Haven's Wood

Hi folks, sorry this one has also taken some time, unfortunatly I managed to break my wrist so am now typing one handed!

On the plus side it's a longer chapter like you keep asking for.

Natasha and Katie were sat on the sofas chatting when a knock came at the door. They looked at each other in confusion. James had said they weren't to leave the room as he didn't want Natasha mixing with the pack, so why was a member of the pack here?

Katie motioned to Natasha to stay where she was and headed to the door. Katie was really hoping that it wasn't going to be one of the unmated males, she was sure that James wouldn't react well if they'd disobeyed his orders.

She opened the door, and was confronted by a mountain of clothes, held by the Omega who ran the laundry.

"Sophia?" Katie asked. "Is that you under there? What are you doing here?"

"The Alpha sent me Mistress Katie. Would it be alright if I came in and put these down before I explain?" Sophia asked respectfully.

"Oh! Of course come in" Katie responded after staring blankly at Sophia for a moment. "Since when do you call me Mistress?" Katie asked.

Sophia chuckled as she breezed into the room.

"Well you've been gone so long that I didn't know if you'd finally turned into a proper lady." Sophia teased. "Besides it is your due you are still the highest ranked female, for the time being anyway. I didn't want our guest to think we had no manners."

Sophia had taken her pile of clothes to the bed as she said this.

In response Katie snorted her derision at the statement in the most unladylike manner she could manage. Sophia smiled at Katie's response as if it were exactly what she was expecting.

Sophia walked over to Natasha holding an envelope that had been on top of the pile of clothes.

"Miss Natasha?" Sophia asked bowing her head a little.

"Err, yes." Natasha replied totally unsure of how to respond to the obvious deference she was being shown.

"The Alpha asked me to give you this." Sophie presented the envelope to Natasha as she spoke.

Natasha took the envelope noticing how thick the paper was; it felt more like fabric then paper. On the front of the envelope was her name written in beautifully flowing script. She turned the envelope over and opened it. Inside was a single piece of paper, of the same high quality as the envelope. This simple note was a beautiful thing to behold. It had been written with a proper ink pen and was in the same script as the envelope. Natasha took a moment to admire it before she began to read.

My Dearest Natasha

I hope you will do me the honour of accompanying me for a short

excursion this afternoon. I have asked Sophia to provide you with

some clean clothes, should you wish to change. I would like to pick

you up at 4, if you accept my invitation.

If you let Katie know your answer she can pass it onto me. I will

be waiting, desperately hoping that you say yes

Eternally Yours

James Haven

Whilst Natasha read the note, Sophia had begun to lay the clothes she had brought on the bed so Natasha could have a look at them. Katie, filled with curiosity, was stood in front of Natasha watching her read the letter. Katie watched Natasha read the latter at least twice before her curiosity overwhelmed her.

"So, what does it say?" Katie asked dying to hear the answer.

"I think." Natasha began, not quite believing what she was saying. "That James." She continued. "Is asking me on a date!"

Katie looked at Natasha disbelievingly.

"Could I have a look?" Katie asked, wondering what her brother was up to.

Natasha passed her the letter, feeling bemused about the whole situation. Katie read the letter in a matter of moments. In short order she began giggling.

"What is it that's so funny?" Natasha asked, feeling like she was in the dark yet again.

"The idea of a werewolf going on a date!" Katie replied trying to master her giggling fit. "I mean what's he going to do with you? Take you out for a nice bit of raw deer he just caught."

Natasha couldn't help but pull a face at that suggestion.

"Do you really think that's the kind of thing he has in mind?" Natasha asked Katie a little worried, that she might be laughing because it was the kind of thing James might do.

Katie however was too busy laughing to reassure Natasha, so Natasha looked over to Sophia hoping for some help.

"Do you know what he's planning?" She asked Sophia.

"I'm sorry Miss Natasha but the Alpha didn't tell me his plans"

Sophia looked over at Katie who was still entertained by the idea of James presenting his human mate with a deer carcass. After shaking her head at Katie who was still trying to catch her breath, she turned to Natasha.

