Dream mate

Chapter 9 - Sam

SAM POV

-

The Alpha grumbled as he sat up, waking from his deep induced sleep state. His body groaned its resistance, feeling sluggish and achy as he swung his legs over the side of the cot. He rolled out the tension in his neck while looking around the large warehouse. It was as quiet as usual, mainly filled with sleeping wolves. Aside from their soft breaths, there was the consistent thrum of equipment and a quiet murmur coming from the few wolves that were awake and working.

Sam felt like s**t but that wasn’t the reason for his sour mood. Lying next to him was the only wolf he cared about in the room. The woman he had chosen to be his. Hana was dressed in a simple plain white gown, looking peaceful in her sleep state, certainly calmer than how he had left her in the other place. She had screamed when he bit her, mounting his fury ever higher. It wasn’t supposed to be like that, she wasn’t meant to resist. He had prepared a romantic date for her, apologised and they were getting hot and heavy together. Was it really his fault that her pushing him away for no reason made him snap?

He sighed; it didn’t matter now. Come the morning she would’ve forgotten, and things would be back to normal between them. Sam’s eyes lingered on the two red half moons at the base of Hana’s pale neck, holding all the anger and resentment he had for her last night. They’d fade soon, but it made his arousal stir to see his mark, true or not, on her flesh. She was his after all.

On the other side of his woman was a couple of Simon’s spiritual wolves whispering together about something he didn’t care to question.

“Where is he?” The Alpha growled, interrupting their work.

Both pairs of eyes snapped to him, but as usual they only held a mild contempt for the Alpha. They weren’t members of his pack and only recognised Simon as their superior. He was merely their test subject, and their lack of respect was obvious.

“I said, where is Simon?” Sam barely held the snarl from his voice.

“Oh, we heard you. We know how to listen after all.” One sneered whilst the other sniggered.

The Alpha jumped from the cot and prowled towards them, his fists clenched at his sides. He leaned over the one who had spoken but the blank face that looked up at him reminded him of the balance of power between them. Physically, he could beat these wolves to the ground with ease, but they had something else. Something more that they fought with. A power he would never gain and couldn’t overcome.

Sam turned on his heel and stormed from the room, ignoring the laughter behind him. He charged to the observatory desk, eyeing the man he wanted to see as soon as he entered the room.

“This is all going to shit.” He flung his arm wide, indicating the room of his sleeping pack members. The whole pack wasn’t being used but enough for him to be pissed at the amount of resource needed for this project.

“Given its so s**t, you seem to be enjoying your time in there thoroughly.” The woman, Lauren, spoke to his left. The way she stretched every syllable of the last word sent Sam’s ears pink. These wolves could control and see everything going on in the other place, seeing all of his encounters with his beautiful woman. It had been strange at first but now Sam barely thought about it as he devoured the body willing given to him each day.

He bared his teeth to her but before he could put her in her place, not caring who she was, a voice stopped him. Its tone chilled him to his core, and he forced his gaze to the man who conveyed so much power with simple words.

“Maybe it wouldn’t be going as bad if you didn’t make more work for my tribe.” The lavender eyed man drawled. He was reclining in an armchair in the middle of the room and dragged his gaze to the Alpha.

“More work?” Sam spat.

“Today, my wolves could do no adjustments to Hana or her connections because they had to alter some faded memories to include you biting her seventeen year old self in the throes of passion.” The Alpha’s cheeks darkened, his gaze dropping to the floor. “You, Samuel, have just wasted two days.”

“What’s two days? It’s been months and we are no closer to...”

“Do you doubt me?” Simon cut him off, his voice calm but razor sharp. It held a deadly control that could attack Sam if he wasn’t careful. He shut his mouth and gulped but didn’t reply. “I said...” Simon rose to his feet and stalked forward. “Do. You. Doubt. Me.”

“No.”

“Good boy.” Sam flinched when a hand patted against his cheek, but he missed the wild smirk that crossed Simon’s face. “Then trust my wolves. All you need to do is play your part, young Samuel, and you will get exactly what you paid for.” Simon stepped away from the Alpha and returned to lounging in the aim chair, leaving Sam panting as if the air had been stolen from his lungs. “I have other projects to go and oversee but treat my wolves well and listen to them.”

