Once Upon A Time

by Jo Pilsworth

  “So, umm, what happens next, Owain?” Merida asked as I placed her gently on the bed.

  “Now, my little human, I need to leave you to sleep. I am sure you will need to sleep some more. I want to let Gavril and Angharad know that you have woken and had something to eat. Gavril will need to speak with you.” I explained.

  “You called him something, didn’t you? You said Gavril was your … Alpha? What does that mean?” She asked.

  “Gavril is our leader, the leader of the Negrescu Cŵn Annwn, and has been for the last few centuries. I suppose a human analogy would be to say he is our King. I know you may be more familiar with a president, but Gavril won the right to lead us, rather than being elected. Our Alpha retains the role for life, and there is no reason to want to change, when he does a bloody good job of leading us.” I explained. “When you feel up to it, you will need to meet with him, as there are things he needs to cover with you. Angharad will also want to continue to monitor you, and make sure that you are recovering.”

  I sat down next to her on the bed. “For now, though, your priority is to allow yourself time to recover. There is Christmas Day tomorrow, and yes, that means consuming even more food, no doubt.” I smiled. “But all you need to worry about for the moment is sleeping, eating and recovering your strength.” I stroked her hand, before pulling her towards me, unable to resist holding her close. “I hope I have not done you a disservice by bringing you into my world.”

  Merida’s eyes were closing as I spoke, so I eased myself away from her, making her comfortable on the bed, and covering her with the quilt for comfort. My little human had gone through a lot to reach this stage. She was a very strong, very smart individual and I wondered if that was part and parcel of why she had been sent to me as my Mate.

  “Sleep well, my little human. I will be here for you when you are ready.” As her eyes closed. “I love you, my little human.” I whispered, kissing her hand gently.

  Owain Cadwalader

  Stretching when I woke, I knew it was late, but then Gavril had ordered me to take it easy. My priority was ensuring that 'my little human', my Merida, had a better understanding of what had happened to her, since my giving her my blood had transformed her into Cŵn Annwn, particularly after the attack on her during the second Challenge had caused her to transform, fully, a good half-moon before she should have done.

  As I looked at my still sleeping Mate, I thanked the Goddess again for bringing her into my life. For the moment, I was still sleeping in top of the covers, a fragile barrier to taking our relationship further. When Merida was ready, I was more than happy to take things further, but for the moment, as Gavril said, she needed to understand our world more, without any more unexpected surprises.

  Stroking her face, I leaned down and kissed Merida gently. "Wake up, sleepy head. You are going miss breakfast."

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  I had spent time thinking of my new life. Of this change I have gone through. Some could think it was bad, but me...for me it was amazing, scary and unnerving but amazing. I had found a new family in an odd way, but I am happy I did. Not only a family, but also a man who would give his life for me.

  We still slept me under covers and he above them, but a part of me wanted that barrier to be gone. I wanted to feel him closer. Feeling his touch I smiled, my eyes still closed but soon they opened. Looking at him I leaned up and kissed his lips, a gentle kiss, a morning kiss. "Good morning Handsome." I said while stretching my limbs, I could feel a few bones crack, and I made a funny face. "I think I'm getting old." I laughed a bit and sat up. "Can't we stay in bed? I would love to keep you here … for myself.” Soon as those words left my lips I blushed. "I mean … you know … spend some time … here … comfortable ..." I was nudging myself mentally.

  Owain Cadwalader

  Relishing the kiss from my little human, I smiled at her words and at the slight awkwardness. Gently stroking her face, I pondered how best to reply.

  "First, my little human, you need to eat still, particularly after what happened on Sunday. Then, Gavril wants me to explain more about our world. After that?" I ran my finger down her arm. "Perhaps it might be best for you to return to bed." Strangely enough, given how many humans had shared my bed over the decades, it felt different asking my little human. Did she really want to consummate our Mating, because I wished for nothing more, but I would not rush her?

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  The caress on my arm sent shivers down my skin. It made me want to just not get out of bed. "Ok, sounds good enough." I got out of bed and got ready for our day. We sat in our usual place, me beside Owain, it felt so normal and so right.

  As we ate, I looked around and then back at my plate, which I filled twice, I was even hungrier than I wanted to admit. But it was normal, at least for them. After we finished we got up, I walked to Gavril to thank him. "Morning Gavril, I wanted to thank you for standing up for me ... I didn't mean to cause any trouble." Glancing at Owain I give him a smile, before I say goodbye to Gavril and walk to Owain. "Let's get started with that explanation ... I really need it ..." I chuckled and took his hand.

  Owain Cadwalader

  Gavril had given me a quick shake of his head, to let me know that he was not worried about Merida's lack of awareness of protocol when first addressing the Pack Alpha. It was one of those myriad of details I needed to explain to her.

  Taking her head, I towed her to the coat room, finding her fresh socks and the walking boots which had become her pair. Dressing my Mate gave me a sense of pleasure, the pleasure of protecting her, of making sure that she was dressed appropriately for a walk outside.

  As the snow crunched under our boots, I held my little human close to me.

  "So, where would you like me to start? What do you want me to explain first?" I asked her, relishing the feel of my little human close to my heart.

