The field was a grassy area behind the Pack House; it sat in a small depression and the challenge circle was outlined by boulders set in the ground. The circle was quickly surrounded as the two Alphas stepped in. The fight was long and bloody, but one sided. Alpha Coleman was not just a stronger wolf, he was out to make him suffer, and he did. In the first minute, he had hamstrung his back left leg. Darting in and out, he slashed his sides and back repeatedly until Scott’s fur was coated with his blood. His front left leg was next, his teeth crunching down and breaking the foreleg before tearing it free with a vicious growl. Unable to rise again, Scott tried to fight but it was just a matter of time. Dennis refused to end his suffering, circling him until he bled out in the grass and his eyes closed in death.
Alpha Anders gestured for some Pack members to remove the body. “As victor in the challenge, Alpha Coleman is now Alpha of the North Shore pack. If any wish to challenge him for this position, step forward now.”
The Pack looked around, then made a hole as a man walked into the circle. “I will challenge him for Alpha,” said Al Coleman, leaving Carol at the edge of the circle.
“Very well.” Al removed his clothes and shifted, he was an impressive wolf for his age but nowhere near the size or experience of his father. It didn’t matter, when they walked to the center Dennis rolled on his back and exposed his neck. Al took it in his teeth for a moment, then released it and howled in victory.
Changing back to human form, he dressed and pulled Carol next to him. “This Pack will no longer act as your previous Alpha did. We will work together to honor each other, our Pack and our species with our actions. With my true mate Carol by my side,” he kissed her briefly, “we will be the kind of Pack Luna desires. Violations of Pack law will be dealt with quickly and decisively.”
“Any other challenges?” No one stepped forward. “Then I congratulate Alpha Al and Luna Carol Coleman of the North Shore Pack!” The recording ended.
I looked at Remi, then Marge and Mabel. “Wow.” They nodded. “I have my revenge on that Pack, since I have forgiven Kayla and Carol, and the rest were not involved. One down,” I stood up, “Three to go.”
Everyone but me was going to go to bed early, expecting a long trip home tomorrow. I had to talk to Mark and explain what was going on. His next class wasn’t until Monday afternoon, so he agreed to stop by.
We sat in the kitchen as I made hot cocoa for us and I worked up the nerve to tell him what I thought. He beat me to it. “I’m sorry, Ella. I should have known I was moving too fast, and I shouldn’t have pushed it.”
I poured two cups, added some mini marshmallows and walked over to sit by him at the table. “I’m sorry as well. I haven’t done a good job talking about us, and what I’m thinking either. I did practically attack you in that hotel room.”
“That was the best night of my life, Ella. I finally got to be with you.” He took my hand in his.
“I know, but now that I have a chance to think, it was more like me grabbing a life ring than making a lifelong decision. I wanted to feel normal, to feel loved. I wanted to put my rape behind me and live again, and I trusted you.” I leaned against him and put my head on his chest. “I’ve never even been on a date, Mark. I’ve never had a relationship, never thought about what it meant to be with someone. My whole life was about waiting for my mate, and then everything would go at once. When I realized I was committing to spend the rest of my life with you, I asked myself why.” I looked into his eyes, my unshed tears pooling up. “It’s easy to say love, but I don’t know what true love is outside of a mating bond.”
“What about our baby?” His hand moved down to my lower stomach, I put my hand over his.
“A baby isn’t a reason to get married, really.” I looked around the house. “I’m not your average teenager, and you don’t have to worry about an angry father with a shotgun. Angry housekeepers, maybe,” I giggled, “but I don’t need a marriage license to raise our baby. I’m rich now, independent, and I’m not even enrolled in school so I don’t have to listen to girls talk about me.”
“I’m not ashamed of you or our baby, Ella.”
“No, but I am. This isn’t the life I was planning for. I thought I’d graduate from college, go into my parent’s business and find my man, and only then I’d have children.” He continued to hold me as I listened to his heartbeat.
“It’s the life you have, Ella. You can’t change what has happened, but you have choices going forward. I want to be one of those choices you make. Plus, I need a chance to do this right. I didn’t even have a ring for you.” I laughed. “We have all the time in the world, just don’t push me away. I don’t know if I could handle losing you.”
I sat up, groaning as I reached for my back. I stretched, hearing the bones pop. “Come on, I need to relax a little.”
I moved towards the deck, where the hot tub sat under its insulated cover. I loved sitting out there in the winter, watching the wildlife in the back yard while staying toasty warm. “My back hurts from the drive, I want to sit in the tub for a while.”
He pulled his hand towards him, turning me around. “Are you crazy? You can’t go in there!” I looked at him blankly. “Raising your body temperature in the early weeks of pregnancy can cause birth defects or fetal abnormalites. Doctors don’t recommend it, and certainly for not more than ten minutes. Didn’t you read up on this stuff?”
I rolled my eyes. “Sorry, I’ve been a bit busy.”
He pulled me down the hall. “Good thing I’ve been doing the research. I’ll get you some books tomorrow, and we can go through this together.” I rolled my eyes. “Meanwhile, I’ll take care of you. Hop up on the bed and strip down to your panties.”
I pulled my shirt off and unfastened my bra, tossing them both in the hamper, as he disappeared into my bathroom. I took my jeans off and tossed them on the chair in the corner, then sat down to wait for him. He came out, his eyes darkening with lust as he looked over my near naked form. My lips parted, and my tongue licked them before I realized what I was doing. He had a container of lotion in his hand and a towel; moving past her, he laid the beach towel down on top of the comforter and waited for me to lie down on my stomach.
He moved over me, his knees trapping my thighs between them. I closed my eyes as he put lotion on and warmed it in his hands. I pulled my hair out of the way as he started working from my neck down, his fingers doing wonderful things to me as he massaged the tension out.
“Mmmmm… you’re hired,” I said.
“You can’t afford me, but you can have me anytime,” he said back. My back was cool with the feel of the lotion as he came back up to my neck, his fingers massaging up to my hairline and ears before moving down again. He worked down my spine, his thumbs pressing down and working the knots in my back as he went.
It was heaven.
Twenty minutes later I felt like an overcooked noodle, just limp. He had to roll me over as he started on my front. He did the same there, paying particular attention to my breasts. which were aching for his touch. My arousal was peaking as his hands worked down, and when he pressed his lips to the front of my panties I just about came right there. I squirmed under him as he slowly ran his tongue over the lace, from the bottom to the top, and then sucked hard.