Upon returning to Regina's family estate, I sought out Mulan. She patrolled the grounds in human form, while Will patrolled in Wolf. Sensing my presence, she turned away from the ridiculously large and ornate fountain she had been inspecting nestled within one of the gardens that surrounded the grounds.

"Didn't know you had an eye for aesthetics." I joked as I approached the other woman.

Mulan's eyes crinkled at the corners, though she did not show any other sign of amusement. She fidgeted.

I raised a brow at her movements. Normally she was so stoic and did not show any sign of discomfort from what little I had gathered.

"Mulan, what is it?" I wondered.

Mulan averted her gaze. "Umm. We have guests in the house. I… Would have asked first, but… it was kind of an emergency."

She lowered her head. The sign of a wolf within a pack, dropping its head in deference to its Alpha.

"And exactly who are these guests, Mulan?" I asked her, as Mulan kept her head held down.

"She is the… well, was the cousin of a wife of a member of my old pack. Apparently he was abusing his wife and she needed to get her out of there and they need a place to stay. She came with her cousin and her Aunt." Mulan confessed.

I reached out and placed a hand on Mulan's shoulder.

"Hey, it's okay." I comforted her. "I probably would have done the same. It probably would have been better if I had been notified, beforehand, but I'm going to guess things got really out of hand? And there wasn't time?"

Mulan nodded.

"Well, in that case, it isn't a problem. I mean, I won't ask it of them, to get into our affairs, but…. We could really use the people in our pack. So… If they are loyal…."

Mulan looked up at me, she nodded, quickly, "They are willing! For home and for someone who is willing to protect them, they are willing to be a part of a true pack!"

I shook my head. "Mulan, what we are about to get into though…"

"I know, but, just wait until they show you what they can do. Umm… they're not… exactly wolves." Mulan whispered.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

"Well, they're shapeshifters of a type, but, umm… I'll let them tell you." Mulan told me quietly.

"Well, okay." I let it go for now. "Continue your patrol, and I will go meet them."

Mulan nodded, moving on.

"Oh, and Mulan," I called out. Mulan stopped. She watched the area around her. "There is a group of wolves, maybe about 5-7 of them. They'll be here within the next day or two. Sound a call when they get here."

"Will do." With that, Mulan continued on her patrol of the grounds.

I looked up at the estate. The size and grandeur of it wasn't lost on me. It would be good for housing several Wolves, though I knew many of them would prefer to spend their nights outside. The wildness of the grounds would suit them then, though I figured Regina might want some landscaping done. Perhaps I could convince her to allow some of its wildness.

I would also need to do a grounds inspection of my own later.

I strode around to enter via the front doors of the estate. The double doors were framed by carved marble. This place was ridiculously ornate.

The doors opened at my touch. Regina had informed me that as a witch, her mother had spelled it so that the home would open to those she entrusted the home to be opened to. She also informed me that if she were to get mad at someone, she could easily shut them out of the house. Something her mother had done to her father and even herself growing up.

Entering the foyer, I discovered any dust had been cleared. The human thralls, it seemed, had made quick work of cleaning the place up. That, or perhaps Regina had cleared the place via magic.

Remembering several nights ago, I shivered. Regina had called upon some spell as we left the lair, filling the place with fire and light, burning up bodies of human thralls and vampires alike. Leaving ashes in their wake. I wondered at what else her magic could do.

Voices, then that body-warming, familiar laugh reached my ears. I followed the sound into one of the sitting rooms on the first floor.

Regina lounged on a sofa, a glass of… was that cider? Held in her hand. She swirled the liquid while chatting with a group of women sitting around the room.

I could smell wolf on at least one of them, but two of them, their scent came off dry, hot, and the best I could come up with was like something slightly burnt.

I narrowed my eyes at them as I entered the room. What kind of shapeshifters had Mulan exactly allowed into the estate?

Regina glanced up at me with a large grin. The vampiress' eyes were filled with mirth. I tilted my head curiously and couldn't help the small smile I gave her in return.

"Emma! My Alpha, please, come, sit." Regina held out her hand, indicating the place next to her on the seat.

