Staring around the room Daniella saw over thirty different couples, mingling, talking, making out, or just sitting, petting each other. She wore a pair of jeans with one of Jason's shirts. His scent surrounded her, and in the last the few days she'd found his scent calmed her nerves. Every now and then her stomach would turn and her wolf felt close to the surface, and that alone scared her. Whenever Jason was with her the wolf within would settle. She was starting to wonder who the actual master of her was, herself or Jason .
He stood beside her dressed similarly in jeans and a shirt. At first Daniella had been horrified by their lack of formal clothing. Jason had laughed, reminding her that they were going to a room full of wolves. There was no need for formal clothing.
William and Helen had greeted them at the door. The couple seemed to be more in love than Daniella remembered. Holding onto Jason's arm she looked around at all the couples.
"How do you know they're mated?" she asked. Jason look her to a corner of the room, which gave them privacy but meant they were able to look around. "During a mating the male is not always gentle," he said, reaching out to stroke the raised flesh of her neck. "Most men will lay their claim around the neck for most wolves to see. It's a mark of ownership, love, and claiming but to also warn other males not to touch their property."
"So I'm your property now?" She folded her arms trying to cover her nipples, which had budded.
He laughed. "Baby, your pussy is dripping wet. You've been mine a lot longer than you've been my sex toy." He stroked a finger up her denim-clad thigh. "I'm being polite. Look around you, Mary. I know you can see the love, the
need in every mated couple." He closed the small gap between them. "I also know you feel something for me. I know you've changed around me, and I also know that you've not been my toy for a long time."
"That's a lot of stuff you know," she said, moaning at his closeness.
Her body was on fire once again for his touch.
"It's not all I know." His hand slid up to cup her mound. "You're mine, Daniella . Look around you. See for yourself."
She saw Alex and Katrina sat on the sofa talking with another couple she didn't know. Helen and William were close as they made their way around the room.
"These people are your family?" she asked.
"Not all of them are related, but we're all close." His other hand sank into her hair, tilting her head back. "All wolves feel related in some way. It's how I knew Jonathan and Naomi had done something wrong. They no longer smelled like pack but of something corrupt and not very nice at all. They repelled me."
"What do I smell like?" She whimpered as his lips kissed along her neck. The air between them changed. It became suddenly charged with need, sex, and something far more. Daniella knew Jason was right. She was in love with Jason. He was the first man to ever make her feel this way. She couldn't imagine her life without him, and that scared her. All of her life she'd been under the impression that it took a lot longer than a couple of weeks to fall in love. Her wolf connected with his, and she found her dreams filled with images of them both together. Daniella knew her future was with him, but she needed to be totally sure.
Seeing the couples together, Daniella knew they were exactly the same.
"Heaven, like the best fruit or dessert on the table. You're everything I ever wanted. I could smell you in a crowded room or in the city. They took you away from me, but I won't let it happen again." His lips covered hers, and Daniella accepted his word and his love. The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled Jason away from her body.
"Son, please, we try to keep things simple a little longer," William said.
Helen chuckled. "It's lovely to see you both here. When William told me you were coming I couldn't wait to see you again."
"What's the matter, Dad?" Jason asked.
She sensed him tense as he took hold of her hand.
"I need to have a word with you, Jason . Alpha to Alpha.
Helen has offered to keep your mate company." "Is it important?"
"Very. Otherwise I wouldn't ask at a mate gathering for a private word," William said.
"Okay." He turned to her. "I'm going to go, but I promise you Mom will take care of you."
Daniella nodded. What else could she do?
"Jason , wait," she said, wanting him to know how she felt. "I get it." Glancing down at the floor, she tucked some of her hair behind her ear. "I love you, too."
He paused, and then the biggest smile she'd ever seen brightened his whole face. "You pick the worst time to make me feel like the happiest man alive." Jason caught her up in his arms. "I love you, baby, and I promise you I'll make this up to you."
His lips were hard, and she melted against him. Seconds later he wandered off, and she was alone with Helen.
The other woman wrapped her arms around her. "I'm so happy."
Laughing, Mary hugged the older woman back.
"My boy has spent so much time talking about you and how he'd find you. I didn't doubt his effort, but I started to think he'd been taking weed and simply imagined you into existence." Helen chuckled. "I know he's not a young boy anymore."
"Jason talked about me?" Daniella asked.
"Yes. He didn't know your name, of course. Jason told us he knew you were the one. That boy will never back down from anything." Helen led her toward the sofas where several couples were groping or in different stages of undress.
"I, erm, I didn't even know his name."
"He's a good Alpha. Jason knows to keep his feelings close to his chest. Like his father he has a select few people close enough to him that he can trust." Helen handed her a glass of dark liquid. "It's scotch, my dear. It'll keep you warm while they're away. Business will come first." There was a smile on her lips.
"How can you stand for the pack to come first?" Even as she said the words Mary knew she didn't care if the pack came first.
