"Has it ever occurred to you," Chloe's head dipped low, "that you might not be good enough for me?"

Dell turned and walked to the door. "You're angry. You need time. When Mama gets here, " he didn't get to finish.

"I don't need time!" The words were hurled at him in rage. "I could wait a thousand years and still know that you're not half the f.u.c.king man I need."

"Chloe, don't!" His words were a warning.

"Don't what? Tell the truth? If I'd have known that I'd be changed against my will, I'd have let Hayden do the f.u.c.king job!" When Dell's expression darkened, she knew she'd gone too far, but she didn't care. He had taken her life without asking her, and she had nothing left to fight with.

Dell stalked her, pa.s.sing by Cindy who reached up and grabbed his arm. He seemed not to notice as he pulled from Cindy's grasp forcing her nails to dig b.l.o.o.d.y gashes into his flesh. In an instant he had Chloe flattened against the wall, his body pressing into hers as he peered down at her lowered head. His hands, placed against the wall on either side of her held her caged, trapped.

Chloe's eyes grew wide as he dropped one hand to her throat, forcing her face up and her eyes to meet his. She stilled beneath him. Her heart thundered so loudly in her chest, she was certain he'd hear it.

He could scent her pain, her fury, her fear. Her fear angered him. It was his job to protect her, yet here she was terrified of him. Never again, he vowed. This woman, his woman would never know fear while in his presence ever again.

"I'm going home," her words were spoken from between clenched teeth.

"No!" The word was more of growl than he intended.

Chloe lifted a hand to peel his fingers from her throat while the other shoved at his chest. "I'm not asking Dell."

He stepped back, allowing her to walk away from him while the wolf inside demanded he drag her to the ground and mount her, force her to submit to her Alpha.

She stalked down the hall and when he made to follow, Cindy's hand on his chest stopped him. "Brother let her go. She's insulted and afraid. She needs time."

"I wasn't trying to insult her," he snapped, his eyes still locked on the empty hallway.

Cindy's lips c.o.c.ked in a half smile, "Well for not trying, you sure did a good job." She dropped her hand, "She needs to blow off some steam, accept what she's learned. Let her. She'll be back."

Dell gently pushed his sister's hand away. "I can't. She's mine now. I'll not leave her again. Besides," his features darkened in sadness and fear, "the change is already happening. She won't suffer it alone."

Nodding, Cindy smiled weakly, "She'll come 'round. We women are a stubborn lot. We want to be the ones making all the decisions. Have faith in her."

"I do."

Chapter 24.

Chloe jerked open the back door with intentions of walking home when Mama's smile met her.

"Good," Mama entered and snagged Chloe's hand in hers, "I'm glad you're still here."

"Mrs. Blackbird," Chloe cleared her throat, swiping the back of one hand over her cheeks in an attempt to hide her tears, "I have to go."

"Not yet," Mama tugged on her hand and led her back to the table. "Sit."

Chloe did as she was ordered and watched as the elderly woman shuffled to the cabinet and pulled out two mugs and a tin of some unknown substance. Mama flipped a k.n.o.b on the stove that ignited a burner under the kettle that was already resting on the stovetop. She waited for Mama to speak, but the old woman continued to mill about the kitchen setting out small saucers and placing a tea bag in one empty mug while she dolloped the unknown substance into the other. She lifted the mug over her head and Chloe watched as she closed her eyes and mouthed some unheard words.

When the tea kettle whistled, Mama added hot water to the two mugs and returned to the table carrying a tea tray that housed the two mugs, and two saucers with scones.

"Here we go." Mama set the tray down and placed a mug and a plate of scones in front of Chloe.

"Thank you but I'm not hungry. I have to get home."

Mama clucked her tongue, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. You are hungry, and you are hurting." Mama eyed her knowingly, "and I'm not just talking about the pain in your heart." She pointed at the mug. "Drink the tea, it'll help."

Chloe eyed the mug of dark liquid and noticed that Mama had given her the strange concoction and kept the regular tea for herself. Leaning forward she sniffed at it, "What is it?"

"It'll help ease the pain," Mama lifted her mug and sipped at her tea. "Son."

