Chapter 7

New Point of View

What was a girl to do? Naqi was offering her everything she ever wanted, love and a forever mate. Right now, it would be so easy just to take it. She had more reasons now than ever to want a settled life and so did Naqi, but he didn't know it yet. Whether or not she decided to give in and take him at his word, the next question was when did she tell him about how she felt and what she had just found out? Would it change his mind or cause his commitment to be even firmer?

She had allowed Janey to go to Wilde and stay at the cabin, but it could hold more than one cousin. Janey had heard about the cabin and begged to stay there while she designed video games. Cousin Janey had one out right now that was making her a fortune. People downloaded it on their phones, and they picked their favorite paranormal character. They could be a witch, vampire, werewolf, or even a zombie and then they just lived as the character trying not to be killed by any supernatural beings or discovered by humans. You could collect magic spells that might save you and drink the blood of other supernaturals for temporary immunity to the others of their kind.

Janey had set up a campaign and everyone at the office had played it for a while before it went out to the general public. Her cousin was working on another game and wanted seclusion. Wilde was as secluded as you could get. Joey hadn't told Janey anything that had happened between her and Naqi because Janey had a big mouth, and she didn't trust her not to tell everyone in the family about it. She still remembered when they were in high school and she had admitted to her that she liked a certain boy who was a senior and the quarterback of the football team. Joey was a freshman and hadn't matured enough to get the attention of a boy who had the attributes of a man already. He had been nice and broke it to her gently. It only made her like him more.

"Joey, someday you will be a beautiful woman and you probably won't look at me twice, but right now, you're just too young for me."

She knew it was true, she turned him down for a date years later, he was too much of a friend and she viewed him like a brother by then. Things had just never worked out for them, but she had never forgotten that Janey had snitched her out and she never would. Joey needed to stop reminiscing and get her mind back on her current decisions.

Naqi was fixing breakfast which blew her mind. She had to admit she was hungry and as she tasted the food, she'd give him kudos for a job well done. He watched her quietly, but she was aware of his eyes on her. They had a lot to figure out if they could even work through a mess like this. On top of everything else, Conrad stalked her aided with wolves hopped up on vampire blood.

Admittedly she felt safer with Naqi there with her. There had been three attempts to take her by Conrad using the vampire blood controlled wolves. Once on the highly addictive, but also very expensive vampire blood infused drug, the victim, and they were specially selected victims that Conrad exploited, would do anything they were told to in order to get that next fix.

The first time had terrified her because she hadn't known what the odd smell and red glowing eyes had meant. She had wondered if the creature had come from hell itself. It had almost killed Danny, one of her favorite male cousins. The next time one had attacked her, she had been at work. He had come into the building in human form, and he looked very bad ass. It was the hint of red in his eyes that alerted her to what he really was. The guy was dressed in tight black leather like an outlaw biker, and he was muscled up and well defined. She would admit she had given him a second look and a third, but then she had sighed and stopped looking. Not only was he a blood wolf, but he wasn't and could never be Naqi.

She rechecked the screen to see his progress towards her office. Tyne, the owner of the security firm that did most of the security for anyone in her family, had suggested an upgrade in hers. Now she had cameras and her office had a special steel security door and an emergency lockdown system. She didn't use it though, she let the blood wolf make it to her office.

"Have a seat," she said as she gestured to the seat across from her. Surprisingly, he sat.

"We both know why I'm here, Beautiful. Someone wants you in a bad way. I can understand the pull and you're a white wolf, too. He's about to be one lucky wolf," the gorgeous blood wolf said. "Wish I could keep you," he added with a wolfish grin.

"I'm sorry, I can't go with you. But I'm going to get you some help. They have a treatment for the blood addiction, and it will be hard, but they'll get you back on track."

"Trying to bribe me, Sunshine?"

"You're an impossible flirt. If I hurt you, I'm sorry."

"My name is Trent, Darling. I don't see how you can possibly hurt me."

"That's because you're looking in the wrong place." She pulled up the dart gun and fired.

He just stared at the dart sticking from his chest in stunned silence. The sexy wolf started to pull it out, but he was too late. Just relaxing back into the seat, his eyes closed. It was only seconds, and he was out cold.

