by Eden French
“Say it plainly, then,” Celeste challenged. If her mother were set on sharing her tales, then she would be forced to speak bluntly. Regina looked at her daughter.
“You are a shifter, my girl. A wolf shifter, it’s true. You come from a long line of human wolves, and I suspect by the sound of what you have told me, you have begun to find your mates…your pack.”
Celeste was speechless. There were no words she could say that could begin to express her thoughts. When her mother’s words finally settled in her brain, Celeste opened her mouth.
“Mates? As in plural?”
“Every female wolf, particularly one of power, will require two things. The first, is a partner with who she can fulfill her basic desires, her true companion. The second is a partner that can take her to the next level of her power, someone who she can raise up, as well. Her true mate. The alpha. It is only after she has found these two things that she will then fully accept her power and come into her own as queen of her pack.”
Celeste grew quiet. She mulled over her mother’s words before she spoke.
“I don’t understand, Mom. Why a true companion and a true mate? Aren’t they the same?”
Regina looked at her and smiled, sadly.
“Unfortunately, no. A true companion is someone who is there for you whenever you need. It is the person who cares for you when you are sick, comforts you, makes you laugh, listens to your hopes and your dreams, will be with you in whatever capacity you require and never demand anything other than what you are willing to give. That is a true companion. That is your father…for me.”
“And a true mate?” Celeste urged.
Regina looked into her daughter’s eyes once more. “A true mate is something much more. It is an absolute need. You cannot exist without the other because it is they who drives you and you who drives them. They are air, Celeste. You cannot survive without them. A true mate is your lifeline to your existence. They are a base, biological calling, a pull…like two magnets. A true mate is the one who raises your power, the one who…provides you with…your most virile offspring.”
Regina’s voice was barely audible as she spoke the last words. Celeste’s jaw dropped.
“But, you said Pop was your true companion…not your true mate,” Celeste worked out aloud. “Are you saying that he’s not…that Pop’s not…”
“Listen carefully to me, Celeste. I do not want you to mistake my words. Your father, Jeffery Wolfe, is your father. He will always be your father because that is what I chose. To live with him. To be with him while I raised you. But, is he your biological father? No, he is not.”
Celeste felt the blow to her chest.
“Does he know this?” She barely managed to speak.
“Of course he knows this. It is the way of our kind, and he accepts his role as true companion.”
“But…but…what of your true mate…the alpha? My father? Does he know of Pop? I mean, he must if…I mean, there are four of us for Christ’s sake!”
Regina smiled softly.
“I know this is all a lot to take in, Celeste. I know this is not what you were raised to believe. But, yes…he knows. Just as your father accepts his role and my choice, he accepts his. We are a family. And, my alpha, he plays his role, as well.”
“What the fuck, Mom?”
Celeste’s brain was about to burst out of her head. It was too much, the shifting, the mates, the multiple partners…Celeste held her hands to her head and pushed hard on either side trying to keep all the information in. An errant thought occurred to her.
“Do you still see your true mate?” Celeste asked.
Regina nodded.
“I do. As I’ve said before, he is like air to me. I cannot live without him, nor would I want to. He is the very reason why I am strong enough to explain all this to you. Without him, I would not be as strong as I am.”
Regina reached over and placed her hand on Celeste’s back. Celeste jerked away.
“No…I can’t. Not right now.”
Regina pulled back.
“I understand. It’s a lot to manage. But, there’s still something I need to explain to you. Something imperative.”
Celeste looked up at the woman she thought she had known her entire life. Her shoulders slumped as she realized this woman was a stranger to her, both her parents were, apparently all three of them. She felt betrayed, lied to. But, there was something in her mother’s tone that caught her attention, something that made Celeste nod to her, indicating she was ready to hear it.
“As centuries passed, the wolf shifters decided we could use our power for good. We were, after all, humans most of the time and with that it was decided it was our duty to protect humans who couldn’t do so for themselves, to turn the curse into something good.
“It was declared in the eighteenth century that all shifters who took wolf form, would be the chosen guardians. We were given permission by the High Wolf Council to protect by any means necessary. It’s been like this for centuries. It is our duty, our moral obligation.”
Now it was Celeste’s turn to avoid eye contact. Her thoughts immediately went to the men murdered at the university. Could she justify their deaths because there was a centuries-old moral obligation to protect those who couldn’t do it for themselves? Because her mother had said so?
“There have been murders,” Celeste whispered.
“Tell me.”
“I think…I know I’ve had a part in it, and I think Zev has, too. The university said they were animal attacks, but the victims all seemed to be people, men, with highly questionable behavior. Frat boys with bad reputations for hurting women. The last one…his death…it was my fault.”
“It was not your fault.” A voice spoke from outside the screen door.
Celeste recognized the voice immediately. She felt the familiar tug. But this was her home. Her safe place. She fell into the offensive.
“What are you doing here? How come you haven’t called?” She rose and walking over to the screen, let him in. “Have you any idea of what I’ve been thinking happened to you?”
Zev entered the room. He looked around the modest dwelling. He saw Regina still sitting on the couch. Jeffery entered the room from the hall followed by Michael and Bill. They met Zev’s gaze.
