Ivory Snow
Chapter 20

When Adam woke up, the sun was shining high in the sky. They had slept peacefully for a good few hours. Ivory was still asleep in his arms. He gently stroked her hair from the top of her head down to the middle of her back.

He didn’t stop there though. Not now, not when he was allowed to do what he wanted. She was his and he was hers. His hand dragged lightly down her bare back and onto her bare bum. He gripped it and pressed her against him.

His need for his mate was rapidly growing with intensity. Adam thought back to things he had heard as a pup. His father once mentioned that the mate bond was very strong, but in the beginning the pull was nearly impossible to ignore.

Adam would definitely have to agree with that. He wasn’t sure this need to be with her would ever end. He wasn’t sure he ever wanted it too. He could stay right there with Ivory for the rest of their lives and be perfectly content.

He slid his hand down to her thigh and began lifting. Ivory let out a small moan when his hand touched gold. She was still mostly asleep, but her body began responding. She slid her foot up, bending her leg and creating a better opening. One that he would not, could not, ignore.

A few minutes later, when he had already sent her to heaven in her sleep, he rolled them slowly to her back. Her eyes fluttered open, and a smile appeared as she bit the corner of her lip.

Ivory had thought she was having some very detailed and realistic dreams. She had never been so happy to be wrong.

Adam took his rightful place once again.

They could hear the sounds of the brothers coming back, which should have spurred them on. It didn’t. Neither one was in the mood to care.

That all changed when Brian knocked on the door. “Your royal presence has been requested. Time to call a time out and come downstairs. You need to eat sometime today.” He laughed.

“I got all I need right here.” Adam called back. Ivory giggled and Brian groaned.

Brian walked back down the stairs. “I think we are going to need to build them their own house.”

“Why?” Fitz asked, completely oblivious to what was obvious to everyone else.

Even Gabe had an idea of what it was. He never said anything to the others, okay, he rarely said anything anyway. But he never told the others that he had seen Adam kissing Snow in the kitchen before he left, having come back earlier than the rest. He saw how sad they both were all the time. He also saw the small bite mark on her neck.

Gabe figured Snow and Adam would tell him when the time had come. It looked like the time had come. Finally. It was his hope that their mating would make her stay forever now.

Adam whispered in Ivory’s ear as he regained his ability to think straight again.

“I love you, my Princess. I will follow you to the ends of the earth. As long as you will have me, I will be there.”

Ivory hummed. Her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. “I’ll always want you, Adam. I love you. I have for a long time. I always felt safest when you were around. From that first night until now. You have been what kept me sane and grounded.”

Adam rolled off her finally and looked into her eyes.

“The Innkeeper had a theory about the day you came here.”

Ivory nodded for him to continue, reaching for his hand, and holding it tight.

“He thinks that Mother Nature saved you that day. She used the ocean to push you off that wall. You were marked at birth as someone special and she wanted to protect you. So, she pushed you off that wall, away from the immediate danger. She used the dolphins to bring you to me. She knew I would protect you. The success our farm has seen is because of her. She was blessing us.”

Ivory thought about that. It did make sense. The waves had grown in size so quickly and it had not been time for the high tide.

She ran her thumb over Adam’s lips.

“The moment you breathed life into me, she charged you with my care. You proved your worth that day, my love. You didn’t know me, but you put your all into taking care of me.”

Adam groaned, wanting to give her his all again. Instead, he rolled away and stood up. Ivory licked her lips hungrily when she saw what his real desires were.

“No!” Adam said firmly, pointing at her. “Don’t start. You already know how weak I am around you. The pups are all downstairs waiting for us.” He was trying so hard to keep a straight face as she began to pout.

“Fine.” She said with the air of the Princess in her. She stood up and stretched her arms over head. Between mating and shifting, her muscles were very sore.

Adam bit down on his knuckles as he watched her stretch. Ivory full out laughed. With his nakedness, there was no hiding his reaction to her. The knowledge of how much he loved her and desired her filled her with pride.

