Dire Wolf Mates - Chapter 129: Chapter 129

Derrick had the night off. Lucky Wolf. He and Lucy were back at the Pack House with their triplets, which meant Brock was in charge. The Pack Beta and head chef was in the kitchen, making sure everything was set up perfectly for the tremendous dinner rush they often saw. Gwen was enjoying the night off, along with Phoenix’s mate, Tracey. That left Thor, Nica, Weylin, Cole, Phoenix, and Sheila running the roadhouse.
Once eight o’clock rolled around, people started turning up by the dozens, and there was a pretty healthy line to get in. Thor was working the door, checking IDs, keeping the peace. It was just business as usual. An all-female band of Witches was playing tonight, more of that country rock mix the crowd seemed to like. They were good, but he wasn’t much of a judge.
“Hey there, sexy. Can I rub your head for luck?”.
The question caught Thor off guard. He frowned, but quickly moved out of the way of the bright pink, acrylic tipped nails the strange woman was reaching for him with. She was wearing a sparkly pink bikini over her spray tanned body and a tiny black skirt. It was possible she was a regular, but he did not recall having seen her. Her companions, either.
“Sorry, ma’am. I have a girlfriend⁠—”
“So? What’s that to me, big guy? Besides, she can’t do what I can do,” the woman purred.
“Sorry, letting other women touch me is a hard no. Best keep your hands to yourself. Have a good night, ladies,” he told the forceful woman.
Her eyes flashed gold, and Thor sniffed. She was a Lioness. But no one he knew from the neighboring Blue Valley Pride. The she-Cat and her friends all appeared shocked that he’d said no. But whatever.
He knew their type. They were entitled and spoiled, treated like princesses by the males in their Pride who chased them. Everything about them screamed overdone, and though it was not to his liking, Thor normally didn’t have an opinion on how anyone dressed or spoke. Still didn’t.
In fact, he remained uncaring of the trio of females who sat nearby and kept giving him long glances that he’d successfully ignored up until Nica came over.
“Hey, I’m on break and I thought you might like a glass of iced water,” she said, smiling sweetly at him.
She was so gorgeous with her bright eyes and freshly scrubbed face. He liked she didn’t wear any makeup. Liked that he could see the real her all the time and didn’t have to dig to find it. Everything about her was so open and freely given. He was one lucky Wolf, and he knew it. Thor took a long pull of the icy water and leaned down to nuzzle Nica’s cheek affectionately.
“Thanks, angel. I was parched,” he said, one big hand resting on her warm, soft waist. “You didn’t have to bring this all the way over, though.”
“Oh, that’s okay. Weylin is watching my spot, and I wanted to see you. I missed you,” she confessed, blushing prettily.
“Is that right? I’ve been missing you, too. Been standing here, thinking about everything I intend to do to you when we get back home,” he replied, touched by her thoughtfulness, aroused by her nearness.
It got to the point where he could not stop his dick from rising at the slightest touch from the woman, even if he tried. She wasn’t just a Shifter. Nica was pure magic. And he was falling harder and faster with every second that ticked by.
“Thor, you shouldn’t say things like that out loud,” she whispered, clearly scandalized.
He had to kiss her again, he couldn’t help himself. So he did. Quickly. He wouldn’t jump on her in public or anything. Hell, his Demon Wolf was likely to kill one of these assholes if they even caught a glimpse of her wild and moaning in passion. He was too damn possessive to allow that.
Mine.
She deserved better. He knew that, but nothing could ever make him leave her now. His Nica was everything. A natural caretaker, and he had the feeling she was a secret badass, too. Warm, open, and giving, but also beautiful, fierce, and loyal. She was an ideal mate.
And Thor was so grateful he’d been there that day to catch her. He never expected to be on the receiving end of such tenderness. It felt good. She felt good. Hell, the woman was taking up so much space inside him, he could not even imagine life without her. She’d only be there for a few weeks, and in his bed for just days, and she was that deeply ingrained. He needed to tell her how he felt. That he wanted her forever, and that he loved her, even if it was too soon. He was just about to confess it all when the shit hit the fan.
“This is why you wouldn’t let me touch your head? Are you serious? She’s fat and plain. I mean, damn girl, maybe you should invest in some makeup if you want to keep your man,” the hoity toity Lioness came stomping over on her spindly heels, interrupting Thor, and Nica.
Anger rose swiftly and Thor growled a warning, ready to defend his woman to this pissed off predator. But there was no need. Nica put her hand on his arm and turned to face the slightly tipsy female with a concerned expression on her beautiful face.
“Hi, I’m Nica. What’s your name?”
“Are you kidding? You wanna know my name now, fatty? Like we are besties or something?”
“Right,” Nica replied with a bashful sort of grin as she faced the woman and her friends. “Well, I don’t know you, but this is the second time that I am telling you my name is Nica. Not fatty or damn girl. Just Nica. And wow, I have to say your makeup looks really good, professional even. You’re lucky, you see, I have serious allergies to cosmetics, and I can’t wear them at all. Lucky for me, I found a man who doesn’t seem to mind,” she went on, friendly as ever, facing down a trio of Lionesses, who could probably each swallow her Raven with one gulp.
