Chapter 14
Cat shifted human first, the sun on the rise as the pack followed her towards a clearing amidst the forest. The largest wolf by a sizeable margin followed fast behind her, only half humanoid as he tackled her to the ground, licking up her neck.
"I! " Cat groaned, trying to pull away as her heart raced. "The.. night is over. Get off!" She growled, wolf's spirit still shimmering in her eyes.
"You still smell so good." He praised, nipping along her weakest spots.
Kara still the youngest wolf of the pack by far snarled at the man above their matriarch.
None of the wolves ignored the freshest pup growling at their leaders.
"She said get off." Kara snarled, shifting human, still on all fours, the turn clearly still draining and disorienting to her.
Two pack members circled behind her, still clinging to their more animalistic nature.
Kara snapped her head between them, snarling back before realizing she was still completely naked from the night. Her arguments fell quite quickly as the embarrassment took her over, still unaccustomed to it all.
The man atop Cat stood, turning to Kara, hair thinning, his pride in his bare body only emphasizing Kara's discomfort with it all. "Kara, Is something wrong?" The scar across his face doing nothing to alleviate the air of sinister entitlement wafting off of him.
"Not anymore, you are off of her." Kara huffed attempting to seem more brazen than she truly was.
"Is there something wrong with me being atop her? She is my mate after all." He reminded.
Kara bit her tongue wanting to lash out more. "Only something wrong if she doesn't want you on top of her. "
"I forgave you for this." He flashed his hand under the gnarly scar. "But that was only because I struck first. If you ever are to decide to strike I shall not be so kind. And neither shall they." He turned his hand wolves behind Kara. "I'll admit you are strong for a pup, but you won't win if you speak out against me."
Sam arrived late after having chased down her pup, Ruby hanging, the back of her neck caught gently between her mother's teeth. "Calm down Ramond!" Samantha barked, now holding the young pup in her arms, shifted and standing tall.
He snarled back to her, not stupid enough to lash at her. "Watch your tongue young pup!" He snapped at Kara, heading off for the breakfast and clothing they had all laid out the night before.
The rest of the wolves followed him, some humanoid some still animal.
Sam stopped by Kara's side. Offering a hand to help her up, but struggling to keep Ruby in her arms as the youngin began to shift back to human. "He is an asshole."
"I've noticed." Kara agreed, standing with Sam's help.
"Kara right? I think I heard him call you that."
"Yeah. Sorry, I don't remember either of your names, it's a lot of people to learn and meet, and I.. the turn takes some real getting used to. "
"Yeah. I understand that. Imagine being three months pregnant during the first turn!" Sam teased, shifting Ruby in her arms.
"Tired." Ruby sighed, rubbing her cheek against her mother.
"She is adorable." Kara smiled.
"Oh ! Wow! Yes! I'm Sam and this little adorable one is Ruby." Sam blurted, remembering Kara's question.
"Well, it's great to meet you two." Kara awkwardly offered a handshake and then pulled it back.
"You're fine. I'm sorry I can't really shake hands right now tho. This one needs to get some warm clothes. " Sam shook Ruby gently.
"Yeah, it is kinda nice never needing a coat when your shifted huh." Kara shrugged.
"I'm glad you're liking at least something of the turn."
"Are you kidding, other than Ramond the codpiece I love it all! Nothing has ever been better!" Kara cheered, wishing she could shift once more already and just roll around in the morning dew, pounce a doe and feed, or even just to run all over again.
"Well, I'm glad. It took me a bit longer to warm up to it all. But I do agree. It is nice. And I appreciate that this one has some family to grow up around." Sam admitted.
"Well, I'm glad you enjoy it now too." Kara hip checked Sam playfully before realizing once more she was naked and yelping in embarrassment.
"Haha took me almost a year to get used to that. You'll get accustomed to the nudity after the change too. And, worst case scenario, you're only out in the open like this for as long as it takes you to find your pack and grab your clothes. "
"Haha yeah." Kara half laughed.
"Come on, you'll feel better when you're clothed again. " Sam urged, ushering Kara to the pack's, and towards the rest of the pack all shifted back by now, and most of them sitting round the dying embers of a fire with their breakfast.
