Chapter 19
HEKLA
I ran squealing away from Belenus, who looked like he was one second away from either mounting me or punishing me, and I couldn’t say I’d mind if he did both. I ran toward the Winter Court, not needing to look back to know that the fae prince was hot on my trail. I still hazarded a glance and yelped when he was closer than I’d realized. He was faster than I thought! I mean, if he could carry Eventide…
He closed in on me when my bare feet hit snow, and I released a manic shriek, shifting into Eventide midleap. His fingers brushed the tip of her tail, and he grunted in irritation at our escape. Eventide was a cackling disaster in my head, high on a chase that’d get any she-wolf’s blood pumping.
We both shrieked when we heard another set of wolf paws barreling through the snow. Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods, oh gods, Eventide yapped frantically. That’s Escort! I’m in sooo much trouble!
As much as she made a show of being uncomfortable around Escort, I could tell she was thrilled, and it was having an effect on whatever was left of our heat cycle. As fast as we were, Escort was larger and had a longer gait than my wolf. She panicked, laughed nervously, and cut across a snowfield toward a frosty stream.
Eventide, if we don’t find a way to lose him, he’s going to catch up! I shrieked as she pounced onto a thin tree that’d fallen across the stream, allowing her to cross the water in a heartbeat. We heard the thump of larger paws on the tree, but it was followed by a cracking and splashing.
Eventide, you naughty, sexy minx! Get your sweet tail over here! Escort yelled, and she looked back to find him dragging himself out of the cold stream. He shook himself twice, then bounded after her.
Aaah! Our good luck is bad luck! she screeched and accelerated, but he gained on her. He’s mad, he’s mad, he’s mad, he’s mad!
I felt her feral urge to stop and let him overtake her, but she was too skittish right now. Maybe she needed some encouragement? I certainly wouldn’t deny her relief from her heat. She deserved to get to know Escort. He was meant to be with her.
Are you going to let him mount you? I teased her wickedly. You’ve been pushing him away. I’m surprised you’ve lasted this long!
I… I don’t know!
Well, do you want him to?
I mean… he’s… insanely… delicious… Yes, it’s just… He’s just so intimidating! She panted, and I could tell our heat was worsening.
Well, just shift back into me if you don’t want to. I’d gladly wrestle with Belenus, I said idly, wondering if that would make her take action.
Well, Belenus may put a stop to it, she said distractedly.
I’ll talk to him. I then privately mind-linked my mate. Belenus, shall we give these two some time together? Let them get to know each other? Do you know how to hibernate ?
Euh… he replied anxiously, I don’t know. As much as I’d like to catch and… punish your wickedness, Escort is really… amorous. I’m about ten seconds away from shape-shifting back.
It’s ok if he’s amorous. They haven’t spent time together, really. We saved a lot of time today. Maybe let them have some fun? I asked, arguing on my wolf’s behalf.
I don’t know if I trust this big guy… but if you want me to, I guess… I’ll… try to hibernate for thirty minutes? I don’t know…
They’re meant to be. Don’t worry about it! I soothed.
If you say so… he replied and fell silent.
You’ve got thirty minutes, Eventide, I rallied impishly. Just call me out if you change your mind.
O-ok! she said, utterly overtaken by nerves and excitement. Escort immediately pounced on her, which made it seem like Belenus had been trying to restrain him this entire time. They tumbled in the snow, yipping and panting playfully.
My heart swelled knowing that she’d be able to experience a mate’s embrace. It’d been my one secret misgiving about having been fated to a fae. I sent a silent prayer to the Moon Goddess, thanking Her for giving my Eventide a wolf to love and protect. I made a quick exit into hibernation when it seemed like things were getting a little serious, and I was as pleased as could be.
·
I had to peek out a couple times to check if Eventide had gotten untied from Escort yet. On my third foray, they were finally unstuck and sharing a fowl that one of them must have caught. Escort would occasionally give her face a little lick, a tender gesture that would have brought tears to my eyes. Eventide was as happy as she was sore, and she was very, very sore.
How’d it go? I asked her.
I… like Escort very much, she said with a calm, relaxed glow to her voice. He made a big show of his dominance, but he melted into an adoring pup after. Look at this fat, juicy bird he caught for us!
I can see that! It looks delicious! I lauded, then spoke openly to Escort. Hey, nice bird you caught there! Thank you, Escort! You’re so sweet.
My pleasure, he replied, his tone relaxed and content, which was new to me. He must be happy too.
When both finished eating, I shifted back to give Eventide a little rest. When I saw Belenus appear, I grinned; however, my smile faded at his furious scowl.
