Lykaon embraced me once he heard I'd try. The delight in his eyes was pure gold and it warmed my heart that I made him feel this way. When I went to pull away, he only held me tighter, so I relaxed a bit and let his warmth soothe me. He started kissing my neck and ear, his hands still on my waist, fingers stroking a little before they came up and rubbed my shoulders. I pulled back and stared at my mate to see he was smiling. When he finally noticed me, he said, "It's going to hurt for a moment. Then, another feeling should come to you, one that will be good."
I nodded, then let him kiss me some more before I felt his sharp canines against my neck between that and my shoulder. I tensed instantly, but didn't pull away. Lykaon kissed one more time before biting into me. My voice came out in a whimper I think because he held me tighter as I felt some part of me go to him, some part of me connect with him. Then, I felt what I could only describe as pleasure. Pure, hot, pleasure.
After a long moment, he pulled back and kissed me again before saying, "You okay?"
I smiled as to not show my pain and tilted my head at him. "Can I do it to you?"
"Of course, you can," he says with bright gray eyes. I lean forward and looked at his neck, but unsure of what to do. "Let your wolf guide you," Lykaon says when I pulled back to stare at him.
"Start kissing him like he did you," my wolf instructs.
"Where?"
"Start on the lips and work your way to one side of his neck until you find the perfect spot."
"How do I know?"
"You'll know." I start kissing Lykaon on the lips softly, getting used to the feel before I go down to his jaw. He puts his head back to give me access to his neck. I put my hands on his shoulders and hold on while I make it to the left side of his neck. "Flick your tongue out and taste his skin, it'll help find the connection."
I flick my tongue and taste his sweet skin, relaxing a little. I feel his hands rub my back gently, comforting and encouraging. My lips find the part between his shoulder and neck and immediately felt the need to bite. I can't hold back!
Somehow, my wolf comes to the forefront of my mind and her canines grow where mine should be. I almost pull back, but she has part control and keeps my body there. It's alright. You need these canines because yours are dull as leaves. I relax and kiss and lick his skin once more before my wolf says its time and we bite into his skin delicately. Blood flows into my mouth in a steady trickle as well as a part of him. I suck in a breath and close my eyes, letting it fill me up. The sensation was like having an extra spark of adrenaline during a fight, giving you the boost, you need to survive, only this time it'd stay with me forever. "Pull back."
Licking his blood away from his skin, I pulled back, my wolf retracting her canines and retreating to the back of my mind again. With one last lick, I sat back and continued to feel the bond that I knew was connecting me to Lykaon.
Hands encased my face and I opened my eyes to look up at my mate. He was smiling with adoration and happiness, melting my heart. I felt my heart beat erratically just at the sight of him. I saw him in a new perspective and couldn't stop staring at him. It seemed the sunset was making him glow, like it was meant for him. He's even more handsome than I remembered.
He is, isn't he?
"Opaline?" he said and I smiled. Lykaon leaned forward and kissed me softly. "You look like you're about to pass out from laughing gas."
I giggle and wrap my arms around his neck. "This is just different, that's all."
He chuckled and pulled back, staring intently at me. "Close your eyes and relax your mind," he says and I obey.
A few seconds pass and I can't handle it anymore. Opening one eye, I peek at him and see he's getting frustrated, brows furrowed, eyes closed. I realize what he's trying to do and reach out to him. "You look like you need the bathroom."
I feel the couch shake and open my eyes all the way and see him laughing. I looked around but didn't see anything funny, then went back to staring at him. When he finally noticed me, he sobered and cupped my face. "Believe me, Opal, I do not need the bathroom."
I widen my eyes and see him nod once. "You heard me?"
"I sure did." He kissed my lips and pulled back, looking worried again. "You can't hear me though. I'm not sure why, though."
My heart dropped into my stomach as I slumped, disappointed in myself. "I told you I can't."
"It's fine, at least I can hear you."
I shake my head. "But I can't hear you and it won't work if only one of us is able to speak to the other."
He takes my hands and kisses my knuckles. "We'll keep trying. Don't give up yet, okay?"
I nod as I see a shadow behind Lykaon. Klyn and Nadine standing in the dining room, watching us curiously. Nadine smiled at me as Klyn crossed his arms. I say to my mate, "I won't."
"Good," he said and kissed me once more.
"Who's ready to go?" Klyn said when we pulled apart.
Lykaon pulled me up to stand and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me towards the other two. Nadine gestured for us to follow her. When we got outside, there was a vehicle waiting for us. Lykaon opened the passenger door for me and helped me inside before closing the door and walking to the driver's side and getting in beside me. Grabbing the steering wheel, he started to drive.
Klyn tapped my shoulder and I looked back at him. "Are you ready to have fun?"
