“Can I turn now?” she asked.
“No, not yet. Stop being impatient with me.” Leading her out as far as he dared Zeke faced the men and women of his pack. “I would like to present to you all my mate, Mary. This will be her last shift as she’s carrying my baby.” Pressing a hand to her stomach, Zeke was happy when she didn’t slap his hand.
The wolves all howled together showing him their acceptance of what he’d declared.
“Take care of her. She’s your Alpha’s queen.” Another waves of howls greeted them.
“Is it good that they’re howling?” she asked.
“Yes, they accept you, baby. They’re going to take care of you like I am. Nothing is ever going to harm you again.”
Jessica approached in wolf form. Zeke tensed as she sat back on her hindquarters. For some reason he expected her to pounce, but she bowed down in submission accepting her new pack.
“Easy, girl,” Zeke said, touching her head.
The girl whimpered before walking off.
“You’re not going to get rid of her, are you?” Mary asked.
“She’s ours now, baby.” Kissing on the lips he released her hand and slowly turned into the form of a wolf.
“You’ve done good, Alpha.”
“She’s going to be a fine woman for you.”
“Congratulations on a mate and a pup.”
He listened to the words of his men knowing he’d made the right choice for his life and for his pack.
Mary stared at him. Her hand reached out toward him. She’d done this once before, and he’d bitten her. Bowing his head, he offered her a chance to stroke him. Her fingers sank into his hair.
“You’re so beautiful,” she said.
Waiting patiently, he watched her gaze up at the full moon, and slowly, gracefully the full brown wolf stared back at him.
“Thank you for not biting me this time.”
“You’re welcome.”
He drowned out the noise of their pack for this time. Mary didn’t need to know some of the men’s erotic thoughts when it came to her. She knew more than enough for the time being. Zeke wasn’t the only one in his pack who thought Mary was a sexy woman.
“Enjoy your night, baby. It’s going to be your last for a while.”
She bowed her head and then took off. The pack was running around wild throughout the night. He heard some of them chasing after deer or wild forest animals. Others were taking the time to run. He followed Mary toward the lake they’d visited once before. She ran around for several miles, howling up at the moon. Zeke stayed close by her side the whole time. She showed no signs of slowing down or being injured.
“Are you scared?”
“No, I’m concerned. Your safety is my first priority.”
Mary charged at him, banging his side with her nuzzle. “Have some fun.” She took off in the opposite direction of the waterfall. Giving her several seconds’ head start, Zeke laughed inside and then chased after her. He wouldn’t mind spending the rest of his life having to chase after her.
“Keep up, slow coach.”
Running after her Zeke allowed her to think she was winning. He could have taken her at any time. She circled around to the waterfall. Before he could stop her she jumped over the edge into the plunging water. Halfway down he saw her turn into a human and give herself over to the water. He was so angry. Zeke turned into a human before jumping over the edge. When he got her back in his arms he was going to spank her until her backside was red f**king raw.
Coming up for air he saw Mary was floating on her back staring up at the moon.
“Are you f**king insane?” he asked.
“What?” She turned her head to look at him.
“Have you lost your mind? Jumping off the f**king edge is not f**king funny,” he said, feeling his temper start to cool as she smiled at him.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. I loved the rush the last time we were out here.” She moved to his side, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I love you, Zeke. I wanted to remember our night together. You, me, the full moon. Can’t you see what I wanted? This is a beautiful spot and perfect for us to spend the night together.”
Her lip quivered, and he was a goner. Zeke couldn’t stay made at her. “Don’t do shit like that again,” he said.
“You’re a sucker when it comes to me, aren’t you?”
“You’ve got that right, baby. I couldn’t handle anything happening to you. You’re my future.”
She dropped a kiss to his lips. “We’ve got to plan a white wedding.”
“You’re not a virgin, baby. I took care of that.” He grabbed her ass, squeezing her flesh.
Mary laughed. “I was a virgin, and you owe me. I’m having a white wedding, and you’re not going to take that away from me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of taking anything from you, baby. You remember who you belong to, and I’ll give you whatever you want.”
She kissed his lips, and he opened up for her. Mary plundered her tongue into his mouth. Their moans were drowned out by the rushing of the water. Holding her tight, he pressed her against the edge of the fall. She gasped, wrapping her legs around his waist as he found her core.
“If you play your cards right, Alpha, I’ll be your toy for far longer than tonight,” she said.
“Babe, you’ll never be anything but my toy.” He teased her, slamming into her molten heat. “By the end of the night you’ll scream my name as you beg for more.”
She leaned in close to whisper against his ear. “You’ll be screaming just as much.”
Zeke had no doubt of what she’d get him to do. He was her slave just as much as she was his toy. With the full moon glaring around them, Zeke took her hard, making love to her in the water. They were a mated couple, destined by fate, and made real by the love glowing between them.
Epilogue
Six Months Later
Glancing over the latest instructions in cot building Mary was at a loss. She listened to the pack working on the repairs she’d requested on the house. With the big day drawing near she’d been confined to the pack house in order to rest and not overexert herself. It was all right for Zeke as he was still allowed to work. She’d been confined to rest by the pack doctor, James.
Even though Zeke asked her not to she’d checked James’s credentials. She didn’t trust a doctor who demanded bed rest from a woman seven months pregnant. Okay, she wasn’t a doctor, but she hated being put on bed rest, and it wasn’t exactly bed rest, just rest.