"He's ready to be picked up." There was a knock at the door, and it opened.

"Damn, he's a big one!" the guy said as he entered the room.

"The same size you are, Tyne."

Tyne looked at him skeptically as two more guys followed him in.

He moved to look closer at him. "What did he say his name was?"

"Trent."

"Damn, that's Trent Buchanon."

"OMG, not the Trent Buchanon?"

"Yes, do you know him?"

"No, but I can't get over how you wolves think we should. We just entered this world and believe me, there's a lot to learn that's more important than the wolves' top who's who list."

"His father is a northern alpha, but Trent will lead someday soon. His family is powerful and he's a hell of a fighter. We got lucky that he didn't realize you were a threat."

"Yeah, that's something else you wolves need to figure out. You think if it's girly and smells nice, it won't hurt you."

"Not all wolves think that. I know your family and all of you can be deadly."

"Some of them in the biblical sense."

Tyne blushed. Aw, that was just too cute, but he admitted nothing. She wasn't surprised, that wolf could keep a secret. He was a close friend of Blake, the pack alpha that Ariel, the first white wolf discovered in generations, had mated. The wolf had saved Ariel, one or more of the times she'd been kidnapped. They had decided since Conrad wouldn't stop coming after Joey, they would just give her undercover agents to protect her. Tyne had immediately been suggested and he had come personally with a small team. She could now afford the cost of protection, but the council had hired him for her. They wanted all prisoners taken in attempts on her to question for themselves. She didn't understand all the politics involved and didn't really care.

She remembered Tyne placing Trent in a box and it was sealed shut. They had hefted him between the two of them and Tyne held the door as they carried him out. The wolves were careful not to jostle him or bump anything on the way. It showed respect or at least a respectful fear. She was glad they had all left so she could get back to work. Even a near attack by a blood wolf was ignored when she was working a campaign with a deadline. Finally, she had found success for her business, and she remembered swearing she would be damned before she would let that asshole Conrad cost her that. The memory was hard to face. So many people were being hurt by Conrad in his attempt to claim her.

All she wanted was to be free from this and live her already complicated life without more complications. Naqi had just missed the third and latest attempt. It was why Mel had been staying with her. Tyne had insisted that someone who already knew about the attempts was with her at all times. That way if she got caught off guard, they could call Tyne so they could come after her.

This guy was in wolf form and frothing at the mouth grossly. His eyes had the same off balanced red as the first one. It had been about a week since Trent had attempted her abduction. Tyne had explained that they were completely crazy and irredeemable at that point. It made her wonder about Trent.

"How is Trent doing?"

"I won't mislead you, Joey. It's a hard addiction to break, but that wolf is tough. Once it gets really bad, you can't shift from wolf form anymore. Trent was still stable, he was barely under Conrad's control. He may be the one that gets Conrad off your back for good. Once that shit is out of his system, if the council doesn't take care of Conrad, I can guarantee you that Trent will. Right now, he's fighting his way back. I think Conrad drugged him, Trent has never taken drugs. I checked on him yesterday and it's really scary. They cry out the blood that's in their bodies. The tracks of their tears are red. It also sweats out, but only a small portion will. The vampire blood must all be evacuated from their system, and it hurts going out. He's one tough SOB to be able to take it, but I believe in him."

"That sounds awful. Why would anyone willingly take something like that?"

"Why does anyone take cocaine, heroin, and crack? I don't know, but Trent didn't willingly take it and he is planning on extracting his pound of flesh from Conrad."

"I hope Trent makes it through okay. He seems like a nice guy."

"I've heard Trent called lots of things, but nice, not so much. He is, however, charming to the females and scary to the males."

"If you see him again, tell him I'm praying for him."

"I'll do that."

Her mind came back to the here and now when she looked up at Naqi. She needed to warn him what he was getting into if he wanted to stay with her. Wow, he was putting away a huge amount of protein, he needed it for all those beautiful muscles. Except for blood wolves who were certifiable, he was a male that other males would hesitate to challenge. Blood wolves were bat shit crazy, so the usual rules and expectation would not apply to them.

