Ever Cynical

Chapter 19- Beastly Conversations

Kieran POV

I felt incredibly lucky that she had not known her first (and unofficial) mate. I was terrified she would have died when he did, and I'd never have met her. I know on some level, this was probably the work of the gods and goddesses, if she truly is this "missing piece" Selene was talking about. Selene being the moon goddess, of course. I looked down at the cheeky grin she wore after revealing that, basically, she'd never felt horny till she met me. I kissed her forehead and sighed. I loved it when she was playful, rather than wrapping herself in a protective sarcastic cloak. Not that I minded her humor, we were two peas in a pod, there.

"Good to know you're so affected by my presence." I said with fake arrogance, lifting my hips slightly, knowing it would bug her. She gasped then regained herself and huffed. Despite that I could feel her dripping all over me, and I loved it.

"Yeah, totally. Not that you're planning to do anything about it." She grumped, lifting herself off my lap but quickly returning her head to my chest. She just couldn't help herself. I tapped her nose with my finger.

"That's where you're wrong. I already told you, not yet." As I said this she pouted. It wasn't that I didn't want to touch her more, I just knew once I did Ri'dubh was going to have his way. She flopped over, burying her head in the pillow, falling asleep almost instantly.

Oh, indeed I will. I know you can smell her, Kier. She wants us so much, Ri'dubh growled, pleased with her teasing even if it led nowhere.

I am well aware that she does, Ri, but if you really wanna unleash all of your beastliness on her, you will need to wait for her to have her wolf. I felt a little silly saying it, honestly. The woman was beyond tough.

Kier, you heard what happened with the ocean liner. I highly doubt even if I wanted to "unleash" on her as you say, that we'd hurt her that badly. It may be vulgar to say, but she could take everything I could think to give her, he cackled gleefully. And I've got a whooole lot of ideas for our feisty little mate.

You're just horny for your mate and impatient.

No, I'm extremely patient, Kier. I'm just tired of waiting when she's right here and wants us just as much as we want her. Or is there something else you're worried about? I sighed and rubbed my face before thrusting my fingers into my hair.

Call it instinct, but I don't think we will be able to hide her for long once we mate. It's going to change something, Ri.

Don't tell me you've inherited our mom's "feelings." have you? He asked acerbically, and I scoffed.

Seriously, Ri?

If the bunny slipper fits... He trailed off. I had to giggle. Anais' slippers had fast become infamous. The pack was delighted that she was so... down-to-earth and not at all haughty. We all knew plenty of she-wolves let their titles go to their heads, especially if they were chosen mates. In those cases, rank was part of why they'd accepted the match to begin with.

Selene didn't come right out and say it, more I just have this feeling we need to wait for the full moon and her awakening. And we need that envoy long gone before he even gets an idea that we have a guest, that I found my Luna, any of it. The Alpha King can't know. I was insistent. My wolf and I rarely disagreed, and if not for these other issues, I'd be 100% on board with Ri's desire to claim our Luna now.

Yeah, yeah. Fine. But just so you know, I'm not holding back my knot the first night, heat or not. His tone let me know he was dead serious. He had never been so firm about a single issue since I'd obtained him at twelve. Early, since it was usually at age sixteen that our beasts were first able to communicate with us, but apparently that can happen with Immortal alphas occasionally.

Ooookay primal beastie. You do what you gotta. He humphed and flopped on his belly in the recesses of my mind. Despite his current impatience with the situation, I could not be happier that he was my wolf.

Yeah buddy, I love you too, he whispered as I lay my head down and pulled Anais closer. I found myself quickly sucked into sleep with the comfort of my mate skin-to-skin and her scent drifting around me in the most frustratingly mouthwatering way.

Goddess, I wanted her.

Anais POV

I was awakened by a painful ray of light from the evil ball in the sky. Apparently, I'd forgotten to make sure my curtain was completely closed. Ugh. Look, I know the world, including me, needs sunlight. I don't dispute that, I just don't like it directly on me for any length of time. I've known vampires with better resistance to the evil ball than I've got. It doesn't kill them like legends say, but it weakens them and it's along the lines of an allergic reaction if they've been in it too long. Not enough to cause anaphylaxis, but enough to make them feel like s**t for a good week. Anyway, must... avert... evil ball crisis! I jumped up and snapped the small slit closed.

