Alexi ran as fast as she was able, which was pretty fast, because her wolf body was small and light. In her human form she was tall and slender, which meant that so was her wolf. She didn't have the bulk of Aaron who had broad shoulders and had corded muscle in his arms and legs. Alexi had realized long ago that her body was built for speed, but Aaron's was built for endurance because of his bulk, which meant he would nowhere near as fast as her. While Aaron wasn't as fast as she was he had endurance and persistence on his side. She also didn't have much stamina as she was soon panting, out of breath. She was going to have to start exercising if she wanted to improve her stamina, Alexi thought even as she continued to run, with her tongue hanging out. Alexi stopped long enough to sniff the wind, and whimpered as she smelled the alpha close by. Alexi started running again, giving the alpha that wanted to claim her a good chase. The omega within her was terrified and excited all at the same time. One part of her was terrified of the alpha chasing her, the other part wanted him to claim her.
Finally, Alexi came to a small stream and drank her fill before jumping over it. She glanced back and saw the alpha charging ahead and watched as he stopped briefly to stare at her from the other side of the stream with his eyes feral.
Alexi yelped in fear and excitement before she started running again, as Aaron growled and then jumped over the narrow stream and followed her not far from catching her now. Alexi ran as fast as her four legs would carry her, and had soon left the stream and the alpha behind. Alexi paused, but knew it wouldn't take the alpha long to catch up with her and so she kept running and then circled back, hoping that the Alpha would be confused at least temporarily.
Finally, Aaron cornered her and while Alexi tried her best to avoid the much bigger, more aggressive wolf, there was nowhere for her to run. Alexi backed away in fear from the Alpha, but really, there was nowhere for her to go for she was up against a massive tree and blocked from escaping. The Alpha pounced on her and held her down with his much bigger body. Alexi finally relaxed and lowered her head until her eyes were looking down at the ground to indicate her surrender to the bigger, stronger wolf.
Aaron transformed back into a human and Alexi did the same. Both of them were totally nude. Alexi bowed her head in compliance to the Alpha that had caught her not saying a word.
Aaron stood tall and proud, as he had tracked his prey down and now she was his to claim. However he would be gentle, he would be tender, even as he claimed her as his.
At Aaron's command, Alexi lay down on top of the thick moss and the alpha was immediately on top of her and pushed his manhood into her vagina without a word, as there was no time for foreplay. It had been so long since he'd had her as his mate, so many centuries that the wolf and the man were more than ready to claim the omega beneath him.
It had been hard waiting for so long, as he had wanted to claim her immediately as soon as they had met. However that would have been rape, because Alexi did not have any memories of being Adrianne, or of their closeness, the way they had loved each other so desperately, ever since they had been small children. They'd both should have had a long and happy life together with many children, but it hadn't been meant to be. All because of the actions of one man, a man that had paid for his mate's death with his life.
The two of them should have been together for many centuries by now.
Aaron's knot grew quickly once he was inside his mate.
"This first time is going to be rough," Aaron warned Alexi his voice a growl. "I'm sorry about that."
"It's okay Aaron. I'm yours. I've always been yours. I know you won't hurt me," Alexi said her voice soft. "I've remembered more of our life together, before it 'happened'."
The wolf in Aaron howled in triumph, which came out of his human throat, before leaning down and kissing Alexi quite roughly, even as his cock was moving in and out of her at a rapid pace. The knot within his mate's body would not allow him to move more than a few inches backwards. The two of them were locked and would be until morning.
Alexi groaned in pleasure as well as pain, as Aaron moving in and out of her, his knot preventing him from pulling very far out of her body.
The two of them rutted together enjoying the friction, even as Alexi whimpered and purred in pleasure. Aaron placed several bites in different places on her body with his fangs extended, which meant that such injuries would never fully heal, though they would scar. The scars would simply be a reminder that Alexi like Adrianne before her belonged to him. He was very possessive when it came to his mate and Alexi like Adrianne would expect no less.
Finally, Aaron spurted his seed into his Omega for the last time in the last few hours and collapsed on top of her. It wasn't long until dawn.
