Rosette was less than ten feet from the bed now. Spreading her knees wide, she sat back on her heels. Her fingertips traced from her knees up the play at the crease at her thighs. Her sensitive ears heard Kyle's breath hitch slightly.
The show was working, so she kept going. Lightly, she tickled her belly and up her ribs. Bypassing her breasts, she ran her fingers along her collarbones and up her neck. To top off her performance, she tilted her head back to display her neck submissively. She allowed her hands to fall back down and rest behind her while pressing her chest out.Kyle sat up and threw his legs off the bed. Rosette grinned inwardly. It was a game in her mind, and she was winning. He'd come off the bed and get her any minute."That's a pretty picture to put in front of me, my love," he said softly, "but I see the defiance in your eyes. You don't think you can fool me, do you? I know what it looks like when a wolf submits to me, and you aren't."Bastard. RoRosette leaned back against the bed, her hips tilted towards Kyle. "So, we can relax now, right? No more death threats, no more potions, everything's back to normal?"Kyle finally emerged from between her thighs, a wide grin spreading across his face. He'd been licking her, his tongue a warm, insistent presence. "If by normal, you mean we're now traveling with our human guests to every pack I have contact with, then yes, it's normal. We have to protect them, mate them if we can, or at least change them. It's going to be months before we get this mess sorted out. Every pack in the country will be doing the same thing. It's going to be an enormous hassle," he groaned, his gaze lingering on Rosette's slick folds. "I'd much rather be doing this.""April already found a mate," Rosette said helpfully. "That's one down.""Wonderful," Kyle sighed, stroking her hips. "Now we just have to help her go through the change. After that, it still leaves us with four more in this pack an
Rosette smiled at Juniper and Roel after the women left. She thanked them quietly for their help and left so they could continue Juniper's bath.The rescued women huddled in Donna's room, whispering amongst themselves. After a few minutes, Rosette gave in to her instincts and called Rick down. He sat with them for several hours, working through their fears.He truly was amazing when it came to dealing with their psychically injured humans. Absently, Rosette wondered what the other packs were doing with their rescued women, perhaps the same things. Hopefully, all packs had a person like Rick they could turn to.The pack continued to be wound up about the impending visit of the human females. It made being upstairs in the den a hectic place. Fights broke out over nothing, and Kyle was constantly reprimanding someone. Rosette made a point to keep herself out of it all and stayed resolutely downstairs.Soon, even her sanctuary was dragged into the mating frenzy. Juniper
The unmated wolves were abuzz with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming meetings with the human women. The den was alive with a palpable energy, impossible to ignore. The first group of women was being brought to them by Cedric Benson, Will's father. He and his pack had found them while clearing out rogue dens in their territory. Much like the women Rosette's pack had rescued, they were being kept and claimed by the packs. Every effort was being made to find them mates. The pack was convinced that these women belonged in the werewolf world. They were seen as a treasure trove for the unmated, everyone believing they would be special and unique. The whole thing had confused Rosette before Kyle explained. Wolves worked with humans every day, most of them. It wasn't like they'd never seen a human before. Rosette couldn't understand what made these humans different. What she didn't grasp was the core of their belief system. The wo
The Alpha approached them with a purposeful stride. Kyle had told Rosette that Cedric Benson was a warm and funny man. He looked a lot like Will, except with slightly graying temples. He eyed Rosette up and down with some humor on his face. She assumed he and Will had probably discussed her many adventures. They talked amicably as the women unloaded.Rosette saw what Kyle meant about the women needing protection. The unmated in her pack were salivating at the chance to find a mate. Behind them, no one was in the main lobby of the den; Kyle had ordered it clear. The windows in every room were crowded with faces. Cedric's Betas were watching the faces in the windows intently.One of the larger men placed his hand on a shivering woman's arm, and Rosette heard him softly reassuring her. Much like in her pack, these Betas took protecting their charges seriously, from real or imagined threats. The woman leaned into his touch and seemed to take some comfort from it.Rosette hea
"So," Kyle said, crossing his arms and watching the other Alpha, "how are we going to do this?"Rosette stood confused for a moment before she understood. Were they losing their female or was Cedric losing a Beta?"You already have my son for now, Kyle," Cedric chided, "I'd prefer to keep at least a few of my strongest at home.""Thought he was being demoted. I could use a guy to clean the windows," Kyle said coolly, appraising the male slowly licking up Donna's neck.The guy was built like a rock. Kyle didn't want him to clean windows; that was for sure. He'd make a fine addition to the warriors."Patience, young man," Cedric said to Kyle, and Rosette stifled a laugh, "this little mating dance isn't done yet. I still have six females you may gain.""You're trading us?" Donna shrieked, standing up and pointing at Kyle. "You're just going to give us away?"She was panicking now. Fear and anxiety boiled off her in waves. It was actually more than when the g
Your father is a fresh face for Dee. Perhaps a fresh start," Kyle sighed, "I will talk with him.""Dad will fix this," Will said with conviction. "He has been around a long time and has a great deal of practice. I trust he will know what to say."Kyle released Will to follow his father."Perhaps it would be better for Dee if I sent them home with Cedric," he said, leading Rosette to their rooms. "Despite Will's conviction, he is learning here; his mate doesn't feel safe with us."They got their answer to Kyle's question at dinner. It was a private affair tonight held in one of the smaller dining rooms. Kyle and Rosette were breaking bread with Cedric's pack and the human females.The hall they were in was still fairly sizable. The women were seated together along a large table. Most of Cedric's Betas sat at another table. Cedric, Will, Dee, Kyle, and Rosette sat at their own smaller table."What do you plan to have Dee do after she is changed?" Cedric asked K
watched him with narrowed eyes. Yes, she was upset that another Alpha had noticed she hadn't been keeping up. Being knee-deep in guts in the infirmary was preferable to the tedious tasks she had Emily handle for her. She glossed over the intricacies of pack management, leaving it to Kyle and Emily."Maybe," she hedged."Meaning, yes," Kyle said, rolling to face her."Fine, yes," Rosette grumbled, settling back and pulling the covers up to her chin."I'd love it if you willingly spent time with me in pack meetings," Kyle said softly, his gaze locked on hers. "I enjoy having you near me. Your ideas are always fresh and insightful, and I love listening to them. I know you don't like the meetings, though."Rosette's hand reached out to trace the line of Kyle's cheek. She hoped he hadn't noticed her aversion to meetings."I'll be better, Kyle," she whispered as his lips brushed hers."I know, my love," he said, pulling her close so they snuggled together. "We
"Luna," Rick said quietly, "may I speak to you."Oh Luna, he was going to refuse. He probably felt the same way she did and didn't want to play the mind games to make these women see it their way.Oh well, they'd do the mating thing and try to keep them alive until they left their territory."Of course, Rick, say whatever you need to," Rosette said, her voice sounding defeated even to herself.Rick stepped uncomfortably close to her, but she held her ground. He leaned forward until he was literally whispering in her ear. His breath on her neck sent shivers down her spine. It was disconcerting."It's not my place to tell this to you, Luna," he said quietly, glancing at the Betas lining the hall, "so I apologize if it seems rude. I get the feeling from you that you think what I do for these women is somehow wrong or a trick."Rosette was surprised by his assessment but nodded in agreement."It's not," he said, "I've been reading our history in the library o