Kieran was still sleeping deeply on my bed, and I smiled as I stroked his hair before going to get dressed. Today was going to be a busy one. I had to get my ass in gear and get this security system up and running. Thankfully, the wiring was done, and I could teach one guy to do the installation of the cameras. It would probably take all day, but it would be completed. I was setting up a command center in the small room off the side of the Alpha's office. It had been a mostly unused conference room, and it would be easier to monitor access if it was there. I also had security tablets for up to six members; the Beta, Gamma, and Delta, plus three others. Kieran would have access to everything from his smartphone and PC on a separate screen.

I grabbed a pair of skater-style low-waisted army green cargo pants and topped them with a cropped, fitted charcoal gray long sleeved henley. My hair was in its signature long braid, and I eschewed my boots for a pair of black converse. I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked Kieran's hair again. This time, his eyes popped open and he smiled.

"Damn I missed my chance to ogle your pierced n*****s again." He pouted, despite the sparkle in his eyes. Such a faker.

"We will have to do a piercing scavenger hunt one of these days, huh? I got one I know you've missed so far. I bet it will be your favorite." I waggled my eyebrows suggestively. He turned towards me and pulled me close, shoving his nose into my neck and breathing deeply.

"Or, we could just do it now?" He suggested playfully. I giggled. It was far too easy for us to get frisky. I wondered if it would be better or worse once we mated. I already knew he'd probably be pulling me into every dark corner he could.

"I wish we had time for that, mon coeur, but we don't. I must get your updates done before any asshats show up." I announced, standing up and dodging his hand as he reached for me. "Get dressed, handsome cutie, so we can get started." He groaned and got up, carelessly throwing on the same black cargo and forest green tee from the day before, leaving out the boxer-briefs, tossing those in the laundry hamper. "Going commando, hmm? Trying to tempt me?" He grinned as his eyes roamed over my body with more than a little heat.

"Would it work if I did?" He laughed, sliding his arms around my waist and nuzzling my neck. I tapped my finger on my chin, pretending to think it over. I'm sure he knows all he has to do is give me the green light and I will pounce.

"Mayyyyybee. But right now? It's time to feed your Luna, Alpha Kieran. We've got work to do" I pulled away from him and walked out the door.

After another amazing breakfast by Helga, I found myself busily getting things done. Kieran was hovering around every corner, wanting to help, but really? What can someone whose entire tech knowledge comes from a smartphone do? No offense to the guys. They just really had a lot to learn. I shooed him off to go do pack things. By lunchtime, the cameras were half up, the monitoring room was ready, Kieran's PC was up and running, and all pack buildings, even the mating huts (which by the way, were charming and cozy little cabins, but had the worst possible misnomer- huts!), had been equipped with coded locks. The codes were rank based, so some areas simply weren't accessible to normal pack members. Kieran had gone over the changes with everyone briefly at breakfast, with few grumblings, thankfully.

For all that the pack was pretty closed off and basic, they were all surprisingly flexible. They were quick to adapt to new information and methods. It was unexpected, really. There were a few old school folks that protested, but in the end they trusted Kieran to act in their best interests.

By the time Kieran came to find me for dinner, I was just finishing up with the computer lab for normal pack use. I'd set it up using a layout I'd seen in some Japanese internet cafes. I wanted it comfortable and fun. Kieran pulled me into a hug as I stood, smashing his face into my neck again. I knew today had been tough on him because we could not really spend time together. I was not sure how he was going to tolerate the envoy with me being sequestered in the mating huts.

"I've missed you so much today, mo shíorghrá." I patted his shoulder as he pulled back and looked into my eyes.

"I know, mon coeur. How are you going to survive the visit with the envoy? Do we even know how long he's staying?" I asked.

"Probably three days." He huffed out. "The man's a nuisance."

"You can't have my scent on you, so what's the plan?" I smirked at him. He had to have something or he'd go crazy.

"Ah, I was thinking video calls with phone s*x? Sound good?" He grinned, winking at me. This man, seriously! I smacked his arm, not saying yes but also not saying no.

He could just wait for my answer.