Chapter 8
Alby
The Hemlock Wolf Pack, Star’s Territory
I hadn’t asked Bennie his preference for alcohol which meant the liquor cabinets I spotted in weird places probably belonged to Raziel.
I wasn’t sure what sort of drink I was in the mood for, but I tried the handle on the one next to the pantry door and it opened up to show that Raziel might not have been much of a drinker either.
It had a single bottle of dragon whiskey (mostly full) and piled around it was more snacks.
Expensive chips, cookies, and candies. I wasn’t in the mood to get dragon whiskey drunk so I turned my attention back to the fridge and grabbed a few bottled ice teas for us.
Then I stripped off my shirt. I almost took off my pants too but thought better of it until after I locked the back door.
“We can’t trust that Daisy won’t manage to get back over here,” my wolf laughed inside his inner sanctum.
With the door locked I took off my pants and folded up my clothes.
I didn’t want Bennie to think I was messy.
Then I walked into the living room with the ice teas wearing only my underwear.
I had got myself off in the shower in a vain attempt to not appear wanton.
Plus, I was trying to stay as clear headed as I could even if a big part of me wanted to give in to the insistent pull behind my navel toward Bennie.
It was as if I was at odds with everything because I wanted him inside me, but I also wanted inside his heart and soul.
Sure, the claiming vows would take care of some of that, but I always thought it was sad that courting phases didn’t last longer with true-mates.
I’d say I was old fashion, but we all knew back in the day claiming vows happened pretty quick after true-mates met.
“Thanks,” Bennie said as I handed him a bottle of iced tea and plopped down on the other end of the sofa.
I put my feet in his lap and without my asking he started to massage one.
I had only wanted to be in contact with him without crawling half naked into his lap, but who was I to pass up a massage?
“Mmm.. That feels good. I’ve always been one of those people who wondered how others go to massage parlors. I don’t know if my wolf would let a stranger touch me all over.”
“I go a couple times a week if I’m hitting the gym a lot,” he said. “Helps me stay on my plan.”
“You’re not one of those ‘I don’t eat because I’m working on my body’ people are you?”
“Uh, you need calories to maintain and grow muscles,” he laughed.
“I’m more of the sort who does the gym hard for a few months and eats everything in sight while I’m doing it.
I only do that once a year usually. Sort of cycling in and out of it and only when I’m not working on bigger projects but before you ask, no, I won’t ever expect you to get up and workout with me.
Not everyone finds joy in being covered in sweat while every muscle screams for mercy before the sun’s properly up.
I do. I need the stimulation sometimes and if I’m going to keep up with the life I’ve chosen, I need to stay fit.
I also don’t expect you to feed me whether I’m in a training cycle or not. ”
“Good to know, but I didn’t take you for a cave-alpha,” I shrugged. “Though, you can bring me a deer anytime.”
“I’ll remember that,” he winked at me and I spent a few seconds trying to figure out the dirty meaning behind it. I don’t think there actually was one, but my mind was desperate to be in dirty places with Bennie.
“I don’t mind cooking or stuff sometimes either. I’m a decent hunter too. Used to working in a group, of course,” I said. “Actually, I don’t know what I’ll do out here. Back home everything is sort of just there to do.”
“Do whatever you want,” Bennie shrugged. “Seriously, don’t worry about the money part of life if you don’t want to.”
“I think Raziel has me set up for a while unless I start buying houses or planes or something,” I laughed.
“With a carrier like Zeke and a grandcarrier like Rune Night Star, he definitely understands the omega drive for independence and autonomy,” Bennie said.
“So he didn’t want me to have to rely on you?” I arched a brow.
“He didn’t want you to feel like you had to,” Bennie countered.
“Raziel has this whole big theory about why people do bad things. He says it all comes from lack of access or choices. If you give someone the room, time, and means to make choices for themselves, you get less people doing bad things. You’re less vulnerable to people getting you to do their dirty work or forcing your hand.
If people have what they need, they’re less likely to take from others.
