Chapter Eleven

Cairo was the talk of the pack as he wandered around the grounds greeting the members and exploring the dynamics between them. The Finnegan pack ran like a well-oiled machine. Despite how they grew to that size, it worked for them all. While he would love to find a place in that pack, he knew this was more Cara’s home than his own.

Anna appreciated a single wolf roaming the pack as she stepped to him, “So how’s everything so far?”

“It’s great,” he rubbed his neck. The scars from his battle with Chase were thinning out. “I don’t think I’ve been in a pack this organized or this big in a while. Our, well my, pack back in Myre Falls is definitely getting smaller. I like that there’s so much to do. I think I got a tough job cut out for me trying to find a place where I belong.”

“Well you can stay here as long as you like while you do,” Anna winked with a smile.

“Back off, man, I’m working on that,” Drew called out as he and Chase strolled up to them.

“Working on what?” Anna chuckled flipping her blonde hair and batting her hazel eyes. Walking away, she told him, “You’ve got a whole lot more to work on than me.”

“Ouch,” Chase laughed patting Drew on the shoulder.

“Well, how about you guys come out for a sparring match then?” Drew suggested, “According to Anna, I’m not up to par.”

“Well if you fight anything like your brother, you’re not,” Cairo laughed.

Out in the clearing, the three didn’t set their normal rules. They simply smiled and laughed at each other before shifting and going head to head to head. The three wolves, two light brown, one mahogany, battled for bragging rights.

Chase attacked Cairo first, but Cairo maneuvered away from his attack, shouldering him back into a tree stump. As soon as Chase got away from him, Drew charged the newcomer. He was able to pin Cairo to the ground, but not for long as Cairo bucked and rolled forcing Drew to move away from him. Chase jumped back into the fray for another round, just to headbutt Drew by accident.

Cairo backed away from them, letting the dust settle before he charged the two brothers. They rumbled against each other again, swiping with their claws but none of them broke skin. Drew finally got the upper hand, when Cairo pinned Chase, leaving his rib cage exposed. A clean shot to the body sent Cairo flying to the ground, but left the three of them exhausted and out of breath as they changed out of their wolves.

“You fight like a girl, man,” Chase laughed.

Cairo shoved him, “Whatever. If you mean I fight like my sister or any other female of this pack, I’ll take it as a compliment. But in all seriousness, you guys have a really rugged program out here. Any wolf who leaves here is definitely ready for whatever’s waiting out there.”

“That sounds like you’re leaving,” Drew said with a hint of sadness in his voice. “With Cara being a sister to us, we like having another brother.”

“Another brother who isn’t perfect like Titan, you mean?” Cairo smiled and laughed. They all did. Even with all that happened, he understood they were just defending their pack, their home. He would’ve behaved the same way, but the thing about it was… the Finnegan territory, as comfortable as they’d made him, it wasn’t his home. Both he and Fang were going to have to find their way back to Myre Falls eventually.

Fang was the first to leave. He’d said his goodbyes and apologies for being a perceived trespasser. Cara even let a single tear drop as he hugged her goodbye. Even if it wasn’t the last time they were going to see each other, she knew it would be another long while. Hugging him tight, she tried her best, but it was futile as Fang left her with a few words of wisdom, “Love him with all of your heart, but defend your bond with all of your mind. Think before you speak and act. And when something doesn’t quite go your way, I’d better not see you back in Myre Falls. I’d kick you out.”

“Oh no you wouldn’t,” she sniffled.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” he told her. His voice was a raspy one that she knew she’d miss terribly. She said goodbye anyway and instantly began dreading the day Cairo decided he was ready to leave.

Cara slowly made her way to Titan’s cabin. They didn’t have to hide and more importantly, everyone saw him mark her. She touched the raised flesh over her clavicle. Eventually, the skin closed and the scab faded. The marks were etched into her skin alongside some tribal ink. It was like a wedding band, but a bite instead. A thick dark ring was tattooed, with triangles as the band and inside each small triangle were the marks he’d left on her. Marks to tell their entire world that she was spoken for.

Opening the door, Titan was laying on the bed staring up at the ceiling.  He didn’t even move as she came inside.

