The She-Wolf’s Mate (Book 2 She-Wolf Series)

Ivar

Cassandra Stevens arrived in a cloud of dust shortly after Debra’s call. She came in carrying binders full of “inspiration”. Her mate followed behind, looking less than thrilled, and carrying a box full of fabric samples, photos, and catering menus. I gave him a questioning look and he just shook his head.

The women quickly set about talking all things wedding. I felt distinctly out of place. It wasn’t necessarily that I didn’t want a ceremony with my mate, but I had always hated public gatherings. Even attending Sam’s Alpha Ceremony had been at Aidan’s insistence that I meet the mysterious she-wolf.

“Ivar, you should call Trinity,” Sam tore me from my thoughts.

“Why?” I asked.

She tilted her head before saying, “Because she’s your family and some of us consider this important.”

I wanted to argue that I agreed our mating was important and I just didn’t see the point of making it an event, but her expression told me now was not the time. If this is what my little mate wanted, I could oblige.

Trinity was thrilled to get my call. She blinked over before hanging up, causing the phone connection to screech.

“Oops. Sorry,” she apologized. She turned to Sam, wrapping my mate in a warm embrace. “I’m so happy for you,” she told her.

“Thank you, Trinity,” Sam pulled away slightly and looked into my sister’s eyes. “For everything.”

Trinity gave her a small smile before looking at the other women who had now been joined by Serena Redding.

“So, where can I help?”

They spent the next few hours ironing out details, but as she had said earlier, Cassandra had prepared the “event of the century”. In two days, we would be mated in front of the Redclaw Pack and any others who could make the journey on such short notice.

As the sun started to make its afternoon descent, Trinity found me on the back deck and sat down in the lounge chair next to me.

“You didn’t get a ring?” She asked gently.

“Werewolves don’t wear rings,” I told her, confused by her question.

“They didn’t wear rings a long time ago,” she corrected. “Now they do and you know that.”

“It’s a silly human tradition,” I argued.

She looked at me, thoughtfully.

“Your mate is half human. Up until a year ago for all intents and purposes she was human, Ivar. Some of those ‘silly’ things would mean a lot to her.”

“Did she say that?” I asked.

“She didn’t have to.” My sister shook her head. “Women want to know they are loved. She’s giving up everything for you. You could at least pretend to be excited along with her.”

“What should I do?”

She rolled her eyes. “At the very least, play along and smile,” she sounded frustrated. “We are throwing her a bachelorette party tonight so you can go with Aidan and find a ring then.”

“What do you mean a ‘bachelorette party’?” I demanded, immediately annoyed at the thought.

“Another one of those silly traditions that you wouldn’t understand so don’t worry about it,” she said, narrowing her eyes in warning.

“The werewolves know to stay the fuck away from her,” I growled.

“Good thing we won’t be with the werewolves then, huh?”

She was challenging me and I felt the beast within me raise his hackles.

“Where are you going?”

“A place Kate suggested,” she said without further detail.

“Hell no,” I shook my head. “Over my dead body.”

“This is happening,” Trinity insisted. “Get on board.”

“I’m calling Aidan,” I threatened.

“Go ahead,” she said, with a wave of her hand. “He’s not a barbarian like you. It’s just a fun, little girl’s night out. Nothing crazy.”

“Whose all going?” I asked. “Is Sam’s mom joining?”

“Sam, Cassie, Kate, and I,” Trinity said slowly. “Debra and Serena opted out.”

“Oh? And why’s that?”

Trinity shifted uncomfortably before her eyes alighted on something behind me.

“That’s great, Ivar. Thank you so much for being so supportive,” she said, smiling brightly.

I turned to find Sam walking out of the back door. I stood and she wrapped me in a hug.

“You’re really okay with it?” she asked, her voice hopeful.

I narrowed my eyes at Trinity over her head.

“If that’s what you want…” I trailed off, failing to find a way out of it without disappointing my mate.

I mouthed, fuck you, to Trinity who imitated the motion of cracking a whip.

Suddenly, Michael’s shout echoed through the open windows.

“Like hell you are, Cassandra!”

Sam turned back towards her friend, hurrying to her defense.

“Sounds like someone agrees with me,” I told Trinity, smirking.

She sneered before standing up and marching purposefully inside. I followed her, bracing myself for an argument.

In the end, the women convinced us to concede to the outing on the condition that Jonathan and his mate, Micah, join them as security. I still wasn’t exactly sure how that was supposed to make me feel better, especially when Micah showed up carrying a pink feather boa, a penis necklace, and a tote bag which I assumed held much of the same.