"I think it's time we take a short nap," Aaron suggested with exhaustion in every line of his body.
"We've earned it," Alexi agreed just as exhausted. "I can barely keep my eyes open. I am totally exhausted."
"That's because your body is wanting you to take solace in your alpha. We have just mated and your body knows it. It's all part of the process, so let's go sleep for awhile as it will soon be dawn."
Alexi said no more and simply closed her eyes quite content to have Aaron's weight on top of her, keeping her all warm and toasty in the chill of the early-morning.
The two of them slept for well over an hour before Aaron suddenly became aware. It was just after dawn, the sun just rising above the tall trees. Aaron rose noticing that he was no longer locked inside his mate, who was still blissfully unconscious. Aaron stretched and noticed that he was very sore, which was to be expected really considering what he had been doing all right. Also, sleeping out in the woods what he had done in a very long time would have made him sore as well.
Aaron gazed down at his mate with a tender expression and carefully scooped her up into his arms. Alexi's head and legs hung over his arms even as he carried her carefully towards what was now their home. He wouldn't be surprised at all if Alexi was pregnant, which meant they needed to get married quickly. Normally, he wouldn't bother with marriage, but people would talk otherwise and the babies that Alexi was likely carrying in her belly right now also needed legitimacy. Personally, Aaron didn't care if people talked about him, but he wasn't sure if Alexi would. It was quite possible she wouldn't care, but it was also possible that she would, since she had a more gentle personality than he did. She also hadn't been raised in their ways. She might care what people thought of her while he did not.
Aaron approached the back door of his home and simply turned the knob, since he had left it unlocked on purpose. It was unlikely that anybody would approach his home from the back, so it was relatively safe to leave it unlocked on rare occasions. He kicked the door shut with his bare foot before carrying Alexi upstairs and placing her on what was now their bed. Aaron looked down at her tenderly for a moment and even though his body urged him to join her on the bed, instead he headed into the master bathroom to turn on the water to the tub. He watched it fill and then turned it off, before going back into the bedroom to pick up Alexi again. Aaron took his mate into the bathroom and gently lowered her down into the hot water.
Alexi moaned at the touch of the hot water and her eyes came open in shock, as the hot water encased her body.
"Shh!" Aaron's urged softly. "It's only me, little one. Let me take care of you, as the alpha within me is urging me to do."
Alexi relaxed and not bothering to protest, as somehow she knew this was exactly what the Alpha of the relationship should do, take care of their mate once the mating was complete. Alexi closed her eyes again and allowed Aaron to wash her gently all over, which he did with great tenderness. Finally, Aaron pulled the plug in the tub and then lifted Alexi into his arms where he gently carried her back to the master bedroom and placed her on the bed.
"Sleep," Aaron told his mate gently, kissing her on the temple.
Alexi closed her eyes again and was nearly immediately asleep.
A tender smile crossed Aaron's face before he headed to the kitchen to fix some breakfast. He refused to allow himself his rest until his mate was taken care of, as that was the shapeshifter way. The alpha had to be strong enough to take care of all his mate's needs, before he or she took their own rest after the mating.
Aaron did bacon and sausage and eggs in large portions before taking the tray upstairs to where Alexi was sleeping deeply. He had prepared for this day for some time and so had bought large quantities of food within the last week. Even if he and Alexi hadn't mated he still would've managed to eat it all before it spoiled.
Once he reached the master bedroom he gently awakened Alexi and coaxed her to eat as much as she could and whatever she didn't finish he would consume.
Once the food was gone Aaron took a quick shower and then climbed into bed beside his mate, dropping off to sleep nearly immediately, but only after draping an arm over his mate's form first.
~~~Aaron and Alexi~~~
"My sisters have been asking to meet you," Alexi mentioned.
"I'll be happy to meet them," Aaron said. "It's past time really. I should've met them before we mated. I suppose I was so excited to finally mate with you that I just didn't think about it. That was a mistake on my part."
"I'll let them know," Alexi said.
"I understand that you've always looked out for each other. I know very well what goes on in a place like an orphanage. As you told me awhile back the staff was very lax, so I wouldn't be surprised if some of the kids tried to bully you."