Not that he thinks you’re bad. He just thinks everyone should have equity in choices. ”
“You gotta give it to him,” I said as Bennie moved to massaging my other foot. “It makes sense.”
“I didn’t say I disagreed with him. He just goes overboard sometimes. As much as I’d love to, I don’t think it’s possible to give everyone everything.”
“Well, it is impossible for one person to do that,” I said.
“That’s why it’s a community effort. Like if I sew up the hole in your winter coat so that you can shovel out my car so that the neighbor can give me gas money to take the elderly wolf down the street to their doctor appointment, we’ve all given something to help the wolf who might’ve missed it without our help and we’ve helped each other too.
That’s how the Sanctuary works, anyway, more or less. ”
“I’m starting to wonder if Raziel lied on his application,” Bennie laughed.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because you two sound like two sides of the same coin. Except he’d just buy a new coat, melt the snow, hand out gas cards, and fly the healer directly to the old wolf,” Bennie laughed.
“Well, I’m not a dragon,” I shrugged.
“No, you’re a very sexy wolf,” Bennie said, massaging his thumbs into the bottom of my feet.
“I’m a very happy wolf at the moment,” I said and Bennie glanced at my crotch. Yep. I was hard from a foot massage and slick too. “Why do I get the feeling that we’re dancing back and forth between jumping into our claiming vows and trying to court each other?”
“Because we are,” he nodded. “As much as I love the idea of a long courtship, I’ll admit as soon as you say the word, I am ready, but I am also patient in the in between.
We only just met. It feels like our lives were sort of arranged by Raziel.
It’s a lot to take in. We come from different sides of the territory and we’re trying to figure out who we are together.
The magic will be there for as long as it has to wait.
If we put it off too long, we may have a heat or a rut to contend with but we’re both old enough to know there are ways outside of intercourse to satisfy such needs.
Plus, condoms and birth control. And there are conversations we haven’t had yet.
Where shall we live long term? How much traveling are you comfortable with?
If you’re not, how much traveling for volunteering are you comfortable with me doing solo?
Would me dragging Raziel along with me make you more comfortable if it came to that?
How many kids do we want? When do we want to start our family?
I’ll stay home while they’re young, of course.
Hell, probably even while they’re older until they’re old enough to go places with us or me or whatever combo thereof. ”
“I don’t think I can take you away from Daisy.
You like to travel so after things are settled, I don’t see why we can’t go back and forth between here and the Sanctuary.
It might mean spending a little extra to have what we need at both places, but I think we can manage.
For me, traveling will depend on where and when.
If you feel like you need to help someone, I won’t stand in your way.
Raziel would eliminate the danger of you getting eaten, but I’m not worried about you being unfaithful.
I’ve always wanted a big family and that’s probably a good thing because litters run in my family.
I think you’re going to be a great dad. Does that cover everything?
Oh! Hold on! I’m not currently on birth control, because I got tired of dating and drama while I was waiting for you to show up at the Sanctuary.
There, I think that covers everything,” I smirked.
“Yes, I’m still okay with a bit of a courtship, because sometimes a little bit of mystery is fun. ”
“Why do I feel a but coming on?” Bennie asked.
“Because I’m horny. Because I don’t think jacking off in the shower ten times a day is going to be good for my skin. It’ll dry me out,” I laughed. “Rub me raw. Something.” I blushed harder than I expected to while talking about shower masturbation.
“If you want my help all you have to do is ask,” Bennie said, licking his lips.
I looked from him, down to my crotch, and back up to him.
The next thing I knew, his thumbs were tucked into the waistband of my boxer briefs.
I settled back against the sofa arm and let out a low sigh.
Inside his inner sanctum, my wolf let out a needy whimper that I had to swallow down while Bennie inched my underwear off.
For one unbelievably long second, I was nervous – ridiculously, almost sweating nervous.
Most shifters weren’t modest. Even at the Sanctuary there were plenty of clothing optional places and you might catch a glimpse of a naked person shifting in or out of their animal form if they were trying to protect their clothes.
Most clothes produced these days survived the shift, but old habits died hard.