Vivianna
Tav and I made our way back to the safe house, playing tag along the way, basking in the newly-mated glow. Tav in his wolf skin was a flash of silver as he darted to and fro, trying to dodge my attacks. Feeling full of joy, I let out a howl, unable to share my feelings in a better way.
Look at that fine piece of tail, and he is all ours, my wolf crowed.
I laughed, agreeing with her that our choice in a mate had turned out very well indeed.
My excitement diminished slightly as we got closer to the safe house.
How would the other guys take it when they found out we mated?
Would they be upset? Why did I care? Who the fuck were they to control what I did with my life?
I’d already decided that I was going to live my life how I saw fit, so fuck them if they didn’t like my choice.
They had their chance to speak up and say something.
They let me walk out of that room. Tav just decided to chase after me.
Once back at the house, the backyard lights were on, and it looked like they’d already picked up our clothes and the produce. Tav ran straight up to the back door and pawed at it so someone would let us in. Koit answered the door, grinning when he saw the two of us.
“Oooooohhh, you’re in trouble. Daddy isn’t happy you both took off like that,” he said, chuckling as he shut the door behind us.
I didn’t wait for Darius to come out of wherever he was hiding to yell at me.
I wanted to have this conversation in human skin—that way when I got the urge to punch him, I could.
Bounding upstairs, I trotted down the hall to my room.
Rik poked his head out of his room, a book in his hand, as I passed.
I looked over my shoulder and gave him a little yip in greeting.
Once I was back in my room and shifted back into human skin, I looked at myself and grimaced.
I needed a shower, badly. Sex in nature was amazing, but it ended up with dirt and other things in places I never wanted them to be.
Not to mention, I don’t think I got the stench of that deer carcass off my skin.
I jumped into the shower, as steaming hot as I could get it.
So, what’s the game plan for the one with the stick up his ass?
I sighed as I thought on that while scrubbing my scalp to get all the twigs out of my hair. Do we need a plan? I didn’t do anything wrong. I went for a run, but I brought back-up with me.
Right… an innocent run that turned into you getting down and dirty with Tav. Totally believable story.
My temper flared, and I slammed my fist against the wall of the shower.
I don’t care if it’s believable or not, Darius can go fuck off for all I care.
I snatched the body wash off the shelf and lathered myself up, gearing up for a fight.
When I couldn’t smell a trace of dead deer anywhere on me, I got out of the shower, my skin pink from all the scrubbing.
I walked out of the bathroom with only a towel on my head and noticed Tav laying across my bed.
I paused and reached up to pull the towel off my head and around me, but then I thought better of it.
This man was now practically my husband, for lack of a better word.
He was going to see me naked, and let’s be honest, he’s had an up close and personal experience with my body already.
His eyes followed me across the room, and I added a little extra sway to my walk just because I could.
I rifled through the dresser until I found clothing that would work.
When I bent down to pull my leggings on, I felt Tav’s hand trace down my spine.
I shivered at his touch as he leaned down to kiss the small of my back.
“Who knew you were such a tease,” I commented, shimmying into the leggings.
“No more than you with that little display,” Tav said, grinning at me.
“Oh, I see how it is,” I said as I turned, wrapping my arms around his waist.
Just when Tav was going to kiss me, my bedroom door burst open, and a livid Darius walked in. Tav grabbed me and swung me around so I was hidden behind him, protecting my half-clothed body from his eyes.
“What the fuck were you thinking, Tav. How could you take her off property? And if that’s not all, you fucking mated with her?” Darius fumed, his chest heaving.
“This is no place for this talk,” Tav said, his voice calm and even.
“Why the hell not?” Darius demanded.
“For one, Viv isn’t fully dressed yet, and I don’t appreciate you barging into my mate’s den angry,” Tav explained, an edge to his growl I’d never heard.
Darius seemed to be caught off guard by that declaration and looked over at me, peeking out from behind Tav. He frowned and turned on his heel, stomping down the hall.
Tav looked over at me, relaxing slightly. “Better finish getting dressed before he comes back, yelling that we’re taking too long.”