“Hekla!” he snapped angrily, stomping over to me. “You said it’d just be getting to know each other! I thought you meant to let them run around or lick each other or some shit!”
I balked and stepped back, his words a slap. “They’re mates… Belenus… They wanted to mate, and you already mentioned doing it s—”
“Yeah! Us, Hekla! I meant for us to mate! Not the wolves!”
“They are us!” I protested, confusion knotting my stomach.
“You never asked for my consent!” he shouted, and I placed a hand to my furrowed brow.What?
“Consent for what? I’m really confused, Belenus.”
“Could you have gotten pregnant?” he asked, not answering my question.
“Well, yeah, w—” I started, but then Belenus snarled and fisted his hands.
“I didn’t want him making my heir for me! So, you’re fine with letting Escort get to you first?”
“Escort is a part of you, Belenus,” I retorted, starting to get angry now… and a little offended.
“He most certainly is not!” he seethed.
My mouth hung open in shock. “So, are you saying that Eventide isn’t a part of me?” I growled and leaned toward his face to challenge him. He froze, at a loss.
“Y-you’re a shifter, Hekla! You were born with one!”
“Because the Moon Goddess gave me one! She gave you one too! Escort’s seed is your seed, Belenus! There’s no genetic difference! It’s the same! It would be a shifter child from the same person!” I yelled furiously.
“So that was our first time then?” he yelled back, and that was when I finally hit my feral threshold.
“What?” I showed my canines, snarled through my teeth at my stupid, impossible male, and ran. I was furious! My male had dragged me here to his realm, forced this she-wolf into his way of life, and still continued to insult my people! I was fed up with my male’s behavior! I wouldn’t stand for it!
I hissed out a pained howl through my teeth as I ran. My wolf inside was resting, but fortunately the boost I would have received from her being awake came to me through my rage. The anger fueled me, and I drew from it like a thirsty deer would a stream.
I ran around a hill, knowing I wouldn’t be able to climb it fast enough through all the snow. The panting and slushing noises told me that my male was running after me again. I turned my head and issued a warning growl at him, advising him to stop if he valued his life. He scowled, ignored my threat, and followed me to an outcropping where he tackled me into the snow.
“Hekla! Stop!” he said, grabbing at my wrists to prevent me from scratching him.
“You still disrespect my people!” I shouted into his face and fought to get him off me. I pushed his arms up and squeezed out from under him, making a run for it until he grabbed an ankle and sent me falling face-first into snow.
He crawled onto my back and held me down, binding my wrists again with his hands. “I’m sorry!” he hissed, sounding aggravated. “I’m not used to this!”
“I wasn’t used to the castle either, my male!” I snarled. “Is it really so repulsive to be like me?” I growled viciously and tried to buck him off, growing angrier by the heartbeat.
“Your wolf isn’t a little shit, Hekla! ”
“Escort treats Eventide like a queen!” I practically howled, squirming and writhing beneath his weight. As much as wolves generated a little extra body heat, I was getting cold lying in all this snow. “Did you even notice how happy she was? Does that mean nothing?”
My male shifted his weight enough to turn me on my back and crush his lips to mine. I growled into his mouth, punching and scratching, but I couldn’t seem to stop kissing him, and that made me furious!
“Of course it means something!” he growled, narrowing his almond-shaped amber eyes at me as his lip curled. “I want to make my mate happy!”
“And you were!” I snapped back, baring my teeth again. “Until you got mad over something beautiful!” I finally heaved him off of me, but his grip stayed firm, and he yanked me on top of him.
“And I said I was sorry! I’m sorry, Hekla!” he repeated, sliding his hand behind my skull to push my lips onto his again. His kiss was forceful, angry, passionate, and made my frozen toes curl. It weakened my resolve to keep running, but I still scratched at him in my indignation. He wasn’t fazed for a second!
“And no, that wasn’t our first time!” I spat at him. “That was their first time! And they earned it! You and I’d already agreed we’d mate soon! The only difference here is your pride!” I slipped out of his hold, but when he came after me, I took the initiative and wrestled him back down into the snow.
“Shit! This place is so frigid!” he hissed and slapped his hand down through the snow. He must have cast something because all the piled ice within three feet of us melted. The water quickly evaporated, leaving us on a mess of warm leaves under the jutting rocks.
I’d frozen for a moment, shocked by what he’d done. He’d just brought a small patch of summer into the Winter Court! This must have played into his strategy because I was distracted long enough for him to roll on top of me once more.
