Chapter Twenty-one
It was a perfect dark, starry night. This was the best decision they had made, to go to the wolves’ planet.
After a surprising afternoon, and learning about Brogan’s shared history, the pack had invited them to barbecue in the evening.
Kids were running around, and people were laughing and joking and mixing with Morrigan, Margot, and the rest of the team.
Even Thane was smiling. It was the food that did it, Camber thought.
There was a big bonfire in the middle, and Brogan and some of the other dominant wolves were talking there.
Camber was sitting with Enor on seats around the perimeter. She took the last bite of meat from her plate. “Mmm. That was so good, Enor.” Camber wiped her mouth with her napkin.
“Was it well done enough? The cooks are quite used to our taste for rare meat.”
“It was lovely, honestly.”
Camber looked up and caught Brogan gazing at her.
“Are you sure she’s not your mate?” Enor said.
“No.”
“She looks like she’s pining for you.”
“I lo—Our lives are too complicated. I’m the Map Keeper, so I need to always be on the run.”
“Then let this be your safe haven. The Great Mother endowed us with the task of taking care of the Great Forest, for wolves everywhere, and in return, we are protected from any race that is not friendly.”
“How does that work? I always wondered why the Abnobians never bothered you.”
“Oh, they tried. Numerous times, but they came down and were overcome by our environment. There’s a flower in our forest that uses biochemicals to make GallowGlas uninhabitable to any species that we haven’t invited down here. Like yourself.”
“That’s amazing,” Camber said.
“We’re lucky. So you see, that’s why we can be a safe harbour for you.”
Kanni came to sit beside them. “That big wolf is pining for you.”
“I’ll go and talk to her,” Camber said. She walked over to the Alpha and said, “Excuse me, Koda. I was just going to ask if Brogan would like a walk.”
“I’m sure she’d love that.” Koda pushed Brogan to her.
“Yeah, of course I would.”
As they walked off, Camber laughed. “I think the Alpha and the Mater were determined we go on a walk.”
“I think you’re right.”
“It’s so perfect around here, isn’t it?” Camber said.
“If ever there was a world made for wolves, then this is it.”
“Enor told me that the Great Mother allows them to harvest sap from the trees and trade it around the realm. Ziggy says that her business couldn’t do without it,” Camber said.
“It’s truly a haven for wolves. Koda was telling me about their unique defences.”
“The flowers that grow here?”
Brogan nodded. “It’s a perfect defence system. They don’t have to worry about any passersby coming down. Koda told me that anyone who approaches the atmosphere is immediately scanned and sent a request for communications before they ever get down here. Then they know where they are with people.”
They walked over to the edge of the forest.
Brogan looked around. “It’s quite dark, are you sure you want to walk in the forest?”
“Yeah, I’ve got my own big werewolf to protect me.” Camber smiled.
Brogan offered her arm, and Camber took it. They walked for about five minutes, taking in the sights and the sounds.
“Look at the wisps.”
The nighttime made the wisps silvery white, as they flew through the trees.
“I know it’s your people, Brogan, but they make me feel kind of creeped out,” Camber said.
“They won’t hurt you, I promise. Now where’s this tree…?” Brogan said.
“The portal we saw on my map?”
“Yeah, Koda said it was in a tree in the Great Forest. Leo said he’d help me find it tomorrow, but maybe we could find it.”
Camber said, “Kanni told me that the tree finds you.”
Brogan stopped and took both of Camber’s hands. “I’m sorry about the bad feeling between us.”
“It’s not that bad a feeling. It’s just two people not being honest with themselves. Since we are here on our own, let’s take the opportunity,” Camber said.
Brogan cleared her throat nervously. “You know how bad I am at this.”
“That’s just a stupid dominant wolf stereotype. You’ve talked to me about your family, sad things, happy things. So don’t hide behind that image. Tell me.”
“Okay, okay. It’s hard to take what’s in your head and form it into words.”
Camber put her hands flat on Brogan’s chest. “Look into my eyes, and speak from your heart.”
“My heart says that I love you, and I don’t ever want to leave you.”
“I love you too, Brogan.”
Brogan cupped her cheeks and kissed her. It was a kiss of love, of honesty laid bare at last.
When they opened their eyes, a tree was right behind them that hadn’t been there before.
They took a step back, as the tree was big and wide, different from the super tall trees they’d already seen. In the centre of the tree trunk was a old fashioned looking door with an arch at the top.
“You think this is the tree?” Camber said.
“The pack did say the tree would find us. What should I do?” Brogan said.
“I don’t know. Knock?”
“Knock on a tree. Do you know how weird that is? No, everything’s been weird since I landed in this realm.”
She leaned over and knocked three times. After a few seconds the door swung open with ferocity, and a beam of white light shot out from it.
“Whoa,” Brogan said.
The light settled, and an ethereal looking woman was left.
“Brogan. Camber. I was wondering when I would get to see you. I’ve been very much looking forward to it.”
“You have?” Camber said.
“Map Keeper, Brogan, you are all part of our plan.”
“Plan for what?” Brogan said.
“Saving the galaxy from itself. Map Keeper, you’ve done an amazing job. You’ve been alone for so much of that time. But now I think it’s time to share that burden. After what I’ve heard tonight, I think you feel the same.”
“Yes, yes, I do,” Camber said.
