Chapter Beta
Despite using every torture technique in his considerable arsenal, that damn wizard wouldn't give him any information.
And now, today of all days Maria decides that it would be good to spend some 'alone' time together.
She came back late last night, snuggling in behind him as she apologized, explaining time had got away from her, and Maria had gone to visit her parents. Beta John and his wife Caroline lived modestly on a small property at the edge of the border, and Santos accepted that a visit to them could easily run over time. The ninety-year-olds hardly received visitors after John retired, and both of them had the propensity to talk a wolf's ears off.
Maria had been extra attentive last night, even initiating intimacy, something they hardly engaged in anymore, and Santos had left his mate sleeping peacefully this morning, while he used Camille's office to finalize his plans.
His eldest daughter was currently sitting in the chair opposite him, the air humming with fury as she mulled over her latest discovery, and Santos couldn't blame her for being upset. After having to watch the woman he coveted being touched by another-even if it was her true mate- he could only imagine how Camille felt walking in on Shadow and Isabella fucking on the kitchen table. The sounds of their frequent mating could be heard clear across the village, and neither of them had surfaced for the past two days so Camille was in a devil of a mood.
On the upside, it left Santos free to put the final touches together on his plan, and this time tomorrow he would be the new Alpha. Isabella would accept it in time, and Camille would forgive him for Shadow's death, they were blood after all. Maria would be a capable Luna, leaving the day to day running of the pack to him, and life would carry on as usual.
After everything that they had been through together, perhaps he and Maria did deserve some alone time after all.
Shadow's smile threatened to break his face. It was so wide and in the past two days seemed to be a permanent fixture. He stretched lazily, his big body rousing his mate, currently nude and on top of him asleep. They had been so tired after their last round, Shadow didn't even have the strength to pull out of his little mate before he went to sleep. A fact that was causing the current maniacal grin, as he felt himself begin to harden again, deep inside Bella's tight pussy.His sexy little wolf was as insatiable as he was, attacking him with her luscious lips every chance she got, and damn those childhood gymnastics lessons sure paid off.
Bella's soft breathing began to quicken as he slowly thrust up into her while she slept. Before long, she was awake and they were fucking in earnest, Shadow knew that if the official ceremony announcing their mateship wasn't tonight, he would fuck his little Izzy until she couldn't walk. In the back of his mind, the challenge for Alpha loomed, but he refused to let it ruin his honeymoon. So as her eyes opened wide and her moans became desperate on the brink of her own orgasm, Shadow lost himself once again in his Bella's eyes.
Camille fumed as Papa stared out the window contemplating Goddess knows what as his mouth twitched in glee, but she was livid. "Papa!" She snapped, causing the older man to turn around and focus on his eldest daughter, "What will you do about Isabella?" Santos' mouth stretched into a grim line, and after a time he came over to her, and sat down beside Camille, taking his daughter's hand in his own.
"My sweet Camille, I haven't forgotten your loyalty and I promise, after tomorrow, all your dreams will come true. You see, I have been interrogating a young wizard, by the name of Valenar. He is in the dungeons as we speak. I intend to force him to do a spell to make young Shadow fall in love with you, after the challenge, thereby breaking his bond with Isabella. I promise you that you will be happy." Lying had always come easy to Santos, he was a deceitful man by nature, and being paired with a dishonest wolf, had only strengthened his ability to sell his tall stories. Camille never needed to know that Valenar was down there to stop him from exposing the truth about Santos's plan, and what harm would it do to use the wizard's imprisonment as an opportunity to give Camille hope?
Camille's answering smile was enough to satisfy Santos and as she reached over and gave him a hug, he was confident that she would remain loyal.
Raeann was just about to knock on Beta Camille's door, armed with the special tea Valenar had brewed for the recovering wolf when the sound of a male voice stopped her in her tracks. "...I have been interrogating a young wizard, by the name of Valenar. He is in the dungeons as we speak; I intend to force him to do a spell to make young Shadow fall in love with you, after the challenge, thereby breaking his bond with Isabella..." Raeann couldn't listen to it anymore! She knew her Papa's voice like the back of her own hands and judging by whose office he was in, she guessed he was talking to Camille, meaning her own Papa was the bad guy, and Valenar was trapped in the dungeons! Oh, my Goddess! Careful not to rattle the tea tray and alert the two traitors to her presence, Raeann made her way back down the hall, a determined look on her face, she had a wizard to rescue, and traitors to expose, today was going to be a long one.
After leaving Camille to get on with pack business, considerably happier now, Santos made his way to his room. He and Maria would be picnicking in the violet meadow way out the back in unused pack lands. It was isolated and no one had any reason to go there. Grinning to himself he guessed his she-wolf might be feeling horny being back on home turf, and wanting a naked romp in the sun with her handsome mate; more than happy to embrace this new side to his wife Santos quickened his step, hoping to join her in the shower before they headed off for the day.
Maria Romano hid a cringe as she felt the warm body slide in behind her. The shower was warm and she was preparing herself for today. Maria's parents had the letters, promising that they would deliver them to the right people in the event of her death, and she had deliberately picked a remote spot for what she intended. All that was left to do now, was to get the despicable wolf there. Having sex with him last night dirtied her soul and now here he was, wanting round two, but his ignorance was a necessity, so as Santos gripped Maria's hips and thrust inside her roughly, the proud mama thought of her babies and gave the academy award performance of her life. Luckily in the shower with the water spraying down on them, no one could witness Maria Romano's tears. Ten minutes later Santos was done, crowing about how 'he still had it' and Maria stepped out of the shower, muttering "You sure do honey." As she went in search of suitable clothes. They made a quick stop at the kitchens to pick up the picnic hamper from Meryl O'Reilly and the Romano's set off for their 'date.'
The meadow was beautiful, just as she remembered it. The violets were in full bloom, and today Maria was reminded of Isabella's eyes, the way they would light up when she looked at Shadow. They would produce the most beautiful grandkids someday...
It seemed fitting somehow, that she bring Santos to the same field they claimed each other in, under the stars, many moons ago now. She was playfully tracking a rabbit and he was returning from a mission, taking a short cut across the fields to get home faster. It was instant, the moment they connected the stars felt like they were falling from the sky. He was so handsome and worshipped every inch of her, and when they marked each other Maria thought they would be bound together forever.
Now she realized that forever was a time determined in the eyes of the weakest wolf, and Santos was far weaker than her; he had bedded other females and betrayed the sacred bond of family.
Today she would right the wrongs he had caused, or die trying.