Cassidy released him and sat up straight. She looked down at the erection he still had. Having a mate as a werewolf made lovemaking that much better. Edensaw could stay erect for hours, making her come over and over again until she almost had to beg him to stop.
Smiling as she met his gaze, she undid her jeans. “I have to say the christening is well on its way.”
“I agree with that,” Edensaw said in a husky voice.
Cassidy slid off him and removed her jeans and panties. That done, she climbed back on top of Edensaw. She positioned herself over his cock and slowly worked it deep inside her pussy. The feel of him stretching her, filling her all the way up, had her moaning in pleasure. Once she’d taken him to the hilt, she lifted onto her knees, then sank on him again.
She set a pace that would have them both coming. Bending to put her hands on the mattress on either side of Edensaw’s head, Cassidy arched her hips so his cock stroked right where she wanted him. He cupped one of her breasts and lifted his head to suck the nipple into his mouth. The increased pleasure that caused had her release building.
Cassidy rode him harder, moaning as he thrust up into her. Releasing her nipple, he reached between them and used a fingertip to rub her clit. That acted like a catalyst inside and her orgasm tore through her. She flung back her head and whimpered as intense pleasure flooded all her nerve endings. She sank onto his cock one final time, her inner walls milking his shaft in a tight fist. Edensaw put his hands on her hips and pushed up with his own release, calling her name before another howl followed it.
She collapsed onto his chest, her breaths coming short and fast. Edensaw’s cock was still hard and buried deep inside her. After a long day of moving, Cassidy didn’t think she was ready for a marathon of sex just yet.
Once she could breathe at a normal rate, she propped herself up a little to look at Edensaw. “I think that was sufficient for a christening. I’m about ready to lie down and sleep for ten hours.”
He smiled up at her while running his hands along her back in caressing strokes. “I think you’re right. I have to say I enjoyed you taking charge of it, though.” He lifted his head enough for their lips to meet and kissed her. “You can rest on me.”
Cassidy shook her head. “It’s still too early to go to bed, and I should do some more unpacking. Plus, the others need to be settled into their bedrooms.”
“It can wait until tomorrow, and my wolf brothers are grown men, hunters. They can take care of themselves.”
Edensaw tugged her so she once more lay with her head pillowed on his chest. He pulled out of her and straightened her legs so they tangled with his. Satiated and relaxed, Cassidy felt tiredness pulling at her. She really shouldn’t let Edensaw talk her into forgetting about all she had to do, but as he continued to stroke her back, she lost the battle to stay awake and fell asleep in her mate’s embrace.
* * * * *
Cassidy had just finished putting away the last of the dishes she’d run through the dishwasher when the doorbell rang. The men were all upstairs setting up the new beds that had arrived earlier in the day. After putting the plate she held into the cupboard, she left the kitchen and headed for the front door.
She opened it to find a man standing on the porch. He wore his long black hair pulled back into a ponytail and had the bronzed skin of a native. He was also tall, over six feet, and had the looks she now associated with werewolves. But having never seen him before, she couldn’t say for sure if he was one.
“Can I help you?” she asked.
He looked her up and down. “You must be the one who is Edensaw’s mate.”
The way he said it made Cassidy think he found the idea of her being so a bit distasteful. And referring to her as a mate confirmed he was a werewolf. “I am.”
“I want to talk to Edensaw. Bring him to me.”
Cassidy scowled. She definitely didn’t like that he ordered her around. Granted she and the wolf brothers hadn’t met too many others from Brice’s pack, but they’d all been nice and respectful, unlike the man who stood in front of her.
“Can you tell me why you want to talk to him?”
He looked down his nose at her, appearing annoyed. “Look, mortal, I feel as if I don’t have to explain to the likes of you, someone who is beneath my kind. Just get Edensaw or I’ll push you out of my way and find him myself.”
She was about to answer him with a sharp retort, but Edensaw and the others suddenly appeared at her back. Her mate set Cassidy a little to the side and stepped partly in front of her. He gave the werewolf on the porch a look that said Edensaw wasn’t going to tolerate much from him.
“Who are you, and what do you want with me?” Edensaw demanded.