Zev stood in the room and took them all in. He made his way around the room, nodding at each male from oldest to youngest before bending on one knee. He took Regina’s hand and placed it to his forehead.
“I apologize for the intrusion,” he said in a reverent voice. “But I was hoping I could have a word with your daughter.”
Chapter Thirteen
Celeste and Zev walked out back to the tree house, under the watchful eye of her entire family. They climbed the ladder, now cracked and splintered, Zev first to open the hatch at the bottom of the house and climbing in before reaching down to grab Celeste’s hand and hoisting her up.
Celeste stood in the tree house and looked at Zev. There were so many questions spinning around in her head. Her brain felt like a washing machine. She started with the most apparent.
“How did you find me?” she began. Her voice trembled as her eyes shot daggers at his handsome face.
Zev held her gaze. “When I got your message, I could tell that something was off. Your voice…I could—I could just tell. It wasn’t that hard to find out where you live. I have a…friend in the admissions office.”
Celeste narrowed her eyes. She didn’t like the sound of that. “I’m sure you do.”
Zev ignored the jab and continued.
“I know I should have called, explained all of this, but I didn’t know how much you knew, and I wasn’t sure how I could explain what…what I had done.”
“What we both did,” Celeste whispered. She dropped her eyes. “Zev, the others, those frat guys…”
“Yes.” His voice was serious. “I did it. But, Celeste you have to understand it’s my duty, my moral obligation to dispose of those that prey upon the trusting.”<
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“But, Zev, you killed them.” Celeste raised her head to look at him straight in the eye. “How could you do that? Kill a person.”
Zev swallowed hard. He wasn’t sure how he could explain his actions to Celeste, but he knew he had to try if there was a chance she would be his.
“I’m not sure how much your parents explained to you. My family kept a book, and when I found it, they were forced to explain everything to me. It was just before I graduated high school, but I suspect they would have told me before I left for college. I was already showing signs of shifting.
“I’m not sure how I can explain it, Celeste. The only thing I can equate it to is that when I know a wrong has been done, I feel this sense of justice inside me, a sense of responsibility to make it right.”
“And, all those guys, they all deserved to die?”
Zev’s eyes grew dark. “Yes. They did. Celeste, you were only around for the last one, but let me assure you there were far greater offenses committed. They were not worthy to be called men. They were monsters. Monsters that preyed upon women and then high-fived each other after every conquest.
“I’ve seen my share of wrongdoing at Perrault. And, in the four years I’ve attended, this has been the only year in which I have acted out, fulfilled my duty as a wolf shifter.”
“But, why now? Why this year?” Celeste asked, wondering what had made the difference this semester.
“Because of you, Celeste,” Zev said as if it were perfectly clear. “You bring out something in me that makes me want to rise up to my full potential. My wolf sensed you long before I had. You make me step up as the alpha I was born to be.”
Celeste’s breathing grew shallow. She curled her lips in to wet them.
“Are there others? You know, like us? At the university?” Celeste asked.
Zev shook his head. “No, not that I know of. It was shocking enough finding you. Like I said, I think my wolf had sensed your shift emerging, ’cause I had never felt the need to act on my more primitive instincts before this year. And when I did finally find you, I knew what you were right away, I could feel your animal. It called to me. It had been calling me since before the year began.”
“I…I think I knew it, too,” Celeste replied. “Not that I knew what it was…I just felt drawn to you, like I couldn’t stop myself, even when I wanted to.”
Zev took a step toward Celeste.
“No one will know it was me,” Zev said. “No one will ever find out, Celeste. You don’t have to worry about that. As far as the humans know, it was an animal. And, for all intents and purposes, it was. I covered up the deaths with my wolf. There is no trace to me. Or you.”
Zev took a step closer. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders.
“You have to understand, Celeste, it is my job to protect you. It is my role…as your true mate.”
Celeste inhaled sharply. Her heart beat wildly. She knew what Zev said was true, she felt it in every cell. Still, she hesitated. There was still something holding her back.
“I love Calen, Zev,” she spoke. “I just can’t stop loving him.”
Zev leaned down and kissed her forehead.
“I’m not asking you to stop loving Calen, Celeste. All I’m asking is for you to love me, as well. To give us a chance to let our true power shine. Together.”
Celeste closed her eyes. Zev’s lips brushed softly against her skin with each word like butterfly wings. She licked her lips. Her body leaned forward just a tad, but it was enough of an opening for Zev to slide his hands down the sides of her body to her waist.
“You are intoxicating,” he whispered in her hair. “From the moment I saw you, I have been drunk off your energy.”
Celeste felt it, too. Zev’s energy was like a thick, amber scotch. It warmed her soul. She couldn’t get enough of the feeling. Celeste lifted her chin and looked into Zev’s eyes. A yellow ring glowed around the dark centers.
“Celeste, I want to kiss you,” he purred, the need rising in his voice.
Celeste saw her inner wolf poke its head out of her den and sniff the air. She scented Zev’s energy immediately and emerged, wanting to surround herself in him. Celeste felt a tightness form in her belly. It traveled, radiating down each thigh, then wrapping back up until it settled between her legs. She clenched her pussy to alleviate the sensation, the yearning starting to throb there.
