18

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Okay so you're telling me I don't need to be a great fighter because all the packs you know of have been at peace as long as you can remember?"

"Yes. There are not regular battles for territory, or power, or even for women." He rolled his eyes at her again.

This had been happening for a while now. It was actually quite sad how much the books she read, the movies she had seen, had wrong. "Stop rolling your eyes at me. You lot should really hire some PR people or something, there is so much misinformation out there and you guys come off less than great in most of it."

"I'll make a suggestion at the next meeting" He laughed as she rolled her eyes at him this time. She was so cute all curled up on his couch trying to embrace all that he was while her mind was completely being blown. "I know some of these questions aren't serious Luna, and I know you're mixing a few serious ones in with jokes to make this easier to cope with, but baby I can't tell you how much it means to me that you are taking this all in and accepting me."

"Yeah I'm such a sucker for a hot alpha werewolf. But most of this stuff is actually interesting to me, and I'm honestly not freaking out. Well much. But just so you know, I'd happily let you recite the dictionary, only to listen to your voice and sit near you." She snuggled in closer. "Now are you sure you've never met a vampire? Don't even know if they are real?"

"Never met one, and like I said a few hours ago, I have never fought with one over a girl. Though I'm sure if I did this hot alpha werewolf would win over a pasty glittery vamp. I've no big desire to go looking for one either. I guess the stories like ours came from somewhere so they could be real, I'm not ruling it out, but if they are out there in hundreds of years none of the packs I know have mentioned them."

"Your mum made the potion, the one that could erase my memory of us, and she gave us magic sangria to set up the temporary link, so is she a witch and a werewolf?"

"Well I guess she is a witch but in a good way. Not the evil, wart on her nose, cauldron sort of witch. She is gifted. We consider her family to be blessed by nature. Throughout the history of our pack and others her family line has used their gift to aid the pack in everything from healing to protection, helping achieve peace, to helping a wolf find their true mate."

"And the drink she gave us didn't change my feelings or responses to you, it only gave us enough of a link that you could make a connection with me."

"I wanted to be sure you felt the same desire I did, I needed to be sure the bond was real. Even though I 'knew' I wanted confirmation. Then once I found out it was your first time I wanted to be sure you were ready and felt loved and safe. I wanted to be sure I didn't fuck it up and scare you. Or rush you. I wished I had known earlier because I was out of patience and I knew you weren't getting the first time you deserved. I'm sorry I never waited till after you knew the whole truth. I swear I can't make you love me or change your thoughts."

***

"I'm not going to sit here and listen to you apologise again. First, my first time was probably better than most people have. For me it was perfect. Second, I already said I understood that you were wanting a connection with me stronger than the friendship that had grown before you told me. That you hadn't planned to mark me but got a little carried away. I already told you in some ways it was possibly best the way it turned out. I would have been afraid if you had just thrown all that information at me, and then expected me to be your mate. I've also already said I know you didn't make me love you or influence my thoughts or actions." Luna felt guilty that even after he had told her so, when she had accused him of making her love him, she had still questioned Kate. Blushing she added "I know I worried about it at first but I do know the bond we have is real. I trusted you even then Thorn. I was just nervous after the whole mind blowing sex, brain link and proposal ... all on the first date." She grinned at him "You know, it is going to be hell trying to top that every date going forward, especially now I know how long a werewolf lives, that is an awful lot of dates, anniversaries, special occasions ... you should probably learn to pace yourself."

"I don't need to pace myself Luna, but for the record that was the best first date I ever had. By the way I am going to rock your world on our second date."

"Thorn honey, our second date was a disaster, we had a fight, and then I thought you needed medication or a psych consult..."

"We are having a do over, I refuse to ever tell our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren that was our second date." He pulled her close. "I'm going to take you out to a lovely restaurant I know for an amazing dinner. Then we will walk to this beautiful spot I think you will really like, and sit and talk for at least an hour. Then I will kiss you and tell you all about a romantic surprise and while your pretty little mouth is still forming an O and your eyes are glittering with happy tears, I am going to carry you in my arms to our destination, and only when the sun comes up with your hair across my chest and your body snuggled into mine and a smile dancing on your lips, will I consider our second date complete."

