by Lee Savino
“Forgive me, Alpha.” I offered apology to offset his humiliation. Samuel was the strongest of us, being unable to control the beast rankled. “It’s just…we kept her in the cave, coddled and cared for. She lacks nothing…beyond contact with the outside world.” The wolf in me whined, happy in the understanding that we kept our mate safe and cared for.
Not our mate, I reminded it.
“Did Yseult tell you how many years will it be until we lose control?”
“Ye know she did not. Damn…” I tried to think of an insult more than ‘witch’, and couldn’t. “…witch.”
“Perhaps the runes did not reveal that.”
“Does it matter? The beast takes over quickly, ye know that as well as I. When it does, we must be ready to send Brenna away.” Or she would die. The beast did not recognize past lovers as friends. It did not recognize anything. It knew one thing: destruction. It was the destroyer. The world was mere fodder for its violent hunger.
“Is it possible—”
“No.” He cut me off but I finished anyway, “she is our true mate?”
“Humans cannot mate with werewolves.”
“Then what exactly have we been doing with her all this time?” I eyed the dais where we’d spent long hours ravaging our beloved. We were as gentle as we could be with her, but in the heat of passion it was easy to slip.
One day that slip might end her life.
Shuddering at my dark thoughts, I focused on Samuel’s lecture.
“A true mate means three things: they can bond with us. Survive a mating bite. And can conceive.”
“And give birth.” I leapt on the word.
Samuel glared at me. “None of these things can happen. We won’t allow them to happen.”
Grasping for an argument, I started, “My mother—”
“Was a witch with great magic.”
“Like Yseult. My mother was powerful in her own way. In the end, though, it wasnae enough to save her.” My thoughts were so dark, I was tempted to turn into a wolf and run away. An afternoon chasing rabbits put things in perspective. Especially when followed by an evening with Brenna.
“The runes only confirm something I suspected. Brenna is not our true mate. She cannot bond with us. She cannot survive a mating bite.”
“Then why did the runes tells us to find her?”
Samuel sighed, a sound full of a hundred years of hopelessness. “I do not know.”
I started pacing again. “If we try to send her away, she may not go. She’s too honorable.”
“Then we must leave her before we lose control.” Samuel’s face turned to stone, and I knew he was silencing his wolf. My own wanted to howl at the thought of losing our beloved.
“The longer we wait, the more likely the beast will win.” It would only take one slip, one dark night where the beast ruled, and the unthinkable would happen. The beast was merciless. It could rip through battle-seasoned warriors like a gael through a forest. What would the gael do to a flower?
Samuel took a deep breath. “We must hang on as long as we can.”
“Ye cannae take it all onto yerself.”
“Daegan—”
“No, Samuel.”
“I am Alpha,” he growled and my eyes snapped to the floor in automatic response to his stern tone. He didn’t need to show his strength for me, or anyone else, to feel it. “The pack is not stable.”
“Ye take too much on yerself.” I didn’t meet the Alpha’s eye, but my tone chastised. Of all the pack, I was the only one who could stand up to the powerful blond warrior. The pack needed me, too. If the Alpha succumbed to the Berserker rage, what chance did the rest of us have? We would follow Samuel’s lead or be torn apart.
“If ye take on too much of the taint, it will weaken ye.”
“It’s been so long. I know what it’s like,” he said hoarsely.
I nodded.
“They deserve relief.”
“They will get it. Our true mate will balance us, and the peace will spill into the pack. We will find her. We have to.”
Even as he said it, my wolf growled in despair. Brenna is our true mate, it insisted.
No. It cannot be.
“In the meantime, we will allow Brenna to leave the cave with us. We can’t keep her hidden away forever.”
“No,” I snapped without thinking. “It’s too dangerous.”
Samuel raised an eyebrow. I lowered my gaze carefully. “Alpha. I merely point out the danger of introducing our beloved to the pack.”
“They will benefit from seeing her. Even if we cannot claim her as mate, her presence will give them hope.”
