by Mac Flynn
"Not through all that fur and furious sex," I countered.
"Care for another examination?"
"Am I still stuck to your side like a Siamese twin tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Then no."
The argument could have gone on the rest of the day, but there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Luke called out.
"It's me, sir," Alistair's voice drifted through the closed entrance. I'd forgotten about the manservant, and realized then that he hadn't been part of the search party.
"Enter," Luke replied. Alistair stepped inside and closed the door behind him. "What have you found out?" Luke asked him.
Alistair grimly shook his head. "I'm afraid it's not good, sir. Lance and Simpling have convinced Farber to join their cause and Mullen is leaning toward them." I raised an eyebrow. Apparently Alistair had been playing Secret Agent Man around the villa.
Luke frowned and paced the room. "Damn it," he softly swore. "I hoped to at least have Mullen on our side. What about the others?"
"Baker refuses to join sides, and Stevens doesn't believe there are sides to join," Alistair finished.
Luke ground his teeth together. "That old fool is willfully blinded to what's going on."
"He hopes the differences can be settled amicably," Alistair added.
Luke paused in his pacing, sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "That's understandable. I was the same only a month ago. How's the turnout for the vote?"
"A majority of Alpha members are present, but there are several trains coming from the Lone regions," the manservant replied.
"At the very least we have some time on our hands before the vote at the end of the week. Any idea who's going to put their names in for the High Lord position?"
"All of the lords are expected to put their names in, and the favorite is currently Lance."
"Um, boys?" I spoke up. The two men glanced over to me. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"Politics," Luke told me.
I rolled my eyes. "I got that, but what's this about putting names in and turnout?"
"I'll explain in a second," Luke promised. He looked to Alistair. "Anything else to report?"
"Nothing yet, sir, but I will keep my eyes and ears open," Alistair swore.
"Good. Especially watch the accountant assassin. They may try something during the voting," Luke advised.
"Very well, sir." Alistair left on his new assignment, and Luke turned his full attention on me.
He gestured to the bed. "This may take a while."
Chapter 19
My face fell and I plopped myself down on the bed while Luke stood in front of me. "I believe I told you before that this meeting's to decide the High Lord of the werewolves."
"Yeah."
"The decision is based off of a vote by all werewolves present here," he continued. "On the second to last day the lords offer their names for nomination, and the last full day is the voting where we elect our new leader."
"How does that work? Wouldn't everybody from the regions vote for their own leader and make it a tie?" I pointed out.
"They often do, but sometimes the leaders don't satisfy their people, or another candidate is better favored to unite all the regions," he explained to me. "There's also not an equal population in the regions. The boundaries were set based on the geography."
I furrowed my brow. "So let me get this whole voting thing straight, starting with the lord people. You guys are elected to leader of a region, and anybody can be the leader but it's usually from an important family, right?"
"That's right. Baker himself is a commoner by birth."
"And that vote happens how often?"
"Every three years."
"And then every so often this meeting takes place-"
"Once every five years," he told me.
"-and people come from all of the regions to vote on a new High Llama."
"High Lord," he corrected me.
"And the High Lordiness can only be one of the six-"
"Seven."
"-lords who run the regions, right?"
"Yes."
"So with Lance and Simpling kind of running things they're going to make sure the vote goes their way?" I guessed.
"Unfortunately, yes, especially with Farber on their side and Mullen leaning in favor of them," Luke added.
"Who's Mullen?"
"Another lord of the region that specializes in research and development," he told me.
"So how important is this High Lord position?"
"The High Lord has a large purse from taxes collected from not only his region, but all the others. That's used to manage the basic administration duties such as region dispute mediators and such, but he can also decide where the money is funneled."
"So it's a racket?"
"If the High Lord is dishonest then it can be," he admitted.
"This ever happen before?"