Even as the named Alpha in the pack, I couldn't help feel something within me responding as a packhound when it came to her. My body immediately obeyed, sauntering over, her eyes following my movements as I slid into place beside her.

I placed a hand over her thigh while she slipped a hand to play in my hair. Like some tamed pup, I felt myself falling into her touch. Her nails scratched at my scalp like they would a pet's. I resisted the urge to roll onto my back and beg her to scratch at other places.

Not while we have guests, I thought to myself.

Later. I heard a rather seductive thought caress at my spine. I shivered and bit my lip.

I turned my attention toward our guests. A mature blonde watched us with interest, the brunette seated beside her glanced around the room, uncomfortably. She watched us from the corner of her eyes. They were the two that smelled different. The shapeshifters. Mother and daughter from the familiarity I could tell.

The last of the three women, was a rather nervous looking girl with auburn hair. She was the wolf. I took a deep breath through my nose, inhaling, attempting to gather more about her from her scent. Fresh turned, I realized. She had probably been brought into the pack with the shapeshifters and turned.

"Well, I should probably introduce myself, I am Emma Swan-Chaser." I felt the words fall lazily from my lips. The affect Regina's fingers were having on me.

The mature blonde was the one to speak up. "Mal Blackburn, my daughter, Lily, and her cousin, Aurora."

She gestured at each in turn. Lily met my gaze when indicated then looked away to watch the room like someone who was used to checking behind her back. This must be the one Mulan was speaking of.

I nodded.

"Mulan mentioned that you are…. Shapeshifters?" I asked. I reached over for the cider Regina continued to swirl. She seemed to be doing it out of habit rather than actual interest to drink it. I glanced at her as I lifted it from her fingers, taking a long swig.

The spice of it burned at my tongue but the taste of it confirmed what I already knew: Not a hint of blood was held within. I raised a brow at Regina. She simply raised a brow in return.

"Yes…. We are shapeshifters of a sort… I am also a magic user, a witch, as Regina may tell you." Mal grinned wryly at that. She held Regina's eyes as she said it. The wolf within me stirred possessively, but the human without tempered it. Regina was more than mine, but even then, I knew if she were to ever stray… Well, wolves have tempers.

"Is there something I should know?" This question, I directed at Regina. Regina slid her fingers down to caress at my neck. I fought the urge to lean into the touch. I cleared my throat.

"Mal once taught me the ways of magic after I discovered my…. Predilection for it, my mother was gone by that time and I needed a teacher, Mal happened to be the one who taught me." Regina smiled, she bobbed her head in respect towards the woman. I watched the way the blonde regarded her as one might a favored student and swallowed. Perhaps there was more to it than that, but I would ask later. When we were alone.

"Well, alright then. The shapeshifting. What is it? I can scent out something…. Firey? But, I'm at a loss." I told Mal.

The grin Mal gave me then turned downright toothy. I noticed a lengthening of her teeth.

"Well, your nose is definitely good. We do breathe fire." She laughed.

Her daughter huffed from beside her.

"We're dragon-shifters. Mom, can we stop with this already? I'm tired, frankly, and would like to rest. Are they going to let us stay or not?" Lily glared at her mom. She crossed her arms over her chest and that's when I noticed the scars.

Claw marks. Bite scars. Bruises from restraints. I felt ferality rising within me. A fierce desire to protect clawing its way to the surface. Someone had done this to this young woman. I wanted to hunt them down and make them pay.

I answered, this time, holding the gaze of Lily, "Yes. You may stay. If you choose to join us, then we will be glad to have you. Rest. If there is anything you are in need of, don't be afraid to ask. Just find a human and have them show you to an empty room."

Lily looked away. Without a word, she stood and left the room.

Mal watched her leave, her expression full of hidden concern.

"Aurora, you must be tired. Get some rest as well." Mal directed to the auburn-haired girl nearby.

"Aunt, but-," Aurora began.

Something in the expression Mal gave her seemed to be conveying a message to Aurora.

Aurora bowed her head.

"I'll make sure she's okay, Aunt Mal." Aurora shuffled out of the room.