I couldn’t say anything, so I called the magic to me, and shifted. The world dissolved and came into focus again, in sharp, colorful scents. The strongest of which— a blue fog edged with red and black—came from Samuel. Melancholy, tinged with despair.
“I do not like it anymore than you do,” Samuel said. “We will be at her side the whole time.”
As a wolf, I fixed my Alpha with a hurt stare, making clear without words that I wished we could keep our beloved safe in the cave with us forever.
Samuel nodded sadly. “As do I.”
A brief stint chasing rabbits did me good. I washed up in a mountain stream and shifted. By the time I returned to our quarters, Brenna had finished her washing. Her dress and a few furs lay on the rocks to dry, and she had entered the pool naked.
I stood in the cave of hot springs, watching her bathe. The waters filling the cavern were the reason we’d chosen to make this mountain our home. That and the rooms and tunnels crafted by dwarves long ago.
The water lapped at her reddened buttocks as she bathed. I admired the grace in her simple movements. From the first day we bought her, she had the poise and elegance of a queen.
When I had enough of watching I started into the water. She startled and whirled as if she had forgotten me. I grinned and waved a hand to see if she’d forgiven me for tanning her arse.
Her lips curved in scorn. She turned and set her back to me.
Chuckling, I settled on a rock to enjoy the view. She couldn’t stay in the water forever.
When she finished bathing, I called, “Come on out, lass. I have a gift for ye.”
She approached warily, and I was struck by the contrast between her pale skin, and her dark hair and fetching doe eyes. I couldn’t resist pulling her into my arms and pressing a kiss to her cold lips, and stroking her hair back from the white weal on her neck. Even her scar was lovely to me, because it was a part of her.
I showed her my peace offering: a cloth filled with berries I’d picked. They won me a smile, but she folded the cloth and set it aside on the rock. My lady took my hand and pulled me to standing. She reached up and traced my features, my nose, cheeks and brow. I knew what she saw, a man of indeterminate age, dark-haired with light eyes that turned gold when the magic was upon me. Years of hard living had turned my face rawboned and rugged, but the magic that allowed us to heal quickly also extended our lives. For all its faults, the beast kept us young.
“Samuel wants ye to meet the pack.” I told her. “We plan to take ye out tomorrow.”
I let her stroke the worry lines on my forehead away. The wolf sighed in contentment.
“I dinnae want to expose ye, Brenna. Tis not safe. We are not…” I struggled to explain. “We are not safe.”
She kept touching me. Her fingers traced my brows.
I shut my eyes, realizing then how on edge I’d been for the last few hours, waiting for her to accept or banish me. Her fingers soothed across my brow and cheeks, tracing gentle lines down to my chest. Every muscle in my body relaxed.
The wolf slept.
*
The next day, I helped her dress in her one remaining gunna, along with thick leather boots. “Samuel has requested ye dine with the pack. You’re to stay close to me or him at all times, and keep yer eyes lowered.”
I checked the torc around her neck. “This marks ye as ours,
” I told her, “but there are limits to its protection.”
Her fingers stroked the silver collar, and I felt a surge of protective pride. I kissed her, then gripped her wrist. “Come, lass.”
I led her out of the cave, pausing in the entrance.
“Remember the rules, now. Dinnae look any of the pack in the eye. The wolf considers it a challenge.”
Her brow wrinkled.
“I’m serious, lass. Tis a grave offense. Keep yer eyes down and keep close to me.”
She frowned but stepped closer, her eyes trained on the rock at my feet.
“Good lass.”
I fought my own wariness as we stepped into the clearing. Samuel had ordered all the pack to remain as men for this trial visit. Our wolf forms reminded her of her attack. So a score of men stared as they caught Brenna’s scent. The other dozen would be hunting, or on patrol.
Brenna started to look up, and I softly reminded her, “Eyes.”
As we moved out into the open, her heart beat faster, and her scent tinged with nervousness, which only made the men stare longer. The only thing more enticing than a beautiful, trembling woman was her fear. It screamed ‘prey.’
Brenna’s frightened scent tasted delicious. At this rate, I doubted we’d reach the center of the clearing before a Berserker tried to take a bite out of her.
