-Marcus-
As Emmerson fell asleep in my arms I thought about what her father had talked to me about down stairs.
"I'll agree to doing this get together between the packs. If it helps some of our wolves find their trues mates as you and Emmerson have then it will be worth it. I've been barely able to keep control of some of my male wolves lately, they have been getting more aggressive as of late and I fear that I won't be strong enough to keep them in line for much longer."
Her father had seemed stressed and worn out. He had continually been running his fingers through his hair in frustration. I could tell that he was starting to loose control of his own wolf, the darkness that plagued all male wolves without true mates was starting to slip in.
"How bad is it John? The darkness, I can see it in your eyes." I asked him trying not to sound like I was trying to challenge him.
"Not great but not too bad as of now. And once some of my wolves are able to find their true mates everything should be okay. My Beta Henry is the worst of all of them, I've had to repeatedly lock him up in the past week to keep him from hurting anyone. I'm feeling a lot of this from him."
I noticed Henry had seemed edgy a few weeks ago but to have to lock him up because John couldn't help him control his wolf. That was more than a small issue. It was something that as an Alpha and mated to his daughter I wasn't going to be able to just overlook. If John was loosing control of his wolves he was either going to have to step down as Alpha or the uncontrolled wolves were going to have to be put down before they went feral. From the sounds of it Henry was teetering on the edge of sanity already.
It wasn't going to be easy to talk to Emmerson about this. She loved her father so much, they had a strong connection even with everything that had happened over the past few weeks. I had noticed the change in John when I had called him to let him know we were coming here. He was troubled and grasping to the little bit of sanity he had left to hold on to. If he went feral it was going to be disastrous. He would need to step down as Alpha for his packs own safety. Emmerson is going to be furious with me when I tell her. I thought before trying to get some sleep.
****
Around five in the morning I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep. Sighing I got up off the bed careful not to wake Emmerson up. I slipped on a pair of grey running pants and shoes and a black long sleeve running shirt. I needed to get some fresh air before I talked to Emmerson about her father and Henry.
As I stepped out onto the front porch, a crisp breeze hit my face a sure sign winter was closing in. Looking around me I noticed Nora, Emmerson's mother was standing a little ways away from the house leaning against an old fence post. She looked exhausted and worried.
I decided to find out if she was doing okay, she was kind to me since day one after all. When I approached she jumped turning to me.
"Sorry I didn't mean to frighten you. I was just about to go for a run. Are you doing okay?" I asked watching her saddened face warily. I wasn't good with female emotions and I was entirely thankful that Emmerson's emotions were sent through the bond regularly letting me know exactly what my mate needed at any given moment. But with her mother I was unsure how to address the unshed tears and saddened look on her face.
"You are fine Marcus. I'm just thinking about John. I know he talked to you last night. And I know you can see how unstable he is getting. I know that he is becoming unfit to lead our pack and it scares me." She seemed so lost as she said this. The fact that she was admitting to another Alpha, her daughters mate or not, that her husband was unfit to be Alpha anymore. That told me it was more serious than I realized.
"Nora tell me something, two weeks ago when I first came over he didn't seem nearly as bad, how come?" I asked not sure what the answer would be.
"Well he wasn't as bad then but also he had Emmerson, her wolf's dominance was giving him the strength to keep pushing forward. I have never seen a more dominant wolf than Emmerson until the day we met you." Her words were surprising.
Even though Emmerson wasn't the Alpha of this pack her father had somehow managed to pull on her Alpha strength to control his wolf and the rest of his pack. The thought made me angry. He had been deliberately deceiving his entire pack, using Emmerson's power. It wasn't like it harmed Emmerson in any way or drained her of her Alpha strength and dominance but it was just wrong.
"You understand what this means Nora? With your husband not being able to lead this pack?" I asked her and she nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Good, I am sorry that this is happening to you and your pack. I'm going to go for a quick run and then I'll need to discuss this with Emmerson. Will you be able to help her pack the rest of her belongings later today?" I asked and again she nodded. Normally I would have demanded a verbal response but I also understood that she was hurting over the thought of loosing her husband.
I sighed and started towards the forest trail Emmerson and I had walked on two weeks ago. Running in human form was frustrating but I didn't want to shift when other members of this pack could be out and about. After running for an hour and a half I started heading back to the Alpha house. Going upstairs to Emmerson's old room I quietly made my way to the shower. When I finished I grabbed a pair of boxers from my bag and was about to start putting a pair of my dark blue jeans on when I heard Emmerson starting to wake up.
I smiled dropping my pants and walking over to the bed as her eyes fluttered open. I leaned down and kissed her lips which made her smile even though I knew she wasn't quite awake yet.
"Good morning." I said and she just nodded before pulling me closer. I laughed and let her, scooting down onto the bed to lay next to her. "We can't sleep all day Luna." I said kissing her forehead and cheeks.
"Alright fine." She said opening her eye more. "Where did you go this morning?" She asked before sitting up and looking down at me.
"I didn't think you were awake." I said with a frown.
