"Anything you want," a strange voice answered as we walked through the door to the lodge. "There's deer, elk, bear, pretty much anything that strikes your fancy out there."
"Really?" I gulped, remembering how I'd jokingly told Alrick that I'd never had the nerve to hunt large game.
"Really," Alrick confirmed, squeezing me quickly. "You ready?"
Alrick led me out the doors opposite the ones that we had entered, and I stopped, stunned, as I found myself in a thicket of trees, a small changing area to the right. We stripped down, placing our folded clothing and shoes in a cubby and after a deep, excited breath, I threw myself into my shift.
Alrick rubbed against me, sniffing and chuffing his pleasure until he almost knocked me off my feet with his enthusiasm. He stepped back, motioning for me to lead the way, and after a moment of hesitation, I trotted down the steps and dropped my nose to the ground, letting my wolf take full control.
The scent trails were magnificent and I followed them all through the hunting grounds, Alrick on my flank. We chased rabbits and flushed pheasants, trailed a herd of mule deer, and tracked a black bear to its den. Each time Alrick would tense, prepared to help me make the kill, I'd start off after the next trail. The night wore on, and I was pleasantly exhausted when the final scent trail I chose led to a massive hart standing on the bank of a small river, his muzzle lowered to the water. I froze, and Alrick stilled next to me as we stared at the massive prize. Instead of attacking, I jumped forward, deliberately spooking him, and gave chase, Alrick by my side. The hart jumped and bucked and twisted as it cleared the obstacles in its way and finally I fell back, panting, and trotted back to the river for a long, cool drink.
I stretched and rubbed against my Alpha, grateful beyond measure for my birthday outing, and then headed back to the lodge and our clothes.
"That was amazing," I slid across the bench seat in the truck to snuggle against Alrick, sighing when his palm landed on my knee. "I don't know how to thank you."
"You're welcome," he murmured. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"Are you disappointed that I didn't take that hart?"
"Naw," Alrick disagreed. "It wouldn't have been very sporting since it was penned in. Besides, you seem to enjoy the hunt more than the kill."
"True," I yawned, snuggling closer when his arm cautiously lifted to wrap around my shoulders, pulling me close. "I don't like to kill if I don't need to."
Alrick murmured again, a small sound of agreement as I dozed off against him. When I woke again, we were home and pulling into the drive.
"Ready for dinner?" Alrick asked as we walked toward the packhouse.
"Mmhmm," I agreed, my tummy rumbling. Alrick's response was lost as the door opened and the crowd inside yelled "Surprise!"
I turned a suspicious look on Alrick who returned it with the second worsewho me?look I'd ever seen as Spencer and Quinn each grabbed an arm to haul me into the party.
There was food, and drink, and music and someone had even cleared room to dance. The sun had been up for hours when the party finally started to wind down.
"Dance with me?" Alrick whispered in my ear, pulling me close to his body as it moved in time to the music. "Are you having fun?"
"This has been amazing," I sighed, wrapping my arms around his waist to pull him closer, moaning as I leaned against his hard body.
"Good." Alrick dropped his head to my shoulder, his mouth worrying the spot that had once worn his claim. "Come home with me?"
I sighed again and melted into his touch. "Yes, please."
Alrick led me into the small cottage he'd been staying in and closed the door, kissing me with steadily increasing intensity before he drew away and led me to the bedroom. He stripped my clothes off and stared at me, his eyes clouded with desire.
"You're so perfect," he rasped out, tearing his own clothes away and dropping them to the floor. "So fucking perfect."
He eased me back onto the bed, covering my shivering body with his and pressing his way into my tight ass. So different from our other couplings, this was slow and sweet. Patient. Loving. Breathy sighs mingled with deep moans as we writhed together in that sensual dance that's older than time.
"I need you, baby," Alrick groaned in my ear as he thrust into me.
"You have me," I gasped back, somehow knowing that wasn't what he meant, that he wanted more.
When the first waves of completion crashed over us, dragging us under and drowning us in blinding, throbbing pleasure, he dragged me closer, seating himself inside me and filling me.
"Not letting you go again," he muttered in my ear, scraping his fangs over my neck. "Will you have me?"
The thought of being re-claimed by Alrick caused the pleasure pulsing through me to intensify.
"Yes, Alpha," I breathed the words against his skin. "Always."
