A Werewolf Fantasy
Chapter 51

They kept their relationship under wraps for a while until the next Full Moon Feast. When they announced it, the whole clan was overjoyed with the good news. Everyone congratulated them except Darren White who watched them warily throughout the festivity. Something about the way he watched her made Erin's skin crawl. Each time she looked at him, she kept seeing Nikjin Whitehound. She was having a difficult time separating one from the other.

"Are you ok?" Devon asked her as the party began to wind down. He had noticed how jumpy she got whenever Darren got near her.

"He's not Nikjin, you know," said Devon with a knowing smile.

"You think?" she asked uncertainly. "The way he stares at me is giving me the creeps. Have you seen how he has been watching us like a hawk?"

Devon chuckled. "Your mind is playing wicked tricks on you. Darren is always brooding. Everyone knows that."

"Maybe. But I keep getting this weird feeling that he recognizes me."

This time Devon laughed. "Are you kidding? Hasn't Darren known you all your life? Haven't you all been living together in Fairbanks for years?"

"That's not what I mean, Devon. Do you remember that I told you that Nikjin said he had been here too? Zokman figured out a way to bring him to the future."

Devon's grin disappeared. "Wait. Are you saying that Darren had probably traveled back in time too to witness Nikjin's life?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," Erin replied passionately. "What if he knows who we are in the past too?"

"Gather around!" said Gary, drawing everyone's attention. "Devon and Erin have decided to have a small civil ceremony to make their mating official. We all know that that's for the benefit of our human friends and neighbors." There was a murmur of agreement in the crowd.

"The ceremony will be held next week Saturday at my residence," he continued. "You are all welcome to attend, of course."

Everyone cheered and congratulated the new mates happily. Everyone except Darren, of course. He cleared his throat loudly to get their attention.

"Isn't there something else you want to announce too?" he asked Gary.

"What?" Gary asked with a confused frown.

"Oh, I don't know...maybe you would like to inform the clan about your health?"

There was a collective gasp in the crowd. Gary's frown deepened but this time, it was from anger, not confusion.

"This isn't the time for that," he whispered loudly to Darren.

"Daddy, is something wrong?" Aubrey asked her father. She stepped forward immediately to look at him closely.

"I'm fine," he told her with a comforting smile. "Don't pay attention to Darren."

"Seriously?" Darren said stubbornly. "But Gary, you always say that there's no better time than the present. Why don't you practice what you preach?" "Don't speak to my father like that!" Aubrey cautioned him sharply.

"If you have something to say, Darren, why don't you just spit it out instead of being so dramatic?" said La'Toya Black, the matriarch of the Black Pack.

"Well, Gary has left me no choice," he said. He was enjoying how everyone's attention was pinned on him right now.

"I can't believe you, Darren," said Gary. His voice was heavy with disappointment. "I can't believe that you would force me to reveal something I told you in confidence. This isn't the time for such an announcement." "There will never be a perfect time," he replied stubbornly. "The clan needs to know the truth so that we can start making plans for the future."

Aubrey looked at her father with worried eyes. "What is he talking about, Daddy?"

Gary sighed. "Fine. I would have liked to wait until a more appropriate time to say this, but Darren, as you can all see, won't let that happen." "What is it, Gary?" Asked Antoine Brown, the Alpha of the Brown Pack.

"I am dying," said Gary. "I am sorry I didn't announce this sooner. I was waiting for the final test results from my doctor and they came in yesterday."

A hush descended on the crowd. The leader of their clan was dying and that meant things were about to change in their close-knit community of werewolves.

"I have stage 4 lung cancer," Gary continued ominously. "They said I only have a few months to live."

"No!" Aubrey wailed. She clung to her father tightly as tears sprang into her eyes. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I'm sorry, darling,” he apologised to her softly. "This wasn't how I wanted you to replace out."

"Are you happy now?" Devon asked Darren.

"Don't get cheeky with me, newcomer," he snapped. "Our leader is dying and we need to start deliberating on who the next leader will be."

"Definitely not you!" Aubrey hissed at him.

"And definitely not anyone from your pack either," he retorted.