It was Sunday so she didn't have to go to the office, sometimes she went anyway. No, she wasn't a workaholic, not in the strictest sense. She was merely committed to making her business a complete success and once it was, she would work on her private life. Naqi had complicated her plan, but she was close to that required level of success that would allow her to dial down her working hours and still give her what she needed to attain for the life she had always wanted.

"I'm off work today. What did you want to do?" she asked him.

"Anything you want," he replied with a smile.

"How about shopping?"

"If that's what you want."

A male willing to take a woman shopping. Was he serious? She would test his commitment to their relationship right now. "Let's clean up, get dressed, and we'll go."

It took all of five minutes to clean up. She went upstairs to shower while Naqi brought in the suitcase, he had left in the SUV in case she refused to allow him to stay. Once she was dressed, he had made it back. He put up his suitcase and grabbed his wallet while she waited for him. She was holding a clipboard and he wondered if she was taking her work along.

"This is a list of stores that are open on Sunday that I like to hit when I get a chance. You might even like some of them." She laughed.

Since she was familiar with the area, she drove, but he watched closely so next time he could drive. They stopped at what she called a junk store. The place was big and there was row after row of old items. Some, most people would call trash, but he saw a few treasures among them.

"I like to hunt for bargains and antiques. I don't mind doing minor work on a piece if I can envision something in my mind. A little paint works wonders on some of this stuff."

"If you do this often, how can you fit it all in your house?"

"I use some of them as gifts and I sell some pieces if I run out of room. It's a stress buster to find the right item and make it a masterpiece."

"I would have never thought you would be so talented with your hands."

"You have no idea," she said with a wink and a grin. It took his mind in a different direction, back to last night when she had ran her soft hands over his body.

As she looked over at him, she could see he was worn out. They had literally shopped until they dropped, and he had even found a few pieces that he bought. The back of her SUV was loaded with small furniture items and conversation pieces. One at a time she would pick them out and do her magic on them. When she was young and couldn't afford to buy the kind of gifts she wanted to give, she had started her hobby. In college, it had helped her get the extra money she needed to survive. Now, it helped her relax and gave her a feeling of satisfaction when she completed a project. Once a year, Ariel had a charity auction to support the family nonprofit she ran. Joey always donated a few of her pieces. Ariel's charity provided scholarships, medical help, and sometimes everything needed to survive to people in emergency situations or those who just needed the help desperately.

She stopped at a very nice Italian place she had lucked upon. An effort she made to try a new place every few months. With her schedule, she only cooked rarely so it was nice to find places like this one. As they moved to the door, Naqi held it open for her. The hostess seated them, and the waiter came to take their order. They were at that slow time just after lunch, but before the evening rush.

While she ordered Pollo Valdastano which was chicken breast with ham, mozzarella, and sautéed mushrooms in a cream sauce served with roasted potatoes, Naqi ordered Vitello Saltimboca which was a thinly slice scallop of veal sautéed with prosciutto ham, sage, white wine and butter also served with roasted potatoes. The food was excellent when it came. They shared a bottle of white zinfandel because she preferred sweet wine. He drank most of the bottle since she limited herself to a glass. She had warned him she didn't drink much, but he insisted on a bottle. They both had cheesecake with raspberry sauce for dessert and she ordered coffee for them. It was time to have the talk she had put off.

As they sat enjoying dessert, she paused to look at him. "I need to give you some information that may change your decision to stay with me. Conrad hasn't given up if anything he has stepped up his attempts to take me. He's been sending blood wolves after me."

While she examined him to see how he was taking the news, he just calmly ate another bite of cheesecake before setting down his fork and looking in her eyes. "That's not news, Honey. Everyone knows that."

"I thought the blood wolves were a secret?"

"I'm a pack alpha, of course I would be told. It's only a secret from those not in leadership."

"You're a pack alpha? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I thought you knew. It's not a secret. Most wolves find out who the alpha is before they visit an area."

She knew that was generally a rule, but as a newly turned white wolf, someone from the council had handled her permissions or whatever they were called for her. You could travel through a pack's territory without it, but if you stayed, it was customary and smart to get permission from the local alpha. Even before she had considered changing, Ariel had made sure she and other family members had some understanding of the wolf world. It was now her world and she knew she had better start paying closer attention to what went on.

