Page 32

Chapter Thirty-One

Talia

T he air around the pack has been nervous and excited the past few days as we prepped for the other shifters to arrive.

This kind of meeting, not only between other wolf packs, but other shifters as a whole is completely unprecedented.

According to Wes, this has never happened before in any kind of recent documented history.

Drayton and Penn have been particularly busy the past two days as they get ready to play diplomats to the hierarchy of the other packs.

Apparently packs isn't correct for all shifter types, but it's the easiest word for me to use to understand.

Most of this is going right over my head and it's making me a little self-conscious.

"Hey, Talia!" Selene yells from across the dining hall. She waves me over where she's sitting with a few of the other pack members.

I vaguely remember meeting them after the attack, but their names aren't coming to me as I walk over.

Wes follows behind me as my security detail for the day. Forrester has been working alongside his brother, but he's supposed to take over later tonight.

The other three will be intermittent between them for today while everyone arrives.

"Hi Selene," I say as I approach, my cheeks getting warm from the nerves.

Meeting and talking to people outside of my mates still feels so foreign and different to me.

"You remember Nathan, Justin, Lila, and Cole, right?" Selene points to each of them as she says their name and I want to hug her in appreciation.

I do, in fact, remember them now that she's said their names.

"I do," I assure them with a smile. "How are you all doing? Is your shoulder feeling better now, Justin?"

Justin grins and nods his head at my question. "It's right as rain now."

I glance back at Wes, the phrase not something I'm familiar with at all. Wes is busy on the phone, but he gives me a reassuring smile. Not that it helps me at all because I still have no idea what rain has to do with being right or Justin's shoulder.

"Um." I wince and physically swallow my pride. "I'm sorry, I don't understand what that means. Does it do something in the rain?"

Selene jumps in, her soft nature calming down my embarrassment. "No, it just means it feels back to normal. It's a weird phrase people use to say that it's all good again."

"I'm sorry," Justin interjects frantically. "I didn't mean to confuse you. It's sometimes hard to remember that not everyone grew up with the same phrases. I should have just said yes and thank you. Because seriously, thank you!"

I smile and blush again. "It was really no problem for me. I enjoy helping and healing."

"This is why the pack loves you so damn much," Cole grumbles with a smirk. "You're just so kind. Everything you do is nice. It's hard for the rest of us to keep up with that!"

"She's literally goddess blessed to heal us all," Lila says with an eye roll. "You aren't meant to keep up with that, dingus. She's one of a kind!"

They start bickering between themselves over how amazing I am. It's deeply uncomfortable for me, causing me to back up slowly until I bump into Wes, who snakes his arm around my waist to hold me against his chest. His phone is now put away and his attention is strictly on me, and the wolves in front of me.

“She is pretty amazing, isn’t she?” Wes interjects with a grin. “She’s also humble and shy so this conversation can happen when she’s out of earshot.”

They all look at me and grin sheepishly.

“Sorry, Talia,” Justin apologizes with a wave of his hand. “We are just really happy you’re part of the pack. You’re one of the best things to happen to Forntida.”

“Thank you.” I drop my eyes to the ground and shuffle my feet. “I appreciate you saying that.”

"Want to disappear with me?" Wes whispers in my ear. His voice is deep and sends shivers down my spine that I do my best to ignore while we're surrounded by others.

"Yes, please."

"I'm going to steal my mate away. We'll see you all at the bonfire later!"

They all say goodbye, a knowing glint in their eyes as they can no doubt hear the intentions behind his words. I'm not a prude, but I am slightly uncomfortable with other people knowing the when of it all. One simple kiss behind my ear has those thoughts immediately disappearing from my mind.

Wes takes my hand and walks me out of the hall, back towards the house. The walk is a blur as my heart races and my mind wanders to all the dirty, fun things we did at his desk. Wes's hand tightens against mine, the smell of our mutual arousal filling the air around us.

We barely get the door closed before he's on me, his hands tangled in my hair as his lips devour my own. He walks me back against the door, pushing his body against mine and placing his leg between my own.

My hips move of their own accord, the ache between my legs driving me to find friction. The moment I grind against Wes' leg, explosions of pleasure light up every nerve ending in my body.

"Wes," I gasp, his name coming off my lips like a prayer and curse at the same time.

"Fuck, say my name like that again," Wes groans, melding our bodies even closer together.

"Wes."

"I promised you the next time I got you like this, you wouldn't know where I ended and you began and I intend to fulfill that promise."

Wes picks me up, wrapping my legs effortlessly around his waist as he jogs up the stairs towards my room. His lips stay on mine, tasting and teasing me. He slams the door closed behind us and slides me onto the bed, never breaking contact with my lips.

Wes sits up and rips his shirt off, before pulling mine off as well. I kiss him, biting down on his lip and drawing out a low, delicious groan of pleasure from him. His hands deftly work my bra, taking it off in seconds and throwing it with our discarded shirts.

"You are so beautiful, Tal. Not even the greatest artist in the world could do you justice," Wes whispers, his eyes darkening as he takes in my half naked state. "I need to see all of you."

