Chapter Seven

As soon as Brinnah stepped inside the apothecary, she knew she was where was meant to be. Earthy scents of mugwort, burdock root, hibiscus, and ginger wrapped around her. She spotted pelargonium plants, echinacea, and raw honey. Everywhere she looked was something new and exciting. Plants she knew, ones she didn't. An entire wall holding glass canisters with herbs she'd never heard of inside them. She made more than one three-sixty rotation trying to see everything.

"Hello," a woman greeted them. Her warm smile crinkled little lines at the corner of her eyes. "Hi, Everett."

"Hey, Savannah," he replied. "This is Brinnah, my mate."

Brinnah smiled and gave her a little wave, too overwhelmed with excitement to say anything.

"What brings you two by?" Savannah asked.

"Well, Brinnah is from packs up north, in Canada, and she mentioned she used herbs to help take care of the unmated females. I thought she'd love to come here and pick your brain."

Savannah tilted her head. "Of course!"

"This is amazing," Brinnah said, looking up at the hanging dried plants. "This is my dream come true. I know only a fraction of what everything is but I want to know it all."

Everett's phone rang and he moved away to answer.

Brinnah smiled at Savannah. "Do you recommend any books for me to read? Which ones have the best knowledge?"

"Slow down," Savannah replied with a laugh. "I love your enthusiasm. Not many want to learn the beautiful world of herbology."

"My foraging started out of necessity, but I found that I really enjoyed discovering new plants and turning them into medicinal potions."

"I have just the thing." Savannah walked over to a bookcase and took a few down. "There are lots of books on the subject, but reading about herbology is just the tip of the iceberg. Many factors go into account when constructing something medicinal. Like includingthe species and variety of the plant, the plant's habitat, how it was stored and processed, and whether there are contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides. Plus, learning which ones complement each other. People hear herbology and think it's just about drinking tea, but there's so much more to learn."

"Oh, I would love to learn it all," Brinnah said wistfully. "Maybe one day."

Everett came back. "Are you ready, Brinnah? Jericho wants to see the mountain lion."

"Oh, of course," she replied, trying hard not to sound disappointed.

"Everett," Savannah interrupted. "Why don't you go and do what you need to do, and then come back to pick Brinnah up?"

Excitement and disbelief bubbled through her. "Really? Oh, my goodness!"

She looked pleadingly at him.

He chuckled. "How can I say no to that?"

She squealed and hugged him tightly around the waist. "Thank you."

He squeezed her back and kissed the tip of her nose. "Be good."

She nodded, smiling. Then he was gone and she turned back to Savannah. For the rest of the afternoon, she followed the herbologist around, listening as clients came in to talk about their aliments. Everyone smiled at her, especially once Savannah told them she was interning. She asked questions, absorbing it all. When Everett came back to pick her up, she was sad to have the day end.

"I can't thank you enough for letting me follow you around today."

Savannah tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. Then she nodded, as if coming to a decision. "I would love to have you as an apprentice, Brinnah."

"Wait. What?"

"I can sense goodness in you," Savannah said. "I think you'll make an excellent student. You're a natural sponge. Would you like to learn from me?"

"A thousand times yes."

Savannah smiled. "Excellent. My hours are nine to five, six days a week. I also, on occasion, do house calls. Is that doable for you?"

Brinnah looked up at Everett. When he gave a slight nod, she bounced on her feet. "Yes. Thank you so much!"

"Go on, get a good night's rest and I'll see you tomorrow."

As Brinnah left, she practically skipped out the door, waving goodbye.

"I can't believe I'm going to learn from Savannah!" she said happily.

"Congrats, baby," Everett said, smiling. "While you're learning, I don't want you to worry about money. This is your future and I know you'll be an excellent herbologist one day."

****

They ran through the night, each taking a turn to lead. The bright shine of the moon played peek-a-boo through the trees, illuminating their way. Happiness sang through her body. Her wolf was excited to be next to his. At this point, Brinnah didn't even question it. In her heart, she knew Everett was her moon-fated mate, not the cruel man she left behind. They came to the pond and Everett charged ahead, throwing himself off the bank into the water. A moment later, his human head surfaced and he flung his hair around, sending droplets flying in all directions. Brinnah sat on her haunches and tilted her head.

"Come, mate," Everett said, smiling. "Join me for a swim."

Brinnah thought for a moment, and then asked her wolf for their skin back. The wolf allowed it, and a moment later she sat on the bank, watching him.

"Join me," he said.

She smiled and rose, not caring about her nudity, and made her way into the pond. Mud squished between her toes. Some underwater plant life brushed against her leg. She really hoped there weren't any water snakes joining them for a nighttime swim.

As soon as she was close, Everett took hold of her hand and tugged her into his body. She stared into his eyes, getting lost in their swirling depths.

