Ivory Snow
Chapter 21

Life on the farm didn’t change much. Except that Adam had fewer sullen moods and spent more time at home, and in the kitchen. He and Ivory usually waited until all the pups were in bed, and then bathed together before they went to bed themselves.

Things were perfect, so perfect, one could almost forget about the fear and the danger that was lurking on the outside. Almost. It was never far from Adam’s mind though.

On Sunday, Adam said a long goodbye to Ivory in the bedroom. Then let her go back to sleep. Charles was already waiting downstairs next to the loaded wagon, as he knew he would be.

Once they were on the road, Adam glanced at him. “I want to get Snow a gift. But I have no idea what.”

“I hear females like jewelry. Maybe a necklace. Or you can make something. She likes that chair you made her last year.”

Adam had already thought about making her something, he just hadn’t been able to decide what to make.

“A necklace might be good, something she could wear and keep with her all the time. So, if we do end up having to move in a hurry, she won’t lose it.”

Charles snapped his fingers and told Adam of his idea. Adam clapped him on the shoulder.

“That’s perfect. Will you cover the booth for a bit so I can look around for what I need?”

“Sure.” Charles shrugged. He wasn’t the pup he once was. He was old enough now that he could run the booth by himself if Adam wanted too. It went better with both of them there though. Thanks to Snow’s creations, or rather Dean’s, they were usually pretty busy.

They set up shop in their usual spot. Adam greeted their neighbors with smiles, getting some curious looks.

“Brother, you have to stop doing that.” Charles whispered.

“Doing what? What am I doing?”

“You’re smiling at people. It’s kind of creepy. I mean, I get it, you are on cloud nine now with Snow and all, but these guys don’t know all that. They just see you smiling and it’s weird. You are freaking people out, brother.”

Adam slugged his younger brother in the shoulder, knowing he was just messing with him. He still took it to heart and realized the others were in fact, a little creeped out by his change in behavior.

Before the crowds set in, Adam wandered away from their spot, again getting curious looks.

He found a table with jewelry and found a simple chain. He didn’t even bother haggling on the price, he just paid what the seller was asking for. He turned to return to Charles and nearly ran into the Innkeeper.

“Adam? Is everything alright?”

“Uh, yeah. Everything is great. Why?”

“Well, you’re away from your table. And... you look… happy.”

Adam laughed, causing more people to step back and watch them. Which just made Adam laugh harder. He shook his head and started walking again. The Innkeeper fell into step next to him.

“So, tell me. What brought this on?” The twinkle in his eye suggested that he already knew.

“Let’s just say, your theory may have been right. On all accounts. The morning after we returned, fate slapped me in the face. Things were confirmed. Snow is mine.”

The Innkeeper laughed joyfully and hugged Adam from the side.

“Congratulations, Adam. I am very happy to hear it. Come, talk to me.”

The Innkeeper pulled him into a small room at the back of the Inn.

“She shifted then?”

“Yes, we found her that morning, not knowing how to shift back. She and I have done a lot of talking over the last few days. Turns out, her wolf had been speaking to her for the last month or so. Sometime during that, the pull was becoming stronger and harder to ignore. Snow didn’t know what it was. She didn’t say anything because she thought she was going crazy. Apparently no one had ever told her that you can talk to your wolf.”

“Yes, that would have been a strong enough change in her body to start pulling your wolf to her. Of course, there was already more.”

Adam nodded and finally told him the whole story. From that first spark to accidentally partially marking her before they had left.

“You are one strong wolf, Adam. You may not believe it, but you are fit to be her mate. To rule by her side. Now, this is really important, and something you have to carry close to your chest. What color was her fur?”

“White, like her hair. Why?”

The Innkeeper bounced back on his heels, his face practically glowing. “She is the one. This is destiny.”

“What are you talking about?”

“At any one time, there is only ever one white wolf and one dark purple. And they are always the royal couple. Typically, the color of the wolf changes at their coronation. When your mate’s father became King, his fur changed along with him. His father’s fur reverted back to what it had been before. As for her mother, her fur changed to white at the same time.”

