Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

A week passed. Seven of the most blissful days Leah could ever have imagined. Elias had told her they would spend about a month together getting to know each other and rarely parting.

He was right. She didn’t like being in a different room from him. She lost all inhibitions about her body in less than twenty-four hours. She didn’t even close the door when she peed, and she didn’t mind the times he diapered her either.

He was right about everything, which sometimes infuriated her, but it was hard to argue with the man. She indeed felt more submissive when she was diapered. She slid into a headspace that made her dependent on him in a way that was freeing.

She got over her aversion to having her bottom penetrated fast, too—mostly because he put a plug in her on the second day and refused to take it out for a long time. Every day he used a larger plug and left it in longer, telling her it would help her get used to the sensation.

She would have argued, but there was no way to hide how horny she got every time she moved around wearing the obnoxious item. Its presence was all-consuming. Sometimes she crawled up in his lap and lowered herself over his shaft because she liked the sensation of having both holes filled.

True to his word, Elias bought her all the art supplies she could want, set everything up in a spare room, and encouraged her to paint or draw or color anytime she felt the desire.

She liked how he watched her when she worked. She’d never liked an audience before she’d met him, but the way he stared at her with such intensity made her skin tingle.

Elias set an armchair in the art room and spent a lot of time lounging in it while his gaze never turned from her.

Most of the time, the two of them were naked. Her life was nothing like she’d imagined. She’d pictured a mate who lifted her skirts and thrust into her painfully. Not this. Not a mate who worshiped her body day and night, always making sure she reached at least twice as many orgasms as he did.

His body was wonderous. She liked staring at him, too, and she often did while he was cooking. He liked to restrain her naked body in the highchair, cinch the strap up tight between her legs, and strut around with his hard shaft on display while he hummed and cooked.

It was maddening, and she rubbed herself off more than once on the strap, making him chuckle.

One day he sat in her nursery and made her try on everything in her closet and model for him. Since he hadn’t picked out any of the dresses or outfits for her, he wanted to see what they all looked like and specifically what they looked like on her .

The clothes were probably the strangest part about her new life. Short dresses with tiny sleeves. Most of them barely covered her panties or diaper. They weren’t decent. She couldn’t imagine wearing them out of the house, but he insisted she would and that every other Little girl would be dressed similarly.

Since the mates of his brother and friends were the ones to fill her closest, she had to assume they wouldn’t have chosen things they wouldn’t wear themselves. It would be incredibly mean to trick the new girl and make her look foolish. She couldn’t imagine any of them were mean, and Daddy insisted she would love them. They could apparently be naughty on occasion, but they were not cruel.

Shifting had been another new element in her life. The first few times she did so were awkward, and it took her a while to get her paws to do what she told them. Walking on four legs instead of two was weird.

They hadn’t left the house to roam in the woods yet. Daddy said it wasn’t safe until she was surer of herself. She didn’t argue with him because she was content being in the house with him so far.

She had been there one week and was sitting in her playpen reading when she sensed someone approaching outside. She sat upright, glancing down at herself, grateful this was one of those rare times she was actually wearing one of the pretty dresses.

Daddy was also marginally dressed in low-riding jeans and a T-shirt.

He jumped from where he’d been sitting on the couch and inhaled deeply.

“Who is it?” she asked.

“My father and several others. Brock, Arion, and Damon. Shit.”

“What’s wrong?” She wasn’t supposed to stand in the playpen, and he reached over the edge for her, lifted her in his arms, and held her against him. She settled on his hip, trembling.

“I don’t know, Baby girl, but it can’t be good. No one would come here and bother us for several more weeks unless it was absolutely necessary.” He rubbed her back, as if to soothe her, but she could feel his tension. He was nervous.

His nerves transferred to her, making her hackles rise.

He closed his eyes. “Shit. All their mates are with them. I don’t like the vibe.”

Leah hugged his neck tight as he opened the front door and stepped onto the porch. She inhaled deeply, scenting the others as they approached. Only the scents of his parents were recognizable to her because she hadn’t met anyone else yet.

A lot of wolves rushed into the clearing all at once, making Leah gasp. She’d seen shifted wolves all of her life but never so many in one place like this. It was startling, and all but one of them shifted into human form as they approached.

Leah held her breath as she glanced around at all these people who would be her friends and family when she got to know them. She was most curious about the lone wolf who had not shifted. It was a female, and one of the men placed a hand lovingly on her head.

“What’s going on?” Elias asked as he stepped to the edge of the porch. He was holding Leah too tightly, but she didn’t want him to let go.

Leah had never lifted her head to see her mate’s parents above the waist at their claiming ceremony, so she hadn’t seen their faces, but she knew their scents as the two of them stepped forward from the crowd.

Owen spoke first, holding Iliana’s hand in his. “We are so sorry to interrupt your honeymoon period. There is a problem with the bears.”

Elias stiffened, and his grip on Leah’s thigh tightened.

Leah probably should have felt weird about him holding her like he was, but she couldn’t bring herself to care, and no one was looking at her strangely. She glanced at her mate. He’d mentioned bear shifters in the area and not trusting them. One of them had kidnapped Suzette on her mating day.

Leah glanced around, wondering which of these people might be Suzette. Two of the women were near her age. They had to be Olivia, Jezebel, and/or Suzette. Was the unshifted wolf the other younger woman?

Leah was relieved to see that the two women her age were dressed the same as her. They had on short pastel dresses that barely covered their bottoms. Iliana, Elias’s mother, was dressed more demurely. Perhaps because of her age?

