The Mating Revolution

Chapter Eight

I was surprised when I could only see the world in shades of gray. My vision was sharp though. I could see deep in the forest. I could see the insects and critters going this way and that. I looked down and saw my own paws. This was crazy. I looked up and found Keaton in wolf form towering over me. I noticed that others started to shift. The Gamma Female first then the new mates of the Warriors then the Omegas. I could hear the bones breaking. As several of the new members shift for the first time, I heard screams. I was proud of myself for not screaming. As I stood beside Keaton the rest of the pack shifted, even the Omegas that served dinner. Every pack member was allowed to go on the first run. Once everyone shifted Keaton nudged me in the direction of the forest. We took off together, Keaton faster than I. We had no real way of communication, but I could feel in my gut what was expected of me. I wanted to snarl at the word expected. I knew I couldn’t make a scene though. This pack thrived off respect. No revolution would start if I didn’t have the respect of the pack members. Earned respect is much different than forced respect. We ran several miles until we made it to a large clearing. Keaton shifted back and motioned for me to do so as well. Shifting back was so much easier. It took little more than a thought for the process to start. It wasn’t painful either. Finally, Keaton and I stood, naked, side by side in front of our, naked, pack. I’ve never seen this many naked people before. A blush crept up my cheeks. Keaton bent down to whisper in my ear. “Don’t be embarrassed Luna. Nudity is part of our life.” I nodded, blush still on my cheeks. Keaton held up his hand and everyone who could fit into the clearing turned their attention to him. “To commemorate our Luna, my mate, we will mark each other in front of you. This is a symbol of our promise to the pack to rule effectively and fairly side by side. This is my Luna; this is my mate. The Mood Goddess destined her for me and that is a gift I will no throw away.” Keaton looked at me. Letting my instincts guide me I opened my mouth. “This is my Alpha; this is my mate. By his side I will help him rule this pack.” The pack chanted in unison “You are our Alpha; you are our Luna.” Then they bowed. Keaton turned to his side and I turned to him. He brushed the hair from my neck and brought me close to him. He lifted me up to him and I wrapped my legs around his waist. I felt his c**k growing between his legs. It made my p***y wet with moisture. At the same time, we bent towards each other’s necks. I felt my canines elongate. We pierced each other’s marking spot at the same time. Pleasure rippled through my body and I felt him shudder. The world fell away as we were buried in one another. Too soon I felt him retract his teeth and lick the spot to seal the wound. I did the same and unwrapped my legs from his waist as he gently set me down. The world came back into focus and I heard the thundering applause. Keaton held up his hand and the clearing immediately went silent. “Thank you all for attending the ceremony. Dismissed.” Everyone started shifting back into their wolves and heading back in the direction of the pack house, and I assumed their own homes. I closed my eyes, getting ready to shift but Keaton placed his hand on my arm. “Wait Luna.” I opened my eyes. “Yes Alpha.” The clearing quickly emptied until it was just us. He pulled me into his arms, the emotionless mask falling. His face was hard to read with so many emotions fluttering past. I could see pride, lust, and maybe love. I wasn’t sure. “How did you know what to do?” He asked, his voice held awe. “I just followed my instincts. I had to since you explained next to nothing to me.” He let out a nervous chuckle. “Sorry I’ve been running my pack for so long and I forget you used to be human. You are such a natural at being a werewolf.” I shudder at that thought. I hated werewolves, right? “What is it little Kat.” I shook my head, not willing to spill my secrets. I focused on something else he said instead. “How old are you?” “I am 27. How about you?” I shook my head, confused. “I’m 19. Why weren’t we mates last year?” He sighed sadly. “My father passed away one day before we were supposed to leave for The Mating last year. I had to stay back to make the arrangements. I was already Alpha but there is much to do when an Alpha dies, whether it is a former, current, or future one. I figured if I had a mate, she would be there next year. “I’m glad you missed last year. I got another year with my family and my friends.” His body stiffened. “Are you unhappy with me?” I pulled away from and sighed. I wasn’t really ready to tell him, but I wasn’t sure how long I could keep it in. “I’m not unhappy with you. We fit together. I can see that. I’ve always been unhappy with the way werewolves treat humans though. I used to hate them and now I am one. Its confusing. I miss my family. I know its against the rules to call home after you are mated. Its tearing me up inside knowing I can never speak to my family again.” I could feel tears trying to trickle out, but I kept them in. I was tired of crying. I was strong. I was a Luna. No amount of crying was going to help anything. Keaton sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry about your family. I will allow you to write them one letter a year. They can write you back once a year. I can’t do any more than that. Being Alpha of the biggest pack allows me a few perks but I still have to answer to The Council just like everyone else.” I nodded. The council was made up of the wisest werewolves. They helped to create the laws. I kissed Keaton on the cheek. “Thank you, Kea.” He gave me a loving look and nodded. “Are you ready to head back?” I nodded and let the shift overtake me. I was surprised that I didn’t think about his nudity even once during the conversation. It made me proud. I actually forgot that we were both naked in front of each other. Instead of running together, as a team, I decided to race Keaton. I shot off first after nudging him. He quickly overtook me. When we made it out of the forest Keaton stopped so I tackled him. My mouth open, tongue hanging out the side I laid on top of him, pinning him down. I did my best to convey a smile in my wolfy form. With a playful glint in Keaton’s eyes he flipped me on my back and had me pinned. I tried to struggle out of it, but I couldn’t so I went limp. Keaton flashed me a wolfy smile then licked my face before getting off me and shifting back into human form. He let me see a smile before his mask overtook his face. I shifted back as well and looped my arms around his waist.