Not fucking likely, his Demon Wolf snarled.
“You’re allergic to makeup? Ohmygah, that sounds terrible,” one of the woman’s friends said.
“Yep. That’s me. Allergic to makeup. But wow, I mean look at all you, so thin and trendy. Made up to the nines, and just killing those bikinis,” Nica said, nodding.
“Oh, um, thanks,” the original aggressor muttered, and she looked as confused as Thor.
“You really do look good tonight, ladies. Did you get those from Gladys’ Swimwear & Care in town?”
“Oh, um, yeah. That’s my aunt’s shop,” one of the women added.
“Nice. That’s where I picked this one up, and I am lucky she carried plus sizes cause these boobs would never fit into a bikini if she didn’t.”
“You got great boobs,” the third Lioness commented.
“Yeah, are they real?” the second one asked, and reached out to cup Nica’s left breast.
“Oooh! Y-yep, thanks, they are, um, real,” his mate stuttered, and removed the woman’s hand with an awkward pat.
“Delia, what the hell? Anyway, she is right. Your boobs are great. I mean, I’m so flat, and um, I am sorry she said you were fat. You are just super curvy like a pinup model! I mean, you look really great,” the first Lioness, the one who’d tried to grab Thor, told Nica.
Thor frowned. Was this woman hitting on his mate? She had a point about Nica being curvy and having great boobs, but he was not exactly comfortable with the staring or the grabbing.
Grrrr.
Nica pressed back into him, as if she knew her touch would soothe his beast. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her back against his chest. Still, she kept the conversation going with the Lionesses as if he wasn’t there, growling behind her.
“Well, thank you,” Nica replied honestly. “That means a super lot to me. I never had many female friends growing up, but I always wanted them, and you girls are so lucky to have each other.”
“OMG! You are so sweet,” one of the blonde Lionesses gushed.
“I don’t know about that,” Nica replied. “But, I am sure you won’t have any trouble picking up men of your own if you want that, and if not, I know you will still have an awesome time tonight just doing your thing. This big guy here, though, is totally off limits. And I know that makes me super lucky. But I also know you all got more self-respect than to try flirting with a man who’s spoken for, right?” Nica continued, her smile big and her blue eyes sparkling.
“You’re totally right. I am sorry about all the cattiness, Nica. My name is Cheryl. This is Taylor and Delia. Anyway, thanks for being so nice about this,” Cheryl told her sheepishly.
“No worries. Now, when you go to the bar, see the guy in the wetsuit? Tell him Nica said to give you a round on me,” she finished and waved them away.
Thor stood there in total shock. How the fuck did she do that? The woman had to be magic or something. She had single-handedly turned a group of hostile Lionesses into sympathetic allies in just minutes with that sweet, open way she had about her. She never raised her voice or lashed out. She took their insults and turned them around, complimenting them and making them see the error of their ways as if it were their own discovery.
She was good. Really fucking good. Like pure gold. Pride zipped through his body, filling his veins as he watched her wave them off.
“Ooh, I think I better go help Weylin, he is getting slammed,” she said, about to run away.
But Thor pulled her back, catching her questioning smile with his lips as he kissed the hell out of her. Yeah, his jeans were going to be really uncomfortable for a little While, but it was worth it. This woman owned him. Body, heart, mind, and soul, he belonged to her now. She had the fealty of his Demon Wolf—gods, help them both.
“What was that for?” she asked breathlessly when he finally came up for air.
“For being you. What you just did? Turning that volatile situation around without violence or resorting to threats? I never saw anything like that. That was fucking awesome, angel. I am so proud of you,” he growled.
“I don’t know, I mean, I am the lucky one, right? I have you,” she said, but it sounded more like a question than a statement.
“You have me, angel. One hundred percent.” He kissed her hard before swatting her on the butt so she could get back to work.
Hours later…
“Shit. I’m so tired the bags under my eyes got bags,” Weylin moaned, trudging across the lot to the cottage he shared with his mate.
It had been a busy night. Seemed like people really enjoyed the bikini theme, even if Thor had to turn away a couple of enthusiasts who insisted dental floss was acceptable attire.
“Was it mint?”
“What?” he asked Nica, who’d been quiet to that point.
“The dental floss,” she said, brows furrowed.
“Nica, I didn’t say any of that out loud.”
“You didn’t?”
Thor shook his head. His mate stopped and turned to face him, her whole expression one of abject confusion. The crisp Autumn air swirled around them, and the sounds of dried leaves rustling was a soft hum in the background. Nica’s heart was pounding, and his own matched its pace. He felt like the very air was charged with something other.
“I think it’s because of our matebond,” he murmured.
“Matebond? What is that?”
Thor’s Demon Wolf stirred, the animal wanting to be with his mate. Inside his mind’s eye, Thor saw the thin strands of their new matebond. It was warm and gold and pulsed as he drew near. His beast staring off into the ether, as if he was waiting for something.
Yes. Waiting. Always waiting.