted between us and Samuel caught her chin. “It is very dangerous to challenge a wolf. More than a few seconds of eye contact is a declaration of dominance.”
“Ye cannae look another wolf in the eye, unless ye are willing to fight him. The only one who can look any other wolf in the eyes is Samuel. Even I cannae face him as an equal.”
“Daegan is almost as dominant as I am. His strength is matched with his leadership and cunning. Long ago our wolves decided to rule together. We are linked as warrior brothers, pledged to keep the pack safe, even if one of us falls in battle, the other will succeed him. That is why we share you without fighting. But even he must defer to me.” My Alpha raised his voice. “Daegan look at me.”
I met his golden eyes as ordered, but after a few seconds my wolf protested, and I pulled my gaze away to meet Brenna’s brown ones.
“Ye see, lass? We all must abide by the rules for the good of the pack.”
“The next time you step out of this cave without permission, and face a wolf on your own, you will be punished,” Samuel said.
Brenna sighed and nodded.
“You’re lucky I was close, today. Fergus is the youngest among us and the quickest to lose control. I do not know what he’d do if he’d caught ye—fought or fucked ye. But it wouldnae end well.” I felt a tinge of fear, thinking about what could’ve happened if Fergus had reached Brenna before Wulfgar stopped him.
“Fergus will be disciplined and shamed in front of the entire pack. But we cannot allow you to go unpunished for breaking our rule and leaving the cave. You knew this rule.”
“I ken it’s difficult to stay inside, Brenna,” I said. “But it's for yer protection.”
“In time you will accompany us outside,” Samuel allowed.
“Samuel will allow you to walk among the pack. But ye must heed his words, and keep yer eyes lowered.”
“Submit, Brenna,” Samuel said, almost pleading. “It is not an easy thing we ask, but it is necessary. Will you obey?”
Eyes downcast, she nodded.
He lifted her chin. “There is an exception to the rule. Unless we specifically desire your submission, you may always meet our gaze. The wolf wants you to act as our mate. So you, Brenna,” he smiled, “are the only member of the pack my wolf will allow to meet my gaze. Do you see why you are so precious to me?”
He kissed her, and I felt his feelings through the bond. Not just pleasure. Relief.
“You are a gift we did not deserve. We cannot see you harmed.” His finger played over her lips, before he sat back. “That is why you must obey us, completely. You left the cave without permission. Daegan left while you were sleeping to get you food. If you cannot obey a rule for a few minutes, we will chain you to the bed.”
“I wouldnae mind tying ye down.” I winked.
Samuel rolled his eyes. “Daegan takes delight in subduing unwilling victims. He also will enjoy disciplining you.”
“One of us should.” I extended a hand “It’s time, lass. Come.”
As soon as Brenna came within arm’s length, I pulled her over my knees.
I held her off balance, her fingers brushing the floor, Her pale buttocks propped high. My sweet woman writhed on my lap, massaging my cock until I pinned her and steadied her with a leg over hers.
“None of that, now. Take yer punishment like a good lass.” I couldn’t keep the joy out of my tone.
Spanking one cheek then the other, smacking the pert flesh. I took care not to use even half my strength, but after a minute a blush spread over her arse.
Samuel watched from a healthy distance. His wolf was too dominant for it to be safe for him to punish her. He would not be able to keep control. Besides, he didn’t really enjoy punishing beautiful women, not like I did.
Part of me was really worried. Our woman couldn’t go about challenging the pack. They’d either claim and fuck her, or fight her for dominance, killing her in the process.
I spanked until I heard a gasp. When I stopped and righted her, the stubborn tilt of her mouth had softened. One small tear fell and I brushed it away. From the looks of her, spanking had set her firmly in a state of submission.
“Up now and go to the wall. Nose to the stone and wait there for a few minutes.” I rubbed her bottom to relieve some of the pain, then sent her off with a playful swat. “No touching yer arse, unless ye want another session over my lap.”
She hesitated, but did as I asked. Her face burned with humiliation, but she still didn’t look repentant. I sighed. I didn’t want to beat out her spirit, but we’d have to keep an eye on her. We might not be so lucky the next time she broke the rules.