Chapter 23

Dawson

Suddenly Bonnie starts crying. "Jacob told me to leave. He said his Alpha doesn't want me to come back there unless I pledge to his pack and officially mate with Jacob."

"You have a problem with that, why?" I ask.

"This is my pack! I grew up here. I don't want to pledge to them. And I don't love Jacob. He's the father of my pup, but he's useless," she sniffles, getting her tears under control. Then she looks me in the eye, "I need a man who works hard and can take care of me. I'm tired of working. I want to stay home with my pups."

I don't even know what to say at this point. This woman is out of her mind right now, and I'm still trying to figure out why she's attacking Ashlynn. "Bonnie, that's got nothing to do with me. Or with Ashlynn. That's your problem, and you have to deal with that. I'm not sure what you want me to do." I let out a sigh and realize I just need to get away from here. I take a step back into the woods a little bit. This crazy she-wolf is ruining my night.

She takes a couple steps towards me, "No don't go. Let me finish." I just give her a look and wait for whatever nonsense she's got now. This girl is nothing but drama. It's one of many reasons I stopped seeing her ten years ago. Her mother was the same way. She was killed by her mate for sleeping around. Like mother like daughter I guess.

"I want you Dawson. You are a hard worker and a kind man and I know you can take care of me. You know I can give you pups. I swear I can make you happy, just let me," she takes another step towards me. The tears have stopped and now she's rubbing her breast with one of her hands, as if she's trying to seduce me or something. I'm not interested.

"Isn't not going to happen Bonnie. I don't like you, at all. Not romantically, not even as a friend. You need to go back to Jacob, pledge to his Alpha and take care of the pup you already have. If you try anything further, I'm going to let Alpha Gabe know exactly what you have been up to. Do you understand me?" my voice is rising in anger. I need to go find Ashlynn.

"But...", she sniffles. "I want you."

"I. DO. NOT. WANT. YOU." my frustration is evident as I enunciate every word. "Is there something about that you don't understand? Go home now Bonnie. Leave." I turn to walk back into the woods, shifting back to my wolf. As I turn to look back over my shoulder, I see her watching me.

"Fine." She blurts, then shifts and runs back towards the pack house. Hopefully it's to go home, and hopefully that's the last I see of her. I roll my eyes to the heavens and take off to look for Ashlynn. Now that I know which direction she went in, I catch her scent and follow it. She's gone pretty far into the woods and up the mountain. I pass many wolves already heading back to the pack house. You hear a few wolves howl now and then, some are mating howls, meaning someone has found their mate, and they are letting the pack know.

I come across a small waterfall that's nestled into the mountainside. In the spring, with winter run off, it's much larger. Right now it's fall, so it's just a small water fall, that eventually runs off into the river that is along the East side of our pack lands. I haven't been up this far in a long time, I almost forgot the waterfall was here. As I near the waters edge, her scent is gone. My wolf is anxious and angry. Bonnie has cost us a lot of time. My wolf Drake is pacing now on the edge of the water. Suddenly we hear some splashing, and I look up. Where the water falls to a small shallow pool, Ashlynn walks out from behind the curtain of water, in human form, completely naked. She seems oblivious to the fact that someone might be around. She's beautiful, the water running down, her long dark hair clinging to her body, the water rivulets traveling over her breasts. Her large perfect round breasts, her perky nipples hardened from the cold of the water. The moonlight is illuminating her, and she looks like a goddess as she emerges from the water. My wolf whimpers. She must have heard it, because she opens her eyes, tries to cover her breasts and looks around.

I mind link her,"Ashlynn, it's Dawson." Her mouth makes a little "O", as her head swivels towards my wolf. I shift right then and step out into the moonlight. At that moment, we make eye contact. "Mate," we both whisper. Her eyes are round as saucers, and it's as if she's glued to the spot she stands in. I take a couple of steps closer, and she doesn't try to move back. I take this as a sign that it's ok to go to her. I slowly step into the shallow pool of water and walk towards her, my hand out towards her, begging in my mind, for her to take it. Suddenly, it's as if her trance is broken. A smile comes across her face and she uncovers herself, but still doesn't move. I slowly approach her, never breaking eye contact. I stop just shy of us touching, chest to chest. She reaches out her hand and takes the one I have stretched towards her, then she pulls me to her. Our lips crash together, and it's as if time has stopped. I can feel her skin against mine, it's cool from the water, but I instantly feel heat between us. Our tongues are tangled in a fervent dance, not able to get enough of each other. I have placed my free hand to the back of her head, holding her close to me, deepening our kiss. My wolf is trying to push forward, he wants to claim her, here and now. I have to warn him that she is special and every moment with her should be special. He grunts in my head, but stops trying to press forward. I can feel my erection, hard against her stomach. I could chip wood with it, that's how hard it is. I've got to get myself under control.

I finally break the kiss, needing to take a breath and speak. I stare into her eyes, searching to make sure she is ok with me, with this. She has one hand still holding on to mine, and the other on my chest, her thumb rubbing absently over my nipple. I'm not sure she even realizes she's doing it, but it's got me groaning with need. "Ashlynn," my voice is strangled and raw.

"Dawson," she says. "I'm so glad it's you." Her smile could light up the world. Then she suddenly she's smirking, and she shoves me backwards into the pool of water. I lose my footing and fall back, now soaked from head to toe, just like her. She's laughing and her laugh sounds so beautiful to my ears.

I come up sputtering. "Really? What was that for?", I ask, although I'm smiling to.

Ashlynn shrugs, "I was dirty, wanted to wash off. I thought maybe you would too," she's laughing again. Then she holds up her hand as if to stay away. "But seriously. I am glad it's you Dawson, I'm crazy about you. But I don't want us mating out here in the woods. I hope you understand that," her eyes travel down to my still very erect manhood.

I shake my head, acknowledging what she's saying. I reach my hand out to her. "Ok. Let's go home." She steps towards me and takes my hand and we walk out of the pool. I stare down at her and I can't help myself, "You look so beautiful in the moonlight. I can't believe you are actually mine."

She smiles up at me, a glint in her eye. "Race ya back," and she shifts and runs down the hill. I shift just as soon as I see her wolf standing there, and we race down the hill. Our wolves nipping and playing with each other. We stop halfway, letting them explore, sniffing each other, rubbing against one another, and then my wolf Drake, lets out the loudest happiest howl, and hers follows suit. Drake gives her a big sloppy kiss up the side of her face, and she takes off down the hill, back to the pack house.

Ashlynn is my mate. Not just that, but she's my fated mate. I am the luckiest werewolf alive, and I will spend the rest of our lives trying to make her happy.