The last part held a threat and though Sam shivered, he felt his hackles rise. “The only reason I pushed her that far was because something happened. Something spooked her in...”

“Don’t worry about that. We’re working on the... interference too.” Simon waved off the concern and peered over Sam’s shoulder. “The only thing you need to know is there’s progress. Hana has begun to feel a real mate bond with you, and we are closer to our goal.”

“We’re starting the dream sequence; she’ll wake up in six minutes.” A voice behind Sam spoke before he could respond to the leader.

“You best get back in there, Alpha.”

It was a clear dismissal and Sam clenched his jaw as the rest of room continued their work as before as if he wasn’t there. He hated being around these wolves and the sooner they were off his territory the better. As soon as Hana was his, he’d kick them out himself.

-

-

-

-

It was always disorientating waking up the instant his eyes were closed. Sam’s vision swam and his head spun as he tried to blink away the fugue of being in the other place. He had to remind himself that his body was in an induced sleep state in the real world and this place was a dream. It felt real and had real physical ramifications, but he couldn’t allow himself to get lost in the fantasy. He leaned into the warmth at his side and focused on it, using it to draw his full conscious to him.

The figure was shivering despite the heat radiating off her skin and she was curled into a tight ball. A whimpering mess. It was like this day one of every cycle. The nightmare of Simon imprisoning Hana triggered the beginning and strengthened her need for Sam the moment she woke. It worked every time and he was happy to receive the benefits of her grateful affections.

Suddenly, Hana jerked awake, scrambling under the covers to lock herself into darkness. Sam’s heart clenched at the sight and his hand moved automatically to pull her free and hold her close. He adored the moments where he could calm down her panic and feel her cling to him like a life raft. It once again proved to him that she was his mate, no matter what the Moon Goddess thought. He held her tighter as he ran through the questions that grounded her and solidified the planted memories of their time together.

“How did you get here?”

“You found me in the cell and saved me. Simon took Marci and you found his camp to take her back and freed me too. Then you brought me back to your pack and gave me a home where I could always be safe from him.” A pause later she released a heavy sigh that puffed against his chest before looking up at him with a smile. Her expression was the complete opposite of the wild terror that took her the night before. “You saved me.”

“That’s right, Baby.” Sam cooed, rubbing soothing circles into her back as she relaxed into him. Her body was pressed tight to his, wrapped around him like a koala but he had to focus on something other than her naked body laying all over him. She didn’t usually respond to his advances until the evening of day one. Maybe he could surprise her for lunch instead. Seeing his mark on her had stirred his need and he didn't want to wait to enjoy her tight heat again.

“Is there something on my neck?” Hana winced and bared her neck to him.

Sam was glad she was looking away, as his canines extended at the delicious view. He took a breath and plastered a sheepish smile to his face, casually scratching at the back of his head with a faux sense of guilt. “I’m really sorry, Hana. I got carried away last night when we were intimate and felt the urge to mark you.” Her face furrowed in an adorable frown, and he planted an apologetic kiss on her cheek. “There must have been something stirring between us because you bared your neck to me and told me to do it. Maybe it’s the beginning of our mate bond forming?”

“Maybe.” She sounded unsure, her face scrunching with half memories confirming his story.

“You don’t remember?” He chuckled and gave her a squeeze. “We didn’t have that much to drink last night; I didn’t realise you were such a lightweight.”

Something in his jests must’ve disarmed her because her body relaxed again, and she released a sweet giggle. “That would explain the pounding headache I have.”

Sam tipped her head back with a finger beneath her chin. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

Hana’s eyes grew wide and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face close to hers. She pressed her soft lips to his and he rumbled his approval, sinking into her sweet taste. When she pulled back, she looked deep into his eyes. Her own were dark pools that Sam would happily drown in. “It’s not your fault that we both got carried away. One more day and then you can mark me for real.” She pecked him again and slid from his body to curl into his side. Sam drew the covers up to her neck, making a happy noise come from the back of her throat like a kitten and he smiled. “Do you think anyone would mind if I stayed in bed today?”

“No one will mind, Baby. We’ll sort everything out for tomorrow.” His fingers threaded through the stark white strands of her hair, playing in its softness. “A wolf only turns eighteen once, and I’m going to make it so special that you never forget it.”