Gripping her wrist, I drew her closer.
“Calm yerself, lass,” I ordered quietly. “I willnae let harm come to ye.” I glared at the others over her head. A few men ducked their head in submission.
Samuel entered the clearing, naked but for a loincloth. As his gaze swept the gathering, the rest of the warriors took care to show no interest in the Alpha’s woman. They went back to tending the fire, readying a great spit for the meat, or sharpening weapons. All except Fergus who remained a wolf who tucked his head as Brenna and I passed him. If Brenna recognized the wolf with reddish brown fur as the young red head male who’d rushed at her, she made no sign.
Samuel motioned us over to where he sat on a great rock like a king on a throne. I laid a pelt at his feet and bade Brenna sit beside him. Leaning forward, he rested a hand on the back of her neck.
Once the meat was roasted, I offered Samuel the best portion. He carved with his knife and hand fed our beloved bit by bit. Her cheeks pinked enticingly, but she did not refuse any of his offerings.
Either Samuel or I touched her often, trying to keep a hand on her at all times. Claiming her. Showing the pack she could behave.
She kept her eyes lowered, even when the warriors started one of their favorite games, throwing their axes at a log Wulfgar had dragged up the mountain. Siebold made Fergus, the smallest and weakest of the pack, collect the axes. Samuel allowed this show of dominance, though he watched carefully.
In wolf form, Fergus carried the axe back and set it at Siebold’s feet. He trotted back to the target when the very axe he’d returned sliced by him, nearly catching his tail.
Fergus yipped and ran.
Siebold laughed until a small metal tipped spear sliced his shoulder. Outraged he looked for the thrower. Wulfgar stood with arms folded, glowering. Siebold was fourth in pack hierarchy, and not for lack of trying to be third. Wulfgar had bested the blond warrior more than once.
Gritting his teeth, Siebold pulled the spearhead from his flesh. Blood spurted down his bare muscles. He didn’t take his eyes off Wulfgar’s.
Wulfgar growled in challenge.
Beside me Brenna gasped.
The spell was broken; Siebold glanced at our beloved, golden eyes bright.
I realized Brenna was staring at the blond warrior. I shoved her head down.
Still angry, Siebold took a step towards Brenna. Samuel was on his feet in an instant, with a roar that shook the mountain. Half the pack dropped to all fours, starting to shift. I pulled Brenna up with an arm secured around her neck. She gripped my forearm, her head turning to my chest, her eyes squeezed shut.
This was a verra bad idea.
Samuel snarled at the pack. If he lost control now—
Luck arrived in the form of a small red wolf. Fergus ran back into the gathering, barking news.
Intruder…at the foot of the mountain.
Tension, already high, rippled through the pack. As one the warriors rose. Those in human form grabbed weapons, those in wolf form waiting for their Alpha’s command.
“Wulfgar, Siebold, with me.” Samuel’s eyes glittered gold. I felt his fury, the beast pounding at the wall of control Samuel kept high at all times.
Samuel, perhaps I should go instead, I spoke along the brother bond. He turned his furious expression on me and I bowed my head at his show of power.
“Get her inside,” he ordered. Before the intruder catches her scent.
“Come, Brenna.” I cursed myself as I pulled her along. Her first time with the pack, and she gave challenge to Siebold, and then attracted an intruder? The excursion couldn’t have gone any worse.
At the mouth of the cave, Brenna tugged at my hand, forcing me to face her. She put a hand on my arm, face contorted with a worried expression.
“He’ll be alright lass. Save yer worry for any intruder. They’ll face the Alpha’s wrath.” She nodded and accepted my kiss, though she still looked concerned. “Do ye truly believe Samuel will be hurt?” I teased gently. “Have a little more faith in your Berserker mates.” The word ‘mate’ rolled off my tongue before I could catch it.
We were halfway to our chambers when I heard something following us. I whirled and thrust Brenna behind me at the same time.
The little red wolf slinking after us whined in apology.
