Unfortunately for Mel, Keith was called away from their dinner, and by the time he was able to get away from his duties as host Alpha, she had already fallen asleep. When she woke up in the morning, with her bladder painfully full, she saw that Keith had left a note on his pillow. Grabbing it as she half walked, half ran to the toilet, she opened it as she made it to the warmed seat. Inside, written in Keith's bold, flowing script was a message.

My dearest Mate,

I apologize I did not have a chance to talk to you about the Thornbloods last night. Unfortunately, there is some political bad blood between our two clans, and I will strive my best during this morning to bridge that gap and save you the difficulty of having to dive into the deep end of werewolf politics your first night. I would give you the details, but I doubt you have the next four hours to read a tome. Let me just say that there is a situation of promises my Father made that I broke and that there may be some, hopefully minor, repercussions. I love you, Melanie, and I look forward to standing next to you at tonight's cocktail party as your proud Mate.

With all my love,

K.

Mel read the note twice, then shrugged. She knew there would be political intrigue at this event, Kim and Keith had told her as such. Might as well learn as she went.

At the party, Melanie was having a wonderful time. Besides Keith's considerate act of making sure that there was food and drink that was safe for her and the baby at the informal cocktail event, most of the other Alphas she met were quite friendly and polite. Kimberly served as primary hostess, greeting each and every party with her adroit interpersonal skills, always polite regardless of how the others spoke to her.

Meanwhile, Keith was able to rotate through the crowd, shaking hands and being what Mel could best describe as political. After a while, Keith was called away by one of the staff, but Valeria stayed next to her, guiding her. Melanie was talking with one Alpha female, of a small Canadian Clan called the Loup Blanc, when suddenly she felt a cold presence behind her. Turning around, she found herself face to face with the redheaded young Thornblood woman. Her eyes still burned bright green with what could only be seen as pure hatred. "Ah, hello, we haven't had the pleasure," Melanie began, trying to at least be civil. "I'm Melan..."

"I know who you are, Richter," the redhead spat. All conversation around them died off. Addressing another Clan member by their last name only was a grave insult, and to not even acknowledge that Melanie was a member of Clan Lockwood was an even greater one.

"Gather round, everyone, and see the puny wench that stole my betrothed!"

"Mind your tongue, Morrigan Thornblood!" Valeria warned her, voice dropping into a dangerous growl. "You are addressing the First Mate of my son."

"Ah, Dame Lockwood!" Morrigan replied with a sarcastic bow, "My apologies. I didn't realize that in Clan Lockwood, you permitted the intermarriage of the nobility and the pets!"

Thornblood's voice carried over the crowd, and the entire hall grew so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Melanie could feel her anger rising in her cheeks. She knew that physically she couldn't dare to stand against a full blooded future Alpha wolf, but that didn't mean she had to take this level of hatred. Just as Valeria stepped forward to deliver a retort, Melanie held her hand up.

"Excuse me, Valeria, I thank you for your words, but I would wish to address our guest."

Valeria stopped herself and nodded to Mel, whose eyes blazed in anger as she looked the few inches upwards to the redhead. "Morrigan, is it? You know, I admit I'm pretty new to this whole Clan politics thing," she said, gesturing for effect. "I mean, I did grow up in a world where we kind of lost the use of old-fashioned words such as 'wench.' So I will be the first to admit I've probably let a few insults slide, or given the unintentional insult myself over the past few hours. For that, I have already apologized in advance to every person I've met today that I've shared more than three words with."

"But," she continued, her anger seeping through, "there's unintentional slight, and then there's just flat-out rude. You crossed that line about two minutes ago. So, while I would personally love to throw your little bitch-wolf ass into the river, I won't. I'm going to retain at least a little bit of the pride of my Clan and my Mate and end this conversation here. I suggest that you and I stay on opposite ends of this estate for the rest of this Gathering."

The sound of Morrigan's slap on Melanie's cheek rang out across the entire hallway like a rifle shot. Mel could feel her head being rocked by the blow, and knew that even though it was hardly more than a werewolf tap, she was lucky to still be conscious. Pushing and shoving broke out between the two clans, while Melanie shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs. Valeria was almost ready to tear the girl's head off, when suddenly Keith's booming voice cut through the crowd, causing everyone to stop all movement.

"Enough!" he yelled, parting the sea of bodies like a knife. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Young Thornblood here has struck your First Mate, my son," Valeria replied, as Melanie could only stand there holding her cheek. She could feel blood on her tongue, and wondered if any of her teeth were loose. "I was about to teach our young guest some manners."

"We will have none of that, Mother," Keith replied, his eyes looking concernedly at Mel. Turning his attention to Morrigan, his amber eyes flared. "Morrigan, whatever thoughts you may have had of a union between you and I are pointless. Melanie is my First Mate, and it is only out of respect for your Father that I do not ask you to leave this Gathering in dishonor. But I do advise you to find another area of this dining hall to entertain yourself for tonight, lest you find both myself and my Mother desiring to teach you a lesson in manners."