Kara rushed to her pack, something repulsive catching her nose. "Uugh eww." She groaned, opening her bag, feeling it wet. "Dear God why?" Kara could tell the urine wasn't hers. Her senses still sharpened from the recent turn, she wasn't completely sure who had done it, but she certainly had her suspicions, looking over her shoulder to the man standing tall by the fire passing out meals to the pack with a shit eating grin.
Kara had gotten halfway through her bag, all of her clothing ruined, and her phone destroyed by the copious amounts of vile smelling wolf urine. Not a single addendum of clothing unsaturated, Kara began retching, wishing she had somewhere to wash her hands.
"Please, please dear god tell me she didn't do it again." The tender voice requested from behind Kara.
"Sam?" Kara questioned back, looking to where she had last seen the kind mother of a wolf. She was still clothing Ruby, focused on her child, not looking back to Kara.
"No, it's me. My name is Cat. And I'm sorry about.. him. "
"Oh, you. What a fucking joy." Kara hushed the curse. "And he has done this before ?" Kara ground her teeth already subtly plotting his 'disappearance under mysterious circumstances' telling herself she would never do it, but still enjoying the thought of not having to deal with the jackass.
"Regretfully. Yes." Cat whimpered.
"And you stay with that fuck wad?" Kara refused to look back to Cat, infuriated with the both of them, and frustrated that Cat left her out to dry when she tried to stand up for her.
"Thank you for this morning." Cat attempted to show appreciation.
"Fat lot of good it did me! He still ruined my clothing and my phone. I can't even call my sister to come bring me something to wear when I go back to the city!" Kara punched the tree in front of her frustrated, scare, angry, and feeling all of her emotions stronger still so close to the turn.
"Don't do that, break the skin and you'll get an infection." Cat requested truthfully worried for Kara.
"Not my main focus right now Cat!" Kara snapped back.
"I brought you some clothes." Cat offered. "I had a bad feeling. He… has been extra territorial since you got turned. And when I saw you growling at your bag … I knew what he had done. "
"I.. thank you." Kara softened.
"Don't. It's my fault. He did it because of me ."
"Did you tell him to do it?" Kara retorted.
"No," Cat admitted.
"Then I have a hard time believing it was your fault. So thank you."
"I.. well don't thank me yet. It isn't much. It's just my shirt and pants. "
"What will you wear?" Kara looked up to Cat as she stood.
"He will lose his shit when he sees me in only my bra and panties and force me to wear his jacket home. So I'll be fine."
"What's losing his shit entail?" Kara noticed the soft and the obvious signs of abuse easily able to tell it wasn't just some quirky wolf thing.
"Just take the clothes, Kara." Cat diverted.
"And? What's he gonna do when he realizes I took your clothes?"
"Nothing." Cat asserted confident.
"Really? Now, why don't I believe that?"
"When he sees you have my clothing he will be furious, but he will be the only one to notice; if you just take the damn clothes already. He will be too proud to let anyone else know someone else is wearing my clothing."
"And you just expect him to kindly ask for your clothing back? Or to ignore it?"
"He wouldn't dare ask for it back, cause then I'd have to wear it. And then I'd be covered in your scent. I promise you, none of us want that. Especially him. " Cat pushed the clothing to Kara once more.
"Fine." Kara groaned. "Thank you."
"Good. Now put them on before others notice."
"So. Wanna explain to me why you stick with that bag of dicks?" Kara thew on the clothing, finding it tight, but certainly better than her only other option of her own urine soaked clothes.
"Not right now. But my spare phone is in the pocket. Feel free to use my Uber app to get home, and my other number is saved on there, call me when you're done. I'll explain it all. " Cat offered.
"Wait! What's your name on the phone !"
"Cat Grant of course." She replied, walking back to the rest of the pack, and obediently sitting by her mate's side.
"Those look a little tight ." Sam teased. Finally done dressing her exhausted child and herself.
"They aren't mine. Cat lent them to me along with her phone. I think she felt guilty. Her boyfriend? Leash holder? Whatever you all call him pissed all over my bag, ruined everything I brought."
"Uugh, yeah he did that to me too, just a bit after I was turned. He is her mate. 'the alpha'"
"Yeah sure 'alpha' " Kara groaned.
"He isn't great. But at the end of the day, he would lay down his life to protect any of us." Sam half defended.