"The Alpha is a gentleman and I'm sure he's not going to take you hunting. As much as it might entertain Katie to think that he would."

Natasha smiled gratefully at Sofia.

"So what's with all these clothes then?" Natasha asked.

"Well." Sophia looked a little embarrassed as she began speaking. "The Alpha asked me to sort out your luggage. Since some of your clothes were dirty I decided to wash them all so that they would be clean for you when you need them. However I haven't had time to finish drying them yet. So I grabbed a selection from the clothes stores. I hope you don't mind."

Natasha looked at the huge array of clothes that was spread out on the bed.

"Why do you have so many clothes just lying around?" Natasha asked in wonderment.

"Well, being a werewolf isn't exactly easy on your clothes." Sophia replied with a wry grin on her face. "So we always have spares in most sizes on hand."

"I don't suppose you also have shoes do you" Natasha asked hopefully.

She'd seen a cute summer dress that she wanted to wear but didn't think it would really go with the walking boots she had on at the moment.

Sophia looked down at Natasha's feet. Instantly understanding she looked back at Natasha's face, smiled, and said:

"Not a problem, just tell me your size and I can grab you pair of sandals."

"Are you sure? I don't want to be a hassle." Said Natasha, feeling a little guilty.

"Miss Natasha you could never be a hassle." Sophie replied. "Making you happy, will make the Alpha happy. He's a good man and he deserves to be happy. He works hard the pack so it's only fair that we work hard for him"

Natasha found it touching that this woman so clearly thought so much of James.

"Well, if you have a pair of size 6 sandals that would be wonderful." Natasha said. She looked over at Katie, before adding. "Are you done laughing yet?"

"Not quite" Katie replied. "I just re-read his letter. Did you notice that he's talking like he's in the 19 hundreds again?" Katie began giggling some more as she said this.

Natasha rolled her eyes at Katie's antics.

"Well when you're done laughing, please tell him ' yes'."

Katie beamed at Natasha before saying.

"I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time."

Natasha scooped up the dress she'd picked and headed to the bathroom to get ready.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

4:10 rolled around and Natasha and Katie were waiting on the sofas in James's room. Sophia had left shortly after returning with Natasha's sandals. Natasha was alternately fiddling with the hem of her dress and glancing at the clock on the wall.

"Do you think he's changed his mind?" Natasha asked Katie, a little worried.

"Probably." Katie replied, as if she believed it.

"You can be really evil sometimes, you know that don't you?" Natasha responded.

Katie simply grinned and stuck her tongue out at her friend. Causing Natasha to grab a nearby pillow and throw it at her face. Katie, being possessed of werewolf reflexes, easily dodged, much to Natasha's annoyance.

Moments later a sharp knock came at the door. Natasha jumped to her feet, but Katie was already at the door. She opened the door and once again descended into giggles. Natasha heard a sigh from the other side of the door that could only belong to one person.

"Katie." She heard James say. "You're not really helping my confidence here."

Katie pulled herself together to reply. "Since when have you lacked confidence?" She smiled at her brother before finishing with. "You just took me by surprise."

Natasha walked over to the door wondering what it was that had set Katie off again. Upon reaching the door she saw James, holding a single red rose and heart-shaped box of chocolates. Natasha's face burst into a smile.

"Please tell me you're not about to start laughing as well." James pleaded. "I don't think I could survive that."

Natasha covered her mouth in an unsuccessful attempt to stifle the giggles that were threatening to break free.

"Too much?" James asked.

Natasha quickly slapped a hand over Katie's mouth before she could respond in an undoubtedly scathing manner.

"I just didn't expect you to bring gifts." Natasha explained.

Katie pulled Natasha's hand down.

"I told you he'd bring you something to eat!" Katie piped in before quickly excusing himself.

"I don't even want to know what that was about." James told Natasha.

"I'm sure she'll explain it to you whether you want her to or not." Katie smiled. "It really was very thoughtful of you to bring me those." She said indicating the flower and the chocolates.

"Oh, yes. Here." James mumbled before offering them to Natasha.

Natasha took the proffered gifts then looked around a little unsure of what to do with them. James saw Natasha's dilemma and began to feel a little foolish.

