Hide Little Wolf

by Serenity Rayne

  "Shift and fight!" was shouted by someone in the crowd. Aurora stood there statue still waiting for her quarry to shift. Ravenna knew she couldn’t beat Aurora wolf on wolf.

  "I wish to fight as humans!" Ravenna shouted. Boo's echoed around the ring before her father the pack's Alpha stepped forward.

  "Daughter, you will fight as a wolf. You disgrace our proud bloodline. To think, I whelped a coward!" Angus was beside himself, looking at his chicken-shit daughter. First, she spoke ill of the Princess, and then she is trying to change tradition. The pack started to grow restless over her childish behavior. Aurora was clicking her talons together, waiting as patiently as an enraged she-wolf could be expected to wait. "You leave me no choice Daughter." Angus forced Ravenna to lock eyes with him, and when she did, he forced her shift on her. She howled in pain then landed on all fours. Her body contorted breaking at odd angles because of the forced shift. Ravenna panted heavily trying to regain some semblance of composure.

  Her head whipped up to see her father walking away, giving her his back. She’d practically been disowned by her family for the disgrace she’s brought upon them. You can tell when it clicked, when Ravenna felt she had nothing left to live for. Her wolf immediately took over, having scented me on Aurora. Within moments, the smaller black wolf was attacking the great white wolf. It’s kind of sad to say, but Aurora’s wolf looks bored. She’s playing with the smaller wolf swatting at her and tossing her across the challenge circle.

  Without warning, Aurora shifted back to her mostly human form. She only left her hands and feet shifted to that of her wolf. Honestly her shifted hands and fingers look more dragon than wolf. Thick rigid white scales adorned her hands and fingers like armor. The talons at the ends of her armored hands look like velociraptor claws. Her tail still swayed behind her, showing just how relaxed she truly was. There was a defiant smirk on her lips as she stared down the pissed off black she-wolf. With a flick of her hand, she signaled for her to come at her.

  As Ravenna charged, Aurora leapt up, right hand out, with talons extended. Her momentum sent her over Ravenna’s shoulder, her claws sinking into the she-wolf’s throat. Aurora’s left hand shot out and into the she-wolf’s back. In one fluid move she severed Ravenna’s head, and ripped out her heart. Thick crimson fluid sprayed the crowd as Aurora completed her finishing move. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I never would have believed it.

  Aurora landed gracefully, head in one hand, heart in the other, covered in her opponents’ blood. She walked slowly towards me, shifting the rest of the way back to her human form. Her face was blank, nothing was betraying her emotions at the moment. She dipped her head in my direction, before heading towards my mother and her guardians.

  Aurora dropped to one knee and held up Ravenna’s wolven head and her heart to my mother. "I have defeated the challenger set forth before me. I offer you her head and heart to honor your home." My mother gently took the offerings from her. "I wish to petition for the right to claim my true mate Sebastian Lupi." Her head was dropped in submission, her eyes closed waiting for the judgement of all the elders present. Aurora fought for me, for us. I was so proud of her I could burst.

  "Come forth Sebastian." Elder Grayson was the one to call my name. I moved swiftly and dropped to my knees beside Aurora. I lowered my head in submission, like she did, and closed my eyes as well. I hate waiting, but for her I'd wait forever if I had to.

  "It has come to our attention that some dark dealings have come to pass within the pack. This business of the Alpha using his position to almost force a mating when you had a mate already." Elder Grayson began to circle Aurora and I before speaking again. "How old were you Sebastian, when you first discovered Aurora was your mate?"

  I drew in a deep breath before answering. "Barely one hundred Elder. Aurora and her guardians lived with us for a few months, before going into hiding."

  Elder Grayson stopped moving beside me. "How did you know she was yours, for one so young?"

  I dare not raise my head or look at him like I wanted to. My wolf wasn’t happy he was questioning us. "My wolf knew by scent. I got to hold her as a baby. She was, and is everything to me."

  Elder Grayson snorted. "If you knew, how you could agree to start the process with Ravenna?" He put his hand under my chin and raised my gaze. "You sentenced that girl to death today."

