Mistress of Blood and Fur

Chapter 7 - The Calling

Grace

Howls fill the air. The older Alphas light up the torches in the large backyard of the main house. Justine has chosen her mate, and it’s no surprise. Since there’s an urgency to repopulate Opium Hills, the ceremony comes only four weeks after my arrival. The other female wolf has been here for a few more weeks longer. So, it just makes sense that she’ll come first.

“The ritual is upon us to keep the sacred bond of this union. I, Alpha Kele, of the wolves native to Opium Hills, call upon the wolves of Justine Deschamps and Logan Arnold. Even as our senses are dying and no god or goddess grants us our mates, we know which path to take. We claim our freedom and destiny.”

“Destiny is ours. Here’s to Justine and Logan. To our rebirth,” says Alpha Godwin, raising his goblet to the full moon. The rest of the pack raise their goblets to the moon. A thrill races though me. As much as I’m lonely and bewildered, belonging to something like this makes my heart palpitate.

I can’t believe I have been here for a full lunar cycle. During the last few weeks, I’ve seen how Carlotta tried to ensnare all of my potential mates - Onyx, Dash and Fox. She gives up on Fox easily because he wouldn’t engage. I am thankful for him, although ours is more like a friendship. A companionship. I’ll take that in this lonely world. It may mean that I’ll be with a kind wolf as a mate.

Dash and Onyx are different. They make it a point to spend time with me, but I’ve seen Dash flirt with Carlotta, shocking me at first.

“She’s nothing to me.”

“Okay.”

“She and I used to -, well you know. The way we talk is just a way for her to keep away. She’ll come pressing if she realizes I’m completely into you.”

Meanwhile, Onyx is always tempted to taunt her and give her biting responses whenever she tries to seduce him. I’m not sure I’m happy about that. I’m also aware that I’m the youngest of the three brides, and men may stay away from me because of it. There are no explanations from Onyx, but I’ve seen flashes of dislike on his face whenever Carlotta passes by. It may be pure hate, or it may be a different kind of passion. I’m still learning to identify which is which.

I hear growling. I realize it’s coming from Justine and Logan. She’s turning. I know she must have turned and hunted with the rest of the pack for several nights since I came but I had never seen it for myself until tonight.

It’s not a full-turn. Her eyes turn red, and her fingernails make way for claws. It’s the same for Logan, but I can swear his transformation is more advanced, with his upper back bent and the hair on his arms and legs increasing. I’ve seen my brothers turn. I have even seen my parents transform, a rarity, but I haven’t seen anyone else do it. Every time I see one of my father’s friends begin the process, I stay away.

Logan grasps his bride and gives her a kiss. There were hoots from the mostly male crowd. I know that the two will seal the deal later, although I suspect they’ve done it a few times before. Even Carlotta has been making her way through the pack. She has had at least two or three of them already, but she doesn’t look like she’s ready to settle down.

“We’re going to hear more of that later,” one of the younger wolves whispers. I blush at the suggestiveness in his tone. Of course, I know what’s going to happen next. They will mate and mark each other, and the possibility of the rest of us hearing it all is high. Everything seems to echo on the hills. Logan and Justine have been mostly secretive, but now that they have gone through the ritual and their wolves are involved, things may become heated.

“You okay?” asks Onyx, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Yes,” I lie, and he pointedly watches my fingers twisting each other.

“You eventually have to make a choice,” he says, making things worse.

I don’t answer, and he stands there, still watching the rest of the ceremony. Finally, the newly-bonded pair has been sent to one of the newer, empty cottages. My pulse quickens. I don’t want anyone to see me as the innocent virgin everyone sees me. It’s why the other wolves are uncertain around me. I’ve even heard one say, “Is she really going to make a choice soon?” They aren’t sure about me. Fox lingers because whether he gets chosen or not, he doesn’t care. Onyx is mostly the same, and I’m afraid that his and Dash’s rivalry is what’s keeping them both around.