Their visitor gave him a big smile. “Your new friend is who I am, and to the others as well. At least I hope. As for the other thing, I want us to make an alliance.”
Edensaw gave him a questioning look. “What do you mean by an alliance? If you are talking about joining the pack, Brice already knows we have no interest in doing so.”
The werewolf laughed. “I’m not here on behalf of that piece of shit. I don’t belong to his pack. Not anymore.”
Edensaw growled low in his throat. “Tanner.”
“So you have heard of me,” Tanner said. “I’m sure Brice has told you how bad I’m supposed to be.”
“He said he kicked you out of the pack with good reason. And that now you’re a lone wolf.”
“The bastard had no reason to kick me from the pack. But my lone-wolf status isn’t why I’m here. As I said before, I want to form an alliance with you and your wolf brothers.”
“We’re not interested,” Edensaw said. “And how did you hear about us?”
“I have my sources, and people talk when they shouldn’t. As for the alliance, you need to reconsider your answer. You and the others are the first of our kind, all werewolves’ forefathers. Since you’re alpha, you should be the Juneau’s pack leader, not Brice.”
“I have no ambition to be the leader. Brice already knows that. I consider him a friend.”
Tanner shook his head. “I once thought of Brice that way myself. And look where that ended me. Now I’m a lone wolf. I know you aren’t like the rest of us, same as your wolf brothers. I know you’re truly immortal and you can turn a mortal into the same type of werewolf as you with one bite in wolf form. If it works on a lowly mortal, it should grant a true born werewolf immortality as well. I want that. You form an alliance with me, give me what I want, and I’ll show you Brice isn’t who you think he is. A time will come when he won’t allow you to stay as your own pack. He won’t be able to tolerate you being in the same city, a male werewolf who is just as powerful as him if not more.”
Edensaw growled and grabbed Tanner by the front of his shirt to pull him closer. With his face up into Tanner’s, he said, “I don’t know who told you what we’re capable of doing, but as far as I know, the only mortal I can turn is my mate. And even if it could work on a werewolf, I wouldn’t be offering it to you. Plus, Brice would never try to challenge me, as I wouldn’t him. You need to crawl away and go back to whatever rock you climbed out from under.”
Tanner laughed as he pried Edensaw’s fingers from his shirt. He then took a step back. Even though he wore a smile on his lips, Cassidy saw the anger he truly felt in his eyes. Without thinking about it, she shifted closer to Edensaw.
“Having a mortal for a mate, that’s insulting to a werewolf,” Tanner said. “At least you haven’t turned her yet. To be rid of her, all you have to do is wait for her miserably short lifespan to run out, then you can find a female werewolf to mate with.”
Edensaw shot out the door and launched himself at Tanner. The other werewolf ended up flat on his back on the porch with Edensaw over top of him. They both growled at each other, but her mate didn’t back down. Soon Tanner lifted his head to bare his throat. Edensaw snapped his teeth at him, then rose to his feet.
“You will leave and never come back here,” Edensaw said with a growl. “You do, I’ll show you how much of an alpha I am.”
Tanner stood and glared at them. “You’ve just made a huge mistake, Edensaw. I thought to do this nicely, but now I can see you want to be difficult. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.” With that said the other werewolf spun on his heel and ran off.
Edensaw turned to them after Tanner disappeared from sight. “We have to tell Brice about this.”
Cassidy nodded. “Yes, and I think the sooner the better. I don’t know how Tanner knew so much about all of you. Brice has only told a select few in his pack. Either someone isn’t as trustworthy as he’d thought or Tanner has a very good spy.”
“I’ll go call Brice,” Ketah said as he and the others walked away.
Edensaw stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He then closed the distance between him and Cassidy. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. He didn’t do anything except threaten to push me out of the way.”
“We all heard him. That’s why we came downstairs.”
“Well, I’m glad you did. Tanner’s a nasty piece of work. I can understand why Brice kicked him out of the pack.” She met Edensaw’s gaze with her own. “I don’t think that’ll be the last we hear from him. He’s going to be a thorn in our sides.”
