Chapter 21

I groan slightly as the warm body underneath me moves. My eyes slowly open to see the soft morning light illuminating my mate beside me as his soft lips press against my temple. My body felt sore and a small tinge of pain from my neck brings back the memories of last night. Tate and I have mated and mark each other.

A grin spreads across my face as I nuzzle against Tate’s neck catching sight of the mark I left on him. I felt whole with Tate completely mine and me being completely his.

“Good morning beautiful.” Tate whispers his hand running through my hair gently. I close my eyes relishing in his pampering letting out a yawn.

“Good morning baby.” I reply back my voice laced with sleep still. For a few minutes we just lay in bed enjoying our silent company and taking in the first morning as a mated pair. I missed lying in our bed together away from the sounds of a hospital room and being home alone with Tate felt perfect. Being home felt like the best place to be with no one to bother us and no nurses to walk in and disturb our rest every so often throughout the day. It’s a play I felt safe and secured in with Tate beside me.

“Hey Laina.” Tate whispers, his fingers drawing slow circles on my shoulder.

“Yes baby?” I ask tilting my head to look into his dark green eyes. I love his eyes.

“When was the last time you shifted?” I could hear the concern in his voice. Wolves have an urge to shift and release their primal side inside them. It kept us healthy and sane. The only exception we could not shift is if we were pregnant or seriously wounded.

“Two weeks after I found out I was pregnant. Sam and his warriors had hunted me down and if I hadn’t had shifted I would have been caught.” I answer honestly. I remember how terrified I felt that day. I had found a nice town to hide in renting out a small one-bedroom cottage while I figured out what to do. A couple of days feeling safe away from Pinepaw, Sam and his warriors barged into the town looking for me. My landlady called the cottage phone and informed me about these men looking for me and the best excuse I could give to the nice elder human is that he was an abuse ex trying to drag me back home. She bought me some time to pack. That day I shifted once again and ran for my life with my bags on me. I decided to stay in wolf form for a week until I made good time and were days away from Sam. It took a while for the Pinepaw wolves to find me after that and I took off once again to find myself in Bloodsvain Territory.

“If Rex gave you the okay to shift we can go outside in the back yard and you can let lose.” Tate suggests and I grin. This would be the first time that my mate has seen my wolf form and I couldn’t wait to show him. Bouncing off the bed I rush into the closet hearing Tate chuckle behind me and take one of his shirts that covers me like a short dress and bring a set of clothes to my mate.

“Excited to shift?” Tate asks laughing as I help him dress into a pair of baggy track pants and a V-neck t-shirt. I could see the extent of his still healing wounds and my heart clenches. I knew last night took a toll on his body but the need to mate with each other and be together forever was strong and took a hold of us. I’m proud our primal instincts took over but made a small vow to not do anything else until Tate is healed completely.

“Yes I missed running so much and really need to stretch my legs, especially in wolf form.” I answer with as Tate stands. He takes a hold of my hand and the two of us make our way slowly down the stairs and to the kitchen were we slip out the back door. Tate takes a seat on one of the padded lounge chair and I run inside to grab a blanket to wrap around him. Once I am satisfied that Tate is warm and comfortable I quickly remove the shirt from my body hearing a lustful growl from my mate and the heat of his gaze skimming down my back and ass causing a blush to crawl on my cheeks. With a leap off the deck I shift in midair landing gracefully on my paws and shaking out my fur. Stretching my limbs I turn my blue-white fur with black tipped paws body to look at Tate, his eyes in awe.

“You’re a beautiful wolf.” Tate whispers while I pad up the deck stairs to come site beside him, my tail thumping against the deck happily. His hand reaches out to run his fingers through my fur and I let out a soft whisper of pleaser, closing my eyes happily.

“Why don’t you run for a bit around the area? I’ll be fine.” My ears perk up with this suggestion and I look to Tate with a wolfish grin.

[You sure baby?] I ask uncertainly into our link. Part of me wanted to stay close to Tate but the other part of me needed a good run.