“Jonathan,” Michael snapped. “You two are supposed to be the voices of reason.”

“I am,” the stoic bodyguard shrugged, “Micah likes bachelorette parties.”

The girls squealed their delight as Micah met them where they were all getting ready for their night out in Sam’s room. Michael and I met each other’s gaze, neither of us happy with the situation. Trinity suddenly appeared across the room with Aidan on her arm. She was still dressed in jeans and sweatshirt but carried a duffel bag.

“Okay,” she started. “You guys are all set to spend the night at HQ. The girls are taking over here tonight.”

“Absolutely not,” Michael growled.

“Well you can spend the night at your house if you want, but this is a mate free zone,” Trinity gestured in a circle around her.

“What about Jonathan?” I asked.

“He’s not trying to ruin the fun so he can stay,” she said.

Before we could continue the conversation, the other three women came giggling down the stairs. Each one was scantily clad in form fitting dresses and heels. My eyes raked over Sam who wore a black dress with a halter top, exposing her back and plunging down almost to her belly button. Her breasts appeared barely contained.

“Hey there,” she said, smiling sexily.

“There is no way you are leaving this house dressed like that,” I told her, wrapping an arm around her waist.

She pouted her lips. Somehow it made her even more appealing.

“It’s just one night of fun,” she said. “I’ve never gotten to do anything like this before.”

“What do you mean?” I frowned.

“Well, I had Luke before I could even get into a bar,” she explained. “Travis and I got married at the courthouse shortly after I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t have a bachelorette party and with a small child at home I never went out much.”

I looked down at my beautiful mate. I knew she would go whether I told her I agreed or not, but she was asking me to give her my blessing as her partner.

“Okay,” I relented. “Go have a good time.”

“Yeah?”

I nodded. Michael and Aidan both groaned behind me while the girls whooped their excitement.

Aidan clapped my shoulder as Trinity sprinted off to change. “You were the last line of defense, King.”

“She rarely listens to me anyway,” I pointed out.

After Trinity was dressed, she teleported Aidan, Michael, and I to headquarters in Canada. Then, after a phone call from Sam, she brought Emerick also. Apparently the girls were worried about him interrupting their night. They decided we were celebrating my bachelor party.

“Grab a couple of the other guys and play poker or something,” Trinity offered.

I scoffed at the idea. They didn’t like visitors, especially strangers.

“Can you give me a hint as to where you will be?” I asked.

She looked thoughtful for a moment before answering, “Male strip club in Vegas. Bye!”

Both Aidan and I shouted and lunged for her, but she was already gone.

“We could fly there,” Aidan pointed out.

“It would take at least nine hours,” I said, disgusted.

I took out my cell phone and dialed Sam’s number. It was Kate who answered.

“Call again and I’m blocking you.” She hung up before I could say a word.

Goddammit, Trinity.

A chorus of whoops and hollers echoed down the hallway. A moment later the eight other residents came stomping down, their arms full of liquor bottles.

“Long live the king!” Duncan shouted.

I frowned. “What’s all this?”

“Trinity said you’re getting married and we needed to throw a bachelor party,” Logan explained.

My frown deepened.

“Come on,” Duncan whined. “We never get to have fun anymore.”

Listening to the powerful werewolf beg like a child was both amusing and obnoxious.

“Fine,” I muttered.

Cheers sounded as the men dragged myself and Sam’s pack members to what they all referred to as the “man cave”. Since Trinity was the only woman who lived here and she was allowed in, the description never quite made sense to me. It resembled what I imagined a frat house might look like, complete with gaming systems, a bar, and several big screen televisions.

“Call in the strippers!” one of the men jeered.

“What?” I asked, looking at Aidan for an answer. Unfortunately, he looked as confused as I felt.

Suddenly, six faeries appeared in the middle of the room and music began pulsing. Already I could feel a headache coming on. I made my way to the bar where I found Michael already pouring a large glass of dark liquor.

“This how you roll up here?” He asked, unimpressed.

“No,” I replied, curtly, grabbing the bottle from him.

Emerick came over and joined us.

“A week ago, I would’ve been all fucking over this,” he grumbled. “Now all I can think about is what Kate’s doing.”

Michael and I nodded in agreement. I found the former beta much more tolerable now that he wasn’t pining after Sam.

“You better get this under control, Ivar,” Aidan said, walking up behind us. “I can’t be smelling like another woman around your sister tomorrow or she might turn me into a duck.”

