CHAPTER 2

“How ya holdin’ up, Tess?” asked an old familiar voice.

“I’m fine,” Tess lied with a smirk, “Thank you.”

Ever since they left their den with all the young in tow, Tess had done nothing but worry and she was tired of holding those feelings. She was about ready to march into the bear den by herself.

Tess spun into the face of Gloria. Her old wrinkled face was scrunched into a worried grin and Tess didn’t want to do anything to worry her more. So, she sipped at her cold tea, immediately regretting doing so; the taste was bitter and disgusting.

With a thud she rested her head on the cold bay window she’d posted herself beside. The snow kept her company. It fell hypnotically down only to disappear into the rest of the snow that covered the rolling hills by the den.

Gloria eased into a nearby rocking chair and brushed her silvery hair from her face.

“I’ve worn that face before,” she said, “You can’t fool an old woman like me.”

She was absolutely right, of course. Tess had spent the last few days and nights worried about Connor. She’d heard nothing and assumed the worst. She’d lost her appetite, and the morning sickness was no help either, she had only eaten enough to sate the desires of the baby growing in her belly.

“Connor’s a strong alpha,” Gloria continued, “He’ll be alright.”

I sure as hell hope so.

Tess sat her teacup aside and pulled her blanket up over herself to fight against the cold, even as the fire pit in the middle of the longhouse roared.

“I know he’s strong, but I still worry,” Tess sighed, “How do you stay sane?”

Gloria smiled broadly, a wicked and playful smile curled up on her face as she took the water pot from beside the fireplace. She offered some of the steaming water to Tess who lifted her teacup in gratitude. After pouring a measure of warm water into her own teacup, she set the pot on the ground. From inside her thick knitted sweater she pulled a flask and, with a wink to Tess, she poured a measure of malty brown liquor into her cup.

Tess laughed as Gloria offered her the flask.

“If only I could indulge myself like that,” Tess said, patting her pregnant belly and holding her hand up to deny the gift.

Gloria shrugged her shoulders and topped off her tea before taking a swig. She breathed a sigh of contented satisfaction while holding her steaming drink.

“What’s he like?” Gloria asked.

Tess didn’t know where to start, or if she should share anything at all. She had fond memories of her time spent with Connor; nights where they’d sneak out to be alone to lie around and talk about nothing while watching the clouds pass over the moon. Or other nights where they’d explore each other’s bodies while rain slowly pelted over them.

“I don’t know where to start,” Tess started, “Everyone knows what he’s like now. Powerful, commanding, prideful, and…” Her words trailed off as she fell further into her memories, all the way back to the first time she’d met Connor.

“It was about two years ago,” she said, “my dad gave Alex an idiotic punishment and I protested. He didn’t listen to me, though. He never listened to anyone. Looking back, I know Alex deserved what he got but at the time I was frustrated dealing with my dad. I was so mad at him for what he’d done that I decided I’d had enough and was going to run away.”

Tess laughed at herself, at how she’d grown in the last two years. She massaged her forehead with her hand and rolled her eyes at her old self.

Gloria poured another measure of liquor into her drink, leaving Tess a little jealous she couldn’t join.

“I ran. I didn’t care what direction, I just picked one and ran. The night was mostly clear at first but the further I ran the heavier the clouds got and eventually it started to rain.

“I hunkered down under a tree to get some cover from the rain. It overlooked a stream that was flowing hard from the sudden rainstorm. I remember I was shivering from being cold and wet and I cursed at myself from under my breath at how stupid I’d been. I could have tracked my way home if the night had stayed clear, but the rain made it impossible to find anything at all.”

A few of the younger pups in the room started to draw closer to Tess as she spoke. Tess wondered how much she would need to edit from her story.

“That’s when I saw him for the first time. Connor strolled up slowly, slogging his way through thick mud and pools of water. The heavy rain didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest; he just sat at the edge of the stream and took a drink.”

Tess, having finished her tea, held out her cup for Gloria to pour another glass. And, when she did so, Tess held the cup closely to warm her chilled hands.

