As Kouga slowly twirled her around the dance floor, Kagome realized that she really needed to guard her heart better. Being friends with benefits was a dangerous game. For instance, you could find yourself a week into a mutual "non-relationship" and decide to text all night with each other like old friends. Or after two weeks you could meet up for your weekly Friday night dancing and drinking "non-date" and get butterflies when he smiles and tips his ten-gallon hat at you gallantly. How your heart melts at three weeks when he says that he doesn't want to break your habit of sleeping curled up together in his truck, even though you're on your period and just want to cuddle.
And today when you're one month in, fully aware that he has to face his ex in the morning for their monthly pack meeting, you rub your body on every inch of him as you dance together. Knowing he wouldn't be able to shower before driving to the campsite tomorrow. Letting the whole world know that he was taken. Well at least kind of taken.
She thought back to that first morning, when Kouga had said he wanted to continue seeing her, but that his heart was still hurting, and that it was only fair to them both to say that before they started anything. Kagome had understood, her own heart still a little raw from Inuyasha's mistreatment. They'd swapped numbers, agreed to a sort of exclusive friends with benefits situation, and went their separate ways after a sweet kiss.
Kagome had tried not to think about the fact that she was probably way too invested for only really knowing Kouga for a month, but as he held her close and she looked up into his stardust eyes, she felt her heart crack a little. She looked away and laid her head on his chest as they slow danced. Anything was better than having to face him when he took her breath away like that.
She knew she either needed to let him know how much she wanted him for real or nip this crush in the bud. Don't pull an Inuyasha, Kagome told herself. Just woman up and make a decision. She'd give herself another week or two to build up the courage and give him more time to get over his ex. Maybe by then his answer wouldn't be an automatic "no."
And if he didn't want to date her after almost two months of being friends with benefits then he probably wouldn't ever want more. Then she'd break it off for her own sake and move on. She just couldn't deal with another broken heart.
"So boss, when are ya gonna start bringing your new girlfriend around?" Kouga's head snapped up and he glared at Ginta. He was clearly not aware until that moment how off limits that question, eyebrows arching at Kouga's low growl.
"Kagome's not my girlfriend. Not really." He muttered with a scowl as he went back to grabbing his camping gear from the back of his pickup. As soon as he removed the camper cover from his truck bed, Kagome's sweet scent and the smell of stale sex overpowered his senses and he had to grip the tailgate to control himself. "We have an arrangement. It wouldn't be fair to either of us to jump in so soon. It's only been four months for me since Ayame and three for her."
"Really? Then you might wanna tell her that. Ya know, since she scent marked you." Kouga snorted and rolled his eyes at that but Ginta didn't drop it. "No, really. Her scent is on every fuckin inch of you boss, not just on the sexy bits. Pretty possessive for a "not really girlfriend.'" The beta leaned onto the side of the truck and scratched the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Also, I wasn't gonna say anything, but you might wanna take a long dip in the river later, because ya got the whole pack kinda riled up and hormonal. It's not even Spring and I can already hear a few couples fucking in the woods. And it's not even just the musk all over you, it's the emotions too. It's been seeping through the pack bond for weeks now, getting everyone hot and bothered—"
His thought was cut off as Ginta watched Hakkaku saunter past them and cast a longing look at his mate. Kouga grunted and waved him away, watching his betas smile at him appreciately and practically run into the forest laughing.
He ran a hand down his face in annoyance and shoved the stakes into the ground and finished pitching the tent. Sure, the pack bond was there in the back of his mind all the time, but he didn't realize just how much it was affecting them all. Maybe if he could just stop thinking about Kagome all the damn time he'd be able to reign it in and muffle the effect he was causing.
But the thought of her sweet face haunted him in a way he didn't think possible so soon after meeting her. Sure it had been a month of constantly texting each other, laughing over midnight calls, and "totally not a date" Fridays over at the Sauced Hog, but it felt like it shouldn't be this easy to start letting her invade his mind like this. It felt too natural. Hell, it'd taken him six months to feel this way for Ayame.
Wait, why was he comparing what he has with Kagome with his relationship with Ayame? He'd been about to marry Ayame. He wasn't even courting Kagome yet. That little added thought of "yet" had him pausing contemplatively. Was that what he wanted?
He was abruptly brought out of his inner musing by the harsh growls of a wolf fight about to happen. Jumping into action and creating a barrier between the two women who looked like they were about to claw each other to death, he barked out a deep rumbling snarl that had the whole gathering crowd submitting to their alpha.
"What the absolute fuck is going on here?!" The deep boom of his voice and the red in his eyes told everyone he was taking no shit for anyone today. Even as Chiyo and Mai submitted, they were both practically vibrating with rage.