“Positive. Link me where you are ever so often.” Tate assures, poking my nose playfully. I lick his fingertips before taking off. My paws carry me through the forest around our house first leading me to the lake with the floating gazebo where I take a drink of the crisp and clean tasting water. My eyes scan the area watching ducks and geese swim across the crystal-clear water and thinking about how good their tender flesh would feel between my canines before taking off again. I explore as far as I feel comfortable with, linking Tate every now and then of the areas I pass and which pack members I cross paths with. The wind rushes through my fur and the scents of our territory brings a sense of being home through me causing my heart to swell with pride and happiness. Each pine tree holds a unique scent that brings in a touch of never-ending life while the oak, maple and birch trees slowly has their leaves falling and decaying onto the cold forest floor below. Another hour passes by while I push my body as far as I can, leaping over fallen logs and splashing through puddles and small streams, but I know I have to head back soon. With a sigh I loop back towards home. Two hours have passed with the run in wolf form leaving me feeling refreshed and renewed with all that has weighed my mind and body down the last few weeks. Taking a shortcut Tate and I would normally take on our walks I reach home in about thirty minutes, seeing Tate with his phone out just in time to snap a picture of me.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Tate asks as I shift and put the large shirt back on, crawling into his lap to snuggle with him on the lounge chair.

“Yes. When you’re better let’s go for a run together.” I reply with, kissing his jaw and resting my head on his shoulder.

“Sounds like a plan. Eeva texted me just a few minutes ago. She is bringing Julia home and should be here soon.” I groan slightly at this information. Part of me is enjoying have Tate to myself and I didn’t want anyone coming over today. But I missed my pup too much and wanted Julia home.

"Does this mean our quiet time is over?" I ask, getting a chuckle from my mate. He tilts my head back gently to plant a long kiss on my lips, pulling away with a smirk and leaving me breathless after a few minutes.

“We can have quiet time to ourselves later tonight so don’t worry.” He promises a blush on my cheeks once again. I had a feeling it would be hard to not make love to my mate so that he can heal properly these next few days. With a sigh I climb off Tate and stretch before helping Tate to his feet. We walk into the house Tate going to sit in the living room and me making my way upstairs to put on a pair of thongs and leggings keeping Tate’s shirt on because I just wanted to lounge around the house today. Heading back down stairs I catch Tate holding the front door open while Eeva pushes a stroller inside.

"Hey Eev-” I start to greet my sister-in-law and friend.

"Shh my niece is asleep." Eeva scolds, parking the stroller beside the bench in our entrance way to take off her shoes. I roll my eyes at her and quietly walk over to peer inside to see the angelic face of Julia deep in her sleep. I missed my little girl so much and couldn’t help but run a finger gently across her chubby cheeks.

"I'll bring her to her room." Tate whispers as I straighten up letting him pull the stroller closer to where he stands. Carefully he bends down to unstrap Julia from her stroller and cradle her in his arms. It felt great seeing him hold our pup outside of the patient room in the pack house.

"Do you need help?" I ask, stepping closer to plant a soft kiss on her Julia’s forehead and getting ready to assist Tate up the stairs.

"No, I'll just take my time." He reassures his eyes focused on the sleeping baby in his arms. A soft smile plays on my lips and I step back to give Tate room to turn around.

"Okay then. Call out if you need help.” I agree. He smiles at me and kisses my forehead before making his way upstairs. I knew better than to wait for him and hurt his alpha pride so I turn to Eeva who has a smile on her lips and a knowing glint in her eyes.

"So, how does it feel to be completely his?" I blush at her words, my face a heated crimson.

"I don't know what you mean?" I feign ignorance and turn, heading towards the kitchen with my growling stomach protest because of the lack of food.

"Please, I can smell my brother all over you and inside you. Plus the house reeks of like did you guys do it in the hall way or something?" I feel my cheeks heat even more as I busy myself with turning on the oven, grabbing a box of Delicio frozen pizza from the fridge and popping the pepperoni party size into the hot oven. I just ignore my friend and turn on the kettle to make some tea to sip on.

"C'mon, I know you're fully mated to him now. I can see the mark peeking out from under the collar of that shirt you’re wearing." I didn't know how red my face is but I smile, my hand reaching for the sensitive spot on my neck and I turn to face my friend finally conceding to spill the details.

"It feels amazing and it was amazing and Eeva I can't wait to fee-"

"Okay, too many details." I laugh at her reaction, her face a look of horror as I was about to spill all the detail of how amazing sex with Tate was last night.

"Well you asked." I come back with, smirking at the look of horror still plastered to her face.

"But that’s my brother!” She practically yells, running her hand through her hair.

"You still asked." I shrug, pouring a mug of tea for her and I. She sighs in defeat and sits down at the table and after checking the pizza I join her bringing the teas over.

"So, when do you want to go shopping for some new clothes?" I laugh at the random question at Eeva’s attempt to change the subject when the sounds of the front door opening and closing reaches us. Seconds later Chris and Jack walk into the kitchen carrying take out boxes.

"Oh you're up. We went and got some take out but I smell pizza." I laugh at Jack's words and watch as he and Chris set the food on the table. I couldn’t help but take a whiff of the Chinese food wafting from the containers my stomach growling for food as soon as possible.

