"Well congratulations!" Lloyd patted Dell on the back, "That's just wonderful. Have you had ceremony?"

Confused Chloe looked at Dell.

"Not yet, but soon."

She made a mental note to ask about this ceremony before Phyllis grabbed her hand and tugged her away, "Let's have some coffee while Lloyd bores your Dell with golf gab."

It was dark by the time they left the Porter's cozy cabin. Phyllis had done more than supply coffee. They were treated to the best cinnamon rolls Chloe had ever eaten. The delicious rolls, steaming coffee and warm conversation created an exceptional trifecta that had Chloe reluctant to leave. But Dell insisted that if they didn't leave soon they risked drawing out the pack.

"G.o.d loves you and so do we!" Lloyd shouted as Dell and Chloe drove away.

"Bye! It was nice to meet you." Chloe yelled and waved over her shoulder until the couple and the cottage were out of sight.

The four-wheeler whined quietly as they eased their way back down the mountain road.

She couldn't help but ask, "Are they shifters too?"

"No," Dell smiled over his shoulder, "just long time friends of the family. Phyllis helped Pony graduate when he was determined to drop out."

Chloe grinned, "That's nice."

"Yes, they're a rare breed of genuinely kind people."

"They live up there?"

"They come home for the spring and summer. Winters are spent at their home in Oregon."

"What do they consider winter? It's freezing now?"

"They'll leave in a few days. It's why I wanted to introduce you now while I still have the chance."

Chloe wrapped her arms tightly around Dell and rested her cheek against his back as she enjoyed the ride down the mountain and back to the compound.

Chapter 17.

Back at the compound, Dell maneuvered the four-wheeler across the property and back to its designated parking spot.

Chloe climbed from the vehicle and Dell followed, removing his gloves before turning to smile at her, "Well, how was it for your first time?"

"Couldn't have been better." She smiled shyly.

Dell watched as Chloe bit her bottom lip, drawing it in between even white teeth as she stared at him. Her lashes lowered and when the wind picked up, Dell was slammed with a familiar scent. He'd scented it the day he'd confronted her in the supermarket parking lot. It had been faint then, barely there, but now it was so strong that his gut clenched. He took in a deep steadying breath and it was a mistake. The scent was drawn deep into him, threatening to buckle his knees and send his wolf surging forth. When he'd first scented it at the supermarket, it had been too subtle for him to pinpoint, but now it was stronger. Desire!

He took another deep breath, this time through his mouth in hopes that he'd be able to keep the scent from tempting the wolf that was already close to surfacing. He couldn't deny the overwhelming relief that swamped him when he discovered that she was attracted to him. His b.a.l.l.s drew tighter and he was startled to realize that he had hardened, prepared to claim her.

"Are you okay?"

He couldn't miss the alarm in Chloe's tone and realized he'd squared his feet, balled his hands into tight fists and was breathing raggedly as he barely restrained himself from pouncing on her. In that moment he wanted her more than he'd ever wanted anything in his whole life. So much so that he actually feared for her virtue.

He blinked and knew the movement was too slow. Her aroma had him drugged, and like an addict he needed more. He knew better than to breathe in any more of her scent, but he couldn't seem to stop his wolf from surging forth and drawing in a long deep inhalation and even through her bulky winter gear he scented her sweet, heady wetness. His eyes drifted closed and he groaned falling to his knees.

"Dell!" Chloe dropped and grabbed his shoulder and that was all it took.

With animalistic speed he grabbed one wrist and then the other, forcing her to the ground and pinning her with his weight.

Her eyes grew wide in shock. She felt his bare hands clamped on the flesh of her wrists and she waited for the familiar draining to render her unconscious, but it never came. She didn't struggle, already afraid of what she'd done to make Dell so angry.

As he shifted his weight over her, she stilled in understanding as she felt the thick hard length of his erection pressing against her s.e.x. She opened her mouth to speak but didn't get the chance. Dell's mouth dropped to hers and his tongue plunged inside, drawing hers forth and stealing her breath. He held her arms pinned with one of his large hands high over her head while his other hand splayed possessively against her ribcage.

He noted that at first she'd been taken aback, but slowly, she tentatively returned his demanding kiss. And kiss her he did.