“But Ivory has not yet been crowned. How can she be white?”

“Because the rightful Queen is dead, and an imposter sits on the throne. Ava can pretend all she likes, but she is not the rightful Queen. If Snow shifts in front of others, they will know who she is. Have you shifted since you mated?”

Adam had to think about that for a brief moment. He used to shift every morning, his way of burning off the constant frustration over his feelings for Ivory. He’s had more pleasant ways to greet the morning lately though, something his wolf was in agreement with. Judging by the frequent times he has taken over. Now that Adam knew Ivory enjoyed it as well, he didn’t try to stop him. He was enjoying it just as much as them.

“No. I haven’t. Why?”

“If I were you, I’d shift in your room tonight. If she is already white, there is a chance you are already purple. The colors are there to let the people know who the strongest wolves are, who the royals are. It is for times like these. To set the record straight. Now, you may not change color until the coronation. I’m not sure. It has been centuries since anyone’s color changed beforehand.”

Adam walked back to their booth thinking about this new information. He had been hoping he would be able to take Ivory out for a run, get her out of the house. Now, it could be even more dangerous than before.

Charles became worried when Adam returned, looking like his old self again. The Innkeeper was with him, which meant Adam had most likely heard something he didn’t like. Adam would get around to telling him, when the coast was clear, and he thought through every little piece of the information.

Adam did just that too.

He told Charles everything as they drove the wagon home. Adam asked him to discuss it with the others, leaving the three pups out of it. As of yet, they did not know her fur was white. It was best kept that way.

Ivory was sitting in her chair on the porch, waiting for him, when they arrived. He couldn’t help the smile that lit his face when he saw her. He greeted her with a long kiss then spent time talking to the pups.

Ivory could see that something was bothering Adam. It was itching at her to replace out what it was. He didn’t usually keep things from the pups, so this was either no big deal, or really bad.

She had to wait until dinner was over and the pups were in bed before an opportunity presented itself to ask him. Adam led her to their bedroom instead of the washroom and locked the door.

“Adam, what’s wrong?” Ivory twisted her fingers in her hands, much in the same way her mother used to do when she was worried. She was wishing she had some dough that she could roll and mold.

Adam started unbuttoning his shirt and took it off. “I spoke with the Innkeeper this morning. I told him that you shifted. He had some information that I never knew about. Did you know what the color of your fur meant?”

Ivory thought back and then shook her head. “My royal lessons were just beginning. Why?”

Adam slid his pants off, and for the first time, it didn’t make Ivory want to help. Adam quickly ran through what he learned. Ivory sat down on the edge of the bed, practically falling.

“So, I am not even safe in wolf form?” Adam shook his head and she nearly started crying. “Fitz was asking if I could go fishing with you all now, just as a wolf. I told him we could.”

“I don’t want to worry them anymore than they already are, so I will think of ways to distract them. Don’t worry. I will make it, so you don’t have to break your promise to them. Okay.” Adam took a deep breath and cracked his neck. “Shall we see if my wolf has changed along with yours?”

Ivory pulled her feet up underneath her and nodded. Adam stepped back.

“All I do to shift is relax and let my wolf take over, when it is time to shift back, he does the same. It takes practice. In time, you and your wolf will become a team.”

Ivory grinned. “Except when your wolf becomes impatient and takes over for you.”

Adam laughed. “Yes, he can be a grumpy jerk at times.”

Ivory fell over laughing. “Guess you two really are part of the same whole.”

Adam gave her a mock scowl just before shifting. He jumped and spun in the air. When he landed, he was on all four paws and was a dark shade. His fur was nearly black now. Ivory stood up and walked around him, studying the way the light reflected on his fur.

He was now a dark purple.

An almost exact replica of her father. Only larger than he had been, width and height. She pushed away the images of that day, of the last time she saw a wolf this color and focused on her mate.

She knelt down in front of him and dug her hands into his fur.

Adam’s wolf glanced down at his own paws and studied them. He didn’t need all the light, with these eyes, the purple was more noticeable.

