The next morning when I awoke, I sent out a hand searching for the warmth that is Kouga only to find the bed empty. I moved to sit up, I managed to get myself rolled over and up to my elbows before I heard a gasp.
"I'm so sorry!" Ari is rushing to my side but I did my best between panting breaths.
"No-Stop-Let-Me-" I almost had it, my elbows nearly straightened, and my elbow buckled but as it did I felt hands on my bicep. She helped me up the rest of the way. Anger flourishing in me as I felt completely useless! I can't even sit up on my own! Jiki's words echoing in my head "It will take time Little one." I am not little and I don't want to wait!
"That was very good Kagome! Much better than yesterday!" She sounded genuine, but her encouragement did nothing to calm the anger inside.
"Sure if I was a child." I hissed. Ari slid back slightly and had a hurt look on her face. My anger washed away as I saw that I had hurt Ari's feelings. "Sorry. I just-"
"Don't like feeling helpless? I get it." She smiled sweetly. "Kouga said something about you wanted a bath?" I blushed brightly and nodded confirmation. "Well, I can't lift you out there but once Kouga is free he will and I will gladly assist you."
"Great!" I actually was quite happy with the idea of getting to properly bathe. My stomach grumbled, so Ari jumped up and ran over to the fire and poured me a bowl of some kind of stew. It smelled delicious.
Ari helped me to sit up against the wall as we chatted about how the tribe had been while I was gone. Ari was happy to report that nothing major happened, but she was sad as well. The wolves celebrate the full moon with a huge feast and a midnight run as the beast, and because of my condition neither had happened. No one had felt much like celebrating.
"Not that I could have any way being in my condition." She gently placed a hand over her stomach which I noticed had bulged slightly. Wait how could that be it was only 3 ½ weeks since I had really spoken to her. 3 ½ weeks is not long enough to be showing yet, or at least I didn't think so. I had missed so much of health class I was hoping I was right on that.
"What are you thinking about Kagome?" She asked before she took a bite of her stew.
"Well, honestly I don't want to say. It is a bit embarrassing." My cheeks burning with a fresh blush.
"Well, you can ask me-" She took another bite and swallowed. "Or you can ask someone else, because we both know your curiosity will get the better of you."
Darn her. She knows me a little too well.
"Fine then. Why are you already showing? You told me to tell Kouga that you were still pure which from my understanding meant-"
"That we had not had sex before our mating, yes. Well how long is a human pregnancy?" She looked at me waiting for a response.
Crud. The whole missing a bunch of health class was kicking in again! I had a thought but I wasn't sure it was right, might as well.
"8 or 9 months." Her jaw dropped.
"8 or 9 months?" she repeated.
"I think." I admitted shyly.
"I had heard they were longer but had no idea!"
"What do you mean?" I asked her before taking another bite, as the delicious stew rolled down my throat she pondered.
"Well, I suppose it would be about 3 ½-4 months for a wolf. For a full wolf demon."
"So half the time?" She nodded.
"So it would seem." Well that sucks, but now I had a question burning in the front of my mind.
"So what about a ½ wolf demon?" She sat there a moment, I could almost see the gears turning in her mind.
"Well, I would assume it would be somewhere between the two. The human body only gives the nutrients in certain intervals so as not to deprive the mother but a demon will pull what it needs when it needs it. So I guess it would go by the mother. If it was a demon mother, faster pregnancy." She gently rubbed her bump. "Human mother longer pregnancy."
"Great. So I will be pregnant far longer than any of the other women." Ari grinned at me.
"Are you thinking of making ½ demons with someone?" She asked with a giggle. I blushed bright red, trying to pull myself together into a confident tone.
"I have agreed to be Kouga's mate. I will have to know all this soon enough I would assume."
Ari squealed her excitement as she hugged me tightly.
"Kagome! That is great news!" We sat there talking about ½ demons and mating rituals for hours. Eventually we were interrupted by a male voice outside the curtain.
"Lady Kagome may we enter?" I made sure I was properly covered and called a simple "enter."
3 men walked in, balanced between them was a large chair. It looked similar to one of the big deck chairs that stays partially reclined all the time only without the foot rest. I gasped at it and the men shared a huge smile.
"It is beautiful!" I tried to sit up further but failed. "Thank you!"
The biggest of the men, smiled proudly.
"Lord Kouga instructed you would need something to help you sit up, so we constructed this." He motioned toward it, the arm rest were carved intricately and there was a moon surrounded by clouds above where my head would be. I sat there completely lost in the beauty of this chair, something that would have been standard in my time was relatively foreign to them and they made me an absolutely stunning one! "We hope it suits your needs."
I nodded my head enthusiastically. "Yes! Yes it does!" I took a moment to compose myself before I asked the next question. "Would one of you mind helping me into it?"
The two younger ones quickly backed away leaving the eldest one looking at me with a very cautious expression. Ari stepped up to help calm them.