"I know you don't feel it, but I do," he said softly. "You are the woman made for me, just as I am the man made for you. Please let me show you my devotion."

When she nodded, he groaned and pulled her close, covering her mouth with his. She felt him everywhere and knew he was right. She was his and he was hers. The kiss transformed, going from something quite chaste to scorching hot. Everett wrapped his arms around her, his hard cock pressing against her stomach. It made her nervous because this wasn't something she'd ever done before. Of course, she knew the basics. She's seen animals copulate, and the mated females always talked about getting mounted. It sounded horrible, although the females seemed to like it.

Everett lifted her and carried her to the bank, laying her down in the field of clover he'd rolled in the day before. He brushed hair off her forehead.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered, then leaned down to kiss her. The whole setting was romantic, and for her first time, she couldn't imagine anywhere else.

He cupped her breasts, sucking gently on one while pinching the other. Massaging the globes and burying his face between them. She moaned as he nipped and licked all the way down, not stopping until he laid sprawled between her legs. Embarrassment forced her to try to hide herself, but he only pushed her thighs open wider.

"You're breathtaking," Everett murmured as his fingers slid through the curls that protected her most intimate part.

Brinnah's hips bucked as his finger ran along the slit, adding a slight pressure to her clit. She could hardly believe she was naked, letting him look at her. Touch her. Yet, she craved him with every fiber of her being.

"Hey, you okay?" he asked.

She looked down at him. "My anxiety is spiking."

He moved back up to look in her eyes. "We don't have to do anything. We can stop."

"But that's not what you want."

"Brinnah, I don't want anything unless you want it as well. I would never force you into something that makes you uncomfortable. If you want to leave, just say the word."

She stared deeply into his eyes. Even with the muted moonlight, she saw sincerity gazing back at her. It made her relax and come to the realization that she wanted this. Wanted him. She wanted to belong to him, and he to her, so she pushed down the little voice that told her she wasn't being fair to him because Vadin still hung in the back of her mind, like an evil specter.

"I want you," she murmured. "I want you in any way I can have you."

He searched her eyes for a moment more, and she tried hard to convey her need for him. Brinnah figured it worked when he surged against her, reaching up to kiss her. For a long moment, they simply explored one another, until they had to come up for air.

"Just lie back and enjoy," he whispered, gently pushing on her chest until she lay back. After that, he scooted back down again, parting her thighs, to reach her core.

With one hand spreading her, Everett's mouth descended. He licked his way up and down, over and over, until she thought she would go out of her mind. She squirmed, wanting more but unable to articulate just what she needed. All she could manage to do was moan and pant, but he seemed to understand because he found that little bundle of nerves and sucked it into the hot vortex of his mouth. Her hips bucked upward and she cried out. The white-hot fire that roared through her caused her to beg for more even though she wasn't quite sure what she was begging for. Just when she thought it couldn't feel any better, he pushed his middle finger into her, stretching her wide. The blunt pad of his index finger rubbed over her clit, and her hips instinctively found the rhythm to mimic his hand. She went up in flames, crying as she convulsed in pleasure.

"God, you are so fucking tight."

She opened her eyes, although it took considerable effort. She had no idea what he meant. "I've never done this before," she whispered.

"I know," he replied. "You're going to have to trust me."

"O-okay."

Everett raised up between her thighs to drape her knees over his arms. The position thrust her hips up and allowed her to see him slide the tip of his cock up and down her fold, the bulbous head glistening with a mixture of their juices. He was large. Far larger than she'd ever imagined a male could be, and she couldn't help but think it was going to hurt her. Many females had talked about there being pain and blood the first time.

Then he pushed, and the burn was almost more than she could bear. Pain overshadowed everything for a moment, and she raised her hands up to push against his chest.

"It's all right," he crooned.

"You're hurting me."

He flinched. "I'm sorry, baby, but this will pass. Take a deep breath. That's it, just relax your muscles. It won't hurt anymore after this."

"Promise?"

He leaned down and kissed her. "Promise."

He held still as she adjusted to the new sensation of being filled and stretched, and she wasn't sure if she liked the sensation of him being in her. Tears leaked from her eyes, and little by little she let her body relax and accept the huge shaft that stretched her. The pain eased somewhat, but she was still a little uncomfortable.

Slowly, Everett pulled out, only to push back in.

"Oh," she said, surprised. "I was expecting that to hurt more."

"No, baby, I'll never hurt you again."

They stared at one another as he thrust again. All discomfort fled at the startling sensation taking place in her most intimate place, and the more he worked his cock in and out of her body the more the coil inside her wound. In his eyes she saw the future. Their future. All the love shining in them, directed at her.

And when she shattered into bliss, all her dreams came true.