Chapter 19

Chapter

Nineteen

S kylar took Travis through the back entrance and up the back stairs to her room.

"My bedroom used to be closer to the rest of my family, but when we had to expand to the second house, I commandeered this room."

"No doubt so you could sneak in and out with no one the wiser," he laughed.

"Actually, I was always pretty good at getting in and out with no one knowing."

"And doing all kinds of naughty things."

"I did not."

"I beg to differ, my beautiful mate. I am fairly sure your father would have considered skinny dipping in his pool on hot summer nights to be off limits."

Her eyes flashed guiltily. "How did you… there's no way…"

"Because our first night in the loft wasn't the first time I ever saw you naked. The image of you in the pool fueled my fantasies for years, but they are nothing compared to the reality that is you now," he said, allowing the hunger he felt for her to roll over and surround her.

Travis took her face in his hands and fused his mouth to hers, running his tongue along the seam of her lips before letting it dart inside her mouth to entice and seduce. Skylar found it all too easy to allow her libido to kick into overdrive. They were at Rivière Du Loup, and she knew there was no safer place on earth.

Skylar nuzzled his neck and began kissing and licking her way down his chest. She nipped little bits of skin here and there as she sank down in front of him.

"Skylar, we don't have time for this," he rumbled.

"Maybe not for something too indulgent, but I think I could make you more comfortable."

She lowered herself to her knees, her face flush to his bulging fly. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips as she looked up at him, waiting. She knew Travis didn't just need control, he craved it. It was part and parcel of his role as a dominant alpha wolf. It had been a bitter pill to swallow, but she had finally admitted to a need to submit to him. In clubs, even though she had taken on the role of a submissive, she had never truly submitted to anyone until Travis had claimed her. She'd lived her whole life espousing her independence, but Travis had shown her a different way and had treasured her submission and recognized her strength in being able to give it.

Skylar locked eyes with his, going no further until he nodded. When he did so, she gingerly reached up and unbuckled the sterling silver trophy buckle before undoing the top button of his Levi's. She could see and feel his cock throbbing, so she unfastened the remaining buttons, allowing it to jut straight out, right at mouth level. She waited, again looking up at him.

"Take it, Sky. Take it all."

She opened wide and his hard dick was in her mouth before she could even take a breath. Most of the time when she gave him a blow job, it became more about him fucking her mouth and throat. He could be a lot to handle, but she enjoyed the pleasure it seemed to bring him. Skylar swirled her tongue around his length as he drove toward the soft place at the back of her throat, groaning.

Travis dragged his cock back over her flattened tongue before she wrapped her lips around the swollen head, tracing circles around it with her tongue and sucking the tiny drop of precum that was gathered at the slit. He dug his fingers into her blonde mane, fisting it and holding her head in place. At least she still had some freedom to move her head from side to side.

"God, you feel good," he said as he began to thrust in and out of her mouth.

Skylar never took her eyes off his as he watched his cock sliding in and out of her mouth. He groaned in pleasure. He pulled back and she sucked hard, trying to keep him from leaving her mouth completely and treating the head of his staff like a lollipop. Her tongue felt as if it were in constant motion, swirling around and around his rod.

Each time the head of his cock almost left her lips, he hesitated before driving as deeply inside her mouth as he could go. Skylar timed her swallows to his thrusts so that she took him in fully as he surged forward. She used her hands to gently massage his balls and she felt them swell, as did his heavy shaft inside her mouth. Travis came, shooting his cum down her throat in a strong torrent. She drank all he gave her, then sat back after he withdrew.

He tucked himself back into his jeans and leaned down to kiss her. "We are so taking our vows in front of our parents tonight. We can have a big party later, and I'll forego taking you into seclusion, but I'm not going another night without knotting and tying you."

Skylar smiled and wound her arms around him. "I was hoping you'd feel that way. I need you Travis. I need us."

"You have both, baby. Never doubt that."

They unpacked their clothes and were getting ready to rejoin the pack when there was a discreet knock on the door.

"Travis?" called JD. "Your parents have arrived."

Skylar opened the door. "We were just on our way out. Where are they?"

"They're in the study with your father."

"Is Mama with them?"

"She is," said JD with a bit of suspicion.

"Could you please see that the rest of the pack doesn't disturb us?" Skylar said to him as she headed down the stairs.

T ravis stopped in his tracks as JD stepped in front of him. "I'm all about fated mates and the like, but if you hurt her, Jean-Michel will have to race me to see who guts you first."