"Well I was going to say after the fight, the whole possible nutcase part, the scared as fuck portion, well the second half of date number two was pretty good. However now I think I'll keep that to myself as the do over does sound very nice. I'll look forward to many years of romancing and surprises." Luna decided when those children, grandchildren, great grandchildren got old enough she was going to tell them the whole story because it was part of their story and she had no regrets at all. That second date was still amazing even if it did have a hell of a lot of drama and more chase scenes than a high speed action flick.

***

"Were you really terrified of my wolf?" Thorn couldn't stop the little bit of sadness that invaded his question.

"Well for about half a second, but you are so beautiful and I always knew there was something about you and when you changed it was like the puzzle was solved. The bit that scared the fuck out of me wasn't you turning into a wolf, it was when you mentioned the remedy. I didn't want you to make me forget you."

"I know I said it was your choice Luna, but I really don't know if I could have given you the damn stuff if you had asked for it. I would have felt I had to, but I just don't think I could have let you go." A tremor went through him as he clutched her to him. "I would have had to leave mum to do it, it would have killed me to leave knowing when I next saw you... but I could not have stayed."

"In all the years your mother's family have been helping wolves find their mates, how many times has the potion been drunk?" Luna turned to kneel on the couch facing him.

"None that I know of." Thorn wrinkled his brow as he tried to think if he had ever heard of anyone needing to drink the herbal tea. "Someone must have needed it at some point otherwise it wouldn't exist but it wasn't in my pack."

"Well clearly your mum is doing a great job as mates.com and that is reassuring, after all once I become one of the pack she will be my go to for healing, protection, prophecy and good old fashioned matchmaking. I really need to help Kate find her mate, she aches for him and doesn't even know him yet."

"Kate is still very young in werewolf terms, not even thirty, many of us don't find a mate till we are much older. I do agree though she does seem to crave her mate more than most her age would."

"I still can't believe you are over thirty years older than you told me. That at age thirty you basically age at one year per decade so you all quote your adult age as thirty plus however many decades since then. Or that when you said Rose had lost her mate ten years ago you had kind of done the same trick in reverse, she was twenty-four when her mate died, which means it was over forty years ago." She looked him up and down "You cradle robber, I'm in love with an old man."

"In relation to life span I've barely left behind horny teenager status."

"Bullshit if my lessons this morning are correct at seventy years old out of a life span of approximately seven hundred years, I still have the horny teenager to look forward to for a while."

"I'll make sure to remind you that it is my teenage hormones keeping you up at nights." He laughed.

"Not many horny teenagers rushing to get a girl down the aisle these days. You sure you're ready for that kind of commitment?"

"So ready." He pulled her close. "I can't believe you're mine, that my mate has accepted my mark. Sits here beside me wearing my ring and learning about my family. Luna I love you so much."

"Yeah, so you seem to be ready for the whole happily ever after thing. How do you feel about the obey part? You know love, honour and obey?" She had a cheeky grin on her face.

"Oh sweetheart, we won't be using those vows, they are so lacking in history, and they have no heart. There will be our own vows and the words my pack have used for hundreds of years." He pulled her in and kissed her deeply then added "Of course if you wish to pledge to obey me in your vows, then I will be happy to accept." He fielded the hand that was about to hit him in the chest "Easy baby, no need to attack."

"Well an old man like you may not be aware, but there's been this shift over the last few decades. You may not have heard but we fight hard for respect and equality, us women."

"Meh, when your wolf is brought forward she will show you what it is all about."

"I wouldn't count on it wolfman, I think my wolf will be a lot more about equality and respect than obeying her mate."

"I am looking forward to meeting your wolf Luna. But seriously there is so much more we still need to discuss and right now all I can think about is food. I'm starving, so go get that sexy leather on and we'll go out on the bike and eat."

"Are you really never going to let me ride her Thorn?" Luna asked as she stood up.