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  The way he helped me get dressed it was nice. Made me feel important, safe with him. Once outside and hearing his question I just shrugged. I didn't know where to begin.

  "Those wolves who attacked me … they did it for a reason, deliberately? Why? I mean, it’s not like I have family, so why me?”

  Owain Cadwalader

  Two relatively straightforward questions, I thought. I can deal with this. I stroked Merida's hair. "As to why the other Alpha tried to claim you? There are two reasons. The first is that, because one of his wolves bit you, technically, he turned you to a shifter. Created you, so to speak. But, my blood trumps his bite. That is why you are Cŵn Annwn and not 'just' a shifter. The Gosselin Alpha thought he could claim you for one reason only. You bear my scent, even though we have not consummated our relationship. To lose you would mean tearing away a part of me. I would feel ... incomplete. I would not be able to support Gavril and my Pack as well as I could otherwise. He did not do it because he cared that one of his wolves had bitten you."

  I pulled my little human closer, wanting to feel her against me, not just at my side, but full against me. "Little human, you are a part of me, no matter that nothing physical has passed between us. To lose you would be like losing a part of my soul. That is the simple truth."

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  The answers Owain gave me were serious. I was trying to wrap it around my head, his words, every one of them made me feel butterflies. Even if we haven't consummated our relationship it would be like tearing a part of him. I couldn't help but smile. Once I was against him I stopped walking, stood before him and kissed his cheek. Looking up to his face I pressed my hands to his chest. The thought of 'consummating' made me nervous. "Will people know.....if we 'consummate' things......" The mere thought of people knowing made my cheeks blush a beet red colour. As to which I just moved and started walking again. At times kicking the snow, or ruffling branches to make snow fall on him. Letting out giggles and short laughs from time to time. "Will I have to......harvest souls?"

  Owain Cadwalader

&
nbsp; Watching Merida play in the snow, even as she tried to work through what I had told her, made me smile. "It is unlikely that you would need to harvest souls, my little human. Amongst our species, the female acts as the balance to the male half of a mated pair." I came closer to her, wanting to hold her again.

  "If I didn't have you, now that I have found you, I would be at risk of the darkness from the evil souls I harvest becoming harder to fight within me." I pulled Merida into my arms. "Without you, my little human, there might have come a time when Gavril would have had to put me down, like a rabid dog." I pressed my lips to her hair, luxuriating in the feel and the scent of my little human. "But I have you now. You are my light and my balance, Merida. You are the other half of my soul."

  Giving her another kiss, soft and lingering, savouring the taste of her lips, I smiled again. "On a lighter note, yes, others will know when we consummate our Mating. Part of the Mating ritual is that you will feel the need to taste my blood, and I will feel the same. Normally, this is done as a bite to the neck. Traditionally, it is the one scar that Mates allow to show, proof, if you like, that our Mating has been consummated. Both of our scents will also change." I tipped her face up to mine, so she could see my smile of anticipation of having that public claim visible for all to see. "To us, the Mating mark is one of the sexiest things we could imagine. The thought of you bearing my bite?" I pulled my little human even closer. "Goddess, Merida. When you are ready for that, I would be more than ready to complete that stage of our Mating dance."

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  I hugged him and let him kiss me, his lips where rough yet soft and warm against mine, my hands moved to the sides of his neck. "I am your light, you are my life." I smiled and played with his hair at the back of his neck.

  "I will wear it as the most prized mark I could ever have, I want it.....me heart wants it.....every inch of me aches to finally be yours completely, to be one with you." It was the truth, at first I didn't know what it was, but now I was sure what my heart, mind and body wanted, but now I knew. "I want to be part of you, all of me. And, run with you, you promised me. And I am looking forward for it."

  I smiled and looked at him in the eyes, my body aches for him, his touch, his kisses, it was as if I couldn't get enough of him. I pulled him in, my hands against his neck, my body pressed to his and my lips claimed his, it started as a gentle kiss but then it escalated. I could feel the heat at my cheeks. After a few long seconds which were more like minutes I pulled back.

  Owain Cadwalader

  I wanted to howl my delight at my little human's words. The sweet passion in her kiss confirmed what she had just said. Breaking the kiss, I looked in her eyes.

  "Are you sure, my little human? Are you really sure? There is so much about my world that I need to teach you; so much that I need to show you. I don't want to rush you, but Goddess, I want to feel you close to me. I want to consummate our Mating, but only if you are sure, my love."

  I swept my little human into my arms, her weight inconsequential. "And, as for running with me? Once I know you can shift to your wolf form, my little sable she-wolf, yes, we will run together. We will run every night if you wish." I smiled. "Assuming we are not otherwise occupied."

  With my little human in my arms, I flashed us both back to my suite. I didn't want my Merida feeling any more pressure than necessary. I wanted this moment to be perfect, to be memorable for all the right reasons.

  This would be the most critical point in our relationship. If Merida wished, I would stop, despite knowing that it would mean that at some point, Gavril would have to kill me. My little human meant too much to me. I had changed her life irrevocably, but I would hope never to cause her to regret what had happened.