"I wasn't but I felt you get up and leave the room. Now answer the question Alpha." She said moving to straddle my waist. I placed my hands on her hips to keep her from moving.
"I went for a run Luna but had I know you were even the smallest bit awake I would have done something else to relieve the stress." I whispered sitting up so she was tightly against me. I felt her squirm as I pressed her hips down against me roughly.
Don't do that. Not when I can hear my parents and little brother downstairs.
She said through the bond but even through the bond she sounded breathless. I smiled at her response and lightly grabbed her hair with on hand so I could tilt her head to the side and kiss the mark I had placed there. I could smell her arousal and need for more and it was enough to send me over the edge.
Marcus.
She whimpered, both wanting me to do more and also wary that her family could hear. I chose the first not really caring about the later. I flipped our bodies so she was laying on her back on the bed and smirked at her. Her eyes widened when I started to slide her underwear down her legs, and she looked like she wanted to protest.
They won't hear if you are quiet.
I said through the bond before leaning down and kissing a trail of warm kisses up her legs. When I got to her center I stopped briefly looking up at her in warning to keep quiet. She nodded but didn't say anything, I raised an eyebrow at her letting her know I wanted an actual response whether she would be able to keep quiet.
Okay, I'll try.
I heard through the bond and I leaned my head back down to suck on her already swollen clit. She gasped softly at the movement and I felt her hands pulling on my hair. It wasn't to make me stop though so I kept going, licking her juices and fucking her with my tongue until I could feel her start to get close to her orgasm.
"Shit." She hissed as I pulled back to stick two fingers inside of her and started swirling my tongue around her clit again. She was over the edge in a matter of seconds as I fingered her and when her orgasm hit I stilled my fingers and quickly moved up to cover her lips with mine just in case she couldn't keep quiet.
When the orgasm finished I slowly took my fingers out of her and pulled my underwear off throwing them on floor next to the bed. I kept kissing her lips as I pushed myself inside of her as far as I could go. I could feel her still trembling from her orgasm as I slowly started to ease myself in and out of her. She dug her nails in to my back and began rocking her hips against mine softly her signal for me to move faster. I pulled back from her lips so that I could look into her beautiful green eyes as I pushed harder and faster into her.
Fuck Marcus.
I smiled and pumped faster knowing she was about to come again. Her eyes widened when we both hit our climax at the same time and I knew that she wasn't going to be able to quiet any longer. I placed my hand over her mouth to muffle her scream, chuckling as I raised a finger to my mouth. I stopped moving inside her and held still letting her ride out the orgasm. When she relaxed I pulled my hand away from her mouth and leaned down kissing her lips.
Fuck that was hot.
I told her through the bond as I carefully pulled out of her. When I sat up she smiled a small giggle escaping her lips. She was absolutely breathtaking, her wild unruly dark hair was all over the place and her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were flashing a bright green just as they always did when she let her emotions out.
I'd say. Now get off me so we can clean up.
She growled playfully at me. I let her roll of the bed and slapped her butt as she started walking away. She turned back to me raising an eyebrow at me. I shrugged and got off the bed following her to the bathroom.
After cleaning up and getting ready for the day we headed downstairs. Emmerson had decided to put on a navy blue sweater and a pair of skinny jeans that hugged her curves. To my amusement she didn't put socks or shoes on and I knew she preferred being bare foot. Her wild curls where half pulled up into a bun and the rest hung in thick ringlets down her back.
When we got to the kitchen her mother had already placed food on the table and her brother was already sitting down eating a piece of bacon and toast. I noticed immediately that John wasn't in the room and looked to Nora questioningly. She just nodded in the direction of his office and shrugged. We sat down to eat and Sam began telling us about his studies and how Ben and him didn't like the math or science very much.
Emmerson rolled her eyes and smiled at me. I winked at her amused at that her little brother was so comfortable talking to me like I'd been a part of his life forever. Sam was so excited to tell us about all of his little adventures from the past couple weeks. It was nice to see the affects of John and the other males starting to loose control wasn't affecting the younger wolves in the pack.
What do you mean, loosing control?
Emmerson's words in my head were irritated. I sighed, I hadn't realized I had projected my thoughts to her.
Your father talked to me about it last night and your mother this morning. I was going to wait until we could go on a walk to talk to you about it.
Her expression told me that she wasn't happy with the choice I made. She stood up from the table and walked away from the kitchen heading towards her bedroom. I started to get up and follow her when her voice came through our bond.
Don't. Don't follow me. I understand your reasons for wanting to wait to tell me but it doesn't make it any easier to hear.
I growled low and angry. Yes she was upset but she didn't get to tell me to stay away from her. I stood nearly knocking my chair backwards as I stalked after her. She was already half way up the stairs when I caught up grabbing her arm to stop her.
"Marcus stop."
I growled low in warning. Yes she was my mate and yes it was a shock for her to learn about her father, but for fuck sakes she is Alpha female and she needed to damn well act like it. I led her back down the stairs and out of the house directing her towards the forest. I wasn't looking for a trail, I wanted somewhere no one was going to be able to eves drop.