"My bike is a Triumph Thunderbird Commander, 'she' is not a bike for a small girl. I don't say that to insult you baby, but my bike is all power and weight. You may be a great rider Luna and one day we will get you a bike of your own but you won't be riding mine unless it is with your arms wrapped around me."

***

Luna was tempted to prove him wrong briefly but then decided there was a different way to deal with this. She was remembering the last ride she owned and smiled a little. But the reason for the glint in her eye was the bike she had dreamed of owning ever since watching Jessica Alba in Dark Angel years ago. When she showed up on it he would have kittens. She had ridden her first bike at around twelve, a motocross bike of one of the neighbours. She had had the chance to ride a few times on dirt tracks before she left home. One of her foster families had owned a bike shop, riding bikes became familiar territory there and it was something she had continued. One of the first jobs she had secured after going out on her own was at her foster family's opposition. She had worked there for over a year and had her own bike when she left. A nice Ducati 650 Indiana. Though it was a model slammed by ever review and critic for decades, it had been her pride and joy. It hadn't been new but she had loved that bike. It was the first thing she had owned, other than a few items of clothing. She had traded it to get the money for the car she now used. Hard to live on a motorbike, even a much loved one.

"Well, I will get my own bike Thorn, because I think if you have a say in it I'll end up with a 50cc bloody moped. And you won't be allowed to ride her without me." She turned away then added "Of course I may let you ride behind me, but only if you hold on tight." With that she sauntered out of the room.

His laugh followed her but even her less sensitive ears knew her wolfman was already a little worried she was about to put herself in danger. Luna knew she was going to face this battle at least a few times. Him wanting to protect and provide, her wanting to be herself and have a little freedom. Him wanting to keep her safe, and her wanting to prove she could look after herself. She didn't look forward to the conflict, but couldn't help looking forward to him seeing another side of her. Was excited to show him that she was stronger than he thought. That on the things that mattered she would fight for what she wanted, she would not always submit without question. After all, for most of her life, all she had had to count on was herself.

Luna pulled her hair into a ponytail and checked herself in the mirror quickly. She saw his mark at her throat, the pink where his stubble had rubbed her chin, the happiness in her own eyes. She sent him a quick message

"Just in case I haven't said it enough, thank you for claiming me as yours, thank you for loving me and marking me. I love you Thorn Donald. I can't wait to be your wife and spend the next six hundred years with you."

"If you make me wait much longer I'll die of starvation before we even get date number two."

"I still think we should count date number two as date number three."

"I told you I refuse to consider date number two remaining in our story."

"But then we can't make our lunch together a date because you said date number two would involve dinner."

"Alright smarty-pants get out here so we can have date number two."

"On my way sexy."

Luna bounced out to him and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Come on then I'm hungry."

***

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Thorn had spent the last few hours alternately teasing and pleasuring Luna and trying to explain more werewolf basics. He had her tied back to his bed again "Luna, you ran again. I know you were playing with me but seriously don't keep doing it. It drives my wolf crazy and I could hurt you."

"No you wouldn't your wolf is you, you are your wolf. You are mine, I am yours. You would never hurt me." She wiggled as he growled gently at her. "You spent a good hour earlier explaining that you and the wolf were the same, that you were one being. You explained very clearly, that your wolf worked more by natural instinct than the man, and the man sometimes had to calm the wolf with logic and reason, but that essentially the feelings and personality were the same because you were still only one being. You told me how hard it had been for the wolf to wait for me to be yours, but the man knew I needed to know you and your family first. I know you love me, and because I know who you are, have seen how you are with your family, your friends, your staff, and with me, I know you could never hurt anyone you love. Your instinct even as a wolf would be to love and protect me."

"I would never mean to, but it could happen. I could want to make you submit and push too hard. I could accidentally claw your soft skin. I could hurt you and I would be unable to take it back." He saw her start to argue again "This is important Luna, you need to know I'm not just daring you to tease me, to keep running from me."