"I can help, that way you won't be lifting her alone. You take one side and I will take the other." The man was still very hesitant but Ari stepped up again only this time she put her foot down. "Our Alpha asked for this so that his mate wouldn't be on the floor. Are you going to explain to him why she is still on the floor because you refused to help her?"
Fear crossed their expressions as the older one and one of the younger ones stepped forward. They each took an arm and lifted me, my feet barely touching the floor, I found I could move them slightly but I was no where near able to apply pressure. Within a couple of strides for them I was standing in front of this wonderful chair. Hey turned me around and sat me down gently. I sighed as I collapsed in the chair. I sat up tall as the men stood there watching me.
"Thank you gentlemen, that will be all." They all left in a hurry. Ari had them place the chair near the fireplace so I could talk to her as she cooked the evening meal. With supper nearly done I asked her for one final favor.
"Would you mind helping me stretch out a bit?"
"Sure, how so" She knelt down by my feet and I started explaining to her how to cradle my foot and allow me to try and apply pressure. We did this to both feet, her going through and running the joints the way they are meant to roll, and then having me try to apply pressure. Next we practiced with me grabbing a hold of the end of the arm rests, which were just out of reach when I sat relaxed. I grabbed the arm rests and would pull myself forward, then set myself back. I managed to do this sitting version of a pull up about 10 times before my arms would take it no more.
"That was very good. You are not your normal self by any means, but I feel you are stronger today than yesterday." She was genuinely happy for me, and it reflected in her smile.
"Thank you Ari, I couldn't have done it without you." I smiled back at her, I am very glad I have such a good friend.
Ari dished out our supper and made an extra plate for Kouga. She quickly ate anticipating his arrival anytime. Once she finished she rinsed her dish in a pail of water and began to tidy up a bit. I quietly ate and stared into the fire. Eventually I heard Kouga enter, I turned to smile at him, but his smile vanished the moment he enter the room. I felt a chill down my spine as I heard a growl escape him. He turned to Ari.
"Leave." Ari quickly stood and left the room without a glance to me. What could be wrong?
"What have you done?" His voice was full of anger and I heard the familiar strain in his voice to restrain himself. "What have you done?" he repeated, but I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong.
"I don't know what you-" I tried explaining that I was lost, but he wouldn't hear it.
"Who was in here?" Oh wants to know about who delivered the chair.
"Oh. I am not sure of their names, they were some of the younger men." I tried to sound happy, so he would know I was appreciative of the chair. "This is-"
"Did it ever occur to you NOT to let them in here." The word not came out with an air of malice. "Their scent is all over you." I could sense his anger and I felt myself cower into the chair slightly. This Kouga was scary, and I am not all that fond of. "Not only did you allow them in our den-" He started walking toward me, and I felt myself looking for anything to put between me and him. There is nothing within reach to deter him and I can't get up to move. He continues his march over to me. "Not only did you allow them in but you allowed them to touch you." His hands went for mine on the arm rests, grabbing my wrists and holding them in place. He is glaring at me, as I hear myself almost whimper. His anger in radiating off of him in waves and clashing with my own wave of fear. I hear him growl, as he smirks releasing a fang from behind his lips. His growl is low and rumbling in his chest and I feel myself unable to move. "You will change. Now."
He stood up, releasing my wrists and walked over to my chest he dug through for a clean kimono. I pulled my wrists back as soon as he released them and rubbed them, they would be sore but not bruised. I sat there completely frozen in fear, why was he freaking out about this? They simply lifted me to my new chair, it wasn't like we had even really gotten close. He throws a kimono at me from across the room, and luckily it lands within reach. He stands there looking at me, waiting for me to move, but I can't I am completely frozen by this aura he is putting off.
I saw a look I was unsure of cross his face, before he shouted, but in this small cave it bellowed out of him and echoed around me.
"CHANGE!"
His shout broke my trance and I leaned over to reach the kimono, once I had it he turned to the door and left. I didn't hear his footsteps echo down the hall so I knew he was standing just outside. I quickly undid my sash, and slid down my dirty kimono, and replaced it. I couldn't lift myself to remove the old garmet or to pull down the new one after the exercises I had done. As I tied my sash around me, I noticed my hands shaking. I was quivering in fear of him! How could he! He pulled aside the curtain and came back inside. His anger seemed to have dissipated slightly, as he came over and lifted me into his arms. I once again found myself paralyzed when he came close. He walked over to the bed and laid me down, he curled up behind me and I found myself unable to sleep. Fear still coursing through my veins at this man behind me that I apparently didn't know at all!
We laid there, my not even trying to move, barely breathing and his huffing and sniffing me occasionally. After a while he stood and went over to his chest and pulled out a large bear fur, he tossed it over the chair with a satisfied smirk on his face. He turned and looked at me, and I felt myself flinch involuntarily.
"Don't flinch away from me." He walked over to the bed and sat down beside it, we were merely inches apart but he couldn't have felt more foreign. "Say something." He sat there patiently waiting, with me being unwilling to move. All I can see from here is his legs, hips and lower torso. His hands rested lightly on his legs as he waited for me to answer. "I know you aren't asleep." That was it, this wave of fear broke and anger flared, How dare he try to be soft and caring after scaring the crap out of me!