His tongue dove deep, savoring the sweet cinnamon taste of her. He wondered if she'd taste just as sweet elsewhere and the thought drew forth a growl so deep and viscous that he'd been certain she would recoil in fear.

When she didn't, he pressed his groin harder against her s.e.x, drawing forth a soft moan from her parted lips that had him dying to claim her. His kiss was brutal, but he couldn't control himself. When he nipped her lip and tasted the coppery tang of blood, he tried to pull back but she followed him. He drew her offended lip between his and sucked her blood into his mouth. He wanted her, all of her.

He was lifting his hand higher on her body when his wolf suddenly tensed, sensing something.

Dell pulled back and scanned the area.

"Dell, what's wrong?" Chloe asked breathlessly.

He'd dropped his guard, too consumed with mating to be on alert. It only took him a second to scent the intruder, a shifter not of his pack. He jumped up, pulling Chloe easily up with him in one fluid movement before he shoved her behind him. He scanned the area as his muscles bunched. Whoever had the audacity to interrupt his make-out session was about to pay for it.

There's a stranger on the premises! Cindy's alarmed words carried to him through the pack ties.

"What's happening?" Behind him, Chloe had finally caught her breath and was clearly having trouble understanding the sudden transition in mood.

He was about to answer her when a figure stepped out from the tree line a mere few feet away. The man approached cautiously, hands held high.

"Brother, I come in peace."

Dell growled. There were many ways for an outsider to introduce himself to the Alpha of a territory, and this wasn't one of them.

Dell kept his eyes on the stranger but turned to growl at Chloe, "Get in the house."

She didn't ask any questions, doing as Dell commanded. She rushed from his side and was halfway to the house when the back door was shoved open. Mama stood there, frowning at the stranger, and to Chloe's relief, Cindy suddenly bounded out from the tree line nearest the house, her dark hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. She strode past Chloe, never taking her eyes off the stranger as she eyed him intently.

When Chloe reached the house, Stevie and the girl Hannah brushed past Mama and jogged to take their place next to Cindy and Dell as they confronted the stranger.

"I-is everything alright?"

Like Chloe, Mama kept her eyes fixed on the stranger. "He's a stranger. Uninvited. It's unusual for him to approach in such a manner. It could be considered hostile."

Oh G.o.d, the men! Chloe turned to Mama as panic hitched her tone. "Aren't there any mated men in the clan?"

"You betcha!" Pony stepped out of the house followed closely by AJ. The pair casually strode toward Dell and the stranger, seemingly non-pulsed by everyone else's state of alarm.

"Thank G.o.d!"

"Mmhmm," Mama nodded her concurrence at the statement.

They watched from a distance unsure of what was happening. After several minutes Chloe asked, "Is AJ mated?"

Mama smiled, "No, but he's too young to be considered a viable mate for you. Dell doesn't consider him a threat."

"A threat? Is that what he thinks of the other men that were sent away? Even Briggs?"

Mama nodded. "It's not Dell. It's his wolf. The males are extremely possessive and protective. None more so than the Alpha. He'd hurt one of them just for looking at you. You belong to him, but he hasn't staked that claim, so right now anyone could claim you. It's a very precarious time. He's more on edge. His instincts are to protect and to claim you."

Chloe blushed and then was relieved when she saw Dell and the pack returning to the house. The stranger followed.

"I don't want you going near him!" Dell commanded in clear agitation.

"I-I wouldn't." She was shaking her head even as Dell reached up to help her unzip her bulky coat.

"He'll stay in the barn, we've got a guest house there for these types of situations, but I don't trust him."

"If you don't trust him," Chloe shimmied out of the coat watching him intently, "then why let him stay?"

"I don't have much choice in the matter," he huffed as he hung her coat in the closet and returned to help her unfasten her overalls. "He's from an ally pack, it's proper form for me to welcome him here. Even if..."

Chloe's fingers stilled on the b.u.t.tons at her hips, "If what?"

"He's a viable mate for you Chloe. For his safety you'll need to stay clear of him. He's been warned that you're here."

Her brows hiked, "Warned that I'm here? I'm not a threat. Am I?"

