Beloved

23

A snowstorm blanketed the land in a sea of white while they were driving home. They kept the music off and their conversation to a minimum, and still Dante gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles whitened.

Exhausted when they finally reached home, they decided to shower and watch a movie in their pajamas. They settled on an adventure and curled up in the chair together, Gaia draping along Dante's lap with her head resting against his shoulder. She sighed contentedly as his arms wrapped around her.

Very soon, Dante leaned in to breathe her in, and his hand casually brushed over her silky shorts set and down her slender thigh. He loved the way she smelled, but especially fresh out of the shower, all warm and relaxed. The only thing better was when she was aroused.

She wasn't paying much attention to the movie, as Dante had been running his hand over her skin since they sat together, and right now his fingers were gently massaging her breasts and nipples, and his breath and kisses were tickling her sensitive ear and neck. She moaned and shifted her legs, feeling her wetness leak down her thigh. She'd chosen to not wear panties under the loose shorts, but hadn't expected him to start foreplay before they got into bed. She could feel his member straining at the thin cloth under her buttocks, and she wanted to stroke it.

Dante's hand moved from her breast, skimming down her body and thigh as he nibbled her ear and licked her neck, murmuring, "You're dripping all over my shorts. You smell amazing." His fingers grazed aside the loose hem of her shorts and found her slick folds, sliding in. His thumb found her clit and he slid a finger into her slit. "You didn't wear panties? Naughty girl."

To his surprise, Gaia moaned and her pussy clenched around his finger when he called her naughty. He filed that away for another time. His thumb massaging her nub, he stroked into her with one finger a few times before adding a second. "So wet," he groaned. "Is all this for me?" He lowered his head to kiss her shoulder, sucking gently.

Her hips rutted against his hand. He added a third finger and his other hand pinched her nipple. Her pussy clenched and she gasped, "That," the word came out high pitched and breathless.

"Breathe, baby." Holding his had still, he gently massaged her g-spot with one knuckle, while his thumb gently flicked her clit. When she came, he sped the pace of his fingers stroking deep within her.

"Dante," Gaia cried out, her back arching. She could feel her pussy walls squeezing as his fingers stroked and his thumb massaged. She wanted his hard cock, bulging beneath her, but this felt so good. She bit her lip and melted into the sensations coursing through her body.

"That's it, baby, ride my fingers," Dante kissed the nape of her neck. "Let me hear all your sounds."

She cried out again, her pussy walls clenching his fingers, her juices coating his hand. "Please... I need you."

Dante withdrew his hand from between her legs, and swiftly ripped off her shorts as he repositioned her so she was on all fours, braced against the chair arms. He stood behind her, shoving down his boxers and lined up his cock, teasing her slit until she was begging and he was covered in her juices. He grabbed her hips and thrust his dick the deepest he'd ever been inside her.

And it felt glorious.

"Dante," Gaia peered over her shoulder and rolled her hips, "fuck me."

That phrase out of his sweet, innocent mate's mouth nearly did him in, and he held onto his control by a bare thread. He gripped her hips and slowly pulled out until just the tip of his head was hovering at her entrance, then he thrust back in, stroking hard and fast, his balls slapping her thighs and her lusty whimpers and moans filled his ears.

"Play with yourself, baby, play with your clit."

He soon felt his load ready to blow and he leaned over her, bracing his weight against the chair arm, and slid his other hand to her throat, caressing his mark as he sucked her nape.

With Dante's mouth and fingers on her neck, Gaia felt another orgasm on the edge of release, and she gripped the cushion beneath her. He told her to cum. Her toes curled and her eyes rolled back until she saw stars. She cried out, her pussy milked his cock and he was grunting his own release.

Spent, he wrapped his arm around her waist and twisted his body to land in the chair, pulling her atop of him. His breathing slowed, he gently swept her hair off her face and studied her. Her eyes were closed and her breaths still hard and fast. She was flushed, and her face was relaxed in pure bliss.

"How're you doing, baby girl?"

Her head lolled. "Hm? Oh, I'm good," she said in a soft, breathy voice, "that was ...incredible. Definitely want to do that again."

Dante chuckled and nuzzled her ear. "Oh, we will."

***

Brent found his mate at the university in the human city the first week into the first semester. A human girl by the name of Kayleigh, who was studying early childhood development.

Desperate to not frighten her, he was wooing her at her pace, with strategic hints that he was... different. She quickly learned he wasn't talking about vegetarianism, which she practiced, but she was open to getting to know him, and his secret, anyway. More recently she was demanding to meet his friends.

After much encouragement from Gaia, he showed Kayleigh his wolf. When she didn't scream and run, and actually asked to ride his back, he knew she was a keeper. Having grown up in foster care, the idea of a massive family appealed to her. He brought her to Thursday dinner at the Alpha's, and was pleased Gaia immediately took a liking to his mate as soon as she and Brent entered her home.

"Are you certain this is vegetarian?" Kayleigh was peering in the oven window, frowning at one dish in particular.

"Yes, it's definitely vegetarian," Gaia assured her. "I found an egg substitute that worked well and won't give a weird flavor, but it's not vegan. It does have cheese."

"Well, I haven't gone full vegan. My doctor says I shouldn't." Kayleigh crossed her arms and pouted.

"I think you're safe with the spinach manicotti." Gaia winked. She turned and smiled at Lucas, who was giving her a side hug.

Brent snickered.

Kayleigh twisted her torso, narrowing her eyes at him, "You can laugh."

"Yeah, I can. The rest of us are going to be feasting on the roast Gaia's got going on, and it smells ah-maze-ing."