Looking up, Chloe was startled to see Dell slowly enter the room. He stood by the door until Mama motioned for him to take a seat next to Chloe.

"Mrs. Blackbird, I can't stay." She made to rise but Mama's next words stopped her.

"The pain in your stomach will only grow worse." Mama nudged the tea closer to Chloe, "Drink. It's the only thing that'll help."

At that moment the bundle of nerves that had knotted themselves in her belly convulsed painfully. She tried not to wince as she raised a shaky hand and lifted the tea to her lips.

"How much pain will she endure?" Dell asked quietly.

"Some," Mama looked from Dell to Chloe. "You'll need to stay close." Mama looked down and concentrated on folding a cloth napkin on her lap. "You're mere touch will be soothing. More will help."

Chloe nearly choked on her tea, but continued to drink it as she noticed the pain receding. In between swallows, she kept the mug at her lips as she watched Mama turn angry eyes on Dell.

"You should have told her what would happen. You should have given her time to accept it. And then you should have asked."

"I know." Dell dipped his head.

Mama turned to Chloe, "What is done cannot be undone. Whether you accept Dell now or refuse him," Dell's head snapped up then, "the change will still occur."

"Can I refuse him?" Chloe felt Dell's eyes shift to her.

"Yes. A claiming does not take away your free will. But you should know that now that he's claimed and mated you, there'll never be another in his life for as long as he lives."

"But Hayden," she heard Dell growl at the mere mention of the name and she rushed on, "Hayden said he wanted to claim me, that he hoped I'd live longer than his first mate."

Shaking her head Mama pursed her lips, "He may have had intercourse with another woman and changed her as he intended to do to you, but neither of you were his true mate. A true mate claiming occurs only once."

"Once for the male?"

"No, once for you both." Mama inhaled slowly and smiled, "You carry his scent now. You always will. No other male, shifter or human, will be able to bear the scent. It'll be subconscious for humans, but they'll reject you. You belong to Dell as he belongs to you. This rare mating is the way our kind ensures our survival. We would never exist if we lived by the marital rules of your society. Our mating has to be for life."

Chloe rubbed her hand gingerly over her belly, noting the pain was almost gone. The information coupled with everything else was too much. She was emotionally and physically exhausted.

"Tonight the changes will occur within you. You'll need Dell, need his strength, his touch to ease the pain. The changes won't be too drastic, nothing you'll visibly notice." Mama turned to Dell, "Son, take her to your room. She needs to eat then rest. It's going to be a long night for her. I'll bring food."

"Am I going to turn into a..." she didn't know how to say it.

"No," Mama smiled and reached out patting her hand. "Not tonight. That change will come with the next full moon. We'll have ceremony. It'll be beautiful."

Beautiful! Are you f.u.c.king kidding? "I'd like to go home."

Mama didn't even look at Chloe as she stood and walked to the fridge pulling out a package of steaks. "You'll need the pack during this time Chloe. No one but us will know how to help." Mama turned then, "Stay at least until it's over, then you can decide what you'll do."

"Is there somewhere else," she bristled when she felt Dell's eyes on her, "where I can sleep?"

Poking her head up over the fridge Mama frowned, "You have every right to be angry with him, but the tea will only help for part of the night. You'll need your mate for the remainder." Mama's eyes slid to Dell, "It's only right that he share your pain. He created it. By dawn, he'll understand probably more fully than you the sacrifice that your making for the pack."

Anxiety washed over her as she eyed her empty mug. f.u.c.k! She wished there were more tea.

Ignoring Dell, she slowly stood debating on racing out the back door or going to Dell's room. She was motionless for only a moment before she turned and slowly climbed the stairs to the second floor.

In the kitchen, Dell sighed heavily dropping his head into his hands. "I'm sorry Mom. I don't know what happened. I couldn't control myself." He lifted sad eyes, "It wasn't even an option."

Mama pulled a sack of potatoes from the pantry and hoisted them to the countertop. She retrieved a paring knife from the drawer and began peeling potatoes. "You'll need to make sure she eats all of her food. She'll need her strength. She won't want to eat," she lifted her eyes to his, "but persuade her."

"Did you hear what I said?" His tone was harsh, "I'm telling you that I'm out of control and you're talking about food."

