Chapter 14 - Nile

At Violet's request, I organized a party for the packs of Pinedale to gather. There was no particular theme in mind. I simply billed the event as an evening of revelry and a chance for the community to enjoy each other's company.

I arrived early to set up the space along with a handful of volunteers. The community center was decorated with lights and balloons, and our usual setup of chairs had been exchanged for party seating scattered about the room. High tables with a handful of chairs punctuated the outer rim of the room, encircling the dance floor. Musically gifted pack members had brought their instruments and played music on the stage, and a spread of food on a long table offered refreshments.

Before long, members of the packs began to arrive. I greeted everyone from both mine and Jasper's packs enthusiastically, ready to help Violet make tonight a success.

Nearly everyone had arrived when I spotted Violet. The scarlet dress she had chosen was simple but stunning on her.

"You look amazing," I said, greeting her.

"I thought red would be eye-catching and help me stand out," she said, looking around at the party nervously. "But now I'm wondering if it's a little too much."

I didn't want to lay it on too thick, but I knew I was going to spend the rest of the night trying to keep my hands off her. She had been very strict when laying out her one requirement for the night: don't interfere. That meant keeping out of the way while she did what needed to be done.

"I'd say it's just the right amount," I argued.

"I agree with your mate," said a female voice.

I turned and saw Luna April had arrived with Alpha Jasper. As always, April was smiling and engaged while Jasper was standoffish, keeping himself slightly out of the circle of conversation.

"Thank you, Luna," Violet said to her counterpart. "It's good to see you."

"Likewise," April replied.

"If you'll excuse me, I want to go check in with some of the new arrivals," I said, excusing myself from the group.

"I'll come with you," Jasper said.

The two of us walked toward the entrance, where we stationed ourselves at the nearest table to the door.

"I hope you don't mind," Jasper said. "I know April enjoys gatherings, but parties aren't really my thing."

"Not at all," I said. "To be honest with you, I'm trying to take a back seat at this one. Violet has faced some… resistance to becoming a member of the pack, and she wanted to have a chance to get to know everyone without me hovering."

Jasper raised his eyebrow at me questioningly. "Has there been trouble? I hadn't heard anything from our wolves."

"Not exactly trouble, but it looked like it might be heading in that direction," I admitted. "My late wife's mother has not been receptive to the idea of a new luna for the pack. Or a new woman in my life, for that matter."

"I see," Jasper said. "I'm sure that's difficult to navigate. I assume you're regretting our alliance now. If that's the case, I can assure you that you have our full support in whatever you need."

I waved my hand dismissively at his assertion. "Not at all. I don't regret Violet becoming my mate. I thought I had my whole life together before she got here, but the longer she's here, the more I realize how little I know about myself. She has shown me things that I need to work on and been a great influence on Penny. She makes me a better alpha."

"I understand that completely," Jasper said, nodding in understanding.

Jasper and I continued our conversation, interspersed with polite greetings to pack members who came and left while I watched Violet from afar.

I could tell she was hesitant at first, only speaking to those who came up to her. But then she seemed to get her footing and soon began making friendly advances toward the less friendly members of the Pinedale Pack—those who had been influenced by Diana's poor opinion of her.

After a while, the room appeared to be completely at ease. I watched as Violet effortlessly spoke with person after person, and felt my pride swell as I realized that even those who had been most opposed to her had finally begun to warm up to my mate.

"Looks like Killian is on the prowl," Jasper joked as he nodded his head toward a wolf who was eyeing the single female members of the packs. It did, indeed, appear that Jasper's second-in-command was looking for a suitable mate.

"I'm surprised we haven't held a mating ceremony for him yet," I said. "He's a good-looking guy with a position of prestige. Has he never found a female from your pack to settle down with?"

"Our pack doesn't exactly have a flourishing female population of marrying age," Jasper pointed out.

"Well, maybe he'll meet someone someday," I said.

Violet had made her way over to where Killian stood, greeting him with a smile. I watched as they talked, becoming more uncomfortable by the minute. He said something that made Violet laugh, throwing her head back as she reached out to grab his forearm for support.

My stomach churned as I witnessed the exchange. I took a step forward to interfere before I remembered my promise to Violet. This was her night. I turned my back to the room to regain my composure, vowing to myself that I wouldn't mess things up for the luna, especially in front of the pack.

***

When the last of the wolves had left the community center, Violet and I took the short walk home together.

"I think that went really well," Violet said enthusiastically. "I was nervous at first—I'm sure you could tell—but I think I made some good progress with all the wolves. Even the ones who prefer Diana's leadership."

She continued to speak about her favorite moments of the night while I listened, still ruminating on the interaction between her and Killian.

"You're being really quiet. What's on your mind?" she asked.

"It's nothing," I replied quietly.

"No, don't do that," she said, coming to a halt near the garden gate. "If you have something to say, then say it."

I sighed. "Fine. You want to know what I'm thinking? I'm thinking about the obvious attraction you have for Killian."