I unwrap my legs from around him and watch as he slides my leggings down my legs, cursing under his breath when he sees me already bare beneath them.

"God, your scent is intoxicating."

Wes spreads my legs, biting his lip in arousal as he takes in my soaking wet, achy center. His hands curl under my thighs and grip my hips. Wes tastes me, licking my folds until he reaches my clit, then sucking it into his mouth. He repeats the motions, his fingers digging into me like he’s afraid I’ll move away before he gets his fill.

"Oh god," I cry out, my eyes slamming shut at the pleasure coursing through me.

Wes sucks my clit into his mouth one more time and slides two fingers inside of me, curling them upwards and sending me over the edge. The orgasm rushes through me suddenly, locking all of my muscles into place. My body tenses then explodes into unbelievable pleasure that has me shaking and gasping unintelligible words.

"You taste so fucking good," Wes groans against my folds, lightly licking one more time and sending shivers through me. "But I need to be inside of you, Tal. I've dreamt about nothing else since I had you writhing on my lap. I regret not taking you then and there."

“I want that too,” I assure him with a shaky voice.

He pulls off his jeans, and quickly follows with his boxers. His erection springs free, enticing me to come closer, yet before I can, he grabs my hands and pins me down to the bed.

"If you touch me, this will be over far too quickly, my love."

“But I want to touch you too.”

“Next time, Tal. You can touch me next time,” Wes promises.

Lining up his hips with mine, he nudges my entrance with his cock. I'm mesmerized by the look on his face as he slides inside of me. His cock stretches me in the most delicious way.

"Like fucking heaven," Wes sighs. He kisses me deeply as he pulls out and thrusts back in, slowly and deliberately.

"More," I beg against his lips, but he just chuckles and keeps the same agonizing pace.

"You'll get more when I decide you get more, not a moment sooner. You'll take this cock exactly how I give it to you,” Wes growls, the sound somehow going straight to my clit. “Tell me you understand, Tal.”

I moan in response, but Wes isn’t satisfied with that answer. He pulls out of me completely, the sudden emptiness a shock to the system.

“Tell me,” he demands, grabbing his cock and slapping it gently against my clit.

I cry out and nod, forcing words to come out. “Yes, I understand.”

“That’s my girl,” Wes growls.

He thrusts himself back inside of me, stroking the flames of another orgasm that's starting far deeper than the first one. My fingers dig into his shoulders as he picks up the pace little by little, the slow climb of the pace has my orgasm following suit. It's long, drawn out and absolutely exquisite.

"You have no idea what you do to me," Wes whispers, his voice deep and breathless. I clench around him, moaning at the arousal and pleasure in tandem. "Talia, I -Fuck."

"Wes," I beg in desperation. "I'm so close. Please, I need more."

Wes grins in response, hooking one arm under my knee and drawing my leg up closer to my head. His cock feels impossibly deep and I finally understand what he means by not knowing where I end and he begins. We are one, our bodies tightly and deliciously intertwined.

"Are you ready to cum for me, love?" Wes bites my lip and slips his hand from around my thigh, moving towards my clit. "I want to watch you fall apart."

"Yes!"

"Cum for me. Fuck," Wes groans, his breath getting shallow and fast. "Atta girl, cum all over my cock."

He pinches my clit, sending me over the edge as he stills inside of me. I scream some semblance of his name as the pleasure rushes through me. It consumes everything until all I can hear is our breathing and all I can feel is the perfect way our bodies fit together.

"I love you," I whisper, snuggling into his neck as he lays on top of me.

"I love you, Tal." Wes lifts his head, his dark brown eyes taking in my face. His face softens the longer he looks at me, and I melt against him. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I will spend every moment of our lives together showing you just how amazing you are."

After a few minutes, he pulls himself out of me and I instantly miss him. Wes smiles down at me and kisses me soft and languidly.

"I'm going to run you a bath. You stay here." Wes gets up, leaving me a limp mess on the bed.

All I want to do is close my eyes and sleep, but Wes comes back with a wet cloth and shakes his head.

"No sleeping," Wes chuckles. "You need to get cleaned up since the other shifters are starting to arrive. I was told to keep you out of their eyesight while the others get things settled."

"You definitely kept me occupied," I giggle. I sit up when he's done and follow him into my bathroom. "For the record, you could keep me occupied any time."

"Noted," Wes says with a wink. "Now let's get you in. Forrester will be here in about thirty minutes to switch out with me. I need to be in the meeting to help Drayton with fielding questions."

I sigh and climb in, feeling both satisfied and nervous.

"You relax, I need to answer some emails. I'll just be in the bedroom so call if you need me."

Wes kisses me then leaves, and it's just me and my thoughts. I'm glad Wes didn't tell me until after our time together that everyone was arriving because I wouldn't have been able to think of anything else. What if they don't believe us?

My peryton nudges my mind, trying to soothe my fears and worries. Closing my eyes, I drift into the meadow with her. In here it's harder to feel worried, especially being surrounded by the goddess's light. They have to believe us. We have to save shifters.

We have to.