Page 45 of Alpha's Secret Baby
“Not until after the ceremony,” Cherry said.
I interjected. “You know that kind of old-fashioned stuff doesn’t matter. You do realize that everyone knows we’ve already had sex. I mean, we’ve got a banshee to prove it.”
Cherry laughed. “It’s not about how it looks, Dylan. If I stay at my dad’s for the first month, he’ll get to know Fern more before she moves to the Starsmoon compound. And I’ll be nearer the store at my dad’s and can get it up and running and make sure it’s ticking over before running off to the boonies with you.”
I begrudgingly agreed, even though it would be torture not to fall asleep beside her every night.
“Whatever you want, love,” I said as I picked her up, bundling her into my arms. “But I’m going to have to make the most, even more so, of every moment I get you to myself.”
Cherry’s eyes heated with desire, and I practically barreled into the client fitting room, closing the door with my back. I only put Cherry down so I could bolt the lock across the door should Maisy return unexpectedly.
As I stared down at my mate, I knew from the flush staining her cheeks that she was remembering the night in Berlin when I took her against the wall of the other fitting room. I could already scent her as wetness pooled between her legs. The perfume was an invitation to my cock, which stiffened and soon strained at the waistband of my pants.
I pushed my mate against the wall, ripping her lacey knickers down, then spreading her legs. A grumble of approval escaped my throat as I rolled her tight sheath dress up over her hips, exposing her hot pussy. I kissed the smoothness of her thighs, reveling in each of the quivers and moans she awarded me. My mouth was soon on her sex, tasting her, spreading her further as her wetness filled my mouth.
Cherry’s body stiffened as she gasped, her legs trembling as her orgasm rocked her body.
“Dylan,” she cried; the sound was as sweet as the taste of her. As she gasped my name with needy whimpers, I smiled and let her feel the pressure of my cock against her entrance, the needy moan that escaped her, defeating the last of my self-control. I thrust into her, until I was enveloped by her. Lifting her up, Cherry wrapped her legs around me, and her pussy took the rest of me in.
Her exquisite tightness quivered and shook as I rode her hard, pursuing that moment of intoxicating release. As my pleasure climbed, I drove into her faster and deeper, and she was once more calling my name. As an orgasm shook through her again, I was pulled over the edge with her.
It was in the tender moments as we still heaved in breaths so close to one another that I remembered I needed to share with her the news about the coming battle with the Bloodmoon Pack.
I stroked her cheek, caressing her dainty little chin in my hand as I said, “I need to tell you about the Bloodmoon Pack.” I felt her stiffen in my arms. “They’re determined to fight us for our resources and land. They’ve made hostilities clear over the last few weeks by attacking the livestock of the ranches neighboring Starsmoon. They’ve stoked the human community’s suspicion of us. I’ve announced war on their pack. I’ll lead our pack into battle tomorrow.”
Cherry’s silver eyes filled with worry. “No.” She clung to me. “I can’t lose you now.” Her gaze misted. “Not when I finally have you completely.”
My lips found hers again, then I reassured her. “Starsmoon is a powerful pack. You won’t lose me, Cherry. Your Alpha will lead his pack into battle, and wewillbe victorious.”
Her lips closed on mine again and again as if feasting on the promise that had just fallen from them.
Chapter 29 Cherry
Dylan had rallied the Starsmoon Pack in the lower fields. All the males were gathered, their grey and white coats glinting in the star and moonlight as night swathed the landscape. Heather and I had collected the females of our pack in our old Luna’s house. Those who could fit had taken to the balconies at either end of the huge reception room, wanting to be outside to watch the battle. The rest of the women were gathered in the main reception room, still alert and listening to the quiet ushering around us.
Alarm for Dylan, for my dad, and Bert, and all the other males of my pack swept through me. Sweat beaded along my forehead, even in the crisp coolness of fall. I was pleased that Fern was being looked after by Maisy at my dad’s house. The other children were gathered in the main reception room. Their quiet chatter was the only noise punctuating the stillness.
Worry bit at me as I thought of Fern. What if, after finally being given her dad back and after meeting her grandfathers, she lost them now? I clenched my hands, refusing to let fear swallow me. I remembered Dylan’s promise to me: “Your Alpha, will lead our pack into battle, and we will be victorious.”The pack was strong and powerful. The lines of male wolves gathered on the plain declared that. The full force numbered two hundred.
The full might of Starsmoon would defend our lands. Dylan and our pack would win. Belief filled me up, not just in Nuu-Chah, but in my mate. After all, he had so much to fight for: me, his daughter, and his pack and home. Dylan would win, and we’d build our lives here in Lord Hills as we’d always been meant to.
My voice sounded firm as I shared with the other wives, girlfriends, and daughters around me. “They’ll win this. I know they will. Because they’re blessed by Nuu-Chah, and because they are fighting to keep us all safe.”
Heather’s comforting tones rolled through the night from the other balcony too. Fulfillment rushed through me at the sound of my old Luna’s voice, realizing that I’d taken on her role, the one I was always meant to have. I was the pack’s new Luna.
I thought fondly of all the times I’d shadowed Heather all those years ago, learning what I needed to be the pack’s Luna. Despite being on the brink of battle, contentment came over me as I knew this was where I was meant to be and the reason Dylan had asked me to come back. So I could serve our pack as his other half.
I pushed all of my faith into my words. “Our Alpha has never been stronger than he is now. He is fighting for his fated mate, his heir, and our pack. I promise you, he will not fail you, and his men will fight with the same courage as their Alpha.”
My words washed over the women who gazed out at their men on the front lines. I watched the females’ stances around me become straighter, their faces stronger like mighty trees, certain they would weather the approaching storm.
The first glint of grey and white fur over the hillside showed: the enemy ranks. Even from so far back from the border of the fields, my keen shifter senses homed in on the wolves. I knew the other females lining the front of the balconies were taxing their eyes to watch the stream of Bloodmoon wolves stalk down the hillside too.
With a collective inhale, we watched the males of our pack begin their rush across the plains to meet the enemy. As the two sides clashed, the night was punctuated by rumbles as if a storm had broken out. I knew the sounds would be echoing across the open countryside and funneling through the valleys. The noises would do nothing to help with the suspicion and fear that the human community had been afflicted with thanks to the Bloodmoon’s attempt to sow unrest. But even as the thought whirled through my mind, it was soon masked by fear as I watched the wolves clashing, unsure which pack was dominating the other.
I imagined Dylan’s fearsome beast hurtling through the rival pack, spilling blood and creating chaos. He was the Starsmoon Alpha, my heart cried. Nuu-Chah would be running with him and protecting him. Why, then, did the lump in my throat grow as I watched the continuing onslaught of wolves locking with one another’s jaws and claws?
The whines and howls that broke through the night had gotten wilder, too, as if one of hell’s pits had opened up below the night. The females around me wrung their hands, the woman beside me wrapped her arms around her, another started to sob. Did they see our side taking too many casualties? Had they deciphered who was winning?