She played it up a bit more, bending over to pick up the clothes she had shed last night before her shift could rip them. Ivory made sure to bend from her waist, teasing him as she went.

That had probably been one move too much. She squealed with laughter when he grabbed her waist from behind with a growl. She shivered when she felt his fingers lengthen against her.

Whoops. She ended up teasing the wrong side of him.

He roughly placed her hands on the edge of the bed and kicked her feet apart. Adam’s wolf had taken control, knowing what he wanted. Ivory had to bite into the pillow to keep from screaming out. The pups would have misinterpreted the sound. The nails weren’t the only thing he had changed.

They both fell slowly to the ground as Adam’s wolf receded again, smug, and proud. Adam pulled Ivory into his lap and kissed her head.

“I’m sorry. Ever since he saw you cleaning the floor in the kitchen, wearing practically nothing, that has been a dream of his. I tried to calm him but... it was really hard as I wanted it just as much. Does that make sense?”

Ivory nodded; still not sure she could talk. He moved her hair and looked at her face, worried they had hurt her somehow.

“Did we hurt you? Are you alright?” His wolf huffed, he knew she was fine, more than fine actually. He could feel it.

Ivory nodded again and patted his chest. She should get up, but her legs didn’t seem to work anymore.

“I don’t think I can stand up just yet.” She huffed out a small laugh.

That made Adam feel even worse. “Sweetheart, I am so sorry.”

She laughed again. “Stop apologizing, Adam. I am not sorry. Not. At. All. Just recovering.” She looked up at him and smiled. “I love you, mate.”

He kissed her softly on the lips. “I love you, too. I will try to rein him in better next time.”

Ivory acted horrified by the thought. “Please don’t. That was... I don’t know what. But it was just as wonderful as the rest. I don’t even mind that I can’t walk right now.” She winked at him. “I’ll always be willing to sit on your lap, especially when you are naked.”

“Alright.” Adam exclaimed, pushing them both up. “On that note, we need to leave this room. We can continue this later.”

“Promise?” Ivory asked, trying to stand on her shaky legs.

He kissed her again, not even going to try to fight that one anymore.

“Always.”

Without looking at each other again, they both got dressed. He waited by the door until she joined him and then they walked out, hand in hand.

“Are you going to move into my room now?” She whispered.

Adam chuckled. “Did you really think I would let even a wall separate us anymore?”

She shrugged. A female had to be careful when their new mate was known for being moody.

They both paused at the bottom of the steps. All six brothers were waiting impatiently on the sofa and floor.

“Have something you want to share with the pack?” Brian asked with a giant grin.

“Yes, actually, we do.” Adam moved his arm around Ivory’s waist. “Ivory shifted last night, and we found out this morning that she’s my true mate.” He looked down at her and felt a flutter in his chest. One that used to confuse him but now made complete sense. “I’ve been in love with her for a while, but I was in denial that it was possible.” He kissed her, in front of his brothers. They all cheered and then groaned as he deepened it.

“Get a room!” Charles yelled in laughter.

Adam pulled away and scowled at him. “I was in a room, and you all made us leave it!”

Ivory blushed and hid her face in his side. Adam moved them into the living room and sat on the sofa together. He started telling them all about his trip finally, thankfully taking the focus off her.

Gabe moved to sit on her other side, only he did it with apprehension. Snow lifted her arm and he sighed, snuggling in next to her. He may have been rooting for them, but he still worried his position by her side would be changed.

“You will always be my favorite brother.” She whispered in his ear.

Adam heard her and grinned. How did he ever fight how perfect she was for them?

“And what about the Duke?” Brian asked, after Adam had described all the different types of people that lived there.

Adam squeezed his hand on Ivory’s thigh and turned to look at her.

“Jack was the Innkeeper’s connection into the city.”

“How is he?” She longed for her cousin.

“Who’s Jack?” Eric asked from his place at Adam’s feet.

“Jack is my cousin.”

“He is good. His father doesn’t know that he works with the underground bringing supplies in. The day before I left, he and I had a drink in the saloon together. He mentioned you. He misses you. They all do.” Adam explained his conversation, including the part about giving him his precious cargo.