"No, I am not asleep but I wish to be."
I tried to roll myself over but only managed to get onto my back, as my muscles screamed at their exhaustion. I heard him move and saw his hands one on my shoulder and one on my hip in an attempt to help me roll. I moved my hands and swatted his away.
"Stop trying to help me!" My voice cracked and I felt more frustrated now that I ever have! How dare he try to be nice! "Leave me alone."
"I promised you I would be here every step of the way and that is what I am doing." His voice is soft and I can tell my words hurt him a little, but the only thing I felt was satisfaction. Good he is hurting because of my words! Good now he knows how it feels! "Do you wish to face the other direction?" I harrumphed, and averted my eyes to the cave wall.
"No, I wish to stay right here." I crossed my arms over my chest and sat there staring at the ceiling. We sat there for a couple minutes before I heard him move and suddenly he crawled on top of me. His legs outside of mine, his arms extended holding himself off of me. He has a very sad expression and I felt my heart go out to him before I remind myself that I am mad at him. I place a scowl on my face but he just sits there looking at me.
"I know laying on your back hurts, please allow me to readjust you." He was trying to be sweet, but I want him to realize just how mad I am!
"No." My answer short and without feeling. I closed my eyes and looked away from him.
"Will you stop being so stubborn!" His voice changed from soft and caring to an irritated growl. My eyes shot open and up to him.
"No! No I won't!" I shouted back at him, how dare he!
"Kagome-"
"No! You don't get to come in here and scare the living daylights out of me and then act as if nothing is wrong!" His expression softened slightly as he opened his mouth to speak but I abruptly cut him off. "I had an amazing day with my closest friend and you come in here and RUIN it!" I felt a tear roll down my cheek but I didn't care. "I was so happy to see you but the first thing you did was come in here and demand she leave me! No! If you have a problem with Ari being in here then put me back in my room and forget about me!" My anger getting the best of me, so much so that my vision was blurring. "And about my wonderful chair-" His hand suddenly clamped down over my mouth.
His scent of pine, and fresh air filling my senses as I relaxed a little.
"I have nothing against Ari." He brought his other hand up and wiped the tears from my eyes, suddenly my vision cleared. Apparently it wasn't anger blurring my vision it was tears. Oops. He smiled at me as he removed his hand but kept speaking. "I am glad you are happy to see me, I am always glad to see you. You are the best part of my day." He blushed slightly, to match mine. "But-" This next part came out a bit forced like he didn't want to admit it. "I can't control myself when I can smell another male on you. Especially another unmated male. It drives my beast wild with jealousy, and all I want to do is go rip them to pieces for daring to touching my woman."
I could sense his brutal honesty behind his words and felt a bit ashamed of myself. I hadn't thought about the fact that I would smell like them after they lifted me, and apparently Ari hadn't either. Kouga was doing all he could to keep the beast in check, scaring me was just a side effect. He wanted me to know how dangerous it was for another man to touch me. I get it, I get the possessive Kouga, I understand him but the Kouga that grabbed me tight enough to hurt me?
"You hurt my wrists earlier." My statement was clearly not what he expected because a chuckle broke through his anxious expression. "I am serious!" He reigned in his laughter.
"I know you are, but you have no idea what the beast wanted to do. Having your wrists a little sore is getting off easy."
"What do you mean? What did the beast want to do?"
"You really don't want to know." He crawled off of me, and laid back down beside me on the bed.
"I won't have asked if I didn't want to know." He looked at me warily before he shrugged.
"The wolf wanted to express his dominance." Apparently my look was less than understanding because he felt the need to continue after looking at me. "Exert my dominance over their scent by taking you and erasing all traces of them from you."
"Taking me?" He blushed bright red and he brought a hand up to scratch the back of his head.
"Yeah, you know-" He eyed lower down the bed, and I looked down not seeing anything. "You really are innocent." He sighed. "He wanted to mate you right then and there."
I turned red from head to toe as Kouga's hearty laugh echoed all throughout our den. Oh my gosh! I buried my face in my hands as I tried to cover my blush causing Kouga to laugh even louder. He wrapped an arm around my torso and pulled me onto my side into his chest. My head resting in the crook of his arm, my hand splayed across his bare chest, and his arms both wrapped around me. I felt a yawn overtake me and Kouga leaned down to kiss my forehead.
"I love you Kagome." He sleepily laughed into my hair. My own eyes drifting shut.
"I love you too Kouga." I heard his heart nearly stop for a moment before it came racing back, with his breathing deep and heavy.
"Kagome?" His arm shook me slightly. My mind already gone and well into sleep.
I wonder what he is freaking out about? It's not like I said it out loud.
A/N: thank you so much for all the reviews, follows, and favorites! I appreciate it soo much! Well there is chapter 10, which to note is the longest I have ever gotten with a fanfic so YAY! So glad you are all enjoying the story and I will try to have more soon so, stay tuned :)