"As you wish, oh highly discerning Alpha of the Lockwoods," Morrigan said with another sarcastic bow, turning and leaving. As soon as she was out of sight, Keith turned his attention to Melanie, who finally felt recovered from the blow.

"You. Me. Private. Now," she said, turning and heading upstairs to their quarters. Keith nodded, giving a few words to Valeria before following. Mel could hear the echoed whisper of his psychic words to Kimberly, who tautly agreed to take over as host for the cocktail party. Everyone was here already, so she didn't have to worry about greetings anymore, at least. Melanie stormed into their quarters, keeping her silence until Keith had closed the door to the master bedchambers. "What the fuck was that?"

"I apologize, Mel. I didn't think that Morrigan would be so stupid as to say anything directly to you. I am surprised she would be so bold."

"Well she did, and besides hitting me harder than Mike Tyson, she says some crazy shit about me stealing her from you? What the hell is going on?" Melanie kicked her shoes off, but still stormed around the bedchamber, pacing angrily back and forth. "And don't you dare try to delay. I want to know the whole story right now."

Keith looked at his Mate for a moment, then closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping as he went over to the bed and sat down heavily.

"You're right, I was wrong. I should have told you. As I said before, sometimes Clan politics is.... complicated at best. Most of the time, we get along, if only because it benefits all parties. One of the ways we do this is by pledging Mate status to members of different Clans. Usually, these pledges are born of true love. At the Alpha level, however, they are as political a union as anything seen in 18th century Europe. Especially when it comes to rankings of Mates."

"So werewolf Alphas are polygamous?"

"Not necessarily, no," Keith replied. "In the older days it was quite common, with First Mate taking the role of Alpha, and the other mates being of lesser rank. In my family's case, my Father had a Second Mate, but it was a political union only. They never had children, and she left our house to live on her own with her true love years before my Father retired."

Melanie shook her head, blinking at the possible ramifications. Multiple wives, rankings of Mates, political marriages, it was all so fucking weird. Finally, she hit upon the important question.

"So you were engaged to that red-headed psycho out there?" Melanie asked, her anger still high, but at least stopping her pacing. Keith shook his head.

"No, although as children we were put at the stage prior to engagement. Our Fathers agreed to our joining when I was still only twelve years old, and Morrigan was just born. It was supposed to be an advantageous union for both Clans. Clan Lockwood would gain a powerful business ally, with lands and market access in areas of the world we had never even thought possible. For Clan Thornblood, it was a step up the power ladder. They're a proud Clan, with plenty of Old World contacts, but here in the New World, they have been second tier at best. They've been resentful of that situation for a long time, but never outwardly hostile to us."

"So what happened?"

Keith looked up and smiled at Mel. "I saved a beautiful woman from being shot in an alleyway. I didn't intend to fall in love with her, but I did, with all my heart. She became my First Mate, and not Morrigan Thornblood. Morrigan has apparently taken it as a grave insult."

Mel gave him an ironic look. "Apparently?" she asked, sticking her fingers into her mouth and bringing them out, the tips bright with blood. "I'd say that's a bit of an understatement."

Keith stood up from the bed, taking Mel's blood covered fingers in his hand, sniffing it sadly, before reaching his tongue out to lick it away. "I would rather spill a gallon of my blood than to see you bleed at all," he said sorrowfully, looking in her eyes. "I love you, and only you, Melanie."

Mel could feel her heart melt at the tender look in her Mate's eyes and the honesty that traveled along their bond. Reaching up, she pulled his head down, kissing him softly. "And I love you, Keith. I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble with this Gathering."

"No, you are my Mate, and I failed you," he said, his thumb brushing against her lips. Mel could feel her heart start to speed up and her body respond to the closeness of his, it had been too long since they had found time for intimacy. "Will you forgive me?"

"Only if you do one thing," she said, her voice husky with desire. She closed her lips over his thumb, sucking it gently into her mouth and causing Keith's eyes to darken with desire.

"What's that?"

Mel reached up and slid the zipper of her dress down, revealing her swollen breasts, heavy with the beginnings of milk. She stepped out, standing before him in just her panties. "Make love to me, my Mate."

Instead of replying, Keith wrapped his arms around her waist carefully, lifting her the few inches needed to pull her lips to his. Careful to avoid squeezing too hard, he kissed her lingeringly, gently sweeping his tongue against hers, his right hand going down to cup her hips and hold her to him. She wrapped her legs around him, her legs thrilling at the feeling of his rock hard muscular torso under her legs, strong and stable.

For Keith, the soft warmth of her body, still beautiful even after adding the pregnancy weight, aroused him in ways he could barely describe, inflaming his protective instincts. Breaking the kiss, he smiled and looked down with a smirk on his lips. "I think I like you pregnant," he chuckled, his eyes fixed on her bust.

Mel laughed, her hands coming around to start unbuttoning his shirt. "Good to know that whether lycanthrope or human, men love big boobs."

