10

clementine

THE PROBLEM WAS that Paladin had blocked me on social media, and that Kestrel would not respond to my friend requests or read any messages I sent him. Lazarus didn't seem to have any presence online.

The next full moon was a week away. It was breathing down my neck, and I felt nervous and frightened because I didn't have any idea what I was going to do.

I would have liked to have it all settled before I left, but I only had a week, and it wasn't enough time. Also, try as I might, I couldn't make myself contact my father and explain it all to him.

I wondered at myself, anyway.

How could I be doing this, after what happened to my own mother?

It wasn't as if I didn't remember her. I had all sorts of memories of my mother, and everyone of them was a shard to my heart, especially when compared to the reality of Angela, my self-centered stepmother.

I couldn't make that make sense, the fact that I would fall in love with the kinds of creatures who had murdered my mother.

Anyway, at this point, it was not love, and I knew that.

It was a biological imperative, an instinctive altering of the way my body functioned .

It was like becoming allergic to gluten or something.

I had to obey it. I didn't have to like it. But forcing myself to eat a lot of pasta was not going to reverse it.

So, the moon came, and I hadn't really done anything except a bunch of half-hearted research. Still, when I left my dorm, I looked into it and knew I wouldn't live here again. I wanted to bring things with me, but I couldn't. I wanted to have made different living arrangements. I wanted to have made progress in changing my classes to virtual and remote. I wanted to have done all sorts of things, and in the end, I was left with nothing concrete except a certainty that my whole life was going to change tonight.

I arrived at the gate, and I kept hoping Noah would be there, but he wasn't.

Antsy, I waited as time passed, wondering what I was going to do, because I believed it when they said they wouldn't even be here.

I had been to their farmhouse with Paladin, and I thought I might remember the way, but it was a different route from the gate than from the part of the wall where it had collapsed. It had also been a long walk, maybe twenty minutes.

I needed to make it there.

I felt as if it wouldn't really matter, in the end, if some of the other wolves caught me and used me before I got to them. They would still claim me, because I was theirs, even if some other men had fucked me.

But, as it was, I had only ever been with them, and something that thrummed inside my chest wanted to keep it that way.

The minute the gate opened, I was off like a shot.

I sprinted off into the night, as fast as I could, past clumps of wolves who were waiting in the shadows.

As I predicted, wolves came after me.

Ten or twelve of them, in fact, started behind me.

But as the other tithes appeared, lots of them changed their attention, running back for those women. I glanced over my shoulder to see that my running had caused some kind of chaotic pandemonium, all of the wolves running and tackling tithes to the ground, tithes screaming and running away in all directions.

I couldn't stay to watch, though.

I kept running.

Now, I was only pursued by four wolves, but soon it became only two.

They tackled me as I was hurrying down a hill. I was naked, panting, heart pounding in my chest.

They pressed me into the grass and took turns covering me with their bodies, rubbing their prominent erections all over me.

I tensed, waiting for it to happen. I'd leave once they were done with me.

But they both stuck their noses in my pussy, smelling it, and they recoiled.

They were off me.

I got to my feet and started running again.

This seemed to inflame the wolves. They leaped on me, tearing me down the ground, claws and teeth in me. I gasped at the sensation, which I felt in my clit. It burst and I had a fucking orgasm as the wounds healed up.

The wolves both licked me, licked my pussy, licked my belly, but they didn't seem to like the taste of me, and they recoiled again.

Shaking, the orgasm aftermath still affecting me, I gingerly got to my feet.

They growled at me.

I put up both of my hands. "I have mates," I said.

They hung their heads.

One of them lay down on the ground, licking his paws, almost pouting.

The other turned and loped off, back to the fray where the other tithes were cavorting.

I started to back away from the remaining wolf.

He didn't make a move to come after me.

Wary, I kept backing away for a while. Eventually, pretty sure that he wasn't going to follow me, I turned my back on him and started walking.

I walked for a while, through the chilly autumn darkness, the world illuminated by the bright moon overhead in the sky. As I walked, I began to recognize where I was. I ended up on an old road, the blacktop cracked and weathered, weeds growing up through it. I saw a house that I'd seen from another angle, and I knew I was getting close to the farmhouse where my mates lived.

To my new home, I thought, trepidation in my belly.

Still, the thought of seeing them buoyed me up and I picked up the pace.

I rounded a bend, went over a hill, and there it was.