“I hid behind my tree and only glanced when I felt safe to. He was a wild wolf and I wasn’t even sure if he was friendly at all. Then I watched him shift.” Tess held the memory close and didn’t want to share. She could still remember the sounds of his bones cracking against the pattering of the rain. The man tore his way out of the proud wolf to stand in perfect silence beside the small stream.

That wasn’t the only memory, though. Those perfect thighs that led up to the little v shape above his perfect butt made her breathing quicken. His sharp hips were covered in raw muscle that led up to his chiseled back and bulging shoulders.

When he turned around, Tess quickly ducked behind the tree but his footsteps grew closer and closer. Peeking around the tree again, she saw him tug on a pair of tight fitting jeans that did little to protect against the rain, and a long sleeve grey shirt loose around the collar.

“And then?” Gloria asked.

The memory was still more than enough to turn her on. The rush of excitement was building up inside her as her cheeks began to heat up.

“Right,” she said, wiping the drool from her chin, “he was, in a word, magnificent.”

Gloria laughed raucously; the liquor must have been having a heavy effect on her already.

“Anyway, I was hiding behind the tree and he dressed himself in some clothing that didn’t do much to keep him dry. I was nervous to ask a stranger for directions, but it would have sucked if I got stuck out there all night. So I shifted, still hiding behind the tree.”

“‘Can you give me a hand?’ I asked him. He growled at me at first but when I poked my head out, his attitude changed. He marched up to the tree to see the rest of me but I kept walking in circles around it to avoid him seeing me. I felt like an idiot for not bringing a change of clothes along with me, but then again I never intended to get lost either.”

“He held out a button up shirt that was much too large for me but I snatched it from his hand and put it on quick. When I came out from behind the tree he was facing the other way like a gentleman.”

Tess’s audience had grown a little larger, the young pups that sat beside the fire before had sidled their way in closer to hear the story.

“What happened then?” asked one of the younger girls.

Tess smiled and with a whimsical sigh decided she might as well finish the story. They’d already heard the beginning.

“I was scared of him at first,” Tess continued, “His growl was quite intimidating if I’m being honest.”

Still, the way his wet shirt clung to his pecs and those gorgeous blue eyes that seemed to glow, maybe it would be best not to tell them about hitting her head on the tree branch. Yes, better to let them just hear the pertinent details.

“‘I told him I was lost, and he offered to help me home. Of course I had to tell him I was from the Night Howler den. But, he grunted at me and crossed his arms. He stood there trying to decide what to do with me while water dripped down my hair.” Tess had a fond feeling in her breast. The water from the rain was so thick that it turned the button up shirt she was wearing see through. It must have been a pleasing sight to Connor because she could see a noticeable bulge appear in his pants.

“’You’re in the wrong neck of the woods,’ he told me, ‘but I’ll get you out of here. You’re in Moon Runner territory.’

“It was strange. I remember being scared that I was in their territory but I wasn’t scared of Connor. He had his pride to worry about. Letting an enemy pass through his territory could make him an outcast.”

The crowd around Tess had grown larger still and she had to speak a little louder with each word so people in the back could hear. She still felt embarrassed to tell her story, but at least she omitted the naughtier details; those were memories she would always keep to herself.

“He showed me the way to the main road. I was glad for his generosity and wanted to pay him back, so I stood as tall as I could and gave him a kiss on the cheek as I walked past.

“I don’t think he was expecting it because he had the goofiest surprised look on his face. I would have stayed longer but I knew my father would be angry and probably take it out on my brother. So, I shifted fast and sprinted down the road.”

“When did you see him again?” Gloria asked.

“It wasn’t long,” Tess replied, laughing. “He followed me home. He showed up at my window at three in the morning with a bundle of hastily picked wildflowers. I wondered how he’d made it past the sentries on the grounds but never bothered to ask him. We’ve been together ever since.”

Tess smiled and sipped at her tea. The younger girls giggled and started asking questions. Tess did her best to try to answer them all. She was happy that she’d managed to distract them from the situation in which they’d found themselves. Tess’s hand found itself to her belly and she rubbed it slowly.

She wanted to see Connor again.