***

"I can see your point so I will only run from the man, never the wolf" She arched into his hand which was lightly tracing her swollen outer lips. "Thorn can you take the toy out first?"

Luna couldn't believe some of the serious things they had discussed today had been talked about while she had a toy in her rear. She blushed even more remembering when he had told her what he was going to do to her. She shook her head a little dazed as she remembered some of the conversations from the last few hours. She still couldn't believe he had wanted her, loved her from the start. He had been very clear he wouldn't tolerate her doubting their bond or how much he loved her. She couldn't stop the brief relapse wondering how out of everyone he found her desirable. She had spent her whole life not fitting in anywhere, with a mother that took every opportunity to ridicule her. She hadn't lied when she had tried to explain to Thorn what it was like to have gone through high school and never have been asked out by a boy. To never have had a close female friend either. Then she had trusted people that had mislead her. Thought she had found friends, but the truth was they were just people that were taking advantage. Some had offered her "help" but had taken far more than they gave. Thorn and his family had given her what she had never had. The dream she had, she realized now came from her own fears, and she felt guilty that she had hurt the people she cared about by doubting them. She accepted that she finally belonged, but realized she may have to pinch herself regularly to believe it. She looked down her body, still tied to his bed and wished she had some curves and longer legs. It was hearing Thorn's growl that stopped the thoughts but she knew she was too late. She had forgotten to close the damn door again.

***

He released her feet, then one wrist but then instead of completely freeing her he attached her two wrists together before freeing them from the headboard. Her wrists still cuffed together he then sat back against the headboard and draped her across his lap. Her butt in the air. He gave the end of the plug a little wiggle as he stroked his hand over her soft skin. "I'm going to spank you now Little One, and you are going to learn not to ever doubt how beautiful you are to me. Learn to accept I love you and am your mate. That I will only give an order for your own good and the good of the pack. I mean it Luna, never run from a wolf. That is an order." He gave her the first spank and watched her cheek flush pink and then rubbed it sending tremors through her body. "Your skin is pink just like your pretty blushes. You're clenching tight on that toy baby." He spanked her again. "Is it uncomfortable?" She wriggled delightfully on his lap "Feeling a bit naughty?" He moved her back to the bed. She moaned quietly as he moved away from her. "Is it making you realise how much you wish something was inside your wet pussy?" "I can smell you love. On your knees Luna. Arms on the bed, and stick out that sexy bottom for me," He teased his fingers over the lightly pink flesh before he eased the plug from her body and replaced it with a finger. He reached into the bedside table and got the next size. "You ready for the next one baby? Remember when I showed them to you and said we'd work our way through three sizes before I took your arse?"

"I remember Thorn. I can't believe how big your finger feels, your cock is never going to fit. It will kill me."

"Just the plug for now baby, but when you take my cock you are going to love it. You're going to scream and cum as I fill your arse." He removed his finger and then slowly pushed the plug home and watched her stretch slightly to take it. "That is so beautiful. Now one more spank baby, then I want you to show me how sorry you are for doubting my love. For yet again thinking negative things about yourself. You are gorgeous. Lastly this spank is for arguing with me when I try to protect you, even from myself." He bought his hand down slightly harder and she twitched and moaned.

Her hands still in cuffs she moved and quickly took him in her mouth. As she pulled back she spoke her lower lip still resting on his tip "I'm sorry I doubted you." She took him deep again sucking and licking. He pulled her head from his cock before she could take him into her throat again. "I'm sorry I am still in shock, and that I am not so vain that I can't see things about myself I wish were different, or be surprised you find my small body sexy." She knew he loved it when she took him all the way, then came back to tease his crown, so that was exactly what she did. "It will take me more than a weekend to totally shake years of negative thoughts about myself that were fuelled so strongly. But I will work on it, and when I see the way you look at me, feel your hands on me, watch the love and desire in your eyes, yes I believe you find me beautiful. You make me feel beautiful." She flicked her tongue around his tip. "I'm sorry I ran, but I'm not sorry you caught me, again. Thorn let me show you how sorry I am?" her words were laced with lust her hunger for him showing.