I looked up to find the rest of the men laughing and clearly enjoying themselves. My mind drifted back to the time I had spent with Sam’s family and the warmth I had found in that connection. This was probably a less savory form of bonding, but I found myself unable or unwilling to ruin their fun.

“Can’t believe I’m going to say this,” I told them, shaking my head. “Let’s play along and keep the kids out of trouble.”

“Those are centuries old warriors,” Aidan argued. “They’ll be fine.”

“Does it really look like they’re the mature ones here?”

We all turned to see Liam throw a stack of ones while one of the winged women slapped his ass. All four of us grimaced, picked up our glasses and joined the others in their party.

As soon as I sat down, I petite redhead with bare, round breasts and black thong straddled my lap.

“One last ride before the big day, King?” she purred.

“I’ll give you a thousand dollars not to touch me again,” I offered, keeping my voice low.

“Oh come on, Your Majesty,” she said, her wings wrapping around me.

She gave me a coquettish smile before leaning in close, dragging her hands up my thighs. I watched as her irises began to swirl and she reached up to touch my face.

I grabbed her wrist tightly.

“I’m the fucking king, pixie,” I growled. “That little trick won’t work on me. If I catch you or any of your friends trying it again, you can spend the rest of the night in the dungeon. It’s against the law.”

She huffed and stomped away to whisper in one of her companion’s ears. The latter nodded and the former disappeared.

I leaned back in my leather armchair, taking a long pull of my drink. Emerick was right. I felt absolutely nothing looking at the enchanting women. Even Aidan yawned and appeared disinterested although he tried to hide it.

Another faerie blinked in a few feet from me. Unlike others, she had the face of a middle aged woman - although I knew her to be several hundred years older. Her wings grazed the ground and she wore an ethereal gown of white, draped fabric.

“King Ivar,” she bowed as she approached.

“Ammalee,” I greeted her.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” she remarked as she took the seat beside me.

“Hmm,” I murmured.

“I apologize for Morgan’s overstepping,” she said. “Apparently she was a little… overzealous.”

“Your girls know the laws, Ammalee,” I intoned.

She nodded.

“Desperate times, King,” she muttered.

“And why’s that?” I asked, knowing the answer.

She gave me a sharp look. “You know a male hasn’t been born to our people in decades. Our population is dwindling.”

“I’ve given you a solution for that,” I retorted. “And it doesn’t involve hexing me.”

“No. You would have us sully our bloodlines,” she scoffed.

“And you would rather your species die off?”

She shook her head. “We won’t mate the humans. Look what it’s done to the werewolves.”

The faeries had chosen to seclude themselves after the last war. They outlawed any breeding outside of their own species and refused to interact with the humans. It was fine when the world was smaller. Now, their numbers shrunk so drastically that they struggled to find mates due to a lack of diversity in their gene pool. On top of that, male offspring were becoming increasingly rare.

“Increased our numbers? Strengthened our packs? Made them prosperous?” I offered. “I’m looking for the downside.”

“Their lifespan has shrunk by centuries of not millennia, Ivar,” she pointed out. “None of the wolves of today could stand against those of the past. You house the last great few. Even your she-wolf mate will fall in a fraction of your life.”

“She’s immortal,” I told her. Ammalee met my eyes, confusion lacing her expression. “Immortal werewolves are still born, although rare. It’s a genetic mutation.

“As for the strength of the wolves, I would trade it for the well-being of the many. My people live comfortably. They raise pups. They’re happy. Can you say the same?”

She looked at the fae still entertaining the burly men around the room. Logan stood in the corner, his tongue down the throat of a completely naked woman, her wings wrapped around them to conceal their bodies. Another gyrated on Nelson’s lap as he leaned back and watched her. Duncan snuck off down the hallway with two more.

“Your people used to be craftsmen and healers, Ammalee,” I told her gently. “Now you seclude yourselves except when the services of your young are called upon. Is this the great future you’re saving for them?”

“We don’t view sex as immoral,” she argued.

“I didn’t say it was wrong,” I countered. “I’m just saying there was a time your people had more options.”

She stayed quiet for a moment.

“I’ll take your words under advisement,” she said, finally.

I nodded, taking another swig of my drink.

“The wedding is the day after next. You should join. See what life among humans might be like.”

“I’ll consider it,” she said, slowly.

I turned back to watch the show as Ammalee made her rounds checking in with the girls and socializing. I enjoyed the company of my men. It had been a long time since all of us had spent time together on non-business related issues. Or perhaps it was just me who avoided it.

Late into the night, I felt my cellphone buzzing in my pocket. When I saw who it was, I bid those still standing a goodnight and took my leave.