Nicky Charles - The Mating

By

NickyCharles

SMASHWORDSEDITION

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PUBLISHEDBY:

Nicky Charleson Smashwords

The Mating

Copyright 2010 by Nicky Charles

Thank you fordownloading this free eBook. You are welcome to share it with yourfriends. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed fornon-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its completeoriginal form, with the exception of quotes used in reviews.

Your supportand respect for the property of this author is appreciated.

This book is awork of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, orplaces, events or locales is purely coincidental. The charactersare productions of the authors imagination and usedfictitiously.

Adult ReadingMaterial

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Many thanks toJan Gordon and Ermintrude who helped me edit and revise this story.Also, thank you to all of the Gutter Girls who have offered theirsupport and have allowed me to practise my writing skills onthem.

Please notethat I use Canadian spelling throughout. You will see doubledletters (e.g. focussed), ous (e.g. colour) and re (centre) aswell as a few other differences from American spelling.

This tale beganas a one chapter, short story but several people encouraged me tocontinue it. Since those early days it has grown into the work yousee before you and has subsequently won the FPSSA Award for bestromance as well as Best Villain at the SKoW Awards.

I hope youenjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Chapter 1

She lay besidehim staring blankly at the ceiling. The deed was done. They weremated. It didnt matter that she had no love for him nor he forher. Political alliances were more important than feelings, or soshe had been told. That fact was cold comfort right now as herheart broke within her.

Beside her, hestirred and she sensed him rolling over, his amber eyes staring ather. She made no move to look at him and instead tried to steadyher breathing. It was no use. As she inhaled, her breath quiveredbetraying her emotional state. Despite blinking rapidly, a straytear trailed down her cheek.

The coversrustled beside her and then she felt his finger move across hercheek catching the tear. Im sorry, Elise. Kanes voice was deepyet gentle.

It doesntmatter. She answered quietly, still staring at the ceiling. Whathe was apologising for she was unsure. For mating her? For theinevitable pain the first time brought? For the fact that she wasnow bound to him for the rest of her life, despite her love foranother? Perhaps he was sorry for all three, yet they were asbeyond his control as they were hers. She swallowed hard. Itcouldnt be helped.

No, itcouldnt, he agreed, sighing heavily. His arm slipped around herwaist and drew her closer. She let her cheek rest against hismuscular chest, too spent to protest; the sound of his steadyheartbeat was faintly comforting. I wish I could have given youmore time to get to know me before we mated, but the Elders areawaiting proof of our union.

She felt heatflood her cheeks at the thought of the blood stained sheets beingexamined as proof of her virginity. It was so old fashioned but itwas how things were done to ensure the blood lines between thepacks were truly mixed. Heaven forbid shed come into therelationship tainted with another males pup in her belly. Well,there could be no doubt now that Kane was her first and onlymate.

Tradition ornot, it still didnt lessen her embarrassment. All her friends andfamily would see and know the intimacy that had occurred betweenher and Kane. Worst of all, Bryanthe one she lovedwould know aswell.

Closing hereyes, scenes from the past day flashed through her mind. Shed justreturned from a run with Bryan where theyd frolicked and played inthe cool shaded woods that surrounded her home. Hed been her bestfriend since they were pups and recently the friendship had growninto something more. Bryan had hinted that he would ask her fatherfor permission to become her mate and shed been thrilled at theidea. Many of her friends were already mated and, as her nineteenthbirthday approached, she was becoming restless, eager to experiencebonding with another.

Already, shedgone through four heat cycles but her father had held off choosingher a mate. Elise had naively thought he was waiting for her tofind someone who suited her. Ruefully, she now acknowledged thatwas never the case. While her father loved her, he was first andforemost their Alpha and had to put the well-being of the packahead of all else. Her older brother and sister had mated withpacks to the north and south. With the sea at their back, it wasonly to the east that an alliance was needed. When Kane became thenew Alpha of that territory, the Elders determined that a matingbetween the packs was needed to ensure continued stability.

That day, asshe returned laughing at something Bryan had said, Jake, herfathers Beta, had greeted her at the door. Elise, youre neededin the assembly room.

Something inhis tone of voice warned her that all was not well. With a slightwave to her friend, she followed Jake wondering what could possiblyrequire her presence. The assembly room was used on occasion forgeneral pack meetings, but usually her father and the council ofElders dealt with all important issues.

As she pushedthe door open, a cacophony of emotions hit her. Excitement, worry,curiosity... She was sensitive to moods and puzzled over thestrange mixture. Her eyes scanned the room. The Elders seemedexcited and pleased and were conversing with another group of olderpersons who were strangers to her. Her father was frowning andtalking to a man of about twenty-five. Elise hadnt encountered himbefore and took a moment to study this new arrival.

The man wastaller than her father, at least six foot four, and powerfullybuilt. His shoulders were broad, muscles rippling beneath his shirtas he gestured to make some point. Dark, faintly messy hair toppeda pleasing face, with sculpted cheeks and a full bottom lip.Possibly sensing her inspection of him, he glanced toward the doorand his amber eyes locked on hers. There was a hard edge about him.Slowly he studied her from head to foot, lingering on her breastsand then her hips, before returning to her face. Elise felt herselfflush under his scrutiny. As he flashed a brief smile at her, shethought she caught a glimpse of softness in his eyes but it wasquickly gone. He looked back at her father and continued speakingwith him as if dismissing her presence.

Her fatherglanced her way, sighed, and ended the conversation. He walkedtowards her with a scowl on his face. Elise, youve been runningagain, I see.

She glanced ather reflection in a nearby mirror. Her long brown hair was messyand a faint sheen of sweat gave her sun-kissed skin a dewy look.Noting a smudge of dirt on her pert nose, she scrubbed it off.Turning back towards her parent, she gave a sheepish grin aimed atcajoling him out of his mood. It was too nice a day to stayindoors.

But what did Itell you? It isnt safe to be out alone in wolf form. Its huntingseason and even though our property is posted, the humans dontalways heed

I was withBryan and we didnt go near the edge of the property. We arentfools, you know.

Ah...Bryan...Her father frowned, and then sighed again. Elise, I have somethingto tell you. As you might know, the pack to the east has a newAlpha. His name is Kane. He nodded towards the man standing acrossthe room and Elise shot him a glance again before smiling withpolite interest at her fathers news.

Hes come tomeet you? She wondered why she was being summoned. The politicsbetween the packs had never been a concern to her. Her fatherdidnt involve her in the council meetings, yet clearly she couldonly assume that the gentlemen in the corner talking to the Eldersof her pack must be representatives from the eastern group.