"I'm sorry." He said. "I guess I didn't really think this through. I just thought it's what you're supposed to do when you picked a girl up to go on a date. I'm afraid this is something of a first for me."

"Well you get full marks for effort so far." Natasha smiled.

Natasha went back into the room and placed the flower and chocolates on the coffee table. She turned back to James and asked.

"So where are we going on this excursion? I'm dying of curiosity."

Natasha waited a moment but when James didn't reply she realised that he was staring intently at her. She looked down at her dress worrying that there might be something wrong with it. Seeing no problem she looked back up at James.

"Do you not like the dress?" Natasha asked worriedly "I didn't know where we'd be going, so I didn't know what to wear. If this isn't okay there are a couple of options still on the bed."

James just smiled at Natasha as she babbled about her clothes.

"The dress is fine." James reassured her "I was just thinking how lucky I am."

Natasha was about to disagree with him, but stopped herself before she did. James was amused to see her internal struggle to not dismiss his complement. While she didn't accept it at least this time she didn't outwardly disagree with him.

"Shall we go then?" James asked offering her his arm.

"Yes, let's." Natasha replied, slipping her arm through his.

James began to lead Natasha through the Manor house that he had rushed her through earlier that Morning. This time he stopped to answer her questions about the portraits and the compound. Natasha learnt that most of the pack didn't actually live in the Manor. It was mostly full of offices, guestrooms (for the pack members who lived in the village), and the rest was communal facilities. There was a dining room big enough for the whole pack, a state-of-the-art gym and several entertainment rooms.

"You still haven't told me where we're going." Natasha pointed out to James as they wandered through the Manor.

"It's a surprise, besides we're nearly there" James told her.

They had gone down a small flight of stairs, a few hundred metres from James's room and were now walking along a little corridor at the back of the house. Just before they reached a pair of French windows, James stopped them.

"Ok. We're here." James said.

He paused a moment, as if unsure of himself. He seemed like he was about to say something, but decided against it. It was the first time Natasha had ever seen James so indecisive. She realised he must be really nervous about what he'd planned.

"James." She said, as she laid a hand on his arm. "I promise I'll like it."

She could feel the tension rush out of him the moment she touched him. She remembered what Katie had told her about wolves liking to touch each other. She also realised that this was probably the first time that she'd been the one to instigate contact between them. It really did seem to calm him down.

James smiled over to Natasha delighted that she cared enough about him to want to comfort him, despite how mad she'd been with him earlier.

"I hope you have fun, I know they will!" He said enigmatically, before throwing the doors open.

They'd gone two steps out the door before they were surrounded by what felt like a sea of puppies. They were all different colours and sizes but they were all trying to rub up against James and Natasha.

"Are these.." Natasha began, not sure of the words she wanted.

"These are some of the pack's pups, our youngsters." James explained. "As youngsters we spend most of our time as wolves. These guys are all between 4 and 7 years old. I know you used to teach older kids but this was the best I could do. Besides they're much cuter at this age."

The pups' enthusiasm was infectious and she reached out to stroke the nearest puppy, before thinking that maybe she shouldn't. After all she wouldn't stroke a child. She looked askance of James, her hand hovering halfway to the puppy.

The moment her hand stopped, the puppies started crying. James began to laugh.

"You'd better stroke them, before they deafen us. I'm afraid their wolves are pretty dominant at this age. So patience is not one their virtues."

Natasha bent down to stroke them and found herself almost knocked over as they all bounded over to try and get a good sniff of her and to lick her face. James caught her before she toppled over, a worried look on his face.

He growled a reprimand at the puppies. In response the ones who had rushed over at Natasha wiggled onto their bellies and whimpered to seek forgiveness. It suddenly occurred to James that Natasha might not understand why he'd growled at the puppies he didn't want her to think that he was going to hurt them.

When he looked over at Natasha though, she was smiling softly at him.

"It's good to know that some things are the same" She explained when she saw him looking at her.

James simply frowned in even greater confusion at this.

"Children," Natasha continued, "as soon as they get excited they forget everything they've been told."

James chuckled in agreement.