Marcus!
"Don't!" I warned and she glared at me furiously. When I felt we were far enough out I stopped and let go of her arm. "I know you are upset about this. I get that but you don't get to act like a pissed off little teenager because I didn't tell you right away. Your father has never had a true mate and even though he is younger than most of the other Alphas he is not in control of his wolf. His Beta Henry is not in control of his wolf. Several other wolves are not in control. All of this could have been avoided if your father would have gone to the other Alphas or even trained you to be Alpha. They are past helping which means because I was told by both your father and mother about this I have to take care of the issue and find a replacement for Alpha of this pack. You as my mate and the Female Alpha of our pack will have to set aside your irritation with me for having to do this and help deal with the aftermath." I was getting more angry by the second. It wasn't necessarily at her but it was making it difficult that her father and mother didn't teach her the responsibilities of being an Alpha. Whenever she got mad about something she would just stomp away like a teenager throwing a fit. She needed to be an Alpha and deal with her problems head on.
"I am not acting like a child." She growled back at me. I could see her wolf eyes coming out, that bright emerald green. "I get what is going on Marcus, I understand pack law. I didn't just sit through two weeks of rewriting pack history to not understand a damn thing about being an Alpha. I wasn't upset or angry with you until now! I am angry at my parents for keeping this a secret for so long. I am angry that because of their foolish actions we will have to put down pack members that otherwise could have been fine." She was definitely pissed just as much as I was. Looking at her I realized she did understand what was really going on and that I was going to have to do the hard part of my job as Alpha.
"Emmerson, we can not look weak or childish in any way. We are the only true mated Alphas yes but we are also the youngest. If we are going to bring the other packs into our plan for our wolves to find their true mates, we have to look strong and united. One hint of weakness could start a war." I said not as heated at before. I knew I was also overreacting right now but she also needed to know just how important this was.
She looked at me for a moment she was still pissed but she nodded to me. Then because she knew I would demand her verbal answer she responded.
"Alright. I am sorry for stomping out of the kitchen like that. But if you don't want me acting irritated like that don't treat me like a child that needs to be handled carefully. I am your damn mate, you are one of the most Dominant wolves I've ever met and all you've done the past couple weeks since you bit me is tiptoe around me like I'm going to leave at any second. Stop pretending to be someone you are not. I certainly won't be." She was right I had tiptoed around her since I lost control and marked her. I didn't want to hurt her, hell I was going easy on her. Yes I enjoyed taking care of her but she needed more than someone doting on her day and night.
"You realize what you are asking for." I said darkly. As Alphas we were automatically dominant and sure, bossy, but we were also more aggressive.
"Marcus I'm not saying stop caring for me like a mate should. Just don't treat me like a fragile child okay." She said. She started to strip out of her clothing and I just started at her for a moment confused. "What my wolf is anxious, we need to run. We've been cooped up in our house for the past two weeks."
"I think it's put us both on edge." I agreed as I started stripping too. She began shifting into her silverish blue wolf as I finished taking off my clothes and I watched as she started shaking out her fur. Shifting was painful the first few times as a child it definitely wasn't pleasant. Even now after shifting hundreds of thousands of times it was still painful. It was only easier now because we were used to the pain, used to the feel of our bones breaking and growing and shifting.
As I shifted my wolf came forward excitedly. He wanted to run with our mate. After fully shifting I stood a good foot taller than Emmerson's wolf. I walked over to her and nudged her body with my head. She growled at me irritatedly as it almost knocked her over. She shook her fur out once more and then started running.
Emmerson stop, you can't just take off like that.
I growled following after her. When I caught up she huffed annoyed at me for acting bossy no doubt.
This part of the forest is safe it is patrolled daily where it is so close to the pack houses.
She said continuing forward. I growled and and followed after her.
It was patrolled daily but can you smell another wolf's scent now? It's so faint at least a week old. You need to be mor careful.
She slowed for a moment sniffing the air but then sped up again heading towards the trails on the far side of the houses. I looked up a head as we fan noticing something glinting slightly in a pack of sunlight. It was right in front of our path a ways down. As we got closer I barely had time to realize what it was. Emmerson hadn't noticed it and wasn't slowing down.
Emmerson stop!
I growled leaping at her, I barely shoved her out of the way in time. We rolled down a slight hill and when we came to a stop I stood above her. She growled trying to kick me off. I growled angrily at her and leaned down biting at the skin of her neck, forcing her to submit. When she did, stilling her body I let go of her neck but didn't move away.
I told you to be careful! You weren't watching where you were going and almost stepped into a poacher's trap. You listen to me when I tell you something. Do you understand!
I knew she would be mad at me for yelling at her once again but I didn't care. She was being reckless again. I growled waiting for her answer.
Yes, Alpha.
Her words were soft and I knew she was upset. She said Alpha, understanding that I was reprimanding her as I would any member of the pack for acting foolishly. I stepped away from her letting her get up. She just stood there for a moment before nuzzling her head under mine briefly, as if to say thanks for keeping her safe.