Author's Note:

Thank you to everyone who is still following this story. Sorry I left it hanging for so long, but my muse for writing seems to be coming back. On a side note, I have some idea's popping up for another Kouga and Kagome story. But I am going to try to focus on this one. Lol. Read and enjoy!

Kagome tasted like Heaven. Kouga licked his lips, savoring the flavor of her. Sweet woman, musk, arousal, honey...Kagome. He hadn't wanted to stop, not even when Sango knocked on the door. He hadn't planned on doing that but once the thought was there in his mind, he couldn't stop himself. He needed to taste her. He hadn't done that, not even all those years ago. But he'd wanted to. He just hadn't been able to control himself around her; nothing but the need to be inside her.

He wanted to laugh at the sheer innocence of Kagome. He knew she wasn't as innocent as her first time, but he could still see the timid nature in her eyes.

Really, what had the dog been doing to her all these years? A quick bump and grind?

It didn't matter. All of that was about to change. He was in the picture now and Kouga was going to show her exactly what she had been missing. Kagome cared for him. He fucking knew she did. Inuyasha may have been her first love, but Kouga was going to make damn sure that he was her last. He was done playing games and he was in it for the win this time.

He licked his lips again.

He half turned at the sudden weight clinging to his tail. Great. Kouga bared his teeth in a mock snarl and a growl and then placed his hands on his hips. "You're up early, runt." Another growl rippled from his chest, more for the child's benefit than anything else. And then another weight suddenly wrapped itself around his leg left.

He sighed. GREAT.

What had he done to acquire the fascination of Sango's brood? And why were they up so early? He stalked around the large hut and towards the overhanging of the front porch as if he hadn't been there all night already. Kouga didn't miss a beat, not even with the added weight clinging to his tail and the other one clinging to his leg with scrawny arms and legs. Kagome and Sango were already on the front porch sipping morning tea. He hid his grin at the way Kagome suddenly lifted her mug, but he saw the blush that it failed to hide.

"They jumped me." Kouga said as he lifted his restricted leg and shook it.

"Practice." Sango said smoothly, not in the least bit repentant of what her children had done. If Kouga didn't know better, he would say that the slayer was enjoying his 'discomfort'. And so was Kagome, given the twitch of her kissable lips. You just wait, he thought to himself. All's well that ended well.

Practice, because he could imagine his own pups greeting him with such eagerness.

"Sango." Kouga said finally in greeting, nodding his head towards the slayer before turning those blue eyes on Kagome. "Good morning, Kagome." He said with emphasis.

Kagome gulped her tea down, praying that Sango didn't catch the way she nearly choked nervously. They'd already had their good morning.

She couldn't get over the way the children clung to him, though. It was an odd sight, but beautiful in its own way. Hilarious, really. He could have easily shaken them off, but Kouga was obviously enjoying the byplay.

Kouga rubbed the back of his neck nervously then. "You don't mind if we have company today, do you?" He asked of the slayer. Kouga was starting to understand Miroku's nervousness of the slayer. But honestly, Kouga had never felt unease around the slayer until his relationship with Kagome had come to light. He grimaced. Well. Fuck.

"What kind of company?" Sango asked, arching a slender eyebrow, her voice cool and calm.

Not that her answer mattered. He was going to have company regardless. He just didn't want Sango going off the deep end. Or Kagome. Better to warn them both now. Kagome more so, because that company involved her. He had no intentions of having said company here, but where ever he went, said company was sure to be near.

"My Pack." He lifted up his hands when Sango's expression darkened. She clearly remembered his Pack. So did Kagome. He lifted his hands in defense, grateful for the children toying with his armor and tail. "Not all of them." He reassured. "But they want to see Kagome." Especially now. "And it's too far for Kagome to travel safely."

He had warned Kagome that she was going to be integrated deeper into the Pack. She was already part of the Pack but things were about to change with her carrying his pup. It wasn't like she could say no. They were already on the way. Hakku. Ginta. A few of the others for sure.

"No."

Kouga swore silently and broke out in a sweat. It was too early for this. "I don't really think that's your call to make, do you?" He asked the slayer and then looked at Kagome. His gaze jerked back to the slayer when she casually rested her hand on the side of her weapon that was reclining against her chair.

Dammit.

"They're not here to cause trouble...they just...they want to see Kagome. They want to see..." He trailed off, letting that silent meaning hang in the air. Was he really explaining himself to the Slayer? This didn't really concern her; but he wasn't going to push that issue.

Yet.

Sango didn't understand Pack Mentality. Kagome barely understood it herself. He needed them both to understand that his Pack had the right where Kagome was concerned. That pup was Pack blood.

Kagome sat her mug down then. "Who's coming?"

Good girl, Kouga thought. Because Sango was making him sweat. "Hakku, Ginta..." Some of the wolves, obviously. "A few other Pack members. I don't think you remember them all." They sure remembered her, though. She was hard to forget.

"Is He coming?" Kagome asked smoothly.