Her mate pulled her into his embrace. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of him. Brice won’t tolerate Tanner causing trouble in his territory. And I don’t like the idea of him being anywhere close to you, especially after the way he talked about mortals being beneath werewolves.”
Cassidy sighed. “Apparently Tanner isn’t the only werewolf to think that way. Marta says some think mortals are the lower race, and always will be.”
Edensaw shook his head. “That’s ridiculous, considering my wolf brothers and I were just as mortal as you before the shaman turned us.”
“Well, no werewolves knew that until I found all of you.”
“They will have to change their way of thinking.”
Cassidy nodded but chose not to tell Edensaw that to do it he might just end up beating his head against the wall. Considering how long werewolves lived, some of them might have had this notion about mortals for thousands of years. It wouldn’t happen overnight, that was for sure. A lot of them were more than likely set in their ways.
Chapter Nine
Brice and Marta had come over shortly after Ketah had gotten off the phone with the pack leader. They all sat in the living room, discussing Tanner’s visit. Brice was more than a little angry when he was told someone in his pack was giving the lone wolf information he shouldn’t have had access to.
“Shit. I’d known some of Tanner’s relatives were keeping him informed about what was going on within the pack, but I know for a fact none of them were told about you,” Brice said with a scowl. “So that means someone else is doing it as well.”
“Do you have any idea who it could be?” Edensaw asked.
Brice shook his head. “Not really. All the members of my pack who I told were individuals I assumed were trustworthy enough to keep quiet about you without me having to outright say it. I have a feeling Tanner has gotten to one of them and is holding something over his or her head.”
“He comes across as the type who would use blackmail to get what he wants,” Cassidy said. “And he sure has a low opinion of mortals. He figured Edensaw should find it insulting to have one for a mate. Tanner also told Edensaw since he hadn’t turned me, he should wait for old age to claim me and then find a werewolf for a mate.”
Brice sighed. “Tanner’s hate for mortals is well-known. Practically his whole family feels that way.” He looked at Edensaw. “You’re going to have to turn her. Today.”
“Whoa,” Cassidy said. “Edensaw said we could wait to do that.”
The pack leader focused on her. “Tanner has changed things. You don’t know what he’s capable of as I do. The final strike against him that had me kicking him out of the pack was his raping a mortal woman. He’d just about killed her when he was done. And he knows you’re mortal, Cassidy, and that you’re Edensaw’s mate. With Edensaw turning down his offer of an alliance, Tanner could very well go after you to force Edensaw to change his mind. At least once you’re turned, you’ll be immortal. Plus, you’ll be a lot stronger and faster as a werewolf.”
“You really think he’d come after me that soon?” Cassidy asked. “That it’s necessary for me to be turned today?”
Brice nodded. “Yes on both accounts.”
Edensaw heard Cassidy’s heart beat faster. He knew how she must be feeling. It had been a hard decision for him to make when the shaman had selected him to be one of the first werewolves. It was the unknown that was the scariest. He’d been glad to have his wolf brothers who’d gone through the same thing as he. Cassidy didn’t really have that. She’d be the first mortal to be turned from a werewolf’s bite.
Cassidy looked at him. “And you, Edensaw? Do you agree with Brice?”
“I know I said I would let you decide when I would turn you, but I think Brice is right about Tanner. As your mate, it’s my job to see to your safety and protection. And if I have to take that decision away from you to do those things then I’ll do what must be done.”
Edensaw felt a shiver go through Cassidy’s body as she leaned closer where they sat on the couch together. He picked up her hand and kissed the tips of her fingers. They shook ever so slightly as well.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Then it looks as if I don’t have any choice. If Tanner is such a threat, and could set his sights on me to force Edensaw to align with him, then I need any advantage I can get. I had hoped to learn more about werewolf society before I had to jump in with both feet.”
“You won’t be alone, Cassidy,” Marta said with a smile. “The guys can help you adjust, but you’ll still have me to continue to show you what it’s like to be a female werewolf. I already consider you one of my closest friends.”
Cassidy gave her a tentative smile in return. “And I you, Marta. I think I’ll be taking you up on your offer more often.” She turned her head and looked at Edensaw. “I guess you’ll be turning me today.”