I can feel that something is bothering you, love. What is it?

Ivory jumped back, nearly falling over. “How did you do that?”

When one of us is in wolf form, we can speak in our minds. It’s a mate thing. I thought you knew.

She shook her head.

What’s wrong? He repeated. His wolf nudged her in the chest.

She smiled and pushed him back. “I’m not sure I know how to say it.”

Then shift, See if you can show me.

“I… I’m afraid too. It hurt so bad last time.”

That’s because you were alone and scared. We are here. Just give in to your wolf. Let her out, Ivory.

Ivory stood up slowly and began taking off her clothes. Adam’s wolf laid on the floor and let his tongue hang out. He even started panting. He looked completely ridiculous, which made her laugh.

Ivory closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She focused on her wolf and let her have control, just as Adam said.

Only, she did it without showing off.

A moment later she was on all four paws again. There had been a small amount of discomfort, but it all had gone by a lot faster this time.

You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. My Queen.

Ivory walked over to him and rubbed her head against his.

My King.

After their moment, they laid down next to each other, Adam’s head laying over her neck, protecting her weakest point.

Show me, my love.

Ivory focused carefully on the image of her father, his purple fur, jumping between the gray wolf and her mother. She wasn’t sure the message had gone through, not until she felt Adam licking her neck. Her human side said this was something to be grossed out by. But her wolf was practically purring. Adam’s wolf was comforting his mate.

The feelings soon spread through both sides of her, and she decided to experiment with this new found communication of theirs.

Ivory brought up the feeling of Adam standing behind her, bending her over. She laughed when she could feel Adam growling. He playfully bit her neck and then stood up over her, holding her down with his teeth.

He sent a picture of what he wanted, which made it easier for her to shift. Both her and her wolf were on the same page with this plan.

Adam released her and she shifted back, maintaining her position facing the floor. A brief moment later, she felt Adam kissing down her back, his teeth still sharp.

Ivory felt a shiver of excitement knowing what was coming. She loved both sides of her mate, the gentle and the rough. The happy, and the grumpy.

As Adam’s wolf followed through with the image she had sent him, he shouted out in her mind.

Mine!

She gasped, well tried to. The timing was perfect on his side.

“I heard you. How?”

I’m not sure. Maybe when we are even partially shifted we can talk this way. Which is good. I want to hear you scream my name. But I don’t want the pups to hear.

Ivory couldn’t even focus enough to figure out how to do that. So, Adam was Adam again before she could. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, holding her tight against him.

“I don’t know how to partially shift. I just figured out how to do the full out one.”

He kissed the side of her head. “One day you will, and then, we can talk whenever we want without having to worry about people listening in.”

Ivory dragged a finger down his chest and looked up at him. “And I can scream your name all I want.”

Adam chuckled. “Yes, we would both love that very much.”

Ivory was feeling adventurous tonight, so she didn’t stop her finger at his waist like she normally would. Adam closed his eyes and laid on his back, letting her do what she wanted.

There was something he had been wanting to try but wasn’t sure a Princess would be up for it. His wolf came forward enough that he could send her the mental image.

Ivory had zoned out, getting hypnotized by his body’s reactions to her touch. It was quite interesting.

She froze when she saw what he wanted. It hadn’t been something she had ever thought of before. But now that she had, she was salivating to do it.

She slid down under the blanket and replaced her hand with something else entirely. Adam responded with every move she made. Before too long he pulled her back up and finished the more natural way.

“Why did you stop me?”

“Because I couldn’t wait any longer.”

He kissed her and swallowed the scream he pushed out of her next. He didn’t stop until he emptied into her.

“Next time.” She panted. “Let me finish. I want to.”

He grinned and nodded before pulling her onto his shoulder, where they both fell fast asleep.

Having this newfound trick came in handy. Adam spent time during the day testing out how far he could get, and she would still be able to hear him.

When she randomly brought treats out to the field one day, he explained to his brothers, who were jealous. Charles made a comment about a servant on demand. The hiss that came from Ivory was not from her human side. Her wolf had appeared enough to make her point clear.