He? Kouga frowned. And then realized. "No." His Alpha. He didn't want to deal with Reiko, either. In all honesty, though, he was lucky that the bastard hadn't summoned him back to the Pack. Because Kouga would have had to leave Kagome to make the journey. Unless he wanted to ban himself from the Pack. He just hoped it didn't come down to that.

He wasn't leaving Kagome. So those dear to him were coming to him.

He may not be Alpha anymore, but the Pack was still his.

"Will we be able to touch the wolves this time?"

Kouga gave a wide grin. "Yep." The children were excited about the thought of others like Kouga. Good, he thought, you can hang onto someone elses tail.

"How many are coming?"

"Don't know." Kouga replied.

"Do they bite?"

"Yep." Kouga stopped the kid from coming too close with a finger against his forehead while leaning back on one arm in the grass.

"Are they gonna fight like last time?"

"No."

"Can we ride the wolves?"

"No."

"Do you think momma will let me keep one of them?"

Kouga nearly snickered. "No."

"Are they all as strong as you?"

"I'm the strongest, runt."

"Inuyasha says he's stronger than you."

Kouga grunted. He would.

"Will they bite me?"

"If they're hungry enough. You do look tasty." Kouga said with a baring of his fangs.

"Kouga." Kagome reprimanded softly, her lips twitching.

"You look tasty, too." Kouga responded with a wide grin. Kagome hit his arm lightly.

"When are you gonna have the baby, aunt Kagome?"

Finally, the questions weren't directed at him.

"I'm not sure. Soon, maybe." Kagome smiled. She couldn't imagine giving birth anytime soon, but like Kouga had said, a Demon's pregnancy was far shorter.

"You're not as big as momma was."

This time Kouga did sneer. "Don't let your mother hear you say that." Kagome hit him again.

"Kagome, can you tell us the story of the Big, Bad Wolf again?" Sango's brood piped in. "I think Kouga would like it, being as how he's a dog and all."

"I am not a dog." Kouga muttered and then scrubbed a hand down his face. "Don't you kids have chores or something? Or training?" All the questions—ye Gods, stop. He loved Sango and Miroku's kids. But they were an annoyance sometimes. He looked over at Kagome. Why wasn't she stopping the little runts?

Because Kagome was enjoying seeing him squirm.

"Yes, Kagome. Why don't you tell us the story of the big bad wolf? I don't think I've heard that one." Kouga drawled.

Kagome rolled her eyes. Kouga deserved every question the children threw at him. The Big Bad Wolf...was right in front of her. She rose up and sat on her knees, drawing her legs beneath her. She loved enthralling the children with stories from her time. They were never ending. "Well, you see..."

Kagome lifted her hands in front of her and bared her teeth and curled her fingers in imitation of the big bad wolf. She turned her head as Kouga snorted. "What?"

"I know you're not trying to tell them that's a Wolf." His blue eyes laughed. Kagome never had been good at imitation. Not to mention a bad liar.

"You think you can do better?" Kagome asked, lowering her hands.

"I know I can do better." He grinned at Kagome and then at the children and bared his fangs and then lifted his hands. Fangs. Claws. "I am a Wolf. Now continue."

Kagome rolled her eyes. Kouga was really good with children; did he even realize that? He didn't even have to do anything. They were enthralled by him. Her heart clenched. Kouga was going to be a wonderful Father.

"Kagome?" Kouga said, waiting...

She cleared her throat. "...well you see, the Wolf is a carnivore incarnate and he's as cunning as he is ferocious. Once he's had a taste of flesh nothing else will do."

"Have you ever ate a human, Kouga?" One of the children interrupted her.

Kouga paused. He used to, but he wasn't so sure he should tell the kids that. But then he turned his eyes on Kagome and grinned. "I have." He waggled his eyebrows.

Kagome's mouth dropped open. "Kouga!"

"What's wrong, Aunt Kagome? Don't worry, I don't think Kouga eats humans anymore."

Kagome huffed, her cheeks growing hot. The children didn't understand—she did. What had gotten into Kouga?

"Kagome? The story, please." Kouga said, never losing that grin.

She cleared her throat again. She explained the story of Red Riding Hood and her Grandmother, how Little Red Riding Hood met the big bad wolf. She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop her soft laugh when she, "Grandmother, what big arms you have." and Kouga suddenly snatched the two children up in a massive hug.

"All the better to hug you with, my dears." Kouga said, putting the children down.

So Kouga did know the story, Kagome thought smugly. Ease dropper.

"Grandmother, what big legs you have..." Kagome murmured in anticipation as Kouga stood slowly, stretching his dark muscled legs. And then he was gone in a whirlwind around the children, the breeze whipping her hair around her face before he was at her side again.

"All the better to run with, my dears." Kouga grinned.

Show off.

"Grandmother, what big ears you have."

Kouga drew his hair back over a pointed ear. "All the better to hear you with, my dears."

"Grandmother, what big eyes you have." Kagome gasped purposefully while the children stared, engrossed.

Kouga crouched down in front of the children, his blue eyes wide. "All the better to see you with, my dears."

"Grandmother, what big teeth you have."

Kouga bared his teeth at the children to show them dangerously sharp canines. "All the better..."

