47. Forty-seven

forty-seven

I flopped back into the sheets, aftershocks from my latest orgasm still twitching through my body as I fought to catch my breath. Drym laid next to me, his silicone covered claws running up and down my belly.

The council expedited the construction of our houses, and now all six stood scattered on the preserve. The other ‘fangs were close enough to visit, but far enough to afford each some long overdue privacy.

We still gathered for meals in the common hall, though it had become more of a war room than a dining room. Corkboards covered one wall, each papered in printouts and maps sporting pins marking possible lab locations.

A movable dry erase board was covered in conspiracy theory style scribbles.

We knew BioSynth lived on. We just didn't know what name they now used or where they'd scurried off to. We'd had no further communications from Isabelle.

Roul had withdrawn further as the weeks passed.

I often wished there was a way for us to reach out to her. I was sure if she knew how badly he was hurting, she would come back.

But those were problems for tomorrow. Tonight was for us.

Drym's low voice rumbled in my ear. "Have I told you lately how beautiful you are?"

"Not for at least thirty minutes."

"Then I have been remiss." He trailed a dulled claw down the side of my face. Goosebumps sprouted on my arms.

He tapped the covered claws against my chest.

"I appreciate your gift."

"I think I appreciate it more." With the coverings, he could explore my body with his hands without fear of cutting me to ribbons. I had to guide him sometimes, but he was a very attentive student.

My gift had definitely benefited me far more than it had him.

"I wanted to return the gesture."

I rolled onto my side and propped my head on my hand. "You got me a gift?"

His ears flicked, and I knew he was nervous. I tried to look behind him, but I would have had to crawl over him to see anything.

"Yes, but they won't be here until tomorrow."

"They?"

He nodded. "The other mates are going to visit."

I squealed so loud his hands flew up to cover his ears. I tossed myself into his arms and covered his chest with kisses as he fell onto his back.

"You like your gift?"

"I love it! How did you convince the shifters to let them come?"

Drym winced. "They are coming with them. We will wait outside so you can visit privately, but none of us will go far."

I slid down his body, notching his still hard cock at my entrance. "That's okay. I like you staying close to me."

I sank onto him and we both groaned. Our bond lights danced and pulsed around us, reflecting the depth of love I held for this beast.

The monster who spent the rest of the night showing me just how much he loved me back.

The next morning, giddy with excitement, I nearly ran to the common hall. Drym's hand in mine was all that held me back.

I barreled through Behemoth and another shifter I had only met once before who stood outside the door. Drym let me go and as the door closed behind me, an intense shyness took over.

The two brunettes in front of me smiled and I waved.

"Hi!" I was breathless from my near run.

The slightly shorter one rushed forward and threw her arms around me.

"Hi back! I'm Virginia, that's Gaelynn, and we are so happy to finally meet you!"

She released me and I saw Gaelynn shaking her head. "Don't mind her. She's thrilled we have another member of the S.M.C."

"S.M.C.?"

Virginia laughed. "The Society Mates Club! We needed three to really call it a club. There aren't many of us, you know. We're a kind of recent phenomenon."

"Oh, that's right. I remember something about shifters' fated mates being not a thing for a while?"

Gaelynn nodded. "Yeah, Fenrir pissed off the fates, but I guess he's been forgiven. Either that, or they got sick of the work required to keep shifters from finding their mates."

"My bet's on the latter. I can't imagine any pissed off woman forgiving that behavior."

We both nodded at Virginia's assessment.

She gasped and spun around. After digging in a gigantic bag for a minute, she emerged with a bundle of fabric. She shook out a t-shirt and grinned before handing it to me. It was a plain white tee with block letters on the back like a football jersey. It read "S.M.C." and beneath that was my first name, followed by WF.

Tears sprang to my eyes as they turned around to show me the backs of their shirts. Virginia's name was followed by WS and Gaelynn's by BS. I knew right away they stood for wyrfang, wolf shifter and bear shifter.

When they turned back around, they were both grinning at me.

"Welcome to the first meeting of the Society Mates Club."