"They did, at least at first," Alexi admitted. "However, I was lucky as both my sisters are alphas, though Amelie is definitely the one with the stronger personality. They did not allow anyone to take advantage of me."
"So how old were you when you lost your parents?" Aaron asked.
"Oh, 7 or so," Alexi admitted.
"So no relatives to take you in?" Aaron asked.
"None that wanted the responsibility or at least that's what we were told," Alexi said with a rather sad expression. "They had families of their own and they just didn't have the room for us."
"That's no excuse!" Aaron told her in an angry tone. "Our kind always takes care of each other. To lose your parents at such a young age is bad enough, but to have none of your family willing to take you in... I mean, really, they have to know how dangerous it is for one of our kind end up in someplace like an orphanage. If the staff of the orphanage hadn't been so lax... If they had done more thorough bed checks for example and not just stood in the doorway to make sure you were in bed, then you and your sisters would have been a whole world of trouble. Even if the staff didn't realize that the wolves were you they still likely would've tried to kill you."
"I understand, Aaron, believe me I do," Alexi said. "Amelie, Audra, and I survived."
"That's not the point!" Aaron said calming down, though his eyes were still flashing the amber of the wolf, which showed he was really upset.
"No, it's not, but nothing can be done at this late date, so why get angry about it?" Alexi said softly. "Nothing can be done so why worry about things that cannot be changed?"
"Yeah, but both your parents should have had at least one sibling apiece that could've taken you three in," Aaron said. "That they didn't take responsibility for you is not the wolf way. In that way, werewolves and shapeshifters are very similar. We always take care of our own, because for one thing we cannot allow humans to discover that we exist, but for another that's just the way wolves are. Wolves always look after their pack, even the lowliest member."
"So I've been wondering something," Alexi said changing the subject.
"What's that? I'll answer it if I can," Aaron promised glad that Alexi was now comfortable enough to ask him questions without showing apprehension or fear.
"Is every shapeshifter immortal?"
"Good heavens, no," Aaron exclaimed, looking rather startled at the question. "No, it is a very special gift given out only once in awhile. You have to remember that the original blood that started our race has been diluted considerably over the centuries. You and me were immortal, so was your brother Adam and my brother Alaric. According to legend shapeshifters have already lost so many gifts, like being able to perform magic, just like Loki, who we are supposedly descended from through his son."
"How does that work?" Alexi asked confused. "I would think that shapeshifters would either be all immortal or all mortal and if I'm immortal does that mean my sisters are as well?"
"I don't blame you for being confused," Aaron admitted with a smile of understanding. "You barely knew anything about our species before we met. My theory is that, it's a recessive gene and only activates when the gods consider someone worthy. There is usually a considerable amount of time between each new immortal or at least that's what is assumed, because how does anyone really know how many immortals are born?"
"Do gods really exist anymore?" Alexi asked.
"Just because you've never met one doesn't mean they don't exist," said Aaron. "I suspect they do still exist, but people just don't believe in them anymore."
"Except for shapeshifters," Alexi guessed and Aaron nodded proud of his mate's perception.
"Yes, most shapeshifters do believe in them because there's no way we are simply a mutation of human genes. We have to come from somewhere after all and considering how long we've been around we did not have the science or the technology to splice a wolf's DNA into our own. Really, it would be extremely dangerous to do that now, though the humans certainly have the ability.
"But back when we were originally born they didn't know how," Alexi said and Aaron nodded.
"Not unless some of our distant ancestors were kidnapped by aliens who were more advanced than we were at the time," Aaron said with a grin and Alexi knew he was teasing.
"That wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility considering both werewolves and shapeshifters exist at all. We both had to come from somewhere. Did you ever consider that those that were considered gods might be aliens from another planet? Ones with certain powers that could be considered magic by the primitives of the time."
Aaron considered this theory seriously. "You have a point," Aaron finally admitted. "I suppose it's possible, as I, for one, have never believed that we are the only sentient beings in the universe. If life exist here on this planet then it likely exists elsewhere."
"What about my sisters?" Alexi asked again. "If I'm immortal are they as well?"