"Now will somebody tell me what's going on and who started th—"
One sniff, then two had his face blanching. The incriminating scent of rising hormones reached him and he looked at Chiyo starting to shift uncomfortably in place. On the other side of him Mai started running her hands up and down her arms as goosebumps left her feeling itchy. A prickling sensation started at the base of his tail and crept its way up his spine, leaving his fur standing on end.
Fuck.
This was NOT supposed to happen. It was the middle of Summer. Pups had already been littered for the year. It was way too early for the Season to start.
He'd heard his father once say that if an alpha got too wound up that the pack could potentially go into a secondary Spring, but he'd thought that only applied to mated alphas. A sneaking suspicion flickered to life in the back of his mind, but he squashed it down. Now was not the time. One problem at a time, Kouga.
"Okay listen up everyone! Emergency announcement: it looks like we're going into a secondary Season. I need to run down to the store to buy a supply of condoms since I'm sure most of us didn't bring them since all this is unexpected.
If you work outside of the pack business you need to call your employers now to let them know you're unavailable for the next week under the Spring Rights law. If they give you any shit when you try to go back I'll deal with 'em, and I'll be notifying the local authorities to close the trails." He shouted loud enough that most of the couples in the woods could hear him even over the worried chatter of the crowd.
"Ari and Hideki, can you take the weaned pups and elders and set up the alternate campsite? We'll follow the usual check in times every day. Luckily we're already set up here and not scrambling around back in the city." As the two older wolves nodded he dismissed the crowd, ignored Ayame's pointed glare from the crowd as she walked away, and checked his cell for signal.
"Hey Kagome, it's Kouga. I don't have time to explain but can you come up to the campsite for the weekend? I hate to inconvienence you, but I'm gonna need your help." At her confused affirmative, he told her to meet him at the little convienence store at the base of the mountains so he could show her the way to the campsite, and she said she'd pack up and be there in thirty minutes.
Kouga ended the call and made several others over speakerphone as he drove down the trail back to civilization. First, the police and park rangers were notified, and then he called his secretary so she could make arrangements to close their construction business for a week. It wasn't ideal, but there was no way anyone in the pack could work right now. Hell, it was so distracting that he was having trouble just driving.
He pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of his truck. The AC in the store didn't do much for the slowly building heat under his skin but at least they had a good stash of Demon Delights and his favorite beer. All he could do was chuckle at the knowing looks and jokes the cashier threw his way, their annual retreat to the mountains well known in the area, though they hadn't ever come up twice in the same year.
Just as he was checking out at the front he saw Kagome's car pull up and all of his senses went on the alert. Quickly finishing paying and grabbing up the numberous plastic bags, Kouga practically ran out of the store in anticipation. Not trusting himself to behave in public right now, he waved at her to stay in her car and they made their way up the trail. On the way up he stopped in front of the park rangers who were just setting up "road closed" signs, and they smiled and let the two vehicles through.
White knuckling the steering wheel until they were able to park just outside of the camp, Kouga tried to keep himself under control as Kagome stepped out of her car. God, just the shape of her bare legs in those high waisted shorts and the peek of her sweat slicked cleavage under her tee shirt had him ready to go.
But he needed to focus.
He needed to explain what was going on and distribute the condoms. He was the alpha and he was the one that brought this on unintentionally. It was his responsibility to keep a cool head.
As he walked over he saw Kagome smile at him and then her eyes trailed down and settled on the obviously huge erection trapped in his jeans. Kouga didn't let her say anything though, just grabbing her hand and dragging her along behind him. Most of the pack was out in the open, anxiously waiting for his return in various states of dishevelled arousal. He locked eyes with Hakkaku and handed him the bags.
"I got as many as the store stocked. Pass these around and make sure everyone gets some if they want 'em. I think Kaito and Sayuri are the only mated pair trying for a litter right now. If we start running out by the end of the week, let me know and I'll make the further drive into town. It'll be easier by the end and I'll be able to control it then. Kagome and I'll see you all at dusk for the hunt."
He rolled his eyes at the wolf whistles and howls that followed in the distance as Kouga picked up a blushing Kagome bridal style and sprinted to the treeline. As the tension ramped up in his body, he realized that since the rest of the pack was already in heat, he could finally pull down the barrier and relax his mind. Fuck it, they're already horny, what was more from the bond going to do?
"So are you gonna tell me what's going on or should I start guessing?" Her laughter filled voice had him looking down at her as he slowed just far enough away from camp that they wouldn't be disturbed. She slipped down into his arms and he crowded her body against the nearest tree.