“You aren’t going to give her to them though, right?” Gabe spoke up, with a louder than normal voice. “She’s your mate now. You won’t let her go, right?”

“No. It nearly killed me even thinking about it before. It probably would be the end of me if I did now.”

“Yeah, because we would kill him in his sleep.” Dean said with a grin. He was completely serious, but he wanted his brother to know that he would do it without a sliver of guilt.

“So, what are we going to do?” Ivory asked.

“I don’t really know yet. The Innkeeper said that the Queen is starting a draft. One that says every male wolf able to shift will be required to join her army.”

“What?”

“She can’t do that!”

“Hell no! I won’t go!’

Adam raised a hand, and they settled back down. “I think our only option is to go with Ivory to see her uncle. This needs to end before more lives are lost. But that means leaving the farm, our family’s legacy, behind us.”

“We would come back though, right?” Eric pleaded.

“Yes, as soon as we can.” Adam looked at Ivory, who was smiling sadly. “Actually, depending on how everything goes, you will be coming back without me. I go where she goes. If she is destined to take the throne back, then she will do so with me at her side.”

A tear slid down Ivory’s cheek, love for the wolf filling her up.

Adam turned back to look at the varying looks of shock and sadness on his brother’s faces.

“That is not now though. Until we create a plan, and know all of our options, we continue like normal. We’ve already planted the crops. I think we should wait until after the harvest to leave. We won’t be able to take much with us, but the more money we have the better.”

“Sounds like a good plan. But that isn’t why we called you down here.” Brian stood up and clapped his hands

“Alright, why did you then?” Adam snarked with irritation. Now that the story was out, he wanted to get his mate back upstairs.

“We have to celebrate, and not just your mating. Did you forget what yesterday was, dear brother?”

Adam thought hard, making Ivory laugh. He shook his head, he couldn’t even remember what day it was, let alone the past few days.

“Yesterday marked twenty years since you entered this world. And now with Snow officially by your side, I say we need to have a party. Sister of mine?” Brian bowed to her with flourish. “Would you be so kind as to create your magic in the kitchen? We left a few things in there for you to start with.”

Ivory laughed and stood up. “I would be delighted to make my mate something special for his birthday.”

Adam frowned. He was never going to get her alone at this rate.

Brian divided up jobs around the family and they all went their separate ways.

Adam leaned back and looked at him. “And what am I supposed to do?”

Brian laughed, enjoying tormenting his brother. “Whatever you want, it’s your day.”

Adam grinned evilly and began to stand up. Brian realized his mistake and jumped to stand in his way.

“As long as what you do does not take her out of that kitchen.”

Adam chuckled deeply, his wolf adding an extra layer to it. Brian winced.

“Let me rephrase. Just don’t interrupt her. Let her finish cooking, and please, for the love of all that is holy in nature, do not do anything Gabe might walk in on.”

That had the effect of digging a hole under Adam. He showed his irritation by flipping Brian off as he headed for the kitchen. He could at least watch his mate work and not feel like a complete creeper for a change.

He walked in just in time to watch Ivory tie her shirt up under her chest. Ivory smelled him coming. She had been tempted to tease him again but wasn’t sure this was the place for it. Instead, she just winked.

Well, maybe a little teasing.

Ivory lifted her arms up and spun her braid into a bun on the back of her head. She never did this in front of the pups because she knew what it would do to her shirt.

It pulled it up just enough that Adam caught a flash of the bottom.

Ivory laughed as he banged his head against the wall. She turned away from him and got to work.

Days ago, they had all discussed celebrating Adam’s birthday. He was always up for parties on theirs, but never his own. Ivory pulled together what she needed to make a cake. Something different from the norm.

Brian had picked strawberries up from the market, so she could make a strawberry filling. The pups brought back enough fish that she could fry them up for dinner.

Adam loved it when she did that.

Ivory focused on her work, part of her always aware of where Adam was in the room. She was mixing the strawberry filling when Adam couldn’t handle the distance anymore. He walked up behind her and slid his hands slowly along her bare waist. He then leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Don’t you have something you need to be doing today? I’ve never seen you idle for so long.”