The farmhouse was white, two stories, with a little porch on the front. There was a vegetable garden to one side, and a chicken coop in the back. It looked cozy and inviting. There was smoke coming out of the chimney.

My new home, I thought again, but it was nice this time.

Out of the corner of my eye, there was movement.

A wolf, dark black, no wolf I'd ever seen before, streaked out and collided with my midsection.

I went down onto the blacktop, and it scraped against my back, but I could feel that healing, even as the wolf prodded his way between my thighs. He threw back his head, howling, and he lined up his thick, dripping red cock with my pussy.

Okay, well, I knew this could happen. I knew it. I took deep breaths, waiting.

In the distance, I heard the sound of a porch door slamming closed.

I sat up, twisting around the wolf, trying to get away from him.

He swiped me with his paw, growling.

But there was a wolf on the porch, one of my wolves. I saw the glint of silver fur, and I screamed, "Kestrel!"

The wolf on me turned in the direction of the farmhouse.

Kestrel leaped off the porch, running for me on all fours, a long, mournful howl coming from his throat.

The black wolf bared its teeth, guarding me like prized prey.

I tried to move, but the black wolf turned back, sank its teeth into my ankle. Ow. Fuck. Okay, I was coming again. That was confusing. I panted, the pain and pleasure dancing as the black wolf dragged me off the road and tossed me aside. Then, putting his body between mine and Kestrel's, he held his ground.

Kestrel pounced on him.

It was a whir of movement, fur and teeth and claws, the sounds of whines and growls renting the air.

At one point, the black wolf had Kestrel on his back. He swiped at Kestrel's belly, and Kestrel let out a yelp of pain.

I thought it was all over, and I was horrified.

But then Paladin and Lazarus were there. They all ganged up on the black wolf, until he gave up. He limped off, staying off one of his paws as if it might have been broken.

I gasped up at them, the wound in my ankle just now sealing over. It had been deep. "Sorry," I said. "I couldn't stay away."

kestrel

I WAS ANGRY with her.

So dangerous. Ridiculously dangerous. And I was out of my mind thinking that she could have been fucked by that other lone wolf out here. I didn't know his name, but I'd seen him slinking around on full moons sometimes. Lone wolves were sometimes cool, but sometimes sort of deranged, like something in their brain had gotten broken, and now they were more animal than human all the time.

She was naked and smiling at us, and she crawled over to wrap her arms around my neck, sinking her fingers in my fur. "Hi," she said. "Fuck, I missed you." She turned to Lazarus, petting him. "And you." And then Paladin. "And my Paladin, hello." She rubbed her face against his fur, and he licked her forehead, letting out a little whine.

She ducked down and went straight for his cock.

Paladin acquiesced happily, straightening, tongue hanging out of his mouth. He panted and she sank her mouth onto him.

Oh, shit, look at her.

She bobbed for a few minutes, then gave the tip of Paladin's big red erection an affection kiss before turning to me. She sucked me, and I ran my claws through her hair, and then she gave my dick one of those sweet little kisses, too. "And Lazarus, can I say hi to your cock, too?"

Lazarus made a gruff noise but let her suck him. Of course he did.

I couldn't handle it. I moved behind her as she had her mouth full of Lazarus and pressed into her pussy.

She made a pleased noise, popping off of him to say, "Oh, yes, yes, Kestrel."

I dug my claws into her round little hips and fucked her briskly, my own tongue hanging out, panting as I rutted her. Something about it felt explosive, a push of the intensities of the moments before—the other wolf, the danger, her safety, her naked body, everything swirling up into a one pushing feeling that made my balls tighten and pleasure to shoot through me like an arrow.

I came in her real fucking fast.

My knot started to swell up, but I definitely didn't want to be stuck in her out here.

So, I yanked myself out, quick.

She was still sucking Lazarus, who was bent over her, tenderly licking her shoulders and neck.

I'd left her pussy wide open, and Paladin nudged his face in to begin licking her.

I settled back on my haunches and watched them share her. I watched Paladin make her come and her make Lazarus come.

Then, all three of us nudged her to her shaky feet. We got up on our hind legs. Supporting her between the three of us, we took her back to the house.

She collapsed onto a couch in the living room, surveying her body, exclaiming about how this or that had healed and touching spots that were dirty. "I knew you guys wouldn't mind, that it would be okay if some of the other wolves had sex with me, but I didn't want it to happen for some reason. I wanted to be yours and only yours."