"I've never known those born together not to share the others traits including immortality. I would guess yes, but I can't be absolutely positive. Luckily, I know a brilliant scientist who is also shapeshifter, that can check their blood and yours to."
"So there is a difference in an Immortal's blood?" Alexi asked catching on quickly.
"Yes, we carry certain things in our blood that humans don't have. We have many more antibodies and we're never sick. If we do catch something it doesn't last very long and we can never catch it again. The same can't be said of the regular shapeshifters or werewolves for that matter, though they are usually healthy, which doesn't mean they aren't suspectable to certain diseases."
"You know I never noticed, but I don't think I've ever been sick a day in my life. Well, maybe when I was really young, but if that's the case I certainly don't remember it," Alexi said. "So did I have a sibling in my first life?"
"Of course you did," Aaron said. "Single births are very rare among both werewolves and shifters. Remember I mentioned you had a brother by the name of Adam. He was very protective of you just as I was."
"I really meant did I have anymore sibling other then Adam?" Alexi corrected Aaron's misconception.
"No," Aaron said once he realized what Alexi meant
"So is Adam still around?" Alexi asked. "Or is he dead?"
"He's still around," Aaron said with a smile. "He missed you just as much as I did, as he loved you fiercely. Before you ask, since you were immortal so was he."
"I would really like to meet Adam, since I know he was my brother in my first life," Alexi said with a rather sad expression. "I'm always wanted a brother. Don't get me wrong I love my sisters Amelie and Audra, I just always wanted a brother."
"You'll meet him eventually," Aaron said. "We keep in contact, which is easier today then it was when both of us were originally born. And Alexi, it's not wrong to want brothers, even when you have sisters. If certainly doesn't mean that you love your sisters any less. To tell you the truth, I would've liked a couple of sisters when I was growing up, but it was just me and Aric. You were the only girl of the four of us. All three of us were very protective of you."
"And yet that guy Thaddeus still managed to murder me," Alexi said.
"I know," Aaron said with a rather depressed expression. "I know you've come back to me at last, but I can't help thinking that we should have always been together."
"I don't blame you," Alexi admitted. "I'm still sorting out my memories, but I remember a lot more now, then I did at first, as I mentioned at the beginning of our mating."
"That's good," Aaron said pleased. "Hopefully, you'll start to remember more as you knew all about our traditions and laws. Your incarnation knew everything she needed to know to blend into human society, so since your memories are returning so should they. You knew how to hunt and track as even females of our species were taught just like the males. I remember you loving the forest and both of us used to hunt together or just go for a run."
"My sisters and I haven't been in the forest much, at least not after our parents deaths," Alexi admitted shyly. "If we had grown up with our parents or some other relative I'm sure we would've been taught all the things we needed to know."
"I would say that's a definite possibility," Aaron said.
"You know, I just thought of something," Alexi said.
"What's that?" Aaron asked curiously wondering what his mate had thought of.
"Well, if we were, plus our siblings all born immortal in our first lives wouldn't that be rather unusual. You said that usually a considerable amount of time passes before another set of shapeshifting Immortals is born, so how is it that both sets of our parents bore immortals, even if that wasn't obvious until we were nearly grown. I would think that would be more than unusual as to be considered nearly impossible."
"Ah! I said that's what every shapeshifter assumes, it's not fact or anything," Aaron said, "But we must remember that the gods are omniscient and can supposedly see into the future. They would have known that we were mates before we were born, which meant that both of us would have to be born with the immortality gene active or at least have it activated by the time we hit our teens."
"So you're basically saying that it would've been unfair for one of us to die within a shapeshifter's normal lifespan, while the other lived on," Alexi said.
"That's part of it certainly," Aaron said. "I felt as if I'd lost a part of my soul when you were murdered. I thought about killing myself many times once you and our pup were taken from me. Even human twins have a connection and so do shapeshifters. So imagine your sibling dying at 50 or hundred and how you lived on. Imagine how that would make you feel."