"How much do you know about wolf demons and mating seasons?" He brought his black tee shirt over his head and started unbuttoning his jeans. The fabric against his skin had become increasingly irritating and it was a relief when he toed off his boots to kick his Wranglers off.
"Not much. Public schools didn't exactly cover that in sex ed. You gonna educate me?" She bit her lip at the sight of his slick flushed skin as he stood in only his boxer briefs. His harsh groan told her how much he liked that thought.
"Fucking hell Kagome. As tempting as teacher roleplay sounds, I've actually gotta explain all this shit to you. Don't torture me baby." As she unclasped her bra and threw it to the side he frantically unzipped her shorts and pushed them down. The scent of her desire hit him in the face but he held off long enough to let her toe out of her pants and panties, leaving her boots on for stability.
"So as an alpha, the pack and I have a bond, and everyone can sort of vaguely feel my emotions or moods. You've been winding me up so much lately that my moods have been constantly horny, so it sent everyone into heat. Normally wolf demons have an annual cycle that happens pretty much like clockwork every February. You and I accidentally caused a second Mating Season." He whispered the words like kisses down her body as he knelt, only stopping to twirl his tongue around a nipple. Her appreciative gasp had him continuing further, hot panting breath teasing over her neatly trimmed curls.
He planted a kiss there and paused, eyes dilating as he breathed in her scent. Her whimper of his name and the shift of her hips had him throwing her knee over his shoulder and diving in. Instinct drove him to nip, suck, and fuck her with his tongue until she was ready for him. Her tiny cries spurred him on, the flavor on his lips more addicting than any food he'd ever craved.
Kouga reached a hand up to pinch one of her perky nipples as he worked her with his tongue. Just when he felt her thighs start to shake and her hips shift in anticipation, he sprang into action. Standing and turning her body so she was leaning on the rough bark of the tree, Kouga plunged into her violently from behind.
Her shocked cry of pleasure at the sudden intrusion had him pistoning his hips into her faster than any human could comprehend. Kouga snarled into the crook of her neck as he slid her legs further apart and felt her walls flutter around him. She squealed in delight when he brought a hand down to where they were joined and twirled his fingertips on her clit.
"Tell me what you want Kagome. Let me know you want my dick deep in your cunt." She felt the deep growl of his words in her ear send shivers down her spine.
"I—I want you Kouga! Want your… your knot! P—please!" Her last words trailed off in wanton cries as he hit her gspot over and over, making her see stars. With only a ripple of her muscles as warning, she clamped down on him so hard that he fell over the edge with her and hilted himself in her, howling out in his pleasure and hearing the pack join in from a distance.
They collapsed in a heap of sweaty skin and aching limbs with Kagome sitting fairly comfortably in Kouga's lap. He kissed sweet whispers into her shoulder as they cuddled together under the tree. She started to doze off for a midday nap only to be woken about twenty minutes later when he was able to slip out.
She stood on unsteady legs and he helped her dress. Clad in only her panties and realizing her white shirt had been ripped when it came off, he let her wear his big black tee shirt, smiling when noticing her subtly sniffing his scent. Kouga handed her all her extra clothes and gently picked her up so he could jog back to camp.
The scent of high fertility, sweat, and sex permeated the air as Kouga brought them back into the campsite. Kagome's embarassment was plain on her face as she spotted several couples romping in the center of camp and heard more off in the distance. At the spike of arousal in her scent he was harder than diamond again and sighed, quickly shooing her into his tent and promising her he'd be right back with a quick kiss.
Quickly walking off into a secluded part of the treeline, he unzipped his jeans and tried to piss but his dick was still too hard to get a stream going.
"You know, if your new little pet leaves you like that and can't even take care of you through your heat, you should just dump her." Her voice was meant to be sultry he was sure, but it just grated on Kouga's nerves instead. Realizing that his anger at Ayame actually helped soften his erection enough to pee, he let loose and leaned a bare arm on the tree. "It's not her fault that she's not enough for you, but look what happened. She couldn't keep up with you and it caused your pent up hormones to send the whole pack into a mating frenzy."
When he didn't respond he could feel her eyes on the back of his neck as he zipped himself back up. Turning and standing in front of his ex, he glared a challenge at her.
"I don't give a fuck what you think or what you say to me, but you leave her the fuck alone, you hear me? Say one unfriendly word to her or harm one perfect hair on her head and you'll be dealing with me." He stalked back to his tent all tension and anger, only fully relaxing once he crawled into the little nest of blankets Kagome had laid in.
The sunlight dappled in and out of the tent's unzipped mesh sections, so he stripped down to his boxers and cuddled up to his woman. The light breeze and Kagome's soft breathing had him lulled halfway into sleep before he realized that's how he thought of her.
His woman.