“Och, ‘tis only Fergus. ”
Fergus dropped a leather pouch at my feet.
“I thank ye,” I told the little wolf. Fergus gave a toothy grin and loped off. I opened and grinned at the small polished wooden object inside. “Finally, something good on this shite day.” Both Brenna and I needed a distraction, and now I had it. I grabbed Brenna’s hand and tugged her to the bathing chamber to play with our new toy.
*
“Tell me, Brenna, what do ye think of this last visit to the pack?” I asked as soon as we reached the bathing pool.
She pressed her lips together. Her first sight of the pack, she’d almost run screaming off the mountain.
“Ye did well, up until the end when ye were staring at Siebold. Tell me truly: did you look him in the eye?”
Brenna crossed her arms in front of her before she nodded.
“I thought so. As much as I’d like to give that piker a good thrashing, rules are rules. Wulfgar or another wolf might let yer behavior pass, but Siebold will demand punishment.”
I ran a soothing hand down her stiff back.
“Dinnae be afraid. Ye learn our ways, soon enough.” I squeezed her bottom through her dress. “I dinnae want to warm yer bottom so soon after yer last spanking. But I have a little reminder for ye to keep our commands.” I stepped back. “Take off yer clothes.” I smacked her bottom to urge her along, and went and got supplies to shave her smooth.
Naked, Brenna took her place in front of me on the rock, lying back with her knees bent and feet flat on the stone.
I settled in, running a finger down her pink lower lips, enjoying the sight and feel of slight fuzz. Shaving her was usually my chore and delight, and she was used to it. Both Samuel and I enjoyed the feel of her silky skin.
“Legs wide apart,” I ordered, even though she’d already spread wide enough. With a sigh, she obeyed, waiting placidly for me to get on with it. She twisted her fingers together but other than that showed no sign of nervousness.
With great care I honed the blade. I took my time oiling her plump lips, running a thumb up and down until her breathing quickened. She shifted her bottom on the stone and I pinched her. “Be still, lass.”
I heard her huff above my head, and lowered mine to hide a grin. Her cunny flushed and her little nub perked up, ready for my attentions once my task was done.
Brenna spread her legs even wider as if inviting me to spend more time at her center. After shaving her I usually teased her to an orgasm or two.
Brenna look disappointed when I stood up and sat beside her.
“Ye did well. Almost done. Come lie across my lap, there’s a good lass.”
She moved with alacrity, no doubt expecting a reward.
I checked her lower lips. I played in her folds until I felt her quicken, then my fingers strayed higher, to the cleft of her bottom. I often squeezed and parted her cheeks and teased her lower hole. She allowed it, assuming I just enjoyed her bottom.
Today I would enjoy it even more. Today the little wooden plug lay beside her on a cloth, waiting its turn. Carved and polished to a sheen, it would look beautiful nestled between her bum cheeks. With enough oil, it would slip right into her back passage.
After a few minutes massaging her cheeks, I oiled the little wooden bulb and set the narrow end at her pucker.
Immediately she tensed.
“Shhh, easy. There’s a good lass.”
She squirmed and I swatted her bottom.
“Be still. Ye didna think I would let yer behavior earlier go unpunished? Whenever ye break the rules yer bottom pays the price one way or another. You’ll wear the plug now, and next time we go out among the pack. And one day, you’ll be stretched enough for me and Samuel to take ye together.”
“Deep breath, lass. This is a reminder for ye, and a reward for Samuel.”
And me, I added silently.
With a little more uncomfortable twitching, she allowed me to plug her behind. My cock hardened at the sight of the wooden end seated well inside her. “Well done, Brenna.”
I checked her lower lips and held my fingers in front her face. “Just as I suspected. Ye liked that more than ye let on.”
She started struggling again, and I trapped her legs under one of mine. “Now for yer reward.”
My fingers rubbed her little nubbin until she squirmed and panted for a different reason. I brought her to the brink again and again, stopping before she went over. Each time I paused I twisted the plug, training her to get used to movement inside her sweet arse. From the way she gasped and jerked her hips, she didn’t altogether dislike it.