"A few times in our past, but never has the effort been so organized and the danger so high for all of us," he told me. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I hate to admit it, but Lance has a point about the humans. They're encroaching on our lands and eventually there might come a point where we'll have to decide to leave our lands or reveal ourselves."
I groaned and fell back on the bed. "Just my luck to be stuck in this much trouble," I grumbled.
Luke sat down beside me and there was a sad smile on his face. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"Did you want change for that ten cents?" I quipped.
He chuckled. "Is my apology worth that little?"
"Yep."
He reached up with one of his hands and traced his fingers along the inside of my lower thigh. "I could apologize in other ways," he suggested.
My body said yes with a flare of heat, but I wasn't willing to give in, at least not immediately. I shifted higher on the bed away from his teasing hand. "Aren't we supposed to be worrying about political intrigue and assassination attempts?" I reminded him.
Luke grinned and crawled onto the bed. Seeing him on all fours raised my body temperature another ten degrees and I was having trouble breathing. There was a clawing inside of me like an animal trying to get out and let him take me right then and there. I squashed it down, but only for the moment. "We're safe so long as we stay in here," he assured me.
"B-but I still haven't forgiven you for kidnapping me," I insisted.
He climbed over me and set his hands on either side of my arms. I lay down, and he leaned down and brushed his nose against mine. "Then let me make it up to you in whatever way I can," he slyly replied.
"I-I think it's a little early for bed, don't you?" The sun had set, but in the mountains that happened early. It was barely past five. Apparently he didn't think it was too early because he nipped at my neck. I softly gasped and he chuckled.
"It's been a long day without play. Why not have a little fun?" he wondered.
I pressed my hands against his firm chest and felt the muscles slowly expand and transform. The Beast inside him was taking control, and that excited me. "W-we have to get control of ourselves. Someone might hear us," I pointed out.
"Not through these walls," he replied. His voice was hoarse and had a growl to it.
I strained for breath as he licked and nuzzled my neck. His sensual touches made my self-control slip. My hands grabbed at his shirt and tore it open to reveal the little sprouts of werewolf fur over his body. He took my eagerness as a sign of consent, which it was, and he leaned back and grabbed my shirt. He tore it in two and revealed my heaving breasts behind my strained bra. I sensed the Beast rise within me, taking over my mind and body. My hands lengthened and curved into claws. I felt my breasts swell and push out the top of my bra to where they hardly covered any of my bare flesh.
Sweat sprang up over my body and I squirmed against the sheets. Above me Luke's eyes changed from blue to orange, and each breath came out as a growl of need and desire. My own lust overcame all other senses and em
otions, and I whimpered and mindlessly pulled at the top of my jeans. Luke grabbed the button and zip, and tore them off, revealing my white, soaked underwear.
I needed him so badly, and he tortured me by hovering over me and gazing at my luscious body. I arched my back to tempt him, and he whipped his head down and licked and suckled at the flesh of my breasts above my bra. I cried out for joy and my clawed hands wrapped around his head. The world around us disappeared in a frenzy of lustful desire, an aching need that needed to be satiated. Limbs twined around limbs, torn clothes were tossed aside. We wrapped our naked bodies around one another in a union of flesh and mind. Our hips thrust and our mouths groaned together as the world became nothing more than the pleasure we experienced as one.
I writhed and squirmed against his hard, penetrating thrusts, and he grunted and pushed harder. The tension tightened higher and louder. I couldn't take the aching need between my legs. My hands clawed and dug into his back. He thrust again and again, always harder, faster and stronger than the last. I gasped for air as my cries reached a fevered pitch. The wave of carnal satisfaction washed over me in a wonderment of frenzied delight. He pushed harder into me, stiffened, and then collapsed atop me. We were finished, but we were both satisfied.
"You're an animal," I gasped between breaths of air.
"Thank you," came the muffled reply from the face in the sheets. He raised himself onto his arm and grinned down into my face. "You're not so bad yourself."