He settled between my legs and smashed his lips into mine once more, growling but sounding less angry. He pressed into me and caught my wrists, holding them above my head in one large hand. He sank his tongue boldly into my mouth, risking me biting it in my wrath. I accepted its presence grudgingly, giving my male credit for trusting me, even when I was angry.
He drew his mouth away, leaving me whining and angry about the fact I was whining. Leaning down, he took a deep inhale of my upper chest and groaned. “Fine then,” he said in a low, gruff voice. “We’ll do things your way. Are you ready for me to mount you in the woods here and now like the male you want me to be?” He ground his groin into mine as he moved back up my body. “Are you ready for me to give you what you’ve been begging for since we met?” He then rolled his hips, showing off the length and heat of his erection. He pressed his lips to my ear and rumbled lowly, “Are you ready for me to fuck you, she-wolf?”
My answer was ‘yes,’ but I wasn’t going to make it easy. A deep frown crinkled my nose. “Of course, fae. But I think the question is,” I seethed through my canines, “are you able to earn it?”
He moved his head back, tilting it a little as he gave me a bewildered expression. His grip faltered, and I tipped him over with my thighs. I scrambled away to make him work for it, but he just laughed and tackled me again.
“Oh, no you don’t,” he said in a deeper voice. “I’m aware of all your little moves now, female. I’m not a general for nothing.”
I shuddered in arousal and scrabbled at the warm leaves, still resisting. In that moment, I came to the realization of why I was fighting him so hard. I wanted to feel his desire for me. I wanted to know he wanted me. I wanted to see it. I wanted to hear it. I wanted to sense it in every way. I wanted to be wanted so desperately that he’d hunt me to the ends of the earth. After everything I’d been through at the castle, I still needed validation. Deep inside, I was insecure now and craved something to help me heal. I needed proof. I needed much more proof .
“Prove it!” I snarled, continuing where my thoughts had ended. “Prove you want me! Prove you need me!” My breath sent smaller leaves skittering across the pile.
“You needn’t worry about that, female,” he said and removed my bag from my back while keeping me pinned to the forest floor. “I’ll make my needs loud and clear…”
I heard the shuffling of him removing his own gear and clothing. When he shifted his weight to yank his pants off, I squeezed out from under him, but he caught me and shoved me aggressively toward the rock wall. I stumbled, caught myself with my palms and made to turn, but he was behind me in a blur and caught my hips in an unbreakable grip.
My breaths became light pants when he leaned over my braced body. I stiffened but excitement replaced anxiety when he tilted my hips up to nudge his dry, erect cock between my thighs. A shudder rippled down my body, and when it reached my core, the throb forced moisture down my thighs. I hung my head and whimpered, almost painfully aroused.
“Ohhh, she-wolf,” the fae male behind me purred, “perhaps you’re not as mad at me as I thought…” I felt a finger slide up my inner thigh to collect some arousal. I heard a sucking sound from behind me, followed by an appreciative hum. “Mmm, ripe in every season.”
Just to see what he’d do, I struggled angrily again. His wet hand gripped my hip again and fingers dug in warningly. He chuckled darkly and angled to brush the head of his cock along my sex, sending more of my arousal dripping down his length. It was his turn to shudder, making his hair-dusted thighs vibrate against my legs.
“Oh, you are positively weeping, she-wolf,” he said in a quiet, lustful voice. “Imagine if the court walked in on us doing this but couldn’t do anything about it?” He released a long, tortured groan as he began to slide his erection along my sex and between my thighs. He teased me by only slightly brushing against the throbbing, swollen flesh just above my opening. The wolf in me found that unacceptable, and I growled lowly at his tormenting. He was unbothered. “Just imagine me risking everything to show them that you came first. I should have fucked you at the banquet. It wasn’t like it hadn’t crossed my mind,” he gnarled. He bucked into me several times to illustrate his thoughts. “Should have just spread you out on the table with the rest of the feast and parted your legs for my tongue. You make for a fine appetizer,” he remarked lasciviously.
I felt his feet nudge between mine to splay them. I tried to dig my feet in, but he grunted, wrapped his arms around my thighs and yanked them wide to get better access to me. He sighed in satisfaction as his hands moved to massage my rump. “I’ve been such a fool, my wild female. I could have had this pretty flower so much sooner. I should have fucked and marked you the moment I saw your exquisite naked body.”
I moaned from his words, drinking in his compliments and possessive thoughts. I whined again, arching my back and bracing myself with my legs. I looked down to watch his hard, veined sex slide along my folds, and I whimpered pathetically when it dripped a bead of precum.