“Brogan, I can send you home in an instant. Back to Earth, back to Paris, or your family pack lands in Ireland. But I think you know if you do that, you’d leave your heart here.”
“Yes, I would. I want my place to be where Camber is,” Brogan said.
“Then you are perfect. I ask you to join the GallowGlas wolves and make here your safe harbour, but travel with Camber as her bodyguard, wherever she is needed.”
The answer took no thought. “I accept.”
“Things are going to get worse. But to get through the worst, you must have some hope of it getting better. You two do that, and others will come along too. I need everyone to fight against evil in this realm and others.”
“Great Mother,” Brogan said, “are my ancestors here in this forest?”
“Of course. All wolves come home to the Great Forest.” She smiled. “All the way back to your Princess Scota.”
Brogan got the chills. “Whoa.” She looked up at the wisps and felt connected to her pack, so far away from home.
“Brogan called you Great Mother. Are you Danu too?” Camber said.
“We are the First Ones, we are family. Now go and enjoy your time together, because peace will be short.”
Camber had challenged Brogan to a race back to the cabin the Alpha and Mater had given them to stay in.
It was a race she knew she couldn’t win, but that was all part of the excitement.
Camber wanted Brogan’s wolf side to come out.
Now that they’d declared their love and pledged to each other that they would stay together, she wanted Brogan to feel open enough to share her more dominant werewolf side.
She had lost track and sight of Brogan a long while ago, but she could feel her eyes on her, hunting her.
The cabin appeared, and she ran up the stairs and through the front door. She took her jacket off and looked around all four walls. Nothing, but that nothing was making her wet and just a little bit apprehensive.
She rubbed her arms, but they weren’t even cold. Then Camber felt an arm cross her chest and take hold of her throat.
Brogan breathed in her ear. “The big, bad wolf caught you, and you are my prize.”
She could feel Brogan’s torso was naked, and her skin and touch made her burn.
“Take your clothes off,” Brogan said.
Camber turned around and saw Brogan with bare feet, jeans open at the button, and all six feet of her standing before her.
She pulled off her clothes quickly and felt Brogan’s amber eyes everywhere. Her nipples hardened, and she felt her sex aching for Brogan.
Brogan took off her jeans and threw them to the side. She had her prey in sight, and her clit hardened and lengthened.
She walked forwards and lifted Camber onto her shoulder. Camber’s little squeak of surprise made her growl.
Brogan threw her on the bed. Camber half turned to look at her.
“Stay on your front.”
Brogan climbed on the bed and squeezed her buttocks.
Camber moaned and lifted her hips, presenting herself for Brogan. “You like that?”
“Uh-huh,” Camber replied.
Brogan bit one of her buttocks softly, and Camber’s hips started to undulate and search for relief.
So Brogan gave her some. She lay flatter and tasted her. She licked all around her entrance up to her clit, then sucked it her mouth.
“You’re so wet for me.”
“Yes, your tongue feels so good,” Camber groaned.
“I need to fuck you,” Brogan said, “just like this, on all fours.”
She slipped her clit into position and started to thrust. Nothing had ever felt this good.
Brogan took hold of Camber’s hair with one hand, and Camber’s buttock with the other.
“Fuck me, Brogan.”
Brogan’s centre was filling with the greatest need to come in her mate. Her thrusting got faster, and she hoped she wasn’t going to lose control, not yet.
Then she heard Camber say, “I want you to bite me and make me your mate.” Brogan slowed and turned her over. “After what we’ve pledged tonight, I want to be your mate in all ways.”
Brogan stroked her face tenderly. “If you want that, I’d be honoured.”
She lay Camber on her back and got into position. “You’re so beautiful.”
Camber kissed her with need and want. Brogan’s hips undulated again, but softer, as she carried them both up to the precipice and then started to kiss and lick the spot where she would bite.
Brogan let her wolf take over since she’d never done it before. Camber’s legs pulled their sexes as close as possible, until Brogan couldn’t take any more.
As she was stepping off the precipice, her wolf teeth sank into Camber’s neck.
Camber cried out in pain, but then she was coming, and Brogan flooded her sex as she came and became one with Camber.
Camber threw her arms back, and the bite started to course through her system. Brogan licked at her wound.
“I love you, my mate.” You’re in my bones.
And you’re in mine.
Brogan pulled back in surprise. Can you hear me?
Yes. Camber smiled.
I didn’t know if it would work between a wolf and another species.
We are one forever, Wolfy. Now I want to suck you till you come.
“Great Mother,” Brogan shouted, when she felt Camber’s lips around her clit.
Camber’s communicator beeped incessantly. She was draped over a sleeping Brogan. They’d only had a few hours’ sleep. She rubbed her eyes and said in a hoarse voice, “Camber here.”
It was Margot. “Sorry to wake you. The Abnobians have put out a realm-wide message. The Map Keeper is to come to Danus, or Vorka will be killed in two hours. Remember, Vorka told you never to attempt rescue of her.”
“I’m stronger now. I have to face them.” Will we never get the morning together.
“Wolfy, wake up.”
Camber kissed her on the lips.
“What?” Brogan sat up.
It was then that Camber realized she was sore in lots of new places. “Wolfy, get up.”
“What is it?” Brogan said, the sunlight through the windows making her squint.
We’re going to mount a rescue…