Chapter Nine

Tara

It was nearly dawn when we came out of the woods. The light was just beginning to glow along the horizon. We were surprised to find that the party was still going strong.

Nobody seemed to notice us as we made a successful attempt to blend in to the crowd. Despite our stealth, I knew that if anyone at all saw us, in our disheveled state and with fresh marks, the word would spread quickly.

Fortunately, almost everyone was in a drunken stupor at this point. These parties could get crazy. I told Mac about the time I had run around trying to do CPR on the werewolves passed out around the pack house the following morning. I was just a pup and thought I was saving them.

He laughed as if I’d told the funniest joke in the world.

"I think we should go try to find my sister. My parents have surely gone home by now." I couldn't imagine my parents among the drunken revelers keeping the party going as long as they could. I stepped over a couple of guys who had passed out with their mugs still in hand.

"Tara! There you are!" Talia came running up, hand in hand with a very handsome werewolf, seeming a little tipsy herself. "You won't believe it! I met my mate!" She jumped up and down and hugged me. Before I could even congratulate her, she saw the mark on my neck and her jaw dropped dramatically.

"I met mine too," I said sheepishly, as I hugged her back. "And who is this lucky guy?" Her mate was staring wide eyed at Mac, a slightly panicked look on his face.

"This is Christian," she said, from the Moon Shine Pack." Oh dear, Moon Shine. Their Alpha-son was such an ass. I was almost sad for her until I remembered that Talia would be Alpha of our pack some day, meaning that Christian would probably join our pack. I sure hoped so. He was really hot, and I had never seen my sister so happy.

"Talia, your sister... her mate..." Christian began. Then Talia really noticed us.

"Shit bricks and built a castle," she exclaimed, "Tara! Your mate actually is the Lycan King?" She blushed. "Sorry, your highness, no offense, it's just, TARA! You are marked already?"

Mac laughed, and the sound was like magic, easing everyone's nerves. "I won't need those bricks, I already have a perfectly good castle."

“Our mate is funny, and hot, and did I mention good in bed?” Trinity practically purred at me. As if she had to tell me that.

“Technically we haven’t done it in bed yet,” I told her.

We had gone two more rounds before making our way back here. Not going to lie, I was a little sore but it was going away quickly. “Hooray for werewolf healing!” Trinity claimed proudly.

My laughter slowly subsided. I felt slightly hysterical, overwhelmed by everything that had happened. "How about we go home and get something to eat?"

Talia nodded, understanding that I wanted to get away from the crowd, not quite ready for the attention I was sure to attract. I wasn't ashamed, far from it. I just would rather everyone find out after I had a shower and maybe a change of clothes. And some food. And maybe some sleep.

We quickly made our way to the pack house, sneaking in the back door. We passed the kitchen, and the smell of waffles and sausages seemed to grab me and pull me in that direction.

"Tara, Mom and Dad are in there," Talia whispered. "Are you ready for that?" She was right. They were in there, and so were several others, including the Alpha and Luna. Our appearance would be an event unto itself.

I couldn't believe I was sneaking the Lycan King into the Pack House! But was I ready to face everyone? Hell no! They would know exactly what I had been up to. There were leaves tangled in my hair. And the marks!

"Crap," I said, halting at the kitchen entrance. I thought for a minute. I was hungry, and through the mate bond I could feel that Mac was too. "Could you use your magic and have breakfast delivered to us here?"

Talia looked at Christian, who looked confused. Ah, Talia hadn't told him yet she was a Lunar. "Yeah, about that." She began. He silenced her with a kiss.

"I know what you are, it's pretty common knowledge. I just didn't realize you had that kind of power. I thought it would be more like spell casting and potions." He explained, while she stared at him with a dreamy look on her face.

"Well, can you?" I pressed, as my stomach growled loudly. Damn it! Every werewolf in the country probably heard that!

“I can try,” she said, considering it. "I don't know if I can coordinate four plates, it could get messy. Sometimes I still have trouble with multiple objects. They collide, tip to one side, we could wind up with a disaster." I saw her concentrate, drawing upon her magic. She described it as pulling from her center.