He let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “It’s going to be all right,” Edensaw said, trying to reassure Cassidy. “Once it’s done, we’ll be true mates in all ways.”
Edensaw looked across at Brice, who nodded his head, giving him the message that this was the right thing to do. And it was. He’d do anything to keep Cassidy protected. Keeping her mortal was a distinct disadvantage when the threat was another werewolf.
* * * * *
Edensaw and Cassidy had both agreed he’d turn her later that night in the privacy of their bedroom. He’d completely understood why Cassidy had wanted to do it that way. It was a personal thing, just another stage of their mating. He’d also wanted her to have the rest of the day to go through as a mortal.
Once it grew late, he led Cassidy upstairs and into their room. He closed and locked the door behind them. Edensaw leaned back against it and stared at his mate. She stood by the bed, trying her best not to look nervous or to “freak out”, as she liked to call it when she couldn’t handle something. But he knew she was on the verge. He could smell it in her scent.
He pushed away from the door and crossed the room to stand in front of her. Edensaw ran his hands up and down her upper arms. “You’re going to be fine.”
She nodded. “I know. I keep telling myself that. It’s hard to believe it, though.”
“Then maybe you need something to keep your mind off it.”
Edensaw bent his head and took her lips in a slow kiss. He nibbled and sucked before he pushed inside her mouth, his tongue brushing up against hers, tasting her. Cassidy responded, moaning as she pressed her body to his.
He lifted his head. “Is this helping?”
Her eyes fluttered open. “Oh yeah, it is. I think I need more of it.”
Edensaw let go of Cassidy’s arms and placed his hands on her hips. He held her to him and rocked against her, grinding his hardening cock along her belly. This was one distraction he didn’t mind giving her. They both needed it. He didn’t want to attempt turning her when she was wound so tight.
With tender care and kisses, Edensaw removed all of Cassidy’s clothes so she stood in all her naked glory. He ran his gaze over every inch of her, right down to her long, shapely legs he liked having around his waist as he pounded into her.
He stripped out of his clothes, then picked up Cassidy, holding her close in his arms. Her body pressed along his, skin to skin, made him want to bury his cock deep inside her, but he was going to take his time with her. Give her as much pleasure as he could before he did what needed to be done.
Edensaw stepped to the side of the bed and threw back the covers. He climbed up onto it and placed Cassidy on the center of the mattress. He kissed her again as he held himself above her. She reached between them and took his cock in her hand, stroking him. Arousal coursed through his body, making him even harder.
After a few more strokes, Edensaw gently tugged out of her grip and broke their kiss to trail his lips across her jawline and down the side of her neck. He kissed and sucked the soft skin there before moving on to her collarbones. Lower he went, stopping at her chest.
He lowered himself on top of Cassidy and cupped one of her breasts. He brushed his lips across her taut nipple, then circled it with his tongue before he blew on it. She arched her back on a quiet moan. Edensaw took the tight bud between his lips and sucked.
Cassidy shifted restlessly under him. “More. I need more, Edensaw. I ache for you.”
He released her nipple and said, “I know. I’ll take care of you.”
With lips and tongue, Edensaw worked his way lower until he reached Cassidy’s pussy. He used his shoulders to spread her legs wider and stared at her glistening sex. His cock jerked against the mattress. He ignored it. This was all about Cassidy.
He ran a finger along her pussy, dipping it inside her, before he brought it to his mouth and licked off the wetness that coated it. At Cassidy’s whimpered moan, he looked up to find her watching him.
Edensaw bent his head again and licked her from bottom to top. Cassidy’s hips lifted as the sound of her fast breathing filled the room. He set to work pleasuring her with his mouth, licking and sucking, making sure to stimulate her clit. She panted between cries of passion.
He pushed one finger into her pussy and then a second. She rode the digits as he moved them in and out. The feel of her strong inner muscles clamping around them made his cock ache. He wanted to sheathe himself so deep there would be no telling where he started and she ended.
Plunging his fingers faster and harder, Edensaw pushed Cassidy closer and closer to her release. He wanted to taste her as she found her climax. He sucked on her clit, crooking his fingers inside her to hit that one spot that would push her over the edge.
