Southern Wolf Queen (Complete)

Gaining a Following

Jewel's POV

Gael brought Ivan in just after Tau had kissed me. I didn't want to adult. I wanted more kisses. "Yes, Gael?" I used the tone I had heard my mother use millions of times.

"I wanted to introduce you to my brother Ivan." Gael brought the tall well-built man in. He had pale tan skin and long dark hair covering his ears.

"Nice to meet you." I stepped forward to shake his hand.

"And you Princess." Ivan looked between Tau and me then back to Gael.

"I have spoken with the other heads and they are thinking before they decide tomorrow," I told Gael. I looked back at Tau to see him watching Ivan closely.

"Ivan, are you a Calvo too?" I asked merely for conversation.

"No, the last name is Nightbreed." He was curt.

"Nightbreed, like the ancient demon?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," He nodded.

"Are you a turned demon or merely training?" I knew he would stop answering soon.

"Training."

"I see, then you may know my uncle," I smirked a little.

"What is your uncle's name?" He was curious.

"Cacodemon." I chirped as I watched his eyes go wide.

"The Cacodemon?" He leaned forward with great interest.

"Yep, that is the one." I chuckled. "Please talk with the heads Gael and let them know we cannot wait too long. The dragons have had ages to train. We have not." I nodded to both men. Looking at Tau we walked past them both to the kitchens. I need ice cream or chocolate.

Strong hands grabbed my waist and my elbow turning me so I was facing behind me. They engulfed me into a hard chest and a scent that felt like home with. "I am craving another kiss." His words were a low rumble. We stood in an empty hallway along the way to the kitchens.

I could only look. My words failed me as my breath caught looking into those blue-green eyes of his. He pressed me closer to him, as he leaned down capturing my lips in a gentle kiss. My arms snaked up around his neck as I applied my pressure. I was lost in the kiss. When we broke apart he leaned his forehead against mine. We stayed wrapped in each other's arms not wanting to separate. The feeling of comfort and need blending into one.

Sis, the 10 families have requested your presence in the dining hall. My brother informed me.

Coming. I groaned. "I am requested in the dining hall." My words muttered.

"Then we shall go," Tau sighed. "Just know I am not done kissing you." Just as he said that his hands slid up my body, holding the sides of my face as he gave me a rough quick kiss before nipping my bottom. "Nowhere near done with those lips." I heard him murmur, as he turned to let me past so we could head back to the dining hall.

**********

At the dining hall, Tau opened the door for me to walk in. "Have you come to a decision?" I looked at the 11 heads of families.

"We have, we will help you," Emiliano answered for everyone. "We have a condition." He paused to eye all of us. Tau mostly though. "You need to be mated and married. We realize your mate cannot mark you being he has a task but being married and mated will fill the requirement for the old laws as Queen." Emiliano sat back in his chair. I know he wanted a reaction.

"I knew you would say something close to that." I nodded at Emiliano and the other men. Leaning back in the chair I looked at my brother.

Do you think Tau would? I asked my brother.

More than likely. My brother chuckled. Look at his face.

I turned to see, surprise, hunger, want, and love in his eyes. "Tau?" I asked his name. I was not sure I could voice the words. He had heard why I had.

"In a heartbeat." He breathed, a rumble of a growl surfaced in his words. They made my body come to life.

"Then it is settled." Emiliano put his hands on the table and stood. "We will give you a month to sort out details but at the end of the month at your coronation, you will be married. Once you have mated we will back you in all your plans. Now let us get back to finishing the Lobos investigation." Emiliano looked at the other men. Nodding he didn't wait he strode out. Every single head bowed his head at me as they left. The only one who lingered was Gael.

"Are you sure? You could fight this. What if he does not survive his task?" Gael looked between Tau and me.

"I have faith in the Goddess's plans." I stood, turning to Tau effectively dismissing Gael. "We need to have a chat," I spoke softly, grabbing his hand to drag him out of the dining hall and up the stairs to my room.

I waited until the door closed to my room. Wrapping my arms around his waist I buried my face in his chest. Here I could find calm. Just like when I needed my mom. I needed Tau. Of course, it felt different but it still felt like home.

"You ok Princess?" He asked quietly above my head.

"Yeah just processing everything here," I mumbled back to him from his chest.

Tau chuckled, "so because the heads said it do you actually want to marry me?" I could tell he was looking at the top of my head.

Did I want to marry and mate Tau? That is what he was asking. He would pull the brakes. Yes yes, he would. I needed him, wanted him, missed him when he wasn't here. I needed his attention and worried about losing him. He has saved me from me always worrying about how things could hurt me. He always kept me in the loop even when I didn't want to hear it. "Yes Tau, I want to. Out of everyone you protect me even from myself." I leaned up, using my hands behind his neck I pulled him to my lips.

In response to my lips, he wrapped his arms around me, crushing me to his chest. He deepened the kiss. I felt a hand reach down to squeeze a spot on my butt. The feeling and the shock had me gasp. Tau thrust his tongue in my mouth. I melted into him like a puddle of goo as he tasted every part of my mouth. So part of me knew he had just claimed me in his own way. I had never been kissed like this.

I didn't realize that we were walking backward until my back hit the wall. My mind was clouded and my body was heated, with a need I didn't know about. Nor did I understand it. He broke the kiss leaning against my forehead. Both of us catching our breath. "You manage to break my control, without even trying." His words rumbled making them sound like pure seduction.

"I don't know what I want but my body wants it with you," I murmured, my voice unsure.

"I want it with you too." Tau kissed my forehead as we just stood there clinging to each other processing everything so far. At that moment there was nothing else in the world but Tau and me.