Sara thought she knew all there was to know about being the mate to Jeremiah, the pack leader. She had never seen him in his true Werewolf form, part-man, part-wolf. Was her desire for Jeremiah strong enough for her to endure what was inevitably going to happen?
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This story does not reflect personal feelings, perspectives, beliefs or necessarily accurate werewolf folklore.
The last two years with Jeremiah had been idyllic. His position as the leader of the pack secured, he was respected and acknowledged as a fair and effective leader of the council. Though difficult in the beginning, with help and support from Jeremiah and my best friend Pam, I was able to make and nurture relationships with other members of the pack and more importantly, to claim my place within the pack as Jeremiah's mate.
Aside from my lover Jeremiah being Lycanthropic, we were a happy family. As far as any outsiders knew, including my parents, Jeremiah was a young, successful contractor and I a loving stay at home mom to our two little boys.
When I became pregnant, over Jeremiah's quite vocal objections, I insisted my folks stay with us when they visited. This arrangement seemed to work until they became alarmed at the frequent sightings of a very large black wolf on and around the property. Following an incident when Mom encountered the wolf late one afternoon while out walking in the woods, we subsequently had them stay in a quaint little bed and breakfast during their visits.
The twins (Jace and Kohle) were now almost 1 Β½ years old, walking, talking, exploring, and already a handful. My Mom and I often laughed about how they were gearing up for those proverbial "terrible twos". I talked with my Mom frequently; in fact, I had recently mentioned to her that Jeremiah had expressed his wish to have another child. Though she was not happy about our not having married, she was ecstatic at the idea of having another grandchild.
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At night in bed after lovemaking, we'd cuddle and talk and a few times, Jeremiah had brought up the subject of our having another child. Though I thought it a bit soon, considering the boys weren't two years old yet, I was thrilled and excited about having another baby with him. My excitement didn't last long when he told me what would be involved and what I would be expected to do to make a new child possible.
I lay in his arms listening to him as he explained that it was necessary he impregnate me while in his werewolf (part human, part wolf) form. It was his responsibility as the pack leader to produce at least one pup while in this form and my responsibility as his mate to submit to him without question. Unlike the twins who were conceived while he was in his human form and were recessive carriers, impregnation in his werewolf persona would ensure the new baby carried the dominate Lycanic gene.
"No," I told him. "I wouldn't have another child if it means being impregnated by a monster." Even as I said the words, I saw the expression on his face and immediately regretted the hurtfulness of my words. I loved Jeremiah and did not want to hurt him, but I was afraid.
I had heard stories of human females mating with men while in their werewolf form. Mating during this time was painful and dangerous for a human female. Despite how the male may have felt in his human form, once he transformed into his werewolf state he became a predatory animal consumed by the most primal of needs, to procreate. I tried talking, explaining my fears to Jeremiah, but he surprisingly did not want to listen. It seemed sufficient for him to say I belonged to him, and that I was disrespecting him and the pack by not submitting to their laws and traditions. He reminded me that I had flaunted the pack traditions once before, and it had resulted in a beating and a sexual reprimand before the council. If I refused to comply again, my punishment would be worse. He said he loved me and wanted to breed me, but it required he conceive the pup in his werewolf form.
Holding me at arm's length, he threatened me, "do you want me to breed another wolf bitch? If you refuse me, and they find out, the council will not permit me to do otherwise, and you would be punished and exiled from the pack for you disobedience. I could never let that happen Sara." He let go of my arms and turning, paced across the room. When he spoke again, I could hear the uncompromising quality in his voice, "If you persist in not submitting to me Sara, I will take you by force, you leave me little choice."