"You're not afraid of the blood wolves?"

"I'm not stupid, Baby. I have a healthy dose of respect for them, but I also have confidence in my ability to protect you."

She had to admit she would put her money on him in a fair fight, but who knew what Conrad might throw at him. "You do know their blood is poison and Danny almost died?"

"Yes and knowing is half the battle. I'd bet Danny didn't even know his opponent was a blood wolf, much less that his blood was deadly."

"No, we were caught completely off guard and I was so scared."

"I heard you were very brave, and it was because of you that Danny didn't die."

"No, it was because of a witch/healer named Freddie."

"If I was the sensitive type I might think you were trying to scare me off. If you are, it won't work. I would walk through hellfire for you." His intense look convinced her of his sincerity.

They finished their dessert, but they lingered finishing their coffee. "Is there nothing else you want to share with me?" he asked as he searched her eyes for the truth.

"I wanted to wait until we were sure of our feelings before having a heart to heart." She wondered if there was any way he could possibly know. Now there was no choice, but to tell him.

"I'd rather start out with no secrets between us. I see a future between us and I'm ready to change everything for you. Will you share what's in your heart with me?"

"I…I believe we made a baby while I was in heat. I haven't confirmed and it's early yet, but I've heard wolves develop more quickly."

"Let's go," he said abruptly. She immediately worried that he had been unhappy about the news. Maybe he wasn't ready to be a father. Maybe he didn't even want any pups. He paid while she stood at the door waiting.

They went out the door and he hurried her along. Did he want to get away from her now? She wished she could tell how he felt but he wore an emotionless mask. Her stomach rolled with nervousness. Had she given in only for him to give up on her? They drove home in silence which made her even more uneasy. By the time she pulled into the driveway, she was a nervous wreck.

Unlocking the door, she walked in keeping her back to him, afraid to see rejection on his face. "Joey? Baby, turn around and look at me." She slowly turned after blinking the tears from her eyes.

He pulled her into his arms. "I am so happy we're having a pup. You have made me the happiest wolf on the face of the Earth. Never doubt that I was happy you were willing to give me a chance, but I am thrilled we are starting a family too. Not only will we mate, but our pup will keep you with me. I want to have a whole pack of pups."

"Whoa there mister, we'll take it one pup at a time."

He lowered his head to join their lips and he lightly brushed hers. When he came back brushing them harder, he seemed to lose all control and he devoured her lips. She felt warmth start in her belly and work its way out as she wrapped her arms around his neck to hold on so she wouldn't fall. Her heartbeat was like a drum, and she felt dizzy from the desire shooting through her. His hands pulled at her clothing sliding off her shirt and undoing her pants. In moments he had her naked and at his mercy. She felt the dampness grow between her legs as she ached for him to be inside her.

Naqi lifted her up carrying her upstairs to the bedroom and placing her gently on the bed. When he stepped back stripping quickly, she watched his body revealed a little at a time. His sculpted chest came into view first with a light smattering of black hair. A thin line of hair pointed the way down to his opened pants. He slid them down and took his underwear with it revealing his straining erection. Her mouth watered, her palms itched, and her eyes worshipped his perfect male body.

As he moved onto the bed positioning himself above her, he kissed her again nibbling on her lower lips until she opened her mouth up to him. His tongue speared into her mouth in a parody of what his cock would soon be doing. She arched up against him ready to be wholly possessed by this wolf, her mate. Now she had said it, now she was beginning to accept that it was true. His lips feathered kisses down her neck while one hand palmed and squeezed her tender breasts.

She rocked against him trying to speed him up, patience had never been her best trait. He ignored her teasing and tempting her beyond what she could stand. "Please, Naqi. I need you now."

"I'm going to fuck you, Baby. It'll be so good and slow."

He lined them up sliding easily in her slick entrance. She arched against him and wrapped her legs around him sinking her toes into his delectable ass cheeks. True to his word he moved so slow she hurt. She pushed up against him using her toes to push against his ass hard.

"Tsk, tsk, my love. Good things come to those who wait," he said as he put a little of his weight on her to hold her in place. It made it harder for her to arch, but she still tried to. She moaned as he moved inside her, and she tightened her muscles until he groaned and shivered.