Cassidy let out a keening moan, her inner walls clutching and releasing. Edensaw pulled his fingers out of her and replaced them with his mouth, licking her and stiffening his tongue to spear into her pussy.
Once the last wave of her climax faded away, Edensaw rose between her legs and sheathed his hard cock deep inside Cassidy with one thrust. He felt little aftershocks ripple along the length of his shaft. He groaned and held himself still until they passed. There was no greater pleasure than being joined with his mate, her body welcoming his.
He slowly canted his hips back until only the head of his cock was inside her, then thrust back into her, butting up against her womb. In and out and he stroked, keeping a slow, hard pace. Her pussy squeezed his shaft, increasing the pleasure he felt.
Cassidy lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. With the new angle, Edensaw sank even deeper. He growled as he pistoned his hips, thrusting faster. Already his balls were drawing closer to his body.
“God, I’m going to come again,” Cassidy whimpered. “You feel so good.”
Edensaw pounded into her, no longer able to hold himself back. He was too close to his own release. Just before his swept through him, Cassidy cried out and her pussy rhythmically clutched his cock, milking him, pushing him into orgasm.
As the last wave of pleasure receded, he pulled out of Cassidy and shifted to his wolf form, his four legs straddling her. Not giving her a chance to think about what he was going to do, he bared his teeth, then sank them into the tender flesh where her shoulder and neck met. He bit hard enough to break the skin. Cassidy let out a startled cry.
He released her and took on his human form once more. Edensaw settled next to her on his side and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “It’s done.”
She gave him a weak smile. “You caught me off-guard, but I think that was the best way of doing it.”
“That’s what I thought as well. How do you feel?”
“I’m not sure. It’s not hurting anymore where you bit me.”
Edensaw looked down to where her shoulder and neck met and saw the skin had already begun to mend. “You’re immortal now. You won’t heal instantly but you will do so a lot faster than you did as a mortal.”
“That’s good, because—”Cassidy’s words cut off as she moaned and her gaze flashed to his with uncertainty showing in her eyes.
“What is it?” he asked as a feeling of unease washed through him.
“It hurts,” she said between moans. “Is it supposed to?”
“I experienced some pain when the shaman used his magic to turn me, but it wasn’t more than I could handle.”
Cassidy’s eyes widened and her body stiffened. “Either you have a higher tolerance for pain than I do or what I’m feeling isn’t the same as what you went through. It keeps getting worse. It’s as if someone is sticking a knife into all my internal organs at the same time.”
Now Edensaw was more than a little worried. The pain he’d gone through hadn’t been like that at all. It had been kind of intense but had passed within a few seconds. After it had ended the shaman had gotten him to shift to his wolf form for the very first time. Cassidy shouldn’t be hurting like this.
“Edensaw,” Cassidy said, almost in tears as she grabbed hold of him, “I don’t know if I can do this. Make it stop.” She then let out a loud, whimpered cry.
He tried to console her, holding her in his arms, hoping it would help her ride through the pain. But it wasn’t until she screamed did he feel as if he had to do something. Desperate, feeling completely helpless, he got off the bed and yanked on his jeans before he wrapped her up in one of the covers and gathered her in his arms.
In two long strides, he reached the bedroom door, unlocked it and flung it open. He headed downstairs where he knew his wolf brothers were. Edensaw ran into the living room while holding a thrashing Cassidy.
He looked at each of the men. “You have to help me. Something is wrong. She’s in a lot of pain. I don’t remember it being this bad or lasting so long. It’s already been a few minutes.”
His wolf brothers stood and crowded around him. They all looked at Cassidy with expressions of concern on their faces.
Wachei was the first to speak. “I felt nothing like this when the shaman turned us.”
“It wasn’t painless, by any means, but it was fleeting,” Durlach said. Ketah, Capac and Kajakti nodded in agreement.
Cassidy let out a loud scream of pain. Edensaw growled in frustration. “I did what the shaman said. I bit her when in my wolf form. He said that was all we needed to do to turn our mortal mates into werewolves. He never told us it would be like this. Our pain was so much less, and once it was over, he had us shift for the first time.”