“So what do we do now?” she asked him solemnly. She truthfully didn’t know. She’d never been around a mated pair before like the ones in the Finnegan pack. All of her examples of love were broken models that didn’t make sense to her.

“Come,” he laughed holding his hand out to her.

“That’s not what I’m talking about Titan. We can have plenty of sex. That I already know we’re great at,” she giggled, “I’m talking about us and this whole mated for life thing. How do we make that work? You’re so different.”

“And you’re as stubborn as a mule but here we are,” he said still waiting for her to put her hand into his. When she did, he pulled her onto the bed next to him. “I want to show you something.”

“I’ve seen the tattoo already.”

“No, feel this,” he told her letting her fingers trace the tattooed tears of flesh. The skin was shaded a dark grey, but the texture was the same as the scar running down her thigh. It sent a chill down her spine. Taking a deep breath, Titan told her, “When I said that the last pack tried to take over and people got hurt, I was one of them. I didn’t just get my heart broken, when Victor made his intentions known, Danielle tried to convince me to join her and when I said no, she sliced into me like this. I couldn’t believe it. We fought and it all turned to chaos after that. Like my father said, I’ve paid for my mistakes.”

“But you trusted me so easily,” she sighed turning onto her side.

“Yeah, but you didn’t see that bear attack. That’s why the others don’t get it. They didn’t see you fend that thing off just to get shaken like a rag doll and left for dead. I’ll admit that I let their words get to me a bit, but if you were in my position, and Cairo was telling you one thing while I was saying another wouldn’t you lean toward Cairo more than me? Be honest!”

“You’re right,” she couldn’t deny it and she didn’t blame him either, “I’m just glad this is over. So when do we build the extension? You know I’m going to need a massive closet, and a nursery and all of that good stuff.”

“Extension?” he mimicked pulling her on top of him, “I love you, Cara. I know you’re joking and all but I would love nothing more than for you to be the mother of our children.”

“And I would like nothing more than for you to be the alpha of our family,” she smiled.

It was the only time she found herself okay with the idea of not being with the alpha of an entire pack. It was only after seeing Shaw and Kristin in action that she realized the magnitude of what went into a working spouse and partnership. It was a partnership she and Titan would have to perfect and continue to grow before taking on a pack of their own. She was happy to do it with Titan’s family by her side.

Titan caught her by surprise when he rolled on top of her. His mouth pushed against hers a bit before moving down to her neck and even lower. She was beautiful. Her red hair splayed on all sides as he kissed her and traveled down her body slowly. He’d let his shirt slip off and his pants were already on the floor as he explored the contours of her torso. He made sure to touch, lick, or suckle on every delectable inch of her silhouette.

The heat from the center of her thighs felt amazing against the palm of his hand. Titan kept kissing her. His hands slid under the lace, roaming over the softest place on her body. Cara arched into his touch as he rubbed her gently at first. The more they kissed the more he stroked her with his fingertips. She contracted around his hand, locking her thighs together with an immense amount of joy and anticipation for the future.

Titan grinned mischievously, “Don’t clam up on me now. Let me inside of you, Cara.”

“I already have,” she grinned relaxing under his weight on top of her. Cara was in orgasmic bliss. They rolled around, thrusting and moving together as one. Neither of them cared. The passion was unbridled as they threw caution into the wind just to envelope themselves in each other’s embrace. They’d been fighting for this peace, this freedom to love each other since the day she arrived… even before they realized what they truly felt for one another.

 Even though nothing with Cara ever went to plan when it came to matters of his heart, she found someone she could trust hers with and it was about time. The dynamic between them had been unmatched and they wanted to make love forever but forever wouldn’t last that much longer as Titan kissed her gently. Over and over again, he continued to push and pull himself in and out of the depths of her petite frame. Once he was sure she was satisfied, he released himself into her.

It wasn’t the same as when she was being held captive. It was simple and right. Laying in each other’s arms with his fingers stroking her hair, the only sounds left to be heard were the words they said to one another, “I love you, Titan Finnegan.”

“I love you too Cara Danish, soon-to-be Finnegan,” he laughed.

And just like that, the woman who’d spent her entire life trying to land an alpha was able to find her mate. He was a mate who ended up taming the alpha within her. Her wolf’s lover.