All the pups jumped and ran back a few steps. Adam on the other hand was turned on. Big time. He sent her a mental image of a hidden corner of the barn. Ivory started laughing and left.

Ten minutes later he found her there, waiting for him.

The next month flew by.

The older brothers started making plans, deciding on the best routes to get to the Duke’s City. Adam showed them on the map the route they had taken. Dean studied it, along with all the other maps.

They were all deep in conversation when Adam heard something. He stopped talking and held a finger up to silence the others.

Okay, no idea if this is working. My teeth are a bit pointy, and my fingernails are longer, just like yours are when your wolf comes forward. So, I am really hoping you can hear me right now.

Adam laughed. “Snow figured out how to partially shift.”

I hear you loud and clear, love. Where are you? I want to show you how happy this makes us.

He could hear Ivory laughing through the link. Why don’t you come and replace me? And make it fast, it was easier to do this without clothes on. I don’t want one of your brothers to replace me lying here naked. I can see what your fascination is with….

She switched to some very vivid images.

You might want to hurry before I do your job for you.

“I gotta go. I’ll be back... eventually.” They laughed as Adam ran out of the room, sniffing around.

“Think she’s hiding from him?” Dean asked conspiratorially.

Charles nodded. “Definitely. Can you hear him? This is awesome.”

Adam followed her scent out the front door and down toward the barn. Only, she wasn’t there. Her scent led out to the back of the barn.

Ivory wouldn’t be stupid enough to leave the farm. Right?

He walked around the grain bins, his irritation growing to cover up the fear. He walked around the horse stables, which masked her scent almost completely. He should really get one of the pups out there to clean them again soon.

When he neared the front of the storage shed, he was hit with a fresh scent trail, laced with the sweet tint that said his mate was in heat. His wolf, who had taken control so they could replace her, barked out a laugh. No wonder she was feeling extra playful today.

A female in heat would feel like she was dying if he didn’t take care of her. It was also the prime time for females to get pregnant. They hadn’t discussed pups yet. They were still young themselves.

Well, in wolf standards they were adults, mated, and expected to start a family. Not to mention, they had already been raising his brothers together. But Ivory was still hiding from her aunt.

Adam. She called to him, taunting him.

His wolf, as always, decided that was enough worrying. They would handle whatever came their way, just as they always had before. Adam reined him in enough to keep him from ripping off the shed doors.

Adam sauntered inside, following her scent. He didn’t know why he had never thought about bringing her in there. They were far enough away from the house that she could make all the noise she wanted, to a certain extent of course. The pups only came in during harvest. The older ones would take one whiff and hightail it back to the house.

Ivory was sitting on a stack of wrapped grain from the year before. Part of the stock they had kept for her to use. Wearing nothing at all.

Her eyes shimmered, slightly darker than normal, and her fingers were a bit longer.

Hello, my love. What took you so long?

Sweetheart, do you know you are in heat? I can smell it. It’s taking all the effort I have to not respond.

Huh. Nope. But that makes sense. I’ve been burning up all day. I came out here to get more wheat and realized I needed you, now!

Adam walked over to her, standing directly in front of her.

Your chances of getting pregnant will be higher. Are you ready for that?

Honestly? No. But I can’t think of anything but you, right now. Please, Adam.

Adam groaned and caved to his mate. He would never be able to say no when she pleaded with him like that and stuck out her bottom lip.

A little later, he ushered her up the stairs, keeping his brothers from scenting her as strongly. Then went back to them.

He cleared his throat, getting their attention. “We, uh. Got a problem I never anticipated.”

“What’s that?” Dean shifted to look at him.

“Snow’s in heat.”

Curse words flew all around the room. It was a good thing Ivory had taught the pups how to wash their own clothes, as they were in the washroom, on the other side of the house.

“Yeah.” Adam pointed at each of them. “You three, need to stay on your own side of the house for the next few days. Her scent is not going to call to you as strongly, since she is mated. But it will still call. I’m having her stay in the bedroom. That means we are on our own for food.”

“Not stew!” Brian whined.