Mama didn't stop peeling. "Of course you were out of control. I tell you males often what a mating means." She smiled to herself, "And every one of you ignores my words until it is time for your claiming." She stopped peeling to pin him with her gaze. "We are wolves son. Wolves! We are meant to be wild and free. This," she waved her paring knife around the kitchen, "our ability to be civilized and social with humans. It's a blessing. But make no mistake. When it comes to your mate, no matter how strong you think you are, there will be no controlling your inner wolf."

Dell's shoulders sagged, "But I'm the Alpha, I'm supposed to be stronger."

Jutting out a round hip, Mama braced a bent wrist on it. "Because you're the Alpha, your wolf is stronger. I knew there'd be less control for you when you found her."

"So that's it?" he asked sarcastically. "What my wolf wants, my wolf gets because I'm bigger and stronger and I can simply take it?"

Tilting her head from side to side as she averted her eyes and considered his statement Mama pursed her lips before simply replying, "Yes."

"Christ," he shoved up from the table. "I'm going up."

"Son!"

He stopped but didn't turn around.

"Have you ever seen a dry creek bed?"

Confusion knitted his brow as he turned to frown at his mother.

"When the snows melt and a sliver of water finally slices through only to be sopped up by the parched earth?"

Dell shook his head.

"The creek bed needs to be filled with water to become a mighty river, to become what it is meant to be. You'll have to help your mate change tonight." Mama dropped her eyes to her potatoes and began cubing them. "Fill her to help her become what she is meant to be."

"She hates me right now, and that is the last thing she'll be receptive to."

Mama smiled, "Her body will yearn for yours. It's part of the change. Trust in it."

Chapter 25.

Sitting alone in front of the roaring fireplace, Chloe didn't move. Shocked by the events of the day, all she could do was simply stare and replay what had happened.

She woke up that morning missing Dell more than she'd ever missed anyone in her life. Then as if conjured up by her thoughts he'd appeared at her dinner table just as she'd decided to finally forget about him. Her cheeks singed at the memory of making love to him in the tall gra.s.s and she slowly shook her head. What had gotten into her? It was so out of character, but she couldn't control herself. She'd wanted him, needed him.

Now, a mere few hours later she sat once again a prisoner in his home and now changed forever.

A wolf! Really? She tried to imagine herself shifting to wolf form, but the image only made her nauseated. Or is it the change? Mama had told her the tea would work temporarily against the pain, and she was terrified to discover just how bad it would get.

Rubbing a hand gingerly over her belly she looked down when warm tears dropped onto her hand. She was afraid, and she wanted Dell. She swiped angrily at her tears refusing to go to him. This is his fault! Her lower lip trembled, Mama said he was supposed to ask me before changing me, but he didn't! And that meant that he either didn't care for her opinion on the matter or didn't care at all. She wanted a choice, but it was too late. It was done and she couldn't bring herself to accept what had happened.

She thought of her mother and doubled over in the chair, her arms wrapping around her mid-section. Oh Ma! Would her mother accept her for what she'd done, what she would become?

The door opened and Chloe turned to frown with tear-filled eyes at Dell.

"Mama will bring food when it's ready," his words were quiet.

Ignoring him she turned her heated gaze back to the fire and slowly rocked her upper body back and forth. She refused to look at him when he approached and stood next to her.

"You can hate me Chloe. You have the right to, but tonight," He bent and picked her up.

She shoved at his chest and struggled in his arms, but he wouldn't release her.

"Tonight you need me to be strong for you, to be here for you." He stalked to the bed, "And that's exactly what I'm going to do." He set her down and the bed sunk with his weight when he settled onto the bed next to her.

She tried to crawl away from him, but a large arm snaked around her waist and pulled her back into the solid wall of his chest.

Keeping his arm firmly around her, Dell lay behind her and pulled her into the warm cradle of his body.

Chloe tensed knowing she should get away from him, but she was terrified.

"Relax love."

Her teeth gnashed, "Love?" She turned to scowl at him over a slender shoulder. "So I'm your love now?"

Dell's brows drew together and he grabbed her jaw gently, keeping her from turning away. "You've always been my love Chloe. I just didn't know it until now."