Adam tightened his grip around his mate. “I was told I could do what I wanted, as it was my day. As long as I did not interrupt you or do anything Gabe would walk in on. You can mix just as well with me holding you. As for always being busy before, that was mainly due to me trying to keep my distance from you. As I will never be doing that again, I can afford to relax and enjoy my mate.”

Ivory leaned her back against him. “Fine but you better behave yourself!” She warned him. It fell a little flat.

“Hmmm. Order me around some more. I replace it very hot.”

Ivory whimpered when he kissed her neck again, right on his mark. He loved the effect he was having of course. She doubled down on her effort to ignore him and focus on her task for the birthday party.

Adam doubled down on his effort to distract her, obviously no longer carrying about the rules he had been given. He had kissed all around her neck, and she still worked to ignore him. But Adam was determined to win this round.

He slid one of his hands up, doing what he had been dreaming of since the first time he saw her dressed like this. The shirt moved without hesitation, making plenty of room for his hand and swallowing it whole. Ivory’s stirring stuttered and then stopped.

She whimpered out Adam’s name in complaint. He vibrated behind her enjoying the sweet scent of success.

Ivory tried and failed to lift the spoon up again. He couldn’t let her keep trying, so he slid his other hand in the opposite direction. With one foot he pushed her right leg a few inches further out, giving his large hand the room that it needed.

Ivory ended up dropping the spoon completely. He held her up until her body stopped shaking, then released her. With a prideful grin, he stepped further away and sat on the edge of the counter.

Ivory scowled at him. He wasn’t the slightest bit repentant.

All in all, he had only distracted her for a few minutes and their backs had been to the door. No one would have seen anything.

Eventually, he moved to lean against the counter next to her. They talked about little things, swapping memories of their childhood.

She told him stories about his brothers, things he missed during his travels. Including one about a female that Brian had spotted during the last market. He would have to ask his brother about that later.

Adam picked up one of the extra strawberries and took a bite. He held it out for Ivory, and she leaned in for a bite too.

Their afternoon went on like that. Talking on and off.

Feeding each other random things off the counter.

Adam stoked the fire pit for Ivory and helped her with moving the pans around. He was fascinated by all the little things she knew how to do to get the different results she wanted. No wonder he had been a colossal failure at trying to make anything besides stew for his brothers. He was lost in that kitchen.

Ivory wiped her forehead with a cloth and leaned back against the counter. Adam stood in front of her, picking the cloth back up, and dabbed the sweat off her chest.

“What do you need to do now?”

“Normally this is when I would clean something or wash whatever was in the washroom.”

Adam grabbed her hand and pulled her to the washroom, closing the door behind them.

“I could have told you I finished it all yesterday.” She told him with a smirk.

“I don’t really care about the washing. I just wanted you all to myself without fear of someone coming in.” Adam pulled her against his chest and kissed her softly.

It wasn’t long before he had her sitting on the table she used for folding, both their pants on the floor.

“I’ve been dying to do that for hours, but Brian put that image of Gabe walking in on us in my head. Punk sure knew how to kill a mood.”

Ivory laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck again. “I need to go to check on the food.”

Adam grumbled out a few choice words on how he felt about letting her move. She laughed some more as she fixed her clothes.

He kept one hand on her, like he was afraid she would disappear.

They did have fun that night. Ivory had made his favorite meal and the cake was certain to be one of his favorites as well. After dinner, the males all sang songs they had been taught as pups and they had fun dancing.

Normally at this time, Adam would pull away and be moping in a corner as he watched his brothers dance with Snow. Not this time.

This time. They all danced together.

It was one of the best nights of his life.

Followed by one of the best night’s sleep he had ever had.

Being mated was better than he had ever thought possible. Adam remembered how happy his parents had been. But with his always being stressed and focused on keeping the farm and his brothers alive from one day to the next, he hadn’t thought to consider what that could do for him.

He had really only seen it as one more mouth to feed.