“What kind of problem?” Elias asked.

“We had a visit from Surge and Thorn,” Owen continued. “They came to warn us that Surge’s brother and his friend have been causing problems. After being MIA for a while, Surge believes they were responsible for a fire that was set not too far from here last night.

“The bears got to it quickly and were lucky enough to put it out, but the scent of their missing family members was strong in the area. In addition, it is suspected the same two bears are responsible for the destruction of property and a few fires on the outskirts of the Grelian territory.”

“Shit,” Elias muttered. “So we’re going hunting.”

Leah stiffened. The idea of her mate leaving her made her feel sick. She was aware he would eventually return to his duties among the Alpha Protectors, but they hadn’t discussed what that would look like yet. The only thing he’d told her was that it was customary for newly mated couples to spend about a month alone without disruption.

After one week, she understood why. She still couldn’t stand to be separated from him by even a wall, let alone miles. Presumably that would ease eventually, but so far, the need had not let up even a tiny bit.

Owen shook his head. “You won’t be joining us, son. It’s too soon. Your mate needs you, but we all fear for your safety, and we need to leave the women in one place while we hunt. We’re hoping you won’t mind the imposition.”

Elias frowned. After a few moments of hesitation, he spoke. “This is about Olivia, isn’t it?”

Owen nodded. “Yes.”

Leah was confused. It took every effort not to interrupt the men. Which of the women was Olivia?

Iliana spoke next. “All of the women will be safer if she is with them, son, including Leah.” Iliana smiled in Leah’s direction.

Owen nodded agreement. “But we won’t leave them anywhere without male protection. You will stay. So will Felix and Gavin.”

Leah had no idea who Felix and Gavin were, but they must have been among the crowd.

Elias drew in a deep breath. “My hands are tied.”

“Yes,” Owen agreed. “I know you don’t like the idea of being left behind, but you would not be able to keep a clear head so newly mated. You will be of much better help by remaining to protect the women.”

Elias gave a sharp nod and stepped back. “Come inside.”

Leah looked over her shoulder as her mate carried her back into the house. She wondered how this many people were going to fit in the living room, but several of them remained behind as the rest followed.

Leah squirmed to get down, but Elias didn’t release her. The arm he was supporting her with under her bottom was also under her dress, exposing her panties. She hadn’t thought about it until now, but her face heated with embarrassment. She pushed at his chest. “Put me down, Daddy,” she whispered.

He frowned at her and shook his head.

What was his deal? She reached back with her hand to tug the hem of her dress, hoping it was covering her. “Everyone can see my panties,” she complained in another whisper.

He set his lips on her ear. “Little firecracker, everyone has seen panties before. Yours are not different. If you don’t stop arguing with Daddy, I’ll take you over my knees, bare your naughty bottom, and spank you. They’ll see a lot more than your panties.”

She twisted her neck to glare at him, gasping.

His brow was raised, and he looked dead serious.

She shivered, and her heart lurched as arousal flooded her system. What the Heavens? How was his stern admonishment turning her on?

His other brow joined the first as he spoke quietly for just her ears again. “My Little firecracker has a kinky side.”

She shook her head, blushing. Darn him.

He gave a slight chuckle. “Baby girl, there is no way for you to deny you’re intrigued by the thought of being spanked in front of everyone. Push me one more time, and I’ll fulfill that wish without hesitation. Do I make myself clear?”

Her entire body shuddered. “Yes, Sir.”

Several people had piled into the room while they’d had their private chat, and Leah’s face was hotter than ever as she turned to face their guests again. Among them was the unshifted wolf. The female wolf approached them and tipped her head back.

Elias reached down and petted the fur on her head. “Leah, this is Olivia. Olivia is mated to Damon. She’s the one I told you about who is nearly blind in her human form, so we’ll let her explore the house so she can get her bearings before she shifts.”

“Oh.” Leah watched in curiosity as Olivia slowly wandered around, sniffing and absorbing her surroundings.

She looked back toward Elias before heading toward the hallway.

Elias nodded. “All the doors are open, Little one. Orient yourself. Nothing is off-limits.”

Olivia disappeared.

The man who was probably her mate stepped forward and rubbed Leah’s arm. “I’m Damon, Olivia’s mate. Nice to meet you, Little one. I’m sorry for the intrusion.” He turned toward the room and pointed at a couple to the left. The woman was blond. “That’s Arion and his mate, Jezebel.”

Jezebel gave a small wave.

Damon continued, “Next we have Brock and Suzette.” Suzette had nearly black hair. Leah wasn’t going to have trouble keeping them straight.

The woman Leah knew was Elias’s mother came forward next and reached for Leah’s hand to squeeze it. “So nice to formally meet you, Leah. I’m Iliana, Elias’s mother.”

“Nice to meet you, too.” Leah really wished Elias would set her down, but she wasn’t about to ask again.

Owen smiled at Leah next. “Nice to meet you, Little one. We’re so glad you’ve joined our family. Sorry to barge in on you like this.”

Olivia returned and trotted toward her mate before she finally shifted. Damon pulled her back against his chest and bent to kiss the top of her head. “And this is Olivia in human flesh.”

Olivia lifted a hand Leah’s direction. “I’m sorry for nosing around your home. I know it’s weird. I feel more relaxed when I know my surroundings better.”

“No problem.” Leah took Olivia’s hand and gave it a squeeze, thinking how strange it must be to be nearly blind in human form but able to see in her wolf form.