I turned to the bed where I’d placed the T-shirt and pulled it over my head. Ready as I was gonna get for this showdown, I started towards the door. Tav followed behind me, and when we got to the hallway, he slipped his hand in mine. Pausing, I looked down at it and back up at him.
“Sorry, is this too soon?” he asked, starting to pull his hand away like he’d made a mistake.
“Not at all, I'm happy to have you at my side,” I said, squeezing his hand.
Rik and Koit were sitting at the table while Darius paced in front of it, chewing on his thumbnail. When he saw us, he stopped in his tracks, and his gaze zeroed in on Tav, which surprised me.
“Do you realize what you’ve just given up?” Darius asked.
I looked at Tav, confused at the question and why Darius was upset with him more than me.
“Of course I do, and I’m happy to do it.
You know I have nothing to go back to or to lose, really.
I never wanted to be alpha after my father.
As for The Collective, they only keep me because I’m an asset for them to use.
In making my choice to be at Viv’s side, I choose the future of our people,” Tav said, almost knocking the wind out of me.
“Explain yourself,” I demanded, pulling my hand out of Tav’s.
Did I just bind myself to someone who is going to use me for his own ambitions? I thought I’d figured him out, but apparently not. Clearly, reading people is not a skill we’re good at.
Calm your tits, you don’t know anything yet. You said you trusted him, act like it.
Tav turned to look at me, ignoring everyone else in the room.
“By choosing to be your mate, I sided with you. When we get to Kursar, the old ways apply, and after learning what that means from Rik, I think it’s a better choice for me.
My father will never give up the pack unless I kill him and take it.
I’m not going to do that. Then, when my little brother is of age to challenge me, he will, and it will be a fight to the death.
In our pack, it’s kill or be killed in power plays. You’re the best, or you're dead.”
I felt the blood drain from my face at the thought of losing him to another wolf, one from his family, no less. My wolf snarled and hackles rose at the threat on our mate’s life. We will never allow him back there, and I will kill anyone who tries to take him from me, family or not.
“Like I told you earlier, The Collective keeps me on the leadership because they need me to keep two steps ahead of Vadik. Clearly, I didn’t do a very good job, or you would’ve never been brought into our world.
I’m thankful for selfish reasons it happened, but I also know that if The Collective doesn’t take a stand, then we’ll lose everything.
Viv, I know this is all new and overwhelming, but you have no idea the difference you’ll make in our world without ever having to bear a child,” Tav said, cupping my face in his hands as if he held something precious.
“You don’t know that, Tav; we have no idea what could happen once we get to Kursar. Everything Rik knows he learned as a pup, he could be mistaken,” Darius said, cutting in on our moment.
“Hey, you calling Rik a liar?” Koit barked, standing from the table.
“Sit down, Koit, this isn’t our fight,” Rik commanded from where he was sitting.
Koit looked at Rik and back at us then sat back down, following Rik’s lead.
“Believe what you want, alpha. Hide behind your money and power. Not everyone is cut out for a revolution,” Tav challenged.
Everyone froze, looking at him with a shocked expression. I, on the other hand, couldn't be more pleased to see his wolf glowing in his eyes. I noticed a subtle shift in him as his wolf’s personality bled out to mix with Tav’s now that he was accepting his wolf side.
“Okay, I have to know—did mating with Viv do this to you? Or have you always been an undercover badass?” Koit asked, breaking the silence.
“Undercover badass, but great sex always makes things better,” I said, winking at Koit, who grinned back.
What the hell was that? Don’t use me as your mouthpiece! It’s weird to have your words coming out of my mouth. What if they think I had a personality change?
Seriously, I thought you getting laid would make you relax more. Clearly you just need more mind-blowing sex.
“What do you mean by revolution?” I asked.
Tav squeezed my hands and sighed. “Would you trust me when I say now is not the time to get into that? We need to focus on keeping you safe and making sure this hideout is protected while we stay here. I promise we’ll fill you in on all the werewolf dirty laundry once you’ve become more settled.”
“I trust you, but just know that I don’t forget things like this. I’ll hold you to your promise,” I said, smiling at him.
“Speaking of keeping this place safe, if you’re not too busy, Tav, I could use your help in keeping your new mate safe,” Darius grumbled as he walked out of the kitchen.