Kagome gave a squeal as Kouga took her to the ground suddenly, an arm cushioning her head while the other cushioned her hips.

"...to eat you with, my dear." Kouga made a show of ravaging her neck and the children squealed in delight, jumping. And then he nipped her skin just hard enough to where she hit his shoulder again. Kouga grinned and kissed the spot before leveraging himself to his feet and holding a hand out for her to take. "That's how you portray a wolf."

Kagome rolled her eyes as she took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. She opened mouth and then closed it and then turned in the direction of the forest. "What's that sound?"

"Hmmm?" Kouga took the opportunity to snag her around the waist and tug her against him. She didn't fight him, not even with the children watching.

"What is that?" Kagome frowned. "Who's...don't you hear it?"

Kouga arched an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?" Who? He perked his ears and then his lips split into a wide grin. "They're here."

"Who's here?" Kagome didn't see anything or anyone. All she saw was the dense thickness of the trees along the treeline.

"How did you know, though?" Kouga couldn't certainly hear the disturbance in the forest now that Kagome had mentioned it. He could hear the swift wind that rose up as Wolves moved through the forest. He could hear the wisp of feet light on the ground as they rushed. His Pack. He was excited to see them again; and prideful at the thought of them seeing Kagome carrying his pup.

"Your Pack?" But how? Her nose twitched and she caught the faint scent of damp fur. For a moment she thought it was Kouga, but no. Kouga smelled like the wild forest. He smelled clean and fresh. She knew Kouga as surely as she knew herself. "But I can't..."

Kouga pressed a clawed finger along the side of her chin and turned her face back to his. Pride filled his expression as he realized... "Looks like the pup is rubbing off on you."

"What?"

"You can hear them, can't you?"

Kagome paused. What was he talking about? She bit her bottom lip. She heard...running feet. But no one was running. "What am I hearing?"

"You're hearing the Pack." Or whoever was coming from the Pack, anyways. He tapped her nose. "The pup has enhanced your hearing." Now that was something.

What? "He can do that?"

"Apparently."

Well, that was unexpected. Kagome didn't know what to say. But she could definitely hear. And smell. They were Wolf traits.

Kouga couldn't wipe the grin from his face. The fact that Kagome could hear what he was hearing, well, pride swelled in him. Talk about a side effect. Would it remain after she gave birth to their child? Only time would tell.

"KAGOME! SIS!"

Kagome whipped her head around and saw Ginta and Hakku rushing forward from the forest line. Happiness filled her and she broke out in a smile. She hadn't seen them in so long. She took a step in their direction as other wolves broke into the field—this time she didn't sense any hostility from the tiny group. Kouga looked just as happy to see his comrades. They ran towards her, intent on hugging their long gone sister and now Luna—

Kouga caught the back of their armor plates before they could reach Kagome and the motion swept their feet right out from under them so that they were dangling off the ground in Kouga's hands. "Not so fast, you two. You can't touch her, you'll hurt her."

Kagome had forgotten that little mishap—he hadn't.

"We can't? Why not, boss?" Hakku squirmed from Kouga's hold and his feet touched the ground. His eyes lowered, greedily looking to Kagome's obvious stomach. His smile echoed Kouga's. "I'm so glad you finally Mated with Kouga—"

That wiped the smile right from Kouga's face. How was he going to explain that one? "We're not Mated." Not yet.

Kagome could see the hard look on Kouga's face at Hakku's statement. Just another person that didn't understand their situation. Neither one of them knew why she was going through a Mated cycle when she wasn't even Mated to him. Nor would they understand why Kouga was waiting.

He was waiting for her. Kagome bit her lip. Kouga was giving her the time she had asked for.

"Is it a boy?" Hakku rushed in regardless.

"I bet she's a girl." Ginta grinned like a fool and even though he couldn't touch her, Kagome saw the eagerness in his face. They always had been accepting of her.

Sango was already in the field, her slayer eyes not missing a beat as she took in the wolves and wolf demons. She was waiting for anyone to make a wrong move.

"Momma, Kouga said the wolves will eat us."

"Is that so?" Sango murmured, her dark eyes landing on Kouga.

"...I didn't exactly say it like that." Kouga said as he rubbed the back of his neck.

It warmed Kagome's heart to see so many of Kouga's clansmen here for him. While she knew they were here to see for themselves if she indeed carried Kouga's child, she had the feeling that most of these men were here because they still looked to Kouga as their Alpha. They weren't going to desert him.

Kagome turned halfway to Kouga. "You did say they look tasty."

"I said you look tasty." Kouga folded his arms.

Kagome bit back a smile, ignoring the heat flooding her cheeks. She bit her bottom lip again and at the look Kouga sent her, she turned away from him fully. Right into Ayame. Kagome's smile dropped—Ayame was the last person she expected to see here.

Ayame didn't say anything. Her green eyes just moved over Kagome's slender figure until her eyes settled on the rise of Kagome's stomach. Her nose twitched—she was smelling her. And then those green eyes lifted back to Kagome's dark ones. "If you couldn't be faithful to your own Mate, then how can you ever be faithful to Kouga?"

Kagome paled.

Kouga's expression darkened.