  Aurora’s growl could be felt by those close enough to her. Her eyes narrowed on Elder Grayson, and his hand on my jaw. "Release my mate." Her voice was all her wolf, her eyes definitely weren’t human, and her canines had lengthened. I watched as the fur started to ripple across her flesh. Her wolf was fighting for control, she wanted the elder dead I just knew it.

  I rested a hand on Aurora’s shoulder in an attempt to calm her. It didn't completely work her anger was palpable. Immediately, the elder released me and joined the others. Aurora let the full magnitude of her Alpha powers be felt as she slowly stood. Lesser wolves cowered and whined, backing up slowly. Most of the elders began to shrink back. Everyone except my mother, she just smiled proudly.

  "Come Aurora, let’s feed you and clean you up. We have a mating ceremony to perform tonight for you two." My mother opened her arms and Aurora without hesitation slipped right in and hugged her tightly. She gently nuzzled my mother’s neck, enjoying the affection being shown to her. It’s kind of scary how quickly the switch had flipped. Aurora went from hellhound to snuggle puppy in seconds. I couldn’t help but smile, watching the two of them interact, it was a thing of beauty. Aurora pulled out of my mother’s arms and looked at me smiling. Aurora wiggled her index finger at me as if to say come here. I rose to my full height and slowly removed my button-down shirt offering it to her. Typical Aurora, she canted her head to the side and slowly slipped my shirt on and buttoned up the front. Aurora lifted the fabric of my shirt up to her nose and sniffed it. A slow gentle sigh escaped her lips as she raised her eyes to look at me.

  "Thank you, my love.” Those four simple words falling from her lips in almost a whisper, rocked my world completely tilting it on axis. Aurora’s steps were cautious as she approached me, I could tell she was a little unsure of herself. Her hand rested over my heart, and her eyes locked on where her hand rested. "I do not enjoy killing lesser beings. But I will burn the world to the ground to protect what is mine." She leaned forward and kissed my chest over my heart before looking up into my eyes. Her own eyes were human, a pale steel-grey, I knew the woman had said what was in her heart, not the wolf.

  "Aurora, my love, I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for you. I will continue to wait until you are ready. I am yours; you are mine. We are one." I rest my hand over hers as I speak to her, a slight swirl of mercury surfaced then vanished just as quickly. Woman and wolf agree. We turn, hand in hand heading to the main hut to catch up with my mother. I bet she’s already counting how many grand pups she wants to have. I shake my head and just laugh to myself as several females rush up and try to steal Aurora away. She’s instantly a big growling mess.

  "Ladies, my mate isn’t used to being handled. Just ask her to follow, I’m sure she would like to get cleaned up before the ceremony." Aurora nodded, slowly and hesitantly followed the females, stopping to look where I was. I almost wanted to laugh. This badass bitch had just ripped her opponents head off and ripped out her heart, but is concerned about following a bunch of females to a bath. A large hand landed on my shoulder, it’s Dimitri. Dimitri has that psycho Joker smile going, it looks kind of disturbing. "What can I do for you big guy?"

  Dimitri's eyes bleed gold, then back to hazel. "Not much future Prince. Our girl did good today, Da?" He crossed his arms over his chest, he’s fucking huge. Six-foot-tall and easily almost four hundred pounds of man-bear.

  “Aurora was phenomenal. That finishing move, holy shit it gave me chills. But seriously, I hate that part of tradition. Usually, its two males fighting not females, there’s so few fertile females left. To lose one is a hit to our species as a whole. I look out across the
great hall watching everyone preparing for tonight’s ceremony.

  "There’s even fewer great bears, if there’s any left beside me." He looked down at his beerstein, and then took a long pull of the amber fluid. "I knew that day, way back then, that Aurora was yours." He drew in a deep breath, getting lost in the memory. "Not many hundred-year-old males would want to fawn over a pup all day." I smiled thinking about it, those were the best three months of that year. “You were the only one that could get her to stop crying. I believe in my heart she knew you were hers back then too.” Dimitri’s eyes lifted to meet mine. You can tell he was holding back laughter as he began to speak. "I kept the shirt you gave her with her till your scent was gone. Man did that little hellion have a fit to end all fits that day." He starts laughing hard. "She clawed the hell out of Andre and bit his nose when he leaned over to take the shirt away."