Lucas kissed Gaia's cheek and said, "You're in for a treat, Kayleigh. My bestie is an amazing cook."

"I also have a tray of vegetables roasting, and that's actually vegan. I used grape seed oil." She usually put the veg in with the roast for the flavor and the browning, but wanted to be certain her newest guest had plenty to eat.

Kayleigh nodded, appearing appeased.

"Is there anything we can do to help," Darla asked.

Gaia scanned the room. Everyone already had their beverages, the cutlery was set and plates were stacked on the island next to the condiments and dishes the others had brought, and mats and serving utensils were arranged on the counters for the dishes currently in the oven.

Her friends asked this question every week since they'd begun these dinners, but she always said the same thing, "You already did your part bringing the sides and desert, we provide the space and main courses."

"But Dante's meeting with Colton and Randal," Lucas said, "and that roast looks as big as you, nugget."

Gaia rolled her eyes at the nickname she'd gained, though she secretly liked it. "It needs another ten minutes, but if they aren't out of the meeting by then, I'll let you pull it out. Fair?"

"Yeah, we can get the food out of the oven for you, nugget," Brent smirked. He wrapped his arm around Kayleigh's waist.

Kayleigh asked, "What do you think they're talking about up there?" Brent had mentioned about the pack hierarchy, but she was still trying to sort it out.

"Pack business," Gaia answered.

"Pack business like that meeting you went to over the weekend?"

Gaia had dreaded the question, and that it came from her best friend and beta female made it harder to not say anything. She held up her hands, "I've been sworn to secrecy until Dante speaks of it. I'm sorry."

"That intense, huh?"

Gaia bit her lip and shifted her gaze to the flooring. And shoes. Seriously, Lucas was sporting some nifty suede kicks. Electric blue was the shade, if she wasn't mistaken.

"I heard a bunch of rogues attacked," Brent crossed his arms. Raising an eyebrow, he stared at Gaia, tilting his head as color rose in her cheeks.

"What exactly did you hear, Brent," Dante's deep voice rumbled into the kitchen before he'd descended the stairs. He eyed the warrior trainer as he made his way to his mate's side. He knew everyone was curious, but he didn't like anyone trying to bully his gentle little mate. Ever. He draped his arm around Gaia's shoulders, pulling her against him and kissing the top of her head.

Brent straightened as soon as he heard his alpha's voice. "Um, I heard the alpha meeting was interrupted by a rogue attack."

Dante's brow rose. "What else did you hear?" He softened his gaze when he turned to Gaia, who was patting his arm. She indicated she needed assistance taking the food from the oven.

"I heard it was a record number of rogues," Brent answered.

Setting the manicotti on a mat, Dante said, "What else." He reached into the oven for the sheet pan of vegetables, and then the roast.

"I heard there were also a record number of blesseds, and even Gaia had to fight."

Darla and Lucas gasped and looked at each other before pummeling their friend with questions, who hadn't shifted yet to their knowledge.

"There were two blesseds at the fight," Dante said, effectively silencing his mate's friends, "but there are a record number of blesseds around the world at this time. And Gaia was in a fight, but it wasn't physical, or with the rogues. One of the alphas was caught terribly mistreating his luna, and Gaia channeled her wolf, setting him straight."

Darla asked, "Who was the other blessed?"

Randal said, "Angelica's wolf is Ember."

Lucas asked, "But when did Gaia shift, and why didn't you tell us?"

Darla asked, "Have you set a date for the ceremony?"

"I haven't shifted yet, but she did tell me it will be soon." She handed Dante the carving set and made sure the other dishes had serving utensils.

"Gaia did do a partial shift as she was channeling her wolf, but she hasn't fully shifted yet."

Kayleigh said, "If there's a ceremony, does this mean shopping might be involved?"

Darla answered, "Oh, yes. Yes, we absolutely will be going shopping." She grinned delighted at Gaia's discomfort. "And there's nothing you can do to get out of, Gaia."

Kayleigh squealed and bounced on her toes, clapping her hands.

"Gaia, this meat is falling off the bone. I barely have to slice it. Everyone grab your plates and help yourselves." Dante stabbed a small chunk of the roast with the fork and offered it to Gaia. She plucked the morsel from the tines, pulled it in half and fed him a portion as she popped the other half in her own mouth. They both moaned as the meat melted on their tongues, then kissed. "Grab us our plates, babe." His eyes narrowed watching her eye him seductively as she sucked the meat juice from her fingers and walked around him.

"Nugget is a handful, I see," Randal smirked, getting himself and Lucas servings of the roast Dante had carved.

Colton and Brent smirked and snorted.

"Yeah," Dante grinned, "she's an adorable little minx."

"I can't wait until she's Luna," Darla said. "G's been my bestie since she moved to this territory. Having her as luna when I'm beta female and Lucas is gamma with Randal is just proof our friendship is meant to be." She smiled at her friend on the other side of the island.

Gaia blushed and gently nudged elbows with her friend as she rounded the island with the last two plates.

"I'm going to need this hierarchy explained to me again," Kayleigh said.

Brent kissed her head, "I'll explain it as often as you need me to."

"You might take her to the neutral territory library," Gaia suggested. "There's an entire section for humans who are mated to wolves."

"And there's nugget proving why the goddess determined she's perfect for the luna role," Colton said.

"The roast is incredible," Lucas said, juice dribbling down his chin.

Darla asked, "What are you planning for the luna ceremony?"

"By tradition, my mother is planning everything," Dante said, "and knowing my mom, she likely already has everything planned out, for every contingency. You might want to hold off your shopping adventure until my mom arrives."

Darla, Lucas, and Kayleigh exchanged looks of annoyance. Darla muttered, "Fine."