Silence fell over the room while Mal seemed to struggle with something. She stood and refilled an empty glass I hadn't noticed sitting beside her.

"I had to tear into the home of a wolf-pack in order to release my daughter." She began quietly. Her voice rough with hidden anger.

Regina and I exchanged glances. Regina dug her fingers into my back.

"They were keeping her under restraints. Apparently her husband had been abusing her for some time and not long after they were married he went to some sorcerer and got magical restraints to keep her from shifting."

Mal returned to her seat.

"My niece was under fierce watch and couldn't get messages out except through her friend amongst your pack, if not for her, I would not have known about what they were doing. The young wolf my girl married seemed very good to her and to love her, but it seems they had other plans."

Smoke rose off of Mal.

"Any messages that came from my daughter were monitored closely. I began to notice they were… stilted and more measured over time, but… it wasn't until Aurora was able to get communications out to me that I learned what was happening."

Mal seemed to sag in her seat.

"If I had known sooner, I could have saved her so much pain. I also could not be sure about getting her out safely without knowing we had somewhere to run."

With that statement, Mal looked at us both.

"Regina, I would be more than happy to join you. You were a great student. I'm sure your pack is strong. All I ask is for protection in return."

I felt Regina's fingers playing at my collar. She tapped my neck. I turned to look at her.

Mal is powerful and very trustworthy. She would be a fine addition to the pack. Regina told me through our bond.

Did my display earlier not say anything? I'm already feeling protective of these three. I thought ruefully.

"We would be glad to have you Mal." Regina informed the dragon lady. I nodded my agreement.

"I myself do not care for what that pack did. To your daughter or Mulan. I gladly offer my protection." I offered up.

Mal smiled tightly. "Thank you."

She stood and came to kneel before us. She held out her hands.

Regina nudged me. She placed a palm over Mal's. She wishes to make a magical bond with us.

What's with witches and bonds around here? I joked.

I placed my palm over Mal's other hand.

"I, Mal Blackburn, Dragon-shifter offer up my magic and power to the WolfTamer's Pack in exchange for protection of my daughter and niece from their old pack." As Mal spoke, smoke rose from her skin. My palm began to burn. I frowned and glanced at Regina. She didn't seem to be experiencing any discomfort.

Regina spoke up next. "I, Regina Mills, sponsor of the WolfTamer's Pack offer up the protection of my wolves in exchange for the magic of Mal Blackburn."

A fiery glow snaked out from Mal, wrapping around hands.

My turn, I realized. I cleared my throat.

"And I, Emma Swan-Chaser, vow the protection of my pack of Mal Blackburn, Lily Blackburn, and Aurora Blackburn from their old pack in exchange for Mal's magic and power."

As I finished something hot wrapped around me. I felt the magic of the bond Mal was creating seeping into my skin.

"The bond is made. If it should be broken, any agreements between us shall be null and void."

Mal retracted her hands. She stood.

"Thank you again. I must rest. I'm afraid I may have used a great amount of magic in releasing my daughter."

Regina snapped a finger. A human thrall came rushing in.

Mal glanced up in surprise.

"Make sure she reaches her room." She commanded. The human bowed. Mal gave Regina a small, grateful smile and followed the human as they led the way out.

"It seems we are alone now, dear." Regina declared into the room.

"It would seem so…" I drawled.

The vampiress leaned over, whispering into my ear, "I'm feeling a little… thirsty."

I couldn't help but shiver under the weight of her growl as the words fell from her mouth. That mouth that could make me feel so much with a single bite. I leaned away despite the need beginning to rise within me. The desire to be bitten.

"Regina, I…" Meeting her eyes, I swallowed. There was so much bloodlust within them.

I shook my head to clear it. "I have to know something, first."

"What is it?" Regina asked. She ran a finger along my jaw, caressed along my neck, my collarbone. The bloodlust in her eyes seeking.

I grabbed her fingers, holding them still. I slipped fingers beneath her chin and made her meet my eyes.

"Regina, why was there no blood in your cider?" I demanded. Regina's eyes, which had been fixed to my lips flicked up to my eyes then away.