"That would devastate me, especially if we share some kind of mystical connection. I know how I would feel if one of my sisters died on me even if that was from natural causes. They would age while I would stay young and beautiful. I can see what you mean about it being unfair for one or more of a set of multiples to remain young while the others pass away," Alexi said after a moment. "So what stopped you from killing yourself?" Alexi asked finally. "You would've been reborn just like I was."
"Well, for one thing I would've had to ask someone else to do it, as it is nearly impossible for an immortal to kill themselves and I didn't want to put that burden on whoever I asked to do the deed and for another, it would've been considered a much greater sin back then to commit suicide. When it comes to asking someone to kill me I only had a few options, my brother, your brother or our fathers. While there were other wolves in town I didn't know them well enough to ask them to do the deed and I didn't want to put that burden on them. They might not have agreed to do so, even realizing what kind of emotional agony I was in. Besides, it was well known that immortal shapeshifters were always reincarnated, though I didn't expect it to take so long for you to be reborn. I won't say I wasn't suicidal when I left the town where I had been born, soon after you were murdered, but I eventually got over that."
"So you basically walked into situations that you knew could be dangerous in an attempt to die," Alexi guessed.
"I'm afraid so," Aaron said with a grimace. "I wasn't exactly in my right mind for a long time. The wolf in me didn't want to accept that the mate he loved more then his life was dead, murdered no less. The wolf and I both knew that I had failed to protect you, from anyone who could hurt you and that was a hard pill for me to swallow. I know your murderer was dead, but that hardly relieved my anger, or my emotional agony. I often wished I could have tortured Thaddeus for weeks or months, but my absence would have been noticed nearly immediately. By the time I left town everybody knew I was going and the reason why, so there was no suspicion as to the reasons."
"I've heard that a traumatic death can do that and there's nothing more dramatic than murder," Alexi said. "You would've been better prepared if I'd had some kind of long-running illness. You would've had time to accept the fact that I was going to die. And of course, it was hard to accept my death since I know very well alphas are very protective of their mates and pups."
"It wouldn't have been any easier to accept, but I probably wouldn't have gone insane like I did," Aaron said. "I didn't stay around the town where we grew once you were gone as I couldn't stand living there as I just told you. Everywhere I went reminded me of you, so after your funeral I just left the town I grew up in behind."
"I can't really blame you for that," Alexi admitted. "I probably would've done the same if you had been taken from me. What counts though, is we're back together now and I'm no longer the helpless female that I was back then. I know how to defend myself and though I might not like causing injury to others, I will to protect myself. I might feel guilty afterwards though. So I'll set up a meeting with my sisters, so you can get to know them and they can get to know you. Now that that is settled though why don't we head upstairs?"
Aaron immediately knew what Alexi was suggesting and was instantly eager. "If that's what the lady wants I'll be more than happy to oblige. I just thought you might still be sore from our night in the forest a couple of days ago, so I didn't want to bring it up."
"I'm not sore enough to not want you to make love to me," Alexi said with a smirk. "I enjoyed our mating in the forest very much, so we'll have to do it again sometime soon. It was mainly us mating the way we did the first time that brought many of my memories back or at least allowed me to sort out the memories that broke loose from the barrier that was blocking them from returning when I touched the locket."
"I read somewhere that some memories are more powerful and our mating would have been such a happy, joyous positive memory that I suspect that mating in the same way as we did last time could have clarified some of your memories, at least the ones that dealt with us mating out in the forest."
"I don't remember everything or at least I don't think I do," Alexi said. "But I suppose that's my brain's way of protecting it from overload. I might remember more over time, but even if I don't I remember everything I know enough to know that we loved each other desperately."
"So long as you remember our previous relationship, then that's enough for me," Aaron said with a satisfied smirk. "I can always tell you some memories of our childhood and that might jog your memories. Really though, you need to give yourself a break. It's only been a couple of days since you touched that locket and you can't remember everything all at once, as you're right, that would overload your brain. The brain just isn't wired to remember things all at once."
"From what little I know about that part of our bodies I agree with you. The human brain just isn't meant to absorb so many memories so fast, though I doubt my particular situation comes up very often," Alexi said.
"No, it doesn't," Aaron said with a snort of laughter.
~~~Aaron and Alexi~~~