I felt him pull back and angle his lubricated cock to push against my entrance. Wild with impatience, I dug my claws into the rock face and let out a howling, desperate keen. The fae male wrapped his bulging arms around my waist as he prodded rhythmically, pressing harder with every nudge.
“You… were… such… a… tease… you… minx!” he grunted with each pump. I hissed in pain because, despite his force, he wasn’t going in any deeper. He was hitting my virgin threshold, and sex no longer seemed possible. I shuffled forward to get away from him, but he just dragged me back toward his cock. “No, there’s no getting out of this,” he growled and pressed into my slick entrance again. “Don’t forget the Moon Goddess made us compatible, female. Have a little faith.”
Though he sounded angry, he pushed slower this time, creating a burning pain as my skin stretched to let his heavy erection discover my channel. I yelped as he jerked forward a couple times, pushing in deeper, and didn’t stop until I felt his groin pressed against my backside. He held me still, letting me get used to the almost unbearable fullness I felt. My skin was so irritated around my entrance, and I squeezed my eyes shut, whimpering as quietly as possible.
“That’s a good female,” he crooned lowly into my ear. “Just get used to having me in there.” He swelled within my channel, like he was becoming more excited just being there.
“It hurts,” I panted, and a pathetic whine escaped my chest.
“I know…” the fae murmured, sliding his hands up my back to rub my shoulders. “I’m trying to be gentle.”
No… I didn’t want him to hold back because I still needed to see his need. I wanted his desperation, even if it’d hurt. “Prove your need for me!” I snarled to provoke him. “I’m ready!”
“Oh, I think I’ve been proving it.” He chuckled coldly. “But fine, I’ll take you how I want to.”
He rolled his hips a couple times, pulled out completely, then pushed back in again. He fed his length through my channel, and I could feel the head of his cock slide along my shape, parting my inner walls. It was like he was trying to memorize every internal inch.
I licked my lips and released a soft moan at the first sensation of pleasure. Through the pain, the filling of my empty space with hot flesh very much agreed with me.
The fae behind me hummed excitedly and sped up his strokes. “Oh, Hekla,” he groaned. “No one compares to you. Not even a little.” He released an enthusiastic cry and slapped his hips into my bottom and thighs, sending his stone-hard length into my depths. I whimpered and bit my lip, feeling myself continue to lubricate him with my desire. His strokes became wet and smoothed, making it easier for me to receive him.
He groaned and accelerated, slamming into me now and forcing a wail out of my throat. “Do… I… really… have to… leave… this… fine… flower?” he gasped, gripping my hips and yanking me bac k to collide with his thrusts. I felt my core clench at his erotic compliment, and he moaned loudly in response. “Do… that… again!” he gasped.
“Make me!” I retorted breathlessly, panting too hard to growl.
He slapped my butt cheek. “Don’t… talk back... to your… prince!” he grunted. “Oh, Moon Goddess… you’re… gripping me so… tight…” He moaned louder as he continued to slam our bodies together, sinking his length deeper. I shuddered and clenched around him again, making him release a guttural groan. “Oh sh-shit!” he swore, and I swore he hardened further. The tip of his cock tapped at something in my depths, and I gritted my teeth through an overwhelming wave of arousal. I clenched around him again, making his panting deepen.
“Do you… feel that?” He moaned, his sentences jostled by his panting and thrusting. “That’s what… I’m going… to feed… the mouth… of… your… womb.”
He jerked out of me, unstoppering my core and allowing some of my desire to run down my leg. “Shit!” the fae said breathlessly and pushed me down to the ground, wrestling me onto my hands and knees. “You want me to treat you like a wolf, I’m going to fuck you like one,” he growled, gripping my hips again to squeeze back into my heat. It was more difficult this time, as my entrance had tightened, and his heavy erection had swollen larger than when he’d originally entered. “And you’re going to howl for your dinner, filthy she-wolf!”
He plunged in wetly, going deeper than before, his grunting turned into wild, rhythmic sounds of bliss. I whimpered and occasionally yelped with each hard thrust, feeling my spine bend under the force of his penetrations. The tapping against my back wall turned into thumping as he stretched my limit. I reveled in the pain, I loved it, too aroused by the thought of him delivering his seed straight through my inner threshold.