  "That absolutely wasn’t funny Dimitri! That was so many shades of wrong!" Andre bellowed from the other side of the hall. Damn eagle has good hearing and eyesight, I started laughing just as hard as Dimitri. Man if only I could have seen baby Aurora go postal because my shirt was taken from her. I was so distracted I didn't notice my mother emerging from the alcove. In my mother's hands she was carrying a blood-red crushed velvet tunic. A smirk crossed her lips as she handed it to me. Don’t get me wrong I love Aurora with everything that I am. But holy shit! I’m finally taking a mate and she kind of scares me. I don’t care that she’s a Princess, but fuck me she’s the last Lycan Princess and fucking lethal. Honestly I’m more nervous that I fuck up and not make this perfect for her. Quickly I run over to my good buddy Pete and give him instructions for what I need him to do for me. I’m hoping that Aurora likes camping and that my favorite spot pleases her. Otherwise this is going to potentially be a very long, and miserable night.

  Priestess

  I knew when my sister had sent that tiny snow-white haired baby to me, she held great power. Dimitri had bestowed upon me the gift of knowing Aurora's true birth parents. To think, the dragon was the true mate of Anca amazes me. I knew that Anca wasn’t fond of the lycan alpha, that it was a political mating more than one out of love. Now, to see the woman that Aurora has become makes my whole heart swell with joy. My son was instantly taken by her, when he met her. He held her every day, and halfway into the night every night. I knew what she was to him. To watch him miss her, and pine for her all this time has been torture. There’s only so long a male can hold out on urges, and he impressed me waiting fifty years before touching another female. I knew nothing would ever come of it. Then there's that psycho, Ravenna, who thought using her father would get her the prize she wanted. Sadly, enough it had almost worked, almost. Even if it had, if his true mate showed up, Ravenna would have been tossed aside, like the trash she was. My eyes drift towards the head and heart I had placed on the ceremonial table. At least the wicked bitch is dead and no longer an issue. Watching Sebastian interact with Aurora's guardians makes me so happy. The first leg of her journey is now complete, the next is very difficult.

  My hands glide over my scrolls. I'm searching for the one on the dire bloodlines here in the states. Looks to be only one Alpha left here, and he’s somewhere in the Grand Canyon.

  He's been blessed with four sons, one set of twins and two single births. Sadly, the jackass sends the females to battle the prisoners he’s collected over the years. No female has survived the Wendigo or the Ice Dragon he’s got. I suspect the Ice Dragon is Aurora's father. If I’m right, and she can survive long enough to battle him, he will know his bloodline by scent and not harm her.

  Herbs are gathered by my acolytes, and placed in their proper places upon the table. I arrange the dagger and the bowl, even though I know neither of them want a hand binding, they will use their canines to mark their mate. Both are warriors and strong, stronger than most that live in these current times. Aurora will gain the strength of my son after they complete the mating tonight. Each mate will gift her a special attribute unique to their species. The dire’s there’s so many possible gifts wow there’s so many possible. She could gain shadowmancy, their toxic bite, a traditional wolf form, and the list goes on. A throat clearing makes me look up to see my beloved son waiting for permission to approach.

  "Come in please, after all this is where you need to be." I smile at him and come out from behind the table to embrace my boy. It doesn’t matter how old he gets, he'll always be my little boy.

  “Mother must we have Ravenna’s head and heart present? It’s kind of weird for a mating ceremony." He still scrunches his nose when something is distasteful to him.

  "Baby boy, I was honored by your mate with these gifts. They deserve to be in a place of honor. That, and to remind the others to not fuck with the two of you." Yup, I can be the evil priestess when I need to be. With all the bullshit concerning the Alpha, he needs to be reminded where the true power lies. That power, is in a pure white lycan hybrid named Aurora, my future daughter-in-law. My son starts to laugh, he’s learned to read when I’m having a wicked thought.

  "Mother? You're trying to scare the Alpha, aren’t you?" He tilts his head and looks at me smirking. Damn, I’m busted. He freaking knows me too well. I raise one hand to my chest, in the who me motion and he laughs harder. Yup, totally busted. About this time the pack starts filtering into the hall and take their seats.

