“It’s a deal. I’ll bring baked goods to the Fourth of July celebration,” Mel said.
“Why don’t you help yourself to some food,” Owen told Mel. “And welcome to the pack.”
Mel shook everyone’s hand and then he went to get some food, talking away to his son.
Elizabeth chuckled. “For being just four male wolves and a she-wolf in the beginning when I first met you, your pack has grown exponentially.”
“I’m so happy to be a part of it,” Sheri said, joining them.
David would never tire of hearing how happy the pack made her. He hoped the same would be true for all their new members.
“Oh, and my parents said they’re getting in tomorrow. I don’t know how long all your guests will stay, but they hoped to meet all the families and see jaguars in their fur coats too,” Sheri said.
“Some of the jaguars might head home tomorrow for whatever assignments they have to handle with their agency, but Uncle Strom will hang around to visit with Candice and Owen a while longer. And the Andersons might too,” David said.
“Oh, good. I’ll let my parents know that.”
Several people who were done eating began going into the homes, and David wondered if they were getting ready to shift and run. He’d better eat in a hurry if so. But the next thing he knew, jaguars and wolves alike were leaving the houses, wearing bathing suits and heading for the lake.
David grabbed a quick bite, and then he and Elizabeth returned to their home—and he was glad to call it theirs—to change into their swimsuits. Which led to them being sidetracked in the most pleasurable way, with hot kisses and snug hugs, before they raced each other to the door.
Outside, the kids were swimming with a crowd of adults.
David hadn’t expected to see jaguar babysitters, but Everett and Demetria loved playing with the kids, so they were keeping an eye on them while Faith and Cameron were still visiting with others on the shore.
Then Jimmy and Cass joined in on the swimming fun, and finally Mel did too. It would be nice when their mom was free so she could get to know everyone and they could all get to know her.
David and Elizabeth swam out a way and just treaded water, watching all the festivities. People were eating and drinking, someone had started some music, and others were swimming or just talking to each other.
Finally, it was time to run. After that, they would build fires in their firepits and if anyone was still hungry, roast marshmallows or have s’mores, or snack on leftovers. But for now, everyone was headed for the houses for a run. All except the little ones, who were headed for bed with a promise of running as wolves before dawn—if they woke early enough.
After a night of fun like this, David doubted they would wake that early.
***
The run was going great. David and Elizabeth were way ahead of the wolves, red and white, and the jaguars, who were doing some exploring on their own, when Elizabeth heard the sound of a bear snuffling in the shrubs nearby. Undoubtedly, the delightful aroma of food cooking on the grills had called to the cinnamon black bear, and he was eager to join in on the party.
She howled in warning, and David followed her howl with one of his own, a call to gather the pack to fight a menace.
Suddenly, the sound of wolves and jaguars—all normally quiet predators—crashing through the brush indicated everyone was coming to Elizabeth’s and David’s aid, ready to take on whatever threat they faced.
David and Elizabeth howled again to let their reinforcements know just where they were. And as the others joined them, they took off as one, wolves and jaguars running side by side, to hopefully make the bear realize once and for all he just wasn’t welcome on this side of the lake.
They’d run about three miles when Elizabeth stopped and David returned to her. She licked his face. Some of the other wolves and a few of the jaguars continued on, but her intentions were clear. She wanted to return home to make love to her mate before they wore themselves out too much, and David was all for it.
Once home, they both shifted and she said, as if they’d just been having a normal conversation and not chasing down a hungry predator, “And tomorrow I want to go to the garden shop bright and early in the morning before the agency is open.”
“We can do that.”
“We have all kinds of people who probably wouldn’t mind digging some holes.”
David laughed and pulled her into his arms in the bedroom. “I can dig a hole.”
“And with their help, it will be all done so we can be free to do more of this.” She kissed him soundly and he reciprocated in kind. “And this,” she added, grabbing his buttocks and squeezing.
“Hmm, all right.” He moved her onto the bed.
“And maybe some of this.” She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him in tight.
“Anything else?” he asked, grinding against her.
She nipped his ear, and he yelped. “You’d better believe it.”
This was the life Elizabeth had always looked forward to. She was glad she’d had more time to spend with her grandmother in the end, but this was her time as a mated wolf, hers and David’s, and she couldn’t be more thrilled as they worked each other into a sexual frenzy and fulfilled their other needs of loving and caring, loyalty and protectiveness.
“I love you.” She would never be able to say it enough.
“I love you,” David said, the reverence in his voice matching hers perfectly.
***
David felt he was one of the luckiest wolves alive to have Elizabeth in his life again. She was helping him enjoy the job even more and made his life even better, chasing away the loneliness he had felt when they were so far apart, while his friends were all snuggled happily with their mates at night. She couldn’t have come at a better time, and he was glad their friends and extended families had not only helped to show Kintail and his people that the newly turned wolves couldn’t be beaten by his bullying, but had also helped free them from the danger posed by the rogue bear.
For now, though, David concentrated on making love to his mate, Elizabeth, the woman he’d lost and brought home—to a place that was truly his home.
After making love and napping for a while, they eventually heard the others return and conversations starting up again outside. David and Elizabeth finally dressed, though he was all for just staying in bed with her until morning.
“We’ll regret it if we act like two old wolves who can’t get out of bed to visit with everyone, especially because some of them will be gone tomorrow. You know Leidolf’s leaving. He has a pack to run.”
David sighed. “We are newly mated, not old wolves, and everyone will know the difference. But you’re right.” He smiled at her. “And then we can return to bed and more of this.”