I rolled my eyes and felt my body return to its normal human shape. "And you're a heavy animal, so get off." I shoved him off me and he bounced onto the bed beside me. I sat up and glanced around the room. Our clothes lay in tatters from the end of the bed to the door. My bra hung on the door knob. "Maybe we should think about carefully taking off our clothes next time you decide to go all teenager-with-raging-hormones on me," I suggested.
"Maybe you should go without clothes while in our bedroom," he countered.
"I'd catch my death of cold from the drafts."
"There are no drafts."
"Well, I'd catch my death of cold from humiliation."
"I guarantee you I'll be the only one to glimpse you naked."
"That doesn't comfort me, and I really don't think it'd keep your Beast in check."
"Who said anything about keeping my Beast, or yours, in check?" he mused.
"I've heard enough." I slipped off the bed and rummaged through our luggage until I found a spare set of clothes. I kept talking as I dressed. "You go absolutely nuts when that sun sets. Is it going to be like this every night?"
"Would you rather we squabble like an old married couple?"
"Isn't that what we're doing right now?"
"Touche, but do I not pleasure you?" To prove his point he stood and showed off all his parts.
I blushed and turned away. "M-maybe," I stuttered.
Luke came up behind me and wrapped me in his arms with his naked chest firmly against my back. He leaned down and nuzzled the side of my neck. "I haven't heard you complain during the exercise," he teased.
"B-because you're very persuasive," I replied.
"I'm glad to hear that," he whispered.
My change of clothes was fast becoming a nuisance to both of us until there was a knock on the door. Luke growled behind me. "Who is it?" he called out.
"It's me. Can I come in?" Stacy's voice answered.
Luke sighed and released me. "Give me a moment." He wrapped himself in his bathrobe and opened the door for her.
Stacy swept into the room and glanced down at Luke's wardrobe with a mischievous smile. "Did I interrupt some plans?" she wondered.
"Yes, so I expect the interruption to be worth it," he replied.
She crossed her arms over her chest and raised an eyebrow. "It is most definitely 'worth it.' The voting block of lords Lance controls are going to rush the vote and request the nominations tomorrow, a full week days ahead of schedule,"she informed us.
Luke's mouth dropped open and for a moment he was struck dumb. "Are you serious?" he asked her.
Stacy rolled her eyes. "I'm not joking," she countered.
He was still disbelieving. "But what excuse could they possibly use to change the rules, and what real purpose are they doing it for?" Luke asked her.
"The real reason for the rush is a train from Baker's region is coming on the final vote day. It was meant to be a surprise vote organized by the farmers in Baker's district, but when the secret is told to so many train riders it's bound to leak out," she replied.
"Which way were they going to swing?"
"To Baker. He has an eager interest in being High Lord, but not much chance with his lineage."
I frowned. "Why not? What's wrong with his lineage?"
Stacy smiled. "I'm with you. I don't personally believe anything's wrong with it, but there are others who are more traditional in their ways and would rather have an old family at the lead."
"But what excuse are they using to change the voting date and cut off a week's worth of government meetings?" Luke persisted.
"They're keeping that hush-hush, but my sources say they're going to announce their reason and intentions first thing tomorrow," she replied.
Luke frowned and paced the room with the end of his bathrobe billowing out behind him. "Damn it. They've had this planned for a long time," he muttered.
"A very long time. Lance has been ambitious since he was created," Stacy agreed.
Luke cringed. "Yes, I'm afraid he has, and we're the only ones capable of stopping his ambitions." There was another knock on the door. I wondered if maybe we needed a revolving door. "Yes?" Luke called out.
"It's us, sir, Mr. Burnbaum and myself," Alistair's voice floated through the closed entrance.
"Come in," Luke replied.
The pair of men strode into the room, and Burnbaum's face was livid. "We have been robbed!" he exclaimed.
Luke raised an eyebrow. "Robbed of what?"
"The armbands of many of the Lone Wolf party members have been stolen," Alistair explained to us.