I smiled. "I'm ready."
Nadine grinned and said, "Alpha should get a kick out of this!"
I see Lykaon shake his head out the corner of my eye and smile. "I guess we'll see."
Turning to face the front again, I see we're in a human town with a bunch of small buildings. I notice people walking about on the sidewalks and children playing about without a care in the world. Lykaon parked the car in front of a building that had such loud music that I could feel the vibrations, and a bunch of people walking in and out. When the stench of unspeakable things came to my nose, I tried not to gag. I didn't want the others to think I didn't want to go in, because I did. Lykaon got out and rounded the car to open my door. When I looked up at him he smiled and said, "This isn't the worst I've seen."
I got out and waited for the other two, then Lykaon led us in, holding my hand. The music was overwhelming combined with the stench and heat from so many bodies. I held tight to my mate, afraid of getting lost in such a confined space. Behind me, Klyn and Nadine followed, staying close, but seeming excited all the same. Bodies of different sizes and shapes pushed against me and if it weren't for Klyn pushing them back, I would've been crushed between them all.
We finally found the bar and Lykaon sat on a stool, pulling me down to sit on his lap. Klyn and Nadine sat beside us, ordering drinks. It was a good thing I was deaf, or else I wouldn't be able to stand this place. Lykaon bent turned my head to look at him and asked, "What would you like to drink?"
I shrugged.
He looked behind me and said, "Nothing too strong."
I turned and saw Nadine ordering something, then the bartender nodded and got to work. It took a few minutes until he had different liquids mixed and shook together then put it in a glass, sliding it towards me. It was a pearl pink color with an umbrella sticking out of it. I sniffed it and scrunched my nose. Lykaon's body shook with laughter as I moved the drink away from me. "I'm not having that!"
My mate kissed my cheek and I turned to him with a disgusted look. He smiled and said, "It tastes better than it smells, trust me."
I shook my head. "That smells too sweet for my liking. I'm not drinking it."
"One sip?" he pleaded. "If you still don't like it, we'll get you something else."
I glanced at the drink then at him again. Sighing, I took the drink and put it to my lips, taking a small sip. It was fruity with a harsh heat at the back of my throat that traveled down to my stomach. I coughed and almost spit it back out, but shook it off. Someone took the glass and put something else down in front of me. I took a sniff and the scent of fresh water made me lunge for it. I drank the whole cup, not stopping for air.
When I finished, I glared at Lykaon for making me try the stupid drink. "What the hell was that?"
He shrugs and pointed to Nadine and Klyn who were grinning at me. I deepened my stare. "I hate that shit! It was horrible!"
Klyn almost fell off his stool from laughing so hard while Nadine said, "It's alcohol. It's meant to burn and be horrible."
Pushing Lykaon's hands away from my waist, I stood and turned towards the dance floor. It was crowded and cramped, but I made my way over. When I got there, I turned to see my mate had followed me, staying close. I was grateful, and my arms found their way around his neck until he was wrapped around me so I was safe. We swayed gently even though I could tell the song was fast, but neither of us cared. His arms were about my waist and his head resting on mine, while I kept my head on his chest and my body close to his. His scent – woodsmoke and snow – filled my nose, taking everything else and putting it into the background. He didn't let me go and didn't say anything. I was content.
It was a while before I straightened and looked around. The floor was less crowded now and the night outside completely dark. Klyn was dancing with a few girls not far away while Nadine danced alone, a sad smile on her face.
Lykaon jerked as if startled and I pulled back far enough to see what the problem was. His head was looking in the direction of the doors where three men entered and were staring towards us. My mate's grip tightened around me, almost as if he was afraid I'd disappear. The men turned their attention to Nadine, who barely noticed the commotion thanks to the music and stench of the place. When she did look up, it was to stare back at the group. Her lips formed the word mate as her hands started trembling.
The man in front of the other two took a step towards us, but Lykaon stepped in front of Nadine, with me behind his back now. Nadine ran up to Lykaon and started talking too fast for me to understand while my mate glared at the others. Other people sensed there was trouble and backed away, unsure of what might happen next. I saw Nadine's mate start to talk. "Let the woman make her choice, Alpha. If she wants to be with me then let her."
Klyn noticed what was going on and came over, watching between our friends with some confusion before glancing at the men with a spark of understanding. I stared at the men as well and saw Nadine's mate staring in awe and lust. Lust, not love. My eyes glared at him before I turned to Lykaon and trying to get his attention, but ignored me. I shook his arm then tried Nadine who tried to see what I wanted but Lykaon didn't let her. "Use the link," my wolf suggested.