That went through me in that funny way again. I settled down on the floor, at her feet, curling up there, laying my head on my paws. I shut my eyes. What the fuck was she doing here? We'd agreed. Lazarus had talked to her. I didn't get it.

Lazarus leaped up onto the couch next to her and rumbled a little growl in his throat.

She petted him. "You guys really can't talk when you're shifted, huh? But you understand me?"

Paladin yipped an affirmative, crawling up next to her on the other side.

She petted Paladin too. "Well, look, I know this isn't exactly the greatest development for any of us. But…" She laughed softly. "We'll talk about it later." Her hand had traveled down the front of Lazarus's pelt to find him sticking out again, still ready to service her. "You're still really hard, huh?" Her voice was gentle. She touched Paladin, too. "You too, I see." Her bare foot burrowed into my fur. "What about you, Kestrel?"

I huffed. I couldn't help but rub the side of my face into her leg. She smelled good. I was glad she was here. I was hard for her, still. I got the impression I'd be hard for her until she was sated, whatever that meant.

She had both of her hands full of their cocks, stroking them at the same time. "Well, what are we going to do about this, hmm?" she crooned. "You all seem so big and swollen and those erections look uncomfortable. Are they?"

In response, Paladin howled.

She giggled. "Lucky I'm here to help." She grinned down at me. "I seem to have exactly the right amount of holes, don't I? Can we figure out a way to get all of you into me?"

Shit.

Well, I'd already been inside her, so I should let the others have a turn, I thought. I barked at them, motioning with my head that they should get on the floor next to the couch .

Lazarus seemed to have the same idea. He leaped down and tugged her down after him, which she allowed, giggling.

Then he started to lick and prep her asshole, which made her get all gaspy and quiet.

I finally communicated to Paladin to lie down on his back. It took a lot of pushing and making various noises, but he got it.

Lazarus nudged her forward toward Paladin's waiting cock, which was pointing straight at the ceiling.

She eagerly tucked that into her pussy, letting out long moans as Lazarus continued to prep her ass.

I arranged myself on the couch best as I could and she turned to me, squealing, "Ooh, perfect height, Kestrel," and took me into her mouth.

I shut my eyes and enjoyed that for a bit, panting as her talented wet mouth teased and tantalized my hard cock.

When her mouth faltered, I opened my eyes, and I saw Lazarus was working his way into her ass.

She tried to keep going on my cock, but I put a paw against her cheek to stop her. I disengaged my cock and went down to help. I licked and provided more lube so that, as he eased his way in, he was sliding nicely in and out of her tight little hole. I still hadn't fucked her there, thanks to the fact I'd knotted myself into her pussy last time. But I knew I'd get a chance soon enough, maybe even tonight if I wanted it.

When Lazarus was fully seated up to the hilt, she told me to give her back my cock. "Need something in my mouth Kestrel, please," she said in a dark voice that gave me shivers.

I gave it to her, happy she needed something in her mouth, and happy to be able to be that thing in her mouth, and very fucking happy that she and I both wanted the exact same thing in that moment. It was a perfect symbiosis that felt right in a way I couldn't describe.

Anyway, then, we all fucked her. Paladin in her pussy, and Lazarus in her ass, and me jammed between her sweet lips.

I was so busy enjoying getting what was probably the best blow job of my life, I didn't pay any attention to when the other guys came. So, it was only when I was done spurting down that little throat of hers and had the chance to come back to myself a little and recover that I realized they'd both fucking knotted her.

She didn't seem to mind. The knots felt good to her, apparently, and I watched her giggle and bounce around, tugging against their locked-in cocks, and give herself two orgasms, one right after the other.

I climbed off the couch to help her get a third one. I licked her all over, licked the places where they were knotted into her, and then licked her clit a lot.

In the wake of that orgasm, she seemed sleepy, yawning a lot.

Paladin's and Lazarus's knots went down and they extricated themselves from her. We took her to the room on the back of the house where we messed around all together, the three of us, the sun room. We had found several futon mattresses and hauled them back to the house. We had laid them out there, with a bunch of pillows and cushions, too, to make a big enough bed for all of us to lie comfortably on. She wasn't that big. She fit, too.

We pressed her between us. She put her face against my chest, her breasts into my belly. She tangled her legs up with Paladin, who lay behind her, and Lazarus was on the other side of Paladin.

We slept.