When she'd dressed, I reach for her, and her arm comes up, hitting me in the chest. She looks over her shoulder at me; golden eyes narrowed with significance.
"Shit," I mutter. I... shit. "Kitten..." my voice trails off. How do I explain to her what went through my head at that moment?
Stumbling over my words, I try. "I was born to a different pack." Linking my fingers with hers, I pull her from the bathroom to the guest bed tucked into the corner. Sitting, I pull her down on my lap. "I was nine. There was a war. Goddess, it was awful. My family was killed. My pack slaughtered. I ran away, Qitsuk, like a coward. I took Sarj south through this brutal snowstorm, and our brothers found us. They saved our lives. I... I've never gone back, cat. I left my pack behind. That female today is from my birthpack, and I... I didn't think. I just wanted to protect my pack, but she's not pack, is she? Nothing sits right, my mate. I can't seem to shake the loyalty to the Adlartok , but I have to. I'm the RustClaw alphason. I agreed. I promised. I have to end this. I just don't know how."
I know I'm rambling, but I have to finish.
"You are my mate, my world. No matter who I am or who you are, we belong together. No other female will ever be more important to me than you. Not ever. Please believe me. Today was a mistake because I was shocked."
Qitsuksits in my lap with her brow furrowed delicately. I hate to break her concentration, especially if she's thinking hard about forgiving me and never denying me sex again, but we have some other things to take care of.
"My cat," I sigh, "I wish we could just go home for a bit. I have so much shit to do..."
She looks up at me, then out of the window. It's dark outside. I've been awake for hours, running on very little sleep for the last two weeks. Shaking her head, a mutinous expression on her face, she stands and tugs at me to get up, too.
I rise to my feet, feeling my exhaustion swell me. Spots dance in front of my eyes, but I shake them off. Blinking, I let my mate guide me. Her small hands push and pull, and we walk... straight up into Sarj's loft.
"In, Kitty-cat," Sarj greets us both sullenly. His nose is swollen and bruised.
I scowl, "don't call her that."
Qitsukpulls on my hand again, and I turn to look at where she is taking me. Confused, I take several steps before realizing that she's leading me to my pup-bed in the corner. The thing is a twin. Extra-long mattress, but still. I don't fit in that anymore.
"No,Qitsuk. We're going home and sleeping in our bed." Or nest, I say silently to myself. But, my stubborn cat doesn't know the word 'no.' Ha. She pushes me until I give in.
Leaning over her, I brush my lips against hers. "Fine, kitten," I breathe against her sweet, sinful mouth. "Let's sleep here, huh?"
A thought occurs to me, like lightning. I bolt across the room and stalk over to Sarj's not-so-hidden hiding place.
"Hey!" my brother sputters, incoherent with shock, as I search for his magazine. I find it right on top, horny pup.
"What the hell, In?" Sarj asks in disbelief, sitting up, rumpled, staring at me as I flip through his treasure trove of sex and females.
"Right fucking here," I jab my finger at the page. Next to a picture of a female sucking some male's cock is a magazine article that one of the males probably put in there as a joke.The Best Sexy Revenge on Your Man. It's all about bringing your male to the brink of orgasm, then walking away and leaving him panting. One of the more industrious pups wrote across the bottom in red ink, "I'd still take it!"
"You read this, didn't you, you little tease?" I growl at the pouting, golden female sitting up in my bed. A frown is my only answer. She taught herself to use sex as a punishment. "You're a menace," I mutter. "You could kill me doing this shit."
Sarj peeks around me, reads the article's title, and dies. Literally falls to the ground, laughing and groaning at the pain in his nose.
"It's not funny," I tell him.
The softest, sweetest sound I've ever heard in my life interrupts my brewing temper tantrum. My wolf’s ears prick forward, and I glance over at the female giggling at us. Goddess, it's exquisite, that sound. My eyes drift closed, enjoying it, feeling it seep into my soul, into my wolf's spirit.
Delicate fingers wrap around mine and pull me towards the bed. I follow, obedient to that laughing female. I was right, I barely fit in the bed, but when my mate curls up on top of me because there's no room for her anywhere else, I find a new appreciation for the twin.
"Goodnight, kitty-cat. 'Night In," Sarj snickers. I hear the rustle of his bed as he climbs back in.
Soft lips kissing my chest then blessed sleep.
---
Willa
I wait until Mactiir eases into sleep, his chest moving up and down in the ease of the deepest rest.
I can't sleep. I think my plan worked. He should know now that he's mine and his body is mine. Every part of him, especially the hand that touched the Other female, is mine, mine, mine. And if I sound like a spoiled pup, so be it.
But I still can't sleep. My nap earlier was enough, and I've been cooped up inside all day. I want some freedom from these huge houses, vehicles, and even my Mactiir.