"When did this happen?" Luke asked them.
"It happened this day when we were at the meeting," Burnbaum replied. "Someone come in and take only our armbands, nothing else."
"Have you alerted the Protectors about this?" Luke suggested.
Burnbaum nodded. "Yes, they know but they can do nothing. There is no smell in any of our rooms so no trail to follow."
"Or even any proof that they were indeed stolen," Alistair added. "The Protector promised to do what he could, but the thieves were very good at entering the rooms without breaking the locks and leaving behind any trace they were ever there."
"We need expert tracker from your district, but so few are here for you," Burnbaum spoke up.
"If they ever heard about the date change than they were delayed by the derailed train," Luke explained to them. "As much as this is strange news, we have more important matters to deal with." He turned to Alistair. "Have you heard any news suggesting Lance and Simpling will shorten the voting date to a few days' time?"
Alistair pursed his lips together and shook his head. "I'm sorry, sir, but I'm afraid I know nothing at all of this information."
"He wouldn't have this info," Stacy spoke up.
"Why not?" Luke wondered.
Stacy coyly smiled. "Let's just say Alistair doesn't have the right assets to satisfy my sources."
"I see, then in this case you have a handicap against you, Alistair," Luke pointed out. "We'll use Stacy's sources for Lance's new trick, but you can still help Burnbaum, Alistair. Get Stewart working on those scents. He'll be able to track down the thieves," Luke instructed him.
Alistair bowed his head, but there was a hint of disappointment in his tone. "Very well, sir." The pair hurried off to get Stewart's assistance.
"You really think the stolen armbands aren't important?" Stacy mused.
Luke glanced inquiringly at her. "Do you?"
She shrugged. "With Lance aro
und I stop believing in coincidences."
"Well, he can't do anything with them if the Protector knows they've been stolen," Luke pointed out.
"I wouldn't put it past him to make a very bold move with them, but we'll know pretty soon what's up his sleeves." She glanced between Lance's robe and my creased appearance with the luggage clothes. "But I think I've distracted you two long enough. Enjoy the rest of your evening," she teased, and slipped out.
I shuffled over to the bed where I plopped down on the mussed covers. "I think I've had enough excitement to last a werewolf lifetime," I quipped. Luke stood stiffly by the door with his mouth set in a firm line that drained the blood from his lips. "You okay?" I asked him.
He started from his thoughts and shook his head. "I-I'm sorry, I sometimes distract myself-"
"-when you're thinking about Lance?" I finished for him.
"Yes."
I sighed, scooted over and patted the empty spot beside me. "Why don't you tell me a little about the history between you two? Sounds like you go back a long ways."
Luke shook his head. "Very long, but that's a story for another time," he insisted. "For now the present is a troublesome enough story that's being played out in his favor."
"We'll just have to try our best and stop him where we can," I encouraged him. I patted the seat again. "Now at least come over here and sit down. You're about to pace a hole in the floor and I don't think the neighbors would appreciate your foot going through their ceiling."
Luke chuckled and walked over to sit beside me. "What would I do without you here to cheer me up?" he wondered.
"Probably would've kidnapped another beautiful, talented young woman to be a mate."
"But they wouldn't have been you," he persisted.
I put on a playfully thoughtful face and tapped my chin. "You're right, they wouldn't have been as beautiful or talented."
"Or modest," he teased.
"Yes, I have tons of that."
"And sex appeal."
"Practically exuding it," I agreed.
"And-" My stomach growled, and the sound echoed through the room.
"-and hunger," I finished.
He chuckled. "We'll have to fix that, and then get some sleep. Tomorrow will no doubt be interesting."
"Courtesy of Lance," I replied.
Chapter 20
The next day started out great. I had a handsome, rich guy wrapped around me and the bright sun drifted through the thin curtains against the balcony doors. Everything went downhill at the knock on the door. "Sir? Breakfast is ready and the meeting will begin in an hour," Alistair called through the door.