"Just yours, my love," he replied, carrying Melanie over to the bed and carefully laying her on the soft mattress.

Melanie's response was cut short as Keith's lips found her left breast, his long tongue teasing her expertly, taking her nipple into his mouth and teasing it until it was an aching nub. She clutched at his hair, desperate for more, when she felt his fingers tracing up her thigh, sending shivers straight to her moistening pussy.

"Oh yes," she breathed, letting her knees part as he brought his hand higher, only to barely brush over the lace covered mound before coming higher. Melanie growled in frustration. "Tease."

"Only for a while, my love," Keith whispered, bringing his head up to kiss her again. "Besides, I will not be going back to the party, we have all night."

Thrilled at the attention from her Mate, Melanie abandoned herself to the lovemaking, letting her lips roam over his, her hands trying their best to remove his clothing. It was difficult as their bodies were so close together, she could never find the angle she wanted to get the buttons loose. Finally, in frustration she grabbed at the opening she had created and yanked, popping three buttons off and bouncing one off her belly. Keith laughed, sitting back and removing the ruined shirt. "You're getting more wolf-like all the time."

"If you don't get those damn pants off, you're going to have to buy a new tuxedo instead of just a new shirt," she replied. "Maybe it's your son's influence on me, but I feel a bit more lupine."

Keith's desirous gaze grew as he stood up and slipped off his pants, standing before her in all his nude glory. Even after almost six months of Mated life, Melanie was constantly blown away by just how sexy her Mate was. His fine hair almost glowed in the soft light of the room, giving his muscular body an ethereal aura, and she felt awed again. Reaching down, she slipped her now soaked panties off, laying before him nude, the soft swell of her belly joining the swells of her rising and falling chest.

"God you're beautiful," she muttered, rolling to her knees and crawling across the bed to him. She slipped her hand around his proudly jutting cock, stroking the velvety steel shaft tenderly, pleased as his eyes slipped closed at the sensation.

"I don't think I've ever been called beautiful before," Keith whispered, his tongue coming out to lick his lips. "Not exactly what most people call an Alpha male."

"True, but they only know the hard side of you. Very few know the tender, sensitive, amazing gentle side that goes along with the steely strength," she replied, highlighting each of her words with a squeeze and stroke of his penis. Thrilled as she saw the first drops of precome emerge from the tip, and she leaned forward, licking up the sweet offerings like nectar. Swirling her tongue around, she sucked him slowly, enjoying the erotic torture written on his features as she took him in with agonizing slowness before licking her way back up, only to repeat the process over and over.

Suddenly Melanie gasped around Keith's cock as she felt his strong fingers reach between her legs, stroking and massaging her wet folds as he slipped a finger inside her, his strokes in and out matching the pace of her sucks and licks until she was gasping and urging him to go faster. Speeding up her pace, she felt him respond, adding a second finger to his ministrations, filling her over and over again until she pulled him out of her mouth in order to bury her face in the edge of the mattress and groan. Keith immediately stepped behind her, his fingers joined by his thumb on her clit, flicking over the sensitive nub until Mel buried her face in the mattress again, her body shivering as an orgasm swept through her.

Keith paused his hands, knowing she was always overly tender immediately following a climax, giving her time to recover. Mel took a deep breath, and looked over her shoulder, lust still smoldering in her eyes.

"Are you going to sit back there all night, or are you going to Mate me?" she husked, spreading her knees further and presenting herself to him. She felt her heart quicken again as Keith growled softly, taking his hips in his strong hands to steady himself, the tapering tip of his cock aligning itself with her warm tunnel.

"How's this?" he asked, fierceness and tenderness battling in his voice as he thrust inside her, possessive but still holding himself back enough to not cause injury to her or the baby. Mel could only moan in response as he filled her in one sure, smooth stroke until she felt the now familiar and always wonderful sensation of his soft body hair tickling the back of her hips and thighs.

Keith began his thrusts, his body strong and powerful above hers, and Mel could feel herself swept away in the lust-filled situation. She felt both strong and weak at the same time, proud that her body could reduce this intelligent, well-spoken man behind her into the growling, barely coherent being behind her. He filled her over and over again with his delicious cock, rubbing her body in all the right places, his thick shaft rubbing over her g-spot with every movement of his powerful, masculine body.

At the same time, she knew he could do whatever he wanted to her, and she couldn't stop him in any way, creating a heady mix of emotions and desires that left her soon on the edge of another orgasm. Thankfully for her, she felt Keith's breathing quicken, as soft grunts joined his thrusts, and she felt his cock swelling inside her. Squeezing her walls with all she had left, she felt her second orgasm crash over her, huge and mind-blowing, obliterating her conscious thoughts as her body quivered and her head quaked against the mattress. She felt herself reach an even higher plane as Keith's howl of his own climax tore from his throat, and she could feel his warm come fill her insides, claiming her again, forever, as his Mate.