Carr couldn't sleep. He held Lee tightly, spooned against her back. He felt her rhythmic breathing. "Can't sleep either baby?" He nuzzled her neck, cedar and lilac. It still amazed him how it calmed him to have her scent permeating his brain.
She turned to face him, studying his eyes, bringing up a hand to stroke his cheek. Carr was always the one who was light-hearted, took things in stride. He was never worried, until now. This was the first time he would really be tested. It killed her to think she wouldn't be here to support him. She belonged by his side, but she knew if she was pregnant, she needed to be kept safe. The future Alpha of the pack could be growing inside her. But it didn't make it easier to leave. They didn't need words. He knew what she was thinking, even if they hadn't had their mental bond, he'd know.
He held her hand as she slid it across his jaw. This would be their last hours together for who knows how long. There was still so much to do. But he and his wolf needed this time with their mate. He stroked her blond hair with his other hand, then pulled her head to his and kissed her, savoring the taste of her mouth. Her hands traveled across his shoulders, and he growled when he felt her nails scraping his skin. He stopped kissing her and pulled away to look into her feral eyes, swirling blue with amber. Her wolf was close. He leaned in and bit her lip, drawing blood which dripped down her chin. They stared into each other's eyes as he slowly used his tongue to clean it.
He rolled out of the bed, stood, and reached his hand for hers, waiting. She took it and stood with him, smiling, knowing what he had on his mind. They walked out onto the balcony, looking out over the pack lands. His arms snaked around her waist, holding her tight, licking at her neck. She leaned into his hard body, her head against his shoulder, leaving her neck bared to him. His teeth softly nipped at her, and she growled in response.
They watched the dark winter sky, the constellation of Orion the hunter high above. "You're the only hunter I need" she whispered and leaned back into her mate's strong arms. He would hunt down Gary and Paul and kill them to keep the pack safe, she knew it. But this was their last chance together, and she would make it memorable for both of them. She quickly shifted, and her wolf leapt from the balcony, landing gracefully in the grass below. She stopped long enough to turn and look up at her surprised mate, and then took off at a full run into the forest.
The tall form on the balcony transformed into a muscular brown wolf and sailed over the railing, barely missing a stride as he chased after his mischievous mate. Run from him would she? She wouldn't run long because he would catch her in minutes. He knew how she thought. He had all her tricks memorized.
She could hear him close behind her. Even with the advantage of surprise he was keeping up with her. She ran as fast as she could, the low tree branches brushing past her face. She closed her eyes tight and ran inside a rosemary bush, maybe he couldn't get through here, he was so much bigger. It could give her a little breathing room if he had to run around.
He came to the bush where it was obvious the blond wolf had run inside. Tufts of blond fur hung over the blue flowers. He stopped and stared at it, catching his breath in the moment. If he tried to fit into that tight space and couldn't make it, he'd be far behind her by the time he got out. If he went around he'd lose time, but less than if he was struggling to break free of the tight growth in front of him. She was a wily one. Yes, she was a fit mate for him. She would be a fine mother for the future Alpha, whether or not he was there to see it. He lifted his nose and caught her scent to the north. He turned to circle the bushes and pushed himself faster.
He caught sight of her tail as she tried to slip unnoticed into a hollowed out tree. If a wolf could smirk he would. Did she really think she'd be able to hide her scent from him? He crouched down low to the ground, his belly scraping against the wet grass. The big wolf crept slowly to the dead tree. It was huge and as he looked inside, he was surprised to not find the blond tease huddled inside. He looked around, puzzled, until he saw moonlight shining through a hole a few feet up. Damn her! She'd outfoxed him and put him behind.
He quickly backed up and held his head up and waited for a sound or odor. Nothing. He ran around to the other side of the tree and looked below the hole. Paw prints. He dropped his head and sniffed the print, yes it was her. He picked up the scent and ran, no female would out think him. He sent his thoughts to her, "I'm behind you love, better run faster." Her scent was stronger as he picked up speed.
She heard him in her mind and smiled to herself. "You'll only catch me when I let you." She could hear him gaining ground behind her, but realized too late she had run into a meadow. In open ground he would catch her in no time. She tried to come up with a plan but it was too late. He was on her and dragging her to the ground.
His huge paws gripped her hips tightly and he took his prize. His hard cock plunged into his mate as he howled his conquest. He heard the answers of his pack deep in the woods. Many of them had the same idea as the Alphas. One last time to run with their mates. He held her close to him as he pounded into her. He could barely hear her growls of pleasure through his own. His knot formed and he leaned forward, took her neck in his powerful jaws, and bit down as he gave one more powerful thrust, seating his knot and shooting his cum deep inside her.
She collapsed underneath him as she howled her own pleasure. She loved the feeling of being tied to her mate. She closed her eyes as she spasmed around his cock, milking him of his seed. She had led him on a merry chase, and he had proven himself to her again, as he always did. And he would prove himself to the pack, defeating Gary. She had faith in him.
He awoke to the sounds of birds chirping. His arms were tight around Lee, he could feel his knot, still imbedded in her, but almost receded enough. He'd wait, he was too comfortable. She was still sleeping soundly. He picked a blade of grass and grinned as he dragged it across the bridge of her nose. Her hand waved in the air at it. He trailed it over her upper lip and chuckled as she wrinkled her nose and tried to shoo it away.
Lee waved her hand across the front of her face to get rid of that blasted piece of grass in front of her face and awoke to her mate laughing his head off. She grinned and pulled his arms around her stomach. She looked across the sky and saw the sun peaking over the mountains. She sighed, and he held her tighter. She felt his breath in her ear.
"I wish you didn't have to go, but there's no choice love." He got to his feet and held his arms outstretched to her. She took his hands, and he pulled her to her feet. They walked slowly towards the house. They caught glimpses of other mated pairs doing the same. None of them wanted this day to begin.
The dawn broke and the final preparations were being made. David would drive the lead car with Lee. He walked with a limp but there were no other physical long term affects from the fight with Paul. He didn't want to leave, but his duty was to his Alpha and his pack. He had been given the honor of guarding the Alpha Bitch, and he would protect her with his life if needed. He pretended to be busy while Carr and Lee said their goodbye's.
Too soon for either of them it was time to go. Carr reluctantly pulled away from his mate, gave a nod to David, and stepped back. He and the assembled pack members waved goodbye to friends and family. He could hear a few sobs from some of the females in the passing vehicles. He really hated to do this, but it'd be safer for them in the mountains. Reports from the scouts had been that nothing in the area had been disturbed. He felt certain that Gary wanted to concentrate on Karen and Sarah, so he would come to the compound. He knew it.