“I know they said you must have a mate by the time the council reconvenes Benedict. Ebony, I don’t have a problem with you as his mate, so please don’t take offense because it’s not about you I have any objections about. I have a problem with them pressuring you at this moment to mate. You lost someone close to you and another left you. That means you are grieving, and it’s not right or fair to force you like this. It muddies the waters, so to speak, about how you feel about your relationship going forward and the ending of the other two. That’s what concerns me.” Alpha Hayle said. Dinner had finished and everyone was leaving. His words stopped everyone in their tracks. This wasn’t something their father did often. Speak out about his dislike for a decision or command from the council. A council he was a member of. “I understand, and I’m sure Ebony won’t hold it against you. We know that every day we wait could complicate the mating process and cause it to fail
Ebony trotted out behind Benedict. It appeared most, if not all, of the pack were there for the run tonight. That meant the field behind the packhouse was full of vehicles and a mixture of wolves and humans. They were all wolf shifters or mates of shifters. It looked much like a tailgate party except for the excess number of partygoers wearing fur. The back patio had built-in barbeques and even a food preparation space. A metal shuttered window to the kitchen lay open, which created a safe pass-through space for food and supplies. Everyone milled as snacks were prepared for the run. Music played on speakers, and it appeared everyone was happy. Benedict, however, stopped when he saw the sheer number of pack members. Ebony forgot how he’d reacted to her family appearing at the tower, and later when he met her pack. He’d not met them on mass like this, but he’d not felt comfortable within a crowd of shifters. These were a lot more wolves in a single space than he’d probably ever seen
This wasn’t how she ever thought her mating could go. Lots of sex, focused on each other to excluding others, and an earth moving knowledge that everything was. Ebony didn’t question if Benedict was her mate. Even if she hadn’t felt that intense, that’s how it should be. She knew they were mates. Maybe Franco and Peter muddied the water for them? But she didn’t have it in her heart to blame them or felt any anger toward them for this. Tonight, they were going to make it final. From now on, mate. The stories Ebony knew that referred to mating were always mentioned it as spontaneous and memorable. The council forced them to plan it. Could it ruin their experience? Could it set their relationship in the wrong direction for the rest of their lives? She didn’t want to hate her mate in the end. Benedict deserved better than that. She deserved better, too. They got ready for bed and sat there on the bed beside each other. “We’re doing this.”
They fell back on the bed. Benedict climbed on top of Ebony. His legs leaned against the side of the bed, anchoring him between her bare, open thighs. Her scent filled his senses when she leaned into him, and it triggered his need for his mate. Benedict thought this part of their mating ended weeks ago, and the surprise of its return had him eager to see where it took them. He felt the crown of his cock thrust hard toward its goal at the juncture of Ebony’s thighs. Benedict expected a significant encounter tonight. He’d be here all night, taking them to heights of passion many times. Benedict could feel his wolf’s animal need for his mate finally come forward. Ebony must know by his scent, too. If her hands and thighs communicated anything to him, she would soon experience her wolf’s primal desire to mate with him, maybe already present. Benedict told his lips from Ebony’s and smiled down at her as a manic smile lit his face. When he w
Ebony awoke in a bed that looked like a battle had been lost in it. But her body told her that it was otherwise. She could feel her heat now. Dang it. She’d forgotten about it. No one even mentioned it. But Ebony found herself reaching for Benedict. He slept right beside her. They didn’t have any blankets in the way, and she could see he was ready for another round of coupling. He may be asleep, but his inner wolf wasn’t. It wanted its mate and with her in heat it wanted to provide her with what she needed.It wasn’t the best decision, but Ebony’s instincts told her what she needed, and she didn’t think twice about what she did. Her mate lay on his back, with his shaft at the ready. What male wouldn’t want to be awoke by his mate riding him with a pleasurable wakeup call. So, she did what her instincts told her. It didn’t matter if she felt sticky or sore. She needed more. Her body demanded satisfaction now. It wanted him, inside her and wouldn’t be happy with anything else.Ebon
Benedict felt it now. What Ebony struggled with before they mated. It was done and permanent. He didn’t regret that, but after convincing himself he’d share her with the others Benedict felt guilty for his selfishness. He knew it didn’t make sense, but that’s how he felt. The morning came too fast for him. He’d laid awake for a long time after Ebony slept thinking about what they’d done. He didn’t feel guilty about doing right by Ebony. There wouldn’t be a bond between them now if it’d been wrong. They would have gone on their way without a care about it if they weren’t mates.No, he felt guilty because Peter couldn’t be here, and Franco didn’t want to be a part of this without Peter. For Benedict he didn’t see the reason he felt guilt about this. Though he did want to ensure that Franco didn’t lose himself in his grief. That would gut both Ebony and him. But Franco was an adult, and they couldn’t expect to control him like that. It was the most control a being could have over t
Ebony and Benedict went through the next days with celebrations that included both their families. They had to spread the celebrations out because there were too many alpha wolves scattered among the relatives and they feared conflicts might occur. Knowing a reputation was something different to coexisting in the same space for any length of time.“I don’t get this Ebony. It’s so easy to like everyone. Yet I still feel like I should leave.” Benedict lay in the grass beside his mate. They’d gone for a run for most of the day. After all, this should have been their honeymoon. The month after their mating where it should have been just them together adjusting to life together. But it would have to wait until they understood their future. That wouldn’t happen until after they’d settled things with the council tomorrow. “Well, I think we’ve discussed this to death Benedict. You’ll adjust in time. This is your family, and they want you here. Albeit they are a little too possessive of
Ebony Rose Kilburn returned to her beloved station after visiting for a few days with her family. She was eager to look at the new video footage of the local wildlife. But she got a rude awakening. The door was open, her things scattered everything. The red-haired beauty growled and cursed in annoyance. She was deep in the provincial park for the work of vagrants. There were two kinds of people. Both types were bad news, poachers, or rogue shifters. Officially, rogue shifters weren’t an explanation. As a wolf shifter, she was well aware of their existence. The reason she believed it wasn’t a pack of roaming raccoons is they don’t go into your fridge, take a can of cola out, open it, and leave the empty can on the table. She’d have to report this. Ebony looked at the door. She knew she locked the door. When she left for more than a few hours, she locked it. They didn’t force the door open. That most disturbed her. How did they get in? Ebony reviewed th