“By the way Laina was that your wolf I saw earlier today.” Chris asks going to the cupboard to grab plates. I smile happily making my way to check on the pizza and nod.

“Yep I needed a good run and haven’t shifted in months. I needed to let lose.” I respond with. The smell of the peperoni pizza spills out into the kitchen with the golden crust signalling it being cooked. Taking the pizza out of the oven I rummage through a drawer for a pizza cutter coming out victorious. While I cut the pizza Chris and Jack set the table. The sounds of footsteps on the stairs signal Tate joining us and just as I put the pizza on the table with the Chinese food. I smile when Tate and I take the bench sitting across from Chris and Jack with Eeva at the end of the table.

"This is what I needed. My family and some take out." Tate exclaims as he squeezes me closely planting a kiss on the top of my head and everyone else chuckling. It’s been a hectic month since Tate and I first met and just being able to appreciate the small things together made the things we went through worth it.

"So Eeva, where are the rugrats and your mate at today?" Chris asks, piling Chinese food onto his plate. I quickly snatch the spring rolls just in time to place a couple onto Tate and my plates before passing the appetizer around. Jack has a habit of eating all the spring rolls which Chris and I hated.

"They went to the cabin about two hours away from here with their dad for the weekend. They want to soak up the last few rays of sun before snow kicks in so I have the house to myself." Eeva answers happily stuffing a slice of pizza into her mouth. I smile at the normality. Filling mine and Tate's plate and enjoying this night. The five of us talk for a while, Chris disappearing once to get a crying Julia who is cradled in her father’s arms as Tate feeds her. Sometime around seven Eeva left wanting to enjoy the alone time she rarely has. I couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm as she talks about the things she is going to do without having to deal with children. After Eeva left Jack and Chris went to bed. They have been slowly renovating a house they found and had slept at the pack house last night to give Tate and me some privacy. I couldn’t wait for the two of them to move out.

With a quiet house and Julia once again in her room asleep for the night Tate and I find ourselves snuggling in front of the fireplace. His hands draw shapes on my back as we lay on the sofa held in each other’s embrace.

"Have I ever told you how much you mean to me?" Tate asks quietly, turning my head so that we are looking into each other’s eyes.

"Yes, whenever you get the chance to you tell me." I answer my voice barely above a whisper.

"Well I don't say it enough." He adds, bending his head forward and gently kissing me. My hands cling to his shirt as our lips move in sync slowly, a small moan being illicit from my lips when he flips us over so that Tate lies atop of me. Pulling away breathless he kisses the tip of my nose before resting his fore head on top of mine.

"Laina, you are the most beautiful, talented, amazing person I have ever known. You are my queen, my best friend and my true love and I will always be here for you. If I make you mad, I will fight for you to smile and love me again. You make me happy and you bring the sunshine back into my life." He smiles shyly at me before he kisses my lips once again - his lips and my own moving slightly more urgently. The kiss ends too soon and we pull away panting slightly, our foreheads pressed together once again and tears well in my eyes.

"Why are you crying? Are you hurt?" I can feel Tate tense above me his face filled with worry and his eyes scanning for any signs of injury. I giggle at his reaction and wrap my arms around his next, pulling Tate closer to me and burying my face into the crook of his neck.

"They're happy tears." I giggle out kissing his mark gently. Tate sighs with relief turning us until I am lying on top of him again. His fingers wrap around my hair playing with the chestnut locks staring into my eyes.

"I love you Tate. I love you so much it hurts when I am not with you." I whisper, feeling the tears of joy slip down my cheeks. Tate gently moves so that the two of us are sitting his arms wrapped around me keeping me on his lap and hugging me tightly to his body.

"And I love you Laina. You're my world and I will to everything to protect you." He whispers, nuzzling my own mark that he left on me last night. One I will have for the rest of my life. I nod against his shoulder with his words, pulling back from the hug just to kiss him passionately, feeling his arms hold me tighter against him. His hands move to my hips and he lifts me up as he stands my legs wrapping around his waist and his noticeable erection is pressed to my thigh as he carries me to the direction of the stairs and up them to our bed room.

Passion ignites within us my body sizzling with pleasure with every touch. His lips find every sensitive area sucking and kissing the skin causing a flood of wetness to form between my legs. Our clothes are torn off in haste the two of us just wanting to be close with only skin touching and no barriers to come between us until his length is nestled deep inside me.

We spent the night lost in each other’s touch crying with pleasure with each release giving a silent vow to always protect and love each other as our primal urges take over.