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  I wasn't used to the fast move, the flashing from one place to another. I dropped to my feet, and smiled, the door closed, I look at him and my hands move to him. I wanted to explore him first, see what was underneath all that clothing. The mere thought of it made my mouth water. "I really want this, no regrets, no going back. I want you all Owain."

  I kissed his lips, then his neck before I started slowly, taking out his coat then shirt, to reveal his chest, his torso, a rock hard muscled torso. I ran my hands over his skin, and leaned to it, pressing my lips against his skin, tracing kisses over it in different spots, multiple times. I glance up at him and move back, I take my coat and slide it off, then without hesitation I removed my shirt, he had seen me before, when he took me in after the attack. But this time was different, because this time I knew he was watching me, my every move. Revealing more of me. My cheeks a soft shade of pink. "I want you to touch me in more than just one way, my soul aches for it.

  Owain Cadwalader

  Watching my little human remove her shirt, revealing herself to me, voluntarily, brought a soft smile to my lips. Moving closer to her, I removed my coat and shirt, baring my upper body to my Mate. The feel of her hands on my skin, the feel of her lips, made my wolf wriggle with pleasure. Our Mate was touching us, wanted us.

  "My little human, I have waited for this, it seems for so long." I ran my hands down her arms, her bare arms, my hands coming behind her back, pausing at the clasp of her bra, before unclipping it, and allowing it to fall to the floor. Pulling her close to me, I savoured the feel of her breasts against my torso, before lifting her into my arms, and carrying her to the bed.

  "I want to touch you. I want to make love to you, and I want that you never regret your decision, my little human." My voice was ragged, my desire deepening my tone. Laying her flat on the bed, I undid the fastener on her trousers, easing them over her hips. Leaning forward, I pressed my lips gently to her belly, inhaling her scent, before looking again to her face.

  "Last chance, my little human. I need you so much, but if you want me to stop, then I will."

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  It was amazing how right it felt, my bare breasts pressing against his chest, and then me laying on the bed the touch of his hand against my skin set fire to my being. His lips to my belly made my skin get goose bumps in anticipation. "I want it, I need it. I need you." I wanted him my wolf pleaded, as so I did with my gaze upon his.

  "Please." I breathed softly, while my hands moved to his arms and then to his hair, smiling to him to reassure him that I wouldn't change my decision.

  Owain Cadwalader

  I released the breath I had not even realised that I was holding. My Mate wanted me. Our Mate wanted us, my wolf howled. Gently, my hands slipped her briefs over her hips, and down her legs, and for a moment, I paused.

  Then the need to touch my Mate, to satisfy her wish to consummate our Mating drove all else from my mind, Sitting next to her on the bed, I leaned forward, tasting her lips, leaving little kisses around her face, her cheeks, her jawline, each half-closed eyelid. I knew my own eyes were dilated with my own passion for the gift that my little human was giving me.

  "Merida, I want to make this so perfect for you." I had slept with countless women, but for this slight human, MY little human, I wanted this night to be perfect.

  My lips continued their exploration, pausing at the hollow of her throat. I nuzzled against the side of her neck, her pulse drawing me closer. Not yet, I told myself, even as I felt my fangs lengthen in preparation

  "When the time comes, little human, you will know. Your fangs will grow so that you can bite me." I murmured to her.

  I paused for a moment. Then I lowered my head to her breasts, my tongue seeking and finding her nipple, swirling around it, bringing it to a sharp peak, even as my fingers worked on the other nipple. Sucking gently, I let my other hand wander lower, skirting her waist and her hip, pausing.

  Raising my head, I watched my Mate again. "My little human, thank you for this gift you give me tonight." I whispered.

  Merida Davinier-Cadwaladr

  His lips tracing over my skin, my face, jasmine, throat, his tongue on my breasts, it was all sending waves of electr
icity through my body, a pressure between my hips was forming. Looking at him I bit my bottom lip while he whispered, my body moving lightly enjoying every touch. Every minute that passed was a minute driving me to ecstasy.

  My fingers moved through his hair, it was warm, it felt nice. But knowing I would bite him and he me made me wonder. “Will it hurt?" My words where a whisper, a breath caught on my throat as he placed kisses lower on to my hips, which made me buckle a bit.

  Owain Cadwalader

  I paused at my little human's question. "I don't know, because I have never been bitten by my Mate." I smiled. "But, I have not heard any other female say it hurt."

  As I continued to pay attention to her beautiful body, caressing her breasts, before my kisses moved lower, her hips rising slightly to meet me, giving me the reassurance that my attentions were not unwelcome.

  "I have been told that the reaction to the Mating bite is ... magical. It is the joining of our souls, the sealing of the promise that we will support the other. All I know is that both you and I will know when the time is right. Now, my little human, it is time to feel, and for me to show you how much you mean to me." My voice was hoarse. Let this be perfect for my little human, I prayed to my Goddess. Let me get this right for her.

  My lips continued my downward track, and I paused at the juncture of her thighs, inhaling her scent, the scent of arousal and of passion, gently, my finger teased her folds, wanting to be sure that this would not cause her any discomfort.