Adam scowled at him. “Shut up, at least you all didn’t starve to death! Some wolves have it much worse.”

Brian cursed again and lifted his hands. “I was just joking brother. We can have Gabe and Fitz cook. They spend the most time in the kitchen with Snow.”

Adam closed his eyes as Ivory called to him again. “This is going to be a long weekend.”

They laughed at him.

“Wow, don’t let Snow hear you complaining about that.” Charles guffawed.

“Trust me, that is not the problem. It’s the other usual result from a female in heat.”

Dean was way ahead of the rest of them, he understood from the moment Adam said his mate was in heat. Which happened every few months for the mated females. “What are we going to do if she ends up pregnant?”

The others clued in pretty quick when they heard that.

Adam sighed and groaned, cracking his neck again. He mumbled more to himself than anyone else.

“This would be the time she learns how to partially shift.”

Brian grinned. “She teasing you?”

“Yes.” Adam practically whimpered. “She learns really fast. And it’s not just words. When we first shifted together, to check my fur. She was upset. She didn’t know how to put it in words, so I had her try images.” Adam groaned again.

Ivory was getting impatient and started appealing to his wolf. She knew all the right buttons to push too. Adam’s eyes flashed black, his canines and fingers lengthening. His brothers jumped back, surprised by the sudden change in him.

“Females are evil.” Charles whispered to his brothers as Adam’s wolf pulled him out of the room without another word. The other two nodded mutely.

The brothers hardly saw either Adam or Snow over the next three days. Adam tried giving her a cool bath, needing a break before she broke something he found vitally important. That backfired on him. He was very much torn between loving this and hating it.

During one of the times away from her, getting them food and water. He was bombarded with questions by the pups. The older brothers only gave them a few small tidbits, telling them they could question Adam the next time they saw him

Thankfully, Ivory had been asleep at that time because these pups were full of questions. All ones that he found very uncomfortable to answer.

Gabe was about to turn ten. He was the last of the bunch. The others knew how... things... worked. It was still not a conversation he ever wanted to have again. This one had to be the worst to, as this time, they knew he and Snow were mated, and Gabe was especially close to her.

Adam did learn that there were other ways to satisfy his mate without running the risk of her getting pregnant. She enjoyed giving as much as she enjoyed receiving as well.

So, fingers crossed she didn’t get pregnant this time around.

Adam woke up late in the morning after a very long night, to an empty bed. He tried to jump out of the bed but found that his legs didn’t want to hold him. He ended up on the floor, between the bed and the wall.

Sweetheart, where are you? You aren’t supposed to leave the room remember?

I’m in the kitchen making breakfast. Don’t worry, I’m back to normal. Brian already confirmed the heat scent was gone. I may not let you touch me again for a while though... FYI.

Adam laughed. I somehow doubt that. How are you able to walk? I can’t get my legs to work right.

Now Ivory was the one laughing. He could hear her through his ears too. The musical sound of her laughter was soon joined by a booming one.

Adam pulled a pillow over his face.

Which brother did you just tell?

Brian. He says he can carry you down if you like, but you better have pants on.

Adam jumped off the floor, then grabbed the bedpost to steady himself. Knowing Brian, he would come up and carry him like a female.

Even without Adam’s permission.

Adam walked into the kitchen five minutes later, scowling at Brian, who was still laughing. He walked directly to his mate and kissed her good morning.

Adam stayed close by her all day, waiting for the moment her body gave out on her. He discovered a newfound appreciation for females. He was barely able to walk, and she was practically dancing around the kitchen! It must have something to do with the muscles Mother Nature gave them to birth pups. That had to be it.

For the first time since they mated, they both went to sleep that night satisfied with a mere kiss goodnight.

Dean was kind enough to replace a book on mates for him. According to the book, the first heat was the worst. The pull was the strongest during the first year though.

Both Adam and Ivory remembered their parents were actively interested in each other, but they only ever saw them after they had adjusted to life as a mated couple.

Considering how many brothers Adam had, he was sure some things never changed. He loved his mate though, so he would not complain.