When we got to the door, he unwrapped me from him and ushered me inside the small mud room. Two robes were hanging up. Keaton handed me one and took the other. He quietly explained to me, “Unless we are shifting or just got done shifting no one is to see your naked body. That is mine.” He growled out the last word. I brought his face to mine. “Same Alpha. Mine.” I placed a quick kiss on his lips as he smiled. He let the mask settle over his face as we walked into the main floor. I could hear pack members in the living room. We walked past the living room, people bowing as we came to them, and headed to our floor. Once in our bedroom I shimmed out of the robe and headed into the bathroom. “I’m going to take a shower and get this makeup off my face.” I used the toilet as quietly as I could before stepping under the steaming spray. I stood there longer this time. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before the shower door opened. I could smell my mate. He came close to me but didn’t touch me as he started to wash himself. I opened my eyes and watched him rub soap over his body. I ached to be those fingers. I could feel the pull wanting me to touch him. I closed my eyes and washed myself quickly. I wasn’t ready for that. We needed to talk before that happened. Once I was done, I jumped out of the shower, leaving him alone, and slipped on a robe. I didn’t bother blow drying my hair since I was just going to bed. I searched the closet until I found a suitable pajama set. Something that wasn’t revealing but made me feel pretty. I could feel the need for Keaton’s approval in my bones. I sat in one of the chairs by the fireplace after I get a fire going in it. Keaton joined me soon. He was wearing just a pair of boxers. I looked at him, confidence waning. I looked back at the fire and chewed on the inside of my lip. “Do you want to talk?” I was relieved he said it first. I nodded and took a breath. “I’m sure you’re ready to just jump into bed with me but that’s not who I am. I am hella attracted to you, but I don’t know how much of that is the bond and how much is actually me. I am not just here to bear your babies. I am your equal and I ask that you treat me as such. I know its part of my duty to help create the future Alpha of our pack but I’m not ready to have a baby.” Keaton was silent for a long moment. I was afraid to look at him. I didn’t want to overstep my bounds, but I felt like I should be able to tell him anything in the safety of our own bedroom. The silence between us was growing. “I understand. I don’t see you as beneath me. I meant what I said in the ceremony, side by side. You are my equal. I won’t force babies on you until you are ready. You are not just here to cater to my every whim, and I am not here to cater to yours. Being mates is like your human marriage except stronger. There is no chance of divorce between us but we each must give 100%.” I nodded as I understood his words. They put me at ease. Maybe there was more to werewolves then I thought. “I have more questions. Can I ask them?” Keaton nodded. “I know you have to put on a face of complete emotionlessness in front of the pack. Am I expected to do the same?” Keaton tilted his head. “Not necessarily. I only do it to keep the pack in line. It isn’t easy to run a pack of this size, especially alone.” I nodded and reached out for him. “You aren’t alone anymore. I’m here.” Keaton smiled and kissed the hand that rested on his. “For that I am forever grateful.” I looked once more at the fire. “I don’t agree with the treatment of humans though. Never mistake my actions to help run this pack for that. I hope to change it one day.” Keaton shook his head “That’s not a smart idea. You may not be in danger from me, but the council will not take lightly to that.” I hugged my chest. “I know but everyone has a right to free will.” I felt anger roll off Keaton. “Before the war werewolves didn’t have free will. We were afraid to show the world who we were. It was the humans that discovered what we were. They were afraid and instead of trying to understand us and allow us to live side by side with them, they attacked us. That first year we tried to work out a treaty with them, but they obliterated complete packs and denied all offers of peace. We did what we had to do to survive.” I countered, “That’s not what I was taught. I was told that the werewolves showed themselves and slaughtered us. We didn’t back down though until we realized we couldn’t win. We waved the white flag to save our species and for punishment our rights were taken away.” Keaton didn’t say anything. It was hard to tell which version was true. History has a way of being one sided. I stood up and climbed onto Keaton’s lap, unwilling to let this come between us. He instantly relaxed at my touch. “Let’s not argue Kea. I don’t know what version of history is right, I just know the here and now. Right now, I want to go to bed with my mate.” He grinned and stood up, holding me in his arms. He placed me gently in bed and crawled in beside me. I pressed my back into his chest and quickly fell asleep.