“Gods, you’re so wet. You’re just drooling for me to feed your womb, aren’t you? You little minx.” His slamming turned bruising. “You want golden fae pups, female? Want me to… im pregnate… the fuck… out of you?” he gritted out in a desperate, hushed voice closer to my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
I whimpered, whined, and moaned at his erotic question, then nodded fervently, wiggling my bottom in response. My own words wouldn’t come out; I was too lost to excitement, too embraced by my ravenous inner wolf. “Then howl for me, female, and I’ll feed you,” he grunted, his heavy panting sounding more from arousal than exertion. “I don’t… give a shit… who hears us…”
He raised his hips and angled downward, sending the bulky head of his shaft along my front wall. I wailed. He dug into and along the sensitive patch within me, stroking heavily until I tightened up and endured the approach of an unavoidable storm. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end as I anticipated a lightning strike.
“Howl for me, Hekla,” the fae male urged in a tight, deep voice, stroking harder into my wall. “Howl at the fucking sky. Tell the Sky Gods who pleases you most!”
My arms trembled, and my entire body began to clench, including my core, which made him hiss through his teeth. “So tight! So hot! So fucking wet! Shit, Hekla! Sh-shit! Howl for me! Howl!”
The storm clouds within me swirled, and the heat broiled in my sex. I braced myself, arched farther, and released a throat-rending howl. My walls clamped down on my mate in a fierce, feral grip, trying to trap him in me, but he managed to increase his pace for several more thrusts and slammed fully into me.
“Yesss!” he yelled out, screaming his pleasure through his teeth. “Milk me, Hekla! Shit! Suck me dry!”
My sex rubbed his seed out and welcomed it eagerly, milking his cock in waves as he’d begged of me. His head nudged rhythmically into my back wall, pushing into it, desperate to fill me with his young. He squeezed his muscular arms tighter, flexing his groin with each ejaculation and moaning in euphoria .
I wept from the pleasure as hot summer lightning coursed through my core. Combined with him filling every ounce of space and the arousal I felt from him feeding my womb, I was wrapped in ecstasy. I clawed at the ground, overwhelmed by finally having my male mate with me. We pulsed sensually together, drunk on each other and the enhancement of the mate touch. He reached to massage my sweaty breasts, sighing and shuddering as he delivered his last spurt of seed. Then, he placed several kisses on my back, and I melted beneath him. He caught me before I hit the ground and slowly slipped out his spent cock, unstoppering his seed this time.
“And now... for dessert...” my mate murmured breathlessly. He laid me gently down on the warm leaves to hold me, and I finally got my first good look at him since we’d fought.
It brutally woke me from the hazy dream. I gasped at the sight, putting my hands to my mouth in shock and dismay. He smiled at my realization and stroked my hair, tucking a strand back behind my ear. Gesturing to his bruised, battered, and bleeding body, he said, “You wanted proof? Here’s your proof.” I’d given him so many deep gashes with my claws, but I’d never once heard him cry out in pain.
My eyes watered, and I cursed myself for taking my rage out on him. He’d been rough with me and spanked me a little, lightly, but he’d never struck me. He’d never drawn blood—ever. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered, gaping at a particularly deep cut between his collarbone and chest.
His face sobered as he stroked my cheek with a thumb. “I value you over my own health, Hekla. That’s how much I need you. I’m willing to take your hurt,” he whispered back, staring at me from under his tousled sunny hair. “I don’t think you truly realize how much you mean to me. I hope this helps you see that.” His face contorted. “That wasn’t meant to guilt tri—”
My chin wobbled, and I interrupted him, crying. “I’m s-so s-sorry!” I sobbed, placing my face in my hands. Belenus pulled me up against him and kissed the top of my head .
“It’s ok, my dear one,” he murmured, stroking the back of my head. “You’ve had a lot of hurt buried deep. I’m glad you were able to let it out, especially since so much of it was my fault.” He kissed my head again and took a deep breath of my scent. “I’ll do better. I’ll be more open-minded for you. I’ve made a lot of mistakes…”
I cried into his arms and felt more of my pain drain out of my heart.
“I love you, Hekla. Never forget that because it’s forever.”
I nodded into his chest, then leaned back to study his cuts.
“C-can you heal th-those?” I asked through a quivering jaw. I rubbed the tears from my eyes, and his gaze dropped to himself with a chuckle. He placed his fingers on each gash, and they healed, though much slower this time.
“My magic isn’t as potent in the Winter Court, but it’ll still work. It’s just a slower process now,” he explained. I watched him work on healing himself, and when he was done, he grinned his flirty grin at me. “See? Nothing to worry about, Hekla.” He tilted my chin up to lay a soft, affectionate kiss on my lips. He wiped another one of my tears away with a thumb and released my lips to nuzzle my nose.
I felt something cold land on my cheek, and Belenus hummed happily, poking my cheek to garner my attention. I aimed my eyes skyward to find a gentle snowfall. Snowflakes drifted to meet us as we lay in each other’s arms.