"Yeah. Sure." Kara rolled her eyes disbelieving.
"I mean it. He does care. He saved my life. Made sure Ruby and I had a home when I got laid off. Brought us groceries just to ensure my little pup got the right nutrients. "
"I.." Kara paused momentarily unsure what to think of him.
"He never asked for anything in return. "
"And this is the same man that urinated over all of your clothes ?"
"Actually… yes ."
Kara paused rethinking, if Sam was turned when she was three months pregnant, and Raymond douchenozzle pissed on her stuff shortly after she was turned. "And you were pregnant at the time? "
"Uugh. Yeah. Certainly not his most shining mark of character." Sam admitted.
"You can say that again. "
"The rest of the pack made sure I got home clothed and safe tho."
"Yeah, well them I like. Him. " Kara grumbled. "Him I wouldn't mind if he keeled over tomorrow. "
"Don't let the rest of them hear that. They will protect him just as fiercely as he will them. " Sam warned.
"Yeah yeah, whatever. I just wanna get out of here. "
"Your welcome to tag along with us. My car is just a quarter mile that way, and we were planning to stop by your sister's place for coffee and a snack."
"She drinks coffee? Doesn't she have to get to school?" Kara questioned.
"No. I tell the school she has to miss the day after a full moon for religious purposes. And no. She has steamed milk with vanilla and some cocoa powder."
"That… actually sounds really nice. And I wouldn't mind getting to know my sister's tavern a little more. " Kara allowed. "And religious purposes. That is smart."
"You don't think there is something awe-inspiring about attuning with The wild and nature?"
"Maybe you're onto something. It is beautiful." Kara admitted.
"Religion or not. It is what we wolves need. And I'm happy my daughter gets to experience it, and to have the amazing family she does in all of us. "
"Want me to carry her on the walk back? She looks all tuckered out."
"If you don't mind." Sam smiled back.
"Your the one letting me hitch a ride. So I'm happy to help. Plus.. she is too adorable."
"Yeah, she is. I love this little bugger." Sam teased her sleeping daughter, picking her up and passing her off to Kara. "This way!" Sam lead.
"Hey, there cutie." Kara cooed, readjusting the child in her arms. "I can't wait to have one of my own. She is just a little angel."
"I… " Sam didn't know what to say.
"I just can't wait!" Kara purred happily, in her own world. "Do you think it is much different? Raising a wolf child from a regular one?"
"I… in some ways, yes, in some no." Sam stuttered.
"Hmm? What's wrong?" Kara inquired.
"Uugh.. um. Well.. ahem! Uugh. You.. well you know.." Samantha didn't know how to say it.
"What?" Kara questioned still perky.
"You know.. you… you will never .. never umm .. be … well. Never be able to have kids!"
"Huh? No that's crazy, I'm still in my twenties! I got time!" Kara defended.
"No! I didn't mean like that! And of course you do. You're barely a decade older than her." Ruby teased, trying to lighten the mood.
"Well, not that young, but thanks?"
"No.. I ment.. wolves.. we.. we are infertile. "
"Huh?"
"I don't know how or why other than stories. But that is how it is. "
"I.. you.. your fucking with me right?" Kara refused to believe.
"Shh! If she learns that word from you I will kill you! She's the only one have and I'll never be able to make more!" Sam snapped.
"You.. are serious." Kara's heart fractured.
"I.. I'm sorry. " Sam moved closer, hugging Kara, understanding her pain.
"I.. I.. think I need some time alone." Kara whispered.
"No." Kara was surprised by Sam's strong tone. "I've been where you are. And I was afraid I would lose her. My bite wasn't clean like yours. I spent the better part of my first month before my turn in the hospital, terrified I would lose her. Especially after the pack alpha told me that I would never be able to have another. And I remember wanting to shut myself off. To hideaway. But it didn't help." Sam explained.
"I… Sam." Kara whimpered.
"You are coming with me and Ruby to your sister's. And the three of us will do our best to console and support you. Ok?" Sam instructed.
"You are really kind for someone so stern. " Kara forced a smile, hoping to fake being ok until she was.
"Thank you!" Sam wore the comment as a badge of honor.
"I'm sure you are an amazing mom."
"I'd really like to think so." Sam smiled back. "come on, we are almost to the car."