Now he began to move a little faster. "God, you feel so good inside me. I love how your long, thick cock fills me up until I just want to explode," she whispered in his ear close enough that her hot breath blew over his neck and ear causing a light shudder to run over him. He moved faster, thrusting deeper. She moaned, it felt so damn good she could feel the tension build.

"I know what you're doing to me," he groaned. Even though he might know he clearly was letting it work anyway. He was no longer attempting to go slow anymore as he was pounding into her with complete abandon, and she loved it. Naqi was switching it up looking for the places that drove her wild and he suddenly hit one. "Oh, my God," she growled.

Now he was hitting that spot with each strong deep thrust until she was so close it would take little to send her over the edge. He reached up with one hand and tweaked her nipple sending a shock through her system. She got even slicker, and Naqi pounded into her harder until waves of release washed over her. Her pussy clamped down on his cock and the feeling was so intense that it set him off. He bucked hard as her muscles milked every drop of cum out of him.

Drained and dry, he looked exhausted and ready to curl his body around her and go straight to sleep. She was ready for it too since she hadn't slept well in days. As she pressed against him snuggling in so she could breathe in his scent it calmed her. When she closed her eyes, she tried to call sleep to her, but it refused to come. She took a hand and rubbed Naqi's chest enjoying the feel of his smooth skin over the hard muscles.

"You can't sleep?" he asked his voice deep with sleepiness. She shook her head wondering what he would suggest. "Why don't you talk to me for a while?"

Then she whispered to him talking mostly about the baby. "I was surprised at first, well shocked really. I gave it a lot of thought and I realized the baby made me happy. It will be even better now that I'll share that with you." She continued to share the baby gear she had already checked out, the names she had considered, and how she worried about what pregnancy might do to her body. It wasn't working or so she thought but she drifted off.

It was dark in the room, and she was disoriented. She could hear Naqi breathing, but she guessed he was awake too. A sound must have woke her, but she wasn't sure what it was. As she listened, she heard a noise outside. Was someone trying to get in? If they were, they had set off a silent alarm that would bring some of Tyne's wolves here. Naqi was calm so she would be calm too. Maybe it was some kids playing around and they would leave.

"Be very quiet. Blood wolves are about to get in the house. Do you have any weapons? There are several, so far, I scent three."

"Wait a minute." Joey moved quietly through her bedroom to the closet. She pulled a box off the shelf and carried it back to the bed. "This will tranq a blood wolf and I have a set of ten darts, but only one gun."

"Compliments of the council?" She nodded, afraid to talk now that she could smell the foul odor of the blood wolves gathering outside. While she worked on training her senses, she knew it would be a long while before they could rival a born wolf or more especially a born alpha. Naqi's senses seemed even better than other wolves she'd been around. Maybe it was from dealing with the cold and ice that made it harder to pick up scents or to clearly see part of the year where his pack lived.

Suddenly it occurred to her that their worlds were so different. Not the best time to worry about things like that when there was no guarantee they'd survive until tomorrow. There was the sound of breaking glass downstairs and she wondered what window or what treasure they had broken. She fought the urge to run downstairs to scream at them. Maybe they had done it purposely to lure her down there. Naqi seemed to think waiting was the best thing to do. They had the advantage since there was only one door and no one could sneak up on them.

It worried her that there was only one gun and there were at least three blood wolves. Wolves were fast anyway, as fast as Naqi and her. Blood wolves were super-fast so she knew they would take one out and that would leave one for each of them to fight. Naqi could handle one of them, but could she? Her only advantage was they wanted to capture not kill her. The problem with blood wolves was that they were crazy and likely to do anything. No one would bet on the odds of survival if she fought, but if it came down to it, she knew she would fight anyway.

She listened intently, there was someone or something coming up the steps. It was probably blood wolves, but their smell was so nasty, it covered everything else. These blood wolves had a stronger smell than the others if there were only three. Whatever was making the sounds stopped right in front of the bedroom door. It was making a scratching sound like a dog wanting to be let in. If it was intended to be a distraction, it was working. She and Naqi exchanged incredulous looks.