  The Alpha approaches me and just glares. "So? How much damage did my daughter do, before her demise" He just smirks, almost laughing. What an asshole!

  Before I could answer Aurora makes her entrance. The doors bang against the wall making everyone jump, including the Alpha. "No damage, she wasn’t strong enough, fast enough, or skilled enough to lay a single claw on me." Aurora practically growls out her sentence. "If you want Alpha... You can meet me in the ring in the morning, and you can see for yourself if it was just a fluke?" Her eyes swirled between mercury and steel-grey, she was definitely fighting for control at the moment.

  Thankfully, my son moved and touched her arm, drawing her attention to him. I let out a relieved breath and nodded slowly; signaling for the lights to be lowered and the candles to be lit. I raise my hands slowly, drawing the packs attention to the front of the room. Once everyone’s eyes fall on me, I begin.

  "We have gathered here tonight to bare witness to the mating ceremony of my son Sebastian Lupi and Princess Aurora Marelup. We bore witness to her strength and power today, we felt she was the true heir to the Lycan throne." I move and start to pour red wine into the chalice. In my right hand I grab ahold of Ravenna’s heart and hold it up high. "In the ancient traditions I was offered the heart of her enemy. I in turn, offer the heart to the wolf Goddess Morrighan! May she smile upon this union." I took the heart and placed it on the copper platter and then set it aflame. As it burns the flames change colors several times, before the heart turns to ash. A smile crosses my lips, the Goddess has accepted our offering. I raise my hands again.

  "Our Goddess has accepted our offering!" The crowd erupts in cheers, it truly is a blessed day. I turn my gaze back to the smiling couple before me. "As per tradition, I must ask if any, in this hall, object to this union before we proceed." Silence greets us for several moments before the Alpha steps forward.

  He has a wicked grin on his lips, I know he’s up to no good. "I claim my right as Alpha to take the Princess as my own!" A bold statement, but also a fact. He doesn’t realize a true mating trumps his claim. Sebastian and Aurora begin to growl at him. Over half the villagers are growling at him. It’s about to get really interesting.

  Aurora's laughter rings out and fills the hall. She moves to stand before the Alpha. The full weight of her dominance ripples throughout the hall. Her eyes are pools of liquid mercury as she stares at him. He’s trying like hell to keep his eyes locked with hers. Shortly after the staring contest begins, he turns his head and lowers it. Aurora shifts her right hand, and places a talon under his jaw to raise his eyes to meet hers. "You are not worthy. You are a weak pathetic excus
e of a male. Look at yourself, you pissed your pants all because I stared at you, you pussy." Aurora turned and faced Sebastian and locked eyes with him. Wave upon wave of power came off both of them, Sebastian didn’t submit. Aurora just smiled and approached him.

  Her eyes closed and then she touched her nose under his jaw, in submission. She held that position till he released her. Steel-grey eyes met Sebastian’s white-blue eyes, the eyes of his wolf. Ever so slowly she bares her neck to him. Sebastian leans in with an open mouth and lightly bites her throat and holding her there. It's more for show, but it’s a huge symbol of the trust between these two titans.

  Once he releases her he stares at the Alpha. "With all due respect Alpha. She'll kill you in a heartbeat without question. That is, if my wolf didn’t beat her to it." Sebastian’s voice held the growl and power of his wolf.

  The Alpha lowered his head and backed away. He mumbled that he withdraws his claim as he ran out of the building. "Ok, so now THAT," I wave my hand in the direction of the departing Alpha, "Bullshit is over let’s get back to the important part. The sharing of blood to start the bond. By scent and sight, your wolves have accepted each other. Now, by blood they become one. You have two choices, cut your palms bleed into the wine and drink. Or, you can go traditional and just bite each other. The choice is truly yours."

  As one they turned to look at each other. No words pass between them as they shift to their wolven forms. The unexpected shift made many of the pack nervous, others sat there in wonder. A traditional bonding hasn’t been done in public since my day. Aurora chooses to submit first and bare her shoulder and throat to Sebastian's black wolf. He closed the distance between them and licked the area he intended to bite. A slight nod from Aurora, and Sebastian opened his great maw, and clamped down on the muscle between her neck and shoulder. He held her like that, for what seemed like forever, her white fur staining red from her blood.