Natasha felt good, her muscles were sore, and she'd probably be walking funny for a while, but she felt good. She tried to roll over to tell James, when she realised that she was stuck. She reached down and felt the bulge of his knot just inside of her.
"James is there something you need to tell me." She asked, a hint of worry creeping though the veil of sleepiness.
James sighed, not wanting to upset the moment, he propped himself up on one elbow so he could look into Natasha's face as he explained.
He was momentarily distracted by the beautiful sweep of her neck. He ran his finger down from her ear, along her neck and across her shoulder. Natasha shivered slightly under his touch, goosebumps following the wake of his finger.
Pleased by the reaction James lowered his mouth and trailed kisses along the route his finger had just followed. As he laid his kisses on her skin his 5 o'clock shadow tickled along her neck, sending delightful shivers down her spine.
"James." Natasha said, in the best teacher voice she could manage given the situation.
James looked up into her eyes, and could see that she wouldn't be distracted from her question.
"It's called a knot." James said, before lowering his mouth back to her skin.
Natasha wrinkled her brow in thought. When she felt his mouth on her neck again she gently pushed him away, giving him a stern look at the same time.
"Is that like what dogs have?" Natasha asked.
Getting little response from James, Natasha continued, trying to remember what she'd learnt in biology class.
"With dogs, the male's penis, swells at the base so that the two dogs are locked together. If I remember correctly, it's to improve the chances of the bitch getting pregnant."
The moment Natasha said the word pregnant, she could feel James's chest begin to vibrating intermittently, in the way he had before when he'd told her he was murring.
She narrowed her eyes at him a little, before continuing.
"I take it it's the same with wolves then?"
James nodded this time.
"Well if you were hoping to get me pregnant you're out of luck." Natasha briskly informed him. "I'm on the pill. Beside don't you think it's a little soon for that? What's more don't you think you should have warned me?"
James sighed, realising that he couldn't remain a bystander in this conversation any longer.
"I'm sorry that I didn't warn you. I forgot about it until it was too late. I've never been with a human before and I forgot that things are a little different." James explained
Natasha looked a little mollified by his apology, but not satisfied yet.
"As far as getting you pregnant goes." James began, unable to resist the urge to smile at the very idea. "I won't deny that I'm looking forward to the day that you are. However I know that you are not in heat, so there was no danger of you getting pregnant."
"Humans don't go into heat" Natasha explained, a little exasperated at his attitude.
"Terminology!" James exclaimed. "The idea is the same."
James continued before Natasha could ask any more questions. He didn't want to have to explain that he knew she wouldn't become pregnant as long as she was human. This wasn't the time for that conversation.
"Just relax, it will subside in about half an hour, then we can have a soak in the bath."
Natasha liked the sound of floating in the huge tub and having the jets massage her tired muscles.
"I could massage you tired muscles you know." James offered.
"I thought you said you wouldn't look at my thoughts." She said, not pleased at the intrusion.
"I'm sorry, but it's hard to ignore when you push them at me"
"I don't even know what that means!" Natasha replied exasperated.
Suddenly James's eyes seemed to go out of focus; Natasha recognised the look from before. James's face suddenly went pale, he obviously didn't like what he was being told. After a moment his eyes flashed in irritation, before a hard resolved look settled into them.
Natasha watched the emotions flick over his face, worried about what could be going on that would upset him so.
James let out a long held breath before refocusing his gaze onto Natasha.
"You're going to have to take that bath without me." He said not trying to hide his disappointment. "Mother has just arrived."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Katie and Dean were among the last left in the great hall. After all the drama, the pack had eaten quickly before heading off to gossip about what had transpired.
Dean was furious with Katie, he hated it when she put herself in danger, and the way she had bated James was unforgivable in his eyes. They'd spent so long arguing about it that they're food had gone cold.
Dean had only dropped the subject when Katie had promised that to make up for it, he could do whatever he liked to her. After that Dean had eaten quickly so that he could take Katie outside for a romp in the woods.
Katie was just finishing up under the impatient eyes of her mate when the doors to the great hall opened. The scent that wafted through them caused Katie to freeze, her fork halfway to her mouth. She snapped her head round to look at the doorway.
In the frame of the big doors stood a woman. She appeared to be in her mid-forties. She was immaculately dressed in a stylish trouser suit, and wore a look on her face that defied anyone to cross her. This was a woman with iron in her bones, and she did not look happy.
Katie dropped her fork and scrambled to her feet.
"Mother! I didn't know you were coming, James didn't mention a thing."
The moment Dean heard Katie say 'Mother' he sat bolt upright as if someone had replaced his spine with an iron rod. He slowly got to his feet and turned to face, his mother-in-law. He bowed his head respectfully
"Welcome, Mrs Haven. I'll go and make sure your bags are taken to your room and that everything is ready for you."
Mrs Haven, looked coldy at Dean before responding with ice in her voice.
"I would expect the Omegas to be perfectly capable of preparing my room without a lumbering wolf like you hovering over them Dean. You will, instead, go and fetch my son. Tell him that I expect him in this room within 5 minutes and I will want to meet this human he's brought to the manor."