Travis laughed. "Duly noted. But you do realize both of you will have to stand in line behind Skylar herself, don't you?" JD laughed. "Would you mind seeing if the chef can put together some kind of celebratory dessert? We'll do something more formal down the road, but I'd prefer to be formally bonded to the pirate's daughter before I share her bed in his home."

JD hesitated for a moment and then grinned broadly. "I think you'll do fine."

Travis moved past him and went to join his mate. Having been a guest at Rivière Du Loup many times in the past, he knew his way. He'd never cared much for the formality of the grand old plantation but did envy Jean-Michel his study. It came from a bygone era—a time when homes were built with beautiful, polished wood bookshelves and cupboards lining the walls. The books were all first editions collected over the centuries by Jean-Michel's ancestors.

When Travis got to the study, he closed the door behind him and went to embrace his parents.

"We're glad you could join us," said Jean-Michel to Cameron. "I believe your son wishes to ask my permission to claim my daughter."

"Not exactly," said Travis.

Skylar drew her hair back and pulled open the neckline of her blouse to show the fresh claiming mark to Cameron and Riley.

"As I told you earlier today, I have claimed your daughter, Alpha, with her consent. And although I do not need your permission, it would give me great pleasure if you would grant it nonetheless."

Grinning, Jean-Michel nodded in approval.

"Traditionally it is the male wolf who declares his vows and challenges his mate to refuse him, but Skylar has never been big on tradition. So, my beautiful mate, would you care to declare yourself first?"

Skylar beamed at him. "I, Skylar Gautier, daughter to the Alpha and Mistress of New Orleans, declare you, Travis Nichols, to be my one true fated mate and alpha. I want to grow old and grey with you. I don't know what our future holds, but I know that whatever it may be, it will be all the sweeter because I am loved by you."

In that moment, nothing but Skylar existed for him. He knew their parents were in the room, but it didn't matter. This was merely a repetition of the vows they had taken before he marked her.

"I, Travis Nichols, son of the Alpha and Mistress of Galveston, declare you, Skylar Gautier, love of my life, to be my one true and fated mate, and to hell with what anybody else thinks."

Skylar laughed and threw herself into his embrace. Together they were the embodiment of happiness in that moment.

Jean-Michel shook his head. "This," he said, pointing at Skylar but looking to Darby, "is your doing. Thank God I believe her fated mate to be strong enough to handle her."

Cameron laughed. "We've all known this day was coming for a long time. I'm just happy to see he didn't have to run her down, lasso her, and bring her back to the house trussed up like a holiday goose."

"That sounds like it might be fun," she whispered in Travis's ear.

"I also have Shibari Master privileges," he whispered back.

"I admit, I hoped this would happen," said Darby, putting her arm around her daughter. "So I had cook prepare a special meal, and I have a bottle of champagne chilling. Actually, it's not champagne. Catherine likes to remind me that since the grapes were grown in Italy, it is sparkling wine. I hope down the road you'll let us throw you a much bigger celebration."

"Aye," said Riley, hugging Skylar. "Maybe we can do a weekend event, with celebrations here and at Wolf Meadow."

When the three couples emerged from Jean-Michel's study, it seemed as though the entire New Orleans pack had gathered to congratulate the newly bonded couple. Once everyone had paid their respects, Skylar asked if she could speak with her father, JD, and Cameron.

"And your mate, n'est-ce pas ?" said her father.

Skylar scowled at him. "In case you missed it, we're a package deal." She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her father's cheek. "And you just got pushed out as my number one hero."

Jean-Michel clutched at his chest dramatically. "I am wounded to the core. I am no longer my daughter's knight in shining armor."

"I could explain why that is if you'd like," offered Darby with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

" Non . I don't think my heart could stand it. I prefer to believe they have a perfectly chaste relationship."

Riley and Darby burst out laughing as color suffused his cheeks.

"Not my son," asserted Riley. "He has too much of his father in him than to be doing without."

"The same could be said of my daughter," attested Darby.

Wrapping her arm around her friend, Darby said, "Let's leave them to this and go get Megan and Summer and see what kind of trouble we can get into."

Jean-Michel and Cameron groaned in unison.

Once the women had left, Skylar addressed her father, JD and Cameron, methodically laying out what she knew about the killer. She explained why the task force was convinced that the next murder scene would either be at the pavilion in the center of town or the gazebo at Rivière Du Loup. It was fascinating to watch his mate's father become aware of the skill and training his daughter had in her chosen profession.