Not me.

“Do you want to get through the night with me? We can run as wolves into the forests. That is, if you trust me enough. I won’t touch you.”

To be fair, none of the three have ever touched me inappropriately against my will. Dash is a little touchy-feely, but his hands only ever graze my shoulders. Onyx has a thing for my cheeks.

Do I tell him that I have no wolf? Yet or ever?

“It’s okay. I’m eighteen. I should be fine.”

“Justine will no longer house with you, and Carlotta may be there in your quarters or not. She won’t be any comfort either way.”

“I understand,” I murmur, as I reluctantly wave at each of my three wolf suitors. It’s time to go home. A night where there’s a well-announced mating is not the time to be with any of the three.

Carlotta isn’t home. Even if she does come home anytime soon, we have separate rooms. I haven’t been inside the door for five minutes when the moaning begins.

Why is it so damn loud? I know that Justine’s a Sight Wolf. Even Alpha Kele is one, too. That’s why his name means sparrow or hawk - some kind of bird, anyway. He was married to a Scent Wolf. Logan is a scent wolf, typical of Opium Hills. Where does the volume come from?

“From the hills,” a seductive voice whispers in my head. It’s a female voice, unfamiliar and yet not quite that of a stranger. I tremble.

My cottage isn’t that far from Justine’s and Logan’s, and the urge to spy on them comes unbidden. What’s going on with me?

“It’s the call of the wild. Of the flesh. You’re new to it,” says the voice.

There’s a whimper, but it’s not Justine’s. It’s mine, as I struggle with my conscience. My sense of morality.

“It’s in your nature. Don’t fight it.”

I run out of the cottage, following Logan’s grunts and Justine’s moans. My legs tremble, but I keep at it.

I have never been a voyeur, but as soon as I reach the open windows of their home, I find myself falling to my knees. There, I see Justine on all fours, with Logan behind her. He uses her hair as his reins, wrapped around his hand, as he thrusts into her from behind.

“Yes, f**k me,” she grunts, sounding like a stranger. She is completely transformed from the meek girl I know. Will I be like that after the ritual? I shudder, I’m not sure from horror or something else.

“Don’t come yet. Hold it,” Logan commands, but he has his other hand between her legs as his hips keep a punishing pace.

“Torture.”

The word almost sounds like a sigh, but it’s not coming from the mysterious voice but from me. My hand creeps under my dress. I moan as I slip it into my underwear. My eyes are wide and greedy, as I watch Justine’s hair fall all over her face. I can imagine a wolf’s face hiding beneath the strands, as Logan uses his hands to fondle her breasts instead. His big hands fondle them, as I wish I’ve taken Onyx on his offer to run into the forest.

“Wolf girl,” a smug voice says.

I realize my fingers are still rubbing my c**t while my cheeks burn from humiliation, but I don’t stop. Onyx watches me with his dark eyes. I feel like the black has taken over completely that I don’t see the whites.

“I - I can’t stop,” I protest.

“Then, don’t,” he growls, as he kneels behind me.

“No!”

“I’m only going to touch you if it’s okay. My pants are going to stay on,” he assures me, but his breaths have become heavy and his half-mast eyes thrill and frighten me at the same time.

“It’s okay,” I cry.

He pulls my hand out from under my dress and replaces it with his own. His touch is rough and skillful, circling my c**t with my own moisture. I bite my lip, afraid that it’s my voice that will echo down the hill instead of Justine’s. Onyx’s hips move against the small of my back, as he continues to finger-f**k me. He holds me by one breast, squeezing so hard I know it will bruise but I don’t care. I’m close. So close. His fingers continue to move fast, entering me at some point. Filling me.

“It’s not enough,” the voice complains.

My senses are inflamed as I feel everything his hands can give me. A few yards away, Justine shudders her completion and Logan grunts to follow.

“Give in,” Onyx says.

I do. I grip his fingers with my orgasm, and he chuckles on my shoulder.