She shook her head. Her fingers clenched and unclenched. I could feel something within her fighting.

When she finally met my eyes again, they were clear. The red color fading out.

"Emma." She husked out. "The bloodlust. I can barely fight it. It wants so much of you."

I felt my heart stuttering in my chest. There was a reason love didn't happen between creatures like a vampire and a wolf. Lust was fine and dandy, but love? It could drive a vampire insane, make them need the blood of that which they loved to the point of driving them insane.

I growled.

"Regina." I tugged her close, embracing her.

Regina nuzzled into my jaw, just under my ear.

"I can no longer drink any other blood but yours, Emma."

I nodded. I knew the consequences of a bond like ours.

Regina's fingers played at the collar around my neck.

"I don't think you need this anymore." She whispered. Regina leaned back. With a wave of her hand, the collar fell off.

I felt something within me tug away, but then, I felt something stronger roaring to the forefront. My wolf felt stronger. Had the collar been dulling its power somehow?

I glared up at Regina. Dominance kicked in.

"Was that collar making me weaker?" I growled.

Regina shook her head.

"It was only downplaying any urges for dominance." She confessed. She looked guilty.

The Alpha within me growled. It desired to punish her. But I tamped it down. I could understand from a logical standpoint. I knew the wolf's anger would need appeasement but I would need to balance it out.

I tucked the hair falling into Regina's face behind her ears and gripped her chin.

"My wolf is angry. It wants to punish you." I growled. "But I love you. It loves you. Any punishment would only hurt us and we know that. So I'm only going to do something very hard for you right now."

I took a deep breath.

"I'm going to fuck you, very hard, and you will not drink from me. You will have no blood until I deem you worthy of it."

Regina's eyes widened. The pupils were enlarged but I detected no bloodlust.

"Do you agree?" I asked slowly.

Regina nodded very quickly.

I stood, and held my hand out. Regina eyed it warily. She took it and allowed me to pull her up. I tugged her up and through the house. I knew the room I wanted to take her to.

I led the way up to the second floor then the room of Looking Glasses.

I pushed Regina into the room.

"Strip." I commanded. The wolf within me very much taking over its dominant role.

Regina raised a brow at me.

"I almost like this side of you." She drawled.

I crossed my arms, waiting.

She huffed. Mumbling about "Some wolves have no senses of humor." She began to strip.

I watched as olive skin was revealed to me. She really was beautiful. I didn't take enough time to appreciate it. Perhaps because we were always so closely wrapped up together.

I approached her and grabbing her by the wrist, I spun her around, her back to me.

Some of the Looking Glasses were uncovered. Regina held a reflection in some, but no reflection in others. Some must have been genuine mirrors, I realized. Others, paths to somewhere else.

"Other wrist behind your back." I husked into her ear.

She obeyed.

"Keep them still, no touching."

With that, I pressed my lips to her shoulder blade, running my hands up her abdomen to cup just under her breasts. Regina shuddered under my caresses and touches.

As I touched her, I felt the anger within my wolf calming. I felt it wanting only to claim its dominance over her body. To let her know that we were the Alpha here. I pushed that desire down. That wasn't what I wanted. I had to tame the wolf here.

Regina moaned as I squeezed at her breasts. I ran my teeth over her shoulder, my tongue tasting her skin. I squeezed my thighs together. I was getting wet.

I nipped at Regina's neck. She gasped.

"Emma." She breathed out. She clenched her thighs. Who knew vampires were so responsive?

I began to kiss and nip down her spine, kneeling as I reached the base of it. Regina arched. As I reached the globes of her ass, I shook my head. She hadn't been wearing underwear when she stripped. Again.

I grinned, wolfishly. I grabbed a handful of each cheek and squeezed. Then I bit into the flesh.

The moan Regina let out then was downright guttural. The scent of her arousal overwhelmed my strengthened wolf senses. I groaned.

I gripped her hips and spun her around, tugging her downward into my lap.

Regina's eyes were a mixture of surprise and pure arousal.

She rolled her hips into mine. I gripped her hip, pausing her movements. She whined and I smiled.