"And you will allow this?" Jean-Michel said, turning to Travis.

"She is who she is. I have always known my path didn't include becoming Alpha of Galveston. My destiny has always been tied to my fated mate. As long as there is breath in my body, I will keep her safe."

"And this killer who taunts her?"

"Won't live to see his first appeal," said Travis matter-of-factly.

" Bien ."

Skylar rolled her eyes. "Could the two of you dial back the testosterone and let me lay out the plan?"

" Chere , it's obvious you have not been around posturing alpha males enough. This is mild bravado, and at least Cameron is choosing to keep his own counsel," said JD.

"That's right, Sky. My dad is choosing to play the taciturn cowboy alpha."

Cameron smiled. "Not necessarily. I've just been mated to your mother long enough to know I should listen to the person who has the best information, regardless of their gender."

"I don't think we need to worry about much tonight. And I hate to admit it, but keeping the she-wolves close to home, especially the dark-haired ones, is probably a good idea. Any questions?" she asked.

"I have one," said Travis, turning back to his father. "We talked to Aunt Amy on the way out here about the legend that our pack is descended from dire wolves. How much credence do you give to that?"

"I've never doubted it. We're larger and more heavily muscled than even the largest of the timber wolf-shifters. Why?"

"Skylar had a dream where she and I merged or morphed or shifted into one enormous dire wolf. Anything in the legends about something like that happening?"

Cameron nodded. "They say that in the presence of evil, true fated mates can merge into one, combining their strength and skill to defeat it."

"Amy didn't seem to know much about the actual ‘how to.' Is there some kind of trick to it?" asked Skylar.

"Not anything practical. I think I remember it can only be done by the light of a full moon. The wolf calls to his mate to join with him, to live or die as one. But that's all I know."

"That's it?" asked Skylar, sounding disappointed.

Cameron smiled. "As I recall, when I asked my grandfather about it, he said it was a different kind of magic than regular shifting—that it happens in the midst of the actual shift and that the air had a different kind of electrical charge as if the shimmer had lightning bolts going off in it. A lot of our ancestors believed that what we do and who we are as shifters is a kind of magic or a blessing from the gods, instead of being merely a product of evolution."

"Why did you ask your grandfather and not your father?" asked Travis.

"My father wasn't much on magic. He chalked it up to just being family lore. I don't think he ever believed the stories. It always fascinated your Aunt Amy though. I think that's why she was a bit disappointed at first to be called to Sam—he isn't an alpha. And like the knot, it was said that only an alpha can call to his fated mate to be one with him."

Travis hadn't realized how much time had gone by until Darby knocked on the door and informed them dinner and fireworks would be starting within the hour.

Travis held his father back as the others departed. "Do you believe?"

Cameron was quiet for a moment before speaking. "My grandfather wasn't given to flights of fancy. From what that Mawmaw Chantal said, it sounds like there's something more at work here than just your random sicko. It would probably be better if you had a twelve-gauge shotgun than rely on shifting to become a dire wolf, but I'll try to find out more about it."

"You do understand about the pack? About me not becoming alpha, I mean."

"I do. If I had been called to your mother to protect her and that meant leaving the pack, I would have done it. As it was, I left poor Gabe to do the heavy lifting while I chased after your mother. It's always been easy to see that you and Skylar are fated mates. You follow your path and keep her safe. Another will rise to follow me."

The evening's dinner and fireworks were spectacular. The display was clearly visible but done from a floating platform in the middle of the Mississippi. By having the display over the water, they could be easily seen, but were not as loud as if there on land, there was less danger of fire, and the smoke wasn't as heavy in the air. The highlight of the evening was when his mother pulled out her fiddle on the patio and began to play.

Travis had Skylar wrapped in his arms, her back to his front, and they swayed together, watching his mother play by the light of the fireworks.

"That's so beautiful. In all the years she's played for us, I've never heard her play song before," whispered Skylar.

"No, it's special. Her father taught it to her. He played it to woo her mother. As far as I know, before my father claimed her, the last time she'd played it was the night her father passed to be with her mother. The last time was on the night of her bonding ceremony to my father. He made her promise she would only play it for him when they were alone or at the bonding ceremony of one of their children."

As the last notes drifted into the sky and the other musicians struck up new tunes, Travis swept Skylar off her feet, cradled her close to his chest, and ascended the stairs, taking her to the room they would share for the night.