"Do you want to try again?" He asked. "A little slower this time though." He added both saying this, for Natasha, and sending it, to reinforce his point, to the puppies.

"Sure, How about this time I get knelt down first, then they can come and say hello" Natasha suggested.

So that's what they did. Natasha knelt down and the puppies came over a couple at a time to see her. James watched on, knowing that one day she would make a wonderful mother. She had something unique and positive to say to each of the ten puppies. By the time she was done all the puppies were projecting contentment and love for Natasha. James knew just how they felt.

"Well, now that the introductions are done. I thought we might take them down to lake. Sophia is going to meet us there. She's watching over them for this afternoon, and she'll take over from us when we get there." James explained, motioning over towards the direction of the lake.

"You have a lake?" Natasha asked, impressed. "I'm not sure why that surprises me though considering this place" Natasha added as an afterthought.

"It's not a natural lake" James explained as they began to walk down the path. "We built it a while back, so that we could have a place to swim. We're going to the shallow parts so these guys can practice swimming."

Natasha realised that she was feeling that sense of peace and tranquillity that she'd felt when she'd first arrived in Haven's Wood. Somehow, walking down this path with James and a hoard of baby wolves, felt right. Natasha decided that this time she wasn't going to question how she felt, she was just going to enjoy it.

When they lake came into to sight the puppies began to race off, to see who could be the first into the water. Natasha and James couldn't help but feel the sheer joy the puppies felt as they raced towards the water and threw themselves into it.

One of the youngest puppies though, reached the edge of the water then stopped and started whimpering. He'd put his feet in, and then scamper backwards again. Natasha quickly pulled her sandals off and headed down to the water next to him. She ran her hand over his back before stepping into water, then jumping straight out again.

She glared over at James.

"You could have warned me that it's freezing cold!" She accused.

"They don't seem to mind." James said smiling at her and indicating the puppies splashing around.

She glared at him, with mock annoyance, then gritted her teeth and stepped back into the water. She took a few steps in so that the water was halfway up her calves, before turning around to encourage the puppy to join her.

The puppy took a few steps in, he didn't run back this time, but he didn't look like he was quite sure about the whole thing yet.

James crouched down next to the water and asked the pup,

"If I go in, will you come with me?"

The puppy was so delighted at the idea of being with his Alpha that he agreed instantly with a wag of his tail. James quickly took his shoes off and rolled his trousers up. The whole time he was muttering about how much easier it would be to just change into a wolf.

"Oh no!" Natasha exclaimed when she heard him talking about changing. "If I have to suffer in the cold water so do you."

"I'm sure it's not that bad" James said before stepping in.

He had planned to ignore the cold of the water completely but didn't quite manage to keep the wince from his face when the cold hit him, much to Natasha's satisfaction.

Once James had stepped out to join Natasha, they both gave the pup some encouragement to join them. The pup responded rather more enthusiastically then they had expected, and launched himself into the water, soaking both of them.

As soon as his feet left the floor instinct took over and he swam over to join the rest of the puppies.

James and Natasha looked at each other, and just started laughing. They climbed back out onto the bank and looked over at the puppies who had moved round the edge of the lake a bit and were jumping into the deeper water, then splashing back out again, to jump in all over again.

Natasha noticed for the first time that there was a much bigger wolf lying on the bank by the puppies, watching them.

"Is that Sophia?" she asked James, who confirmed her suspicion with a nod.

She looked back over and saw that the puppies were all nudging at Sophia and whining. Natasha was beginning to wonder what was wrong, when Sophia huffed out a breath, stood up, shook herself off, and then ran and leapt into the water like the puppies had done, much to their delight. She then climbed out and shook water all over the excited puppies before settling down again.

"Come on." James said, distracting her from the frolicking wolves. "Let get you warmed up you're shivering."

Natasha realised that James was right, and that she was rather cold after her soaking. So she gladly followed when he began to lead her away from the water.

"Aren't we going back to the house?" She asked, when she realised they weren't heading back the way they'd come.

"Not just yet." James said with a smile. "I have one more surprise for you. Don't worry though, it comes with a towel."