I sighed and closed my eyes. "Lykaon, listen to me!" I felt them stop and heavy breathing. When I opened my eyes, Lykaon was staring at me with confusion. I looked at Nadine. "Please don't go with him, Nadine. He won't be good to you."
"But he's my mate, Opaline."
I nod and gesture to the man. "Don't look using your eyes. Look using your head. He doesn't love you. He wants nothing other than pain for you. You can reject him."
She shook her head. "I can't!"
"Of course, you can, because you're a strong she-wolf who can take care of herself," I say with encouragement. Taking her hands that were shaking violently, I whisper, "His friends don't look very nice either."
Nadine glanced at the men and shuddered. When she looked at me again, she nodded and embraced me. I saw the man narrow his eyes at me before saying something to one of his comrades. From this far, I couldn't tell what they were saying but from the grins two gave, it couldn't be good. "Lykaon, get Nadine out of here. He's going to try to fight for her."
Lykaon looked at me with surprise then shook his head. I think he said something like, "I'm not leaving you," but it was hard with all the panic that has set in. Before I could change my mind, I pushed Nadine into Lykaon and pushed him away. I turned to Klyn who was watching me with curious eyes before grinning and preparing to fight. I needed to shift. I'm stronger with my wolf.
The man bowed his head at me, saying something I could not see. I looked at Klyn who interpreted, "A very warm welcome to the new Luna of the Blue Oasis Pack."
I roll my eyes. "Why don't we take this outside?" I say and walk towards him and the doors. He holds the door open and lets Klyn and I out before following. When I turn back around, the man is smirking at us while leaning against the building.
He said, "You're tiny for a wolf!"
"You're large for a man," I counter.
He laughs and straightens. "I just want my mate. I won't bother this pack again if I can just have my mate."
I shake my head slowly. "I'm not going to let her get hurt by you. She's not going with you."
"I'm only going to ask one more time before I lose my patience," he said and I could tell his patience wasn't far from being lost.
"She is a part of my pack, and I will protect those in my pack. I will not allow a rogue to hurt anyone I care for."
I feel Klyn stiffen beside me while the man takes out a knife and his men start to come forward. He said, "You should have let her go. I might not have had to hurt you then. I know, as well as everyone else including you, that you will lose this fight."
I shrug and stepped forward and shrugged. "Guess I'll have to fight my best, won't I?"
He grinned and lunged at me, but I rolled out of the way, shifting into my wolf. She growled at Nadine's mate, baring her teeth and raising her hackles. The man also shifted and came at her, knocking her onto her back underneath him. She heard Klyn shout my name but didn't dare glance over at him and sliced her claws on the rogue's belly, drawing blood. He growled in pain and started snapping his teeth at my neck. My wolf went for his neck with her claws but managed to get his shoulder, all the way down to his bone.
In response, his teeth found my paw and bit down, hard. I howled in pain and kicked at him to get off. His amber eyes watched me struggle for a moment before he let go and stepped back, seeming to think I would give up. I glanced to where Klyn was and saw he'd already killed one of the lesser rogues and was almost finished with the other. Nadine's mate was watching Klyn with some interest, but soon started walking away. "Howl for mate!" I whined to my wolf.
She did. Within moments, another howl could be heard, this one strong and enraged. Klyn and the rogue stopped fighting for a moment, listening. Klyn immediately glanced to me and I saw something in his eyes spark. I watched as he turned to the distracted rogue and clenched his throat hard with his teeth, then ripping it out viciously. Klyn kicked the wolf off him, spit out blood and guts, then ran over to me. Shifting, he was naked and hovering over my body, tears in his eyes. "Why the hell did you fight him?" he growled.
I whined, my paw bleeding and my pride wounded. I bowed my head and looked away to where Nadine's mate was heading. Klyn held me tight, still naked and angry, carrying me back into the bar. He grabbed a table cloth that was clean enough and wrapped it around me, then putting me on the same table, he took my leg and carefully looked at my paw. People started to gather around and whisper until one woman came forward. "Let me help, please?"
He looked at her then glanced around the room. "No. I need her owner."
"Please, she'll bleed to death!" the woman pleaded.
Klyn looked at me and I just sighed, showing to do whatever he thought best. Finally, he said, "Fine. Help her and be fast."
The woman smiled then went to a nearby table where she grabbed a bag and hurried back. "I need you to hold her muzzle so she doesn't hurt anyone." Klyn nodded then came around and stood above my head then gently grabbed my muzzle firmly in his hands. Another man wrapped a blanket around Klyn's shoulders as the woman set her station up on a chair. "This is going to be painful for her, so try and hold her still."
The woman had a bottle open and hovering it over my paw, ready to pour it on. Just as she tips it, the doors to the bar crash open and startles everyone including me. Lykaon and Nadine were there, the former seeing my injury and growled low in his throat.