"Hey, there Al!" Sam greeted, Ruby running round her towards Alex.
"Alex!" Ruby cried overjoyed, recuperated from her short nap.
"Hey, there kiddo!" Alex smiled back, Messaging Ruby's hair with one hand. "How was the turn you two .. tree? Kara?"
"Hey, sis?" Kara waved timid, still caught up in her own head with everything going on, and all the new information.
"How was your first turn with the pack!?" Alex questioned eager.
"I don't wanna hear about the pack right now." Kara griped.
"Remember the stunt I told you Ramond pulled when I first ran ?"
"Eww. That guy is the worst. " Alex scowled. "need some new clothes Kar? I got some stuff you could swap into upstairs."
"I need a shower and a new phone." Kara walked past the bar and behind Alex to the back room.
"As you can imagine. She wasn't a fan." Sam explained.
"Yeah… can't Imagine she was. " Alex agreed. "But then again, once upon a time I believe you weren't such a big fan of his either."
"Yeah but that was when-"
"When all he had done was piss all over your clothes and you were pregnant?" Alex interrupted.
Sam growled back, not appreciating that Alex made good points.
"Yeah yeah I know, he's the alpha and all. And he helped you out when you needed it. But. I promise that guy ain't all y'all crack him up to be." Alex glared, jealous that he retained all of Sam's respect.
Ruby pouted feeling left out.
"I …" Sam huffed noticing Alex grow colder.
"What'd you want hun? The regular?" Alex redirected.
"Yeah!" Ruby cheered.
"Course hun. " Alex agreed heading off to her mistrena, steaming the milk and setting up the drink. "And you Sam?" Alex didn't avert her eyes from the machine.
"I.. " Sam growled, flustered, not knowing how to thaw the ice forming between her and Alex. "J.. just a Coffee. "
"Almond milk and some toffee nut sweetener?" Alex checked.
"Yeah." Sam blushed, Alex, remembering her new order already.
"On it. One sec." Alex pushed herself to smile at Sam, reminding herself that Sam shouldn't be punished for her jealousy, and that Sam had done nothing wrong.
"Yay!" Ruby cooed, taking the drink from Alex just before Alex added a hefty dash of cocoa powder on top.
"Enjoy Rube. " Alex urged, turning around and setting up Sam's coffee.
"H… how was your night?" Sam asked hesitant.
"Well… the vampire's still pick the full moon as their preferred night for business negotiations." Alex huffed exhausted.
"Hmm? I didn't know, how did that go? Why full moons?" Sam wondered as Alex passed her her coffee.
"Because on full moons I don't have you to protect me ." Alex pulled off her words, sounding smoother than she ever could have hoped.
However, despite Alex's smoothness, Sam still choked on her coffee as she took her first sip, thinking of pinning Alex under her and showing her exactly how well she could be protected.
"Geez? You hate the idea that much?" Alex pulled away, assuming the worst.
Sam teared up, waving her hand in front of her mouth, a terrible cry breaking free. "Hot! Hot! HOT!"
"I! OH! crap!" Alex processed, grabbing ice in a spare cup. "Here!" She shoved it to Sam's lips.
"Ohhh Mmmm" Sam sighed relieved, the ice helping her mouth.
"Are you ok!" Alex worried.
"Yeah." Sam whimpered.
"Aww. Sam… "
"Thank you."
"Of course Sam. Of course. I'm sorry you got burned."
"So.. protect you?" Sam reminded.
"No more talking." Alex ordered.
"Ok." Sam mumbled, lowering her head.
"Good. And yeah. Vampires can demand what they want when I'm here alone. But when Y'all are here then I have a lot more bargaining power. "
"Aww!" Sam nodded understanding.
"Yeah. So… negotiations are never fun." Alex sighed.
"Well if you do ever need that protection, or, maybe even just a bit of muscle." Samantha winked. "Call me."
"I! Oh!" Alex blushed deep red, her mind slipping to the gutter easily, of licking up Sam's muscles as she held her tight.
"But for now, me and this little cutie need to get home." Sam added.
"Mom!" Ruby complained, both at being called cutie, and because she didn't want to leave.
"I.. well … I'll see you two some other time. "Alex was still bright red.
"Bye Alex. " Ruby groaned.
"Bye bye hun." Alex agreed.
End of Chapter 14