"Killian? Jasper's second?" she asked, frowning.

I didn't respond, because as soon as I had said my thoughts out loud, I had wanted to take them back. I was trying to win her love, not push her away. Getting angry at her wouldn't help matters, and neither would jealousy. But I knew it needed to be said.

"You have some nerve," Violet said, still scowling. "I told you that tonight was going to be about getting to know the packs and trying to make friends. And now you're angry with me because—what—I was too friendly?"

"I'm not angry, I'm upset. There's a difference," I pointed out.

"You're an idiot," she spat.

"Violet, if you want to be with someone else it would hurt me. I'm your mate, after all. But I would rather know than be blind-sided later on," I explained.

She threw her hands up in the air, a mixture of anger and defeat. "I can't win with you!" she exclaimed. "Even if I did want to be with someone else, why would you care? You're the one who left me , remember?"

"I didn't want to leave you!" I shouted back.

"But you did!"

"Violet, you… this is… argh!" I growled in frustration. "You have no idea what it is taking me to control myself right now."

"Then don't," she said.

Those two words were all it took. I wanted her—needed her—but I had been dancing around the issue for so long, I could hardly think straight. She had my head spinning in circles that all led back to one thought. I couldn't take it for a moment longer.

"Fuck it," I growled.

I strode toward her, grasping her around her thin waist with one hand and the back of her head with the other to pull her roughly into an embrace. I entwined my fingers into the honey-colored hair at the base of her skull and pulled down gently, forcing her face up to look at mine. My lips crashed into hers passionately, unable to bridle my attraction for her for a second longer.

My fingertips pressed into her side with urgency as I forced her body in line with mine. The air around us felt cool, but as we came together, I felt a heat rising between us.

Violet responded immediately, pushing her hands up under my shirt and caressing my back with her fingertips. Her lips moved against mine sensuously. My tongue darted inside her mouth, tasting the sweetness of her tongue as it reached for mine. I could feel the softness of her skin beneath her dress, and I yearned to explore every inch of her. I began to harden at the thought of finally being together again after all this time. The memory of the way her body had looked and felt brought me fully to attention, ready and eager to repeat the experience.

My hands moved down to cup her buttocks as I grinded between her legs, inching her dress up ever so slightly. I couldn't bring myself to stop kissing her, and I hoped this made my intentions clear. Violet let out a light moan as our bodies caressed each other. She threw her head back and my lips bent to her neck, covering her milky skin with kisses from her jaw to her collarbone.

Her hands, already on the bare skin of my back, moved their way up to my shoulders as she allowed me to continue my attentions. She lifted the shirt over my head, tossing it aside before placing her hands back on my chest. Her head moved in close to mine once more, but instead of kissing me, she tilted her mouth, placing her lips gently on my neck. I felt her teeth nibble at my skin, and a shudder went through my body.

"Vi," I whispered gruffly.

Moving back slightly so I could see her reaction, I reached under her dress and placed my fingers inside her panties. Using a steady pressure and rhythm, I began caressing her opening. She let out a gasp of pleasurable surprise at my touch and her blue eyes widened with each continuance of the motion.

Without a word, I hooked one finger inside her, finding the erogenous zone of her vagina and working it back and forth. Soon, I felt her wetness coat my fingertips as she became fully aroused.

With my other hand, I unbuttoned my pants and pulled out my erection. My cock throbbed with anticipation as she reached down to stroke the length of my shaft. I let out a groan of desire as her slender fingers encircled my penis.

Being exposed like that had reminded me that we were still standing on the sidewalk. With a quick look around to make sure we hadn't been seen, I removed my hand from under her clothes and opened the wooden gate to the garden to usher her through.

"Get inside. Now," I ordered gruffly.

Violet stumbled unsteadily through the open gate and stood back to allow me to shut the door solidly behind us. The moment I turned to face her, she laced her arms behind my neck, pulling my lips down to meet hers once again.

With the rest of the world shut behind the wooden door, our kisses became deeper and more passionate. It had been a long time since I had been with anyone, and I could feel the urgency from Violet as well. The tension between us had built up to a point where neither of us could wait any longer for our bodies to be joined.

I reached my hands down, trailing over her hips and bottom until I found a handhold on her thighs. With a sudden motion, I lifted her, wrapping her legs around my waist and spinning around so that I could brace her against the wooden fence. My thumb hooked her underwear aside, and I rammed my erection inside her, frantically seeking to satiate the burning need I had to be inside her and close the distance between us.

"Yes, Nile," Violet moaned my name as I thrust into her.

She grasped me by the nape of my neck as I pounded her again and again. Violet panted into my ear, the air coming in quick bursts as our tempo increased.

The fence shook with each sudden movement we made, and I prayed to the wolf gods that no one was out walking this late at night to witness the wild abandon we were taking with each other's bodies. Within moments, we reached our climax, and I prayed once more that no one was around to witness the sounds of our well-timed exclamations.