Four plates, each with a set of silverware, suddenly appeared before us in all of their waffle and sausage covered glory. I grabbed mine, and the others quickly followed suit. We all turned to continue sneaking up the stairs.

"Not even a good morning?" My dad! I smelled my mother as she joined him. Busted!

"It's okay, Tara, we know." I turned around slowly, sure my face was bright red with a guilty look plastered on it. I looked at Mac, who looked like he wished the floor could swallow him whole. My mother just smiled. “You were gone for a long time, Tara, and we understand the mate bond. You don't have to be ashamed. Nor do you, your Highness."

"Just call me Mac," he said, stepping forward to shake hands with my dad. My mom smiled knowingly. I could have died of embarrassment. "We are family now."

My mom shook his hand, then leaned over and hugged me. "You and your sister, both found your true mates! I am so happy for the both of you."

Christian stepped forward and shook my dad's hand. "I look forward to joining your pack," he said. "Jake is going to take over as Alpha soon, and I was not looking forward to that one bit."

My dad smiled, I could tell he was proud that Christian wasn't going to insist that Talia go with him. "You got lucky, Talia," he said.

"Yes I did," she said, beaming at Christian. My sister was smitten! It was strange to see her like this, usually she was more reserved, almost aloof, keeping her emotions controlled. "And Tara! Can you believe it? My little sister is going to be the Queen!"

Her joy was infectious, and I grinned back at her, although the idea of it, despite my earlier confidence, scared me. I knew Mac had a huge following, to humans he was a hugely successful billionaire and philanthropist. He had a dog sanctuary on his land, caring for abused and neglected canines. People loved him.

He was always appearing in news stories, blogs, and even on gossip sites. I was going to be trending like mad. I comforted myself with the knowledge it would piss Cindy off.

"Why don't you go freshen up and join us for breakfast?" My mom suggested. I groaned as she took our plates, grabbing a couple of sausages and cramming them into my mouth. "Tara! Your manners!" She admonished, but I was already halfway up the stairs, fleeing like a weasel stealing eggs from the chicken coop.

We got to the third floor, and Christian and Talia headed for her room. I was sure she would have a mark by the time we got downstairs.

I led Mac to my room, and we went inside. I started the bath water, and sat next to him on the bed. I wondered if he would join me. The thought had me hot and bothered in no time.

"Does my little mate want some more of what she had earlier?" Mac asked me, a teasing tone in his voice. His hand caressed my thigh, and those amazing sparks drove me to the edge. Just one touch! This mate bond was incredible! A moan escaped me, and I grabbed his shirt and pulled him towards me for a kiss before I leaped up and ran for the bathroom.

"Care to join me?" I asked as I stripped.

"Don't mind if I do," he replied, his eyes dark with desire. He followed me and stripped off his clothes, and I admired his incredible body. He was a God! And he was mine!

We settled in to the warm water, and I leaned back against his chest. His hands found their way to the wetness between my legs. I bit down hard on my lip to keep from screaming his name.

“Like that?" He whispered, my slickness allowing his finger to slide up and down slowly, gently, and I felt the tension building in my stomach. He lifted me out of the water and positioned me so that he had access to the place I was aching for him to taste.

He kissed my thighs, as they trembled, and I let out a whimper. "Please," I begged. He kissed my most sensitive spot, and all my efforts to remain quiet went out the window. "Goddess, yes, don't stop. Don't ever stop." His tongue pressed against me, gently gliding over my clit. I couldn't hold it back. "FUCK!" I screamed as I came so hard my vision blurred, wave after wave of pleasure washing over me. My legs shook uncontrollably, and I nearly fell off the edge of the bathtub,

He turned me around, kissing my neck before he entered me from behind, water splashing all around us. I could feel him lose control, pulsing inside of me. It felt so good as I clenched around him and joined him in ecstasy. We both sank back into the water, clinging to each other, never wanting to let go.

"This is addictive," I said, burying my head in his chest. He laughed, rubbing my back with his huge hands.

"Then I guess we will be junkies together," he replied.

Best. Birthday present. Ever.