"We go at my pace, remember?" I told her, then pressed my lips to hers.

The kiss started chaste, slow. As I gripped at her and rolled her hips into mine, Regina gasped opening her mouth up to me. I slipped my tongue into her mouth and explored it ravenously.

I felt myself drifting into the wolf. It was no longer struggling for power but more for the kind of sexual dominance I felt would be fine to release. I pushed Regina back to lay on the hard floor.

Regina stared up into my eyes, I knew they were likely ringed by the colors of wolf. She looked beyond aroused.

"Emma- please." Regina's voice cracked as I hovered above her.

I crashed my lips into hers, hungrily. My fingers drifted down her body, toward her sex. I ran a single digit along her slit. Wetness covering it. Bringing my finger up to my mouth, I made Regina watch as I sucked the digit into my mouth. I hummed with the taste of her arousal. Blood pounded in my ears. She watched me, her eyes still blown with lust. Hopefully she could keep her bloodlust down.

"Emma." Regina whined. She tugged at my clothing. I smirked.

"Magic?" I pouted at her. I didn't feel like losing the contact we already had.

The witch smiled. She waved a hand and cool air hit my skin as I was suddenly naked. I pressed my thigh into Regina's sex.

"How badly do you want this?" I breathed just over her lips.

Regina's hips jerked.

"Please." She begged. Her hands clenched and unclenched against the floor.

I nuzzled her as my fingers found her sex again. This time, without warning, I pressed slid two fingers into her opening.

Regina's mouth fell open in a silent gasp. I watched with awe as I pumped into her, taking the moment as I pleased.

She arched into me, as I pressed a third finger into her, my rhythm slowing and then increasing. I slowed each time as I felt her growing closer to an edge, as I could sense it through our bond. She gasped and moaned beneath me, and each time I slowed at the edge she would let out breathy sighs of frustration.

"If you do not fuck me, Emma, I'm going to lose my mind." Regina finally uttered, her voice not very commanding as it came out a little breathy.

I smiled at that and bit my lip. She stared at my mouth. Then I had her thrashing as I inserted a fourth finger and began pumping more earnestly.

The sounds she filled the air with then when downright animalistic. It dragged at the wolf within me. I felt the animal take over. With a growl, I crashed my mouth into hers, knocking teeth.

My forearm pumped furiously. The woman below me met me thrust for thrust, wetness coating my hand, and as my thumb entered her, my wrist. I was curling fingers into her and she gasped into my mouth. The silent screams she gave as her body gave into what I was doing to her only drove me on. She broke my 'no touching' rule and slapped and grabbed at my back.

With one final, body rocking shudder, Regina's inner walls clenched near-bone-breakingly around my hand and then she collapsed beneath me, her eyes fallen closed.

Concerned, I brought a hand up to brush strands of sweat-soaked hair out of her face. Her eyes fluttered as I withdrew my fingers from within her. I nuzzled at her face.

"Wake up Regina." I commanded softly.

Regina's eyes opened slowly.

"Did I just…? Pass out?" Regina spoke groggily.

I laughed.

"I think you just did, yes."

"Am I… sweating?" She whispered.

"Yep." I answered.

Regina regarded me with hooded eyes.

"You do strange things to me…"

"I'm worn out."

I raised a brow at her.

"Did I just break the vampiress?" I teased.

Regina managed a slight glare in her groggy state.

"Rest." I ordered.

Regina nodded.

"I think I will…. For once."

She closed her eyes, falling to sleep rather quickly. Bringing myself to one knee, I gathered her up into my arms. I carried her down the luckily, empty hallway and into the room we had chosen earlier on. Not her old room, but a guest room. 'Too many bad memories.' She had told me.

I laid her on the bed gently and slid into place beside her, wrapping my arms around her.

I would allow her a feeding once we both woke up. Now that she would solely be dependent on me as a food source I knew we would have to do our best to make sure she didn't end up draining me.

We would make this work somehow.

I'll reveal what Graham retrieved for Emma next chapter when her old packmates arrive to the estate! (I wonder who all got chosen to come along? wink wink)