Grabbing her arms, he pulled her until she was inches from his face. His grim features drawn tight, "You are a threat to his well-being because I'd kill him if he approached you."

She smiled weakly intending on teasing him about his suddenly possessive nature, but her smile faded quickly when Dell growled.

"This isn't a game Chloe. When I say I'd kill him I don't mean in the figurative sense." His hold on her arms tightened, "I would literally rip him apart."

She knew the color drained from her face. She tried to regain her composure, but wasn't quick enough.

Dell sighed heavily and dropped his eyes to his hands clamped on her arms before he quickly released her and took a step back. "I'd never hurt you Chloe."

Afraid her voice would reveal her fear she simply nodded.

"f.u.c.k!" he closed his eyes a moment then smiled weakly at her. "Stevie'll take you to your room. Try and get some rest."

"What about you?"

His smile widened, "I'm going to make sure our visitor is secure."

Worried, Chloe fidgeted nervously with her slender fingers before asking, "Would he attack during the night?"

Dell pulled her close and ran large hands over her shoulders then down her back, pressing her body into his. "He wouldn't dare. But as I said, I don't trust him. Cindy and Pony will keep guard over him. Our pack hasn't survived this long by allowing just any wandering wolf into our midst. And you have the least to worry about." His eyes twinkled as she stared at her, "He'd have to get through me to get to you." He bent and kissed the top of her head, "Thanks Stevie."

Turning, Chloe was startled to see the pet.i.te Stevie smiling at her from the hallway. Chloe turned to say goodnight to Dell, but he was already gone.

Chapter 18.

"How was your ride," Stevie asked as she led Chloe down the hall then up a set of stairs.

"Great. I'd never ridden one before today."

Stevie turned to smile at her, "Did you meet the Porters?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "they seem really nice."

"They are. Phyllis really helped my Pony when he was in his young bad boy days." Stevie stopped at the end of a hall that had doors staggered on either side. One lone door stood at the end of the long hall and was the door that she pushed open. "This is it!"

The first thing Chloe noticed was the masculinity of the room. Probably the size of her apartment, the walls were painted a dark gun smoke gray. To her left a king sized bed was centered against the wall. The bedding was a darker gray than the walls, but the satiny duvet was folded back to reveal crisp white sheets underneath; while a soft looking white fur was folded neatly across the foot of the bed. A tall black leather headboard with an alligator print pattern rose over the bed. Hung neatly above the headboard were two evenly s.p.a.ced black and gray photos, one of an all white wolf cub and the other of an all black wolf cub. A large charcoal colored rug lay across the floor in the center of the room; as large as it was, it didn't cover nearly half the expanse of the floor.

Shuffling to the black leather bench seat at the foot of the bed, Chloe plopped down and forced her mouth closed. "Wow!"

Stevie laughed, "It is pretty big isn't it?"

"It's," Chloe looked around again, "wow!" She cleared her throat, "But I think you brought me to the wrong room. I was in a different one earlier."

"That's just a guest room," Stevie supplied.

"Then what's this?"

Smiling, Stevie crossed to a door to the right of the bed. "Bathroom's in here." She rapped on the door with a knuckle as she pa.s.sed it then pointed toward the wall of windows that sat to the left of the bed clear across the room. She stalked to them quickly and opened French doors that Chloe hadn't even realized was there. The long black sheer curtains that fell from the ceiling and covered nearly the entire wall billowed in the cold night breeze. "Balcony's out here, but you won't get much use out of it 'till summer."

Chloe smiled, "I won't be here that long."

Stevie either didn't hear her or ignored the comment as she clicked the doors closed then grabbed something off the small night stand next to the bed before crossing and pressing a remote into Chloe's hands. "This controls the fireplace in case you get cold."

Lifting her head, Chloe was met with a huge hearth that was positioned in the wall at the foot of the bed. It was the largest hearth she'd ever seen, all dark granite that was nearly the length of the wall. Standing, she slowly approached it and realized that the stone mantle was taller than her head. Stepping back she dropped into the lone high back chair that faced the hearth before she lowered her eyes to the remote and hit the b.u.t.ton that indicated ignite.

Gasping, she jumped back as a loud whoosh sounded and the entire floor length of the hearth erupted in flames.