"All right, everyone. Let's all calm down," said Gary. He was trying to diffuse the tension that had suddenly crept into the gathering. "I will call a town hall meeting before the end of this week for us to discuss the way forward," he continued. "Darren is right. We need to start making plans for the future of the clan."

"Thanks, Gary," he said with a smirk.

"I think this is the perfect time to end this feast tonight," said Byron Golden. "Congratulations to Devon and Erin, once again. We'll be looking forward to your wedding."

And so, the Full Moon Feast that had started on a high note, ended dully with the unexpected bad news. It was hard to imagine the clan without Gary in it.

Erin went home with Devon because, by werewolf standards, tonight was their official mating night. Their bond had been established and endorsed by the entire clan.

From tonight, Erin had officially become a member of the Grey Pack by mating. Devon was so sweet and loving to her. He did his best to shake off the gloom that they had come home with.

"Let's not wear long faces tonight, my love," he said to her. "Tonight is for us."

His tender words warmed her heart and she smiled at him. "That's true," she said and kissed him. "Tonight is for us. Make me yours, Devon."

He kissed her back, matching her passion fire for fire. He peeled off her clothes and planted wet kisses on every inch of exposed skin. She sighed with pleasure as his lips traveled around her body.

"A couch isn't the best place for this kind of lovemaking," he murmured against her skin. "I want to see you spread out on my bed like cheese on bread."

Erin laughed. "I would love to be your cheese on bread," she said.

"Say no more," he replied and carried her upstairs to his bedroom.

It was a king-sized bed with a solid mattress and silk bed covers. The pillows were soft and fluffy, and the entire room smelled like him.

"How luxurious," she commented with a smile.

"I don't joke with my relaxation," he replied. "That's why my bed is as comfortable as you can imagine."

"I like it," she said.

"Here's something else you'll like," he said and he kissed her hungrily. His hands roamed over her body, caressing her lovingly.

She responded with deep moans while her hands explored his body too. He undressed quickly and lay beside her, rubbing his body against hers.

When he rested his head between her boobs, she sighed with pleasure. He took her hardened nipples in his mouth, driving her mad with ecstasy. She reached down and stroked him with her hands, enjoying how his shaft pulsed in her hand. "Oh, my love," he moaned. "I almost can't believe that I have you in my arms again. You're mine. Always mine."

"I am yours," she replied. "I love you, Devon."

"I love you, Erin. With all I am and all I have."

He slid a hand between her legs, pleasuring her. She gripped his shoulders tightly as her body vibrated with the effect of his touch. When he entered her, she cried out with joy.

She opened her eyes to look at him and was pleased that he was watching her too. As he moved inside of her, they kept their eyes on each other and linked their fingers together.

They were bonded in the most intimate way possible. They were one, with no beginning and no end. Through their eyes, they traveled back Denai' Vena and they were together once again in the family longhouse.

Devon was Danshak and Devon again. Erin was Edvana and Erin again. They traveled through time and space and back again to the present.

When Erin broke their eye contact and turned her head to the side, Devon instantly knew what to do. He leaned forward and let his fangs come out and he marked her as his own. She was his mate for all time from now on.

His fangs were latched onto that sweet spot between her neck and her shoulders, sending her into a tide of wild pleasure. Nothing she had ever experienced could compare to this erotically delicious feeling. They climaxed together, calling out each other's names. It was a perfect union of their bodies and their souls.

He rolled off her and held her close. They were breathing hard and unable to speak. No words were needed because none could accurately describe the moment.

Erin closed her eyes and fell into a deep, satisfied sleep. Then, she had a dream. She dreamt that she was back in the past and trapped in one of Nikjin's portals again. She felt frustrated and confused. "Why am I here?" she asked without speaking.

"Why not?" Nikjin asked, stepping out of the shadows. He was Darren and he was smirking at her. "You have something that belongs to me, Erin."

"What?" she asked.

"The dream stone," he replied. "I want it and I am coming for it!"

He jumped at her and became Nikjin in wolf form. She woke up with a start, panting as if she had been running.

"Babe, are you ok?" Devon asked, waking up.

"He's coming for the stone," she said flatly.

Sleep cleared out of Devon's eyes immediately. "Who?"

"Darren. He's coming for the dream stone."