"I know, honey, that when my man gets me alone later tonight or even tomorrow or maybe in a week, he'll make it up to me." Helen closed her eyes.
Feeling like an intruder, Daniella glanced away.
"Honey, I know my son, and he'll make it up to you in his own personal way. You'll be protected, and you'll never want for nothing."
Sipping at the scotch Daniella tried not to cough at the strong burning taste.
"I wouldn't want anything from him. I'm happy just being around him," Daniella said.
"You're becoming one of my favorite people." Helen touched her hand.
They were silent for a long time as the music picked up. She noticed several couples were already naked, and things had taken a different turn. Not knowing where to look, she stared down into her glass.
"Wolves do not care about nakedness. Being naked is more natural than being in clothes. I was surprised to see Daniella in clothes. He's more comfortable in shorts or anything that leaves him exposed," Helen said, explaining things to her. Daniella felt her cheeks heat up. "I guess I'm still new to it all."
The collar of her shirt was starting to itch. In the corner she saw Katrina was naked. Her arms were wrapped around Alex's neck as he kissed his way up to her neck before claiming her lips. The two looked oblivious to everything around them.
Her skin felt sensitive to the touch. She really wanted Jason . Her need was growing, and her wolf was starting to wake up. Touching her fingers to her temple, she tried to take deep, calming breaths. The last thing she needed was to lose control in a room full of wolves.
"Daniella, are you all right?" Helen asked. The concern got through Daniella's clouded thoughts.
"No, I need Jason." We need our mate.
Shaking her head, she took several deep breaths, needing her man to calm the beast within her. Change. Mate. Hunt.
"Daniella , I need you to listen to me," Helen said. When the older woman touched her over-sensitive arm, Daniella jumped back hissing. "Listen, bitch, this is my territory, and you will follow me."
The sympathy in Helen's eyes upset her. Daniella felt the power pouring out of Helen, taking control of the situation.
"Listen to me, Daniella, there are too many people. You can hurt us just as much as we hurt you. You're not pack, and you're here as a guest. Follow me, and I can protect you." Helen touched her, and Daniella did everything she could to stop herself from screaming at the other woman. ****
"We've found her," William said, sitting behind his desk. Several pack leaders were stood around the room, staring at his father. Jason couldn't believe he'd heard properly.
"What?" Jason asked, stepping closer.
"Debbie, we've found her. She's in perfect health, but she needs all of us to go to her." William looked excited.
"Why are we sat here waiting? We should be there and bringing her back to us." They'd finally found Debbie. After all this time Jason couldn't believe the news. His woman had just admitted she loved him, and now he knew his sister was alive. He couldn't help but feel happy with the news. His life was getting better. The future was looking amazing.
"She has asked for us to wait. I've got her location, and she's requested us to wait. Her situation is delicate, and the people she's with will not trust us. Naomi and Jonathan have a lot to answer for," William said.
"I bet. Experimenting on our own kind or any kind for that matter is fucking abhorrent. I wish I was there to kill them again." the Alpha from one of the other packs spoke from the back. Everyone agreed.
"What situation?" Jason asked.
"Debbie was not the only one who escaped. Several people over the years had escaped. Dani and Roger have been doing this for years. The escapees have formed a pack, but they're, erm, they're used to living secluded, and they don't have a great deal of trust in our kind. Also, they tried to stay away from humans altogether. Debbie hadn't gotten the chance to contact us, but she finally got them to see reasoning with her getting in touch now." William ran a hand down his face. "Debbie likes them and wants us to wait so she can prove to them that they can trust us."
"Waiting the week will earn their trust?" Jason spoke up not believing something so simple could earn their trust. "Yes. The Alpha of her new pack has asked for the week to prove to them we can hold off, and then they'll accept them close to their territory."
"What about the experiments with Jonathan and Naomi ? How do we know it's over?" Jason asked, thinking about his woman and the damage the others had done to her.
"Debbie has assured me they have the only person responsible for putting the idea into their heads. I trust your sister, Jason. She's thorough and wouldn't lead us into a trap."
The other Alphas agreed. Jason knew his sister was reliable and knew how to take care of herself.
"Okay. So what do you need from me?" Jason asked.
"Next week we need you and Jason to come with us to the meet. They'll be bringing the man responsible for causing so much death. Together, we'll put an end to these bastards."
A knock on the door sounded making them all pause. "Come in," William said.
Katrina appeared looking troubled. She had a blanket over her nakedness. "Jason, it's Daniella. Her wolf is trying to claw her way out of Daniella again. We need you. Helen can't keep her under control."
Running out of the room, Jason followed the smell of his woman. He found her screaming in agony with Helen trying to keep her still.
"I'm sorry, son, I did everything I could."
Daniella was crying as her arms turned at odd angles. Moving his mother out of the way he caught Daniella up in his arms.
"Baby, I'm here," he said, wrapping his body around her.