Celeste reached over and pulled the tree house curtain, so that it fell over the crooked window. Then, turning back to Zev, she opened her mouth to speak.
“Yes—”
Zev stopped her words with a passionate kiss. It crushed against her teeth.
Celeste met his passion with hers. She pressed her body against him, her breasts pressing up on his hard, muscular torso, her arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders.
Zev’s tongue delved into Celeste’s mouth. She opened it wider, inviting him to further explore her depths. She wrapped her arms further around his neck and shoulders, pulling him closer still. She wanted to devour him completely.
Celeste felt his erection harden in his pants and press up against her hip. It awakened her wolf further. She saw the large animal pace back and forth and back in her mind, impatient and ready for Zev to take her.
* * * *
Zev gripped her waist tightly, his thumbs pressing into the soft center of her belly. He knew what he wanted, but he would be patient. He made thorough work of kissing her lips, not wanting to leave any part of them unloved.
When he was satisfied he had given them enough attention, he slowly pulled away, moving down her neck, feasting on her collarbone. His hair nudged against Celeste’s chin as his head rocked into the crook, his tongue leaving a trail of wetness behind it.
Zev could feel Celeste’s breasts grow round and firm in arousal. Her nipples were hard and poked through the thin shirt she was wearing. His hands came up to meet them. Cupping her gently, he realized she wasn’t wearing a bra. He inhaled sharply between his teeth as he grazed his thumb back and forth over the pert nubs. Celeste arched her back in enjoyment, leading Zev’s erection to grow harder.
“Pinch them, Zev.” Celeste’s voice was rough and unfiltered. Zev could sense her wolf was taking over. “I want you to be wild…like your animal. Show me what it’s like to bed a wolf.”
Zev was more than pleased to accommodate. He froze as his heart stopped for a beat before exploding in anticipation. She wanted his wolf. There was nothing that would stop him from giving her what she desired.
Zev brought his mouth down over her shirt and bit through the fabric. He held the tiny knob between his teeth and played with the rough tissue. Celeste released a moan and pulled him closer.
He grabbed her shirt from the bottom and, in one motion, pulled it over Celeste’s head, exposing her chest. He stared at her creamy breasts in awe.
“You are divine,” he said as he hungrily ate her up with his stare.
Zev trembled. He was overtaken with emotion. Tears formed in his lids. He blinked to keep them at bay. It was no use. A single tear escaped and made a thick, salty trail down his cheek. Celeste noticed it immediately. She stuck her tongue out and caught it before it dripped from his chin and licked it up following its track back up his face.
“I want all of you,” Celeste said. “Every. Little. Bit.”
Zev pulled back and offered up his soul.
“I’m already yours,” he said.
* * * *
Celeste brought her hands up to his face and held it still as she looked back at him. She brought her face close to his and rubbed her cheek against his cheek, her nose across his nose, her other cheek across his other cheek. She inhaled deeply, taking in his scent. It was woodsy and crisp. It reminded her of a winter morning after a new snow when the scent of fresh pine and a young fire filled the air. Her wolf panted.
It pushed forward and she found Zev’s mouth again and kissed him full, her breath ragged from the lack of air. She brought her hands down to the button on Zev’s j
eans and tugged hard. The jeans came undone and with their opening, Zev’s erection sprung out of the confines of his pants. She reached into his boxer briefs to feel his warm, soft skin. Celeste found his cock and held it tight in her grip.
The erection throbbed in her palm. Celeste smiled between kisses in satisfaction. She was doing this to this gorgeous, amazing, powerful man. She was driving him mad with her touch. She could feel it in his energy. It was sparking and popping at even the slightest movement.
“Oh, fuck, Celeste,” Zev moan as she squeezed his cock harder than she had anticipated.
Celeste rubbed her thumb over the tip of his cock and felt a bead of wetness as it dripped from the opening. It was thick and sticky. She wanted to taste it.
Celeste dropped down to her knees and took Zev in her mouth before he could stop her.
“Shit, Celeste,” he said in surprise. “God, your mouth is so warm…so wet…so tight.”
Celeste tightened her mouth further, her lips pressing on the outside of Zev’s thick cock, her tongue dragging up and back along the bottom of his shaft as her head began to catch rhythm. She found Zev’s free hand with hers, and brought it to the back of her head. Zev instinctually grabbed the hair offered to him and clutched a bunch of it in his grip.
Celeste placed her hand over his, and led him back and forth, his hand holding her hair and gently tugging on her head, helping her open up her throat to him.
Zev released a breath as he struggled to keep his control. He found his rhythm and, grasping Celeste’s hair, pulled her head back and forth.
Zev looked down at Celeste, and shuddered as he watched his cock impale her face. She looked up at him, eyes so wide they watered, and began to moan. The sound was muffled by his length. Zev could feel himself become too full and his cock twitched as Celeste continued to work him back and forth with her mouth and tongue, devouring every small drip of fluid that escaped the velvet tip.